Fangs of Fortune (2024)

A Spellbinding Masterpiece: Fangs of Fortune Delivers Unforgettable Performances

As a fan of fantasy, suspense, and adventure, Fangs of Fortune delivers everything I love and more. It's easily the best drama to grace our screens this year, capturing all the elements that make for an unforgettable experience.

The cast, both male and female, are delivering exceptional performances, bringing their characters to life in such a spectacular and flawless manner. The chemistry among the cast is palpable, with their interactions making each moment engaging. The villains are brilliantly portrayed, cunning and powerful, heightening the stakes and adding layers of complexity to the challenges the main characters face. The beauty and talent of the actors and actresses only enhance the drama's allure, making it even more captivating.

The romance between Wen and ZYZ is beautifully complicated yet utterly heartwarming, while the friendship between ZYC and ZYZ evolves from enemies to true brothers, warming my heart every time. Their progression is a testament to the writing and acting. The dynamic between LiLun and ZYZ is another highlight, full of mystery and intrigue, unfolding slowly but surely. The backstories of all the characters are fascinating, keeping you invested in learning more about their pasts, their choices, and their emotions. The bromance and sismance moments are equally delightful adorable, bittersweet, funny, and full of excitement.

What truly impressed me, however, was the performance of Tian Jia Rui, particularly his portrayal of Zhuo Yi Chen and his dual role as Fake Zhuo Yi Chen. His acting skills are truly remarkable, and I was absolutely captivated by his portrayal of Zhuo Yi Chen. Every scene felt so authentic, with his expressions and body language bringing the character to life in an incredible way. Tian mastered both the subtle moments and the intense ones, adding so many layers to Zhuo Yi Chen that I found myself drawn into the story. His ability to convey complex emotions made every scene memorable, and it’s clear he put so much heart into the role. Watching him perform was a genuine pleasure, and I’m already excited to see his future projects.

In addition, his portrayal of Fake Zhuo Yi Chen was equally impressive. This character demanded a different kind of energy deceptive, manipulative, and often darker. Tian's ability to seamlessly transition between these two roles, with Fake Zhuo Yi Chen embodying the opposite qualities of the true character, showcased his impressive range as an actor. The contrasts were stark, yet both roles felt equally compelling, and Tian made each one distinct from the other.

Tian Jia Rui also looked absolutely ethereal as Lord Bing Yi, embodying a regal and stoic presence that instantly captured the attention of the audience. His portrayal of Lord Bing Yi was a masterstroke, bringing a sense of majesty, wisdom, and inner turmoil to the character. His calm, commanding demeanor radiated authority, yet there was a subtle vulnerability that Tian conveyed with such precision, making Lord Bing Yi both captivating and deeply human. The actor's ability to balance these two extremes of his character, graceful yet burdened, was a testament to his talent and made his portrayal of Lord Bing Yi unforgettable.

The storytelling is captivating, with each twist and turn of the plot adding new layers to the mystery. The way past events are revealed, tying into the current storylines, is brilliant and keeps the suspense high. The gorgeous costumes, stunning cinematography, beautiful fight choreography, and impressive sound and visual effects only enhance the drama’s immersive experience. The OSTs are equally moving, adding an emotional depth to the entire show.

Overall, I am completely in love with this drama and wish it would never end. I am savoring every moment of this thrilling, satisfying experience. The pace is just right neither too slow nor too fast and every episode leaves me eagerly anticipating the next. I truly hope viewers give this drama a fair chance and watch it all the way through to the end. It’s a masterpiece that should not be missed.

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Fangs of fortune! Totally worth the wait!

