The Legends (2019)

Ending was a legendary fail

Although it started off well, the ending unfortunately spoiled this drama for me. I'm giving it a 7 instead of <5 though because I enjoyed the 1st half.

I watched this drama because I liked Bai Lu in Love is Sweet and Xu Kai in Ancient Love Poetry. They were pretty much the only reason why I finished this drama. I've heard good things about Arsenal Military Academy, so will try that next, but am sad I didn't watch that first and spent so much time trying to get through the last half of this drama.

The Good:
- Leads were good
- Story got off to a good and exciting start
- Funny moments when FL (LZY) is resurrected in 2nd FL's (QZY) body
- Dr GHG was hilarious

The Bad:
- Too long and re-used a lot of flashbacks as filler
- Story deteriorated as it progressed...with a weak, messy, poorly developed ending
- Lots of plot holes... (Liu He Sword kept appearing everywhere after ep 52 with no explanation of why different people had it, ML mysteriously loses demon essence then gets it back then tries to lose it again, ML father somehow is able to leave world of rest and enter mortal world then just disappears after attacking the gold diety, etc.)
- Relationship between ML and FL (though the actors were good) was not developed enough, especially after 1/2 way through
- Dr GHG died :(

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This is my favourite drama of all time so this review might be a little tiny bit biased…

STORY
I thought the story was so unique and the plot flowed well, I was never bored and I didn’t fast-forward through anything, everything seemed important. And events had so much build up and foreshadowing, nothing seemed to come out of nowhere.

ACTING/CAST
The acting was AMAZING! Bai Lu was perfect as Zhao Yao, I feel like she was born to play this role!! Same with Xu Kai, he made Mo Qing so warm and loving!! Bai Lu and Xu Kai have such great chemistry, all their scenes together didn’t feel forced or staged, everything seemed so natural.

Xiao Yan did such a good job playing both Zhi Yan AND Zhao Yao. She copied Bai Lu’s facial expressions really well. Dai Xu was really good too as Jiang Wu, he could be both hilarious and terrifying!!

MUSIC
I really love the music, especially the main song "Zhao Yao" by Chen Chu Sheng & Hu Sha Sha.

OTHER POINTS
The romance was done so perfectly with so many beautifully filmed OTP scenes, and the angst got you right in the heart! This show was also hilarious!! That whole "love letters by messenger crow" sequence still cracks me up! And all Zhao Yao’s failed attempts at murdering Mo Qing are so funny, especially when he knows what she’s up to! I think they balanced the humour with the angsty romance really well.

The director did such a good job and the fights scenes were amazingly choreographed. The CGI was really good too, especially in the scene were Mo Qing and Zhao Yao join forces to break that Demon Suppressor Formation.

The costumes and hair were beautiful, they were unique but not overdone. I really loved Zhao Yao’s superhero outfit and Mo Qing’s sect leader clothes all suited him really well! I love his blue hair so much!

The sets and props (especially the swords) were nice too, and the Red Stone Forest made for an interesting backdrop.

It was also great to see such strong female characters!! Zhao Yao and Shi Qi/Seventeen were such badass ladies and Zhao Yao helped Zhi Yan become stronger too. They had a woman in charge of the Secret Guard and some of the guards were also women. Even the villain Liu Su Ruo was calling a lot of the shots with the people in the Immortal Sects.

I also thought that all the advertising posters etc. that they released were really well done and it was clear that a lot of work and love had gone into them. I think the people who were in charge of the marketing and the running of the official Weibo page were definitely fans of the show too!

I guess my main little issues with the drama were the occasional bad editing and the over darkening of some “night scenes” (which had been filmed during the day hence the darkening), but those issues can be fixed with video editing software so I forgive you show!

REWATCH VALUE
I’ve re-watched so many scenes so many times from this show already. They weren’t even just the OTP scenes either, so many other scenes are so re-watchable as well, especially the fight scenes!

The best thing about this drama has to be Zhao Yao and Mo Qing’s love story. His devotion to her is just so beautiful and I love how he was always there for her no matter what, and eventually she was always there for him too. Watching Zhao Yao fall in love with him was so amazing, their relationship became so loving and supportive, I don’t even have a favourite OTP scene because all their scenes were so perfect!

