Immortal Samsara: Part 2 (2022)

- The story is just perfect the way they are, IS's plot is so different from many xianxia dramas so I see nth is wrong with the plot but the only problem I have with the script & scriptwriters is that why the romance is so little between YY & YD? I'm not satisfied of how we only get to see sweet moments rarely in every ep.

- They have YZ & CY as their main leads so definitely the acting is 100% amazing. They had portrayed their roles perfectly, I can't imagine YY & YD being played by other actors & actresses. All the casts and crews' hardworking is something we should appreciate and I pay huge respect to every cast.

- The chemistry between YZ & CY is mostly my fav, they don't have many romance scenes yet they are able to show their chemistry successfully to the audience! One of the reasons why IS has won my heart!

- The original soundtracks are so good, my fav is the opening theme song. The lyrics is just made for IS only, love how they include the storyline and plot in the song. Like how each song describe each character (mostly YY & YD)'s love for each other, the responsibilities they held and how they wish they could tell them, they include everything in the OSTs.

- I will definitely re-watch again & again as I've never felt bored when watching IS so I would like to recommend to all of u guys to try watching for like 6-10 eps at least.

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IS: Watch First and Question it Later

“You protect the Three Realms, and I protect you.”

Hi! This is a review that comprises of my honest thoughts of both parts, so it may be lengthy. This review does include minor spoilers, but I never spoil the end of the story.

The Story,

Heavenly Realm (1-20)

With Xianxia dramas, I have a tendency of just diving in headfirst without reading the synopsis and Immortal Samsara was no different. Later finding out that immortals cannot fall in love, I knew that I was in a for a ride of romance drama angst.

I did however, find some aspects that kept me wanting to watch more. For example, I wanted to see the main character’s sisterly bond, how they grow into the whole “one strong, one weak” trope and I wanted to learn more about Ying Yuan’s background and how that’ll shape the story. These aspects really take off during the beginning of the story and sort of dwindle in the abyss until Part 2.

Mortal Realm, (20-47)

I ended up liking the Mortal Realm arc a lot more than the premise in the Immortal Realm (Which isn’t surprising for me because I also loved it in Ancient Love Poetry). I loved being introduced to new characters and having our leads on the path to “saving the world.”

While I enjoyed the mortal realm arc of part 1, I wondered how so many characters were so comfortable with disrupting Emperor Ying Yuan’s mortal trial with news of his past life. In other Wuxia/Xianxia dramas this seems to be more of a taboo, but in this drama it feels so natural?

The story does feel draggy in this area as certain problems could’ve been solved much quicker with better communication but it still remains as my personal favorite portion of IS. It’s lighthearted, it’s adventure filled and overall interesting imo.

Return of Ying Yuan (47+)

The later end of this drama after Ying Yuan returns is where I start to feel my enjoyment for the show dissipating. To name a few things there were unnecessary misunderstandings, redundant scenes, predictable villains and the disappearance of main characters at pivotal moments. One of my biggest problems with this arc is that the final villain is so obvious but the show continued to drag out his reveal.

What I did enjoy from this arc however is Ying Yuan’s character progression. He went from never having the opportunity to experience life and live for himself therefore leaving him a rigid and cold character to finding that opportunity and never wanting to let it go irregardless of the responsibilities that he was put into.

I also enjoyed meeting Ying Yuan’s father and mother. His father’s power was the coolest and OP thing I’ve seen and I wish the drama explored more of that.

The Acting,

I feel like Yang Zi has a tendency to overact, and I’m not talking about where she’s playing in a scene apart of one of the character’s play’s but her overall acting performance as Yan Dan particularly in part 1. In Part 2, I felt like Yang Zi does a good job of playing the “cold” archetype of a character that has been burned by love and wants to stay away from it as a result.

I’ve loved every role that Cheng Yi has played so far and this drama is no exception. He is such a multifaceted actor. Cheng Yi as Ying Yuan was the typical cold/high immortal that I’m sure many are familiar with and are probably tired of. I’m happy I got to see a more playful version of him in the mortal realm, as I was already used to see him as someone powerful and strong in other dramas. Also mega props to him for performing three roles with ease in one drama.

That being said, there is some acting that just isn’t quite up to par with the rest of the cast that has to do with the side characters (i.e the demons on Yelan Mountain). They aren’t in every episode, but in some scenes it could be considered distracting to the show.

