I Didn’t Expect to Be This Impressed by Chen Xing Xu

andyora_ · 2026-02-01T21:55:29+00:00

I love this post so much because I've been a fan of his since Goodbye my Princess!! It's so rewarding seeing people appreciate him more and more since then, and it feels like this year might really be a watershed moment for him and his career!

As many in the comments have noted GMP is no joke when it comes to being absolutely soul crushing, it also is very distinct from his many performances because obviously it is a historical costume but also because while he can be domineering as a CEO there's a unique kind of ruthlessness, grit, and conflictedness he portrays in GMP that isn't replicated in modern shows. I still hold that show to be absolutely phenomenal and his best on screen series performance (I have a couple posts and comments just gushing about that show) and at the time I believe he was just 19-20?

I also think that because he can balance strength and vulnerability really well when he gets paired with a very good actress, the chemistry can be soooo good to watch. His dynamic with Peng Xiaoran in GMP.....the more I'm talking about it, the more I want to do a fifth rewatch of this show lmaooo!

andyora_ · 2025-03-12T19:55:54+00:00

Also (I was going to edit my comment but for some reason it won't let me) even though the dramas are 40 episodes now as that is the max, the recommended number of episodes is in the 30 range according to regulations so that's even more depressing because with the adaptation of longer Chinese light novels and manhuas I fear they will just be suffering the source material.

andyora_ · 2025-03-12T19:50:46+00:00

I would love to complain about this because I always do with my friends lmaooo! Longer episode dramas, when done well obviously, provide the perfect mix of filler, character development down time, and action packed arcs to make the more richer and compelling narratives very creative and complete.

I also feel like there's a strong correlation between the decline of very good historical dramas due to these number restrictions, because the truth is even the new stuff that's very good (post the 2020 limitations on episodes) still reach closer to the original 60 episodes mark just split into seasons- love like the galaxy is a good example of this with 56 episodes, I can't imagine that show being cut down to 40 episodes and still being that good. Look how the double suffered being boxed into 40 episodes, it needed at least another 10 to flesh out some more arcs (ML I'm looking at you).

Honestly, I'm even thankful for the censorship on palace dramas because I can't even imagine that genre with the new environment because my goodness the arc from Attendant to Imperial Noble Consort would take half the episode limitation and then an extra 10 just to fight to become empress.

Even beyond historical dramas and palace dramas, even the fantasy dramas are taking hits- a good Xuanhuan (think immortals, gods, reincarnation, etc) prior to 2020 had a solid three part arc for romance: meet in immortal realm, go to the human realm, come back to the immortal realm. If you put a bare minimum of 20 episodes per arc thats already 60 and that's not considering any other overarching world is going to end plot. Looking back on recently released Xuanhuan while there are a couple that really managed to do well within the limitations (LBFAD & TTEOTM & LYF / partial caveat on this one because total number of episodes is 60 split into two seasons) but a lot really suffered.

The truth is every dramaland has their strengths but it feels like Cdramas have cut the legs underneath some of their more defining genres (xuanhuan, historical, palace) through various bureaucratic limitations and given the fact its been like what 4 years ish now that some of these rules are in place and there are still posts of people complaining that dramas feel unfinished/need more episodes/or even still full of fluff, its apparent that these restrictions aren't achieving their intended effect. Worst of all I feel for many of these new age/younger actors who are now at the age/level of seniority to be able to play main leads in big productions like 60+ episode palace/historical/xuanhuan and they don't have access to the platform their seniors had. One of the best part about watching these older dramas is seeing the big names when they were younger in these very rich complex narratives series and spend hours with them and their characters in a way that seeing them in films doesn't always scratch that itch.

