This review may contain spoilers
Fantastic Cdrama!
A friend of mine introduced me to this drama. I was hooked and finished it in less than a week. This is a story of individuals that are broken and abandoned,. From that tragedy a captivating and very engaging love story that viewers will totally enjoy watching.Great acting, great chemistry and beautiful looking cast!
I do have one pairing that I strongly disagree regarding their storyline. Love and hate relationship is a good recipe for developing a sizzling chemistry but not when it’s romanticizing a very abusive relationship. Xiang Liu’s character is a full blown abuser, the repeated scenes where he assaulted her and throws her off like a piece of trash, kicked the branch of a tree, fell down and broke her arm, that made me sick to my stomach. The author did a good job portraying this toxic relationship. Every time XL will reach out to touch Xiao Yao will right away in a fetal position as a response to extreme stress and fear.
The cousins or leading couple Cang Xuan and Xiao Yao chemistry and storyline are riveting, beautiful and alarming, due to his hidden strong feelings for the FL.
It’s refreshing that this is not those typical dramas which the main male lead gets the girl.
Second male lead Tushan Jing and Xiao Yao has the best and sizzling chemistry, nontoxic and yet so romantic. Writer is doing a great job portraying a character who has been through so much trauma and betrayal, still manages to be a great strategist with a kind heart. . Deng Wei’s character looks fragile but has the greatest strength in all of them.
I totally enjoyed and love this series, I will definitely be watching season two when it comes out.
Best Asian drama of this year! Highly recommend.
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This review may contain spoilers
A good adaptation
You can tell that Tong Hua's favorite among the three MLs (the writer of the novel) is Xiang Liu. She even wrote a heart wrenching epilouge dedicated to him. As a reader and now a drama adaptation viewer, I could see why many love him because among the three he's character is well flesh out. Even in the drama they included scences that explain his thought process. Maybe because the author has a control over the script and you can see he's really the favorite to highlight. As a reader and a viewer, I don't like Xiang Liu. He's abusive and manipulative. Yes, he loves the FL and has many complicated reasons. But no amount of reasons and swoon worthy scenes will wipe out my disgust on how abusive and manipulative he is. Novel or drama wise. The actor did really well but again the character was flesh out. Cang Xuan actor, he's the ML and out of the three MLs, I like his face the most. I dont know if its dubbed because this is my first time watching him but I love love his voice. He's character is well flesh out and you can see in the novel and drama what went wrong because of the hard choices he made. Now, Jing. Ah well, you can tell that he is the least favorite but the end game of FL. I had to give it to the actor Deng Wei, because he made this character alive with what little character fleshing out. I'm one of many that can say I love drama Jing more vs novel Jing. This is a testament on how well Deng Wei portray this least favorite character. I'm a fan of Yang Zi because of how hard working she is. I love also that she is not stick thin, though I think she lose weight on this drama. Others criticize her weight because how dare she not looking under weight. 🙄 I don't have problems with her looks because she can act and every time she has a drama her male leads got popular. It reflects on how she does not outperform anyone but instead try to work with everyone. Anyhoo, looking forward to Season 2. Hopefully writers will not disappoint us.Was this review helpful to you?
This review may contain spoilers
Perfect Novel Adaptation
I love this drama so much that I actually watched this several times. Everytime I finished watching the whole 39 episodes, I would continue the story by reading the novel.This novel adaptation is so perfect, that when I read it, I have all the actors playing the scenes in my head. I think all the actors and actresses were perfectly cast.
Even though I ship Tushan Jing with Xiao Yao, my favourite character is actually Cang Xuan. The actor who plays him didn't win me at halo (He's not my definition of handsome) but oh boy, he totally nailed it. His strength are his micro expressions and his voice. His voice is just mesmerising, and I don't even understand Mandarin that much!!!!!!!
I can feel for the conflicted Cang Xuan. People might say it's his own doing which caused him to lose Xiao Yao (hence the title "Lost You Forever). But I feel like the choices he made, he did it to protect Xiao Yao - it wasn't just because he's power hungry (well he does want to conquer the world, he's not completely innocent haha). He needed to be powerful so when people find out who her real father is, he will be able to protect her. His struggles whenever he has to give his blessings to Xiao Yao's wedding(s) is just so real.
** SPOILER** When he agreed to the suicide pact with Xiao Yao, that was when I saw how much he loves Xiao Yao, that he would let go of being a King (and abandon the world) and he would choose to die if he doesn't have Xiao Yao. It was the only time he made a decision as himself. Yes, he's a bastard for killing Tushan Jing, but he was just fighting for the only woman he wants to be with (even though he was much too late for that as Xiao Yao's heart already completely belonged to Jing).
