My Journey to You (2023)

A Rare, Dark Wuxia Gem with supporting cast stories that touched my heart

“My Journey to You” dropped without much promotion and it appears to be a dark horse this late summer. I also succumbed to the hype and wanted to check out a dark wuxia drama, and I am so glad I did. You might not agree with me, but this drama reminded me of a combo of “Bloody Romance” (female assassins, gray characters and love stories) and “The Wind Blows from Longxi” (scheming and plot twists). I don’t have any major criticisms, just a few that are very subjective.


What I Like:

1. Genre - A dark pure wuxia drama is hard to come by. No matter the tone, cinematography, or the theme, “My Journey to You” tells a story of secrets, scheming, plotting, and you don’t know the real truth until the very end when everything unfolds. I wish there are more wuxia dramas like this.

2. Main Cast Acting -
= Esther Yu - I applaud Esther Yu to finally branch out and not play another cute character. I’ve seen enough of her in that role in 3 of her previous dramas. I would not say she was excellent, but she definitely meets my expectations and more. I still find her serious face quite emotionless (I have the same criticism of her in the body swap portion of “Love Between Fairy and Devil”), but overall her sad scenes are much better than anticipated.
= Zhang Ling He - Quite a few criticisms of his acting and character when I read some comments. His character might not be as interesting in the beginning (more of that below) but I do find him decent in this role. He improves throughout the drama as his character grows.
= Ryan Cheng - Wow… this is the perfect role for him. He’s not my kind of handsome, but he’s definitely charismatic and attractive in his role as Gong Shang Jue. HIs side-eye looks are devilishly good. I went back to watch clips of him in “A Familiar Stranger” and he is definitely a lot better in this drama. I am glad to see him in a big production after so many smaller web dramas.
= Lu Yu Xiao - Is this really the cute teenage girl in “Time and HIm Are Just Right”? She’s only 23 years old and is so talented and beautiful. She captures the essence of Shangugan Qian beautifully and has excellent chemistry with Ryan Cheng.

3. Supporting Cast - Love all the characters, including the little annoying brother Gong Yuan Zhi. The acting of the supporting cast is great and I don’t have anyone to single out and pick on. I’ve only seen Jolin Jin in “Remembrance of Things Past” and I really did not recognize her as the hilariously crazy and obnoxious Gong Zi Shang. She really brings some comedic relief to this serious drama. At one point, I worry she’s a little too much, but her antics stop and we move on. I love the supporting cast stories (more so than the main romance) and I was worried how many would survive in the end. In C-dramaland, you know there will be plenty of deaths and I just pray they are not my favorites. Each of their stories touched me and I’m so glad this drama balances the main cast’s stories and the supporting cast’s stories very well.

4. Different Perspectives of the World - The four main characters have very different upbringing and they bring their own perspectives of the world they’re living in. One thing in common is that none of them had a very happy childhood. Actually, most of the characters seem to be missing some type of love & affection when growing up.
= Gong Zi Yu (ML) was criticized for being dumb and not as intelligent as the other leads. But I beg to differ. If you look at things from his point of view, he has intentionally ignored all that’s going on in his family and world. When he was pushed into the leadership role, of course he can’t have the same knowledge and wisdom as everyone around him. He needed time to learn, experience and grow. This drama really did focus on his growth.
= Gong Shang Jue (2ML) was the strongest and the smartest, yet he was not chosen to lead. He has got to be one of my favorite gray characters in a C-drama. His perspective has never wavered - to have the best person to lead, whether that’s him or someone else.
= Yun Wei Shan (F) is the unwilling assassin. She was forced into the world of assassins and longs for her freedom. In a way, she reminded me of the FL in “Bloody Romance” (but she actually kills and is a lot smarter and more experienced).
= Lu Yu Xiao (2FL) is such a beautiful little vixen. Without going into spoilers, her motive of causing trouble and her assassin instincts are fun to watch.

5. Gong Shan Jue/Sangugan Qian romance - I love these two intelligent characters trying to outsmart and out-scheme each other. Their interactions sizzle with chemistry. Their conversations are a game of chess. Did they really fall for each other despite all the mistrusts? Probably. Was I looking for a little more PDA and skinship? You betcha! But what we get is a game of cat and mouse and I am quite satisfied with their ending.

