A Lenda de Shen Li (2024)

Overall Good, however not one of my Top Favourites.

Just finished the series! Overall, it's alright, with potential to appeal strongly to some viewers, but it didn't quite hit the mark for me, especially after 20 episodes in. The comedic elements, particularly with Furong and his sister, were a highlight for me. However, I struggled to connect with the main female and male leads, possibly due to the pacing, and the story being a bit drawn out. My emotional investment leaned more towards characters like Mofang and the backstory of the female lead's parents, as well as the development of some minor characters. While it didn't entirely captivate me, I'd still encourage anyone intrigued to give it a chance, as individual experiences with the show may vary.

Side note: Despite some scenes where the music randomly played, the overall impact of the music in this series evoked emotions and set the tone for various scenes adding depth to the storytelling - some parts got very emotional haha!

Leia Mais

Awestruck and Spellbound

So, I've been left awestruck and spellbound by this series. My eyelashes are still damp while writing this.

This has to be one of the fastest paced dramas I've watched in a long time. The episodes just roll one on top of the other, so you're binge watching this at 3 am.

The chemistry has the perfect fire from episode 1 to episode 39. There is no misunderstanding or insane second m/f leads. There are so many interesting side characters, especially Jin Niang Zi. Good gracious. She was so fun to watch as she set up one of the most dynamic scenes in the series. Loved her!

I'm still reeling from the beauty of this drama, the leads, the story, and the music.

The OST, which I sometimes overlook, is exceptional.

The one quote I will always remember, besides the hauntingly beautiful dialog between the leads is this one:

"Peace is hard to earn in the world." And so it is.

Highly recommend. 10/10

Leia Mais

BEST HISTORICAL CHINESE EVER !

I want to cry just to write this review. The Drama overwhelmed me with intense emotions at each episode whether it was joy, anxiety, fear, sadness. I was amazed by the exceptional quality of the special effects. The story has no respite, I did not find any useless length and each character is well developed. I like the chronology of the story and the fact that nothing is left to chance, we have all the answers to our questions. The romance between the two leads was solar and of ultimate confidence. The kind of solid relationship that can challenge everything together. One does not go into the other despite their various responsibilities and they have never been truly separated or far from the other for too long and that too was pleasant. I really liked the nice second leads also who all had their endearing personality regardless of their personal motivation. I had a preference for the world of immortals and mortals but paradise was not so bad also by knowing them all. In this Drama which is a masterpiece in my opinion that has very well respected the original novel work, I had my dose of everything: Beautiful romance, many kisses, avoided clichés, breathtaking fights, super OST (all great) captivating story with meaning to finish on a happy ending.

It's a Drama that I HIGHLY recommend because it's really a ref and one of my favorites now.

Leia Mais

A chicken parading as a phoenix

I was really looking forward to Shen Li as I have really enjoyed this author’s works and I’ve loved all of ZLY’s performances.

There were several touching moments in the beginning of the show - I was very moved by the story of the soldier and the wife - it was beautifully done and the actors who played the part did so phenomenally. Kudos to them. I enjoyed the idea of cluck cluck and the sickly man, and was moved when that arc came to an end. Shen Li revisited the place she had lived for a short time of her life, it was poignant and sad. One cannot return to the past as it stands on its own.

That being said, I have mixed feelings about this show overall.

I know it’s an unpopular opinion but this show became extremely slow and boring. Often the show felt as though it was catering to fans of Princess Agents who were left stranded with its lacklustre ending. Yes, the two leads have good chemistry but chemistry can’t make up for a paper thin plot that should have kept to 25 episodes or fewer. Most xianxias have a lot happening, even if they are common tropes and this one was excruciating slow with this draggy plot. The novel works because the FL’s narration and feelings carry it through.

Yet, not all literary techniques are well translated into film/the visual medium and this show is a good example of that. Shen Li’s voice overs were overused in the early part of the show and often they seemed to deny secondary characters agency.

As I finished the show I felt quite frustrated that secondary characters were not fully developed nor was enough time spent on them. For a 39 episode show secondary characters are paramount. The marriage arc went on forever and ever.

In the end i was left wondering- what happened to Shen Li’s father? Why didn’t she even think about him. It just happened. Mo Fang’s dying scene was quite sad- I pitied him, despite his faults, he did try to protect her. He was left there, without a glance from Shen Li or a final farewell. What an unfortunate character, which Shen Li herself observes.

What happened to Mo Fang’s father? What really was the point of the story? Why did Shen Li fall in love with Xingyun?

The acting was not the problem at all. I found Kenny Lin’s performance here to be among his best. The idea of the lonely ancient god was interesting and Kenny Lin expressed his loneliness well. His crying scene with Zhao Liying towards the end was very good. I really enjoyed the rest of the actors who did the best with whatever they had. Fu Rong Jun has the most character growth and he became one of my favourite characters. I enjoyed the actor’s performance. Jackie Li was great as usual but had limited screen time. I looked forward to seeing the siblings (and those were the parts I watched without skipping).

