The Story of Mystics (2024)

The most beautiful visuals

What a great watch, my eyes were so satisfied with this drama that I had to reflect before writing a review.

Let's start with what I liked:
- the drama was filmed in such an amazing way the storyline became secondary. You can turn of the sound and just watch. The visuals were simply breathtaking. I liked especially the way the malicious energy was portrayed
- the actors are the definition of handsome. Every single demon was stunning.
- it was funny at moments and sad at others, I laughed and cried,
- some storylines are really beautifully sad, I do like that
- nothing to do with the drama, but I loved watching the cast dance at the end of the episodes, I always watched them until the end

But what did I like less?
- the storyline was just inexistant. The idea was great, with the demon seeking death teaming up with the demon hunters to save the wilderness, but no, it wasn't convincing at all. For example, whenever there was no issue someone came up with a line such as "ok, it's the end... but I heard of this item in that dangerous area, if we retrieve it we can save the situation", and they all went to get said item. It was just like in a video game, they got to fullfill missions and staggered along a plot without consistence.
- the tears were overdone. A tear, okay, people crying, all good, but during the last episodes it was just rivers of tears. The effect only lasts this long.
- I didn't like the OST that much, but that's just on me.

I can't say anything about the acting as the visuals did so much, I'm unable to say if it was the actors or the directors and his crew.

All in all, it's a drama I highly recommend, even though I didn't rate it that well. But those visuals are absolutely worth it!

Leggi di Più

Worth to watch. The best cinematography and CGs.

I have been waiting for this drama since its trailer is released. The actings are superb especially Neo, ML. He is so different in here as he always acted bubbly characters. So it’s refreshing to see his another side. All actors and actresses have chemistry. No one is left out.
As the story wise, FL is so weak (who doesn’t possess power if she doesn’t have tool) except her goddess identity, I don’t think she deserves FL position. She has her good points tho. She is calm, rational, doesn’t always stay on the side of humans, empathize on some good demons, not blinded by emotions and knows how to handle love and hate. Maybe that’s why she became FL. Love the actress tho. It’s Chen Duling’s acting skill that FL is not hated and too annoying to watch.
The best point is the scenes! This kind of cinematography, using dark tone is rare to see in Chinese dramas. CGs are so amazing.
The story is fast pacing, not boring and fun to watch. But a little hypocrite from the side of humans.
Recommended to watch this.

Leggi di Più

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.

Leggi di Più

too dama slow

the speed of this show is unwatchablw slow. very nice costumes and pretty actors, but the pace of their conversation or plot is ridiculously boring. good luck to whoever can stay awake. please write a recap. i would gladly read it than watch on tv.






sigh. i cant submit a review without 500 words. what i like about the show is the costumes. the main fl outfit is so pretty. her martial arts is basic, yet she is highly regarded in the buraue of demon hunting. the main male lead moves his finger and everything either explode or falls down. the second me lead has a puzzle look on his face all the time, not much emotion from his cheekbone. the sexond female lead looks fierce and awesome, its just she doesnt do anything fierce or awesome. nice combat costume though. the prodigy med kid stole the show with his funny stunts and scene. he would doqell with a show of his own.

Leggi di Più

"Fangs of fortune- A tale of strength, sacrifice and heroic battle"

Why I loved it so much :

1. A perfect mix of genres: The drama delivers on every front—romance, friendship, feel-good moments, thrill, action, comedy, drama, and tragedy. It’s a rare balance that caters to multiple tastes.


2. Depth in storytelling: While the pace is slow, it’s deliberate. Each subplot is crafted to fill gaps and tie loose ends, creating a deeply harmonious narrative.


3. Impressive cinematography: The framing, camera angles, and techniques used are absolutely top-notch, elevating the viewing experience.


4. High-quality VFX: The visual effects are clean, realistic, and immersive. The editing team truly deserves credit for making the fantasy elements believable.


5. Exquisite set design: The attention to detail in the sets is breathtaking. The Demon Hunting Bureau, in particular, stands out as a masterpiece of design.


6. Talented cast: Almost every actor delivered stellar performances. While one or two might not have fit their roles visually, their acting made up for it.


7. Memorable background music: The combat music and other tracks are beautifully composed, reminiscent of the enchanting vibes from Love Between Fairy and Devil.

8. Dancing in the ending soundtrack .. I know I am weird to like a show for this ..but seriously it was quite refreshing to see the cast dancing to their show's soundtrack ... The steps were easy I am dancing you should try it as well ;)



About the cast

Neo hou as Zhao yuanzhou:

Neo Hou is the one who introduced me to the world of C-Dramas, starting with Being Back from the Brink, my very first Chinese drama. He has never let me down. His charm, brilliant acting, mischievous expressions, spot-on comedic timing, and calming smile—everything about his character in this show was a delight to watch.



