Friday, September 12, 2014

Steven's 技行天下 premiering 14/9/2014

The long awaited tv show premiers this Sunday 4/9/2014 at 21:20 (China time) . Stream Steven's 技行天下 live on Guangdong Satellite TV portal site-live streaming. or cctv.com portal site - need to install plugin to watch

Watch upload here on QIYI video site


Spoiler/Review: So laughable that a 'tailor' actually won a fashion designing championship over fellow fashion designers. Where were the creativity and fashion style so integral in a fashion show in his work of similar qi pao - just how many creative ways can you style a qi pao?  Though not my fashion style but at least the other fashion designers' clothes were more creative than a line of qi paos. My negativity has nothing to do with Steven's picks being out early in the show but rather with the uninspired fashion, the humdrum stage setup, the dull atmosphere of the show, also, the redundant professionals' commentary segment made this an hour and half show way too long. Furthermore, the identities of this winner and that of the next two episodes' winners have already been exposed along with their photos on weibo the same day of their competition way back in August, so, even that little suspense was gone for me. Truth be told, if not for Steven's involvement I would have skipped this 1st episode and the whole show itself - it's premise and execution are just not my cup of tea. Whereas Steven's Apprentice Chef 2's atmosphere crackled with judges' chemistry, heightened excitement and suspense thru use of music and lighting, this 技行天下's 1st episode fell flat. Hopefully, the 2nd episode is better .

Also, considering the brevity of Steven's screen time, hope this prolonged project of him is truly worth his effort, energy and time put into those past few months since July.  For myself, I would much rather he spent those past three months filming a tv drama series or holding a concert tour in mainland.

ETA:


My unfavorable view of the show had nothing to do with the dialect as I understand both Cantonese and Mandarin, but rather with the fluff and editing. Besides Steven's scene (even that came across fake), I had no interest whatsover in watching his co-judges' contrived locating of their candidates' workplaces. (especially put off by that blondie's (sorry, can't recall her name) cringeworthy ott acting to ham it up for the camera). Also found the panel of professional analysts' stilted commentary scenes contrived, redundant and extremely boring.

1) Unnecessary fluff: The scenes of judges locating the designers were contrived and scripted. Blondie was awkward to watch with her put-on coyness and effervescence,  and she seemed pretty self-consciousness for being on camera.

2) 30 minutes to churn up a fashionable design to determine semi-finalists? How? As expected, end result produces craft design instead of couture design.

3) safe-crafty-commercial/humdrum designs (as opposed to creative-original-couture designs): Love Steven's comment: "Two of the designs look like sleepwear" lol! Still he cast his vote for her - no choice cos' her rival line of qi pao had zero originality or creativity to speak off.

4) But I do have a good impression of the fashion designers. Their passion for their craft came across loud and clear. The 30 minutes 'craft' fashion designing contest is way too short to determine who is the most creative talented designer as opposed to craft designer, though I was impressed with some of their end products given the time.

I prefer that the scripted early scenes of hapeless judges locating their candidates be replaced with a more indepth interview of the candidates to promote their crafts and talents. Though not original in design, I do like Steven's picks - the 1st choice > the 2nd choice.  Last but not least, Steven did not have much screen time to hold my interest through this one and a half hour long show.

27 comments:

  1. Does anybody know whether are we able to watch he show in Malaysia's TV channel? I've tried search, can't get any information. Or probably can we see on line? Thanks.

    ReplyDelete
  2. Wendy, the links to live streaming are posted on the above post.

    ReplyDelete
  3. But need to install plug in to watch - how do we install then? Do you know Tamaya

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. http://v.gdtv.cn/option/com_content/ItemId/92/
      Irene: The guangdong tv site doesn't need plugin-- at least not for me.

      Delete
  4. Ha ha Tamaya. Despite of your advice to go Google to watch the Virtues of Harmony 2 fyi many of the websites still cannot watch . Hahaha

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I'm sorry to hear that. Why can't watch? Are the videos deleted or just not accessible to non mainland China? Can't watch even the link I previously posted on the comment board http://www.56.com/w69/play_album-aid-7148093_vid-MzIwNjUyNTA.html ? cos' I've no problem watching those videos.

      Delete
    2. Oh I hav not tried the link on the comment board though. Thanks once again Tamaya.

      Delete
    3. Oh Tamaya. Also cannot access to this link at all. Is it must access via computer and not hand phone?

