Back From the Brink (2023)

A Good Drama That Leaves a Lasting Impression

This is a good drama that delivers an emotional and thought-provoking experience. The performances of Huo Ming Hao as Tian Yao and Zhou Ye as Yan Hui are noteworthy, showcasing great on-screen chemistry between the leads.

Zhou Ye brings her signature perky cheekiness, courage, and loyalty to the character of Yan Hui, reminiscent of her performance in "Word of Honour." While her relative inexperience as a main lead occasionally results in moments of over-acting, overall, she does a commendable job in the role.

Huo Ming Hao shines as Tian Yao, portraying a protagonist who has experienced deep love, brutal betrayal, and emotional scars. His portrayal demonstrates remarkable control as an actor, effectively conveying the complexities of the character. This role has the potential to expand his fan base and further his acting career.

"Back From the Brick" successfully explores themes of resilience, redemption, and the power of forgiveness. It offers a well-crafted narrative that keeps viewers engaged throughout. The drama is visually appealing, with excellent production values showcased through cinematography, costume design, and set detailing.

In conclusion, "Back From the Brick" is a captivating Chinese drama that excels in its performances and storytelling. While minor flaws exist, such as occasional over-acting, they do not overshadow the overall quality of the series. This emotionally charged drama, combined with its exploration of meaningful themes, is a must-watch for fans of the genre.

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Yanhui and Tianyao over them all

Tian Yao and Yan Hui are the epitome of true love. Their devotion and loyalty to each other are unmatched by anyone else. They would do anything for each other, even sacrifice their own lives. Their love is so pure and powerful that it transcends time and space. They have a bond that connects their hearts and souls. You can feel their emotions and their pain as they face countless obstacles and enemies. You can also feel their joy and happiness as they overcome them together. You admire their love and wish you could find someone who loves you the same way. They are your role models and your inspiration. They are everything to each other. They are not just lovers, but also best friends, partners, and soulmates.

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HARD left field PLOT turn @ ep 16

This is a low budget Xian Xia drama started with a promising story line 8/10

I didn't mind the mediocre acting as I've seen the actors in their other works. I even enjoyed "A girl like me" with Neo Hou in it. But you are not going to feel the sadness when there's death or crying scenes because it's just not that moving. Not to mention there isn't an OST to help with that kinds of scenes.
I also didn't mind the cheesy CGI as some of the "Yao" are super kiddish cute and silly

Positives so far:
1. Good story line until ep 16
2. Beautiful cast not ruined by Xian Xia OTP makeup (i.e. Till the end of the moon)
3. Good multi dimensional interesting characters
-FL not overly annoying or weak. I love that she's honest and forthcoming with her feelings
- ML dragon emotional scars warranted for the initial reactions
- Bai Xiao Sheng (with his bad hair) provided so many comical relief
- Su Ying , crazy dragon stabber. I love that she's NOT a single dimensional antagonist. There is actual a reason to her hatred towards all Yao. Sure she took it to the crazy psycho B level but hey all xian xia dramas need one.

Then ...... ep 16 happens and then you are like uhhhh that came out of left field!
Literally the plot turn could've been avoided by 1 line "BRB" but "Bruh..."
Bai Xiao Sheng becomes the 2nd lead flip switch
Enters a flood of characters.... but I am happy to see (Liu Yao Yuan who was in The Sleuth of Ming Dynasty)

Last 10 ep plot is a hot mess IMO and feels like they are trying to stretch out the episodes with prolonged slow motions. 1.25x speed and they are still walking in slow motion.... Super draggy until the end.

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Enjoyed it so much

This show is funny, entertaining, heart breaking at times but it will also heal you. There is character development of the main leads, you will fall for the 2nd ML and side characters too. Stellar performance by Zhou Ye, she is so expressive and able to emote naturally at a level beyond her age and experience. Neo Hou and her visuals are amazing, the costumes and make up are on point without being OTT. The show is well paced and shows relationships between master and disciple, friends, fellow disciples and family. I was completely invested in the show, not many shows make me feel this way without fast forwarding through any scenes as i did not want to miss a thing. Its comparable to Blood of Youth for me. 100% recommend and ill definitely rewatch it.

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A Better Xianxia series than the majority of the of the Xianxia dramas

So far the story of FL and ML working together to gather all the missing parts of ML is really good. There were funny and serious parts within the series that fitted well. The actress and actor who played the leads were excellent. including the 2nd ML, he played his part well, there were times when the screen writer over-did his act and were trying to break the FL and ML apart, it was abit much.

