Detective L

[rogueslayer452]

So, I wanted to talk about Detective L.

Or, more specifically, two of my favorite characters from Detective L.


Ben Jieming = my precious cinnamon roll, must be protected at all costs

Huo Wensi = my poor little meow meow, my special little guy who has committed atrocities and who I enjoy seeing getting whumped and bloodied

Obviously, like with most who have watched the drama, I immediately adored Ben Jieming the moment he was introduced. He's just so awkwardly adorable, soft-spoken yet kind but also very much a troll like Luo Fei, it's impossible to resist that face. (It's also ironic because he's not only the tallest but is also the oldest of the entire cast, and yet he's totally babie in this role.) So yeah, it was a given that I would instantly love his character from the jump.

However, it's Huo Wensi that was a total surprise for me.

It didn't happen as immediate as it did with Ben Jieming, although I was definitely drawn to his character the more I watched, and then suddenly I was totally swept up with, well, everything involving him. It wasn't until the arson/diamond case that really kind of further by interest with Huo Wensi even more, which then grew from there. He's such a fascinating character, mainly because of the reveal in the end it made me really think about his motivations which, sadly, given that the reveal happened in the final episode with minimal information of wrapping things up, not to mention the cliffhanger that will never be resolved, it's made looking back at his episodes an interesting task at noticing the little things.

Although what really grabbed me by the throat was the unresolved sexual tension between Huo Wensi and Luo Fei. Their whole dynamic is just so fascinating to me. I mean, you'd think that they'd known each other previously just by how much bitter ex energy Luo Fei radiated due bitchy he was towards Huo Wensi when he was introduced, and yet that was their first time meeting each other, and it just continued on from there. It just made me so curious about that relationship, why Luo Fei was reacting that way, and what's even more interesting is how Huo Wensi doesn't at all seem offended, just amused, to the point where I truly think he wanted to get underneath the man's skin. I mean, the final episode reveal aside, there's so much going on beneath the surface that it makes me want to dissect everything about them. It's just all so, crunchy, I love it.

(Plus the fact that in the final episode during their confrontation Luo Fei not only beats him up, but how much Huo Wensi seems to like it? As if he was anticipating, expecting this confrontation between him and Luo Fei, wanting it even. Just, whew. Delicious.)

So yeah, Huo Wensi and Ben Jieming are my favorite characters in the drama, my blorbos, my beloveds. They're both just so my type, it's not even funny. Not just aesthetically but also their character types, as well. I just wish we had more time with them, I wanted to see more flashbacks to how Ben Jieming and Luo Fei ended up befriending each other and working together, I also wanted to see Huo Wensi be a little bit more unhinged because that last episode was such a delicious treat that it's a shame we didn't get more of that. Oh, and I also kind of wished that they had worked together at some point. Obviously Huo Wensi was zeroing in on Luo Fei specifically since he was essentially setup to be the Moriarty to Luo Fei's Sherlock in the end, but he was already on friendly terms with Xiao Man (again, mostly to get to Luo Fei) that I could also see him working and being friendly alongside Ben Jieming, as well. That would've been fun to see.

Also yes, I ship both Huo Wensi/Luo Fei and Ben Jieming/Luo Fei, with the possibility of Huo Wensi/Luo Fei/Ben Jieming.



In general, Detective L was a fun little detective cdrama. Visually and aesthetically, it was vibe. The cases, for the most part, where interesting and I liked the way things were handled and solved, I also liked that each case had three episodes (twenty-four episodes, eight cases total) so nothing went on longer or shorter than the others. I liked the way we get inside Luo Fei's "mind palace", if you will, whenever he's attempting to solve a case or figure out a problem, the filming for those moments are always a nice little treat. I mean, it wouldn't be a Sherlock-inspired story without something like that featured where we see his method of solving cases, getting inside his brain.

