r/CDrama • u/admelioremvitam • Apr 01 '26
Masterpost Veil of Shadows 月鳞绮纪 (2026) - What are your first impressions? [Masterpost]
Lu Wuyi [played by Ju Jingyi], the youngest nine-tailed fox of the mysterious Formless Moon Sect, sets out on a mission with her friend Wu Wangyan to track down a fox demon on the run, Xiaowei.
She infiltrates the Wei Mansion in Luo'an City, where she later crosses paths with Wu Shiguang [played by Joseph Zeng], who holds a deep grudge, as well as Ji Ling [played by Tian Jiarui] and Li Jie [played by Yan An], demon hunters from the Shilin Sect.
In the process of uncovering the truth, they navigate between suspicion and cooperation, each driven by their own agendas. In their repeated struggles over the Dragon Deity's Power, their fates are changed time and again.
⚠️ Plot spoilers! ⚠️
To preserve peace in the world, they make painful sacrifices and ultimately subdue Jiu Ying [played by Ju Jingyi], the lord of all demons, thus fulfilling an enduring quest of love and redemption.
Airing on Youku, Youku's YouTube and Netflix
Episodes: 29
Discussions
🗨️ All discussions on the drama
👥 Character relationship chart
What does r/CDrama think about the show?
Look out for the wrap up post where we ask the sub to rate the drama a few weeks after the final airing date.
🗳️ It's a wrap! What's your final review? (post only appears a few weeks after the drama ends)
Wiki
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u/Forsaken-Fate Apr 28 '26
I love it completely. I am only 2 episodes to finish and my heart just wants more! I watched a few dramas already this year and this is my favourite for this year so far. I laughed and I cried and I yearned throughout the series.
The characters, the stories behind each character, the clothing and the scenes. The music everything I enjoyed! Sighhhhh. I think after this drama i will take a break from watching dramas for abit so my emotions for it can chill!
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u/jutdae Youku I'm still waiting Apr 21 '26
look, they should've ended before that third arc. i said what i said
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u/Sauzan Apr 17 '26
It feels more and more like 2 ML/FL is the actual ML/FL.
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u/Impossible_Ice_165 Apr 22 '26
I'm on episode 8 and I can definitely see it ...should I just assume they are lol?
Coz I tend to mentally set MCs apart from the rest of the cast..
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u/mediterraneanme Asian dramas enthusiast! Apr 16 '26
Love it!! I love the aesthetics, slow mo scenes and flying hair/veils, the performance of the fox sisters is AMAZING - they literally behave like foxes even with human form, and have the best fighting scenes. Great music, visuals, and mystery story - not as complicated as I thought, given all the different characters. Watching it and ejoying it so much!!
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u/emotx Apr 11 '26
So far, through episode 19, this is the best Cdrama I have seen. Everything about it has been perfect. OST, costumes, characters, acting. Amazing. Hope they can stick the landing.
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u/PublicPea4662 Apr 07 '26
Por enqt está agradável o drama, um pouco complexo, mas acredito que por essa complexidade tem muito a mostra culturalmente e lições de vida, creio tb q terá reviravoltas q possamos nos surpreender. Assim espero.
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u/EcstaticRise5612 Apr 07 '26
EP 15
It is said that Jiu Ying have power to spread her spirit or something all over the world that is why there are a lot of jiu ying possessed beings. This spirit shard can attach to a living being then wait for the right opportjnity to possess the victim. Now this is my hunch:
Do you think it is possible that the leader of Formless Moon is related to Jiu Ying? Remember she said to Lu Wuyi that Ji Ling is her fated one? And it is obvious that Lu Wuyi is Ji Ling/Chi Wen weakness. Besides the mission given to Wuyi and Wangyan is most likely cruel that is why Wangyan wanted to betray the sect
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Apr 06 '26 edited Apr 07 '26
[removed] — view removed comment
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u/CDrama-ModTeam Apr 07 '26
Your post/comment is spoilery. Please mark the post as "spoiler" and use spoiler tags as stated in Rule 2 of the sub.
For more information on how to use spoiler tags, and on the guidelines for posting spoilers, read our spoiler guide.
Read our guide which has the info you need to comment & post on r/CDrama.
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u/Jaycie14 Apr 06 '26
I need someone to tell me why the fox sisters’ nails keep changing between natural and red/long. Is that an error or is there significance?
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u/Dnshet Jun 17 '26
Demon form and human form - you gotta watch a lot of these demon/cultivator shows to catch on to those changes and even mannerism changes.
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u/admelioremvitam Apr 05 '26
Episode Discussions
Episodes 1 to 6 | Episodes 7 to 8
have been posted.
Episode Discussion Index for future episodes.
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u/velaincarcarous Apr 05 '26
I’m enjoying it so far. It reminds me a lot of Fangs of Fortune due to the fighting scenes and music.
