She is his star and he is her glory!

I have read the others’ criticisms of this drama and before you decide to embark on this journey known as “You Are My Glory”, please be cautioned of the following:

• This is not a gaming drama! The leads are not game experts or wannabe professional players in the e-sports stratosphere. The mobile game serves as a channel for the two leads to meet again, be reacquainted and fall in love. There are many scenes of the leads discussing real life issues outside of the gaming sessions and the gaming focus dwindles to bare mentions after episode 15.
• This is not an antsy romantic drama. There are no back and forth between our main couple, no love triangles, no meddling in-laws and no unnecessary misunderstandings. “You Are My Glory” is a simple, sweet and mature love story about an actress and an aerospace engineer as they navigate their relationship to find balance and inspiration in each other and pursuing their dreams together.
• The romance is a slow burn and can take up to 10 episodes for you to feel invested in the two main leads’ motivations and struggles before you can appreciate their romance or relationship dynamic. Having read the novel, I am familiar with the story and have patience for what is to come and encourage viewers to keep an open mind - their emotional journey is worth the wait (epitomized in episode 21).
• The last 11 episodes of the drama are saccharine (no joke, and I mean cavity inducing) and conflict free as the male lead pursues his passion with the support of the lead female character. If you’re searching for something more profound or climatic for an ending (beyond the romantic sweetness and a realized dream), then this drama might not be for you.

STORY: Qiao Jing Jing (Dilreba Dilmurat) is a celebrity actress who is an ambassador of a popular mobile game but is later exposed for being a poor player. To salvage the game endorsement, she decides to train (in secret) for a competition to demonstrate her skills. One night while playing, she is accidentally invited to a group battle by her high school classmate, Yu Tu (Yang Yang), whom she had a crush on 10 years ago and who happens to be an excellent player. Realizing that her game play can be improved dramatically with an in-person coach, Qiao Jing Jing initially tricks Yu Tu to meet in person but quickly fesses up to Yu Tu that she wants his help in teaching her until the day of the competition. Yu Tu agrees as he is on vacation to ponder his career path whether to continue as an aerospace engineer or pursue a new career in investment banking. And so their love story begins as the drama details their interactions before and after game training as they bond and share confidences. The game itself only serves as a means for them to reconnect but the heart and soul of the drama is about Yu Tu’s internal struggle over his career and feeling worthy of having a relationship with someone who is successful, confident and brilliant - everything he currently isn’t. As the story progresses, one can see Yu Tu achieving everything he wants with the support of a woman who has always understood him and admired his desire for reaching for the stars.

First, I want to preface that I am a fan of the novel and wishes to thank and praise the author (and screenwriter) Gu Man for this wonderful adaptation. This drama follows the novel faithfully but Gu Man has also written additional scenes in the drama that really tie the entire story together. I find this couple’s love and interactions to be one of the healthiest and most realistic romances in all modern Chinese drama. The story itself is rather simple one but the message the drama has delivered are so very heart-felt and moving. I empathize very much with Yu Tu’s character and his inner conflict. Pursuing a dream can require sacrifices and Yu Tu is willing to accept the financial shortcomings of his job to follow his dream but when his mother faced a medical scare, he realizes that he is not financially capable of caring for his parents should a crisis occurs and feels guilt that he is not doing more to provide for them. The dilemma that Yu Tu encounters hit close to home for so many of us and is quite relatable. How many people in this world have relinquished doing what they love in face of the harsh realities of life? Most have experienced this crossroad or at least made compromises to improve their lives financially.

I love how the female lead, Qiao Jing Jing (QJJ), believes in and understands Yu Tu unequivocally despite having no interaction with him for 10 years. Even in high school, she has long respected his passion for aerospace and as they reconnect, she quietly supports him in his continuous pursuit of it. She never tries to sway him to choose one career over the other but just silently encourages him or offers words of comfort when he needs them, especially with this famous line, “You’re the rabbit who has seen the most stars”. Aptly poignant words to console him that regardless of what he chooses to do, his past efforts and accomplishments are still visible and that he has at least strived for his dream. Amazing that she can grasp him so well, even more so than his ex-girlfriend of many years who fails to recognize (or care) where his heart lies. Jing Jing is truly his soulmate.

