xinclouds

Unparalleled cinematography with complex characters and well fleshed-out relationships

This is the best show I’ve watched in 2025 so far. At first, I was hesitant about the show, because the pace of the first few episodes was a little slow and thus, dry. However, I pushed through and from ep4 it started to get really interesting. This is honestly a 10/10 for me - and unexpectedly as well, since I went into this show thinking it would be an 8/10. What this show did best was: breathtaking cinematography, beautifully tragic characters, and complex relationships crafted through unpredictably heartbreaking storytelling. I LOVED all the characters and their backstories, I LOVED watching their friendships and relationships flourish (from platonic and familial to romantic), I LOVED finding out what the next plot twist was going to be. This show honestly kept me on the edge of my seat with how the plot kept twisting and turning - I’m not a big plot person, but I was very impressed by how this show was able to keep the viewers in suspense while giving just enough to make us suspect something/someone, yet when the reveal finally occurs, we are still surprised. My favourite part of this show has got to be the way the complicated relationships between the characters unfolded and progressed, and I will talk more about this later.

First, the cinematography was insanely good. Every scene was just so beautiful it took my breath away. The views were spectacular and so picturesque, I genuinely felt that I should be paying to watch this. The CGI, too, was incredible. I never once thought about the CGI while watching because I genuinely felt that they were real - that’s how good it was! The best scenes in terms of cinematography has to be hands down the fight scenes - they’re so beautiful and elegant yet poised and accurate, the genuinely feel like a work of art; more of a dance than a brutal fight. This type of angle taken towards fight scenes might not be for everyone, so if you’re someone who likes seeing the brutal and bloody, this might not be your cup of tea, but I still believe that you’d be mesmerised by the beauty. I particularly enjoyed the water scenes because you could see every. droplet. And it was so beautiful, I was awestruck. Big kudos to the director - he’s known for his artistry, and he truly lives up to his name.

Next, the music was also really good. Not insane and not my favourite from all the shows I’ve watched, but they added the right amount of aura and emotion to the show. The rap score wasn’t my favourite at first, but I warmed up to it. I think this show really took a brave step out of the typical "recipe" for historical cdrama OSTs, but it was worth it. Every OST added something to the show and elevated the emotion of the scene.

The storytelling was one of the best I’ve seen. Getting to explore each character's past and present as the show progressed was so gratifying and immersive - I was truly invested! I appreciated how we got to really dive deep into every single main character's story and background, including the child and the mountain god who joined the gang halfway into the show. Every character had something unique that managed to tug on viewers' heartstrings, and I really identified and empathised with all of them. I think that’s not an easy thing to do, to write a story such that viewers are able to connect with every single character - including the side characters who only appear in a few episodes. I also really liked the common theme of "love but lost"/"a love that's impossible" throughout the mini-stories/plot points throughout the show, from the stories of all the side characters to the main characters as well. It's beautifully tragic, and it tied the whole show together very nicely. The only other show in which I’ve seen such good connection between the side characters and the main characters is Love Between Fairy and Devil - both shows incorporated a strong common theme extremely well. I also really need to commend this show on its impeccable foreshadowing, because the way the ending was echoed in the beginning with a couple of the main characters really just plunges the viewer into a state of emotional investment that only grows from ep1, and throughout the show you just become increasingly invested and heartbroken because you know what’s about to come. You echo the characters' own anguish, because they too know what must happen, even if they don’t want it to.

I wouldn’t recommend watching this purely for the romance, because it is very much a sideplot. The main focus of this show is about self-forgiveness, self-discovery, personal growth, acceptance of one's past, concurrently with developing deep emotional connections and forging the strongest of friendships. Truth be told, I was much more moved by the platonic friendships in this show than the romantic relationship between the two main leads. Chinese netizens often joke that this show is a BL that passed the censorship laws in China HAHHA, and after watching I really have to agree. I do think that everything in this show was set up to be a BL, and it would’ve fit much better as one too. Not that there was anything wrong with how it is now, but I strongly believe that the connection between the main male leads was anything but casual. Their bromance was my favourite relationship in the whole show because [SPOILERS] they were sworn friends for life eons ago, and today they started as enemies and ended again as sworn friends for life. Watching their friendship develop and flourish as they battle with their deepest emotions and complex past connections was so gratifying - I really think they might be my favourite bromance in the history of all the cdramas I’ve watched (and I have watched HUNDREDS). Their dynamic is always hilarious to watch too, because it’s very much grumpy x sunshine and tease x tsundere/flustered HAHHA. I love their relationship so so so much and they both have so much aura it’s crazy. If you don’t want to watch this show for anything else, please watch it for them - they make the entire show worth watching!!! The sisterly relationship between the two female leads is also very heartwarming, though much less developed. I also really loved the familial relationship between the child and every single one of the main leads - the show definitely does the found family trope very well, especially with all the plot twists and [MINOR SPOILER] betrayals and almost-betrayals.

I will say that the villain(s) are very elusive and not too focused on, which I found worked pretty well in this show because the focus could then be on the main characters. I did think that the "conflict" was resolved in a careless and a bit of a sudden/illogical manner towards the end, and I was not a big fan of the ending because I really believe there could’ve been a much better resolution - I think the ending was only the ending because of the foreshadowing in the first ep. I think there could’ve been a better build-up to the ending plot-wise, because a sudden deluge of information was dropped in the last ep and I didn’t appreciate that. For those of you worried about the ending, [SPOILER] I would personally say that this is a sad ending, though it can be argued otherwise. Yes, there is major character death, which is why I would classify it as sad, though I guess on a wider level it is a happy ending since the rest of the characters are safe and happy, as is the world, and the conflict is resolved. I think they could’ve done a better job with tying up the loose ends because the conflict had great potential to be developed further but it wasn’t fully fleshed out. Also a fair warning: this is very much a tearjerker, perhaps the most intense I’ve ever watched. As someone who cries very easily when it comes to consuming media, I’ve cried every episode from ep25 onwards. That isn’t an exaggeration - I truly did cry every. single. episode. I was fully sobbing and bawling the entire time but it was so good and so touching!!!! The show is pretty much sad from the beginning because I cried from as early as ep9 too LOL. But it’s definitely a very meaningful type of sad, it’s very inspiring and thought-provoking and insightful. The emotional depth of this show is insane.

As for the cast, they ALL did an impeccable job. Hou Minghao stole the show for me because he NAILED his character, with how complex and nuanced he’s supposed to be - his crying scenes absolutely shattered me, and the emotions in his eyes blew me away, I genuinely felt like my heart was being squeezed into a pulp. He nailed every single nuance of his character and portrayed every side perfectly. Out of this world acting. He was born to play this role!! Another character I felt deserved high praise was Tian Jiarui's portrayal of the 2nd ml. He was perfect in executing his cold exterior but soft heart, I really enjoyed watching his scenes. The fls fell a little short in comparison, but I do think that might also be attributed to their characterisations, not their acting skill. Another warning: the fl is pretty useless in this show and while I didn't hate her, I definitely did not like her very much. It just feels infuriating because she's supposed to be the strong powerful goddess but whenever trouble comes she's either the one who caused it or the one who dooms everyone by needing to be saved. She spent more than half the time crying on the floor while the rest of the team engaged in action scenes. So tbh she annoyed the hell out of me LOL, so if you like strong independent fls, she isn't for you. The 2nd fl, however, is very much the strong independent type, though her skills aren't shown as much as the mls. The child also delivered a phenomenal acting job, especially towards the second half of the show (he was a little annoying in the first half). The 3rd ml/villain was also insanely good of an actor!

I have so much more to say but I’m running out of characters, so here’s my favourite quote from the show: "世间法理万千，难敌一句甘愿" - this loosely (directly) translates to "there are many powerful forces in the world, but nothing defeats one's word of willing" (the more accurate semantic translation would be "for all the power in the world, nothing is able to defeat he who is willing"). The dialogue in this show is really insightful and deep too, very beautifully written but unfortunately most of it is lost in translation, just like the quote above. Either way, I’d highly recommend this show, it’s one of the best in terms of platonic relationship development and found family.

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Truly the most gutwrenching AND heartwarming love story, WORTH the watch - lifechanging

I kid you not when I say this drama is LIFECHANGING. I have watched so many c-dramas and xianxia shows and love stories and this one tops it all for me. It's been 3 years and this is still my favourite c-drama of all-time — there is a damn good reason why this show is as popular as it is! I HIGHLY recommend this for those looking for a love story that is actually convincing and emotional, full of depth, and I assure you this is the ONE show where you will fully understand why the characters fell in love with each other, and they prove their mutual love over and over again. There really is no doubt that yes, they LOVE each other, they embody it, they are head over heels for the other, and their love can change and shake the world. Yet while watching it we will understand why they love each other so much that [SPOILER] they are willing to die for the other — it's not one of those shows where suddenly the fl and ml are hopelessly in love and doing ridiculous things for the other at the expense of themselves and we are baffled as to why they're willing to go so far. TLDR — the strongest point of this drama is a very well developed and fleshed-out love story, we see the process of them falling in love, and yes, this is a slow burn, but there are SO many interactions between the two (this show is, at its core, focused on illustrating the journey to love the fl and ml are embarking on) that the slow burn is entirely enjoyable, and there are also lots of lovely moments throughout!

This show doesn’t have the most groundbreaking or unpredictable plot — on the contrary, the plot can be more on the predictable side, but imo it’s more of a sidelined thing as the show's main focus is on the fl and ml's love story. Plot-wise it's quite typical of a xianxia drama, but I do think it's also entertaining and intriguing enough to be of substance. So I wouldn’t recommend you watch this for the plot per se, but it is a good enough form of entertainment on the side if you focus on the ml and fl.

Music-wise, this drama is the best one yet (maybe tied with Love Game In Eastern Fantasy) when it comes to the OST line-up and BGM. The music really adds so much to the scenes and the show, it's like the final puzzle piece that elevates the entire scene and just takes your emotions and viewing experience to a whole new otherworldly level. It's really a stab in the heart and a warm fluffy hug all at once, depending on the OST and the nature of the scene. I seriously have no words for this OST line-up but it is simply too great — also, the BGM that plays whenever the ml has his kickass moments is soooo fitting and not corny at all, they did a wonderful job on the music on a whole.

CGI was spectacular in certain key scenes, and the worldbuilding is genuinely so pretty it really makes you feel like you’ve been transported to the world of the show and doesn’t feel like CGI at all. However, there are moments of poorly executed CGI, where it sometimes looks quite fake and flat/2D, but I think they can be glossed over if you look at the big picture — I do think they pick and chose where to spend more budget on for CGI, and I think the moments were chosen very aptly.

