Not what I was expecting
After watching first few episodes all I can say is that the CGi, costumes, and over all production looks good but...when it comes to story...it lacks a lot. First of all the age difference is giving me weird vibes. I know it is xianxia and age doesn't really matter when we talk about all those immortals and stuff but man... I just can't think of the story with them being a romantic couple, especially after watching that little one with Yangmi's character. (He was amazing by the way). It would have worked great if they were just mentor and disciple...it doesn't have to be romantic to make it more interesting. Their chemistry look forced and Yangmi in her character looks like a beautiful mannequin without much expression, who is just there to look pretty and I am saying this despite being a big fan of Yangmi since ten miles of peach blossom. Gongjun to me has become a sort of actor who really struggles to outshine his earlier roles like the one from the world of honor. Partly it could be the direction or maybe the understanding of the character by the actor himself but I don't feel much emotions from him in any of his recently aired dramas. He looks handsome and all but his acting just doesn't look natural or believable. I am still waiting for him to get back to his game but this one is just okaish for me. Other characters in this drama are not bad but again not the best to keep me engaged. I found myself skipping most of the scenes. I sometimes think CGI looks all good but it takes away so much at the same time or perhaps they overdid it in this one. I am not sure if I would be continuing this drama and I am seriously worried for the other parts as well. This one atleast for me is one time watch at most.Was this review helpful to you?
Not The Best
I guess the disappointment is equal to the hype..I usually love Yang Mi, I find her face and expressions interesting but not in this drama. In this drama there are only visuals and better side stories. For the people who say she was limited by the character she was portraying which is meant to be stoic and solemn, I think in addition she was limited by her skills/commitment to the character, and most of all limited by the overambitious and overpopulated story. I’m going to focus my ire on Yang Mi’s acting choices, the editing and the storytelling. Actually some of the greatest acting opportunities come out of still/silent/handicapped/emotionless or apathetic roles, the actor is given the challenge to connect to her audience through unconventional use of skill which has sometimes birthed brilliant performances but perhaps Yang Mi was disinterested or uninspired in this particular role because it was giving stolid and impassive throughout. Perhaps the directing also has something to do with this. The backbone of every stoic main character is the storytelling, for every nonplussed reaction of the actor the audience must draw empathy from believing the backstory or inner angst of the character! Flat acting will not lead to this. Overexplaining and underexplaining plot points will not lead to this.
Lucid storytelling that is balanced plus nuanced acting work hand in hand to deliver dramas worthy of applause or plausible enjoyment.
The visuals are beautiful, Yang Mi took my breath away in the promotional artworks every. single. time.
However when I would go to watch, the same YM wasn’t believable enough to draw me into the story, causing the expectation generally to be left cold. The writing is not worthy of the investment, it is just there I guess they needed a script, and a shaman. The editing is also choppy, disorienting and perhaps doesn’t showcase the acting or story to its full merits.
As for the coupling of YM GJ: Yang Mi does her best with her stoic ‘I’m sitting on an iceberg with fire burning inside me’ routines, while GJ is always more lively and expressive but somehow never feels sincere. I’m vaguely curious of the behind the scenes whether any genuine connection or chemistry was captured? Does Yang Mi like Gong Jun? These are my petty questions but I can’t care enough to search.
Is Gong Jun a good leading man in any romance drama with a strong woman lead? I’m doubting this more and more with each drama. Last time I saw chemistry from GJ was WoH (which I dropped because I found the story unoriginal) and Advance Bravely (which I enjoyed him in). He seems to naturally play a naughty boyish character that is the same in every drama I’ve seen him in, but more subtle in Begin Again which I wandered away from by episode 15 and just started watching other things. I think the twinkling boyish vibe in him can mainly suit comedic dramas with bright and breezy storylines and witty heroines which may cover for any lag with chemistry. As for this Fox Spirit drama… not a good pairing IMO. Cheeky characters have always been paired with phlegmatic beings to create magic from contrast, in this case it just seemed bizarre, and that’s coming from someone who enjoys noona, shifu and age gap dramas. I even found GJ’s bickering relationship with Tushan RongRong more interesting to look at in the first few episodes, than his potential passion for the love of his life.
This drama exhausted my tolerance for mismatched couples. I could not wait for Zhang Linghe and Chen Duling to come up, I ended up watching their story on iQIYI YouTube, it just got uploaded and I enjoyed all 26 minutes of it.
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A very beautiful ancient costume drama
I already finish all the updated episodes and I'll give my review for the first part of the drama. To be honest, I really like Gong Jun so I may biased him sometimes. But I'll try to make the review as most objective as possible.The first thing I want to say about this drama is it's very very beautiful. Their VFX, makeup and costumes are on another level. They can really create a dreamy fantasy world and make you immerse in it. One small note, to maximize your experience, you should open the 4K resolution on a big screen. I swear it looks just like a blockbuster movie.
