Ashes of Love (2018)

I've never written a review before but i felt urged to write one for this drama because.it.is.just.so.beautiful.

I've never watched such a beautifully captivating and aesthetic drama before that had everything you need.

The story is well executed, the cast is very memorable and their acting is A+++ especially the three main leads.

What this story really revolves around is the love triangle between two male leads and the female lead which has been shown really well and the love they have for her really gets to you. I wont spoil much but i want to say this, if you have decided to watch this drama, no matter what...do not drop this...just don't drop it AT ALL. Watch it till the end and trust me, you wont regret it. I don't get how some people can review the drama after watching just two episodes. This drama is gonna affect and you must watch it by all means. Ok enough of that.

As for the music, this is one the dramas that has the best osts ever. Especially the ending theme song, everyone should listen to it. Such an enchanting song. No matter how many times I listen to it, i still keep coming back to listen to it again and again. That song perfectly suits and describes the drama.

The romance is the best part of the drama. Very well done. The CGI and the sets are amazing.

Oh and the leads have the cutest behind the scenes ever. If you can't get over the drama, watch those to heal your withdrawal syndrome.

Rewatch value is 10/10. I'll never get tired of this drama. Love it so much...

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You might think 10 on all points is too much and I would say, I'd give it more points if I could. The story is comparable to TTMOPB but with it's own flair. It has all the elements of a great story and the ending will not leave you disappointed. The special effects/CGI are done extremely well that it is worth mentioning. The cast? Ah, Phoenix, my Phoenix! They will make you laugh, bring you to tears, make you mad - all the good stuff which will leave you satiated but wishing for more. Salute to the writers, directors, staff, anyone and everyone who made this phenomenal story.

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This is a wonderful adaptation from the super famous novel called heavenly sweetness ash like frost. I love the chemistry between the main leads and in my humble opinion the actors and actresses involved in this series have all shown remarkable acting skills. Feng Huang was saved by the fruit fairy Jin mi when he was attacked and badly hurt. Jin mi asked him to help her to leave the mirror world she has been living in. At first they were bickering a lot but love started to grow. However , Feng Huang was not the only one who is in love with Jin mi, his older brother also feel in love with Jin mi. After series of accident . Jin mi real identity was revealed. It turns out that she is the daughter of Flower Goddess and Water God. This is a life -changing moment for Jin mi. She was turned overnight from a grape fruit fairy into a high God. This fact complicates her started building love story with Feng Huang because ah is actually his older brother fiancé. What started as a funny loving story then turned into a dramatic story and I love how the writers dig deep into each of the characters’s Past life and love story . The only complaint I have is the filler story ranging from the demon princess love arc and night’s female guardian . I wish they will delete these parts and concentrate more in the main lead (Jin mi and Feng Huang story).

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A storyline that has potential, yet quickly grows repetitive and frustrating.

For the sake of this review, I watched the Netflix version of this show, which has all 63 episodes.

Ashes of Love has so much potential going for it, yet it sadly manages to fall flat in areas that should hold it in a stronger light. Before I talk about the things that hurt this show for me though, let me start by mentioning some of the positives:

- The show is visually beautiful. The set designs are so vivid and colourful, the costume and makeup design is stunning, and even the visual effects are great for the year of the show's release.
- The musical score for this show is lovely. No tracks feel tired of overused, and I could easily see myself listening to this soundtrack again in the future whilst working.
- The cast of actors themselves are very talented. For all I complain about the characters themselves, the actors did a fantastic job with what was given to them to work with.
- Yes, Luo Yunxi's Runyu steals this show. His character is probably the most fully fleshed out, well-rounded in the entire cast. Luo Yunxi's acting only enhances this, and his work shines despite the plot's strange directions.
- Other notable characters that brought me joy anytime they were on the screen were Suli, Kuang Li, Yan You, and Yuan Ji. (Yuan Ji, my beautiful fate immortal! How I wish you had more screentime in this show).

