Love in Pavilion

A journey through the battle between humans and demons

finished 8.5/10 🌟
*long review*

What a trip I had with #loveinpavilion
If I'm honest, my main reason for watching this drama was for the supporting roles and I was afraid of finding a boring story, However, I found that I enjoyed the overview more than I expected 👀

Now, let's get to what I liked most:
1) The protagonists, although they had criticism about their chemistry or their acting, I really liked them and enjoyed their moments both individually as individuals... I hadn't had the pleasure of seeing them perform before so I will try to look for more projects from both of them in the future 👏
2) The secondary characters were my main motivation and they didn't disappoint me.
The interesting thing is that most of them they achieved quite a bit of relevance after the drama was recorded, so in terms of strategy I feel that helped a lot.
I will make a special mention to my king Ding Yuxi who for me had the best cameo of all (I say this very objectively) he managed to exceed my expectations 👏✨
3) The special effects and the ost, I must say that they have been my favorites, they were in agreement and managed to capture each of the scenes
Now I'm going to talk about what I didn't like about the drama:
1) I feel it was poorly edited, at times there were scene jumps that left me confused and somewhat dazed
2) I feel like the number of episodes took its toll on them.
36 episodes weren't enough. A drama of this caliber deserved at least 50 episodes. They also wasted their time on the scenes, super lazy and silly.
3) There were characters that bored me to death, characters that drove me crazy, arcs that made me sleepy, and some really ugly costumes 😂
The good thing is that this was told so it didn't ruin my beautiful eyes

Having said all this, I have to be honest:
I knew what to expect and I'm not going to start criticizing it because everything was said in this story being a prequel.
There were actions I would have preferred to have been addressed differently, but I'm satisfied with the overall result.

This concludes this trip. 👏💗

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I finished this drama shortly after it finished airing, but I didn’t get the chance to write a review and put my thoughts down—until now. This was probably one of those dramas where you knew what to expect, but still kept hoping things would change. I didn’t expect everyone to die—the reality of the drama hit me hard. I finally understood why the male lead lived the way he did for the rest of his life.

Love in the Pavilion is the second installment of Fox Spirit Matchmaker, and I have to say, it was the one I looked forward to the most. Here are a few things I think the show did really well, and what I personally loved about it:

1. The Cast & Characters
The cast and the characters they portrayed were incredibly moving. I saw an interview with Liu Shishi and Zhang Yunlong, and I cried when he said:

“After Huaizhu left, one line came up in my heart: I don’t want to change the world anymore. I admit that I was wrong. Can you please give Huaizhu back to me?”

That line stayed with me.

Having Wu Xuanyi, Ding Yuxi, and Meng Ziyi join the supporting cast just made it even better—I was all for it.

2. The OST

The music was powerful. The one song that broke my heart over and over again was Rainie Yang’s “Burning Love.”
There’s a scene in episode 33 where Yitan ends up killing Wangquan—and she gives him the most heartbreaking gift: a dream, her specialty. The dream showed the happy ending that all of us fans were rooting for. I cried so hard when Rainie’s song played, especially at the line: “Whose love can be wider than the universe? It's ours.”

Right before the dream began, Wangquan said:

“No matter how dark the world is, I’m not scared because we have love.”

That line, combined with her gift—a dream—broke the spell he was under.. That whole scene destroyed me—I still cry when I think about it.

3. Story & Themes

The beginning was fun and lighthearted, introducing the supporting cast and their roles. But as the story progressed, the emotional weight became overwhelming—in the best way. If you enjoy adventure, wuxia, and stories of a group of loving individuals coming together for a greater cause, you’ll enjoy this series.

Just be prepared for heartbreak. This series seems to set the foundation for the third part, which I’m really hoping arrives soon—maybe even this year.

Final Thoughts:

A beautifully acted, emotionally intense series with unforgettable moments.

Rating: 8/10

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Better than Red Moon-nope, fizzles just as badly.

Initial visual impact was impressive so I had high hopes, and the sets/backgrounds are far less tacky than Red Moon, but I couldn't fast forward enough by the time I reached 14th episode to the point that I am dropping this. SO MANY and long CGI battles = shoot'em video game scenarios (overkill similar to Til The End of the Moon). Just couldn't get invested to care about the characters.
Guest stars acting and stories are better than leads--that's the only reason I persisted in watching-to see their stories/involvements-so I increased the acting stars to account for these guests. Watchable: ep 23 with Ryan Ding.
FL is the most monotone and emotionless than all her prior roles (where she is generally monotone and expressionless)
ML is handsome but his script is so lame he has little to work with.
Second couple story adds little to the main story.
Dialogue is so much filler to perhaps stretch the story to its 36 episodes.
PS. Now that the show has ended I am binge-watching at 1.25speed-still not much better to but fills the time.
Demon Hunter's Romance was much more enjoyable even with the ending that folks apparently hated.
Perhaps once done, I'll binge speed watch or use it as background noise to see how the story wraps up.

