Cang Lan Jue (2022)

This show has consumed me

I never particularly liked romance as a genre. This show made me realize that I just hate badly written romance. I was completely surprised how much I ended up loving this show. It had no right to be as good as it was.

Both leads go through so much character development that I was really attached to both of them at the end.
The side characters are also great they all felt very fleshed out to me.

I have seen a lot of people describe it as "your fanfiction dreams from when you were 14 come true," and honestly that's pretty accurate.

This show had me laughing and crying and I already can't wait to rewatch it again.

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Good drama

At first, I dropped this drama after a few episodes because I detest female characters who are purposely written as clumsy, whinny, and clueless. It's not endearing but really annoying. But after hearing good things about it, I decided to give it another chance and watched it till the end.

This drama has amazing character development. It starts off as kind of comedic but later becomes quite dark and emotional. The main characters go through a transformation. She becomes more mature. He gains feelings and empathy. They are star-crossed lovers and this drama really went out of its way to show the type of love that endures. They fought for each other, made sacrifices, had faith in each other and at the end stayed true to who they were. They also made each other better. She matured from a clumsy airhead to a thoughtful person. He developed feelings and was able to form relationships and appreciate others.

The ending felt rushed. One moment she was waiting for him to come back to life, the next moment he was standing behind her "I am baaaack!", they kissed, the end.

The story tended to drag sometimes but it didn't affect the plot too much.

The acting was fantastic, especially by Dylan Wang. The way he conveyed emotion after Orchid died was heart breaking.

Overall, the show has some really good acting, good music, really emotional scenes, and a very touching love story. Recommend!

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Best Xianxia Drama Of The Year.

Honestly Love Between Fairy and Devil is one of the best xianxia dramas I watched in recent years. I went in with low expectations since the recent dramas of that genre didn't really love upto the hype and plus I needed something to kill time while waiting for Love Like The Galaxy episodes. I got curious about the drama after AvenueX told that there will be amazing CGI so I came for the CGI.

But I was so blown away by LITERALLY EVERYTHING ABOUT THIS DRAMA. First of all Dylan Wang, he was the most unexpected surprise. After the whole Miss the Dragon, I didn't have much expectations but boy he delivered the best DFQC EVER and our Esther Yu was amazing as usual. The whole cast was PERFECT. They all played their role perfectly and to the point.

I thought the story will be not that interesting but AGAIN I WAS SO WRONG. The story is not that complicated but it was so well written (no loopholes) and usually in xianxia dramas I tend to skip the mortal realm part but here it was the BEST. Not overly sad but super cute and sweet.

If there is something I wish that they improved was the pacing of the last 6 episodes. It started to feel a bit rushed to the ending. In my opinion, they could've taken out or reduced the length of the whole twins story line since it didn't really have much of an impact.

Overall it has amazing CGI, costumes are on point, story is well written and acting was delivered perfectly. I can go on and on about the drama but I'll stop now.

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It's worth sticking with the show, even if you struggle with the first few episodes

The second part of this drama is much better than the first. It's yet another example of how a superficial script can lead to poor performances. Once the actors were actually given some nuance to portray, they did a great job. Kudos to Dylan Wang as Dongfang Qingcang and his supporting cast for their emotionally powerful performances. The scene where he cries for his father is still one of my favourites. It made me realise how rare this kind of emotional outburst from male characters is on television!

Esther Yu's character(s) were difficult to watch at first. The voice and one-dimensional character of Orchid and later Xi Yun have thankfully undergone some positive changes. Similarly, Zhang Linghe as Chang Heng felt rather flat for most of the show.

I found the concept of the conflict between the Fairy Realm and the Moon Clan quite interesting, although the Fairy Realm lacked some depth. The main villain of the show ended up being quite disappointing and some of the twists and turns were unnecessary. While I won't be re-watching the whole show, it had some really impressive and memorable scenes that I'll be back for!

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A romance that burns your entire existence

This drama is a typical XianXia. It's got everything; from romance to gods, evils, mortals, hardships, and magic.
If you're a romance lover, be prepared for a battle of the hearts. But, in the end, your heart will be so full that you want more :)

The story
As my experience with other high-quality Cdrama xianxias, the plot has 3 stages:
1- The first encounter, happens between the immortals and gods. This is the base of the drama. There has a been war years ago, and the villain was captured, who happens to be the heartthrob Dongfeng Qingceng. We get to know two polar opposites with broken pasts come in contact. And, there is a love curse involved( romance lovers: this curse is the core here :)
2- The second stage happens in the mortal realm. But this time the leads are not there for hardships or examinations. They are there to really learn the meaning of their existence. This is where they truly fall in love( or at least we see it for ourselves).
3-The final stage is Sacrifice in my opinion. True lovers Sacrifice each other for their beliefs and their loved ones. Everything is wrapped up quite well and there are loose ends left, which is phenomenal.

