Recently, a costume idol drama “Eternal Night Galaxy” wrapped up filming. The drama, starring Ding Yuxi and Yu Shuxin, tells the story of a modern girl who crosses into the world of a novel and becomes the villainous supporting actress. However, what caught the attention of netizens was not the tortured love story between the male and female leads but rather Gillian Chung playing the mother of the male supporting character. Can Gillian Chung, at her age, convincingly portray the mother of the male supporting character? This question has sparked controversy.
Costume idol dramas, abbreviated as “Gu-ou” dramas, are a major feature of domestic dramas. Every year, numerous new works appear, attracting a large number of young viewers. However, the quality of these dramas varies greatly. Some have excellent scripts, outstanding actors, and fine production quality, such as “The Lotus Tower,” “Longing Heart,” and “Antique Love Song,” which have won unanimous praise from audiences. Others have lackluster scripts, mediocre actors, and rough production, such as “Long Moon Ember,” “Jia Nan Chuan,” and “Hua Rong,” which have been ridiculed and criticized by audiences. This shows that audiences have standards for the quality and aesthetics of costume idol dramas and are not willing to accept anything less.
“Eternal Night Galaxy” is a costume idol drama adapted from an online novel. It tells the story of Ling Miaomiao (played by Yu Shuxin), who crosses into the novel “Catch the Monster” and becomes the villainous third female character. She not only helps the male lead Liu Fuyi (played by Yang Shize) and the female lead Mu Yao (played by Zhu Xudan) get together but also tries to capture the heart of the black-bellied male supporting character Mu Sheng (played by Ding Yuxi). The relationships between the characters in the drama are intricate and full of conflicts, making it captivating.
Gillian Chung plays Mu Rong’er, Mu Sheng’s biological mother, who is also a charming woman. She has two personalities: one is the kind-hearted Mu Rong’er, and the other is the vicious woman consumed by hatred. Later, she is devoured by the latter and becomes an antagonist. As a versatile actress, Gillian Chung has outstanding appearance and acting skills. Her appearance in the drama is exquisite, with flowing white clothes and fluttering petals, giving her an ethereal aura.
She is in excellent condition, with well-defined features and fair skin, showing no signs of her being 42 years old. Her acting skills are also on point, portraying both personalities and emotions of Mu Rong’er, evoking both love and hatred.
However, Gillian Chung playing the mother of Ding Yuxi in “Eternal Night Galaxy” has sparked controversy among netizens. Some believe that Gillian Chung’s age and the role she played are not compatible, as the age gap between her and Ding Yuxi is too small to convincingly portray a mother-son relationship, but rather a sister-brother or romantic relationship.
Some believe that Gillian Chung has the right to challenge herself and try roles that do not match her age. This is a kind of respect for actors and a fresh experience for audiences. I think both viewpoints have their merits but also their biases.
I believe that actors should choose roles that are suitable for their age and conditions, rather than pursuing novelty and challenges excessively. Every age group has its own beauty, and by finding the right position and playing their roles well, actors can convince the audience, make the characters three-dimensional, and make the plot realistic. Of course, this does not mean that actors cannot have breakthroughs and innovations, but they should do so within reasonable limits, rather than going too far. For example, it’s too far-fetched for someone in middle age to try to play the role of a teenager. Audiences are not foolish; they can see through it.
Therefore, I urge audiences to approach actors’ choices rationally, and I also call on actors to be sensible about their roles. Instead of trying to cater to trends or challenge limits, they should not ignore their age and conditions. They should find the right position for themselves and play their roles well to make costume idol dramas more exciting and authentic.
