Halfway thoughts: Whispers of Fate
Nov. 9th, 2025 08:02 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
rainwatersparkI'm about halfway through the C-drama Whispers of Fate and I'm really, really hoping for it to stick the landing so it can join the list of my favorite C-dramas.
For anyone who doesn't know, I'm extremely picky about C-dramas. I don't watch a lot of TV in general; when I try a C-drama, it has to be compelling enough to make me keep watching past the first episode, and not many C-dramas pass that test.
I was pleasantly surprised by Whispers of Fate. I only tried it because I'd seen a trailer on YouTube that looked interesting, and I'd been vaguely interested in seeing a performance by Luo Yunxi.
The pacing is fast, which I enjoy. I also enjoyed how the story began with a few murder mysteries that hooked me and kept me interested. The high production value and aesthetics also caught my attention (as someone used to watching queer C-dramas, I'm not used to seeing a high CGI budget, lol). And I like the fight scenes, which I thought were more comprehensible than those of Blood River.
When the plot transitioned away from the mysteries, I initially missed them. But now—at least up to this point—I'm loving how each arc has been executed. The Biluo Palace arc had that fascinating game played between Tang Lici and co. and the Fengliu Shop. The Peony Pavilion battle was so epic, it sent shivers down my spine. And through it all, I love how Tang Lici schemes to manipulate his enemies. It's like listening to the detective unravel the mystery at the climax of a mystery novel, except we're hearing how Tang Lici planned all along for events to unfold the way they did.
Most of all, the show does an excellent job with introducing characters in a way that made me interested in them. Chi Yun has one of the most badass character entrances I've ever seen. Tang Lici is, of course, mysterious and intriguing. Zhong Chunji instantly earned my sympathy as a young heroine and branch leader of a major cultivation alliance. And honestly, one of the best parts of the show is how it manages to make (almost) every side character interesting. Shen Langhun is one of my faves (though I do wish we get a bit more from his character). Xue Xianzi is hilarious and always a delight when he's on screen. Yu Furen really grew on me. Even Fang Pingzhai became a character who now fascinates me. It's really impressive, given the size of the cast and the fact that there isn't a ton of time to devote to each character (I like Gu Xitan, but he's a character who sadly doesn't have much time in the spotlight).
The only character I don't like is A-Shui, and it's because of her romance arc with Tang Lici. I thought her character was fine until the romance started. Frankly, I just don't care, and I found her throwing herself at Tang Lici pathetic rather than moving. Sis, he's an OP cultivator and you have no powers; it's NOT romantic when you throw yourself into danger on his behalf!!
Some people have said that her romance "humanizes" Tang Lici, but I strongly disagree and find this emblematic of the problematic attitude that romance is more important than other relationships. So Tang Lici's friendship with Chi Yun and Shen Langhun, the care he shows to people who hate him like Yu Furen, his budding relationship with Little Stone, and his assistance of the Sword Alliance—none of those humanize him?
I don't love Xiaohong for similar reasons as A-Shui; I find her devotion to Liu Yan pathetic. Though who knows, maybe we'll get her backstory later. I do find the villains, at least the Liu Yan gang, a little bit...over-the-top. Their outfits are just a bit too ostentatious, and they're a bit too prone to maniacal laughter. If not for the fact that they're genuinely threatening in battle, I'd have a hard time taking them seriously. (Gui Mudan, though, is another story. Now he's definitely a villain I'm scared of.)
I'm going to include a few thoughts below the cut for spoilers:
- I firmly believe that Tang Lici missed Fang Zhou so much that he made himself into Fang Zhou's image. Not in terms of morals (definitely not), but in the way that he now holds himself with so much poise and eloquence.
- I suspect Tang Lici is not going to be Yique Yinyang, and that would be disappointing to me. It would be a great story to have Yique Yinyang's reincarnation choose to walk a more heroic path.
- I'm worried about Zhong Chunji's character. I really hope she doesn't have a villain arc because of this whole fake princess stuff. That would put a damper on my enjoyment of the show for sure.
- I'm absolutely DYING to see the reunion between Fang Pingzhai and Puzhu tomorrow. The idea of former princes of a fallen dynasty who have each risen to power in the jianghu, but on different sides, is SO fascinating. (Also, shoutout to Fang Pingzhai as the character who has most surprised me. To be fair, I am bad with faces, but I'm delighted by how many times he's popped up so far in different identities. The leader of Fallen Tower Thirteen has a lot of time on his hands!)
