I am on ep 30. now.... Lu Ling Fong character is getting very loud and unbearable... if this goes on I don't think…
Lu Lingfeng really does feel like a different person in S3. He grew so much—from the hot-blooded, impulsive detective in S1 into a seasoned, calmer (but still passionate) investigator in S2. But in S3, he suddenly regresses back to being reckless and impulsive.
Take that moment when he lets Pei Xijun stalk a suspicious guy alone—what?! Isn’t he supposed to be an experienced general and detective by now? Why would he allow someone—especially someone he cares about—to take on such a dangerous task completely alone? That scene was so out of character, I actually had to pause the series for a few days.
And I couldn’t agree more about the romance. They’ve turned him into a romantic Zorro—all dramatic stares and slow-motion embraces. But those scenes add nothing to the plot. If anything, they weaken his character and distract from the mystery.
For the first time ever, I found myself fast-forwarding through LLF–PXJ romantic scenes—something I never did in S1 or S2.
why on the case from around ep 30 i felt the importance around the gentry was a bit too much? like historically…
This is one of the complaints about this season that I read on Douban. AvenueX made a short comment on this issue in one of her videos. Though it could be relevant to the time (Tang period) but for today's Chinese generation it looks like they're glorifying the gentry.
I find it strange that such a good and popular series in china have so few comments here.
I think part of the reason is that on MDL, many international viewers follow actors first, not stories. Strange Tales doesn’t have mega-idol leads—it’s loved in China for its writing and mystery, not star power—so it flies under the radar here.
S3 was not as good as S1 & S2, but does that make it a bad season? No. I think after the success of S2, people…
Yes, I agree—filming S3 just three months after S2 finished airing feels rushed compared to the nearly two-year gap between S1 & S2.
My speculation is that Changxin Media originally planned to film S3 only after director Bai Shan wrapped their other drama, My Destiny. But given how huge a success S2 was, the streaming platform likely pushed to capitalize on the momentum right away. That may explain why Ju Xingmao was assigned as director for S3 instead.
During S3’s production, I followed a thread on Douban and someone mentioned something unusual: screenwriter Wei Fenghua never appeared on set. I’m not sure if he visited during S1 or S2, but his absence during S3 stood out—especially since close collaboration between the director and the writer is often crucial when last-minute script adjustments are needed.
I’m really glad to hear S5 might take its time. YouTuber AvenueX mentioned they need to “restructure something,” though details are unclear. Still, I think it’s a great sign. Wei Fenghua will have more time to write—and hopefully they bring Bai Shan back to direct.
I've looked up the website of AACA. The award began in 2018 and it seems for the last 5 years Best Drama Series Category was dominated by Kdrama (Netflix) and Thai dramas. Strange Tales of Tang Dynasty To The West was literally the first Cdrama that won that category.
When Life Gives You Tangerines has scored 9.1 on IMDb and 100% on Rotten Tomatoes. So winning against this formidable contender is definitely huge. I'm happy that they got recognition in global platform such as AACA. The judges were professionals from different countries so we can say that their assessment was fair and impartial.
On December 17, a 21-episode, 20 minutes each ep installment will be released. I heard that this isn’t season…
They were producing dramas that started filming almost at the same time. Bai Shan wasn't doing S3 because he had been assigned to do a drama that the company was producing. This drama and SToTD S3 started filming almost at the same time. As soon as S3 wrapped, Ju Xingmao was assigned to do another drama the company was producing so Guo Shimin did S4. Since the success of Strange Tales of Tang Dynasty S1, the company has been very busy making dramas. Bai Shan, too, went on to direct other dramas almost non stop for other companies. I hope they call him back to do S5.
Here's a rundown of what we can expect with Season 4 including its plot and the cases that will be solved. (yes,…
Maybe because Ju Xingmao had to switch to a drama the company was also working on almost at the same time. I think they had too much on their plate. I think the reason why they assigned Ju Xingmao to do season 3 was because they had assigned Bai Shan to do another drama which started filming almost at the same time as filming season 3. They should work on 1 drama at a time instead of doing 2.
