Feud

Fascinating original xianxia diminished by some weird tone choices and a missing final act

He is yin, she is yang, she's fire, he's ice, he's aloof and detached, she's passionnate and involved. When the balance is broken, one takes the advantage and rises while the other falls. This drama was NOT joking with its title, huh. This is not really an enemies-to-lovers story, it's way darker and more complicated than that, and it takes you on a RIDE, whether you want it or not. Bai Lu is back in her full glory, as fiery rebellious roles suit her so well, and Joseph Zeng made me feel things, a bunch of them. He might be my favorite version of this cold, heavenly emperor role (think Dijun in Eternal Love of Dream). I do think the drama was restrained from achieving its full vision, and noticed the editing and sound choices were dumbed down for some reason (what's up with all these stupid sound effects ?), which surprised me, as the promotion had me believe it was going to have a mature and serious vibe. For example, every scene with Bian felt like they were shaking a puppet for the kids falling asleep in the back and were superfluous, especially as the story is so tight with episodes (why not even 40 for such a big scale story ??). It was walso weirdly tame for a story about two gods using an entire human realm tribulation to explore love together. Finally, we were robbed of a true final redemption arc with more Joseph Zeng : Bai Lu's character took the upper hand, a shame for a romance about finding true balance. Why so many fantasy shows feel unfinished these days ? Appart from that, this is a fascinating, if a bit frustrating piece of philosophical fantasy, with several layers to unpack.

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beautiful visuals but not enough good writing.

this worked best when it was strictly about the conflict of hua ru yue and bai jiu si, as it talks about a really fragmented relationship of grief and misunderstandings, honestly i find it really hard they could have gone past all of their history to end up together but at the same time i was hoping they could, however at some point they drop us a main villain as fitting of any other xianxia and therefore a big messy fight for the finale (side note: xianxia dramas starting to make the same mistakes as the mcu: big messy cgi fights with no purpose for the finale) which kinda undermines the whole plot.

but then again removing xiao jing shan (the villain) would mean we would not get to see hong yao and his amazing visuals, with having such a small scenes and still able to stand up among the rest of the cast (honestly he looks very good but i haven’t been able to find still pics of him), even his motivations and background story makes him a compelling character and thanks to him i can almost forgive the whole mess the last episodes were.

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Excellent storytelling, amazing chemistry. The only drawback? The last few episodes...

There is a LOT that happens in this show so I will list the pros and cons accordingly.

What I loved:
- I thought Joseph Zeng was a cutie even when I first watched him in Hi Venus, but him with his long white hair and historical fits was an unprecedented level of handsome.
- Fan Ling’Er as a character was fun and different. You really think she is a basic jealous love interest trying to get rid of Li Qing Yue at first. The reveal that they were on the same team was JUCIY. I loved it if for no other reason than I hate to see women tear each other down for a man. Then on top of it, I loved the relationship with her father. He truly did suck even if he "loves" her. It was hard watching her experience disappoint after disappointment with his choices.
- Zhang Suan in love with Li Qing Yue. But it is *absolutely unrequited*. I saw a review that said he was a “wallflower” but I think his role was actually refreshing. Secondary male leads are often turned into antagonist in a way that often feels misogynistic (trying to bring down the woman he claims to love after being rejected). However, here Zhang Suan is truly in love and loyal. Even when he knows a romantic affair is not in the cards for him with Li Qing Yue – she was a shining light to him and he does all he can to reciprocate that. His loyalty being what has Fan Ling’Er reach nirvana was a “fun” side quest. It was the same yet different from so many other fantasy dramas.
- **Li Qingyue and Bai Jiusi’s chemistry.** These two were not particularly romantic for 90% of the show, but the love was palpable
- Li Mo and his “love tribulation”. It was cool to see a platonic love story unfold.

