“Back From the Brink” is a youth fantasy Xianxia drama directed by He Shupei, starring Hou Minghao and Zhou Ye, and premiered on May 9th. The drama is adapted from the novel of the same name by Jiulu Feixiang and tells the story of a rebellious female immortal practitioner Yanhui and the “evil dragon” Tianyao.
The weight of Xianxia drama in ancient costume dramas is significant. Such works often combine Eastern aesthetics with novel stories, featuring both the ethereal beauty of the world of immortals and the romance of mortal love. Xianxia dramas are easily turned popular as long as the story is captivating and popular actors portray fascinating characters. However, the risk of mixed reviews is also common.
Among the upcoming costume dramas, several have generated high expectations. For example, the trailer of “Destined”, starring Bai Jingting and Song Yi, has already captivated the audience. “The Longest Promise, starring Xiao Zhan and Ren Min, has also become a hit with hundreds of millions of views on its trailer.
Although these highly anticipated dramas have not yet aired, “Back From the Brink”, which was just released, is also remarkable. It premiered with five episodes and immediately topped the charts, generating a buzz on related topics and sparking numerous discussions. Overall, the drama has many attractive qualities according to various reviews.
01 Breaking the typical features of Xianxia dramas
The drama “Back From the Brink” is adapted from the novel of the same name by Jiulu Feixiang. Many viewers have exclaimed that they were not disappointed after watching it, especially in the first five episodes, which vividly restore the textual part, making it very friendly to fans of the original work.
The opening of the story is also very attractive, completely different from previous Xianxia dramas. For example, when Tianyao, dressed in a red wedding gown, slowly walks towards his beloved Su Ying, the head of Guanghan Gate, it was expected to be a sweet moment for the two, but it turned out to have a huge twist.
In a moment of carelessness, Su Ying suddenly stabbed Tianyao's body with a hidden blade, causing blood to flow out instantly. Tianyao looked at the scene in front of him, unable to believe that his beloved could do such a thing.
Then, Su Ying made an even more cruel decision, she stripped Tianyao of his skin and tendons, sealed him in four directions, and then coldly left. Just by watching the beginning, viewers have the impulse to keep watching.
Tianyao loses his freedom, and the story design of the supporting actress torturing the male lead is rare in many Xianxia dramas. This is also one of the storylines of the entire drama, and the encounter between Tianyao and Yanhui is adequately set up.
When Tianyao was sealed, Yanhui was born, but her heart was incomplete from the beginning, and Tianyao's heart scale became the only support for Yanhui to survive. After the two met by chance, they didn't have any feelings for each other at first, they were just a fake couple with their own purposes. Tianyao was only using Yanhui to find his heart scale. In the later interaction, the two gradually found that they couldn't be separated.
As for the first five episodes, the overall feeling is that the rhythm is good, and the portrayal of the characters is also quite meticulous. Both the male and female leads and supporting roles have exciting designs. In the first part, there were no major changes to the original work, and the plot design was also logical. Moreover, the special effects are also quite mature. Overall, the plot of “Back From the Brink” has won a lot of recognition, which is also one of the reasons for its soaring popularity.
02 Powerful Cast of Back From the Brink
The male and female leads of “Back From the Brink” possess both good looks and talent, while the supporting roles are stunningly portrayed. As a costume fantasy drama, casting is crucial, and “Back From the Brink” did not make any mistakes in this regard.
The male lead, Hou Minghao, is already quite handsome, and his ancient costume appearance is even more eye-catching, surprising viewers with his youthful energy. He perfectly embodies his character, Tianyao, and his acting is effortless.
For example, when Su Ying stabs Tianyao with the blade, he is initially shocked and completely unprepared for her actions. As the pain from the blade increases, his expression gradually becomes anguished, adding emotional tension to the scene. After meeting the female lead, Yanhui, Tianyao's temperament has been mostly eroded by his confinement, leaving him more cold and unsmiling, even in his wedding day. He even fights Yanhui, and is ultimately defeated.
Similarly, the female lead, Zhou Ye, possesses both good looks and temperament, making her very suitable for the character of Yanhui in a costume fantasy drama. Her performance is commendable, and she has created a remarkable character.
Yanhui's personality traits are quite rich, ranging from lively to witty, and her expressions are vivid in many scenes. When Yanhui is expelled from her sect, she appears heartbroken and unwilling to leave. Once in the Jianghu she quickly adapts to a lifestyle of solitude and exhibits a curious and playful nature. After experiencing many things with Tianyao, she becomes more mature and gentle. Zhou Ye's acting has made great strides, and her portrayal of Yanhui is truly impressive.
This drama also features powerful actress Yang Rong, who impressively portrays Su Ying. In the opening scene, Su Ying wears a red dress and heavy makeup, exuding a powerful aura. When she stabs Tianyao with the dagger, her expression is firm and even ruthless.
Overall, “Back From the Brink” is a captivating drama with an intriguing plot that stays true to the original work while also incorporating new and innovative designs, presenting a fresh take on the costume fantasy Xianxia genre.
