The Story of Mystics (2024)

Tears, Humor, Love & Stunning Looking Actors

After a hiatus of more than a year from watching dramas, I was eager to dive into something captivating. Fangs of Fortune caught my eye, largely because I’ve enjoyed Neo Hou’s performances in his previous works. All the stunningly good looking main cast members have also attracted me. However, the 4.9 rating on Douban gave me pause. Still, knowing how meme bots, stealth accounts and contemporary competing dramas can skew ratings hence opinions in today's world, I decided to take the plunge.

I’m glad I did. For the past two weeks, I’ve been immersed in a breathtaking journey with a group of closely knitted friends who love and trust each other, and willing to die for each other. Almost 100% of the dialog time between our main characters, the actors have tears streaming down their faces as the writer(s) and directors try to capture viewers' heart. The sheer volume of tears is astonishing—this is, without a doubt, the most tear-filled series from the actors I’ve ever watched. It felt like every conversation started and ended in tears, to the point where crying became so normal that it lost its emotional impact on me.

Storyline
The plot is surprisingly compelling. It revolves around a love story between a demon who has a conscience and a human girl, exploring themes of redemption, transformation, and the power of love. Another human who vows vengence against the demon, but becomes empathizing with the demon as he turns into one himself. The story takes the characters through harrowing trials, strengthening their bonds and forcing them to grow amidst relentless antagonists who seem nearly invincible.

If not for the hints of romance between the demon and the girl, viewers might mistake the dynamic between the two male leads for a bromance, which is one of my most enjoyable moments. It's heartening to see a deep confidant friendship between the two main male characters.

While the central narrative relies on familiar xianxia tropes, the journey itself is engaging. The characters' struggles, setbacks, and triumphs create a tapestry of perseverance and emotional growth.

The Characters
I thoroughly enjoyed all the characters, but I was particularly drawn to Zhu Yan/Zhao Yuan Zhou (Neo Hou) and Zhuo Yi Chen (Tian Jia Rui). Their interactions are captivating, and the chemistry between them is both endearing and compelling. Despite Zhuo Yi Chen's vow to kill Zhao Yuan Zhou for vengeance and Zhao Yuan Zhou's desire to sacrifice himself for redemption, their emotional struggles are portrayed so authentically that viewers can't help but be moved as their relationship evolves into a deep bond of mutual understanding and trust.

Although Wen Xiao (Chen Du Ling) is a main character meant to complement Zhao Yuan Zhou, her role feels comparatively weak, ultimately overshadowed by the more dynamic presence of Zhuo Yi Chen.

I also found myself appreciating the character of Li Lun (Yan An), despite his role as the antagonist. His character elicits a complex mix of emotions—hatred intertwined with pity—as his tragic backstory gradually comes to light, adding depth and nuance to his character.

Performances
The acting is another highlight. The young cast is talented, particularly the two male leads, who deliver strong performances and exhibit great potential for their careers. The ensemble cast is full of visually striking actors, making even the villains such as Li Lun, Fei, Ran Yi, Cheng Huang etc charismatic and memorable.

Dialogue and Humor
The dialogue is often predictable and at times even childish, but as I settled into the story, I began to find its quirks endearing. There’s a paradoxical charm in the light-hearted humor that surfaces during dire situations. The rivalry between the two alpha male leads, for instance, injects a layer of amusement as they constantly try to outdo each other and earn approval, eliciting genuine chuckles from viewers.

Visuals and Special Effects
As is typical of xianxia dramas, the fight scenes are fast-paced and visually dazzling, with special effects that are remarkably well-executed. The visuals are well polished, and the characters, even the demon antagonists, are stunningly portrayed. With the flip of a coin, the pace slows, allowing viewers a moment to catch their breath. These slower, dialogue-heavy scenes often unfold with an abundance of tears from our characters, adding an emotional weight that permeates the narrative.

Music
As a fan of Chinese historical music, the OST is a major draw for me. The songs are beautiful, especially Zhao Yuan Zhou’s character song which is my favorite. The lyric is deeply moving and capture the essence of the character, allowing listeners to visualize the emotions and scenes of the character even without context.