This show also has an overarching theme of [SPOILER] love wins all; love is salvation. This is another very strong point of the show, where this theme of love above all is highlighted and consistently embodied by every character in the show, including the side pairings and even the villain. The show does an excellent job of tying all the characters and sideplots together with this theme of love wins all, and it all culminates in a very satisfying ending for every character. I personally also find the side characters very lovable and likeable, and though there is a love triangle in this show, it is done very well and I love the 2nd lead so much — you will find yourself really empathising with him, and yet it is nearly impossible to get 2nd lead syndrome in this show (though you sympathise with and love the 2nd ml, you will STILL absolutely root for the ml and fl). Coming from someone who hates love triangles, I surprisingly liked this one because you can also really feel the love the 2nd ml has for the fl and he doesn’t do idiotic things that gets in the way of the fl and ml, the love triangle isn’t forced nor obnoxious, it actually does have quite a hand to play in driving the plot and it’s all intertwined very seamlessly. The focus of the show is still mostly on the fl and ml though, and the love triangle doesn’t appear as much compared to other shows, it’s definitely there but moreso in the background. So if you hate love triangles, give this one a shot and don’t worry — I would know, I truly despise love triangles with everything in me and this one was absolutely fine, even enjoyable (I’m shocked, too).

Trope-wise, here's the main tropes of the show [SPOILER]:
- grumpy x sunshine
- morally grey ml x pure fl
- bodyswap (will elaborate on this in the next para)
- forbidden love
- ml is the most powerful being in the entire 3 realms
- a little bit of starcrossed lovers?
- little bit of hate everyone but her
- touch her and you die (quite a few scenes of hero saving the beauty in this show and it's not even cliche!!!)
- slow burn, kinda mutual pining, idiots in love
- misunderstandings (but they’re not annoying they’re just so FUNNY)
- forced proximity

Now onto the STRONGEST point of this show: the love story. It's so well done I’m just in genuine awe and shock. My favourite part of their dynamic is the playfulness, the genuine emotional connection they share, the vulnerability, the BANTER... they are so good together and SO hilarious when the miscommunication occurs (but it isn't annoying at all, it's so so so funny). [SPOILER] The ml and fl are connected by the one-heart curse, meaning whatever happens to the fl the ml will feel and experience as well — ie. if she's hurt, he'll get the same scar on his body and feel the same hurt; if she's crying, he'll cry too. Yet the fl is blissfully unaware of this while the ml suffers in complete annoyance and this is just so amusing to watch. BIG kudos to Dylan Wang for his acting because to watch the tears rivulet out of his eyes while his gaze is FILLED with indignance oh my goodness it's HILARIOUS. This is a rather typical all-powerful ml x weak fl, but don’t worry it’s not off-putting at all (even though I typically am not a fan of such tropes) and even though the fl is weak and yes, the ml saves her quite a number of times, she isn’t all quiet and shy and her weakness is NOT the bulk of her personality. You honestly wouldn’t think of her as weak at all because she’s only weak in terms of power, but her personality is strong and bubbly and bright and brave. Even though she has weak powers, she’s really brave and righteous and steps up for her friends, strangers, and everyone in general. She doesn’t let herself get bullied (even though she does — she stands up for herself) and remains steadfast in her beliefs no matter what. She’s a very typical "kind to everyone, loves everyone" Cinderella-esque fl character, but she’s portrayed and characterised in almost an entirely new way, such that I felt that she reinvented this type of character trope to make her so much more likeable and refreshing. As for the ml, I am just irrevocably in love with him. He has SUCH a powerful aura throughout the show, and though he has red-flag-esque behaviour in the first half of the show, we watch him become more human as the show progresses because of her and witnessing his character arc and change is incredible. He turns into the greenest flag ever by the end of the show and I am ALL for it. We really follow his journey of humanisation and learning to live, learning to love; it is a truly gratifying experience. I also really, really appreciate that this show doesn’t turn the fl and ml into brainless fools who would sacrifice the entire world and betray their own moral beliefs and values for each other — the conflict of this show is very much centred around their forbidden love and their differing stances/backgrounds, with her from the Fairy Realm and him as the ruler of the Moon Realm (both realms have been at war for 30,000 years), and neither of them are willing to betray their home for the other, nor are they willing to sacrifice their love for their home. It's a beautiful balance and a very touching story that is excellently executed, and I personally find it quite refreshing in the xianxia genre because though this show is full of old tropes, they twist it in a new, rejuvenating way that perfectly balances the satisfaction of these cliches and also imbues the tropes with a breath of fresh air.

About the bodyswap — I’m not usually a fan of this trope, but it was so well done here that I do firmly believe it’s one of the strongest points of the show too. The actors just did a phenomenal job of portraying each other: watching the bodyswap scenes made me laugh SO hard, but it isn’t done in a cliche corny way either, it feels so genuinely realistic because the actors really brought each other’s characters to LIFE — I truly applaud them. There are also lots of little moments, quirks, and details both actors bring out that elevate the bodyswap to a higher level such that we truly SEE the soul of the fl in the ml's body and vice versa. Dylan Wang and Esther Yu really gave their all into this show and I really truly believe no one could have done a better job, or even come close to delivering the absolute PERFORMANCE they gave us. The main reason why this show was done so well — and WORKED so well with the audience — was Dylan and Esther's electric, off-the-charts chemistry. Watching the behind-the-scenes will show you without a doubt that the pair are EXCELLENT friends and have a wonderful relationship. I think both Dylan and Esther have the phenomenal ability to have chemistry with literally Anyone (I’m an avid fan of both of them, and having watched their other works, I’m rooted in my belief that yes they are just naturally blessed to have amazing chemistry with anyone, so put them together and sparks literally fly everywhere, magic happens). Their irl dynamic is very much playful, goofy, LOTS of banter (like insane...) and bickering, yet also a lot of mutual care and comfort and concern and love. They really are very very good friends and that helped bring their characters to life so much. I think these characters are Esther and Dylan's strongest suits! I could go on forever about the incredibly magnificent job they did bringing SOUL to these characters and I will say again their acting blew me out of this UNIVERSE (especially Dylan!!!!) and they work so so so well together it's criminal that this is their only project together. I have truly never seen a better pairing when it comes to on-screen and off-screen chemistry.

(Also: there's LOTS of kiss scenes between the fl and ml in this show. I think I counted around 13? Definitely more than 10.)

TLDR I just love this show with all of my existence and Dylan and Esther are just absolute talents and the greatest thing to happen to the xianxia c-drama industry in recent years. Please give this show a shot and see it through till the end — the best parts of the show is around ep9-28 imo (personally I found ep20-26 to be the HIGHLIGHT because this is when their mutual pining becomes super obvious and the denial is really cute, it's the cementing of their feelings fr), ep1-8 is mostly quite peaceful (aka nothing much in terms of plot going on) and very focused on the fl and ml building a dynamic/friendship, which I personally found highly enjoyable to watch and not boring at all despite the slower pace because I loved watching them interact. The plot picks up a lot from ep27 onwards and it's honestly quite rushed but seeing as how this show puts its focus on the fl and ml's love story I can gloss that over. [SPOILER] Yes, there is a happy ending, but you WILL cry and bawl and sob and weep from ep30-36, almost right till the last minute (but hold out for the happy ending, I promise it's there). I highly recommend you watch the special epilogue episode(s) (it's around 2-3mins long) — it’s just reused scenes from the show but with a voiceover from the ml illustrating their life together after all the stuff went down in the actual show, and it feels like a much-needed post-credit closure. Watching the interviews Dylan did really shows the WORKKK he put into this role and this show and boy did he deliver!! I also recommend watching all the behind-the-scenes and the interviews Dylan and Esther did together (Dylan also did a lot more alone) because trust me you'll be HOOKED on them and their chemistry after watching this show.

I think this is Dylan and Esther's BEST show, but if you want to see more of them/their works...
- Dylan: Hello Saturday (this is a variety show he's in, not a drama, but his personality SHINES so much here and I just love him so so much so if you want to see more of him definitely go for this — but do take note he’s not in every episode so find those with him in the thumbnail! He did one episode with Esther too to promote this show and it’s absolutely lovely), Guardians of the Dafeng (currently airing), Meteor Garden (for a more boyish, modern, school-type drama)
- Esther: Love Game In Eastern Fantasy (comes second to this show, I wouldn’t call it a close second because LBFAD is PHENOMENAL, but LGIEF is really damn good too — I’ll write a review for this too), Moonlight (modern sweet romance), My Journey To You (her ml in that show is the same actor as the 2nd ml in this show!)

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A beautifully told tragedy of love that fills you with anguish, but worth the tears

This was... phenomenally beautiful. That's the best word I have for this show - it was tragic, it was beautiful, it was one of the best storytelling I've ever seen. Everything about this show is just gentle, tender, pure, unadulterated, unconditional LOVE. Watching the leads fall in love with each other was so incredibly gratifying and they have made their way into my top10 cdrama couples. The best part of this show was how beautifully their story was told - they are so devoted to each other and they care so deeply for each other, yet neither neglect the heavy duty weighing on their shoulders and on their heart. That is what makes this show so heartwrenchingly gutting - this delicate balance of deep love and heavy duty.

Bailu and Allen Ren have really good chemistry, and they were born to play these roles. I cannot imagine anyone else playing these characters - they do such an excellent job of showing that deep, gentle, pure love that withstands time and tribulation. It isn't the electric kind of chemistry that ignites heat and passion, no it is far from that, it is the pure kind of chemistry that just gives you the vibes of "yes, they suit each other so well" and they honestly look like a young married couple in most of their scenes. They just complement each other so well, not just in terms of visuals but also in terms of their roles and characters. Both of them did a wonderful acting job here. Bailu was amazing at bringing the role of Shi Yi to life, embodying the gentle and elegant, graceful and delicate, intelligent and serene character as one who has been raised in a prestigious, wealthy family. I also think she deserves HIGH praise for her absolute mastery of crying scenes - and she had so many. She truly made me feel her pain, agony, and sorrow, and I honestly felt like my heart was being SQUEEZED into a pulp whenever she sobbed because she did so with so much emotion. Allen Ren was also phenomenal - he EMBODIED the sophisticated, fierce, confident, and righteous warrior/general. He suits the role so well because he truly brought Zhou Sheng Chen to life with undeniable aura - you really feel how influential and powerful and skilled he is as well as how respected he is as a general. I would even venture to say that these roles are Bailu and Allen's best characters, the type that they are both most suited to act as. Truly, I was blown away at how well-suited they were for their roles AND for each other.

I do have to take a moment to talk about the score and the music - EXCELLENT. I have 0 complaints, the OSTs were paired so so so well and really heightened the emotion of every scene. One of the best shows I have seen when it comes to apt OST or BGM pairing. The only other shows that match this drama's level when it comes to music (at least, from the shows I have watched) are Love Between Fairy and Devil and Love Game in Eastern Fantasy. The music in this show was truly so well done.

