Drama Review: My Journey to You

My Journey to You (云之羽)

Main Cast & Synopsis

“My Journey to You” is a wuxia romance drama that centers around Yu Wei Shan, a Wufeng assassin, who is on a mission to infiltrate the Gong family. With the promise that once Yu Wei Shan completes the mission, she will be free to leave Wufeng, she heads for Jiuchen Valley to become a prospective bride. There, she finds herself struggling to complete her mission and betray Gong Zi Yu, a kind and carefree Sword Wielder inheritor of the Gong family. Together, these two lost souls find themselves entangled in a world of dark lies and dangerous schemes.

Yu Shu Xin, known for her roles in “Love Between Fairy and Devil” and “Moonlight,” portrays Yu Wei Shan, a Wufeng assassin on a promised final mission to infiltrate the Gong family. She has little information about her mission, except that she must become the chosen wife of the next Sword Wielder, Gong Huan Yu. Despite being warned not to trust anyone during this mission, Yu Wei Shan finds herself falling for the kind-hearted Gong Zi Yu while trying to deceive him as she completes her assigned tasks.

Zhang Ling He, known for his roles in “Love Between Fairy and Devil” and “Flourish in Time,” portrays Gong Zi Yu, a member of the Yu lineage and the younger brother of the current Sword Wielder. He is known for his kindness and carefree nature. However, due to his personality, weak martial arts skills, and a questionable birth story, he is neither the favorite son nor the recipient of fondness within the Gong family. When he learns of a Wufeng assassin among the prospective brides, he is determined to protect the innocent. As issues arise within the Gong family, Gong Zi Yu faces a sudden transition to maturity and leadership, and he emotionally relies on Yu Wei Shan, placing his trust in her.

Cheng Lei, from “The Queen of Attack,” and “A Familiar Stranger,” portrays Gong Shang Jue, a member of the Jue lineage within the Gong family. He is characterized as a cold and ruthless individual, widely recognized as the most suitable candidate to succeed Gong Huan Yu as the Sword Wielder. With support from Gong Yuan Zhi, the two conspire to overthrow Gong Zi Yu, aiming for Gong Shang Jue to assume the position of Sword Wielder.

Lu Yu Xiao, from “Time and Him are Just Right,” and “To Ship Someone,” portrays Shangguan Qian, another Wufeng assassin who infiltrates the Gong family under the guise of a prospective bride, but her mission is different from Yu Wei Shan; she must approach Gong Shang Jue. Shangguan Qian is a strikingly beautiful woman who uses her allure and assumes a false persona of sweetness and helplessness in her attempt to captivate Gong Shang Jue.

Questions and Answers of “My Journey to You” & Character Breakdown

heavy spoilers ahead

Gong family dynamics

The Gong family is secluded sect that is located in the Jiuchen Valley. Visitors find it tricky to navigate the heavily guarded Gong family estate, which is under constant surveillance. The Gong family is known for its rivalry with Wufeng and has a significant presence in the martial arts world. Due to their seclusion and the location of their sect, their criteria for choosing a bride prioritize the bride’s health and ability to produce offspring.

Despite being known as the Gong family, they actually consist of four different lineages: Shang, Jue, Zhi, and Yu. Each of these lineages specializes in a different area to serve a specific purpose within the Gong family.

• Zhi: poisons and hidden weapons
  • Tian Jia Rui as Gong Yuan Zhi (looks up to Gong Shang Jue like a real older brother)
• Shang: responsible for forging weapons
  • Jin Jing as Gong Zi Shang (referred to as elder sister and isn’t loved by her father)
• Jue: handles the family’s external business affairs and mediates in the martial arts world
  • Cheng Lei as Gong Shang Jue
  • Lang Er (Gong Shang Jue’s younger brother who was assassinated by Wufeng)
• Yu: in charge of internal affairs and defending the Gong family
  • Zhang Ling He as Gong Zi Yu
  • Ren Shan as Gong Hong Yu (Gong Zi Yu’s father and previous Sword Wielder)
  • Ji Ling Chen as Gong Huan Yu (Gong Zi Yu’s older half-brother and previous Sword Wielder successor)
• Feng: following the confrontation with the Wufeng assassins in episode 22, it is revealed that the back hill originally hosted five lineages, including the Feng lineage, from which Yun Wei Shan draws her sword technique. This lineage had defected to Wufeng, adding a layer of complexity to the unfolding story and Yun Wei Shan’s true identity.

