shadowdreamer

I'm going to interject. I find his big eyes are the most expressive. Due to the character, he is not the overtly expressive type, rather quiet, solemn. I can see what his inner thoughts in the moment by looking at his eyes; when he is helpless, happy, sad, worry, indulging, conflicted, etc. Looking on the Chinese site, it is full of praise. Chinese audiences have talk non-stop about how "his eyes can speak".

Again, you have your opinion, but just want to point out that there are other opinion too.

Meng is the uncle of Jaishang's half brother and Rong Dingkun's son. It's definitely not appropriate for him to be present but the half brother needs to be acknowledge and Meng likely wouldn't have allowed his nephew to go alone. Fanghua is a strong, big hearted girl, she would understand. And I think Jiashang would had communicated with her before they are invited.

Haha, maybe because he doesn't act like the conventional Chinese male lead. I get his acting and he's perfect as Jiashang (very accordingly to the novel). Chinese audiences of the show (both drama and novel readers) really like ZhouZhou's interpretation of Jiashang. Not to mention, the highest praise from the original author herself. She follows the drama and ZhouZhou has the most likes from her. Haha, so, to each their own.

Yes, for sure.

After watching ZhouZhou's interviews and videos shared on City of Streamer official Weibo page, I can deduct why Rong Jiashang can stand against the novel. He's read the novel and from the behind the scene clips he discusses with the director on the logic of his scenes. From the interviews, the way he describes Rong Jiashang and his understanding of the character is pretty profound. Very interesting and it should be the way to shape a character from paper to flesh and blood.

Despite my rant, it's a rewatch for me too. :)

I finally had a chance this weekend to sit down and watch the finale. I wrote a review for the drama itself but here I'll compare the adaptation vs novel. For sure those having read the novel will have a different perspective and opinion on the adaptation. To be honest, it’s mainly my rant about the changes to the female lead character. It’s going to be long winded so if anyone is able to finish it, thank you for reading. *peace*

The novel is, first and foremost, a love story of two people. The revenge part is secondary and the lever to strengthen their love. Both Jiashang and Shizhen are strong individual that can differentiate love from hate and right from wrong. Shizhen dared to infiltrate the enemy’s home and seduces Rong Dingkun to avenge her old neighbors and father, although at the end it was the son she fell in love with. So, at the end how can she not dare to love an enemy's son? Why can Jaishang dared to hold on to his family, aspiration and love her all together but she cannot? Shizhen will have her love and revenge. Love triumph hate is the theme. Shizhen doesn't take orders from anyone, even Meng. Isn't that the epitome and essence of a modern woman? Independent, bold, true and daring.

Unfortunately, we cannot see that with this adaptation. The first 30 episodes are scenes taken right out of the book, word for word in dialogues and scenes, but there are also a few aspects missing. At the same time, there are scenes added by the screenwriters which are welcomed and actually make the drama flow better. You can tell at this point there's an expectation for the drama to follow the novel until the end. Such is not the case, however. It it not until after the airing of episode 31-32 that the script changed. The biggest flaw was the change in Shizhen’s character setting. Not to mention Meng. This is another big mistake to add him to create drama between him and Shizhen. It weakens Shizhen’s unique characterization. In the novel he does not play such a big role. Rather he is the third male lead after Rong Dingkun.

She, a single young woman in the 1920s Republic of China, can live in a bachelor’s (Meng) house to achieve her revenge why does she care what other would say if she loves an enemy’s son. She is a smart and outspoken woman. She can argue with a rich young master of the house without care or consequences. She’s a governess that can guide her pupils from wrong to right. And most importantly, what about what happened in Beijing? Does her love for the Jiashang only go so far? It doesn’t fit her character design. What about trust? Jiashang is still investigating her family for her and it was Meng who stole that witness, her aunt. Why can’t that effort, at least, be acknowledged? The son does not carry the father’s sin. Shizhen said it herself to Jiashang that she doesn’t blame him for his father. Not to mention Jiashang wasn’t even born when his father committed that atrocity, let alone had married his mother! It does not make sense when she’s lived in the Rong mansion and know the family dynamic. For Shizhen to break up with Jiashang, the drama became just another typical Chinese heroine in a love revenge drama. Her spark from the beginning is no longer present. Otherwise what is the purpose of all the falling in love with Jiashang at the beginning? With the adaptation as it, I can accept the ending of Jaishang and Shizhen should have ended at the train station platform where they are headed in opposite direction. She can continue her life in Beijing and likewise Jiashang in Guangzhou. But, no, the ending has to be like the novel! However, unlike the novel the letters went unanswered (no replies in 3 years!!!) and the end dance is adding insult to injury to me. The drama is trying to do too much. It can either be a love drama or a revenge drama. Not both. Since the drama is trying to do both, it failed in its effort, regrettably after episode 30.

