Lutien

Not as many kisses as LBFAD but it does have few bed scene, which are pretty hot.
If you want same vibe as LBFAD, though, this drama is completely different. It's almost pure angst with few sweet moments.

I loved so much that they actually had honest conversation before the end. They both knew what had to happen and why. LSS didn't kill him out of rage or because he tricked her but because it was their mutual decision, to sacrifice for greater good.
I obviously wanted happier ending but if drama shows proper ending for the heroes, which makes sense, I am happy with sad ending too.
I basically teared up when TTJ said this life of his was hard and had to end. His life was indeed miserable, but he learned to love, found people, who cared for him, which made him want to save the world, and not destroy it, which was his original destiny.
I wish there was a bit more screentime, since it felt secondary charachters didn't get much ending. Like YSW brother just appeared briefly without any explanation. I don't know, why they even had that demon lady in white and what was her purpose in the drama.
All the dialogs were so beautiful, I was fascinated. Action scenes and VFX on point (LSS becoming goddess was so visually satisfying); and that white costume of TTJ is pure love.

The only thing got me confused - the last scene with shell and TTJ. Does it mean he is the shell?

OMG I probably in minority here, but I absolutely loved the ending. It was so beautiful, both visually and naratively. I love that characters got proper closure, and everything made sense plotwise.
Some of my thought below.

I binged this drama, and I am totally obsessed with it. Tbh, I hated some moments but drama so good in evoking raw emotions, making you feel, that you cannot help but love it.
LYS and BL acting is phenomenal, I think, wedding night and their talk in prison afterwards are one of the best acted scenes I have seen in Cdramaland. Drama hit gold with casting such versitile actors as main leads, in my opinion, noone else can play both good and evil so amazingly. I wish BL had more scenes as demoness, she is so baddass in such roles.
Another outstanding thing about drama is costumes. Whenever I saw a costume, I was in awe, how pretty and magnificent it is. Outfits, hairstyles, accessories, makeup, everything is so beautiful. I think, it's my favorite costumes in anything, dramas and movies (incl non Chinese ones). I especially like Bo're life clothes, they look so unique.
VFX is very good too, although sometimes felt overused. Those seals in Ming Ye & gods vs Evil god fight looked so cool.
The weakest point. in my opinion, is the plot. SL couple is so boring, with SML being so pointless, I had to fast forward some of his scenes. Tbh, I couldn't even feel any connection between Xiao Lin and YXW, and couldn't understand why she was so heartbroken, when he died. I wish we had more of Fox demoness/ General scenes, they were way more interesting couple with great chemistry. Sad, that their story ended so abrutly.
I really really really hate missunderstandings trope in dramas, cause most of the time it makes charachters just look so stupid. And TTEOTM made the consequence of missunderstanding one of it's main plots, probably, that's why I am not a fan of the plot. CP relationship is super toxic, so that at some points I actually wanted them both to die to end their misery XD I am glad, though, that at least it made sense from the character perspective, they had no trust in each other. He couldn't trust because of his traumatic past with all the betrayals, she - because of possible future. Still, they were so unhealthy together in mortal ark, TTJ love felt more like obsession, and YSW, I dunno, i could never feel that she actually loved him until last ark, felt more like sympathy and attraction. I wish her character was bit better written. I couldn't understand, why, for example, when she became LSS and she first rejected TTJ first, but next episode she flirts and all in love with him XD. Also, I wish she was less in unconcious state. But I am glad we got them together in healthy relationship, cause I can ship without thinking how bad they are together. CP chemistry is AMAZING.
I don't like much editing in the drama, I think, there were too many voiceovers with flashbacks, which felt like I was watching fan video. Also, sometimes can feel that scenes were cut.

However, despite all it's flaws, I am absolutely fascinated with this drama.
Also, latest 3 episodes are so intense, with all the action and plot development, I just watch in awe.
Hopefully, last episode deliver too.

