anitfa

A tragedy wuxia. There are more tears than blood, more manipulation than actual combat.

I watched this drama to explore and appreciate Luo Yunxi's acting skill after watching him in Till The End of The Moon (2023) and Love is Sweet (2020). If you come to this drama for this reason, you won't be disappointed. Playing the ML, Shangguan Tuo, he is really skilled in managing emotional scenes as well as fight scenes, his facial expressions and gestures was on point. In addition, in this drama and his previous Runyu role in Ashes of Love (2018), Luo Yunxi has the best physical appearance (not too thin yet), IMO. He is definitely the king of costume drama. Wearing traditional clothes, his handsomeness and elegance is off the chart.

***

Many viewers gave pretty low rating for this drama and I understand the reason. Without great patience, you won't survive this drama "boringness". Over the span of 48 episodes, under the tag of a wuxia, there are only few actions to enjoy. Instead of action, there are tons of talks about love and hate, jianghu politics, and mystery to solve. If you don't have the flexibility to change your expectation and set new watching goals midway, there are nothing left for you. You'd better drop this title and save your precious time. However, if you are able to realize the message the drama intends to convey, stay watching and you will reap the gem in episode after episode.

I like to focus more on the story. Actually, this drama is pretty good at lying the foundation for the main conflict. The conflict is not straightforward and is built up slowly. In early episodes, we think that the story is about FL's (Chong Wuezhi, played by Yukee Chen) quest to reconcile with other sects in jianghu who have grudge to her sect, Hall of Flame, and clear her father's name. However, the water is more deep than that with the introduction of Prince Lu (played by Patrick Quan) from the imperial palace.

Prince Lu is an impossible antagonist and villain. He is weak and sick, but has big ambition to control the jianghu. His power is immense because he is super intelligent to to collude with certain sects and achieve his goal. He is the master of manipulation. The Hall of Flame is just one of his victims. More interestingly, Prince Lu has a sound philosophy to commit his crime. He doesn't seek the throne like typical villains in wuxia-palace drama. He wants to maintain order in the land and increase palace control over chaotic jianghu. It makes an impression that he is the righteous one.

The story sets in the context where martial arts sects were flourishing but competing to one each others. The competition to be the strongest and greatest creates distress for society. Previously, the traditional relationship between palace/ government and jianghu is non intervening. Jianghu has the freedom to do whatever the sects want without government intervention, but people of jianghu is forbidden to participate in palace politics and imperial family business. The goal of people of jianghu is to achieve the greatness in martial arts, to be the strongest and the most influential among sects. Sometimes in the process, some people are killed and it creates grudge and prolonged blood feuds. From government point of view, this feud breaks peacefulness. The main goal of government is to maintain order by the rule of laws, but with traditional norm of non-intervention, government cannot punish people of jianghu to stop the disorder.

Prince Lu is the actor who wants to change this chaotic situation, in order to help his emperor father of Crown Prince brother in the future. Till this point, his reason is acceptable. Unfortunately, he solves this problem with suppression and unjustifiable killing too. For him, the sects are just the pawns, are disposable anytime. Later, after the death of his beloved wife, he experiences mental break down and turn to be a tyrant. He blames his life tragedy to Shangguan Tou and eagers to kill him and Chong Xuezhi who always try to stop him. His personal goal changes to be the controller of jianghu. He wants the power himself.

For me, the villain in this drama (Prince Lu) is the best in the wuxia so far. It is far better than Prince Red in popular Blood of Youth (2022), or even a drama with the similar vibe, The Flame's Daughter (2018), which the villains are just a brainless psycho. Prince Lu is a master of go and always several steps ahead. Several times, he causes desperation for the protagonists and set them into traps. Also, from the perspective of villain, it is very potential for a great plot twist. In the end, Prince Lu's crimes are exposed but he is just punished lightly, no beheading or exile or removal from princedom. It makes me suspect that actually the emperor knows the crime and quietly supports it by letting Prince Lu did what he did.

The story would be better if the author/ writer not easily let such a great villain to be crazy in the end. It is okay to suffer depression from the loss of beloved wife who doesn't understand his duty to his imperial father. This tragedy should be his moral reason to be more determined to control jianghu and strengthen the government power. He is the one who sacrifice for the future of the empire. From the palace perspective, he is the hero. From jianghu perspective, he is the villain.

However, this potential to improve the story is loss. Simply, because the story is using jianghu perspective. It doesn't try to balance the perspective. It is showed from the imbalance representatives. Too many people from jianghu are told, but less from the imperial family and government. It would be good to see how the emperor feel threatened as well as saddened by his trusted Imperial Advisor who has lenient view about the jianghu and let his son, Shangguan Tuo, to be part of jianghu, after his brothers leave him for the jianghu. It would be good to see Prince Lu the weak as the most filial, who is willing to live in faraway province to help his father and Crown Prince by doing the dirty works. If we have the balances view, it would bring more lesson for the ML and FL. After they win the struggle to free jianghu from Prince Lu's crimes, they should take more active role in strengthening the character of jianghu people, to prevent another chaotic period in history. But, in the end, FL leaves her sect and choose to live in seclusion with ML. With the power they have, they turn to be selfish and think only about their own happiness.

So, you know. I love this drama because of the complex villain. Even tough the potential is wasted, it enriches our imagination what future villain should be written. It is boring to see one-dimensional villain or crazy villain. The real villain is often normal people who have love, reason, and moral too, like the heroes. It is just their way to solve problem to be different from the heroes.

I hope in the future, there will be a drama that can portray a quality villain story. I hope there will be a writer that creates a grand story in which the right and wrong is not that easy to define, that concerns not only the love among man and women, but also the well-being of overall society, to take a certain social issue as the focus of the story.

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A Rare Drama with Perfect Cunning Antagonists and Wise Conflict Resolution

There is no use to repeat what other reviewers have pointed out. The romance of this drama is glorious. The love theme is crystal clear and strong. So, lets take other perspectives which are rarely taken for discussion. It is one among only view C-dramas with deep exploration of righteousness and evil, and perfect story execution.