The actual plot of this show was almost entirely about palace politics and corruption and power wrestles and I did not gaf about any of it, to be very frank, it was pretty dry and I skipped over most of the plot scenes. I wouldn't say the plot is predictable, and honestly many twists surprised me at least a little, and though it isn't anything crazy or entirely new, it was still pretty watchable. The love story of the main couple was definitely the main focus of this show though so the plot does not play a super critical role - though of course the plot does have great impact on the couple. The 2nd ML (who [SPOILER] also turned out to be one of the villains) was SOOO irritating I hated him with every fibre of my being. He was absolutely horrid and I never, not even once, felt sorry for him. As for the side characters, I did like the 2 side couples, but I wasn't really invested in their stories. They were fun to watch but I felt little emotion for them. As far as side characters go, I do think the ones in this show are very much likeable, but because the main focus of the show was the main couple, the side characters and side couples were not fleshed out or developed super well. That didn't bother me, though, because watching the main couple was also my main focus while watching the show.

As for the ending... [SPOILER] Yes, it is a sad ending. Both leads end up dying, the ML before the FL, but I did find the ending the best possible ending following the ML's death. I of course wanted a happy ending, I wanted them to overthrow the godforsaken corrupt rule in the palace and get married and live happily ever after, but alas that didn't happen. Yet, the ending was so beautiful I couldn't even complain even amidst my absolute breakdown. After the ML's death (or more so, tortured murder?), the FL chooses her own way of rebellion by committing suicide while donned in her wedding dress, with her last words being "Zhou Sheng Chen, I'm coming to marry you". That, to me, was the best ending they could've gotten following his death. I cried so much watching this show I actually got a headache afterwards... but every tear was worth it. I usually hate sad endings and avoid them no matter what but I made an exception for this one because I heard so many reviews raving about it, and I am so so glad I gave this show a shot because it is truly so good. If you cannot deal with sad endings, I honestly would still recommend this show because the journey to the end is truly so so gratifying and touching; it is equal parts heartwarming and heartwrenching. Also - there is a sequel to this show, called "Forever and Ever", and it is the reincarnation of the ML and FL in a modern cdrama. There are elements of this show in Forever and Ever, with the FL getting flashes of memories but not being able to remember exactly her past life (the ML is clueless to this). This is because of China's censorship laws of course, because in the novel that these shows were based on, the FL did have her memories of her past life (aka this life) in the next life (aka in Forever and Ever). Forever and Ever is really cute too because it is meant to heal the viewer after the tragedy that befell the leads in this show, and the references and callbacks to this show really make you feel so anguished. However, I would not recommend that you watch Forever and Ever before/without watching this show, because it can be pretty dry/boring and confusing without the knowledge from this show because the sequel's main purpose is to heal the viewers and give the leads the happy ending that they deserve but didn't get to live out in this life.

This show did a great job at foreshadowing and giving small subtle details throughout the show, and that heightens its rewatch value too as the 2nd watch will allow you to pick up new things that you might not have noticed the first time around. This show also has wonderful cinematography and many scenes were very beautifully crafted, with amazing costuming and styling as well, the costumes really elevated the characters' roles and personalities and just overall aura/vibe. Flashback sequences were also done very well that just caused more tears to break free... the storytelling in this show was truly beautiful. Watching the leads fall in love with each other slowly was so touching, and the actors did so good bringing this emotion to life. Forbidden love with the shifu/disciple trope is such a painful one but it is also so aching to see, the yearning, the holding back, it’s all just so wow. The actors did a stunning job of showing their love and devotion through action and longing gazes and other subtle actions instead of through their words or big declarations of love. It’s the little things that truly add up and cause a greater impact on your heart. This is truly one of the most beautiful and tender and pure love stories I have seen throughout cdrama history.

If you're looking for a well-developed, well-told love story, with both the ML and FL being intelligent and powerful, this show is perfect for you. I really do recommend that you give it a watch - it might start off pretty dry and boring, but make it past the first few episodes and once the ML and FL meet, the love story starts picking up. I was honestly pretty underwhelmed watching the first couple of episodes because this drama is more of a slower-paced one, but I grew to become so incredibly invested. Personally, episodes 9-14 were the sweetest and fluffiest for me. And the tender moments in episode 12 alone made the entire show worth watching.

This is my favourite show of Bailu's and also of Allen Ren's. I would also recommend Till The End of The Moon for Bailu's badass side, as well as Moonlight Mystique.

This show is worth the watch. It is worth the sad ending. It is worth the tears. It is a love story that will change your life, honestly, there will be a persistent gaping in your heart after watching this show, but it is so beautiful that I do not mind it being there forever. It truly has changed something in me and I appreciate it so much.

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Ding Yuxi, the ACTOR you are...

I will repeat what has been said many times - Ding Yuxi is the BEST part of this drama. That is not to say that the rest of the show is bad - on the contrary, I do believe that this show is worth watching, even if you are not watching for Ding Yuxi. I assure you, by the end of this show, you will fall irrevocably in love with him and be blown away by the versatility he has as an actor. For fans of Ding Yuxi, this show will be SUCH a fun watch because he looks so. insanely. GOOD. in every single episode, every single lifetime. And, as always, his acting is absolutely undeniable. The stylists did an excellent job in curating his every outfit, his every look. In every lifetime, he played a slightly different role, some more than others, and he NAILED each and every one. His subtle mannerisms, micro-expressions, and tone of voice stole the show. He is truly such a phenomenal actor and I am anguished that he did not receive the recognition he deserved for the incredible acting job he did in his show. He was wonderful as Chu Kong, the God of War, and personally I love every single one of his eyebrow raises and eye acting - he is truly one of the best eye actors out there and his gaze is always so full of emotion, be it love, sincerity, pain, rage, whatever you can name... In short, I have no complaints about Ding Yuxi's styling or performance in this drama, he brought every role to life and truly mastered the subtle details needed to show the difference between the characters in every lifetime, while at the same time maintaining enough similarities as he does remain as Chu Kong fundamentally throughout the show.

As for Yang Chaoyue, I will admit that I was doubtful of her acting skills in the beginning, but I pushed through for Ding Yuxi, and I will say that as the show goes on, her acting does improve. Given that she is relatively new to acting, I think she did a commendable job in this show, even though there are some scenes in which I was unable to feel the full impact of the emotions she was supposed to be showing. I am confident she will improve in her future works! Her acting does not stand out in this show, but it is highly watchable and at the very least, somewhat believable. I do think she did better in some lifetimes compared to others, and I do believe that she is better suited for some roles than others. I will talk more about this in my ranking/elaboration of the lifetimes.

The music was honestly terrible for the most part and took me out of the show instead of helping me become more invested in the scene. There is one score that was done well, that is the score used in Love Between Fairy and Devil, and it is the dramatic kind of music that swells and builds tension. There were also a few other moments where the OST was paired quite nicely with the romantic scenes, but I do think that these moments were pretty few and far between. Especially for fight/action scenes, the music used felt too much like a modern-day rap and did nothing to build tension, it honestly made the scene quite hilarious, which definitely was not the intended effect.

The chemistry between the leads is not electric, but it is built slowly through the lifetimes and their experiences and interactions together. They do a good job of encapsulating their gentle love and do play a fairly convincing couple. I enjoyed watching them together and also the process of them falling for each other. It is a sweet love story that brings you both contentment and anguish when things do not turn out well in the lifetimes. I would not consider this love story as anywhere near the greatest in the history of cdramas or even in the history of xianxia cdramas, but it is definitely watchable and they have sweet moments together that will warm your heart. They also grow to have an amusing dynamic.

This is not a show where the FL is a badass, and neither is it a show where she is extremely weak and unable to fend for herself. In terms of power, yes the FL is weak(er), but her personality is not helpless and she is far from a damsel in distress (mostly). But she is not a powerful badass FL throughout the show - she is at some point, in one or two lifetimes, but if you are watching the show solely for this, I would not recommend it.

The side characters are, in my opinion, highly forgettable. The villain is very predictable and the plot twists were unsurprising, they were all quite typical of a traditional xianxia. I personally did not care for the side couple at all but it was still pretty heartening to see them get their semi-happy ending. Just a fair warning - this show does have a love triangle, and the 2nd ML annoyed me to NO END. I might be a little biased because I hate love triangles with a burning passion... but honestly, he truly was quite infuriating, at least in the first half of the show. He definitely had some character development in the second half but I have never felt such annoyance at a 2nd ML before. Though I will say that he is not a huge influence on your watching pleasure because watching the ML and FL together made up for his irritating appearances.

As for the plot and the pace of the show, you would think that it gets repetitive and boring after 7 tribulations, but it really doesn't. Every lifetime is critical to the storyline and pushes the plot forward well. There were callbacks and references to previous lifetimes in the later lifetimes as well which was not overdone, just done enough to tug on your heartstrings. I also loved how each lifetime was slightly different so we really got to see the diversity, range, and versatility of the actors (honestly the FL's role did not change MUCH, but we truly got to explore Ding Yuxi's range and he aced every single one of his roles). I would say that this is one of the better xianxias I have watched and it uses lots of old tropes but it also offers a more refreshing twist on it, which I appreciated. So if you're tired of the typical xianxias but still want to watch a good xianxia, I think this show is definitely worth a shot.

I will now dive deeper into each lifetime, in chronological order, then in order of my preferred ranking. [Mild SPOILERS]

1. The animal lifetime
This was just hilarious. It lasted about half an episode because they were literally animals but it was so funny and entertaining to watch. This was here for pure humour, but it's also very touching when in the other lifetimes to follow, references were made to this lifetime through the mention of a pig and a tiger together (which were their animal reincarnations in this life).

2. The lifetime of Lu Chang Kong
I forgot the exact titles of their roles in this lifetime... but this was the longest one, lasting about 7 episodes. In this life, ML reincarnated without his memories while FL had hers intact. This is also the lifetime in which we could see the FL falling for the ML (well, and vice versa, but the ML fell for her as Lu Chang Kong, aka the name of his reincarnation in this life, not as his "original" identity, Chu Kong the God of War). This lifetime was cute and I enjoyed their interactions, but it was also very complex with the whole palace politics plotline etc. The first half was really cute, but the second half was just tragedy after tragedy and while I didn't cry per se, I did come very close to it. Also - this lifetime was my 2nd favourite look on Ding Yuxi.

3. The shifu/disciple lifetime
I LOVED this lifetime so much because we got to see the ML falling for the FL as himself, and the FL falling for him as her identity in this lifetime. Being around 6 episodes long, this lifetime was in many ways a role reversal of sorts from the previous lifetime since the ML had his memories and the FL did not. I also absolutely adored the side characters in this lifetime, the bromance between them was one of the best parts (if not THE best) of this lifetime. And in terms of styling, this lifetime was my 2nd favourite look on Yang Chaoyue.

4. The Princess/General lifetime
Honestly, this lifetime was not my favourite, but it was also one of the shortest, lasting around 3 episodes. The palace politics really didn't interest me at all and everything moved fairly quickly, given that they were only in this lifetime for a short while, and I was more than happy with that LOL. The best part of this lifetime was the brief body swap in the beginning, which lasted maybe around 1 episode? This really showed the acting and the range of the leads, and I think both did well but Ding Yuxi gave a more convincing performance - though that might also be in part due to the fact that MLs acting as FLs tend to be easier to showcase. Nonetheless, it was an entertaining watch and I was impressed with their acting skills, especially Ding Yuxi because he truly did a fantastic job acting as the FL. This was also the lifetime in which both of them had their memories. However, I did not care for the styling in this lifetime at all - it was probably the worst look for both leads, not that it was horrible, but it was nothing special.

