"There are so many matters in this world that cannot be settled by arguments."

• Pei Xiu, Episode 11

Tian Guan Ci Fu is a visually impressive series that utilises elements of mystery, fantasy, and the supernatural to spin an intriguing tale within its short timeframe.

It gently eases the audience into its fantastical setting in a way that isn't overwhelming; building on its premise over a couple of episodes. This avoids a common problem in fantasy based works while highlighting the interesting elements that might have been overlooked. Tian Guan Ci Fu paces the episodes well enough that it covers two engrossing, longer plots without them feeling too rushed. The mix between action, drama and comedy work well enough to prevent monotony in the narrative structure and the less intense episodes work well in developing the characters.

Perhaps the biggest issue with the plot is that it can become a little too reliant on exposition. While it is often played off as one of Hua Cheng's personality traits, it can be a bit overused. Tian Guan Ci Fu tries to lessen this impact by utilising a slightly more comedic tone during these moments which does work to make them less jarring to the narrative. A second issue is that, due to the genres that are being utilised, the pacing can be a little bit chaotic and some of the plot beats can be a little bit predictable.

The art style is really strong, with the scenery standing out, creating a fitting atmosphere that makes it easier to slip into the world that is being constructed. One of the biggest issues that Tian Guan Ci Fu has is its inconsistent handling of 3DCG when it is used. The more subtle uses work well, not being too distracting and allowing for some interesting camera movements that emphasise important elements of the narrative. However, when used in action scenes where several separate elements are using this method of animation, it becomes very rigid and negatively contrasts the flow of the 2D animation. This is a prominent issue in the third episode as it dampens the effect of the story and mars the tone.

When it comes to the characters themselves, there are a couple of shortfalls as many of the side characters are reduced to flatter archetypes relying on a couple of gimmicks to equal a supposedly well-rounded personality. This is especially true of Fu Yao and Nan Feng who we only get to see a surface level of. While it can be argued that there is a narrative reason for this, it means that they can become a little repetitive when they show up. Hopefully, any future episodes will do them justice. Some of the liberties that Tian Guan Ci Fu took, in regards to developing some of the character's backstories, works in its favour and makes scenes more impactful.

Overall, Tian Guan Ci Fu is a series with a lot of potential and does well to weave an intriguing story within its 11 episodes without biting off more than it can chew. Hopefully, it will keep up this momentum and improve on the weaker elements, especially the use of 3DCG, to create an impressive series.