Story wise, this drama is not boring at all. 59 episodes are truly intimidating, but there are things in the story that keep us in the edge of our seats. For some aspects, it is not so different from other xianxia (Chinese fantasy genre). There are four realms (mortal, demon, devil, and heaven), five "righteous" sects of mortal cultivator, a great war in the past, fallen god of war and demon, martial arts tournament, an adventure exploring the realm, facing villains, and heading to cosmic war to defeat the final strongest villain. However, few things make it really different. First, good team building and teamwork. This drama starts by telling the friendship of four teenagers: Yu Sifeng, Chu Xuanji, Chu Linglong, & Zhong Minyan. Later, the group grows bigger (add Little Yinhua the snake and Ruo Yu) and they (six people) go adventure together. Almost all problems they face are solved together, sometimes with the help senior supporting characters. All characters have their own unique contribution and nobody are suddenly missing mid game or just left without explanation.

Second, the story is so consistent to its theme: love and redemption. There are several sub love stories aside the main pairs and all are finished well. Love to the romantic partner, love to family and friends, love to community/ sect group, love to the realm and other being. None of them involves love triangles, jealousy, and competition to grab other person's lover. Love is depicted as something a person must be true, loyal, selfless, and devoted to, and experienced with consent and acceptance. Also, there are several redemption stories that make viewer super satisfied with the ending. The happy ending in this drama is not merely defined by each/ main character's love life, but also reward and punishment each character received as their karma. Everyone get what they deserve justly.

Third, the villain/ antagonists in this drama is so brainy, charismatic, powerful, and good looking (Yuan Lang and Hao Chen). They are so sly, cunning, manipulative, meticulous, and careful. They think before act and always prepare back-up plan. They are so successful so that they can survive until the last episode. They characterization is perfect. Yuan Lang is so mysterious behind his mask and his inner states are well depicted through the movement of his fan. He never lose his composure. He is ambitious, confident, independent, daring, cold, non-emotional, scary, and ruthless. His emotional expression, like when he kneeled before Sifeng fearfully, is just an act. He never shows his true heart. He manipulate people with his rational/ logical words His enemy is the deity. Mean while, Hao Chen is a moralist, ambitious, and self-righteous. His enemy is Sifeng. He has egoistic personality and believes that he is righteous and never wrong. He manipulates other, especially Xuanji, through victimization of himself and finding Sifeng wrongdoings. He is a great liar and full of prejudice. Also, we have fake antagonists: just tragic characters that have goodwill but without means to achieve it, or a person that is (seemingly) bad in the past and later he turns good after experiencing betrayal.

Four, the conflict is very well developed. We never know the real problems until later. It is surprising that the story turns from mortal vs demon to demon/ devil vs deity. The scale of the conflict is grand, built from bottom to up. At first, it is just a quest to find the shards of a magic mirror to help Xuanji becoming a normal person. At the same time, a mysterious sect is searching four keys to release a demon. Slowly, the real identity of Xuanji is revealed, and surprisingly, the real identity of Sifeng. Midway, the story turns into a star-crossed lover story, a forbidden love between a demon and a mortal. It is getting bigger when all things are related to the greatest threat of the realm. Near the end, actually the story is a tragic one. The god of war is an anti-hero. The overall story of Xuanji is her way to redemption. In the end, it becomes revenge vs forgiveness, to force a change vs to let it flow with nature/ fate. Truly, a daoist story. Interestingly, the story ends in Heavenly Palace. The Heavenly Emperor is a wise person and becomes part of the conflict resolution. From the beginning, he already tried to solve to problem with the help of his son to guide the god of war through her tribulations and to achieve redemption.

***
Honestly, I watched this drama after Till the End of The Moon's fan comparing Tantai Jin and Sifeng, who is the king of blood vomiting. It is hilarious because I am really curious after that. IMO, Sifeng's blood vomit is more realistic because it is caused by apparent severe injuries, like heart stabs and heavy physical torture. So, the blood is expected. And he didn't start to vomit blood in early episodes. His vomits in later episodes indicate the intensity of danger, his physical limit, and that he is almost died/ very sick. That bloods along with facial expression and face complexion, send a visual message that he is really in pain.

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A love story that reminds, it is good to remember and take the lessons.

To make it watchable, you must remember that it is a story about a fairy turning into human. Since it is not impossible in real life, you should not expect realism and be more patient to swallow every logic in the story.

Sometimes we love a drama because it meet our expectations (we see what we want to see in the screen). However, a story can serve also as a medium to experiment with ideas, what could be possibly happened to love and relationship when circumstances are not usual.

In this drama, we have a ginseng fairy turning human (Ye Xi) and multiple men in her life. It is difficult at first to follow the storyline because it mixed. It is progressing, but with so many flashbacks. Until episode 14, there is no chronological order, so it is confusing. To be patient that long is not easy for me, even though the romance is quite unique, fresh, and promising for further development.

The good of the story is that it is a contemplatation about human nature. The themes revolve around the deceit & betrayal vs the faithfulness & devotion; selfishness vs selflessness; superficial love that is only sweet in words and promises but backstabbing vs true unconditional love though it is sometimes bitter. Sometimes love is only used as tool for our interests, sometimes it is the real purpose of life.

I began to understand this idea when Ye Xi was dying the second time. She lamented about she finally became human, but in the end she was still eaten by human. She did thousand years of cultivation, longing for a new life which she would be able to live with someone. Actually, she was able to feel the agony, but the problem is she got amnesia and came back to her true nature as a kind, helpful, and trusting person every time she was revived. It is the tragedy that makes us audience feel angry and despair like Bai Yue, how stupid she is! How could she got trapped and betrayed again? Love is not that important when it goes ugly for you, how could your brain only seek for love and repeat the same mistakes?

Fortunately, later she got some conscience and aware of her mistakes. She could distinguish true love from fake one through Bai Yue's devotion and sacrifice to her. As audience, we learn, it is important to remember even the saddest part of our life. As we hate a girl like Ye Xi, we should remember that in real life some girls are like Ye Xi. In this aspect, the story itself empowers us to love our selves more, to be more careful in handling romantic relationship, etc. The moral of this story is the only good aspect of this drama.

