Feud

This is one of my favorite dramas, even though I initially started watching it because it stars Bailu, who is my favorite Chinese actress. But after I started watching it, I found myself eagerly awaiting the release of each new episode, and it became a source of inspiration for me. Maybe it’s because I really love romance and angst-filled dramas, which made me enjoy this one even more. The plot is full of twists, so it’s hard to predict and keeps you on the edge of your seat. The soundtrack is pleasant to listen to, and the acting by the cast is excellent. ˃͈◡˂͈

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love and hate always come together

my expectations for this drama were really high because of zeng shunxi and bai lu. the first few eps felt a bit off, but i still kept watching. there are a lot of flashbacks that make it feel kind of draggy, but they actually fit the storyline. the more i watched, the more frustrated and stressed i... literally just staring at the screen. communication is key so things don’t turn into people trying to kill each other. their marriage problems are actually personal, but somehow they end up affecting like three different realms, which is crazy. overall, it’s definitely worth a rewatch.

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Brilliant, Heartbreaking, and Difficult to Watch at Times

I have such mixed feelings about this drama. A story can be brilliantly crafted and emotionally rich, but if the emotional cost—especially due to brutality or themes of cruelty—is too high, it creates an internal conflict.

As a whole, the drama is absolutely wonderful—powerful and introspective. The narrative is an odyssey of sorts, telling an epic story across timelines that brings you into the characters’ hardships and evolving lives. The misfortunes speak to your soul and make you feel deeply. And there are comedic pauses and beautiful cinematography that engage the senses so that the trauma isn’t overwhelming.

But what made this drama difficult for me wasn’t the plot, which centered on hate and revenge—it was how the main character, Siling, translated those elements on screen. There was never enough justification, for me, for how she enacted her malice. Though I understood, intellectually, why she felt hatred and pain—I wished her choices had been executed differently. I think she could have delivered the same wrath without the vicious brutality. And that’s where Siling, and Feud as a whole, lost me. It’s just not my cup of tea to watch people be that brutal to one another. That’s also why I’ve struggled with other dramas like Love & Bid Farewell and Goodbye, My Princess.

So while I was immersed and highly engaged in the beginning and end, episodes 17–27 made it hard for me to imagine watching this again. And for a drama to make it onto my top watch list, my personal criteria is that I must be able to rewatch it. With that said, the performances were phenomenal—especially from Bai Lu and Zeng Shunxi. The supporting cast also shone, with many carrying the main storyline at different points. The show wouldn’t have been the same without them.

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Finally finished this gem, with one or two breaks within which actually made me forget small things about side stories, lol.

First of all: The acting performance was a feast.

Second: I never thought I would actually say this but: I so much prefer the white hair over the black version of the ML in this!! Probably one of the reasons why I didn't like the mortal trial.

As I said before, this one had beautiful settings, CGI was well used here. They were even able to keep the obvious fake plants somewhat in the background, so it wouldn't diminish the optical look/value.

I really liked the beginning, a not so good cultivatress happens to marry a deity. The whole concept, including the deity's suspicion and his obvious discontent while she is trying to convince him of her sincerity. I really hoped that it would work out somehow for both of them and that the deity was wrong about his suspicion. I was actually a bit disappointed, when it turned out otherwise.

The next part, the mortal trial felt a bit long-winded and I liked it the least. But once this part was over the story became more interesting again, even though I kinda hated the FL for a long time after the outcome of the story's beginning, since there was a never a real explanation for her actions, and the ML seemed way more sincere, yet somewhat aloof. This is actually funny having those not so good feelings about both leads at the same time. But I still loved watching their interactions, always hoping both of them would give in and reconsile.

Overall it was a pleasure to watch this. Especially after getting to know all the background stories. I also liked some of the side characters' stories, while a disliked other side characters equally.

And here's the thing about the music. There were really good songs and there were some mediocre ones, esp. in the beginning. I usually love most of the music of a xianxia, but here it was actually 50/50. But that's probably a personal thing.

Overall a great xianxia and definitely recommended to watch.

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Beautiful philosophical drama, with deep emotional content. I love it.

Dama Feud is the most unique and interesting cinematic content I have seen. It is beautifully written and equally so delivered, which keeps me coming to it again and again. I watched it four times already, discovering new beauty and depth each time. The drama is not for casual viewing or for those who do not or cannot appreciate detail and depth.

