So iQiyi decided to roll one well received C-drama Story of Kunning Palace into another anticipated drama A Journey to Love and has now hit the double jacket. I just finished Wonderland of Love and was planning to finally start Kunning Palace but decided to sneak a peek at A Journey to Love and now I’m a goner. This drama is custom tailored crack meant for my wuxia loving heart. The leads are perfect in their roles and great together, so entertaining and interesting to watch onscreen. Liu Shi Shi plays the assassin’s assassin, this isn’t a job but who she just IS, while Liu Yu Ning is the wuxia warrior/spy zaddy who can assassin just as easily. If he’s Godzilla then she’s Mecha-Godzilla and I love that she’s the emotionally neutered weirdo and he’s the oddball but comparatively normal one. They get smooshed together on a suicides mission to rescue his Kingdom’s emperor from her his Kingdom’s emperor’s clutches, and along the way they are accompanied by a motley crew of misfits, goofballs, and sweethearts and nearly all with kill switches.
I love how Liu Yu Ning assembles his crew the Avengers and swaggers off to take names and kick ass, the warrior dudes are all super fun to watch. There are no secrets between the leads as he knows right off the bat she’s no simpering miss and she quickly dispenses of the pretense since he’s no fool. She also hilariously decides that she needs to have a kid for posterity sake and since he’s tall/smart/good fighter then he’s the perfect sperm donor. No, I’m serious, this is done so well and so unexpectedly haha. Bonus points for the reunion of Liu Shi Shi and actress Ye Qing in a cameo to start the drama harkening back to their sis-mance in Bu Bu Jing Xing and once again Ru Yi/Ruo Xi can’t save Ling Long/Yu Tan to set things in motion here. I love the story (not too twisty), the direction (sleek but not overly stylized ala My Journey to You), and all the supporting characters who are given room to showcase their personality and purpose in this story.
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I’m loving the whole thing and the characters
I was expecting to find a big bunch of very annoying flaws but so far nothing
I’m loving everything about this drama! Both leads are perfectly casted. Liu Shi Shi and Liu Yu Ning oozes so much chemistry and sexual tension in all of their scenes together. I’m glad we get so much humor in the beginning because everybody be living a happy normal life as best as they could until it gets serious later on. Never had an impression of Alen Fang before but boy does he do comedy and dramatic well.
It’s actually So GOOD. And LYN is smoldering. Lol. It’s not even how he looks (although he is styled So WELL), but how he carries himself, OMGAH. Haha. A+ casting for an actually entertaining story. Hopefully it can ride its freaking amazing start ’til the end!
Ooooh, thanks for the review. I will put this ahead of my other To-Be-Watched. It sounds really good! Hope the ending is good too.
Why I don’t have it at my iqiyi….what’s wronged
I just watched ep 1. Interesting drama! I haven’t seen this in C costume for a long while. No fillers and the pace is fast. I did not expect Liu Yu Ning can act though. Liu Shi Shi looks all badass and I love it so much. She has that Chinese classical mannerism that stands out apart from all other cultures and THAT is exactly what I’m looking for in Chinese actresses. I can’t help comparing her with Esther Yu who also played an assassin in My Journey to You but actually Esther isn’t even comparable to LSS at any level including visuals, acting, lines, and temperament. Comparing these two is as if comparing authentic traditional beef noodles to instant noodles. LOL. The younger generation of 95-90ers just lacks real Chinese beauties like some among the 85ers.
I was watching Wonderland of Love and binged 8 eps straight to ep 18 within the past 48 hours. It was a very solid drama. There were some unexpected turns and highs but lukewarm plot-wise most of the time in general even the story is logically well written and I think I’m a fan of the director now given that he also did a fantastic job directing The Untamed. I love his artistic styles of laying out the plot details methodically without many plot holes and how he transitioned scenes from camera to camera. I also love his obvious strength of building characters’ relationships and make them relatable to audience. I saw this same directing style in The Untamed too and I love how it’s done the same way in Wonderland of Love. But I may want to switch to AJtL for now while slowly following Wonderland of Love when there’s extra time spared because the former is just more exciting to watch.
I highly disagree. Esther’s personality and characterization in MJTY wasn’t like LSS’s here. LSS actually has the script enabling her to fight and kill others like an assassin. Esther’s role was basically all fluff, and there were barely any fighting scenes where you’ve seen her killing others for safety. This boils down to a characterization issue, not an acting one.
