This review may contain spoilers
Intricate and unpredictable plot with dramatic cinematography and apt casting
This show was a captivating watch. At just 24eps, My Journey To You sits at the perfect length - it doesn't drag out the story and manages to tie up all loose ends without straying from the plotline. Every twist and turn had me on the edge of my seat and I thoroughly enjoyed this watch. However, given that the drama's greatest strength comes from its unpredictable plot, I would argue that the rewatch value of this show is not high. This does of course also depend on how much you are attached to the characters - in this case, I had very minimal emotional attachment to the characters, hence I do not feel compelled to rewatch this show in the slightest (and this is coming from someone who gets attached very easily and LOVES rewatching dramas). Nonetheless, I do not regret this watch and it was certainly highly entertaining, albeit very different from what I usually watch and love.I'll start with the show's strengths. First, the plot is insanely well-crafted and well thought-out. As someone who doesn’t care that much for plot in general (I prioritise well fleshed-out romance and storytelling typically), I was highly entranced by the plot of My Journey To You. Seriously, there were SO many twists and turns that when I think I’ve figured it out, the show throws me another curveball and I am blown away by the unexpected reveal. The plot is so intricate and has so many layers to it that you really can’t guess it all, you just have to sit through it and continue watching and let everything fall into place. Once things start making sense, something else will arise and you’ll be left on the edge of your seat again - I honestly loved that. I was captivated by the storyline and the depth to each character. This show has undoubtedly one of the best plotlines I’ve ever seen and I was highly impressed. It’s definitely on the darker side and the whole worldbuilding is based on a very dark concept, but it was very enjoyable nonetheless - this is a very cohesive show.
Next, the cinematography of this show was really impressive, specifically during dramatic moments and fight scenes, which exude elegance and grace. Edward Guo (the director)’s shows are always so satisfying to watch because his cinematography is pretty much unmatched. My Journey To You didn’t have cinematography anywhere as good as his other show, Fangs of Fortune (which I HIGHLY recommend), but it was still very fitting to the darker theme and I think it added a much-needed layer of mystery and suspense to the show in general. This is one of the reasons why I say that this is a cohesive show - because the storyline, cinematography, music, and costuming all align to form one great picture. Never doubt Edward Guo's work!
Music-wise, I really enjoyed the OST and BGM of this show. The OSTs were all beautiful and had the beautiful element of mystique to it. They really added so much to the atmosphere of everything and heightened tension, creating some beautifully heart-wrenching moments. In particular, I think the best OST was the one Esther (fl) herself sang, it really feels like the whole show wrapped into one song. This show has an impressive and sonically cohesive OST, which really elevates the viewing experience.
Costuming was also done quite well. There was nothing extraordinary about it, but the dark costumes really fit the theme of the show, though I also really liked the lighter costumes (my favourite is the lilac one Esther wore towards the end of the show).
As far as endings go, I think this show did it quite well. Minus the last maybe 15mins of the last ep (which I personally felt was unnecessary but I do understand that perhaps they wanted to leave it open which certainly fits the vibe of the show), the rest of the ending was wrapped up very well. There are certainly many unanswered questions [SPOILER] especially with the 2nd couple - where did the 2nd fl go? Did she die, or did she ever come back, or did they ever truly love each other beyond their individual schemes and suspicions? And of course with the main couple, what happened to her? Did she ever come back, and if she didn’t why didn’t she? What’s the story behind her twin, how did she find her, how did they both end up with Wufeng, why were they separated? Who knew about her and what happened to her before they were reunited? What’s the whole point of Wufeng and how did it begin? The show really opens up many questions and unearths a much larger scheme beyond the main plotline of infiltrating the palace and discovering its secrets. While the main plot is resolved quite nicely, the ending does open a lot of new avenues and hints at the possibility of a second season (though I personally don’t think that is likely to happen at all). I think all these unanswered questions really do add to the mystery of the show in general and fits nicely with their theme of mystique because it somehow feels right that we didn’t get the answers to everything. If you’re very attached to the characters, you’d probably not be a fan of this ending. I didn’t care much for them personally, so I wasn’t very affected by the ending being open (and presumably, sad).
