This review may contain spoilers
A MASTERPIECE! I'm at awe!
Just finished it and all I have to say is one word: MASTERPIECE!
I literally haven't seen such a good drama in a really long time. Everything is extremely well thought of, the amount of attention to every little detail is INSANE! Zhang Bin Bin , Sun Zhen Ni and Wang Duo did an AMAZING job and so did the director, screenwriter and literally everyone else involved in this! I want to congratulate every single person who contributed into making this magnificent story come to life.
The cinematography is simply breathtaking, it's unreal, that's how beautiful the scenes are. And that's coming from someone who has been watching xianxia and wuxia dramas for quite a while (almost a decade now). My most favorite scene has to be Zhang Bin Bin as Zhao Ming standing at the sacrificial altar just seconds before climbing the ladder to slay the gods. Dark clouds are gathering in the sky. With his hair in a bun and the wind blowing the long strips of cloth hanging from his otherwise form fitting royal but almost general-like costume. Oh my God! He looks like the EPITOME of a god of war. I don't think I've seen a more majestic scene elsewhere! The camera faces his back and the scene feels so solemn and heroic. All in all the director has to get an award for this masterpiece! The actors and scriptwriters as well, they did beyond great!
I loved the main couple, be it MXL- XXC or Zhao Ming with Ah Zhu. I have to admit though that the MXL × XXC couple has a special place in my heart. I loved how the fl teased the ml and was sassy and straightforward even in all her schemes. XXC kept refusing her but ever since the very beginning he unconsciously started being drawn towards her. She was free and unrestrained - the exact opposite of himself. He was unconsciously yearning for the freedom that she represented and at the same time he fell deeply and inextricably in love with her. He gave his all for her, despite him being weighed down by his responsibilities towards the world.
The relationship between Ah Zhu and Si Ming is extremely compelling and profound. Interesting falls short to describe it. They have been together since the beginning of time. They are partners, always together, sharing a profound understanding of each other, unmatched in the whole world. They have always been inseparable. Or at least that's how it used to be... Until Ah Zhu fell from heaven. That's when it all changed. Or wasn't it? If we dig deeper into their story we can see they had long ago developed quite different personalities with almost opposite characteristics. Ah Zhu is seen showing curiosity towards the things that they, unlike the rest of the world, don't possess like a sense of smell or taste. Si Ming on the other hand doesn't share the same enthusiasm. He is despondent and seems to believe that everything is controlled by the rules set up from above, a belief which is strongly reinforced by him being the book of fate that sets the rules for cause and effect for everythingin the world. I am greatly intrigued by the dynamics of their relationship be it in the past or in the present.
I came to really like the 2nd ML's character. He is the perfect example of a grey character. He is not completely bad nor completely good. This is a very strong notion that permeates and sets the tone for the whole story and its development.
Also, the comment NYX/Si Ming made about them being in a painting inside the fan, is him effectively breaking the 4rth wall. He is basically saying their world is controlled by Hao Tian (their world being "the painting") but the place where Hao Tian is, is also controlled the same way (the heaven beyond the heaven, the place outside their world, the place where Hao Tian is, that is "the fan"). Thus he effectively describes the situation as one of us the audience would see it. The "fan" containing the "painting" is basically the drama being controlled by the scriptwriters and us watching it. Just a MASTERPIECE! This is probably the only story I've watched were had the writers wanted to add the leads reincarnating or waking up in the real world, it would actually work and make sense without ruining the story. To reinforce this " breaking the 4rth wall" sentiment it would've been perfect if they added a scene of the actors and the crew filming in the end. This could have been what NYX/ Si Ming had previously glimpsed when he saw the "truth" while fixing the heavens.
I especially have to mention how DIVINE the costumes are! I LOVE Zhao Ming's royal and majestic look, admittedly the makeup and the costume is my favourite along with the fallen immortal's dark, broody and seductive countenance. XXC's look is classic but still gorgeous. Zhang Bin Bin nails all his characters and brings them to life very vividly, all while making each one very distinct and distinguishable from the rest. Zhang Bin Bin looks are lethal, this man has the looks and acting skills to perfectly portray a seductive demon but can also pull off perfectly the cold unfeeling immortal, simply amazing. Then there is MXL with her beyond PERFECT costume styles! Oh my god I adore those ankle chains especially the one's with bells! All her dresses were super fashionable and exuded an air of seduction and sass which I loved and they really suited her characterMXL. Red is Sun Zhen Ni's colour, it suits her so much. I also loved her makeup especially as MXL and as the Chaos Pearl Supreme Goddesses. Sun Zhen Ni and Zhang Bin Bin are gorgeous in a kind of similar way. They both can easily pull off sassy, seductive and glamorous characters but they can just as easily pull off a more gentle or cold one. Reagrding Wang Duo all I have to say is WOW, firstly his acting is unreal, his portrayal was perfect. You could see his all struggles as well as his detachment. In one moment he seemed cruel, cold and unfeeling and the next, extremely profound, understanding and kind. All this makes sense when you find out he is (the book of) fate... sometimes brutal... and other times compassionate. Wang Duo is handsome and I particularly loved his makeup and costume as Si Ming. His NXY makeup and costume really suited him as well.
In conclusion, all I have to say is that THIS is THE drama of all dramas. The only xianxia that is as good or comes close to it is Ancient Love Poetry and Who Rules the World ( although I think this one is Wuxia). Although I don't usually rewatch, I'll definitely, for sure watch it again in the future! The three main leads are such a perfect combination and their portrayals are excellent. The characters and story have become very dear to me that I'm sad it's ended. I really wish to see these three in another drama together again in the future! The director, scriptwriter and main leads deserve all the awards for this masterpiece! Congratulations!!!
