whoissilmoy

excerpt
"Xu Kai underwent extensive physical and action training prior to filming, including intense filming on rainy nights, in mine pits, and confined spaces. He personally participated in high-temperature fire simulation training, requiring him to deliver both movement and emotional expression in a confined, dark, and intensely heated environment."

What actors go through for their roles! In FI, Xu Kai had to breathe in soot. I'll never forget how in WOL, he said with his face to the puddle on the ground, the water contained horse urine (yuck!).

Xu Kai says Chen Hui isn’t a good person — he’s done a lot of bad things. But the video doesn’t describe that aspect. I think the part about the father is accurate. That’s the secret Chen Hui carries. The father, a law officer, presents himself as righteous, authoritative, even superior — both in the town and with his troubled, self-destructive son. But beneath that façade lies a criminal past. The irony is sharp: the man who enforces the law is the one who broke it first.

Xu Kai has expressed in past interviews even at the start of his career at 23, that he wanted to do his dream roles (something like detective, spy, policeman, or solider types of roles, I hope I got that right) after 30. He felt it made more sense to do it after 30 so he looks more the part (more mature looking). He just turned 30 this year. He has slow down to two dramas a year and he gets no special treatment from his agency.

Every character he's brought to life is unique. He's done so many genres from historical fiction (ming dynasty, tang dynasty), fantasies (wuxia, xianxia, supernatural folklore), republican era, modern CEO roles (finance, law, and medical AI high-tech settings), Esports, and Chinese Paladin game adaptation, and recently shorter dramas in fire crime detective to small town crime thriller. Across these genres, he's played many different kinds of characters. I could be wrong, but I think Xu Kai is drawn to roles that explore human nature. Even when the role itself doesn’t focus on that, he somehow has a gift for bringing it out in his characters — and it works especially well with his incredibly layered and nuanced acting style.

From the very beginning of his career, I think the interview was like back in 2018 or 2019, he already said his dream roles were like detective, policeman, soldier (I can't remember exact wording) types of roles and he has repeated this in other interviews. It goes back to his childhood love for these types of Hong Kong movies. I hope he gets the opportunity in coming years. I hope he hasn't changed his mind. He also said he doesn't want to be an idol actor, even back in 2018 he said this. He's not an independent actor. He works for an agency on a contract. He doesn't have big backing. He's not being hyped or marketed or promoted and given big productions with acclaimed directors, etc. but I also think he chooses to be low key and quietly work hard and do his best and let his work speak for itself. He always says that acting is a long journey for him and he can only take step by step. He balances his career to make sure he has family time. This is my perception of him.

MDL still won't update the # of episodes. Where the heck did they get 12? If they don't know, then they shouldn't put up 12. MDL synopsis is so lame. you have no idea the story revolves around a deeply emotional father-son rift.

This is more exciting to read:
"At the end of the 90s, an unidentified female corpse was found in the mining area of Fengyang Town, and old stories and clues to new cases gradually surfaced. The intricate family relationships, the confrontation between father and son, the entanglement of duty and family affection, and the entanglement of law and human nature have made the town that was originally quiet undercurrent."

good point

what do you mean?

This is only the second time in Xu Kai's career that he only has one drama airing. The last time was year 2020. I thought doing shorter dramas (20-24 episodes) meant he will keep the 3 drama a year pace but it's the opposite. On Douban, it said Oct 2025, so that means the drama got pushed out again. It wrapped filming 2/13/25, and Xu Kai dramas typically take at least a year. I thought shorter dramas take half the time. Fire Investigator wrapped Sep 2024, if 800 comes out in Feb 2026, then FI will be even further out, it will become the longest wait if it airs (if it goes beyond 19 months, it will be hopeless). Unnatural Fire took 14 months to air, and it was 38 episodes.

so, my eyes were not deceiving me. I thought his soles looked clunkier. I guess production wanted him taller

I saw a clip of them walking side by side and it kind of looks like his soles are thicker, but it's hard to tell. I wouldn't' have been thinking about it if not for the comments here. They both wear a head piece so maybe it could be his is taller?

The compliments in this video, the praising are not exaggerations but include sentiments and quotes from fans. Most of it resonate with me except for a few and it could just be translation and how I interpret it.