It's not just the score but the number of votes (S3 will be lucky to break 120K votes ultimately) while S1 had…
Though I can't tell if the series will have more seasons after season 5, but there's more stronger reasons for iQiyi to keep making it because:
1. S2 (To the West) rescued iQIYI in 2024 when their other big dramas failed—it was one of the highest-rated shows of the year in terms of streaming performance and audience retention. 2. Just yesterday, S2 (To the West) saved iQiyi again. it won Best Drama at the 2025 Asian Academy Creative Awards in Singapore, beating top contenders, 12 dramas from 11 Asian countries (including Australia). Strange Tales of Tang Dynasty II even beat a formidable contender from Korea "When Life Gives You Tangerines. 3. Even S1 (2022), made on a modest budget, became a Top 10 most-watched drama in China—proof that the series thrives on story, not spectacle. 4. Douban votes alone don’t determine a drama’s fate. Look at Ingenious One: it has only a 7.3 rating and ~112K votes since 2023—yet it’s already getting a Season 2. Strange Tales, with higher ratings, far more votes, more successful commercially, awards, and cultural impact, is clearly in a much stronger position.
I think the only one that would stop STOTD from running more seasons is when Wei Fenghua, the writer, has run out of ideas.
S3 was not as good as S1 & S2, but does that make it a bad season? No. I think after the success of S2, people…
There’s no need to apologize at all! I just wanted to share my opinion as nuanced as possible—without sounding overly critical or judgmental. After all, in any discussion, differences in perspective are natural and welcome! 🤗
I can see why many fans enjoy the softer side of LLF and SWM, as well as LLF’s fight scenes. And I’ll be honest—I did enjoy the fight scenes! They’re obviously meticulously choreographed and look absolutely awesome.
That said, I worry that when these elements take center stage, they sometimes overshadow the core strengths of the series—like tightly constructed mysteries, deductive problem-solving, and consistent character development. To me, this shift has led to issues such as rushed or underdeveloped cases, plot inconsistencies, and a noticeable disconnect in LLF’s growth compared to S1 and S2.
It seems to me that the writer already had a lot on his plate—balancing high-stakes Tang court politics with the show’s signature mystery format is no small feat. But when you layer on extended romantic arcs and large-scale action sequences on top of that, something has to give. In Season 3, it was the cases themselves that got compromised—which feels especially ironic, because the cases are what define the series. After all, Strange Tales of Tang Dynasty presents itself first and foremost as a mystery-solving drama; politics, romance, and fight scenes should support that core, not overshadow it.
At the end of the day, what matters most is that we all want the best for this story. When we disagree on the details, it means we care about this series. 🤗
Congratulations to Strange Tales of Tang Dynasty II To the West for winning Best Drama Series of The Year at Asian Academy Creative Awards in Singapore! You can watch the ceremony on YT. Starts at 3:13:45. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=983QcOV7RQQ
Congratulations to Strange Tales of Tang Dynasty II To the West for winning Best Drama Series of The Year at Asian Academy Creative Awards in Singapore! You can watch the ceremony on YT. Starts at 3:13:45. It beat a strong contender: When Life Gives You Tangerines. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=983QcOV7RQQ
S3 was not as good as S1 & S2, but does that make it a bad season? No. I think after the success of S2, people…
Just to clarify—I never meant S3 is ‘bad.’ I still love the show deeply and rated it 8.5/10. And I actually rated S3 8.5/10 before I even checked Douban (which was at 8.1 at the time, now 8.0). I really wanted to give it 9.0 because I adore this series—it’s still my favorite Cdrama—but I had to be honest with myself: I felt slightly less engaged, especially in how the cases were solved.
My critique isn’t about the presence of court politics. Given the historical setting and Lu Lingfeng’s ties to the imperial family, that storyline feels inevitable and even necessary. What I missed was the detective process itself—the deduction, the reasoning, and the observation in S1 and S2. In S3, solutions often come through action, coincidence, or off-screen revelations, rather than the duo piecing clues together. The “strange tales” feel more like backdrops now, not puzzles to be unraveled.
I also noticed the creative choices seemed tailored to specific fan groups—extended LLF/PXJ PDA, frequent large-scale fight scenes, etc.—which, while enjoyable for some, shifted the show’s tone away from its core identity as a mystery-driven, atmospheric drama.
