![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
branchandrootStill moseying my way through Granting You a Dreamlike Life, by way of fast-forwarding through every scene that does not have Luo Fusheng in it. I am sad to report that this results in missing absolutely nothing.
Seriously, the Tianying-Xingcheng leg of that romantic triangle could be just as effectively represented by a still of the two of them staring at each other, surrounded by flowers.
I continue amused that the Fusheng-Xingcheng leg is just as compelling, if not moreso, purely because, even when acting just-best-friends, Zhu Yilong brings more energy to it than Chu Jianran. Who could honest to god be replaced by a department store mannequin, in this, with minimal loss.
The leg I'm conflicted about is the Tianying-Fusheng one.
Because I got to the casino scene. Wherein Fusheng bluffs one of his Family's under-bosses into backing down by claiming that he's /personally involved/ in the scam under-boss just tried to run on Tianying and stuffed-shirt-brother, foiled by stuffed-shirt-brother's visual acuity and skill at spotting crooked cards. Interesting life skill, that, given the poker up the guy's spine.
At any rate, Fusheng asserts his personal-involvement claim by saying that Tianying is his woman, and (to make it convincing) kisses her. Much to her dismay, I might add.
So, on the one hand, this is not cool under any circumstances, end of story.
But, within the narrative that the show itself is building... this is actually the point at which he starts demonstrating some respect for her.
*headdesks a few times*
The thing is, his interactions with Tianying, prior to this point, have been Fusheng toying with her. The whole go-round with her trying to get help to 'bail out' a Xingcheng who's already safe home demonstrates abundantly how Fusheng regards people outside his immediate circle: toys to play with for a moment's amusement. At the casino, though, a) her brother demonstrates skill within Fusheng's world and b) Fusheng has had his conscience pricked (at least a little) by Tianying's forthrightness and emotional courage. So, when he calls her over for the kiss, he looks at her the way he looks at his sister or Xingcheng--that intent focus and the little widening of the eyes that says 'play along'.
He's inviting Tianying to play his game, and assuming that she /can/.
So yes. Conflicted.
Although I continue amused that pretty much every piece of physical blocking between Fusheng and Xingcheng is basically waving a banner that reads "The director ships it!".
Seriously, the Tianying-Xingcheng leg of that romantic triangle could be just as effectively represented by a still of the two of them staring at each other, surrounded by flowers.
I continue amused that the Fusheng-Xingcheng leg is just as compelling, if not moreso, purely because, even when acting just-best-friends, Zhu Yilong brings more energy to it than Chu Jianran. Who could honest to god be replaced by a department store mannequin, in this, with minimal loss.
The leg I'm conflicted about is the Tianying-Fusheng one.
Because I got to the casino scene. Wherein Fusheng bluffs one of his Family's under-bosses into backing down by claiming that he's /personally involved/ in the scam under-boss just tried to run on Tianying and stuffed-shirt-brother, foiled by stuffed-shirt-brother's visual acuity and skill at spotting crooked cards. Interesting life skill, that, given the poker up the guy's spine.
At any rate, Fusheng asserts his personal-involvement claim by saying that Tianying is his woman, and (to make it convincing) kisses her. Much to her dismay, I might add.
So, on the one hand, this is not cool under any circumstances, end of story.
But, within the narrative that the show itself is building... this is actually the point at which he starts demonstrating some respect for her.
*headdesks a few times*
The thing is, his interactions with Tianying, prior to this point, have been Fusheng toying with her. The whole go-round with her trying to get help to 'bail out' a Xingcheng who's already safe home demonstrates abundantly how Fusheng regards people outside his immediate circle: toys to play with for a moment's amusement. At the casino, though, a) her brother demonstrates skill within Fusheng's world and b) Fusheng has had his conscience pricked (at least a little) by Tianying's forthrightness and emotional courage. So, when he calls her over for the kiss, he looks at her the way he looks at his sister or Xingcheng--that intent focus and the little widening of the eyes that says 'play along'.
He's inviting Tianying to play his game, and assuming that she /can/.
So yes. Conflicted.
Although I continue amused that pretty much every piece of physical blocking between Fusheng and Xingcheng is basically waving a banner that reads "The director ships it!".
no subject
Date: 2019-12-15 02:33 am (UTC)But, within the narrative that the show itself is building... this is actually the point at which he starts demonstrating some respect for her.
Haha, yes, that is really Luo Fusheng in a nutshell. :D
no subject
Date: 2019-12-15 02:40 am (UTC)...also, I laughed kind of a lot at her /ongoing/ counterattack.
no subject
Date: 2019-12-30 07:56 pm (UTC)I'm very much in a Dreamlike headspace right now, i.e. very interested to hear what you think. How far along are you?
I got to ep 30 (by procrastinating, watching about one ep per month), and I really started loving the show and Luo Fusheng by about ep 12. He's definitely a little shit before that, but then completely turns around. Not sure why exactly, but the show gets a lot more interesting after that.
The actor who plays Xu Xingcheng is indeed quite... superfluous. As is pretty much everyone else in the whole show...
The only other actor I like is Xu Xingcheng's father, who plays his infernal character with dignity. And wonderful enunciation. He's pretty much the only one whose Chinese I understand somewhat.
no subject
Date: 2019-12-30 09:23 pm (UTC)I can totally see why people try to repress the memory of the CGI wolves.
I like it, honestly. It's a good story, at least the bones of it, and could be compelling if there were, well, more actually good actors on board. I /like/ that it's not the storybook infatuation that wins out, especially as Xu Xingcheng's lack of actual spine becomes more apparent, but rather the relationship that's built both on their flaws (temper, selfishness, impulsiveness) and on their genuine strengths (talent, loyalty, emotional courage). I like that the setting makes clear the depth and momentum of familial history the characters are /all/ caught up in, and the different ways they all respond to that.
Incidentally, I also like what costuming did with Luo Fusheng. ^_^
I just /really/ wish the various CGI/green-screen weren't so dreadful, and that there were a few more actors with some subtlety to their names on board.
no subject
Date: 2019-12-30 09:43 pm (UTC)But I think it's the only cgi the show has, so at least it's not a constant annoyance.
I... can't really say it's a good story. I'm really bad at figuring out character stuff and plot lines, though, so that's not saying much. I mostly just let it wash over me and coo at Zhu Yilong's beautiful face and at the way he cries.
The show has a few things that every stupid cdrama has that make me not like it. (Like the nonconsensual kissing. And Luo Fusheng sexually harassing Tianying in the beginning in general.) But I've seen worse.
But I do like some of the things they like to emphasize about their characters - Tianying's naivete but creative goodness, for example, and the way they let her stand for herself and not get saved all the time (the cave-in notwithstanding). And Luo Fusheng's protectiveness and soft heart and ambivalence between loving Tianying and keeping his word to his friend.
I also like how earnestly they present Tianying and Xu Xingcheng's romance in the beginning, and then let it unravel completely and thoroughly. I have seen a lot less logical cdramas. Although of course I don't know what the last 10 eps hold, so maybe I shouldn't speak too highly of it yet. :)
I'm subscribing you now and I'll track your tag, so I won't miss it when you talk more about Dreamlike.