For anyone who doesn't know, I'm extremely picky about C-dramas. I don't watch a lot of TV in general; when I try a C-drama, it has to be compelling enough to make me keep watching past the first episode, and not many C-dramas pass that test.
I was pleasantly surprised by Whispers of Fate. I only tried it because I'd seen a trailer on YouTube that looked interesting, and I'd been vaguely interested in seeing a performance by Luo Yunxi.
The pacing is fast, which I enjoy. I also enjoyed how the story began with a few murder mysteries that hooked me and kept me interested. The high production value and aesthetics also caught my attention (as someone used to watching queer C-dramas, I'm not used to seeing a high CGI budget, lol). And I like the fight scenes, which I thought were more comprehensible than those of Blood River.
When the plot transitioned away from the mysteries, I initially missed them. But now—at least up to this point—I'm loving how each arc has been executed. The Biluo Palace arc had that fascinating game played between Tang Lici and co. and the Fengliu Shop. The Peony Pavilion battle was so epic, it sent shivers down my spine. And through it all, I love how Tang Lici schemes to manipulate his enemies. It's like listening to the detective unravel the mystery at the climax of a mystery novel, except we're hearing how Tang Lici planned all along for events to unfold the way they did.
Most of all, the show does an excellent job with introducing characters in a way that made me interested in them. Chi Yun has one of the most badass character entrances I've ever seen. Tang Lici is, of course, mysterious and intriguing. Zhong Chunji instantly earned my sympathy as a young heroine and branch leader of a major cultivation alliance. And honestly, one of the best parts of the show is how it manages to make (almost) every side character interesting. Shen Langhun is one of my faves (though I do wish we get a bit more from his character). Xue Xianzi is hilarious and always a delight when he's on screen. Yu Furen really grew on me. Even Fang Pingzhai became a character who now fascinates me. It's really impressive, given the size of the cast and the fact that there isn't a ton of time to devote to each character (I like Gu Xitan, but he's a character who sadly doesn't have much time in the spotlight).
The only character I don't like is A-Shui, and it's because of her romance arc with Tang Lici. I thought her character was fine until the romance started. Frankly, I just don't care, and I found her throwing herself at Tang Lici pathetic rather than moving. Sis, he's an OP cultivator and you have no powers; it's NOT romantic when you throw yourself into danger on his behalf!!
Some people have said that her romance "humanizes" Tang Lici, but I strongly disagree and find this emblematic of the problematic attitude that romance is more important than other relationships. So Tang Lici's friendship with Chi Yun and Shen Langhun, the care he shows to people who hate him like Yu Furen, his budding relationship with Little Stone, and his assistance of the Sword Alliance—none of those humanize him?
I don't love Xiaohong for similar reasons as A-Shui; I find her devotion to Liu Yan pathetic. Though who knows, maybe we'll get her backstory later. I do find the villains, at least the Liu Yan gang, a little bit...over-the-top. Their outfits are just a bit too ostentatious, and they're a bit too prone to maniacal laughter. If not for the fact that they're genuinely threatening in battle, I'd have a hard time taking them seriously. (Gui Mudan, though, is another story. Now he's definitely a villain I'm scared of.)
I'm going to include a few thoughts below the cut for spoilers:
- I firmly believe that Tang Lici missed Fang Zhou so much that he made himself into Fang Zhou's image. Not in terms of morals (definitely not), but in the way that he now holds himself with so much poise and eloquence.
- I suspect Tang Lici is not going to be Yique Yinyang, and that would be disappointing to me. It would be a great story to have Yique Yinyang's reincarnation choose to walk a more heroic path.
- I'm worried about Zhong Chunji's character. I really hope she doesn't have a villain arc because of this whole fake princess stuff. That would put a damper on my enjoyment of the show for sure.
- I'm absolutely DYING to see the reunion between Fang Pingzhai and Puzhu tomorrow. The idea of former princes of a fallen dynasty who have each risen to power in the jianghu, but on different sides, is SO fascinating. (Also, shoutout to Fang Pingzhai as the character who has most surprised me. To be fair, I am bad with faces, but I'm delighted by how many times he's popped up so far in different identities. The leader of Fallen Tower Thirteen has a lot of time on his hands!)
