Wouaaah! your point on this is really interesting. I have to admit I was hoping that something happen between…
Most of us hope for things like this, but ultimately, the show never made such a promise. If the director hadn't said, "You can interpret Niran and Pete's relationship however you like, it's up to you," maybe I wouldn't read into their relationship so much. Frankly, the scenes we watch are highly suitable for further interpretation because they don't give us a strictly platonic friendship. In other words, we aren't just putting on our shipper glasses and making things up for fun. They truly put a piece of clay right in front of us that we can shape however we want. Everyone shapes that clay according to their own perspective. Some viewers see unrequited love, some see friendship, and others see two people who mutually love each other.
To me, love is something more spiritual. Being physical isn't love itself; it is a way of expressing love. Meaning, the feelings can always exist, but how to express them is up to the individuals themselves. Both Niran and Pete expressed their love many times, through both words and actions; they just didn't directly accept the existence of this love at first. This love took on a noticeable and accepted form especially in episode 7 for Pete, and especially in this episode for Niran.
Even if the episode was way too short and the story felt rushed, for me, this was easily one of the most romantic episodes for Niran and Pete. In this episode, we basically watched two people who are completely aware of their feelings but just won't make a move.
In the early episodes, their relationship was just two people who newly met trying to build a friendship. They called it friendship without thinking too much about it, but over time, these feelings turned into something more than just an ordinary friendship. Honestly, I always saw Pete as the one unaware of his feelings, and Niran as the one who was aware of certain things but avoided putting a label on them and refused to accept them. Both sides had their own issues to resolve within themselves. Yes, these feelings guided them toward finding themselves, feeling safe, and becoming stronger, but they still avoided thinking deeply about them. However, I think the soul binding ritual opened a door for Niran. From that moment on, whether consciously or unconsciously, he started questioning where he placed Pete in his heart. He still hadn't accepted his feelings, and in fact, when Pete asked him by the lake if something could happen between them, that was the reason for his overreaction. Niran has trust issues and self worth issues, not just as a Wu, but as a human being. For someone who is constantly ostracized, this is actually very normal. That is why I always thought the bond between Niran and Pete was a bit fragile. In their first real fight, when Niran saw how much he hurt Pete and realized Pete didnt trust him, the reason he couldn't speak up was partly due to his trust issues. It was as if he found it hard to believe someone could love him unconditionally. The final conversation in the spirit realm proved the opposite to him. He became sure that Pete loved him unconditionally and wanted him in his life, whether he was a Wu or not. This episode is exactly about that. In this episode, we watched a Niran who was aware of his feelings and had accepted them. There was a calmness and maturity about him. In this episode, he was someone who was confident as a Wu, at peace with himself, and understood his grandfather better now.
That is also the reason for the subtle changes in Nirans approach to Pete. Pete is no longer just his friend. He is the string of his kite, the most important piece that keeps his soul whole.
In the first scene, the sweet smile on Niran's face when Pete walked into the room totally vanished the second Pete brought up the problem they had to solve. Because he was waiting for some affection! He feels like he actually has the right to expect it now. Niran is 100% sure of Pete's love. Their banter in the following scene was also incredibly cute. Pete trying to make him happy and carefree makes me incredibly happy. The balance between them is never disrupted. They are always there to make each other feel good and to lift each other up when they fall.
And then the bike scene and the talk after. Like I said, this episode was Niran's acceptance era. His look on the bike and saying he finally gets his grandfather's words proved it. Niran knows where to put Pete in his heart now. He just doesn't know where Pete puts him. He knows he is deeply loved, but the type of love is still a question mark. His sudden shock and intense look when Pete started a sentence with "the person I love" was because of this. For a second, it looked like he expected a confession, but then Pete brought up friendship, which gave Niran his answer. They are almost on the same page, Pete just needs to turn a few more pages.
On the rooftop, I think he lied about not remembering the spirit world because of this friendship label. He seemed too shy to admit it and dive into a deeper conversation, so he tried to brush it off. But when he saw Pete getting sad, he couldn't hold back and comforted him by saying he remembers the feelings, even if he doesn't remember the details. Which is so sweet, because you can see that no matter what label they use, the only thing that matters is that they stand together and truly love each other. Niran keeps smiling even when he hears "friendship," and Pete's face lights up because knowing that Niran still holds onto those feelings means everything to him, even if the actual words he said during that hug aren't remembered. Feelings are what matters at the end of the day. As soulmates, they already know how intense their feelings are. Just because they aren't making a move doesn't mean the feelings aren't there.
