Love it!!
I love everything about this drama. It so good.Strong FL, that can fight and be independent. Has her own motives and goals - not just falling in love with the ml. She just not a crybaby or dismal in distress waiting to be save. She can fight on pier with the ml, she smart and help the ml push the story forward and achieve their goals (even pointed out by the ml himself to be relieved he doesn't have to watch his back when fighting cause she their fighting with him). Same as ml, he has his own goals and motives not just falling for the fl.
Both main leads compliments each other and love how both don't have a powerful position but still can make a difference - makes the drama interesting. You can feel the chemistry between them. Love how flirty and bold the fl lead is. The acting is good as well. The aesthetic is nice, costume, makeup, accessory, the action packed fighting scenes so well done and perfect. What else can you ask for!!
The bromance between the leads and his comrade are top tier, their interaction are funny and entertaining to watch. Really the highlight of the drama. Made me cry at the end, very touching the length and trust they have/go for each other.
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This drama left a deep impression on me and had a huge emotional impact.
I saw this drama through tiktok, it was put under cdrama's with sad endings, but i told myself i will watch it regardless and find out for myself if this drama is worth the pain.Ps: Keep it in mind that i saw it under sad ending cdrama's but i knew next to nothing about the plot and i naively prepared myself for the main leads death, how foolish i was i did'nt know yet.
Things i loved:
1. The opening premise of this series, it not only did a good job of setting the tone but it was unique.
2. The introduction of ren ruyi.
2. The introducton of ning yuanzhou.
3. The introduction of the ludiao hall and scarlet guards especially the divisions in ludiao hall.
4. The brotherly bond between yuanzhou, sun lang, yuan lu, qian zhao, yu shisan .
5. The character development of A'ying .
6. The ost.
7. The costumes and sets.
8. The choreography of the fighting scenes.
9. The redemption arc of the emperor of wu.
10. EVERYTHING ABOUT THIS DRAMA.
The things i disliked:
1. The way my son (yuan lu) died 😢.
2. The death of qian zhou.
3. The death of the king of wu after he finally got his act together and his death made qian zhou's death meaningless.
4. The way sun lang died without a dog or cat in his arms.
5. The death of the emperor of An and his second son , they should have died slowly and painfully begging to be put out of their misery for colluding with beipan and being the major cause behind the other character's deaths.
Everything about this drama was beautifully put together and if youre unwilling to watch because of the things i mentioned above pls watch regardless, you won't regret it.
Ps: i cried so hard when yuan lu died, i would have given anything for him to survive.
I enjoyed this drama so much that i started writing this review immediately i finished ep 40(last ep).
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Powerful and captivating story!!
This story has captivated me since I started, the highlight of the story is the characters and the well-done plot, Li Yuning and Li shishi gave a great performance! In addition to forming a beautiful couple, with so much harmony, fire and passion, that you find yourself rooting for the couple until the end, the other characters are just as charismatic, such as the womanizing Shi San and always in a good mood. This ending didn't leave me with a bitter taste in my mouth like I thought it would, I thought it was coherent, there was no way they could get out of this alive, I was happy because run yu and yuan zhou had children as they planned and everyone is well and happy together on "another plane" I definitely recommend it and would watch it again.Was this review helpful to you?
A wuxia drama with a sad ending.
I just reviewed RISE OF THE PHONEXIES with a sad ending. This wuxia drama focus on spies and behind-the-scenes fighters who gave their lives to fight the war for their kings. The conflicts and theme in this wuxia genre is different from Palace drama.1. Overall plot is about the struggles and lifes of spies and assassins. Two assassins from two different sects meet, fight, argue about their ideals. Finally, they fall in love, married and carried on their duties, without regret to continue to fight the war. The kingdoms involved can switch sides and be enemies or friends. So volatile.
2. The drama shows the comradeship of the closely-knitted members. And how they solve issues.
3. The 40 episodes can be divided into 3 arcs. First arc focus on the romantic story between the two main characters. The 2nd arc focus on the ways to get good diplomatic relations between kingdoms. With the hope to avoild war. The third arc is about the feelings of the characters when facing possibility of death. When war and deaths are unavoidable. The sad ending with so many deaths shows the desperation of the situation and make me believe in ancient times, this did happen.
