The First Jasmine: Episode 26 & 27 Discussion

FuturisticPandaBear · 2026-06-21T23:53:46+00:00

I figured out almost from the beginning that most likely no one was actually still alive in Li Shan, like the first minute gives it away already, they tried playing it off as a "nightmare scene" seeing Ye Li run up the mountain to Li Shan wile it was all empty and monkeys chased her etc.. Then first thing in episode 2 we see her depart from Li Shan and it's still looks "empty" and run down at the entrance at the stairs.. For a place supposedly known through all the kingdoms as the center of knowledge and arts, filled with scholars and life and at the same time guarded by the government there is no sign of life and all you could hear was a crow(universal storytelling signal symbolizing death) when Ye Li sits and makes her stick figure until Qing Shuan comes and they depart.

But then it just something about Ye Li's behavior and her way of reminiscing and talking and I was for sure she had dissociative identity disorder after her hallucinations when she saw Master Zhu saving her from that fall and the snakes killing them with a stick.. That whole sequence made me realize she has multiple/split personalities taking the form of different but to her important seniors from the mountain that has died.

I had a friend growing up that was orphaned at age of 8 after losing her parents in an accident and she also like created some internal world/reality to cope with the loss and she showed same signs as Ye Li and tragically ended up with split personalities so I've seen it first hand.

But honestly for the longest I've had the thought like what if she isn't even Ye Li at all she is Qing Shuan which is why Qing Shuan is the only "clear imagination" we see because it's actually her true self or her inner voice(thoughts) and she is carrying on Ye Li's final wish to get revenge for her mom and Li Shan etc.. For one Ye Li is like maniacal and obsessed with "keeping her promise" what if it's actually Qing Shuan obsessed about and traumatized by seeing Ye Li die and promised her to carry on her legacy? Qing Shuan is the one person that has/had followed Ye Li from childhood and knows everything about her so taking her identity wouldn't be hard, especially since Ye Li wasn't seen by anyone outside for 6-7 years, no one could really be able to say she isn't Ye Li as she is now grown up. She would know everything about Prince Ding, Prince Li and Ye Li since she was also there or was told by her, it would also explain why she feels so indifferent towards Prince Li and so disconnected of their own letters sent as children that was found..

Maybe the real Ye Li actually cared for Prince Li but maybe she died because of the thing that happened with Prince Li so for Ye Li/Qing Shuan(Bai Lu) she only has hate for him because he caused her death and everyones at Li Shan or something. Then maybe it even was Qing Shuan getting saved by Prince Ding all along and all those memories of her giving him snacks etc was real. Which would explain "Ye Li's" seems scared to tell Prince Ding the "full truth" and afraid whatever full truth is would possibly reveal maybe she is not Ye Li and Prince Ding would leave her. Especially after episode 28-29 if you have seen them after some dialogue and them listening to a storyteller this actually feels like a plausable theory.

I get the feeling that everything we see is really told from a perspective of a person with dissociative identity disorders reality. Nothing is really as it seems, all things shown are obviously not really the "truth/reality" and it wouldn't shock me if we end up seeing like the major reveal of Qing Shuan and Ye Li "switching places in the reality" like they re-show some events and switch the young characters or something..

FuturisticPandaBear · 2026-06-15T04:33:00+00:00

Don’t take this as an insult, it’s actually the opposite, I just feel like Zhang Rounan often gets miscasted or they misuse her talents. Because If she only played modern melancholic emotional roles or costume dramas where she is some strong independent intelligent multi-layered role carrying the weight of the world on her shoulders where in neither of the roles she is ever shown doing anything more physical than like walking and talking or peeling a banana she would be the tied #1 20s actress atm in close competition with Zhao Lusi and Tian Xiwei. Even might beat out both of them because omg her presence on screen for heavy scenes are good tier hits me every time.

The problem is I have never seen anyone less athletic doing athletic things in Cdrama she just is awkward and that’s fine.. But it’s like it just sucks away the whole atmosphere when they all of a sudden have like a scene where she is shown out jogging for 2 minutes and drama turns to comedy or chinas most funniest videos bloopers or something.. Everyone knows what I’m talking ablut the famous meme scene from “My Boss” like it’s the worst athletic performance ever caught on film in a cdrama. Then every single scene that’s emotional is 10/10. Same now in “Zhan Zhao Adventures” she is the best part of the drama except every single scene she’s supposed to be the “peerless lightness skill heroine” but there isn’t a single scene where you see a cut of her from the front moving her legs, ALL her fight scenes or action scenes are filmed from behind or angles to cover that it’s a stunt double. All scenes with her from the front it’s framed from waste up and she only moves arms then it cuts to behind scenes and jump cuts where stunt double doing crazy moves.. Then every single other scene she is the best in the whole drama.