So basically, this episode made me feel like we finally reached the ultimate goal in the emotional journey we've been on since the beginning of the show. Anyway, I won't drag this out any longer. I am so hyped for the finale. Niran gets kidnapped and Pete fights to save him. I absolutely love the action scenes in this show. After that, we'll probably see Niran dressing Pete's wounds, I think I remember a scene like that in the trailer. What else will happen and how they will wrap up the finale, we'll all see together. My only wish is for the episode to be long. Couldn't the finale at least be an hour long? I really think we deserve that.
Niran's struggle with his self-identity, much like Zhuangzi's philosophy, has been beautifully integrated into the series since the early episodes. For Zhuangzi, the butterfly represents freedom from social expectations and rules within the Taoist framework. It symbolizes the human mind breaking free from its chains. I believe the butterfly constantly fluttering around Niran is a reflection of this freedom and transformation. In reality, Niran is a character who cannot realize his inner transformation. He constantly chases that butterfly but can never catch it because his grandfather's words stand in his way like a wall. He is trapped between the ordinary world that rejected him since childhood by calling him the sorcerer's grandson, his grandfather who thinks it is impossible for him to be a Wu, and the Wu world that excludes him. He has never been accepted for who he is. No one accepts him as he is except Pete. Everyone judges him based only on his Wu identity. Niran is exhausted from his inner conflict and from failing to meet expectations. The train scene, where he says he just wants to sit down for a bit, really touched my heart. For him, looking at an empty void was no different from real life because that void was already inside him. At this point, we see that reality has lost its meaning for him. The only thing left is to give up and accept it. However, there is an important moment during the scene where Pete begs him, and Niran's expression changes. Pete tells him that if he does not want to be a Wu, he does not have to be, and if he does not want to defeat Qi Rong, he does not have to do it. He just wants him to live. In that moment, Niran felt unconditionally loved for the first time. He felt valued simply for being himself, not because of his Wu identity. He was so grateful to Pete that you could see the emotion in his eyes. Even though he said it was too late, a part of him held onto that hope. Unlike many people, I did not see his fading away as destruction. On the contrary, it was a part of his transformation. To be reborn, you must die first. In Zhuangzi's philosophy, all of these are connected. The part of Niran that surrendered to life faded away, and his childhood self appeared as a symbol of rebirth. His older version was convinced that he could not be a Wu, but his childhood self was the side that still had hope and had not given up yet. Pete told that child that he would become a Wu, putting hope back into his heart. His grandfather told him that anyone guided by stubborness would be lost forever, but I think there was a nuance there. The real issue is that a person should not fight against their own nature. What Niran needs to do is not to fight with himself but to stand up against the world that dictates who he should be, and say that he is the one who decides his own identity. In short, I loved the episode. Also, congratulations to Pete and Niran on their engagement! :D
I'm having so much fun! It's a great show that doesn't worry about anything and just focuses on the situations the characters are in. The fact that the show doesn't take itself seriously, the exaggerated behavior of the characters, the story flow that is sure to turn into more and more chaos, is a type of comedy that really appeals to me. And of course, the fact that Nanon and Film are so compatible with each other and their acting is the biggest part of the pleasure of watching. I recommend it to those who haven't seen it yet and to those who like this kind of comedy.
To me, love is something more spiritual. Being physical isn't love itself; it is a way of expressing love. Meaning, the feelings can always exist, but how to express them is up to the individuals themselves. Both Niran and Pete expressed their love many times, through both words and actions; they just didn't directly accept the existence of this love at first. This love took on a noticeable and accepted form especially in episode 7 for Pete, and especially in this episode for Niran.
In the early episodes, their relationship was just two people who newly met trying to build a friendship. They called it friendship without thinking too much about it, but over time, these feelings turned into something more than just an ordinary friendship. Honestly, I always saw Pete as the one unaware of his feelings, and Niran as the one who was aware of certain things but avoided putting a label on them and refused to accept them. Both sides had their own issues to resolve within themselves. Yes, these feelings guided them toward finding themselves, feeling safe, and becoming stronger, but they still avoided thinking deeply about them. However, I think the soul binding ritual opened a door for Niran. From that moment on, whether consciously or unconsciously, he started questioning where he placed Pete in his heart. He still hadn't accepted his feelings, and in fact, when Pete asked him by the lake if something could happen between them, that was the reason for his overreaction. Niran has trust issues and self worth issues, not just as a Wu, but as a human being. For someone who is constantly ostracized, this is actually very normal. That is why I always thought the bond between Niran and Pete was a bit fragile. In their first real fight, when Niran saw how much he hurt Pete and realized Pete didnt trust him, the reason he couldn't speak up was partly due to his trust issues. It was as if he found it hard to believe someone could love him unconditionally. The final conversation in the spirit realm proved the opposite to him. He became sure that Pete loved him unconditionally and wanted him in his life, whether he was a Wu or not. This episode is exactly about that. In this episode, we watched a Niran who was aware of his feelings and had accepted them. There was a calmness and maturity about him. In this episode, he was someone who was confident as a Wu, at peace with himself, and understood his grandfather better now.
