In the recent hit period drama "South to North", there is a plot that deeply touched the heartstrings of the audience, not the heart-wrenching love story of the protagonist Ma Yan and Wang Xin, but the emotional bond between a seemingly ordinary "fool" and Ma Kui, a railway policeman.
Ma Kui, the dutiful police officer, left a warm mark on the track of life. Whenever the train passes through the mountains, he prepares a special gift – whether it be tightly wrapped food or other unexpected items.
Every time the train passed by, he would look forward to it in the carriage, just for the figure of herding sheep along the railway line to appear, and then throw this heart-filled package to the ground steadily, never forgetting to whisper "proper".
And by the railway, the honest and innocent "fool", his world is simple and persistent, in addition to herding sheep day after day, the most important expectation is the surprise brought by the train.
He is like a child who will never grow up, and whenever he hears the roar of a train and sees a familiar figure, he will dance excitedly and be full of joy.
After receiving the gift from Ma Kui, his pure happiness could not be concealed, and he carefully guarded this "special" food, as if it was the most precious treasure in the world, because for him, it not only filled his stomach, but also carried Ma Kui's endless care and concern.
This small but touching ceremony, the two protagonists have adhered to it for many years, without any agreement, but tacitly complete the handover at the moment when the train passes. The connection between them, like a silent oath, shows the power of faith, transcending words and penetrating time, becoming one of the most moving melodies flowing in this drama of the times.
The four seasons are reincarnated, whether the winter snow is covered, the autumn leaves are golden, the summer grass is lush, or the spring flowers are blooming, the simple sheep herding baby is always waiting for his unique gift by the railroad tracks. Ma Kui, who gave gifts, has entered his old age from a youthful youth to a mottled silver hair, but this warm habit, he has adhered to it for the rest of his life.
The sheep herding baby seems to stay at that innocent age forever, time has left no trace on him, his eyes are still clear, stuck in the familiar corner, looking forward to the exclusive "gift".
Ma Kui treats every gift like a treasure, and packs it carefully, just so that the sheep herder can enjoy clean and hygienic food. Whenever the gift lands, the sheep herding baby will be ecstatic, because he has never experienced such sincere love.
Ma Kui looked at the happy appearance of the sheep herding baby, and a warm current surged in his heart, as if he was facing his own child.
Needless to say, as long as the train approached, they would say in unison the code words that symbolized each other's deep friendship: "Appropriate." This sentence conveys Ma Kui's deep blessings to the sheep herding baby, and also contains his expectations for his daughter and himself, longing for all the good things to be "proper".
However, the world is unpredictable, and a sudden change changed the original trajectory. Standing up for justice, but also to protect innocent apprentices, even if the other party is the son of a former enemy, Ma Kui eventually died heroically. At the cost of his life, he revealed the truth, but unfortunately fell under the knife of the gangsters and left this world forever.
However, beside the silent railroad tracks, there is still an old friend who is waiting for him - a sheep herder. In order to inherit the legacy of his master Ma Kui, the apprentice took over the important task of passing on the "gift".
When the train whizzed by again, he dropped the package as well, and whispered, "All right." However, this time, the reaction of the sheep herding baby was very different. When he noticed that the face on the train was no longer familiar, he was instantly stunned, and the smile on his face froze, as if everything was beyond his comprehension.
Although the sheep herding baby seems ignorant, he keenly perceives the change and understands that the figure who has left the "gift" for himself countless times will never appear in front of him again. At that moment, he realized that there were some things, once lost, that could never be returned.
In the fragments of the interweaving of old and new times, the characters of the past have disappeared with the wind, leaving a deep sorrow haunting the heart. Even if the familiar "gift" reappears in front of him, it that once brought endless joy to the sheep herding baby can no longer arouse any joy.
Although he is often called a "fool" by others, his deep understanding of life and death is as clear as a mirror. In front of the camera, his face depicts deep grief, which is an indescribable silent cry, through three progressive emotions**, the audience can deeply feel the gradual deepening of the emotional level, until they reach the peak of grief.
This sincere and unadorned interpretation abandons the deliberate traces of acting skills, so that every subtle expression is soaked in truth and depth. Many viewers were deeply touched by this scene, and tears couldn't help but burst out of their eyes and they were moved. They sincerely sighed that the actor of the sheep herding baby showed extraordinary acting skills, and its natural emotions were like life itself, without any pretentiousness and falsehood.
Some netizens sincerely pray that everyone in the world can be "proper" and safe this year like the interaction between Ma Kui and the sheep herding baby. This story full of warmth is like a warm current, easily hitting the softest part of people's hearts, causing people to cry. Ma Kui upheld kindness throughout his life, and his ultimate heroic sacrifice was also to protect others, which made his image even more lofty and touching.
Some viewers are outspoken, thinking that the shaping of the role of the sheep baby can be called the most outstanding interpretation in the whole drama of "South to North", and he conveys the most complex and profound emotional experience with the most simple image, and has achieved a model of a character that is deeply rooted in the hearts of the people.
Although the shot is only a few seconds, the acting skills of the sheep herding baby make people feel heart-rending emotions. His performance deeply touched the audience, and many were moved by his expression, tears rolling in their eyes. This transmission of emotion, layer by layer, makes people irresistible.
In the TV series, every time "Silly Er" receives a gift, he always shows extreme excitement. However, it is known that it is not the food that he is really looking forward to, but the person who brings it to him. Because for him, the warmth between people is more precious than any material thing.
Lao Ma is the best person for him, although he is called a "fool", but his understanding of life is deeper than anyone else, even more than Lao Wang.
Some netizens said that in the entire TV series, only the line "proper" made him cry. Although this sentence is simple, it conveys a strong belief in life. Sometimes, a simple word can make people regain their courage in life.
Although this shot is short, it is very real, as if it is happening in our daily lives. The acting skills of the sheep herding baby are the same as the uncle-in-law in "Hidden in the Dust", which is full of realism and does not have any traces of performance. This kind of acting makes people feel the inner world of the characters more deeply.
In comparison, the acting skills of some so-called "little fresh meat" actors are disappointing. They tend to be over-the-top and lack realism when performing. In contrast, really handsome guys, such as Peng Yuyan, can remain natural even when running, with masculinity blowing in their faces, without any idol baggage. Which is better, Xiao Xianrou or the old drama bone
The acting skills of the sheep baby let people see the real and deep emotions, and at the same time, it also made people question those overly exaggerated "little fresh meat" actors. Real acting skills are not only in the external performance, but also in the in-depth excavation and real presentation of the character's inner world.