This review may contain spoilers
If I had to describe this show in one word, it would be HEALING ~
Wow, where do I even begin with this review? There's so much to unpack... I was not sure if I would like this show because it looked a little dark from the posters/trailer... but I was pleasantly surprised. By the time I reached episode 6, I knew I would definitely enjoy and finish this show.
The plot was mysterious, and I think that was what kept me going. From figuring out who on earth SPADE Q was, to the mystery of the hand-drawn football cards ~ so many things were left unknown. The only thing that was certain was that the main leads had both faced some form of traumatic experience and were finding their own ways to cope with the grief and pain. For the FL it was to be a slacker 闲鱼 in this high school that her late grandfather encouraged her to go in his letter to her, and for the ML, it was to find out who SPADE Q was.
The first encounter between the male and female lead stood out to me. The OST 《无声引力》played, and as I heard the lyrics "Two souls aligned in silent gravity, Heal my heart with every part of me..." I had goosebumps. Though no spoken words, the presence felt through the screen was heavy, but held with a glimpse of hope.
The initial banter and interactions between the leads were so fun to watch - they were both wary of each other's intentions, yet unknowingly and subconsciously came to trust each other. Even though the ML, Wang Fa, had his own hidden agenda in getting close to Wan Xing, that was what allowed his fondness for her to grow. I thought there would be a huge fallout when the FL realized the truth, but thankfully, she handled it with such maturity. And I really liked that. As for the ML, he was quick to apologise. The best part? He knew what exactly made the FL mad.
I also loved how they both navigated their feelings towards each other. The ML was quick to acknowledge his feelings and told her he wanted to pursue a relationship with her. The FL was visibly attracted to the ML as well, yet she was honest enough to tell him she was not ready - the reason being she still wasn't ready to open up and share what had happened to her. The ML's response to her was so respectful. He told her saying that itself was already an act of vulnerability, and to him, that was enough. He was willing to meet her where she was, and that is something I hardly see in shows these days.
Once the "secret" of his hidden agenda was out of the way, their communication got better and his trust in the FL never once wavered. When things went out of control and the FL's old wounds resurfaced, he gave her the space she needed. Yet at the same time, he continued to reach out to her and encouraged her to get back on her feet.
Meanwhile, there were also the side characters - the whole football team. Each individual had their own character arc and development. From being easily defeated and swayed at the beginning, by the end they had all grown in their own ways, becoming more mature in how they handled situations. Through the ups and downs, they learnt what it meant to strive for their dreams and work towards their goals. In some sense, to do whatever it takes to create a path for themselves. Many people may come and go, but at the end of the day it all boils down to the individual's willpower to continue.
The friendship plot between the two guys, Wen Cheng Ye and Fu Xin Shu, was also slowly revealed as the episodes went by. I always found myself emotionally drawn to Wen Cheng Ye, especially the part where he ran to the competition, knowing that he would probably not make it to the match. During the run, he began to tear up, and by the time he reached the site, he had completely broken down. One word, "I'm sorry," was enough to move me to tears.
He was simply a lonely boy, who craved affection, yet was unable to express himself well. His way of wanting to get Fu Xin Shu to recognize him ended up backfiring and leading to more misunderstandings. I appreciated that their reconciliation was not overly dragged out. And we got to enjoy a couple of episodes of them being besties like they were in their younger days.
The later part of the show revealed the hidden truths behind everything - from how Xiao Lin 老师 was intentionally led to this particular high school, to leading this bunch of students, to having the keys to the former tuition centre owned by her grandparents. Everything started to fall in place - and there was closure not only for Xiao Lin 老师 , but also for her students, who had always carried a sense of abandonment because their ex-coach had 'left' them.
And like in most Chinese C-dramas, there's always a bestie for the ML and FL. I was pleasantly surprised to see Victor Ma appear on screen. As always, his humour shone through. His scenes were always comedic and any seriousness never lasted for long. Wan Xing's bestie appeared much later on in the series. Though Ju Li didn't have that many scenes with Wan Xing, I could still feel just how deeply she cared for her.
One of the most impactful scenes for me was how she was respectful and sensitive towards Wan Xing when she was emotionally unstable. A simple question, "Do you want my company or would you like to have some time alone?" was enough to show how mature she was as a friend. Ju Li was all ready to dig in and enjoy some fried chicken wings with her bestie Wan Xing, but was very quick and willing to take a step back and give Wan Xing the space she needed. She didn't assume what Wan Xing needed - she asked, then gave.
