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Minor complaint: The English subs have Kavin calling Kaning Chipmunk but the literal translation is apparently Tiny or Little One which works so much better esp. because Prim comes up to Win's navel.

Since people are having trouble finding the episode, here's the YT link: https://youtu.be/qBs-ycWUPWA

Bright was amazing in the scenes with Gorya's family and Win finally won me over to his character. I feel like I get him now and I'm invested in every interaction he has with Prim who is also fantastic. Even Tu who I've loved all along really took it to another level in this episode.

They were a thing in 2001 Meteor Garden but in a very unexpected way. I'm really looking forward to seeing their relationship develop in this.

I wish I could take the writers to dinner and dive into how they approached the adaptation because holy damn, the writing is incredible and I can't believe they are pulling off updating this story.

I love it though because when episodes drop you get to experience the reactions in real time and the conversations have been fantastic.

Also because we've already established that Gorya's family really loves her and is the source of her strength (kicking Thyme in ep 1 with the shoes they gave her) the scene where he is embraced by her family lands harder and better. Also Bright freakin' killed it in those scenes, all of the emotions playing out in his face and eyes. Same for Tu as you saw her softening and looking at him differently even though she's still in love with Ren.

Thinking more about Kaning returning the money to Kavin, I freakin' loved that she checks her bank account after and is like woo maybe I should've thought that through. It makes her gesture even more meaningful because it literally costs her a lot, she works a part time job for money but she won't allow herself to be manipulated into betraying her friends. That moment lands different when you understand the sacrifice she made.

I was screaming NARC at the screen when the housekeeper did that.

I also love how after she sent the money she checks her account and says something like oof I did that without thinking. Like Gorya she's not superhumanly strong, she feels like a real person.

In all the other versions he either forces a kiss or tries to sexually assault her **stares at manga and Taiwanese version*** This change is huge because it shows Thyme's growth and also you can see how Gorya is also looking at him differently. Her feelings are shifting in a way that makes sense.

I know, right? The emotional beats really landed hard in this episode. I can't get over how good the writing is and credit to the actors, esp. Bright, Tu and Prim. Win was also really good and his character is finally gelling for me.

I just finished watching and I can't even form coherent thoughts except to say GODDAMN THE WRITING IS SO GOOD. Same plot points but deepened and changed, everyone is more complex and thoughtful, Thyme and Gorya just make more sense, I like that the connection to Ren is still there and how Kavin and MJ got big chunks of dialogue and we got to know them better than just being party boys. And Kaning being a complete badass, I LOVE HER. Gah I will be thinking about this all day.

When she wired him the money for the dessert I literally started shouting at my TV, so gooood! This whole episod

Ah yes!!! I love this 😁

YES and omg you know my podcast????

Gorya (me) sent me 🤣 Also I wish I was as strong and cool as Gorya!

I love Taiwanese Shan Cai and also her voiceovers add a lot of depth to the character because we can hear her struggling with her feelings for Daoming Si and Lei. ETA: But I agree that Gorya is the most complex and feels the most real of all the adaptations

Ha well I wasn't sold on Kim Bum in Korean BoF as a playboy either. Potter/player is just silly. The Japanese version, the character was sleazy which fit but I didn't like him, he just creeped me out. I loved the character in the Taiwanese version because he was kind of low key party boy drifting through life and I felt like it was set up better in how he interacted with women. I also love that he ends up having a one night stand with the Kaning character because she makes a choice to lose her virginity to him before moving to the US and that it's a surprisingly emotional encounter for him that temporarily puts a pause on his playboy ways but then he recovers and gets back to it. It all felt very real to me,

The Taiwanese version has horrible production values but the acting of the 3 main leads and the writing are on point. It was my favorite version (I've seen nearly all of the adaptations) but F4T is climbing fast and will probably end up being my fave. What you said here: "I would have never, in my entire life, expected someone to rewrite the script in suchhhh a good way it's very very well written" 💯 this