It is, as expected, great!
Taking my time to savor "I Lost You Forever" proved to be a well-judged decision. While I anticipated enjoying it, the strategic delay heightened my appreciation, leading me to want to share my thoughts now.This drama unfolds like a tapestry. This isn't a result of veering off course or losing direction but rather due to the fluid changes in scenarios and the intermittent introduction and departure of characters outside the main quartet. This dynamic approach, while invigorating, makes the story feel longer than it is, which, fundamentally, isn't a negative aspect.
Undoubtedly, the standout feature of this drama is its characters. The majority of them radiate an exceptional sense of authenticity. Each character possesses an irresistible charm coupled with unforgiving flaws, navigating actions that alternately endear and exasperate, reflecting not poor writing but a genuine depiction of human complexities.
Despite the political storyline's crucial role in the final episodes, the narrative retains its character-driven essence, so I feel it is only fair to have a discussion of the four main characters.
Xiaoyao's character is a truly captivating focal point of the narrative. Initially introduced as a man and maintaining this identity for a significant duration, her complexity adds a unique layer to the story. Strikingly, she manages to be simultaneously likable and polarizing, creating a multifaceted appeal that solidified my adoration for her as a central character. Delving extensively into Yang Zi's performance almost feels unnecessary – her portrayal in this role is nothing short of phenomenal. Consistently compelling from the beginning to the end, Yang Zi brings a depth and authenticity to Xiaoyao that is undeniably convincing.
Cangxuan didn't immediately capture my favor in the initial episodes, but over time, I found myself warming up to him. His narrative intertwined with Xiaoyao adds a compelling dimension, challenging conventional expectations of the male lead. Zhang Wanyi's portrayal matches Yang Zi's excellence, contributing significantly to the seamless execution of their interconnected stories.
On the flip side, Tushan Jing emerges as the narrative's Achilles’s heel, showcasing vulnerabilities both in writing and acting. Initially established as a fair enough character, he falters significantly as the story unfolds. His indecisiveness and weakness, despite hailing from one of Dahuang's most influential families, present a stark contrast to the greatness attributed to him. While the hardships he faced in the past are acknowledged, they fail to fully explain the extent of his character shift.
Deng Wei's portrayal of Tushan Jing, though not abysmal, falls noticeably short compared to the other three. His limited range of facial expressions and lack of nuance became wearisome after about 25 episodes. As the main love interest, his on-screen chemistry with Yang Zi lacks conviction, making their romantic moments feel unconvincing.
Lastly, Xiang Liu. It's an understatement to label him merely as my favorite. Tan Jianci consistently exceeds expectations, proving to be the unparalleled choice for bringing Xiang Liu to life. This character, with its profound complexity and layers, posed a substantial challenge, one that Tan Jianci masterfully conquered. His expressions transcend the ordinary, evoking palpable emotions that leave me both connected and perplexed by the intricacies of his character.
Xiang Liu's love for Xiaoyao is evident, yet his actions defy predictability. He's capable of extraordinary feats for her, yet equally inclined towards unexpected choices. Will he go to extremes to protect her, or might he lead her into unforeseen challenges? The uncertainty surrounding his character adds a magnetic allure, keeping me on the edge of anticipation.
Eagerly anticipating the second part of this compelling story, I can only hope it maintains its current breathtaking quality. While aware that it will not unfold as I wish (I can feel it), the prospect of the unknown journey ahead is both intriguing and exciting.
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Unique story. Mature themed. Slow paced. Stunning performances.
Lost You Forever season 1 tells the story of the FL who believes she has been abandoned by her family. She lives in a small town as a man and heals people with her medicine while hiding her real identity. Her peaceful life is turned upside down as she meets three men. The first man, she rescues and helps him heal his injuries that have been inflicted after years of torture. The second man she accidentally meets, he blackmails her into giving him medicine otherwise he threatens to kill her. The third one, is her long lost cousin that's been searching for her for a very long time. The first 16 episodes introduce all the characters, the world and the backstories. Afterwards the FL decides to reveal her identity and join her cousin in claiming the King's throne.POSITIVE:
- The cinematography is top-notch.
