Lost You Forever (2023)

This drama on the surface looked to me like a typical romance xianxia, but after watching it I have come to realize that the romance part of it is very atypical and unlike other dramas of the same genre that I have watched before. For me what stood out most was how drastically different each pairing was, which was a good thing, because if all the pairs were similar, the entire drama would be a bore. Another plus was I felt that the entire drama was centered around the sibling relationship between Xiaoyao and Cangxuan. It was ultimately a story of brother and sister conquering the world, and everyone else were just supporting roles along the way. My thoughts on each of the CPs will be written down below to avoid spoilers in my more generic review.

The plot itself was streamline and I did not feel it dragging, though it did slow down after all the action moved to the courts and politics became more prominent. The best part of the drama had to be the episodes spent at the little town of Qingshui where it all began. As I said above, the majority of the plot revolves around the siblings, and we get to follow along Cangxuan’s journey to power. What made it relatively easy to follow was there were minimal important characters, and the world that the story takes place in is relatively small. In other words, we didn’t have to spend too many brain cells to remember a ton of names and places. This is also a plus because it meant there weren’t many useless characters.

However, I have to speak out (rant) on my dissatisfaction for episode one. It really left a bad taste in my mouth and almost made me reluctant to continue. First, I feel that it was a very unnecessary episode. If it wanted to introduce us to background story, it could’ve done it in a different way, a way that the drama used for the rest of the episodes - flashbacks!!! If flashbacks are done well, their purpose is to tell the audience the background story. This introduction was not effective, and I did not understand any of the motives behind what the adults chose to do (ahem a certain grave jumper). Second, fine, you want to start off with an introductory background story episode, then why do you need to add in a narration. It seemed like they just gave up on telling the background story and resorted to the typical narration followed by a time skip format. Anyway, enough ranting. Luckily I chose to move on from episode one and immediately the scenes that followed the 300 years later time skip were drastically improved.

Before the spoilers, I would like to applaud the acting of the entire main cast. I never doubted Yang Zi’s acting. Zhang Wanyi, Deng Wei, and Tan Jianci were pleasant surprises as I have not seen any of their past work before. They were truly the one and only fit for their role and did a phenomenal job. Can’t wait for season two.

SPOILERS AHEAD. Now on to taking about each CP.

First we have Yaojing. I fell instantly for 17 as soon as he made an appearance. He also had a great advantage in that he was the first male lead to make an appearance. I think what struck me most was his devotion towards Xiaoyao that began from the instant she saved his life. Usually this type of relationship is backwards in dramas, where the female lead is the one that needs saving then falls in love with her savior. It was refreshing to see this trope flipped in this drama. 17 was doing great and ahead in the race for me up until he had to resume his identity as Jing. As politics entered, although he wanted his heart to only belong to Xiaoyao, he could not help but carry some of the burden of being his clan’s future leader. What is heartbreaking is he did nothing wrong, but I think it is intentional to make the audience feel that he is no longer at a position where he can be a good partner to Xiaoyao.

As Jing was slowing down in the race, Xiang Liu quickly overcame him and became first place in the race. At the beginning I hated him. He hurt Xiaoyao without batting his eye and was abusing her by drinking her blood without her consent. But I got to understand him more, and he quickly became the most suitable partner for Xiaoyao in my mind. I see Yaoliu as soulmates. They were both in the same tragic conditions as children, and both fought their way out of their struggles, and made a life for themselves. They are both emotionally cold, strong, but also soft for the right people. Xiang Liu was there to pick Xiaoyao up whenever she was down. He was the one who taught her practical skills and how to defend herself. In return, Xiaoyao allowed him to take her blood as medicine, she accepted his identity and purpose, and never condemned him because he is a nine-headed “monster”. Their relationship was well balanced and Xiang Liu is the only person that I feel Xiaoyao can really be herself around.