As for the cast, I started watching this show for Esther, Zhang Linghe, and the Fangs of Fortune cast cameos, but my favourite part of this show ended up being Tian Jiarui. I love him so much it’s actually concerning. He did an impeccable job even though he was only a support role (as the 2nd ml's brother). His acting was really impressive because his half-deranged smiles really gave me the mega creeps even though I loved him so much. His styling was also really fitting to his character and he looked so good - sorry can you tell I’m a huge fan of him? LOL. As for the 2nd fl and ml, I was pretty taken with their romance storyline too tbh, though it’ll leave you questioning whether there was even romance or if any of it was even real on both/either of their parts. They have good chemistry and a pretty solid cp感 (which kind of loosely translates to cp sense?), and they both did wonderful in terms of acting. The 2nd fl is really pretty and her acting was solid!!! The 2nd ml also did a good job, I’m not personally a fan of either of them irl (no beef - I just don’t know them well and don’t feel compelled to, not at this point in time anyway) but they were fantastic in their roles. As for the main couple, I didn’t really find much spark in their romance tbh, I wasn’t actively rooting for them or anything but they’re just cute to watch together. I don’t feel that their romance was done well, it felt super rushed and they fell in love way too fast for my liking. However, I will say that I have very high requirements/standards for romance in shows as it’s the main thing I focus on in a show and very, very few dramas live up to these standards. So I won’t go into much detail, because this is very much a personal preference. Nonetheless, both leads did a good job with the acting, especially Esther. I don’t really think Zhang Linghe stood out much in this role if I’m being frank, and I am a fan of his irl so this is merely an objective observation. I was much more impressed with his performance in Love Between Fairy and Devil. Personally, I don’t find his acting skills to be anywhere near top-notch, and I find that they were a little lacking in this show, but nothing that affects the viewing experience. Esther however did a wonderful job, especially seeing as how this is her first darker role, and she absolutely killed it, including the voice acting/dubbing. Nonetheless, I wouldn’t watch this show for the acting or the romances. It wasn’t terrible, but it wasn’t worth much either. Again, I say this as a fan of both Esther and Zhang Linghe.
In terms of characterisation, I’d say that this show did that quite well and managed to make every character highly complex with their own complicated motivations and priorities that we as viewers don’t always figure out or understand clearly, but that also means that most of these characters are not really likeable. I know I personally didn’t really have a character whom I loved wholeheartedly - there were moments in which I liked a character, but it was often only in that point in time.
If you’re up for something different, or something darker, or you’re simply tired of predictable plots and want to watch something truly captivating and intellectually stimulating, I would recommend this show. Overall, it was an entrancing watch and I don’t regret it, though it’s certainly not my usual cup of tea and I’d likely never rewatch it ever. This show is pretty popular especially internationally, and I do think it deserves the praise it gets. Huge round of applause to the directors, screenwriters, and writers who built the bulk of the show, and the actors and actresses who brought it to life!
If you’d like to see more of Esther and Zhang Linghe, they were previously semi-paired in Love Between Fairy and Devil (he was her 2nd ml but they did have some cute moments together), which also happens to be my favourite show ever LOL.
Was this review helpful to you?
Interesting Journey
At first I have read so many good reviews about this series so I started to watch. But at the end I almost regretted it.Not many actions, beautiful costumes and good casting. I like these.
I like fact that they put more energy in family conflicts and relationships than romance. It wa sa very good choice and it was very interesting to see how they act and interact as a family.
There was one plot twist that surprised me and i love that. But there was another (it includes Shanguan Qian - in the last episode what she said to Shangjue) which was silly and i started to laugh. Did they really use this? Oh my god! Such a silly trick from writers and hope it is just a lie.
It was so hard for me to like any characters in this whole story. It is not a bad thing but it can be easier to understand their character and motivation if you can connect to the characters.
It is a very slow story but good acting and conversation. I almost stopped watching but at the end when told everything about those plans and plot twist started to come I was so happy. I was like "finally it became badass" but then it hit me in the back and after the last scene with Gong Ziyu sitting at the gate (hope it is not counted as spoiler) I wanted to see who will come in when the door opened. But they just finished it this way. Oh come on! Please continue. I just want to see who is coming 🤣
And I hope Gong Shangjue gets his brain back and realise what he needs to.