Ending and Final Thoughts
Like many dramas in this genre, Fangs of Fortune doesn’t shy away from bittersweet endings. Some beloved characters meet untimely fates, which might leave viewers with heavy hearts. If you’re someone who gets attached to characters, prepare for an emotional rollercoaster.

While there are occasional editing flaws—some scenes feel out of sequence or poorly spliced—the drama overall is enjoyable. If you can handle a few heartbreaks and a steady stream of tears, Fangs of Fortune is worth your time.

Two thumbs up! Great watch! Don't miss this great drama!

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Best Cdrama 2024

For me the absolute best drama this year.
Really a masterpiece. Excellent executed on every aspect.
From cast, acting, plot, storylines, character development, music, songs, costumes, pacing, editing, cinematography, effects, fight scenes, to dialogues.
There isn’t one little thing I could criticize….mhmm maybe the cast was too good looking ?????I mean those slow pacing close-ups….❤️‍?
The main cast was brilliant. I laughed and cried so many times.
I also liked how you have adventure, fantasy, lovestory, friendship and also bromance. The drama is really heavy in this one, but they always gave us those funny little moments.
My heart ached at the end….but hey nothing really ends, right ??

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A devastatingly beautiful story of two soulmates that happened to be MLs

This story...either purposefully or accidently, ended up being a completely different story than it orignally appears to be. What I thought would be a supernatural romance turned out to be a heartbreaking supernatural bromance. Brotherhood. Soulmates. Whatever you call it, the two male leads' bond surpassed all others intended for this story.

But let's start with why the average rating...

If this was a visual arts competition, it would surely win first place. The visuals of this series are GORGEOUS. I don't think I have seen a single cringe visual effect. I thought I've seen gorgeous (Love Between Fairy and Devil) but this story took the crown by FAR.

The music in the series also really grew on me and I now have several OST in my playlist. It has some very powerful tracks for fighting scenes and also hauntingly beautiful BGM for sad scenes.

The cast was beautiful. Each character (and even each character's different counterpart) had a very specific and gorgeously styled outfit, hairdo and makeup. The costume team really outdid themselves here.

But as far as acting goes, I feel like more times than not, the aestethics helped them look a certain way rather than their own range of acting skills. Not saying their acting is lacking, but with how much artificial help they got to enchance a certain "mood" I can't properly distinguish between the effects and their acting skills.

For example, in what seems every episode, the characters would cry that one beautiful bead of crystal tear that rolls down their cheek in a close-up camera work. When done in moderation, that thing is beautiful, but when it's overdone (and in this story every character basically) it really starts to lose its impact. They looked gorgeous in their miserable state though...

Overall, from the cast Neo Hou, Tian Jia Rui, Yan An and (coming out as a surprise) Lester Lin were the best part. Their characters had the most impact, diversity and growth (in my personal opinion). It's very hard to judge Chen Du Ling's performance in this because there was something very lacking with her character that seemed too one-dimensional and a damsel in distress.

The plot....it's drowning in misery. The storyline, the idea of it, initially, was very good and rather compelling. There are demons, gods and humans. There are sacred artifacts and rules for their worlds. The visuals of the supernatural powers are vast and gorgeous, so at first glance the story seemed to have a lot of potential. But the execution of it was much to be desired... Starting from the beginning, the scenes were all over the place - people would cry, laugh, be comedic and serious all in a span of few minutes and it'd keep going. I couldn't tell what "mood" the story wanted to set. Somewhere mid-way the impending doom for one character or another seemed to be not only the main but the ONLY driving story point. Death and self-sacrifice, when used right, can be a powerful way of telling a story, but here it was passed around like a dodge ball, losing its intended impact.

The romance. Or lack of. Unfortunately til the end I found it hard to root for the main couple. It felt like we were TOLD that they love each other through certain plot aspects, but there was not much substance. Zhao Yuan Zhou (the ML)'s character is lonely and craves closeness, so if anything, the romance with FL feelt like a dream for normalicy rather than true bond. His other bonds (mostly brotherhood) run that much deeper. The ML had incredibly more chemistry with the SML, not to mention their storyline had SO MUCH MORE substance. It had growth, natural banter, warmth and heartbreak. THEIR STORY is the one that brought me to tears. Ultimately, they were the power couple of the series.

