7
3
Bouquets or brickbats?
This series surprised me and not always in a good way. I am conflicted. The first half really tested my patience. Just when I was about to give up, the show turned the corner and I am gobsmacked!
To be fair, this drama has good bones. Our leads have strong visuals and they extrude charisma. Their chemistry is next level. It ebbs and flows like a force of nature.
By setting the drama in the Pearl Delta and turning the clock back 20+ years gives the show a unique vibe. It is also a brave decision to focus on the underbelly of society. There is an authentic grittiness that many contemporary romance drama lacked. This gives the narrative a sharper edge. This also creates a lot of head wind for our OTP.
This is not helped by the series spending 10 eps going back to the 1990's. Every key events of our leads are marked. To be fair, these events shaped them and reinforced the found family trope. I do wonder if we need to devote so much screen time to them.
When the OTP reunite 6 years later, they have technically moved on. However, their emotional cores are frozen at the moment they parted ways. They never stop pining for each other.
How cruel is our dear writer. She spared no efforts on their monster sized push-pull. There is so much angst, guilt and longing. It pains me to watch our leads dance around each other. They can't help being drawn to each other, yet they are like the same pole on two magnets.
This is not helped by the FL's constant teasing and barbed remarks. The ML's stoic behaviour only adds fuel to that fire.
BTW, did I mention the ML is the biggest Noble Idiot in town? He thinks by hiding his true feelings, he is keeping her safe from his enemies.
His life was turned upside down while they were separated. That memory is too painful to share. It makes him guarded and sullen. His over protectiveness irritates her. She wants him to treat her as a woman, the object of his desires.
It took several more eps before we finally see some minor progress. Baby steps . . (groan) . . baby steps. They finally arrived at an understanding. That will do for now. The pressure continues to build, like a super typhoon.
Let's take a step back at this juncture. I can't tell you how "weird" I felt about this series. They had me by the end of EP.1. I almost quit out of frustration by mid run. Then I binged the last half like my life depends on it. Should I give the writer bouquets or brickbats? The answer is complicated.
Where most dramas are happy for the OTP to motor along until the inevitable confession. Our dear writer dug several deep holes in their psyche/history and dropped them headfirst into them. Yes, it is schadenfreude, but it also allows our actors to tap into strong emotions and test their mettle. It can be both exhausting and exhilarating.
Many scenes are emotionally charged. It is draining to watch at times. Nothing is ever black or white. Your senses will be assaulted. Your moral fibre tested. There are many triggers . . so many.
Just when you think they are on the verge of a leap forward, they would walk back from it. I won't lie. It is frustrating. The reward is rich, if you can hold out for it.
This brings me to the nitty gritty of the show. As I mentioned before, the production is solid. I loved the little details, local flavours, period settings, etc. Normally, the support cast will get a passing remark, but this lot is a class above. They felt real. They have personalities and are given some space to grow. Special thanks go to Uncle Zhou for watching out for our young leads and his unwavering support. Respect! I feel your pain, sir.
As I mentioned before, the ugly underbelly is ever present. Organised crime and shady business cast long shadows. Something wicked this way comes.
Ok, this is one show I refuse to spoil the ending. I need someone to scream next to me on this rollercoaster ride. It might as well be you. You can thank me later. 😉
In the end, I am shook. I don’t know whether I ought to love or hate this show. For every scene that troubled me, there is a one that made me swoon. Arrrgh! I finally settled on a score of 8.5. Maybe a little higher . . ?
Final warning. There are plenty of triggers and pain points. This drama can be frustrating at times. The reward is worth the journey . . at least for me. Peace.
To be fair, this drama has good bones. Our leads have strong visuals and they extrude charisma. Their chemistry is next level. It ebbs and flows like a force of nature.
By setting the drama in the Pearl Delta and turning the clock back 20+ years gives the show a unique vibe. It is also a brave decision to focus on the underbelly of society. There is an authentic grittiness that many contemporary romance drama lacked. This gives the narrative a sharper edge. This also creates a lot of head wind for our OTP.
This is not helped by the series spending 10 eps going back to the 1990's. Every key events of our leads are marked. To be fair, these events shaped them and reinforced the found family trope. I do wonder if we need to devote so much screen time to them.
When the OTP reunite 6 years later, they have technically moved on. However, their emotional cores are frozen at the moment they parted ways. They never stop pining for each other.
How cruel is our dear writer. She spared no efforts on their monster sized push-pull. There is so much angst, guilt and longing. It pains me to watch our leads dance around each other. They can't help being drawn to each other, yet they are like the same pole on two magnets.
This is not helped by the FL's constant teasing and barbed remarks. The ML's stoic behaviour only adds fuel to that fire.
BTW, did I mention the ML is the biggest Noble Idiot in town? He thinks by hiding his true feelings, he is keeping her safe from his enemies.
His life was turned upside down while they were separated. That memory is too painful to share. It makes him guarded and sullen. His over protectiveness irritates her. She wants him to treat her as a woman, the object of his desires.
It took several more eps before we finally see some minor progress. Baby steps . . (groan) . . baby steps. They finally arrived at an understanding. That will do for now. The pressure continues to build, like a super typhoon.
Let's take a step back at this juncture. I can't tell you how "weird" I felt about this series. They had me by the end of EP.1. I almost quit out of frustration by mid run. Then I binged the last half like my life depends on it. Should I give the writer bouquets or brickbats? The answer is complicated.
Where most dramas are happy for the OTP to motor along until the inevitable confession. Our dear writer dug several deep holes in their psyche/history and dropped them headfirst into them. Yes, it is schadenfreude, but it also allows our actors to tap into strong emotions and test their mettle. It can be both exhausting and exhilarating.
Many scenes are emotionally charged. It is draining to watch at times. Nothing is ever black or white. Your senses will be assaulted. Your moral fibre tested. There are many triggers . . so many.
Just when you think they are on the verge of a leap forward, they would walk back from it. I won't lie. It is frustrating. The reward is rich, if you can hold out for it.
This brings me to the nitty gritty of the show. As I mentioned before, the production is solid. I loved the little details, local flavours, period settings, etc. Normally, the support cast will get a passing remark, but this lot is a class above. They felt real. They have personalities and are given some space to grow. Special thanks go to Uncle Zhou for watching out for our young leads and his unwavering support. Respect! I feel your pain, sir.
As I mentioned before, the ugly underbelly is ever present. Organised crime and shady business cast long shadows. Something wicked this way comes.
Ok, this is one show I refuse to spoil the ending. I need someone to scream next to me on this rollercoaster ride. It might as well be you. You can thank me later. 😉
In the end, I am shook. I don’t know whether I ought to love or hate this show. For every scene that troubled me, there is a one that made me swoon. Arrrgh! I finally settled on a score of 8.5. Maybe a little higher . . ?
Final warning. There are plenty of triggers and pain points. This drama can be frustrating at times. The reward is worth the journey . . at least for me. Peace.
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