Cangxuan’s over-protectiveness of his sister is a result of his tragic past as a child, losing all of his relatives in a short amount of time. Xiaoyao is the closest person to him, and he cannot emotionally bear losing her too. I never saw Yaoxuan as a couple, but they are probably the best sibling CP that I have seen in a drama. They are soulmates in a way that is different from Yaoliu. The pair had some of the best cry-worthy scenes in the drama. Two that are worth mentioning are when Xiaoyao mistook A-nian’s mother as her own mother, and her identity was therefore revealed in a heartbreaking scene with Cangxuan. Another one is when Cangxuan was being attacked and Xiaoyao protected him with her life from Fang Fengbei’s arrow. I can’t wait to see more of these two in season two.

Lastly, we have Fenglong. I don’t even know if I should include him in the race or not. I never shipped them, and I never felt that Fenglong would be a good partner for Xiaoyao. As he said himself, they are more like bros than anything else. I appreciate his frankness because he admits that he wants to marry her partly because of her identity.

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The Analysis

At first I was going to watch it the whole way through but then after I got to episode 10 and spoke to various people; I decided to just to do what I did with GoT because I knew I wouldn't be able to make it all the way through though I will watch season 2. This is different from my regular reviews as it's really an analysis from my pov.

Ok what I found solid in the series was the world and story building. Everyone we met started somewhere solid. It wasn't a drama where you were thrown into the middle of it and you had to catch up to with figuring out who was who and what was happening. Episode one was mostly focused on the children and making us invested in their story and lives which I thought was brilliant. Then the transition to adulthood and this where the story really got going. I will now go through the characters as they stood out to me. I will say that every character is flawed in some shape or form but some seemed worse for me.

XY: The anti-heroine. A massive red flag and I figured that out by episode 10. Life imitates art or art imitates life; YZ did well here (I'm usually not too thrilled with her roles; again just my opinion). I think she played a narcissist with abandonment issues who uses men to her self needs like a pro. I would say my favorite arc with her was that first one. It's where she was the most genuine. To her everyone was expendable as long as her needs were met. I felt like she really had no idea what love was. Though TSJ was the one and end game; even when he sacrificed himself and was in a coma, the way she spoke to him just rubbed me the wrong way. She used a lot of verbal abuse towards everyone; she spoke like she was the only one who suffered; yet we knew both TSJ and the demon were imprisoned and tortured. Like ok once, twice, but it got old quick. Saying her mom abandoned her instead of dying on the battlefield was so weird and foreign to me. She got the victim card down on lock. She needs an immortal pet not a lover. It'll never leave her and give her unconditional love. Her reaction to TSJ saying his grandmother essentially drugged him and he was most likely assaulted, just made me freeze. Yes she spit blood later but in the moment, she couldn't even offer words of comfort; it was all his problem and now they were strangers. She just called it quits. I was like what just happened here? I'd be worried, go confront grandma; poison the bitch. Hell, I'd fight for my man from the get go and that's something I think she needs to do evolution wise. She always treated it like whomever had to do something for her first and always. She never gave an ounce of herself and that's why I didn't like her; I couldn't root for her. But I do hope she figures herself out in S2 and what or rather who she wants and makes the necessary steps herself.

TSJ: This was my first time seeing DW in a lead role as I had just seen him previously in one small supporting in a modern. I will have to say that perhaps this role was a bit too complex for him but you gotta start somewhere, right? Hopefully in the future he'll be up to the challenge, he definitely has the potential. The character was complex in the sense that on the one hand he was a killer strategist but on the other hand he was essentially a doormat with the equivalent of Stockholm syndrome (victims that are so broken by their abusers, they love them because they believe no one else will) towards his toxic family; especially his brother who essentially nearly killed him after 3 years of insane torture. He couldn't kill his brother after what brother did to him; he was too timid and yet so easily manipulated even by the woman he loved. And watching her do that to him for her own pleasure made me sick to my stomach. So many times I wanted to shake him or smack him, like "do something, say something, stand up for yourself!" No one else will protect you even XY who promised in the cart they were imprisoned in by CX in the beginning that she would protect him against bullying, never did. Everyone seemed to remember how he broke promises due to the toxic family, but not that she lied and manipulated the hell out of him too and yet he would still die for her. My hope for him in S2 that he grows some balls and starts to go on the offensive. Enough already. I actually like his character as frustrated as I was with him.

