[C-Drama Review] Ashes Of Love: Run Yu Is the Plot!
Ah, finally finished this show! I can’t believe I sat through a Chinese drama with 63 episodes. I usually avoid dramas that have more than 50 episodes, and since this one is a Chinese drama, I expected it to have the standard 24, 36, or 40 episodes. But despite the slow pacing and my occasional annoyance for various reasons, I still found Ashes Of Love remarkably impressive and wanted to share my experience—along with my rants and frustrations.
Spoiler alert! I can’t talk about this drama without giving a few things away, so continue reading with caution.
You can find more details about Ashes Of Love on MyDramaList, IMDb and Wikipedia.
Contents
Poster Analysis
Let’s first take a look at one of the posters for Ashes Of Love. Not much information can be gathered just by looking at it. This C-drama features an ensemble cast, but it would have been much better to highlight only the key characters on the poster, rather than crowd everyone into one frame and make it look so cluttered. If you’re familiar with Chinese dramas, you’ll likely recognize right away that Ashes Of Love is a fantasy drama—more specifically, a xianxia show.
What I loved about this poster is the faint silhouette of the two main characters, with their faces mere inches apart. You can also spot miniatures of the different realms within the poster. I believe the idea behind this design is to suggest that the entire saga of Ashes Of Love revolves around the love story between these two characters. Or maybe I’m reading too much into it—perhaps the whole concept was created purely for aesthetic appeal!
Here are a few more posters that caught my attention the most:
Just look at them! Absolutely stunning!
I also really appreciate the promotional posters focusing on each character. It makes the show even more intriguing. The aesthetics of each poster are so pretty that you can instantly tell how much effort the design team put into them. Each one tells its own story and sparks curiosity. I genuinely loved almost all of the posters from Ashes Of Love.
Plot
I haven’t watched many xianxia dramas, so I didn’t have much idea of what to expect from this show. I watched the trailer and was intrigued by the stunning visuals, but I had been putting off this drama for years because I always broke a sweat when I saw that it had 63 episodes. The premise of Ashes Of Love is unique and engaging, especially considering it was adapted from the web novel Heavy Sweetness, Ash-Like Frost by Dian Xian. However, the world-building in this show felt a bit confusing. There was no proper explanation for certain aspects, which later took the form of loopholes. I have no plans of reading the original work so this review is based solely on the drama.
There are said to be six realms in this fantasy world: the Mortal (Human) Realm, Demon Realm, Flower Realm, and Heaven Realm. These four realms are the most frequently explored in the drama, while the existence of the other two realms is often unclear or debated. Some viewers speculate that the remaining realms could be the Bird Kingdom and the Water Realm, but the drama didn’t give a definite answer. Except for the mortals, inhabitants of the other realms live for thousands of years and are often referred to as Gods, Deities, or Immortals. The Heaven Realm is the supreme realm, ruling over the others, whereas the Demon Realm is frequently looked down upon, as its residents are considered evil and treacherous.
The Flower Deity, Zi Fen, under whose supervision the Flower Realm thrived, gave birth to a baby daughter named Jin Mi. Forlorn by love and betrayal, she wished for her child to live a happy and peaceful life. She foresaw that her daughter would be subjected to a fatal love trial in the future. To prevent this disastrous prophecy and to protect her child, Zi Fen gave Jin Mi the Unfeeling Pill. This pill would block Jin Mi from developing romantic feelings for anyone. The Flower Deity ordered the fairies of the Flower Realm to keep Jin Mi’s birth a secret and to confine her within the Water Mirror (the sealed outlet of the Flower Realm). Soon after, Zi Fen dies. (Immortals don’t die like humans—their bodies disintegrate and vanish into thin air after death.)
Fast forward several thousand years, Jin Mi is a naïve grape sprite (as she was told and led to believe) who dreams of exploring the other realms. Due to an attack by a demonic beast ages ago, Jin Mi’s best friend died and was transformed into a succulent plant. Jin Mi was told that an Immortal from the Heaven Realm could revive her friend. This revelation makes her even more determined to escape the Flower Realm.
The Fire Immortal, Xu Feng, is the son of the Heavenly Emperor and Empress of the Heaven Realm. He is often addressed as the God of War due to his expertise in leading military troops and winning numerous battles. During nirvana (the rebirth process of Xu Feng, whose true form is a phoenix), he is attacked by potential enemies and accidentally falls through the Water Mirror.
Fortunately, Jin Mi saves him, and he soon recovers. When Jin Mi learns that Xu Feng is from the Heaven Realm, she requests that he take her there to find a solution for her friend’s condition. Xu Feng returns to the Heaven Realm with Jin Mi, where she encounters many Immortals. She becomes Xu Feng’s male attendant as she was disguised as a boy since her birth by the fairies of the Flower Realm to protect her identity, but she eventually reveals her true female form while she is in the Heaven Realm.
