I wrote this on the site I was watching the drama before I continued watching episode 8:
Now, I will say this before I continue on to the next arc. Whatever Xue Hai does, it comes from a place of hurt. I mean, Bao Zhu’s mom is to blame, really. Yet, everyone will say that the 2ML should win out in the end, but if justified, it just isn’t the case. Lin Da Lang was hurt so bad, and gaslighted even. Who wouldn’t feel so portrayed and hurt? He saw this coming, right? And in the end (at graduation) his fears and insecurities came true. It’s a mental blow.
Hurt people hurt people. The human condition and nature is twisted. But in a way, Lin Da Lang’s change of character just shows that he isn’t perfect, and that he has a dark side. Lin Da Lang deserved closure and a chance with Bao Zhu. A happy ending.
So, don’t hate the first lead. Because he wasn’t written to be perfect. He was written to be real (or flawed). Mentally, I’m sure he couldn’t take it and broke down in the end.
I may be looking too deep into this, but the story gets complicated the further we go on. Bao Zhu came off mean as first, but we eventually understood she was hurt in the past. That’s why she was misunderstood, and was angry. Therefore, in reverse, Xue Hai is that mean person in the 2nd act. As Carl Jung philosophized, everyone has a shadow…even Lin Da Lang. Maybe, Xue Hai lost his memory was because, mentally, he was at his wit’s end when trying to figure out who he really was. And it was all very traumatic.
I hope Jannine aka Ploychompoo is doing well. On her Instagram she’s been a bit forthcoming with all she’s had to go through for the last two years. Still tryin’ to stay a fan. But I’m not sure. She doesn’t seem as bright or happy as before. I hope she finds who she is once again. It’s hard to get back up after a tough time.
What rating would you give this? Did you watch till the end? I genuinely wanna know ‘cause I’m weighing my…
LOL. I love your honesty, it makes my day, and makes me laugh.
Hmm... So, I might watch and keep your words in mind. I'm in a Taiwanese drama phase, so let's see if I can keep the streak going. But, I might drop it 'cause your feelings are valid, and I don't care about spoilers. But I might stay for the fashion and side characters like you mentioned.
Jeen was having an "out-of-body" experience because she was actually in a coma. So, she really wasn't a ghost. Jeen and Off meeting was all fate; connected.
I believe Jim's story is up to the audience's interpretation. But I believe due to the fact that she was sapped by her "honey" (Dr. Jade), she was able to immediately be reincarnated in the present day. Yet, she was a femme fatale in her living form rather than a single and longing-for-romance hopeless romantic young woman. Maybe she was in a coma as well…?
But then again, someone else might know more than me. I'm not sure how reincarnation works.
So…I watched the movie. And all I’m going to say is the following:
- I was rooting for Alan Ng. He didn’t deserve what he got, and to be honest, he wasn’t really a playboy. Yet, when he said he dropped out of school for a girl, but later got dumped…it spoke volumes to why he treated girls the way he did. I was actually sympathizing with his character, even when he got kind of obsessed and vengeful towards the end with an oddly heart warming and earnest integrity.
- Even though JoJo’s actions were questionable, I truly believed she was somewhat smitten with him before they even met. Like, maybe, drawn towards him when she spied on him for the experiment. She wanted to humiliate him, and harm his ego, yet, I think she showed a side to Alan that she couldn’t with her fiancé and her snobby intellectual friends. Alan was willing to change and better himself, hence learning Japanese and working hard at his family’s arcade, and the clothing store. Maybe he’d study to become a businessman (entrepreneur) in the future, with JoJo’s encouragement of course. If some don’t think they’d make it in the long road, perhaps they would…She was just as kooky as him, it showed at the very end.
