Unexpectedly, the most surprising theme in April turned out to be romance dramas.
I can’t say that the momentum of Chinese dramas has not been strong recently.
However, the most popular " Cheng Huan Ji " is a standard human-led drama, which proves Yang Zi's personal ratings appeal.
Central 1's "City Within a City" has really high ratings, but it is mainly supported by the acting talents of Yu Hewei, Wang Xiao, and Feng Jiayi.
The newly launched "Harbin 1944" is coming with a lot of momentum, and it has the intention of catching up with "The Storm Chaser", but it only once again proves the strong market base of spy war dramas, and the combination of directors Zhang Li + Qin Hao is really good make.
However, this new drama broadcast tonight by CCTV 8 relies on rare domestic funeral themes and heart-warming small town love stories to bring a touch of spring -
"Spring Love ".
Li Xian and Zhou Yutong led the team, with Liu Lin, Fang Fang and Wan Peng assisting.
director Cheng Liang is the ignorant Bai Xiaosheng on Yellow River Road in " Blossoms".
I know what everyone wants to say!
Domestic romance dramas can also be watched? Still cured? Isn't it true that
is suspended, distorted, bloody... all pitfalls?
To be honest, I was so dismissive at first, but after one glance, then two, three glances, from disgust to addiction... I "dazzled" for 3 episodes in one go, and I couldn't stop at all. This is still me. It's the first time this year that I've watched a domestic emotional drama and I'm so hooked. Why is
on top? The reason lies in a few words frequently mentioned by netizens:
is real, natural and not artificial.
allows people to see that the producers are putting their heart into drama. The ratings of
also prove that the audience votes with their feet. It started airing at 8:30 a.m. on the Central Broadcasting System, and it was hit by a wave of shutdowns, but the ratings still exceeded 1, successfully ranking first in the national ratings during the second prime time period.
A small town romance drama adapted from the 9.8 rated novel "Lover" by Shemusi serialized on Douban. Why?
Almost all of the most unspeakable "taboos" in real love have been thoroughly explained in this drama.
1: Entering the drama
After watching many domestic love dramas for the first time, I don’t want to watch them for a second time, because they are all about the boss loving me, I am so poor but I can live in a flat-floor apartment in the city.
"Spring to Love" perfectly avoids many red flags.
At the beginning, well, the most clichéd domestic urban drama is about catching the high-speed train.
I understand, when a beauty is in trouble, the boss appears and a hero saves her. Someone is disrespectful to my beloved concubine? Isn’t buying the entire high-speed rail enough? Is it enough to buy the entire high-speed rail company?
Sorry, the one I just mentioned, "Spring to a Lover", is not available.
There are beauties, but they don't just wait for the boss, but actively pursue them. The one they pursue is not the boss, but a girl from a small town called Nanping - "a dragon and a phoenix among men".
Zhuang Jie (played by Zhou Yutong), a socialite who returned to his hometown on paid vacation from a big city, immediately recognized Chen Maidong (played by Li Xian), a high school classmate and scandal target sitting next to him. Wave first, then strike up a conversation, introduce yourself directly, right?
i Chen Maidong took off his headphones, picked up his suitcase, and changed seats directly.
But sister is so easy to get rid of?
After getting off the high-speed train, Zhuang Jie chased after her - "I, Zhuang Jie, we are classmates in high school. Have I changed that much?"
Chen Maidong: I'm sorry, I don't remember your characteristics.
"I have no characteristics?"
If it were another beautiful girl, she would be so angry that her veins would burst. But Sister Zhuang is not an ordinary person and continues to take the initiative to post - "Did you drive? Give me a ride."
Chen Maidong's response was another Absolutely - "It's open, but it's inconvenient. You can take a taxi yourself."
Looking at the cold back of "The Dragon and the Phoenix", Sister Zhuang couldn't help but say - Bah!
Is this really the opening of a domestic love drama?
But then there was a chance encounter at a theater in town, and the heroine happened to sit in the seat of the hero’s grandmother.
The male protagonist had just given the eviction order, and grandma arrived, and her eyes fell in love with her. Isn’t this the girl who taught her to shake her grandson on a blind date?
What kind of blind date is this? This girl is pretty good.
So we went from listening to the show to finding faults and chatting at the banquet, with a sales pitch - "This is my grandson. This young man in his thirties is respected in the town."