After finishing all episodes, it is sad that the story delivery is less sophisticated. The second main lead (Cang Qi) is not interesting at all. The actor played the role is overly dramatic in facial expressions, and he looked too beautiful/ feminine for the role of person in power. It is not explained how Cang Qi rose to power, what is his job in goverment, etc. His obsession to Ye Xi is disgusting, because he was lustful and saw Ye Xi as sexual object. The supporting roles are not help. Their love story is shallow. They are quite comical, but not that funny.

The only make sense person is Bai Yue. He was praise worthy for his ability, ethics, loyalty, and patience. I think it better to let him just died in episode 21 and his love made Ye Xi understood more about true love. His curse is the important thing that push the story toward the end. It is no need to revive him with such a lame mechanism. I personally don't like a story that ends with a deus ex machina. How could a coffin suddenly had such magical power? His death should be the final missing piece that Ye Xi got during her journey to find love and to be a human being, not a fairy.

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The worldbuilding is a mess. The action scenes are lame.

This drama is such a disappointment because the quality is below expectation. Usually, viewers are able to overlook imperfection regarding CGI, editing, dubbing, and other technical aspects if the story has quality. But, the story is this drama greatest weakness.

Setting/ Worldbuilding
Xianxia typically revolves the story around three realms: the Heaven of immortals and deities, the Earth of the mortals/ human-being, and the Underworld of the demons, spirits, and devils. Each realm has its own creatures, rules, limitations, and boundaries.

The immortals and deities can live for thousands years, They are born asexually from the ascension of lower beings as the results of their good deeds in previous life. They have superhuman ability and not usually died so easy (the only method is through the destruction of their primordial spirit so they cannot reincarnate). They live in the vast and unlimited heaven so usually, they are flying and teleporting. Immortals cannot intervene with lower realm affairs or use their ability in mortal realm. They can go to mortal world for tribulation or penance, and during this trip, they will forget their past.

Human being, animal, and plant are earthly creatures, have short life-span. They are relatively weaker, but can learn cultivation and martial arts. They live with family, in a sect, or a city. They have political entity to govern their affairs. They are crawling in the Earth on foot, horse, or carriage. Their culture and ways of living are richer. Their lives are bound to reincarnation circle. If they are good, they can ascend to godhood. If they are evil, they descend to be lower being.

Meanwhile, the demons, spirits, and devils are usually bad and on the lowest hierarchy of beings. After cultivating for years, they can have human form. They usually live as a nuisance to human, sometimes they eat human to get stronger. That is why they are hunted and killed. However, some of them are kind and not disturb human. They live in clan, so we have bird demon clan, fox spirit clan, etc. in the forest, river, lake, or sea.

Basic rules above are among common characteristics of xianxia worldbuilding. But, this drama breaks some important "rule". For example: Immortals are still immortals even when they go to mortal worlds (2 ML, 2 FL). They are very intervening, and without consequences. Human-being can have superhuman ability that makes them immune to injury and death even after severely wounded (ML). The spirit is not different to immortals as they can go anywhere i.e. the heaven without limitation (FL, the little flower spirit). What is more, the immortals act like human. They bleed when injured, they walk and run to reach certain place, and they are weak in fighting. They love and are jealous to each other. They are full of revenge and ill intention. Their living places are just like human palaces. Nothing wonderful and otherworldly. And, they can live, die, and revive as their wishes, not following the cycle of samsara/ reincarnation (just use a certain artifact to live again). Therefore, the time sequence of the story is messy. Everything seems happen in the present time. The past, present, and future are blurry. No good working timeframe.

I think, this mess is the risk for a too grand story (involving three realms), but no attention to details of each realm. This drama is weaker in the worldbuilding in comparison to xianxia like Love and Redemption (2020) which focus most of its story on the mortal realm. When they abuse the rules of the realms, the conflicts is resolved in lame manner. This drama uses deus ex machina, like when ML suddenly kills himself with unknown swords to stop himself going berserk, or when FL's heart weirdly has so much magical power, or when ML suddenly have magical pool to cure him, or when ML revives the Heavenly Emperor. There is not internal mechanism to solve their problems, like the use brain, analytical thinking, strategic talks, hard works, logical sacrifices, and risk taking for benefit. All depends on external power, weapon and artifact.

Story/ Plot
Immortal Samsara doesn't follow its premise. From the title, viewers may keep asking, what is samsara here? I don't know its meaning until the last episodes when ML confronts his father and learns about his parents story. His father is the demon king who loves and marries a goddess (his enemy), but ends up killing her in the end. So, he turns the time back from the beginning again for a different story and ending. Alas, the ending is repeatedly still the same, because his ambition never change and he never regret doing sins. It is the "immortal samsara". This is the more suitable back story (and the birth of an exquisite god as the result of their love), IMO, rather than the story of twin lotuses which has no significance for the realm, making this like the story of the prince and pauper. The story should use the ML's point of view.

Storywise, this drama lacks good story structuring. It can be more interesting and suspenseful, if the story progresses back and forth to reveal the mystery of the past and hidden identity of ML, and the reason behind why love is forbidden in Heavenly Realm sooner. Alas, this drama put too much emphasize on the ill fated relationship and the romance between ML and FL which is not important to the overall story and conflict. It will be a better story if in the end he becomes the Heavenly Emperor and takes the FL (a mere spirit) as his queen to reward her love, loyalty, and sacrifice, as the result of him learning about his parents, his identity, his enemy, the long conflict between immortals and demon, and the mistakes of the strict rule. This drama wastes an interesting plot where the enemy successfully kills the former Heavenly Emperor and impersonate him. It is never seen in previous xianxia. This drama could have interesting revenge and justice story rather than a mere romance and stupid double suicide in the end.

Characterization
Cheng Yi and Yang Zi are very good actor and actress. But, their potential are wasted because of the problematic story. ML and FL are very two dimensional. Their personalities are predictable, their behaviors are predictable. The writer should dig more on the psychology of a lowly ang young little fairy in the front of the greatest deity. They fall in love too easily, which is illogical considering their statuses. FL should be more selfish (think more about her self) because she is still too young, weak, and needs protection, and wishing for a future and pride. She shouldn't prefer death than life so easily and work harder to maintain her position in the heaven. But, they write her to be a lazy woman and have no aspiration better than a play writer. They can create her to be more interesting with describing what kind of story she would like to write and it will show us her life values, idealism, and personal difficulties as a person, and how it connects to the ML's aspirations and values. The way they introduce ML to FL is so not romantic (as a turtle flipper), downgrade him to a level of child, while he should maintain his dignity as a responsible and wise thousand years old deity. How could he fall in love so easily to a "baby"?

