The Immortal Ascension

"The Immortal Ascension" truly stands out! The stunning real - life scenes, like the breathtaking landscapes of Xinjiang and Guizhou, bring an immersive feel. Yang Yang shines as Han Li, nailing his character's growth from a naive lad to a shrewd cultivator.

The special effects, especially in battles, are top - notch, and the well - choreographed fight scenes are a treat. However, the fast - paced plot might leave some details overlooked. Overall, it's a must - watch for fantasy fans.

The show starts off slow, and I completely understand why many people felt that way-I almost dropped it myself. But as the episodes progress, it gets better and better. The story gradually becomes so engaging, and the CGI improves tremendously, especially during the mid-series fight scenes-they were just wow!

This review is for anyone thinking of giving up early: don't. You'll miss out on an amazing story and top-notch production. After finishing it, I truly feel it deserves far more hype than it currently has because the storytelling is outstanding.

I will upload this review on MDL too.

The first three episodes of THE IMMORTAL ASCENSION were promising - they take place in a gorgeous setting, show a warm relationship between the two boys. Both boys are under the care of a menacing antagonist, in the guise of an old "master." Yang Yang's acting was superb in these episodes.

Then the series fell apart.

The rest of the drama seemed to be slapped together without much effort or forethought. The "grandmasters" who are supposed to be the epitome of knowledge and sagacity, don't seem to have any moral compass or any real wisdom to impart.

Han Li was a constant puzzle to me. What was his goal? He seemed to be fixated on gaining magical artifacts, rising in status, and eventually achieving immortality without creating any meaningful connections with anyone--male or female, human or immortal. He did have a few tender moments with an animated mouse. Even his affection for his family seemed almost non-existent.

A number of mostly forgettable women pursue him. Does he have a capacity for intimacy? For love? If he did, I sure couldn't detect it.

Generic demons and bad guys show up, fight Han Li, and are destroyed. We know they're evil because, they scream at their underlings, smirk and laugh diabolically, and try to kill the good guys. Monsters include lizards with glowing eyes, a serpent, and a mantis demon or two, each, in turn, dispatched to the great beyond. Lots of spiky golden wheels turn in the sky.

I DID like the ending, and I'll probably watch Season 2.

As for Yang Yang the actor, I understand he studied dance and plays the piano. I'm glad he's got other interests. Hope there's someone in his life encouraging him to build a life on something other than his youthful good looks (which are mentioned by reviewers incessantly) so that he's not totally devastated when they're gone. Seven stars.

Yang Yang's portrayal of Han Li is nothing short of a divine embodiment straight from the pages of the novel. His nuanced and profound acting captures the character's core-that resilience and intelligence shimmering beneath an ordinary exterior. The initial simplicity and naivety of a rural youth are portrayed naturally through his clear gaze and subtle body language. As the character's power grows, Han Li'scold, introverted, and strategic nature is layered and elevated through Yang Yang's restrained yet powerful performance. He not only conveys the character's low-key and enduring philosophy of survival but also hints at his sharpness withexcatly facial expressions, making the cunning and vigilance of "Old Demon Han" leap off the screen.

In action sequences, Yang Yang's posture is as firm as a pine tree, his movements fluid, perfectly blending the ethereal elegance of Taoist combat with tension. In dramatic scenes, he uses his eyes to communicate the complex inner world of Han Li-from lonely courage to responsibility, from restraint to resolution. Every step of his growth is filled with emotional impact. Yang Yang proves with his acting that he needs no exaggeration: through a deep understanding of the character's soul alone, he can forge the epic of a mortal's journey to immortality into a stunning and vivid chapter.

The number of people praising The Immortal Ascension as being the best xianxia of 2025 have set the bar shamefully low.

Absolutely everything about this show is overhyped. In fact, the success of this show is possibly powered entirely by Yang Yang's fans, who insist that Yang Yang "delivered a captivating performance." I think we need to be clear about which aspects of his performance were captivating. First, he really is very good at the combat choreography aspect of his role, and it doesn't seem like he needed a stunt double (based on the behind-the-scenes footage). However, acting-wise, it's like watching paint dry. He doesn't emote in a convincing way, and though he does display some degree of "spatial awareness," it feels forced (that is, he doesn't come across as being fully immersed in the role). Simply put, his acting feels very wooden, which is exactly how I feel about Zhao Xiao Tang's performance as well. This proves that having an attractive cast doesn't guarantee a show's success, especially when the actors are a mismatch for their roles.

To make matters worse, the storyline was all over the place. The first few episodes served as a clever smokescreen that piqued my curiosity, but after that, it starts going downhill fast. By episode 20, it becomes evident that the key to enjoying the show is not thinking too deeply about the plot or caring at all about character development. Just enjoy the combat sequences and CGI because that's literally all that's being served here.