This review may contain spoilers
Is it perfect? No. Is it the best? Yes.
Cang Lan Jue, a drama that no one expected to perform well, yet, it broke everyone's expectations. Cang Lan Jue, a drama that everyone assumed would be the same as other Xianxia, yet it is one that has never been seen before. Does it have flaws? Yes. Is it perfect? No. Can it be improved? Definitely. But after watching, do I love this drama the most? Absolutely.As an avid Xianxia drama watcher, I have seen most, if not all, released Xianxia dramas since 2015. Some have a storyline that is more flawless than CLJ, some have a better production and more veteran casts than CLJ. I have liked all of those dramas and praised them, yet, I was never attached to any of those dramas as much as I am with CLJ. Even though CLJ has its own flaws, it brings out so much attachment in me, and that, in itself, is enough for me to rank this drama the top of my list.
So what makes it so good despite flaws?
What I like
- Dongfang Qingcang:
Do I have to say more? He is THE best ML I have seen in a c-drama in a long time. Resolute, not a goody-two-shoes, knows when to be merciless and knows when to show compassion. C-dramas have the tendency to make ML a saint, but DFQC isn’t like that. He is a character that is willing to get his hands dirty, to let go of righteousness, and to do anything for the FL.
However, what really brings DFQC to life is the producers’ choice of casting. They have made the best move casting Wang He Di to play DFQC. I have watched several WHD's dramas, but the roles he took never suit him. With DFQC, he really brought out the character in a way like no other. Appearance wise, he absolutely suits DFQC, and so handsome on screen that even just seeing his face alone might make this drama already worth it. I've never seen such a gorgeous actor,and his look as DFQC is to die for. His appearance isn't the only thing he offered. His acting is also top-notched to the point I was surprised, especially his pained and crying scenes; they were so real and yet somehow, he still looked so hot and menacing in those scenes. I've never seen such good acting, even from veteran actors.
- Xiao Lan Hua:
I normally don't watch idol-actress. I also normally would get annoyed with Xianxia FL halfway through the drama because of forced angst that makes them unreasonable. However, XLH won my heart, entirely. The story started with her being a stereotypical young, innocent, joyful, and childish fairy. But as the story progressed, I realised she is way way more than that. Her character is so different from other FLs, as unlike others, she never loses her childish, pure, and joyful nature and STILL has great development. She learns to love and accept the DFQC for who he is. She is reasonable in every way and would choose DFQC over anything. She is bold about her feelings, her love, her anger, her sadness. It was no wonder even the coldest heart would melt. Idk why most Cdrama seem to believe that in order for an innocent FL to develop, they must lose their happy, joyful self. Well, XLH shows that this is never the case.
This is my first time watching Yu Shuxin's acting, and I loved it! She brings out the innocent character so well, and she is so cute that I cannot hate or get annoyed with her, even when she makes mistakes. And I think DFQC would think the same XD. Her voice also really brought out her character, and makes her so lovable.
- the romance between the characters, especially the well-executed slow-burn development. A typical troupe, yet, I don't think it has been done before in Xianxia drama. The chemistry is brilliant.
- The plot starts strong right from the beginning to end.
- The OSTs are haunting and brilliant and they are in my playlist that I listen to everyday.
- There are so many scenes that really had my heart and I can rewatch them in loop
- the CGI is AMAZING. WOW. The CGI is one of the best I've seen in a while.
What could be better? (subjective)
- Rushed ending. The ending is extremely rushed and could have been better executed. However, they did wrap up everything that should be wrapped up. Everything makes perfect sense in the story, if only with better execution and a more dramatic reunion for the leads at the end, and it would be perfect.
- Because of the rushed endings, several things cannot be addressed. The last three episodes feel like a fever dream ever since XLH turned into Xiyun. I am sure XLH is still in XY, however, they don't have the time to address that because of the rushed end. I wish they display scenes of their life after DFQC comes back so we could see XLH return to herself, because the way XY is, is not XLH, the XLH that DFQC fell in love with. The XLH that we fell in love with
- DFQC deserves more scenes where he showcases his power but this is just me being greedy. What really brings the supreme moon lord alive is the way he is powerful and strong. I wish we get to see him use his glaze fire that has been obtained.
- As much as I love DFQC's development throughout the show, I think he is too soft in some scenes where he didn't need to be and makes me miss his demeanour at the beginning at times.
- I wish we could see them get married ;-;
Despite the subjective what could have been better that I've listed, you can see that they are just nuances that don't matter when all the pros outweigh it. This drama is the gem of the year, and one of the best dramas I've ever seen. Do not hesitate to watch this drama because it is worth it in every way. It is one of the dramas that may not be the best in technical terms but evoke so much emotion and attachment from the audience in a way like no other.
