Xiang83

Have you been able to find a volunteer staff and bring this up with them?

The drama has its good points and bad points, and I am sure certain uncomfortable details whizzed over the heads of many non-Mandarin speakers. There is a segment of anti-Zhao Yuanzhou viewers whereby what ZYZ did to Li Lun is hypocritical and cowardly when contrasted with how ZYZ treated the members of demon hunting team, and these viewers also believe ZYZ should suffer forever and Li Lun was right to go out the way he did. I don't believe ZYZ should suffer forever but I don't have a good opinion of ZYZ for what is understandably viewed as hypocrisy and cowardice from him, even though I also feel sorry for ZYZ who is a victim as well.

Your initial exclamation was "OMG these BTS are so good why I haven't seen them", so I simply took it as a question of why you can't find them, and answered accordingly.

Because in order to find them easily, you need to understand mandarin well enough. That's why I can find fan edits and videos of KTTPH to share which cannot be gleaned just from hashtags.

Here's a fun BTS of Yan An with Lester Lin, posted on the various sites during November 2023. I'm using the one from bilibili.com:

https://www.bilibili.com/video/BV1ow411p7Vh/

No idea. That said, you can imagine Neo Hou as the male lead in this BTS for Su Ji, whereby the male lead is showcasing his horse-riding skills in a regal manner:

https://m.weibo.cn/detail/5185308847245559

Are there any updates on this drama? It's been four years. I checked weibo and a few other sites. I doubt it is cancelled judging by the article "李兰迪十部热播剧霸屏，古装悬疑到现代励志全面开花"... Unless the article is wrong.

Hopefully after the recent success of Coroner's Diary, this will be released next year.

I watched this drama when it first came out. I watched it again recently, because I want to write a review for this drama after having experienced two different timeframes across two different periods.

This drama will divide people into love or hate for it, and I can see why.

苏记 is a drama also directed by this Director, starring Li Landi and Zhu Zheng Ting. It wrapped up filming on 8 July 2021, but might never be released. You can find the description here: https://kisskh.at/58983-su-ji

From the production clips, you can get a sense of how the director tackles small details and military angles for a historical drama featuring royalty with romance, from a sample of these clips:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_sr6LpZfdgM

https://www.bilibili.com/video/BV1pGp4eFEqU/

This is P3: https://m.weibo.cn/status/5192614276238805#&gid=1&pid=3

This is P4: https://m.weibo.cn/status/5192614276238805#&gid=1&pid=4

The song used for P4 is "Dense Fog" by Zhang Yi Qiao, and can be heard here (found a mostly-decent translation for you): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C9gzNn5_9UM

P4 as per the description in that weibo post is about HMH conveying longing and restraint in that scene with Ai Mi. His fingers are twitching, and his eyes follow her... Love withheld. Matches the lyrics of the song very well.

Romance isn't the key focus of this drama. The best pairings for a drama will be about whether the individual actors can pull off their roles while having natural chemistry, primarily aided by a director and screenwriter excelling at their responsibilities for a good or excellent script plus characters being well-executed. The director clearly had certain ideas about the visual age of the female lead, when they initially cast Huangyang Tian Tian who nearly got herself cancelled over fake earrings.

I wouldn't know how others think but as someone who grew up with C-Ent (movies and dramas for more than 25 years), the best chemistry with couples for me doesn't involve skinship and kissing and groping, which I mostly consider to be a turn-off in C-Ent unless the plot necessitates it... Such as the 1993 movie Green Snake.

My primary concern is whether the leads and important secondary characters can each pull off their roles, and my biggest concern is Riley Wang as Li Mao. Peter Ho and Ma Qiu Yuan will not have issues, from what I see. The Reuters at least has the two main leads very comfortable, even when arguing with each other. Definitely helps that they have acted together before.

What's most important is that in the end, actors and actresses earn fans through their talent and grit. Ai Mi and Neo Hou have strong work ethics. Under this director who had a mostly-strong cast providing stellar acting in "The Empress of China", I'm sure he'll bring out their full potential. I'm not a fan of any of these actors yet, and I'm looking forward to the final result.

I have something for you and TheNostalgicType. Given all the BTS currently out, fan edits are inevitable. Weibo user Elispeth posted a mini-collection by different fans for Xiao Wuyi and Xie Jiayu, and she's not the only one doing so. P3 and P4 in this collection are my current favourites. See which ones of the 9 FEs you like.

https://m.weibo.cn/status/5192614276238805

I believe being multilingual and also fluent in at least two fundamentally different languages is important. Being fortunate to have that enables a better grasp of nuances when looking to a new culture or different culture, history, etc

I can easily see why Ai Mi would not turn down this drama. It's a great opportunity to launch her career as a female lead. Of all the dramas Neo Hou has to this date, excelling in this would be enough to have him break through to a mandarin-speaking audience that frankly, isn't interested in younger actors and actresses easily dismissed as mediocre at acting. I know, because those belong to my generation and those older than me. If it wasn't for FoF, I would simply have continued thinking his acting is just like it was in Dashing Youth: boring and one-dimensional.

In terms of C-Ent for dramas, He Lan Dou is someone whose work I would be interested to see this year. Sadly there are a large number of people who think Ai Mi is pretty but lacks talent. They don't see how hard one would have to work, to accumulate what she now possesses.

The likes of Li Hongyi have difficulties in terms of getting a unique script being well-directed. I am waiting for The Dragon's Chant (now renamed as Whispers of Fate) because the main lead is about an anti-hero learning to be... himself. Luo Yunxi is the lead. There was a four-way bust-up going on in the comments section of that drama as to romance or no romance and even though there is supposed to be no romance (the main character will flirt with anyone), I will not be surprised if the director makes it such that at least one or more female characters fall for the lead only to have their hopes squashed before the end... If there is a commercial consideration of covering as wide an audience as possible.

