I’m going to admit it: Chinese dramas historically haven’t been my thing. Whenever I’ve tried to dive into mainland Chinese dramas, I’ve typically hit a wall by the time I reach a certain episode. Part of that might be because I tend to choose dramas with an insane number of episodes, something I’m just not used to. You’d think that, as someone with advanced-level Mandarin, I would get into them. But for some reason, I just haven’t.
That was until Love Between Fairy and Devil showed up on my Netflix feed. If I’m being honest, I wasn’t expecting much. I had never heard of it before, and I’m not usually drawn to fantasy dramas, let alone Chinese historical fantasy dramas. But there it was, in the depths of my recommendations, and I thought, “Why not?” I pressed play.
At first, I was rolling my eyes. Another overhyped series? But a week later, I found myself watching the very last episode, pressing pause and staring at the screen in disbelief. I had spent hours binge-watching the show, cheering during the highs and groaning during the lows. Somehow, this show had kept me hooked all the way through. That’s rare for me, and that in itself is impressive.
The Story: A Fairy, A Devil, and an Accidental Romance
At the heart of Love Between Fairy and Devil is a rollercoaster of thirty-six episodes. Without getting too deep into every twist and turn, here’s a quick recap. We meet Xiao Lanhua, an orchid fairy living in Shuiyuntian. Her master left long ago to travel the realms, and Lanhua is alone, but there’s something special about her: her root is damaged. This flaw becomes a major source of insecurity for her, and though the other fairies are jealous of her connection to the God of War—who clearly has a crush on her—Lanhua ends up accidentally freeing Dongfang Qingcang, the Lord Devil.
The twist? They switch bodies. The only way to switch back is if they kiss, but Qingcang doesn’t want to help her. In fact, his first instinct is to eliminate her. However, things get complicated when he realizes that whenever Lanhua gets hurt or feels emotions, he experiences them too. This connection forces him to protect her, even though he initially has no desire to.
The early episodes show Lanhua as weak, somewhat whiny, and in desperate need of Qingcang’s protection. But what I found remarkable is that as the series progresses, she grows stronger and begins to hold her own. It’s a beautiful evolution of her character. But it’s not all just personal growth—soon, dark forces come into play, threatening the realms. Lanhua, who might secretly be the reincarnation of a goddess, finds herself exiled from Shuiyuntian and sent to Dongfang Qingcang’s kingdom. That’s where the drama escalates further.
In Qingcang’s kingdom, Lanhua faces hostility from the people, and the stakes are raised when her friend from Shuiyuntian, a shopkeeper, is also chased to Qingcang’s realm. While her new friend and the protector of Qingcang, a loyal dragon, develop their own storyline, Lanhua and Qingcang’s relationship deepens. But everything is not as it seems. The show soon reveals that Lanhua’s friend is being manipulated by enemies to lead her right into danger.
All the while, Lanhua and Qingcang’s relationship goes through its own set of complications, from his refusal to acknowledge her humanity to his deepening love for her. He eventually decides to make her his queen, even as he struggles with the darkness inside him. And when Lanhua is killed, Qingcang is pushed to the brink of madness, proving just how deeply he cares. The final arc reveals more about Lanhua’s true identity as a goddess, sending the narrative into yet another intense, roller coaster ride.
World-Building and Character Development: A Visually Stunning Journey
What really stood out in Love Between Fairy and Devil is the sheer depth of the world-building. The realms, the politics, the mythology—there’s a lot to unpack, and I could never do it justice in just a few paragraphs. But the production value? Next level. While there were moments where the CGI felt a bit corny (especially in the earlier episodes), the visual appeal of the series was still mesmerizing. The grand scale of the fantasy world, combined with the intricate costume design and sets, created a truly immersive experience.
And let’s not forget the acting. Both leads, Esther Yu and Dylan Wang, gave solid performances. Esther Yu, who played Xiao Lanhua, brought a unique mix of vulnerability and strength to the role, while Dylan Wang, as Dongfang Qingcang, managed to capture the complexity of his character’s inner conflict. Their chemistry was undeniable, making their evolving relationship believable, despite the fantastical setting.
The Pacing: A Bit of a Drag, But Worth the Ride
If there’s one critique I have, it’s that the pacing of the show felt uneven at times. The arc where Lanhua and Qingcang find themselves in the human world seemed to drag on a little too long. It felt like the plot slowed down significantly during that part, and honestly, it could have been shortened without losing much of the impact. However, when we got closer to the end, everything suddenly sped up. A lot of events unfolded rapidly, and I found myself a bit overwhelmed by how quickly the final twists came at me. It left me feeling like there wasn’t enough time to process everything.
That said, I can’t deny that it was an incredibly engaging show, despite a few pacing issues. By the time I reached the final episode, I was hooked, eager to see how everything would conclude.
Final Thoughts: A Surprisingly Good Drama
Love Between Fairy and Devil is a drama with fascinating world-building, solid performances, and a surprisingly compelling storyline. Generally, it had me hooked, despite me rolling my eyes at the premise. The fantasy elements, the leads’ up-and-down relationship, and all the surprises along the way made this drama one of the more prominent ones I have watched in recent times.
Definitely some things could have been better, like the pacing or CGI moments could’ve been less cheesy, but they were all surface flaws with the heart of a show-the characters and their journey-shining through. If you tend to shy away from Chinese historical-fantasy dramas like me, this one just may surprise you. It really did surprise me.
So, if you are after 30 hours worth of romance, fantasy, and a bagful of action, then this should be on your must-watch list. It will keep you glued to the screen.
