Fangs of Fortune

More style over substance

One of the first fantasy cdramas I have managed to actually complete in a while that is a decent watch with nice costuming, good acting, and enjoyable comedic moments mixed with mostly likeable characters. This drama has elements that I truly enjoyed like the complex demon Zhu Yan that gets more interesting the more you learn about him as well as Zhuo Yichen and his stoic but righteous heart. These two characters definitely carried the show for me as well as the curiosity to uncover exactly why the antagonists made the choices they did. But there are some things that kept this from being a great drama.

First let me ask why in the world these characters cry so much? Every single episode had multiple characters with tears in their eyes. There are so many ways to express empathy, sympathy, and sadness without needing to cry but because they were directed to have tears at every occasion it cheapened and lessened the emotional impact the truly big moments could have had on the viewer. It was so frequent that I began to wonder how many bottles of artificial tears this production went through by its completion because none of the scenes felt genuine. Seriously, how could you make these strong and incredible fighters that fight and kill demons regularly and have experienced intense and heartbreaking backstories cry at the drop of a hat?!

This production had a habit of dragging out these boring and insignificant moments but then glossing completely over seemingly important developments. For example we got several instances of these drawn out slow motion, multiple camera angles backing away at the end of winded monologues where they try to extent emotional responses to sad revelations but then major fight scenes would skip over any action and just show the end with bodies strewn about and the winner standing tall. They even condensed what seemed to be important moments that would have added gravitas but instead ended up making things feel too easy. Like when Wen Xiao spent 300 years alone growing a branch of a divine tree that they needed but she was in and out within two minutes of screen time. More expansion on this would have truly added weight to the idea that these ingredients they needed to save everyone were nearly impossible to get and were hard fought and won by our protagonists. Instead you are left feeling like it was so trivial. And many more instances like that happened where things were talked up to be so difficult but played out and appeared so easy lessening any impact those moments could have truly had.

Now lets talk about the action, when there is any, where the characters primarily stand and pose while the camera moves and pans in slow motion to get close ups of everyones faces. We get the occasional great movement shots where they are twisting and turning their bodies especially Pei when she fights but they primarily relied on CGI for fight scenes and they often did not last long with main characters very easily knocked down pretty quickly so we just get to watch their faces as they lay or crawl and watch the rest of the fight unfold. In truth this style of editing can be useful and pretty but it also was very repetitive and ultimately made me feel nothing. It did not help that the plot movement began to feel less and less logical as the story progressed. The first half of the drama was interesting and even pretty funny in places but then by episode 20 you see a decline in the story telling where the reasoning and choices began to not logically make sense and instead things were just happening to make the plot convenient and move the story forward. There were many instances where I often felt like I just skipped a scene because something was missing or instead of showing things in real time they chose to only give information in flashbacks or to try and confuse the viewer they would try to make some scenes misleading but that just ended up confusing the narrative.

This may sound like I did not enjoy the drama when in truth I did like it much more than most other CDrama's I have seen as of late but it still falls far below some other dramas that are very similar but have better pacing and more coherent plot movement.

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Fangs of fortune the way you are

well.. this is really the first time I feel empty after watching a cdrama... I still don't feel like the drama is over.. I still want to watch it.. maybe in the near future I will watch it again..

all the elements in this drama are very good and very balanced... from the characterizations, the chemistry between the actors, and even the ost really blends in with the overall feel of this drama...

for some people, the ending of this drama might be a bad ending.. but for me, the ending of the drama is quite reasonable.. the main lines of the storyline remain the same and there are no drastic changes... the sudden death of the main villain (the jerk leader of Chongwu Camp) I didn't believe it and had guessed that he would rise again, and it turned out that my guess was right.. the death of the characters in this drama was also very heartbreaking.. I couldn't help but cry when I watched it.. especially when Yinglei had to die (I will feel traumatized when I rewarch later or when I see that clip passing by)

afterall, this is a solid 10/10.. literary, i usually give ratings out of politeness but this drama managed to change my view that not everything i rate is real

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Best 2024 C-drama

Cast, plot, acting, music - everything was great!!!!! undeniably best 2024 historical/wuxia c-drama. The group of main leads chemistry was good. Computer graphics looked realistic and vibrant. Plot was logical and mostly made sense. Pace was a good of fast and slow scenes. Jokes were lighthearted. I’m still slight sentimental having just finished it. Ending was very fair - emotional but ties everything throughout the building up together. Music also did its job well - setting well the scene moods, lingering in our ears, and fits the overall theme well.

