Fangs of Fortune (2024)

To leave the dream and return to reality...

The last time I felt so torn up and sad after watching a series was when I watched ‘Mysterious Lotus Casebook’ and now iQIYI has managed to make me cry endlessly again with one of their productions.

They use the latest technology for the drama, which is why it looks so real.
https://www.tiktok.com/@eprileven/video/7432156758052801793?is_from_webapp=1&sender_device=pc&web_id=7380879236251223585
Realistic settings or blue/green backgrounds do not create harmonious scenes. Especially with blue/green backgrounds, it is very difficult to match the appearance of the foreground and background. Outdoor film sets are limited by daylight, so virtual filming with LED effectively solves these challenges and allows for more consistent and immersive images.
Thumbs up to this brilliant way of filming. Personally, I hope it is used more often in the future as I was absolutely blown away by the scenery.

Guo Jing Ming has once again shown what he is capable of. Although he is a controversial director, with this drama he has shown us how beautiful Chinese mythology can be. (He was accused of plagiarism in 2004 and punished by the court in 2006.)

About the characters:

Hou Minghao brings to life the characters of Zhao Yuan Zhou (he prefers this name to Zhu Yan) and Ying Long.
He is the epitome of being used as a vessel to collect all the malicious energy in the world and channel it into himself. The result is tragic, as so much negative emotion is difficult to control.
Despite the tragedy of the character, he manages to portray the character with ease and even manages to create humorous scenes.
Rarely have I cried as much as I laughed at a character.
As I already have two favourite characters played by Hou Minghao, I now have three.

Chen Du Ling embodies Wen Xiao in the drama. The baize goddess whose power depends on the strongest demon in the world at any given time - in this case Zhao Yuan Zhou.
Although she is physically weak, she shows strength of will in many situations, even though she has been through a very difficult ordeal. First her father died and then her mentor, the former Baize Goddess.
Rarely have tears looked so good.
I have to admit that I wasn't a big fan of her before this drama as she always played very weak and fragile roles. This drama changed my mind.

Tian Jia Rui plays Zhuo Yi Chen and Bing Yi. Both stories have something tragic in common, as they have to sacrifice their best friend for the good of mankind. Ying Long sacrificed himself in the first life so that Bing Yi would not have to live with the humiliation of having killed his best friend. Therefore, at the turning point, Zhuo Yi Chen decides strength as he wants to live with this stigma.
The character shows that you should not judge a book by its cover, but always look behind the curtain. There are shades of grey as well as black and white. Forgiving someone and accepting them for who they are is sometimes worth more than trying to kill someone out of hatred and revenge.
After MJTY, he has once again shown that it's no longer possible without him. I'm already looking forward to more dramas with him.


What can I say about Cheng Xiao?
I've watched a lot of dramas with her, but I usually didn't like the character she played. For one thing, her acting was limited, which you could see especially in her facial expressions, and for another, she always played characters that were similar in some way - misunderstandings sums them all up very well.
She absolutely blew me away in this drama. Especially in the fight scenes, you can clearly see that her flexibility helped her immensely. She played a strong woman who fought hard, not pretty.
Above all, the development of the character overcoming her own inner demons was a great fit. Thumbs up for her performance - all round.

Lin Ziye, Xu Zhen Xuan and Yan An lived their characters and made them what they are.

I'm always impressed by Lin Ziye's performance in particular, and I have to say that for his age, he conveys the darkness of the character extremely well. He always manages to captivate the audience no matter how different the characters he plays are. I'm looking forward to his next drama and hope he continues to enjoy acting in the future.
Here Lin Ziye with little Kai Xing Jiang
https://www.tiktok.com/@linziyeth/video/7345111066470305031?is_from_webapp=1&sender_device=pc&web_id=7380879236251223585

Xuan Zhen Yuan made the troupe happy with delicious food and brought the little god to life. I'm sure Ying Lei will be a great god in the next life, able to protect whoever he wants. He has shown that no matter how you are treated, you can still be friends and in the end risk everything for them. He has grown with every journey he has taken with the troupe, eventually sacrificing himself for his friends to ensure their safety.
He won me over as young Wu Xie, and now he has shown that he is capable of portraying a completely different character.
Fun fact: Two former Wu Xie have starred in this drama - Hou Minghao from the second season (The Lost Tomb 2) and Xuan Zhen Yuan from the last season shown so far (Tibetian Sea Flower).

I liked Yan An as a demon who never learns to forgive, but whose hatred for humanity grows and grows, and who wants to kill everyone, even those who aren't responsible. Yan An embodied the vengeful demon like no one before him. Every emotion he conveyed, the hatred, the anger, the revenge, were completely understandable feelings when you put yourself in his shoes. And despite his deep hatred, in the end he showed that you can change - for the good of all.
Never has an evil demon looked so sexy - only Xuan Ye can keep up.
I'm looking forward to more dramas from Yan An.

Hats off to every actor in the cast and to everyone who couldn't be seen because they were part of the crew - every role suited the actor and every scene was perfectly executed.

Now for the deeper meaning of the drama:
Actually, the name of the drama 'Da Meng Gui Li' (大梦归离) was translated as 'Fangs of Fortune'. However, I forgot in which episode this was mentioned - I was very surprised when I saw and heard the translation and the spoken word.
Gui Li (归离) is also the strongest power of the Baize Goddess - a deadly sacrificial power.

Classically, Chinese idioms contain four characters. They do not have the meaning of the literal translation, but stand for something much deeper and often have a philosophical approach.
This is why these deeper meanings cannot be found in dictionaries here in the West.
The expression 'Da Meng Gui Li' means to leave the dream and return to reality. It describes the transition from dream to reality, from illusion to reality, and also reflects the psychological changes that people go through when they pursue their dreams and goals.

