Love in the Clouds

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.

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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.

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Love in the Clouds：A Romeo-and-Juliet-in-the-Sky Extravaganza

If Romeo & Juliet ever decided to move to a fantasy realm filled with glowing clouds, oversized swords, tragic backstories, and dramatic aerial martial arts, Love in the Clouds would be their Airbnb.

Except in this version, Juliet is a fallen “prince” (yes, not princess — gender-bending is very in vogue!) from Yaoguang Mountain, and Romeo is a criminal-turned-#1-warrior from the rival Jixing Abyss.

Star-crossed lovers? ✔️
Generational blood feud? ✔️
Emotional carnage? ✔️✔️✔️

****

A Relationship That Starts With… “Did You Poison Me?”

Our FL approaches the ML not because of fate, destiny, or some cosmic red thread — but because she thinks he poisoned her and is the only man on earth holding the antidote.

Honestly? Respect.
Girl saw a problem and chased down the solution.

ML, who hates deception more than I hate pointless filler arcs, suspects she has ulterior motives.
Both are testing each other like suspicious cats circling the same piece of fish.

It’s not exactly romantic, but hey — in xianxia, “I think you poisoned me” is practically foreplay.

Soon:
The ML tries to investigate her intentions.
FL tries to secure the antidote.
Neither succeeds because BOTH are too busy catching feelings.

Even after ML realises she lied, he’s already halfway to “If she asked, I would move mountains.”

Love is truly the strongest bug, even in the xianxia system.

****

Love Story: A Romance that's Predictable in Theory, Surprisingly Sensible in Practice

Romance in fantasy dramas is often:

“I died for you!”
“I reincarnated for you!”
“I stabbed my best friend for you!”

But here? The romance grows with refreshing emotional logic (yes, even when everyone is flying).

No car crash amnesia.
No evil twin.
No “I forgot you because my spiritual core shattered.”

Just two smart adults cautiously learning trust, honesty, and partnership — while surrounded by homicidal side characters. The angst is justified, the misunderstandings are grounded in actual lies (not IQ-lowering imagination), and their emotional progression makes sense.

Respectable, honestly.

Unlike certain dramas (looking directly at you, Princess Gambit), this show doesn’t rely on:

- Walking in on ambiguous hugs
- Half-heard conversations
- Jumping to conclusions like Olympic athletes

Here, misunderstandings are caused by actual lies, not fictional stupidity.

Both leads are smart.
Both behave like adults.
Honestly, 10/10 for not insulting our IQ.

****

Acting: Oscar-Worthy Imagination

Let’s give a round of applause to the cast, who spent 70% of the drama waving their arms at absolutely nothing while pretending to summon ancient spirit techniques.

All those:
- Elaborate mystical hand gestures
- Dramatic power poses
- Intense fights against absolutely NOTHING
- 仙气 swirling around them that only appears after CGI team does its magic

You have to be extremely professional (and have zero shame) to do all these movements in front of a green screen.

This is peak 中二病 performance art, and the commitment is admirable.

Imagine doing:

- 7 consecutive magic gestures
- A dramatic stare into the void
- fake-flying like a majestic pigeon caught in a wind tunnel

It’s cringey sometimes, but it’s xianxia-essential cringey, and they SELL IT.

****

Visuals: EXPENSIVE. VERY EXPENSIVE.

This drama is gorgeous.
The skies? Stunning.
The backdrops? Wallpaper-worthy.
Costumes? Absolutely dripping in celestial couture.

I was frequently so mesmerised by the scenery that I had to pause to appreciate it.

****

Neo Hou: The Real National Treasure

Let’s be real.

I watched this for Neo Hou, and I have NO REGRETS.

He did not disappoint.
Not only is he beautiful, the man’s eyes are weapons of mass emotional destruction.

B I G.
Sparkly.
Reflective like a cosmic disco ball

Every close-up felt like gazing into the cosmos.

If Helen of Troy were a man, that would be Mr Neo, the face that would launch a thousand, no, ten thousand spaceships.

My goodness. This man is so pretty, he sometimes steals the spotlight from the actual female lead. Don't get me wrong, it's not because the FL isn't pretty. It's because he glows like a divine artifact.

