Our First Impression on Love of the Divine Tree and Kill My Sins C-Drama

Just like Moonlight Mystique and Flourished Peony in January, two highly anticipated costume Chinese dramas also clashed on the same premiere day, February 7. Is this the latest trend of C-drama in 2025? 😂 Love of the Divine Tree from iQIYI and Kill My Sins from Youku. 

But while the leads of Kill My Sins, Liu Shishi and Shawn Dou, are veterans who have wide experiences in acting and have starred in many costume C-dramas, Deng Wei and Julia Xiang, the main leads of Love of the Divine Tree, are newcomers in the drama industry, in fact, this is Deng Wei's first main male lead role, and Julia's first big drama project in the main role. 

The two costume series also followed a different theme. Love of the Divine Tree is a fantasy/xianxia and is considered an idol drama while Kill My Sins follows a serious theme with a concept of revenge. It has politics, corruption, and scheming involved, and scenes every episode is filled with tension. 

So which one is highly entertaining and a must-watch?

Well, it depends on what type of drama pleases your mode. If you want a serious tone with many conflicts where leads are up for some revenge schemes, you may choose to watch Kill My Sins, but if you're someone who loves fantasy, romance, and lots of fight scenes, then watch Love of the Divine Tree. Here's my first impression of each drama.

Love of the Divine Tree

This is directed by Yin Tao, who is known as one of the best directors in the costume c-drama genre, so there are plenty of exciting fight scenes and well-choreographed sequences. Deng Wei is more effective when his character, Su Yishui, is angry and annoyed.

Julia Xiang and Deng Wei 

However, there are some scenes where he seems to be hesitant and tentative with his portrayal and seems conscious with his projection. But he has flawless executions in all his fight scenes. I like it when he is angry, there's more power in his acting.

Julia as Mu Qingge and Xue Ranran is doing well. I like the way she played the two characters with contrasting personalities, she was able to put a separate identity on each. I read comments somewhere that they are irritated with her childish behavior and voice, I don't feel it that way, in fact, she is adorable in both characters.

Mu Qingge is an immortal master and the leader of her sect, naturally, she is mature, autocratic, and with a command of authority. Xue Ranran is her reincarnation who was born prematurely, and still in her teens, that's why she is innocent, childish, naive, and clueless about what's going on. Julia just performed the character right.

I like the progress of the story so I am sticking with this drama. 

Kill My Sins

The best part of this drama is not the story but the acting of veteran performers such as Liu Shishi, Shawn Dou, Xuan Lu, and Chen Jin (who played the empress), you will easily drawn to the characters because of their flawless acting delivery. There is tension and conflict in every episode, and all characters seem to be schemers and using each other for their personal gain, so it's hard to root for who is honest, loyal, and morally upright. 

Shawn Dou and Liu Shishi 

However, I felt the drama peaked early. We know what they are up to, the revenge goals, the hidden identity, the reason why they behaved that way, their enemies, and what they are up to. It feels like everything is already on cards. So despite the brilliant tactics and strategies of the main characters and how the story has evolved, the succeeding episodes lacked excitement. It feels like we already expected what will happen next.

So let's see what surprising twist the drama will offer next. Will there be a huge plot development that shocks us in the upcoming episodes? Right now, I feel bored watching the show, although Liu Shishi and Shawn Dou are fantastic in their portrayals.