Feud

What going on in this drama
Like why bailu is so. Determined to kill him.
At first she was the one who kept interfering with. Mortal. Lives. And he kept reminding her to stop but did she ever listened to him. She brought that upon herself. And why she is so angry with him. He never blamed her for saving lives but instead he was reminding her to stop. Because it was dangerous for her he cared for her. But here she is in the 20th episode it was all. Her plan to lure him. To. The mortal. World to kill him while him he gave up on his life just to protect her. Now im thinking is she even worth it.

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Should have been 24 episodes

I've been so excited for this one since they released its trailer so I had high expectations for it. As I've been watching wuxia back to back, it's easy to get tired if the plot gets draggy or boring. While it's a great drama, I'll list out the reasons for my ratings.
1. They pushed most of the actions towards the end. The leads didn't even have many conversations (about 30%) compared to the side characters, meaning unnecessary screentime for supporting characters. Hence, my point is that they would have achieved the same thing with 24 episodes. I mean, they were even talking about the love story of one grandpa and one woman like that...who cares?? They also gave too much screen time to another father-daughter relationship of one of the side characters
2. From the title, you would know it was a love-hate relationship so I could understand their relationship. For me, what she made him go through seemed too much because she kept punishing him over and over again, and this was someone she loved. She plotted for years and damn she did act well in her plotting because I thought Li Qinyue wasn't her at all. She had punished him after her tribulations, locked him up for years, and after 400 years, she's still out for blood. And to top it all, the boy knew all along and kept indulging her. He never tried to hurt her, but couldn't understand why she hated him so much. That should have even made him investigate what went on in her life in the human realm, but no, he decided to do so towards the end. But like they say, the bigger the love, the deeper the hatred.
3. The Empyrean was a useless character. Only showing up to punish, but will not fight when there's a bigger evil.
4. The acting of the leads were great with the right emotions being conveyed.
Overall, the drama was good; the leads had great chemistry, and the drama did live up to its title - Feud. Because it was mainly centered around that, there were a few boring moments here and there, but watching Joseph Zhang's face for hours was a dream come true because I missed him! The kiss scene in the end did pacify things a little though....lol

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Slice of life xianxia!!

A very good drama, the writing is well done, you have the usual misunderstanding leads to problems on a very superficial level. but if you look closely, it's about how one deal with the injustice of losing one's child. when you have the authority and power to get that justice, every mother and father will. I loved to watch this drama from pov of mothers and fathers, and yes it's somehow a slice of life xianxia and that's what makes it more enjoyable and unique, The plot twists twisted enough and i didn't expect or predict what will happen, it's a mystery drama... It's a drama that has every possible element, comedy, mystery, romance, hate, love, slice of life, fantasy, horror... that's what i love when watching dramas, the balance in the script and the progress of the story makes this drama solid.

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Romance? More Like Mutual Emotional Destruction

Let me be real—this cdrama had me in the first half… and then promptly lost me somewhere.

If you've seen even one Bai Lu xianxia drama, congratulations: you’ve basically seen this one. We’ve got the usual suspects—tragic past lives, forbidden love, goddess/demon/immortal confusion, and a male lead who looks like he hasn’t processed a single emotion since the Tang dynasty.

The Plot?
Predictable. I saw half the twists coming like spoilers from a friend who "just wanted to talk." The only plot twist that actually hit? Two female characters turning the drama upside down with some wild, unhinged acting choices. I was living for that clownery. Unfortunately, that high didn’t last. Once the disguise arc ended, so did my interest.

The Main Couple?
Toxic. Romantic. Repeat cycle. They say love is pain, but these two took it way too seriously. One moment they’re dying for each other, the next they’re literally trying to kill each other. Like… are y’all okay? Do you need therapy or just more sword fights?

Personally, I’m allergic to "let’s give love another chance even though you emotionally wrecked me" storylines. So yeah, I dropped it before I developed secondhand heartbreak.

Supporting Characters?
Zhang Suan. My green-flag king. Kind, loyal, and way too good for this drama. He’s the type to throw himself into danger for a girl who didn’t even ask—and honestly? I respect the effort. He better not turn villain, or I’m writing a strongly worded letter to the scriptwriters (and by letter, I mean rant tweet).