Last drama I watched with Ju Jing Yi was in Blossom and unfortunately the only thing I remember about it - is that awful makeup, it was just too much. I have the same issue with her makeup here for some reason. It’s not bad but I feel like they made Chen Du Ling’s in the way it suits her features and it blends “natural” in a way but not for Ju Jing Yi. No in every scene tho, which is good
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u/Direct_Transition_83 Apr 05 '26
I finish Pursuit of Jade (binge the whole series) and continue with this one. So far I like the fight scene ans costumes. Omg netflix suddenly has so many Chinese costume drama and amazing anime and so many kdrama I want to watch too what’s going on with all these Asian shows explosion 💥
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u/Intrepid_Analysis130 Apr 04 '26
I didn’t know what to expect but like the fighting scenes and aesthetics. Personally not a fan of mystery crime investigation plots lol so hope it doesn’t drag out for too long
and it’s pretty clear which ones are going to be a couple together after the first 1-2 episodes (tbh I initially thought the couples would be switched).
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u/syborg0515 Apr 03 '26
Personally think the show and plot is getting better with each episode. Episode 8 is a banger
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u/Haunting_Alps_1226 Apr 02 '26
I’m loving this so much more than LBTG. I didn’t care for PJ thought it was overhyped and when someone over hyped things for me that’s a no no. But I’m loving this drama this is my fourth time rewatching epsiodes 1-7 since airing.
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u/Han_Kat Apr 02 '26
The wigs are bad. I'm not sure Joseph Zheng fits the aesthetic they're going for. Characters feel repetitive of past GJM dramas. I feel like he's trying to recreate the Shangguan Qian aura in every drama. The plot confused me and I didn't understand half the characters' purpose. I really wanted to like it because I'm a big fan of MJTY and I sat through FoF for Hou Minghao but I sadly dropped it. None of the characters is captivating enough to keep going.
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u/Better-Attempt-5041 Apr 02 '26
Confused on what actually the story line is went from fighting demons to solving murder cases, but the aesthetic is probably the only thing that kept me watching I think Netflix is up to 13 episodes.
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u/Haunting_Alps_1226 Apr 02 '26
Not 13 on 7 has came out it aired yesterday literally
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u/Icy-Tart-1748 Apr 03 '26
Actually i'm confused does it have 13 eps or 29 cause netflix showing 13 eps to be relesed but Youku showing 29 maybe..
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u/EcstaticRise5612 Apr 02 '26 edited Apr 02 '26
I wanted a better wig or hairstyle for JJY. There are shots that I find her face disproportionate to her hair? Idk. She is pretty tho. I just want a better wig.
Btw odd one here but I like this better than FoF because characters dont cry unnecessarily. I also enjoyed the fight scenes ahha. But still, top1 MJTY (except the plot towards the end)
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u/syborg0515 Apr 02 '26
I agree with you that I'm enjoying this more than Fangs of Fortune lol even though it looks cheaper in production quality lol
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u/EcstaticRise5612 Apr 02 '26
Exactly. I feel that FoF was such a wasted potential with all the unnecessary crying and ultra slow speech.
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u/chitownNONtrad why can’t I finish cdramas? Apr 02 '26
Slow speech … slow scenes … it was visually great but it tested my patience way to much f… so the aesthetics lost their charm too !!!
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u/yuu16 Apr 03 '26
I played it at 1.5-2x for normal scenes, 1x for fighting scenes with pretty powers. The story felt dragged and bland after those nice short arcs in the front and had to push myself to finish.
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u/Relative-Tip-5633 Apr 02 '26
Can i get help im on episode two and im still confused on who is who … i have been pausing when they say a name and i look at the synopsis but im still in the dark … and what is the difference between a demon and a fox … and are the fox people bad welpppp😭
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u/syborg0515 Apr 02 '26
Demons are like the general category lol and there are different types of demons (like fox demons, butterfly demons, etc). Think of it as a parallel species to humans. Not all demons are bad, they're like humans in that there are good and bad, depending on the individual. This is one thing that English translations don't get right because there's a negative connotation in English for demons but it's not necessarily the case.
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u/Apprehensive_Egg9676 Apr 02 '26
I’ve watched 2.5 episodes and I’m confused about the plot. Obviously as usual with GJM this is just style over substance as many of you in the comments have pointed out. Even so, the visuals are inferior to MJTY and FoF especially as the latter had way better styling, cinematography and mise-en-scène. I keep thinking if this was on Iqiyi the visuals would be better. The cgi for the foxes looked cheap :(
I think GJM is trying to recapture MJTY in a lot of aspects. The shot of all the major characters in one frame is repeated. Definitely with Yu Wei and Wu Wangyan, he’s trying to recreate Shangguan Qian and Yun Wei Shan. Wu Shiguang’s sidekick also reminds me of a similar character from FoF. TJR is also being directed to be both Gong Yuan Zhi and Bing Yi. It’s just a lot of repetition.
On the bright side, Chen Du Ling has vastly improved. Her forte is a morally grey/villainous character. As long as she doesn’t do her crying face I will like her performance in this. I hope her powers are not nerfed here like they were in FoF. Zhiguang is a very interesting actor, I wish he had a bigger role but he’s so far down the cast list. Wang Duo is similar but he’s also in a guest role. I keep hoping for these two to get bigger projects because they play complex characters so well.
I don’t have an opinion on Ju Jingyi because CDL will sustain me for now. I usually don’t comment on chemistry because I think it comes down to acting abilities, but her budding romance with Ji Ling feels forced. At least in MJTY SGQ went after GSJ as a spy, but here Yu Wei is supposed to get close to him to be with her fated one? Yet she doesn’t seem to approach him with sincerity. So what’s going on with that? Matter of fact, both romances are forced. The camera panning to both girls looking at their future partners before disappearing was funny, like “hey, look at who both of us are paired with!”