5. The "original" lifetime, 30 000 years ago
This lifetime technically wasn't a reincarnation in the mortal realm, but they travelled back to 30 000 years ago [SPOILER] when they first met and fell in love. This plot point is typical of a xianxia so it really wasn't anything surprising and it was pretty predictable, but this was my FAVOURITE lifetime. Neither had their memories, but this lifetime was very sweet and I loved seeing them fall in love as their original selves/identities. The styling here was also immaculate - my 3rd favourite for both the ML and the FL, and both are a VERY close 3rd to my 2nd favourite styling of both of them. The plot got a little hurried in the end but I enjoyed this one so so so much. This lasted around 6 episodes too and I personally think that the leads had the best chemistry in this lifetime.

6. The demon lifetime
I loved this lifetime!! It was probably my 3rd favourite, purely for the styling and also to see Ding Yuxi's demon acting. He ATE this up I really cannot stress this enough - he reincarnated as a cat demon so watching his cat-like mannerisms was insane, the lazy drawl and the EYE ACTING, the slow drag of his feet and every action, the times where he actually acts like a cat... he really did so well and I would argue that this lifetime was the one where his acting shone through the most. This lasted maybe around 5-6 episodes? And the styling was IMMACULATE, top-tier, for both Ding Yuxi and Yang Chaoyue, he looked SOOOO good and she was STUNNING I almost collapsed with the face cards and costumes in this life. The visual of this lifetime is the strongest part of this lifetime (along with Ding Yuxi's acting, of course). Moreover, both the ML and FL had their memories.

7. The last lifetime
This lasted like 5 minutes and it really was just [SPOILER] a reunion of the two leads for their deserved happy ending, so I have nothing to say about this lifetime, except - the stylists gave up on Ding Yuxi here because WHO put him in that fugly bun?????!! His face card is lethally strong but nobody can pull that off please... the bun they should've put him in was the one they did in the 2nd lifetime because THAT ate, but this one was just not it.

Now in my preferred order...
1. The "original" lifetime, 30 000 years ago
2. The shifu/disciple lifetime
3. The demon lifetime
4. The lifetime as Lu Chang Kong
5. The Princess/General lifetime
6. The animal lifetime
7. The last lifetime
(5 & 6 are pretty close)

Honestly, if you don't watch this for anything else, do it for Ding Yuxi's face card and phenomenal acting. He really aced this role and I do not have a single negative comment on his performance. Yes, I might be biased because I love him, but I truly think he did an excellent, formidable job. I would recommend this drama if you're looking for a good xianxia that isn't entirely new but also isn't a copy-and-paste of all the other xianxias that came before it. I would also recommend it if you're a fan of Ding Yuxi, or if you like the reincarnation trope. The CGI is also pretty believable and many sets/scenes remind me a lot of Love Between Fairy and Devil, given that this show came from the same production company.

If you liked this show, do give Love Between Fairy and Devil a watch - I have a full review of that on my account too, it's my #1 favourite cdrama of all time. For more of Ding Yuxi, honestly he does an excellent job in all his shows, but his best one is Love Game in Eastern Fantasy for sure. I also recommend The Romance of Tiger and Rose and Melody of Golden Age. For Yang Chaoyue, this is the only show I've seen her in so I unfortunately don't have other recs but I'm looking forward to watching more of her shows and seeing her grow as an actress because she does have good potential.

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A refreshing twist on xianxia cliches with 3 beautiful love stories and well-developed characters

Moonlight Mystique received many positive reviews with its release, and it did not disappoint in the slightest - in fact, it very well exceeded all my expectations. I started watching this for the plot and Bailu, and I was so, so pleasantly impressed by the rest of the show - be it the acting/cast, the CGI, or the cohesive storyline; you name it, I was HOOKED! This drama definitely deserves a watch (or two), especially if you’re a fan of xianxia like I am.

I think the greatest selling point for this show is that it feels exactly like a typical xianxia drama, but yet it is so entirely different. There are a lot of predictable plot points, [MINOR SPOILER] especially with the past life connection (a favourite in most xianxia shows) between the main leads, and many character deaths are also pretty predictable, but I personally didn’t mind it - I was still really upset when they did die, anyway. As someone who prioritises the characterisation and development of romance in a show, Moonlight Mystique left me highly satisfied and VERY attached to 3 different couples.

I’ll mention the other great aspects of this show before diving into my favourite parts. First, the music was paired really well and I personally loved how fitting the OST/BGM was with the scenes on-screen. I wouldn’t say the soundtracks were outstandingly amazing or out-of-this-world phenomenal, but they do sound lovely and they match the vibe of the show very well - they were able to do their main job of elevating the emotional intensity of the scene, which satisfied me. Next, the costuming was done very well. The 4 main leads (the main couple and the 2nd couple, that is) were consistently styled very well, from hair to makeup to costume. The styling really managed to infuse the characters with more depth and personality, and they all looked so incredibly beautiful/dashing. My personal favourite look is the 2nd FL's styling - she was absolutely divine and so alluring, so powerful - the costumes really added to her aura - I was absolutely awestruck! Finally, I have to commend the use of CGI - while it isn’t the best CGI I’ve ever seen, it does land very much on the good side and it looks believable/realistic, save for a few moments where it wasn’t done flawlessly - like [MINOR SPOILER] the sandstorm in about ep11 (I can’t remember the exact episode, but you'll know it when you see it, trust me). Other than a few moments of slip-up, th CGI was generally done well and I think that’s commendable. Of course, like most xianxia shows, this one also has really pretty scenery - it’s not my personal favourite, but it is beautifully picturesque. Overall, the scenes will likely put you in a good mood because they’re mostly very visually appealing.

I do also have to commend the acting of the side characters (aside from the 4 main leads - I’ll talk about them later). They all did a very decent job of bringing their role to life, and I don’t think anyone gave a bad acting performance, even if they were merely side characters with limited screentime. I was most invested in [MINOR SPOILER] the love story between Ling Long and Rong Xian - I bawled the entire episode at their tragic ending, and I would happily watch a full-fledged show about the two of them! The actors were INCREDIBLE, I really felt my heart clench and shatter. Besides them, I also particularly liked MuJiu's character most. TianHuo was also highly likeable, though I personally [MINOR SPOILER] didn’t feel sparks between the two of them and felt that their cp was forced - I love them individually though! Special shoutout to the actor who played Chen Ye - he was really good in the limited screentime he had, and I went from hating him to sobbing at his scenes. He very masterfully brought this tragically complex character to life and despite the parallels between him and Fu Ling, they are different characters with similar stories; [SPOILER] I really liked the detail that Chen Ye has his memories intact and all his hatred stems from his own lived experiences/injustice, while Fu Ling has had her memories erased and essentially exploited into becoming someone she entirely isn’t. I think it adds emotional depth to both of them, making their stories different while at the same time being so similar.

I’d like to talk about the plot and side stories before I dive into my favourite part of this show - the main cast and the romances. I might be biased because this kind of plot with multiple side stories and a main storyline is my favourite kind, especially when executed well, but I was thoroughly entertained throughout the show - I was hooked from ep1, which is very rare for me. The intro of this show (like the first 5mins?) was really cute and unique too, it’s the first time I’ve seen a show use the format of a cute drawing animation to open. At times, this show reminds me a little of Love Game in Eastern Fantasy or Love Between Fairy and Devil or Love You Seven Times - which is awesome because I love those shows so much, especially the first two. The plot can seem confusing but as you watch things unfold, they all fall into place, which was very satisfying. The story follows Bai Shuo (FL) as she collects all 5 cultivations needed for her Desireless Stone, and each cultivation follows a new side quest or storyline - I HIGHLY enjoyed all of them! I was very invested in all the stories, especially the second one in which they collected the killing desire (sorry, my translation is a little clumsy - this is a direct translation). I didn’t care much for the first desire (which is I think around ep2-6 or 7?), mostly because it was kinda gory for my liking, but I feel like the show really took off after that cultivation ended. Don’t get me wrong, it was always entertaining from the get-go, but I started becoming REALLY invested from about ep8 onwards. The third, fourth, and fifth cultivations were also pretty good; this show does a great job of getting you invested in the new characters that pop up and also ties every side story together very nicely, such that they aren’t random but are instead pushing the main storyline forward, and you’ll also uncover interesting links between each side story - [MINOR SPOILER] for example, side story 2 and 3 are connected, and the pieces fall into place so nicely. Aside from the cultivations, I also loved diving into and uncovering the backstories behind the FL and ML (ML especially), as well as the explanation of their past life connection.

Here’s a quick ranking of the side quests/cultivation journeys, in my opinion:
1. The second quest - the killing desire
2. *The bonus side story - the past life connection(s) explained (not a quest)
3. The third quest - the love desire
4. The fifth quest - the greed desire
5. The fourth quest - the hatred desire
6. The first quest - the kind/altruistic desire

A quick take on the ending - I was pretty satisfied. [MINOR SPOILER] A lot of my favourite characters died, and I was of course devastated; I cried and weeped pretty damn hard towards the end. But it is, ultimately, a happy ending in the sense that both main characters lived and in the special epilogue episode, we got to see them get married and live out a happy, fulfilling life together, which I really feel that they deserved so much. So it was gratifying to see them finally get to be happy together, but my heart absolutely aches and breaks for the 2nd couple and the "past life" version of the main couple - both of whom deserved their happy ending just as much, if not more, than the main couple. Alas, all I can do is hope, wish, and believe that they did meet in the afterlife, and are living out the rest of eternity together, in bliss.

Now let’s get into my favourite parts of this show - the 4 main leads, their acting, and their love stories! First, I’m gonna talk about the 2nd couple, because I loved them so much they might even be my favourite couple of the show - which is saying SO MUCH because I LOVE the main couple like they’re my precious cherished babies... I really loved the 2nd FL's character. She is SUCH an excellent villain and she was absolutely incredible in her dark role - she was seductive, powerful, commanding, sultry, determined. She embodied the character and I was truly mesmerised by her performance - even when I wanted to hate her for her atrocious crimes and cruel, brutal ways of torture, I couldn’t help but be entranced and enthralled by her performance and beauty. [SPOILER] And when she went through her redemption arc as someone new entirely, I fell in love with her even more. She’s very lovable and the stark dissonance between the two characters she’s bringing to life is so, so clear and impressive. She is amazing at showing how versatile she can be and I was truly so mesmerised by her every scene. She’s such a tragic and complex character, I truly empathised with her, yet was also disgusted by her, but no matter what I couldn’t hate her. She’s truly such a pitiful character and I love her so, so much. As for the 2nd ML, I admittedly wasn’t a big fan of his character in the beginning, but I really grew to love him in the latter half of the show, and his acting is so commendable as well. [MINOR SPOILER] He was able to portray two starkly different characters SO insanely well and watching him grow as his life experiences change him made me emotional. The two of them fit together SO WELL and I am just in love with their dynamic from start to end, and all the tribulations, the push and pull, the tension that they went through. I will forever be upset that they didn’t get their happy ending - I hope they reunite in another project because they have some of the most natural yet intense chemistry I’ve seen (and I’ve seen a LOT of cdramas)!