Zhuo Yichen : a warrior who is strong-willed, righteous, kind, compassionate, funny, and deeply tragic. Tian Jia portrayed this fascinating character with remarkable justice.


Li lun: more of an anti-hero than a villain, carries a strong sense of justice and a deep kindness for his people. This character added significant depth and complexity to the leads' role .. and the actor (yan an) playing it was more beautiful than the FL herself 😂 😀 ❤️❤️ I am in love with him.



Pei Shijing: the Demon Huntress, is a character with a tsundere quality that suits Cheng Xiao’s poker-face expressions perfectly. Watching her evolve as an actress has been impressive. From her flat expressions and character in Falling Into Your Smile to portraying a compassionate, graceful fighter in this drama, Cheng Xiao has truly come a long way.


Bai jiu : a timid, funny and cute kid ..played by lester lin ... This child actor is so damn talented he played two completely contrasting characters ( bai jiu and li lun) so effortless.. very impressive ..it hard to believe he delivered such outstanding performance at the age of just 13 years old


The parts where this show lacked appeal


1) Wen Xiao : I don't like lame/sickly/weak/useless/low IQ FLs at all I mean I can’t think of a single thing that would have changed if she weren’t part of the story. She was utterly useless—couldn’t fight, fall before someone even slapped her.The so-called goddess was the biggest liability—completely useless—while so many others died, one after another, paying the ultimate price to save the world. I hated her character even more after jiu died. Even a child gave his life heroically to save the world, yet she selfishly clung to her life like
it held more value than anyone else’s. While others bore the weight of impossible choices,sacrificed themselves in secret, including the child who quietly fulfilled his duty and died
,she had the audacity to pretend she’d do the same. All for what? So others would stop her, convince her to live, and throw their lives away instead. She wasn’t a goddess; she was a parasite, feeding off the heroism of those who deserved far better.

Not up my alley ...SORRYYYY !!

2) tiresome climax and depressing ending . . If the outcome is going to be as the past (like that of ling long and bingyi's) why would you write a new story in the first place. I kept anticipating they will bring a different outcome but .. well!! I don't know what else to say.

3) actress playing FL is good ..her acting was amazing but in some episode I felt like she is looking too mature for the role for example when they went to kulun episode 15 .. though her demoness was quite seducing and bold I liked her more in that role.


The show is worth every praise and more .. is the reason why I write such a comprehensive review.

Leggi di Più

A feast for the eyes, epic tale not without flaws but worth it for the journey it will take you on

I was expecting a lot from this Chinese Wuxia drama : the fact that Tian Jia Rui had one of the main role in a series directed and written by the very talented director Edward Guo really hyped me. Overall, it successfully managed to keep up with my high expectations and likely set the bar super high for any other future Chinese wuxia drama I would watch.

I loved the story thematic with the narration focusing a lot on the concept of dream and reality, it was truly an epic tale supported by an impressive production value. In the middle of a lot of action, mystery and investigation, the heart of the story is foremost about companionship and found family, as well as different kind of love. The evolution of the relationships between the characters (especially between the two main male leads but also with some of the secondary roles) was probably my favorite part of the show.

The costumes and the cinematography were impeccable. A real feast for the eyes, with a lot of details and superbly impactful. Every set felt so real, rich and purposeful with a minutiae that I rarely encountered. You can really feel the director vision and specific touch when watching the drama and that's something that completely fascinated me.

The acting was another strong point : the cast was pretty good with a great dynamic with each other. This for that matter can be witnessed in the ending generic of episodes which consists of them dancing together on a choreography on one of the main song of the drama. I was once again super impressed by Tian Jia Rui : he got even better than in "My Journey To You" despite the challenges inherent to his role, from "Didi to Gege", very different from his debut one. I got very attached to the main characters (and even some of the more minor ones) and it is a proof of the overall good performances of the ensemble cast. In addition to Tian Jia Rui, I will keep an eye on the future work of Neo Hou and Yan An. The acting of this trio was on point, together or separately in addition to be such eye-candy.

Of course, the series is not without flaws. I wish the lore and powers were more consistent and that there had been less magical objects conveniently appearing for the sake of the plot. I also found the shift in tones a bit jarring: especially in the introduction arc, there is some over-the-top humor that felt a bit flat and strange in the middle of the angsty parts. It fortunately got smoother and more balanced as the story unfolded. The script also took time to set up the stakes, with some situations and storylines being a bit repetitive in the first part of the series.

Other than that, some of the fight sequences lacked of rhythm and dynamism: they were all beautiful but sometimes to the detriment of the pacing (or even the logic) of the conflicts. Editing could also have been better regarding transition between scenes or even between episodes. The OST was quite good (with maybe one of the song being overused) but music was a bit abruptly inserted into some sequences. I'm pointing it out because all the remaining of the production was so flawless that those minor flaws were even more striking.

