Love in Pavilion

Awkward portrayal of beautiful concepts

The ending was already shown in fox spirit match maker red moon. i have been curious how my devoted hongye became the terrible father and husband he was portrayed to be but they white washed him. The hongye in this series cannot be the same terrible father as the lore says. All the love stories were great concepts. The cast is blessing to the eye. The main leads were eldest of their home thus they were very reserved in character and love it was a new dynamic. This layed a good base for the upcoming drama. All the main characters died like moth to the flame for nothing.

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Sorry for being biased

Personally, I didn’t like the drama. The only reason I watched it was because of Shen Yue, Ding Yu Xi, and Zhang Ruo Nan. Although I knew they were supporting characters, I believed that even if they had limited screen time, they would appear throughout the drama — and that would be enough for me.

Additionally, I was curious to know who would be Shen Yue’s love interest, and deep down, I hoped it would be Ding Yu Xi. But after watching a few episodes, I realized I was wrong. Nothing was going the way I had hoped. I felt upset. However, I started liking the chemistry between Wu Xuan Yi and Zhai Xiao Wen.

I don't know why I continued watching the drama until the end. Maybe it was just to see my favorite actors and the chemistry between Wu Xuan Yi and Zhai Xiao Wen. But in the end, I was disappointed because many characters had a sad ending.

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Don't get attached to the characters

This one left me a bit speechless. It started off so good and I was getting used to each character. I really loved their bond whether it was family or friends.
In the Bamboo pavilion, there was really love LOL such a cliche thing to say because of the title 'Love in Pavilion'.
Who knew what they saw in the future was really going to happen. I had high hopes that they could out smart that fox demon.
I was wondering if I missed something. I thought Dongfang Qin Lan had powers. If so, why did she became so "weak" like she couldn't fight.
Fast forward, it was a bittersweet love story for Huai Zhu and Hong Ye like she had to become his concubine.... that stressed me out and I think I didn't understand fully the reason. One thing about these leads is that they love their family so they will make sacrifices to do what's necessary. I am glad that Huai Zhu is smart and this will make me want to watch part 3 and hoping their child will have a happy ending atleast.

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GOOD C-DRAMA WITH LOTS OF EXPLAINING ISSUES

ALL THE POSITIVE SIDES OF THIS DRAMA ARE COVERED BY OTHER REVIEWS SO I WILL JUST GET TO MY POINT.
THESE ARE THE FOLLOWING CONFUSIONS ONE MIGHT HAVE AFTER WATCHING THE DRAMA AND THERE ARE NO EXPLANATIONS TO THEM.
-: So First of all Who taught MU MIE , YANG YITAN'S nephew clairvoyance? when they were in the future 20 years later Mu Mie himself said that it was not YANG YITAN who taught him clairvoyance moreover when MU MIE was a toddler Yang YITAN had already died(in the future acc. to MUZHOU) . YANG YITAN is also dead in the present time line so what will happen to MU MIE?

-:Next thing is that they should have shown what happened to QINLAN at last. Although I know she and her hubby were later hunted down and killed by RENFENG leaving behind YUECHU.

-:And now the BIGGEST CONFUSION, in the beginning of RED MOON PACT it was shown that TUSHAN HONG HONG killed/heavily injured a LADY BLACK FOX (Shi ji ,former chief of Tushan )700 years ago to stop human demon war who later made a come back
but according to this drama the BLACK FOX is formed from the resentment of JIA LAN who died 500 years ago which means the BLACK FOX was born 500 years ago. Moreover at the end of RED MOON PACT it was shown that TUSHAN HONG HONG killed the BLACK FOX herself. So WANGQUAN FUGUI son of HONGYE will kill which BLACK FOX. Are there Multiple BLACK FOXES or only one which keeps on regenerating from the endless hate? I think MULTIPLE BLACK FOX theory can be true as JIA LAN was also a BLACK FOX. So if I want to describe or differentiate it then there might be 3 BLACK FOXES- JIA LAN , the one formed from JIA LAN'S resentment and LADY SHIJI(BLACK FOX) , main villain from RED MOON PACT or they might be only one person .

-:One more thing this TUSHAN GRIEF TREE was a matter of emergency. So why didn't TUSHAN HONG HONG help HONG YE and HUAIZHU fight it. That thing was also important for TUSHAN'S well being. I don't find the reason why she won't fight the Black Fox with them .Moreover if she fought with them the story would be totally different right? They only made TUSHAN YAYA give some advice, permission and moral support . This doesn't make any sense .In RED MOON PACT HONG HONG did anything just to protect the Grief tree, didn't even let it have a small scratch so why so ignorant now? I know Yang Mi's cameo might had been a difficult thing to achieve but without her involvement the above mentioned things doesn't make any sense.


