The Story of Mystics (2024)

Tragic and beautiful.

No words are enough to express my feelings. Am sad but the ending was acceptable and expected.
The whole cast is treat to eyes, music is perfect, story has everything you would ask for. A found family trope, I've never seen this much cute and wholesome. They are funny, cute and everyone has a fair share of tragedy but they stick together completing eachother.
I never felt bored watching any episode or any scene, the drama has too many slow motion shots but they have their beauty so I enjoyed that too. Even when episode was sad, the ending song, them dancing and giggling together uplifted the mood.
Not everything was perfect like them shedding tears literally in every 5 minutes, villain silently waiting for them to take actions, last few episodes were dragged.
But Fangs of fortune has special place in my heart, it was such a great experience watching it. Visuals, cinematography, VFX, songs, action sequences, their jokes everything was perfect.

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Fangs of emotions that touch our hearts!!

Fangs of fortune is a different concept of all the dramas that I have watched so far.It shows us the basic concept of triumph of good over evil in a new way, interwoven with emotions and lifetime bonds formed throughout the journey.
Plot-The story starts off with the intro of Wen Xiao and Zhu Yan,the great demon,who willingly volunteers to help the demon hunting bureau to catch evil demons alongside,Zhuo Yichen, the descendant of Bingyi clan and makes a pact with him.They are joined by Pei Sijing,an excellent archer and Bai Jiu,a talented physician kid.Later on Ying Lei,mountain god,too joins them to solve mysteries in and around Wilderness and Tiandu.
Cast-Neo Hou,as,Zhao Yuanzhou/Zhu Yan is excellent and perfectly cast.I think this is one of his best performances.
Zhu Yan,is,naughty,smart,patient, emotional,caring, loving, kind hearted responsible,great demon.Though he is widely knows as the evil demon,he has a painful side of him but has kept it only to his heart.Neo Hou carried the role of the great demon perfectly.Be it costumes, emotions,teasing, action scenes, charismatic,protective of loved ones,he is the main asset of this drama, in my opinion.His character is well written and presented.
Chen Duling as Wen Xiao,is smart,beautiful, knowledgeable,caring,kind human who feels demons and humans are the same and demons are not to be treated badly.Her acting is also good.
I particularly liked the little romantic scenes between Zhu Yan and Wen Xiao.Their chemistry was also good.
Zhuo Yichen, played by Tian Jiarui,is one friend that everyone dreams of.He is like an elder brother to Ying Lei and Bai Jiu(also a hero for him).I liked the way he always tries to protect his friends and also tries to understand people and their situations.His acting was excellent.
From a person who vows to kill Zhu Yan to a dearest friend who waits for the return Zhao Yuanzhou,I think his inner conflict, struggle,was beautifully portrayed.The best part of this drama is the friendship between Zhu Yan and Zhuo Yichen.I liked how Mr.Zhuo was able to understand all the pain and agony that Zhao Yuanzhou had to endure and hence could not pull himself to kill Zhu Yan.Their relationship is one of the highlights of this drama.
Ms.Pei Sijing,a cold and distant ,introverted,talented archer joins the group to become a friend for a lifetime.Together with her brother Pei Siheng, they are always there to take care of their friends.Theirvsiblung bond was very good.He was always there for his sister in times of need.Cheng Xiao as Pei Sijing and Lai Weiming as Pei Siheng were the best.Their acting was on point and brought the Pei siblings to life.
Lester Lin as Bai Jiu ,who is pampered by the whole group,is outstanding in his role.Be it a timid innocent doctor or a ruthless villain after getting occupied,he was outstanding in his performance.His story was a bit heartwrenching for me.
Xu Zhenxuan as Ying Lei,is surely a good trio with Zhuo Yichen and Bai Jiu.Ying Lei is indeed the best Mountain god.
And finally,Li Lun,played by Yan An,is phenomenal in his acting.Be it sinisterous,threatening,villainous,he is surely that antagonist who makes you fear him.But I liked the way he stood for the protection of the world at the end.
All the other star cast were good in their performances.
The costumes.sets,visual effects, screenplay,and particularly MUSIC were excellent.The music matched well with all the situations and was perfect.
On a final note,Fangs of Fortune is a highly recommended emotional drama which show cases lifetime bonds formed through Demon hunting bureau.The six members are protective of others and are willing to go to great lengths for their friends and the world too.
Also,it show cases that seeing us not believing but everything has its own reasons and causes.
Understanding a person emotionally is tough yet important.
A MUST WATCH DRAMA!!