Unfortunately, with the drama ending on a massive cliffhanger with no possibility of there being a follow-up leads to a lot of understandable frustration. I know some desperately wish for a second season, but cdramas rarely get more than just one, which makes the decision to end things there even more baffling. It makes me wonder if they had intentionally planned on there being more episodes, but they were suddenly cut down for whatever reason (time, budget, other restrictions) so they had to rush the ending. It's clear that the finale was their version of "The Final Problem", the bridge confrontation to mirror Reichenbach Falls, and while I enjoyed watching Huo Wensi finally be stripped of his mask and be unhinged, they could have done a better job with setting that up. In fact, if they had just gotten an extended three more episodes that could've been their last case, unraveling the mystery that was Huo Wensi and getting a clearer answer to his motivation and involvement, the hows and whys and all of that.

On one hand, it is frustrating, on the other hand, the cliffhanger does leave things open-ended to where the audience can come up with their own conclusions to how things could potentially end up, since there are endless possibilities to explore.

With that being said however, I still enjoyed Detective L for what it was.

Comments

[trobadora]

Yay, another Huo Wensi fan! And another Luo Fei/Huo Wensi shipper! Woohoo! :D :D :D

He's such a fascinating character, mainly because of the reveal in the end it made me really think about his motivations which, sadly, given that the reveal happened in the final episode with minimal information of wrapping things up, not to mention the cliffhanger that will never be resolved, it's made looking back at his episodes an interesting task at noticing the little things.

Yeah, it's really fascinating going back and looking at the earlier episodes, trying to figure out what exactly is going on with him when! And damn, I wish we could have had a second season to properly get into all the stuff the final episodes only hint at. Or at least a bunch of extra episodes! *flails:

I loved Luo Fei from the start, but it was Huo Wensi who hooked me and made me actually fannish about this show. He’s just so ... I don't even have the words! Soft-spoken and perceptive and sharp as a knife beneath it all, manipulative and violent in turn, always has an extra layer of things going on, mirroring Luo Fei in all kinds of fascinating ways – and that's before you get to Luo Fei's reactions to him, which are just amazing.

Although what really grabbed me by the throat was the unresolved sexual tension between Huo Wensi and Luo Fei. Their whole dynamic is just so fascinating to me. I mean, you'd think that they'd known each other previously just by how much bitter ex energy Luo Fei radiated due bitchy he was towards Huo Wensi when he was introduced, and yet that was their first time meeting each other, and it just continued on from there. It just made me so curious about that relationship, why Luo Fei was reacting that way, and what's even more interesting is how Huo Wensi doesn't at all seem offended, just amused, to the point where I truly think he wanted to get underneath the man's skin.

Yes, all of this! I was so convinced they'd known each other before – seriously, a bad break-up would explain SO much about Luo Fei's reactions! He won't even look at Huo Wensi most of the time, but at the same time seems to put considerable stock in his opinion despite his claims otherwise, he turns to Huo Wensi when he's desperate for someone to support his Captain hypothesis, he doesn't seem to think Huo Wensi is bad enough news to warn Qin Xiaoman away from him, and then after Huo Wensi is arrested for arson/murder, that doesn't even change anything about their dynamic! WHAT.

(And, I mean, a bad break-up is still my headcanon. The show doesn't contradict it! In fact the way it completely doesn't give any explanation for Luo Fei's reactions makes it even more convincing somehow, because it's not as if they could have come out and said, yeah, they're exes. *g*) I'm so fascinated with these two.

I just wish we had more time with them, I wanted to see more flashbacks to how Ben Jieming and Luo Fei ended up befriending each other and working together

Yeah, more backstory in general would have been awesome! We see the two of them as uniformed police officers in a flashback, but how did they both end up where they're in the present? And since they were already friends then, how did they first meet? So much I want to know!

I also wanted to see Huo Wensi be a little bit more unhinged because that last episode was such a delicious treat that it's a shame we didn't get more of that.

