Amor e Redenção (2020)

How to suffer successfully.

This is a truly epic fantasy xianxia romance spanning three realms that is heavily imbued with characters, cosmic rules and hierarchies, black and white magic and other elements from Chinese mythology and legend. Even though many of the themes are familiar, they are brilliantly woven into a riveting and memorable fantasy fairy-tale of how all beings - deities, demons and humans are capable of good and evil; no one is immune from love and hate and all the emotions in between. We are all different and yet still the same.

After an devastating war, both the demon lord and god of war disappear and peace returns to the realms. A thousand years later, Chu Xuanji is born into the Chaoyang Sect; one of the righteous cultivating sects. At an elite martial arts tournament, she meets Yu Sifeng, the rising star and heir apparent of the mysterious Lize Palace. A strong bond of friendship is formed between the younger generation that leads them on many adventures as they pledge to help Xuanji recover shards of a magical artifact that can restore her six senses. In doing so, they set in motion a chain of events that can lead to the return of both the god of war and the demon lord and once again bring chaos to the realms. They also uncover secrets of their past incarnations and conspiracies that follow them to the present.

Where this xianxia stands out from the other huge xianxia hits of past years is that there is a very well written external plot that is not just there to facilitate the love story. Both the internal and external plot are very well woven together and are mostly evenly paced so that both plot lines converge into a very satisfying and climatic ending. In fact, the external plot is much more intriguing and balanced than the love story so I urge you to resist spoilers and just enjoy the gradual reveal of the backstory and the way it impacts many of the main characters. Although this director still cannot seem to restrain his excessive love of angst, at least in this drama the internal plot did not manage to destroy the external plot as it did in Under the Power. Indeed I personally enjoyed the external plot and colorful surrounding characters much more than the love story notwithstanding the sparkle between the leads.

As for the love story, well it has all the hallmarks of a xianxia hit - it is an extreme and obsessive love story that transcends many lifetimes and thousands of years and is undaunted in the face of challenges by more powerful beings from the three realms. Phew! Exhausting! The chemistry between the OTP is undeniably both sizzling and moving. It does not hurt at all that both actors smooch with an enthusiasm rarely seen in these kinds of shows. But the way the relationship is written is too unbalanced with Sifeng taking way too many hits for Xuanji. Most of the angst takes place in episodes ~40s+ which is late in the game and after the couple already goes through many experiences that should cement their mutual trust. So for Xuanji to be so easily swayed and manipulated makes her character regress and seem just not smart (as opposed to heartless). To deal with her so shabbily just so that Sifeng (who had already gone through so much), can spit blood a few more times is unnecessary and excessive. Within the most angsty arc, the drama indulges in flashbacks and digresses into boring one dimensional characters (e.g. Yanran) with little plot advancement. Everything comes together again in the final 6 episodes that culminates in one of the most engaging and strongest finishes I have seen in a long time. It would have been much better had they explored some of the threads in the last 6 episodes earlier and in greater depth.

As the backstory is revealed, it is evident that Xuanji is an old soul that experienced a lot of trauma that still echoes from her past incarnations and restrains her emotional development. This doesn't really come out until the end because while the main cast is really quite exceptional, Yuan Bingyan is the weak link. She did an amazing job as the young and artless Xuanji and as Xuanji in love with Sifeng but was not able to mature the character or convey some of the rage, torment from her past incarnations that haunts her character nor can she fully convey the inner conflict Xuanji experiences when forced into heart wrenching choices. This becomes most apparent at the end when stacked up against the more nuanced and compelling portrayals by Cheng Yi, Li Xinze and of course Liu Xueyi as the drama draws to an emotionally epic climax at the end.