Many dramas bore me when it is primarily romance or standard scripts of nowadays. I couldn't stand the Untamed for what I considered to be flat dullness from Wang Yibo or terrible one-dimensional over-acting from Xiao Zhan, even if the storyline was decent. That said, I understand the allure of these charming young men to other viewers.

I shall hope the director and screenwriter for "Key To The Phoenix Heart" hold true to the dramas they have been responsible for, as hits. Then they will produce a drama to floor detractors. I am waiting for Xie Huai Gui (his officials should give Neo Hou's character some headaches). Peter Ho should do well in the role. Riley Wang for Li Mao is a concern because I don't know if he can pull off the role. The secondary roles of friends/neutrals/enemies contribute to the strength of the drama. I have yet to enjoy a movie or drama whereby the secondary roles were not as well-executed as the leads. Azumi the movie is an example. Straightforward enough story, but the secondary roles all had their own stories portrayed well. Same thing with Zatoichi by Beat Takeshi.

When you have the time, DM me. I am curious (also curious about which three actors or actresses in C-ent you are interested in). I also recently wrote a review for the 1993 movie Green Snake, and decided to add a few details which would escape the average viewer such as the inspiration for the costumes and abode of the two main female leads. Casting is important, alongside art direction, screenwriting, etc

https://kisskh.at/6491-green-snake

I'll probably alter the synopsis, because whoever wrote it clearly has no grasp of the language and culture and fundamentals of the movie.

If you are going to watch any of the two dramas that I linked for the discussion topic, I would advise starting with the Empress Of China. In terms of dryness due to focusing on details minus the romance, that would be less dry. By the standards of viewers who cannot survive without a kiss for at least 50 episodes, that would be difficult. I have no issues because those are the types of mandarin dramas I grew up with, and Coroner's Diary featured too many kisses for me after having more than three between the two main leads.

I can't remember the last time I watched a recent Hollywood movie. I watched part of the first Dune movie and dropped it, since I prefer the novels.

I enjoyed "Here" by Bas Devos last year, a Belgium film about a Romanian construction worker who has an unexpected encounter with a Belgian-Chinese bryologist. Between borscht and moss, an unexpected friendship blossoms in overlooked corners of the city. The invisible becomes magic, mundane no longer cold and lonely. Two strangers learn about how they each see this city. Curiosity becomes a bud with roots. I would gladly rewatch it again.

And that is enough of me going on about me. I have strong opinions, but I am always open to changing those when shown additional or new details and angles. That said, I like my classics, be it music or visuals. "Chess" by Faye Wong is an example, and she sounds amazing live in 1994: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aYvKG-H_k7Q

Have a good weekend!

In order to answer your questions, understanding the characters of Fat Hoi and White Snake is necessary.

Fat Hoi is a very powerful monk sheltered from the world he views from his temple, and has never seen a naked woman until he stumbles upon two snake spirits trying to shelter a woman giving birth from the rain. That is when he first experiences the pull of mortal desire, which is a serious trial for him as someone who has become one with Buddha.

White Snake has taken on human form but in order to fully transition to become human, getting pregnant from a human male and carrying the baby full-term to give birth would herald her complete transformation into a human and no longer a spirit.

As a result, she dies due to being greatly weakened and exhausted from childbirth and no longer a spirit but a human, that combination rendering her unable to use her powers to protect herself.

Hsui Xien thought that if he took on the tonsure of a monk and gave up the sisters, the fighting would stop because he no longer has to care about worldly desires, the sisters would give up on him and/or Fat Hoi would be appeased.

This is seen as a betrayal by Green Snake, understandably so. Both sisters risked everything to free him, but this human male whom she knew was also drawn to her... was ultimately a flip-flopping coward who turned his back on them and this was unforgivable because of the one she loved most: Her sister.

When Green Snake realised her sister had died, she decided to make the decision for Hsui Xien. She did not want him. Hsui Xien had married her sister. As it is with love that should be true, he should die and be with her sister.

When Fat Hoi wants to strike her down, she speaks of what she has learned: You humans don't even know what love is. Her disillusionment sends her back to the Purple Bamboo Grove.

I wrote a review for this movie less than five days ago on this website. You may find it helpful, since I included mentions of the inspirations behind certain art or costumes, such as Peking Opera.

BTS has a lot of things happening.

Bingyi is pawing Li Lun's chest here: https://www.bilibili.com/video/BV1pB42167S1/

While the guys exclaim over Yan An's chest, Chen Duling does not dare to turn around https://www.bilibili.com/video/BV1EB42167vv/

Zhu Yan is giving Li Lun something special: https://www.bilibili.com/video/BV18K411e7Nk/

After a certain gift, Zhu Yan tidies stray hair for Li Lun, and Li Lun points at-
https://www.bilibili.com/video/BV1pw41177Wr/

Non-BTS: Yan An carries Neo Minghou, Neo Minghou carries Yan An: https://www.bilibili.com/video/BV127DGY2EW2/

I don't use Instagram. You are not able to access any links on weibo.cn?

Please consider adding this 15-second clip of the carrying scene to your compilation (got slo-mo and some editing with music, to make everything even more memorable):

https://m.weibo.cn/detail/5193866971975147

Thanks for your compilation!

Curious to see how many ways this director can convey chemistry between the two leads without the usual obvious methods.

I read this fairly-serious attempt from this weibo account evaluating Ai Mi and HMH's CP effectiveness by thoroughly considering their astrological charts, and cracked up:

https://m.weibo.cn/detail/5193038345538768

Perhaps you can check for Ai Mi's pictures for the GLASS Magazine for 4 August here:

https://m.weibo.cn/detail/5193505959054639

Please add that to your compilation, so it is easier for others to find.