Introduction
Anyone who likes watching Chinese short-length dramas (<20 minutes/episode) may remember the 2022 The Killer is Also Romantic ( 念念无明 ), which brought the leading actor and actress, Yang Ze and Hu Dandan, into popularity.
This year, they’re back with their third collaboration in The Demon, a short-length drama. There were numerous short-length dramas, as well as micro dramas, produced, and these dramas inevitably remind us of the stereotype of shoddy production and trivial plots. But what I didn’t expect with The Demon was that it was produced by the leading actress, Hu Dandan, for the first time. Despite the drama being far from a perfect short-length series, it was like a low-key dark horse.
More about the producer’s first-time experience can be read in the Review section below.
Drama Info
Drama title: The Demon (Native title: 有夭 )
Alternative Title: Faith, You Yao
Genres: Xuanhuan, Romance, Comedy
Aired: Aug 24, 2025 - Sep 1, 2025
Episodes: 23 | Duration: 15 minutes
Director: Yang Tai ( 杨泰 )
Screenwriter: Tao Tao ( 陶陶 )
Where to watch: WeTV
OST: Full album (fan audio)
Trailer
Synopsis
Fan Dayao is the notorious Tiger Demon King of Qianchun Mountain, immensely powerful and utterly domineering. Shen Wangchen, the son of the City Lord of Moyuan, was born frail and aloof, keeping his distance from others. Upon reaching adulthood, Shen embarks on a journey to seek out a cat demon in hopes of curing his illness. When the two cross paths, an absurd yet amusing “human-demon cohabitation” begins (Source: WeTV).
Characters
Main Characters
Smile Hu/Hu Dan Dan ( 胡丹丹 ) as Fan Da Yao
Yang Ze ( 杨泽 ) as Shen Wang Cheng
Supporting Characters
Si Ming (Liu Jia Qi) – demon hunter
Li Rong Rong (Rong Mo Mo) – Fan Da Yao’s cousin/hamster demon
Jiang Li (Li Mu Yu) – Shen Wang Cheng’s servant
Huai Yang Jun Zhu (Yolanda Zhang/Zhang Yang) – princess
Review: Why You Should Watch the Drama
Reason #1: Hu Dandan’s first debut as the chief producer
I’m not a fan of Hu Dandan. However, it was exhilarating to know that an actress had made her debut as a producer for a drama, marking a new and exciting chapter in her career. Her transition from acting to producing is worthy of praise, showcasing her versatility and commitment to the Chinese short drama industry.
Hu Dandan, as Fang Dayao, during the shooting of the drama’s opening scene in Desert Studio.
Below are some translations from an interview with Hu Dandan about her experience producing The Demon. The excerpts and image credits are taken from Sohu.
The romantic fantasy story "You Yao" (the native title of The Demon) was the result of a sudden burst of inspiration she created during a three-hour flight delay. She and her creative team then embarked on a creative spree, refining and refining the script over a year.
I was surprised to find out that writing and perfecting script for a short-length series project can take a year!
"You Yao" marks Hu Dandan's first time as a producer. The project's preparation period was arduous, with numerous obstacles encountered along the way. Each challenge and difficulty was overcome. Beyond the sentimental nature of filming in Hengdian, the most important factor influencing "You Yao" was its service. Hengdian boasts the nation's [China] most comprehensive film and television production chain, the most professional film and television talent, and the most sophisticated technical skills. Its one-stop service allows even novice producers to focus on their projects, ensuring a worry-free and cost-effective filming experience.
Thanks to Hengdian World Studios, often called the “Hollywood of China,” we, Chinese drama watchers, can enjoy a steady stream of Chinese dramas every day, lol!
Hu Dandan originally planned to use a snow studio. However, considering that snow scenes are commonplace in many dramas, they later discovered a large desert studio in Hengdian. To ensure the filming quality and the most visually impactful entrance scene, which needed to be "extraordinarily exciting," the creative team unanimously decided to use the desert studio, as this setting could enhance the quality of the production.
Desert Studio in Hengdian (photo credit: Sohu)
Snow scenes are a popular and recurring motif in Chinese dramas due to a rich blend of cultural symbolism, aesthetic appeal, and narrative function. As much as I love snow scenes, I’m glad the production crew opted to use the desert scene to open the drama when Shen Wangchen first met Fan Dayao, because the desert setting fits better with the drama’s atmosphere.
