Fangs of Fortune (2024)

most well written drama I've seen this year

this the first time I've watched the wuxia genre and this show did not disappoint,

things i liked:
1. world building
because this is the first time watching this genre i was afraid i wouldn't understand anything but even though this show didn't have an opening explaining all the lore the characters explained the world to other characters that didn't know ,which informed us the viewer which i really appreciated which really showed the effort the writers put into the world building of this show and also how much they respected the viewer to let us figure it out and by the end of the show i was really emersed into the world they build over the period the show aired.

2. cohesiveness
everything in this show fit together really well, the costuming fit every character really well and showed their personality without seeming out of place. something that i also liked is that the outfits repeated, in some dramas they would be changing the characters clothes every scene but the repeating of outfits further shows that there is a bit of realism in this unrealistic world. another thing that made the show a masterpiece is the Ost and score these were so well done the show wouldn't feel whole without them, in some dramas the music doesn't fit the emotion or scene but in this show they put so much effort into the score making it the Ost's instrumental and also it fit every important and even the insignificant beats of the story. the ost also brought out all the emotional parts of the story and amplified them making me go back and rewatch some scenes.

3. direction/cinematography
this show is so beautiful to look at i was speechless the scenes in the wilderness where breath taking and the way the show was directed is so well-done the crew did such a good job and it shows through out the entire body of work.( I'm trying to keep this review spoiler free so i wont go into too much details on this).

4. the characters/ the story
every character was well thought out and all the motives of every character were clear and most important thing for me when watching a drama is the character development because i hate it when a character remains stagnant throughout the whole show and then suddenly they change in the last ep, to do it well the growth has to be slow but apparent. i saw this in the second leads the way pei si jing developed throughout the show was so well written. and imo the best written character is zhou yi chen if you watch the show you see how much he changes and develops and a person, moreover the motives of the villains where clear and you as the viewer understand them its not like they were doing evil because the show needed and antagonist we knew the reason why they were doing these evil acts and we could anticipate them too which i liked, also on the topic of villains i liked that not everything was black and white and there where some grey characters like li lun who i understood why he did what he did and his character development throughout the show was so well-done you can see the confliction in him every time he did anything to zhao yuan zhuo. the supporting/background characters were also well written every time they showed a story the writers wrote them so well that you could even cry over them and also under stand their motives too and it the show all connected in the end in a way where every thing showed contributed to the ending so nothing was unimportant to the story.

5. the pacing
even though i saw many people say that the pacing of this story was slow paced, i think that was the right decision because i think that the pacing fit the story, because if it was any faster i think that i would have trouble following it and the pacing made the important beats of the story more impactful.

6. consistency
the biggest problem when watching comedy genres in dramas is that they always are super funny at first but when the climax of the story comes they become super melancholy and lose the shows initial charm but in this show they didn't the comedy remained throughout the show even after the sad parts and i very much liked that. and the found family and the dynamics between the characters were also consistent nothing happed that was out of character for them which i also really liked.

things i didn't like:
1. the female lead's character was a little neglected i could tell in the beginning of the show and i thought i should give the show more time and they did try to flesh her out a little more but i think they could have done a better job with her because in felt that the supporting characters were written better than her which is sad because she is the main lead.

2. the romance was lacking
i know some people would disagree with me but the main leads didn't have enough screen time together i felt the love between them but we didn't have enough time with them. and something else is that every body has so much chemistry with everybody i was getting confused at times like if you watched the show you could see it.

overall this may be the best drama I've seen this year the way it was created felt so well thought out and some people may not have liked the ending but I'm pretty content with it.

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The most beautiful visuals

What a great watch, my eyes were so satisfied with this drama that I had to reflect before writing a review.

