Nepeta 22

Hey, when I first watched C-Dramas, I was also taken aback with this set up. Someone told me, in China it's guilty until proven innocent. I guess quite the opposite of how other countries may operate. After thinking this all through, although it looks quite scary, but as a whole, it might be for their safety and the police safety too.

Thanks for pointing them out. I have read some of your comments on this forum and they certainly help to gain more from the drama.

I understand. However, I recommend something light and easy. Les Belles is light, fun, set in beautiful surroundings, lovely costumes, and full of eye candy... Great comedy with a strong female lead. I think under appreciated.

I don't think so. But then I don't understand Mandarin. The only bits that might mean more to Chinese speakers are scenes of FL's parents, their behaviours may resonate with those from east Asian backgrounds, like putting on a front for guests, dressing up for what they think are big reveals. The dream with the Legend of White Snake with the hammy classic tunes, but apart from that and some plugging of Lost You Forever for those in the know, I think general humour works for everyone.

Once again, it looks like it's come out of Yu Zheng's home made collection. Seen all before. The colours are not with what natural dyes of the time would use. The blues are too bright for its time, the patterns are garish and big, the cuts are all heavy swamping material that looks like if you run or rub too hard, a fire will ignite. Even when he stuck pearls on the actresses' faces in The Double, they had to be the biggest ones. Yu Zheng productions doesn't do subtle very well.

But it would not make sense. If they are hating on Yu Zheng, then why was The Double a success? Perfect Match did extremely well too. BTW, their first and foremost, is success in China. The international audiences are just not that important because the domestic audiences always dwarf international figures.

Yu Zheng knows how to whip up discussion, and nothing better than creating drama and discussion outside of his dramas. Billing announcements are obviously deliberate. As if they'd let out 2 announcements one after the other by mistake. Just like how someone just leaked an alternative ending on The Double. The eye roll is for the cynics on Yu Zheng. He also full well knows, the hype he creates will amass a load of hate watchers.

Just give up, I gave up the same time as you. It's just propped up by fandom here. The drama is low brow and has hardly anything interesting. The characters are stock and all honesty, just put together because of the success of Blood of Youth. The ages don't match for a pre-quel and the actors are quite lightweight. HMH's character is one dimensional and too green flag to be interesting. Direction is too conventional and made like it's aimed for children. If you are expecting amazing fight scenes, forget that. It's just a bunch of men swishing sticks and palms with masses of dodgy CGI glow sticks.

Perhaps, it could pave the way for Filter 2 when she appears again and unleashes the bangle once again on another unsuspecting person??

It depends on individuals. If you like stuff like The Bond, then this will be something you'll like. I loved this drama. It's one of the funniest yet also the most moving dramas around. I cried and laughed throughout. It's about 2 generations' love through time and you will get mad, you will push for some couples so it's down to what you like, but it's so detailed.

The conversations between neighbours, the gossiping, the bickering and this is against the backdrop of change in China and the music is moving and uplifting. For me, it's the best drama of the whole of 2024.

Yes, there was a lot of complaints about the translation. I managed to see it from Youtube, and although there were a few classic mistakes like using literal descriptions on names on 2 characters, I was fine with it. It is a shame that Mango TV was not helping with the subtitle issues.

😍

Yes, all ratings can be questionable and it's best to watch a few episodes to see or watch trailers. Word by mouth is also another one. Costume dramas can be voted a bit higher through a rose tint. I regard it as unique content for the international audience compared with the Chinese audience. Of all the east Asian countries, the Chinese historic dramas/costume dramas bring to life all the grandness of the hair styling, clothing and fight scenes along with all the 'in-the-know' rules that goes with that.

Yes, that's why they're called 'traffic' stars. The drama makers that insert one of these stars sort of know that is an instant borrowed fandom hit which will make them their money. It's sad that it's slowly going this way, because it can crowd out those that still want to make dramas for the love of a subject, story or showcase an issue with less money.

