Fangs of Fortune (2024)

A beautiful cinematography but lacks essence

Visually, it’s a gorgeous drama but there was just something missing. Like I started watching because of the premise; a great demon wanting to die but meet people who might convince him to live. It started that way but turned into a crying fest along the way. It’s like every episode someone has to cry. And maybe that’s the direction the directors wanted to go with the drama. Maybe they just wanted to tug at our heartstrings. From episode 29 even with tears in my eyes, the only thing I could do was laugh.
Firstly, Ying lei is supposed to be a mountain god; part demon and part god. How the hell did he die from those wounds? Like how!!! And please don’t say that li Lun roots went through his heart or something…. And then everyone just stood there watching. I mean fine, the poison acted on wen xiao so she couldn’t do anything. Why was pei sijing just there holding her instead of helping ying lei?? And xiao zhou was the next one…. I thought he’s good at fighting or holding his own…. He saw the roots coming towards him and just waited for ying lei to push him out of the way….. So you’re telling me that he hit the ground so hard that it took him so long to get back up?? Plus they had a sword and a knife and just stood there watching the roots coming towards them?? My gosh!!! And I’m sorry to say but I really had to laugh that whole scene of ying lei dying……
Secondly, it’s like going from a good fighting scene where the drama picks up back to a crying fest. At first I didn’t like li Lun because of his actions but his sacrifice redeemed himself in my eyes. I actually cried with his and bai jiu’s deaths. Like I can understand why Bai Jiu died and the circumstances under which he died but I still cannot understand how ying lei died. And why do people just disappear from each scene….. like pei sijing and bai jiu were both together but when bai jiu was dying, where was pei sijing?
FOF is beautifully made but that alone isn’t good enough. Some persons might enjoy it but I would have like things to make sense; at least to some degree. Like the last set of episodes had scenes that weren’t connecting. Like during the fighting scenes, zhou yi Chen had his sword pointing towards the doctor guy and in the next second, this sword isn’t being pointed at the guy. And this happened in multiple scenes.
I wasn’t expecting a happy ending but I continued to watch until the end although I had to fast forward sometimes.
But what I did like was the ost. Lui yuning once again delivered and it shows why he sings most of the ost for various dramas. I also liked that ZYC finally understand what ZYZ was going through and saw that he didn’t have a choice of what happens when he gets controlled by the malicious energy. But I would have liked to see the others apologize to ZYZ since they easily forgave Bai Jiu for his deception.
It’s been a rollercoaster and now I’m onto my next journey.

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2024 cdramas endings are just....too soul shattering!

"Fangs of Fortune is a captivating fantasy historical drama that follows Zhu Yan, an age old demon as he joins the demon-hunting bureau to help capture the various demons that have escaped into the human realm. This chaos ensues after the disappearance of the Bai Ze Order, which was responsible for maintaining the balance between the human and demon worlds following the tragic death of the Bai Ze goddess. With demons now running rampant, the formation of the demon-hunting squad becomes crucial.

Throughout the story, Zhu Yan meets a diverse group of characters, and together they confront the challenges posed by these escaped demons. The plot is intriguing and exciting, and I appreciate how the narrative weaves multiple storylines without spoiling the overall experience. Each subplot contributes to the main narrative, introducing a wealth of interesting characters along the way. The acting is good; most of the characters have managed to deliver subtle yet impactful performances that enhance the overall storytelling.

The interactions among the characters are fascinating to watch, showcasing their amazing chemistry. I particularly enjoy the random comedy moments sprinkled throughout the show; while they might seem off-putting to some, I find them timely and essential for lightening the mood. The drama itself is visually stunning, with beautiful aesthetics, impressive cinematography, and captivating CGI. The costume designs for the various characters are equally remarkable. All of this is complemented by upbeat soundtracks and soothing background music that enhance the viewing experience."

