Love in the Clouds

Sometimes I prioritise my feelings for a drama over my opinion about the quality of the plot

I really have my griefs against this drama and I even lost the track with the plot around ep 27/28 so normally I wouldn't give a high rating like this but honestly I can't rate it below 9 because I really had a great time most of the episodes.

Firstly the OST, costumes, visuals were great, they really put some efforts in it. Secondly, the acting was nice, Lu Yu Xiao did a great job (like always 🩷). Same for Hou Ming Hao I found his acting nice contrary to the critics I've seen, specially when he was supposed to be emotional.
I also felt the cast had a great chemistry overall : the comedy parts landed well, the interactions between the characters were good too.

The thing I like the most about this drama was of course the relationship between Ji Bozai and Ming Yi, but that's also the thing that annoyed me the most. I loved their bond, how they trusted each other, always defending the other : it felt like they're two minds in one body. I think they did a great job to show their hearts were sync.

However I'm not gonna lie, I felt the misunderstanding between them dragged too long : 26ep to resolve the misunderstanding about Ming Yi's identity was too much. I'm not questioning the reason why they both acted like they did because it felt valid. Nonetheless, it wasn't a great writing choice to prolong this situation because at the end you just get annoyed about the two of them even if you're fine with their justification in the first place.

This situation repeated and the 2nd time it was Ji Bozai who was hiding something. At this point I lost the track with the plot but I understood he wanted to sacrifice himself to save everyone. The reason is not that stupid but at this point of the story not many episodes are left, so they should've just pushed for a cooperation between our couple instead of break them apart.

This tendency to create a drama where it's not needed is common in dramas but hold no interesting purpose for the story so it might as well stop.

Apart from the repeated misunderstanding, Situ Ling's plot was not good. He replaced Mu Qibai who was doing a great job as the main antagonist but like always with those 2ML it's just painful to watch. Instead of using their relationship with the FL to overcome the difficulties, they always choose to entertain their own fantasy to the point of paving their own demise.

For Situ Ling, he has chosen to mix his inferiority complex (about not having spiritual veins) with his feelings for Ming Yi and came to conclusion he had to became strong for Ming Yi to like him. Of course that's not true but that was painful to watch, I even skipped some of his scenes because I was too annoyed. And it's a shame because at the first I didn't hate him, he was fun to watch but once his love became obsessive he was unbearable. Maybe one day we will be free from those crazy 2ML in c-drama land

The other supporting characters were underused, I would've love to see a real story between Tianji and Yan Xiao. It's kinda a shame but not a scandal since the MC's relationship was great.

Anyway, this drama is not perfect (like every drama) but it was great and I recommend it strongly because it's one of the best that came out this year.

Read More

All about the romance ...

the drama started strong which draws you in but after lord hanfeng arc it became weak and be became more focused on romance and for me it became flat.

acting , music , CGI and styling were all great

situ ling for me was way too obsessed with the FL although she helped and was the only one who treated him like a decent human being, he never saw fuyue right by his side this whole time , truly sad how things ended up for her .

this drama focused too much on romance which i wasn't expecting to be the main element when i started watching .

some character storyline were rushed .

love the plot twist at the end when ji bozai was the real ming xian.

overall great , just wished they didn't focus that much on the romantic aspect .

Read More

Love conquers all (again)

This was a lovely surprise in a season of underwhelming Chinese dramas, but it falls just short of greatness. While it does develop the romance between Ji Bozhai and Ming Yi in an enchanting way, a lot of opportunities for developing some of the supporting characters are not capitalized upon fully. Most notably, Yu Cheng En is unconvincing as the ultimate villain, and his story follows along the lines of someone seeking power due to a life of abandonment and weakness. But more meat is needed on this skeleton, and while I can respect the actor's desire to branch out and try out different roles, the desired effect was not there. Additionally, some of the deeper themes could have been developed further such as inequality, abandonment and neglect, and why exactly does love conquer all.

