This review may contain spoilers
Simple but beautiful
Fangs of Fortune is a visually stunning drama with an outstanding cast and breathtaking color grading. I’m eager to rewatch it and analyze whether specific colors carry hidden meanings.
At its core, this drama follows a simple storyline: a good guy chasing down a bad guy. However, it’s so immersive that you quickly forget the simplicity of the plot. Instead, it feels like embarking on a journey with the characters. We meet a diverse group of individuals, each with different backgrounds, strengths, weaknesses, and personal demons they battled. This dynamic makes the drama captivating—if you love character-driven stories, you'll be drawn in instantly. As the characters progress, we learn more about one another, making you cheer for them along the way. The male lead, a great demon, finds ways to help those who have walked down the wrong path, and together, they overcome one obstacle after another to defeat the bad guy.
What I Loved:
The Cast
I follow many of these actors and actresses, and they portrayed their roles very well!! For once, Neo was exceptional—I’d love to see him take on more roles like this! Cheng Xiao, who always shines in variety shows, looked like she truly enjoyed herself behind the scenes. While I love her cool and composed roles, I do hope she gets a different type of character next time for more variety. As for Chen Du Ling, I watched an interview with her and felt she deserves more opportunities—she seems like such a fun person! Her teasing and playful energy were perfectly showcased in this drama.
The OST (Original Soundtrack)
I can’t praise the OST enough. Each song felt like a story, told from a perspective that belonged to that character. I shed so many tears whenever specific songs played. Initially, I struggled with the frequent song transitions, but by the end, I found several tracks that I couldn’t stop replaying.
The Editing, Colors, and Cinematic Beauty
One scene that lingers in my mind is Ying Lei’s sacrifice to save Bai Jiu. As Bai Jiu sits in sorrow with flashbacks to the past, he sees Ying Lei’s shadow and follows him. Then comes the dramatic song and the stunning golden-yellow color palette—I was completely drawn. The lyrics struck me deeply:
"You’re in front of me, blocking the pain,
Who cries with swollen eyes, with a broken heart,
Walking, stopping, chasing your voice,
I’ll turn into raindrops, an ancient song,
Running towards you, looking for you… find you."
This drama was so visually mesmerizing that I couldn’t help but admire every bit of detail. I’ll definitely be following this director’s work in the future!
The Side Characters
Seeing Ai Mi and Zuo Ye again brought me to tears! I know this isn’t a direct continuation of Journey, but it certainly felt like it. Ryan Cheng’s minor role was a wonderful surprise, and it was fun to see the Gong brothers back in action!
What I Didn't Love:
The ending felt unnecessarily dragged out, a pace I didn’t not expect. I also disliked how Ying Lei wasn’t acknowledged as part of the main group. When they mentioned "the five"—Zhou Yuan Zhou, Wen Xiao, Zhuo Yi Chen, Pei Si Jing, and Bai Jiu—I was heartbroken that they didn’t say "six." Ying Lei always felt like an integral part of the team.
Final Thoughts:
I highly recommend Fangs of Fortune if you’re looking for a visually captivating drama with alluring aesthetics and a simple yet emotionally engaging story. Just be sure to have plenty of tissues ready!
At its core, this drama follows a simple storyline: a good guy chasing down a bad guy. However, it’s so immersive that you quickly forget the simplicity of the plot. Instead, it feels like embarking on a journey with the characters. We meet a diverse group of individuals, each with different backgrounds, strengths, weaknesses, and personal demons they battled. This dynamic makes the drama captivating—if you love character-driven stories, you'll be drawn in instantly. As the characters progress, we learn more about one another, making you cheer for them along the way. The male lead, a great demon, finds ways to help those who have walked down the wrong path, and together, they overcome one obstacle after another to defeat the bad guy.
What I Loved:
The Cast
I follow many of these actors and actresses, and they portrayed their roles very well!! For once, Neo was exceptional—I’d love to see him take on more roles like this! Cheng Xiao, who always shines in variety shows, looked like she truly enjoyed herself behind the scenes. While I love her cool and composed roles, I do hope she gets a different type of character next time for more variety. As for Chen Du Ling, I watched an interview with her and felt she deserves more opportunities—she seems like such a fun person! Her teasing and playful energy were perfectly showcased in this drama.
The OST (Original Soundtrack)
I can’t praise the OST enough. Each song felt like a story, told from a perspective that belonged to that character. I shed so many tears whenever specific songs played. Initially, I struggled with the frequent song transitions, but by the end, I found several tracks that I couldn’t stop replaying.
The Editing, Colors, and Cinematic Beauty
One scene that lingers in my mind is Ying Lei’s sacrifice to save Bai Jiu. As Bai Jiu sits in sorrow with flashbacks to the past, he sees Ying Lei’s shadow and follows him. Then comes the dramatic song and the stunning golden-yellow color palette—I was completely drawn. The lyrics struck me deeply:
"You’re in front of me, blocking the pain,
Who cries with swollen eyes, with a broken heart,
Walking, stopping, chasing your voice,
I’ll turn into raindrops, an ancient song,
Running towards you, looking for you… find you."
This drama was so visually mesmerizing that I couldn’t help but admire every bit of detail. I’ll definitely be following this director’s work in the future!
The Side Characters
Seeing Ai Mi and Zuo Ye again brought me to tears! I know this isn’t a direct continuation of Journey, but it certainly felt like it. Ryan Cheng’s minor role was a wonderful surprise, and it was fun to see the Gong brothers back in action!
What I Didn't Love:
The ending felt unnecessarily dragged out, a pace I didn’t not expect. I also disliked how Ying Lei wasn’t acknowledged as part of the main group. When they mentioned "the five"—Zhou Yuan Zhou, Wen Xiao, Zhuo Yi Chen, Pei Si Jing, and Bai Jiu—I was heartbroken that they didn’t say "six." Ying Lei always felt like an integral part of the team.
Final Thoughts:
I highly recommend Fangs of Fortune if you’re looking for a visually captivating drama with alluring aesthetics and a simple yet emotionally engaging story. Just be sure to have plenty of tissues ready!
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