SHOULD GIVE IT A GO!

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"One day, there will be someone you want to protect, too."

It wasn't just that it was grand. That the costumes and makeup, and powers and effects for them, were a feast for the eyes. That the fight choreography was a deadly dance. And that the soundtrack was epic.

It was the friends and even enemies made and lost along the treacherous yet joyful journey. Reconciliation and deep understanding. The noble sacrifices, blows taken, and tears shed for those dear. The beauty and tragedy of the sum of a life reduced to glowing ashes in the wind. Knowing and accepting fate with a smile and a lightened heart, as you have fought for a worthy cause/people.

It was unexpected found family and love that defies all description/bounds.

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A JOURNEY OF REDEMPTION AND HEARTFELT CONNECTIONS

This drama weaves a captivating tale of love, redemption, and personal growth, centering on the lives of its flawed yet endearing characters. What I truly admired was how the story focused on their journey and the pivotal choices they made. Some decisions, driven by their inability to let go of the past, caused pain—even to those they cherished most. Yet, the beauty of this narrative lies in how these characters grew, changed, and sought to right their wrongs once they understood the weight of their mistakes.

The chemistry between the main couples was undeniable, bringing a raw authenticity to their scenes. I was pleasantly surprised when I realized the drama subtly leaned into a queer narrative, which added layers of depth and nuance to the relationships. Every actor brought their A-game; their performances were not just convincing but deeply resonant. I found myself unable to choose a favorite character each one, from the leads to the supporting cast, brought something unique to the story.

Chen Duling’s portrayal of Wenxiao was mesmerizing her emotive range reminded me why I’ve admired her since TTEOM. Neo Hou's performance as Zhu Yan was equally remarkable, exuding depth and emotional vulnerability. Even young Lester Lin’s transformation from the cold and menacing Li Lun to a character with an evolving arc was a testament to his talent.

Fangs of Fortune left a profound impact on me. Its exploration of family, teamwork, and the consequences of our choices felt deeply meaningful. The slower pacing allowed the narrative to breathe, and the emotionally charged dialogues brought an added layer of richness to the story. The heartbreaking ending was a fitting culmination to this beautifully crafted journey, leaving me in awe of the storytelling and the incredible cast.

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Started off strong...

I had high hopes for this drama and was eagerly looking forward to it. It started off strong and captured my attention right from the first episode. However, as I watched more episodes, it started to feel drawn-out and repetitive. One particularly annoying aspect was the excessive crying and tearing from all the actors. Did every close-up really need someone tearing up? It made it hard for me to connect emotionally with the scenes.

The music was also underwhelming. While the piece associated with Li Lin was nice, hearing it on repeat became monotonous. As for Wen Xiao's character, she felt rather useless. Most of her screen time seemed to involve sitting on the floor crying, with frequent close-ups of her looking miserable—or getting choked repeatedly. It almost felt like the show had some strange fixation on making her appear helpless.

Overall, this drama turned out to be a disappointment for me.

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A devastatingly beautiful story of two soulmates that happened to be MLs

This story...either purposefully or accidently, ended up being a completely different story than it orignally appears to be. What I thought would be a supernatural romance turned out to be a heartbreaking supernatural bromance. Brotherhood. Soulmates. Whatever you call it, the two male leads' bond surpassed all others intended for this story.

But let's start with why the average rating...

If this was a visual arts competition, it would surely win first place. The visuals of this series are GORGEOUS. I don't think I have seen a single cringe visual effect. I thought I've seen gorgeous (Love Between Fairy and Devil) but this story took the crown by FAR.

The music in the series also really grew on me and I now have several OST in my playlist. It has some very powerful tracks for fighting scenes and also hauntingly beautiful BGM for sad scenes.

The cast was beautiful. Each character (and even each character's different counterpart) had a very specific and gorgeously styled outfit, hairdo and makeup. The costume team really outdid themselves here.

But as far as acting goes, I feel like more times than not, the aestethics helped them look a certain way rather than their own range of acting skills. Not saying their acting is lacking, but with how much artificial help they got to enchance a certain "mood" I can't properly distinguish between the effects and their acting skills.