Overall, I really enjoyed this show. Aside from inspiring me to chase my dreams and live with no regrets, I also saw the importance of trust, respect... and to not let the past haunt you. What has happened, has happened... we cannot change the past, but we can take the step for a better future.
The plot was mysterious, and I think that was what kept me going. From figuring out who on earth SPADE Q was, to the mystery of the hand-drawn football cards ~ so many things were left unknown. The only thing that was certain was that the main leads had both faced some form of traumatic experience and were finding their own ways to cope with the grief and pain. For the FL it was to be a slacker 闲鱼 in this high school that her late grandfather encouraged her to go in his letter to her, and for the ML, it was to find out who SPADE Q was.
The first encounter between the male and female lead stood out to me. The OST 《无声引力》played, and as I heard the lyrics "Two souls aligned in silent gravity, Heal my heart with every part of me..." I had goosebumps. Though no spoken words, the presence felt through the screen was heavy, but held with a glimpse of hope.
The initial banter and interactions between the leads were so fun to watch - they were both wary of each other's intentions, yet unknowingly and subconsciously came to trust each other. Even though the ML, Wang Fa, had his own hidden agenda in getting close to Wan Xing, that was what allowed his fondness for her to grow. I thought there would be a huge fallout when the FL realized the truth, but thankfully, she handled it with such maturity. And I really liked that. As for the ML, he was quick to apologise. The best part? He knew what exactly made the FL mad.
I also loved how they both navigated their feelings towards each other. The ML was quick to acknowledge his feelings and told her he wanted to pursue a relationship with her. The FL was visibly attracted to the ML as well, yet she was honest enough to tell him she was not ready - the reason being she still wasn't ready to open up and share what had happened to her. The ML's response to her was so respectful. He told her saying that itself was already an act of vulnerability, and to him, that was enough. He was willing to meet her where she was, and that is something I hardly see in shows these days.
Once the "secret" of his hidden agenda was out of the way, their communication got better and his trust in the FL never once wavered. When things went out of control and the FL's old wounds resurfaced, he gave her the space she needed. Yet at the same time, he continued to reach out to her and encouraged her to get back on her feet.
Meanwhile, there were also the side characters - the whole football team. Each individual had their own character arc and development. From being easily defeated and swayed at the beginning, by the end they had all grown in their own ways, becoming more mature in how they handled situations. Through the ups and downs, they learnt what it meant to strive for their dreams and work towards their goals. In some sense, to do whatever it takes to create a path for themselves. Many people may come and go, but at the end of the day it all boils down to the individual's willpower to continue.
The friendship plot between the two guys, Wen Cheng Ye and Fu Xin Shu, was also slowly revealed as the episodes went by. I always found myself emotionally drawn to Wen Cheng Ye, especially the part where he ran to the competition, knowing that he would probably not make it to the match. During the run, he began to tear up, and by the time he reached the site, he had completely broken down. One word, "I'm sorry," was enough to move me to tears.
He was simply a lonely boy, who craved affection, yet was unable to express himself well. His way of wanting to get Fu Xin Shu to recognize him ended up backfiring and leading to more misunderstandings. I appreciated that their reconciliation was not overly dragged out. And we got to enjoy a couple of episodes of them being besties like they were in their younger days.
The later part of the show revealed the hidden truths behind everything - from how Xiao Lin 老师 was intentionally led to this particular high school, to leading this bunch of students, to having the keys to the former tuition centre owned by her grandparents. Everything started to fall in place - and there was closure not only for Xiao Lin 老师 , but also for her students, who had always carried a sense of abandonment because their ex-coach had 'left' them.
And like in most Chinese C-dramas, there's always a bestie for the ML and FL. I was pleasantly surprised to see Victor Ma appear on screen. As always, his humour shone through. His scenes were always comedic and any seriousness never lasted for long. Wan Xing's bestie appeared much later on in the series. Though Ju Li didn't have that many scenes with Wan Xing, I could still feel just how deeply she cared for her.
One of the most impactful scenes for me was how she was respectful and sensitive towards Wan Xing when she was emotionally unstable. A simple question, "Do you want my company or would you like to have some time alone?" was enough to show how mature she was as a friend. Ju Li was all ready to dig in and enjoy some fried chicken wings with her bestie Wan Xing, but was very quick and willing to take a step back and give Wan Xing the space she needed. She didn't assume what Wan Xing needed - she asked, then gave.
Overall, I really enjoyed this show. Aside from inspiring me to chase my dreams and live with no regrets, I also saw the importance of trust, respect... and to not let the past haunt you. What has happened, has happened... we cannot change the past, but we can take the step for a better future.
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