As Long As The World Exist, We Exist
My dream pair of CP that I don't know I need it till I watched this drama. And now I'm writing review after watched almost all of their short video promotion.Story,
They served! Even though they present usual plot how people cultivate, start from a mere human till got ascend as god, how the story go is really engaging. This drama is the definition of smart placement for the aspects such as comedy, happy, angst, and even the annoying part is really good.
But it doesn't mean that this drama is flawless, there are some sequence that made me a little bored. But it acceptable and not unbearable enough for me to skip the drama. Thanks to the crew for making this wonderful and beautiful drama for us.
Cast and Acting,
This is the only drama that I didn't find any miss for the cast and their acting skill. They are all perfect! Even the antagonist like Zhen Yu, Moli, Fu Ling, Luan Zhu, and others are engaging for me. All of the cast are super good! I don't even remember when did I find such an perfect cast before.
For Bai Lu, I don't even have a word for her. Her skill as an actress are one the top 3 of the best actress for me. I can't see her as Bai Lu when I watched this. She even slay the 3 character, Xing Yue, Bai Shuo, and Bai Shuo that possessed by Luan Zhu.
Then Ao Rui Peng OMG YOU ARE THE DEFINITION OF BEAUTY T,T!! I don't expect the clumsy, cute, and brave Lei Wu Jie can appear as cold-yet-warm hearted and powerful as Fan Yue, aloof and sweet as A Yuan, and even the mighty and untouchable Jing Yuan so perfectly. I even change my favorite color from blue to purple because of him.
Bai Lu and Ao Rui Peng are the pairing that really resonate my favorite couple. This is preference but this pairing is my top 3 favorite couple that I wish I can watched their reunion in other drama.
Dai Lu Wa and Chang Hua Sen are slaying both as Fu Ling and Chong Zhao or Bai Xi and Mo Li. I'm calling for production team out there, please cast them as main lead, they got the chemistry!!
The other character are amazing too, Tian Huo, Cang Shan, Chen Ye, Mu Jiu, A Wu, A Qi, Bai Xun, and the other, this drama can't be this good if their execution are bad.
I thank you all of the acting and casting department for bring such an amazing actor and actress for each character. You really worked hard *bow.
Music,
If there are Sa Ding Ding and Zhou Shen sing for your drama then your drama will be masterpiece! I even find other good songs for my playlist. But actually all of the ost are already on my playlist.
Rewatch value,
Oh please, I even already planing to rewatch this marathon on weekend. Of course I will give it 10/10 for rewatch value.
Overall I can say that I'm grateful to start my 2025 with such an amazing drama called Moonlight Mystique. I will waiting for another masterpiece from Bai Lu and Ao Rui Peng!
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A MUST WATCH
I don't even know if I have the words to describe my emotions right now. this drama was an insane ride of emotions and I loved every minute of it. I was drawn in from the first episode the visuals the outfits cgi the STORY I just can't it was all so beautiful. the way I couldn't even hate some characters because of how they were meant to be "evil" because of how cruel destiny is. I believe that they will all reincarnate and meet again. I'm so happy that "heaven" gave them the happy ending we all needed. 100/10 if you're questioning if you should watch it just click play and enjoy the ride trust me you won't regret it!!! ❤️Was this review helpful to you?
One of the best Xianxia dramas I have watched so far! Worth the watch? Definitely
This drama has exceeded my expectations by far. I have been eagerly waiting for this drama for a long time. It did not disappoint me to my delight.The story of the drama is super engaging, touching, suspenseful and captivating. The conflicts/persued goals are moving the characters forward and making the story very entertaining. There is current story carrying on while the vital and mysterious back stories of many characters are unravelling too. Its one of the best Xianxia dramas I have ever watched.
Bai Shuo is not just a gorgeous beauty but super brains too incredibly smart, bold, brave and truly committed to her promises and personal goals. She is feisty and sassy yet an adorable cutie too. She is very adaptable to disastrous changes in her life due to events caused by fate and/ or by design (villians causing chaos for their personal agendas). She is taking all the challenges head on, finding ways to make a difference, learning life lessons and pursuing her goals proactively. She has solid backstory including her childhood, relationships, and significant life events.
FY is very attractive, knowledgable, clever, mysterious and powerful demon king. He gives off heartless and merciless persona in the beginning but as the story progresses we see his heart melting and character changing due to interactions with the FL. He seems to have many secrets due to some very painful and impactful past. He seems to be pursuing incredibly important goal too. At times he seems morally grey, but then he has reasons for his actions which are slowly revealed. Later we learn that FY is very kind, smart, softhearted and a just king. His very sad past has influence on his current actions.
