Stunning VFX, Flawed Execution
This is just an initial review of this drama based on the released episodes 1-7.Based on my first impression, the most impressive aspect of this drama was undoubtedly the VFX. It's clear they invested heavily in this area, elevating the wuxia genre. However, the cinematography, particularly the color grading, left much to be desired. The overly saturated colors, especially the blues and pinks, along with the maxed-out brightness and contrast, gave it an old-fashioned wuxia look that wasn't visually pleasing.
Despite the awesome VFX, there's an over-reliance on it during the fight sequences. While visually impressive, the VFX can be distracting. The actors often make movements where they are only standing or floating in the air, and then pointing their swords at opponents, which diminishes the impact of the actual martial arts. This imbalance between physical fighting and VFX makes the action scenes feel less engaging.
As for the characters, they were somewhat disappointing. The performances felt unnatural, from the facial expressions to the delivery of dialogue. Each character seemed overly animated, reminiscent of a live-action adaptation of a Japanese anime, with exaggerated expressions and dialogue that felt out of place and unnatural.
I'm still giving it a chance, keeping my critical eyes in check, lol. Edit: I just dropped it...
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It's okay.
First thing to note here is Wang Hedi's voice does not sound great. It deters from his character being in a set of historical time. His acting was okay but nothing special that attributes to his character that he is playing, as he is simply just playing himself. His eyes, though beautiful, it doesn't say much to his expression, still stiff.The story is mid. Nothing new. Relies heavily on comedic dialogues and scenes. However, the fighting choreography is epic.
Tian Xi Wie's character is not my favourite, I would've preferred had she had been the grand princess instead, since that role seems to be more interesting.
Oddly it felt like the story wanted to take the direction of Joy of Life at some capacity.
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It's great! Go watch it!
The way the director, writer, producer, and actors approached the story of a character who transmigrates into a fictional novel is brilliantly executed. They truly did justice to the emotional and psychological complexity of being transported to an unknown land. In many previous dramas, leads are often shown as mildly confused but able to assimilate seamlessly into their surroundings within seconds. However, this drama takes a refreshing and more realistic approach. Ling Miao Miao’s immediate and desperate desire to escape her unfamiliar circumstances establishes her as a character who is self-aware and relatable. This quick, instinctive reaction defines her personality right from the start, and impressively, her growth throughout the story—particularly in the context of love—remains cohesive and believable without diminishing her initial characterization.Speaking of love—despite the severe lack of kisses (lol)—the chemistry between the leads is nothing short of explosive. The drama doesn’t rely on overt displays of affection to convey their bond; instead, it is built through meaningful dialogue, their constant need to be near each other, and the intensity of their gazes. Mu Sheng’s unwavering looks toward Miao Miao, in particular, speak volumes about the depth of their connection, as though their very existence is intertwined. Their love feels almost fated, transcending the typical tropes of romance, and resonates deeply with viewers.
One of the drama’s standout elements is how the second leads, Mu Yao and Liu Fuyi, are given room to shine. Unlike many stories where secondary characters feel like mere backdrops, here they are well-developed and integral to the plot. Their struggles and relationships are treated with care and purpose, adding another layer of richness to the story.
I also want to highlight on the how they tie it to modern life of Ling Miao Miao and the author, it gave actual contrast to the world Miao Miao is transported into which added more depth to the story than a simple transmigration to a fantasy world.
There are some critiques:
1. Where are the kisses!!!! Lmao
2. The aunt of Mu Sheng, Luniang...was she necessary? Here acting wasn't as impressive but perhaps if the character had
shown more clinginess and affection towards the Goddess Mei, a more believable act of being close as kin to each other and the initial or eventual hate towards the father of Mu Sheng be more expressed more than spewed words that might be better for the plot, justifying her actions towards Mu Sheng.
3. Certain parts toward the end felt rushed, particularly as the drama tried to resolve major plot points. A slightly longer runtime or more thoughtful pacing could have helped provide a more satisfying conclusion.
4. While his decision to sacrifice himself was a pivotal moment, it lacked the emotional weight it could have had. A private, heartfelt conversation between Mu Sheng and Miao Miao before his decision would have beautifully showcased the depth of their understanding and love for each other. This could have made the moment even more impactful for viewers.