The FL is hilarious and is not portrayed as a weak and dumb girl like most of FLs in these types of dramas. She has her own mind and personality. She speaks what she wants, and will obtain what she wants through thick or thin. The ML starts off as a cold being who wants nothing more than to just gather his missing body parts and take revenge on the one to put him in his dire state. At first he was ready to remove the Heart Protecting Scale forcefully from the FL. Later on he starts to warm up and you start to see his character change and relearns to love, trust, and understand the heart.

The only main issue that I have with the story was the ending and how the leads were able to defeat the antagonist. It was messy and had minor plot holes that were kind of left un-answer on how it came to be. It also felt rushed to, after defeating the villain. the ML was ab el to find the FL within 15 years ( that seems a bit year, now that the FL is supposedly 16 years old after being reincarnated). It would have been a perfect Xianxia if the screen writer and producer were able to write it more carful on overcoming the villain and if story is about personal greed or and dark temptation there is always a way to control it.

In all, I would say this is Xianxia dramas is much better than most Xianxia dramas where FL starts off weak, dumb, useless-looking and tries to their innocence to avoid trouble. Then later becomes all mighty for all the wrong reason and has to fight her friends or love ones. ML tends to be boastful and obnoxious with too much pride. Later on just stands there dumbfounded and unwilling to do anything for the FL which leads her to her demise and turn. Then the ML is forced to kill the FL for the "sake of humanity/ world(s)/ earth and heaven, etc., and is heart broken that he messed up and after hearing the truth many episodes later and tries to redeem himself for her.

Here in this series, FL is blunt but knows what she wants, the ML is starts from nothing and has to relearn and grows. Though sadly the conclusions is always their weak spot. They havent perfected on how to end a Xianxia drama without having dumb plot holes, and a very rushed ending to meet the limited episode numbers. In the end I still enjoyed this drama with all the funny, sad, and the serious moments within the drama. :)

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It's an okay fantasy drama but lacks oomf factor

This drama mainly revolves around finding the missing body parts of the ml, which is a dragon. I've watched another drama of the ml, but for some reason I wasn't able to finish it because the story got dragged out at the end. So I was determined to finish this drama no matter how it goes just to give it a chance.

Let's talk about the positive things first. I like the plot and how it teaches the values of forgiveness and moving on. I also like the slow-burn romance in this drama and how the female lead is not your typical annoying weak character. We love strong women. There are actually a couple of scenes where she saves the male lead. It has also a hint of comedy so it's more like a feel-good drama because there is not that much angst in this one compared to other fantasy dramas. Contrary to popular opinion, I quite like the CGI on this drama. It's not that flashy compared to high-budget fantasy dramas but that's how I like it since it's better for it to be simple than it being too much.

Now we go to the negative things I have for this drama. There are a few scenes where I get so frustrated because most of the conflicts in the story are due to poor communication. They always directly go to fighting instead of talking it out first. The plot also in the 2nd half got so dragged out. They kill someone, and then he's alive, and then he's killed again, and then he's alive once more. Pick a struggle hahaha. The chemistry between the leads is also a bit lackluster for me. But it got improved in the later part of the drama.

Another thing, I always feel so skeptical when I start a chinese fantasy drama because it's either you get a bad ending, a sad ending, and an unsatisfying ending. I only knew of a few dramas that have a satisfying ending. Unfortunately for this drama, it has a very unsatisfying ending for me. I don't know how and why it's always the same thing. Although this drama has a happy ending, the happy bit was squeezed at the last 10 min of the drama. There are unnecessary scenes that could have been replaced with happy parts and proper closure for the characters. It's getting repetitive and I need a drama where they break this kind of stereotype.

Overall, I'll give it an 8.5/10. It's an okay drama if you have nothing else to watch at the moment.

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The inconsistencies & lack of continuity was intolerable for me

Review @ ep1-14
I actually do like this drama but I so wanted to love it for the sake of Zhou Ye, became a fan of hers after watching her in Word of Honor (I can’t rave enough about that series, special shoutout to the one and only Chief of the Ghost Valley, the philanthropist Wen Kexing) but I don’t love it so far. There are so many continuity fails but I will highlight two.
1). He had huge scars from Su Ying stabbing him in ep1 but all of a sudden the scars disappeared few episodes later
2). When he went to retrieve his sword the first time, the journey was so hard / tumultuous that’s why Yan Hui couldn’t go with him but when they went the second time, they just basically strolled into the place.
She keeps losing things just for the sake of furthering the plot which is out of character for someone who cherishes everything she has.
Also once again we have a female character Su Ying who is so obsessed with a man (the only difference this time is her obsession isn’t with the ML) she is extremely vile and vicious and willing to go to any and all length for him. This perpetual CDrama plot is getting so damn old. Especially the level at which they make this female characters reach. It’s beyond ridiculous and unrealistic. I personally don’t know any woman in my real life who behaves in those extreme ways.

