4
This review may contain spoilers
Beautiful multi-layered love story
Summary
A beautiful story of two very different souls coming together through love and loss. The story was occasionally confusing, and the second couple wasn’t very engaging, but the main couple was riveting. Beautiful locations, music, and spectacular cinematography raise the production value enormously. It had its flaws but still made an indelible mark on me. 9.0
The rest of this review is super long and contains spoilers. It has sub-headings if you only want to read part of it.
Story
The story of the main couple is about a BL actor, Qinglang, who, now in his 30s, has closed himself off from love after being hurt in the past. While he takes time away from the spotlight and spends it in the mountains, he meets Changyang, who breaks down his walls and they fall in love. Changyang is young (20) when they first meet, but he is already determined to win Qinglang’s heart. He devotes himself to caring for Qinglang with such tenderness and attention that Qinglang cannot resist him. Their love is passionate and they become utterly devoted to each other. Unfortunately, Qinglang is a big star and lives life in the spotlight, which is not easy.
They try to keep their love discreet, but both cannot avoid being affected by scandal. Qinglang doesn’t care as much about his own image as he does about Changyang, but after Changyang’s father makes it clear that their relationship will damage Qinglang’s future, they break up. This was definitely some “noble idiocy” in my mind because Qinglang doesn’t tell Changyang why they are breaking up, and it happens after they have pledged to stay together, so you know they will end up back together. But it was still very much a typical romance trope, and the lack of communication was, as usual, annoying.
In general, the story of their love and their scandals is meant to shed light on the difficulties of the BL industry, and even the toxic shipping culture. This is especially displayed through Changyang’s sister, who reveals her brother’s relationship online because she ships Qinglang with his on-screen partner and wants them together, not her brother and Qinglang. Here we see how what she wants and imagines as a fan is more important than what actually makes Qinglang or her brother happy. It is infuriating! Qinglang’s former partner also tries to use the fans of their ship to revive his career, despite having hurt Qinglang in the past in real life. While it is important to make BL viewers aware of the problems that go on behind the scenes, I was not especially surprised by most of what happened in this regard. If it opens people’s eyes, though, that’s good.
The story of the second couple is supposed to mirror the past realities and struggles of Qinglang and his BL partner, Yuhao. Unfortunately, the second couple doesn’t pull the viewers in the way the main couple’s story does. There is clearly both love and manipulation involved, but it’s just not engaging in the same way. In addition, it is often confusing and hard to understand what is exactly going on with this couple. At times it was frustrating having so much time devoted to them, when really we just want to see Qinglang and Changyang.
Qinglang and Changyang’s love story surpasses time and place. They love each other beyond words, yet they also let each other have their separate lives. Only at the end do they finally both leave their professions and decide to live together in the mountains. The final scene of their mountain wedding, with imagined blessings from all the characters, lends a beautiful sense of closure to their story.
Watching Qinglang and Changyang together is incredibly moving. They clearly love each other with everything they have. Despite being radically different from each other, they balance each other perfectly. The sacrifices they make for each other as well as the effort to connect while apart is beautiful to watch, and they express a love that all of us would wish to find.
Problems with the story:
It is confusing at times and sometimes hard to follow. I spent a lot of time on Reddit trying to understand what was going on and why. This lack of clarity in the events that unfold really interrupts the flow of the romance and takes away from the beauty and pain of it.
The second couple is not very interesting and is sometimes annoying. Too much time was devoted to them.
Loss and Death in the Story
Three people die in this drama, and they are all significant characters. This lends a layer of sadness to the whole story. The losses are a counterpoint to the beauty of the love story. They affect the characters and viewers deeply. This is especially true of the death of Qingtian, Qinglang’s younger brother and Changyang’s friend, who is portrayed as a beautiful soul and loving presence. His loss hits the viewers especially hard. All the deaths are a reminder that we cannot control the events of our lives, only guide them. Sometimes terrible, devastating things happen. Death exists alongside life and love. The fact that Qinglang is able to continue to love Changyang and lean on him throughout is even more powerful in light of these losses. Changyang suffers too, yet he does all he can to protect Qingyang from the worst of what happened to Qingtian. And in the end they still celebrate their love, despite all that they have lost.