6. Production Value - I love all the elegant costumes. Simple hairstyles for men and women. Detailed patterns on their clothing with layers over layers. I also appreciate the use of natural lighting. Even though the drama appears a little dark (figuratively and literally), no fake bright light was used in many of the scenes. I enjoy the simple sets and rooms, which reflect the characters' lifestyle. Beautiful people and beautiful cinematography. Most importantly, almost all the main characters and supporting cast are using their own voice. I also like all the songs, especially the title song 云之羽 by 张杰 Jason Zhang and 远山如昨 (love the sound of a guitar). I am so glad the songs are not overplayed.


What I have Mixed Feelings (Minor Criticisms):

1. Main Romance - I hate to pick on a romance when this drama is a lot more than a love story. However, when the romance between Yun Wei Shan and Gong Zi Yu does play a big part in the big scheme of things, it does matter. Unfortunately, I am not feeling the chemistry between Esther Yu and Zhang Ling He. Compared to the secondary romance’s sizzling chemistry, this love at first sight is lacking in depth and feels. Is it because of the assassin’s personality/role, or Esther's emotionless acting? Or maybe It’s Zhang Ling He’s acting or the writing of the romance? I actually do feel the love from Zhang Ling He’s gaze but not much from Esther.


2. Action/Fight Scenes - I was going to put this in the positive category, but then the slow motion scenes are gnawing at me. “My Journey to You” has beautiful fight choreography and cinematography. I would say the use of slow-motion scenes are probably better than many other wuxia and xianxia dramas I’ve seen before. However, I still feel that there are too many. When it was a big fight, the excitement is halted when a slow motion scene comes into play. I also would have loved to see more fights throughout the drama, especially in the middle of the drama. This is a minor criticism because I do really think the fight choreography is excellent and the actors did a really good job as well.

3. Pace - I wonder if this drama is trying to make the episodes a lot longer (a little over an hour) to bypass the 40-episode guidelines. If you add the runtime, this equates to a regular 36-40 episode drama. There are a lot of dialogs because of the scheming, so it could feel slow if you don’t like the conversations. I find the pace to be OK, maybe a little slower in the middle. The last 5 episodes are my favorite because it’s action-packed. But, when it’s slow, it feels so much slower when everyone walks and talks slowly, especially with some slow-motion scenes.. Is it just me?

4. A few questionable things - The 3rd assessment, I was prepared to ball my eyes out but then ML sorta bypassed it so easily? The secret passage isn’t really very secretive when everyone uses it. Some characters I thought would never survive after getting hit and stabbed so many times, but they did. Others get stabbed once or twice and they die, or someone is still alive and body intact after a huge explosion.


Overall, I strongly recommend this drama if you are looking for a more serious and darker wuxia drama. There are comedic moments, but this is not a fun drama. Many criticized the ending but I am quite satisfied. I am not sure if there will be a season 2, but one should never expect a very happy ending with such a dark C-drama (not saying this is a sad ending either.. LOL)


Other Random Observations:
* These supposedly cold-blooded assassins are full of feelings and emotions.
* I love the first real kiss of the main leads after CPR. It was quite nice and romantic.
* This is a drama full of sad characters with no good childhood. Parents seem to be non-communicative with their love for their children.
* It’s so sad when the green jade turned to red 🙁



Completed: 9/17/2023 - Review #354

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My Journey to One of the Best Series. Ever.

It’s only 24 episodes. For a Cdrama, that’s only an appetizer, but it’s the main course and dessert wrapped with a cherry on top kind of good.

The storyline and cinematography are enough to pull you in but what really keeps you engaged are the characters and the acting. All the characters are intertwined and you follow them on their incredible journeys of growth and development. It’s all done in an intricate and smart way to keep us invested in all the wonderful characters, no matter how small of a role you may assume they play. The story is fast paced and you can’t catch a breath because it’s so incredibly good. You may think you know a character or where the story is going but they always surprise you with all the twists. You end up wanting to binge all the episodes at once. The visuals and cinematography are STUNNING. It’s dark, gritty, intense and captivating.

The acting. The stellar cast is beyond amazing. Every subtle reaction is incredibly powerful. Every big reaction is riveting. The actors really know how to make impacts with their skills. The director deserves an award. The script writer deserves recognition. This is truly a masterpiece.