- All the fantasy places are stunning, the costumes are beautiful, the CGI animals look very real.
- Magical fight scenes look impressive.
- Acting is fantastic from all the actors.
- All characters felt real and three dimensional.
- Realistic make-up and bruises. We have characters that are shown to be tortured and their look is very, very realistic.
- Unique story with a realistic and mature feel to it.
NEGATIVE:
- Only one negative but it's quite a big one for me. The pacing is very, very slow for my taste. The drama likes to show a lot of details in each scene, characters talking slowly so something simple like a dinner can be a very, very long scene, a lot of slow motion scenes etc which makes the drama feel draggy and boring at times.
CHARACTERS (MINOR SPOILERS):
The story has a reverse-harem trope so you have one FL and four male love interests. Her relationship with each of the four males is very different. Having said that, the drama clearly shows that FL only likes romantically two guys and early on decides to choose only one of them.
- FL is Xiao Yao, without revealing her identity, I'll only say that abandonment and loneliness are the main themes that the FL is struggling with from the start till the end of season 1.
- ML 1 is Cang Xuan, FL's cousin (not blood related). He is a prince and his story is the centrepiece of the dramas as he fights his way to become a King. He is ruthless, calculating and secretly in love with the FL.
- ML 2 is Tushan Jing, FL's chosen lover. He comes from one of the richest clans and has big obligations to his father. He is soft-hearted, kind, artistic and devotedly in love with the FL.
- ML 3 is Xiang Liu, FL's enemy. He is a general and loyal to the man who's saved his life... who also happens to be FL's enemy. At first he is very cruel and abusive to FL but later becomes her silent protector, secretly loving her.
- ML4 is Chishui Feng Long, He is Cang Xuan's closest friend and helper. He comes in later in the story. He likes the FL (mostly because of her status but doesn't love her).
OVERALL:
The first 16 episodes were very slow for me as they introduced all the characters and world. Afterwards I definitely became more invested in the story and some episodes were good others just ok. Last 10 episodes were definitely the best and the season wrapped up very well with no annoying cliffhangers. I'm definitely looking forward to season 2 and seeing how the story will unfold.
If you want a unique, mature, slow paced story with multiple love interests, great acting and beautiful visuals - this drama is for you.
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Nothing to enjoy
After reading some comments here, I decided to watch this drama, and also because Yang Zi that I loved in several other dramas. Some comments said that maybe you had to pass some episodes before enjoying this drama. But as I saw more episode it was still boring. Just for starts, the 1st episode could have been told in 10 minutes, but they keep on showing the same situation to make sure we understand they will miss each other ! The the following episodes introduce new people, but dialogs and situations are so dull that all the magic they put cannot even make interesting any of the characters . The male leads have no expressions, it seems they are just told to put a nice or sad face and say the lines .... Anyway I found it boring all the way and I had to speed many episodes to get to the end. Sorry bu I cannot agree with the majority.Vond je deze recentie nuttig?
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Confused storyline on the dominant female role
Though the series starts very well with Xiayao being a strong female lead and acting like a male …things get messed up the moment she changes to female after meeting the queen mother. And the role of male hero also loses value.If she is a strong female with the way she talks to king on the fact that she’d can’t be dependent on any males….then why should she try to put lipstick make up and satisfy guys?
Why she wants to be a female charm when she thinks like a man or the key player of the future king…
Atleast the hero sacrifices everything for the love of his sister but the female heroine role is confused…more like double standards unsure on who they are satisfying …
dominant male role - she is not an ideal heroine
Charming female role - not sure what’s her specialty other than making poisons and using her title Princess of Haoling …
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Something else I like about this drama is the music -- not only the theme songs but also the instrumental BGM. Especially the instrumentals, actually. It contributed quite a bit to my enjoyment of this show.
