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This review may contain spoilers
Beautiful and tragic story
Many spoilers ahead.
Can’t believe at first I didn’t want to watch this drama, but now it’s probably in my top 5 watch of 2025 so far. I watched more than 20 2025 dramas so far and not many succeeded to keep me really interested, waiting for more eps. I was waiting and watching mostly everyday for this one. I was glued to my TV for the last 6 eps. Made me feel hapiness and sadness. A cried a lot, that says how much I was attached to this drama and it succeeded for me
The Good for me :
- Such a good group and friendship, I enjoyed and like every characters. Their bond and friendship was great to watch. I got attached and felt for the characters
- This drama has many good love story :
1) Baimu Yao x Du Niang Jun : not much to say for those 2, there were there for a such short time, no time to get attached or feel anything for me. But he sacrificed himself for her clan and for her in the end, we can see they loved each other.
2) Yang Yang x ? (man I forgot his name and can’t find him in the cast list, anyway you know who I mean) : ep 8, such a sad episode. The second tragic love story, they just wanted to be together. Zhang Ruo Nan acted very well, I felt her pain. I hated her family, they bullied him even on their wedding day and caused his dead. That was satisfying when she cuted ties with her family and left. That father was the worst. We never say her again, be we knows she’ll alive and should live a few years.
3) Dongfang Huai Zhu x Wangquan Hong Ye : I loved the leads characters and their love story very much. I felt their love, they loved each other so bad, broke my heart at the end. I think their story flow nicely, at first as mask man and then slowly working together and falling in love. They confessed, got together around eps 16-18 ? I don’t remember, but I think it was at a good time, almost middle of the story, I appreciated that. They were cute and I think they had chemistry. The little moments, holding hands, hugs, spending time together. Like at the end of ep 28 ? the marriage proposal or when they did the firework for his sister. She was like ‘’you want to watch the fireworks with me’’. He responds ‘’no I don’t’’, she says ‘’Yes you do’’ their smiles and playful talk, ah I want what they have. They made me smile and cry. They had a pretty healthy and mature relationship, good communication in general, helping, supporting each other, working together throw hard ship. Strong, powerful and great couple. No breakup, a bit distant close to the end which is totally understandable after both and mostly him losing so much. I will talk about the ending below for everyone
4) Wangquan Zhui x Yang Yi Tan : loved these 2. They were cute and also loved each other very much. From childhood companion to friend to engaged. I also appreciated the little moments and when they finally got together. For them too, also middle of the story ? They loved and wanted to protect each other. They never got to get married
5) zhang Zheng x Quing Mu Yuan : another interesting couple. I liked his background, thought that was interesting. They didn’t have much time together ☹ She never gave up on him. the couple that had maybe the less horrible kiss.
6) Jiu Huo x Ji Lan : I liked how they gave almost an episode on their backstory. It made us understand more the villains and how they became like that, how the Black Fox came to life. He did everything to get her back, sacrificed, but in the end he lost her a long time ago. Also the betrayal, she has been dead long ago. He had no will to live anymore and I felt it when he said he wishes for her to be free. We could somehow appreciate these 2 in my opinion even if they lead to our beloved characters downfall, I’ll get back to it when I’ll talk about the villains.
Love in Pavillon has a great main couple and romance, I think that this is one of the things Red Moon Pact failed at.
And 0 love triangle or much of third wheel at all, only that senior who was obsessed with FL, but that was very minimal and very limited screetime in general
- I liked the costumes, setting, scenery
- CGI was good in general
- Some were maybe less interesting at time, but I enjoyed the different arcs and the story, character we saw amount the way,
- Other relationship :
1) Dongfang Huai x Dongfang Qin Lan : I liked the bond between the sisters. Heartbreaking when they lost their father, FL did everything to get her out and save her. Sadly they never met again before FL died. She was a bit annoying to me when she was between the leads, but at least the writer did not get far with that and she wasn’t too much.