Update @ep21
I am struggling so hard to continue this drama. It’s not terribly bad but it’s not great either. The acting from the ML is actually so bad. He’s had exactly one expression so far. He’s acting range is very limited IMO but he’s handsome so I guess that covers up for lack of acting abilities to some people. Whatever floats anyone’s boat….
The comedic parts of this drama just feels out of place for me.
One more thing I don’t care how handsome or beautiful someone is, or whatever reason they had to stab and almost kill me, nobody is falling in love with someone who literally stabbed them and left them for dead. The lovers of this series can try to justify it any which ways they like, “he has to save the kids” “he was going to return the protective heart thingy to her so he knew she won’t die” etc but to look someone you claim to love in the eyes and stab them for the 3rd time I might add is just beyond unacceptable. He could have asked for it but nah, let’s stab her and then she literally fell so badly, he didn’t even try to break her fall, he just left her there, but wait, he’s really so sorry and because he’s so sorry she has to understand and not only forgive him but let it go and continue the relationship after he couldn’t take 2mins to ask for it and just had to take it in the most cruel way possible. I am sure eventually she’s going to forgive him and they will live happily ever after but that’s a relationship I can never get behind so that arc of the drama has already left a bitter taste in my mouth.

Update @completion.
The production team for this drama really dropped the ball big time especially the editing department and script writers. So many inconsistencies and lack of continuity. The errors in the details was just way too much for me to ignore and tolerate. Marks appear and disappear in the same scene. The characters powers and strengths (with the exception of the dark lord aura guy) where so inconsistent and felt like it was based on what each scene needed. I can go on and on but I have already spent days watching this drama and that is enough time I’m willing to give this drama.
The only thing that was good for me in this drama was the costumes., they looked beautiful and rich.
I am obviously never going to rewatch this drama.
Rewatch value 1/10
Overall value 6/10 (i am being super generous with this rating)
I highly do not recommend but that’s my opinion, you are free to make yours.

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Great at comedy. Bad at emotional impact.

The drama started off really well and up until episode 17 it had this great light-hearted, adventure type feel that I hadn't seen in a xianxia before. It was super enjoyable to watch but then the script suddenly shifted and episodes 18-29 were a hit and miss (hit when it's comedy, miss when it's a sad scene), followed up with a mediocre ending.

THE PROBLEM:
What I very much liked is that the comedic scenes were very strong and I was seriously laughing out loud the whole time. However, what I strongly disliked was that the emotional scenes felt very forced. I feel like the writers wanted to create these super emotional impactful scenes but totally failed. The plot was done in such a convenient way to create more of a relationship dynamic between the main leads that it ended up looking artificial to me. One of the main issues I found is that there would be this super traumatic emotional scene and two seconds later it would be followed up with a very comedic scene which immediately lost the emotional impact and realness of the situation. The lack of emotions is what really bothered me because the characters were experiencing traumatic things but their reactions to them were not properly conveyed, hence they didn't feel real to me. Because of all this I sadly couldn't emotionally connect with the romance.

CHARACTERS:
FL really shined for me in every scene. She is perfect for the comedy scenes and if the script was better I could definitely see how her emotional scenes would have really impacted me (especially because I've seen her role in "Word of Honour" where she was a total badass). ML is very handsome and total eye-candy but too stoic. I haven't seen him in other dramas yet so I can't determine if it's the character or actor that was the issue. There are surprisingly lots of side couples and short romances in this drama. The second couple was my favourite and done really well, however the third couple (that received equal screen time with the second couple) was very boring, the characters very one dimensional and unfortunately useless screen time. The villains were non-threatening and flat looking. I believe a good story requires good heroes as much as good villains and this drama didn't deliver the villain part at all.

OVERALL:
I feel like this drama had great potential but didn't execute it well. I did enjoy the funny and silly comedy scenes so if you are looking for something with low angst and low emotional impact, I feel like you would enjoy this drama. Even though it has some small misunderstandings, the main couple mainly has a healthy relationship and communicates well with each other which is rare for a xianxia drama to see.

