once a power house for Asia .... Hong Kong tv industry has been absolutely decimated by Korean Kramas and Chinese…
I myself am not that knowledgeable about this but from my viewpoint. It for me was stagnant from 2010 onwards. This is just my very personal opinion so I am not trying to misguide anyone. If I am wrong, I hope there are people out there who can correct me.
TLDR: Slave contract, low pay, no creativity, lack of budget, no accessible content, content is not made for international audiences ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- I have no idea if there was any political or big wig people handling this but I will start with what I know.
There were quite a few labels but only TVB were the monopoly.
We can start off with a lot of the OG TVB actors in many of their interviews expressing how much they endured with the slave contracts, low pay, back to back filming, no opinion on their projects and harsh filming conditions etc.
Many of their directors too also said they could get more money in mainland productions compared to HK in which many great script writers and directors left. And for the many actors or actresses who finished their contract decided to not renew and also tried to venture into mainland as well (since the pay was a lot better whether the role was good or not) but obv the success was not imminent at all which only Charmaine Sheh gained success. Other famous stars such as Cheung Chi lam and his wife Anita Yuen have now focused on starring on variety/reality shows in mainland and are also in music shows as well.
And for sure many of the successful HK stars were brought up from their initial jobs which were modelling and singing or other contests and the dramas they have starred in was for them to gain popularity (or rather expand their career).
Another factor is BUDGET, seems like there is no plan for this at all. Nowadays you see so many of the filming sites the same or seemingly fake. Many costumes are not aesthetically pleasing and overused as they recycle it but THIS NEEDS CREATIVITY. It is also the same for scriptwriting. Many of the supporting roles from 10-15 years ago now became main leads because all of the great A list actors have left. Some of the supporting who are now main leads are okay but they don't carry the charisma and adding onto the horrible scripts there is nothing outstanding for anyone to watch. HK content is more for family content as in day to day, nothing extraordinary but once in a while maybe a drama will reach success.
Drama after drama are just repetitive themes and dialogues put in more mundane or exaggerated ways.
The newer generation of actors and actresses does not appeal to me and their acting is just average.
But the biggest reason for you to not see any news on HK entertainment on this page is because it seems like HK content is even more closed off than Japan. They don't wish to engage with us outside. They have uploaded so many of their old classics on YouTube whether with mandarin or cantonese voicing, just no Eng. It is not for us international audiences. Absolutely no translatable content and most of the time you will get banned or copyrighted if you try to quote from its contents. If you are lucky enough, you will find their dramas dubbed or subbed in other SEA countries.
My view on Chi Pan is that despite his appearance of being an idiot, rascal, he is actually a good person and…
But then I don't get why he had to hide the fact about how much of a bad guy the creepy Shen is from yinniang since he can't do anything to paner but it's sad for yinniang. But I feel like even if they told her she's still gonna elope with him like her ex husband and think they all pitted against her from getting the good things.
Sorry, seems like I answered my own question lol XD But thank you for sharing your take on Chi Pan. I know he's not good with words but I guess he just tries to show his care too literally and people may take his bluntness as not caring in depth.
As much as other CPs are talked about. I kinda feel sorry for Hao Hao. She may appear to proud and satisfied with her current standing/glamour and obv wishes for more. I know she can stand on her own even if she uses Chi Pan's money. And when we saw she is quite envious of Yinniang's highlight, she is not a bad person overall OKAY MAYBE THE HIDING ABOUT THE SHEN GUY since Chi Pan threatened (not so much) her.
Even if Chi Pan serves as the idiotic comic relief (wasn't for me), he really is the troublemaker of making something out of nothing. So I feel like he is the one who needs the wake up call together with Yinniang. Actually it makes me feel like these two are a bit similar with one sheltered from his title and other is sheltered from her bonded sisters.
I'm not sure if I'm the only one who feels this way, but the story is too confusing and hard to follow. It's been…
What are you confused about? Maybe we can help you. I mean skipping the second season to try the third one is a big factor to why you still won't understand what is happening. Personally, I found things pretty straight forward.
I am starting to understand why people are complaining about the cringe. In comparison to the original from exactly 20 years ago you can tell the contrasting quality and it's embarrassing. Seems like this show is trying to be something they are not. Despite our so called current times, how are the characters and writing so outdated?
Starting off we have already encountered an uncalled for 'drama' like every other set up to introduce the leads. And it's always about unreasonable disruptions or quarrels that is a reason for our leads to meet one another and the FML is strong enough to pull back a rampaging horse on a heavy carriage? If the ML's subordinates who are trained in martial arts and military training for years are not even quick witted or caught up like this, how is this random girl gonna do that? OMG and how is everything fine that when the FML checks up on the ML to see if he is ok the horse decided to jump one last time so she can fall inside the carriage to 'accidentally' kiss the ML. I am shook! Too many tropes already.