I know Cheng Yi is by far the fan favorite and is in a completely different league in terms of his acting skills and his unforgettable portrayal of Sifeng's indomitable love and the unthinkable suffering he goes through for Xuanji. This character and this actor is a true example of how to suffer successfully, spitting blood so painfully beautifully time after time that it never fails to fan the flames of rabid fandom to new heights. While he is a truly amazing actor, I think it is actually Liu Xueyi's Haochen that is the anchor of the entire production. I know this is an unpopular and uncommon view but the truth is this drama begins and ends with this character. He must be one of the most manipulative, duplicitous, hypocritical and universally hated villains out there that I still can't help feeling pity for. Liu Xueyi's acting is truly phenomenal from his portrayal of an arrogant high deity who can't even see that he has fallen in love to his conscious acknowledgement that he has strayed from the right path but keeps on going nonetheless. The complexity of his emotions, the suppressed fury when he is thwarted and the inner conflicts he experiences is effortlessly and subtly conveyed with the twitch of a facial muscle, a flicker of an eyelid or a tiny tightening of the lips. In his own way, he suffers as much as Sifeng but obviously not as successfully - probably because he swallows and bottles up all that venom and suffering instead of spitting it right out like our Sifeng. I will leave you with one final thought - love him or hate him, we must thank Haochen. Because if he did the right thing to begin with, there would be no love story.

While for me this falls short of a masterpiece, there is so much more to it than a smoking hot love story and it is so rare to get such a good villain that is complemented by such an outstanding cast. The production value is very high and they did a fabulous job with the CGI. When I finished watching it, I felt like it was a 9.0 but unfortunately a year later, I was never even tempted to re-watch any part of it so I downgraded this to an 8.5/10.0.

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10 lifetimes and a love to transcend destiny.

In the hundreds of dramas I have gone through, I have to say, this one buried itself into my heart the most.

Cheng Yi’s breathtaking performance as Si Feng captures a heart-wrenching journey of self sacrifice, altruistic compassion and infinite love. His performance as Si Feng perfectly shows the character’s personality, the tribulations he faces, how much he is willing to sacrifice, and most importantly, the lengths he is willing to go to, to protect the one he loves. Whether in this lifetime, or the 9 lifetimes he has spent loving her before. Cheng Yi will have you crying rivers of tears. The character he portrays is so heart wrenching, when Si Feng hurts, your heart will feel the pain to the very depths of your soul. I also have to add, Ive never seen an actor who could cry that painfully. As soon as he cries, I’m crying too. It’s actually amazing. Another thing, prepare yourself little hearts because he spits so much blood and it happens in almost every episode.

Bing Yan as Xuan Ji, brings to vivid life, the cheerful yet clueless character she is. Bound by a fate she cannot control, but determined to challenge nonetheless, for a love she belated realises. Although I felt that in the later episodes where things come to light, she lacked the emotional depth of portraying the kind of soul rending pain, such revelations would bring. I’m not saying she didn’t have a great performance, just that those scenes should have been acted out with more emotion then she gave.

Now, Cheng Yi and Bing Yan, Xuanji and Si Feng, have a chemistry that is the stuff of romantic dreams. I would purely watch this again and again just for the love between these two.

The pacing of the story was perfect as to allow the audience enough time to enjoy this intricate journey alongside all the characters. The OST touching captures, and adds an element of wistfulness, to the essence of every scene. Zhou Shen and Yisa Yu never disappoint when it comes to osts. Costume design and set were stunning. Absolutely loved the costumes between Si Feng and Xuan Ji. The supporting cast were great and really played their part well. Teng She is a definite favourite of mine!

All in all, the journey undergone by the characters, from youth to adulthood. From innocence to responsibility. From a glass heart to an all encompassing love. Love and Redemption is a drama you do not want to miss. Especially for the beautiful tale of love and sacrifice between Xuan Ji and Si Feng. It makes you wonder how far a persons love can truely go.

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Perfect. Everything you could ever want in a drama.