Let's start with what I liked:
- the drama was filmed in such an amazing way the storyline became secondary. You can turn of the sound and just watch. The visuals were simply breathtaking. I liked especially the way the malicious energy was portrayed
- the actors are the definition of handsome. Every single demon was stunning.
- it was funny at moments and sad at others, I laughed and cried,
- some storylines are really beautifully sad, I do like that
- nothing to do with the drama, but I loved watching the cast dance at the end of the episodes, I always watched them until the end

But what did I like less?
- the storyline was just inexistant. The idea was great, with the demon seeking death teaming up with the demon hunters to save the wilderness, but no, it wasn't convincing at all. For example, whenever there was no issue someone came up with a line such as "ok, it's the end... but I heard of this item in that dangerous area, if we retrieve it we can save the situation", and they all went to get said item. It was just like in a video game, they got to fullfill missions and staggered along a plot without consistence.
- the tears were overdone. A tear, okay, people crying, all good, but during the last episodes it was just rivers of tears. The effect only lasts this long.
- I didn't like the OST that much, but that's just on me.

I can't say anything about the acting as the visuals did so much, I'm unable to say if it was the actors or the directors and his crew.

All in all, it's a drama I highly recommend, even though I didn't rate it that well. But those visuals are absolutely worth it!

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A Masterpiece That’s Tragically Beautiful – Fangs of Fortune Took Me on an Unforgettable Ride

I meant to write this review yesterday, but I needed some time to process everything. Honestly, there are no words to fully capture how incredible this show is. I’ve been eagerly awaiting Fangs of Fortune since the 1st day of filming, mainly because of Hou Minghao. And with that kind of anticipation comes the fear of being let down—especially when you have high expectations for the drama/story. As a seasoned viewer, I’ve learned to manage my hopes, particularly when it comes to my favorite genres and tropes. But from the very first episode, I knew it had been worth the wait, and honestly, it was because of HMH (I LOVE HIM SO MUCH) ⸜(｡˃ ᵕ ˂ )⸝♡
The first episode was nearly flawless, but I still had that lingering worry—what if it goes downhill? It’s common for shows to lose their charm as the story builds toward the climax. But with this one, I can sum it up in one word: CONSISTENCY. From the pacing to the character dynamics, nothing ever felt out of place. There were no character moments that felt forced or out of character, and it maintained that quality throughout. If I tried to list everything that made this show so consistent, I’d never stop!

Acting
The cast was not only incredibly skilled but also stunningly beautiful, which added to the drama's allure and made it even more captivating. But especially my favorite, Hou Minghao—he truly carried this show, Period. His micro expressions and the way he brought both Zhao Yuan Zhou and Zhu Yan to life are indescribable. He perfectly captures both sides of the character: the selfless, guilt-ridden man and the cold, bloodthirsty demon consumed by dark energy. His transitions between these two personas are so seamless literally feel the energy shift. I really wished they had showed his full potential more—he was such a powerful presence, and I was craving more intense fight scenes to see him unleash his strength.

Cinematography
Honestly, everything about this show is so well done—the cinematography, the CGI, the LED effects, and the costumes? All phenomenal. Each detail is so carefully crafted, especially when it comes to how the colors and designs reflect each character's personality and depth. It’s like the costumes aren’t just clothes—they’re part of the storytelling, showing us who these characters are without even saying a word. The way they play with lighting and angles also adds an extra layer to the scenes, making everything feel more intense or emotional at just the right moments. And the relationships between the characters? Chef’s kiss. The visuals really enhance the way they connect, whether it's through subtle glances or intense moments. It all just comes together so smoothly, adding to the drama’s overall vibe and making it impossible to look away.

The Story/Plot
The characters were so well-developed—it’s crazy how deep each of them goes. Their journeys are full of growth, and it’s both heartbreaking and comforting at the same time. The way their relationships evolve is kind of like slow-burn romance, where there’s no kissing, but the tension and connection between them? So intense. It’s all in the looks, the subtle moments, and the way they support each other. You feel all that emotion without needing a traditional romance arc. The bromance and humor also add to that—it's just perfect. Every character was so well thought out, and you could easily understand their motives.
For me, character development is a dealbreaker in any drama. I hate when a character doesn’t change at all, and then suddenly has this big shift in the last episode. The growth needs to feel earned, and here, it was so gradual yet totally believable—they nailed it.
Also, I’m not usually a fan of comedy (I'm more into the dark, angsty stuff), and in a lot of intense dramas, humor feels forced, like it doesn’t belong. But in Fangs of Fortune, the light moments actually balance the heavier stuff really well. As I said before, it’s all about consistency, and the humor here kept things fresh without ever throwing off the vibe.

