Moonlight Mystique (2025) 白月梵星
Summary: Bai Shuo and her older sister Bai Xi are rescued in their youth by a mysterious Immortal. Inspired by this encounter, Bai Shuo vows to master the ways of the immortals, dedicating ten years learning from a fraudulent teacher. Finally, the fraud informs Bai Shuo (ft. Bai Lu 白鹿) that the owner of the Bu Ji Tower, Fan Yue (ft. 敖瑞鹏 Ao Rui Peng) is an immortal. Bai Shuo, determined to acquire genuine skills, confronts Fan Yue, who is reality a demon, is astonished to discover that the Wu Nian Stone reacts to the human Bai Shuo. Intrigued, he decides to investigate her mysterious connection to the stone for his own purposes. However, news of the Wu Nian Stone spreads rapidly, drawing demons to the town in a race to capture Bai Shuo. Bai Shuo and Fan Yue must defeat their enemies and collect the 5 Feelings to activate the Wu Nian Stone.
Total Episode Count: 40
Initial Airing Date: Jan 6, 2025
Platform: iQiYi
Initial Rating 6.9/10 [20 episodes] – A disjointed fantasy drama where the subplots overshadow the main storyline. Bai Lu is adequate as Bai Shuo but fails to deliver anything fresh compared to her previous performances. I’ve been mainly chasing as I’ve enjoyed the subplots and secondary couples.
Bai shuo 白烁 bai lu 白鹿
Human daughter of the Protector of Ning An. She vows to learn the arts of the immortals to one day payback her savior.
fan yue 梵樾 ao rui peng 敖瑞鹏
One of the three Demon Lords in the world, he is on a mission to activate the Wu Nian Stone. He's surprised to find that the stone responds to Bai Shuo
fu ling 茯苓 dai lu wa 代露娃
Member of the demon clan and Leng Que Palace. She is deliciously evil but develops a soft spot for Chong Zhao
chong zhao 重昭 chang hua sen 常华森
Member of the Immortal clan and head pupil of the Lan Ling Sect. He is committed to protecting humans and defeating evil doers, yet he is persistently conflicted by personal desires.
Initial Thoughts
This drama is Bai Lu’s first drama to air in over a year and her first fantasy romance drama since Till The End of the Moon in 2023. Her pairing with Ao Rui Peng was highly anticipated as a new couple but this drama has faltered on all fronts, from viewership, to critical reception, and overall popularity. This drama aired on the same date as Yang Zi’s Flourished Peony. Both dramas haven’t reached the peaks of their previous highs (for Bai Lu, it’s Youku’s Till The End of the Moon and iQiYi’s Story of Kunming Palace), with this drama yet to breach 10,000 on iQiYi’s popularity index.
The drama succeeds in individual elements but struggles to come together as a cohesive whole. While Bai Shuo and Fan Yue (the main characters) drive the plot forward, they often feel more like passive observers to the events unfolding around them. It gets better in the second storyline but by that time, I was more interested in other characters.
The main storyline also lacks intrigue, with its predictable trajectory offering few surprises. In contrast, the subplots and side characters bring a refreshing depth and nuance that elevate those characters. The secondary storylines and couples are so engaging that they have largely overshadowed Bai Shuo and Fan Yue’s central narrative, which fails to hold the same level of interest. I am firmly watching this drama right now for the side characters and their romantic plots.
What I Liked
- Dai Lu Wa as Fu Ling: I have always been a sucker for the evil demon woman and this is no different. Gosh, Fu Ling’s unashamedly ruthless and cunning nature makes for a delightfully captivating character. Without relying heavily on backstory (at least for now), the screenwriters have delivered a fully realized and formidable demon. Dai Lu Wa’s performance as this complex powerful figure, softened only by a singular vulnerability, is exceptional. She commands the screen with every appearance, effortlessly stealing the spotlight. Her portrayal is both compelling and memorable, firmly establishing her as a talent to watch in future roles.
