Love Game in Eastern Fantasy (2024)

You know that kind of drama that could’ve been better bou you still liked it? This is one of them

I think those who were active here probably saw me commenting practically everyday about this drama. I was soooo addicted and I found myself anxiously awaiting the episodes every day. The plot is good, the special effects in the fighting scenes was good, I loved all the characters they’re sooo cute and their chemistry was awesome. I was memorized by Esther’s and Yu Xi’s acting and their chemistry was good. I also looooved Esther’s style and hair acessories and YuXi, in special, really captivated me here. He’s so natural with his acting and his expressions are really on point. EP32 was so beautiful…ZiQi/Fu Zhou story was good and his final speech was cute! I think the OST was fine too!


Unfortunately after episode 20 some plot holes and continuity flaws started to appear, and the development of the main couple became a bit strange. I had the impression that the director cut some scenes and because of that some things didn't seem to be connected. I was still enjoying the drama but I can’t totally ignore some things. For example and I believe many will agree with me, when Miao Miao recovers her memory and meets Ziqi again, nothing is explained. She simply understands that he likes her (probably by the flower decoration) and he simply accepts that she likes him (without questioning what happened before with the marriage thing). The whole thing about the bracelet that was important in the story before, was completely left aside later and no one questioned anything. Miao Miao’s and ZiQi’s relationship was simply growing up and I felt like they didn’t really confessed their feelings for each other which even the second couple did. Suddenly they were a thing but I felt like something was kind missing.

Also having a (hidden) kiss in the last minutes when the characters were rewatching their scenes together and making their final reunion in the real world hidden for us was definitely a choice. I mean they met but we don’t really see them meeting like WHYYYYYY? They robbed us for real.

I also felt like 32 episodes was too short as we had a lot of characters and story to explain. But yeah despite all of this, I still enjoyed this drama. It’s a good and excting watch and I agree with people saying that this is one of the best dramas of the year. It’s totally a drama that will make you addicted. I’m already hoping and praying for one more Esther and YuXi drama reunion haha

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Fast paced & binge-worthy storyline . Perfect for romantasy ethusiasts.

My review will be a comprise of what I liked the most and the least in Love Game in Eastern Fantasy.

What I liked :

✅️ Enemies to lovers.
✅️ ML falls in love first.
✅️ Cold ML X Sunshine FL
✅️ Protective & obsessive ML.
✅️ CGI & cinematography : 10/10. Nothing to complain about.
✅️ Ding Yu Xi as a grey haired demon ❤. Made my wish after LYST come true.
✅️ Fast paced, addicting & binge-worthy storyline . I fully enjoyed the first 30 episodes. Only took 3 days for me to finish all 32 episodes which usually it takes me 5 days to 1 week to finish one 30+++ eps drama.
✅️ The acting. Yu Shu Xin as Ling Miao Miao & Ding Yu Xi as Mu Sheng they both perfect for their roles. Could not think of any other actors that can replace them.
✅️ Costumes,hairstyles : 9.5/10. I liked all Mu Sheng's duo color (black + red/blue) costumes with its metal & ribbon appendages . He looked so fine-looking here ❤. His hairstyle also suits his looking the most. Miao Miao hairstyles also so pretty.
✅️  Humor : 9/10. I laughed alot while watching this drama especially in 2/3rd of the story.
✅️ Romance : 8.5/10. Light , sweet and cute. Chemistry : 9/10. I've watched main leads before in Moonlight though I did not finished that drama for a reason but they definitely have good chemistry with each other. Did not mind if in the future we get to see 3rd collaboration between them.
✅️ OST : 8.5/10. My favorite is Reshape by Do Zhiwen. Gotta love the deep voice and its soulful vibe. I've been listening to this song non-stop after finishing this drama🤧.

What I liked the least:

☑️ Storyline in the last 2 eps , there were parts that was quite confusing. The editing also did not help. When you don't really understand what's happening, it made things less enjoyable. My enjoyment meter went down from 100% to 50% in the last 2 episodes.
✖️ The ending... is annoying. The kind that is typical if you're familiar with c-drama. Maybe they could have done it better if we got 1 or 2 more additional episodes.
❌️ I am totally dumbfounded that our main couple did not have even 1 kiss scene in this drama! When even second couple got 2 kiss scenes..
❌️ Towards the end, I think there were way too many scenes of second couple than the main couple. If only they focus more in main couple story at the end...

Overall, I enjoyed this drama alot. Made it to my top 5 favourite c-drama this year. If you like what I liked don't hesitate . Start watching it now.

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One of My Favorite This Year!!