China's Cha Eun Woo, I see you.

Dude didn’t just act in the show — he illuminated it.

***

Plot & Pacing: Surprisingly Tight

While the central romance carries the show, the side plots add flavour without dragging the story into a ditch.
No pointless fluff.
No “why is this episode here?” moments.

Even the noble idiocy moments make sense! It's not the usual “I’m leaving for your own good because a random tree spirit gave me unsolicited relationship advice.” nonsense.

Honestly? I appreciate the maturity.
No “I’ll die so you’ll realise you love me.”
No “I’ll suffer alone because I have the IQ of a bean sprout.”

Here, love is mutual, effort is mutual, sacrifice is mutual, and power is balanced.

It's refreshing and I love seeing it.

****

Romance: Small But Meaningful Romance Moments (aka the REAL Fan Service)

This drama respects its women, THANK GOODNESS.

No damsels in distress.
No grand 霸总 theatrics.
No unhealthy simping.

Just two capable people willing to sacrifice, protect, and trust each other.

One of my favourite scenes?
ML gives up his antidote by hiding it inside her favourite snack, then watches her eat it with the softest, most adoring eyes known to Mankind. If I were the FL, I wouldn't be eating. I'd be drooling.

But I digress.

When I first saw the scene, I was like: “Aww, he’s feeding her. So. CUTE. Food is love.”
Me after the reveal: “OH. OHHHHHH.”

Subtle. Intimate. Heart-melting.

SO GOOD. And yes, I still stand by my initial impression: Food is Love.

And then there’s the whole falling-petals-equals-dying setup, which is basically a 仙侠 version of Beauty and the Beast.

Except here, she’s the “beast”: cursed, marked, racing against time
And he’s the beauty, with his galaxy eyes and devastating close-ups.
Ooh, how APT 🤩🤩😍😍

Every falling petal is a ticking clock on her life. And instead of locking herself in a castle and yelling at teapots, this “beast” spends her limited time fighting fate, saving people, and trying to protect the man she loves.

Meanwhile, our “beauty” chooses his “beast” again and again; not despite her curse, but fully aware of it, fully willing to stand with her no matter what.

It’s a clever twist on a familiar trope, and it works beautifully:
she’s the one marked for doom (initially),
he’s the one shining by her side — until he gives up his antidote for her.

And then?
She turns around and saves him right back.
Because she’s not about to let her man die on her watch.

See what I mean when I say effort is mutual?
This is one power celestial couple, and the power is actually balanced between them.
I likey.

No enchanted castle.
No chandelier.
Still very much my kind of fairytale.

****
The Antagonists: An Entire Psychiatry Conference

Every villain here is either:
- Emotionally unstable
- Power-obsessed
- Psychologically unhinged
- Or ALL OF THE ABOVE

We have:

2 psychos because of twisted, delulu love
4 psychos because of ambition
0 psychos who sought therapy

and 3 of them are related. So maybe, craziness is indeed inherited.

Honestly, if they used all that unhinged dedication and intensity for world peace instead of world destruction, they’d have won the 6 Realms Nobel Prize already.

Instead, they vomit blood, monologue dramatically, and commit war crimes.

A cautionary tale about the importance of hobbies and therapy.

****
Speaking of Vomiting Blood…

Why. Do. They. ALWAYS. Vomit. Blood.

A push? Vomit blood.
A hit? Vomit blood.
A slightly disappointing conversation? Vomit a waterfall. Ok, I exaggerate. But you get the drift.

The amount of haemoglobin lost in this drama could supply a small hospital. Based on the sheer volume of internal haemorrhage I've witnessed, it's a miracle anyone has any blood left for, you know, living after episode 20.

****
The MVPs: Spiritual Animals with Identity Crisis

Shoutout to the world's most dog-like cat and a dragon that's more golden retriever than majestic beast. These spiritual animals are loyal, naive, and emotionally-invested (in the most adorable way). I'm starting to question all my real-world assumptions about these creatures (both real and mythical).

****
Foxes: The New Gold Standard for Devotion

This drama taught me something important:

Foxes may be the most 情深 species.

Some are loyal like Hachiko.
Some are delulu like Xun Ming (please get therapy).
But their devotion?
Unmatched.