I literally haven't seen such a good drama in a really long time. Everything is extremely well thought of, the amount of attention to every little detail is INSANE! Zhang Bin Bin , Sun Zhen Ni and Wang Duo did an AMAZING job and so did the director, screenwriter and literally everyone else involved in this! I want to congratulate every single person who contributed into making this magnificent story come to life.
The cinematography is simply breathtaking, it's unreal, that's how beautiful the scenes are. And that's coming from someone who has been watching xianxia and wuxia dramas for quite a while (almost a decade now). My most favorite scene has to be Zhang Bin Bin as Zhao Ming standing at the sacrificial altar just seconds before climbing the ladder to slay the gods. Dark clouds are gathering in the sky. With his hair in a bun and the wind blowing the long strips of cloth hanging from his otherwise form fitting royal but almost general-like costume. Oh my God! He looks like the EPITOME of a god of war. I don't think I've seen a more majestic scene elsewhere! The camera faces his back and the scene feels so solemn and heroic. All in all the director has to get an award for this masterpiece! The actors and scriptwriters as well, they did beyond great!
I loved the main couple, be it MXL- XXC or Zhao Ming with Ah Zhu. I have to admit though that the MXL × XXC couple has a special place in my heart. I loved how the fl teased the ml and was sassy and straightforward even in all her schemes. XXC kept refusing her but ever since the very beginning he unconsciously started being drawn towards her. She was free and unrestrained - the exact opposite of himself. He was unconsciously yearning for the freedom that she represented and at the same time he fell deeply and inextricably in love with her. He gave his all for her, despite him being weighed down by his responsibilities towards the world.
The relationship between Ah Zhu and Si Ming is extremely compelling and profound. Interesting falls short to describe it. They have been together since the beginning of time. They are partners, always together, sharing a profound understanding of each other, unmatched in the whole world. They have always been inseparable. Or at least that's how it used to be... Until Ah Zhu fell from heaven. That's when it all changed. Or wasn't it? If we dig deeper into their story we can see they had long ago developed quite different personalities with almost opposite characteristics. Ah Zhu is seen showing curiosity towards the things that they, unlike the rest of the world, don't possess like a sense of smell or taste. Si Ming on the other hand doesn't share the same enthusiasm. He is despondent and seems to believe that everything is controlled by the rules set up from above, a belief which is strongly reinforced by him being the book of fate that sets the rules for cause and effect for everythingin the world. I am greatly intrigued by the dynamics of their relationship be it in the past or in the present.
I came to really like the 2nd ML's character. He is the perfect example of a grey character. He is not completely bad nor completely good. This is a very strong notion that permeates and sets the tone for the whole story and its development.
Also, the comment NYX/Si Ming made about them being in a painting inside the fan, is him effectively breaking the 4rth wall. He is basically saying their world is controlled by Hao Tian (their world being "the painting") but the place where Hao Tian is, is also controlled the same way (the heaven beyond the heaven, the place outside their world, the place where Hao Tian is, that is "the fan"). Thus he effectively describes the situation as one of us the audience would see it. The "fan" containing the "painting" is basically the drama being controlled by the scriptwriters and us watching it. Just a MASTERPIECE! This is probably the only story I've watched were had the writers wanted to add the leads reincarnating or waking up in the real world, it would actually work and make sense without ruining the story. To reinforce this " breaking the 4rth wall" sentiment it would've been perfect if they added a scene of the actors and the crew filming in the end. This could have been what NYX/ Si Ming had previously glimpsed when he saw the "truth" while fixing the heavens.
I especially have to mention how DIVINE the costumes are! I LOVE Zhao Ming's royal and majestic look, admittedly the makeup and the costume is my favourite along with the fallen immortal's dark, broody and seductive countenance. XXC's look is classic but still gorgeous. Zhang Bin Bin nails all his characters and brings them to life very vividly, all while making each one very distinct and distinguishable from the rest. Zhang Bin Bin looks are lethal, this man has the looks and acting skills to perfectly portray a seductive demon but can also pull off perfectly the cold unfeeling immortal, simply amazing. Then there is MXL with her beyond PERFECT costume styles! Oh my god I adore those ankle chains especially the one's with bells! All her dresses were super fashionable and exuded an air of seduction and sass which I loved and they really suited her characterMXL. Red is Sun Zhen Ni's colour, it suits her so much. I also loved her makeup especially as MXL and as the Chaos Pearl Supreme Goddesses. Sun Zhen Ni and Zhang Bin Bin are gorgeous in a kind of similar way. They both can easily pull off sassy, seductive and glamorous characters but they can just as easily pull off a more gentle or cold one. Reagrding Wang Duo all I have to say is WOW, firstly his acting is unreal, his portrayal was perfect. You could see his all struggles as well as his detachment. In one moment he seemed cruel, cold and unfeeling and the next, extremely profound, understanding and kind. All this makes sense when you find out he is (the book of) fate... sometimes brutal... and other times compassionate. Wang Duo is handsome and I particularly loved his makeup and costume as Si Ming. His NXY makeup and costume really suited him as well.
In conclusion, all I have to say is that THIS is THE drama of all dramas. The only xianxia that is as good or comes close to it is Ancient Love Poetry and Who Rules the World ( although I think this one is Wuxia). Although I don't usually rewatch, I'll definitely, for sure watch it again in the future! The three main leads are such a perfect combination and their portrayals are excellent. The characters and story have become very dear to me that I'm sad it's ended. I really wish to see these three in another drama together again in the future! The director, scriptwriter and main leads deserve all the awards for this masterpiece! Congratulations!!!
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