One man’s yearning to express his hidden desires to his loved one led to “the catastrophe of heaven”!

“Love Game in Eastern Fantasy” premise boils down to one thing- authors can be pretty peculiar, as is Fu Zhou. Terminally sick, he wrote a novel in his childhood about his crush; in the current times, as a popular author, he published the same novel. The unexpected twist being that his supposed childhood crush, Ling Miaomiao is now his biggest fan and somehow she gets pulled into the novel where Fu Zhou himself acts as a supporting character paired opposite her. This show becomes a “revolving door” phenomenon, because of the said author’s vivid imagination; but it is by far the most entertaining transmigration story that I have watched in a long time. Esther Yu & Ding Yu Xi have a naturally affable chemistry, their romance is overrated or loud; their fights, arguments and bickering are epic. Not to be left behind, Zhu Xu Dan & Yang Shi Ze have their own somber romance that is mature and subtle.

Read the complete article here-

https://kcdramamusings.wordpress.com/2024/11/23/love-game-in-eastern-fantasy-series-review/

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Surprisingly enjoyable

The premise is nothing new, but the pacing is pretty good and keeps you engaged. The tone remains light from beginning until the end. I really enjoyed the first 23 episodes and have mixed feelings regarding ep 24-32. It's not a deal breaker though since this is what happen to literally 98% of drama these days. Episode 24-32 feels a bit choppy and childish but because of the revelation on last 2 episodes, it still makes sense on narrative side.

Pros:
Characters & Cast -- I like all the leads and most side characters. Side characters have their own story and they actually serve a purpose to a certain degree.

Acting is pretty good and the actor's sync rate with their character is great, so I'm more immersed. Ding Yuxi is so charming as Mu Sheng / Mu Ziqi. I also like Zhu Xudan portrayal as Mu Yao, she really gives off that big sister energy.
DYX x YSX chemistry is amazing and the group dynamics of the bamboo masters are fun. I just really like all the leads when they're together 😊

Visual & Production -- styling, costume, and CGI are really good and everything fits together nicely, it's a better production than what I expected.

Attention to details and minimal loose ends
There are a lot of details in this drama through usage of motifs and dialogues, which I appreciate. I also like that the writer explains the thing that bugs me like why Miaomiao is the chosen one to enter the novel, why the main novel storyline feels more childish, why MiaoMiao got the protection period, etc.

Cons:
Development for episode 24-32 is kind of weak. It still makes sense and acceptable, but doesn't mean that I love it 🤔

Ending -- Unfortunately I read that CN govt ban time travel and altering reality implication... which is the underlying theme for drama in this genre. So I already have a lower expectation for the ending

Personally I like the ending because it explains the whole narrative and makes the story feels complete & cohesive.
I do agree that the execution can be better, so despite liking the ending, I still put it as a con because not everyone will be satisfied with the ending.

Overall rating 8.5

One of the better drama in this isekai / game fantasy genre. It was a fun watch and I enjoyed it a lot, so the rating is slightly higher 😊

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A Captivating Blend of Romance and Adventure

Love Game in Eastern Fantasy (2024) is a Chinese romantic fantasy series that follows Ling Miao Miao (Esther Yu) as she navigates alliances, demons, and a relationship with Mu Sheng (Ding Yu Xi). The drama features spectacular sights, intricate costumes, and cultural richness, capturing traditional Chinese culture. Esther Yu and Ding Yu Xi's chemistry propels the emotional center, while well-developed plots support the characters.

Despite some critics' criticism of slow pacing and predictable moments, the series strikes a balance between humor, action, and uplifting moments, making it a must-see for genre enthusiasts. The series' vivid depiction of a mythical universe and light-hearted humor make it a strong contender in the fantasy genre.

I loved it so much, highly recommended!

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Not happy with the ending

The beginning of the drama might feel boring because it seems fake and disconnected from the script. Initially, it comes across as a fairy tale, more suitable for children under 15. However, things take a turn around the 10th episode when they accept her into their team to capture the devil. From this point, the story becomes more engaging. It starts to feel realistic when her memories begin to fade, adding depth to the plot.

From that moment until the final scene, the drama is captivating. Even the secret, though guessable, adds an element of intrigue. As a viewer, you might predict the twist, but it will still surprise you.

My only issue with the writer is the lack of a subplot showing their reunion. A proper closure would have made the story more satisfying.

Because of the unsatisfactory ending, I wouldn’t recommend watching it. It feels like a waste of time after investing so much in the drama.

