bailang

I’d have to disagree with that. Both Bai Lu and Joseph Zeng are indeed trained actors.

Bai Lu may not have come from a formal acting conservatory, but she has built her career through years of dedicated acting work, gaining substantial experience and honing her craft across various genres and roles, from historical dramas to modern romances to more complex, emotionally layered performances like in "The One and Only". That’s very much a form of professional training in itself.

Similarly, while Joseph Zeng did not graduate from the Beijing Film Academy, he has undergone professional acting training and built a solid career through extensive practical experience in the industry. His consistent work across various television dramas and films reflects a clear commitment to honing his acting craft.

So to say they’re "not trained actors" is misleading. You may not like their performances in a particular project (which is fair game), but it doesn't negate their training or professional commitment as actors.

I agree with you, there’s a world of difference between genuine critique and targeted attacks. Calling someone talentless or launching personal insults does nothing to improve the C-dramas. It’s perfectly valid to discuss scripts but it should not be done as a personal attack of the actors.

Unfortunately, as you said, fake accounts and constant name-calling only drown out the voices of those trying to offer constructive perspectives. If we can’t make that distinction, the whole dialogue gets poisoned and that doesn’t help actors or viewers.

At the end of the day, we all want better dramas and better storytelling, and that’s only possible if we can keep the conversation focused.

I think that’s a fair question and I fully understand your perspective. For me personally, the 1-star rating wasn’t meant to say every single aspect of the production is worthless. But when a drama’s core — its writing and storytelling — feels fundamentally broken or frustrating even after several episodes, it overshadows whatever technical effort or craft may be there.

Watching a drama is like enjoying a 10-course dinner: if the starter and first few courses already taste bad, I’m unlikely to keep going in hopes the dessert will redeem it. Time and emotional investment matter too.

So for my experience, it did feel like a 1-star — not because no effort was made, but because the overall enjoyment and narrative cohesion fell that flat for me. Of course, others may weigh different aspects more heavily, and that’s perfectly valid.

I get where you’re coming from, but I have to disagree with that logic. For me, watching a drama is a lot like enjoying a 10-course dinner. If the first few dishes already taste bad, why should I force myself to sit through the rest of the meal, holding onto some utopian hope that better food will magically appear? The early experience matters — it sets the tone and expectations.

Yes, it’s only been 8 episodes but those 8 episodes do count. They are supposed to hook viewers, establish characters, and build engagement. If after 8 episodes the writing feels weak, the pacing is off, and the characters aren’t well developed, viewers have every right to call it out. That’s not the same as judging a novel after one chapter — it’s more like reaching chapter 8 and realizing the author hasn’t delivered on the story’s potential so far.

Telling people they can’t critique a drama unless they watch the whole thing is unrealistic. Viewers are investing their time, and first impressions matter especially in the highly competitive world of C-dramas where there are countless choices.

And just to be clear, my comments have always focused on the writing and structure, not on personal attacks or actors. In fact, I respect the actors (including Bai Lu), and I want to see them given better scripts to truly showcase their talent.

At the end of the day, we all want good dramas. But expecting viewers to "wait and see" indefinitely while they’re already disengaged isn’t realistic — first impressions matter.

I agree there’s a huge difference between constructive feedback and personal attacks — and for the record, none of my comments have ever targeted any actor, including Bai Lu. In fact, I respect her as an actress and have said multiple times that the main issue here lies with the script, not with the actors themselves.

I fully support fair criticism of writing, pacing, editing — that’s how we push for better storytelling. But I absolutely do not support the trolls who use fake accounts to throw full-on insults at actors. That behavior is toxic and unhelpful, and it only damages the conversation.

In the end, blaming the actors for script issues is completely misplaced. If we want better dramas, we need to focus criticism where it belongs — on the writing and production, not on tearing down the people performing the roles they were given.

I get your point and yes, Yu Zheng as producer and screenwriter certainly holds a lot of responsibility for how the drama turns out. No argument there.

But that said, past success doesn’t give anyone a free pass on current work. I know she can write. But right now, the writing in this drama is clearly weak and it’s fair for viewers to call that out. Just as we praised her for her good work before, it’s fair to critique this one if it’s not up to standard. That’s how the industry grows.

I get where you’re coming from, and I agree when we see solid, thoughtful criticism about the script, pacing, or editing, that’s perfectly fine. Not every drama will be everyone’s cup of tea, and people are free to share their views. That’s not the issue.