1) True> "In the September 2025 "Post-95 Male Actors Upcoming Drama Roles" chart, Xu Kai topped the list with a resounding popularity of 90.94."
2) True>"Ten of ten years of unwavering perseverance and dedication" (he signed with Huanyu Entertainment I think 2016 so it's been 9 yrs, but he started working as a model in 2013 at 18. I'd say it's true it takes dedication to take on something new that you know nothing about).
3) True> "From model to actor: The lonely journey" (he worked non-stop sleeping on trains, eating junk food, traveling as many as 4000 miles in a day (I saw an old post showing Xu Kai himself posted)
4) True> "Xu Kai's starting point wasn't high" (no one gave him a leading man role in his first drama unlike another new actor in same agency starred as lead upon signing, but not Xu Kai. Not until after Yanxi. In Untouchable Lover, he was given a side character with no story, who just follow people around. I'm not sure when Autumn Fairy Tale was filmed, that role with Zhao Lusi was meatier. Even though he played the second male lead but his and ZLS performance was outstanding. The male lead was forgettable. It was only 1 hr 45 min. film.
5) True> "despite his striking appearance, he was often misunderstood as a "vase"" (I guess when you are too good-looking, it's not fair to some people, but he worked hard to prove he can act but people like Avenue X makes fun of him as "a pretty face waving his hands around."
6) True> "he knew clearly that his camera-ready appearance couldn't replace the power of his work... he resolutely turned to film and television, becoming a rising star." Xu Kai, I read did not embrace acting immediately. Someone said he felt he was not ready, too young. I don't know if it's true, but I read Yu Zheng's agency approached him in 2013 which makes sense to me because it would have been the year that caught the attention of agents and Yu Zheng co-founded Huanyu in 2012 - he was definitely scouting he needed new actors. Xu Kai won international model contest in print category in 2013 the first year he went into modeling, he became an instant success at 18 on his own, he had no background. Before he entered, he was just a freshman in college studying finance, and before that he was carefree boy from Shenzhen who loved basketball, video games, skateboarding, street food in HK, He never aspired to be an entertainer. He doesn't sound like a kid who grew up taking lessons nor does he sound like someone preparing himself on his own to become an entertainer one day, nor did he engage in activities that would have prepared him for entertainment field. This explains why he doesn't try to cultivate popularity through singing, dancing, etc. but also because he has said after Yanxi, he doesn't have a desire to be an idol. He has talent but is not trained in those areas and seems more interested in physical activities like sports. I came across a YT video Xu Kai was so honest, he said he was searching internet for singing methods. But after modeling for 3 years, I read that he realized modeling cannot be sustained as a long-term career, so then I don't know if Yu Zhen agency came looking for him again, or maybe he saved his business card, but he signed I think it was later that year in 2016, along with other new actors at the time, and Yu Zheng casted his new recruits in his own production to promote them, like Zhaoge, which never aired, and Untouchable Lovers.)
7) True> "From Fucha Fuheng to Li Chenlan, Xu Kai gradually captivated audiences with his sincere and natural performances. By then, he was no longer just a model for the camera, but an actor who could truly "live the role." (I was one of those who was captivated by Fuca. If this is not true, how did Xu Kai break through on international stage? The description of sincere and natural performance fits Xu Kai. He's so natural some people call him wooden, but they are people who don't' like nuance acting or haters. The reason Xu Kai acting is compelling to me is that he is able to project his sincerity onto his characters to make you believe in them. His acting in The Legends is one of his finest and he had limited screen time. I really felt Li Chenlan and believed in him.)
8) Idk, I've only followed Xu Kai past 3 yrs. I'm not sure if I agree with "uneven" trajectory> "Xu Kai's growth trajectory has been uneven. He experienced the doubts that followed his meteoric rise to fame, and also periods of feeling trapped by his role positioning." (However, I recall in an old interview, he said that in his early years, he was always afraid they might take away his role, it seemed to me, he was very humble, never overconfident so he worked hard like very hard, many years he had 3 dramas airing. I don't see his growth as uneven but steady climb.)
9) True> "While others were busy pursuing traffic and buzz, Xu Kai chose to return to the set to focus on acting."
10) True> "he portrayed the aloofness and deep affection of Bai Jue; his calm and restrained Li Yi was unforgettable, his eye contact unsettling (Xu Kai ability to use his eyes to express captivates the viewer imo, it does me).
11) True>" in his upcoming dramas, "The Blazing Pursuit" and "The Eyes of Destiny," he takes on roles with multiple personalities and complex psychology, showcasing a wider range." (800 Meters in Radius, Xu Kai described that experience as mentally challenging, unlike any other role he's done. The character is a villain type whose life is spiraling downward.
12) True> ", he topped the "Top Most Popular Characters in Upcoming Dramas" list, a testament not only to his role but also to the audience's overall strength." (It's logical right? How did he top the list if not for audience voting for him. But these rankings change all the time. But the video is leveraging this ranking.)
13) True> "The "Xu Kai Phenomenon": More than just a triumph of good looks." (Perhaps the praise "phenomenon" may be a bit much for some but it's hitting back at critics who brushed him off as just another "pretty face," laying out all his accomplishments and saying how did he do it if it's just good looks.)
14) True>"Why does Xu Kai stand out? Besides his steady output, it's his relaxed yet determined demeanor." (He completed 22 works in 7 yrs, not incl. the one currently filming and "relaxed" to me means low-key and "determined", yeah, I'd say so).
15) True> "He never caters to market gimmicks or relies on emotional hype, instead gradually cultivating the audience through his roles."
16) True> "Each time he appears, he feels—changed, yet still genuine." (If you follow his interviews, he's an incredibly humble, sincere and not afraid to show his vulnerabilities. For example, who goes out in public and lets on that he needs a hair transplant and finally gets a minor one. I think he was just trying it out imo because I read that hair transplants should be done after 30 when the hairline has stabilized.)
17) Subjective> "powerful actor" (to me his performances are captivating.)
18) Glowing but at least it doesn't say he's the only one> "but few can truly maintain a steady, consistent production of high-quality work." (Imo, he has put out steady high-quality works. He's put out as many as anyone else, if not more than most, until this year, he is slowing down to 2 a year, which is the norm for most actors. You have to work non-stop to put out 3 a year, year after year, which he was doing for years.)
19) Glowing but at least it doesn't say he's the only one>"Xu Kai embodies that rare breed: someone who can both deliver hits and maintain a steady pace." (Xu Kai has hit dramas)
20) Partially true: "During this decade, he experienced explosions of fame, controversy, stagnation, and resurgence—each step taken quietly and resolutely." (I didn't know Xu Kai had any stagnation in his career. I look at his long list of dramas, every year since 2018, he's put out successful dramas. "Controversies" are people making up things about him. What "resurgence?" He's never regressed. 2018 Yanxi 2019 AMA 2021 ALP/FIYS 2022 RF/SAHPH 2023 WOL 2024 ABAY)
21) False> "The breadth of his roles demonstrates that he has transcended the stereotype of a "beautiful man in period costume" and is entering a new phase of "well-rounded acting."
(He was never just a "pretty face" to me. It was the depth of his expressions that first captivated me, the gaze in his eyes as an actor that made me keep watching him. He's done such a range of characters and wants to keep expanding but he's also limited by his company. I don't like the phrasing here that he's now entering a phase of well-rounded. He's been a fine actor since day 1 in my book. His early performances in Yanxi and as Li Chelan in TL is really good, and limited in screen time, but in his scenes, he fully embodies the character with such great nuances. Even just standing there when he doesn't need to say anything, I noticed how he still showing expressions that is so Li Chelan. He took the role and made it his own. He gave a character who doesn't really have an arc other than he's the son of the Demon King possessed by evil demon essence, yet Xu kai gave this character so much substance, made him so vivid, so real, you ache for him. I felt his journey even if it was sparse in the plot, not fully lay out, like one scene he was this, next scene he was that. His expressions so layered, you can rewatch it many times. I think another actor for such a limited screentime and few lines, the role would have felt like a side character to the female lead and without the intense deeply layered expressions, the character would be forgettable.)
22) False>" This is Xu Kai's ultimate period costume comeback!" (What comeback? Why does this video in one breath promoting and praising, in another breath, makes it sound like Xu kai has stagnated, had controversies (word is technically correct but controversies are fake) and making a comeback?)
23) True> "Xu Kai is not only the leading actor, but also personally participated in some character setting discussions, and put forward many suggestions for the character's growth line." (It seems Xu Kai has been like this since on the set of Yanxi!)
24)True>"The success of Xu Kai has never been accidental." (It was hard work, perseverance.)
25)True>"but has never been assimilated by capital." (His agency has never done anything for him but milk him. They force him to do roles and he still succeeds.)
26)True>"He explores human nature in the role." (Xu Kai has expressed his interest in these kinds of roles.)

