Fangs of Fortune (2024)

Sad but a brilliant drama I even love the ending

This drama is scarry at start but later it become a hollow but digestable novel in play and I definitely adored it as much as all the characters that were just simply gorgeous and fun and also loved the ending even though it's sad but it's a nice and don't get me wrong the ending here though it's sad it's with reason and I absolutely understand it and it's also in halloween and all saints period of time like can you imagine the fantastic way of it...I definitely knew many and including Zhao Yuan Zhou will die because of the season and theme of the drama but I hoped it have a happy ending just so people love it more because it's really fantastic drama and that fact it's made in a correct time of the year is something I personally love about it...it makes it so unique and really amazing

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Regular days: lets betray zhou yichen hard days: lets save yichen

This drama is by far the best fantasy drama of 2024. It is for a little mature, humour loving, sarcastic, emo, philosophical and slow burn loving type of people. People who actually don't give a shit about anything are really gonna love this series. It is so deep and gloomy yet so funny and hilarious. The writers used a ancient fantasy world but introduced some gen z type of jokes. Nobody is trying to be serious here. At the same time all of them have such mature thinking that they don't bow down to useless plots and if they are stubborn they are stubborn and they admit that.

Ok here some cons to be fair:
1. Over use of makeup and in alot of scenes we can see eggshell white colored base on face while the skin colored neck so it was annoying.
Also they put too much makeup on yichen character that he almost started to look like a wax doll.
2. The over use of tears like they really be putting 60 gallons of glycerine in their eyes like come on specially yichen and wen xiao crying in every single episode. Come on dude u showed such a tough character who can never be manipulated yet you choose to make him cry in every episode. Shut up.
3. High pitched screaming of the timid kiddo. It really hurt my ears. And also the rap song in ancient drama at fist it looked so cliche but then it weirdly grow on me like wo shi shu aaa.....

All of them just trust each other and they have such mature bond that they understand most of the time.

The best part of the drama lies in slow and deep voice talks that explains 90% of the story but the play of words is very beautifully played here. Alot of mature audience will definitely gonna like this style.

Cinematography is top notch and we don't even need to explain that. The scenery is even tough dark but still beautiful. The theme of black and dark colors have used so beautifully here. The makeup and costumes are super heavy and the play of eyes is so prominent and intriguing.

Director really played with our emotions by always putting every single character through such heavy life taking moments that we were always in a panic that thier is going to be someone die. But at the end when some characters actually die it was totally unexpected and uncalled for.

For me, tian jui ru give us the exceptional performance. Even though everyone performance and visuals were phenomenal but zhou yichen really took 4 out of 9 lives from us. I really started this drama because of him and he served. The villain also served, one of the sexiest villain he really was collecting every character. The little kiddo really showed us 50 shades of emotions by being the most dumb to the most dangerous person like it was a rollercoaster.

The main lead also showed emotions really well. He was a pookie in all the episodes. He also really served bl with yichen and we eat it up. We eat it up.

I suggest u to watch it will be very interesting to see.

People who liked my journey to you or the sleuth of ming dynasty will definitely like this. The wonderland of love also have same vibes where 90% of the plot revolve around talking and scheming.

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THIS WAS AN ABSOLUTE MASTERPIECE AND EMOTIONAL JOURNEY.

This drama was so good that I'm doing a review for the first time. What I love most about this drama are the characters. Each and everyone is so unique that you can't help but love them, even the bad guys. The OST is everything. I adore the relationship between the main characters, especially Zhu Yan and Zhou Yi Chen. But be warned this is an emotional ride that will probably leave you a wreck and I don't know if I'll ever be able to find such another masterpiece. The only thing I hate about this show is that it doesn't have more episodes, cause now that it's finished what can I watch that will be on par with it yk. But I definitely suggest watching this especially if you like bromance, because trust me, it is TOP TIER. You won't regret, promise.

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every beginning, has an end

Wednesday 20:00, GMT +8, 20.11.2024

I just finished watching the last episode and the special/extra episodes (today's the last episode released without the VIP package on iQIYI).
 
Personally, it's quite understandable ending, even though it's not a clear HE). What matters more is that it's Zhao Yuanzhou’s choice, as he wishes to protect the mortal realm and the Wilderness. 
 
ZYZ has shouldered the guilt for so long that he doesn't wish to stay alive anymore. somehow, his meeting with his love and friends during the journey is actually a good memorable adventure for him. 

