People be missing the point here so badly it’s sad and funny simultaneously.
Maybe we can still carry on with the idol dramas and pretty faces but please leave some space for smaller dramas with actual good storytelling and production value overall. You know, those underrated dramas with actors nobody even knows about because they don’t fit the beauty standards and “unfortunately” all they have to offer is their acting skills.
Also, as an artist, please don’t use “artistic freedom” as a come back. Artistic freedom doesn’t equal to slapping “visuals and face cards” on a drama and calling it a 10/10 masterpiece. The most poignant art is paradoxically created in times where freedom is nonexistent and the artist needs to find ways to tell a story without having it censored. I say this as someone who lives in a country where a 21-year dictatorship that ended decades ago still affects us to this day.
But I digress. Anyway, some of the most artistically creative dramas in this website have criminally low ratings because they don’t have *checks notes* happy endings, insane face cards, and multiple kisses peppered throughout the episodes. That’s not what Art is so take that word out of your vocabulary or learn how to use it correctly.
There are several things happening here. When POJ first aired, it showed so much promise and genuinely beautiful…
It was so evident that all the rabid fans wanted was ZLH's pretty face. Rarely did I see his acting abilities mentioned. It was all about how much people wanted to gaze at him, how beautiful he is with or without makeup and how dreamy the romance was. I'm not averse to a pretty face and most of the actors I like have it, but they also have great acting skills and often choose projects that showcase their range instead of being typecast as the beautiful ML. I just hope that gifted actors don't get penalized because they are good looking.
And a female-centric drama doesn't have to sideline the ML. I dislike when either lead has to sacrifice their abilities and intelligence to bolster the other. Too often it's been the FL that has to appear weak and useless to prop up the ML. I want both leads to be strong and support each other or at least, if they have to start off weak. to develop and grow stronger as the story progresses.
So in a nutshell, you don't want female generals centric dramas, ironic coming from the Country that created Mulan.
I thrive on chaos, and this beloved seems to be Brazilian or at least she knows Portuguese (I think), so I can’t wait for an in-depth discussion in my native language lolololol
So in a nutshell, you don't want female generals centric dramas, ironic coming from the Country that created Mulan.
This babe should watch some Chinese crime/thrillers instead. The captain or the main detective is always a woman, very capable and smarter than her peers. Overall, great characters in their own right. No emasculation of her counterparts needed. But oh well, not what most people wish to watch 🤷🏻♀️
So in a nutshell, you don't want female generals centric dramas, ironic coming from the Country that created Mulan.
Let this one be. The replies are pretty incensed and not quite constructive to the point you’re trying to make. Can’t say I haven’t missed this kind of interaction here on MDL 😆
So in a nutshell, you don't want female generals centric dramas, ironic coming from the Country that created Mulan.
Lmao! That's not even my argument. 🥴 Try again.
My critique isn’t against female-led stories or generals—it’s about how POJ handled the characters and the script. Xie Zheng, and the story overall, were reduced to eye candy and fan service instead of being developed with depth and narrative purpose. You can have strong female or male leads, but they still need to be written and portrayed in a way that respects the story, the characters, and the context they’re in.
There are several things happening here. When POJ first aired, it showed so much promise and genuinely beautiful filmmaking. Then it all went downhill. Anyone with a brain and a pair of eyes can see that the script and characters were butchered (pun unintended) to cater to face value and CP fans. So the call for more script- and character-driven storytelling is very welcome.
China is also in a position where it needs to bolster its military image, and POJ sidelining Xie Zheng became problematic in that context. If it had aired several years earlier, it probably wouldn’t have been an issue. But in today’s environment, it simply didn’t pass the “vibe check” with military officials. It’s not even about the makeup. If Xie Zheng had been portrayed on the battlefield the way the novel originally wrote him, or if the script had given him more combat scenes, this wouldn’t have been a problem.
And while China has made progress in its feminist movement, it is still fundamentally a patriarchal society. I’ve seen plenty of arguments saying it’s not about the beautiful faces, but about the portrayal—and that’s exactly the issue. Xie Zheng was reduced to little more than eye candy instead of a fully realized military figure. You could also argue that the character lost narrative authority; instead of driving the story, he was repositioned to support visual appeal and romantic dynamics, which undercuts how male leads are typically framed in more traditional, state-aligned storytelling. In that sense, POJ pushing against those norms—intentionally or not—ended up clashing with that structure.
In conclusion, the pushback POJ is a cautionary example: no matter how beautiful the filmmaking or actors, undermining character integrity and narrative purpose, especially in politically or culturally sensitive contexts, will ultimately alienate audiences and officials alike. Story and character must come first, or everything else falls apart.
Maybe its the sentence framing or may be its his picture on the front page, but I read it as - China tells C-dramas to end idolization of looks and apply Xi Jinping "LOOKS".