Now, to the negatives:

- This isn't a love story.
Oh, Ashes of Love tries to be one. It even classes itself as one. But for all intents and purposes, the romance in this is questionable. For the first half of the drama our main female lead, Jinmi, doesn't even have the ability to know or understand what love is. While her breaking of the curse which stops her from experiencing this could have been a fascinating journey, instead the viewer is stuck with watching as the two princes of the Immortal Realm - Deng Lun's Xufeng and Luo Yunxi's Runyu - take advantage of her naivety to fight over their own affections for her. Heck, even other characters outside of this love triangle are doing their best to plot about whom Jinmi should marry, while Jinmi herself is just 'sure, whatever, I'm just having fun'. Even later, when she does break the curse and learn what love is, neither Xufeng nor Runyu are deserving of her, as they continuously use her as a pawn in their own petty game.
The only time I ever felt that the romantic relationships between the characters in this love triangle were truly well written and fleshed out were during the arc where Jinmi and Xufeng experience their trials as mortals. During that period the viewer thinks 'oh, okay! So after they finish the trial and return to the Heavenly realm, they'll come out more experienced in life and better their understanding!' Haha no, that doesn't happen at all. In fact, the happenings after their return are probably the most frustrating on the entire show for me.

- This show gets repetitive.
So many interesting things happen storywise in this show. Yet ... they're all in the background, an almost secondary addition to the constant ping-ponging between the main love triangle. I hope you're in for 63 episodes of Jinmi going 'I'll marry Xufeng' 'no wait! I'll marry Runyu, because that's what was promised' 'no no, wait again! I'll marry Xufeng for sure, because I actually love him (I think?)' 'haha no, I'll marry Runyu because Xufeng hates me now' 'but ... if I visit Xufeng this one last time ... maybe he'll at least forgive me!'
Even the side pairing in this show - Liu Ying and Muci - spend a good thirty episodes running backward and forwards between one another. It's so irritating! The same problems keep happening for this cast, and yet instead of the show solving them and letting the story naturally evolve, it just rehashes them again under a new umbrella.

- Xufeng and Jinmi are self-obsessed.
Okay, so. This is actually a problem that also lies with other characters too - even Runyu suffers from it - but I noticed this particularly with Xufeng and Jinmi once they returned from their mortal trial. So this focus will be the main example I use for just how frustrating this show can get.
During Xufeng and Jinmi's trials in the mortal realm, the story also begins to take us in the direction of - in my opinion - one of the most important and interesting plots Ashes of Love has to offer. Through Yan You's guidance, Runyu learns the truth of his childhood, including his parentage and why it is the Heavenly Empress hates him so. I won't spoil too much of this arc, but tragedy strikes during this arc which is the catalyst for pushing Runyu's character to make the decisions he does later.
When Xufeng and Jinmi return, Runyu is secluded and grieving. Now, throughout the show up until this point, the viewer has been shown that Xufeng cares deeply for his brother, and Jinmi has developed a very strong friendship with Runyu, her fish Immortal friend.
Neither one of these two characters check in on him at any point in time.
It's not due to them not knowing what happened to him - they do, it's made very clear - but instead, they're so absorbed in their own honeymoon happiness that nothing outside their own bubble matters. It's another act of the show forcing this romance on us, without making it feel natural, or letting these characters continue their other important relationships outside of their romantic interests. Later, when Runyu finally strikes back for all that's been done to him, there's very little sympathy the viewer can feel towards the other characters because ... yeah, we saw this happening. We saw the neglect, abuse, and trauma this character was put through that suddenly we don't feel bad for him acting as he does.

I can go on, but this review is already getting long.
If, like me, you're tired of out-dated clichés and female characters who aren't allowed the chance to grow and be themselves, then this show isn't for you. I mentioned on my Tumblr that this is probably perfect for a younger audience who do love shows that aren't heavy on substance, but if you're looking for something with complex characters and story and a romance that feels authentic ... it's not Ashes of Love. Save yourself time and watch something else.

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Second male lead stole the show. The rest is too much filler and repetition.

There is much praise about this drama and it did not quite deliver for me. I loved the cinematography, visual effects, the acting was top notch but the actual story fell flat for me. It started off well and even though it had interesting premises I wasn't captivated by the plot. Too much filler and too many characters doing exactly the same thing again and again and again. Too many convenient plot devices and people doing things only to move forward the plot. Oh and by the end of the drama, almost all the characters had (without spoiling) the same type of trauma. It just felt like lazy writing.

My main issue with the drama was that as much as heartbreaking the romance is for the main leads, I never connected with them. It was actually very instant love for me considering one of them couldn't even feel love. And romance is my main focus when watching dramas. In fact I was so invested in the second male lead story that by episode 35 I was happy if they dropped the romance and it was only about his journey. He was actually what saved the show and made me finish it. In fact around episode 50 I found myself skipping lots of scenes because I just wanted to finish it.