Oh my god YES PLEASE. He's so good when he's completely dropping the genteel façade and going all-out murderous and violent and without ordinary boundaries.

Oh, and I also kind of wished that they had worked together at some point. Obviously Huo Wensi was zeroing in on Luo Fei specifically since he was essentially setup to be the Moriarty to Luo Fei's Sherlock in the end, but he was already on friendly terms with Xiao Man (again, mostly to get to Luo Fei) that I could also see him working and being friendly alongside Ben Jieming, as well. That would've been fun to see.

Oh, that's a very cool idea! It's totally plausible, you’re right. I would love to see that, it would be brilliant. They're in the same scene a few times, I think, but never meaningfully interact, and that's such a shame.

In general, Detective L was a fun little detective drama. Visually and aesthetically, it was vibe. The cases, for the most part, where interesting and I liked the way things were handled and solved

Yeah, it was a lot of fun! I enjoyed the hell out of it, Huo Wensi or no (even though he's totally my favourite *g*) – the investigations, Qin Xiaoman beating people up, the "mind palace" aspects as you say, the crime re-enactments with Xiaoman! All just delightful.

And I wouldn't mind the cliffhanger so much if there were more of a fandom playing with it, and writing fic about what comes next ... but alas. (I really REALLY want more, especially with Huo Wensi surviving, and what comes after!) As you say, it's sort of the perfect set-up, with how much it leaves open to explore.

It makes me wonder if they had intentionally planned on there being more episodes, but they were suddenly cut down for whatever reason (time, budget, other restrictions) so they had to rush the ending.

Yeah, I heard there were originally supposed to be more episodes, and the final case (the last three episodes) crams so much into so little space, it definitely looks like it to me.

and while I enjoyed watching Huo Wensi finally be stripped of his mask and be unhinged, they could have done a better job with setting that up. In fact, if they had just gotten an extended three more episodes that could've been their last case, unraveling the mystery that was Huo Wensi and getting a clearer answer to his motivation and involvement, the hows and whys and all of that.

Yes! I so wish we could have had that. *sighs*

But I love this show to pieces anyway. It's amazing and delightful, compelling and fun, gorgeous to look at, and one of my favourite cdramas despite the not-ideal ending. ♥

[corvidology]

I was about to type that the few people I know who are fans of Detective L are Luo Fei/Huo Wensi and here you are... *waits for Shad* ;D

[trobadora]

Hee! Yeah, until now shadaras and I were the only people I knew who shipped Luo Fei/Huo Wensi. Most people I've come across seem to ship Luo Fei/Benjamin/Qin Xiaoman or some subset thereof.

[corvidology]

I haven't actually come across many people who feel fannish about Detective L, even if they enjoyed the show but then I'm not in Guardian fandom which I suspect puts more of them on your flist. :D

So my tiny sample group, you, Shad and now Rogue = Luo Fei/Huo Wensi.

I believe you're right though that Luo Fei/Benjamin/Qin Xiaoman is probably the most popular within the show. It's difficult to tell exactly because fans of a certain show *cough* have crossed Luo Fei's character with so many characters from other canons played by Zhu Yilong that I think they would add up to be the most popular pairings. ;D

[trobadora]

Haha, yeah, the crossovers do outnumber everything else. And I like them, too, but ... well, they don't count as Detective L fic in my book; they're a fandom of their own. (And I don't see people being fannish about Detective L much any more, alas; my impresion comes mostly from back when it was newer and there was more activity.)

[corvidology]

...And this is the way fandom works. I'm looking at that gloved hand in your icon thinking 'JACK!'

