9lives

Ok I’m fine with that hahah

No idea, since people seem to have discovered him through different dramas. He’s not even that famous internationally compared to other actors so I really can’t tell. For me it was LYF but totally by accident when scrolling through Vicki’s new dramas that had just been released. To this day, not a single content of his is available on Netflix here in the Americas and in Europe. We don’t even have a legal way to watch Sound of Silence. Isn’t it sad?

I might be wrong but I think the extra chapter doesn’t make it clear it’s a happy ending. Makes no sense to rip him apart in four and call it a gotcha moment.

Then please help me fight this Masterpiece Crowd off so we can get better quality dramas of every genre😆

Not for me, babe. There’s no Tan content whatsoever on Netflix outside of Asia. Not sure where you’re from but the Americas and Europe don’t have access to the same content. For sure it wasn’t LYF being broadcast on Netflix that made him famous internationally.

I’m sure he and other actors would love more international fame but the truth is that Chinese actors, unlike Korean ones, don’t really need the international fans. Sure, it’s a nice touch, but they have 1.4 billion people in their country, so even a smaller actor with a following of 5% of the population is already better off than most actors in other parts of the world. That’s why they don’t really care if some of us have no access to their content. It’s not the focus. Tan at least is thoughtful enough to post more and more frequently on Instagram and he’s starting to write posts in English and sing songs in English too but that’s not the norm. So at the end of the day, it’s a moot point. What the international fans want or don’t want isn’t really the priority for them. We can only hope the dramas with our favorite actors aren’t butchered by questionable decisions from investors trying to meddle in stuff they have no knowledge about.

So much effort in making us cry, don’t let the Tan be torn in vain 🥹

Seriously, not sure what’s so hard to understand. People are of course free to like whatever they like, but this website has a cursed tradition of wanting every single drama to subscribe to the holy trinity of: visuals + cheap fluff + happy ending. The amount of people I’ve seen commenting this is the only thing they look for in dramas otherwise they won’t even watch it would be enough to fill a stadium. It’s a valid opinion of course, just leave something different for the rest of us please.

Another incorrect take. When you say nobody is asking China to stop making serious dramas, I would like to call to your attention the fact that in a subtle way but no longer so subtle, there is indeed a shift in how dramas are being made recently. We know creatives don’t have that much freedom over there, and still, with the little freedom they do have, we know how the people behind the scenes unfortunately have to bend the knee to agencies, massive fandoms and other external factors that end up messing with the overall quality of a drama. Heck, even web novel writers need to have a happy ending extra chapter in their sleeves lest the fans riot if the ending isn’t to their satisfaction. Kdramas have already started to lose their initial charm because they’re being influenced by Western notions. Things that made them special are now less and less particular to their culture and more closely associated to the old Hollywood formula.

So it’s not a case of serious dramas taking the space of other dramas. Of course not. But it can absolutely become the case of idol dramas of little substance taking the space and resources of productions that don’t already have not even 10% of the same marketing and investment of dramas that “all” international fans supposedly like. As part of this international side of cdrama watchers, I do not want to see more idol stuff taking the space of better productions, so I will call it out every single time. Douban, as flawed as it is, is a good index of how many of the so-called “masterpieces” in this side of the world actually fare in the eyes of Chinese audiences. Some older big hits that you speak of, I wonder how they would do with today’s international fans. Mostly those that only have Netflix as their source of cdramas. Probably would abandon them mid-way because the ending and the visuals aren’t up to their expectations. Food for thought.

Nope, it wasn’t aimed at you because tbh I didn’t have the time to read older comments (barely have the time to keep coming here as I used to a few years ago), but at the kind of MDL international fans we mostly see. Those who automatically dislike a drama unless there’s a happy ending. Those who think fluff and happy endings are the standards for good storytelling and so the space for other types of dramas get reduced dramatically, since who’s gonna invest in them if the majority seems to like the fluff only? I absolutely agree, there should be space for all kinds of different tastes, so why do the international fans seem to only like one kind of content? Thankfully in this regard, none of Tan’s dramas are on Netflix outside of Asia. The majority of his catalogue wouldn’t even subscribe to the international fans tastes.

But anyway, thanks for proving my point though. You did it better than I ever could :)

Absolutely, not to mention that it’s a very damaging kind of pandering because the audience thinks they know better but they actually don’t. That’s why we have so many pretty faces who clearly don’t know what they’re doing in roles of importance, or plots that make no sense other than making sure the couple stay together in the end, no matter the outcome or how they got there. The fandoms and powerful agencies play a big part in that too, and the investors unfortunately are swayed by them. No wonder the Chinese entertainment industry is facing a very long winter. It needs to continue to flop critically and become a joke until those someones in charge realize it’s not everyone who likes Hallmark-style content. China can and should do better.

Hi Joa! Thank you!

It’s the infantilization of the audience that gets me. I have Chinese entertainment in very high regard. I know that a country with 5000 years of culture can legit create true masterpieces. But this word has been thrown around so frequently lately, to describe dramas that are merely passable or slightly above average, only because they have The Combo (The Visuals + The Happy Ending), that I’m now starting to root for as much tragedy as they can possibly insert in a drama, as long as the quality remains. Also to piss off the happy ending crowd so they can give up and stop lowering the quality of dramas everywhere. First it was the kdramas, now they’re coming for cdramas as well. Please no.

As for the changes, I heard that the novel writer apparently said the drama was to be appreciated independently from her written work, so it’s making me wonder how much is really going to be similar to the book. Just as long as they don’t cut the Tan scenes and make the ML a mere side character in his own drama the way it seems to be the norm lately. Other than that, let’s hope for the best.

After some weeks offline and only recently having seen *those* leaks, I’m really rooting for the ending to follow its natural progression (aka what people like to call BE. Don’t know why it is even called a bad ending if happy endings aren’t necessarily good, just mostly fan service for the “I don’t watch good dramas unless my faves get their HE” crowd, but anyway).

Those times in history were harsh and this ain’t no fairy tale. Also it’s most likely the version that Tan would prefer, so even though I’m torn about watching or skipping those scenes, his acting can’t be wasted on “oh, it was just a ruse, he isn’t actually dead”. He’s dead, deal with it 😅🥹

I know, nobody asked, but just so people know that not every international fan has the same opinion on HE. Some of us prefer good dramas instead, regardless of the ending :3 I’ll shut up now

Is it confirmed that there will be two movies? 😍

I see you girlies have been talking about older Tan dramas so if I can give my two cents, I would recommend one of my favorite cdramas ever (not Tan drama only but in general): Winter Begonia.

He shows up in some episodes and his appearance throughout the drama is very important even though he’s a supporting character. I went in because of him but stayed because of everything else. So maybe give it a try. Some people have nicknamed it “Chinese Downton Abbey” and I can see where they are coming from. Beautiful in every way :)

8.2? This website really can’t be taken seriously

But it’s nice to see someone standing up for a change. The way those delinquents seem to think they’re unstoppable. It’s like the mafia. Apparently incident 227 wasn’t enough.

This place better not become insalubrious. It’s not your fault unemployment rates are so high.

Vai tomar block

I’ll go check your page. Finally someone with some insight in this comment section.

Try picking up a book instead.