ACTING: I have followed Reba’s career for few years now and she has been incredible this year with her acting performances in both “The Long Ballad” and “You Are My Glory”. Two completely different characters and two distinct genres but her portrayals have left me so very satisfied as a viewer. She has shown leaping improvements in her acting and I honestly feel going forward that she will continue to surprise us as she tackles different drama roles.

However, back to YAMG…Dilreba is Qiao Jing Jing personified! When I read the novel, I have imagined Reba as the female lead but her acting here magnifies the loveliness of this character and yes, QJJ is one of my favorite female characters in a Chinese novel. QJJ is not a weak-minded character who carries a torch for the male lead for the entire 10 years they are apart; on the contrary, once she has learned of Yu Tu’s dating in college, she moved on. She establishes her own career, has dated and is financially independent. When she encounters Yu Tu again, all the qualities that she has once admired reignites the past feelings she had for him and she falls in love with the current Yu Tu, vulnerabilities and all. When she is rejected again, there is no groveling on her end and if Yu Tu did not pursue her, the present QJJ would have gotten over him as she had done in the past. Her strong mindset and resolve will not allow her to short-change her own happiness. She is resilient in that she will ensure that she still lives a good life, even without Yu Tu in it. Critics argue that Reba is playing herself (29-year old famous actress) and true to an extent, I view Reba as very spirited and lively individual like QJJ but seeing such character on screen can get old real fast or be quite annoying after so many episodes. But Reba has characterized QJJ with such charm and exuberance that I cannot help but be moved by her in the drama adaptation. Her expressions, her mannerisms and the vivacious aura appear so effortlessly and she sparkles like the stars. Reba expresses the right balance of being a glamorous celebrity, playful and cute gamer, attentive and caring friend/girlfriend towards YuTu’s struggle and dream and also exhibiting maturity, bravery and self-respect when faced with heartbreak and rejection.

Now for the other half of our glory couple, Yang Yang’s Yu Tu. This is the first drama I have seen of Yang Yang and he has given a worthy showing and justice to our male lead character. Admittedly, he wears a stoic expression in the beginning of the drama but it’s very in character to the novel’s description. Yu Tu is an introvert, very logical, a deep thinker and a complete opposite of our female lead. He’s naturally not expressive so the lack of emotions is expected. Yang Yang really nails the nuances required of the character, especially with his emotive eyes. His gestures and emotions such as the lingering gazes and attraction towards QJJ, the little smiles when he is in her presence, the pain and conflict in his eyes when he speaks of leaving aerospace are so beautifully done. In the beginning, it is a subtly credible performance given by Yang Yang but when they become a couple and he recommits to his craft, the transformation is captivating. Yu Tu is a completely different character - more self-assured, utterly cheeky and undoubtedly charming! Yu Tu smiles widely, jokingly laughs, sexily flirts with Jing Jing and is witty as hell! I appreciate the different layers of Yu Tu that Yang Yang is able to bring to life and after seeing him in YAMG, I must say Yang Yang is a natural romantic male lead. I can understand why Gu Man preferred him as Yu Tu even though he already starred as the leading man in another one of her adaptations (Love 020).

The chemistry between Yang Yang and Reba is palpable, explosive, teasingly sweet, thoughtful and wonderful to witness. I can’t stress enough that if their chemistry is lacking, this drama will fail dismally because the last half of the drama simply describes their daily lives with loads of humor and the progression of their romance with many sprinkles of teasing banter and affection towards each other. I enjoy how physically demonstrative they are with each other, from their passionate kisses, flirty exchanges, sweet gestures like forehead and cheek kisses, hugs, cuddles, sitting on his lap and holding hands while he’s driving. The attention to details on how a real couple acts and the displays of affection towards one another is everything a romantic pair should be. Kudos to Yang Yang, Reba and the YAMG team! If you’re a romantic at heart, the latter episodes will make you melt in a sugary puddle!

The supporting cast is truly that, supporting in the background and allowing the focus to be on Yu Tu and QJJ’s romance and I’m thankful for it considering this is a short drama. All the side characters are great as they are encouraging of Yu Tu and Jing Jing’s relationship. Special shout out to the actress who stars as Sister Ling (QJJ’s manager) who provides plenty of laughs in trying to recruit Yu Tu as her artist. It’s so rare to see an entertainment agent/manager who is supportive of her artist’s love life and is excited to expose her own artist to dating rumors with plenty of contingency plans.

