Platinum Fox

Hey, how are you? I know it has been awhile since you watched this, I just finished it today. Actually, those sex scenes were very needed as they illustrated the difference of how both men treated her. The older man treated her like a woman (a human being) and made her feel beautiful with just his writing. She was a beautiful muse. He never violated her or made her feel bad about herself which is what she needed. The other sex scene was just the opposite. It was two lonely people using each other to feel something and ending up feeling more empty than before. It is how she knew that the young man was not the one who wrote the story as he could not make her feel like the man in the story. It is also why the old man tried to kill the younger man as the younger man had taken something beautiful and made it ugly.

Hope all is well with you!

While I enjoyed the Indiana Jones beginning and ending, I felt the plot fell apart with the explanation of why the three enemies did what they did. It ruined the entire drama for me.

Again, your analysis is correct for as far as it goes and your perception of DJX and Sang Zhi's relationship, but, like many viewers, you have failed to notice an important detail shown multiple times in the first few episodes, the novel The End of Eternity by Isaac Asimov. This drama is based on (not adapted from) the novel Hidden Love. Based on means that the writers have used the source material for a certain purpose and not just for entertainment value (which it can be as well). In a nutshell, The End of Eternity is a social commentary about the use of nuclear energy. It does not come right and say that nuclear energy is bad or good, it is a cautionary tale.

The same goes for this drama. The writers do not come right out and say that the age of consent law is bad or good (that would be foolish on their part), they just explain that a 14 year old Sang Zhi is still a child and not ready for that kind of relationship (hence the actress who played 14 year old Sang Zhi was actually 11). Also, again at 17, even though she has caught up to him in height, she is still not equal to him in maturity. Sang Zhi says while she is reading The End of Eternity, "I know the words, but I don't understand them". The people of China are trying to get the age of consent changed, but with no luck. If you can't change a law, change the mindset of the people about the law. If this were a drama set even 100 year ago would we be having this conversation, no, as 14/15 year olds were married off for family social standing all the time. Our definition and idea of childhood has changed throughout the last 100 years, so should the law. You're right Sang Zhi doesn't have to deal with that because DJX is a green flag male, but not every male is like DJX. This is a cautionary tale.

You may look at this drama as an entertaining, simple, fluffy love story. However, once you have read The End of Eternity, you come to understand that there is much more to the story.

As for perception, this drama is driven by perception for the audience as well as the characters. The audience, Sang Zhi, and Sang Yan perceive DJX as a brother to Sang Zhi from the time she 14 to when she is 19 when DJX confesses everything to SZ and SY. DJX perceives that Sang Zhi thinks of him as a brother. Yet, we know that she has other thoughts as well. You have missed the most important part of the period scene when DJX calls Sang Yan and says in no uncertain terms, "I am not her brother." He is using distancing language and stating very clearly that he thinks of her in a different way. It is the audience's perception that allows us to think of him as a brother to when she is 19 and ready for a relationship. Up to that point it is how comfortable people are with the age gap and the age of Sang Zhi.

Thank you for your insight and discussion. Happy drama watching.

You are not alone. I struggled (three months) to get to episode 38 (today). This was recommended to me by a friend, so I will finish it for her. It just won't be as quickly as other people.

Good entertainment movie with a good cast. However, they should have used her observation skills more, especially making a big deal out of them in the beginning. Did love the symbolism of the cold eyes being not just the main antagonist, but also the cameras. Just plain fun.

The first few episodes seem to be an homage to Arsenal Military Academy and In a Class of Her Own, and of course we in cdrama now it is acceptable to have a drunk girl scene.

Yes, I loved it! This portion of the drama seem to follow that drama.

Happy drama watching.

While I agree with your analysis of the drama, there is far more going on in it than you are letting on. If Sang Zhi had gotten together with the love interests at either ages (14 & 17) and then again at 19, we wouldn't be having this conversation. The simple fact that DJX is called a dog says it all. He chases after and likes someone who is five years his junior. When she is 19 and he 24 this is nothing, but before that when she/he (14/19) meet, we don't know why he goes to the school. What are his intentions? We don't find out until the last episode. We also find out that he has liked her since she was 17. In fact many viewers don't see it, but he hits on her at least three times before her brother shuts DJX down and everything turns into an unrequited love story and DJX a perfect brother.

So I am glad that people are criticizing it as it means they are thinking about these two pairings (14/19 and 17/22). Is it morally right?

That uncomfortable feeling is very intentional by the writer as this is a social commentary on the age of consent law in China which is 14.