Basically, the title reflects the deeper meaning of the whole drama and is therefore a damn good choice, as it is the recurring theme.
After all, it also means that people who have lost their way can find their way back to the right path.
And with all the characters, it becomes clear that they all have to find their way back to reality in some way, as each of them has experienced something that you wouldn't even wish on your arch-enemy. The name of the drama is therefore very well chosen, and the theme recurs to the proverbial bitter end.
Every character embodies karma in some way - it is assumed that every action releases certain energies and thus leads to certain consequences. Through good deeds and respectful behaviour towards others, bad karma can be turned into good karma.
The bottom line is that everyone gets a second chance.
This is especially true for Zhao Yuan Zhou, Bai Jiu and Li Lun.

The friendship between the characters is so different that it is simply beautiful. Characters from different backgrounds come together and go through thick and thin, sharing all their emotions. The friendship between the characters tells us that it doesn't matter where we come from or who we are, we can all be friends, no matter how different we are - be it the evil demon, be it the child prodigy doctor, be it the young god, be it the upright fighter, be it the tragic goddess, be it the strong woman - we will find each other whether we want to or not, and when the friendship has grown, we will also learn to forgive each other.
Never judge a person based on what you have seen or heard, but learn to see with your heart and look behind the façade. For everyone has a background story that is not visible to the naked eye.

The love story between Zhao Yuan Zhou and Wen Xiao is very subtle, and you can see very early on that the evil demon Zhao Yuan Zhou is in love with Wen Xiao - he pushed her on the swing, even though he didn't like it at all. You only do that when you love someone.
Wen Xiao only comes out of her shell in the scene when Zhao Yuan Zhou and Zhou Yi Chen are turned into ice statues and freed. She hugs Zhou Yi Chen and is happy that he is still alive. Zhao Yuan Zhou gets it a little differently, as she is incredibly angry with him and hits him several times before he hugs her. His hug shows her that everything is fine and that she need not worry, as he is by her side again.
If you loved, this would be one of the most natural reactions. After all, you would be furious if your beloved had recklessly sacrificed himself for his best friend.
In this drama, their love lives not in the big moments, but in the little things that are much more important. Their love is expressed through honesty, devotion, trust, understanding, empathy, loyalty, respect, tolerance and acceptance.

Of course, anyone who thought that Wen Zong Yu would die so easily was completely wrong. Because an evil person doesn't die so easily. The last few episodes have shown us that he embodies all the negative adjectives we humans have:
greedy, grasping, arrogant, callous, hostile, belligerent, mean, cruel, unscrupulous, narrow-minded, unpredictable and resentful.

Here's something interesting about the title itself:
In the drama, Wen Xiao mentions to Zhao Yuan Zhou that her tears can turn demons (comparable to dreams) into humans (here reality). As long as she unleashes the divine baize power and turns it into rain, everyone can be saved. Gui Li (归离) is the final sacrificial spell of the Baize Goddess - a deadly spell. So it can be said that what the title of the drama means is revealed, especially in the last episode.
We also learn that Zhao Yuan Zhou is nothing more than a vessel to collect all the evil emotions in the world so that everything becomes more harmonious. This means that he cannot always control himself. He is effectively the one who makes us more harmonious, and is also the one who gives power to the Baize Goddess when his malevolent energy is extremely strong - the stronger the most powerful demon is, the more powerful the Baize Goddess is.

We knew beforehand that this cast had angelic voices - at least those of us who knew the actors from other productions. But the OST that was delivered to us is convincing in every respect and provides the atmosphere that creates it.
And now Liu Yuning is back to show us that even Chinese rap can be perfectly suitable for a Xuanhuan drama - I didn't think so before. He proved me wrong once again.

All in all, iQIYI did not disappoint us once again, and even though the beginning of the drama was already a harbinger of a tragic end, I really enjoyed watching the drama. The drama shows us more than what we see at first glance.

The lesson we learn from it:
We will never give 伞 to our friends because it could mean 散 and who wants a relationship to break up.
The characters didn't want it and tried to reverse their fate, at least until the end - but you can't avoid fate.
At least Zhao Yuan Zhou is now being sung about by hordes of people and stories are being written about him as the saviour of mankind.
Another addition is that the demons of Chinese mythology, who turn into humans after cultivation, can be whatever they want and can theoretically change shape at any time. They are shape-shifters.
So we shouldn't get too fixated on our conventional version of man or woman when it comes to these beings. For it would be possible for them to change from male to female at any time.

Furthermore, we must understand that this interpretation has nothing to do with a BL, but also with the platonic form of love in the form of friendship.
Everyone accepts each other as they are!

For those who have never experienced such a friendship, I wish they could experience it at least once in their lives, because then you can say that you have found the perfect friend who is totally comfortable with you in any situation.

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Fangs of emotions that touch our hearts!!