For example, in what seems every episode, the characters would cry that one beautiful bead of crystal tear that rolls down their cheek in a close-up camera work. When done in moderation, that thing is beautiful, but when it's overdone (and in this story every character basically) it really starts to lose its impact. They looked gorgeous in their miserable state though...

Overall, from the cast Neo Hou, Tian Jia Rui, Yan An and (coming out as a surprise) Lester Lin were the best part. Their characters had the most impact, diversity and growth (in my personal opinion). It's very hard to judge Chen Du Ling's performance in this because there was something very lacking with her character that seemed too one-dimensional and a damsel in distress.

The plot....it's drowning in misery. The storyline, the idea of it, initially, was very good and rather compelling. There are demons, gods and humans. There are sacred artifacts and rules for their worlds. The visuals of the supernatural powers are vast and gorgeous, so at first glance the story seemed to have a lot of potential. But the execution of it was much to be desired... Starting from the beginning, the scenes were all over the place - people would cry, laugh, be comedic and serious all in a span of few minutes and it'd keep going. I couldn't tell what "mood" the story wanted to set. Somewhere mid-way the impending doom for one character or another seemed to be not only the main but the ONLY driving story point. Death and self-sacrifice, when used right, can be a powerful way of telling a story, but here it was passed around like a dodge ball, losing its intended impact.

The romance. Or lack of. Unfortunately til the end I found it hard to root for the main couple. It felt like we were TOLD that they love each other through certain plot aspects, but there was not much substance. Zhao Yuan Zhou (the ML)'s character is lonely and craves closeness, so if anything, the romance with FL feelt like a dream for normalicy rather than true bond. His other bonds (mostly brotherhood) run that much deeper. The ML had incredibly more chemistry with the SML, not to mention their storyline had SO MUCH MORE substance. It had growth, natural banter, warmth and heartbreak. THEIR STORY is the one that brought me to tears. Ultimately, they were the power couple of the series.

Part of me would have loved to see FL be a young kid that the two ML's unoficially adopted. I feel like her presence in the series wouldn't have changed much, and the ML's protectiveness would come out more naturally.

Overall, this story has aspects of it that are worth watching. The stunning visuals, music and the heartbreaking connection between the two MLs. But I would not recommend it for FL x ML romance. And not if you're not into a slow-paced melancholy mood storyline.

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"audentes Fortuna iuvat"

one of the best c drama for me in 2025.
"Audentes Fortuna Iuvat" means "fortune favours the blood"
it's been a rollercoaster ride to watch this drama Evey single time when ml and fl intract there is something I don't know how should is say but it's absolute banger every single time. HMH you frickin beauty he nailed it perfectly, a demon who just ready to die from the 1st episode and a goddess who did everything to save him but cannot play with fortune. As a man this's the first time I feel 😭 in my eye 👀. Absolute beauty to watch this show try just one time and you will regret it yes regret it ..

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The world is saved, but at what cost?

The world is saved, but at what cost🤔?

Should I start from the end? Or maybe the beginning? Never mind, I won't spoil anything. I just wish there was an epilogue or something to show how they lived after everything that happened.

Aside from that, it is a great story. But let’s be honest, many things were lacking😶
The beginning was amazing, with so much potential. The characters were strong, the acting was great, and their chemistry was spot-on. They worked well together as a team, and the backstories were genuinely mesmerizing🥰

But as the story progressed, something started to feel off. There were gaps, not exactly plot holes, but just... empty spaces. At times, I felt emotionally detached from what was happening.

That said, it was still a good experience overall. I enjoyed the acting, the cinematography, the fight scenes, the costumes, it was all visually satisfying🤩

But the most amazing, absolutely wonderful part of the entire series? The music. Oh. My. God. The music! It was, hands down, my favorite thing. I’d rate the series a 6 or 7 out of 10, but the music? A solid 10/10.

I’m not someone who easily gets hooked on OSTs. I could watch a long series "40 episodes even" and barely remember a single track. But this one? It had so many incredible songs. I downloaded them, listened to them over and over, and each time, they hit me right in the feels. The use of instruments, the emotions they carried, it was just magical. I can’t even put into words how deeply the music moved me throughout the show.
1. Spring Breeze Does Not Ask
2.Return After A Long Dream
3. Yuanzhou's Youth
4.Unintentional Big Dream

I’ll really miss these characters, and I hope to see the cast again soon, in something even better than this😌

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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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