[rogueslayer452]

And damn, I wish we could have had a second season to properly get into all the stuff the final episodes only hint at. Or at least a bunch of extra episodes! *flails:

Yeah, I mean if nothing else I feel like there should've at least been some flashbacks since the drama often did that to show another perspective of events that happened. I would've loved to have seen what Huo Wensi had been up when nobody else was looking, who he was in contact with, how he managed to get the information he needed, how he accomplished the things he did, etc. I mean, we got that with Huo Wensi in episode fifteen when Luo Fei was basically revealing Huo Wensi's involvement with the arson/diamond case, so it would've been nice to have that happen again in the final episodes.

but it was Huo Wensi who hooked me and made me actually fannish about this show. He’s just so ... I don't even have the words!

Right there with you, I was the same way. I was all set to just sit back and enjoy a fun little detective mystery show, which I watch a lot of those, some I get fannish about while others not so much but I still enjoy them regardless. And then suddenly, Huo Wensi. It took a while but as soon as he captured my interest, I was done for. The way Chen Mengqi played him was so captivating. I think episodes 13 through 15 are my favorite because we see Huo Wensi's mask cracking just a little bit, and even when Luo Fei is reading him for filth at the bank there's a lot of little facial reactions, the way he kind of gives little smirks and quirks his mouth just so whenever it's with Luo Fei, like you can see that sharp edge underneath just peeking through, it's just so, so interesting to watch.

He won't even look at Huo Wensi most of the time, but at the same time seems to put considerable stock in his opinion despite his claims otherwise, he turns to Huo Wensi when he's desperate for someone to support his Captain hypothesis

I KNOW! God, that whole moment was so interesting to me, just how desperation made Luo Fei basically break his whole cold shoulder attitude with Huo Wensi, which makes the next time we see them together even more interesting because he goes right back to his whole, "I don't work with other people" thing. It's so fascinating, because you're right, if he truly thought that he couldn't be trusted then he wouldn't have done that especially with something as close and personal to him as this (and it makes me wonder, though, whether it was Luo Fei who requested Huo Wensi or Xiao Man who suggested it to discuss the whole thing with Captain in that scene, because that would add a lot more perspective).

and then after Huo Wensi is arrested for arson/murder, that doesn't even change anything about their dynamic! WHAT.

Precisely! Really, this makes me want to pick apart Bai Yu's brain on the choices made, whether they were already in the script and he was directed as such or he made those choices himself, because that dynamic truly is something.

Oh my god YES PLEASE. He's so good when he's completely dropping the genteel façade and going all-out murderous and violent and without ordinary boundaries.

I was literally that Marina and the Diamonds smirk meme when that happened. I was like, "Oh?....Oh! Why, ~hello there." ;)

And I wouldn't mind the cliffhanger so much if there were more of a fandom playing with it, and writing fic about what comes next ... but alas.

It does make me sad that the fandom is incredibly small, to the point where it's practically nonexistent at this point. :( But I'm thankful to find other fans out there, particularly on DW, and especially Huo Wensi fans because from I've observed he doesn't get enough appreciation. And I just love him so, so much, and being able to share in this squee with you makes me so happy.

[trobadora]

I would've loved to have seen what Huo Wensi had been up when nobody else was looking, who he was in contact with, how he managed to get the information he needed, how he accomplished the things he did, etc.

YES! That's such a good point about the arson/bank case and the flashbacks there. Given that, the lack of anything like it in the final case, when it comes to explaining Huo Wensi's side of things, is really very obvious. What a loss!

The way Chen Mengqi played him was so captivating.

Yes! He really captures the different nuances of the character perfectly, the layers shining through, the abrupt shift from mild-mannered to effortlessly violent, that impression he gives that he's always got a few more twists up his sleeve ... ♥ ♥ ♥

I think episodes 13 through 15 are my favorite because we see Huo Wensi's mask cracking just a little bit, and even when Luo Fei is reading him for filth at the bank there's a lot of little facial reactions, the way he kind of gives little smirks and quirks his mouth just so whenever it's with Luo Fei, like you can see that sharp edge underneath just peeking through, it's just so, so interesting to watch.