There’s nothing else to say except in the novel, I love Shizhen while Jiashang was secondary. In the drama, I love Jiashang. Jiashang became flesh and blood under ZhouZhou’s interpretation; all the micro-expessions are on point. I wish Jiashang is written a little more selfish and less loving, though. Despite the drastic changes to Shizhen, thankfully Jiashang is true to the novel. His growth from a boy to man, his maturing love to Shizhen, his integrity, his responsibility to his family, and best of all his firmness in believing in achieving his aspirations are what I imagined it in the novel and more.

City of Streamer is a rewatch for me. I’ll still skip some parts but overall I do enjoy it immensely up to episode 30. For my next watch, I will refrain from comparing it to the novel. It’s between an 8.5-9/10 for me but I’ll rate it a high of 9.

Yes, in the novel too. However, it's filmed delicately in the drama. You'll have to listen to the dialogue to determine she was raped.

Yes, in the novel too. However, it's filmed delicately in the drama. You'll have to listen to the dialogue to determine she was raped.

So, it's ML's fault his sister was raped? What the hell.

Chinese netizen following the drama page did and are still expressing their distaste for the changes. There are a lot of ridicule and the absurdity of it all. Only great thing is ML's role stays true to the novel. He's the darling. With episode 40 trailer, many are debating on how he's to survive the bullet and achieve his dream of being a pilot. They are watching the rest of the drama for ML, to make sure he doesn't die. Haha, I am the same here too. Just watching ML's scenes. Basically just fast forward all FL and 2ML's scenes.

Yes, such a hypocrite.

You're not alone. I've been rooting for this one since the very beginning, even read the novel. Now, it's turned to this piece of sh*t. Such as disappointment. It's unrecognizable since episode 31. I have been watching double speed on FL's parts. ML is the only reason why I continue to watch the drama. It was an 8.5 at 30 episodes and will stay that way despite these last ten episodes. A shame, it could have been a stellar Republic drama but someone has to changed it.

There was a rumor of some changes to the script before the drama airs. That someone from 2ML's team wants to create "love drama" between FL and 2ML. 2ML actor is from a big company. Seeing as how this drama is low on investment the changes to the script is possible. Also, watching thus far, I think that rumor might be true. You can clearly see the whitewashing of 2ML's previous actions and even his revenge for his sister just sudden disappear after episode 31. 2ML in the novel was despicable but well liked because he is evil. However, the interpretation of the character on screen has no continuity, there's a sense of split in the first half to the second half of the drama. So, now not only do we have a collapse of 2ML character but also FL (the acting wasn't convincing enough to let audience know she still loves ML rather in the last few episodes it's the opposite to 2ML). To be honest, 2ML in the novel is Rong Dingkun not 2ML in the drama. 2ML in the drama does not have such a big role in the novel. Such a shame, really. I was hoping the drama will go out with a bang, oh well....

Author follows the play and updates or comments occasionally. She will usually come out if there are heavy discussion on the drama vs. book. However, she hasn't said anything yet for the last 8 episodes.

1 billion + views!!! Congratulations!! Tomorrow is last two episodes. Next week will air rest of non- VIP episodes. City of streamer might end with 1.5+ billion views.

The adaptation added some scenes while deleted some. So far, it's pretty much heading in the same direction as the novel. However, the biggest disappointment that got novel readers railed up was the addition of 2ML's sudden romantic feeling towards FL after they came back to Shanghai from Beijing. 2ML was a thorough villain/lunatic however it was not the case in the drama. With that said, although I can't recall what event that is but no, there wasn't such scene like in episode 37 trailer in the novel. There was no such scenes of creating jealousy. I actually have no idea how these last four episodes will look like. ML's parts are still the same, taking responsibilities and working hard to atone, but FL resolutely gave up on their love and engage in full on revenge is not. In the original she can differentiate her hate and still love ML.

I heard rumors ZhouZhou will join "Ping Pong of China" film crew with Deng Chao after "Almost Lover" wraps this month. Waiting to hear confirmation if it's true.

Yes, I'm very invested in this drama. 😁

I actually enjoyed the last few episodes. Especially the ML's parts and the father and son dynamic. The implementation of his plans is just badass. I love action driven ML. Not the trio though, I admit, I kind of skip their parts. As they are basically just strategizing what ML has already done or is doing. lol