- Complex Subplots: Bai Shuo and Fan Yue have to gather the 5 Feelings to activate the Wu Nian Stone, leading them to different locations and different plot lines. The subplots have proven to be intricate and multifaceted, with each one exploring a range of emotions such as love, hate, and regret, unique to the different characters involved that also span multiple subplots. These side characters are given the opportunity to experience full, well-rounded arcs, with each making crucial decisions that not only shape their own paths but also significantly propel the main plot forward. The actors and actresses make use of their screentime and really sell their roles. The complexity and depth of their stories add a richness to the overall narrative, oftentimes overshadowing the main storyline
- Compelling Relationships: The secondary couples and relationships in this drama are deeply compelling, each one rich with emotion and nuance. Every couple’s journey feels authentic and layered, capturing the complexities of love, growth, and heartbreak. There’s one particular couple whose dynamic instantly drew me in after just one episode, which speaks volumes about the strength and chemistry of their storyline. Another couple, in particular, initially had me uncertain, but the resolution of their subplot was very thoughtfully executed. Each relationship develops at its own pace, and I found myself thoroughly invested in their progression, feeling their pain and joy as they navigated the ups and downs of their connections. I deeply ship Fu Ling and Zhong Zhao, haha
What could have been better
- The drama doesn’t come together cohesively: The parts are better than the whole so far, with its individual components far outshining the overall narrative. While the subplots are engaging and richly developed, the main storyline feels underwhelming in comparison, often merely progressing from one subplot to the next without any real depth or intrigue. It seems as though the story is going through the motions, focusing primarily on advancing the main characters’ romantic arc rather than offering a fully realized plot. By the time the drama turns its focus on the main characters, it was too late. I was invested in the other characters.
- Lack of compelling chemistry between the main couple: I find myself quite conflicted when it comes to the chemistry between Bai Lu and Ao Rui Peng. On the surface, they make a striking couple, and there is an undeniable spark between them. However, that spark feels rather weak and lacks the intensity needed to make their connection compelling (especially compared to the other couples in the drama). Their romantic development feels mechanical, as though they are merely following the motions of falling in love because the plot demands it. While I can understand the reasoning behind their relationship and the events that lead to their feelings for one another, it somehow doesn’t evoke much emotional investment from me. Their love seems inevitable, which diminishes its impact and leaves the romance feeling rather predictable and uninspired. Instead of being swept up in their journey, it’s as though I’m simply observing a romance that is bound to happen, which ultimately makes it feel bland and lacking in emotional depth.
- Bai Lu is adequate: Bai Lu is serviceable as Bai Shuo, but she doesn’t bring anything particularly new to the role. Her portrayal feels very similar to her role as Li Su Su / Ye Xi Wu in Till the End of the Moon. It lacks a depth and nuance that could have set this character apart. While she is competent in the role, her portrayal gives off the vibe of a small-minded person who has suddenly found themselves in a position of power. She dubs her own voice but there’s a noticeable lack of emotion in her voice throughout her performance. It also doesn’t help that Bai Shuo essentially has no powers from the beginning and can only be relegated to a viewer on the side because she would be killed otherwise. This then means that someone (either Fan Yue or Chong Zhao) has to save her all the time.
- No “clear” good side: I guess this can also fall into the pro category but it’s rather frustrating that there’s no “good” side. I generally appreciate morally complex characters and multifaceted motivations, but in this case, none of the factions truly compel me to actually care about them. They’re all entrenched in their own stubbornness, each one operating from a position of superiority, and many of them are outright ruthless or murderous. It’s as though the show has left me without a clear direction to follow, and rather than being drawn into the larger narrative, I’m now just watching the characters’ personal stories unfold
- Messy Makeup: This is just my own preference but I feel like some of the makeup on the ladies (e.g. Fu Ling, A Wu) just seem rather messy. It’s just jarring when Bai Shuo and even Fan Yue are perfectly dolled up, only to have the camera pan to other characters and I have a negative reaction to some of the makeup choices.
Stray Observations
I’m watching this drama and The Blossoming Love concurrently so I can’t help but make comparisons. The visuals and makeup of that drama are just so much more to my liking. This drama has all these random color palettes that are not my cup of tea. I understand that the cast and crew put a lot of work into creating this world, but it all looks rather cheap with random colors.
Bai Lu and Ao Rui Peng have been trying to sell their CP really hard on the press tour but not reaching nearly the success as Meng Zi Yi and Li Yun Rui. It’s been very interesting to see the chemistry or lack thereof between these different actors and actresses.