The demon: Sorry folks, with so many ppl, this is what I called him. By far the most complicated character out of the entire show. I have only seen TJC in modern dramas up until this point but boy did he nail the demon, I was very impressed. Let me clear something up for people; he never abused XY; in the beginning before I knew he was a demon I thought he was a vampire. And she wondered into enemy territory for her herbs first; there's a war, he on the opposite side and leading troops, so capturing her and the whiplashing is understandable. The biting, her bored expression made me laugh; no one being abused would react like she did. Moving on, he was very smart, he knew when she was toying with him and it'd piss him off and he'd walk away in a huff and I was like "can you teach TSJ how to do that?" How he's able to let himself be entirely a different person with the black wig that's all fun and playboy that even those that know him can't figure out who he is? Love that versatility from the hard ass silver haired demon. His weakness is that country he fights with and the soldiers. He's repaying the emperor who became a father to him and it's very admirable but he should know when to tell them to stop because they're obviously losing as sad and unfair as that is. He falls in love and his love is both refreshing and extremely painful. He's more of a sadomasochist to himself because of her. He gives one of his lives away (and of course there's no gratitude from her) and from what I understand is planning to give his life on the battlefield and also wants XY and TSJ to be end game as he understands no one else will give her themselves. They just don't want to or aren't capable. I feel that the demon likes TSJ the most out of the other options. He admires the doormat's unwavering love even when others complicate things. In my perfect world, end game (not in a romantic way) would be TSJ and the demon as like sworn brothers or good friends living a peaceful life with women that deserve them in a little village; no power struggles, manipulation, wars etc. All the rest could bite the dust for all I care honestly. What I wish in S2 for him which I know won't happen; is for him to survive. But other than that, go out the way you want and make sure you give the two people you want to be together, their opportunities before you do. I really wouldn't change anything about him.

CX: First time ever seeing the actor. CX is complex in the fact that he's power hungry and creepy towards XY. But honestly, even though she only sees him as her brother, I feel that because of her narcissism, he's the perfect match for her. Even though she says even he's abandoned her. I'm over that sob story but I feel like his thirst for power will ultimately be his downfall somehow. I liked the complexity of the character and the actor was convincing. In S2, I want to see how he gets worse and how convincing it'll be.

FF: Actually currently watching this actor in another costume drama, he's an antagonist there. I have more issues with the script than his acting. Here, though he's also part of this harem of men, because he hasn't appeared as much so I'm not sure where to put him. He's friends with CX but is that just to get benefits for himself or whatever, I don't know. Also are his feelings for XY genuine or like hers towards just about anyone it seems; like a business deal? I hope they flesh him out properly in S2.

All the antagonists, I want them dead especially TSJ's toxic family. Make them suffer. The other supporting characters or A Nian are either good from the get go or grow on you.

Overall, when it came out last year and people said that this series was one of those you either love it or you hate it things, I wasn't sure what to make of that. Was there no middle ground? That can't be. It's got great coloring, OSTs, costumes, the storyline is complex and so are the characters.

Would I recommend it? This is my analysis of the show and the characters I felt were important. My rating is based on just that and if you want to watch it, go for it. I think it is a good middle ground story.

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One Of The Best Chinese Drama I’ve Seen

A beautiful story of these characters who are extremely broken and abandoned, desperately fighting to find that love and happiness.
Yang Zi, Deng Wei, Tan Jian Ci and Zhang Wan Yi, all did a phenomenal job portraying their characters.
The intertwined relationships of not two but four people, was captivating and not boring throughout the entire series. It is impressive how they successfully captured a great individual chemistry between the female lead and her leading men. I was mesmerized and invested in each of her relationships with all three men. I have my favorite and I’m hoping he will be her happy ending and that is Tushan Jing / Ye Shi Qi.
Deng Wei has found the role he was "born to play” which is an ethereal character. He is so beautiful that he sparkles and if he kisses you will sparkles and turn into a Deity. FYI, that kissing scene of him pulling her up, one of the sexiest I’ve seen in Cdrama. The scene with his grandmother passing away and him holding his “baby”. Without overly dramatic cry or reaction, he successfully pulled off a brilliant performance of someone who just felt lost all over again and abandoned. That’s great acting!
His character is the one that broke my heart into pieces.