This is on par with the directors cut of Goodbye My Princess for the best show I have ever seen. It has everything from breathtaking scenery and sets, jaw dropping special effects, gorgeous costumes, intense action sequences, nail-biting suspense, both wonderfully sweet and bitterly heartbreaking moments, romance that is cute & funny but also hot & steamy, complex characters who each have their own struggles yet are all important to the plot, deeply thought provoking concepts, flawless acting, a detailed screenplay written with care and precision, top-notch direction and camera work, an epic soundtrack, and masterful story writing. It's absolutely perfect.

I cannot even describe how much I enjoyed watching this. I cried buckets of tears, sobbing one moment and screaming for joy the next, but ultimately leaving me with a good feeling. I don't care what else is on your watchlist, watch this RIGHT NOW. You won't regret it I promise.

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A Good Heartbreaking Story

If you were a fan of Ashes of Love and Ten Miles of Peach Blossoms then grab a tissue box and settle in for a good, heartbreaking ride.

The styling of the drama was well done with each person looking great in their costumes. No one was too flashy or near comical looking. The CGI and and fight scenes were obviously a higher budget and very well done; it's a real treat to watch the fight scenes. I didn't love the color scheme for heaven since it's been done over and over but it's a minor thing compared to the rest of the sets.

The soundtrack is beautiful. Every track elicits a certain scene is my mind. Shuang Sheng's "Thousand Years of Love" brings me straight to episode 3 when Si Feng smiles because Xuan Ji tells him his smile reminds her of the intoxicating wine she drank. "Lover's Curse" brings me to episode 37 when Si Feng looks heartbreakingly at Xuan Ji after she accidentally attacks him and activates the 2nd part of his lover's curse. Then of course there's Zhou Shen's "Love Like Colored Glass" which makes me think of too many scenes to name them all. The soundtrack will be on my replay playlist for a good while.

The acting in this drama is fantastic. This has been said many times but Cheng Yi is amazing in this drama. I've never heard of him before but I'll for sure be keeping tabs on his future projects. I dare say his portrayal of Si Feng is near equivalent to Mark Chao's Ye Hua of Ten Miles of Peach Blossoms. Cheng Yi speaks volumes with just his eyes and facial expressions and dramatic roles are truly where he shines. Yuan Bing Yan was not far behind either. She reminds me of Zhao Liying; not so much for acting prowess but because she can play innocence and naïveté well yet she's fierce when her character needs to be strong. If you watch the BTS of this drama (especially the dramatic parts), it'll show the dubbing does not do her acting justice. I know Zhang Yu Xi gets a lot of flack for her acting but her portrayal of Ling Long and her struggle with overcoming her trauma was beautifully done. Her crying scenes made me cry along with her. Overall the casting was very strong and there isn't a weak link in the characters.

This drama is VERY angsty but also very fast-paced once the true problems are revealed. (When watching episodes 37-48, take a 10 minute break between each episode. Those 11 episodes are extremely heavy and may induce hyperventilation from anger, frustration, or heartbreak (in a good way)). You can see the reasoning behind every character's actions and even though Xuan Ji gets a lot of hate, she made her decisions based on the actions of those around her. A lot of crucial information is kept from her both from the main antagonist, Hao Chen and from her love interest, Si Feng. They did it for different reasons but the action was still the same nonetheless. It's nice that this drama has no love triangle/square between the two leads. Yes, you have Hao Chen and Xiao Ying Hua but Xuan Ji and Si Feng's feelings are solidified from the get-go. There's no thinking he/she loves another so the misunderstandings do not stem from that.

There is a twist to the story and I love that the author strayed from the cliche. The author cleverly makes Si Feng a red herring for a plot reveal that would otherwise have been a common trope. Xuan Ji's growth as a character is so excellently well done, especially once truths are revealed. Xuan Ji's background as Luo Hou Ji Du is so beautifully sad and I honestly rooted for him to exact his vengeance on the friend who betrayed him, cut him up, sealed away his heart, and made him kill off his own people.

