Xiang83

Novel-Xiao Jingshi and drama-Xia Jingshi are almost two different characters at this point.

In the last 30 chapters of the novel, Xia Jingshi is forced to go for the throne and take over as Emperor of the Jinxiu Dynasty because the Jinxiu Emperor wants to do him in. Novel-Xia Jingshi wants to find out who killed his actual parents. Feng Suige and Fu Yixiao go to Jinxiu Kingdom to aid Xia Jingshi because by chapter 22, Feng Suige was mostly fine with Xia Jingshi for helping him on an important matter. Xia Jingshi gave up Fu Yixiao to Feng Suige by chapter 30 but we cannot have all that in the drama, otherwise this Fated Hearts will be unsuccessful. There are major changes from the novel, otherwise ML and FL are not likely to be endearing to the audience.

This is my summary of the novel versus the drama changes: https://kisskh.at/768987-wan-xin-ji#comment-23723748

What do you want to know from the raw data? To measure overall success of a drama with accuracy, using only one metric or only similar metrics isn't enough. IQiyi allows for cloud bookings to drive up the Heat Index. One example is the Neo Hou official fanclub organising a campaign to do so, as per these two posts from 23 February this year:

https://x.com/neohou_feed/status/1893522233576038733

[ What is "Cloud Booking" ?

👉Cloud booking gifts free iQIYI VIP membership

📌It allows the drama to draw in passersby/audience, enhances the viewership count, and increases the heat index. ]

You'd want to see the specifics and also as a whole, which baiqian summarised. One of my f-listers was also commenting about popularity, and here is part of what they said:

[ But since 2023, only 5 dramas have exceeded 100m daily views on solo online streaming platforms per Yunhe, which are the Knockout, lost you forever s1, Story of Kunning palace, joy of life 2 and this thriving land. And thriving land was a dark horse.

Again the discussion was on promotion not rating. In my opinion in China, historical dramas are more heavily promoted and viewed more than modern dramas, for the most part (talking online streaming, not satellite tv/cctv etc). Again there are exceptions, like the knockout, meet yourself, hidden love, first frost etc, there definitely are ones for sure. But we are talking in general. Top 5 highest heat index shows ever on tencent, all historical. Iqiyi, top 5 highest heat index ever, the knockout, thriving land (not technically modern but also not historical), then all 3 others historical. ]

Feel free to ask them :) : https://kisskh.at/766293-give-me-five#comment-23498756

Could have been improved significantly with one tweak if up until and including the wedding night, FL tells ML that she isn't comfortable consummating their marriage because she still has reservations she needs to get over. ML says he is willing to wait, and the camera pans out on a warm comfortable scene of him holding her, with her content to be in his arms.

Unlike Shakespeare's Romeo and Juliet which ended badly (understandably because it was primarily a teenage romance affected by adult stakes from external parties resulting in two teenagers in love reacting with bad choices), this one also featured leads who appear to be acting as characters approximately around the same ages as teenagers but had a very different ending.

99% of the changes from the novel are major necessary improvements, so the current 16 episodes of this drama are good. I hope that novel-Xia Jingshi in the second half of the drama (eps 20 to 38) gets his fair due because I do not like such a major deviation from his character in the novel.

User baiqian posted specific data and details in two comments, links below. You can also ask her. Metrics include Yunhe, Kuyun, Maoyan, VLinkage, Datawin.

https://kisskh.at/768985-fu-shan-hai#comment-23633818

https://kisskh.at/768985-fu-shan-hai#comment-23634734

For anyone who is curious about the novel versus the drama for differences? As per the suggestions of a fellow MDL user, I have just created a discussion post regarding one of my older comments sharing those details. These changes were necessary for a successful script to adapt, also improving many characters and their relationships, especially Feng Suige and Fu Yixiao:

https://kisskh.at/discussions/768987-wan-xin-ji/145636-novel-versus-drama-differences

I have created a discussion post as per your suggestion, for whoever is interested. I have also made minor additions and edits to that comment, to accommodate episodes 15 and 16.

The novel is not doable as a successful drama. Unfortunately as with certain major changes to accommodate necessary improvements to all other characters and a plot, there is usually at least one casualty and in this case, it is novel-Xia Jingshi.

Fudgecakes, I need to edit the links correctly. Will get back to you on the other posts too!

