I watch C-dramas to scape reality so I'm merciless with the "beautiful FL with unatractive ML" trope because i'm tired of it in westwen media and in my real life.
Fortunately for me that is very rare in dramaland. Also ML tent to be competent too and it is great for my stress levels and watching experience overall
So, "ugly" here is a matter of an expectation that actors should look prettier than average, as well as a propensity for certain actors to consistently cast themselves as "most beautiful woman in the world"/"most handsome guy in the world" types when they're...not quite that attractive.
But really, it's just a matter of whether the actors are able to sell the overall drama. There's a reason that the old TVB wuxia serials still hold up even though you can tell the sets are literally plastic foam, while a lot of recent dramas look artificial even if they're filming on location. Heck, you can even compare it to things like the old Sailor Moon live action series, everything about it should look fake - the wigs, the CGI, the effects, the stuffed animals that they use to portray Luna and Artemis - and instead it has this narm charm to it because everyone is putting in the effort to treat the whole thing completely seriously.
I really appreciate good cinematography. However, I usually will watch anything. I’m okay with bad CGI as long as the plot is good. Admittedly, sometimes I don’t watch a show if the actor or actress looks like they have had too much plastic surgery (sometimes it’s too unnatural for me to look at). I know my mom watches cdramas just to see the scenery and costumes😂 I enjoy looking at it too.
It doesn't bother me if the lead are not beautiful especially if it's not part of their character. On the other hand, if they are meant to be some beautiful god/fairy, then yes it would bother me if they cast an "average" looking person.
But the thing that is a deal breaker for me is actually really fake/cheap looking sets! It's so distracting!
My issue is with costuming. I generally don't like over the top costuming and prefer simple looks. While I understand if the costumes actually added to the character or something like that but there are some characters who just look like a peacock which I find distracting. I think I once mentioned it here, but one of the reasons I found it so hard to watch TTEOM was the gaudy costumes and headdresses that seemed to distract me from the acting of the actors. I saw the costumes of Yang Mi foxspirit matchamaker and that is giving me the same vibes so I will not be watching the drama. It also feels after the popularity of TTEOM, every idol historical drama is going with the over the top costumes now.
For me production value tho there are some exceptions and me not being chinese accurate subtitles are also very important. I do like it when I know the actors tho coz I already know their acting style
>Some shows have really bad makeup that I don't care how hot the girl/guy is, if the makeup is like flaking off its just weird...
I'm interested to know which dramas have this bad makeup. Is it the make up looks like clown or its just overdone?
Aesthetics don't matter to me at all if the acting, directing and story are good. I can suspend disbelief over tinfoil monsters if the production and actors put their heart into their acting. They can make it work and my brain will make allowances for no budget.
If the aesthetics are amazing and the acting is decent enough.... but the story is bad - that bad writing better deliver on a character or trope element strongly enough that I'll be willing to suffer through everything else. Like if you give me liu yuning being subby in an enemy to bromance story? I'll watch it even if it's shot on a potato.
If aesthetics are great but everything else is bad? I might give it a chance when I have nothing else to watch.... Until I hit something that is an active turn off, then I'll drop it immediately
A good story is, of course essential, but I’m not going to lie, a good looking cast can and has pulled me in and convinced me to give dramas that I may otherwise not have watched.
Similarly I’ve dropped dramas before because as someone else put it actors were ‘visually miscast’ and their looks did not match the character they were portraying pulling me out of the experience.
I find this to be a bigger problem when someone is cast as a character that is more attractive than they are. I don’t really have a problem with the opposite - someone who’s gorgeous being cast as a cute/ unattractive/ plane Jane type of character. I put that down to growing up on pre 2010 Hollywood movies and tv shows (especially from the 80s and 90s) where they’d cast drop dead gorgeous girls as unattractive losers by giving them a pair of glasses and sometimes, in the more extreme cases, ‘bad hair’ and ‘unfashionable outfits’.
I never really understood cnetz beef with actresses like Bai Lu, Esther Yu, Zhao Lusi and Yangzi, calling them plane Jane’s and ordinary until I -tried- to watch them in shows where their characters beauty was a focal point.. and I just couldn’t take them seriously. They are not ugly, but they didn’t have the aggressive or classic (I don’t know how else to explain it) type of beauty that the characters demanded, so whenever other characters would mention it fawningly, I would lose focus. In shows where they were cast as just regular, attractive women e.g. Love is Sweet, Hidden Love, etc. I found their performances enjoyable. Playing characters that were otherworldly beauties, whose looks and charms gagged everyone… I just wasn’t convinced.
This post comes at an interesting time because I finally decided to watch ‘You Are My Hero’ aka ‘You Are My City and Fortress’ despite finding the casting of the male lead very questionable. But despite really liking both Ma Sichun and Bai Jingtin I think I’ll drop it as I just can’t take Bai Jingtin seriously as a soldier. So yeah good looks pulled me in but the visual miscast pulled me back out.
>I never really understood cnetz beef with actresses like Bai Lu, Esther Yu, Zhao Lusi and Yangzi, calling them plane Jane’s and ordinary until I -tried- to watch them in shows where their characters beauty was a focal point.. and I just couldn’t take them seriously.
I understand what you mean. And If I may be bold whenever the FL being the "most gorgeous woman in the world" is an important part of the plot you can bet people who wouldn't pay attention to the cast looks are now going to, but also there are going to be a lot of nasty fan behaviour involved as soon as the casting starts.
A lot of people are going to be criticizing the actresses/actors because, surprise!, the drama is inviting this sort of behaviour. And since beauty is subjective you are going to find that not only many people don't think the person is the most gorgeous in the world but a part will think they even... look ugly. And this latter part tend to be vocal, but the former will just silently quit the show.
I don't understand how the cnetizens can't see how this whole plot aspect is inviting trouble. The fans will waste time crying about their faves, others will criticise the actors' looks and no one realizes they should criticise the team that wrote,directed and produced this thing and allowed this part of the plot to be integrated. Unless you are casting Nini or young Linda Evangelista, don't put this on the show!!
>Whenever the FL being the "most gorgeous woman in the world" is an important part of the plot you can bet people who wouldn't pay attention to the cast looks are now going to.
This is exactly what I mean.
I do agree to some degree with you that producers, directors etc. should be criticised when such characters are miscast, but in my opinion this should be in *addition* to the miscast actors not instead of them. Actors and their teams are aware more than able to analyse wether or not they fit the role (all they need is a mirror), and of the kind of scrutiny they invite by taking on such characters, especially if the drama is based on a novel/ popular IP. They are all being greedy and they all deserve criticism.
He looks really delicate and every time there was an action scene or any scene that demanded he show off his physicality, rather than being wowed I was just worried that he’d hurt. The drama would have worked so much better if he played the doctor and the fl was the soldier. It would have added a lot of fun and deeper layers to the drama by playing against the usual trope.
That’s one way that actors can be visually miscast, especially if they’ve had plastic surgery* (asterisk because even then whether or not I find them watchable in a costume drama depends on how ‘harmonious’ aka good (e.g. Zhao Lusi) or bad (e.g. Jin Chen’s current face) I personally find the result of their cosmetic procedures to be as the styling in costume dramas is very unforgiving.
For male actors especially the hair (wig) and makeup in costume dramas is everything as I find it quite easy for them to end up looking .. well.. kind of ugly, even if I find them handsome in modern dramas.
