When talking about the characters in the Chinese dramas of 2023, who comes to mind first? The most mentioned would probably be Gao Qiqiang (played by Zhang Songwen) in "The Knockout", or Wang Xiang (played by Fan Wei) in "The Long Season", or the beloved Li Lianhua (played by Cheng Yi) in "Mysterious Lotus Casebook", or the distinctive Cang Xuan (played by Zhang Wanyi), Tu Shanjing (played by Deng Wei), and Xiang Liu (played by Tan Jianci) in "Lost You Forever". The Dusheme has selected six characters, not necessarily the most popular ones, but those that represent a certain trend in the creation of Chinese dramas, reflecting the audience's aesthetic preferences while also considering the personal tastes of the authors.
Among them, three female characters together create a character landscape that intertwines fantasy and reality, greatly enhancing the excitement and shock threshold for viewers. As for the three male characters, some have brought new ideas to familiar territories, some have opened up channels to the untapped market, and some have brought new solutions to the construction of dramatic conflicts in the series.
Three-Body: Ye Wenjie
When Ye Wenjie appeared, other leading female characters paled in comparison. Over thirty years ago, the most famous female character in China was named Liu Huifang (played by Zhang Kaili). Her sacrifice and endurance were commendable, embodying the shining example of a virtuous woman revered by society. But when it comes to Ye Wenjie, she cannot simply be described as an independent woman.
The suffering and grievances she endured are unimaginable to the younger generation; she witnessed her father's death firsthand, killed her own husband, and indirectly caused the death of her daughter; she witnessed the madness of human nature and experienced the extreme evil of humanity, leading her to betray human civilization, invite the wolves into the house, and make remaking human civilization her lifelong pursuit.
On the surface, the female leads in fantasy dramas protect the world and save humanity, seemingly surpassing Ye Wenjie. However, their impact on the world is not on the same level as Ye Wenjie's. Granted, Ye Wenjie is a fictional creation by Liu Cixin, but she possesses a certain vitality. She is a professor and the supreme commander of the ETO; she is the biggest traitor in human history, but also a kind elderly person who chats with fellow villagers, tutors children in mountainous areas, and helps neighbors take care of their children.
The basic reality facing cdramas now is that once they are aired, they are at the bottom of public opinion, with thousands of eyes watching and any slight misstep inviting fierce criticism. As a result, it has become a common practice to set urban dramas in fictional backgrounds. The creation of the TV series "Three-Body" is full of minefields, but it insists on grounding the background in reality, with real city names, real school names, and a real historical backdrop. People watch as Ye Wenjie stumbles, survives, and achieves and destroys.
"I ignited the fire, but I couldn't control it." Ye Wenjie is always entangled in a sense of inevitability. In the first half of her life, she was pushed into the abyss of betraying humanity by the progress of the times. In the second half of her life, she gained the power to determine the fate of humanity, but she could not control it. She still loves her daughter and feels guilty about Dongdong's death. She imparts the basic principles of "cosmic sociology" to Luo Ji, leaving behind the hope of self-rescue for humanity. It is because of this that viewers cannot fully hate Ye Wenjie.
In the TV series "Three-Body," Wang Ziwen and Chen Jin respectively took on the roles of young and old Ye Wenjie. Although they did not film in the same period and never had any communication about their portrayal, they had an inexplicable understanding and the final result turned out to be surprisingly natural. The brokenness of young Ye Wenjie evokes sympathy, and the strength and loneliness of old Ye Wenjie perfectly align with the audience's imagination.
I Am Nobody: Feng Bao Bao
With an incredibly mysterious background, an ageless appearance that defies time, and a youthful spirit that remains unchanged for centuries, Feng Baobao in "I Am Nobody" has become an unforgettable screen image in 2023. She carries a high degree of misfortune on her shoulders, spending over a hundred years searching for her identity, only to end up empty; she once felt the warmth of a family with her adoptive parents, but experienced the loss of her family once again; her father gave her the gift of immortality, yet the world labels her as a cold-hearted freak, living for a century in solitude.
She lacks gender consciousness and doesn't resist when others violate her, appearing naked in front of Zhang Chulan (Peng Yuchang) upon their first meeting, without any reservations. She possesses the focus and persistence that people envy, constantly searching for her identity despite repeated failures; she fights during the day without hindering her work in the "Na Dou Tong" at night; she turns burying people into an art, relentlessly chasing after Wang Ye (Hou Minghao) all night. She is also committed to her promises, faithfully taking care of Zhang Chulan as she promised Zhang Huaiyi (Zhang Qi); she stands to accept punishment for Zhang Chulan, unmoved even in the face of mortal danger. She was born as a blank canvas and returns to being a blank canvas at the end, achieving a satisfying conclusion in the drama that the original comic did not provide. For audiences unfamiliar with the original work, this is already enough.
In the comic, Feng Baobao has many fans online. When the drama adaptation "I Am Nobody" aired, Wang Yinglu's performance received criticism from many fans, but ultimately gained recognition. There is a highly acclaimed comment on Douban that says, "Wang Yinglu is the most suitable person in all of China to play Feng Baobao." This reversal is quite interesting. Firstly, Wang Yinglu's action scenes in the drama are remarkable, perfectly capturing the essence of the original work. Behind the scenes, Wang Yinglu sweated and bled to film the fight scenes, and this level of respect for performance and the character is enough to dispel the reservations of fans of the original work. Secondly, this is also related to Wang Yinglu's public image.
