My Journey to You

Non-traditional wuxia strikes again!

My Journey To You was an amazing drama to watch from beginning to end; There was suspense, thrill, hints of romance, and sibling bonds with a touch of comedy from a specific character I adore so much.
The cinematography was very movie-like and I don't think we see this in a lot of dramas. That's fine, it just sets this drama apart from others. The martial arts choreography was very AMAZING TO WATCH! I was floored, especially how Yun Wei Shan, the female lead, attacks her opponent so graciously.
Each and every character within this drama were multi-dimensional hence I was very touched by their back story. Each character had something they loved and lost at some point in their lives. Some other characters work hard to make their parents feel proud. It was quite relatable!
The acting was phenomenal especially from Esther Yu, who typically plays very naive, cheerful characters. Here she plays a demure, strong, protective spy, Yun Wei Shan. Despite her cold demeanor, she can be quite emotional, and vulnerable when Gong Zi yu (male lead - Zhang Ling He) shows how much he cares for her. Although Yun Wei Shan is a spy, she actually yearns to be freed from this lifestyle and Gong Ziyu tries his hardest to make it come true for her. As a character, I really enjoyed watching her use her brains - how quick witted she can be to get out of difficult situations - albeit it's not always going to work. As aforementioned, I really enjoyed watching her fight because it was very elegant and gracious, granted it seemed she wasn't as strong as she looked.

Moving on to Zhang Ling He who played Gong Ziyu. A young man known to be the crybaby and naive kid of the family because he doesn't want to take on the responsibility of being a Gong. Turns out he is quite the grown man we would expect from Gong family. Very observant, seems to have photographic memory, and quite intelligent in his own way as well. I know a lot of people disliked him for being oblivious to his surroundings but I'm sure we're all surprised because it was the total opposite.

The second female lead, Shang Guan Qian, is what you would call a scheming two face b*tch. Boy, she played her part extremely well! Someone needs to give Lu Yu Xiao an award for her acting! The way she played Shang Guan Qian makes you think TWICE about her intentions every single time! It's the way she acts with her voice and the micro expressions! AMAZING! Albeit, she can be quite nice when she needs to but only for a price.

Have I mentioned the amount of eye candies in this drama? There's a lot of handsome men and women in this drama, but mostly men. LOL Eyes candies are great but, "Can they act?" is the most important question. There's many handsome actors I can name off the top of my head who are just strictly handsome with no acting skills whatsoever. However, in My Journey To You, there is no black sheep.

Let's begin with Gong Shang Jue played by the actor, Ryan Cheng! This man is handsome, but he supports it with his acting very well. On the surface he is seen as very cold, hot tempered man. Known to be one of the best martial artist in the MJTY universe, even Wufeng is afraid of him, however he is quite the opposite of what he portrays. He has a very gentle, and caring side - truly loves and cares for his family. His backstory was very tragic but it didn't change him completely. He is very intelligent and capable of leading the Gong Family. I loved his micro expressions as well, you can tell when he's in disbelief, or suspicious of someone. And despite of his cold demeanor, his secretive smiles just makes my heart flutter.

Gong Yuan Zhi played by the actor Tian Jia Rui is the "younger brother" of Gong Shang Jue. He can be very cunning but unlike his brother, he is not trusting of others. His ability to create unique poisons makes him an asset of the Gong Family. A prodigy if you will. Although his personality seem to be cunning, and hateful of others -with good reason. He is an orphan. His history with Gong Shang Jue was a bit emotional to watch because Jue is someone he looks up and cares for deeply. He loves the attention he gets from his brother, it's rare to see brotherly bond like this in dramaland. I like it because it showcases what Yuan Zhi lacks prior to Jue and how much Jue means to him now and vice versa. Yes, I would love to slap the grin off his face sometimes but that just proves the actor did his part very well. Props to Jia Rui!

Young Master Yue played by the actor Zuo Ye, quite handsome and great acting as mature elder. Albeit, maybe too mature because it seems he aged 50 years after his backstory was revealed. :( Zuo also uses micro expressions, his tears were real and convincing. The way he speaks was filled with sorrow, it's difficult to explain without spoiling his plotline. Best to watch it with your own eyes!