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More than a romance, show is about ML's quest of self-love, confidence & finally his 'rebirth'

Firstly, I've been hooked from the very start. FL being sucked into a game, the need to complete missions to go back to the real world , the enemies turn lovers trope... that was a fun premise then came the Imperial Capital arc and my enjoyment suddenly took a nosedive...don't get me wrong, I still liked it very much but the lack of screentime of our leads and the way they stopped developping their romance put a damper on my excitement.

While I think the ending message is quite beautiful and meaningful, I still regret that the romance literally took a back seat in the second half of the drama making their relationship lose all spark after some time. Why branding it as romance as a main theme when you're not delivering on that promise? Not that my disappointment solely stems from it but it was such a bummer in the end. Chemistry has been so perfectly built in the beginning with all the banters, teasing, intense stares, tension , giving me all the feels/butterflies which is needed for a good romance and suddenly you decide to throw all that development away? Are you for real? Where is the pay-off here? I know kisses aren't always needed in dramas (I didn't mind it in Snowy Nights for example because drama main theme was 'missed opportunities', leads never got to confess to each other or even kiss because they were bound by guilt, duties and grief) but here I feel it could have added a beautiful touch to their reunion after the angst part for instance. Oh well. it is what is. First part was all kind of awesome and really addictive then show totally faltered in second half wasting time on uninteresting subplots (reducing the main leads screentime)
That comment above was my primary/raw impression (yeah I was pretty pissed)

Then after calming down a bit, I've come to the conclusion we've been fooled into thinking it was a romance when in fact it wasn't. Plot is merely about a long 'letter' written by our hero/ML expressing his gratitude/love for his long time crush/muse for being the light that brighten up his darkest days.It was thanks to her he could move forward and also find the courage to undergo surgery. She is his savior, his sun, his world. He just wants to let her know how much she means to him.

Thing is that his self-acceptance and courage come from the admiration he had for the FL while in middle school. They were classmates but never interacted with each other at that time, I dare say she probably didn't even notice him. He was just silently observing her from afar, lacking the confidence to approach her and missing the chance to convey his inner feelings (due to the bullying incident+school transfer)

It was his one-sided crush all along and maybe the reason why we didn't get a kiss in the end? ...they're basically strangers in real world, he never confessed to her hence it would be weird for them to smooch in the game I guess?? Does it make sense? haha (or is it an excuse to make me feel better? Maybe lol)
And even though Miao Miao is one of his biggest fan, she only admires his work (at least for now), she never met him after all or at least she's not aware he's her secret admirer from middle school.
I have so much to say about the parallels between the two worlds and on how she ended up stuck in the game but it would be so longgggggggggggggggggg

In a nutshell, her transmigration into the game might be due to the strong desire of the ML to convey his hidden feelings, he wanted her to understand in which state of mind he was when he wrote that first novel and see his true self. Her feedbacks definitely encouraged him to change the story into a happy ending. That first novel is like the reflection of the start of their story that ended badly and with regrets...it's like he's giving himself and her a chance to make things right this time around, an opportunity to get to know each other and create together that HE he's been yearning for.
The revision of that first novel will serve as a catalyst to the final acceptance of himself and his rebirth putting all his past grievances/hardships behind and finally be able to be with the girl he likes (properly confessing to her in real world too)
Oh well,I will stop here because imagination is running way too wild, I don't think I make sense anymore (sorry for rambling)

IMHO that's an open ending leaning on a future HE (this is just the beginning, the rest is up to our imagination or you can also watch 'Moonlight' which can pretty serve as a sequel lol, plenty of parallels in this one. Highly recommended!! )

I know many people were disappointed/angry after watching the final scene but all I could think of while watching it is that it reminded me of the song 'Once upon a Dream', it funnily fits the scene lmfao
'I know you I walked with you once upon a dream
I know you that look in your eyes is so familiar a gleam
And I know it's true that visions are seldom what they seem
But if I know you, I know what you'll do, you'll love me at once, the way you did once upon a dream' lalalalaa (ok I totally lost it here)

She woke up from a long dream not remembering the face of his beloved then BAM he appears before her, she's stunned (hinting than her memories have returned) then smile and the END. (why not showing his face ffs? *still mad*



Acting:
Almost flawless. Ding Yunxi is the real MVP here (once again), he nails every scenes he's in effortlessly. I knew after MOGA I wouldn't be able to take my eyes off of him...I swear, man has betwitched me body and soul! And the way he's styled in this series is just chef's kiss *someone deserves a raise* His face card is insane and his acting is really good! Give him more gritty works or better scripts because boy he deserves it!