Other supporting characters are generally useless, like a decoration in the background when they are just standing and watching. Supporting deities do more talking than doing something to help, going here and there in a crowd, screaming, and being angry/ sad. They act like ministers in the mortal court rather than deity with specific duty and certain ability. They solve problem through debating, rather than doing something magical. The demons in the valley are also just cute, but useless. The heavenly soldiers are so small in number, like 20s. They should use CGI to multiply them and create a majestic war battalion with good fighting skills to counter demons.

Music
Nothing memorable. No banger. No heart punching beats. Too flat. Too cheesy.

I hope future xianxia learns something from this failure.

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I am grateful! It doesn't just follow the trope of xianxia drama.

After completing all episode...
I am so happy and satisfied with the ending! My hopes are answered in the two last episodes! All bad thoughts about the ending of this drama are melt away.

1# Why the love between fairy and devil matters? Yes, it matters a lot for the peace of the realm in the end. It gives warmth to our heart too, that this story is not a stupid romance. Self-less love is triumph here!

2# What love can do for "mankind" (the moon tribe, fairy, immortal being, and mortal being) is underexplored. No, no, no! It is very well explored in the end! Even though the sequence of events in the last episodes are a bit too fast (like without warning, the Moon tribe suddenly join troops), it is very okay. We still can follow the story.

3# The peace, the love, the unity, and the magic force. These should be the main ingredients to fight evil, right? Yes!

4# It is okay to tell about love among immortals, but it is funny to see the main purpose of their love is just to find the lost one! Finally, it is not! This drama teaches a lot about what love can do. Actually, what self-less love can do!

Watch this drama, people! Don't stop half way!

***

My review after watching until episode 32:

My hope is high when people praise the art department of this fantasy drama. I observe it well; the design of places, clothes, and the world of fairy, immortal being, devil, and mortal human are spectacular. The acting and music are good too. So, I won't talk about those things or it would be redundant. I will focus on the story.

1# Lack of background context: Why did the conflict happen from the first place?
What I like about the story is a different starting point from other xianxia dramas. The male lead (ML) is portrayed as the defeated villain. The way he met the female lead (FL) is so unexpected. So, it brought some fresh introduction that really attract my curiosity. I like how they brought also another issue to enjoy, a kind of social clash between fairy and moon tribe. The fairy is always depicted as "the hypocrites" by the moon tribe. However, something is missing. Until episode 32, it is never be explained why the hatred is so deep. What is the hypocrisy they talked about several times? A view to the past is limited to the personal family story of the ML, about his father and their sacrifice, and the conflict is already there. What triggers it? It is really a big hole for the story with many good potentials. It makes the story lack meaning, why the love between fairy and devil matters?

2# The most powerful to the weakest: Backward character development of Moon Supreme
I fall in love to the characterization of Dongfang Qingcang, Moon Supreme, who is introduced as the biggest villain in the beginning. He is cold, cool, ruthless, and fearsome. To some extents, he is admirable too, the day we learn his background story and how he choose to be humane with emotion. I think, the return of emotion (especially love) should add more strength to him. But unfortunately, in contrary, it become his Achilles heels. He becomes useless. It is very disappointing. He lost his brain to solve forthcoming challenges. I mean, how come they do battle by only relying on brute magic force? Is there no room for peace talk and diplomacy? Or at least, smart strategies and tactics to win the war?

I really want to see the Moon Supreme that turn to be a better person. They can portray him to be more benevolent and considerate, to be more open minded and have broad perspective to face his enemy, and gravitate to peace and the well-being of his people. In reality, that is the use of emotion, right? What is the use of love in him? Love has so many kinds. Eros (romance, passionate love), philia (love of friends), storge (love of parents for children), agape (love of mankind). Is his love tree limited only to Orchid, when we know he is a great person to his tribe and feared by his enemy? The meaning of love here is so shallow. What love can do for "mankind" (the moon tribe, fairy, immortal being, and mortal being) is underexplored.

3# Peace are restored so easily like it doesn't important.
The series has passed its climax, I think. It is in episode 31 where the war finally broke again, and ended by the sacrifice of Orchid. She released a power that can revive those who died in the battle and the 100.000 army of demon. It is later stated that demon and immortal being achieved a ceasefire for 100 years. This episode is so touching, but the impact is weak. The moment of Orchid released her power should reveal the true identity of Orchid as a goddess (if not, why those people kneel to her?) It should be a big good news for everybody in the realm. What we don't know is how they perceive this event and its meaning for them. This realization should be the bridge that explains the achieved peace.

I think, Dongfang Qingcang shouldn't fainted so early and easily after Orchid died. Love should produce perseverance in a person, not mental break down (as depicted in episode 32, ML turns out to be crazy). With his more benevolent and stronger heart now, he might have come back to his tribe with the last power he has, endure his own suffering, and offer peace to his enemy, reminding them Orchid's sacrifice. After that, he finally "take some rest", continuing his desire for Orchid in the dream realm. This story would be very different indeed! The 100 years peace would be his achievement and we would love him more, and understand why he indulged himself in the dream about Orchid. He is a tragic loving person! When this conflict beautifully ends, it is logical for the last arc of the story, to fight the greatest final enemy, Tai Sui. Dongfang Qingcang and friends has full power now. The peace, the love, the unity, and the magic force. These should be the main ingredients to fight evil, right?

4# The trap of xianxia love story trope
As an international viewer, it is easy to be bewildered by the worldbuilding of Chinese fantasy story. It is okay with rebirth and karma things. It is relatable because more or less it also exists in other cultures. The philosophy behind it is understandable. It is always about the rivalry of good and evil, white and black, fairy/ god-goddess/ immortal being and demon. However, we know from many series, that the lord of immortal being can be vile. God and goddess can be cunning and awful. If that possibility is exist, the similar possibility can be happen to the demon tribe, too. The tribe that is always depicted by black trait (evil, ugly, hideous, etc), actually have heart too and can be compassionate. This grey area is fantastic to be explored. Love between Fairy and Evil is promising that exploration, through a devil as the main character.