Nat Geo needs to confirm this immediately.

****
Female Power: Restored, Recharged, and Long Overdue

One thing I absolutely adored about this drama is its unapologetic reclamation of female spiritual power.

Apparently, a long time ago, the women of the realms got blamed for a cosmic catastrophe —
not because they caused it, but because a bunch of ancient men made terrible decisions and then collectively pointed fingers at women because…
well…
history has shown that blaming women is easier than taking accountability 🙃

Classic.

As a result, all female cultivators had to seal their power for generations, living under a false narrative of “dangerous femininity” when the real danger was (surprise!) male ego plus poor decision-making.

This injustice becomes a major theme in the finale, and the ML + FL literally need to work together as equals, combining their spiritual power, sincerity, and hearts to break the cycle and restore balance.

To save the world, they don’t need:
- a Miss Universe speech,
- a vow for world peace,
- or any “I just want everyone to be happy” fluff

They need action, partnership, and most importantly:

✨ 心有灵犀 combo attack ✨
(because apparently balanced yin-yang couple energy hits harder than a thousand immortals combined.)

And what happens?

- The world is saved.
- The realm is restored.
- Women get their spiritual power back.
- Gender balance is literally rewritten into the stars.

World peace:
✔ Achieved
✔ Improved
✔ Done without any tiaras or sashes

Honestly, Miss Congeniality could never.

It’s actually meaningful: the show reinforces that power imbalance is a human-made problem, and equality is not just a political concept but a spiritual necessity for the universe to function.

A surprisingly progressive message wrapped in sparkly CG and flying spirit beasts.

****
⭐ Final Verdict

Love in the Clouds is:

✔️ Visually stunning
✔️ Surprisingly well-written
✔️ Emotionally compelling
✔️ Powered by Neo Hou’s cosmic-level beauty
✔️ And filled with just enough xianxia absurdity to remain fun

It’s predictable, yes.
But it’s also warm, engaging, and wonderfully sincere.

If you like:

- star-crossed lovers
- strong female leads
- emotionally damaged male leads who learn to love
- sparkly skies
- sparkly costumes
- sparkly Neo Hou

Then this drama is 100% for you.

9/10 - If you can look past the chronic hematemesis and embrace the xianxia cringe, you're in for a solid, swoon-worthy time.
As for me? I will rewatch the antidote snack scene and stare into Neo Hou’s celestial eyeballs again.

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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!

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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

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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.

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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!

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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.

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A Xianxia which is a well-acted, well-directed, chemistry filled and cinematic masterpiece.

Love in the Clouds is a Xianxia that doesn’t drown you in complex politics or endless plot twists, exactly why it works. It’s easy to follow but still layered enough to keep you hooked, and I was, not only because I like both the lead actors and their previous works. Honestly, it’s a great pick for people new to the genre or for seasoned drama watchers who just want something with emotion, chemistry, and gorgeous visuals without the headache.

It’s adapted from a novel (with some changes), and though four episodes were reportedly cut, it's hard to notice. The direction and cinematography are that smooth with vibrant scenes, consistent pacing, and apt transitions.

Plot & Characters

The plot is simple, yes, but it’s intentional. Each character has a purpose and a distinct personality.

The male lead isn’t your typical “cold but secretly soft only for the fl after treating her like dust for a long time” archetype. He’s playful, hides behind humour, and comes off like a carefree flirt — but underneath that persona is someone deeply scarred, betrayed, and burning for justice. What makes him stand out is that his charm never feels fake; it’s more like armour, and it's refreshing to see a ml be so quick on the uptake when he found himself slowly liking the fl, even beyond the obstacles their love faced.

The female lead is just as layered. Once a warrior, now living as an innocent fairy, she’s cunning, brave, and a bit ruthless when she needs to be. But she’s also dealing with the weight of being a “fallen hero” — guilt, self-doubt, the feeling of letting people down. That mix of strength and vulnerability makes her really relatable. She's quick, a little misguided about how to do things but very easy to love, a perfect match to the ml's intensity and playful aura, quite like the tamer of the once untamed. Both actors BODIED their characters, and it was easy to immerse into the drama.

