Guardians of Dafeng – A Fantasy Drama That Had Me Laughing, Crying, and Asking: WHEN IS SEASON 2?!

Recently, I watched Guardians of Dafeng—one of the most talked-about Chinese fantasy dramas that aired between late 2024 and early 2025—and let me tell you, it was a rollercoaster!

I wasn’t expecting to laugh this hard in a fantasy series, but this one had me cracking up from the first episode to the very end. It blends comedy, mystery, fantasy, and emotion so well that you won’t want to skip a single scene.

Kudos to the entire team—what a masterpiece!

What Makes Guardians of Dafeng So Special? 

Unlike many fantasy/period dramas that tend to drag in places, Guardians of Dafeng keeps things tight and exciting. Each scene has a purpose. The humor? Not overdone. The mystery? Super engaging. The pacing? Spot on. The series balances fun and excitement with meaningful themes of friendship, loyalty, and justice. The production quality is top-notch, with stunning visuals, OST and well-choreographed action scenes that enhance the viewing experience. 

A special shout-out to the actors for staying consistent and making each character shine!

 Quick Plot Overview (Spoiler-Free)

One night a modern-day office worker Yang Ling takes his colleagues along with him to play a mystery game after a company dinner. But when they start playing, he mysteriously ends up in an entirely different realm—the fantasy-soaked Dafeng Dynasty. A dynasty where there are Confucians, Taoists, Buddhists, demons, and warlocks.

Our guy now goes by the name Xu Qi’an there and he’s in big trouble: locked in prison and set to be exiled in three days. But plot twist! He gets evaluated by an organization of guardians responsible for supervising officials and solving cases in order to change his fate. Using his modern knowledge, logic, and sharp reasoning, Xu Qi’an starts solving even bizarre cases one after another, and thus becoming Dafeng’s top investigator— the story just takes off from there!

Dylan Wang as Xu Qi’an – A Career-Defining Role

Can we talk about how AMAZING Dylan Wang was in this role?

Whether it was  goofy moments, comedic timing, action, or emotional breakdowns—he delivered every scene flawlessly. Watching him transform from his earlier Meteor Garden days to this silly yet layered character was a real treat. Choosing a role like Xu Qi’an was a bold move, and he completely owned it.

Xu Qi’an’s Family – The Real MVPS of Comedic Chaos

Xu Ping Zhi (Yue Yang), Li Ru (Ni Hong Jie), Xu Xin Nian (Yan Zi Dong), Xu Ling Yue (Zhang Miao Yi), Xu Ling Yin (Guo Tong Xi).

Let’s talk about the real MVPs of comedy—the Xu family. Seriously, they deserve a special award for being hilarious, emotional, and just a little crazy all at once.

There’s this one scene where the entire kingdom is worried about a deadly battle challenge proposed by the celestial realm, and the Xu family? They’re posing for a family portrait…with the terrifying battle formation in the sky as their background. Classic Xu family energy! 

Their chemistry was so good. Their silly arguments, emotional support, and pure absurdity made them one of the best parts of the drama. They deserve their own spin-off series, honestly. Picking one such instance would do no justice to their scenes. So I thought of sharing some snippets from some of the events from their hilarious family drama.

The Brotherhood at Dafeng Guardians

Wei Yuan (Liu Yi Jun), Zhu Guang Xiao (Wang Run Ze), Song Ting Feng (Yan Pei Lun), Yang Yan (Fan Shi Qi), Nangong Qian Rou (Fan Shuai Qi), Li Yu Chun (Kang Kang) etc..  

They weren’t just warriors; they were a vibe. Their righteousness, loyalty, and absolute conviction in their beliefs made them endearing.  But let’s talk about that hilariously misguided revenge mission which was led by Zhu Guang Xiao, Song Ting Feng, Yang Yan.

When they thought Qi’an had died, they went on a full-blown rampage, ready to avenge him in the most dramatic way possible—only to find out later that he was very much alive. Their awkward backtracking? The whole explanation process was absolutely priceless!

Also not forgetting to mention the Bickering Golden Siblings adopted by Wei Yuan (Liu Yi Jun) Yang Yan and Qian Rou always not forgetting to fight over Yang Yan’s new Recruit Qi an. 

