How did I get here?
So, I was scrolling through my TikTok FYP and saw an influx of demon gods content. Luo Yunxi, amongst other Chinese actors, thanks to ‘Til the End of the Moon’, which I abruptly DNF-ed at episode 18. It started out OK, though. Obviously, I had to add demon god dramas to my watch list. Yes, “had to”, it’s a need. Hence, here we are.
Due to my disappointment with Dylan Wang’s lackluster performance in ‘Miss the Dragon’ which I DNF-ed at episode 5, not to mention the poor plot, I almost skipped this one. I was left with the impression that he gets casted in dramas because he’s handsome and nothing else. However, in some clips I’ve seen of him in this drama, he was actually menacing which is by leaps and bounds better than what I remembered. Everyone is capable of growth and improvement. Hence, I decided to give it a try. Plus, no one can deny demon god Dylan Wang looks amazing in black.
On another note, I was excited to see Zhang Linghe in this drama. He portrays Hua Cheng in ‘Eternal Faith’, something MXTX fandom have been waiting for a long time. However, given the current prohibition of BL drama in China, it is reasonable to anticipate a potentially lengthy and uncertain timeline for the airing release, or even the possibility, of this drama.
What is the premise of the show?
For thirty thousand years, Moon Demon Lord Dongfang Qingcang’s primordial spirit was imprisoned in the confines of Haotian Tower. The high immortals and Lord Changheng, the God of War, guarded this tower to keep the world safe from the Dongfang Qingcang and his army. However, as the tower’s seal began to weaken, these guardians found themselves scrambling to reinforce its defenses against the imminent threat.
Xiao Lanhua, a fairy in-charge with caring for the Book of Destiny, granting her the ability to peer into people’s future with strict instructions not to meddle. Upon realizing Lord Changheng would meet his tragic end while strengthening the tower seal, Xiao Lanhua defies convention and saves the God of War. Unwittingly, she unleashed Dongfang Qingcang and even ended up unknowingly casting a curse on Dongfang Qingcang where both of them share the same emotions, injuries and perhaps, even death. In order to regain his freedom, the Moon Demon Lord searched for the War Goddess to break the curse.
What is my overall first impression?
If there are any similarities between demon-god-centered Chinese dramas, it’s that female leads were always blindly infatuated with the God of War, who by the way were so handsomely dressed in pristine white and baby blue robes without a trace of blood in sight despite spitting blood every five to ten swings of their swords, scepters or whatever weapon of choice they have. I’ve seen two and that obviously makes me an expert. Also, what detergent were they using that are blood-proof? Is it immortal-exclusive? Hm? Hm? And these women always end up with the Demon God? Why can’t it be the God of Storm & Thunder or the God of Music or God of the Sea? The universe was like, “Oh, you like a bad boy? Let me give you the real bad boy”.
As mentioned, I went into this show completely blind, with just a few random TikTok clips to go off of. But ugh, let me tell you, five minutes in and I already wished I had noise-cancelling headphones. The female lead’s voice was like nails on a chalkboard for me. Just when I thought nothing could deter me from watching Dylan Wang this time, something proves me otherwise. I couldn’t even concentrate on the plot! How I lasted five episodes was beyond me. Shame.