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Xiao Zhan and Zhang Jing Yi Start Filming Big Budget Period C-drama Zang Hai Zhuan — 66 Comments

  1. I got to give it to him, he is breathtakingly beautiful (meaning I clicked on the article, took a glimpse of that first photo, had my breath taken away). Hopefully this will be a good drama. I personally feel that Xiao Zhan has potential that is left untapped. Not only he is gorgeous, he can act too, so it is a pity that his dramas are sub-par.

    • Here he looks much like Sunshine by My Side hero, Sheng Yang, but more glamorous. We’re gonna have Sheng Yang debut and his first project is already a big IP, totally beat his bro Xiao Zhan with the impressive resume. LOL. How amazingly he could look so different overnight just with a hair cut. That’s his great asset that not many actors should covet, totally giving different vibes and auras for different characters.

    • Where Dreams Begin is a fantastic drama.

      It may not be your thing because it’s a specific period drama but it is high quality drama.

  2. It’s confirmed that his character’s name is going to be just Zang Hai, probably a pseudonym, so The Chronicles of Zang Hai or The Legend of Zang Hai would be a better translation.

    Anyways, I like that drama poster using the Chinese shadow puppetry.

  3. I have seen XZ in Our song and a few minutes of the longest promise and 1 episode of douluo continent but he doesn’t do anything for me. I did like ZJY in Lighter and princess (though still have a few episodes left) so if trailers look interesting, might check it out when it airs. I really dig the poster!

    • Same…I couldn’t finish any of his dramas and I tried. Looks-wise, he’s not my cup of tea and his acting doesn’t impress/move me. I like Zhang Jinyi in ‘Lighter and Princess’, I wish her success.

      • It’s ok, everyone has different tastes. Even Director ZXL’s legendary work Empresses in the Palace also has people unable to finish watching it.

    • Same. I don’t understand the obsession. He doesn’t do anything for me, either. I’ve watched Doulou Continent (not impressed), and then some of The Untamed (couldn’t finish), and tried The Longest Promise (crappy and draggy plot.) He was also in that wolf drama and I got nothing (made me a fan of Darren Wang, though.) Heck I even saw him in his debut in that drama with Zhao LuSi. I think he’s an adequate actor, but amazing? Mmm TBD.

      Aside from The Untamed, none of his other works caught my attention. But maybe it’s a case of him not having a good role yet. I also don’t think he’s aesthetically my cup of tea, but lots of guys who aren’t good-looking can still win people over.

      Maybe this new drama will finally get me to love him (tho it sounds like this drama is politics-heavy which is really not my thing.)

      • @Coralie

        Even if this drama turn out very good – you still won’t have anything nice to say about Xiao Zhan. I based it from all your comments about him in the past from a few websites including here. Not everyone will like him and it’s ok, but we need to be fair about it.

      • @Coralie

        Girl, you ain’t fooling anyone. He could give a performance that is lauded worldwide and you would still hate it.

        We do remember your previous comments you know.

      • @Coralie, that’s fine. You like orange but I like apple. Nothing wrong about that. It’s like you repeatedly said that you like Esther Yu and I somehow held back from mocking about that out of courtesy. But since you don’t hesitate to dismiss my fave, XZ, I don’t think I need to hold back saying that I actually think Esther doesn’t have either visuals or acting talent to be an actress. In particular, her voice is terrible! She prolly has money to back her but many more talented actresses deserve more opportunities than Esther. She won’t last long! LOL

      • @XZF, I got the same inkling about Coralie. She’s basically just took this chance to bitch about XZ. It’s hard for fans to change perceptions about particular artists. Taking myself for example, I can’t bring myself to like many C actors such as Esther Yu, Luo Yuxi, and Cheng Yi etc. It doesn’t matter how many dramas of theirs I checked out, I haven’t been able to warm up to them yet. LOL.

