usagisaiko

I don't think it's weird to see Japanese actors wearing historical western clothing when plenty did during the time this fictional country/history gets its aesthetic from...I'm glad they don't try to use western actors in such roles!

Yeah no doubt. And the sad thing is it's yet another Hollywood English-speaking role that an Asian American actresses have been passed over for. Sure, a Chinese actress like her will have more acting experience (since it's not like she would know what it's like to have trouble getting roles like Asian American actresses do), but this is a major industry problem in the US and has caused a lot of controversy and Disney has paid no heed for the sake of a broader audience.

Which imho, is ignoring the fact that China already has its own Mulan dramas/movies that are great and probably will be better than this, so why not just stick with the English-speaking audience who refuses to watch subbed movies???

Yes, Hollywood whitewashes Asian roles all the time and it sucks. However, the issue wasn't that they might mess up an Asian role for something obvious/iconic like this (Mulan, they weren't going to put in a white actress for such an iconic role, serioulsy!!!!!!!!). It's that they chose an actress from the outside, thereby AGAIN bypassing all the Asian American actresses they could've considered and continue to ignore for any appropriate roles (like Ghost in the Shell as mentioned, etc etc etc) It's not like they don't invest in newer/non-big-name white actors all the time, and they could do the same in this case. But they don't care, it's all about $$.

FYI, please understand I'm not dissing this actress, and I think China could make a better Mulan any day. I'm discussing current US issues in the industry that are being talked about. It also applies to African American actors being bypassed for iconic roles like Martin Luther King Jr and such...it's a different story, though, in that it's not as hard for African American actors to get roles in Hollywood...it's hardest for Asian Americans who rarely get 'neutral' roles, and never main roles.

Thanks, guys, for explaining more of what you know as Mandarin-speakers, unlike me...I'm Chinese but grew up in Japan and live in the West right now, so I'm no expert and only pick up inferences from what I hear from friends. I was only really commenting on being glad about the ban lifting, not defending the casting of Korean actors as I don't really have a context to understand it. I wasn't actually thinking of the Korean market, but other parts of the Asian market, whether Chinese-speaking or further out where only K-dramas are popular. I totally understand that nobody cares if they're popular outside China; I just would love to see more C-dramas picked up the way Korean dramas are, that's all....and would love to see more made...that's all!

Totally no hating at all as I'm not some rabid K-dramaz&onlyK-drama fan (and am kind of too old for fanhate haha)! I definitely enjoy them, but I'm clueless about idols or whatever, I just enjoy whomever's a good actor. I did mean dubbing their own lines and being able to speak their parts to it matches up. And yeah, I totally agree that Korean actors should learn some Chinese as they usually have to learn some Japanese to be in Japanese productions unless they're in Korean-speaking roles. That's awesome about Mike Angelo, and I don't see why that example shouldn't be the standard. I did think of some actors I couldn't remember before...I've heard Lee Da Hae speaks good Mandarin (I wouldn't be able to tell, sorry if I'm wrong), and maybe I was wrong to think they did their own dialog, but I've seen Jung Woo Sung in a bunch of films and Lee Joon Ki too. ? Was merely curious, that's all!

Anyway, I'm still personally glad the ban is up for the reasons I mentioned, but I can certainly understand why others would have found it refreshing! And yes, it would be awesome if it inadvertently led to fewer roles being taken from talented Chinese actors. If that were the reason that the gov had given, I would have found it rational.

You're right, she really does in this pic! Then again, most celebs get nose jobs and the obvious eye-widening surgery (etc, but those are like Must Haves these days, ugh, like Asian features aren't pretty enough) so I feel like that's why we see a lot of celebs whose noses, jaw shapes, lips, and eyes look alike at certain angles and in certain lighting!

Maybe we should update this pic so people don't get confused between her and PSH?

I personally agree with almost all of this, but I'm thrilled about the lifting of the ban because there were so many good projects on hold. To me, the huge positive about joint productions or casting popular Korean actors is that it draws a much broader audience for many of these dramas.

So while I would rather see a better Chinese actor in those roles for my own viewing pleasure, I think it's worth it if it means more support for these productions and a broadening evolution of C-dramas. I hate all the censorship and ridiculous control imposed on the creativity of writers/directors/actors, and I think the more demand/love there is for great dramas both in and outside China, the more those limitations get stretched, imho.

Btw, do you happen to know if any of these actors did their own dialog? I know there are a number of actors in the business who speak good Mandarin, but can't remember who...