I bawled my eyes out the moment ZYZ exhaled his last breath. WX continues as the Baize Goddess, protecting the mortal realm and the Wilderness. She left her agreement with ZYZ that was stamped with ZYZ’s blood (his, isn't it? I vividly remember. I remember the ink used is another demon's blood). ZYC’s cloud light sword recognises the agreement letter, which signifies it's the last shred of ZYZ’s soul.

It's actually a good ending that ZYZ’s soul is found; this means ZYZ could be reborn (or he has to cultivate resurrect).

It's a good ending, but for me, I like it better if everyone stays alive (yes, I'm greedy).

“Every soul will taste death.”

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Best 2024 C-drama

Cast, plot, acting, music - everything was great!!!!! undeniably best 2024 historical/wuxia c-drama. The group of main leads chemistry was good. Computer graphics looked realistic and vibrant. Plot was logical and mostly made sense. Pace was a good of fast and slow scenes. Jokes were lighthearted. I’m still slight sentimental having just finished it. Ending was very fair - emotional but ties everything throughout the building up together. Music also did its job well - setting well the scene moods, lingering in our ears, and fits the overall theme well.

SHOULD GIVE IT A GO!

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Tears, Tears More Tears

After a hiatus of more than a year from watching dramas, I was eager to dive into something captivating. Fangs of Fortune caught my eye, largely because I’ve enjoyed Neo Hou’s performances in his previous works. However, the 4.9 rating on Douban gave me pause. Still, knowing how meme bots, fake accounts and contemporary competing dramas can skew ratings hence opinions, I decided to take the plunge.

I’m glad I did. For the past two weeks, I’ve been immersed in what I can only describe as a crybaby drama. The sheer volume of tears is astonishing—this is, without a doubt, the most tear-filled series I’ve ever watched. It felt like every conversation started and ended in tears, to the point where crying became so normal that it lost its emotional impact on me.

Storyline
The plot is surprisingly compelling. It revolves around a love story between a demon who has a conscience and a human girl, exploring themes of redemption, transformation, and the power of love, while another human becomes demonized under unexpected circumstances. The story takes the characters through harrowing trials, strengthening their bonds and forcing them to grow amidst relentless antagonists who seem nearly invincible.

If not for the hints of romance between the demon and the girl, viewers might mistake the dynamic between the two male leads for a bromance, which is actually a deep confidant friendship.

While the central narrative relies on familiar xianxia tropes, the journey itself is engaging. The characters' struggles, setbacks, and triumphs create a tapestry of perseverance and emotional growth.

Dialogue and Humor
The dialogue is often predictable and at times even childish, but as I settled into the story, I began to find its quirks endearing. There’s a paradoxical charm in the light-hearted humor that surfaces during dire situations. The rivalry between the two alpha male leads, for instance, injects a layer of amusement as they constantly try to outdo each other and earn approval, eliciting genuine chuckles from viewers.

Visuals and Special Effects
As is typical of xianxia dramas, the fight scenes are fast-paced and visually dazzling, with special effects that are remarkably well-executed. The visuals feel polished, and the characters, even the demon antagonists, are stunningly portrayed. On the flip side, the slower, dialogue-heavy scenes can feel drawn out, especially when tears dominate the screen.

Performances
The acting is another highlight. The young cast is talented, particularly the two male leads, who deliver strong performances and exhibit great potential for their careers. The ensemble cast is full of visually striking actors, making even the villains charismatic and memorable.

Music
As a fan of Chinese historical music, the OST is a major draw for me. The songs are beautiful, especially Zhao Yuan Zhou’s character song which is my favorite. The lyric is deeply moving and capture the essence of the character, allowing listeners to visualize the emotions and scenes even without context.

Ending and Final Thoughts
Like many dramas in this genre, Fangs of Fortune doesn’t shy away from bittersweet endings. Some beloved characters meet untimely fates, which might leave viewers with heavy hearts. If you’re someone who gets attached to characters, prepare for an emotional rollercoaster.

While there are occasional editing flaws—some scenes feel out of sequence or poorly spliced—the drama overall is enjoyable. If you can handle a few heartbreaks and a steady stream of tears, Fangs of Fortune is worth your time.

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A mesmerizing gothic tale in Chinese version

To be honest, I’m not expecting much from FOF since I’m here only to support Neo Hou. But goodness, am I mistaken? FYI, FOF aka Fangs of Fortune is an original-script-based fantasy drama which is under the command by our notoriously controversial yet aesthetical director Guo Jingming (I’m sure everyone has known all sorts of things that he did before, but he sure knows how to make such a masterpiece). As you can see, FOF is also fighting neck-to-neck with Love Game in Eastern Fantasy and The Story of Pearl Girl (excluding Smile Code which is currently starting to flop), so it’s not that easy for it to achieve such a wonderful rating. Let’s delve into the story now, shall we?