I have been waiting for months and months until the release of FOF! And it was totally worth it!
I knew that some of the cast members of My Journey to You was in this drama but had no idea that practically everyone from MJTY was in the drama except for the main leads of MJTY.
The FOF drama has a good mix of everything! Mystery, thriller, comedy, horror and they have managed to keep it just right without overdoing it. Zhu Yan and Yichen make a great duo, each trying to throw the worst possible insult at the other lol, but also secretly value their friendship just as much. The friendship between the Goddess and Ms Pei is adorable, and our Mountain God and doctor duo makes the tragic scenes a bit more bearable. Somehow all the characters on the team fit really well together!
I love that each of the demon-human cases and storyline in the drama have a good screentime. It doesn’t drag on, and the episodes cover what's necessary without glossing over the details too much.
Neo has perfectly mastered the Great demon serene all-knowing look and you really feel like he is thousands of years old! The Great demon and Goddess do have a certain aloofness about themselves which adds to their character really well. Afterall they aren't human, and Zhu Yan has limited bandwidth where emotions are concerned. Some people might think the pacing is a bit slow, but tbh I think it really fits the theme and asthetics of the drama!
The only thing they could have cut down on was too many OSTs in between episodes, sometimes simple bgm could have worked as well. But overall 10/10 from me!
Give this drama a try! You won't regret it!

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Finally finished watching!

After watching the special extra episode I know for sure the Director had BL in mind but had to add in FL storyline to avoid censorship. The fact that Wen Xiao is waiting for Zhu Yan in the Wilderness but even his last shred of soul sought Yichen who was searching for Zhu Yan in the mortal world says it all. With his last breath Zhu Yan was looking at Yichen and not his crying gf. You can't tell me its not BL.
Both Neo and TJR have amazing chemistry. Sure Wen Xiao and Zhu Yan have cute moments, but all the moments with heart breaks, love-hate relationship, the one or nothing, sacrifice for each other, belong to the Zhu Yan and Yichen duo. They went through thick and thin together and oh the dialogue delivery was flawless when Yichen got a glimpse at Zhu Yan's self inflicted wounds. The fact that Li Lun being his best friend for thousands of years didn’t completely understand Zhu Yan, but 30 yr old Yichen could hear and understand Zhu Yan's heart says it all. They were born to be each others soulmates. And in cdrama you know what soulmate actually means 😅 This is another version of Untamed, Spirerealm and Word of Honors moments mixed together. The drama was a masterpiece and even its comic moments were good.
Although I do feel that Jiu getting burned in the barrier was unnecessary. His mother could have saved him and everyone would have been happy with it. The last 4 eps really take a toll on your heart 🙁 I was bawling so hard when we get to the part of Yinglei sacrificing himself for Jiu. It was the saddest main character death for me. We were reminded time and again that Zhu Yan was ready to die throughout the drama, but Jiu and the cute Mountain God dying really broke my heart.
I'm just a tiny bit happy that we got a somewhat open ending. At least I can console my poor heart that Zhu Yan is still there somewhere waiting to reunite with his soulmate Yichen after hundreds of years ❤️ I'm probably going to rewatch all the happy moments of FOF 😭 I already miss this cast.
Fingers crossed Neo gets a happy ending in next drama. After Dashing Youth and FOF my guy needs some cute ML and FL live happily ever after moments.

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Best Cdrama 2024

For me the absolute best drama this year.
Really a masterpiece. Excellent executed on every aspect.
From cast, acting, plot, storylines, character development, music, songs, costumes, pacing, editing, cinematography, effects, fight scenes, to dialogues.
There isn’t one little thing I could criticize….mhmm maybe the cast was too good looking 😗😉😅🫠😍I mean those slow pacing close-ups….❤️‍🔥
The main cast was brilliant. I laughed and cried so many times.
I also liked how you have adventure, fantasy, lovestory, friendship and also bromance. The drama is really heavy in this one, but they always gave us those funny little moments.
My heart ached at the end….but hey nothing really ends, right 🥹😉

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This is an absolute masterpiece!

The only set of people who won't like this drama are those who aren't into this kind of dramas. It's an absolute masterpiece, though started slow but it was ignorable. Definitely a must watch!
Every characters managed to shine in their own way. And of course, Zhao Yuanzhou shone the brightest. The character managed to carry to show from the beginning till the very end. Truly remarkable 👏. I love Wen Xiao's character too even though everyone hates her for being weak but that's the point of the ml being stronger. There's absolutely nothing wrong with her character.
Then there's Zhuo Yichen and Pei Sijing...the actors did so well with the roles. Our Baby Baijiu was a complete character but the actor did so well ...then Yinglei who didn't deserve to die 😭..
There's Li Lun whom I still hate but his final scene managed to elevate some of my hatred for him.

