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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This review may contain spoilers
Loved every aspect of this! All the characters was soooooo lovable! Yes-even LTG. The core 6 was so adorable and cute. Their Journey was filled with so much blood. But even then, they found little moments to enjoy each other's presence and to even fall in love - RY and NYZ. The main couple was so mature about their relationship. They were both clear with what they want. They communicated with one another and confided with one another which brought so much trust even when one was a spy and the other was an assassin. LSS did amazing as always and killed it with her role. LYN did a great job bringing the awesome and talented leader of Six Realms Hall to life. The character that surprised me the most was Princess YY who had the most character development- from someone so naiive and weak to someone who was brave and intelligent all thanks to her "parent' NYZ and RRY. I am glad that she did not become someone who betrays her people but stayed so loyal. Yuan Lu was so adorable. he trusted and stood by his Six Realm Hall team till the end. His death was expected but unnecessary and ridiculous. uuggggh. Still can't get over it. QZ was the cool guy in the team. He held an unreadable face which at some point made me despise him but still ended up loving him either way.
And last but not YSS, my favorite character. He was the joy of the group. He was the comdeic break- our one and only handsome man. Like the other members of Six Realms Hall, he was loyal, maybe even more than YL and QZ to NYZ not to women. LOL. He was the second in command to NYZ and I can see why. Though he claims to be a womanizer, his heart was set on CY but due to circumstances of the country, he knew he would die thus choosing not to love her. Their love line was so cute and ended when it didn't even start yet-what a pity. LTG was such a baby through and through. When you think "oh he's gonna grow" he doesn't.
The plot was literally the core 6 journey mixed with politics. It was great to see them all grow to be heroes in the end and bringing peace. Last 6 episode, I thought it felt it was rushed, the cutting of the scenes felt off and the death of the main characters were UNECESSARY but understanding i guess. I'd definietly rewatch this again.
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This drama is amazing would recommend
I started this drama a few days ago and loved it. The actors all had great chemistry with each other.. the casting choices were great. I loved how all the characters were written, they were all unique and the way they interacted showed there different personalities really well.I really enjoyed the plot and how there weren’t any plot holes or unnecessary plots added were you would wonder why they added it when it doesn’t make sense. I really wanted this drama to have a happy ending for the characters but the ending makes sense and was done really well.
I rated everything a 10 except rewatch value…I definitely think I will rewatch it someday but not anytime soon since I don’t want to cry the minute I start it but maybe when I’m more emotionally stable I’ll give it a try. Just thinking about the show makes me want to cry.
When Qian Zhou died I started bawling I had trouble watching whenever another character died I would cry even more. By the second to last episode I was crying so hard that I had hard time catching my breath.
I really grew attached to these characters they were great and the show itself is amazing I really recommend this drama.
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A journey to love, more like a journey to heaven
"A Journey to Love" brings one of the most badass female leads we've seen in historical Chinese dramas. Liu Shishi absolutely nails it as Ruyi, a fierce female assassin who's not your typical dainty heroine. She's tough, and ruthless. If I were in a dangerous world, I'd definitely want her on my side, alongside Liu Yuning's character, Yuanzhou, aka Boss Ning.Now, some people have complained that Liu Yuning isn’t "handsome enough" to be a male lead, but seriously, who cares? This guy is all about character. He’s smart, capable, fiercely loyal to his comrades, and can fight like a beast to protect the people he cares about. He reminds me of the General from The Rebel Princess—another leading man who won everyone over with his skills and integrity, not just his looks.
What really sets this drama apart, though, is its unique plot and well-developed side characters. The gang from Liudao Hall, who travel with Ruyi and Boss Ning, are just as fun and layered as the leads. Everyone has their own backstory, making the journey feel rich and immersive. From start to finish, I enjoyed every episode because it was different from the usual historical C-dramas out there.
This show is a solid mix of romance, action, and character development, making it a must-watch for fans of the genre!