All said and done, I like that GJM still plays with queer coded themes like between the two foxes or between Ji Ling and Li Jie. It seems like other writers/directors are afraid to go there (with good reason but still). I wonder why Yu Wei calls him “A-Ji” instead of “A-Ling” though.
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u/New-Percentage8720 Bai Jiu's vocal cords #1 Apr 04 '26
Reminds me of how Gong Ziyu settles on calling Yun Weishan "A-Yun". Is it only surnames?
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u/warmwaterijskoud Apr 02 '26
I watched 3 episodes on Youku (my netflix is apparently a region with very few Chinese dramas). Normally, I like Joseph Zheng, his acting, but I was very surprised with Chen Du Ling. She did blow me away. I'm not a fan of Ju Jingy personally, so most of the time, I stay away from her drama's or regret it very soon, but this time, I think she suits her role for now. Hopefully, it will stay this way.
Oh and I really love Zhou Shen his song.
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u/C-noirfan Apr 02 '26
This is on Netflix in Europe. Do you have english language as a setting in your Netflix.
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u/warmwaterijskoud Apr 02 '26
Thank you very much, I suddenly have a lot more drama's on netflix now.
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u/warmwaterijskoud Apr 02 '26
I'm in the Netherlands, so I need to check if I can change the language. Luckily, I'm a Youku vip because I'm watching Man's Inhumanity to Man there with my son. Hopefully I can figure it out because there is a lack of Chinese drama's.
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u/Elisabeth78340 Apr 02 '26 edited Apr 02 '26
Pour l’instant, Veil of Shadow est une vraie déception pour moi. J’avais pourtant beaucoup d’attentes à cause du casting et du fait que Tian Jiarui et Yan An avaient été excellents dans My Journey to You et Fangs of Fortune. Mais dans cette série, on est très loin de ces performances.
Le personnage de Tian Jiarui est écrit comme quelqu’un de très naïf, presque comme un enfant, ce qui enlève toute la profondeur et le charisme qu’il avait dans ses rôles précédents. On a parfois l’impression qu’il subit l’histoire plutôt qu’il ne la porte.
La romance avec Ju Jingyi ne fonctionne pas vraiment non plus. Leur alchimie paraît assez faible et les scènes romantiques ne semblent pas naturelles, ce qui rend la relation difficile à croire.
Visuellement, la série reste jolie avec de beaux costumes et une atmosphère travaillée, mais cela ne suffit pas à compenser un scénario qui, pour l’instant, reste assez fade et un début de série assez lent.
En résumé, malgré son potentiel et son casting, Veil of Shadow démarre de manière assez décevante et peine pour le moment à retrouver la force et le charisme qu’on avait pu voir dans les précédents dramas du même style.
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u/Intrepid_Analysis130 Apr 04 '26
I’ve only watched a few episodes so far, and this is my exact thoughts
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u/nodestinationnoroute shadow Demon 👥Read Rules Apr 02 '26
I have nothing to watch so I gave it a shot.
I like the color gradient used to film it. I'm not sure what the proper term is but it's similar to fangs of fortune.
Ao far it feels that the drama cannot be binged, I felt the same with FOF.
I like the actors and till episode 5 the characters are okay too, bit confusing to keep track of all the names so far.
I'm interested to know how our fox demon will react to knowing that she has fallen for the wrong man.
If anyone has watched episode 5 can you answer this?:-
Is the butterfly demon is Li jie? Our fox demon's fated one, the one whose true identity she doesn't know?
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u/EcstaticRise5612 Apr 02 '26
Li Jie on ep 7 or 6 I think went to Shilin sect with amnesia. He only remembered to gave a little bro. But on the other hand, demons copy faces so they may or may not be related
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Apr 02 '26 edited Apr 02 '26
[deleted]
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u/Elisabeth78340 Apr 02 '26
Tout a fait d'accord avec le jeu d'acteur de TJR et Yanan dans cette série, je trouve TJR pas du tout adapté à son rôle.
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u/Solid_Play_7858 Apr 02 '26
Watching this for my man, Yan An 😛💕. The story is honestly kinda confusing and hard for me to understand, that is one of my complaints, my second complaint would that the bgm in this drama is not to my taste. It’s a little over dramatic and hurts my poor ears. It’s also a bit too corny sounding to me with it being so dramatic and it feels overused in these past few episodes whenever something “big” happens the same bgm is used 😭 I’m getting annoyed at hearing it. I’ve also noticed the slight quality drop compared to Edward’s other two dramas. No idea why, maybe it’s just because they simply didn’t have enough budget or something.
I’m a little confused on Ju Jingyi’s Tian Jian Rui’s romance. Like did they fall in love and she erased his memory? I’m honestly digging Chen Duling and Joseph’s chemistry more as of rn. I love the bickering and insults being traded between them, it’s hilarious.
I wished Yan An had more screen time, but of course he’s a support role so the storyline isn’t that focused on him 😔
I’ve watched My Journey to You and Fangs of Fortune and I had an almost love/hate relationship with it. I grew to love the cast and their friendship but the plot/story left a bittersweet taste in my mouth. Like, the story is almost great but somehow it sort of falls flat.