However, I don't agree with the story's over indulgence in romance in later episodes and forget the main premise, love should flourish people. It has a great metaphor already: the Love Tree of Dongfang Qingcang. In the beginning, it is deserted in a winter like place. Later, Orchid came and bring it to life. The bare tree finally sprouts and the spring is coming. Dongfang Qingcang sat below the tree and enjoyed flowers in that tree. It is a very satisfying moment! Unfortunately, after that beautiful depiction, the story change 180 degree to "a journey to find lost love one", "a quest to revive a died person". It happens in so many xianxia drama (e.g. Three Miles of Peach Blossom, Eternal Love of Dream, The Blue Whisper, etc). Come on! If you know that a person can always be born again, what is the point of grief, madness, sadness, depression, and sorrow of losing the love one? If it is to give a second chance, in this fantasy world, a person can reborn thousand times and live thousand years. They are immortal! Life is just a play for immortals. Why do they need to take it seriously? It is okay to tell about love among immortals, but it is funny to see the main purpose of their love is just to find the lost one, watch the hard work to revive him/her again, and to live forever happily ever after. For a mortal human, the most frightening thing for a lover is the loss of a loved one. Because, they only live once. But, for immortals love should be imagined differently as the most frightening thing for them should be different too.

So far, I never know any xianxia drama that goes beyond this trope. I do hope Love between Fairy and Devil would be the one. We still have four last episodes to go. Lets see!

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Cerita yang penuh makna, meski menyedihkan

Saya tidak sengaja bertemu dengan drama ini dari trailer dan free episode-nya di kanal WeTV di Youtube. Sebelumnya, saya telah menonton beberapa drama yang dibintangi oleh Yang Mi (Three Miles of Peach Blossom dan Legend of Fuyao), jadi saya ingin tahu seperti apa drama yang dibintangi Yang Mi kali ini. Di dua dramanya sebelumnya, kesan yang saya dapatkan kurang positif karena saya tidak begitu suka ending di mana tokoh utama setelah mati, bisa hidup lagi, khas trope drama-drama Tiongkok. Bagi saya, trope seperti ini tidak masuk akal. Di Novoland: Pearl Eclipse ini, saya sempat khawatir karena membaca berbagai komentar penonton yang mengandung spoiler dan sinopsis di berbagai situs yang mengikuti resensi novelnya. Saya hampir menyerah di awal karena membaca bahwa Haishi yang diperankan Yang Mi akan masuk ke istana dan menjadi selir dan akhirnya seorang ratu, dan selama perjalanannya terlibat cinta segitiga yang berakhir super sedih dan tragis.

Ternyata, prediksi banyak penonton dan bahkan sinopsis yang sudah beredar tentang drama ini kebanyakan keliru (tidak menggambarkan ceritanya yang sebenarnya). Drama ini memang mengadaptasi dari novel, tetapi alur ceritanya benar-benar mengambil jalan lain yang benar-benar saya apresiasi. Karena jalan cerita yang berbeda inilah, saya jatuh cinta dengan drama ini sampai setelah seluruh episodenya selesai, saya menonton ulang sampai tiga kali untuk menangkap maksud dan detail-detailnya secara lebih baik. Saya pun menyukai soundtrack-nya dan rutin mendengarkannya ulang sebagai teman saya bekerja.

Keseluruhan 9,5/10

Drama ini menceritakan tentang kesetiaan tiga pasang kekasih dan perjalanan hidup dan cinta mereka (jadi, bukan cinta segitiga yang penuh persaingan). Pasangan pertama adalah Fang Jianming/ Fang Zhu (William Chan) dan Haishi (Yang Mi). Kedua adalah kaisar Dixu (Xu Kaicheng) dan selirnya, Tilan (Chen Xiao Yun). Ketiga, saudara angkat Haishi, Fang Zhouying (Wang Sen), dan Zhe Liu (Yuan Yu Xuan). Ketiga pasang kekasih ini memiliki kisahnya masing-masing yang unik dan sangat mengena di hati saya karena character development-nya. Di antara keenam tokoh tersebut, yang ingin saya ulas adalah Fang Jianming. Fang Jianming memiliki kisah yang paling lengkap, jelas dan kompleks jika dibandingkan kelima tokoh lainnya. Bagi saya, drama ini bukan kisah tentang Haishi (meski semua orang menerimanya seperti itu), tetapi tentang Fang Jianming. Jika kita perhatikan, keputusan-keputusan yang diambilnya adalah yang membuat cerita dalam Novoland: Pearl Eclipse ini ada dan bergerak maju. Haishi "hanyalah" karakter yang tiba-tiba muncul di tengah perjalanan hidupnya dan mempengaruhi pengambilan keputusannya di separuh akhir masa hidupnya.

Apa jadinya jika Fang Jianming bukan seorang patriot yang cinta pada negaranya? Dia tidak akan berkorban diri menjadi Baixi bagi kaisar dan menyelamatkan kerajaan dengan menumpas pemberontakan. Dia tidak akan memalsukan kematiannya, mengenakan topeng , dan menjadi Fang Zhu, komandan kesatuan rahasia yang bekerja membunuh musuh-musuh kaisar dan melindungi perdamaian. Dia tidak akan menangkap kesan bahwa Haishi yang masih kanak-kanak akan menjadi sosok penting bagi masa depan kerajaan Dazheng, menyelamatkan hidupnya, dan menawarkannya untuk ikut bersamanya ke ibukota dan menjadi muridnya. Fang Jianming bisa dikatakan adalah berkah bagi Haishi, Fang Zhouying, bahkan kaisar, Tilan, dan Zhe Liu. Dia rela berkorban, tangguh menghadapi penderitaan, berpikir jauh ke depan, dan memikirkan kebaikan orang-orang di sekitarnya meski pada awalnya itu tampak menyakiti mereka. Berulang kali ia menjadi korban kesalahpahaman dan tersakiti akibat itu tanpa membela diri. Sosok Fang Jianming dirangkum dengan sangat baik oleh Haishi dalam kalimat ini:

"Beberapa tahun ini kau melakukan banyak hal demi rakyat, Kaisar, dan Dazheng. Namun, tak ada yang sungguh-sungguh melakukan sesuatu untukmu. Kali ini giliranku melakukan sesuatu untukmu. Biarkan aku melindungimu." (Ep. 43)

Cinta Haishi pada Fang Jianming menjadi begitu istimewa, bermakna dan bernilai jika kita memahami perjalanan hidup Fang Jianming. Ini yang menjadikan romansa di dalam drama ini jadi tidak "recehan". Cinta Haishi memang sesuatu yang sangat dibutuhkan Fang Jianming dan bersumber dari pemahaman Haishi tentang perjalanan hidup, tanggung jawab dan kepribadian Fang Jianming. Ini tidak seperti drama-drama percintaan pada umumnya di mana tokoh utama pria dan wanita ditakdirkan untuk mencintai "tanpa sebab". Meski banyak penonton mengeluhkan asmara di antara keduanya tumbuh amat lambat dan adegan percintaan antara Haishi dan Fang Jianming relatif sedikit, pilihan sutradara akan jalan cerita yang seperti ini bisa dimengeri dan diterima. Cinta itu tidak hanya soal hasrat antara pria dan wanita, tetapi juga pengertian, komitmen, kebersamaan, dan pengorbanan.

Menurut saya, cerita Novoland: Pearl Eclipse ini dapat disajikan lebih baik lagi jika sejak awal menggunakan perspektif Haishi dan Fang Jianming secara seimbang dan kuat, bahwa cerita ini sejak awal adalah tentang sepasang kekasih ini saja, bagaimana mereka tumbuh dewasa, dari awalnya tidak mengenal cinta, kemudian belajar memberi cinta (Haishi) dan menerima cinta (Fang Jianming) dan akhirnya bersama-sama memutuskan tetap bersama, meski tidak dapat bersama secara fisik. Sejak awal, drama ini sudah hampir seperti roman (menceritakan kehidupan tokoh secara mendetail sejak lahir hingga dewasa, atau bahkan sampai meninggal dunia). Namun sayang, kurang tuntas padahal tinggal sedikit lagi. Alhasil, banyak penonton mengandalkan imajinasi mereka untuk menutup cerita ini dengan sempurna.

Mungkin memang drama ini sengaja diakhiri dengan cara seperti ini untuk menimbulkan semacam afterthought (perenungan).

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A great story about self-growth and comradery

"A Date with the Future" is not usual romance drama. Many themes are packed into this one: self-growth, comradery, patriotism, humanity, and universal love. At first, I am interested to watch this drama because I am curious about the romance between ML and FL (it seems so cheesy). Later, what hooked me the most is the team dynamic in firefighter unit in which ML is the captain.

Among various aspects of drama, what I love the most is the character development of both main and supporting actors, especially regarding how they overcome their own respective trauma and grow themselves from that. They don't turned out to be toxic and selfish after experiencing tragedies in their life. They become more mature and wise persons. That is why relationships in this drama are healthy and enjoyable to see.

Other thing is, I love how realistic they try to tell the story about firefighter unit is. At first, I think the unit would be just the background for the romance to happen between ML and FL. I don't expect that they put the unit to be under the spot light. The fire brigade can have its own story. We follow its development from unnoticed unit in the city till they gain respect from citizens, how they build discipline, comradery and cohesiveness, how they take care each other and build strong brotherhood, how they do they daily duties from the most trivial to the most deadly, and how they overcome injury, trauma, and loses. It is humanely realistic and provide us some insights about the work of SAR. It grows more respect in my heart.

I also love the character of Capt. Jin (ML). His personal story is well rounded and how his fate is intertwined with Xu Lai (FL) is written so beautifully. I know, at the beginning it is so impossible and makes non sense, but after knowing the past, each person motivation, and the exchange of kindness, we understand that their repeated encounters are actually bound to happen. They deserve to meet and love to one each other.

However, there are things that I hope they could improve it. I don't like a typical love triangle which involves a rich young CEO. The story would be more nuanced if the SML (Huo) is just ordinary successful and struggling young entrepreneur. It would add more positive trait to his character and add more value to his relationship with Xu Lai who is a strong and hard working girl. Also, the villains in this drama is so one dimensional and easy to beat. That is why, for me, it is more interesting to watch how the fire brigade fights the fire, accidents, and disasters.

Overall, it is a good drama!

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The best drama to think about war, family, and love. A compliment to humanity.

"Only bullet holes and shards of glass could be seen. Local health care systems are destroyed. Some clinics had to be closed. Fog and smoke pervade this place. I haven't seen the sun for a long time. Sometime I think, this might be another world."
"This people are brutal. They actually live on the same land. Why do they plunder and kill each other?"
"Because humans have desires."
~ Zhu Jiu and Gu Ruanruan

I beg to differ from most people in MDL. I love this drama so much. I don't believe what people said that this drama is not well written, not good directed, and deserved to be dropped. I have watched it without skipping a scene and it is proven worth my time. Released at this time (November 2023), this drama resonates so much with current global situation (Ukraina-Russia War, Hamas-Israel War) by showing us the experience of war and conflict from the point of view of medical personnel. War is horrible not only for civilians, but also the paramedics and doctors.

I landed at this drama after Mysterious Lotus Casebook (MLC; 2023) which I am very satisfied and Love is Panacea (LIP; 2023) which I hate. I enjoy Cheng Yi's performance in MLC and I want to explore more about his works. Meanwhile, LIP is such a waste because it didn't live up to its promise as a medical drama and in the end it is gravitated more on individuals romance. South Wind Knows (SWK) really fulfilled my longing for a quality medical drama. What I mean by "quality medical drama" is not a hardcore one like the US "The Good Doctor" which highlights more on medical skills and solving cases, but a soft one which leaves a deep emotional impression and contemplation.

Story (10/10)
If you read synopsis of SWK in MDL, I suggest you to not believe it because it mislead you. The story is greater than a mere romance (romantic love) between ML FL. Yes, it is true "the power of love conquer all", but it refers to a greater kind of love, including love for family and spouse as well as love for community and humanity. Most dramas themed with love commonly have various types of love in them. But, what makes SWK stands out is its comprehensiveness, balance, and detail.