4. I gave it an overall rating of 8.5 because of the story and the acting. I like Liu Shi Shi's acting in this drama as she plays a matured adult role. I have watched a few of her dramas, and I like this role the best. Liu Yu Ning has good acting skills. Great supporting casts.
5. Excellent fighting and battle scenes.
Watch out for the last scene of the drama and decide if the ML and FL has descendants or is it just a dream?
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GREAT DRAMA
The best drama of all the dramas I watched in 2023. Every episode is very entertaining and enjoyable. Many episodes are funny too. I like the teamwork, brotherhood & love portrait in the drama. There’s no boring scenes and all 40 episodes ended so fast. I wish it has longer episodes. Thought the ending is sad ending NOT bad ending but I don’t regret watching & didn’t feel sad. Only sad the drama ended.All the actors & actresses portrayed their roles very very well. The chemistry between them are so good. The main leads Liu Shi Shi & Liu Yu Ning are superb.
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This is the Assassin we needed - Beauty, brains, and a body count. My kind of heroine. and That eerie, echoey trap beat that plays when she wipes out a room? Gives chills. Like death has a soundtrack.
I hope we see more female leads like this! Okay now for my review
Journey to Love is a refreshing take on the wuxia/romance genre that blends action, strategy, and heart into a compelling story. The drama follows Ren Ruyi, a skilled assassin bound by duty, and Ning Yuan Zhou, a principled leader, whose paths intertwine as they face betrayals, shifting loyalties, and dangerous missions.
What makes this drama stand out is its well-rounded characters. Ren Ruyi is not your typical female lead—she’s sharp, resilient, and carries the scars of her past with grace. Ning Yuan Zhou’s calm yet determined nature balances her fiery spirit, and their chemistry feels natural and emotionally deep. Supporting characters, especially those in the Six Realms, also shine, each with their own motivations and struggles that add layers to the story.
The romance is subtle but powerful—it doesn’t rely on clichés, instead growing out of mutual respect, shared burdens, and unspoken emotions. Their relationship develops quietly against the backdrop of political intrigue, making every moment between them feel earned.
Visually, the show is a treat: the fight choreography is fast, fluid, and beautifully shot, while the cinematography captures both the vast landscapes and the intimacy of character-driven scenes. The costumes and set designs are elegant, enhancing the drama’s immersive quality.
If there’s a downside, it’s that the pacing slows in some middle episodes, where political maneuvering overshadows the main storyline. Some viewers may also wish for more lighthearted moments, as the tone leans on the heavier side.
Verdict:
Journey to Love strikes a rare balance between wuxia action and heartfelt romance. With strong performances, sharp writing, and a relationship that feels authentic, it’s a drama that lingers long after the final episode. A must-watch for fans of mature, emotional storytelling.
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So good!
This is easily one of the best c-dramas of 2023. It does not use the same lame tropes so many other dramas fall victim to. There are no unnecessary plotlines or characters, no continuous cycle of misunderstanding and miscommunication. The drama has meaningful character development, romantic chemistry, and one of the most wholesome and healthy relationships I've ever seen.There were, of course, some problems. Li Tongguang's (LT) was a terribly written character. His continuous obsession with Ruyi was extremely frustrating . The writers went out of their way to keep him incompetent until the very last episode. His immaturity caused a lot of people to die unnecessarily. After the emperor was killed, it was pretty unbelievable that the first thing he chose to do as the new regent was to poison Ruyi and force her to marry him, just for her to be rescued by Yuanzhou in the same episode, and for Yuanzhou to tell LT for the 100000000th time that he was a creep and a coward. This was especially frustrating because it happened after LT had really good scenes with Princess Yang Ying making it seem like he was getting over his infantile obsession with Ruyi. The show also fixated too much on the Ruyi and Yuanzhou's love story. Yes, we all loved them. They became a couple early and it was refreshing to see them having mutual understanding, respect and love, without falling back on jealousy and miscommunication. But, the writers should've given more screen time to other couples too. I really wanted to see more romantic chemistry between LT and Princess Yang Ying.
