A unique xianxia story waiting to be uncovered!
A Moment but Forever is a drama that transcends conventional storytelling, offering a rich tapestry of meaningful messages, commendable acting, and a thoughtfully crafted script. It is not a show for those seeking pure romantic thrills but rather a layered narrative that thrives on subtle details and profound philosophical dialogue. The pacing might feel slow for viewers accustomed to typical Xianxia tropes, but it is precisely this depth and intricacy that make it stand out. What particularly captivated me was its attention to detail, the incorporation of engineering feats as humanity’s defiance against the Celeste race, and its departure from the stereotypical Xianxia formula.Liu Xieyi’s portrayal of Yuan Zhong was both precise and deeply impactful, leaving a lasting impression. His remarkable acting versatility breathed life into the character, skillfully capturing the complex and conflicted emotions that Yuan Zhong grappled with. Liu adeptly conveyed the layers of snobbishness, aloofness, and the constant undercurrent of destructive thoughts that defined Yuan Zhong, making him a compelling yet challenging figure. It was through Liu’s meticulous attention to subtle details that I was drawn into Yuan Zhong’s turbulent world, preventing the character from being misunderstood or outright disliked. From moments of torment and heartache to the depths of lovesickness and self-destruction, Liu navigated the multifaceted aspects of Yuan Zhong with finesse. His performance not only showcased his range as an actor but serves as a testament to his talent and suggests that transitioning to deeper, more complex characters could pave the way for even greater success in his career.
On the other hand, Tang Yan, who played the female lead, faced criticism primarily due to her age, which I found unjustified. Her character, Ji Tian Yin, is a thousand-year-old, strong-willed Celeste being, and Tang Yan portrayed her with a quiet strength and unwavering support for Yuan Zhong. While her performance was commendable, there were moments where her emotional expression felt inconsistent, occasionally coming across as emotionless in certain scenes. Despite this, she effectively captured the essence of a character who stood firm in her convictions and provided a steady anchor for Yuan Zhong’s struggles.
The drama’s narrative extends beyond romance, exploring themes of devotion to one’s craft and the dignity of every being. The relationships between the weapon spirits and the bond between the female lead and her teacher were particularly touching, adding layers of emotional depth to the story. The OST complemented the narrative beautifully, enhancing the overall experience. However, I felt that the costume design, makeup, and prop design could have been more refined to elevate the visual appeal of the show.
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Realistic plot with valuable take-away
I enjoy the drama because it is grounded and realistic, avoiding unnecessary exaggeration. It touches a familiar and relatable conflict many of us face: choosing between love, career, and family.The parallel storytelling is intriguing. At first the divergent paths were confusing. As the narrative developed, the two trajectories became clearer.
In the Leshan storyline with Yu Jian, her hometown boyfriend, their relationship began innocent and sweet but grew painful to watch as they struggled with family problems. Though emotionally draining, it mirrors the challenges of typical married life, especially as Yu Jian shouldered the heavy responsibility of his own family. Guo often found herself torn between difficult decisions, needing to balance her needs and Yu Jian’s family. By the end of the story, Yu Jian reflected that if they had chosen to go to Shanghai together, they might have lived happily as a couple, but they would have lost the presence of family and friends, missing important moments, like Guo’s chance to speak with her mother before she passed away, something the “other Guo” deeply regretted. He acknowledged Guo’s choices and sacrifices, as well as the way they had supported each other through helpless moments over the years. And, he believed in their resilience and was confident they would continue to remain a happy couple. That was really touching.
In the Shanghai storyline, Guo pursued a more accomplished career and enjoyed a more luxurious lifestyle. Her focus shifted toward individuality and self-actualisation, which made her relationship with her boss feel easier to accept.
I cannot conclude which decision suits her best. When she encountered Yu Jian again in the Shanghai storyline, having moved on from their past relationship, it was striking to see how a single choice can alter the entire course of a life and shape one’s personality. Both versions of Guo appeared content with their respective paths.
Ultimately, the story conveys that dwelling on “what if” is futile. What matters most is staying true to the path you choose and moving forward without looking back. It’s a valuable take-away for anyone facing life’s difficult choices.
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Disappointing Despite the Hype
This drama came highly recommended by a friend who's a big fan of Cheng Yi. She mentioned it was an S+ production and that Cheng Yi’s dramas never go wrong. However, after a few episodes, I honestly began to question the standard of what’s considered S+ these days.My personal opinions from the episodes I picked up so far:
1. Production Quality. The overall production falls short of what I expect from a top-tier drama. The CGI looks unsophisticated and at times even distracting. The cinematography feels flat and lacks visual depth, making the scenes appear two-dimensional. Some of the fight scenes are so chaotic that they’re difficult to follow.
2. Costume Design. The costume design, particularly for the ML, is quite underwhelming. Some outfits are overly plain . There is a set in particular, a simple white and pink ensemble with a matching sash, appeared to lack any styling effort. While a few other costumes lean too heavily into a feminine aesthetic, which feels out of sync with the ML’s character and presence. Furthermore his hairstyle looks unkempt in some non-action scenes.
3. ML's Acting & Line Delivery. Given that this is a time-travel drama, I expected more comedic or confused reactions from the ML as he adjusts to an unfamiliar world. Unfortunately, his performance feels flat, lacking the emotional range or expression the situation demands. It was so flat that both his character and the overall tone of the scenes come across as dull and even exhausting to watch. Even more frustrating is his line delivery where his enunciation is so unclear that I often have to rely on subtitles and even rewind to catch the details I missed from reading the subtitles. This makes it impossible to watch at 1.5x speed or multitask, which is quite a drawback. Instead, I’m forced to focus entirely on the screen, which only draws more attention to the flaws in his delivery and acting.
4. Storyline & Logic. The plot has quite a few logical inconsistencies. For example, the ML’s mother shows a baffling level of bias towards him, despite his older brother being clearly more sensible and responsible. The time-travel aspect is also poorly executed that I feel it was added to tap on the AI hype. And no one seems to notice or question the ML’s odd behaviour, which feels lacking from a writing standpoint.
Final Thoughts:
Personally, this drama feels like a letdown, especially considering the S+ label and the high expectations surrounding Cheng Yi’s performance. Ironically, it’s the weight of these labels and glowing fan reviews that set the bar so high, only for the drama to fall short in several key areas.
Without all the surrounding hype, I feel it still a watchable show. My friend mentions the story picks up after episode 8, but honestly, I think I’ve seen enough. Perhaps this series will still appeal to devoted fans. For me, it just didn’t deliver.
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