On the day of the interview, Chang Huasen was filming additional commercials for "Dark River Chronicles." The fact that a show can still get more commercials near the end is usually a sign of its critical and commercial success.
The popularity score of "Dark River Chronicles" on Youku has exceeded 10,000.
During the interview, the reporter from The Paper sensed Chang Huasen's "mischievousness." For example, he would often give unexpected answers and then suddenly ask, "Is this broadcast?" "It will definitely be cut!" Or he would try to take control of the conversation and ask the reporter, "So what do you think? What is your answer?" Then he would quietly begin to restrain himself and "be careful with his words."
This slightly offensive yet not overt sense of "humanity" is strangely similar to Su Changhe, whose "mouth is poisoned." He believes that people cannot be simply categorized as good or bad, and "I want to set the record straight for Su Changhe in 'The Dark River Chronicles'."
Chang Huasen
【dialogue】
The Paper : What is the most attractive quality of the character Su Changhe to you?
Chang Huasen : His authenticity, and his contradictions. First, he is an assassin who grew up in the shadows, and his abilities and ambitions are great enough. His authenticity lies in revealing all his ambitions to everyone, and in striving to grow into a very capable person. He will also bear the consequences of his actions.
His contradiction lies in the fact that he is a renowned funeral director in the underground river, but he is also sometimes moved by the everyday life of ordinary people.
The Paper : When you were interpreting this role, did you have any of your own little touches?
Chang Huasen : I think he looks down on most people, which might be reflected in some of his eye acting. But he's actually quite good to Anhe's family. You can see that from his betrayal of Su Luandan, and his attitude towards Su Changli, Mu Xuewei, and Mu Qingyang, he doesn't seem like a domineering person.
The Paper : What's your favorite scene in "The Dark River"?
Chang Huasen : There are too many. For example, the scene where I fight Zhuo Qing, and the fight scene in the woods when the nameless man enters the Su family to do an assassin's mission, were also quite exciting.
The Paper : What's your favorite line from the show?
Chang Huasen : I remember a scene where I was standing by the window, and Su Muyu asked me what I was looking at. I said, "I, the evil spirit of the Dark River, have come to see the human world." I really like this line because it reflects his inner longing for peace and stability. Although it seems understated, I think it is quite profound.
The Paper : Are there any bullet comments or remarks that left a deep impression on you?
Chang Huasen : For example, "Evil Big," that's what everyone mentions the most. Recently, I saw a new comment: "Let's farm in Dark River." It's because Su Muyu wants to turn Dark River into a place where people stop being assassins and start farming to make a living. They can plant rice seedlings as soon as possible and have a good harvest.
The Paper : As "The Dark River Chronicles" is about to conclude, if you had the chance to say one thing to Su Changhe at the end of the story, what would you say?
Chang Huasen : I think what he did in "The Dark River Chronicles" was quite right, and the choices he made were also quite right. If it were me, standing at the end and saying something to Su Changhe at the beginning, I would say, "Trust your own choices." I want to vindicate Su Changhe in "The Dark River Chronicles," because sometimes people cannot be simply distinguished as good or bad.
The Paper : Of all the roles you've played, which one is most like Chang Huasen himself?
Chang Huasen : I feel that many of the characters I play reflect aspects of myself. One character, in particular, left a deep impression on me. It was Gu Yu, an autistic patient I played in a cameo role in "Above the River." He actually suffered from depression and rarely spoke to anyone. His only solace came from the pets he kept. These pets were also quite unusual, including snakes, spiders, and turtles—all seemingly cold-blooded animals that were not well-liked.
The Paper : Do you keep small animals in your daily life?
Chang Huasen : I do keep dogs, but I wouldn't dare keep lizards or snakes, let alone spiders.
The Paper : If you could take one of the characters you've portrayed on a trip, who would you take with you?
Chang Huasen : Su Changhe! He's rich, capable, and most importantly, he's a corrupt official who can arrange everything.
The Paper : Recommend a TV series or movie you've recently watched.
Chang Huasen : I recently watched *Your Name* again. The first time I watched it, I just felt, "Why is it like this? It's so painful." This time, I suddenly realized that *Your Name*'s simultaneous encounter in two different timelines, followed by communication at twilight, and then sudden disappearance, is somewhat like a psychological term called "ambiguous loss," one of the most painful states for people. Sometimes I think about why such films are so compelling and moving; it's actually related to ambiguous loss. It's truly extreme—the pain of hopelessness coupled with the expectation of hope.