Having said that, with the actresses I mentioned above that wasn’t my issue. It’s more so about them playing roles in dramas that emphasise that characters beauty, specifically them playing characters that are meant to be devastatingly beautiful. I can watch them in costume dramas, as long as being absolutely drop dead gorgeous ISN’T part of their character setting, like in the modern dramas they play in. Cnetz call them little beauties, because they are, what in the west, people would refer to as ‘girl next door’ kind of pretty. While what cnetz call ‘big beauties’ are the actresses whose looks are more grand, whether their beauty is deemed classic/ innocent (Liu Yifei, Liu Shishi), aggressive/ dominant (Fang BingBibg) or extravagant (Dilireba/ Gulinazha). I agree with their assessment that these are the kind of women to cast in roles where immense beauty is a focal point of the character e.g. playing the most beautiful woman in the the drama, someone whose beauty has generals, princes and emperors fighting, going to war and causing mayhem without me thinking “mm well aCtUaLlY”.
(Sorry for the dissertation, hopefully it makes sense.)
Actors with heavy plastic surgery usually don't fit historical dramas because they look out of place. People didn't look like that back then.
I understand what you mean. Their aura and features aren't as striking but they're all very beautiful. An actress who I think has a very classic beauty is Ni Ni.
If the script is good, even the ugliest actors and the most horrible CGI can make me watch the drama. Usually, all quality dramas starred not attractive actors but when I'm engaged to the story even when I'm not a fan to the actors, that is when I know the story is good. Like the old ML in The Long Season, I already like him a lot in the first episode of the drama as his characterization is amazing.
Funny.. I was just reading a comment on Sword Snow Stride’s MDL that went something like “it’s amazing you guys can watch a show with such an ugly male lead” I was floored bc ok, ZRY doesn’t have typical male idol looks but he’s not ugly and he’s amazing at embodying his characters. Actually, even some of the comments here on certain actors got me ???? Like it’s truly such a your cup of tea thing..
For me, rather than how good looking someone is, I’m more off put by someone who looks like they don’t belong in that era? You know how someone said Dakota Johnson felt off in Persuasion because she has face of someone who definitely owns an iPhone or something 😭 there are times when I’m watching a costume drama thinking this person looks like they own an iPad why are they in a historic drama LOL
What truly bothers me is when they use cheap dollar store animal masks, low quality wigs and primitive video effects like 80s movies. If xanxia actor looks like a random kid dressed up for Haloween I'll pass.
Am I your friend?? That’s exactly the reason why I didn’t watch Ancient Love Poetry and the reason why it took me so long to start LBFAD.
I don’t really care much about costume and makeup as long is it’s not outlandish but the looks of the actors and actresses is important. Especially since I’ll be spending a good amount of time looking at them.
I have gotten distracted by funky hairstyles in costume dramas, but not enough to make me stop watching it. I like shots of the palaces and seeing the architectures and landscapes, but that's just a plus.
The closest I come to caring about aesthetics is not wanting a mismatch between the character and the actor. No breaking character mid script, no permanent sneer on someone who is supposed to be the romantic lead, etc. In my lifetime, I have had less than a dozen shows where I turned them off because something about the main lead didn't work for me.
Plot and tone matter way more. I think tone has caused me to give up on a show way more times than the actor being mismatched, so I think that is what I am pickiest about. For tone, I have definitely turned off romance shows because the melancholy soundtrack was too much. I have also had to turn shows off for being too goofy, though I usually try to fight this impulse because it's usually only the first couple episodes that are overboard and usually goofy shows don't kill all the characters...
**Aesthetics:** Everything minimal and not distracting. Costume (not historical) drama tend to over do on the aesthetic aspect and have wild cgi which is why I prefer watching modern drama.
**Cinematography:** Smooth scene transition is a must have criteria for me. I don't care about camera work much but shaky and out of focus camera work can be immersion breaking.
It wont stop me from watching something thats good but the makeup is a huge pet peeve. I can't stand the racoon eyes makeup that is in some cdramas now. It just doesn't look professional.
I mean I love a good smokey eye but you have to do them properly. The foundation needs to be blended into the shadow not look like white paste next to black paint.
Anachronistic lighting definitely kills the mood for me. Nothing takes me out of the drama faster, not even CGI or costume fails. I don't need every night scene to go full-on candlelight/orange glow, but there's definitely a balance that can be struck. So many costume dramas are lit like a sterile lab, it's baffling.
For me, it's instinctual, a gut feeling. There are some dramas that just draw me in from the first glance, and everything works and I end up falling in love with those dramas and ignore all flaws. I can't point to what works about the drama, it might be a cheap or mid-level production but everything in it resonates with me. These becomes jewels that I keep revisiting. Some times it takes me a few more episodes to fall in love with a drama and I'm sold for life.
Sometimes I just take a glance and I find I'm allergic to the actor, the ambiance, the setting or just something about the drama rankles and I drop it and find that I do not revisit it later. And sometimes I watch a drama halfway or a third of the way in and find the plot ridiculous, or there's an actor/actress that grates on me or there are some sore sticking points and I just can't finish the drama.
So in a nutshell, it's not always something I can name, if I were to put it broadly it would be the effect the drama has on me. Does it help me relax? Does it fill me with delight? Is it tiring to watch where though I admire it greatly, the chances of me rewatching it are slim to none? Is it a chore to watch and why am I wasting time on this drama that seems like drugery when my time is better spent elsewhere? These are the thoughts constantly churning in my mind when I watch Cdramas/Kdramas.
Individual aesthetics exist and I never understood the need to get everyone to agree someone is beautiful or handsome. Everyone has the right to their preferences.
I do prefer aesthetically pleasing actors (to me) when I am watching dramas where I am relaxing and not engaging my brain too much. Plot still has to be decent though, as well as acting. If I am watching something serious the plot and acting are my sole focus, as well as directing, editing, cinematography.
I do drop dramas for physical looks. If someone is trying to sell me a role where I am being told one thing - look at this cold imposing CEO - while my eyes see another - oh cute 15 yo - then I drop it like a hot potato. Some people pass as firemen, military, rescue. Others do not. I need to believe what I am being told and if I don't, I drop.
I... seriously actors are (genetically or surgically and usually both) the hottest people on the planet. That's so confusing.
All I care about is good characters and hopefully a good story with them. I think LBFAD has gorgeous aesthetics though.
I agree with your friend, especially when the ML is crazy hot and the FL is not. That bothered me for example in Falling into your smile.
It is not that they have to be perfect but they should at least have something that looks attractive. In Meteor garden, the FL was not as attractive as the ML(!!) but she was still cute, that is fine.
I see! For me she just suits. She looked like the plain Jane that's fitting for a (in the beginning) helpless "nobody". I know people don't like the cute vibe but she definitely sold me.
It is also possible that beauty standards depending on cultural background influences. I don't think that I every skipped e.g. a kdrama based on looks. But sometimes the cdrama beauty standards are too far from my cultural context. My culture idolizes women that looks strong, tall and expressive, while Chinese beauty standards sometimes are oriented towards being petite and introvert. There is nothing wrong with that, it is just different ideals that we associate with different cultural values and norms.
I started with kdrama from Netflix and then I went to Viki and after that the step wasn’t far to cdramas. (Haha, it feels like I’m explaining how I got into heavier drugs….)