Xiao Zhan is one of several artists encouraging people to watch "Fated Hearts": https://m.weibo.cn/detail/5219047702530897

I'm glad I will never have to read Dream of Red Mansion again as a student XD If you have dramas to recommend watching, I would welcome suggestions. Waiting for the C-Drama remake of K-drama "My Mister" to air (Zhang Zi Feng and Mark Chao will be very apt in it). I enjoyed Mobius, currently enjoying The Guardians (Republican era spy-espionage thriller), and then there's not-yet-aired Gladiator In The Theatre: https://m.weibo.cn/detail/5067022944178847

Feng Suige is clearly seasoned in the bed, as per the novel. Feng Suige is also not a match for the wits of his father. Ning Fei is more gullible in the drama than the novel. The scriptwriter thankfully improved Feng Suige and made him more shrewd and more likeable.

Xia Jingshi is resolute about not even taking Yixiao as a concubine for the sake of her happiness, twelve chapters in. In chapter 14, Yixiao tells Feng Suige he will never be able to match Xia Jingshi for wits or comportment.

Frankly, Xia Jingshi looks far more admirable and challenging than Feng Suige in the novel after fifteen chapters and more suitable to be ML, which we cannot have for this drama. Emperor Feng notes the difficulty of penetrating Xia Jingshi's indifference, and also notes the passionate intensity in the eyes of such a cool composed noble upon seeing Yixiao at the city walls.

I felt so bad for the actors and actresses, especially Cheng Yi. I have never seen such screw-ups by the crew for a drama with an S+ drama to deliver, so I wrote a review for TJOL which the crew rightfully deserved: https://kisskh.at/profile/Xiang83/review/497878

She's definitely done a very good job this far. The changes are quite enjoyable and balances the pacing of this story plus relationships between different characters, with subplots not getting lost. I wish she had been responsible for the adaptations of Fushanhai. It would have significantly helped that drama.

Here is the comment I just made because I reveal more of what is in the first seven chapters versus drama changes, under spoilers: https://kisskh.at/768987-wan-xin-ji#comment-23723748

In the novel, Princess Xiyang wants to marry Xia Jingshi as a marriage alliance for long-lasting peace, after the two kingdoms finally come to peace. The Holy Emperor of the Jinxiu Dynasty issues an imperial decree, which Xia Jingshi accepts. This is what sparks certain actions by Fu Yixiao after Xia Jingshi agrees to marry Xiyang. Yixiao tells Xia Jingshi she is willing to be his maid, concubine or slave as long as Xia Jingshi does not marry Princess Xiyang. Yixiao also offers herself sexually to Xia Jingshi, whereby he rejects her. His rejection is mesmerising and heart-breaking.

Yixiao is 17 when Xia Jingshi justifiably shoots her with an iron arrow (very different circumstances) for killing a cavalry commander without justification, because Yixiao was prepared to die as long as she stopped Xia Jingshi from going to Susha Kingdom. Yixiao swears to haunt Xia Jingshi for eternity. Pulling the arrow out of her shoulderblade, she jumps off the cliff. For four years, Yixiao cannot be found. She was not yet a general.

Feng Suige was informed of Yixiao's disappearance, and decides to have her captured so he can find out what secret mission Yixiao was sent on by Xia Jingshi according to the information he had gained, believing Xia Jingshi's claims of an old illness are false to continuously delay the marriage alliance for four years.

Yixiao comes across as too emotional and irresponsible in those seven chapters for my liking (then again, a seventeen-year-old in love...). Removing all that to make Yixiao older and a seasoned female general works much better for a drama. Changing the circumstances to heighten the dangers and threats to Feng Suige in the drama serves to maintain a tension which makes everything feel more realistic for this drama. Showing how Feng Suige capably deals with threats also makes Feng Suige more believable for Fu Yixiao to fall in love with. Feng Suige doesn't always succeed in the drama (see how his sister lambasted him), which only makes him more human and easy to emphatise with. I also didn't like Yixiao blaming Xia Jingshi for her predicament of being captured by Feng Suige in chapter 8 because that's due to Yixiao's recklessness and carelessness.

Feng Suige at one point in chapter 9 goes to Yixiao's prison cell with two beautiful women, and indirectly threatens Yixiao with sending her to the Susha army's red tent to be a military prostitute. He was merciless enough to have a soldier take one of his former bedmates to the red tent in front of Yixiao, before threatening her. Novel Feng Suige would have been too heartless for a drama audience to accept.

