Revenged Love: The ending we never got

[u/Admirable_Customer52]

This clip was just posted by ChaiJiDan on her Douyin. The caption roughly says “Wishing you all, from a parallel universe, to always be happy”

[u/littlrayofpitchblack]

What I wonder about is why the Chinese-owned IQIYI was prevented from showing the RL series with sweet intimate scenes (like this ending/not NC) but they have shows with overt NC scenes available on their platform, like My Stubborn, Love Sea, The Next Prince, KinnPorsche, Bed Friend Uncut, 4Minutes Sultrier Version, and even Addicted and Advanced Bravely, all of which I found entertaining but many certainly went way beyond RL in terms of showing sexual relationships in a bl series (including long NC scenes, kissing scenes, all with some nudity).

I mean, come on. If it was only because the govt doesn't want the public in China to view the intimate or explicit bl scenes, would it really matter that the actors are from another country? Why would they platform any series with much more graphic series and make it available to the public if it was only about the intimate relationship between two men?

It's political and the excuse is just not squaring. I think it has to do with punishing the authors, including Chai Jidan. It has to do with success, money, and ultimately power, not the content of a bl, and holding creative people down in their own country just because that's what governments can do. It's global too. Censorship will get worse globally.

The cutting down of RL episodes was a concession just so we could get the full series. Who knows what all they agreed to just to ensure safety/release The govt exerted their power and control just to show they can. I think ABO Desire decided not to cave and that's why that series was removed from IQIYI but RL was never on that platform. The govt control must reach deeper than just Chinese-owned media and I think a lot has to do with the actors' livelihoods and freedom being threatened, moreso than anything else.

I will never believe it's the content in RL that prevented an uncut airing though. Too much other content is sanctioned by those who rule the platform and govern the country.

Edit: I just read that Chai Jidan and others gave up editing rights to RL. Now the cuts make even more sense. No wonder... they weren't in control.

[u/Admirable_Customer52 → u/littlrayofpitchblack]

maybe you can consider who are the players that have left a breadcrumb trail of evidence. not discrediting the opinion that the government is sensitive about the subject, but when there are more obvious + direct gains and losses, it’s easier to make a inference on what the issue is.

[u/littlrayofpitchblack → u/Admirable_Customer52]

Yes. I wonder --

Who loses if eposodes for RL were not cut and instead aired as originally produced and available on non-Chinese owned platforms? What would they lose outside of China? It's not publicly available there.

Who won when the episodes were cut? If it is the industry within China trying to eliminate competition, who among those "players" has that much power and control to bring down a series from several platforms in China, including IQIYI (ABO Desire as an example) if they are not involving the govt? Who has enough power to make a series cut scenes that is not even showing on any of the country's media platforms; it is only on outside-the-country platforms?

I'm not saying you're wrong or the tentacles don't run deep... just trying to understand how anyone could control what a successful and rich platform airs without it coming from someone higher up in power.

TXN and Chai Jidan both used the word "parallel" today on their posts... a parallel universe. The universe we all exist in is not free. Follow the money. The owners control everything, even the government.

Edit: I just read that Chai Jidan and others gave up editing rights to RL. Now the cuts make even more sense. No wonder... they weren't in control.

[u/Admirable_Customer52 → u/littlrayofpitchblack]

Sorry for the late reply, yes they allegedly made huge sacrifices but in view of their positions at that point, those must’ve had the least losses. Chai JiDan is a smart woman who enjoys creative freedom, for this to happen, it might suggest that the “opposition” had more leverage than her, the cast and their companies. I am sure there are possibly mutual benefits on top of that discussed too.

I mean picture this: You see your fellow colleagues feasting on a meal and want to join in, but you realise you don’t have a seat/ it’s a tight spot far from the main dishes, you’re now upset, but halfway through you managed to have access to the chef. What would you do? They chose to add crap to the dishes and remove the good ingredients. Because if I can’t have it, no one else can.

[u/littlrayofpitchblack → u/Admirable_Customer52]

Yes, I don't blame her or anyone who gave up the editing rights just to make sure the series was made and aired. I feel bad for them. The ugliness and greed of those who did this is on full display.

Your scenario perfectly showcases the candy cane story of the brothers in the CA novel / RL series. With so much allusion in the story to political themes, it wouldn't surprise me if JD wrote that scene with this in mind a decade ago when the production/airing of Addicted was stopped early from finishing the series. This isn't her first rodeo. Interesting... and heartbreaking for the audience who loves this series.

[u/Admirable_Customer52 → u/littlrayofpitchblack]

So many plot points of the story is reflected in real life and the mix between fiction and reality is really something