Fangs of fortune is a different concept of all the dramas that I have watched so far.It shows us the basic concept of triumph of good over evil in a new way, interwoven with emotions and lifetime bonds formed throughout the journey.
Plot-The story starts off with the intro of Wen Xiao and Zhu Yan,the great demon,who willingly volunteers to help the demon hunting bureau to catch evil demons alongside,Zhuo Yichen, the descendant of Bingyi clan and makes a pact with him.They are joined by Pei Sijing,an excellent archer and Bai Jiu,a talented physician kid.Later on Ying Lei,mountain god,too joins them to solve mysteries in and around Wilderness and Tiandu.
Cast-Neo Hou,as,Zhao Yuanzhou/Zhu Yan is excellent and perfectly cast.I think this is one of his best performances.
Zhu Yan,is,naughty,smart,patient, emotional,caring, loving, kind hearted responsible,great demon.Though he is widely knows as the evil demon,he has a painful side of him but has kept it only to his heart.Neo Hou carried the role of the great demon perfectly.Be it costumes, emotions,teasing, action scenes, charismatic,protective of loved ones,he is the main asset of this drama, in my opinion.His character is well written and presented.
Chen Duling as Wen Xiao,is smart,beautiful, knowledgeable,caring,kind human who feels demons and humans are the same and demons are not to be treated badly.Her acting is also good.
I particularly liked the little romantic scenes between Zhu Yan and Wen Xiao.Their chemistry was also good.
Zhuo Yichen, played by Tian Jiarui,is one friend that everyone dreams of.He is like an elder brother to Ying Lei and Bai Jiu(also a hero for him).I liked the way he always tries to protect his friends and also tries to understand people and their situations.His acting was excellent.
From a person who vows to kill Zhu Yan to a dearest friend who waits for the return Zhao Yuanzhou,I think his inner conflict, struggle,was beautifully portrayed.The best part of this drama is the friendship between Zhu Yan and Zhuo Yichen.I liked how Mr.Zhuo was able to understand all the pain and agony that Zhao Yuanzhou had to endure and hence could not pull himself to kill Zhu Yan.Their relationship is one of the highlights of this drama.
Ms.Pei Sijing,a cold and distant ,introverted,talented archer joins the group to become a friend for a lifetime.Together with her brother Pei Siheng, they are always there to take care of their friends.Theirvsiblung bond was very good.He was always there for his sister in times of need.Cheng Xiao as Pei Sijing and Lai Weiming as Pei Siheng were the best.Their acting was on point and brought the Pei siblings to life.
Lester Lin as Bai Jiu ,who is pampered by the whole group,is outstanding in his role.Be it a timid innocent doctor or a ruthless villain after getting occupied,he was outstanding in his performance.His story was a bit heartwrenching for me.
Xu Zhenxuan as Ying Lei,is surely a good trio with Zhuo Yichen and Bai Jiu.Ying Lei is indeed the best Mountain god.
And finally,Li Lun,played by Yan An,is phenomenal in his acting.Be it sinisterous,threatening,villainous,he is surely that antagonist who makes you fear him.But I liked the way he stood for the protection of the world at the end.
All the other star cast were good in their performances.
The costumes.sets,visual effects, screenplay,and particularly MUSIC were excellent.The music matched well with all the situations and was perfect.
On a final note,Fangs of Fortune is a highly recommended emotional drama which show cases lifetime bonds formed through Demon hunting bureau.The six members are protective of others and are willing to go to great lengths for their friends and the world too.
Also,it show cases that seeing us not believing but everything has its own reasons and causes.
Understanding a person emotionally is tough yet important.
A MUST WATCH DRAMA!!

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Tears, Humor, Love & Stunning Looking Actors

After a hiatus of more than a year from watching dramas, I was eager to dive into something captivating. Fangs of Fortune caught my eye, largely because I’ve enjoyed Neo Hou’s performances in his previous works. All the stunningly good looking main cast members have also attracted me. However, the 4.9 rating on Douban gave me pause. Still, knowing how meme bots, stealth accounts and contemporary competing dramas can skew ratings hence opinions in today's world, I decided to take the plunge.

I’m glad I did. For the past two weeks, I’ve been immersed in a breathtaking journey with a group of closely knitted friends who love and trust each other, and willing to die for each other. Almost 100% of the dialog time between our main characters, the actors have tears streaming down their faces as the writer(s) and directors try to capture viewers' heart. The sheer volume of tears is astonishing—this is, without a doubt, the most tear-filled series from the actors I’ve ever watched. It felt like every conversation started and ended in tears, to the point where crying became so normal that it lost its emotional impact on me.

Storyline
The plot is surprisingly compelling. It revolves around a love story between a demon who has a conscience and a human girl, exploring themes of redemption, transformation, and the power of love. Another human who vows vengence against the demon, but becomes empathizing with the demon as he turns into one himself. The story takes the characters through harrowing trials, strengthening their bonds and forcing them to grow amidst relentless antagonists who seem nearly invincible.

If not for the hints of romance between the demon and the girl, viewers might mistake the dynamic between the two male leads for a bromance, which is one of my most enjoyable moments. It's heartening to see a deep confidant friendship between the two main male characters.

While the central narrative relies on familiar xianxia tropes, the journey itself is engaging. The characters' struggles, setbacks, and triumphs create a tapestry of perseverance and emotional growth.

The Characters
I thoroughly enjoyed all the characters, but I was particularly drawn to Zhu Yan/Zhao Yuan Zhou (Neo Hou) and Zhuo Yi Chen (Tian Jia Rui). Their interactions are captivating, and the chemistry between them is both endearing and compelling. Despite Zhuo Yi Chen's vow to kill Zhao Yuan Zhou for vengeance and Zhao Yuan Zhou's desire to sacrifice himself for redemption, their emotional struggles are portrayed so authentically that viewers can't help but be moved as their relationship evolves into a deep bond of mutual understanding and trust.

Although Wen Xiao (Chen Du Ling) is a main character meant to complement Zhao Yuan Zhou, her role feels comparatively weak, ultimately overshadowed by the more dynamic presence of Zhuo Yi Chen.

I also found myself appreciating the character of Li Lun (Yan An), despite his role as the antagonist. His character elicits a complex mix of emotions—hatred intertwined with pity—as his tragic backstory gradually comes to light, adding depth and nuance to his character.

Performances
The acting is another highlight. The young cast is talented, particularly the two male leads, who deliver strong performances and exhibit great potential for their careers. The ensemble cast is full of visually striking actors, making even the villains such as Li Lun, Fei, Ran Yi, Cheng Huang etc charismatic and memorable.

Dialogue and Humor
The dialogue is often predictable and at times even childish, but as I settled into the story, I began to find its quirks endearing. There’s a paradoxical charm in the light-hearted humor that surfaces during dire situations. The rivalry between the two alpha male leads, for instance, injects a layer of amusement as they constantly try to outdo each other and earn approval, eliciting genuine chuckles from viewers.