P.s -I do know these dramas are standalone but can't help and ponder about these things as they are connected by generations...

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I loved it. It’s 100% better than the first installment here is why

If you watch the Donghua/ read the manhua it starts off exactly the same! The only detail I noticed at the beginning was they switched Qu Zhou to have a bigger role than Zhang Zheng, to which I disagree with. Zhang Zheng is a way more useful confidant/ left hand man than Qu Zhou. To this I gave it 9 stars for the story of Zhang Zheng (played by the amazing and wonderful Ryan Ding) not being a bigger part of the masked daoist.
The main story is spot on and develops exactly like the donghua, if not better! For a 10ep. donghua of Huai Zhu and Hong Ye the screenwriter actually develops their love story where they encounter each other, experience the longing and parting, the deep love and conflict, the heroism of the masked daoists, the righteous and honorable duty of Hong Ye, the tacit understanding between Huai Zhu and Hong Ye, the calm/rational beauty of Huai Zhu, the romantic/gentle/kind/brave Hong Ye, lastly the supporting and protecting of e/o (which is explored more in the adapted drama). It exceeded my expectations and I love the donghua (watched it many times). Their love is the most precious and regrettable thing about wanting to change the world. And the acting of ZYL and Shishi was very natural their on screen chemistry for 85liners is still really good. Their aesthetics was spot on for the characters.
All the side stories were fillers because none of this matters in the actual FSMM world (it’s based on the reunion of lovers between humans and demons in their reincarnated life, not humans). But of all the side stories ZZ and A’yuan was my second favorite (I wished it was explored more at the beginning like I said) b/c the acting and complexity of the characters. Yitan and Zui (although don’t actually have a love line in the donghua I appreciate the screenwriter adding the childhood sweethearts). Mu Mie and the red leech demon (another side story filler that was nice but necessary) I liked the confession portion.

I cannot get the OST out of my head it’s been on repeat since it aired and finished airing. Knowing that Shi shi sang Half Love and Yunlong (composing and singing) Bamboo Night. The chills I get from Zhou Shen Mandala and Zhang Bichen Like Smoke every time I hear it brings back the memories of tall the masked daoist and ZhuYe love.

Also, to all those who thought this was going to be a HE drama or hoping the screenwriter to change the ending. From the moment they released the IP and finished wrapping they have already marketed it as a BE/SE even in the donghua it’s the saddest story out of all of them. This gives way to the next story Wang Quan Arc. So don’t judge solely b/c it’s a SE. Every story has its journey and the most beautiful endings are those that leave the deepest impressions. The saying of “having lost is to know love” or “to know grief is to know love.” I still have yet to walk away from this drama it’s my 4th time watching it. Plus, rewatching it actually makes it more beautiful to understand Huai Zhu and Hong Ye.

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Thanks for the Trauma, I Was Just Trying to Have a Good Time

I wasn’t even a wuxia fan before this, but wow, they really said “let’s give you trauma” and delivered. I came for Liu Shi Shi, and now I’m emotionally wrecked, fully invested, and questioning my life choices.
The cast? Absolutely stunning. I couldn’t take my eyes off them, not just because of their visuals, but because they embodied their roles with such depth and conviction. Even as someone who doesn't usually go for wuxia dramas, I found myself completely absorbed. Every scene was dripping with emotion, and the chemistry between the leads was undeniable.

What hit hardest was the sheer emotional weight of it all. The storyline is beautifully tragic, filled with clutch-tightening tension, heartbreak, and themes of love, sacrifice, and fate. The trauma was personal. Just when you think you’re safe, the show hits you again with another devastating reveal.

Now, I’m spiraling. I need to know everything. What happened to their child? Did Lady Black Fox actually win? I didn’t expect to get pulled into a whole franchise, but here I am, planning to watch every single arc and every reincarnated character storyline.

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A Time Paradox Not Fully Explained - Tragic but Fascinating Story

If you are looking for a drama packed with first-tier good-lookers, this one delivers—big time. With a star-studded cast including Liu Shi Shi, Zhang Yun Long, Ding Yu Xi, and Meng Zi Yi, the screen practically glows. Even the guest roles are top-tier, featuring fan-favourites like Peng Xiao Ran, Hou Ming Hao, and Chen Yi Qi.