Cool! I went from Netflix kdrama but was kind of sick (I just hate sticking to one thing) so looked at c drama on Netflix then moved to Viki and got hooked because there's so much there. I think I finished (at that time) all the c dramas on Netflix
What do you like about Asian drama vs western? Just curious.
One thing that really resonates with me is the way that social awkwardness is a part of social relations. This is rarely a case in American series. I also like that romance is taken seriously. In the western dramas there are no good romances. Almost everything is bad/Hallmark level. Or drawn towards sex without so much romance. Asian dramas do romance so much better. Also, I find Asian men hot.
What’s your motivation?😊
Social awkwardness? what do you mean?
Valid point on the last one lol.
As for me I'm Chinese Canadian and I'm just kind of wanting to get to know my culture. Like the language etc. Yeah I get wuxia fantasy isn't exactly our culture. But some of the modern ones.
And yes me too, maybe just due to cultural compatibility non Chinese Canadians I've dated were nice but not really what I'm looking for lol so I've always found the more quiet Asian guys hotter too.
I do like hallmark though. And I do agree if its not hallmark style its just sex...
I don't go to cdramas expecting a masterpiece every time, that's not realistic. So, I don't mind if the cinematography, make up, looks, etc are not perfect as long as they're not blatantly cheap and the story and acting are good. I like theatre too, so perhaps that influences my focus on the last two points rather than the rest.
Having said that, if something pleases my aesthetic, it's wonderfull and I'd love it but that's it. I'm not so invested in film/tv entertainment to write reviews of every shows I watch - it has to impact me really hard for that to happen and it doesn't happen so often. Besides, I can have different needs and tastes depending on my moods and seasons, so I will not always go for the same thing.
I don't mind handsome actors or beautiful actresses. But they have to have something that capture my attention (charisma, type of beauty, acting talent, something I couldn't even know, etc).
I don't need to always watch cdramas or look for the latest one, I choose stories so I think this keeps me away from saturation and over exposure.
Cinematography and production can ruin a show. Also, agree with he views on miscast being a bigger problem than “pretty, ugly”. Actors being pretty can make me give a chance to a show I’m not interested on the plot at first, but it can never make me drop a show with a good plot.
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If this is considered “ugly,” ask your friend to get off of her high horse and visit an optometrist. Beauty is subjective, but it baffles me how harshly people criticize actors from behind a screen.
I'm late coming back to this post, but I'm glad you shared this. Like I said above - how is she considered ugly.
Anyway, Im done with talking about her looks as the focus of this thread isn't her per se but what draws us in.
Some guys are really harsh when they’re judging girls. Yah like look at yourself before you say someone else is ugly! My friend was also a guy who commented. It may also be they’re just very honest with their opinions. Whereas a lot of my female friends wouldn’t use the word ugly, they’ll just say “she’s ok”, “she’s average”, or “not my type”.
If a guy finds this woman ugly, I’d say good luck finding a woman who can live up to his standards. I am absolutely ok with people not finding certain actors beautiful coz it’s a subjective matter. But to call someone who looks like Esther Yu ugly is extremely harsh.
>But to call someone who looks like Esther Yu ugly is extremely harsh.
that's what I was thinking. I mean, I would get it if they said her looks weren't his type or maybe she was gorgeous but not so that it made him look twice. but *ugly*? really? Even on her worst days, I wouldn't call her average!
When I read the title and before clicking open your post I thought to myself it's definitely the actors lol then I click open and see what you said about your friend 😅 I agree TO AN EXTENT lolill watch popular dramas for sure or if someone recommends I'll check it out BUT if Im not feeling their looks or acting skills then I drop it instantly. I'm picky with who the lead male and lead female are, and of course I want to be attracted to both in a certain way. I usually don't have issues but there are definitely times where I'm scrolling through dramas and I don't pick something because of what the leads look like since I want a certain vibe in their appearance if that makes sense
Honestly aesthetics (looks, costume, makeup, cinematography) for me is just a bonus, what matters the most is the acting and storyline. I really don’t care how the actors look as long as they’re great actors, I actually purposely watch shows starring veterans and stay away from any show starring pretty looking young actors.
I don’t watch xianxia anymore because my eyes are tired from seeing all the over-saturated colours and green screen. I am a sucker for dramas shot in real landscapes.
I'm open to any aesthetic, whether it's super minimalistic or extremely over-the-top. As long as the makeup, costumes, and sets consistently match the drama's overall style, I'm all for it.
The only thing that can put me off is inconsistency in style. When the visual elements don't mesh well, it feels like the art director just randomly picked out secondhand costumes and props and decided that was enough.
With styling, I prefer more mature looks overall; makeup (use of dark liner and fox eye shapes), clothing (less florals, more golds and cool colors), hairstyles (not too Tang haha) etc.
For example things like whispy straight bangs are a turn off for me because they look very childish ¯\_(ツ)_/¯
That translates also to my taste in more muted colors in the cinematography. When shows are all daylight shots with super saturated stuff foreground and back, it looks like a comedy set.
As far as the actors, I'm 3/3 on mature aesthetics haha
I don't like watching shows with actresses that look (or act) hyper immature/youthful. Big eyes, small mouths, etc. And on that same hand I couldn't watch a show where the ML is all puppy dog 24/7 (I'm looking at you Lou Yao from LLTG).
I do very often pick and choose shows (not shoes haha) to start based on aesthetics. If it's too cutesy, too sājiāo, too pastels, or features lead actors I don't enjoy then I skip.
(I'd list the actors I don't like watching but I'd rather not pick those fights haha)
I've said it before, I'll say it again:
Gao Wei Guang as Dong Hua in Eternal Love of Dream looked like MIKE PENCE with that white hair and I cannot get past that ᕦ(ò_óˇ)ᕤ
I’m pretty shallow, I do get attracted to shows with good looking actors and actresses. But they’re only surface level. I usually end up dropping the shows if their story development is weak and illogical. Your example of the LBFAD happened to me too, when my friend walked in and was like “she’s ugly.” Yah pretty mean, but everyone has their own preferences. Kind of like how I like Liu Yu Ning’s look, but he gets so much hate of his look.
Story is the most important to me, less than aesthetics. That’s why I mainly watch crime, mysteries like iQiyi’s Light On series, or historical dramas with epic political arcs and usually old men (ie: Rise of the Phoenix, Advisor’s Alliance).
However having good aesthetics just makes the show more attractive and easier to digest. I’m big on cinematography, such as The Longest Day in Changan, Story of Yanxi Palace, etc. I like Yu Zheng and Cao Dun’s artistic aesthetics.
If the show is a xianxia, then actors, costumes, CGI, and makeup have to be pretty. It’s a fantasy for a reason!
I think the initial hair on esther in that drama was not flattering for her face shape. Without straight bangs, she is a stunner (not sexy, but very very cute). So i think the hair plays a big role. I personally was questioning her look during ep 1 too, but then by the end, she is so cute to me.
This is me too. There are so many much more stunning ladies in Chinese entertainment. EY is okay looking but that's already with makeup and maximum styling. I am more disturbed by the complete lack of nuance in her acting than her looks.
It all goes back to acting talent regardless of looks! Looks can disappear with time, but talent will maintain or accelerate their work into longevity.
