Dong Hua is the strongest god in the realm of TMOPB. But, he lacks of conflict. He only used his power to defeat external enemy (Qincang). Almost no character development.
However TTJ shows us balanced conflicts, external and internal, and he won both. His internal conflict is the most outstanding, resulting in his willingness to self-sacrifice and save others. He is from a man not knowing what love is, to a man with egoistic love, and finally he grows up to selfless/ universal love.
DFQC is not god. He is only powerful when Taisui, the evil god, possessed him. In the main story, he is weakened because of love. Also, he is still afraid of death. That is why he is easily controlled by Lanhua. He is only fearsome in the backstory, but he is still defeated by god of war and prisoned for thousand years. DFQC is not the strongest in comparison to TTJ; only in his realm he is considered so.
Genuine question please. What do people see in this drama? Why is it rated so high? I started it because of the…
I will answer you with genuineness, too.
1. The story is very unique. The villain is at the center and we learn how he evolves from a devil to a god. His character development is unparalled by any other fictional character in CDrama land so far as I know.
2. The actor is the most suitable person to play such complicated character. Even without words, he can communicate with us with facial expressions and gestures. It is very enjoyable and a rich experience to watch him.
3. It shows us what a Devil God should be. The portrayal is so much better and cooler than any other drama (e.g Taisui in LBFD). Here, the Devil God is vicious, intelligent, so powerful, and eerely good-looking.
4. The costume is unique. Gods and goddesses are styled in Dunhuang. It is very fresh and pleasant to my eyes. The CGI, the setting of places, the styles of characters, all is so beautiful. The aesthetic of this drama is the best.
why did LSS say farewell and did whatever they did in ep 39? what is her reasoning behind that? And after so many…
1) I think LSS say farewell because she thinks TTJ will kill her (and everyone in the realms) after the demon wedding. In fact, it is TTJ that prepares for his own death. The Bo're dream is actually TTJ's farewell to LSS.
2) I think it is because TTJ is so good at lying to her. It is so real that TTJ is now a DG, and she has no idea that a DG could be good. Had she read TTJ's heart like reading a book, there wouldn't be any misunderstanding. This weakness is so humane.
DG TTJ told LSS at his Bore dream that LSS knew earlier when she taught him to draw talisman, he can never make…
I saw an interesting thing about the use of talisman in episode 39. And it reveals TTJ's pure heart at the time he is misunderstood so badly by LSS. It seems that actually he wants to tell the truth, but is only able to give a hint.
In TTJ's Bo're dream, LSS sarcastically asked, "This is the Bo're life in your mind? You're the Devil God, but why would you like this happy mortal life?" The night came to the dream and they had nostalgia of the good old days. LSS told him her biggest disappointment. "I made a wish... hoping that you wouldn't be the Devil God. But now I regret loving you. I even regret wasting that sketch (talisman). I was naive believing a stone-like person will grow a heart."
TTJ later replied, "It's just a sketch. With the power I have now, I can show you any wonderful scenery in this world." He created that beautiful scenery. "When you taught me to draw the sketch, you knew it clearly. Whatever the case, I won't be able to draw it, right?"
LSS admitted it herself. "What the sketch sees is the purest and the most beautiful things. 'Your body, heart and will are the three keys. When the tree unite, your cultivation is good. Keep your heart humble, keep your body quiet, and keep your will steady. This is how you unite them.' You can only make it [talisman] when you're FREE OF EVIL INTENTIONS." Her last sentence, "I know this [being free of evil intentions] was very difficult for you. But I did hope that you could make it."
You see, TTJ's face was full of happiness after hearing that. He asked LSS, "Does it [the scenery in the sky he made with his power] look pretty?"
Without words, TTJ shows his pure heart. It is the second.
The first one is the first talisman he made without YXW knowing it. Had YXW not fallen asleep at that time and saw what TTJ have done beautifully... she would be more hopeful and optimistic about TTJ. The story would be different.