Another aspect I enjoy is the exposure to Chinese aerospace, which is not everyone’s cup of tea. There are many technical elements that were initially lost to me (I did rewind a couple of times in trying to understand the rover and testing being done). It might not be the most riveting thing to watch but I personally find the subject refreshing as the aerospace industry has never been covered in a C-drama. Yu Tu’s career is the basis of the titled drama, “You Are My Glory”. QJJ wants to bask in Yu Tu’s glory so the focus on his profession is integral to the drama.

The cinematography is amazingly well done and the audience can sense the high production quality from the first episode. The shots of the Shanghai nightlife and the romantic scenes (especially the hometown snow scenes) are splendid. They are definitely swoon-worthy and made this romantic drama even more romantic, if that is possible.

This drama is not without (minor) flaws. The gaming scenes are more than I wish, although I do want to say they are less than what have been described in the novel. I didn’t mind them as much as I thought but I can see why other viewers who are not into gaming would find them tiresome. However, the game competition episodes are excellent and very engaging. The soundtracks for the drama can also be better. I like the opening score sang by Liu Yuning but find the rest of the songs to be unremarkable. Very trivial grievances that in no shape deter from the beauty of this drama and the beautiful love story of Yu Tu and Qiao Jing Jing.

All in all, I have mad love for this romantic tale and my heart wants to rate this drama a perfect 10 but my rational mind prevails at a glorious 9.5 stars. Please note, I rarely rate 10s for a drama because I only reserve perfect scores for masterpieces that surprise me with intricate plot and execution. “You Are My Glory” is lovely in many ways and I absolutely recommend it if you want a light-hearted, mature romantic drama; its narrative is relatively simple but nevertheless touches the heart.

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A drama of adventure and many life lessons!

Honestly, I debated over writing a review because I’m a casual viewer of C-dramas but I have read so many positive comments of the Long Ballad that I felt compelled to watch and boy am I glad I did! Since I typically watch 4-5 dramas a year (40-50 episodes per drama is a long commitment for me) so I do narrow my list to the “best” dramas based on recommendations so do take my rating with a grain of salt.

To start off, this is not a perfect drama but it has so so many positives:

• LOVE the character, Li Changge! From the very beginning, I love her journey, as she tried to avenge her befallen family and surviving with her wits, determination and a good dose of help from those around her. As a viewer, we can understand her anguish, her motivations, her flaws, her self-reflection and finally her purpose in life. I just found her journey and character development so incredibly fulfilling at the end - from a revenge driven girl to a mature, forgiving person who considers the greater good of her people. Even when she was determined to exact revenge, she never allowed it to consume her to discard the Tang citizens well-being. Dilraba was simply amazing in this role! I have seen a few of her dramas before and honestly, this is her best role to date. There are so many memorable scenes that showcase the range of emotions in her performance. Some of my favorites are: (1) Scenes leading up to A’Dou’s death and the aftermath – the tears, the heartbreak, and her badass determination to avenge him. (2) When Governor Gongsun Heng committed suicide – she was completely broken by his choice to save the people. I cried buckets when he died because I absolutely love the governor and understood his sacrifice. (3) When she met Ashile Sun outside the gates of Shou State – the snow was falling and when Ashile Sun demanded that she became his slave. The look in her eyes as she was trying to contain her grief and anger. Simply love that iconic scene! (4) All her scenes with Li Shimin, particularly when she realizes the truth of her family's assassination and she can finally let go of her revenge. I love their relationship because Li Shimin truly loves her as his own so I was happy to see a good resolution.

• Ashile Sun is the perfect male lead and Leo Wu was wonderful in his portrayal. I like that he loves and respects Changge but he will not betray his people for her (and vice versa for Changge). He sticks to his convictions and is straight-forward and not afraid to reveal his feelings. Actually, some of the funny parts of the drama are his reactions to the (budding) relationship with Changge and his jealousy even though he does not comprehend what his feelings might be at the time. I have only seen one other drama with Leo Wu which was Nirvana in Fire and am so happy to watch him slay such a mature role and proving doubters wrong that he was the perfect Ashile Sun.