The ending to me was foreshadowed Ofcourse I didn't expect the writer to go on a killing spree but I sort of saw it coming...that aside...this drama was good.....the plot, the acting the visually appealing cast, the characters and the bonds and chemistry between the characters the visually appealing aethestics...the cgi and more..this drama was a whole package but the ending traumatized me.

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Endearing Characters

Just like that the journey is over and what a journey it was.
This was one of my most anticipated dramas this year and despite it's flaws it didn't disappoint me.
It's visually stunning with gorgeous costumes and beautiful cinematography. The OST is moving and memorable. The fight scenes are elegant and well executed. But above all else, we have a team of endearing and interesting main characters we can root for to overcome all obstacles thrown their way.

You will either love or dislike this drama, because like all dramas out there it has its flaws. Whether you can ignore the flaws and enjoy the drama is subjective.

The biggest flaws in this drama for me were the lack of explanation regarding some important details as well as some illogical choices regarding the plot.

Did those flaws ruin the drama for me? No, not at all. It left me with questions and a head shake here and there, but overall I still enjoyed this drama immensely.

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A Mesmerizing Gothic Tale in Chinese Version

To be honest, I’m not expecting much from FOF since I’m here only to support Neo Hou. But goodness, am I mistaken? FYI, FOF aka Fangs of Fortune is an original-script-based fantasy drama which is under the command of our notoriously controversial yet aesthetical director Guo Jingming (I’m sure everyone has known all sorts of things he did before, but he sure knows how to make such a masterpiece). As you can see, FOF is also fighting neck-to-neck with Love Game in Eastern Fantasy and The Story of Pearl Girl (excluding Smile Code which is flopping badly), so it’s not that easy for it to achieve such a wonderful rating. Let’s delve into the story now, shall we?

FOF revolves around nine main characters (according to the individual posters posted in Weibo) consisting of the shameless yet loyal 1000-year-old great demon Zhao Yuanzhou/Zhu Yan, the astute Baize Goddess Wen Xiao, the cold-outside-warm-inside descendant of Bingyi Clan Zhuo Yichen, the badass female archer Pei Sijing and her faithful younger brother Pei Siheng, the timid little doctor Bai Jiu, the mischievous Mountain God Ying Lei, the green-eyed pagoda tree demon (also Zhao Yuanzhou’s former bestie) Li Lun, and most of all is the vengeful and malicious Wen Zongyu (I’m hoping to make every character arc, but it doesn’t seem to be possible since it will only lengthen my review).

In my pure opinion, FOF is not a facile and cheesy script like your typical old-school romance drama. Instead, it’s a very meticulous and stunning one, in which the scriptwriters managed to input several plot twists into that none of the watchers could predict the outcome of the show. The show not only focuses on the topic of friendship and self-growth, but also probes into the meaning of love, desire, yearning, and the pain of being betrayed, all of which are beautifully portrayed, of course. Back to Guo Jingming again, we know that he always has the tendency of producing angsty drama and FOF is not an exception. There are lots of angsty scenes in every existing episode and somehow the actors will always cry whenever something goes off or someone dies. However, these scenes don’t have much impact on me (I myself don’t understand too) so I always watch with my expressionless face as they keep crying. But, the most striking scene would probably be Ying Lei’s death and his dying wish of how he wants Bai Jiu to live well – it’s just so heart-wrenching…

Shout out to every actor from main to supporting and guest roles for acting out the multi-faceted character in an insightful way. This show will also boost Neo Hou’s popularity and he proofs himself to be a force to be reckoned with (can’t wait for his next projects). Chen Duling also acts well, but her excessive crying scenes is irking me very much. Thanks to her good acting skills, Wen Xiao is still a bearable character. This is my first time watching Tian Jiarui and I don’t have any complain about him – he does just as good as the others. Finally, Cheng Xiao is out of her comfort zone and her character doesn’t seem to be as annoying and cliché as the one in Falling into Your Smile. Lester Lin is the youngest out of the whole bunch, but he can portray Bai Jiu beautifully even when he’s in the dark mode (as the saying goes, age isn’t everything). Special mention to Yan An (Pentagon) too – he’s a K-pop idol and also a hidden gem in acting that I can’t help but keep waiting for his scenes (FYI, currently Pentagon is in a hiatus, so I hope Yan An can do more dramas until Cube Entertainment calls him again).