But I absolutely hate seeing trolls launch personal attacks against actors and that bothers me even more than bad writing. Yes, I hate poorly written scripts (who doesn’t?), but I hate even more the toxic behavior where people target actors like Bai Lu with insults or mockery. She is no doubt a talented actress who works hard. Attacking her personally because of flaws in the script or drama production is completely unfair and crosses the line.

And you’re absolutely right there are trolls who rate the entire drama or call the script bad after barely watching one episode (or none at all). That just undermines any meaningful discussion about actual issues.

Critique the script? I'm on it. But personal attacks on actors? That’s where I draw the line.

Speaking of Bai Lu — I actually like and support her, and I know she’s talented. But having said that, I do believe she really needs to be more selective about the scripts and projects she takes on. If she getting involved in poorly written or shallow productions, she risks stagnating and that would be such a waste of her talent. I want to see her shine in roles that truly match her ability.

At the end of the day, most of us want to see the actors we support succeed and that starts with demanding better writing and smarter project choices. Constructive feedback helps the actors and industry grow; blind defense or toxic attacks help no one.

Past success doesn’t automatically excuse present poor writing. Yes, I’m aware she’s done good work before — I’ve seen Demon Hunter Romance myself. But that’s exactly why this is so frustrating — it shows she can write well, yet the current writing is clearly lacking.

Blaming the director alone doesn’t hold up either — while direction affects pacing and tone, the core issues here (weak character arcs, inconsistent plot logic, shallow dialogue) all point back to the script itself. A good director can elevate a decent script, but they can’t fix fundamental writing flaws.

So no — this isn’t about “hate.” It’s about calling out bad writing when we see it, regardless of someone’s past reputation. Every project should stand on its own merits.

Honestly, it’s a silly request to ask someone to explain the conduct of others.

No one here is responsible for the actions of other users on the internet including MDL.

And your example actually proves the point — people giving episodes 9 to 32 (which haven’t even aired!) ratings below 3 stars? That is blatant trolling and hate-voting, not legitimate critique. So please, let’s not pretend there aren’t haters — there are plenty, as anyone who’s spent time in the comment sections can see. And sadly, this kind of behavior has been going on for years — it’s nothing new.

But here’s the real issue: pointing out bad writing in the actual aired episodes isn’t the same as this kind of hate-voting. If we lump all valid criticism together with hate behavior, we’re just making it harder to have any honest discussion about quality. Not every negative opinion is "hate." If we can’t separate trolls from thoughtful criticism, we’re just helping bad writing continue unchecked.

It honestly infuriates me how often we get beautifully made C-dramas completely ruined by terrible script writing.

The actors in these dramas often come from China’s top acting academies such as Central Academy of Drama, Beijing Film Academy, Shanghai Theatre Academy. They’ve trained for years and bring real talent to the screen.

The sets are breathtaking, designed and built by world-class professionals. You can see the enormous effort, craftsmanship, and money poured into every detail: stunning scenes, intricate special effects, meticulously crafted costumes and props, especially in xianxia productions.

BUT THEN, the script writing is an absolute disaster. Too many so-called “writers” with no real understanding of character development or storytelling, just lazy trope-chasing and shallow fanservice. And here we go again: another expensive, beautiful train wreck ruined by poor writing. It baffles me how this pattern keeps repeating, year after year. How can producers pour so much into everything except the one thing that matters most — the story?

And honestly, the most frustrating part? On MDL, the moment someone points out bad writing or flaws, certain fans immediately shout “hater!” and try to shut down any real conversation. This blind celebrity worship is EXACTLY why the industry keeps churning out garbage scripts. They know a portion of the fanbase will defend even the worst writing no matter what. If people stopped making excuses and started demanding better stories, we might finally see the quality these C-dramas should be delivering.

And let’s be clear: meaningful character development does NOT mean making the lead start out weak, silly, or needlessly comedic just to force an artificial "growth" arc later. That’s not depth — that’s bad writing and lazy characterization. True character growth comes from well-written challenges, believable motivations, and emotional depth — not cheap gags or exaggerated immaturity

Producers need to stop treating scripts as an afterthought. Viewers need to stop blindly defending bad writing just to protect their idols and start demanding real quality.

No amount of big-name actors, pretty faces, lavish sets, dazzling costumes, or glossy marketing can save a badly written story from becoming forgettable trash.

We deserve better. The actors deserve better. The entire production teams deserve better. It’s time for us, the audience, to raise our expectations and push this industry toward true excellence in storytelling.

