#strangetalesoftangdynasty — Public Fediverse posts

I bet this guy would have been a hit selling cannola oil! (See earlier toots for explanation.)

#StrangeTalesOfTangDynasty #BareChested #CDrama #wuxia

Because gripping her naked wrist would have been scandalous! _Scandalous_ I say!

(No, Su is not gripping for straws here, there _is_ a difference - just not as dramatic as it looks. It may be two days' worth of travelling speaking, but I'm still giggling like a 5yr old.)

#StrangeTalesOfTangDynasty #CDrama #wuxia #CDramaCrime

Getting back from Valhalla has made me a bit tired so...

...two colour palette. Looks good despite crime of sepia filter. Nice angles, and well balanced - production has really stepped up their game in s2! And that pattern is printed for production, but could as well be woven...

*glances at rigid heddle loom*

...Not tonight, Arachne, not tonight!

#StrangeTalesOfTangDynasty #CDrama #wuxia #CDramaCrime

A++ for this camera angle and blocking! We don't need the subtitle, we already know he's saying
'You have my sword!'

(For some reason I want to add
"And my bow!"
"And my weirdly shaped knitting loom!"

There are way too few knitted scarves in fantasy - and even less in wuxia!)

#StrangeTalesOfTangDynasty #blocking #CDrama #wuxia #CDramaCrime

Yes, it's cool that Ma tumbles into the baldachin, but that fabric is definitely cooler! The sections are at least 120cm wide, and the blue ones have their pattern woven into the fabric. Well, it's either the latter or props' printed two sets of sheets and stitched them together to make them look like jaquard - a feat in itself. A+ for effort and execution!

#StrangeTalesOfTangDynasty #MarthaGetsDistractedAgain #CDrama #wuxia #CDramaCrime

This is ab-so-lu-te-ly a kind farmer selling his ginger, not an undercover cop - what gives you _that_ impression?

#StrangeTalesOfTangDynasty #CDrama #wuxia #CDramaCrime

No, they didn't accidentally set off the doomsday device - they just closed a deal on a short-term rental. Apparently Tang had AirBnB* long before the rest of the world. Knowing Chinese history it kinda' checks out.

(*As in short-term rentals with inflated prices)

#StrangeTalesOfTangDynasty #CDramaCrime #wuxia #CDrama

I like that in almost all cases the actual villain is corruption.

(Eye contact in pic.)

#StrangeTalesOfTangDynasty #CDrama #wuxia #CDramaCrime

This waiter at the inn is rapidly becoming my favourite.

(Abridged)
NahWeDon'tHaveAnyWine.
...WeHaveSoupNoodlesIfYouDon'tWantAnyI'llPutOutTheFire"

I should probably meditate over why I'm so fond of characters with no fucks to give, but I'm not sure I can be ars... bothered.

#StrangeTalesOfTangDynasty #CDrama #wuxia #CDramaCrime

The sheriff is literally walking into the setting sun. It's indulgencies like these that makes me watch C-drama!

#StrangeTalesOfTangDynasty #CDramaCrime #wuxia #CDramaCrime

After a genuinely good fight we'll waste time on a second session with two men and their long pointy things.

Edit: I'm obliged to tell you the session was short and sweet. Thankfully.

#MarthaGetsSnarky #StrangeTalesOfTangDynasty #CDramaCrime #wuxia #CDrama

Chicken Fed is here to remind you to raise your prices when the demand grows for your services.

#StrangeTalesOfTangDynasty #ArtBusiness #CDrama #wuxia #CDramaCrime

Look at that! I love the light! It both illuminates Su Wuming and gives him a proper contrast. There's also a clear line from his eyes via magistrate Dugu (sitting at the desk) to the dark figure to the right. We even get the bottom of a triangle through the outer edge of the desk. Your eyes will start at Su, follow the top line to see the other characters, and then return to him.

#StrangeTalesOfTangDynasty #blocking #CDrama #wuxia #CDramaCrime

My thought process here:

"Oooooh! That chest over there! [Farthest left] No! There are _two_ of them waiting at the estate! I do not need another chest."

"I. Do. Not. Need. Another. Chest!"

"1.2.3.4 Four potted plants... Have I missed some?"

"A podium on a podium? People must have tripped a lot during the Tang era! Or at least the production team."

I'm not very good at being focused.

#StrangeTalesOfTangDynasty #MarthaGetsDistractedAgain #SetDesign #CDrama #wuxia

I've been waiting for a better shot of the princess' dress, and I'm not sure I get one. It's not just that it's glorious, it's one of many magnificent outfits she wears this season. I love the colours! I adore the gradient! And..

...it's late so I have to do this quietly...

woohoooo! embroideries!

#StrangeTalesOfTangDynasty #costuming #CDrama #wuxia #CDramaCrime

Season 2 has better costuming over all, and while there are some glorious embroideries I want to point out the genious of this painter's clothes. He's wearing gigantic ink splotches that both look hyper realistic and like they are stylisations. A+

(To avoid confusion; the line is spoken by Xijun who's been brought in to add the last details. She sides with her collegue.)

(Eye contact in pic)

#StrangeTalesOfTangDynasty #costuming #CDrama #wuxia #CDramaCrime

I'm starting to think about Strange Tales of Tang Dynasty as 'the potted plant C-drama'. It's not that I haven't seen indoor plants in other dramas, nor are unfamiliar with their background - it's that there are so many of them, and several are gigantic* gardens.

