sulkytofu

For those who are looking for some general comments, I'd probably say that if you're not a fan of extended misunderstandings, some logical issues and inconsistencies, and star-crossed lovers (literally....) I may stay away from this drama. There is quite a lot of angst that surrounds these aspects, and much of the drama revolves around these elements or has these problems.

However, the cast has so much chemistry together, and there are so many great relationships in this drama (from Master to Disciple, to lovers, to sisters, to Sect members). A lot of the main characters are truly loveable, and I don't think I need to go on more about how much chemistry Cheng Yi and Crystal Yuan have. The production is absolutely stunning, and everything from the costumes and sets, to the OSTs, are gorgeous. Most of all, I was pretty wary about the episode length, but the pacing is actually really good and quite intense. I've rarely skipped and the main plot is definitely interesting enough to keep your attention.

Also, I can't emphasize enough, please visit Alice's or A Virtual Voyage's site and come join those of us waiting for English subs on their websites! Their videos have been reuploaded on to different sites which have done so without their approval, and so I'd highly recommend you go to their actual site instead to watch. Let's all sit through the angst, pain, and the fluff together as this drama is airing!

I actually laughed a bit at this comment because even when the name is written wrong, I can tell immediately that it's Alan Yu. He's been getting a lot of criticism for constantly being placed in lead roles, especially for dramas with MLs that have "meatier" backstories, despite the (controversial) quality of his performances.

Haha, I laughed a lot at the tofu comment as well ~ Tofu relatives!

I think I agree with you! The one good side about all the cuts is that this drama doesn't drag at all, and plot points go by really quickly and keep you wanting to watch. I'm a chronic skip watcher, and I've been surprised by just how much I love the cast that I haven't skipped once. In other words, perhaps if they originally had 70 ~ 80 episodes for the drama, this may not necessarily be a good thing either. I can therefore forgive some of the logic issues, especially because of just how intense the pacing is, even if I agree that discussing the inconsistencies is still quite fun (and theorizing about what they mean or imply is interesting as well!)

Thanks as well for warning me about the latter episodes. I heard that it gets really tragic in that stretch, and I'm really bracing myself since I've already cried so many tears (and we haven't even gotten to the main angst yet!) So far I've definitely been able to lower my expectations about the plot and just enjoy all of the cast, and truthfully I actually find the broader plot (with the spiritual keys and different sects) to be really interesting. Can't wait to discuss the conclusion and the ending with everyone here. I hope it's a happy one, because I don't know if I can handle a tragic ending with all of the angst we're going through!

I don't want to spoil too much, but let's just say Merxat did have a leading role in a drama that was released this year.... but he kind of STILL doesn't get the female lead in that one. From some of my past watches, I'd honestly rather see Merxat instead of Alan Yu from an acting standpoint as ML!

I'm currently only on Episode 20. However, I've been actually feeling quite frustrated at Si Feng. I know a lot of comments have talked about him being sympathetic, and he definitely is, but I find that Xuan Ji's love for him is no less. I find it so aggravating that we circle back to the whole "Xuan Ji loves Ming Yuan?" problem even though the only man Xuan Ji has kissed, has defended wholeheartedly, and who she always talks about is Si Feng. In many ways, I feel like Si Feng often finds ways to justify or confirm the fact that "Xuan Ji doesn't love me," and part of that is because he's quite insecure (and for good reason), but also because he doesn't believe himself that Xuan Ji could possibly like him.

Another way to put this is.... if Hao Chen himself isn't even worried about Ming Yuan, then Si Feng why are you? I'm just so frustrated when Ming Yuan and Ling Long are almost all but engaged; and Xuan Ji has already explained in Episode 12 her feelings for Ming Yuan. Of all the people Si Feng should be watching out for, it's definitely not Ming Yuan, it's Hao Chen (although Hao Chen just raises another can of worms. Just discussing who is more toxic between Runyu from Ashes of Love and Hao Chen definitely needs to be a discussion topic). Overall,there are so many bigger issues that could tear the main couple apart, that I just feel saddened seeing how this is where we've come back to again.

This also brings me to a whole host of logic problems, especially with the Lover's Curse. When the first feather was lost after Si Feng saw Xuan Ji and Ming Yuan in the ice pool, I almost rolled my eyes. The rules for the curse are so strange, as in yes Si Feng was hurt, but that hurt was completely made up in his own mind and was his own misunderstanding. Xuan Ji did not intend to hurt Si Feng purposely, nor did she do it out of loving someone else. So that means the Lover's Curse simply works anytime the person is hurt? But even when people love each other, they hurt one another as well. And this brings me to how I wish the rules for the curse itself were more well-defined, especially the ways to revert the curse and the ways that the curse proceeds. A lot of things feel more like "issues meant to further the plot along," and contrived angst for the sake of angst sometimes.

I'm still really enjoying the series. I haven't skipped a single episode. But I do admit there are some things I really am pretty frustrated by. Bracing myself for more angst as I continue to support our main CP!

Let's keep watching it together and get through this pain :'( I am really hoping we get happiness, because it will be just too bitter if we end up with a sad ending.

I'm watching Episode 11 now. Thanks for letting me know, I will need to buy more tissues at this rate :'(

The problem is that I'm finding if I skip, I end up skipping so many episodes, because that's just how much pain there is. I don't know how I'm going to continue, but when I start bawling I try to remind myself that at least we're seeing such good performances by Cheng Yi and Crystal Yuan and that's why we feel so emotionally invested. I totally agree with you about the great story, plot, and the lack of filler, so at least I really want to keep watching, but oh my god it's really hard to watch all of this suffering.