• I adore the many different relationship dynamics in the drama. I HATE love triangles or dramas where every character falls in love with the FL or ML so I am thrilled that there is none of this nonsense in this drama! I know there is an age gap between Dilraba and Leo but honestly, I didn’t think about it when watching both actors on screen. The drama shows such a balanced relationship between the two characters and how they truly fit as a puzzle and are true partners as they share the same values – same passion for their people, both are loyal and trust each other unconditionally. It would have been nice if there was a kiss but the lack of one did not mar their romance at all. I thoroughly enjoy their individual growth and how they come together as a power couple. Other relationships of note are Changge and Leyan, Changge and Li Shimin, Changge and A’Dou, Little Yuan with anyone (she’s such a cutie!), Shiba and Xu Feng, Governor Gongsun Heng and his wife, Ashile Sun and She’er, Ashile Sun and Mu Jin and so many more!

• Great supporting cast! I love many of the characters and most roles were well acted (even those with minor roles) which contributed to my enjoyment of the drama.

• I love the costumes in the drama, both the Tang and grassland attire. Leo Wu, in particular, looked smashing in his grassland wear and looked very imposing as the leader of the Eagle division. The braids for the Ashile tribe men were also very cool and attractive.

• The amazing soundtracks to this drama. I love the opening and closing scores and do not ever fast-forward when I hear the amazing songs come through. And both songs are very fitting and aptly described the drama!

• The pacing of the drama is good overall, except for the Luoyang arc as described below under “negatives”.


The Not So Good Areas (Negatives):

• The Luoyang story arc really caused the show to lose momentum at one point. I understand Changge’s need for self reflection due to the (poor) choices she made in saving her father’s general in the grasslands but it took more episodes than needed for her to reflect and grow from it. This arc was also dragged down by having the focus on bratty Tang’s Crown Prince. At first, I did not understand why the show incorporated this character but after thinking about it, I believe it was to contrast the virtues of Leyan to the selfishness of the entitled brother of hers. However, in my opinion, it’s unnecessary to devote so much screen time to both Crown Prince’s brattiness and Leyan’s growth.

• I did not enjoy Leyan and Hao Du individually or their romance and prefer to have their characters more incorporated or rewritten to contribute to the main story arc, especially the side story of Leyan’s hardships was fast forward material for me. Both actors portrayed their roles adequately but I just do not find their characters interesting or their love story compelling. At the end of the day, I am invested in the character of Li Changge so I just find their scenes to be tedious.

• Another pet peeve of mine is the character of Hao Du. I honestly don’t see the appeal of this character. Yes, he became less stoic at the end but for most of the drama, he was arrogant prick (especially to Wei Shuyu who did not provoke him) and lack any forward thinking. His obsessive need to capture Changge was frustrating to watch, especially during the Shou State arc when Changge was needed to protect the city. He still wanted to kill her knowing she was trying to save the common people? He has capable kung-fu skills, why didn’t he offer his services to save the people in Shou State or at least try instead of folding his arms and doing nothing? In his foster father’s eyes, killing her means protecting the country and yet when the time to protect the country presents itself (with the stakes being so much higher as people’s lives were in jeopardy), he did nothing. He then gets credit (from Leyan) for letting Changge go at the Liuyun temple but it was ONLY due to his foster father’s instructions because Changge literally took a knife in the back to protect his father. If the father ordered him to kill her at that moment, he would certainly do it even though he knew of her contributions to the Tang country prior to that. So he gets no credit from me. I just wish his supposedly character growth stems from self-realization and that he actually stand up to his foster father, saying that NOT killing Changge is the right thing to do rather than a change of heart and orders from his father or a slap by Leyan to propel him to act differently. In the end, he is "redeemed" because he's one of the main characters but his earlier actions still left a bitter taste in my mouth.

• The villain of the story can be more dynamic. The actress who plays Khatan is okay but I think a different actress can bring more layers to the character. The character suffered tremendously but it’s very hard for me to relate to her and her pain. I’m not sure if it was the acting or the writing. I do like the parallel of what might have been if Changge decided to pursue her revenge. Her outcome might mirror Khatan’s.

• I do not care for the animated manhua drawings, especially during the epic war scenes. It is a nice thought in giving tribute to the manhua artist but in my opinion, it does take away the overall viewing experience for me. I know there were COVID restrictions but I think the drama warrants at least one non animated epic war scene due to the political backdrop and the period the drama was set.

Overall, I highly recommend the drama! As I have stated at the beginning of my review, The Long Ballad is not a perfect drama but it is an entertaining one! At the end of the day, as a viewer, I just want to be entertained and this drama has accomplished that. Give it a try!!

