The Last Immortal (2023)

Episodes: 40

Synopsis:

This drama follows Ah Yin, a divine water beast, and Gu Jin, the son of the true gods, who meet by chance and set out to find the immortal essence of Feng Yin, the next Phoenix Queen. The two are joined by Hongyi, the Fox prince of Demon Realms, and Princess Yan Shuang of the Eagle clan. They work together to maintain peace in the world and overcome obstacles along the way as the characters fall for each other. 

However, the little water beast is more than what her identity is believed to be.

Review:

I will watch any drama with Zhao Lusi in it, and “The Last Immortal” was no exception. The first scene with Ah Yin talking about her trials in the human world instantly hooked me because I sensed the angst was coming, and I’m all about that. The idea that she doesn’t remember her past but keeps hearing her own life story while stuck in a loop experiencing different human lives was enough to get me excited. I knew there was going to be angst, and I LOVE ANGST!

However, as I continued watching, I found myself a bit let down. The overall production felt low-budget, from the cinematography to the costumes. While it’s understandable not to break the bank on sets, there are certainly ways to create a captivating atmosphere without overspending—just look at “Yanxi Palace.” Unfortunately, “The Last Immortal” felt somewhat tacky, which detracted from the performances. I did love their OSTs - but if the drama isn't emotionally impactful, the songs don't hold as much weight. 

As for the casting, I’ll always be a fan of Zhao Lusi. However, this role seemed like a downgrade compared to her previous performances. I know many love her in cute, bubbly roles, but I prefer her angsty side as seen in “Love Like the Galaxy.” Even her innocent character in “A Female Student Arrives at the Imperial College” had enough depth and ambition to keep me engaged. In contrast, I found this “innocent” character hard to connect with.

Wang Anyu's performance also left me wanting more; I've never been particularly drawn to his acting in past dramas, and the set design didn’t help. Li Yunrui was slightly better, but I couldn’t get past the tacky red and white furs they dressed him in. It’s tough to take the characters seriously when the visuals feel off. At least Zhao Lusi looked great in her outfits!

Speaking of which, those ridiculous furs on Li Yunrui were a choice—if they’d just dressed him in a sleek red fit, I could almost believe he was a red fox! I also look forward to the day he lands a lead role—he’s been the second lead opposite Zhao Lusi twice now!