Qwertyuiop

Because of the cast and the interesting characters, there was a lot of interpersonal scenes etc which could mitigate some of the plot holes and useless props I found. And the sad ending didn't come from nowhere - which is a major reason for me to decrease a rating.

Wen Zongyu had no leg to stand on for revenge. While Li Lun and others had a valid reason to hate (demons tortured and exterminated, etc.), Wen Zongyu was a hypocrite who was the reason his family died. His "affair partner" demon even killed them is a human way - poisoned instead of killing with her powers. Her only mistake is she should have killed him and not others.
While his logic was, I can do everything and justify any means while everyone should be happy to be destroyed by me. He was so good at lying and manipulation, he managed to delude himself into believing he was actually taking revenge. If he wanted revenge, he should have killed himself... If his reasons were, I just hate demons, they are disgusting/etc./whatever, it would have been more manageable, but his hypocrisy was so disgusting to me. But then again, don't people love to do this - do shit but everyone else is at fault instead.

Yes, we knew from the beginning ZY would be dying but at the end hope still wouldn't give up for him not to die...

Completely agree with you review. It was a great drama, only would have improved with one/two more episodes to have explained some side stories and it was super sad we never see ZY again but only get a speck of his soul.

Awesome drama! Couldn't stop laughing, all of the cast did an amazing job of blending serious and funny without being gimmicky. Maybe would have liked more scenes with Wang Ye and Zhuge Qing while the episodes at the contest took too much time? Zhuge Qing is a complete mystery, and a taoist master dealing with life in contemporary times sounds as an interesting premise to me. Can't wait for season 2!

Same!

I agree. Loved the drama for the acting of the cast, cinematography, and their banter. The plot was "standard" (going on a journey while dealing with obstacles) but boring moments took too much time while interesting plot lines were forgotten. And the biggest one - how a normal human was left to become a demon while the team consists of a Great demon 34.000 years old, an excommunicated general, Bing Yi clan descendant, etc. - that just made no sense - should have killed him by episode 10. And him being the doctor saved by Zhu Yan from Li Lun's killing spree gives more credence to Li Lun's argument about exterminating humans so I'm not sure what the show wanted to say with that connection.

Exactly. It wouldn't have been as sad if he still wanted to die, but it is terrible when a character learns to want to live only to then have to die...
And WX's main role in the drama was to pass censorship, so she did her job well.

Overreaction BS, "you" be hounded all over the internet and then "you" can say it is overreaction - it is just bullies/abusers being but-hurt someone is standing up to them. The same thing as someone bullying/demeaning/abusing someone, and the moment they are confronted... "ohh it was just a joke, you have no sense of humour/can't take a joke"...

Difference is audience also doesn't accept that behaviour from the media. Wasn't Britney Spears and others hounded by paparazzi under having a breakdown?
It is the public that accepts that behavior because they are jealous of stars' their success/beauty/etc. and "want them brought down a peg".

Exactly how it should be done.
People need to wake up that just because they are not saying something in person, doesn't mean they can say whatever and should be held accountable.

Agree.
And even when WX had a chance to be stronger, she got poisoned, so she would have an excuse not to do anything.
The "romance" was underdeveloped, because except for the "romance scenes" ZY and WX didn't have that intense chemistry (which the two male leads had). If all the "romance scenes" are removed, ZY and WX have more of a sibling chemistry.
And ZY makes ZYC the only one not affected by his spells (the FL lead doesn't get that privilege)... Isn't even crying and slapping himself, because he is going to make his closest person, kill him...?

Crazy to be over! They needed 5/10 more minutes to show ZY being reborn...

Even before the special ep it is fairly straightforward.

Bai Jiu's master, LiLun (gets redemption), Bai Jiu (gets redemption), dragon mountain god, shape shifting demon saved by Li Lun, Prime Minister, can't think of more off the top of my head.

happy ending

First would be he was probably treated at least as a useful-to-the-family human, while both sisters are just objects.

What commentary of the times - this is a "historical" drama. Also, FL and Ban family are ridiculous for a reason (not explained in the drama though), the more ridiculous, crazy and stupid that family is the more Emperor likes them as that means their minds are shallow and not endangering his and his son's throne. In the novel, Princess Royal (the grandmother) explicitly says she 'made' her son into a useless man on purpose to protect him from the Emperor's paranoia, and Ban Hua's brother is the same also on purpose (and not because he is morally bankrupt or whatever).

Exactly in the novel he grows a lot, here he is basically the team mate who makes you lose due to stupidity and incompetence while not even caring to try, if he is so incompetent at least be more obedient. And his romance with the Empress.... The kid was kidnapped because he was eating noodles...

Liked the drama but that is probably because I love the novel and this was relatively close to the source material. Still went in weird directions several times.
The FL actress was not convincing enough for me in several instances, her movements in the fighting scenes were weird, it was not even she is not "tall and strong/muscular" but she didn't exhibit the control over one's aura, personal space and body one would expect from a martial arts master.
The fighting in the whole drama - some was ok, some was wonky. The "war scenes" were horrendous and I skipped them.
The little sister of the Shi family was changed for the worse, as she "woke up" fairly quickly (she understood the issue is the system all of them are born into and not that Ban Hua is some stupid villain, and her problem with her was Ban Hua could be stupid and ridiculous and her family loves and protects her, while herself is 'perfect lady' and her family still regards her as nothing) in the novel, instead of becoming a generic female character who wants power.
The fact they didn't show what happened with the Empress..., and Count Rong didn't become the Emperor.... The problem of the Crown Prince is he is muddleheaded and a coward, cannot read people, etc. so him remaining Emperor would sooner or later be a problem, and the drama didn't show enough growth for him to warrant changing the ending.
Too much time was spend on useless details while important points were neglected. Seems most of the problems came from the drama being lower budget than the story requires...
Also, FL wore white too much for a character who only wears red and a lot of accessories.

Now am excited to go re-read the novel...