As for the main leads, Bailu never disappoints with her acting. She’s a phenomenal actress and she’s so good at being that playful, cheeky character whose also strong-willed and driven. To no surprise, she brought both her roles to life so well (ok technically 3 roles I suppose, [SPOILER] she did have to pretend to be someone else impersonating Bai Shuo during thr fifth tribulation) and the difference between Bai Shuo and her past life's role was clear as day. As always, her crying scenes are always super impressive too. I won’t say too much - you can read my review of One and Only for more Bailu praise because she’s in my top3 favourite actresses and she’s always incredible in every way. Ao Ruipeng REALLY blew me away with this role though, and I’d say I’m most impressed with his acting out of everyone in the show. He absolutely nailed the role and he had to play 3 different roles as well - even without a difference in styling, his gaze brings out the CLEAR difference between the roles, especially in those scenes where he switches from one persona to another in seconds. With just his facial expressions, gaze, and body language, he’s able to delineate the difference between the characters so evidently that you can instantly tell who he’s portraying in the moment. Admittedly, I had my doubts before watching the show and I didn’t fully believe in his acting ability, but boy did he prove me wrong - he actually knocked me off my feet. He was SO GOOD. I don’t think I’ve ever been this impressed by someone's acting since Love Between Fairy and Devil (Dylan Wang). He was perfect for the role - all his mannerisms and little details in expressions... he was out of this world. Simply breathtaking. I’m a converted fan of his now - he will go far. I’m running out of words so the main couple - they had very good chemistry, nothing electric, but their love felt very real and genuine and timely. Not the best love story I’ve seen (I do have VERY high standards for romances though), but very enjoyable and definitely one of the better ones. I love watching them together, they have a very sweet and sincere love that’s not overwhelming. They respect each other and their decisions, which I find rather rare in cdrama romances, so it was very refreshing.

As for their past life love story, I was HOOKED. So emotionally invested I cried so much. They deserved their happy ending so much and I’d like to imagine that somewhere out there in the universe or afterlife, they got it. Bailu and Ao Ruipeng were amazing in bringing their characters to life - not as Bai Shuo and Fan Yue, but [SPOILER] as Xing Yue and Jing Yuan. It’s very impressive how they were able to pull us into another love story with the same actors but yet with such a different vibe and dynamic. They were amazing in the past life and I love them so, so, so, so much - they loved each other with a force that defied fate, life itself, and the heavens. I am SO attached.

TLDR - I HIGHLY recommend this show, especially if you’re a fan of xianxia. Love how the FL isn’t weak either, nor is she freakishly strong, she’s just a determined individual fighting for herself and her loved ones. Watching her mature and grow was truly gratifying. And I just LOVE the ML's characterisation. The 2nd couple were in a league of their own as well, and every side character's story is worth listening to. This show truly felt like one of a kind!

Shows with the same vibe: Love Between Fairy and Devil
More Bailu shows: One and Only (her character there was SO different from this one, she’s an amazing actress), Till the End of the Moon
I’ll be on the lookout for more Ao Ruipeng, Dai Lu Wa (2nd FL), and Chang Hua Sen (2nd ML) shows - I’ve fallen in love with all of them wow!!!

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Intricate and unpredictable plot with dramatic cinematography and apt casting

This show was a captivating watch. At just 24eps, My Journey To You sits at the perfect length - it doesn't drag out the story and manages to tie up all loose ends without straying from the plotline. Every twist and turn had me on the edge of my seat and I thoroughly enjoyed this watch. However, given that the drama's greatest strength comes from its unpredictable plot, I would argue that the rewatch value of this show is not high. This does of course also depend on how much you are attached to the characters - in this case, I had very minimal emotional attachment to the characters, hence I do not feel compelled to rewatch this show in the slightest (and this is coming from someone who gets attached very easily and LOVES rewatching dramas). Nonetheless, I do not regret this watch and it was certainly highly entertaining, albeit very different from what I usually watch and love.

I'll start with the show's strengths. First, the plot is insanely well-crafted and well thought-out. As someone who doesn’t care that much for plot in general (I prioritise well fleshed-out romance and storytelling typically), I was highly entranced by the plot of My Journey To You. Seriously, there were SO many twists and turns that when I think I’ve figured it out, the show throws me another curveball and I am blown away by the unexpected reveal. The plot is so intricate and has so many layers to it that you really can’t guess it all, you just have to sit through it and continue watching and let everything fall into place. Once things start making sense, something else will arise and you’ll be left on the edge of your seat again - I honestly loved that. I was captivated by the storyline and the depth to each character. This show has undoubtedly one of the best plotlines I’ve ever seen and I was highly impressed. It’s definitely on the darker side and the whole worldbuilding is based on a very dark concept, but it was very enjoyable nonetheless - this is a very cohesive show.

Next, the cinematography of this show was really impressive, specifically during dramatic moments and fight scenes, which exude elegance and grace. Edward Guo (the director)’s shows are always so satisfying to watch because his cinematography is pretty much unmatched. My Journey To You didn’t have cinematography anywhere as good as his other show, Fangs of Fortune (which I HIGHLY recommend), but it was still very fitting to the darker theme and I think it added a much-needed layer of mystery and suspense to the show in general. This is one of the reasons why I say that this is a cohesive show - because the storyline, cinematography, music, and costuming all align to form one great picture. Never doubt Edward Guo's work!

Music-wise, I really enjoyed the OST and BGM of this show. The OSTs were all beautiful and had the beautiful element of mystique to it. They really added so much to the atmosphere of everything and heightened tension, creating some beautifully heart-wrenching moments. In particular, I think the best OST was the one Esther (fl) herself sang, it really feels like the whole show wrapped into one song. This show has an impressive and sonically cohesive OST, which really elevates the viewing experience.

Costuming was also done quite well. There was nothing extraordinary about it, but the dark costumes really fit the theme of the show, though I also really liked the lighter costumes (my favourite is the lilac one Esther wore towards the end of the show).

As far as endings go, I think this show did it quite well. Minus the last maybe 15mins of the last ep (which I personally felt was unnecessary but I do understand that perhaps they wanted to leave it open which certainly fits the vibe of the show), the rest of the ending was wrapped up very well. There are certainly many unanswered questions [SPOILER] especially with the 2nd couple - where did the 2nd fl go? Did she die, or did she ever come back, or did they ever truly love each other beyond their individual schemes and suspicions? And of course with the main couple, what happened to her? Did she ever come back, and if she didn’t why didn’t she? What’s the story behind her twin, how did she find her, how did they both end up with Wufeng, why were they separated? Who knew about her and what happened to her before they were reunited? What’s the whole point of Wufeng and how did it begin? The show really opens up many questions and unearths a much larger scheme beyond the main plotline of infiltrating the palace and discovering its secrets. While the main plot is resolved quite nicely, the ending does open a lot of new avenues and hints at the possibility of a second season (though I personally don’t think that is likely to happen at all). I think all these unanswered questions really do add to the mystery of the show in general and fits nicely with their theme of mystique because it somehow feels right that we didn’t get the answers to everything. If you’re very attached to the characters, you’d probably not be a fan of this ending. I didn’t care much for them personally, so I wasn’t very affected by the ending being open (and presumably, sad).

As for the cast, I started watching this show for Esther, Zhang Linghe, and the Fangs of Fortune cast cameos, but my favourite part of this show ended up being Tian Jiarui. I love him so much it’s actually concerning. He did an impeccable job even though he was only a support role (as the 2nd ml's brother). His acting was really impressive because his half-deranged smiles really gave me the mega creeps even though I loved him so much. His styling was also really fitting to his character and he looked so good - sorry can you tell I’m a huge fan of him? LOL. As for the 2nd fl and ml, I was pretty taken with their romance storyline too tbh, though it’ll leave you questioning whether there was even romance or if any of it was even real on both/either of their parts. They have good chemistry and a pretty solid cp感 (which kind of loosely translates to cp sense?), and they both did wonderful in terms of acting. The 2nd fl is really pretty and her acting was solid!!! The 2nd ml also did a good job, I’m not personally a fan of either of them irl (no beef - I just don’t know them well and don’t feel compelled to, not at this point in time anyway) but they were fantastic in their roles. As for the main couple, I didn’t really find much spark in their romance tbh, I wasn’t actively rooting for them or anything but they’re just cute to watch together. I don’t feel that their romance was done well, it felt super rushed and they fell in love way too fast for my liking. However, I will say that I have very high requirements/standards for romance in shows as it’s the main thing I focus on in a show and very, very few dramas live up to these standards. So I won’t go into much detail, because this is very much a personal preference. Nonetheless, both leads did a good job with the acting, especially Esther. I don’t really think Zhang Linghe stood out much in this role if I’m being frank, and I am a fan of his irl so this is merely an objective observation. I was much more impressed with his performance in Love Between Fairy and Devil. Personally, I don’t find his acting skills to be anywhere near top-notch, and I find that they were a little lacking in this show, but nothing that affects the viewing experience. Esther however did a wonderful job, especially seeing as how this is her first darker role, and she absolutely killed it, including the voice acting/dubbing. Nonetheless, I wouldn’t watch this show for the acting or the romances. It wasn’t terrible, but it wasn’t worth much either. Again, I say this as a fan of both Esther and Zhang Linghe.

In terms of characterisation, I’d say that this show did that quite well and managed to make every character highly complex with their own complicated motivations and priorities that we as viewers don’t always figure out or understand clearly, but that also means that most of these characters are not really likeable. I know I personally didn’t really have a character whom I loved wholeheartedly - there were moments in which I liked a character, but it was often only in that point in time.

If you’re up for something different, or something darker, or you’re simply tired of predictable plots and want to watch something truly captivating and intellectually stimulating, I would recommend this show. Overall, it was an entrancing watch and I don’t regret it, though it’s certainly not my usual cup of tea and I’d likely never rewatch it ever. This show is pretty popular especially internationally, and I do think it deserves the praise it gets. Huge round of applause to the directors, screenwriters, and writers who built the bulk of the show, and the actors and actresses who brought it to life!

If you’d like to see more of Esther and Zhang Linghe, they were previously semi-paired in Love Between Fairy and Devil (he was her 2nd ml but they did have some cute moments together), which also happens to be my favourite show ever LOL.

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Refreshing, unique, heartwarming fantasy with strong friendships - WORTH the watch!!

This is one of the best cdramas I have ever watched and definitely my personal favourite from 2024.

