Great main couple and worldbuilding, but fails secondary couples/characters
If you only watched the first couple of episodes, then you're missing so much good that comes later. The first couple of episodes are fairly uninspiring due to the basic production and CGI. Everyone, visually, looks kind of just okay. But if you watch all the way to episode 6 and beyond, it becomes so fun and interesting.
One of the most unique xianxia dramas in terms of the worldbuilding. The human realm is unique. Because of goddess Wushuang, who was an engineer and innovated a lot of things for the human realm, the world has a steampunk vibe. The culture and clothes are still traditional, but there are some unique items or modes of transportation due to the advanced mechanical inventions. Magic and technology co-exist. (This worldbuilding isn't just for show. It plays into the plot later!)
Another absolutely favorite part of this drama--which really carries the whole show--is the main couple.
The male lead, Yuan Zhong, is a beautiful and detached man. After everything he's been through--which you learn quite quickly in the first 10 episodes--you'll understand why he is the way he is. It makes his actions very logical and understandable. He's a skeptic, especially suspicious of the female lead, Ji Tanyin, and it makes their dynamic so funny.
Ji Tanyin is actually the goddess Wushuang and came down to the mortal realm to retrieve an item that is in the hands of Yuan Zhong. For a couple of reasons, Ji Tanyin chooses to stay by his side until his death. She is committed to her goal. She is mature, logical, and has a strong sense of justice and morality. And it's these traits that really will affect Yuan Zhong, whose heart is cold.
Their relationship is great. Ji Tanyin is teaching him to warm up to the world again. Yuan Zhong is teaching her about the realities of life, having philosophical discussions with her. They are just so interesting, as individuals and as a couple. And their growth and arc, especially on Yuan Zhong's side, is fantastic.
A third favorite thing is the OST. The background music fits really well as well as the original songs. It fits well with every scene.
Unfortunately, that's about as good as it gets. There are some supporting characters who come and go and do outstanding jobs. Sadly, the reoccurring supporting characters don't have interesting arcs--and so then, by the end, they become characters that are just going through the motions, and you don't feel their motivations.
The characters of Zhi Dai and Tanghua, specifically, were meant to be this second couple that we could root for. And, in the beginning, when you learn who Zhi Dai is and how she knew Tanghua, it built this complex history between them and was really fascinating when she left it all behind. But then they reunite again for plot reasons and they just never had an interesting chemistry or dynamic since then. It was so disappointing because the wasted potential.
And then the character of Qian Lin! I'm so annoyed how his character just...stopped having things to do. He exploded onto the screen as this desperate, determined character who had a very specific goal. He was quite interesting! And then, somewhere along the way, he became a very mild character. It's too bad.
Even the villain and their scenes aren't well paced throughout the story...
Overall, you can enjoy this for the strong performances by Liu Xueyi and Tiffany Tang as Yuan Zhong and Ji Tanyin and interesting world and philosophical questions. You might enjoy some of the supporting characters too, but don't expect too much growth or interesting thread for them.
One of the most unique xianxia dramas in terms of the worldbuilding. The human realm is unique. Because of goddess Wushuang, who was an engineer and innovated a lot of things for the human realm, the world has a steampunk vibe. The culture and clothes are still traditional, but there are some unique items or modes of transportation due to the advanced mechanical inventions. Magic and technology co-exist. (This worldbuilding isn't just for show. It plays into the plot later!)
Another absolutely favorite part of this drama--which really carries the whole show--is the main couple.
The male lead, Yuan Zhong, is a beautiful and detached man. After everything he's been through--which you learn quite quickly in the first 10 episodes--you'll understand why he is the way he is. It makes his actions very logical and understandable. He's a skeptic, especially suspicious of the female lead, Ji Tanyin, and it makes their dynamic so funny.
Ji Tanyin is actually the goddess Wushuang and came down to the mortal realm to retrieve an item that is in the hands of Yuan Zhong. For a couple of reasons, Ji Tanyin chooses to stay by his side until his death. She is committed to her goal. She is mature, logical, and has a strong sense of justice and morality. And it's these traits that really will affect Yuan Zhong, whose heart is cold.
Their relationship is great. Ji Tanyin is teaching him to warm up to the world again. Yuan Zhong is teaching her about the realities of life, having philosophical discussions with her. They are just so interesting, as individuals and as a couple. And their growth and arc, especially on Yuan Zhong's side, is fantastic.
A third favorite thing is the OST. The background music fits really well as well as the original songs. It fits well with every scene.
Unfortunately, that's about as good as it gets. There are some supporting characters who come and go and do outstanding jobs. Sadly, the reoccurring supporting characters don't have interesting arcs--and so then, by the end, they become characters that are just going through the motions, and you don't feel their motivations.
The characters of Zhi Dai and Tanghua, specifically, were meant to be this second couple that we could root for. And, in the beginning, when you learn who Zhi Dai is and how she knew Tanghua, it built this complex history between them and was really fascinating when she left it all behind. But then they reunite again for plot reasons and they just never had an interesting chemistry or dynamic since then. It was so disappointing because the wasted potential.
And then the character of Qian Lin! I'm so annoyed how his character just...stopped having things to do. He exploded onto the screen as this desperate, determined character who had a very specific goal. He was quite interesting! And then, somewhere along the way, he became a very mild character. It's too bad.
Even the villain and their scenes aren't well paced throughout the story...
Overall, you can enjoy this for the strong performances by Liu Xueyi and Tiffany Tang as Yuan Zhong and Ji Tanyin and interesting world and philosophical questions. You might enjoy some of the supporting characters too, but don't expect too much growth or interesting thread for them.
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