I am an avid drama fan and have seen countless dramas; many of which I connected to emotionally. And yet, somehow, this show affected me far more than any other on so many levels. It touched my heart, then broke it into pieces, only to put it all back together to create an even bigger love for the show. I suffered from withdrawal for days in the aftermath.

There is a lack of substance about the show initially that appeared to support misconceptions that its popularity is undeserving. But let me tell you, as someone who had this exact thought, you'll miss out on a great and thrilling ride if you let that carry you away.

The drama begins with the unexpected meeting of a fairy named Jinmi (Yang Zi) and Phoenix (Deng Lu), heir to the throne of the heavenly realms. Soon after, she becomes sort of like his apprentice, and gradually, he falls in love with her. Jinmi is a cute, little airhead with a wide-eyed view of the world. Phoenix is playful, good-natured, and protective. There is something about his demeanor that gave me peace. I recall watching the first half passively and that's not to say the first half wasn't worth the time. It was certainly a pleasant watch, fill with beautiful people in lavish costumes; mythical creatures and characters rich in backstory to keep you thoroughly entertained. I think China's long, prolific history in art is to thank for such abundance of interesting fantasy material. And there are plenty of funny, sweet, romantic moments between our two leads to keep any romance buff happy. Add to that an exciting OST and you've already got a good show.

One of my favorite parts of the drama is Jinmi and Phoenix's time spent in the human realm, partaking in a "trial," which is kind of like a rite of passage for an individual as they seek permission to transform into an immortal god. As the story progresses and layers are peeled back from the rosy hued world, however, we begin to see the deadly and irreparable ramifications caused by the hero's seemingly good, godly parents. You'll start to question whether you were really seeing heaven when it felt like hell. This culminates in an episode that, for me, elevated the show from good to exceptionally amazing. It was a game changer. From here on out, there was no going back. You see, Jinmi is led to believe Phoenix killed her father, and in a moment of intense pain, confusion and anger, she stabs him, literally, in the back. And the most heartbreaking thing was, even at his last breathe, all he cares about is whether she loved him in return. And to which she coldly responds, "never." I was shocked by the turn of events, to say the least. Don't worry though, he will be back.

And back he is as the King of the Demon realm. Now jaded and debauched, Phoenix is unrecognizable (and super hot!). His hatred for Jinmi and revenge for what he had lost, plays out along side Jinmi's efforts to repair their relationship. The level of angst in this part of the story increases exponentially and had me completely fascinated. I pretty much plowed through the remaining episodes with zeal, no longer passively watching.

Now would be a good time to mention that Phoenix has a half brother, Runyu, who also loves Jinmi. It is his machinations that put into motion the events in the second half. After learning she has fallen victim to his trick, causing her to wrongfully "kill" the person she loves the most, in the depths of her despair as the realization hits hard for Jinmi, she confronts Runyu for all that he has done. If you thought you had any doubts about Yang Zi's talents as an actress, this would be the scene to see. You'll be blown away by her monologue; it was heartbreaking to watch.

After much hardship, Phoenix and Jinmi's reunion, which is made possible by the help of a trio of lovable characters, was so gratifying to see. But before the finale, there is an epic battle to be had (great watch in and of itself), in which Jinmi sacrifices herself for humanity, and here is where Deng Lu shines as an actor. As he sits staring into space in the immediate aftermath, you can clearly see how there's absolutely nothing left inside of him. Watching his anguish over losing the love of his life, I felt so sad for him in these scenes I don't even know how to describe it. That's why their eventual happy ending was a mend for my broken heart as much as theirs. And believe me, after what these two have gone through, they deserve every ounce of that happy ending.

I have never seen a drama with such high rewatch value before. I was amazed to learn I couldn't get enough of the scenes from the first half, the same ones I had watched without much regard the first time around. Knowing how the show would progress and conclude was in no way a detractor to enjoying it multiple times. In fact, the rewatch created opportunities to see things in a new light and appreciate the things I had overlooked. It's kind of like when you fall in love with someone you've known for a long time and you discover these wonderful things about them as a result that made you question how you could have missed it all before. The look back also made me marvel at how much change there is to Jinmi and Phoenix's relationship dynamic over the course of the story.

I cannot praise this show enough. It will forever go down as one of my favorite love stories ever, and if anyone ever ask me why I love dramas so much, I'll show them Ashes of Love and it would be more than enough to serve as an explanation.