And about the actors, they're all pretty and have good acting. Yang Mi is much more beautiful in the drama than in some captured photos. Her acting is acceptable to me though sometimes she gives out a dull and tired feeling, maybe because it's the nature of the character. But her eyes are so beautiful and attractive. Gong Jun is as handsome as ever. I must say that his acting has been improved much in this drama. He portrays a very young and lively and youthful character in a very natural way. I really like Dong Fang Yue Chu, he's so cute. His cheerful character is a bright spot that keeps the atmosphere up until now. Many people mentioned they could not feel the chemistry between them but I start to feel their cp sense in the latest episodes. Their chemistry is slowly developing and it's quite cute.
The story plot is simple and fast. You can easy follow and understand since everything is putting on the surface so it's quite boring to some people and this is the weakness of the play. 10 episodes have passed but they still can't create any remarkable climax scenes. But the rhythm really got better and better since episode 6. I really hope you can watch until this episode before making a judge.
And the biggest problem of this play may lie at the editing. Like many people already said here, the play is not bad but still feel missing something. That's really on point. The way they cut the scene is so incoherently and abruptly. When the emotion is about to rise, they cut it and change to another scene. It's hard for the audiences to resonate with the characters and immerse in the story. Also, they don't use their OST much in the play so some emotional or thrilling scenes feel kinda meh. They have such a strong lineup for OST, such a shame they didn't make a good use of them.
And the combat scenes are quite boring. I know this is a xianxia and the combat is more about magic and inner strength, not the real martial art moves but they should at least make some moves. In most of the combat scenes, the characters just stand there and raise their hands and then input some special effects. And... it's done. I mean it's really beautiful to watch but feel very unsatisfactory. I expect to see more real combat with a thrilling BGM, it would be much better. The best combat scene until now is where the male lead fights and kills the 2 bad guys to avenge his parents. It's really nice and powerful.
Okay, so this is my first thoughts about the drama. Despite many not good things above, I think this drama is still good to watch, not as bad as some people say. I feel that there're so many unreasonable attacks on this drama since it started broadcasting and it makes people reluctant to start watching it. But you should really watch and judge by yourself
For me, I'll keep following the drama. The unfolding story behind seems very interesting. I hope the edit is better in the later part.
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Fighting for Win-Win situation
I am not a fan of fantasy drama. Some fantasy dramas make me nauseous due to the exaggerated effects. I like how Fox Spirit Matchmaker Red-Moon Pact has done so well that the effects are appropriately balanced. It is quite magical at times, reminding viewers they are living in fairyland.I love how the relationship between the male and female leads are woven into the building of the world between humans and the Fox Spirits. Most of the time we are constrained by having a set mindset of “either or”. However, this drama will demonstrate how to achieve a goal that benefits both humans and Fox Spirits.
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This review may contain spoilers
Story in overall series
Fox Spirit Matchmaker YuehongStory, because I've seen the animated version. The storyline is not much different, but in the drama it is smoother and neater, apart from that there are still humorous scenes.
The romance is already starting to emerge, wait for the middle eps for sure...
Acting, there's no need to doubt it. Here, overall, all the players are famous, Gongjun also appears here.
Visual effects..... GG can say the words... Sophisticated, spectacular, and really pleasing to the eye. It's amazing... because it uses new CGI technology.
Production 👍👍👍👍 thank you for meeting expectations.
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Just So Boring!!
Dropping this was not an easy decision to make for this drama had been one I was really looking forward to. I just found the story to be so boring and nothing interesting happening. Also I don't think Yang Mi and Gong Jun have any chemistry what so ever. I usually really like Yang Mi but she did not blow me away in this she just seems to have the same expression on her face no matter what happens through the episodes I did watch. If you can make it through the story Gong Jun is definitely worth watching. The one thing I did like in this was the costumes for the cast the were beautiful but that was about it.Was this review helpful to you?
A passable fox romance.
- starting quarter: good interesting
-middle quarter: meh and meh only visuals and rendom fluff.
- later middle quarter : built some what of a momentum the twisted ark begins
- final quarter : peaked with the twist but fell short for an impactful ending.
the main plot of giving a tangible value or place holders to feelings felt really cringing at times
what do you mean the love seed?? what the heck it grows with what tears??? like what, they could have at least come up with analogies for those feelings.
besicly large tree powered by love balancing the relmns. And human × spirit war stuff = bad!
All of the CPs are mirrors of the main leads story just with lil tweaks.
the cgi was one of the hopes of this drama and it kinda was inconsistent through out the run
they keep switching from high to low.
the cast? Are almost all leading actors and actresses they. their characters were bland and fixed to box little growth was seen and that did happen felt rushed.
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Did not disappoint
First time leaving a review here. Maybe I had really low expectations since everyone was bashing it but I actually enjoyed watching this drama.There was always something happening, in an unpredictable way that keeps you wanting to watch some more. It’s a slow burn. It’s not addictive like you have to binge watch it in 3 days (compared to eternal love for eg.) but it did keep me interested until the very end.
