The Seven Relics of Ill Omen

Great character development and relationship building

This show is a modern sci-fi/fantasy mystery featuring a band of friends investigating supernatural phenomenon. I really liked it. It’s not without flaws, but the things it does right happen to be the ones I care about, so I was happy to overlook everything else.

The biggest strength of this show is its characters and their relationships. Each of the five friends has their own personality, backstory, etc. They’re not all equally important, but at least none of them gets sidelined too badly (ie they all continue to get screentime and development throughout). They also have various fun and/or supportive relationships with each other, which all feel quite meaningful.

Luo Ren is probably the most capable and could be considered the leader, and I like how he gives insightful counsel or meaningful commentary to all of his friends (not just eg his love interest). But everyone across the board is just really likeable, especially Mu Dai. Both girls are strong, self-sufficient, and capable- actually tough, not just occasionally doing tough things that happen to get witnessed by a love interest. The main characters are quite relatable, too, which I appreciate. For example, right at the beginning, Mu Dai gets a knife held to her throat and she starts to tear up. She has skills but isn’t hardened- makes perfect sense. Only Luo Ren feels a bit too amazing to be relatable- somebody to be admired instead, perhaps- but he has his weak moments too.

I found the main romance to be quite sweet. I really liked watching it develop, and I thought its setbacks were valid and made me root for them even more. No kisses, if that matters to you. There is a hint of a second relationship but it doesn’t move much for most of the show. I was ok with this, and I think it helps us focus more on the characters’ identities for themselves. This is the right amount of romance for me.

I do, however, feel the actual sci-fi itself is not done that well. The rules don’t seem that structured and a lot of things feel too unsystematic or random. I actually had a long list of complaints as I watched the show, but most became irrelevant after I saw the last two episodes. A lot of things do come together at the end; and, it turns out, things aren’t as random as they at first seem. But I think the right way to handle this would have been to have the characters pointing things out throughout the show (eg “that seems too coincidental”, “why would our blood happen to be special?”, etc) so the audience knows these are acknowledged gaps that will be filled in later.

On top of that, the show still takes generous liberties with logic. How is somebody still alive after being buried under mud for a day? How did they import an entire ROV to the... erm, lake in the middle of a desert? And so on. Some of the CGI and SFX aren’t that great either, which left me raising an eyebrow at a few things.

So even though the mystery does mostly come together at the end, I still feel this part of the show is a bit messy. However, it’s interesting enough, and more importantly, is a good balance for all the other things going on. ie the plot has a good mix of relationship building / character development, and action / adventure / mystery solving. These things together keep the story moving along at a healthy pace.

Actually, a lot of the story arcs are quite emotional, and left me feeling sad long after the plot had moved on. The overall tone is not too heavy, with fun and heartwarming moments as the team interacts and bonds, plus some decent bursts of good humor. But definitely this show packs an emotional punch too.

I struggled a little bit in the last ¼ or so of the show. I didn’t like the second to last story arc too much- the situation felt too dire and it was light on those heartwarming team interactions I like so much. The villain’s English also started to grate on my ears (I selfishly wish they had chosen a different language I don't know, so I could just pretend she’s fluent. Her purposefully accented Mandarin wasn’t any more pleasant to listen to). The last arc does bring things back to the more touching character-driven style, but it’s also short and rushed, and the ending feels incomplete.

The acting is very good in this show. I thought it’s very natural, and everyone has a distinct and appropriate style. I think the standout performance is Li Haocun as Mu Dai, with some really impressive scenes in the middle, but everyone across the board does a good job. I also have to praise the casting, like everybody looks perfect for their role.

I like the styling (makeup, hair, and clothes)- everyone looks good- and the sets are not bad. Some of the sceneries are quite imaginative, like towns in deep forests or sprawling deserts. This show also has some wuxia-style fighting, which took me some getting used to for this modern tech-y setting. If you tell me some modern kid has 8 years of martial arts training, I wouldn’t be impressed, so I wasn’t expecting to see Mu Dai fly like that. It grew on me though, and a lot of the choreography is fluid and pretty. I also like how some of the fights are set to slower OST tracks, giving a really artistic feel.

