randomescapist

Look who is the one with the double standard here? You seem to advocate the idea that "perception of chemistry is subjective", but you're so ready to brand my take on DD's acting as "wrong", as "judging from what the actress feels for the actor". You don't allow me to be subjective with my feelings and perception, and throughout your post you're trying to force me into your view. You don't get what I mean at all, which seems to potentially make this conversation a moot point.

Let me iterate this: It's the job of the actors to convince the audience that they're in love with each other (for their onscreen performance, not necessarily in real life). It's not the job of the audience to have to persuade themselves that these characters are in love. If you think DD has convinced you completely, that's fine. There is nothing wrong with that. But if I don't think DD has convinced me in her portrayal of romance, there's nothing wrong with me either. It's just that we perceive the same performance differently. That's the beauty of art: it lends itself to different interpretations - some can be glowing, some can be less than so. But eventually the difference doesn't make you "right" and me "wrong". It only makes us "different", that's all. Once you can accept that differences exist, that other people might not feel the same way as you do toward art in general, or a performance by a certain actor in particular, then you're ready to accept that perception of art is subjective. If you still insist that other people have "problem" with their appreciation of an art performance, it means you're not ready to accept and respect difference of opinion yet, and you still consider your perception the "high and mighty", the only "right" one, and still discredit others' views if they don't bow down to your opinion.

Also, please remember that I'm not here to convince you that DD is not a good actress or that your interpretation is "wrong". If you enjoy her performance then good for you and I'm genuinely happy for you! I'm not here to force you into my view or to dictate how you should interpret a certain story or characterisation like you did to me (I'm intelligent enough to know how to do it, so thank you for the breaking down but I don't need it - that much I could easily do on my own). I'm only here to call out a problematic behaviour; that is some people here are so ready to jump to assumptions about those who say they don't feel the chemistry between DD and WL, branding them with all sorts of names, essentially calling them "childish", "pitiful", "prejudiced", "narrow-minded" just because they perceive the same thing differently. What others feel about an actor's performance pertains to that performance only. It doesn't necessarily mean that they hold grudge against said actor. It doesn't mean they devalue YOUR WORTH as a person to like that performance either, so why's the need to call them names?

I stand by my opinion. I still hold DD in very high regard as an actress. But I also understand that even professionals can make mistakes or have strengths and weaknesses. No one is perfect after all. I don't think DD has convinced me with Changge's romance with A Sun, but that's just a minor complaint and overall her performance in this drama (as well as that of WL's) is phenomenal and I still enjoy her portrayal of Changge in other aspects of the story.

Sorry to hijack the conversation. I didn't mean to post but couldn't help it because I genuinely find some of the arguments here disturbing. How can someone claim chemistry to be "subjective" then going on throwing shades at people who say they don't/ can't feel it between the leads, claiming they "feel sorry for them", saying these viewers "look but cannot see, see but cannot appreciate, come in with a preconceived bias against the lead actors", essentially insinuating that there is some "problem" with people who can't feel the leads' chemistry? What's the point of admitting to chemistry being a "subjective" feeling when you're set to attack and trying to devalue the opinions and feelings of others who don't feel the same as you? Is your feeling the only correct one?

Chemistry is indeed a subjective feeling, so is appreciation of art in general and acting in particular. So if someone feels intense chemistry between DD and WL, there's nothing wrong with them; but it doesn't make them the only "right" person, ever. By the same token, there's also nothing wrong with people who can't feel the leads' chemistry.

Whether or not you feel the chemistry depends on many factors, some important ones being whether the romance depicted has elements that you yourself, deep down, long for or value in a relationship, or whether they align with your ideals about romance, with your upbringing and personal experience taken into consideration. If someone doesn't feel DD and WL's chemistry, it's simply because their ideals about romance are different from what are portrayed by the two actors on screen. Perhaps the portrayal doesn't click with their personal experience either. Doesn't make their personal experience and opinions of any lesser value than yours. So stop all the subtle shading and "pitying" because they don't agree with you. It's problematic!

I'm one of those who do not feel the chemistry between the leads. And no, that doesn't mean I hate DD or WL or come in with a preconceived mindset against them. This is the first drama of DD as the lead that I've watched (the last being Eternal Love but she only played a minor role there and it was already history). Same with WL. I haven't watched Nirvana in Fire so I came in with zero expectations and preconceptions. I clicked on TLB in the first place because I was intrigued by the poster, which features DD and WL. I had absolutely no idea Lusi, Alen Fang and Liu Yuning were even cast; I hardly check casting news at all. In the first 10 episodes or so all I cared about is the leads, but then at some point I think: "no, there's something missing. This is not it." Then out of curiosity I checked out another of DD's dramas (Love Designer) and it hits all the sweet spots for me. Her chemistry with the ML there is fire. I could see past the facade she put up (she pretended she didn't feel anything for him at all) and felt the undercurrent, the struggle and conflicted emotions she kept hidden underneath. It's very palpable and believable.

The thing with DD and WL is that although each of them is very convincing in their respective performance, they failed to convince me that the romantic feelings they have are channeled toward the other person. So yes I can feel the comradeship, trust and friendship blossoming between them, and perhaps some crush on WL's part, but the romance is missing on DD's part, or to put it more exactly, I wasn't convinced she was in love with him. She seems very guarded around him, and by this I don't mean the in-character guardedness. It feels more like for this particular point I could see DD the actress and not Changge the character; I could feel that she sees WL as WL, as in some younger "brother", and not necessarily as A Sun.

Long story short, my not feeling the chemistry between DD and WL doesn't mean I hate the actors. On the contrary, I think they both did a very good job with their characters. It's just the romance that didn't got sold to me because I see something in it that is essentially different from what you're seeing. It doesn't make me a hater, or my perception of any less value than yours. I don't feel I miss out anything either by not feeling their romance, so if you're prepared to say you're sorry for me, please keep that opinion to yourself. I'm sure many viewers who share similar opinions to mine wouldn't need your pity either. They have gotten along and enjoyed the drama just fine!

Simply put, there's a thing called personal preference. Many people like Haodu because his characterization/ personality clicks with them, just like how the first ML clicks with you. That's all.