Visuals and Special Effects
As is typical of xianxia dramas, the fight scenes are fast-paced and visually dazzling, with special effects that are remarkably well-executed. The visuals are well polished, and the characters, even the demon antagonists, are stunningly portrayed. With the flip of a coin, the pace slows, allowing viewers a moment to catch their breath. These slower, dialogue-heavy scenes often unfold with an abundance of tears from our characters, adding an emotional weight that permeates the narrative.

Music
As a fan of Chinese historical music, the OST is a major draw for me. The songs are beautiful, especially Zhao Yuan Zhou’s character song which is my favorite. The lyric is deeply moving and capture the essence of the character, allowing listeners to visualize the emotions and scenes of the character even without context.

Ending and Final Thoughts
Like many dramas in this genre, Fangs of Fortune doesn’t shy away from bittersweet endings. Some beloved characters meet untimely fates, which might leave viewers with heavy hearts. If you’re someone who gets attached to characters, prepare for an emotional rollercoaster.

While there are occasional editing flaws—some scenes feel out of sequence or poorly spliced—the drama overall is enjoyable. If you can handle a few heartbreaks and a steady stream of tears, Fangs of Fortune is worth your time.

Two thumbs up! Great watch! Don't miss this great drama!

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RETURN OF THE BIG DREAM / RETURN TO THE OLD HOMETOWN

First Impression:
The storytelling, cinematography, costumes everything was very poetic. I got the feelings of reading a poem while watching this. The pace might be slow for some but trust me it's what makes it more like a poem.

Storyline :
The story revolves around Zhao Yuan Zhou who is a 34000 years old ape demon. He constantly wanted to die. He was charismatic and chatty in front of all. Loves to annoy his teammates but all was simply a disguise to keep his broken heart away from them. When you will get to know his true heart you have already fallen into a deep pit with him. My heart was broken along with him. He's like the poet of this story. He wanted to badly tell us that he is not okay at all. He constantly lives in a despair. He needs someone who will understand his pain, his desperation.
Oneday he will meet those persons who will be the sunshine of his dark life. Even though they didn't want to understand his pain at first but situation forced them to witness the horror he was going through everyday.
It's a story to find out how they will heal his heart and if they can change his will to die. Will they succeed or not? Along with this journey there will be some small stories of the side characters. But the moral of everyone's story is pinpointing ZYZ's miserable life.

Plus points:
Romance, Bromance, Sismance !!!

Acting:
I'm impressed with Hou Ming Hao's acting the most. Zhao Yuan Zhou is a complex character and I believe it's hard to play this type of extreme roles. But there wasn't a single moment where I thought his acting was lacking. A 27 years old boy totally pulled of all the emotions that complicated Zhuyan wanted to tell us. His eye expressions were on point and he forced me to understand each and every pain of ZYZ. As for visual ZYZ was a dashing demon thanks tp Minghao. ZYZ's main wig isn't that good from the front side. Only Minghao can pull off that wig. As Yinglong he looked like a white moon. It's a pity his screentime was too low. I was captivated by Minghao and I am looking forward to his upcoming dramas. There's a high chance he will become a traffic idol soon because of his acting range and gorgeous visual.
I wasn't sure about Chen Du Ling's acting but she proved me wrong. Wenxiao is a character which can be criticized by viewers a lot because of not being strong. But her portrayal of WX was really good.
Other actors and actresses also did an amazing job. I loved Pei Sijing's fighting scenes, Bai Jue's acting. The guest actors were also a treat to my eyes. Though I had a slight problem with ZYC's frowning forhead but it's not a big deal.

OST:
FOF got some splendid osts which is the best of this year. My favorite OST is Yuanzhou's Youth by Minghao ! Tears keep falling from my eyes whenever I listen to it.

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Unpopular opinion. I didn’t like anything except the visuals and Neo

Sadly, I was not bestowed the fortune to like this drama, even though I really wanted to. Warning: this is one of my rare non-positive review so if you love the drama maybe it’s best to skip this read. While this drama wasn’t my cup of tea, I mean no disrespect to those that loved it.

POSITIVE:
- Stunning visuals: the cinematography, costumes and overall aesthetics was a true living piece of art.
- Male lead: I loved his demon look, and the way his character was portrayed. Neo nailed the emotional scenes and his comedic timing was great.
- Cast chemistry: even though I wasn’t emotionally invested in the story, the chemistry between the actors was great, especially the two male leads.
- End credits: the most random and adorable dance scenes.

NEGATIVE:
- Vibes of “Tacky christmas aesthetics”: too loud and too much going on in every single scene. Everyone was crying all the time and I felt nothing. It looked to me like the director was hyper-focused on creating the most stunning music video, that he forgot he was supposed to be making a drama.

- Messy storytelling: heavy reliance on flashbacks after flashbacks, dream sequence after dream sequence, weird inserts of “beautiful visuals” in-between scenes that broke the flow of the story. Instead of adding depth, the storytelling actually felt cluttered and disjointed. The conversations were the biggest issue for me as they often abruptly shifted between serious tones, to sudden humours, to sudden emotional outbursts - all this in one scene! This made me feel like I was watching a parody.

- Non-stop OST: music was constantly playing in the background which pissed me off big time. At times, it seemed like the director didn’t trust the actors to land their jokes, so he relied on comedic background music to tell the audience when they were supposed to laugh.

- Meh characters: except Neo’s character, nobody else left an impression on me. The female lead was useless. The second male lead was too stoic (I prefer his badass MJTY character). The second female lead’s action scenes were cool and I enjoyed the sub-plot with her brother but overall her character felt flat. The cook was cute but that’s all. The kiddo annoyed me af. I would have liked him more if he were written as a mature young genius instead of a teen acting like a 5-year-old. His possessed scenes were cool, though.

