Here are some explanations about Douban quoted from some observers with whom I agree: "⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Douban 8+ rating: A good drama ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐/⭐ Douban 6 or 7 rating: Depends, consider if the genre (youth/idol, murder mystery, etc.) is your liking ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Douban 5 or below: Probably don't watch it Douban with less than 50k ratings: Probably not large budget, didn't have a societal impact in China. May have inflated ratings due to low sample size. Better really want to watch it, if you watch it. Douban with 100k+ ratings: A drama that many people have watched, either for the actors, high budget, viral nature. Consider watching a 6 or 7 rating drama with many ratings, if only for the spectacle, societal impact, memes, etc... A 8+ rating drama with 100k+ ratings = MUST WATCH!"
"Douban is the most unbiased review site in my mind. MyDramaList is way too slanted to idol/youth dramas. Douban has a slight bias towards propaganda/cultural themed and adult targeted shows but.. they're also really good. Douban does have an issue with review bombing over certain things though to watch out for (🍵😤 hate over a certain actor/actress, aspect of the show). Overall if I'm honest though.. Douban cares more about QUALITY, bottom line. " Douban audiences are very critical of certain things that international audiences may ignore, like common tropes and cliches in romance/idol dramas, the use of voice dubs, the use of traffic stars that audiences have a bad impression on their acting and etc."
-> In "My Destiny" there is no mention of dubbers, and the songs are really sung, quite well, by the actresses, in the episodes where they "performed" ; Seven Tan is quite appreciated in China but is not viewed as a flamboyant traffic star, somewhat differently from the overseas audience appreciation (was it because some episodes of "Go Ahead" were used in the past as a learning tool to teach mandarin to foreigners, so her name stuck in minds? I don't know.)
"There are also things that Chinese audiences find unrealistic but international fans will fail to notice that make the drama's rating lower. For example, modern drama that features work place will get a lot of criticism if it fails to do justice to the profession or workplace, while international audiences may fail to tell if it's realistic or not."
--> Among business themed dramas, "Wild Bloom" stands out with 8.2 Douban rating from 460,642 ratings....
Those who want to criticize "My Destiny" should better compare it to that drama, instead of bringing up their favorite "Best Choice Ever" (Douban 6.2 ) and unrelated in any way "The Tale of Rose" (Douban 7.4 ) to use as touchstone for attack. Even citing social norms (esp. exaggerated and dysfunctional ones) that they seem to believe must be shown in any drama to be "believable" to criticize the "kindness" or "callousness" of the protagonists in "My Destiny" or vaguely shooting at FWZ for not conforming to their idea of "Chinese behavior, "courtesy"," and "Chinese Family" as if there was one unique mold...
I liked how FWZ rebuked the Hongkonger "raider" with some well-formulated verbal slaps and no physical violence.... 🙂
Family relations? I have a large family there.... But all I can say is that people don't conform to one mold only, and that there are all sorts All the women in my circles have achieved good and influential jobs, even those who rose from the "many" kids 1950s generation, some have managed to raise their one kid family, some have decided to stay single or be divorced. The family keeps cordial ties but is not extremely nosy-close. Distance helps for keeping independent, since a few are scattered throughout China and even abroad. There are all sorts of cases. Although this is not my family, look at Zhang Bichen, Yang Mi, Zhao Liying.... Stay at home breeder and homemaker is not their ideal and depending on a husband (even a wealthy superstar like Hua Chengyu) is not their dream either.... Qianqian reminds me in a way (in the last episodes) of famous single mom by choice Zhang Bichen who has friends ready to step up for her, if her voice fails, like Huang Jingyu did impromptu on a stage (he is a very good singer, though it is not his goal to be remembered for it).
In "My Destiny", the protagonist chooses to reject sentimentality (being burned twice does leave scars) and to stay single, assembling a chosen family of friends whose flaws and fortes she knows, rather than being shackled by "norms". Her rejection of sacrificing time to get a degree (she does not prevent others to get one, it just is not her first priority) shows that vision and drive is the most important.
Although "My Destiny /My Mountains and Seas" drama is not in my opinion the acme of unforgettable masterpiece, neither is it brain dead. 🙂 It is only refusing to give in to some conventional expectations : family worship and loyalty, diploma as the the only credential for a successful career, set forms of morality... Perhaps 30 episodes were insufficient to go in depth but the naive young woman's evolution to business leader was neither unbelievable nor only fairy tale (I have further down thread given a link to a real life success story of a Chinese woman business leader...) : the story is built on a composite of models from real life, whatever the shrill critics choose to disbelieve and use for their gunning down the drama while pretending to respect the artists.