The Characters,

I’ve seen comments about the chemistry not being there between the two and I concur. I liked the chemistry between the leads and what the drama showcased between Yan Dan and Ying Yuan. They are a forbidden love that I couldn’t foresee working but somehow can’t imagine without.

I did like Yan Dan’s character in the beginning because I believed she made the show a bit more lighthearted. The only problem I had with her character is that she’s very impulsive. She’s considered as witty, fun and smart but this impulsiveness counteracts with the smartness she’s supposed to show. Also, I don't feel like we fully get to see Yan Dan be the stronger sister in terms of power. (Which is a bummer for me because that's what I was interested in). I won't spoil too much but after the Heavenly Realm arc, her power just seems to be more of a prophecy than an action.

Ying Yuan’s character progression which I touched on earlier is probably the best from all the characters of IS. Compared to the cold and rigid Emperor Ying Yuan of Part 1, Mortal Ying Yuan (Tan Zhou) was a breath of fresh air. From his mortal experience he can see the world greater than the black and white and I for one was grateful for the change.

Yu Mo was my favorite character of IS. His protectiveness over Yan Dan wasn’t overbearing (I’m looking at you SML of Ashes of Love & Forever Love) and he’s also smart enough to work with his love rival when it matters. I loved the scenes where Yu Mo and Mortal Ying Yuan were working together. It brought back that lighthearted vibe that I felt when watching this drama. I loved the “One Good Deed A Day” team. (You’ll understand the reference when you watch). What I love about Yu Mo is that even if Tang Zhou/Ying Yuan is his love rival, he still considers him his brother and we love a good bromance.

As far as the villains go, I think that there was too much emphasis on using love or the lack of it being the push to becoming a villain. As ironic as this was in regards to the plot, I wish that the story had better motives for the villains that were more interesting and less predictable than that. For example, I think that Ying Deng as a villain was severely flawed. I don’t think she ever loved Ying Yuan, she was more so obsessed with power but somehow the show kept pushing the misplaced love narrative.

As I mentioned before, the final villain is very predictable. By the time we actually get the reveal, I’m already exhausted and I’m ready for the team to beat him.

The Music,

The OST in this show were absolutely bangers. I’ve even added a few including the opening song, “World Records” to my favorite soundtrack playlist.

Recommendation?

I’d recommend this drama to anyone that are fans of or interested in the actors. While I feel like you may need to overlook a few flaws to enjoy the story, I was still pleasantly surprised that we get a lot of lighthearted scenes, blends of adventure comedic scenes and some romantic scenes. If you’re afraid of others reviews, don’t be! Try it out, you might like it.

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Story about Love & Responsibility

This drama is amazing, please give it a try! From the acting of our two leads, CY & YZ, who have great chemistry, their performance gave me a full range of emotions: I laughed at their antics, cried so hard at the angst (pretty much every time they cried, I cried) and fell in love with their romance. The main plot was good, although I wish the motivation of our main bad guy was more nuanced, it was overall a great story. Every case our heroes ventured on in the mortal realm, showcased a lesson about love (something that can start out so pure can turn into something bad & obsessive). Loved also that we have a very smart FL, who came up with most of the plans/ideas in solving the cases and she also wasn't sidelined during fight scenes, she held her own. SML is also amazing, he loved our FL so much, but knew when to just be a great friend to her and also became blood brothers to our ML. I think they are the best TRIO in drama history. Our ML stayed true to his nature, sometimes responsibility and the caring for others needs to take priority over your own wishes. That's why I'm so glad we got that HEA, especially for our ML. The costumes were great, love the OST, directing was great too (love how he repeated the close up on the the eyes during some of the iconic scenes) Hope this drama wins all the awards!!

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Immortal Samsara - OVERHYPED

As a Cheng Yi fan, I had high hopes for Immortal Samsara, but ultimately, it fell short for me.

THE GOOD
The drama boasts stunning visuals, a beautiful OST, and captivating costumes. The cast, including Cheng Yi, delivers strong performances. Cheng Yi, in particular, impresses with his ability to portray three distinct characters with unique mannerisms and expressions. Ray Chang's performance as Yu Mo is also notable.

THE BAD
Unfortunately, the drama falls into the trap of recycling the same tropes and character archetypes found in other xianxia dramas. Yang Zi, despite being a talented actress, is pigeonholed into playing the same cutesy, innocent character that she has played before. The story drags in some parts and has inconsistencies in its narrative. The finale also feels rushed, despite the addition of two short "special episodes" to provide a conclusion.