FOF revolves around nine main characters (according to the individual posters posted in Weibo) consisting of the shameless yet loyal 1000-year-old great demon Zhao Yuanzhou/Zhu Yan, the astute Baize Goddess Wen Xiao, the cold-outside-warm-inside descendant of Bingyi Clan Zhuo Yichen, the badass female archer Pei Sijing and her faithful younger brother Pei Siheng, the timid little doctor Bai Jiu, the mischievous Mountain God Ying Lei, the green-eyed pagoda tree demon (also Zhao Yuanzhou’s former bestie) Li Lun, and most of all is the vengeful and malicious Wen Zongyu (I’m hoping to make every character arc, but it doesn’t seem to be possible since it will only lengthen my review).

In my pure opinion, FOF is not a facile and cheesy script like your typical old-school romance drama. Instead, it’s a very meticulous and stunning one, in which the scriptwriters managed to input several plot twists into that none of the watchers could predict the outcome of the show. The show not only focuses on the topic of friendship and self-growth, but also probes into the meaning of love, desire, yearning, and the pain of being betrayed, all of which are beautifully portrayed, of course. Back to Guo Jingming again, we know that he always has the tendency of producing angsty drama and FOF is not an exception. There are lots of angsty scenes in every existing episode and somehow the actors will always cry whenever something goes off or someone dies. However, these scenes don’t have much impact on me (I myself don’t understand too) so I always watch with my usual expressionless eyes as they keep crying. But, the most striking scene would probably be Ying Lei’s death and his dying wish of how he wants Bai Jiu to live well – it’s just so heart-wrenching…

Shout out to every actor from main to supporting and guest roles for acting out the multi-faceted character in an insightful way. This show will also boost Neo Hou’s popularity and he proofs himself to be a force to be reckoned with (can’t wait for his next projects). Chen Duling also acts well, but her excessive crying scenes is irking me very much. Thanks to her good acting skills, Wen Xiao is still a bearable character. This is my first time watching Tian Jiarui and I don’t have any complain about him – he does just as good as the others. Finally, Cheng Xiao is out of her comfort zone and her character doesn’t seem to be as annoying and cliché as the one in Falling into Your Smile. Lester Lin is the youngest out of the whole bunch, but he can portray Bai Jiu beautifully even when he’s in the dark mode (as the saying goes, age isn’t everything). Special mention to Yan An (Pentagon) too – he’s a K-pop idol and also a hidden gem in acting that I can’t help but keep waiting for his scenes (FYI, currently Pentagon is in a hiatus, so I hope Yan An can do more dramas until Cube Entertainment calls him again).

FOF is indeed an S++ drama, every set is done aesthetically and every scene is taken intelligently to ensure its quality. As I mentioned in the title, FOF has a gothic vibe akin to those in historical Europe sites, but in Chinese version. I particularly like Bingyi Forbidden Area, which reminds me of a domain in Genshin Impact. A user also reminds me that the ancient runes in Kunlun Peaks is similar as Paimon’s when she is summoned.

I think I’m going to rave about the OST especially Liu Yuning’s hip-hop/rock song – it’s my first time hearing him rapping lol. I also like Xu Zhenxuan, Yan An, Cheng Xiao, and Lai Weiming’s OSTs. If it hadn’t been for these songs, the OSTs would’ve been particularly meh.

Would I recommend this show? AN ABSOLUTE YES! As you follow their adventures, you’ll be enamored by their witty dialogues, gorgeous and impressive sets, and the heartbreaking OSTs. Don’t hesitate to watch this masterpiece because your every second is worth it. Good luck and happy watching!!!

P.S.
There is a BL-like vibe between Zhao Yuanzhou, Li Lun, and Zhuo Yichen. Unfortunately, they have to tone it down a bit to fit the shitty censorship, otherwise we'd get another BL show. Also note that Wen Xiao may play a pivotal role in protecting the Wilderness, but she's only there so that she can have a love line with Zhao Yuanzhou (to make sure FOF isn't banned like Immortality, Winner is King, Eternal Faith, and so on). Still, you can enjoy their scenes and feel the bromance between them tho.