What I liked:
- Even though his childlike behavior when his spiritual core was damaged was cliche, it worked well in helping them cross that bridge of him communicating and her realizing that he has always been made to be guarded in a way she was not so while he was wrong to lie to her back then, he wasn't entirely to blame either.
- Some people didn’t like the antagonist, but I liked that Shang Guan Ri Yue “dies” but actually takes over part of Zhang Suan’s body. I do think his back story leaves a bit to be desired. I don’t understand the importance of the steele and why they all couldn’t just cross this one dude’s name off if his mistake was that bad? But then we find out he was punished for like 100 years for the death of Shang Guan Ri Yue’s family so I’m a loss as to how he had so much hatred and anger in him tbh.

What I didn’t like:
- Hua Ru Yue’s resentment! It was 1000% justified but when she finds out the truth and tells his comatose body "this doesn't mean I forgive you," I had to roll my eyes. This man has only ever loved her and never *truly nor intentionally* harmed her. Even as she kills and hurts him over and over, he keeps trying to find a way to understand why she hates him. His biggest flaw was his inability to communicate but she was no better by never actually ever just telling him “being a mortal was hell because x, y ,z.”
- As a sub-note, I still don’t understand the semantics of Hua Ru Yue pretending to be Li Qing Yue for 300 years. I was truly expecting her to have amnesia or something so that not being the case was a nice surprise but I’m still like HOW DID SHE FAKE HER WHOLE SELF FOR 300 YEARS?
- The ending was 50/50. I am very glad we get a “happy ending” but just barely? I still don’t really understand the time travel and this is 99% the case with these time travel cop outs. I don’t get if this means she’s in a new timeline, the same timeline or something in between. Does this mean their child never dies? Does this mean Li Mo never dies? I just don’t understand these endings and they feel almost as bad as “it was all a dream” endings. This is honestly the main reason this show is a 9 and not a 10 for me personally.

***Original Thoughts & Ideas***
- With how much effort Hua Ru Yue put to get revenge on Bai Jiu Si, it really does call into light the idea of how love and hate are two sides of the same coin. Her hatred was born out of the feeling of betrayal from the love of her life. Her hatred was fed by her love for humans and her son only to witness their deaths.
- As I was watching this show, I just kept thinking wow Bai Jiu Si is so handsome and so in love but how can a man this in love not have checked on the woman he cares for over the course of 10 years and lo and be hold he was being jailed. The lesson here? COMMUNICATION IS IMPORTANT BRO
- Zhang Suan and Fan Ling’Er are excellent side characters that explore the dynamics of loyalty. Fan Ling’Er is loyal due to how Hua Ru Yue helped her when she needed it most, but **stayed loyal** because Hua Ru Yue *respected* her in a way her father never did. Zhang Suan is loyal because he quite literally wanted to die before meeting her but she gave him reason to live again.
- "Human kind behavior" was an interesting theme in this show. I like that you can’t make a blanket statement about the good or evil of mankind off this show. The lesson is really that they all deserve to live and to be seen as more significant than a passing ant. Humans are complex. As complex as the “immortals”. Their love can turn to hate. Their jealousy can weaken them, but their anger can strength them. Every one can surprise you with each choice they make.

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A heavy and emotional tale of love, revenge and destiny.

Feud tells a story of love, revenge and fate. It follows two people caught on opposite sides of a long-standing family grudge, despite sharing a deep connection from the past.
As the story unfolds, secrets, betrayals and difficult choices gradually come to light, pushing the characters through cycles of pain and emotional turmoil.
What I appreciated most is that the drama doesn’t just focus on romance, it also explores themes of duty, sacrifice and how the past can shape a person’s future.
Some scenes were truly heartbreaking and a few lingered in my mind long after watching.
Bai Lu delivered a strong performance, capturing both the sorrow and quiet strength of her character.
The overall atmosphere felt heavy but meaningful.
But the beginning was a bit slow and confusing and it took time for the plot to become fully engaging.
The characters felt trapped in a repetitive cycle, hurting each other without ever having honest conversations. The romantic chemistry between the leads also felt weak.
The CGI was underwhelming and some costume choices didn’t quite match the tone or setting of the story.
Anyway, Feud’s not an easy or light watch but it does offer depth and emotional weight for those who are drawn to more tragic narratives.