Female lead: This grandson!
Hahahahaha, "Spring Love Sends Love", right? You have completely caught my eye.
is in the drama!
2: Conflict
It is not difficult to see that this drama is different from the high-end urban love dramas we see every day.
The whole drama is very life-like, and it also tells the love story of a small person. Moreover, this is actually a small town love drama.
In a small town, such an iconic girl, the two were high school classmates, and there were rumors of an affair. Has Chen Maidong lost his memory? How could it be possible to forget Zhuang Jie?
Of course he didn't forget it.
It was he who said the words to Zhuang Jie who was in a car accident and was fitted with a prosthetic leg: A crutch can also be a weapon.
He was also the one who carried Zhuang Jie on his back and accompanied her through the most difficult years of her life.
He is still the one who is said by his friends to be sexually obsessed with the woman, so he has not found a partner yet.
He was avoiding Zhuang Jie on purpose.
Why?
Because the two protagonists are both people who are "born to die".
Chen Maidong had an unruly personality when he was young, and there were even rumors of beating people to death. After this life change, he chose to become a corpse plastic surgeon.
Yes, he is the special industry worker in " Life Events" and "Encoffiant".
When we mention them, our first subconscious reaction is "dead people", "unlucky" and "stay away".
In "Spring to a Lover", the same is actually true.
Chen Maidong in the play does not shake hands with people because "we are not used to shaking hands with people in this industry", nor is he used to saying goodbye.
But he was really considerate towards the deceased.
In the dead of night, everything was silent. Chen Maidong lay quietly on the chopping board with his eyes closed.
His apprentice was carefully performing facial services on him.
Chen Maidong suddenly opened his eyes and began to teach.
scared the apprentice so much that he almost fainted: Master, can you please stop opening your eyes suddenly, it’s too scary.
Yes, but the teaching complaints will continue: If there is a return visit in our industry, the service just now will definitely give you a bad review.
also paid a return visit from the industry, which is so scary!
But what is more terrifying than this is the invisible discrimination among everyone.
Although people say they don’t care, what if your boyfriend is a body plastic surgeon? Will you get goosebumps all over your body?
Over time, no wonder Chen Maidong has developed the character of staying away from strangers. Wong Kar-Wai once said in the movie: The best way to avoid being rejected by others is to reject others first.
Zhuang Jie is on the other extreme, walking through life with a broken body, but showing off a different kind of grace.
She worked hard outside alone and became the medical device sales champion in a big city.
She is a sister when she is in love. At other times, she is a capable but not humble worker.
Even if he went to have an operation on his own, Wan Peng's best friend would push him to the operating room, and he would not forget to greet him all over the hospital.
even thought that the person who performed his surgery was the deputy director of the hospital. He was still thinking about how to give the other party a good impression, and then solemnly sorted out the hospital uniform.
These are really people from two worlds.
From this, we can also see the core conflict of this small town love story: Why can't these two people be together?
According to the traditional routine of domestic love dramas, what can be considered is: the female protagonist is terminally ill, or the male protagonist is terminally ill, or both are terminally ill.
Or, the female protagonist has a companion, and the male protagonist has a companion, or, there is a vicious and beautiful female mistress -
Sorry, there is no terminal illness, no mistress, and no third child.
All the common clichés in domestic romance dramas are not present in this drama.
Then why isn’t the male protagonist with the female protagonist?
Because - reality.
The reality is, "I am just a dutiful person from a small town, Zhuang Jie, we are not the same people."
This is the "missed love" that really exists around us.
is not so bloody, sadistic, and dizzying.
In life, love is not greater than everything.
When two people are not together, it is often because of the real helplessness and the most realistic difficulties.
This is the biggest conflict in real love.
To be honest, this scene is not very ups and downs, but I watched it with gusto. The male and female protagonists have a unique charm, without any pretentiousness, and make people feel very comfortable.
Makes you want to read more:
How a rebellious but physically and mentally lonely plastic surgeon, and a medical salesman with physical defects but a straight-up pursuit of love, gradually get closer and heal each other's "imperfections" in the constant pull.
This story is a bit interesting.
3: Thoughts
Watched 3 episodes of "Spring to My Lover" in a row. If you want to ask me what is the most direct impression of watching this drama, I would say, two feelings and one taste.
The comedy of the storyline!