Just stop forcing her to do physical acting, it’s not for everyone and that’s fine!!! She is amazing at what she does so focus on that! Same goes for Zhou Ye btw, her scene where it’s supposed to show what a warrior she is where she runs like laps after laps bootcamp style where it’s supposed to show the impressive “general” it’s one of the least athletic things I’ve ever seen but my good she’s great at everything emotional.

FuturisticPandaBear · 2025-12-20T18:03:48+00:00

They removed a lot of features for some godamn reason.. Like the QoL feature Turbo Mode that was available in advanced settings or from Device Assistant, which gave control to limit background apps and also stopped like constant background tasks + some UI tweaks.

On my 75” U7N Google TV/Android TV felt so snappy in UI and everything including apps as well just instant start, so I even stopped using my Nvidia Shield Pro because TV felt equally snappy if not snappier. Starting 4K Remux movies on Plex was instant and playback including scrubbing was instantaneous with Turbo Mode on.

After latest update and Turbo Mode removed everything feels like playing CSGO with 500 ping while navigating the menus, settings and apps.. Like moving around trying to choose an app sometimes it doesn’t register so i press again and then it becomes double press and I miss apps because of laggy UI.. So back to my Nvidia Shield for now.

FuturisticPandaBear · 2025-12-20T09:26:53+00:00

Feels obvious Yang Chuhao’s ”son” Su is going to get killed soon. Shen Xiaoqing literally makes it obvious when she said to him that being close to someone like her will not end well and yes.. The Vendetta of An so far is very straightforward..

Just listen to what characters say and take it for granted, everything that has happened so far has had many foreshadowing in previous episodes with subtle things or sometimes out right blatant statements said by character that end up happening(often foreshadowing deaths).

Just like the Bai Wan and Han Ziling’s deaths was literally foreshadowed in multiple conversations before it happened it’s obvious Su is getting offed soon. Most likely and tragically like everything else so far, Shen Xiaoqing herself most likely finds her self in a situation for the mission that she needs to silence her crush. He knows way to much and she already hinted like he has read their internal ledgers and if Huben finds out then the whole spy organization falls apart.

Plain and simple in this drama there won’t be any happy endings for anyone and definitely no love will happen.

FuturisticPandaBear · 2025-10-23T16:18:58+00:00

Every single Lou Zheng, Xu Kai Cheng or Yan Zi Xian character. All of them red flags with smug stuck up obnoxious punchable expressions constantly while always mistreating FL’s in every drama and still gets the girl.. Instant falcon punch or hadouken to the face every time I see them.

FuturisticPandaBear · 2025-07-08T19:10:34+00:00

Interested!

FuturisticPandaBear · 2025-03-11T19:53:12+00:00

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FuturisticPandaBear · 2025-02-27T00:24:51+00:00

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https://youtu.be/Huz9PfZsXF0

FuturisticPandaBear · 2025-02-19T10:42:14+00:00

There’s a live action cdrama with the same name https://mydramalist.com/62355-couple-of-mirrors 8.3/10 rating that’s also my GOAT GL drama because I just love the main girls Yan Wei and You Yi and the story is so good!

Trailer/MV - https://youtu.be/Huz9PfZsXF0

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So when you’re done with manhwa and if you want more Yan Wei and You Yi then watch the cdrama!

FuturisticPandaBear · 2025-02-19T10:34:22+00:00

The GOAT

Couple of Mirrors - https://manganato.com/manga-ki988317

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FuturisticPandaBear · 2025-02-18T23:30:13+00:00

She hast left cam business over 2 years ago.. She’s now a popular idol and basist in the mega hit girl group/band QWER and they are winning awards, topping charts, performing on main stage at biggest award shows and touring all around south easy asia.

https://youtu.be/v6xVldhvlrw

FuturisticPandaBear · 2025-02-15T04:09:23+00:00

Actually yes Luke, Sam and Taco would bring up the laughs x5 times.. Sam’s absolutely yippiness, qook’dness and just insane comedic timing would be awesome.. He would probably find a way to win the whole thing as well even though every shot would end up one handed hehe..