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Wonderful acting by ML
I started this with no expectation.I had not heard of the story beforehand, did not read comments, just hopped on it.
The ML was phenomenal .. he has really grown.
There were many scenes where his eyes had a whole conversation .. amazing.
His facial features, they way he physically seemed to demand attention at times was wonderful.
That being said .. the FL was not that great .. overall she grated my nerves.
Her voice .. argh ... I came close to dropping it so many times because of her voice alone.
I understand completely her character, but it was 99 percent utter foolishness.
Seemed a bit ridiculous that so many were in love with the FL.
There was no chemistry between the two leads.
As many times as they kissed (even if most were to swap bodies) nothing sparked between them.
All other actors did very well in their roles, even the small parts meshed well.
The best thing to me was the costumes and scenery / visuals.
Some were completely breath taking.
That first dragon ride - wooo!
It flowed pretty well from start to finish.
Was a good watch, but not something I would re-watch.
I hope Dylan continues to grow and have great success as an actor.
He certainly did his thing with this role!
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Light Hearted and Funny Fantasy
There are a lot of reviews for this, this review will be another drop in the ocean. Its a light youth fantasy CDrama for Xianxia diehards.Is it mind blowing? No.
Does it have many plot holes? Yes, its Xianxia for god's sake.
Is it entertaining? Yes.
The characters for the most part are entertaining and the acting for some of the actors have improved. Dylan Wang from Meteor Garden and that other dude who was the ML in Maiden Holmes have improved from their wooden performances. Both of those shows had these actors as the ML, I couldn't finish those shows. Esther Yu's fairy character is cute but was super annoying in the beginning. BF repellant annoying, nails on the chalkboard annoying.
The enjoyable parts:
The fairy and the devil have a body swap, it was entertaining to see the performance of the gender reversal. The fairy goes from the clueless naïve fairy to the cold hearted demon and vice versa. It was good they didn't drag it out through the whole show but it was entertaining for the first few episodes. The kissing for the soul swap wasn't necessary, too gratuitous, and was sort of stupid, would have been better if that was cut out.
The mortal realm was probably the most enjoyable part of the series; the storyline is really different from Ashes of Love but for both shows; the best parts were the time they spend in the mortal realm. It was hilarious with the hijinks due to the jealously, how clueless the SML was since he had no prior recollection of his immortal past, and how things just went completely wrong at each turn.
The gradual love which blossoms between the fairy and the devil. The chemistry between the leads is pretty good. Funny banter and face palm moments. They did a pretty good job with that, none of that instalove stupidity. There were some jokes cracked on the fairy's plain appearance and how it was no match for the Demon Lord. It seems to me the Demon King's looks are pretty plain too.
If one is looking to procrastinate from studying or whatever it is, this is a good enough show for that distraction.
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Beautiful artwork, epic love story. Best xianxia of 2022
To start off, the artworks in this drama is the best I've seen so far. You can see that a lot of thought was put into designing the drawings and the scene settings. The costumes in the 3 realms are so distinct, white for the fairy realm, mostly black for the moon tribe and reddish tints for the mortal world.The music is also amazing. My favorite is 'I still remember that day' which played when DongFang QingCang (ML) asked Changheng (SML) to choose whether he'll save Orchid (FL) or the fairy realm. It's just full of regret. The OSTs of this drama is now part of my regular playlist and might stay there for a little long time. I'm still trying to find the haunting flute song.
On the acting, I love Esther Yu and Dylan Wang as Orchid and DFQC. They are perfect for the roles and I am totally aboard their ship. I have to give Esther some credit because I felt Orchid was annoying in the beginning but she made me love her. She may have a weak body but she's smart, caring and loyal. Dylan just shines as DFQC. I really loved how he transitioned from a person who has no feelings to a person who feels very deeply. Dylan had so many microexpressions that I never thought he can actually have. He proved his naysayers wrong in this drama by showing he can really act. I also loved it whenever he shows off his badass powers. All I can say is that both actors deserve awards for this drama. Esther completely charmed me and I still can't get over Dylan's pleading eyes. And their kisses, wow the kisses are the most believeable kisses I've seen. Each of the kisses is needed in light of the storytelling and not just for fan service. When they have accidental kisses, both actors mouths were closed. When it's a forced kiss, the one who's forcing the kiss looks more passionate while the other looks unwilling. When it's a lovers' kiss, even though they don't really look like they're french kissing, both looks like they're into it. Their reactions after the kisses are also consistent with their characters at that particular parts of the drama.