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Best Cdrama 2024

For me the absolute best drama this year.
Really a masterpiece. Excellent executed on every aspect.
From cast, acting, plot, storylines, character development, music, songs, costumes, pacing, editing, cinematography, effects, fight scenes, to dialogues.
There isn’t one little thing I could criticize….mhmm maybe the cast was too good looking 😗😉😅🫠😍I mean those slow pacing close-ups….❤️‍🔥
The main cast was brilliant. I laughed and cried so many times.
I also liked how you have adventure, fantasy, lovestory, friendship and also bromance. The drama is really heavy in this one, but they always gave us those funny little moments.
My heart ached at the end….but hey nothing really ends, right 🥹😉

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Drama Worth the Watch!

If you want to watch a wonderfully crafted drama, then Fangs of Fortune is that drama. Yes, I loved this drama, but I have to give some shoutouts here:

Hair/Jewelry - You did that hair - braids, hairpins, bells and just decorations in the hair were fly! Yes!
Makeup - Hello and holler, the makeup was on point. Looking at that tat going down ZYZ's neck, and the demon marks, whoever design those, you are bad.
Costumes - Two snaps for real. They were all slaying those looks. Loved them all.
Stunt Coordinators - We all know there were a lot of you working on those stunts. Each and every one was bad ass! We appreciate all the hard work! So worth it!
Special Effects - You all did the damn thing with those effects!
OST - The beat stayed in your head when things were about to go down. That's what you want. Good job!

There were thousand in front of the camera behind the camera who never get the kudos. Sending out much love and appreciation to those in the highest and lowest positions. We see you and trust we know all the hard work you all do. Thank you!

So many beautiful people in this drama. But the men. FINE! FINE! FINE! Seriously. I couldn't stand it.

I have to say, the crying these actors/actresses did, I don't know how you all kept it up. I felt like I needed to be crying too. And speaking of actors/actresses, nicely done and executed. Big shout out to ZYZ, ZYC and LL. You three -- WOW. Especially, ZYZ you owned every scene you were in. Bravo.

Definitely one that is worth the watch and truly we are fortunate to watch such a beautifully crafted work of cinematography.

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Tears, Humor, Love & Stunning Looking Actors

After a hiatus of more than a year from watching dramas, I was eager to dive into something captivating. Fangs of Fortune caught my eye, largely because I’ve enjoyed Neo Hou’s performances in his previous works. All the stunningly good looking main cast members have also attracted me. However, the 4.9 rating on Douban gave me pause. Still, knowing how meme bots, stealth accounts and contemporary competing dramas can skew ratings hence opinions in today's world, I decided to take the plunge.

I’m glad I did. For the past two weeks, I’ve been immersed in a breathtaking journey with a group of closely knitted friends who love and trust each other, and willing to die for each other. Almost 100% of the dialog time between our main characters, the actors have tears streaming down their faces as the writer(s) and directors try to capture viewers' heart. The sheer volume of tears is astonishing—this is, without a doubt, the most tear-filled series from the actors I’ve ever watched. It felt like every conversation started and ended in tears, to the point where crying became so normal that it lost its emotional impact on me.

Storyline
The plot is surprisingly compelling. It revolves around a love story between a demon who has a conscience and a human girl, exploring themes of redemption, transformation, and the power of love. Another human who vows vengence against the demon, but becomes empathizing with the demon as he turns into one himself. The story takes the characters through harrowing trials, strengthening their bonds and forcing them to grow amidst relentless antagonists who seem nearly invincible.

If not for the hints of romance between the demon and the girl, viewers might mistake the dynamic between the two male leads for a bromance, which is one of my most enjoyable moments. It's heartening to see a deep confidant friendship between the two main male characters.

While the central narrative relies on familiar xianxia tropes, the journey itself is engaging. The characters' struggles, setbacks, and triumphs create a tapestry of perseverance and emotional growth.

The Characters
I thoroughly enjoyed all the characters, but I was particularly drawn to Zhu Yan/Zhao Yuan Zhou (Neo Hou) and Zhuo Yi Chen (Tian Jia Rui). Their interactions are captivating, and the chemistry between them is both endearing and compelling. Despite Zhuo Yi Chen's vow to kill Zhao Yuan Zhou for vengeance and Zhao Yuan Zhou's desire to sacrifice himself for redemption, their emotional struggles are portrayed so authentically that viewers can't help but be moved as their relationship evolves into a deep bond of mutual understanding and trust.

Although Wen Xiao (Chen Du Ling) is a main character meant to complement Zhao Yuan Zhou, her role feels comparatively weak, ultimately overshadowed by the more dynamic presence of Zhuo Yi Chen.

