I just finished the first 4 episodes and this is the first time I have to keep hitting the backward button instead of the forward button because I need to go back to some of the dialogues to make sure I didn't miss anything. So far so good - I love that there were quite a few plot twists that I didn't see coming...Cheng Yi is doing an excellent job with his acting and I am seeing a completely different him - I feel like I need to rewatch all the episodes again to make sure I am not missing anything because there are so many characters and I am trying to follow along and memorize everyone names.
I didn't expect the rating would be this low. last time I checked, it was 7.9. ðŸ˜
I don't think this drama deserve such low rating - I have seen much worst drama with higher rating than a 7.6. Everything is good about this drama other than the middle portion.
I don't think it's fair to blame all the actors. All actors are talented, but they may not be as talented in choosing…
Agree with the above and a few problems I want to note as well:
- For a lot of massive production, they are only willing to use 'top' actors because whether the drama flopped or not, at least there are noise. As a result, there are a lot of talented actors, having no opportunity because they are not famous enough to bring in the attention or money
- Production company tends to try to promote their 'own' artists to help them grow their popularity as a result, they will add a bunch of unnecessary/uninteresting sub plots to give them more screentime (This works sometimes if the writing is good or the character is interesting but most of the time, audience just want to fast forward those scenes since it doesn't impact the main story or worst ruin the main story)
- Fan is always fighting for first billing and calling it 'a female centric' or 'a male centric' drama (what happened to the old days when we only care about the pairings instead now 'top' actors have to be first billing and everyone else is either second billing, special guest, special performance, guest star etc. ) It is almost impossible to see two top notch actors filing together now a days.
Li Yitong is one of the best actors of the 90s gen so you're seriously missing out if you cut off all of her dramas.…
There is one reason why before this drama aired that I looked forward to it so much is both Cheng Yi and Li YiTong is brilliant in acting out crying/sad scenes. Cheng Yi from Love and Redemption and Li YiTong from Bloody Romance from their earlier works which is why I feel this drama did them injustice. I admit that LYT's character went way off in the middle of the drama but her last scene with Cheng Yi was top notch performance from her.
As for Wang Hongyi, I admit that I watched a lot of his drama in the past and he is not bad, I felt that he is still new to acting and a lot of time he tried too hard in certain scenes that make it very forced, his face and acting is more suitable to cuter role. I usually am very tolerating of new and young actor/actress - the only one that I usually blacklist is those that are not trying or just riding on popularity to get their fame and fortune. Those usually won't last too long...
I keep coming back to this drama even though I finished this drama awhile back...mainly since I keep listening to the ost and recalling the first few episodes.... It just keep nagging at me that this drama has so much potential in the beginning for both main leads and I can't stop help to think about what if...
For example, I started to imagine my own plot/storyline to develop both main leads at this point lol
For QT, (she don't have a brother - completely ignoring the existence of this QC character) after she separated from FG, she was patiently waiting for his return in the forest but some YiQi alliance ppl saw her and remembered her as a demon so they attacked her, she got captured and was imprisoned with other demon captives. Apparently, there was a dark side to YiQi alliance that HongYi was not aware of - with some of its sect member captured demons to absorb their power. QT using her wit and the skills that FG taught her, managed to escape helping other captives as well. QT really wanted to go back to YiQi alliance to wait for FG but she was on the run with other demons. Throughout this journey, her hope/faith and kindness to the other demons made her into a sort of leader in this group and she became stronger as a person. QT finally killed the evil sect leader of YiQi alliance that did these horrible things to demons, but YiQi covered this up and accused her of killing on behalf of revenge for FG.
On the other hand, FG finished helping YF with the water pearl and RuMu received news from YiQi alliance that QT killed one of their members. FG learning this, realized that QT was in trouble, so he broke the binding spell and went to look for QT. RuMu remained behind to be with his dragon lady (oh his dad is killed at this point by lightening - probably from the wrath of dragon ancestors) and YF have his happy ever after with his general lady. Both couples story ended here. FG found QT and believed her. He helped her revealed the evilness of YiQi alliance and left it to HongYi to deal with the mess afterward. They started traveling together, going from city to village across mountain and over oceans as they promised each other. Along the way, they encountered various stories, from tragic to enlighten, opening up their different experience in this world. During this time, they fell in love, QT is no longer weak or obedient as a lower being to FG, she became equal to him (not equal in terms of sword or power but as a person). In the beginning, she viewed him as a savior, as some high up and mighty being that she admired and respected in which she only hoped to stay by his side but now she can stand her own ground and wanted to share her life with him as lover. For FG, QT is no longer the weak spider that needed him to save but have developed her own strength and will power. In the beginning, QT is special to FG and he likes her - her attention to him, her eyes that see through him and how she brought beauty/warmth into his cold life but now he realized that he wanted more, with every place they traveled together his feeling for her grows stronger and stronger.