IN CONCLUSION
While Immortal Samsara has its good points, it fails to break away from the cliches of the genre and falls short of being a standout xianxia drama. It may not be worth a rewatch for many viewers.

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Wasted potential: Not the worst, not the best, but worth a watch

Let me start this off by saying I absolutely ADORE Cheng yi and Yang zi and when this drama was announced, it was one of the main things I was looking forward to for the year 2022. It had all the potential of being the xianxia of 2022, but definitely fell short, mainly due to directing, writing, and the script. No matter how much chemistry and talent our main leads and supporting cast have, not even that could have saved this drama, not to say this is a shit drama. I feel like the director and script writer just forgot the initial set up and details they gave this drama, and toward the end of this second half, everything fell short, was rushed, and was not as amazing as it could have been.

***SPOILER ALERT***
My main issue: The first half of the series painted Yan Dan as someone who had all the potential of being a wise and powerful immortal, quickly learning and mastering spells and having great strategic skills. We also know that Yingyuan had asked for an immortality scroll from Huode for Yan Dan. I totally thought this was all gonna come full circle towards the end of the series. And would have LOVED to see Yan Dan kick ass and even more to see Yan Dan regain her immortality and save Yingyuan. THIS HOWEVER did not happen. She became pretty much useless and weak toward the end, no power whatsoever, always needing to be protected, or just serving as a punching bag for the enemy. And the immortality scroll? It never once made an appearance again. POOF! Forgotten! Disappeared! Seriously, I mean all the potential and it went no where.

OR I would have even loved it if the writers showcased Yingyuan's strength and mastery over his Asura blood, and had him gain control over the Asura soldiers and let him take over as a kind and wise ruler of his own people, with Yan Dan by his side, entering a golden age of peace among the three realms. There was no creativity with the ending the writers made. All this lost opportunity.

But this is just me ranting. I will say it was lovely to see these two act together. They really brought out the best in each other and I adore them both. Regarding the main CP, nothing was ever too miserable and draggy. I think overall, the pacing was nice enough to let watchers glide through the series, with just enough angst, fluff, and spice to keep you pulled in.

And honestly, bless the styling/wardrobe/hair team. May their skin stay clear, their wallets full, their stomachs never empty and may they get all the blessings for this next year because Cheng yi looked IMMACULATE in this series *chefs kisses* and it was amazing to see how much more he has grown as an actor. Despite the sloppy writing, I really hope he gets the recognition he deserves with the series because Yingyuan, Tangzhou, Xuanye, and even Yingyuan post mortal trial, ALL DIFFERENT. The talent this man has. He made me fall in love with every person for different reasons. haha

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I don't know what to do with my life anymore ><

"I must protect this world, because only when the three realms remain can you continue to exist." Ying Yuan (Ep 59) - This line itself depicts how amazing it is!!!!!

I started this right after i finished watching LLTG and honestly I didn't think I would end up liking it because it's either a go or a no for me when it comes to xianxia. I started this because i'm a huge fan of both cheng yi and yang zi and starting this masterpiece was the best thing that happened to me.

YY and YD went through a lot and midway i was almost gonna drop out it just because i couldn't continue to see them suffering and not having proper time as an official couple. But honestly, this was just good. Simply an amazing drama that should be rated more than a 8.1. I absolutely loved the story, I have screamed through it, cried through it, almost burned the tv and most of all i yearned for a YY and a YM in my life. The acting was top notch and although i felt the story line was kinda draggy in some parts, and some facts made it bad, the acting made every problem seems non-existent.

This is either a hit or a miss and if you loved Love and Redemption, Ashes of Love, LLTG, Love between a fairy and a devil and even The Untamed, I highly recommend you to give just the first episode a try and then after 60 hours later you would cry because you binge watched and now can't feel anything.

This is a roller-coaster ride and it's exactly that. There are more downs than ups and sometimes it was frustrating enough for me to literally scream and throw away the remote. I cried so hard after watching the EP 59 and I would've burned or sent letter to youku if they didnt give the special two episodes, which made meso happy and smiley that my mom thought i was finally going crazy.

All i'm saying is, although the green screen is not exactly realistic compared to other xianxia dramas, and even if you like the genre, just watch it because you WON'T REGRET watching it!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I'm gonna ugly cry in a corner until i find something just like this, that made me feel things that i haven't felt in a long time and comforted me when my family is on the verge of breaking apart.