Overall, it was funny, romantic, heart-warming drama perfect for any day of relaxation or a break from life.
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It's an eye-roll, type of angst.
At first, the only reason I even started watching Feud was because the two main leads are already written to be married.Honestly, I didn’t think the visual effects were that bad. The art direction—from costumes and set design to VFX and color grading—was decent. It’s obvious the budget was limited, but they managed it fairly well and made the most of what they had.
One of the first things that completely annoyed me, though, was the background music and sound effects. The timing was often off, and some sounds were just not fitting for the scenes—like sound effects for something as small as blinking (seriously?). It reminded me of Thai comedy dramas or variety shows where every tiny movement gets a sound. As for the OSTs, most were solid, except for one song: “Pluck the Stars” by Su Jiang Xin. I get that it’s meant to be emotional, but it was so distracting it pulled me out of the scenes entirely. Like, can it calm down for a second?
Now onto acting and characters. Bai Lu delivered, as always. That said, her character felt very similar to Jiang Xue Ning (Story of the Kunning Palace) and Li Su Su (Till the End of the Moon). I expected more of a shift in her character dynamic, but there were only slight differences.
Joseph Zeng really surprised me here, especially with his facial expressions—they added a lot of depth to his character. I first saw him in Mysterious Lotus Casebook, and Bai Jiu Si is quite the opposite of his role there, which shows his range.
The second male lead, though—Zhang Suan, played by Chen Xin Hai—was the most disappointing. The character is already written to be annoying, especially if you’re rooting for the main couple. But Chen Xin Hai brought nothing extra to redeem that. Honestly, his delivery felt so stiff. There was a huge disconnect between his lines and his body language. His face barely changed, and his attempt at subtlety just came off as flat and empty—as if he didn’t know how to act. On top of that, his complexion always looked dull and sickly on screen.
On the flip side, He Rui Xian as Fan Linger made a great first impression. Her acting was solid, but her storyline didn’t live up to her potential. Instead of a meaningful arc, her character got reduced to a typical family conflict with her father—something that could’ve gone in a much more interesting direction.
Another standout was Hong Yao as Xiao Jing Shan. I’m not sure if he was dubbed (it wasn't listed anywhere), but if he wasn’t, then props to him. His diction and line delivery felt natural and his expressions added real weight to his role. He gave off “quality actor” energy.
As for the story itself, it was more cohesive than most xianxia dramas I’ve seen. That said, I ended up sympathizing more with Bai Jiu Si than Hua Ruyue. From the start, even though Ruyue seemed to care for others on the surface, her actions were mostly driven by self-interest. Everything began with what she wanted, not necessarily what was right. In her relationship with Jiu Si, he was the one constantly focused on her—doing everything for her happiness and safety. Meanwhile, she mainly focused on her own feelings and perspective, often disregarding his.
Take the situation with the child: Jiu Si didn't want one because Lord Yu Ya warned him that pregnancy would weaken Ruyue. Even if he had told her they needed to go take punishment for killing the drought dragon, the baby probably would’ve died anyway—or even Ruyue herself, considering they’d be struck by 99 lightning bolts daily. Jiu Si’s karma, I guess, was making that choice for her instead of letting her choose.
What really sealed my sympathy for him was how, after everything he did to protect her—including keeping her mortal for ten years to avoid divine punishment—he still got stabbed and imprisoned by her. All while hearing her say she hated him and wanted him dead. Then, when he finally learns the truth—that they had a child and lost him because of his actions—he’s emotionally wrecked. And to top it off, he watches the love of his life get burned and buried alive. Like, bro. That’s pain.
Overall, the story was okay. It felt tame for my taste, but it was digestible.
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*edit: Now that I’ve finished it, I have to say—the ending felt like it was written purely for convenience, just to avoid a “bad ending.” It was rushed and fell flat.
The villain’s motive, while initially understandable (his revenge being warped by the demonic energy he consumed), ended up feeling forced. The story tried to deepen his vendetta by turning it into this whole “restart the world through destruction” plot, but it lost me. It felt like it came out of nowhere and didn’t connect to his original reason for vengeance.
It would’ve made more sense if he had tampered with time to go back and save his family. That would’ve been consistent with his grief. But instead, they went with “erasing the killer’s name” as a resolution—like, bruh. Really?
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