At times it seemed like a mess of unconnected information, presuming a level of understanding that’s probably true to audiences in Taiwan and China but a bit confusing for those watching from other Netflix markets. Whilst the backstory is enjoyable to discover, it could have been more cohesive, explaining some pieces sooner. Occasionally too drawn out with more ghost side stories than necessary, some chapters felt tedious while others zipped by. Perhaps that’s a few too many cooks in the kitchen, as the storyline does seem to scatter here and there. Directors Zhang Jinrong and Chen Jingwen are supported by a team of four writers pulling together multiple plot points. Yet while some reveals are done well, others slip in randomly where you could miss it if you’re distracted. The mysterious origin of the malevolent ghosts and their uncanny power unfolds cleverly, offering opportunities to speculate. It doesn’t get going until Episode 6 which takes a little too long but does connect the dots from there onward, effectively raising the tension from Episode 9.
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The first several of which ease you into the story and the characters. Generous 65-70 min instalments give the creators plenty of time to dig into the narrative, sharing historic and cultural detail. It shifts charmingly from ‘That guy must be in a triad, let’s call the police,’ to fighting side-by-side. One of the more gratifying pieces is the 1000-year romance between Chung and Hsin-Yu. As Chung’s friend and supporter, he also delivers many of the lighter moments, teasing Chung about his love life and supplying lessons in tactical dating.
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Among the array of deities represented is Cheng Huang, whose historic role is to protect a city’s defences as guardian. Each episode closes with a message attributed to Chung Kuei, imbuing his responsibility as defender and vanquisher. As a result, he’s often invoked at Chinese New Year to protect in the year ahead. Folklore, which dates back to the 700’s, notes his role is to rid the Chinese empire of evil. Known for his intelligence, Chung Kuei is the warden of hell’s prison. Lu Po Ya is portrayed by Anson Chen, also seen in The Missing Half and Temptation of Plastic Surgery and soon to be hitting Hollywood according to news reports. Ivy Shao is Lady Meng/Hsin-Yu appearing in romance dramas The Perfect Match and Back to 1989, both available on Netflix. Mike He, who plays Chung Kuei, can be seen most recently in the 2018 drama Tree in the River and film Come On Teacher. With a sizeable, time-sensitive job, he’s also keen to win the heart of Hsin-Yu, as she’s known on Earth. As a result, she loses her memory of her work in the Underworld and Chung. He comes to Earth to put malicious spirits back in their box before they affect humans.He’s also on a mission to find Lady Meng 1087, who’s kidnapped and brought to Earth. The story here revolves around The Exorcism Lord, Chung Keui, who’s also known as the ‘Devil Punisher’. It also introduces some of China’s historic and religious beliefs wrapped in a story about Gods and Humans, relationships and revenge. It’s called everything from a romance to a supernatural time-travel drama.