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Epic traumatic masterpiece

Take with a grain of salt, as I'm criticizing a production online whereas in real life I would bow before them ?)
The last 4 episodes are very sad. I feel like there was a lot more redemption and compassion for the baddies than the good guys. I waited for the goddess to do more, after all it seemed like her life was more important to keep the balance. The extra half episode at the end is nice but I kept longing to see the great demon pushing our goddess on the swing again.
Don't get me wrong, the drama is a great one and definitely worth the watch. Neo has grown so much. If the roll requires expeessive eyes, he was the best choice. He had that skill pinned down since Back From the Brink and perfected it here. His one word spells are the sexiest scenes I've witnessed in Cdrama. Pei has the win for best choreography during the fight sceens. The jokes and teasing were refreshing.
The OST will live rent free in your head all day. It's very catchy and moving along with the little dance. Sometimes the dramatic music was queued too early. It was a slight spoiler to who would win or lose.
There was some continuity problems. I think a lot was cut during production. I would sometimes start some episodes and have to stop it and see if I skipped an episode by accident, which I never did. The costumes are divine except for the evil mastermind's robes at the end.
Overall it gets a 9. Parts of me want to rewatch it because there are things I missed or need clarification. But the ending is traumatic and the feeling of loss is greater than the win. I have important things to do in the real world that require motivation and a positive attitude but I'm left with a lingering heartache.

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Best Fantasy 2024- Great Cast, Good Story, Fabulous Visuals.

"Fangs of Fortune" is a Fantasy drama that blends romance, historical elements, and intriguing plots surrounding ambition and power. It successfully entertains with its blend of loyalty, friendship, romance and intrigue, appealing to fans of the genre. However, it could benefit from tighter pacing and more nuanced character arcs. Overall, it's a worthwhile watch for those interested in fantasy historical dramas with engaging narratives.

Intriguing Plot - The storyline revolves around themes of ambition, love, hope and treachery, keeping viewers engaged. The twists and turns add excitement and keep the audience guessing and waiting for the next episode, certainly binge worthy watching. Comedic elements subtly spread throughout, nicely executed.

Cinematography - The production quality is high, great CGI, with beautiful sets, costumes, great makeup and cinematography that captures the senses and the historical essence of this fantasy perfectly.

Character Development - Great casting. The characters are well-crafted, with distinct personalities and growth arcs. The protagonist's journey often resonates with viewers, making them relatable - morals, ethics, judgments… walking in someone’s shoes.

Cultural Insights - The series incorporates elements of Chinese culture and tradition, providing viewers with a view of mythological beliefs, the values and practices from the world beyond.

Shortcomings

There were some Pacing Issues - At times, the pacing felt uneven. Certain episodes seem to drag on, while others rush through crucial developments.

Of course there were some Clichéd Tropes - Some plot elements relied heavily on common tropes found in many dramas, such as love triangles and betrayal. This may deter viewers seeking originality.

Underdeveloped Side Characters - While the main characters were well-explored, some side characters could have used more depth and development to enhance their importance to the story.

For me this ranks in my top three of Chinese Fantasy Drama. Certainly worth watching and rewatching.

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Beautiful Scenes and Beautiful Cast

Well the STORY was good.. so Im giving it a 9.5.. everything was beautiful, the story made sense even tho some scenes were abit cringe but nonetheless.. it didnt take away anything

The ACTING was superb.. every character killed their respective roles, was it me or was the cast crying almost every second ? that amount of tears.. I mean they delivered, and carried the emotions and made it so real.. I called them the Crying Squad ?

The MUSIC was awesome.. the OSTs are still lingering in my head, the scenes and the music matched the emotions so well you just couldnt help but cry as well..

I would rewatch some scenes just to see ZYZs eyes ? that man has the most beautiful eyes.. otherwise I dont repeat dramas.

So overall we giving it a 9..

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stunning visual effects...

Ufff... this drama is easily one of the best I’ve watched this year in terms of costumes and visual effects! Not saying the story and acting were bad or anything, but the costumes and visuals, Absolutely superb.

Now, about the drama itself, it’s a perfect blend of romance, ambition, and the darker side of human nature. It’s packed with love, betrayal, hate, and everything in between. The ML’s transformation from a charming but flawed character to someone hardened by ambition is so captivating, even though it’ll leave you questioning his choices. And the FL, She’s got this mix of strength and vulnerability that makes you root for her, even when things get rough.

The pacing keeps you hooked, and the production quality is on another level. The visuals, combined with a haunting soundtrack, really bring the story to life. That said, there are moments when the drama gets a bit too melodramatic, but honestly, it’s a small price to pay for such an engaging watch.

If you’re into stories that make you feel all the emotions...... love, heartbreak, and even a little frustration,,,,,, Fangs of Fortune is definitely worth your time. It’s not just about love or ambition; it’s about how far people will go to achieve their dreams and what they lose along the way. A solid watch, for sure!

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