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I Was Ready to Hate This Drama, Until I Didn’t

In a mesmerizing, fairytale-like realm, Li Qing Yue, a powerful immortal favored by the Four Spirits, crosses paths with Bai Jiu Si, the highly respected master of Dacheng. A tragic misunderstanding drives them into a painful conflict that ultimately leads to their deaths. Yet fate is unwilling to let their story end there. Given a second chance at life, they confront their past, repair their fractured bond, and reunite as allies. Together, they stand as protectors of the innocent, facing a growing threat that endangers the world.

As someone who hates misunderstanding and memory loss plots, I was shocked to find myself watching this nonstop in one sitting. Feud is a drama driven by a major misunderstanding, with revenge, justice, memory loss, and compassion as supporting themes. Honestly, I thought I was going to hate this drama, but I was proven wrong. I was completely engrossed and hooked, eager to see how the story would unfold, and that is thanks to the strong storyline.

I believe the charm of this drama lies in the way viewers experience everything alongside the characters. This is a drama that takes you on a journey and places you in a state of understanding similar to that of the characters themselves. You will misunderstand, then feel guilty for misunderstanding. You will trust, then feel betrayed. Essentially, you go through exactly what the characters go through. The drama follows a recurring formula of one point of view, the consequences that follow, revenge, the truth being revealed, and then another set of consequences. It is surprising that this repeated structure never became tiring. Instead, it kept me seated and fully invested. Although the story becomes a bit chaotic toward the end, overall it was well written and well paced. The misunderstanding and memory loss plots that I usually dread were handled so smoothly that they never made me feel exhausted.

I had a genuinely fun experience watching this drama. At first, I questioned whether Hua Ru Yue’s motives toward Bai Jiu Si were strong enough to justify her hatred and determination for revenge. Then, after seeing what truly happened, I began to sympathize with her. Soon after, I was shown Bai Jiu Si’s point of view and found myself sympathizing with him as well. Experiencing the emotional shifts alongside the characters was incredibly engaging. Despite my positive experience, the drama is not without its flaws.

One major pet peeve of mine is the use of comedy. Given how heavy the storyline is, the comedic choices often felt unsuitable. The use of exaggerated sound effects to highlight certain moments, such as Zhang Suan’s heartbreak, felt forced and out of place. Additionally, the music arrangement was awkward at times. There were moments when the background music would abruptly stop just to emphasize a comedic beat, which disrupted the immersion. Overall, the comedy felt unnatural and did not blend well with the emotional depth of the story. Fortunately, the comedic elements within the script itself were generally acceptable.

Bai Lu’s dual performance as Li Qing Yue and Hua Ru Yue was outstanding. As expected of her, she brought both characters to life beautifully. Her expressions were top tier. I cried when she cried and smiled when she smiled. For Li Qing Yue, I did feel that her early costumes as a gate guard did not quite match Bai Lu’s naturally elegant and mature visuals. However, this did not affect my overall experience and was simply a minor observation. Aside from that, Bai Lu’s visuals, aura, and expressions were perfectly suited for both characters, and the contrast between them was very clear. She also excelled at portraying Hua Ru Yue’s complex emotions through subtle expressions and body language, especially in the later episodes when her feelings toward Bai Jiu Si became increasingly conflicted.

Joseph Zeng’s portrayal of Bai Jiu Si was very appealing. His visuals were striking. He brought the aloof and reserved Bai Jiu Si to life convincingly, although I personally found the white hair somewhat unfitting for his youthful face. Joseph Zeng’s eyes and lips naturally carry a sense of sadness and longing, which suited his character well. While I do not vividly remember every expression, I believe his overall performance was strong. His portrayal during Bai Jiu Si’s memory loss arc left a particularly deep impression on me, as it showed a complete shift in personality. This contrast convinced me that Joseph Zeng truly understood and nailed the role, as he successfully depicted Bai Jiu Si across all stages of his character development.

The chemistry between Bai Lu and Joseph Zeng was excellent. It is clear that they are comfortable with each other, likely due to their real-life friendship. Visually, they complement each other very well. Bai Jiu Si’s chemistry with both Li Qing Yue and Hua Ru Yue felt natural and convincing. Their characters were well written, and the depth of their love and hatred felt justified and emotionally grounded.