Pacing
I’ve seen a lot of people say the pacing was slow, but honestly, I think that was the best choice. It really suited the story. If they’d sped things up, it would've totally messed everything up. The slower pace gave the show space to build tension and let key moments land with more weight. It let the characters’ journeys develop naturally, and the emotional beats hit way harder because they had time to sink in. It just felt like the pacing was perfectly in sync with the story’s vibe.

OST
Another thing that really helped make this show a masterpiece is the OST and score. They were mostly so well done—honestly, the show wouldn’t feel as complete without them. Sometimes in dramas, the music doesn’t match the vibe of the scene, but here, they clearly put a lot of effort into getting the score right. The instrumentals fit almost every important moment—and even some of the smaller, quieter scenes—just perfectly. There were maybe a couple of moments where the music didn’t quite land or match the tone, but honestly, those were rare. Overall, it really worked.
My favorite track was Yuanzhou's Youth by Minghao !

The Ending
I know a lot of people hated it, but honestly, I thought the ending was breathtakingly bittersweet. As much as I wanted a happy ending, especially for Zhao Yuan Zhou, it was honestly the most fitting one. If they h ad just made it so everyone survived, it would’ve felt totally off. Also, thank you for that special episode! The drama ends with a sad, open ending, but the special episode lowkey gives us the closure we needed, wrapping everything up and showing that, even with all the ups and downs, the characters' journeys came full circle.

But honestly, the whole drama including the ending, was so tragically beautiful. The way it handled its moments of heartache and triumph, the emotional rollercoaster of the characters’ growth, and the way everything intertwined—it was all just perfectly done.

Lastly
Yeah, there were some flaws, but honestly, they don’t even compare to all the amazing stuff this drama brings. Long story short, this is definitely the best C-drama of 2024, hands down. I wanna say more, but I’ve already written a lot—and honestly, this drama has a special place in my heart. I really hope you vibe with it too! It's in my top 10, and it's one of my favorite dramas for sure, especially when it comes to character growth and the way they handle friendships. The dynamic between the characters? Chef’s kiss. If you haven't watched it yet, you're seriously missing out.

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Worth to watch. The best cinematography and CGs.

I have been waiting for this drama since its trailer is released. The actings are superb especially Neo, ML. He is so different in here as he always acted bubbly characters. So it’s refreshing to see his another side. All actors and actresses have chemistry. No one is left out.
As the story wise, FL is so weak (who doesn’t possess power if she doesn’t have tool) except her goddess identity, I don’t think she deserves FL position. She has her good points tho. She is calm, rational, doesn’t always stay on the side of humans, empathize on some good demons, not blinded by emotions and knows how to handle love and hate. Maybe that’s why she became FL. Love the actress tho. It’s Chen Duling’s acting skill that FL is not hated and too annoying to watch.
The best point is the scenes! This kind of cinematography, using dark tone is rare to see in Chinese dramas. CGs are so amazing.
The story is fast pacing, not boring and fun to watch. But a little hypocrite from the side of humans.
Recommended to watch this.

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A feast for the eyes, epic tale not without flaws but worth it for the journey it will take you on

I was expecting a lot from this Chinese Wuxia drama : the fact that Tian Jia Rui had one of the main role in a series directed and written by the very talented director Edward Guo really hyped me. Overall, it successfully managed to keep up with my high expectations and likely set the bar super high for any other future Chinese wuxia drama I would watch.

