This review may contain spoilers
A Xianxia Romance That Feels
Okay, so Love of the Divine Tree (2025) | 仙台有树?? Yeah, I loved it. Not perfect, but honestly, it didn’t have to be. This drama knew exactly what it was doing—delivering an emotionally gripping love story that made me care so much about Su Yi Shui (Deng Wei) and Xue Ran Ran / Mu Qing Ge (Julia Xiang). And isn’t that the whole point of a romance drama?? If I’m not emotionally wrecked by their story, what am I even doing here?
Let’s talk about the angst—because whew, they delivered. The way Mu Qing Ge helped Su Yi Shui become a better person? Gold. The whole reincarnation arc? Pain. When Yi Shui was desperately trying to revive Qing Ge and basically bending fate itself to bring her back? I felt that. Like, I genuinely cried over that scene. And when Qing Ge was reborn as Ran Ran, the fact that she was still her own person?? YES. They didn’t just erase her individuality for the sake of romance, and I respect that. Also, seeing how Yi Shui had evolved into a more compassionate mentor for Ran Ran—it just made his growth feel so satisfying.
Now, let’s talk about Mu Qing Ge for a second—because this woman. If there’s one thing I absolutely enjoyed, it’s that she was the one aggressively flirting with Yi Shui. It wasn’t just soft glances and longing stares—no, she wanted him, and she made it known. Xianxia leads can sometimes get stuck in that tortured “Will they? Won’t they?” dance, but Mu Qing Ge was a refreshing change. She had this bold, cheeky energy that kept the romance dynamic engaging, and honestly, Yi Shui didn’t stand a chance against her charm.
But what really sealed her place as one of the best characters? Her belief that you can shape your own destiny. She didn’t just accept fate—she challenged it. When she took the secret spring from Yi Shui, knowing it would mean taking the fall and being branded the “demon child,” she did it anyway. Why? Because she believed that Yi Shui deserved peace, deserved to grow, deserved to be better. She sacrificed everything so he could have that chance, and honestly? That level of devotion and defiance is what makes her one of the most compelling female leads in a xianxia drama.
Now, let’s talk visuals. The costumes?? Stunning. Vibrant without looking gimmicky, and the textures—oh, the textures. Some xianxias blend into a mess of overly pastel fantasy aesthetics, but this drama had clear, distinct color palettes, especially for the leads. And the hair?? The hair was unreal. I need to know what kind of haircare regimen these characters were on because I am obsessed.
And the CGI? Surprisingly solid. They didn’t shove it down our throats to the point where it felt like everything was filmed in a green-screened void (cough certain sci-fi dramas cough). There was a really nice balance between CGI and real-life sets, so the world actually felt tangible. The flying sequences?? Crisp. Sometimes, xianxia fight scenes give me “actors dangling awkwardly on wires” energy, but not here. It felt seamless, and that alone deserves praise.
The second male lead, Su Yu (Chen Xin Hai), was an interesting addition. The whole greedy-for-immortality storyline was chef’s kiss because it made his redemption arc at the end actually mean something. And the ending??? The leads eloping and building a life together?? YES. They’ve earned their happiness, and I love that the drama let them have it.
But now, the dislikes: Listen, I will never be a fan of the jealous sister trope. Can we retire this storyline already?? Every xianxia seems to have that one clingy, bitter sibling who exists purely to be annoying, and honestly, it dragged the pacing here.
And now… my biggest heartbreak: the dubbing. I’m devastated that the leads were dubbed. Like, I adored this drama, but finding out that their voices weren’t their own?? It completely took me out of the immersion. Imagine Gandalf’s iconic “You Shall Not Pass” moment—but voiced by someone other than Ian McKellen. Like… excuse me??? Existential crisis activated.
Final verdict: Loved it. Cried. Obsessed. Slightly emotionally damaged. But definitely worth watching.
Would I rewatch? Yes. Would I complain about the dubbing again? Also yes. But at the end of the day… xianxia dramas are about feeling something, and this one? Oh, it felt.
Let’s talk about the angst—because whew, they delivered. The way Mu Qing Ge helped Su Yi Shui become a better person? Gold. The whole reincarnation arc? Pain. When Yi Shui was desperately trying to revive Qing Ge and basically bending fate itself to bring her back? I felt that. Like, I genuinely cried over that scene. And when Qing Ge was reborn as Ran Ran, the fact that she was still her own person?? YES. They didn’t just erase her individuality for the sake of romance, and I respect that. Also, seeing how Yi Shui had evolved into a more compassionate mentor for Ran Ran—it just made his growth feel so satisfying.
Now, let’s talk about Mu Qing Ge for a second—because this woman. If there’s one thing I absolutely enjoyed, it’s that she was the one aggressively flirting with Yi Shui. It wasn’t just soft glances and longing stares—no, she wanted him, and she made it known. Xianxia leads can sometimes get stuck in that tortured “Will they? Won’t they?” dance, but Mu Qing Ge was a refreshing change. She had this bold, cheeky energy that kept the romance dynamic engaging, and honestly, Yi Shui didn’t stand a chance against her charm.
But what really sealed her place as one of the best characters? Her belief that you can shape your own destiny. She didn’t just accept fate—she challenged it. When she took the secret spring from Yi Shui, knowing it would mean taking the fall and being branded the “demon child,” she did it anyway. Why? Because she believed that Yi Shui deserved peace, deserved to grow, deserved to be better. She sacrificed everything so he could have that chance, and honestly? That level of devotion and defiance is what makes her one of the most compelling female leads in a xianxia drama.
Now, let’s talk visuals. The costumes?? Stunning. Vibrant without looking gimmicky, and the textures—oh, the textures. Some xianxias blend into a mess of overly pastel fantasy aesthetics, but this drama had clear, distinct color palettes, especially for the leads. And the hair?? The hair was unreal. I need to know what kind of haircare regimen these characters were on because I am obsessed.
And the CGI? Surprisingly solid. They didn’t shove it down our throats to the point where it felt like everything was filmed in a green-screened void (cough certain sci-fi dramas cough). There was a really nice balance between CGI and real-life sets, so the world actually felt tangible. The flying sequences?? Crisp. Sometimes, xianxia fight scenes give me “actors dangling awkwardly on wires” energy, but not here. It felt seamless, and that alone deserves praise.
The second male lead, Su Yu (Chen Xin Hai), was an interesting addition. The whole greedy-for-immortality storyline was chef’s kiss because it made his redemption arc at the end actually mean something. And the ending??? The leads eloping and building a life together?? YES. They’ve earned their happiness, and I love that the drama let them have it.
But now, the dislikes: Listen, I will never be a fan of the jealous sister trope. Can we retire this storyline already?? Every xianxia seems to have that one clingy, bitter sibling who exists purely to be annoying, and honestly, it dragged the pacing here.
And now… my biggest heartbreak: the dubbing. I’m devastated that the leads were dubbed. Like, I adored this drama, but finding out that their voices weren’t their own?? It completely took me out of the immersion. Imagine Gandalf’s iconic “You Shall Not Pass” moment—but voiced by someone other than Ian McKellen. Like… excuse me??? Existential crisis activated.
Final verdict: Loved it. Cried. Obsessed. Slightly emotionally damaged. But definitely worth watching.
Would I rewatch? Yes. Would I complain about the dubbing again? Also yes. But at the end of the day… xianxia dramas are about feeling something, and this one? Oh, it felt.
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