Michelle Topham

Yep, you're correct. They started out at 40. Then dropped it to 38. Then 36. And finally 30 with a few episodes that are over an hour (apparently).

Not sure why. But, like you inferred, 40 would have given them much more time to fully flesh out the plot and the character development. As it is now, they're just skimming the surface of the plot and showing the highlights.

May improve, but I'm now 3 eps in, and it hasn't developed a more solid storytelling yet.

Performances are pretty solid, Yang Yang is doing a decent job at portraying what is an iconic character in China, and the directing is decent. But the production, pacing and script are the letdowns, IMO.

Yep. It's Chin Shih Chieh. He's always brilliant in every role. Did a superb job as the grandfather in The Prisoner of Beauty as well.

It's not Tencent's fault. The Chinese government has mandated dramas cannot be more than 40 episodes and, if they need more episodes, a second season can't release for at least 1 year after the first season.

IMO, this one should have been several seasons as the pacing would be much better.

ROTFL, no it doesn't. But then again, you've obviously never watched the donghua or you wouldn't say something so stupid.

Surprisingly it's a free country and a website where anyone is allowed to express their opinion.

Don't like it. Don't read it. Follow that advice and you'll waste less time in life :)

Yep. They're pretty poor. I'm trying to figure out where all the money went, as the production budget for this was huge.

The CGI is poor, the video quality and camera work is poor, the script is mid, and the performances are "meh". (Yang Yang is doing a decent job, but...)

This has been THE drama I've been waiting for for eons, and I doubt I'll get passed the first couple of episodes. It's all just so "meh".

They're trying to cram the entire novel into 30 episodes.:) It's crazy fast. And probably an easy drop for me as it just seems so empty as there's little development of any events. They just happen, whizz by, and then another major event hits.

The donghua is superb and, at over 150 episodes and still releasing 2 episodes a week, it still hasn't covered half the novel. I just can't get into the drama at all.

If you're a donghua fan it's a disappointment, Only watched the first Ep but they've cut out so much. There's zero character set up or development, as everything rushes by at breakneck speed. If you haven't watched the donghua though, you might enjoy it.

It will probably be a drop for me, as only 30 minutes in and the pacing in the donghua is 1,000 times better, but I'll give it a few more episodes before making a decision whether to continue.

It's one of the most popular donghua in China 3.2 billion views back in February and earning about 100 million more every month. And it's EXCELLENT too. Available on YouTube.

Drama will be a success just because there are tens of millions of donghua fans that have been waiting AGES for the drama.

https://leosigh.com/a-record-of-a-mortals-journey-hits-3-2-billion-views-donghua-earns-100-million-in-a-month/

Oh goodie. Meng Zi Yi with the same facial expression she's had in every scene in every single one of her dramas. Thanks, but no thanks.

Liked that the leads were older, the humor is funny, and the performances are excellent. Very interesting characters with actual depth as well. Gorgeous cinematography, superb CGI, and set and costume designs are beautiful. A fun watch for the most part.

Like almost all Chinese dramas though, it's too long, and there is ZERO chemistry between the leads. Those two things made me drop it from a 10 to an 8.

Still a great watch though (even if those supposed sad scenes in EP38 are ludicrously bad), and do recommend.

It's subbed on YOUKU's YouTube channel, Better to watch there and give the views to the actual producers, and not to some fan who's just copied it to their X account without linking back to the original video.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g8D8WmI11m4

That's exactly what it feels like. A drama for teenagers. I couldn't get passed Ep 4. Disappointed too, as the cast is superb, so I expected much more.

Voice dubbing on this one is particularly bad. You didn't miss much.

His acting is very poor in this, and it's not normally. I couldn't get passed Episode 4, the whole thing is so badly done.

Ye Gods, the cast is amazing but the acting in this is terrible, and the dubbing is even worse.

Throw in the script feels like it was written for teenagers, and the CGI is laughably bad, and honestly there's not much to recommend with this one at all.

Watched too many excellent dramas recently to waste any more time on this. Dropped.

It's confirmed to be on WeTV, and the cast is excellent, plus it's Word of Honor director, so it should be great.

https://leosigh.com/dong-zi-fan-and-li-kai-wens-returned-master-aka-the-generals-youngest-son-premieres-july-18th-new-poster-drops/

No, it's not BL.

"Their" country. It's my country too, you fool. So, yes, you bet I damn well care.

I don't, however, care about the ROLE CHOICES of a Chinese actress. A role she, her management and likely her parents decided was an excellent opportunity for her.

An excellent opportunity the so-called "offended" here have refused to accept as HER choice, and instead are treating her like she's mentally incapable of making the right decisions for herself and her career. Ye Gods, she's almost an adult and, I would guess, not an idiot.

And as for "performative activism" that would be the clueless ones attacking a production company and a 17-year old for choosing a main role. As that's exactly what you're all doing here with your fake "concern".

Concern she certainly didn't ask for, and I would guess 1,000 percent doesn't want. But... that doesn't stop you with your "performative activism" on "her behalf" does it?

Ye Gods, I would love to be a fly on the wall of the production meetings of so many of these actors' y'all supposedly "care about" that you're constantly in there "battling for them" when they didn't ask you to.

You must be the brunt of so many of their jokes.

Fake outrage prettied up as "concern" just to make yourselves feel "superior" than others. It's dishonest and, frankly, quite vile.

And now, I'm out. As I've better things to spend my time on than communicate with fools. Enjoy your outrage!

First loved her in Who Rules the World and again in Blood of Youth and was amazed how someone still so young (only 13 or so when they filmed) pulled off such maturity in those roles. She's incredibly talented, and going far in the industry, IMO.