HATS OFF to the entire cast and i know it might be a lot to ask but hoping for a modern drama starring cheng yi and yang zi because they had so much chemistry!!!!!! Can't wait for the new dramas of CY and YZ!!!!!

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selfless love

So much emotions now that I finished it. Cried till 3am and the ending didn't save me from any of these. I am going to write my review while my memory is still fresh.

ACTING/CAST:
Cannot say enough that both Yang Zi and Cheng Yi are the best actress and actor out there for xianxia drama and no one can top them. I came from the famous Ashes of Love and Love & Redemption, and I am so happy they get to act in this together. They didn't disappoint me in their chemistry! 11/10! As for acting, there is nothing more i need to say as both of them are amazing and they make you believe they are really in love with each other.

STORYLINE:
The plot for this show is almost like all the other xianxia drama mashed up into one. If u have watched enough xianxia, you would have seen the cannot fall in love, lost of memory, unforbidden love and saving each other from dying cliche plot. Well.. this show had all these plot and it's almost predictable. I would say it doesn't have the unique selling point in the storyline but the characters are the main stealer for this show. I am however sad that the main leads didn't have enough lovey dovey moments together where both of them admit they are in love. It's always one of them pushing the other away. Tang Zhou was someone I cannot let go after the whole show ends - he fell in love with Yan Dan but doesn't understand why she hated him for Ying Yuan's love debts. He is seriously innocent. My heart cannot be in peace for this, Anyway, more on characters below..

CHARACTERS:
Cheng Yi brought all his characters to life in this show. He played 3 characters - Ying Yuan, Tang Zhou and Xuan Ye. All of them have been done super well by Cheng Yi (i swear his eyes can speak). Ying Yuan as the emperor needs to protect 3 realms and cannot confess his love for Yan Dan. He can only protect her silently but thats how he lost her because she doesn't know and is hurt deeply. Ying Yuan from what I see has great responsibility in him and no matter how much he love Yan Dan, it's ultimately the realms he cannot put down. Moving on to Tang Zhou, one of my favourite moments in the entire show. Tang Zhou unlike Ying Yuan is determined when it comes to love. As much as he still cannot fall in love, he admits that he cannot lose Yan Dan and is willing to give up everything. He is also very goofy and doesn't act like any superior when he is with Yan Dan. Things get serious when he became from Tang Zhou to Ying Yuan again - that's when he realise he is TZ and also YY and he fearlessly declares his love for YD. I love the character development from YY to TZ and YY again. All 3 felt different and has different emotions.

Yan Dan played by Yang Zi is smart and grew up a lot in this show. She once cannot understand Ying Yuan and thought that he only cares about the 3 realms but she ultimately saw how not protecting the 3 realms will ruin everything. From start till the end, she already chose love. As long as Ying Yuan survives, she will do anything, even losing her own life. She is very selfless and puts Ying Yuan before herself anytime, She knew she always loved him and has long ago forgiven him. Honestly, Yan Dan has a few really good and memorable lines. One of them i remembered clearly was, actually love does not need to be together and its ok. Thats when I realised she grew up so much, because her happy ending was not to be with Ying Yuan anymore but to see him fulfil what he needs to do.. that's also how the famous line of "you protect the realms and I protect you" came. I love her character development. Yang Zi did super well in this.

Ray Chang as Yu Mo is one of the BEST 2nd male lead ever. If there is an award, pls give it to him. I believe everyone will agree. We all need a Yu Mo in our life. He love Yan Dan but has never crossed the line before. Never told her how he feels, never tried to steal her away, never did anything dirty. He protects Yan Dan and is never less compared to ML in this sense. When he said his only wish is for Yan Dan to be safe and happy, i literally cried out. I want happiness for Yu Mo,

MUSIC;
Amazing 10/10. It's on repeat on my playlist now. Zhang Jie always sings good OST!!

OVERALL:
Thanks YZ and CY for accompanying me this mid-end year & also all the casts! I don't know when I will ever see a Yang Zi + Cheng Yi collab again, but i really wish any producers out there can make it happen. This show is highly recommended but there are also some flaws in the cutting and plot (not big issue if u ignore). Would still rewatch it again!!!!