Notable actors would be Gong Zi Shang played by Jolin Jin. Oh my lord, help me..girl gave me laughs for days with her exaggerated and dramatic acting. Lmao She was definitely the comedy relief within this serious, dark concept drama. I typically do not like overexaggerated acting but it grew on me in this drama - just a tiny bit. Gong Zi Shang is the way she is because of the lack of parental attention. Hence, she acts dramatically in front of others. When someone shows her care, she will care and side with them. I feel like she should've been with Xiao Hei, another mysterious character in the drama, because of how his energy matched so well with hers. They're both quite hilarious to watch! Then again, their backstory were quite similar and it's understandable why they got along so well. I wish Zi Shang knew how much he cared for her.. :( Justice for Xiao Hei!

Towards the last few episodes of wrapping up the drama, it felt like I was watching Twilight where everything was a lie. LOL But at the same time, a relief that the characters weren't as bad as they portrayed to be.
How was the ending of the drama? It was ambiguous. Hoping for season two because that was just a cliffhanger at this point. There's so many questions left unanswered.
I'm not disappointed entirely because wuxia are typically like this - albeit this isn't traditional wuxia but when you watch a lot of wuxia dramas - you shouldn't expect a happy ending. It can be an open ending, sad, or even ambiguous ending. And I'm glad it ending very enigmatically because there's a possibility of a season 2.

Might have to wait 3-4 years like I did with Joy of Life unfortunately. :( But overall, amazing drama definitely a must watch if you want some martial arts action, thrill and suspense!

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A Sweet Journey with Flaws

My Journey to You is a 2023 Chinese wuxia drama that tells the story of Li Weishan (Esther Yu), a spy who is sent to infiltrate the enemy kingdom. There, she meets Gong Ziyu (Zhang Linghe), a young prince who is also a skilled martial artist. The two of them fall in love, but their relationship is forbidden due to their different allegiances.

The drama is set in a world of martial arts and intrigue, and it features stunning visuals, an intricate plot, and well-developed characters. Esther Yu and Zhang Linghe give excellent performances, and their chemistry together is undeniable.

The Good:

One of the best things about My Journey to You is its sweet and heartwarming love story. Li Weishan and Gong Ziyu are both strong and independent characters, but they are also deeply in love with each other. Their relationship is forbidden, but they are determined to be together.

The drama also features a number of other interesting and memorable characters, including Li Weishan's best friend, Xiao Qing (Li Yubing), and Gong Ziyu's loyal bodyguard, Zhao Yi (Liu Yuning).

The acting in My Journey to You is excellent. Esther Yu and Zhang Linghe both give nuanced and believable performances. Yu captures Li Weishan's strength and determination, while Zhang Linghe captures Gong Ziyu's intelligence and kindness. The supporting cast is also very good, with Li Yubing and Liu Yuning delivering particularly memorable performances.

The drama's visuals are also stunning. The sets and costumes are elaborate and beautiful, and the cinematography is breathtaking. The fight scenes are also well-choreographed and exciting to watch.

The Bad:

My Journey to You is not without its flaws. The pacing can be slow at times, and the plot can be confusing at times. There are also some clichés, and the ending could have been better.

One of the biggest problems with the drama is the pacing. The first few episodes are very slow, and it takes a while for the story to get going. Once the story does get going, it becomes more interesting and engaging, but the slow pacing can be frustrating at times.

Another problem with the drama is that the plot can be confusing at times. There are a lot of different characters and storylines, and it can be difficult to keep track of everything. The drama also does not always do a good job of explaining its plot twists.

Finally, the drama features some clichés. For example, the love triangle between Li Weishan, Gong Ziyu, and Xiao Qing is a bit of a cliché. The ending of the drama is also a bit of a cliché.

Conclusion:

Overall, My Journey to You is a good drama, but it's not perfect. It has stunning visuals, an intricate plot, well-developed characters, and a sweet and heartwarming love story. Esther Yu and Zhang Linghe give excellent performances, and their chemistry together is undeniable.

However, the drama is not without its flaws. There are some pacing issues, some plot holes, and some clichés. The ending could also have been better.

