The Legend of Shen Li (2024)

An excellent wu xia drama after 10 miles peach blossoms.

I'm an avid Chinese drama fan especially wu xia and xin xia genre. After lost you forever season one, I asked myself why dramas like love between demon and fairy and back from the brink are not airing. The quality was just not there. Either they were not engaging or had disappointing endings. So I started to read Chinese novels . I'm neither a cho see nor can understand Chinese. But I have watched this heroine in the legend of Shen Ming lan before. She's a very good actor. Very talented. So I started watching this drama. Have to say, this is one of the best in recent times. Be it the acting, production value or the choice of actors, it's just outstanding. This heroine especially, she's not some lily livered dramatic girl. She's emotionally strong, independent, feisty and intelligent. She's not prone for dramas nor does she make a fuss on anything. She's really dignified. And the male lead, I've never seen his drama a before, but he's an apt choice for this drama. He has done justice to this role. He doesn't talk much, but his emotions are clearly conveyed to us nevertheless. He's protective, and powerful yet calm and dignified. They're are made for each other. So far really loving this drama. And really hope they won't spin it with hanging or sad ending. That's my one request.

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While there are some nice moments of drama, comedy and fights in this xianxia drama, I found it far too long and repetitive to make a profound impact for the audience who is looking for more than its romance story. Its generic plot and characters are somewhat shocking to me given the caliber of actors in the cast. Shen Li and Xingzhi, aside from their romance, do not undergo much development or growth in their characters. Some of the supporting roles and side/guest roles are far more distinctive in their growth such as Furong and Youlan as they become true leaders of the Divine Realm/Clan - or just more interesting such as the former god Qingye and Lady Jin.

Zhao Liying and Lin Gengxin are skilled enough actors to make their story work - I especially enjoyed the first several episodes in the mortal realm. The rest of the cast are great with what they are given to work with, but don't expect any deeper themes to be woven into the story that would stand out compared to some of the better xianxia dramas in the past several years. If you are a fan of the actors and xianxia, this is still worth a check, but it is unfortunately more of the same in my opinion.

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Nostalgic even before the end!

It's been a long time since I've watched something so unimaginably good, that I honestly felt bad, sad and nostalgic about it ending, before that even took place!

Everything about this, from the story, the acting, the production, even the songs, are absolutely magnificent. As part of the audience, we can clearly see how meticulously crafted this drama is.

From the first episode you are thrown into a magical world, which is still clearly governed by its own nature's law. The whole universe is so intelligently structured, especially for a fantasy series, that is makes one awestruck. Nothing is just forced down our throats with the inexplicable reason of《Just because 》 or 《because that's what the plot dictates》like it happens in numerous dramas. Everything here has a meaning, a starting point and an end. Many factors can influence one single decision/ situation, just like in real life. So in a way, and despite this being a Xianxia drama, it's still somewhat realistic.

Moreover, the acting of the entirety of the cast is simply amazing! From the main and supporting actors to even the guest stars, everyone has done an excellent job at bringing their character to life! There are multiple scenes where the supporting actors were a huge factor of whether the scene would be successful or just awful. Even a slight mistake there and the whole narrative would've crumbled. But not only did they pull it off, they were extremely good at it as well! Needless to say that if I wasn't a fan before, I definitely am now, to almost everyone in the cast after this.

It's worth to be mentioned how both the FL and the ML are very well rounded characters. I love how Xingzhi actually has a personality. He's not just being cold, stoic and reticent nor is he simply doing whatever he wants without a care about his partner's opinion, like commonly seen in other MLs, especially in fantasy dramas. Both main leads are exceptionally written characters. Plus the portrayals are top notch! Both of them, clearly have their own unique personalities. I honestly adore how genuinely strong the fl is and how playful yet mature the ml is. Also don't you love how they just communicate? That's real talanted writing right there, without a need for petty misunderstandings as plot device.

I love how throughout the episodes we can see each character's personal growth. And this is not just about the main leads, but all of the characters! Thankfully this is a 39 episode -drama, because to be completely honest, I don't believe this could have been possible, had this been shorter. When a story is that enjoyable and well produced it's really a blessing when it's a long length series, because you simply don't want it to end.

