I've been reading recent articles about the kdrama industry dying. Based on the vicious attacks on this excellent drama, I'm not surprised. An industry cannot progress if it doesn't advance, if the same tired formula is used over and over. Yet how can a drama industry attempt to explore new possibilities if viewers are not receptive to new concepts? Also, I can understand that the subject matter of this drama might not appeal to all viewers, such as those who are just looking for romance-comedy, but I can never understand the malicious attacks on dramas. If you are not into sci-fi, then nobody is forcing you to watch this. Why spoil the enjoyment of those who are into it? When I don't like a drama, I just drop it quietly, I don't even give dramas I don't finish a score since I might have missed some good scenes in the episodes I didn't watch so it would be UNFAIR to rate the whole drama.
I think both haters and zealous fans adversely affect a drama industry. When haters unjustly give an excellent drama a low score, they discourage other viewers from watching a drama that might elevate their opinion of the industry. When zealous fans unfairly give a bad drama a high score, they are setting those who watch those dramas because of the high scores up for disappointment.
As for this drama, I'm awed at how it pulled me into the lives of the tourist and astronauts in the space station. It's riveting, with so many nail-biting scenes such as Eve's spacewalk, fertilization without microscope, being trapped in the observation module, the rescue mission, etc. And the dilemmas presented (rules vs human lives, ethics vs humanity) are so disturbing, they leave me a mass of confusion, not knowing which side to choose. This is the type of dramas I love most, one that involves both the mind and heart to process. If only kdrama viewers can be more open to and less critical of novelty.
Your comment doesn't make sense.Is it so hard to understand, that someone can like certain actor/actress and still…
That's actually how it should be. One shouldn't let admiration for an actor cloud one's judgement of his projects. For example, as much as I like Lee Min Ho, I can't deny that The Heirs is too melodramatic or that Faith is somewhat choppy. Likewise, I can't understand how anti-fans can hate an actor so much that no matter how good his dramas are, they give it preposterously low ratings like 1. The King Eternal Monarch is a masterpiece yet it was maligned so much by viewers who obviously have no respect for quality drama-making. When The Stars Gossip is the same. Though I'm still waiting for the last three episodes, it is among the best kdramas I've watched so far.
It has a unique story, but it has failed to land thus far. Dramas with morally complex characters and ethical…
It has captured my attention and emotions to the full. Even the story of a baby abandoned on Christmas Eve and the 4 aborted babies of a mouse made me bawl so hard.
If KSA does respect their experimental animals as much as shown in this drama, giving them much better funeral services than many owners of non-experimental pets, I thank and respect them.
If y'all had to describe this drama in one word, how would y'all do it ?
Riveting (so many nail-biters - Eve's spacewalk, fertilization without microscope, trapped in the observation module, rescue mission, etc. And their lives once they're back on earth. It's already way way past bedtime but I can't stop watching)
His role and acting in Pachinko are incomparable. It was his best performance so far. Villain roles suit him best;…
I love his realistic portrayal of a three-dimensional character here. Sometimes combustible, prone to yelling his head off when he is exasperated, sometimes fiercely efficient with razor-sharp focus when performing surgery, sometimes soft and gentle with Eve. But I was most impressed with the feeling of helpless panic he portrayed when left in the observation module and how easily he shed tears in ep 10 when he and Eve had noodles at the convenience store. He usually acts with restraint like in Pachinko and I like it, but here, he wears his heart on his sleeve and I'm liking it too.
Lee Min Ho is so good in this. I knew he was a great actor in the earthquake scene in Pachinko. But I didn't think he could be as good as he is in this.
No wonder his haters are viciously slamming him. The better his performance is, the more vicious his haters' attacks are.
'So glad I don't depend on online scores to determine what dramas to watch. Having been impressed with the quality and depth of Lee Min Hos' latest dramas (The King Eternal Monarch, Pachinko), I trusted that this will be of the same calibre. It was gratifying to find this so. Definitely not for those looking for light, inane entertainment, this is a riveting story of a tourist in a space station with a secret mission who is soon faced with dilemmas such as when life begins, rules vs human lives, ethics vs humanity, space station as place of creation or death, and men playing God. It starkly shows the heroism of astronauts whose every movement in space is a suicide mission.
The romance angle is unique, volatile, fiery but no less tantalizing.
The low rating says more about the type of stories expected of kdramas than the quality of this gem. It has a unique story, quite different from the usual kdrama fare.