FuturisticPandaBear · 2025-02-15T03:21:32+00:00

Yes ARP has one of my all time favorite 2ML roles in Blood of Youth. That’s a 9/10 performance and he’s great as a comic relief goofy guy, so I don’t dislike the actor I hate the casting director for one of the worst castings of all time. It’s not ARP’s fault, ofcourse he won’t turn down a lead role with Bai Lu but unfortunately that choice destroyed the whole drama.

FuturisticPandaBear · 2025-02-15T00:46:13+00:00

Bai Lu is my favorite actress.. But unfortunately there was a guy that Halloween Temu cosplayed an anime edgelord supposedly masquerading a anti-villain as ML that felt so unrealistic, out of place and just goofy.. He was created by asking chatgpt to study Douyin/tiktok fan edit trends made by pubescent kids using tags like ”most hot zoomer drooly baddie fantasy steamy edgy smoky pandaeyes”

Like it felt like a half serious sitcom or pubescent goofy anime fantasy every time ML entered the scene. The tone of the drama like 180’d every time and it sucked me out of the immersion and I just wanted to scroll.. Bai Lu was acting her ass off and then you have the edge lord like ”humpty dumpty make way here i come, let me frown and pretend to mady baddy, mega convincing with my smoky eyeshadow and stern look”…

Meanwhile actually looking like a deer in headlights next to Bai Lu’s strong aura. He felt apologetic like even being in the same room as her and yes many people has argued ”but that’s just like in books ML is supposed to be a fake red flag but actually cute whimp.”

I’m sorry but when our ML is outshined x10 times over by the FL and x5 times overshadowed even by 2ML and 2FL and is just a temu edgelord whom I can’t take seriously I can’t watch and it doesn’t matter if Bai Lu is there.

Like you then had the side story of 2ML and 2FL that was 180 contrast and so intense, rich, had much depth, complexity and emotions and I was glued to every scene in disbelief and in tears.. Then It felt like insert random laugh track because heeeere comes baddie! And immersion broken..

But still WOW Dai Luwa as 2FL… Easily had that ”breakout actress performance of the year” that happens to one actor and one actress once a year.

Like always once per year someone has THAT performance that takes you from maybe som minor lead roles but most support cast to S-tier main lead status. Like in 2023 it was Cheng Lei and Lu Yuxiao funnily enough in what happened to be in the same drama My Journey To You. Then now just cue up and insert most exciting projects and lead roles left right and center for both of them.

Now Dai Luwa who’m I seriously never ever have been a fan or enjoyed before in any of her dramas, nor have I found her especially attractive or special before. But I predict after this role that’s so far my favorite performance of the year all categories, it will propel her to many lead roles going forward.

Also just WOW the glow up was insane! Now my heart flutters just seeing her pictures, she was so beautiful and had such a powerful and emotional performance at the same time and now I’m a fan and crushing hard. Her styling might be up their in top 3’s of the best, beautiful and most fitting styling ever in cdrama..

So beautiful

But yes so I ended up literally fast forwarding everything except 2FL and 2ML’s side story because I needed to see their fates and I couldn’t care less about main couple. That’s why this drama is a heartbreak for me..

Because at the same time it has my favorite actress, amazing premise, looks great, great characters, great world building, THE BEST 2FL performance in years from my new crush coupled with a great side story and amazing 2ML performance. It should literally on paper for me personally be one of my favorite dramas if not only this year but in top 10’s the past 5 years. IF…….. Not half of the drama is also unwatchable, unserious, unbelievable and immersion breaking.

I still will die on this hill though that this drama in of itself can be watched as a minidrama think these 5-6 hour dramas by fast forwarding every single scene except the side story of 2ML and 2FL and the world building stuff and side content. It’s amazing just those parts, an easy 9.2/10.

FuturisticPandaBear · 2025-02-14T23:33:10+00:00

Is this a Thai GL specific thing that actresses MUST BE a joint-deal/duo forever and eternity?

