(A totally incoherent post) about Ten Miles of Peach Blossom.

Since we are a food blog, I will use some food words, but this is mostly gushing fan talk. 

(Image taken from DramaFever)

I am in the middle of binge-ing on this epic C-drama and am so in love with the show. In case you don't know, and it's conceivable that you don't, because it is a mainland Chinese drama and you can only watch the English sub-titled version on DramaFever which is not available in Singapore.  I can't speak more than survival Mandarin and dramas like these have long complicated dialogue so I was waiting a long time for it to to be available on my Viki subscription, but it doesn't seem likely now. Finally, I turned to PPTV and reconciled each episode with  its corresponding online re-caps. You know a drama is really popular when fans blog the episodes on an episode-by-episode basis. It was also how I managed to watch other epic series like Nirvana in Fire and The Disguiser during the early days of their release. 

Eternal Love, also known as Ten Miles of Peach Blossom, adapted from a book "Three Lives, Three Worlds, Ten Miles of Peach Blossom" -some also call it 3310 because of the book title- is a highly popular, as in a mind -boggling 35 bil views online (apparently), TV series in China. There's also a movie but I have not seen it. The wiki page has more information. 

Why do I love this so much?

1. The storyline. It's got star-crossed lovers that you can root for. The main couple is so ship-able. "ship", in case you don't know, is slang for rooting for couples. There are some secondary couples who deserves some shipping too, especially between Yan Zhi and Zi Lan, quite heartbreaking. 
2. The plot is crazy. We have been conditioned by years of K-drama to expect twists and turns, but this is the ultimate rollercoaster ride. The lead actor plays 2 characters, the lead actress takes care of 3! The genre is fantasy ne plus, it's set in the celestial world of gods and fairies who are strong, invincible, gifted with amazing powers, yet they have human failings, so relatable. 
3. The lead actor, Mark Chao, is swoon-worthy. He is very tall, with impossibly straight and long noseline and noble face. His character is classic hero, brooding with intense screen presence and superb timing. He only has one great love, whom he pursues with persistence, perseverance and sacrifice. I can imagine viewers drinking in the way he looks at his lover, it's terribly romantic. Be still, my beating heart. 
4. The lead actress,Yang Mi, she is very likeable too. Certainly she is beautiful, with fine features and eyes as big as swimming pools, and because she plays 3 characters, she has 3 chances of clicking with viewers. I like all 3 of her characters, but Susu was a bit bland comparatively. She rocks as Bai Qian though, a woman who knows how to take charge. 
5. The production quality is tops. Every scene is meticulously designed, the props and setting are on-point, down to the minutest of details, even the weights that holds down the corners of rugs in the rooms have a tactile, organic feel. I remember getting hooked on Nirvana in Fire because in the first couple of episodes, there was an outdoor scene; the pavements looked like real ancient bamboo trails and the stones of the wall had the most perfect moss and grime, that was when I told husband that the series was worth watching. The palace sets for Ye Hua, Su Jin, Dong Hua and Susu are all different and very lavish. The peach blossom garden is not that realistic, but it's dead romantic anyway. I love how the characters save time when travelling by disappearing or appearing in puffs of smoke. 
6. The costumes are dreamy. Mark Chao changes into at least 10 costumes, all black, all gorgeous. Every character is dressed beautifully, even the villains and minor characters. They must have used up yards and yards of fabric for just the serving girls alone. It's a never-ending feast for the eyes, all the pale silks, the muted shades of brocade, the drape of heavy silks, extravagant accessories. 
7. Many funny moments. No chance to be bored, the plot moves along at a good pace. 
8. Bai Qian character is 140,000 years old, while  Ye Hua character is 90,000 years younger. Bai Qian, as Queen of the Fox faction, is a "shang-sen" literally High Goddess, i.e. she is the same rank and class as Ye Hua. She can kick ass just like him. A heroine character that is not helpless or baby, or need to marry up, very modern. I love the scene where she put Su Jin in her place, so fierce and yet so classy. 
9. There's not much food in the stories, fairies don't need to eat, but there is a lotus hand. Mark Chao apparently got teased online for that. We can always feast our eyes on his character Ye Hua instead. 

(Image taken from Drama Fever)