At the heart of the story is Dongfang Huaizhu, who falls for a mysterious masked vigilante—leader of the Mask Gang, a group fighting for justice in the shadows. She does not know his face, but love blossoms. When she discovers that her masked hero is actually Wangquan Hongye, head of the YiQi Alliance and the powerful WangQuan clan - someone she deeply mistrusts, she is devastated—and abruptly ends the relationship.

Things take a darker turn when Huaizhu is captured by the Demon Lord Jiu Huo, transported 20 years into the future, stripped of her memory, and turned into a demon. Hongye and the Mask Gang must time-travel to rescue her, but standing in their way are formidable foes—Jiu Huo and his lover Jia Lan, who seek to plunge the world into eternal darkness.

But here is the twist: according to the history they learn in their time-travel, 18 years ago which is two years after their time-travel, they perished in a devastating war against Jiu Huo and Jia Lan. The YiQi Alliance collapsed, and the noble families were destroyed. This war happens after their time-travel, which means they go into war with full knowledge of who they are against.

If they return to the past, they are essentially walking into the very war they already lost.

Can they win this time? It introduces a classic time-loop paradox that is never fully explained. Logically, if they return, nothing would change as history has reflected the full outcome of that return.

Yet somehow, some things change—and some things do not. How is that possible? The drama does not offer a satisfying answer. In the end, the time-loop logic is left unresolved, relying more on emotion than coherence.

Despite all the loss and sacrifice, I am not easily moved—but I will admit, seeing the team fall apart under demonic manipulation tugged at something. And the ending? Quietly tragic in a way that lingers.

On a brighter note, the OST is excellent, with a lovely closing theme that captures the emotional tone beautifully.

All in all, despite a few narrative stumbles, I still rate this highly. A solid 9/10 for its strong cast, visual appeal, emotional beats, and unforgettable moments.

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Sleeper drama - WAY better than Red Moon Pact!

I've noticed a lot of people saying the same things. I went into this drama with little to no expectations because of how bad Red Moon Pact was (I did not finish the predecessor lol). I was pleasantly surprised at how this drama slowly pulled me in episode by episode...

The ML is a big reason for this. I have not watched Zhang Yun Long before but after watching LIP, I am a fan. His character Wangquan Hongye is my favorite in this drama. He's powerful and completely goal driven, but as serious as his life and situation is he still doesn't have a serious or boring personality. He's playful and caring towards the ones he loves and when he falls in love, he's an absolute adorable puppy dog. By the end (SPOILER) he had me crying with him. ZYL did an excellent job in the last two episodes and really portrayed how broken, empty and hopeless of a man he became after losing most of the people he cared about. But then allowing in a smidge of happiness when becoming a father and soldiering on.

As for the FL, Liu Shi Shi is not my favorite actress but I don't hate her at all. I have mixed feelings about the character Dongfang Huiazhu. LSS's face is beautiful and I had no idea she was in her late 30s until I looked it up, but she's just not very expressive with that gorgeous mug lol There's also not much range in her voice when she's portraying different emotions. None of these opinions would put me off from watching her again though. At the end of the day I still think she's watchable and effective. I still found myself rooting for the main CP's romance from ep 1. They looked great together and were a perfect match when it came to their personalities and powerful positions in their families. I found their love to be sweet and you could see by the end how deeply they cared for each other. There were also no competing love interests or misunderstandings that led to unnecessary break-ups etc...

Side characters: besides the ML, the rest of the characters shown brighter for me. The entire Masked Group stole my heart, especially Li Gou and Wangquan Zui. Shen Yue's character, Dongfang Qin Lan was very pretty and hilarious as well. Only two of the side couples had enough scenes to make them significant. The first CP is Wangquan Zui and Yang Yitan of course. Their love story was so natural and innocent. The 2nd CP was Zhang Zheng and Qingmu Yuan. That story was great and the actors killed it like always. I did want to see more of Red Eyes and Mu Mie/Qin Lan and Li Gou. But neither of those stories turned into anything positive.

The villains: I like Lin Bo Rui but his acting here was just okay. He has such a cute face too but there was zero emotional sell for his character. At the end of the day, he got the job done I guess. Jia Lan was very pretty but we didn't get enough scenes with her not in smoky Black Fox form for me to care for her. But the entity of the Black Fox itself was a formidable antagonist. She made you terrified of her and hate her at the same time. Jin Renfeng was a useless weasel in my opinion. I couldn't stand his face or listen to his voice so I mostly spaced out during his scenes. The Nangong family were better villains but they weren't significant for long.