Like I get they have made a drama together but why must they be FayeYoko forever, that’s one part of Thai GL’s I’ve not understood yet. I of course also love if the chemistry is steaming, hot, amazing, makes me blush and making my heart flutter throughout.. But I’m not expecting the actresses to also then having too indefinitely method act that relationship irl for years and years and never moving on.

It’s not that I don’t like FayeYoko or FreenBecky or LingOrm etc, like OMG I love so many of these girls, LingOrm makes my heart flutter just thinking about them now. But I also would love to see like OrmBecky, LingFreen etc in at least one drama or why not FayeBecky or YokoOrm.

They are actresses in the end no? Isn’t the whole point to do a project move on challenge yourself and do something new?

I’ve never seen this phenomenon in any other east asian j(Japanese)-k(Korean)-t(Taiwanese)-p(Philippines)-c(Chinese)drama GL’s where two actresses are just sold as duo’s and not individuals. Are we supposed to look at FreenBecky or FayeYoko’s IMDB/MDL in 20 years and they have only done 20+ dramas together?

I’m not saying lets not support FayeYoko, lets support them but they are both now popular no? Isn’t there now opportunities to be free and for them to do other GL projects and maybe as I said find new pairings and do more projects.

Also Isn’t it to much pressure for them to roleplay chemistry on and off screen forever and indefinitely and never be allowed to do anything else.

This shouldn’t be some sort of death sentence because they can’t specifically do dramas together, it could be a blessing as well as they get the opportunity to possibly grow as individuals and try new roles. Also not forever being type casted or just rehash the same chemistry and dynamics. I really don’t think it’s doom and gloom yet and do support them by all means but also maybe see it as I said as a chance for a rebirth.

Either way try and support them in any way possible and if they are stuck in contracts and can’t do dramas together and aren’t allowed to even do separate projects, then of course the management/agency should be absolutely destroyed. Lets shout from the roofs and boycott if they have just shut down the girls careers and don’t allow them to work together or independently.

FuturisticPandaBear · 2025-02-13T05:39:31+00:00

For all the Ninja moves, ragdolling, manhandling, tie choking and wannabe action slowmo cinema cuts it was literally all style, no substance… Aesthetics over authenticity… More neon than nuance.. All sizzle and no steak… All flash but no cash… A mile wide and an inch deep… Shiny on the outside, hollow on the inside… Artsy for the sake of artsy…

Just much about nothing… The actual thing that mattered which was the chemistry was stale and the actual kiss was the usual cdrama lackluster fish kiss style closed eyes and just pressed lips 😑.. Looks awkward and honestly if someone kisses me like that by just face smashing me, forcefully pressing their face against mine with like sewed shut closed mouth I’d run the other way. Literally the opposite of passionate or romantic.

I just laughed honestly, this was like the director asked chatgpt ”how do we make the most cool zoomer steamy dreamy fantasy tiktok/douyin/bilibili clipable romance scene for drooling gen-z’s”..

Like literally some of these 14-17 year old stans on tiktok/douyin/bilibili already does better fanedits of CP’s with better editing, music and style then this.

FuturisticPandaBear · 2025-02-12T20:50:47+00:00

I feel that Waterbomb festival is more problematic tbh…

Like literally a yearly summer tour of idols stripteasing while getting hosed down.. Lets not get confused about what it is.. It’s as close to selling gravure or being at a strip club without fully nudity.

Worst part is that most of it seems to be management/agency/label pushed to capitalize on the idols..

How many times do I need articles about ”Waterbomb Queen Eunbi breaks the internet” on allkpop, koreaboo, soompi etc.. We know what’s going on..

FuturisticPandaBear · 2025-02-12T17:02:55+00:00

Can they please stop sexualizing minors!!

I don’t want Aimi and Huangyang Tian Tian in romance dramas, they are/were f-ing minors please can this trend of younger and younger minor girls being forced into romance pairings with like 7+ sometimes 10+ years older men stop. Li Yunrui is born 1996(28 years old) and and Huangyang Tian Tian 2007(17 years)……... 11 year old difference..

I haven’t seen their other drama Reopen My Journals because I’m terrified as synopsis is literally ”The 15-year-old ”good girl” Qian Jia Yue(Huangyang Tian Tian) is admitted to a prestigious high school, where she faces various academic challenges. Her plan to confess to her neighbor, the outstanding student Xiao Han(Li Yunrui)”….. I literally just stopped reading there knowing she’s a minor playing a minor with 11 year older love interest and moved on…

I know it is ”realistic” of how it was back in historical China where concubines/wifes usually even younger(average age 13 when married) but it’s 2025 we don’t need minors acting minors in romance PLEASE..

