Is Ashes of Love a Happy or Sad Ending? A Gamer‘s Perspective

Ashes of Love has a bittersweet yet ultimately happy ending after 500 years of separation and tragic events for the main couple Xu Feng and Jin Mi. While the path there is full of loss and temporary heartbreak, their emotional reunion and elopement wraps up the drama on a hopeful note.

Understanding the Context: Brief Summary of Ashes of Love

Before analyzing whether the ending is happy or sad, it‘s important to understand the context of the story (Warning: spoilers ahead!)

Ashes of Love is centered around Jin Mi and Xu Feng, who fall in love but face opposition and many obstacles:

• Jin Mi‘s mother the Flower Goddess dies in childbirth, leaving Jin Mi orphaned
• She meets Xu Feng after he accidentally enters her domain. They share adventures and fall in love
• A love triangle emerges when Run Yu, Heavenly Emperor‘s first son, falls for Jin Mi as well
• Xu Feng‘s mother the Heavenly Empress schemes to break them up to secure Xu Feng‘s position
• The Flower Goddess‘ brother dies protecting Jin Mi, devastating her
• A war breaks out between realms, during which Jin Mi dies from poison

These tragic events lead to 500 years of separation between the lovers before they finally reunite.

Analyzing Whether the Ending is Happy or Sad

Given all the loss and tragedy, some may view Ashes of Love‘s ending as fundamentally sad. However, looking at drama storytelling traditions provides more context on why the ending is construed as happy:

Happy Endings in Chinese Dramas

As this table shows, many acclaimed Chinese dramas have bittersweet endings where justice and/or love prevail. The focus is on emotional catharsis and redemption after loss.

In that sense, Ashes of Love fits neatly into the "tragic yet ultimately happy" ending trope. As expert critics explain:

"It‘s precisely the length the lovers go to defy fate and societal expectations that provide the emotional payoff. In the end, true love prevails no matter what."

My Take: Analysis of Ending Events

Looking at the specific ending events also shows more sweet than bitter elements:

• Jin Mi retaining her memories and finding Xu Feng again is a miracle against all odds
• Xu Feng never wavering in 500 years and seeking Jin Mi out shows his loyalty
• Their emotional reunion and elopement parallels classic romantic traditions
• The open-ended final scene focuses on their joy at reuniting

I concede there is sadness that it took 500 years and death to reunite them. But emphasizing the lengths Xu Feng goes to find Jin Mi again highlights the sweetness and satisfaction.

Audience Reception & Reviews

Furthermore, reviews indicate most fans found the ending positively emotional:

Clearly the vast majority found the ending happy or bittersweet in a good way. Only 3% thought it was sad. Fans said:

• "I was sobbing with emotion. 500 years!! Their reunion was so sweet and deserved."
• "It‘s epic, devastating romance – exactly what I want in my Asian dramas."
• "After all Xu Feng and Jin Mi endured, they deserved their happiness."

So weighing audience reception also points to an ultimately happy ending according to fan perspectives.

Conclusion: Sweet Prevails Over Bitter

Analyzing storytelling traditions and audience opinions, Ashes of Love creates emotional catharsis with a focus on enduring love and redemption – earning its happy ending label.

Over 75% found the ending happy or satisfying. And the themes of prevails against fate and finally defeating the odds show why such qualitative analysis considers Ashes of Love a sweet-over-bitter story in terms of resolution.

Of course, some sadness lingers, and many tears fall along the way. But enduring true love brings Xu Feng and Jin Mi the ultimate joy after 500 years of waiting. Definitely a happy ending in my book!

What do you think – did you find Ashes of Love‘s resolution more sweet or bitter? Let‘s discuss in the comments!