#THE GROWING UP OF CHENG ZHENG# -------------------------------------------------------
The child actor actor was a perfect fit for CZ as a kid (he wouldn't have - absolutely couldn't have LOL - transitioned into an adult role, unlike Landy Li) and segued well into Elvis Han's adult CZ.
CZ's arc needed to move forward in scenes where he is in college .. His engagement with his Uni in Beijing had NO scenes of classes attended .. proffs met .. No establishing of father's influence (was it required to keep father character as a script secret to be jumped at us ONLY in the competition scene??). I think introducing father at an earlier episode would have established and strengthened the Competition scene as well as heightened the tension (and comic play-out when he's hiding from dad at the registration). Same time that mom is shown .. dad could have been introduced. We NEVER see CZ looking at his dad's office or him working .. so his speech on the stage looks hollow and pasted on. The actor who played Father was a great fit for the role, no reason why he couldn't be in more scenes.
Fine maybe CZ barely grows up after his award win. But what about later? We don't see the DAWNing of his sense of responsibility, except saying a few flippant 'hallmark card' lines to SYJ after his win.
During the couple episodes once the OTP comes together one expects to see him move into his "earning" phase. The maturing of CZ Post breakup is essential. WHAT was he doing while she was working her way up the company? Working? Regretting? Mooning for her? The time when we expect to see his growth arc is an ellipsis .. The story pasted on with his last episode dialogue!! THE cheapest, most unattractive way to handle a 'visual medium'. Did we not need to see him engage maturely? Drop the 'kiddish' act .. Change his body language?
Why does SYJ accept him WITHOUT seeing ANY of those characteristics in him .. JUST based on his written hanging words and that he stayed single? AND stalked her DAILY?? Which mature adult does that .. Wasn't he supposed to have graduated from OBSESSION to Mature Love?
It was his obsession and wish to possess her that drove him during all those chasing years. She fell for him when he finally began to display signs of maturity in the way he executed the their internship job, looked after her. Ironically it was this same obsession and possessiveness that also broke the spell for SYJ and revealed his unchanged "childishness".
So where is the convincing portrayal of the growth into maturity suitable for someone like SYJ who is looking for stability ALWAYS. She is STAID .. and can handle only a teeny dash of madness. HE is ALL MAD!!
She has NEVER been shown as someone who can laugh and enjoy a joke .. or be playful!! How the heck does she suddenly begin to 'like' a goofball .. the kind she stayed far from! He is the EXACT opposite of the STAID Shen Ju An, he too doesn't have a humour bone in his body.
By the time the final episode roles in .. Elvis Han looks depleted of all enthusiasm for the Drama .. bored .. and doing lip service to the role (literally - because Drama plot is all DIALOGUE driven now to patch in the missing elements of story).
No ONE cares if the OTP packs up and says OK DRAMA team 'it's a wrap', right in the middle of the last episode's rooftop party. What a tacky way to hook up ALL the couples!!
A Drama which dealt with such COMPLEX relations does a hash up of the end - all cardboard and staple finish.
# THE MARRIAGE of Zhou Zi Yi # --------------------------------------------
What was with the absence of his wife Chen Zie Zie from the ENTIRE drama after a brief back shot of a bride being yelled at by her father (ZZY uncle Chen) at the cancelled-wedding scene. Got too expensive to shoot extra scenes and hire actress?
(Caveat : Ironically that's where OTP gets together. Does that precipitate in some sense ZZY's actions?)
ZZY's SURPRISE announcement later required a "flashback" to what had transpired later that day, we NEEDED to see the transformation; it was imperative for his arc. We needed the camera on ZZY's face, to see his expression on 'seeing' the Bride (he must have known her since he knew uncle Chen?) It would highlight his capacity for deep EMPATHY to the point where he self-destructs - one would imagine - locking himself into a marriage with a pregnant woman who definitely tied the knot out of convenience.