Villains?
Messy. One of them started out chill and then casually committed mass murder because… feelings? Meanwhile, the main villain is probably the leads themselves. No comment. I didn’t stay long enough to meet the final boss, and I’m not sorry.

Chemistry?
About as natural as two coworkers forced to share a scene. No hate to the actors—they’re talented and seasoned—but the spark just didn’t spark. It fizzled.

CGI?
Looks expensive. Feels like someone said, “What if we use every visual effect… all at once?” It’s gorgeous but so overdone, it started giving me digital vertigo. Still, props to the animators for making it look like a fantasy music video 90% of the time.

Final Thoughts:
Did I finish it? No.
Do I recommend it? Weirdly, yes.

If you love over-the-top romance, magical revenge, beautifully glowing people in tragic situations, and characters who are constantly reborn but never emotionally mature—this is your show. Just don’t take it too seriously, and you’ll have a good time. Probably.

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I've seen better shows before.

Plot: This is probably where my biggest issue lies within this show. The entire Hua Ruyue was defying against the heavenly law and was meant to be punished. So Bai Jiusi took her punishment and exchanged hers for her to suffer in the mortal world for 10 years. Then Hua Ruye comes back and kills Bai Jiusi and avenges for their son. Then she becomes Li Qingyue and is actually Hua Ruyue under it.
* Everything that happened in the mortal realm is fine with me, my only problem is the fact in the illusion that Hua Ruyue created for Bai Jiusi, Bai Jiusi thought that it wasn't possible for Hua Ruyue to be pregnant. The only reason that would explain why BJS thought HRY couldn't be pregnant could only be because they didn't have intercousre, in that case I have no idea where the baby came from then
* Another issue is the script never fully explained how/why Li Qingyue is Hua Ruyue. I feel like if the show could have give us, the audience some clues where it allowed us to see that "oh Li Qingyue is actually Hua Ruyue" then the entire battle could have made a little more sense instead of Li Qingyue suddenly turning into Hua Ruyue
* I also find it really funny how the main leads haven't reconcile and another plot gets added into the show with the Xiao Jinshan trying to create chaos and destroy things

Now of the compliments, for the leading stars in the show (is what I'd assume most people are here her including me), the acting was phenomenal, the cp between the characters was absolutely amazing during the show and other variety shows they were on together. Out of any of the actors Bai Lu has worked with, I think Zeng Shunxi would be my favorite right now.

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Has angst, strong cast, &decent visuals. What it lacks most is the story, it is all over the place.

Not gonna lie, although I waited so long for Moonlight mystique i wasn't able to complete it. Feud is giving me the will to go watch the whole thing.

Ep 1: The interaction between the two was so damn adorable! (Let's ignore the part of him mistaking her for another person and thinking that he could harm her) Oh, I had so much fun watching this, I started out thinking that I might not like Li Qing Yue 's character but she grew on me. I absolutely love the Bai Jiu Si's stare, it keeps dodging between ethereal beauty on the cover of vogue to the Heavenly Lord seeing through Li Qing Yue, trying to find someone else, which is pretty good considering he is looking for clues that she might be Hua Ru Yue.

Ep 2: The grown up man throwing a temper tantrum banging his feet like a toddler always makes me laugh. Aiyo, why do these sect leaders never know how to tell right from wrong. Oh look a demon, he must be bad. Oh look a murderer, but he is mortal/ immortal so he must have his reasons. We torture people for going against our doctrine but we are the good ones.
As the wedding procession started, my mind kept going, i hope that he shows up. (Eternal Love scare). Oh well I forgot that I was watching a Xianxia, that's right, they just beamed her up.

Ep 3: I hear a lot of cartoon sound effects, the sound of ice breaking while Li Qing Yue conversed with Zhang Su An in the previous episode. And the successive sounds as she tries to gift him the clothes. Our Li Qing Yue is living in her la la land, completely missing all the red flags around her. Li Qing Yue hears that there is a problem and then decides to ignore it and run right towards it. A horror movie parody, running right towards what's gonna kill you girl!