All in all, prepare to be enchanted by Hou Minghao and Lu Yixiao as they learn to embrace who they are and each other and the other great supporting characters such as Princess Tianji, 27, Buxiu and and Granny Xun.

Read More

LOVED IT!! Wished it was 40 eps or more lol.

I absolutely loved this drama. The acting was incredibly believable,Neo completely won me over! This was my first time seeing him, and now I’m officially a fan. Both leads carried so much emotion in the smallest expressions and quiet exchanges. The script between them was beautifully written.

**SPOILERS!!!**

Just finished this series (although I was rewatching the earlier episodes while waiting for the finale lol). The last few episodes- especially around ep 30+ felt a bit rushed. I heard they dropped four episodes, which explains the pacing toward the end could’ve used more breathing room.

Around episode 24 and beyond, I really wish we’d seen more of Ji Bozai secretly searching for Ming Ye after their separation. We just get a quick line later like, “I’ve been looking for you,” or he’s suddenly there. It works dramatically- you believe him when he says he’s done with her, yet he still shows up- but I wanted more yearning, more devastation. A few glimpses of him struggling without her, or actively trying to find her before finally finding her, would’ve made their reunion even more powerful.

I do get that Ji Bozai grew up never being able to show weakness, emotion, or trust anyone- so those quiet, isolated moments near the end of episode 23 made sense. Still, it would’ve been beautiful to see both of them yearning for each other in parallel, her searching for a cure to her illness while he tries to find her again. Or having his dragon kind of keep tabs on her here and there, maybe like a scene of him worrying about her but not stalking her like Situ was lol.

One of my favorite episodes (aside from the obvious ones like 19, 23, etc.) was when Ji Bozai tells Ming Ye she’ll be fine without him, and she breaks down and says, “No, I need you. I want to live on with you, Ji Bozai.” That moment hit so hard- especially knowing his backstory. I loved how the show portrayed his deep loneliness after learning the truth about his master, Bo Yulan, and realizing he’d been abandoned by both his mother and master (until she went to search for him to atone for her mistake). He grew up without a family and home, learning only to rely on a few people he trusted. He calls Ming Ye the “chosen one,” saying she has a future ahead of her, that she is somebody (Ming Xian), so it's okay for him to sacrifice himself. But then she turns that on him- “No, I NEED you.” They mirror each other’s childhoods in many ways, but Ji Bozai sees himself as nothing and disposable- and she has a master/father, friends, and a future. So in that scene, when she refuses to let him sacrifice himself, is her saying “You’re important to me. I won’t let you just do this alone” It was a scene to address the depression he felt after finding out he was abandoned, I think it satisfied those questions I had like okay he found out he was abandoned by his master, isn't he going to feel really sad about that after? I think this scene satisfied that question. So Ming Ye being vulnerable and doing her best to convince him like no I won't let you just sacrifice yourself, you're someone, you are IMPORTANT to me, and I want to LIVE ON and be with ONLY you Ji Bozai! UGH loved that scene.

The second male lead, Situ Ling, had real potential. His final line- “Can we start over in the next life?” was heartbreaking, but at the same time I was thinking what a tragic character, like his whole purpose was obsession over someone. You could feel his regret at the end of his dying scene. I just wished the show had given him more genuine connection with Ming Ye to make his obsession feel more gray and less abrupt. It ended up feeling more creepy than tragic because they barely had a real friendship. Like every interaction was just him helping her out of the blue, no questions asked...perhaps more moments of them actually being FRIENDS would've helped. Cause the scenes of him giving her his blood lol just like who are you to her smh. His character was obsessed and delusional, and they went that route with his character, but that's just something I wished they added. If we’d seen even a few scenes of sincere friendship or kindness between them, his descent would’ve felt more tragic and less delusional. That one memory meant everything to him, but it needed more grounding. And the way his arc ended- dying without ever reuniting with his mother- felt like such a missed chance for some kind of enlightenment or emotional payoff. Still, his story mirrored Ji Bozai’s well, both men shaped by loneliness but making completely different choices. I think Ming Ye saw him as pitiful in the end… maybe even a little disgusted lol cause like why are you constantly barging into my life but we don't even know each other! The actor playing Situ was great though- I’d love to see his growth in future dramas.

