I am very, very interested (in a good way 😃) in learning more about your vision of Xiang Liu in the drama and what is wrong with him on your opinion, please describe it!MountainPine:
Not wrong so much as different. The writing in the drama gave him this borderline mawkish quality. It's not just about allowing TJC to show emotions, but it's the writing that gives him an air of tragic/pitiful - holding on to the pearl tear to the end was just the culmination of all the other little details. Combined with the downplay in the XL/XY relationship, he comes across as the typical tragic second male lead with unrequited love, who sacrifices himself selflessly for the female lead. These kinds of characters are common in this genre of Cdrama/novels. What set XL apart for me was that he was not like that.
I'm not fond of the way the drama pushed the idea that XL was "forced" to let go of XY because their ending was going to be like her parents. I don't care for the whole "self-sacrificed for her good" storyline; I don't find it romantic; it's rather condescending. Not to mention XY was utterly oblivious about this whole ending up like her parents thing, which just makes his motivation come across as self-inflicted/masturbatory.
As I mentioned in my previous post, the ending of the XL/XY relationship stemmed from choices made by both sides: XY wants/needs things that XL was unable to give due to his prior commitment elsewhere. The way I see it is that XL was committed to accompanying WXL for a temporary time - something that WXL said that he/she was OK with - but once WXL was gone, there was only XY, and XY was no longer OK with this temporary companionship. Three times he asked her, "Who do you want me to be?" and the four questions that followed the bride robbery. She was never able to answer. After the marriage robbery, he pretty much withdrew from her life; he kept his commitment to WXL and ensured that she had the 3 things that she wanted. The process of letting go happened long before that last meeting.
Compared to a XL who desperately held on to the pearl tear till he was forced to let go because he no longer could, I'd rather the XL that showed the wisdom of loving without being swallowed by it and letting go freely. The first is sad and tragic; the second is serene and free. Just like the image of XL flying towards the dawn on MQ.
blabla100:
Happy new year, guys!
What's up with TJC? There's some scandal going on or something? I've read a bit about it, but I didn't understand much. Will this affect his works or something? I am quite excited for dancing with the tide, hope nothing gets delayed or something.
Happy new year,
just ignore it.
In my opinion he or other artists are mature men and they have right to date or have relationship as long as it is voluntary from both parties.
And as a viewer i am only interested in their. work.They should have a private life and it should be apart from their public work.
Happy new year, guys!
What's up with TJC? There's some scandal going on or something? I've read a bit about it, but I didn't understand much. Will this affect his works or something? I am quite excited for dancing with the tide, hope nothing gets delayed or something.
A big nothing burger. A couple of women claimed to have dated JCT, and than said he was such a nice guy. Yeah, SO very scandalous. Both claims have bounced back badly. But black marketing spent quite a bit and paid for like 15 hot searches, so most people realized that someone was targeting JCT, which has folks wondering if he just got a really good gig. Last night, 2nd lady tried to start something again, and hilariously, the comment section exploded into a Cheng Yi and Xiao Zhan meme fanwar with hardly any mention of JCT. LOL!
Unlikely, since he hasn't done anything wrong. If anything, his support has grown. None of his appearances have been cancelled. His brands are airing their CNY campaigns and his new songs keep selling and climbing the charts. He's done three livestreams, I think since this started, and they've been record breaking with attendance and selling out the products. CCTV posted a clip from LMLMV. Tencent, QQ, and others keep posting him on their 2025 lists.
As far as we know, everything is continuing with Dancing With the Tide. He did a costume fitting right after this started, and I think he's been back a couple of times since. Rumor has it, filming will start at the end of January.
Kokuto:
Just wanted to wish everyone an enjoyable and safe New Year's holiday. Here's hoping 2026 is great year for everyone!
Of course, I'm woefully behind, but I'm trying to keep up with at least reading this thread. So thank you for all the contributors. Maybe that will be one of my resolutions ... to get back to the discussions.
A belated Happy New Year to all. I'm also woefully behind and still answering posts from 2.5 months ago. Eek!!
Happy new year, guys!
What's up with TJC? There's some scandal going on or something? I've read a bit about it, but I didn't understand much. Will this affect his works or something? I am quite excited for dancing with the tide, hope nothing gets delayed or something.
Unless he'd done something illegal, which doesn't seem to be the case, then he should be OK. It would be great if it could be like H197279 said and just focused on the work, but unfortunately, that isn't the case for CBiz - there is a lot of deliberate off-screen maneuvering that occurred before, during, and after the drama aired. Any whiff of scandal, and you'll get a pile-on with deliberate black marketing like Kokuto mentioned. Hopefully, it won't affect the drama production. Fingers crossed that the script will be good; too many subpar dramas out there.
I watched it. Luckily, I was sitting. 🫠 I could be wrong, but maybe they wanted to convey all that hidden sexual tension that is felt in the book, but is very subtle? Of course they couldn't, because now European and American cinema is basically incapable of covering this area anymore. It always ends up being something disgusting and unsexual.
