iQiyi Releases Spooky Detective Thriller C-drama Shadow Punisher with Luo Yun Xi, Fang Yi Lun, and Shen Yu Jie
So the premiere of this drama totally flew under my radar, both from it not being widely promoted it seems and because I was busy with work and travels. But now I have more episodes of Shadow Punisher to binge if this one turns out good and I’m definitely keen to check out because it reminds me of an underrated investigative C-drama I unexpectedly enjoyed in The Wanted Detective. The drama was released last weekend October 2nd on iQiyi and stars Luo Yun Xi in the titular big male lead role with supporting leads Fang Yi Lun and Shen Yu Jie. Luo Yun Xi finds himself investigation a series of maybe supernatural, but definitely creepy crimes and romance doesn’t seem to play a big if any role in this series. I like that none of the leads are ornately decked out lol, such a small ask but the propensity for Luo Yun Xi dramas to go big on visuals over substance has been a problem in the past.
Preview for Shadow Punisher:
Maybe he toned it down because it’s not a xianxia. But their outfits still seem quite sparkly for people doing investigations…
I noticed that too. But I guess with the fantasy element, it isn’t too out of place. But it did make me wonder if I had misremembered the genre while watching.
I didn’t feel the first episode much, but I may need a couple to get into it. A Luo Yun Xi and Fang Yi Lun reunion!
Seems like the audience have completely given up on Luo Yunxi and his extravagant makeup and feminine style of acting. This is on the way to become the biggest costume flop of the year, “surpassing” Rebirth and The Legend of Rosy Clouds.
oh. i remember commenters here saying ATC was going to be a certified flop but it didn’t happen. hahahah.
corection: yep, shadow punisher is flopping. i can’t even defend it.😭
It’s genuinely, seriously flopping. His dramas have been on a downward trend for ages and with this he is going towards the real bottom.
It is flopping so, so badly, it’s actually incredible.
I am not surprised, only internationals think LYX is still somebody in China but his career is on a huge downturn. I don’t know that he can do anything to turn that around. He is well known to have opened up alternate avenues for himself so it’s not the end of the world.
A woman with Luo Yunxi’s physique could never have made it as far as he has, regardless of whether she was a good actress. Lol.
The number of male actors with such ordinary looks that I’ve seen in the xianxia genre is incredible. Folks don’t criticize them enough, hahaha.
The audience for C-dramas, at least overseas, is predominantly female.And although it may sound controversial, women are always quicker and harsher to criticize their own gender. There are studies suggesting that it is a problem of socialization, but seeing reality, women do nothing to move past it even if only little by little.
Not related to the topic of the post, but just seeing how they were ready to throw Lanxiang (Against the Current) under the bus just because she wouldn’t forgive Jin Qi is clear proof that they lack firmness of thought.
The layers of fabric do nothing to hide Luo Yunxi’s worrying thinness. Since there are no signs of him gaining weight, the styling team should be more mindful when designing his outfits to help create better harmony between his head and body. After all, his facial features are not on the pedestrian side.
Luo Yunxi’s makeup here is acceptable to me. I can’t forget Ding Yunxi’s one in The Road to Splendor, he looked artificial or cardboard like 2D. I am surprised by the lack of criticism regarding his overdone appearance in English-speaking communities. He reminds me of Hou Minghao in the sense that their faces seem to be melting from an excess of makeup, filters, or even cosmetic procedures. So, I suppose the finger-pointing is reserved only for actresses.
Netizens are always writing that actors like Liu Xue Yi, Xiao Zhan, or even Zhou Xun look highly old, but I’d rather see them than those who look like they can’t move their facial muscles. Lol.
That’s true. I’ve seen several Zhang Linghe fan accounts calling Xiao Zhan “old.” I don’t understand why age is a drag though. Zhang is going to get older too; it’s just part of life.
Fanaticism makes individuals act like savages until they find their kind and join together in a noisy crowd. On Koala’s Playground, there are commenters who have pointed out that they themselves are over 30 and even have kids, but then we see them acting like rabid brats.
Zhang Linghe’s fans started attacking Xiao Zhan first but they managed to play the victim.😭😂
ZLH stans are certified lunatics.
ZLH fans call XZ old (they got it from WYB fans who were the first to do it) because they cannot handle the reality that everyone in China knows POJ had artificial inflated numbers and that he hasn’t in fact surpassed XZ as the top star in China.
Just take a look at Gucci posts, it was so embarrassing with them begging to get the global ambassador title for ZLH, away from XZ. The amount of trash that came out of their mouths is insane. They do this regularly for the simple reason that they think attacking XZ and throwing slurs and insults at him will get ZLH what is “rightfully his”.
They know that ZLH will get “old” one day himself, he is 28 after all, but it’s not about logic to them. It’s just a way to attack, among many other ways they use.
They should aim that energy into encouraging ZLH to fix his atrocious acting if they want him to stick around but oh well.
i think people can actually see these actor counting on filters and heavy makeup. some look like they were surgery victims. so hard to find young c-actor looking manly nowadays. they follow same trend. they make impossible to keep following their drama sometimes. it’s a preference matter, i guess we all have different tastes. every single time just doing identical idol drama. they can’t do without a filter, but fine they won’t come and ruin other genres. i’m pretty ok on that.
Now that their former faces have melded, DYX and HMH look like brothers. Same eyes, same augmented cheeks, same lips…. Their acting, especially DYX, has actually improved over the years, but I keep doing double takes over which brother I am watching.
Appearance aside, Ding Yuxi over-acts so much. I watched him in about 3 dramas and this ugly man is always either posing at a specific 45 degrees to make himself look handsome, or making exaggerated expressions. Dude should thank Zhao Lusi and Yu Shuxin for making him famous because when he is left to carry a drama on his own, his drama flops hard. The Road to Splendor is supposed to be S+ lol, but is doing worse than dramas of a lower tier.
The Road to Splendor had solid writing, layered characters, intelligent strategy, cultural depth, and nice production. Ding YuXi was the weak link for me both in his acting and his character.
Fang Yilun acts better than many popular names lol. So I’ll take a look at Shadow Punisher for him. Oh, I also liked Shen Yunjie in Hard to Find.
I don’t care if it’s failing in numbers and traffic, I just want to see if it can contributes any entertainment factor to me. I don’t have much faith in C-dramas, although every year there are always few exceptions. Maybe the use of a fast pacing plot is helping.
I’m already watching it; it’s going moderately fine (enough to keep me entertained) thanks to the fact that the cases to be investigated aren’t on the predictable side.
Luo Yunxi isn’t a bad actor; he’s clever with his varied micro-expressions and body language. I might be one of the few folks here who doesn’t have a problem with his extreme thinness —at least in costume dramas— just as I’m not bothered by Meng Zi Yi’s artificial-looking visuals.
P.S. I wasn’t expecting Fang Yi Lun to play an “ice-cold” type of character. LOL.
The vibe reminds me of Coroner’s Diary, although for now, I like Shadow Punisher better because there is more gore (?)
Wow all these comments are about looks 😐 Im kindnof enjoying this drama. It’s nothing ground breaking or though provoking. But its entertaining.
I found this drama to be decent for entertainment. Alen Fang is a standout, both in looks & acting.