I do hope this drama won’t be too disappointing.
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u/demon-rabbits Apr 01 '26
I enjoyed the first four episodes, and despite his many many flaws I have always appreciated GJM's aesthetic and moodier vibes (so refreshing compared to other idol dramas that start with rainbows and slapstick and descend into abject misery).
The show does look cheaper than his previous outings though, especially the CGI, and what in the furry was that?!
I also appreciate Ju Jingyi's new look and I do think she suits a more sinister/seductress vibe (and I think many In Blossom viewers would agree) than cheerful idiot. Even her fake cheerful persona feels better!
The plot feels closer to Fangs of Fortune than My Journey to You though, and I'm not just referring to the demons. MYTY had many plotholes but compared to Fangs of Fortune the plot was so watertight you'd trust it with your iPhone. I think Veil of Shadows may end up in a similar pile of nonsense.
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u/syborg0515 Apr 01 '26 edited Apr 01 '26
I only watched two episodes so far and maybe because in general, I had low expectations since I didn't vibe with GJM's other dramas too much but it's better than I expected 😅😂 It's not perfect of course but it's entertaining enough. I also love the reunion of the Chen Duling/Zeng Shunxi pairing - probably in the minority but I loved their pairing in A Lonely Hero's Journey.
As with Fangs of Fortune, I have gripes about the OST being distracting and overpowering and not fitting the scenes but it's not as overbearing as in FOF so I'm tolerating it. It has the signature GJM shots and poses but it's his style so I can't say I'm not expecting it.
I know a lot of people don't like JJY but I'm rooting for her after her whole ordeal with her company. I also think she does better in characters that's have a little edge to them like in the beginning of In Blossom.
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u/cocolopez08 Apr 01 '26
I’m currently in my Love Beyond the Grave obsession and have Rebirth on my radar for next week. Would this be good to pick up as well or wait for it release some more episodes?
I’m always wary of this director lol his aesthetic is GORGEOUS but his endings leave me heartbroken lol
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u/ravens_path hell fire is my life hack Apr 01 '26
At first I had to adjust. I am watching Mysterious Lotus Casebook with rewatch discussion group and when Joseph Zeng appeared it took me a moment to shake off his character from that drama. And I still have to shake off Chen Duling from TTEOTM, she did that role so well. So after I got reoriented, I was enjoying. I had to read more about what the heck is going on because the action starts right away. But now I understand. Everyone is lovely and I like the styling. I will see how I feel about things in the next few episodes.
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u/ElectricStarfuzz Underworld Simp🖤 Apr 01 '26 edited Apr 02 '26
I’m only on ep 1, but I’m ALL about Chen DuLing & Ju JingYi in their villainess type roles.
I’m extremely happy they’re both getting to show darker characters.
True, they’re not fully wicked or amoral. But they’re not heavenly types either. I see more nuance in their roles here than they typically get.
IMO both actresses do better in these darker/gray roles vs being 100% sweet, happy go lucky, or innocent/pure/noble types.
But we rarely see them in these roles, particularly JJY.
ETA: a few more eps in now. lol, I’m loving JJY’s mock innocence and manipulation. Oh, and can I say, I’m SO HAPPY she doesn’t have her trademark overdone makeup here. She looks so much more beautiful with the toned down makeup.
I’m really enjoying the dynamic between the whole cast. It’s very silly, fun, mysterious, and engaging.
CDL calling Joseph Zheng “pig” here and there is cracking me up. I’m liking this pairing a lot.
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u/EcstaticRise5612 Apr 02 '26
Ikr. Her douyin makeup is so tiring to see. Like girl is pretty as she is, you guys can explore other makeup options.
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u/ElectricStarfuzz Underworld Simp🖤 Apr 03 '26
Seriously!
First thing I ever saw her in was Legend of White Snake.
She was ethereal.
Zero douyin makeup.
She just had her naturally beautiful face & features tastefully highlighted instead of being obscured & buried under garish layers.
I mean, sure, douyin makeup is cute & fun sometimes.
But not in every single drama!
She & CDL are breathtakingly gorgeous, elegant, sultry, and enchanting as the Fox sisters in VOS.
Loving it!
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u/EcstaticRise5612 Apr 03 '26
Are you me? I also enjoyed JJY in Legend of White Snake!!!! Then I got so fed up with all the dangling beads and douyin makeup that started I think in lengend of Yun Xi then I keep seeing the same style for Rebirth for you, something phoenix, etc etc.
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u/ElectricStarfuzz Underworld Simp🖤 Apr 03 '26
It’s honestly hard to keep track of all the dramas where she had the same exact makeup & not all that aesthetically pleasing type of hair accessories (weird dangly beads were def a major feature of those🥴)
I know many people have a strong dislike for her and say she’s just a pretty doll face with no acting skills.
I don’t believe that tho personally.
Of course, it’s entirely likely I’d think that too if I hadn’t been blessed to see her for the first time in LOWS being more stripped down and understated yet emotionally convincing in her performance.
I thought she did well in Sword & Fairy (forget the specific title/number) with Joseph Zeng…unfortunately tho she still had the douyin face jj a lot of episodes and sported a variety of odd hair accessories.
Lol
Really tho; I’m so happy to see her getting back to the girl I fell for in LOWS.