The drama first takes us to a war torn country "M" to show us the basic kind of love, i.e. love that stems from sense of humanity (episode 1-11). Both ML FL have similarity in this aspect. They are young people with empathy, compassion, and same idealism. They are united by the desire to help disadvantaged and unfortunate people. FL wants to cure the new immune disease found there, whereas ML wants to support her by creating the medicine using the power of his family pharmaceutical company. This mission becomes the bridge that dissolves their differences. It is heart warming; from the beginning of the story we see a healthy and supportive relationship. Then, the story moves to Shanghai, to ML family story. It seems like an odd turning point for many viewers, but the purpose is to show that the making of the new medicine is not easy. The enemies (of love) are self-interest and profit orientation of pharmaceutical industry. The industry wants to monopolize the use of a very important herbal ingredient. ML tried his best to fulfill his promise to ML but to no avail. The worst, he was betrayed by his brother, the most trusted person he has, and involved in an accident. He lost his ability to walk, failed to recover, and sank into depression.

The second part of the drama starts in Germany after two years of separation and no communication. They meet again where ML turns to be different person from who he was. FL with her compassion and love, helps ML to be able to stand up and walk again (episode 12-17). When they come back to Shanghai again the situation has changed drastically. Driven by desire to revenge, ML's brother holds much power of the company and gives no room for ML to get what he wants. The worst, ML's mother turns out to be a despicable person who refuses to accept FL and harm her several times. The brother and the mother hate to each other and clash a lot. ML is caught in the middle while tries his best to defend FL and their wish to unite and continue their mission. The family hate and conflict might be not too interesting to watch, but it is just one besides several beautiful love and humanity stories/ subplots that keep the drama on the track. One, the story of FL family and granny, the granny lovely supports to the couple, her sickness, and the end of her life. Two, the story of Meng, a little girl with heart congenital condition, their work hard to keep her alive and console her and her family, until her inevitable death. ML FL become the source of support for granny and little Meng; they are like a family. Family should be the source of support and protection, but at the same time, ironically, can also be the source of hatred and harm. In the end, the innocent ML becomes the victim again amidst the clash of selfish people. Gravely injured, more handicapped, and seeing no future for family life, he broke his relationship with FL (episode 32).

The third part are the days ML FL parted. The Fu family internal conflict is resolved and the Brother revenged is failed. The truth is opened, justice is restored, and the rights of every family member are distributed equally. All conflicting parties learn their lesson and relationships are slowly repaired. In the last 3 episode, the story moves to country "M" again where now at war. Amidst war, the doctors' duties are getting difficult and life threatening. In the end, ML saved FL again, helped her with PTSD, and started a new relationship, now without enemies. FL now becomes a lecturer and ML serves the company. The last scene is their engagement.

***
What I like the most:

First, the characterization of ML and FL. They are very compatible in traits, interest, and life mission. They are good natured, kind-hearted, capable of empathy, wise, straightforward in communication, dutiful, and hard working. Importantly, they love one each other from the beginning, and their love comes from the shared concern for humanity. They don't become burden to each other, and use every means they have to care and support to each other. Their relationship is very healthy and they are able to trust even their third wheelers and maintain professional relationship well. Also, I like other supporting characters development towards the end of the story. All get redemption. Their stories are as full as the ML and FL, and so satisfying, even the mother and brother turned into good persons.

Second, this drama shows the process of love and hate so we get the full picture, how they start and how they end. Love starts with bonds, ends with ambitions. Hate starts with selfishness and ambitions, ends with justice and kindness. It makes us empathize to the antagonists (the brother, the mother) as they are not two dimensional when they are desiring power. The brother was once a good brother, but his mother was wronged, so he got angry and took revenge. The mother was once a good mother and wife, but she was wronged too by an unloving husband. Their dynamics as enemies are predictable. It is a bit cliché and tropey, but it doesn't matter and not disturb overall story line. Interestingly, the ML is able to maintain neutrality and level headedness to deal with his mother and brother.

Third, the compliment to doctor and medical professional. It is so poignant where death is showed as inevitable and a possible alternative every doctor must face during their career, especially when they are powerless. We see, doctors can't act alone. They are not powerful alone, but need helps from a bunch of people like nurses, families, researchers, journalist, and pharmaceutical industry as well as best friends. This drama shows their dedication, adaptation to harsh environment, loyalty to humanity, dedication to community, and sacrifice to fulfill their oath. In the end of the day, doctors are still human-being who can be hurt. Sometimes, the hero are also the victim of war.

Fourth, the balance and realistic portrayal of suffering. This drama is a rare gem because it is more than just a romance between man and woman. It holds high certain idealism we all agree, like the sense of humanity and community, family values, and that love should be the source of resilience as well as peace. It told multigenerational stories, from the grandmother/ father, the fathers and mothers, and their children (see how the social tradition and perspectives change). It has good balance on setting, too: from a big cities to remote villages with beautiful scenery of the jungle and the sea. Also, it is not afraid to depict the reality of suffering: refugees, the camp, the injured and the died, the cries, the devastation, the powerlessness, the weapon, the killing, the struggle to survive, the sacrifice. So, admittedly, the story is so grand and vast. And, the power of love outshines all adversity.

I have nothing to complain.

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Strangely, this is a drama that spoils itself with a premonition of tragedy.

I love the casts for FL and ML. I love the visuals of this drama. I love the unique purple-dark theme. I love how the prologue is delivered in cartoonish style. But I can't stand how the story is told. Evaluating the story from the first five episodes alone may be unfair. But we have gotten these so far, and I am considering dropping this drama to save my sanity. These are my problems:

CONFUSION AND WORRY. I got the first impression of this drama from its trailer. I love the trailer. It looks fun and comedic. The love story seems promising, even though it involves cliches. But the real story is angsty and vengeful. The opening serves us with conflict and killing scenes, and I am like, "What?!" Is it just another drama with a sad, tragic ending? What is the point of spoiling us with such an opening? Watching this drama worries me so much. Will my emotional investment, time, and money pay off? I am afraid we will get a sad ending served tragically.