On the lighter side, Master She was an absolute gem- hilarious, warm, and genuinely lovable. It’s rare to see such a wholesome father-daughter bond in a C-drama, and it made the show feel more grounded. Zhang Tai, her best friend, was another standout- sharp, loyal, and funny. She brought balance and warmth to the heavier emotional moments and really added depth to Ming Ye's character. I mean they even tried to give Zhang Tai a happy ending too haha.

I also liked how they explained Master She and Bo Yucen’s storyline- it made sense and didn’t drag. But once the truth was revealed, I wasn’t entirely sure what the point of the tournament was anymore. Like okay Ming Ye basically doesn't need to be in the tournament anymore, she has no real ties to Yaoguang. The show tried to tie it up with quick dialogue and explanations, but honestly, the tournament itself started feeling unnecessary halfway through.

The relationships between the leads and their spirit companions- the cat and the dragon- added humor and heart without ever feeling forced. The costume design was stunning. The variety of outfits gave each character personality, and the overall styling was just gorgeous. The OST was good too, especially with the actors performing their own versions- it added emotional depth to key scenes.

Another small critique, it’s the makeup- sometimes it looked too pale. The white foundation on certain characters (especially the dragon actor) was a little distracting. Not a dealbreaker, just one of those small things that pulls you out of the fantasy a bit. And I did enjoy the scenery and CGI most of the time, some scenes could've used more stages/world building but I liked how this was filmed it looked more cinematic, compared to other Cdramas that kind of look too fake with the lighting.

I also wish we’d seen more of Ming Ye fighting or using her powers as Ming Xian. Sure, she fought Ming Xin- but he was a total weakling. It would’ve been great to see her face someone stronger or show off her power in the final episodes. When she returned to Jixing Abyss and let the mob challenge her, that could've been an opportunity to see that… but we didn’t get to see it.

During the final tournament, I really wished the Yaoguang Emperor had done more to intervene- perhaps even sacrificing himself like the Jixing Emperor so Ji Bozai could succeed him and reform the corrupt system. It would’ve been a powerful way to close his arc and connect personal redemption with structural change. At the same time I don't really see Ji Bozai fitting in or living in Yaoguang Palace, like I envision them just living in Wuxing Sea lol. So now he has prince duties?

The scene with the scallion pancake from the Empress was touching but bittersweet (when Ji Bozai hands it to Ming Ye while drunk, saying it’s from the Empress). It hinted at forgiveness and connection.

As for Ji Bozai and Ming Ye’s future- it’s implied Ji Bozai can travel to see her whenever he wants since he’s powerful enough to create the Spirit Well. Still, I wanted a more definitive scene confirming that they’d actually live together again.

And that drunk Ji Bozai confession at the end- adorable, but come on, could we please get a full “I love you”? The translation of “I like you, I really like you” didn’t hit as hard compared to Ming Ye’s “It’s not a little- I care about you so much.” Her delivery was perfect, and his stunned “What did you say?” was unforgettable. I just wished for one final surge of emotion from him to close their story, though I did love seeing that softer, more human side of him.

Their love is undeniable, and the yearning- especially the rain scene- was breathtaking when he comes to visit at Zhang Tai's wedding. Some people have commented that they don't know why Ji Bozai couldn't figure out that Ming Ye was Ming Xian sooner, but I like to believe he had a lot going on with his revenge plans and all of that, but I mean he didn't fully trust Ming Ye until later, like they kept trying to trust each other but they started from lies and manipulation, so they finally wiped a new slate clean with each other after ep 23, but I did hear it's diff than the novel in that area. Love in the Clouds left me full, heartbroken, and replaying every look and line between them. I’ll genuinely miss these characters. I hope we see Neo and Lu again as romantic leads- their chemistry was everything.

