BellaGoth

No offense but Avenuex will not change my mind lmao. She has had some ridiculous opinions such as not being able to ship the Winter Begonia leads because of age, multiple critical comments about dramas I have enjoyed and many especially ageist comments (her commentary on Rebel Princess) so no, I don't consider her to be an authority on drama/film review. I have mostly skimmed through Douban boards to see if people have said the same thing and they have. You'll notice the writer and the director battling the exact same questions about the inadequacy in writing ZZS' character in every single interview. In any case, my opinion is personal, I really dislike how they're treating his character and how their relationship has become this uncomfortable brotherly bond. You may enjoy it when you start watching the episodes but I do not. I find their relationship especially from ZZS' side extremely weird. I have said this before but less skinship or flirtation is better than this rapid shift in characterization and relationship dynamics.

While this drama imo has plenty of fillers and draggy/boring parts, the CP is cute and their relationship is being developed nicely so I enjoy their scenes.

It's unfortunate how this CP has completely lost the flirtatious, the fun edge and pretty much seem like brothers now. I doubt it happened because of c*nsorship, they wouldn't have gotten away with many other things if that was the case. The writer's decision to introduce the childhood trope, the incessant Shidi chant and ZZS' terrible characterization have all contributed to this. It's pretty much a WKX redemption story with ZZS serving as the protective mom/older brother figure now. If only they wrote ZZS as an individual character as he exists in the book and didn't force this Shidi connection, this drama would have actually lived up to its great first ten episodes.

Same lmao I hate it. I could have lived with less flirtation than whatever this has turned out to be. I absolutely cannot see their dynamics as romantic anymore. It just makes me think that ZZS sees him as a little brother. I remember being surprised by one of Gong Jun's iv where he said WKX considers ZZS to be a beloved elder brother figure, now it all makes sense. They have some intimate moments in episode 24 but I'm instantly weirded out when ZZS calls him shidi. If this is how they passed censorship, by ruining the essence of Wenzhou then I'd rather they kept the flirting to minimal and simply showed them as strangers forming a connection. Anyway, you aren't alone, your feelings are echoed by many people on Douban forums as well.

Episode 20

Watched the newest episodes and I have to say that I am disappointed by this Shidi twist. I was aware that they'd show them as long-lost childhood friends but this junior brother twist really undermines their entire dynamics so far imo. The flirtations, the innuendos, the subtle glances have all been reduced to a cute platonic bond between shixiong-shidi. I can now predict how things are gonna unfold, WKX will accept him as his senior, and ZZS will bring him back to the right path blah blah. Could he not have done that as a friend? I could've easily lived with less touching and innuendos, instead of Wenzhou being turned into a literal brotherhood.

Another issue is the writer's treatment of ZZS as an individual character. I have seen many similar complaints from Cnetz and I agree with most of it. I really liked ZZS in the novel, I understand that it's difficult to portray such an emotionally repressed character but it's like they aren't even trying. Everything about ZZS's individual struggle must be connected to WKX and how he reacts to it. He has turned into your standard Cdrama heroine serving as the rehabilitation centre for the ML. He is not a fully-realized, complex character that exists in the novel, it's hard to relate to him.

I am really fond of his character tbh. He is emotionally repressed, guilt-ridden and tortured. It's hard to verbalize his brand of internalized grief and trauma. He was my favorite character in the book, he is in the drama too. ZZH, imo, can be inconsistent at times, he underplays a bit I feel but when he's good, he's quite good.

Enjoyed the 5th episode. Plenty of things happened and finally felt invested in the overarching plot. ZZH and Gong Jun though, their chemistry drives this drama. Was mildly mesmerized by the one sequence that begins with ZZS pulling away from WKX's touch and ends with both of them questioning each other's true identity.

Literally. CQL fans are already all over Chinese social media trying to get this pulled and people are just adding to it. Those pathetic losers basically won't let any other Danmei adaptation air peacefully. Those fans have done it once, they'll do it again. They're so threatened by every rising actor and popular drama. Terrified that people will realize other actors can do just as well or better and other dramas can be huge hits.

When will obsessive CQL fans leave other Danmei adaptations alone? Can't enjoy a single adaptation without that lot ruining the experience. Almost two years of them ruining Zhenhun comment sections and now they're trying the same with every new Danmei LA. Just loop CQL forever and let other dramas be already.
I get that people haven't explored many "bromance" dramas beyond CQL, so it's understandable that they try to figure out some connection between dramas. However, so many of them insist on putting down other dramas to prove the superiority of CQL and turn every comment section into annoying CQL discourse. CQL has zero relevance here, how do people not have the minimum respect for the author, actors and team of other dramas? Criticism should always be accepted and encouraged but not when every argument turns into some ridiculous comparative debate about dramas that have zero to do with each other.

https://www.novelupdates.com/series/faraway-wanderers/
Here, the translation isn't finished though.

The title of the drama originates from the vol 2 of the Taiwanese print of the novel, it also refers to an object in chapter 17 of the novel. Re. Posters, Most Cdrama posters are similar to each other. Going by this logic, CQL copied the so called gay pining pose from Zhenhun posters then?

Really liked the first two episodes. I love a good found family trope so I think I am gonna continue enjoying it. Apart from that, the fight scenes are mostly well-choreographed, characters are likable and the degree of faithfulness to the source material is high. It has the feel of classic wuxias that I have missed watching.
Re. the BL aspect, I have to add it's not particularly subtle? I was told that it's a subtle bromance but it's pretty obvious that WKX is interested in ZZS. Or it was to me at least. No adult man is chasing after another adult man like that after one encounter. Regardless, I like this drama with or without hints of BL.

In terms of acting and characterization, I am surprisingly more fascinated by ZZH'S ZZS. Probably not surprising since I liked him in the book too. WKX livens up the atmosphere but ZZS is the one I am intrigued by. All the characters are nice actually. This drama set the bar high for Danmei 101.

Interesting, so are you saying they don't have romantic tension? I could feel the romantic tension in CQL and more recently in The Yin Yang Master and Hikaru no go. I am wondering which category it falls under.

Saw the clips going around on twitter and I have changed my mind, Gong Jun was an inspired casting choice lmao. It really helps that the role mainly requires him to be charming and flirtatious, he is good at that. ZZH and him seem to have a spark too.
Now if only Youku would be less annoying and let us watch sooner.

Well it's subjective view I guess. In any case, his role isn't extremely demanding, he should be able to pull it off just fine. He just needs to be pretty and flirty, he is ideal for that.

Yeah I have faith in ZZH, he's gonna deliver. His character is more complex too.

I meant just showing them side by side for a couple of scenes. A League of Nobleman managed that just fine. Either way, we'll see how it goes.

Yeah his acting is a bit questionable.

The trailer makes it look like a mid-budget wuxia, not necessarily a bad thing but wish it would've put more emphasis on the cp and was edited better. Liked the fighting scenes.
Minus point: Gong Jun's evil laughter is terrible.