From the first place, she failed to see TTJ's heart even before he was just a human and before he tasted the demonic cultivation. She was blinded by her assumption/ prejudice and it affected her later actions till the very last moment she had with TTJ.
DG TTJ told LSS at his Bore dream that LSS knew earlier when she taught him to draw talisman, he can never make…
We can tell that "a pure heart" = having no evil intention. Thus, it means that talisman can only be used with good intention.
TTJ is a weird one, but he doesn't have evil intention toward others. He doesn't mind other people's business and only think about how to survive in the harsh and cold world. When he does "evil things", it is a just retaliation or a defense or a warning for those who bully him (example, the fly and crows incident in Ye mansion).
Deus ex machina is the worst to end a story. I am happy this drama didn't fall for this cheap and easy way out…
I think, there are some scenes related to it from the last episode. They just don't directly and instantly clear TTJ's name so that viewers have to infer it.
1. The evil bone (a crystallization of sin) is destroyed. We can interpret it as all sin is pardoned (including killing and rage) and the world starts a new page.
2. All-in-distress Array is disappeared, and this event is witnessed by all people in three realms. Every immortals knows that it is Evil God's doing. It starts and ends with the life and death of him. If we are in their shoes, we would ask, how could it end that way? Because LSS is alive and witness everything on TTJ's side, she definitely tells them the truth.
3. In the Tomb, the image of LSS told TTJ his true identity. "Don't be sad. You are not Devil God. You are not a MURDERER nor a monster that brings disaster. Your name is ..." This scene is not only about TTJ and LSS, but also an announcement for all viewers and all people in all realm. No need to mention it twice in another scene, to avoid redundancy.
4. Pang Yizhi in a cave in the immortal sect place told us, "This world finally has peace now. Mortals, immortals, and demons can live in peace." The unity of three realms is possible only when immortals finally accept the existence of demons as their neighbor. Logically, they can only accept after learning TTJ's truth and LSS unites them. Even Pang Yizhi, a mere cloud and one of immortals, accepts TTJ, all immortals certainly do the same.
5. Lastly, 500 years later, we see mortals, immortals, and demon finally live together in one place. Mortal realms is a fun place to play, meaning no war and disaster anymore. After 500 years, the story of Mingye and Sangjiu is finally openly known as a folktale. TTJ and LSS's story is also known. TTJ is referred as an awesome, brave, resolute, and loving person. Even a kid knows this, all people certainly know it, too.
Again, I want to write to show my appreciation to the ending.I really feel this is the most acceptable ending…
Deus ex machina is the worst to end a story. I am happy this drama didn't fall for this cheap and easy way out to solve the main conflict, and took deviation from the novel ending. It is really a brave act to create something different and to some extents, refuse to obey the pressure of fans. This drama serves the fans without losing its mission to tell us the more valuable thing in life, portrayed in TTJ's life, from his birth to his death. It is what I like the most. Despite the unsatisfying ending, the story is popular and talked widely by fans internationally.
When TTJ finally reached godhood, it was the ultimate, and there should be nothing above it. He is an unparalleled being in the world of the story. It would be funny if he would be reincarnated to be a mortal again (and die again). Imagining him as desired by viewers to have happy family life is downgrading him as a character, because his life would turn to be mundane.
I am confused by the ending? What happened to tantai jun at the end?
He becomes god. But, because he destroyed the evil bone, his body was destroyed to along with his power. However, his immortal spirit remained and was stored in the dragon scale, in LSS possession. Based on the novel, 500 years later he would reincarnate to mortal world.
Despite the sin, the war, tragedy and chaos, life and death, "This world looks so small. But what a shame, only you and I can see such views." LSS
"The mountains are like peas. The rivers are like lines. Even the All-in distress Way looks just like a tiny speck of stain. Every living soul is too small to be visible. This is what the gods see. The mortals living in it will never see such scenery even after exhausting their whole lives. That's why they can never see through. That's why they can never break free." TTJ
Episode 40
TTJ's wisdom reminds me of "the pale blue dot" (Carl Sagan).
