I loved it. It’s 100% better than the first installment here is why
If you watch the Donghua/ read the manhua it starts off exactly the same! The only detail I noticed at the beginning was they switched Qu Zhou to have a bigger role than Zhang Zheng, to which I disagree with. Zhang Zheng is a way more useful confidant/ left hand man than Qu Zhou. To this I gave it 9 stars for the story of Zhang Zheng (played by the amazing and wonderful Ryan Ding) not being a bigger part of the masked daoist.
The main story is spot on and develops exactly like the donghua, if not better! For a 10ep. donghua of Huai Zhu and Hong Ye the screenwriter actually develops their love story where they encounter each other, experience the longing and parting, the deep love and conflict, the heroism of the masked daoists, the righteous and honorable duty of Hong Ye, the tacit understanding between Huai Zhu and Hong Ye, the calm/rational beauty of Huai Zhu, the romantic/gentle/kind/brave Hong Ye, lastly the supporting and protecting of e/o (which is explored more in the adapted drama). It exceeded my expectations and I love the donghua (watched it many times). Their love is the most precious and regrettable thing about wanting to change the world. And the acting of ZYL and Shishi was very natural their on screen chemistry for 85liners is still really good. Their aesthetics was spot on for the characters.
All the side stories were fillers because none of this matters in the actual FSMM world (it’s based on the reunion of lovers between humans and demons in their reincarnated life, not humans). But of all the side stories ZZ and A’yuan was my second favorite (I wished it was explored more at the beginning like I said) b/c the acting and complexity of the characters. Yitan and Zui (although don’t actually have a love line in the donghua I appreciate the screenwriter adding the childhood sweethearts). Mu Mie and the red leech demon (another side story filler that was nice but necessary) I liked the confession portion.
I cannot get the OST out of my head it’s been on repeat since it aired and finished airing. Knowing that Shi shi sang Half Love and Yunlong (composing and singing) Bamboo Night. The chills I get from Zhou Shen Mandala and Zhang Bichen Like Smoke every time I hear it brings back the memories of tall the masked daoist and ZhuYe love.
Also, to all those who thought this was going to be a HE drama or hoping the screenwriter to change the ending. From the moment they released the IP and finished wrapping they have already marketed it as a BE/SE even in the donghua it’s the saddest story out of all of them. This gives way to the next story Wang Quan Arc. So don’t judge solely b/c it’s a SE. Every story has its journey and the most beautiful endings are those that leave the deepest impressions. The saying of “having lost is to know love” or “to know grief is to know love.” I still have yet to walk away from this drama it’s my 4th time watching it. Plus, rewatching it actually makes it more beautiful to understand Huai Zhu and Hong Ye.
The main story is spot on and develops exactly like the donghua, if not better! For a 10ep. donghua of Huai Zhu and Hong Ye the screenwriter actually develops their love story where they encounter each other, experience the longing and parting, the deep love and conflict, the heroism of the masked daoists, the righteous and honorable duty of Hong Ye, the tacit understanding between Huai Zhu and Hong Ye, the calm/rational beauty of Huai Zhu, the romantic/gentle/kind/brave Hong Ye, lastly the supporting and protecting of e/o (which is explored more in the adapted drama). It exceeded my expectations and I love the donghua (watched it many times). Their love is the most precious and regrettable thing about wanting to change the world. And the acting of ZYL and Shishi was very natural their on screen chemistry for 85liners is still really good. Their aesthetics was spot on for the characters.
All the side stories were fillers because none of this matters in the actual FSMM world (it’s based on the reunion of lovers between humans and demons in their reincarnated life, not humans). But of all the side stories ZZ and A’yuan was my second favorite (I wished it was explored more at the beginning like I said) b/c the acting and complexity of the characters. Yitan and Zui (although don’t actually have a love line in the donghua I appreciate the screenwriter adding the childhood sweethearts). Mu Mie and the red leech demon (another side story filler that was nice but necessary) I liked the confession portion.
I cannot get the OST out of my head it’s been on repeat since it aired and finished airing. Knowing that Shi shi sang Half Love and Yunlong (composing and singing) Bamboo Night. The chills I get from Zhou Shen Mandala and Zhang Bichen Like Smoke every time I hear it brings back the memories of tall the masked daoist and ZhuYe love.
Also, to all those who thought this was going to be a HE drama or hoping the screenwriter to change the ending. From the moment they released the IP and finished wrapping they have already marketed it as a BE/SE even in the donghua it’s the saddest story out of all of them. This gives way to the next story Wang Quan Arc. So don’t judge solely b/c it’s a SE. Every story has its journey and the most beautiful endings are those that leave the deepest impressions. The saying of “having lost is to know love” or “to know grief is to know love.” I still have yet to walk away from this drama it’s my 4th time watching it. Plus, rewatching it actually makes it more beautiful to understand Huai Zhu and Hong Ye.
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