jungbareumshoe

To each their own, cheers!

For sure. I haven’t seen the commentor’s other responses and frankly, I’m not dedicated enough to dig those receipts up. I am speaking on what I am seeing on this specific thread only. They gave me a take, I agreed with it, and carried on. You highlight crucial points about how critique is open to critique. Understandable. I just felt like that ‘challenge’ could’ve been expressed differently, as it came off as rather strong from the getgo.

Acting is a language that can be open to many different interpretations. I couldn’t capture that nuance— it didn’t click with me from the getgo, but who knows if it could unfold into something grand later on? I’m open to seeing that.

I did not watch pit-babe, but I heard his character is quite similar to his role here. Quiet and reticent. Familiar territory. Gauging based on the performance, I’ll have that one shelved until I see how this one plays out.

Now THIS is a proper reply.

Alright, his character is emotionally-restrained. Got it. His acting will reflect that. How it eventually unfolds later on? I don’t know and frankly, I don’t have a say.

I don’t look for dramatic acting. The genre I explore is the realm of psychological thrillers. Take a look at my page. It’s basically a dumpster fire of it. Emotionally-repressed characters are basically my day to day. When I watch, I know it’s going to be good the moment I’m able to capture the complexities/nuances right from the getgo. It’s hard to explain, but that’s possible if the actor portraying that character is able to sink into their role very well. Emotionally suppressed characters wear plain expressions, but convey emotions through their eyes. If I’m able to see that from the pilot, then I’m sold.

Sure, you also have to consider the fact that people ‘react’ to pain differently, and that may reflect in the characterization. Thup may be more emotionally constipated than others and his way of portraying that is more awkward compared to everyone else. However, I just failed to capture those ‘nuances’ that you mentioned. To me, it just looks like Pooh is acting, not embodying the essence of an emotionally-wounded character like Thup.

Could it be a preference thing? Respectfully, I don’t think so.

However, your input is great. Gives me more of a good reason to come back to this one after all the episodes are released to see if it’s worth giving another go.

When it comes to watching dramas, all opinions are valid. There is no need to undermine someone else’s by calling it a ‘dumb take’. They encouraged me to watch it for other reasons (that it’s ‘fun’), and it’s my own choice to put it aside until I deem it worth watching. Acting is a critical part of watching dramas for me and if I don’t feel thay an actor captures those nuances from the getgo, even if its meant to be a stepping stone that unfold into something grand later on (like a character developmental arc or something), I wouldn’t want to waste my time. That being said, I’ll take their input into consideration, but also ones like barbra down below.

No need to flame eachother.

Oh, boy.

If what you’re telling me is true, then I’d best wait until all the episodes are released and skim through the ratings to see if it’s truly worth watching.

Supernatural bl’s, especially the Thai kinds, are like needles in a haystack after all. If this one unfolds well, I’ll add it my list.

Respectfully, Daou is one fine ass man

Just started on this series and I have to say: I’m quite.. probably even a little more than quite.. impressed. The ambiance is looking great so far and the leads are eye candy. I haven’t winced at anyone’s acting just yet, so I’d say we’re off to a strong start.

Pavel and Micheal’s acting is great, TopTen tolerable, but Pooh’s is rather underwhelming.

I really wanted to enjoy this series, but this is something that’s preventing me from pushing through. Can someone tell me if his acting gets any better after episode 2-3?

The thing is, I went badshit crazy when they were all lovey-dovey in the trailer. Even more so when I saw snippets of them making out. But it’s kind of like a puzzle where each individual 'piece' (scene) is exquisite, but the moment you piece it altogether, the full picture isn’t what you originally made it out to be.

HMHs portrayal of JBZ is phoenomenal, but I feel like LYX didn’t match his intensity. There’s always gonna be a ‘dominant’ one in the relationship, don’t get me wrong, but the gap between them was quite considerable here. If SQQ’s characterization was brought into this, I think that would’ve been my 13th reason to continue on living.

Bros a legend

Definitely keep me posted on that! The next time I hop on here, I’ll look out for your review 😉.

Hey, don’t apologize for disagreeing. Its nothing to feel sorry about. Our opinions and tastes differ, and that is completely alright.

I do gravitate towards plots that tackle heavier themes and are less ‘sunshine and rainbows’, but do take the prettier ones into consideration here and there. LITC ended up just not being for me, but oh well. It is what it is.

