It grows on you

I actually dropped it at the first episode as it seemed to come off as mega-tropy buddy film of the annoying 'dumb' guy and the stoic 'good' guy and ok have to say this the hairline of the guys in this drama is way to high---such wide foreheads that the handsome Zhang Linghe is not is his best looking (compare to My Journey To You!). But the story gets interesting after about 5 episodes---now that said, I am watching this at 1.25 speed so as to keep my interest. This drama is a decent time filler when there is nothing better to watch and unfortunately not refreshingly new.

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Pure definition of rom-com!

Update: It's fascinating that this drama has such extremes of love it and hate it. I am on the Love It side....there are a few plot gaps and the supposed comedy relief of the older couple's romance is totally unnecessary to the story but otherwise, it was WAY better than Heartbeat in the same supernatural fate vein. Sure it follows the tropes, but what rom-coms don't? Consider watching Forbidden Marriage if you liked this drama too. If you're a hater, do share what you've seen lately that was better! Lately I've noticed many new Kdramas are about serial murders or viscious revenge, so this was a nice change of pace.

Still holds after watching it to the end: Ok, so let's just say Rowoon as the ML rocks the looks here. And he's playing the aloof guy to the tee but not so much that you can't stand him...And FL plays her typical spunky self, so I think the casting is spot on.
Supposedly this drama is not doing well in SKorea but well internationally on NetFlix, and I am one of those international fans--it's funny and quirky. I like it better so far than King the Land since the conflict between the two leads is more than just personality differences and so far, much less cotton candy sweet than KTL, cuter than My Lovely Liar, and as for a fantasy drama, more compelling than HeartBeat or Believe In You with ridiculous slapstick comedy side characters..comparing it to rom-coms during this 2023 summer period.

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You might like the Korean version better-I did

I only recently was able to see this drama on Viki, and since it was considered so pivotal to Cdrama's global emergence, , I figured I'd watch it to anchor my fan repertoire...plus I figured it would be cool to see Li Shishi's early work since she was terrific in Journey to Love---but I found myself constantly comparing this original to the Korean remake Moonlovers Scarlet Heart Ryeo--which changes up how she get's there and get's back, and the characterizations of the princes, but otherwise follows the storyline to the end. I found the K version to be more melodramatic and more heartbreaking and engaging--I found myself fast forwarding through this C version. So you may want to consider finding the K version (I found it on Bilibili) to experience this story.

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Aside for Xiao Zhan does this drama really work?

I wanted to offer a different point of view from the diehard Xiao Zhan fans who will love him regardless. I found the opening storyline so ridiculous I decided to drop it. I found the character of the FL annoying-sure there have been reckless, daring FL but their bravado is based on achieving justice...but this gal just continuously ignores everyone and the rules because of what she wants. This is the case in point/spoiler: in the first few episodes, she repeatedly is advised that trespassing is not allowed and punishable by death yet she (and the other FL) both just go ahead and trespass for rather lame reasons. And then FL does it again (oh, because her memory was wiped). But she does it again. And of course, because this story makes no sense, she is saved by the ML--who says he'll never meet her again. And again. Sure, he may 'owe' her for being so loyal to him, but her loyalty is bent on reviving him from the dead--which of course, is a major no no--but what does she care? You could chalk it up to young naivete, but it is stretched in every plot point-she confronts the ancient bird and asks for his feathers, she says she wants to retrieve her friend's dress, but when it burns up she forgets that was the point of her trespassing and doesn't followup. And a little thing-she supposedly wears red as she is from the crimson clan but that seems to no longer apply after her first outfit.
That said the rest of the drivers of the story are questionable--she finds a flowerthat is totally different from all the others there-why would it grow by itself amidst all the others? Why does the consort resort to framing the prince resulting in her death when she is so arrogant pluss is pregnant with an heir? (Ok this may be revealed later in the drama). Why does his mentor focus on angry revenge when the purpose of their sect is to protect the world? Why is the Bird so darm annoying and committed to the lead and yet not as powerful as he supposedly should be for being an ancient being?
XZ is totally comfortable in this role no doubt, but the story is full of holes and the FL role is just too annoying.

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None of the humor and pace of season 1

I will note that part of what makes this drama boring is that for where I live, only one episode per day airs separated by a week...if it were really an engaging story I'd stick with it and not mind the wait for a next episode but when I realized I couldn't be bothered to do so, I had to admit that while it's cool to have nearly the same cast (I love the leads from their other works) , there is nothing to the story to hold your attention to want to see what happens next, and actually there is a heck of alot of inactive dialogue scenes that I suppose moves the story forward but you say to yourself, 'huh, so what?"
That said, Mysterious Lotus Casebook airing at this same time is super dialogue-detective analysis heavy but it works for its plotline and the mischevious acting of the leads. So, I can't recommend this second season unless you are such a diehard fan of season 1.

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Ignore the insensible plot elements and you'll love it!

First episode is aestheically gorgeous. ML is at his adorable best! FL maturity shines. 2nd MLs are so suited to their roles.
But I haven't given a ten because there are parts of the story that don't make sense....for example, her first meeting with him is over a fox fur sold by her evil 'step-mother'---she demands it back even though he paid for it. And she wants it back to sell it.....huh? why is he at fault? And then there's the confrontation in the Pleasure House--would he really accept his wife berating him in public? Then, there's the giving away "ALL" their fortune because they can't get licenses to sell, but yet she turns around and easily opens a new business...with what funds? how did she get that license so easily? Then, there's her mission to gather provisions across the country---isn't the whole reason their own province has inadequate provisions because the other provinces don't/won't sell their own precious supplies? Yet, she has the funds and resources and successfully obtains 2/3 of what she needs?
I haven't yet gotten to the end, but ignore these gaffs in the storyline and enjoy.

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I want to watch this...why?

After 2 episodes with fast-forwarding, I don't get the hook to keep me watching. It feels more like a commentary on the serving the obsessiveness for kids to test well to get into college from the Cram School's perspective vs. students/parents--which of course Sky Castle and Penthouse series have made famous. And there have been several dramas lately featuring 'famous' afterschool teachers who find love--Crazy Love, Crash Course In Romance--so if you like the apparent 'slice of life in Korea' regarding the maniac focus on grades and college entrance with a romance thrown in, keep watching.
I thought a far more compelling school based drama was 2019's Black Dog about the hurdles of an aspiring teacher to get a permanent job in the school system.

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