The chemistry between both main couple is very smooth and electrifying. The development of love between them is slow but for sure. The slow burn romance to me is very hot! Because its the type of romance where the relationship between characters develops gradually over time, building tension and anticipation, often starting from friendship or mild annoyance and gradually growing into something deeper and sweeter, with the focus on subtle moments and emotional depth rather than bland immediate attraction or grand gestures. There is complexity in their relationship which arises from them belonging to different races and how they started out and their mysterious signficant intertwined past. Both BS's and FY's character develop beautifully side by side. They learn to trust and rely on each other. Share their secrets and thier past stories. Then they provided care and support for each other in their dark and difficult times. Their love evolved to the level of being selfless and ready to sacrifice themselves for each other. Throughout their journey of collecting contemplations they learned many valuable lessons and become stronger in every aspect . They face many trials and tragedies and learn to cope with them and solve many mysteries and overcome challenges together.
The story of FL and CZ is very intriguing, engaging and mysterious as well. CZ learned to let go of BS and developed very beautiful true selfless love for FL. FL got to have chance break out of evil demon's hold on her and reunite with her sister. Both of them needed a lot of courage and internal strength to give themselves chance to turn good after manipulated into doing evil. They both felt deep remorse for their past wrong actions and did not hesitate to use their lives to stop evil and protect people. All characters are dynamic, they are contributing very well to move the story, provide powerful insights and successfully tickling our curiosity. All of character's efforts and sacrifices bring peace, justice, equality, stability and happiness to the chaos ridden different races of the world.
As expected Bai Lu has delivered very powerful, immaculate, impeccable, engaging and mesmerising acting. ARP is incredibly adaptable actor. Like BL he has slayed many different kinds of roles. Other actors are portraying their characters smoothly as well- bringing the characters emotions, aims, qualities and their attributes to light.
The OSTs, CGI and FX is mind blowing. They are placed appropriately in the drama suitable to the needs of the events. The costumes are incredibly well thought out, captivating, mesmerisingly beautiful and simply magnificent. The sets and the environments shows a lot of effort put in to anhance its suitability, usefulness and impact to the related scenes. The pacing of the drama is appropriate to story needs, its neither too fast nor too slow.
Overall I've absolutely loved it! I hope people watching it give this enchanting and captivating drama a fair chance and watch it till the end. Its definitely worth the watch!
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This review may contain spoilers
WTH DID I JUST WATCH? HIGHLY RECOMMENDED!!!
Ran Out of Tissues Drama 💝💝💝From Ep. 1 to 40 ... OUTSTANDING... EXQUISITE & SO MUCH MORE
Just to start:
*Vibrant background scenes & Costumes Designs Outdo other costumes dramas I watched*
*Magnetic Different Character Storylines
*The simple touches of comedy that blends in.
*Subtle hints of teachings of life through wisdom, such as:
#1 Don't be Obsessed #2 Don't Torment Yourself #3 Don't Force Things #4 Don't be Pretentious 🔥 Live Your Life Well!
Each different Character Storyline who was connected to our Main Leads, deserves 10 Stars.
The Fox & Kunlun Story
Loss Memory of Fan Yue
Mu Jiu Fox Story (tissues ran out.. had to get another box) I want one of the toy foxes 🦊
Understanding the back story of the Stone Clan & Qi Feng (brother of Fan Yue)
There is more that brings the feelings for each character that is represented in this drama!
Although there is so much to watch about each character, it all connected to Bai Shuo's journey to become Lunar Lord Xing.
There are many dramas that the storyline doesn't seem to connect & I get lost.... but this drama made each episode interesting & eye catching.
Honestly, I'm not a fan of actress Bai Lu....... I don't know why & that's the most irritating feeling for me. HOWEVER, she was a force in this drama with her character & she definitely pulled me in this drama whole heartily. Whereas in *Till the End of the Moon* .. I ended up dropping it halfway because I couldn't connect to not one of the characters or the storyline.
The Leading Male Actor Ao Rui Peng (OMG... he had 🔥 & allowed me to appreciate someone I wasn't quite familiar with)
All the rest of the cast... I have to say deserve so much recognition... they did amazing.
Of Course... give credit where credit is due: Original Creator: Xing Ling, Screen Writer: Yan Mo Yi, Directors: Chu Yui Bun. & Gu Zhi Wei - BRAVO!!! 👏🌹
BUT... I have to give a Standing Ovation to TWO incredible people that I personally felt made this drama FIRE!
#1: Costume Designer: Yi Xiao Ya 👏🌹
#2: Art Director: Liu Shi Yun 👏🌹
This was and will be a POWERFUL Drama that I will definitely go back and watch again and again. 🔥
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This review may contain spoilers
Moonlight Mystique: An Ethereal Masterpiece
Another month, another platform war.January is yet another month dedicated to the inevitable war between the four major platforms in China, with Tencent banking on Guardians of the Dafeng, iQIYI coming back from the brink through the aid of Moonlight Mystique, Youku maintaining stable position with The Blossoming Love (also a xianxia), and MangoTV doing decently with Flourished Peony.