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It’s been a while since I have watched a true wuxia drama and Word of Honor delivered on all fronts. A bold BL adaptation, both leads Zhang Zehan and Gong Jun portrayed their roles convincingly, not selling this production as a “bromance” but rather a true love story as I was captivated by two gray characters who found redemption in each other. I was surprisingly shocked that this drama was not hindered by major Chinese censorship as viewers got ample amounts of flirting, affectionate hugs and uttered words of being soulmates from our two leading male protagonists. Embracing the romance was the usual wuxia elements of all sects and political factions coveting an armory of martial arts and medical knowledge as a presumed guarantee to sit atop the martial arts world. The drama unfolded slowly in connecting the sect players and their pursuit and the history of the five broken glazed shards and a key to unlocking the armory’s secrets.

Besides the not so typical romance, both leads were also not your typical wuxia heroes. Zhang Zehan’s Zhou Zi Shu was introduced as a man who slaughtered a political family and innocents on the instructions of Prince Jin (later disclosed as his cousin) to further the prince’s political agenda. With regrets and the desire to leave the faction, he was granted release but became a dead man walking with few years to live. What I admired about this character was that he did not live life based on the generally accepted moral code but on his own convictions. I really loved Zhang Zehan’s performance, appreciated his subtle expressions and the quiet demeanor he exhibited. He was always calm except in Wen Kexing’s presence; the “wooing” process was wonderful to witness, at first he was exasperated with his provocative manner but was still curious and drawn to Wen Kexing. I could not help but ponder how difficult it would be to depict this character and felt Zhang Zehan gave the character the right amount of restraint and touch to perfectly complement the lively and complicated Wen Kexing.

Gong Jun was equally praiseworthy as Wen Kexing, a grinning and flirtatious man that hid a painful and mysterious past. In fact, viewers were left guessing for a good part of the drama his true identity and his connection to Zhou Zi Shu. As bits and pieces of his background unveiled, viewers saw his struggle to live for Zhou Zi Shu - fearful of his leadership of the notorious Ghost Valley being disclosed yet tortured by the past in trying to right the wrongs he and his family suffered. Gong Jun was wonderful in his interpretation; he was so emotive with his eyes in demonstrating the many sides of his character and striking the perfect balance of jauntiness and vulnerability onscreen.

A great drama was not possible without an impressive supporting cast. Gu Xiang was delightful as a spunky, mischievous servant/sister to Wen Kexing and I enjoyed her romance with Cao Weining. The girl was outspoken and the man was noble and shy and they just fit wonderfully. Their last scenes were so epic and Gu Xiang’s rage was beyond my expectations! Must see episode! And my baby, Zhang Chengling! I just wanted to hug this innocent boy and nurture him. Absolutely adored the family dynamics of Zhou Zi Shu, Wen Kexing and Zhang Chengling and loved all their parts together. Ye Bai Yi was another notable character. His arrogant personality and unyielding attitude frequently collided with Wen Kexing but when push came to shove, they had the same goal. Last but not least, special mention to the Scorpion King. The character was a complete scene stealer; my eyes couldn’t help but follow him even if he shared the stage with the main antagonist. I was also slightly uncomfortable with the disturbing dynamic with his godfather but despite the creep factor, my eyes could not look away when he appeared. Superb performances all around from the supporting team!

If I were to name faults with this production, I did feel that it started slowly. I did step away a couple of times before continuing with my viewing experience. Although I enjoyed the courting and flirty development of the male leads at the start but I felt the drama was overloaded with many types of sects that did not necessary move the plot along. In fact I was overwhelmed by the sect names at the beginning, thinking they might have major roles later on in the drama but did not. The drama did not grab my full attention until episode 20 where the pace picked up tremendously and the storyline was gripping from that point forward. The fighting choreography was also very well done for the most part, though I felt that they were too many still, posing shots for my liking but this is at best a very minor criticism.

