Platinum Fox

Episode 4

There is no comparison between Liu Chang and CPP when it comes to intelligence. However, with Joy of Life we have seen a change in how main characters are viewed. Main characters (except for women) can now have physical disabilities. Remember this entire drama is centered around both male and female characters breaking traditions, customs, rules, and conventions. So Liu Chang, being the second male lead, what would be so wrong with him being a high-ranking official with a disability? We already know that he is capable with his water plan even though it never came into fruition.

As for Mu Dan and Liu Chang, with Mu Dan's personality and the way LC is now, no, Mu Dan would never get back with him. Their personalities are too different. Mu Dan is strong and overcomes every obstacle that comes her way with the support of her friends and the Floral Envoy. Liu Chang wallows in self pity and has no one to support his efforts (not even the princess). He is really seeing what it means to have no one (just like Mu Dan when she was married to him).

Now we just have to wait to see how they write his character, but as you said, he is already on the revenge path. It is what typically happens with second male leads.

Yes, I do believe he could be a good official. How does one become a good official, by experiencing what the common people go through on a daily basis. You can't understand something until you have gone through it yourself. He is a scholar who has not experienced the world yet and the world of politics. There are some very telling scenes in his arc that he is on his way.

Joy of Life changed the way we view people with disabilities (especially men) in dramas. Chen Ping Ping is the head of a powerful governmental agency. Being in a wheel chair has not hinder this. What a way to go against rules and traditions, place a person with a disability in a place of power. With what both the men want to do, who needs legs? Their brains still work.

This drama is challenging the notion that traditions, rules, conventions, and customs need to be changed when they no longer work. Now do the drama writers have the guts to go against drama conventions? I don't think so, viewers would stop watching if Liu Chang actually ended up Mu Dan.

Many posters have said that he fell for her on that snowy night, but that is not true. He fell for her when she was 17 and at the car, but the brother shot him down in letting DJX date her. Perception is what drives this drama for the audience as well as the characters. Can love be hidden from yourself? This drama is aptly named because not only does it refer to her secret love for him, but his secret love for her when he begins to chase her at 17. For me, the first snow fall is when he finally realizes and can admit he is in love with her. Remember it does not take them too long after that to "play house" and act like a married couple. Also, Sang Yan has a secret love as well.

It is why you need to read The End of Eternity (TEE) and not just the novel Hidden Love. TEE will explain why she speaks in a childish voice throughout most of the drama, the five year age gap, and many concepts and themes found in the drama.

You and others have said the same thing, and that is okay as that is your perception of their relationship when she is 14 and he is 19. The writers wanted you to be uncomfortable with that age gap as the maturity of a 14 year old is very different than that of a 19 year old. However, Chinese law says it is okay. People are trying to get it changed to 16, but no luck. But you are bashing a drama that is trying to combat the very thing that you are bashing it for.

I also did old school slow watching and got to 1/2 way through episode 14. By that time I didn't care about any of the characters as the story made no sense as to why the bride needed to be there in the first place. Fantasy is about redemption and forgiveness. The one who needed to pull the sword out was the grim reaper (the person who actually caused the whole mess to begin with). I understand what you are saying about Han and Jeong, but that only relates to the relationship between the three original characters at the original killing site. No bride is needed.

You can definitely see it that way and his actions are not shady that is what makes him a green flag guy. He waits until she is in college to have a sexual relationship with her, but he falls for her at the car when she is 17 and chases after her when she is 17 making him a dog (the car scene). Perception is what drives this drama from the characters to the audience.

Most viewers do not understand that this drama starts out as a social commentary on the age of consent in China which is 14. It is why viewers should be reading The End of Eternity (TEE) rather than the novel Hidden Love. The screenwriter(s) structured this drama on many concepts found in TEE. It explains why Sang Zhi speaks like a child and acts like child throughout most of the drama (which many viewers think that she is trying to be cute). It explains why people can view the scenes when they are 17 and 22 as either what a brother would do for his sister or what a boyfriend would do for his girlfriend. Romance does not have to be about sex, kissing, or even hand holding. It could be about wanting to be in the same room as each other, getting each other gifts, a piggy back ride, or taking a bike ride through the park. This drama is filled with easter eggs that enhance the story.