The ending: This drama ending was not a happy one, but it was actually executed well for a xianxia. The story ended on a straightforward and impactful note. Both the lead actors did a great job in last 2eps as well.

Music/Cinematography: The songs are sweet and catchy. Very fitting for the drama. The visual effects weren't awesome but not offensive. The costumes were nice and all the characters looked great in my opinion.

Overall, I'm happy I gave this drama a chance despite not liking RMP. I got way more into it than I expected to and got so attached to my Masked Group :( I'm actually excited for Sword and Beloved now. Please don't let us down!

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If beauty of love and relationships can be expressed through a drama

This is my first ever review on MDL despite being an active user since 2020. I felt compelled to write this review since this drama has really touched my heart. It’s officially my favorite Xianxia of all time. I had no idea what to expect heading into this drama, I’ve not watched RMP and neither have I read any of the novels. I’m a Liu Shi shi fan so was excited to watch her new drama. I was mind blown from the very first episode – the music, the VFX, the action sequences, the costume, the background, the storyline, the suspense. I have to confess I’m also a fan of all the secondary leads so it definitely helps to have such a star studded lineup.

Wangquan hong ye – I can’t begin to express my love for him. I am ashamed to admit, I didn’t particularly like Leon Zhang before LIP. I’ve only watched him in the furthest distance, and his character was quite weak in the series. His portrayal of Hong ye has blown me away. He is my absolute favourite character in the whole series, (even without watching the other parts). He literally had the weight of the world on his shoulders through the drama, trying to overcome the eternal night and maintain peace between humans and demons. I felt bad for him initially when huai zhu gave him grief for his scheming and cunning mindset. Give the boy some love, he was only trying to do the right thing. He is such an amazing actor, I felt every emotion he went through in the drama. He is also damn gorgeous in this drama. Fell in love with his snake demon look, gosh, melting heart types. I’ve become a proper Leon Zhang fan now, stalking his profile and watching all his previous dramas. I’m not sure how to get over his character.

Dongfang Huai zhu – What a character, I loved everything about her. She is beautiful, powerful & independent. I can totally understand why Wangquan Hong ye was captivated by her from the very first episode. I think any male character would be in love with Huai zhu as well, haha. Liu shi shi nailed this role. She totally made up for the initial pain she gave Hong ye by showering him with love in the second half of the drama.

Storyline: Love the story from start to finish. Every episode was exciting and there was a logical conclusion to the story. All the side characters and their stories contributed to the main story.

I cannot ignore the last 6 episodes, I don’t remember any drama in recent history where I’ve cried straight through the last few episodes and also for a week straight after. The ending is tragically beautiful, it makes sense. Your heart absolutely breaks for Hong ye though, you wonder why he has to go through so much pain. One scene sticks in my mind, when the midwife told he has a son, his first reaction was how is huai zhu? ☹ His love always come first and foremost to him.

I’m waiting for Sword and Beloved, hope their son makes everything worth it in the end.

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This is better than red moon pact but main leads lacks love part they concentrate on killing black fox, they say hongye is arrogant planning cunning i feel dingyuxi is better than him hongye as calm and innocent face whereas yuxi will be perfect for arrogant look he has micro expressions , plot was good I watched every single episodes without skipping bcz in next season I'm waiting for CHENGYI (he is the god of costume dramas) so I should not confuse the storyline.
Everyone as favourite couple but mine is Huaizu mom and dad story eventhough she has ulterior motive he loved with whole heart. Okay let's wait for chengyi masterpiece acting ...

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Love, sacrifice and everything in between

This drama initially felt like a lot to take in, given its expansive world and numerous characters. However, as each character's story unfolded, I grew to genuinely love them. It's a classic tale of love, sacrifice, and saving the world, but what makes it truly special is its masterful role as a prequel, seamlessly setting the stage for the other dramas in the Fox Spirit series.

While I started watching for Zhai Xiaowen and was curious about Ding Yuxi, it was Zhang Yunlong's presence that truly captivated me. This is his first drama that I watched, and I was utterly blown away by his stunning visuals and undeniable talent. His chemistry with Liu Shishi was explosive!

If you're a fan of both heartwarming romance and thrilling fight sequences, this drama is definitely for you! A must-watch for drama series enthusiasts.

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