This review may contain spoilers
It just simply good
I began watching Love on the Turquoise Land primarily for Dilraba Dilmurat (Nie Jiluo), and she did not disappoint. Despite the drama’s long runtime and complex narrative, it delivers a visually striking fantasy experience supported by strong performances and emotional depth.
The story is immediately intriguing, though it can be challenging to fully grasp at first. While the premise is compelling, the world-building is not always clearly explained. As a fan of fantasy fiction, I was able to follow the general direction of the plot, but certain concepts required extra effort to understand. The drama revolves around an alien race known as Earth Fiends, beings who attempt to live among humans, while a group of hunters has been pursuing and eliminating them since ancient times.
As the story progresses, I found myself increasingly drawn to the Earth Fiends’ perspective. At their core, they simply want to blend into the human world and become human themselves. While their methods are undeniably wrong and morally questionable, their longing feels deeply human. This emotional pull makes their storyline surprisingly compelling and, at times, more engaging than that of the hunters.
One Earth Fiend in particular—Feng Mi (or Feng Dan)—left a strong impression on me. As someone who harbors feelings for Yan Tuo, she appears to genuinely desire humanity, not merely in form but in emotion. Her efforts to understand love, care, and sacrifice feel sincere, and in many ways, she seems to be the only Earth Fiend who truly becomes human in spirit. The way she cares for Yan Tuo, without calculation or self-interest, evokes sympathy and tenderness. Her fate is especially tragic, as she ultimately continues to protect Yan Tuo even in the end, making her one of the most emotionally resonant characters in the drama.
One of the most unsettling yet powerful elements of the story lies in the relationships within the Earth Fiend community itself. Lin Xiran, their leader, adopts two children whose lives unfold in stark contrast. She raises Yan Tuo to become a refined, wealthy, and principled gentleman, providing him with everything associated with an ideal human upbringing. In contrast, Lin Ling, her adopted daughter, is subjected to excessive protection and constant surveillance, living more like a captive than a child.
The revelation that Lin Ling was raised solely as a blood source—a means for Lin Xiran to sustain her life and maintain a human form—is both shocking and disturbing. Even more unsettling is the implication that Lin Ling’s role extended to bearing a child to continue this cycle. These revelations add moral complexity and emotional weight to the narrative, making the Earth Fiends’ relationships feel deeper and more intimate than those of the hunters. Unfortunately, this contrast is not explored in sufficient depth, leaving several narrative gaps.
The drama suffers from noticeable plot holes, particularly regarding the origins and mechanisms behind the Earth Fiends’ ability to become human-like. These unanswered questions make certain moments confusing rather than mysterious, and clearer explanations would have significantly strengthened the storytelling.
Visually, however, Love on the Turquoise Land excels. The cinematography is consistently beautiful, featuring lush green landscapes, mountains, forests, caves, and expansive natural scenery. The CGI is well executed, and the action sequences are engaging and fluid. Dilraba is breathtaking throughout the series, delivering both emotional and combat scenes with confidence and charisma. This was also my first time watching Chen Xingxu, and he left a strong impression with his solid acting and commanding screen presence.
The ending, however, feels unresolved. It leaves viewers questioning its meaning and intent, creating a sense of emotional incompleteness that slightly diminishes the overall impact.
In conclusion, Love on the Turquoise Land is a visually impressive fantasy drama with strong performances and emotionally compelling characters. While its narrative would benefit from clearer world-building and a more conclusive ending, it remains an engaging watch. I would rate it a solid 8 out of 10, with the potential to score even higher had the story been more thoroughly developed.
The story is immediately intriguing, though it can be challenging to fully grasp at first. While the premise is compelling, the world-building is not always clearly explained. As a fan of fantasy fiction, I was able to follow the general direction of the plot, but certain concepts required extra effort to understand. The drama revolves around an alien race known as Earth Fiends, beings who attempt to live among humans, while a group of hunters has been pursuing and eliminating them since ancient times.
As the story progresses, I found myself increasingly drawn to the Earth Fiends’ perspective. At their core, they simply want to blend into the human world and become human themselves. While their methods are undeniably wrong and morally questionable, their longing feels deeply human. This emotional pull makes their storyline surprisingly compelling and, at times, more engaging than that of the hunters.
One Earth Fiend in particular—Feng Mi (or Feng Dan)—left a strong impression on me. As someone who harbors feelings for Yan Tuo, she appears to genuinely desire humanity, not merely in form but in emotion. Her efforts to understand love, care, and sacrifice feel sincere, and in many ways, she seems to be the only Earth Fiend who truly becomes human in spirit. The way she cares for Yan Tuo, without calculation or self-interest, evokes sympathy and tenderness. Her fate is especially tragic, as she ultimately continues to protect Yan Tuo even in the end, making her one of the most emotionally resonant characters in the drama.
One of the most unsettling yet powerful elements of the story lies in the relationships within the Earth Fiend community itself. Lin Xiran, their leader, adopts two children whose lives unfold in stark contrast. She raises Yan Tuo to become a refined, wealthy, and principled gentleman, providing him with everything associated with an ideal human upbringing. In contrast, Lin Ling, her adopted daughter, is subjected to excessive protection and constant surveillance, living more like a captive than a child.
The revelation that Lin Ling was raised solely as a blood source—a means for Lin Xiran to sustain her life and maintain a human form—is both shocking and disturbing. Even more unsettling is the implication that Lin Ling’s role extended to bearing a child to continue this cycle. These revelations add moral complexity and emotional weight to the narrative, making the Earth Fiends’ relationships feel deeper and more intimate than those of the hunters. Unfortunately, this contrast is not explored in sufficient depth, leaving several narrative gaps.
The drama suffers from noticeable plot holes, particularly regarding the origins and mechanisms behind the Earth Fiends’ ability to become human-like. These unanswered questions make certain moments confusing rather than mysterious, and clearer explanations would have significantly strengthened the storytelling.
Visually, however, Love on the Turquoise Land excels. The cinematography is consistently beautiful, featuring lush green landscapes, mountains, forests, caves, and expansive natural scenery. The CGI is well executed, and the action sequences are engaging and fluid. Dilraba is breathtaking throughout the series, delivering both emotional and combat scenes with confidence and charisma. This was also my first time watching Chen Xingxu, and he left a strong impression with his solid acting and commanding screen presence.
The ending, however, feels unresolved. It leaves viewers questioning its meaning and intent, creating a sense of emotional incompleteness that slightly diminishes the overall impact.
In conclusion, Love on the Turquoise Land is a visually impressive fantasy drama with strong performances and emotionally compelling characters. While its narrative would benefit from clearer world-building and a more conclusive ending, it remains an engaging watch. I would rate it a solid 8 out of 10, with the potential to score even higher had the story been more thoroughly developed.
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