Esther Yu is delightful as the bubbly and sassy Miao Miao (much like her rl persona), she excels in those kind of roles (the cutesy ones). She's unfairly receiving criticism for her voice to the point some are even skipping her works just for that reason alone...that's a shame imo...ok, I won't lie, the first time I watched her, it also turned me off but with time, I got used to it and now think it makes her rather unique+ Industry/Experts seem to disagree with the haters because she's one of the rare actresses who is allowed to dub herself..'My Journey to You' proved she can modulate her voice when the role demands it.

Yang Shi Ze's role being very limited, he didn't have much to do but he did well with what he was given...

Zhu Xu Dan is a nice addition to the quartet...she did a commendable job as well.

I really love our Bamboo squad and the chemistry between our leads was sizzling in the beginning, kinda fizzled out in second half unfortunately...I also really like Cui Cui's character, he was such a cutiepie... like Miao Miao,I wanted to pinch his cheeks so badly xD *so squishy* Kudos to Lu Yu Hao *claps*

OST was good. I'm glad Ding Yuxi got to sing one of the ost, totally in love with his voice.

Rewatching value- Need more time for that but why not? (there will probably come a time where I will have nothing to watch with Ding Yuxi xD)

Review is in progress.....

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Had potential to be the best

Despite being a huge fan of both Ryan and Esther, and especially the screenwriter Bai Jin Jin I will still be objective with my review of this drama as I read the manhua as well and can compare both.

The drama starts amazing. The female lead is trapped in a fantasy world and has to seduce a villain to be able to survive, a very exciting concept that many enjoy and rarely anyone dislikes. For some time the drama achieves exactly that, it is funny, warm and definitely worth the hype but as the drama goes on it slowly strays away further from the introduced theme that we were sold and gets replaced by countless characters and their lore where two main leads suddenly feel like support characters in their own drama.

As much as I like that the show went a different path from manhua that turned quite toxic and dirty, the drama failed at finding a perfect balance and decided to go to the extreme making the leads romance seem like two kids in love. At the start there's tension between the leads and we are showered with many romantic and funny moments between them but at some point in the story, it falls off and we no longer feel that yearning between them despite the short amount of them being together.

However it wasn't about the lack of kisses but the lack of romantic moments after the couple got together. The two other main leads and the lore of countless other characters is shoved down our throat giving us only a minute of the two main leads bonding not allowing us to take it all in. Many of the other characters were quite underwhelming yet the need to highlight them just drained my energy as I saw no reason support nor like their lack of communication. I would've liked more seeing the lore of the tree people than a second couple who could not communicate for 20+ episodes.

After the couple finally realize they love each other, we start to get less and less of their moments together causing me to lose the connection between them because their love for each other wasn't believable to me anymore. As I was taking in the lore and desperately waiting for the couple to yearn for each other as they did in the manhua, I was quickly met with the disappointment that two two people who had their first love, which is supposed to be exciting, other now act like two really close friends or a couple that has been together for 40 years. The show continues to drift, focusing on giving us all the lore, wrapping things up losing the core of story in the process.

Now the ending of the show is amazing and the story is very beautiful however it failed to show us that these two people love each other unconditionally. Because of that, I could not cry nor feel the sadness of them losing each other. I will compare this to lbfad's ending where it was physically painful to see the two separated because we knew how much they loved and needed each other which I was really excited to see due to the both shows having the same screenwriter. The characters death did not bother me and I was fine with them dying as I saw at least some potential in a tragic plot but something in me wanted to care but I could not. I have already detached myself from the two main leads the moment we saw less and less of their love and within that died my need for them to be together.

Overall, the story is beautiful and the lesson with it as well but it lost it's most important topic of love and empathy for the purpose of lore forgetting that it is about a man who has never been properly loved and just yearned to be in peace, to be accepted and loved. Yet whoever worked on it cared more for him to beat the boss and meet 10 other characters than they cared about making us sympathize and feel their love.

I definitely thought this could top many of my favourite dramas but I don't think I can say that more. However it is still worth watching due to it's beautiful message at the end which is why I thought this drama had more potential due to its interesting story but what can you do. You can't tell us it's a love story and barely give us love.

I love this pairing and I hope to see them again in a drama that's going to give them justice like Moonlight did.

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Not terrible but definitely not a favorite

I watched this for Esther Yu bc in LBFAD she started out annoying but grew on me bc she eventually matured. I thought it would be the same with this drama. But she stayed babyish and annoying. Also the main plot is supposed to be about her being in a game and her having to "stay in character" and it just stopped after episode 7. That was what made it interesting. And the main couple just wasn't completely convincing. These two were together in Moonlight and I thought they had great chemistry in that drama. But here, I just wasn't sold. There were cute moments between them but all she did was cry instead of confessing how she felt when the moment came. And then, boom?, we're supposed to believe they're in a committed relationship headed for marriage? And then the ending was just nonsense. Why make him the author? And then why not show them back together in reality after that or at least meeting?