FOF is indeed an S++ drama, every set is done aesthetically and every scene is taken intelligently to ensure its quality. As I mentioned in the title, FOF has a gothic vibe akin to those in historical Europe sites, but in Chinese version. I particularly like Bingyi Forbidden Area, which reminds me of a domain in Genshin Impact. A user also reminds me that the ancient runes in Kunlun Peaks is similar as Paimon’s when she is summoned.

I think I’m going to rave about the OST especially Liu Yuning’s hip-hop/rock song – it’s my first time hearing him rapping lol. I also like Xu Zhenxuan, Yan An, Cheng Xiao, and Lai Weiming’s OSTs. If it hadn’t been for these songs, the OSTs would’ve been particularly meh.

Would I recommend this show? AN ABSOLUTE YES! As you follow their adventures, you’ll be enamored by their witty dialogues, gorgeous and impressive sets, and the heartbreaking OSTs. Don’t hesitate to watch this masterpiece because your every second is worth it. Good luck and happy watching!!!

P.S.
There is a BL-like vibe between Zhao Yuanzhou, Li Lun, and Zhuo Yichen. Unfortunately, they have to tone it down a bit to fit the shitty censorship, otherwise we'd get another BL show. Also note that Wen Xiao may play a pivotal role in protecting the Wilderness, but she's only there so that she can have a love line with Zhao Yuanzhou (to make sure FOF isn't banned like Immortality, Winner is King, Eternal Faith, and so on). Still, you can enjoy their scenes and feel the bromance between them tho.

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A Sorrowful Story with a Visual Feast

Edward Guo’s Fangs of Fortune is an emotional rollercoaster that had me hooked from the very first episode. It’s visually stunning, emotionally gripping, and the kind of story that stays with you long after the credits roll. While the acting may not have been flawless, it was heartfelt and genuine enough to make the audience fall in love with the characters and the world they brought to life.

The plot is about personal growth and transformation. Each case, adventure, and even the moments of saving the world are more about who the characters are becoming than the external events themselves. The drama unfolds slowly, layering moments that may seem mundane or even drawn-out, yet each conversation and interaction is rich with meaning. If you’re not paying close attention, you could miss the subtle insights each scene offers, conveying the internal struggles and realizations that shape the characters.

Though the dream-traveling sequences and certain cases may not always be executed perfectly, the real heart of the story lies in the characters’ evolution. They wrestle with defining their identities, their values, and what they ultimately want to stand for in the world.

Take, for instance, our Great Demon Zhao Yuan Zhou. Initially, he’s a man who's lived for a thousand year and is weighed down by his willingness to sacrifice himself at a moment’s notice for those he cares for. His journey is heartbreaking yet inspiring, as he transitions from being ready to die at any second to finally wanting to live. Tragically, fate doesn’t align with his desires, and he is destined to die. Wen Xiao, our female lead, stands out as a consistent anchor throughout the drama. She embodies kindness, loyalty, and a deep understanding of both humans and demons. By the end, she hasn’t lost these core traits, but her perspective has expanded immensely. She now sees both worlds with greater clarity and complexity, solidifying her role as a bridge between the two.

Zhou Yicheng’s transformation was another standout. Initially rigid and set on destroying all demons, he gradually came to understand that not all demons are bad and not all humans are good. Watching his eyes soften and his perspective change throughout the series was so rewarding, especially when he ultimately became what he once despised. Then there’s Pei Si Jing, who starts the series with a similar disdain for demons, a sentiment partly rooted in the revelation that her brother was one. Her character’s stoicism makes her arc especially striking. At the beginning, she barely emotes, but as she spends time with the group, her walls come down. She experiences and expresses worry, fear, sadness, and even forgiveness, becoming someone far more open and empathetic by the end.

