In the unlikely case there is anyone here who hasn’t seen Secrets Happened on the Lichee Island, to heal some…
"Secrets Happened on the Lichee Island" is how I first discovered Zelia (aka Lizzy) and her simple, very different and beautiful way of telling a story. The cinematography was stunning, and the way she allowed the light and natural sounds from the set - the birds, the wind, the rustle of branches - to be their own small characters in certain scenes just captivated me.
I also loved how she allowed the actors to run with their own interpretations of the script. She would give them a basic direction - "they kiss" - and just let them determine how to do it in their most comfortable and loving way. They did do a few takes, but then they would choose the one that most conveyed the emotions and use that one for the series.
The story in "Lichee Island" was **much** simpler than "Winter Sun," but it was emotionally impactful in its own way. Viewers were sad when it ended, and we were really, REALLY hoping Zelia would make another series.
Never did we dream that "Winter Sun" would be her next effort. In contrast to the simpler, lighter story in "Lichee Island," the "Winter Sun" series is a much more complex, breathtaking tapestry. It's just stunning.
(BTW, the actor Hu Yi Chen (he played Qingtian in "Winter Sun") was one of the main characters in the "Lichee Island" series. His two characters and the two stories are not connected at all, but it was good to see him again.)
I am looking forward to whatever project Zelia works on next!
It's called "A Winter Sun Wakes the Wind in Spring Hills' Dream Small Theater."
It's a collection of beautiful, intimate NC scenes that were not included in the regular episodes. They are short, but they show how the actors connected their characters on a deeply soulful level. The scenes are not raunchy at all. Instead, they are absolutely beautiful.
There's also lots of other behind-the-scenes stuff on their official YT channel, including videos of the two main actors reacting to each episode. ALL of it is worth a watch.
Here's the official channel on YT. Some of the videos are for "members only," but many of them are for public viewing.
I hope he continues to act, if that's what makes him happy. But it sounds like he's at a point in his life where he's re-thinking a lot of choices, and he sounds a little sad. Hope he's OK.
I was intensely sad for most of the episode, but when Changyang came walking out of the woods, up the hill toward where Qinglang was standing, I literally BURST into tears of happiness and cried all the way to the end.
Never has a series affected me this way. I am so grateful to have watched it. Thank you, thank you director, team and actors, for sharing this beautiful story with us. It will stay with me for a very long time.
Absolutely, yes. It's beautiful, sensual and romantic.
Watch the series, but ALSO.......later.......after you've watched several episodes and have a feeling for the relationship between the two MLs....... watch the separate, deleted NC scenes the director has been sharing. They are incredible. Not raunchy, but soulful and intimate.
And I mean SOULFUL. You can easily believe the two MLs have always, and will always find each other as lovers in every lifetime / every timeline.
Those are on another link - not the same link as the series.
Look for this: "A Winter Sun Wakes the Wind in Spring Hills' Dream Small Theater"
I love the chemistry between ThomasKong, and the story being set partly in New York makes for an interesting angle. I also like that the story makes good use of Thomas' fluency in English. That also adds another interesting angle.
Also......I only noticed when I watched the pilot that Leon, who was in the Gelboys series, is also in the Unknown Lover cast. He's actually quite a good actor, so it'll be interesting to see what his character's dynamic is with everyone else.
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Actually.....now that I think about it......Kang Eun Bin (the co-lead in Blueming) ALSO stopped acting. Neither has done anything since that series.
(Unless they're doing theater, instead? I have no idea.)
Hope they're both OK.
I also loved how she allowed the actors to run with their own interpretations of the script. She would give them a basic direction - "they kiss" - and just let them determine how to do it in their most comfortable and loving way. They did do a few takes, but then they would choose the one that most conveyed the emotions and use that one for the series.
The story in "Lichee Island" was **much** simpler than "Winter Sun," but it was emotionally impactful in its own way. Viewers were sad when it ended, and we were really, REALLY hoping Zelia would make another series.
Never did we dream that "Winter Sun" would be her next effort. In contrast to the simpler, lighter story in "Lichee Island," the "Winter Sun" series is a much more complex, breathtaking tapestry. It's just stunning.
(BTW, the actor Hu Yi Chen (he played Qingtian in "Winter Sun") was one of the main characters in the "Lichee Island" series. His two characters and the two stories are not connected at all, but it was good to see him again.)
I am looking forward to whatever project Zelia works on next!
It's a collection of beautiful, intimate NC scenes that were not included in the regular episodes. They are short, but they show how the actors connected their characters on a deeply soulful level. The scenes are not raunchy at all. Instead, they are absolutely beautiful.
There's also lots of other behind-the-scenes stuff on their official YT channel, including videos of the two main actors reacting to each episode. ALL of it is worth a watch.
Here's the official channel on YT. Some of the videos are for "members only," but many of them are for public viewing.
https://www.youtube.com/@jialanshanying/videos
Or maybe the outline of a sun, with a snowflake nestled in the center?
I also really like the fact that the actors were hardly wearing any makeup at all. They just look like regular guys. LOVE that.
EDIT: Just finished the series. I liked it a lot. It was fluffy and REALLY cute. I would love to see those two actors paired in another series.
Never has a series affected me this way. I am so grateful to have watched it. Thank you, thank you director, team and actors, for sharing this beautiful story with us. It will stay with me for a very long time.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uNpa-qba6oM
***nothing conclusive has been announced yet by investigators***
https://www.chosun.com/english/kpop-culture-en/2026/08/19/3O6JPCMZPBF7NHEP27ZDWPHAVE/
https://www.sportschosun.com/en/celebrity/2026-08-19/202608190100111390007078
If you mean Phob, his belief in the coup / revolution was not misguided.
But his belief that people he loved would somehow not suffer any consequences from it, was.
And his trust in people he thought had the same ideals as himself.
Watch the series, but ALSO.......later.......after you've watched several episodes and have a feeling for the relationship between the two MLs....... watch the separate, deleted NC scenes the director has been sharing. They are incredible. Not raunchy, but soulful and intimate.
And I mean SOULFUL. You can easily believe the two MLs have always, and will always find each other as lovers in every lifetime / every timeline.
Those are on another link - not the same link as the series.
Look for this: "A Winter Sun Wakes the Wind in Spring Hills' Dream Small Theater"
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zoQ-HNyFFGg
I love the chemistry between ThomasKong, and the story being set partly in New York makes for an interesting angle. I also like that the story makes good use of Thomas' fluency in English. That also adds another interesting angle.
Also......I only noticed when I watched the pilot that Leon, who was in the Gelboys series, is also in the Unknown Lover cast. He's actually quite a good actor, so it'll be interesting to see what his character's dynamic is with everyone else.
For all the years they'd been apart, **THAT** was supposed to be their reunion.
Ho hum.