Production:
The CGI, along with the set design, looked standard and there was nothing impressive about them nor were they unsatisfactory.

In here, costume design plays a device to establish who the real main characters are: Miao Miao and Mu Sheng are the leads but have supporting roles inside the series’ novel/game, in which the entire plot is based on.

Miao Miao’s colorful and intricate wardrobe and makeup underlined her bright character, while Mu Sheng’s wardrobe and hair, made him stand out as the pretty male hero and protagonist—these set them apart from the secondary and supporting roles, who had a pretty bland color and wardrobe in contrast.

Storytelling:
The storytelling is not linear, but the transition and pacing still feel natural.

The story is engaging but the plot feels weak.

The writing is not perfect, but I admire the effort to weave together the plot and the different character arcs and connections—this is very tricky because without the consistency, the narrative will be overwhelmingly convoluted.

However, this type of plot leads to non-categorical interpretations, but personally, it’s a not an issue since this is a fantasy genre, after all.

Despite this, the message is still pretty straightforward, especially in the first and last episode.

There was also an effort to tie loose ends, and ending does not feel rushed.

The characters are relatable and likeable as well, especially the female lead—this is actually the first time I find a female lead with a “bubbly” and “cute” personality pleasant.

Miao Miao’s character is bright, funny, and cute—typical traits of a female lead—but she was not devoid of thinking, understanding, and the ability of making choices. Personally, it’s has always been a miss for female leads of the same character type, but the writing made a good balance of charm and strength in her.

Mu Sheng, on the other hand, is extremely relatable as well, especially on his journey to learn about what it means to love.

Acting/cast:
Ding Yuxi became my first favorite Chinese actor and is now one of my favorite actors of all time.

He is a natural in using micro expressions and body language when portraying a character, and his eyes speak so loudly that the message has already been sent across even before he delivers his lines. He is also adept in making use of nuances.

This is my third Ding Yuxi series and I think that grumpy, tsundere roles suit him perfectly.

I personally think he is also made for costume dramas—beautiful face and right build (from scrawny Zhou Chuan in Moonlight).

Esther Yu makes a perfect Miao Miao. She was definitely made for the role.

The characters, including the secondary leads and supporting roles, are easy to love and they have good chemistry in general.

Music:
The OSTs are good, with soundtracks done by Ding Yuxi and Esther Yu themselves. The lyrics are very fitting for the both the plot and the genre.

Even with a fairly limited music in the series, the team made a good use of them to enhance the mood of the scenes.

Overall:
The series received polarizing reviews, and understandably so—while the story could appear straightforward to some, different interpretations are inevitable, particularly on the last episode and ending.

While the series offered nothing special, it is still a decent and worthy watch, especially if you are looking for a good binge.