So there is a type of drama called the modern period C-drama which is set in the modern-era (anytime after WWII) but goes through years if not decades. It’s basically the C-drama version of the Answer Me K-drama type of setting, it’s not olden times but it’s a period where our parents, grandparents, or great-grandparents lived through. Xiao Zhan and Li Qin are reportedly in talks for a modern period C-drama called Ma Fei Ri Chang (马斐日常) adapted from the novel Lin Jia Xiao Fei (林家小斐) which if they accept would be their third time working together the first being The Wolf and the most recent being another modern period drama called The Youth Memories. It’s about a hardworking girl and her young policeman beau and their everyday work and family lives through the years. This is NOT an idol drama and continues to point to Xiao Zhan leaving that behind while Li Qin is also doing less idol dramas but seems to have a foot in either side still.
Question —- what are the actual requirements/ characteristics of an idol drama? There’s always a discussion about C-idols leaving idol dramas behind to level up in their career in these casting articles but I can’t actually define what makes an idol drama an idol drama.
Lol, honestly I don’t know why c ent differentiate certain dramas has idol and other more prestige. At the end of the day audiences is watching for good story line and good acting for the shows to do well, which is a requirement for both.They make it seem those who r in idol dramas r lesser or bad actors, when I feel some of them r has good has those doing the non idol dramas. I feel they differentiate these two, to give older and veteran actors works( acting )in the industry because we all know that if some so called idol actors get the chance to do these non idol dramas, they will perform has great has them.
@R The characteristics are indeed gray. IMO a drama would be considered idol drama if it contains a combination of the following:
– mostly focuses on romance
– touches on subjects very superficially
– is geared towards younger audience
@Mercy Most of the time the reason for certain actors and actresses getting mocked for being stuck in idol dramas is because their acting is bad. If their acting is good, C-netz will lament the lack of resources for the actor/actress.
I feel it’s about topic/theme rather than the actor. Like…most Republican dramas, hahaha. The focus is usually not on popular actors with traffic, so there’s less or no CP factor.
Xiao Zhan is still doing idol dramas (I think the period revenge drama he’s filming is an idol drama, no?), but it’s good if he’s trying to move forward with his career. He’s extremely good-looking but that won’t last for ever and he’s a good actor, so it’s time for him to move along.
Legend of Zanghai is not an idol drama.
Youth Memories wasn’t. The next drama won’t be either. Plus the movie with Tsui Hark and next movie.
What if. He is very obviously missing moving on. You should worry about your faves instead of repeatedly putting down Xiao Zhan. It’s tiring.
I don’t see Nena put down XZ. @Nena, please correct me if I got your wronged. LOL.
@Again, you, like many C fans, are good at mental gymnastics. LOL. I consider The Youth Memories another very good drama other than The Untamed. But I don’t think it’s up everyone’s alley. What’s wrong if I like something but others don’t like it? For example, if A likes apple while B doesn’t, is it legit for A to call B an apple hater? LOL. Please respect personal preference without getting triggered.
She always puts down Xiao Zhan. I lost count how many times she has written here how his dramas were flops this year and always ignores Youth Memories for example.
Here too. What idol drama? Does Zheng Xiaolong make idol dramas? She is full of … and she knows it.
But you are a Xiao Zhan anti, so no wonder you are defending her.
LOL. Being a fan =/= not critiquing his dramas. Many drama fans like XZ a lot in The Untamed, but not the other roles in other dramas. That’s totally fine. I can’t stand with many XZ fans cos they simply worship a celebrity like a perfect God without critical thinking, constantly exposing folly to non fans that only does harm to XZ. Per your remark about me, you’re one of those foolish XZ fans. LOL
@Again, I don’t know where you got all this. I love Xiao Zhan and I was just saying I am glad he’s moving on from silly xianxia dramas like The Longest Promise because he’s too good for it and it would be a pity if he wasted his talent. It goes without saying that I am looking very forward to the Tsui Hark movie, but I was under the impression that Zhaghai is an idol drama, hopefully a quality one. If it isn’t, as you say, then even better. But I still don’t get how you saw hate in what I said. I am glad that other people (hi, Somebody!) didn’t misread as well.
@Nene
Just because you try to be subtle about it, doesn’t mean it isn’t visible from the moon. I have lost count how many times you denigrated the Youth Memories here. More of the same now, trying to pass Zanghai as an idol drama.
Go work for your fave I stead of focusing on others.
Hmmm This would be their fourth or fifth collaboration? I wonder why the public is okay with certain actors frequent collaborations and yet they raise a stink when other actors collaborate more than once.