The drama is highly recommended but if you aren't into this kind of drama, it's not for you.

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One of the best dramas in 2024
The production and direction got me like damn.. the dark vibe and slow motions.. the fighting scenes.. those slow motions depicts the emotions of every character in a descriptive manner. Though we all expect the ending it was still eye catchy to watch last few episodes. Rather than being a romance centric story it really shows the shades of humans. How people make mistakes, how people redeem themselves from guilt, how people love , overlove , hate , overhate people.. All those human emotions were taken into a nice picture through this drama. Zhu Yan , Zhou Yichen , Li Lun these three demons really defines the powerful screen appearance again and again. specially with zhu yan that is no joke. Guy knows how to captivate every single scene.
And also the supporting cast from fei , qingeng to yinglei , peisijing , pei siheng, ying lei all of these people were soo soo amazingg.. everyone has their own reasons to do everything but deep down they all were simply lost ones. and our won goddess wen xiao, i think she is the one who endured most of the trauma in this story after zhu yan but she still remains pure and kind. she really is the baize goddess.
And Bai jiu.. that child actor.. damn boy the way he acts.. literally "director said act; but he heard slay" moment

And finally shout out to the director GJM.. this drama is unparallel for me in many ways.. one of the best directions and scripts i hv seen after untamed..
P.S. Love all the ships in this story

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Fangs of Fortune: A Masterpiece That Heals the Heart

I had been waiting for Fangs of Fortune for a long time, and with such anticipation, there’s always the fear of disappointment. However, from the first episode, I knew my patience was worth it. This drama has been the most incredible piece of media I’ve experienced in a long time. As someone who loves cinema and is often let down, this show exceeded all my expectations—it’s the best I’ve ever seen.

What makes it so special? Everything. The acting, the plot, the characters, the visuals, and the music all come together to create a masterpiece. The themes—dreams, guilt, forgiveness, responsibility, and friendship—are explored with such depth and sincerity. At its heart, this is a story about love: romantic love, friendship, and selfless love. It captures how bonds can form from nothing, grow into something unbreakable, and sometimes fade despite years of affection. The characters’ journeys of growth and understanding are both heartbreaking and deeply comforting.

This drama also stands out for its maturity and the philosophical reflections it inspires. It delves into the complexities of human emotions, relationships, and moral dilemmas in a way that feels natural and unforced. It invited me to reflect on my own dreams, regrets, and capacity for growth. I loved the balance of emotional depth and entertainment which I don't see often.

The world-building is phenomenal. The writing makes the world feel vast and real, and the production and cinematography bring it to life. From starry nights to deep waters, every scene is a visual treat that draws you in completely.

The acting is another standout. HMH’s performance as ZYZ left me in awe. He masterfully portrays two sides of the character: a sensitive, determined man burdened by guilt and a ruthless, bloodthirsty demon controlled by malicious energy. His transitions are so convincing that you feel the shift in your bones. The rest of the cast also delivers amazing performances, bringing their characters to life with depth and authenticity.

The romance in this show deserves a special mention. Some viewers may find it too soft and understated, but to me, its subtlety makes it even more powerful. It doesn’t rely on grand declarations or over-the-top drama; instead, it shines in the quiet moments and at the most critical points of the story. The love portrayed here feels real, sincere, and deeply moving.

This drama took me on a rollercoaster of emotions. The comedy made me laugh, the action scenes kept me on edge, and the emotional moments brought me to tears. It’s rare to find a show that balances all these elements so well, but Fangs of Fortune does it effortlessly.

Even though no one involved in the production may read this, I want to say thank you. Watching this drama felt like healing—it was a balm for my heart. This show will stay with me for a long time, and I can’t wait to watch it again.

If you’ve read this far, don’t hesitate to give it a try. It’s worth every moment, and I hope you’ll love it as much as I do.

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One word: BRILLIANT

Tl;dr: I highly recommend, especially if you're into the demons and magic fantasy. Amazing frames, exceptional soundtrack, incredible mood setting.