Part of me would have loved to see FL be a young kid that the two ML's unoficially adopted. I feel like her presence in the series wouldn't have changed much, and the ML's protectiveness would come out more naturally.

Overall, this story has aspects of it that are worth watching. The stunning visuals, music and the heartbreaking connection between the two MLs. But I would not recommend it for FL x ML romance. And not if you're not into a slow-paced melancholy mood storyline.

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every beginning, has an end

Wednesday 20:00, GMT +8, 20.11.2024

I just finished watching the last episode and the special/extra episodes (today's the last episode released without the VIP package on iQIYI).
 
Personally, it's quite understandable ending, even though it's not a clear HE). What matters more is that it's Zhao Yuanzhou’s choice, as he wishes to protect the mortal realm and the Wilderness. 
 
ZYZ has shouldered the guilt for so long that he doesn't wish to stay alive anymore. somehow, his meeting with his love and friends during the journey is actually a good memorable adventure for him. 

I bawled my eyes out the moment ZYZ exhaled his last breath. WX continues as the Baize Goddess, protecting the mortal realm and the Wilderness. She left her agreement with ZYZ that was stamped with ZYZ’s blood (his, isn't it? I vividly remember. I remember the ink used is another demon's blood). ZYC’s cloud light sword recognises the agreement letter, which signifies it's the last shred of ZYZ’s soul.

It's actually a good ending that ZYZ’s soul is found; this means ZYZ could be reborn (or he has to cultivate resurrect).

It's a good ending, but for me, I like it better if everyone stays alive (yes, I'm greedy).

“Every soul will taste death.”

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Chemistry that Kills!

This is one of the best productions I've watched. I really appreciated the attention to detail, the fight scenes, and the emotional moments. The casting is strong; all the actors, from the protagonist to the antagonist, are well-rounded and talented. The plot is solid, though it could have been better with clearer sequencing. The main characters include demons, humans, gods, and tree spirits, each with their own unique stories. This series has great potential, and I would have loved for it to have 3-4 seasons to allow each character to take center stage. There’s so much to explore—from the demons, Bai Jue, and the half-god half-demon Ying Lei, to the siblings and the Baize goddess. I believe it could have been executed brilliantly if given more time.

Now, the downside: It seems like the author or director aimed at a mixed audience—both international and local. The BL elements are clearly gaining popularity after series like The Untamed and Word of Honor, but in this series, it feels like they were trying to force a BL into a Bromance storyline. The writer didn’t seem to fully commit to whether they wanted a straight or BL narrative, making the female lead feel like she was only there for the sake of passing censors. If the focus had shifted to a central Baize Goddess arc, it would have been much more interesting. Wenxiao's character, especially, felt underused. Given her identity as the Baize Goddess, there was so much potential to explore her story more deeply, but instead, it felt like she was just there to cry and be saved.

The antagonist, Li Lun, started off as a strong character, but ultimately, he didn’t have the impact I was hoping for. The build-up to him as the ultimate antagonist was anticlimactic. On the positive side, the music is fantastic—both the intro and outro are well-done.

Overall, the series is good, but it’s not for everyone. It’s slow-paced, and I honestly skipped a lot. In terms of chemistry, though, the actors all have great chemistry, whether it's in friendship, romance, bromance, or sibling dynamics.

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One Word Spell: WATCH

This drama is no ordinary drama. Not one that you can just watch on the side. It's hard to put into words what the drama really is. So many times it just seems out of this world. Every scene is masterfully realised and the cinematography is breathtaking. Every frame emphasises the tone of the scene or creates a very special atmosphere. The drama takes the viewer on a journey, if they allow themselves to. We experience the joy of friendship, the deep bond between siblings, the pain of remorse and guilt, the anger of betrayal, the danger in passion, the heavy burden of loneliness, the faint spark of hope for a different and better future, the struggle against one's own nature and the overcoming of prejudice. We feel the sweet bitterness of love. Not only romantic love, but also the pure, untainted love between soul mates. And we have to endure the sad power of sacrifice.

Every character in this drama is complex and multi-layered and there is no real good or evil. Every character has their skeletons in the closet and that makes them tangible. For me, the drama plays a lot with the theme of what good or evil means. If the goal is good, if you do it for the greater good, does that really give you the right to use any means, even if they are cruel? It questions morality many times and makes you think. Each of the antagonists has understandable reasons for their actions and I often asked myself how I would have reacted if I had been in their shoes.

