Last night’s episode of the survival show Actor Please Take Your Place 演员请就位 saw a younger crop of post-90’s actors reenacting a scene from the 2005 hit drama Chinese Paladin which originally starred Hu Ge, Crystal Liu Yifei and Ady An.
Mao Xiaohui who nabbed the coveted role of Little Dragon Girl which was famously portrayed by Liu Yifei took on another one of the actress’s iconic characters as Zhao Linger. Her Return of the Condor Heroes co-star Thomas Tong Mengshi played Li Xiaoyao while Bambi Zhu Xudan played Lin Yueru.
The trio reenacted a short scene where Li Xiaoyao regains his memory then tries to escape from the Demon-Locking Pagoda. However, judges were unanimous in their opinion that the performances were far from successful. Director Guo Jingming said that out of all the performances on the show, it was the worst he has seen.
As the three were part of Chen Kaige’s team, the director had to choose a winner and ultimately picked Mao Xiaohui. He explains that the three actors fared similarly, but the reason he chose Mao Xiaohui was because he felt sympathetic. Mao Xiaohui has filmed 4 to 5 projects that haven’t aired so he wanted to give her some encouragement to keep on working harder.
It seems that the rookie actress is being typecast into roles that earned Liu Yifei the title of fairy sister, but perhaps the public is not ready for it as many were surprised that Chen Kaige chose her over the other two.
Tong Mengshi wrote a lengthy post on social media to express that he was very sorry for not doing well. Zhu Xudan was also emotional in saying that in joining the show, she deeply treasured the stage. She had many worries that she wouldn’t do well, that she would embarrass herself and let everybody down… However, she says that in life, there’s only one chance and no excuses. She feels sorry and regretful.
Then again, perhaps it’s best that no one mess with Chinese Paladin. The original is too much of a classic.
Lil
It’s not like the original cast were exceptional actors at that time either. Some still aren’t even now. Each actor will bring new feels anyways.
I personally would not judge something that is live to something that has been edited/reshot to the director’s content.
Anonymous
How did peng xiao ran did on her performance? I thought she did well, but she was eliminated.
Anonymous
I feel so bad for these new actors, compare them among new actors like themselves they are considered good looking people too. But compare them to Chinese Paladin Crew, the "naturals" they look like little fireflies being compared to the moon.
Liu yifei in her 18-19 she was no.1 beauty of China no one can ever beat. She acted so well in Chinese Paladin, every man love it so much they would love such a woman like her while most women are torned apart into jealousy and can never acknowledge her talents. Always bad mouthing her.
Ady An is beautiful as well, not to the point of Liu yifei but nothing so less. It's unbeatable too.
Judging from the pictures of how the new crew acted, it does look bad, they showed no emotion at all and so wooden.
Unknown
OMFG Dude, you will never be with Liu Yi Fei! Just letting you know! Fricking hilarious.
Anonymous
Gal I'm not a dude but you will never be pretty like her no matter how many plastic stitches you put on your face. Just letting you know!
Your jealousy just exploded because she's pretty AND talented, you have none and can only talk behind her back. Nasty inside and out.
Anonymous
If you watch the clip, it was bad though. Like they really didn't know how to act properly during that scene.
If the panel were not to judge because it's live to something that has been edited/reshoot to the director content, then what's the point of this acting show? After all, it's to point out mistake, learn and improve.
They were given time to practice. And it's not like they're expected to act exactly similar like the scene from the drama they did, and not like they were compared to the original actors either, I'm sure theyre allowed to bring their fresh take but it's the fact that they did not do well on the acting part themselves and the panel simply point that out.
Anonymous
It I hard to be compared to these big names! It's okay at least they will learn from their mistakes. Hopefully they will improved in the future learning from this experience. I remember thinking how beautiful Lie Yi Fie and Ady An was, still very beautiful til now. Hu Ge was perfect for this role, he has come along way from his idol days and how great of an actor he is now. Eddie peng was not as sexy as he is nowadays, but you still feel in love with his cute boy looks and the character was so loveable in CP.
Anonymous
When the judges say it's the worst thing they ever seen, they mean it LOL
Anonymous
I already know when Condor Heroes come out MXH is going to get the heat first.
When LYF was XLN, she doesn't have a mature beauty like Carman. But she can be a classic beauty in her own way, just a younger and more innocent one. And also have a fairy-like glow to it.
Michelle Chen is cute but not beautiful and not fairy-like so she got yelled at.
Now MXH, obviously following Michelle Chen's path. She's pretty, but not classic beauty and not fairy-like either. More like a modern girl.
Anonymous
Where can i watch this
Anonymous
You can watch it on the official youtube channel for Tencent – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QGqlLUZG2xg
Anonymous
Thanks for the link! Just watched it. Dang it…
Who came up with that script?
I can almost forgive the bad acting since they're new, but the script?? Goodness, Ling'er is a character full of compassion. They made Mao Xiao Hui act like a evil woman, and she was chosen as the winner? Really biased.
The critique was so harsh but the script is truly a headache, it's probably what caused the terrible acting too.
So Ling'er already knows that Xiao Yao and Yue Ru are together. She still gives him the antidote to make him remember on purpose. If she did not do it on purpose, when he has a headache she should be acting worried, and, when he remembers her she should be surprised and say she didn't know that was going to happen…but she acted like her intent was to make him remember her after knowing he has a new gf. It's like she's playing one of those annoying antagonists and not the FL. The real Ling'er would not do that but sacrifice herself. Her acting was the worse out of the 3. I didn't like how she widened her eyes so much either, her eyes are already too big. After seeing this I cannot imagine her as Xiao Long Nu, her looks doesn't cut it. She can be a pretty modern girl, but she's not very flattering in ancient stylings.
Bambi Zhu performed the best out of the group. The dude's acting is too fake, especially when he performed that headache, he remembers everything and you don't even feel his love for Ling'er, or feeling sorry for Yue Ru either.
Feel really bad for them all but in full honesty, the story and acting was super problematic. I still think the judges could've been nicer and explain it more calmly like Vicky did, one of the dude was just angry! The outcome might not be this terrible if they did a different drama with better scriptings.
Tammy
I know! I was so disappointed in the directors for not choosing her. Everyone was so sure PXR was selected but the director picked a newcomer. He just turned 21 too. She did okay but she was so nervous she kept crying.