Another great revelation was Zhang Ling He as ChangHeng. The microexpressions of this guy is at par with Dylan. As the God of War in the fairy realm, he is great in his own right and deserves someone who is also great. He is the kind of SML you also want to root for but just can't because you know the ML is really the best choice for the FL. I really love his backstory and character development. If only I can split Orchid into two so both guys can be with her. But alas there's only one Orchid and she can only belong to DFQC.
On the story itself, it's just obvious how much work was done to the script. The storytelling may not be perfect but it was very good. What you think is just some dialogue in one scene can turn out to be very significant later. The characters' actions were consistent and logical. The support characters like Sangque, Jieli, Dayin, Ronghao, Chidi, Xunfeng, etc were given ample time to also have character development, but not too much, meaning they did not overpower the main story. I also did not hate any character, well okay I strongly disliked Yunzong, but maybe he was needed as someone really ancient to explain some things. The ending, though good, wasn't quite enough. An epilogue or an additional episode would probably make this perfect.
I have to admit that I still can't let go and want to see these actors in new dramas. I want Charles Lin and Hong Xiao to have their own drama, Esther and Dylan to have a modern drama and even if I'm a Dixin shipper, I still want a Zhang Ling He and Esther drama. But for now, I guess I'll just have to be content in rewatching this drama.
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Talented cast and production team makes for one unexpectedly mesmerizing drama
Conventional wisdom of C-dramas dictates that such a title, poster, and cast for this drama would all point to a fluffy romance we all flock to and then leave without another thought after finishing or dropping it. How wrong I was. There is nothing forgettable about this drama. In fact, I enjoyed this drama so much that I’d been rewatching as if I’m in a loop and spending hours writing down my feelings. I wanted to also make a note before I proceed that I wrote a rushed review immediately after I finished it. But after several rewatch, I felt it deserved a more detailed review, and I wanted to express more love for the drama, so I decided to write an updated review.Even for a 36 episode Xianxia drama, it doesn't take long before we get to the meat of the story, so from episode 1, it easily pulls you in. The first thing I noticed was how visually stunning the drama is. It's obvious there was much thought and effort applied by the production team to create such an eye pleasing drama. In the first episode, we’re introduced to our leading lady, a young, low-rank flower fairy named Orchid (Esther Yu) from Shuiyuntian, who ends up unwittingly awakening and entangling herself with our leading man, Dongfang Qingcang (Dylan Wang), the demon lord of Changyan Sea who’d been locked up in Haotian Tower for the past 30,000 years. I still can’t move past Orchid and Dongfang Qingcang's first encounter. How stunningly colorful the galaxy like atmosphere is, the way Orchid at first panics, then freezes as if time stopped, fearful but mesmerized by the sight of the chained and unconscious Dongfang Qingcang. The way she inadvertently revives him, the kiss that completes the process as they're bonded as the music crescendos. What a spectacular start to their epic romance. I went diving into this drama without learning anything about it beforehand so the unexpected hilarity that ensues next with the temporary body swapping, we-are-one premise had me thoroughly entertained.
Dongfang Qingcang learns very quickly that he and Orchid are physically and emotionally attached to each other somehow by a seemingly unbreakable curse; so in other words, this little fairy is now his Archille's heel, much to his annoyance. For instance, every time Orchid starts bawling, Dongfang Qingcang reluctantly cries too, haha. For someone who literally has not been feeling emotions, these new out of control emotions are quite challenging for Dongfang Qingcang to manage. Orchid is unaware of the real identity of Dongfang Qingcang so she treats him like an equal, which just adds to the hilarity as they spend time together at Arbiter Hall, Orchid’s home in the fairy realm. All the chaos that results from their cursed connection and how it reduces this great lord's ego to the size of a peanut cracks me up endlessly. Esther and Dylan are fantastic together here that I couldn’t help liking both the actors and their characters immediately.
When the Immortal Emperor of the fairy realm finds out that Orchid is connected to Dongfang Qingcang, she’s tortured for information. It’s at this point that both Orchid and us bear witness to the immense power and position of Dongfang Qingcang in the three realm, as he appears from fire and smoke to rescue Orchid and then proceeds to almost annihilate the whole fairy realm before taking Orchid to Changyan Sea, his kingdom. This part was one of my absolute favorites and a highlight of the show. I also loved watching the way he is received by the people of Changyan Sea; this scene felt like the personification of the words feared and revered. Simply awe-inspiring.