The Night Deity, Run Yu, is the illegitimate eldest son of the Heavenly Emperor. He develops feelings for Jin Mi after a chance encounter. Meanwhile, although Xu Feng and Jin Mi frequently bicker, Xu Feng gradually falls in love with her. However, Jin Mi remains indifferent to both of their feelings due to the effects of the Unfeeling Pill.
The Heavenly Empress plans to crown her son as the successor to the Heaven Realm and views both the Night Deity and Jin Mi as obstacles. Hailing from the Bird Clan herself, she wants Sui He, the princess of the Bird Tribe, to marry Xu Feng and become the next Heavenly Empress. The truth about Jin Mi’s birth origins further fuels her hatred, and both Sui He and the Heavenly Empress firmly decide to eliminate Jin Mi.
Will Jin Mi ever learn the truth about the misery that befell her birth parents? Will she be able to discover her true love? Can her heart waver for either of the brothers despite the Unfeeling Pill within her? Will she survive this fatal love trial, or will she succumb to death?
Cast & Crew Highlights
The entire cast was new to me, except for Deng Lun. I had previously watched him in Because Of Meeting You, but he didn’t leave much of an impression on me back then. In Ashes Of Love, Deng Lun plays the role of Xu Feng, one of the central characters who drives the story forward.
Though I was very much irritated by Jin Mi in the earlier episodes, I must say Yang Zi lived as Jin Mi throughout this C-drama. The duality she brought to the character is insane. One moment she’s naïve and clueless, and in the next, she’s brave and mature. Also, her acting is so convincing—you can literally feel the pain and hurt just by looking into Jin Mi’s eyes.
While everyone in this drama portrayed their roles with perfection, it was Luo Yun Xi who truly stood out to me. He was phenomenal in every sense, and I honestly can’t imagine anyone else playing Run Yu with such depth and precision. I’m not kidding when I say Luo Yun Xi carried the entire show on his shoulders. It would have been so much better if we had been blessed with a Run Yu spinoff.
Why Is Run Yu The Heartbeat Of Ashes Of Love?
I know this drama is supposed to highlight the love story between Jin Mi and Xu Feng, but I have to give credit where it’s due. I watched the entire drama because it was Run Yu who kept me hooked. Otherwise, I would have dropped Ashes Of Love long ago. He remains a fascinating, mysterious, and dangerously captivating character until the very end. Personally, I feel the title should have been Ashes Of Run Yu instead of the original, because if you were to remove Run Yu’s character, Ashes Of Love wouldn’t even exist. He plays a crucial role in Jin Mi’s so-called love trial. And to be completely honest, there are episodes where Run Yu gets the most screen time.
Initially, Run Yu is presented as a noble gentleman—kind, humble, diligent, yet constantly overshadowed by Xu Feng. Despite the evil Empress trying to shift blame onto Run Yu for every mishap, the brothers maintain a good rapport. Run Yu endures hardships and remains calm in the face of adversity. As the Night Immortal, his duty—supervising the star constellations at night—is carried out in solitude. His only companion is the Yan Beast, a deer-like creature that devours dreams. He has no attendants, no friends, and no concerned family members. Ignored and isolated, Run Yu is left alone with his thoughts. In the later episodes, he gains a lady attendant named Kuang Lu, who has a crush on him but still chooses to be loyal and dutiful to him, brushing off her feelings.
Run Yu’s backstory is far more tragic than that of Jin Mi or Zi Fen. He suffered at the hands of both his biological mother, Su Li, and the Heavenly Empress. Though Su Li’s actions could be justified as a mother’s attempt to protect her son from being bullied for his true dragon identity, Run Yu suffered a lot during those periods. He endured both physical torture and emotional trauma at a young age. That’s why I found it impossible to forgive Su Li, even after understanding her true intentions.
Having had enough of his abusive mother, the young Run Yu ran away from home, only to be discovered by the evil Heavenly Empress. Recognizing his bloodline, she promised him a better future in the Heaven Realm and erased the memories of his birth origins along with his trauma. Thus, Run Yu’s new life in the Heaven Realm began, but it proved to be just another cycle of loneliness and exhaustion. Xu Feng and Run Yu shared a deep bond. Xu Feng genuinely cared for his elder brother, while Run Yu was fiercely protective of Xu Feng. However, the Empress constantly feared that Run Yu might harm Xu Feng and, as a result, punished him harshly at every turn. Left with no choice, Run Yu bore these injustices in silence.
The Heavenly Emperor, meanwhile, remained cold and indifferent to Run Yu’s existence. Since Run Yu was born out of wedlock—his mother Su Li being just one of the Emperor’s many fleeting love affairs—he never bothered to acknowledge or protect his son. Thus, in the Heaven Realm, Run Yu was left to suffer alone, unloved by his parents and misunderstood by those around him.
