Feud: Spoiler-Free Mini Review
- Jul 29
- 4 min read
Updated: Jul 29
Title: | Feud (2025) |
Platform: | Viki, iQIYI, TVING |
MDL Rating: | |
Genre: | Xianxia |
Episode Count: | 32 |
Parental Guidance Rating: | PG: Blood and violence (I'd say maybe a lite PG-13) |
Staring: | Bai Lu (Moonlight Mystique) Joseph Zeng (Veil of Shadows ) He Rui Xian (Warm On A Cold Night) Chen Xin Hai (The Double) Liang Yong Qi(The Double) |
RBTS Rating: | 3/5 Stars (A twisty, complex Xianxia, whose story is wasted on a high school theatre level production, bland acting, and too many episodes. Put me in there coach, and I will paper mache a set worthy of the plot. I can't full heartedly recommend, but the story is good. It's just all the other things)  |
Synopsis:
In a captivating fairytale, Li Qing Yue, a powerful immortal blessed by the Four Spirits, and Bai Jiu Si, a revered master of Dacheng, find themselves drawn together. However, a cruel twist of fate leads to a misunderstanding that ignites a heartbreaking conflict, even resulting in their demise. But destiny is not done with them yet. Granted a second chance, they mend their broken bond and join forces as champions. Together, the immortal and the master unite to protect the innocent from a looming threat. @MDL
Stay Tuned: Full Review Still to Come!
Spoiler-Free Mini Review:
Feud is a surprisingly complex Xianxia that explores resentment, forgiveness, and empathy, taking a micro approach, rather than the macro with all the realms doing their thang. This story had more twists than a tornado in Kansas. And they were its saving grace. I feel somewhat annoyed, because on paper this Xianxia is probably one of my favorites, but factoring in the finished product, it was just BARLEY, by a single hair, worth watching.
The First Offender: The Production
The sound editor needs to go straight to jail. I can't decide what was worse: the dubbing, the endless looney tune sound effects, or the music. Don't even get me started on the bad wigs, because then we'd need to bring up the fact that you can easily see Bai Lu's natural hair sticking out underneath her different colored extensions. And how can I forget Long Yuan's heinous gold shoulder pads and bejeweled mask? I don't know, but I sure tried. Tyra Banks always encouraged a strong shoulder pad, but this was too much. And I've long accepted that every idol drama needs a mask moment, but this is a bridge too far. As for the sets: I truly believe in my heart of hearts that I personally could Paper Mache better backdrops and props. The CGI shall not even be spoken of. Where did the money go? Maybe it all went to the sound guy, which could explain why he went so hard with the audio effects lol.
The Second Offender: The Acting
Casting directors, what are we doing here? Do they not do chemistry tests? Maybe it's just the Bai Lu effect making it so the two leads have absolutely no zing between them. And I can't even hold her fully responsible, because Joseph Zeng is infamously wooden as well. You'd think their mutual affinity to act like lumber would make it easier to start a fire between them, but no. Bai Lu did get better as the drama went on and her character evolved, but it was rough pickings. I'm starting to notice a pattern in that I don't like her "naive" and "upbeat" acting. I'm so sad, because I would have LOVED this had the acting been better.
The Third Offender: The Pacing
We took our sweet time to get that episode count up there. The drama really drags. This can be forgiven if the actors or sets can liven up a scene, but everything was against this drama. I literally watched the last few episodes on 1.5x speed. That was my first time in over 100 C-dramas that I've done that.
I thought the Feud poster reminded me of something lol
The Fourth Offender: The Men
All the girls deserved better. That's all.
But shout out to both He Rui Xian and her character Fan Ling Er-- both ladies slayed.
Feud had all the angst, misunderstandings, and multiple entangled lifetimes you can expect from a Xianxia, but I was pleasantly surprised by the MANY twists and the philosophical discussions. I liked how it explored different types of love, but ultimately the barbaric sound, middle school theatre sets, and bland acting took the shine off. I don't know if I'd recommend, but I finished, so you do you boo. I can't be held responsible.
Story=4 (On paper it is pretty interesting) , Acting =2.5 (Honestly, rough. Bai Lu is Bai Lu. She gets better as it goes on if you take out your contacts, ML only has facial expressions occasionally), Production Quality=1.75 (Whole lotta yikes), Rewatch Value=2.25 (no), Ending=3.5 (dragged and all the girls deserved better) , Enjoyability= 3.25
Trailer:
Director: Zhi Lei (Rebirth for You, The Legend of the White Snake)
Screenwriter: Xiao Xiang Dong Er (The First Jasmine, A Moment But Forever)
Comments