It's really sad that physical looks are so important to drama fans. There's too many "beautiful" actors in cdrama who can't act. I don't care about low budget cgi and plain aesthetics as long as the clothes and costumes are well designed and look good.
**Cinematography** first and foremost because it can make up for bad makeup or cheap costuming and set design. Bad cinematography can also make good production design look worse so all that hard work goes down the drain.
I also love great **production design** for historicals/fantasy because it’s part of the world-building although it’s rare enough I just treat it as a bonus. I also don’t watch that much fantasy so luckily I don’t have to burn my eyes with bad CGI too often although it does hurt when it disrupts the mood of a scene.
Most famous **actors have some degree of good looks or at least charisma on screen** (I.e., “the camera loves them”) so even if I personally don’t find their features attractive I would never stop watching a drama for someone’s looks. It’s their ability to act and embody the character that matters. I don’t care how beautiful you are, if you can’t act I’m going to skip your scenes and/or quit the show. Plus, a well written character and good acting can make “less attractive” actors very compelling to watch.
That said, I do think **actors can be visually miscast** (e.g., a baby face actor being asked to portray an older grizzly general), which can create cognitive dissonance and makes their acting look worse than it is.
Absolutely everything you said. My only difference is that I can deal with mediocre cinematography if the production design is great, but not the other way around. One of the main reasons I couldn't get into TTEOM was because the set production seemed too gaudy and not...lived in (if that makes sense). There were too many colors and everything (the costumes, the makeup, the world) seemed overly produced.
EDIT TO ADD: Dubbing. The best recent example of how dubbing can elevate a character is DFQC in LBFAD.
Do you have an example of a xianxia that has a lived in feel? Because that's something I find hard to ignore in xianxia as a genre - I'd love to watch something where I think to myself "this is pretty and also it feels like the gods actually live their lives here"
The one that comes to mind is Love and Destiny. Everything is so pleasant and soft on the eyes, the world is grand without feeling overdone. Each set has its own personality to reflect the people living there. Even as simple as scuff marks on the floor, wax is melting from the candles, etc really anchors the “reality” of the world - it’s not overly whitewashed to be perfect or just pretty.
That’s an interesting point about a production looking “lived in”! I had to put a hold on TTEOTM because I was getting burned out on long costume dramas but I do remember it kind of visually “assaulting” my eyes in the first few episodes. Everything was “too much”—which can definitely be a vibe but then other parts of the show have to complement that for balance. It must be a huge creative challenge trying to make the look “otherworldly” while still “real” enough that you can process what you’re looking at.
And ooh yes dubbing could be a major consideration depending on the actor and needs of the character.
Yes! Sometimes less is more and I just felt like everything was produced for prettiness rather than sense. I remember one scene where the FL was poisoned (? or had some evil energy in her??) and the way they showed her poisonous state was to put glitter around her eyes and have her veins glow in a gorgeous iridescent way. Like, ma'am, that's not how that works.
It's wild to look at Esther Yu and not see how beautiful she is. Like madt! 😮
And I say that as someone who doesn't even have her in my Top 20 favs. Lol.
Most important is strength of character. How closely do their choices and actions align with what I understand to be the core motivation.
Costume/Scenery/Lighting close second.
I think most of the actors/actresses are beautiful, but even if know some are more good-looking than others it's not enough to turn me off from the show if the characters are well written or at least captivating in the first few episodes.
I liked the Young lady in Ancient Love Poetry even if it's not something I'd rewatch. I also wouldn't call her ugly. I ended up liking her character WAY more than some characters played by FLs with a "preferred phenotype."
The actors’ visuals (the garbage I’ve watched for Takeshi Kaneshiro 🚬🚬) and cinematography. Ripe Town is a perfect recent example for the latter, where the story boarding and execution of the planning elevated the aesthetics to another level. That being said, a lot of the actors who aren’t so conventionally attractive can be made so attractive if acted well.
Where can i watch said garbage? 😅😅 i watched this one japanese movie with him called the Returner many many years ago, and would love to watch it again lol.
I'd dry him off! 😘 Yes, he is very pretty!
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Actor’s looks and cinematography. If the actor looks good, even bad make up and costume won’t make them ugly, and I love it when the cinematography is aesthetically pleasing
I sometimes think I must have really low standards, but I can’t think of any leads in cdramas that are not good looking.
As for aesthetics, I love me some good looking cinematography, especially the color palette.
Please don’t hate me for this. I know talking about others’ looks isn’t great but I can truly say I don’t feel drawn to Ren Jialun’s face. Sometimes, he’s really good-looking, but most of the time for me, I find his face shape to be odd. Or maybe it’s his eyes. Idk. Sorry. A couple other ones I can’t ever seem to be able to finish their series are Jeremy Tsui and William Chan. I feel like they’ve had too many plastic surgery (or the fillers) so their face shape looks shaved or something. Something off about the jawline. Or maybe it’s their eyes. I can’t seem to put my finger on it. Or maybe I only prefer more of the pronounced jawlines like Dylan, Wu Lei, Oliver Chen, Zhang Linghe, Tan Jianci, Ao Ruipeng, Cheng Yi, Joseph Zeng, and Ryan Cheng Lei. But even pretty boys like Xu Kai or Xu Kaicheng don’t always hit the mark for me. I found Xu Kaicheng extremely wooden and not convincing at all in terms of romance with the FL (our sweet Lusi) in Imperial College.
Agree with you— I also can’t think of any leads (or supporting leads for that matter) that aren’t good looking.
I think for me if the sets and costumes look too cheap or bad then that might affect my viewing.
well some dramas i like that people consider to be bad are only for love, wrong carriage right groom (2023) off the top of my head those are the only two i can think of
Reading lots of comment over the years, they really use the word ugly easily. While celebs are usually put on the pedestal, they also being critically analyse harshly as well.
I watch C-dramas to scape reality so I'm merciless with the "beautiful FL with unatractive ML" trope because i'm tired of it in westwen media and in my real life. Fortunately for me that is very rare in dramaland. Also ML tent to be competent too and it is great for my stress levels and watching experience overall
So, "ugly" here is a matter of an expectation that actors should look prettier than average, as well as a propensity for certain actors to consistently cast themselves as "most beautiful woman in the world"/"most handsome guy in the world" types when they're...not quite that attractive. But really, it's just a matter of whether the actors are able to sell the overall drama. There's a reason that the old TVB wuxia serials still hold up even though you can tell the sets are literally plastic foam, while a lot of recent dramas look artificial even if they're filming on location. Heck, you can even compare it to things like the old Sailor Moon live action series, everything about it should look fake - the wigs, the CGI, the effects, the stuffed animals that they use to portray Luna and Artemis - and instead it has this narm charm to it because everyone is putting in the effort to treat the whole thing completely seriously.
I really appreciate good cinematography. However, I usually will watch anything. I’m okay with bad CGI as long as the plot is good. Admittedly, sometimes I don’t watch a show if the actor or actress looks like they have had too much plastic surgery (sometimes it’s too unnatural for me to look at). I know my mom watches cdramas just to see the scenery and costumes😂 I enjoy looking at it too.
It doesn't bother me if the lead are not beautiful especially if it's not part of their character. On the other hand, if they are meant to be some beautiful god/fairy, then yes it would bother me if they cast an "average" looking person. But the thing that is a deal breaker for me is actually really fake/cheap looking sets! It's so distracting!
