My final thoughts: In all fairness, I think it has to be said that the entire cast did extremely well bringing their characters to life. Jeremy Tsui carried the drama, (as he does in all his dramas), with the help of a strong supporting cast. Wang ZhuoCheng, Li DaiKun, Asher Ma, Deng Wei, Gao Han, and Lin SiYi, just to name a few, really breathed life into their characters and made me feel the gamut of emotions. Enough so, that I'm already seeking out other dramas the supporting cast performed in. Unfortunately, the script wasn't strong enough to withstand the inevitable bad editing required to pass review. While the missing scenes may not have made it "the best drama of the year", had they been allowed to be incorporated, I think it would have helped with the flow of the drama, drawing the audience in more, emotionally speaking. And I truly feel Yang ChaoYue was miscast as ChongZi. Nothing personal against the actress; I liked her in the BTS & interviews I saw. She seems like a cool, down-to-earth person. And I've seen YCY in other dramas and enjoyed her performances. It's just between the dubbed voice used and her monotone emotional performance, I just didn't feel connected to ChongZi's plight. She tried; I can tell, she really tried, but it just fell flat for me. Truthfully, I don't hate the drama, but it's not something I'd re-watch any time soon.
Now that I've finished the drama, I have questions! First, according to the drama, the demons are evil because they can't cultivate pure air, so it doesn't seem like a bad thing if the demons are no longer forced to cultivate putrid air. And the things ChongZi wanted to change within the demon sect (ie. for the young girls, etc) would be positive changes for the Six Worlds. I mean initially, ChongZi wanted to unite the Immortals and Demons, make everyone equal, which would have helped keep peace. So at the end, while in the Monument, was LYF telling ChongZi that the demons had to be (and stay) evil for the balance of the world (ie. ying/yang, light/dark, good/evil)? Doesn't that go against what LYF had previously said about redeeming the demon immortals? Instead, it sounds like the "anything slightly Demonic must be killed" mantra spewed by Mi YunZhong and the other Immortals. I'm confused. What does it mean that LYF & CZ became sword spirits? I understand they're spirits attached to a sword, but so what? Who owns the sword? What's the purpose of their existence? Or I should say, what's the purpose of their sword's existence? How did Zhuo Hao get cleansed of the demon scent? Did his Heart Poison ever get healed? How, why and for how long will Ting Xue be a beggar in the Mortal World? What did Qin Ke mean when he said he never understood her feelings? I thought he understood her the best of all the men that liked her. And when he said he would have rather just spent the years with her. In what capacity, because he definitely knew she only had LYF in her heart. I want to know the outcomes for the following characters: *Hai Sheng (the Master of the Fusheng Sect & CZ's friend)? It would have been good to see the Fusheng Sect prosperous in the final episode. *Xue Ling/Yin ShuiXian, does he live and does she reincarnate? *Leng WanLi (Yin XinMo), does he ever find closure for his obsession with ShuiXian? *Min SuQiu, she obviously doesn't marry Zhuo Hao, right? *Wang Yue's annoying female sidekick, who's name escapes me, did she die, yet? I would like to have seen it happen.
I just love Jeremy's performances; he's so versatile. Even if the drama itself ends up being so-so, Jeremy's acting never misses. I'm looking forward to this one (Royal Rumors) very much! I hope it's as humorous as the trailer leads us to believe.
Besides lazy writing and weak plot, I hate that they change the ml from the original story. They were busy making…
I don't like CZ as a character either, but I can understand where she's coming from. She is the most hurt and angry at LYF because he is who she loves and trusted the most. She was just as angry at ZhenZhu for betraying her, but ZZ died right away. Betrayal by those closest always cuts deepest. We also have to remember, while we see the whole picture, CZ does not. She doesn't know it wasn't really LYF who woke her up to torture her, while telling her he didn't want to see her anymore. Doesn't help that LYF actually didn't see her that whole time. All CZ knows is that she is continually victimized by everyone around her while LYF claims love and protection. Mu Yu was correct when he told Zhuo Hao it was Nanhua that turned CZ. And she doesn't seem to like the demons either. She's just a hurt, confused little girl, who doesn't believe she can rely on anyone at this point. I will say, I'm disappointed that she still seems weak after turning. I thought she was going to become some undefeatable, kickass demon lord, but no. She just stood there whining at Mu Yu while he destroyed Starlight. Like, WTH!
