WK1

Oh thanks! This is good!

I see. If this was your intention we may not need to exact screen time
Some of this classification be could due factors other than actual screen time. Let's see if you buy this explanation

Leyan is 2nd female lead. Lusi who plays Leyan is a big star in her own right. They cannot classify her as supporting. And, she is indeed an important character. Originally, she was not in the manhua, but she was added, to widen audience appeal. And, plot wise, they wanted to have a 2nd couple, in addition the main one. They wanted to show all kind of women can experience change in their lives, even an originally very delicate princess.

So, the writer decided to pair up Leyan with Hao Du. And since lots of viewers like to have some sort of love triangle, Wei Shuyu became that 'third leg.' So, that was how these five became the 5 main characters in promotional materials.

The actor who play Wei Shuyu is also a bigger star than the character who plays Muji. He has already played the main Male Lead in another drama (Love by Hypnotic, 2019), whereas the actor who plays Muji has always play supporting roles.

So, one would expect, he will have more fans, more supporters. They will be really angry, if Mujin character got on the poster and not his.

Basically, that is why in MDL, these 5 are the main characters: Changge, AS, Leyan, Hao Du and Shuyu.

The rest are supporting, despite some may actually have higher screen time than the mains.

So, why were Leyan and Hao Du main characters despite being missing in chunks of the drama? They were the 2nd couple, not the main couple (which is Changge and AS).

The really 'big' main is Changge. If you look at the English title of this show, you cannot tell. You might think, it has something to do with a song. But, I am sure you know, Changge is actually the name of the main character in the original manhus. So, this show is actually about her journey. So, naturally, she should occupy most screen time. And then AS. He being Changge's love interest, he had the 2nd highest screen time.

And the AS-Changge couple, as the main couple, they would have higher screen together as a couple than Leyan and Hao Du. You do not see Leyan and Hao Du as a couple till much much later in the drama, compared to the 1st couple.

And, as you noticed, there was a time period in the drama, for 3-4 episodes, you do not even see Hao Du and Leyan. Like when they went to the desert, the time they spent in Mobei, there were 3-4 episodes, nothing about Leyan and Hao Du, because for that particular arc, they had no role to play.

Before all these actors/actresses starting filming, they already knew their roles.

Dilraba knew she will play Changge. She knew she will get the highest screen time.

Lusi plays Leyan. She knew her role before filming. She knew her screen will be relatively less than Dilraba

Likewise for all the actors. The guy who plays Shuyu, he knew he will be treated as one of the mains, even he should have less screen time than the guy who plays Mujin.

But that still does not give us individual screen time for LYN and ZLS. Like, what is screen time for LYN, on his own; ZLS on her own. The data only provide LYN and ZLS sepratately, but combined those screen times. Not sure you understand what I mean.

And also, who provided these screen time? And how did they do it?? Someone literally sat in front of a TV, and took a watch to time it??

Wait a minute. But Hao Du only knew that Changge was alive in Episode 31. So, when you said to change the plot, what exactly do you mean? Do you mean the writers should write it such that Hao Du knew that Changge is alive sooner than E31? If so, which episode??

Also, when he knew that she was alive, he was more interested in catching her, than questioning all those spies why they never do their job. Du Ruhui nearly had a heart attack, just thinking that she could be alive. So many things were happening, the last thing on their mind will be to call for an investigation why those spies did not do their job and why didn't find out she was still alive in the grasslands.

If the screenwriters write too much about all these investigation, it will definitely drag the drama. And I doubt viewers really want to know about all those investigations.

A bit complex here. Some people here collect screen time of their favourite couples. But the screen time of each character is definitely higher than their screen time together.

For instance, I am not entirely convinced someone from Reba's fanclub would have timed her screen time as Changge. Ditto for all the other fan clubs. Or character club.

But, what is your intention in knowing their exact screen time? Because, if we know your intention, there could be other ways to get to that, besides knowing the exact screen time of each character.

But this could be their screen together? Because Leyan had a lot of screen time when she was alone. And also when she was with Changge.

Yes, at that point, her reading of AS's love for her was not quite accurate. But it will slowly grow and reach its climax at the scene in front of her mother's memorial tablet, when she saw his letter of marriage proposal. So, when he charged into that burning building to save her, it will no longer surprise her

Maybe someone should pay us for this service? Tecent, since they own the broadcasting rights to TLB?

