10
16
An Addictive Journey — Compelling Story and Gorgeous Visuals That Kept Me Watching
Between the gorgeous visuals and the intriguing story that kept pulling me in, I enjoyed this show! It’s not a perfect 10 but it was still a genuinely great watch. Not every fight scene was epic, but the thrilling ones were done so well that they stood out—though not quite enough to make up for the rather underwhelming final face-off.
Truly, I cannot sing high enough praises for Dilraba and Cheng Xin Yu—Dilraba was a full visual and dramatic event: her aesthetics, her styling, her acting… this might just be one of my favorite roles of hers. CXX held his own beautifully too, and together they were an absolutely eye-catching pair. Independent yet intertwined, each saving and supporting the other—it’s the kind of partnership that makes you root for them all the way through.
Watching them go from antagonistic, reluctant partners to an undeniably devoted couple was such a good journey. Their snarkiness toward each other was entertaining, and when the walls finally came down, their sweetness was genuinely heartwarming. That evolving dynamic made their relationship one of the biggest highlights of the show for me.
The side characters weren’t as deeply developed, but still managed to tug on my feelings when things happened to them. There were definitely missed opportunities, though—some characters were this close to becoming far more interesting had the show allowed them to go rogue or redeemed themselves with a bit more flair.
The pacing? Well… the middle portion could have been better and developed more thoroughly. Many viewers started wondering why the hunters were basically on an extended coffee break. At one point I commented that half the cast seemed to exist solely to fill space—decorative NPC energy. But despite the lag, the story itself was fascinating, and honestly I’m tempted to rewatch just to catch all the little clues and reveals I probably missed the first time.
A shoutout to the OST: I loved the closing-credit track—it was one of those songs that made me sit through the credits on purpose (which by the way, featured cut scenes from the episode). And the mostly instrumental background score was well done. It elevated the tension, softened the quieter moments, and made the emotional beats land harder. The music team absolutely understood the assignment.
The suspense and build-up were solid, the thrilling scenes delivered, and the villains were unsettling in all the right ways. Zhang Li’s Lin Yi Rou, in particular, was a standout—her controlled, calm intensity made her even scarier than the monstrous un-evolved Earth Fiends. Also, let’s be honest: Lin Yi Rou did it all while serving looks. Every outfit was immaculate, every appearance a fashion statement with menace. Sun Xi also deserves praise for portraying the humanoid Xiong Hei with such a striking blend of robotic detachment and surprising emotional nuance—his performance added an eerie, memorable layer to the villain roster.
Even though the show wrapped up well and tied off the major loose ends, the finale did carry a bit of a “let’s just get this over with” vibe—as if the writers were too tired to fully develop the late-game characters they introduced. Still, I’m satisfied overall, and I am so ready for any possible season 2.
Truly, I cannot sing high enough praises for Dilraba and Cheng Xin Yu—Dilraba was a full visual and dramatic event: her aesthetics, her styling, her acting… this might just be one of my favorite roles of hers. CXX held his own beautifully too, and together they were an absolutely eye-catching pair. Independent yet intertwined, each saving and supporting the other—it’s the kind of partnership that makes you root for them all the way through.
Watching them go from antagonistic, reluctant partners to an undeniably devoted couple was such a good journey. Their snarkiness toward each other was entertaining, and when the walls finally came down, their sweetness was genuinely heartwarming. That evolving dynamic made their relationship one of the biggest highlights of the show for me.
The side characters weren’t as deeply developed, but still managed to tug on my feelings when things happened to them. There were definitely missed opportunities, though—some characters were this close to becoming far more interesting had the show allowed them to go rogue or redeemed themselves with a bit more flair.
The pacing? Well… the middle portion could have been better and developed more thoroughly. Many viewers started wondering why the hunters were basically on an extended coffee break. At one point I commented that half the cast seemed to exist solely to fill space—decorative NPC energy. But despite the lag, the story itself was fascinating, and honestly I’m tempted to rewatch just to catch all the little clues and reveals I probably missed the first time.
A shoutout to the OST: I loved the closing-credit track—it was one of those songs that made me sit through the credits on purpose (which by the way, featured cut scenes from the episode). And the mostly instrumental background score was well done. It elevated the tension, softened the quieter moments, and made the emotional beats land harder. The music team absolutely understood the assignment.
The suspense and build-up were solid, the thrilling scenes delivered, and the villains were unsettling in all the right ways. Zhang Li’s Lin Yi Rou, in particular, was a standout—her controlled, calm intensity made her even scarier than the monstrous un-evolved Earth Fiends. Also, let’s be honest: Lin Yi Rou did it all while serving looks. Every outfit was immaculate, every appearance a fashion statement with menace. Sun Xi also deserves praise for portraying the humanoid Xiong Hei with such a striking blend of robotic detachment and surprising emotional nuance—his performance added an eerie, memorable layer to the villain roster.
Even though the show wrapped up well and tied off the major loose ends, the finale did carry a bit of a “let’s just get this over with” vibe—as if the writers were too tired to fully develop the late-game characters they introduced. Still, I’m satisfied overall, and I am so ready for any possible season 2.
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