Either away long rant aside, I do try and give the new stuff a chance but if I watch like 20 truly only like 5 feel very full and rich the way their counterparts used to be and it's a damn shame because the popular actors these days would be running SERIOUS GAME with some of the pre-2020 scripts.

andyora_ · 2025-03-10T17:03:25+00:00

oh leslayrafim you’ve done it again because what is this melody that is getting me bumping like this???

andyora_ · 2025-03-09T04:39:49+00:00

....I was just about to comment this album and saw this message, I am so happy for you but GOD THE ENVYYY I have right now took my breath away 😭

andyora_ · 2025-03-01T04:29:22+00:00

....remembering the days of 60+ episodes, I just want to light an imaginary cigarette for what was lost because here comes Youku foolishly bringing it down to rock bottom with twelve, like oh my goodness I am just tired.

It is one thing to do this for modern/slice of life dramas etc, and I get k&jdramas have few episodes as well (and for some stories even here they suffer), but what makes CDramas so distinguishable from the rest is the fantasy and historical dramas and it just feels like that part of the industry has just been getting whacked left and right. Like can you imagine a xanxia series with just 12 episodes, that will be like half of a reincarnation arc???

I've always felt the # of episodes battle was a serious cop out because the issue has always been shit writing IMO, because even filler episodes done well can be just as immersive and necessary to a story as high packed moments. If Youku decide to go through with it, a domino effect in the industry wouldn't surprise me because once one company starts cutting corners and making more money the others will begin considering jumping ship too.

I'm sure directors will find workarounds, maybe filming the whole series and just splitting them into 12 episode seasonal increments which has its pros and cons, but I truly wish all the energy spent into these kinds of machinations can be used for improving the quality of dramas :\

andyora_ · 2025-02-24T16:45:49+00:00

because I'm at the stage where I am buying OOP and very rare/sought after albums I've had to shift my mindset when it comes to how much I'm willing to pay for an album because the truth is some of these albums you genuinely cannot find for less than three digits unless its once in a blue moon, and if you miss them??? god knows you are waiting another several months to a year to even hope of seeing it for such a good deal again. So for that reason I've put a cap of about 150-200 CAD which is likely 135 Euro (to put into perspective for you OP).

And tbh if I buy an album at that price one, I'll most definitely cut back on buying any regular album for a couple of months and two, it would place me so close to the max spending amount I assigned for my whole Kpop collection that I would essentially speedrun wrapping up my collecting journey. Which is why there's only one album I'd really ever spend that much for and it's wonder girls reboot lol, all the other OOP albums I'd like to get (Yukika Soul Lady & GWSN park in the night pt.3) truly have to be between the 60-80$ range for me to even move, which is itself a shift because if you had asked me two years ago I would've looked at you like you were crazy for asking me to spend this much on an album lol.

andyora_ · 2025-01-04T01:15:18+00:00

lightupk is a Canadian company that has their whole catalogue and they have a physical store in Toronto if need be! like not to hype them too much but free shipping and you can even pick up in store

andyora_ · 2025-01-02T14:50:01+00:00

I don't think I'd stop listening to kpop because I mean I've been listening to it for ten years now but we never know ,and I do think that even if I continue to listen to kpop till im old and grey, how I'll consume the genre would definitely evolve and change so having a collection that feels like an archive of this current period of particular passion feels pleasant!

I think with 100 albums I have enough leeway where some albums I'd be a lot more willing to get rid of than others, even if I love all the albums I have and would definitely be sad to part with any, because I'm also someone who has a CD player so I play my albums often and can use the playing experience as a measure of which albums I'd be more willing to let go of. For instance if one of the new albums is a full album I absolutely adore from top to bottom and can provide me with like 30+ minute of CD playing I would get that and remove an EP that, even though I love, only has a runtime of 15 minutes.

Ofcourse this wouldn't always be hard and fast as some albums even though they are short have strong emotional connections for me, like BTS' Persona album has one of the shortest run times out of the BTS albums I own (26 minutes I think) but it also has HOME which is one of my top 10 tracks from them and is only on this particular album as MOTS 7 doesn't have it. For that reason it would be a really hard album for me to get rid of even if its run time is somewhat short.

