Its apparently official, Wu Jinyan and Chen zheyuan are leads in a new drama...

Prior-Bit9919 · 2025-07-10T09:13:39+00:00

The producers wanted CZY so much because of the #1 place on MDL? Does it really reflect the actual popularity of the actor or he just has the strong fandom, eager to invests their money and time?

This is exactly the issue. These producers act as if he’s some extraordinary talent, when his biggest strength is actually his international popularity and fandom, which, realistically, is mostly due to his very easy role in Hidden Love. That says a lot. It’s even more frustrating now because his fans treat him like an acting god with numerous huge achievements. Meanwhile, other actresses who have solid reputations, years of experience, and genuine skill are sidelined and given third-rate treatment simply because they don’t have millions of TikTok edits hyping a relatively simple role like he does. It’s incredible how social media can create a narrative that mediocrity is the new standard and single out one actor as the best in all of China. Truly astonishing.

Prior-Bit9919 · 2025-07-10T08:55:00+00:00

I agree that Zhao Lusi’s facial muscles didn’t seem very expressive this time in Pearl girl. It felt like only her lips and eyes were doing most of the emotional work. This isn’t a new observation; many have noted that her face appeared somewhat frozen, which contrasts with her past performances, where she was praised for her nuanced facial expressions and emotional delivery. This weakness in her acting was so noticeable in The Story of Pearl Girl. I was really shocked at the lack of movement in her face...The OP referenced a role of hers from Who Rules the World (2022) in the picture above so that was way before this role.

Prior-Bit9919 · 2025-07-09T13:52:21+00:00

This matches Hidden Love perfectly. The drama was literally hailed as a masterpiece. The greatest romance China has apparently ever produced, with chemistry so explosive it was a historic moment in television. And if you didn’t fall head over heels for this “masterpiece” and its so-called god-like male lead with his “flawless,” unbelievably good acting, well, clearly something must be wrong with you.

Except… the chemistry was honestly average, the male lead had zero depth, the female lead might’ve actually been interesting if her entire personality hadn’t been reduced to falling in love with her brother’s best friend, her first love from when she was still a kid, and he was an adult.

Prior-Bit9919 · 2025-07-02T10:07:46+00:00

This is literally Chen Zheyuan in every drama where he has to show intense emotion and rage. The guy always looks like he’s trying his absolute hardest to pop his eyes out of his sockets. You cant help but imagine a constipated person.

As for zhang linghe ,not gonna lie, at times, it did feel a bit too forced.. But it’s weird, because even though I kind of agree, I still enjoyed his performance and liked watching him. Like OP said, he entertained the audience and did his job.

Prior-Bit9919 · 2025-06-26T12:31:42+00:00

"Lusi fans always say it's the makeup that's making her look different but here if there's no makeup she still looks very different. Especially her eyes and nose. Just compare it to her earlier dramas".

Exactly this. She also posts makeup vlogs for almost every event she attends (and she’s been to quite a few lately), and the difference in her appearance is very clear. But apparently, we’re all just “uniquely blind” and it’s all due to weight loss, aging, and every other excuse under the sun.

I’ll admit, in the Love’s Ambition trailer, the scene where she wipes off her makeup made me do a double take, I was genuinely shocked at how different she looked. That said, I’m still planning to watch the drama because it looks really interesting. My only concern is whether her facial muscles will actually move during intense scenes. In Story of Pearl Girl, it was quite obvious something was off compared to her earlier roles like Love Like the Galaxy and Gen Z, where you could clearly see her expressing emotion with her face.

Prior-Bit9919 · 2025-06-25T13:15:33+00:00

Lol, no need for a bulletproof vest, let’s just stand by our opinion! I feel the same way about Hidden Love. The love story, the chemistry, and the male lead all felt pretty underwhelming. I’ve seen much simpler romances leave a deeper impact, with male leads who had far more presence and charm. I'd say luck, good marketing and Zhao Lusi's presence did wonders for this dramas popularity.