Despite its flaws, I still enjoyed My Journey to You. I found the love story to be very sweet and heartwarming, and I really liked the characters. The drama is also visually stunning, and the fight scenes are well-choreographed.

If you're looking for a drama with stunning visuals, a complex plot, and a sweet love story, then I recommend giving My Journey to You a try.

My personal feelings;

I really enjoyed My Journey to You. I found the love story to be very sweet and heartwarming, and I really liked the characters. The drama is also visually stunning, and the fight scenes are well-choreographed.

However, I did find that the pacing was slow at times, and the plot could be confusing at times. I also found that there were some clichés in the drama.

Overall, I think My Journey to You is a good drama, but it's not perfect. I would recommend it to people who are looking for a drama with stunning visuals, a complex plot, and a sweet love story. Just be aware of its flaws before you start watching.

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A unique, unforgettable cdrama

Amazing martial arts choreography, breathtaking cinematography, and a compelling spy assassin storyline = a cdrama that is unique and unforgettable. It will feed your inner demon with the delicious darkness that lingers in each well-crafted scene. If you're craving comedy, there are unexpected hilarious scenes that will make you chuckle in memory.

Romance is aplenty with 4 CPs, and you can choose to ship your sweet, heartwarming CP, your spicy hot CP, your adorable CP and/or your star-crossed CP.

Also, the excellent acting from an eye candy cast is just the lovely cherry on top! Enjoy watching!!

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gripping story/plotline

It's the kind of cliff-hanger ending that keeps you wanting for more asap.

From ep 1-24 it was a breezy watch for me. They maximized their 24 episodes so well that there's no room for filler scenes. There are no spoilers in this review, I'll just write why I love this drama.

1. The cast: I have to admit I've never watched anything from the cast aside from YSX and ZLH so I was pleasantly surprised with everyone's performance. Tian Jia Rui was a scene stealer for me as well as Zuo Ye. I was surprised they're newbies. There's just something about their interpretations of their characters that draws you in. Jin Jolin is ofc a fan favorite lol

2. The plot: It's a work of art. I love the world-building and honestly would want to know more about Wufeng and of their past (and ofc their future but I'm not too hopeful T-T). The execution is also really good, it keeps you hanging after each episode.

3. The production: Top notch. I love the general dark palette. It suits the overall vibe of the drama. SFX, VFX and sound effects are just the right amount to support each scene. Love it.

4. The characters: Very intriguing. I'm particularly curious about the Hanyas and the leaders. Also each character have their own stand out personality that each actor/actress portrayed well.

I'd also like to say something about the fan "feud" between YSX and LYX and their CPs. For me, LYX indeed was a standout. Every time she schemes, her eyes draw you in. I'm such a sucker for actors who have amazing control of their micro expressions and i think LYX excels in that (as well as TJR and ZLH tho i think he needs more training too). But YSX did an excellent job as an assasin too especially since this is far different than her usual roles. Her action scenes are good, tho imo her micro expressions need more work. They both have their strong points. As for the CPs, they're also both remarkable, they have their own audience. For someone who hates toxicity, I definitely preferred the main cp and for people who love thrill and sexual tension trope then the 2nd cp is def for them. I preferred the main cp's honest relationship.

Overall, My Journey to You is an amazing drama that I would proudly recommend to those who ask. It's amazing!

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A Visual Feast of a Dark and Suspenseful Story

My Journey to You is a dark, visually appealing, and suspenseful Wuxia that follows Yun Wei Shan, a covert agent who yearns for freedom and enters the Gong residence under the guise of a mission. Within the dark and perilous walls of the Gong household, she discovers unexpected bonds of love and friendship. As she navigates danger and intrigue, Yun Wei Shan begins a journey of self-reflection and finds the resolve to choose her own path. Alongside the defiant young noble Gong Zi Yu, the two evolve and come of age through the trials they face together.

The true strength of the drama lies in the Gong family dynamics and the secret they are sworn to protect. Each lineage bears immense responsibility, making Gong Zi Yu's sheltered upbringing a point of resentment. While the mystery and pacing occasionally falter—especially with a late, anticlimactic antagonist reveal—the interconnected plots remain engaging. The ensemble cast is the standout, filled with eccentric, layered, and memorable characters that often overshadow the main storyline.

