First of all, I would like to thank this work for unlocking the various aspects of Yu Xi's younger brother in one go. XD
This drama actually has a great theme, I mean, it's about memory, about life, about what "self" is. I always say that in life, all the experiences we encounter, layer upon layer, construct ourselves; I also heard people say that we recognize ourselves through the recognition of others. Memory is the foundation of this ── "I" recognizes "you" based on countless memories, thus proving "myself". The struggle against the loss of memory is to resist the extinction of oneself and pursue "eternal life".
If this story can be well narrated, it should be able to embody these profound themes.
But unfortunately, the language necessary to express this story did not fully clarify the context. Here, the term "language" does not only refer to words and sentences, as this is a film and television work, and what constitutes the work is not purely textual.
At the beginning, this work seemed to have a lot of ambition, with a grand story structure that could almost be divided into parts, but if the length is limited, how to condense and simplify it depends on the creator's cultivation.
In terms of the result, the cutting and selection of materials lacked a detailed structure, and the narrative pace appeared chaotic, making it easy to feel fragmented. The framework is there, but the substance is lacking, the plot outline is known, but the development is not well presented, and the foundation of emotions will be lost. This not only makes the process abrupt, but also fails to accumulate enough depth to settle down, and when it comes to the conclusion, it becomes dragging.
Personally, I think the portrayal of Sheng Lingjiao is the most perfect. The background structure and character setting are concise, and the events are explained clearly, allowing the development of the story to progress step by step. The changes in the characters' emotions can be traced, and they are closely connected to the main storyline on a psychological level, connecting the past and the future. When viewed separately, it can also be a story with a complete beginning and end.
And personally, I like the Qi Guo part the most because Ding Er's portrayal of this character is so cute and charming. XDD
However, this part is unfortunately the most fragmented in the entire drama. The complexity of this story is no less than the encounter between Lu Changkong and Song Xiangyun in the previous part, but the length of the story is completely disproportionate. Not to mention that the relationships between the characters are unclear, the introduction of various basic settings has been omitted, which is not an appropriate treatment for the entire drama; personally, it is not friendly to me ── I want to see more of Ding Er playing the adorable General Chu Kong!! The proportion is too small and I can't get enough of it!! XDD
But still, I have to say that sometimes Ding Er's interpretation is a bit too forceful, especially when portraying lively and outgoing personalities. Perhaps too focused on exploring how to appropriately express the characteristics of the characters, it sometimes appears a bit deliberate. The Chu Kong from thirty thousand years ago had a tendency like this. He seemed playful, but I always felt a hint of unnatural stiffness.
The inner Chu Kong, who is the soul of Xiangyun, also has a similar situation. Although he is truly sweet, he is still closer to "a boy who tries hard to play the role of a tender girl," which makes the persuasiveness of the soul exchange less convincing. Xiangyun is not really fancy, so he shouldn't have such complex body movements. Compared to such "obvious" expressions, the twists and turns of the characters' psychology should be the real challenging problem.
I think Ding Er is capable of handling it. He is good at fitting into the characters' state of mind and expressing subtle emotions. It might be better to return from the outside to the inside and let the scent seep out naturally.
The last scene is a perfect presentation of his professionalism and strengths. Frowning, shedding tears, pursing his lips. A glance that spans thousands of years, no words needed to express the emotions.
I really like this final scene. The visuals are harmonious and beautiful, the actors' expressions are great, and the atmosphere is full, with a lingering charm.
In terms of appearance, I probably still like the Heavenly Realm's Chu Kong Immortal the most, although it's really hard to let go of the super cute little braid General Chu Kong. XD But the Heavenly Realm's Chu Kong is very beautiful, with long flowing hair and a cool appearance, wearing a light and fluttering outer garment, which is especially captivating.
I really like the two outfits of Chu Kong Immortal. One is an asymmetrical dyed dress, which is very stylish in terms of design and color matching. The other one is mostly dark blue. On the drama calendar released by Ding Er's studio, there is an image of him standing gracefully in this outfit, and it reminds me once again: he is my Lucifer. In the drama, sometimes he even looks like Sheng.
I must mention a costume that did not appear in the drama, which is the red dress revealed by the studio on Weibo on August 27th. Although it seems to correspond to the wedding dress of Chu Kong in the drama, the character's temperament is completely different. I think it should be regarded as a completely independent parallel dimension, creating its own situation ── it looks so good. The beauty of that lonely and clear beauty reminds me of my little Dongfang who is deeply rooted in my heart.
Speaking of Dongfang, thanks to this story of the Demon King, Ding Er's voice when portraying the Demon King allows me to slightly imagine Dongfang with his own voice. Although I always feel that the appearance of the Demon King doesn't quite match him. XD The fox demon's appearance seems to be a better match than the Demon King's appearance, but it's too short and not very clear, so it's hard to judge. XD
By the way, I really love Zhu Kong, the tsundere creature is so cute. XD
Also, the actor who played Song Xiangyun's father, the expression of him drinking with his close friend in the drama left a deep impression on me. In just a moment, it touched people's hearts and brought tears to their eyes.
The variety show they did for this drama, "1 Million Promises at 7:00", I had already watched it before finishing the drama, and I have some thoughts, so I'll list them here as well.
Let's start with the short play at the end: although it is mainly a game, the attempt to connect it to the original drama does create a slight feeling of an extra story, and the actors also treated it with care. It can be seen as a kind of Easter egg, expanding the imagination space about the drama. The setting itself is also interesting, changing the time and space to a modern setting, allowing people to catch a glimpse of the actors' collaboration in fashion.
Speaking of which, I found that I seem to slightly prefer Ding Er's fashion style. The top five characters in my mind's eye have not changed, except for Dongfang, the other four are in modern outfits. XD I always thought this boy looks good with his natural appearance, and sometimes his appearance in his own live broadcasts is even more eye-catching than his appearances on stage.
And what I really want to record from this spin-off show is the fragrance that emanates from Yu Xi in those casual conversations. When they were doing the rice planting experience, he said it might be helpful for future acting. During a chat, he expressed his gratitude for the companions who had helped him. When talking about the filming process, his companions directly stated that they witnessed his dedication to work.
These moments, in my opinion, are small but once again affirm the seriousness, gratitude, and thoughtfulness of this boy, which are precious qualities. He is capable of loving others. That's why he is loved.
"7:00" brings out the various aspects of him, and what it brings to him personally is a rich and diverse learning and accumulation. Those are the elements that build his future self. Thank you for every moment we spent together, every little achievement. Everything is auspicious and goes well.