Read More

The plot dragging... whyy? T-T

I started watching it because everyone was saying it was soo good, but then after struggling in the first 10 episodes due to the women doing baby voices, pouting, and the plot being nothing but the main girl acting so stupid towards the main guy when she's supposed to be a freaking powerful warrior, I saw comments insisting that the series gets really good, so I kept going. And it was true, the story finally starts to progress and becomes more interesting, but it doesn't last long, and the plot gets dragged all over again.
*spoilers* ...
The secrets and lies of the main girl shouldn't have last that long! It started to get sooo annoying, and the main guy not realizing anything at all for so long just made him look dumb. I was so disappointed by that, I couldn't even take his reaction and being mad about it seriously.
What mostly was getting on my nerves about the acting was the baby voices all the girls insisted on using when talking to men. Why is that a thing? I know the main girl was supposed to be pretending, but still, even when they finally fell for each other, their romance is so immature. They being two powerful warriors, I expected a more fitting behavior, I don't know.
And then my final point is the plot dragged. The main story is a cool concept, but all the side stories and then everything taking soo long to happen is just... Annoying. I dropped it at episode 26.
The acting was not bad, I liked the cast, I guess it was the directors choice to make them act too childish that ruined it for me. The fighting scenes were most good to watch though, except the cringing ones, of course. And heads up to the character 27, he's super charismatic.

Read More

Immediately in my top5 fav cdrama!

I don't usually write reviews cause I don't speak english well but this, THIS CDRAMA IS SO DAMN GOOD😩

• Cast: absolutely PERFECT for me, both in terms of visual and acting, ESPECIALLY the FL, my girl Yuxiao🧎🏽‍♀️ (yeah, I'm quite literally down bad for her)

• Characters: all of them are sooo likeble to me, they are all so interesting to watch, I only find a bit boring the evil uncle but I LOVE the others so it doesn't matter that much to me

• Leads and chemistry: leads are both so smart and funny, and SO GOOD together🫠🫠 The chemistry and the amount of physical touch are insane, they drive me crazy I swear

• Plot: quite simple but enjoyable, I really like the fact the FL have this silly personality while being so strong, and also that the ML doesn't want to sacrifice innocent people even if he's cunning and wants revenge🤧 It's important to keep in mind that it's still a romcom, so the plot takes a back seat and I don't think it'll be anything special, but for me a romcom must first and foremost be sweet and funny, and this serie definitely is!

8/36, reallyyy good for now, a must watch!

Read More

Interesting plot and a fun First Half but can't sustain till the End.

Subjective Gut Rating: 7.75

I can’t say I am not surprised when I see the MDL rating of “Love in the Clouds” is at 8.8. That’s a really high score for a drama that I’ve read with mixed reviews. I was interested in checking this out because I like both Neo Hou and Lu Yu Xiao. A good looking pair that have proven themselves that they can act pretty well. It shouldn’t be too bad of a drama, right? Well, yes and no.


Plot/Pacing
Finally a drama that gave us a realistic approach and explanation to a woman disguising as a man. Magic! I quite enjoyed the first half of the drama. We have two smart characters who are supposedly equally powerful. This is another version of enemies-to-lovers trope, which I like. Although deception is central to the storyline, at least it makes sense in this drama. I like that the leads try to outsmart and outscheme each other, while testing and teasing along the way. The chemistry was great, and flirting is fun. Some might find FL’s antics a little much, but I am fine with it. I do think the secret identity lasted a little long, but not to the point that I start to get frustrated. However, the second half of the drama, especially the last 5 episodes (or so) start to lose my attention a bit. When the scheming and fun flirting die down, the politics start. The storytelling of the politics and the villains is not as well-written and exciting. I was especially disappointed in the big battle in the last couple episodes. That was like child’s play compared to other dramas. The only storyline I like in the second half is the transition and character development of 2ML, Situ Ling. His character did not change dramatically overnight. You can see the slow change in him, yet the drama did not forget about the inner turmoil and struggle, and continues to show the lingering emotions and humanity in him. Of course, you can say it’s just his obsession. Nevertheless, I really enjoy his story. I also find the pacing of the drama pretty well. It’s only 36 episodes, and though I lose a little interest at one point, I don’t think it’s because it was dragging.

