At first I was going to watch it the whole way through but then after I got to episode 10 and spoke to various people; I decided to just to do what I did with GoT because I knew I wouldn't be able to make it all the way through though I will watch season 2. This is different from my regular reviews as it's really an analysis from my pov.

Ok what I found solid in the series was the world and story building. Everyone we met started somewhere solid. It wasn't a drama where you were thrown into the middle of it and you had to catch up to with figuring out who was who and what was happening. Episode one was mostly focused on the children and making us invested in their story and lives which I thought was brilliant. Then the transition to adulthood and this where the story really got going. I will now go through the characters as they stood out to me. I will say that every character is flawed in some shape or form but some seemed worse for me.

XY: The anti-heroine. A massive red flag and I figured that out by episode 10. Life imitates art or art imitates life; YZ did well here (I'm usually not too thrilled with her roles; again just my opinion). I think she played a narcissist with abandonment issues who uses men to her self needs like a pro. I would say my favorite arc with her was that first one. It's where she was the most genuine. To her everyone was expendable as long as her needs were met. I felt like she really had no idea what love was. Though TSJ was the one and end game; even when he sacrificed himself and was in a coma, the way she spoke to him just rubbed me the wrong way. She used a lot of verbal abuse towards everyone; she spoke like she was the only one who suffered; yet we knew both TSJ and the demon were imprisoned and tortured. Like ok once, twice, but it got old quick. Saying her mom abandoned her instead of dying on the battlefield was so weird and foreign to me. She got the victim card down on lock. She needs an immortal pet not a lover. It'll never leave her and give her unconditional love. Her reaction to TSJ saying his grandmother essentially drugged him and he was most likely assaulted, just made me freeze. Yes she spit blood later but in the moment, she couldn't even offer words of comfort; it was all his problem and now they were strangers. She just called it quits. I was like what just happened here? I'd be worried, go confront grandma; poison the bitch. Hell, I'd fight for my man from the get go and that's something I think she needs to do evolution wise. She always treated it like whomever had to do something for her first and always. She never gave an ounce of herself and that's why I didn't like her; I couldn't root for her. But I do hope she figures herself out in S2 and what or rather who she wants and makes the necessary steps herself.

TSJ: This was my first time seeing DW in a lead role as I had just seen him previously in one small supporting in a modern. I will have to say that perhaps this role was a bit too complex for him but you gotta start somewhere, right? Hopefully in the future he'll be up to the challenge, he definitely has the potential. The character was complex in the sense that on the one hand he was a killer strategist but on the other hand he was essentially a doormat with the equivalent of Stockholm syndrome (victims that are so broken by their abusers, they love them because they believe no one else will) towards his toxic family; especially his brother who essentially nearly killed him after 3 years of insane torture. He couldn't kill his brother after what brother did to him; he was too timid and yet so easily manipulated even by the woman he loved. And watching her do that to him for her own pleasure made me sick to my stomach. So many times I wanted to shake him or smack him, like "do something, say something, stand up for yourself!" No one else will protect you even XY who promised in the cart they were imprisoned in by CX in the beginning that she would protect him against bullying, never did. Everyone seemed to remember how he broke promises due to the toxic family, but not that she lied and manipulated the hell out of him too and yet he would still die for her. My hope for him in S2 that he grows some balls and starts to go on the offensive. Enough already. I actually like his character as frustrated as I was with him.

The demon: Sorry folks, with so many ppl, this is what I called him. By far the most complicated character out of the entire show. I have only seen TJC in modern dramas up until this point but boy did he nail the demon, I was very impressed. Let me clear something up for people; he never abused XY; in the beginning before I knew he was a demon I thought he was a vampire. And she wondered into enemy territory for her herbs first; there's a war, he on the opposite side and leading troops, so capturing her and the whiplashing is understandable. The biting, her bored expression made me laugh; no one being abused would react like she did. Moving on, he was very smart, he knew when she was toying with him and it'd piss him off and he'd walk away in a huff and I was like "can you teach TSJ how to do that?" How he's able to let himself be entirely a different person with the black wig that's all fun and playboy that even those that know him can't figure out who he is? Love that versatility from the hard ass silver haired demon. His weakness is that country he fights with and the soldiers. He's repaying the emperor who became a father to him and it's very admirable but he should know when to tell them to stop because they're obviously losing as sad and unfair as that is. He falls in love and his love is both refreshing and extremely painful. He's more of a sadomasochist to himself because of her. He gives one of his lives away (and of course there's no gratitude from her) and from what I understand is planning to give his life on the battlefield and also wants XY and TSJ to be end game as he understands no one else will give her themselves. They just don't want to or aren't capable. I feel that the demon likes TSJ the most out of the other options. He admires the doormat's unwavering love even when others complicate things. In my perfect world, end game (not in a romantic way) would be TSJ and the demon as like sworn brothers or good friends living a peaceful life with women that deserve them in a little village; no power struggles, manipulation, wars etc. All the rest could bite the dust for all I care honestly. What I wish in S2 for him which I know won't happen; is for him to survive. But other than that, go out the way you want and make sure you give the two people you want to be together, their opportunities before you do. I really wouldn't change anything about him.

CX: First time ever seeing the actor. CX is complex in the fact that he's power hungry and creepy towards XY. But honestly, even though she only sees him as her brother, I feel that because of her narcissism, he's the perfect match for her. Even though she says even he's abandoned her. I'm over that sob story but I feel like his thirst for power will ultimately be his downfall somehow. I liked the complexity of the character and the actor was convincing. In S2, I want to see how he gets worse and how convincing it'll be.

FF: Actually currently watching this actor in another costume drama, he's an antagonist there. I have more issues with the script than his acting. Here, though he's also part of this harem of men, because he hasn't appeared as much so I'm not sure where to put him. He's friends with CX but is that just to get benefits for himself or whatever, I don't know. Also are his feelings for XY genuine or like hers towards just about anyone it seems; like a business deal? I hope they flesh him out properly in S2.

All the antagonists, I want them dead especially TSJ's toxic family. Make them suffer. The other supporting characters or A Nian are either good from the get go or grow on you.

Overall, when it came out last year and people said that this series was one of those you either love it or you hate it things, I wasn't sure what to make of that. Was there no middle ground? That can't be. It's got great coloring, OSTs, costumes, the storyline is complex and so are the characters.

Would I recommend it? This is my analysis of the show and the characters I felt were important. My rating is based on just that and if you want to watch it, go for it. I think it is a good middle ground story.