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Loyalty, Friendship, Love
I spoilt myself with how the ending turned out and with all the comments that pacing was weird after episode 34. I geared myself up for that but I actually really liked how it all turned out in the end.I loved the main group of characters, everyone of them (maybe sans Li Tong Guang because he just felt like the fall guy for bad things). Yang Ying was the best of all. Her growth still gives me goosebumps when I think about it. How she's gone from this annoying, weak, crybaby to this strong eagle. And the drama did not gloss over her growth, it was incremental from each painful loss or journey she took and the impact they all had on her. Qian Zhou to Yu Shi Shan to Chu Yue, everyone was amazing, their paths, their loyalty, their character builds.
For the two main leads and their romance, it was gradual, from respect and curiosity to falling for the person who truly understands who they are and what they are fighting for. The way they talked things out, the way Yuan Zhou listened and respected her for the woman she was and what she wanted.
I loved that the core was less the ML and FL but the cause.
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PERFECT DRAMA!
I love everything about this drama. The casting is perfect. All actor and actress portray their character perfectly! Their OST, the martial art, the script, the story line all perfect! Kudos to the director and production team.I really love the character development of Prince Li from the brat to Queen vibe. Love Ruyi's character as she potray a very perfect strong and badass female lead. Really complement with the male lead
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Loved the Journey
First, gotta love a title that can be perceived two different ways that both apply to the whole series. For me, most everything organically came together fairly well with a little bit for everybody – some gender-bending (with a fairly believable young Princess being passed off as a Prince – good makeup); a collection of bromantic brothers whose personal quirks made for enjoyable interaction; a sharp, no-nonsense heroine played and flawed to perfection, enough natural light humor to encourage viewer uplift; moments for tears and unavoidable sadness.Spot on martial arts work and effects! And an amazing soundtrack that did what every soundtrack SHOULD do…not just provide background filler for dubbed audio, but actually have lyrics that bring more meaning to the narrative. It shadowed the character’s emotional state when dialogue would have been too preachy or flat. The music also punctuated humor, and intensified urgency, chaos or success whether during a graphic battle, or in a character’s thoughts. To me this well-crafted soundtrack added so much more feeling to the acting.
My personal preference for romance – feelings that organically develop from a spark of connection, aren’t maudlin, melodramatic or slo-mo’d to infinity, and fit the characters’ personalities (example: Liu Yuning and Liu ShiShi conversation over tea at an outdoor table - his leg randomly shakes as he tries to impress her while realizing he’s desire-rich and romance-poor. Well timed and acted!)
The ensemble cast, in my opinion, was a director’s dream. Their quirky but effective interactions made each one special as an individual and endearing as part of a twosome or team. By the end of the series, it was these special characteristics that made it almost agonizingly difficult to keep from missing anyone who was suddenly gone. The comradery seemed well-acted and very compelling through the story.
The story itself was sufficiently engaging, with enough twists to hold my interest. My only “uh,hmm, well” comment was the “Game of Thrones Ending Syndrome” – a seeming rush through to the finale that even included a brief piece of “…and THIS all happened…and now to cut back to our action…” narrative that could have been more effectively presented as actual scenes. The following individual angsty climaxes left me disappointed that such a wonderful bunch of characters got the bums rush to the Finale.
For the most part, A Journey to Love seemed to do what its title suggested: took its characters from virtual rags to riches where each rose from pathetic or mundane origins to a pinnacle of personal greatness that made each one’s life an ultimate success. No regrets.
Yeah, though in some ways it wasn’t perfect, I loved the Journey. I’d go again.
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Awesome Wuxia drama with a disappointed ending. I would rate higher if it has a better ending.
"A Journey to Love" is a Wuxia drama starting Liu Shi Shi (Cecilia Liu), Liu Yu Ning, Alen Fang, Chen You Wei, He Lan Dou, and Wang Yi Zhe.The Synopsis: Female assassin Ren Ru Yi, the former left envoy of the Scarlet Guards, becomes a member of the Wu State's escort delegation to save the King of Wu, who has been taken hostage by the State of An. Together with Ning Yuan Zhou, the leader of the Wu State's Six Realms Hall, the free-spirited Yu Shi San, Princess Yang Ying, clever teen Yuan Lu, and the imperial guard Qian Zhao, they experience love, life, death, and grow together.