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Goudan Abode

“I must protect this world. Because only when the three realms remain, can you continue exist..” - Yingyuan

Agarwood Like Crumbs or better known as Immortal Samsara is one of the highly anticipated Xianxia drama in 2022. Now, the long waits is over, the journey begins for this epic love story to sail. From the trailer itself that gathers more than 1M viewers, i guess most of us can’t wait to see the seems unquestionable chemistry between the main leads; Cheng Yi and Yang Zi. Yes, it’s definitely did not disappoint.

Immortal Samsara is a story about two immortals; Sovereign Lord Yingyuan (starring Cheng Yi) and Lotus Fairy Yandan (starring Yang Zi) who fall in love with each other. However, because of the heavenly realm have set its rule where immortals are forbid to fall in love, this is where these two were forced to choose their stand. Yingyuan who devotes himself for the sake of three realms, also seeks to protect the three realms from any danger, chose to not indulging himself in love and put his responsibilities over his own feelings. Meanwhile, the carefree lotus fairy Yandan willingly gives up everything for her love.

The love story between these two transcends to mortal realms where both of them with no past memories ended up falling in love with each other again. Either in heavenly realm or mortal realm, they always face the same obstacles where this time, as a spirit catcher, Tang Zhou and as a future sect leader, he need to abstain himself from love, even more falling in love with the flower spirit (which considered as evil and cunning). Will they make the same choice as they were in heavenly realm or will they make amend and choose each other in this life?

IMO, Immortal Samsara definitely is one of the best Xianxia drama in 2022. The storylines is one of the things that keep me watching this drama. While some of the viewers might arguing that some part is a bit cliché with other xianxia drama, I do agreed but that’s really not a big thingy when the execution were thoroughly done and portrayed. Plus, if you keep watching, you’ll notice there’s so many uniqueness in this drama that other drama did not possessed. So please, give it another try if you’re in the middle of giving up.

Besides, with the visuals and incomparable chemistry between Cheng Yi & Yang Zi, I think you’ll missed out great things from these two great actor and actress. The micro expressions from Cheng Yi left me in tears and happy, plus with him portraying three different characters, it’s safe to say that he’s indeed a great and versatile actor. Meanwhile, Yang Zi for sure, undeniably good. Her deep emotions and characterisation as a female lead deserved acknowledgment. I’m loving her character in Immortal Samsara, smart, beautiful, and always know to stand on her opinions.

The OSTs totally pleasantly good. The whole OST in Immortal Samsara is my favourite. Agarwood the main OST is the wonderful song that whenever angst scene appears, this song will play in the background, and adding pain to our sorrow. Yang Zi - Watch The Day also is one of my fav. Girl really good in acting and singing, so proud of her.

Overall, totally recommended drama to watch. The journey gonna be worth it, the angst always keep us on the edge of our seats but it also makes us realised that sacrificing for the sake of each other is another love language. At the end, with love, even death seems to be a beautiful ending if we can keep accompany each other.

“I gave you my promise. Not even death can shake us. Now that you’re gone, why should I carry on living? Yingyuan, i’m coming to keep you company..” - Yandan

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Cookie Cutter

Its the same story we've seen before but even LONGER and more boring. The entire time that I was watching the show I couldn't help but think that this story could have been told in half the run time. 30 episodes would have been MORE THAN ENOUGH. In order to further add to the unoriginality this drama takes several actors from both Love and Redemption and Ashes of Love.

Yang Zi is a grown woman of 30 years and still shes being forced into these cutsey roles where she has barely any agency. I feel like MY eyes will spit blood if I have to watch Cheng Yi do it one more time. Both leads are punching bags thoughout the whole thing.

Aside from them no one really matters? Cardboard cutouts that serve the plot when necessary. The candle holder cat faced lady was so obviously and laughably Evil that I could not keep a straight face anytime she came on screen. I couldn't help but wonder as she stood next to the emperor Ying Yuan, why he couldn't see that she was obviously evil? I also despise the fact that this drama pits sisters against each other, I understand that you need to have the evil lady but there is no need for that type of tension between both sisters. Is it that hard to imagine that women might possibly want to support and love each other? When will female camaraderie be celebrated?

The only enjoyable parts of this show are when they are in the mortal realm just solving mysteries and collecting loot. It was fun and way more intresting than the boring immortal realm stuff. If you ask me that should have been the show. Just a demon hunting guy meeting a "good" demon girl and solves mysteries with her and they fall in love. Sprinkle in some commentary about nature versus nurture, some tension with the guys sect and rivals. And BOOM a watchable drama in 30 episodes or less.

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