The entertainment industry is rife with gossip lately, with Dilraba Dilmurat and Chen Feiyu’s new drama, Love Beyond the Grave, sparking considerable discussion since its premiere. Both actors are undoubtedly A-list stars individually, so why doesn’t their pairing create the expected chemistry?
Worrying Ratings: Fifth Place on the Chart Becomes a Point of Criticism
Let’s look at the drama’s performance. On Maoyan’s Chinese drama popularity chart, Love Beyond the Grave currently ranks only fifth. This isn’t an ideal position, especially compared to other dramas airing at the same time. Its competitors include The Legend of Yue Lin starring Ju Jingyi, Chen Duling, and Zeng Shunxi, as well as Chasing Jade and Dangerous Liaisons, all released around the same time.
Some say it’s because the two leads lack chemistry, others say the pacing is problematic; in short, the drama doesn’t seem to have an advantage. However, ratings are always subjective. Just because it’s not popular today doesn’t mean it won’t be popular tomorrow. Maybe the plot will take a turn and it will break through.
A Sweet Wedding Scene: A Heartfelt Confession Under a Flowering Tree
Regardless, the wedding scene in the latest episode was undeniably touching. Duan Xu, played by Chen Feiyu, meticulously planned the wedding ceremony beforehand to propose to He Simu (Dilraba Dilmurat). Dressed in a magnificent wedding gown, he stood under the flowering tree, becoming the first splash of color the female lead saw upon waking.
The scene itself is undeniably romantic—petals falling, sunlight shining brightly, and the two lovers finding their answer in each other’s gaze. He Simu’s expressions were incredibly nuanced, from initial panic to later emotion; the inner turmoil and struggle in her eyes almost seemed to leap off the screen. Chen Feiyu’s line, “I want to be with you, I like being with you,” was simple, but the intensity of his emotion was so profound it gave you goosebumps.
The most poignant line was his: “Your Highness, I admire you. I wonder if I have the honor of becoming the twenty-third grave on the back mountain of your Void Life Mountain?” These words were so touching, both a confession and a promise, instantly igniting the atmosphere of a tragic love story.
Touch Exchange and Intimate Interaction: Director Forced Five Hours of Filming
The story behind this scene is even more poignant. According to insiders, the kissing scene under the flowering tree actually took a full five hours to film! Why so long? Apparently, the director had extremely high standards for emotional expression, repeatedly adjusting camera angles and actors’ performance details.
Imagine two people standing and kissing under that flowering tree, with the director yelling “NG!” and starting over—how much emotional energy must that have taken? In the final cut, that five minutes of captivating footage was reduced to a mere 10 seconds, and even that was a long shot.
How far away? You could barely see two dark figures rubbing against each other, their expressions barely discernible. This infuriated fans—five hours of filming were just cut! They’d rather watch the behind-the-scenes footage!
Sweet Post-Wedding Interactions: The Queen’s Tumble to the Male Concubine
The plot after they enter the house is quite interesting. He Simu is happily painting when Duan Xu offers a kiss, but unexpectedly, the female lead takes the initiative—she pounces on the male lead. This sudden reversal transforms the originally gentle romantic atmosphere into a playful and quirky interaction.
Dilraba Dilmurat showcases many different images in this drama, displaying both a queenly aura and a girlish charm. This contrast is quite appealing to the audience. Chen Feiyu’s performance is also excellent; his expression of both enjoyment and helplessness is hilarious.
The scene where the two naturally consummate their marriage, while not filmed too explicitly, still creates a natural and harmonious atmosphere. This scene is handled cleverly, satisfying the audience’s expectations for sweetness without crossing any lines and causing unnecessary controversy.
Fan Reactions Polarized: Expectations Too Low
Of course, not everyone is satisfied. After all, audiences these days are increasingly discerning. The trailer looked amazing, but the actual episode was edited so poorly – anyone would feel cheated. Many fans expressed a desire to see the full behind-the-scenes footage, and some even started digging up leaked videos, only to find that the clips in the behind-the-scenes were more exciting than the actual episode.
Some say this is probably just the norm in film and television production; sometimes, compromises are made to ensure sufficient broadcast time or to pass censorship. However, such editing that clearly wastes the actors’ hard work is undeniably regrettable.
The future of the series remains uncertain: Can it turn things around?
To be honest, “The Lantern in the Day” isn’t in a good position right now, but it’s not hopeless either. It’s only been airing for a short time, and there’s still room for improvement. If the subsequent episodes maintain a consistent quality, coupled with some topical marketing, there’s still hope of regaining some viewers’ attention.
As for the pairing of Dilraba Dilmurat and Chen Feiyu, both are excellent actors individually; it’s just that their chemistry together needs time to be tested. Perhaps after a few more episodes, as their relationship develops further, viewers will change their minds?
It’s fair to say that watching a TV series is like opening a blind box; you never know what will happen until the very last moment. Viewers should remain cautious and wait and see; there might be some surprises waiting for you later.