Second male lead stole the show for me. His story was so well done. His character development is so well done. The main male lead is an excellent actor but unfortunately I found after the first half of the drama his personality was reduced to "being in love with the female lead" and "occasionally a cool warrior". It's like the whole purpose for him being in the drama was to be the love puppy of the female lead. There is so much more it could have been done in terms of writing.

Overall I feel it's a good drama but not for me. Too much focus was put on the love triangle which wasn't even a love triangle. I didn't like the ending of the second male lead and how they turned his character so probably that's why I wasn't happy with this drama. But I did enjoy lots of moments and definitely cried a lot. The drama moved me emotionally, especially the second male lead story which was worth watching.

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This drama is so good, it has a very good cast, the costumes are beautiful (except for the wedding dress in the celestial wedding) the main couple has very good chemistry which I liked a lot. The CGI was great. I feel so happy about this drama, like someone who read the book before watching the drama, I'm just delighted. I liked that they followed the story so well, also and above all I loved that the new thing that they added (in the human world and the demon princess and Migu) was tender, sad, totally full of emotions and adapted great to the story,
I liked that, they did not fill the drama with great scenes of the villains planning, nor great monologues about how they were going to develop their plan, which Chinese dramas usually do a lot. For being mostly a love story, there was not so much political struggle, that was great.
I'm just disappointed in the final episode because I do not understand why they made Xufeng stop being a Demon Lord, but besides that it was just 10/10

I do not understand why people say that it's the same as TMOPB, the stories are so different, because both are fantasy dramas have similar elements but everything that involves the story and personality of the characters is so opposite that I simply do not understand how people can compare

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I wont say its bad, its very watchable if you like similar series and watched Ten Miles Blossom

First off, this is my opinion and there will be some spoilers so read at your own risk, I know lots people dont mind spoilers to get the idea of the series. This show's has quite big plot holes. There's only a couple or so from the main last half plot series. Love is really a big topic but thats where the plot holes comes in, displaying their kind of Love. There will be quite a few Angst moment but I walk into this drama knowing that, but still got hit with the feel territory. Comparison series explain after plot hole review.

Spoiler 2 plot hole reveals:

1. FL display full body love to ML and believe in him from the beginning of the series but end up not believing his word that he did not do it at mid point???? But i kinda understand the no love feeling fruit she had gotten which makes it part of her decision. But but.........

2.ML ask FL to kill him if she doesn't believe him to rid her revenge, but then when she did kill him, he returns evil, pissed, at her for betraying him? He showed quite a lot of love and he would sacrafice himself for her but it turns out not at the moment of plot. Too many suspicion that never quite make him or her think and understand.


Soo the question you guys would ask how is it compare to Ten Miles Blossom.
Although I see some likes this more than Ten miles, I for one love Ten Miles more. The fact I think Ten Miles is better is due to ML and FL are powerful characters. The plot in Ten miles to me seems more addicting to follow than this. The side characters in Ten Miles are addicting to follow as well. I like both dramas but FL in this drama is too weak. They only display as strong but never really felt it. FL here also is an airhead but very cute for the big half of the show until the final 3rd. My angst is still here after watching it so I had to write this to cool off my head. It ends happily so as long as you got thru til the end, its feelings in and out.


If you dont mind a slightly weaker with angst plot holes, but still like the type of immortals with love, go give it a shot, you might like it more than the others. My rating stays true at a 7.5 and this is not being bias to Ten Miles.

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I need a support group to get over this drama.

Heavy Sweetness, Ash-Like Frost *so* easily became one of my personal all-time favorite dramas. I knew I was going to enjoy this ride as soon as I got through the beautiful opening sequence. Then the leads showed up and stole every bit of my heart. I've become a huge fan of Yang Zi after watching her portrayal of Jin Mi from who she is in the beginning of the drama to who she becomes at the end. It's so raw and dynamic, you really feel all of the emotions Jin Mi goes through in this story. I couldn’t imagine any other actress, Yang Zi was perfect for the role. Her chemistry with Deng Lun's Xu Feng is *off the charts*! There are so many details in their interactions i.e. the way she lights up when she sees him, his smiles when she isn't looking, they are the ultimate OTP from the get-go.