Fans of the drama urged me to watch episode 37 (an 11-minute epilogue) to Zhou Zi Shu and Wen Kexing’s story and I did. To be honest, I felt episode 37 was not necessary because I was perfectly satisfied with the ending in episode 36. Fate is cruel and yes, my eyes were brimming with tears at their outcome but I was left feeling their immense love for one another. There were sacrifices, a willingness to forsake their lives for one another and their continuous support of each other despite opposition from the martial arts world. Their love is truly admirable and the one last act at the end is so in line with both characters’ personalities and I personally found it very beautiful that their love is so enduring and that this kind of love is able to be shown in its full glory on screen. I’m not sure what the BL drama landscape will be in the foreseeable future with the recent crackdowns on this genre but I hope Word of Honor is the footprint for all future BL drama because love is love and as a viewer, I just want to be moved by the story regardless of gender. Bravo to the Word of Honor team! A very well deserved 9.0 out of 10.0!

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Please note, this review is for the drama in its entirety as I’m too lazy to assess the two parts separately. I will preface by noting that I have read the English translated novel and I will be making references between the written work and the visual adaptation in my review. There are differences between the two – some positives and other areas I believe could be better presented. Regardless, I believe both mediums are worthy of attention and hope others who watched the drama might be persuaded to read the novel as well.

STORY: Ji Yun He (Dilraba Dilmurat) is one of Flower Valley’s renown demon masters who, along with her adopted brother Lin Haoqing (Xiao Shun Yao), are tasked to tame a merman, Chang Yi (Allen Ren Jia Lun) on the orders of the cruel and self-centered, Princess Shunde (Christy Guo). The tasks include (1) have the merman speak human words, (2) have the merman grow human legs and (3) be loyal and subservient to her. While Lin Haoqing favors physical torture in taming demons, Ji Yun He prefers verbal coaxing and psychological persuasion. As she sees the parallel between herself and Chang Yi (both experiencing some form of imprisonment), she cannot help but empathizes and eventually falls for the pure hearted and kind Jiaoran. Very quickly, her objectives begin to align with his as the two attempt to flee Flower Valley. Alas, little did they know, freedom for one may be at the expense of the other and sets forth of a series of events where love is tested, sacrifices are made and complete freedom is desired yet hard to attain.

What makes The Blue Whisper a moving tale is the recurring theme of sacrifice, whether it’s sacrifice for love, sacrifice of one’s personal freedom or surrendering one’s own life for the greater good. Overall, I believe the drama did an excellent job of emphasizing this theme and having the relationships of the characters to be consistent as the novel, none more so than our lead couple, Yun He and Chang Yi. This couple (together and individually) embodies this sentiment so beautifully. Yun He and Chang Yi, on multiple occasions in the drama, forsake their own lives for the other to live well while willing to sacrifice themselves to overcome evil. Their growth and romantic journey are so poignant to witness. The drama manages to paint their love and strong bond that I was tearful at their misunderstandings and sacrifice and celebrated their love when they reunite.

While the personalities of the lead characters are changed slightly as compared to the novel to facilitate the drama plot, I (for the most part) came to terms with the change as I was captivated by the acting and interpretation. Ji Yun He, at the beginning of the drama, is presented to be calculating as she flirts and manipulates Chang Yi’s feelings to attain her goals, very opposite from the novel. Due to her upbringing and the cut-throat environment she lived in, it is very believable to me that Yun He would employ all kinds of methods (even deceitful ones) for her to survive. Some also argue the most noticeable change is to Chang Yi, the powerful and pure hearted Jiaoren. The drama’s Chang Yi, while still kind, is much more innocent and naïve which made him more vulnerable to Yun He’s persuasion. I have speculated it might be a deliberate choice by the production team to have Chang Yi take the more innocent route, possibly due to censorship issues by limiting the torture scenes as described in the novel, add a little levity to the heavy theme or perhaps to also facilitate their romance so when the “betrayal” happens, there will be more angst between the couple. Although I prefer the pacing of their relationship and Chang Yi’s depiction in the novel, but I was charmed by Allen Ren’s interpretation of Chang Yi both in Flower Valley and Beiyuan (the North Abyss) and felt his innocent characterization was still plausible given Chang Yi’s experience.

Another major character that was tweaked as compared to the novel is Lin Haoqing. If I were to say the one character that has received the most favorable writing in the drama, it would be this character. Lin Haoqing in the novel is already one of my favorites as a stand-alone character due to his complexity but the drama has made him into an even more sympathetic second male lead whose unrequited love for Yun He and his sacrifice for her to achieve her happiness have many viewers coveting a Yun He and Haoqing pairing! This prompted me to step on the brakes and present why I believe these two are never meant to be despite the stirring performance given by Xiao Shun Yao. True, Lin Haoqing understands Yun He very well, but he does not fulfill what she truly needs in a partner. There is too much ugly history between the two with his father’s torture of Yun He for many years. Chang Yi represents the purity and goodness - traits that she yearns for and that is lacking in Yun He as she grew up in a manipulative and try-to-survive setting. The people she loves most (Chang Yi and Luo Luo) are similar in nature and it’s not surprising that she gravitates towards individuals who are without guile, unlike her and Lin Haoqing, who are too similar in intelligence and can be calculative if the situation calls for it.