Must be the beauty of fandoms(sarcasm implied).
😆😂 , I haven’t heard of this melon yet but seriously am bored with is pairing, I get that they have chemistry but they are not exciting together anymore,I want to see another form of chemistry from XZ with other female leads, that is if this melon is true.
If they do this drama, it will be their 6th time being in the same project.
@Xoxo, because there’re no rifts between the fandoms of these two, unlike other fandoms. LOL.
XZ and LQ are obviously comfortable with each other on set. But this has become so boring. I have yet to see XZ collaborate with a really great actress on par with him in terms of both visuals and acting chops. The FL of Zhanghai he’s currently filming with is the closest one so far. But she’s young, still way to go being A-list.
I do agree that it’s boring seeing him paired with actresses who are not his level in terms of acting talent, looks and potential. (I don’t consider Yang Zi a talented actress in modern day dramas. I had to drop the Oath of Love cause her character and her acting was borderline cringe (No hate intended)). It’s one of the reasons I gave his dramas a hard pass after The Untamed. Even The Wolf couldn’t sustain my interest for long. I love XZ but have a serious problem with most of his leading ladies. If he’s going to star with Li Qin again, then I’m going to opt out once more. I’ll wait until he stars in something in which I like his costar before I watch his dramas again.
I have high hopes for his new drama Zhanghai. I like the FL who was also the FL of Lighter & Princess which I enjoyed through the end. But who knows? C drama has been pretty disappointing these days, even worse than some of very old dramas I watched. Something’s pretty wrong with C-ent. Some fans blame investors. I don’t think so. Businessmen only care about money and everyone wants good returns. Surely they hope drama will do well. I attribute lackluster failures of C drama to the current Chinese government and censorship cos securing the regime is what they are concerned about the most, not profitability. Cdramas are not competitive at all, getting further and further behind their counterpart in SK.
Fake.
XZ already has two works lined up and neither is that one.
What are those two?
You know Mandarin, go find out if you are such a huge fan of XZ as you claim. You should know where to go then, right?
@Lol, where to go then? LOL. I don’t have any registered accounts on C SM. I only browsed hot searches and checked XZ’s account and his studio’s account too.
Why should someone liking XZ very much as I do should be obsessed with Chinese SM? Problem for fans who are more informed to provide information? LOL
@Nope can’t wait for the c-ent meltdown when the director is announce 🤭
@Moocy
Right? If the previous were epic proportion blow ups, we are going to have a nuclear explosion this time. Especially considering the desperation of certain other groups which is way worse now than it was when Condor Heroes were announced.
I believe it’s their 5th time being in the same project, but I don’t know if they shared scenes in all of them. Xiao Zhan and Li Qin were in the movie Jade Dynasty where he was the lead and she was the female lead. They were in the drama Joy of Life were she was the female lead and he was supporting. Plus Fight Break Sphere where Wu Lei was the lead and they were both supporting. I don’t remember if they shared scenes in Fight Break Sphere or Joy of Life.
The categorization of idol vs. non-idol in C-ent is folly. Many good dramas elsewhere such as in SK, Japan, UK, and the US of course are fusion. Interesting dramas with a lot of critically acclaimed elements mostly are combos of reality infused with fantasy, seriousness expressed in humor, mundane yet inspiring, executed thoughtfully with a lot of creativity out of blue to have marked impression on viewers’ watching experience. Now Cdramas are just lacking all these mixed elements of excellence in general. What is the root cause to the doldrums of C drama production? CCP is the answer. LOL
Li Qin (, unlike Yang Zi,) got a very positive reputation among XZ’s fans and she’s also on very good terms with XZ off screen. It was said that XZ got the audition for The Untamed thanks to LQ’s recommendation. As much as I like LQ, I equally hope XZ will not costar with her again. It’s refreshing to have new faces as his FLs. It will also make positive challenges to his acting so he can continue to improve through working with different cast. I will be thrilled if he can work with some veteran actresses like Zhou Xun, whom along with Liu Shi Shi I consider very beautiful and also great in acting. I’d be thrilled if he had opportunities to take projects where either one of them is the FL. I’m completely fine with no romance, no love lines, as long as a drama is telling an interesting story, e.g., Kdrama Children of Nobody.
Better not a period drama post-Republic era cos they are reek of fake history and fallacies through CCP’s propaganda. One drama like The Youth Memories is more than enough. LOL.
@Somebody, do you know who is ‘DI’ is? Some mental people said I am a fan…but I dont know who DI is?
haha…I have no idea what bullsh*t they are rambling about. Better just ignore them whose words are worth nothing. Many Chinese fans have a fetish using English acronym for their nonsense. I came across TONS of those crap on Chinese SM.