Jin Mi’s naivety is not a new character trope, but it’s well done in a way that makes her uniquely endearing, not annoying. Even those who found her annoying will agree with me when I say we wish she could go back to the way she was by the end of the drama. Xu Feng doesn’t enjoy the same character development; in fact, I’d argue that he was pretty much set up to be an alpha male lead from the beginning. But what I love about him is that his strengths (i.e. his compassion) are also his weaknesses. The second male lead, Run Yu, also goes through dynamic character developments, and though I don’t agree with his choices, he’s a very interesting character you both wish to condemn and comfort simultaneously.

The team behind this drama did not gimp on effects. Though I can overlook bad CGI, it does take away from the drama. You don’t get awful CGI in this drama! The music is also so beautiful and haunting, I only wish that there were more OSTs! The overall plot is well-done and interesting, but I have to critique the way that the two main leads did not run the show in the latter half of the drama. It felt like they took to the backseat and there was a surge of side-stories, and though this did all contribute to the main plot, I thought that it could have been more concise, and that things could have been introduced in the first half to better flow into the second half instead of being introduced for the first time halfway through. The ending was both perfect but also left me wanting so, so much more at the same time, probably because I’m just too attached.

Regardless of it’s flaws, Xu Feng and Jin Mi’s love story resonated with me. I think xianxia fans will easily find something engaging within this, and those new to the xianxia genre, this could be your introduction! Other than fantasy elements, there’s comedy, romance, angst, family, friendship, drama—a little bit of everything for everyone!

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This is really good

After years of watching Chinese dramas, Ashes Of Love remains number one on my list! This drama is so crazy and really good. I'll tell you a little (not a spoiler) before that I'm a fan of Legend Of Yun Xi and Legend Of Fuyao. I haven't watched this drama even though many recommended number 1 is always this drama, I think what's good? I was not really interested in the synopsis, then one day, my heart was knocked to try to watch episode 1 Ashes Of Love, different from other dramas. Usually the first time I watch it I feel like I want to just stop but I finally like it. I like Ashes Of Love right away, this story is very interesting and I like it when Jinmi's part is known to be a girl. In Eternal Love I always waited when Bai Qian attended banquets and everyone knew he was Bai Qian, but that didn't happen and actually I was a little annoyed but it's okay. the point is you have to watch this drama, maybe you are lazy when you see the many episodes, but when you watch it maybe you will think 63 episodes are lacking, thank you

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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.

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Absolute fluff and no stakes for a xianxia

Fell in love with Luo Yunxi after Till the End of the Moon, and I heard this drama is where his popularity exploded. And the masses are right; his character, Runyu, is the only interesting thing about this drama. I honestly NEVER get 2nd lead syndrome (the kdrama Startup is the rare exception), and Runyu takes the cake here.

ML (Xufeng/Deng Lun):
He is just a spoiled mama's boy. He has no character development at all. His only character trait is "I want Jinmi", yet witnesses his mother attempting to KILL HER, and he still protects her. He ignores all the abuse that Runyu gets from his stepmother, and does nothing to rebel against his parents even though they all want him to marry Suihe. Where are his motivations? What does he actually do to get what he wants? He just kinda sits there and reacts to whatever is happening around him. It really makes it hard to root for him, because he really doesn't deserve Jinmi.

FL (Jinmi/Yang Zi):
I'll give her a pass for her childishness, since I guess that part of the plot but she is absolutely useless. Why two people fall in love with her baffles me. Really nothing else to say, just a really bland girl. I liked her mortal arc character because she actually had some skill and spunk.

Runyu:
The screenwriters really were like "What are all the things a main character can suffer?" and gave them all to Runyu. His infamous scene where his mother dies gave me LITERAL CHILLS as I watching his transformation from begging on the ground to finally rebelling against his unfair life. I found myself rooting for him, even though I knew he was inevitably going to be doomed. I never cried over the main CP because I really didn't see any stakes in their love, but I cried at Runyu's unrequited love all the time.

Music:
I love the opening and ending songs, and by themselves, and they are wonderful to listen to. But because there are literally only 4 songs total on the soundtrack, they are all heavily overused in a 63 episode show and it is very easy to get tired of them. The music editing is also VERY awkward, and instrumental tracks will suddenly start or stop, and it really takes you out of the atmosphere of a scene.

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