This review may contain spoilers
Great job on almost everything in this drama: great leads, interesting storylines, fun characters
*No major, specific spoilers. Only vague, broad points!*
This is likely one of the best dramas of 2025, maybe even one of the best in the past few years. Ever since China limited dramas to only 40 episodes back in like 2023(?), dramas have struggled to feel coherent all the way through. This drama truly pulls together all the threads, brings all the characters, to the end. It is quite the feat.
The highlight of the drama is the main leads. The master-disciple dynamic that gets switched later on makes everything more fun and hilarious and tragic.
Mu Qingge is talented cultivator who can essentially ascend to become immortal, but chooses not to because she loves life too much. She seeks someone who can inherit her skills and comes across Su Yishui, who has the same kind of "root/core" as she does. So, she forcibly takes him to be her disciple. This sounds really evil, but Su Yishui, actually, isn't a damsel-in-distress. He's an illegitimate prince who works for his Prince Father and harbors his own bad intentions and goals. He fights Mu Qingge every step of the way. Mu Qingge allows him to do so and even gives him a chance to leave if he can kill her. He tries, he really does, but he's not strong enough. So he reluctantly becomes her disciple.
Thus, their destines were tied together, with Mu Qingge thwarting Su Yishui's destined path and then Su Yishui will also change her death ending by bringing her back. He ends up becoming the "master" when she is revived with no memories of their past connection and became Xue Ranran.
They are truly that couple that will sacrifice themselves to save the other. It's great and it's tragic. Their romance is well developed with many memorable scenes. Despite some other characters who might try to get in their relationship, they are pretty much committed/obsessed with each other only, so it's never a true threat (but makes Su Yishui full of jealousy, lol). And Deng Wei is the standout in this drama, with his ability to act out soft or vengeful characteristics. He looked great on screen, too. For Julia Xiang, I had never seen her in a drama before so it was refreshing to see her as the female lead. I think she did a great job and balanced the two different personalities of Mu Qingge and Xue Ranran. She also has the brightest smile. I loved her!
The supporting characters are fun or interesting, which is great even if they don't have huge character growth. Some do, but for the most part, they are there to support the main characters.
For Su Yu, one of the antagonists and someone who is in love with Mu Qingge: He can be infuriating since he annoys Su Yishui, but I quite liked his character. He's flawed, he can be cruel and selfish, but I think his behavior is fitting of a royal crown prince. He has to do what he has to do while also being aware of tricks and lies. He has a character development that is quite intense and interesting and pitiful.
And, this is against popular opinion, but I also enjoyed Mu Ranwu's character. Mu Ranwu was the younger sister of Mu Qingge who started hopeful and sweet, but became obsessed and vengeful. Thankfully, she's not in love with Su Yishui, but Su Yu. I loved hating her, and I also understood her to some extent. I wished the storyline had given her a bit more character growth and reflection, but I'm also okay with how her character turned out. She was murderous and obsessive and harmed many people, but she was also desperate, scared and pathetic and fighting for herself even if it means going about it in immoral ways. She was a pitiful character.
Wei Jiu was quite a scary character in the beginning as an antagonist, but became quite fun--like a frenemy--and I deeply enjoyed his dynamic with Tu Jiuyuan, his sect sister (NOT blood sister).
I think my ONE thing to criticize about this show is that sometimes it feels like there are a lot of "convenient" solutions to some problems...it doesn't ruin the show, but it does feel a little too easy sometimes. Overall, plot is still pretty solid.
Overall: You'll enjoy this if you like the main leads! Their romance is fun and they sacrifice themselves for one another A LOT. There'll be a couple of "annoying" characters who show up, but it doesn't dampen the overall enjoyment of the leads and the story.
This is likely one of the best dramas of 2025, maybe even one of the best in the past few years. Ever since China limited dramas to only 40 episodes back in like 2023(?), dramas have struggled to feel coherent all the way through. This drama truly pulls together all the threads, brings all the characters, to the end. It is quite the feat.
The highlight of the drama is the main leads. The master-disciple dynamic that gets switched later on makes everything more fun and hilarious and tragic.
Mu Qingge is talented cultivator who can essentially ascend to become immortal, but chooses not to because she loves life too much. She seeks someone who can inherit her skills and comes across Su Yishui, who has the same kind of "root/core" as she does. So, she forcibly takes him to be her disciple. This sounds really evil, but Su Yishui, actually, isn't a damsel-in-distress. He's an illegitimate prince who works for his Prince Father and harbors his own bad intentions and goals. He fights Mu Qingge every step of the way. Mu Qingge allows him to do so and even gives him a chance to leave if he can kill her. He tries, he really does, but he's not strong enough. So he reluctantly becomes her disciple.
Thus, their destines were tied together, with Mu Qingge thwarting Su Yishui's destined path and then Su Yishui will also change her death ending by bringing her back. He ends up becoming the "master" when she is revived with no memories of their past connection and became Xue Ranran.
They are truly that couple that will sacrifice themselves to save the other. It's great and it's tragic. Their romance is well developed with many memorable scenes. Despite some other characters who might try to get in their relationship, they are pretty much committed/obsessed with each other only, so it's never a true threat (but makes Su Yishui full of jealousy, lol). And Deng Wei is the standout in this drama, with his ability to act out soft or vengeful characteristics. He looked great on screen, too. For Julia Xiang, I had never seen her in a drama before so it was refreshing to see her as the female lead. I think she did a great job and balanced the two different personalities of Mu Qingge and Xue Ranran. She also has the brightest smile. I loved her!
The supporting characters are fun or interesting, which is great even if they don't have huge character growth. Some do, but for the most part, they are there to support the main characters.
For Su Yu, one of the antagonists and someone who is in love with Mu Qingge: He can be infuriating since he annoys Su Yishui, but I quite liked his character. He's flawed, he can be cruel and selfish, but I think his behavior is fitting of a royal crown prince. He has to do what he has to do while also being aware of tricks and lies. He has a character development that is quite intense and interesting and pitiful.
And, this is against popular opinion, but I also enjoyed Mu Ranwu's character. Mu Ranwu was the younger sister of Mu Qingge who started hopeful and sweet, but became obsessed and vengeful. Thankfully, she's not in love with Su Yishui, but Su Yu. I loved hating her, and I also understood her to some extent. I wished the storyline had given her a bit more character growth and reflection, but I'm also okay with how her character turned out. She was murderous and obsessive and harmed many people, but she was also desperate, scared and pathetic and fighting for herself even if it means going about it in immoral ways. She was a pitiful character.
Wei Jiu was quite a scary character in the beginning as an antagonist, but became quite fun--like a frenemy--and I deeply enjoyed his dynamic with Tu Jiuyuan, his sect sister (NOT blood sister).
I think my ONE thing to criticize about this show is that sometimes it feels like there are a lot of "convenient" solutions to some problems...it doesn't ruin the show, but it does feel a little too easy sometimes. Overall, plot is still pretty solid.
Overall: You'll enjoy this if you like the main leads! Their romance is fun and they sacrifice themselves for one another A LOT. There'll be a couple of "annoying" characters who show up, but it doesn't dampen the overall enjoyment of the leads and the story.
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