Parallel World: Ye Liuxi
In comparison to the previous two, people have differing opinions on Ni Ni's portrayal of Ye Liuxi in "Parallel World." Those who do not like her character feel that she is too greasy and only wants to showcase her flawless beauty in every possible way. However, those who love her appreciate the character design of Ye Liuxi. Ye Liuxi is indeed charming. In terms of appearance, she is like a blooming rose in the desert, with an undeniable roughness and wild beauty. For female viewers, she is a cool and sought-after character on the screen in recent years, while for male viewers, the interactions between her and the intelligent and brave sand hunter Chang Dong (Bai Yu) are irresistibly charming.
In terms of character design, Ye Liuxi is the chosen one. Within the Yumen Pass, it is an isolated space where neither humans nor beasts can enter the outside world. However, Ye Liuxi is the person born under the influence of the six stars of Yang Men, possessing the ability to freely enter and exit the pass, and cannot be killed by any creature within the pass. The upper class within the pass desires to control Ye Liuxi but is unable to do so, and they cannot simply eliminate her, so they plot to involve outsiders in their schemes, resulting in a continuous series of dramatic conflicts. Ye Liuxi's character design is refreshing, going beyond the stereotypical labels of being cool and tough.
Imperfect Victim: Cheng Gong
The elite man, played by Liu Yijun, is a true embodiment of his name - a successful person in the worldly sense, admired by others, believed to have everything under control. However, in reality, his life has already spiraled out of control. A successful individual, outwardly displaying a facade of respect, yet inwardly arrogant and oblivious to it. He fully demonstrates to the audience how those in positions of power manipulate the so-called beauties and victims around them, both mentally and behaviorally.
A seemingly ordinary phrase such as "I have cheated, and I apologize to you" exposes his inner hypocrisy. As the situation unfolds in an uncontrollable direction, his hysterical accusations are filled with fear. Liu Yijun's portrayal transforms the stereotypical scumbag character from news headlines into a role with a more realistic and gritty feel.
A few days ago, Huang Bo made an impressive statement during a media interview: "After reaching a certain stage, we can use the tools in our hands to solve all performance issues, effortlessly creating a seemingly flawless workmanship. However, there is still a distinction between craftsmanship and art." This dilemma is faced by many mature actors. Liu Yijun, through his portrayal of the character of success, proves that he will not confine himself to his own comfort zone, but is willing to challenge roles beyond it, simultaneously offering a new template for the homogeneous scumbag image in Chinese dramas.
The Long Season: Fu Weijun
Who would have thought that the most standout supporting role in "The Long Season" would be the silent and fierce Fu Weijun, portrayed by Jiang Qiming? He is naturally deaf and mute, relying on no one, fierce and aggressive. However, it is this very person who is completely obedient to his sister Shen Mo, played by Li Gengxi, and shyly adorable in front of Yin Hong, played by Wang Yidi.
Some sum up Fu Weijun's characteristics as follows: he is a wolf-dog when fierce, a local dog in love, and a drowning puppy when heartbroken. Some fans fail to grasp Fu Weijun's appeal based on his appearance alone, but as soon as he appears on screen, they are irresistibly drawn to him. Perhaps this is the charm of a good actor. Jiang Qiming, the actor behind Fu Weijun, did a lot of homework. Born in 1992, he portrays a sibling relationship with Li Gengxi's character, who was born after 2000. To avoid any visual discrepancies, Jiang Qiming paid special attention to the moisture content of his diet, making his skin appear dry and tight, thus appearing more spirited.
He set the hearing aid to be one that Fu Weijun stole, not matching his own ears or the required decibels, resulting in tension-filled actions such as constantly touching the hearing aid and leaning closer to hear people speak. He also drew inspiration from intense fight scenes in Korean movies, which may explain the Korean vibe emanating from Fu Weijun. Compared to idols and fresh actors who appear distant. On the other hand, Jiang Qiming has taught male actors a lesson: acting is the best cosmetic surgery.
Fantastic Doctors: Chen Hui
Chen Hui, portrayed by Zhang Wanyi, is an eccentric individual. He possesses extraordinary medical skills and is recognized as the hospital's most outstanding newcomer. However, he disregards hospital regulations, often speaking and acting inappropriately. He is terrifyingly naive, pure to the extreme, single-mindedly dedicated to treating and saving people, yet constantly faced with anger from patients and their families. He suffers from Asperger's syndrome, lacking empathy and communication skills, displaying rigid behavior patterns and delayed motor development.
"Fantastic Doctors" is an adaptation of the Korean drama "Good Doctor," where the protagonist also has savant syndrome, belonging to the autism spectrum, and is similarly referred to as a foolish genius. Korean dramas have a tradition of portraying protagonists with illnesses, previously often leukemia, now autism. For example, last year there was a drama called "Extraordinary Attorney Woo," and the year before that, there was a drama called "Move to Heaven," both featuring protagonists with Asperger's syndrome, and both possessing genius traits. So why do screenwriters always make geniuses have autism? Quirky personalities easily create dramatic conflicts, and having a rare condition easily evokes sympathy. This character setting should bring considerable inspiration to creators.
"Fantastic Doctors" introduces a fresh character. Every chaos Chen Hui creates in the hospital is relatively novel. The difficulty and controversy lie in the aspect of localization. Borrowed characters must be integrated into the indigenous social context to avoid rejection, in order to become a truly scrutinizable work of art.
These six characters have graced our screens in 2023, leaving an indelible mark on our hearts and minds. From their captivating performances to their compelling storylines, they have truly become unforgettable. Whether it's their charisma, complexity, or sheer relatability, these characters have managed to resonate with audiences, reminding us of the power of great storytelling and exceptional acting. As we bid farewell to the year, we can't help but look back and appreciate the impact these characters have had, eagerly awaiting what the future holds for the world of television.