Acting
I have high expectations for Neo Hou and Lu Yu Xiao. I think because of that, I end up being a teeny bit disappointed. I don’t think “Love in the Clouds” is their best performance. That’s not to say they are bad, I was just expecting more. On the other hand, I have the opposite feeling for Yu Cheng En, who played Situ Ling (2ML). I still vividly remember him as the sweet and innocent young suitor in “Love like the Galaxy”. I wasn’t expecting much from him because he wasn’t that great in “Coroner’s Diary” either. But he surprises me here. I already said earlier how much I enjoy his storyline. I was able to forget about his innocent look, and focus on the intensity and pain of his gaze. I’m so happy to see such improvement from this young actor. The rest of the supporting cast is fine. I have mixed feelings about He Nan (Princess). I can’t say she acted poorly but she always gives off this weird pouty look. Her fake smile in the early episodes was really fake. LOL.

Romance
I think romance lovers would be satisfied watching our leads. The chemistry is good and the early episodes are fun. FL is flirty and ML tries to make sense out of her aggressive pursuit. It’s great to follow their romantic journey, the up’s and the down’s and it’s not too angsty. There’s plenty of kisses (and good ones, too!), hand holding and hugs. The final proposal put a silly smile on my face and wrapped up their romance nicely. The love triangle (or square) isn’t too bad either. Despite 2ML’s obsession, it was not to the point of annoying. Of course, I might also have a soft spot for 2ML. On the other hand, the secondary romance between the Princess and Yang Xiao could have been so much better. They have much more chemistry when they are at odds with each other. I can feel the longing and the pain. But when everything is resolved, the chemistry disappears. It’s not the fault of the actors, but the writers. The whole romance was pretty much dropped and the bread crumbs of their scenes are just not enough. What a waste of their early chemistry!

Production
When I write my reviews, I tend to leave a section to talk about production quality. I understand many viewers don’t care as long as the plot and acting are good. So, if you are such viewers, you can ignore this whole section, as I am going to complain a little. The production quality (based on the budget, of course) can really affect my viewing pleasure. The CGI and fight scenes are average at best. The last big battle looks like child’s play and is so unexciting. Visually, everyone looks handsome and pretty in the first half of the drama. But you can see that the quality of the costumes deteriorated towards the end. The fighting outfits/uniforms by different teams look cheap. When we have someone as handsome as Neo in the final battle wearing a flimsy outfit that looks too large for him, you know the costume dept needs to do better. The dubbing is actually below average for a drama of this calibre and cast. I am usually a strong advocate of using actors’ voices and not voice actors. However, I can’t deny I thought the drama might be better if Neo and Lu Yu Xiao are both dubbed. Not only are the lines not matching the movement of the mouths, I also found the actors not enunciating their lines clearly and sounded a little slurred. I’ve definitely watched dramas where both Neo and Lu Yu Xiao speak their lines so much better than in this drama To end on a positive note, I really like the song 《若你的世界没有暖阳》or “If Your World Had No Sunshine” sung by Neo Hou. It might be a little overplayed, but I love the melody.


Would I recommend this drama? Only if you are a romance lover and fans of Neo Hou and Lu Yu Xiao. It’s an average drama with an interesting plot. But with so many Chinese costume dramas out there these days, this could be a pass if you don’t have a lot of time. I wouldn’t say I have wasted my time, because I did enjoy the first half or two-thirds of “Love in the Clouds” quite a bit.


