Nepeta 22

That type of comment is common in China because of their socialist backbone, but truth is, BJT like a growing number of "celebrities" like Wei Daxun have been coached on how to gain recognition in an over saturated industry. The key is through the reality TV circuit. Through that, the audiences get to see their personality shine.

Both have enjoyed their popularity through their real-life persona. This has helped them get wider recognition which obviously opens more doors for them all-round. This is a good way for MLs with more average looks to get into the mainstream drama world, and maybe not a bad thing. Many of their fandoms are about their natural persona in a real-life setting. They have good EQ skills and that's quite important in the Chinese entertainment industries.

Sometimes, I notice international audiences have less understanding of this and are not aware of the big fandom some of these actors have due to their variety show appearances. Also, most prominent agencies are dying to get their stars into these shows because they know how this can sometimes propel them from a mediocre actor to a sought-after actor.

It's taste, I didn't like both Guardians of the Defang and FoF due to the terrible humour. FoF has got to be one of the most strewn out excuse of a music video that had very little plot, zero sytery & loads of slow talk, music and endless crying that carried no feelings after you've seen 8 episodes of crying. It's basically fan service.

With that in mind, how can a drama expect good Douban ratings? It also has nothing to do with fandom wars as none of the actors command such acts. International fans simply like different things and that's fine too.

If you read my original comments on this forum then you will know my stance. This drama was ambitious in thinking they can squash both romance & trauma/abuse into one. It's a filler. a storyline for another romance drama. In short, it's not really a piece dedicated to awareness of such subject, but a "plot" to add for some friction to the relationship.

I have said previously, this should have stayed in the novel and never made out for a wider audience, because it will be exposed as problematic, done in a Disney-esk way it diminishes the true nature of real life victims. It has nothing to do with me wanting to see someone suffer and not get better nor part of a crime plot.

This simplistic love conquers all misses the mark, because it says that a portion of victims need a partner (knight in shining armour) to rescue and to put them right. That's just unrealistic and even putting the ML on some pedestal like he's some saviour. What is wrong with my opinion? Is that so offensive as an opinion? It's not laced in hate or bitterness. It's coming from a place where I care about these subjects and I also think it's typical of some posters trying to down-play this rating into some childish playground for some novel fans unhappy with the adaptation.

Douban is a harsh place, but think about it. Are you sure 80% of novel fans can sway the vote to such an extent? Why are some unable to admit - it has exposed this adaptation for what it is, a drama that tried too much and failed because they tried to cover up abuse cracks with an over simplified romantic setting and used as a plot to create friction. It's poor taste, especially when done badly like this.

BTW, I am not totally against romance and victim of sexual abuse/rape. But it has to be well thought out. Example I will be watching Zhang Bin Bin & Mao Xiao Tong's next drama that will tackle a similar subject. I notice how so few people flock for that one on the list. Be honest, most of those here are not here for the FL's plight, but here for just romance and possibly the FL/ML. Here, it might be the right message, but from the wrong messenger.

This is my last post on this drama since we are discussing another drama on this page, and it's not the place to discuss this. The posts I make are my take and what I got from the drama, just as you too also got another feel of it.

It's glamourising toxic behaviour and relationships. Tough love has a time and place (parenting), but in a romantic setting aimed for a younger audience, it's saying to women, it's OK to let a potential partner make fun of you, belittle you in front of your peers and also have someone mock you and your class because you are privileged. That's not funny or right.

And I agree with their views. In case others jump on and say C-Netz moan which ever way, it's true they do, but they can appreciate a drama that handles delicate matters like sexual harassment to rape as seen with Imperfect Victim and The Long Season. This drama is badly done and poorly researched.

I think your view is more narrow than that of the people you write about. C-netz are very capable of understanding these issues, or why else have Imperfect Victim won numerous awards and gain recognition? Why else did The Long Season get recognition and high douban ratings? They are also not as "closed" as you think. Did you not see them mock Barbie movie as fake female empowerment?

The ham fisted approach here shows how shallow the drama makers have gone, just to grab people's attention. That's a cheap way to get attention. Layering it on can do the opposite of the true message.

Ok, difference of opinion. It's fine. In my mind it's not exaggerated though. The get out clause was his poor old life, as if no one in this world suffers a similar fate as him. He ends up being grumpy, rude and obnoxious to those he simply don't like.

No problem at all. I respect others enjoyed it, and can see it's made many happy. For me, it's a frustrating watch. Which is why I aired my views.

The convenient "brain tumour" story was an excuse to have him soften up. Without that, the ML would be "out of character" to forgive him, that's why there is this storyline. Introverts don't need to resort to belittling, shaming or bullying the object of his desire. Luckily the poor FL saw that past, but she suffered immensely.