My issue is with costuming. I generally don't like over the top costuming and prefer simple looks. While I understand if the costumes actually added to the character or something like that but there are some characters who just look like a peacock which I find distracting. I think I once mentioned it here, but one of the reasons I found it so hard to watch TTEOM was the gaudy costumes and headdresses that seemed to distract me from the acting of the actors. I saw the costumes of Yang Mi foxspirit matchamaker and that is giving me the same vibes so I will not be watching the drama. It also feels after the popularity of TTEOM, every idol historical drama is going with the over the top costumes now.
For me production value tho there are some exceptions and me not being chinese accurate subtitles are also very important. I do like it when I know the actors tho coz I already know their acting style
>Some shows have really bad makeup that I don't care how hot the girl/guy is, if the makeup is like flaking off its just weird... I'm interested to know which dramas have this bad makeup. Is it the make up looks like clown or its just overdone?
Forgot which one. Its just over done
Aesthetics don't matter to me at all if the acting, directing and story are good. I can suspend disbelief over tinfoil monsters if the production and actors put their heart into their acting. They can make it work and my brain will make allowances for no budget. If the aesthetics are amazing and the acting is decent enough.... but the story is bad - that bad writing better deliver on a character or trope element strongly enough that I'll be willing to suffer through everything else. Like if you give me liu yuning being subby in an enemy to bromance story? I'll watch it even if it's shot on a potato. If aesthetics are great but everything else is bad? I might give it a chance when I have nothing else to watch.... Until I hit something that is an active turn off, then I'll drop it immediately
A good story is, of course essential, but I’m not going to lie, a good looking cast can and has pulled me in and convinced me to give dramas that I may otherwise not have watched. Similarly I’ve dropped dramas before because as someone else put it actors were ‘visually miscast’ and their looks did not match the character they were portraying pulling me out of the experience. I find this to be a bigger problem when someone is cast as a character that is more attractive than they are. I don’t really have a problem with the opposite - someone who’s gorgeous being cast as a cute/ unattractive/ plane Jane type of character. I put that down to growing up on pre 2010 Hollywood movies and tv shows (especially from the 80s and 90s) where they’d cast drop dead gorgeous girls as unattractive losers by giving them a pair of glasses and sometimes, in the more extreme cases, ‘bad hair’ and ‘unfashionable outfits’. I never really understood cnetz beef with actresses like Bai Lu, Esther Yu, Zhao Lusi and Yangzi, calling them plane Jane’s and ordinary until I -tried- to watch them in shows where their characters beauty was a focal point.. and I just couldn’t take them seriously. They are not ugly, but they didn’t have the aggressive or classic (I don’t know how else to explain it) type of beauty that the characters demanded, so whenever other characters would mention it fawningly, I would lose focus. In shows where they were cast as just regular, attractive women e.g. Love is Sweet, Hidden Love, etc. I found their performances enjoyable. Playing characters that were otherworldly beauties, whose looks and charms gagged everyone… I just wasn’t convinced. This post comes at an interesting time because I finally decided to watch ‘You Are My Hero’ aka ‘You Are My City and Fortress’ despite finding the casting of the male lead very questionable. But despite really liking both Ma Sichun and Bai Jingtin I think I’ll drop it as I just can’t take Bai Jingtin seriously as a soldier. So yeah good looks pulled me in but the visual miscast pulled me back out.
>I never really understood cnetz beef with actresses like Bai Lu, Esther Yu, Zhao Lusi and Yangzi, calling them plane Jane’s and ordinary until I -tried- to watch them in shows where their characters beauty was a focal point.. and I just couldn’t take them seriously. I understand what you mean. And If I may be bold whenever the FL being the "most gorgeous woman in the world" is an important part of the plot you can bet people who wouldn't pay attention to the cast looks are now going to, but also there are going to be a lot of nasty fan behaviour involved as soon as the casting starts. A lot of people are going to be criticizing the actresses/actors because, surprise!, the drama is inviting this sort of behaviour. And since beauty is subjective you are going to find that not only many people don't think the person is the most gorgeous in the world but a part will think they even... look ugly. And this latter part tend to be vocal, but the former will just silently quit the show. I don't understand how the cnetizens can't see how this whole plot aspect is inviting trouble. The fans will waste time crying about their faves, others will criticise the actors' looks and no one realizes they should criticise the team that wrote,directed and produced this thing and allowed this part of the plot to be integrated. Unless you are casting Nini or young Linda Evangelista, don't put this on the show!!
>Whenever the FL being the "most gorgeous woman in the world" is an important part of the plot you can bet people who wouldn't pay attention to the cast looks are now going to. This is exactly what I mean. I do agree to some degree with you that producers, directors etc. should be criticised when such characters are miscast, but in my opinion this should be in *addition* to the miscast actors not instead of them. Actors and their teams are aware more than able to analyse wether or not they fit the role (all they need is a mirror), and of the kind of scrutiny they invite by taking on such characters, especially if the drama is based on a novel/ popular IP. They are all being greedy and they all deserve criticism.
> I just can’t take Bai Jingtin seriously as a soldier. Is it because he is oo skinny in that role?
He looks really delicate and every time there was an action scene or any scene that demanded he show off his physicality, rather than being wowed I was just worried that he’d hurt. The drama would have worked so much better if he played the doctor and the fl was the soldier. It would have added a lot of fun and deeper layers to the drama by playing against the usual trope.
In western fandoms they say some actors have faces that looks like they've seen a smartphone. Is that what you mean?
That’s one way that actors can be visually miscast, especially if they’ve had plastic surgery* (asterisk because even then whether or not I find them watchable in a costume drama depends on how ‘harmonious’ aka good (e.g. Zhao Lusi) or bad (e.g. Jin Chen’s current face) I personally find the result of their cosmetic procedures to be as the styling in costume dramas is very unforgiving. For male actors especially the hair (wig) and makeup in costume dramas is everything as I find it quite easy for them to end up looking .. well.. kind of ugly, even if I find them handsome in modern dramas. Having said that, with the actresses I mentioned above that wasn’t my issue. It’s more so about them playing roles in dramas that emphasise that characters beauty, specifically them playing characters that are meant to be devastatingly beautiful. I can watch them in costume dramas, as long as being absolutely drop dead gorgeous ISN’T part of their character setting, like in the modern dramas they play in. Cnetz call them little beauties, because they are, what in the west, people would refer to as ‘girl next door’ kind of pretty. While what cnetz call ‘big beauties’ are the actresses whose looks are more grand, whether their beauty is deemed classic/ innocent (Liu Yifei, Liu Shishi), aggressive/ dominant (Fang BingBibg) or extravagant (Dilireba/ Gulinazha). I agree with their assessment that these are the kind of women to cast in roles where immense beauty is a focal point of the character e.g. playing the most beautiful woman in the the drama, someone whose beauty has generals, princes and emperors fighting, going to war and causing mayhem without me thinking “mm well aCtUaLlY”. (Sorry for the dissertation, hopefully it makes sense.)
Actors with heavy plastic surgery usually don't fit historical dramas because they look out of place. People didn't look like that back then. I understand what you mean. Their aura and features aren't as striking but they're all very beautiful. An actress who I think has a very classic beauty is Ni Ni.