I wanted to binge this drama, when it is all out but all snippets i keep watching seems so much fun, i couldn't stop myself from starting it.
Watched first episode, it's generic as any other first episode of xianxia dramas but funny with decent visual effects. I especially liked ML personality in first episode, he isn't another perfect flawless hero who does and says everything right. I love that he is cluesless in what he should or shouldn't say and feels nervous when meeting his family after long time; introvertness makes so much sense since he was isolated so long. FL is ok, I like that she fights for herself and her sister. Haven't seen much of other characters yet.

Thanks a lot! I guess i can start watching in one week, unless i get too impatient 😁

How is everyone here? I am still hoping we get 9 rating, when visiting this thread🤣 I watched few dramas after LBFAD, but still rewatching some scenes from time to time and return here, cause this drama has a special place in my heart.

On side note, I recently read novel by same author as CLJ, it's called Divorce by agreement in novelupdates. Premise is completely different from CLJ but I had some deja vu scenes when reading. ML is also kinda considered bad there, couple have special link similar to heart curse in LBFAD, they have almost same Smile scenes (but vice versa, ML asks FML to smile) and ending have kiss to fight evil in ML. I dunno, if it's just coincidence or writers of drama took some inspirarion from that novel too.

Anyone can tell, what is release schedule of this drama. Which days and how many episodes released daily? I really want to start watching since from video clips I watched seems smth I would like, especially curious abt second couple. But i dont wanna suffer with ongoing drama, so wanna start when it will be closer to end.

Yeah, that's what i wondered, when I read synopsys, seems do similar.

I finally binged the drama, it took me around 2 weeks.
I would like to share some thoughts I had, while I watched it. My review is for whole drama (both Part 1 and Part 2). I may occasionaly mention Ancient Love Poetry drama since IS reminded me it a lot in terms of general plot and my love-hate feelings towards drama. Also, it will contain spoilers.

Overall, I would say IS is very decent drama, which kept me engaged throughout all episodes, has good but slightly overused VFX, production values and amazing chemistry between all charachters.
The strongest thing about the drama is definitely casting. Tbh, most of the drama (except mid part in mortal realm), I felt CP was toxic for each other, but chemistry between Yang Zi and Cheng Yi is so amazing you just want them together badly no matter what happens on screen. I wish writers gave them more romantic scenes together, since I feel it was a bit of a waste to not utilize on the couple chemistry more.
About charachters:
Yumo is definetely the best charachter in the show. Not often Cdramas create such a great SML, he selfless, kind and genuinely cared for both YanDan and Tangzhou. I loved that he just always wanted for YD to be happy, even if she couldn't return his feelings, he never pushed her and denied her right to do what she wanted. It was really annoying that in later part of the drama it felt that he became a secondary charachter and there wasn't many scenes with him. He was forever sent to protect spirits spliting him with YD anf TZ, which was really a pity since I consider parts where main trio fight ad uncover mysteries together as the strongest parts of the show. And in the end his charachter wasnt even given much closure, it felt that his story just abruptly ended.
Ying Yuan / TangZhou character I didnt like much in the begining of the story, he mistreated YD a lot in the first part as YY, here I got flashbacks to ALP where I just hated ML in the end, when he made suffer FML with protecting and saving her as his reasons. In what way letting your loved one be abused, wounded, mistreated and inflicting emotional pain is saving the person I would never understand. Why just not tell the truth... Even though I watched many romance xianxia this troupe still frustrates me so much. I am glad that in contrast with APL that fake betrayal part happened in the begining and actually was used as charachter development ark for YY. He understood his mistakes and wasn't willing to do them again. Although they are the same person, I loved TZ (what's with Cheng Yi always playing charachters who isn't allowed to love ^^) character slightly more than YY, maybe because he was more carefree and open. But YY I came to love too, such a tragic charachter, which suffered a lot, I was happy that after regaining his memories he was willing to fight for both his love and to protect the world. And Cheng Yi is just so good looking in those majestic clothes as YY, i didn't like other costumes much, cause they were as in every other xianxia drama, but his wardrobe was amazing. Also, he portrays emotions and heartbreak just so well.
Yan Dan.... I hope, I won't get hate from fans, but YD is my least favourite characher of the show. As I said before kudos to casting people, if they didn't cast such a charming actress as Yang Zi I would probably totaly hated her character towards the end. I couldn't understand her reasoning for rejecting YY at all after he regained his memories. I liked her charachter until that point of the show even when she was cruel to YY when she remembered her past. It was understandable that she wasnt willing to reconcile before his memories returned because she was afraid being left again but after? Was she bitter and not forgiven him? Was it revenge? Had she not overcome their past? I could even go with it, if it was pointed towards that in the drama, but we only got her constant We won't be together. And at the same time she always showed that she was still very much in love and willing to do everything for YY, so he couldn't actually move on. That part of the story felt very confusing to me. Just why they couldn't be together? TT Give them kisses, happy romantic moments. But no, I had to watch full 59 episodes with CP never be real couple apart from dream sequince in the begining. Sigh... And also, she didn't even say Goodbye to Yumo when dying... Double sigh...