I just want to take a moment to appreciate the music - this show has one of the BEST OST soundtracks and BGM pairings I have ever seen in the history of cdramas, and I am not exaggerating. The only other show that made me feel this way about their OST lineup is Love Between Fairy and Devil - only these 2 shows have blown me away when it comes to their OSTs. Every scene is paired so perfectly with the apt OST and the way the music heightens the emotional impact of the scene, be it tension or suspense or love or romance or action or sorrow or heartbreak... every single scene was done so well and the OST truly was the icing on the cake. I have no complaints about this show's OST lineup - every single song is PERFECT. Absolute perfection.

I also want to comment on the CGI - it is done so well, it's one of the best CGI works I've seen so far. The CGI was done beautifully and it is evident that a lot of budget and effort went into this show - it really makes you feel like you’re in a video game with some of the graphics. The costume and styling was also done insanely well, I LOVED every single one of the FL and ML's looks, and the same goes for the 2nd leads. I truly think this is Esther's prettiest role and Ryan's finest role. The face cards really go crazy I cannot stress this enough - you could 100% just watch the show for their visuals and not be disappointed in the slightest.

As for the storyline, I do think that the plot gets pretty messy from ep26 onwards. Arguably, ep21-32 felt pretty underwhelming in comparison to ep1-20, because that is when the relationship progression kind of stops and the focus now shifts to moving the plot forward. It’s a solid plotline with a well-executed theme of self-discovery and self-love, of duty and sacrifice. I definitely enjoyed ep1-20 a LOT more than the second half of the show, because the first half was highly focused on the romance while the plot was more of a background action, and this was reversed in the second half as the romance took a backseat. The plot did feel pretty rushed in the last 4-5 episodes, and it can get confusing, but you’ll have to push through it to the end because I really did enjoy the ending. I was pretty disappointed with the last couple of minutes of the last episode, but I do understand that this was the best they could do in light of China's censorship laws, so it's just a pity because there was great potential for a more satisfying ending. I honestly still really loved the ending. I think they did a WONDERFUL job tying the novel world to the real world, and comparing this to other time travel or novel travelling shows, I think this show did the best job in tying the two realms together. There's a number of instances in which they did very well with the symbolism and foreshadowing, especially callbacks to the real world with items/scenes in the novel world, which increases the rewatch value of the show because you'd go back and actually be on active lookout for these details that you're likely to overlook during your first watch. I did not see it coming at all (ie. how they linked the two worlds in such detail) and I really appreciate it because you can tell a lot of thought and work went into linking them together and it added to the emotional weight of the ending - I pretty much sobbed throughout the entire last 2 episodes LOL. It's not just touching on the romance level but it’s also incredibly heartwrenching on an individual level as they really polish the theme of self-discovery and self-love and the journey it takes one to get there.

The main focus of this show is the leads and the 2nd leads, plus an adorable little kid named CuiCui who joins their group. The group of 5 travel as the "4 bamboo masters", and the show is very much centred around developing their friendship and relationship(s). This is one of the most solid friendgroups I have seen in shows, in which the show really emphasises the love and care and bond between all 5 of them - no one is and can be left behind, and they demonstrate this through multiple instances in which they fight for a particular person in the group who is facing a crisis etc. They have a very cute and heartwarming dynamic and it is very touching to see them grow so close together. The 2nd leads are cute together, and I do think they’re both very strong and capable and worthy characters, though I do think the 2nd ML is not as developed as the 2nd FL and there was certainly good potential for further character development (or more like focus? because he's honestly pretty developed already but he deserved a little more focus in the show in which his character could be more outlined and we could see why he is the way he is instead of just showing his noble acts of heroism etc. so his character felt more flat than the rest which was a missed opportunity for sure).

One thing I love about this show is that there’s no love triangles! I mean yes, there was a time where another guy fell for the FL and another girl fell for the 2nd ML, but I wouldn’t really consider that a love triangle since it’s clear that the FL and the 2nd ML never wavered in their own feelings for the ML and the 2nd FL respectively. So even though the scenes were a little annoying to watch because I want to see more of the leads together, not with this random character poking their nose into it, they were mostly just hilarious because we got to see some jealousy scenes - and there wasn’t any toxic, possessive jealousy, only protective and amusing.

Another thing about this show is it’s really funny.. like it’s HILARIOUS in some parts I actually was so thoroughly entertained. There wasn’t a single moment in which I was bored watching this show - in fact, I was entirely hooked from the FIRST episode, which is so so so rare for me because I tend to get bored easily and it usually takes at least 2-3 episodes for me to want to continue watching immediately instead of waiting for a couple of days before getting back to it, or skipping over certain parts. For this show, I started ep2 the minute I finished watching ep1, and I did not use the skip button ONCE throughout the WHOLE show - I was HOOKED! It’s really a very entertaining watch and I enjoyed myself so much, the viewing experience was awesome.

Now I’m finally going to talk about my FAVOURITE part of the show... which would be the chemistry between Esther and Ryan, as well as the relationship arc and progression between the leads. The enemies to lovers, forced proximity, he fell first and he fell harder trope is soooo satisfying to watch and executed brilliantly. Watching the leads fall for each other was so rewarding and I was kicking my feet squealing the entire time! The tension, the chemistry, the banter... absolutely top-tier, excellent, life-changing. The leads have a wonderful and adorable dynamic in which there’s a lot of playful banter and teasing, and they are also one of my favourite on-screen couples because you can really see that they love each other SO MUCH, and you’re also able to understand WHY they’re so in love with each other. It isn’t sudden and an out-of-nowhere love, it’s sort of a semi-slow burn. However, if you’re looking for a steamy passionate romance with lots of kiss scenes, this isn’t for you. There are 0 kiss scenes between the leads (though there are 2 between the 2nd leads), and the most we get is a forehead kiss (but this was so tender, so heartbreakingly gentle and careful, I honestly prefer this to an actual kiss) and a number of embraces, but personally I loved it because it heightens the purity and sincerity of their love for each other, and you really feel the depth and weight of their love even without an insane amount of skinship or kiss scenes. Their love is really pure and sincere and genuine and wholesome and REAL, I just love it so much, it’ll REALLY touch your heart.

And the best part of this show is, without any doubt, Esther and Ryan absolutely NAILING their roles. They truly embodied their characters and they brought them to life, they gave them SOUL and I was beyond impressed. I’ve been a fan of Esther for a while, and this is honestly my favourite work of hers, second ONLY to Love Between Fairy and Devil - though when it comes to acting, I think she did a better acting job in LGIEF, mostly because she’s more experienced as an actor now. Esther was incredible as Miaomiao and I do think it's largely also because this character archetype is very much entirely in her comfort zone, she's truly born to play this kind of cute yet intelligent, witty, and hilarious role. She's really able to embody the adorable persona of the FL and yet is also able to convey the level of wit and intelligence needed - overall, down to her smallest mannerisms, she's able to imbue the character with so much humour and energy, giving her an adorable persona without overloading the cuteness and making the character cringy. You'll laugh along with the character and enjoy watching her figure things out, on a lighthearted note, and on a deeper, more emotional level, she's also able to bring out the depth and sincerity and authenticity of the character's heightened emotions - her crying scenes are truly gutting to hear and to watch. She WAS Ling Miaomiao, and the character really felt like she had a soul, she felt very much real. It's even more impressive seeing as she basically played 4 different characters in the span of 1 show, and she nailed each and every one. Esther was incredible in this role and I would venture to say that this is her best acting job to date - I'm really looking forward to seeing more of her work!

This show also sent me, like many others, down the Ryan Ding rabbit hole - he’s truly one of the most talented actors out there and I am so happy that he’s finally getting the recognition he so deserves. He’s a phenomenal actor and I’ve watched so many of his shows - he always does such an incredibly awesome job and this role is actually probably his best role to date, in terms of styling AND acting. This was very much an acting breakthrough for him and though he’s definitely always been good (if you watch his other, older works, he absolutely eats and delivers every time), his acting here was life-changing. He was truly able to master the role of Mu Sheng by bringing him not just to life but he basically breathed a part of himself into that role, I can’t even describe it, he WAS Mu Sheng, and Mu Sheng is him. You can so clearly tell that he put in so so so much work into the role and he left a part of himself with the character. I personally find that Ryan does best in these "black lotus" kind of roles, where his character is slightly morally ambiguous and sort of leaning towards the anti-hero characterisation? He manages to strike the balance between good and not evil per se, but simply the morally grey area very well, he is able to bring out ALL the nuances of the character and really does an excellent job of making you empathise with the character, understand his choices and decisions, and fall in love with the character too. His acting was phenomenal, from the dialogue to the smallest mannerisms, be it the quirk of a brow or the swinging of his ponytail, every little detail is perfected and embodied in the role of the character and I was truly so impressed. He LIVED the character, he wasn’t just acting. I also think that Ryan is one of the best actors out there when it comes to eye acting - he gives them so much life and soul through his gaze, you can really feel the ache of the sorrow, the heartbreak, the tenderness of love, the yearning, the bone-gutting pain, the hope, the hopeless, everything. EVERYTHING is conveyed through his gaze and I was just so blown away, you can’t help feeling with him. His crying scenes were also out of this world, I’ve only ever felt this emotion during Dylan's crying scene(s) in Love Between Fairy and Devil (though LBFAD was definitely more intense, context-wise) - Ryan really made me feel his pain, his sorrow, his helplessness, his anger, EVERYTHING. He is truly so talented and so good at bringing out every inch of emotion, every nuance. His microexpressions and attention to detail in his acting just elevates his acting and brings it to a whole new level. This show really was his best work yet and I am so looking forward to seeing him in more of these black lotus roles in particular!

And the last thing - their chemistry. Esther and Ryan have insanely good, and very natural, chemistry. Their interactions feel so authentic, so genuine, and so real, so natural and so easy. Nothing feels even remotely scripted, forced, or out of place. I think this is also in part due to both of their natural talent and ability to add ad-libs and tweak scenes to really elevate it and heighten the emotion and natural flow of the scene. Esther and Ryan work so well together, and they bounce off of each other’s energy so brilliantly, it really heightens the viewing experience as you watch the characters fall in love with each other. If you don’t watch this show for anything else, watch it for the two of them absolutely EMBODYING their roles AND serving everything as a couple together.

For many, the ending might be unsatisfactory in comparison to the intense emotional journey the characters took to get here. So I do recommend watching Moonlight after completing this show! It’s a very cute modern cdrama starring Esther and Ryan as the leads, and the 2nd ML in LGIEF is actually also the 2nd ML in Moonlight, and I absolutely ADORE the bromance dynamic between him and Ryan in Moonlight LOL, it feels like what we should’ve seen but didn’t get to see in LGIEF. Esther and Ryan also have a very cute dynamic in Moonlight, and in many ways a lot of things are similar because Moonlight revolves around novels too since Ryan is a famous author and Esther is his editor. There are also many unintentional references between both shows (eg. the bunny-shaped apple) and it just feels very much fated. Moonlight really felt like a healing balm after LGIEF and it gave me the closure I needed.