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Beautiful Love story with a heart wrenching ending

I'm writing this review in MDL for the first time because to me LIP is a unique masterpiece combining both wuxia & xianxia genres. Though LIP is part of the 3 series of Fox Spirit Matchmaker, it is the prequel of the 3 series and is the only series which focus on the love between human to human rather than the love between immortals, demons and re-carnations.

WARNING Spoilers Ahead !!!

STORY: The story centers around a group of individuals who want to make peace and reunite the demons and human world as one family. But in order to do this freely they had to wear masks to conceal their identity and to protect those they love. With the male lead Hong Ye as the young master of Wangquan clan and the female lead Huai Zhu as head daughter of the Dongfang clan, two of the five most powerful clans in the Yiqi alliance, they and the rest of the masked members embark on a journey seeking justice for the innocence and punished those who have wronged them. Their journey to unify the 2 worlds is almost impossible but they always has hope to defy fate & say no to evil even if it costs them their lives.

ROMANCE/LOVE - There are 8 couples in the drama and each couple gives us a unique love story - There is selfless/ sacrificial love from Baimu Yao Jun for Du Niang Zi or Cuiyu Ming Luan to Mu Mie, there is love that like of titanic for Mu Xiao Wu & Yang Yan, there is solid pursuing love from Qing Mu Yuan to Zhang Zheng, there is love that develop from friendship/ childhood sweetheart that of Wangquan Zui & Yang  Yi Tan, there is slow burn love develop through mutual understanding between Wangquan Hong Ye & Dongfang Huai Zhu , there is eternal love that lasts for hundreds of years from the devil lord Jiu Huo to black fox Jia Lan and there is sweet unrequited/ unconfessed love from Li Qu Zhou to Dongfang Qin Lan and although it all ends in tragedy their love was healthy, poetic, deep and mature. On top of that there is no love triangle & no misunderstanding (other than a little of that between Mu Mie & leech demon CML), something we would rarely see in wuxia or xianxia genres these days. We also experience the most unconditional and protective love between the siblings for one another, especially the love between the masked individuals as a team. I also really appreciate how the two leads fully trusts and respect each other choices, their love was really maturely sweet.

CHOREOGRAPHY/ CGI- Other than the first 2 episodes the CGI was great and the choreography was especially beautiful and perfect. I love the bamboo solo sword and solo flute choreography from Hong Ye and Huai Zhu. I must say my favourite fighting scene of the whole drama was episode 16, where half of the masked team fighting with Jiu Huo that scene was eye-catching. The fighting scene between the masked team against Black Fox in episode 32-33 was also great, however sadly the team did not fight her as a team and ended up dying.

ACTING: This is the first drama that has all handsome and beautiful superstars in a show. The acting from all the stars from main, supporting to guests were phenomenal. I must praise Ding Yi Xi for his skills in delivering both roles as Zhang Zheng & Anaran at the same time brilliantly (Episode 23). The main leads Liu Shi Shi & Zhang Yun Long may not look like a suitable match for their character in the first few episodes but as the drama progresses it is clear that they are very perfect for the role as Wangquan Hong Ye & Dongfang Huai Zhu especially the last 4 episodes (Episode 33-36). Their acting was very real, they really get you to feel Hong Ye and Huai Zhu’s happiness, loss, sadness & grief in a short amount of time. Their tears have definitely broken my heart.😭

ENDING (SPOILER): I have expected this to be SE as this drama was a prequel for the other 2 series of FSSM - RMP & S&B but actually witnessing almost everyone in masked team dies and none of the living couple ends up with each other is heartbreaking. The last 5 episodes breaks my heart, especially when Hong Ye black turned grey hair in a day, there are no words to explain my feelings for him other than "i’m broken for him". Along with the death of his beloved wife Huai Zhu, Hong Ye's heart has completely shattered. That young swordman full of energy, love and smile is no longer there, what is left is a half dead grey haired 26 years old father continue to look out for his people while forever in mourning for the loss of his beloved wife & his sworn brothers and sisters.
I would have preferred Hong Ye died in that battle along with the rest of the team because Hong Ye does not deserve an ending that is worst than death. But of course, if he had died there would be no Fugui in season 3  . I just hope that in Sword & Beloved, Fugui can finally understand what Hong Ye has been through for him to become who he is and that Hong Ye can finally rest in peace and reunite with his loved ones.

