idlerockfarm

Yea. It takes a lot for me to try horroe

Oooh. I need to read it when I have time.

Awww.

I’m all ready for the disaster. I might need more popcorn.

I am not good at being silent. We’ll see.

No way will I be silent for Goddess Bless You from Death.

Also, I KNOW you would hate the book I am reading now.

I want to think they will get along well in the end. That’s me being optimistic.

I don't know how I feel about making Joe so much more vulnerable (virgin comment and puppy-dog eyes) in the show vs the book. I think it works for the actors they picked because Ming isn't a god of beauty like he is in the book.

Book
Zhou Xiang (Joe)
Yan Ming Xiu (Ming)
Wang Yu Dong (Tong)
Cai Wei (the film guy with the father in the hospital, forgot his name in show)


I pictured Yan Ming Xiu as tsundere and tall AF and just perfect-looking. So hot it's painful. He withholds affection and is quick to anger and hard to please. Everything in his life (except his family) is his way or no way. He is a puppy dog for Wang Yu Dong. Almost panting.

And Zhou Xiang I saw as an experienced stuntman with Cai Wei as a solid friend and backer. He is cute enough but not the hottest man compared to some of the actors around him at work. But he is kind. Thoughtful. Responsible. Grounded. Sexual and experienced. He wants a relationship but isn't living celibate.

That works well for Zhou Xiang vs Yan Ming Xiu to be opposites. And it makes it a big deal when Zhou Xiang holds onto the mess of a "relationship" with Yan Ming Xiu.


But the show has Joe way, way hot and they use the V-word (virgin), so it looks like he isn't used to one-night stands like Zhou Xiang was. So it isn't as surprising that he is too quickly attached? Maybe. Not sure. The Ming in the show is cold towards the world and even a bit cold towards Tong. We can tell he likes him, but it is played with innuendo and asking to spend time together without his sister.

So, Joe being a vulnerable cutie works to keep the power dynamic similarly unbalanced (as the book has difference in emotional/relationship style, attractiveness, money, social connections, age) between Joe and Ming.

But the qualities in contrast for Joe and Ming are a bit different. Joe and Ming don't look 10 years apart in age (I forgot the total years apart in book but closer to 10 than not). And Ming looks close to Joe's height. And he isn't the broad-chested narrow-waisted god of beauty who looks almost inhumanly gorgeous. I guess the power axis isn't beauty and power and emotional reserve vs kindness and maturity but more like innocence and emotional honest vs jadedness and emotional closed-offish-ness, Joe wins in attractiveness in the show, Ming still has more money and social connections, and age looks to be somewhat neutralized.

I dunno. Just thoughts for now. Sorry, not sorry, I am not going to edit to omit repetitiveness. It's late. And this isn't an essay. It is what is stuck in my head right now as questions about the book vs. show.

Let me know how this lands with you all? Characterization. Book vs. Series. Go!

Ok, I've been thinking about the show versus novel lately. And I will hide my-rambling thoughts and final (whadayya think) question in case they are spoiler-ish

Question is about the changed characterization and power dynamic between Zhou Xiang and Yan Ming Xiu (book) vs Joe and Ming (series).

One of the translations is called Rebirth: Professional Substitute.

People gave away the whole book's plot a few days ago. If you keep scrolling down you'll see spoiler after spoiler.

I wrote the author and asked if I could correct the errors that are obvious to an almost-20-year English teacher (I don't judge people's grammar or punctuation online, please don't do so for me). I would do it for free. Once.

So, there was pain there with many errors. (Today I found a book that was worse by a different author.)

I am not judging. I know zero characters of Mandarin (Duolingo will verify my lack of retention). AND the translation is well done overall when I look at it for all the things that could have gone wrong.

But I just had to know what happened to Zhou Xiang (Joe), and I also wanted to know how/if Yan Ming Xiu ever (Ming) changed his ways. There weren't errors that would keep me from know all that.

The one I read is called Rebirth: Professional Substitute on Wattpad. I believe it was translated by the same person as Miffy420 linked.

Edited to add: I also had most of the book read to me by a screen reader while driving to and from work. So I didn't eyeball the book the majority of the time.

Totally. Yes.

We see Poom/Joe all the time because he is the mind that we connect with as the protagonist. And because he is so d@mned hawt. 🥵

-Poom/Joe's body dies. Winner/Joe's body wakes up 2 years later in the hospital with Poom/Joe/s mind inside.

-The book referred often to old Zhou Xiang (Joe) to clarify, but the show uses mirrors and reflective surfaces to show the viewer that everyone IRL is just seeing Winner/Joe (new body with old Joe's mind inside).

🤣🤣🤣

I like the transmigration aspect, but what really made me curious was whether a life of restraint leads people to love WILD plots?

Ngl, the novel sucked me in.

What do you want clarified? Can ask here or message me.

Agree.

I can see myself watching and then repeatedly rewatching (over and over) the show once it finishes.

Agree. It makes me angry that haters do this to all the good shows when they are new. Then I feel compelled too rate a series in the beginning since I'm verified. And rating this early is just bonkers. They should hold our ability to rate until 1/2 way through or something.

Yup. They are using Poom to still act Joe in the new body but show Winner (younger Joe/second Joe) in mirrors and occasionally to remind you that Ming and everyone else is seeing a different body.

Thanks. I do feel better today. The stomach bug has been going around here.