However, as they encountered more and more of this chaotic world with unfair treatment of demons, they decided to create a sanctuary for these demons and humans to live in harmony.
Here we will go back to the drama with HongYi dying and inviting both FG and QT to see him and then both FG and QT decided to walk the path of destroying the evil fox. They will both visit the sorrow tree origin and using their love for each other to purify that tree seed and then there will be the epic battle with the evil fox with RM and YF coming along as well using all four items to finally destroying the evil fox. FG and QT will go back to their sanctuary and continued to work toward their goal of a world with demon and human in harmony. The End.
For those that prefer the drama ending, this love story line development will still make sense to have before ep 30 to make the story flow better.
Overall, this is my version of their love story but the writer decided not to write it so I need to use my imagination to help the main leads to fall in love lol
There are a multitude of dramas and series being produced these days. In principle, having a wide variety of content…
Yes, I use to love watching all these costume dramas in China with different storyline and interesting characters but recent years I find myself harder and harder to find something engaging to watch because the plot is too similar and the quality is weak. For example, there were a stage a few years back that almost all xianxia drama have this pale color tone for all the costumes and then lately all the costume drama is in various color along with huge makeup and jewelry/hair piece all over the place. It is very pretty at first but it became the same similar costumes in multiple dramas making nothing stands out. Plot wise as well, like once something gets a bit popular, a bunch of the same genre is filmed after, revenge, to wuxia, to female general to rebirth - not to say that some drama is much better but to me, none of these 30+/40 episodes dramas need to be so long with so much unnecessary characters and plots that can be a separate side story with no impact to the main plot.
As for the Fox Spirit Matchmaker series, for the one with Yang Mi, I was trying sooooo hard to force myself to watch it because the visual is soooo beautiful, but I have to drop because the plot become sooooo not interesting, for LIP, I really enjoy this one but mainly for the male lead and all the impressive casts/guests appearance, as for SAB, it was really for both main actor/actress but the writing of the FL is so bad that it spoiled a majority of my enjoyment of this drama. They can really end this story within 25 episodes, removing all the draggy plot and unnecessary characters, and it will be a more epic drama.
Nowadays, it is hard to invest your time in drama that is 30+/40 episodes long especially since you know they will add fuller episodes and unnecessary plots/characters to drag things out.
I rewatched the last three episodes a few times and I felt the ending is epic in its own way... with a few details I observed listed below ***spoiler ahead***
1- The last fox that was supposed to take over FG was unsuccessful; however, it was mentioned earlier on that this last fox have a tail missing and only this fox is 'reserved' for FG... and in episode 34, it was revealed that this fox's tail was the planted seed in FG caused by opening up his emotional hatred from RM's death.
2- FG hair was white the whole time because he wanted to keep the power of the dragon within him. Remember after everything that happened since his exile, his power and energy is pretty low, it wasn't until RM's father hitting him with the dragon power and he absorbed it that FG became powerful again. He needed to keep that power (white hair) to continue what he needed to get done. In addition to that, he also needed to absorb demon power; hence, his order to capture all the evil demons to absorb their power.
3- The color of the umbrella whenever FG used it was golden, the same color of his sword essence and the main color of his power - which represents his life force being drained out of him every time he used the umbrella :(
4- The smile on FG face when he landed at the gate of the circle was like seeing light at the end of the tunnel because he finally made it. Since the evil fox tailed was planted in him, he had been constantly fighting it, having the life drain out of him in pain so that he can stay focus while having to build up his power along with making sure he is keeping his act up to deceive the evil fox, he must be sooooooo tired from everything by then and that smile indicated he is happy that he finally reach this point - to end things one and for all. The smile he had on at the end was never a victory smile but more of the fact that I done what I have to do and now I can end my existence in peace.