This is definitely high on my drama list and ranks in my Top 3 xianxia dramas right behind Ten Miles of Peach Blossoms and The Untamed. Once subtitles are available for all 59 episodes I'll probably buckle down and marathon this again.

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Finished!!!

Hello, this is my first time writing a review.

I would like to say that I just finished watching this drama in Chinese subtitles.

The reason I love this drama is that its similar to Ashes of Love and Eternal Love that about "One Live and One Afterlife" and based in immortal/ fantasy setting. Ther story involved, human, heaven and demon realm. The story plot is unique, not repetitive and not slow. The main leads (ML and FL) always appear in every episode compared to other Chinese drama hence I felt that I'm watching their story.  First couples of the episode are funny due to the FL character and above episode 25 the story gets really serious.

The main cast is a really good actor/ actresses before i watch this drama i only know "Cheng Yi" due to The Lomb Tomb 2 he was a fantastic actor and portray the character really well! I know Crystal Yuan since The Mystic Nine, Royal Highness and Listening Snow Tower. I felt that her acting skills have been improved since the last drama i watched so highly recommended! Lastly, i only watched Yu Xi from Intense Love and the rest of the cast it was my first time watching them so i learnt something new!!! I would like to say that every cast members in this drama is fantastic and portray really well... no wonder why this drama is is really famous in China.

I will continue to support the main cast other dramas, i recently saw Cheng Yi new drama "The Promise of Chang'an" just broadcasted right after Love and Redemption so i found that part funny ...

I never skipped any seconds, minutes or episode with this drama so I'm proud to say is that i love this so much!!! Highly Recommended!

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Decent drama but over-hyped

Goodness.
Where do I start with this show.

So it's not the worst I've seen but I definitely don't understand all the hype that has surrounded this show. In my opinion, the chemistry was average and the story wasn't terrible but definitely had a lot of draggy bits and some ridiculous moments.

I would say the worst part of it all was the characterization of the FL - pretty much 80% of the show she is gullible, manipulated and basically used as pawn for everyone's selfish motives. You think things get better when the plot changes a bit and she realizes what she is but NO - she's still manipulated and basically has absolutely no autonomy over her decisions, destiny and life in general. It's super frustrating as a viewer because I can't help but be mad at her the entire time and groan every time she starts waving that ridiculous sword.

The ML was great in the acting department and he kept the show alive and carried it - in my opinion.

I'd watch this if you have nothing better to do and want to watch some new actors on your screen.

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A downward spiral

Honestly, this drama started out amazing, and maintained it's streak until the 40th odd episode. Then it was a downward spiral. I've read the reviews from other viewers and this is probably unpopular opinion, but to each their own.

I understand that it was adapted from a novel, but the last twenty episodes were honestly a hot mess to me. That final debacle on that floating platform, deciding whether or not to overturn some giant floating teapot to destroy the three realms was just too sudden. Then there was the split personality gender-switcharoo period that just made things a little strange, an undying cockroach of a villain who gets killed like 3x but survives to push the teacup off, another villain who instantly realizes his guilt after the heavenly emperor points out a few semblent points that everyone else has been telling him since day 1. Then bam, suddenly everything is resolved.

Also, the ML was stabbed like a porcupine throughout the entire 59 eps and there is not a moment where he isn't putting himself between blades. Counting the 9 lifetimes his reincarnations went through, I'm pretty sure he was stabbed at least 20 times. It builds his character, but it also takes away the angst. With him getting stabbed every 5 episodes or so, you can more or less predict what's going to happen next.

That aside, I loved the interactions between the ML and the FL. All that fluff made the countless misunderstandings much less frustrating. The side characters all have depth as well, I was especially fond of Tengshe and Zihu, though I was much less invested in the side couple. The acting was not bad, the ML (Chengyi) really did quite well considering the amount of dying scenes he had.

