Love in the Desert (2024)

Life, all about choices.

Three cities, Yunpei, Tiandu, and Masui reign over the vast desert. Among the listed cities, Yunpei and Tiandu are the ones with strong armies and massive landscapes. Masui is weaker when compared to the other two cities (Tiandu and Yunpei). Princess Huang Bei Shuang of a fallen clan, beautiful, elegant, yet tactical, and skillful gets entangled with three influential men and in the struggle for power. Huang Bei Shuang decides to go against it all, and set a new record if possible.
In this journey, Huang Bei Shuang meets Huo Qing Yu, they hit it off, and eventually fall in love.

I've got a lot to say about this drama, both the positive sides and the negative sides, but I'll analyze the positive ones first.


POSITIVE
The first episode of Love in the Desert captivated me. Why? There I saw a strong, brave, determined, intelligent, and one of a kind FL. A woman who seeks survival in a cruel world. A woman who wants to make a name for herself in the merciless desert ruled by men. The FL impressed me right from the first episode. After that Huo Qing Yu came into the picture. I saw a kind ML. A man who's willing to feed his horse the water he has left. A man who care for his horse more than he does himself. I said to myself, "a smart and strong FL and a strong and kind ML. Yes, this is the type of the leads I always want to see when watching a drama." These two captivated right from the first two episodes.

A woman can't, shouldn't, and mustn't have aspirations, says who? If a man can do it, why can't a woman? This drama showcase the strong will of Huang Bei Shuang. A woman who wants revenge for the murder of her parents.

"In the desert and under the sky, people live. What if life is a pain? What if life is vigorous? I pick my own path. Since I choose to be this lady. I have to fulfill my responsibility." (Huang Bei Shuang's words). There and then, I knew this drama is about humans choices, sticking with them and staying true to your choice.

If there's one lesson I learnt from this drama, that'll be, "life is all about choices." Some choose power over love. Some choose love over power. Some decides to stick by their principles even if it means they have to die to stick by them, they do it anyway. While some betray their principles for survival. Some decide to die to save their loved ones, while some would rather sacrificed their loved ones to survive. Different stands, different decisions, and different choices.

In Bei Shuang's case, she chose a new identity, a perilous journey to fulfill her dreams, her aspiration, and to get revenge on the killers of her parents. She could have chosen to be on the run, or a much easier life, but she decided to choose a roughy path, a path where survival is uncertain. A path where most women fails. Yes, that's who our FL is, a woman of aspirations and determinations. I love her strong and resilient character.

Bei Shuang and Qing Yu with the wind, moon, and the universe as their witnesses got married. That's another choice yet again.

Hankiz Omar really did her character justice. I've only watched few of her dramas, but I've never really been so captivated by her acting, until now. Her facial expressions, the way she carries herself, I just love her acting. She's elegant, graceful, talented, and beautiful. She portrayed her role as the decisive, tactical, strong, intelligent, brave, yet kind Huang Bei Shuang excellently. And I'm not exaggerating about how good her acting is, she's really good. She deserves each and every praises I'm giving her. She's indeed a rare talent. A diamond among stones.

Allen Fang. What can I say? I've always been impressed by him since I saw him onscreen. He impressed me in so many dramas. I loved his role in The Long Ballad, and A Journey To Love, but that's just to mention a few. I loved him so many more dramas. I was impressed yet again with his role as Huo Qing Yu in Love in the Desert. One of the main reasons I watched this one in the first place is because of Allen Fang cuz he's one of my favorites. Indeed, I made the right choice of picking this drama up. He slayed his role yet again in this one. He added to the list of his dramas that left an impression on me.

Needless I say, I love the chemistry of our first couple?. Their chemistry is natural, unique, and amazing. Their interaction and lovely moments are the true description of love. Yes,their path is not all rosy, neither was it smooth either, but they overcomed it together, hand in hand, in harmony. They overcomed many adversities together. They went through life and death together. Such devoted and strong love mustn't go unmentioned. A pure love.

Not to mention, Love in the Desert's beautiful OSTs. I love the OSTs. Here's the lists
1) Desert wind Chant/ Give me God's wings to conquer the distance by Jess Lee
2) Kiss by Zhang Wei
3) Ask by Jess Lee
4) Recall by Zhang Yu
5) Shadow by Allen Fang
Among all the listed OSTs, the one which I loved the most is "Give me God's Wings to Conquer the Distance." Why? Because I also need God's wings to conquer that distance.
I also loved Shadow by Allen Fang. All the OSTs are emotional and beautiful. I loved them!

NEGATIVE

Allen Fang has multiple identities, but his story wasn't explored enough. Where's the backstory? Where's our ML's screentime? His screentime is too little for a ML with multiple identities. How he became Huo Qing Yu from Na Yan Xing, how he became a powerful northern lord, all these weren't explored well enough.

Also, I hate to say this, but the SML got too much screentime than he's supposed to get. EP 21, 23, and 25 were like the SML episodes. In some of the listed episodes I hardly saw the ML appear. That really got on my nerves.

There's also the messy plot. The plot was all over the place in this one. Little backstory, little clarifications. It became frustrating at some points.