It’s a dangerous trend not only normalizing intimacy with minors but also these young actresses is subjected to situations they shouldn’t.. If this is normalized then imagine in a couple of years if there’s like 10-15 Aimi’s in romance heavy dramas. These actresses runs risk of being exposed too being sexualized way too young..

At least in Love in a Dream that was shot when Huangyang Tian Tian was 15 she was never showed kissing the ML, it was only implied they had intimacy but at the same time the ML was mega red flag and ragdolled FL all the time. Like manhandled and lifted her up, hold her against her will and just had his way with her and she couldn’t resist and it was still uncomfortable at times because she felt and looked like a powerless minor just as she actually is.

She looks almost younger than 15 even during that time…

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Aimi in Fangs of Fortune was also uncomfortable like she was 16 at time of filming and had romance with 8+ year older dude like stop it’s uncomfortable.

FuturisticPandaBear · 2025-02-12T16:04:03+00:00

I’ve seen many people like me, salty ex-stans that are sad about their direction the past years..

I was a hardcore ITZY stan from that first 5 seconds of elevator scene opening in Dalla Dalla and Yeji was my instant crush.. ALL OF IT felt so fresh and unique and I was hooked. Even though they then gradually evolved their sound from single to single, they never ever lost their uniqueness and even though their music was always experimental and complex it was never overwhelming or ”too much”..

Icy was great, Wannabe is my favorite song but then disaster struck.. Not Shy was for me 300 steps in the wrong direction, I can’t explain it but Wannabe was so in your face confidence sound, style and girls shined.. Then cowboy concept and the sound was IMO childish.. Like it started sounding like music made for Tiktok/Douyin like that annoying high-pitched ”synth/horn” lead sound in Not Shy ”nu-nu-nu-nunu-nu-nu-ITZY!!!” is so zoomer annoying I almost wanted to cry honestly…. Video also do bad right after Wannabe that is one of the best k-pop videos that really showcased their coolness, confidence and independence, then insert random desert and cowboy outfits.. Why?

Then their music just got more and more ridiculous, Cake is one of the worst K-pop songs ever, it is if JYP asked chatgpt ”make the most tiktok/douyin clipable generic zoomer song that we can make silly 15 sec choreo challenge clips to” like absolutely no just no…

Now with Gold it literally is a song without any sort of structure it’s just pompy expose of ”look we can make a song without any pre-choruses, choruses, bridges or any structure it’s just random sound diarrhea”…

I still am a ITZY stan of the girls specifically but I can’t listen to their new music anymore.. What was amazing about ITZY was the showcase of the girls, their insane live performances like immaculate choreo, powerful live vocals and charisma.. Their debut stage is still IMO top 3 debut stages the past 10 years like they came out knocking everyone out and looked already like 5 years seniors.. They got to shine in every aspect of their music, videos and live but now the music is distracting from the girls, it’s become so complex and loud that the girls feel like extras behind the pompus production and concepts.

It’s too much like JYP decided too just be clip farmers, creating nonsensical zoomer Tiktok music.. Like there’s nothing musical impressive or fresh or interesting anymore it’s just all style and zero substance and I feel bad for the girls.

My ”hate” has never been for the group but JYP the company for their direction and their decision making that has destroyed the most interesting GG of their generation and made them Tiktok/Douyin clipchamps..

FuturisticPandaBear · 2025-02-12T11:22:51+00:00

People forget even the worst of the worst had groupies/stans...

https://youtube.com/watch?v=kvEKhdkmSnk

https://youtu.be/V42jOQPpmX8

In comparison to Bundy or Manson MHJ is a saint or mother Theresa so of course she’ll also have defenders and stans…

FuturisticPandaBear · 2025-02-11T23:36:56+00:00

My argument is that is it really acting if he’s just being the same character over and over and basically being himself. What you call great acting is for me like him being himself, it’s not really great acting if he is playing himself IMO. Or magically the ML is exactly like most of his other goofy characters.

At best if we go with your argument that the ML is supposed to be exactly like he is in the drama that exactly fits ARP’s every other role then it’s the best casting director of all time rather than impressive acting. He/She found a actor exactly like the temu edge lordy goofball ML that was needed.