If you like well written angsty romance dramas with a lot of humour then I would highly recommend you give this drama a try and maybe you’ll become as addicted to it as I am!! I’ve started reading the book too and I would highly recommend it as well, the (ongoing) English translation is here: https://www.novelupdates.com/series/ostentatious-zhao-yao/.

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Best cdrama of 2019

I think this will be the best c-drama for 2019 for me. First I have to say that the first 45 episodes este very good,but everything became confusing for me at the end. I didn't understand if he died or not because it seemed sudden. I don't complaint the fact that they changed the ending because I didn't read the novel but the way it was taken it seemed poorly. But this time the ending will not change my opinion about this drama because till the end everything was very beautiful to see. The female lead who was strong and didn't need anyone,of couse till she lost her powers,the male lead who loved her unbelievably and their chemistry was awesome and the support cast was extremely good. From the supporting cast I loved especially Seventeen for her power and I don't know the fact that she was a little imature bur at the same time mature. I almost cried at the end when I thought she died and I was extremely happy that she didn't. Besides her,I loved everyone equally. I cannot wait a new drama where I can see Xu Kai and Bai Lu together again. I recommend to everyone to watch this drama even if the ending wasn't very good,because their chemistry,the acting,the script,the action were the best. I'll give to this drama 100000000000 out of 10 stars.

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Evil is just the Absence of Good

Sometimes I really need some hardcore romance besides the rom-coms I usually watch with their tongue-in-cheek love. This is one of those moments, and I am really satisfied with The Legends. This series has it all, outstanding headstrong characters, their own private history, High Fantasy, the Great Battle between Good & Evil, and last but not least the beautiful chemistry between the main couple, that starts unconsciously, shy, sweet and fizzes on the screen at times.

Summary
This drama has been adapted from a popular novel about divine sects who fight for the power in the pugilistic world.
The main story is about Lu Zhao Yao. Her grandfather’s sect is responsible for the guarding of the demon king’s son. This mystic person, later called Li Chen Lan, is unkept, covered with magic runes on his face. He lives chained, hidden and abandoned in the mountain because of his incredible evil powers he hasn’t mastered yet. No one is allowed to see him.
One time Zhao Yao meets, and saves, the good looking Luo Ming Xuan, the divine leader of the immortal ten sects. He becomes her shining example in life. She adores him and promises to live and fight for the good cause, using her powers to protect the defenseless.
Later she’s really shocked to find out Luo Ming Xuan is behind the nearing execution of the demon king’s son. True to her word she comes to the rescue of the demon king’s son, because he is defenseless and hasn’t done anything wrong (yet). So after a huge fight, that kills her own grandfather, she instantly becomes the arch enemy of the whole Good Sect Alliance, swearing she will be evil henceforth, if those hypocritical leaders call themselves good.
She hides away in the mountains, together with the very shy demon king’s son who adores her from now on, giving him the nicknames Mo Qing/Little Monkey-Monster.
They set up their own sect, the Wanlu sect, that leans towards unconventional sorcery and devilry to make it possible for common people to live a happy life without the bigotry of the so-called Good Sects. An all consuming war is the result, with many events that lead to wrong assumptions about love, good and evil for everyone involved.

The Good
One of the big cons of this series is the achievement of the cast. Not only the main actors, but also the other actors act very naturally with the exception of Zhang Xin. She plays the role of the lively Lu Shi Qi who has a crush on the aloof, holy Qin Qian Xian (Li Zi Feng) tending too much towards the archetype frolic Chinese girl, but I forgive her because she’s a funny sidekick.
Bai Lu shines as the kick ass heroine with all her moods and flaws. Never did she outplay her co actor Xu Kai. He skillfully navigates between the shyness and anger of his character Mo Qing/Li Chen Lan who sees Zhao Yao as the anchor and moral compass of his life.
I also liked the music and the scenery of hidden places like the snowy mountain, and the Feng Shui hideout of the main couple.

The Bad
I wonder how great Chinese drama truly can be, this series in particular, if the makers could change their style of writing and editing. Can somebody please explain what is wrong with the Chinese filming industry? I know there's censure, but the novels are okay, why don't they use the original storylines for a change? Honestly, the Chinese filming industry could use the Hollywood Closure as a model. Whether the ending is good or bad, I don't care... as long as there's a sound and fulfilling ending.

The Verdict
Sorry for my rant, but my frustration runs deep. In short: the end of this series isn’t as good as its beginning. Nevertheless I strongly recommend The Legends. This series has many interesting characters, an interesting Yin &Yang theory about the concept of Good & Evil, and heart fluttering moments. Enjoy!