As per usual, I expected something quite different, based on the teasers (I don't really read summaries, if I do, I forget what the drama is about lol). I thought it would be a great demon bewitching regular people with fever dreams, a storyline composed of multiple single stories. I do LOVE what they did with this drama.
First thing hitting me in ep. 1 were the incredible frames and environment. The huge, huge spaces of the Demon Hunting Bureau, where you feel so small because it is so huge and yet so big because it looks like inside a mini copy of a city. The gardens, the rooms, the exteriors, just wow.
The color grading of the frames. I have seen quite many c-dramas by now, but I have not seen any drama do such exceptional mood setting for each and every frame. Some parts are warm tones because they are funny or uplifting, the other parts are grey and dark because there's action and drama. Just genius work.
The soundtrack??? I'm not an OST person, but this OST really hits home for me. This is the second drama where I really like the soundtrack and can immerse into the lyrics and music. This drama has in fact my most favourite soundtrack so far. It sounds so grand, so emotional, just really, really beautiful.
The casting. I will always prefer to watch Neo Hou as a thousands years old demon/god/mythical creature in a human form. His facial features are ageless, he can make his face very soft and also very sharp. He was a fantastic casting option. From the rest of the cast, I have seen Chen Du Ling and Gulnezer Bextiyar before (I knew also Yan An and Cheng Xiao, just have not seen them in dramas before). I love that Chen Du Ling is a very strong FL here. Gulnezer Bextiyar is forever a goddess. I absolutely adore the rest of the cast too, everyone is so good in their character.
The comedy. I really did not expect this drama to have comedy, I totally expected just darkness without a glimmer of hope. The comedy element was very refreshing. Bai Jiu's screams, Ying Lei's personality, Zhu Yan's pranks, really really loved it.
I'm currently at ep. 26, we are having a little Team Crisis™ since ep. 23. I'd have preferred a smooth sailing, but I guess it would have been boring. There are twists and turns in the plot, they are never out of character. There is usually a small foreshadowing. I hope that the ending will be satisfactory to me. Even if it won't be, I think won't be mad (I'll add an ETA when I'm finished).
This is the first drama (correction: fifth) where I put a 10/10 for rewatch value. I'd rewatch it for the soundtrack and aesthetics especially and pretty much everything I wrote above.

ETA after finishing, in case anyone wanted to read it: Personally, I did not quite like the ending, because I like a certain type of endings (not going to say which because I'd spoil you). From an unbiased point of view, the ending was on brand with the title of the drama (advice: get your tissues ready). There is an extra episode after the official last episode. I think the creators could've added this extra episode within the final episode and make one more extra episode. Despite me not really liking the ending, the 10/10 rating still stands.

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Chemistry that Kills!

This is one of the best productions I’ve watched. The fight scenes, emotions, and attention to detail were all on point. The cast was solid—everyone, from the leads to the villains, did a great job. The plot was strong, but the sequencing could have been better. The story has demons, humans, gods, and tree spirits, each with their own interesting backstory. Honestly, this could have been a 3-4 season show because there was so much to explore—Bai Jue, Ying Lei (the half-god, half-demon), the siblings, and the Baize goddess. If they had more time, this could have been next-level amazing.

Now for the issues. It feels like the writers were trying to appeal to both local and international audiences, but they messed up. They tried forcing a BL vibe into a bromance plot, probably because BL dramas like The Untamed and Word of Honor blew up. The problem? They didn’t fully commit. It was like they were scared to make it BL, so they just threw in a female lead to avoid censorship. But her character, Wenxiao, was completely wasted. She was supposed to be the Baize Goddess, but instead of being badass, she was mostly there to cry and wait to be saved. If they had focused more on her arc, the story would’ve been way better.

The villain, Li Lun, started out strong, but by the end, he was just... there. They hyped him up, and then he flopped. Super disappointing. On the bright side, the music was great—both the intro and outro slapped.

Overall, the show was good, but definitely not for everyone. The pacing was slow, and I ended up skipping a lot. But the chemistry? No complaints. Whether it was romance, bromance, friendships, or sibling relationships, the cast had it all.

