HIStory3: Make Our Days Count (2019)

Spoil before you watch!

I had known about this show and it's ending for some time now and I had been putting it off because I don't like sad endings. I thought I was prepared for Eternal Yesterday and still cried like a baby, so I took lots of time and mental preparing for this show! 😂

In the end my mental preparing paid off and I was not emotionally damaged! Though it was still heartbreaking, I was able to objectively judge the show. I'll come back to the ending later.

Without the ending Hao Ting and Shigu's story would be a 9/10 for me. With the ending it's an 7/10.

Sun Bo and Xhi Gang get... a 0/10 I'm sorry lol. I did not care about these two. I thought they were so weird and Xhi Gang was so creepy to me. I don't even mind age gaps, but this one was a big yikes. Irl the actors also have a significant age gap, but them both being legal adults did only a little to ease me since Sun Bo was portraying a kid. I cannot imagine dating a HIGH SCHOOLER. 💀 I didn't want to date an 18 year old when I was 23 much less now lmao. He was always surrounded by younger men, especially high school boys, and so touchy feely with LITTLE GU. I get it that he saw him like a little brother, but this dude was so weird lmao. They didn't do a good job of convincing me he was "protective" instead of predatory. Especially since at one point he tells Sun Bo he's his little boy or something. 🤢 Sun Bo, I didn't like him at first. He definitely acted the part of a high schooler. Idk if he was 17 or 18 because age was rarely mentioned in this series, but I stand by this match being weird on both ends. He was so obsessive and creepy without realizing it I guess. Kissing someone 3x when they said no is assault. The adult in the situation didn't do anything to actually correct this situation. He still appeased him by getting out of the man's car when Sun Bo said he was FOLLOWING HIM, HELLO? I could be here all day telling you why this relationship is yuck. I skipped their scenes after they actually got together because it was a lost cause. However, Sun Bo did eventually grow on me in terms of his friendship with Hao Ting.

Back to the elephant in the room: The Ending

I can see why the audience was so distraught. Up until this point the show wasn't even a heavy one. It showcased struggles yes, but it wasn't "someone dies at the end" heavy. It was a little angst along side comedy. I mean come on... I always wondered who would buy those fish flipflops from Shein. 😂 Though at the end Hao Ting's parents were super annoying and not the best.
Ex:
-Not supportive even though they stopped resisting.
-Encouraging him to date a woman, instead of comforting him, despite him CLEARLY mourning and depressed!

They still offered some comedic relief in their arguments, cue the fish flipflops. So when the viewer abruptly finds out the MC died halfway through the last episode it would definitely be jarring to someone who went in to this show blindly. You also find out in the last quarter how he died and that this time jump was around 6 years?! For the emotional impact I don't think it was even well done, written, or planned with care. They didn't deliver the audience a bittersweet emotional moment, they did a time jump and swept the MAIN CHARACTER under the rug like he didn't matter. At least give us some of that heartbreak and do Shigu's character some justice. He was so warm, strong, kind, and I adore the actor's bright smile. Shigu deserved better and so did the audience.

Now I prefer he have not died at all and that sloppy alternate ending online is just hilarious to me. The alternate ending sucked too. Take out the accident and refilm a GOOD alternate ending. Though I'm glad there was enough outrage from the masses to show the writer she's an a*shole, I understand the goal between the death and the title, but you had so many options to go with this. The loss of Shigu's parents would fit this. His aunt basically abandoned him. If something must happen maybe an accident he survived or a short coma. Hao Ting cutting his parents off. Heck if someone needed to die, why not Xhi Gang? 😂💀(I'm actually fr on that one.) You could've made the "tomorrow isn't promised" point a plethora of ways that didn't flush a whole show down the toilet.

All in all I'm glad I watched this. I would suggest spoiling it for yourself and just prepare! I would rewatch it and probably just stop before the last episode. Despite hating Hao Ting at first, that big golden retriever grew on me and their love story sucked me in. I'll always have a spot in my heart for them, but especially Shigu. ♥️

