WK1

I can more or less guess why they introduced new characters and also new relationships to characters, relationships which were never there in the novel.

And I think you probably can guess those reasons too.

Let's save all our speculations, till the subs are out.

I think it is their brand. May just need to find out where they are selling it.

It will be great to have you around too! Just in case those Eng sub mis-translate some of the stuff in the drama.

And even the Eng translation of the novel, hope the translator did not make too many translation errors.

In any case, I am reading that there are so many changes in the drama, so it will be totally interesting to discuss. We may well have different interpretations of the very same events that took place.

That is great! The people who will be here when the subs are out will comprise two groups: People who have read and people have not read the novel. And both groups are relying on subs to understand the drama adaptation.

Whichever of those two groups you belong to, once the subs are out, it will be fun to discuss.

Please come back when the subs are out. Many of us will be discussing it, as if it is still airing.

Saw this in Twitter earlier. It is about US$ 100 a pair. Cheaper than earrings with mikimoto pearls

Yes, I think I am just being a bit too pessimistic. When the time comes, there should be lots of things we can discuss.

Oh, in that case, you have lots of company! I think at least 20-30 people are waiting to watch with good English sub, before discussing. Others may only be interested to watch and not discuss, but that is ok.

We should see the crowd here getting really large, once the subs are in.

On the page of The Long Ballad, we had lots to discuss, because the source material was not even completed. So, lots of room to speculate and discuss about the storyline, etc.

But since the novel for TBW is completed and the drama pretty much follow the novel, we likely have less to discuss. We see how things go. People who were on TLB, we have lots of experience in generating discussion topics. Perhaps we can still get some serious discussions.

An article I read said frequent swings in our body weight is not healthy (https://chicago.suntimes.com/well/2020/12/3/21535440/weight-fluctuation-normal-daily-occurrence-wellness-health)

“Weight loss of 5% or more of total body weight in one month without a change in lifestyle habits would be a red flag to discuss more with your doctor,” that is a quote from an endocrinologist.

Dilraba really ought be careful with all these frequent weight changes (in order to match the roles she is playing in different dramas). Some of us discussed this and hope that she has consulted with dietitians, to make sure she does not do anything that might affect her long term health.

Right now, she is filming in Chengdu and she said she is going to try to put on some weight. She really ought to. Wonder if her Body Mass Index is in the healty range.

I think both the San Yue/Li Shue and Luo Luo/Kong Ming couples are part of the storyline. They are connecting both of these pairs with the main couple.

Li Shue is constantly giving advise to Changyi; And Luo Luo is Ji Yunhe's constant companion/sidekick. And now, they going to make Kong Ming like Ji Yunhe's peronal physician.

Their presence in this drama helps to add depth width to the storyline. And the director is very experienced. He is careful not to make those two side relationships more prominent than the Yunhe/Changyi relationship.

Actually, this is not possible. Because, it is so clear that Dilraba and Allen's acting abilities are far superior to the supporting cast members'. Both our leads are able to show far greater variety of facial expressions, convey more emotions than the supporting cast.

Actually, the most impressive supporting cast member is the lady who plays Princess Shunde: Cristy Guo Xiaoting. This could well be the big break that she is waiting for, that will cause directors to look at what she can do. If she can portray evil so well, she can project goodness well too. She does not have a face that looks 'naturally' evil (if you know what I mean). Hoping that other directors can give her opportunities to play lead female roles in future.

Yes, lots are waiting. Especially those who want to come here to discuss. Without the subs, the discussion has been somewhat limited and handicapped. A few are good with Chinese, but they are holding back the discussion intensity too, not wanting those who are better in English to miss out anything.

But, we should not be too worried. On the page of The Long Ballad, some of the most vigorous discussions took place after that drama had finished its run. It is true that some who were on that page left soon after its run, but more new people joined in and the discussion lasted for months!

Thank you so much!

This is hardly my intent, to lay the blame on her, if those scenes were indeed deleted because of her fear of water. If the fear is still there, and the director respects her wishes not to do those scenes, it shows the deep relationship between her and the director. If there are other reasons why they were not shot, so be it.

I personally do not think the CGI is all that difficult to do. I have seen it been done before in other dramas, and this being a big budget drama, they should have enough money to do it. Heavy cost could be a possibility, as underwater scenes you need special water proof cameras. If the scenes last mere few minutes, so they may feel that it is not worth it. It may be also be the director's lack of experience in filming underwater scenes (please note: this is mere speculation on my part. I am not aware if he has done underwater filming. All I know, it is not easy at all).

You have no idea how big a fan of Dilraba I am. We all have fears. If she still has it, it is not a big deal at all. She does all her stunts herself. Lots of big stars, they would not even do all those action scenes themselves, but would always use body double. Maybe because they are afraid of heights. And all those directors, they do not mind using body doubles for those stars.

But, Dilraba is not afraid of heights and she'd rather do all the stunts herself. So, if the fear of going underwater is still there, it surely does not make her less skilful as an actress. One or two underwater scenes do not make or break a drama, no matter how impressive those scenes are in the novel.

After TBW? There are lots and lots of good dramas after TBW. All will be airing one after another as all the major producers have a lot of good shows to air this year. So, you may not have the time to go back to Love at Night, if you have not finished it.

Anyway, I did not finish Love at Night. I think I watched till mid-way or 3/4. And then stopped.

Watch another drama. Time will pass faster. Come back to this page around 22nd.

No wonder you are feel a bit annoyed. We watched The Long Ballad. Got used this director's style. Dilraba acted with Wu Lei in TLB.

It was possible that when this drama is over, you will have your wish. There is someone here who is very good with video editing. Maybe she will do one for us, just the main leads' story.

For now, we have to watch the entire drama. One of two of the side plots are fairly interesting.

I think you are right about hitting major blood vessel. I had a cut back in 2012. Right at my eyebrow. Nearly hit my eye. There was blood, but it was not gushing out or anything. I used to press against it, went to hospital and lost count of the number of stitches.

I was also careful not to let the blood drip onto my blouse, on the way to the hospital. Just held a thick cotton wool and pressed against the wound.

They did a very good job on the wound to Shunde's face. That wound looks real and deep. They could have done a better job with the slashes to CY's body. Put more blood in it.

But, I suspect this director does not like to use too much blood. I remember, back in the days of TLB, some people were wondering, why little blood?

I like what you said, 'when more greed sets in'. They are a money making entity. There is no such thing making more money is something evil.

We just wait. Those subs will come. Part 2 will finish in China by 25 April. So, subs should come after that.

This drama is doing extremely well in China. Eventually, it is very likely that they will some of the broadcasting rights to Netflix.

Someone corrected. 9999 is the maximum. So, TBW Part 2 already hit the max in E 23-24.

I did not watch One and Only, but I saw some photos of of one scene where Allen was tortured. And there was some blood on his face. Yet, he still looked very handsome. I think they did not put enough blood, or there was no deep scars on his face, like the one that Princess Shunde received, when hit by Ji Yunhe's sword.

So, if they want to show Changyi being tortured in TBW, they need to show him with deep scars and maybe lots of blood. I guess they have chosen not to show that.