Nepeta 22

The problem is I guess difficult to steer away from the political backdrop. It's too over-bearing that anything else seems almost inappropriate? For me, I want to see stuff "not too" related to all the politics in that era.

I do recommend Detective L, which I was hoping would have a second season by now. There you'll get the sublime to the ridiculous on mystery solving.

Yes, and my earlier comments were about being given the chance through BL (I can see a sensitive subject and seen as some kind of negativity) and then able to be recognised for his work. I get fans will tell me he was super talented already, it was only a matter of time and I don't doubt that, which is why I said an element of luck can propel an actor outside the fan circle.

Zhu Yilong had main roles and taking roles after roles until the low budget Guardian became a success due to the BL adaptation. He was not recognised before that. but after that, he was in demand. But GJ, as seen, the doors also opened, but he has struggled to be recognised for his acting, but still the works come, and that's because his looks is keeping him there for the time being.

It's all fine. Reservations are just another marketing ploy to measure and let others know how interested people are in the drama. There's a chart for everything, especially in China. Once the drama starts, then the next layer of assessment will begin.

There is no attempt on anything. I will watch it because I am intrigued by what this drama can come with on more court intrigue as there seems to be a big demand for this type of content in China.

By saying he has been lucky and he's using this to showcase what talent he has is dragging him down?

Hey, I'm not trying to do anything? I think you have me mixed up with someone else. I am saying, there are a lot of talented actors/actresses in China waiting for their big break and very often it doesn't happen and as someone else said, there is an element of luck. That does not mean XZ got there just for his looks and a bit of acting and BL fans that like to pigeon-hole him.

He was lucky and good for him. And I can see he is utilising the moment to keep his head down and showcase his talents.

I get your point. I am not specifically talking about this drama when I said hits the top spot for first 4 days and then drops afterwards, but just stating a trend I see often nowadays. I too hope the drama lives up to the promotions.

I don't agree on that analysis. Without treading on anyone's toes, there are plenty of talented actors, new and established ones in China, and they do get work, but not with huge fandoms. Those that do are clearly having something else in their armour, and that's above average looks. That extra armour and fandoms that tend to fall in love with the character at first, rather than the actual actor as an individual. This is why you see numerous fans beg that the actor plays another similar role, so they can continue with their fetishisation.

Gong Jun is another example of someone that got instant fame from WOH, and he was offered numerous roles and brand deals and he's still coasting on that even though his acting is very questionable even in WOH. I can see XZ is not resting on his laurels, he's clearly working hard on his image to ensure he's a good role model and choosing his roles wisely. The rest is the passerby audience and of course the industry to decide on his acting.

Yes, I know that reservations are an indicator and my point was it's more of a bragging right. I mentioned Escape from the Trilateral Steps as an example of no big mention of reservations but the drama gained more popularity due to natural word-by-mouth rather than big fan-fare and reservations. I also joined this comment to point out much of this talk is anticipation rather than real drama analysis, plot and acting.

There seems to be more fixation with reservations nowadays. It's a new form of bragging rights. I think the key bit is sustainable watching audiences throughout the drama which should be more important. I have seen many times, the drama peaks in its first 4 days and then drops drastically by the 5th day. I heard Escape from the Trilateral Steps had none of the reservations let alone decent promotion.

I think you misunderstand Kawaine's comments. Young audience is the key part. They try to control the narrative through social media and are key drivers doing data. There is the passerby, if that is what you meant like how The Knock Out became a hit through word-by-mouth.

You are right, CP is not key to success, but there is an element of snobbishness of the "Beijing set" rubber stamping its approval Vs passerbys which will have lasting impact in people's memories.

To me, it's quite obvious since XZ & WYB are of that generation of actors who made their name though a BL drama. There's this unspoken breaking of shackles that comes with that. Both want and have shown they want to be more than just some BL temporary success. This is a good move since during that time, it seems for any star, doing a BL, it guarantees you instant success regardless of plotline or acting skill. Luckily, they can look over and see Zhu Yilong & Bau Yu have used their sudden success and able to be recognised for their acting thereafter.

If this will go the route of history, I hope that Wei DaXun is not going to play the character that ends him! Otherwise that would be just as dramatic as real history.

OK, thanks for that, but no English Subs. I'll just have to wait then.

Edit, it's here now, I just checked Iqiyi again. Thanks, all fine!

Can I ask if you know, how many episodes are supposed to be released because on IQiyi for me, it's just saying coming soon with six trailers but no episodes. I'm in Europe.

Latest melon: MFL - Liu Yi Fei.

First melons: Lin Yun & Zhang Kangle.

No wrong assumptions, she was very lucky to be chosen to be on MJTY and it's really uplifted her and brought her to the wider audience. She is part of the same agency as ZLH so it might be the agency has clout and managed to get her on there too. Either way, it's one of her better productions.

Sometimes, the first main lead roles they take on can be smaller productions, and that can also mean not very good direction & dodgy plotlines. It's actually quite hard to get onto decent productions, even for some established actors!

I haven't started on this drama, and to be honest, the comments and storyline is putting me off. I have seen her in Romance in the Alley, Parallel World & Blossom in Adversity. The latter was one of her better performances but all are quite similar roles. Playing meek, shy and confused. This may suit her temperament, and very similar to her role in My Journey to You, but in MJTY, the twist was, she had a wicked streak which I think made her character stand out because she's so sweet on the outside.

But truth is, she's playing that type of role in all her other dramas. I would like to see if she could play a more assertive & dominant role, that would be more challenging for her in my opinion. I feel she got lucky because her character was cool in MJTY, and sometimes, in show-biz you do require a bit of luck.

On MDL, they always put high support under main roles. I will say something controversial. Apart from Cheng Lei who probably showcased his range in My Journey to You, the director made sure the FL and SFL spoke extremely slow, keeping them still as possible. This is his way of creating mystery, but also avoiding them exposing their weak or high pitched voice. The audience fell in love with her character rather (sweet yet cold demeanor) than her as an actress. This happens a lot in c-dramaland.

I have seen her in numerous roles and she seems average to me. Not bad, but just about adequate. Some of her fans are in love with her character in that drama and they have that filter on her.

In My Journey to You she was not classed as main role, just like Cheng Lei. In fact GJM put in a lot of relatively new-comers in the main cast. Apart from ZLH and ER, the rest were relatively unknown at the time. Their roles there made them an overnight success.

This actress was at that time doing support roles. Nobody noticed her much in Parallel World which was effectively airing similar time to My Journey to You. Her agency has not changed. These are some of her earliest main roles and it's quite normal to see that they are not often high production ones.

This is MDL. The ratings are always ropey and not reliable. Many on here tend to prefer court intrigue or costume romance like Xianxias instead of stuff like this. Also, I suspect many would not be rating until it's all aired.