A Sword Wielder will be tattooed with a script that will bound them to Jiuchen Valley, where they will live for the Gong family and die for the Gong family. Before becoming a Sword Wielder, one would have to pass the Trial of the Three Realms. There are two rules of the Gong family:

1. The Gong family must always have a Sword Wielder. Once the Sword Wielder dies, his successor must assume the position immediately.
2. If the Sword Wielder and his successor both die, absent inheritance will be initiated.

In “My Journey to You,” the story begins with Gong Zi Yu’s father, Gong Hong Yu, serving as the Sword Wielder of the Gong family. His successor is Gong Zi Yu’s brother, Gong Huan Yu, who is tasked with selecting one of the prospective brides to be his wife.

Following the succession line, Gong Shang Jue would have been next in line to become the Sword Wielder, and then Gong Zi Yu. However, due to the absent inheritance clause and Gong Shang Jue’s absence from Jiuchen Valley during Gong Hong Yu and Gong Huan Yu’s mysterious deaths, Gong Zi Yu inherited the Sword Wielder position.

In Episode 21, the elders disclosed that the Gong family serves as the public face and forefront of the valley, whereas the heart of Jiuchen Valley lies in the back hill, guarded by the Hua, Xue, and Yue lineages, where they protect the coveted “Infinite Heat” and fight off infidels.

Jade Guardians

Only the Sword Wielder, head of each lineage, elders, and the next-in-line successor are granted to have a personal Jade Guardian. There are different levels of Jade Guardians:

• Green: The lowest level of guards in the front hill.
  • Sun Chen Jun as Jin Fan (Gong Zi Yu’s jade guardian)
• Yellow: These guards protect the elders and the back hill, led by Jin Yu Feng.
• Red: The highest level of guards.

In episode 10, it was revealed that Jin Fan was the youngest guardian to become a Red Jade Guardian; however, to protect Gong Zi Yu, Gong Hong Yu made Jin Fan step down to a Green Jade Guardian. This explains why Jin Fan has knowledge of the Trial of the Three Realms and only used 30% of his internal skills when fighting against Yun Wei Shan.

Gong Character Breakdown

People in Gong Residence / Front Hill

• Wen Zheng Rong as Ming Wu Ji (Gong Hong Yu’s concubine)
• Chen Du Ling as Madame Lan (Gong Zi Yu’s mother)
• Yao Tong as Lady Ling (Gong Shang Jue’s mother)
• He Ze Yuan as Jin Fu (guard under Gong Shang Yue)

Back Hill

• Lin Zi Ye / Zeng Shun Xi as Xue Tong Xi (Xue lineage)
• Zuo Ye as Mister Yue (Xue Tong Xi’s assistant)
• Liang Xue Feng as Master Hua (Hua lineage)

Council of Elders

• Liang Xue Feng as Mister Hua (took over Elder Yue’s position)
• Shen Bao Ping as Elder Yue
• Ding Zhi Yong as Elder Hua
• Tan Jian Chang as Elder Xue
• Hu Ha (housekeeper of the Council of Elders)

What we know about Wufeng organization

Wufeng is a sect of assassins that is divided into hierarchies of teachers (ravens) and assassins. In preparation to infiltrate the Gong family during the bride selection, the new criteria for Wufeng assassins was that they must be women. Wufeng assassins are categorized into four levels based on their abilities. These four categories are listed from the lowest to the highest levels:

• Chi
  • Yu Shu Xin as Yun Wei Shan
  • Zeng Ke Ni as Zheng Nan Yi (assassin under Hanya Qi)
  • Ai Mi as Yun Que (Yun Wei Shan’s foster sister)
• Mei
  • Lu Yu Xiao as Shangguan Qian
  • Wen Zheng Rong as Wu Ming (anonymous) – Gong Hong Yu’s concubine (see breakdown above)
• Wang
  • Zhang Xue Han as Situ Hong – poses as Zi Yi at Wanhua Pavilion in Jiuchen Valley
  • Tan Yu Qiao as Bei Xu
  • Zhang Xiao Ang as Han Yi Ke
  • Wang Le Fu as Mo Ji Ai
• Liang

Ravens

• Ou Mi De as Hanya Si (Yu Wei Shan’s raven)
• Zhu Jian as Hanya Qi (Shangguan Qian’s raven)
• Yang Xiao (杨骁) as Hanya Er

In episode 5, it was mentioned by Hanya Si and Yun Wei Shan that for the past 20 years, anyone who sneaked into the Gong residence has gone missing without a trace, except for Yun Que. Only one person, known as Wu Ming (which means “anonymous”), succeeded in sneaking into the Gong family 22 years ago and delivered a secret letter back to Wufeng. The letter stated that the next bride selection would be in 20 years—the same bride selection that Yun Wei Shan is entering. Hanya Si hopes that Yun Wei Shan will be motivated to complete her mission for freedom and revenge against her sister simultaneously.