While I found it difficult to watch so many characters die, I don’t see this as a problem with the story. It is an important element in lending meaning to everything that happens.
Symbolism
The title: Changyang is the “winter sun.” He brings slow, steady warmth to the coldness of winter (Qinglang) without being overwhelming.
The wind represents change, as Qinglang opens his heart to Changyang. The wind can cause disruption too, as evidenced by difficulties on the path as well as loss.
“Spring Hills Dream” is Qinglang’s rebirth each time he escapes to the mountains and replenishes his soul through nature. The dreams also represent his connections to those he has lost and a way to see and remember them in his mind.
Tea has great symbolism in the story as well. The best tea takes time to grow and pick and seep. It requires patience in the face of nature and in the process of brewing. It takes time to extract meaning from life’s chaos, just as it takes time and effort to brew the best tea. Qinglang takes the tea thermos Changyang gave him everywhere he goes. It helps him cultivate quiet reflection and connects him to Changyang and to the mountains where the tea comes from. In quiet reflection and dreams he is able to process loss and recognize true love.
Production Value
Locations—the mountains are a spectacular backdrop and provide beautiful scenery to the story.
Cinematography—The cinematography in Winter Sun rates up therewith the best I have ever seen. Every shot is carefully and beautifully laid out. From figures in shadow to overheads of the mountain road to reflections in a mirror or pond, the shots are cleverly thought out, gorgeous to behold, and add the the feeling and meaning of every scene. Quiet, ethereal beauty shines through the whole series and elevates the entire production.
Music—The music is also beautiful and ethereal, and adds another impeccable layer of quality to the production. Sometimes there is no music and just slow and quiet scenes.
Acting—The actors playing Changyang, Qinglang, and Qingtian stood out the most for me. They brought their characters to life with depth and emotion. Sometimes a simple look or movement revealed so much, while other times passionate feelings or desires were expressed physically and viscerally. The MLs had amazing chemistry. The intimate scenes were spicy without being too revealing. I felt I really knew these characters by the end of the series, and I will miss them.
A beautiful story of two very different souls coming together through love and loss. The story was occasionally confusing, and the second couple wasn’t very engaging, but the main couple was riveting. Beautiful locations, music, and spectacular cinematography raise the production value enormously. It had its flaws but still made an indelible mark on me. 9.0
The rest of this review is super long and contains spoilers. It has sub-headings if you only want to read part of it.
Story
The story of the main couple is about a BL actor, Qinglang, who, now in his 30s, has closed himself off from love after being hurt in the past. While he takes time away from the spotlight and spends it in the mountains, he meets Changyang, who breaks down his walls and they fall in love. Changyang is young (20) when they first meet, but he is already determined to win Qinglang’s heart. He devotes himself to caring for Qinglang with such tenderness and attention that Qinglang cannot resist him. Their love is passionate and they become utterly devoted to each other. Unfortunately, Qinglang is a big star and lives life in the spotlight, which is not easy.
They try to keep their love discreet, but both cannot avoid being affected by scandal. Qinglang doesn’t care as much about his own image as he does about Changyang, but after Changyang’s father makes it clear that their relationship will damage Qinglang’s future, they break up. This was definitely some “noble idiocy” in my mind because Qinglang doesn’t tell Changyang why they are breaking up, and it happens after they have pledged to stay together, so you know they will end up back together. But it was still very much a typical romance trope, and the lack of communication was, as usual, annoying.
In general, the story of their love and their scandals is meant to shed light on the difficulties of the BL industry, and even the toxic shipping culture. This is especially displayed through Changyang’s sister, who reveals her brother’s relationship online because she ships Qinglang with his on-screen partner and wants them together, not her brother and Qinglang. Here we see how what she wants and imagines as a fan is more important than what actually makes Qinglang or her brother happy. It is infuriating! Qinglang’s former partner also tries to use the fans of their ship to revive his career, despite having hurt Qinglang in the past in real life. While it is important to make BL viewers aware of the problems that go on behind the scenes, I was not especially surprised by most of what happened in this regard. If it opens people’s eyes, though, that’s good.
