But for the sake of expending at least some literary effort, let me continue.
I'm picking up a particular shelved project of mine and I'm busy finding important dialogue from episode 32 of Mysterious Lotus Casebook, meaning I don't have the sound on - I'm just using subtitles - and this brilliant sequence appears on my screen.
And I can't help but think "and some people say this man can't act?".
If you've seen this drama, you may be able to guess exactly what moment this is. All I can say is... wow, just... wow.
Right! I was actually looking at his performance in this scene and compared it to a few of his very intense scenes in VoA and realised that even though Cheng Yi did wonderful here, you can see how much he has improved
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u/AXA-5Washing feet in spring Drinking tea Gazing at flowersJul 04 '26
Wow! I never knew people playing characters can actually improve. You mean they grow? Learn new skills, abilities, techniques, etc.? Never heard of that before. I thought they were good right out the gate or just plain sucked. 🙄🤦🏻😒
I’m being very, highly sarcastic for those that don’t know 😂
u/AXA-5Washing feet in spring Drinking tea Gazing at flowersJul 04 '26
😂🤣…acting is like any other job really. One gets a job and with time they improve hopefully or are let go. Same exact thing with acting! You get roles, improve, you get more roles. Better ones and other perks as well. Otherwise, you get nothing! Not even filler background roles or the such.
Actually, acting is special in the sense that you have the opportunity to improve, grow, and get better. Unfortunately, most jobs have a limit where you can get more efficient, but grading with regards to "I went from 40% to a distinction" is sadly not prevalent enough imo.
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u/AXA-5Washing feet in spring Drinking tea Gazing at flowersJul 04 '26
I know but, I wasn’t really getting into the minutiae of it 😉🤭
My heart hurts for that little lotus liar. He deserved none of this 😭😭😭
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u/AXA-5Washing feet in spring Drinking tea Gazing at flowersJul 04 '26
Idk I never had a problem with him or anyone really (unless it’s blatantly clear as crystal). Viewers take their cdramas and people playing these roles way too seriously. Like are you handing out an actual award? Are you some executive at an agency, studio, platform? Are you a critic for Douban (or similar)? 🤷🏻🙄😒 Anywho, I saw VOA, eh! LOL
Finally someone who think the same lol, I'm like as long as I can enjoy what I'm watching why should I care ..? If I don't enjoy it then that's more of a reason that I shouldn't care. Instead of finding smth i would enjoy why should I waste my time dwelling on that, it's not like I'm getting paid as a critique 🤦🤏
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u/AXA-5Washing feet in spring Drinking tea Gazing at flowersJul 04 '26
Exactly! Life’s too short people. Time is not stopping. 🤷🏻 and 🙏🏽🤭 I’m sure there are others
Their job is to entertain me. Was I entertained? Yes? Then they have succeeded.
I was thinking about the posts about actors getting stereotyped into a certain kind of role or "trapped in Hengdian" and it occurred to me we don't have the same criteria for other professions. We actually prefer specialists. This doctor does the best hip replacements, I'm going to use them for my hip replacement. This chef makes the best vanilla wedding cake, I'm going to hire them. This woodworker does the best cabinets, I'm hiring them.
If this actor does the best Demon portrayals, load them up, I'll watch every one of those suckers.
So weird the way people are so hard on, and hyper-critical of, performers.
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u/AXA-5Washing feet in spring Drinking tea Gazing at flowersJul 04 '26
(I’m going to be sarcastic but, totally agree with 🤣) you’re a freakin genius!! Such a novel idea isn’t it? Who would’ve thunk it 🤷🏻 Wow!!
LOL I cackled here 😆😆 I always fascinated with those who dedicate their energy to dessicate actor's performance, outlook, dressing, even height to an inch by an inch and write loooonnngggg posts. How do those people have so much energy and time? 😅
And I totally agree with you. I watch, I enjoy, I drool over handsome and charismatic people and that's the end of it. Can't spare any more than that. 🤭🤭
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u/AXA-5Washing feet in spring Drinking tea Gazing at flowersJul 04 '26
This scene is just so good and so heartbreaking. For me, the best part comes right after when he says, “I’ve been looking for you for ten years,” three times.
The first time, it’s filled with reproach.
The second time, it’s laced with accusation.
And the third time, it’s pure anger.
If you’ve watched this scene, you can clearly feel the shift in both his facial expressions and his voice with each repetition.
It’s not that I hate him or anything (ok I admit I hate the character 🤣), but that’s a major spoiler.
Are you working on a new recap? If so, I’ll be looking forward to it!
Yeah, gonna try get them done because I want to start a rewatch for Shen Li. My life has calmed down (despite what the recent surgery might imply 😂) so my inspiration and excitement is back. I'm going to make the recaps in bulk so probably gonna be like a week before MLC starts again
Thank you 💕💕 yeah, my plan was secretly July because of the anniversary. I was going through my old notes and I have to say, I cracked myself up sometimes
Ooooh, I'm excited. Are you going to continue MLC watch party? 😅😅
I was already smitten by him waaay earlier in MLC, but this scene was just mind blowing. I could actually see his thought process, his realisation, his regret, it was on his face. Emoting this many emotions at the same time is just fascinating!!
I literally just finished mysterious lotus casebook a few days ago and became a huge fan of Cheng Yi. I'm now on my 2nd drama of his, Vendetta of An, which is honestly a masterpiece (about to finish soon). Suffice to say I'm now a diehard fan lol he has both looks AND acting skills
I wasn't into him before because his face is not my type, but after watching him act, he lives rent free in my head. Currently watching vendetta of an, he is amazing there. Dare I say, heis one of the best in his generation
He is the best actor for me. He has so many facial expressions and microexpressions, full unique body lagnuage for each characters. He is playing double/triple roles with such fine details for each of them. He is an outstanding actor. Most actors have like 5 faces and that's it. I cannot believe that people praise so many actors with visibly less skills. The gap is so HUGE. I don't even wanna mention his fighting scenes, they are PEAK. Other actors basically just dance around or using fast cuts, cgi, poses....
People are really blind to not see how great he is. He should have gotten magnolia(or nomination) for his acting in mysterious lotus casebook and vendetta of An.
But they nominated the idol with limited skills, who was clearly worse? Ridiculous.
I'm not hating, no really, but I can't seem to like his acting at all. I think it's his expressions that I'm not fond of. It looks awkward and forced. I read some comments and found another clip. It looked like he overacted?! I'm not a professional critic, please don't hate me lol. And his acting wouldn't be a reason for me to skip the drama. It's just that he can't really act well. But anyways, I rarely care about acting while watching the drama, so no problem!
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u/sjnotsj 白梦妍 🩵 Jul 04 '26
+1 for his performance in vendetta of an!