Just how successful is GOTD? Popularity charts may be easily manipulated by black marketing and shadow-banning, and both dirty tactics were used to sabotage GOTD. Viewership charts are more reliable, though not 100% fool-proof. Nevertheless, despite a multi-million-rmb scheme to sabotage GOTD, the drama managed to garner excellent popularity and viewership numbers, achieving a blockbuster status.
But the best indicator of GOTD's success is one that is least susceptible to data manipulation thus is most accurate - its ability to generate revenue from ads. GOTD garnered the highest ad duration in history in all platforms - 4311 seconds. Note, the TOTAL DURATION of ads is more significant than the NUMBER of ads in determining ad revenue and subsequently, a drama's success.
The VP of Tencent Video said, "... brand advertising tends to be cautious, and the siphon effect of popular dramas is becoming more and more obvious. Advertising spots are hard to find for popular dramas such as Guardians of the Dafeng and Joy of Life 2, but this concentration of advertising also makes it difficult to attract investment for lower-end works."
Tencent Video is now using GOTD as its flagship success story to attract sponsors.
Who still believes in douban? It's a relic of the past before disinformation took hold of the internet. Everyone…
To repeat, douban is a relic of the past before disinformation took hold of the internet. So, the purported meanings of its scores are irrelevant in this age of disinformation. I have been watching western dramas since childhood, making a point of watching as many Oscar and Emmy nominees as I can each year, so I know much about good movies/dramas. I consider GOTD a masterpiece as many passersby, not just fans, attest. GOTD in fact broke the record for ads duration across all platforms with an unprecedented 4311 sec. We know all about the black marketing that happened in China. And many trolls have tried to smear it in this site too. So, you can't fool us with such lame attempts at black marketing.
Who still believes in douban? It's a relic of the past before disinformation took hold of the internet. Everyone who is NOT gullible and can think independently knows GOTD deserves a much higher score. That score is a joke and a testament to how unreliable douban is, easily manipulatable by black marketing that has plagued GOTD even before it aired.
I'm also surprised I typed all of it 😂 I meant to type only excerpts of the whole post but couldn't decide which ones to exclude. Everything just felt compelling. It's a beautifully-written piece. 🤭
Glancing through the comments it doesn't sound like this series is romance-focused? I LOVE Dylan Wang, but I love…
This drama has a lot of things going for it - comedy, mystery, action, politics, cultivation, family love, brotherhood, and romance. That is, romance is one of the wonderful elements making up this drama. The romantic moments are funny, cute and heart-tugging. Kiss scenes are swoon-inducing.
Finally, someone writes the truth, based on facts. I do believe no other actor could have done it not only for…
I fully agree. Didi is actually Xu Qi An incarnate. He is attacked due to his humble background by those who are envious of his abilities and cower behind pathetic illusions of power. But his innate good heart and sense of justice earn him the respect and loyalty of everyone who knows him. The scene in GOTD where the guardians and other friends came out to protect Xu Qi An and Mr Zheng reminded me so much of Didi’s fans and other supporters who all came out to defend him from the black marketing accounts, paid trolls and antis. These bullies should watch GOTD and see themselves in the villains who deserve to have their heads cut off.
The Weibo hot search topic "Why did Guardians of the Dafeng explode towards the end?" went up to #2 today. Below is the write-up. Note the overwhelming praise for Dylan Wang.
"In reality, analyzing the mainstream market's approach to hit dramas, the core theme of GOTD is quite risky. Mainstream blockbuster dramas typically have a strong emphasis on individual heroism, with intense emotional hooks related to love, hate and personal relationships. However, GOTD is different.
Contrary to the belief that the earlier episodes rely heavily on lighthearted comedy, the overall structure of GOTD is actually modeled after Jump-style manga. This may be the first time such a format has been used in China's entertainment industry, making the show highly innovative. Its primary focus is on warmth and humor, delivering a relaxed and entertaining experience. It features significant emotional ups and downs but does not aim for deep emotional entanglement. Instead of relying on plot-driven character development, it builds its characters through dialogue and small details. The show follows a unique production model - fluid in form yet cohesive in spirit - akin to a well-crafted literary vignette.
However, due to excessive negative press early on, the mainstream audience - who would have been the most receptive to this avant-garde storytelling - was initially kept away. In this format, achieving a breakout success put immense pressure on the creative team. The so-called "explosive finale" was largely the result of public sentiment rebounding after the negative press dissipated.