Romance exists but is not the focus, and viewers expecting a conventional love story may be disappointed. Gong Shang Jue and Shangguan Qian's tense, morally gray relationship is far more compelling than the main couple, as Yun Wei Shan remains intentionally elusive, making it harder to emotionally anchor the narrative. Still, this choice allows the ensemble to shine, with strong performances across the board. Visually, the drama excels: striking cinematography, elegant action scenes, and Guo Jing Ming's signature aesthetic elevate the experience. Despite some narrative flaws, My Journey to You remains a visually stunning, character-driven Wuxia that rewards viewers who appreciate atmosphere and ensemble storytelling.

I’d say this drama serves as a breakthrough for its cast.

Esther Yu as Yun Wei Shan
Known for portraying cute and bubbly characters, Esther Yu was a pleasant surprise as the mysterious and elusive Yun Wei Shan. This role marked a complete 180 from her usual image. Instead of her signature high-pitched voice and cheerful demeanor, she exuded elegance, charisma, aloofness, and quiet intensity. Her action scenes were especially impressive—while I knew she was flexible and skilled in dance, this was my first time seeing her handle fight choreography so well. Credit goes to the choreographer, as Yun Wei Shan’s fight scenes were beautifully designed, flowing with an elegance as fluid as water.

Her costumes and hairstyles were stunning—easily among the best female styling I’ve seen in costume dramas. Credit also goes to her lower-toned voice dubbing. Despite her naturally high voice, she managed to keep it restrained and fitting for the character, with only occasional slips that didn’t significantly affect the viewing experience.

That said, while Esther delivered a strong performance, I do wish Yun Wei Shan had been written better. She was a promising character with great potential, yet she often felt bland and emotionally distant. At times, she nearly faded into the background if not for her striking visuals and captivating fight scenes. In fact, the second female lead often felt more memorable. For Esther Yu’s first “badass” role, this performance was both a hit and a miss—successful in execution, but limited by writing.

Zhang Ling He as Gong Zi Yu
Visually, Zhang Ling He was undeniably attractive as Gong Zi Yu. He portrayed Gong Zi Yu’s mischievous, immature nature well, while also conveying the weight of unexpected responsibility placed upon him. His expressive acting—both playful and serious—captured the character’s growth convincingly. While I wasn’t a fan of his hairstyle, his costumes complemented his tall, well-built figure nicely.

Yun Wei Shan & Gong Zi Yu’s Chemistry
Their chemistry was hit or miss. Their first encounter wasn’t impactful enough to justify Gong Zi Yu’s love-at-first-sight devotion—it felt like he could have fallen for almost anyone under similar circumstances. His unwavering, unconditional love for Yun Wei Shan sometimes came across as cringe-worthy due to the lack of emotional buildup. Given their personalities, the relationship didn’t feel sufficiently developed to fully convince me as a viewer.

As the main couple, their story didn’t quite live up to the drama’s title, My Journey to You. That said, the “only you understand and believe in me” trope and their visuals helped compensate somewhat. While they didn’t shine as a couple, both actors were memorable individually. Their chemistry wasn’t a complete miss—it just could have been much better.

Cheng Lei as Gong Shang Jue
Cheng Lei was an absolute standout as Gong Shang Jue. Charismatic, cold, and mysterious, he embodied the role effortlessly. His mastery of micro-expressions—softened gazes, subtle smiles, and restrained emotions—made his performance incredibly compelling. His character was far more intriguing than the main male lead, remaining principled and selfless throughout. I especially appreciated that Gong Shang Jue never sought power for himself, but only wanted someone truly capable of bearing responsibility. His final decision regarding Shangguan Qian was fitting and satisfying.

Lu Yu Xiao as Shangguan Qian
Lu Yu Xiao was perfectly cast as Shangguan Qian. She balanced innocence and seduction beautifully, delivering a strong femme fatale performance. Her voice, expressions, and emotional control elevated the character, making her another undeniable scene stealer.

