Till The End of The Moon — Complete Drama Review
By CDramaPedia Editorial
Till The End of The Moon (长月烬明) is not just a drama — it is an experience. Spanning 40 episodes of time travel, moral complexity, and a love story that refuses to let you breathe, this 2023 xianxia epic became one of the most-watched Chinese dramas globally. Here is a comprehensive review covering everything from the story and performances to the visuals and music.
Overview
| Detail | Info |
|---|---|
| Title | Till The End of The Moon (长月烬明) |
| Genre | Xianxia, Romance, Fantasy, Time Travel |
| Episodes | 40 |
| Cast | Luo Yunxi, Bai Lu |
| Director | Ju Jueliang |
| Released | April 2023 |
| Where to watch | Netflix, Youku, Viki |
| Douban Rating | 6.7 (controversial — more on this below) |
The Story
Li Susu, a goddess from the heavenly realm, travels 500 years into the past to prevent the rise of Tantai Jin, a demon god who will eventually destroy the world. Her mission is simple: kill him before he becomes a threat. But Tantai Jin, in this timeline, is a hostage prince — weak, abused, and desperately lonely. As Li Susu embeds herself in his world, she begins to see the humanity beneath the monster he is destined to become.
The central tension — can you save someone by loving them, or are some fates inevitable? — drives every episode. The time-travel mechanic means Li Susu knows exactly what Tantai Jin will become, creating a dramatic irony that is both devastating and addictive.
The story spans three arcs across different reincarnation cycles, each escalating the emotional stakes. The first arc in the mortal world is the strongest, grounding the fantasy in genuine human suffering. The second and third arcs expand the scope to celestial warfare and cosmic consequences.
Performances
Luo Yunxi as Tantai Jin
This is a career-defining performance. Luo Yunxi transforms Tantai Jin from a trembling hostage into a terrifying demon god with surgical precision. The character requires showing vulnerability and menace simultaneously — sometimes in the same scene. Luo Yunxi's microexpressions — the way his eyes shift from pleading to predatory — are extraordinary. The scene where Tantai Jin realizes he has been manipulated is widely considered one of the best single scenes in C-drama history.
Bai Lu as Li Susu / Ye Xiwu
Bai Lu brings warmth, intelligence, and fierce determination to Li Susu. The character operates on multiple levels — she is genuinely falling in love while maintaining a mission to potentially destroy the person she loves. Bai Lu handles this duality with grace. In the mortal world arc, her portrayal of Ye Xiwu (Li Susu's cover identity) adds a playful dimension that balances the heavier themes.
Chemistry
The chemistry between Luo Yunxi and Bai Lu is the drama's engine. Their relationship is not a simple love story — it is a negotiation between trust and suspicion, tenderness and manipulation, hope and inevitability. The quieter moments — a shared meal, a reluctant smile — carry more weight than any CGI battle.
Visuals and Cinematography
The production design is gorgeous. The mortal world arc features earth-toned palatial interiors and snow-covered landscapes that feel tactile. The celestial realm shifts to cooler blues and ethereal whites. The demon realm is appropriately dark and oppressive.
The CGI is above average for a C-drama, though not flawless. The large-scale battle sequences are ambitious, and the practical effects (wire work, set design) compensate for any CGI shortcomings. The costume design is particularly strong — Li Susu's wardrobe evolves across the arcs, reflecting her emotional state.
Music and OST
The OST is one of the drama's greatest assets. Liu Yuning's "Unsurpassed" (不可逾越) is the standout track — a ballad that captures the impossible longing at the heart of the story. It plays during key emotional moments and has become one of the most-streamed C-drama OSTs.
The background score uses traditional Chinese instruments mixed with orchestral arrangements, creating an atmosphere that is both ancient and cinematic.
The Douban Rating Controversy
Till The End of The Moon received a 6.7 on Douban, which feels unfairly low for a drama of this quality. The reasons are complicated:
- Pacing issues in the middle arcs — the transition from the mortal world to the celestial realm felt rushed to some viewers
- Fan wars — the drama became caught in celebrity fan conflicts that affected ratings
- High expectations — the source novel has a devoted following, and adaptations always face scrutiny
- Tonal inconsistency — the mortal world arc is grounded and intimate, while later arcs lean heavily into CGI spectacle
Despite the Douban score, the drama was a massive commercial and cultural success. International audiences on MyDramaList and Viki rate it significantly higher.
Strengths
- Luo Yunxi's performance — universally praised as exceptional
- Moral complexity — no easy answers about redemption and fate
- The mortal world arc — one of the best-executed C-drama arcs in recent memory
- OST — beautiful and emotionally resonant
- Chemistry — genuine and layered
- Rewatchability — knowing the ending changes how you interpret every early scene
Weaknesses
- Pacing in later arcs — the cosmic escalation reduces the intimacy that made the first arc special
- CGI limitations — some celestial battle scenes look rushed
- Supporting characters — underdeveloped compared to the leads
- Episode count — could have benefited from being 30 episodes instead of 40
The Verdict
Rating: 8.5/10
Till The End of The Moon is an emotionally devastating xianxia drama anchored by an extraordinary lead performance from Luo Yunxi and a love story that redefines what the genre is capable of. The mortal world arc alone justifies watching the entire series. While the later arcs do not maintain the same level of focused intimacy, the overall experience is powerful, beautiful, and unforgettable.
If you are looking for a xianxia drama that takes its characters and their pain seriously, that asks hard questions about love and destiny without offering easy answers, this is the one.
Who Should Watch This?
- Xianxia fans — this is the genre at its most ambitious
- Romance fans — the central relationship is one of the best in recent C-drama
- Luo Yunxi fans — his best performance to date
- Anyone who loved Ashes of Love or Love Between Fairy and Devil — similar emotional DNA, different execution
- Skip if you need fast pacing or dislike time-travel narratives
Where to Go Next
Luo Yunxi and Bai Lu have both had remarkable careers across multiple genres. Explore their full profiles and filmographies on Idol Mandarin. The stunning celestial costumes in Till The End of The Moon — from Li Susu's flowing gowns to Tantai Jin's dark robes — have inspired countless fashion recreations. See the costume analysis on CDrama Style. For official Till The End of The Moon photocards, standees, and collectibles, shop authentic merch at Pandafame.