OVERALL:
This drama had everything I usually enjoy, an intriguing fantasy setting, demons and a great cast but the execution just didn’t work for me. Except for Neo, none of the characters left any impact on me. In fact, I should have probably skipped this one because now it has become one of my worst watches.

Visuals: 10/10
Story: 2/10
Characters: 2/10
Enjoyment: 0/10

FYI, my thoughts are mostly based on ep 1-24 as after this I lost all patience and skipped tons in order to finish it. I did watch the final episode and special episode.

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A Must Watch!

Brilliant! I have never liked a fantasy cdrama before. But this one changed my perspective on Chinese drama, its VFX and its production. I mean, even the makeup and costume are so meticulously well done that it left me in absolute awe! Masterpiece for sure.
I am super impressed with the actors who pulled off such great acting. I am in love with every character's gradual growth in finding their way.
I like ZYZ's confidence and his depth of understanding of every situation. The layers in his character are intriguing. Love every bit so far. His character is stuck between a rock and a hard place. The complexities are intense, but the relationship with his friends is so strong and fascinating that he may have some hope. The eventual realisation that he does not want to die, after all, is built perfectly in the story.

Overall, there are a few loopholes that I am not quite sure of, but it does not affect my 10/10 score. I just love understanding these well-written characters.

P.S.: In love with the end credits song and dance. Indeed, it is a breath of fresh air. Whoever thought of it is a genius!!!! This is the first time that I did not skip the end credits. Thank you for this

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Beautiful yet Pretentious; Great character development but poor plot writing

“Fangs of Fortune” is no doubt the product of director Edward Guo. I enjoyed his other drama “My Journey to Love” so much that I wish I could feel the same about “Fangs of Fortune”. Unfortunately, just having a good-looking cast and beautiful cinematography are not enough for me.


What I Like:

1. Characters
The main reason I am not rating this drama lower than 8.0 is because of the characters. I like each of them, main cast, supporting cast and guest roles. Each character’s story is unique and I had a good time getting to know them and following their journey of growth. They are interesting individually and together as a group. “Fangs of Fortune” is able to make me care about each of them and their stories touched me.

2. Acting
I am happy to see a much-improved Neo Hou. He is able to convey more than just a blank pretty face. I am most impressed by Tian Jia Rui. This is only his second drama after “My Journey to You” and he has so much potential. Chen Du Ling is fine. Cheng Xiao improved from her blank look in “Falling into Your Smile”. The rest of the cast also did an admirable job and I don’t really dislike anyone’s acting.

3. Cinematography
Edward Guo’s signature beautiful cinematography and camera angles make every actor and actress look good. Screenshots of this drama flooded the Feeds with many posts throughout the airing and after the completion of the drama. But…..(to be continued below)

4. OST
This drama boasts a huge soundtrack of beautiful songs. I enjoy them all, especially ‘Spring Breeze Does Not Ask’ 春风不问 and ‘Broken-Tailed Bird’《斷尾鳥》. However…. (to be continued below)

5. Production Value
I love everyone’s creative, unique and beautiful hairstyles, costumes and accessories. I also like the use of natural lighting and the realistic sets in the indoor scenes. The fight choreography is unique and the actors did a great job with their wire work and moves. It does a great job in using Chen Xiao’s dance background in giving her excellent moves and she did not disappoint.


What I have Mixed Feelings and Don’t Like:

1. Slowness
This drama is SLLOOOWW. The characters talk slowly, they move slowly and the pace is slow. This could have been a 30-episode drama (instead of 34) if people would just walk and talk at normal speed. The last episode is a waste of time. Everything could be told in 15 minutes. What pisses me off the most (my personal pet peeve) is characters standing around during important battle scenes. The good guys would be talking amongst themselves or crying or staring at each other, and the villains just stood there waiting. I just want to shout at my screen for them to move or do something! So much time is wasted and it doesn’t make sense!

2. Plot Holes
There are so many plot holes in this drama. Actions that don’t always make sense. Why parade a suspected murderer in front of a crowd to be easily recognized and then humiliated? If you knew you were the cause of a pandemic, why not kill yourself sooner? You already knew the solution! There are powerful demons and genius human beings yet you can’t detect someone is hiding around the corner eavesdropping? I thought you could smell their scent from a mile away! Plot logic becomes secondary (or sacrificed) when the drama focuses so much on the characters and making them look good. A good drama must be able to balance both plot and character development. Even if you can’t balance it well, it can’t be so lopsided.

3. Close-up/Camera angles
I complimented on how beautiful this drama is. But if you repeatedly show me a close-up look of a pair of attractive eyes every 5 minutes, it becomes really pretentious and fake. The fight scenes are beautifully choreographed but if you give me the slow-mo version of it, it interrupts the flow and the excitement. I don’t need to see them posing when fighting. This drama also loves the fog and wind machines.

4. Non-stop Music
I also complimented the OST, but gosh, the music is overplayed. Song after song, music after music. It doesn’t allow the viewer to decide how to feel in silence, but manipulates my feelings with the non-stop music. I counted one scene (one conversation between the leads) when 2 songs + 2 more instrumental music were played non-stop! At times, the music is so loud that I could barely hear what the actors are saying. I really don’t need the fight song being played at every single battle, no matter how cool it is.

5. Romance
Disappointing main romance. I enjoy the initial bickering between Zhao Yuan Zhou and Wen Xiao. A battle of wits and sarcasm! But then, not much happened and not enough chemistry or longing looks. It was boring. I had more fun watching the guest roles suffer in their forbidden love than or sad romance than the main leads.