Thank you! I thought I was the only one who felt that way. I also started on Fated Hearts around the same time as this one, and I found the other cp’s dynamic much more thrilling. It’s a natural progression— the quintessential enemies to lovers (if you will), whereas MY/JBZ is just.. idk bro it just doesn’t click with me. I’ve gone into dramas where they’re making out within the first 20 minutes of the pilot but have never felt icked as much as I did with this one.

HE KNOWS HOW TO PRINCESS CARRY NOWWW AHHHH

This shit has been my sleep paralysis demon for a year that I'm actually pissed tf off. Like what a wise man once said (me): "One you enter the great dream, you cannot pull yourself out of it."

Li Lun, you will always be my emotionally-inept, 34,000 year-old child. I will write fics about you and that scoundrel Zhao Yuanzhou on ao3 until the day I breathe my last.

You've hit the nail on the mark, my friend. It toyed with my moral compass, made me feel sympathy for a villain, and above all- had me questioning my existence.

It was more than just a whodunnit, like you said. It was thought-provoking, mind-bogglingly so. Probably one of the most sophisticated plots I've ever come across.

Unbeatable. This shit will reign as my number 1 until I'm seventy.

Guess I'm part of the minority who wasn't able to push through this drama.

One of my highly anticipated dramas of the year, but it ended up being rather underwhelming for a reason so absurd that even I can't wrap my head around it.

I usually assess dramas of this length at around 10 episodes. If it doesn't capture my attention by then, I drop it. I pushed through until the 5th for this one but ended up dropping it not due to the plot, but the romantic execution between the two leads.

I'll toss it out there: LYX and HMHs chemistry is undeniable. It's steamy, passionate, and is the epitome of what a 'romance' should entail. However, I don't know if it's just me, but their romantic moments were.. how do I say this.. a bit strange (for a lack of a better term)? Whenever they were intimate, I found myself cringing a bit. Yes, the first episodes are a 'I trick you, you trick me', getting on each other's nerves, push-and-pull kind of dynamic (typical of enemies to lovers), but it just felt off. I would say 'forced', but I don't think that's the right term for it since that's supposed to be the entire point of their dynamic. In all my years of watching dramas, the only times I've ever winced at the lead's chemistry were probably once or twice, but this one just happened to make the third.

I’ll try to explain. Picture this: CP ‘A’ are making out, and right at the moment they lock eyes, your toes are already curling. When they finally kiss, you celebrate it like it’s Christmas.

Meanwhile, CP ‘B’ are about to make out, but the moment you see them lock eyes, you find yourself gradually pulling away from the screen. It’s like if the SML asks the FL: “I brought you vanilla ice cream, your childhood favorite!” and she’s like, “Actually.. I like Neapolitan.” You’re left standing there with second hand embarrassment. ITS THAT FEELING.

I don't know if it was the acting or what, but I physically just couldn't push through their scenes together. I don't have a say on how the romance unfolds later on or the plot in general, but the execution of those romantic moments were enough to keep me from going.

I adored Lu Yuxiao in MJTY. SQQ is basically my wife. Her acting was impeccable there, but I feel like she fell short on this one.

It seems like a lot of people like it though. I just wish I could say the same.

Cinematography, soundtrack, and production are all great, though. I'll give it that. I blast the shit out of ‘爱入青云’ on my shower playlist.

WHENNNNNNNNN

I’ll admit— I didn’t intend on watching this at first. But since the show keeps popping up on my feed, I watched some of the ‘directors cut’ clips, and I have to say, the creative vision and visual directing of The Unclouded Soul is truly remarkable. To think that one of the sets, the Dust-Scented Sea (尘香海), involved the crew members planting the pink grass one straw at a time is absolutely insane.

The worldbuilding is just a craft in itself. Each panel I’ve seen so far is a scene straight out of a movie. I got chills on that one scene of XY and HY leaping across the skies on the carp. Sound effects can really do wonders in a fantasy drama, and that particular scene reminded me a lot of James Cameron’s Avatar. I hope that, through the dramas production, the audience can be transported into the world of ‘Xiaoyao’. Production is what makes or breaks a drama. If high-quality production meets an equally-tight script, then Xiaoyao won’t just be a drama to binge, but an experience to watch.

I do admit that I have my own opinions about the leads and their chemistry, but I‘ve fallen in love with the setting so much that I might just give a few episodes a try to see how it goes.