qiqi

Leads are grating. In line with other viewers, I found the fiends more compelling than the humans, which is telling a lot since they're the antagonists. I approached this as a fantasy-heavy watch, but what I got was romance set against the backdrop of an impending apocalypse. I kept fast-forwarding every time the leads appeared. Dilraba gave it her all, and she does what she can with the material, but that’s not enough to save the character or the show. The root problem lies in a tepid plot and underdeveloped characters.

Action scenes never quite land; they start promising and fizzle out as the series wears on. The early sequences feel cool, but soon settle into mediocrity. Cinematography is the one consistently redeeming trait—beautiful to look at and probably what kept me watching until episode 7. The series had immense potential, yet it fails to meet expectations or justify its tonal shifts.

I hope future Chinese genre output signals a shift toward more compelling characterizations that deserve rooting for. If the lead’s idea of “freedom” is to run away, that approach feels superficial and unsatisfying. It’s a shame, because with stronger writing, this could have been a standout—but as is, it doesn’t meet the bar.

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