FAV LINES: There are a number of good lines from all the couples however I the lines spoken by Dongfang HuaiZhu in the last episodes are the ones that really broke my heart.
YYT to CML: "Between my life and A Zui's, I would choose hers without a second thought"
CML to MM: "Even if it came late, it's still good. Thank you for being the proof that I was truly alive and truly loved"
QMY to ZZ: "Those who truly love you.... will want you to live for yourself"
DFHZ to TSYY: "In the mortal world, each meeting means lesser time together. I'm envious too that humans and demons can renew their fate in the next life. But Hong Ye and I... we seem to have used up all our luck just to meet each other."  “We don't have much time… but I will love him (Hong Ye) infinitely within the limited time we have.” 😭
DFHZ to WQHY: "Never give up on finding your sword spirit, because the man I love has always been a legendary hero"

What I learned from this drama is a lesson that: Human life is finite but the love for the people is indefinite. There are things we as humans can do and cannot do, however we must not loose love & hope.

In general if you want to experience what is meant by true deep mature love then feeling loss guilt grief then this is the perfect drama for you.  I just hope you won’t fall into depression like me afterwards 🤣

Why is my rewatched value 9/10? Because the end really saddened me and I don't think I can bear to watch episode 32 to 36 again. However I must admit that the ending is what makes this drama a masterpiece and that ZYL's dressing in grey hair was super handsome though his character is super torned at the time 🥰.

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“Love in Pavilion”: Love that make us LAUGH and CRY

I went into Love in Pavilion with zero expectations, honestly, I was a little let down by the first series: Red Moon Pact. I only clicked “play” because of my favorite actress, Liu Shi Shi.
But wow… Love in Pavilion completely caught me off guard.

From the very first episode, I was hooked. There’s no other way to say it, I fell headfirst into the story and couldn’t climb out. I found myself patiently waiting every day for the new two-episode drops. This is the first time I’ve ever followed a drama while it’s still airing, and yet, I’ve been savoring every moment, every emotion, deep down to my bones.

If you've watched Red Moon Pact, you know this series is heading toward a tragic ending. I hate sad endings. But no matter how hard I tried, I just couldn’t stop watching. 🥲🥲🥲

💫 The Story Review: Fighting Darkness with Love
At its heart, LIP mirrors the same conflict as RMP: main characters fighting together to stop the return of the Black Fox, who threaten to destroy the world. Their mission is to restore peace and understanding between human and demon realms.

Not once did I feel bored. The pacing was perfect, balancing tension, adventure, and missions. The storyline is rich in both action and emotion. And oh, the romance... it’s not just the main couple; the side couples add so much soul. Even the villains had their own heartwrenching love stories.
Each one reminded us of one universal truth:
“Love gives us strength to do the impossible for those we cherish.”

I would love to write about each couple’s journey, but I won’t do it. You need to watch and feel it yourself. Some hesitate to watch, fearing the tragic fates of most characters, but let me say this:
"Yes, they die."
"Yes, it’s heartbreaking."
"But they die with love in their hearts, and they took their final breath with their beloved by their side.."

🎭 The Acting Review:
A lot of jealous people say that Love in Pavilion is just a show trying to grab attention with a lineup of A-list stars. But let me tell you, this story flows beautifully because the acting is insanely good.
They nailed every single emotion you can think of:
* Funny. Happy. In love.
* Awkward. Shocked. Determined.
* Scheming. Furious. Heartbroken.
* And yes, even Desperate.
They delivered it all PERFECTLY.
They gave us:
* The joy of young love.
* The silence of grief.
* And the warmth of selfless devotion.
I laughed so much… and cried even more.
Oh no, my heart and my tears 😭😭😭

🎵 The OST Review:
There’s one hauntingly beautiful song I’m absolutely obsessed with. I don’t even know its name yet, but the lyrics pierced my heart:
How can the wind stop? How can cloud stops for us?
The vicissitudes of life never cease.
The time we spend together is too short and unreal.
You blur into a shadow near me.

We are fully committed. We are wholly devoted.
Love has us spellbound. We are lost in waste land.
A lonely boat lies around.
To the moon I tell how much I miss you.