Acting
All did well in my opinion. Even the villains are portrayed and depicted well. You can clearly feel their motives and the reasons behind their sadness or hardships.

Music
I'm a sucker for OSTs. just by reading the Song's meanings, I figured out how meticulously they chose the songs to match the atmosphere and the leads' love for each other. The background pieces used were marvelous. Hope they release an album soon can't wait!

Overall
A very pleasurable Cdrama. If you're into romance, action, wars, hatred, magic, and misunderstandings, this will keep you hooked till the end. You will be craving more each episode, as the story goes on.

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The best Xianxia drama in 2022

Before watching this drama I didn’t know the main casts so I was hesitated to watch the drama. However, after trying to watch the first 2 episodes, I became addicted. The more episodes I watched, the more I like the drama. It’s been a long time that I enjoy such a beautiful and amazing Xianxia drama like this. There’re moments of laughing and also crying. I usually don’t like watching dramas that make me unnecessarily feel emotional but this drama is an exception because the story is very touching to me! The OSTs and soundtracks are wonderful which help make the important scenes more memorial or enjoyable. Although the main casts are young artists, they portray their roles well. I also like the costumes and styling which are not only beautiful but also unique and different from other Xianxia dramas. Until now this is the best and my most favorite drama in 2022.

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Ahhhhhhhhh I can't believe that I am doin this, This Is my first time reviewing a drama. Thats how you know the drama is really good. First of all this drama is one of the best xianxia Ive watched. I wouldn't have watched it if the FML Esther you wasn't there. To me there is nothing annoying about her voice. Also she was 1500 years old which is around 14 or 15 years old, so how do y'all want a 14/15 year old to talk. The directors also wanted her to dub her voice for a reason. She was picked as a FML for a reason. If she didn't know how to act why would they cast her in a big drama. Make it make sense. Reviewers need to read what they typed before posting it. The directors and producers casted the cast well. Everything about this show is a 10/10 for me. The Cgi, BGM, Cast, Visual, Acting, and more. If any reviews say something bad about their acting don't listen to them because they are just lying. Thanking the directors and producers and writers who casted Esther yu. This drama was a emotional rollercoaster and we finished it. I feel like there needs to be like a special eps for movie for them because they deserve it. It wasn't a bad ending I just wan't to see them in a special. But overall everything was great. The Casts are definitely one of a kind casts. They all get along pretty great. There was no annoying character in this for me. Glad the drama is getting popularity internationally too

Finally, THIS IS DEFINITELY WILL BE GETTING REWATCHED
DON'T MISS OUT ON A GREAT DRAMA BECAUSE YOU ARE JUDGING A BOOK BY ITS COVER.
HIGHLY HIGHLY HIGHLY RECOMMENDED

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Peak Xianxia Romance

This was such a surprise — I didn’t expect it to be this good 😭 Would definitely recommend this! The acting, plot, script, score, cinematography, everything was on point! A breath of fresh air from the usual xianxia we are used to seeing.

I especially love how the show incorporates score and OSTs to highlight particular scenes. Absolutely broke my heart when the opening theme song started playing in the later episodes. I was always crying ><

Xiao Lan Hua, my baby!! She’s so so bubbly and cute, I want her to be my younger sister haha. Dongfang Qingcang is of course so cool. I like the way Fairy Danyin subverts the usual xianxia trope of bitchy villain who’s in love with the God. Fairy Danyin and Jieli scenes were very cute <3 I crud a little at the Rong Hao x Chidi Woman storyline, ngl 🥲

Overall, I greatly enjoyed the drama. Hope to rewatch in the future 🫶

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it'll change your standard for xianxia/xuanhuan's forever: a delicious fever dream fairytale

The easiest way to describe Cang Lan Jue is as if someone plucked all of my favorite tropes from my 15-year-old brain and added loads of Renaissance and art nouveau imagery, gorgeous hair, fiery chemistry (both on screen and BTS), and a healthy dollop of physical and emotional whump.

- The writing:
It's one of the tightest, cleanest (narratively speaking) scripts I've ever seen in a cdrama. There are no superfluous storylines, the pace is engaging and well-thought-out, and there are deliciously written tie-ins and callbacks to seemingly simple gestures and actions written within the drama that consistently add layers of meaning to every little thing. Traditional tropes are written in but are often completely subverted or altered with nuance and creative flair. Those who would traditionally be evil can very well be the golden-hearted heroes. The heroes we're manipulated into believing (even the story at the very beginning of this drama lies to us and misrepresents the facts) can easily be the true face of villainy.

