Dropped it so many times but finished it for Dongfang Qing Cang
The production is stunning, anyone could see this drama had a BIG investment. The cast's visuals are so ridiculous that they look like they popped out of paintings. Costumes and sets are works of art and I can't complain about anything. Dongfang Qing Cang is honestly godly. I wish I could say the same for little Orchid, but she's the reason I struggled to watch it till the end. I'm not fond of innocent and cutesy characters, especially if they were done like Orchid. At first, I really thought they fell in love just cause. They're the titular devil and fairy, of course, they had to fall in love with each other. There are many examples of good stories where a powerful male lead will fall in love with his sweet and kind female counterpart despite the difference in their rankings. That was the story that this drama is selling but surely Orchid has to be special somehow to justify her role in DFQC's life and for me, that's just lazy writing. I came to the finale thinking what does love between fairy and devil means? At this point, I think I missed it and I'm unbothered. I just think this drama is entertaining enough.Cet avis était-il utile?
What's more beautiful than the blossoming of flowers of love in his barren tree
As if I have finally regained my confidence in anticipation and I can tell myself that some things are still worth the wait. Love Between Fairy and Devil (chinese: 苍兰诀 / pinyin - Cāng Lán Jué) is a fantasy themed romantic Xianxia based on the popular novel of the same name written by Jiu Lu Fei Xiang that strikes at the right time when I was just finished ranting out my other anticipated dramas. Disclaimer - forgive me this is long, I have a lot to say.Story [10/10] —
Not best but charming. Amongst the profound depths of the three realms, there was a bossy devil (Dongfang Qingcang) locked up in Haotian Tower for thousands of years but a cheerful fairy (Xiao Lan Hua) mistakenly saves him. Like the beast that meets his beauty. There starts a story between them, they even swap bodies and they fall in love eventually. But "WAIT" they were not meant to be together at first. Because they are from different sides. I didn't even realise when I got so invested in their immortal world, its fun how apart from the romantic tale no one is "EVIL" without a reason, how enemies become sworn brothers and how comedy is one of those main elements no matter how much angst we are expecting soon.
The leads chemistry is something I would recommend this drama for. Cold ML × Naive FL. I was the first one who shouted "SO TYPICAL" yet my heart melted as I watched more. The journey made them more precious with their bonding, bickering, all the tests and sacrifices. For the angst I cried a few buckets too.
The Visuals, CGI and production quality —
I can list hundreds of scenes where I couldn't help but rewatch like two of my favourites are –
1. Dongfang Qingcang's entry scene in Haishi city (the one that has a big moon behind him, he goes to save orchid and he legit looks like the boss of the world)
2. there's a scene with two Gods talking and enjoying fine wine but guess what they're inside a painting on a boat ~ how creative is that!
Then her Arbiter hall, Haotian tower, Cangyan Sea's castle and those northern lights in sky its all dreamy wonderful themes so pretty and this level of creativity in scenes and details is something I would die for. Not to mention, Dylan Wang in the role of the the Moon Supreme, his costume, his looks, his visuals!
And I think I never got bored as things change quick and this was pretty addictive instead. Though some complained of dropping this very early, I think it's just until those first 3-4 episodes where the characters need more time to get introduced and then the plot develops stronger with time. This has used quite a minimalistic approach in depth of characters having a not-so complicated structure unlike other Xianxias.
Characters, Casting and Acting [10/10] —
Dylan Wang (Wang He Di) was one of the best casting choices ever made. I can't even imagine anyone else as the arrogant cum sweet devil Dongfang Qingcang (DFQC). His emotional scenes are as strong as his body-swap scenes where he quickly shifts to a pouting, jumping girl. He is very versatile and an amazing actor.
Yu Shu Xin – the temperament of a playful and easy going Fairy Orchid suits Esther very well, her voice might have affected some audience but I think it was just okay. Esther is usually a bubbly girl (as I have seen her in Youth shows before) so both her and this character was pretty similar. Acting wise I don't really think she deserves so much hate, she played well in both sweeter side and the cold vibe (Xi Yun) in later half. Anyway opinions and preferences might differ.
