Overseasidol.com — The drama “The Journey of Legend” starring Cheng Yi concluded with its advance finale on September 26.
Data showed the series reaching a market share of 22.8% in valid plays, ranking first among multiple shows that day. Despite its popularity, the ending left many fans dissatisfied.
Some viewers argued that the finale shifted focus away from the main storyline.
They complained that paying extra for early access only led to watching side characters in romance scenes, while the national crisis plot was sidelined.
Many felt the core tension was lost in the last episodes.
On September 28, Cheng Yi’s official fan club issued a statement urging the production team to re-edit the series.
They claimed key storylines were cut, including conflicts and reconciliations between Li Chenzhou and Xiao Qiushui, the rescue mission, the fake death plan, and the general’s backstory.
Fans believe restoring these scenes would strengthen the narrative and make the characters more complete.
The fan club also criticized frequent production errors during the broadcast, from audio issues to visible mistakes on screen.
They argued that criticism unfairly fell on Cheng Yi, while the production team failed to take responsibility or offer apologies.
Industry voices such as Liang Ting, CEO of Xinghui Tianji, echoed the view that the producers should shoulder accountability and defend the actors’ reputations.
From premiere to finale, To the Sea drew both strong popularity and strong criticism. Some praised it as a fresh take on martial arts storytelling, while others mocked its poor production quality.
Cheng Yi’s action scenes won recognition, though his dialogue delivery was heavily criticized.
The mixed reception reflects the challenges of drama production, which relies on collective professionalism across writing, directing, acting, and post-production.
Fans continue to call for higher standards so that future works can balance both commercial success and long-term reputation.