      • @XZF Okay and? I am being fair. If I only watched one or two of his dramas and call him bad, that’s biased. I’ve watched and finished several and still don’t see the fascination. Did I say he’s a bad actor? No, I said he’s adequate.

        @Lmao Okay and? I’ve also said I didn’t like several well lauded and regarded movies and dramas. If it doesn’t jive with me, then it doesn’t. Everyone has their own opinions.

        @Somebody Lol, okay. You can have own opinions about Esther and that’s cool. I don’t argue with people when they say her voice sucks – to each their own. I’m not blinded to her flaws, and I know she can be divisive to others. But at least I can understand others’ POV. This is not a tit-for-tat game. It’s what I feel and think about XZ and it’s nothing to do with you or how you or anyone else feels.

      • @Coralie, surely we’re on the same playing field in an open free forum. Nothing wrong to just have our personal opinions, say them out loud, or even tit-for-tat in heated exchanges. It’s all healthy and normal discussions in an open and civilized society. We just agree to disagree. Just one point to remind that, XZ’s huge fanbase, both inside China and outside China, is not fictional. Ppl should expect unfavorable opinions about themselves coming from his fans anywhere if they have something unfavorable to say about him. This is why we ‘re called his fans and we surely will defend. LOL

        When I’m scathing about certain actors, I also expect and welcome their fans to defend them. If they don’t, that’s their choice to give up defending. There’s nothing wrong with my unfavorable opinions though. Similar to your unfavorable comments about XZ, I don’t think anyone including XZ’s fans should consider you being offensive. You just have your own preference and are free to say it on a thread like this. Equally, pleas don’t get offended cos we defend XZ and I don’t like your fave. Thanks.

      • Also @Somebody, when I first saw Esther, I didn’t think she had the looks to be an onscreen goddess either (and to her credit, she’s never played a character who would call herself beautiful.) But like many before her who aren’t beautiful, she made up for that with her acting. I respect that you don’t agree with her acting, which is fine. I won’t change your mind, so it’s not like I’m pissed. It’s more like I find your sense of pettiness funny, which is laughable cus I think you’re older than 25, right?

      • @Somebody There’s a fine line between being a fan and a fanatic. At my age, I don’t do fanaticism anymore.

        I only speak up for my favs when I see lies being spouted. Example: Esther faking her voice. But I get people hate her voice, can’t change that

      • @Coralie, sure I’m older than those workplace rookies. LOL. My aesthetic values funny? Well, call Liu Shi Shi’s beauty funny since I think she’s very beautiful. LOL. Also I like an old actress’ face, Zhou Xun. haha

      • @Coralie, ah did she fake her baby voice? I don’t recall I’ve ever said that and perhaps I skipped those comments?

      • @Coralie…good luck to you stirring the hornets’ nest . Hehe. Just want to jump in to say I quite like that comment about being a fan and being a fanatic.

      • @Coralie, I am trying to think of Xiao Zhan dramas that I enjoy- Untamed and Oath of Love… Untamed was good for me as I watched it not knowing it was BL theme…just thought the 2 guys were good friends. Then I learn about the theme..I was too business in those days thus I dont read entertainment news much.
        As for Oath of Love, I enjoyed it because I saw a very relaxed Xiao Zhan. He clearly enjoyed working in the drama… the off screen atmosphere was great with all the acting and working crew.
        Otherwise, I have not finished others. Often, the stories did nothing for me.
        I hope this new drama will be enjoyable. Xiao Zhan will benefit from another drama that will push him further. I am just glad he has bulk up from his skinny early days…

      • Same. I watched Superstar Academy, Joy Of Life, parts of The Untamed, and The Longest Promise. Nothing really grabbed me either.

        Different strokes for different folks.

      • @Coralie

        You wouldn’t know what good acting is if it hits you in the face. Imagine liking stone face Esther Yu with her horrifying voice. Double fail.