I also found myself appreciating the character of Li Lun (Yan An), despite his role as the antagonist. His character elicits a complex mix of emotions—hatred intertwined with pity—as his tragic backstory gradually comes to light, adding depth and nuance to his character.

Performances
The acting is another highlight. The young cast is talented, particularly the two male leads, who deliver strong performances and exhibit great potential for their careers. The ensemble cast is full of visually striking actors, making even the villains such as Li Lun, Fei, Ran Yi, Cheng Huang etc charismatic and memorable.

Dialogue and Humor
The dialogue is often predictable and at times even childish, but as I settled into the story, I began to find its quirks endearing. There’s a paradoxical charm in the light-hearted humor that surfaces during dire situations. The rivalry between the two alpha male leads, for instance, injects a layer of amusement as they constantly try to outdo each other and earn approval, eliciting genuine chuckles from viewers.

Visuals and Special Effects
As is typical of xianxia dramas, the fight scenes are fast-paced and visually dazzling, with special effects that are remarkably well-executed. The visuals are well polished, and the characters, even the demon antagonists, are stunningly portrayed. With the flip of a coin, the pace slows, allowing viewers a moment to catch their breath. These slower, dialogue-heavy scenes often unfold with an abundance of tears from our characters, adding an emotional weight that permeates the narrative.

Music
As a fan of Chinese historical music, the OST is a major draw for me. The songs are beautiful, especially Zhao Yuan Zhou’s character song which is my favorite. The lyric is deeply moving and capture the essence of the character, allowing listeners to visualize the emotions and scenes of the character even without context.

Ending and Final Thoughts
Like many dramas in this genre, Fangs of Fortune doesn’t shy away from bittersweet endings. Some beloved characters meet untimely fates, which might leave viewers with heavy hearts. If you’re someone who gets attached to characters, prepare for an emotional rollercoaster.

While there are occasional editing flaws—some scenes feel out of sequence or poorly spliced—the drama overall is enjoyable. If you can handle a few heartbreaks and a steady stream of tears, Fangs of Fortune is worth your time.

Two thumbs up! Great watch! Don't miss this great drama!

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MY SOUL IS SHATTERED BECAUSE I LOVED THIS DRAMA

I have to start for this drama from the actual start - The trailer. The trailer heavily leaned on the fact and made it pretty clear that this show is not for the ones with a weak heart. And after completing the drama I agree. I am not the type of person who cries when a character dies. I didn’t even feel sad when I watched Drawing Closer (a Japanese movie - it’s good) And yet here I am, I lost count of how many times I cried while watching this drama. But don’t get me wrong it is not only sad and serious it has a lot of comedy and team bonding. The characters are deep and meaningful. Let alone the main characters I cried even for the side characters.
This drama is a journey. It takes you from enemies to friends to found family. It talked of love and family, of friendship and fate. It is beautiful. I don’t think I will ever have enough words to truly express the brilliance of this team. The actors stole my heart and the director made sure to make good use of it. If you come into this drama, Get ready to create a watch list because after this you will watch all the dramas the actors have worked in and all the dramas the director and screenwriter have worked in. I am not kidding.
Another think to praise is the brilliant cinematography and CGI. Shots of water and rain. Shots of characters. You realise how much cinematography affects a show after watching a masterpiece like this. The cinematography and OST can take a drama from 100 to 1000, and in case of this drama they took it to 10000. The OST is a masterpiece again. I will be saving all the songs in my playlist and listen to them on repeat… well anyways.
A drama is not just a story it takes everything to make a great drama and this one has out done it all :

cinematography- 10/10
OST - 10/10
Acting / casting - 10/10
Story - 10/10

Did my heart break when I watched it? - yes
Will I do anything to see the main caste again together - yes
Did I laugh a lot in this drama - yes
Are my eyes puffy from crying - yes!
So I am going to sleep off all my exhaustion and you guys can try out this masterpiece…

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The story is written so beautifully, heartwarming & heartwrenching

What I can say is that the story is written so beautifully.

A tale of unattainable love, obstacles and challenges in seeking a peaceful life, obsession, regret, sacrifice, and the deepest desires of the heart—all conveyed so beautifully.

The ending is satisfying, hitting all the right notes without being rushed. Though there were flaws, it's safe to say the writer truly written this story amazingly.

Even though our main couple only shared an embrace until the very end, we could feel their emotions through their movements and actions. Think of them as a married couple—sacrificing for one another, protecting each other, trusting, communicating, and being there for each other.

