The Hollow Journey of The Immortal Ascension
The first three episodes were lovely, well-paced, visually stunning, and full of promise. The landscapes and scenery were breathtaking, and the early mortal-world storyline had heart. I also enjoyed the “Mo Girl” character; her tenderness and sweet expressions brought warmth, and the actress delivered a genuinely touching performance. Unfortunately, the show never lived up to that strong start.
From episode 14 onward, I found myself fast-forwarding through large sections, and by episode 15, I dropped this drama entirely. The pacing felt both rushed and empty, with scenes that lacked meaning or emotional weight. After Han Li left the mortal world, his journey became a repetitive loop of collecting treasures, herbs, and artifacts—like a layered video game where advancement depends on gathering loot and killing to survive. The narrative lost any sense of inspiration or deeper purpose.
Relationships, which should be the lifeblood of any story, were shallow. Han Li meets countless characters, yet the script makes no effort to form meaningful bonds. There was no genuine grief over his best friend being turned into a puppet, no heartfelt goodbye to his parents, and no lasting connection with the girl who saved him in the mortal world. The sects and cultivators in this world were cold and selfish—often killing innocent cultivators to protect themselves. Sadly, even the main lead often felt detached and morally ambiguous, and I found nothing inspiring about the idea of becoming an immortal under such values.
Thematically, the message the show conveys felt hollow. Yes, it suggests that perseverance and hard work pay off, but it also seems to endorse cheating, lying, stealing, and killing as acceptable strategies. For me, cultivation stories should carry an element of moral integrity, honor, and inspiration. This drama instead portrayed a world where the path to ascension is more about opportunism and survival than virtue or good karma.
While the fight scenes are decent and the main lead is visually appealing, his character lacks emotional depth. The beautiful, colorful scenery in the early episodes eventually gave way to more artificial visuals, and the script was padded with filler scenes like meaningless gift exchanges between sect members.
Ultimately, the show felt like watching a series of disconnected scenarios from a moving train—colorful but without substance. It lacked emotional engagement, meaningful character arcs, and the moral weight I value in cultivation stories. I stayed entertained for a while, but in the end, The Immortal Ascension was more style than soul, and it left me feeling detached and disappointed.
From episode 14 onward, I found myself fast-forwarding through large sections, and by episode 15, I dropped this drama entirely. The pacing felt both rushed and empty, with scenes that lacked meaning or emotional weight. After Han Li left the mortal world, his journey became a repetitive loop of collecting treasures, herbs, and artifacts—like a layered video game where advancement depends on gathering loot and killing to survive. The narrative lost any sense of inspiration or deeper purpose.
Relationships, which should be the lifeblood of any story, were shallow. Han Li meets countless characters, yet the script makes no effort to form meaningful bonds. There was no genuine grief over his best friend being turned into a puppet, no heartfelt goodbye to his parents, and no lasting connection with the girl who saved him in the mortal world. The sects and cultivators in this world were cold and selfish—often killing innocent cultivators to protect themselves. Sadly, even the main lead often felt detached and morally ambiguous, and I found nothing inspiring about the idea of becoming an immortal under such values.
Thematically, the message the show conveys felt hollow. Yes, it suggests that perseverance and hard work pay off, but it also seems to endorse cheating, lying, stealing, and killing as acceptable strategies. For me, cultivation stories should carry an element of moral integrity, honor, and inspiration. This drama instead portrayed a world where the path to ascension is more about opportunism and survival than virtue or good karma.
While the fight scenes are decent and the main lead is visually appealing, his character lacks emotional depth. The beautiful, colorful scenery in the early episodes eventually gave way to more artificial visuals, and the script was padded with filler scenes like meaningless gift exchanges between sect members.
Ultimately, the show felt like watching a series of disconnected scenarios from a moving train—colorful but without substance. It lacked emotional engagement, meaningful character arcs, and the moral weight I value in cultivation stories. I stayed entertained for a while, but in the end, The Immortal Ascension was more style than soul, and it left me feeling detached and disappointed.
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