Other leading casts ~
✡ Zhang Ling He (as Lord Changheng) ~ the current God of War stuck between his responsibilities and love that he has hidden for years
✡ Xu Hai Qiao (as Rong Hao) ~ a disciple who wishes his master to come back
✡ Cristy Guo (First God of War or Xie Wan Qing) ~ a warrior who once sacrificed herself to protect the peace of three realms
All were good in their respective roles.
✡ Special mention to the silly, soft-hearted and adorable Dragon Shang Que (portrayed by Lin Bai Rui).
For dubbing, Yu Shu Xin voiced herself and Dylan Wang (Wang He Di) was dubbed by Wang Bao Shun. supporting actors like Zhang Ling He and Xu Hai Qiao were voiced by Ren Jing Hao and Wang Yong Gang respectively.
OSTs [10/10] —
One of the best parts of this drama is those musical scores. There is one for every situation ;)
◍ "Parting Love" (诀爱) - Faye Chan (the stunning illustrations we get for this intro song and the voice! I have never skipped this honestly, it turns out to be my favorite song from this drama, everytime it's played for the leads, it adds a special magic to their chemistry)
◍ "The Oath of Canglan" (苍兰契) - Li Changchao (the song for both Dongfang hellfire and orchid's first powers as well. I love how the singer shifts to a different pitch in middle and the upbeat music behind is just my style, my second favorite)
◍ "Loss of Memory" (失忆) - Yu Shuxin
◍ "Looking For You" (寻一个你) - Liu Yuning
◍ "Shore" (彼岸) - Jing Long & Jing Di
◍ "Longing" (念) - Shuang Sheng
◍ "I Still Remember That Day" (我还记得那天) - Shen Yi Cheng
◍ "I Want To Be With You" (想和你) - Yu Shuxin & Dylan Wang
◍ "Remaining Love" (余情) - Zhou Shen (smoothly ending every episode with his angelic voice)
REWATCH VALUE [9/10] –
How can you not rewatch a show often when you've absolutely loved most of it. So yeah, going to rewatch. I think I got something good to watch in my drama slumps.
Conclusion [10/10] –
The 8th month - August has almost ended and I doubt if any other Xianxia is crossing this standard for me, so with all my pleasure Love between fairy and Devil becomes my Xianxia of the year 2022! On a side note, I really wish we can get more wholesome dramas like this.
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It started off well enough.
I was excited the first few episodes of this show. Finally a Xianxia I might really enjoy. The first few episodes certainly feel promising but by the middle end of the show, it starts to fall apart. The show has the same major problems of almost every Xianxia I have ever watched. Plot lines that just don't make sense. Conflicts that had a lot of potential that just get dropped, and really stupid storylines in place of better ones. Eye rolling soap and dramatics. The story really starts to fall apart the more nonsensical it becomes.Production was beautiful. I loved the landscapes, costumes, scenery. Much to be expected from this genre.
I felt a little annoyed that the guard and the bandit girl get so much screen time to try to develop a love line I didn't care for. I wanted more scenes of the main leads together. I also didn't like that they didn't curate a better second lead syndrome, which they set up so nicely and completely destroyed instead of exploring further. Added a few weird storylines that seemed kind of pointless to include. Ugh some plots were so bad, it really ruined the show for me.
I will say, I'm really glad they made Fairy Dan Yin redeemable and did not include a crazy female who plots and manipulates due to love.
The show had a lot of potential to be so much better.
Do I recommend it? If you like this genre, it's worth at least watching. Will I watch it again? I mean, I guess I'd rewatch a few of the first episodes? Where the show succeeds, it is great, where it fails, it fails in ways that's hard to salvage.
All I can really say is, Dylan Wang does a great job for this leading role. The character type suits him.