The CGI, the costumes, the set, the makeup, everything was so so so beautiful, that I'm having difficulty putting it to words. It's definitely one of the most beautiful dramas I've ever come across.

Congratulations to all of the cast, director, producer, writers, makeup artists and literary everyone who took part into making this masterpiece take form! This is easily one of THE BEST productions I've ever watched, big thanks for making it happen! Though I'm usually not one to re-watch what I have before, and especially not too close to the 1st view, I'm definitely coming back to this and something tells me it's going to be very soon!

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Best show I’ve seen in a very long time!

Not all episodes are available yet, but I’m really enjoying this one. The main couple is great together. The way they play off of each other is fun and sweet, but not too sweet. Watching Lin Gengxin play the fool for a bit is absolutely adorable. He’s one of my favorites and this is a pleasant change from the always stoic and arrogant role. It will be fun watching the layers peel back on this character. He’s had me giggling quite a bit. The female lead is awesome- intelligent, aggressive and capable, while still kind and caring when she should be.
The CGI chicken is a bit hard to swallow, but that doesn’t last very long. The demon goo (I don’t know what else to call it) is hilarious. They are still introducing the side characters, Li Zi Feng obviously has more happening than they let on yet, and I’m still not sure if he’s going to be a good guy or a bad guy. It’s not a predictable story line.
This show hooked me almost right away and I can’t wait for more episodes!

Update: I’ve finished the first 10 episodes and wish they’d release the rest sooner. The side characters are developing well, and I may have shed a couple of tears already. Love the slide to Grandpa, I laugh harder every time I see it now.
Please, please, please have a happy ending.

Episode 28 and I still love it. It’s a wild rollercoaster ride of heartwarming, heartbreaking, happy, sad, romantic, sweet and tragic. Very intense. I had to take a break for a couple of days because it was wearing me out emotionally. (Actually, I got angry at one of the plot twists and had to calm down, ha!) Now I’m back at it and still completely hooked on the story. Have I mentioned how much I love Lin Gengxin in this one? I would say it’s possibly his best role so far. It’s also rare to find a really well rounded female lead, but I like this one. Capable, competent, intelligent and not emotionally stunted- she’s rather awesome and fun to watch. The support characters have also developed well, throwing some strong twists into the story. Absolutely one of my favorite shows.

And it’s over. Wow. Loved this so much. The side character stories (Mofang and Fu Rong) are as endearing and heartbreaking as the main characters’. You Lan even had some surprises. I would definitely rate this in my top 10 favorites of all time. It was worth the wait, and I hope to see more like this. Just awesome, on every level. You will think you know the story and the ending from the get go, but there are plenty of twists and turns. What a fantastic ride.

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Overall Good, however not one of my Top Favourites.

Just finished the series! Overall, it's alright, with potential to appeal strongly to some viewers, but it didn't quite hit the mark for me, especially after 20 episodes in. The comedic elements, particularly with Furong and his sister, were a highlight for me. However, I struggled to connect with the main female and male leads, possibly due to the pacing, and the story being a bit drawn out. My emotional investment leaned more towards characters like Mofang and the backstory of the female lead's parents, as well as the development of some minor characters. While it didn't entirely captivate me, I'd still encourage anyone intrigued to give it a chance, as individual experiences with the show may vary.

Side note: Despite some scenes where the music randomly played, the overall impact of the music in this series evoked emotions and set the tone for various scenes adding depth to the storytelling - some parts got very emotional haha!

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Dream xianxia - Chemistry, chemistrying.

The Legend of Shen Li is a story that should be watched without having any expectations. I'm always lazy to write reviews, yet it's one of those dramas I want to write some little one at least. This drama is a fantastic remedy for any tragic or painful romance. It just requires patience with the pacing when you start, that said I find engaging from the very firsts episodes credit to the setting and leads interactions. I think everything was thought out to give the spectators a good time.

The main actors mature look gives such an exhilarating satisfaction just from their screen presence to the acting. The chemistry and complementary dynamics between them in the same frame is so excellent that it leaves you wanting more. The plot was interesting in his own way not complex to understand. Although the leads epic love story captured my full attention more throughout the whole show. One of the best slow burn romance for me to this date, between a rom-com feel in an historical set, and slice of life scenery in a world Chinese fantasy. I laughed, I had tears, I smiled, I screamed, I was impatient from enjoyment that imperfections were less important. No lie the ships was really superior.

