Ashes of Love
Oct. 15th, 2021 09:14 am![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
sunako_yueFour thousand years ago, when Jin Mi was born, her fate was already sealed. She is to be a prisoner in Shui Jing. Mi's mother Zi Fen, a flower deity, abandons her for the afterlife. Near death, Fen feeds her infant daughter the ‘unfeeling pill’ and orders her subordinates to keep her identity a secret from Mi.
Four thousand years later, Xu Feng, the second son of the Heavenly King and fire deity, is caught in an enemy trap, leading him to Shui Jing, where Mi comes to his rescue. Over the following century, these fated souls find comfort in one another.
(Source: ChineseDrama.info)
Up to date, this is the longest drama I've completed so far... 63 episodes. It didn't feel long though, especially the first half, and I finished it all in 2 weeks.
When I started it, I thought it was all too bright, colorful and well, fake, with all that CGI. In that sense, I consider this my first Xianxia, because of the beautiful costumes, the dancing in the air, the fake scenery, tragedy and multiple love stories, magic, supernatural creatures an d deaths + rebirths.
I would say there are 3 arcs in the drama: First Years (JinMi coming to Heavenly Realm and working as a Page Boy for Xufeng); Mortal Realm and the last where all tragedy is. Needless to say, my favorite arcs were the first and 2nd one. While not necessarily super light, these arcs were fun and cute and I was rooting for the MCs. The romance had me smiling, it was so cute and light; there was teasing and flirting and smiles. By far the Mortal Realm arc was more precious and fun because the feelings were reciprocated, and I loved to see Xufeng happy and flirtier, and how fun was to see Suihe trying one and again and never gaining anything XD. Also, JinMi in First Years seemed like a psycho with her lack of romantic feelings... Xufeng was so nice and cute and all and she just stays there looking like a fool after one kiss. Or saying she loved everyone, making all think she was in love with Runyu... made me nervous so much that if it were other drama I would have dropped it. But in Mortal Realm she was more human, she was much more mature and smart and used her brains, and she fell for Xufeng at least (who wouldn't).
Once their return to Heavenly Realm, for me, it started to go downhill slowly. JinMi still going ahead with her marriage with Runyu, making Xufeng suffer; the mother-in-law being so controlling and evil while Xufeng knows nothing about it; Runyu being calculating over everything.... the last straw was JinMi stabbing, literally, Xufeng on the back. In my eyes she never fully redeemed herself.
I loved to see Xufeng coming back as a Demon Lord (he looked so handsome) but his resentment was too much and Suihe slowly making her place and then becoming engaged was **eye-rolling**. This drama suffers from "Antagonist Smarter than MC", Runyu and Suihe were always one step ahead (Runyu more than Suihe) and they were scheming while the other 2 never questioned anything. I got to a point, between 50 and 60, where I used the 1x25 speed because I just didn't care for anyone anymore. JinMi was always crying and fainting; Runyu and Suihe were the craziest mf and Xufeng was blinded by his hatred towards JinMi.
I understand why there are fans of Runyu. The actor that portrayed him was very charming and handsome. Even though he was calculating and a bit crazy, I cried when his mother died. And I totally supported him when his revenge was successful and he won over his father and stepmother. I understood his grudge towards Xufeng, who had it easy all his life (and was a fool when it was related to his mother). Thinking about it, Runyu was more fleshed out, and I would have liked him more if he wasn't so obsessed over JinMi. Runyu and Suihe keep saying "I lied/schemed/killed for you, why can't you love me?", or "I don't care you love Xufeng/JinMi; I don't care you don't love me, I just want you to be mine, even if that makes you unhappy" ??? Total nuts. Alledgely he was engaged to JinMi since before she was born; however, he totally machinated the whole thing so her father would approve of said engagement; he knew since the beginning JinMi had that Yun Elixir and amend it constantly so she wouldn't know about her love for XuFeng and even kept her prisoner a couple of times so she wouldn't be with XuFeng. And taking the whole Floral Realm prisoner + initiating a war to take JinMi back against her wishes! What a crazy, possesive and obsessive guy!
I think the only one that truly loved someone was KuangLu.. her love was selfless and she just wanted Runyu to be happy, and she never schemed against his wishes. All the other characters were, not in love, but obsessed. They were so intense, are all Immortals like that in other dramas? They all needed or a shrink, or to go out and meet more people. It seems all of them have 2 people involved in their love life: Xufeng + JinMi/Suihe; JinMi + Xufeng/Runyu; JinMi's mother + her father/Xufen's father; Evil Mother + her husband/husband's brother; Runyu + JinMi/KangLu.
Some characters are obviously based on the Greek mythology: the Heavenly Emperor is Zeus, falling for every pretty lady and having bastards children (ok, just one in this case); the Heavenly Empress is Hera, jealous of all the mistresses and Runyu. JinMi is Helen of Troy, the Most Beautiful and the reason of the final battle between Runyu and Xufeng.