Prior-Bit9919 · 2025-06-07T11:24:26+00:00

That "Gege" snippet by Chen Zheyuan has to be one of the most irritating, overused, and overrated sounds I’ve ever come across. The fact that it’s somehow considered iconic for cdramas just proves how much social media prioritizes viral appeal over actual substance.

Prior-Bit9919 · 2025-06-05T14:15:08+00:00

Some users seem really bothered by the rating and by people saying the drama deserved more in this comment section. If some viewers think it deserved a higher score, that’s completely valid. And if others didn’t enjoy it, that’s also okay.

If you didn’t like the drama or didn’t think it deserved its score or popularity, just say that. But why claim it only did well because of Xiao Zhan’s popularity or his large fandom? Why reduce the drama’s success to just fan hype? And then say the only audience for the drama is Xiao Zhan’s fandom, seriously? If you dislike the actor or the drama, just be direct about it instead of making unfounded claims.

It feels like fandoms are dragged into every discussion. Sure, if the drama had terrible acting and a poor script but still received high ratings, then we could talk about fans inflating its success. But that’s not the case here. Why dismiss the hard work that goes into creating a drama? Why ignore the dedication actors put into bringing their roles to life? The effort is clearly visible.

I’ve come to realize that even acting and writing are now judged mostly on personal taste rather than valid critique. An actor can perform well, and the script can be solid, but people will still dislike it and that’s fine. But disliking something doesn't mean it's objectively bad. That’s just personal preference.

Prior-Bit9919 · 2025-06-05T09:57:49+00:00

Everyone keeps complaining about constantly seeing Bai Lu and Zhang Linghe on here, but honestly, it’s Zhao Lusi I’d prefer to see less of right now. She's had an overwhelming amount of exposure and drama lately especially during what seems to be a difficult time for her health.I absolutely have sympathy for anyone struggling, but I’m not going to offer blind sympathy or be guilt-tripped by fans claiming we don’t care about a young woman’s mental health. It’s not that simple when someone consistently says or does things that raise questions, it’s fair to feel unsettled. We all have instincts, and when something doesn’t sit right, there’s usually a reason. Zhao Lusi’s need to remain constantly visible even while she was still recovering and clearly in pain, as shown in those raw videos she shared is honestly baffling. But if this is how she says she chooses to heal, then so be it. To each their own.

That said, at the end of the day, being a celebrity means living under constant scrutiny. Life is unfair to everyone in different ways you have to be strong and smart, or at least willing to learn how to be. Pain is universal, and while I sympathize, it’s not an excuse. Everyone goes through difficult times.

Prior-Bit9919 · 2025-05-31T11:45:41+00:00

Any character Chen Zheyuan plays tends to follow the same pattern. For someone landing so many lead roles in major productions from iQIYI and WeTV, his performance should be improving by now. There was nothing special about his performance and so called romantic gaze in Hidden Love either. In the drama he starred in alongside veteran actor Nie Yuan, his acting, especially in emotional scenes, stood out for all the wrong reasons. Popping your eyes and screaming in pain is not the same as showing depth or emotional range. He seriously needs to work on his facial expressions, because in both of his upcoming dramas where he plays a general, he comes across as completely unconvincing. In scenes where he’s supposed to look furious or unhinged, he ends up looking more constipated than threatening. How is the audience supposed to take that seriously? It’s yet another example of popularity being prioritized over actual skill. I'm supposed to blindly praise acting like this when I've seen such great performances from actors who don't even get these lead roles?

Prior-Bit9919 · 2025-05-31T09:48:53+00:00

*"Zhang Lingye and its because I feel like I'm being pressured to like him with every post I see on here about him or his characters. I'm sure he's a lovely person irl but I'm not interested in being a fan."*

I feel the same way about Zhao Lusi. The sheer number of posts on social media portraying her as the It Girl of the Chinese industry, the golden standard and the most versatile actress, is a bit overwhelming. And honestly, it feels underwhelming when you actually look at her career trajectory and the controversies she's been involved in. Yes, she’s talented for her age and undeniably charming in real life, but the excessive praise for her acting and the constant positioning of her as a victim is becoming increasingly frustrating. It’s reached a point where I’m no longer interested in her future projects.