Plus, why does every costume drama setting, well... almost have to tie in with politics or being part of something connected to the nobles...Well budget wise for filming I guess it is easier but it's boring.
I actually miss those young, noble, aristocratic, or well educated girls who knows how to act in their time period. Now it just looks like you got the title but you body isn't it.
The original drama actually has 3 cps and the third cp has a princess so I can actually compare her to this drama's I guess 2nd FML princess? They are both unrestrained but the OG knows how to act elegant.
I know this is an idol drama and you guys don't mind because it's an 'idol drama' for 'visual actors' and yea they need these tropes to pull in stereotypical audiences for the money.
I am not specifically hating on this drama because I watched the original first but it's appalling to use such stereotypical characters in almost every drama in which I am talking about the stoic/cold/indifferent male lead or later he acts like some scoundrel. I know, some of you might want to defend because of his family. I understand! The FML is not any better with her family circumstances.
Mind you let me talk about the OG, ofc this drama is not meant for those two to be the same just similar plot in different context and settings.
Despite the OG's ML going through tragic family circumstances, he feigned illness as a way to protect himself and his family. His marriage was arranged with this well educated girl (I think merchant family) from another region and due to xxx the brides were swapped and he met upon a different girl who was willingly to take place of the other girl.
The first CP only met when the wedding took place so the ML only got to interact with the FML in the bed chamber. Even though he feigned sickness at first he immediately went 180 and went back to his normal self in front of his new bride and she was indeed shocked too. Although he acted like as if he is a hooligan in a cheeky way, he was such a 'gentleman' throughout the entire series and never harassed the FML or treated her wrong in any way.
That wedding night, the couples played games together and in the end they both fought one other to sleep on the table so the other could sleep on the bed. Furthermore, the next morning he even requested those long chair beds to be put in his room with an excuse of using it in context with his low health so that the FML can sleep on the bed. He knew that he has already married her so he was willing to be open but ofc he respected her and never forced anything intimate upon her until there is consent. He never looked down on the girl!!! WE NEED GENTLEMENS MORE! Plus, he always tried his best to protect the FML from his family. The other males leads of the 2nd and 3rd CP are good as well.
The FML who took the other bride's place is from a martial arts family, she knows martial arts but also has her girly side. Even though she lacks some etiquette, she is willing to try her best to act her part as an educated young lady but in time she kept exposing herself to the ML who kept testing and teasing her. The FML may be naïve in some areas but she has the original bride's maid to help, guide and keep her in check.
Mind you the OG only had 20 episodes to create stories for 3 cps (Lowkey there is 4th and 5th cp but yea lol) along with 2% of politics. If I had to add, many of you also said the story is so similar to mentioned dramas, I might as well add this is so very similar to Tang Yan and Wallace Huo's 'Perfect Marriage' (2014).
This is just my opinion, not trying to stop people from watching the drama. I just wanted to share my thoughts and a little rant as to why we can't get fresh characters.
I'm caught up with the drama, but one thing that I can't figure out. Why is the emporer have an obsession with…
I'm not sure either. Like I rmb in Minglan, the Emperor had a garden or crop row within his quarters and literally just planted whilst talking about official matters.
Then I vague remember in the Princess Rebel where the court room floor had the entire layout of the map from region to region like a war map.
All are talking about how perfect this drama, but why I'm stuck in ep.3-4?... can not move on...
Edit: The most important thing here is that logic works! I am not sure what you are looking for in this drama but I think 4 eps is long enough to determine what you should expect. But for other people they usually stick around for 10 eps in c-drama I think.
This is based on preference and standards tbh. The main genre for this drama is investigation/mystery, romance is more of a subplot with little doses of how people of different upbringing communicate which makes it cute for me especially between the main leads. I'd rather watch natural slow burn love than dumb dramatic encounters in which for no reason they just like each other???
It's not dramatic and filled with tropes for fan service. Every single character has enough screen time for us to understand their intentions in which the pacing is good enough to provide insight for both the characters and viewers to connect the dots to each case that leads to an even bigger mystery.
The casting are all unknown people so basically rookies. Acting is definitely not bad just some parts are a bit questionable. However, it's good enough to carry the show for such a low budget drama. (p.s I love the eunuch, really on point)
- You don't have to face those spoilt self centred main characters who run away from home or jump over a wall to seek for adventure due to the fact that they are bored.
- You won't witness a ridiculous encounter between the leads that urgh shows nonsensical bickering in which they just fight and get angry at each other at every turn.
- A poor girl finally dressing and acting as a poor girl!!! She is naïve due to her environment of upbringing but is hardworking and knowledgeable as a coroner. The girl is not arrogant or conceited about her skills as she is independent enough to voice her ideas and teach others.