In Episode 24, Shangguan Qian mentioned that she had once attempted to poison Dianzhu, the individual who had recruited her into Wufeng. Her assassination attempt on Dianzhu took place two years prior, and coincidentally, it coincided with the Chief of Wufeng canceling a scheduled Wufeng meeting. This coincidence led Shangguan Qian to believe that Dianzhu and the Chief of Wufeng might be the same person.

How does “My Journey to You” end?

In Episode 21, Yun Wei Shan departs from the Gong residence, revealing her true identity as a Wufeng assassin. In Jiuchen Valley, she encounters the four Wang assassins, and together they devise a plan to infiltrate the Gong residence on the day Gong Zi Yu is set to ascend to the position of Sword Wielder.

Episode 22 delivers the long-awaited showdown between the Gong family and the Wufeng assassins, resulting in numerous casualties among beloved characters. Elder Hua, Young Master Hua, Hanya Si, and Mister Yue all meet their tragic end in this fierce battle.

Episode 23 sees the Gong family recuperating from the devastating conflict, only to confront the shocking story of Gong Huan Yu’s betrayal.

In Episode 24, Gong Shang Jue successfully retrieves the Infinite Heat tablet from Shangguan Qian, showing unexpected mercy when he allows her to leave the Gong residence after learning of her pregnancy. Jin Fan and Gong Zi Shang are officially a couple.

The conclusion of “My Journey to You” leaves many mysteries unresolved and hints at the possibility of a second season. We are introduced to new information, revealing that Yun Wei Shan has a twin, and the prospective bride position she assumed in Li Xi town originally belonged to her sister. Yun Wei Shan embarks on a journey to visit her true family, but she is met with the unexpected presence of Wufeng. Meanwhile, Gong Zi Yu remains at the Gong residence, filled with sorrow, as he believes Yun Wei Shan has chosen freedom over him. As the screen fades to black, a heavy door creaks open, leaving the story of “My Journey to You” with an open-ended conclusion.

Review: My Journey to You

“The blade of the Gong family never points inward but outwards”

★★★☆☆ Rating: 3.3/5

The airdrop of “My Journey to You” was unexpected but brought a pleasant surprise. This “darker” wuxia romance drama distinguishes itself from typical wuxia dramas we see nowadays through its unique cinematography and positioning for viewers. It incorporates more cinematic elements than a typical drama, both in scriptwriting and directing. Suppose you’ve watched any of the director Guo Jing Ming‘s film works. In that case, you might notice a similar aesthetic—it’s visually appealing and has a compelling story and character setup. Still, it lacks depth where it truly matters, leaving some loopholes, a lot of filling in the holes, and me yearning for more. While Guo Jing Ming was able to add more details to the characters and setting in “My Journey to You,” there were apparent loopholes that weren’t as jarring as his other works. The most important aspect of making the drama memorable was missing, which is the lack of depth and thought that went towards the lead characters of Gong Zi Yu and Yun Wei Shan. Therefore, expressing my feelings about this one is challenging.

The Bad: a lot to desire from the story and characters

Lack of thrill: “While “My Journey to You” presents an interesting world story and premise, it’s challenging to become completely engrossed. At times, it seems to strive too hard to be a clever, suspenseful, and edgy drama, with characters intended to be scheming. However, there are only a few moments that truly engender a sense of suspense. One might assume that the Wufeng aspects would keep viewers on their toes, but instead, it unfolds more as an unraveling mystery, step by step, relying on numerous flashbacks to fully understand the characters and their stories. Both female Wufeng agents seem to rely on a weak “honey trap” approach, though Yun Wei Shan employs a more strategic emotional approach. They both maintain a similar act, attempting to use tears or a pouty face to escape every time, which becomes dull to watch.

I understand the director’s intentions, but there’s a lack of a sense of “what’s going to happen next” or a real sense of investment in whether the characters will overcome the obstacles the drama sets up. Everything appears entirely predictable, especially when the characters find themselves in difficult situations; we know they’ll likely find a way out due to their “halo” or knowing that they play a pivotal role in the drama, making it too early to write off their characters.

Surprisingly, I found more enjoyment in watching the Gong family drama and the brothers’ feud, something I wouldn’t typically expect to enjoy in drama storylines. However, the focus wasn’t solely on taking the position of the Sword Wielder but also on figuring out who the Wufeng spy is, going through trials, delving into backstories, providing funny comic relief, exploring possible romance, and more. This multifaceted approach made that plot point more digestible.

