LayarHijau — The historical fantasy drama Veil of Shadows (月錗焃縊) has captured strong audience attention since its premiere in April. Blending mystery with striking visuals, the series follows its characters as they confront an ancient demon threat. Ju Jingyi and Chen Duling both portray fox spirits, each with distinct personalities and presence. Its poetic storytelling and detailed costume design have played a major role in building a loyal fanbase.
On April 24, coinciding with the end of its premium streaming window, executive producer Zhou Zhaozhong officially confirmed that production for Season 2 is underway. The announcement was made during a discussion forum held to celebrate the success of Season 1. He noted that audience enthusiasm was the key factor behind the decision to continue the story.
Since debuting on April 1, Veil of Shadows has delivered strong performance on Youku, surpassing a popularity score of 10,000 within just 52 hours. Visually, the drama stands out with Ju Jingyi wearing 34 costume sets, including a handcrafted gown featuring 3,000 scales. Chen Duling’s white-haired look has also drawn widespread praise. Their on-screen dynamic is often compared to the classic Legend of the White Snake, generating over 1.6 billion views across short video platforms.
As for Season 2, Zhou Zhaozhong said the story will remain character-driven. “Season 2 will continue to focus on character-centered storytelling,” he stated. He added that the team plans to further deepen character development while exploring more complex emotional relationships. “We’ll also experiment with a fresher narrative structure to bring a new experience to viewers,” he said.
Despite the positive response, the production faces several challenges. Season 1 ended on a tragic note, with nearly all of the main characters sacrificing themselves to eliminate the demon Jiu Ying, leaving questions about how the story will move forward.
Casting is another uncertainty. Zhou Zhaozhong said the team hopes to bring back the original leads, including Ju Jingyi, Chen Duling, and Joseph Zeng. However, Ju Jingyi’s return remains unclear due to an ongoing contract dispute with her agency, Star48.
Another challenge comes from criticism of Season 1’s pacing, which some viewers felt was too slow, even likening it to an extended music video with overly poetic dialogue. With a reported investment of 300 million yuan, expectations for tighter storytelling and improved pacing in Season 2 are significantly higher. Viewers are now waiting to see whether Veil of Shadows can maintain its visual appeal while delivering a more engaging and dynamic narrative.
