The Story of Mystics (2024)

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.

Leia Mais

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.”

Leia Mais

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.

Leia Mais

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.

Leia Mais

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!

Leia Mais

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.

Leia Mais

May you return home after all the hardships

Fangs of Fortune was a typical Wuxia story I feel. Even though I might not be an expert in that genre, the fantasy elements and the main theme remained strong throughout the story. It's a story about a Great Demon teaming up with his greatest enemy, the leader of Demon catchers bureau to find the Baize token that can bring peace to the world again. The female lead, the to be Baize Goddess, a prodigy doctor, a skilled demon catcher and a half demon half god cook joins them on this adventurous journey. It begins as a story of gods, demons and humans teaming up together for the greater good and maintains that theme throughout.

The strongest part of this drama, in my opinion, is the characters they built and the beautiful bond they share with one another. The friendship, the brotherhood, the sisterhood and the romance. Although the romance is kind of nonexistent, as if it just exists to pass the censorship. I feel like if the director could, he definitely would've made it a BL.

The Female lead is introduced as this strong and independent character and yes she's wise but she not strong at all and throughout the drama she acts simply as a damsel in distress, cries and contributes to the story by increasing their problems.

Whereas the second Male lead serves all the roles a romantic interest should. Despite that, i love him the most as individual character. Maybe because I relate to his loneliness and stubbornness but I think it's more than that. Maybe it's the fact that he received the most character development and he's surely gonna remain as one of my favourite characters.

The story definitely could've been better. The fantasy world they built is vast and it's definitely fascinating but many aspects of it doesn't make sense. Many times they introduce us with a problem that cannot be solved, their ancestors couldn't solve it and then 1 episode later they have solved it. There are many plot holes as well.

The pacing also feels pretty odd at times. The plot feels a bit repetitive by the end but it's ignorable. The constant whispering is definitely annoying and unrealistic but i guess you get used to it. The most annoying aspect it is definitely the repetitive use of osts. The songs on their own are good but they are used in literally every scene.

Despite all of its flaws, i still enjoyed it for the most part. It's definitely a fun show that serves you with good visuals, fantasy setup and great characters and we cannot forget the underrated comedy.Also i absolutely love the ending. It's perfect in all ways. I think it's worth a watch.

8/10

Leia Mais

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.

Leia Mais

The Best 2024 Xianxia

I absolutely love the fighting scenes and the soundtrack! Every cast member looks stunning, and the plot twists are so shocking, they give me goosebumps! Even though it's a straightforward romance, I'm totally shipping Zyz with Zyc and Wx with Psj. Lin Zi Ye's character is phenomenal. He managed to keep his identity as the spy for the Chong Wu Camp a secret from the team, and he played his role perfectly, following his master's orders. As for Zyz, he's the most unserious demon I've ever seen in a drama. He still manages to scare Bj! Zyc is such a cutie pie—he takes his acting seriously. I'm a little disappointed with Wx's character. I think she's a bit weak, but she played her role perfectly. Psj is a little serious, but he's great at fighting. It's heartbreaking for Yl, who only wanted Bj's attention, and ultimately sacrifices himself to protect him. I adore the journey this whole group takes together. Highly recommended!

Leia Mais

What can I say about Fangs of Fortune

Starting with the careful direction of Guo Jing Ming, Luo Luo and Wei Nan, perfect as MY JOURNEY TO YOU. Each shot, each photograph, each close-up amplifies each character's emotion 500 times, the love that each character feels is explicit.
Neo Hou, our beloved 1000-year-old powerful super demon Zhao Yuanzhou, mocking, cynical, loyal, friendly, profound.
Chen Du Ling - Wen Xiao, despite all his physical weakness, does not give up trying to do the best for himself and his team of friends
Tian Jia Rui - Zhuo Yichen or Mr Zhuo - a gentleman who transforms his hatred for Yuan into the deepest friendship. This actor will shine a lot, second role in life, first as a protagonist, I root for him.
Cheng Xiao - Pei Sijing the archer, warrior, full of remorse for her brother and uncertainties about her ability, grows with each episode until she takes down her worst villain. Lin Zi Ye our Bai Jiu, what can I say about every minute on screen of this new 13-year-old actor, I laughed a lot with his screams of fear, when he plays being possessed by Li Lun, he looked like Li Lun himself, he will also be a success of his generation. Xu Zhen Xuan our Little God of the Mountain / Chief Ying Lei, a cutie, his explicit neediness and his affection for Bai Jiu, I also cried a lot. Yan An - Li Lun, my goodness... I lose my words looking at this antagonist, understanding Li Lun was difficult, but the jealousy he has for YuanZhou and the love/friendship that the 5 protagonists have for each other brings him his redemption in the end. Perfect from start to finish, don't expect a happy ending in Western terms. It's a typical Chinese drama ending. I LOVED IT!!!!! The best of the year in the category without a doubt.

Leia Mais