RouteVenus

Honestly, after 35–36 I am a little more at ease, I think it's going towards the HEA.

I thought that "God of War/Cloud Fairy" is gonna count as one of the seven lives, but there are still 2 strings around the leads' wrists? (one being the demon life and the other...?)

The editing is not great and I am mostly disappointed about how they ended Zihui and Jin Luo's story.

They were so cute when she was Yingshi, but now I feel no chemistry between them, although they both act quite well. They should have added a little bit more playfulness, e.g. by mentioning that JL was that flower fairy in Shengling Sect :D. I still hold a spark of hope for Zihui's being reborn in the finale (remember how they allowed Jie Li and Shang Que have their HEA in LBFaD?)

I am afraid so too, but let's not repeat it or it will come into being!
I am ok with ML getting hurt/dying and finding the FL later - that's what happens in the book too after all! (though by now it's becoming a xianxia cliché)
But just give me one or two scenes after that! If the gang can celebrate Zihui and Jin Luo, they should have a chance to celebrate CH and CK too!

Ok, these are some really silly arguments and comments :D.
But to each their own I guess! I am a reader of the novel too but I do enjoy what they did in the drama with the plot and characters. The novel is not going anywhere and drama is its own thing.
I know that there are some butchered novel adaptations out there (I don't have the heart to name them), but then there are adaptations that do their own thing and are still fantastic (Howl's Moving Castle comes to my mind!). I would say that LYST is the latter category so far! (please be HEA, please be HEA, please be HEA)

I am sort of the opposite, there are some really popular dramas that didn't work for me, so too much hype actually discourages me somewhat :) The lower profile dramas are better in that way - no great expectations and you can be only pleasantly surprised :D.

Thank you, that sounds great!!!!

I apologize for an uncalled spoiler then! <3

I see :). Maybe you were thinking of ELoD in the book, because the novel ends with the FL on the bed and the ML finding out about their son. (since it's part of a book series, we KNOW that these two have HEA in the book too, but it's only in extras).
The drama added the sweet scene with a voiceover - I think we also can consider it a last minute HEA, but it's there, I checked on Viki :D.

Exactly my thoughts. I don't watch that many dramas in general - I am very picky - but I tend to rewatch a lot. (YAMG, parts of LBFaD and ELoD, FIYS, Maiden Holmes - just some of my favorite feel good dramas). Now I am considering Back From the Brink, but I don't know if I want to wach another xianxia so soon after LYST. Another title high on my list is Hidden Love, but it's so popular that I am worried what the catch is :D.

While we're at this topic, could you please elaborate on Back From the Brink ending? (I don't mind spoilers) I am thinking about starting it but I feel from some comments I see around that the ending is not a clear HEA...?

I am already thinking what to start next because the withdrawal is gonna hurt :D We are like drug addicts, missing their daily dose XD

I am a but confused about ELoD here because the ending scene had the OTP taking a walk with their kid and their voiceovers saying that they'll always be together...?
Sure, there is a bonus scene with them on the boat, but even in the normal ending it's a clear HEA...?

LBFaD had a last minute happy ending too :).

Thank you for the list, now I know which shows to avoid.... :D

Ah, I need to wait after the end for the final evaluation, but so far it's for me:
1) #5 - 30k years ago (omg, the chemistry is on fire!)
2) #3 - shifu/disciple (good fun/angsty mix)
3) #6 - demon arc (criminally underused so far, but the looks slay)
4) #4 - princess/general (too short, but on point)
5) #2 - Lu Changkong (too long, but with good OTP moments)
6) #1 - animals (10 minutes of CGI fun)

I think that they are going to count "young Cloud Fairy + amnesiac God of War" as one of the seven lives. And in the finale, they are (hopefully) going to be fully themselves, with all their powers and memories.

The bad:
- It has slow beginning (first 12 episodes or so, especially eps 2-8), so use the fast forward button if you need to to get through them (just watch the OTP's scenes and you're good)
- And the leads seem very stereotypical at the beginning, but their characters are more complicated than they seem; you will know more as the plot progresses
- the SML has unrequited obsession with the FL and meddles in lives #2 and #3 but aside from life #2 where he wasn't completely himself, he always backs off, never forces himself on the FL and later redeems himself (annoying, but not a villain) - I wouldn't consider this a love triangle

The good:
- OTP with great chemistry, many cute moments! very concentrated on the OTP, as in LBFaD. Kisses are more lukewarm, nothing steamy, but not bad and there are quite many for a xianxia!
- the plot and the worldbuilding is actually great and there are many parallels between the lives
- fantastic makeup and costuming!
- occasional angst, but mostly a light, funny/cute drama, I'd say it's even lighter than e.g. LBFaD
- YCY is actually good in this drama, especially in later episodes, give her a chance

This is a drama that is getting better and better as the story unfolds and every next life is better than the previous one :).
Tomorrow is the finale, we are all hoping for the HEA, fingers crossed!

What @k_renee_t said is all true.
And you don't have to worry too much about the SML. He is at his worst in the life #2 (eps 2–12) and a bit in life #3. He does want to protect the FL and his obsession with her is in unhealthy territory. But aside from the life #2 (in which he is not completely himself), he never tries to seriously harm the ML and he never forces himself on the FL. He always backs off once he's certain that the FL is protected by the ML and that he is her choice.
So yeah...he's annoying and an antagonist in life #2 (you can fast forward through his scenes there) but he is not super bad and redeems himself.

Several months ago, the crew of Love You Seven Times released a clip of the leads (DYX and YCY) meeting Changheng from LBFaD when they are in their demon attire (ML with grey hair, FL in striped dress, 6th life). As a part of promotion for LYST.

But I don't think they will actually meet him in the series itself....I mean, if they do, they only have like 2 episodes for it, because in the two last they will be back to their immortal looks (based on previews).

But even if Changheng did appear, it would be just an easter egg for fans, the worlds are different and their stories are not compatible. (the ML here is the God of War, not Changheng, the heavenly emperor is different as well, as are the various tribes....).

My headcanon is that he saw a boar first and went "oh no, not again!" .... cat was the only alternative then :D

He is precious here too <3 in a slightly more scary way :D

Understood. If you want to make sure, wait two more days. Only four episodes left to go and we'll know what the ending will be. Perhaps it's better to know in advance what you're getting into.... (we all hope for HEA here but we can never be too sure in xianxia drama)

We hope that the ultimate ending will be a HEA :). But yes, the premise is that the leads go through various lives/tribulations and they always die in them. On the other hand, it's still packed with cute moments and great chemistry!
(if you haven't started it yet, just keep in mind that the beginning, especially eps 1-8, drag a lot -> this drama gets better and better as it progresses but the beginning isn't the strongest, don't drop too soon!)