Ep 4 to Ep 6: I thought Fan Ling Er was going to be Li Qing Yue's bestie, not off to a good start. Do love Fang Ling Er's and Bai Jiu Si's wardrobe! Now, Bai Lu looks good in anything and everything. I saw that grape like hair accessory on her head and had to think that she is one of the few people who can actually pull that off. So far the best part is the pure entertainment value. It is always a treat wo watch these actors on screen and they haven't disappointed.

Ep 7 & 8: It felt like not a lot happened, especially after watching all the first 6 episodes in 1 sitting. Well, I do like that we have the gist of the past out in the open and Fang Ling Er was punished. The demoness is simply crazy, i wonder how it will unfold. Zhang Su An, oh Zhang Su An, why do you insist on climbing that hill? It is a one-way street.

Ep 9 & 10: Liang Yong Qi is so well-suited for intense roles, casting him as Li Mo was a great choice. Now, that Hong Lian's arc has been done with, I wonder if that was his only arc in the drama and if he'll be in the background most of the time. Well, there's the beginning of angst and depth I was looking for, and it is just episode 10 now. What's the future going to hold. Even if they get her out of that dungeon, it won't be long before she'll be in chains again. There's is no trust. This time it was her being able to use the power right when he weakened. Next time, it might be something else. Why questions things? Let's just assume the worst.

Ep 11 & 12: Okay then, way to mislead the audience! I put all my energy in berating the guy and that twist just puts me in my place now doesn't it. I do like how things are progressing, this is a much better story but I am still confused, here's to hoping the next few episodes help me figure things out. For one, Fang Ling Er's and the sect switching teams! Then about her always being Hua Ru Yue, I feel like I have been punked!

Ep 13 to 18: Ep 13 & 14 is where the story starts unravelling and yet it seems like it is going to slow, i need to know the whys. It felt like these 2 episodes were only 2 minutes long. Well, now we have some answers but it doesn't seem that deep. Ep 16 was so good, it takes me back to episode 2 when they were following the same old script but now suddenly he says he is okay with the guy dating a demon and that she is in fact perfect for him! The conversation between Bai Jiu Su and Siling was quite interesting. I was on Siling's side here. Let's see what direction the story is going to take this moral principal, will it be that divine have to stay out of it or if they will help the people when needed. Things are moving very slow, they are nice to watch but it needs to be shaken up a little bit.

Ep 19 & Ep 20: Okay, now i really want to know why she is so mad at him! She plays the long game, the patience she has to set it up, to sit there and pretend is scary! She is like a trickster, that comes at you and keeps fooling you every single time!

Ep 21 & Ep 22: Well, there's the answer. I thought it might be the kid when I saw the trailer, but just abandonment and a kid dying wouldn't make her seek him out time after time and try to set up such cruel traps. Let's go back in time and see the suffering, I'm ready for it! These two episodes were good, I do like it better when it isn't an illusion or tribulations with Xianxia. I miss their beautiful hair, adornments, and clothes and the way they speak, it is beautiful.

Ep 23 & 24: Yeah, that'll do it. Abandonment, the death of a child, seeing her friend murdered as he tried to save her, and the witchunt. (It did have a potential of more suffering, but they decided to call it quits. I don't know why, my mind was thinking that this is just the beginning, she must have suffered more. It's all the angst ridden dramas I have seen, though i tried to avoid ones that hurt this bad.) Here's to hoping that we'll get to see Shi'an in the future. I am not holding out much hope for a happy ending, I don't mind it, but I don't want to set myself up!

Ep 25: Trigger hungry, that's what you call a guy like Long Yuan. He has always seemed a little suspicious and could be the bad guy but honestly even if he isn't, imagine this being situation in real life and that guy had a gun.

Ep 26 to 28: I don't much care for this angle. I mean sure when that guy first showed up, it did seem out of the blue and suspicious but he didn't leave much of an impression. To me it doesn't feel like that part of the story fit in well with the rest of narrative. So, yeah sure it was him orchestrating everything. At this point, I'm done trying to find logic, let's just enjoy it for what it is. Now the fun part , this childish version of Bai Jiu Si is such a treat to watch, Not him hugging the pillar when he had to let go of Siling and calling his steward grandpa.