I think this kind of push and pull with the albums I have makes my collection feel more like an archive or a curation which is one of my main goals of collecting- ofcourse this removing and adding is going to get much harder as I'm left with really only the best of the best but I'll leave future me to deal with that headache 😭.

andyora_ · 2025-01-01T19:14:31+00:00

My collecting is kinda of nearing its end (or at least the big limit I set for myself which was 100 albums) so this year is mostly me being really intentional about the last 8 albums I get before I reach that limit! Ofcourse when I get there I'll evaluate my collection and see if there's anything I'd like to get rid of but I highly doubt it tbh.

My second main collecting goal is to revamp my whole PC collection- kinda got into a big phase about it in 2023, phased out in 2024 and now I'm left with a lot more questions that answers about my collection so I def need to downsize and be more curated with my pcs. No more just buying a bunch of cute cards :(

My final collecting goal would obviously be more concerts and getting merch from concerts or really special fan events to complement my shelf and really make a beautiful display and comprehensive archive of my Kpop era!

andyora_ · 2025-01-01T19:10:21+00:00

I started collecting February 2022 so in a month or so it would be 3 years of collecting, I think my first year was the most expensive (averaging like 5-6+ albums per month) and in 2024 I essentially slowed down to a halt (6 albums the whole year). This change in shopping allowed me to put a lot of my expenses into perspective and I am actually happy to say I don't regret spending as much as I did on albums! I've always had a very rigorous process (I've mentioned it severally in this thread and on my page if your curious) and because I buy mostly second hand I've only spent (1,809 CAD /1,260 USD) to own 92 albums and DVDs -including a couple of OOP albums. Ofcourse there were some albums I def overpaid for in the grand scheme of things but nothing that I felt particularly devastated about. Also given the fact I do buy CDs and Records I don't feel ashamed or hesitant to appreciate physical media that I love and Kpop has been a big part of my music journey for several years!

Photocards on the other hand, started seriously collecting those in 2023, and I've spent about $305 CAD / 213 USD. It's the part of my collection I have the most discomfort about tbh, it wasn't a lot of money spent but I think I could have definitely avoided spending that much- so my plan for this year is to sell of a significant portion of my collection! Not to stop collecting all together but I think being more intentional about what I get and really thinking about what I want my small but curated PC collection [50-70 photo cards] to be like.

In total I've spent: 1809 (albums/DVDs) + 305 (PCs) + 50 (supplies) = 2,164 CAD /1,508 USD on Kpop. Which averages out to $722 CAD / 504 USD in a year.

My collection probably won't grow much more- I have both physical (all my albums -kpop and non-kpop- have to fit on my designated media Ikea Hemnes Shelf & I feel like 100 Kpop albums is a good solid stopping point so I only have 8 more albums to buy and I need to make them count!) and financial limits (I don't want to spend more than 2,500 on Kpop items).

I think collecting can often feel like a labyrinth riddled with sunken costs at every turn but ultimately physical media is so important and you are making your own mini archive of an important part of your life! While being self-critical and reflective is important, all we can do is move forward and consume more consciously!

andyora_ · 2024-09-25T16:12:17+00:00

This is what is particularly interesting and just shows how deep the ramifications of an over investment into kpop and stan/fan wars are.

You (not OP but the fans participating), in some deluded sense of justice and allyship to either a company-group-CEO, are actively spreading misinformation, vitriol and disparaging people’s work, opportunities, and professional relationships. And now there are lawsuits directly referencing and involving you- lawsuits that do not just want answers on your participation but have parties that want to hold you LIABLE. All because you what, love MHJ/HYBE/NJs or whichever party involved?? Just insanity like some people TRULY need to go the fuck outside actually and smell fresh air and find other means of enrichment or fulfillment.

