Exceed expectations!
I know I was late several years, but better late than never, right?
I watched several xianxia before so I kind of knew what to expect (the angst, sacrifice, usual tropes, etc) and I knew this drama has a high rating, so I had my expectations. Little did I know that I would be this affected and LBFAD easily become one of the best C-Drama I've ever watched. So much so that I wish I could go back and watched it for the first time just to savor the magic all over again. It's been over a month and I am still struggling to move on! Hahaha.
What I really love :
- It is tropey, indeed. The ML who is cold, domineering and ruthless bows down to the weak, bubbly, and cute FL. I mean we have seen this kind of setup so many times, right? But since it is done right, it doesn't feel cringey or over the top at all. It just makes you want to root for them. Ex: the legendary Ep 9. I did not usually swoon over the ML action scene, but man you have to admit DFQC is so cool in this scene!
- The subversion of the tropes. I love xianxia for the angst, but often time it feels like only the ML sacrifices a lot. Not to mention the miscommunication! But LBFAD manages to avoid this and I was surprised. I found myself crying, not because the ML has to suffer again, but because I can feel how they truly love each other and how beautiful their love is. Kudos to Ep 19 and 28 for portraying how couple in healthy relationship may argue. The SML is also not the annoying one you tend to see on another drama, but he is so mature and understanding.
- The CGI, while sometimes feel a little bit over the top, is so easy in the eyes. The color pallettes are also very beautiful. Oh, not to forget, dragon!
- The setting. I was blown away with Throne Room in Cangyan Hai. The details of the carving is so amazing. Not to mention how this drama capture the vibes of every place depicted.
- The acting, I love how DFQC has this annoyed and angry look all the time, but you can tell how he feels just by a slight change in his face or gesture. You can see that he is angry-frustrated, angry but softens a bit, angry but proud, angry but sad, and so on. His proud and pompous expression are top-notch! Not to mention when he swapped body with Orchid (and fangirling over Changheng HAHAHA that is so comical!). When he cries, of course we want to cry with him as well. Orchid, she is just cute and innocent, but she makes me cry a lot with her sacrifices. Kudos for the main leads and definitely looking forward to their projects! Oh, also their chemistry is on fireeee.
- The characters. You can easily understand the logic and drive behind every characters, even the villainous ones. So, no character (unless Lord Yunzhong) feels one-dimensional. Of course, they all get character development as well. So satisfying to watch.
- The development of the romance. LBFAD explains very nicely how our CP fall in love. It doesn't feel rushed and feels so natural and I understand very well why they fell in love with each other. It is something that I don't get in my previous xianxias (often time I ended up guessing why they fell in love).
- The details and easter eggs are thrown over throughout the shows, which shows a lot of care and attention by the crews. Good job!
- The OST. Wow, I could easily listen to all of the songs in one playlist without skipping. I love them all, especially the opening, To Find You and Amnesia.
What could have gone better:
- The pacing. The mortal arc might just be a tad bit longer than I expected and of course talking about the last 4-5 episodes that feel so sped up and so many things happened in 1 episode, and then it became slow on the next episode. Well, since I heard that one of the editors passed away, it is understandable.
- The ending!! Like seriously? We are robbed of more lovely moments with our CP!
- Orchid's voice and character might be annoying, but if you could pass through it, then you will be rewarded with a very great story. I sincerely didn't feel that annoyed because I've seen this kind of character before, so I am used to it.
Overall, it is not perfect but it is one of the best xianxia ever. You will be changed. Go watch it! I sincerely regret why I didn't watch the show earlier, and never judge a show by its posters!
I watched several xianxia before so I kind of knew what to expect (the angst, sacrifice, usual tropes, etc) and I knew this drama has a high rating, so I had my expectations. Little did I know that I would be this affected and LBFAD easily become one of the best C-Drama I've ever watched. So much so that I wish I could go back and watched it for the first time just to savor the magic all over again. It's been over a month and I am still struggling to move on! Hahaha.
What I really love :
- It is tropey, indeed. The ML who is cold, domineering and ruthless bows down to the weak, bubbly, and cute FL. I mean we have seen this kind of setup so many times, right? But since it is done right, it doesn't feel cringey or over the top at all. It just makes you want to root for them. Ex: the legendary Ep 9. I did not usually swoon over the ML action scene, but man you have to admit DFQC is so cool in this scene!
- The subversion of the tropes. I love xianxia for the angst, but often time it feels like only the ML sacrifices a lot. Not to mention the miscommunication! But LBFAD manages to avoid this and I was surprised. I found myself crying, not because the ML has to suffer again, but because I can feel how they truly love each other and how beautiful their love is. Kudos to Ep 19 and 28 for portraying how couple in healthy relationship may argue. The SML is also not the annoying one you tend to see on another drama, but he is so mature and understanding.
- The CGI, while sometimes feel a little bit over the top, is so easy in the eyes. The color pallettes are also very beautiful. Oh, not to forget, dragon!
- The setting. I was blown away with Throne Room in Cangyan Hai. The details of the carving is so amazing. Not to mention how this drama capture the vibes of every place depicted.
- The acting, I love how DFQC has this annoyed and angry look all the time, but you can tell how he feels just by a slight change in his face or gesture. You can see that he is angry-frustrated, angry but softens a bit, angry but proud, angry but sad, and so on. His proud and pompous expression are top-notch! Not to mention when he swapped body with Orchid (and fangirling over Changheng HAHAHA that is so comical!). When he cries, of course we want to cry with him as well. Orchid, she is just cute and innocent, but she makes me cry a lot with her sacrifices. Kudos for the main leads and definitely looking forward to their projects! Oh, also their chemistry is on fireeee.
- The characters. You can easily understand the logic and drive behind every characters, even the villainous ones. So, no character (unless Lord Yunzhong) feels one-dimensional. Of course, they all get character development as well. So satisfying to watch.
- The development of the romance. LBFAD explains very nicely how our CP fall in love. It doesn't feel rushed and feels so natural and I understand very well why they fell in love with each other. It is something that I don't get in my previous xianxias (often time I ended up guessing why they fell in love).
- The details and easter eggs are thrown over throughout the shows, which shows a lot of care and attention by the crews. Good job!
- The OST. Wow, I could easily listen to all of the songs in one playlist without skipping. I love them all, especially the opening, To Find You and Amnesia.
What could have gone better:
- The pacing. The mortal arc might just be a tad bit longer than I expected and of course talking about the last 4-5 episodes that feel so sped up and so many things happened in 1 episode, and then it became slow on the next episode. Well, since I heard that one of the editors passed away, it is understandable.
- The ending!! Like seriously? We are robbed of more lovely moments with our CP!
- Orchid's voice and character might be annoying, but if you could pass through it, then you will be rewarded with a very great story. I sincerely didn't feel that annoyed because I've seen this kind of character before, so I am used to it.
Overall, it is not perfect but it is one of the best xianxia ever. You will be changed. Go watch it! I sincerely regret why I didn't watch the show earlier, and never judge a show by its posters!
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