After much consideration, I decide to pick Moonlight Mystique since I can't binge all shows in one go (badly want to have a look at The Blossoming Love, though). FYI, I've been craving for a xianxia masterpiece since the breakout of Fangs of Fortune back in November. Let's see my thoughts about Moonlight Mystique below. Enjoy the ride...
So, Moonlight Mystique's plot revolves around an ordinary mortal girl named Bai Shuo, who accidentally absorbed a divine artefact under the moniker of Desireless Stone aka Contemplation Stone. Aside from that accident, she also must ally with the cunning master of Haoyue Palace, Fan Yue. Thus, they embarked on an adventure (alongside Fan Yue's two guardians - Cang Shan and Tian Huo) to gather the five contemplations - love, hate, kill, greed, and kindness. However, their journey was far from smooth as obstacles and threats kept coming on their way, especially from Lengquan Palace (Haoyue Palace's nemesis).
To be precise, the plot comprises of 6 different arcs which interconnect with each other in order to build a coherent story. Below, I'll explain the 6 arcs briefly (this is MAJOR spoiler, so you can skip it if you want to)...
1) Ning'an City "Rebellion with Poison" - Kindness
Ten years ago, Bai Shuo and Bai Xi were saved by an immortal, whose identity was unknown. To repay the immortal's kindness, Bai Shuo became obsessed with immortality since then (by the way, Bai Shuo was betrothed to Chong Zhao since their childhood years). Under Temple Master Sun's guidance, Bai Shuo went to the Unbridled Pavilion and encountered Fan Yue for the first time. Initially, they were distrustful of each other and used each other to gain what they wanted. However, things started to become chaotic after Bai Shuo absorbed Contemplation Stone, which was stolen from Lanling Sect by Fan Yue. Worse, Bai Shuo's incident didn't go unnoticed - Lengquan Palace was also aware of this event. To divert Fan Yue's attention, Lengquan Palace used Nether Poison to drug the whole Ning'an City. While the citizens were restless, they would take this opportunity to steal Bai Shuo from Fan Yue. Nevertheless, their plan was foiled due to unwanted circumstances including Bai Shuo's father Bai Xun's sacrifice. His sacrifice contained kindness contemplation, which was sucked into Bai Shuo's body immediately. Bai Shuo was later sent to Lanling Sect to be tutored by the one-thousand-year-old ancient turtle.
2) Outlanders City "Strange Mist" - Kill
At Haoyue Palace, Bai Shuo saw the vision of the second contemplation and concluded that it would appear at Outlanders City. Coincidentally, it was also Tian Huo's birthplace. Thus, they traveled to Outlanders City to find the second contemplation. In the meantime, Wutong Martial Art Contest was also held at the same time, which meant immortals and demons alike could enter the city (which had been sealed for 10 years). Meanwhile, Tian Huo reunited with her family and unearthed shocking secret about her mother's death alongside Hua Yong's sacrifice for her. Still in Outlanders City, Bai Shuo, Fan Yue, Bei Chen, and Mu Jiu found Rong Xian and Ling Long's tomb (the late Saint of Kunlun and Saintess of Fox Clan) and unexpectedly were sucked into Rong Xian's realm of resentment (this will become a vital point in the third arc - I won't explain it right now). It turned out that Tian Huo's father Hua Lin colluded with Lengquan Palace and intended to transform Hua Yong into a deity by sacrificing the guests of Outlanders City. However, Wu Zhao (Tian Huo's uncle) also colluded against Hua Lin and killed him without hesitation. In the Underground Palace, Bai Shuo, Fan Yue, and Chong Zhao were kidnapped by Fu Ling (Zhen Yu's underling) and nearly got killed if it hadn't been for the Outlanders Sword. It helped them to escape the peril and also provided Bai Shuo the second contemplation - kill.
3) Jingyou Mountain "Fox Tribulation" - Love
This time, Bai Shuo and co ventured to Jingyou Mountain to obtain Weak Water Stone, which could suppress the immense power of Contemplation Stone. There, they met Chang Mei - the leader of the Fox Clan and also the younger sister of Ling Long. For the past 1000 years, Chang Mei had been shouldering the heavy responsibility of becoming a ruler and also lost her lover Ah Qi as he sacrificed himself to revive the Emotion Tree. Weak Water Stone was supposed to be buried inside Emotion Tree, but Chang Mei stole it to prolong Mu Jiu's fragile life. Thus, Emotion Tree became a human-eating tree because Ah Qi's spiritual power weakened day by day. Xiao Ba, Ah Qi's sworn brother also gave his life up for the sake of this tree. Unbeknownst to them, Fu Ling sabotaged the Emotion Tree again and this time Mu Jiu offered his life to the Emotion Tree (if it hadn't been for this incident, Mu Jiu would've married Tian Huo and lived peacefully in seclusion). Mu Jiu's spiritual power and blessing made the tree blossom once more, followed by the third contemplation for Bai Shuo, which was love.