My passion for you never fades.
Its a guardian angel, hovering high in the sky.
Time goes by, stars twinkle and dim.
But our love remains still.

I will give away my everything.
In exhange for a life of joy for you.
There can be many chapters in my life.
The past vanishes, like a dream and a whiff of smoke.
I hope to see you again in the next life, if there is one.

⭐️ Final Thoughts
Never in my wildest thoughts did I think this sequel would outshine Red Moon Pact, but it did. By a mile!
Here I am, pouring my heart into this review, completely hollowed out because it’s over. 💔
To the entire Love in Pavilion team: Thank you for giving us this masterpiece.
See you again soon in Fox Spirit Matchmaker: Sword and Beloved 🥰🥰🥰

📖 Lesson learn from this series.
Sometimes, we give our all, we fight with everything we have, we sacrifice so much, and still, we can’t always get what we want.
There are moments when we’re helpless, unable to change fate, defy the heavens, or go against what the universe has already decided.

❤️🩷🧡💛💚💙🩵💜🤎🖤🩶🩶
PS: Here are a few of the most soul-piercing moments I just want to share:

❤️ Wangquan Hong Ye & Dongfang Huai Zhu
From an accidental meeting to a bond born out of mutual respect for each other's intelligence and fighting skills. After HY saves HZ from the Black Fox’s control:
HZ: “What made you risk yourself to save mine?”
HY: “I haven’t thought about it.”
HZ: “What if the war had ended worse than expected?”
HY: “Still didn’t think about that.”
HZ: “Then what have you thought about?”
HY: “That I must not lose you.” 🥰

In the final episode, when HZ offers up her last spiritual energy to carry their child, knowing she won’t live long enough to see him grow:
HZ: “We don't have much time… but I will love him infinitely within the limited time we have.” 😭

💔 Mu Xiao Wu & Yang Yan
Coming from a humble background, MXW wasn’t accepted by the powerful Yang family. Even when he got betrayed and tortured, in his final breath, he says:
YY: "The Yang family betrayed you."
MXW: "Don't hate them for this."
MXW: "Promise me you will move on, you will have a long life."
MXW: "I wish I could life longer. That way, my beloved woman won't be upset." 😭

💘 Yang Yi Tan & Wangquan Zui
YT and AZ were betrothed since childhood, but as they grew up together, their bond slowly blossomed into true love. For YT, AZ’s safety always came first. After barely surviving a fierce battle against the Demon Jiu Huo..."
CY: “Do you know that using your clairvoyant eye so recklessly could cost you ten years of your life?”
YT: “Between my life and AZui’s... I would choose hers, without a second thought.” 🥰

💞 Mu Mie & Cui Yu
MM is the son of Yang Yan and Mu Xiao Wu, while Cui Yu is a leech demon with two souls within one body: Red Eyes and Blue Eyes. Red Eyes is the warrior, fierce and relentless. Blue Eyes is the healer, gentle and kind.
When MM was gravely injured, Red Eyes made the ultimate choice, to sacrifice herself so that Blue Eyes could return and save him.
CY (Red): “Why do good things always come so late?”
“Even if it came late, it’s still good. Thank you for being the proof that I was truly alive, and truly loved.” 😭

💔 Anaran (Zhang Zheng) & Qing Mu Yuan
Anaran carries a dark secret, he has been living as a substitute for the frail and ailing Zhang Zheng. In the end, Zhang Zheng made the selfless choice to sacrifice himself, so that Anaran could continue living in his place. Both of them loved the same woman, Qing Mu Yuan.
After all those years of Anaran avoiding Qing Mu Yuan, and after she finally uncovered the truth he had hidden.
QMY: “Those who truly love you… Will want you to live for yourself.”
She left Anaran the same note twice, hoping he would understand that Zhang Zheng didn’t give up his life so Anaran could live in guilt, but so he could live a better life.

🐶 Li Qu Zhou & Dongfang Qin Lan
Sometimes, love shows in the tiniest gestures.
LQZ: “Only Dongfang Qin Lan can call me Puppy Li.” 😆

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A Story of Great Love Stories