It honestly infuriates me how often we get beautifully made C-dramas completely ruined by terrible script writing.

The actors in these dramas often come from China’s top acting academies such as Central Academy of Drama, Beijing Film Academy, Shanghai Theatre Academy. They’ve trained for years and bring real talent to the screen.

The sets are breathtaking, designed and built by world-class professionals. You can see the enormous effort, craftsmanship, and money poured into every detail: stunning scenes, intricate special effects, meticulously crafted costumes and props, especially in xianxia productions.

BUT THEN, the script writing is an absolute disaster. Too many so-called “writers” with no real understanding of character development or storytelling, just lazy trope-chasing and shallow fanservice. And here we go again: another expensive, beautiful train wreck ruined by poor writing. It baffles me how this pattern keeps repeating, year after year. How can producers pour so much into everything except the one thing that matters most — the story?

And honestly, the most frustrating part? On MDL, the moment someone points out bad writing or flaws, certain fans immediately shout “hater!” and try to shut down any real conversation. This blind celebrity worship is EXACTLY why the industry keeps churning out garbage scripts. They know a portion of the fanbase will defend even the worst writing no matter what. If people stopped making excuses and started demanding better stories, we might finally see the quality these C-dramas should be delivering.

And let’s be clear: meaningful character development does NOT mean making the lead start out weak, silly, or needlessly comedic just to force an artificial "growth" arc later. That’s not depth — that’s bad writing and lazy characterization. True character growth comes from well-written challenges, believable motivations, and emotional depth — not cheap gags or exaggerated immaturity

Producers need to stop treating scripts as an afterthought. Viewers need to stop blindly defending bad writing just to protect their idols and start demanding real quality.

No amount of big-name actors, pretty faces, lavish sets, dazzling costumes, or glossy marketing can save a badly written story from becoming forgettable trash.

We deserve better. The actors deserve better. The entire production teams deserve better. It’s time for us, the audience, to raise our expectations and push this industry toward true excellence in storytelling.

What a disappointingly lame story. I genuinely felt sorry for Bailu and Joseph, having to portray such poorly written characters in an even worse plot.

The so-called heavenly lord comes across as utterly brainless and incompetent, repeatedly allowing his wife to be captured and put in danger, and even nearly marrying another man simply because he’s suspicious of her?!

Tell me, what kind of "heavenly lord" is so foolish as to resort to such idiotic tests of his own wife?

Absolutely absurd. Childish commedy. A waste of talent and time. Couldn’t stomach any more. Dropped at episode 4!

I think they should called him "Lucky Zhanghai" and not "Legend Zhanghai" ... Obviously he relies on luck more than brain 😆

As of Episode 37, Zhanghai’s actions are becoming increasingly frustrating and senseless.

First, he confronts Zhao Bingwen without any backup plan, relying on a ragtag team to take down someone who trained him for ten years and knows his every move. That’s not bravery — that’s just reckless.

Then, he goes to Dongxia with the female lead, again completely unprepared, only to be captured without resistance and watch her be forced into marriage.

At this point, calling it a “Legend” feels like a joke.

Well, if Zhanghai continues down this path, blinded by tunnel vision and consumed by his relentless pursuit of revenge, never once pausing to reflect on those he’s lost along the way, then it’s no surprise that, by the end of the drama, he’s the only one left standing.

Everyone else, including the female lead, is sacrificed, whether by fate, by choice, or simply by getting caught in the crossfire of his vengeance.

And so he earns the title Legend not because he triumphed against his enemies, but because he survived. Alone. Haunted. Hollow. With nothing left but his name and the ruins of those who once stood by him.

Let’s see if my prediction proves right that in the end, he wins his revenge but loses everything else including the female lead.

Well, I haven’t drawn any final conclusions yet.

My opinions are based on the episodes I’ve watched so far.

Isn’t MDL meant for viewers to share thoughts as they watch, not only after finishing a show?

I can barely count more than five times (including their childhood) that the male and female leads actually meet before she falls in love with him, and in each encounter, it feels more like they’re testing each other than developing any genuine romantic relationship. Also, let’s not forget: this drama isn’t even tagged as a romance. So when the romance does happen suddenly, it feels completely out of the blue.

The female lead might have thought she was on a romantic boat date with Zhanghai, but let’s be honest, Zhanghai clearly didn’t see it that way at the time. He has only one mission in mind: Revenge 😂

And let’s not forget we’re talking about Zhanghai, someone who spent ten (10) years training solely to avenge his family. Ten years is a long time, especially in that era, when people didn’t live as long.