4) Stone City "Extinct Race" - Hate
The fourth contemplation occurred at Stone City - Cang Shan's birthplace. Coincidentally, Qi Feng aka Chen Ye (Fan Yue's younger brother and Zhen Yu's underling) also came to avenge his clansmen. During his visit, he managed to kill Cang Shan's parents and several elders. In the end, Cang Shan also sacrificed himself to suppress the Baize Clan's resentment aura (in the past, the Stone Clan used the Baize Clan's dead bodies and crushed their bones into powder as medicine), which then entered Bai Shuo's body as the fourth contemplation - hate. In this arc, Bai Shuo and Fan Yue also endlessly encouraged Qi Feng to abandon Lengquan Palace and dark arts before everything was too late. In the end, bad ending still occurred as Qi Feng took the blow meant for Fan Yue to protect his elder brother.
5) Bodhi Village "True and False Gods" - Greed
Bai Shuo alongside her companions took a trip to Bodhi Village in search for her master, Old Turtle. In the village, they encountered a lotus spirit named Luan Zhu. For some reasons, Luan Zhu seemed to have a deep hatred to Bai Shuo, going as far as to switch body with her to manipulate Fan Yue. Meanwhile, Chong Zhao also reunited with his parents, who acted weird upon seeing their son. Thanks to the power of the Contemplation Stone, Bai Shuo managed to break free from Luan Zhu's restraint and uncovered deadly secret including Luan Zhu's puppetry skill and her collusion with Jin Yao (the head of Lanling Sect). Eventually, the fifth contemplation came out of Jin Yao after Chong Zhao lost control of his hidden power and accidentally killed him in the process.
Major spoiler:
In the past, Luan Zhu granted Jin Yao divine cultivation method and in return Jin Yao must send immortals to become her offering. However, Chong Zhao's parents found out this secret and were sent to Bodhi Village by this cunning old fox.
6) God's Realm Appearance
Bai Shuo were sucked into the Lunar Hidden Sea for the umpteenth time and learnt the complicated love story between the supreme deities Xing Yue and Jing Yuan (Note: Bai Shuo and Fan Yue were their incarnation) from Xiu Yan, Xing Yue's former attendant. It was also where she found out that Chong Zhao acted as the vessel for Hidden Lord Mo Li. In this very arc, Bai Xi died from blocking Mo Li's spear and transformed into Xing Yue Divine Bow. Tian Huo also sacrificed herself to repair the Outlander's Sword and turned it into Xing Yue Divine Arrow. As Bai Shuo and Mo Li prepared for the 'wedding', Fan Yue came in time and launched full-scale attack with Bai Shuo's aid. Chong Zhao destroyed his divine soul to severely wound Mo Li. Finally, Bai Shuo shot Fan Yue as Fan Yue used his last power to suppress the Hidden Heart. Bai Shuo later became a supreme deity and met Temple Master Sun again. It turned out that she was the heaven who overwatched the three realms. In the last moment, she granted Bai Shuo her wish - which was to revive Fan Yue.
Note: This arc is quite complicated to be explained properly. You need to watch it by yourself to understand this arc much better.
In my opinion, the script is beautifully crafted with many meaningful dialogues, drawing you in from the very first glance. Some people might feel this is a recycled xianxia, but for me, it's a different case. It's been long since I watch a drama where I can relate easily to its characters. I also feel the joy and sorrow of the characters, especially Bai Shuo (I literally have similar personality as hers, though not so extroverted). Each character's arc is fleshed out properly to help us link with their current states or personalities and why they have to end up in this way.
An absolute phenomenal acting from both Bai Lu and Ao Ruipeng. It's my first time watching Bai Lu and she captures the essence of Bai Shuo's character in the most exceptional way. By the way, I've been ogling for Ao Ruipeng's next project after The Blood of Youth. I must say he's better off to cheerful and hot-blooded character rather than a stoic domineering demon. He may exude the commanding aura of a demon lord, but he still needs refinement for this kind of role and no worries, there's a lot of room for improvisation. As for the second couple, I need to rave about their equally fabulous performance. Dai Luwa is getting better at her acting skill and she gets a lot of hate for her toxic role, but it means that her portrayal of Fu Ling/Bai Xi is quite mind-blowing. Chang Huasen also embodies the role of the kind righteous Chong Zhao and the cruel malicious Mo Li at the same time, which immediately appeals to the audience (despite his black-flag attitude to Bai Shuo at the earlier episodes). Also, a special mention to the entire assemble of actors who have delivered this engaging fairytale wholeheartedly.
