Pretty sad and intense episode. Tragically, believable, given all the factors leading to this point in the story. Even Ren Tian Zhen's stupid stunt at the end was consistent with his "do stupid impulsive thing without thinking of the consequences" behavior that has plagued his character all along. And sure enough it results in bad consequences for Sun Tou Tou after she exerts her body to the limit to save him. This was the most 'eventful' episode of the series in quite a long while but the only unbelievable part was that the bungee platform was left unlocked but unattended. That part requires the viewers to blink and forgive the show a bit. Otherwise, there are some great debates in this episode about parenting a child with issues. The show doesn't just look at the extreme case of Meng Meng's awful parents, but also questions the Ren family dynamic as well.
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Lots of 'small things' happen in this episode to move different plot threads forward. It now becomes pretty obvious to the audience that Ren Tian Zhen has a thing for Sun Tou Tou. He's hiding it of course and the other characters still think he is inclined toward Meng Meng though it's clear to the audience finally that he really does see her as a patient /. little sister. Chen Ying's story takes another nice step forward in the form of reconciliation with her ex-in-laws and also casually drops the 'best friend' status that Zhu Xia has become for her. Throughout this episode, Sun Tou Tou's character is mischievously charming and adorable in almost every scene. Then, to STT's & Professor Ren's dismay, the stupid 300 yr-old tile is found and they have to deal with it. Once again, Sun Tou Tou shows how practical-minded she can be in dealing with that. And finally, to close out the very last moment of the episode, STT really comes out strong with her practical wisdom of how the world works when she basically tosses Meng Meng's legal status as an adult in her father's face.
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Ren Tian Zhen giving a non-answer when STT asks him point blank about whether he is dating Meng Meng is a red-flag that he's not being professional with regard to Meng Meng. The only professional answer is, "No." The fact that he equivocates indicates he's lost the handle on what he's doing. Either he IS romantically involved with Meng Meng OR he's NOT romantically involved, but doesn't understand why his behavior is inappropriate and unprofessional. Either case is bad. How long is this show going to drag out this particular sub-plot? RTZ's character has improved in tiny baby steps since the show started and yet sometimes still seems a million miles from being a decent person.
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Weird that they went the whole episode and never mentioned the ginseng plant after getting it back from Liu Zi Hong at the very start. Wouldn't it mean they wouldn't have to sell the house? Did Ren Tian Zhen even show it to his father? Is it going to be an unused Chekhov's Gun? It's really hard to understand what is in the head of Ren Xinzheng and his master when it comes to money. And their attitudes towards their wives is kind of awful at times.
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The incredibly twisted reasoning the two of them use to come to the conclusion that their only solution is to sell one of their houses is ... just awful. And the fact that they just bulldoze right over LingLan's obvious despair over their decision is extremely troublesome.
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This episode had multiple intense, emotional moments. The most important being Rebecca having to deliver the baby of the woman who hates her most in the world - out in the middle of nowhere during a driving rainstorm with no shelter. Yes, it sounds crazy and the situation was so obviously plot-contrived ... but somehow it worked. The two actors and the production crew really did a marvelous job of implementing what on paper must have looked so cheesy and cornball in the script. Great cinematography and performances by both ladies resulted in a scene that really worked. Surrounding this were several great conversations, the most important being between LingLan Song and her husband,Ren XinZheng about the balance of responsibilities in their marriage and then latter between Sun Tou Tou and Ren XinZheng on what it means to be a doctor and how to balance truth and honesty against the lives and well-being of others.
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Once again, this show is working hard to make Ren Tian Zhen as unlikable as possible. Because once again he is putting HIS wants over anybody else's concerns and once again he is not really thinking about the consequences. When Sun Tou Tou asks him point-blank if he is doing this (threatening to move out) because he is in love with Meng Meng, he waves it off with a "don't speak nonsense!" remark. But he doesn't stop to really think about the ramifications of his behavior towards Meng Meng and, in particular, stop to think, well, "What does Meng Meng think?" Because if others (his Grandpa, his Mom and now Sun Tou Tou) are wondering if he is inappropriately attracted to Meng Meng, the obvious question should be whether SHE thinks he is? And what kind of effect that could have on her fragile psyche if it isn't really the case? He seems so determined to play the role of hero doctor for Meng Meng - because it makes HIM feel good - that he simply isn't thinking about the longer term consequences on others. Again. Now, it is a good sign that his behavior towards Sun Tou Tou has improved dramatically over the last 5 episodes to where he's almost a normal human towards her. But his core issues of arrogance and impulsive, selfish behavior are still there. The longer they put off him taking steps to 'grow up', the more unrealistic it will seem if they rush it in the end.Despite the annoying nature of the RTZ character, this _show_ continues to be fascinating for a variety of low-key reasons. The character development of just about everyone else is forward and interesting. The topics discussed in this episode are interesting - especially like the practical approach to the challenging social questions Rebecca expresses. And of course, Sun Tou Tou continues to entertain. In one scene screaming, "Charge!" playfully and in another moment thoughtfully and practically training the hotel staff on how to do their jobs and then closing out the episode with some thoughtful life and career advice for Mr Liu's son! And as crazy as it seems, it all makes sense, given the nature of the character that Zhou Lusi has crafted!