Everyone's acting performance was absolutely impressive. If you look at the performance of Lester Lin, who later played two such contrasting characters, Bai Jiu and Li Liun, at just 13 years old - wow. Just wow.
Everyone, really everyone, embodied their role so well that every emotion was not only visible but palpable. Something that not everyone manages to do.

I think it will take a few more days before I have digested the emotional ending, but in my heart I will never forget this drama. It will always have that special place.

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Come For The Aesthetics, Stay For The Found Family Dynamics

After an up-and-down drama year, this was finally it: the drama obsession that I've been waiting for in 2024.

I was completely hooked from the very moment the great demon Zhu Yan entered the Demon Hunting Bureau and asked its greatest hunter, Zhuo Yichen, whose family Zhu Yan massacred 8 years prior, to kill him. In exchange the demon offers his help with solving demon related crimes, and Zhuo Yichen, who has been waiting for years to get his revenge, agrees to these conditions – which is where the tragedy begins.
Because Zhu Yan isn't the cruel and fearsome demon Zhuo Yichen expected him to be at all, and while they travel together and collect a merry little family of misfits around them, the great demon's endless kindness and compassion is slowly chipping away at the demon hunter's resolve and makes him question both his personal feelings towards Zhu Yan and his moral code ...

I've watched several of Guo Jingming's works before, so I already had an idea of what to expect in this one. There was a very clear aesthetic vision for how this drama should look like, and I'm not just talking about the gorgeous costumes, but also the spectacular CGI and the breathtaking sets that make every single shot look like a painting.
The soundtrack is an absolute masterpiece as well and enhances the mood considerably; I swear I can't name a single song from it that I didn't love.

When it comes to the plot, this drama is very much character-driven. If you're looking for complex political intrigue and jianghu conspiracy stories, then this is probably not the drama for you. The plot of FANGS OF FORTUNE is driven by the characters' hopes, desires and grievances and spends at least 80% of the time exploring the complex relationships between the main characters.

And it's those relationships that are this drama's greatest strength.
At the core there are the upright and incorruptable Zhuo Yichen (played brilliantly by Tian Jiarui), his childhood friend, fellow demon huntress and work-in-progress goddess Wen Xiao (played by Chen Duling with much spirit and sass) and Zhu Yan, an old and powerful great demon with a serious death wish (probably Hou Minghao's best performance to date). The plot revolves primarily around those three and their vaguely polyamorous relationship.
They are later joined by the teenage medical genius Bai Jiu, the composed archer and former rival demon huntress Pei Sijing and the foodie godling Ying Lei, as well as Zhu Yan's ex best friend slash boyfriend Li Lun.

And as I've said somewhere in the comment section before, I'll say again here:
I have NEVER seen the whole 'found/chosen family' trope this well executed in a Chinese drama before. This is not just a story about pursuing a common goal only. This is a drama about deep friendship, about overcoming prejudices, finding the good in each other and building trust, about forgiving and making amends. It's about intense emotional and physical closeness between people who are not related by blood, and about love, both platonic and romantic and every single shade in between.
And it has been quite some time since I've felt so much joy following the adventures of such a mixed group of fictional people.

Speaking of the characters:
The quality of the acting of everyone involved was absolutely top-notch. Every single actor/actress delivered a memorable performance, even if they appeared for only 3 episodes at most.
The biggest surprise for me in this was Hou Minghao, though. I've seen several of his dramas by now, but none of his roles have left the same deep impression on me as the world-weary great demon Zhu Yan. I could just FEEL how tired he was, how lonely and sad. Fate has treated him unkindly and my heart was breaking for him more times than I can count.
The same goes for Tian Jiarui's portrayal of Zhuo Yichen, whose inner moral conflict over the course of this drama was mirroring that of Zhu Yan beautifully. Their incredible chemistry was what got me invested in the story in the first place.