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Best C-drama 2023

2018 Ever night
2019 Joy of Life
2020 Romance of Tiger and Rose
2021 Sword Snow Stride
2022 The Blood Of Youth
2023 My Journey to You

I added this drama on my list, best c-drama of the year. This is very recommenced for all people, love wathing or not, the story is good for man and normal people who can't watch over drama and too much romance.

The story is briliant
Theme is refreshing
Location is enjoyful to watch
Acting is good

Maybe the ending mad we litle upset, but this is the consequence for made the end of drama is epic, and we can hope season 2 for this drama.
10/10
This drama is entrance for you join to love watching C-drama

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Dark Wuxia with crazy plot twists, romance, suspense, assassins and scheming

The drama tells the story of two female assassins who disguise themselves as brides to infiltrate the enemy's residence and complete their missions in order to receive their freedom. The main leads are a smart, quiet and very determined female assassin and a kind-hearted, compassionate, gentle and green flag male lead. The second leads are a cunning, wicked, charming female assassin and a cold, authoritative, bad boy with a hidden gentle heart male lead.

POSITIVE:
- Smart, cunning and totally badass female leads.
- Lots of interesting morally grey characters.
- Cinematography that can rival Hollywood's high budget movies.
- Beautiful costumes and settings.
- Unique dark visuals of storytelling that I've never seen before.
- Gorgeous cast, and I mean ALL the cast is absolutely stunning (especially lots of male eye candies to see).
- Assassin's Creed meets Dark Wuxia meets GOT vibes.
- Amazing fight scenes (especially towards the end of the drama).
- Crazy good plot twists with many OMG moments.
- Tons of suspense. Everything is a guessing game. You never know the true intention of anyone.You never know when someone is telling the truth or is lying.
- Phenomenal acting performance from all the cast.
- Sweet romance moments of the main leads.
- Intense chemistry between the second leads.
- Captivating plot.
- Mystery killer vibes.

NEGATIVE:
- Character development of the male lead felt somewhat abrupt. The drama heavily highlighted that he is a fool in love which took away from truly seeing his potential in the majority of the drama. In the end he became a strong character but unfortunately it felt a bit out of the blue of how it happened. So as much as I love the actor (he was the reason I even started this drama) I was not 100% happy with how his character was written.

OVERALL:
I think you can guess from the positive points above that I highly, highly, highly recommend this drama!!! Don't be fooled by the sweet sounding title. This is still a story about assassins and is dark themed. So don't expect many lovey-dovey moments. The romance is more of a subplot but still very much the driving force in the story. I'm a hopeless romantic at heart but I truly loved this drama because of the captivating plot, intense suspense, great characters and stunning cinematography!

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Not My Cup of Tea

I usually don't write reviews, because I find it hard to remember all the details I would like to write down, but this series was so strange that I just have to release all this confusion.
First of all, when I finished watching "My Journey to You" I felt nothing (maybe some relief to have finished). Honestly, I don't regret finishing dramas even when I didn't enjoy it that much, but with this one I felt regret! To me this cdrama does not evoke almost any emotions. I think this is because the characters lack depth and there is zero backstory for Yun Weishan and Shangguan Qian. They try to make the series sinister, dark and emotional but you don't even know the origins of the female leads? Gong Zi Ju had backstory but he was still so bland.. Gong Shang Jue was all right, definitely more interesting than the others.
Second, in my opinion there is zero chemistry between the two couples. Many people think that Shangguan Qian and Gong Shang Jue were the best, but to me, their relationship was almost stranger than Yun Weishan's and Gong Zi Ju's relationship. Like why does Shangguan Qian always have to speak in such a suspicious way? Was there ever any trust in that relationship? And another thing, there was no "falling in love" stage for Yun Weishan and Gong Zi Ju, they just liked each other the moment the series started. And yes, that works sometimes, but in this case it was just mechanical and unromantic.
Third, the story was soo confusing. I can put up with bad character and whatever, but only if the plot itself is entertaining. The original idea was really good but the execution was just eeeh. In the last three or four episodes there were so many plot twists that I just questioned every second of the last 20 episodes. And to me, that's bad script writing. I mean plot twists are good, but too many just don't work. At the end I didn't even understand the intentions of the characters throughout the entire series, because everything was kind of suddenly changed. I don't know if I am explaining this properly but if you've watched "My Journey to You" you might relate.
Okay for the positive aspects of the series: The cinematography was good, and the costumes were gorgeous.