      Delete
    4. Don't know if it is because of computer vs handphone! Just found out firefox can't access those videos either because the videos are blocked to viewers outside mainland China. But there is an add-on extension "youku unblock" on goggle chrome browser specifically programmed to circumvent that blocking. Go to Google chrome web store to add on "youku unblock" file. See if after add-on can watch previously blocked videos now. If not then I can't help you, sorry! https://chrome.google.com/webstore/search/youku%20unblock?hl=en-US

      Delete
    5. Try my luck again. Thanks Tamaya

      Delete
  5. Thanks Tamaya, will try to do it, hopefully able to watch.

    ReplyDelete
  6. May I say this reality show is a disappointment so far?

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Also, as an avid fan of US "Project Runway", the fashion here is not to my taste either.

      Delete
  7. Funny thing is that the winner was exposed on weibo right after the studio recording was done.

    ReplyDelete
  8. I couldn't get past 15 minutes. It was so boring, and not even close to Project Runway.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. High 5! Out of loyalty to Steven, I persisted watching the whole thingy but since I had split screens on my computer I could do other stuff on a different screen.

      Delete
  9. Hi ladies. Is the show in Mandarin or Cantonese? Since both of you said is boring, we can give it a miss. Ha ha

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. It's in Mandarin since it is a mainland reality show. Since you can always ff in the uploaded video unlike watching a live feed, why not judge the show for yourself? http://www.iqiyi.com/v_19rrnf51zo.html#vfrm=2-3-0-1

      Delete
  10. Erica, I just manually readjusted the size of the google browser and my Word screen, that's all.

    ReplyDelete
  11. Yup Tamaya I had watched the show as suggested n I dun really find it that boring. It's not fantastic but watching it One time is okay. Our idol doesn't talk that much though.probably cos in Mandarin ba.Haha

    ReplyDelete
  12. Maybe if the show is aired in HK and in canto , it cud be less boring??

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Irene, my unfavorable view of the show had nothing to do with the dialect as I understand both Cantonese and Mandarin, but rather with the fluff and editing. Besides Steven's scene (even that came across fake), I had no interest whatsover in watching his co-judges' faking their search of their chosen designers' workplaces. (especially put off by that blondie flagrant hamming it up for the camera). Also found the panel of professional analysts' stilted commentary scenes contrived, redundant and extremely boring.

      1) Unnecessary fluff: The scenes of judges locating the designers were contrived and scripted. Blondie super fake.

      2) 30 minutes to churn up a fashionable design to determine semi-finalists? How? As expected, end result produces craft design instead of couture design.

      3) safe-crafty-commercial/humdrum designs (as opposed to creative-original-couture designs): Love Steven's comment: "Two of the designs look like sleepwear" lol! Still he cast his vote for her - no choice cos' her rival line of qi pao had zero originality or creativity to speak off.

      4) But I do have a good impression of the fashion designers. Their passion for their craft came across loud and clear. The 30 minutes 'craft' fashion designing contest is way too short to determine who is the most creative talented designer as opposed to craft designer, though I was impressed with some of their end products given the time.

      I prefer that the scripted scenes of hapeless judges locating their candidates be replaced with a more indepth interviews of the candidates selling their crafts and talents. Though not original in design, I do like Steven's picks - the 1st choice > the 2nd choice.

      Delete
  13. Dear Tamaya. Can you rem how was the ending for Virtues of Harmony 2 - did Michelle and Ivan get together? How abt Vivian the fiancée?

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. A picture is worth a thousand words, so how much does a set of beautiful pictures that unequivocally answer your question worth? heehee! 1) http://afspot.net/forum/topic/531737-stevinda-steven-ma-linda-chung/?p=6771888 2)https://picasaweb.google.com/couplescottag3/BridalStevenMaXLindaChung#

      Delete
    2. Truth be told I don't remember much of VOH2 as I watched that series in a FF mode because I was totally turned off by Linda's acting, it was that bad.. for me; VOH2 being her first series and all. Incidentally, your mention of VOH2 reminds me of my very scathing response to an AF poster's lament on Steven and Linda's numerous pairing. http://stevenma-fanblog.blogspot.com/2010/03/af-stevinda-thread-reposts.html

      Delete
  14. Hohoho. Tamaya dearie. Having read through thoroughly your lengthy and most precise comments of the reality show I was indeed very appalled. I do agree with certain parts of your opinion esp..point 3 & 4. That 亞里木江 is impressive but the girlish one is a no no to me.can see that Steven was disappointed that none of his pick can go to the final.

    ReplyDelete
  15. Our Sam siu looked kinda" lost " in this entire episode of the series.

    ReplyDelete