I have to admit I did not follow MJTY till the end. I dropped it after a few eps. My comment was based upon those few eps alone, admittedly. Esther did look pretty lame in those eps though and that’s part of the reasons I also lost interest in following MJTY.
Me too, I was going to watch 1 ep, but now I’m hooked. Love it so far.
Loving the drama and the Liu Liu pairing so far as well. LSS dancing and fighting (I’m reminded of Won Bin’s knife fight in the Man From Nowhere) was done well. And of course, LSS coming on to LYN like a bullet. I find myself lol’ed at random things, like certain expressions or lines. Even when they look serious.
I like that the drama takes off right away and I’m just running with it. Hoping the drama continues to be engaging and fun to watch.
I do think LSS looks skinnier in here because from her profile, her cheeks look slimmer. But it could just be me. Last saw her in Love Lost in Time.
Ooh I just finished obsessing over Kunning Palace and now there’s another one?! I should wait until it’s over before I torture myself too much waiting for new episodes again
Man I am so bummed iqiyi hasn’t released this in my region.
Its not available in IQIYI Indonesia either, I watch this on VIU.
Finally a well-written costume drama (so far) with leads that can actually ACT. And Liu Shi Shi is such a gorgeous and talented queen.
Love Liu ShiShi, to be she is like a the Goddess at period dramas. Her beauty is comfortable, her inate grace from her ballet background, her non over acting style and prose. I am just so glad she is back on screen…. I can rewatch some of her fighting scenes from her past dramas over and over again. As it is just executed so gracefully and beautifully.
I am not a huge fan of any particular artiste… I would say I am a huge fan of entertaining dramas. Dramas that entertain me. Regardless of which artistes it is.
But there are afew artiste I particularly like, and I support most of all their dramas. Liu Shishi, Zhang Zifeng, Ni Ni, Tan Song Yun, Peng Xiao Ran, Betty Sun, Yangzi, Hu Ge, Deng Chao, Leo Luo, Zhang Xicheng, Bai Yu, Chen Xiao, Pang Yu Cheng. Watching these artiste makes me enjoy the dramas, Regardless how bad a script, casting or directing, these artistes always deliveries for me.
Are they Liuliang or not, that does not bother me. I am here to watch them executing their art work. It is like watching a dancer dance, artist draw, singers sing etc… These artiste have the gift to bring characters to life.
I just finished Only for Love today… I am just shock by how lack of plot this drama is. It is like a 18yr old writing this script. Focusing on this romance going back and fro, fake meetings and even odd sequceing of actions makes me laugh. Female lead change her taxis ride from going home to visiting male lead’s house. In that moment, male lead went home from office, cooked so many dishes and waiting for her. All in the ride she made to his house in the same town.
Low budget production, there are just after reused location sets. But it still entertaining as Bai Lu really entertained me. Dylan is just flat…acting is flat with bad diction. I bet he has to practise different forms of frowning thruout this production. Butt he is good looking. I did not drop this show…just FF lots.
I’m kind of similar. I’ll watch whatever skrikes my fancy regardless of who is in them. Even the actors I may like, I haven’t watch all their dramas. Also some of these award winning or very well received dramas, I have not watch either.
That reminds me, I still have to finish Love Like the galaxy.
Lol… I did FF Love like Galaxy.
I’m not liking it, is it just me? 🙂
Not feeling motivated, not feeling the chemistry. Dropping it after ep5.
Everyone is different. Some like, some dont. No right or wrong. Dramas are personal preference. Some people love Opera, some hates it. So glad we are all different.
Not just you. Dropped it too. I don’t like the ML and if they had switched second and first, now that would be amazing but they didn’t so I turned it off. It doesn’t matter, we will find something else!
Alen Fang is so good looking. I wish they would give him some good production dramas where he is the main ml. He’s usually in crappy low production dramas when he’s th3 ml. Such a waste of this beautiful man.
Agreed. Shocking to find he’s a comedian in this drama. LOL. He acted accordingly and properly, very fun to watch. I do think he’s got ML visuals, physique, and acting chops. So confounding an obviously gifted actor like him (and I believe there’re many others) could never ever land a leading role for a decent project while the majority of MLs in the current Cdrama market are crap and laughingstock on screen, either with weak physiques, short stature, or bland visuals, and unhelpful acting & shitty lines. LOL. It’s legit to guess family background, nepotism, and industry (political) connections dominate casting decisions.