For me, Changyan Sea felt like a medieval kingdom, with its darkened colors, lush velvety robes, middle eastern interior design, and the shadows and rays of lights through the windowpanes in the rooms, which all comes together to cast an aura of mystique and grandeur to this realm. Again, props to the production team for excellent set designs here. Each world is unique in its settings, colors, costumes, and background music, that there is clear distinction as to where we are in the story and these attributes lend a hand in helping you immerse yourself in the story.
At this point in the story, it's apparent that the deep impact of Orchid’s emotions on Dongfang Qingcang is no longer because of the connection from the curse, though he would not admit it himself. He has turned from figuring out ways to break the curse to ruminating about how to make Orchid happy. So he surprises her with a replica of Arbiter Hall, but that ends up exposing the chasm between them instead, namely how they’re from two different worlds; worlds that have viewed each other as enemies for hundreds of thousands of years. He seethes with anger; how he's hurt that she still wants to leave (him) to go "home." It's incredible how much he cares already; his "wei she ma" gets me every time.
Though having the freedom to roam around Changyan Sea but unable to leave, Orchid learns more about Dongfang Qingcang and the people of Changyan Sea, and it clears away misconceptions about the people and the lord himself. What stood out for me in these parts was in the way Orchid helps Dongfang Qingcang reconcile with his father and by extension, his humanity. How gentle she is as she hugs him as he breaks down. How he tries to hold it together on his own, then opens to her support and cries into her shoulder as he confronts his heartbreak of losing the father he loved.
As both Orchid and Dongfang Qingcang try to make sense of the happenings around them, they are led to the mortal realm, which covers the third act of the drama. Upon their return to Changyan Sea, it’s quite clear they’re both deeply in love and acknowledges their feelings. Each is willing to go through pain and suffering to keep the other safe, which showcases to outsiders that they truly love and deserve each other. It’s here I believe that their romance turns epic. A rush of emotions came my way as I watched these parts; how hauntingly beautiful and melancholic for these two lovebirds. As to how it all comes to an end, let’s just say I’m grateful for the short but happy ending.
I have to say I'm absolutely blown away by Dylan Wang's portrayal of Dongfang Qingcang. The assured authority, the majestic presence he carries with him held my attention at every moment. He looks MAGNIFICENT. What a grand performance as the most formidable, all powerful being in the realm. There isn't much change in his stoic expression and yet you see it, you feel it, this imposing character with complicated emotions come to life. It is evident in the way he's in complete control as he showcases his powers, or in the way he endures the burden of responsibility that comes with that power and position, or when he's seething with anger out of love. It is simply so satisfying to watch.
Then we have our adorable leading lady, Esther Yu. At first glance, her character fits the bill of female leads prevalent in C-dramas that we all hate: young, cutesy damsel in distress with high pitch baby voice. The only difference is that she's actually lovable even with all these attributes. I found her charming, genuinely cute, delicate and strong; the perfect opposite of Dylan's character, complementing him well.
I have seen Zhang Ling He as a lead in another drama that I was surprised to see him in the second lead role here. But he is perfectly cast here as the angelic Changheng. I also thought the actors who play the other major male characters like Xun Feng, Rong Hao, and Shangque did amazing.
I found the drama moves at a balanced pace. I never felt like there were fillers. Each scene has a purpose and contributes to the cohesiveness of the plot. We’re entertained by the complicated connection between Orchid and Dongfang Qingcang in the beginning. Then the story turns epic and heart tugging as it progresses. I swooned every time each saves the other. The dynamic story also allows the three talented young actors to flex their acting chops and further entertained us. As mentioned earlier, the CGI, the costumes, the set designs, and the background music all blends seamlessly together to create a truly magical world. Farewell Love by Faye Chan OST, in particular, perfectly captures the poignancy of this epic love story.
I acknowledge this is a long review but I think it just speaks to how good the drama is that it elicited such a flood of response from me as a viewer. And I'm no novice; I've been a seasoned watcher of C-dramas, and dramas in general, for years. And yet, this drama stood out as one of the best. I don't think I need to convince you to watch the drama considering the rating and the popularity it is receiving. I'm merely here to say unlike some other popular dramas, it's true what they say and the rating truly reflects the quality of this drama. Get on that bandwagon and embrace the hype; you won't be disappointed.
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Zhang Linghe Heaven Official's Blessing!!!!!!!!!
I started watching this drama because of Zhang Linghe. I haven't seen a drama with him in it so far and had to because he is going to be Hua Cheng is the Heaven Official's Blessing live action that is going to be coming out in the very distant future. What made this drama even more appealing is that I saw he plays the second male lead in this drama and Mr. Luo Yunxi (aka Chu Wanning aka Immortality when) played the second male lead in one of my favorite Chinese dramas "Ashes of Love".I have fallen in love with the story, the characters, just everything about this drama I love so far.
