CloudIndigo

Sorry for disturbing your playground. I thought all opinions were welcome on MDL as long as they were respectful.

LOL
He is gaunt, there is a difference.

His face looks gaunt. It's sharp and has lost its soft contours. I didn't expect that, 😕

Oh, so that's what it is. Very fitting.

Regardless of anything, I look upon it this way now, after learning about this brutal toxic culture: It's Zhang Linghe's life, his choices and it's all up to him. He will either end up a train wreck or triumphant. Or neither, Who knows?

As someone who loves his work, I just hope he gets to act the way he dreams of acting; it's his greatest passion I think. Otherwise it would be such a loss for him and us of finding jade.

It worked for me! His acting is memorable.

Very wise. And very cool. :) Thanks.

Update on the clip. I happened upon ZHL studio's version and it's definitely ZHL in white. Now I feel stupid. LOL. Sorry about that. I don't want to push conspiracies.

I'll keep that in mind. :)

The first bit showed him backlit (I think) and full frontal but at a distance against a dark background and the figure seemed slenderer like a youth, not a man. .It was a very short clip and similar to that one but definitely an approximation. The nose was straighter which made me take notice. I thought, naaah.
Perhaps it was doctored, like a transitional thing. I still think it looked like the other actor. Damn, you can't trust anything or anyone anymore. I wish I hadn't seen it.
Thanks for the feedback. I hate conspiracy theories. I hope I'm wrong. Sorry, I rarely keep links.

I recently saw a hair down white clip up close where he sheds a tear, and that character looked much younger and overall smaller and approximately like ZLH but I'm not sure it was ZLH. The substitute actor looks very much like this. Posters are still referring to him as ZLH. Perhaps it's AI? It's really confusing when you compare it with the pic of ZLH in the same white costume with his hair in a bun.

This is so very sad.

Good. Peace and quiet sounds good.

Oh, Thanks for the info.

I worried about projection as well. But I also know that if he had been all smiles and vibrant, I would have been relieved. And glad for him. So, not projection.

The worst part is thinking he's miserable. I hope he is not.

Oh, it's not just me! Yes, I thought he was quite subdued in the booting photos and BTS. The only time he seemed to come alive and animated was when he was involved in the photoshoot process discussing the outcomes.

I was looking forward to ZLH playing a dual role. That's the perfect challenge for him and one that would be intriguing. In essence his role has been significantly diluted. I was captivated by the notion of dual characters, a very powerful draw in itself. Something substantial has been lost in the process.

It's not looking like he's central to the show at all because production seems to have decided to shelve his considerable gifts and let them gather dust. I really don't get it. So disappointing.

On the other hand, the BTS clips show that he's approaching his part with the same care and intensity as usual, so I live in hope that he will creatively transcend all the noise as he has in the past. And do it healthily.

Re booting ceremony. Where is the FL? (She is generic looking to me so I may have missed her.)

I think the culture supports his mother's attitude. Certainly c-ent does.I don't see that happening. I imagine he believes it as well. And so do tons of fans who applaud an extremist work ethic. Yet I live in hope. Zhao Lusi got out.

It might take a crisis to change things. Zhang Linghe is not unintelligent and is self-reflective. The childhood background, unfortunately, is a factor and needs to be addressed. Tendencies towards perfection and workaholism can't be ignored.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?app=desktop&v=Nx9v0TTBTkE&dp_isNewTab=1&dp_referrer=youtubeOverlay&dp_allowFirstVideo=1

Note: It is not that easy to overcome by anyone. Ever. Not by logic and not by deconstruction. Nobody's that perfect.