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THE CHEMISTRY IS OUT OF THIS WORLD

Ok so a lot of people have talked about Xu Kai and Bai Lu's chemistry and I'm just gonna carry in on because DANG. Like seriously their acting doesn't even seem like acting when they're all loved up by each other. Sometimes it makes me smile too much my teeth get cavities, but oh well it's worth it lol, as it's now one of my all-time favs.
Story: 8.5/10
I loved the beginning of the drama but it kinda took a downfall near the end. I get it's because a lot of people requested that the drama be lengthened but it didn't need to go from a 30-ish episode drama to 56 dang episodes with a lot of fillers. They also showed the antagonists more than the protagonists (which is why my finger was constantly on the fast forward button). I also didn't like how confusing the ending was like it was so out of order. And the scene with the kids wasn't really necessary-or if it had to be in there the roles could've at least been swapped (daughter is like Mo Qing and son is like Zhao Yao). I did like all their character developments though.
Acting: 10/10
Like I said before: THE CHEMISTRY IS JUST SO AMAZING IDK HOW TO FULLY DESCRIBE IT IN WORDS. The way Xu Kai and Bai Lu look at each other and the way they interact just makes me want to scream. I especially love Bai Lu's character, Zhao Yao. She is such a bada** QUEEN that doesn't actually need a man to save her. Xu Kai's character could've been a little better as he was a cold and distant sect leader that's only soft spot was Zhao Yao, like maybe a little better characterization and I'm sure Xu Kai would've aced it too. I also loved how well Xiao Yan could portray both a bold and fearless Zhao Yao and a cowardly and pushover Qin Zhi Yan so effortlessly. The other actors also portrayed their characters extremely well and I was easily convinced that that was who they were on screen and off.
Music: 6.5/10
I don't feel like I really need to explain this. I just didn't really like their OST that much but that's just my personal taste.
Rewatch Value: 9.0/10
I'd mainly rewatch it for the chemistry of the main leads (as I am now a loyal shipper of YaoLan). I would probably watch the beginning and middle but kinda skip some things in the end.
Overall Rating: 9.0/10
As I've said, the chemistry. Despite the terrible editing, OST, some audio errors, fillers, and confusing ending, I still found it enjoyable to watch. I liked the idea of the "good" side actually being bad and the "bad" side actually being good, it was a very nice flip. So if you like a bada** female lead, fun characters, and the main couple having more chemistry than the periodic table, then I would definitely recommend watching this.

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longing and strife

I started the legends for bai lu and I honestly was expecting it to be pretty good cause the synopsis + bai lu!! but wow it was INCREDIBLE like everything in the drama was sooooo well done the outfits the fight scenes the dialogues the parallels the way the plot moved along for the most part. I personally didn’t really know much about xu kai and didn’t expect anything from him but he was AMAZING like wow his acting was SO good definitely will tune in for his other works cause the way he acted in this is just beyond words good. The chemistry of the leads was sooooo good and the longing portrayed by wu kai could be felt so well they managed to get friends to enemies to lovers on bai lu’s character but for him he always loved her and it was sooooo cute omg I adored it he really loved her soooo much like omg i’m in tears. I loved all the characters even the evil ones kudos to all that acted in this drama cause everyone did their job perfectly in my opinion!!!! tho it did drag slightly for me towards the very last half of the drama it wasn’t that bad and getting past that is definitely worth it!!! wish we saw more of them in the future but i’m happy with the ending too :) honestly definitely is going into my face wuxia watched list and tho it’s low on rewatch value for me just cause i feel like u just cant reexperince all the scenes again i definitely will rewatch it sometime!

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Good until it's not

I've got to say I've skipped the majority of the show because of pointless storylines that I could not bring myself to watch.
I also watched this drama for the main lead. Both of them did a great job and the chemistry was really good.
I know this drama was made in 2019 but some of the VFX are awful.
I had to put an overall 6.5 rating for this show since up until episode 40 the story is actually really interesting. I've found myself actually enjoying the two FML and laugh quite a lot. But after those episodes, the show just descend. The 4 last episodes are also so confusing and badly edited. I'm still very confused.
I would say that if you want to still watch the show, go for it. Maybe prepare yourself first on skipping some part and the last part of the show.