Princess Yang Ying was one of my favorite characters who went through the most intense character development. She started as a meek and weak girl just to grow into a strong person taking charge of her life. There was no character regression from better to worse. Everything that happened to her was on point and only contributed to her character growth.
The romance between Ruyi and Yuanzhou was unbelievably wholesome. Yuanzhou was written as every girl's dream man - tall and handsome, strong, kind and attentive, loving and understanding, not obsessive or overly-jealous, intelligent, a friend, a leader, a fighter and protector. The guy was perfect. He let Ruyi handle her business but also protected her when she needed protecting. And, Ruyi didn't magically turn into a damsel-in-destress as soon as a man entered her life.
The message of the show was incredibly meaningful - friendship, loyalty, country, love, and staying true to yourself. I was also impressed by how the characters went out of their way to stress the importance of having respect for women and often said things that we as audience were feeling when someone *ahem* Li Tongguang *ahem* acted like a mentally deranged creep.
I have to say something about the ending. A lot of people hated it, but I thought it was ok. I don't think the main couple died. Some people interpret the ending as symbolic or metaphorical or just Chu Yue's dream. I can't agree. We never saw anyone actually dying, but a lot of suggestive scenes that someone supposedly died. For characters who successfully faked their death throughout the show, they faked it again to be able to walk away and to start a family in seclusion, just like Yuanzhou wanted from the very beginning. And, Ruyi followed him because she couldn't imagine life without him. If it was Yang Ying in the last scene, the death scenario would've made more sense because she was very close with Ruyi and Yuanzhou. Chu Yue - not so much. When Chu Yue saw the boy, she immediately imagined Yu Shisan because that was her last memory of him. Instead, it was someone else who was named after Yu Shisan bearing Yuanzhou's last name. Yuanzhou named his son in honor of his best friend who died. The only red flag was the boy wearing white and riding a white horse, white traditionally being the color of mourning in China. But the idea that death came to reunite Chu Yue with her friends in the afterlife, most of whom she didn't even have a chance to develop a relationship with, looking like Ruyi's and Yuanzhou's son who was never even born, is some crazy mental gymnastics I am not willing to entertain.
The acting was good. I loved Alen Fang's portrayal of Yu Shisan, who was so goofy and adorable. This was such a pleasant surprise after my disappointment with his performance in the Long Ballad. And, of course, Liu Yuning will forever be my favorite.
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Best drama to end 2023 with - make sure you have a tissue box watching the last 5 episodes!
I was so excited to watch this series as Liu Shi Shi is finally coming back after her last drama in Lost Love in Times. Finally watching Liu Yu Ning as a ML was super exciting as well. I first saw him in The Long Ballad as a second ML. He's known for his songs in OST so finally watching him as a ML made me love him more.This series has so many actors/actresses that you have seen in other dramas so it's really nice seeing everything in another drama together.
Alen Feng and Liu Yu Ning was in The Long Ballad together and they acting was so good in that series, but this series, their acting definitely blew my mind. I honestly fell in love with Yu Ning throughout the whole series and Alen character just made you laugh so much.
Maggie Huang - Jin Mei Niang, you should know her from Eternal Love and also in Princess Agents and Lost Love in Times.
Chen Du Ling - Xiao Yan [Empress of Wu State] who is also in Till the End of the Moon along with Zhang Zhi Xi - Jia Ling [Scarlet Guard Right Emissary]. She was the Phoenix Goddess.
Ye Xiao Wei - Li Shou Ji / Prince He Dong [An State] & Chen Xiao Yun - Noble Consort Chu both from Novoland: Pearl Eclipse
It was really nice to see so many actors/actresses from previous dramas all together.
When I started watching episodes 1 to 34 ,I couldn't believe how good the whole drama has been, whether it's the romance, the plot, or the character dynamics. The cast and martial arts was just phenomenal and shocked my mind that I knew this was the drama I wanted to end 2023 with.
