Ashes of Love

Watched all 63 episodes of China's Ashes of Love (2017), a xianxia set in the Heavenly, Floral, Demon, Water, and Earthly Realms. Heartbroken and on her death bed, the Floral Immortal gives birth to a baby girl and feeds her the Yun Elixir that will prevent her ever falling in love and sharing her mother's fate. When the girl grows up, however, she meets Xufeng, the Fire Immortal, and Runyu, the Water Immortal, who are half-brothers and who both fall in love with her. Events unfold to a series of royal and famiy intrigues, adventures and misadventures, and wars between realms 

Like all xianxia, the sets are spectacular and massive, and the special effects flawless. Except for three or four ham actors the cast delivers superb performances, their characters maturing and evolving over 63 episodes. Due to inexpert exposition--and perhaps too much information for the viewer's mind to quickly process--the story is at first difficult to absorb, especially since it is initially set in gaudy, if not stagey, locations. Everything is gripping, however, from Episode 13 onward, and, despite minor lapses in continuity, becomes an unforgettable screening for xianxia fans. There is too much heavy drama--too many scenes on pining and yearning and fretting over love, both requited and unrequited--that the writers sought to counterbalance with too much comic relief. In all, nonetheless, this is a commendable production and will easily become a favorite to lovers of this genre.

Yang Zi gives a fine performance even if, despite her many close-ups, she has limited facial expressions. As Grape Elf she verges on caricature. She is completely overshadowed by Deng Lun and Luo Yunxi, who also overshadow everyone else in the cast. These two lead actors are perfectly orchestrated, physically and psychologically. and deserve to remain on China's silver screen through their old age.  

"If the heart does not die, fate will not perish."
Immortal Yuanji