I highly recommend this drama and looking forward to season two.

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I havent been this heavy hearted from watching a drama in a while!

When I first saw the teaser for this drama way, way back in the beginning, I was going to try and watch this drama because I'm a fan of Yang Zi and have watched most of her dramas. Mainly all her costume dramas. I loved her in Ashes of Love and Immortal Samsara. And didn't think this drama was going to top those. Cause they were master pieces and Yang Zi had amazing chemistry with Deng Lun. And its pretty hard to top. Also especially since I didn't really know the ML that were casted in LYF. I thought it would be carried by Yang Zi only so it won't be that good. I was even a bit reluctant to start it but since there wasn't really any dramas out at the start of this drama, I gave it a try. But man was I so wrong. And I am happy that I am wrong!
To start off, the cinematography of this drama was amazing. The color, set, scenery, just everything was so beautiful and dreamy. The costumes were amazing too. Everyone's costumes highlighted their personality.
Next, the actors. Man did I fall in love with Zhang Wan Yi and Tan Jian Ci. I have never really seen them in any other dramas before. But they really stole the show with their acting. My favorite actors are ones that act with their eyes. And these 2 definitely fit the category. The longing, sorrowful, and even happiness they displayed in their eyes were amazing. It made me empathize with them so much. Just amazing.
The relationship that XY has with each of her ML is amazing. The complexity, the history, the story. I love all of it. Each ML shares something different with XY which makes the story has so much depth to it. Im a sucker for sibling dramas, which is why Go Ahead is one my of favorite dramas of all time. CX and XY's relationship makes me so sad. I love it. What they mean to each other and what they're willing to do for each other is crazy. Makes me want a gege in rela life too! Don't get me wrong, I love romance dramas too and all the scenes with TSJ are super cute. But my heart has always had a special spot reserved for sibling love.
The OST damaged me hard. I haven't heard an OST that made me want to cry like all the time in a while. I have been listening to it on repeat. I love that each character kind of has their own theme song. Cause the lyrics of it relates solely to them. And its so much more meaningful. Whenever I hear CX's song, it makes me want to cry cause him and XY suffered so much and you can just see CX's longing for XY. When i hear the song, the scene in ep 22 pops up in my head when XY is using her body to protect CX from FFB's arrow. That moment is so heartbreaking and also heartwarming at the same time. An the song is played whenever CX misses XY. Whenever i hear XL's song. Im just so sad cause he's so lonely and XY will never know how much he loves her. The song especially hits different because Tan Jian Ci sung it himself. Love love love all the songs.
While waiting for the drama to continue coming out, I read the novel. Cause I couldnt wait any longer to see what was going to happen next. The drama does follow the novel pretty closely which I really appreciated because the details of the novel are amazing. You know a drama is good when I pick up the novel to read because I cant wait any longer. And I do have to say from reading the novel, they really did nail the casting. I cant imagine anyone else playing the FL and the MLs. They all are exactly how I would imagine them to but if brought to life. Amazing. Im happy this Tong Hua novel wasnt butchered.
Eagerly waiting for season 2 to come out so I can be even more emotionally damaged than I am already. I know the scenes in Season 2 are going to be so much more emotional. We will get to see Yang Zi and Zhang Wan Yi display their amazing acting skills then!

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Could have been better :)

I was completely blown away with the first episode! The two child actors were fantastic, the setting and tragic background history plus the CG cinematography was excellent! It got me hooked straightaway.

