Review: Feud (2025) 临江仙
Summary: Li Qing Yue (ft Bai Lu 白鹿) is just a lowly pupil in the power Jing Yun Sect. After getting injured, she searches for herbs to her herself and stumbles on a mysterious white-haired man. He turns out to be the powerful god Bai Jiu Si (ft Zeng Shun Xi 曾舜晞). He discovers that Li Qing Yue looks suspiciously similar to his ex-wife, the goddess Si Ling Xian Jun, Hua Ru Yue, and brings Li Qing Yue to the heavens in order to investigate her. The story unfolds on the feud that Bai Jiu Si had with the goddess Hua Ru Yue.
Platform: iQiyi
Episodes: 32
Airing Date: June 7, 2025
Initial Rating 6.8/10 – (After 19 episodes) A fantasy drama full of extremes. There are moments of genuine intrigue, but they’re buried beneath a messy and uneven start. It takes more than ten episodes for the story to find its footing, but once it does, the plot becomes engaging. Despite having two attractive leads, the central romance falls flat due to a lack of chemistry between them.
Final Rating 6.6/10 – After a stronger string of episodes in the middle, the drama hurtles towards a confusing conclusion. The constant plot twists become tiresome and there is little growth from the characters. Overall, the drama crumbles under the weight of everything it tries to accomplish.
Li Qing Yue 李青月 Bai Lu 白鹿
Young pupil of the Jing Yun Sect who by chance catches the eye of the deity Bai Jiu Si
Bai Jiu Si 白九思 Zeng Shun Xi 曾舜晞
The powerful Grand Black Mystic who is searching for Hua Ru Yue
Fan Ling Er 樊凌儿 He Rui Xian 何瑞贤
Daughter of one of Bai Jiu Si's disciples, she has her own motives
Zhang Suan 张酸 Chen Xing Hai 陈鑫海
Pupil of the Jing Yun Sect who harbors a crush on Li Qing Yue
Mo Li 离陌 Liang Yong Qi 梁永棋
Disciple of Bai Jiu Si who believes in saving as many as he can
Meng Chang Qin 孟长琴 Zhao Yi Qin 赵弈钦
Disciple of Hua Ru Yue who vows to right the injustices of the world
Qu Xing Man 曲星蛮 Zhou Jie Qiong 周洁琼
Pupil of the Yin Lian Sect who everyone calls the demon woman
Lu Su Guan 呂素冠 Zhao Zhao Yi 赵昭仪
Pupil of the Jing Yun Sect who thinks rather highly of herself
Initial Thoughts
I’m quite conflicted about this drama because frankly, it’s all over the place. The pacing is fast, yet oddly, very little actually happens in the first ten episodes. The CGI and costumes start off embarrassingly bad but surprisingly improve as the series progresses. The real plot doesn’t begin to unfold until halfway through, so getting to the good part requires patience and commitment. I’m glad I stuck with it, but I wouldn’t blame anyone for dropping it early. It’s cringeworthy at the start.
Once the story finally picks up, it becomes engaging, particularly because it both embraces and subverts typical fantasy romance tropes. That element kept me watching. However, my biggest frustration lies in the characters’ lack of communication. Everyone seems to be acting independently, driven by personal motives, and conflicts go unresolved simply because no one talks to each other.
This marks Bai Lu’s third drama this year and her second fantasy drama following Moonlight Mystique (白月梵星). She delivers a decent performance, portraying her character’s emotional range compellingly. Zeng Shun Xi, however, lacks the presence needed to convincingly portray an all-powerful god, which contributes to the noticeable lack of chemistry between the leads.
Produced by Yu Zheng, this drama has cameos of many young actors and actresses he is actively promoting. This drama saw a slow rise in popularity, eventually crossing iQIYI’s 10,000 threshold on its popularity index but only after more than 20 episodes, once it actually became worth watching.
Final Thoughts
Unfortunately, the drama does not improve from a promising middle section and hurtles towards a head scratching conclusion. As I kept watching, my initial positive surprise at the subversion of tropes turned into disappointment. The mysteries behind the Feud between Hua Ru Yue and Bai Jiu Si finally unravel in the second half of the drama but the drama’s attempt at subverting tropes comes crashing down on itself. The characters barely have time to discuss their past before facing off with the main antagonist and leave much to be desired. It felt as though the drama just wanted to push plot points forward and everyone had to accept those decisions or actions.
The final arc reduces the grand stakes to petty squabbles among gods—particularly the male deities—who shirk their responsibilities with reckless arrogance. Their actions constantly endanger the realm, yet the narrative expects the female characters to bear the consequences and offer forgiveness. It’s a frustrating dynamic that undermines the drama’s earlier strengths.
This drama broke the coveted 10,000 mark on iQiYi’s popularity index in the second half of its run but unfortunately was met with a lot of skepticism since average viewership barely breached 25M per episode, which is a far cry from the 50M of other 10,000 dramas.