Thanks for the discussion.

Yes, and what a great disguise for him to get the revenge on the person who started this whole mess, Prince Ning.

I understand, but I also understand why he did what he did, and I think Mu Dan understood as well. Matter of fact they even talk about it in one scene. She even forgave him. She tells him that the only reason he thinks he loves her is that she is living his dream to be free and to make his own choices. So I believe she understood the reason for the attempted rape.

It is why his journey to becoming a good official is going the way it is. He needs to understand what it means to not have any type of protection. and start from the ground up.

Yes, he is a scholar. He solves problems with his intelligence, not his brawn (except for when he tried to rape her). That's why for me if there was no dog mentioned then it just makes him another second male lead villain.

For me, if the writers really want to break with conventions, traditions, and rules, Mu Dan's character should do one of two things: get a divorce and live out her life in Fragrance Garden and remain an old maid or remarry the second male lead after he finishes going through his redemptive arc and becomes a high-ranking official. Liu Chang will get the girl. Li Xian will die as a corrupt official. Let Prince Ning, the princess, and the parents get what they deserve: to watch Liu Chang become a high-ranking official while they go off into exile. jmo

But in drama land we know none of that will happen.

Thanks for the discussion.

What you are seeing with the 8.9 rating is the average rating of everyone who has rated it (including the people who rated it with more than one account). Most drama fans don't know to pay attention to the verified rating which is 9.03. This rating attempts to take out all the unverified accounts and people who rate it more than once from different accounts.

I am not worried. As I said above LLtG has influenced so many dramas that it will always be highly rated. Did you know that the most popular drama on MDL, Goblin, is rated an 8.8 which has been verified as well. I am sure it started out really high as well.

Thank you for your observation and explanation. Then, we need to change the meaning of a 1 rating as there are dramas out there that really do deserve a 1. Only by showing our disapproval for something can we change the way dramas are made.

But don't worry, the influence LLtG has had on the drama industry far outweighs the few people who have rated it a one. What is more lasting, the influence of LLtG or a few peoples' ratings on MDL?

Yes, that is why I don't think he really made them eat either. What is more traumatizing thinking you ate something or knowing you ate something.

But you're right they are both disgusting. But the parents deserved it.

I disagree. The imagery created from that scene is the most important part of his arc. It determines whether he has given up his fight to make it on his own merits (if you can't beat them, join them), or he now has the strength and wisdom to determine his own destiny (take them down).

If Liu Chang makes his parents think that they ate his blood, then it says to them that they are no better than leeches. Their money and power comes from leeching off others. They suck the life out of everyone they come across. They sucked the life out of Mu Dan and her family (literally and figuratively). The father sucks the life out of the common people (literally and figuratively) with spoiled grain. His parents are leeching of him and his relationship with the princess to rise to power again. His words above are either his dying declaration that he can't beat them (his parents, the princess, and Prince Ning) and will join them, or they are his living declaration that he is now strong enough to fight against them.

Now, if he makes them think that they ate the dog given to them by Prince Ning, then it means that he is determined to become more powerful than Prince Ning and take him down. If he takes down Prince Ning, then everyone under Prince Ning will fall as well. Everyone who has made his life a living hell. Remember, we would not have a story if the princess and Liu Chang could have married three years ago. Prince Ning is the reason for the whole story. Kill the cause and life will change.

For me, if what the person above says is true that there was no mention of the dog, then Liu Chang just becomes another second male lead who is a villain. If that is the case, I will not be watching the second half as I already know what will happen.