Without a doubt, the male lead played a crucial role in turning things around for GOTD. He became the key figure in breaking through the challenges. With his strong, strategic and heroic screen presence, audiences expected a classic heroism story. But what was surprising was how seamlessly he adapted to the lighthearted comedy tone. Around episode 15 and in the final 10 episodes, he elevated the personal heroism aspect to its peak, strengthening the framework and depth of the entire show.
The creative team may have anticipated that the drama would break historical records in securing sponsors, and they were likely aware of the male lead's immense fan influence. However, they probably didn't foresee that their choice of a lead actor would be the decisive factor in GOTD ultimate success.
Through the "free-spirited portrayal of everyday life and deeply emotional performance", he became the backbone of GOTD, keeping its essence intact while lifting it to new heights. With a different actor, the show would not have reached the same level of success.
Surpassing 30,000 (in ratings or viewership metrics) must have been a relief for the creative team. The male lead was not just a support against the negative press - he singlehandedly lifted the entire story structure and gave it wings.
Going forward, whenever GOTD is mentioned in the industry, beyond its unprecedented blacklisted trending topics, record-breaking commercial value, and dominance over anime rating charts, the biggest testament will be how a "soulful male lead" can profoundly impact a drama.
With GOTD, the male lead has undoubtedly secured more significant opportunities, naturally expanding his audience base. GOTD has quietly begun reshaping the entertainment landscape in China. Countless production teams will now study its trajectory, its unique engagement strategies, and how it managed to withstand negative publicity. This drama is both an industry phenomenon and a grassroots hit.
Many viewers are curious: why do some high-budget dramas with major IPs and seemingly impressive viewership numbers fail to truly capture an audience? The answer lies in GOTD superword discussion. If your acting cannot genuinely attract an audience, data remains data. Numbers alone do not convert into real viewership engagement. There are no shortcuts - you have to earn the audience's recognition step by step."
There are too many questions after the end of the S1. Yes, ML is exactly like that: he is outwardly careless,…
Yes, the end of S1 screams for S2. I’m keeping my fingers crossed it happens. Princess Lin An does seem shallow, at first. Much like Xu Qi An who initially just wanted to make money. By the end, both showed remarkbable growth, especially Xu Qi An. Regarding Yang Ling, that’s exactly what I thought so, that, due to his Dafeng experience, his life will turn out differently from what the Tianyu monk showed him.
I love the romance of this drama so much because it isn't sappy. It fits in seamlessly with the rest of the narrative. I'm not a fan of romance-filled dramas where romantic scenes are stretched to the max, with each breath, look and smile of the lovers highlighted to squeeze the most reaction from hungry viewers. Please spare me the cheese! I'm dismayed at one dimensional lead characters who seem to exist only for the romance. I prefer well-rounded and multi-dimensional leads who care for altruistic matters, not just romance.
The romance in GOTD is consistent with Xu Qi An's cavalier but warm attitude. Which is why the scene in ep 6 when he first laid eyes on the princess is significant. He seldom wears his heart on his sleeve. When he does let his guard down, it's precious because of its rarity. I love those moments when Xu Qi An seems like he is not paying attention to the princess' hints of confession, like when she told him to ask the emperor for a title in case a royal girl falls for him, but it turns out he does pay attention. Such moments, like his confession, that are depicted ever so casually you could miss them if you blink, touch me more deeply. So cool, like him 🥰 It doesn't hurt of course that the kiss scenes are exquisite, none of the cold fish or slobbery styles that are terribly off putting.
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I think both haters and zealous fans adversely affect a drama industry. When haters unjustly give an excellent drama a low score, they discourage other viewers from watching a drama that might elevate their opinion of the industry. When zealous fans unfairly give a bad drama a high score, they are setting those who watch those dramas because of the high scores up for disappointment.
As for this drama, I'm awed at how it pulled me into the lives of the tourist and astronauts in the space station. It's riveting, with so many nail-biting scenes such as Eve's spacewalk, fertilization without microscope, being trapped in the observation module, the rescue mission, etc. And the dilemmas presented (rules vs human lives, ethics vs humanity) are so disturbing, they leave me a mass of confusion, not knowing which side to choose. This is the type of dramas I love most, one that involves both the mind and heart to process. If only kdrama viewers can be more open to and less critical of novelty.
If KSA does respect their experimental animals as much as shown in this drama, giving them much better funeral services than many owners of non-experimental pets, I thank and respect them.
No wonder his haters are viciously slamming him. The better his performance is, the more vicious his haters' attacks are.
The romance angle is unique, volatile, fiery but no less tantalizing.
