Xiang Liu and You (Yes, You)

@HeadInTheClouds

I've read some excellent fanfiction where the author really managed to imitate/capture the character's voice. I think Xiang Liu is exceptionally difficult to write mainly because we never get anything from his own inner voice/thoughts in the novel so the writer will need to construct that on their own. Drama's Xiang Liu may be easier since TJC brought a lot more emotions to him.

I see. I don‘t usually read fanfics. But I remember not really liking sequel book written by other author (Scarlet and Gone with the Wind) even if the sequel gives the HE the original works didn‘t have.  Yes we‘re so lucky to have TJC as Xiang Liu.  Actually I can‘t remember in all of my drama watching history to ever have SML syndrome. Usually I can get on board with the main CP and cheer them on. XL is my first SML Syndrome that really give me so much pain that I dig in internet trying to find some HE crumbs through fanfics.

No, I'm not. I haven't visited that site in a long while. Why do you ask?

Your name sounds familiar. My brain clicked your name with dramabeans as I used to read the Kdrama recaps on this site and looked for drama recommendation from it. Maybe I‘ve read some of your posts there and that‘s why I mistake you as one of the recapper.

luv2bafangurl = love  to be a fangirl 🤣no special meaning or anything, I‘m not that deep. I‘m practically shallow and drool on the next handsome face on my screen, but so far only DL and TJC did manage to make me a fangirl.

 ZYHLJ:

Girls, I have to let you listen to this. This is the song best suits XL that I have found so far. Every sentence is like XL's heartfelt voice... It is called "Purple", a Chinese song with English subtitles, so beautiful. 

Also, there is a version that sings even better, but without subtitles. I'll put them both below:

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=B8Z5MQBeneE&pp=ygUL57SrIGVuZyBzdWI%3D

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=c38Xa-Ukuds&pp=ygUK57SrIOmDreaygQ%3D%3D

Very very fitting. The beginning sounds like a lullaby.

I don't know this drama. But judging by the video... uuuuu I can't handle more heartbreaking stuff, at least for now.

 luv2bafangurl:

 I think no XL in fanfic is going to be good enough, because Tong Hua builds XL‘s character through her prose style as well and this is really difficult to imitate I think, as this reflects the writer‚s unique voice?. And we as the novel reader or drama watcher each has  already a concept of XL in our head influenced with our own interpretation and bias and maybe even our own fanfic as well.

And Tong Hua very rarely tells us exactly what XL is thinking. So the reader has to guess at what he's thinking most of the time, and of course each reader will have different ideas for those guesses.

 luv2bafangurl:

AH‘s fanfic is exception since it‘s basically only give closure to XL-XY story without elaborating more about XL in her fanfic so XL in it stays true to the original novel.

Lol, yes I cheated a bit. I didn't dare try to create new thoughts or new dialogue for XL that might taint Tong Hua's original character and make him OOC. His dialogue in the flash-back dream in chapter 4 is word-for-word what he said to Furball in the Epilogue and he doesn't say anything else. ^^"

 AH :

https://youtube.com/shorts/FUxTeryrjwg?si=uEW58f5B97GgipYs

Matthew's Darcy was too timid for my taste. 

I do agree that the 2005 hand flex scene is iconic. Best part of that version IMO.

 nathsketch:

Ok, but Colin Firth is on a whole other level. He’s the number 1 in everything. That lake scene alone…

Oh, I haven't seen Colin Firth's Pride and Prejudice (1995) yet. So apparently it follows the book more closely and Firth's Mr. Darcy is more accurate? I should watch it soon....... I saw the Tumblr posts lol

Mr Darcy: “I’m not going to another Ball.”

Mr Bingley: “I heard Elizabeth Bennet is attending.”

Mr Darcy:

 HeadInTheClouds:

They are both very roast-able. Lol. I tried to refrain from doing too much roasting or being too critical of them over on the other thread - XY is one-half of the YaoLiu ship. after all. But this a XL-centric thread so it's a free-for-all. Unfortunately, I can't post GIFs so will have to rely on you ladies to do that.

I hope this tutorial will let you post GIFS :)

1. Go to Giphy, Tumblr, or Tenor and click on the the gif you want to use

2. Right click on the gif and click Open Image in New Tab (If you're on the phone,  tap and hold on the gif until it gives you the option to open the image in a new tab).

3. Copy the link address from that new tab you just opened.

4. On MDL, hover over the Insert Image option and paste the link address.

5. Click the Insert button and you should have the GIF added to your reply :)

Did Koala actually read the novel when she was translating it lol? In her recent post about Deng Wei's currently filming project, she dismissed Xiang Liu's complex characterization to that of the "bad boy" and said that it was harder to play a nice guy like TSJ than it is to play a "bad boy" like Xiang Liu. I get that she's got a thing for Deng Wei given all her complimentary fangirl coverage of him in past posts, but give me a break, TJC played Xiang Liu with far more complexity than it was  written and he constantly had discussions with the directors and production about how he didn't want to play an ice cube who stood around and said his lines with a stony cold face. He told them that if that's what they wanted, there was no point in him playing the role. TJC did a remarkable job with the most difficult and emotionally opaque role in the whole story, apart from what Yang Zi had to do. Deng Wei's a nice guy and he's trying, but he literally has two expressions in LYF and that's fine for TSJ because aside from what Koala seems to think, it's not a difficult or challenging role. Chinese netizens and audiences raked Deng Wei across the coals online for his acting in LYF, and while they were typically harsh and overly blunt, they're not wrong. He was very obviously the weak link in the show amongst the main cast and nobody would disagree that his acting needs more classes and a lot more work except for his fandom Diamonds (and Koala, apparently). At this point, I think I'd trust a translation from chatgpt more if this lady thinks Xiang Liu as a character is just a "bad boy" and that's all TJC portrayed.*shaking my head*

She's a Deng Wei fangirl.