In general I really like the music. The BGM does a good job setting moods, although the cheerful music is a giveaway for some scenes. The OST probably wouldn’t have been my favorite outside the show, but all the songs work really well for the moments in which they’re used, and create good emotional effect.

Overall, this show has enough sci fi elements that make me want to hold it to those standards, and I don’t think that part is quite there. A good sci fi has consistent, logical world building, and mind-blowing reveals in which everything clicks together. This one is a bit messier, the entire show strung together by a confusing mystery with random clues. Still, the character development and relationship building are very well done, and the different story arcs tell touching tales, ultimately resulting in a show I very much enjoyed and binged in a few days.

P.S. I checked out the webnovel. It handles the scifi/mystery a lot better, with more structure, and some plot holes are explained too. But I prefer the version of the characters (and their relationships) in the show. There are some nice interactions that didn’t make it in, though, so I still found the novel to be a fun read.

ENDING – READ AHEAD ONLY IF YOU WANT TO KNOW, CONTAINS SPOILERS





The ending is pretty happy. Aside from a few side character deaths earlier in the show (Mu Dai’s sifu is probably the last one), everyone makes it out alive and they are all happy and together again at the end.

Still, although this ending is not framed as a cliffhanger, I think it’s incomplete enough to be not fully happy, and not that satisfying either. Many things are still unresolved- I’m actually not sure what exactly happened at the end or how they got out (plus the final showdown is a little anticlimactic), but they certainly didn’t solve the problem for good. It almost feels like a setup for a sequel, but I don’t see any hint of one in the works.

MORE MAJOR SPOILER AHEAD





This is just a general discussion.

Of all the tragic tales, I was most affected by the ones about the primate person and about Mu Dai’s mom. With the primate, at least Ao Ruipeng was as sad as I was. With her mom… I thought the actress did such a great job showing first the self-centered, negligent, but confidently promiscuous mom in Mu Dai’s memories- and then suddenly in a single flashback, a battered woman in an abusive relationship who realizes in an instant that she can’t keep a child in that environment. She was a bad mom for sure, but I think she gave up her child for the right reasons, and playing the villain all these years later is her final act to set Mu Dai free.

And then we have Leopard. Now, why didn’t he just splatter her all over with his own blood in the park fight scene, and be done with it?

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So Underrated!

When a series of bizarre & gruesome murders occur, 5 passionate young adults will form the “Phoenix Squad” & embark on a perilous quest to subdue the seven omens. As they face tough adversaries, they form tight bonds of friendship that are forged in the fire.

Amidst the life & death trials, the ML & FL help one another heal emotionally & find a love that neither ever anticipated, but one both are willing to sacrifice everything to keep.

I throughly enjoyed this drama. The Leads are both such strong characters that I was immediately drawn into their story. And their chemistry is so potent (even without any kiss scenes!) that I was hooked on watching the fall in love as they fought alongside one another. And, OhEmGee, what great fighters they both are!!

I also love the bond the 5 friends form. They’re each quirky with their own weaknesses & strengths. What I loved most is how there was no backstabbing or jealousy between them - they were all respectful & accepting of each other, no matter what. True squad goals, for sure!

If you’re in the mood for mystery & action with a sweet romance blooming throughout, then I recommend you give this show a watch. The cast all did so good with their roles, as well as all those who completed their tasks behind the scenes. 👏🏻

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-⬇️ S P O I L E R S 🚫 B E L O W ⬇️-


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The things I always want to know 😏😉…
- First(real)Kiss : None 🙅🏻‍♀️
- Together : ep.14 👩🏻‍❤️‍👨🏻
- BreakUp: Nope 💝

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A true adventure series with emotions and connections ?

So just finished it, which took me a month to complete it and i definitely didn't expect it to be so good. Like the characters were written perfectly with good character development. The story was visibly expanding with each episode, where on ep1 i thought that the bar owner was the main master but was shocked when found out that it was just a part of one of their adventure and then the drama showed great consistency and each episode was anticipating and no boring moment. The locations, scenes, setting, visuals and special effects were satisfying enough. The casting was also very good and actor really did a great job.