The costumes are impeccable in accordance with the portrait painted by the characters. The female lead apparence giving this strong aura for her imposing personality while highlighting her feminine beauty. Then, the male lead was just as convincing in his relax look, befitting mood and seniority which gave him an virile and attractive side - A big crush for both.

The cinematography is a big plus with some soothing sets delightful to watch for some arcs. The CGI which is fairly good quality for most of the drama is notable. It was so spectacular during a few fights scene, emotional moments going along vibrant OST. There are also characters that I find remarkable acting and which take time to grow on you.


The last 2 episodes were pleasing that I can’t possibly move on. Yes, you know an ending who deserves absolutely your watch time.


Anyway, I highly recommend for people who want to watch a different refreshing xianxia or for someone starting their first in this genre.

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NOT THE USUAL XIANXIA

The Legend of Shen Li takes a slightly different route from other xianxia dramas, steering away from the usual plotlines and angst. Instead, it focuses exclusively on romance and character development, which might be a nice change of pace for many seasoned xianxia viewers. There is minimal build up and conflicts are resolved FAST!

The two leads are incredibly powerful, especially the male lead. He wields IMMENSE power. He can basically defeat any villain or big bad just with a dramatic swish of his hand. But most refreshing is that the female lead is equally strong-willed and empowered. She has full agency and is a great match for the male lead.

One thing I had to get used to, however, was the pacing, especially in the beginning. It was a bit slow, as the drama took its time to develop the relationship between Shen Li and Xingzhi. Some of the side characters felt like filler /comic relief to me, though I enjoyed the occasional meta elements (Goddess Youlan becoming the representation of the viewer's voice!)

One of the highlights is definitely the cast. Zhao Liying is fantastic here, bringing power and depth to her character. She is unapologetic for being strong and NON-whiny! Lin Geng Xin is not the most expressive actor in c-dramaland, but he shines here, playing the stoic and infallible last surviving ancient god to perfection. I can't imagine a different actor in this role.

Finally, while this drama did not have the same gut-punching impact on me as other xianxia dramas, there is something undeniably compelling about it that has kept me coming back for more.

I recommend it!

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A chicken parading as a phoenix

I was really looking forward to Shen Li as I have really enjoyed this author’s works and I’ve loved all of ZLY’s performances.

There were several touching moments in the beginning of the show - I was very moved by the story of the soldier and the wife - it was beautifully done and the actors who played the part did so phenomenally. Kudos to them. I enjoyed the idea of cluck cluck and the sickly man, and was moved when that arc came to an end. Shen Li revisited the place she had lived for a short time of her life, it was poignant and sad. One cannot return to the past as it stands on its own.

That being said, I have mixed feelings about this show overall.

I know it’s an unpopular opinion but this show became extremely slow and boring. Often the show felt as though it was catering to fans of Princess Agents who were left stranded with its lacklustre ending. Yes, the two leads have good chemistry but chemistry can’t make up for a paper thin plot that should have kept to 25 episodes or fewer. Most xianxias have a lot happening, even if they are common tropes and this one was excruciating slow with this draggy plot. The novel works because the FL’s narration and feelings carry it through.

Yet, not all literary techniques are well translated into film/the visual medium and this show is a good example of that. Shen Li’s voice overs were overused in the early part of the show and often they seemed to deny secondary characters agency.

As I finished the show I felt quite frustrated that secondary characters were not fully developed nor was enough time spent on them. For a 39 episode show secondary characters are paramount. The marriage arc went on forever and ever.

In the end i was left wondering- what happened to Shen Li’s father? Why didn’t she even think about him. It just happened. Mo Fang’s dying scene was quite sad- I pitied him, despite his faults, he did try to protect her. He was left there, without a glance from Shen Li or a final farewell. What an unfortunate character, which Shen Li herself observes.

What happened to Mo Fang’s father? What really was the point of the story? Why did Shen Li fall in love with Xingyun?