Gong Shang Jue & Shangguan Qian’s Chemistry
This pairing easily stood out. Gong Shang Jue’s cynicism and Shangguan Qian’s mystery created a compelling slow-burn dynamic that kept me invested. Compared to the main couple’s fast-paced romance, their relationship felt more layered and engaging. While they didn’t completely overshadow the leads, they left a far stronger and more lasting impression.

Another debatable aspect is the ending and its epilogue. While I found the epilogue intriguing and mind-blowing, the open ending left me wanting more—especially without any confirmation of a Season 2. If the story had proper continuation, this would easily be a perfect 10. Even so, the drama’s strengths far outweigh its flaws, and I’m happy to rate it 9.5/10.

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A Journey to be Remembered— A Dark, Intelligent, and Mesmerizing Wuxia Masterpiece

My Journey to You is one of those rare dramas that captivates you immediately with its haunting elegance, atmospheric storytelling, and breathtaking artistry. From the very first episode, the show establishes itself as something different darker, smarter, visually richer, and more emotionally layered than the typical idol wuxia.

🎬 Cinematography & Atmosphere

This drama is visually stunning. Every frame feels like a painting , smooth transitions, rhythmic pacing, close-up expressions that freeze you in place, and fight scenes that alternate between fast impact and slow-motion beauty.

It’s honestly one of the most cinematic C-dramas ever created.

The tone is gloomy, mysterious, and immersive. The set designs feel ancient yet stylized, the shadows tell their own story, and the tension never fully leaves the air.


🖤 A Story of Intrigue, Betrayal & Impossible Loyalties

What starts as a tale of two Wufeng assassins infiltrating Gong quickly becomes a layered political thriller filled with:

✔ Betrayal within families
✔ Power struggles among brothers
✔ Old wounds and hidden motives
✔ Two spies torn between mission and humanity
✔ Beautiful exploration of found family, siblinghood & loyalty

Every character hides something and every action has meaning. By the end, you realize how carefully everything was constructed.

The only downside: the last 4 minutes of the ending. An unnecessary twist that confused many viewers.
But the journey itself? Absolutely phenomenal.


🎭 Character & Acting Review (All 4 Leads)
💠 Lu Yu Xiao — Yun Wei Shan

Lu Yu Xiao delivers a breathtaking performance. Behind her soft voice and wide innocent eyes lies a steely, calculating, emotionally intricate assassin.
She embodies:

Ruthlessness hidden beneath gentleness
Trauma that shapes, but doesn’t break her
A duality that keeps you fascinated
This is one of her strongest roles subtle, quiet, powerful.

💠 Zhang Linghe — Gong Zi Yu (Male Lead)

An interesting ML because he isn’t the typical cold, clever wuxia hero.
He is:

Emotional
Gentle
Naive at first
Easy to manipulate
Someone who grows through pain rather than power

Some viewers find him frustrating, but his character arc makes sense: he’s a sheltered boy thrust into a deadly world. He matures slowly, painfully, realistically.

But yes he often feels overshadowed by the stronger supporting characters.

💠 Ryan Cheng Lei — Gong Shang Jue

The breakout performance of the series.

Cheng Lei absolutely dominates the screen.
He is:

Cold yet charming
Sharp yet sassy
Ruthless yet heartbreakingly human
A perfect balance of menace and charisma

He’s the kind of character who should be the ML in most dramas mysterious, powerful, unpredictable. No wonder he overshadowed Zhang Linghe completely.

💠 Esther Yu — Princess Gong Yuan Zhi

This is one of Esther’s best roles because she finally steps away from her usual cutesy characters.
She’s believable, emotionally grounded, and brings dignity to her role.

Not once does she act like her usual “5-year-old persona.”
Refreshing and impressive.

🌟 ✨ SPECIAL MENTION: Tian Jia Rui (Gong Shang Que’s Younger Brother)

Let’s be honest Tian Jia Rui was the shock of the century.

The moment he appeared, he commanded the screen like a seasoned actor. I literally had to pause the episode and check MDL and I couldn’t believe this was his first role ever.

He delivered:
Outstanding emotional depth
Strong expressions and body language
A complex blend of vulnerability and restraint
A performance that stayed with me long after the drama ended

A star in the making.
I cannot wait for everything he does in the future.