Douban audience appreciated it enough to award it 6.6 ❤️ (from 13,000+ ratings yesterday rising to 14168 at time of writing this comment). An honorable score. Indeed, over 6.5 is NOT BAD. Anyway, Douban ratings aggregated from thousands of ratings, probably reflects different sensibilities from those foreign audiences who struggle to understand C-dramas while saying they admire them but can't accept a drama without a show of gushing sentimentality... (expecting loads of kisses even in war dramas!!! Btw POJ should be very satisfying for them with the kabedons following blood dripping sword killings... Me, I chuckle at such sequences: I don't mind, but don't expect all dramas to follow that same pattern. )
The highest Douban ratings seldom exceed 8.9 ("To The Wonder", "Man's Inhumanity to Man"...) , "She and her Girls" stays up at exceptional 9.6 ❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️ (from 251 732 ratings) ; "Nirvana in Fire" is the highest rated wuxia drama with 9.4, but most well known dramas fall below ("Joy of Life" 7.9, "The Untamed" 7.7, "Eternal Love/Ten Miles of Peach Blossom" rates at 6.6 ❤️ , just like "My Destiny". here....)
She got the life she wanted. And let me include that if you are expecting her to end up with Gao Xing. I'm sorry,…
Well, yes there is no sappy romance in the end;; as time goes by, elders pass away and are mourned : younger generations rise and remember the shining days in the sun and get to know members of the extended family who gather together.... Capital battles are won through tightening of friends standing united against assault. The wind that swept Fang Wanzhi from her carefree life in the mountain to unknown ocean lets her standing at the top between her friends.
She did not need a husband and Gao Xiang accepted that long ago, even if FWZ dad recommended him A conventional family was never what she desired: watching Qianqian being used and herself being targeted as "possible breeder" only disgusted her deeply. She adopted the orphaned daughter of her employees, both out of duty and to give back the fate she had been handed at birth, not out of frustrated maternal instinct ; although she looked like a very good parent with what she provided together with her like minded associates.
She put up gracefully with Li Juan's obsession for her first love, although that obsession also excluded any tender feeling from her friend toward the possible sincere and eligible suitor She also put up with with Qianqian's visceral rejection of the man who had not wed her, but fathered her child, despite Qianqian's need for tender support ; she hastened to save her friend when QQ attempted to gamble with the stock exchange, almost losing her shirt in the process.. Friendship before all, focusing on each's talents rather than scolding and cutting ties, sometimes grudgingly accepting advice from the more academically learned and well-informed Gao Xiang, encouraging continuing education for those who felt they needed it (Li Juan), health care, more humane and inclusive working conditions and insurance for her employees, and including some former "reformed" foes who became her chauffeur, her canteen chef etc. She finally never needed an academic degree either.
Changyu refused to learn. It wasn't just her parents. Tutor Tao says Changyu lacked "wisdom". 🤣
Of course she is not stupid. Did you construe my reply as accusing you of uttering such a judgement ? !!
I have not read the novel, so was not sure she was illiterate there. Some readers said she helped teach Bao'er to learn reading (which I thought could not have happened when she was busy butchering pigs). But one who really read the novel through has also confirmed to me, that Changyu was indeed illiterate until she started to get taught painstakingly (not by Li Huai'an) much later. But even then, yes, not literate. So I admit I got mistaken in my impression from the comment further down thread about Bao'er, on this illiteracy. That's what happens when information goes along a long line of re-tellers : this is indeed not a good example of difference between script and original novel.
"Street smart" is a nice way to describe her phobia of conventional studies.
Kudos if you read through the 2000+ chapters: I admit I am too adhd to sit through such an ordeal 😁 Hope you had a nice weekend!