The ensemble cast was also memorable. All the actors performed well in their respective roles. The side characters surrounding Bai Jiu Si, Li Qing Yue, and Hua Ru Yue left a strong impression. I grew fond of Li Mo, Cang Tu, Ning Yan, Yin Tong Zi, and Fan Ling Er and found myself rooting for them. However, Long Yuan consistently annoyed me, as he seemed to embody impulsive rage and unchecked anger. Unlike some ensemble characters whose arcs evolve over time, my frustration with him remained until the very end.

One aspect that could have been handled better, though it did not significantly affect my overall experience, was the ending. I found the use of the time artifact, as well as Bai Jiu Si and Hua Ru Yue’s reunion, confusing. I did not fully understand how Hua Ru Yue’s first attempt at using the time artifact differed from her next attempt. I have a general idea, but I am not confident in my interpretation. Additionally, I am unclear about why Bai Jiu Si was inside the frozen water. While the ending left me with many questions, it ultimately did not diminish my enjoyment of the drama.

Overall, Feud surprised me in the best way possible. Despite relying heavily on tropes I usually dislike, it managed to deliver an emotionally immersive experience through strong writing, compelling character perspectives, and excellent performances. While it has its flaws, particularly in its use of comedy and a somewhat confusing ending, the drama’s ability to make viewers feel, question, and empathize alongside its characters is what truly sets it apart. Feud is not a perfect drama, but it is a memorable and engaging one that proves even the most overused tropes can shine when executed with care and depth.

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A Story That Tested My Patience but Touched My Sou

I’ll be honest—Feud tested my patience. I put it on hold several times because I just couldn’t figure out where the story was going. A few of my followers on MDL encouraged me not to give up and to give it a fair chance, so I did.

From episodes 1 through 18, it was a real drag. The pacing was painfully slow, the plot made little sense, and at times it was downright frustrating. But once I reached episode 20—bam!—everything clicked. The story finally took off, and I was hooked.

Episodes 22 to 24 completely broke my heart. That’s when I finally understood her hatred for him—it ran deep, through her entire being. And when he realized the weight of what he’d done, that no amount of effort could undo it, it was gut-wrenching to watch. Seeing him try anyway was both sad and beautiful.

Both the ML and FL gave powerful performances, and the supporting cast did a great job bringing out their emotional depth. The side stories of the additional characters added a real sense of enlightenment to the drama—especially the healer and the fox. Their story was so sad, yet deeply touching, and it tied beautifully into the main storyline’s themes of love, loss, and redemption.

That said, this drama could’ve been phenomenal if the writer and director hadn’t wasted so much time on the first half. It’s fine to build up a storyline—but not at the expense of the audience’s patience. Once it got going, it was absolutely worth it… but getting there felt like a marathon.

Now, I do have a few questions—maybe someone reading this can enlighten me:

When the FL was walking out of the temple with her son, she turned back and looked inside with hatred—but there were tears of blood. Why?

In the final episode, when she told her past self to tell the ML that she was with child, why didn’t that change the outcome in the end?

If she told herself about the child, then shouldn’t the child have lived? Why was there nothing about him afterward?

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Ice Queen God Chills Drama

I had high hopes for this drama. For most of the drama, Hua Ru Yue (Bai Lu) was so cold and unforgiving towards her husband Emperor of Heaven Bai Jiu Si (Joseph Zeng). She blamed him for everything that went wrong in her life, even though she was the main cause of everything wrong in her life. She kept the rules of her sect, but broke the rules of Heaven. For instance, she gave power to a human to kill a drought dragon. The Heavenly Emissary (Yu Meng Long) came to the mortal realm and forced Bai Jiu Si to seal Hua Ru Yue's power as punishment. Bai Jiu Si took all of the punishments for his wife and even took a 10-year Heavenly Tribulation (lightning strikes) for her. She removed and destroyed his golden core and she stabbed him a few times. Bai Jiu Si loved his wife and tried to show her some affection, but it was always met with coldness. She was pregnant and had their child, but she never told him; her human student knew of her pregnancy and was there for her. When Bai Jui Si fell into a childlike state, she showed him compassion and fondness. When he died, she showed love, monging, deep sorrow and regret. Finally, Emperor Bai Jui Si and Hua Ru Yue were together again, at the end of the drama. They had a renewing of their love.

