It’s a Love It or Drop it drama

When you watch this drama, bear in mind that it was a low-budget drama that nobody wants to take because the theme is censorship-risk. The actors were also non-traffic actors albeit their long presence in the industry.

1. Acting and chemistry between the leads are for me what carried this drama. They owned their characters. I am impressed how Vin Zhang can always make a rather weak or minor character stand out. As a second lead, he always gives us serious second-lead syndrome. Sally Jing is a new discovery for me. I have seen her in other dramas before but most were less than mediocre performance. The chemistry was so tangible that they become one of the most loved real life CP by the general public.

2. Costume is on point. The qipaos and accessories were all personally created by the stylist. Even her modern clothes are modest but tasteful, classy yet conservative.

3. There are plenty of illogical aspect like the plant mutation to human. But hey it’s fantasy? Also, note that the original
material actually describes Si Teng as half-demon. This just won’t pass censorship.

4. PLOT - The plot is not for everyone. Do not watch this expecting a love story. This is about Si Teng trying to make sense of her resurrection and seeking her old power and past memory. Qin Fang is basically a tool to assist her in the modern world. The first few episodes are confusing but you have to focus because it will make sense eventually. If you are confused, it is because Si Teng was also confused. She has fragmented memories, so the plots seems fragmented as well. You may be tempted to drop the drama here.


5. One reviewer said how come Qin Fang just fell in love without explanation. They did not fall in love until halfway through. They were together everyday facing danger with Si Teng being soft and caring inside, saved him several times not to mention ultra beautiful.... why won’t you fall in love? Some dramas have the main leads falling in love at first sight on episode 1.

6. Qin Fang gives you a different recipe of a male lead. His strength lies on his selflessness and kindness not to mention old money and handsome. We usually see rich male leads in dramas acting like ass or the coolest guy in town but in real life, there are people born from generations of wealth who are low-key and humble. They don’t have to try; they were born with confidence that they do not have to prove themselves. The mor regal presence just emanate from their mannerism.

7. Si Teng is not perfect but she has one of the best lines coming from a female lead in any dramas I have watched - I will rather die than rely on somebody else to live. She is strong and saves the ML. Some dramas promise us strong female character who ends up getting in trouble and getting saved by ML at all times. Si Teng’s strength does not rely on her rattan power alone (which has been weakeed) but on her being calculating and clever.

8. Which takes me to the conclusion of this drama. There is still lot of loose ends. However, the ending is what makes sense for the type of character they are - a very happy ending imo. They could have chosen a fluffy ending in the modern world but at the expense of what? Si Teng losing who she is and just relying on Qin Fang.

9. Bai Jing was played by the director of the film. I feel he added unnecessary drama and screen time to himself.

10. I am not an expect on technical details but I must say the director is good. The real life location are nothing I have seen from other dramas. CGi can improve, but the budget is

11. The Xuan Sect members are pulled from the crew to act. Forgive them if they overreact.

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I honestly almost gave up on it... but the allure of Vin Zhang just kept pulling me back... then the father and son arc got into focus and I was hooked... the acting between him and Director Song, that's the first time Cdrama made me cry... makeup was atrocious in the last two episodes.....Vin's makeup was okay in JR scenes though you can see a disconnect between the makeup artist and the lights director, which is vital to create a realistic look on screen. Colors that are supposed to be saturated by camera lights in indoor shooting becomes painfully visible when same makeup was used in outdoor daylight filming and evening lightings.. the last 2 episodes though, maybe because it was shot overseas, so different makeup artist and hair stylist? The actress was great in her other series, but her hair and clothing here is just non-believable as the alpha-female heiress... and suddenly she's a kungfu master... kudos to the actors for making up for the production's shortcoming... But don't their studio chooses the script for the good of theor artists? I can't believe no one from the beginning picked up the lackluster script and storyline. The amnesia trope was absolutely garbage... Looks like the screenwriter had an amnesia at the last minute and lost logic at the same time...

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