I loved the story thematic with the narration focusing a lot on the concept of dream and reality, it was truly an epic tale supported by an impressive production value. In the middle of a lot of action, mystery and investigation, the heart of the story is foremost about companionship and found family, as well as different kind of love. The evolution of the relationships between the characters (especially between the two main male leads but also with some of the secondary roles) was probably my favorite part of the show.

The costumes and the cinematography were impeccable. A real feast for the eyes, with a lot of details and superbly impactful. Every set felt so real, rich and purposeful with a minutiae that I rarely encountered. You can really feel the director vision and specific touch when watching the drama and that's something that completely fascinated me.

The acting was another strong point : the cast was pretty good with a great dynamic with each other. This for that matter can be witnessed in the ending generic of episodes which consists of them dancing together on a choreography on one of the main song of the drama. I was once again super impressed by Tian Jia Rui : he got even better than in "My Journey To You" despite the challenges inherent to his role, from "Didi to Gege", very different from his debut one. I got very attached to the main characters (and even some of the more minor ones) and it is a proof of the overall good performances of the ensemble cast. In addition to Tian Jia Rui, I will keep an eye on the future work of Neo Hou and Yan An. The acting of this trio was on point, together or separately in addition to be such eye-candy.

Of course, the series is not without flaws. I wish the lore and powers were more consistent and that there had been less magical objects conveniently appearing for the sake of the plot. I also found the shift in tones a bit jarring: especially in the introduction arc, there is some over-the-top humor that felt a bit flat and strange in the middle of the angsty parts. It fortunately got smoother and more balanced as the story unfolded. The script also took time to set up the stakes, with some situations and storylines being a bit repetitive in the first part of the series.

Other than that, some of the fight sequences lacked of rhythm and dynamism: they were all beautiful but sometimes to the detriment of the pacing (or even the logic) of the conflicts. Editing could also have been better regarding transition between scenes or even between episodes. The OST was quite good (with maybe one of the song being overused) but music was a bit abruptly inserted into some sequences. I'm pointing it out because all the remaining of the production was so flawless that those minor flaws were even more striking.

I would recommend this to people looking for a Chinese Wuxia drama with a super strong cinematographic vision and high production value, good acting and gripping story featuring different kind of love. Shift in tone was a bit unbalanced at first and introduction arc could have been better paced, but once the set up of the relationships between the characters is done, you are in for a captivating journey that will tug at your heartstrings.

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Best Drama with all the beautiful Male Actors... But!!!! The FL is super useless --"

This is a very interesting drama about Human and Demon world. How the ML (A demon) and other characters (Demons and human) interact. The actors are ALL APPLES TO EYES trust me. ML SML are both so good. HOWEVER, 1 disappointing character is the FL. FL is utterly useless... I am sorry to say this bluntly but (spoiler coming) all she does throughout the drama is just: BEING WEAK and laying on the floor most of the time.

While her main job is SHE WAS BORN AS the GODDESS PROTECTOR of TWO REALMS. And as FL she should be Strong! At least she should know how to protect herself. Because she is the protector of two realms, but all she does through out the drama are basically:

1. given the power by her teacher (Previous Goddess who got killed), she didnt even realize that the 50% power has been inside her body all this time (8 years), and have been thinking the Goddess power is lost and caused the Demon realms starting to trembling and demons can have free access to human realms and caused lots of trouble.
2. Found the Goddess Power thanks to ML, and finally can use the 50% power (together with ML, cause another 50% lays in ML body), to restore the protection of Demon realms.
3. While both ML are fighting, all she does is laying on the floor. Cause she got the plague, while other characters still remain strong and fighting. All she does through that episode of ML fighting is laying on the floor. nothing else.
4. BUT!!!!! In the middle of restoring the protection, she got the flute (50% of Goddess power is in the form of Flute, and another 50% is in the form of bracelet) destroyed. The bracelet is fine, untouched. But the flute that is held by her, the FL, is just broken into two. LIKE WTF!!! She cant even protect the flute!!!
5. Since her flute is destroyed, she needs to make amend or fix the flute, after she fixes the flute, she and other characters SFL and team rush to awakening the good ML. On the way, they were blocked by the Bad Guys, while other characters (Pei and the Mountain DemonGod) fought their life to protect her and the flute she's holding, the bad guys so easily grabbed the flute from her hand, MARK MY NOTE: WITHOUT she even try to fight back. And the bad guy had the chance to input poison into the flute. Thus she's late going for awakening the good ML, so the bad ML had the chance to half destroyed the SML sword,
6. The flute is poisoned, thus she got the poisoned (stupidly). And finally, the ML had to sacrifice himself to save her (sucking all the poison from her body) and the rest of the people. ML died!!!
7. Even during the last fight, all characters are fighting till their last breath, even Pei who is pure HUMAN is fighting a semi zombie and won! She is just there to be easily strangled then laying on the floor being helpless.

