tsuyoi_hikari

🤗🤗

Yes, the storytelling is very well done. Everything flows like a water despite all the interwind clues and demons who seemed all connected to Banxia and her Dad & Mum. The plot could be convoluted due to this all connections but it is so well written that it doesn't seemed that way at all.

And yes, the cat story really get to me real bad. I have 2 black cats like that so I cried extra hard lol. How desperate he is that he is even willing to sell one of his lives for merely $200 for Xuanye's Demon Hunter fee. It broke my heart so bad.

Thank you for your sweet words! 🤗 RJL dramas are usually with layers like this so I always have fun analyse everything since they always show instead of tell. Like the Cat Demon selling his lives so that he can afford Xuanye's Demon Hunter Fee is not been spoon fed to us but we get that from the subtext of the script. He is so desperate that he is even selling one of his lives for merely $200. T___T

The little details I noticed in Puppet Demon case: The writer opt to do Deceptive Storytelling with this case as this is all planned by Xuanye to lure the Demon out. This is one of my favorite writing methods as the Director will show us one 'narrative' on screen in order to fool us BUT at the same time give us many hints on why we should not trust that 'narrative'. And what I find amazing is how effective is the directing & acting in this particular episode since I can catch something is wrong with some out-of-behavior things that Xuanye did. First, with the eyeballs, ever notice why he brings them everywhere without reasons? Then when consoling Banxia's cousin, he actually touch his hand which is such an out-of-character thing for him to do, then we know why later. 😉 Then, when he take Banxia hand and say thank you to her with that long smile and her awkward expression 😂 -- that again was weird and I was taken aback and I'm glad that there is actually explanation for it as there is no way RJL and SZE is doing bad acting for that scene. I love how effective those are since now everything I questioned in the plot actually have reasons and make sense.

Yes, I love that scene so much. ❤️

I want to talk about foreshadowing in this drama which is a loooot lately! But particularly about Xuanye's white hair. I suspected that it is from the 'protection' he gave Banxia 2 days ago but in yesterday's episode, it is now 100% correct. T-T I can't no longer gaslit myself to think it was just for romantic purpose. 😂

Okay, that comes to how extremely well written the whole story is. Everything, literally everything has reasons. And I love the fact that the writer always establish the plot first in different stages before the revelation, so you can feel the oomph of the matters in hand when you remember when it all started. And instead of creating something new to move the romance, she always used these existing plot points to further it.

For example, Banxia repeatedly walking in the forest alone (part of her personality which is brave and to show her desperation and isolation for having that curse), well that lead to our leads' first romantic encounter with the firefly. Then the tied up hands while sleeping, well, the first stage was established way way before in Episode 1 on how the sword has different effects (Xuanye ate 10 bowls of foods) so now, the writer used one of the effects (sleeping) as a reason for Xuanye to tie his hands with Banxia. Then comes to the white hair, notice how he always reluctant when Banxia asked for the protection, everytime? Then the writer used the same excuse of the white hair for the dyeing hair scene -- which another romantic moments for the leads. And whats more amazing, we also established this fact that Banxia didnt do that out of the blue but she offered it because she done it for her Dad's before so it wasnt out of character but more like innocent take on that matters -- since she didnt realize that she likes him too at that time. I love how everything seamlessly woven with each other, effortlessly. From the demon storyline (different take on themes, type of love and perspectives) to all the leads' interaction with each other to all the mysteries behind everything -- which everything lead to Banxia in the end.

Ohh dont get me wrong. I LOVE his voice so much. Me & PeachBlossomGoddess are talking about his line delivery which he needs to improve which he has indeed improved in this drama.

I always excited if he sings any OST for his dramas. They are usually A++ and I always looking forward to it.

And I love that he voiced himself in Forever & Ever -- that soothing, gentle and calm voice add character to the role and make it so iconic. I could listen to him talk all day tbh, thats how much I like it. ❤️

I agree. He indeed has the best voice in the industry. He elevated all the roles he did with his voice.