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In a conventional romance drama, this would be about the time in the story when the writers would contrive some reason to separate the two romantic leads. They would then gradually find their way back together. In a longer series, that might repeat, with increasing drama each time. In this series, which is not a conventional drama, the writers decided to separate the budding father-daughter relationship between Ren Xinzheng and Sun Tou Tou. For a pretty flimsy reason. But whatever. It was pretty emotional and interesting to see how each person deals with it. I really liked how LingLan Song called out her husband for holding on to his pride and pointing out how that had meant all the people around him kept having to swallow their own pride to do things for him. Overall, Ren Xinzheng is a wreck and handles the separation poorly. Meanwhile, Sun Tou Tou, being much emotionally tougher and having grown so much, handles it like the boss queen that she is.
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This episode was made great by both the growing trust and bond between Professor Ren and Sun Tou Tou and then especially by the cute drinking session they have together to cap off the episode. This episode is also notable because, finally -- FINALLY -- Run Tian Zhen does something positive for Sun Tou Tou. I guess he does feel guilty for the stupid stunt he pulled with getting her drunk and leaving her because in this episode he helps her get her 'punishment' assignment done. This is a huge step forward for his character and one that is way overdue.
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Just when I noted in reviewing last episode how Ren Tian Zhen had finally seemed to show a little positive growth, he immediately starts this episode by showing himself to still be a complete and total a**hole, getting Sun Tou Tou drunk and just leaving her on the bench by the river bank. On purpose! And then the little coward hides his involvement in getting her drunk. He is SO absurdly petty, cruel and irresponsible. And also a coward. This all blows up terribly of course. And STT takes all the blame. Maybe, just _maybe_, the little punk will finally be kicked forward by guilt over this to start to grow up and stop being such an arrogant, insensitive jerk? But when spoiled RTZ is not alternating being an a**hole to STT and exploiting the emotionally dependent Meng Meng for handholding, hugs & cuddles, he takes time to kick his friend Li Quan, who is struggling the weight of his own family's poverty, to the curb. The show is 10 episodes in and up to now RTZ has not grown one bit. If we are supposed to start to accept him as the romantic interest, he has a lot of changing to go through. Oh - and thank goodness for Mr. Wu, paying attention to what is going on with Li Quan and understanding the mission. Though it appears there are some tiny cracks in the Wu+Ren partnership. Watching Li Quan sit marginalized at the meal was painful, having experienced similar situations. Lots of empathy for him. Finally some tiny hints into STT's real family background. And the father-daughter relationship between Prof Ren and STT is so endearing to watch grow.
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This episode deals mainly with the emotional trauma of Chen Ying and Zhu Xia. How each finally starts to heal from the emotional damage of the accident when Chen Ying's car hit Ding Jian Xi. And the lesson about the importance of healing from one's anger is delivered in purified form of a very nice lecture by Professor Ren towards the end. On the surface, it's kinda cheesy. But the way the episode plays out it works very well. This episode also marks the actual first steps forward in Ren Tian Zhen's growth as a person since the show began and, along with that, actual forward progress of a relationship between he and Sun Tou Tou. Sun Tou Tou herself shows increasing respect for her master and an innate understanding of his lessons. Very subtly, her character is changing. Her posture is taller, more upright in more scenes, making her look more and more like a competent young lady rather than the hunched-over wild ruffian she used to be. Oh - and a low-key cool side bit seems the quiet emergence of Meng Meng and Ding Jian Xi as potential besties. They immediately look cute as friends. Maybe this can start to ween Meng Meng of emotional dependency on RTZ?