5- All the steps to destroy the evil fox was pretty well structured: Step 1: Gain her trust and fulfill the prophecy by breaking the circle Step 2: Overcome the evil fox typical manipulation - fighting with your love one (your dad), fighting against yourself, tempting you with power, etc (from LIP we know how maniputive the evil fox can be) Step 3: Using the four objects: Tree seed to trap her so that she can't move, Water pearl to purify all the hatred (lower her power source) and finally merged the sword with his flame (life) to attack with the force of millions of sword ...and then good bye to the evil fox.
6- FG sacrificed himself, planted a tree and break the circle to create a world of harmony which in some way mirror the tree that happened in the earlier episode in the flower village where the black swordman sacrificed himself but for that sacrifice it was only for a portion of the world and a circle/barrier was created to preserve a small portion of harmony. FG taking that belief and expanding it to a much larger scale.
Overall, I personally felt the ending was pretty good even though it was a SE. If you are watching this for FG/CY or the finale to LIP, I think the ending is done nicely to wrap things up.
It's been brought up that Fugui's lack of reaction to QT's death is questionable, which I would like to bring…
Very good point - when FG is extracting the water pearl from YF, he is under the umbrella... probably making sure he is conscience enough not to hurt the poor dog/fox when withdrawing it... (but that scene is very hot lol and YF is sooo loyal )
Overall, it is not a bad production, probably need to have some expectation going in...
If you are watching this as a continuation of LIP, then the last few episodes (31 onward) provide a sense of closure for all the sacrifices in LIP and a good wrap up to defeating the evil fox.
If you are watching for CY or FG, he has many great scenes and a very good character, but lower your expectation around all the 20+ episodes and simply enjoy his good look in the desert.
If you are looking for romance, finish the show at episode 13 with a HE/OE for the two main characters.
I wouldn’t call this a tragic love story… bc WQFG didn’t love her at all. He cried for RuMu and his father…
I do agree with you on some level about FG 'love' or 'affection' for QT but maybe I am trying to find rationale for him but I felt to a certain level, he does love her but not in a very expressive or a tremendous way like his brother for the dragon or the dog for the general. For example, I do believe he wants to travel the world with her before his exile. Even afterward, when he knows his life force is draining, he wants to go back to the main city to look for QT and afterward, he did want to stay with her to create a sanctuary. It wasn't until his last reunion with his father, that he took over the responsibility for defeating the evil fox as his final conviction. As for no crying for her, I actually really like their last scene at the pavilion because they both know and understand each other the best during that scene... QT did a really job here because she knows what he doing and she is all prepared for it...especially when she told him not to turn around (I think she tried not to cry in front of him or weaken him to ruin his plan). Yes, I also want more emotion from FG to demonstrate his love but I can also feel himself holding back. Unlike his father and his brother, he cried because those were unprepared and prior to the fate of the world on his shoulder, whereas I believe FG and QT know each other so well that they know they are heading toward the same ending but it is just the matter of who goes first...
on ep 4. ML is strong because his mom gave him all him her power? or whose power does he have that make him so…
The ML's sword power comes from his father side and his inner flame power comes from his mother side. Soldier is a direct translation but in the story, it means his position as a soldier to be call on duty to kill Yao once assigned.
when FG turned (pretend) to be all bad, I was hoping he really does thing to the extreme for the ultimate goal...I actually thought it was impressive how he "kill" QT because his goal to save the world is more important than any personal love...and that aligns with how he is brought up - his father's way for teaching him to sacrifice personal love and feeling for the greater good. I kind of understand his father training him (although it is really FG full acceptance of becoming a sword) that ultimately defeated the evil fox. It was also a very nice touch to have flashbacks of all those ppl who died in the past with the same goals and FG finally reach it.
I have been a silent reader here and typically stay in the background but I have to say that this drama have sooooooooo much potential. It is so hard to finish any of the latest episodes because of how they ruin this story post FG's exile. I don't mind the new characters because they are fun to watch at the beginning, but their story became draggy and there was absolutely no development to FG. In the beginning, I thought the purpose to FG's exile is for him to have a chance to experience life whether it is sorrow, grief, happiness or joy... and see the different side of human and yao through different side stories and characters. Then eventually he solidifies his understanding and his faith and belief in an equal society but no...the writer messed up the story telling big time and expect the audience pick up around 30/31 now to create a city of sanctuary??? As for QT, I don't even want to comment on her arc of the story that messed up even bigger. I expect her to become strong but not with the whole mess with her brother and now I can't even feel any emotion/love from her eyes when she looked at FG anymore...she became indifferent, it is awkward to watch. I was sooooooooo looking forward to these two main characters because they gave us so much hope in the first 10+ episodes (and they look soooooo good together) but they really ruin the story in the later part of the story. Now that we are toward the ending, I am not even sure what I hope to happen in the end anymore... probably whatever FG wants because ultimately I want him to be happy.