The depiction of the world from above is very metaphorical. It is like saying: Here in the Earth, we are fighting for things we think as the most important and destroying one each other for ambitions. But, if we see it from "god's perspective", those are actually not important. We keep fighting and getting hurt because we are stuck in worldly perspectives. We need to look from above, for the bigger picture.
I COME BACK AND I HAD TO REFRESH TO SEE IF MY EYES WERE SEEING THINGS RIGHT?? WHY IS THE RATING GOING DOWN???…
IMO, LBFAD is a drama that is playing safe. Most people love comedy, romance, and fantasy. LBFAD is the best in the genres so far. The story is lighter and brighter, intended to make us laugh and have fun. The tragedy is momentary. In the end, it must be happy again. Even though it tells about a so called demon lord as the main character (it is quite refreshing), the drama is metaphorically like a person standing in the beach, enjoying the sea. The wave just touches the tip of his toe. It doesn't make us swim and dive further to explore what good and evil is.
TTEOM is a tragedy, romance, and fantasy drama. The story is darker and more heart-wrenching. The comedy is momentary, the sadness is abundant. The purpose for serving us with this sadness is to make us crying, pondering, and gaining insights for the betterment of ourselves. The drama is like a person that finally throws himself into that sea, and gets drowned with the ideas of war between good and evil. From observing what evil is and how it materializes in a person, we learn about what good is and how to be good.
Not all people can enjoy this type of story, so the drama has more risk of being disliked. It is harder to watch TTEOM than LBFAD, it is easier to love LBFAD than TTEOM and give it higher rating. I personally don't mind about the rating, as long as it comes from honest viewers. Future viewers have the rights to be informed so that they are ready as the story is not for everyone. If you want to compare, it is fairer to compare TTEOM with other tragedy xianxia, not LBFAD.
Okay, so let me understand something.Apparently one of the things people keep complaining is how it was 56 episode…
For the poor editing in episode 33, I easily ignore it because the purpose of that episode is pretty clear.
As long as we get the point, we actually can tolerate it. So, why should some people still look for what is absent and don't enjoy what is present? I agree with you about the expectations.
Objectively speaking, there are easy methods to judge whether a story has happy or sad ending. The main characters usually appear earliest in the first episode. If they are still exist in the most final scene in the last episode, it means they are still alive. Then we compare their before-after situation/ condition (from first and last episodes). If the final is better that their initial situation/ condition when the story starts, it is a happy one.
In TTEOM we saw: TTJ is the first and the last. Before, he is a demon god and alone. After, he is a good god and has a wife and a daughter. Before, the world is in the brink of total annihilation. After, the world is in peace. From the story itself, it is a good/ happy ending, no matter the journey is full of angst and adversity.
However, we are allowed to have subjective experience over a story too. Thus, our judgement can be also subjective, reflecting more about ourselves (hope, desire, expectation, personality, and way of thinking). We use the story as a mirror to see ourselves. We want the story support or validate our worldview, what should and shouldn't. This is why we can feel disappointed or satisfied/ like or dislike a story.
So, beyond what is objectively shown in the story (I mean, things we all can see and no dispute about it), is our subjectivity. People are in conflict about TTEOM ending (it is normal). The difference is a difference in watching experience. When love, family, and happiness become the main issues disputed in TTEOM ending, it is showing that many of us desire, value, and prioritize this three things a lot higher then other things in life, like achievement, freedom, or the greater good. This should be a suggestion for future drama maker to create a show that satisfy viewers' deepest desires.
2 
However TTJ shows us balanced conflicts, external and internal, and he won both. His internal conflict is the most outstanding, resulting in his willingness to self-sacrifice and save others. He is from a man not knowing what love is, to a man with egoistic love, and finally he grows up to selfless/ universal love.
1. The story is very unique. The villain is at the center and we learn how he evolves from a devil to a god. His character development is unparalled by any other fictional character in CDrama land so far as I know.