Yes! It's the case where we get the most of him, so naturally it's my favourite, and there are so many things to love about it! Also, it has my favourite Huo Wensi moment overall: that moment in the prison courtyard when he's being beaten up ... and his expression says he's exactly where he wants to be. He's not there because he's been caught out in his too-clever scheme - he's there because he's after Captain. Wow! Just, wow. That was the moment when I knew I was in love with him. *g*

God, that whole moment was so interesting to me, just how desperation made Luo Fei basically break his whole cold shoulder attitude with Huo Wensi, which makes the next time we see them together even more interesting because he goes right back to his whole, "I don't work with other people" thing.

Right? It's AMAZING. I adore it to pieces.

(and it makes me wonder, though, whether it was Luo Fei who requested Huo Wensi or Xiao Man who suggested it to discuss the whole thing with Captain in that scene, because that would add a lot more perspective)

Oooh, excellent question! I assumed it was Luo Fei, but it would make sense either way. It does make a difference!

Really, this makes me want to pick apart Bai Yu's brain on the choices made, whether they were already in the script and he was directed as such or he made those choices himself, because that dynamic truly is something.

Yeah, I would love to know that, too! I mean, it's so consistent and such a huge part of their dynamic that it almost has to be scripted, right? But if so, then I want to pick apart the scriptwriter's brain and figure out what they were thinking! You don't just write, or act, something like that without having some theory about what's causing this dynamic, surely!

But I'm thankful to find other fans out there, particularly on DW, and especially Huo Wensi fans because from I've observed he doesn't get enough appreciation. And I just love him so, so much, and being able to share in this squee with you makes me so happy.

Likewise! It's just so good to be able to share it. ♥ ♥ ♥

[rogueslayer452]

Also, it has my favourite Huo Wensi moment overall: that moment in the prison courtyard when he's being beaten up ... and his expression says he's exactly where he wants to be. He's not there because he's been caught out in his too-clever scheme - he's there because he's after Captain.

Oh, definitely, especially in hindsight knowing that he deliberately wanted to be caught in order to get closer to Captain. That's something I enjoy going back and watching those episodes all over again, knowing that despite Luo Fei pretty much catching him red-handed he was always a few steps ahead of them the entire time. Also, I truly believe that he wanted Luo Fei to be the one to catch him, similar to how he most likely wanted that confrontation with him on the bridge in the final episode. He knows Luo Fei is a brilliant detective, has seen what he does and how he works, so he probably anticipated that he would figure it out and he prepared himself for that inevitability once it happened. It adds more layers to their equal obsessions with each other (and their obsessions with Captain) for different reasons. It's fascinating, and delicious.

Plus, I love seeing him getting whumped. Having him being beaten up three times in the drama? *chefs kiss*

(Of course, it makes me wonder what would've happened if he hadn't been caught? I mean, I'm sure he knew he would be, because obviously, but on the off-chance that he wasn't, would he just continue to commit more crimes to attract Luo Fei's attention? Would that be too much of a risk and he would find some other way of getting close to Captain?)

You don't just write, or act, something like that without having some theory about what's causing this dynamic, surely!

Seriously! It deeply intrigues me.

I mean, it could be as simple as "Luo Fei gets a bad vibe from the guy, decides he wants nothing to do with him", which makes sense considering that he is intuitive and his inability to get a read on Huo Wensi bothered him, but there's definitely more to it than just that. There's more going on underneath the surface. I wish there were some behind-the-scenes stuff where they kind of explain the dynamic, I mean I found a couple videos on Weibo (because I've been desperate for any content from the drama) but sadly they're not subtitled so I don't know what is being said. But I know they were talking about Huo Wensi's role, so there might've been something in there, from the actor's perspective at least.