All the guys who liked the FL forgot about her for 3 years! Thats simply too stupid! I just can't wrap my head…
Zhuo Hao was under house arrest for the 3 years. Qin Ke was worried about his reputation and leader position if associated with or seen to sympathize with ChongZi. Mu Yu, being a demon, is following Wang Yue's plan to let her suffer long enough to turn demonic. Luo Yin Fan is the only one that isn't explained well. Is it because he wanted to calm the Heart Poison or because his Master's spirit told him to separate, or because he felt too guilty for not accomplishing the Heart Mirror technique, or was it just easier to pretend he didn't fail her again. IDK. But then why does he tell her he confessed every day for 3 years and his heart hurts, too. It just doesn't make sense. Grrr!
I'm not sure if it's a weak script, poor editing or both, but I definitely feel the story has lost its way. Personally, I lean toward poor editing, since Jeremy mentions a favorite scene, which was obviously cut. TJOCZ seems to be another victim, like Unchained Love and Shining Just For You. That being said, I think the cast is doing a great job with the material given. Jeremy Tsui is on point, and Wang Zhuo Cheng never disappoints as a villain. Gao Han, Li Dai Kun, Asher Ma, Deng Wei, Lin Si Yi, Hanna Yang, and Wang Jui Sheng, just to name a few, are giving excellent performances. Whether you love or hate their characters, it's because they're breathing life into what was written on paper. Bravo, cast! Thank you for your efforts! However, since the drama has come to this, to enjoy it at all, I have to turn my brain off and watch without any expectations whatsoever. I no longer expect the storyline to make sense, obvious plot holes to be explained, or much character development. I call these "brainless dramas". 😉 It's truly a shame though, because there is so much potential with this exceptional cast. 🙄
I am half way through the drama and I like well enough. The thing that stuck out to me is if this was "The Journey of Flower, "Immortal Samsara", or "The Journey of Chong Zi", the male lead, Mo Qing Chen, would be praised and revered for being "the perfect immortal", but here he's considered a monster that needs to overcome his deficiencies. Poor Mo Qing Chen, you need to move to the Heavenly realm. 🤣
2 per day except fri and sat 1 per day so 12 per week
Where are you watching that offers 2 episodes a day? Please and thank you. I'm watching on Youku's YouTube channel, and they're only offering 1 episode a day. 😪😪😪
I'm loving this so far (9 episodes in)! It's just the right amount of comedy, romance and angst. Hope they can keep it going for 40 episodes. But if you're expecting this drama to be another "Goodbye Princess", "Dreaming Back to the Qing Dynasty" or "Immortal Samsara", you'll be sorely disappointed. I love Oliver Chen and Landy Li as actors, and they are a great leading couple. The whole cast feels cohesive and truly compliments each others performances. * As a side note: I was tickled to see Landy Li, He Xuan Lin, Cao Bo and Qin Tian Yu together again. They starred in "Go Into Your Heart" together, which is another series I enjoyed alot.