You are right. I hope everyone is alive and happy at the end!

Ohh the Banxia walking at night, I interpret it differently. But you may be right as well. For me, Banxia wondering at night alone is not really questionable since it's part of her personality which is brave -- which we will see clearly in the later episodes. And the writer did it twice in order to show this. And, she also used this aspect to give the couple their first romantic moment which is the beautiful firefly scene. If anything, the part of her wondering at night alone is a testament of a good writing since the writer established that first part, doing it the 2nd time -- make Xuanye & Chi Xue question it as well and seamlessly using that to do the firefly scene like its the most normal thing to do lol.

Actually, him doing his voice in his latest modern drama (live recording) is pretty good -- Twilight is a good example on how much he has improved. But dubbing which is re-do all scenes in studio is very different with live recording, so thats why the monotone result at his first attempt. But I can see the improvement each time so its definitely a good sign. But I agree, lets have him dubbed until the truly become good. 😆

Ohhh his VA in Love of Nirvana & One and Only is my fave VA in all Cdramaland. That guy has the most awesome voice.

My bet is definitely from drawing the talisman. 😢 Notice how he always reluctant to do it, it must have meant something. I always feel uneasy about it but try to ignore it lol.

Ohh the Cat Demon is definitely a good demon. Its very obvious when he tried to hire Xuanye. I hope he survived at the end since the cat remind me so much of my black kitties. 🐈‍⬛🐈‍⬛ And I heard the red snake story will be even sadder.

I think Banxia is clearly a human. She just got the ability to see demon since Xuanye's blood splashed into her eyes. But the Dad's secret is definitely the most mysterious secret so far.

But seriously, I need this to end happily. lol

He did improve! I always adore his acting and my only complain would be his dubbing which is the first time he did in Thousand Years for You which is bad. 😆💔 Demon Hunter is his 2nd time dubbing and like you mentioned, you can notice he has improved a bit. He did much better in Burning Flames which his 3rd attempt at it. I'm glad that he actually make this efforts to improve despite his busy schedule. :D

Yes, I've been excited for more than 2 years since I know she is the one who directed the drama. I'm so glad we can finally see it -- such a solid script and very well written (at least, so far lol).

Ohh dont get me started with the foreshadowing. Its a lot too and I know what the heartbreaks will be later on. T_T Love how everything just seamlessly and woven beautifully from one case to another but one thing remains which is the connection to Banxia -- since she was a child. I cant wait till we can see the whole thing comes into a full circle. :D

How are you enjoying the drama so far? Do share your thoughts whenever you notice any subtexts in the script and share it with us!

And another one. Regarding Xuanye's family in flashbacks. I love how we only know it was the effect of the wine that he always there with him. And its not him remembering them in flashback or his previous interactions with them BUT they are interacting him in real time due to the effect of the wine -- just like Manniang & Banxia's cousin.

Yes, you are absolutely right. The details are amazing like you know how fair RJL is in real life, yet he is tanned in this drama -- you can esp see how tanned Xuanye is when Banxia is dyeing his hair. It looks like he's been under the sun his whole life -- which is what he is as his job is a Demon Hunter.

Or how Banxia will sleep with her hair down and without hair ornaments. Or how when they are at home, they can wear several days the same clothes but when they travel, they changed to new clothes the next day. They really took care of these tiny details and I love that.

Each case just getting better and better. I'm actually getting really intrigued with this Puppet case. The cinematography and storytelling is better as well in the newer episodes. They set the stage really well on how creepy and eerie the whole place look despite being so so beautiful -- I want to take vacation there ngl lol.

Then they gave us red herrings which you can feel everything is wrong in that place -- everything look suspicious yet you still have no idea who is the mastermind since everytime she caught red handed lying or change her narrative, she will convinced you that it all makes sense and has reason but you know this is all wrong -- your guts has always been right. I love how calm and manipulative Wunniang is.