Yang Zi is just an amazing actress. The amount of tears I shed while watching this drama (and I watched this at least 5 times by now), wow!!!
The OSTs are also outstanding in my opinion. I find songs really do help to push some dramas from great to outstanding.
I would recommend this drama if you like to watch characters who are layered. You won't be disappointed!
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Can’t wait for season two
The writing was good, the actors and actresses were fantastic. The scenery they did a good job. but I do hope that she ends up with the white hair dude. But, she probably will end up going back to the guy that is married he will get a divorce so sad! But maybe I’ll get my first thought that is her being with the white haired dude! Because, he’s the most handsome and I love a bad boy. why they make us 500 in order to write a review this is my first time writing a review. They’re making it hard for me to write another.Was this review helpful to you?
Spectacular performance, A sure to watch and I will forever cherish the character in my ♥️?
I have been watching this since 15days straight and started reading the novel... i cant say how many times i have watched n read it ... and not even a single time i felt boredom.How magically it has been written.. surely writer Tong Hua is a spell caster ... I being not understanding Chinease a single word still fell hard for the story and the cast indeed justified the characters.
My personal n ultimate fav character is Tushan Jing and very well portrayed by Dang Wei..
One surely watch this spectacular drama....
Everything was on point the story , d location, direction, music ....
Indeed its a marvelous show.....
Do give it a try n you wont regret it.
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So good! One of the best drama of 2023
This drama was so well done!The plot was refreshing and the characters are fully fleshed out. Acting was excellent overall. The standouts are obviously Yang Zi and Tan Jianci. I have a new appreciation for Yang Zi as an actress. During the first half when she plays a man, she fully commits and delivers from her voice to body language. I loved that she didnt care about being beautiful while acting as a man. Tan Jianci is do good as Xiang Liu! The clothes, makeup, hair, acting all perfectly portrayed his character. The chemistry between Yang Zi and each male was very believable and felt different based on their relationships!
My only complaint is the acting of Deng Wei was so flat. Whenever he was onscreen, its like theres a void sucking the energy out of the room lol!
I can't wait for part 2! If you only watch one drama this year, make sure its this one!
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I can't accept ending
Ending should be like Jing sacrifice his love Xao and liu accept love for eatch other Becoz xao and liu is from demon clan,in child hood xao killed a fox And jing is his son becoz in one episode I sawed the Jing foxy tails 🤣😂😂 He was not in love with xao he was trying to revange of his father, Or in the the end may be Marriage of liu and xao and when she got pregnant by babyvif liu then Jing kidneped her becoz he was trying to kill xao for his father And in the end the cousing of xao the Chuan gaga and liu become froend and kil jing wow and then Jing revel the assestination in snow Tapper on Xao was his plan Wow what a story ,,, Becoz my Tan Jean ci always sacrifice his love in every costume drama wich anyoing me hurt me 🥺 Why director prducers waisting money for same story as a novel now my deep Intrest in LYF is Gone i am only watichng for my TJ-Ci 😘Was this review helpful to you?
Will I ever move on from this masterpiece? No, I won't EVER!!
Finally a story that got my heart racing to watch the next episode, ranting to my family members(bless them), pausing out of frustration due to some characters, and smiling foolishly to some scenes And that's how I know I have found a gem. Living and being entranced so wholly into a plot, a scene, a character and their life.Words cannot express how good this drama is. Just watch it and see. The plot, the acting, the osts, everything was at peak perfection. Characters that had my full support (I was ready to die for Jing), others that had my sympathy (the nine headed demon) and some who I understood their choices but just couldn't get myself to love them.
Not to add the endless pieces of advice got. Living a life only you have control over. Is it worth it, betting your hope of happiness in someone else's hands? If you live life with no expectations, you won't get disappointed. But won't that steal the joy of those little moments in life that we experience due to hope etc.
AND Seriously if you are a sucker for enduring love, love that you only see once in a lifetime, the we'll live and die together type of love(I'm among those who live for such stories), this is a gem for you. Plus there is more for those who love a mix, political intrigue, high stakes on line, loyalty, weighing the gains etc.
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Life is not just for Love...
I decided to tune in to this drama thanks to Yang Zi and Tan Jianci. But in the end, I found another gem on C-Drama land.I love Yang Zi from Ashes of Love and The Destiny of White Snake. Her Xianxia drama never disappointed me, so I watched it. Another reason that I finally made up my mind to finish this drama even though season two has not been announced yet is because of Tan Jianci.
I know Tan Jianci because Winner is King, I watched this drama because I want to get to know him more.
This is the first time I watched his acting. I know her work as a singer, idol, and also at a variety show. Surprisingly I found another hidden gem actor.