Likewise! It's just so good to be able to share it. ♥ ♥ ♥

:D

[trobadora]

knowing that despite Luo Fei pretty much catching him red-handed he was always a few steps ahead of them the entire time

Yes! I love it so much. Totally agreed, he did want Luo Fei to be the one who caught him - he's poking at him personally for a reason. They're both weird about each other, each in their own way, and it's excellent. And they understand each other on a level other people don't - I loved the paralleling between them early on, solving cases from the same clues and all that - but that also means Huo Wensi knows that if he let someone else catch him, Luo Fei would pick that apart in a moment and realise things weren't adding up. Because no matter how much he refuses to work with Huo Wensi, Luo Fei doesn't underestimate him. So making him think he'd solved something was the best way to make him miss (until the end!) the real reason Huo Wensi needed to end up in prison ...

Of course, it makes me wonder what would've happened if he hadn't been caught? I mean, I'm sure he knew he would be, because obviously, but on the off-chance that he wasn't, would he just continue to commit more crimes to attract Luo Fei's attention?

I think he'd have made sure more clues came Luo Fei's way until he figured out what he was supposed to figure out, but Huo Wensi surely would have been very disappointed if that had been necessary. *g*

I mean, it could be as simple as "Luo Fei gets a bad vibe from the guy, decides he wants nothing to do with him", which makes sense considering that he is intuitive and his inability to get a read on Huo Wensi bothered him, but there's definitely more to it than just that.

And also, when Huo Wensi asks his help courting Qin Xiaoman, Luo Fei is not happy but also doesn't refuse! And he does pass on the message, essentially asking her out for Huo Wensi. That's just not a "this guy is bad news" reaction, you know? It's "I personally can't stand being around him FOR REASONS, but in general he's okay, feel free to date him if you want" ...

I wish there were some behind-the-scenes stuff where they kind of explain the dynamic, I mean I found a couple videos on Weibo (because I've been desperate for any content from the drama) but sadly they're not subtitled so I don't know what is being said. But I know they were talking about Huo Wensi's role, so there might've been something in there, from the actor's perspective at least.

Ooh! Do you still have links? I've seen a few BTS bits (unsubbed, yeah, unfortunately), but it's been a while and I'm not sure if I saw them all.

[rogueslayer452]

And they understand each other on a level other people don't - I loved the paralleling between them early on, solving cases from the same clues and all that

I loved seeing that, and I loved the connection they have with each other and how they're equally matched in that way.

Because no matter how much he refuses to work with Huo Wensi, Luo Fei doesn't underestimate him. So making him think he'd solved something was the best way to make him miss (until the end!) the real reason Huo Wensi needed to end up in prison ...

Very true, and that was so clever of him. I liked how calm he was during that whole interrogation moment at the bank, he wasn't giving too much or too little but just enough for Luo Fei to feel like he was finally catching him, that he solved something, giving him that kind of stimulus that he knows that Luo Fei needs, and although Luo Fei isn't entirely satisfied given how he still thinks that Huo Wensi is up to something despite being in prison (and he's right, he just doesn't have all the clues yet), he pretty much played right into Huo Wensi's hands in getting him where he wanted to be to carry out the next part of his plan.

I also love their little conversation when Luo Fei is visiting him at the prison. I believe that was the first time they were talking to each other alone, one-on-one.

That's just not a "this guy is bad news" reaction, you know? It's "I personally can't stand being around him FOR REASONS, but in general he's okay, feel free to date him if you want" ...

Yeah, exactly! If he truly felt like he wasn't bad news he would've warned Xiao Man about him, or not relayed the message to her at all and kept it to himself (like the petty bitch he is with Huo Wensi, lol), but I think that while his intuition was telling him something was off, he didn't have any further evidence to offer proof of that feeling. But even then, he still was questioning him in that scene in his office since he claims that to him anyone is suspicious (but very pointedly Huo Wensi at that moment), and he still went ahead of relayed that message to Xiao Man. It's weird and complicated and contradictory, and I'm just so intrigued on what was going on inside of his head, and the motivations of those particular choices that were, as you said, pretty consistent throughout the whole drama between Luo Fei and Huo Wensi. That we never got an answer to.