💜 Supporting Cast Highlights

✔ The elder sister who constantly flirts with the ML’s bodyguard — iconic and hilarious
✔ The Gong brothers’ dynamic — intense, tragic, brilliantly written
✔ The complicated network of familial love — biological, step, foster
✔ Strong female characters who never abandon their purpose just because they fall in love

Both female leads stay true to themselves and their missions.
No weak characterization.
No sacrificing ambitions for romance — finally!


⚔️ Themes That Hit Hard

You can never escape Wufeng — the ending painfully proves this
Love vs duty
Found family vs blood family
The loneliness of power
The cost of loyalty
How trauma shapes destiny

This drama isn’t about romance.
It’s about survival, identity, and impossible choices.

❗ Ending Thoughts

The final twist was unnecessary and slightly disappointing, but it doesn’t ruin the brilliance of the overall journey.
The drama grips you, haunts you, and refuses to let you go even after you finish it.
I’d still recommend it 100%, especially if you:

love wuxia
love political intrigue
love characters with depth
love dark, stylish stories
love beautifully shot dramas
This show leaves an impact.

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My Journey to another Journey...

I am missing some romance and believe this drama is incomplete but it was very dark and pretty to look at.

The female lead has more or less one expression which is kind pf refreshing while our male lead is bubbly and full of joy and charisma. The side characters are part interesting part annoying. But work pretty well there are a few to many recaps as well as some never ending monologs that felt like the writers took a short cut instead of letting us see the actual plot as it unfolded we got some kind of mess and recap instead.

Some part of the dialog/whispers where so predictable I found myself mumbling them in Mandarin (though I do not speak Mandarin). Other parts came seemingly out of nowhere. The side couple have some pretty decent dynamics but the villains are underdeveloped and even though they seem to try to explain them to us it ended up just confusing taking away most of the exitement leaving me with the feeling of meeh...

Not to mention the show of romance was so little I believe it should be removed from the genres and added to the tags with slight romance.

That said it is an okay watch with pretty scenery, pretty people and probably more poison's and elixirs than all the wuxias of 2024 will have combined.

Leaving me with the questions: Will there be a second season? will that season have as much poison and scheming or will they move on to fire and smoke?

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Second cp stole the show

Love my toxic couple, Gong Shangjue and Shangguang Qian. I need more of them!!!! Every scene between them was peak tension and drama. Also this is the first drama that made me change my mind about Esther Yu (couldn't stand her character in LBFAD) but in this drama she was really good as quiet but sharp Yun Weishan. I love the scenes between Yun Weishan and Shangguang Qian, I wish there was more of their tense, 'keeping each other on your toes' dynamic and scenes.

The pacing is super uneven - starts off slow, drags like crazy in the middle with the boring back hill/three tests arc, and intense and heart stopping in the last big battle arc. That ending hurts me, S2 please 😭 did my girl SGQ lie about her pregnancy like she lied about almost everything else or was she telling the truth?!

This is also one of the most visually beautiful shows! Almost on par with the films I used to analyze for film class.

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Curiosity is the biggest bait

[this is more of an after thought than a full review]

This drama has Guo Jing Ming (director/screenwriter) written all over it making it a double edged sword from start to finish.
As someone who only found out about the existence of c-drama during the Pandemic, his work had a sense of exciting familiarity from the get go. The way he uses visual story telling and symbolism reminded me of some of my favorite movies/shows growing up. I have yet to find another Chinese Director or writer who is able to evoke that feeling in me.
Visually this drama really is impressive. I have a massive soft spot for dark, goth-vibe movies and shows. Combine that with the bad-ass BGM when the characters were introduced and the carefully crafted visual storytelling ... ah I love it!

The more dramas I watch, the more drama-fatigue I get and it's hard to watch anything from start to finish because everything becomes so predictable. But for the first time in a long time I watched episode after episode being excited about what happens next. I could not have guessed it and that made it a really good watch for me.