I would recommend this to people looking for a Chinese Wuxia drama with a super strong cinematographic vision and high production value, good acting and gripping story featuring different kind of love. Shift in tone was a bit unbalanced at first and introduction arc could have been better paced, but once the set up of the relationships between the characters is done, you are in for a captivating journey that will tug at your heartstrings.

Leggi di Più

A Beautiful Mess

I'm not gonna lie, writing this review wasn't easy. I had to carefully organize my thoughts because I didn't know where to start. Fangs of Fortune is one of those dramas that either made me gasp because of how beautifully made it is or drove me nuts because of the all-over-the-place plot and contrived writing. It's highly divisive precisely because of that. It's either the fantastical world and its characters endear themselves to you or you hate everything about it with a vengeance. I am right smack in the middle, though. I can't hate it but I can't say I loved it either. I feel that if they had stuck with their bromance plot from the get-go and not added in romance, it would've been better. Or if they had changed it completely and just turned it into a romance drama, reducing the second male lead's importance in the plot by writing out the Ying Long and Bingyi subplot, this could've been better too. One thing is for sure, this drama will forever be engraved in my mind as one of the most stunningly filmed work that made giggle like a schoolgirl and obsess over the characters for days on end.

The story centers around a 34,000-year-old great demon named Zhu Yan (or Zhao Yuanzhou) and how his fate changes those of people closest to him. Like most xianxia and xuanhuan dramas, it's set in a world where demons and humans exist and racism is rampant. The demons are seen as inherently evil, while humans are supposed to be the so-called good guys. But nothing in this world is purely black and white and so both races are portrayed to be capable of doing both good and evil. The struggles and conflicts stem from such xenophobic thinking from both sides.

Zhu Yan was born as a vessel of malicious energy, meaning he absorbs all the excess malice that exists in the world to keep things balanced. But his gentle and kind nature makes him resent this. Even more so when he finds himself falling in love with humanity and the mortal world. This very fascination for mortals draws a wedge between him and his best friend, Li Lun, who has no love for mankind. Their falling out leads to a lot of strife and suffering for those around them.

The story itself is nothing new. As I've said, this has been done countless times before. But what makes this drama compelling for me was how particular dialogues were written and scenes were executed whenever the subject was about discrimination and racism. Oddly enough, my favorite parts of this drama is when characters sit down and just have meaningful conversations about life and such. And I'm such a sucker for the found-family trope that it really resonated with me. It blew my mind how provocative some of the dialogues are and how much depth the drama has when many of the scenes felt like they were hastily and lazily written and things were getting retconned left and right. Writing isn't this drama's strong suit, but there are some gems here and there. And I noticed that the ones that are written and executed well are those that involve the two male leads, Zhu Yan and Zhuo Yichen, and the anti-hero, Li Lun. Most of the major plot ploints involve the three of them. They even end up fighting in the final boss fight together. What does that tell you? If this were a true romantic story, it would've been the main couple fighting together.

Unfortunately, this was marketed as a romance with a female lead that is criminally underdeveloped and a subplot centering around her that is as mindboggling as her addition to this story. Don't get me wrong, I don't dislike Wen Xiao or the actress who portrays her. My issue is with her seemingly lack of value to the story unlike the other main characters. First of all, the concept behind the Baize goddess is already iffy to me. Why is there a need for a mortal woman to be given the powers of a goddess to regulate demons and monitor their comings and goings to the mortal world when the goddess herself could've done that? Being human herself, there is a possibility of racial discrimination with her favoring the mortals over demons even when it's the mortals that are at fault. The real goddess would've been a more just judge and a more powerful one to boot, someone who can actually deal with demons and not fall ill from a plague or die pointlessly after being accidentally hit by a sharp object. The function and powers of this mortal goddess are not clearly defined, and if I'm honest, I would say that they keep retconning things to fit the narrative they want to tell. How the next generation of Baize goddesses are chosen is unclear as well. Why was Wen Xiao chosen anyway? Yes, she has compassion for both demons and mortals, but then I'm pretty sure she's not the only one who feels that way, so why her?

