Anyone who is familiar with the TM franchise would have known, plagiarism, pointless second leads, loopholes in the hero/ines's decision-making and story progression, world that solely exists and caters for the two main leads. So the staffs basically got together again and made an original storyline that in my opinion, should have been how TMoPB goes down. I agree very much with Avenuex's review on youtube, the only sin is Jiu Chen's house interior and his wardrobe/hair. He could have been a dashing mature god, but they make him look as if he's an uncle trying to look young and it makes him look ridiculous. The BGM music is less fun, but more atmospheric and invisible when you are watching. The theme music, I just loathe Qing Yao-Yun Feng's love theme and it plays A LOT. Others I have no problem with. Then, I also agree that the ending is rushed, but it's alright since it's still within sense.

The word 'destiny' is very integral to the story. It really feels like the old dramas from before where destiny is so irresistible. There are also fate with family, fate with love and friendships, and fate with strangers. The characters' stories in this drama is so intense with it. I wanted to review the drama right away after watching in Viki, but then I was just babbling. I want to make this review right.

I admit I cried more with TM but on second rewatch, even the minute that scene ends, I find myself thinking, 'this is ridiculous' ... 'it's so fake' ... 'this doesn't even make sense'. The gods make me feel disappointed. Asian gods are not the problem like Greek gods, you see, they're the solution. So for the imperial court to be that blind and corrupt just deeply disturbs me. With Chenxiyuan, though I cry less, when I do it pours. And when I look back, everything leaves a bittersweet ache in my heart that stays with me and changes my every day. It's so hard. It's so hard for the Chen and Xi to be together because they don't have backups. They can't use privilege or loyalty cards, and they don't think to. I find this really mature and noble, truly befitting of immortals.

What's more, they make many references to the worship, like when they pray to gods and how Siming will not show book of fate easily to someone volatile. The addition and new details not only makes this drama a solid story that embodies the religions people have in China, but also fixes the holes in the other series that was supposed to be the 'origin'.



>>>>>> - HEAVY SPOILERS AHEAD
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> - I WARNED YOU TWICE ALREADY

There's no need for me to say that everyone's acting is spot on and shines like the pearls on an empress crown. There's a lot of information, and this is important because... supporting characters are not main leads' servants. Everyone's fates are also considered thoroughly and woven with each other to create a believable mega story. I didn't skip any of the scenes or episodes.

Senior sister had an ill fate with love, from her previous reincarnations where her life didn't unfold as destined or maybe from birth. Ling Xi has poor fate with family, her familial ties are either absent (godfather, mother) or has short life (mother and father) (human father). Jiu Chen, by vow has the fate of duty, and this duty is something that he can't just throw away. There are other gods who can sacrifice themselves for the world but Jiu Chen steps up. That duty itself is his life. Shisan, born a fish clan, is fated to have a challenging romance due to their gender. Anyway, I'm stretching it, but the characters have this 'life' that are destined for them, and the way story unfold feels very inevitable. It all leads to the end of the drama, and it doesn't feel like it was machinated to make main leads romance suffer or flourish. That is what makes this drama sublime.

You know I really wanted Ling Xi to just realise it's The PEACH, but the fates say no and what can we say? I really wanted Ling Xi to just take a bit of that peach but these immortals keep breaking her home and she's so broke she can't even loaf about!!!! I really wanted Ling Xi to just grab a peach to snack, but she is a very humble and hardworking gal so she doesn't and it just makes me want to adopt her.



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I'm not gonna write a review for TMoPB.

Weird stuff gods do there: king god (and the court) is corrupt and unwise with no sense of duty, sexist heaven (same problem with ashes of love), gods abide by mortal's rules such as forbidding prince to meet his mother, or a concubine punishing herself with a white silk to die. Really? I'd think heaven would have had a way to detect if that kind of thing really happened and what will a mere silk do to a god? Lol bear in mind she is a GOD who's lived in a very energy dense palace for thousands of years.

And their treatment to Susu. Please. In old legends that'll mean the human will be ascending as a god. YH and BQ's engagement was arranged and the woman gave birth to YH's son, so she should be treated with some respect. It's not as if YH is going to take her as his principal wife before they tortured the couple. If they had been forgiving, YH would have taken Susu back and asked to take her as a concubine... If they're going down the concubine system path. …I just- I have never heard of Taoist gods having many concubines. They simply don't need many descendants. There are also several ways for Chinese gods to assure loyalty aside from political marriage... Immortal medicine, favours, life favours, friendship bonds, information, or war glory. When you live that long, even a silk flower from a happy wedding is an unforgettable gift. Besides, the title empress and heavenly queen doesn't mean the actual title, but their worshipper's belief for the goddesses. Check out - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mazu
The standings of Taoist gods depend on their work and worshippers, not because of their lineage.

Siming is somewhat the king's assistant. Siming is in charge of every single human's fate and also those that are transferred to animal reincarnation or vice versa, he can't be anyone's assistant. In fact, HE needs assistants. Don't talk to me about Donghua whose only use is exposition and late rescues. Or Fengjiu who is framed as a 'powerful monarch' when she is not the slightest bit a good ruler and only ascends because she has to because drama. (TMoPB) Whatever about book rights, either make up a plausible story or don't include their storyline.

Parents are just there for decoration, they are nowhere to be seen when their kids are supposed to suffer, and will show up when their kid's lover is due for some tormenting from in-laws. It is a dramatic story, but at the expense of every character's common sense. TM novel is short and terse, it wasn't written for drama, the padded details in the drama highlights the story's crazy and nonsensical side. The drama should have been 10 episodes. 30 episodes if you squeeze every word.

And as much as I love Mark Chao and appreciates Yang Mi's work there (only there), I have made a vow I will not add view counts to that drama. Understand that I love TM, but I can't add to its profits, and though I once regarded it as a great drama, CXY is clearly meant to address all the weak points I mentioned above that TM failed to deliver. Between the two it's a no-brainer which I will rewatch over and over again.