Shows I really loved

So I'm a huge fan of Condor Heroes, and I had a blast with this special. Someone commented that it was "filmed like poetry", which I love, and agree with. I felt that the pace of the intertwining plots was unhurried, but never slow or dull. I loved the tragedy and the drama. Each character performance felt masterful and nuanced. I enjoyed all the characterization choices that each actor made and the action scenes were exciting.

I'm looking forward to watching the rest of Duel on Mount Hua; I started with this one because of Zhou Yi Wei and Chen Du Ling, haha. (And they were amazing of course.)

One of my favorite shows ever. Is it cheesy? Yes. Is the pacing weird in some places? Yes. Is the plot sometimes needlessly convoluted? Yes. Is the premise corny? Yes.

10 stars for me personally. The huge cast is fabulous. The sheer number of so many cool and interesting women is what drew me into the show to begin with, along with the incredibly talented leads and lighthearted adventurous tone. The romance is so fun; begins on a lighthearted note and slowly delves into delicious drama. (Definitely an RR vibe as well for those who enjoy RR!)

I really enjoy Priest's plotting style, so I was very satisfied by this show, and the cheesiness was endearing to me personally lol. If you watch it, please feel free to message me and tell me your thoughts! :D

I watched this solely for the leads, as I was a fan of both of them, but what a ride. Full of twists and turns, steeped in the historical time period it's set within, lots of emotional highs and lows, and a very satisfying slow burn romance.

It's refreshing to watch such a well-plotted drama that doesn't center on royalty; instead, that sort of careful politicking, betrayals and alliances is mapped onto a mercantile setting, and has just as much dramatic depth and intrigue. I really loved this show. The production was beautiful and the leads are all insanely talented.

What I loved most about this show is the tender power of human connection, hope, and love. The circumstances are often grim and cruelly bleak; this drama does not shy away from the horrible things people can do to each other, but it also firmly presents how powerful it is for people not to give up on each other, to go that extra mile, to show bravery and kindness on each other's behalf. I found it deeply satisfying!

Super fun. Weaves "serious wuxia character transported into modern day world comedy" in with tragedy, drama, and yearning romance. Everyone's so talented and the plot premise is creative and interesting. Happy ending!

God this show was a blast. In many ways, it didn't go where I expected, and in other ways, it went exactly where I hoped it would. I am so often not a fan of "villain becomes nice" romance arcs, but this show made me love it! What an amazing character arc for both of the leads. The comedy of the early eps was so fun, and the worldbuilding was enjoyable and intriguing. I was even interested in the antagonists, who can sometimes be one-note in these types of dramas, but were compelling and moving to me in this show. The "mystery" villain was so heartbreaking, played by an amazingly talented actor.

I did not even realize Zhang Linghe was in this show at first LOL, he was completely absorbed in his role, and I felt that he did a really excellent job because normally I would find the character he was playing so boring, but he imbued him with a lot of emotional depth and worked hard for a good character arc. Did I ever like the guy? Not really... but I found him very interesting and I sympathized with him.

The side characters were all really amazing, and for me, that's what elevated this show to one of my favorites. The leads were so talented and they were supported by all these interesting and mysterious side characters, some of whom kept me guessing about their motivations until the very end.

The soundtrack is beautiful and the sets are divine. Some people disliked the "Mortal World" arc, but I really enjoyed it honestly. So YMMV. The ending is SPECTACULAR though, and well worth the watch to get there in my opinion. Loved the masterful parallels to the beginning.

One of the most viscerally satisfying third-act plot twists in the history of cinema. This movie changed my life forever. I still think it's one of the best, most thoughtful movies ever made.

Exactly what I hoped it would be. A very serious and grim show that doesn't shy away from that part of its story, which I felt was a strength. Every actor is so talented and conveys the story beautifully. Visceral and tightly paced, with no room for filler of any kind. A complex and thoughtful character study that warrants a rewatch once you understand what is going on in each character's mind, and the many things they aren't saying. Full of complicated characters with complicated hangups, pasts, and emotional tangles. I was in awe of what felt like a very soul-deep and painful emotional catharsis that this story portrayed. Despite what you may expect, it does have a happy ending.

A truly stellar adaptation of the play it was based upon. Everything from the talent of the cast, the beautiful production- costumes, sets, cinematography- to the writing, the pacing, the heartbreak... was perfect. One of my favorite films.

God, what hasn't been said about Legend of Shen Li? She has to be one of my favorite xianxia FLs ever. Wielding a magical spear and mysterious power, commanding and regal, elegant and tough, she strides onto the screen in an unforgettable entrance, and embarks on a truly epic arc, gaining knowledge, power, and also an unexpected love that shakes the Extranatural Heaven at its root.

I love xianxia, and I think this is one of the best ones there is.

i didn't put untamed: special edition on this list because it would basically be a repeat, but i enjoyed it just as much. <3

One of my favorite shows. Who hasn't heard of The Untamed, lol? It was the first drama I watched along with some online friends instead of just myself, and has a special place in my heart because of that, but the writing and character work is just as good as everyone says. Beautiful sets, beautiful music, and an unforgettable story. If you haven't experienced it yet, and you are a wuxia fan, ENJOY!

Two of my favorite leads ever. They're both so much fun and so interesting, which is really cool considering how many times their "character types" have been done before, but the writing of this show is so fresh I felt that they had reinvented their characters.

So often in shows where the central romance is between a sort of "villainous" guy and FL, they have to reveal he's not actually villainous, he's tragic, etc. And they do that here, but the way they do it is so skillful that he stays interesting, he never loses his personality or the parts of his character that made him so interesting at the beginning of the show.

FL is amazing. Your classic transmigration heroine, yes, but one of the best I've ever seen. She just wants to live her life LOL, and who can fault her for that? She's so fun, so cute, so kind. This show truly develops the dynamic between "powerful fictional guy with a tragic past" and "woman who came in from a modern world and has a modern understanding" in the most interesting way imaginable.

My only nitpick is I felt the whole tragic amnesia plot went on foreverrrr but the leads are SO talented I was watching along anyway lol. If you haven't seen this show yet, I highly recommend it. The seamless weaving together of comedy, tragedy, high-stakes action, mystery, and romance is unforgettable. Both of the leads were at the top of their game here. It's incredible.

The soundtrack for this show is insanely beautiful, and of course I can't find it anywhere lol! But the original songs are on Youtube, and they are gorgeous. The sets were lovely too. The supporting cast was very talented, even if I found one or two characters kind of one-note.