The mellow yet noteworthy OSTs also contribute to evoke the audiences' emotions. I particularly love Sa Dingding's opening OST and some others that I can't mention in this review. For an EDM and pop rock hardcore fan like me, it's very surprising that I love these OSTs despite my preference.
The sets, costumes, CGI, and many other props are stunningly beautiful. I absolutely adore the black and purple palette used in this drama (two of my favourite colours lol).
After the long ride, I want to ask myself, is this drama worth-watching? Definitely a big YES! You won't regret spending every minute for it and soon you'll be engaged into the enamoring storyline that you don't even know how many hours have passed since you tune in to Moonlight Mystique. I'll end my super long essay here, good bye and good luck!!!
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Unbelievably Beautiful, Robust Story
This is the most beautiful drama I have ever seen. The money spent on scenery, sets, costumes, music, CGI must have been astronomical!The beauty of the costumes and CGI is BEYOND THIS WORLD. I can only imagine being able to create such beauty back in the day when the folks in charge had thousands of slaves to sweat and strain for thousands of hours to achieve such effects. No kidding! I have never seen outfit after outfit covered in sparkling beads, layers, and jewel-toned colors. A true level above all the other wonderful costumes I have ever seen. I don't know how they made all the costumes and accessories given that, I think, they need multiple copies to film in them day-after-day. They absolutely have to win an award for costuming in this, especially considering the different costume themes needed for the different "segments" of the drama.
Re the CGI, the trend for purple, pink, blue, and sunset jewel tones that I noticed in "Love You Seven Times" (an underrated gem) was continued here to its fullest. Stunning! And the sets as well were creatively planned, visually extremely interesting, and jammed with lovely colors, textures, and items. I could practically yank out my eyeballs and not be sad for the rest of my life from having seen enough beauty to last.
The OST music was to die for. I was singing along because the songs were so good (such as "Under the Moon"). Another one, "Flowers Fall With No Trace," has this plaintive wailing tone combined with a bit of a rapping driving energy that is incredible.
Oddly, the only visual area where they were a bit light was the make-up. In one "segment," for instance, in the world of the Outlanders, actors seemingly didn't wear any foundation/base at all, with their real skin flaws showing through: very unusual!
The story was typical in a few basic aspects (such as under-cover villains), but putting it all together it was immensely entertaining, had multiple segments with different characters and focuses, and more than enough life-and-death drama to fill two shows.
Beyond the main stars (Bai Lu is all you really need, right, since she is SO GOOD), all the other actors, including well-know character actors, were all quite good.
There were a few areas where I did think the drama fell a bit short: the evilness and the emotional scenes.
The evil characters really didn't seem that mean to me. Yes, they did bad things, but their manner did not seem all that menacing or ugly, so I couldn't really feel the horror. One villain was, I think, supposed to be creepy and "slick" in his elegant and calm evil, but it just felt flat to me. Felt the same way about the other main key evil guy. Just not evil enough. And the terrible world-wide impacts of the evil guys didn't seem too evil or we didn't see them. In fact, the ML also didn't seem "heavy" enough to me. I could have used a bit heavier, more grounded, more adult feeling from him to match the larger-than-life feeling of the female lead. Maybe they thought that would make the drama seem too comic-book-like, but I could have used just a bit more here and there. (I think about the drama "Till the End of the Moon" and the sharp and grounded presence of Luo Yun Xi.) A bit more hissing, ranting, and cruelty from the villains, please.
The hardest part I had with the drama were the emotional scenes. They were excessive and left no stone unturned; every single relationship and nuance was worked through in exhaustive detail, EXCEPT the scenes where the ML and FL were going through the process of falling in love and then the love scenes between them. Yes, there were a lot of heads-resting-on-shoulders scenes, but joy, amazement, curiosity, intrigue, all the emotions a "person" goes through while falling in love happen off screen or not at all. There is also no flirting, teasing, stomach-fluttering, line-crossing sexiness, and no physicality except for hugging and kissing, some great and some not-so-great.
And I want to give a shout-out to Dai Lu Wa for being so good at playing the 2FL role. Yes, she is stunningly beautiful and the role/character is a heart-wrenching and pitiful one, so it would be hard NOT to like her, but she played it very well.
So very beautiful and immersive, the highest-quality production I have ever seen. Far and above any others in production values.
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My absolute favourite for 2025 (Unbeatable until I change this title)❤️✨
Among all the dramas that blend this unique mix of genres—fantasy, romance, and wuxia—this one for me rose above the rest.