2) Wangquan x Hong Ye : another great sibling dynamic. Since they were kids, he has been protecting her, he failed in the end. I cried again when he was in the cave with the masks and when he got to her mask, he broke down crying…
3) It was interesting to see the story of FL’s parents with the flashbacks
- The actors : I think everyone did good. I think I will praise a bit Zhang Yun Long. I think he did a great performance and expressed well the emotions
- The villains of the story :
1) Jiu Huo x Ji Lan : strong, powerful and intelligent villains. Black Fox was such an evil villain. Like damn, that was crazy to see, how she made them kill each other. I actually could appreciate a strong and very evil antagonist. I think in the end, these 2 characters were pretty interesting to watch. Some dramas, the villains can be annoying or boring or whatever, that when they appear on the screen, you want to skip them, but I didn't felt this here.
2) FL’s senior : that was a bit of a led down, just an annoying and not really interesting villain unfortunately. Bro was delulu ahah
Ending: (eps 32-36)
First off, I like how it’s a clear ending, still a bit tiny open because the story is not over, Sword and Beloved coming next, but no BS everyone who is dead is dead, no weird open ending (like cough cough Red Moon Pact). I actually liked the ending. ML and their son, hope for the future, every clan and everyone preparing themselves for what is to come next, getting back on their feet. the Black Fox will come back again some day too.
Also I already knew even before the drama started that almost everyone will die and what is the ending, so I was prepared for what was to come and can’t complain about that.
ML tried to go alone, but they still all followed. They were not prepared enough or ready or strong enough in my opinion. All went to sh*it fast, it was doom anyway with the third eyes already possessed. ML succeeded alone in the end ☹ I like the little talk between ML and his father.
Let’s go down one by one :
1) First off, we lost zhang Zheng x Quing Mu Yuan : His death was a bit of a lead down, I was so happy when he resisted the black fox's control, but died pretty fast and easily at her hand. Even her, she tried, but way to weak to defeat the black fox. Anyway, how to live after this, she liked her lover, at least they died together. I wasn’t that affected by their deaths honestly.
2) After that, the Li brothers : damn these 2 got me crying☹ so that is how he came to be in a wheel chair. I liked the flashbacks, how much the older one loved and protected his younger brother. Sacrificed his hand and life work to save him back then. Now younger brother wanted to be the one to protect and save. He decided to become the vessel and sacrifice himself, but plot twist, the brother exchanged his life with him to save him. The talisman his brother gave him was not a life-saving talisman, but a life-exchanging talisman. I liked how they wrote this. His fate didn’t change, he still lived. And like seriously, how he was so close to see Qui Lan again, not nah, they will never meet again.
3) Next, Wangquan Zhui x Yang Yi Tan and the other group member (I am so bad with names) : how tragic, they made Yang Yi Tan kill his love. The little flashback of the life she dreamt for them, sadly that will never come true. He killed their friend. His daughter will never see him come back as a hero, when that dialogue came up… so sad. Then he decides to destroy his third eyes and kill himself, tragic but the way to stop the black fox from controlling him. Now they can rest in peace together.
All those sacrifices, was it worth it?
4) ML losing them, that man is left broken after killing Black Fox. No will to live or continue. Poor FL also suffering and wondering if he is alive. She just wants to go to the pavillon again with him. Then ML shows up, save her and wedding. Concubine was a bit nah, but it was the plan, FL understood and in the end, she's just like an official wife. Distant a bit at first, which I think is understandable, he lost his sword spirit, depressed? broken, name it… She was so glad he came back. They reconcile and FL made that plan with their child. Their child will be so strong. So sad, they love each other so bad, she knew she was dying and wanted to spend the most time possible with him and their child, but that was short lived. ML was so happy to be a father and motivations. When she talked to the child and said he has to stay with his dad and keep him company, because she knows she will be gone and won’t be able to do it (and he lost everyone else), I lost it and cried again. Honestly cried a lot in the last 4 eps. They never got to go together to the pavillon either. Then her last wish, last hug and it’s over. Their story touched me.
Other points:
1) kissing scenes for every couple were bad
2) Wish they have shown again Qui Lan even if we know she’s alive.
