The Legend of Shen Li takes a slightly different route from other xianxia dramas, steering away from the usual plotlines and angst. Instead, it focuses exclusively on romance and character development, which might be a nice change of pace for many seasoned xianxia viewers. There is minimal build up and conflicts are resolved FAST!

The two leads are incredibly powerful, especially the male lead. He wields IMMENSE power. He can basically defeat any villain or big bad just with a dramatic swish of his hand. But most refreshing is that the female lead is equally strong-willed and empowered. She has full agency and is a great match for the male lead.

One thing I had to get used to, however, was the pacing, especially in the beginning. It was a bit slow, as the drama took its time to develop the relationship between Shen Li and Xingzhi. Some of the side characters felt like filler /comic relief to me, though I enjoyed the occasional meta elements (Goddess Youlan becoming the representation of the viewer's voice!)

One of the highlights is definitely the cast. Zhao Liying is fantastic here, bringing power and depth to her character. She is unapologetic for being strong and NON-whiny! Lin Geng Xin is not the most expressive actor in c-dramaland, but he shines here, playing the stoic and infallible last surviving ancient god to perfection. I can't imagine a different actor in this role.

Finally, while this drama did not have the same gut-punching impact on me as other xianxia dramas, there is something undeniably compelling about it that has kept me coming back for more.

I recommend it!