This review may contain spoilers
Excellent storytelling, amazing chemistry. The only drawback? The last few episodes...
There is a LOT that happens in this show so I will list the pros and cons accordingly.
What I loved:
- I thought Joseph Zeng was a cutie even when I first watched him in Hi Venus, but him with his long white hair and historical fits was an unprecedented level of handsome.
- Fan Ling’Er as a character was fun and different. You really think she is a basic jealous love interest trying to get rid of Li Qing Yue at first. The reveal that they were on the same team was JUCIY. I loved it if for no other reason than I hate to see women tear each other down for a man. Then on top of it, I loved the relationship with her father. He truly did suck even if he "loves" her. It was hard watching her experience disappoint after disappointment with his choices.
- Zhang Suan in love with Li Qing Yue. But it is *absolutely unrequited*. I saw a review that said he was a “wallflower” but I think his role was actually refreshing. Secondary male leads are often turned into antagonist in a way that often feels misogynistic (trying to bring down the woman he claims to love after being rejected). However, here Zhang Suan is truly in love and loyal. Even when he knows a romantic affair is not in the cards for him with Li Qing Yue – she was a shining light to him and he does all he can to reciprocate that. His loyalty being what has Fan Ling’Er reach nirvana was a “fun” side quest. It was the same yet different from so many other fantasy dramas.
- **Li Qingyue and Bai Jiusi’s chemistry.** These two were not particularly romantic for 90% of the show, but the love was palpable
- Li Mo and his “love tribulation”. It was cool to see a platonic love story unfold.
What I liked:
- Even though his childlike behavior when his spiritual core was damaged was cliche, it worked well in helping them cross that bridge of him communicating and her realizing that he has always been made to be guarded in a way she was not so while he was wrong to lie to her back then, he wasn't entirely to blame either.
- Some people didn’t like the antagonist, but I liked that Shang Guan Ri Yue “dies” but actually takes over part of Zhang Suan’s body. I do think his back story leaves a bit to be desired. I don’t understand the importance of the steele and why they all couldn’t just cross this one dude’s name off if his mistake was that bad? But then we find out he was punished for like 100 years for the death of Shang Guan Ri Yue’s family so I’m a loss as to how he had so much hatred and anger in him tbh.
What I didn’t like:
- Hua Ru Yue’s resentment! It was 1000% justified but when she finds out the truth and tells his comatose body "this doesn't mean I forgive you," I had to roll my eyes. This man has only ever loved her and never *truly nor intentionally* harmed her. Even as she kills and hurts him over and over, he keeps trying to find a way to understand why she hates him. His biggest flaw was his inability to communicate but she was no better by never actually ever just telling him “being a mortal was hell because x, y ,z.”
- As a sub-note, I still don’t understand the semantics of Hua Ru Yue pretending to be Li Qing Yue for 300 years. I was truly expecting her to have amnesia or something so that not being the case was a nice surprise but I’m still like HOW DID SHE FAKE HER WHOLE SELF FOR 300 YEARS?
- The ending was 50/50. I am very glad we get a “happy ending” but just barely? I still don’t really understand the time travel and this is 99% the case with these time travel cop outs. I don’t get if this means she’s in a new timeline, the same timeline or something in between. Does this mean their child never dies? Does this mean Li Mo never dies? I just don’t understand these endings and they feel almost as bad as “it was all a dream” endings. This is honestly the main reason this show is a 9 and not a 10 for me personally.
***Original Thoughts & Ideas***
- With how much effort Hua Ru Yue put to get revenge on Bai Jiu Si, it really does call into light the idea of how love and hate are two sides of the same coin. Her hatred was born out of the feeling of betrayal from the love of her life. Her hatred was fed by her love for humans and her son only to witness their deaths.
- As I was watching this show, I just kept thinking wow Bai Jiu Si is so handsome and so in love but how can a man this in love not have checked on the woman he cares for over the course of 10 years and lo and be hold he was being jailed. The lesson here? COMMUNICATION IS IMPORTANT BRO
- Zhang Suan and Fan Ling’Er are excellent side characters that explore the dynamics of loyalty. Fan Ling’Er is loyal due to how Hua Ru Yue helped her when she needed it most, but **stayed loyal** because Hua Ru Yue *respected* her in a way her father never did. Zhang Suan is loyal because he quite literally wanted to die before meeting her but she gave him reason to live again.
- "Human kind behavior" was an interesting theme in this show. I like that you can’t make a blanket statement about the good or evil of mankind off this show. The lesson is really that they all deserve to live and to be seen as more significant than a passing ant. Humans are complex. As complex as the “immortals”. Their love can turn to hate. Their jealousy can weaken them, but their anger can strength them. Every one can surprise you with each choice they make.