Story,
With no expectations, I started watching it because of those two actors above. Then I realized this is my favorite kind of story. As a sad-torture-beautiful-story enjoyer, This drama made me suffer in a positive way.
My brain enjoyed any hidden meaning and details that they put in the story. For the production team, thank you for your hard work to produce such a masterpiece.
I love how the story made my heart crumble and cured and broken and happy and then broke down again. They successfully made me cry like a baby in one minute but then laughed out loud the next moment.
Acting,
Yang Zi is undoubtedly legendary. In AOL The character that she played was portrayed well in every drama. But in this drama, I feel that perfect is not enough to describe her effort to bring Xiao Yao and Wen Xiaoliu to life.
And Tan Jianci, OMG I'M IN SHOCK. How come I never knew that there was an actor who has detailed micro-expressions that can hypnotize so much audience? He is truly amazing as a nine-head demon cold general Xiang Liu and flirty-warm-sweet playboy Fangfeng Bei.
I can't really say anything about his acting skills. But I can possibly say that Tan Jianci is one of my top list favorite Chinese actors.
Besides that, I have a soft spot for a white-haired man.
The other that caught my attention is Cang Xuan's Zhang Wanyi. I feel like He is born to Cang Xuan's Character. When I looked at him I just wanted to bow and give my best greeting as a commoner. He really nailed it!
Deng Wei does a great job too. He shows us dedication as an actor. Even though I didn't really like Tushan Jing's Character, Deng Wei really knew how to portray this nine-tailed fox perfectly.
I knew him from TTEOTM and he is amazing there. And he doesn't disappoint me in this too.
Wang Hongyi and Dai Luwa did a great job too. But for the minor character for me is just okay.
Music,
Each character's theme song is really beautiful. All of them are really matched for the character and the story. I want to bow and give respect to the music department for this masterpiece. As YaoLiu team, I can't get enough of Favor Mortal Fireworks (Yang Zi & Tan Jianci), Long Lovesickness (Yisa Yu), and (The Waiting That Can't Be Waited For (Tan Jianci). They sit on my everyday playlist now. These three songs never failed to make me can't move on from Xiao Yao and Xiang Liu.
In the end, this is the most beautiful yet tragic story that sits on my top one favorite Drama. This is not just an ordinary god-demon or evil-good story.
There is something in it that made it touch our hearts when we decided to watch it. I can say watching it is just like diving into the sea. There are so many beautiful things that we can enjoy.
I definitely rewatched it till they announced season two of the drama.
And one thing, I CAN'T GET ENOUGH OF XIANG LIU AND FANGFENG BEI.
Thank you.
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Best C-drama I've seen in a long ,long time
I've watched a LOT of this genre and rarely do you find a drama that does well at all the important stuff.--The story progressed smoothly and introduced characters and kingdoms gradually so that it all made sense.
--The storyline kept me hooked and going back for episode after episode, never losing momentum as so often happens in C-dramas.
--The characters all had clear motivations and unique personalities and became more likeable as the story progressed.
--The romance factor was thoroughly enjoyable, with each love interest captivating in his own way.
--All the actors were perfect in their roles, and the FL did a good job creating chemistry with each ML, even when she was in male persona.
--And the ending--unlike so many Cdramas--was not rushed and disjointed and contrived; it arrived with perfect pacing, a logical progression, and provided a satisfactory end for what is only the first season. I usually don't watch a 1st season until there is actually a 2nd season underway, but other reviewers gave me hope and I agree with them that this was enough closure to be satisfied (but still excited for Season 2 which supposedly will come out in 2024).
I thoroughly enjoyed the time I spent with this drama.
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AWESOME ACTORS AND GREAT STORY
BEAUTIFUL STORY, GREAT ACTORS, AWESOME COSTUMES. THIS IS DEFINITELY A REWATCH FOR ME. HIGHLY RECOMMENDED. The FL has a beautiful chemistry with all three Male Leads-Zhang Wan Yi, Tan Jian Ci and Deng Wei are beautifully handsome in their own ways/style. They are great actors all in one series. NEED MORE OF THAT WITH THEM.Was this review helpful to you?
The type of anti-hero story
The saddest ending is that the heroine prefers the anti-hero because he would do anything for her ... anything that even her mom wouldn't do for her! Basically, a slave.Throughout the story I got the sense that she likes TJ because he represents safety and the "deepest" love that transcends even parental love. She said it herself in ep 62 that her mom wouldn't do something for her but TJ will ...
Without this love, she feels insecure. Well I don't know if TJ represents love or anxiety medication? But whatever.
Overall, the acting perfect in this drama. The song is beautiful.
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