Nepeta 22

The SML is so lovely. I hope he doesn't change in the later episodes.

It should come with a warning though. Don't eat or drink whilst watching! Almost every other scene is a killer. My sides was splitting so much, and I choked twice whilst drinking over the last week.

I just want to say, I love the wardrobe in this drama. The hair styling for FL & SFL are also great. I saw some comments earlier about FL turning up to her interview like some slacker. which is strange. I think it's well researched since in that industry, it's a liberal sector and anything goes.

It does not make sense for her type of character (doted on by both her parents to do what she pleases from young) to conform to conservative views on beauty, even though as she learns, in practice the real world is not exactly like how it should be.

Yes, on MDL anyway, the ratings are really just a fan thing. Not to be taken so seriously. Those that are above 8.5 to me are fandoms doing their work.

There are very few dramas that are genuinely that great to warrant an above 8.5, but some do deserve that without the help of a big star. This one is an example. Most of the time, smaller dramas with actors not so established can be sidelined, but scan the comments back to get an idea. I think it gives you a more honest critique.

Unfortunately nothing for the others. Although I felt FL's maid got on quite well with the ML's man servant who for me was one of the funniest actors around, I loved his interactions with the ML.

OK, I didn't know that the director re-edited due to demand. I know once dramas pass censorship, they can even edit out or swap scenes around, but obviously cannot insert more scenes.

Interesting. Maybe this drama has to handle all these things carefully because it's aimed at a younger audience and it's so serious and earnest? Certainly the many dramas I've watch on Cdramaland shows graphic scenes with some violence towards women, and I just finished Les Belles, and there was a lot of kissing scenes there. But that was a light hearted female empowerment comedy. Very strange.

No problem, I was curious because it just looks like a choice the drama makers made because the build up of sweetness and the FML's past experience, they perhaps felt the need to tread carefully in just this drama. I don't feel it's anything to do with censorship.

Do you mean, the production decided to do this themselves? Like some sort of self-censoring? I didn't mean the original comment in a nasty way, I am honestly curious, because I don't see this as censor as I have seen plenty of more graphic scenes and of course violent scenes in other C-Dramas. The one I listed is a 5 year old drama.

May I ask what type of censorship? In The Long Night, scenes showed a man humping a dead body and it was not hidden in any way.

Sadly the problematic fandoms are the ones you describe in the latter half of your comments. They bombard directors/scriptwriters into how and what to write so they get the "fan-service" they want, and of course put their fave in good light. That's where artistic control can be diluted if the production teams listen to them too much.

I feel there needs to be a line, otherwise they just keep crossing it and pushing further. From moaning about how marketing is done to how they edit promotional material, it's non stop harassment from some fan groups.

A portion as you say are not interested in the dramas at all, it's more about working on how to get high viewerships and doing data. it's sad this happens but I guess it is what it is. What I don't like are some fan groups tell others to write negative comments on other dramas' stars. Sometimes, within the drama their faves are on. That is just plain wrong.

In the end it's driven by competition in general, and as the industry grows, I think it will get worse. This is why we are seeing more and more stars making statements on Weibo every now and then to send a polite message to their own fans to "act responsibly, and within the law". At times, the fans can be a liability to the star. It's just a vicious circle.

I agree. Sometimes, I often wonder whether this is a form of sport. Like supporting a football team for instance. It certainly feels like a type of team building set up via online activities. It's fierce rivalry rather than friendly rivalry sometimes. Definitely, on a superficial level, bragging rights.

Fandoms in China are run like a smooth business. Group colours, nicknames and of course setting a management structure that can set rules and be thrown out of the group. Some larger fandoms have daily tasks and it's really run like military precision.

Perhaps this is what happens when you have strong social media presence, the bonding can lead to a lot of parasocial relationships. Financial aspects are more like a pyramid scheme, and you are right, some stars are encouraging fans to "buy" spend more money due to this. It's through these activities "official fan-clubs" are set up, so they get first dibs for fan meets and roadshows to promotions of dramas.

I would say it's very equal. But it is not immediate. It builds up bit by bit throughout the drama.

Agree and disagree a bit. China is vast and the volume is big. There is a system in place to weed out dodgy ratings with a lot of security measures in place and generally, it's well known that dramas aimed for younger audiences like rom-coms and idol style costume dramas are where silly actions happen (voting 1 or 10), but the passerbys tend to have a lower view of them, where as international viewers tend to see more of these idol led dramas, and the ratings are quite generous because it's unique content for them.

This is seen on MDL. Idol style costume dramas tend to have quite high ratings especially ones with bigger current stars and the ones that don't have romance as priority or crime dramas tend to be rated lower. That's not to say the latter is inferior, the voters tend to vote realistically rather than fan-voting (rating regardless of story/standards). An 8 or 7.5 rating is not all bad at all. The bar has shifted so much that some say anything below 8.3 is not good, but that's coming from fans clearly voting for their stars rather than the actual drama. This is where the issue comes from.

Absolutely agree, especially the last 2 sentences of your post. It's nice to see some dramas coming along with this type of message, especially coming off Les Belles, where amongst all the great comedy, the message running through is clear, like in this drama.

Think Arsenal Military Academy storyline with Bai Lu disguised as a male, the 2ML's interactions. Nothing deep, it's just a typical plot to show he fancies the pants of her regardless of any disguise but he doesn't know it. Nothing to do with gay...

You will get it. But lots of small mishaps and misunderstandings, but all very sweet.

It's comedy romance, so plenty of that. Not angsty and a good feel-good drama with a dose of strong female empowerment message running through. Beautiful locations, lovely costumes and hair, what more can you want. I loved it.

If you haven't watched her in Love of Nirvana, then I recommend that. She is one of the few actresses that can pull off characters that are idealistic and strong, but with a hint of innocence so well.

If you can stomach the days when old dramas lasted forever, I recommend Tribes & Empire Storm of Prophecy.