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This review may contain spoilers
A touching fantasy romance between the Ghost King and her little Fox General
As many others have mentioned, this drama is a hauntingly beautiful love story. It reminded me of some of my favourite K-dramas like Goblin and Hotel Del Luna, with even a touch of Harry Potter-like magic. At its core, it explores the timeless theme of love between an immortal and a mortal—so it’s no surprise that the story leans bittersweet.
Highlights
- The aesthetics and special effects—especially the transition between the mortal realm and the Void—were beautifully executed. The level of detail in the costumes was stunning. One standout moment for me was when Duan Xu visits the Void for the first time; it had a magical, almost Hogwarts-like atmosphere.
- Reba looked absolutely incredible. This might be one of her strongest roles to date, as her ethereal, untouchable presence perfectly suits a 400-year-old Ghost King. It was refreshing to see her take on a more layered and complex character.
- Chen Fei Yu also delivered a compelling performance as Duan Xu. Episode 8, in particular, really showcased his range—his ability to convey intense, almost hysterical emotion was impressive.
- The chemistry between the leads was undeniable. I’d love to see them reunite in a modern drama someday.
- The OST was solid throughout, especially the instrumental themes used for character introductions. Moments like He Si Mu and Yan Ke’s entrances felt especially grand and memorable. The music really amplified the drama’s haunting, magical tone.
- From what I’ve heard, the adaptation stays fairly faithful to the original novel, which is always a plus. It’s clear that care was taken to preserve key elements of the source material.
Lows
- There were a few stretches where the pacing slowed and the story drifted from the main plot. If you’re watching primarily for the romance, it’s still enjoyable—but some tighter editing would have helped.
- While the costumes were gorgeous overall, some of the wigs and oversized headpieces were a bit distracting (a minor issue, though).
- The ending felt slightly disjointed. Combining episode 40 with the extra episode might have made for a more cohesive conclusion. It seems like they were aiming to offer two alternate endings—one more bittersweet and grounded, the latter closer to the novel’s resolution. While both have their merits, committing to a single, well-developed ending might have been more impactful. Although, both can technically be interpreted as 'happy' endings - with Duan Xu accompanying Simu as a spirit (with hope that he will take his real form one day) or Simu living her life as a mortal with Duan Xu.
- Not much of a con but I will say they really dragged things out in the last few episodes - it was painful! Not because it was bad, but because it was sad. I took my sweet time to get through them. But that's the price you pay when you watch this genre (you cannot help but root for the couple even when you know the inevitable will happen)
Overall, this was an easy and enjoyable watch. If you’re a fan of fantasy romance with a melancholic edge, it’s definitely worth checking out.
Highlights
- The aesthetics and special effects—especially the transition between the mortal realm and the Void—were beautifully executed. The level of detail in the costumes was stunning. One standout moment for me was when Duan Xu visits the Void for the first time; it had a magical, almost Hogwarts-like atmosphere.
- Reba looked absolutely incredible. This might be one of her strongest roles to date, as her ethereal, untouchable presence perfectly suits a 400-year-old Ghost King. It was refreshing to see her take on a more layered and complex character.
- Chen Fei Yu also delivered a compelling performance as Duan Xu. Episode 8, in particular, really showcased his range—his ability to convey intense, almost hysterical emotion was impressive.
- The chemistry between the leads was undeniable. I’d love to see them reunite in a modern drama someday.
- The OST was solid throughout, especially the instrumental themes used for character introductions. Moments like He Si Mu and Yan Ke’s entrances felt especially grand and memorable. The music really amplified the drama’s haunting, magical tone.
- From what I’ve heard, the adaptation stays fairly faithful to the original novel, which is always a plus. It’s clear that care was taken to preserve key elements of the source material.
Lows
- There were a few stretches where the pacing slowed and the story drifted from the main plot. If you’re watching primarily for the romance, it’s still enjoyable—but some tighter editing would have helped.
- While the costumes were gorgeous overall, some of the wigs and oversized headpieces were a bit distracting (a minor issue, though).
- The ending felt slightly disjointed. Combining episode 40 with the extra episode might have made for a more cohesive conclusion. It seems like they were aiming to offer two alternate endings—one more bittersweet and grounded, the latter closer to the novel’s resolution. While both have their merits, committing to a single, well-developed ending might have been more impactful. Although, both can technically be interpreted as 'happy' endings - with Duan Xu accompanying Simu as a spirit (with hope that he will take his real form one day) or Simu living her life as a mortal with Duan Xu.
- Not much of a con but I will say they really dragged things out in the last few episodes - it was painful! Not because it was bad, but because it was sad. I took my sweet time to get through them. But that's the price you pay when you watch this genre (you cannot help but root for the couple even when you know the inevitable will happen)
Overall, this was an easy and enjoyable watch. If you’re a fan of fantasy romance with a melancholic edge, it’s definitely worth checking out.
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