        Actually my only wish is for people like you to keep their mouth shut. It’s too much to ask, I know. Haters just can’t help themselves

      • @Somebody

        We all have different “taste” of actors/singers and that’s very normal. There are actors/actresses that I don’t care for and I rarely watch their projects, but I don’t “put” them down every chance I get like some people. It just tells me some people are very narrow minded. It’s very annoying when you see it again and again. Do you know what I mean? Thanks!

      • @Coralie and R. LOL. So, XZ’s fans defending their fave is labeled fanatic but others like Coralie defending Esther Yu is legit to be a rational fan??? OMG that’s how hypocrisy and double stands snuck in with backhanded insinuation! Wait a minute! Is it necessary to be so offensive in order to make your point that you dislike XZ? It’s not very smart! I’m seeing C fans riding on high horses again! No sorry for me to be dismissive of you if you’re offended by my bluntness. It’s fine to have your personal preference and argue with those who disagree with you. But it’s definitely an issue with your sicken huge ego to always consider yourself one-man up with higher standards or more level-headed about personal opinions. Man! Just accept that we have different tastes and you like ugly and talentless Esther Yu while others like me appreciate Xiao Zhan. To insinuate that XZ’s fans being fanatic while boasting yourselves of your own preference is equally as absurd as saying loving orange is a healthy diet while loving apple is gluttony. LMAO. I imagine you’ve also got abnormal levels of adrenaline when watching or even thinking about your own faves !! Therefore, by your logic, every fan, including you, is fanatic! LOL

      • @Coralie, it’s totally okay that XZ is not your cup of tea. There’s no one size fits all for celebrities. Please disregard all the negative comments! I think sometimes people read too much into comments that aren’t praising their faves. A lot of drama watching is subjective. Actors are public figures and are open for criticism in their performance. As long as you’re not personally attacking him, I don’t see the problem.

        On another note, I’m impressed you finished The Wolf though. I really disliked that drama and the toxic relationship in it.

    • @Shi…if you haven’t try it, watch a few eps of the “untamed”. It’s a quite an uneven drama and the CGI can be quite rough but his acting in there is quite good, imo. (Overall, I think the best thing about the Untamed is the acting. Everyone is pretty decent overall). You can tell he was not quite experienced yet in the Untamed but he had great emotional beats that show the raw potential he has to be a great actor. I think the Untamed is a good one to be first expose to XZ cause the story hits the ground running so you get emotional scenes right away. I haven’t watched either of the ones you mentioned but maybe those stories don’t get going right away to really showcase his acting potential (or he could just be not bringing it in those dramas. I wouldn’t know 😅)

  4. Btw, this is a big male protagonist drama, so more of a machiavellian mystery revenge drama and less of a romance drama (if any), hence the drama poster of the main protagonist standing on the shadow puppet stage with the tiger, dragon and shura ghost behind him.

    See below translated article from chunyu film and television (production company of zhz)

    https://x.com/nutty_1005/status/1741131412408013240?s=61&t=GcaJrScWh6jPv86QqJqIig

    Zang Hai Zhuan is about story of Zhinu, who is the son of the Chief Supervisor of the Imperial Astronomical Bureau, Kuaiduo, of Great Yong Kingdom (a fictional kingdom). He is burdened with a blood fued and later returned to the capital under a pseudonyum Zang Hai. With righteousness, intelligence, tenacity, hard work, as well as the learned construction skills and stratagem tactics, he battled wits against the evil traitors, eventually vindicating his injustice. This is a huge ancient legend production full of colors of vengeance and court intrigue elements.