#TanSongyun's "#MyDestiny" reached a new high in viewership today with a peak of 3.4426 on #Kuyun, and…
It was n°1 in the "top ten" TV series over the week, as tallied by drama reporter Marcus, with "512 points", not breaking walls like blockbuster POJ on streaming, but an honorable score anyway. ❤️ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h6fsw2usvTI
The relationship between Fang Wan Zhi and her adopted dad improved but it just suddenly happens, more or less,…
There is little point in rating if you dropped the drama. Your 5.5 only contributes to drag down ratings as if you wanted to target the cast and crew and Seven Tan for not having brought to you what you expected. Likes or dislikes are personal and subjective of course, so nothing wrong in dropping if it was not "your cup of tea" after all.
normal fluctuation. it could go back up even over 7, in time. It's still stable at 6.9 on Douban , at the moment, while audiences are too busy gushing or warring over POJ
So, typically, I enjoy watching Bai Lu stuff, and Wang Xing Yue almost made "The Double" unwatchable for…
Yes Douban 6.9 as checked today on https://movie.douban.com/subject/36415590/ is a very honorable score for this type of drama. Douban raters are very picky and rate usually 2pts below the ratings on MDL which reflect other sensibilities. So, I'd expect the drama to achieve between 8.5 and 9 here on MDL . Those dramas which get 7 or other on Douban have cause to celebrate with posters. Unveil: Jadewind had indeed opened with 7.0 rating from 78,347 ratings. "Pleased with their score, they shared a poster on Weibo to announce it". The poster is in photo section. That it dropped 0.1 point only reflects normal up and down slight fluctuations on Douban.
😁Unfortunately, the size of the drama has already been decided. We'll have to put up with the feeling of looking…
surely 😂 This addictive drama makes for moments of levity ! Last week of airing has started, my end: rumor says express will be on Thursday. Perhaps it will be earlier.
post a link, pls ? If there is one available already 😅
Ok founf it , posted by bubbleliou, thanks to both of you for pointing to it. "so to give some crumbs for those waiting here is one of their live today, ep32" https://vm.tiktok.com/ZNRxBWhov/
Changyu refused to learn. It wasn't just her parents. Tutor Tao says Changyu lacked "wisdom". 🤣
The screenwriters made her into an adhd type (perhaps to please the adhd people who want to watch the drama).. Doesn't mean she is stupid. Some people can't sit still to study, and do drive their too conventional teachers nuts (loved that part when the guys came out decomposed and disheveled, and even Li had to get medical help 😁) She'll learn what she needs on the way, I'm sure (loved that mention that when dear live-in hubby explained, it was so clear).
Further down thread, it is said that is one difference from the novel character, in which Changyu is not illiterate.
The palace intrigue plot is so interesting. I hate that they have to speed run it. We really need another 20 episodes…
😁 Unfortunately, the size of the drama has already been decided. We'll have to put up with the feeling of looking at rags & tatters of script along the way till end... Deploring the fact.
They should have made 2 seasons/parts for this show, like 50 episodes or more, so they don't have to rush it towards…
Stupid regulations that impose too narrow limits and end up having the dramas cut up to look like rags, or divided over two years, when they started so well. (A bit worried that will also cause disaster for "MoLi" when that drama finally lands on screens). The time gap imposed between the artificial divides is damaging for the dramas. I am sure it lost quite a bit of audience for "Eternal Brotherhood" already, since many may have simply put the "to be continued'' out of their mind because of the too long time gap legally enforced. "Flourished Peony" also had to suffer the artificial divide. Forcing artificial ratings for "first part" and "second part" when really this is nothing like proper Season 1 and Season 2 ....
I regret the times of the "impossibly long" dramas, when it was really possible to immerse with no thought of "they will cut it off with a cliffhanger, and next we'll need a year or longer to wait!!!!) LLTG was the last to escape that dire fate, although it did get cut: at least, the o episodes till end were released on the heels of the first ones, with no gap. Imagine watching "Ten Miles of Peach Blossom/ Eternal Love", "Nirvana In Fire", "The Legend of The Condor Heroes", "Joy of Life" etc cut up in Seasons. ("Ashes of Love" too, although that one could have, since the events constitute something like three dramas in one for the "tree worlds three lives" there: But I was glad to watch and re-watch it as one whole drama, admiring Luo Yunxi, Yang Zi and Deng Lun). "Joy of Life2 " felt choppy and eventually disappointing to me in last part, despite the feat of having reassembled almost all in original cast; I am sure it was bc of the straight-jacketing to fit undersized constraints hampering both screenwriters, directors and cast. In the hope that this will not also happen to "Zhu Yu" in remaining episodes....
2 
5 
1 
1 
"⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Douban 8+ rating: A good drama
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐/⭐ Douban 6 or 7 rating: Depends, consider if the genre (youth/idol, murder mystery, etc.) is your liking
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Douban 5 or below: Probably don't watch it
Douban with less than 50k ratings: Probably not large budget, didn't have a societal impact in China. May have inflated ratings due to low sample size. Better really want to watch it, if you watch it.
