Lyson

Hehe :D Glad to find someone who agrees about HC! The updated look is improved, it's not wow, but it's much better. XL's look feels like a lost cause to me, I must be the only person who doesn't agree that the new wig is suitable. Also, I find that the immersion factor is usually more deeply realized specifically when the characters and world design match canon as closely as possible. It really draws a person in you know.

Heh, I'm okay with saying the unpopular opinion. I'm not trying to offend anyone, but I also am not affected by fan-angst. It is simply true, that fans are who franchises need to aim for and consider. They tried to shaft Sonic fans a while back with Sonic's crappy human-like CGI design and fans were p*ssed off. So, Sony literally halted and fixed Sonic's appearance, because fans matter, and authenticity should matter. (soz if anyone here is not a game or Sonic fan and doesn't know what I'm talking about). MXTX's works are becoming a franchise. The shows should get better, not worse imo.

I don't know how these things work in China though, maybe they know fans will still over-hype and support the drama adaptation even if it isn't well done? So they'll do the bare minimum and still end up on top. Win-win?

Talking about HC makes me wanna gripe about it all over again, but all I'll say is; HC's character needs several wigs if you ask me, and I personally think they need to be straight but with a kink. Like this type of hair: https://www.pinterest.com/pin/130534089176541888/ black obvs, and in varying hairstyles. FIGHT MEeee, but I think he'd rock this look. They also need make up artists to darken up his eye makeup.

I agree that his look is not typical, he's pretty dayum 'swag' on top of his undead-ethereality. His clothes need to be darker red and textured so it catches differently in different light. And he needs all his butterfly and silver jewelry! And that damn pearl man, I didn't even notice, I thought it wasn't even there yet. And why are his lips red?

Okok, I'm not getting into all that. This is a Chinese drama and they obvs have their way of doing things. I've said too much. I love TGCF. HC is my second favorite MXTX character, so it hurts a little. But I'm already on this ride 😭 even 3 years later 😭

EDIT: and it's definitely better than it was https://www.instagram.com/p/CSJ-G8lBBS3/

It's nice to see someone bothered about HC for once. I've pretty much gotten over the miscasting because life goes on, so now the outfits will trip me up for a while I guess. I get the feeling they really wanted the wind to catch the material of the two ML's, because in every picture that's what I see, a lot of wind blown cloth and wigs, but the colour is too bright and flat, no texture to it, no dimension, so thin and cheap is all we're getting. And of course, they really took XL's white robes all the way white, without any extra effort, no dimension or texture either because it's just layers and layers of...white something. As for the outfit with the gold hair piece-

For HC, they have tried though, they've tried...something. As for the eye patch, they'd be better off just letting him wear a plain black eye patch. I swear I could find better looking eye patches for sale on Etsy ffs.

I know a lot of people are saying 'we're lucky we're getting a drama at all', but I don't get that particular fan perspective. For the dearly devoted fans it's gonna sound bad, but I'd rather they don't make a LA if they're just going to half-ass it. It sucks when they mess this kind of thing up. BUT, I have hope, like everyone else, that it'll surprise me.

I know everyone's already said, but the truth is that it does just look cheap unfortunately.

I think the fabric used is the biggest issue. The most recent look of HC is a step up, but the material looks flimsy. Same with XL's costume, looks too gauzy and flimsy. But that's just my opinion.

https://www.instagram.com/p/CSJcXuML7Nu/
https://www.instagram.com/p/CSJVMktrMCf/
Not bad. Certainly better.

LOL magic tricks. Heh. I would recommend The Yin-Yang Master: Dream of Eternity. It's a movie though, not a series. But no actual romance, nice subtle bromance and lots of...magic tricks. I particularly enjoyed the magic side of it, the graphics and CGI are well done. Kind of wish it had been made into a series.

Oh yeah I watched the anime too, I haven't seen the animated film yet, though I probably should. But I also have my bias 😁 for me the manga comes first if I can get my eyes or hands on it. and I always remember it the most in the end more than the anime. Must be because of the art factor. Love to look at art, love to do art.

But I agree to an extent , many Japanese shows are great and they don't have to hold back. As it stands though, for BL or LGBT themed shows I watch more western shows than Asian, so I can't be too opinionated on the entire range 😅

Ngl though, it is a pity about China's censorship because even so much as a hug or kiss in TU between LWJ and WW would have sent fans reeling for a lifetime 😂

😅😂 No no you misunderstood. I have read the entire book a while back already. I meant I have not read anything about STAREMBER'S art process because I can't find anything in English.

As for TU, I feel like they nailed casting so perfectly it didn't even matter that they changed minor details. But I'm not going to compare this coming show with TU, that wouldn't be fair really to EF.

Anyway, I'm a stickler for source material too, but I feel that visual representation is a part of that. The book art of MDZS is different from the donghua and manhua, but not by much. The novel of TGCF doesn't have art as far as I know, although I'm pretty sure they'd just use STAREMBER'S art. In the end, since XL has mostly the same hair in the donghua and manhua, there was obviously an important creative decision made there. I just think MXTX would definitely have had a say in that.

Aaaaaaand off topic thanks btw, I clicked on your profile and saw you're currently watching the Given live adaptation which I had NO IDEA was airing. The Manga is amazing, I'm def going to watch the live adap 😎

I can't say for sure, because I can't read Chinese and there's nothing in English about it, but usually when it comes to illustrated adaptations of a book or idea, the artist draws a few rough ideas for characters appearances first, and the creator usually has a say in finalizing it. This is how it works for almost all art/animation projects of this nature. If anyone knows more about STARember's process for the art, they can correct me or offer some insight. But I find it hard to believe MXTX doesn't get a say in the general look of their own characters. ¯\_(ツ)_/¯ Manhua XL is stunning, and despite being physically strong he appears pretty and delicate, the casting missed the mark for the most part imo.

😂 😂 😂

Yeah, haha. I know all this. I'm not even griping about HC's actor because the guy at least seems to suit the general aesthetic. At this point I'm still just annoyed with XL's miscasting, so everything about it is going to annoy me for a while. It's all just venting, because in the end, I'm still going to watch it and give it an honest shot like everyone else.

So they've removed the slim side bangs that are a major defining part of canon XL's appearance? I mean, he dresses so plain, his hair and delicate, pretty features are the outstanding highlights of his physical character. But, okay. I guess it's less hassle than replacing the actor 😂 Thanks for sharing.

This comment made me laugh. Seeing more photos released I'm starting to worry whether the costumes we're seeing are just wip's...

Edit: ...and then I read down the comments and realized the costumes are in fact real.

https://www.instagram.com/p/CR0VaayMum9/

Yep. The thing is, even if the costumes are a work in progress (which they probably are), before where I was mostly concerned about the acting, now I've seen the cast actors appearances 'in character' and it's lacking. All that's left now is to see what wonders proper make up and costume can do, and hang the rest of the hope on the acting.

After seeing the images circulating, I'm glad I was low-balling my expectations.

Ah yeah, many people get impatient with the flashback. It is honestly pretty central to the story though, there's a lot about the past that impacts the future in TU, can't have one without the other. Maybe you might have preferred to watch the shortened version, the special edition, it's condensed to 20 eps. But it is possible that it's just a matter of taste and preference in the end. High expectations can let us down like that. At least you can say you watched it and you enjoyed WW's character, which, while he isn't my favourite character in MXTX's works, he is pretty awesome.

Nah. I'm all kinds of unsatisfied too. You are not alone.