I agree ratings aren’t everything, but the trend (S1 9.1 → S2 9.4 → S3 8.8 on iQiyi; Douban also slightly lower) does suggest a decline. After watching, I looked up a few 3-star Douban reviews (skipping the 1–2 star ones, which can be overly nitpicky) and found that not a few longtime fans shared the same sentiment: they love the show, but agree the cases feel less polished, and the intellectual heart of the detective work has faded.
That said, I still deeply appreciate the high production quality and am glad the show continues. I don't want the show to end and I just hope future seasons— S5—can recenter on what made me fall in love with it in the first place: two detectives unravelling mysteries using deduction-reasoning and more polished cases.
The rating on douban has gone down to 8.0 https://movie.douban.com/subject/36318037/ It's disappointing but as much as I love the series (still is my most favorite cdrama) I've got to admit season 3 is not as good as the previous (S1 + S2) . Even on iQiyi China, it's rated 8.8. Season 1 is rated 9.1 and season 2 9.4. I, myself, rated S3 8.5 with S1 9.0 and S2 9.5 on MDL. I find that some of the creative decisions made by the production were merely to please some fans, such as fans of LLF & PXJ cp, fans of SWM & YT cp, fans of LLF's fight scenes, etc. It's not about the rating but we've got to admit that the rating (on Douban in this matter) does reflect the quality of S3. I hope in S5 the team take this into consideration and go back to their usual self (in S1 & 2), which is focusing on the detective work of LLF & SWM.
I can't decide if S3 is better than S1. But I definitely think S2 is still the best.
When I saw that scene, I was like "Guys, I know you're a couple and in love. No more sugar please. You'd give me diabetes!" 🙄 Yes, I remember in S1 in the crocodile God case, LLF saved XJ. But it's not like he sent her to die or something. I think the whole gang went to infiltrate the cult. They left XJ home (coz I think it's too dangerous for her if she came along) and she's not even alone. Xue Huan was with her. That makes perfect sense. But in S3, he lets her stalk a suspicious guy. It really doesn't make any sense. They (the creative team) obviously designed it that way so that LLF comes to save her and they'll spin in slow motion. In S1 it makes sense, in S3 doesn't make sense.
Yeah I heard the complaints about STOTD not having enough romance. I think I read somewhere on Douban before. Some fans asked for more romance and Bai Shan said that they could add a little but not too much because at the end of the day it's a mystery-investigation. So they added a little bit in S2.
Bai Shan and Wei Fenghua have worked together really well, creating 2 successful seasons. They know when they need to listen to fans and when they must not. But maybe when he left, the team had nobody to decide to what extent they should listen to fans' requests so they just accepted. I'm just guessing...
Anyhow, I'm not blaming Ju Xingmao and it's not fair to blame him since he just took over the job from somebody else. I'm blaming the decision made by Guo Jingyu's team LOL
I can't decide if S3 is better than S1. But I definitely think S2 is still the best.
I think they haven't decided on who will shoot S5. Both directors are busy at the moment with their respective project. And Wei Fenghua is reportedly still writing the script of S5.
Tbh ep. 36 - 37 is a buzzkill for me. To create a scene where LLF and PXJ spin in slow motion, eyes locked, they made LLF let PXJ stalk. Why? LLF is a general who has military and intelligence knowledge, doesn't he know that it's too dangerous for PXJ who has no martial art skill? It frustrates me when they made the characters' growth inconsistent. In S1 and S2 LLF has grown to use his brain more and here in these 2 episodes he doesn't use his brain? Why is he not resourceful? It's inconsistent with his character's growth.
Plus when PXJ went to stalk, she didn't even change her clothes. In S1 and 2 sometimes she wore travelling clothes that look more casual, I remember in S1 when she tried to visit LLF she wore casual male clothes. Also the female spy wore male clothes but she wore thick make-up. Who would believe she's a he?
Sorry for ranting. I'd enjoyed the drama until ep 36 - 37. I'd never expected STOTD would make these stupid mistakes. I got the feeling that they rushed to shoot S3 taking advantage of the success of S2.
Of course I don't think Ju Xingmao is bad. But I just think that since he didn't handle S1 & S2, he probably didn't fully grasp what the previous director had built and developed. There's a sense of discontinuity. But I still like S3 nonetheless.