However, having said that, I don't find the acting of most of the actors in this drama to be spectacular. Yang Zi was alright, but other than Zhang Wan Yi, I found the acting of the other male leads to be kind of lacklustre. Deng Wei's acting is quite dull and wooden (I know his character is supposed to be kind of a pushover, but a more skilled actor would still be able to bring more life into such a character). And Tan Jianci, though he is fine most of the time, there are some scenes where he overacted so much it actually made me cringe. (Don't get me wrong -- I have nothing against either Deng Wei or Tan Jianci, and in fact I think they're both gorgeous to look at. This is just my honest opinion about their acting in this show.)
Another problem I had with this drama was the plot, which I found hard to feel engaged in. Sometimes it feels almost as if there's no actual plot? The beginning was fine, and the last few episodes were also not bad. But the middle part bored me so much that I kept stopping and taking breaks away from it. Probably the only reason I didn't end up dropping this drama was because I'm not the kind of person who easily drops dramas that I've watched more than 5 episodes of, unless I really hate a show. All in all, I'm still glad I finished watching this drama -- but I wouldn't re-watch it (at least not this 1st Season).
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Who lost love forever?
I grow to like it after episode one.There are 4 love rivals for FL, among the 5 characters, who will be losing love forever? No characters is perfect , that is how human are.
We have female lead who had lost her loved ones, been abandoned (thought she was abandoned); Male leads who are abused or tortured, another has mission to accomplish, hidden agenda. Selfishness, low esteem, insecurity, not trusting, the male leads and the female lead, eventually they could possibly losing someone they love or cherish.
That is what makes me hooked to this story, can't hate any main character. It stirs my emotion, thought. Superb , expressive acting. It has its depth. One of my favorite line (from her father) : hurt is done under name of "love"
I would prefer gentle and warm one like Seventeen., he has his own issueor weakness as well. While another was abused when young and can be abusive, but grow to love, in a wrong way, not expressive and perhaps could be one that makes me torn apart, Isn't that one of the ways , we could be losing someone we like/love?
If you are asking for a show full with action and fighting, fast moving, this may not be one; if you are about romance, you may like it, not super fast, but each episode has something to deliver. (it is not steamy hot, instant noodle kind of romance; but it still has some moments that warm your heart and put a smile with taste of sweetness. It may take time to see how things developed , why the characters could have such behaviours.)
Overall I am liking it, how the story progress, hopefully it will not rush to end or ending badly done. (quite a number of time, I was disappointed by the badly done ending or editing).
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A Xianxia definitely worth your time
I am pleasantly surprised with the story and how character driven it is.First, I am used to Xianxia story having superpower and saving the world. Here in this story, our FL doesn't care about the world. She only seek for peace and love. Every characters are layers, have weakness and strength, clear motivations and desires. At first I was a little skeptical about the multiple suitors. But I am glad each suitors is a person themselves. They are not created to be mere tools or caricature to chase the FL and make our FL looks popular. They are WHOLE beings - who love the FL but also have their own thing. That is why this story has been so engaging. It's not gimmick. There is no misunderstanding tropes. Every action has clear consequences.
I never felt the episode is long. I am never in rush to see what next. Every interaction happens very organically. Every reaction is understandable. The story is pushed forward by the choices each character make - whether you like it or not, you understand WHY. It set in a fantasy, and each character is some kind of bigger than life being. But their struggle, emotions, pains are so all relatable. A very good sign of good story telling.
Costume, sets, music, make up, cinematography, coloring - everything is done with a lot of sense and love. The town in the first arc Qingshui Town, was built from scratch. The actors stayed to film an extra month to make sure they are satisfied with the story. Each actors and actress are doing so well in their character, elevating all the emotions to the next level. All except one (Shiqi) dubbed their own voice. Overall, it's a drama with a cohesive story and you can feel it was made with love and sensibility.
