This review may contain spoilers
The best xianxia of all time
In my eyes, NOTHING can top this xianxia. It is an absolute classic in every way, and as someone who began watching dramas a bit after AoL's time (think it came out in 2018), I can see how it paved the road for modern day faves of the genre. Xufeng and Jinmi's relationship is the most beautiful, pure love -- and the whole 60 episodes is dedicated to depicting the trials and tribulations the two overcome despite literally everyone else in the world determined to rip them apart.Every arc of the show made sense, and had me deeply immersed every step of the way. Unlike some xianxias today, the mortal realm arc was just as interesting if not even more so than the heavenly and demon realm ones -- and was absolutely mission critical to the plot. Xufeng jumping into the Heavenly Wheel of Karma to follow Jinmi without a second thought is still one of the most attractive things I've ever seen a ML do. The first third of the show had me giggling and laughing -- boy were those light-hearted times, and so necessary to show the contrast in character development by the time we reach the angst-ridden third arc of the show. I literally sat gripping my seat, heart pounding loudly the entire last 10 episodes or so.
Epic romance, gripping plot line, exquisite costumes (those outfits in the Heavenly Wedding -- oh my god), and of course the iconic OST aside -- perhaps what makes this drama so amazing in my eyes is how well-written every character is, and how well-casted the major characters are.
Jinmi is our Frost Flower -- and the show is dedicated to showcasing her growth through the toughest emotional trials and tribulations. In many ways, I find her to be the most pitiable character, because she doesn't really have agency (until she finally does) and is physically incapable of understanding what she wants, or acting in her own interests. From the beginning, she is a (quite literally) closed-off, naive flower bud, unable to understand love and the ways of the world-- but carefree and pure. It is her bubbly, spring-like personality that attract the two heavenly brothers to her in the first place. By the end, after facing pain, loss, and torment, she finally understands her emotions, blooming into her true self and capable of making her own decisions-- and the ultimate sacrifice. She is never the same again, and her maturity feels bittersweet despite the happy ending. Though at first I struggled with this and felt she deserved more (or at least, selfishly, the audience deserved to see her carefree and filled with joy again), watching the show again made me understand that this was a happy ending for Jinmi, because this is what her heart wanted all along. In the mortal realm (and again at the end of the show) she says her name comes from this quote: "繁花似锦觅安宁，淡云流水度此生。“ Translated, this means "in a world of opulence and beautiful flowers, I seek peace, passing my days like light clouds and flowing streams." The breathtakingly beautiful symbolism of this quote not only conjures up images of a heavenly flower world and flowing water (perfectly apt for the daughter of the Flower God and Water God), but also suggests that what Jinmi truly wants after experiencing the chaos, beauty, and torment of the Heavenly and Flower Realms is simply a life of peace and simplicity with her love and family. And so she did.
Xufeng is our Fire God -- blazing like the sun, unwavering in his devotion -- and yes, a little cocky and spoiled, but with a pure heart and unending sincerity. Though he grew up as the golden child, by the end he has gone through just as much, if not more, torment as the rest of the characters, lost everything, and betrayed by everyone -- yet he maintains his pure heart and sincerity, and shows the whole world how he is reborn from the ashes as the proud Fire Phoenix he is. He is unafraid to love loudly and move mountains and oceans for his loved ones. Deng Lun did such an incredible job, and I'm so glad they casted a more traditionally masculine actor for the role. Xufeng in Chinese means rising sun/phoenix -- and he was the sun that shone on Jinmi's flower, causing her to open up and grow toward him.
Even Runyu was phenomenal, and the perfect foil to Xufeng. Where the Fire God is an open flame, burning hot and true, the Night God is refined, elegant, calculating and cold, and three steps ahead of everyone at all times. His backstory is tragic, and his arc to becoming the villain is written and acted in a nuanced, compelling way. No one does pain and suffering better than Luo Yunxi, and his acting is 100% what made Runyu a sympathetic character despite his cruelty later on. Runyu's love for Jinmi was born in the shadows -- a manipulative, obsessive love twisted from insecurity and jealousy. His feelings toward Jinmi were the antithesis of Xufeng's, who jumped in head first without a second thought to follow his heart, openly and confidently declaring his love to the whole Six Realms, even when doing so came at his detriment. Although the show makes it very clear which love is superior (and the fact that Jinmi actually only ever had Xufeng in her heart, despite Runyu's manipulations), the fact that fans still go to bat for Runyu show just how nuanced the characters are in the show.
Ultimately, Ashes of Love is an epic love story and a cautionary tale against the dangers of generational grudges and trauma. It is Romeo and Juliet, but somehow infinitely better and more nuanced. This story is etched in my heart for good.
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