You can feel free to edit the synopsis if you feel there is a better way to summarize the plot...again, there is a gap between what is considered PC in the West (esp. the US) and how certain things in society and media are seen/talked about in Japan. Whereas in recent years you generally won't see Hollywood have an LGBTQ character portrayed in any light that may be perceived as negative by the societal standard...from an 'inclusive' Japanese perspective (which I'd think would be behind this drama), would it truly be a problem to treat the trans person as anyone else, which in this case, involves someone being in a bad situation and having friendships affected by it?

Honestly, I think just treating a person as an equal human character is more inclusive than trying too hard. From a minority perspective (I live in the US), that generally doesn't go so well for us. Read token characters, 'noble savages', stereotyped ideas of the ideal 'minority' (or reactionary opposites...again, trying too hard by the majority)... basically, poorly developed character arcs at the end of the day.

Plenty of Americans will disagree with me, and that's fine... I'm just saying that I don't think a story can be judged so quickly as not being inclusive to put a trans character into a role that doesn't initially seem perfect. Story is human conflict!

Can you give me a hint as to what to look for in the end to know which version I'm looking at?

I totally agree with you about Hollyweird...just stop already! Ugh. I heard about Hana Yori Dango being remade, but didn't know they already put it out there. I hope it died a quick painless death!

I'd think the only way they can do it would be to have the initial actress play a significant role throughout (somehow reappear each episode?) to maintain some sort of character continuity...

Yeah, it's because there are many fans of the novel series this comes from, and this live adaptation has had a huuuge production, so it has generated a lot of excitement.

I think it's gonna be released soon since the Hallyu ban was finally lifted! FINALLY sheesh
https://cdramabase.com/2017/11/03/news-corner-the-hallyu-ban-is-finally-over/

If you see something you think would be a spoiler for ppl who didn't read the novel, feel free to edit the synopsis...just click on edit, you'll see the choices for what to edit.

I agree, maybe in the beginning thriller as a genre seemed possible, but once it became clear that we weren't going to see characters running around chasing serial killers and such, no. Then again, it seems like it was marketed that way, as a thriller, to draw people in, but it was a bit misleading as there are all these different arcs, and the mystery of the supernatural aspect doesn't really build up at all once it stops driving the story.

You can change the genre tag if you want under edits, although editors maybe not allow for it; I tried adding 'comedy' as it is clearly in the rom-com genre also, and they didn't accept the edit. Perhaps after it finishes, it will be reevaluated?

I agree with you (and your reasoning); I don't mind non-explanations when the plot doesn't require it. But the whole mystery initially hung on this premise. I guess you could say that they sort of already explained it, that it has to do with the characters' past connections, but there was no implication that that was all we were going to get.

The whole issue is that when you make a promise plot-wise (or even in terms of character arcs/relationships) as a writer, particularly as a suspense device to keep people watching/reading, you have to follow through! Otherwise you just strung people along, and your cool device/premise becomes a gimmick. Unfortunately these days that's becoming normal; you only need a cool premise to sell a story. T_T

I know what you mean, and I'm sure you're right about his more pscyho motives; however, framing her when he thought she'd seen him would matter, because if she really did recognize him, she would certainly have testified...not as good as dead. I guess we could just say maybe his rationale was a mess anyway, that particular supposed motive though just seemed really weak!

For those who loved this drama and are saying a second season would mess it up, I'm curious to know how you felt about the ending which the writer admitted was random (she didn't know any of the answers herself, was just creating a mystery). I would be thrilled if OCN felt it necessary to have a second season since there were a million strings left dangling all around characters we cared about...and plenty of great material to develop.

?? Edward has yellow hair. I think it looks cool.... that's just what happens when you bleach black hair...it's not gonna come out looking like Euro-type blonde

yes, just hover your cursor over the arrow in the corner of your review and you will see the option to edit it!

Well, it's referring to Japanese Hulu, so it may not be available to you...I'm pretty sure it has not been subbed as the original drama hasn't even been finished yet. If you don't need subs, you can watch at dramacool:
https://watchasian.io/drama-detail/jimi-ni-sugoi-dx

I didn't realize the time travel ban went back that far. But I don't know, that reason sounds like another typical gov excuse; if any fan tried that wouldn't they already be mentally unstable and in danger of themselves? But I appreciate the extra info, I just can't believe how many dramas have had to go on hold for such a long time!

Yes, although the anime series is so great I wonder if live action will actually make the story better (although will probably be better than movie version)...it will probably be darker, and I'm not sure if that's such a great thing. I think it would have to be darker to be the right tone for a drama, but I felt part of the goodness of the story was that balance of dark and light that kind of needed the animated medium! I guess we'll just have to see...Furukawa Yuki as the adult MC is a little odd as a casting choice though, doesn't seem to fit the character at all...