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Just: Xiang Hao Ting

I went into this for shits and giggles. And then....I kind of got obsessed, I won't lie. I still am, with one character in particular.
The concept of this show isn't anything special: but they handled the first-awkward-dumb-teenage love thing so fucking well. I don't exactly know what it was about the whole show, maybe it was Wayne's acting or their relationship being so fucking wholesome and idiotic or the parent's being so typical but also trying to be understanding or the cute sister or just fucking, dumb, idiotic Xiang Hao Ting. Probably all of those things. Or none. Or just one. This show was so...real? Dumb? I don't know what I'm trying to say, but it didn't play around. It knew what it was. It delivered. The ending, I decided to skip at first because I couldn't see Hao Ting cry. But, when I finally got the courage to try and watch it, I'm glad I did. That ending was just....it. It sucked, God. Because, why the hell did poor Yu Shi Gu get all the bad luck in the world? But, people dying, death, the inevitability of it, is a real thing. When you're young, you don't really see death as a reality. Yu and Xi definitely didn't either. But, life doesn't give two shits about that, so it hit them. Like a truck. The ending was just life deciding to say hello. That's what happens to us all the time, so I won't begrudge them that.
Also, oh yeah....Xiang Hao Ting. I absolutely, positively hate him. But, not really because I love him more than I should love a character. I really do need to stop getting attached to characters so much. Alas....he was a giant puppy who had dimples and kissed really well and wasn't afraid to show his feelings. So, I got sold. And still am. Don't watch this show if you like dimples, guys, or giant puppies. Oh, also I will pretend the second couple didn't exist because...yikes. XD

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Wronged but a wonderful story - Spoiler alert, just read if you've finished watching

I'm writing this review because I want try to help people to understand or to see the ending of the show in a better way, cause I genuinely like the story, including how it ends... So let me explain some points.

1 the end was not unexpected
During the whole show we could see that something bad was about to happen. We have the tittle, the sad songs, the sad Yu Xi Gu’s life story, his health frailty (I was thinking that he was going die of some disease), the fact that he almost had a car accident once, but Hao ting saved him, and the many plans both was doing for the future.

2 Hao ting was the main character, but they both had a mission: to save each other's lives
In my opinion, the whole story is about Hao ting's life and how he will become a better person, and Yu Xi Gu came to help him with that. I think the two characters have a "mission". Yu Xi Gu had the mission to show Hao ting how to be a better person and be a “star” for Hao ting, giving him a way. Hao ting's mission was to give Yu Xi Gu love and affection during his short life, since he never got that from his parents or anything like that. I also think Hao ting's mission was to live the life that Yu Xi Gu lost, making his dreams come true so that Yu Xi Gu could still be alive somehow, even after his death.
For me, Yu Xi Gu was destined to die from the beginning, but having found Hao ting, even after his death he will live on because his dreams will still be alive with Hao ting. So, Hao ting also saved Yu Xi Gu's life.

3 history has a beautiful lesson
I really think we NEED to see this story in another perspective so that we can learn something precious from it: It doesn't matter how long our lives last or how we die, It only matters how and with whom we live our days and make them count.
I'm sure the Hao ting will be cured and we've already seen the beginning of this process at the end of story. Of course he will always miss Yu Xi Gu, but the pain will become a lovely memory.

4 for me, recommending not watching the last episode is a mistake
Last but not least, I want to mention that a lot of people say that watching the last episode is bad and not recommended, but guys, it's precisely in these episodes that we see how amazing Wayne's acting (actor who plays Hao ting) is. The acting is also VERY important to the overall quality of a show, and in this case the overall acting is amazing. So folks, let's properly appreciate the deserved aspects of this work.

Ps: In this show the writer made some mistakes, including some confusing elements related to Yu XI Gu's death, but in this review I decided to focus on the fact that the character died, which was what displeased the fans the most.

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In my TOP 5 BL Dramas. An Exquisite Mixture of...

This drama mixes various topics and aspects of life perfectly. It starts as a high school drama, with lots of funny moments, struggles of student life and teen romance, how to find your own way, finding out what you like, what you love, experimenting with new things; and ends with making serious questions about adult and psychological issues. The casting is pretty good, main and side characters alike and the actors are really top-notch and versatile. They can be funny, lovable, goofy and can also carry out heavy drama at a very high standard. Moreover, the script and the characters are beautifully written, and side characters are not only in an insignificant comic-relief role, but certain characters are utilized later on in the show as a plot device as well as in an emotional drive, making them a feel more significant. The quality of the episodes only vary a little, every episode is entertaining and satisfying by itself, with the finaly one being the best episode in my opinion. It could be a stand-alone clip/movie as well and would feel very strong.
It is 100% worth watching the whole show and reaching the finale.