Thanks for letting me know! I know exactly what you mean, and to be honest I remember when I was watching Ten Miles and Ashes of Love, there was DEFINITELY angst, but I don't remember it being to this level (like we had a lot longer periods of sweetness?) In any case, my heart is hurting so much and I'm so scared to continue on.

I'm so stressed. I'm only at Episode 10 and I've already bawled my eyes out like twice from all of the angst. Hearing this isn't relieving, but at least now I can be prepared for the upcoming episodes.

She was in My Dear Destiny, which is pure fluff (until the mid-stretch) and she had TONS of chemistry with the ML in that one. The only issue is I think the subtitles stopped after 2/3 of the drama, but otherwise I quite liked it as a mindless watch.

To be honest guys, I'm starting to find the drama hard to watch (and I'm only on Episode 10). My heart seriously just hurts so much. I just realized that at this point, the episodes of bitterness and angst have been almost equal (if not more) than the episodes of sweetness in the beginning, and this is literally only 1/6th of the way through the drama.

I also think it's a lot of pain considering we haven't even reached the meatier "angst" and the big problems in the drama yet, and all of the angst right now is really misunderstandings (that are small, but due to timing and circumstance have obviously blown up). I knew that the drama was not going to be smooth sailing all the way through, but honestly it hurts to watch some of these scenes. Props to Cheng Yi and Crystal Yuan's acting for seriously making my heart ache so much.

Oh boy, I really, REALLY regret starting this, because it's just so good! I'm only on the first couple episodes, but I can already tell Alice and A Virtual Voyage have put so much hard work into the translations, and from the comments I know that international fans really appreciate the painstaking effort they put into subtitling the series.

I've also been really glad to see how Cheng Yi and Crystal Yuan are relatively more seasoned actors and actresses, and how it's my first time seeing them on screen. They have so much chemistry together, and I really do agree with the comments on how their performances are so well done. From first appearance, I also agree that I wasn't really able to see them in lead roles (and they seemed a lot younger than they really were!) But after watching this series, I've been pleasantly surprised, and Crystal Yuan is absolutely adorable and does a great job at showing the change in Chu Xuanji, while Cheng Yi is absolutely swoonworthy and has A LOT of presence as Yu Sifeng.

It's also refreshing to have another longer xianxia work (which is why I can see the comparisons to Ashes of Love and Ten Miles of Peach Blossoms) where the main cast goes through many tribulations together. I'm bracing my heart right now for the angst, but I'm really loving how fluffy and cute the beginning is so far!

Totally understand what you mean! Truthfully, all reviews will have their own biases, and so when I'm writing I'm always conscious of where I may be more forgiving and where I may be more strict in my ratings.

I'm really glad that you liked this one! Completely agree with what you said about this being a pure fluffy "dog food" type of drama that you can easily turn your mind off to watch. I loved the chemistry as well, and I think being in the right mindset when going into this one will be super important.

I can't wait to see what next fluffy drama we'll pick up next. There's been so many great releases, and I agree with you that just because of the sheer volume (and differences in quality) across cdramas, it's important to just go in to shows with a completely blank slate.

Truthfully, the original novel that this is adapted from, Fish Playing While Trapped in a Secret Room, is a lot more substantial, melancholy, and introspective than Honey Stewed Squid, which was the novel that Go Go Squid was from. I have faith in the adaptations because one reason Mo Bao Fei Bao always hesitated in allowing her works to be made into dramas was because she refused adaptations, unless she was allowed to be the main scriptwriter.

If Go Go Squid felt more youthful and fluffy, with the pink tinge of romance, Fish Playing While Trapped in a Secret Room feels a lot more reflexive and is more focused on the transitions in the female lead's life. It's clear when Go Go Squid was made, there wasn't the expectation of a sequel. Truthfully this also wasn't the casting I had envisioned, and I can already see Mo Bao Fei Bao is making a lot of changes (just as she did in Go Go Squid) to her original story. But I'm looking forward to it a lot, since I've been a fan of many of her past novels even beyond the "Go Go Squid" universe.

Truthfully because I went into the drama knowing about the issues with the ending, I was a lot more prepared, and therefore I think my enjoyment was a little higher because I was aware of the problems with the last episode. It's a shame because the actual plot, characters, length of the drama, and the acting are actually quite well done, and I think if they had changed some things with the ending, this drama would be a lot more higher rated. That being said, I suppose the drama really suits people who have a more niche taste, because I don't think that (in a generally fluffy and shorter historical drama) an ending like this has been done yet.

I'm so excited! Let's hope this turns out to be really good ~

Right here at Cnewsdevotee's blog, they're also available on cdrama potatoe's Twitter (scroll down or type CTRL + F and just search "Believe in Love"). Aren't they so pretty? https://cnewsdevotee.wordpress.com/2020/08/03/entertainment-updates-count-your-lucky-stars-chang-ge-xing-the-legend-of-xiao-chuo-ancient-love-poetry-yu-long-the-blooms-at-ruyi-pavilion-the-justice-love-like-white-jade-please-feel-at-ease/

Completely understand! Hopefully my review is there to provide some information on what to expect, but is definitely not exhaustive or a comprehensive overview of the show. I'm glad that there are viewers who really enjoyed this one, and appreciate you reading my review!

No problem and I'm very glad that this helped!