1
He grew so much—from the hot-blooded, impulsive detective in S1 into a seasoned, calmer (but still passionate) investigator in S2. But in S3, he suddenly regresses back to being reckless and impulsive.
Take that moment when he lets Pei Xijun stalk a suspicious guy alone—what?! Isn’t he supposed to be an experienced general and detective by now? Why would he allow someone—especially someone he cares about—to take on such a dangerous task completely alone? That scene was so out of character, I actually had to pause the series for a few days.
And I couldn’t agree more about the romance. They’ve turned him into a romantic Zorro—all dramatic stares and slow-motion embraces. But those scenes add nothing to the plot. If anything, they weaken his character and distract from the mystery.
For the first time ever, I found myself fast-forwarding through LLF–PXJ romantic scenes—something I never did in S1 or S2.
My speculation is that Changxin Media originally planned to film S3 only after director Bai Shan wrapped their other drama, My Destiny. But given how huge a success S2 was, the streaming platform likely pushed to capitalize on the momentum right away. That may explain why Ju Xingmao was assigned as director for S3 instead.
During S3’s production, I followed a thread on Douban and someone mentioned something unusual: screenwriter Wei Fenghua never appeared on set. I’m not sure if he visited during S1 or S2, but his absence during S3 stood out—especially since close collaboration between the director and the writer is often crucial when last-minute script adjustments are needed.
I’m really glad to hear S5 might take its time. YouTuber AvenueX mentioned they need to “restructure something,” though details are unclear. Still, I think it’s a great sign. Wei Fenghua will have more time to write—and hopefully they bring Bai Shan back to direct.
When Life Gives You Tangerines has scored 9.1 on IMDb and 100% on Rotten Tomatoes. So winning against this formidable contender is definitely huge. I'm happy that they got recognition in global platform such as AACA. The judges were professionals from different countries so we can say that their assessment was fair and impartial.
1. S2 (To the West) rescued iQIYI in 2024 when their other big dramas failed—it was one of the highest-rated shows of the year in terms of streaming performance and audience retention.
2. Just yesterday, S2 (To the West) saved iQiyi again. it won Best Drama at the 2025 Asian Academy Creative Awards in Singapore, beating top contenders, 12 dramas from 11 Asian countries (including Australia). Strange Tales of Tang Dynasty II even beat a formidable contender from Korea "When Life Gives You Tangerines.
3. Even S1 (2022), made on a modest budget, became a Top 10 most-watched drama in China—proof that the series thrives on story, not spectacle.
4. Douban votes alone don’t determine a drama’s fate. Look at Ingenious One: it has only a 7.3 rating and ~112K votes since 2023—yet it’s already getting a Season 2. Strange Tales, with higher ratings, far more votes, more successful commercially, awards, and cultural impact, is clearly in a much stronger position.
I think the only one that would stop STOTD from running more seasons is when Wei Fenghua, the writer, has run out of ideas.
I can see why many fans enjoy the softer side of LLF and SWM, as well as LLF’s fight scenes. And I’ll be honest—I did enjoy the fight scenes! They’re obviously meticulously choreographed and look absolutely awesome.
That said, I worry that when these elements take center stage, they sometimes overshadow the core strengths of the series—like tightly constructed mysteries, deductive problem-solving, and consistent character development. To me, this shift has led to issues such as rushed or underdeveloped cases, plot inconsistencies, and a noticeable disconnect in LLF’s growth compared to S1 and S2.
It seems to me that the writer already had a lot on his plate—balancing high-stakes Tang court politics with the show’s signature mystery format is no small feat. But when you layer on extended romantic arcs and large-scale action sequences on top of that, something has to give. In Season 3, it was the cases themselves that got compromised—which feels especially ironic, because the cases are what define the series. After all, Strange Tales of Tang Dynasty presents itself first and foremost as a mystery-solving drama; politics, romance, and fight scenes should support that core, not overshadow it.
At the end of the day, what matters most is that we all want the best for this story. When we disagree on the details, it means we care about this series. 🤗
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=983QcOV7RQQ
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=983QcOV7RQQ
My critique isn’t about the presence of court politics. Given the historical setting and Lu Lingfeng’s ties to the imperial family, that storyline feels inevitable and even necessary. What I missed was the detective process itself—the deduction, the reasoning, and the observation in S1 and S2. In S3, solutions often come through action, coincidence, or off-screen revelations, rather than the duo piecing clues together. The “strange tales” feel more like backdrops now, not puzzles to be unraveled.