About the plot. IS bacisally same plot as any other xianxia romance drama. But I like xianxia and mostly enjoy (except missunderstadings parts, it always gets on my nerves) even repetative plots if they done correctly. I know many people say this drama is too draggy, but maybe because I watched it mostly on higher speed and fast forward some filler parts, I didn't feel it too boring. It was action packed, and plot moved forward nicely, except some episodes in heaven in part 2, when there was too much talking and nothing was going on. The drama probably could loose 3-5 episodes but overall I liked the pacing. The surprising thing I loved Mortal realm ark the most, which is very weird, cause I always don't like that part in xianxia. I loved all small cases trio investigated, they were interesting with good supporting charachters, resolved pretty quickly, and most of them were nicely integrated to the main plot. And I just love the parts where YD, TZ and SM resolve smth together, they have great dynamics. All in all, I enjoyed most of the plot, except maybe last 10 episoded where plot a bit lagged. Editing seemed worse too, with some scenes randomly appearing without prior setup. Main villain was decent, I am glad he was given proper story and wasn't made completely evil with no feelings. However, I wish final evil was YY farther, his story was so fascinating although it was briefly told. That was another waste, story of YY parents was very well told but at the end it was useless in terms of main plot. Why were we told it? Just to know his backround? I thought we gonna get back time altering artifact his farther used, but it wasn't shown. And YY helping his farther redeem, I thought it was a nice way to show how he surpressed his demon's powers, but then we had the ending... Well, I guess, it wouldn't be xianxia if they not have unnecessary tradegy in the end XD. I always tell myself to just get used to it.

So, all in all, I rate IS as strong 8, with Part 1 as 8.5. It isn't best Cdrama of 2022 for me but it is definetely one of memorable one. I would probably even rewatch some parts I especially enjoyed and remember this drama for showing beautiful friendship.

I would recommend it to any romance xianxia fans, who are okay with common tropes.

P. S.: If anyone had patience to read such a long review, you are a star.<3

It is explained in Part 2.

Ik, we talk about hypothetical scenario, do in that story could be not Jin Seol Ran.
I am sure if FML is JBY, it would be different story.🤷‍♀️

Also, one crazy thought I wanted to share.

Sometimes, as much as I love Naksu/Mudeok character, I wish second season lead was actually real JBY, it would make much more sense considereng they changed Naksu charachter so much. It could have been a love story about letting go of past and starting over.
Also, it could have been Naksu soul still in JBY body, which awakens at the end (vise versa like it was in the drama). It would have been a good final conflict for Uk to choose between new and old love (I am a bit masochist I guess😅😅😅).

Tbh I mostly ok with Naksu never gaining her powers back but I hated they made her a damsel in distress. Even with no physical powers Mudeok always managed to fight her ways out difficult situations.

Also, although i don't think not showing Naksu full power wasnt a problem, I think writers hyped her strength so much throughout drama, and then never showed it. It's understandable some viewers feel frustrated and cheated.

I am gonna rant here😅 Just my personal opinion and thoughts.