  5. I was whining a bit about Koala for not posting Xiao Zhan’s new drama but instead posting something about a less popular actor with almost no comments on that post within 48 hours. Glad Koala did finally inform us of the official announcement of ZHZ. Douyin and Weibo have been inundated with many excited fans. This is one grey character Xiao Zhan had been repeatedly expressing interest in. I think he fits complicated characters with inner struggles between dark and bright sides pretty well. Wei Wuxian in the Untamed was one example and he did a fantastic job to portray the nuanced character. Exactly how he portrayed WWX turned me into his staunch fan. I can’t think of anyone else to be another WWX and that’s how charismatic he is for that particular drama. Without XZ being WWX, the Untamed could have been another tiresomely dragging C costume drama. Xiao Zhan is the main contributor to the huge popularity of the Untamed that’s still not dying down after 5 years of its premiere. Many fans are obsessed with the drama (that I don’t really understand although I’m also a fan LOL) and there continue to be new fans joining the fan club given what I read from some English SM.

  6. I have no qualms about the casting and the lead director. I’m not concerned about cinematographic elements such as setting and costumes etc. since this is a S-budget drama and I’m sure they won’t cut slack on those productions. The chief director, Zheng Xiaolong, is reputable in the C-ent with many memorable works under his belt including Empresses in the Palace and Red Sorghum etc. But I’m not sure about the assistant director, Cao Yiwen (translation), and the script writer. CYW is a very inexperienced young director. He graduated from the prestigious USC Cinematic Arts. But he has only one drama under his belt. Unfortunately the ML for that drama, Lin Gengxin, is in my blacklist of unwatchable actors. I did take some time to browse his drama, To Love (最初的相遇,最后的别离). Nothing stands out in either positive or negative way in terms of shooting. It’s ok but not impressive as expected of the modern C dramas I checked, perhaps still due to subpar script writing. I’d be concerned if CYW will be the one executing most part of the directing of ZHZ given that Director Zheng is old. I’m not confident if the script writer will do a good job either.

    So far among all XZ’s works, I consider only The Untamed and The Youth Memories have consistently good quality in script writing. Both his most recent dramas in 2023, The Longest Promise and Sunshine by My Side had noticeable flaws in the scripts and those plot holes did hugely affect the overall qualities of the dramas. I hope ZHZ turns out all fine at the end. It’s very disheartening to see XZ’s dramas unsatisfying at the end as a fan.

    • Cao is his protege, this is what Zheng Xiaolong calls his golden crew. That man does not fool around. Plus ZXL will oversee his work with the B crew anyway.

      The biggest question here is Zhou Qi, like it says above.

      • As I said, Cao is an alumnus of the prestigious USC filming school and that has said something about his solid training in the filed. I hope Director Zheng will closely monitor Cao’s work. What I’m most concerned about is the script writer who’s supposed to be the soul of a drama. Unfortunately, average C-ent writers are crappy and love to drag plot lines IMO. Decent writing for Cdrama has been scant so far IMO.

      • Screenwriter is fine. He writes well when you remove Xu Lei (the book author) out of the picture. The drama he did with Wu Lei sucked because Xu Lei insisted on adding scenes to people he liked. But when that is removed, it was really good.

        It’s why Xu Lei was removed from this project and everyone breathed a sign of relief and why he left that bitter note about not promoting this drama. As if anyone needs his mess.

      • @Smh

        That was what happened to Xiao Zhan’s drama (Sunshine by My Side). They added so much screen time for that hockey couple and it ruined that drama. It was so unfair to the main leads.

      • @Smh, I recalled reading some negative comments too in Weibo hot search about the author of the Lost Tomb. I did not watch all the dramas he scripted but did read some parts of his novel and watched but did not finish the one starring Li Yifeng. Got to say I’m not his fan although I’m a fan of fantasy films. I had no idea he’s deemed a bad script writer of his own novel. LOL. That doesn’t seem to have happened very often to other novelists in C-ent. Good to know that he’s not involved given his unsuccessful works on screen.

        Besides, per the information released about this drama, it’s gonna be an original script not an IP adaptation. I like original better in general.

      • @XZF, I’m still a bit pissed when mentioning that useless ice-hockey trio! What a joke for a said award-winning script writer to come up with the absurd arcs of those three clowns !! LOL

      • @Somebody

        That wasn’t her first time. That same Xinli team with that same scriptwriter did the exact same thing to Jin Dong in his drama that aired earlier in 2023. They are trash.