For more of Esther's shows, I strongly strongly recommend Love Between Fairy and Devil, there are a couple of similarities between the shows and I’ve done a review on LBFAD too! For more of Ryan's shows, I really recommend The Romance of Tiger and Rose because it’s also a fall-into-novel type of show and it’s pretty similar to LGIEF in that aspect. I also recommend Melody of Golden Age and Love You Seven Times if you’re into Ryan's styling in LGIEF because they’re pretty similar, though I don’t think anything can top his styling in LGIEF LOL.

Overall, this show is worth the watch. For the romance, the chemistry, the entertainment, the humour, and the friendship. Not forgetting the journey/message of self-discovery, self-acceptance, and self-love too. A beautifully executed show and wonderfully told story with excellent cast members who truly breathed life into the characters, elevated by the phenomenal OST lineup and BGM pairings. Personally, it’s a 10/10 for me, but a more objective rating would probably land this show in the 9/10 range.

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A lighthearted, hilarious rom-com with refreshing twists to the "fall-into-novel/time travel" trope

This show is a rather typical fall-into-novel drama where the FL ends up somehow in her own novel, in which she then goes on to disrupt the story and "steal" the ML away from the original FL in the novel. TLDR: what I appreciated most about this show was the lighthearted tone despite the heavy plot (at times - for a historical drama, the plot was relatively tame tbh, only gets intense at times) and it is absolutely HILARIOUS (moreso if you can understand Mandarin, there are a few good puns and expressions that get lost in translation) - I did not expect to laugh out loud this much when I first started this show. I also really liked how short this show is - nothing is too dragged out and everything progresses at a good pace. It's perfect for a cute rom-com and a good laugh or as a palette cleanser. I watched this after wallowing in post-drama depression following my watch of Love Game in Eastern Fantasy and The Story of Pearl Girl LOL and I might be slightly biased because I watched this purely for Ding Yuxi and Zhao Lusi, not for the plot or anything else, yet I ended up loving this show a lot more than I expected to. It made me laugh, cry, and scream at my screen. I honestly really recommend this drama if you're a fan of either (or better yet, both) of the main leads (DYX or ZLS) because they both killed their roles.

The main leads have good chemistry - not INSANE chemistry, and I don't personally think that this pairing is either of their most electric ones (for example, I personally think Ding Yuxi has the best chemistry with Esther Yu), but they do have really good chemistry and their relationship is very heartwarming and easy to follow and fall in love with. I really enjoyed watching all their interactions and I really adore their relationship and how it was developed. Watching them fall in love with each other was super satisfying and squeal-worthy and they're now one of my favourite drama couples - it's just so easy and so playful and so pure (yes, despite [SPOILER] the vaguely glossed over bed scene in ep21, their relationship still feels pure to me because of how tender their love is and how they show these sweet, innocent, butterfly-inducing moments). I LOVED watching her slowly thaw his heart and Ding Yuxi did great in mastering the duality of Han Shuo (ML) as a brutal and unforgiving warrior/prince and at the same time as a golden retriever boy gone for Qian Qian (FL), vying for her love and attention. In some way, he reminded me of his role in Moonlight when he [SPOILER] got jealous watching Qian Qian interact with the 2nd ML LOL. I also really liked watching Qian Qian slowly realise her feelings for Han Shuo, and what struck my heart the most was [SPOILER] when she decided to stay in this world and not return to the present because she loved him more than her original world - she wanted to stay for him. And in the same way, he [SPOILER] wanted her to go back to her own world when he realised in ep24 that he didn’t have long to live and didn’t wish to entrap her for his sake. (Yes, I cried when this happened.)

[SPOILER] I did however DESPISE the angst in ep18-20, I can on some level understand why she did what she did but it was just so cruel and stupid and I cried a lot and I really think it was angst for the sake of angst/to drive the novel's plot forward using the divide between the leads - there were BETTER ways to achieve what the FL was trying to do and I was so frustrated the entire time. And when the ML "got her back" I was just depressed and angry the entire time, especially [SPOILER] the attempted r*pe scene in which he tried to force himself on her (but stopped when he saw her tears). I know it's "in character" for him as the FL wrote his character to be ruthless and half-evil, but I think as the show progressed we saw that after he fell for Qian Qian he was no longer the cruel, ruthless man he used to be, and for me it felt like a very OOC moment for him. Though I can also understand that it could be interpreted that the intense heartbreak and betrayal he went through on her account could have forced him into this way of behaviour, and I did appreciate that he stopped at the sight of her terrified tears - DYX nailed the look of sudden shock, it felt as if he was operating on pure vengeance and anger and was suddenly jarred out of it at the sight of her crying because of his actions towards her. I also appreciated how the show captured moments of his "weakness" and his concern for her despite his anger and heartbreak - for example how worried he was after [SPOILER] he realised she hurt her hand while ironing his clothes. So in summary, yes I hated the angst, but I do appreciate that it was not dragged out further than it had to be and that she realised she did not have to push him away. It was tough pushing through these 3 episodes (maybe 4 if you count the first half of ep21) but it really did make the last few episodes sweeter and cemented their love to be stronger than ever - undeniable, for sure.

Overall, despite the angst from ep18-20, I think they have a great relationship that is fleshed out well and I respect the mutual love they share, against all odds. If you’re looking for pure fluff, ep16 is by far the fluffiest one - right after they both confirm their love for each other and are officially together (which is ironic considering they’re married the entire time LOL).

I also really like how clearly it was made that [SPOILER] the FL was not from the ML's world, and that she let him in entirely on this fact too. This is a first (from what I’ve seen at least) for these fall-into-novel or time-travel shows. I really liked that he was entirely aware of her being from another world and yet still choosing to stay for him - it made their relationship feel more authentic and genuine, giving it another layer of depth and sincerity that made me believe more firmly in their unwavering love. Another thing I really liked was that the FL didn’t lose her memories [SPOILER for Love Game in Eastern Fantasy] of the modern world like the FLs in other shows (cough, LGIEF...) and was constantly able to use her knowledge of the novel and its characters to her benefit. There are some minor plot holes here though, where the FL is unaware of something, which doesn’t make much sense because she literally created the world and the characters, though it could have been the show's attempt to push the idea that the characters are not 2D and flat and merely puppets in the novel world; they are instead, very real human beings with their own stories, backgrounds, families, and feelings. However, while I do acknowledge the attempt and the sentiment, I think it could’ve been made more explicit because it can come across as a plot hole where the FL doesn’t seem to be fully aware of the world and the characters SHE created.

I also found it quite refreshing how we were able to see the villain's villain arc, and watch the tragic transformation of her falling into the abyss of darkness and wrongdoing. I definitely was able to sympathise with her in the first half of the show, but after that I started to thoroughly despise her and her cruel actions, which was a job well done on the directors' (as well as the actress and the scriptwriters) part. I will say that I for one HATE love triangles, so I was pretty annoyed with the 2nd ML throughout the show, but he is a good person who I can say does love Qian Qian genuinely and always does whatever he is able to in order to help/save her - and she has been saved by him many times. However, on a personal level, I just was not able to like him because I really hate love triangles LOL.

As for the ending, I honestly loved it. [SPOILER] I really like that there was a proper reunion AND an explanation that reassures the viewers that yes, the ML is Han Shuo and the FL is (as we already know) Qian Qian, and they are truly able to be together happily in real life, and that everything they went through together was real. I know a lot of people think the whole "it was just a dream" ending was complete BS, and I can understand why, but to me even though it WAS a dream for both of them, they still have their memories of what they experienced together completely intact and remember how they felt for each other in the novel world. Even though they fell into the novel via the means of a dream, to me they are still the same people - Han Shuo is Actor Han, and Qian Qian is Xiao Qian. They are real, and they are finally together. That’s the best ending for me!

The music is rather forgettable and cannot be compared to the osts of other historical dramas with an excellent tracklist, but I do think it’s apt and manages to set the mood quite well. Nothing to loop or listen to outside of the show, but it wasn’t bad either.

Also - I LOVED the bromance between the ML and FL's servants LOL. And the scenes with the FL and the 3 storytellers with her using the fruits to represent her and her characters when seeking advice from them is just so creative and amusing and also makes complete sense in relation to her situation as a writer stuck in her own novel trying to push the plot forward, ensure her character continues living, as well as ensure the other characters' well-being.

Overall, I definitely recommend this show if you’re a fan of either of the leads, or if you like the plot of falling into novels and time-travelling etc (i.e if you enjoyed Love Game in Eastern Fantasy or Scarlet Heart like I did, you’ll enjoy this one too). It’s quite a refreshing watch and the leads are definitely worth watching for their chemistry and relationship progression. I really loved this drama and I would definitely rewatch this when I need a laugh - if not, just purely rewatching for the leads' relationship is enough for me too!

For a similar show, watch Love Game in Eastern Fantasy (Ding Yuxi as the ML too). I loved DYX in LGIEF (and Moonlight is worth a watch after watching LGIEF too, for him and Esther's first collaboration). As for Zhao Lusi, I loved her in Hidden Love, but if you’re looking for historical shows, she did amazing in The Story of Pearl Girl and Who Rules the World too - though I’d say most if not all of her shows are worth a watch (and the same goes for Ding Yuxi!).

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A domestic, genuine romance with intelligent and independent leads amidst complex palace dynamics

I fully understand why this drama was so popular (especially within China). If you are a fan of palace shows, you’d love this one. Personally, I’m not a huge fan of palace dynamics and plots involving 宫斗 (which translates to power struggles in the palace), so I didn’t care much for the plot and ended up fast-forwarding through most of the plot stuff, so I’m really in no position to judge the plot accurately. But I will say that from what I did watch, that the plot was done pretty well. I don’t think there were many unnecessary plot points and everything was developed quite nicely. It’s definitely not a bullshit plotline, which I highly appreciated! There are elements of fantasy especially in the beginning of the show but it’s not touched on much at all - the show starts off with a time travel plotline but it’s not circled back to much so you might even at times forget about the "past life" plot that only occurs in like ep1-2. This show is very well executed though, and delivered one of my favourite romances in cdrama history, which is saying a LOT because the quality of romance is my #1 priority when watching shows. It’s definitely worth the watch and one of the best historical shows in recent years (historical, not xianxia or wuxia).

The little things like music, costumes and styling, and cinematography are done very well. Nothing incredibly special, and definitely not in a league of its own, but they are done well and add a lot to the viewing experience. They manage to meld together to create a lovely atmosphere that’s highly fitting with the rest of the show's themes, making the show even more enjoyable. Personally, I really appreciated these elements.

Plot-wise, I won’t comment on much because I’m not qualified to, seeing as I only watched bits and pieces here and there. It does get a little messy towards the end but it isn’t anything crazy, and I think loose ends were all tied up and addressed well. As far as palace plots go, I think this show managed to offer something refreshing and new while still rooting itself in the cliches of power struggles and corruption. [MILD SPOILER] It was honestly SO refreshing not to have the emperor be the ultimate bad guy LOL I’m pretty sick of this type of plot so that was really nice for a change! I also liked how the plot started off pretty strong from the first ep, it wasn’t dry or boring in the beginning at all, it was captivating from the start as we are thrown straight into the original "ending" of the fl's "past life" (or more accurately, her life before she went on a fix-it via time travel). I also appreciated how nothing was really dragged out beyond what was necessary, 34eps felt perfect and everything was tied up very well in the end and [MILD SPOILER] our leads got the happy ending they deserved, it felt very heartwarming and full-circle and not forced at all!

