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| Drama Crew Reacts to Be Passionately In Love ‘Fake Kiss’ Scene That Set the Internet on Fire |
The highly anticipated kissing scene in Be Passionately in Love—adapted from Er Dong Tu Zi’s viral Jinjiang novel—has stirred up a proper storm online. Instead of setting hearts racing, it’s got fans side-eyeing their screens and shouting, “Oi, that’s not even a real kiss!”
Turns out, the scene used what the industry calls a “borrowed position”—basically, filming from clever angles so the actors don’t actually touch lips. But this little camera trick didn’t fool anyone.
On Weibo, fans went off. One user wrote, “In the novel, Xu Zhi kisses with confidence. Now she’s just… hovering? It’s like watching a mime.”
Another drama viewer, Hong Hong, added, “The build-up was spicy, but when the kiss hit? Blur. No passion, no tension. Just vibes and camera fog.”
Related: Be Passionately In Love Kiss Scene Controversy
Expectations Were Sky High—And Marketing Played a Big Part
Let’s not forget: this scene wasn’t just some throwaway moment. The drama’s Douyin account pushed a teaser clip hard, showing the female lead cheekily saying, “Kissing without dating is so thrilling.” It went viral. Everyone and their nan were waiting for fireworks.
Instead, we got a cold sparkler and some strategic shoulder angles.
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Do Dramas Really Need On-Screen Kisses?
Some fans asked the bigger question: Does every romance need a kiss to be convincing?
Producer Feng Lin had a balanced take: “Kissing isn’t a must. Some actors deliver emotional punch without touching lips. But when it’s a big plot point—like it is here—you can’t just fudge it.”
He added, “You can use tricks, but only if the actors can sell the tension. Otherwise, it falls flat.”
Case in point: Love Game in Eastern Fantasy pulled off slow-burn romance without any kisses. Meanwhile, The Long Ballad gave us symbolic bird kisses. Still worked, still swooned.
Related: Liu Haocun Alleged 'No-Kissing' Clause
Direction & Acting: A Two-Way Street
Industry insiders aren’t just blaming the actors—they’re also throwing shade at the directing team. Juanjuan, part of a drama marketing crew, said:
“If the kiss is essential to the character, and the actor’s not up for it, they shouldn’t take the role in the first place. Understand the IP, or don’t join the ride.”
Others pointed fingers at the cinematography. One fan said, “They kept cutting to the backs of heads. Was this a kiss or a CCTV replay?”
Meanwhile, Derailment kept audiences glued with close-up eye contact and slow-burn tension, no kisses needed. Be Passionately in Love, by contrast, felt like it was dodging intimacy at every corner.
behind the scene # 45
— ᯓᡣ𐭩 (@tuqdou) January 3, 2024
i giggled watching them. even though the scene was just kissing on the cheek but I think it's too pure love. 🫶#LinYi #LiuHaocun #Derailment #脱轨 pic.twitter.com/Nq8csZHfGh
Behind the Scenes: Kissing’s a Negotiation
Feng Lin explained the real-world logistics: “If a scene’s important and someone refuses, we’ll recast. If it’s flexible, we’ll rewrite. Simple as.”
Some actors don’t want to kiss, full stop. That’s fine—but it has to be sorted in early talks. With budgets tighter and competition fiercer, drama crews are less likely to bend last minute.
“You can’t shoot a story about fiery love with actors acting like housemates,” one crew member told us (anonymously, of course).
Also Read: Be Passionately In Love Ending Explained
It’s Not Just About Lips—It’s About Trust
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What really upset fans wasn’t the missing lip-lock—it was the sense of being misled. When a drama teases passion and delivers awkward sidestepping, audiences feel short-changed.
“Don’t hype up a kiss if it’s gonna be all smoke and no fire,” said one Douban reviewer.
At the end of the day, it ain’t just about the physical touch. It’s about emotional payoff, honesty in storytelling, and respect for the source material.
Trust the viewers. Give ’em a real moment, or don’t pretend at all.
Be Passionately in Love gave us sweet leads and some spicy setup—but that kiss? It’s a lesson for everyone: if you’re gonna tease with fire, don’t deliver lukewarm steam. Respect the novel, the fans, and the characters... or be ready for the backlash.