Vivian

It's more because she looks good in red but imo her style and closet can't compare to the ML's at all. It's kinda funny.

Cleary there is nothing to complain about his character because it's the center character and the writer really put a lot of thoughts and layers in the writing. The FL character is actually not that invested compare with the ML or novel's. You can just see by the difference in their clothing...

The final RR is a mix of both RR and MQG though

It's a legend/rumor, but not the truth. People always misunderstood the FL

34 or something and 1/2

I have to disagree with a few of your points here:
-"MQG feels she is capable enough to save SYS from his fate as a demon child" --> She was just trying everything she can to change his fate and save the world. She didn't feel like she was capable enough. That's why she left an "killing option" when was teaching him. She is a very smart lady. But at the end, she choose not to, even she had to sacrifice herself.

-"Ran2's character is much better & more likable (than MQG's initial character) and balances out SYS's changed character." --> To your surprise, more people actually like MQG's character than RR, if we have to compare. And no, both MGQ and RR changed SYS in different ways. If MQG is the moon, then RR is the sun that keep guiding him to be better. And without MQG, do you think RR can affect him that easily? MQG is the white moon light for SYS and many guys tbh.

- "If MQG's feelings for SYS and vice versa are more towards obsession, Ran2's feelings for SYS and vice versa are more sincere & mutual love." --> MQG's feeling for SYS was never an obsession. She teased but didn't mean anything. He wish it was though. That's why drunk SYS asked RR people thought MQG is obsessed with him, but is she? Because he knows very well she was not. People has a lot of rumors about her, but he knows the truth is completely different. After MQG died, she indeed became SYS's only obsession.
The difference bw the 2 lives were there wasn't enough trust and understanding from both sides in the 1st "life". When MQG died for him, SYS understood he lost the person who cares for him the most, the only person that give him the light in this life. That also means she gained complete trust from him at this point, while he loved but didn't trust her before. And with how the master SYS treat RR, she also completely trust him as well. That's why "the 2nd life" worked for them

She was 17 when she filmed FL. And this is a costume drama so of course she looks a bit different. But I mean even many of us change a lot during those years... She is still very young and filmed this drama when she was 21-22. I think her features are the same though

Some people thought that it's her fault that she decided for him. So she is not perfect after all. And the "rebirth" give her more weaknesses.
However in the novel, her real root is actually a "fruit". What's why she is "purer" than the human around her and because of that she is better at cultivation too

Chemistry is subjective. You can't expect people to feel like you, or if you shall feel like them. And I'm sure the drama and the actors don't expect everyone has to like it or feel what others feel either. The team would prob be happy enough if the "majority" can appreciate what they put their souls and hearts to create.
But the OP is a hater keeping coming back to spread hate and negativity. It's totally ok to not like a drama or feel the lead chemistry. But keeping coming back to a drama to spread negativity like it's a mission or a job is not OK.

And you come back again to spread hate, pretending a new "viewer". Wth is wrong with you? Is someone paying you to do this? Or you are an anti of one of the cast?

Hah but who doesn't SYS find annoying though? In fact, she is the only exception in his life, the only person he would care how she feel and do whatever she want him to...

I wouldn't call MQG is tough love. It was more because SYS was so hard to deal with and she did everything she could to "train" him. After all he was the only one was forced to be her disciple. You can see others really love and respect her. In the novel, they show more why her disciples love and respect her like that. Because she is like their sky. Just like she said, when she accept them as disciples, she will take care all their troubles and of course, she raised and protected them too.

You are one of the rare person the describe MQG as arrogant and dislike her. We finally found you. I often see this kind of comments on this drama video " there is no one doesn't like MQG" or I fall in love with the FL before the ML did" or " if I'm the ML, I would fall for her too" etc...

And if anything, she has every right to be arrogant with her power smartness strategy and kindness at her age. To put a concept, she is a immortal that love and live in the mortal world. Her mindset doesn't like most people around her. But I wouldn't call her arrogant. In Chinese drama world, we would describe her as free and easy, doesn't care what other say and would do anything as she is pleased. You prob think she is arrogant because she does anything as she is pleased. And it's because she can.

For me the original version is better even it might be confusing a bit in the beginning? It's more fun.

a very good one at it.

The cute bubbly is only part of character in a period of time. RanRan is much more than that. I would say she is still one a the better FL characters if not, the best ones. The similarities with MQG is striking but people like to ignore it because she is young, cute, bubbly. In fact, even at ther weakest, RR never falls back and wait for male lead to save her like most FL. She decide her faith, even her love (see how consistent she is), her power or life (giving all her power just to change their faith). She is always leading and guiding even if she is cute soft ball. I meant in both lives, MQG / XRR is the one in control situations, no matter if she is not the strongest, and hold power in the relationship. When she says, SYS listens.

What I'm saying RR/ MQG are pretty much the same, just some changes due to age, power level and upbringing. If you watch the part where SYS lost his memory, she is pretty forward with her feeling. In fact RR has always been the one who chased after YSY, just like how MQG always flirted with him. Just their way of pursuing/ flirt are different. RR is innocent while MQG teased but doesn't mean it.
And enjoy!

Actually most of her personality stay the same. The difference in age, and power level and upbringing that lead to the difference. In the novel XRR has adoptive parents who love and adore her since "birth" so that's why she is cute and naive and really know how to "soften" others, where MQG was always alone and suffered since young age. And she is lonely protector because she is the strongest. And also because she is the strongest she carried more responsivity that she didn't care much about her own feeling, or life. That's why SYS didn't want her to live as MQG in this life and always tried to protect her, or make her somewhat depend on him so he can protect her. Because he doesn't want to loose her once again. But RR and MQG is 1 soul, the older and more powerful RR gets, she will become more like MQG. Age difference bw RR and MQG is 18 and 25. So even normal people would change when they get mature and more powerful.
Actually I wouldn't call RR is a typical FL, even she is more "typical" than MQG. In the beginning she is naive and cute, but as the story grows, she develops greatly. Just like MQG, she likes to enjoy life, food and handsome faces and is kind, smart and think "differently" . She is also very straight forward and have expressed her thought feeling non-stop even he rejected her many times or upset about it. And it doesn't mean because he is the master she have to listen to him. It's quite often the opposite. In fact she fought whenever she is pleased, even "taught" and guided SYS to live and love himself better, just like MQG did. She is very clear between hate and love and very determined when she has decide anything, even it mean she lost everything she cultivated for, just like MQG decide to save SYS even it it costs her life. Even at her weakest, she never fell back but would find a way to be a leader/ protector. And by the end, the final RR with MQG memory become a mix bw RR and MQG. Because both are her and none disappears just because she gained some memories. Hanzhi did a great job to play 3 different characters who are one person. They are different but also the same.

You prob will like ZhaoYao (The Legends). I see a lot people putting ZY and MQG together because of their similarities. But to me they are very different.

I think you are messing up the time in the novel and the drama. 15-16 ish is in the novel, should be 18 in the drama. And when he lost his memory he is back to his age at 23. Or is it 23 years? I need to rewatch to clarify

I mean Bailu, but you prob think of boy love? haha

Well they are not that bad in the drama like I said. In the novel, most of them are much worse. And as a drama they "need" to build a better image for the righteous team or king too. In the novel, it's the king not prince for the 2nd lead