I finished Goblin about a month ago and was just starting to get over my withdrawal symptoms for that drama. I was still on the lookout for something to top that drama, because that show has drawn the drama bar so high up a simple series cannot satisfy my drama cravings. I was using Strong Woman Do Bong Soon to temporarily stop those cravings, which I admit did a pretty good job.
Then, my friend reminded me to watch Ten Miles of Peach Blossom yet again– she has been telling me that I should give it a try since the day the drama started airing (which was like somewhere in January 2017 I think). TMOPB is a Chinese fantasy period drama with a whopping 58 episodes. Fantasy dramas are my thing, but I was turned off by the idea of it being a period drama because I just don’t feel those. They have too much cruel palace drama and politics for me to give a fck about, especially if they are going to draw it out for 58 episodes.
A week ago, I finally took up my friend’s drama suggestion because we do have a very similar taste and standard in dramas. Also, news about this drama has been hitting the web like crazay and pple have been raving about it left & right. I thought what’s the harm in giving this drama a go?- it’s not like I have another amazing drama up my sleeve.
But, let me tell you, gurl, the harm that TMOPB has done to me, to my life, to my skyrocketing drama expectations. I finished the entire series in less than a week- that’s right, I devoured all 58 episodes without skipping a single scene in a mere sitting of 6 days. Each episode is about 45 minutes long and I would stay up till 4 am marathoning this (even with work looming the next morning).
In those 6 days I have ugly-cried, laughed, hated, and fell in love- all before the screen of my laptop. After I finished TMOPB, day 7 was just mindless depression- I had no appetite, no interest in my social/work/school life, no concerns over the newly emerged pimples on my face, no fcks for my outfit of the day, the list goes on. With TMOPB over, I felt so empty, like I no longer have anything to look forward to anymore. The only thing on my mind was TMOPB and how perfect the main characters were (I’m mostly looking at you, Yehua) and wonderfully amazing the story was. Before day 7 ended I could no longer hold in my TMOPB feels- I went in for round 2 of marathoning the drama.
When I first watched TMOPB, I had no clue what the drama was going to be about. I didn’t know who the male lead was- heck, I didn’t even which actors were casted for the show. The only things I knew was 1) Yangmi is the female lead, 2) there’s a nine-tailed fox in it (bc I scrolled passed a TMOPB clip on fb), and 3) this drama is long (my preferred drama length is give or take 20 episodes).
I felt like diving into the drama headfirst, without a damn clue on the plot made it a more exciting experience for me. TMOPB was adopted from a novel, which I have not read, but I heard that the producers have stuck closely to the book and have only made the drama even better than the novel. A lot of viewers may have forecasted what would be coming in the next episodes, since they have read the novel. Coming from a perspective that have never heard of the novel, I felt like I experienced a fresher storyline and reacted more to the unexpected major turning events. I had no idea what was going to happen next and that kept me watching till 4 in the morning.
Now, let me give you a breakdown of the compelling storyline because it’s one of the main factors that made this drama oh so addicting. If you wish to dive into the drama headfirst without a single drop of pretense (like me), skip the following paragraphs in peach blossom pink.
The story of 2 immortals, Bai Qian (Fox Tribe’s Queen) and Yehua (Heaven’s Crown Prince), transcends through the period of 3 “lives” in 3 different “worlds”. The drama starts in the first period, where 70,000 year-old Bai Qian goes under the identity of a boy named SiYin to become a disciple of the God of War, Mo Yuan (shifuuuu). This period takes place in Mo Yuan’s “world”, Khunlun Mountain, and Yehua is still yet to be born. Yehua’s soul/life is contained in a golden lotus on Khunlun Mountain till he is ready to be born and his soul falls in love with Bai Qian/SiYin as he quietly watches over her.
We transition into the second period that takes places in the mortal world, where Yehua has been born in the Heaven’s palace and is now 60,000 years old. Meanwhile, 140,000 year-old Bai Qian is thrown into the mortal world, stripped of her memories and immortal powers, during a fight with the story’s main villain. Yehua is sent to the mortal world to capture a evil creature, leading him to meet the “mortal” Bai Qian. Even though Yehua’s memory of loving Bai Qian/SiYin when he was a soul in a golden lotus is gone after he was born, he falls in love with her again. Yehua calls this “mortal” who has no name or memories SuSu. The couple is brought to the Heaven’s palace and the cruel palace hierarchy pushes SuSu/Bai Qian to jump to her death right after she gives birth to Yehua’s baby TT_TT
Finally we enter the third and final period, after SuSu/Bai Qian has jumped to her death, she is returned to the immortal world and her immortal powers & memories are back. However, she chooses to forget her memories of being with Yehua because it was just too painful for her to carry. Yehua mourns for SuSu/Bai Qian for 300 years before they meet again by chance and he recognizes that SuSu is actually Bai Qian right away. Yehua proceeds to make Bai Qian fall in love with him all over again… ❤
I know the summary is a mouthful, but, believe me, it nevertheless is a captivating and perfect story. The reasons that this drama is beyond others include:
*Yehua never once falls for the lies of the btchs that try to get between him and Bai Qain. He sees through all of their awful plans and this gets rid of a lot of the typical drama misunderstandings.
*Yehua has loved only one woman, Bai Qain, from the moment before he has existed as a soul and will continue to for an eternity. This drama doesn’t have the overused “hate turns to love” relationships.
*The main cast was played by fcking amazing actors/actresses. Their emotions- pain, heartbreak, longing, love, etc. was spilling off the screen by the gallons. I couldn’t help but begin to experience these emotions with the main characters. The main cast had to play multiple roles/lives and they brought each and everyone to life. Mark Chao played Mo Yuan, Yehau, Zhao Ge. Yangmi played Bai Qian, SiYin, SuSu, Xuan Nu (partially), and a taoist priest.
*The ethereal costumes, flowing long hair, and the scenic backdrop was breathtaking to say the least. Yehua looks majestically delicious in his black robes *drools uncontrollably* Even the cast themselves has pointed out how detailed and heavy their costumes were *O*
*The OST is the bomb. It’s all I listen to now- in the morning, commuting to school/work, eating, sleeping, working, in the bathroom, everyday everywhere. They incorporate the flute, guqin, and piano to create a romantic masterpiece that brings me back to the loving and sad moments of TMOPB.
*TMOPB nailed romance like no other drama. The romance and on-screen chemistry felt so real and, to be honest with you guys, I completely melted for Yehua. I’m in love with a fictional character of a fantasy drama -__-
*I cried watching TMOPB and this is saying a lot because I never never ever cry. I don’t cry in real life situations I have experienced and I def do not cry for some fictional drama someone scripted. If I ever did cry, you’re lucky to get a sniffle and a tear drop or two. However, for TMOPB, the tears did not stop. It was to the point that my parents grew a bit concerned when they saw me.
My final verdict is 100 out of 5 stars. TMOP, you have successfully taken me out of my Goblin depression, but who will heal me from my TMOPB wounds now?
Before you go, please enjoy these beautiful pictures.
The Crazy and Lazy 