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Finding light after a long dark
The world of Dahuang can be a cruel and harsh place, as royal cousins Xiaoyao and Cang Xuan learn bitterly at a young age. Orphaned, lost, and tortured for many years, XY eventually hides herself in the small Qingshui Town working as the town healer of sorts. Also orphaned and forced to live as a hostage in a foreign kingdom, CX spends his early life fending off his murderous uncles. Fate brings him to Qingshui Town disguised as a winemaker. He and XY eventually reunite, but will they be together forever?In that fateful town, XY meets and saves the gentle Tushan Jing, who she calls Ye Shiqi. He too has his own tale of betrayal and torture at the hands of his half-brother Hou. Nearby is the enigmatic and seemingly harsh Xiang Liu, caught in his own struggle with his past and devotion to his adoptive father. These figures are forever intertwined as they are thrust onto a high-stakes adventure of fighting for a better, kinder future while at all times fighting for their own survival.
I would have liked to see season 2 first before writing this review, but at this point it may be a while before it comes out. As it stands, however, season 1 has a clear story arc focusing on XY and CX's endeavors to win the latter the Xiyan throne, so as a standalone season, it mostly works. There are a lot of other characters and themes that will need S2 to round out their arcs fully, particularly for TSJ, who ends S1 in a bit of a miserable state. I hope to write more about TSJ after S2, as he is one of my favorites. His kindness and genuine love for XY are a bright light in this often dark tale of very complex people trying to make the best of an unkind world.
The cast bring the story to life, and the writing is satisfyingly solid throughout the whole drama. No useless fillers or characters in this tale. Music and production are memorable, with the rare bits here and there of questionable CGI. Bring on season 2!
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Fantastic story, awesome characters
This is a great story that I couldn’t stop watching. It even worked its way into my dreams more than once.There were not many really bad guys, and the story was more about relationships than politics- though the battle for the throne is a big part of it. There is love, heartbreak, joy, struggle- all well balanced. Even all of the love rivals are good people, though I’m in favor of the demon. Waiting for season 2 is going to be hard.
The acting was also very good, and the sets were unique. I got completely swept up in the story.
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Addictive and Beautifully Written Complex Characters
I've been postponing my dive into season one for quite some time, with plans to start it only when they release season two. However, after coming across many spoilers, which I'm thankful for, I decided to take the plunge and it was totally worth it!The first episode alone packs a punch, and the creators know what they are exactly doing. They gave us enough to pique our curiosity, got some answers, and still look forward to more. It's also the very reason why this story is addictive. Before you know it, you just find yourself pulled into it and click on the next episode.
I dare to say LYF is also one of the rare dramas where you don't skip scenes because of its refusal to serve up filler content. You won't find yourself hitting the skip button because every scene contributes something meaningful to the narrative.
But the true gems of this drama are the characters. They're refreshingly imperfect, each bearing "relatable in a strange way" flaws that add layers of complexity. Their ever-shifting shade of gray personalities makes them so utterly captivating. There is an impressive balance of strength and vulnerability, which makes it more interesting to watch. And of course, acting just completes everything perfectly. The entire cast breathes life into their characters, making them feel real and relatable. This drama defies the notion of a mere "multiple main leads" and "female lead" setup. Each character boasts a rich backstory, a distinct personality, and a specific role to play. They go beyond the romance, and the political point of view is really beautifully portrayed as well.