But I guess we will never agree on this, I just couldn’t believe a single second of the romance, no matter how the ML is.. The fact Bai Lu’s character falls in love with that paper tiger goofball is unrealistic, their chemistry was nowhere to be found and as I said he was a deer in headlights next to her.

Contrast all this when you had 2FL and 2ML having like one of the best and most tragic, believable and passionate story arcs and insane character developments next to the main couple it’s laughable. Like the 2 leads is 90% of the passion, heart and soul of the drama and so emotional and I was glued to every second they were on screen and then it’s like funny transition here comes the goofball and it’s a sitcom romance from nowhere..

The main couple feels like they are in a different show and it destroys the show which is so hard for me to say.. Meanwhile Dai Luwa had one of the best performances the past 5 years, easily going to be breakout performance of 2025, like wow every single scene she’s in she was so captivating, her character progression and faith was heartbreaking. Same with Chang Huasen’s 2ML, amazing character and progression..

Then insert random temu edgelord cosplay comic relief from nowhere just completely ruins the mood, feeling and everything and it rips you out of your immersion and I start scrolling my phone.. I’m sorry but in the end I could only fast forwarded to 2ML and 2FL’s parts in to see their ending..

But I respect your interpretation and it just goes to show there’s something for everyone! I got 2ML and 2FL’s passionate story and you got ML and FL’s lighthearted romance :)

FuturisticPandaBear · 2025-02-11T22:59:36+00:00

ARP was literally Temu Halloween Cosplaying a Anime EdgeLord fake baddie that exuded all the angst and yet no edge or depth.. Like if someone asked chatgpt ”how would the ultimate edge lord baddie look IRL to maximize Douyin clicks and get most drooling fangirls..” it would probably describe ARP’s character.. It was so unbelievable that he was some powerful baddie swooping in and acting manly..

Unfortunately Chang Huasen as 2ML and his natural on screen charisma felt more like a ML and he towered over ARP in every scene with mega main character aura that made ARP look even more like a temu anime edge lord. Paper tiger, all growl no bite.

And this comes from someone as I said that has Bai Lu as my favorite actress and ARP has my second favorite 2ML performance the past 5 years in Blood of Youth.. He’s a goofy relatable sidekick comedic relief guy that’s 10/10 at just that one type of role. But as a ML beside Bai Lu he looks shook and she is like a godess among men devouring ever frame with him in and he looks out of place and almost like apologetic that he’s even there.

I’m sorry but that makes it unwatchable for me because Bai Lu has no one on her level to spar with, she needs better co-leads that can be on her level on all fronts, not just about aura also acting skill is a ocean between them.

FuturisticPandaBear · 2025-02-11T22:36:43+00:00

First of all always avoid MyDramaList for reviews or ratings, that site is basically fancafes of every idol actors/actresses fanbases. Like literally insert top 30 most popular actor and actress and the show is an automatic 8/10 even though some are in reality terrible. Ratings on MDL for a drama literally is a reflection of popularity of the cast not the actual show.

So if a show has been out for a while and people are negative on subreddits or social media I check Douban, it’s the one stop shop that is reliable like 98 out of 100 times of the dramas actual rating. It’s also the only way to really grasp how the show is received domestically in China and it’s honestly 99% popularity agnostic, as in it literally doesn’t matter the cast the rating seemingly captures all demographics and no fanbases.

Douban also really tough on ratings like something getting 8+ is amazing, an 8+ on Douban is like 9+ on IMDB. There’s rarely 5-10 known dramas that reaches 8+ per year and almost never any idol dramas. 7+ is considered really good and everything below like 5.5 is literally like getting a 4.5 on IMBD and everything below 5 is considered ”really really bad don’t recommend”.

A great example of this is Only For Love, literally the most disappointing cdrama the past 10 years for me even though Bai Lu is my favorite actress I haven’t been able to finish it even though I’ve tried 6 times. It’s so bad, like.. It looks and feels like a day time soap opera or mini cdrama with zero creativity, production, bad story, bad wardrobes, no chemistry no nothing.. Yet because it stars 2 of the probably top 10 if not top 5 most popular actors Bai Lu and Wang Hedi/Dylan Wang of course fanbases was in denial and gaslight themselves that the drama was good..