Too many characters, too little time: Additionally, it took a long time to warm up to many of these characters in “My Journey to You.” Because the writer wanted to add suspense, we received only limited information about the characters, such as their names, roles, and missions. There’s no backstory to help us understand them or build emotions towards the characters. For almost one-third of the drama, many characters exhibited only one or two emotions, closely adhering to what the creators wanted us to see in terms of character portrayal. As we started to receive bits and pieces of their past and lives, many of these characters became more appreciated on my end, but the story reveals could have been executed better.

While there are several mysterious and intriguing supporting characters, there was more focus on them, leaving us craving more time to focus on the two main characters and their story. Our two main characters are Gong Zi Yu and Yun Wei Shan, with the next couple being Gong Shang Jue and Shangguan Qian. We also encounter characters like Gong Zi Shang, Jin Fan, and Gong Yuan Zhi, among others, in Jiuchen Valley or even Wufeng.

Lack of solid growth in main characters: We see a lot of content about the two characters individually, making them likable. They are two naturally kind-hearted individuals forced to take on roles they don’t want, yearning for freedom. This makes them easy to root for because we naturally want to support good people. Yet, at the same time, their stories weren’t gritty enough for me to grasp why it had to be Gong Zi Yu or Yun Wei Shan as the leads. Therefore, it took a lot of work for me to become emotionally invested in the two characters when others had more to offer.

Gong Zi Yu was raised without feeling love from his father after losing his mother at a young age. He doesn’t possess the best martial arts skills, despite his father’s attempts to train him as a child. He was a sad boy who yearned for freedom, even though he didn’t seem to have many restrictions on him that we could see. This wasn’t a compelling reason to love his character from the beginning. Once we learned about the loss of his father and brother, we expected to see more character development, at least following the typical hero’s journey. However, there was only a little natural progression of growth, except for the revelation of his schemes, which didn’t contribute to good storytelling.

As Gong Zi Yu is known for being softer and more empathetic, the writer thrusts him into being a romantic fool for love. This initiated a love story that was quite forceful from the beginning. Every action Gong Zi Yu took could have been an opportunity for him to grow into an even more likable character, but instead, the writer continuously looped Gong Zi Yu’s actions back to Yun Wei Shan. If you’re a romance lover, you may enjoy this character trait of Gong Zi Yu, but it wasn’t my preference as someone who would like to see more depth in characters and genuine relationship development.

The same issue was also prevalent in Yun Wei Shan’s story. The crucial factor lies in the timing and manner in which these scenes are unraveled, as well as how the actress portrays the accompanying emotions. Regrettably, these elements failed to deliver the depth necessary to create a genuine connection with Yun Wei Shan. Despite the abundance of screen time, Yun Wei Shan’s development and emotional resonance were compromised, leaving viewers yearning for a more profound understanding of Wei Shan and her story. In the end, storytelling should not only focus on the quality of pretty scenes and the tip of the iceberg but also on the craftsmanship in revealing a character’s inner world.

Although we saw more of her history with Hanya Si and Yun Que, few scenes indicated her emotional growth. We saw more conflict within Shangguan Qian than in Yun Wei Shan. Coming from the Wufeng organization, where she went through many trials of torture and training, it would’ve made sense to see more emotional depth in her character that’s on par with Gong Shang Jue.

Lack of convincing romance: In terms of acting, both Zhang Ling He and Yu Shu Xin are competent with certain expressions, but one of the reasons I found it hard to connect to their characters was the lack of emotions I felt from them. As two characters supposed to be lost and scorned by the world in some way, it was challenging for me to feel their anguish and sadness, especially in highly emotional scenes. This issue extended to the other supporting cast members. Another reason why I felt little attachment to the two main characters is their lack of chemistry. In a romance-driven story, I expected more chemistry between them.

One of my main issues was the need for more direction in making their relationship develop seamlessly in a way that would make sense for them to fall in love. I didn’t need overtly dramatic moments or forced physical intimacy, but despite the writer’s attempt to create a “natural” love story, the progression of their feelings felt mundane. Essentially, their relationship seemed to exist merely because the writer said they are a couple, rather than truly convincing viewers of their connection.

There was a lot of potential for a compelling love story. In my perspective, these two characters represented the warmest light amidst the dark world of Wufeng and the Gong family. Their romance needed to be warm and heartfelt, serving as a pillar of hope contrasting against the darkness. However, it’s challenging to wholeheartedly root for them as a couple because we don’t witness their relationship developing in a way that stirs our emotions. Knowing they are two doomed individuals should have added depth to their chemistry, but it remained elusive, both as characters and actors.