Only Jin Mi appreciated his true dragon form; she even fondly called him Fish Fairy. Run Yu fell for her because he felt seen, and he treasured the marriage red thread given by Jin Mi. When he learned that Jin Mi was his rightful fiancée, he became even more infatuated with her. He considered it destiny—to the extent that Run Yu even made a scene in front of Jin Mi’s father, the Water Immortal, to make him believe that Jin Mi was in love with him.
Run Yu’s heart broke when he discovered that Jin Mi had fallen for Xu Feng during their time in the Mortal Realm. To make matters worse, it all happened while he was still mourning his mother’s death. Run Yu was able to confront his mother and his tragic past finally as an adult and he longed for a simple life with his mom and his newfound brothers at Dongting Lake, far away from the luxuries and politics of the Heaven Realm. Instead, he was forced to watch his mother die at the hands of the Empress. The Empress even falsely accused Run Yu and Su Li of conspiring against the throne. Yet, he was willing to lay down his life to protect the last surviving members of his mother’s tribe.
All these events collectively turned Run Yu evil. He wanted to fulfill his late mother’s wish, which is to make her son the Heavenly Emperor. Cunning and smart, he laid traps with precision. His powerful connections gave him an edge—so much that even Sui He, despite all the accumulated magic power from the Heavenly Empress, couldn’t defeat Run Yu and ended up losing her leadership over the Bird Clan.
I won’t justify any of Run Yu’s actions. I know he was wrong. He despised his fake, two-faced father, yet ironically, he grew to be just like him. Even when he pretended to be the dutiful son to earn his father’s favor, the hatred inside Run Yu was obvious. He walked a path from which no redemption was possible. But who made him this way? How long was he expected to suffer and be obedient just to stay out of trouble? It was clear from the start that Run Yu was going to snap someday. If only he had been loved—even just a little—would he have turned into something so dark?
It also pained me that Xu Feng rarely stood up for him. He never stayed by Run Yu’s side as he grieved for his dead mother, nor did he ever sincerely apologize or repent on his mother’s behalf for what happened to Su Li. In fact, he was so wrapped up in his love affair with Jin Mi that he hardly had time for anything else. Xu Feng confronted his mom only when he was concerned about Jin Mi or her parents, but he never approached her for Run Yu. Xu Feng was all about forgiveness when it came to his own parents’ evil deeds. I don’t know about others, but to me, he came across as a hypocrite—much like his father.
In the end, everyone gets to have a happy life—except for Run Yu. He becomes the Heavenly Emperor, just like his mom wished for, but he is as lonely as he was before. He loses the respect of his subjects and is now just a figurehead who sits on the Heavenly Realm’s throne, while the Demon Realm holds more power. I felt so sad for Run Yu. He didn’t deserve any of this tragedy. Time and again, he sacrificed a lot, especially for Jin Mi. But Jin Mi had eyes only for Xu Feng. What a tragic end to his unrequited love!
There is another reason for me to praise Luo Yun Xi. In a certain episode, Yan You, Jin Mi’s male best friend, impersonates Run Yu—which means the humble and calm Run Yu must now act like a goofy and chaotic version of himself. Yun Xi picked up the mannerisms and behavior of Yan You so well; he did it flawlessly. What an incredible actor indeed!
In my opinion, Run Yu is not just an ambiguous antagonist. He is someone who deserves to be loved but never had the opportunity to give or receive love, and hence, turned evil to force love from someone who never loved him back. Let me say it once again: Run Yu is the plot! Run Yu is the drama!
What Impressed Me
Lovely Side Characters
There are certain characters for whom I have a soft spot. Liu Ying, the Demon Princess, was such a bold and charming woman. Yan You is the best friend one could ask for in life. His nature never changed under any circumstances—he remained kind and empathetic till the end. Though Su Li and Run Yu persuaded him to change his ways, he valued his ideals and principles. He was the only one who truly aided Jin Mi every time and always acted for her welfare with no personal agenda. And of course, we must remember the ever-so-loyal attendant of Xu Feng, Lord Liao Yuan. Though he was forced to serve Xu Feng in the Mortal Realm, he was always dutiful and cared for Xu Feng more than anyone else. That’s why his tragic end came as a terrible blow to Xu Feng. Moon Immortal was such an interesting and jovial character and I really liked the way he interacted with his two nephews.
The Visuals
As I stated earlier, I started watching Ashes Of Love for its aesthetics and CGI. All the scenes that involved the phoenix bird were so beautifully done. I couldn’t find any flaws when it came to the special effects. I had to rewatch several of the scenes again and again just to admire their beauty. All the realms were so marvelous but I really liked the Demon Realm, which had a stunning nightscape, and Dongting Lake, which was an underwater realm. The final war between the Demon Realm and the Heaven Realm was one of the epic scenes of the show.