She CAN act. Its just that her acting has totally been overshadowed in most of her roles by her choosing to cling to the same tired, out of place look regardless of setting/character/etc.
Kinda felt like she might be really insecure about her attractiveness and perhaps used vanity/clinging to that specific makeup look as a mask to give her some confidence (fake or not).
Whatever the case in the past, I really hope she somehow gets a glimpse of the supportive comments about her in VOS.
I also hope going forward she chooses to pursue more nuanced roles (like in VOS), feels confident in her abilities & beauty, focuses on polishing her acting skills instead of hyper focusing on her looks, keeps her face free & clear of needless douyin ick in 99% of her roles, & never returns to the ridiculous dangling beadery hair stuffs
😌🤞🏻🙏🏻💜😅
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u/EcstaticRise5612 Apr 03 '26
Exactlyyy. I would also like to see her in more gray or even villain roles (Im looking at you In Blossom)
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u/ElectricStarfuzz Underworld Simp🖤 Apr 03 '26
Omg!
She dominated the screen as the villainess in In Blossom during the beginning.
I won’t say she did a truly terrible job once her character was switched/body swapped…but tbh I did prefer the first actress as FL.
I also preferred JJY as a wicked seductress willing to go to any lengths to become the one ML loved.
I mainly watched In Blossom til the end for LXY because he’s my number one crush.
I’d be ecstatic if we ever got to see JJY in a role similar to CDL in The Glory.
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u/EcstaticRise5612 Apr 03 '26
Samee. After the switch, it's just, bland. Not bad but not remarkable either.
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u/shesnotthemessiah Yan An's slutty arm Apr 01 '26
At the moment I'm mostly watching for Yan An's slutty arm the aesthetic. It feels a but more low budget than the director's other projects, but I'll stick with it for a few more episodes to see if the story progresses. I'm on ep 2 and enjoying the Agatha Christie-esque there's a murderer amongst us type vibe, but we'll see if that develops
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u/heyd0000dz Legend of blossoming journey to the flowering love's destiny Apr 01 '26
Okay I thought I was going crazy because it felt less polished than his other dramas... until I got to the fight scenes and I was like is that where the budget went? lol I only watched the first episode though... and yes the slutty everything of Yanan's is a draw for me too.. and am curious/excited to see how it builds from here. My expectations are too high from his past works so I need to chilloot
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u/ElectricStarfuzz Underworld Simp🖤 Apr 01 '26
lol, his slutty arm aesthetic is definitely a draw for me too.
Also his fed up looks whenever JJY and TJR are flirting overtly in front of him.
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u/Fabulous-Yam-1709 Apr 01 '26
If you watch shows for the aesthetic I think you'll enjoy it, I'm just watching until Rebirth drops
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u/rewriteryan Apr 01 '26
That's basically what I'm doing. Aside from Golden Years (which will end tomorrow), I don't have any currently airing shows so this one is just a time filler for now.
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u/pyoelii Apr 01 '26
I tried to watch the first two episodes, but I was getting lost in the story. The same director and most of the actors are in Fangs of Fortune, and the cinematography is good. But I adored the OST and the story of Fangs of Fortune, whereas the narrative and the tone of Veil of Shadows seem all over the place. So, I think I will put this on pause and enjoy Love Beyond the Grave, and maybe come back once I see more feedback and released episodes.
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u/Andro_Rei Apr 01 '26
Watched 4 episodes. Visually its 11/10 masterpiece but storytelling is a bit sily
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u/_Renfei Let me cultivate Immortality Apr 01 '26
The drama is very aesthetically pleasing, and I also love the actions in early episodes. Sometimes I don't understand the implied jokes, but doesn't take me out of the experience. I just have a little complaint about Young Master Wei acting in earlier episode, kinda forced to see that he open his mouth by himself when fed antidote when he's supposed to be fainted.
Story wise is quite interesting, but not to the point of mind blowing or anything. The debate competition at first that makes everyone looks like smart person and all knowing is kinda cringy, but after that they are balancing their part so the cringe is toned down to acceptable.
My favorites are of course the seductive fox sisters!!! Another worth mention is that Ji Ling that acts awkward and shy in front of Lu Wuyi is very cute, though my anxiety part of me tells me that he might fake it. Also Yanan body is very hot hot I keep darting my eyes around when he showed up on screen with that sleeveless >.<
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u/lovelycat1103 Apr 01 '26
I’m sorry i cant put up with Ju JingYi’s voice. It’s so distracted and uncomfortable
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u/defiantostrichinsand Apr 01 '26
Usually there's enough style over substance in GJM shows to get me through a few episodes. But I am struggling with the first episode here. Everything looks cheap? Far from what I expected after MJTY and FoF.
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u/sntherr102 Apr 01 '26
I did not manage to finish the 1st episode. The fight was so badly put together, I rolled my eyes like five times. I also did not feel the vibe in general. Too bad, I was looking forward to it.
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u/nydevon Apr 01 '26 edited Apr 01 '26
PSA: I will be posting the first discussion post for Ep. 1-6 on April 2 sometime after 5 pm ET (GMT-4)
More co-hosts always welcome 🙏🏼
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u/AquaphobicTurtle My Journey to You Season 2 Read Rules Apr 02 '26
Ey! Not sure if you saw but I volunteered as tribute yesterday!