And despite all of these, I love when we dwell more on these demons and their back stories. Like the Mirror Demon, it is such a good revelation that he has been with the dancer probably hundreds of years which explain the love and obsession. Then here again, the old man, his story being 20 years at the fort, being all alone, abandoned, you can get why it will drove everyone mad.

Also, I just love it eveytime our main couple has this alone time together. Their relationship is very comforting and soothing -- they will talk and talk and you understand the attraction and understanding. I love how Chi Xue described Xuanye's family to Banxia -- 'Just like you'. That simple answer tells you everything -- he likes silence YET, he always let her talk non-stop since just like his family, she remind him of them. 💔

And I didnt expect to be emotional but that scene where Xuanye told the cousin about his family and the expression on his face. 😢 Then the cousin take that one last sip of the wine, you know he's gonna finally say goodbye to his wife. 😭

I also love how everytime you question something and point out plot armor or holes, the drama will address it. Like the conversation Xuanye had with Banxia to keep pretending to be a married couple and then Wunniang knocks the door right after that-- she must have heard the conversation? No? It soon revealed that you can barely hear from outside since even when Banxia is saying something alone in her room, Xuanye cant hear what she said as well. Or sleep with shoes on! Then you can see they remove it later. :D

As someone who watched Buffy & Supernatural, I felt that the CGI and Monsters are better. Regarding storytelling, I actually prefers this one as it is more layered and with depth -- with each case and story that being presented. And the way it is going right now, each new cases will be even better than the last and more lesson and thought provoking theme will be covered.

My advise, just try at least 8 episodes. This drama took a bit time to take off (Episode 3) but once they take off, they did really well plot wise. If its still not working to you by 8 episode, you can drop it.

Will do! Once the drama finished, I will a proper review of the whole thing. :D

Thank you! 🤗 Yes, I will put in a proper review once the drama finished.

All the latest episodes have been great. I actually find the script to be one of the strongest reason for the popularity. Instead of aiming to shock in the first few episodes, it actually took time to take off which ngl, made me a bit worried. They properly wrote the introduction and set the stage and later you can see how one case and another case woven together beautifully with both the ML and FL's past being presented to us slowly.

I love like how the demons who masked their true forms to fool and mingling with human, the leads as well started with a different presentation of their true self. Xuanye looks like an earnest demon hunter initially during his first introduction to us until when we reached the next arc of the story when we finally figure out that he is actually nonchalant and pretty apathetic due to his past. Then we have Banxia, which seemed a little slow and dim-witted until she stopped taking the calm medicine then we started to see the colorful girl that she actually is -- brave, kind and adorably naïve and lovable. Its the same with the demons -- with each case, we supposed to see these different perspectives of them -- are they all bad or there are some that are good? And while the first case seemed to gloss over the demon, we got more of them in the 2nd and now 3rd case. Each one of these cases started to give us different narrative of their true self and nature.

The writer also using some interesting writing choice to present us the plot without appearing that they are spoon feeding us the information which I enjoy. For an example, we didnt know some information about these demon and their power but the characters do, so what the writer did is having one of the characters reading the book loudly to us to give us the plan and information then later having Xuanye getting annoyed on why they read it loudly -- thus passing it as quirks of the characters. Or you will question some of the plot that happened like why Banxia is so brave to come to the forest alone at night -- Xuanye & Chi Xue are questioning it as well but then we got the beautiful firefly scene which accompany her until she reached home. These are among the signs of good writing.

So, far, with all the airing episodes, I find the writing pretty solid and enjoyable. Hope the same pace continue till the end.

Chi Zhu's ''Wont the water leech kill at the temple because he is a Buddhist?'' And Xuanye was like ''Huh???!!''

lol I dig this kind of humour very very much.

Or Banxia's ''The one who rare rabbit! The one who rare rabbits~~!'' 😆😂

The novel writer also participate actively when this screenplay was written so I think they wont butcher the story too much.

I'm enjoying this way too much as well, which I didnt expect lol.