Even their spirit animals are written with personality — loyal, fierce, and a surprisingly emotional part of the story. I didn’t expect to get attached to them, but I totally did. 27 and Buxiu were extremely well written and eye-catching with their animal personalities bleeding through to their human personas, which was adorable.

Villains

The villains here are actually good. Like, believable. No one’s evil just for the sake of it — most of them have reasons that make sense, and their arcs feel complete and satisfying. There’s no shortage of handsome faces either. Certain scenes were replayed by me too many times just to see a few villains again and again, the casting was great.

That said, a few of the side villains could’ve gotten a more justified ending. I definitely felt some stories were left hanging. But the final episode made up for it. It’s one of the best finales I’ve seen in a while — not rushed, not crammed into the last five seconds. We actually get to see the leads together, happy and in harmony, for a good chunk of the episode. It’s wholesome, earned, and a perfect wrap-up to their journey.

Overall

Love in the Clouds isn’t trying to reinvent Xianxia, but it doesn’t have to. It’s fun, visually stunning, emotionally grounded, and filled with chemistry that actually builds instead of appearing out of nowhere. The miscommunication trope (which I usually hate) was finally used right — creating real tension and payoff instead of just frustration.

Overall, I’d give it a solid 9+/10. A drama that’s easy to love, hard to pause, and one that leaves you smiling by the end.

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Agreed with comment about unneeded lying

Story started off good. It did have unnecessary lying and miscommunication. I think the characters were cute, but even the side characters had a lot of miscommunication and lying. I agree that it did drag on the story a bit with all that lying. it kind of lost its point somewhere along the end I was watching it very slowly waiting for it to end because it was just dragging on. There were some part in the show that a really nice backstory and I think it could’ve been executed a little bit better. I’ve watched a couple of dramas that have executed the back story and made you feel more with the characters. This was a very light heart one and a good watch, but not something that I would think about back on. I did like the happy ending. I did like the villain of the story I feel like he played a very good villain, and you can tell that he really liked the girl the way that they ended how they defeated him was kind of rushed. It was a oh that’s all you had to do? I feel like the chemistry between the main characters were good, but it could’ve been better. There could’ve been more scenes that built their connection or deepen it. Side characters romance was a nice bonus, but they could’ve made him a little bit more cold and then had a really good backstory so that it shows how much it took for him to be cold so that he can protect her it just kind of feel like a quick switch back to protecting you. You couldn’t really feel that he was always protecting her and didn’t have enough scenes where he was contemplating on being bad.

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Oh the male eye candy is awesome! AND a great watch.

For visuals, you can't go wrong with Neo Hou. But then OMG there are several more exceedingly good looking guys to come in each episode, and I'm only at ep 8! FL actually plays her role well here--not her fan--tho' she has portrayed characters well in My Journey to You and Blossoms in Adversity but I think she failed in Serendipity, Perfect Match, and Love You Seven Times.
The set design could be more engaging-consider Moonlit Reunion (and not the overly gothic Moonlight Mystique) but I think the CGI is fun-very Disney!

More, now at ep 24.
Sorry nay-sayers, this story is compelling--perhaps revisit it when you have nothing else to watch. Better than Blood River that is going on at same time. Sure it has it's share of reminiscing flashbacks but they do make sense---I've seen worse use of repeat scenes to fill episodes. The life and death commitments between characters is conveyed as being family ties, and I found that it covered for the depth/breadth each pairing goes for each other.

Having binged to the end:
Male costumes are beautiful and Female's hairdos are gorgeous though lost some originality in the battle costumes.
The angst scenes made me cry- was the acting, the OST, the reason? All as I don't always react this way with most dramas. (The #1 tear jerker for me is Royal Nirvana..--every episode was heart wrenching)
The story played out and tied up all storylines of characters well.
Of course it had tropes but they were applied in watch-worthy ways (like how watching how Santa Clause Is Coming To Town Rankin & Bass animated puppet Christmas classic explains Santa's backstory--you keep saying "oh that's the reason;)
Few are likely to read this review since SO MANY positive review as already in and it was memorable so I won't need to check a review to recall this. But had to wrap this review up. Does it change your life? No, but Enjoy!

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