Bai Jiu’s story broke me. At first, he was the group’s scaredy-cat, jumping at every shadow, but over time, he grew braver and more confident. His bond with the group, especially with Zhao Yicheng, was so heartwarming, but his arc took a tragic turn. Manipulated by someone he trusted, his master, Bai Jiu unintentionally hurt those he cared for most, and later, his body was taken over by Li Lun. His ending was devastating—DYING ALONE to save Zhao Yuan Zhou and Zhou Yicheng. Knowing how scared he must have been in those final moments, yet still summoning the courage to make that ultimate sacrifice, was utterly heartbreaking. The Little Mountain God was another character I adored. He started off carefree, dreaming of being a cook, but losing his grandfather and taking on the responsibility of guarding the Kulun Gate forced him to grow. His bond with Bai Jiu was so pure—he wanted to be someone Bai Jiu could look up to, just like Bai Jiu admired Zhao Yicheng. His death hit me the hardest. He didn’t deserve to die, but he sacrificed himself to bring Bai Jiu back. It was both beautiful and unbearably sad.

And I can’t talk about this drama without mentioning the OST. It’s absolutely stunning—so raw and emotional, perfectly capturing the tone of the series. What made it even more special was that each cast member sang their own theme song, adding a personal, emotional connection to their characters. Neo Hou’s OST, in particular, stood out to me. It’s drenched in sorrow and pain, and every time it played, it hit me right in the chest.

Visually, the drama is stunning. The CGI and VFX were beautifully done, and every scene felt like a piece of art.

I also have to give a special shoutout to Qing Geng and Fei. They were such a lovely addition to the story, and their relationship felt so genuine. They deserved happiness, but like so many others in this drama, they didn’t get their happy ending. I pray that if they ever star in a drama again together that they get their happiness!

Fangs of Fortune might not be perfect, but it’s unforgettable. The visuals are gorgeous, the storytelling is heartfelt, and the characters feel so real by the end. It’s a drama about growth, sacrifice, and love, and it’s one that will stay with me for a long time. If you’re looking for a show that’ll tug at your heartstrings and leave you thinking about it long after it’s over, this is the one to watch.

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Started with comedy ended with trauma!

One of the best drama in 2024 for me!
Actually I was little disappointed with the start of the drama....but after that everything turned top-notch

My favourite character is Zhou yichen played by Tian jiarui

Cinematography and CGI were literally so good.But few scenes literally looked so cheaper.
Actors:
•zhao yuanzhou/Zhu yun (Ying long)played by Hou minghao - I know he is good actor and he really acted very well.And his makeup and aesthetics in yinglong character are chef kiss.

•wen xiao played by chen duling - she literally done a good job as wen xiao and successful pissed me...at first I thought she is good in this role but I am worng yarr i know she is mortal but she is also a goddess right, like always calling others pitfully while they were literally dieing...i felt what the?not only once but so many times !
I know so many of the viewer like her on this role....but it's my opinion

•Zhuo yichen played by Tian jiarui - To be honest he is the reason for me to watch this drama and I am impressed too...yes I missed his sassy side but the righteous side of the role really good.He is just too good in this role!

•Li lun played by Yan 'an- He is also one of the reason for me to watch it....he is a idol from the Korean band Pentagon.Omg he muscles,his body (I am shameless)his smile...in single word i am obsessed and he really done good job as toxic ex....and his death...that was so tragic!

•Bai jiu Played by Lester lin -This 13 year old guy....done a excellent job...i never thought that I will be crushing on a 13 year old boy.
I missing his screamings, smile cute talk and his Zhuo ge why the writers choose such a cruel death scene for him...and him as possessed li lun is everything his makeup as li lun is just unexplainable

•Ying lei played by xu zhenxuan- His character something we can't forget especially his smile.

