phoenixfrost

Please see my post about season 2 above

There are many questions about season 2. Here are my 2-cents:
The author of the novel has recently talked to Dylan about the latter's inputs for season 2. I think the main consideration now is that Dylan is about to shoot another drama that is scheduled for 150 days and his team is tight lipped about his future projects, as a rule. Considering the success of GOTD (it's the most streamed cdrama in Q1 2025 and has the longest total ad duration among all cdramas in history in all platforms), the likelihood of having a season 2 is high. Note that the extra scene at the end of ep 40 promises one. Those who enjoyed Joy of Life, which had a second season after many years, should find no reason not to watch this just because of concern of having no season 2.

The world building in GOTD is spectacular and there is an amazing closure for a major subplot, as well as satisfying closures for several other subplots, such as his dream of becoming a guardian, cases he solved, bullies he fought off and his breathtaking battle with a titan, that make this totally worthy of anyone's time. Plus, the quality and entertainment value are topnotch.

For me, it's like watching Starwars, Guardians of the Galaxy, Princess Agents and any other show where I was left with questions at the end but still enjoyed watching it.

Everything you said makes sense.

Yeah. If a main reason of the hatred is competition, then it seems either roles or fans of post-95 actors are more competitive than in other age groups.

Last news about S2 was that the author talked to Dylan about it. But Dylan is about to start shooting another male-centric drama that is rumored to take at least 5 months and Dylan’s team is cautious about commenting on his future projects. So I guess we won’t hear about S2 until after 5 months

I agree with your comment that the “hatred is (also) caused by competition and desire to eliminate a more successful and popular competitor using tools to manipulate public opinion”

Perhaps he did, perhaps he self-studied. But whatever he did for GOTD was effective as he nailed all his scenes. And not only in GOTD. He did so well in Love Between Fairy and Devil he made Dongfang Qingcang iconic. He also did well in The Rational Life, Unchained Love, Youth In the Flames of War, Never Give Up... actually, in all his dramas except for Miss The Dragon. But MTD's mess was mostly caused by production problems due to covid, e.g. the original director was replaced by the martial arts director who never directed a drama before. But Dylan's haters put all the blame on him, and he is too good hearted to pass the buck of the drama's mess to anybody else, so he took all the blame unto himself.

Haters will use any ammunition available and acting talent is how they try to undermine those who have not graduated from drama schools. Try to read comments to Youtube videos that falsely claim certain actors to have no acting talent, as if going to drama schools is the only way to acquire such talent. In fact, one reason I like Dylan's acting is because his face and eyes mirror the sincerity and passion coming from his heart that probably benefitted from having not acquired affectations acting lessons might have inculcated. Though he did not graduate from drama school, he is not only naturally talented but is also willing to learn and is learning fast.

Since he started in showbiz 7 years ago, Dylan has been a target of envy and bullying. He is being bullied because he neither came from a rich family nor has powerful backers. This level of classism in a communist country is truly shocking since it indicates that communistic ideals have not taken root in the country. His lack of dramatic arts education has also become an ammunition to haters who are blind to his natural acting talent. As he gets more popular, his haters seem to get more rabid as their envy intensifies. It didn't help that the novel on which GOTD was based is very popular in China and there was fierce competition for the role of Xu Qian. When the role went to Dylan, the fandoms of actors who did not get the role were added to Dylan's cabal of haters. It was reported that one hater group spent 200 million rmb to blacken Dylan and GOTD.

Aside from Dylan, other most blackened artists are Bai Lu and Zhao Lusi. Most possible reasons are also envy and classism. Both also did not graduate from drama schools. Lusi came from the same province as Dylan and it seems Chinese people from progressive cities like Beijing and Shanghai tend to look down on provincial folks.

There is, and the romantic scenes are super sweet and swoon-worthy 🥰 The leads are great kissers 🤭 One thing to note, this drama has many things going for it, including a commoner hero bullied by rich and powerful corrupt officials, royal politics, warm family relationships, brotherhood, mystery solving, cultivation and fantasy. Romance is not the be-all and end-all of GOTD. It's woven seamlessly into the whole narrative. So you don't only get romance, you also get action, comedy, drama, mystery, crime, etc - a well-rounded package that is very well written. Extremely entertaining.

Haters tried very hard (and still trying) to blacken GOTD. One black marketing group reportedly spent @200 million rmb. But this masterpiece still came out on top!