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I really loved Bai Lu's acting in this movie... in the beginning she was sooo #BOSS as zhaoyao. I was disappointed that later on she was so dependent on mo qing....I really felt like they should have made her more able to stand on her own after she supposedly regained her powers.

The drama suffered toward the end with transitions and weird jumps....the editing and transitions at the end were somewhat confusing but nowhere as bad as in The Journey of Flower which is also a good watch.

The ending with their children should have been played by other actors it was just confusing, but overall the storyline was good.

The whole transcending into a butterfly thing still left me conflicted...I mean he became a BUG lol... whatever!

This does technically have a happy ending, which is the most important thing for me when I watch cdramas...or I end up depressed for days.

Anyways, a good watch especially if you love staring at Xu Kai ????

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this drama is fantastic.....im watching it for the second time still cant get over cute moqing and zhao yao. the editting is bad and ep 52 is a bit confusing. you need to watch it twice to understand it......but stillll.......the story is so good......the MC will keep you hooked up. i am satisfied that its a happy ending.despite the bad editing they will be my fav couple and it will be my fav drama of 2019
the first 3 episode are bit slow but then it will keep you hooked up.............and then as the story unfolds and the chemistry that builds up between the two leads is just awesome.
there are only a few osts........but the ost with a piano beginning is so good. the song is about zhao yao's struggles and her life.
here are some sweet lines between zhao yao and mo qing
1.
ZY: little ugly monster are you even jealous of little seventeen
MQ: i just want to hide you away
2.
ZY: lets chase luo ming xuan. i dint climb out of an abyss to come and play
MQ:if you want to fight i will be your sword. if u want to retreat i will be your shield
3.
ZY:shifu why did u help me when u knew the truth
MQ:when my heart is my lead...i cannot control it

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Great start but eh…

It took me a few tries to really get into this since it didn’t seem to be anything new.. the beginning was weird.. it went really fast but slow. It surprisingly was pretty good the first half. Some of xu Kai’s earlier work obviously can’t compare to recent ones.

The plot felt familiar but was diff at the same time if that makes sense. I finished the first half fairly quick but the second part seemed so slow. The strong character that was shown in the beginning somehow did a good 180.. it was also during the time where she realized she was in love. I dunno that bothered me a lot cause due to love she became subdued?? Eventually towards the very end she did manage to get back her spark.

There were also a lot of plot holes and inconsistency in both main and side plots.
What made it even more confusing are the three diff versions… one showed all scenes, one cut out a lot then other I just have no clue…


But yeah if you have some extra time I would least watch first half then read recaps on second. Although the recaps might be confusing due to the three diff edits.

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I tried very hard to like this drama.

I read the reviews. I liked the actors. Love Xu Kai, and I can take Bai Lu (just watched her in Song of Youth). Their chemistry was really good, and their interactions with the other actors was pretty good too. Good cast, solid performances overall. But some of the characters were REALLY annoying and I fast-forwarded through their scenes a lot, as well as in the middle when the same plotline was repeated over and over again. Irritating every time.

Fav. characters: Li Chen Lan, Sima Rong, Qin Qian Xian, Gu Han Guang, Liu Cang Ling, Shen Qian Jin, Jiang Wu (the character I loved to hate).
Most irritating characters: Lu Shi Qi (she wins the prize), Yue Zhu (the wooden girl), Qin Zhi Yan, Lin Zi Yu (the character I hated the most).

I stuck with the entire drama because I really wanted to see how it ended - and like everybody else who has reviewed this series, the ending was disappointing in its execution. When your viewers stick with you, the least you can do is offer them an ending that is not rushed or chopped up. Also, I get that everybody can't have a happy ending, but this one was really lousy with making all the couples unhappy and alone (or dead).

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Good in the beginning, but story getting weaker toward the end.

It started with a very interesting story and characters. I love the chemistry between zhaoyao and moqing. Their acting are really good. After half of the movies, it feels likr they purposely make it longer. Instead of 55/56episodes, I think it will be better if the make it 30 episodes. Especially ep 50 till end, to many sudden changes in scene that makes me confuse and to many recap from previous scene. The ending also to hanging, after all mq and zy experience, theg deserve clear happy ending. To many death in the end. Hanguang and qin qianxian was unnesessary death. The last scene where they show two of mq / zy kids was unreal since they use the same charcters and same clothes from the earlier episode. It is hard to imagine them as siblings.

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