This review may contain spoilers
My Favorite Fantasy CDrama this Year!!!
The show has ended and I still haven’t gotten over the wild vibes!Guo Jing Ming’s directorial always have a set tapestry- the characters are as queer as they can and the cinematography is at another level. With sumptuous locales and luxurious settings, he always commands stories that will take up every minute of your existence. His characters are so endearing, that you wish to join them on their journeys. It could be a 34000 years old Great Demon, who is both hilarious and flirtatious, a proficient Demon Hunter from an illustrious family line, reserved and highly disciplined, a Goddess from the Wilderness, who is sweet, frail yet courageous, an erstwhile Commander of the Martial Camp whose only concern is protecting the said Goddess, a childlike physician who loves to scream and a Mountain God who loves to cook. The similarity between them- they all love each other and are a huge family. The storyline wraps these characters tightly into a bond that is unbreakable and unbelievably strong.
Read the complete article here-
https://kcdramamusings.wordpress.com/2024/11/19/fangs-of-fortune-series-review/#more-1336
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Hou Ming Neo’s talent and vision as an Actor
Hou Ming Neo’s *Fangs of Fortune* is a remarkable drama that captivates audiences with its gripping storyline, powerful performances, and profound emotional depth. From start to finish, the drama weaves a tale that is both thrilling and thought-provoking, keeping viewers on the edge of their seats.The strength of the drama lies in its complex characters and their compelling relationships. Neo has masterfully created protagonists and antagonists who are layered, relatable, and memorable. Their struggles, triumphs, and moral dilemmas are portrayed with such authenticity that audiences are drawn deeply into their journeys.
Neo’s ability to immerse readers in a richly detailed world stands out. The setting feels alive, and his attention to detail makes every scene cinematic and impactful. Furthermore, the themes woven throughout the story—loyalty, ambition, and the pursuit of one’s destiny—resonate deeply, leaving readers both entertained and contemplative.
Visually, *Fangs of Fortune* is stunning, with meticulous attention to set design and cinematography that enriches the storytelling. Every frame is crafted to immerse the audience in a world of suspense, beauty, and intensity.
Overall, *Fangs of Fortune* is a testament to Hou Ming Neo’s talent and vision as an Actor. It’s an extraordinary drama that leaves a lasting impression, and it deserves every bit of the praise it has garnered. A true masterpiece!
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too dama slow
the speed of this show is unwatchablw slow. very nice costumes and pretty actors, but the pace of their conversation or plot is ridiculously boring. good luck to whoever can stay awake. please write a recap. i would gladly read it than watch on tv.sigh. i cant submit a review without 500 words. what i like about the show is the costumes. the main fl outfit is so pretty. her martial arts is basic, yet she is highly regarded in the buraue of demon hunting. the main male lead moves his finger and everything either explode or falls down. the second me lead has a puzzle look on his face all the time, not much emotion from his cheekbone. the sexond female lead looks fierce and awesome, its just she doesnt do anything fierce or awesome. nice combat costume though. the prodigy med kid stole the show with his funny stunts and scene. he would doqell with a show of his own.
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Guo Jing Ming’s ambitious tribute to Tsui Hark: How did it turn out?
Having watched it fully and then rewatched this more than six months after it finished airing, I suggest this method to balance utmost enjoyment alongside addressing any quibbles: Absorb at least twenty episodes of what unfolds with no expectations while revelling in the cinematography, intricate embellished costumes, gorgeous BGMs and lush sets accompanying an interesting group of humans and demons. Utilise patience for at least twenty episodes even when noticing any plot-holes, characterisation issues, and details clashing with each other within the first four episodes and beyond.Tsui Hark’s movies and certain fundamental concepts (1993 Green Snake and 1983 Zu: Warriors From The Magic Mountain) have clearly impacted this drama. At 27:21 for two seconds of episode 30, a certain visual is literally inspired by the final scene of the movie Green Snake. Karma, debt, and consequences are inevitable and unavoidable, given the two movies being referenced in homage to define this world of demons and humans.
Despite the burdens and responsibilities each individual carries, there is humour and camaraderie amongst the team. As the story progresses with each new demon the team meets across twenty episodes, a sense of inevitability is accompanied by hope that goodness will prevail and the team will overcome every challenge.