What I loved:
- I thought Joseph Zeng was a cutie even when I first watched him in Hi Venus, but him with his long white hair and historical fits was an unprecedented level of handsome.
- Fan Ling’Er as a character was fun and different. You really think she is a basic jealous love interest trying to get rid of Li Qing Yue at first. The reveal that they were on the same team was JUCIY. I loved it if for no other reason than I hate to see women tear each other down for a man. Then on top of it, I loved the relationship with her father. He truly did suck even if he "loves" her. It was hard watching her experience disappoint after disappointment with his choices.
- Zhang Suan in love with Li Qing Yue. But it is *absolutely unrequited*. I saw a review that said he was a “wallflower” but I think his role was actually refreshing. Secondary male leads are often turned into antagonist in a way that often feels misogynistic (trying to bring down the woman he claims to love after being rejected). However, here Zhang Suan is truly in love and loyal. Even when he knows a romantic affair is not in the cards for him with Li Qing Yue – she was a shining light to him and he does all he can to reciprocate that. His loyalty being what has Fan Ling’Er reach nirvana was a “fun” side quest. It was the same yet different from so many other fantasy dramas.
- **Li Qingyue and Bai Jiusi’s chemistry.** These two were not particularly romantic for 90% of the show, but the love was palpable
- Li Mo and his “love tribulation”. It was cool to see a platonic love story unfold.
What I liked:
- Even though his childlike behavior when his spiritual core was damaged was cliche, it worked well in helping them cross that bridge of him communicating and her realizing that he has always been made to be guarded in a way she was not so while he was wrong to lie to her back then, he wasn't entirely to blame either.
- Some people didn’t like the antagonist, but I liked that Shang Guan Ri Yue “dies” but actually takes over part of Zhang Suan’s body. I do think his back story leaves a bit to be desired. I don’t understand the importance of the steele and why they all couldn’t just cross this one dude’s name off if his mistake was that bad? But then we find out he was punished for like 100 years for the death of Shang Guan Ri Yue’s family so I’m a loss as to how he had so much hatred and anger in him tbh.
What I didn’t like:
- Hua Ru Yue’s resentment! It was 1000% justified but when she finds out the truth and tells his comatose body "this doesn't mean I forgive you," I had to roll my eyes. This man has only ever loved her and never *truly nor intentionally* harmed her. Even as she kills and hurts him over and over, he keeps trying to find a way to understand why she hates him. His biggest flaw was his inability to communicate but she was no better by never actually ever just telling him “being a mortal was hell because x, y ,z.”
- As a sub-note, I still don’t understand the semantics of Hua Ru Yue pretending to be Li Qing Yue for 300 years. I was truly expecting her to have amnesia or something so that not being the case was a nice surprise but I’m still like HOW DID SHE FAKE HER WHOLE SELF FOR 300 YEARS?
- The ending was 50/50. I am very glad we get a “happy ending” but just barely? I still don’t really understand the time travel and this is 99% the case with these time travel cop outs. I don’t get if this means she’s in a new timeline, the same timeline or something in between. Does this mean their child never dies? Does this mean Li Mo never dies? I just don’t understand these endings and they feel almost as bad as “it was all a dream” endings. This is honestly the main reason this show is a 9 and not a 10 for me personally.
***Original Thoughts & Ideas***
- With how much effort Hua Ru Yue put to get revenge on Bai Jiu Si, it really does call into light the idea of how love and hate are two sides of the same coin. Her hatred was born out of the feeling of betrayal from the love of her life. Her hatred was fed by her love for humans and her son only to witness their deaths.
- As I was watching this show, I just kept thinking wow Bai Jiu Si is so handsome and so in love but how can a man this in love not have checked on the woman he cares for over the course of 10 years and lo and be hold he was being jailed. The lesson here? COMMUNICATION IS IMPORTANT BRO
- Zhang Suan and Fan Ling’Er are excellent side characters that explore the dynamics of loyalty. Fan Ling’Er is loyal due to how Hua Ru Yue helped her when she needed it most, but **stayed loyal** because Hua Ru Yue *respected* her in a way her father never did. Zhang Suan is loyal because he quite literally wanted to die before meeting her but she gave him reason to live again.
- "Human kind behavior" was an interesting theme in this show. I like that you can’t make a blanket statement about the good or evil of mankind off this show. The lesson is really that they all deserve to live and to be seen as more significant than a passing ant. Humans are complex. As complex as the “immortals”. Their love can turn to hate. Their jealousy can weaken them, but their anger can strength them. Every one can surprise you with each choice they make.
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