3) The couple in the future: that could have been better and it was stupid how they made her kill herself to get blue eyes back
4) Music was a bit meh at time, but I particularly liked a lot one of the ost
5) I liked how FL found out early that ML is the mask man
6) Had maybe some more boring moments or eps in the first half, but seriously pretty much every drama to me has those. Don't know if I ever watched a drama that had zero boring or less interesting moments
7) they really should not have released Red Moon Pact first
Anyway, to conclude, for me a great watch, likeable characters, friendship and great love story. glad I watch this drama. You need to prepare for the sadness, but I definitely recommend this drama anyway
Can’t believe at first I didn’t want to watch this drama, but now it’s probably in my top 5 watch of 2025 so far. I watched more than 20 2025 dramas so far and not many succeeded to keep me really interested, waiting for more eps. I was waiting and watching mostly everyday for this one. I was glued to my TV for the last 6 eps. Made me feel hapiness and sadness. A cried a lot, that says how much I was attached to this drama and it succeeded for me
The Good for me :
- Such a good group and friendship, I enjoyed and like every characters. Their bond and friendship was great to watch. I got attached and felt for the characters
- This drama has many good love story :
1) Baimu Yao x Du Niang Jun : not much to say for those 2, there were there for a such short time, no time to get attached or feel anything for me. But he sacrificed himself for her clan and for her in the end, we can see they loved each other.
2) Yang Yang x ? (man I forgot his name and can’t find him in the cast list, anyway you know who I mean) : ep 8, such a sad episode. The second tragic love story, they just wanted to be together. Zhang Ruo Nan acted very well, I felt her pain. I hated her family, they bullied him even on their wedding day and caused his dead. That was satisfying when she cuted ties with her family and left. That father was the worst. We never say her again, be we knows she’ll alive and should live a few years.
3) Dongfang Huai Zhu x Wangquan Hong Ye : I loved the leads characters and their love story very much. I felt their love, they loved each other so bad, broke my heart at the end. I think their story flow nicely, at first as mask man and then slowly working together and falling in love. They confessed, got together around eps 16-18 ? I don’t remember, but I think it was at a good time, almost middle of the story, I appreciated that. They were cute and I think they had chemistry. The little moments, holding hands, hugs, spending time together. Like at the end of ep 28 ? the marriage proposal or when they did the firework for his sister. She was like ‘’you want to watch the fireworks with me’’. He responds ‘’no I don’t’’, she says ‘’Yes you do’’ their smiles and playful talk, ah I want what they have. They made me smile and cry. They had a pretty healthy and mature relationship, good communication in general, helping, supporting each other, working together throw hard ship. Strong, powerful and great couple. No breakup, a bit distant close to the end which is totally understandable after both and mostly him losing so much. I will talk about the ending below for everyone
4) Wangquan Zhui x Yang Yi Tan : loved these 2. They were cute and also loved each other very much. From childhood companion to friend to engaged. I also appreciated the little moments and when they finally got together. For them too, also middle of the story ? They loved and wanted to protect each other. They never got to get married
5) zhang Zheng x Quing Mu Yuan : another interesting couple. I liked his background, thought that was interesting. They didn’t have much time together ☹ She never gave up on him. the couple that had maybe the less horrible kiss.
6) Jiu Huo x Ji Lan : I liked how they gave almost an episode on their backstory. It made us understand more the villains and how they became like that, how the Black Fox came to life. He did everything to get her back, sacrificed, but in the end he lost her a long time ago. Also the betrayal, she has been dead long ago. He had no will to live anymore and I felt it when he said he wishes for her to be free. We could somehow appreciate these 2 in my opinion even if they lead to our beloved characters downfall, I’ll get back to it when I’ll talk about the villains.
Love in Pavillon has a great main couple and romance, I think that this is one of the things Red Moon Pact failed at.
And 0 love triangle or much of third wheel at all, only that senior who was obsessed with FL, but that was very minimal and very limited screetime in general
- I liked the costumes, setting, scenery
- CGI was good in general
- Some were maybe less interesting at time, but I enjoyed the different arcs and the story, character we saw amount the way,
- Other relationship :
1) Dongfang Huai x Dongfang Qin Lan : I liked the bond between the sisters. Heartbreaking when they lost their father, FL did everything to get her out and save her. Sadly they never met again before FL died. She was a bit annoying to me when she was between the leads, but at least the writer did not get far with that and she wasn’t too much.
2) Wangquan x Hong Ye : another great sibling dynamic. Since they were kids, he has been protecting her, he failed in the end. I cried again when he was in the cave with the masks and when he got to her mask, he broke down crying…
3) It was interesting to see the story of FL’s parents with the flashbacks
- The actors : I think everyone did good. I think I will praise a bit Zhang Yun Long. I think he did a great performance and expressed well the emotions
- The villains of the story :
1) Jiu Huo x Ji Lan : strong, powerful and intelligent villains. Black Fox was such an evil villain. Like damn, that was crazy to see, how she made them kill each other. I actually could appreciate a strong and very evil antagonist. I think in the end, these 2 characters were pretty interesting to watch. Some dramas, the villains can be annoying or boring or whatever, that when they appear on the screen, you want to skip them, but I didn't felt this here.