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it's worth watching just once
If you like a story that has been drawn out for an incredibly long time, then this series is for you.Sometimes very boring and predictable. I was very disappointed from the series. I expected a lot more and my expectations were not met. An annoying and naive main role as well as the bad acting by Esther Yu bothered me a lot. The series is with characters who are too stupid to understand and/or admit their feelings. It doesn't have plot twists. You know exactly what will happen in the end.
I don't understand the good reviews. I don't think it's a mutch watch!
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Best Xianxia that I have seen in a long time…
“Love between fairy and devil” has been the best show I’ve seen in a long time. The graphics are SO physically stunning, sometimes it’s breathtaking. The costumes are so beautiful, and have their own style unlike I’ve seen in other Xianxia. The fighting looks so awesome, my son loved when the dragon appeared. The music makes me want to keep turning up the TV, I’m sad I cannot find the opening theme song on YouTube yet. The humor is hilarious mostly because of Dylan Wang and Esthers acting, it’s not cheesy, and is so well done. The story is good and it’s pretty unique combining elements from other fantasy things to make up the “curse”. All in all it’s the first one I’ve seen in a long time that might match up to my all time favorite Xianxia, however only time will tell, so far I’m super enjoying every minute.Cet avis était-il utile?
All the Feels
It seems so simple. Create nuanced characters that don’t slot neatly into standard role types. Give them time to build relationships. Make their choices hard. And yet, it’s rare to see shows do these things, and even rarer when one does them well. And, holy mother of demons and deities, does Love Between Fairy and Devil do them well. It understands that a show about emotions works best if it can make the audience feel every single one of them, and it uses carefully crafted storytelling and skilled directing to ensure just that. Whether it’s a moment of laugh-out-loud humor, sexy skinship, or heartrending grief, this team ensures that it lands, and lands hard. It’s a good old-fashioned melodrama in the best sense – one that recognizes that what we feel is the defining fact of who we are.The show may be a fantasy, but when it comes to matters of the heart, it gives its characters no magic ways to fix things. Love is not instant, trauma lingers, and all loyalties cannot be honored equally. The cast’s skill levels vary, some of the visuals can be alarming, and the female lead makes a strong case for voice dubbing, but the show gets things right when it counts. While it may cop out ever so slightly in the final seconds, it argues that our real power comes not from what we cling to but from what we’re willing to sacrifice, and that while love may not conquer all, no conquest is worth a thing without it.
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10/10 for a xianxia drama ??? what????
OH MY GOD IT HAS BEEN A RIDE!!!!! If you had ever told pre lbfad me that i'd rate a fucking xianxia a 10/10 i'd laugh. I could never seem to get through even one so I had pretty low expectations starting this. AND NOW IM OBSESSED AND GOING THRU WITHDRAWAL 😭 Anyways if you are looking for an epic love story that'll make you laugh, cry, throw whatever device your watching it on, and laugh some more (+therapy) this is THE ONE to watch!!! I just can't believe it's over like dongfang qingcang and orchid are my parents :( now on to the actual review:Initially what attracted me to the drama besides the beautiful leads who managed to stun me with their acting (I'll get into that later tho) and the body swap trope. I thought it would be a "silly goofy romcom" and many xianxias don't present themselves like that (going for epic love story, angst, love, palace politics...blah blah in the trailer) and that for me is a turn off because i simply do not care. But as soon as I started lbfad it stunned me with it's beautiful CGI THAT ISN'T OVERDONE. But the humor is just so good because imagine the most powerful demon of the three realms finally out into the world after being jailed up for 30,000 years and immediately being stuck in a low ranked fairy's body. Esther Yu conveyed that so well. Additionally imagine being a fairy who just wanted to save a casual crush and ended up freeing a demon lord but not knowing it.
It was so funny seeing how inconvenient it is for the both of them. then the show adjusts to a more mature theme which fits so wonderfully well, and it never loses it's main message about how nothing can go against fate, except love.
It's not the most original idea especially in dramas but it executes it SO WELL . this show takes an age-old question, "how important really is love?" and tells a gutwrenching and watertight story with it. the writing is impeccable. scriptwriters understand what makes good comedy, and that so much comedy comes from pain, Something your laughing over in the earlier episodes will turn its back on you and stab you with emotion and pain.