OK, if you are a fan, don’t hate me. Go back and read what I like before throwing stones at me. LOL🤣 I will still recommend "Fangs of Fortune" because it’s a well-acted darker story with a good-looking cast, beautiful cinematography and likable characters. If you are a big fan of character development, you will enjoy this. But if you are like me and can’t stop your brain from noticing plot holes and things you don’t like, you might have a harder time enjoying this.


Completed: 11/27/2024 - Review #521

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Beautiful story about love, hate, understanding and self-sacrifice

For me Fangs of Fortune was highly anticipated drama because I love mythology/folklore based stories. Inspired with "Classic of Mountains and Seas", deep, intense and very philosophical, this drama now has a special place in my heart. I won't analyze everything in detail, I'll just describe what I liked the most.
Fate. Found family. Inner conflicts. Selflessness and righteousness. There's a lot to be said about this drama, but the most important for me is how unique it is in terms of relationships dynamics. Hou Minghao and Tian Jiarui did amazing job portraying their characters whose complex relationship and tragic fate form the heart of the story. For Zhuo Yichen it was long way from hatred to compassion, understanding and deep affection. For Zhao Yuanzhou, it began from "Promise me to kill me" but progressed to "Promise me that we'll protect the Wilderness and mortal world together". From enemies to friends to soulmates... And as a lot of viewers already commented about, Li Lun's role is also remarkable. I loved how his relationship with Zhao Yuanzhou was portrayed, gradually, like a mosaic: their past together, the reason why they separated ways, their painful conflict and affection which remained despite everything. Does any other drama have relationships dynamics like this? I think no. Does such a story need romance? No. I'm not going to join those who complained about "lack of chemistry" between Zhao Yuanzhou and Wen Xiao. Their relationship is healthy, simple and unconflicted, romance is subtle and I'm totally okay with this, because it's just not what this drama is dedicated to. It's friendships-centered and I wish we had more stories like this.
I think it would be fair to say that in addition to impressive plot this drama is a visual feast. Cinematography, costumes, styling and color palette are top-notch. And a lot of original soundtracks firmly settled in my Spotify playlist. So, with its captivating story and characters that you immediately become emotionally attached to Fangs of Fortune became a very precious gift for me.

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Bestest drama ever ♥️♥️

I just finished watching the last few episodes, and I cried a lot because it felt really heartbreaking to watch. How can this drama be so good? I’m so proud of the entire cast for delivering such a phenomenal performance. Little Lester Lin was incredible, and kudos to Neo You he truly shined in this drama. He’s not just a visual treat; his acting was genuinely impressive.

Everyone, including TJR, really shined in their acting. While Chen Duling’s character may not have been the best written, I think she portrayed the role beautifully. Her character came across as matured and smart to me, which added a lot of depth in certain moments.

I loved all the characters in this group of demon bureau hunters. Neo had great chemistry with the female lead and both male characters, and honestly, the directing did a fantastic job of showcasing the chemistry between everyone in different moments.

This drama has officially become one of my top tens. While the storytelling had its flaws, it was still very engaging, and I hope the cast gets the recognition they deserve for their hard work. It truly deserves the rating it got here and even higher! I didn’t comment much here, but it’s been nice reading most of your opinions.

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In the Land of Saints and Sinners

If I had to describe what Fangs of Fortune is about in just a phrase, I would say it is a series about free will; the freedom of choice.

In a world where humans, demons and gods reside, one might expect good and evil to be clearly divided, but that is not the case.

Both humans and demons are prejudiced against one another. Humans see all demons as evil, and demons believe humans are fragile and incapable of truly understanding them.

Humanity, and subsequently mortality, is about the beauty of an ephemeral and mundane life; it’s about emotions and fragility. Demonhood, and consequently immortality, is about power and the inability to truly feel.

The thing about Fangs of Fortune is that it is not just about the beautiful, yet fantastical, world we see on our screens. It is also about the real world, the one we wake up to every morning. It’s about judging someone without truly knowing them. It’s about labelling someone as good or evil, simply because of a specific characteristic they have. It’s about being hated, even if you did nothing wrong; being hated because of something you couldn’t control. It’s about realizing that you cannot truly understand a situation, unless you have been there. And finally, it is about the fact that no matter who or what you are, no matter what you experience, no matter the hardships you have been through, in the end, what you become is your own choice.

All the characters in this series are proof that everyone is different, and that is the beauty of life, immortal or not. Not every person turns into a villain because of a tragic past, and not every individual becomes kind and considerate just because they lived a good life. It's all about choices, and we always have the power to choose, even in situations where everything seems like a dead end.



Below, I will analyze my personal experience with most of the technical aspects of the series, and I will also answer some common questions you may want to consider, before watching.

DIRECTING AND CINEMATOGRAPHY
Guo Jing Ming has quickly earned a place among my favorite directors. He has the ability to create magic on screen. Every frame is not just beautiful; it is spellbinding. The world he has created here feels like the one my 6-year-old self would have dreamed of living in, despite the dangers it might have held. He captures the beauty of what I envision when I think of Chinese culture. Of course, the slow-motion scenes, the close-ups, and the techniques he is using as a director are a hit or miss. You will either love or hate them, and I am enamored with them.


MAKE UP
If you have also watched My Journey to You, then you’re probably aware that Guo Jing Ming has a tendency to make his characters appear pale on screen. In my opinion, although they don’t always look "real", this choice works in his favor most of the time. However, there were some scenes where I was bothered by the fact that some actors and actresses appeared so pale that it became visually unappealing.


ORIGINAL SOUNDTRACK
I have to admit that the songs are somewhat overused in the series. However, individually, every single song is soulful, touching, or simply electrifying.