The low rating says more about the type of stories expected of kdramas than the quality of this gem. It has a unique story, quite different from the usual kdrama fare.
But the best indicator of GOTD's success is one that is least susceptible to data manipulation thus is most accurate - its ability to generate revenue from ads. GOTD garnered the highest ad duration in history in all platforms - 4311 seconds. Note, the TOTAL DURATION of ads is more significant than the NUMBER of ads in determining ad revenue and subsequently, a drama's success.
The VP of Tencent Video said, "... brand advertising tends to be cautious, and the siphon effect of popular dramas is becoming more and more obvious. Advertising spots are hard to find for popular dramas such as Guardians of the Dafeng and Joy of Life 2, but this concentration of advertising also makes it difficult to attract investment for lower-end works."
Tencent Video is now using GOTD as its flagship success story to attract sponsors.
"In reality, analyzing the mainstream market's approach to hit dramas, the core theme of GOTD is quite risky. Mainstream blockbuster dramas typically have a strong emphasis on individual heroism, with intense emotional hooks related to love, hate and personal relationships. However, GOTD is different.
Contrary to the belief that the earlier episodes rely heavily on lighthearted comedy, the overall structure of GOTD is actually modeled after Jump-style manga. This may be the first time such a format has been used in China's entertainment industry, making the show highly innovative. Its primary focus is on warmth and humor, delivering a relaxed and entertaining experience. It features significant emotional ups and downs but does not aim for deep emotional entanglement. Instead of relying on plot-driven character development, it builds its characters through dialogue and small details. The show follows a unique production model - fluid in form yet cohesive in spirit - akin to a well-crafted literary vignette.
However, due to excessive negative press early on, the mainstream audience - who would have been the most receptive to this avant-garde storytelling - was initially kept away. In this format, achieving a breakout success put immense pressure on the creative team. The so-called "explosive finale" was largely the result of public sentiment rebounding after the negative press dissipated.
Without a doubt, the male lead played a crucial role in turning things around for GOTD. He became the key figure in breaking through the challenges. With his strong, strategic and heroic screen presence, audiences expected a classic heroism story. But what was surprising was how seamlessly he adapted to the lighthearted comedy tone. Around episode 15 and in the final 10 episodes, he elevated the personal heroism aspect to its peak, strengthening the framework and depth of the entire show.
The creative team may have anticipated that the drama would break historical records in securing sponsors, and they were likely aware of the male lead's immense fan influence. However, they probably didn't foresee that their choice of a lead actor would be the decisive factor in GOTD ultimate success.
Through the "free-spirited portrayal of everyday life and deeply emotional performance", he became the backbone of GOTD, keeping its essence intact while lifting it to new heights. With a different actor, the show would not have reached the same level of success.
Surpassing 30,000 (in ratings or viewership metrics) must have been a relief for the creative team. The male lead was not just a support against the negative press - he singlehandedly lifted the entire story structure and gave it wings.
Going forward, whenever GOTD is mentioned in the industry, beyond its unprecedented blacklisted trending topics, record-breaking commercial value, and dominance over anime rating charts, the biggest testament will be how a "soulful male lead" can profoundly impact a drama.
With GOTD, the male lead has undoubtedly secured more significant opportunities, naturally expanding his audience base. GOTD has quietly begun reshaping the entertainment landscape in China. Countless production teams will now study its trajectory, its unique engagement strategies, and how it managed to withstand negative publicity. This drama is both an industry phenomenon and a grassroots hit.
Many viewers are curious: why do some high-budget dramas with major IPs and seemingly impressive viewership numbers fail to truly capture an audience? The answer lies in GOTD superword discussion. If your acting cannot genuinely attract an audience, data remains data. Numbers alone do not convert into real viewership engagement. There are no shortcuts - you have to earn the audience's recognition step by step."
The romance in GOTD is consistent with Xu Qi An's cavalier but warm attitude. Which is why the scene in ep 6 when he first laid eyes on the princess is significant. He seldom wears his heart on his sleeve. When he does let his guard down, it's precious because of its rarity. I love those moments when Xu Qi An seems like he is not paying attention to the princess' hints of confession, like when she told him to ask the emperor for a title in case a royal girl falls for him, but it turns out he does pay attention. Such moments, like his confession, that are depicted ever so casually you could miss them if you blink, touch me more deeply. So cool, like him 🥰 It doesn't hurt of course that the kiss scenes are exquisite, none of the cold fish or slobbery styles that are terribly off putting.