anhsn

I have finished 7 episode. I think, the beginning of this drama is much better than other drama with similar medical genre e.g. Love is Panacea. The setting of country M, the landscape, the security and health issues, the struggles of medical personnels are believable. The moral dilemma is very well put, pharmaceutical industry vs humanitarian medicine. And everybody works together and have meaningful contribution to mitigate the crisis.

I look forward for the next episodes.

Yes, there are misunderstandings, but not many in my view. And these understandings are not caused by a third wheeler, but unavoidable circumstances around them.

First is when Sifeng is punished because he lost his mask for the first time. Through the bell, he heard Xuanji from afar saying her liking towards Minyan. He felt discouraged instantly. This is happened because Xuanji and Sifeng has different definition of like/ love. But later, he helped Xuanji to gain her senses and taught her the meaning of liking and loving a person. For many episode after this first misunderstanding, they are pretty united and there is no disagreement among them that they are special person to each other.

Second is when Sifeng are forced to use his power as golden bird demon to protect his sect and himself. This time, Lize Palace has been revealed as a demon den and all of its member are demons in disguise. This misunderstanding is tragic because this fact related to Xuanji's mom death and Sifeng is clueless about this. But later, he investigated is and found the truth about who killed Xuanji's mom and the reason behind it.

The time Xuanji and Sifeng started to talk again, the third misunderstanding happened. Xuanji didn't come as planned, so Sifeng looked for her in her sect. He overheard that Xuanji is forced by his father to take an oath to kill all demon. But, from Sifeng point of view, maybe it is not a misunderstanding because he knew the pressure around Xuanji as she is already known to be god of war reincarnate.

The fourth, the most heart breaking because it ended up with Xuanji hurt Sifeng, Sifeng pretended to be the star of Mosha to protect Xuanji. He is the only person who realized this fact, and if people around them knew this, Xuanji would be in danger. So, he took all hatred and left Xuanji. But, he used this pretense to regain power in Lize Palace and to defeat the enemy.

Only four misunderstandings. After this, Xuanji learnt the truth and looked for Sifeng. They reunited again as lovers.

1. After he donated his heart to Sifeng so Sifeng can revive from death, he annihilated himself with Hao Chen.

2. Xuanji chose to be a mortal and continued her mortal life with Sifeng.

3. Sifeng is still a demon in their 10th life.

4. Yes. They wrote different happy ending from their previous 9 lives.

IMO, TTEOTM and LAR are so different in plot, storyline, the nature of evil and good, and the source of viciousness.

TTEOTM is pretty bold at differentiating between good and evil (immortals vs demons/ devils) from the first place. There is a clear line separating both standings. Evil is always evil, and vice versa. The idea of evil as the shadow of goodness and as eternal as human sins give no room to compromise. The only solution is to annihilate the evil. Meanwhile in LAR, in the beginning we don't know what kind of conflict it would be. It is just like usual demon vs mortal+god. But, as we know the demon is capable of feeling and love, and mortal+god are having ambition and desire, the nature of evil and righteousness become grey. It opens to multiple solutions as we have seen: forgiveness, letting go the pasts, flowing with the nature, accepting the fate, facing the future, etc.

Regarding the story theme, LAR is better at potraying the idea of love than TTEOTM. In LAR, love of Sifeng is sincere, pure, unconditional, selfless. This kind of love becomes his source of resilience and patience. He has compassion towards senseless Xuanji and teach her what is love slowly. While in TTEOM, love is just instrument for certain interest (annihilate the evil). YXW's patience is a patience to end TTJ. It makes the love as evil as the evil itself. We see the story of betrayal in the name of righteousness. Love creates infatuation and madness on TTJ (the mortal arc) and deep loyalty later, while YXW didn't have a chance to amend her wrongdoings towards TTJ. It is a story of regret.

In term of romance and love story, LAR is better. From the beginning to the end, both main characters always seek for reunion. Meanwhile in TTEOTM, TTJ changed in the end to seek freedom from suffering. He reached "nirvana" by killing himself. And, YXW, her one and only goal is just stopping evil.

And about the lack of love/ senses in cases TTJ and Xuanji... for TTJ it is because he is the evil agents, he is weird from the day he was born. While for Xuanji, it is because she is a victim of Hao Chen's "experimentation"/ wrongdoing. For TTJ, the plant of love grew in him unconsciously. He never saught for it. It is YXW's scheme. While for Xuanji, she purposefully wanted her senses back because Sifeng taught her that those senses are important for her to differentiate between evil and righteousness. She wanted to be normal human and to have a normal life.

All above is my humble opinion. Both shows are great, but not similar at all.

Episode 1-20s is their sweet moment, pleasant love story. Naive, clueless of reality surrounding them, optimistic, full of hope.