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Poor execution of a good idea

If you want a well-written story, good editing, captivating dialogues, and a satisfying, complete ending - this is not the show for you. (It's an open-ended cliffhanger.)

Pros: The plot itself is decent. The acting, characterization, and cast choice are all excellent. Great visuals. The dynamics and chemistry between the characters—the relationships, platonic or romantic, acquaintances or temporary allies, brothers, friends or enemies—is where it truly shines. Credit where it's due; the male lead's growth is pretty solid and feels natural. The main conflict is alright. The show, I'm pleased to note, is not afraid to spill blood.

Cons: The story is severely damaged by the way it's written and edited, which easily breaks any immersion you get. It heavily relies on retrospection as a tool to explain everything, every time. If in doubt - get through 3 different cliffhangers and wait for a throwback. There's a moment in the series where you get an actual real-time scene, the scene ends, and it goes to the direct follow-up of the scene with the same characters, which then transitions into the retrospection to the previous scene with a detail that visibly wasn't present the first time around. Not shocking, not clever, certainly not necessary, and unfortunately, too common for this drama. This is usually accompanied by PowerPoint-worthy transitions. When you notice the pattern and the construction, it makes it lackluster and predictable, especially close to the end.

To sum it up, there's probably people that will enjoy it, if just for the cast and what they bring to the table. I personally feel like it was a waste of time.

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Intriguing

This is my first chinese historical drama that I actually committed to (I tried >The Long Ballad< but never continued after episode 2 and that is because I must be intimidated with its plot and length lmao), but I was too curious with this drama. I follow Shuxin on Instagram and when she dropped the trailer, I fell in love. So moody and dark and entrancing, I just had to give this a shot! I have seen Esther in >Moonlight< (My fave C-rom-com!) and >A Romance of the Little Forest< (Also one of my faves!), so I know her bubbly and cute characters, but from the trailer, it was clear that this role and character would show a different side of her, and! it! does!

I like both the main characters as well as the second couple and all the side characters. Poison bro is my fave, he looks good and a little devilish and I like it! Also, the fact that this show is the actor's debut project is insane because his acting is really good! The acting in general is consistent and amazing from the entire cast! The second female lead specifically is so great, i LOVE her voice acting as well, she is the perfect spy for Wufeng! I like how we slowly get the characters' backstories to understand their actions and motivations better. I love the music, and how grand and epic it sounds as well as the clothes/styling and setting in general. The fight montages also look amazing, they keep me at the edge of my seat!

What... is this ending, are they kidding?? They fooled us with the happiness and bliss and peace of the characters, and BOOM the last minute takes that away lmao. I mean, this screams season 2, but will we ever get it?? I did not expect to cry so much, but young master Xue's story was really sad and touching :( Also Elder Yue reminiscing about Yun Que :((( and the bracelet he promised her, their story was just sad and tragic :( The last couple of episodes - 22/23 specifically - were REALLY good. Twists and turns and revelations at any minute, it was amazing to find out who collaborated with who, i loved to see it. I think the last episode was really great overall, but this ending leaves me wanting for more (season 2 to be precise). This story was so good though... as mentioned above, the acting was really great, I loved every performance. No one was lacking, not even for a second.

Overall, I am super happy I started this show and will now finally watch some more chinese costume (fantasy) dramas, because my list is full of them... I was just a little scared to start them haha!

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A Sweet Journey with Flaws

My Journey to You is a 2023 Chinese wuxia drama that tells the story of Li Weishan (Esther Yu), a spy who is sent to infiltrate the enemy kingdom. There, she meets Gong Ziyu (Zhang Linghe), a young prince who is also a skilled martial artist. The two of them fall in love, but their relationship is forbidden due to their different allegiances.

The drama is set in a world of martial arts and intrigue, and it features stunning visuals, an intricate plot, and well-developed characters. Esther Yu and Zhang Linghe give excellent performances, and their chemistry together is undeniable.