The Good: interesting characters

One of my favorite aspects of many of these characters is their complexity; they have goals, aspirations, grievances, and stories to tell. They aren’t mere background characters solely used to push the main characters forward for growth; they have layers. The challenge lies in needing more time to peel back those layers, especially within the constraints of just 24 episodes, given the intricate world setting of the Gong and Wufeng.

Example 1, Gong Shang Jue: While many viewers might have disliked the Gong brothers, Gong Shang Jue and Gong Yuan Zhi, they quickly became two of my favorites due to how their characters were presented. Gong Shang Jue stands out as a well-written character with depth that viewers can easily connect to, despite not undergoing drastic and obvious growth as a character. Initially, we see Gong Shang Jue as a cold and ruthless member of the Jue lineage Gong family, someone who rigidly adheres to rules. He appears cold-hearted, and it’s easy to assume he has evil intentions because he opposes Gong Zi Yu and aspires to overthrow him and become the Sword Wielder. However, we can’t hate him because Gong Shang Jue isn’t necessarily evil; rather, our dislike stems from his opposition to the main leads, which leads us to label him as an antagonist. Nonetheless, his actions suggest that his true goal is to protect the Gong family and apprehend the Wufeng assassins.

As the story progresses, we learn the reasons behind Gong Shang Jue’s closed-off nature and the trauma he carries due to the death of his beloved family members at the hands of Wufeng. This revelation sheds light on his actions and his quest for revenge against Wufeng. It becomes evident that despite his cold exterior, Gong Shang Jue still possesses a compassionate side, seen in his brotherly connection with Gong Yuan Zhi and his emotional turmoil due to Shangguan Qian. Towards the end of the show, we witness Gong Shang Jue’s transformation from a seemingly heartless character to someone who assists Gong Zi Yu behind the scenes and is willing to work rationally to devise a scheme to outwit their enemies.

While some of Gong Shang Jue’s character developments are implied rather than explicitly shown, we can easily connect the dots because we already understand his backstory and character arc. In comparison, Gong Zi Yu, who is portrayed as a romantic idealist, is not depicted as a particularly sharp character. The juxtaposition between the two brothers at the end feels more like a narrative twist than a well-developed progression, contributing to the drama’s occasional feeling of laziness in its storytelling.

Example 2, Gong Yuan Zhi: One character I particularly enjoyed watching was Gong Yuan Zhi. He, too, lacks significant depth or character growth, but the way he was presented within the story worked well. Initially, Gong Yuan Zhi comes across as sinister, irrationally biased, and stubborn, particularly in his unwavering support for his brother Gong Shang Jue. However, as the audience gains insight into the reasons behind his loyalty and respect for Gong Shang Jue, we come to appreciate him despite his flaws. The writer also provides numerous emotional scenes involving Gong Yuan Zhi, allowing us to witness his vulnerable and humane side. What sets him apart is that he isn’t merely a plot device to advance scenes; he plays a pivotal role in the dynamics of the Gong family and has the potential to grow further after reconnecting with his family.

Example 3, Hanya Si: One of my personal favorite characters is Hanya Si, despite his limited screen time. While not as extensively developed as some other characters, Hanya Si’s smaller yet impactful scenes manage to stir our emotions. As viewers of a minor character, we have to fill in some of the gaps in his character’s importance. It becomes apparent that, despite his role in pushing Yun Wei Shan and Yun Que through their training and torture, Hanya Si genuinely cared for their well-being. He silently aided them along the way, dropping hints about missions, and even sacrificed his own future for Yun Wei Shan’s. While we can accept some degree of imagination and interpretation with minor characters, it’s something we shouldn’t have to do for the main leads.

Conclusion

Despite having great ideas for a story, because there was too much to fit in, from wanting all the characters to be important to having a dynamic world setting, because Guo Jing Ming seemed to have in mind more to the story, this feels like completing arc one to Gong Zi Yu and Yun Wei Shan’s journey. This would explain why there are so many questions unanswered in the world setting and why there was little development in their characters. However, that is an assumption, and whether “My Journey to You” gets another season, if Guo Jing Ming releases the novel, we will get a more complete story to create an opinion on. This wasn’t THE Chinese drama for me in 2023 but it was a good watch with well thought out soundtrack for each character and moment. This is probably due to Guo Jing Ming participating in songwriting for the songs, which helps puts the pieces together.

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