Ok, let me read your comment word by word to fully understand, before I respond

At least 3 years. Strong relationship takes time to form. Particulary for GeSun. Culturally, they were different. One from the grasslands, the other from the central plains. And then, they were enemies. And then Changge was a tomboy. And they had complex backgrounds.

With all those factors, not possible for them to bond in months.

So yah, perhaps knowing the number of years they could have been together, it will now be possible for us to believe why their relationship is so strong

It is. If you make a comment here today, you will not be able to find it by tomorrow.

The cummulative number of comment is very hard to predict.

But there are some big events coming up:

Possible screening of TLB in China through their national TV channel. So far, TLB is only screed on Tecent's app. Maybe another small TV channel, at most.

But if this drama is screened on their national TV, it will be big. Increased viewership in China will send people here into a crazy mode and you will see large explosion of pure joy and happiness.

This drama will be screened in Korea in June. That will also help the comments to grow again.

And then the possible broadcast in Japan

Plus next year, the acting awards will be announced. If any of the main characters here win any big awards, you can expect another round of celebrations.

Super difficult question to answer. Does anyone have the answer??
I don't know the exact screen time, but if I were to venture a guess, in term of relative screen time:

1. Li Changge, as she is main protaganist.
2. AS, as he is her love interest
3. Leyan, as she is the 2nd FL
4. Hao Du, he is 2nd ML
5. Wei Shuyu, as he is the fifth main character
6. Mujin, as he is AS's trusted assistant
7. Mimin, she was in the drama from the grassland arc right till episode 48
8. Sheer, he was also in the drama from the grassland, right till episode 49

Leyan, Hao Du and Shuyu formed the 1st love triangle.
Mujin, Mimin and Sheer, the 2nd love triangle.

Only the people with broadcasting right will know exact screen time of each character. Or the editors

Or someone in this comments section who had the time to time screen time of each character, episode by episode, with a timer. Not sure anyone has the time or motivation to do that

I could well be wrong

The storyline of this drama is very complex. The screenwritters linked many many events together. If we change one event, all subsequent may have be re-written.

You said change the plot. I am a bit unclear. Maybe you can explain again?

In the drama, Hao Du and Du Ru Hui both changed their attitude toward Changge at the Liuyun Temple. Ru Hui, after she took that stab for him. Hau Do, after Leyan reminded him in an prior episode to standup for what he believed.

It is ok about spelling of that city. I cannot even get it right myself. But where exactly do you think the screenwriters should place Hao Du's change of attitude toward Changge? And why? Because this change of attitude must flow logically with other parts of the storyline.

Once you shift this part upwards, you will also need to shift many things upward. And some of the events at the temple may have to re-written.

No offence taken at all. That in itself is the secret of this comments section. No offence is taken, by any sincere contributors making a sincere comment.

I guess we are 'caught' by the spirt of Li Changge. Anything is possible. Dare to dream, and then fight for your dream.

The people in here are amazing. Many are now studying or doing other stuff. Once they are back, this forum will catch fire again. And those targets will be achieveable

Also a reminder to all contributors, and that includes myself, if we are revealing details about certain episodes, do our best to use the spoiler function. To hide our comments, in order not to 'spoil' the fun and viewing pleasure of newcomers who have yet to watch the drama

I think we will need till end of June, to hit 30k.

And then end 2022, to hit 40K

Definitely, the complexity of this role far exceeds that of many of her roles in her previous dramas. If you have watched her in her previous roles, it would be very apparent.

We can even see this in her parting message. She said she was very honoured to have played Li Changge.

Coming back to the drama, yes, you are right that Changge had to go through all those pain, to learn many lessons and be a better person.

I suspect it will be the same for many of us.

Totally understand where you are coming from.

I was just trying to provide some context for you. For instance, you may not have aware that when she won the top ranking in acting in China, she beat some really big time male actors, with star power far greater than hers.

Here in this forum, no one forces other people to share the same opinions. We merely provide information for people to form more informed opinions. If the information provided does not change anything, no one is offended.

Xuanwu gate was a real historical event, when Li Si Min killed Li Jiancheng (Changge's dad in the drama). Wikipedia placed the incident around July 626. July would still have been summer time and they could kick the cuju ball around.

When the drama ended, Tang and the Eastern Turkic Khaganate were at peace. In history, Tang only fought against Ashile in winter of 629.

So, the events in the drama would have taken at least 3 years, from E1 to E49

I have put all mine in spoiler