Before I get to the best part of the show (which would be the main couple), I do have to address what I felt was lacking in this show - the side pairings (both the 2nd and 3rd couple) fell SO incredibly flat, I did not care for them at ALL. The romance between the fl's cousin and the ml's brother was so insanely forced and they have 0 chemistry and everything was just so poorly executed. Yeah I was not amused nor entertained by the side pairings at all. The other side couple was cute, but again I didn’t care much for them, I had 0 emotional attachment to them but they have some cute moments I suppose - I skipped most of them because I didn’t gaf though LOL.

Now, the main couple... LORD. They carried this show!!! They have some of the best, most natural and comforting chemistry I’ve ever seen in cdrama history. The chemistry they have is a very domestic and genuinely affectionate love - it’s pure, soft, gentle, and so achingly tender my heart actually hurt. Like, they’re so married I actually want to cry a little bit. They’re perfect for each other and their scenes together are so good, they fit so so so well and they’re one of my favourite cdrama couples ever - which says a LOT because I have insanely high standards for romances. I can’t describe it but their love makes you feel safe and it’s so heartwarming to witness. [MILD SPOILER] I also LOVE how there’s no unnecessary break-ups or misunderstandings or love triangles, just purely the two of them in love and supporting each other to the very end. Both their characters are very likeable too, they have human motivations but they’re lovable and we as viewers can really empathise with them. Of course, they were both also serving visuals - I absolutely detest the bun styling in historical shows, but somehow Li Yunrui (ml) pulled it off so well I was actually in love with him the whole time. And I’m slightly biased bc ever since I watched The Legend of the Condor Heroes 2017 when I was in fifth grade I have been in love with Meng Ziyi (fl)’s visuals, but she did not disappoint me. I love how this drama let them both shine and gave them the recognition they deserve! I don’t think this show gave them much opportunity to showcase phenomenal acting skills, purely because the situation didn’t really call for it, but their acting did not let me down. It wasn’t extraordinarily good, but it was certainly solid and a job well done. Meng Ziyi is very graceful and suits this type of intelligent fl role so well because she really gave her the aura and gentleness the fl was supposed to possess; the way she carried herself was so admirable and it’s so satisfying to have an intelligent yet not reckless fl who actually knows what she’s doing. Her characterisation was just so likeable! I’d have to say the same for the ml too, Li Yunrui definitely had the aura needed to pull this off, and his soft side towards the fl melts your heart. Seeing them together working things out for the plot and having intellectual discussions is just so satisfying. They’re actually just perfect for each other. I also love how there aren’t any exaggerated scenes of ml saving the fl or whatever (though this is a historical show, not a xianxia or wuxia, so I guess that trope isn’t really a cliche here typically anyway) - don’t get me wrong, there are scenes like this in this show, but they’re done very tastefully and nothing is over-the-top (though I am a HUGE fan of this trope anyway LOLL). TLDR: The chemistry is so beautiful in a domestic married committed and dedicated way. Their devotion to each other and decision to support each other through every hurdle and willingness to respect each other’s choices even if they themselves don’t agree with it or feel hurt by it is so rare in cdramas nowadays (the "I’m-doing-it-for-your-own-good" or "it’s-for-the-better" trope is SO overused and frankly so tasteless), it was truly a breath of fresh air.

If not for anything else, please watch this show for their romance together. The show isn’t exactly romance-focused, and I’d argue that it’s actually slightly more plot-based, but their sweet moments together make you feel so relaxed, the main couple has never caused me stress and I love how there’s never a wedge between them, hardships happen but they take them on together as a team! It’s just so refreshing from what’s usually on the cdrama market LOL. They have beautiful chemistry, trust me. Overall, I really enjoyed this show and I’m definitely on the lookout for their new works because I’m a converted fan of Li Yunrui now (and SO happy Meng Ziyi is getting more recognition, I’ve had a crush on her since The Legend of the Condor Heroes 2017, she did so well there too but she was pretty underrated in that show. Objectively, her acting skills have definitely skyrocketed since then, she was so much better in this show!).

This show is definitely in a league of its own when it comes to historical shows! I 100% understand why it’s so well-loved, particularly in China itself - which is often a much better testament to a show's quality than international popularity.

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For Wattpad lovers looking for a cliche old-school type of entertainment

I'm gonna be honest, just like everyone else, I watched this purely for the pairing of Dylan and Bailu - which did not disappoint. The most poignant strength of this show was the chemistry between the leads, and even the 2nd and 3rd pairings too. This show had almost 0 plot, and whatever plot was going on with the work stuff was more boring than watching paint dry. There were definitely funny moments, and I quite enjoyed the interactions between the pairings. Some satisfying moments, but this really is just for Wattpad lovers. Most, if not all, of the moments in this show was super cliched and old-school and doesn't at all feel like it's a drama released in 2023. So if you're looking for a good plot, this show is not for you. If you're looking for anything new and refreshing, this show is not for you. If you're looking for a very respectable and clear display of "true love", this show is not for you.

But if you're looking for a good palette cleanser, a cute workplace romance, or simply just a chance to stare at Dylan and Bailu's insane face cards, this show is for you!!! Despite my objective rating, I honestly quite enjoyed watching this show. It was super brainless and nonsensical and so absurd that I'd burst into laughter out of disbelief, but it was still an enjoyable watch. I liked the chemistry between Dylan and Bailu, and one thing the show did RIGHT was the kiss scenes - I replayed them many times and had to hide my face behind my hands sometimes because damn both of them can KISS. Those were 100% done excellent, absolutely 0 fish kisses or one party not reciprocating. Some moments, though old-school and perhaps cringey to some, made me giggle and kick my feet in spite of the cliched-ness of it all - but I'm also someone who enjoys this as a guilty pleasure LOL. So if you're looking for good chemistry between the leads (and the side pairings too), this is for you.

In all honesty, I skipped all of the plot stuff on the ml's part (aka all his work meetings and discussions) because I did not gaf. This show has a LOT of pairings though - there’s a total of 5 including the leads. I really enjoyed the 2nd and 3rd pairings (aka Shi Yue and Yu You; Shan Shan and Guan Ji), and if I'm being honest I loved Shi Yue and Yu You's moments more than the main leads towards the end (from about ep28 onwards)... the tropes are kind of mildly toxic? Because (spoiler) Shi Yue is basically just borderline harassing Yu You in the beginning and the relationship progression is not well fleshed-out, he just went from rejecting her advances over and over again to being super concerned about her and suddenly liking her. So it doesn't make any sense, but I was willing to look over that because they're just so so cute together. I really loved them both together and I want to see them in another pairing together as main leads because the chemistry is there!! As for Shan Shan and Guan Ji, I thought their trope was quite refreshing with both of them being players, but I was not a big fan of the constant push-pull, it felt repetitive and boring, but I will admit that they were very cute once they got together (esp with how clingy they both became, it was such a 180 from their previous relationship and it was amusing and adorable). 4th and 5th pairings were barely given screen time but mentioned in passing, had a few cute scenes together though I don’t see what value they added to the show LOL, probably just to max out the number of CPs they could milk out of the show?

There’s not much to say about music and styling, they weren’t worth mentioning much but they weren’t terrible. Music was typical of a modern workplace romance drama but styling fell flat, the only thing carrying the visuals was Dylan and Bailu's lethal face cards. (And for personal preference... Dylan looks way better without the glasses he always wears in the show - but he's still fine no matter what HAHA) I REALLY loved Shi Yue's styling and makeup and hair - exceeded Bailu's styling by an insane amount. Also Dylan had like 3 outfits at most - always suits, though he absolutely rocks them so no complaints really, but personally I would’ve loved to see him in a casual at-home outfit (aside from the apron) more often, I think we only got to see that once or twice?

SPOILERS! The breakup was soooo dragged out that it got really infuriating, it lasted from ep27 to ep31 which was just so entirely unnecessary, the miscommunication trope never miscommunicated like THIS before and I was ready to tear my hair out and punch the screen. It could’ve (and SHOULD’VE) been solved in ep29, when she got drunk and he sent her home. Also fl pissed me off so bad when the entire thing was just HER FAULT and when shit hit the fan she just backed away like a coward and stopped trying to explain things to him and instead threw an entire pity party for herself, and the ml was just constantly having to be there for her when she got drunk, got sick etc. Even in ep31 when they got back together she barely apologised or explained enough for me - in that moment I truly felt that the ml was way too good for her. It's a good thing I don’t care that much about their relationship in detail and just watched without a deep connection to them to enjoy their interactions and cute moments, so it didn’t bother me as much since I didn’t care. But there’s definitely a lot wrong with this show in terms of cultivating a healthy relationship. I also feel like their relationship progressed really quickly and it felt unnatural? In some way? So definitely don’t watch this show too seriously, it's a great show for a cute brainless palette cleanser but it doesn’t in any way, even remotely, show what a healthy love should be - their love did NOT even come close to touching my heart, I didn’t feel like they were truly IN LOVE (because the progression wasn’t done well enough, I didn’t feel like they’d have good reasons to be this in love with each other). I won’t bring up other shows in this review, but there’s definitely other shows out there in which the relationship progression is done so well that you feel yourself falling in love with the ml as the fl and the fl as the ml, and thus their love makes sense to you. So if you’re looking for LOVE like in Disney films, this is not for you.

Overall, though my review was mostly negative, I did enjoy this watch, especially the second half of the show (probably ep20 onwards). I didn’t go into this show with many expectations at all because I’ve seen the bad reviews, but I WILL watch ANY show for Dylan (and Bailu is an incredible bonus). The acting wasn’t incredible at all but both Dylan and Bailu are excellent actors without a doubt - this show, however, is not their best work by far because the plot and characterisation didn’t give them much room to show off their abilities, only their face cards. Nonetheless, it’s a decent entertaining watch, and my personal rating of this would be 7/10. Rewatch factor is solely for moments when you’re craving a brainless Wattpad watch again, as I do sometimes LOL. I do hope they’ll be paired in another show together (historical!!!! xianxia!!!) because their chemistry felt like wasted potential in this plotless show... would LOVE to see them in a xianxia drama together because I personally believe that that’s their strength, they shine more in historical shows.

To fully appreciate Dylan's acting skills, watch Love Between Fairy and Devil - that’s his BEST work to date by far, with the styling and micro-expressions... he outdid himself and I am in LOVE. Will write a review on that show too, it’s my favourite and my #1 forever. For Bailu, do watch One and Only, and Till the End of the Moon.

All in all, worth the watch if you go into this with no proper expectations and just want to have a good time staring at the eye candy cast LOL. Bonus points for the 10/10 makeout scenes.

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