Regarding MDL, an example of this is so stark for me is Romance In The Alley. For me, one of the most extensively researched, nuanced and touching dramas seen. It's comedic, witty, smart, tragic & emotional all at the same time, but it's languishing at 1500 watchers and a rating that looks so mediocre. For me, it's one of the best dramas for the whole of 2024, and I watched a lot of dramas. It's a romance drama, but as you can see, no young traffic stars apart from Lu Yuxiao, Fan Chen Chen & Wang Anyu as support. No love on MDL. In China though, it topped the charts continuously.

Ha ha, you are correct. Someone I know sent me this pic of Tomie which I thought would look great as an avatar. But I confess, I'm not all that clued up with all Junji Ito's work but I love Tomie's character😉.

It's a common sight on MDL. This is due to the site slowly turning into a fandom site rather than a drama site. A large portion is now dominated by fervent fandoms that rate for their idol rather than the drama as a whole. The bar have shifted so much that an 8.1 rating is now not considered high. My view is, this score is quite realistic and is high. It's just we're used to fandoms rating excessively we come to think anything below 8.4 is not that good when it is.

You can tell that it would be a high-ish rate already. I had a look at Douban a day ago and you can see the individual ratings on the pages already, and that normally gives you an idea (roughly).

MDL is only a portion of the international viewers. MDL is more like a fan site and it's dominated by fandoms rather than drama watchers. A large portion are here doing data too like how you see that is happening in China. You can see this in how those that comment on forums do not actually watch the dramas independently first and foremost, rather spend more time defending excessively. That means a drama rating cannot always be respected as independent and credible. This is not all dramas of course, but mainly in dramas with the latest good looking idol stars.

Yes, which explains how some view things slightly different to others. But the main message is clear, they will learn from each other. He will probably build up her confidence and she will make him see her world where she has had to deal with prejudices but most importantly, still have a kind heart and have time for others.

That's the point. Both react the way they do because of their past experiences which is so real in their own heads. He's cold/abrupt with her because he's actually a bit scared of her. You could say, he low-key abused his position because socially with the work environment, he had the upper hand, and that is not nice. For the FL, she did well to swerve difficult situations but you can see, her personality has been built around people like that all her life. This has obviously pushed her confidence down to the level she would like to stick two fingers up at those in a subtle way.

Totally agree. They both balance each other out which is why I mentioned previously how some posters on the forum are caught up in this classic ML or FL halo of being whiter than white. We need to open our minds and not think just black and white.

Then there is this emphasis of putting more onus on the FL rather than the ML's flaws keeps creeping up and I think some are watching dramas in singular form and not weaving the character into the wider picture in terms of context, surroundings and the given situation. I would like to ask those, why they overlook the ML's behaviour in the early episodes. It's as if they're not as heinous as FL deceiving him (in context of not wanting to be found out). The eye-sight issue was something that came from that, but it's not as if the FL didn't try to help him either, but again, that's ignored. Obviously, character consistency is important, and I think the manner in how the ML takes in the information and reacts and how he then tries to step back a bit to re-evaluate what's happens to me makes sense.

The good news is the people he cherished are not dead, and he's now found out why they've come about, and most importantly, he's gain an extra insight into the FL's mind. The FL hid her inner low confidence well because she too had some pride, so it's become a norm to her. The idea that TQ could fall in love with her being her true self seems unrealistic based on their past encounters, but we must remember, even how we might not think he's outwardly rejecting her, in her mind she does, because she's not really learned to truly love herself for what she is, which is why she spent countless times to try and be demure and polite only to find out soon, it's her true behaviour he was actually drawn to.

I take it he was not into her at the beginning and had her down as a bully. She was practically invisible to him. Why? Because he didn't know her well enough and she was just another worker. He was also a hypocrite too saying he wanted an ordinary girl to represent their products, but then tracking down Su Miao at all costs the next minute. His get out clause later is to state he has poor EQ skills.

It's through the bracelet, we get to see him gradually change. I feel for the FL. She really had to endure a lot. I can see some label her as cruel. They must not be watching the drama carefully. The ML was cruel, but in an ignorant way.