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A Mess

TLDR: this show is exactly what would have happened if someone woke up one day and decided to make Till the End of the Moon look nicer while having a sh*ttier story and characters.

The Good: As previously mentioned, this is a damn good looking drama. Aside from the wirework and some really bad editing (things appearing and disappearing from hands) Things look VERY nice. It's been a while since I've watched a proper XuanHuan fantasy with the works. The sets were pretty premium looking and visually appealing. Lots of varied settings that add very much needed distraction from all the stuff on screen that either bores/irritates you. The music was also okay, no tracks stood out to me but I definitely feel that the soundtrack is more balanced than TTEOTM's.

Got to also give the cast their flowers, everyone was clocking IN for their check. Not a singling person was phoning it in, Bai Lu was especially exciting to watch as always but I am her biggest fan so I could be biased. Zeng Shun Xi was not a bad actor either, I started the drama thinking his portrayal was a little too stiff (I was having Blossoms in Adversity flashbacks) but as time went on he did kinda win me over…

Okay now THE BAD:

This sh*t is in the wrong order.

I'm not joking, this story is told to its audience in the wrong ORDER.

I'm officially getting into spoiler territory here, so be aware.

In TTEOTM there is a flashback portion that adds to the story. The Untamed also starts in the “future” after most of the inciting events have happened, then it has an extended flashback to tell its background to the audience so they can be more invested in the coming conflicts and have a better understanding of how the past effects the characters they are invested in.

Feud doesn't take either approach, instead it withholds crucial information in favor of subverting expectations later.

I truly believe this show would have been twice as good if it had just told its story in chronological order with Bai Lu's Siling as the focus. If we had experienced her pain and suffering in real time, then it would have had 2 main benefits.

1. Siling's actions wouldn't have seemed so unnecessarily cruel and meaningless. Since I spent so much of the show following Bai Jiusi, we have more of a connection with him and his suffering. When Siling's motivation was revealed I was so tired of the subversion that I couldn't help but think that basic communication could have solved everything… (This is comedic foreshadowing)

2. Creating anticipation, instead of always feeling confused and wondering I'm going to get enough info to alleviate the distinct feeling of stupidity I was constantly burdened with. I could have been given Siling's side of the story and been patiently awaiting Bai Jiusi's finding out more about her core motivation. Then satisfaction from his finding out would have been wayyy better than how it was implemented.

Imagine this same story told in chronological order.

Siling and Bai Jiusi meet and form a connection ➡️ they fall in love➡️ they diverge in their philosophy and spilt➡️ Tragedy strikes➡️ Reincarnation.

Boom, then you can basically pick up where ep 1 starts. It just seems like such a waste of potential.


The other bad: The Side characters.

Almost every side character is either one dimensional or kinda appalling. Our 2nd ML is a creature that is only ever driven by his desire for the FML ( a woman he barely knows or talks to). A lotus demon who commits murder for like 5 episodes and is conveniently excused and redeemed. Another love triangle that persisted until the 3rd to last episode… (dumb)

And a whole host of side characters who don't matter.

In fact, they matter so little that it is only when their lives are endangered and are ready to sacrifice themselves. Each insignificant background character bravely calls out their name before getting obliterated. (Can not make this up, I do not remember those walking corpses and I never will.)

The other other bad.

Bai Jiusi's the most impressive punching bag I've seen since Yu Sifeng from Love and Redemption. Dude is betrayed, beaten and bamboozled in almost every episode. He's supposed to be the most powerful person but he's so whack. It's crazy. Such a stoic character makes terrible and borderline dumb decisions almost every episode.

The romance was so flat. It was definitely that fact that we only see the most basic of interactions between the leads…. then we're thrown into the most nonsensical long ass plot.