As for guest roles and their stories:

First: Ran yi and miss qi story yes story was ineed sad and her father was sadist.

Second:cheng Huang and Shen nv their was indeed tragic and their acting also good...but I am who doesn't felt any thing about their story!

Third: Fei and Qing geng their story is very very tragic and I was so affected by fei's death I cried like helland Aimi she is such a good actress I want see her a main leads future....

My favourite ost: return from long dream, broken tailed bird, unintentional dream and yuanzhou's youth.

My favourite scenes:
•Bickerings of yichen and zhuyun
•Almond cheese scene
•The conversations between pei siblings
•Sword dance
•Ying long and bingyi story

My most traumatic scenes:
•Fei 's death
•Ao yin 's death
•Ying lei's death
•Bai jiu(my most traumatic scene I can't forget)
•li lun's death
•And Zhu yun's death

Yes this one had plot holes...but still it's my favourite ❤️

That's all thank you for reading ❤️

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A devastatingly beautiful story of two soulmates that happened to be MLs

This story...either purposefully or accidently, ended up being a completely different story than it orignally appears to be. What I thought would be a supernatural romance turned out to be a heartbreaking supernatural bromance. Brotherhood. Soulmates. Whatever you call it, the two male leads' bond surpassed all others intended for this story.

But let's start with why the average rating...

If this was a visual arts competition, it would surely win first place. The visuals of this series are GORGEOUS. I don't think I have seen a single cringe visual effect. I thought I've seen gorgeous (Love Between Fairy and Devil) but this story took the crown by FAR.

The music in the series also really grew on me and I now have several OST in my playlist. It has some very powerful tracks for fighting scenes and also hauntingly beautiful BGM for sad scenes.

The cast was beautiful. Each character (and even each character's different counterpart) had a very specific and gorgeously styled outfit, hairdo and makeup. The costume team really outdid themselves here.

But as far as acting goes, I feel like more times than not, the aestethics helped them look a certain way rather than their own range of acting skills. Not saying their acting is lacking, but with how much artificial help they got to enchance a certain "mood" I can't properly distinguish between the effects and their acting skills.

For example, in what seems every episode, the characters would cry that one beautiful bead of crystal tear that rolls down their cheek in a close-up camera work. When done in moderation, that thing is beautiful, but when it's overdone (and in this story every character basically) it really starts to lose its impact. They looked gorgeous in their miserable state though...

Overall, from the cast Neo Hou, Tian Jia Rui, Yan An and (coming out as a surprise) Lester Lin were the best part. Their characters had the most impact, diversity and growth (in my personal opinion). It's very hard to judge Chen Du Ling's performance in this because there was something very lacking with her character that seemed too one-dimensional and a damsel in distress.

The plot....it's drowning in misery. The storyline, the idea of it, initially, was very good and rather compelling. There are demons, gods and humans. There are sacred artifacts and rules for their worlds. The visuals of the supernatural powers are vast and gorgeous, so at first glance the story seemed to have a lot of potential. But the execution of it was much to be desired... Starting from the beginning, the scenes were all over the place - people would cry, laugh, be comedic and serious all in a span of few minutes and it'd keep going. I couldn't tell what "mood" the story wanted to set. Somewhere mid-way the impending doom for one character or another seemed to be not only the main but the ONLY driving story point. Death and self-sacrifice, when used right, can be a powerful way of telling a story, but here it was passed around like a dodge ball, losing its intended impact.

The romance. Or lack of. Unfortunately til the end I found it hard to root for the main couple. It felt like we were TOLD that they love each other through certain plot aspects, but there was not much substance. Zhao Yuan Zhou (the ML)'s character is lonely and craves closeness, so if anything, the romance with FL feelt like a dream for normalicy rather than true bond. His other bonds (mostly brotherhood) run that much deeper. The ML had incredibly more chemistry with the SML, not to mention their storyline had SO MUCH MORE substance. It had growth, natural banter, warmth and heartbreak. THEIR STORY is the one that brought me to tears. Ultimately, they were the power couple of the series.

