audrey
This review may contain spoilers
A Xianxia Fairytale
Being one who hasn't always enjoyed historical dramas, I didn't hold high hopes for this drama. I had never given a chance for xianxia dramas, but seeing as people seemed to have very mixed reviews, I decided to watch it, and this drama did not disappoint.
The story is very intricate, and although it has a slow start, everything pulls itself together nicely. It starts off in a very cliche way, the cold ML and the bubbly FL fall in love, but then it takes a turn (around episode 20 ?) and starts to become more engaging. I have to admit that while watching the first few episodes, I was slightly tempted to bench the drama and watch another, but eventually the story does gain traction and prompt viewers to be more intrigued.
Zhou Dong Yu has been criticized a lot during this drama for her appearance, acting, and popularity, but I think that she portrayed Shang Gu/Hou Chi very well. In the first arc, Shang Gu develops from an immature carefree goddess with little power to one that looks more mature and acts the same. In her second character, she plays someone quite similar to Hou Chi, but I still do think that there are differences between the two that could've been shown more by Dong Yu. In my opinion, her appearance matches the role perfectly, she can look very young and also portray a more mature role, which she also does in her other works. I believe that her acting skills are some of the best in this generation, and that her appearance is very refreshing and unique.
Xu Kai, in my opinion, is one of the best actors to play a cold-hearted role, whether it be in a modern drama or a historical one. He knows how to control his face to show different emotions, and especially in his eyes. Bai Jue and Qing Mu are polar opposites, yet Xu Kai manages to pull off both characters and convince the viewers that they are two completely different people even if they do have the same appearance.
Both the FL and ML played multiple characters and personas throughout the drama, and although I do think that the acting lacked a bit in the second life, they still deserve a round of applause. In addition to this, the remaining of the cast also did an exceptional job at portraying their characters, and I was equally invested in watching their relationships bloom.
Both the CGI and the OSTs for this drama are some of the best I've seen in awhile, and the lyrics are especially matching to the story. If you're considering watching this drama, I'd say that you should do it. Yes, there are almost 50 episodes, yes, the start is a bit offsetting, but it's a great xianxia drama that's worth watching.
The story is very intricate, and although it has a slow start, everything pulls itself together nicely. It starts off in a very cliche way, the cold ML and the bubbly FL fall in love, but then it takes a turn (around episode 20 ?) and starts to become more engaging. I have to admit that while watching the first few episodes, I was slightly tempted to bench the drama and watch another, but eventually the story does gain traction and prompt viewers to be more intrigued.
Zhou Dong Yu has been criticized a lot during this drama for her appearance, acting, and popularity, but I think that she portrayed Shang Gu/Hou Chi very well. In the first arc, Shang Gu develops from an immature carefree goddess with little power to one that looks more mature and acts the same. In her second character, she plays someone quite similar to Hou Chi, but I still do think that there are differences between the two that could've been shown more by Dong Yu. In my opinion, her appearance matches the role perfectly, she can look very young and also portray a more mature role, which she also does in her other works. I believe that her acting skills are some of the best in this generation, and that her appearance is very refreshing and unique.
Xu Kai, in my opinion, is one of the best actors to play a cold-hearted role, whether it be in a modern drama or a historical one. He knows how to control his face to show different emotions, and especially in his eyes. Bai Jue and Qing Mu are polar opposites, yet Xu Kai manages to pull off both characters and convince the viewers that they are two completely different people even if they do have the same appearance.
Both the FL and ML played multiple characters and personas throughout the drama, and although I do think that the acting lacked a bit in the second life, they still deserve a round of applause. In addition to this, the remaining of the cast also did an exceptional job at portraying their characters, and I was equally invested in watching their relationships bloom.
Both the CGI and the OSTs for this drama are some of the best I've seen in awhile, and the lyrics are especially matching to the story. If you're considering watching this drama, I'd say that you should do it. Yes, there are almost 50 episodes, yes, the start is a bit offsetting, but it's a great xianxia drama that's worth watching.
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