Seriously, she is so useless, she should just die... In the near ending, there's an episode, where the Old Tree Goddess explains that She should not be saved (From poison). Because it's the Protector Goddess job to protect the realms, and when she dies, a new Goddess will be born and appointed next... I AM DYING HOPING that she would just die, and new born Goddess will be more useful. Since the FIRST ever GODDESS is powerful, even her teacher was also useful and powerful.

I mean, as FL and as GODDESS, please be more useful. ML and SML keeps on sacrificing and protecting her throughout the drama. WTF!!!!!! Even SFL (Pei) is more uselful and strong, and Pei is HUMAN!!!! Gosh.

But no... the script writer and the director decides that this useless Female Lead Character is better than the Male Character and keeps her alive, while killing the ML. This is the only part of the drama that utterly ruins it for me. I am so annoyed by her uselessness.

All she does throughout the drama is just laying on the floor... crying... being sick... only that.

sigh

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FONGS OF FORTUNE

Really an amazing cdrama.Demons and Humans are not afraid of death but they are afraid of losing Loved ones.Each actors acting is really so good ♥️.Love ,romance and innocence between Demon and Goddess is really lovely------>♥️.Director is a well script writer, but Love between Demon and Goddess is okay but Romance between them is less.He should have brought much more romance between them.Whatever happens we don't care but at the end Demon and Goddess should be together . Because so many dramas upset the viewers and fans at the end and they will give worst reviews and ratings.So please make us happy and we will never disappoint you until you disappoint us.Please I have given 10/10 Ratings and reviews.
(⁠ ⁠˘⁠ ⁠³⁠˘⁠)⁠♥

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Bromance with Added Sismance, Truly Perfect!

Guo Jing Ming’s projects are always fraught with homoerotic tones; starting from Painted Skin: The Guo Jingming Edition, Wuliang, L.O.R.D 1, L.O.R.D 2, The Yin-Yang Master: Dream of Eternity and the recently concluded Fangs of Fortune, all stand testament to his amazing prowess to pass Chinese censorship.

Some stories leave you exasperated whilst others leave you with a ray of hope and earnest longing; that someday, you might be able to meet these characters again. “Fangs of Fortune” was one such drama for me. It taught me valuable life lessons- you can redeem yourself once you accept you were in wrong; love should set you free, not imprison you. Also, you can love someone despite hating them in the past. Adapted from the classic text and the mythology and geography collection “Classic of Mountains and Seas” (山海经), the show has the most endearing characters that slowly become a family. The best part is that they aren’t all human- we have a makeshift family made of a Great Demon, two powerful Demon Hunters, a Half God and a Mountain God. The only thing that connects them is their yearning for familial ties and bonds. They become each other’s solace and peace of mind; they evolve and mature together, drawing inspiration and courage from one another. Another important aspect of Guo Jing Ming’s shows is the magnanimity of the settings and the mesmerizing locales. The costumes are posh, keeping in line with the stature/position of the characters. We bring you the evergreen queer romance that is characteristic of most Guo Jing Ming’s stories.

Read the complete article here-

https://the-bl-xpress.com/2024/11/20/fangs-of-fortune-series-review-ep-1-to-32/

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