Yes It does have the miscommunication trope but communicating WOULD NOT solve the problem the leads face with their love. In fact it would've made it worse, so we the audience have to suffer along. You DON'T KNOW WHO LOVES THE OTHER MORE because of the sacrifices they make for each other.
Some people may not like the FL in the beginning but keep in mind theirs a reason she acts like that and once you get to that point you'll be begging her to go back to her past self. Not gonna elaborate too much bc spoilers.
The MLs development is absolutely heartbreaking because he goes through so much and we see a loss of power as the show progresses which is quite different from the usual trope of "started from the bottom now we at the top" ABSOLUTELY GENIUS WRITING ABSOLUTELY GENIUS . The side characters are fully fleshed out and not just cardboard cutouts each character is fully recognized and make layered and oftentimes painful choices of their own!
Okay now lets talk about the leads! DYLAN WANG HEDI AND ESTHER YU SHUXIN THANK YOU FOR BRINGING MY DFQC AND XLH TO LIFE! They both look so good together and have the best chemistry (cue all the behind videos)! I just can go on and on about how amazing they were AND WE NEED ANOTHER DRAMA WITH THEM
i think why it works so well it because their 'YinYang' acting and their character personalities shuxin in more subtle acting while Dylan in intense acting. You can’t see that they overpower each other. They both highlight each other, and I think that’s also the reason why their chemistry works.
Dylan Wang Hedi his acting man it was just too good! I was familiar with him from MG, and that's also why I underestimated him based on his past performance. He does his comedic scenes so WELL (XLH in DFQC's body) and he fleshes out his emotions so WELL when we first meet him we really see how inconvenient this curse that spellbounds our leads together is an inconvenience for him . Him at his peak of badassery was SO GOOD LIKE STEP ON ME PLS, then we see how his character develops as he falls in love and how they can't be together and let me just say he's a great cryer. He had way more emotionally intense scenes than Esther Yu Shuxin because the story does focus on how love affects him and how that's not always good, but WOW he needs to bag ALL THE AWARDS BECAUSE HE'S SO GOOD.
Esther Yu Shuxin is just made for her role too! When you get through some of Dylan's emotionally intense scenes her acting might seem a little more subtle, but she was right on par with Dylans acting. She played Xiao lanhua with such sass and sunshine it was great! XLH is truly the core of the story and you can really see how much she cares about DFQC. Normally I dislike bubbly and childish FLs and XLH especially at the beginning IS JUST THAT! But she's also very smart and clever also as her character develops into more of a mature lady you'll be begging her to return to her original bubbly self! I know a lot of people don't want to press play just because of her voice, but it's Shuxins actual voice and it fits Xiao LanHua very very well + she's very young compared to the other characters in the show so it's only natural she has a high pitched voice and yes it might seem unusual at first but it grows on you very quickly! She definitely needs awards too.
The OSTs man i've never gotten PTSD from one but once the beginning notes of "Farewell love" start playing I started bawling. They just add so much emotion to the already emotional scenes. I hope they release all of them, because the (siren melodies were so good)
Anyways this review is way to long now so I'd like to end it with saying that Love between fairy and devil is a love story at it's purest form. It's a fairytale. it's about making your choice and facing the consequences and being able to because of love. Love that presents itself in a familial way in a romantic way in a way with friendship. it's about how love can be your demise but also be your savior. Watch this show even if you don't like xianxias because it's so differently orchestrated it really is a breath of fresh air!
LBFAD imo is the peak of xianxia the peak of romance the peak of star crossed lovers the peak of forbidden love
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My first cdrama and my introduction to Dylan Wang!