They released the express package for episodes 35-40 today and I watched it in one sitting (make sure you have a tissue box by your side). Last time I cried this hard was in One and Only and holy that was only last 3 of me crying in that drama.
But I'm pretty disappointed on how it was so rushed, it was just one dead after another. We foresaw what would happen to Yu Shi San has it was in the opening with his eyes covered but I didn't think he was going to die. When Qian Zhao and Sun Lang died in the war, I just couldn't stop crying in episode 35.
When episode 36 started when Yuan Lu was going to An and he pasted by where Ru Yi and Yuan Zhou was, I was so sad that Yuan Zhou didn't go out to see if it was Yuan Lu or not. But then Yuan Lu decide to go back and check if it was Yuan Zhou and decided to not go inside to check made me so sad and mad! It would have been Yuan Zhou last time to see Yuan Lu.
In episode 37 where Ru Yi and Yuan Zhou got married and 3 butterflies showed up, I believe it was Qian Zhao, Yuan Lu, and Sun Lang congratulating them on their wedding as at that time Ru Yi and Yuan Zhou didn't know they past yet until later on in the episode.
Fast forwarding to episode 39 and 40, in 39, we see Yu Shi San fighting so bravely but didn't see his death, like didn't even show his body. Then in 40 we see Yuan Zhou stabbed like crazy and then "died" and Ru Yi goes on a suicide mission and then boom 10 years later. -- way to rushed in the last 2 episodes. We see Chu Yue in the field and then a male in a white horse coming towards her. We later find out it's a boy and his name is Ning Shi San and he has a sister name Ren Lu, meaning Yuan Zhou and Ru Yi didn't die.
Ning Shi San also mention the horse was a gift from Uncle Ding, Ding Hui is from Liu Dao Tang and we didn't see him die. Qian Zhao gave Ning Yuan Zhou the life preserving pill earlier, it’s very likely he could have taken it after his stab wounds, either by his own memory or saved by Ding Hui.
In the start of the show both of Ru Yi and Yuan Zhou faked their own deaths as they wanted to live peacefully/Ru Yi wanted to find out the murder of Queen An. It's a fitting end for them to end the show with fake deaths to have their Happily Ever After.
Ning Shi San took his father's surname while his sister, Ren Lu took his mother's surname. Ruyi mentioned she wanted a girl not a boy at the start of the series. It's so cute they name their kids after Yu Shi San and Yuan Lu.
Ning Shi San mention his mother likes swordsmanship while his father is good at making wine. There was a conversation between Ru Yi and Yuan Zhou when they were discussing what they wanted to do after the mission. Ru Yi mentioned how they can go to a small island for a break when Yuan Zhou tire of the world and Ru Yi can practice swordsmanship while Yuan Zhou farm and hunt. Since Yuan Zhou can't farm or hunt while living in town, he turned to making wine instead.
Honestly they should have made done 42 or 43 episodes for this drama or one or two specials to make the fans happy. It was way to rushed in the last 2 and it would have been nice to have a better ending.
Still a drama I would highly recommend!
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The drama that touched my soul
When I first heard of this drama, I tried to watch the beginning but I didn't have enough time to watch it so I waited for a few more months. After when I had enough time to see it, the female lead ATE! That's when I knew the show was going to be good. I was also aware of the heart aching ending but it isn't my first time seeing these kinds of ending.I feel bad for Liu Yu Ning being the most bullied actor for his looks, but man doesn't even look "ugly" like many call him. He executed his roles perfectly and I thought that was fine as hell. The costume choice and hair works really well on him too. An amazing singer for OSTs I would say. He's successful and laughing to the bank while haters will just hate.
I haven't heard much about Liu Shishi, but she did amazing in this drama. Although she is a cold assassin, I like that she shows some emotions unlike many other actors when playing a cold and aloof characters. At least express some joy on your face for once, it's going to get boring if viewers are seeing the same facial expression throughout the show. However, this drama got feelings and I am living for that. Speaking of facial expressions, there's also the actor playing Qian Zhao, man I love this character because he can cracks jokes with a poker face. There was a time when he wanted to kill the freed emperor to avenge his Heaven Realm brothers, you can hear the pain in his voice. Props for him as well.