That is also the reason for the subtle changes in Nirans approach to Pete. Pete is no longer just his friend. He is the string of his kite, the most important piece that keeps his soul whole.
In the first scene, the sweet smile on Niran's face when Pete walked into the room totally vanished the second Pete brought up the problem they had to solve. Because he was waiting for some affection! He feels like he actually has the right to expect it now. Niran is 100% sure of Pete's love. Their banter in the following scene was also incredibly cute. Pete trying to make him happy and carefree makes me incredibly happy. The balance between them is never disrupted. They are always there to make each other feel good and to lift each other up when they fall.
And then the bike scene and the talk after. Like I said, this episode was Niran's acceptance era. His look on the bike and saying he finally gets his grandfather's words proved it. Niran knows where to put Pete in his heart now. He just doesn't know where Pete puts him. He knows he is deeply loved, but the type of love is still a question mark. His sudden shock and intense look when Pete started a sentence with "the person I love" was because of this. For a second, it looked like he expected a confession, but then Pete brought up friendship, which gave Niran his answer. They are almost on the same page, Pete just needs to turn a few more pages.
On the rooftop, I think he lied about not remembering the spirit world because of this friendship label. He seemed too shy to admit it and dive into a deeper conversation, so he tried to brush it off. But when he saw Pete getting sad, he couldn't hold back and comforted him by saying he remembers the feelings, even if he doesn't remember the details. Which is so sweet, because you can see that no matter what label they use, the only thing that matters is that they stand together and truly love each other. Niran keeps smiling even when he hears "friendship," and Pete's face lights up because knowing that Niran still holds onto those feelings means everything to him, even if the actual words he said during that hug aren't remembered. Feelings are what matters at the end of the day. As soulmates, they already know how intense their feelings are. Just because they aren't making a move doesn't mean the feelings aren't there.
So basically, this episode made me feel like we finally reached the ultimate goal in the emotional journey we've been on since the beginning of the show. Anyway, I won't drag this out any longer. I am so hyped for the finale. Niran gets kidnapped and Pete fights to save him. I absolutely love the action scenes in this show. After that, we'll probably see Niran dressing Pete's wounds, I think I remember a scene like that in the trailer. What else will happen and how they will wrap up the finale, we'll all see together. My only wish is for the episode to be long. Couldn't the finale at least be an hour long? I really think we deserve that.
Niran is exhausted from his inner conflict and from failing to meet expectations. The train scene, where he says he just wants to sit down for a bit, really touched my heart. For him, looking at an empty void was no different from real life because that void was already inside him. At this point, we see that reality has lost its meaning for him. The only thing left is to give up and accept it. However, there is an important moment during the scene where Pete begs him, and Niran's expression changes. Pete tells him that if he does not want to be a Wu, he does not have to be, and if he does not want to defeat Qi Rong, he does not have to do it. He just wants him to live. In that moment, Niran felt unconditionally loved for the first time. He felt valued simply for being himself, not because of his Wu identity. He was so grateful to Pete that you could see the emotion in his eyes. Even though he said it was too late, a part of him held onto that hope.
Unlike many people, I did not see his fading away as destruction. On the contrary, it was a part of his transformation. To be reborn, you must die first. In Zhuangzi's philosophy, all of these are connected. The part of Niran that surrendered to life faded away, and his childhood self appeared as a symbol of rebirth. His older version was convinced that he could not be a Wu, but his childhood self was the side that still had hope and had not given up yet. Pete told that child that he would become a Wu, putting hope back into his heart.
His grandfather told him that anyone guided by stubborness would be lost forever, but I think there was a nuance there. The real issue is that a person should not fight against their own nature. What Niran needs to do is not to fight with himself but to stand up against the world that dictates who he should be, and say that he is the one who decides his own identity.
In short, I loved the episode. Also, congratulations to Pete and Niran on their engagement! :D