Wrenne

Thanks for the feedback, I know this is a much awaited drama and the trailer was confusing for someone like me with no real background knowledge on the book or the drama.

I'm guessing this is how censorship in China changes a vampire story into that old classic 'genetic mutation'. Does anyone know anything about the original web series?

I've just watched the trailer, is this a comedy? It's not listed in the tags but it it seemed very slapstick. I guess I'd just like an idea of what sort of tone to expect before I start watching.

I especially love the food clues

And why did it take me this far into Luoyang to remember that gunpowder is historically remembered to have been discovered by taoist alchemists while trying to find an elixir for immortality in the late Tang dynasty. I'm sure the Chinese audience put those pieces together ages ago.

However she's not going to spoil anything in an interview and those comments may be designed to throw viewers off. You never know.

The arrival of the annoying brother shows her to be not as vapid as she sort of made out with her endless Erlang whining. And her insistence in being in on his business all the time and following him around makes her seem as much like she's there to watch him (not that staring at him is any hardship).

I'm still curious to know what his father actually knew to be so insistent on him marrying that family. He obviously knew he was in danger, did he think Erlang marrying into a crime family would help protect him?

I'm assuming, or hoping, that the point of her being so obsessed with him will pay off at some point.

I did the same thing and suggested it was ridiculous to suddenly change translator and the names of just about everything after so many episodes. I hope others did the same.

If dramas were only cast with 'veteran' actors they would very limited indeed. I don't want to see 40 year olds trying to pass themselves off as teenagers and preventing younger actors getting the chance to actually act and learn their skills.

And I've seen plenty of actors in their 30s with 'training' still being crappy actors. I'm at a loss with this idea that no one has natural talent in China and everything has to have come from the appropriate school to be considered valid. And having popularity, by default, means you can't act, which means good actors must be ones that aren't popular?

I think this was a good choice for Yibo. Not only because it's related to the history of his home town but because this character offers a whole new range of challenges for him to explore and grow as an actor and build his reputation.

There seems to be so much prejudice in the Chinese audience that many of them are unable to judge or view a performance on its merits and have made their minds up before they even see it. So I'm sure Yibo considers each role before taking it on. I imagine he has many more offers than he can do and he's avoiding producers who just want to cash in on his popularity.

This is a main role but the focus shifts between the three leads and we have no idea as yet where the story is headed and what may be in store for his character.

I have to admit that one thing that's bugging me is the change in translator for episodes11-12 and the renaming of characters and other things we've had for 10 episodes. I didn't like the change in the subs from Erlang to Hongyi/Sir when they are clearly saying Erlang. Why can't there be consistency in the naming conventions especially when we can hear what they're actually saying?

If he was careless and got in trouble for it maybe they aren't that different. It would seem he might be dead but you never know.

Yes I'm hoping we find out what happened to him.

Finally caught up to episode 12 and I love this drama. It's so engrossing and the episodes fly past so quickly. I also love that it has the feel of a contemporary murder, corruption, organised crime story but in a historical setting.

Totally enjoying the character journey of Baili Hongyi and can't wait to see who he becomes by the of the story - of course keeping my fingers crossed that he survives till the end of the story.

It's a historical mystery just as the tags say. There are interactions and relationships between the characters but it is not a romantic drama. If you're only looking for romance then this probably isn't the drama for you.

I'm confused as to why people keep saying Baili Hongyi is a glutton. He only seemed to eat small amounts of food and savour them, not just stuff food in his face with greedy intent. He seems more like a gourmet.

But if he leaves China to work or live or anything wouldn't that just be proof of the claims that he isn't patriotic and committed to the motherland.? Would he even be allowed to leave the country?

The Chinese authorities are only at the beginning of this campaign to 'clean up' the entertainment industry. No one knows how many more people are going to be cancelled after the people already targeted and of course rumours and possible target lists are flying.

But now the new regulations are targeting people who are overly entertaining or go against correct beauty standards, as well as those with unpatriotic associations, who knows what will happen.

Upcoming seasonal variety shows are already dropping popular talents because they will attract too much positive attention. Actors are renouncing foreign citizenship and overseas brands in an effort to prove their dedication and loyalty to the motherland.

What is going on is much bigger than ZZH and much larger fish are being caught up in this purge. His association with Zhao Wei puts him at an added disadvantage. Things may eventually cycle around but who knows how long that will be.

That's not going to happen. He's been banished from the entertainment industry and he won't get any work for a very long time, if ever again.