@Sunbath
Yeah, I think using that term "plot device" can be misleading and that's what has bothered me about some of the posts on the main page. Any character at times will be used to drive the plot forward, but unless they are a very minor, undeveloped character, they cannot be merely a plot device. So the way I see it, all the main characters in this story (including Jing and XL) are truly complex characters. They all have a beginning, middle and ending and eliminating any one of them would severely alter the story.
Yes...I just scroll down and saw that comment too...and very long biased one in my opinion because some informations are not as in novel as she claim..I don't know if she just try list down facts(some are not correct) to badly criticize on Jing..
Yes Both Jing and XL complex . I still think Jing was more written in details.. He is not as absent as XL. The charm of the character is different . Jing is love interest of XY and also supporter of CX to throne of Da Huang whereas XL is clearly opposite side of ZX.. that is sometimes i called him antagonist if we consider ZX side of story and he's main ml. (but XL is not a villain or bad guy). If we look at from the core of the story, after we follow XY life and emotional development, we also follow ZX conquering the whole Da Huang... of course it depends on each type of reader.. however..either to say good or bad...i wish readers look at their actions more..
I agree with you that XL is very hard to read - he keeps his true feelings close to himself. It's mostly to the reader of the novel and through TJC's performance that we are allowed some insight into what he truly feels. Even XY does not know in the end everything that is going on inside him. And yes, different characters speak to different people. Like you, I connect more with Jing and his story as opposed to XL (in both book and drama).
Yes I agree that drama did a more better connection with TJC's excellent portrayal, especially on emotional scene. Overall I think it's development.
As much as I understand XL character, he was so lonely creature since he was born. And it seems that he was extremely loyal to those who had been nice to him, in this case was Hong Jiang or Gong Gong. It's not clear in novel but in drama its cleared he's abused, just like XY. And he has this hot temper of physical hurting WXL whenever she made him angry. Actually those scenes are uncomfortable for me. I think he made WXL asked him to remove bug from ZX into himself because he was lonely and did not want to cut tie from her? But the way he did is still manipulative for me. Booking at how he used to care for real FFB mother, seeing how he's fiercely loyal to Gong Gong and his army, I think he did know about caring and emotion before knowing XY. But XY I think had fulfilled XL in the loneliness curing as how they both enjoy time together as XY and FFB. There is also this playmate word used..and that XL was relaxed around XY. To me i dont think that XL is changed after meeting XY, its more of their curiousity&loneliness brought them together. He tried not to hurt her anymore because she became another person he cared. So his character development i think we probably getting is we got to explore more of his softer side more and more. But his choice still is on Gong Gong... And I also had a feel hes not hesitate to use XY for his army..but probably not hurting her directlly like before? But then i still think XY will choose ZX over XL anyway..
But then..to fully judge hes still secretive.
As for jing i think..Jing is more explorred in the novel. I want to write on him separate post more properly..