A tiny reason I watched this drama was because I wanted to know more about Yang Zi (JinMi), the actress who got to kiss Xiao Zhan so many times in OoL. I can't say I became a fan, she was OK, but nothing memorable. Or maybe because her character was the typical cute, nice, pretty girl. 2D.
On the other hand, I fell in love with Deng Lun, his eyes! his voice! his cute smile! he looked great in high ponytail, and while in the last arc I didn't love Xufeng like I did at first, I still couldn't NOT like him because I loved looking and listening to the actor. He reminded me a bit of Kitamura Takumi, in his expressions. Truth is, Xufeng's character goes downhill from the moment he dies: there is no Deng Lun for about 5 episodes :(( and once he comes back, he is all resentment and in spite of all the proof being RIGHT THERE, he resents JinMi so much he even believes Suihe. I almost lost it when he kissed JinMi and called Suihe's name... why wouldn't he take any of the several maids who applied to work for the handsome Demon Lord, instead of that sticky Suihe? But no worries, he never took any mistress XD
My favorite characters were: Fox Immortal, Liao Yuan (Xufeng's bodyguard) and Liuying. All of them share the same trait: loyalty. And they weren't a fool like the others. Although I didn't care for the 2nd couple (Muci was a bit too pathetic for me), I loved Liuying and I almost wish she and Xufeng got married for real at the end... they may not be in love with each other but they respected each other and were the best of friends. Another good character that seemed untrustful at first was Yanyou, but he just seemed selfish, and he truly cared for JinMi and his foster mother. The interactions between him and Fox Immortal were so much fun, specially because both of them despised Suihe (their scheme against her in Human Realm was so hilarious XD), and I also enjoyed the interactions between Fox Immortal and YuanJi (who is also the amazing singer of the ED song).
By far, my favorite thing in the whole drama was the OST. The main reason I started watching it was because of the OP song, but the ED is till now my favorite, I never skipped the OP song if I could help it (because of Netflix). There were scenes that made me roll my eyes and I almost used the 1x25 speed but listening to the BGM made everything better and bearable. The OST is the thing I will miss the most of this drama.
While it did not become one of my favorite drama, I did love it with all its faults. I wish they toned it a bit with the crazy, evil mother-in-law + the love triangle... I even think Runyu was more of a main character than Xufeng; Runyu just couldn't leave JinMi alone, he was always THERE, except in the Mortal Realm (reason why this is the best arc). Suihe was always there, almost winning. I would rewatch some scenes in the first arc, and all the Mortal Realm arc, but I can't see why people would rewatch THE WHOLE drama...
**My rating: 8/10**
Four thousand years later, Xu Feng, the second son of the Heavenly King and fire deity, is caught in an enemy trap, leading him to Shui Jing, where Mi comes to his rescue. Over the following century, these fated souls find comfort in one another.
(Source: ChineseDrama.info)
Up to date, this is the longest drama I've completed so far... 63 episodes. It didn't feel long though, especially the first half, and I finished it all in 2 weeks.
When I started it, I thought it was all too bright, colorful and well, fake, with all that CGI. In that sense, I consider this my first Xianxia, because of the beautiful costumes, the dancing in the air, the fake scenery, tragedy and multiple love stories, magic, supernatural creatures an d deaths + rebirths.
I would say there are 3 arcs in the drama: First Years (JinMi coming to Heavenly Realm and working as a Page Boy for Xufeng); Mortal Realm and the last where all tragedy is. Needless to say, my favorite arcs were the first and 2nd one. While not necessarily super light, these arcs were fun and cute and I was rooting for the MCs. The romance had me smiling, it was so cute and light; there was teasing and flirting and smiles. By far the Mortal Realm arc was more precious and fun because the feelings were reciprocated, and I loved to see Xufeng happy and flirtier, and how fun was to see Suihe trying one and again and never gaining anything XD. Also, JinMi in First Years seemed like a psycho with her lack of romantic feelings... Xufeng was so nice and cute and all and she just stays there looking like a fool after one kiss. Or saying she loved everyone, making all think she was in love with Runyu... made me nervous so much that if it were other drama I would have dropped it. But in Mortal Realm she was more human, she was much more mature and smart and used her brains, and she fell for Xufeng at least (who wouldn't).
Once their return to Heavenly Realm, for me, it started to go downhill slowly. JinMi still going ahead with her marriage with Runyu, making Xufeng suffer; the mother-in-law being so controlling and evil while Xufeng knows nothing about it; Runyu being calculating over everything.... the last straw was JinMi stabbing, literally, Xufeng on the back. In my eyes she never fully redeemed herself.