And this is a reason why I'm so drawn to them, the lack of explanation gives us so much to theorize.

Ooh! Do you still have links? I've seen a few BTS bits (unsubbed, yeah, unfortunately), but it's been a while and I'm not sure if I saw them all.

There's this one and this one, which are the only unsubbed interviews I've found outside of cast fashion one that is on YouTube, which is also unsubbed. I even found a preview that features Huo Wensi talking in regards to the next case, which is interesting because it's the case right after he's been arrested and also the shots are him sitting in the chair/set they have him in for the opening credits of the drama. I just found it neat. (I just wish I knew what he was saying.)

I've also seen some Luo Fei/Huo Wensi videos over there, such as this one which seems to be a bit more Huo Wensi-centric, and this one, and even this hilarious one which seems to be like a "showdown" between the two of them.

I hope the links work for you. I've found recently that when linking individual posts when there's a video it'll do some kind of thing where it'll turn gray like it's broken but all you gotta do is refresh and play the video immediately when it pops up and you'll be fine, also an annoying little pop-up will appear which I think is about getting the Weibo app (which I don't). You can just click away, but it'll continue to pop up which, again, annoying, but doable.

[trobadora]

and although Luo Fei isn't entirely satisfied given how he still thinks that Huo Wensi is up to something despite being in prison (and he's right, he just doesn't have all the clues yet), he pretty much played right into Huo Wensi's hands in getting him where he wanted to be to carry out the next part of his plan.

Yes, this! Luo Fei doesn't quite fall for it, and yet he does, in the way Huo Wensi needs him to - whatever he thinks Huo Wensi is up to, he definitely doesn't believe he got himself into prison on purpose. *g*

I also love their little conversation when Luo Fei is visiting him at the prison. I believe that was the first time they were talking to each other alone, one-on-one.

Oh, yes, that was excellent! :D

or not relayed the message to her at all and kept it to himself (like the petty bitch he is with Huo Wensi, lol)

Yeah, honestly, I was shocked that he didn't do that! AMAZING.

It's weird and complicated and contradictory, and I'm just so intrigued on what was going on inside of his head, and the motivations of those particular choices that were, as you said, pretty consistent throughout the whole drama between Luo Fei and Huo Wensi. That we never got an answer to.

Yes this! And I would read a million fanfics or meta posts or whatever about all of this, it's just endlessly fascinating!

I even found a preview that features Huo Wensi talking in regards to the next case, which is interesting because it's the case right after he's been arrested and also the shots are him sitting in the chair/set they have him in for the opening credits of the drama. I just found it neat. (I just wish I knew what he was saying.)

Yeah, that was really fascinating even understanding maybe one word in ten, LOL!

Many thanks for the Weibo links, seriously, these are all great, the vids included. I hadn't seen these before that I can remember. Damn, I wish I understood more Chinese.

(Weibo links sometimes randomly don't work for me at all; this time all of them worked without a hitch. Even Weibo supports my Huo Wensi obsession! *g*)

[rogueslayer452]

Yes this! And I would read a million fanfics or meta posts or whatever about all of this, it's just endlessly fascinating!

Oh yes, same here. Everything about them is so meaty and juicy that I just want to sink my teeth into all the theories and analyses of their whole relationship and the possibilities of what could've been. There's tons of plotbunnies that can emerge from it.

And you're very welcome! :)

Yeah, Weibo can be quite weird sometimes, so I'm glad that it worked for you.