The story of the second couple is supposed to mirror the past realities and struggles of Qinglang and his BL partner, Yuhao. Unfortunately, the second couple doesn’t pull the viewers in the way the main couple’s story does. There is clearly both love and manipulation involved, but it’s just not engaging in the same way. In addition, it is often confusing and hard to understand what is exactly going on with this couple. At times it was frustrating having so much time devoted to them, when really we just want to see Qinglang and Changyang.
Qinglang and Changyang’s love story surpasses time and place. They love each other beyond words, yet they also let each other have their separate lives. Only at the end do they finally both leave their professions and decide to live together in the mountains. The final scene of their mountain wedding, with imagined blessings from all the characters, lends a beautiful sense of closure to their story.
Watching Qinglang and Changyang together is incredibly moving. They clearly love each other with everything they have. Despite being radically different from each other, they balance each other perfectly. The sacrifices they make for each other as well as the effort to connect while apart is beautiful to watch, and they express a love that all of us would wish to find.
Problems with the story:
It is confusing at times and sometimes hard to follow. I spent a lot of time on Reddit trying to understand what was going on and why. This lack of clarity in the events that unfold really interrupts the flow of the romance and takes away from the beauty and pain of it.
The second couple is not very interesting and is sometimes annoying. Too much time was devoted to them.
Loss and Death in the Story
Three people die in this drama, and they are all significant characters. This lends a layer of sadness to the whole story. The losses are a counterpoint to the beauty of the love story. They affect the characters and viewers deeply. This is especially true of the death of Qingtian, Qinglang’s younger brother and Changyang’s friend, who is portrayed as a beautiful soul and loving presence. His loss hits the viewers especially hard. All the deaths are a reminder that we cannot control the events of our lives, only guide them. Sometimes terrible, devastating things happen. Death exists alongside life and love. The fact that Qinglang is able to continue to love Changyang and lean on him throughout is even more powerful in light of these losses. Changyang suffers too, yet he does all he can to protect Qingyang from the worst of what happened to Qingtian. And in the end they still celebrate their love, despite all that they have lost.
While I found it difficult to watch so many characters die, I don’t see this as a problem with the story. It is an important element in lending meaning to everything that happens.
Symbolism
The title: Changyang is the “winter sun.” He brings slow, steady warmth to the coldness of winter (Qinglang) without being overwhelming.
The wind represents change, as Qinglang opens his heart to Changyang. The wind can cause disruption too, as evidenced by difficulties on the path as well as loss.
“Spring Hills Dream” is Qinglang’s rebirth each time he escapes to the mountains and replenishes his soul through nature. The dreams also represent his connections to those he has lost and a way to see and remember them in his mind.
Tea has great symbolism in the story as well. The best tea takes time to grow and pick and seep. It requires patience in the face of nature and in the process of brewing. It takes time to extract meaning from life’s chaos, just as it takes time and effort to brew the best tea. Qinglang takes the tea thermos Changyang gave him everywhere he goes. It helps him cultivate quiet reflection and connects him to Changyang and to the mountains where the tea comes from. In quiet reflection and dreams he is able to process loss and recognize true love.
Production Value
Locations—the mountains are a spectacular backdrop and provide beautiful scenery to the story.
Cinematography—The cinematography in Winter Sun rates up therewith the best I have ever seen. Every shot is carefully and beautifully laid out. From figures in shadow to overheads of the mountain road to reflections in a mirror or pond, the shots are cleverly thought out, gorgeous to behold, and add the the feeling and meaning of every scene. Quiet, ethereal beauty shines through the whole series and elevates the entire production.
Music—The music is also beautiful and ethereal, and adds another impeccable layer of quality to the production. Sometimes there is no music and just slow and quiet scenes.
Acting—The actors playing Changyang, Qinglang, and Qingtian stood out the most for me. They brought their characters to life with depth and emotion. Sometimes a simple look or movement revealed so much, while other times passionate feelings or desires were expressed physically and viscerally. The MLs had amazing chemistry. The intimate scenes were spicy without being too revealing. I felt I really knew these characters by the end of the series, and I will miss them.
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