Instead of thinking of it as FL, ML, SFL, SML, TML,... It was quite clear (to me) that this drama has multiple mains and every story is equally as important. Although it begins quite ambiguous, it becomes more and more evident that among all the leading characters there's no one who is really a villain. Everyone's ambitions are justifiable and not born out of greed. This solidified my initial impression that this is a story of many, not of just two.
But unfortunately the story of first CP dragged along after having a very good start. Any sense of chemistry that was there eventually fell into a slumber as their story became more and more lukewarm. The intense stares and slow mo walking past-each-other scenes early on quickly ceased to exist and in my opinion this is what gave the second CP the chance to shine even brighter because they kept the intensity up. ZY was introduced as the spoiled son that spends a lot of time hanging out at the dance house (brothel?), likes to drink and pretends to be weaker than he actually is. He often rebelled against his father and did not hesitate to yell that he will leave. Everything about his introduction had me believed he would at some point reveal his true character and show every one his wits especially after the tattoo scene, however he and YS were gradually reduced to being the safe option in order for the more complex characters to go about their story. After all you cannot have your bread buttered on both sides.
GSJ and GZY had such epic introductions, with epic instrumental that is not commonly used by c-dramas and their styling was also much better than that of the ML, who sometimes looked like his make up was wet paint.
The brothers reminded me of a duo of wolves, so calculated but also deeply complex and their dynamic was amazing. In comparison ZY fell short on so many levels and became the SW although GSJ was much more qualified and long term would have been more respected and feared by outsiders. Thinking about ZY ten years down the line... I cannot help but to suspect that the reputation of Gong will become less and less feared. Selfishly though I must admit this provides GSJ with a tiny chance of freedom, that he unlikely is to take willingly but if the circumstances are right I believe he could have his own drama about how he leaves the Gong family, despite having an undying sense of loyalty towards them. I have no doubts was the situation flipped YZ would not hesitate and leave to be with YSS... but doesn't it sound more interesting if it was the so-sure-about-his-place character that ended up leaving the mountain? - Wishful thinking I know.


Not being able to have multiple deeper, darker main characters is something I have noticed in every c-drama that attempted this so far - guess this is where Censorship comes into play. At this point I don't think I'll ever get see a 10/10 drama from China because only the most dark and twisted (love) stories can get such a rating from me.

GSJ, GZY and SSQ were the most interesting part of this drama. She was thrown into a lion's den and of the two assassins, her mission was much trickier and therefore so much more exciting. We only got glimpses but I believe these three could have their own drama, making it a push-and-pull game of wits and raw feelings. I would not want it to be ruined by idol romance but rather make it a dark romance. I'm kinda fed up with healthy or realistic relationships in dramas, it's fictional so give me all the borderline toxicity. I wasn't walking around in a "Mrs. Salvatore" hoodie for years because I liked Matt, lol. (vampire diaries).
The story of these 3 had an even flow and from all the characters I found theirs could be the perfect background story for a season 2. Yet I did wish we had gotten more scenes of them taking a (dangerous) liking to each other.
But I really didn't like how they schemed against her near the end. It wasn't until then, that SSQ was singled out as the only antagonist of the four/five. YZ did not tell her about the fortnight flies and she also ratted her out to the others, which totally took away the element of surprise and potential for a great reveal scene. I was actually looking forward to that a lot and I'd almost say while watching it was one of my biggest disappointments.
My favorite scenes were early on when GSJ was riding a horse in the dark and the camera films from above and then through an open gate as he rides past.. and a little earlier GZY being on the roof to stop ZY - just EPIC. You already get the clear feeling that these two are very different from your usual drama characters and they delivered 100%.


--BIG SPOILER--

I read up on the final scene and it's interesting how on Chinese internet the interpretation is that SSQ's life ended since he saw her standing on water. Previously only for-sure dead characters were 'seen' by the leads, so the fact that he imagined seeing her could hint at that she is no longer alive. On the contrary on mdl, reddit, etc everyone is certain she is alive since she was seen in a garden tending to the flowers.

-- CONCLUSION--

In the beginning it all felt like one epic production and I could envision it continuing in so many ways. Even now I still think if they were ever to make this a multi-season show, they could really pull the wheel around and make it amazing. Somehow I can't shake the feeling that it felt like the backstory of something greater. Knowing how this is most likely a stand alone drama, I do feel let down but in my mind there is no doubt that the story continues and the best is yet to come. (small hope is that the screenwriter/director has multiple works that have more than one part)
As I said, it truly feels a prologue. In a perfect world (or literally just a country without TV censorship) this could turn into a complex game of survival and love that could de-throne any drama I ever watched. As small as the world of Wufeng & Gong was, it was just the perfect amount to get immersed into the story without feeling like you need to care about the rest of the world. I really loved that aspect.