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When is RTZ going to start to show some growth and maturity as a character? He continues to be pretty insufferable and I don't really blame his dad for losing it with him at times. He continues to be arrogant, self-absorbed and incredibly insensitive. Yes, Tou Tou is her own kind of crazy and irritating. But even though she acted tough and played like she was just kidding around, RTZ's ignorant statements about how she should not need her mother to help her fall asleep were incredibly insensitive. Yes, she acted like she was goofing, but I wouldn't be surprised if those kind of comments did hurt her, behind the tough-girl facade. And RTZ's whole hero complex with regard to 'saving Memg Meng' is almost enough to make me gag. I guess we just have to be patient with him. Other than reinforcing just how annoying RTZ is, though, this episode is very good. with some interesting storylines growing. Gawd, the reveal that the woman, Chen Ying, who hit Ding Jian Xi is also one of Prof Ren's patients and has been suffering a pretty awful life of her own is pretty sad. I feel so bad for both sides of that accident. And wow. Prof Ren throwing the "She's dead." guilt trip at Zhu Jia was just brutal (but probably necessary) psychological manipulation.
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I would have rated this episode MUCH higher but I found the way Ren Tian Zhen laughed at and took such joy her misfortune to get so badly stung by bees to be disgusting and it really bothered me that the show-writers seemed to want to play off the scene as 'comedy'. Bee/wasp/hornet stings - especially multiple stings like this, can be life-threatening, especially if one has an allergy. It is simply not something to laugh at. All the scene accomplished for me was it made RTZ look like a complete jerk. I get it that he is supposed to end up was the romantic lead as the story develops. But right now, he is not a good person.
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Finally watching this series (it's been on my list for a long time). I've got to say that I'm really, really impressed by Zhou Lusi's rendering of the Sun Tou Tou character. Yes, she seems superficially feisty and silly and difficult. And obviously good for a laugh or too. But Tou Tou is actually so clearly very, very complex. There is a deep sadness and tragedy behind the silliness and it surfaces as a sincere practical wisdom at times. Her words of absolution and encouragement to the boys who were so depressed about mis-diagnosing Meng were pretty touching. And her legit talent as a cook surprises all her higher-status peers. And then the episode closes with her honest bewilderment at not understanding the point of bowing in memory of the TCM predecessors, speaking the words: "I don't know them. And they are not your relatives. ... This is so strange." Many would find her behavior disrespectful but she is speaking with sincere bewilderment. Lusi's well-known talent for connecting the emotions of the audience with those of her character is on full display here as, even with an unconventional character like Tou Tou, she still draws us in so she becomes our surrogate in each scene.The layered, complex nature of Tou Tou seems apropos for the show itself. On the surface, this drama seems fairly light weight, cute, funny and not heavy on drama. But it keeps dipping it's toes into some pretty heavy topics such as Meng nearly dying due to an ectopic pregnancy, the risks of mis-diagnosis and social class-distinctions (Tou Tou's poverty up-bringing as an orphan compared to the others - and how that affects one's view of things like ritual and what is/isn't practical). I suspect the show will be bringing most of these topics back up in more depth as the series progresses.
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I'm having a hard time warming up to the ML, Gu Chan Seong. He has several traits that just annoy the heck out of me. First off, his first instinct is always to argue against whatever the FL intends, even if he has no clue about all the concerns and consequences involved. I guess he has some sort of oppositional defiance disorder? And then he has two very irritating tendencies. First off, he only asks questions that he knows the answers to - which the FL points out and gets extremely irritated by. Second, he doesn't ask the actual questions he needs to ask to fill in the giant gaps in his understanding of what's going on. He is arrogant in assuming he knows best again and again, when repeatedly it is clear he does NOT know best. He's like the stubborn husband driver who gets lost but refuses to ask directions. Finally, his worst trait is he keeps trying, more and more, to control Jang Man Wol. He keeps insisting on what she can and can't do.But that's not a good way to help someone. Despite dreaming glimpses of her past life, he seems to make no attempt to really understand why she is the way she is. What traumas led her to become the owner of Hotel Del Luna. He just arrogantly criticizes her constantly. She even tried to work with him to understand his dreams but he insisted on just snarking back at her to trigger her temper and that fell apart.Basically, he is kind of a jerk and not someone I would like in real life. I hope that the story gives him some character growth that will make him more likable.
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