The music was good overall without the usual xianxia angst. I did not enjoy the xianxia angst when I watched my first xianxia but that’s what I appreciate these days.

Perhaps I had great expectations from the show but for me it was too slow, too thin with its plot. I think some Chinese shows should stick to shorter episodes. Quantity isn’t quality after all. A chicken should not pass for a phoenix. There's nothing wrong with being a chicken though- it has its place in the world.

Leia Mais

It's basically just better than average

I know that everyone is saying this is the best Xianxia we've had for a hot minute but I think this is the key element they're forgetting. There's been such a drought of good Xianxia (and particularly good Xianxia with female leads that don't act and speak like 6 year olds and actually have a personality outside of 'love interest') that we're holding this one to a higher standard than it deserves.

To start on a positive note, there are lots of great things about ShenLi. Although it is 40 episodes it's very easy to digest. Aside from an initially slow start which explores the 'mortal life' section of any Xianxia (albeit in an unexpected and quite witty way) once that awful cgi chicken disappears the show is very enjoyable. It's interesting especially to see the power dynamic shift when Xingzhi/Xingyun's true identity is revealed. The rest of the special effects are actually quite good, and the costumes - though not particularly innovative for the men - have a lot to boast for the women. Some of Shen Li and Demon Lord's outfits were stunning and the detail was apparent. The 'sky above heaven' was also an interesting addition to the show and the lore of the ancient gods.

Now onto the not so great things:
Firstly, this drama has serious pacing issues. The focus on the love story of the two leads was interesting, yes, but almost the entire plot was devoted to them with little time for side characters to develop. This almost led to an over saturation of their romance, particularly because the marriage arc was dragged out until episode 25. I also found that the apathy of the ML was at times taken too far. There is a difference between indifference and surpressed emotion which outwardly presents as indifference which was not always successfully conveyed.

Secondly, although some of the plot twists were genuinely surprising - there was no one single 'wow' factor moment within the show, and there was potential for several. Perhaps due to the halfhearted world building which failed to exhibit a real motivation for the villain beyond loyalty, the stakes never really seemed as high as they should have, and due to the overwhelming power of the 'divine god', even if he was injured or punished by the heavens for disobeying the enigmatic 'natural law' we were never led to believe that he wouldn't be able to overcome whatever was thrown at him. Such was the power of a true 'god' - the last god - compared to mere heavenly immortals.

An 8.8 rating is difficult to comprehend in my opinion. That places the Legend of Shen Li above dramas like: 'Who rules the world' and 'Scarlet Heart: Ryeo', and at the same level as 'The Story of MingLan', 'Eternal Love/Ten Miles of Peach Blossoms', 'Love Between Fairy and Devil', 'Snow Sword Stride' (all far more interesting and developed dramas as far as I'm concerned). I don't like to throw 'overrated' around but I think that this drama may have been. Don't get me wrong, it's still a very enjoyable watch and I highly recommend it; it just seems important to keep in mind that ratings are inevitably relative, and Shen Li perhaps needs to be put into context rather than looked at independently.

Leia Mais

It's LEGENDARY. Best of all xianxia I have watched or best of all dramas.

My top 1 wuxia, xianxia drama. (This is my first review after watching 250+ Chinese dramas and so you can imagine how much I like this one)
It's amazingly perfect.
The way the leads are flirting is so cute.
The fights are good.
The emotions are perfectly portrayed or shown. I even cried for some scenes.
There is some comedy. Mostly ML made some fun. It's good.
The OST is amazing. Every background music and all songs are superb.
The VFX is good.
Everyone's acting is good.
For me there is negative in this drama.
My rating 10/10 ❤️❤️❤️
I also gave rating to each episode separately with 10 points.
If it is possible I would give more than 10 rating, that's how much I liked this drama.
.....................................................................................................................................................................................

I want to beat the director or writer of this drama. They are so cruel. How can they do this to us.
How can they end this so amazingly perfect drama. I want this drama with 60 episodes or more than 60.
😭😭😭😭😭😭I'm missing this drama. I don't want this to end.

Also, Zhao Li Ying (FL) is amazing and so cute as usual. She is 36 but she still looks like a teenager for me. Her acting is amazing. Also, she is the executive producer to this drama. I want more of her dramas same as this. ❤️❤️💖💖❤️‍🔥❤️‍🔥

Leia Mais

I can't help but speak up.

I've seen a few comments about how slow, predictable and imbalanced the show was (some even from seasoned reviewers).

Here is my take:

The pacing was indeed quite slow, but it was for the best. The story was told in a way that rarely leaves the audience wondering about backstories or how things came to be. It also gave me the chance to get to know the main characters, smile at their bickering and feel their sorrows and moral dilemmas. I even got to soak in the emotions from the actors' minimal gestures and microexpressions...kudos to ML and FL's amazing performances.