2) FL’s senior : that was a bit of a led down, just an annoying and not really interesting villain unfortunately. Bro was delulu ahah
Ending: (eps 32-36)
First off, I like how it’s a clear ending, still a bit tiny open because the story is not over, Sword and Beloved coming next, but no BS everyone who is dead is dead, no weird open ending (like cough cough Red Moon Pact). I actually liked the ending. ML and their son, hope for the future, every clan and everyone preparing themselves for what is to come next, getting back on their feet. the Black Fox will come back again some day too.
Also I already knew even before the drama started that almost everyone will die and what is the ending, so I was prepared for what was to come and can’t complain about that.
ML tried to go alone, but they still all followed. They were not prepared enough or ready or strong enough in my opinion. All went to sh*it fast, it was doom anyway with the third eyes already possessed. ML succeeded alone in the end ☹ I like the little talk between ML and his father.
Let’s go down one by one :
1) First off, we lost zhang Zheng x Quing Mu Yuan : His death was a bit of a lead down, I was so happy when he resisted the black fox's control, but died pretty fast and easily at her hand. Even her, she tried, but way to weak to defeat the black fox. Anyway, how to live after this, she liked her lover, at least they died together. I wasn’t that affected by their deaths honestly.
2) After that, the Li brothers : damn these 2 got me crying☹ so that is how he came to be in a wheel chair. I liked the flashbacks, how much the older one loved and protected his younger brother. Sacrificed his hand and life work to save him back then. Now younger brother wanted to be the one to protect and save. He decided to become the vessel and sacrifice himself, but plot twist, the brother exchanged his life with him to save him. The talisman his brother gave him was not a life-saving talisman, but a life-exchanging talisman. I liked how they wrote this. His fate didn’t change, he still lived. And like seriously, how he was so close to see Qui Lan again, not nah, they will never meet again.
3) Next, Wangquan Zhui x Yang Yi Tan and the other group member (I am so bad with names) : how tragic, they made Yang Yi Tan kill his love. The little flashback of the life she dreamt for them, sadly that will never come true. He killed their friend. His daughter will never see him come back as a hero, when that dialogue came up… so sad. Then he decides to destroy his third eyes and kill himself, tragic but the way to stop the black fox from controlling him. Now they can rest in peace together.
All those sacrifices, was it worth it?
4) ML losing them, that man is left broken after killing Black Fox. No will to live or continue. Poor FL also suffering and wondering if he is alive. She just wants to go to the pavillon again with him. Then ML shows up, save her and wedding. Concubine was a bit nah, but it was the plan, FL understood and in the end, she's just like an official wife. Distant a bit at first, which I think is understandable, he lost his sword spirit, depressed? broken, name it… She was so glad he came back. They reconcile and FL made that plan with their child. Their child will be so strong. So sad, they love each other so bad, she knew she was dying and wanted to spend the most time possible with him and their child, but that was short lived. ML was so happy to be a father and motivations. When she talked to the child and said he has to stay with his dad and keep him company, because she knows she will be gone and won’t be able to do it (and he lost everyone else), I lost it and cried again. Honestly cried a lot in the last 4 eps. They never got to go together to the pavillon either. Then her last wish, last hug and it’s over. Their story touched me.
Other points:
1) kissing scenes for every couple were bad
2) Wish they have shown again Qui Lan even if we know she’s alive.
3) The couple in the future: that could have been better and it was stupid how they made her kill herself to get blue eyes back
4) Music was a bit meh at time, but I particularly liked a lot one of the ost
5) I liked how FL found out early that ML is the mask man
6) Had maybe some more boring moments or eps in the first half, but seriously pretty much every drama to me has those. Don't know if I ever watched a drama that had zero boring or less interesting moments
7) they really should not have released Red Moon Pact first
Anyway, to conclude, for me a great watch, likeable characters, friendship and great love story. glad I watch this drama. You need to prepare for the sadness, but I definitely recommend this drama anyway
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