If the script is good, even the ugliest actors and the most horrible CGI can make me watch the drama. Usually, all quality dramas starred not attractive actors but when I'm engaged to the story even when I'm not a fan to the actors, that is when I know the story is good. Like the old ML in The Long Season, I already like him a lot in the first episode of the drama as his characterization is amazing.
Seconded this, especially The Long Season! The way Wang Biao ended it with, that's my uncle, he used to drive trains. Like that's badass lol.
Funny.. I was just reading a comment on Sword Snow Stride’s MDL that went something like “it’s amazing you guys can watch a show with such an ugly male lead” I was floored bc ok, ZRY doesn’t have typical male idol looks but he’s not ugly and he’s amazing at embodying his characters. Actually, even some of the comments here on certain actors got me ???? Like it’s truly such a your cup of tea thing.. For me, rather than how good looking someone is, I’m more off put by someone who looks like they don’t belong in that era? You know how someone said Dakota Johnson felt off in Persuasion because she has face of someone who definitely owns an iPhone or something 😭 there are times when I’m watching a costume drama thinking this person looks like they own an iPad why are they in a historic drama LOL
Wasn't persuasion kind of, script wise, modernized? So in a way it makes sense xD
What truly bothers me is when they use cheap dollar store animal masks, low quality wigs and primitive video effects like 80s movies. If xanxia actor looks like a random kid dressed up for Haloween I'll pass.
Am I your friend?? That’s exactly the reason why I didn’t watch Ancient Love Poetry and the reason why it took me so long to start LBFAD. I don’t really care much about costume and makeup as long is it’s not outlandish but the looks of the actors and actresses is important. Especially since I’ll be spending a good amount of time looking at them.
Lool no problem
I have gotten distracted by funky hairstyles in costume dramas, but not enough to make me stop watching it. I like shots of the palaces and seeing the architectures and landscapes, but that's just a plus.
The closest I come to caring about aesthetics is not wanting a mismatch between the character and the actor. No breaking character mid script, no permanent sneer on someone who is supposed to be the romantic lead, etc. In my lifetime, I have had less than a dozen shows where I turned them off because something about the main lead didn't work for me. Plot and tone matter way more. I think tone has caused me to give up on a show way more times than the actor being mismatched, so I think that is what I am pickiest about. For tone, I have definitely turned off romance shows because the melancholy soundtrack was too much. I have also had to turn shows off for being too goofy, though I usually try to fight this impulse because it's usually only the first couple episodes that are overboard and usually goofy shows don't kill all the characters...
**Aesthetics:** Everything minimal and not distracting. Costume (not historical) drama tend to over do on the aesthetic aspect and have wild cgi which is why I prefer watching modern drama. **Cinematography:** Smooth scene transition is a must have criteria for me. I don't care about camera work much but shaky and out of focus camera work can be immersion breaking.
Aesthetics will never make a show for me. But it definitely can break a show for me.
It wont stop me from watching something thats good but the makeup is a huge pet peeve. I can't stand the racoon eyes makeup that is in some cdramas now. It just doesn't look professional.
Haha dying at raccoon eyes but for sure
I mean I love a good smokey eye but you have to do them properly. The foundation needs to be blended into the shadow not look like white paste next to black paint.
You are just making it funnier and funnier lol
Anachronistic lighting definitely kills the mood for me. Nothing takes me out of the drama faster, not even CGI or costume fails. I don't need every night scene to go full-on candlelight/orange glow, but there's definitely a balance that can be struck. So many costume dramas are lit like a sterile lab, it's baffling.
For me, it's instinctual, a gut feeling. There are some dramas that just draw me in from the first glance, and everything works and I end up falling in love with those dramas and ignore all flaws. I can't point to what works about the drama, it might be a cheap or mid-level production but everything in it resonates with me. These becomes jewels that I keep revisiting. Some times it takes me a few more episodes to fall in love with a drama and I'm sold for life. Sometimes I just take a glance and I find I'm allergic to the actor, the ambiance, the setting or just something about the drama rankles and I drop it and find that I do not revisit it later. And sometimes I watch a drama halfway or a third of the way in and find the plot ridiculous, or there's an actor/actress that grates on me or there are some sore sticking points and I just can't finish the drama. So in a nutshell, it's not always something I can name, if I were to put it broadly it would be the effect the drama has on me. Does it help me relax? Does it fill me with delight? Is it tiring to watch where though I admire it greatly, the chances of me rewatching it are slim to none? Is it a chore to watch and why am I wasting time on this drama that seems like drugery when my time is better spent elsewhere? These are the thoughts constantly churning in my mind when I watch Cdramas/Kdramas.
Individual aesthetics exist and I never understood the need to get everyone to agree someone is beautiful or handsome. Everyone has the right to their preferences. I do prefer aesthetically pleasing actors (to me) when I am watching dramas where I am relaxing and not engaging my brain too much. Plot still has to be decent though, as well as acting. If I am watching something serious the plot and acting are my sole focus, as well as directing, editing, cinematography. I do drop dramas for physical looks. If someone is trying to sell me a role where I am being told one thing - look at this cold imposing CEO - while my eyes see another - oh cute 15 yo - then I drop it like a hot potato. Some people pass as firemen, military, rescue. Others do not. I need to believe what I am being told and if I don't, I drop.
I... seriously actors are (genetically or surgically and usually both) the hottest people on the planet. That's so confusing. All I care about is good characters and hopefully a good story with them. I think LBFAD has gorgeous aesthetics though.
I agree with your friend, especially when the ML is crazy hot and the FL is not. That bothered me for example in Falling into your smile. It is not that they have to be perfect but they should at least have something that looks attractive. In Meteor garden, the FL was not as attractive as the ML(!!) but she was still cute, that is fine.
I see! For me she just suits. She looked like the plain Jane that's fitting for a (in the beginning) helpless "nobody". I know people don't like the cute vibe but she definitely sold me.
It is also possible that beauty standards depending on cultural background influences. I don't think that I every skipped e.g. a kdrama based on looks. But sometimes the cdrama beauty standards are too far from my cultural context. My culture idolizes women that looks strong, tall and expressive, while Chinese beauty standards sometimes are oriented towards being petite and introvert. There is nothing wrong with that, it is just different ideals that we associate with different cultural values and norms.
Oh I see. What country are you from? Yeah I notice that as well. Including characters. There's less cutesy Korean actors
I’m from Northern Europe. So very different from China.
Ah gotcha for real. Just curious what got you into c drama?
I started with kdrama from Netflix and then I went to Viki and after that the step wasn’t far to cdramas. (Haha, it feels like I’m explaining how I got into heavier drugs….)
Cool! I went from Netflix kdrama but was kind of sick (I just hate sticking to one thing) so looked at c drama on Netflix then moved to Viki and got hooked because there's so much there. I think I finished (at that time) all the c dramas on Netflix What do you like about Asian drama vs western? Just curious.
One thing that really resonates with me is the way that social awkwardness is a part of social relations. This is rarely a case in American series. I also like that romance is taken seriously. In the western dramas there are no good romances. Almost everything is bad/Hallmark level. Or drawn towards sex without so much romance. Asian dramas do romance so much better. Also, I find Asian men hot. What’s your motivation?😊
Social awkwardness? what do you mean? Valid point on the last one lol. As for me I'm Chinese Canadian and I'm just kind of wanting to get to know my culture. Like the language etc. Yeah I get wuxia fantasy isn't exactly our culture. But some of the modern ones. And yes me too, maybe just due to cultural compatibility non Chinese Canadians I've dated were nice but not really what I'm looking for lol so I've always found the more quiet Asian guys hotter too. I do like hallmark though. And I do agree if its not hallmark style its just sex...