(*for the format)

#StrangeTalesOfTangDynasty #IndoorPlants #CDrama #wuxia #CDramaCrime

Who ever designed the props for this set is instantly my friend and will decorate my house once I get outrageously rich! That's almost exactly the oven I want!

#MarthaGetsDistractedAgain #StrangeTalesOfTangDynasty #SetDesign #CDrama #wuxia

At this point of the intro to season two my only thought is
"Please have colour, _please_ have colour!"

#StrangeTalesOfTangDynasty #Colours #CDrama #wuxia #CDramaCrime

That floor is gorgeous! The entire set for the tower gets high ratings in my book, and the floor is definitely the piéce de résistance! A++

#StrangeTalesOfTangDynasty #CDrama #wuxia #CDramaCrime

That three-double collar is a thing of beauty! Note the slight curves that - while hardly vidible - gives an extra ornamental vibe. And they were sensible enough to add gold embroideries on it! A Western clothes designer would have gone "less is more", put two pearls on each flap, and called it a day.

(Eye contact in pic.)

#StrangeTalesOfTangDynasty #costuming #CDramaCrime #wuxia #CDrama

Frustrating! The scenography is not as striking in Strange Tales of Tang Dynasty as in White Cat Legend, but I can't pinpoint why. In the former every scene feels slightly off. Here Su (white) is flawlessly placed, the shopkeeper could be his counterweight. Unfortunately three irrelevant lamps are photobombing them and disrupting the balance. If the lamps had been bronze coloured instead of black the scene would've been much better.

#StrangeTalesOfTangDynasty #scenography #CDrama #wuxia

891 recluses (elsewhere), 4 potted plants, and 2 vases with flowers.

#MarthaGetsDistractedAgain #StrangeTalesOfTangDynasty #CDrama #wuxia #CDramaCrime

If I ever stumble across this one I'd immediately lose myself among the shelves, build a small nest between two units, and never leave again. You know it has all the good stuff, but you only find it _once_.

#StrangeTalesOfTangDynasty #bookstore #CDrama #wuxia #CDramaCrime

Hm

Daphne, Fred, ...er... Shaggy, ...and... hm... Vilma.

The hyperbole gets less accurate the further left you get, but am I the only one who gets Scooby Doo vibes?

(Also, note their positions; Xijin in blue stands in front of a bluish-grey pillar foundation, whereas Yintao in red stands in front of a yellow & red house. Those two brings balance to the pic. Lu and Su are placed against contrasting values, and thus attract attention.)

#StrangeTalesOfTangDynasty #CDrama #wuxia #CDramaCrime

This, oth, is awesome! I don't care how unrealistic it is, _it's awesome!_

#StrangeTalesOfTangDynasty #CDrama #wuxia #CDramaCrime

It's a good fight, but after all that pompous "for the good of Tang" and "there's only people of Tang here" I root for the villain on principle. I have little patience for Dubya level of propaganda inserts*.

(*see toot below)

#StrangeTalesOfTangDynasty #CDrama #wuxia #CDramaCrime

I haven't said much about the costumes in this drama, mostly because there isn't much to say about them. They're often toned down to blandness. So the dress here is a rare treat! I love her glass prism embroidery, and how different shades of blue are working together - especially the gradients on her sleeves! Florish the costumes, you cowards! Colours and embroideries won't bite you!

#StrangeTalesOfTangDynasty #costuming #CDrama #wuxia #CDramaCrime

If you try to save money by using rented costumes, check if the nylon has been worn fuzzy, and shave it if it has - lest close-ups will betray you.

#StrangeTalesOfTangDynasty #costuming #CDrama #CDramaCrime #wuxia

CNC routers - the happy cousins of machine embroidery.

#StrangeTalesOfTangDynasty #CDrama #CDramaCrime #PropMaking #wuxia

For the record: if that were me all that stuff in the hair would've been brush pens I'd forgotten about three hours ago.

#StrangeTalesOfTangDynasty #HairPins #CDramaCrime #CDrama #wuxia

The man sniffing the gourd is the leader of the Tuo followers, and set up to be an Eeeevil Villain. But so far he's spent his time lecturing people sneaking away with wine bottles, or lecturing people who doesn't want to attend the Very Special Event, or being stressed out by the demands of the god. If he gets a "But mooom!" or suddenly exclaims
"If you don't behave, so help me I'm turning this blood sacrifice around!"
I won't be surprised

#StrangeTalesOfTangDynasty #CDramaCrime #CDrama #wuxia

I feel for the storyboarder(s). They have planned really good angles and lightning to enhance the scenes, and then someone slapped _heavy_ filters on everything, flattening the mood*. It's probably the big reason I find this show a bit boring, despite its strong script. But I managed to save one shot where the scenography shines through for you! Look at this! Awesome!

#StrangeTalesOfTangDynasty #CDramaCrime #CDrama #wuxia #BlueFilter

(*I'll explain in detail later. Enjoy this pic 'til then.)

On screen: *horrible murder*

Me: That pattern is gorgeous! The fabric is probably printed, but I bet it's possible to weave if...
...
...oh, yeah - _murder mystery_. I should focus on 'whodunnit'...
...
...I wonder if I can use my rigid heddle loom?

(Blood in pic)

#StrangeTalesOfTangDynasty #costuming #MarthaGetsDistractedAgain #CDrama #CDramaCrime

Don't mind me. I'm just trying to decide whether my school days would've been better or worse if I had that kind of backpack.

#StrangeTalesOfTangDynasty #MarthaGetsDistractedAgain #CDramaCrime #CDrama #wuxia