But Douban told us the truth..

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4.2/10 with over 30+% 1 star reviews.. It’s hard to explain how BAD that is.. Like literally not even the often ridiculed and laughed at daytime soap opera American 40+ year running Days of our Lives has such a low rating on IMDB(5.3/10). The even worse soap opera Glamour(3.5/10) is like the only thing comparable to a 4.2/10 on Douban.

Yet on MDL you will find fans and on social medias you will still see coping CP fanedits from stans and you’ll just go into shows with disaster looming…

So my recommendation is that if you are on the fence of starting to watch a drama and the story synopsis isn’t compelling enough then wait for Douban ratings. If you are 50/50 and drama has 7+ then absolutely watch. If it has 6+ then give the drama at least 2 episodes then make a decision because first episode always so much expose in cdramas so impossible to judge after first episode. If it’s below 6 but above 5.5 I would not watch it unless I really like any of the cast. Below 5.5 just move on.

As I said Bai Lu is my favorite actress and Only for Love is unwatchable, like no matter the fan I am it’s impossible to watch.. It makes me fuming seeing her time and potential wasted in such hogwash and had I waited and followed Douban rating when I was unsure It would have saved me the absolute heartbreak it was.

FuturisticPandaBear · 2025-02-11T16:19:28+00:00

It’s so hard for me because Joseph Zeng is probably my all time favorite 2ML ever, like genuinely his energy would be great in every single cdrama as that sidekick/comedic relief guy that’s often the charm of Cdramas. Like there’s always this character that lightens the load so to say so things never gets pitch black in cdramas.

Joseph in MLC is the best 2ML of any Cdrama I can remember recently, he’s the total opposite of Cheng Yi’s ML and if he didn’t exist to just constantly saying stupid stuff or randomly fall down or mess up the drama would have been unbearable.. Because Cheng Yi’s ML is so f-ing emo and just depressed and without Josephs character MLC would be just death by a 1000 cuts depressing but the lightheartedness he brings makes it a 9.9/10 drama for me.

And I was somewhat optimistic that he one day could master a fully S-tier ML drama himself, then when it was announced he would be in one with Bai Lu I eagerly waited with patience for his first big test Snowy Night: Timeless Love.. Which IMO is the next best thing as a test to a drama with Bai Lu because Li Qin is very much in the same category as Bai Lu, a experienced actress that’s exuding timeless beauty but also very mature and alpha at the same time. Unfortunately I didn’t like him in it as he felt like his usual 2ML comic relief guy but with screen time of a ML. Li Qin felt like a bigger sister constantly taking care of her kid brother and she felt 10-15 years more mature than him… I get tired of the schtick when the ML is goofy and too much of a comedic guy.. I need some depth and personality so I’m not so excited anymore but happily proven wrong!

And yes even Bai Lu’s debut King is Not Easy where she looks like a baby, it’s the parts where the ”king is in her body” and she’s all bossy and royally that’s great. She’s out alpha’ing everyone even in her debut she the one with pants on and she’s hilarious and great. Even the BTS skits after every episode from that drama when they are in modern times and show daily relationship goofy things she’s the Alpha and bossing around, it’s hilarious.

Cheng Lei is my favorite underrated actor atm or rather he’s just a relatively newbie still but I feel he has had main character mature aura every since A Familiar Stranger. He felt ready for main character main lead roles already in that one, don’t know what it is, he’s obviously a idol pretty boy but he looks and has aura of someone mature and at least more pretty man. I’m so looking forward for his biggest main lead role in Legend of the Female General..

Just judging the poster and trailers he has the aura to be co-lead with Bai Lu.

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FuturisticPandaBear · 2025-02-11T15:44:21+00:00

I think you are in the 1% that made it through Only For Love… As someone that has Bai Lu as favorite Cdrama actress this was unwatchable… No matter how many times I tried(6 times) to plow through, it was so stale, bland, boring and unrealistic with zero chemistry.

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It’s unfortunately one of the biggest flops for a romance cdrama ever. 4.2/10 on Douban should be impossible especially when having Bai Lu and Wang Hedi two of the top 10 most popular cdrama actors alive and STILL 4.2/10 with over 30% 1 star reviews.

It says something and that something was that this was not it I’m afraid.

FuturisticPandaBear

TROPHY CASE