But this drama also has a few issues that I just can't ignore.
The drama lost its plot several times along the way because it was focussing too much on the main characters' personal and self-made problems and then took its sweet time to get back to the initial action. I also hated that one specific narration technique that Guo Jingming just loves to use far too often: showing an event/situation from one perspective and then showing it again later, telling us that 'actually, THIS is what happened instead in that scene' by adding small details that were not obvious the first time around. This can lead to some shocking plot twists when used sparingly, but it just feels like lazy writing when it happens too often. The amount of twists caused by this in some episodes almost gave me whiplash.

Other than that I was completely happy to submerge myself in this fascinating world every evening for the past three weeks, though. This drama will stay with me for a long, long time and I can't wait to rewatch it and appreciate its ethereal beauty and the love between its protagonists once again in the coming days.

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Beautiful Demons and Mortals Battle with Themselves and the World in this Mystical Drama

So this was mostly about a bunch of beautiful people, mainly the male characters, walking around looking beautiful , often huskily whispering their dialogue, with some modern C-Rock/Pop scoring over the impressive CGI….we’ll sort of. Lol. There is a story of adventure, self discovery , along with a mission to gain the means to stop the ultimate evil. We quickly learn who the villains are in this. After which each episode repeats the same story with Li Lun (a demon) in partnership with Chong Wu’s leader, having convinced some poor demon to ally with the former because they believe he’s going to help them get something they want. The only differences is the demon and the setting in which the conflict takes place. This was interesting to start but began to get stale after a few episodes. Thankfully, Li Lun’s villainy changed up halfway through the series.

The characters spend a LOT of time standing around calmly talking in intense situations where things should be moving quickly. Moreover, if something goes terribly wrong there were a LOT of moments where the characters literally stood there for 10 minutes starring prettily at the horror unfolding before them, doing nothing. For this to be a show about sword wielding mortals who were fighting powerful demons, the pace was at times a bit too slow. Again, many scenes dragged focusing on one “epic” CGI moment for far too long before moving the story forward.

Despite my qualms, thus far, the series has been incredibly engaging. The leads have fantastic chemistry especially Zhu Yan ( Demon ML), Zhuo Yi (Mortal ML) and Wen Xiao (FL/Goddess). These three have had some great scenes all together and when it was just one with the other. I really enjoy Zhu Yan. He’s a demon, but he’s far from evil. He’s mischievous and compassionate with a hilarious sense of humor. Love him. The brotherly love between him and Zhuo Yi is palpable while his chemistry with Wen Xiao is incredibly easy, natural , with some lovely swoon moments thrown in.

The acting is not award winning and doesn’t need to be. However, it does work for this series. I will say though, the actress who plays Pei Ji (Cheng Xiao) is a horrible. Her delivery lacks emotion and almost stops short of being deadpan. SMH. The series still has a few more episodes before it finishes but considering what has been shown thus far I don’t believe it’ll end happily for our heroes. :( If the series continues to maintain the compelling aspects of the story/characters it will have been worth watching, and will be worth watching again.

Update: Finished this series. Overall this was more character driven than anything. Though the story was quite interesting too. I will say the last 7 episodes were so good, but emotionally draining. Heartbreaking storytelling. Thus, binging may not be the best approach. As expected the ending was extremely painful to watch, but the bonus episode revealed that all may not be lost. Great series. Most of it will be fun to rewatch save for the last few episodes which I think many will not want to experience again.

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A Sorrowful Story with a Visual Feast

Edward Guo’s Fangs of Fortune is an emotional rollercoaster that had me hooked from the very first episode. It’s visually stunning, emotionally gripping, and the kind of story that stays with you long after the credits roll. While the acting may not have been flawless, it was heartfelt and genuine enough to make the audience fall in love with the characters and the world they brought to life.

The plot is about personal growth and transformation. Each case, adventure, and even the moments of saving the world are more about who the characters are becoming than the external events themselves. The drama unfolds slowly, layering moments that may seem mundane or even drawn-out, yet each conversation and interaction is rich with meaning. If you’re not paying close attention, you could miss the subtle insights each scene offers, conveying the internal struggles and realizations that shape the characters.

Though the dream-traveling sequences and certain cases may not always be executed perfectly, the real heart of the story lies in the characters’ evolution. They wrestle with defining their identities, their values, and what they ultimately want to stand for in the world.