Was this review helpful to you?
my confort drama that i didn't expect at all
From the start it was a feast for the eyes with beautiful camera work and color tones that matched my preferences. In some parts there is an impression that is too melancholy and the characters speak at a slow speed almost like a whisper, some people complain about this too. I have no complaints about the OST, I really like it and still listen to it since they were released. I have to say that the characters in this drama are often misunderstood, such as Gong Shangjue who is seen as not having the courage to pursue love or Gong Ziyu whose character is limited to his stupidity. The development of each character is very interesting to me and it would be a loss if you immediately judged at the beginning of the episode. As for the ending, I think it's a common problem for all viewers hahahhahahWas this review helpful to you?
"Dark and Captivating: "The Journey to You" - A Must-Watch Chinese Drama That Keeps You Hooked!"
"The Journey to You" has quickly become a dark and enthralling Chinese drama that has me eagerly counting down the days until the next episode. With five episodes already watched, I can confidently say that this series has managed to maintain a captivating story arc from the very beginning. The darkness that permeates the plot is a standout feature, providing a refreshing departure from the typical light-hearted romances often seen in dramas.One aspect that leaves me both satisfied and craving more is the drama's episode count. At 24 episodes, it strikes a perfect balance between delivering a comprehensive story and preventing unnecessary dilution of the narrative. This concise approach ensures that each episode packs a punch and advances the story in a meaningful way.
The frenemy relationship between the two female leads adds an intriguing layer of complexity. Their dynamic is a source of tension and suspense, keeping viewers on the edge of their seats as they navigate their intricate power struggles and personal vendettas. This element sets "The Journey to You" apart from similar dramas, and I can't get enough of the character dynamics.
Drawing comparisons to "Bloody Romance" is inevitable, but "The Journey to You" manages to outshine its predecessor in several aspects. The writing is sharp, allowing for deeper character development and nuanced storytelling. The costume and set design are exquisite, immersing viewers in the historical world of the drama and enhancing its overall appeal.
What truly sets this drama apart is its unpredictability. The plot takes unexpected twists and turns, making it impossible to predict what will happen next. This element of surprise keeps me hooked and eager to uncover the mysteries surrounding the characters and their fates.
As I eagerly anticipate the progression of the romantic storyline between the leads, my greatest hope is that "The Journey to You" maintains its dark and intense theme throughout its entirety. While the potential for romantic elements is exciting, I hope the drama doesn't compromise its unique atmosphere by veering into romcom territory. With bated breath and fingers crossed, I'm excited to see how this thrilling journey unfolds in the upcoming episodes.
Was this review helpful to you?
Started off strong, but fell short.
Although this series started off strong with beautiful cinematography and well-established characters, it fell short in the middle to the end. The conflicts between the main and secondary characters became repetitive with no character growth and for the minor villian characters, they were never explored. Only one character in this drama had growth but was butchered in the end. Despite enjoying the wuxia genre and its serious tone, certain character storylines were more intriguing and enjoyable to watch than the main characters. Ultimately, I stopped watching the drama at episode 21 due to its messy finale.I would suggest giving My Journey to You a try. The show delves into a martial arts universe that contains engaging familial and romantic conflicts. The fight choreography is entertaining, although be prepared for a lot of slow-motion shots. The entire cast deserves praise for their exceptional portrayal of their respective characters.
Was this review helpful to you?
Not sure about this one
Watched until episode 8 thought this will get better but no not for me. Way too slow and I guess I don’t like the soft spoken voices. No real action more like a soap opera.Maybe because I like fast paced action.
Oh and the sister is extremely annoying I don’t see the purpose of that character.
The actors are ok not a fan of Esther Yu don’t see the big deal.
Also my preference to these types of dramas are more like Ten Miles of Peach Blossom, Novoland Pearl Eclipse, Legend of Fuyao, Who Rules the World, Love Like the Galaxy etc along those lines.
Simply my opinion.
Was this review helpful to you?
utterly lacking
"My Journey to You" was a disappointing experience from start to finish. The premise seemed promising, but the execution was utterly lacking. The plot was not only predictable but also riddled with clichés that made it feel stale and uninspired.