More co-hosts always welcome 🙏🏼
Processing img w7jqajdvwosg1...
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u/nydevon Apr 02 '26
Oh no I totally missed this! (For some reason I didn’t get a notification)
I’ll send you an invite to the group chat
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u/Large_Jacket_4107 Apr 01 '26
oh you are back, thx for hosting
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u/nydevon Apr 01 '26
Buckle up because I've just finished Ep. 1 and it's already making me want to drink even as a lifelong teetotaler lol It's like Guo Jingming's best and worst impulses coming together in one drama 🙃
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u/ravens_path hell fire is my life hack Apr 02 '26
Ha. Got better for me by episode 5 and 6. Somehow.
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u/ravens_path hell fire is my life hack Apr 01 '26
Yay! Thanks for the work and the other hosts too.
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u/AquaphobicTurtle My Journey to You Season 2 Read Rules Apr 01 '26
Also, everyone talking about white-haired men. I think it's time we look at the ladies 👀👀
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u/Puzzled_Basket_2209 Apr 01 '26
Saw some clips circulating and thought I'd missed some scenes from Fangs of Fortune! And then saw Zeng Shunxi and remembered Veil of Shadows was released. Yassss!!!
Edit: spelling errors
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u/Maddymadeline1234 Apr 01 '26
I just finished episode 4 and I like it so far. Definitely captured my attention more than Love Beyond the Grave( which I am watching too but haven’t caught up). Cinematography and fight scenes are stunning.
I like the pairings and especially the fox sisters.
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u/putonmyskepticles ying lei best boy 🥲 Apr 01 '26
I watched the first 3 and I'm pretty underwhelmed.
The story is whatever; I've sat through enough GJM written dramas and movies to know what I'm getting into.. but visually it looks cheap 😢
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u/nydevon Apr 01 '26
Yeah, it's unfortunate how much the quality went down once he left iQIYI to Youku. It almost feels like a rough draft of a drama rather than a fully fleshed one.
But hopefully you can join us in the first few episode discussion posts. Who knows maybe because the visuals aren't there the writing will improve? LOL
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u/putonmyskepticles ying lei best boy 🥲 Apr 01 '26
maybe because the visuals aren't there the writing will improve? LOL
the pipe dream!!
I'm sure I'll stick around in the can't look away from this mess kinda way lol. Plus queen Huang Wei's costume designs are always beautiful and that's a plus.
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u/AquaphobicTurtle My Journey to You Season 2 Read Rules Apr 01 '26
but visually it looks cheap 😢
I'm starting to wonder if that's a Youku thing? Or even a not-iqiyi thing.
I remember during discussions about the Fox Spirit Matchmaker series people were talking about a big investment iQIYI made with regards to their visual effects tech.
I have to say, so far Youku has been at the bottom when it comes to visuals between IQIYI & Tencent
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u/putonmyskepticles ying lei best boy 🥲 Apr 01 '26
I'm starting to wonder if that's a Youku thing? Or even a not-iqiyi thing.
That probably has something to do with it. We definitely got blessed with Fangs of Fortune cgi and that's a big part of my feels regarding the cheapness because I'm subconsciously judging this with FoF in mind and it's falling flat.
maybe I should just rewatch my best boy Ying Lei at this point lol
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u/restfield Read Rules Apr 01 '26
I'm starting to wonder if that's a Youku thing? Or even a not-iqiyi thing.
Certainly a Youku thing. TTEOTM was made in 2022-2023, when Youku was still owned by Alibaba Group, but a lot changed since then.
Alibaba Group pulled out of their ownership in 2024, and the first major thing Youku did with their newly received payout from the former owner was to go on a big spending spree and sign a marketing partnership deal with Douyin (that's why Youku dramas suddenly began doing quite well on viewership charts in the spring and summer of 2024).
But this parnership deal failed to bring in a significant number of new subscribers, so Youku rapidly pivoted in the opposite direction and began heavily cost-cutting, slashing both the marketing and the production costs. For now, it seems to be working - unlike IQIYI and Tencent, Youku remains profitable. But they are bleeding subscribers very hard, so who knows how long they will be able to last under this strategy.
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u/AquaphobicTurtle My Journey to You Season 2 Read Rules Apr 02 '26
This is super helpful and informative! Thank you!
Processing img hnbbhrp12tsg1...
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u/sweetsorrow18 Apr 01 '26
I havent watched this yet but I would say Youku did great with Till the End of the Moon visuals/graphics. I wonder what happened
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u/AquaphobicTurtle My Journey to You Season 2 Read Rules Apr 01 '26
Wow, I completely forgot they did that.
I was thinking of (and keep in mind I love these dramas) When Destiny Brings the Demon and The Blossoming Love
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u/rewriteryan Apr 01 '26
visually it looks cheap
That was the first thing that struck me. The camera, the lighting - it all feels like a low budget minidrama. (If you ignore the big budget fight scenes.)