What I did like was the friendship theme and how she changed the other character's fates by creating a bond between the 4 of them. Also the fight scenes & visuals were pretty good. Overall it was watchable until the end. Not boring at all. But probably won't rewatch it and definitely not a top favorite drama sadly. I wanted to like this so much more.

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Started off good, but that ending was...

It started off really good, but the ending was a disappointment. There was an inkling that the author and Miao Miao met in the real world since they gave us a clue regarding the bunny apple, but we didn't get to see them meet. If they were going to show us that Mu Sheng knew her from the real world, at least let them meet. I mean, give us an ending like Tiger and Rose.

Let's talk overall plot, it was an interesting concept, but it was uncommon. What I did enjoy about this is the love story between the four main leads. I did also feel that they spent way too much time in the capital, but I did enjoy the plot twist that they had regarding the Resentful Woman. It was an interesting take and it was unexpected.

Characters:
Mu Sheng - I really do love Ding Yu Xi. I actually started following him after Tiger and Rose and I have watched all of his dramas. His eyes can tell a thousand words. He can surely express his characters' emotions very well. Mu Sheng is a really lonely character and I am glad that he was able to learn about who he is and become a stronger person because of it. You can feel his loneliness at the beginning and you can feel his warmth after meeting Miao Miao. Ding Yu Xi did an amazing job portraying Mu Sheng. I really like his character arc and his growth.

Liang Miao Miao/Lin Yu - I like Ester Yu. I think that she did an amazing job with Liang Miao Miao/Lin Yu. Even though this is her comfort zone, I really do enjoy her work. She played three parts in this drama and they were all different from each other. We had the happy go lucky Liang Miao Miao then we got to see the evil Lin Yu (even though it was just for a few scenes), and then the Guardian from 900 years ago. I know that this is her comfort zone and she's comfortable with playing this type of characters, however, she brings a uniqueness to each and every single one of them.

Mu Yao - I do like Zhu Xu Dan as an actress and she portrayed Mu Yao very well. Her character was indifferent to demons and she didn't care if they were good or not. She just wanted them dead but then she grew to understand them and learned to accept that not all demons are evil. She had the biggest growth in the story. She went from someone who didn't care, to someone who realized that she, too, needed to learn that not all demons are as bad as what she grew up learning. The only thing that I didn't like about her was her loyalty to her father's legacy. I get that he was her father and she looked up to him as this hero, but as she learned more about him, I wished they would allow her to accept that her father was not perfect. Even when the Consort was telling her about her father, she refused to believe that he was anything about this hero.

Liu Fuyi - I really don't know the actor who played him, but I feel that Liu Fuyi was a bland character. He didn't do much in regards to the story plot. If he wasn't there, it wouldn't make a big difference to me. He was just the supporting character who is in love with Mu Yao. I feel like they added him to "melt" Mu Yao's heart but other than that, I don't really see his purpose. As for his growth, we didn't really see much of it. I mean, he did sacrifice himself to save Mu Yao in his village but then again, if he was gone, I didn't think it would make a difference. He was just there as a love interest to Mu Yao. He didn't do much in terms to the plot. So, with or without him, I didn't think it'll be any different.

Overall, I did enjoy the drama and I did also ffwd a lot of the scenes too. I feel that there were a lot of unnecessary scenes and I also feel that they cut off parts that were important and kept those weren't. For example, the bracelet. We have learned that it belonged to Mu Sheng's mother, but how can it possessed someone to love the first person they see? And did Miao Miao explain to Mu Sheng that it was because of the bracelet that's why she "fell" in love with his half-brother. AND, the biggest AND is how the heck did they all find out that he's the half brother. I mean, they didn't have a conversation about that. They just somehow magically found out that they were half brothers. I get that Mu Sheng knew because of the dream/nightmare sequence with the Consort but there was no other conversation after that. I get that they needed to cut parts out but like I said, they cut out the important parts. We didn't need to spend so much time on the consort nor on Luiniang and Fuyi's hometown. I feel that they spent too much time with those story arcs that they totally didn't explain anything about the bracelet and the brothers.

I rated it an 8.5 because even though I did enjoy it, I was not satisfied with the ending. I would have rate it higher if they pulled a Tiger and Rose scene where we actually get to see Miao Miao and Mu Sheng in the real world because it would have been the perfect ending. But they decided to pull a Romance on the Farm ending and so I took points away.

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