People might not try it due to the amount of episodes and a bit complicated start but once you pass 4 to 5 eps you'll definitely enjoy it. Would definitely recommend it to everyone 👍👍

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WATCH IT RIGHT NOW

Here is what the drama will give u exactly
Found family
Fighting evil together
Humor filled
Plot twists at every episode
Diffrent cases each time with unique stories which make it so fun to watch
Helps us understand each character in their fears and their life's
MYSTERY that keeps u guessing

You will not regret i promise

okay first of all this is one of the few best dramas to ever come out in 2025 , don't listen to other people who say this is boring or bad .
Because each episode was so captivating and engaging like I so badly wish it was longer .
The actors were amazing like ever single actor in this series just amazing like especially the FM like this woman can freaking ACT man .
The story line just immediately clicked from the beginning making you want to know more
And then discovering secrets and understanding each other and their fears .they are literally so cute
I can literally write an essay on this like man I just love the characters ,the story ,the humour was also on point
It made me cry but at the same time made me click the next episode

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Better Than Expected

This drama came as a surprise because I didn't expect to enjoy it as much as I did. The mystery element was probably what kept me watching. I found the mystery interesting and was genuinely hooked for a good portion of the drama. I liked how the story slowly introduced questions and made you want to figure out what was actually going on. There was always something that made me want to keep watching and see where the story was going. There were certain arcs I felt like dragged a little too long, but overall the story was pretty solid.

This is one of those dramas where you really have to push through the fighting scenes because you've got people flying around all over the place. Yes, I'm aware it's sci fi, so I wasn't expecting everything to be completely realistic, but I still wished they kept some sense of realism when it came to the physics. There were moments where the action felt more like people being thrown around by wires than actual fighting. I know that's part of the genre, but when the choreography is already stylized, having characters constantly flying through the air made some of the scenes harder for me to take seriously. There were certain moments where you could clearly tell the actors were doing a choreographed routine and counting their movements. The slow motion and constant zoom ins didn't help either. Instead of making the fights look more dramatic, it sometimes made the choreography feel even more obvious and, honestly, kind of cringey.

I always say this when it comes to dramas that drag, but I really don't think this needed to be 32 episodes. I honestly think 28 episodes would've been enough. Cutting out some of the slower parts and tightening up the storyline would've made the pacing feel much better, especially toward the later episodes. There were moments where I felt like the story was going in circles when it could've just gotten to the point. For 32 episodes, you'd think they would've tied up most of the loose ends, but nope. There were still quite a few things that felt underexplained or unresolved by the end. I never read the novel, so I don't know if those questions were answered there, but as someone who only watched the drama, I definitely felt like there were some plot holes and things that could've been explained better.

The cast as a whole, especially the "Phoenix Squad," had great chemistry when it came to their friendship. Their group dynamic was actually one of the things I enjoyed because their interactions felt natural and they worked well together as a team. I also appreciate that the romance wasn't the main focus because, honestly, I just couldn't feel the chemistry between the two leads. Their relationship didn't really do anything for me, and I think the drama was better when it focused on the mystery and the group's dynamic rather than trying to push the romance.

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A chaotic, cursed, and completely captivating ride!!