I absolutely adored the combat scenes with Ning Yuanzhou and Ren Ruyi, that was extremely satisfying to watch. The agile movements and how they escape flying blades and arrows by a hair. Their sword moves *chef kiss*
One thing that made me go "huh?" was the last five episodes. Although I gave this show an overall 10/10, there were pretty random moments. The wedding scene, Yang Ying just appeared and declared her marriage with Li Tongguang for political reasons, I think that could've been done better? And the death scene of the Six Realms brothers just stacking on top of one another feels a bit rushed. Yuan Lu could've died a more honorable death rather than from exhaustion. However, every death of the Six Realm brothers that occurred felt like a knife cut in the heart huhu.
I want to say that they are reunited at the end after death, but who's kid is that at the end? Did NYZ and RRY fake their deaths? I need this question answered by the production team. I don't want to have my own interpretation. I don't remember the Chu Yue having any close bond with RRY and NYZ to be able to have an imagination of their kid.
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Bold, epic with a slight stumble to the end
There is a lot to love about this drama - it is epic in scope and dares to tell a complicated tale not only of love but also of friendship, duty to one's country and respect for your fellow man (or woman). Above all, it features many complex characters that develop throughout, notably several strong female characters including our fearless female lead, Ren Ruyi (played by Liu Shi Shi).Ren Xin, a former deputy leader of the Scarlet Guards of the State of An, is framed for the death of Empress Zhaojie and forced to reinvent her identity as Ren Ruyi. While on her own quest to avenge the Empress, Ruyi comes across Ning Yuanzhou (Liu Yuning), himself also the former deputy leader of the State of Wu's Liudao Pavilion (a sort of spy organization not dissimilar to An's Scarlet Guards), who is busy trying to leave the world of court politics behind. They find themselves working together and join the diplomatic entourage bearing special envoy Prince Li (who is actually Princess Yang Ying in disguise) to An to rescue the Emperor of Wu.
While the story may sound complicated on paper, it is actually quite easy to follow and watch, a testament to the strength of the show's writing and performances. Particularly in the first half of the drama, with the entourage's long journey as the framework for the show, we get a terrific balance of adventure, exciting fight sequences and character development. Under Ruyi and Yuan Zhou's guidance, Yang Ying (He Lan Dou) transforms from cowardly princess to steely prince in what is to me the most satisfying and interesting arc of the entire show. Along the way, we also get to know NYZ's gang: the pretty playboy Yu Shi Shan (a hilarious Alen Fang), kind and cheerful Yuan Lu (Chen You Wei), stoic and loyal Qian Zhao (Wang Yi Zhe), and lover of all furry things Sun Lang (Li Huan).
At midway, the drama sags a bit when Li Tong Guang (relative newcomer Chang Hua Sen) meets up with the rest of the cast as his character devolves into an injured puppy in what is probably the least desirable arc of the show - his obsession over his former master Ren Xin. I would not have minded a few episodes of this, as I understand what the writer was probably going for. Having suffered a difficult childhood and losing his mother and master during his youth, I can see why he would latch onto his master at their reunion, but 10 episodes of this is overwrought and threatens to undermine his character's development from boy to man and from general to de facto leader of a nation. Fortunately, LTG's scenes with Yang Ying towards the end of the drama somewhat salvage things for me. But it is a bit too little too late.
Then we have the final 6 episodes or so, which zoom by at a more frenzied pace, making one wish perhaps less time spent on obsessive LTG would have translated to a smoother build to the climax and a more satisfying conclusion. And while I enjoy Chu Yue's (and Chen Hao Yu's performance) scenes with Yu Shi Shan, from a writing standpoint the story did not really need her character in there to work. Personally, I would have liked the ending scene to have included YY and LTG instead. Looking at the narrative and characters, these two are the most affected by our main leads, and lacking a conclusion (or at least some kind of denouement) to their story is a disappointment.