I enjoyed the drama, and all cast members' acting is undeniably good, especially Cecilia Liu, the FL. Liu Yu Ning did a decent job as ML as well.
I also like He Lan Dou; she did a better job in this drama than in "Tiger and Crane." The kung fu fighting scenes were good, except for the last 5 episodes, where some of the fighting scenes were unrealistic, like in the WRTW drama.
I was going to give it an 8.5 rating, but I am downgrading it to 8.0 because I didn't like the ending where Ning Yuan Zhou and his comrades were all killed, which was a big disappointment.
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Amazing Female lead
I thoroughly enjoyed the drama; the dynamicbetween the protagonists, portrayed by the female and male actors, was captivating. The chemistry between them was particularly impressive.
The plot was outstanding, and I appreciated the character development. Both protagonists maintained compelling storylines.
I appreciate the positive aspects of this plot, particularly its gentle portrayal of relationships and the subtle exploration of feminism. It's well-executed.
What stood out to me the most was the consistency of the female character's role as an assassin from start to finish, she unwaveringly kept her thirst for blood, adding a unique and intriguing element to the narrative.
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Beautiful, poetic, epic: a must watch
PROS: Amazing plot, exciting characters, beautiful production. Ren Ruyi is one of the best MCs I've ever witnessed, and her and Yuanzhou have managed to create the best TV couple I've ever had the blessing of experiencing in my 25 years of living. Great character development for everyone involved, main and support roles, strong depictions of women's struggles and patriarchal affects in society, and an ode to friendship, courage, responsibility, and, above all, love. The fighting scenes were exciting, the royal intrigues compelling. The soundtrack beautiful. I really have nothing else to add.CONS: I won't say much, since that finale episode destroyed me. In an alternative world, Ruyi and Yuanzhou lived a long, beautiful life, had one or many children, Li Tongguang developed his frontal lobe and his (low) levels of emotional maturity faster, him and Chu Yue became a dynamic, badass couple*, without restricting her role as commander of her tribe, and Yangying managed to get married with someone she loves.
*Despite my adoration for Shisan, (and complete annoyance over Tongguang's constant toddler tantrums and treatment of people in his life), I was never sold into Yue's relationship with him - they had no chemistry, in my eyes, at least. But, unfortunately, if I may add, she had excellent chemistry with Tongguang every time they were on screen together and they became my guilty pleasure ship early on - combined with some notable character and behavioral similarities. She deserved someone better than him, though, and I would have wanted to see her in more scenes outside of love interests, but I was never sold for Shisan in particular.
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Wish all of them to have happy ending.
Very recommended 💕
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Storytelling with so much strength and compassion....
Ahhhhh....I love this whole story! I'm only on episode 22 out of the 40 but I've been seriously hooked the whole time! The story and characters are so well crafted. I feel like this was the writer's "baby," and they took their time on it!The main leads are a couple who work through things, grow, and are seriously loyal to each other(when their loyalty has been finally won❤️). ML is strong, kind and so understanding. In a way that is not weak, but makes you admire and love him like all his team do, while FL is strong in a way that doesn't just run over the other people(which I really appreciate these days❤️), while still totally owning her space and queening it! Gosh! I actually like her, which can't be said for all chinese FL.
And seriously, the fight scenes are awesome!! So much beautiful chinese action.
The music is enjoyably in the back-round, while still having moments where is really shines and highlights the greatness of the story. I like how it has a bit of modern twist to it.
The whole story is gripping and engaging, keeping me watching with so many twists and turns, but with enough moments of rest, to keep the pacing excellent.
And the side characters are such a good balance of funny, loyal and actually smart(who would have guessed?😁). The main couple is still def the main focus, with all the other characters having enough time to let you enjoy and love them, without taking up annoyingly large amounts of the story time.
Gripping, beautiful, healing, engaging and deep storytelling right here! Thank you to all who worked on this masterpiece!❤️❤️❤️
P.s. this is my first review ever. When I saw no one else had reviewed it I thought I must! So you wouldn't miss out on this gem. And the only reason I gave it just a 8 star rewatch value, is because I personally rarely rewatch dramas.
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