SPOILER
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The time travel nonsense really grabbed me by the hair, slapped me and spat in my face and called me stupid for watching till the end.

Siling getting to go back in time and fix everyone's dumb little problems with just communication and ..... Yea.... thats it. She just talks to everyone and that shows that everything was a huge waste of time that would have been solved if ANYONE in the story stopped for a second and TALKED about what they wanted.... OMFG💀 the ending is dumb and unsatisfying too.


Overall, I think this drama is beautiful, but it is most certainly a waste of time. I will never watch it again.

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A Supreme Love, a Flawed Finale

When I breezed through the first 31 episodes of this drama, I could not understand why the rating on kisskh.com was only 8.2. To me, it felt worthy of a solid 8.7 or even 8.9—and I was convinced I would personally give it a perfect 10. (My ratings usually run more generous than the site’s average.)

The cast is an absolute visual feast. The radiant He Rui Xian commands the screen as a spirited, almost petulant Goddess—her large, expressive eyes and pouty lips paired with a magnetic performance has captivated me since the first drama I saw her in. Joseph Zeng brings gravitas as the Supreme God, his handsome features framed in an air of stern dignity and quiet sorrow. Bai Lu, ever versatile, shifts seamlessly between the sweetness of an innocent girl and the fiery resolve of a vengeful Goddess. And then there is Hong Yao, the dashing villain you cannot look away from. These are names I hope to see leading many more dramas in the future.

The story opens with the Supreme God Bai Jiu Si rescuing a humble young woman, Li Qing Yue, and unexpectedly accepting her rather absurd betrothal gift. It is a romantic and visually stunning beginning—power meets humility against a backdrop of lush scenery and exquisite music. Yet, as the narrative deepens, it becomes clear this is no simple “powerful man loves lowly girl” trope. Bai Jiu Si is convinced A’Yue is the great love from his past life, yet her identity—and the truth behind their tangled history—remain shrouded in mystery. Glimpses of the past reveal both deep affection and bitter enmity, culminating in acts of devastating betrayal.

You are left questioning what could have sparked such intense hatred in the face of such unwavering love. As in any well-woven tale, there are hidden motives and a concealed puppet master whose identity may surprise you. And of course, a lack of communication between the couple and consultation with each other are much to be blamed for opening up opportunities for the villian to take advantage of. Assumptions are made of each other and a fundamental distrust between them sow the seeds of discord.

Up to episode 31, the drama flows beautifully—balancing romance, intrigue, and emotional stakes. Then, unfortunately, the narrative stumbles. Perhaps wary of delivering a tragic finale in an age where happy endings are in vogue, the writer appears to rush a turnaround, introducing a time-altering device that abruptly reshapes events. Yet the mechanics and consequences of this twist are never fully explained. Questions linger: How exactly did the changes affect the past and present? What truly became of the hero and heroine? The lack of clarity undermines the emotional weight built so carefully earlier on.

In the end, my initial 10 was scaled back to a 9, and I came to see why kisskh’s 8.2 rating might be fair. This could have been a near-masterpiece had it embraced its darker, more poignant ending, leaving room for a sequel to set things right. Instead, the rushed resolution dulled the final impact of what was otherwise an engrossing and beautifully performed drama.

However, if you are not as particular as I am about airtight endings and flawless logic, this remains a thoroughly enjoyable drama—rich in romance, intrigue, and gorgeous performances, and well worth your time.

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Emotional, exciting and enjoyable

The story is very interesting and keeps me watching every episode.
Bailu and Joseph zeng did a great job and their acting feels very real.
I liked how the rivalry between the characters is shown.
Sometimes it is very intense and sometimes there are funny or light moments which makes it feel balanced.
I also like the setting and the background story. It makes the whole drama more interesting and shows more about the characters’ world and life.
But I have to say, there are some things that I don’t like.
Some parts of the story are too slow, some of the side characters are not very important and I wish they could have more story.
There are also some moments that are a little confusing because the plot doesn’t explain everything.
Even so, I still think it’s a very good drama, I definitely recommend watching it.

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