Douban with 100k+ ratings: A drama that many people have watched, either for the actors, high budget, viral nature. Consider watching a 6 or 7 rating drama with many ratings, if only for the spectacle, societal impact, memes, etc...
A 8+ rating drama with 100k+ ratings = MUST WATCH!"
"Douban is the most unbiased review site in my mind. MyDramaList is way too slanted to idol/youth dramas. Douban has a slight bias towards propaganda/cultural themed and adult targeted shows but.. they're also really good. Douban does have an issue with review bombing over certain things though to watch out for (🍵😤 hate over a certain actor/actress, aspect of the show). Overall if I'm honest though.. Douban cares more about QUALITY, bottom line.
" Douban audiences are very critical of certain things that international audiences may ignore, like common tropes and cliches in romance/idol dramas, the use of voice dubs, the use of traffic stars that audiences have a bad impression on their acting and etc."
-> In "My Destiny" there is no mention of dubbers, and the songs are really sung, quite well, by the actresses, in the episodes where they "performed" ; Seven Tan is quite appreciated in China but is not viewed as a flamboyant traffic star, somewhat differently from the overseas audience appreciation (was it because some episodes of "Go Ahead" were used in the past as a learning tool to teach mandarin to foreigners, so her name stuck in minds? I don't know.)
"There are also things that Chinese audiences find unrealistic but international fans will fail to notice that make the drama's rating lower. For example, modern drama that features work place will get a lot of criticism if it fails to do justice to the profession or workplace, while international audiences may fail to tell if it's realistic or not."
--> Among business themed dramas, "Wild Bloom" stands out with 8.2 Douban rating from 460,642 ratings....
Those who want to criticize "My Destiny" should better compare it to that drama, instead of bringing up their favorite "Best Choice Ever" (Douban 6.2 ) and unrelated in any way "The Tale of Rose" (Douban 7.4 ) to use as touchstone for attack. Even citing social norms (esp. exaggerated and dysfunctional ones) that they seem to believe must be shown in any drama to be "believable" to criticize the "kindness" or "callousness" of the protagonists in "My Destiny" or vaguely shooting at FWZ for not conforming to their idea of "Chinese behavior, "courtesy"," and "Chinese Family" as if there was one unique mold...
I liked how FWZ rebuked the Hongkonger "raider" with some well-formulated verbal slaps and no physical violence.... 🙂
Family relations? I have a large family there.... But all I can say is that people don't conform to one mold only, and that there are all sorts All the women in my circles have achieved good and influential jobs, even those who rose from the "many" kids 1950s generation, some have managed to raise their one kid family, some have decided to stay single or be divorced. The family keeps cordial ties but is not extremely nosy-close. Distance helps for keeping independent, since a few are scattered throughout China and even abroad. There are all sorts of cases.
Although this is not my family, look at Zhang Bichen, Yang Mi, Zhao Liying.... Stay at home breeder and homemaker is not their ideal and depending on a husband (even a wealthy superstar like Hua Chengyu) is not their dream either.... Qianqian reminds me in a way (in the last episodes) of famous single mom by choice Zhang Bichen who has friends ready to step up for her, if her voice fails, like Huang Jingyu did impromptu on a stage (he is a very good singer, though it is not his goal to be remembered for it).
In "My Destiny", the protagonist chooses to reject sentimentality (being burned twice does leave scars) and to stay single, assembling a chosen family of friends whose flaws and fortes she knows, rather than being shackled by "norms". Her rejection of sacrificing time to get a degree (she does not prevent others to get one, it just is not her first priority) shows that vision and drive is the most important.
Douban audience appreciated it enough to award it 6.6 ❤️ (from 13,000+ ratings yesterday rising to 14168 at time of writing this comment). An honorable score. Indeed, over 6.5 is NOT BAD. Anyway, Douban ratings aggregated from thousands of ratings, probably reflects different sensibilities from those foreign audiences who struggle to understand C-dramas while saying they admire them but can't accept a drama without a show of gushing sentimentality... (expecting loads of kisses even in war dramas!!! Btw POJ should be very satisfying for them with the kabedons following blood dripping sword killings... Me, I chuckle at such sequences: I don't mind, but don't expect all dramas to follow that same pattern. )
The highest Douban ratings seldom exceed 8.9 ("To The Wonder", "Man's Inhumanity to Man"...) , "She and her Girls" stays up at exceptional 9.6 ❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️ (from 251 732 ratings) ; "Nirvana in Fire" is the highest rated wuxia drama with 9.4, but most well known dramas fall below ("Joy of Life" 7.9, "The Untamed" 7.7,
"Eternal Love/Ten Miles of Peach Blossom" rates at 6.6 ❤️ , just like "My Destiny". here....)
