Mo Dao Zu Shi

First review, and I'm really not a deep or artsy person, so I'm not even going to try to break this down into philosophical arguments or anything.

It sounds good. It looks incredible. The characters are so unique and human and sympathetic (except for that one greasy Wen young master and his monster of a wife) and sometimes so infuriating (looking at you Jiang Cheng). The plot is amazing, the backstories well-woven and intriguing. But most importantly, it's just such an enjoyable show to watch.

If someone asks me if I have any complaints, I can't say I don't. Bring back the 40-minute episodes! 20 minutes isn't enough!

Just a few things YSK before watching:

• Season 1 is the prequel to everything. Nothing shown in the first two episodes took place yet, it basically tells the characters' backstories and how Wei Ying got to where he was. I know, I was confused too, especially since Mo Xuanyu's appearance is really similar to (read: the same as) young Wei Ying's.
• There really won't be any BL (gayness) since this was aired on Chinese TV. So people who don't like BL, go ahead and give this series a try, and those who came for the BL, try not to be too disappointed.
• The dynamic between the five clans is very interesting and well-written, but also really confusing at first. I suggest looking up a character/clan-map to keep on the side while watching.

Anyways, anyone who hasn't given Mo Dao Zu Shi a try, definitely should! This show has taken my heart hostage within the first three minutes of the first episode (at the 2-3 minute mark specifically, I've watched that flute+zombies sequence at least fifty times now), and it still hasn't given it back. I thought I was too old to fangirl over a fictional story, but it turns out I just haven't been watching the right ones! Words can't describe how much I love this. It's not really like a first love, but rather an obsessive, passionate love that takes hold of you when you were sure you wouldn't be able to feel such emotions again.

Mo Dao Zu Shi's episodes, released every Friday night, is pretty much the only thing getting me through the week right now. I don't know what I'm going to do, now that Season 1 is over... At least there's two more seasons to look forward to! See you in 2019!

This show portrays traditional Chinese drama perfectly - in animation form! The director made the plot simpler by putting all the flashbacks into one season, instead of the way the novel did it. All the characters are elaborated perfectly. Would've had a 10/10 if they kept the relationship between Lan Zhan and Wei Ying... But we all know that's not possible since it's China :/

Great story with beautiful art and music ! Although the animation did not follow the novel precisely (especially the romance between the two main characters has been "hidden", the anime still has plenty to offer.

Animation is very great and art are also very beautiful and the best thing the storyline.It impressive!

Where do I even begin, there's so much I love about this show! All of the characters are extremely well designed and dynamic. Even characters that had considerably small amounts of screen time breathed into life with layers of personality built on a simple sentence or their expressions and even gestures. You can't help but empathize with the characters because they come across as very authentically human and relatable. The voice acting is superb as they are able to convey these characters in very realistic and human ways. There are also so many deep analogies through imagery such as contrasts in the background or deeper meanings reflected in nature which really goes to show the superb directing abilities of the producers. Many of the messages delivered in this show are extremely subtle that compiles into a bigger picture which is what makes this show so re-watchable because you can always catch something new that you haven't realized before. This story is a deeply enticing one that explores the themes of honour, sacrifice, love, family, and the cyclical nature of human life. The art itself is of extremely high quality, the movements are very fluid, and the music beautifully transitions and sets the tone for important moments. This is a powerful story that will leave you to continuously think about as it continue to explore the subtlety in love. For those who may have heard of the BL elements in this show and want to avoid it, it's so subtle you almost have to look for it. The storyline itself is very intricate and weaves many complex emotions for all of the characters. It's a beautifully crafted story where the protagonists happen to develop romantic feelings rather than having an absentminded romantic plot that is just dropped on the audience. Afterall, love is love is love, who cares what form it's in? Strongly urge everyone to give this show a try!