2. The actor is the most suitable person to play such complicated character. Even without words, he can communicate with us with facial expressions and gestures. It is very enjoyable and a rich experience to watch him.
3. It shows us what a Devil God should be. The portrayal is so much better and cooler than any other drama (e.g Taisui in LBFD). Here, the Devil God is vicious, intelligent, so powerful, and eerely good-looking.
4. The costume is unique.
Gods and goddesses are styled in Dunhuang. It is very fresh and pleasant to my eyes. The CGI, the setting of places, the styles of characters, all is so beautiful. The aesthetic of this drama is the best.
2) I think it is because TTJ is so good at lying to her. It is so real that TTJ is now a DG, and she has no idea that a DG could be good. Had she read TTJ's heart like reading a book, there wouldn't be any misunderstanding. This weakness is so humane.
In TTJ's Bo're dream, LSS sarcastically asked, "This is the Bo're life in your mind? You're the Devil God, but why would you like this happy mortal life?" The night came to the dream and they had nostalgia of the good old days. LSS told him her biggest disappointment. "I made a wish... hoping that you wouldn't be the Devil God. But now I regret loving you. I even regret wasting that sketch (talisman). I was naive believing a stone-like person will grow a heart."
TTJ later replied, "It's just a sketch. With the power I have now, I can show you any wonderful scenery in this world." He created that beautiful scenery. "When you taught me to draw the sketch, you knew it clearly. Whatever the case, I won't be able to draw it, right?"
LSS admitted it herself. "What the sketch sees is the purest and the most beautiful things. 'Your body, heart and will are the three keys. When the tree unite, your cultivation is good. Keep your heart humble, keep your body quiet, and keep your will steady. This is how you unite them.' You can only make it [talisman] when you're FREE OF EVIL INTENTIONS." Her last sentence, "I know this [being free of evil intentions] was very difficult for you. But I did hope that you could make it."
You see, TTJ's face was full of happiness after hearing that. He asked LSS, "Does it [the scenery in the sky he made with his power] look pretty?"
Without words, TTJ shows his pure heart. It is the second.
The first one is the first talisman he made without YXW knowing it. Had YXW not fallen asleep at that time and saw what TTJ have done beautifully... she would be more hopeful and optimistic about TTJ. The story would be different.
From the first place, she failed to see TTJ's heart even before he was just a human and before he tasted the demonic cultivation. She was blinded by her assumption/ prejudice and it affected her later actions till the very last moment she had with TTJ.
TTJ is a weird one, but he doesn't have evil intention toward others. He doesn't mind other people's business and only think about how to survive in the harsh and cold world. When he does "evil things", it is a just retaliation or a defense or a warning for those who bully him (example, the fly and crows incident in Ye mansion).
1. The evil bone (a crystallization of sin) is destroyed. We can interpret it as all sin is pardoned (including killing and rage) and the world starts a new page.
2. All-in-distress Array is disappeared, and this event is witnessed by all people in three realms. Every immortals knows that it is Evil God's doing. It starts and ends with the life and death of him. If we are in their shoes, we would ask, how could it end that way? Because LSS is alive and witness everything on TTJ's side, she definitely tells them the truth.
3. In the Tomb, the image of LSS told TTJ his true identity. "Don't be sad. You are not Devil God. You are not a MURDERER nor a monster that brings disaster. Your name is ..." This scene is not only about TTJ and LSS, but also an announcement for all viewers and all people in all realm. No need to mention it twice in another scene, to avoid redundancy.
4. Pang Yizhi in a cave in the immortal sect place told us, "This world finally has peace now. Mortals, immortals, and demons can live in peace." The unity of three realms is possible only when immortals finally accept the existence of demons as their neighbor. Logically, they can only accept after learning TTJ's truth and LSS unites them. Even Pang Yizhi, a mere cloud and one of immortals, accepts TTJ, all immortals certainly do the same.