What I Like
Initial Thoughts - Minor Spoilers
- Refreshing subversion of many fantasy romance tropes: After sitting through several formulaic fantasy dramas this year (see my other reviews), this one stands out for actively confronting and twisting those clichés. It cleverly challenges conventions like petty goddess rivalries and the rigid moral binaries between “righteous” and “evil” sects. I’ll admit, I rolled my eyes early on, thinking I knew exactly where the story was headed, but was pleasantly surprised when it veered in unexpected directions. The drama is clearly self-aware and even gives a knowing wink to the audience when flipping these tropes. I found myself chuckling at several of these moments.
- He Xian Rui as Fan Ling Er: Though her screen time is limited, He Xian Rui makes a strong impression. Fan Ling Er is fiercely loyal, intelligent, and more than capable of holding her own. Her short but compelling backstory adds depth, and I found myself wishing we got more of both the character and the actress. I’d happily watch a spin-off of Fan Ling Er’s solo adventures. Hopefully, she avoids the predictable romance arc I sense brewing but time will tell.
- Bai Lu as Li Qing Yue / Hua Ru Yue: Bai Lu delivers a decent performance, capturing the distinct personalities of her dual roles. Her portrayal of the naive and innocent Li Qing Yue was convincing enough to fool me. She also now carries the presence and strength needed for the more commanding Hua Ru Yue. Though she still has a tendency to overact in highly emotional or confrontational scenes, it’s a noticeable improvement from her previous fantasy romance roles. Based on what I’ve seen so far, I’m firmly on Team Hua Ru Yue in the central conflict. Honestly, I’d love to see her break free from Bai Jiu Si altogether and live her own independent life, she’s still far too kind to him.
- Portrayal of the humanity of well, humans: For a drama centered on deities, its most powerful moments come from its portrayal of humanity. It thoughtfully explores human struggle, vulnerability, and the desire to change one’s fate. The series makes a clear statement: humans are not mere pawns or bugs to be brushed aside. Their lives matter, however insignificant they might seem to the gods, and that’s the lesson the gods themselves must learn.
Final Thoughts - Minor Spoilers
- Small arcs with big impact: The drama finally gave some screen time to the side characters of the Jing Yun Sect and the Yin Lian Sect. Some of the most impactful moments in the drama came from the those smaller arcs. The characters stayed true to their principles, and the plots avoided descending into cliché rivalries. In fact, the drama truly shined when the human characters openly explored their emotions, regrets, and motivations. After finishing the series, it’s these grounded storylines, not the epic battles, that linger in my memory.
- Stronger Individual Female Arcs: Across the board, the female characters stood out. Each had a clear purpose or was on a journey to find one. Whether or not I agreed with their choices, their emotional honesty and clarity of desire made them compelling. These characters weren’t passive. They had conviction and ambition and they owned their stories.
- He Xian Rui as Fan Ling Er: He Xian Rui’s portrayal of Fan Ling Er continued to be strong for the second half of the drama. I thought Fan Ling Er was the most well rounded character of the main cast. Fan Ling Er was loyal, vulnerable, and deeply driven, not (only) by romance, but by a sense of purpose and longing for familial connection. Instead of being sidetracked by romance, she knew that she had her own calling and duties and focused on what fulfilled her. She balanced emotional depth with personal strength, and He Xian Rui portrayed each layer with nuance and heart.
What could be better
Initial Thoughts - Minor Spoilers
- Zeng Shun Xi as Bai Jiu Si: While I’ve enjoyed Zeng Shun Xi in roles like Fang Duo Bing in Mysterious Lotus Casebook, this simply isn’t the right fit for him. Everything about Bai Jiu Si feels off, from the character’s writing to his costuming, and finally to Zeng Shun Xi’s portrayal. Bai Jiu Si comes across as arrogant and controlling, dismissing humans as insignificant and constantly acting on what he believes is best for Hua Ru Yue, without actually listening to her. His actions, all supposedly done in the name of “love,” often feel selfish and misguided, making him hard to root for. The visual presentation doesn’t help either. His heavenly costume is unflattering. It’s oversized and awkward, almost like he’s wrapped in curtains. The mismatched makeup, especially his uneven eyebrows, adds to the distraction. He looks much more comfortable and natural in the human realm, both in appearance and performance. Zeng Shun Xi struggles to bring the necessary gravitas to the role of an all-powerful deity. His youthful appearance and stiff demeanor make him seem like he’s playing dress-up rather than embodying a divine figure. His performance often lacks emotional depth, with many scenes coming off as blank or disengaged, particularly in interactions with Bai Lu. While he improves during the human arc and appears more animated, the transition is slow and difficult to watch. His stilted acting also contributes to the lack of chemistry between the leads. At this stage in the drama, Bai Jiu Si is more frustrating than compelling. Even though he’s set up for a redemption arc, I’m finding it hard to invest in his journey.
