Ice Fantasy 幻城 unfolds like a whimsical fairytale and ends just as beautifully as it started. I’m relieved and happy to announce that everyone that matters (to me) lives to see another day in one of the more satisfying endings as of late. It is still unabashedly cheesy but what the heck, it grows on you. Spoilers ahead.
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Episode 62 begins with Kasuo’s (Feng Shao Feng) return to Snowblade City. He draws his sword at the sound of footsteps and comes face to face with his half-brother Shi (Ma Tianyu).
Kasuo asks, “Do you really hate me?” Shi answers, “You killed me, you killed my mother. Shouldn’t I hate you?” Kasuo adds, “You said you didn’t hate me then, yet you ask if you should hate me now?”
They take the battle outside to the place where Shi died and Kasuo seizes every chance that he gets to relay the events of the past. His words seemingly strike a chord but a sinister voice urges Shi to kill, kill Kasuo.
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Seeing no way out, Kasuo opts to die by the sword thinking that it will put an end to the curse of Yuan Ji. His powers and immortality were bestowed by Shi so it seems fitting that he return everything upon his death. The act triggers something within Shi giving Kasuo enough time to transfer Shi’s remaining memories back to him.
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Meanwhile, Yan Da (Zhang Meng) rescues Li Luo (Mai Di Na) and Lan Shang (Victoria Song) and leads them to the Withering Blossoms Hillside where they are met with the sight of Shi reverting back to his former self.
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The brothers share a heartfelt reunion that is cut short after Flame manipulates Shi into accidentally stabbing Kasuo through the chest. Lan Shang and Li Luo witness the scene and it knocks them both unconscious.
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Kasuo uses his last ounce of strength in a final stand against Flame but Yan Da steps in and escapes with her father in tow. Kasuo collapses in the arms of Shi and declares his wish for Shi to become the next king. Lan Shang and Li Luo awake in their respective bodies only to find that Kasuo has already fallen.
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Flame easily gains the upper hand in the subsequent battle as Shi is tormented by rage. Just as Flame is about to consume Shi’s soul, Yan Da intervenes.
The diversion enables Shi to regain control and he taunts Flame, “Should I kill you or have you tortured to death?” Yan Da steps in, this time to save her father but she ends up the victim after Flame deals a fatal blow meant to kill her along with Shi.
Feeling hurt and betrayed, she turns back to look her father in the eye once more before pushing Shi out of harm’s way. Shi finishes off Flame but it is too late for Yan Da who falls into his arms. Yan Da asks whether Shi ever liked her and after a series of flashbacks he says, “thank you. you’re my most beautiful friend and best friend.”
Xing Jiu (Xu Ke) finally regains consciousness and he tells Shi that there may be a way to save Kasuo. There is an ancient book that talks of the Blood Red Lotus, something even more mysterious than the Veiled Lotus. If the Veiled Lotus is a mystical object within the three realms then the Blood Red Lotus exists beyond the three realms.
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Li Luo and Lan Shang continue to visit Kasuo and Li Luo tells him that peace pervades the lands as the tribes have sworn allegiance to Shi as the new king. Shi did not attend his coronation but he left a warning that he will return should anyone attempt to stir trouble.
In the meantime, Xing Jiu helped Shi enter a dream of the world from 10,000 years ago in hopes of finding a method to resurrect Kasuo. They learn that only a king’s truest intentions can summon the Blood Red Lotus, which is why Shi has set out on a journey to find it.
Granny (Zheng Pei Pei) mistakes a sleet bird for Shi and she suddenly has a vision of the scene from the very first episode that shows Kasuo shedding tears after a bloody battle. She mutters, “He wishes to bring him freedom, their past and present, their destinies.. No!!! Don’t! Please don’t return to those agonizing times.” Dun dun dun dun, a sleet bird dies, Kasuo’s eyes open.
Final Impressions: I was flip flopping between Ice Fantasy and Legend of Chusen but not anymore, not after how badly Chusen ended and how good Ice Fantasy fared in comparison. Drumroll please… because Shi has returned, no longer a pint-sized fairy or a vengeful amnesiac or even the adorable Yun Fei but as himself and my goodness, how we missed you so.
I can’t imagine another actor in the role because Ma Tianyu is perfect, marrying his angelic features with guileless innocence and embellishing it with the shrewdness of a diabolic mastermind. His character gets screwed over big time somewhere along the way and I’m just happy that he made it back in one piece.
He also becomes the king, an outcome that I didn’t expect but a notion that makes a lot of sense in hindsight. If only they let him rule in the first place… because clearly, he is the better candidate compared to Kasuo in terms of wisdom.
Don’t get me wrong, I actually like Feng Shao Feng and the rest of the cast who in spite of little character development made the most of what they were given. I’m still reeling from the loss of half the cast in the penultimate episode especially Luna and Healer, my favorite couple.
The soul swap did wonders for Victoria Song and Mai Di Na because I appreciated them more as an actress and learned to love their characters even more, thanks to their shared ownership of Li Luo, who was an amazing character when she was played by Victoria Song and equally badass when portrayed by Mai Di Na.
