This post includes a brief plot summary and a review of the Chinese drama “Love Between Fairy and Devil” (2022).
Note: Although “Love Between Fairy and Devil” is not the first Chinese drama that I have ever watched, I believe it’s the first one in the xianxia genre. And if this is your first time, “xianxia” is essentially a Chinese fantasy genre. But from my understanding, it’s not just fantasy, it involves gods and mythology.
Without further ado, let’s get into what you came here for.
Directed by Yi Zheng and starring Dylan Wang as Dongfang Qingcang and Esther Yu as Xiao Lanhua, “Love Between Fairy and Devil” (2022) is based on a novel named “Cang Lan Jue” by Jiu Liu Fei Xiang.
The story of “Love Between Fairy and Devil” follows Xiao Lanhua, a flower fairy who bumps into Dongfang Qingcang, a powerful demon.
In this fantasy world, there are several realms, but there is “beef” amongst them. The last great war was between the fairies from Shuiyuntian and the folks from the Moon Tribe. The fairies won and “locked” Dongfang Qingcang, also known as the “Moon Supreme”, in a “coma”.
Dongfang Qingcang is known for being the “baddest of the bad”. Powerful and ruthless, everyone feared him back then. Many years later, our protagonist, Xiao Lanhua (Orchid) finds herself in a “pickle” when she inadvertently awakens the demon lord with an accidental kiss.
But the day is about to get worse for Xiao Lanhua. The kiss has deeper ramifications than everyone thought, not only does it lead to both switching their bodies, but also their lives become somehow intertwined. As expected, the demon lord is pissed and tries his best to get rid of Xiao Lanhua only to figure out that he can’t.
As the two navigate through the mystery that bonds them together, love also blossoms between the innocent fairy and the demon lord.
One of the things I really enjoyed about “Love Between Fairy and Devil” was the pacing.
In my opinion, “Love Between Fairy and Devil” has sort of a complex story that requires a certain type of pacing to keep the viewers engaged. And I believe the director, Yi Zheng, was able to achieve that.
However, the final episodes towards the end felt a bit rushed, which is a shame, given the whole series was developing at a steady rhythm. Everything would’ve been perfect, pacing-wise, hadn’t it been for those two last episodes.
The plot unfolds pretty well, giving space for the main characters to develop their arcs and unravel their background stories.
I guess this xianxia drama works particularly well, not only because the main actors mesh well together, but there is also a modern touch to them. What I mean is, the show didn’t make the characters too unworldly. Their emotions still feel very relatable, despite not being human.
I have mixed opinions about “Love Between Fairy and Devil” regarding its visuals.
One can tell that a lot of money was poured into the project. Nonetheless, was it all well spent? Let’s start with the positives and then move to the negatives. So, there are many visually captivating scenes, conceptually, only to be let down by poor CGI.
However, the problem doesn’t seem to be only a “Love Between Fairy and Devil” problem, but a “cdrama land” type of problem. For some unknown reason, Chinese productions can’t up their game in terms of CGI effects. In my opinion, no matter how much effort they put into it, it always looks “fake”.
Although the show fares poorly in the CGI game, it does make up for it in the costume design department. Both Xiao Lanhua and Dongfang Qingcang have decent garments, meaning tailored and expensive-looking.
The music in “Love Between Fairy and Devil” was a key element that elevated the entire viewing experience.
I don’t know Chinese, but I do recognize a good melody when I hear one, and “Love Between Fairy and Devil” has many good songs.
The soundtrack blends traditional Chinese instruments and modern arrangements, creating a unique auditory experience for the viewers. It’s so good that sometimes I find myself listening to songs and even the instrumentals outside the show.
Dylan Wang as “Dongfang Qingcang” was the standout performance of the entire show.
Prior to “Love Between Fairy and Devil”, I had no idea who Dylan Wang was. After watching the show, I became an enthusiast, not a fan yet, because he hasn’t shown consistency in his work yet. Perhaps I’m being too tough on the actor.
Note: I watched bits and pieces of “Meteor Garden” and wasn’t impressed. Then, I tried to watch “Only for Love”, an absolute train-wreck of a show, it was so bad. It’s really a shame, because Dylan Wang is an actor with tremendous potential, but unfortunately bad directors can’t bring out the best in an actor.
Let’s get back to Dylan Wang’s performance as “Dongfang Qingcang”. What I really liked about his acting in this role was the range, from powerful demon lord to dainty Xian Lanhua (when they switched bodies), everything was done right.
Unseasoned actors tend to “overact”. Dylan Wang, despite being a relatively young actor, was able to convey complex emotions with only subtle changes in expressions. This approach made Dongfang Qingcang’s character growth feel more genuine.
Esther Yu gave the warmth that the show needed to counterbalance an initially cold character like Dongfang Qingcang.
I’m not going to lie, I’m not a big fan of baby-like or high-pitched voices like Esther Yu’s. But given that Xiao Lanhua (Orchid) is a naive character who is still figuring out her place in the world, I didn’t mind Esther Yu’s baby voice.
Unlike Dylan Wang, I don’t think Esther Yu gave one of her best performances ever. For instance, I found her supporting role in “Find Yourself” much more endearing and funnier. But that is just an opinion.
Final Thoughts
“Love Between Fairy and Devil” is a story about love that comes in many forms: romantic and familial love. Dongfang Qingcang and Xiao Lanhua inspire the audience to open up their hearts against prejudice and past trauma.
At the end, Dongfang Qingcang and Xiao Lanhua’s love becomes something that is bigger than them, which was very moving to watch. By the way, Dylan Wang and Esther Yu have great on-screen chemistry, the kissing scenes were really “chef’s kisses”, no pun intended.
Overall, “Love Between Fairy and Devil” is a great watch, even for those who are new to the xianxia genre. It’s a drama that will make the audience laugh, cry, and reflect. How can one resist a show with a great love message that reminds people to see the good in others?
Final Rating: 🍎🍎 (Very Good)