The warm human touch of the small town!
The reality of ordinary life!
First, a warm sense of comedy
From the first scene where the male and female protagonists meet, everyone is introduced to the comedy atmosphere, and then through the two families in the small town, a small town comedy group portrait is outlined.
For example, the hero’s grandmother, played by Fang Fang, single-handedly made the hero Chen Maidong a celebrity in the town. She worried about the hero’s life-long affairs and locked her eyes on the heroine.
So he took the heroine’s information and went directly to tell his best friend’s fortune, but after careful analysis, he brought the heroine’s brother’s information, so the following conversation occurred - "The person you are looking for, and Dongzi, It’s not appropriate.”
“You haven’t looked carefully.”
“Everyone’s opinions on some things are conventional.”“Don’t discriminate against me. I’ve seen this kid from the banker. He’s handsome. You have a good personality, and everything else is not a problem. "
My old girlfriends were shocked: "Your mentality really impresses me."
There is also the conversation between grandma and grandson Chen Maidong-"Boy, you have no ability to chase girls. Forget it”. "I never do this." "Girls chase me all the time."
The next shot will make grandma fly away.
The boy’s parents are very enthusiastic, and the girl’s relatives are also very hardworking.
Especially Zhuang Jie’s sister, she is a bad student and knows nothing about studies. The love gossip between her sister and Chen Maidong is all over the blackboard. “I have every reason to suspect that Chen Maidong has been lurking in my sister’s heart for so many years. The power in cpu is my sister. "
OK, I get it, both families are comedians.
Second, the human touch of a small town.
After catching up to the third episode, I can feel a kind of relaxation and healing that is rare in urban love dramas.
The entire town of Nanping has a warm tone, giving people a sense of comfort and healing, and is filled with the human touch of acquaintance society.
It’s not only the scenery that is warm, but also the people.
For example, a sister who can be commanded at will for 50 yuan will always be her most loyal servant!
The fireworks in the small town are ordinary, and the human relationships are warm and cold. The warm painting style flows naturally.
The third is the sense of reality in the world.
The encounter between the male and female protagonists is very natural, and the show's handling is on point. There are no overly exaggerated plots or exaggerated princess hugs.
There is no deliberate dramatic conflict in the whole play, and all the plot developments occur naturally.
The plot of the male and female protagonists establishing a relationship is also in line with common sense. The female protagonist comes back for a vacation, and the male protagonist starts a business in a small town. The story does not highlight the male and female protagonists, nor does it forcefully add subsequent dramatic conflicts.
Without the glamorous city life and the witty urban elites in urban romance dramas, it just makes the audience feel that the story is very close to us.
Because the things that resonate most with the audience are always the everyday things in the world.
４: Actors' acting skills
After watching 3 episodes of " Just Love ", in addition to the eye-catching plot, the performances of several actors are also remarkable.
One, Zhou Yutong
From "The Chronicles of the Song Dynasty", "I'm Very Good in a Foreign Country" to "Only Love", the average score of Zhou Yutong's starring dramas has remained at around 8 points all year round.
Zhou Yutong plays the role of Zhuang Jie in the drama this time. It is no exaggeration to say that Zhou Yutong’s performance is indispensable for the drama leaving such a impression on me.
The Zhuang Jie she portrays has no gorgeous clothes, no gorgeous makeup, and no exaggerated facial expressions, but it leaves a deep impression on people.
I would like to call her the actress who is best at acting in love scenes in domestic entertainment. Her sense of relaxation in love does not look like acting at all. There is no trace of
, which is a good show.
Second, Li Xian
From "Dear, Beloved " to "Go Where the Wind Is", Li Xian has always had a special sense of cuteness in urban love dramas.
is careless on the surface, but actually has an undercurrent of emotion, which is his specialty.
Chen Maidong, who he plays, has a cold and unkind appearance, but is solemn and solemn in his work.
But in front of my grandma, I act like a good boy, and in front of my lover, I feel clumsy like a child.
The TV series starring Li Xian has basically never been successful. He is especially good at playing characters who appear innocent but actually carry psychological burdens. It is said that the crew waited for more than a year for him. I think it is worth it.