I was skeptical at first after hearing a few things about this drama; I was not expecting it to be so good.
Story:
pt 1: This is a xianxia drama and as far as I know about these types of dramas is that the tropes and the settings tend to be very similar to one another. Dramas have a hard time standing out and each can seem the same and that becomes bland. However, this drama really does stand out to me. The story is fairly easy to follow. I haven't been lost once watching it so far, which is a really good sign. It is as the title says "Love Between Fairy and Devil." I really love the concept of enemies to lovers and this drama really pulls it off nicely. It isn't a dumb coincidence that the characters have to be with each other all of the time. They are truly opposites of one another. Orchid is a beautiful fairy who lives up in some heaven scape; she is very innocent and has her head in the clouds 24/7, nonstop talking about her crush on the second male lead. On the other hand, Devil just got out of prison for 30,000 years. He is determined to reign over the world again and will do anything he can to get just that. It is told to us pretty early on that Orchid is the goddess who saves the Devil; they are intertwined with one another. He doesn't want to put up with her shenanigans, but has to otherwise his plans will be crushed. Devil has to look out for Orchid and protect her because if she dies he will literally die. I love the fact that we are going to get to see them fall in love!
pt 2: Things play out like most fantasy dramas do. They eventually end up going to the mortal realm, but that arc doesn't drag along like most do. They fall in love gradually, it is quite a slow burn, but so worth it. The climax of the show really hits hard because of this. It is tragic. They're love is tragic. Orchid sums is up perfectly. In short, she loves him, but will she give up her loyalty to the fairy realm and love for her people to love him? Devil loves her, but is he willing to let all of his hard work go to waste (ex: killing his dad and a couple of realms along the way). They love eachother, but to what extent... and seeing how much they love eachother is truly something... I was surprised to see who ended up sacrificing what at the climax of the show.
Acting:
pt 1: Ester Yu plays an innocent fairy called Orchid. She starts off as a clutz and very air-headed. Dylan Wang is the male lead who I will call Devil to keep things simple. He starts off as very cold and serious. Their chemistry is very good. They play very well off of each other and have great comedic moments between them. The bickering and teasing that goes on between them is enjoyable to see. It is especially fun to watch the moments where they switch into each other's bodies (seriously one of the best things about this drama is when they switch bodies, makes my heart skip a beat just thinking about it, sooo cute). However, the more sentimental grounded moments that they portray have been very touching too. They have moments together that have me tearing up. You empathize with both of the leads and learn why they act and feel the way they do. Also, this drama is aware of the character's flaws. The devil calls Orchid out for being an annoying idiot and Orchid calls him out for being heartless and coldblooded. I really appreciate this because I have seen too many dramas that are not aware and it just gets soo aggravating and makes some dramas unwatchable.
pt 2: The whole cast really surprised me with this one! First I'll talk about Zhang Linghe. His character is at its peak when they go to the mortal role. Seeing him play the playboy of the town and goof around is so much fun. He has great chemistry with Dylan and honestly, that whole arc was so much fun to watch. I have heard that in previous dramas they're acting is just decent, but in this show it is superb. It is so good! Dylan Wang portrays his character so well in this show. Devil is such a complex character and Dylan does such an amazing job at truly showing the complicated emotions that he feels. Esther Yu's acting really surprised me. She is such a beautiful crier. Every time she teared up, I couldn't help but do the same. The chemistry that they have with each other only gets better as the show goes on. The scenes that really hit hard leave such a big impact on you...
Lastly, not to spoil, but what I'm guessing is the climax of the show is acted out so well. Had me balling my eyes out and rewatching a couple of times.
Cast:
Ester Yu is perfect for her character. So many people found her voice to be annoying and babyish, but I think it suits her character. Plus her voice is only really like that at the beginning of the show and as she grows you can hear it in her voice that she matures. She really pulls off the innocent types and does a great job at playing the ruthless devil once they switch bodies. Dylan Wang is great as the devil. The facial expressions he makes and the way he carries himself as a ruthless overlord is so good. This man looks so good in a costume drama. He is shockingly good-looking and has strikingly good facial features. I love watching him when they switch bodies; watching him act all cute really is a treat, and it slept on. Zhang Linghe who plays the second male lead plays his role so well. The emotions this man shows because he loves Orchid, but can't have her are so authentic. I really believe that he loves her too and honestly it really gets to me that they both loved each other at the same time, but it won't work out. The second male lead syndrome in this drama is real. All in all, big round of applause to the cast so far, they are a huge reason as to why this show is so enjoyable so far, the chemistry is great amongst them all.