Well!! Yes!!! Till the End of the Moon had its charm but it suffered a lot from repetition, 🫤 Back from the Brink left me unsatisfied with its underwhelming and tragic ending,😔and The Blossoming Love's magic is being compromised in the middle episodes. 😕
But this drama felt very consistent from the beginning to the final scene. 😁
Every element was well-crafted and it became an experience rather than just a show.
🌸🌸🌸🌸 But before I begin—a big shoutout to 🎙️ Sa DingDing 🎙️ for the ethereal background score “Flower Falls Without a Trace” — currently my ringtone and fits perfectly to the mood for this story.
Her voice is like blessings to the audience's ears
🌸🌸🌸🌸
1) Plot – Smooth as Silk, Gripping Like a Spell 🪄
The story flowed effortlessly—no dull patches, no unnecessary fillers.
It maintained a steady rhythm, unraveling one event after another while gracefully introducing new and intriguing characters. 🏄♀️
There wasn’t a single moment when I felt like pausing, skipping, or even considering dropping the show.
It held me captive in the best way possible and every episode left me wanting more. 🤌
2) Characters – A Tapestry of Purpose and Emotion 😌
Yes, the series had a long—very long—list of characters.
But not a single one felt unnecessary on the screen.
Each character was like a brushstroke on a grand canvas —distinct, meaningful, and deeply connected to the larger picture.
They weren’t just names in the script; they felt like real people with real emotions, and every one of them left a mark. ✨
My personal favorites:
Bai Shou ❤️❤️❤️ – The perfect blend of light and strength.
She was cheerful, kind, intelligent, and incredibly rational. Never annoying, never weak.
Despite being human in a world ruled by gods and demons, she kept rising—steadily, powerfully—until she became the strongest of all.
A truly inspiring character. 🤩
Fan Yue 🌙– The quiet storm. Bf
On the surface, he seemed arrogant and aloof, but underneath, he was gentle, fiercely loyal, and deeply protective.
Whether in politics or personal affairs, he stood like a pillar—calm yet unshakable. 💜💜
Bai Xi / Fu Ling – Oh, my heart.
A demoness, a sister, a soul weighed down by tragedy.
It’s rare to feel sympathy for someone who has taken lives, yet I wept for her. 😢😢😢
Her pain, her story, her end—it shattered me. Very rare for me to cry characters' death but here I cried rivers for multiplesof you can ears characters.💜🖤💜🖤💜
Other characters like Tian Huo (guardian of Bright Moon Palace). 💕, Ling Long (fox clan saintess) 🧡, the 1000-year-old turtle 🐢 , and Mu Jiu 🤍 brought so much charm and substance.
This wasn’t just the leads’ journey—iyt was a rich, layered tale 6 even the side stories glowed.
3) Cast – A Galaxy of Talent 💫
A huge ensemble, yet not a single weak link. Each actor brought life and soul to their role, making the world of the drama feel real and immersive.
Bai Lu – My all-time favorite 😘😘, and she absolutely delivered.
Playing both the bubbly Bai Shou 🎀✨ and the composed Lord Xing Yue 🌙🏹, she managed to separate the two roles beautifully—no overlap, no confusion. Just brilliance. 🤌
Ao Rui Peng – His dual portrayal of Fan Yue 🌙 and Demon Lord Jing Yuan 💜? Heart-wrenching.
I rarely cry over character deaths—but he broke that rule. Twice.
Others who stood out:
Lu Wa (Fu Ling), Hua Sen (Mo Li), Zhang Xin (Tian Huo), and Yi Lun (Rong Xian).
Every performance added something memorable.
4) Music – A Symphony for the Soul 🎶The soundtrack was simply enchanting, went straight to my playlist. 🔁
5) Costumes & Styling – A Visual Feast that fits perfectly in the mood 🪽🎀🌸
This drama had some of the most stunning costume designs I’ve seen in a long time.
Fan Yue’s look—sleek hair tucked behind the ears, paired with delicate, wing-shaped accessories🪽 —was effortlessly regal.
It’s clearly becoming a trend in xianxia (Love in a Pavilion used it too), and I’m loving every bit of it.
Bai Shou’s evolution through styling—from sweet and cheerful to the dignified grace of Lord Xing Yue 🤍🩷—was beautifully done. And Fu Ling’s shimmering facial art and floral details? Absolutely breathtaking. 🦋🦋
6) VFX & Action – Refined, Balanced and blended seamlessly , nothing felt overdone or out of sync.