      • @XZF

        That’s right, the only difference was that Xinli added hockey guy because he is YBY in JOL2 and Xu Lei did it simply because he liked them but the ultimate fate was the same. Ruined drama that could have been great.

        In the case of Zanghai it’s Zhou Qi who has big backing and who could cause this trouble. I hope ZXL says no.

      • @Ehh, would you please enlighten me with some examples why Zhou Qi may cause concern? I googled a bit of his information. He looks so ordinary, both in visuals and height. Can he act like Zhang Wang Yi though?

  7. Zheng Xiaolong is a brilliant director who is pretty much a legend in cent. Anything he does, I will watch and he hasn’t done anything costume in nine years.

    Youku is investing like crazy in this so they must believe in him and the script. They started building sets in Hengdian months ago, it’s that extensive.

    Xiao Zhan can act and that matters as this is a big male lead drama. Zhang Jingyi was good in two dramas I have seen with her but both were modern. Still it should be ok.

    My only question is Zhou Qi because originally the veteran actor was supposed to be ml 2 and now suddenly isn’t. This smells of capital intervention and that is usually a sure fire way to ruin a drama.

    Good luck to the crew!

  8. It’s Zhang JinG Yi. Why is Hanyu Pinyin so bad on this site that in the same article her name is spelt right once and wrong 2x?

    If someone spelt Taylor Swift as Tayler Swift it’d be weird too right? Takes literally seconds to check.

    Also she’s pushed heavily by Zhou Xun as the main young talent in 东申未来, I’m not a big fan even though she isn’t a liuliang.

  9. Finally Xiao Zhan gets to romance a pretty actress. I swear Cdrama casting agents had something against him when they cast faces like Ren Min, Zhuang Dafei, Bai Baihe etc opposite him.

    • Other than a certain somebody (whom I’ve always regarded as an anti), I don’t see “fans” going bonkers. Only saw the same few people posting direct and non-direct hate comments though.

      • LOL. I do recall you, a CCP lackey, have been consistently labeling me a XZ anti while you confessed yourself not a fan of XZ but you’re obviously obsessed with him since you’ve never missed any blogs about him and always made sure to bitch deliriously about me. LMAO. You still can’t get over excessive mental gymnastics. Everyone else visiting this blog except for your deranged mind can tell I’m a fan of XZ. LOL

        I’m not shy of telling everyone XZ is my fave and I despise you very much because you used to defend fanatically for egregious CCP.

      • I really personally feel it is no difference from cyber bullying. Just because others have difference in opinion, there is no need for name calling, sh*t talking and putting others down. Such behaviour is really anti social and down right bullying. We have a range of age group here, different cultural upbringing, race and even ‘fan or fanatics’, there will definitely be difference…there is really no need to name call those who are older and direct sh*t talk at them.
        Using free speech as a excuse to exercise cyber abuse.
        This is a big enough playing field for anyone to comment as a community. There is no need to push others around and cyber bully others into silence.
        I like this blog for its post but the behaviours of some members are no difference from online bullies. Bullies are bullies regardless where they are, their core are rotten…it may not show in their real world…but in the cyber world, they allow their ugly and rotting nature fester freely. @Koala may ban me after this post, so be it.

      • @HL, LOL. I irked a bunch of delirious Chinese cos I’ve been blunt about your inferior Chinese complex that’s definitely a psychotic problem!

      • @HL and Lilith, you both surely have some mental issues that you can’t get over. Go seek help from professional psychiatrists! This is a blog about XZ. Did I say anything here to offend you both that you have to attack me first? Nope! You can’t get over the rifts we had before cos you’re mentally sick so you couldn’t help commenting with hatred first! I don’t sit without eye for eye!