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Tragically beautifully crafted; emotionally stirring most memorable dream the drama delivered!

It started with arousing curiosity of what the characters' lines and attitudes were heading to. Then, it became light, fun, family themed, filled with comedy, bromance, and romance every chance it can in every epi but gradually geared towards the tragically beautiful ending it was primarily written for.

I like how it was well casted, performed, and written and the suspense I got throughout the story.
It is one among the no skinskip, no kiss yet engrossing drama.
The unique bond of gods, goddesses, demons, half-gods, half-demons, and mortals living together as a "family" fighting for the greater good of and protecting all living beings
The have destinies they couldn't avoid, the promises they could either break or fulfill
I also like how it showed various types of love and bond formed. The nemesis to besties, strangers to brothers and sisters, re-strengthened sibling bond, father and child relationships, and the romantic love.
These are the varied forms of warmth I felt from the story that were strengthened but could either last long or short lived.
On the other hand, there is also the wrong way of loving others, causing them grief and sorrow which happened to the villain and to what and how he turned out to be. But his hate turned obsession doesn't validate his sins
I like the bromance and the bickering of my 'brople' Zhao Yuanzhou and Zhuo Yichen and the romance of my beautifully paired couple Zhao Yuanzhou and Wen Xiao, the great demon and baize goddess as well as the always screaming and funny little doctor Bai Jiu, the wannabe-mortal-chef mountain god Ying Lei, and the badass mortal relying on her well-trained combat skills and signature weapon bow and arrow (hello Katniss Everdeen)
I like how their own stories, their entanglements, connections, and wishes were gradually unfolded
The friendship and brotherhood, the strong male lead vibe was very well shown throughout the story
The writer however appears to be more male centric. The story had strong brotherhood theme that I think overshadowed a bit the romantic theme.
Nonetheless, the injection of comedy and bickering in the epis even after some much dramatic plots made this ride an unforgettable experience.
The parallels in the story enriched the overall plot too.
I like the backstory of Ying Long and Bing Yi, the dragon god and the dragon slayer and its connection with ZYZ and ZYC but hated what was coming.
I like how the story of Zhao Yuanzhou changed after his death and was recognized for what he's sacrificed for: his wide understanding and love for all beings, his love for his besties, most strikingly his love for Wen Xiao that in all places he would return to, was his 'home' with her
The most heartbreaking is when the prophecy couldn't be stopped. One last sacrifice is needed and it had to be ZYZ, he chose to be the one. It was the freedom he had long wished for; however, at that very moment, he struggled, reluctant and unable to leave
I hated how the malicious energy and the BG divine power has to do with the couple
It was tormenting hearing and seeing him wanting to be consciously delusional for a moment with WX by his side in the dream of indulgence which was similar to when he endured the pain in his heart due to breaking the contract of staying with her a s a colleague, only to enjoy his imagination of a future with his beloved.
I give credit to the inserted comedy and bickering because it helped balance my emotions in a way, acting as the pain killer or anesthesia
Most of which were from ZYZ and ZYC interactions: E.g. When WX didn't inform ZYC of her plan and he took it seriously firmly standing up for ZYZ; he couldn't move on from the embarrassment and was pouty all over; ZYC making ZYZ not look like the great demon, the most powerful, him seeing though his acts; ZYZ fake acts, his responses, and many more
ZYZ and WX: 'The sound of jealousy' scene which was both sweet and hilarious ; the beg epi with his fake act being caught by WX and affected by her little tricks and ZYC rushing to the scene and slightly misjudging the situation as WX was in danger; the eavesdropping scenes for WX and ZYZ's words of love and ZYZ holding her hands act, dying act, and more; WX's with other's reactions to the funny scenes such as ZYZ kissing the previous BG's puppet act to provoke the thousand-year-old demon Cheng Huang (Ryan Cheng's guest role)
The story wasn't all perfect, I had my own complaints
Some instances:
Ying Lei (Xu Xhen Xuan) endured Li Lun's attack to wake Jiu was being possessed by LL; Bai Jiu (Lester Lin), the youngest, gave his best to destroy ever burning wood to cut the villain's immortality; women power moment such as Pei Sijing (Cheng Xiao) defeating her most feared enemy that became a more fearful demonized human through her own 'mortal trained combat skills' whilst Wen Xiao was often put to a situation where she'd be subject to criticisms. Others made important sacrifices, given enough screen time for the dramatic effect but she wasn't given enough moment to showcase her being Baize Goddess and its divine power, didn't have her own shining moment except for 2 scenarios but with someone else's help and had less impact. I think it was better she was interrupted while giving her all as Baize Goddess to save the human race and had flashback memories of her and ZYZ to add to the heaviness and impact of the scene. The difference prolly will add to the character's growth. There were also some prolly minor inconsistencies that may be overlooked by their editing crew that in my perspective could add to her character's emphasis
The last fight scene with Li Lun (Yan An) in his redemtion arc joining Zhao Yuanzhou and Zhuo Yichen, the CGI, the winged ZYC, everything, with its drama and all was epic. It goes back to the drama being more male centered in my view. I have no issue with it but even ZYZ's death, the should be most heartbreaking couple moment came out less impressive
Nevertheless, it was harder to let go of this drama with all its potential to be a masterpiece
I was glad there was a hopeful extra epi
The extra individual bts is a plus to the cast specifically Chen Duling (Wen Xiao) acting improved a lot
The main ost auto plays in my head whenever I remember their group dance, their solo parts, their voice, the individual focus of the camera, their group hugs as well as the stage performance of Hou Minghao, Chen Duling, Tian Jiarui, Cheng Xiao, and Yan An where they all wore white, their promotional dance and all clips, Neo and Jiaru funny short singing promo, and their online meetings where funny hardow TJR is always eating
The OSTS, BGMs, the instrumentals (the sound of coming death and insertion of comedy) the ending BTS/Group dance have been part of my unforgettable viewing experience.
Jiarui's make up was very elven, insane face card that equalled Neo's. Bing Yi and his new look as Zhuo Yichen and him riding the horse were fairytale-ish very eye catching (hello Legolas, L.O.T.R.)
Neo's Ying Long to his curly silver haired Zhu Yan, cub days, to his 3 silver striped hair Zhao Yuanzhou look were all flawlessly done and carried by him, very attention grabbing. Not to forget he had a scene showing off his figure, insane body card
Their acting performances were on point, Neo's eye talking, delivering hilarious as well as dramatic scenes, the fight scenes and the cast' trainings for those
I don't want to wake up from this long beautiful dream and await the return of the great "white ape" demon, a reunion with his loved ones and a whole new adventure with them
All actors and actresses in this drama are part of its success.