In a Nutshell… 😌
If we set aside Guardians of the Dafeng (since it started in 2024),
this would easily be my top pick for 2025—hands down. 🩷💜🤍💫
But if I count both?🤫
Then they stand together—side by side—like two 👑 in the same treasure chest 😘
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This review may contain spoilers
One Can Love Someone Yesterday, Today, and For All Eternity
I very rarely watch xianxia dramas (or watch them in their entirety), I either choose to drop them or avoid them completely simply because they do not pique my interest or I find myself feeling disengaged 5 episodes in. I just can't handle all the melodrama, slowburn plot progression, whiny characters, tropey plot lines, and textbook angsty romances. I have long accepted that xianxia is just not my genre. But I'm probably a masochist at heart so I sometimes feel like torturing myself by giving one or two a shot depending on the plot and the actors involved (I'm looking at you, Cheng Yi). Fortunately, there are some that I did find entertaining to a certain degree, and this is one of them. In fact, it made me think that a xianxia drama could actually be good. Oh god forbid! lolMoonlight Mystique is one of those xianxia dramas that I took a chance on because of its main cast of actors. I figured, why not? It's Bai Lu and Ao Ruipeng and they looked pretty good together in their promotional stills and videos. Little did I expect that I would love them as a couple as much as I loved Zhou Ye and Hou Minghao in Back from the Brink. But unlike that quirky idol xianxia drama, this actually has a relatively more compelling story and far better writing.
From a writer's point of view, the story is actually more well-thought out than I expected. In most dramas, the writing falls off right in the middle and sometimes even becomes a complete dumpster fire with just 10 episodes remaining. But this drama actually got better right in the middle and ended with everything wrapped up in a nice little package with a pretty neat bow. I very rarely see this in a C-drama. Most often than not, they fail to explain certain details, leaving specific plot points and conflicts unresolved. I can't remember a single plot hole or retcon in this. Sure, there are plenty of suspend-your-disbelief and ridiculous instances, but those I can forgive as they do not really matter much to the storytelling. I just attribute those to directorial choices or perhaps budget constraints. Those who complain about these minor faults are nitpicking or simply finding something to dislike about it because they have either decided to hate on it from the start or they just have specific preferences and expectations that weren't met. I can be like that too sometimes, especially with dramas that don't meet my specifications. Suffice to say, this drama is more aligned with my personal taste so I found it engaging from start to finish.
Contrary to popular belief, this is not in any way related to Ancient Love Poetry or Last Immortal. It was promoted as such but this is not a sequel or a spin-off of those dramas. This is a completely original work from iQIYI with a different set of characters, a whole new plot, and set in a different world. So forget what you think you know about the worldbuilding and character relationships in those dramas because it will only confuse and frustrate you if you're expecting to see even a shred of connection.
The story starts with Bai Shou, the headstrong and arrogant daughter of the governor of Ning'an whose only wish is to become an immortal and live long enough to repay her godly benefactor. In her quest to become this all-powerful being that only exists legends, she meets the enigmatic master of Unbridled Pavilion whose interest in her grows the minute he finds out that only she can activate this macguffin they call, The Contemplation Stone of the Goddess Xingyue. They find themselves forming a strictly business alliance to gather all the contemplations that would complete the activation of the stone that could grant each of their desires.
The drama plays like a comic book, it has separate story arcs that introduce side stories and characters, and each arc are interconnected with the overarching plot. The characters basically go on side quests to pick up the next contemplation until they can complete them like players do in a video game. I found that very enjoyable as I'm used to watching anime and reading manga. But I can understand why some people find that storytelling style boring and tiresome. The side stories and characters are well-written though. I fell in love with most of them and cried buckets because I felt attached to these characters.
Apart from the stories of the main and second couples, I was moved by Qi Feng's story the most. Liang Xue Feng is a revelation in this drama. I never thought I would find him so compelling that I couldn't look away whenever he was on screen. But the true stand out to me is Dai Lu Wa as Fu Ling. Her tragic backstory, origins, and redemption arc was not only engrossing but heartbreaking to say the least. She is so effortlessly beautiful and can easily transition from antagonist to protagonist just like that! Many viewers are calling for her reunion with Chang Hua Sen in another drama but I actually didn't see any chemistry between them. Her constant bickering with Xue Feng's Chen Ye/Qi Feng, however, was more interesting to me. I thought their pairing has more potential. The rest of the cast did their respective jobs, I have no complaints with the acting. I was happily surprised that Ao Ruipeng, who is known for his comedic roles, could actually pull off the cold and stoic Fan Yue and make me cry with his dramatic scenes. Bai Lu is excellent as always. There is no doubt that she can carry a drama.
While I agree that the sets and costumes are a bit much and even look cartoony at times, I also think that it somehow fits with the themes and overall look of the drama. From the get-go, the set design and cinematography make use of vibrant hues centering around the color purple. It's an artistic choice, that's all. I understand that some might find it unattractive and even distracting, though. But personally, I thought they were very eye-catching. Music-wise, I'd say that it's pretty solid. But for some sadistic reason, they decided to use Sa Dingding's song in practically every scene that I swore their equipment broke and could only play that one song over and over again. Whoever decided to do that should be fired. Sometimes I think some of these music editors don't know what they're doing. There are dramas where the background music would be too loud you could barely hear the actors talking. I mean, did they actually hire professionals for this job, or did they just get whoever they could find? Just curious. The fight choreography could've been better and they should have done more fight scenes, tbh.
