I really really enjoy watching series and movies but there is always this prejudice about the East Asian dramas. I came across the series after I read the novel (which I loved sooo much) in which is based. And it was TOTALLY WORTH IT. It was an amazing experience and I will explain why.
STORY
I have read the book so I knew the basic story. But it made no deference nor I was bored. It doesn't matter if you know the story or not because the writers and the director made it a whole new experience. These series explore themes like what is wrong and right, if everything is what it seems etc. No one is black nor white, good nor evil but everyone has both sides like in real life. I really loved the explanation of the story when everything was reveled but they didn't show well the main villains reasons. As for the bl theme, I think because China's restrictions they couldn't show it but it wasn't needed something big. There plenty of really nice scences with looks and dialogue that shows the deep relationship between Wei Wuxian and Lan Wangji.
ACTING/CAST
Let's be honest. I cannot imagine anyone better than Wang Yibo and Xiao Zhan for the main roles. I think they are almost perfect. Great chemistry, great acting, you feel like they are the characters. I never heard or watched them before, but after the untamed I loved both of them. As for the second roles, almost everyone was really good. Maybe Jiang Cheng's actor and Jiang Yanli's actress sometimes made it a bit awkward (for the second I think it was more the character than the actress' skills.)
MUSIC/SCENERY/SPECIAL EFFECTS
But what I really loved in these series is the music, the scenery and the costumes. They are the real value of the drama. Every scene, every palace, every room it was perfect to the last detail (I loved especially Lotus Pier). The costumes has the difference in details for every sect and character. OK maybe the special effects wasn't really good, but for this needs a lot of time and effort for so many episodes. And of course, the music. I was amazed when I discovered that all the songs with lyrics was sang by the cast. I had wuji on repeat for days.
OVERALL VALUE
These series made me appreciate series with a lot of episodes. I didn't skip even 1 second, not even the titles. I fell in love with this universe and story all over again and became one of my favorite series of all time. If you like Asian historical things and fantasy is the perfect series for you. But I highly recommend them to everyone.

(English is not my first language so I am sorry for any mistakes)