Overall, will not rewatch and will recommend Ashes of Love over this. But if you have time to spare (59eps worth) and want to be emotionally invested into something, this drama would be a good choice.

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AMAZING ACTING

WONDERFUL

I am in love with their acting, they are all amazing but the FL is just... WOW, the personality that she played is totally opposite of each other. While watching this drama I had many mixed feels, I be angry sad and happy. This drama is just amazing, the leads the supports are just marvelous. we get both the cute and sad part. I LOVE THE OST.

THIS IS THE BEST DRAMA THIS YEAR FOR SURE
I know why people are saying they can't get over it, I take turns watching dramas and I just keep on thinking about this drama while watching the other dramas.

IT'S BEAUTIFUL but SAD

They so cute together and she so cute, I'm going to find some other dramas that they are in

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Complex, Intriguing and Heart-Wrenching

This story is complex and twisted, but at the same time intriguing and heart-wrenching. The plot is initially very hard to understand, as I have felt I needed 10 brains to dissect and digest the story. The journey to discovering and finally understanding the plot is littered with blood and romance, love and hate, trust and betrayal, friendship and animosity. The story telling and the acting are amongst the best in recent dramas.

Yu Sifeng (Cheng Yi) is a son of a human mother and Golden Bird race which disguises as a cultivator sect wearing masks. He's the top disciple of the sect and his biological father is the sect leader. Their masks are never to be removed but somehow Yu Sifeng's mask is removed by Chu Xuanji (Yuan Bing Yan aka Crystal Yuan). This is their 10th lifetime meeting each other. For his past 9 lives, Yu Sifeng has loved and been devoted to Chu Xuanji but dies in her hands or under her who doesn't even know of his love and devotion. In this tenth lifetime, she finally falls in love with him but he's now a Golden Bird that is considered demonic and persecuted by the cultivation sects. The couple goes through a lot of trials and heartaches, especially for Yu Sifeng. In every episode from beginning of the drama till the end, he suffers enormous pains, both physically and emotionally, and each time, his love and devotion for Chu Xuanji never wane. Their love story and romance are beautiful and heart-wrenching. All the viewers' hearts go out to Yu Sifeng because of his sufferings and committed devotion to Chu Xuanji. As the story develops, we begin to see this is only part and puzzle of the overall plot. Who is Chu Xuanji? Who is Yu Sifeng?

Cheng Yi’s acting is fabulous. As Yu Sifeng, he’s quiet, patient and reserved but compassionate and passionate. He’s the kindest being ever, protecting others and sacrificing himself. He’s always the last to speak and endures all the mistreatment others throw at him. His face is always emotionless and leaves everyone guessing what he is thinking. And yet, Cheng Yi speaks with his emotions. The viewers can feel his agony, torments, despairs, pains, resignation and anger. With Chu Xuanji, he is always patient and forgiving. He loves her so much that viewers can feel his affection by how he looks at her, so tenderly and lovingly. Cheng Yi delivers 100 percent of Yu Sifeng to the viewers.

Yuan Bingyan’s portrayal of Chu Xuanji is close to perfection. She is beautiful and young with a naïve and innocent look. Time and time again as Chu Xuanji, she hurts and torments Yu Sifeng, either unintentionally or intentionally, physically or emotionally, and then she would return to him to help him heal, only to throw him back into his misery again. However, when the lives of those she loves are threatened, she changes into a fearsome warrior that is completely different from that silly young girl. Yuan Bingyan is very believable as Chu Xuanji and has had a great performance.

Other cast members are equally impressive in their acting. I’m particularly impressed by Bai Shu’s acting as Teng She; the way he talks and slithers, exactly like a snake which he has transformed from.

The CGIs in this drama are not too bad. The backgrounds are pretty well done. I love the golden wings that come out from Yu Sifeng. They’re so beautiful and look so authentic, and Cheng Yi’s acting blends right in with the wings naturally as if those are part of him. I absolutely love those ethereal visuals of him.