One of SSQ's lines early on was "curiosity is the biggest bait" and they really took that and went with it for the entire drama. I was really curious after the very intriguing start and was baited into watching till the end. I don't regret as it stands out a lot to me and is not comparable to other dramas in my opinion but I also kept waiting and waiting for big things to happen and from to time things did happen but the entire 3 trials thing was such a big plot of the drama which I really didn't like it at all. I only fast forwarded twice during this drama, both times were during the second trial. I really wanted the leads to have a more intense story. Also I feel like for some of the symbolism I know too little about chinese language, culture/history to really get it. I felt like there was a lot of hidden meaning behind things shown and spoken.
In all of the drama, there is only one thing visually that bothered me. The transitions... some of them were just like the ones you use for a fancy power point.
Also there are so many single tear drops running down the characters face… I was about to make a drinking game out of it, lol

Full circle moment back to the beginning of this after thought that turned into an endless thought: Guo Jing Ming's work is always like that. I watched his movie "The End of Endless Love" a few days ago and had the exact same feeling afterwards. Some real glimpses of gold, that just hit so right and feel totally unique but he's never able to make a full stream of light from the few glimpses. Makes me wonder, does he just have really great ideas but doesn't have what it takes to turn them into reality... he needs to pair up with a superb screenwriter and maybe then it will turn into a masterpiece.

Another drama watched that was on my "not interested" list and ended up leaving a big impression. Maybe I should listen more to what people are hyping up?

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An engaging and striking drama, let down by its final few episodes

I went into My Journey to You blind, having been introduced to it through gifs that were being created on Tumblr. It was the cinematography that held my attention at first, yet after reading what this show was about I was instantly intrigued. A more mature story filled with intrigue and suspense, with an intricate spy network infiltrating its way into a powerful family that tries to route them out -- how could I not be interested? This show sounded so promising and interesting, I was eager to watch it.

For the most part, there is very little I dislike about this show. The beginning is fantastic; the pacing and tension of what is being set up for the story is engaging and draws you in instantly, the mystery of what's happening making you ask questions that have you wanting the next episode as soon as you can. The episodes can run quite long for a cdrama - roughly about an hour in length - and while some episodes that feels like enough, for others it can feel like they run a little too long .

The acting in this show is incredible, and there's not a character that I found to be frustrating or felt was out of place. I'd say some of the roles that stood out for me were that of Tian Jia Rui's Gong Yuanzhi, Cheng Lei's Gong Shangjue, Sun Chen Jun's Jin Fan, and Lu Yu Xiao's Shangguan Qian. But honestly, the entire cast stepped up and delivered in this show, and they should all be praised for the work they've done here.

I mentioned that the cinematography was the first thing to draw me into this show. Regardless of any of its flaws, My Journey to You is a masterpiece in this area. This was very obviously a big production, and the shots and camerawork that were used are something else. So many scenes look like works of art, and it truly elevates this show to another level altogether. I would go as far as to say it's probably one of the most beautiful dramas from the 2023 lineup, and there were quite a few stunning works that year!

I will say that for all of its strengths, this show does struggle towards its ending. I won't say much as I aim to keep this review spoiler-free, but I felt that the last few episodes made some odd choices: not all of them were good. The finale to this show is ... baffling, honestly. It sets up for the potential of a sequel, however I very much doubt that such a thing will come to light. As I mentioned, I came into this show blind and had no idea about the struggles and controversies that were wrapped around it (plagiarism allegations, investigations into sexual assault charges pressed against one of the supporting cast, arguments that this story 'borrowed' too much from Japanese dramas rather than more traditional Chinese ones), but having since read about them I can sort of see why this show ended as it did. In a way, it's rather a miracle this show was even released as it was - but I find myself glad that the audience got to watch it. So, while the ending may feel unsatisfactory for what had started out strong, it doesn't diminish the otherwise enjoyable show that it began as.

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