The questions the drama shows the viewer include:
- How do you find your own way as a teenager at school, at love, at your own family?
- What can you learn from another person culturally, emotionally, especially if they are totally different from you?
- How do you think about the future?
- What to do with your life after graduation?
- How to overcome the past? Is it even possible?
- What's the true meaning of life?
- And more....

What I can say is that this drama will:
- Make you smile
- Make you root for the couples' happiness
- Make you learn from their dynamics
- Lift up your soul to the Heaven, squeeze it and send it to the deepest parts of Hell

As for me, this BL should be placed on the same shelf as titles like Your Name Engraved Herein, I Feel You Linger in the Air, and I Told Sunset About You (ITSAY), which introduce you into real drama and heavy emotions in a nearly perfect way, with beautiful script, visuals, characters and actors. Although it is not as realistic as ITSAY, it really deals with serious topics not many BL dramas do. It's one of the really unique BLs ever created.

Personally, I have rewatched it already 3 times, at different stages of my life, whenever I felt like reliving some real or even sad emotions, or just to remind myself to believe again, and I enjoyed it every time I watched it, I feel its rewatch value is pretty high, but you tell me. :) I'm feeling a bit confused that its MDL rating is lower than its more action-packed counterpart HIStory3: Trapped, but I can accept that action and lighter BLs might be more popular.

You'll LOVE this show if you are empathic, enjoy details and can easily get engaged by heavy drama situations.
You'll NOT LOVE this show if you are only into fluffy, goofy, innocent, easy BLs.

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This would have probably been one of my favorite from the HIStory series, if not for the muddled ending. It's such a lovely portrayal of finding the right one for you. It poses the difficult question of how much you would do to achieve your love.

Acting was really good, I had fun watching all the characters interact with each other. Both couples were so endearing in their own way, and I found myself falling in love with them over the course of the drama. The chemistry between the couples was really good as well. This is definitely the most explicit HIStory series. Music wasn't really at the forefront of Make Our Days Count. I think they concentrated more on the characters, which is fine with me. HIStory doesn't really focus on the music side of things, more so on the plot the majority of the time. The story is pretty basic, but the actors really bring you in, and I enjoyed getting to know them along the way. Both couples get relatively equal screen as well which is happy.

That being said, I haven't officially finished this series. I avoided the last episode, because I think it might break my heart the watch the last one. I might get around to it, but after watching Yu Xi and A-hao work hard to be together for eighteen episodes, it's unlikely I'll submit myself to that.

All in all, a really good drama, and super fun to watch. If you're fine with mixed endings, then you're a braver soul than I. If you are not, skip the last episode and nothing will be missed.

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A beautiful drama

From the story to the acting to the cinematography, this series was absolutely beautiful and has stuck with me long past the first time I watched it. I enjoyed both couples very much but the main couple was definitely my favorite and their love for one another was lovely to watch. I found them realistic and they dealt with real life struggles. Watching the way they cared for one another, stuck by each other and loved and supported one another was the most powerful part of the story.

I couldn’t recommend this enough. As others have mentioned, there is definitely a twist in the last episode but don’t let that put you off. Enjoy the ride because it’s well worth it.

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The Ending…

The HIStory Series has been enjoyable overall and this started out along the same path. However, like most reviewers, the ending was heart wrenching and confusing.
Every story cannot end with a white wedding, I get that. In real life people die unexpectedly in various ways. It’s horrible, awful and heartbreaking. The sweet side of the tragic death is the determination of his partner to fulfill his dreams…but it’s to the detriment of his own life moving forward, and that can be reality too. People get stuck in grief I understand that.
This is the part that was confusing: who was the “twin”? Where did he come from? Why does he suddenly appear? There’s no explanation or reasoning at all! I ran through as many scenarios as I could think of: the main character sees ghosts, the “twin” is the original character but with memory loss from the accident, etc., etc. In conclusion, this is another good HIStory series, heartbreaking but good, except the totally confusing and weird ending.

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Even though from the start there was no love at all for this series, in fact I was confused about why this series got a higher rating than Right or Wrong.

But as time went by I realized, many conflicts from this series have a superior quality than the previous one.

Xiang Hao and Yu Xi's character development was truly extraordinary, let alone A-Hao. To be honest I cried out loud during the last episode. This series made me realize that sadness doesn't have to be portrayed clearly. It turned out that it was saved at the end of the time to make this series like a bomb, which devastated the people who watching it.

For sure, this series would be on the list as my favorite BL series of all time.

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