Through the mouths of Bai lu and others, the drama delivered many powerful and positive messages to the audience (see some of the ones I recorded below). The discord between the two leading characters, Hua Ruyue and Bai Jiusi, played by Bai Lu and Zeng Shunxi respectively, was philosophical in nature. While Bai Jiusi saw only immortals as relevant beings, Hua Ruyue saw and felt the power and beauty in the human race. She views humans as worthy, demanding they get equal treatment as devine ones. With the backdrop of Taoist spiritualism, Feud philosophy is inherently agnostic in the sense that revering god or gods or praying to them have no effect on human lives. Only determination, hard work, perseverance and endurance can change human lives for better. Devine beings, in Hua Ruyue words, do not "hold dominion over all under heaven". Everybody should be deciding for himself, not for others.

The emotional twists and turns through which the drama leads us, are so deep and monumental, keeping us guessing what will happen next until the very end. The end was actually a great relief. After each side learned full story, their love in the prevailed. It is impossible not cry on deeply emotional moments of the story, such as when Hua Ruyue's son dies, which Bai Lu delivered in a powerful way. Her entire portrayal of motherhood was beautiful. In a relative short sequence, she captured struggles, happiness, and sorrows of motherhood. The drama kept me crying and emotionally on the edge, especially in the last 11 episodes.

Bailu was masterful once again, affirming her status as the leading actress in China and, possibly, in the world. Acting was great throughout. This was a complex endeavor form start to finish. I congratulate everyone involved in the project on the job well done.

Here are some beautiful messages of the drama I recorded:

- Humanity is not insignificant. Nor the devine beings hold dominion over all under heaven.

- In a world like this, if nobody stands up to fight for justice how messed up would it be.

- There is no such thing as love without reason, nor hatred without cause.

- Follow your hart and have no regrets.

- Heaven may be ruthless, but humans are different: Love, family affection, and fellowship all mater.

- Everybody's life should be theirs to decide, not yours.

- For tents of thousands of years, whether there were floods or famines, plagues or insect infestations, mortals who were in the thick of it always felt hopeless about the future and struggled to make a living. But every time, as long they gritted their teeth and persevered, they could always get through it. All this did not come from praying to gods or Buddha, but from their own persistence and endurance.

- Hatred is but love taken to extreme.

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Amazing story

Feud starring Bai Lu and Joseph Zeng is a captivating Xianxia drama that masterfully weaves together intricate plotlines, stunning visuals, and emotional depth. At its core, the story revolves around the tumultuous relationship between Hua Ruyue, played by Bai Lu, and Bai Jiusi, played by Joseph Zeng, two powerful immortals bound by fate yet torn apart by their complicated past.

The drama expertly explores themes of love, loss, and redemption, evoking strong emotions from the audience. Bai Lu's portrayal of Hua Ruyue's pain, anger, and vulnerability is particularly noteworthy. Her character's emotional journey is complex and multifaceted, making it easy to become invested in her story.
Both leads deliver nuanced performances, bringing depth and complexity to their characters. Their chemistry is undeniable, making their tumultuous relationship all the more compelling. The supporting cast is equally impressive, with memorable performances that add depth and complexity to the narrative.
The drama's non-linear narrative structure adds to its emotional impact, slowly revealing the characters' backstories and motivations through flashbacks and plot twists. This approach keeps the viewer engaged and curious, eager to uncover the truth behind the characters' actions.
The cinematography and costumes are visually pleasing, capturing the tone of the story and immersing the viewer in the world of Xianxia. The drama's use of vibrant colors and stunning landscapes adds to its visual appeal, making it a treat for the eye

Feud is a standout Xianxia drama that will resonate with viewers who enjoy emotional, character-driven storytelling. With its intricate plot, stunning visuals, and powerful performances, it's a must-watch for fans of the genre. Bai Lu shines as Hua Ruyue, bringing depth and nuance to the character. If you're looking for a drama that will leave a lasting impact, Feud is an excellent choice.

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Literally the most toxic drama ever made

Wow, the most contrived and toxic drama I have seen yet. Recycled over done plot points and filler. Absolutely toxic of all toxic relationship between the main leads. The first episode seemed like it could be cute and magical. But it just flopped and got worse from each episode to episode.

I think they were trying to recreate 'Till the End of the Moon'. And yeah, this was just not worth watching.

Things I can say that are nice... Joseph looks great in his costume. I liked that they used a different voice actress for Bai Lu's character. (I do like Bai Lu, she is a great actress... but she is just in everything and I'm kinda tired of her).

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Love & Hate. Misunderstandings. Plot Twists. It had the potential but didn’t fully deliver.

