BearFightingFanBackAgain

Haha,
I understand. I guess we have different criteria. For me, it’s does the story deliver the genre it sells, which I argue this show does. It says it’s a marriage first, love later romantic comedy and that to me is what it delivers so it passes. The rest is just padding for that delivery, I could take it or leave it I guess.
But anyway, thank you for the conversation. It’s fun to talk about plot and understand different mindsets.

Yeah, I can agree it’s a personal taste thing. It’s just strange to see a show say this show is vanilla and so many viewers be surprised it’s actually vanilla and wanting it to be chocolate.
Comparison is fine as I’ve seen someone else compare the two shows though they seem different to me. I haven’t watched the show you’re comparing it to but I know the basics of it and from what I understand, the female lead is a detective? In that case, it would make more sense for the intrigue and suspense to be a higher level because that’s part of the package that show seems to be selling. It also seems that that show might be more plot driven and trying to catch a wider audience whereas I feel like this show is more character driven and more focused on romance lovers and trying to drive certain themes home.
I still have to disagree about the identity plot line because many people in town seem quite loyal to Ji Ming so if the big baddies of the area have been wiped out, why would the regular folk talk to randoms from somewhere else? Especially if Jiman and Ning Yuxuan having been improving the quality of life of the town, as we saw with the competition, there’s going to be a desire to help them. Add to that that Yuan Lang has taken over the local area’s gang and is well liked, and there seems less of an incentive to squeal. And if someone says that Jiman is Nie Sangyu how can it be proven? In that case a family member/close friend stumbling on it seems the most likely.
And the baddies are following the situation, they’re the ones who find the memorial tablet after General Nie visits the temple Ning Yuxuan set up. And they’re the ones who present the evidence. Where Tao Siwei comes in is a trope reversal of the “loyal until the end 2nd ml”trope by giving the supporting evidence that Jiman is not Nie Sangyu. In a cliche story, he would have lied for Jiman out of love for Sangyu but instead he becomes an antagonist which fits with the hints given earlier in the story that he’s not quite right.
For the cliff fall, it must be enough because according to the World logic of the show cliff falls are survivable. Nie Sangyu’s fall doesn’t kill her. She drowns willingly. This sets the tone for JiMan’s survival and Tao Siwei’s death.

I don’t disagree with your opinion because you have a right to express it but why look for more plot in a light plot? Isn’t that just a setup for disappointment?
And why would the suspense and intrigue aspect outweigh the comedy and romance when this show has mostly advertised itself as a romantic comedy? The core will be about the romantic relationship developing, the rest is just extras to get the relationship there hence the real ending being about the couple getting back together.
As to Ji Man and Ji Ming meeting, she explains that he’s her godfather in public to explain their relationship. And when Ling shows up, Ji Ming purposefully doesn’t let him see Jiman.
The show isn’t wuxia so it doesn’t make sense for it to follow wuxia rules. The cliff fall I can agree is probably plot armor but it’s more about symbolism and Jiman does fall differently from Tao who wants to die and her layers of skirts are shown billowing so could have had a slowing effect. And she actually does rest, there are stills of her dirty and sitting in the woods eating wild fruit but the editor cut to running for more dramatic effect.

Yeah, it’s really rare to see a female lead realised so well in a Cdrama. Same for Ning Yuxuan. You can really see how the relationship developed and really feel like the characters grew up.

I skipped the sad scenes this time😅They are very well done but I didn’t want to be abused this time😂

Aaaaaaah,
This kiss compilation video😭😭😭
https://m.weibo.cn/detail/4893325696701773

I wouldn’t worry about it. Not every story will be for everyone and some roles just won’t click.
A lot of people liked Sangyu but I’m guessing the show had to play a fine line between her being too sympathetic and a bad guy, and in the book she essentially “disappears “ as well. It was a good hook to draw in viewers, but it also backfired a bit because it messed up the comedy tone of the show and none of the others scenes are as explosive and none of the other characters get as intense as Sangyu in that scene. She also has the most beautiful shots in the show. Judging from this reaction and the reaction to the 2nd FML from the TtoEM drama, there is an huge appetite for this type of character possibly because they’re beautiful, bright, and tragic?
I agree if they were going to make Sangyu so brilliant, costuming should have paid more attention to Jiman. Then, I think there wouldn’t be such a big gap in feelings for some viewers. Although I like the simpler look and think it suits the character, details are important and her being better styled probably would have brought the drama closer to a 7 on Douban. If they used the look in the makeup video, I think the transition wouldn’t have so drastic. Jiman in the makeup video is a warmer type beauty compared to Nie Sangyu’s coldness, but it doesn’t lose to her styling.

The ending really is beautiful and I really love the message this show sends about love being about mutual achievement rather than sacrifice, especially for women.

I rewatched it and the ending is still so beautiful. 🥹The bracelets and the lines about the winds being stronger in Haifang will get me every time😭🤧

Can’t wait to see Peng Xiao Ran on the big screen🤩

From what fans say, she’s on the poster. She’s currently in training right now so maybe that’s why she didn’t attend the film festival. Zheng Yecheng didn’t either and he is also a special guest star.

She doesn’t have many dramas out compared to other actresses her age but if you’re interested, she plays a princess/doctor, Jun Jiu Ling, in Jun Jiu Ling. She plays an ice skater, Li Binghe, in To Our Dreamland of Ice. Her most famous role is a princess, Xiao Feng, in Goodbye My Princess.

Actually now that I think on it…. Maybe that was the point…🫠😩😅Ning Yuxuan doesn’t seem like the type to pick out a nice wedding dress and poor Manman was probably so happy she didn’t consider its ugliness. It’s still sinfully ugly. Bless Xiao Ran for acting in it with a straight face.

A lifetime of ramen with no seasoning packs for whoever made the bangs decision. This hairstyle immediately creates the look Chen Minzheng was going for while staying very simple. The clothes are even the same.

I’m not sure either. I thought she did well too. Lively roles are hard to perform and they have their own acting style. I also think some viewers didn’t understand that there will be a difference between acting for a comedy and a serious drama and because it was different from what they’re use to seeing her in, they feel the acting is bad. Or they feel because she is a good actress, she should only do serious productions.

Ahhhhhhh!
I hope she plays a villain 🙏😭🙏

Yasssss,
Xiao Ran will hit the big screen🥹
Officially announced as a special starring role in the move, The Legend!!
https://m.weibo.cn/detail/4893068911975445

Yes! I think she is independent too. And the “weak” moments were only with Ning Yuxuan because she trusted him enough to be vulnerable but she was capable everywhere else. A lot of strong women in real life often talk about the burden of having to be strong all the time and having no one to rely on so I think it’s important to show strong women women being able to have weaknesses and emotionally rely on their partner. Jiman is an ambitious young woman with good business skills who won’t stay with a man who doesn’t treat her right and thinks of ways to help others. I think PXR chose this character well and I think she generally chooses good female roles so it was sad to see all the criticism of Jiman on this page.

Yeah, there’s nothing that can be done about preference. I think xianxia and wuxia generally rate higher on this site. I also think this site has a preference for stereotypical strong girls which RoaTF doesn’t have. Most shows like this that focus mostly on the romance and have a bubbly female lead tend to get more complaints/lower ratings.

Looking at the Maoyan data, the reviews from Chinese fans, and reading the reviews here, it seems this show attracted the wrong audience on MDL. It’s really a show for people into light hearted romances who like cute girl characters but doesn’t seem to have attracted that type of viewer. I also think the plainer styling did as intended and made viewers focus more on the acting skills rather than on the pretty dresses so it was judged more critically, at least in China.