In ep 32 in the letters found at LLH's senior's place it is explained what happened to the Nanyin princess. But…
It's been a while since I rewatch that scene but per my understanding, Nanyi princess married the Crown Prince and have this whole plan to re-establish her people's dynasty/country (forgot what was the plan but it has to do with that parasite). Somehow the Crown Prince was framed with evidence that he is plotting to overthrow or kill the emperor and, as a result, the emperor sentenced him and his wife (the Nanyin princess) to death. The princess seeing no way out, asked her trusted servant to help rescue her son (which he didn't because he was having an affair with one of the king's consort and ended up trapped in a tower) and entrusted her wealth and the ice keys to four royal families? (who ended up just taking it and living out their secluded life in wealth).
- For a lot of massive production, they are only willing to use 'top' actors because whether the drama flopped or not, at least there are noise. As a result, there are a lot of talented actors, having no opportunity because they are not famous enough to bring in the attention or money
- Production company tends to try to promote their 'own' artists to help them grow their popularity as a result, they will add a bunch of unnecessary/uninteresting sub plots to give them more screentime (This works sometimes if the writing is good or the character is interesting but most of the time, audience just want to fast forward those scenes since it doesn't impact the main story or worst ruin the main story)
- Fan is always fighting for first billing and calling it 'a female centric' or 'a male centric' drama (what happened to the old days when we only care about the pairings instead now 'top' actors have to be first billing and everyone else is either second billing, special guest, special performance, guest star etc. ) It is almost impossible to see two top notch actors filing together now a days.
As for Wang Hongyi, I admit that I watched a lot of his drama in the past and he is not bad, I felt that he is still new to acting and a lot of time he tried too hard in certain scenes that make it very forced, his face and acting is more suitable to cuter role. I usually am very tolerating of new and young actor/actress - the only one that I usually blacklist is those that are not trying or just riding on popularity to get their fame and fortune. Those usually won't last too long...
For example, I started to imagine my own plot/storyline to develop both main leads at this point lol
For QT, (she don't have a brother - completely ignoring the existence of this QC character) after she separated from FG, she was patiently waiting for his return in the forest but some YiQi alliance ppl saw her and remembered her as a demon so they attacked her, she got captured and was imprisoned with other demon captives. Apparently, there was a dark side to YiQi alliance that HongYi was not aware of - with some of its sect member captured demons to absorb their power. QT using her wit and the skills that FG taught her, managed to escape helping other captives as well. QT really wanted to go back to YiQi alliance to wait for FG but she was on the run with other demons. Throughout this journey, her hope/faith and kindness to the other demons made her into a sort of leader in this group and she became stronger as a person. QT finally killed the evil sect leader of YiQi alliance that did these horrible things to demons, but YiQi covered this up and accused her of killing on behalf of revenge for FG.
On the other hand, FG finished helping YF with the water pearl and RuMu received news from YiQi alliance that QT killed one of their members. FG learning this, realized that QT was in trouble, so he broke the binding spell and went to look for QT. RuMu remained behind to be with his dragon lady (oh his dad is killed at this point by lightening - probably from the wrath of dragon ancestors) and YF have his happy ever after with his general lady. Both couples story ended here. FG found QT and believed her. He helped her revealed the evilness of YiQi alliance and left it to HongYi to deal with the mess afterward. They started traveling together, going from city to village across mountain and over oceans as they promised each other. Along the way, they encountered various stories, from tragic to enlighten, opening up their different experience in this world. During this time, they fell in love, QT is no longer weak or obedient as a lower being to FG, she became equal to him (not equal in terms of sword or power but as a person). In the beginning, she viewed him as a savior, as some high up and mighty being that she admired and respected in which she only hoped to stay by his side but now she can stand her own ground and wanted to share her life with him as lover. For FG, QT is no longer the weak spider that needed him to save but have developed her own strength and will power. In the beginning, QT is special to FG and he likes her - her attention to him, her eyes that see through him and how she brought beauty/warmth into his cold life but now he realized that he wanted more, with every place they traveled together his feeling for her grows stronger and stronger.
However, as they encountered more and more of this chaotic world with unfair treatment of demons, they decided to create a sanctuary for these demons and humans to live in harmony.