Drawing on the Classic of Mountains and Seas, Guo Jing Ming (GJM)’s efforts and dedication to exploring emotional ties and repairing relationships between humans and demons are as laudable as his attention to utilising that particular source to create the world of FoF. His flaws pertaining to self-indulgences for certain characters and sub-stories result in the opposite effect equivalent to the game of Battleships blindly sinking vital boats, thereby marring what could have been a unique timeless drama of humans and demons as friends, enemies and more. His sets are beautiful, but the world-building is fuzzy and the extent of attraction relies on the viewer not realising this. Dramas involving demons and/or gods should have clear rules and limitations about the world they inhabit or the realms they can cross into.
These combined results will keep you eager to continue after 10 episodes, or dropping it before you finish episode 6. You'll survive and enjoy all of it, if you turn off your inner critic. If you don't turn it off, you'll still survive wonderfully if you intend to write a humorous dissection of what did not work. Wordplay in mandarin is hilarious. Wordplay in the bonus episode is anything but hilarious. Fight scene choreography is mostly enjoyable, some fights downright spell-binding such as in episode 8 being heartrending and gorgeous, but at times not lethal or urgent enough and hence unable to convey necessary impact such as parts of the final battle. Over-usage of music for some scenes was unnecessary. Silence would have deepened the emotional impact of certain scenes. Filters for flashbacks were inconsistent. That inconsistency is not GJM's biggest issue for this drama.
Being character-driven means the plot is as coherent as the puzzle of you trying to figure out how and why obstacles pop up as challenges to the team. Don't think too hard and let things unfold, flowing with the episodes and practising the patience of possibly developing sagehood.
You will definitely find something to like about this drama. Whether you can finish depends on your personal capacity for the constantly-shifting promise which this character-driven drama presents: Distinctly gorgeous visuals and presentation and costumes, short mini-stories wrapping up well enough, under-developed arcs, over-wrought tear ducts, and a FL whose characterisation and overall final edits for the drama is insultingly disrespectful to her efforts as an actress.
For the original story, four writers including GJM were involved. For the directors, three directors including GJM were involved. Six people were involved in the screenwriting. The final decisions can be attributed to GJM, especially the editing. After considering all this while watching, please go with the flow and make your own decisions.
As to how two Tsui Hark movies defined certain fundamentals and details for this drama pertaining to karma and debts and inevitability (or the casting choices plus script choices and issues with the storyline): I do not want to include spoilers in this review, and only in a comment -> https://kisskh.at/755301-the-story-of-mystics#comment-22919316
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Regular days: lets betray zhou yichen hard days: lets save yichen
This drama is by far the best fantasy drama of 2024. It is for a little mature, humour loving, sarcastic, emo, philosophical and slow burn loving type of people. People who actually don't give a shit about anything are really gonna love this series. It is so deep and gloomy yet so funny and hilarious. The writers used a ancient fantasy world but introduced some gen z type of jokes. Nobody is trying to be serious here. At the same time all of them have such mature thinking that they don't bow down to useless plots and if they are stubborn they are stubborn and they admit that.Ok here some cons to be fair:
1. Over use of makeup and in alot of scenes we can see eggshell white colored base on face while the skin colored neck so it was annoying.
Also they put too much makeup on yichen character that he almost started to look like a wax doll.
2. The over use of tears like they really be putting 60 gallons of glycerine in their eyes like come on specially yichen and wen xiao crying in every single episode. Come on dude u showed such a tough character who can never be manipulated yet you choose to make him cry in every episode. Shut up.
3. High pitched screaming of the timid kiddo. It really hurt my ears. And also the rap song in ancient drama at fist it looked so cliche but then it weirdly grow on me like wo shi shu aaa.....
All of them just trust each other and they have such mature bond that they understand most of the time.
The best part of the drama lies in slow and deep voice talks that explains 90% of the story but the play of words is very beautifully played here. Alot of mature audience will definitely gonna like this style.
Cinematography is top notch and we don't even need to explain that. The scenery is even tough dark but still beautiful. The theme of black and dark colors have used so beautifully here. The makeup and costumes are super heavy and the play of eyes is so prominent and intriguing.
Director really played with our emotions by always putting every single character through such heavy life taking moments that we were always in a panic that thier is going to be someone die. But at the end when some characters actually die it was totally unexpected and uncalled for.