I saw this and immediately thought about the conversation here. Lol! I guess we shouldn't expect a faithful adaptation of the novel or even anything resembling smart/intelligent/insightful? I'm avoiding the reviews as I have a plan to watch it with a friend. I was hoping that maybe it leans into a satirical take, playing up the twisted passion and unhingeness of the characters, although I'm not convinced Jacob Elordi could sell that. I'm lowering my expectations to torrid bodice-ripper :-).
HeadInTheClouds:
I saw this and immediately thought about the conversation here. Lol! I guess we shouldn't expect a faithful adaptation of the novel or even anything resembling smart/intelligent/insightful? I'm avoiding the reviews as I have a plan to watch it with a friend. I was hoping that maybe it leans into a satirical take, playing up the twisted passion and unhingeness of the characters, although I'm not convinced Jacob Elordi could sell that. I'm lowering my expectations to torrid bodice-ripper :-).
I saw the advertisement of this movie on TV. Both actor and actress did not give Headcliff and Catherine's vibe that I imagine from the book. I probably won't go to watch the movie
I saw this and immediately thought about the conversation here. Lol! I guess we shouldn't expect a faithful adaptation of the novel or even anything resembling smart/intelligent/insightful? I'm avoiding the reviews as I have a plan to watch it with a friend. I was hoping that maybe it leans into a satirical take, playing up the twisted passion and unhingeness of the characters, although I'm not convinced Jacob Elordi could sell that. I'm lowering my expectations to torrid bodice-ripper :-).
I decided not to watch it, because "Wuthering Heights" holds a special place in my heart. I'm 99% sure that modern European or American cinema is not capable of creating subtle, deep, exquisite things. However, if the Chinese had filmed "Wuthering Heights" - then I would have watched it with great pleasure.
Basically it's not about forgetting XL and replace him with Jing, but learning to still find happiness in life regardless of loving someone who's not around anymore, yet always present in the heart
I totally share your explanation and it must be the only logical one. And this is powerful evidence that she loved Xiang Liu.
But. We wouldn't all be here with almost 800 pages of discussions if it all worked that way.
Xiao Yao never fully confessed her love to either herself or Xiang Liu. Yes, this can be seen as respecting his feelings and trying to reduce the pain. But she forever remains on the threshold between two worlds: self-deception and reality.
Catherine Earnshaw did the same. By the way, do you think Cathy would have been able to live happily with Linton (and give birth to 5 children for him, as she boasted) if Heathcliff had gone and disappeared forever, like Xiang Liu? As soon as Heathcliff returned, all the happiness she tried to built for herself vanished like a mirage, powerless against old love. It feels like no matter how hard she tried to be happy, she actually turned into a ghost while still alive, desperately looking for her true self (wich is Heathcliff) and her true home. While Linton was a perfectly decent man with a healthy love (unlike Jing).
It seems that in the early years Tong Hua maintained that duality in determining the resolution of the plot. And her statements at that time are very profound, for example, the one you mentioned (I love it so much).
But when the series was filmed, Tong Hua seemed to be totally fine with the exclamations of the majority "Wow, HAPPY END, the happiest paradise ending, full and ultimate happiness, hurray hurray hurray!". It seems that she changed her point of view on her own creation. And her attempts (if I saw it correctly) to make different HAPPY END in the series "Filter"- just pathetic and very weak, to be honest, although the series itself is absolutely wonderful, one of my favorites, and so is the script.
By the way, do you see any references to Xiang Liu in Tan Jianci's new music video "Dead Reflex"? Because I do. And if that's the case, I'm glad he retains such love for his character and carries Xiang Liu with him through life.
Recently, I came across a ranking of the most famous characters in TV series (it's not me looking for that stuff, it's it finding me 🙈) where Jing has 43% and Xiang Liu has 15%. There can be two options here: either most people are not intelligent enough to understand the meaning of the book, or the author failed to convey the meaning to readers and viewers. All these discussions and completely opposite visions seem fascinating, but at the same time, doesn't this mean that the author's artistic idea failed and she was unable to realize it or even understand what she ultimately wanted to say...
Even the title of the series itself. I don't know if we can understand all the subtleties of the original Chinese title, In the Ukrainian translation, "Безмежна туга" means something deeply tragic, something doomed forever, endless sadness for someone who is no longer there. It's absurd to give such a title to a series that has a happy ending. If Tong Hua changed the plot of series, the title of original novel is not fitting anymore.
It's just that the contradictions in this book are so significant, this conflict in the writer's mind is so deep and visible... She created Xiang Liu with such love and at the same time tries so diligently to neutralize his influence, so loudly and desperately declares a happy life without him, that it seems to go beyond the mere plot of the book and looks like her personal, deeply emotional struggle. And this personal struggle of hers is so bizarrely and painfully reflected even in the novel.
I've watched a lot of doramas about love triangles, but in the end, the questions of whom the main character really loves have never arisen. Except for this story. Is there another similar story that has caused so many discussions, misunderstandings, and completely opposite readings of the plot?
Happy Valentine's day to everyone! ❤️🩹