I'm watching this show mainly for Jeremy Tsui and also for the comparison to "The Journey of Flower". I read TJOF novel (English translation), and Bai ZhiHua's personality and behavior was closer to Jeremy's Yin Fan character portrayal. In the TJOF drama Bai ZhiHua was nothing like the novel, even though Wallace Huo gave a good performance. So far I'm enjoying TJOCZ, however, I find ChongZi slightly too immature in her first life. I liked her maturity in the beginning of her second life, but she seems to be regressing in the most recent episodes (21 & 22). While I realize these stories are formulaic, there is always something that bothers me most about them. Which is, I don't understand why characters like Miao Yuan and Ting Xue, who openly display hatred, jealousy and envy, are continually accepted with minimal admonition of their behavior. It's constantly being reiterated that sect members are to rise above and be free of such emotions, but Miao Yuan is allowed such a high seniority position with such obvious attitudes? Even the leader, Min Yun Zhong, who has obvious hatred, fear, and prejudice, can cultivate to such a high level carrying those things in his heart? In ChongZi's first life, MYZ would not acknowledge anything to be the truth other than what he wanted it to be, and everyone knows it, but he still gets to hold his council/sect position. WTH!!! Hypocritical much!!! I know things have to happen, like misunderstandings, miscommunications, and betrayal, for the storyline to play out according to plan, but this issue REALLY annoys me. 🙄
OMG! Episode 18 is almost enough to make me quit watching this show. I HATE, HATE, HATE adoption take-back storylines.…
Wow! Miracle is the right word. God is good all the time; all the time God is good! It doesn't matter what "man" says about us, it only matters what God says about us, and God says Emmanuel is wonderfully made by HIM and is a special blessing to them. Hallelujah! This is the type of adoption storyline I'd like to see in a drama.
OMG! Episode 18 is almost enough to make me quit watching this show. I HATE, HATE, HATE adoption take-back storylines.…
Yay! Praise the Most High God! It's a great joy to hear your sister and her husband were blessed with Emmanuel! The LORD bless them and keep them always and in all ways.
I didn’t like what happened on episode 18 at all. How is possible that this woman abandoned her son on a hospital’s…
OMG! Episode 18 is almost enough to make me quit watching this show. I HATE, HATE, HATE adoption take-back storylines. This type of storyline feeds into the worst fears of prospective adoptive parents. Many children remain unadopted precisely because of the fear of this type of situation. I have close friends, who had to return an adopted daughter and the pain they experienced was heart wrenching. The teenage mother didn't even want the daughter back, it was her "known to be sexually abusive" father that fought for and won the return of the little girl. Studies show children learn how to bond to people (ie. their family) in the first 3 years of life. This little girl was 3 months old when my friends adopted her and 4 years old when she was torn away from Mommy, Daddy, Big Brother, Grandma, Grandpa, Aunt & Uncles, Cousins, the home she grew up in...everything, she lost everything. Her birth mother was a complete stranger to her, so the hysterical crying wasn't for an unknown birth mother but for the family she loved and wanted to be with; she couldn't understand why Mommy & Daddy wouldn't take her home. It was truly awful and the mental, emotional and psychological effects on a child in this type of situation are devastating and long lasting. Even if the child lives a "normal life" afterward, studies show the child may suffer from low self-esteem, insecurity and the development of disassociative tendencies in the future. Please don't do these types of storylines anymore. As far as I'm concerned, all adoption storylines should be happy, positive ones that encourage adoption. Please, please, please. I think this topic is a trigger for me. Thank you for listening. I'll stop now. Rant over.
I love every single things about this drama.. The friendships, brotherhood, sisterhood, family... and the comedy…
"Meet Yourself" has a similar vibe, though it's set in today's time period. "Dream of Splendor" for another ancient period piece, although it's drama is heavier.
In all fairness, I think it has to be said that the entire cast did extremely well bringing their characters to life. Jeremy Tsui carried the drama, (as he does in all his dramas), with the help of a strong supporting cast. Wang ZhuoCheng, Li DaiKun, Asher Ma, Deng Wei, Gao Han, and Lin SiYi, just to name a few, really breathed life into their characters and made me feel the gamut of emotions. Enough so, that I'm already seeking out other dramas the supporting cast performed in.
Unfortunately, the script wasn't strong enough to withstand the inevitable bad editing required to pass review. While the missing scenes may not have made it "the best drama of the year", had they been allowed to be incorporated, I think it would have helped with the flow of the drama, drawing the audience in more, emotionally speaking.