Okay—so at first? I was confused. Like, relics? curses? who’s who? what's happening?? 😵‍💫
But the moment Luo Ren, Mu Dai, Yi Wansan, Chubby (Cao), and Mr. Kun came together to save Pingting, things got real good real fast. That bond? That chemistry? THAT JEEP?? Yeah, it pulled me right into the storm.
Their mission to collect the seven relics of ill omen was such a thrilling ride—each step crazier, deeper, and more addictive than the last.
What made it hit so hard though? Their friendship. Pure, loyal, and battle-forged. They weren’t just a squad, they became each other's home.
Mu Dai stole the show—brave, clever, effortlessly cool, and an absolute queen when it comes to hand-to-hand combat.
Luo Ren? Suspicious at first—mysterious and rugged with survival instincts on point—but turns out he’s got the softest, fiercest heart. Man + Jeep = certified adventure bae.
Yi Wansan was the perfect mix of comic relief and emotional gravity. Hilarious, but when it came to caring for Pingting or standing by Luo Ren—he was all heart. Loved his bromance with Luo Ren. That “help you get the girl” wingman energy? Chef’s kiss.
Chubby/Cao and Hongsha completed the squad like puzzle pieces. Their loyalty? Unmatched.
Episode 9? Peak squad energy. The teamwork, the chaos, the “ride or die” feels—everything.
And don’t even get me started on that Hummer H2 jeep. It deserves its own relic status, honestly. It’s that iconic. 🚙💨
The savage arc with Yi Wansan? Gut-wrenching.
The heartbreak when he mourned the savage, and the sadness that both he and Hongsha had no family left—ugh, crushed me. But the way they found comfort in the Phoenix Squad... beautiful.
The way they all saved each other—over and over—was just 🥹
From the rescue missions to the fierce fights (ep 23's MVP = Cao Jin Hua, no question), the ride never stopped giving.
And when Luo Ren fell into a coma after protecting Mu Dai? 🥲 The guilt, the flashbacks, the heartbreak—it all hit like a ton of relics.
Dark Mu Dai? A savage angel of vengeance.
Bright Mu Dai? The light we all needed.
Together? Iconic duality.
💘 Mu Dai x Luo Ren = power couple goals
⚔️ Hongsha x Yi Wansan = fighting duo with hearts of gold
The final battle, the sacrifices, the healing, and that warm, earned happy ending? Perfect.
Phoenix Squad forever. 🔥🕊️
This drama may have started in confusion…
But it ended as a tale of found family, relentless loyalty, and love that never quits.
A relic of a story, truly. 💫

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Felt like I was reading an adventure novel!

I had this drama saved for Liu Hao Cun & the promising plot but I stayed for so much more! The opening & end credits are beautifully done.
I loved the atmosphere of the plot. The story & cast had me hooked rather quickly. A few episodes in and it felt akin to visualizing an adventure novel in action - a reader's dream :D
The storytelling is fast paced, and the cast filled their roles rather well. Loved Mr Kun's eccentricities, Chubby's lighthearted acting, and discovered another enjoyable actor in Ao Rui Peng.

If I had to critique, it would be to improve the emoting in romantic scenes, however, I understand that that wasn't the focus in this drama.

Super glad that the team didn't compromise the plot, adventure & mystery. Thoroughly enjoyed watching the show! With shows like these, 32 or even 40 episodes feel like a breeze :D
Kudos to the drama adaptation! 🎊

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Insanely Good Drama

Shine on me has proven to be that drama that draws you in no matter how down you are. The characters are so perfectly written,like a ray of Sunshine reflecting on a bunch of trees,which is literally their full names.





Song weilong-Treee
Nie xiguang-Sunlight(watermelon)


Everything about this drama gives me insane happiness and satisfaction.

Especially the popular Lin yusen quote "I'll let you pick" I feel like crying,what a good drama,Everything so perfectly done!! 10/10.


Hope China.keeps making more dramas like this,its well appreciated🙌😚

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Some parts good, many parts unsatisfying, but I never thought of dropping so ig worth watching

The beginning was quite good because of the characters and the premise...then it slowed down after the 2nd relic...and everything started feeling so, so repetitive at the 4th relic...then it got pretty interesting at the 5th relic...the 6th was interesting but the end was disappointing...then at the 7th relic it got pretty boring.
But I wouldn't say I exactly regret this watch because the times it was interesting, it was quite good. It was just that besides the 1st relic and maybeeee the 5th relic, a lot of the relics got resolved in a rather unsatisfying way in the sense that everything just seemed to fall into place rather nicely.
Some scene transitions felt choppy. As for the team, they were moderately likable, but 13 thousand was barely tolerable. The Leopard arc could've had more time put into it and really was such a disappointment because it had so much potential to live up to how terrifying the backstory was (and I also agree that Leopard should've been dubbed better). And the last arc was actually just plain embarrassing.

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