Here we will go back to the drama with HongYi dying and inviting both FG and QT to see him and then both FG and QT decided to walk the path of destroying the evil fox. They will both visit the sorrow tree origin and using their love for each other to purify that tree seed and then there will be the epic battle with the evil fox with RM and YF coming along as well using all four items to finally destroying the evil fox. FG and QT will go back to their sanctuary and continued to work toward their goal of a world with demon and human in harmony. The End.
For those that prefer the drama ending, this love story line development will still make sense to have before ep 30 to make the story flow better.
Overall, this is my version of their love story but the writer decided not to write it so I need to use my imagination to help the main leads to fall in love lol
As for the Fox Spirit Matchmaker series, for the one with Yang Mi, I was trying sooooo hard to force myself to watch it because the visual is soooo beautiful, but I have to drop because the plot become sooooo not interesting, for LIP, I really enjoy this one but mainly for the male lead and all the impressive casts/guests appearance, as for SAB, it was really for both main actor/actress but the writing of the FL is so bad that it spoiled a majority of my enjoyment of this drama. They can really end this story within 25 episodes, removing all the draggy plot and unnecessary characters, and it will be a more epic drama.
Nowadays, it is hard to invest your time in drama that is 30+/40 episodes long especially since you know they will add fuller episodes and unnecessary plots/characters to drag things out.
1- The last fox that was supposed to take over FG was unsuccessful; however, it was mentioned earlier on that this last fox have a tail missing and only this fox is 'reserved' for FG... and in episode 34, it was revealed that this fox's tail was the planted seed in FG caused by opening up his emotional hatred from RM's death.
2- FG hair was white the whole time because he wanted to keep the power of the dragon within him. Remember after everything that happened since his exile, his power and energy is pretty low, it wasn't until RM's father hitting him with the dragon power and he absorbed it that FG became powerful again. He needed to keep that power (white hair) to continue what he needed to get done. In addition to that, he also needed to absorb demon power; hence, his order to capture all the evil demons to absorb their power.
3- The color of the umbrella whenever FG used it was golden, the same color of his sword essence and the main color of his power - which represents his life force being drained out of him every time he used the umbrella :(
4- The smile on FG face when he landed at the gate of the circle was like seeing light at the end of the tunnel because he finally made it. Since the evil fox tailed was planted in him, he had been constantly fighting it, having the life drain out of him in pain so that he can stay focus while having to build up his power along with making sure he is keeping his act up to deceive the evil fox, he must be sooooooo tired from everything by then and that smile indicated he is happy that he finally reach this point - to end things one and for all. The smile he had on at the end was never a victory smile but more of the fact that I done what I have to do and now I can end my existence in peace.
5- All the steps to destroy the evil fox was pretty well structured:
Step 1: Gain her trust and fulfill the prophecy by breaking the circle
Step 2: Overcome the evil fox typical manipulation - fighting with your love one (your dad), fighting against yourself, tempting you with power, etc (from LIP we know how maniputive the evil fox can be)
Step 3: Using the four objects: Tree seed to trap her so that she can't move, Water pearl to purify all the hatred (lower her power source) and finally merged the sword with his flame (life) to attack with the force of millions of sword
...and then good bye to the evil fox.
6- FG sacrificed himself, planted a tree and break the circle to create a world of harmony which in some way mirror the tree that happened in the earlier episode in the flower village where the black swordman sacrificed himself but for that sacrifice it was only for a portion of the world and a circle/barrier was created to preserve a small portion of harmony. FG taking that belief and expanding it to a much larger scale.
Overall, I personally felt the ending was pretty good even though it was a SE. If you are watching this for FG/CY or the finale to LIP, I think the ending is done nicely to wrap things up.
If you are watching this as a continuation of LIP, then the last few episodes (31 onward) provide a sense of closure for all the sacrifices in LIP and a good wrap up to defeating the evil fox.
If you are watching for CY or FG, he has many great scenes and a very good character, but lower your expectation around all the 20+ episodes and simply enjoy his good look in the desert.
If you are looking for romance, finish the show at episode 13 with a HE/OE for the two main characters.
I was sooooooooo looking forward to these two main characters because they gave us so much hope in the first 10+ episodes (and they look soooooo good together) but they really ruin the story in the later part of the story. Now that we are toward the ending, I am not even sure what I hope to happen in the end anymore... probably whatever FG wants because ultimately I want him to be happy.