Third, Liu Lin
From "Parents Love" to "Know or Not", Liu Lin's performances have always had an immersive look and feel, which can easily bring the audience in.
plays a small-town mother this time. She doesn't say a kind word to her daughter every day, but she can't hide her heartache and love at all. She said, "My daughter, from now on I will only look at your face and not care about your legs. I won't consider it." "My love for my daughter overflowed directly.
Whether it is her lines, body movements, or facial expressions, Liu Lin makes people feel that she is not playing a mother, but a real mother living in a small town.
This is the most advanced acting skill.
Fourth, Fang Fang
69-year-old Fang Fang is known as the founder of the ugly female variety show industry in Taiwan.
She is also no stranger to acting. She was in the early " The Four Young Masters of Beijing ", and she was also in the recent domestic drama "I Want to Go Against the Wind".
Although she is acting in a mainland drama, she blends in so well that she doesn't feel out of place at all. During
's performance, she moved her hands and feet with a sense of life-like joy, and she performed comedy with ease. She is really a master.
Finally, Wanpeng.
In the past few years, she has acted in " praying for the present " and "The Eleventh Floor of Disappearance", which all received mediocre reviews, but her personal performance was outstanding.
Wang Xixia, played this time, is just a guest appearance.
But she is so eye-catching. Even if she only has a few scenes, she is still so beautiful that people will never forget her. When will she become famous?
5: Domestic Love
In the current domestic film and television drama market, there are many big dramas.
In comparison, "Spring Love" is like a plate of porridge and side dishes.
can be used as porridge and side dishes, and it also has its taste.
The biggest feature of "Spring Love" is that it allows ordinary male and female protagonists to have a love affair in an ordinary town that does not require imposing a large scale, and does not rely on large filters and BGM to create an atmosphere.
Although it tells a love story between a small town undertaker and a disabled girl from a big city, it actually tells the story of the choice between small town and city, ideal and reality.
Do you want a small town or a girl?
It is so realistic for contemporary young people to fall in love.
But the way the drama solves this core conflict is to set up a larger multiple-choice question: life or death?
The male protagonist Chen Maidong is a practitioner in the funeral industry. What he faces every day is the uncertainty of life and death.
Everything in this world, except life and death, is all trivial.
There are very few domestic romantic dramas. One of the male and female protagonists has a special identity and the other has a disability. However, when facing heavy issues, the drama's approach is very light, very funny, and very romantic.
There are two extremely "romantic" scenes in the drama, which I like very much.
The first paragraph is what Chen Maidong said to practitioners during the funeral industry training: For a long time, our work has been low-level, dirty, and abominable, but I hope you understand that what people hate is not We, instead, die.
The second paragraph is what the young Chen Maidong said to Zhuang Jie, who had just experienced a car accident and became disabled: Crutches can also be used as weapons.
At this moment, the theme of the play is sublimated again.
presents a unique understanding of "death" and a gentle gaze on life: People are born with a fear of death, and life will inevitably go through twists and turns, but the existence of the "end" makes the "process" more vital and worth cherishing.
Born towards death, many big things are just small things.
Death is a journey to the other end, but how the living face life with a normal heart, face difficulties, and discover the spring beauty in every moment of life is the core issue that "Spring Beauty Sends a Lover" wants to convey to everyone.
There is no romantic BGM + rotating kiss scene + rising shot in the whole drama. However,
captured the greatest romance of love, which is facing reality and the possibility of love itself.
The male and female protagonists seem to be different and have no confidence to be together.
But have you forgotten?
Can’t love itself be the source of confidence?
The biggest ridiculous thing about current domestic love dramas is that the people in the drama believe in power, money, and a good match, but they don’t believe in love itself.
Yes, employment, medical insurance, five insurances and one housing fund...can heal so much more than love.
Love without material things is like a piece of loose sand, there is nothing wrong with it.
But what is love really like?
is "At this moment, the excitement of the world has nothing to do with me. I just want to hug you at all costs and have a romantic love like spring."
This is what makes love fascinating.
at the end of the day.
No one has a definite answer to love.
And good film and television works are not to give answers, but to tell the audience amidst difficulties, under pressure, and in the mire of triviality -
Anyway, I am still alive today and have a love that is somewhat beyond reality. What can it do?
If you happen to want to watch a simple love drama to relax your mood, I recommend this movie "Spring to My Lover" because the spring scenery is just right and the best time is as promised.
Of course a drama can't help you solve life's problems, and neither can love.
But while you are alive, don’t underestimate love.