I found this on Netflix when I was bored over the holiday season. The picture and the trailer of Dylan Wang acting cold, brooding, and demanding along with his outfit and powers had me intrigued. It took only one episode and I was hooked.As many people covered, this is a fairytale about sacrifice, redemption, and love. You meet our main character, Orchid, who is portrayed as a kind, naive fairy who takes care of fate leaves. Alone, she tends to her garden and thinks about her master who had been banished / punished for a crime she committed (falling in love with someone she shouldn't have). She has a secret of her own - she has fallen in love with a god of war who appears to not care much for her. The god of war is charged with the important task of re-sealing the prison to a mysterious demon king. He was sent into the prison 1,000 years earlier due to a war that left both armies - his and the gods - frozen in stasis. Orchid follows her crush and sacrifices herself in attempt to protect him from falling into the prison. There, she meets the demon king and awakens him with a kiss. ... which causes problems for them and begins the story of their hatred, to friendship, and finally love.
There is a reason why this show has rocketed up in popularity - it is so damn good! They spent 3 - 4 years making sure this project was perfect. It is also said that the FL's father backed this with his money as well. The costumes, CGI, down to the score shows that this is more than just a TV show - this is a phenomenon. The costumes are top notch - gorgeous - from the fantasy world, to the darkness of the Moon Kingdom, to the mortal world. The actors are perfectly cast - from the gods, to the friends, to the leads themselves. Dylan's ability to act with such coldness at first and his thawing due to the kindness shown by Orchid is what sold me on being fan of his, but also what made DFQC work. I think to this day no one else could play him like he did. Same with Esther as Orchid. She plays three different versions of herself - fairy, bodyswapped DFQC, and her final form in the last five episodes (which I won't spoil).
The music is also gorgeous - the opening song, the two various end songs used, and various other songs that pop up here and there through the show. The entire album has become a repeat, and I love finding the actors and the original artists singing the songs live here and there.
Overall, it has a mixture of everything - mystery, comedy, romance, action. Many people who don't finish the show complain because of the main character's voice. While her voice was shocking at first, you get used to it and find it perfectly suited for the character. The fact that Esther could transform her voice into three distinct styles is amazing and worth the pay off if you make it through the show to hear all three.
There is a happy ending, but prepare to shed some tears.
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Cutest Dark Lord Ever, Amazing Intense Love
Love Between Fairy and Devil has probably given the viewers the cutest and most desirable Dark Lord of the three realms, not to mention a gorgeous God of War of the Heavenly clan as well. Between them, a love triangle ensues. The vivacious little orchid fairy who is kind and optimistic, living with the Heavenly clan, chooses the Dark Lord instead, a love that is forbidden, almost like a Romeo and Juliet romance. Within the first episode, I fall immediately in love with the story, the characters and the acting.He wants to protect her with all the power he has; she wants to be treated as equal, sharing joy and pain with him. What follows is a beautiful love story of a ruthless dark lord with a gentle and loving fairy who eventually melts the heart of the devil who has no emotions.
This drama is adapted from the novel "Cang Lan Jue" which was also made into an anime. According to many readers, the drama version is more enjoyable and the Dong Fang Qing Cang character is better written and developed. For me, I'm totally sold by this character. Here we have a Dark Lord that tries to save and protect his people, a heavenly realm that swears to kill all those it considers as evil, and a a fairy who heals and wants peace for all realms.
Void of feelings, the Dark Lord Dong Fang Qing Cang (played by Wang Hedi aka Dylan Wang) is such an amazing character. Being the strongest and most powerful of all the characters with his deadly hell fire, he is overbearing and atrocious. Wang Hedi’s acting is so good and convincing here. He has the rare charisma of being cold and authoritative, but not being stiff like a robot that is usually portrayed by many other actors. His facial expression is simply amazing with a hint of evilness (妖气) and yet at times, viewers can feel his resignation and turmoil within. The actor is very good looking. He can look very serious and arrogant, with large eyes that can look devilish, so he looks very frightening when Dong Fang Qing Cang is in a rage. But at a flip of the switch, he can look totally silly and harmless like a hush puppy. At only 23, Wang Hedi's acting is very mature. I really love his portrayal of the Dong Fang Qing Cang character and he has aced his role hands down; no others can match him. Together with an incredible CGI team, the result is a perfect Dark Lord that everyone fears and loves. I don't have enough of his scenes and for once, I wish the drama had been longer.
