xiaxia

I was really into Feud when it first started. It had gorgeous visuals, heavy emotions, and that dramatic, almost operatic energy that only a fantasy drama can bring. But somewhere around the halfway point, my excitement mellowed out. It’s not your typical xianxia drama with the usual enemy-to-lovers arc. This one leans more into the eternally doomed lovers kind of story. Li Qing Yue and Bai Jiu Si weren’t enemies; they were already deeply in love, had a history, and then just kept breaking each other over and over again. It was more like: we’ve loved, misunderstood, separated, hurt each other because of miscommunication, choked each other out, killed each other,deceived each other, and still… somehow fell in love again, because we never really stopped. It’s tragic and romantic, and exhausting all at once.

Bai Lu, as always, was incredible. Her performance as Li Qing Yue/Hua Ru Yue was easily the best thing about the drama. You could feel every layer of her pain, devotion, and inner conflict even when the script wasn’t giving her much to work with. Honestly, the role felt kind of one-dimensional compared to what she’s done in the past, but she gave it everything and made it believable. Zeng Shun Xi, too, nailed his portrayal of Bai Jiu Si, so ethereal, untouchable, cold to the point of frustration. He looked and felt every bit the aloof, all-powerful master who doesn’t emote, doesn’t bend, and absolutely does not communicate with the woman he supposedly loves. Which, of course, led to misunderstanding after misunderstanding. Classic.

What didn’t land for me at all were the second leads—Fan Ling’er and Zhang Suan. If they were supposed to have a romantic arc, I completely missed it. I didn’t feel anything between them emotionally or romantically. That said, I did appreciate Zhang Suan’s admiration and steady love for Li Qing Yue, and Fan Ling’er’s loyalty to her was one of the few genuine supporting dynamics that felt real. But as a duo? Flat.

OST was immaculate.