And I truly feel Yang ChaoYue was miscast as ChongZi. Nothing personal against the actress; I liked her in the BTS & interviews I saw. She seems like a cool, down-to-earth person. And I've seen YCY in other dramas and enjoyed her performances. It's just between the dubbed voice used and her monotone emotional performance, I just didn't feel connected to ChongZi's plight. She tried; I can tell, she really tried, but it just fell flat for me.
Truthfully, I don't hate the drama, but it's not something I'd re-watch any time soon.
First, according to the drama, the demons are evil because they can't cultivate pure air, so it doesn't seem like a bad thing if the demons are no longer forced to cultivate putrid air. And the things ChongZi wanted to change within the demon sect (ie. for the young girls, etc) would be positive changes for the Six Worlds. I mean initially, ChongZi wanted to unite the Immortals and Demons, make everyone equal, which would have helped keep peace.
So at the end, while in the Monument, was LYF telling ChongZi that the demons had to be (and stay) evil for the balance of the world (ie. ying/yang, light/dark, good/evil)? Doesn't that go against what LYF had previously said about redeeming the demon immortals? Instead, it sounds like the "anything slightly Demonic must be killed" mantra spewed by Mi YunZhong and the other Immortals. I'm confused.
What does it mean that LYF & CZ became sword spirits? I understand they're spirits attached to a sword, but so what? Who owns the sword? What's the purpose of their existence? Or I should say, what's the purpose of their sword's existence?
How did Zhuo Hao get cleansed of the demon scent? Did his Heart Poison ever get healed?
How, why and for how long will Ting Xue be a beggar in the Mortal World?
What did Qin Ke mean when he said he never understood her feelings? I thought he understood her the best of all the men that liked her. And when he said he would have rather just spent the years with her. In what capacity, because he definitely knew she only had LYF in her heart.
I want to know the outcomes for the following characters:
*Hai Sheng (the Master of the Fusheng Sect & CZ's friend)? It would have been good to see the Fusheng Sect prosperous in the final episode.
*Xue Ling/Yin ShuiXian, does he live and does she reincarnate?
*Leng WanLi (Yin XinMo), does he ever find closure for his obsession with ShuiXian?
*Min SuQiu, she obviously doesn't marry Zhuo Hao, right?
*Wang Yue's annoying female sidekick, who's name escapes me, did she die, yet? I would like to have seen it happen.
*Nevermind, I saw your answer to this in the previous comment thread. Thanks! :)
She is the most hurt and angry at LYF because he is who she loves and trusted the most. She was just as angry at ZhenZhu for betraying her, but ZZ died right away. Betrayal by those closest always cuts deepest.
We also have to remember, while we see the whole picture, CZ does not. She doesn't know it wasn't really LYF who woke her up to torture her, while telling her he didn't want to see her anymore. Doesn't help that LYF actually didn't see her that whole time. All CZ knows is that she is continually victimized by everyone around her while LYF claims love and protection. Mu Yu was correct when he told Zhuo Hao it was Nanhua that turned CZ.
And she doesn't seem to like the demons either. She's just a hurt, confused little girl, who doesn't believe she can rely on anyone at this point.
I will say, I'm disappointed that she still seems weak after turning. I thought she was going to become some undefeatable, kickass demon lord, but no. She just stood there whining at Mu Yu while he destroyed Starlight. Like, WTH!
Qin Ke was worried about his reputation and leader position if associated with or seen to sympathize with ChongZi.
Mu Yu, being a demon, is following Wang Yue's plan to let her suffer long enough to turn demonic.
Luo Yin Fan is the only one that isn't explained well. Is it because he wanted to calm the Heart Poison or because his Master's spirit told him to separate, or because he felt too guilty for not accomplishing the Heart Mirror technique, or was it just easier to pretend he didn't fail her again. IDK. But then why does he tell her he confessed every day for 3 years and his heart hurts, too. It just doesn't make sense. Grrr!
Personally, I lean toward poor editing, since Jeremy mentions a favorite scene, which was obviously cut. TJOCZ seems to be another victim, like Unchained Love and Shining Just For You.