In chapter 10, Yixiao provokes Feng Suige's concubine to whip her as hard as possible, because she thinks dying would be best. Feng Suige sees through her provocations and how calm she remains despite pain. He admires her and her liveliness, and he thinks she is beautiful. When Yixiao wakes up, Xiyang tends to Yixiao's wounds, curious about this woman. Up until this point, the greatest wound and pain to Yixiao is her love for Xia Jingshi, especially when she hears that his envoy along with Xia Jingshi had departed for this kingdom to marry Xiyang.

I much prefer the script changes whereby Yixiao is uncomfortably beaten and tortured in episode 2 but with significant restraints to what is inflicted because of her value to Feng Suige, because Feng Suige would primarily have to answer to his men and the Emperor for his decisions, while being aware of internal enemies wanting his downfall. Losing the Battle of Pingling recently as per the drama better justifies this decision, even if it is uncomfortable to see Yixiao being tortured and beaten and at one point, struck by Feng Suige who rightfully has hostility against her because she nearly killed him, cost him men, and could have been his downfall until he realises her arrow actually saved him and his men, including Susha Kingdom.

Note that even if she claims to be an amnesiac, as a cunning enemy general, even if a physician vouches for it, she would still have to be put through certain methods by an enemy leader to ascertain as much as possible that what she is saying has enough truth. If Feng Suige is perceived by his men to be bewitched by a woman or has judgment skewed because of a woman, it will not be reversible and unacceptable especially when this female general is responsible for the deaths of many of their comrades. This drama shows the respect and reverence that the soldiers of the Feng battalion hold for Feng Suige in at least two episodes, so their attitudes must be justifiable as per Feng Suige's choices.

The alternative would have been much harsher. Yixiao is still emotional and almost reckless in this drama, but understandably so because for the first time, she is struggling with betrayal from her sworn brothers, the love of her life tried to kill her plus she realises they have different values and he might not have loved her in the same way she loved and respected him, and she has no allies she can count upon except Feng Suige. She hasn't quite figured out by episode 14 about how she feels for him. She realises he feels for her, but what about her feelings for him? I like that the leads need time to develop something as friends, possibly more than friends, and have to figure out their feelings. The events also organically help that happen, because of changes for this drama.

In the novel, Feng Suige is wary and somewhat fearful of Xia Jingshi, for being very strategic whom he perceives akin to a God of War. Xia Jingshi is perceived as the God of War for the Jinxiu Dynasty. Competition translates into animosity in the drama. And I await seeing how much of a challenge Xia Jingshi poses to Feng Suige.

ETA after watching episodes 15 and 16:

Fu Yixiao and Feng Suige are fundamentally and hugely improved as characters in the drama, instead of the novel. Xia Jingshi and Feng Suige were mostly agreeable with each other by chapter 22 due to Xia Jingshi's wits aiding Feng Suige on a crucial matter, which wouldn't work out for these two needing to be deadly foes in this drama.

If Chapter 32 plus one character also in that chapter had been included in this drama, Feng Suige would be completely unlikeable. Thankfully none of that is in the drama.

If you are wondering whether Ning Fei and Ling Xueying have a believable romance, read the novel for yourself. You'll need to read at least forty chapters to decide. Their romance and marriage may not happen in the drama because at the end of episode 13, Ning Fei is out of the picture and Ling Xueying is staying to help Fu Yixiao.

I understand all the major changes needed, to keep the plot and subplots plus pacing riveting and smooth. That said, I am annoyed at how novel-Xia Jingshi has been so majorly altered that not only does he seem to be completely ruthless and two-faced, it makes drama-Xia Jingshi at this point impossible to emphatize with. Will wait to see who is the Emperor of the Jinxiu Dynasty by the end of the drama: Xia Jingshi or Xia Jingyan.

If you really want to know the changes to novel-Feng Suige versus drama- Feng Suige, here is a comment of certain details up to chapter 32: https://kisskh.at/discussions/768987-wan-xin-ji/145636-novel-versus-drama-differences?pid=3406336&page=1#p3406336

I'm glad they made certain major changes during adaptation, when considering the contents of the first ten chapters of the novel. The Screenwriters clearly knew the material, and so did the Directors because of what is kept and what is not, yet still bringing across certain traits for certain characters and improving them. Drama versus novel definitely needs the changes. Some thoughts on Fu Yixiao, Feng Suige and Xia Jingshi in the next comment:

Yo buddy! I knew you would catch up! I am waiting for an episode reaction or review from you at some point XD

Who's your favourite character so far?

To make his lips look more ruthless, they have to work with the upper lipline and draw the lipline to be slightly extended, so as to add sharper structure with shadow and depth. It wouldn't detract from his no lipstick look. And this would not be used for too many scenes, but only for specific scenes.