[corvidology]

I love Ben Jieming and ship Luo Fei/Ben Jieming but the few friends I have who are in this fandom are Luo Fei/Huo Wensi shippers all the way so it's lovely to meet someone who ships Luo Fei/Ben Jieming as well as Luo Fei/Huo Wensi! :D

[rogueslayer452]

The dynamics of both those pairings are just so compelling to me, like they're such polar opposites and yet I'm just drawn to them for different reasons. Luo Fei/Ben Jieming have that "friends to lovers" thing going on, while Luo Fei/Huo Wensi have that "enemies to lovers"/"enemies with benefits" angle that I find so utterly delicious. Both work for me. :)

[facethestrange]

I haven't heard much about Detective L, but I've recently started watching Guardian and there seems to be a lot of fandom overlap. :D (Guardian seems to be more of my genre, though.)

[rogueslayer452]

Yeah, Bai Yu (who plays Zhao Yunlan in Guardian) is the main lead in Detective L, which interestingly I think both his characters in those dramas are quite alike, at least similar in personality and mannerisms. Most Guardian fans ended up watching Detective L for him, hence the fandom overlap (and also making crossover fanworks from Detective L and Guardian and Granting You A Dreamlike Life, a drama also set in the 1930s with Shen Wei's actor, Zhu Yilong).

If you're someone who like detective shows, you might enjoy Detective L if you're curious about in the future. It's set in 1930s Shanghai and doesn't have any supernatural/scifi elements, but I think it's quite good, very solid despite the cliffhanger ending.

[facethestrange]

That would explain it! :D

Yeah, I think I'll pass because detective shows (any shows that are only/mostly about solving criminal cases) are honestly the one genre I find the least interesting. Bai Yu's character does sound awesome though because I adore Zhao Yunlan so far. :D And the historical aspect sounds intriguing too, hmm.

[rogueslayer452]

Hey, that's totally fair, everyone has their own preferences. I will say, though, that sometimes there can be certain exceptions depending on how well a story is told in a genre that isn't usually your taste.

[facethestrange]

Oh, definitely, I completely agree! :)

Honestly, the reason this genre doesn't work for me is that I'm straight-up incapable of caring "what happens next" (in any fandom, medium, genre I've ever experienced; which is also why I personally can't comprehend that a cliffhanger could be either a problem or something that would make me curious about its resolution, even though I obviously know that this is what it does to other people; and also why I always put a book away not just mid-chapter and mid-paragraph but usually also mid-sentence), I can only care about what happened up to this point.

And the 'criminal case' genre (which I don't know how else to call because it's definitely not mystery or procedural, because there are mysteries or procedurals about other topics than criminal cases) seems to be the main genre where you're supposed to be curious about what the final answer/resolution/culprit/whatever is, and it's not something I can do, so it feels like the genre is constantly poking me to do something impossible and it doesn't feel nice or interesting. xD I'm weird. xD But if this is out of the picture because the "of course you WANT to know what happens next, who wouldn't?" element is small enough to ignore, then I have no problem with this genre itself. :)

[shadaras]

Hello I am simply here to wave and nod furiously in agreement about all your Huo Wensi opinions! :D

trobadora linked me over here, and I am also delighted to meet another person who loves Huo Wensi as much as we do! He was definitely one of the most unexpected wonders of Detective L, especially when all the repressed violence and gray morality were unleashed at the end. <3

(also I would just like to say that the music you tagged on this post feels extremely fitting to the vibes of Huo Wensi/Luo Fei in general...)

[rogueslayer452]

Hello and welcome! :D

And yes, I agree, Huo Wensi was such an unexpected surprise for me, he was such an utter delight that it makes me somewhat sad the drama didn't delve deeper into the character a bit after the reveal at the end, because him being unhinged? That gray mortality angle? That is something worth exploring, I want to sink my teeth into that. The fandom itself may be quite small, and the appreciation for Huo Wensi even smaller, but I'm glad to find more people who appreciate and love him as much as I do. So, yay!

also I would just like to say that the music you tagged on this post feels extremely fitting to the vibes of Huo Wensi/Luo Fei in general...

It really is, isn't it? That was completely unintentional, lol, since I have been listening to that remixed cover of the song ad nauseam for a little over a week now. But it really is fitting for them, absolutely.