Take, for instance, our Great Demon Zhao Yuan Zhou. Initially, he’s a man who's lived for a thousand year and is weighed down by his willingness to sacrifice himself at a moment’s notice for those he cares for. His journey is heartbreaking yet inspiring, as he transitions from being ready to die at any second to finally wanting to live. Tragically, fate doesn’t align with his desires, and he is destined to die. Wen Xiao, our female lead, stands out as a consistent anchor throughout the drama. She embodies kindness, loyalty, and a deep understanding of both humans and demons. By the end, she hasn’t lost these core traits, but her perspective has expanded immensely. She now sees both worlds with greater clarity and complexity, solidifying her role as a bridge between the two.

Zhou Yicheng’s transformation was another standout. Initially rigid and set on destroying all demons, he gradually came to understand that not all demons are bad and not all humans are good. Watching his eyes soften and his perspective change throughout the series was so rewarding, especially when he ultimately became what he once despised. Then there’s Pei Si Jing, who starts the series with a similar disdain for demons, a sentiment partly rooted in the revelation that her brother was one. Her character’s stoicism makes her arc especially striking. At the beginning, she barely emotes, but as she spends time with the group, her walls come down. She experiences and expresses worry, fear, sadness, and even forgiveness, becoming someone far more open and empathetic by the end.

Bai Jiu’s story broke me. At first, he was the group’s scaredy-cat, jumping at every shadow, but over time, he grew braver and more confident. His bond with the group, especially with Zhao Yicheng, was so heartwarming, but his arc took a tragic turn. Manipulated by someone he trusted, his master, Bai Jiu unintentionally hurt those he cared for most, and later, his body was taken over by Li Lun. His ending was devastating—DYING ALONE to save Zhao Yuan Zhou and Zhou Yicheng. Knowing how scared he must have been in those final moments, yet still summoning the courage to make that ultimate sacrifice, was utterly heartbreaking. The Little Mountain God was another character I adored. He started off carefree, dreaming of being a cook, but losing his grandfather and taking on the responsibility of guarding the Kulun Gate forced him to grow. His bond with Bai Jiu was so pure—he wanted to be someone Bai Jiu could look up to, just like Bai Jiu admired Zhao Yicheng. His death hit me the hardest. He didn’t deserve to die, but he sacrificed himself to bring Bai Jiu back. It was both beautiful and unbearably sad.

And I can’t talk about this drama without mentioning the OST. It’s absolutely stunning—so raw and emotional, perfectly capturing the tone of the series. What made it even more special was that each cast member sang their own theme song, adding a personal, emotional connection to their characters. Neo Hou’s OST, in particular, stood out to me. It’s drenched in sorrow and pain, and every time it played, it hit me right in the chest.

Visually, the drama is stunning. The CGI and VFX were beautifully done, and every scene felt like a piece of art.

I also have to give a special shoutout to Qing Geng and Fei. They were such a lovely addition to the story, and their relationship felt so genuine. They deserved happiness, but like so many others in this drama, they didn’t get their happy ending. I pray that if they ever star in a drama again together that they get their happiness!

Fangs of Fortune might not be perfect, but it’s unforgettable. The visuals are gorgeous, the storytelling is heartfelt, and the characters feel so real by the end. It’s a drama about growth, sacrifice, and love, and it’s one that will stay with me for a long time. If you’re looking for a show that’ll tug at your heartstrings and leave you thinking about it long after it’s over, this is the one to watch.

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Amazing & Emotional Journey : Beautiful but Tragic

When I first saw the poster, i thought, "Of course, the cinematography is gonna be great because has same director as MJTY." I really loves the cinematography, CGI, visual, and the tone was very aesthetically pleasing.

The storyline is solid overall, focus to relationship between main roles with very slowburn romance. Actors and actresses did a great job. The chemistry between the cast? No question, both on-screen and off-screen, it’s insane. I love bromance between ZhuYan-LiLun, Zhuo Yichen-BaiJiu-Yinglei. The visual is no joke! From the main leads to cameo, everyone’s visuals are on point. Makeup and costumes suit each character perfectly. The ending was kind of predictable, but still hits hard for me, especially Zhuyan and Bai Jiu and Ying Lei (my chaotic duo?), so sad it had to be tragic. There’s so much value we can learn from this c-drama about love, hate, regret, accepting fate, and defying fate. Totally worth watching!

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