@Somebody…true.
First Yang Zi and now Li Qin, who is next? How many water testing stones are they casting?
Regardless who he stars with, I hope it is his choice.
These are all fake stories that have nothing to do with xz. He has serious projects in the pipeline and he certainly isn’t the one benefiting from them. It’s your girl and those like her.
Really? People can benefit from such rumours? Lol…your world must be a very small bubble…
@HL your world is even smaller if you don’t know how pendants and bundling drafts work in c-ent, especially when XZ is c-ents only stove.
@Moocy
Oh she knows, she is just playing dumb. It’s her thing here. She is a major Yang Zi fan who is very well versed in it all, like all zimmies.
@Moocy, compared to yours, mine is clearly smaller…but I am happy in my small world. And What XZ does…as long he is happy, I am happy for him. Wish him and all his future leading ladies the best… 🥰
@HL, these XZ frenzies left a bad taste in ppl’s mouth, so rude and derogatory. I don’t see any offense in your comments but they just got triggered for some unknown reasons. LOL. They should heed XZ’s advice: please lead their lives in good ways，好好過日子，rather than bicker everywhere online. Trouble makers! 😭
@Somebody, OMG, I have heard him say those words on a YT video…I dont remember when. Xiao Zhan is truly a good person with a good soul…some of his fans have created enough problems for him that affected his career badly. I feel for him.
I am sure we will see more of him this year.
@HL You’ll be surprised. March is one of the negotiation months for celebrities to clinch endorsements. Many celebrities will either try to increase their traffic data nearing this period by linking themselves with others who have higher liuliang, or release some positive rumours about themselves such as being in talks for a high profile movie/drama.
@Lilith…Oh…That I can understand, no wonder there are so many water testers around. I dont know if it will convert to real data…but Xiao Zhan is a huge brand. It does not surprise me his name is used alot.
@nope also a self-professed DI fan too
@Moocy, @Nope, You both must not forget, I am also a big fan of you both!!! You both seem to know me better then myself. Wow, Can give me any lucky lottery numbers?? I bet I will strike lottery with the numbers. Give me 7 numbers from 1-60… I promise to burn money from my winnings unless you leave me your contact details here….
@Moocy
Yes, a DI fan too who had a lot of fun supporting a homophobic person here. What a bundle of joy.
@Hl
Aww, is cyber bullying now reminding you how you supported here a homophobic poster that was continuously attacking XZ and cheering her on? Don’t like to be reminded? Tough luck.
@Nope, wha in the world are you talking about? you keep using the word homophobic on me…I am gay, that is common knowledge here. I have commented on itt a number of times. But you say I support homophobic? I really have no idea what planet you live in. Who is the homophobic person I support? Goodness… Oh my goodness, you both can target other gays and attack. Both of you are just too mental.
CYBER BULLies ALERT!!!! BeWARE.
@Kaola, these 2 cyber bullys are just unbelievable, please monitor them. They might actually be housemates and share the same IPs. Attavking me just because I am fond of Yang Zi…
@Nope, Wow, I am a major fan…you must enjoying living as a parasite in my tummy. You even created cancer cell babies after leeching on me.
Btw, what are YangZi’s fans called?
@Nope @Moocy, targeting someone just because they like artiste you dont like. Cyber bullying them is just the most disgusting online action that is common these days. I dont remember how like YangZi is a crime? I dont know who ‘DI’ is but your online force tagging me a fan is harassment.
Anyway, you both can enjoy your smooching away. Karma’s a b*tch…
@HL yes, karma is a b*tch and it’s making its round to visit everyone that has harmed or tried to harmed xz – some of the artists you proudly stanned.
@HL don’t bothering engaging with the lunatic “fans”. they’ll always try to get the last word and you can’t use reason with them.
@Realxzfan, I do find it unfortunate for Xiao Zhan to have so many fans that can give him so much grief for years after his “Untamed” breakout. I never realised just how a fandom can harm their idols with their aggression and meanest towards others. Completely opposite how their lovely idol is in person. Of course, he has lots of great, respectful and supportive fans. Xiao Zhan is a humble and has good natured soul. He will never bully others. Thus I have lots of respect for him as a idol.
@HL I found it amusing that you and certain person always fall back on attacking xz’s fans as crazy fanatic fans when you can’t win an argument. Also, who was attacking who first? Go back and read your original response to Lamo. Stop playing the victim.
@HL Lmao, not Lamo