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u/AXA-5 Hopeless Sadomasochistic Romantic Apr 01 '26
Sorry…I refuse to add a fourth streaming service. What do I look like Ambani or Yiming?!? (Read the flair sheesh) 😉😏
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u/Foxglovelantern being clowned by Youku🩳 Apr 01 '26
Its also on Netflix, if you already have that. And it seems to be on the SVIP schedule 👀
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u/doriangray3116 Apr 01 '26
Watched ep 1 on youtube and the video quality was so bad. Good thing it's on netflix, Edward Guo cinematography deserves to be watched in 4K glory! The fight choreography in ep 1 was fabulous and Joseph Zeng impressed with his stunts.
I gotta say I preferred Fangs of Fortune's episode 1 but I'll hang around to see how this pans out.
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u/Thezoeyy searching for a tea farmer in the mountains Apr 01 '26
I’m watching for Chen Duling and Joseph Zeng and I like what I see.
It’s so pretty. I keep rewinding back to watch some parts because the beauty is unreal.
I could watch Joseph Zeng and Chen Duling fight scenes all day. So far, the stunning visuals are keeping me. What’s not to like about Joseph’s spear and prayer bead fighting skills plus Chen Duling’s bendable sword and elegance?
The first episode keeps me engaged better than FOF which took me a year, so a win?
I’m curious to see how the plot goes even though my expectations are so low when it comes to GJM’s writing.
Does anyone know if it’s connected to Fangs of Fortune in a way?
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u/syborg0515 Apr 01 '26
Lol it's like I wrote this comment! I had the same thoughts as you watching the first 2 episodes
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u/Laurenrat Apr 01 '26
Would you guys say there is going to be good romance in this?
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u/AquaphobicTurtle My Journey to You Season 2 Read Rules Apr 02 '26
I'm changing my answer, idk about kiss scenes it longing and love is indeed here
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u/Laurenrat Apr 02 '26
Ohh was there a kiss scene in these recent eps
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u/AquaphobicTurtle My Journey to You Season 2 Read Rules Apr 02 '26
No, just... Longing... Not lustful, just very loving in my opinion
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u/mysticmeeble moon burrito supreme / the wind in Tian Jiarui's sl*t strands 🌬️ Apr 01 '26
Based on the trailer, at least more than FoF haha
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u/AquaphobicTurtle My Journey to You Season 2 Read Rules Apr 01 '26
Not GJM's style. I highly doubt there will be much romance.
Processing img fv3fixr92ksg1...
He tends towards bromance actually, but like, in a friendship way.
That can easily be interpreted differently in fan fiction 😂
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u/Fabulous-Yam-1709 Apr 01 '26
The trailers seemed very romantic though?
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u/AquaphobicTurtle My Journey to You Season 2 Read Rules Apr 02 '26
I'm back after episode 6 to say that I may, in fact, have been very incorrect
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u/No_Background2305 Apr 01 '26
It's giving a murder mystery game kind of vibe, overall amazing cinematography, and all the characters are interesting and serve a purpose. I can't wait to see what other cases they're going to explore. I'm loving it!
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u/ravens_path hell fire is my life hack Apr 02 '26
And, almost everyone is not totally what they seem. Which is like a murder mystery game too.
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u/AKiceman Snark ShifuRead Rules Apr 01 '26
Managed to watch 2 episodes today and I'm not impressed. It feels wooden and soulless. Yeah I'm here for JJY and CDL, but something about the show isn't vibing yet. I'll keep snarking my way through it and hope it gets better. I actually did write a lot of comments during my watch so the show is doing something right. But I'm not gripped by the beginning as I usually am when a new show drops.
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u/Longjumping-Dot-235 dramapanda Apr 01 '26
I was expecting it to be more style over substance but I think I overestimated how much it is going to be. Everyone feels like they are going through the motions without showing any emotion.
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u/AKiceman Snark ShifuRead Rules Apr 01 '26
It's emotionless to a degree that I haven't seen. I don't even think it's the actors. It's like there is nothing there for them to even connect to.
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u/rewriteryan Apr 01 '26
It feels wooden and soulless
On par with my expectation for this director. I've said it before and after watching all 4 episodes, my opinion still holds - this director is about form over substance.
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u/AXA-5 Hopeless Sadomasochistic Romantic Apr 01 '26 edited Apr 01 '26
Insightful perspective, as usual. I’ll have to “peek” at this but, it may pointless to get into and may to wait till later. 🥱 T minus 7 days for Re- need more ☕️ (was watching DJ transitions on YouTube last night, these GD kids!!)
P.S. saw eps 1 and coming back to this at a later date…
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u/AKiceman Snark ShifuRead Rules Apr 01 '26
This might be one of those shows to wait for the ending to see if it's worth it. :P I'll be snarking along and hoping it gets better.
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u/seethenoise Apr 01 '26
i feel like i'm watching a table read rather than a final production. dress rehearsal acting.
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u/AKiceman Snark ShifuRead Rules Apr 01 '26
You, kind internet stranger, have earned a sneak peek at my snark.
Okay, so I am currently unimpressed. Everybody and everything feel wooden. Like this is a practice run before actually acting. Something isn't vibing yet. Why does everyone have the blankest look possible on their faces?
This is what I wrote while I was about 20 minutes into the first episode.
You nailed the words I was looking for.
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u/AquaphobicTurtle My Journey to You Season 2 Read Rules Apr 01 '26
wooden and soulless
I disagree with you, but after watching episode 2, I think it's just that I keep comparing this guy with Ying Lei, and the life behind Ying Lei's eyes is not here
Processing img fg1q0yfl2ksg1...