Setting:
It just looks so great. Everything in this drama looks so good. The costumes are really pretty and yes, I even think the second male leads costume is good. The set design and makeup are 10/10 so far. And lastly, the setting is so beautiful. I would watch this drama for the beautiful scenery alone. The CGI is the best I've seen in any period/costume/fantasy Chinese drama so far. I am seriously blown away by how good everything looks. The sky, especially at Orchid's home, is a prize to look at. You can tell great detail went into the backgrounds. It isn't obvious the green screens are being used, nothing like that stands out. The people behind the scenes did an amazing job creating a fantasy world that actually looks believable.
Music: The music used helps tell the story being told. Certain songs are played at the right time. I wouldn't say any of the main osts are bad, actually, I wish that some were on Spotify so I could add them to my sad playlist.
In conclusion:
pt 1: What I love the most about this so far is how fun it is. Yeah, this show probably isn't perfect but lemme just say I laugh out loud at the outlandish moments and over-the-top scenarios and actions that occur. This drama is aware of how bizarre it can be at the time and it plays it up at times. On the contrast, there is also time for deeper moments. Nearing the second half of the show I can see that it is going to switch from less of a comedy and more to an emotional, plot-driven show. Characters are self-aware of their own flaws. Everyone in this drama is beautiful. They all look too good to be real. The setting is amazing, the script is funny, and the chemistry among the leads is adorable and hilarious. The touching moments really hit hard. The costumes, hair and makeup compliment the actors. The osts need to be released on streaming platforms (especially the one played during their underwater kiss/ air transfer moment!!!!). Orchid is adorable. Devil is also adorably handsome.
pt 2: This drama only gets more beautiful in the second half. The osts get better. The story progresses very fluently. Everything just makes sense. I never once got bored watching this drama, which says a lot, trust me. Seeing them fall in love was such a treat. It happened so naturally. You really root for them as a couple. They are hilariously cute at times, but then at others, they love each other to the point where they would die for each other.
Chu Wanning is no where to be found....
Lastly:
No, this drama does not quench my thirst for Immortality. Nothing will. Seeing Chu Wanning on screen in pain and agony is something that you just can't replace or even try to with these other dramas. Everything reminds me of him. I started watching this drama because Immortality seems to not be airing any time soon Zhang Linghe is in this drama and he reminds me of Chu Wanning because he plays a character that is in Eternal Faith. It all is just one big giant circle that is inescapable. Whatever you do, do not get into Immortality. I am not kidding you when I say I think about this show every day and it has shaped me as a person. That is crazy because the show has not even come out yet and has shown no sign of doing so in 2 and a half years. To those who are reading this IMMORTALITY TOMORROW!!!!!!
that is all I am going to say for now....
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This review may contain spoilers
Best C-drama of the year!
This drama was outstanding! Never once did I get bored; I watched every scene without fast forwarding – every detail is important, and there’s a lot of detail, which makes rewatching a must. The storyline was gripping and engaging even though it’s the old star-crossed lovers’ plot; only instead of warring families, it’s warring tribes. Most of all, the acting was top-notch, especially by Dylan Wang. This ML shot to the top of my ML Hall of Fame to share top honors with Ah Min-Hyuk of ‘Strong Woman Do Bong Soon’ and Grand Tutor of ‘Be My Princess’. Additionally, the OST was emotionally powerful and the special effects/idyllic setting visually beautiful. Although I didn’t understand a lot about what they were saying – I’m not into primordial spirts, etc. – I was still engaged and understood the basic plot. There were a lot of great messages too about how love overcomes hatred as well as other sins. So, let’s get started on the characters themselves.ML (Dongfang Qing Cang) – he was just badass cool, especially in the earlier episodes as he’s kicking butt with his hellfire. It’s amazing how Dylan Wang could look supremely cold yet dangerously intense at the same time. When he rescued FL from the fairy interrogation in ep 9, all I can say is ‘WOW’! He kicked butt, both old nastypants, the High Wizard or whatever he was, and Changheng’s. Then when he took the rest of the lightning bolts for that bratty brother, another ‘WOW’! I did enjoy him lightening up a bit when he was playing Orchid, but he was best as the badass Supreme Moon. His dream scene in ep 31 was beautiful yet tear-jerking at the same time. He also managed to provide a bit of comedy/cuteness with his grumpiness – especially when they were in the mortal world. I liked how he softened after FL restored his love tree, but he was better as the badass, and the badass returned as he's preparing for his final battle with the evil god.