The acting was not the problem at all. I found Kenny Lin’s performance here to be among his best. The idea of the lonely ancient god was interesting and Kenny Lin expressed his loneliness well. His crying scene with Zhao Liying towards the end was very good. I really enjoyed the rest of the actors who did the best with whatever they had. Fu Rong Jun has the most character growth and he became one of my favourite characters. I enjoyed the actor’s performance. Jackie Li was great as usual but had limited screen time. I looked forward to seeing the siblings (and those were the parts I watched without skipping).

The music was good overall without the usual xianxia angst. I did not enjoy the xianxia angst when I watched my first xianxia but that’s what I appreciate these days.

Perhaps I had great expectations from the show but for me it was too slow, too thin with its plot. I think some Chinese shows should stick to shorter episodes. Quantity isn’t quality after all. A chicken should not pass for a phoenix. There's nothing wrong with being a chicken though- it has its place in the world.

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It's basically just better than average

I know that everyone is saying this is the best Xianxia we've had for a hot minute but I think this is the key element they're forgetting. There's been such a drought of good Xianxia (and particularly good Xianxia with female leads that don't act and speak like 6 year olds and actually have a personality outside of 'love interest') that we're holding this one to a higher standard than it deserves.

To start on a positive note, there are lots of great things about ShenLi. Although it is 40 episodes it's very easy to digest. Aside from an initially slow start which explores the 'mortal life' section of any Xianxia (albeit in an unexpected and quite witty way) once that awful cgi chicken disappears the show is very enjoyable. It's interesting especially to see the power dynamic shift when Xingzhi/Xingyun's true identity is revealed. The rest of the special effects are actually quite good, and the costumes - though not particularly innovative for the men - have a lot to boast for the women. Some of Shen Li and Demon Lord's outfits were stunning and the detail was apparent. The 'sky above heaven' was also an interesting addition to the show and the lore of the ancient gods.

Now onto the not so great things:
Firstly, this drama has serious pacing issues. The focus on the love story of the two leads was interesting, yes, but almost the entire plot was devoted to them with little time for side characters to develop. This almost led to an over saturation of their romance, particularly because the marriage arc was dragged out until episode 25. I also found that the apathy of the ML was at times taken too far. There is a difference between indifference and surpressed emotion which outwardly presents as indifference which was not always successfully conveyed.

Secondly, although some of the plot twists were genuinely surprising - there was no one single 'wow' factor moment within the show, and there was potential for several. Perhaps due to the halfhearted world building which failed to exhibit a real motivation for the villain beyond loyalty, the stakes never really seemed as high as they should have, and due to the overwhelming power of the 'divine god', even if he was injured or punished by the heavens for disobeying the enigmatic 'natural law' we were never led to believe that he wouldn't be able to overcome whatever was thrown at him. Such was the power of a true 'god' - the last god - compared to mere heavenly immortals.

An 8.8 rating is difficult to comprehend in my opinion. That places the Legend of Shen Li above dramas like: 'Who rules the world' and 'Scarlet Heart: Ryeo', and at the same level as 'The Story of MingLan', 'Eternal Love/Ten Miles of Peach Blossoms', 'Love Between Fairy and Devil', 'Snow Sword Stride' (all far more interesting and developed dramas as far as I'm concerned). I don't like to throw 'overrated' around but I think that this drama may have been. Don't get me wrong, it's still a very enjoyable watch and I highly recommend it; it just seems important to keep in mind that ratings are inevitably relative, and Shen Li perhaps needs to be put into context rather than looked at independently.

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It gave JUSTICE to the novel

From the trailer to the drama, everything was a masterpiece. This is one of xianxia dramas that I will never get tired of re-watching and re-reading. The pacing is great and it never felt lile it was rushed. Moreover, everytime they deliver a line from the novel, I always fold. My favorite side character is Lady Jin! She mothered so hard (bless her and her cave of desires). I also commend them for giving Furong's character more substance in the drama and how they incorporated Fenglai and Liyiu's story and Lady Jin's marriage. LGX and ZLY delivered their roles perfectly. The BGMs and OSTs are not to be missed! Curley Gao and Zhang Bichen are the GOATs of cdrama OSTs.

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