For me, tian jui ru give us the exceptional performance. Even though everyone performance and visuals were phenomenal but zhou yichen really took 4 out of 9 lives from us. I really started this drama because of him and he served. The villain also served, one of the sexiest villain he really was collecting every character. The little kiddo really showed us 50 shades of emotions by being the most dumb to the most dangerous person like it was a rollercoaster.
The main lead also showed emotions really well. He was a pookie in all the episodes. He also really served bl with yichen and we eat it up. We eat it up.
I suggest u to watch it will be very interesting to see.
People who liked my journey to you or the sleuth of ming dynasty will definitely like this. The wonderland of love also have same vibes where 90% of the plot revolve around talking and scheming.
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Not only extravagance and impactful visuals
It's been weeks since I've finished the series and it is still in my head. Their story is one about navigating good and evil, forming friendships, overcoming prejudices, and much more. Despite knowing how the story would end, I couldn't help but keep watching—dreading how destiny unfolds but at the same time, hopeful that the strength of the bonds between the characters will prevail. There are so many details embedded throughout the episodes that one would definitely find new treasures when rewatching. Not to mention the excellent lyrics of the OSTs (which is undermined through translation) and their fit for the story and characters. As one of the many dramas I have watched this year, Fangs of Fortune will be one for reminiscing for years to come.Was this review helpful to you?
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Beautiful Demons and Mortals Battle with Themselves and the World in this Mystical Drama
So this was mostly about a bunch of beautiful people, mainly the male characters, walking around looking beautiful , often huskily whispering their dialogue, with some modern C-Rock/Pop scoring over the impressive CGI….we’ll sort of. Lol. There is a story of adventure, self discovery , along with a mission to gain the means to stop the ultimate evil. We quickly learn who the villains are in this. After which each episode repeats the same story with Li Lun (a demon) in partnership with Chong Wu’s leader, having convinced some poor demon to ally with the former because they believe he’s going to help them get something they want. The only differences is the demon and the setting in which the conflict takes place. This was interesting to start but began to get stale after a few episodes. Thankfully, Li Lun’s villainy changed up halfway through the series.The characters spend a LOT of time standing around calmly talking in intense situations where things should be moving quickly. Moreover, if something goes terribly wrong there were a LOT of moments where the characters literally stood there for 10 minutes starring prettily at the horror unfolding before them, doing nothing. For this to be a show about sword wielding mortals who were fighting powerful demons, the pace was at times a bit too slow. Again, many scenes dragged focusing on one “epic” CGI moment for far too long before moving the story forward.
Despite my qualms, thus far, the series has been incredibly engaging. The leads have fantastic chemistry especially Zhu Yan ( Demon ML), Zhuo Yi (Mortal ML) and Wen Xiao (FL/Goddess). These three have had some great scenes all together and when it was just one with the other. I really enjoy Zhu Yan. He’s a demon, but he’s far from evil. He’s mischievous and compassionate with a hilarious sense of humor. Love him. The brotherly love between him and Zhuo Yi is palpable while his chemistry with Wen Xiao is incredibly easy, natural , with some lovely swoon moments thrown in.
The acting is not award winning and doesn’t need to be. However, it does work for this series. I will say though, the actress who plays Pei Ji (Cheng Xiao) is a horrible. Her delivery lacks emotion and almost stops short of being deadpan. SMH. The series still has a few more episodes before it finishes but considering what has been shown thus far I don’t believe it’ll end happily for our heroes. :( If the series continues to maintain the compelling aspects of the story/characters it will have been worth watching, and will be worth watching again.
Update: Finished this series. Overall this was more character driven than anything. Though the story was quite interesting too. I will say the last 7 episodes were so good, but emotionally draining. Heartbreaking storytelling. Thus, binging may not be the best approach. As expected the ending was extremely painful to watch, but the bonus episode revealed that all may not be lost. Great series. Most of it will be fun to rewatch save for the last few episodes which I think many will not want to experience again.
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Picturesque Journey of Emotional Wreck Entangled in a Tale of Humanity's Cruel Irony
Fangs of Fortune is, without a doubt, one of the best CDramas of 2024, particularly when it comes to visual storytelling. From its meticulously crafted costume and set design to the strikingly vivid cinematography, every frame is a feast for the eyes. The level of detail in the production elevates the drama into a visual masterpiece, seamlessly immersing viewers in its own intricately crafted otherworldly world.The cast is another standout element. Whether portraying heroes, antiheroes, or outright villains, every actor delivers a performance as captivating as their appearance. Neo Hou, in particular, commands attention with his nuanced portrayal that captures the emotional depth and moral complexity of his character, proving once again why he remains a hidden force in the industry.
