In recent times, popular mainland Chinese actress Yang Mi seems to be facing a string of bad luck. Not only did her television drama “Harbin 1944” and the movie “Nothing Solves Problems Like a Hotpot” (abbreviated as “Hotpot”) fail to impress, but her latest role as a “fox spirit” in the costume drama “Fox Spirit Matchmaker: Scarlet Soul” has also received criticism from netizens, leading to her acting skills being questioned and becoming a top trending topic on Weibo.
The 38-episode “Fox Spirit Matchmaker: Scarlet Soul”, starring Yang Mi and Gong Jun, is adapted from the popular anime series of the same name. Set against the backdrop of ancient Chinese supernatural culture, the drama tells the love story of Tu Shan Hong Hong (portrayed by Yang Mi) and Dongfang Yue Chu (Gong Jun), breaking societal prejudices.
Since the decision to remake the popular anime series into a drama and boasting one of the most luxurious casts in recent mainland Chinese costume dramas, the show garnered attention even before filming began. Following its premiere on May 23, it directly competed with the highly-watched second season of “Joy of Life”. However, many viewers criticized the plot of “Fox Spirit Matchmaker: Scarlet Soul”, and the initial reviews were not favorable.
Furthermore, Yang Mi’s acting skills came under fire, with some netizens pointing out that while she rarely plays roles that suit her personality, in this drama, she constantly purses her lips, which they found off-putting, stating that the current quality pales in comparison to Zhao Liying’s performance in “The Legend of Fei”.
Some viewers commented, “The filters are too heavy, the faces are blurred, it’s like a filter extravaganza in every scene”, “Why not just let AI act instead, all actors have been airbrushed so much that you can’t see any skin texture”. However, there were also those who understood the use of filters, saying, “Some actors are older, some have bad skin conditions, how can we watch without filters and airbrushing?”
Of note, this drama marks Yang Mi’s return to playing a “fox” character after her roles in “The Enchanting Phantom” and “Eternal Love”. Particularly, her portrayal of “Qing Qiu Fox Queen Bai Qian” in “Eternal Love” received high praise for her celestial appearance.
This year, Yang Mi seems to be facing a run of bad luck, starting with the lukewarm response to her new drama “Harbin 1944” and criticism of her acting skills. Following that, her starring role in the suspense comedy film “Hotpot” saw dismal box office numbers, grossing only 52 million RMB during the “May Day” holiday release for a total of 5 days, causing the film’s official removal from theaters, sparking discussions and becoming a top trending topic on Weibo.