Others claimed that the story was predictable. Well, of course! This is a live adaptation of a novel, and it was praised for being able to follow the source material to a tee. Many (if not all) shows follow a certain pattern in telling a story. What matters most is if it is being told in the most engaging and visually appealing manner. No expense was spared in its production.

It was indeed a little off balance in the sense that most of the screen time was focused on the CP and I think it's fine. For one, the show really does revolve around the ML & FL so it's normal. Another is that telling too much about supporting characters without any significant contribution to the main story will be too overwhelming for many viewers. It was an easy watch and I loved it!

This show truly did the Princess Agents viewers a great service! Seeing Lin GengXin & Zhao LiYing on screen together again somehow tied the loose ends left by the aforementioned drama's cliffhanger ending. They still have an awesome chemistry and I would gladly watch them again in the future.

Leia Mais

Excellent story and amazing main leads.

Excellent story, superb acting, ML and FL amazing chemistry, good visual effects, story line that advances and does not gets stuck. One of the best Wuxia I have seen. The Romance is so good. I love the main characters and also the secondary charaters are good and funny. The ending is worth watching too.
I think this story has everything: Great romance, a very good story, well written script, great actors, very good visual effects, they did a good job filming it, great scenes, the music was very good too. You could not stop watching it, expecting the next episode to come.

Leia Mais

A fun, warm-hearted drama

I think a lot of love was poured into this drama, and it leans into comedy more than tragedy. I don’t think you’re supposed to take this drama too seriously, although moral lessons abound. it reminds me of The Starry Love, but the humor is dry, rather than slapstick.

The chemistry between the leads is electrifying, and you feel the adoration between them. The sub-plots also add to the fun.

It’s like if Meet Yourself was a Xianxia, very scenic and fun. I would recommend this to anyone who wants to relax while watching a Xianxia, since most Xianxia’s threaten to raise blood pressures.

Leia Mais

A treat for the eyes, if you like Lin Gengxin and Zhao Liying

This is the first Xianxia I ever finished and I mean finished without using the FF button. I have no such interest in this genre so when I heard ZLY and LGX were returning with this genre, I didn't have too much hope. Boy! Did they prove me wrong! The story was quite engaging. I was completely sucked in after 4 episodes and didn't stop until the end. A popular fact now: LGX and ZLY was AMAZING together. They literally set our screens on fire with the chemistry they have. It is rare to star together in a new project and hit jackpot twice for previous onscreen couples, but I think LGX and ZLY just proved they did with Shen Li. I will not spoil the story for anyone, all I can say is, believe in the chemistry LGX and ZLY holds, you will experience the three celestial realms and you will be mesmerized. :)

Leia Mais

The Legend of Sheng Li

The Legend of Sheng Li

- Yes... Well, I don’t know where to start. I apologize in advance if this post is long. However, I will say now that I could say a lot more about this drama than what I wrote.
       The drama is amazing; I haven’t received so many emotions from a Chinese drama for a long time. From the first second when the music starts, you feel your veins filling with oxygen. A drama in which there is nothing superfluous.
The best actors, the best production, script, and special effects. The chef uses the best ingredients. It will mix in perfect proportions, and you will get something delicious. Mmm, so finger-lickin' good.
     Xing Ji is God in every sense; he walks with his quiet, majestic steps. Its greatness can be felt even behind the scenes. This is his character! He is over a thousand years old, he has seen everything, and he is bored with this world, so he descends into the mortal world. He is the most powerful of the High Immortals, and apparently he is so bored and uninterested in everything around him.
    Shen Li, the Princess, is a strong, independent, rebellious soul who is fair and kind. Always near. You look at their couple and feel how much they love each other.
    But besides all this, there is another very big plus in this drama: humor, which balances the sense of greatness and war in this drama.
Shinji, the whole drama was on Phoenix's nerves. Although he doesn't seem to know anything about it, he didn't seem to see anything and didn't even think anything about it. Hehe
     There are so many incomparable characters here that I can endlessly talk about anyone...
Ultimately, this is the best drama I've watched in this genre. Beautiful and a sea of emotions, the chemistry is amazing. For me, there has not been such chemistry anywhere for a long time. The actors played very well. The story is not new; it is as old as time, but it is beautifully presented. Every frame was a masterpiece, and every second was unique and so beautiful. I have never seen such beauty anywhere else. God, I loved this, and translators, thank you so much.

Leia Mais

Best Xianxia of some years now

This drama is so amazing I don't even know how to describe.
It's going to be in my heart right next to Ashes of Lovea and Lost you forever regarding the xianxias.

What's so good?
I love the cast, such good actors.
The pace of the story is great, sometimes very slow and beautiful, sometimes very fast and trilling.
The photography is amazing, the way the cameras capture every scene is beautiful.
The CGI it's one of the best I have seen.
The OST is so good, you are gonna remember the show only for it's music.
The story is very interesting, something new, keeps you wondering what is gonna happen next.

Of course, there are some things I wish could be better, like explore more Mofang and the King of Chimeis. But I will turn a blind eye on that.

Leia Mais