Here are my three personal favorites:
- Return after a long dream (大梦归离) by Li Yuchun (李宇春)
- Unintentional big dream (无心生大梦) by Liu Yuning (刘宇宁)
- Yuan Zhou’s youth (远舟的少年) by Neo Hou (侯明昊)


ACTING
All of the actors in the series did a solid job with their roles. I wouldn’t say that all of them delivered award-worthy performances, but none of them took away from the drama, while I was watching. Each had their moment to shine, with some performances standing out more than others.

The two people who stood out to me the most were Neo Hou and Tian Jia Rui. Starting with Tian Jia Rui, I had high expectations from him, since I had enjoyed his performance on My Journey to You. Despite having limited experience in acting, he managed to truly bring Zhuo Yi Chen, his character, to life. His eyes are incredibly expressive.

Now, onto Neo Hou. Even though I knew of him as a rising star, I hadn’t seen him in a series before. I was impressed by his performance and how well he managed to portray a character with so many different layers.

On the other hand, if I had to mention one person that impressed me the least, it would be Xu Zhen Xuan as Ying Lei. While he was excellent for the most part, especially in the more lighthearted scenes, I do believe he needs more work when it comes to delivering more emotionally charged performances.

As for Chen Du Ling and Tian Jia Rui, if I could, I would award them the Queen of Tears and King of Tears titles, respectively. It’s truly astounding how effortlessly they manage to cry, and in such a magnificent way (while also looking impressively beautiful).


MYTHOLOGY
Fangs of Fortune may not be based on a book, but it draws inspiration from a classic text, that contains information about mythological creatures, called "Classic of Mountains and Seas" (山海经).

The drama -with liberties involved- manages to intelligently portray various creatures from the text. Not only does it retain many of their key characteristics, but it also incorporates other elements like clothing, make up and more to enhance their depiction.

Take Zhu Yan (朱厌) for example. According to the Classic of Mountains and Seas, he is an ape-like creature with a white face and red feet. In the series, aside the “ape jokes” that gave us a hint of his true form, there were other creative ways that the crew used to portray his demonic form. For instance, in the first few episodes, his clothing is dark red with a white fur, something that is obviously done intentionally. In fact, the red "energy" that surrounds him, made me wonder if it was another way for the director to portray Zhu Yan’s red feet.


PLOT
While Fangs of Fortune has an entertaining plot, with some truly amazing scenes, and I thoroughly enjoyed watching it from start to finish, it would be inaccurate to say that it is perfect. There are several aspects that the scriptwriter/director could have handled differently. For example, aside the first few episodes not being entirely captivating, there were many scenes where conversations were taking place, and the “big threat” was just standing there, waiting for them to finish.

That aside, some characters are underdeveloped and, at times, even forgotten in terms of the plot. There are several liberties taken in this regard. Did it bother me? Not really. However, I do believe that if certain scenes had been portrayed differently and more effectively, the final result would be even better.


HUMOUR
The drama is comedic from start to finish, despite not being advertised as such. As with any “comedy”, it’s something you’ll either love and laugh along with or dislike and roll your eyes at. At first, it caught me off guard, but the more it happened, the more I warmed up to it. Now, I can clearly say that the comedic elements were absolutely hilarious (and pure gold).


CHARACTERS
Like many viewers, I became attached to the characters. Every single one of them brings something unique to the team, and every member is essential.

Zhao Yuan Zhou, Zhuo Yi Chen and Li Lun
In my opinion, these three characters were written with the utmost attention to detail. All of them were very complex, with rich backstories and current experiences that made them layered and multi-faceted and I couldn’t help but feel for them.

Wen Xiao
As the female lead, Wen Xiao serves as the emotional backbone of the team. I do think that in general her character is underdeveloped, but I will touch on that later.

Pei Si Jing
Who doesn’t love a strong female character who can fight and stays true to her values?

Ying Lei
A humorous and kind-hearted character who made me laugh countless times.

Bai Jiu
The team’s doctor, another pretty well-written and multi-dimensional character with a complex, yet fascinating personality.


FEMALE LEAD (?)
As mentioned earlier, Wen Xiao is the emotional backbone of the team. Unfortunately, she is noticeably underdeveloped compared to the others, and she ends up feeling more like a supporting character than the main female lead.

Wen Xiao is portrayed as weak and fragile, something she openly acknowledges. She is kind-hearted, but like everyone else, she can be too quick to judge others sometimes. The main issue I had with her character is that, even though her introduction was magnificent and powerful, she ended up doing very little throughout the series. In the most dangerous and pivotal moments, she was merely a spectator.

Her weakness remains constant throughout the series and many times it felt like she was inserted into certain plotlines/scenes just to be present, rather than having a significant role in the events. There were many scenes where all she did was lie helplessly on the ground, while everyone else fought for their lives. What frustrated me the most is that, despite being portrayed as someone with potential power, she never truly feels like a powerful and important character.


ROMANCE + BROMANCE + SISMANCE
The romance between the two main characters was slow-paced and, unfortunately, underdeveloped. Even though the actors had good chemistry, the portrayal of their characters and their actions never convinced me that they were truly in love. Their "relationship" felt sudden, with barely any build-up. Some of their grand gestures for each other were impactful in concept, but because the romance itself was super underdeveloped throughout the earlier episodes -with most meaningful scenes not being between them- "their moments" failed to leave an impression on me and left me wondering why they are acting the way they do.

On the other hand, the bromance between Zhao Yuan Zhou and Zhuo Yi Chen (and even Li Lun) was the kind of “romance” the series was missing. Not only were the actors phenomenal, with their scenes oozing chemistry, but their relationships were also better written. Because of that, as a viewer, I could better understand and connect with them. Plus, they shared some of the most emotionally impactful moments in the series. Why though? I will get to it later.

Bromance aside, the relationship between Pei Si Jing and Wen Xiao was also beautifully portrayed. Despite their differences, they formed a deep connection and felt so much for one another. Their scenes were magnificent and their conversations were truly beautiful to watch.