That being said, I think the cast is doing a great job with the material given. Jeremy Tsui is on point, and Wang Zhuo Cheng never disappoints as a villain. Gao Han, Li Dai Kun, Asher Ma, Deng Wei, Lin Si Yi, Hanna Yang, and Wang Jui Sheng, just to name a few, are giving excellent performances. Whether you love or hate their characters, it's because they're breathing life into what was written on paper. Bravo, cast! Thank you for your efforts!
However, since the drama has come to this, to enjoy it at all, I have to turn my brain off and watch without any expectations whatsoever. I no longer expect the storyline to make sense, obvious plot holes to be explained, or much character development. I call these "brainless dramas". 😉
It's truly a shame though, because there is so much potential with this exceptional cast. 🙄
I'm watching on Youku's YouTube channel, and they're only offering 1 episode a day.
😪😪😪
But if you're expecting this drama to be another "Goodbye Princess", "Dreaming Back to the Qing Dynasty" or "Immortal Samsara", you'll be sorely disappointed.
I love Oliver Chen and Landy Li as actors, and they are a great leading couple. The whole cast feels cohesive and truly compliments each others performances.
* As a side note: I was tickled to see Landy Li, He Xuan Lin, Cao Bo and Qin Tian Yu together again. They starred in "Go Into Your Heart" together, which is another series I enjoyed alot.
I read TJOF novel (English translation), and Bai ZhiHua's personality and behavior was closer to Jeremy's Yin Fan character portrayal. In the TJOF drama Bai ZhiHua was nothing like the novel, even though Wallace Huo gave a good performance.
So far I'm enjoying TJOCZ, however, I find ChongZi slightly too immature in her first life. I liked her maturity in the beginning of her second life, but she seems to be regressing in the most recent episodes (21 & 22).
While I realize these stories are formulaic, there is always something that bothers me most about them. Which is, I don't understand why characters like Miao Yuan and Ting Xue, who openly display hatred, jealousy and envy, are continually accepted with minimal admonition of their behavior. It's constantly being reiterated that sect members are to rise above and be free of such emotions, but Miao Yuan is allowed such a high seniority position with such obvious attitudes? Even the leader, Min Yun Zhong, who has obvious hatred, fear, and prejudice, can cultivate to such a high level carrying those things in his heart? In ChongZi's first life, MYZ would not acknowledge anything to be the truth other than what he wanted it to be, and everyone knows it, but he still gets to hold his council/sect position. WTH!!! Hypocritical much!!!
I know things have to happen, like misunderstandings, miscommunications, and betrayal, for the storyline to play out according to plan, but this issue REALLY annoys me. 🙄
This is the type of adoption storyline I'd like to see in a drama.
I have close friends, who had to return an adopted daughter and the pain they experienced was heart wrenching. The teenage mother didn't even want the daughter back, it was her "known to be sexually abusive" father that fought for and won the return of the little girl. Studies show children learn how to bond to people (ie. their family) in the first 3 years of life. This little girl was 3 months old when my friends adopted her and 4 years old when she was torn away from Mommy, Daddy, Big Brother, Grandma, Grandpa, Aunt & Uncles, Cousins, the home she grew up in...everything, she lost everything. Her birth mother was a complete stranger to her, so the hysterical crying wasn't for an unknown birth mother but for the family she loved and wanted to be with; she couldn't understand why Mommy & Daddy wouldn't take her home. It was truly awful and the mental, emotional and psychological effects on a child in this type of situation are devastating and long lasting. Even if the child lives a "normal life" afterward, studies show the child may suffer from low self-esteem, insecurity and the development of disassociative tendencies in the future.
Please don't do these types of storylines anymore. As far as I'm concerned, all adoption storylines should be happy, positive ones that encourage adoption. Please, please, please.
I think this topic is a trigger for me. Thank you for listening. I'll stop now. Rant over.
"Dream of Splendor" for another ancient period piece, although it's drama is heavier.