Ep 29 to 32: Well its done. I felt very detached by the end of it. I don't know what to say. The beginning of the drama was strong, the second arm a hit and miss, this final arc didn't do much for me. I just watched it to finish it.

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This is a Disappointment for me

The cast's performances were exceptional, highlighting their remarkable talents and dedication to their roles. Each actor and actress brought a unique flair to their character, effectively showcasing their abilities. However, despite their impressive performances, I found the storyline lacking. It lacked the depth and intricacy I had anticipated, feeling surface-level and unengaging.
One of my most significant issues was the palpable absence of chemistry between the characters. This disconnect made investing emotionally in their relationships difficult, which is often crucial for a gripping narrative. I had hoped for a strong connection that would draw me in, but it left the experience feeling somewhat hollow.

I entered this drama with high expectations, especially given the praise and adoration it has received from so many viewers. Therefore, I was pretty disappointed by what unfolded. The ending, in particular, left much to be desired, feeling rushed and unsatisfying, which only compounded my frustration. In my view, this drama ultimately doesn't merit your time, especially when so many other options offer a more rewarding viewing experience.

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This drama could've been a 8.5 but fell flat somewhere in between

Finally a xianxia where I thought I won't be skipping parts to just complete the episodes. Bailu was just Bailu here with her bubbly cheerful self, minus her real deep voice probably because she was playing pretty young character. (You will get used to it after few minutes.) Joseph tbh was always okaish for me in his other dramas but his calming and subtle acting just won me. I was not expecting to like his character this much (especially that innocent smile). Many actors have played this type of role before but many just went with a poker face and as the story progresses they become overly emotional.
I liked how his character was pretty constant. His sweetness and icy emotions were perfect blend here. The biggest problem was his character itself. Personally I felt he looked way too young for such a role. Authoritative aura which was needed from his character was completely missing. As for Bailu, I seriously wish that she could choose different types of roles at this point.
Don't go in thinking you will find exceptional CGI. It is passable at most. The set design is good especially the interior but when it comes to showing the whole landscape like heavenly world and all then it looks kind of AI designed stuff that we now see everywhere. Songs were the weakest part of this drama.
At times this drama reminded me of Bailu's other drama 'Till the end of the moon' and 'Love between fairy and devil' but its characters are comparatively less childish and more sane (excluding first few episodes). Funny scenes are really funny and the romantic scenes will make you giggle for sure until...you complete the first half. This show had so many ups and downs. Sometimes it was so good and some episodes were completely boring like some filler episodes. Then the next one would make you pick up the show again but then in the next it becomes kind of meh. It was such a rollercoaster and not in a good way. Twists felt like bolt from the blue. You will be dumbstruck at them because it would not make sense at all. Overall this one I only started for Bailu and probably would have stopped in between if it wasn't for her. Its title is pretty much its whole story. Full on miscommunication and unnecessary/cliched sacrifice plotline turned it into another 'could have been great' drama.

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A World Full of Promise, Undone by Its Own Storytelling

*Minor (vague) spoilers ahead - generally safe to read*

At 32 episodes, Feud ends as it began - full of poetic potential, but ultimately undone by its own execution. It’s not that the show lacks ambition. On paper, it’s beautiful: a world steeped in tragedy, misunderstandings, and emotional weight. But in practice, it’s a slow, emotionally distant experience marked by uneven pacing, missed opportunities, and frustrating narrative choices.

The first 20 episodes are particularly dull - scattered, muted, and emotionally inert. Characters drift through plotlines that feel more like ideas than lived experiences. The central romance between Bai Jiu Si and Ah Yue never finds its rhythm; moments that should be heart-wrenching barely register. Even side pairings that briefly hinted at emotional sparks are left to fizzle out without real development. The story wants to evoke tragedy, but rarely allows its characters - or the audience - to feel it.

Then came a mid-series shift, where Feud briefly showed signs of the story it could have been. Motivations became clearer, emotions deeper. The cast - particularly Bai Lu and Joseph Zeng - were finally allowed to stretch into more expressive territory. And they can act. You see it in the vulnerability, the heartbreak, the restrained intensity. But it comes far too late. After 20 episodes of emotional distance, the connection had already frayed. I watched them cry, ache, and rage - and remained unmoved. Not because they lacked skill, but because the writing had waited too long to let them feel like people.