ENDING
Obviously, I won’t spoil it for you. I will just say that even though the last episodes were not flawless in terms of execution, thankfully the series did not crash and burn.



Now to the questions:

-> WAS IT AS GOOD AS MY JOURNEY TO YOU?
Fangs of Fortune is fundamentally different from My Journey to You, which makes it impossible to truly compare the two. Even though both series share the same director and as a result they are both visually stunning in their own ways (with some amazing OSTs), that’s where the similarities end.

MJTY was a much darker series -both in terms of cinematography and atmosphere, as well as plot- with limited fantasy elements. It was more dialogue-driven and political, with a heavier atmosphere and barely any comedic elements. On the other hand, Fangs of Fortune, was a fantasy drama through and through, filled with an exquisite amount of comedy and a generally lighter atmosphere. So, it all depends on what you generally enjoy.


-> IS IT BINGE-WORTHY?
Yes and no. For those who generally dislike GJM's directing style -his meticulous attention to visual detail, slow-paced dialogues, hushed voices, and frequent use of slow motion- it might be challenging to watch, let alone binge. However, for viewers that enjoy his approach, binge-watching will probably be a delight.


-> HOW IS THE ROMANCE?
The romance unfolds slowly and it takes a backseat to the series' main storyline, as the focus is mostly on the ensemble of main characters rather than the two "leads." That said, as mentioned above, it is also quite underdeveloped. So, if you are looking for a romance-focused series, this is not the one for you.


-> DOES IT PORTRAY A NON-PLATONIC RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN THE TWO MALE LEADS?
That is a very complicated question. Of course, it could never truly be a same-sex romance, since there is a ban on same-sex relationships portrayed on screen in China. However, Guo Jing Ming has incorporated many homoerotic undertones between some of the characters -and this is not the first time he’s done so-.

For me, it’s evident that the director/scriptwriter would likely have pursued a different kind of relationship between the two male leads, if it wasn’t for the ban. I know many of you may disagree, but I’d like to share my thoughts on this.

First of all, there are many scenes that are undeniably not purely platonic (like the hairpin scene between two of the characters or the red string scene). Additionally, the main male characters are much more complex and layered compared to the female lead. In fact, the most impactful moments, the ones that really stand-out, happen between the two male leads and not between the male and female lead.

In addition, the way that GJM directed the drama makes it evident that he was willing to go in that direction if he could. Their interconnected fates, their glances, their touches, their bickering, their reactions when it came to one another -all of it- had far more depth compared to the main romance. The fact that the female lead was weak and underdeveloped, coupled with her random appearances in certain scenes, further reinforces the idea that the romance between the mains was never meant to be the central focus.

Lastly, it doesn’t matter whether you consider their relationship platonic, brotherly, romantic or something else entirely. Their bond is unquestionably powerful, something that I don’t believe anyone can truly deny. The fact that the female lead is not the focus of the series at all and barely appears in the last few episodes, made me even more convinced that this was a story about something much different and deeper than what we initially expected.


All in all, Fangs of Fortune took me by surprise and I think it will be a long time before I get over it. It ruined me and healed me simultaneously. Despite its flaws, it was an incredible watch. The characters, their stories, the OST, the underlying message and the overall experience of watching it are things I won’t forget.


I will leave you with one of the many beautiful quotes of the drama about mortality and death:
"Tears has nothing to do with age and nothing to do with strength or weakness. It has something to do with our hearts. Humans are soft-hearted. Soft things will always be pricked by something hard and cold and death is the hardest and coldest thing in this world."

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Unforgettable Performances and Complex Characters

I have never cried this much for a drama. Fangs of Fortune is a true emotional rollercoaster, and the best thing about it is the acting, particularly Tian Jia Rui’s stellar performance. His portrayal of Zhuo Yi Chen is absolutely captivating, striking a perfect balance between subtlety and intensity. Tian’s ability to convey complex emotions with remarkable depth makes each scene feel incredibly authentic, drawing viewers into the character’s world. Whether in moments of vulnerability or strength, his expressions and body language bring Zhuo Yi Chen to life in a way that is both mesmerizing and heart-wrenching.

What truly sets Tian Jia Rui apart is his versatility. As Fake Zhuo Yi Chen, he effortlessly transitions into a completely different persona, showcasing an impressive range that highlights his acting prowess. The contrast between the true Zhuo Yi Chen and Fake Zhuo Yi Chen is striking, and Tian navigates this dual role with such precision that each character feels distinct yet equally compelling. Additionally, his ethereal performance as Lord Bing Yi adds an entirely new dimension to the drama. With a regal presence and subtle vulnerability, Tian perfectly captures the character's internal struggle, further elevating the overall experience of the show.

The supporting characters in Fangs of Fortune are equally captivating. I loved Both YL and BJ characters.

Also The complex dynamics between Wen and ZYZ offer an emotionally rich, evolving relationship that is both touching and complicated. Their romance, filled with obstacles, never feels forced, and the way they navigate their feelings is both beautiful and heartwarming. Meanwhile, the friendship between ZYC and ZYZ, which transitions from adversaries to brothers, is equally compelling. The chemistry between the entire team, including the villains, is electric. The relationships are multi-faceted, each character bringing something unique to the story. From the tender bromance to the intriguing tension between LiLun and ZYZ, every interaction feels meaningful, adding depth to the plot.

The backstories of the characters also add to the richness of the show, with each reveal offering insights into their motivations and shaping their actions. The emotional complexity of the entire cast is on full display, especially in moments of intense conflict or tenderness. The way the characters express their emotions, whether through small gestures or grand declarations, draws the audience deeper into their lives. The villains, cunning and powerful, add layers of intrigue, making the stakes feel even higher and the challenges more daunting. Overall, Fangs of Fortune is a gripping drama, and the stellar performances across the board make it an unforgettable viewing experience.

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