Of all the three realms – heaven, underworld, and mortal world, both Yu Sifeng and Chu Xuanji want to live in their current lifetime in the mortal world – as they put it, it’s great to be humans. The endings are satisfactory to most viewers with all characters having proper closures, the deserving awarded and the villains redeemed.

Despite its length of 59 episodes as I was hesitant initially, this drama is a great watch that tugs at our hearts. I have truly enjoyed the journey. Strongly recommended. Two thumbs up!

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Great ML, Not a fan of FL, Plot started off strong, very weak in the middle, ended decently

I watched this drama because of all of the hyped that surrounded it among C-drama watchers- especially those who were fans of wuxia/xianxia like myself. The show fell short for me and I thought it was overhyped. I will highlight my opinions on negative aspects.

I did not like the FL's (Crystal Yuan) acting. Early on she acted too much like a child (though people tried to defend this as child-like naivety) but it persisted for way longer than necessary. She wasn't very good at portraying emotion like her counter ML (tears, heartfelt moments). It seemed so fake and was very noticeable to me. People are raving that she's a powerful strong FL which is true but they could've written it better. She's the God of War but she's more powerful than any other deity in heaven? When she barely just discovered her powers? And her body is still mortal?

The sister, Linglong, also was not the best actor. She acted like an annoying child almost the entire show. People say she experienced trauma but it wasn't her that did it, it was the flower demon. I don't understand why she felt so hurt when it wasn't even her.

The ML, Cheng Yi, did an amazing job. His acting was really good. He was able to portray emotions very well. He seemed overpowered though, for being a demon and being stronger than some of the gods and being able to do things that seem like it was out of his scope when he couldn't do other stuff.

Liu Xue Yi also did a very good job with his character.

Props to the team for the BL between Tengshe and Qinglong and Bai Lin and LuoHuo Jidu.

The music was pretty good.

For me, pretty much episodes 15-50, were really really bad. I skipped a lot and was bored most of the time. It finally picked up again at the end. The ending also wasn't the best imo. People are happy that it was a happy ending. I was wondering tho like why did Luohuo Jidu also disappear when Bai Lin drank the wine? Overall it was ok. I would not rewatch but will now keep an eye on some of the male actors that I liked in this show.

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In love with Xuan Ji and Si Feng ❤

I'm loving this drama with a BIG capital L! A great story line, off the hook on-screen chemistry between Si Feng and Xuan Ji, and so far this drama is not draggy.

Crystal Yuan as Xuan Ji is without a doubt the CUTEST beautiful girl I've ever seen in a Chinese period drama. There are some beautiful Chinese actresses out there but I think Crystal Yuan as Xuan Ji is not just another pretty face but her cuteness as Xuan Ji is what totally win me over! You should check this drama out to see what I'm talking about.

Cheng Yi plays Si Feng who is the "cool and distant" type but Cheng Yi is able to bring out Si Feng's warmth from the way he's looking at Xuan Ji, from his glances, and little smile. He looks cold but not arrogant. You can totally see it on his face how much he loves her.

Their superb on-screen chemistry is definitely what makes me loving Love and Redemption so much.

I can't wait to see the rest of this drama but as usual non Chinese viewers must wait longer for English subtitles.

(UPDATE: September 11th 2020)
Just finished watching this series and I must say this drama has the most satisfying ending I've ever seen in any Chinese period / fantasy drama. Bravo!!!

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a surprise xianxia!

I started this without knowing anything about it, had no clue who the actors were...and wow! easily became one of my top favs. it has all the elements of true love storyline, lots of sweet and romantic scenes of the main leads, and best of all, the CGI/action scenes were well done, nothing cringey or cheesy...! the overall arc was interesting, the pace of the series was perfect and the side characters were not wasteful/forgetful. the awesome OST was the cherry on top. i've rewatched this series 3 times now- it has been a long time since a series got me this addicted. i am a happy viewer.

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