As for writing and character development, I have no real complaints because as I said, they did manage to tie up all loose ends. I just wish they could've written some aspects better like the relationships between the first and second couples to make them more relatable and believable. It's weird because they actually nailed it with Jingyuan and Xingyue in just two episodes but it took several story arcs for Fan Yue and Bai Shou's relationship to make logical sense. Chong Zhao and Fu Ling's relationship still doesn't make sense to me because instead of making him fall in love with her when she was still Fu Ling, they made him love her as Bai Xi after finding out it was she who sent him those letters all along. That last bit should've been the icing on the cake, not the catalyst. The ending could've been better written too. I felt that it was slightly rushed. It would've been better if they had shown those characters coming back to life instead of just talking about it. Show don't tell. The so-called twists were predictable too because they kept hinting about them. They could've withheld some clues to make the reveals more shocking. But I do appreciate that the villains are sympathetic, not the cookie cutter bad guys so to speak. Zhen Yu's actions and motivation actually make sense and so does Jin Yao's.
All in all, this drama left me satisfied despite its flaws. I didn't have a lot of expectations going into this so maybe that's one of the reasons why I generally enjoyed it. I may not like everything about it, but I was introduced to the tandem of Bai Lu and Ao Ruipeng and I loved them in this so that in itself makes this drama far more endearing than I thought it would be. It's a beautifully written fairy tale romance that shows you love is undying and knows no bounds. One can love someone yesterday, today, and for all eternity.
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SO GOOD
I just finished it. Im too stunned to speak. The last 10 episodes were such a rollercoaster ride. I just can't find any words to describe how GOOD this drama was. Im so glad that I watched this drama ever since it stared airing so that I can call myself OG. I just want to say that no drama has ever made me feel like this. The acting, the visuals. Im really stunned I ran to write this review right after finishing watching. I really thought that they would give us sad ending but luckily they didnt, also the bonus episode was a CHEF's KISS! I really needed to see them finally being happy. If someone doubts if they should watch it They definetely SHOULD!!! As I mentioned in my earlier review of Moonlight Mystique (masterpiece mystique lol) I think that this is Ao's Ruipeng best look. I honestly never expected this drama to be soooo great. I am gladly placing it on Top 3 list of dramas I've ever watched and I've watched lots of them.Was this review helpful to you?
loved this way more than I thought I would
This is one of those dramas that leaves a deep impression.There are moments of spellbinding magic and beauty here, not to mention huge amounts of chemistry and great acting.
It took a while to settle into - the strong colour scheme was a little off-putting at first. But the story plays out brilliantly - you start to realize half way through that the main story is just the precursor to a lager more intriguing story. There are loads of layers to it.
There are no plot holes, everything is answered in the end. And I absolutely loved the strong loyalty and comradeship between the main characters; not to mention the utter beauty of Jing Yuan the Demon God. Sheesh - he's gorgeous.
Just watch it - it's really good.
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Best XIANXIA drama I’ve watched!!!!!
Moonlight Mystique is a mesmerizing and enchanting Chinese drama that has unequivocally captivated audiences worldwide, rendering it an absolute must-watch for aficionados of the genre. This phenomenal series has adeptly woven a complex and intriguing narrative that seamlessly intertwines elements of romance, mystery, and fantasy, thereby ensuring an utterly immersive viewing experience.The talented cast, helmed by the incomparable Bai Lu, delivers performances that are at once captivating, nuanced, and emotionally resonant. The palpable chemistry between the lead actors is a joy to behold, as they bring to life a romance that is as tender as it is passionate. The supporting cast is equally impressive, lending depth and complexity to the narrative through their multifaceted characterizations.
One of the series' most significant strengths lies in its ability to strike a delicate balance between lighthearted moments and more serious themes, thereby creating a viewing experience that is at once engaging, emotive, and thought-provoking. The pacing is expertly handled, with each episode concluding on a cliffhanger that deftly whets the viewer's appetite for more.
The production values of Moonlight Mystique are similarly noteworthy, boasting stunning costumes, breathtaking cinematography, and an immersive soundtrack that perfectly complements the on-screen action. The series' attention to detail is evident in every aspect of its production, from the meticulously crafted sets to the nuanced lighting design.
In conclusion, Moonlight Mystique is a landmark Chinese drama that has set a new benchmark for the genre. With its captivating narrative, outstanding performances, and exceptional production values, it is little wonder that the series has achieved unprecedented success, surpassing 1.4 billion playback views and cementing its place as one of the most beloved and enduring dramas of recent years.
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