In terms of drama storyline, I have mixed emotions. There are areas where I thought are well done but there are also plot holes that needed to be filled for me to rate it higher. First, I will start on parts that I like (aside from the romance):

• Addition of Heavenly King character and played by a youngster to boot! I love this character, so righteous, big hearted and sacrificing. The young actor was excellent which made me almost forget (and forgive) his bratty prince persona in The Long Ballad.
• Improvement to the character, Kong Ming, and a more developed romance with Luo Luo. In the novel, I did not care for Kong Ming or his nonchalant attitude towards Luo Luo; however in the drama, I like the actor and his romantic chemistry with Hu Yi Xuan. We all need a comedic couple and they provided the humor to counter the dramatic and intense love of Chang Yi and Yun He.
• The featuring of friendship and sisterhood between Luo Luo and Yun He. I also enjoyed the male bonding of Chang Yi and Kong Ming as well.
• Yun He’s “death” scene at the North Abyss was much more memorable as compared to the novel and the aftermath of her death and the emotional impact of all characters are well presented.
• The many moving scenes or moments that I crept on me when I least expected. The most surprising is when the Immortal Master (Ning Qing's) death scene where he repents and tries to redeem himself by saving Yun He and Chang Yi. With his dying breath, he sees a vision of his master as Shunde rants on and on at Ning Si Yu. The acting exhibited by Christy Guo is remarkable! The gentle Ning Si Yu kneels down and reassures Ning Qing that it is alright and they are going “home” together. Despite hating Ning Qing for most of the drama, I surprised myself and cried for his character and found this character to be so pitiful at the end. I was also touched in how forgiving and tolerant Ning Si Yu is to her disciple

In contrast, some of the additions/changes as detailed below could have been better:

• While I love the idea of having a tribe that contributes to Chang Yi’s foothold in the North but its execution of the Fox clan’s presence left a lot to be desired. The entire tribe is dressed like beggars and the Fox princess was garbed in the most unappealing attire of all the female cast members. In contrast to the rest of the cast with their luscious and beautifully embroidered clothing and accessories, the Fox clan are in plain wardrobe and unattractive hairstyles. They should have been styled in furry, fox like materials which will be in line with the Northern cold. Attire aside, the use of the Fox clan to primarily served as a foil to Ji Yun He was not interesting but instead made the characters more annoying and unfortunately, did not add much to the central plot.
• No background development to Princess Shunde’s evilness. In the drama’s defense, her motivation in the novel was weak as well but I had hoped that the drama would creatively explore more of her upbringing and what brought her to the dark side. Unfortunately, this aspect was also poorly developed because in the drama, it did highlight her goodness at the beginning in protecting her brother (the Heavenly King) but did not credibly illustrate why she became this self-centered and spiteful immortal to the extreme. I rather the drama stated that she was wicked to start than to leave a weak (or baffling) explanation to her descent to evil.
• Too many characters restoring from the dead was overkill and did lessen the emotional impact when a beloved character’s life was at risk. In my opinion, there should only be two death “revivals” and both related to Yun He. All other deaths for pivotal main characters could have been written as near-death experience or close calls which could still stir viewers’ emotions and keep audience invested and engaged.
• Sanyue and Li Shu relationship: I write this with mixed feelings because I do like Li Shu’s character and find the actor quite charismatic but watching Sanyue’s perpetual frown throughout the drama is cumbersome. This was one relationship that I wished had followed the novel faithfully in that Li Shu stayed dead from the beginning and Sanyue decided to save Chang Yi’s life by sacrificing the means to revive Li Shu. Their romance was bittersweet in the novel but not all pairings would have a happily ever after.
• The ending deserved a direct explanation as to how Yun He changed form. It was something that could easily be rectified with a couple of lines but was poorly implemented. Please take note all drama and production teams, for drama endings, most viewers prefer obvious conclusions.