Character development was virtually non-existent; I found it hard to connect with anyone in the story. The protagonist's journey felt forced and unrelatable, which made it difficult to stay engaged. The dialogue was awkward and often cringeworthy, lacking any real depth or authenticity.
Pacing was another major issue—some scenes dragged on endlessly, while others rushed by without any meaningful impact. The overall narrative felt disjointed and poorly constructed, leaving me confused rather than captivated.
Visually, the production values were subpar, and the cinematography did little to enhance the experience. It felt like a missed opportunity to create something special.
In summary, "My Journey to You" was a frustrating watch that left me feeling unsatisfied and disappointed. I would rate it a 1/10, as it struggled to deliver on even the most basic storytelling elements.
Was this review helpful to you?
A little too murky for me …
I’ll keep this short since I’m in the middle of binge-watching. I just wanted to share a few things about my first impressions.this drama looked to be very grounded to its mystery, and dark edge from watching the trailer. it’s proving to be just that; and isn’t misleading it’s audience to being more campy or a romantic comedy. Instead this drama has a dark mood and starts off with a very promising story.
I’m already interested in seeing the characters develope and grow to know eachother more. From the first episode alone it gives off a lot that keeps me wanting to watch more. Especially with the cinematography.
It’s better than average right now and in seriously anticipating that the ratings will score high and this drama will be successful. It’s not like many others airing around it, it’s very unique with its mood and costuming that sets it apart already. I’m glad I picked it up and will be keeping up with it daily until it’s done. There is something about this drama that makes me believe it is so promising.
The further in, the more the setting feels constricting. I understand why some want out, and why some chose to stay. I hope they explore their surroundings though, but I am still pretty early into the drama. I must say that Ester Yu is so impressive here, she usually is casts in roles that are naive and aloof, but here she is very intelligent and cold and cunning. Zhang Le He also is too handsome to not pay attention too, and I am looking forward to more projects from him (Eternal Faith)
In the end I get what people say when they want Zhang Le He to have a break out role that gets him really popular. He has the face and the talents and the height, but this drama didn’t help him. He’s a great actor here, but the chemistry lacked and that wasn’t any of the leads fault. I fear it was because of their pairings in others dramas and the comparisons I can’t help but making. Ester Yu is very good here also, I just think the whole atmosphere ended up bogging this one down a little too much for me. I felt like I didn’t get what I asked for with the leads, I wanted a mature and steamy romance but instead I didn’t think they are in it enough to keep me watching. I also heard there is a cliffhanger so in the end if this drama doesn’t fulfill anything that it’s not worth finishing. It isn’t like the leads aren’t in anything else, and since I liked them enough here.. I’ll check them out elsewhere.
This drama is simply too dark and so much plot with little action to keep me satisfied. I have a low attention span and am a simple person sometimes, so it just got caught in the middle of other dramas I just liked better. Not bad but not great.
Was this review helpful to you?
Grabs your attention!
I love any show with female assassins. Costumes are beautiful. Full of suspense and keeps you guessing about what will happen next. The cold-hearted woman vs the warm hearted man. The older sister was delighful. There is an additional cold herarted man vs a cold hearted woman. Let the treachery continue! The men are gorgeousThe FL is very likable compared to the second FL. I adore the ML, but the second ML was so hot. I couldn't help but like him even though he was so cold. Again the visuals of the men, whew.
Was this review helpful to you?
Characters Needed Work
I had to drop this drama, after many attempts at picking it back up. Mainly because I couldn't bring myself to care about the characters enough to try to properly identify the different clans and their kin.Maybe I don't have what it takes to be a Wuxia watcher. Maybe you need to care about the Martial Arts World to watch Martial Arts centered dramas. I couldn't believe that the FL was played by the same dough-faced actress I hated so much in "Love Between Fairy and Demon". Could her role have been played better by a much better actress? Absolutely. But, she wasn't bad. She just doesn't have depth to her, naturally. She looked absolutely ridiculous in her wig, which was too large for her head. In scenes where she was supposed to outshine the other potential brides, she looked remarkably plain in comparison. Now, I am a huge fan of the moral story of a prince that chooses not the most beautiful, but the most innocent bride as his, but true goodness of character has to be expressed by the bride for us to fall in love with her.