Part of me would have loved to see FL be a young kid that the two ML's unoficially adopted. I feel like her presence in the series wouldn't have changed much, and the ML's protectiveness would come out more naturally.

Overall, this story has aspects of it that are worth watching. The stunning visuals, music and the heartbreaking connection between the two MLs. But I would not recommend it for FL x ML romance. And not if you're not into a slow-paced melancholy mood storyline.

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The details of Hu Minghao's acting from tears to fingertips in Big Dream are truly amazing!

Every tear from this big devil character is so contagious.

Every facial expression is so precise and every detail conveys deep emotions that make people sink into it.

Hu Minghao has fully explained the life of patience and endurance of this big devil character named ZhaoYuanzhou, and it must be said that his acting skills are extraordinary.

The series has ended, but the evil character of ZhaoYuanzhou will always exist! We look forward to Hu Minghao surprising us with more projects.


_ Excellent cinematography
_ Excellent fighting moves
- Good comedy
- Excellent acting by Hominghao;  Beautiful music

- I don't think Zhao Yuanzhou
final death scene was meaningful enough for Zhao Yuanzhou death, they could have watched it much better, he lost his life for the world, I think they ended it in a hurry

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Come For The Aesthetics, Stay For The Found Family Dynamics

After an up-and-down drama year, this was finally it: the drama obsession that I've been waiting for in 2024.

I was completely hooked from the very moment the great demon Zhu Yan entered the Demon Hunting Bureau and asked its greatest hunter, Zhuo Yichen, whose family Zhu Yan massacred 8 years prior, to kill him. In exchange the demon offers his help with solving demon related crimes, and Zhuo Yichen, who has been waiting for years to get his revenge, agrees to these conditions – which is where the tragedy begins.
Because Zhu Yan isn't the cruel and fearsome demon Zhuo Yichen expected him to be at all, and while they travel together and collect a merry little family of misfits around them, the great demon's endless kindness and compassion is slowly chipping away at the demon hunter's resolve and makes him question both his personal feelings towards Zhu Yan and his moral code ...

I've watched several of Guo Jingming's works before, so I already had an idea of what to expect in this one. There was a very clear aesthetic vision for how this drama should look like, and I'm not just talking about the gorgeous costumes, but also the spectacular CGI and the breathtaking sets that make every single shot look like a painting.
The soundtrack is an absolute masterpiece as well and enhances the mood considerably; I swear I can't name a single song from it that I didn't love.

When it comes to the plot, this drama is very much character-driven. If you're looking for complex political intrigue and jianghu conspiracy stories, then this is probably not the drama for you. The plot of FANGS OF FORTUNE is driven by the characters' hopes, desires and grievances and spends at least 80% of the time exploring the complex relationships between the main characters.

And it's those relationships that are this drama's greatest strength.
At the core there are the upright and incorruptable Zhuo Yichen (played brilliantly by Tian Jiarui), his childhood friend, fellow demon huntress and work-in-progress goddess Wen Xiao (played by Chen Duling with much spirit and sass) and Zhu Yan, an old and powerful great demon with a serious death wish (probably Hou Minghao's best performance to date). The plot revolves primarily around those three and their vaguely polyamorous relationship.
They are later joined by the teenage medical genius Bai Jiu, the composed archer and former rival demon huntress Pei Sijing and the foodie godling Ying Lei, as well as Zhu Yan's ex best friend slash boyfriend Li Lun.

And as I've said somewhere in the comment section before, I'll say again here:
I have NEVER seen the whole 'found/chosen family' trope this well executed in a Chinese drama before. This is not just a story about pursuing a common goal only. This is a drama about deep friendship, about overcoming prejudices, finding the good in each other and building trust, about forgiving and making amends. It's about intense emotional and physical closeness between people who are not related by blood, and about love, both platonic and romantic and every single shade in between.
And it has been quite some time since I've felt so much joy following the adventures of such a mixed group of fictional people.

