A new bar for xianxia genre

Never have I ever written a review for a drama despite having watched 1000+ dramas/movies in my life.
So here are the 5 things I love about this show:

1. No draggy plot, no silly misunderstanding, a handful of supportive characters. No irritating conventional tropes. Fresh stories in the mortal realm. Of course there is still room for improvement, but in general, the plot is logical and coherent. You don't have to ask yourself frequently why the characters behave in a certain way or why a particular event occurs. I also love the writer's formula to match the leads and the second leads. It would have been less fun or more destructive if they had been paired up the other way around. And that is how relationships in real life usually are.

2. The acting of the leads is top-notch. I cannot imagine anyone who can play these roles better than Chen Xingxu and Li Landy. I have watched two previous famous dramas of Chen Xingxu (Goodbye my princess and Fall in love). He was already outstanding in those dramas, yet he even brought his A-game here. He delivers skillfully nuances and perfection in many scenes that I cannot delve into here to avoid giving spoilers. In short, he succeeds in nailing another challenging role. Also, this is the first show of Li Landy that I've watched, and she does a good job bringing out the depth of her character. Besides, her acting is very natural, and her crying scenes are probably the best among all the Chinese actresses I have watched. The remaining cast's acting is solid and spot on too, especially the second leads, despite their little acting experiences. Moreover, the show is overflowing with the cast's strong chemistry and synergy.

3. Great character development. If for some reasons you find the female lead childish in the first episode, give her a bit more time, and normally, you should change your mind around ep 6, 7, although Li Landy has already done an excellent job handling this kind of character from the very beginning. Similarly, if somehow you find the male lead quite plain in the first few episodes, don't stop because he will eventually become the best ML in the xianxia genre. He is simply a breadth of fresh air who can strike a terrific balance between duty and love, between being ordinary and exceptional, between being innocent and cunning. If you still disagree with these after finishing the drama, come and discuss with me ;)

4. The soundtracks are beautiful and addictive. They elevate so many scenes.

5. So many hilarious scenes, which is rare in this genre. Moreover, these scenes were properly performed and not overdone. This is a big plus as this is the type of show that you can enjoy with your partner (if he/she is into fantasy and comedy). Hence, the re-watch value is very high.

In summary, I thought no drama could exceed Eternal love or Ashes of love, but The starry love has set a new bar in my heart for the xianxia genre. Thank you the production team and the cast for delivering a magnificent show. I will cherish this show for a long long time.

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