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Another Novel Ruined

There is really no end to this trend. Production team take up a project based on a famous novel which ensures them good viewership because of the fan base. Then they choose amazing actors to do the project and again increase the number of viewers. The drama will be a hit no matter what. Now what they have to do is follow the amazing storyline (with a few changes due do censorship) and get done with this. But guess what!!!! Someone shows up and suggests to change the ENTIRE SCRIPT!! Because they think they can write a far better story with their cliched ideas and so called plot twists, love triangle and over the top nonsense while keeping the main characters same as the original.
*Face palm*
I am really surprised by all the ratings on MDL for this drama. I mean what in the world did they see in this drama to give it such a rating is beyond me. I get that people can have different tastes but for me who has read and adored the story of the novel it was a complete disaster.
They introduced the characters like Bai Xiaosheng and Changlan (forgive the spelling) to drag the story. I got bored amd irritated in several episodes like the' moth one' because it neither added anything to the plot nor increased my interest. There were many filler episodes because they thought original story was not worth it!! I tried very hard to watch the show mainly because of the actors whom I loved a lot throughout the episodes but there is a limit....When there is no story to tell, actors cannot lift the show either. The CGI was so so. I liked the songs and costumes a lot.
I kept reminding myself to stick to Wuxia but once in a while whenever I watch Xianxia due to my favourite novel adaptation it turns out pretty disappointing. I am really afraid for 'Lengend of Shenli' now. A humble request to the makers" For god sake please do not change that plot as well to show your creativity." This drama was really not my cup of tea but you can watch if you prefer cliched over the top storyline of costume dramas. Slapstick comedy Or simply because you love the actors and their chemistry.

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All I Say is YAN HUI and TIAN YAO that'll be enough

Great show with superb casts. All characters story line perfectly wrapped up and most beautifully presenting by the casts an enchanting Xianxia drama.

After "Till The End Of The Moon" i did'nt expect YOUKU to make such a beautiful xianxia drama with such an amazing cast it really felt to heart the ending of TTEOTM and BFTB

"Back From the Brick" successfully explores themes of resilience, redemption, and the power of forgiveness. It offers a well-crafted narrative that keeps viewers engaged throughout. The drama is visually appealing, with excellent set detailing
Hou Ming Hao and Zhou Ye our leads pour life into the Tian Yao and Yan Hui characters Perfectly. The strength , endurance , romance, love and comedy.

Each episode builds up to the next and pace of story captivates viewers, every episode ends up with mystery and we viewers have egarly waiting for the next episode
For the ultimate, unequivocal show down between good and evil; for the most worthy couple; for side characters that get enough vibrancy to live on in your mind, rather than just existing to move the plot; this drama is the one, Also all the characters got their own time to shine, no one was extra and unnecessary. Everyone had their own role to play.

All in all I really loved this show and BFTB has become my third favourite Xianxia Drama behind TTEOTM and LBFAD. It' s story is a welcome change from the usual Xianxia storys like its always a cold and powerful lead such as TANTAI JIN and DONGFANG QING CANG but in this its light and warming lead who wants to get his dragon body, ( Although i love the dominating, cold and powerful leads who fell for the one and only her and for her destroy anything and don't care type )

I'd finish by saying that the incredible chemistry between the two lead was more than convincing, I couldn't ask more from the acting ( couldn't believe this was the same HMH that played the majestic dragon king and the milky dragon at the same time, Zhou Ye was absolutely versatile and made cry along her character many times) the whole cast was also so deeply involved and sincere with the viewers, spending hours answering fans questions on weibo and making lives. They deserve the whole world, they deserve to be praised for their performance and for their hard work.
And yes rewatch value is high at least for me

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Same old

Overall, same driving plot we've seen in other dramas.

The white power sect are known as the good guys fighting the black power sect known as the bad guys, but all along, the white power sect are really just hypocrites misguided by their superiors who lack communication skills and the ability to clearly see right from wrong.

I'm so tired of this same old repetitive plot and endings.

My favorite thing about this drama was the OST and comedic moments, specifically because of Bai XiaoSheng. I also really liked Yan Hui's character, mostly she had a lot of self respect which you don't really see with a lot of FLs , especially when it comes to their romance with the ML.

The romance between YH and TY was okay, but I think the lack of intimacy sorta took me out of it. They had cute moments, looking at each other softly, talking to eo softly, hand holding, hugging, but it still fell short to me. Coupled with the recycled over arching plot, my attention unfortunately wasn't held.

As for the acting, I found the supporting leads acting more satisfying than the main leads. FLs acting felt like acting to me...if that makes sense. Specifically, during romantic scenes, it just came across so apparent that she was playing a character rather than her being the character herself and expressing herself more naturally. The ML pretty much had the same expression throughout the drama. The only big change was when he had to play the baby version of his character, that was really the only time the actor showed a different portrayal, which was good.

If Back from the Brink was one of the first xianxia dramas I'd watched, I probably would be more satisfied with the drama, but because I've seen many other xianxia and wuxia dramas with similar stories, I'm being a bit more critical about the plot. So, if you're someone new to xianxia and you're looking to watch an adventurous, funny, moderately romantic story, you'd probably have a good time watching this. However, if you're more seasoned in this space, you wouldn't be missing out on much if you decide to skip this one.

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