On the night of January 5, the recognition index of Guardians of the Dafeng peaked at 29,800, simply shy of the 30,000 milestone, on Tencent Video. The C-drama has additionally formally made it onto Tencent’s annual in-platform rating record.
Guardians of the Dafeng additionally ranks among the many high reveals on varied platforms and information lists equivalent to Maoyan, Douban, Datawin, Yunhe, Kuyun, Lanying, and Vlinkage. The Okay-drama can be topping chart of Disney+ Taiwan.
However, regardless of the rising recognition, viewers’ critiques nonetheless stay divided.
Guardians of the Dafeng is without doubt one of the largest IPs to be tailored into a display screen manufacturing in recent times. It is attributable to this indisputable fact that many folks started speaking concerning the drama obsessively as early as its mission approval stage. Some even labeled Guardians of the Dafeng a blockbuster even earlier than its launch, pinning their hopes on it changing into a sensation. Even earlier than its premiere, the sequence had secured sponsorship offers with 26 manufacturers, held a giant launch occasion, and arranged a grand press convention.
On its premiere day, Guardians of the Dafeng‘s recognition index reached simply over 26,000. Every week into its broadcast, it was nonetheless hovering round 28,000. Now, its highest recognition index has climbed to solely 29,800. This pales compared to Pleasure of Life Season 2, which reached 32,900 on the day of its return and peaked at over 34,000. Equally, it falls in need of Love Sport in Japanese Fantasy and Blossom, which surpassed 30,000 simply days after their premieres. Furthermore, with its plot primarily based on transmigration, netizens can not help however evaluate it to one of many all-time hit C-dramas Pleasure of Life.
Guardians of the Dafeng tells the story of a modern-day workplace employee, Yang Ling, who unexpectedly finds himself within the fantasy-filled world of the Dafeng Dynasty. There, he goes by the title of Xu Qi An (Dylan Wang), a Copper Gong tasked with fixing instances for the folks of Dafeng. Using the data and abilities from his life within the fashionable world, together with scientific data and deductive reasoning, he efficiently cracks a sequence of weird instances, incomes the popularity of a grasp investigator in Dafeng.
Throughout the Dafeng dynasty, varied forces — such because the royal household, the Astronomical Bureau, and highly effective sects — vie for energy. By means of his wit and expertise, Xu Qi An protects the widespread folks and transforms from a no person to folks’s hero.
That is the traditional storytelling template for transmigration dramas. Each Guardians of the Dafeng and Pleasure of Life are primarily based on the premise of a contemporary particular person being transported to a fictional historical world, which makes comparisons between the 2 inevitable.
In Pleasure of Life, Fan Xian (Zhang Ruo Yun) begins as a contemporary man who will get transported to the Qing Empire. He’s missed and belittled and his path to progress is fraught with challenges, as he navigates the treacherous worlds of court docket politics and the martial arts group.
By skillfully maneuvering amongst varied factions, Fan Xian carves out an area for himself whereas holding onto beliefs of justice and equality. Over time, he evolves from a naive younger man right into a pivotal determine able to influencing energy politics.
In comparison with the extra critical and politically charged tone of Pleasure of Life, Guardians of the Dafeng manufacturers itself as a “hip-hop fantasy.” It makes an attempt to mix parts of time journey, fantasy, suspense, and comedy into one bundle, a daring and distinctive twist on Wuxia dramas. Nevertheless, many viewers will not be receptive to this mishmash method. Listed below are a few of the criticisms drama is dealing with.
In Guardians of the Dafeng, the royal household, the Astronomical Bureau, Confucian students from academies, and martial arts sects make appearances one after one other. Characters can fly, vanish, and carry out extraordinary feats, whereas the Astronomical Bureau wields every kind of magical powers, and monsters ceaselessly present up. Such a sprawling and sophisticated world is just not clearly defined on the begin of the present. As an alternative, it’s offered abruptly, leaving viewers to piece it collectively on their very own.
Furthermore, the protagonist Xu Qi An, who travels from the fashionable world, adapts to the setting of Dafeng virtually immediately. With out experiencing any psychological struggles, he jumps straight into fixing instances as if utterly unfazed by his new actuality.
Within the unique novel, Xu Qi An’s character improvement is gradual. He fastidiously navigates the traditional world, beginning as a small determine who solely needs to stay a peaceable life and keep away from hassle. Over time, he grows right into a hero with a deep sense of justice and duty. Nevertheless, the TV adaptation skips these essential steps, making Xu Qi An immediately rework into an everyday Dafeng man. He jumps straight into fixing instances at lightning pace, whereas the supporting characters appear to effortlessly observe his lead, advancing the plot in sync.
This rushed development leaves viewers feeling that the present lacks human heat and as a substitute has a robust AI-generated vibe.
Whereas Guardians of the Dafeng has confronted some criticism, there are a number of elements of the present followers are praising. One in every of them is Dylan Wang’s appeal and vitality as he brings to life Xu Qi An.
His portrayal of a sharp-witted investigator makes the character interesting, even when Xu Qi An’s adaptation to the Dafeng world feels abrupt.
One of many standout parts of Guardians of the Dafeng is its intelligent use of comedy. The humor is woven into each the dialogue and the conditions, creating moments of lightheartedness that stability out the depth of the suspense parts.
Moreover, the interactions between the eccentric supporting characters — such because the quirky officers, martial artists — are sometimes hilarious. This mix of humor and journey makes the C-drama one among a sort to ever grace the display screen.
Supply: Baidu