What sets Fangs of Fortune apart isn’t just its technical brilliance but its profound exploration of humanity. At its core, the drama poses unsettling questions about what it truly means to be human. In this world, humans—ironically—are often depicted as more greedy, cruel, and evil than the yaos (妖) they fear and despise. The story doesn’t shy away from exposing the dark side of human nature: the unquenchable thirst for power, the willingness to betray, and the lengths people will go to justify their actions. Yet, amid this darkness, it also highlights moments of compassion, sacrifice, and the fragile hope that goodness still prevails in the end.
Starting in the latter half, the narrative crescendos into an emotional juggernaut. The storytelling transforms into something visceral, pulling viewers into the characters’ anguish and heartbreak. The final episodes though are a true test of the audiences' endurance and feel like a descent into the inevitable, where destiny’s mockery leaves scars that are still deeply felt long after the end-credits dance rolls.
Fangs of Fortune is more than a drama since it's a mirror held up to humanity, reflecting its flaws and virtues in stark detail. And though it has its fair share of imperfections, its unflinching portrayal of sorrow, paired with breathtaking visuals, a hauntingly beautiful narrative, and compelling performances, cements its place as one of the finest CDramas of the year. Few series is as haunting as it is captivating and manage to marry heartbreak and artistry as seamlessly as this, making it an unforgettable exploration of what it truly means to be human.
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"Fangs of fortune- A tale of strength, sacrifice and heroic battle"
Why I loved it so much :1. A perfect mix of genres: The drama delivers on every front—romance, friendship, feel-good moments, thrill, action, comedy, drama, and tragedy. It’s a rare balance that caters to multiple tastes.
2. Depth in storytelling: While the pace is slow, it’s deliberate. Each subplot is crafted to fill gaps and tie loose ends, creating a deeply harmonious narrative.
3. Impressive cinematography: The framing, camera angles, and techniques used are absolutely top-notch, elevating the viewing experience.
4. High-quality VFX: The visual effects are clean, realistic, and immersive. The editing team truly deserves credit for making the fantasy elements believable.
5. Exquisite set design: The attention to detail in the sets is breathtaking. The Demon Hunting Bureau, in particular, stands out as a masterpiece of design.
6. Talented cast: Almost every actor delivered stellar performances. While one or two might not have fit their roles visually, their acting made up for it.
7. Memorable background music: The combat music and other tracks are beautifully composed, reminiscent of the enchanting vibes from Love Between Fairy and Devil.
8. Dancing in the ending soundtrack .. I know I am weird to like a show for this ..but seriously it was quite refreshing to see the cast dancing to their show's soundtrack ... The steps were easy I am dancing you should try it as well ;)
About the cast
Neo hou as Zhao yuanzhou:
Neo Hou is the one who introduced me to the world of C-Dramas, starting with Being Back from the Brink, my very first Chinese drama. He has never let me down. His charm, brilliant acting, mischievous expressions, spot-on comedic timing, and calming smile—everything about his character in this show was a delight to watch.
Zhuo Yichen : a warrior who is strong-willed, righteous, kind, compassionate, funny, and deeply tragic. Tian Jia portrayed this fascinating character with remarkable justice.
Li lun: more of an anti-hero than a villain, carries a strong sense of justice and a deep kindness for his people. This character added significant depth and complexity to the leads' role .. and the actor (yan an) playing it was more beautiful than the FL herself 😂 😀 ❤️❤️ I am in love with him.
Pei Shijing: the Demon Huntress, is a character with a tsundere quality that suits Cheng Xiao’s poker-face expressions perfectly. Watching her evolve as an actress has been impressive. From her flat expressions and character in Falling Into Your Smile to portraying a compassionate, graceful fighter in this drama, Cheng Xiao has truly come a long way.