FL (Orchid) – she was naïve and sweet yet smart and courageous at the same time. Nobody else dared talk back to the Supreme Moon like she did, and I loved when she stood up to Danyin and the other fairies who tried to bully her. I especially loved how ML secretly helped her throw them on their butts during the exam. I literally cheered. I get so tired of seeing FLs just accept the bullying. She was the perfect FL to warm up ML’s love tree. That being said, I didn’t care for her as the Goddess in the last few episodes. Like ML and Changheng (he didn’t seem particularly happy with the change either), I wanted my sweet, bubbly Orchid back. I’m glad at the end, the Orchid we all fell in love with returned to greet ML home.
Second couple: it’s rare for me to be interested in SCs, but I was interested in the Black Dragon and Jieli’s relationship. My only complaint is I wish we’d seen Shang Que in his dragon form more often. It was nice to see the female bestie as a deceitful character needing redemption rather than the typical dingbat.
Changheng was the perfect SML, but at no time did I ever prefer him over ML. I’m glad that he didn’t accept Danyin’s feelings in the end. I’m glad they became friends instead. Not everyone needs romantic love for a happy ending.
The characters I disliked the most: 1) ML’s bratty brother. He was never happy; he was continually whining and causing problems; 2) those Moon people wailing on and on about those 100,000 soldiers instead of considering the burden it placed on ML; and 3) – that hypocritical and merciless brother of Changheng. He was always saying how bad the Moon people were, but he wasn’t much better in terms of behavior/character. He was just as hateful as the Moon tribe.
I liked how the screenwriter avoided a lot of the typical plot devices such as an obsessed female love rival and control freak parents. Yeah, there was a lot of unrequited love going around, and big brother Fairy was an asshole, but this mostly affected secondary characters not our main couple. But, of course, we had to have the noble idiot thing starting with ML and ending with FL. Ok, I can accept sacrificing for someone you love (like ML at the end), but I personally don’t think a leader needs to make such a sacrifice for ‘the people’, especially when most of them are ingrates. The drama managed to only be angsty in the final few episodes, which is a welcome relief.
Although I loved this drama, I have to admit that there were a few unanswered questions like 1) what happened to the spikes that ML had to endure at night? Were they removed after FL withstood the cave?; and 2) how exactly did ML return from the dead? I'm glad he did - don't get me wrong - but they kept saying how if you kill FL, you'll kill ML so apparently killing him was something that could happen yet here he is, alive and well, at the end. So, I wish the drama would have given us a few more minutes at the end to explain and show our MC marrying, etc.
UPDATE: YAY! IQIYI has a special episode (36+) in which ML is talking about his married life with FL. So, so cute and wonderful! Thank you to IQIYI or whoever decided to have mercy on us fans!!!!
There’s so much more I could say, but let me stop here. It was an awesome drama. WATCH IT! YOU'LL LOVE IT! Read less
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Underwhelming Plot, Impressive ML and Annoying FL
After watching the drama, it is safe to say that it had its ups and downs. The Male Lead's acting was quite impressive, while the Female Lead's portrayal was annoying and immature throughout the majority of the drama. However, her acting did improve slightly in the last four episodes.Unfortunately, the story itself was not very interesting, and the FL was often portrayed as a fool. Despite this, the production quality was good, and the visual experience was enjoyable.
All things considered, this drama was average, with some good and bad elements. While the ML's acting was a definite highlight, the FL's portrayal could have been better, and the story itself could have been more engaging. If you are looking for a drama with good visuals and solid acting from the ML, but are not overly concerned about the plot, then this drama might be worth checking out.
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This show had the potential to be so much better.
The initial episodes of this show held great promise, and I was genuinely excited. Finally, a Xianxia series that seemed like it could be a real delight. However, my enthusiasm started to wane as the story progressed towards the middle and end. Like many other Xianxia dramas, it suffered from the same major issues. The plotlines became increasingly nonsensical, conflicts with potential were abandoned, and the narrative took a frustrating turn with unnecessary and ridiculous storylines. The exaggerated drama and soap opera-like moments became eye-rolling. Unfortunately, as the story became more convoluted, it fell apart, losing the coherence it initially had.
On a positive note, the production quality was impressive. The landscapes, costumes, and overall scenery were visually appealing, which is what one would expect from this genre.