I went into this not knowing anything about the world, and because I had heard so many mixed reviews, I was honestly worried about whether I would enjoy it or regret starting it. But this drama completely blew my expectations away. The first episodes were extremely confusing — I’m talking about the first 5 to 7 episodes where I genuinely had no idea what was going on. I didn’t understand the world, the clans, the relationships, or even the plot. I was so lost that I actually asked around if I should continue. But once you push past episode 7, everything becomes clear, and from that point on, the drama becomes incredibly engaging. It’s fast-paced, full of action, and never drags. There are no unnecessary misunderstandings, no pointless love triangles — just a straightforward, gripping story that keeps you invested from beginning to end.
This was my first time watching Zhang Yuelong, and honestly, where has this man been all my life? He completely stole the show for me. His acting was phenomenal, and he fit the role so perfectly that I couldn’t take my eyes off him. He made me fall in love with the drama through his performance alone. He was stunning in every scene. His makeup was subtle and flawless, his hair just perfect, his costume design was breathtaking, and every look suited him perfectly. And when he transformed into a demon in the beast clan = with white hair and that snake-demon aura? That was one of my absolute favourite moments in the entire show. I was obsessed. Even his cute mask in the beginning added so much charm — it felt like he was playing a whole different version of himself. And once he put on the more elegant mask later, he became even more gorgeous. And don’t get me started on his smile. Every time he smiled, especially because he’s such a serious character, I literally melted. He smiles with his whole face — you feel it.
This was also my first time watching Liu Shishi, and despite the negative comments I had heard, I think she did a greatjob. Her character is meant to be calm, reserved, and composed, and she played that exactly as intended. She and Zhang Yuelong suited each other so well — visually, emotionally, and chemistry-wise. I didn’t expect to fall in love with the main couple as much as I did, but they became my favourite part of the entire show. Their relationship was supportive, loyal, sacrificial, and just beautifully portrayed. The ending absolutely broke my heart, but it didn’t feel rushed or forced. It was painful, yes, but meaningful and beautifully acted. What destroyed me was thinking about how Hongye had already lost his entire family, clan, and friends — and then he had to lose her too. I’ve rarely felt so much pain for a character before. I honestly just wanted to hug him. The only thing that gave me comfort was the way the story gave him his son, giving him a reason to keep going. Without that, I don’t think I would have been able to accept the ending at all.
The side characters also deserve so much praise. Mixing seriousness, sarcasm, and emotional depth is not easy, but everyone pulled it off. One of the most beautiful aspects of the show for me was the bond within the mask group. I adored them. Their scenes were full of warmth, humour, and brotherhood, which made their deaths unbelievably painful. The way they killed each other in that brutal sequence completely crushed me. I kept hoping for a miracle — anything — right until the last moment, even though I knew it was impossible. Their loss hit me so hard. After episode 34, watching Hongye break over and over again tore me apart. The scenes connected to his sister, especially when he held her mask, were some of the most heartbreaking of the entire drama. The moment in the rain when he screamed and his hair turned white — that was truly an award-worthy performance. I genuinely wondered how he would ever stand up again. And the only believable way for him to heal was exactly what the show chose: giving him a child to hold onto. It made perfect sense, and it was executed beautifully.
Overall, the show is incredible. The CGI isn’t perfect, but honestly that didn’t bother me at all because everything else was so beautifully done. The OSTs were gorgeous and fit every scene perfectly. The costumes were stunning across the board, and the masks added such a unique, elegant touch to the world. The cameos were also beautifully done — I have to admit, I originally started the show because of them, but I stayed for the Zhang. The stories of all the couples were touching and emotional in their own ways, even though none of the mask group members got a truly happy ending. When you think about it, even the ones who survived still suffered deeply, and that heaviness stays with you.
I saw a lot of mixed reviews before starting this, which is why I kept delaying it until the end of the year. But I’m so glad I finally watched it. Love in the Pavilion is a beautiful, emotional masterpiece. It’s heavy on the heart, especially later on, but that’s exactly what makes it unforgettable. The performances were exceptional, the acting was powerful, and the story left a lasting imprint on me. Even the villains were fascinating — Ji Huo especially was an amazing character with a surprisingly touching love story despite its darkness. The actor carried that demon-lord energy effortlessly. Ren Feng, however, didn’t interest me, and I can see he’s just an introduction for something else, but aside from him, everyone did an incredible job.
In the end, this drama will stay with. It’s emotional, tragic, beautiful, and absolutely worth the watch.

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Amazing acting but tragedy ending

This show represent us true friendship and love i love all the cast appreciate work of all crew members ❤
In previous part we already knew that in this part fl died after giving a birth 😪 its tragedy ending every one died only hongye survive but it still worth watching if you want to watch last part of this ahow 🦊*fox spiritmatchmaker sword and beloved*🦊
You should watch this season because it is connected to the next part ⭐⭐⭐
~Spoilers ~
In this show every one die no fate change only leads fate change still female lead died after giving birth 😞😞

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