5. Lastly, 500 years later, we see mortals, immortals, and demon finally live together in one place. Mortal realms is a fun place to play, meaning no war and disaster anymore. After 500 years, the story of Mingye and Sangjiu is finally openly known as a folktale. TTJ and LSS's story is also known. TTJ is referred as an awesome, brave, resolute, and loving person. Even a kid knows this, all people certainly know it, too.
When TTJ finally reached godhood, it was the ultimate, and there should be nothing above it. He is an unparalleled being in the world of the story. It would be funny if he would be reincarnated to be a mortal again (and die again). Imagining him as desired by viewers to have happy family life is downgrading him as a character, because his life would turn to be mundane.
The storm it caused has long passed... and we are in a much calmer state now.
"The mountains are like peas. The rivers are like lines. Even the All-in distress Way looks just like a tiny speck of stain. Every living soul is too small to be visible. This is what the gods see. The mortals living in it will never see such scenery even after exhausting their whole lives. That's why they can never see through. That's why they can never break free." TTJ
Episode 40
TTJ's wisdom reminds me of "the pale blue dot" (Carl Sagan).
The depiction of the world from above is very metaphorical. It is like saying: Here in the Earth, we are fighting for things we think as the most important and destroying one each other for ambitions. But, if we see it from "god's perspective", those are actually not important. We keep fighting and getting hurt because we are stuck in worldly perspectives. We need to look from above, for the bigger picture.
Thanks LSS and TJJ for seeing this for us.
TTEOM is a tragedy, romance, and fantasy drama. The story is darker and more heart-wrenching. The comedy is momentary, the sadness is abundant. The purpose for serving us with this sadness is to make us crying, pondering, and gaining insights for the betterment of ourselves. The drama is like a person that finally throws himself into that sea, and gets drowned with the ideas of war between good and evil. From observing what evil is and how it materializes in a person, we learn about what good is and how to be good.
Not all people can enjoy this type of story, so the drama has more risk of being disliked. It is harder to watch TTEOM than LBFAD, it is easier to love LBFAD than TTEOM and give it higher rating. I personally don't mind about the rating, as long as it comes from honest viewers. Future viewers have the rights to be informed so that they are ready as the story is not for everyone. If you want to compare, it is fairer to compare TTEOM with other tragedy xianxia, not LBFAD.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gfsqX2q6iI0&list=OLAK5uy_nMzpLgr9k0t5oBTrKltdkW9xnaIkdweRo
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fGvbLqNXTL8&list=PL1Xfog3T5TZXqxX8k5kd2JHWQi6ThDhlL&index=9
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SUpNy-NVgVQ&list=OLAK5uy_kjn0LqIiHjWwSdSemW5Q8UXL4YmYf9d3g
As long as we get the point, we actually can tolerate it. So, why should some people still look for what is absent and don't enjoy what is present? I agree with you about the expectations.
In TTEOM we saw: TTJ is the first and the last. Before, he is a demon god and alone. After, he is a good god and has a wife and a daughter. Before, the world is in the brink of total annihilation. After, the world is in peace. From the story itself, it is a good/ happy ending, no matter the journey is full of angst and adversity.
However, we are allowed to have subjective experience over a story too. Thus, our judgement can be also subjective, reflecting more about ourselves (hope, desire, expectation, personality, and way of thinking). We use the story as a mirror to see ourselves. We want the story support or validate our worldview, what should and shouldn't. This is why we can feel disappointed or satisfied/ like or dislike a story.
So, beyond what is objectively shown in the story (I mean, things we all can see and no dispute about it), is our subjectivity. People are in conflict about TTEOM ending (it is normal). The difference is a difference in watching experience. When love, family, and happiness become the main issues disputed in TTEOM ending, it is showing that many of us desire, value, and prioritize this three things a lot higher then other things in life, like achievement, freedom, or the greater good. This should be a suggestion for future drama maker to create a show that satisfy viewers' deepest desires.