Fox Spirit Matchmaker: Zhu Ye Pian (2025)

Tale as Old as Time

Even from the first episode, I knew I like it. It's not because I like Liu Shi Shi enough that I would watch all her dramas. The story captured me from the beginning because:
1) It reminds me of Jin Yong stories with new Xianxia twists.
2) The side characters (ie. the sisters of the leads) provide comic relief and interesting side stories.
3) The main leads have chemisstry.
4) All the actors can act. There's no one standing out as annoying. The bad guys are really evil.
5) The conflict is clear and makes sense.
6) You don't have to watch the previous drama (Red Moon) with Yang Mi to understand this drama (so thankful because I dropped the other drama after 2 episodes when it came out).

The Negatives
1) The story is a little bit convoluted in the beginning because of all the extra "famous" characters. Too many people died. But that's the theme: humans and demons will fight until there evil is eradicated.
2) Some basic plot is predictable because it's how old stories are told 30 years ago (look at The Heaven Sword and Dragon Saber, etc).
3) Liu Shi Shi seems to be directed to act with a poker face. Is this her inherent character based on the story? I don't know. Waiting for the development.
4) Up to ep 12, there continues to be TOO MANY side characters. There are only 36 episodes. If everyone of the side characters have such long side stories, I don't know if the story can hold together because the main leads are not shown enough. So far, I am disappointed in this because I want to see more of the leads.

Why you might be disappointed:
1) People who watch this drama for all the so called "famous" idols will be disappointed because they are there as cameos to gain new fans. The true famous star of this drama is Liu Shi Shi. If you don't know her, do some research and watch some of her famous dramas (Scarlet Heart 1). They are so good! She's a versatile actress: 37 years old returning to acting after marriage and baby but still takes Main Lead roles of popular dramas. That's not an accident.
2) People who deem LSS is not a good actress because of her blank eyes. I think the director/story called for this expression. Look at Yang Mi in Red Moon. She had no expression in her eyes too. And believe me, YM can emote with her eyes. So I think the director asked for this.
3) People who don't want to see their favorites die off. Well, I think the story/theme calls for it.


I can't wait to see more development in this story and the Sword and Beloved. These stories remind me of those old Jin Yong's stories with new Xianxia twists.

Finished. Although I don't agree with some of the storylines, I will give this drama full marks. I think both ML and FL did an amazing job, especially at the end. I don't think there is a better ML for the role. He is the best person for the role of Wangquan Hong Ye. Very convincing at the end. He reminds of the Yang Guo in the The Return of the Condor Heroes, with gray hair. He walks through the doors to rescue her, bigger than life. And she was wearing white dress. They only look at each other, ignoring everyone else, just like Yang Guo at the end.

C drama is never perfect. But I think this was entertaining and has very good acting. And even though the ending is difficult to accept, I am ok with it because it makes sense.

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