So to see him make such basic mistakes like blindly trusting Zhuang Zhixing’s one-sided story, or stealing the Gui Seals without any sort of backup plan is honestly just eye-roll worthy.

Zhanghai was fully prepared to kill the Queen in Princess Yongning’s tomb. He would have gone through with it, if Antu hadn’t suddenly rushed in and threatened to take her own life to redeem her mother. Did Zhanghai pause and offer the Queen a chance to explain herself in the tomb? Not even once. It was the Queen who chose to speak up, only after her daughter fainted in her arms.

Smart people don’t depend on luck to succeed; they plan meticulously and prepare for contingencies. But did we see any of that when Zhanghai infiltrated the palace to steal the Gui Seal? Nope, not at all. He even had to improvise a fake seal in the Imperial Astronomy Bureau without any protection or backup plan after stealing the real one, despite already having the Queen’s drawing and ample time to prepare it beforehand.

Sure, the Dongxia Queen’s death may not be entirely his fault. She did choose to shield him from the poisoned needles but that doesn’t excuse the fact that he went into the palace with Zero preparation except for the extra bright firework 🤣.

For someone portrayed as so meticulous and calculating after 10 years of training, that kind of reckless behavior is ironically disappointing.

For me, the show isn’t about executing the “perfect revenge” because in reality, revenge is messy, emotional, and full of unintended consequences.

That said, I still find it troubling that someone like Zhanghai, who trained for ten years solely to avenge his family’s death, could be so careless with the basics, such as believing Zhuang Zhi Xing’s one-sided story without any verification, and stealing the Gui Seal without a backup plan. If the female lead and her mother hadn’t risked their lives to save him, he would’ve died for nothing. And worse, the queen’s death ends up feeling like a wasted sacrifice. No reflection, no consequences, just brushed aside.

What hit me hardest was how quickly he turned around and asked the female lead to lie about her mother’s death. That moment showed how deeply he’d lost sight of everything except his revenge. It’s raw, yes, but also disturbing. I didn’t expect perfection from him, but I did expect more awareness and empathy especially from someone shaped entirely by loss.

So while I appreciate the show’s ambition to portray the cost of revenge, I wish it also gave more space for accountability, empathy, and emotional reckoning. Not just destruction and sacrifice.

Legend of Zhanghai presents itself as a tale of brilliance and destiny, led by a male protagonist skilled in astronomy and the decoding of ancient mechanisms. But behind the clever puzzles and polished visuals lies a story that feels increasingly hollow the deeper it goes.

The male lead may be intelligent, but his judgment is alarmingly flawed. He accepts Zhuang Zhi Xing’s accusations against the Dongxia Queen without a shred of doubt or verification. An act that contradicts the very essence of wisdom. For someone so capable, his lack of discernment is not just disappointing; it’s dangerous.

Even more unsettling is how carelessly he endangers himself and others. Stealing the Gui Seal and bringing it to the Imperial Astronomy Bureau despite clear threats. Eunuch Chao still alive, and his vengeful adopted sons and daughter looming, is not an act of courage, but of recklessness.

The most difficult part of watching this drama is seeing a protagonist so consumed by vengeance that everyone else becomes expendable. Many lives are sacrificed in silence, treated as mere stepping stones in his personal quest for revenge. Even a queen’s life is lost, reduced to collateral damage, an act that feels hollow and unjust. It’s as if the lives of others don’t matter unless their life mirrors his own family's. That kind of tunnel vision may be realistic in grief, but here it’s portrayed without enough reflection or consequence. Grief without reflection turns into destruction, and that’s exactly what we witness.

The female lead’s arc is equally disheartening. She falls in love too quickly, devotes herself too completely, and willingly sacrifices herself for his revenge, all for a man she barely knows. What could have been a moving story of connection becomes yet another example of a woman’s life folded into a man’s pain.

This drama is far from perfect. It has its beautiful moments: Clever twists, stunning visuals, and a male lead who is undeniably charismatic. But beneath that, it tells a story that often forgets the value of every life and the weight of every choice. Revenge may drive the plot, but it should not come at the cost of so many innocent souls without question, remorse, or reckoning.

Legend of Zhanghai is a story where intellect overshadows empathy, and revenge consumes compassion. It reminds us that no matter how clever a hero may be, if he forgets the worth of those around him, he is not a hero at all, just a man lost in his own darkness.