This review may contain spoilers
THE MOST TOP TIER OF MASTERPIECES I HAVE EVER HAD THE FORTUNE TO WITNESS
I.... I have no words.
I started watching this because it looked pretty cool on Netflix and I quite like Ju Jingyi, didn't really have much expectations or thoughts. But HOLY MOLY. I don't actually remember the last time I cried so hard watching a drama. But this show- this show has it all (and then some).
On no planet or timeline could I ever have been prepared for this show. The story, the plot twists, the characters, the music. I have absolutely zero notes.
Don't get me wrong, there were many moments that I thought to myself "wtf is going on" but HOLY SHIT who thought of this story?? Who's the creative genius?? (I know who it is). The show is just one of those that you just bare with, because absolutely everything will be explained. I loved that watching this drama felt like reading a great book where not everything is directly handed to you on a platter but trusts the audience to understand and interpret it.
I can't even begin to describe the beauty that was this story and these characters- I'm gonna be thinking about Ji Ling for a very, VERY long time. And Tian Jiarui... the BEAUTY that you are!! I've never seen TJR in anything before but Jesus. First of all, I didn't know an actor could cry so much (and I've seen that as a criticism for the show, but if you understand the character of Ji Ling and his story, it's really not that hard to fathom just why he's so sad) but I think TJR did an incredible job here. I love his smile, I love his more puppy playful side, I love his serious yet sad 'dragon god' stare, and most of all I love the way he looks at his 'A Wu', the new moon that only he can see.
Extra special mention here for the A Wu the fox plushy. Thank you because I will always cry every time I think about how she has been his A Wu this whole time.
I've only ever seen Ju Jingyi in one other show before and I didn't think her acting was all that. Nonetheless she is beyond gorgeous, and my WORD was Lu Wuyi THE character for her. JJY absolutely thrived in this role and you can really tell. She was casted perfectly, and in many shots, you truly can picture and believe that she is genuinely a fox. And it is definitely believable that Wuyi loves Ji Ling as much as he loves her. I think many dramas I've seen, typically the guy ends up paying heavier prices to show how much he loves the girl, but rarely have I seen the girl paying the price just as hard. The time-travel arc absolutely broke me. No words.
And honestly, all the other side characters were perfection too. I really enjoyed Wangyan & Shiguang's love story, loved that they had to play a married couple which paved the way to them becoming a real couple. And lord I was most confused about Li jie/Yuan Wuwuo's storyline the most - but it was also really satisfying when I finally understood! Loved loved loved him. The brotherly love he had for Ji Ling was so beautiful, and when he said "Thousands of years? I can't wait that long." when the heart stone disappeared? *DEEP BREATH SO THE TEARS WOULD STOP*
Lastly, I will never shut up about the OST & BGM of this show. 100000/10! The BGM, goodness me. SO COOL. So fitting for this show. The OST, made even better if you can understand Chinese, is a million chefs kisses. Every single lead singing their own character song? AURA. I have also NEVER seen both the male and female lead sing the same song on separate recordings. But it is so perfect. You can tell a lot of thought has been put into the lyrics. I can also never just go and listen to the slow song that Yan A sings. Because I will just cry. The two songs sung by TJR... I'm just gonna leave some of my favourite lyrics here.
"The moon stays by my side"
"Moonlight is my most treasured scale"
"Don't be sad, don't cry, I will always be with you"
This show definitely has an incredibly high rewatch value, because you'll understand SO MUCH MORE, and things will be interpreted so differently. Like when LWY first goes into the Shilin temple to get her moon jade back and one of the things she says to the dragon deity is “Are you lonely?”
OR the moment when LWY wanted to kill him in the dungeon for ‘killing’ JL, he says to her “What if I have your blood, soul, veins and bones imprisoned here forever?” AND THEN he looks around because HE REMEMBERS that HE was the one who was imprisoned there before. Once again, I’m lost for words.
There's so much more I want to say, and I know many have found this show too confusing to put up with. But if you happen to be a fortunate kindred spirit where this show has claimed a part of your heart because you understand the true depth of love, loneliness, sacrifice and friendship - welcome home.
Side note: I got so hungover from this show that I’ve crocheted my very own ‘Ah Wu’ plushy. It is and forever will be my prize possession.