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Drama Worth the Watch!

If you want to watch a wonderfully crafted drama, then Fangs of Fortune is that drama. Yes, I loved this drama, but I have to give some shoutouts here:

Hair/Jewelry - You did that hair - braids, hairpins, bells and just decorations in the hair were fly! Yes!
Makeup - Hello and holler, the makeup was on point. Looking at that tat going down ZYZ's neck, and the demon marks, whoever design those, you are bad.
Costumes - Two snaps for real. They were all slaying those looks. Loved them all.
Stunt Coordinators - We all know there were a lot of you working on those stunts. Each and every one was bad ass! We appreciate all the hard work! So worth it!
Special Effects - You all did the damn thing with those effects!
OST - The beat stayed in your head when things were about to go down. That's what you want. Good job!

There were thousand in front of the camera behind the camera who never get the kudos. Sending out much love and appreciation to those in the highest and lowest positions. We see you and trust we know all the hard work you all do. Thank you!

So many beautiful people in this drama. But the men. FINE! FINE! FINE! Seriously. I couldn't stand it.

I have to say, the crying these actors/actresses did, I don't know how you all kept it up. I felt like I needed to be crying too. And speaking of actors/actresses, nicely done and executed. Big shout out to ZYZ, ZYC and LL. You three -- WOW. Especially, ZYZ you owned every scene you were in. Bravo.

Definitely one that is worth the watch and truly we are fortunate to watch such a beautifully crafted work of cinematography.

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