I get your point, but if it was the novel fans doing this, isn't it time drama makers quit doing adaptations? Most of the stuff are sub-par and needs modification on many productions and there is always the risk of these novel fans doing what they do. Having said all that, Douban has a system in place to weed out fake accounts. The viewership must not be too good to have novel readers swing the votes so easily. You write as if there is no passerbys voting.

Of course she is strong, or how else will she take on this case? This is a classic "band-aid" relationship built on her wanting to prove she can get him right. It's her project because of her upright upbringing. The mother is of course a classic tiger mom, but her father was very reasonable, but the ML still did not give his so-called girlfriend respect to her parents.

There is a saying, hurt people hurt people. That is the ML in a nutshell. Glamourising it just doesn't feel right or fair. This drama is etched in my mind as one of the few terrible pieces of entertainment painted as being serious with a dash or realism, which is why I feel strongly about its edit.

I get that, but the way it was filmed was trying to make it realistic looking. I don't mind jokey takes and that's normally helped with jaunty music. But none of that really happened in this drama. I find it sad that no one admits that his behaviour was bullying or belittling. Who cares if he's some special case and you're meant to give him a long leash for that? Is that supposed to be an excuse? I even saw some posters on the drama complaining the FL wasn't kind enough to him. The brainwashing has really got through...

I'm aware of that, but why use the struggle olympics to make it as light entertainment? Drama is there for sure, but I did not enjoy the belittling and constant bullying too-cool-for-school behaviour from the ML. This shouldn't be entertainment in my book.

I'm aware that sexual assault is common otherwise, why is there an item called "subway shirt" for sale for women? In real life, women need to protect themselves by modifying their attire.

Regards to harassment, stalkers and obsessive behaviours, again, very common from all classes and background the world over, but I object to these issues being put as filler content for a romance drama trying to look more interesting and grown up. Let's not dilute this into something more palatable and Disney-esk.

I feel this content is poor taste to be up against a romance tag. Nothing to do with a woman being happy. I think too many simplify this into some babyish fandom war in China. There has been numerous better received dramas that firmly puts women's happiness a lot higher than this attempt.

We will have to disagree then. I must be watching it so differently to you.

I have big issue with modern-day setting dramas that normalises certain behaviours that are very questionable in real life. He shames her into working excessive hours and makes fun of her in front of others. Showed no respect to her family when he already knew it meant a lot to her. The over arching message is someone who is hero worshipping someone who is a genius and he took full advantage of that.

Calling her a "princess" was originally a slur. To my mind, just because she accepted it and liked it later, you could say she is trying to prove to him she's not delicate. That's all, it's nothing romantic about that. The relationship is built on clashes and conflict. In real life that type of relationship normally ends in disaster.

I think that comment is a bit simplistic. A novel that really should have stayed that for those that pick to read it. But to make this material into a drama is bad taste. Even disgraceful.

How can you try to tag romance against a back-drop of harassment and abuse? It's a patch up job of using a serious subject matter as a foil for romance, and paving away the cracks through romance. There is nothing realistic with it. It's like a Disney version of how to deal with harassment and abuse.

BTW, the idea a partner is there like some shining knight to make all the past go away is giving shine to the ML and also limiting the true story of many victims that go on for life with trauma with or without a partner, and a portion even commit suicide even when in a relationship or married after years have passed.

I really don't think the scores are as simple as what you said.

I want to say that Lighter & Princess is a drama that glamorises toxic bullying behaviour. Enter with caution. The ML is a total bully and has shamed and bullied the FL throughout. She, like a classic upper middle class girl thinks she can "tame" the ML. It's the tropey "band aid" relationship.

When I say glamorise, I mean, a drama that hand picks 1 single relationship that would work when in actual fact, it's brainwashing a generation of young females into thinking it's a project worth pursuing.

Statistic-wise, these partners are controlling and end with violence in reality. This drama sends a very misleading and even dangerous message out making a portion of watchers think it's normal. It is normalising toxic behaviour to the point of making the FL abandon everything, including her family.

Have you tried Follow Your Heart? It's lighthearted with plenty of good comedy with 1 main couple and 2 side couples which all worked in my opinion.

Yes, I recommend Follow Your Heart if you like comedy done well. And I have to add, it was great to see Cheng Lei in comedy, he really is good! ML's mother is one of the best. Snooty but also afraid of being killed every 2 minutes. Brother and sister jealousy done in a tongue-in-cheek way. Definitely poking fun at some of the common c-dramaland tropes...

Yes I hope so too with regards to the cast. I came here specifically for at least 4 of the cast members because of what I saw of their past works and I was not disappointed. They all did well if not exceeded my expectations, so hopefully they get more recognition and roles.

As for the drama, yes it does subtly pokes fun at the many common tropes, and it's done in a very careful way by not stabbing itself in the foot. It works because it's not meant to be taken so seriously.