- Lack of Communication: While I’ve praised this drama for subverting many tired fantasy tropes, one it frustratingly holds onto is the classic lack of communication. Bai Jiu Si and Hua Ru Yue have been locked in a centuries-long feud, and yet they never actually talk about the root of their conflict. The tension drags on simply because they avoid any meaningful conversation. This issue is compounded by the screenwriter’s choice to make Bai Jiu Si an arrogant, unapproachable character. Meanwhile, Hua Ru Yue withholds the truth and doesn’t even attempt to show him what really happened between them. Sure, the drama is clearly building up to a full reveal later on, but watching this prolonged misunderstanding unfold is exhausting. The audience seems to just be waiting around for Bai Jiu Si to finally realize the truth and “learn his lesson.” It’s one of those situations where you know the payoff is coming, but the journey there tests your patience. It brings to mind Eternal Love, where audiences were basically rooting for Su Su to die so she could return as the stronger, more in-control Bai Qian. The frustration here feels very similar.
- Jumbled and forgotten plotlines: I’ll gladly take it back if the drama manages to tie everything together in the end, but as it stands, the story feels scattered. A lot of time is spent in the early episodes introducing characters and plot points, only for many of them to be sidelined or forgotten altogether. While the show occasionally checks in on these side characters, the overall effect is that a lot happens, yet somehow, nothing really moves forward. There’s minimal development for the supporting cast simply because the story doesn’t spend enough time with them.
Speaking of, I am particularly puzzled at the character of Zhang Suan. His story seems completely separate from the plot of this drama and it’s not interesting to see his journey. He’s supposed to be a powerless mortal, yet he somehow survives a perilous climb to the heavens without a scratch. His unwavering devotion to Li Qing Yue feels one-sided, to the point where even other characters question whether she ever asked to be “saved.”
Extremely uneven CGI and costume design: The first two episodes were especially rough. The CGI was distractingly bad, and Bai Lu’s costumes were unflattering to the point of being jarring. It’s no surprise that early viewers and trolls used those initial impressions to dismiss the drama entirely. Thankfully, both the CGI and costume quality improve significantly after the rocky start, but the damage done by those opening episodes was hard to ignore.
Final Thoughts - WARNING MAJOR SPOILERS
- A frustrating arc for Bai Jiu Si: Bai Jiu Si was, quite frankly, an infuriating character to watch. He’s painted as noble and self-sacrificing, but in reality, he strips his wife of her agency for ten years under the misguided belief that he knows what’s best for her. The root of the central conflict stems from his arrogance and inability to communicate. He goes off to suffer her punishment for those 10 years and then believes everything will go back the way it was. He completely fails to grasp that Hua Ru Yue’s anger is not about his suffering, but about the fundamental betrayal of her autonomy. I am firmly on Team Hua Ru Yue on this feud. The drama lets him off far too easily once the “truth” is revealed, glossing over the very real emotional harm he caused. Zeng Shun Xi’s portrayal of Bai Jiu Si does little to redeem the character, his stiff performance and lack of emotional range made it hard to feel invested. Worse still, there was little to no chemistry between him and Bai Lu. Personally, I couldn’t bring myself to root for this couple.
- Gods Neglecting Their Duties: For all its attempts to subvert fantasy-romance tropes, the drama clings to one of the genre’s most overused pitfalls: divine characters obsessed with romance while neglecting their responsibilities. At first, it was Bai Jiu Si trying to “expose” Li Qing Yue as Hua Ru Yue. Then the two were off having battles with their respective troops and feuding. What about their duties as gods? The drama kept saying that Bai Jiu Si was the protector of the realm but he was mainly off galivanting trying to find his partner. Even when the gods descend to the human realm to “experience mortal hardship,” it’s laughably superficial. They live in luxury, retain their powers, and face none of the real struggles of ordinary people. It was doubly disappointing when Bai Jiu Si and Hua Ru Yue head back to the human realm and Bai Jiu Si is just expecting Hua Ru Yue to serve him. Why? Simply because she is the woman in the relationship? He didn’t want to put in any of the work and expected to reap the rewards. The drama talks a lot about duty, but rarely shows it.
- An ensemble of arrogance: While flawed gods can be intriguing and make for great stories in other dramas, the drama is overrun with insufferable deities, particularly those aligned with Bai Jiu Si. Not only is he selfish and cold, but his subordinates aren’t much better. One god is consumed by rage and vengeance, while another manipulates his own daughter under the guise of love. The gods act as if omniscience excuses their refusal to actually talk to one another. Many of the drama’s central conflicts could’ve been resolved or at least softened through basic conversation. Instead, miscommunication and condescension reign supreme, and I was left frustrated that these gods couldn’t even talk to one another.