- A high status ML that is not obnoxious, cold and looking down on others. He is humble, level headed and very understanding towards people of any status. He focuses on talent and appreciates the MC for who she is and what she does!
- Supporting and side characters actually do their job and do not waste our time with small talks or acting dumb. They are not one dimensional!!!
This is a really interesting mini series for the first 7 episodes then you get slapped with the plot twist. I am a bit disturbed, I mean after going through all that I am just weirded out for now...
This is a really interesting mini series for the first 7 episodes then you get slapped with the plot twist. I am a bit disturbed, I mean after going through all that I am just weirded out for now...
i guess will continue with their kid? O_O since his the new host
Honestly I kind of lost hope with S3, seems like another reboot? Based from bts footage it's like another start over. I thoroughly enjoyed S1 but S2 was ok, worst thing was they threw the MC's IQ in the trash to create that rom-com scenario and boost and use the hype of the ML's popularity . And they kinda trashed the plot a bit here so I have no idea if S3 will redeem the plotline anymore. I'm not even interested in their child's story omg. But if you realise the general in this drama is the demon king in S1 so hopefully I want some kind of plot twist to it. My patience is dying from how the MC and ML gets together again lol.
So It's happy ending? Then I will try to find this drama with English Sub
You won't be 100% satisfied but it's those very typical endings like how somebody wants to let you taste some honey but you didn't even get to enjoy it yet and it's gone.
Characters written for time travel are mostly immature and dumb. Especially for modern people, I think they try to do it for comedy but it sucks lol. Initially, I thought Cinderella Chef would turn out well till they tried to modernise a lot of things in the historical era. Like most of the time the time travelers don't take everything seriously. Not like they have to be super serious but at least know their situation.
TLDR:
Slave contract, low pay, no creativity, lack of budget, no accessible content, content is not made for international audiences
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
I have no idea if there was any political or big wig people handling this but I will start with what I know.
There were quite a few labels but only TVB were the monopoly.
We can start off with a lot of the OG TVB actors in many of their interviews expressing how much they endured with the slave contracts, low pay, back to back filming, no opinion on their projects and harsh filming conditions etc.
Many of their directors too also said they could get more money in mainland productions compared to HK in which many great script writers and directors left. And for the many actors or actresses who finished their contract decided to not renew and also tried to venture into mainland as well (since the pay was a lot better whether the role was good or not) but obv the success was not imminent at all which only Charmaine Sheh gained success. Other famous stars such as Cheung Chi lam and his wife Anita Yuen have now focused on starring on variety/reality shows in mainland and are also in music shows as well.
And for sure many of the successful HK stars were brought up from their initial jobs which were modelling and singing or other contests and the dramas they have starred in was for them to gain popularity (or rather expand their career).
Another factor is BUDGET, seems like there is no plan for this at all. Nowadays you see so many of the filming sites the same or seemingly fake. Many costumes are not aesthetically pleasing and overused as they recycle it but THIS NEEDS CREATIVITY. It is also the same for scriptwriting. Many of the supporting roles from 10-15 years ago now became main leads because all of the great A list actors have left. Some of the supporting who are now main leads are okay but they don't carry the charisma and adding onto the horrible scripts there is nothing outstanding for anyone to watch. HK content is more for family content as in day to day, nothing extraordinary but once in a while maybe a drama will reach success.
Drama after drama are just repetitive themes and dialogues put in more mundane or exaggerated ways.
The newer generation of actors and actresses does not appeal to me and their acting is just average.
But the biggest reason for you to not see any news on HK entertainment on this page is because it seems like HK content is even more closed off than Japan. They don't wish to engage with us outside. They have uploaded so many of their old classics on YouTube whether with mandarin or cantonese voicing, just no Eng. It is not for us international audiences. Absolutely no translatable content and most of the time you will get banned or copyrighted if you try to quote from its contents. If you are lucky enough, you will find their dramas dubbed or subbed in other SEA countries.
Sorry, seems like I answered my own question lol XD But thank you for sharing your take on Chi Pan. I know he's not good with words but I guess he just tries to show his care too literally and people may take his bluntness as not caring in depth.
Even if Chi Pan serves as the idiotic comic relief (wasn't for me), he really is the troublemaker of making something out of nothing. So I feel like he is the one who needs the wake up call together with Yinniang. Actually it makes me feel like these two are a bit similar with one sheltered from his title and other is sheltered from her bonded sisters.
Starting off we have already encountered an uncalled for 'drama' like every other set up to introduce the leads. And it's always about unreasonable disruptions or quarrels that is a reason for our leads to meet one another and the FML is strong enough to pull back a rampaging horse on a heavy carriage? If the ML's subordinates who are trained in martial arts and military training for years are not even quick witted or caught up like this, how is this random girl gonna do that? OMG and how is everything fine that when the FML checks up on the ML to see if he is ok the horse decided to jump one last time so she can fall inside the carriage to 'accidentally' kiss the ML. I am shook! Too many tropes already.