Ending explained
Towards the end, Huang Bei Shuang finally got her revenge on her father's killer "Ge'er Jiqin." Two stabs, then finally, a slit to the throat. Wow, how ruthless. Ruo Wen died ? Huang Bei and Ge Xin Wei stabbed Na Zhan decisively and brilliantly. Really, I love that scene, he thought he's facing two weak ladies, little did he know he's facing intelligent women. They cut him off guard. Huang Bei Shuang broke her flute into two and stabbed Na Zhan with it, while Ge Xin Wei used Ruo Wen's sword. I really love that scene, Huang Bei Shuang always doing the unthinkable. A woman who accomplished the task of a man. I just can't help but be impressed by her. And for once, I admired Ge Xin Wei. Finally, the desert is at peace with Huo Qing Yu as its ruler. A benevolent and righteous ruler is what a nation needs to prosper, don't you agree? Our main couple lived happily ever after, realizing their dreams, and helping out the weak tribes of the desert. That's a fulfilling life, isn't it? I loved how they accomplished all these hand in hand, it's really great to see.

In conclusion, I enjoyed Love in the Desert thoroughly despite the negatives, I loved it still. I didn't fast forward any part, even though I found the second couple annoying most times, I watch every minute of it and enjoyed it. This drama has its flaws, but it's definitely worthwhile. It's a drama I'd recommend. This is a solid 9/10 for me.
Also, don't let the negative comments sway you from watching this, it's actually a great drama. Love in the Desert delivered in so many aspects. So don't be deceived, this is a worthwhile drama. Hankiz Omar and Allen Fang slayed their roles. Same goes for the second leads, too.

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NO SPOILER - Is it physical attraction or is it real love connection?

Watching this drama I wondered if sexual tension could ignate real love connections ?

The story : Amidst chaotic political struggle of 3 cities, the most beautiful woman of the desert, gets involved with 3 Influencial men.

Well... This drama is not a slowburn romance like I thought. It is more a story about infatuation with a sprinkle of toxic romance in an unstable desert, where a power struggle is happening.
The main characters begin their journey with sexual tension that develop into something else, as the drama progresses. Intimacy is a big topic of the plot. There is a lot of sexual harrassment as well. Especially in the first half of the drama.
Indeed, in this savage desert, the women's sexuality is a bargaining ship. It can be exchanged as a payment or as a reward for victory. Meanwhile, the rapists are glamorized. So I would say that sex is emphasized more than romance in this drama, at least in the first half.
This is why the dare, here, is to transend the physical attraction into real romantic love while fighting the power stuggles in the desert.

Would this be doable? Indeed, it is, if we take psychology in account.
The "shaking bridge effect" is a psychological effect that can fake attractivness.
Because, a dangerous situation can make people mistake their own physiological sensations for love.
So, being in a life or death situation can arouse them and lead them to desire each other.
ML and FL entanglement is believable and very well enacted in my opinion.


Pros :
- FL is a witty and gifted princess.
- ML is a mysterious city lord/ chief BOA (intelligence service) of the desert.
- Chemistry is good between all the couples. Some MLs know how to bed FLs.
- Acting is wonderful. my favs are FL, Hankiz Omar, who is doing a great job as a cold and proud princess, and Alen Fang who is great as a resourceful chief of spies.
- Great cinematography. The setting is gorgeous. The desert scene were filmed in Gobi desert. It is a feast for the eyes.
- The pacing is quick in the beginning.
- Some scenes are very theatrical. Sometimes it was like watching "Ottelo", "Carmen" other times "Romeo and juliet" or "The phantom of the opera".

Cons:
- The exposition scenes last a lot before the real plot starts.
- Rape culture. Some would say that it takes place in ancient times and they will excuse the multiple men who want to constantly rape the female leads. But I don't agree. This is just annoying to me because it is so repetitive.
- The physical attraction from the start could jeopardize the deep romance. Was it believable? Yes it was and the acting was on point.
- SML and SFL are not complex characters. They are basically like desert Bonnie and Clyde.
- Pacing was a little slow at the beginning but improved after 5 episodes.

Overall:
I was captivated by this drama. This barbaric desert is the worst place to be, especially for a woman like Bei Shuang.
But she is so clever, that she still managed to pursue her goals and it was a bliss to watch her use her wits to outmatch every antagonist.
I had a hard time with the second couple, all their actions was just so annoying or disgusting to me. You'll see what I mean, when you watch the drama. But, I could understand that some people turn like that, in a violent place like this ruthless desert. However, the SFL remains a mystery to me. How can she be a princess and act so wildly and in such a disgusting way. What about the filial piety and the etiquette that every royal should have been tought since childhood? Once again, you will know what I mean as you watch the show. You might went to drop it at some point, because of the second couple but I assure you, this is a great story worth watching.
Even if, at the end I had few doubt about how the antagonists were punished for their misdeeds.
I recommend this drama if you like beautiful epic romance, full of commitments and sacrifices.
Indeed, the fact that it is not a slowburn romance doesn't disturb me. I am a fan of the Lead's love story.

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