GOTD is the TOP STREAMED SERIES for Q1 2025 per Kuyun, with a cumulative 1.938 billion views.
https://x.com/WangHediFolder/status/1907730001988038704

GOTD has the highest total online views during hot period from Dec 2024 to Q1 2025 with a cumulative 2.076 billion views.
https://x.com/peachblossom300/status/1909240199965749658

The Yuewen IP Group's 2024 Annual Performance Report designates GOTD as a "2025 Opening Blockbuster" and one of five successful productions ("Yuewen's Five Hits").
https://x.com/ShaiTumula17420/status/1902174114800107712

It has been certified by Weibo and Yunhe as a guaranteed blockbuster drama.
https://x.com/WangHediFolder/status/1907274977549930822

It has been certified by Dengta and Tencent Video as a breakout hit.
https://x.com/WangHediFolder/status/1907447921597165642

It has been certified as a hit drama by Lighthouse.
https://x.com/wanghedismile/status/1907358666438901945

Who still believes in Douban? GOTD proves that public online scoring is not reliable. It may easily be manipulated by smear campaigns as what happened to GOTD. I’m not sure if TFF also got blackened.

It's not bad at all. I enjoyed it.

IMDb is also crawling with trolls and haters. Just the fact that they have the same rating is very suspicious considering that IMDb generally has lower ratings than MDL; there are many western shows with low ratings that have higher quality than shows with higher ratings here in MDL. For example, one of my favorite movies, Avatar, is only rated 7.9 in IMDb. It would probably be rated 9 or higher in MDL.

It seems a lot of MDL accounts have accounts in IMDb. There are similar reviews of cdramas in MDL and IMDb. I think ratings above 5 in IMDb are supposed to be good, thus a rating of 6.6 is a good score in IMDb. Which is why it's suspicious that the score is the same in two sites with different meanings of ratings. It sounds like the same group of users is rating the drama in both sites.

In essence, online scoring, where anybody can give scores, even those who have not watched the show, is not reliable. Haters will downrate shows while zealous fans will uprate their faves' shows. Saying these two factions balance each other out is unscientific.

I saw that happen a while back, a hater stealing the identity of a fan. I think the fan reported the hater. I'll do that too.

Trying to duck now would not serve you any purpose as everybody can see what you’ve written. A non-malicious and non-spiteful viewer would just drop a drama he doesn’t like QUIETLY. Dissing it just means he has ulterior motives such as promoting another actor by putting another one down. Dismissing the author’s excitement over the choice of ml as diplomacy is downright malicious and spiteful. To top it off, you have the gall to threaten those who are confronting you. If you don’t want to be confronted, don’t do anything that will make others confront you.

Not only character assassination, but threat as well! You’re showing your dark soul with your writing. You’re probably one of those paid netizens who have been trolling Dylan. And I only have disgust for your kind. A good person would stop watching a drama he doesn’t like QUIETLY, showing his consideration for others who are enjoying the show. And MANY people do love this drama including me. Only malicious and spiteful people would want to burst other people’s enjoyment. Paid trolls are the worst. You can’t excuse what you are doing by saying you are just trying to earn a living. There are many livelihoods that don’t require one to tear down other people. I would rather pick cotton or clean toilets than do what you are doing.

So you can character-assassinate Dylan but whine when others point out what you are. If you don’t have the guts to take the heat, don’t start the fire. Don’t do to others what you don’t want others to do unto you.

Guardians Of The Dafeng received the Yuewen 10th Anniversary IP of Glory award
https://x.com/WangHediFolder/status/1895471433423441938

Dylan Wang received the Outstanding Impact Actor Of Adaptations award
https://x.com/RaraDrama18/status/1895481004380618892/

Congratulations to Dylan and the GOTD production team!

It baffles me no end how people can say things without any idea of what they're talking about. Have you even seen the GOTD writer with Dylan? His excitement about having Dylan play the hero of GOTD is almost fanboyish. There's no doubt about his sincerity. But it seems sincerity is another thing you have no inkling about, which is why you're not liking GOTD. It's about this sincere, warm, passionate fellow and his sincere and warm relationships with family, friends and co-workers as he solves mysterious cases involving an ancient kingdom he got transmigrated to. I suggest you drop this drama immediately. Malicious and spiteful people would likely not get it.