I also noticed the creative choices seemed tailored to specific fan groups—extended LLF/PXJ PDA, frequent large-scale fight scenes, etc.—which, while enjoyable for some, shifted the show’s tone away from its core identity as a mystery-driven, atmospheric drama.
I agree ratings aren’t everything, but the trend (S1 9.1 → S2 9.4 → S3 8.8 on iQiyi; Douban also slightly lower) does suggest a decline. After watching, I looked up a few 3-star Douban reviews (skipping the 1–2 star ones, which can be overly nitpicky) and found that not a few longtime fans shared the same sentiment: they love the show, but agree the cases feel less polished, and the intellectual heart of the detective work has faded.
That said, I still deeply appreciate the high production quality and am glad the show continues. I don't want the show to end and I just hope future seasons— S5—can recenter on what made me fall in love with it in the first place: two detectives unravelling mysteries using deduction-reasoning and more polished cases.
It's disappointing but as much as I love the series (still is my most favorite cdrama) I've got to admit season 3 is not as good as the previous (S1 + S2) . Even on iQiyi China, it's rated 8.8. Season 1 is rated 9.1 and season 2 9.4. I, myself, rated S3 8.5 with S1 9.0 and S2 9.5 on MDL.
I find that some of the creative decisions made by the production were merely to please some fans, such as fans of LLF & PXJ cp, fans of SWM & YT cp, fans of LLF's fight scenes, etc. It's not about the rating but we've got to admit that the rating (on Douban in this matter) does reflect the quality of S3. I hope in S5 the team take this into consideration and go back to their usual self (in S1 & 2), which is focusing on the detective work of LLF & SWM.
Yes, I remember in S1 in the crocodile God case, LLF saved XJ. But it's not like he sent her to die or something. I think the whole gang went to infiltrate the cult. They left XJ home (coz I think it's too dangerous for her if she came along) and she's not even alone. Xue Huan was with her. That makes perfect sense. But in S3, he lets her stalk a suspicious guy. It really doesn't make any sense. They (the creative team) obviously designed it that way so that LLF comes to save her and they'll spin in slow motion. In S1 it makes sense, in S3 doesn't make sense.
Yeah I heard the complaints about STOTD not having enough romance. I think I read somewhere on Douban before. Some fans asked for more romance and Bai Shan said that they could add a little but not too much because at the end of the day it's a mystery-investigation. So they added a little bit in S2.
Bai Shan and Wei Fenghua have worked together really well, creating 2 successful seasons. They know when they need to listen to fans and when they must not. But maybe when he left, the team had nobody to decide to what extent they should listen to fans' requests so they just accepted. I'm just guessing...
Anyhow, I'm not blaming Ju Xingmao and it's not fair to blame him since he just took over the job from somebody else. I'm blaming the decision made by Guo Jingyu's team LOL
Tbh ep. 36 - 37 is a buzzkill for me. To create a scene where LLF and PXJ spin in slow motion, eyes locked, they made LLF let PXJ stalk. Why? LLF is a general who has military and intelligence knowledge, doesn't he know that it's too dangerous for PXJ who has no martial art skill? It frustrates me when they made the characters' growth inconsistent. In S1 and S2 LLF has grown to use his brain more and here in these 2 episodes he doesn't use his brain? Why is he not resourceful? It's inconsistent with his character's growth.
Plus when PXJ went to stalk, she didn't even change her clothes. In S1 and 2 sometimes she wore travelling clothes that look more casual, I remember in S1 when she tried to visit LLF she wore casual male clothes. Also the female spy wore male clothes but she wore thick make-up. Who would believe she's a he?
Sorry for ranting. I'd enjoyed the drama until ep 36 - 37. I'd never expected STOTD would make these stupid mistakes. I got the feeling that they rushed to shoot S3 taking advantage of the success of S2.
Of course I don't think Ju Xingmao is bad. But I just think that since he didn't handle S1 & S2, he probably didn't fully grasp what the previous director had built and developed. There's a sense of discontinuity. But I still like S3 nonetheless.