There are certain dramas that seem to be a simple must watch. Usually it’s that drama that everyone talks about in a good light, is portrayed as one of the best of the genre and is just, overall, surrounded by a lot of praise. LBFAD has emerged as one such drama in the xianxia genre. Despite being released less than a year ago, it has generated so much buzz and discussion that it almost feels like a classic.

However, upon watching the trailer, I found myself doubting whether I would enjoy it. The first thing that greatly bothered me was the FL. In less than two minutes, the trailer gave me the impression that her attitude was annoying and excessively childish for my taste. Regrettably, my fears were confirmed when I began watching the drama. The FL, Xiao Lanhua, proved to be excessively childish, which was just the tip of the iceberg regarding the numerous issues I had with her character. This happens to be my primary criticism of the drama, so let's start with that.

First and foremost, Xiao Lanhua is not your typical innocent xianxia FL. She is actually stupid. Throughout a significant portion of the drama, she seems to lack any coherent thought process, only to suddenly have moments of brilliance where she makes discoveries that eluded everyone else. These moments feel contrived and overly convenient for the plot, making it hard to believe that she is genuinely intelligent, considering her usual behavior. Even when given simple instructions (I'm looking at you, body-swapping arc), she fails miserably to follow them, no matter how critical the situation.

Xiao Lanhua's actions lack forethought, and even when she does think, she struggles to form rational ideas. And don't even get me started on her gaslighting everyone during the mortal realm arc into a wrong interpretation of Xie Wanqing's book of life (which, by the way, might win the prize for the dumbest moment contest, given that she managed to convince three other characters to be equally foolish).

Towards the end, her character does become more intelligent, and I was actually enjoying her development when she returned from the mortal realm. Unfortunately, it was abruptly rushed in the final few episodes with the introduction of the goddess plot. While I understand what they were trying to achieve, I didn't think it was executed in the best possible manner.

Moving on from the FL, the side characters were a mixed bag for me. Some I liked, while others I strongly disliked. Changheng, for instance, is a classic case of "I swear, bro, just believe me." He is the god of war, said to be the only one capable of potentially defeating Dongfang Qingcang in battle. However, we never actually witness this immense power. In fact, I don't think he wins a single battle throughout the 36 episodes of this drama.

Shangque, although endearing, is incredibly foolish (putting up a tough competition against Xiao Lanhua in that regard). What frustrated me the most about his character is that he is a dragon, a legendary creature, but his strength is never adequately showcased. He only has a couple of dragon scenes in the first few episodes, and that's it.

Jieli, when initially introduced, was highly unlikable. To be completely honest, I never grew to like her; I simply became accustomed to her presence and gained a better understanding of her character.

Together, Jieli and Shangque formed a disastrous side couple. I am someone who generally dislikes side couples since they often seem unnecessary and take up too much screen time, but, oh boy, do Jieli and Shangque get the prize for this one. Their scenes were unbearable, to the point where I found myself skipping a significant portion of them, particularly towards the end when I had become thoroughly fed up. Overall, the romance was dull and difficult to watch.

These were not the only scenes I skipped. The final few episodes had certain scenes that were excessively long, particularly the battle between the fairies and the moon tribe. The scenes from the moment Xunfeng brought Xiao Lanhua to Chidi’s sword until the resolution of that ordeal could have been significantly shorter.

As for the OST, it didn't particularly stand out. The songs complemented the scenes adequately, but I didn't love any of them. They were merely okay.

I realize that it may seem like I only have criticisms to offer. However, there were aspects of this drama that I genuinely enjoyed. First, it’s safe to say that LBFAD is addictive. It is probably the fastest I’ve ever watched c-drama, providing immense entertainment value.

The romance in the drama was well-executed. Despite Xiao Lanhua's numerous flaws, she had great chemistry with Dongfang Qingcang. Watching their relationship develop was a pleasure, and it definitely stood out as the highlight of this drama. I couldn't help but smirk at the "I can change him" plotline, because it actually worked (one of those things that only happen in fantasy fiction).

Wang Hedi's acting was superb. His portrayal of Dongfang Qingcang was on point, capturing the different stages of his character's transformation, from the initially cold and emotionless man to the deeply enamored one in the end (the last few episodes got him acting like rent was DUE). Even his portrayal of Xiao Lanhua was commendable. On the other hand, Yu Shuxin failed to leave a lasting impression. Her character was annoying, and I'm uncertain whether it was solely a writing problem or if her acting also contributed to it. Nevertheless, she did a decent job overall, considering the circumstances.

The main conflict of the drama was solid. There was a primary antagonist, as well as a more powerful and malevolent antagonist. While this wasn't particularly groundbreaking or innovative, it was executed well.

Danyin was a pleasant surprise. When I first encountered her character, I was scared for my LIFE, expecting her to be annoying and obstructive to the story. However, she turned out to be the complete opposite, and I was happily surprised by her character arc. Additionally, her storyline with Jieli towards the end was intriguing, albeit rushed.

Xunfeng and Dongfang Qingcang were fortunate enough to receive the best character developments in this drama. The arc involving their father, Dongfang Qingcang's realization of the truth, and Xunfeng's growing understanding of his older brother were introduced and resolved masterfully, tied up neatly with a shiny red ribbon.

Overall, LBFAD is a solid drama. It possesses a well-defined beginning, middle, and end, with a good conflict and a satisfying romance. However, the numerous problems I had with it marred the experience in many instances. Despite its flaws, I believe it is still worth watching.