Completed: 11/1/2025 Review #638

Read More

It went downhill quite fast

At first from ep 1-10 I was in love with this drama. The dance of deception, passion and secrets between Ming Yi and Ji Bozai was spectacular and only drew me deeper into this drama. Their chemistry was beautifully done by both the actors and every love scene will leave you with butterflies, punching the air. However, as the plot thickened, I didn't enjoy the story anymore. It was arduous to finish all 36 eps. What annoyed me first was the amount of times they broke up/took a break from each other. One of them would be endanger, then to protect the other they would lie and break off the relationship. This kept happening and it would rotate from Ji Bozai being in danger to Ming Yi being in danger, really leaving you feeling so annoyed, like why can't they just tell the other that they need help!! Additionally, I was so upset with Chao Yuan's storyline, leaving you with second lead syndrome. This poor guy does not have any light in his life except for that moment with Ming Xian in the Qingyun tournament. At first he was incredibly sweet and did everything for Ming Yi, but then his sudden turn to the dark side did not do it for me. The writers really did Chao Yuan/Situ Ling Dirty. Additionally, the plot in this story got super cliche in relation to identity. Similar to numerous other cdramas, there is this special clan that everyone hunts after because there is something special about them, in this case the Bo Clan, and then the main character towards the end gets a whole identity crisis, since as it turns out that they are from that special clan. I really felt that this cliche turn of events was written very poorly. I would have definitely loved to see Ming Yi fight back for role as crown prince of Yaoguang mountain, leading the realm like Princess Tianji. Overall, this drama was not the best, but if you truly have nothing else to watch, go for it.

Read More

A great fantasy romance

Love in the Clouds is the kind of fun, easy-to-watch chinese fantasy romance that I live for. The plot isn't overly complicated, and the romance is just as important to the story as the conflict.

While they began with deception, the lead couple has a wonderful relationship of mutual respect and admiration. Lu Yuxiao and Hou Minghao have some of the best chemistry I've seen in cdramaland. This couple is so good, that even with their abundant screen time, I still wished for more!

My 1 gripe with the storyline, and it is a rather big one, is the arc of the 2nd male lead. An arc we've seen in many many of cdramas through the years, that I have never cared for. The evolution of the character does not do justice to the 2ml we first met in the early episodes.

It was also evident at times that scenes were cut, and certain plot points were rushed. CGI was about average for a chinese TV budget - I've seen cleaner.
Still, this drama managed to keep a nice pacing and immersive, logical tale.

This is a must-watch (and re-watch) drama.

Read More

Love in the clouds

Probably the best chinese drama ive watch. Acting is flawless and the visuals are absolutely on point. Hou minghao eye acting is on point. That man is such a precious person and when you start watching it i know you will be amazing by his beauty! Lu Yuxiao acting is also so majestic and herself too. I never knew about her but now shes my favourite chinese actress. This show is 100/10 and would definitely recommend. I am literally losing my minds cause the episodes are releasing each day and the waiting is so long but its so exciting to feel that you will have new episodes tomorrow!

Read More

Beyond the Visuals, the Plot Is Truly Exciting

After reaching episode 13, this drama has completely hooked me it gets even more thrilling from that point on. Although the story has slightly changed from the original novel, I actually think the drama’s version is much better. Ji Bozai’s character is portrayed in a more positive light compared to the novel, and I really love his development. The acting from all the cast members is excellent, and the OST sung by the actors themselves is also amazing. The CGI and filming locations are visually stunning, adding even more charm to the show. I highly recommend watching this drama; I’m already planning to rewatch it in the future. It has definitely become one of my favorite chinese dramas of the year.

Read More

Boring af

I don't know, but I'll be honest, this is the drama I've been looking forward to this year. Besides the really interesting visuals and the great Reuters scene, but then when I watched it, I... Stopped in the middle of the episode because the storyline was slow and lacked direction. I know the Xian Xia theme is common. But this was boring. Aside from the stunning cgi and good OST, some of the episodes were... Not quite right. The chemistry is good, but I think Lu Yuxiao, the female lead, needs more practice. Her expressions are consistent and complex even when the scene or situation changes.

Read More