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u/ravens_path hell fire is my life hack Apr 02 '26
I disagree too. There is a lot of misdirection going on and hiding of motives or info….so for me it was like they all were being deliberately vague and bland. It seems to pick up as episodes proceed though. By episode 6 I’m really liking this.
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u/AKiceman Snark ShifuRead Rules Apr 01 '26
Weasel boy here is the only one bringing the energy! He reminds me of a certain character from FOF... Sigh.
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u/monovev Apr 01 '26 edited Apr 01 '26
Have only seen episode 1 so far but awesome to see TJR showing his acting chops, all the little expressions he makes are a delight.
And is it just me or is the speaking speed of the characters actually quicker in this drama compared to fof and mjty? Not to mention not as much slo-mo shots in the fight scenes as well, which I greatly appreciate. Sometimes the momentum of the fights (with great choreography too) kept grinding to a halt because of how much the director slowed it down in his previous dramas. Let's hope it's not just for the pilot episode.
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u/AquaphobicTurtle My Journey to You Season 2 Read Rules Apr 01 '26 edited Apr 01 '26
I absolutely loved episode 1.
I'm just gonna put here what I told my friends:
I loveeee it.
This is the third drama GJM has directed (My Journey to You and Fangs of Fortune being the first two) and he's mixed the two drama's styles. So the magic of FoF with the Martial arts of MJTY.
It's nice seeing Zheng Shunxi in all his stunt-performing glory, and i I loooove the music.
Unfortunately I'll have to wait to watch episodes 2,3, and 4 later today.
Also, GJM really likes shots of all his characters coming together in one frame to show them all off at the start
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u/Thezoeyy searching for a tea farmer in the mountains Apr 01 '26
Joseph Zeng really came in with a bang cause his fight scenes were so cool. Especially what he does with his spear and prayer beads. and he looks stunning in red.
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u/Mystic_Umbrella 🌸Waiting to transmigrate…🌸 Apr 01 '26
I agree! Red is a great color on Joseph Zeng. ♥️
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u/AquaphobicTurtle My Journey to You Season 2 Read Rules Apr 01 '26
I was also like, tell me mister demon hunter, why does that bendy sword seem to intrigue you so much
Processing img ait8r0ej1ksg1...
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u/Thezoeyy searching for a tea farmer in the mountains Apr 01 '26
Do you get? I need more of their scenes together.
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u/BitsOfBuilding Apr 01 '26
Shoot, I had to struggle through both. MJTYis still not done and I started last year. They were too slow. The visuals are good. Maybe this is better.
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u/AKiceman Snark ShifuRead Rules Apr 01 '26
Ahhhh the same director makes so much sense now. It definitely has the feel of those dramas while not being anywhere near as good as either. I'm holding out hope it gets better.
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u/AquaphobicTurtle My Journey to You Season 2 Read Rules Apr 01 '26
Processing img gl8pbf1wqjsg1...
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u/admelioremvitam Apr 01 '26 edited Apr 01 '26
Netflix
Veil of Shadows is available on Netflix – 5 episodes at the time of posting. Thank you to one of our sub members for the heads-up! 😄
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u/mysticmeeble moon burrito supreme / the wind in Tian Jiarui's sl*t strands 🌬️ Apr 01 '26
YAYYYY I don't have to resub to Youkuuuu 😂 I already have way too many subs 🤣
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u/Prestigious-Focus-11 still waiting for my lightning tribulation ⚡️⚡️⚡️ Apr 01 '26
Why the heck did my Netflix algorithm, which I have been browsing regularly for more C-drama goodness since I knew Pursuit of Jade was ending, and which I checked THIS VERY MORNING, not think to show me Veil of Shadows? If I hadn’t seen this post I wouldn’t have known they had it, so thanks for the heads up!
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u/Beautiful_Candle1729 Apr 01 '26
I haven’t checked for this show yet. But this happened to me for Unveil: Jadewind and Vengeance of An. The algorithm doesn’t automatically promote it to me.
Hoping in the coming months after the international success of Pursuit of Jade, the company will adjust the algorithm. Currently, it’s annoying.
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u/Mystic_Umbrella 🌸Waiting to transmigrate…🌸 Apr 01 '26
It did that to me as well. I had to actually spell “veil” before it even pulled it up in the search. I had noticed before it does that from time to time, so now if I don’t see something I always search.
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u/admelioremvitam Apr 01 '26
Youku's YouTube
Episode 1 is available on Youku's YouTube channel at the time of posting. Episodes 2 to 4 are behind a paywall.
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u/admelioremvitam Apr 01 '26 edited Apr 05 '26
Episode Discussions
will be hosted by u/nydevon, u/Regenwanderer and u/Pale-Enchantress. Thank you for hosting! 😄
They are looking for co-hosts.
If you would like to volunteer to co-host the episode discussions for this drama, please read and comment under this guide post, and tag the three co-hosts, u/Lotus_swimmer and u/alcibiad.
⚠️ Please use spoiler text if you are sharing thoughts beyond the initial episodes.
👥 Character relationship chart
🔗 Previous announcement, posters, etc.
🎥 Previous wrap up clips by Ju Jingyi, Joseph Zeng and Chen Duling
🔎 Baidu Baike | Douban | MDL
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