Synopsis
Overview
Love Between Fairy and Devil is a Chinese historical fantasy romance drama that premiered in 2023. Directed by Ju Jueliang, the series stars Luo Yunxi and Bai Lu, and is adapted from the novel Black Moonlight Holds the BE Script by Tengluo Weizhi. With a total of 40 episodes, the drama is known for its grand world-building, exquisite costumes and production design, and complex...
Overview
"Till the End of the Moon" is a Chinese historical fantasy romance drama that aired in 2023. Directed by Ju Jueliang and starring Luo Yunxi and Bai Lu, the series is adapted from the novel "Black Moonlight Holds the BE Script" by Tengluo Weizhi. With a total of 40 episodes, it features a grand world-building, exquisite costumes and production design, and complex emotional entanglements. The story follows Li Susu, the daughter of the Hengyang Sect leader, who travels back 500 years to save the world. She assumes the identity of Ye Xiwu, the youngest daughter of the Ye family, intending to alter the fate of the demon god Tantai Jin. Blending fantasy and romance elements, the series has garnered widespread attention and discussion since its premiere, holding a Douban rating of 7.8.
Plot
The story begins in a dark age ruled by the demon god Tantai Jin. To prevent an apocalyptic crisis, Li Susu, a beacon of hope for the righteous path, makes a desperate gamble using an ancient artifact to return 500 years into the past. At that time, Tantai Jin had not yet become a demon; he was merely a hostage prince of the Jing Kingdom, suffering constant bullying. Li Susu takes on the identity of Ye Xiwu, the second young lady of the Sheng Kingdom's General Ye's mansion, and becomes Tantai Jin's wife. Her initial goal is to plant Soul-Extinguishing Nails within him and kill him before he turns into a demon.
However, through their daily interactions, Ye Xiwu (Li Susu) gradually witnesses Tantai Jin's tragic past and the lingering goodness deep within his heart. The two test and redeem each other through crises and hardships, developing a profound and complex emotional bond. The plot not only revolves around their love-hate relationship but also intertwines with the karmic entanglements of multiple lifetimes (such as the past-life story of Sang Jiu and Ming Ye). It paints a grand narrative exploring themes of responsibility, sacrifice, prejudice, and redemption. The story progresses under the intense tension between "love" and "duty," as the protagonists face difficult choices time and again, composing a tale of joy and sorrow that transcends time and space.
Cast
The following are the main actors and their character introductions:
| Actor | Role | Character Introduction |
|---|---|---|
| Luo Yunxi | Tantai Jin / Ming Ye / Cang Jiumin | The hostage prince of Jing Kingdom, born with a demon bone and a tragic fate, who later becomes the demon god. Also portrays the past-life War God Ming Ye and the immortal sect disciple Cang Jiumin. |
| Bai Lu | Li Susu / Ye Xiwu / Sang Jiu | Daughter of the Hengyang Sect leader, who travels back 500 years to save the world, becoming Ye Xiwu. Also portrays the past-life Mo River Princess Sang Jiu. |
| Chen Duling | Ye Bingchang / Mo Nü / Tian Huan | Ye Xiwu's elder sister, outwardly gentle but secretly scheming. Also portrays Mo Nü, the elder sister of Si Ying from a past life, and the Tengshe Clan Saintess Tian Huan. |
| Deng Wei | Xiao Lin / Gongye Jiwu / Sang You | The sixth prince of the Sheng Kingdom, righteous and benevolent, who admires Ye Bingchang. Also portrays Gongye Jiwu, a man created by Pang Yizhi in imitation of Xiao Lin, and Sang Jiu's elder brother Sang You. |
| Sun Zhenni | Pian Ran | A fox spirit who has cultivated for centuries, free-spirited, with a romantic storyline involving Ye Qingyu. |
| Geng Yeting | Ye Qingyu | A general of the Ye family, Ye Xiwu's younger brother, upright and loyal. |
Cultural Impact
After its broadcast, "Till the End of the Moon" generated significant cultural impact both domestically in China and overseas. Firstly, the drama's "Dunhuang-style" costume and production design received high praise. It innovatively integrated colors, patterns, and stylistic elements from Dunhuang murals into the xianxia genre, leading a trend of classical aesthetic revival and sparking public interest in traditional culture and art.
Secondly, the series' complex portrayal of protagonists who are "not purely good or evil" sparked widespread discussion. Tantai Jin, born as a "demon seed" yet yearning for goodness, and Li Susu, burdened with a mission yet developing compassion, represent a deep exploration of moral ambiguity and the struggle against fate. This nuanced characterization transcends the traditional binary opposition often found in xianxia dramas, prompting viewers to contemplate profound questions about destiny, choice, and redemption.
Furthermore, after its release on overseas streaming platforms, the series gained popularity among a large international audience, becoming one of the successful cases of Chinese cultural industry "going global." The Eastern philosophical concepts and aesthetic意境 (artistic conception) contained within the drama served as a window for disseminating Chinese culture. However, the series also faced some controversy regarding its pacing and the logic of certain plot points. These discussions themselves have become part of its pop culture phenomenon.
References
- Douban Movie. "Till the End of the Moon" Introduction and Rating. https://movie.douban.com/subject/35231822/
- Baidu Baike. "Till the End of the Moon" Entry. https://baike.baidu.com/item/长月烬明/
- Wikipedia. "Till the End of the Moon" Entry. https://zh.wikipedia.org/wiki/长月烬明
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