Reason #2: Theme of demon versus human
Since the English title is The Demon, I might as well explain what “demon” is in Chinese mythology, since its nature differs significantly from the Western concept of demon. In Chinese mythology, “demons” are known as yaoguai (妖怪), and their nature is fluid/changeable. Demons are not always malevolent; some possess wisdom, supernatural powers, or even protect humans. Conversely, humans are not always virtuous and can exhibit greed, cruelty, or selfishness. This nuance is showcased in the drama, which reflects the belief that both beings have the potential for good and evil, emphasizing balance and moral ambiguity rather than clear-cut roles.
The conflicts between demons (yaoguai) and humans often revolve around yaoguai seeking to absorb human life energy (qi) to gain power. Humans are often portrayed as the source of this life-giving qi, making them targets for demonic beings. Heroes or powerful human figures, such as demon hunters, are often depicted fighting these demonic threats to protect humanity.
Reason #3: The onscreen chemistry of the couple
Despite only collaborating on one drama and making a short appearance as a couple in Butterflied Lovers ( 风月变 ), Hu Dandan and Yang Ze displayed a remarkably strong onscreen chemistry. Their performances complemented each other perfectly, bringing depth and authenticity to their characters’ relationship.
Reason #4: Nice supporting characters
Despite being full of demons, lol, the drama features many nice and kind-hearted supporting characters who add depth and warmth to the story. For example: the funny lot of demons, the secondary couple, the demon hunter, the parents, and the cute girl with a rabbit. Through their interactions, the drama not only focuses on the leads but also emphasizes the value of empathy and community among all characters.
Reason #5: The visuals
Let’s talk about the desert scene, because it strikes a difference from other short-length series. The vast, empty desert physically isolated the demons. The desert’s unforgiving nature pits the demons against the humans, as was explained in Reason #2. Lastly, the sparse, unchanging desert landscape makes it a versatile backdrop for ancient myths.
The opening drama scene in the desert, when Sheng Wangchen embarked in a journey and met Fang Dayao.
The exotic desert scenes give the characteristic of a distant foreign country (with camels and all). Not only the desert scene, in general, The Demon has beautiful visuals. I especially like the demon’s costumes. Although the CGI is average, the lighting and camera work are impressive for a short-length production. Overall, the visual elements captivate viewers and elevate the overall watching experience.
Will the alternate past lives be the future projects?
This is not the reason to watch this drama, per se, but there are unique scenes about their past lives, which chronologically didn’t happen before their lifetime in the drama. There are similar scenes to their previous drama. There are also past-life scenes that happen in the Republican era, the 80s-90s Hong Kong style, and even in modern times! Made me think that this drama can be categorized as xuanhuan genre, because of the modern alternative dimensions used for their past lives.
Will these alternative past lives be Hu Dandan and Yang Ze’s project together under her production management? Who knows…
Critic: Confusing editing
I thought some scenes were confusingly placed in the drama and disrupted the narrative flow. For example, two scenes towards the end don’t have any connection with the plot:
- Si Ming found Fan Dayao’s piece of red cloth stuck in the door, which he later used to adorn his sword.
- Fan Dayao read Shen Wangchen’s farewell letter and found red beans inside the envelope.
Conclusion
Every time I write a review article, I usually explain the meaning of the article title. Regarding the article title “Fierce Tiger, Fluffy Cat,” if you think the title represents the couple, with one being fierce (Fan Dayao) and one being gentle (Shen Wangchen), I think you’ll find it differently after watching the drama. The Demon, despite a full-fledged romance, focuses more on Fan Dayao’s character growth, highlighting her personal journey, struggles, and transformation. She is the tiger and also the cat.
Ending Spoiler
What is the ending and how does it end?
It was one year after Fan Dayao died after the final battle against the bad guy, and erased herself from the memories of the mortals. Rong Momo and Jian Li were married, and she was expecting a baby. The demons were waiting for their leader’s return. Shen Wangchen went on a trip to Qianchun Mountain again. He still wore the necklace, their love token. When he found the cat, he smiled and tears welled up in his eyes. Later, the scene moved to Shen Wangchen, who woke up next to the naked Fan Dayao (covered with a blanket, of course). Shen Wangcheng covered her up and picked up cat fur on his face. He smiled and went back to sleep.
