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This review may contain spoilers
Some parts were good, some were great; others were just average, and a few were bad.
**Pros:** The fight choreography is outstanding, and the original soundtrack is impressive. The acting is excellent, and the casting choices are generally strong, with one exception— a particular female character that stands out. The wire work is well executed, and most key events are respected. The emotions portrayed by the actors feel realistic, and casting older actors is a plus. The makeup is good; however, many aspects, like skin color and face shape, were altered digitally to achieve a younger appearance.
**Cons:** The CGI is severely lacking, appearing outdated and cartoonish, while the transitions are jarring, making the story feel disjointed. The “romance” tag leads to major misunderstandings among viewers. There are far too many aerial shots of hills, rocks, and deserts—I got tired of seeing her cultivating on her rock! Additionally, the sects seem sparse, with only a few disciples present, which gives a cheap impression regarding the extras. Han Li's transition from being ineffective to becoming a top martial artist is poorly explained. The storyline involving Iron Man is overlooked in favor of redundant scenes with Miss Mo (she is mortal, while he is immortal). Too many scenes are cut, causing abrupt jumps from one event to the next. Some actresses receive more screen time at the expense of the storyline. The costumes are generally average, and the hairstyles all seem similar, making them a bit boring.
Currently, my rating is an 8.5.
In summary, the issues primarily arise from the CGI, excessive cuts, repetitive imagery of hills, rocks, and deserts, as well as the aerial views. However, the strong casting, fight choreography, and soundtrack make the experience worthwhile.
I read the novel a while ago and am currently re-reading it. I'm a big fan of the ongoing donghua, both of which I would rate 10/10.
I make a distinction between the three formats; the audience and material are completely different. This drama started off extremely well, and I enjoyed the first four episodes a lot. I approached it with an open mind because I am not a fan of Yang Yang. However, he redeemed himself with this character. On the other hand, I did not like Gina Jin. I wasn't fond of her in "Joy of Life" and still feel the same here. In my opinion, she was poorly cast. Additionally, why hire a popular actress for a role with so few lines? Labeling the drama as "romance" is misleading for the audience who has not read the novel or watched the donghua, which is the majority.
I came across some gossip online suggesting that two out of the three main actresses may not be recast. Rumors indicate that one of them had an argument with Yang Yang on set and is completely uninterested in promoting the drama. I can understand her dissatisfaction if they significantly reduced her screen timeHowever, if she had researched her role more thoroughly, she would know that her character in the novel has a minimal part, much like all the other female characters.
I was pleased to watch two actors, Edward Zhang and Chin Shih Chieh. I also discovered Zhao Ming, who is not entirely new to the industry, but she made a strong impression on viewers in this drama. . While she may not be classically beautiful and has more of a "girl-next-door" appeal, she has a memorable quality about her. She has the potential to become the next Zhao Lusi, especially with good support from her agency.
Originally planned for 40 episodes, it was reduced to 36 and then to 30. Furthermore, they cut each episode from one hour to 40 minutes, resulting in a total of 20 hours instead of 40. How can you deliver quality when the original script includes important scenes and dialogues? It's like giving someone bread without butter or a meal without salt—it feels bland. The drama has been cut twice.
It possessed the possibility to be a great drama if the special effects (CGI) had matched the quality of the donghua. Unfortunately, the creatures look like something from the '80s or '90s.
By episode 25, I have a feeling that the drama will end with an open ending, with Han Li using the transportation array to explore a new realm. Given that the title of the drama is “The Immortal Ascension,” it’s possible that we might only get one season. This corresponds to mid-volume 3, which leaves room for a potential season 2 or 3, and I believe Youku will pursue it since it was number one for a few days and is quite popular. It all comes down to money.
My recommendation is to give it a try. At best, you will enjoy it; at worst, you might decide to read the novel or watch the donghua.
**
Here are my thoughts since the last episodes aired. I fast-forwarded through the unnecessary reunion with Boom Boom Girl; it felt like they gave her screen time just to fulfill her contract, which was completely unnecessary. She appeared sporadically throughout the drama without any real purpose, mostly to be annoying. The only significant event involving her was when both characters took an aphrodisiac and lost their virginity. They met twice, she stole his life force Qi two times, and she showed no remorse. Instead, she lied and acted like a coward, only fearing that people might find out what she had done. I could have done without the final scene featuring her, as she was never a lovable character..