It’s almost like the show was written by Bai Jiu Si himself: calculated, cold, and overly careful. A story about great pain, told like it’s afraid to feel too much.

As Feud moved into its final stretch, it continued to offer glimpses of emotional weight - but most of those moments felt unearned or awkward. Major revelations were dropped, but they landed without impact. There was a late attempt to reframe the male lead’s past in a more sympathetic light. It added nuance, yes, but didn’t really address the emotional damage. Especially for Ah Yue. The story seemed more interested in saying “he suffered too,” than in allowing actual healing. What we got instead was deflection - a narrative dodge rather than emotional payoff.

Then came a jarring twist: Bai Jiu Si is reduced to a childlike state for a chunk of the finale. Perhaps it was meant to evoke innocence or purity of feeling, but in practice, it stripped him of agency and shifted the dynamic into something maternal. Ah Yue, who had already suffered so much, was now tasked with caring for someone emotionally incapable of reciprocating. Even she questioned it: “Do I really treat him like a child?” And the show gave her no answer - only obligation. Their dynamic remained lopsided to the end. He finally regains his memories in the final confrontation, but by then, too much had been left unresolved. There are apologies and tears, but not much clarity. Not much growth. They forgive each other because they must - because the plot requires it - but the emotional work isn’t done.

The final battle, spread across multiple realms, offers spectacle and revisits several side characters. Some get a rushed shot at redemption, others simply reappear for symbolic closure. A newly introduced villain - presented as the mastermind all along - finally takes center stage. But the lack of earlier foreshadowing dulls their impact. Their motivations are explained, but feel like late-game patches, not threads carefully woven through the narrative.

The second leads, Zhang Suan and Ling Er, had real potential - individually and as a pair - but their presence has remained passive and disconnected. Ling Er, in particular, felt like a character constantly struggling against the limitations of her script. Instead of evolving, she’s mostly left drifting: waiting on others, shadowing the second male lead without much agency, and locked in repetitive confrontations with a one-dimensional parental figure. She’s endured plenty on paper - yet somehow contributed very little to the actual story. And yet, thanks to a grounded performance, she remained one of the easiest characters to root for.

Zhang Suan, meanwhile, is refreshingly unproblematic for a second male lead. His unrequited love is quiet, steadfast, and never intrusive. His character never forces a romantic arc where there is none - which is rare in this genre - but it also means his storyline feels underbaked, with little resolution or payoff. Like so many other elements in Feud, it simply... stays flat.

What surprised me most by the end was the sheer number of unfulfilled love stories. So many characters loved someone silently, or let them go, or died without ever saying what they felt.

In the end, Feud is a story that tries to be about the cost of misunderstood choices, of love buried beneath duty, of pain carried too long without resolution. The concept is beautiful - poetic, sorrowful, even mythic. But the execution is buried under flat pacing, underdeveloped arcs, and a script that prioritizes narrative control over emotional truth.

Feud could have been something moving. Instead, it’s something frustrating - a story full of feeling, told by a show afraid to feel.

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If you like pulling your own teeth without anesthesia this show is for you!

I've loved the ML & FL in pretty much every show they've EVER done up UNTIL NOW. I don't know how this show was butchered to within an inch of its life but I've NEVER used my remote to fast forward through so many boring nonsensical scenes in my 8 or 9 years of being an avid Chinese Drama fan. I even started learning Chinese with Duolingo a few years ago so I wouldn't need subtitles but had to give up when they went to AI. I've given up on this show on Episode 30 after suffering through so much garbage I feel like a human garbage disposal. I knew from many other reviews that the first 9 episodes were problematically bad but in reality the entire drama is bad. Which is a shame because it could've been awesome. The drama's music director should never get another job - his musical scores were that bad! I don't know what show these reviewers saying it's a 10 watched but I watched a 1. Only because I can't give it a zero. This is my first ever review. I don't normally review anything but this show deserves to be honestly reviewed.

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