However, I found myself growing annoyed with the excessive focus on the guard and the bandit girl's love story, which didn't captivate me. I would have preferred more scenes featuring the main leads together. Additionally, the setup for a second lead syndrome seemed promising, but it was poorly executed and left unexplored. The inclusion of certain irrelevant storylines felt forced and added nothing meaningful to the overall narrative. Some of the plot developments were so disappointing that they significantly detracted from my enjoyment of the show. Notably, the writing for the Orchid Fairy (FL) character was a letdown. She came across as excessively dumb, whiney, and ignorant, lacking the depth of naivety or innocence. It's unclear whether this was due to the actress's portrayal or the directing. The show also fell into the trappings of typical tropes and clichés that plague the fantasy drama genre. The involvement of the 2nd couple (Jie Li and Shang Que) felt unnecessary, and the ending was underwhelming. Moreover, except for Dongfang Qing Cang and his brother, the other characters showed no significant growth or development.
Despite its flaws, I appreciate that the character of Fairy Dan Yin was redeemable and didn't fall into the stereotype of a manipulative and scheming female driven by love.
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Dylan Wang is versatile as Dongfang Qing Cang, the supposedly supreme evil who terrorized the world to gain ultimate power, that even the God of War could not defeat him. Yu Shu Xin is lovely as Orchid, the free-spirited fairy who sees the good in everybody, so she does not equate that a person being imprisoned in a tower could be the same evil that she has been hearing about. The two are sweet and lovely together. The scenes where the oblivious Orchid befuddles the emotionless Dongfang are adorable and funny.
The relationships in this drama are also deep and meaningful, such as the bromance between Dongfang and his henchman Shang Que, or the bro-buddyship between Chang Heng and Rong Hao, the sismance between Orchid and Jie Li. Speaking of which, characters here are multi-dimensional, for example Jie Li, who is as complex as she is simple, neither black or white, and it is indicative of how the realms actually are, rather than what they should be. We learn that not one person is all good, or all bad, be it if they are fairies or demons.
I also loved this drama because the characters go through gradual development, and the plot, though intriguing, is not too intricate to follow. Though there are a lot of fantastical elements, they are believable and logical within its context. The transitions between scenes are also seamless, without jarring flashbacks that are out of place. The CGI is breath-taking and not laughable as in some other dramas I have watched. The production team really outdid themselves with this one. But most of all, LBFAD proves that you do not need over 50 episodes to tell a compelling story.
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An epic romance fantasy done right!
I have a short attention span and am very critical. I usually watch jdramas that run max 10 episodes at 24 min. each. So very quick dramas. It takes an exceptional show to keep my attention beyond that. I have, however, watched some really great cdramas that were so addicting I didn't even realize I had watched 30-50 1hr. long episodes.This is where Love between Fairy and devil come in. This show was my first xianxia drama and the bar has been set very high. I binged all 36 episodes in a few days and finished today. I couldn't stop watching, it was perfection, and I didn't want it to end. I could actually watch another thirty plus episodes about Orchid and Dongfang Qing Cang. It was hands down the best drama I've watched in 2022!
I loved everything about this drama. From the character development, forbidden slow burn love story, to the costumes, and amazing CGI. Also, this show's OST was one of the most beautiful I've heard and fit scenes so well. Every character comes to life here and I found myself growing attached to all of them.
The acting in this drama was amazing as well. Everyone did a phenomenal job with their roles. I had never seen the fl actress that plays Orchid in anything before this, but she really blew me away with her performance. She had several character shifts in this story and she acted them out flawlessly. Plus, she had great chemistry with the ml and 2nd ml. I also want to give mention to the actor that played Dongfang Qing Cang's brother. He was awesome as the semi-villain character. Lastly, a stand out of course was Dylan Wang as Dongfang Qing Cang. He never dissapoints. I, like a lot of others have been a fan of his since his debut in Meteor Garden. I thought back then although he was so young that he had a lot of potential and then I later saw him in the drama The Rational Life (which I highly recommend btw) and it just solidified how talented and versatile of an actor he is. I think he is the king of facial expressions and he really outdid himself in Love between Fairy and Devil. And since as I write this review it's Dec. 20th, I want to wish Dylan a happy 24th birthday. Its been great seeing him grow as an actor :D
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Now bacck to story, although some start episodes are funny but if u read the novel then u know how sad drama is and the people who saying shuxin voice is like childish , i am just gonna say the directors give her role because they know she can fit and all the dramas she starring all use her original vice because they know her voice is best for her roles i just say shuxin always get sweet dramas but if u know the song( amnesia ) she sang for drama then u match if the voice is sweet or not u must not .people quikly u know they work so hard to pleased the audience and when audience reply bad about her how hurt she is . The role of shuxin fit for her if u read the novel then u know how perfect she was doing . The plot of drama is perfect . Overall story is soo good and perfect .
The background, graphics,ost is so amzing that it makes people to fall for it.
I hope if someone saw this review must watch this drama .
The haters always say because their actor or actress also got bad comments so they deliberately makes bad comments for other actress or dramas.
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