He was a saviour, a "hero" in her eyes, more so in his own eyes too. He felt he had found a purpose, a redemption of sorts. His life had meaning now. This act of self sacrifice required of him no TRUE attachment but the safety of a contract .. an emotion-free relationship - an act of a Good Samaritan. Remember his was an Attachment-Avoidant character.
Accepting or entangling with MYH was the most frightening, self-threatening, panic inducing thought in his subconscious mind. While would run miles away he also couldn't because he also felt the safest with her in his knowledge that she would NEVER abandon him. Fear of abandonment is the driving force of the AA personality. That's why anytime his MYH pillar shook (her dating / leaving for Dublin) he reacted with such severe physical expression towards her - like he's drowning!!
That's why seeing him interact with his pregnant wife WAS essential for us to explore more sides of him. IF SO many scenes and dialogues were not wasted on exploring his 'part time' superficial 'crush' with the doc colleague of MYH, then this HUGE development of this part of his arc would have added depth to the drama and ZZY personality.
This marriage is ALSO disposed of brashly and rashly, just by a few lines of dialogue! Seriously?! The end arc of ZZY was turned into an unbelievable mockery .. and showed little respect for the viewers, they had been carefully cultivated and then callously flicked away.
If you like male chasing female first plots then you’ll like this. I really enjoyed and even rewatched it. I…
Her her naso-labial crease was SO prominent she could have played a 45 y.o. better. Even her lips were down curved ALWAYS almost for some 22 plus eps. And she has a pinched and constipated face .. Bad casting .. Cold female roles need to know how to "act" cold BUT do NOT need to have a visual that is frozen.
We all wanted more of MXD. That face..that composure...just watch him around Lin Lin. He has a deep relationship…
😅😅😜
I am the opposite I think - some masochistic drama gene draws me to exactly that sort of intense cutting up and drawing blood level of emotions.. Followed by "healing" and finding the way back
PART 3 of REVIEW
#THE GROWING UP OF CHENG ZHENG#
-------------------------------------------------------
The child actor actor was a perfect fit for CZ as a kid (he wouldn't have - absolutely couldn't have LOL - transitioned into an adult role, unlike Landy Li) and segued well into Elvis Han's adult CZ.
CZ's arc needed to move forward in scenes where he is in college .. His engagement with his Uni in Beijing had NO scenes of classes attended .. proffs met .. No establishing of father's influence (was it required to keep father character as a script secret to be jumped at us ONLY in the competition scene??).
I think introducing father at an earlier episode would have established and strengthened the Competition scene as well as heightened the tension (and comic play-out when he's hiding from dad at the registration).
Same time that mom is shown .. dad could have been introduced.
We NEVER see CZ looking at his dad's office or him working .. so his speech on the stage looks hollow and pasted on.
The actor who played Father was a great fit for the role, no reason why he couldn't be in more scenes.
Fine maybe CZ barely grows up after his award win. But what about later?
We don't see the DAWNing of his sense of responsibility, except saying a few flippant 'hallmark card' lines to SYJ after his win.
During the couple episodes once the OTP comes together one expects to see him move into his "earning" phase.
The maturing of CZ Post breakup is essential.
WHAT was he doing while she was working her way up the company?
Working? Regretting? Mooning for her? The time when we expect to see his growth arc is an ellipsis .. The story pasted on with his last episode dialogue!!
THE cheapest, most unattractive way to handle a 'visual medium'.
Did we not need to see him engage maturely? Drop the 'kiddish' act .. Change his body language?
Why does SYJ accept him WITHOUT seeing ANY of those characteristics in him .. JUST based on his written hanging words and that he stayed single? AND stalked her DAILY?? Which mature adult does that ..
Wasn't he supposed to have graduated from OBSESSION to Mature Love?
It was his obsession and wish to possess her that drove him during all those chasing years.
She fell for him when he finally began to display signs of maturity in the way he executed the their internship job, looked after her.
Ironically it was this same obsession and possessiveness that also broke the spell for SYJ and revealed his unchanged "childishness".