Speaking of the characters:
The quality of the acting of everyone involved was absolutely top-notch. Every single actor/actress delivered a memorable performance, even if they appeared for only 3 episodes at most.
The biggest surprise for me in this was Hou Minghao, though. I've seen several of his dramas by now, but none of his roles have left the same deep impression on me as the world-weary great demon Zhu Yan. I could just FEEL how tired he was, how lonely and sad. Fate has treated him unkindly and my heart was breaking for him more times than I can count.
The same goes for Tian Jiarui's portrayal of Zhuo Yichen, whose inner moral conflict over the course of this drama was mirroring that of Zhu Yan beautifully. Their incredible chemistry was what got me invested in the story in the first place.

But this drama also has a few issues that I just can't ignore.
The drama lost its plot several times along the way because it was focussing too much on the main characters' personal and self-made problems and then took its sweet time to get back to the initial action. I also hated that one specific narration technique that Guo Jingming just loves to use far too often: showing an event/situation from one perspective and then showing it again later, telling us that 'actually, THIS is what happened instead in that scene' by adding small details that were not obvious the first time around. This can lead to some shocking plot twists when used sparingly, but it just feels like lazy writing when it happens too often. The amount of twists caused by this in some episodes almost gave me whiplash.

Other than that I was completely happy to submerge myself in this fascinating world every evening for the past three weeks, though. This drama will stay with me for a long, long time and I can't wait to rewatch it and appreciate its ethereal beauty and the love between its protagonists once again in the coming days.

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Best Chinese Dramas to Close the End of 2024

All the cast are very talented. The main cast and supporting/guest cast were very well acted and captivating. Neo is zyz and zyz is neo. Chengxiao really stepped out of his comfort zone and blew us away ✨❤️

cdl is very beautiful and neat I feel the script for the goddess is not challenging enough, the goddess as FL should be given the best role and script
Aimi and Zuoye might be GJM's favorite support role couple. Ai Mi at a young age is given GJM's trust to get interactive scenes with important actors such as Neo, Yanan, Lester, and Rui.

GJM never fails to cast, even though GJM remains steadfast in its stance on never having a happy ending. GJM always lets us finish our own stories😭. Thank you to all Actors, you shine and thank you to all the film crew❤️❤️✨.

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My Top 2024 Drama, Hands Down

I absolutely loved everything about this drama. The storyline, the cast, the acting, the visuals, the cinematography, the chemistry, the osts—EVERYTHING EVERYTHING.

My main incentive to watch this drama was Hou Minghao and how much I loved My Journey to You by the same director. However, even without these reasons, this drama would've gotten my heart anyway. I cannot describe how many emotions I went through watching every episode. Joy, sorrow, anger, disbelief, thrill, anxiety... you'll get it all watching this drama.

Let's talk about the casting and chemistry. Everyone did so so well; everyone suited their roles and acted perfectly. I especially love ZYZ and ZYC's relationship. Their trope is 100% enemies to soulmates. It really got me how they also played Bing Yi and Ying Long, and seeing their ending too. It made their relationship even more sad. The six (yes, i'm including Ying Lei) of them were like a second family to me. I really tried to cherish their happier moments together.

I typically am not a fan of sad dramas and definitely avoid sad endings. HOWEVER, this drama has all my favorite tropes. The tragic backstory of the main character (and pretty much the whole cast), a journey/adventure to help save the world, slight romance and bromance, action/magic. I started this knowing the ending—in fact, I think all watchers expected it from the moment ZYZ and ZYC made the deal. With that being said, I was still left crying profusely and utterly empty in the end.

Sometimes, actors and actresses just act so well that I forget they are just humans ACTING and not the actual characters... I was absolutely enthralled with these characters :')

This review was more of a debrief for myself after watching this drama, to be honest. I was writing this with HMH's ost on loop, so I was in my feels for this. Overall, a masterpiece that I will be rewatching in the future.

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