Extra side note: pls leave me a comment if there’s something you don’t understand about this show. I’m way too happy to be talking about it forever.
I started watching this because it looked pretty cool on Netflix and I quite like Ju Jingyi, didn't really have much expectations or thoughts. But HOLY MOLY. I don't actually remember the last time I cried so hard watching a drama. But this show- this show has it all (and then some).
On no planet or timeline could I ever have been prepared for this show. The story, the plot twists, the characters, the music. I have absolutely zero notes.
Don't get me wrong, there were many moments that I thought to myself "wtf is going on" but HOLY SHIT who thought of this story?? Who's the creative genius?? (I know who it is). The show is just one of those that you just bare with, because absolutely everything will be explained. I loved that watching this drama felt like reading a great book where not everything is directly handed to you on a platter but trusts the audience to understand and interpret it.
I can't even begin to describe the beauty that was this story and these characters- I'm gonna be thinking about Ji Ling for a very, VERY long time. And Tian Jiarui... the BEAUTY that you are!! I've never seen TJR in anything before but Jesus. First of all, I didn't know an actor could cry so much (and I've seen that as a criticism for the show, but if you understand the character of Ji Ling and his story, it's really not that hard to fathom just why he's so sad) but I think TJR did an incredible job here. I love his smile, I love his more puppy playful side, I love his serious yet sad 'dragon god' stare, and most of all I love the way he looks at his 'A Wu', the new moon that only he can see.
Extra special mention here for the A Wu the fox plushy. Thank you because I will always cry every time I think about how she has been his A Wu this whole time.
I've only ever seen Ju Jingyi in one other show before and I didn't think her acting was all that. Nonetheless she is beyond gorgeous, and my WORD was Lu Wuyi THE character for her. JJY absolutely thrived in this role and you can really tell. She was casted perfectly, and in many shots, you truly can picture and believe that she is genuinely a fox. And it is definitely believable that Wuyi loves Ji Ling as much as he loves her. I think many dramas I've seen, typically the guy ends up paying heavier prices to show how much he loves the girl, but rarely have I seen the girl paying the price just as hard. The time-travel arc absolutely broke me. No words.
And honestly, all the other side characters were perfection too. I really enjoyed Wangyan & Shiguang's love story, loved that they had to play a married couple which paved the way to them becoming a real couple. And lord I was most confused about Li jie/Yuan Wuwuo's storyline the most - but it was also really satisfying when I finally understood! Loved loved loved him. The brotherly love he had for Ji Ling was so beautiful, and when he said "Thousands of years? I can't wait that long." when the heart stone disappeared? *DEEP BREATH SO THE TEARS WOULD STOP*
Lastly, I will never shut up about the OST & BGM of this show. 100000/10! The BGM, goodness me. SO COOL. So fitting for this show. The OST, made even better if you can understand Chinese, is a million chefs kisses. Every single lead singing their own character song? AURA. I have also NEVER seen both the male and female lead sing the same song on separate recordings. But it is so perfect. You can tell a lot of thought has been put into the lyrics. I can also never just go and listen to the slow song that Yan A sings. Because I will just cry. The two songs sung by TJR... I'm just gonna leave some of my favourite lyrics here.
"The moon stays by my side"
"Moonlight is my most treasured scale"
"Don't be sad, don't cry, I will always be with you"
This show definitely has an incredibly high rewatch value, because you'll understand SO MUCH MORE, and things will be interpreted so differently. Like when LWY first goes into the Shilin temple to get her moon jade back and one of the things she says to the dragon deity is “Are you lonely?”
OR the moment when LWY wanted to kill him in the dungeon for ‘killing’ JL, he says to her “What if I have your blood, soul, veins and bones imprisoned here forever?” AND THEN he looks around because HE REMEMBERS that HE was the one who was imprisoned there before. Once again, I’m lost for words.
There's so much more I want to say, and I know many have found this show too confusing to put up with. But if you happen to be a fortunate kindred spirit where this show has claimed a part of your heart because you understand the true depth of love, loneliness, sacrifice and friendship - welcome home.
Side note: I got so hungover from this show that I’ve crocheted my very own ‘Ah Wu’ plushy. It is and forever will be my prize possession.
Extra side note: pls leave me a comment if there’s something you don’t understand about this show. I’m way too happy to be talking about it forever.
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