The Weirdos We All Loved

Chu Cai Wei (Liu Mei Han), Song Qing (Vinnie Yao), Yang Qian Huan (Liu Guan Lin)

There are these lovable oddballs from the Astronomy Bureau, who add maximum flavor with minimal effort to this story. Chu Cai Wei,Yang Qian Huan and Song Qing

Chu Cai Wei, the girl  whom Qi an befriends first in this new mysterious land. What makes her an oddball is that you will find her eating all kinds of unusual veggies and fruits through the show. But her friendship bond with Xu Qian is unmissable though.

Next is Song Qing, the chemistry nerd, who basically got a crash course in modern science from Qi’an. The best part? Watching Xu Qian pitch modern-day science like a slick salesman to a bunch of ancient scholars. 

And the last in this group is Yang Qian Huan, the mysterious guy who always shows his back. Every time he enters a scene, it’s like a blockbuster movie trailer: dramatic flair, swirling robes, epic music… All this grand entry is only just to show his back. No one, literally no one, sees his face—not even in battle. He duels, he dashes, he disappears… all while stubbornly facing the other way. The drama might have ended, but we’re still waiting for him to turn around. 

The Royal Sibling Trio

Grand Princess Huai Qing (Mao Xiao Hui), Crown Prince (Liu Yi Hong), Second Princess Lin An / Ke Ke (Tian Xi Wei) 

They’re the classic case of royal siblings constantly trying to outsmart each other—just like in every household, but with way more power and drama.

The eldest, Grand Princess Huai Qing, is smart, powerful, and silently caring—the steady force in the group. The youngest, Princess Lin An, is fun-loving and carefree, but lowkey jealous of her sister, thinking she’s less loved (even though she’s clearly the most pampered)

The Crown Prince? Laidback and openly affectionate toward Lin An, often playing the chill peacemaker.

Lin An’s petty rivalry with her older sister surprisingly becomes a major driver of the plot. Whether she’s scheming or just stirring the pot, she keeps the story buzzing.

The Sworn Frenemies

Chu Yuan Zhen (Edward Zhang),  Li Miao Zhen (Wang Yi Yao)

Chu Yuan Zhen and Li Miao Zhen (aka sworn enemies No. 2 and No. 4) gave us one of the most unexpected friendships. One minute they’re bonding over drinks, the next they’re ready to fight again. Still, in the end, they came together to do what’s right. A beautifully messy relationship!

The Hot Monk Inside Xu Qi’an!

Shen Shu, (Yang He Wen) 

Yes, you read that right. Shen Shu, the handsome powerful monk, who suddenly moves into Xu Qi’an’s body and gives up being evil, goes into a reset mode inside him and occasionally helps Xu Qi’an by lending his powers to defeat evil. lol. I’m still not sure if he left Xu Qi’an’s body by the end or not, but hey, he sure added a fun twist to the whole story!

That Climax Though!

That courtroom confrontation scene? Absolutely the peak of the series for me. Watching Xu Qi’an stand up to the emperor and expose the truth behind the innocent man’s death hit hard. The way the emperor’s guards subtly backed Qi’an, and how his allies stood by him to deliver justice—it was powerful, emotional, and so well done. Dylan’s performance was phenomenal in that moment.

Honestly, I felt like that should’ve been the perfect ending… but then came more questions. 

Loose Ends That Left Us Hanging

Okay, real talk – what happened after the climax?

• Xu Qi’an’s Dad suddenly steps in from the shadows?! He’s been lurking all along, but when he finally shows up, it’s vague and confusing. What’s his deal? Why now? Are we getting a Season 2 or what?
• The royal connection: Why did the royal sword and royal pet obey Qi’an. Is he secretly royal? A lost prince? We need answers!
   
• The Erased Hero Plotline: So  Qi’an’s been wiped from history… but why? Was this tied to Wei Yuan’s fate? There were hints, but nothing concrete.
• Jian Zheng – Villain or Genius?: He’s mysterious, all-knowing, and lowkey terrifying. But is he good or evil? Especially with Qi’an’s dad throwing shade in that final scene.
• The illusory battle – That whole scene where they talk about life was deep, thoughtful, and oddly hilarious. I mean, the person they know is Qi An. But how did the monk know about/ visualize Yang Ling’s real-life memories? How did they even access his real-world backstory? That’s a mystery I’d love someone to explain.

Final Thoughts

Guardians of Defang is wild, funny, smart, and full of heart. It’s the kind of drama you laugh through, cry with, and keep thinking about long after it ends. But with all those loose ends… we need a Season 2. Please, drama gods, make it happen! 

And hey—if you have theories or answers to any of my questions above, drop them in the comments or DM me! Let’s decode this together.