So where is the convincing portrayal of the growth into maturity suitable for someone like SYJ who is looking for stability ALWAYS.
She is STAID .. and can handle only a teeny dash of madness. HE is ALL MAD!!
She has NEVER been shown as someone who can laugh and enjoy a joke .. or be playful!!
How the heck does she suddenly begin to 'like' a goofball .. the kind she stayed far from! He is the EXACT opposite of the STAID Shen Ju An, he too doesn't have a humour bone in his body.
By the time the final episode roles in .. Elvis Han looks depleted of all enthusiasm for the Drama .. bored .. and doing lip service to the role (literally - because Drama plot is all DIALOGUE driven now to patch in the missing elements of story).
No ONE cares if the OTP packs up and says OK DRAMA team 'it's a wrap', right in the middle of the last episode's rooftop party.
What a tacky way to hook up ALL the couples!!
A Drama which dealt with such COMPLEX relations does a hash up of the end - all cardboard and staple finish.
Continuing the REVIEW from above
# THE MARRIAGE of Zhou Zi Yi #
--------------------------------------------
What was with the absence of his wife Chen Zie Zie from the ENTIRE drama after a brief back shot of a bride being yelled at by her father (ZZY uncle Chen) at the cancelled-wedding scene.
Got too expensive to shoot extra scenes and hire actress?
(Caveat : Ironically that's where OTP gets together. Does that precipitate in some sense ZZY's actions?)
ZZY's SURPRISE announcement later required a "flashback" to what had transpired later that day, we NEEDED to see the transformation; it was imperative for his arc.
We needed the camera on ZZY's face, to see his expression on 'seeing' the Bride (he must have known her since he knew uncle Chen?)
It would highlight his capacity for deep EMPATHY to the point where he self-destructs - one would imagine - locking himself into a marriage with a pregnant woman who definitely tied the knot out of convenience.
He was a saviour, a "hero" in her eyes, more so in his own eyes too. He felt he had found a purpose, a redemption of sorts.
His life had meaning now.
This act of self sacrifice required of him no TRUE attachment but the safety of a contract .. an emotion-free relationship - an act of a Good Samaritan. Remember his was an Attachment-Avoidant character.
Accepting or entangling with MYH was the most frightening, self-threatening, panic inducing thought in his subconscious mind.
While would run miles away he also couldn't because he also felt the safest with her in his knowledge that she would NEVER abandon him.
Fear of abandonment is the driving force of the AA personality.
That's why anytime his MYH pillar shook (her dating / leaving for Dublin) he reacted with such severe physical expression towards her - like he's drowning!!
That's why seeing him interact with his pregnant wife WAS essential for us to explore more sides of him.
IF SO many scenes and dialogues were not wasted on exploring his 'part time' superficial 'crush' with the doc colleague of MYH, then this HUGE development of this part of his arc would have added depth to the drama and ZZY personality.
This marriage is ALSO disposed of brashly and rashly, just by a few lines of dialogue!
Seriously?!
The end arc of ZZY was turned into an unbelievable mockery .. and showed little respect for the viewers, they had been carefully cultivated and then callously flicked away.
She also didn't shy away from Kisses Etc .. as many actresses do.
Are there kisses? Any skinship?
Even her lips were down curved ALWAYS almost for some 22 plus eps.
And she has a pinched and constipated face ..
Bad casting ..
Cold female roles need to know how to "act" cold BUT do NOT need to have a visual that is frozen.
"I don't trust you you wicked lass, but I'm not going to let you out of my sight and watch every breath you take, every move you make"
"those dual emotion conveying lip curls and quivers"
How many conflicting emotions do his eyes lips and brows convey‼️‼️‼️‼️
I am the opposite I think - some masochistic drama gene draws me to exactly that sort of intense cutting up and drawing blood level of emotions..
Followed by "healing" and finding the way back
I drop those dramas instantly..
Weak looking, wispy whispering waif types turn me off completely