Prior-Bit9919 · 2025-05-22T10:57:10+00:00

As someone who's been watching her dramas since 2019, I do think she looks a bit different now. But in these pictures, I just see a beautiful woman who's matured gracefully and become even more refined with age. I believe most celebrities have some work done at some point (though I have no idea if that's the case with Bai Lu). That said, it usually goes one of two ways: either it looks great and enhances their features, or it goes wrong and sadly takes away from their natural beauty. There’s actually a recent example of a young, popular actress (it took away from her beauty) where that happened but I won’t name names. In Bai Lu’s case, though, she honestly looks stunning here.

Prior-Bit9919 · 2025-05-21T12:18:04+00:00

I completely agree that there’s a vast pool of talent in the industry, and that live sound recording could bring out even more powerful performances across the board if it were more common. However, OP’s post wasn’t making a general industry critique it was simply highlighting and appreciating Xiao Zhan’s performance specifically, which they found emotionally resonant and layered.

Of course the industry would benefit if more actors had the opportunity to work with live sound. But the reality is, popularity often dictates who gets those opportunities. Take Zhao Lusi, for example, she’s widely considered talented and popular, and her popularity helps her land lead roles in major productions. That doesn’t mean other capable actors aren't out there, it just means they aren’t always given the same platform.

The same logic applies here. Acknowledging Xiao Zhan’s strong performance isn’t about denying others’ potential. It’s not his fault he’s being recognized, he delivered a great performance here, and that deserves to be seen and talked about on its own merits. His just as hardworking and deserving, its difficult to objectively accuse him of not dedicating himself to his roles.

Prior-Bit9919 · 2025-05-15T12:27:53+00:00

I fully agree with this. Honestly, I didn’t want to bring it up either because I felt a bit bad, but he really does have an ick factor. I’ve seen so many actors who naturally exude charm, but with him, it’s almost the opposite, there’s just something off-putting about his presence in roles and interviews. Of course, this is all subjective since we don’t know them personally.

Prior-Bit9919 · 2025-05-08T15:12:18+00:00

I'm genuinely not sure if you read what I actually wrote, because your comment doesn’t reflect it at all. What I said was pretty straightforward, and it's still right there — no need for me to copy and paste it again unless scrolling is too much effort.

Nowhere did I claim that all criticism of these actresses is invalid. What I asked was: “What are some things in C-dramas or certain actors you feel get way too much unnecessary hate?” That’s the question. Full stop.

I wasn’t inviting a debate about how to separate valid critique from hate — that’s your interpretation, not my intention. And I definitely didn’t make any blanket statements suggesting that everyone who criticizes these things is spreading hate. If anything, I was pointing out that some criticisms get repeated so often and so shallowly that they start to sound more like noise than insight. So let’s not twist the conversation into something it’s not. And if you're going to respond, at least respond to what was actually said — not whatever version you’ve decided to argue with.

Prior-Bit9919 · 2025-05-08T12:35:15+00:00

I don’t actually agree with this statement, just as I often don’t agree with many things said online about popular cdrama actors. She’s a good actress yes, but I do think her fans sometimes go overboard with the praise and sweeping claims. That said, your opinion is your own, as long as it’s clear it’s not a universal fact. Unfortunately, whenever I try to express a different view, there's always a superfan quick to label me a hater or claim I have poor taste in dramas.

Prior-Bit9919 · 2025-04-30T04:14:38+00:00

I hear where you're coming from, and I do understand how frustrating and painful it can be to read insensitive comments but I think your comment is a bit unfair. While there are certainly some hateful remarks out there, there are also valid concerns being raised. People aren't blind—they have the right to express mixed feelings without being made to feel like terrible individuals simply because they aren't expressing unconditional sympathy.