Xiao Lan Hua, literally means Little Orchid, played by Yu Shuxin, is equally believable. Yu Shuxin has a very girly, pure and innocent look, and with her ethereal beauty, she is perfect for the role as a little fairy. Her acting is natural and convincing, but when it comes to becoming the Dark Lord as he possesses her body, she is lacking a bit; she looks more like a half-sleep dream walker. Luckily there are not that many of such scenes and she hasn't brought the story down. Xiao Lan Hua later transforms into a goddess who has a totally different personality, and Yu Shuxin manages that role very well; she is very convincing. Many viewers also commented on her voice which she self-dubbed. I find her voice suits the role very well as a little girl who is so pure and innocent.
This drama also gives us a gorgeous second male lead, Chang Heng played by Zhang Linghe. The actor made his debut in 2020 in Maiden Holmes and has since made several well-rated dramas. As with Wang Hedi, Zhang Linghe also plays two characters in this drama: the cold, aloof ethereal God of War, Chang Heng, and the warm and flamboyant human character, Xiao Run. Both roles are being executed convincingly and flawlessly.
Everything about this drama is well thought out for most parts – the script writing, the directing, the camera work, the CGI, the costumes, and most of all, the selection of actors and their respective acting. The storytelling is cohesive and intelligent, and the costumes are so well designed that by themselves, tell the story of our characters visually. The dialogues are funny and cute especially those that uttered by the Dark Lord. The music is beautiful, in particular, the instrumental tune blown by the grey character Ron Hao (played by Xu Haiqiao) on the flute. The music brings out the melancholy and yearning for a loved one, with a love story that is sad and beautiful. The plot is easy to understand, and yet, there are twists and turns that sit the viewers up. I really love the conceptual architecture of Xiao Lan Hua's abode which is surreal and aesthetic.
Re-watch? Absolutely! I would never have enough of Wang Hedi's scenes here. The story is dark and serious, and yet it is also tear-jerking and full of humors and very funny. It captures the viewers' hearts and emotions. After the final showdown and climax, the ending seems a bit lackluster and disappointing. Proper justice has not been done for Dong Fang Qing Cang to vindicate him from some of the killings he hasn't done, and another character escapes with impunity. As with most Chinese dramas, the writing of the final two episodes weakens with a lack of imagination, and is not as compelling as the beginning. I wish the production team had been more creative with the final scene, instead of a mere banal line of, "I'm back". Nonetheless, it hasn't reduced my enjoyment. Overall, this is a great watch and strongly recommended. MUST WATCH!
TWO THUMBS UP! BRAVO!
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Cette critique peut contenir des spoilers
i survived.
this drama was such a rocky road for me.let's start with the positives:
-beautiful visuals
so many scenes in this drama were worth a screenshot. i loved the costume designs and how the production team made amazing efforts in setting the mood for either an emotional scene or a romantic one.
-good chemistry
esther yu and dylan wang did so well with their characters and i can't picture anyone else playing as the ear-piercing fairy and the hot emo lord. all jokes aside, the emotions were delivered nicely and i have no complaints.
-addictive ost
listen. the intro, the outro or whatever is in the soundtrack... they're all so dang stunning!!! i can imagine myself coming back to them now and then.
what's my issue with this drama?
i have two main issues that affected my enjoyment of this drama:
-the female lead
besides the high pitched voice and how childish her character was, orchid's backstory didn't hit me that hard. i had to wait for 20 or 30 episodes to wait for her to sort of grow as a character and whew, why did i have to wait so long? i didn’t even feel the character development because of how much the story was stalling.
-the mortal realm
yoooooo this part was so dragged. idk how long i stayed here to the point that it almost felt like a fever dream. i just wanted the writer to cut to the chase and get it over with.
do i hate this drama?
no but i'm sad. i wanted to love this so bad because there was potential for this to be really good. it sucks that only the ml's backstory was interesting enough to get me hooked but it all fell flat in the end.