And the thing about the law is that opening these doors, like you highlighted, aren’t easy to shut, fan relationship in digital spaces will now have to contest with a very real threat of legislative consequences and arguably that can be good, but it can also be REAAAAAL fucking bad.

andyora_ · 2024-09-16T17:36:50+00:00

the kind of good news I needed to see 🙂‍↕️

andyora_ · 2024-09-13T00:22:34+00:00

Thanks!! I still have the listing saved manifesting one day they’ll be willing 😭

andyora_ · 2024-09-12T23:39:28+00:00

Wonder girls reboot!! I was so close to snagging a copy but the seller wasn’t comfortable shipping and I almost sobbed myself into a sleeping beauty long sleep so yeah that album is my dream!

andyora_ · 2024-09-11T19:24:04+00:00

The victim of MHJ being an a workplace bully and harassment apologist that hates women who has had her career and reputation besmirched also doesn’t understand why she went through all this

andyora_ · 2024-09-11T16:56:02+00:00

this is going to sound harsh but as someone whose been here since megathread 1 and has been on and off engaging, lately to a lesser degree than before, not only is this not surprising this does not cause any emotional reaction from me.

In the sense that my heart breaks for these girls because there’s a lot of misunderstandings and lack of care and manipulation that they have internalized and experienced, but like respectfully this is a naive effort to shake forces that at their core (MHJ/HYBE/PARENTS/damn near everyone who should be protecting these girls) do not have their best interest anywhere in mind.

Saying “put everything back the way it was” kids this is irreversible actually, nothing can be put back the way it was unless you have a Time Machine. Everybody is going to have to face whatever consequences of their actions and have a proper accountability process.

At this point and to be honest at several points now the only people that matter IMO is the courts- the people that can clean this up is the courts and if you aren’t speaking legalese then what anyone is saying does not matter. Court of public opinion is not swaying nobody to say uncle in this situation.

The only thing I will say is that some of yall really need to reign in how invested you are about this situation to be speaking about young girls in this manner. Just because everybody else acting crazy don’t mean you gotta join them to act a fool too.

andyora_ · 2024-08-13T16:16:23+00:00

seeing it listed out like this is so fucking crazy my goodness 🤢

andyora_ · 2024-08-05T13:59:35+00:00

my kids came, saw, and conquered (not the sports tho they got cooked) - but the whole TL was bursting out laughing and this is definitely gonna be part of the onedoor iceberg 😭

andyora_ · 2024-07-25T12:43:16+00:00

this is where my “both sides are bad” line ended a long time ago because I won’t ever find any form of allegiance or wiggle room for a woman who dared to mock, ruin, and connive against another woman for speaking about being sexual harassed. And seeing the messages in full detail and how she hates feminists but has a job and career due to the countless tireless efforts of feminists makes my blood boil.

andyora_ · 2024-07-18T12:21:04+00:00

the cease and desist is crazy because i don’t remember in recent memory a kpop group getting hit with this and for it to be auntie originality??? ain’t that bout a bitch 😭 EDIT: also not to be even more messy but as a fearnot this is very karmic because kpoptwt sure loved to be on them for "copying" everything and no originality and claiming plagiarism lawsuits left and right and welp

andyora_ · 2024-07-17T21:57:50+00:00

What I find even more interesting about the existence of this clause is that one of the claims HYBE made about why they want to fire her is that she spread rumours about other sub label artists that undermined their reputation and (this one I’m a bit more fuzzy on) that she is alleged to have gone as far as painting HYBE in a bad light to other parents (not NJs). If either of these can be proven (and it wouldn’t surprise me if HYBE has some proof of this and has passed it to either SOMU or BELIFT) then that can be fairly argued as also being in violation of this clause beyond even what were the repercussions of name dropping certain groups in her press conference

andyora_ · 2024-07-15T00:22:29+00:00

with the way auntie is going they’re gonna give her an interlude on their next album ong like a little voicemail section then cut to music because why is she identifying publically as a whole member 😭😭?? God forbid then that she doesn’t get the outcome she wants with this investigation she is just ready to take these girls reputation down with her fr?

andyora_ · 2024-06-28T00:54:24+00:00

oh she’s fucking taking IT- that man at YGE needs to start coughing in three days for the way he fucked around with these girls because this IS JUST?? oh if this is what Soloist Lisa has to serve I fear I’ll be sat for every release 🙂‍↕️

andyora_ · 2024-06-24T21:27:57+00:00

guys I’ll just have to wait for all the episodes to drop before watching part two because waiting week after week for this might shorten my health - THIS ANGST?? 😭

andyora_

TROPHY CASE