I loved to see Xufeng coming back as a Demon Lord (he looked so handsome) but his resentment was too much and Suihe slowly making her place and then becoming engaged was **eye-rolling**. This drama suffers from "Antagonist Smarter than MC", Runyu and Suihe were always one step ahead (Runyu more than Suihe) and they were scheming while the other 2 never questioned anything. I got to a point, between 50 and 60, where I used the 1x25 speed because I just didn't care for anyone anymore. JinMi was always crying and fainting; Runyu and Suihe were the craziest mf and Xufeng was blinded by his hatred towards JinMi.
I understand why there are fans of Runyu. The actor that portrayed him was very charming and handsome. Even though he was calculating and a bit crazy, I cried when his mother died. And I totally supported him when his revenge was successful and he won over his father and stepmother. I understood his grudge towards Xufeng, who had it easy all his life (and was a fool when it was related to his mother). Thinking about it, Runyu was more fleshed out, and I would have liked him more if he wasn't so obsessed over JinMi. Runyu and Suihe keep saying "I lied/schemed/killed for you, why can't you love me?", or "I don't care you love Xufeng/JinMi; I don't care you don't love me, I just want you to be mine, even if that makes you unhappy" ??? Total nuts. Alledgely he was engaged to JinMi since before she was born; however, he totally machinated the whole thing so her father would approve of said engagement; he knew since the beginning JinMi had that Yun Elixir and amend it constantly so she wouldn't know about her love for XuFeng and even kept her prisoner a couple of times so she wouldn't be with XuFeng. And taking the whole Floral Realm prisoner + initiating a war to take JinMi back against her wishes! What a crazy, possesive and obsessive guy!
I think the only one that truly loved someone was KuangLu.. her love was selfless and she just wanted Runyu to be happy, and she never schemed against his wishes. All the other characters were, not in love, but obsessed. They were so intense, are all Immortals like that in other dramas? They all needed or a shrink, or to go out and meet more people. It seems all of them have 2 people involved in their love life: Xufeng + JinMi/Suihe; JinMi + Xufeng/Runyu; JinMi's mother + her father/Xufen's father; Evil Mother + her husband/husband's brother; Runyu + JinMi/KangLu.
Some characters are obviously based on the Greek mythology: the Heavenly Emperor is Zeus, falling for every pretty lady and having bastards children (ok, just one in this case); the Heavenly Empress is Hera, jealous of all the mistresses and Runyu. JinMi is Helen of Troy, the Most Beautiful and the reason of the final battle between Runyu and Xufeng.
A tiny reason I watched this drama was because I wanted to know more about Yang Zi (JinMi), the actress who got to kiss Xiao Zhan so many times in OoL. I can't say I became a fan, she was OK, but nothing memorable. Or maybe because her character was the typical cute, nice, pretty girl. 2D.
On the other hand, I fell in love with Deng Lun, his eyes! his voice! his cute smile! he looked great in high ponytail, and while in the last arc I didn't love Xufeng like I did at first, I still couldn't NOT like him because I loved looking and listening to the actor. He reminded me a bit of Kitamura Takumi, in his expressions. Truth is, Xufeng's character goes downhill from the moment he dies: there is no Deng Lun for about 5 episodes :(( and once he comes back, he is all resentment and in spite of all the proof being RIGHT THERE, he resents JinMi so much he even believes Suihe. I almost lost it when he kissed JinMi and called Suihe's name... why wouldn't he take any of the several maids who applied to work for the handsome Demon Lord, instead of that sticky Suihe? But no worries, he never took any mistress XD
My favorite characters were: Fox Immortal, Liao Yuan (Xufeng's bodyguard) and Liuying. All of them share the same trait: loyalty. And they weren't a fool like the others. Although I didn't care for the 2nd couple (Muci was a bit too pathetic for me), I loved Liuying and I almost wish she and Xufeng got married for real at the end... they may not be in love with each other but they respected each other and were the best of friends. Another good character that seemed untrustful at first was Yanyou, but he just seemed selfish, and he truly cared for JinMi and his foster mother. The interactions between him and Fox Immortal were so much fun, specially because both of them despised Suihe (their scheme against her in Human Realm was so hilarious XD), and I also enjoyed the interactions between Fox Immortal and YuanJi (who is also the amazing singer of the ED song).
By far, my favorite thing in the whole drama was the OST. The main reason I started watching it was because of the OP song, but the ED is till now my favorite, I never skipped the OP song if I could help it (because of Netflix). There were scenes that made me roll my eyes and I almost used the 1x25 speed but listening to the BGM made everything better and bearable. The OST is the thing I will miss the most of this drama.
While it did not become one of my favorite drama, I did love it with all its faults. I wish they toned it a bit with the crazy, evil mother-in-law + the love triangle... I even think Runyu was more of a main character than Xufeng; Runyu just couldn't leave JinMi alone, he was always THERE, except in the Mortal Realm (reason why this is the best arc). Suihe was always there, almost winning. I would rewatch some scenes in the first arc, and all the Mortal Realm arc, but I can't see why people would rewatch THE WHOLE drama...
**My rating: 8/10**