Actually, it is very well made, if you understand the book they are imitating, The End of Eternity (TEE) by Isaac Asimov. TEE is shown numerous times during the first few episodes which you say are the most uncomfortable for you. It should be as the writer wants you to think about a 14/19 year old pairing. They would look like father and daughter. They also want people to think about a 17/22 year old pairing. Most 17 year olds are not as mature as a 22 year old. They are not saying that these pairings are wrong, but that caution should be taken when this age gap at these ages exist in the relationship.

The reason he can fall in love with her so easily is because he has known her since she was 14. He knows her basic personality. He really gets to know her when she is 17 as he takes over the "brotherly" duties, yet he does not look at her as a little sister as he tells Sang Yan in no uncertain terms during the period scene, "I am not her brother." He also says during a phone call in The First Frost, "I don't have a real sister." Both of these imply that he is looking at her in a different way. This is what makes him a dog. Otherwise there is no reason why he should be called a dog as he doesn't date or lead girls on. He actually hits on her twice (maybe three) before Sang Yan and Qian Fei shut him down and everything from then on is perceived as him looking at her as a little sister. This is where the Little Red Riding Hood story comes in. This is a cautionary tale as not everyone is going to be like DJX, a green forest.

If you really want to understand what is going on in this drama read The End of Eternity. It will explain everything. Of course you can also read the source material, but it is written in chronological order starting when she is 13, a minor in every aspect of life: socially, business decisions, and marriageability.

You are uncomfortable for a reason and this is very intentional by the writers. The reason that most viewers can watch this with little discomfort is because they want to believe that DJX doesn't have feelings for her before the first snow fall when he says he fell in love with her, but what is this drama called Hidden Love. Can love be hidden from yourself?

Happy drama watching and thank you for the discussion.

You're right. The creepiness you feel at the beginning of the drama is intentional. This is a social commentary on the age of consent law in China. This drama is a modern retelling of Little Red Riding Hood. We don't know what his intentions are until episode 25.

The actress who played Sang Zhi at 14 was 11 at the time of filming. She represents Sang Zhi as an underdeveloped child because she was sick all the time as a young child. Also, the casting director needed her for her height to show how much Sang Zhi had grown in three years. Finally, she is to represent that 14 year olds are still children and that DJX could be her father.

Fun fact: The actress has played the younger version of Zhao Lusi's character in two other dramas; Who Rules the World and The Story of Pearl Girl.

What you are looking at in the orange box is the average of everyone who has rated the drama (including people with multiple accounts). What you should look at is the verified rating which attempts to take out all the multiple raters. This rating is 7.97 which is about right. You can find this number by hovering over the orange box.

It seems what is bothering you is why Ye Hua would say that the golden lotus has been touched without permission. Since I can only rely on subtitles, I don't remember that part. However, I thought those scenes were rather odd myself. When I read that this drama was suppose to take place during three time periods and three different worlds, it makes sense. Not only do we have to transition Bai Qian, but also Ye Hua (from the golden lotus to the crown prince). Yet, we need to know how they were together during the first time period. Mo Yan loved Bai Qian and didn't mind her touching and taking care of Ye Hua for him while he was out doing god business.

When I was watching it, I questioned how Bai Qian had known Ye Hua when she was at school. Those scenes provided the answer making it the third world they were together.

Hope this helps.

Remember that at the time Ye Hua wakes up, Mo Yan has sacrificed himself to protect the people from the demon lord. It makes sense that when one brother has "passed on" that the other brother take his place. Remember the father of the two brothers explained to Mo Yan that he had a twin, but it wasn't time for him to be born yet.

That is just my explanation of events. It seems that Mo Yan, who is the god of war has passed on and it is time for his brother to take his place. jmo

The Golden Child with Eddy Murphy anyone?!

While visually stunning, the plot left much to be desired. This starts as an adventure story and ends in a love story. If this was the intention all along it would have been nice to have it run consistently through out the plot. The big fight at the end is just written out of the script in favor of a very cheesy ending.

What a beautiful liberating love story!

At first I didn't think I would be able to watch it due to the stupidity of the main characters, but once I thought of this as a parody, I was laughing all the way through it. How fun!

What they killed off the Hong Kong version of 007!

I have no doubt that is true. However, this drama's focus is not about an older woman and a younger man. It is about the corruption going on in the educational system in Korea. Of course the teachers are going to be older than the students. Only one commenter complained about the age gap and even then the commenter didn't have a problem with it.

That's why I wrote that commenters aren't concerned about the age gap in this drama as teachers are older than their students, especially in high school. Now, at the university level this may not be true. After there is no power dynamic in the relationship, I say go for it if both parties are willing.

Viewers have stated that the teacher did nothing wrong. She did plenty wrong, and after many warnings from the principal, she was fired and should have been as she did not set clear boundaries with the boy. Love and romance do not have to be physical.

Thanks for the discussion and insight. Happy drama watching.

The Korean version of Dave in the United States. Loved it.