The SFL is one that I fell in love with. They showed her vulnerability in flashbacks. They really fleshed her out. Not to mention that her beauty outshone the FL many times over.
The FL kept being saved by the SFL, the ML, and others, and without beauty, or character (like the SFL), I needed a reason to root for her, yet I found myself unable to come up with any except that she was the FL. I hated seeing the other female characters being harmed. I cared for them more than the FL, even though I knew less about them than I did about her. Without being able to care what happens to the FL, there was no tention left for me to care what happens next.
The cinematography was above and beyond the standard. It was big-budget cinematography, and bursts of colours were used sparingly and to good effect in high-drama moments.
It's not a boring drama, exactly. Just.... you have to really care about the main characters to keep your interest, as their lives are the "stake" of the entire drama. Without the two main characters, there wouldn't be a story, so if you can't care about the main characters, then you're really out of luck.
Was this review helpful to you?
This review may contain spoilers
Excellent series❤️❤️ with roller-coaster of emotions.
SPOILER ALERTI would have given a 10 rating if it wasn't open ended, even if it were to be a sad ending. It doesn't appear that there will be follow-up according to the news articles (as at 21 September 2023) which is unimaginable.....
Draw back..... The last 4 minutes of the final episode. Open ending which ended with Zi Yu waiting for Yan to return and at the final seconds of the episode hearing the doors opening....
Back to what I think of the series:
Story 9 (taking into account the open ending) a great plot with lots of twists which kept the viewer engaged and also gave very subtle hints on certain things. At times I didn't want to watch the next episode because I will then finish it too quickly. Roller-coaster of emotions and routed for the main couple as well as Jin Fan and Zhi Shang. Cried with deaths of family members of the Gong Family as well Han Ya Si and Yun's 'sister'.
Acting: 9 in my opinion for all Main actors as well Jolin Jin (loved her so much), Tian Jia Rui (he did a great job of portraying Yuan Zhi) and of course Sun Chen Jun.
Production and Visual FX : 10 loved all the costumes and different sets / backdrops - everything was beautiful
OST: 10 Beautiful songs and Sound effects were great.
Will definitely Rewatch. I'll just make up my own ending!
Was this review helpful to you?
This review may contain spoilers
Added this drama to my watchlist based off a TikTok edit I'd seen, was not disappointed. I was pleasantly surprised to see this show coming in at the 24-episode mark, as I am notorious for struggling to finish Cdramas. Ironically, I still took a couple of months' pause on this show at the 18-episode mark, not realizing it was about to pick up big time. Half of a point went missing for the ending because IMO, it ends in a way that doesn't make sense. I doubt a season 2 of this is coming, and if they did, possible areas to continue the plotline scare me because I know they'd most likely just make me mad, but again, personal opinions. While this isn't technically solely a romance storyline, I appreciated the balance between action, mystery, and romance. I do feel like it was relatively paced well for the genre it is as a wuxia, although I agree with other reviews of this show stating you need to be okay with having a lot of loose ends that don't get tied up via showing and more telling in an exposition style until the last few episodes. I personally didn't mind it, but I can understand that particular aspect may be bothersome to some folk.
Sidenote: I knew this was Esther Lu, what I shockingly went the ENTIRE show without knowing is that the ML was Zhang Ling He, who also played alongside Esther in Love Between Fairy and Devil, just as the side ML *laughs nervously.* I wasn't expecting that, and frankly felt bad afterward when I found out. Plus, it lost some of the shock value of why these two had relatively decent chemistry, although the first few episodes truly may make you struggle to see it. Also, I am so mad about Gong Shangjue and Shangguan Qian's storyline. I loved it, because my gosh the TENSION. But, it was so confusing, and while that may have been on purpose, gosh was I livid when I saw her *SPOILER* leave at the end scotch-free after telling him she was pregnant after ACTIVELY PLANNING HIS MURDER?!? Like girl I was rooting for you because I thought you changed, but like, truly an untrustable character. All is fair in love and war I suppose though, and overall, this was a drama I seriously enjoyed, was a good palate cleanser, and gave me a newfound love to watch anything with Ryan Cheng in it.
Was this review helpful to you?