      • @Somebody, don’t do unto others what you don’t want others to do unto you.

        You, along with afew Xiao Zhan fantatics are busy bullying others who may not take to your your idol. So much bullying here is just disgusting to read… Of course not ever fans practise such disgraceful behaviour, there are rational and sensible fans. All others with bad behaviour does nothing to reflect the goodness of your own idol. Your aggressiveness just turn others off him more. For a fan, you really do him more disservice then sound service. You do not practise any of the values that matters to Xiao Zhan. I finally agree with @Lilth, you are not his fan. You are just a empty vessel of a fan…

        Look at the mirror before you call others mental and spreading your White Supremacy ideology here. Asian or not, we are who we are, many are just here simply having light fun and interacting with ease. You clearly have not learn what ‘Respect’ means.

      • @HL, you’re talking about yourself! You accused me, an ethnic Asian, of something ridiculous like white supremacy! LOL. Ppl can easily read from your comments how delirious you are! You bear a grudge against me cos I’ve pointed out your idiocy several times, including your insensitive remarks about deceased Lee Sun Kyun and I wasn’t the only commenters rebuked you for your nonsensical comments in that thread. LOL. It’s so entertaining to see you guys with old-hag mindset get triggered repeatedly cos you don’t have a healthy and balanced mental state to deal with criticism. Go live in China and you will feel more comfortable there. LOL

      • As his fans, we certainly have a lot to talk about Xiao Zhan. Why did that bother you that much? LOL. However, you and Lilith, not his fan, always seem to be obsessed with him and are even more excited to ramble here and there on the blogs about him. So boring! LOL. Go rave about your own faves and stop giving middle fingers to XZ’s fans without knowing all the remaining fingers are pointing to yourself. SMH!

      • @Somebody, you like to pick out content as it suits you to put someone down…there are many trolls on this site.. one can tell who are trolls, you are not a troll, just a bully who carries baggages of discrimination from ageism, height discrimination, cultural difference, you are Asian who hate many thing about other asians, even other member’s different in opinion nor not liking Xiao Zhan. Goodness, you clearly never left your cot since birth…

        As for lee Sun kyun’s case, he had cheated on his wife, he never denied that. He disappointed many people but he does not deserve to be blackmail, publicly humiliated, media witch hunted and his police questioning leaked, his last message to his wife leak… The SK judicial system is badly flawed. Otherwise, there will be many victims. Being disappointed in him is a fact shared by many even before his death but it does not mean he is hated. His skills and projects are still loved by his fan such as myself.
        You missed all the main points and just pick on content randomly. You must be so used to bullying your way in life, pushing others around ass you see fit.
        A real rotting core.

      • @Somebody I like XZ but I’m not dedicated to liking only one celebrity, though he will always have a special place in my heart due to 227. I’ve seen enough of C-ent to recognise fakery and your behaviour complements the antis so perfectly. Don’t give me your bull about international web being different from Chinese web. Antis and professional antis are not exclusive to just Chinese internet and I’ve already spotted them here.

        Tips for real fans to take note of: One common tactic used to subconsciously brainwash people and get them to gradually dislike a celebrity is to hide one or two pieces of negative false info in a comment that is mostly positive. Eg, XXX is handsome and has great acting skills, but *all* his dramas are low quality productions.

        Another common tactic is to brand XXX’s fandom as a whole to be a bunch of crazies by having a few cronies pretend to be XXX fans and acting crazy in comments. Another person will then deliberately bring to attention about how XXX fans are going crazy again when in fact the majority are perfectly normal and nice.