The first half of this drama focused on our FL Xiao Yao, who whilst trying to look for her cousin brother/ family got kidnapped and tortured for 70 years. She then as an adult, disguised herself as a man and lived as a normal ordinary man working her keep (she is actually a princess). So story goes on and she saves this beggar on the brink of death and nurses him back to life. Eventually this dude becomes her love interest and is also from noble birth.

What’s interesting about this drama is that humans live amongst deities (have super powers and long life) as well as demons. She meets this nine headed demon, who initially mistreats her, trying to kill her several times. But she seems to keep going back to him (for what reason I can’t remember) but they develop a very strong bond of friendship and he (the demon) eventually falls in love with her. His role is played by Tan xian ci, who is very dreamy and aesthetic as Xiang Liu (with his white attire and silver hair)

Then there is her cousin brother Cang Xuan who felt so guilty not being able to protect her when she went missing. After reuniting, he sort of falls in love with her as well, but knows they cannot be together because of his ambition and destiny to be King of Xiyan.

These three men surrounding and including our FL had very strong characters and a good development in their journey. The 4th guy Feng Long seemed redundant to me;)

Whilst the first half focused on the character development, the second half became a tad boring and typical - where Cang Xuan is working his way to gain power and allies to get to the throne, while his uncles and others try to disrupt him. I wished the writers focused a little more on the super powers and abilities, instead of having long and serious melodrama talks about life and love.

If you’re expecting a great romance, you’ll be disappointed because it’s a sad tale for the so called lovey couple. Some opinions say the ending for Season 1 was a somewhat closure, but I feel it’s more an open ending. Not a cliffhanger, but not a real closure as there are many loose ends to the story. Apparently there’s a Season 2, so we will have to wait for that ;)

Very very long drama… but I was very intrigued and hooked for the first half.

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Love is as beautiful as it’s cruel.

I missed this heroine sooooo much !! I truly enjoy this actress when she’s playing roles that “fit her acting persona”. The story is DIFFERENT and let you be surprised at times. It is true that some parts are prolonged to death, but this drama is a very well hidden gem. The actors chemistry is borderline perfect, and FINALLY A PASSIONATE KISS AMONG HETEROSEXUAL, that is so well done to give you butterflies. Last kiss so well done was Hyena. The male actors are quite interesting: at the beginning they seem dull and sleepy, but the more you watch the more intriguing they are. THANKFULLY they all DO NOT LOOK LIKE stiff porcelain dolls, increasing the reality factor tenfold. If the whole world was made of perfectly good looking people, how boring would that be ???? Im a believer of TALENT, above beauty. Wayyyyy above. So, if you can manage reality, you can definitely enjoy this show. The script is confusing.

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This drama became one of my most favorite costume C-drama

This drama's original novel was very well written, so I wasn't sure how it would come out as drama. But thankfully, original author is part of the screen writing, so drama is made as good as novel. Story of each main leads are well described and plots are made flawless. There are many scenes make you cry and sobs. Yet once in a while few plots make you laugh and lighten up your sad feeling. It is so well balanced for audiences to enjoy just like real human lives.

What surprised me is while I love this drama so much, there are reviews with very low rating and wrote full of hateful comments towards drama itself and performers. Boy, there are so many different types of ppl in the MDL world. I can accepts proper critiques about the drama, but I cannot accept the hates in any of drama introduced here at MDL.

And some of them are obvious that they didn't watched the drama, but they already have strong negative opinions about it and they wrote bad reviews. Some of them wrote that there were too many violences and torture scenes. This drama is a fiction and if these fictions do bother audiences, they have a right to stop watching. If this drama is not your cup of tea, they can leave. Viewers may dislike the characters, but one thing I don't understand is why such dislike become the hate towards actors? It's very strange behavior to me. It irritates me that these haters intentionally write bad reviews. I don't get it what do they gain by doing so? It's very toxic mind some carry in their brain and mind.

I hope you will not be influenced by hate comments or super negative comments. You are the only one can make own decision to watch this drama or not, Or you will like it or not.

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SIMP OF THE YEAR AWARD GOES TO...

