What's Mandarin for 'prozac?'

[dangermousie]

I am 8 eps into HZGG and my take on it can be summed up as: pretty fluff with some cool outfits.

I adore Zi Wei/Er Kang (though every time people discourse on how gorgeous Ziwei is, I am puzzled. I like the character but lookwise, she's the plainest cdrama leading lady I've seen). I skip to their scenes a lot:





DOES YAN ZI EVER CALM THE FUCK DOWN?! Seriously, I have high tolerance for madcap, cutesy, hyper heroines, but I want to throttle our ostensible heroine who has the maturity, survival skills and brains of a pancake and acts as if she's permanently on uppers. Common sense is on another planet from this lady. I love suicidally feisty (adored Yang Mi's character in Gong) but Yan Zi appears brain-damaged. She's also not good-looking either (cdramas have so many gorgeous actresses, why is this big-budget production about beauties stocked with so many plain women?) but it's her insane character that drives me off the bend. Her behavior would be cute in my daughter. My daughter is two years old.



Ugh. I know that she is shipped a lot with Fifth Prince, but he seems a fairly nice guy. What has he done to be afflicted with YZ? I really hopes she simmers down.



In conclusion, this guy (I think he's Er Kang's bro) is the only one rocking the queue.



I lied. In other conclusion, can Benjamin go away? I have nothing against the actor, but the character is so wholesomely bland he makes me want to sleep.

So, HZGG - very pretty, some stories and characters I adore, others I want to drown. So basically, your average drama. Though I confess that I kinda want to unleash Zombie Yong Zheng on them and wipe the floor with the lot of them.

Comments

[kikintae.livejournal.com]

i would recommend you watching the old version. Yan Zi is actually likable there. It what make vicki zhao, ruby lin, fan bing bing and alec su become very famous. I don't know what the writer thinks when she revise her character and drag the story so much. And she is getting worse as the episode goes on.

[dangermousie.livejournal.com]

I read in great detail about the old version and I am pretty sure I'd find 'old' YZ just as annoying as this one and the production values are way better here :) (I am pretty picky about production values and vid quality in historicals).

[kikintae.livejournal.com]

actually the YZ (only in season 1) is pretty cool. I was never YZ fan, but after watching the new version, I goes back to watch the old version. I find her much more likable, appreciate her character more than when I was young, and i think that due to vicki zhao interpretation. YZ in the old version is kind of laid back,smart aleck, and street smart. The relationship between the four lead is so sweet. It still one of my favorite series, the production is not the greatest as the new version but I still find the costume and scenery very pretty.

[(Anonymous)]

I also agree. You have to watch the old version! It is way better. I am not a crazy fan but i watched the old version because my sister was in love with it and I have to agree it is much much better. The new version look very pretty and all, but the old version isnt far behind. Production values i would say it is good. You should definitely check it out. YZ is not annoying at all in the old version-very cute and street-smart.

[karened.livejournal.com]

My take was:
- Ziwei in this version is...just not the breathtaking, out-of-the-world beauty I envisioned her to be, after reading the original novel and watching the first screen adaptation. Plus her kissing Er Kang like nobody's business kana killed it for the purist I am.
- Xiao Yan Zi is childish and her behaviour, for sure unacceptable in the royal family, would definitely lose her a lot of points even with commoners.
- Fifth Prince is underused in this drama, at least up till ep 30 or so, where I dropped the drama.
- Benjamin annoys me by stealing screentime from Fifth Prince (I wouldn't have mind if that screentime was used on Er Tai HAHAHAH), by being a flat character, and by being so very out of place in the palace, going everywhere with the royalties like he's truly part of them. I understand that it is the actor's first acting job, but....it doesn't help when all Benjamin-the-character is able to emote is a blank look and a silly smile. It is bright, but it does wear off after some time (especially when Benjamin is ALWAYS on screen, perhaps at last 40% of each episode).
- Er Tai is always my fav character, even in the first adaptation. Now, if only Qiong Yao's idea of rejuvenating the story didn't involve bringing in a new love rival in Benjamin. She could have made Er Tai a stronger love rival, instead of the old one who gave away without a tough fight.

PHEW, a long rant. Hope you didn't mind.

[dangermousie.livejournal.com]

I think of this drama as 'period cdrama does weekend family kdrama'. Which probably explains why I ff a lot.

[thinking-lotus.livejournal.com]

I would probably wear that archery outfit. Very Versace ♥

[dangermousie.livejournal.com]

LOLOLOL

[kainee.livejournal.com]

I'm the same way as you. I get very picky with hyper characters as well as production values. It's either a certain level or their needs to be something campy in quality to excuse the lack of production values that still works. I think this is why sometimes Jdramas (and some TWdramas if they're too anime-influenced) are such a miss because it's so easy for them to be overacted to the point where I find them obnoxious. Although if it's to the point where it takes refuge in audacity, it can cross the point of no return and become entertaining for me. Kind of how the live action Sailor Moon worked out for me and why I think I would also like Garo.

I saw the first HZGG and I doubt I'd like the remake with all its "improvements."

[dangermousie.livejournal.com]

Garo = love. Totally recced.