it's not 5. one of them he is support role and was filmed maybe 2 yrs ago now, and another one was also maybe 5 yrs ago. Neither of these seem to see the day of light. The modern drama is short 12 episodes. For sure, he will have two dramas airing next year, and the one he is currently filmed may or may not air 2026 since it's still being filmed. Some dramas take more than 12 months after wrapping. Most of the actors work year-round filming at least 2 dramas a year and 3 is doable if you take very little time off in between. Still, I agree, these actors have crazy schedules because it's not a 9 to 5 job, and they have other obligations too during the year.

I wonder who the director will be. Lu Hao Ji Ji is turning to producer now. Anything he does will be a good watch. Looks like YZ got work for a few of his artists in this drama.

This aligns with Wu Jin Yan's expertise "She was smooth-talking and cunning, using any means necessary to rise to prominence as her life goal." Should be really good watch.

Li Qin is a very good actress! Like you said about style, it's the same thing.

acting is compelling, you believe in them

The age gap here is more realistic in ancient times than other dramas played by older actresses. The synopsis says it was a scheme to quell a rebellion, a contractual marriage. Her age makes so much sense to me why they cast her and will make the story more compelling.

TSY's first fantasy, first wuxia, something to look forward to.

If Mo Li follows the same 10-month post-production pattern as her previous two costume dramas"
Moonlight Mystique: Wrapped 2/29/24 → Aired 1/7/25 (≈10 months)
Feud: Wrapped 8/5/24 → Aired 6/6/25 (≈10 months)
Mo Li: Wrapped 10/11/25 → very possible air date: 8/11/26

I must say, it's looking that way.. it's almost November!

I don't know much, but it seems to me his character should be the one carrying the main narrative in this drama, so he deserves the most screen time. That said, I hope the story focuses more on the cases than the romance—because I believe Xu Kai has so much range, and I want to see him shine in a different light.

this drama is turning out to be very different than what I thought, not implying anything

common traits of gifted person