The Good:

One of the best things about My Journey to You is its sweet and heartwarming love story. Li Weishan and Gong Ziyu are both strong and independent characters, but they are also deeply in love with each other. Their relationship is forbidden, but they are determined to be together.

The drama also features a number of other interesting and memorable characters, including Li Weishan's best friend, Xiao Qing (Li Yubing), and Gong Ziyu's loyal bodyguard, Zhao Yi (Liu Yuning).

The acting in My Journey to You is excellent. Esther Yu and Zhang Linghe both give nuanced and believable performances. Yu captures Li Weishan's strength and determination, while Zhang Linghe captures Gong Ziyu's intelligence and kindness. The supporting cast is also very good, with Li Yubing and Liu Yuning delivering particularly memorable performances.

The drama's visuals are also stunning. The sets and costumes are elaborate and beautiful, and the cinematography is breathtaking. The fight scenes are also well-choreographed and exciting to watch.

The Bad:

My Journey to You is not without its flaws. The pacing can be slow at times, and the plot can be confusing at times. There are also some clichés, and the ending could have been better.

One of the biggest problems with the drama is the pacing. The first few episodes are very slow, and it takes a while for the story to get going. Once the story does get going, it becomes more interesting and engaging, but the slow pacing can be frustrating at times.

Another problem with the drama is that the plot can be confusing at times. There are a lot of different characters and storylines, and it can be difficult to keep track of everything. The drama also does not always do a good job of explaining its plot twists.

Finally, the drama features some clichés. For example, the love triangle between Li Weishan, Gong Ziyu, and Xiao Qing is a bit of a cliché. The ending of the drama is also a bit of a cliché.

Conclusion:

Overall, My Journey to You is a good drama, but it's not perfect. It has stunning visuals, an intricate plot, well-developed characters, and a sweet and heartwarming love story. Esther Yu and Zhang Linghe give excellent performances, and their chemistry together is undeniable.

However, the drama is not without its flaws. There are some pacing issues, some plot holes, and some clichés. The ending could also have been better.

Despite its flaws, I still enjoyed My Journey to You. I found the love story to be very sweet and heartwarming, and I really liked the characters. The drama is also visually stunning, and the fight scenes are well-choreographed.

If you're looking for a drama with stunning visuals, a complex plot, and a sweet love story, then I recommend giving My Journey to You a try.

My personal feelings;

I really enjoyed My Journey to You. I found the love story to be very sweet and heartwarming, and I really liked the characters. The drama is also visually stunning, and the fight scenes are well-choreographed.

However, I did find that the pacing was slow at times, and the plot could be confusing at times. I also found that there were some clichés in the drama.

Overall, I think My Journey to You is a good drama, but it's not perfect. I would recommend it to people who are looking for a drama with stunning visuals, a complex plot, and a sweet love story. Just be aware of its flaws before you start watching.

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Beautiful drama with twists and turns

The first thing that strikes me with this drama is the aesthetics, it really lives up to the expectations that I got when seeing the trailer earlier this year. The mixture of darkness, the light snow and the striking mountain setting is very appealing and combined with the suggestive music choice and excellent lighting, it shapes a masterpiece.

We get to follow the orphaned low level female assassin Yun Wei Shan, portrayed by Esther Yu, when she is infiltrating the Gong martial arts family’s stronghold. Her mission is unknown to the viewer but she comes well prepared by her handler. She arrives as one of many bridal choices for the young master Gong Huan Yu. Things gets complicated when the family discovers that there is an assassin among the brides. The kind but idle and immature Gong Zi Yu takes action to save the lives of these brides and things get complicated from here. A bond starts to form between Yun Wei Shan and Gong Zi Yu and she gets involved in the dangerous power struggle between the Gong brothers.

The director Edward Guo utilizes the natural elements to their fullest and the cinematography gives us stunning visuals and helps build tension in a remarkable way. I also think that the costume choices and styling feels creative and fresh. I’ve noticed this costume designer Huang Wei for a while now and she always delivers top of the art. The art direction is beautiful and even if I recognize mist of the locations from other dramas, they are now showed in a new light with fresh angles.

Another great thing is the music. The song choices are good and the instrumental pieces are suggestive and contributes to create anticipation and tension. One thing I noticed is the sound editing. I don’t know the techniqal term but let’s call it sound imaging. For example when one of the brothers remember a painful event from his past, we get to hear a large door close, but the door isn’t real, it’s in his heart.