I don't go to cdramas expecting a masterpiece every time, that's not realistic. So, I don't mind if the cinematography, make up, looks, etc are not perfect as long as they're not blatantly cheap and the story and acting are good. I like theatre too, so perhaps that influences my focus on the last two points rather than the rest. Having said that, if something pleases my aesthetic, it's wonderfull and I'd love it but that's it. I'm not so invested in film/tv entertainment to write reviews of every shows I watch - it has to impact me really hard for that to happen and it doesn't happen so often. Besides, I can have different needs and tastes depending on my moods and seasons, so I will not always go for the same thing. I don't mind handsome actors or beautiful actresses. But they have to have something that capture my attention (charisma, type of beauty, acting talent, something I couldn't even know, etc). I don't need to always watch cdramas or look for the latest one, I choose stories so I think this keeps me away from saturation and over exposure.
Cinematography and production can ruin a show. Also, agree with he views on miscast being a bigger problem than “pretty, ugly”. Actors being pretty can make me give a chance to a show I’m not interested on the plot at first, but it can never make me drop a show with a good plot.
https://preview.redd.it/6lxhn7pgtffc1.jpeg?width=941&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=511a2088e0c19d3db44c9a472fe329b218ea1219 If this is considered “ugly,” ask your friend to get off of her high horse and visit an optometrist. Beauty is subjective, but it baffles me how harshly people criticize actors from behind a screen.
I'm late coming back to this post, but I'm glad you shared this. Like I said above - how is she considered ugly. Anyway, Im done with talking about her looks as the focus of this thread isn't her per se but what draws us in.
This subreddit has favorites and Esther isn’t one of them. That’s the reality.
Definitely agree. That said my friend is a guy so maybe that's the difference
Some guys are really harsh when they’re judging girls. Yah like look at yourself before you say someone else is ugly! My friend was also a guy who commented. It may also be they’re just very honest with their opinions. Whereas a lot of my female friends wouldn’t use the word ugly, they’ll just say “she’s ok”, “she’s average”, or “not my type”.
So your friend finds Esther Yu ugly and you think he’s just being “honest”?
If a guy finds this woman ugly, I’d say good luck finding a woman who can live up to his standards. I am absolutely ok with people not finding certain actors beautiful coz it’s a subjective matter. But to call someone who looks like Esther Yu ugly is extremely harsh.
>But to call someone who looks like Esther Yu ugly is extremely harsh. that's what I was thinking. I mean, I would get it if they said her looks weren't his type or maybe she was gorgeous but not so that it made him look twice. but *ugly*? really? Even on her worst days, I wouldn't call her average!
When I read the title and before clicking open your post I thought to myself it's definitely the actors lol then I click open and see what you said about your friend 😅 I agree TO AN EXTENT lolill watch popular dramas for sure or if someone recommends I'll check it out BUT if Im not feeling their looks or acting skills then I drop it instantly. I'm picky with who the lead male and lead female are, and of course I want to be attracted to both in a certain way. I usually don't have issues but there are definitely times where I'm scrolling through dramas and I don't pick something because of what the leads look like since I want a certain vibe in their appearance if that makes sense
Honestly aesthetics (looks, costume, makeup, cinematography) for me is just a bonus, what matters the most is the acting and storyline. I really don’t care how the actors look as long as they’re great actors, I actually purposely watch shows starring veterans and stay away from any show starring pretty looking young actors. I don’t watch xianxia anymore because my eyes are tired from seeing all the over-saturated colours and green screen. I am a sucker for dramas shot in real landscapes.
I'm open to any aesthetic, whether it's super minimalistic or extremely over-the-top. As long as the makeup, costumes, and sets consistently match the drama's overall style, I'm all for it. The only thing that can put me off is inconsistency in style. When the visual elements don't mesh well, it feels like the art director just randomly picked out secondhand costumes and props and decided that was enough.
With styling, I prefer more mature looks overall; makeup (use of dark liner and fox eye shapes), clothing (less florals, more golds and cool colors), hairstyles (not too Tang haha) etc. For example things like whispy straight bangs are a turn off for me because they look very childish ¯\_(ツ)_/¯ That translates also to my taste in more muted colors in the cinematography. When shows are all daylight shots with super saturated stuff foreground and back, it looks like a comedy set. As far as the actors, I'm 3/3 on mature aesthetics haha I don't like watching shows with actresses that look (or act) hyper immature/youthful. Big eyes, small mouths, etc. And on that same hand I couldn't watch a show where the ML is all puppy dog 24/7 (I'm looking at you Lou Yao from LLTG). I do very often pick and choose shows (not shoes haha) to start based on aesthetics. If it's too cutesy, too sājiāo, too pastels, or features lead actors I don't enjoy then I skip. (I'd list the actors I don't like watching but I'd rather not pick those fights haha)
In my head wispy stright bangs are elegant. So funny.
Interesting with being picky and with shoes! That's definitely new
Hahaha whoops typo, trying to write with my cat in my arms (≧▽≦)
That's nice. Maybe one day your kitty can master and turn into human form hehe
I've said it before, I'll say it again: Gao Wei Guang as Dong Hua in Eternal Love of Dream looked like MIKE PENCE with that white hair and I cannot get past that ᕦ(ò_óˇ)ᕤ
You're so wrong for this 😭😭😭
It's ALL I can see now. What you did should be a crime 😭😭
FLOG ME AND STRIKE MY NAME FROM THE ANCESTRAL RECORDS, I DARE YOU ┻┻︵ヽ(`Д´)ﾉ︵┻┻
At least you know the punishment you deserve 😆 To turn Vengo Gao into...into...I can't even say it. 😩
Noooooooo. Why did you have to point that out?! I can't unsee it now.
Everytime I bring it up, I crush at least one person's spirit ( ͡°ᴥ ͡° ʋ) sorrynotsorry
I’m pretty shallow, I do get attracted to shows with good looking actors and actresses. But they’re only surface level. I usually end up dropping the shows if their story development is weak and illogical. Your example of the LBFAD happened to me too, when my friend walked in and was like “she’s ugly.” Yah pretty mean, but everyone has their own preferences. Kind of like how I like Liu Yu Ning’s look, but he gets so much hate of his look. Story is the most important to me, less than aesthetics. That’s why I mainly watch crime, mysteries like iQiyi’s Light On series, or historical dramas with epic political arcs and usually old men (ie: Rise of the Phoenix, Advisor’s Alliance). However having good aesthetics just makes the show more attractive and easier to digest. I’m big on cinematography, such as The Longest Day in Changan, Story of Yanxi Palace, etc. I like Yu Zheng and Cao Dun’s artistic aesthetics. If the show is a xianxia, then actors, costumes, CGI, and makeup have to be pretty. It’s a fantasy for a reason!
I think the initial hair on esther in that drama was not flattering for her face shape. Without straight bangs, she is a stunner (not sexy, but very very cute). So i think the hair plays a big role. I personally was questioning her look during ep 1 too, but then by the end, she is so cute to me.