Plus, why does every costume drama setting, well... almost have to tie in with politics or being part of something connected to the nobles...Well budget wise for filming I guess it is easier but it's boring.
I actually miss those young, noble, aristocratic, or well educated girls who knows how to act in their time period. Now it just looks like you got the title but you body isn't it.
The original drama actually has 3 cps and the third cp has a princess so I can actually compare her to this drama's I guess 2nd FML princess? They are both unrestrained but the OG knows how to act elegant.
I know this is an idol drama and you guys don't mind because it's an 'idol drama' for 'visual actors' and yea they need these tropes to pull in stereotypical audiences for the money.
I am not specifically hating on this drama because I watched the original first but it's appalling to use such stereotypical characters in almost every drama in which I am talking about the stoic/cold/indifferent male lead or later he acts like some scoundrel. I know, some of you might want to defend because of his family. I understand! The FML is not any better with her family circumstances.
Mind you let me talk about the OG, ofc this drama is not meant for those two to be the same just similar plot in different context and settings.
Despite the OG's ML going through tragic family circumstances, he feigned illness as a way to protect himself and his family. His marriage was arranged with this well educated girl (I think merchant family) from another region and due to xxx the brides were swapped and he met upon a different girl who was willingly to take place of the other girl.
The first CP only met when the wedding took place so the ML only got to interact with the FML in the bed chamber. Even though he feigned sickness at first he immediately went 180 and went back to his normal self in front of his new bride and she was indeed shocked too. Although he acted like as if he is a hooligan in a cheeky way, he was such a 'gentleman' throughout the entire series and never harassed the FML or treated her wrong in any way.
That wedding night, the couples played games together and in the end they both fought one other to sleep on the table so the other could sleep on the bed. Furthermore, the next morning he even requested those long chair beds to be put in his room with an excuse of using it in context with his low health so that the FML can sleep on the bed. He knew that he has already married her so he was willing to be open but ofc he respected her and never forced anything intimate upon her until there is consent. He never looked down on the girl!!! WE NEED GENTLEMENS MORE! Plus, he always tried his best to protect the FML from his family. The other males leads of the 2nd and 3rd CP are good as well.
The FML who took the other bride's place is from a martial arts family, she knows martial arts but also has her girly side. Even though she lacks some etiquette, she is willing to try her best to act her part as an educated young lady but in time she kept exposing herself to the ML who kept testing and teasing her. The FML may be naïve in some areas but she has the original bride's maid to help, guide and keep her in check.
Mind you the OG only had 20 episodes to create stories for 3 cps (Lowkey there is 4th and 5th cp but yea lol) along with 2% of politics. If I had to add, many of you also said the story is so similar to mentioned dramas, I might as well add this is so very similar to Tang Yan and Wallace Huo's 'Perfect Marriage' (2014).
This is just my opinion, not trying to stop people from watching the drama. I just wanted to share my thoughts and a little rant as to why we can't get fresh characters.
Then I vague remember in the Princess Rebel where the court room floor had the entire layout of the map from region to region like a war map.
I am not sure what you are looking for in this drama but I think 4 eps is long enough to determine what you should expect. But for other people they usually stick around for 10 eps in c-drama I think.
This is based on preference and standards tbh. The main genre for this drama is investigation/mystery, romance is more of a subplot with little doses of how people of different upbringing communicate which makes it cute for me especially between the main leads. I'd rather watch natural slow burn love than dumb dramatic encounters in which for no reason they just like each other???
It's not dramatic and filled with tropes for fan service. Every single character has enough screen time for us to understand their intentions in which the pacing is good enough to provide insight for both the characters and viewers to connect the dots to each case that leads to an even bigger mystery.
The casting are all unknown people so basically rookies. Acting is definitely not bad just some parts are a bit questionable. However, it's good enough to carry the show for such a low budget drama. (p.s I love the eunuch, really on point)
- You don't have to face those spoilt self centred main characters who run away from home or jump over a wall to seek for adventure due to the fact that they are bored.
- You won't witness a ridiculous encounter between the leads that urgh shows nonsensical bickering in which they just fight and get angry at each other at every turn.
- A poor girl finally dressing and acting as a poor girl!!! She is naïve due to her environment of upbringing but is hardworking and knowledgeable as a coroner. The girl is not arrogant or conceited about her skills as she is independent enough to voice her ideas and teach others.
- A high status ML that is not obnoxious, cold and looking down on others. He is humble, level headed and very understanding towards people of any status. He focuses on talent and appreciates the MC for who she is and what she does!
- Supporting and side characters actually do their job and do not waste our time with small talks or acting dumb. They are not one dimensional!!!
At least we get a 1 second snippet XD