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| “Not Greasy Anymore!” – Yang Yang Earns Praise in Comeback Drama The Immortal Ascension |
After the lukewarm response (and savage “greasy” memes) that haunted Fireworks of My Heart, Chinese actor Yang Yang is officially back in the good books—thanks to his latest fantasy drama The Immortal Ascension. And no, this isn't just a lucky rebound. Viewers are genuinely impressed with how he’s turned things around.
Based on the cult-favourite xuanhuan novel A Record of a Mortal’s Journey to Immortality, the drama follows Han Li, a seemingly average young lad who, through grit and cleverness, carves a path towards immortality in a cut-throat cultivation world. It’s a story that’s had diehard fans for years, so expectations were sky-high—and the stakes even higher for Yang Yang.
From "Greasy" to Great
Let’s be real: Yang Yang had something to prove. His performance in Fireworks of My Heart was widely panned as overly stylised and shallow, with viewers calling it cringe and disconnected. So when the trailers for The Immortal Ascension dropped, many were wary. But once the episodes rolled in? The tide turned. Fast.
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“Yang Yang is no longer greasy” started trending online as netizens admitted he’s showing real range this time—more grounded, more sincere, and yes, finally acting like he’s not afraid to get messy emotionally. Some even joked, “Master Mo brought out the mortal in him,” referring to one of the drama’s more emotionally-charged scenes that really struck a chord with fans.
Jin Chen Also Holding Her Ground
On the female lead front, there were concerns about Jin Chen, especially after the lukewarm response to her role in Joy of Life 2. But to many people’s surprise, she’s holding her own here. The chemistry’s decent, the acting solid, and she fits well into the richly imagined fantasy world. No awkwardness, no overacting—just vibes.
Visuals, Action, and Pacing? Surprisingly Solid
What’s also working in The Immortal Ascension’s favour is the production. From dreamy fantasy sets to high-energy martial arts choreography, it doesn’t feel like a drag. The pacing’s quick enough to avoid boredom but still allows for emotional depth—something book fans were worried about. While some purists still say Yang Yang’s far too handsome for the “plain-faced” Han Li, many agree he’s captured the soul of the character. And that, honestly, matters more.
A Director Who Knows How to Use Him
Fun fact: the drama is helmed by director Yang Yang (no relation), the same woman who gave us A Dream of Splendor. And yep, she’s proving once again she knows how to bring out layered performances—even from actors who’ve been boxed in by image-heavy roles in the past.
It’s clear she gave Yang Yang room to breathe, dial things back, and lean into the storytelling rather than just visuals. The result? A performance that actually hits.
Nervous Meme, Confident Delivery
Before the drama aired, Yang Yang himself posted a light-hearted meme on Weibo saying he was “nervous but hopeful” about the premiere. Fast forward a few weeks, and the audience response has been overwhelmingly positive. If anything, The Immortal Ascension feels like a course correction—not just for Yang Yang’s public image, but for how he’s approached his craft.
With strong early ratings, social buzz, and book fans cautiously optimistic, The Immortal Ascension might just mark a new chapter in Yang Yang’s career—and it's not one fuelled by just visuals anymore.