I will post some explanations about Douban above.
She did not need a husband and Gao Xiang accepted that long ago, even if FWZ dad recommended him A conventional family was never what she desired: watching Qianqian being used and herself being targeted as "possible breeder" only disgusted her deeply. She adopted the orphaned daughter of her employees, both out of duty and to give back the fate she had been handed at birth, not out of frustrated maternal instinct ; although she looked like a very good parent with what she provided together with her like minded associates.
She put up gracefully with Li Juan's obsession for her first love, although that obsession also excluded any tender feeling from her friend toward the possible sincere and eligible suitor She also put up with with Qianqian's visceral rejection of the man who had not wed her, but fathered her child, despite Qianqian's need for tender support ; she hastened to save her friend when QQ attempted to gamble with the stock exchange, almost losing her shirt in the process.. Friendship before all, focusing on each's talents rather than scolding and cutting ties, sometimes grudgingly accepting advice from the more academically learned and well-informed Gao Xiang, encouraging continuing education for those who felt they needed it (Li Juan), health care, more humane and inclusive working conditions and insurance for her employees, and including some former "reformed" foes who became her chauffeur, her canteen chef etc. She finally never needed an academic degree either.
I have not read the novel, so was not sure she was illiterate there. Some readers said she helped teach Bao'er to learn reading (which I thought could not have happened when she was busy butchering pigs). But one who really read the novel through has also confirmed to me, that Changyu was indeed illiterate until she started to get taught painstakingly (not by Li Huai'an) much later. But even then, yes, not literate. So I admit I got mistaken in my impression from the comment further down thread about Bao'er, on this illiteracy. That's what happens when information goes along a long line of re-tellers : this is indeed not a good example of difference between script and original novel.
"Street smart" is a nice way to describe her phobia of conventional studies.
Kudos if you read through the 2000+ chapters: I admit I am too adhd to sit through such an ordeal 😁 Hope you had a nice weekend!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h6fsw2usvTI
Those dramas which get 7 or other on Douban have cause to celebrate with posters. Unveil: Jadewind had indeed opened with 7.0 rating from 78,347 ratings. "Pleased with their score, they shared a poster on Weibo to announce it". The poster is in photo section.
That it dropped 0.1 point only reflects normal up and down slight fluctuations on Douban.
"so to give some crumbs for those waiting here is one of their live today, ep32"
https://vm.tiktok.com/ZNRxBWhov/
But I suppose I can use search function to find yr comment again in general comments thread, which is moving at avalanche speed....
She'll learn what she needs on the way, I'm sure (loved that mention that when dear live-in hubby explained, it was so clear).
Further down thread, it is said that is one difference from the novel character, in which Changyu is not illiterate.
Unfortunately, the size of the drama has already been decided. We'll have to put up with the feeling of looking at rags & tatters of script along the way till end... Deploring the fact.
The time gap imposed between the artificial divides is damaging for the dramas. I am sure it lost quite a bit of audience for "Eternal Brotherhood" already, since many may have simply put the "to be continued'' out of their mind because of the too long time gap legally enforced.
"Flourished Peony" also had to suffer the artificial divide. Forcing artificial ratings for "first part" and "second part" when really this is nothing like proper Season 1 and Season 2 ....
I regret the times of the "impossibly long" dramas, when it was really possible to immerse with no thought of "they will cut it off with a cliffhanger, and next we'll need a year or longer to wait!!!!) LLTG was the last to escape that dire fate, although it did get cut: at least, the o episodes till end were released on the heels of the first ones, with no gap.
Imagine watching "Ten Miles of Peach Blossom/ Eternal Love", "Nirvana In Fire", "The Legend of The Condor Heroes", "Joy of Life" etc cut up in Seasons. ("Ashes of Love" too, although that one could have, since the events constitute something like three dramas in one for the "tree worlds three lives" there: But I was glad to watch and re-watch it as one whole drama, admiring Luo Yunxi, Yang Zi and Deng Lun).
"Joy of Life2 " felt choppy and eventually disappointing to me in last part, despite the feat of having reassembled almost all in original cast; I am sure it was bc of the straight-jacketing to fit undersized constraints hampering both screenwriters, directors and cast.
In the hope that this will not also happen to "Zhu Yu" in remaining episodes....