The outfits worn by the entire cast were also incredibly beautiful. Each costume was detailed with so much care and thoughtfully designed to reflect the personality, background, and origin of the characters. Personally, I adored Liu Ying’s and Sui He’s outfits the most. The peacock costume worn by Sui He is absolutely breathtaking. The more I looked at these costumes, the more I appreciated how much they elevated the world-building and made the entire drama visually unforgettable.
What Annoyed Me
Jin Mi’s Dumbness
I seriously wonder how these two smart brothers even fell for Jin Mi. At first, I thought she was just playful, innocent, and harmless. Everyone else around her was dull, but her childishness was something even the flower fairies adored. But slowly, she became more stubborn—and dumber. She doesn’t know how to read the room. She can’t keep her mouth shut and often drags others into trouble. There were so many times the two brothers, Yan You, or the Moon Immortal had to save her ass.
She’s so reckless and rarely makes wise decisions. The Unfeeling Pill—aka the Yun Elixir—was supposed to stop Jin Mi from having romantic feelings. But instead, it seemed to block both her emotions and common sense. I low-key believe the Yun Elixir was added to the story in order to justify Jin Mi’s stupidity rather than to keep her from falling in love. Only after her trial in the Mortal Realm do we get to see a slightly wiser version of her.
Heavenly Emperor and Empress
Whenever either of these two appeared on my screen, my blood boiled. They were truly a match made in heaven in the worst way possible. I thought there’d be some kind of redemption arc—or at least a hint of remorse from them. But nope, not even close. I was hoping the Empress would get a well-deserved, brutal punishment. What I witnessed instead was her enduring it with dignity. And then she had the audacity to lecture the Emperor, blaming everyone but herself.
Her backstory was even more pathetic. It honestly felt like the writers were trying to defend her actions with that sad excuse of a past. It just made me hate her even more. And the Emperor? Vile. Disgusting. A total hypocrite who absolutely doesn’t deserve to sit on the Heavenly Throne.
If these are the kinds of people ruling Heaven, then no thanks—I’D RATHER CHOOSE HELL INSTEAD! Seriously, the Demon Realm sounds like a chill place compared to the toxicity in the Heaven Realm.
The Pacing
Ashes Of Love could’ve been easily wrapped up in 40 episodes. The pacing is painfully slow for the first twenty, focusing heavily on world-building and endless flashbacks. Then the next twenty drag on so much. Only after episode 43 does the pace finally pick up—and from there, it becomes a complete rollercoaster. To be really honest, I enjoyed the final few episodes the most.
The Character Lao Hu
One thing that really bugged me was the existence of Lao Hu, the carrot sprite. Aside from comic relief moments with the Moon Immortal, occasional exposition, and some vague guidance for Jin Mi, he didn’t add any substantial value to the show. Any of the existing characters could’ve easily filled his role. There was no need to add another character to an already overcrowded cast.
Deliberate New Love Angles
Midway into this C-drama, they hint at a romantic angle in a couple of scenes—between the Moon Immortal and Yuan Ji, and another one with Lao Hu and the Chief Peony. Both were completely unnecessary and felt like fillers to drag the episodes further. Those scenes made me cringe for no reason. What’s more confusing is that, in the later episodes, they totally ignored going that route, which was fine. But if that’s the case, then why even hint at something and mislead the audience?
OST
A couple of songs are sung by Deng Lun and Yang Zi. All the songs are so addictive and captivating. I didn’t know Yang Zi could sing so well. Her song Love Frost is my most favorite out of all.
Rewatch Potential
I’m not quite sure if I’ll sit through 63 episodes again in the future. But I will definitely come back again and again just to witness the rising of the dark lord Run Yu and some other amazing scenes that left me speechless.
Overall Rating
Favorite Quotes
“You’re finally my ‘ugly wife’. But it’s just that, I’ve never seen such a ‘beautiful ugly wife’.”
“The mortals think heaven is the best place but they don’t know this is the dirtiest, cruelest place of hypocrisy in the six realms.”
“The most colorful thing in the world is the pure love of a lover.”
Trailer
Conclusion
Ashes Of Love is a brilliantly aesthetic C-drama that might fall short in certain aspects but still remains an enchanting piece of work. No wonder there are fans worldwide who cherish this beloved drama. If you’re an avid xianxia fan, you really must watch this extraordinary show.
And if you’ve already watched Ashes Of Love, let me know in the comments what you loved about it. Or hated about it. Or simply share whatever you feel about this drama—I’m very eager to hear your thoughts and opinions.
Stay safe and healthy, people. I’ll return shortly with another honest review.
Oh, I really like Run Yu. He doesn’t deserve any of that!