However, the second part of the last episode was well done, except for Iron Man, who seemed to appear and disappear without explanation. The generic announcement states that this is the end of Season 1, so I expect that Seasons 2 and 3 will follow. In the meantime, I'm rereading the novel and continuing to watch the donghua.
**Cons:** The CGI is severely lacking, appearing outdated and cartoonish, while the transitions are jarring, making the story feel disjointed. The “romance” tag leads to major misunderstandings among viewers. There are far too many aerial shots of hills, rocks, and deserts—I got tired of seeing her cultivating on her rock! Additionally, the sects seem sparse, with only a few disciples present, which gives a cheap impression regarding the extras. Han Li's transition from being ineffective to becoming a top martial artist is poorly explained. The storyline involving Iron Man is overlooked in favor of redundant scenes with Miss Mo (she is mortal, while he is immortal). Too many scenes are cut, causing abrupt jumps from one event to the next. Some actresses receive more screen time at the expense of the storyline. The costumes are generally average, and the hairstyles all seem similar, making them a bit boring.
Currently, my rating is an 8.5.
In summary, the issues primarily arise from the CGI, excessive cuts, repetitive imagery of hills, rocks, and deserts, as well as the aerial views. However, the strong casting, fight choreography, and soundtrack make the experience worthwhile.
I read the novel a while ago and am currently re-reading it. I'm a big fan of the ongoing donghua, both of which I would rate 10/10.
I make a distinction between the three formats; the audience and material are completely different. This drama started off extremely well, and I enjoyed the first four episodes a lot. I approached it with an open mind because I am not a fan of Yang Yang. However, he redeemed himself with this character. On the other hand, I did not like Gina Jin. I wasn't fond of her in "Joy of Life" and still feel the same here. In my opinion, she was poorly cast. Additionally, why hire a popular actress for a role with so few lines? Labeling the drama as "romance" is misleading for the audience who has not read the novel or watched the donghua, which is the majority.
I came across some gossip online suggesting that two out of the three main actresses may not be recast. Rumors indicate that one of them had an argument with Yang Yang on set and is completely uninterested in promoting the drama. I can understand her dissatisfaction if they significantly reduced her screen timeHowever, if she had researched her role more thoroughly, she would know that her character in the novel has a minimal part, much like all the other female characters.
I was pleased to watch two actors, Edward Zhang and Chin Shih Chieh. I also discovered Zhao Ming, who is not entirely new to the industry, but she made a strong impression on viewers in this drama. . While she may not be classically beautiful and has more of a "girl-next-door" appeal, she has a memorable quality about her. She has the potential to become the next Zhao Lusi, especially with good support from her agency.
Originally planned for 40 episodes, it was reduced to 36 and then to 30. Furthermore, they cut each episode from one hour to 40 minutes, resulting in a total of 20 hours instead of 40. How can you deliver quality when the original script includes important scenes and dialogues? It's like giving someone bread without butter or a meal without salt—it feels bland. The drama has been cut twice.
It possessed the possibility to be a great drama if the special effects (CGI) had matched the quality of the donghua. Unfortunately, the creatures look like something from the '80s or '90s.
By episode 25, I have a feeling that the drama will end with an open ending, with Han Li using the transportation array to explore a new realm. Given that the title of the drama is “The Immortal Ascension,” it’s possible that we might only get one season. This corresponds to mid-volume 3, which leaves room for a potential season 2 or 3, and I believe Youku will pursue it since it was number one for a few days and is quite popular. It all comes down to money.
My recommendation is to give it a try. At best, you will enjoy it; at worst, you might decide to read the novel or watch the donghua.
**
Here are my thoughts since the last episodes aired. I fast-forwarded through the unnecessary reunion with Boom Boom Girl; it felt like they gave her screen time just to fulfill her contract, which was completely unnecessary. She appeared sporadically throughout the drama without any real purpose, mostly to be annoying. The only significant event involving her was when both characters took an aphrodisiac and lost their virginity. They met twice, she stole his life force Qi two times, and she showed no remorse. Instead, she lied and acted like a coward, only fearing that people might find out what she had done. I could have done without the final scene featuring her, as she was never a lovable character..
However, the second part of the last episode was well done, except for Iron Man, who seemed to appear and disappear without explanation. The generic announcement states that this is the end of Season 1, so I expect that Seasons 2 and 3 will follow. In the meantime, I'm rereading the novel and continuing to watch the donghua.
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