FL IS STUPID AND MAKES NO SENSE. I love Bai Lu, but not her character this time (Bai Shou). I love the child actress playing little Bai Shuo, but not how Bai Lu portrays the adult Bai Shuo. When little Bai Shuo aspired to practice immortality and to repay someone's kindness, I admired her for her maturity. This girl has a purpose. But as she grew up, this aspiration ironically became a childish obsession, making her a laughing stock. I don't know in what world she lives in. But why does it seem like the human species is clueless and doesn't believe in divine beings/ immortals? Is it a problem with the worldbuilding? Or is it the problem with the character building? After 10 years had passed, she did not even learn other things that were useful for daily life or to make her a more graceful and complex woman. She is too one-dimensional, lacks virtues, and her only power source comes accidentally from a stone, not a thing she acquires through work and hardship. And when her purpose changed into revenge and she blamed everyone but herself for the tragedy befallen her city and her father, it was like a decline, a negative development. This girl lacks insight into how everything started with her stupidity.

LACK OF CONNECTION BETWEEN FL AND ML. I don't like how this drama showed more physical violence between FL and ML in the opening episodes rather than a subtle, heartfelt connection and realization. The ML keeps threatening her, but it is merely words rather than actions. Watching this particular scene, I am like, "Go kill her if you're a ruthless demon, as your folks always talk about you!" And the FL keeps returning to him and bargaining things. "If you want the stone, just kill her and get the stone back. Why do you have to ask who she is?" It is a very unnecessary curiosity. And this curiosity is baseless. "Bai Shuo gives you nothing that moves your heart, and there is no meaningful interaction between you two so far, and you two were complete strangers. Why are you suddenly curious?" When the connection between two characters is missing, no need to ask about their chemistry.

IT IS SO DRAGGY. I don't know what is in the director's mind, dedicating 5 episodes (around 200 minutes!) just to set the foundation and introduce what the story will be. I wish this drama to have Blossom's (2024) effectiveness that can do the introduction neatly in just 2 episodes and quickly bring us to the main story without beating around the bush. The story is polluted with a lot of inner monologues, fillers, and not funny bickering. Too much telling, lacking meaningful actions. The transition of events is too slow, even when the city is attacked and the situation is so dire. When the story reaches its peak moment, the pace should keep up with the sense of urgency. But why does it turn out to be like an everyday event?

I respect fans of this drama. I share your love for certain things in this drama. But, in my eyes, there are more problems and they diminish my enjoyment. If you like this drama, I hope you have a good experience. It is just not my cup of tea.

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Weird since episode 1

I am sorry. Maybe I am not patient enough, but it is just... wow. This drama has so many big holes in its first 30 minutes! Jaw-dropping. It is incoherent and illogical every minute and every scene.

1. The ML and FL have been practically comrades since childhood. How could ML not know that his friend had changed into another person? Males and females are physically very different in height, voice, and body shape! People should have shouted, "Who are you?!" in front of the emperor. "He is not General He!" The story is crumbling instantly.

2. I wish they had cast a more masculine actress (if any) to play the general role. But why, again, is the FL so beautiful and delicate, like a princess? She should play princess, and I would probably like it. Her face is so smooth. Her fingers are so thin. Her move is so elegant. Her hair is so long and straight. They should give us a more realistic description of "a man hardened by military lifestyle".

3. Got slayed in the abdomen and stabbed in the chest, falling off the cliff, drowned in the river, and yet survived by an unknown method, with the help of an unknown, powerful master from nowhere? Unbelievable. Even, she is still so beautiful, strong, and healthy after 30 days of unconsciousness. This scene is even worse than the one in Princess's Gambit (2025)! The plot armor is so thick. And, after almost dying, she still has the ambition to be a military man and immediately head to the front line again? Please, take more time to recuperate and learn about your situation first!

4. The villain is so disappointing. So evil since the beginning, without explanation why. They should explain more background. How could a scholarly family raise such an evil son? How could he hire a bodyguard assassin, like they never taught him morality and righteousness? Like, they are the treacherous ones in this drama.

I think they should stop promoting this drama by drawing a parallel line or associating it with Legendary Mulan. It is so different. Mulan told a story of a woman turning to a general. It is emancipating, showing the power of determination and having a noble purpose in life. In this drama, FL's general era is already in the past; we never know the process she went through to climb the ladder, and now, we are served the story of how she starts a new life (to be a general again), to avenge the world (and to love somebody, her first and only).

I am sorry if this review is full of rants. I am just unable to ignore the problems.

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It is just another xianxia. All is predictable from episode 1.

Good versus evil? Check. Of course. Simple good versus evil. Just some people want for power and domination versus some people want for peace and love.
Decisive battle as prolog? Check. We can predict another decisive battle near or in the end.
The downfall of evil side? Check. Here we have team black fox versus good fox. We can predict a coming back.
A happy go lucky ML with sad childhood turned into a hero? Check. He is orphaned and predictably will grow to be a chosen one and do great sacrifice later near or in the end, I predict.
A heroic FL turned into a brainless lover? Check. She will be stupid somewhere in the story and lose her badass-ness out of love. Her ooold age won't make her wiser.
A peaceful like fantasy world where people idle and laugh and act like child everyday? Check. It will be destroyed.
An object with powerful magic that keep everything at place? Check. A powerful tree that needs to be protected? What else we got? It will be corrupted.

I drop this one. Finding that it will be 36 episode for a drama full of tropes is too much. It will be boring like hell. Either Yang Mi or Gong Jun won't save this one. If you like it, just go for its nice visual and maybe steamy romance (?), but if you have a bit more intelligence, the story will drought you down. The wardrobe is too beautiful for "fox" spirit clan. Looks too humane and too cute. The battle/ fight scene lack elaboration and complexity. They just shows "typical hand movements" (you know what I mean?) and the enemy is dead, turned into powder. Meanwhile, in other scene, other spirit is died with cut in his throat like a human. How bad is the internal consistency and worldbuilding. This drama celebrates love and romance too much and lacks exploration toward other underexplored themes like justice, self struggle, fight for destiny, compassion toward out-group/ fellow human/ other creatures, simple happy life, adventure and richness of life, etc. Just another xianxia. Watching or not watching this won't make your life better or worse. Sorry, if I am harsh. I'd be better re-watching "Till the End of the Moon" or "Love and Redemption" in the same genre instead of watching this one.

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