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Must watch of 2022
OMG. The show that catapulted my obsession to Cdrama. Where do I begin. I absolutely LOVED every aspect of the show, from CGI graphics, the actors, the OST, character development... im obsessed. Esther Yu and Dylan Wang are just amazing young professionals who performed like a couple of veterans. The movements, expressions and gazes of Dongfang Qingcang were just spot on and took the drama to the next level. He must have improved a lot as many netizens had complained about his acting in previous dramas. The chemistry between esther and dylan was off the charts, and i really enjoyed watching the double dates with supporting leads too. Its another emotional rollercoaster and the script has you caught in the middle between love and service of the greater good. Absolute classic xianxia, best of 2022.Cet avis était-il utile?
Cette critique peut contenir des spoilers
The Fatal Flaw: a weak characterization of the female lead
With eagerness and anticipation, I approached this drama, drawn in by the allure of an antagonistic lead character. The male lead's acting prowess and striking features were truly remarkable. However, my excitement was soon dampened by the female lead's portrayal, which proved disappointing despite her beauty and acceptable performance.
Throughout the drama, the female lead consistently exhibited weakness and made ill-advised decisions, undermining the believability of the storyline. One such decision that still gnaws at me to this day was when she recklessly discarded the bracelet that was shielding her from harm, even though her own people were out to kill her. Another was her choice to consider marrying the second male lead, an action that ultimately did not come to fruition. While I comprehend her thought process, I cannot help but feel that she would have made a wiser decision had she taken the time to devise a plan. This frustration was compounded by her tendency to act impulsively without first thinking things through.
Additionally, the male lead could have benefited from taking more time to consider alternative solutions instead of playing the role of a white knight. A particularly irksome scene occurs when he fails to explain to the female lead why they cannot be together before her first death, leaving her confused and heartbroken.
While not all characters need to be strong and capable, pairing a meek and timid female lead with a powerful antagonist risks presenting a stereotypical representation. Though similar portrayals have been tolerable in other dramas such as "Ashes of Love," this particular one pushed the limits for me. While the female lead undergoes some character growth in later episodes, her decision-making still lacks logical reasoning. The pair could have also worked on their communication skills to prevent a significant portion of the problems they faced.
Another element that dampened my enjoyment of the drama was the male lead's loss of charm as the series progressed. While still a compelling antagonist, he loses some of the qualities that made him an intriguing character. In contrast, characters such as Yan Wushi in "Thousand Autumns" remain true to their "evilness" until the end, making them a favorite of mine.
Finally, the repeated deaths of the main characters was a source of frustration. As in the series "Supernatural," there comes a point when one simply wishes for them to remain deceased.
Despite these shortcomings, the drama does have some redeeming qualities. The male lead's commanding presence and impressive acting abilities compensated for some of the drama's deficiencies. The series also features several memorable scenes, such as the male lead's displays of power and his unwavering devotion to the female lead. The rescue scene in episode 11 stands out, with its impeccable cinematography, tension, and visuals.
Another unforgettable moment was when the male lead, shattered by one of the female lead's death, withdrew into a dream-like state, conveying his love, desperation, and longing in a tragically beautiful way. If the drama had concluded at that point, it would have become one of my all-time favorites, despite my aversion to tragic endings. In that moment, I did not miss the female lead at all, making it a tragically beautiful happy ending for me.
Although I did not love the pairing in the drama, I found their interactions in behind-the-scenes videos to be charming and endearing, deepening my appreciation for their friendship.
In summary, while the drama is not without flaws, it is still worth watching for those who can overlook the frustrating portrayal of the female lead. The male lead's commendable performance and the drama's memorable scenes make it a compelling watch. However, the female lead's weak character and questionable decision-making may detract from overall enjoyment.
"Great acting can make a poorly written character somewhat tolerable, but no amount of great acting can make a poorly written character great." - Dan Harmon
This quote is sadly true in this case.
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