Yup! Nepotism and industry (or political) connections seem to dominate casting decisions. Alen Fang got everything to be a ML and he wasn’t while 90% of the MLs in the current C drama market are crap.
I agreed that’s he’s good looking and has ML visuals. He does comedy well here and is very funny.
When he jumped out and said to LYN “Your mind is not where your body is” and smirked, I loled.
I did had to googled where I have seen him before and it was the Long Ballad. I noticed how handsome he was in there but that’s it as LYN shined more for me. I didn’t finish the drama though.
Came back to rave about AJtL and Liu Shi Shi, so addictive to watch. I binged 5 eps yesterday. There’re no boring moments. Will see if they can keep the same momentum until the end. Sometimes a C drama had an interesting start but went flat midway. There were very few that I did not skip scenes or fast forward throughout the whole series. Consistency is one of the major issues of C drama.
Enough praises for LSS. As a ML, Liu Yu Ning doesn’t have outstanding visuals but his acting is natural and relaxing with a sense of humor timely delivered for comedic relief. He’s tall, totally fits a hero’s statue that C costume dramas describe ALL THE TIME (albeit in reality 90% of Cdrama MLs are obviously disqualified for tall stature. If your MLs are too short, just don’t assume and say out loud in the drama he’s the most handsome creature in the whole world LMAO). The whole cast is good so far. Even the bad guys with just very short stints in the first few eps delivered very convincing performances. I’m in particular fond of the young actresses playing the role of little princess. She already demonstrated nuance in her acting as a supporting role within just a few eps. I’m also impressed by Alen Fang. Alen ‘s character in this drama is entirely opposite to his character in The Longest Promise. But he handled both characters with ease. I’d like to see him as a ML in more projects to come.
This new drama may be the only C costume drama since Love Like the Galaxy that I’m motivated to follow without FF so far. I said this excluding any Xiao Zhan’s dramas including The Longest Promise. I won’t skip any single scene of XZ’s dramas just to see how well he did regardless of what others feel and say about his works.
Why Koala blocked my comments cos politics were mentioned? LOL
Not on iqiyi in US. Some episodes on YouTube
such a blast of happiness to see this movie …after so many months of flat-rated drama.
waiting for every episode… love how the leading actress attempts to lure the leading actor into having kid with her …witty and funny…
Why I don’t have it at my iqiyi….what’s wronged
Not as wrapped as everyone about it: the over use of loud BGM, the forced comedic BGM to trigger the laugh while what is said on the screen and the acting felt flat and miss timing. The leads don’t seem to have synergy off each other. I would say 2 people acting next to each other. The throwing dagger/bomb dude has 1 facial expression :/ the fighting scenes are ok, where the extras doing most of the work (they flip, they summersault, they spin to make the leads look good). Also none of the fight scenes give you the deadly feeling, it likes they spin, they kick, you watch and you feel meh. The excitement of the fight scenes are just not there. So while the drama has quite a few fight scenes, none are memorable, or mesmerising.
The storyline… rather slow… and just making the bad guys so dumb. How did they not notice 1 of their guards was missing when they came to the HQ in ep1 with less than 10 guards???? And how did the news of 5-6 guards die did not make it to the people inside the banquet right next the garden??? Like seriously??? The holes are gigantic. Also let us laugh at the coincidences: top assassin/spy did not learn to throw her pill cap into the fire? While coincidentally the dagger servant dude came pass them talking about it??? *face palm.
If what you’re critical of this drama were all credible, then 99.9% of all other C costume dramas should be flushed down the toilet, not even worth seeing the light. LMAO
The only thing I sorta agree was loud BGM. This is another proof of lazy and uncoordinated production post shooting in C-ent.
Loving this drama so much said I was going to watch one episode and got hooked. I be waiting for the next episodes like crazy. I usually wait to the drama is fully out to watch but it’s so good I can’t wait lol.
It would be nice if is available either Netflix or Viki
Absolutely love the 2 leads.
Watched this because I’m a LSS fan but omg the male lead ❤️.
Storyline is not the typical and quite unique. Can’t wait till all the episodes are out. I’ve binged the last 12 episodes in 2 days.
I am delighted with this drama because of how comical it is and because of the interaction between them. So far I am more than fascinated. It was only fair that the Cdrama changed their dynamic. although it is a period drama and has a bit of fantasy. The female lead has character and knows what she wants. A+
FANTASTIC DRAMA..ALL ACTORS ARE AMAZING