With a story that began with a great demon desiring death, viewers were already bracing for the worst, but unexpectedly, a glimmer of hope appeared.

Fang of Fortune really set the bar too high for me. No work is without flaws, but Fang of Fortune truly surpassed the limits of perfection I could imagine. The cinematography, atmosphere, color grading, OST, dialogues, storytelling, settings, costume design, hairstyles, even the smallest details—all are outstanding.

The works of GJM, Yin Yang Master, My Journey to You, and Fang of Fortune never disappointed, expecting his next project.

As someone who watches Japanese, Korean, and Chinese dramas, I find that after watching his works, it's hard to find other dramas that match their level of quality.

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One word: BRILLIANT

Tl;dr: I highly recommend, especially if you're into the demons and magic fantasy. Amazing frames, exceptional soundtrack, incredible mood setting.

As per usual, I expected something quite different, based on the teasers (I don't really read summaries, if I do, I forget what the drama is about lol). I thought it would be a great demon bewitching regular people with fever dreams, a storyline composed of multiple single stories. I do LOVE what they did with this drama.
First thing hitting me in ep. 1 were the incredible frames and environment. The huge, huge spaces of the Demon Hunting Bureau, where you feel so small because it is so huge and yet so big because it looks like inside a mini copy of a city. The gardens, the rooms, the exteriors, just wow.
The color grading of the frames. I have seen quite many c-dramas by now, but I have not seen any drama do such exceptional mood setting for each and every frame. Some parts are warm tones because they are funny or uplifting, the other parts are grey and dark because there's action and drama. Just genius work.
The soundtrack??? I'm not an OST person, but this OST really hits home for me. This is the second drama where I really like the soundtrack and can immerse into the lyrics and music. This drama has in fact my most favourite soundtrack so far. It sounds so grand, so emotional, just really, really beautiful.
The casting. I will always prefer to watch Neo Hou as a thousands years old demon/god/mythical creature in a human form. His facial features are ageless, he can make his face very soft and also very sharp. He was a fantastic casting option. From the rest of the cast, I have seen Chen Du Ling and Gulnezer Bextiyar before (I knew also Yan An and Cheng Xiao, just have not seen them in dramas before). I love that Chen Du Ling is a very strong FL here. Gulnezer Bextiyar is forever a goddess. I absolutely adore the rest of the cast too, everyone is so good in their character.
The comedy. I really did not expect this drama to have comedy, I totally expected just darkness without a glimmer of hope. The comedy element was very refreshing. Bai Jiu's screams, Ying Lei's personality, Zhu Yan's pranks, really really loved it.
I'm currently at ep. 26, we are having a little Team Crisis™ since ep. 23. I'd have preferred a smooth sailing, but I guess it would have been boring. There are twists and turns in the plot, they are never out of character. There is usually a small foreshadowing. I hope that the ending will be satisfactory to me. Even if it won't be, I think won't be mad (I'll add an ETA when I'm finished).
This is the first drama (correction: fifth) where I put a 10/10 for rewatch value. I'd rewatch it for the soundtrack and aesthetics especially and pretty much everything I wrote above.

ETA after finishing, in case anyone wanted to read it: Personally, I did not quite like the ending, because I like a certain type of endings (not going to say which because I'd spoil you). From an unbiased point of view, the ending was on brand with the title of the drama (advice: get your tissues ready). There is an extra episode after the official last episode. I think the creators could've added this extra episode within the final episode and make one more extra episode. Despite me not really liking the ending, the 10/10 rating still stands.

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Bestest drama ever ♥️♥️

I just finished watching the last few episodes, and I cried a lot because it felt really heartbreaking to watch. How can this drama be so good? I’m so proud of the entire cast for delivering such a phenomenal performance. Little Lester Lin was incredible, and kudos to Neo You he truly shined in this drama. He’s not just a visual treat; his acting was genuinely impressive.

Everyone, including TJR, really shined in their acting. While Chen Duling’s character may not have been the best written, I think she portrayed the role beautifully. Her character came across as matured and smart to me, which added a lot of depth in certain moments.

I loved all the characters in this group of demon bureau hunters. Neo had great chemistry with the female lead and both male characters, and honestly, the directing did a fantastic job of showcasing the chemistry between everyone in different moments.

This drama has officially become one of my top tens. While the storytelling had its flaws, it was still very engaging, and I hope the cast gets the recognition they deserve for their hard work. It truly deserves the rating it got here and even higher! I didn’t comment much here, but it’s been nice reading most of your opinions.

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