Shrimpy

While FL fell first, there is, to me of course, a special kind of sweetness, and strength, being shown this way. She isn't stopping her life and is going after her own goal. She is not the typical irrational cdrama woman who is going after him. She is just there for him, without any expectations. If you look at the set up for ML2 and FL2, it is a stark difference. It also shows how she and ML are similar, they are fighting for themselves, by themselves.

This show is very clever in how they are slowly showing us her character. It will be all the sweeter when this type of persevering, steadfast and strong character gets to a good point.

Absolutely. I wrote it above but as a character Xiao Mei is slowly forming in front of our eyes.

I actually love that the progression is like this because it is a very good parallel to her character. She is quiet, soft in appearance but underneath she is very steadfast and strong. She quietly loves XCS and steps aside for the FL2 but will be there for him even if she is not his choice (at the moment).

While the focus is on FL2 the triangle is actually showing us quite clearly what good people ML and FL are and why they will fit in the future.

I am just slightly worried that while ML2 and FL 2 are off to the army, XCS is still not there even in episode 10. That is a lot of time for a show that needs to cover 30 years. Especially as the Heizi situation is still active at the time. That is too long. Hopefully it will wrap up at that point.

After episodes 5 and 6 I have to say this show is quite cleverly written.

I am in no hurry when it comes to the situation with the FL2. I'm fact, I am very pleased that there is no forced drama and nobody is a bad person. It is just a realistic depiction of these things. The show is actually very clearly and cleverly pointing out why the ML is special character. Both he and ML2 are doing things for the FL2 but their sources of strength are completely different.

Everything XCS does is coming from him. His source of strength is his character and his own individual skills. He relies on himself. ML2's source of strength is his family and everything he can do is connected to that. It is a very clear delineation between internal and external. I just hope that when the time comes, FL2 remembers what Qi Tian told her. If you choose bread (over love), there is a price to pay.

I didn't expect to like QT so much so I am looking forward to seeing him later on. In fact I like him and ML3 way more than the weak ML2. I hope the show keeps on giving us both of them in a nice quantity. FL3 is also great. The FL is also slowly forming and I really like her character set up.

Finally XCS is really settling nicely in my heart. XZ really knows how to pick a good character because XCS is so well written. It is so clear already that he has major inner strength and when needed, he will step up. Excellent character set up. I watched the previews so this is my one worry under spoilers below.

She is not evil. It is just that some posters don't like that the current focus is on both MLs and FL2 when it comes to romance. As a character she is a good young woman with a difficult family situation. There is absolutely nothing wrong with her (so far).

That is great, I think the drama is excellent but unfortunately that is not the majority. It will get better as we get further into show but we are missing this opening window.

Xiao Mei is the FL. It will take a while for it all to develop.

The name change but also they are keeping the bare minimum of episodes free. This is not good because we need views on the Web to be as high as possible too and they are limiting it as much as possible. Non fans aren't going to buy VIP after 1 episode, it is not enough to judge a show so they are really stifling it.

No problem! This period was very specific, it must be so confusing to international audiences. For example, I don't know if you caught it but when FL2 asks her violin teacher about entering the army, she says no, they are recruiting again only from farmers, etc. That is how it was, it was especially unfriendly towards city folks, not to mention educated people. Once Mao died in 1976 everything changed. It was such an exciting time of reform, a real explosion. I am glad all of this will be covered because it is not that well known outside of China.

Tencent really is working against this drama 😑

She didn't know before he told that story.

They were. Especially prior to Mao's death but even after, a private car owner was a rare thing. Government officials and military officials had official cars but private ownership took off much later.

Because these were forbidden books during Mao. All of this is happening before the reforms. You couldn't find any of those books in a normal library so this is why they are sealed there. At this time there are no college entrance examinations for example, they are yet to be reinstated. Overall, these were really difficult times.

I wonder if it will take longer. I keep thinking about their handshake when they met. She offers her hand first, he takes a while and grabs it at the last minute. If it is symbolism, she likes him but it takes a while for him to respond.

No, it is sung by Hu Xia.

It is very possible, the writer keeps surprising me so I think I really don't know when it ends. I do think ultimately it is because she chooses security and safety. Brain over love. I get that and especially in the period when this is all happening, I think 1975.

Ah, sorry! I see many people wanting him with FL2. Honestly I don't think there is anything wrong with her and they do have chemistry so I see where they get it, especially as her character is better explored right now. I am partial to FL though and her personality will probably be developed later. So far the script is great.

Ah yes, that will be very angsty, the injury in the army 😭

About the talk with the former gang member in episode 2 -
When he says to XCS, one day you are going to have to bow your head (paraphrasing) and XCS cockily says to whom, of course not believing in such a thing.

The answer - to life - had me literally pausing the whole thing because I had shivers all over my body. The man has survived but so many did not and he has learned this lesson the hard way. Life will make us all, sooner or later, bow our heads. The question will always be will we manage to raise our heads again after that. This I believe, in the challenges presented to XCS, is what is to come.

About FL2 - I hope people will not judge her harshly even if she does choose ML2. It was such a difficult life in China at the time. Her mother is ill, her father is dead, and her family is in trouble, much like XCS. If she ends up choosing security over love, it is a reasonable decision. I think she is fond of ML2, at least it seems that way, and if she ends up choosing with her head, tbh, many of us should perhaps have been so smart.

It is such a realistic dilemma though that I while I am gutted for her and XCS, I am enjoying the writing so much.

Now I have finished all 4 and what a fantastic show. The script is incredible. My favorite moment is still in episode 2 because in essence it foreshadows some of what is to come but is also probably one of the best lessons in life that any youngster can get. And when we are young we rarely believe it. I will post the moment below with some other comments that require spoiler talk.

The acting is so good. XZ has matured so much in his acting that I am genuinely surprised because I have always already thought he was brilliant. I actually love FL2 and the situation she is in is so unpleasant . I think I can guess how it will resolve and if it does, it is very realistic. I am actually not fond of ML2. The actor is doing a great job but the character is simply too weak for me.

Love the music of it so much. Having seen quite a few movies from that period, it is so good and evokes heavy nostalgia.

He does end up with Li Qin's character. What made you think he doesn't? There is nothing in that ED that would suggest otherwise.