ACTING: The stellar acting is, in my opinion, the saving grace of the drama. Ji Yun He is an amazing character and Reba portrays her with such aplomb that this character has become one of my favorite female leads ever! Her character is not the cookie cutter, follow the mold goody character but has depth, flaws and convictions. Even at her weakest moments, she does not succumb to anyone as she reiterates her life is her own. I particularly enjoy her reflection of freedom. Freedom is not the ability to be anywhere one wishes to be but rather the freedom to choose however one wants to live. Ji Yun He is the kind of character that I long for Reba to portray and she did not disappoint! The variety of emotions and nuances Reba has as Ji Yun He are so praiseworthy and credible. In part 1, as the multifaceted and conflicted Yun He, there are moments where she has to restrain her emotions (her teary-eyed holding back tears look) made my eyes watered watching her. As she transitioned to being sickly at Beiyuan (North Abyss), Reba is realistic as the weak yet determined Ji Yun He. (Side note: Reba deliberately lost weight to achieve this look for the drama). Then, we’re given the vivacious, adorable and a breath-of-fresh-air Ah Ji, which is the antidote for my then broken heart. Reba truly breathes life to this character and her performance here is my favorite of hers to date.

Allen Ren portrays two characters of extreme nature – our innocent and sweet Big Tailed Fish and the cold, unapproachable Lord of The North so convincingly. Physically, he fits the part of Chang Yi in that Allen looks very beautiful in costume drama and his styling here is chef kiss! In terms of romantic chemistry, I find Reba and Allen to be compatible but I wish there were less kissing scenes as there is a slight awkwardness/restraint to these scenes, perhaps due to Allen being married. I don’t believe kisses are necessary to convey love in a drama and would be fine with others forms of physical affection. Despite this minor issue, I’m still very pleased with the character and am happy to be introduced to Allen through The Blue Whisper. I am looking forward to his future works.

The supporting cast is frankly wonderful – I love the layers of so many characters - from Xiao Shun Yao’s complex and emotional scenes of Lin Haoqing to the dichotomy given by Christy Guo of Princess Shunde and Ning Xi Yu. Then we have the adorable butterfly fairy Luo Luo with the actress’ wonderful chemistry with Reba, Allen and Wang Zi Tang (Kong Ming). I honestly cannot remember the last time I love so many characters in a drama but kudos to the entire cast for their amazing performances. I thought the acting is one area that met or exceeded my expectations.

COSTUMES: Simply one word, gorgeous! Unlike other xianxias, the costumes color palette is darker but inviting. Gone are the predominant white and pastel attire; instead we have combination of bright vivid colors contrasting with grays and blacks for both female and male characters with beautiful embroidery and attractive hairstyles (with the exception of the Fox clan). Visually, almost everyone looked amazing but special praise for Princess Shunde’s outfits! The actress looks magnificent in bold red and fetching in her evil black costumes at the end. Even her golden mask is attractive and adds to her aura. Not to mention Yun He’s earrings!! So unique that I have looked on Amazon to find myself a similar pair! It’s been a long time since I salivate over historical costumes and jewelry but the ones in The Blue Whisper are beyond stunning!

CINEMATOGRAPHY/CGI: From spring like Flower Valley to the cold driven snow of North Abyss, The Blue Whisper production is the feast for the eyes. I especially love the North Abyss as I get the Winterfell vibes from Games of Thrones. The CGI is good with Chang Yi’s merman tail and Shunde’s red flower entrance but too heavy handed in battles. I personally prefer hand to hand combat for fighting confrontations as I believe they are more impactful. However, the ending battle scene is especially exciting and quite well done.

CONCLUSION: If you have managed to get to the end of this review, I confess I am not a fan of the xianxia genre. However, I was persuaded to read the written work after learning Reba was casted as the female lead and was anticipating the novel’s darker theme in having the spotlight on demon tamers and demons. Unfortunately, the drama did not fully adapt to the grim and darker setting as described in the novel. I think the torture scenes (if they were fully adapted) would be riveting to see and highlights the amazing traits and fighting spirt of our male lead Chang Yi. But despite all the changes made and some of its shortcomings, I believe the drama successfully depicts the essence of the love story of Chang Yi and Yun He and I was moved to tears many times throughout my viewing. At its core, both characters yearn to be free and find true freedom in each other. I find this sentiment so beautiful to read and so beautiful to watch.

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