So, after finishing P2, i would rate this drama as 8.
In my opinion, P2 is so much weaker than P1 in terms of story, characters and worldbuilding. I am glad last 2 episodes were actually very good and concluded everything well, otherwise I would rate this drama much lower.
Overall, I say this drama is good but not amazing. It has great visual effects and action scenes, chemistry is good, costumes are pretty. The thing it lacks compared to first part is uniqueness. The story isn't as fresh as first one, and most of the time it felt like there wasn't even enough story to tell. Before I was wondering how drama will fit all story in 10 eps, but looking back I think 6 eps would have been enough, then middle part wouldn't be so boring. There was so many unresolved mysteries at the end of P1, which were mostly resolved with small dialogue. I dont understand why you need to hype some plot points to discard it later with simple dialogue. Like in P1 so much time was spent with Uk parentage and King's star. And then we just get 3 mins memory how it was revealed to Uk. Park Jin always acted like it was the greatest secret he will protect no matter what, and then tells it to Uk, when the guy is miserable🤦‍♂️
I feel Hong sisters lacked the boldness in P2, they just wrote standard love story with damsel in distress heroine and strong unkillable hero with tragic past. And it would have been ok, if P1 wasn't such a fresh and unique Kdrama, setting the bar so high.

And FML... I just couldn't connect with her character, it pains me that we had such interesting, independant, smart and strong minded FML, which then turned into cliche fairy tale princess that needs saving every episode. No hate to actress, I liked her a lot, she is cute, pretty and her acting is decent.

My favorite character in the drama would be CP, he had the best overal charachter arc in the story, and his talk with Naksu about Mudeok is one of my favorite scenes, it was just so heartfelt.
As i said i loved last few episodes (the final fight👍😍), the only complain is fake death of elders trio. I thought death scenes were so epic and heartbreaking, and then noone died... 🤦‍♂️🤦‍♂️🤦‍♂️ I am not violent person but you cannot just make viewers care about some scenes and then make it meaningless. I think ending would have been more memorable if at least one of them actually died.

I feel the same a bit. We had same female lead character in name, but like 80% different personality for most of drama (only in few scenes in last ep she felt like Naksu). That's still my main problem with the drama.

I have read half of the novel, and it is so good, as all novels from the author. Cannot wait for drama adaptation.

No hate intented, but somehow I feel lead actors were miscast here😅 But I will go with open mind, I know both considered good actors. Probably, just it's just my imagination when reading novel.

Thanks for warm welcome!🥰 I would definetely stick around until the end. I love some charachters too much (even they annoy me sometumes) to drop it, when only 5 eps left.

My complain isn't about her physical power, but just badass energy FML had. I liked how she dealt with problems, always knew what she wanted and fought for it.
Naksu S1 (or Mudeok) didn't have her powers for like 99% of drama but would you say she wasn't baddass. I bet no. She seemed strong even without fighting and killing anyone.
Remember how she handled Uk, CP and other charachters. She didn't wait to be saved, she saved herself by using her wits. But JBY is totally different, apart from few scenes in first episodes when she was actively doing smth to change her life, she just waits when Uk comes and saves her or maidservant Kim talks some sense into Uk. And speaking of Uk and her, maybe I hadn't written correctly, it isnt just bickering I miss but couple dynamics they had before. They were so energetic together, solving together any problems they encountered, supporting each other and also slapping some sence into each other whenever the other was loosing his/her way. If it's Naksu S1, would she tolerate Uk ignoring her and behaving like a jerk? No she would slapped and berated him, told him stop being depressed and do smth about his life. I mean, I understand she cant be the same as from S1, but they could have given us glimpses, like she can sometimes loose control over Uk being not empathethic and do smth Mudeok style. I think, that could work to Uk see similarities between Naksu and JBY as well as hand holding and patting on the back. Like imagine Uk says some bullshit to her, she slaps him or looks with killer eyes, maybe they fight a bit. This kind of scene can give us baddass Naksu, childish Jang Uk and chaotic couple at the same time. Ow, sorry, i am making up some scenes now😅🤣🤣

Thanks🥰
Yeah, let's hope remaining episodes blow our minds.

With how the story is unfolding, you might be right.
That's the problem with S2 for me. Most side charachters just riverted back to first episodes of S1, like there was no charachter development for them in S1. I thought CP ark in S1 was becoming less self absorbed and learning the value of friendship. What's his ark now? Being jealous and interested in Uk at the same time?