Ultimately, however, the many merits of this drama outweigh the downsides, and this is one you do not want to miss for this year if only for the truly great creation of many strong, multifaceted female characters (including villains). If I had watched this before Story of Kunning Palace (to which I gave a 9), I probably would have rated Kunning lower, as this is by far the superior of the two recent costume dramas in terms of story, characters, performances and music.
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It's a journey you must watch!
For the first time in a long while, I'm able to watch a drama without skipping any episode. I applaud the writer for her originality and most importantly, making the flow of the story very sensible and entertaining. In addition to that, the directors did a fantastic job for bringing the story to life. All the characters in the show are well rounded regardless if they are the main, sub main, or supporting characters. I would blab for too long if I talk about each character that stands out to me (because they all do!) in the show, so I will only briefly mention my top three favorites. Liu Yu Ning played his character, Ning Yuan Zhou, flawlessly. I already liked him in the Long Ballad, but now it's more like love. Liu Shi Shi's comeback to drama land as Ren Ruyi has been her best performance so far. I love the fact that the writer made the two main characters so similar and fitting for each other; Both are leaders, strong willed, smart, and loyal to their country and men til the end, yet when they stand apart they both shine differently. You will need to watch the show to appreciate the chemistry between Ning Yuan Zhou and Ren Ruyi because words cannot justify the feelings you get when watch the main leads tangle. Yang Ying is the third character that I came to love. She is the one that I see has grown the most in her character as she journeyed into the unknown and utilized the power of her royal blood not for her selfish desire but her country.This drama overall started well and ended well, but not satisfactory (warning for those who wish for a happy ending). However, because of the merits the drama has built up (i.e. character development A+, story development A+, music A+), I came to accept the ending as is. My one and only complaint of this show is the last scene in the last episode. I feel it should be Yang Ying instead of Chue Yue because Yang Ying had a closer relationship with all the members of Luido Hall and Ruyi. She was practically part of the gang! Her presence in the last scene would generate a stronger sense of appreciation of seeing Ning Yuan Zhou, Ruyi, and the rest of gang galloping through the fields and tie it all up nicely. Would I watch it again? Of course! 40 hours of your life will be well spent if you binge this show (and it should be binged).
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now I know why AJTL is loved
just ended show today.I never cried this much since one and only.
where should I start? indeed living up to the title a journey to love. initially I was kind of weirded out with Ruyi’s philosophy of having child without loving her partner, then I realised it was actually her journey to learn how to love and since then it was beautiful.
starting from the leads. I love both of them truly. balanced, equals. one thing that stood out for me is while ruyi wield the sword fiercely, yuanzhou, being talented as well, felt protected by her and these gender swapping features are just amazing. their understanding towards each other goes deep and they respected each other decisions.
coming from ADWAD, I found his acting here stable, definitely need improvements for e.g. his grief towards the end. other than that, he’s fine and his character definitely goes to be one of my fav.
for Liu Shishi, damn, she just rocked. her cold side assassin, her expressions just cold, icy stare. but as she spend time with NYZ and the others, her warm side started to show. and acted like a girl by his side. her laugh broke that cold side of her. one thing I loved between them was the hugs. I always noticed her expressions, everything about Ruyi towards him, was expressed.
moving on towards our brothers. they have my heart. Yu shisan, Qian Zhao, yuan Lu, Sun lang. friends, comrades, family. they reunited at the beginning only to part for eternity in the end.
they brought me so much laughter, heartwarming smiles and eventually heartbreaking tears. I teared so much towards the end, for each of them.
story and music production was top notch. acting, mostly were good. I did notice towards the end how scenes didn’t flow as well as earlier episodes.
best standout characters: Yu Shisan & Yang Ying
one regret that the show should expand more (instead of Li Tongguang) is Yu shisan and his love arc with Chu Yue. I honestly didn’t expect when that happened and expected more!
Li tongguang character growth was so uneven and it bothered me till the end when he want to stay away from Ruyi then snatched her to be his bride, then somehow his arc with NYZ just closed off like that? nah, not believable.
Yang Ying is GOAT.
her character development was just amazing. cried for her.
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