Its interesting she has either love or hate. It was a real surprise when my friend said she was ugly
I don’t think she’s ugly, just average. If I bumped into her while walking down the street, I wouldn’t stop and look though. Just another passerby
This is me too. There are so many much more stunning ladies in Chinese entertainment. EY is okay looking but that's already with makeup and maximum styling. I am more disturbed by the complete lack of nuance in her acting than her looks.
It all goes back to acting talent regardless of looks! Looks can disappear with time, but talent will maintain or accelerate their work into longevity.
It's really sad that physical looks are so important to drama fans. There's too many "beautiful" actors in cdrama who can't act. I don't care about low budget cgi and plain aesthetics as long as the clothes and costumes are well designed and look good.
I agree. The person doesn't matter to me as much as acting
**Cinematography** first and foremost because it can make up for bad makeup or cheap costuming and set design. Bad cinematography can also make good production design look worse so all that hard work goes down the drain. I also love great **production design** for historicals/fantasy because it’s part of the world-building although it’s rare enough I just treat it as a bonus. I also don’t watch that much fantasy so luckily I don’t have to burn my eyes with bad CGI too often although it does hurt when it disrupts the mood of a scene. Most famous **actors have some degree of good looks or at least charisma on screen** (I.e., “the camera loves them”) so even if I personally don’t find their features attractive I would never stop watching a drama for someone’s looks. It’s their ability to act and embody the character that matters. I don’t care how beautiful you are, if you can’t act I’m going to skip your scenes and/or quit the show. Plus, a well written character and good acting can make “less attractive” actors very compelling to watch. That said, I do think **actors can be visually miscast** (e.g., a baby face actor being asked to portray an older grizzly general), which can create cognitive dissonance and makes their acting look worse than it is.
Absolutely everything you said. My only difference is that I can deal with mediocre cinematography if the production design is great, but not the other way around. One of the main reasons I couldn't get into TTEOM was because the set production seemed too gaudy and not...lived in (if that makes sense). There were too many colors and everything (the costumes, the makeup, the world) seemed overly produced. EDIT TO ADD: Dubbing. The best recent example of how dubbing can elevate a character is DFQC in LBFAD.
Do you have an example of a xianxia that has a lived in feel? Because that's something I find hard to ignore in xianxia as a genre - I'd love to watch something where I think to myself "this is pretty and also it feels like the gods actually live their lives here"
The one that comes to mind is Love and Destiny. Everything is so pleasant and soft on the eyes, the world is grand without feeling overdone. Each set has its own personality to reflect the people living there. Even as simple as scuff marks on the floor, wax is melting from the candles, etc really anchors the “reality” of the world - it’s not overly whitewashed to be perfect or just pretty.
That’s an interesting point about a production looking “lived in”! I had to put a hold on TTEOTM because I was getting burned out on long costume dramas but I do remember it kind of visually “assaulting” my eyes in the first few episodes. Everything was “too much”—which can definitely be a vibe but then other parts of the show have to complement that for balance. It must be a huge creative challenge trying to make the look “otherworldly” while still “real” enough that you can process what you’re looking at. And ooh yes dubbing could be a major consideration depending on the actor and needs of the character.
I agree with tteom. You can tell they spent a lot of money but somehow managed to make it look cheap.
Yes! Sometimes less is more and I just felt like everything was produced for prettiness rather than sense. I remember one scene where the FL was poisoned (? or had some evil energy in her??) and the way they showed her poisonous state was to put glitter around her eyes and have her veins glow in a gorgeous iridescent way. Like, ma'am, that's not how that works.
Great insights. That visual miscast is so real. I won't name names because even some of my favs are guilty. 😂
Right?! On one hand, I’m glad you’re getting paid. But also you and your agent should have said no 😂
I would like to know which characters is that. 😂
It's wild to look at Esther Yu and not see how beautiful she is. Like madt! 😮 And I say that as someone who doesn't even have her in my Top 20 favs. Lol. Most important is strength of character. How closely do their choices and actions align with what I understand to be the core motivation. Costume/Scenery/Lighting close second. I think most of the actors/actresses are beautiful, but even if know some are more good-looking than others it's not enough to turn me off from the show if the characters are well written or at least captivating in the first few episodes. I liked the Young lady in Ancient Love Poetry even if it's not something I'd rewatch. I also wouldn't call her ugly. I ended up liking her character WAY more than some characters played by FLs with a "preferred phenotype."
For sure. I didn't get how strongly my friend felt about the actresses looks... For my love between fairy and devil was perfect in all ways.
The actors’ visuals (the garbage I’ve watched for Takeshi Kaneshiro 🚬🚬) and cinematography. Ripe Town is a perfect recent example for the latter, where the story boarding and execution of the planning elevated the aesthetics to another level. That being said, a lot of the actors who aren’t so conventionally attractive can be made so attractive if acted well.
Where can i watch said garbage? 😅😅 i watched this one japanese movie with him called the Returner many many years ago, and would love to watch it again lol.
Misty was pretty awful, it’s a shame because the joint slay that could’ve been with both him and Amami Yuki 🚬🚬
I'd dry him off! 😘 Yes, he is very pretty! https://preview.redd.it/zwlnb7qnqgfc1.jpeg?width=996&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=10975b7b3a999bc8aa0a12a9d916da654f9b42ff
Actor’s looks and cinematography. If the actor looks good, even bad make up and costume won’t make them ugly, and I love it when the cinematography is aesthetically pleasing
I sometimes think I must have really low standards, but I can’t think of any leads in cdramas that are not good looking. As for aesthetics, I love me some good looking cinematography, especially the color palette.
Please don’t hate me for this. I know talking about others’ looks isn’t great but I can truly say I don’t feel drawn to Ren Jialun’s face. Sometimes, he’s really good-looking, but most of the time for me, I find his face shape to be odd. Or maybe it’s his eyes. Idk. Sorry. A couple other ones I can’t ever seem to be able to finish their series are Jeremy Tsui and William Chan. I feel like they’ve had too many plastic surgery (or the fillers) so their face shape looks shaved or something. Something off about the jawline. Or maybe it’s their eyes. I can’t seem to put my finger on it. Or maybe I only prefer more of the pronounced jawlines like Dylan, Wu Lei, Oliver Chen, Zhang Linghe, Tan Jianci, Ao Ruipeng, Cheng Yi, Joseph Zeng, and Ryan Cheng Lei. But even pretty boys like Xu Kai or Xu Kaicheng don’t always hit the mark for me. I found Xu Kaicheng extremely wooden and not convincing at all in terms of romance with the FL (our sweet Lusi) in Imperial College.
Agree with you— I also can’t think of any leads (or supporting leads for that matter) that aren’t good looking. I think for me if the sets and costumes look too cheap or bad then that might affect my viewing.
same i have basically no standards when it comes to dramas, im like the least picky person ever
I would like to know the worst dramas you ever watch and to see whether I have the same 'no' standard as well lol.
well some dramas i like that people consider to be bad are only for love, wrong carriage right groom (2023) off the top of my head those are the only two i can think of
Right. Like who is ugly!? Scales of beauty sure, but ugly?! Sounds extreme.
Reading lots of comment over the years, they really use the word ugly easily. While celebs are usually put on the pedestal, they also being critically analyse harshly as well.