- The relationships and chemistry:
There are many relationships written within this drama that help drive the narrative and shed light on history's past. I fell in love with the people of Cangyan Sea, and those closest to DFQC. There isn't a single person who doesn't go through some type of hardship or self-discovery, and those we meet at the beginning of the drama have often changed several shades. Some platonic relationships are unexpected and some of the most engaging factors of joy, especially in the mortal realm arc. The love story between DFQC (fondly referred to as Moon from here on out) and Orchid is the greenest, most wholesome, and healthy relationship I've ever seen in a cdrama. Hands down (I'm lookin' at you, Cheng Yi dramas!) They fill the holes in places the other lacks, and their relationship is rooted in tacit understanding, mutual love, and an unyielding acceptance of each other's true, most bare colors. I became inexplicably attached to their journey. Their chemistry is palpable, both on screen and behind the scenes. Once their relationship is established, there is nary a scene when they're not hand-in-hand or kissing (and the kisses- oh my god!!! no fish kisses here). I particularly enjoyed the special attention to detail with hands and clothing in terms of a visual representation of their relationship and an outer reflection of their inner selves.

- The AESTHETICS *surpassed by no other cdrama I've ever seen*:
Every realm is uniquely detailed and fleshed out, from makeup to forms of magic used to costumes, interior design, architecture, and customs. I haven't been this impressed with world-building since I first watched The Lord of The Rings. A lot of money and thought has gone into this drama, it's blatantly evident within the first episode, and I couldn't stop myself from pausing scenes just to marvel at the live-action art (literally, there is a scene where two immortals are leisurely enjoying wine on a boat, from within an actual painting, and they've been reduced to brush strokes). Arbiter Hall and the forests within Shuiyuntian gave me a lot of Rivendell vibes, especially with the ethereal coloring and iridescent armor. Cangyan Sea (Moon's realm and home) has rich and sophisticated velvet textures, gilded detailing, and layers of deep colors that represent their people's storied history and Moon's enigmatic personality. I was particularly awe-struck by Moon's entire visual. From head to toe, he's a very carefully detailed and supremely handsome character. He's got the nicest hair in cdrama land (or anywhere), and costumes/armor pieces that are flattering and reflective of his inner self. I particularly love his black and gold ensemble, with the gilded gold flares on the sleeves. Devastatingly gorgeous. None of the artistic styles and set design concepts would have been able to properly live and breathe on screen without the equally masterful cinematography, makeup, and lighting. These departments knew exactly what they were doing.

-Acting and OST:
Beautiful OST. Handomsly lends to every scene, particularly scenes between our CP. I also love the atmospheric OST, especially the incredibly eerie track that played whenever an evil spirit or antagonist entered the scene. It always sent chills up my spine.

Favorite tracks:
1. The Other Side - Jing Long, Jing Di Er *every time this track came on, I was a heaving mess.
2. Remaining Love - Zhou Shen *He can never do wrong.
2. Goodbye Love- Faye

I'm particularly proud of Dylan Wang's performance through Cang Lan Jue. Although I've always been fond of him, he's come a long way since his highly criticized performance in Miss The Dragon. He's able to master his facial expressions with very natural and organic body language within each scene; he's particularly strong with his cutesy moments during the body swap hijinks and comes out *very* strong during demanding emotional scenes. His performance during the angst moments in this drama cannot be overstated. He embodies his role as Moon, and the pain that emanates is visceral, profound, and deep. I couldn't help but cry with and for him in those moments. The behind-the-scenes videos of these moments show how deeply he immersed himself in his role, unable to extricate himself easily after the director says "cut." Truly devastatingly gorgeous work. I hope this drama lands him many new rules; it's well deserved.

Orchid is a wonderfully written character that pairs beautifully with our dark and gloomy Moon supreme. I'm glad I didn't allow Esther Yu's higher-pitched voice to deter me from watching the drama. Her voice may turn off some from watching, but I found her endearing fairly quickly. Her character has a lot of growth and a huge heart; it's easy to find reasons to like her, and her voice does change quite a bit throughout the drama.

This isn't your standard cdrama xianxia/xuanhuan fantasy drama. It's not another Cheng Yi drama (although, lord, do I have a soft spot for our "King of Whump."). This drama is like a cleverly and cleanly written fantasy bedtime story, with whimsical demons and fairies and good and evil from the most unexpected places. It's worth every 10-star review it's received.

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Best chinese drama of 2022 for me

Due to my high standard of chinese fantasy drama after watching Eternal love by Yang Mi,I don't really enjoyed today dramas and dropped most of them.But after I watched 1st episode of this,I was like "Woah woah".The story line is indeed refreshing unlike other dramas(you know most cdramas have similar story line).The effects used in this are also great.The actings of both leads are supreme especially Dylan.(I don't totally satisfy his last work MTD so I'm glad to see his other side).I can clearly feel the emotion every scene since they deliever very well.Like I am invisible man being together with them and experiencing their hardships. I cry,I laugh,I surprise while watching this..I thought there will be no drama that like the way Eternal love touched my heart.I am really glad to the production team for bringing this.Over all,highly recommend.I guarantee you will not regret watching this and gradually ,totally fall in love with this.

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