The experienced and skilled older brother Gong Shang Jue is like a volcano about to erupt. He keeps all his feelings inside him but his face reveals plenty, and during the drama he shows more and more of his emotions. He is portrayed by Ryan Cheng who makes his best role this far in his career. He really nails everything about this tormented young man with the most emotions revealing eyes. I’m happy to know this talented actor has many main roles in his future plans. I’m looking forward to see what else he can accomplish in the future.

The third brother, the poison expert Gong Yuan Zhi is played by Tian Jia Rui. This role is his first ever and he excels in conveying the younger brother who is devoted to his idolized brother Shang Jue. I’m very impressed with this newcomer and how he can show the entire register of emotions.

The last main character is played by Lu Yu Xiao. She plays the bride to be for Shang Jue, Shangguan Qian, and she delivers a character with great depth that switches from cold to pitiful and back in an amazing way.

The acting in this drama is top notch with stellar performances from all the main actors/actresses and as a viewer I often wonder about what’s going on inside the characters heads. The script comes with a few surprises that shocks the viewer and threw me from hope to devastation a few times. The great acting and unpredictable script make me question everything in this drama and I’m constantly on edge about what’s going to happen. The tension is unbelievable and still I wouldn’t mind more if it.

The only thing I don’t find perfect in this drama is the comedy part delivered by the Gong sister which is a bit exaggerated and feels displaced. I understand the need for some comic relief from all the tension but the way it’s done here makes me a bit annoyed. In the middle of the drama the tempo slows down and a lot of the built up tension disappears, but it finds its way back in the last episodes. The ending has been debated a lot, and I actually like the idea of it although I think it was a bit rushed.

I love this drama and will surely watch it again within a year. Can’t wait to see the next drama from the director and I am very curious about what the main actors will do next.

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A Masterpiece to be enjoyed slowly

This drama definitely deserves a 10/10. The best drama I ever watched !
My review is a simple consideration to ensure that the rating is not lowered by the expectations of someone looking for something else.

If you're looking for a romantic drama with a couple of doves... don't watch it!
If you're looking for a basic drama to watch at double speed... don't watch it!
If you are looking for a drama with only 2 protagonists and unimportant side stories with mediocre actors who glorify the protagonists.... don't watch it!

If you are looking for a drama with a complex story that keeps you in suspense where all the actors play an important role in the unfolding of the plot without useless dialogues.... watch it!
If you're looking for a drama with incredible production, great actors, breathtaking visuals and an amazing soundtrack.... WATCH IT !!

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A Journey to be Remembered

From the beginning, this drama is different. The storyline is like a labyrinth. It takes you down the winding paths of scheming and deceit, and keeps you guessing at every turn if reality meets appearance. As the viewer, you sometimes wish you were perched up high upon the maze, so you can figure out the fate of those lost within it, yet you are made to walk alongside the characters until they reach the exit.

The dark hues of the lens, the riveting storyline, the elaborate costumes, the perfectly matched music and the daily dose of cliffhanger brings together a story that may not be perfectly executed, but is close enough.

The characters in this drama are multifaceted and the cast who play both the main and supporting roles all skilfully portray their respective parts with depth.

With much gratitude to the director, cast and staff for bringing its viewers on a very memorable journey.

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A Spy's Emotional Odyssey

"The Journey to You" combines intense intrigue with a deeply emotional journey. Yun Wei Shan's character breaks the mold of the traditional spy, blending vulnerability with cunning, making her journey inside the Gong residence both thrilling and moving. The house itself is almost a character on its own, shrouded in mystery and constantly challenging Yun Wei Shan's wits.
Her evolving relationship with Gong Zi Yu stands out. Their dynamics are compelling to watch. The series manages to beautifully blend romance, friendship, and personal growth against a backdrop of danger and intrigue. Some subplots may occasionally meander, but overall, the storyline remains tight and captivating.
The cinematography deserves commendation, capturing both the grandeur and the lurking threats within the Gong residence. While some characters could benefit from deeper development, the lead duo offers a strong and engaging performance. The OST is fitting, even if not particularly memorable.
For those seeking a blend of romance, action, and self-discovery, "The Journey to You" is a commendable pick.

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