This drama had such a potential with its uniquely set up plot but it sadly didn’t fully deliver. Honestly, I feel like Bai Lu and Joseph Zeng are the plot because I only finished this story for them. The main components of this drama is a mix of love & hate, misunderstandings, angst and plot twists. The drama is about the feud between the main leads, who are Gods created from the same source, similar to ying/yang.

POSITIVE:
- Bai Lu and Joseph Zeng slayed. Their performance and on-screen chemistry was brilliant. In fact I’d say they are the plot! I finished the drama only for them. In fact, it was my first time seeing Joseph properly, and I’m now a fan!
- Second female lead. I went through so many emotions with this girl. I hated her, didn’t care for her, loved her. Her story appeared to be cliche at first but ended up being very unique. The daughter-father story arc was unexpectedly really well done.
- Plot twists. Ok I’ll give them that, the writers knew how to fool their audience. Usually in cdrama, they do this stupid stuff of showing everything the bad guys are doing. But this time, it was hidden and only in the finale episodes we got to see who the bad guy was.
- Nice angst. As a xianxia angst lover, the emotional scenes hit me hard and I loved it. But the rest… is another topic.

NEGATIVE:
- Plot/characters. My main issue with this drama is that the script spent so much time creating plot twists, that it neglected to properly fresh out its characters. In general, all the character's interactions (except the leads) felt like plot devices to reach the next plot point. The dialogue either was forced or lacked at certain scenes. There were many characters that popped up just for that one plot point and nothing else. For example, the Goddess of Time was so random. You could argue she was there because of the leads tribulation. Cool, but she still popped up out of nowhere to move the plot forward and then disappeared. Same with the God Elders (or whatever they were, it’s not like it was explained). I’m not asking for their whole backstory but at least show us something to make them look more real.

The plot twists were cool but at the same time the drama took TOO long to get to them. Most scenes, in between the twists, were kind of boring and draggy. The non-linear storytelling made the drama messy. There was a lot of back and forth with flashbacks, timelines etc. The issue wasn’t that it was hard to follow but that it took too long to get to the actual point. Hell, the female lead spent the whole 10 episodes pretending to be someone else. For what? It could have been done in 5 episodes. I get that the writers were banking on suspense and mind blowing twists but the way everything was set up ended up feeling artificial to me.

Another thing this drama focused on was tribulation and learning valuable lessons. Well, I know about human nature, I know about these lessons etc, it’s nothing new. What I wanted to see was characters who could resonate with me on a deeper/human level. And honestly, the only two that did were the female and second female lead. The male lead had the potential but he felt more like a background piece in the second half. The rest were more like cardboards.

- Second male lead as plot device. This annoyed me tremendously. His character had potential to be somewhat cool. But what did the writers do? They USED him for all the plot twists which made him feel like a shell of a character. Seriously, aside from being devoted to the female lead, he literally had zero personality and interests.

- Misunderstandings. Xianxia is known for this cliche trope. I usually don’t mind that but here it took most of the drama to get to it. The reveal of why there is a feud between the leads was delivered in a nice angsty style but at the same time not so shocking because it was literally shown in the trailer.

- Second couple = wasted potential. Instead of the guest couple (disciple-demon), that nobody cared about, I would have liked the focus to be on the second leads. Yes, it didn’t fit the story of them falling in love BUT IF the second female lead’s tribulation happened earlier, it would have left the door open for that too. Or at least friendship if nothing else.

- Visuals. They were decent but at the same time, the producer was totally stingy with the setting designs and CGI. And not even a special episode? Bai Lu deserved better.
- Side characters blah blah Literally nobody stood out, I didn’t care about anyone except maybe the healer Li Mo but even that is a stretch. The human sect disciples, all the immortals in the Nine Heavens, they were just plot devices.
- Dubbing. Minor annoyance for me but the leads being dubbed was criminal.
- Ending. It felt like a cheap trick to satisfy the audience. In general, the final episodes were very underwhelming with a random (but at least hot) villain and lackluster fight scenes. The fact that the male lead was barely there was criminal.

OVERALL:
This story had the potential to be the next Till the End of the Moon but it sadly didn’t deliver. I don’t like to compare but TTEOTM is still the best xianxia of Bai lu for me. In fact, I wasn’t a huge fan of Moonlight Mystique but it weirdly feels like it was more fleshed out. Both Feud and MM have their pros and cons so I feel they are on a similar level. Decent but not that great. I really wanted to love this drama as Bai Lu is my number one Queen. At the start, I was totally obsessed with the lead’s love story but somehow the second half got boring and the final episodes were a let down. In conclusion, it's hard for me to recommend this but if you love xianxia and Bai Lu, I guess give it a chance.

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