The OST, CGI, and cinematography are really beautiful as well. Overall, I loved the first season and looking forward to the second one because it seems like more pain is awaiting us.
link to edits: https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLxplWeBw3y5h7gYmd9Du3X0IX2TgMeFuv&si=uqmhiASVW-6EBJFO
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Reviving chinese drama for me
Finished this 2 days ago after marathoning for 5 days in between work. Overall, i was quite impressed because honestly I was in a slump with regards to watching chinese dramas recently. Started The Longest Promise, but cant seem to continue after 15episodes even though XZ is one of my favs. Finished Fireworks of my heart but it took me a month and so much willpower. Finished Legend of Anle, but also took me quite some time. So the fact that I finished this in 5 days even with working shifts in between, tells me that this is interesting and able to capture my attention. Lol.Storyline was quite fast paced, which I like. Even Legend of Anle has some part which is quite draggy. Not sure what is being done, but YZ’s portrayal as a man in early episodes is quite convincing, she appeared quite thick built and not that skinny (as compared to say, Lusi’s or Dilireba’s portrayal of man in disguise.) Though some things done with her by the male leads may appeared to be gay-ish if we are looking from man to man’s perspective lol (but honestly, which guy is that happy to suck a man’s neck time and time again with such a questionable position? Lol)
Overall, the screentime allocated to CX, TSJ and XL was so evenly spread to me that I cant even figure out who was the main male leads at first. Lol. The actors for CX and TSJ plays crying scene so well, they can basically cry in split second. Lol. I was amazed tbh. CX was a power hungry guy, but i like that he stays loyal to Xiao Yao despite everything. He and XY was completely dependent and supportive of each other even XY doesn't mind that CX is using her to establish power. I guess many people support XL and find that he’s the perfect guy for XY, but as someone who’s already at that kind of age, I guess I am not kinda into bad boy guy anymore, no matter what sacrifice he had done for her behind the scene. I mean, i get that he saves XY and sacrifice his own life for that (but if I have 9 lives, i wouldnt mind losing one so much. Lol) but he was an a$$hole to XY as well, especially when she was Wen Xiaoliu even knowing she’s a girl, so yes,thanks but no thanks.
Meanwhile, I was rooting for Tushan Jing so much all the while because despite the flaw that he is engaged to be married to someone else (through not his own arrangement at that), he stays true and loyal to XY from start to finish. The soft and tender love TSJ has for XY is such a balm to me. I like that he was so kind to everyone despite being hurt so much (but at the same time his character is not dumbed down to showcase the kindness, he was completely in the know, but still choose to show compassion). I was actually hoping for Tushan Hou to repent and appreciate such a good and kindhearted brother that he has, but well, it doesnt seem like so *sigh
I like that TSJ is so sweet in his flirting and is so supportive of XY despite XY’s bullying him in between. Lol.
CGI was quite good and the scenery was beautiful. There’s something weird here and there but well, it was a fantasy drama, so I guess some landscape/animal scene must be exaggerated. Lol. OST was quite good as well, and accompanies the scenes so well.
Overall, i cant wait for season 2 to be published. Hopefully it wont be too long. I cant understand why they cant copy Love to the Galaxy and shows part1 and part 2 back to back, instead of taking their own sweet time like this
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One of the best dramas I have ever watched
I have already rewatched this drama and plan to rewatch for 3rd time until season 2This drama for me is grouped in with my top dramas for quality of production, unique storyline, character portrayal, settings like Nirvana In Fire, Joy Of Life, LLTG etc, I have rewatched all my favourite also. That is how I can tell how great a drama is and this one seems fresh every time I rewatch it.
You will fall in love with the cast and their portrayal of their characters, everyone did a brilliant job especially the 4 leads
Yang Zi as Xiaoliu/XiaoYao the main protagonist
Zhang Wan Ye as Xuan Yuan her cousin
Deng Wei as Zigi/Tushan Jin her boyfriend
TanJian Ci as Demon XiangLiu/FanFenBai not saying what role he plays you have to watch it but he is my favourite character
I will not bore you with repeating the story here as most of it had already been said.
I will just say that many of us viewers have our favourite characters and have especially fallen for the infamous XianLiu or FanFenBei character. Is it the portrayal of his character, Is it the unconditional love he has for XianYao or is it he is just so mesmerising to look at.
Watch it and decide for yourself.
I highly recommend watching this drama and personally I anxiously awaiting season 2.
Nothing compares for me to the excellence and viewing satisfaction of this drama in 2023 so far.
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