      • @Lilith and HL, this is my last reply to you since I have a real life and won’t goof around on SM with frivolous exchanges coming from keyboard crap like yours. You are basically repeating the same old same old narratives like broken records not getting past boring notes. Nothing’s really new from your comments here. What do you want to prove repeating yourselves with same boring tunes? I don’t even bother to read them carefully cos they are not worth my attention. LOL

        I’ll say one more time for other ppl to read. Only I myself knows who I am and whom I like. Xiao Zhan is my fave and I defend him whenever he’s dissed or dismissed. But that doesn’t mean I will blindly praise ALL his dramas to the moon since he did participate in some shabby projects. Not his faults though but blame the scripts, directing, and some other actors in the cast. Every rational drama fans should agree with me that even a great actor could have some less-than-satisfying works on their resumes. Only obsessed lunatics worship a celebrity as if he were a perfect God doing everything flawlessly and all his dramas were Oscar-worthy. That’s not my definition of fans, but obsessed cult followers instead. I am not, to your disappointment. LMAO. I admire him as an actor cos his role as WWX in The Untamed is legendary and epic. Besides, I think he has extraordinary acting talent that still leaves him a lot of room to be even better. I also greatly appreciate his other attributes like fashion styles, vlogs, and his interviews etc. I’m not that invested in other actors, mostly K actors, even I like quite a few of them. But I’ve been following XZ every day since I watched him on Our Song in 2022 and watched his dramas later. Therefore, he’s currently my favorite artist in the showbiz no doubt.

        Do you even arrogantly dare to claim you read my mind like God? Funny! Judging me based upon your unscientific observations from gossipy SM of tabloid equivalent and make a stupid inference that I’m XZ’s anti cos I also critiqued his works is like imbeciles claiming they understand Theory of Relativity. So dumb and nonsensical. It’s purely idiocy overload and you’re not shy of showing that. Aren’t you? But fine! You’ve been having fun attacking me with those kinds of endless, baseless, and stupid theories you made up in your own delirious brains that obviously have excessive gymnastics going on within ! LOL. 😭 I don’t care! At the end, we’re not in the same league on many levels in terms of perceptions of civil communication and intellectual levels of critical thinking. Whatever you said is irrelevant to my real life. But ppl reading the threads may consider your ignorance and bigotry unfathomable. Get off of your keyboard and Go touch some grass!

      • @Somebody Lmao, claiming to have a real life when you spend so much time stalking this blog and typing long essays here. Broken record? I see you like copying the words that I’ve dished out to you previously. It’s pretty obvious what you are like in real life-you worship the strong and rich and think that getting their validation automatically makes you superior to other people. Look at how you love boasting about being American, knowing doctors, lawyers, accountants, CGI artists and whatever, as if that counts for anything. The real successful people in life don’t need to brag about which prestigious university they graduated from, the university will rush to associate itself to them.

  10. I’m so confused about who is considered liuliang and is that considered derogatory?

    I have not watched any of their dramas, I’m still new to cdramaland after jumping ship from kdrama. I have been thinking of watching Lighter and the Princess though.

    • Liuliang is a name for traffic. Those are stars with incredibly dedicated fan bases that generate data and money. Lots of web traffic, social buzz.

      Most liuliangs never manage to transform into serious actors. It’s a very difficult process because there is a stigma against traffic actors. But it is possible. Hu Ge, a highly respected actor now (I highly recommend his Nirvana in Fire, maybe the best cdrama ever and it’s on YouTube) was once top traffic. Zhao Liying is traffic who is very successfully transforming.

      Xiao Zhan is current top traffic (about 4 years now which is already unusually long to be on top) and he has started transforming successfully too. His drama Youth Memories was highly acclaimed this summer, he just finished a movie with Tsui Hark and is now filming this drama with a top director. He also played in theatre to hone his already considerable acting skills.

      But for example the top female ll, Dilraba Dilmurat is only a so so actress. Incredibly beautiful but she doesn’t have the talent to transform. She tried one serious show and it tanked badly.

      Lighter and princess has this a tress, who is very good and unfortunately, the ML who is the biggest male Nepo baby in Chinese entertainment. If he wasn’t, he would not be here because daddy gets him everything. But she did a great job. A warning though, ML is a bit of a red flag.

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