This review may contain spoilers
This is MESSY~
Dramatic. Funny. Romantic. And painfully tragic. All in one word: messy.
It starts off simple, with demons and hunters converging on a whodunit-style case. At first, it feels like it’s trying a little too hard to impress with visuals, from cinematography to costumes, but thankfully, it becomes much more than that.
Emotionally, this drama wrecked me. Mentally, it kept me hooked, constantly wanting to know what happens next.
The chemistry between the leads is one of its strongest points. It doesn’t just show one kind of love, it explores many: pure love, sibling love, mature love, and more. Each dynamic feels distinct.
But the heart of the drama is Ji Ling. His story is devastatingly well-written. Watching his journey from an innocent blind fox to the revered Dragon Deity is what truly defines the series. Every sacrifice, every loss, builds his character into something unforgettable. His story alone is enough to leave you in tears.
And then there’s Li Wuyi. Her love for him goes beyond expectations, and her emotional depth makes her just as heartbreaking to watch.
That said, the drama isn’t without flaws. It markets itself as having four main leads, but in reality, it centers on two. Characters played by Chen Duling and Joseph Zheng feel more like supporting roles, with their depth and importance fading as the story progresses. Compared to Ju Jingyi and Tian Jiarui, their presence feels limited.
There’s also a sense that the story is trying to juggle too many ideas. It aims for fluidity, but doesn’t fully succeed, which adds to the overall messiness.
Still, despite its flaws, Veil of Shadows leaves a strong emotional impact. It may not be perfectly structured, but it knows exactly how to make you feel.
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Initial review - up to ep 12
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All main leads have chemistry. Acting is okay but with the current tone of the story it is enough. This drama is full of aesthetics from the cinematography to choreography to makeup. It's definitely a pretty picture to watch. But it becomes a bit too distracting. There are scenes included just to promote "beauty" which I find to be off-beat. For choreography there is too much movement from the fight itself and camera that it doesn't give me a chance to appreciate it. I can appreciate usage of EDM style of bgm but again a bit overuse. Now, for the makeup...it is thick not to all just to some. Now, the story....it feels like their is a lot of blank spaces that needs to be filled, which is good, it's not as predictable.
SIDE NOTE: Also in episode 12 there is an actor(Fan Shiqi)that literally needs to be blacklisted, that actor is named as one of the many that was involved in the Chinese actor Yu Menglong's tragic death.
It starts off simple, with demons and hunters converging on a whodunit-style case. At first, it feels like it’s trying a little too hard to impress with visuals, from cinematography to costumes, but thankfully, it becomes much more than that.
Emotionally, this drama wrecked me. Mentally, it kept me hooked, constantly wanting to know what happens next.
The chemistry between the leads is one of its strongest points. It doesn’t just show one kind of love, it explores many: pure love, sibling love, mature love, and more. Each dynamic feels distinct.
But the heart of the drama is Ji Ling. His story is devastatingly well-written. Watching his journey from an innocent blind fox to the revered Dragon Deity is what truly defines the series. Every sacrifice, every loss, builds his character into something unforgettable. His story alone is enough to leave you in tears.
And then there’s Li Wuyi. Her love for him goes beyond expectations, and her emotional depth makes her just as heartbreaking to watch.
That said, the drama isn’t without flaws. It markets itself as having four main leads, but in reality, it centers on two. Characters played by Chen Duling and Joseph Zheng feel more like supporting roles, with their depth and importance fading as the story progresses. Compared to Ju Jingyi and Tian Jiarui, their presence feels limited.
There’s also a sense that the story is trying to juggle too many ideas. It aims for fluidity, but doesn’t fully succeed, which adds to the overall messiness.
Still, despite its flaws, Veil of Shadows leaves a strong emotional impact. It may not be perfectly structured, but it knows exactly how to make you feel.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Initial review - up to ep 12
-----------------
All main leads have chemistry. Acting is okay but with the current tone of the story it is enough. This drama is full of aesthetics from the cinematography to choreography to makeup. It's definitely a pretty picture to watch. But it becomes a bit too distracting. There are scenes included just to promote "beauty" which I find to be off-beat. For choreography there is too much movement from the fight itself and camera that it doesn't give me a chance to appreciate it. I can appreciate usage of EDM style of bgm but again a bit overuse. Now, for the makeup...it is thick not to all just to some. Now, the story....it feels like their is a lot of blank spaces that needs to be filled, which is good, it's not as predictable.
SIDE NOTE: Also in episode 12 there is an actor(Fan Shiqi)that literally needs to be blacklisted, that actor is named as one of the many that was involved in the Chinese actor Yu Menglong's tragic death.
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