Episode 20s-30 is the beginning of heartbreak. The story turned out to be a forbidden love story between a mortal and a demon. Their trust to each other is challenged. So far, they still can defend themselves but...

Episode 30-40s, everything just become so ugly. The villains are getting stronger, their enemy purposefully create discord among them. To protect Xuanji Sifeng betrayed her, while he is in the brink of death and repeatedly wounded. So bitter. Enjoy the tears here.

Episode 40-50, Xuanji started to learn the truth and regret her action towards Sifeng. Till the last episode, it told the sincere love of Sifeng to Xuanji. And, happy ending.

FL was given options to be god or mortal. She chose to be mortal in order to take care of wounded Sifeng, and later continued her life in mortal realm with Sifeng and her family.

And there is a reason also why she is without six senses. Because she is created without heart from the first place.

I think why they just couldn't be honest is because of the social pressure around them. There is prejudice and hate toward demon among mortals; it makes ML (Sifeng) super careful and delaying revealing the truth. Xuanji herself is just an "insignificant" person. She is not important among older elites, not until she is revealed to be the reincarnation of god of war. Then, they imposed a duty to her, to kill demon. She might be dumb, but I see her inner turmoil, powerlessness, and confuse instead. That is why she felt like a victim of Sifeng's lies. She has no means or chance to access the truth.

IMO, comparing to TTEOTM, love hate relationship is better in LAR. Because, we all know Sifeng and Xuanji are lovers from the first place. Their conflict and heartbreak are more profound. Later, when they are united again, it is so satisfying and heart warming. Meanwhile in TTEOTM, not until the immortal arc, the love of TTJ towards YXW is one-sided and unrequitted. YXW kept seeing him as an enemy deserved of killing and her love is a manipulation. When TTTJ is died in the end, I think YXW deserved the heartbreak and regret. Because she never did a good thing to TTJ, only avoiding, accusing, blaming, and hating till the end.

Don't forget one variable on the equation: dangers.

I see you repeatedly asking comparing this drama to TTEOTM. Why?

Just finished second rewatch. LLH character development and self-growth is so beautiful, poetic.

Very happy and just ending

I never watched Cheng Yi's works before, but after Mysterious Lotus Casebook (I digged into this one mainly because it is high rated wuxia), I come to Love and Redemption. Now I am at episode 30s. The plot is really good.

This year is so good for wuxia lovers. After The Blood of Youth, we have this. This drama is also so close to Nirvana in Fire. Both are mature show. So great. But, MCL is less political, less romance, more real fight with swords, and more exploration of the jianghu. I like it. I am ready to re-watch it. And, it makes me want to watch Nirvana in Fire again.

I agree. After Lacaya, the story goes down hill.

You almost don't know a thing about every character here because it is intentionally made so. Especially Xiao Se. He is a prince in exile/ presumed to be dead already. And the identity of other guardians are only revealed near the periode Xiao Se's identity is exposed. For me, this kind of character development is unique because we see how the characters are constructed through/ mid the story, not from the start.

I think, near the end, the drama doesn't have enough time to introduce Tang Ze. If you are curious about how he became one of the guardian, you'd be better to read the novel.

Indeed, however that much information is useful to minimize plot holes. This drama is wonderful because it is pretty neat and keeps its internal logics well. Even though it is originated from a novel, watching the drama itself is sufficient and gives you full experience.

I think, the use of several demons in the story is just for the sake of the world building. The point of the story is not to tell about them individually as they are just tertiary. In the beginning we have dream demon, and other several small demons devoured be TTJ, other weak demons in the Abyss, and another dream demon, and this spider demon.

Except for Pianran, Siying, and Jinmie as they are secondary. Pianran is important for TTJ's development as a king and device to expose the ugliness of YBC. Siying and Jinmie are DG's generals.

I don't understand it either. As I remember, there is nothing from the drama which tells us directly why TTJ is a moon. I am only able to make a guess.

LSS/ immortals/ gods and goddesses are symbols of light, the sun and broad day light. Meanwhile, Devil God and demon are the symbol of darkness, the night. At night, the only source of light for the world in darkness is the moon.

Moon revolves around the Earth in several phases. In the beginning of a month, the new moon is called "dark moon" or "black moon". TTJ at the beginning is like a dark moon. He is the shadow, the evil being that is created from the sin. Like a moon, he has potential to shine. But, he must endure a slow evolution.

Slowly along the time, the crescent of the moon is getting bigger. At the peak of the moon, we have a beautiful "full moon" which lights the night. TTJ's character growth is like a full moon. The moon is shining till the dawn is breaking. The moon is gone, but a new day is rising. He sacrifices himself at his peak; he finally reaches godhood. From that, we have a new world wherein everything is under the light.

So... "till the end of the moon". CMIIW!