Bai jiu : a timid, funny and cute kid ..played by lester lin ... This child actor is so damn talented he played two completely contrasting characters ( bai jiu and li lun) so effortless.. very impressive ..it hard to believe he delivered such outstanding performance at the age of just 13 years old
The parts where this show lacked appeal
1) Wen Xiao : I don't like lame/sickly/weak/useless/low IQ FLs at all I mean I can’t think of a single thing that would have changed if she weren’t part of the story. She was utterly useless—couldn’t fight, fall before someone even slapped her.The so-called goddess was the biggest liability—completely useless—while so many others died, one after another, paying the ultimate price to save the world. I hated her character even more after jiu died. Even a child gave his life heroically to save the world, yet she selfishly clung to her life like
it held more value than anyone else’s. While others bore the weight of impossible choices,sacrificed themselves in secret, including the child who quietly fulfilled his duty and died
,she had the audacity to pretend she’d do the same. All for what? So others would stop her, convince her to live, and throw their lives away instead. She wasn’t a goddess; she was a parasite, feeding off the heroism of those who deserved far better.
Not up my alley ...SORRYYYY !!
2) tiresome climax and depressing ending . . If the outcome is going to be as the past (like that of ling long and bingyi's) why would you write a new story in the first place. I kept anticipating they will bring a different outcome but .. well!! I don't know what else to say.
3) actress playing FL is good ..her acting was amazing but in some episode I felt like she is looking too mature for the role for example when they went to kulun episode 15 .. though her demoness was quite seducing and bold I liked her more in that role.
The show is worth every praise and more .. is the reason why I write such a comprehensive review.
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What can I say about Fangs of Fortune
Starting with the careful direction of Guo Jing Ming, Luo Luo and Wei Nan, perfect as MY JOURNEY TO YOU. Each shot, each photograph, each close-up amplifies each character's emotion 500 times, the love that each character feels is explicit.Neo Hou, our beloved 1000-year-old powerful super demon Zhao Yuanzhou, mocking, cynical, loyal, friendly, profound.
Chen Du Ling - Wen Xiao, despite all his physical weakness, does not give up trying to do the best for himself and his team of friends
Tian Jia Rui - Zhuo Yichen or Mr Zhuo - a gentleman who transforms his hatred for Yuan into the deepest friendship. This actor will shine a lot, second role in life, first as a protagonist, I root for him.
Cheng Xiao - Pei Sijing the archer, warrior, full of remorse for her brother and uncertainties about her ability, grows with each episode until she takes down her worst villain. Lin Zi Ye our Bai Jiu, what can I say about every minute on screen of this new 13-year-old actor, I laughed a lot with his screams of fear, when he plays being possessed by Li Lun, he looked like Li Lun himself, he will also be a success of his generation. Xu Zhen Xuan our Little God of the Mountain / Chief Ying Lei, a cutie, his explicit neediness and his affection for Bai Jiu, I also cried a lot. Yan An - Li Lun, my goodness... I lose my words looking at this antagonist, understanding Li Lun was difficult, but the jealousy he has for YuanZhou and the love/friendship that the 5 protagonists have for each other brings him his redemption in the end. Perfect from start to finish, don't expect a happy ending in Western terms. It's a typical Chinese drama ending. I LOVED IT!!!!! The best of the year in the category without a doubt.
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???
One of my many reason why I watched thus drama is because like the actors. Most of my fav actors acted in this drama, like Zhang Miao Yi, Cheng Xiao and Tian Jia Rui. At the start, I felt like it was a comedy show, but later on, the plot started to reveal itself and it had become clear it’s a BE. Not to disappoint, it is a BE😭 starting from ep 8-9. I was CRYING because of how sad the brother and sister relationship and sacrifices. At the end, bai jiu sacrifice himself and so the zhao yuan zho😭 I WAS BAWLING MY EYES OUT BRO. THE ACTING OF CRYING WAS SO TOUCHING😭😭🙏🙏🙏 I would say I would rewatch it if I want to watch it sad show😭. The visual of the case is so good too! MUSIC IS ON TOP! I learned the dance to it!!! BE is better then OE so I’m not complaining but I really wished it to be a HE. The title of this drama also revealed the ending would be a BE. 大梦归离，the Chinese top translating it means “big dreams belong end” explaining that zhao yuan zhous big dream has to come to an end. The lovelyness of being with a huge group of friends felt like a dream. This isn’t a dream but feels like a dream, sadly whatever that has to do with dreams belongs to an end. This is predicting a BE… (HE meaning is Happy ending, BE means Bad ending/Sad ending, OE means opening ending)Was this review helpful to you?
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