And apart from her, all the major characters in this story, especially among the 6 members of the Demon Hunting Team, only her story doesn't quite connect with Zhu Yan's. Zhu Yan's fate directly or indirectly affects the fates of Zhuo Yichen, Pei Sijing, Bai Ju, and even Ying Lei. All of them reach this point in their lives because of Zhu Yan. Zhuo Yichen was only the second son and was not even meant to inherit the Cloud Light Sword but because Zhu Yan slaughters his family, he becomes the lord of the Bingyi clan and the most powerful wielder of that sword for generations. Pei Sijing loses her brother because of Zhu Yan's feud with Li Lun. Bai Ju loses his mother and vows to become an accomplished doctor because Zhu Yan causes a rift in the balance between the mortal world and the Wilderness. Ying Lei is afforded the chance to pursue his dreams of becoming a chef in the mortal world because his grandfather (and Zhu Yan's mentor) feels that it's important to give his grandson the choice that Zhu Yan never had. Even Li Lun becoming a full-blown villain and wreaking havoc is caused by his misunderstanding with Zhu Yan. Wen Xiao, on the other hand, is chosen to be the next goddess for reasons I still don't quite understand. Her fate is more tied with this drama's big bad. The quest to finding the Baize token, it being broken, her fixing it, and it poisoning her are nothing more than plot devices. You take those out and you would still be left with a solid plot that could've been better if they had focused more on Zhu Yan and his relationships.

I've said this before, this is a BL/bromance drama in disguise. This was never meant to be a romance. But for fear of the project getting shelved because of China's proverbial censorship axe, they felt the need to write in a female lead and pretend that there's actual romance. I don't mind slowburn romances, but when the drama ends without even a single kiss between the couple with their sweet moments few and far and between, that's not romance, at least not in terms of C-drama standards. The fans of the main CP can delude themselves all they want, but I firmly believe that Wen Xiao was not supposed to be part of this story at first and the romance is an add-on, like an extra side dish for good measure. Hence, the major events in this drama involve the male leads, and the last story arc and most important part of the series is all about them and their bond. Yes, it's unfair and I blame the writers for this. But let's be honest, there's no way in hell that this drama would've seen the light of day if they hadn't included a hetero romance side story with all the obvious BL elements they added into this. If you're familiar with BL/danmei, you'll see the tropes and signs. If not, then you'll probably just dismiss them as healthy male friendship. I'm pretty sure they cut some scenes down to minimize the “bromance” because I saw some behind-the-scenes photos of the male cast acting out scenes that aren't included in the finished product. If they had just done a purely romance drama, they wouldn't have this problem either. But they can't seem to decide which direction to pursue and so what we got is a beautiful mess of a drama that had the potential to be truly amazing and unforgettable.

Nothing beats this drama in terms of visuals, though. From the first episode, I was absolutely taken by how the sets, costumes, and cinematography looked. The opening fight sequence was so stylistically done that it made me want to watch more. Guo Jingming may be a lot of things, probably a real piece of work in real life, but damn, he knows how to make a stunningly crafted scene from the meticulously curated backdrop to every movement of the actors. I have never seen such a visual feast in a C-drama quite like this! I appreciate how this drama tries to be different and I seriously want to see more dramas like this. Sadly, I don't think this style of filming appeals much to Chinese viewers. I think it would've been better received by international audiences.

The cast, for lack of a better word, is great. I have no complaints about the actors. They did what they could with the material that they were given, and some even went over and beyond. I never expected to become so attached to this ragtag crew of demon hunters, but I did. I sorely miss them, especially the comedic moments in the earlier episodes.

Music-wise, this drama boasts of some of the most memorable songs in a C-drama to date, at least for me. I find the choice of songs very refreshing. I don't hear this kind of music in many C-dramas. My only complaint is the music plays a little too loudly during dialogue-heavy scenes. Whoever edited the sound must've been deaf. Like dude, we can't hear them talk! Turn it down a notch, will you?! It must've driven Mandarin-speakers crazy.

The overall production value of this drama is top notch. I think they used a led screen for the backgrounds which actually looks better on screen and most likely helped a lot with the acting too. The visual effects are some of the best I've seen in a C-drama. The costumes and makeup are so on point as well. None of it looks cheap. If I didn't know better, I'd say this was an S+ level drama.

As a whole, this is an entertaining drama that wowed me with its stunning visuals, elicited emotions I never thought I'd feel watching an idol drama such as this, and left me wondering why I became so emotionally attached to characters that don't exist despite the flaws in the writing. That's why I'm giving it an 8 and that's a generous rating coming from me.

Leggi di Più

FONGS OF FORTUNE

Really an amazing cdrama.Demons and Humans are not afraid of death but they are afraid of losing Loved ones.Each actors acting is really so good ♥️.Love ,romance and innocence between Demon and Goddess is really lovely------>♥️.Director is a well script writer, but Love between Demon and Goddess is okay but Romance between them is less.He should have brought much more romance between them.Whatever happens we don't care but at the end Demon and Goddess should be together . Because so many dramas upset the viewers and fans at the end and they will give worst reviews and ratings.So please make us happy and we will never disappoint you until you disappoint us.Please I have given 10/10 Ratings and reviews.
(⁠ ⁠˘⁠ ⁠³⁠˘⁠)⁠♥

Leggi di Più

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I'll always remember fof, what a great way to close up the year 2024 🩶.



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