Episode Summary

Twin immortals are born, but the Emperor wants the elder, Jinxiu, to focus on cultivation. Jinxiu cherishes a camellia, Hongning, but the Emperor destroys it to teach him a lesson. Jinxiu revives her and sends her to the mortal realm. 500 years later, Hongning, now a demon, is punished for blooming out of season. Jinxiu saves her, bringing her to the immortal realm, where she faces new challenges.

Spoiler Alert

"Love Never Fails" Episode 1: Blooming Trouble

Okay, so the world is divided into three realms: immortals, demons, and humans. The immortal realm is further split into Central Heaven, the West Sea, and the Northern Immortal Realm. In Central Heaven, the Emperor and Empress have twins: the elder, Jinxiu, and the younger, Kunlun. When both are born, their stars shine brightly, but the Grand Master Taiyi sees it as a bad omen. The Emperor wants Jinxiu to focus solely on cultivation and avoid emotional attachments. But Jinxiu has a soft spot for a camellia flower, hoping it will one day take human form.

Meanwhile, Kunlun, wielding the Flower Deity Token, visits the Flower Pavilion, ordering all the flowers to bloom. The Chrysanthemum Official can't stop him. All the flowers respond except the camellia. Kunlun is furious, thinking the camellia is disrespecting the token and tries to destroy it! Jinxiu intervenes. When the Emperor finds out, he declares that because the camellia didn't obey the Flower Deity Token, it will be stripped of its chance at immortality.

Jinxiu pleads for the camellia, arguing that it recognized that he wasn't the real Flower Deity. The Emperor, frustrated that Jinxiu is so attached to a flower despite his orders, decides to teach him a lesson about the consequences of compassion. He destroys the camellia. Jinxiu, feeling responsible, gathers the remnants of the flower, re-condenses it, names her Hongning, and sends her down to the mortal realm, hoping they'll meet again.

Hongning arrives at Bai Zhou Mountain. Lemon Spirit and Jiaobo (a merman) are surprised to see she's from the heavens. Fast forward five centuries: The Emperor, punishing humanity for being ugly, false, and jealous, casts a ten-year winter, preventing flowers from blooming. Hongning undergoes a heavenly tribulation, and Lemon Spirit and Jiaobo help her, enabling her to take human form. Hongning wants to cultivate immortality because she remembers the Flower Deity saving her when she was just a bud.

Jiaobo asks Hongning about secretly blooming in the human realm. Hongning explains that a mother and daughter were so sad about not seeing flowers and the arrival of spring that she couldn't help but bloom for them. Jiaobo warns her that the Emperor has banned blooming before the official Flower Signal, and she'll be punished. Jinxiu hears about Hongning's impending punishment and rushes to help, unaware of the Flower Signal rule. He believes that even if there's a punishment, many innocent people will suffer.

Jinxiu realizes Hongning is his camellia! He brings her to heaven to endure a hundred lightning tribulations and then hands her over to the Chrysanthemum Official. Hongning points out that the Apricot Immortal punished Lu Luo by imprisoning her in the Hundred Flower Diagram, which is only meant for upper immortals. She argues that lower immortals will lose their essence inside, and demands the Apricot Immortal compensate Lu Luo with a century of cultivation. The Plum Immortal, who enabled the Apricot Immortal, is punished with copying books. Meanwhile, Princess Luyao of the Northern Immortal Realm wants to meet Jinxiu, but he refuses. Luyao asks her shadow if she's beautiful, and the shadow confirms. Luyao wonders if Jinxiu is avoiding her because seeing her would affect his cultivation.

Jinxiu tells Hongning to follow the new fairy. The Apricot Immortal looks down on Hongning, seeing her as just a little demon from Bai Zhou Mountain. The Plum Immortal tells Shaoyao to take care of Hongning. Shaoyao shows Hongning around, explaining that the flowers bloom or wither depending on the Flower Deity's mood. Hongning notices all the flowers are blooming and assumes the Flower Deity is in a good mood. She asks Shaoyao where the Flower Deity lives, and Shaoyao says the Flower Deity has their own palace, separate from them. She also points out that immortals with ribbons on their clothes are upper immortals, and Hongning should avoid offending them.

Shaoyao asks Hongning if she's really from Bai Zhou Mountain. Hongning says the demons there help each other. Shaoyao sees Lily and leaves Hongning to talk to her. Hongning wanders off, climbs a tree, and bumps into... Jinxiu!

Spoilers and Thoughts:

  • The Emperor seems like a real hard-ass, prioritizing duty over compassion. This is definitely going to be a recurring theme.
  • Jinxiu's devotion to Hongning is sweet, but it's clearly going to cause him a lot of trouble.
  • Luyao seems like she's going to be a major rival for Jinxiu's affections (even though he's not showing any!).
  • Hongning is definitely going to shake things up in the immortal realm. Her kindness and connection to the human realm will probably challenge the immortals' detached worldview.
  • The Hundred Flower Diagram sounds like a pretty awful place to be stuck.
  • And, of course, the big question: Will Jinxiu and Hongning find a way to be together despite all the obstacles?