Some parts I got a bit lost/confused but it wasn’t as bad as I thought.
Pros; stunning casts, especially Yang Mi. She’s still pretty as ever.
Dongfang yue chu is also very cute and good looking. Upbeat personality.
Their dialogues/interactions are so sweet to watch.
The minimal intimacy/love scenes were appropriate.
It’s definitely more interesting than Legend of Shen Li (I’m a big fan of princess agents and wanting to see the main OTP tgt so bad so I watched LOSL but it’s just not the same)
I liked that there’s so many different characters hence keeps the story interesting.
Cons: there were some confusing parts maybe I wasn’t paying attention.
Dramas these days aren’t the same as what it use to be. Even in Eternal Love there’s actual fighting scenes. It’s still in the setting of the magical realm.
The fighting scenes here are all CGI. Lucky there’s even fighting scenes. Some dramas don’t even show fighting scenes anymore. I watched one with Dilraba and all the fighting scenes were in cartoon…
Should definitely give this a try if you’re on the fence!
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This review may contain spoilers
Why Fox Spirit Matchmaker:Red Moon Pact Is a 2024 Highlight
Gong Jun’s performance as Dongfang Yuechu has indeed been a standout in 2024, and the drama is visually stunning. Here’s why it’s gaining so much praise:### 🔥 Why *Fox Spirit Matchmaker:Red Moon Pact* Is a 2024 Highlight
1. Gong Jun’s Role – "Dongfang Yuechu":
- A cool, composed demon hunter with a tragic past, blending stoicism and emotional depth.
- His chemistry with Yang Mi (playing Tu Shan Honghong) is electric—full of fated love, sacrifice, and fiery tension.
2. Gorgeous Visuals & Worldbuilding:
- The costumes, sets, and CGI are film-quality (e.g., Honghong’s fiery fox spirit, Yuechu’s icy swordplay).
- Based on the beloved Chinese manhua (*Fox Spirit Matchmaker*), staying faithful to its fantasy-romance roots.
3. Gong Jun’s Acting Growth:
- Compared to *Word of Honor*’s flirtatious Wen Kexing, Yuechu is more restrained but equally captivating.
- His micro-expressions (pain, longing, quiet devotion) show his range as an actor.
### 🌟 Memorable Moments (No Spoilers!)
- The "Blood Kiss" Scene – A visually stunning, emotionally charged highlight.
- Yuechu’s Sword Fights – Gong Jun trained hard for these sleek, balletic sequences.
- Honghong & Yuechu’s Past-Life Flashbacks – Heart-wrenching and beautifully shot.
### 📈 Why It’s a Hit
- Trending #1 on platforms like WeTV and iQIYI since its release.
- International fans praise its mix of romance, action, and mythology.
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It's just a shame that the story is boring because the antagonist's role is only him and he is always being chased, caught and then run away and repeated over and over until the end.
There is no variation and the storyline is very easy to guess where it is going
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Could have been better
I watched Fox Spirit Matchmaker: The Moon Pact only for Gong Jun, and I was also excited to see Yang Mi—so the expectations were definitely high. Visually, the drama absolutely delivered. The costumes were stunning, the CGI was high quality, and the overall look of the world was beautiful and ethereal.But sadly, visuals alone can’t carry a drama, and that’s where it started to fall apart.
The plot felt messy and haphazard. Things just kept happening one after the other with little sense of resolution or consequence. It got emotionally exhausting watching Honghong sacrifice her love seed again and again, and for what? The villain, Shi Ji, just wouldn’t die—and the entire subplot became so irritating that I honestly started wondering what the point of anything was. It felt like no matter how much the leads suffered, nothing changed.
Some of the love stories were sweet—especially the one between the Bull Spirit and Constable Lyu—but even that got buried under the constant plot chaos and overused tropes. And don’t even get me started on the ending… I was left confused. Were they alive? Reincarnated? In limbo? It felt rushed and incomplete.
Still, I have to give credit to the actors. Gong Jun and Yang Mi did their best with what they were given. The acting was consistent and emotional. The supporting cast, too, had moments that stood out. It’s just sad the writing didn’t support them the way it should have.
Verdict: A visually stunning drama with wasted potential. Great cast, strong acting, and some good emotional moments—but ultimately let down by a chaotic plot, annoying villain arc, and a confusing, unsatisfying ending. I wanted to love it, but I could only tolerate it. 6/10..
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where was the good drama I anticipated all this time?
this was one was the worst good dramas I've ever seen. the good part goes to the actors and all the work the team put into making this drama and the worst part goes to the really weak story line and the almost none existence romance between the mains. I was not searching for hot blooded passionate love but come on at least a few deep emotional scenes would do but to my outer most disappointment all the romantic scenes between the mains was so lurk warm. For whatever reason in the sacrificial scene in the last episode the emotions the female lead pulled were so weak I just could not watch till the end and just skipped that part. All in all a failure of good actors, huge budget and well gathered team.Was this review helpful to you?