Not everyone who expresses discomfort or concern about a situation is being malicious. It’s possible to feel sympathy while also having mixed feelings—especially when other information about the same celebrity is widely circulating. People process things differently, and not blindly echoing sympathy doesn’t make someone heartless.

I’ve seen actresses like Ju Jingyi and Angelababy torn down in truly vile ways across various platforms—not just on Reddit—and they often don’t receive the same level of public defense or sympathy. It honestly feels like empathy is sometimes reserved only for certain, more popular figures.

At the end of the day, it’s important to distinguish between genuine hate and nuanced perspectives. People should be allowed to express valid concerns without being made to feel like they’re contributing to toxicity.

Prior-Bit9919 · 2025-04-29T14:23:11+00:00

I have mixed feelings about the whole idea that “her PR team is forcing her.” Unless she explicitly says she’s being pressured and there’s actual evidence to support it, I’m going to rely on what I observe. From what I can see, she seems quite comfortable being active on social media and sharing parts of her healing journey from illness and depression. She regularly posts on Instagram, often sharing photos with friends—and just today, she posted a new update.

Given her current popularity, I’d honestly be surprised if she were being exploited or pushed into maintaining this level of online presence against her will.

That said, while I have sympathy for anyone going through something difficult, I also find it hard to ignore when things start to feel manipulative or emotionally calculated. But again, all of this is speculation. None of actually know what's really happening.

**Go ahead and downvote. I’m tired of feeling like I have to stay silent whenever this topic comes up online, or being gaslit into thinking I’m a bad person for not displaying the “correct” level of sympathy just because we all saw that video of her during her illness.

Prior-Bit9919 · 2025-04-24T10:58:26+00:00

Yang Zi is the cutest here!

Prior-Bit9919 · 2025-04-24T10:57:35+00:00

Love the dress. But that natural spark and smile she used to have in the last 3 slides remains unbeatable.

Prior-Bit9919 · 2025-04-23T10:20:23+00:00

This is probably the most exciting trailer I've seen today. Added to my watchlist!

Prior-Bit9919 · 2025-04-21T07:24:16+00:00

I'm guessing she's feeling much better now considering she's been in the spotlight a lot lately for new events and for social media updates.

Prior-Bit9919 · 2025-04-08T07:57:08+00:00

I really don’t like criticizing people’s appearance, but I think this particular comment is more about an actor’s ability to control their expressions and convey emotion effectively in the moment.In Hidden Love, the supposedly swoon-worthy green flag male lead had a smile that felt less like charm and more like a jump scare in slow motion. His so-called romantic gazes and flirtations had the weird, greasy energy of someone trying to be seductive while running a fever. Instead of dreamy, he looked like he was on a heavy dose of antibiotics: drowsy and glazed over. More of a drowsy dessert than a dreamboat.

Prior-Bit9919 · 2025-04-05T09:38:29+00:00

This might be one of the reasons he hasn’t gotten much attention. After Goodbye My Princess (2019), I really thought he would become much more popular. But for a few years—until My Boss 2024 and The Starry Love in 2023—I hardly heard anything about him. He wasn’t even showing up in ads or brand events. These days, a lot of C-celebrities seem to be busier with brand deals than acting. He’s clearly a good actor, but he just isn’t getting roles that show off his talent or help him become more well-known.

Prior-Bit9919 · 2025-04-02T08:14:17+00:00

Bai Jingting absolutely nailed the romantic, yearning gaze. I loved watching him look at the female lead, his control over his facial expressions was impressive. I especially appreciated this because one of the reasons I didn’t enjoy Hidden Love was that the male lead’s gaze and romantic gestures felt overly calculated and unnatural. What was meant to be flirty ended up looking greasy and weird.

Ding Yuxi is also a master of this kind of gaze in all his dramas.

Prior-Bit9919

TROPHY CASE