In recent days, the mainland Chinese actress Liu Shishi, starring alongside actor Zhang Yunlong in the ancient fantasy drama “Huai River Bamboo Pavilion,” has been making waves since its premiere on April 28th. The show has been a massive hit in terms of viewership, even topping the “Maoyan” overall online popularity chart for five consecutive days. Despite its success in viewership, opinions among viewers have been mixed. As the plot unfolds, discussions on the drama’s perceived shortcomings have been trending on Weibo.
Official broadcasting data recently released showed that within just 7 days of airing, “Huai River Bamboo Pavilion” secured the top spot for viewership in 14 countries where it premiered overseas. The lead actress, Liu Shishi, also experienced a surge of 100,000 new followers on Instagram, increasing her fan base from 180,000 before the show’s premiere to 284,000.
According to a report from the Chinese media outlet “Shangguan News,” the drama is adapted from the comic “Fox Spirit Matchmaker” – the “Bamboo Arc.” Critics have pointed out issues with the storyline adaptation, cheap special effects, and strong criticisms towards the lead actress Liu Shishi. Some viewers have commented that Liu Shishi’s actual age compared to her character in the drama is too mature, and she displayed problems in her acting like facial paralysis, stiff movements, and vacant expressions.
Analysis suggests that controversies have arisen in recent years in the mainland entertainment industry with the casting of older actors in ancient-themed idol dramas, such as Yang Mi in “Fox Spirit Matchmaker: Priestess Red” and Liu Shishi in “Huai River Bamboo Pavilion,” both over the age of 35 during filming. The noticeable age gap between actors and their characters in romantic-themed ancient dramas has led to a sense of dissonance among viewers. To compensate for this “age gap,” many of these dramas heavily rely on airbrushing and filters, which may enhance beauty but sacrifice authenticity. Thus, many fans question: Is it Liu Shishi’s fault that “Huai River Bamboo Pavilion” is trending as “unpleasant”?
In earlier reports, it was mentioned that during the initial filming of “Huai River Bamboo Pavilion,” the large cast and the significant age range of the actors created some awkward moments. In an effort to build rapport, the male lead Zhang Yunlong proposed bonding through group meals. Liu Shishi not only readily agreed but also discreetly paid the bill on some occasions and even prepared small gifts for the crew, gaining the title of “the beautiful sister who frequently treats others to meals.”
Some netizens jested, saying, “Not only does Shishi act well, but she’s also so warm-hearted. Is there anyone on the production team who doesn’t want to work overtime?” Fans called out, saying, “Let’s have a ‘Sister Who Treats to Meals’ training course led by Shishi, and let that trend in the entertainment industry!”
While promoting the new drama, Liu Shishi mentioned that her character “Huai Zhu” may seem aloof but possesses inner strength like bamboo, with formidable demon-slaying skills. Her character’s iconic weapon is a bamboo flute, and her martial arts scenes, where she dances through the bamboo forest, cut through enemy lines, have been thrilling and satisfying.
In comparison to her previous roles in period dramas, Liu Shishi stated, “In this drama, I won’t be engaging in traditional arts and scholarly pursuits but rather excel in martial arts and combat.” With a background in ballet, she seamlessly blends her graceful movements with martial arts prowess, drawing praises from Zhang Yunlong, who remarked, “When she strikes, even the monsters are left bewildered!”
It’s worth mentioning that mainland actor Hu Ge and actresses Yang Zi, Yu Shuxin, as well as Taiwanese artist Lin Chi-ling, have all shown their support for Liu Shishi and “Huai River Bamboo Pavilion” on Weibo. Lin Chi-ling wrote, “Sending cheers to Miss ‘Huai Zhu’; we must defeat these villains! You have to watch ‘Huai River Bamboo Pavilion’!” Liu Shishi responded, saying, “Thank you, Sister Chiling, for your loving cheers. ‘Huai Zhu’ is filled with energy!”
Moreover, “Huai River Bamboo Pavilion” features a star-studded supporting cast with high popularity, including Zhang Ruonan (“Hard To Raise”), Meng Ziyi (“Ninefold Purple”), Ding Yuxi (“Night Star River”), Peng Xiaoran (“The Eastern Palace”), as well as Shen Yue, Wu Xuanyi, Zhai Xiaowen, Hou Minghao, and more, all attracting significant attention. Perhaps this star-studded lineup is one of the major reasons contributing to the drama’s remarkable success in viewership.