This drama is a gem, in my opinion the best of 2023 , hands down. An adult, mature, intriguing Chinese historical xianxia drama. Those only looking for sweetness or healthy things should refrain to watch it, and avoid it .
Here we have a totally unhealthy, toxic, abusive, negative relationship able to evolve, growing until it becomes pure, true and sincere.
it is a human story, made up of mistakes, feelings, betrayals, joy and pain. But what I love most is the concrete representation of the various characters. There is no clear distinction between good and evil, good or bad deeds. "A weapon can kill and it can also save a person". This sentence literally sums up the whole story.
Tantai Jin is an apathetic boy, who lacks any human feeling, who chooses to use demonic powers for revenge. it is Susu, as Ye Xiwu, who sets him on the right path. He is the one I preferred, without brakes, capable of total love and total hate. In the drama he has certain extent, because he is capable of anything. I loved that both in the novel and in the drama, he pushes himself to certain limits, but he always manages to stop in respect of others (as long as they are people who are close to him).
Susu is a character I love, focused on the mission, but rational and kind-hearted. She knows how to distinguish between good and evil, she knows how to understand, act and defend. She goes so far as to deny her own feelings for her mission. She knows their romance is doomed to tragedy, and she tries to cut those strings before giving up. And in the end, she will be the only one, besides the Master of Tantai Jin, who believes in him until the end.
Cang Jiumin, the "mature version" of Tantai Jin, is the other one I love deeply. He is serious, but also gallant and kind. it is Tantai Jin who has learnt how to love.
Ming Ye God of War, at an important stage in history. A tragic love that awakens Tantai Jin and Susu, but doomed to tragedy with Sang Jiu, a little sea princess with a cruel fate.
The third pair is the pure and smitten one, but it attracts a lot. The second pair is the sore point. In a tangle of reincarnations, they get worse and better. Xiao Lin becomes a negative person, while Ye Bingchang, from pure "green tea" (viper) becomes Mo Nv, a demon able to love.
Between a few happy moments, misunderstandings, betrayals, never revealed feelings and a destiny between demons and gods, history knows how to attract and catching the attention right away. Each episode builds in intensity, until the climax.
References to Daoism and Dunhuang culture are evident and widespread, the foundation of an entire culture.
In the finale, halfway between heartbreaking and pure hope, is the whole message of the story.