Wouldn't it be funny if they make all the Cdrama actors wear make-up to emulate his looks. Like some bizarre cosplay. lol
A lot of women AREN'T GULLIBLE like the writers think we are. We are capable of critical thinking. She wasn't supposed to be general...or a person who gets successful multiple times using brute force with minimal application of mind. He wasn't supposed to be sidelined. This is not how you write a strong Female. Its not supposed be performative. It should acknowledge our physical restraints and powerful minds.
If it is an official account then the point is not to target Zhang Linghe, but to curtail the 'female general' plot popularity in future, and probably put a damper on the female-centric plots as well. The govt has been consistent in condemning the 'feminization' of Chinese men for years. It is creepy and bizarre but it isnt about the actor. . The comments of the public are directed at the actor's image before and after the filming; ZLH is also a model and is consistently underweight, like many actors. ZLH gained weight and transformed his stance and posture for the role of the Marquis, and in the show Pursuit of Jade looks very much like what he is, a man nearing 30 years old.
It is a pity that such an elegant and popular show should have been chosen for this sort of official criticism. "It got too big" say some, or, it is big enough not to suffer too much from the official and indirect criticisms.
However, 0dds are ZLH will soon be doing those obligatory movies with plots involving the battles of the Chinese military. And NO WOMEN ALLOWED!
Maybe we can still carry on with the idol dramas and pretty faces but please leave some space for smaller dramas with actual good storytelling and production value overall. You know, those underrated dramas with actors nobody even knows about because they don’t fit the beauty standards and “unfortunately” all they have to offer is their acting skills.
Also, as an artist, please don’t use “artistic freedom” as a come back. Artistic freedom doesn’t equal to slapping “visuals and face cards” on a drama and calling it a 10/10 masterpiece. The most poignant art is paradoxically created in times where freedom is nonexistent and the artist needs to find ways to tell a story without having it censored. I say this as someone who lives in a country where a 21-year dictatorship that ended decades ago still affects us to this day.
But I digress. Anyway, some of the most artistically creative dramas in this website have criminally low ratings because they don’t have *checks notes* happy endings, insane face cards, and multiple kisses peppered throughout the episodes. That’s not what Art is so take that word out of your vocabulary or learn how to use it correctly.
And a female-centric drama doesn't have to sideline the ML. I dislike when either lead has to sacrifice their abilities and intelligence to bolster the other. Too often it's been the FL that has to appear weak and useless to prop up the ML. I want both leads to be strong and support each other or at least, if they have to start off weak. to develop and grow stronger as the story progresses.
This statement is a true observation of the political environment of China though. So TRY AGAIN ...
My critique isn’t against female-led stories or generals—it’s about how POJ handled the characters and the script. Xie Zheng, and the story overall, were reduced to eye candy and fan service instead of being developed with depth and narrative purpose. You can have strong female or male leads, but they still need to be written and portrayed in a way that respects the story, the characters, and the context they’re in.
China is also in a position where it needs to bolster its military image, and POJ sidelining Xie Zheng became problematic in that context. If it had aired several years earlier, it probably wouldn’t have been an issue. But in today’s environment, it simply didn’t pass the “vibe check” with military officials. It’s not even about the makeup. If Xie Zheng had been portrayed on the battlefield the way the novel originally wrote him, or if the script had given him more combat scenes, this wouldn’t have been a problem.
And while China has made progress in its feminist movement, it is still fundamentally a patriarchal society. I’ve seen plenty of arguments saying it’s not about the beautiful faces, but about the portrayal—and that’s exactly the issue. Xie Zheng was reduced to little more than eye candy instead of a fully realized military figure. You could also argue that the character lost narrative authority; instead of driving the story, he was repositioned to support visual appeal and romantic dynamics, which undercuts how male leads are typically framed in more traditional, state-aligned storytelling. In that sense, POJ pushing against those norms—intentionally or not—ended up clashing with that structure.
In conclusion, the pushback POJ is a cautionary example: no matter how beautiful the filmmaking or actors, undermining character integrity and narrative purpose, especially in politically or culturally sensitive contexts, will ultimately alienate audiences and officials alike. Story and character must come first, or everything else falls apart.
Wouldn't it be funny if they make all the Cdrama actors wear make-up to emulate his looks. Like some bizarre cosplay. lol
He wasn't supposed to be sidelined. This is not how you write a strong Female. Its not supposed be performative. It should acknowledge our physical restraints and powerful minds.
.
The comments of the public are directed at the actor's image before and after the filming; ZLH is also a model and is consistently underweight, like many actors. ZLH gained weight and transformed his stance and posture for the role of the Marquis, and in the show Pursuit of Jade looks very much like what he is, a man nearing 30 years old.
It is a pity that such an elegant and popular show should have been chosen for this sort of official criticism. "It got too big" say some, or, it is big enough not to suffer too much from the official and indirect criticisms.
However, 0dds are ZLH will soon be doing those obligatory movies with plots involving the battles of the Chinese military. And NO WOMEN ALLOWED!