The final episode feels like a parting gift since it puts a satisfying resolution to the remaining loose ends. There was enough suspense left to keep the tension high and I didn’t even mind that the ending is open-ended. So Kasuo is alive, right?
Anonymous
SHI dies..beautiful ending?
Anne J
are you talking about the part where Shi turns into the bird and dies? because i never understood those ending parts so in my mind he's very much alive? don't know if my interpretation is correct the last few scenes were kind of confusing.
Anonymous
I just clicked on this site through Google. The ending looks more like Shi killed himself as the bird to trigger the Blood Red Lotus – which has the ability to turn back time, to save Kasuo. Equal exchange for wishes with these magical flowers I guess. It seems like they have been going at this never ending timeloop quite a few times according to Grandma's words. Nevertheless, I'd want Shi to be alive too, as King or not, just alive is okay.
Anyway, if you are interested in Ma Tianyu, you can give a look at my english fanpage for him here: https://www.facebook.com/matianyufanpage
Hope you don't mind this small PR move, 🙂 Have a good day.
Anne J
you just voiced out everything that i was refusing to acknowledge and sadly, you make a lot of sense 🙁 in hindsight, he probably really died but the scene was like a split second and it's all dreamlike and unreal that I'm kind of choosing to believe that he is alive.
And sure, post away. Glad to spread the love for c-dramas and in this case Ma Tianyu:)
Unknown
I was also confused by the ending. But after everything Ka Suo and Shi went through I simply wanted them both to live happily ever after. Yan da was my fav character. I feel that she had the most depth. It was Lang Shan that I felt the most sorry for. First she is raped by the fire prince in the form of Ka Suo, then she is 'raped' by Ka Suo who believes she is his beloved Li Lou. There is no way when he wakes up that he will love them both equally. So the Predor Mermaid is screwed again. And her mother figure is dead. It's just so sad. The only great thing she accomplished was while she was Li Luo. Mostly she was simply a victim. So sad.
Unknown
Please, please ,please..I dont want Yan Da died.I like her and ying kong shi as a couple….I find them very awkward funny. They are lovable couple. And I dont want the idea that shi transformed to a bird and dies . Its very sad. I admire lan shang to play the role of li lou..If she play taht role more often i gonna feel inlove with her….Ying Kong Shi..I just love you that I always shed tears for every sorrow youve been through..I feel inlove with your character…Hope there'sa happy ending..
Anonymous
I'm not to the end yet but I am loving the story. Its cute how close the 2 brothers were for part of the show, but it was sad when the fire princess took Shi away but he continued to spy for his older brother. I just wish they would make another season or was there only supposed to be 1 season only?
Anne J
there is a season 2 it's called Ice Fantasy Destiny 🙂
https://www.dramapanda.com/2017/02/ice-fantasy-destiny.html
Drahcir
one of the most favorite drama fantasy of all time. i don't understand the scope of the director on final ending, too confusing, i hate the ending. i wish the final ending is the episode that li lou, lan shang and shi reincarnated. i wish i didn't not watch the final episode, sad. i really like li lou and yan da. too bad for shi and yan da "WTF". now that someone mention about ice-fantasy-destiny, i dont want to watch it anymore coz Victoria Song is not there. haizt… sorry for my bad english, i hate English its too hard for me to learn it.
Unknown
I LOVE IT! I really didn't think i was going to be able to finish the 62 chapters, but it was worth it, if you can see through the whole story, the meaning and appreciate the huge investment on the scenery, makeup, customs, everything, it was really well made, the CGI could have been better, but after a few chapters you get used to it, in my opinion is quite hard for the actors to perform with imagination, so in my opinion everybody did an amazing job!
Every character was bringing something unique to the table and of course i had my favs.
-Luna and the Healer (i love the healer character soooo much <3)
– Yan Da and Ying Kong Shi (they were in my opinion, just not conventional :P)
– Ka suo and Li Luo
In my opinion, the overall message is that real life does not have always a happy ending, the moments you share with your loved ones you need to enjoy it and cherish, those are the ones we keep in our memories. Even though you love a person, does not mean you'll be with them forever, so live your life the best way, be happy and harm no one.
Alicja
Ice Fantasy ends in the same confusing way, Shi supposed to die but he somehow doesn't, wakes up in snow country again and sees himself with a different hairstyle (feathers in his head). And Yan Da kills herself to protect Shi, so she dies again. What makes it worse is that Shi says he loves her after her soul goes away. So mad! I'm still not over this drama, I want a happy ending but it's a never ending story of bad endings T-T
Anonymous
I love the story but the ending I didn't want shi to die I love if shi and Lang shang be couple they do adorable
Alicja
Nothing is adorable about Lan Shang and Shi as a couple. It's a big cringe pls…
EnchantedBreeze
Season3 petition: https://www.change.org/p/director-ju-jue-liang-ice-fantasy-season-3-love-story-of-yanshi
Anonymous
Lan shan_ mai di na….i like