LayarHijau – Chinese actress Victoria Song and actor Ding Yu Xi star in the popular Chinese historical drama “Fight for Love” (山河枕). The drama tells a complex love story known as a “fake sister-in-law and brother-in-law relationship,” where two people with feelings for each other must contend with restrictive social status and public opinion. The forbidden nature of the storyline has successfully captivated audiences who enjoy deeply conflicted romances and emotional drama.
Victoria Song Delivers a Resolute Performance as a Female General
In her first appearance, Victoria Song, playing Chu Yu, immediately drew attention. Her firm gaze and clean movements, blending the grace of dance with the severity of martial arts, earned praise from the director for her ability to “integrate the rhythm of dance into martial arts,” showcasing a strong and professional aura befitting a female general.
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Some netizens lauded her performance, stating, “Victoria Song has transitioned from a lead idol dancer to a female martial artist in a historical drama!” and deeming the performance a significant moment in her career.
Acting Commitment: Intense Training and Losing 40 kg
Victoria Song’s commitment to the role of Chu Yu was intense. She reportedly underwent several months of high-intensity martial arts and physical training, including swinging a spear 800 times a day and wearing heavy armor during filming. Despite shooting in freezing temperatures, the 168 cm actress chose to refuse a stunt double, a dedication that led the action coordinator to nickname her “capable of being a stunt double.”
For the challenging character, Victoria Song maintained strict physical management, leading her weight to drop drastically to 40 kilograms.
Ding Yu Xi Embodies Profound Grief
Meanwhile, Ding Yu Xi portrays Wei Yun, the beloved youngest son of the Marquis Zhen Guo. One of the most moving scenes is when he witnesses his father and elder brother fall in battle. He prepared for the emotional funeral procession by constructing a deep psychological narrative, internalizing the character’s guilt: “Father, Elder Brother, I tried my best… Why didn’t you just take me with you?” Ding Yu Xi’s profound portrayal of grief earned him widespread appreciation.
Mixed Audience Response: Praising Dedication vs. Criticizing Chemistry
Although the individual dedication and acting of Victoria Song and Ding Yu Xi received high praise, the drama “Fight for Love” itself has sparked debate and criticism across international and Chinese viewer forums.
The most prominent criticism focuses on the lack of on-screen chemistry between the two leads. Some viewers felt the romantic storyline between Chu Yu and Wei Yun was unconvincing and lacked a strong “spark,” causing the forbidden romance to feel lackluster in parts. Furthermore, the age difference between the actors was heavily highlighted, with some viewers harshly commenting that the pairing resembled a relationship between a “mother and son.”
Critics also noted that the drama began to “lose its appeal” and the plot became less engaging after the mid-episodes. This weakness in pacing and declining plot development was viewed as hindering the great potential carried by the two main actors.