As much as I liked the drama and the actors, I couldn't help but get nagged by the role of Tushan Jing. Man was simping all the way throughout the drama. I had to fast forward most of his scenes to avoid the lagging storyline that went around him.

Would still recommend anyone to watch but expect some disappointment from Tushan Jing if your taste for drama is as good as mine.

Xiao Yao was excellent, the costumes were excellent, the casting was excellent, the OST was even better. Tushan Jing was the simp of the year winner, and he was foolish as well, who couldn't notice Yiying was hiding something all along.

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The real male lead…

Just finished the drama and saw a few spoilers that broke my heart. Out of the 4 ML I gotta say Xiangliu is the real one. Just based on the name of this drama, FL is bound to lose XL (which he will) and the 相 is the same character as XL’s “Xiang”. He truly loves XY, secretly supported her, willing to sacrifice himself, and never pushed XY into liking him after her rejection. One thing I really like XL is that he seems cold on the outside but is actually a man full of promises and will do anything for FL if she say so. I believe XL was actually the first person XY fell for, in the earlier episodes she was very comfortable and shared a lot of her past experiences with XL, looked for him even though he was abusive and slowly understood that he isn’t that cold blooded and have trouble expressing himself. I felt that after XY expressed her worries and rejected him, XL thought she was scared of him and transformed into FFB to make her happy, which I also think FFB is his true personality and XL was just a shell burdened with the troop responsibilities. FFB had also halfheartedly asked XY a few times to test the water if she wants to leave everything behind and be with him. All these small misunderstandings and chances to be together caused the other ML to take their chance. Cough cough TSJ binding XY with an empty promise and one misunderstanding leads to the next, XY will eventually lose XL forever…

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One of the best dramas I have ever watched

I have already rewatched this drama and plan to rewatch for 3rd time until season 2
This drama for me is grouped in with my top dramas for quality of production, unique storyline, character portrayal, settings like Nirvana In Fire, Joy Of Life, LLTG etc, I have rewatched all my favourite also. That is how I can tell how great a drama is and this one seems fresh every time I rewatch it.
You will fall in love with the cast and their portrayal of their characters, everyone did a brilliant job especially the 4 leads
Yang Zi as Xiaoliu/XiaoYao the main protagonist
Zhang Wan Ye as Xuan Yuan her cousin
Deng Wei as Zigi/Tushan Jin her boyfriend
TanJian Ci as Demon XiangLiu/FanFenBai not saying what role he plays you have to watch it but he is my favourite character
I will not bore you with repeating the story here as most of it had already been said.
I will just say that many of us viewers have our favourite characters and have especially fallen for the infamous XianLiu or FanFenBei character. Is it the portrayal of his character, Is it the unconditional love he has for XianYao or is it he is just so mesmerising to look at.
Watch it and decide for yourself.
I highly recommend watching this drama and personally I anxiously awaiting season 2.
Nothing compares for me to the excellence and viewing satisfaction of this drama in 2023 so far.

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Heart wrenchingly gripping

Lost You Forever is a drama that is so gripping and yet heartbreaking at the same time. I think the angst aspect of this drama is what made it more interesting and gripping. It not only showcased the acting prowess of the casts, it also added dimension to the story. The story brought people to root for all the main characters in the show. It made us want to wish the best for each of them. I honestly can't wait to watch Season 2 and know what's next for all of them.

The romance aspect of this drama, while very heart wrenching, is also beautiful. All of the men in Xiao Yao's life are worth of her. They all love her in a different and yet sweet manner. Honestly, it'll be hard to choose who to root for as all of them have her best interest at heart; it's just that, most if not all is heavily burdened with their duties that choosing her above all else becomes an issue. But nonetheless, I loved how love was portrayed in this drama. It touched on all aspects of love and how love isn't always about the butterflies and giddiness. Sometimes, love is also suffering in silence for someones best interest- and I think this aspect was beautifully portrayed in this season regarding all the love interests.

The political aspect of this drama just added spice to the whole storyline. Especially since politics played a huge role on why some men just can't get their happy ending with Xiao Yao.

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