I did watch on Viki. And I understand what you are clarifying, but before he says those lines, he creates an image that they ate something so disgusting that they wanted to vomit and clean their mouths out (whether that is dog or his own blood makes sense either way). For me, his blood would be the better translation for the line, but the dog imagery also works in my opinion because it foreshadows what he is about to do to Prince Ning.

Thank you for the clarification.

What I understand is this. For whatever the reasons, you are a very devoted fan of LLtG. However, not everyone will like it as much as you for whatever the reasons. They have the right to express their opinion and rate it however they want, just like you had the right to love and rate the drama how you wanted to.

If we start calling everyone who rates a drama low a hater then we are just adding more hate to the environment. jmo

Open and honest discussions are what this forum should be about. Not belittling people for their opinions about a drama.

Thank you for the discussion. Happy drama watching.

Yes, I agree the story is the most important part of the drama. The acting should bring to life that story. If the acting is bad, then it will detract from the audience getting all of the story. An example of this for me was Cinderella Chef. The plot of that story was hard to understand, and the acting of the main female lead didn't help make it any clearer or better. I would rate Cinderella Chef a 1. But again, other people loved it and gave it a 10.

The same goes for the above poster. The above poster's original post asked a question about why Leo Wu's character looked mad all the time and felt the world was out to get him. That's what I responded to and we finally ended up chatting about acting. For her the acting detracted from her understanding the plot of the drama. Thus, in her opinion the story is a 1. It doesn't make her a hater, she just didn't like Leo Wu's acting . The poster tried another one of his dramas and found she didn't like it there either, so again she rated the show a 1. Now she will not watch anymore dramas with Leo Wu which is fine.

What should upset you more are people who write this, "Feminism in china start polluting CDRAMA sadly... The only thing missing is a "SASUKE" and gay couple." In my opinion this is more hateful than someone expressing their opinion about an actor's acting. This person rated Love Like the Galaxy a 10 and 9.5.

I understand what you are saying and don't disagree with you. However, for me, the story is the most important part of the drama. It is why we are watching. If the story needs to be saved by the actors, costumes, sets, and music, then ditch the story and start over.

For instance in my own personal experience, I watched Once Upon a Time with Yang Yang and Crystal Liu. Both are very popular and strong actors, but even they couldn't save that story. Neither could the music or the sets and costumes. I chose not to rate it because for me it was a 1, but again someone liked it and rated it a 10. Even professional critics disagree sometimes.

We are both being nice, so I do understand why you would say that someone who would choose to rate something a 1 is a hater. But I would also have to argue, if someone didn't rate it a 1 how would the writers learn from their mistakes. jmo

Happy drama watching.

People place too much importance on ratings. Ratings on MDL are subjective. Many posters even write they give something a 10 just because of who is in the drama. Other posters give 1s because of who is in the drama. We all judge a drama differently. This is why I don't get hung up on ratings, especially here on MDL.

For instance from my own personal experience, Hidden Love. I would have given it a one because it appears to be a simple love story and it added nothing new to the genre. However, once I understood what was happening in the drama, I had to rethink everything I thought about the drama. Now it is a 10 because I finally figured out why Zhao Lu Si did everything in her power to get that drama aired.

Another instance from my own personal experience, In Blossom. This story started with so much promise, but ended up being full of unoriginal ideas and a despicable central message that I would have and still would rate it a 1. Yet, there are people out there rating it a 10.

People write that LLtG is overrated and over hyped. For me, I think it is because they don't understand the story and its structure. It is a beautifully written, directed, and acted story. There are many wonderful discussion topics.

Thank you for the discussion. As you can tell, for me, it doesn't matter if someone rates something a 1 or 10 it is all subjective, especially here on MDL.

Actually, I see her point of view. I have tried to watch an actor/actress in two or three of their dramas just to see if it is the director or the actor. If I can't stand the acting of the actor in that drama, then I figure it is the actor, not the director. She feels this way about Leo Wu's dramas and that is okay. jmo