- JoJo’s fiancé was pretty decent on paper. Yet, I believe he got what he deserved in the end. Why would he willingly put his girlfriend/fiancée as “Woman B” in the experiment? Why would he have her be the person to date Alan? He didn’t win me over from the get go. Especially when he was trying so hard to get JoJo to get rid of Alan (by ignoring him, and giving him back the ring, and throwing out the 180 flowers). And then he humiliated Alan at the party…it left a very bad taste in my mouth.
- Overall verdict, college students in 80s Hong Kong were very dislikable and arrogant, the fashion actually mimicked the early 2010s with an 80s twist, Alan Tam’s songs were very nice, Brigette Lin has a timeless beauty, and…the professors and scholars who oversaw the experiment were the true villains of the story.
In other reviews, people mention how Alan’s ways were exhausting and that he was the only one in love. Yet, you can’t play with someone’s heart like that. Everyone was crazy.
Now, I will say this before I continue on to the next arc. Whatever Xue Hai does, it comes from a place of hurt. I mean, Bao Zhu’s mom is to blame, really. Yet, everyone will say that the 2ML should win out in the end, but if justified, it just isn’t the case. Lin Da Lang was hurt so bad, and gaslighted even. Who wouldn’t feel so portrayed and hurt? He saw this coming, right? And in the end (at graduation) his fears and insecurities came true. It’s a mental blow.
Hurt people hurt people. The human condition and nature is twisted. But in a way, Lin Da Lang’s change of character just shows that he isn’t perfect, and that he has a dark side. Lin Da Lang deserved closure and a chance with Bao Zhu. A happy ending.
So, don’t hate the first lead. Because he wasn’t written to be perfect. He was written to be real (or flawed). Mentally, I’m sure he couldn’t take it and broke down in the end.
I may be looking too deep into this, but the story gets complicated the further we go on. Bao Zhu came off mean as first, but we eventually understood she was hurt in the past. That’s why she was misunderstood, and was angry. Therefore, in reverse, Xue Hai is that mean person in the 2nd act. As Carl Jung philosophized, everyone has a shadow…even Lin Da Lang. Maybe, Xue Hai lost his memory was because, mentally, he was at his wit’s end when trying to figure out who he really was. And it was all very traumatic.
Fighting!
Hmm... So, I might watch and keep your words in mind. I'm in a Taiwanese drama phase, so let's see if I can keep the streak going. But, I might drop it 'cause your feelings are valid, and I don't care about spoilers. But I might stay for the fashion and side characters like you mentioned.
I believe Jim's story is up to the audience's interpretation. But I believe due to the fact that she was sapped by her "honey" (Dr. Jade), she was able to immediately be reincarnated in the present day. Yet, she was a femme fatale in her living form rather than a single and longing-for-romance hopeless romantic young woman. Maybe she was in a coma as well…?
But then again, someone else might know more than me. I'm not sure how reincarnation works.
Did you watch till the end?
I genuinely wanna know ‘cause I’m weighing my options.
“Prince Who Turns into a Frog”, “Tokyo Juliet”, and “Hi My Sweetheart” are good contenders too.
“Fated to Love You” always garners praise, but I haven’t actually seen this one.
And these might be dramas you’ve already seen, so, yeah XD
- I was rooting for Alan Ng. He didn’t deserve what he got, and to be honest, he wasn’t really a playboy. Yet, when he said he dropped out of school for a girl, but later got dumped…it spoke volumes to why he treated girls the way he did. I was actually sympathizing with his character, even when he got kind of obsessed and vengeful towards the end with an oddly heart warming and earnest integrity.
- Even though JoJo’s actions were questionable, I truly believed she was somewhat smitten with him before they even met. Like, maybe, drawn towards him when she spied on him for the experiment. She wanted to humiliate him, and harm his ego, yet, I think she showed a side to Alan that she couldn’t with her fiancé and her snobby intellectual friends. Alan was willing to change and better himself, hence learning Japanese and working hard at his family’s arcade, and the clothing store. Maybe he’d study to become a businessman (entrepreneur) in the future, with JoJo’s encouragement of course. If some don’t think they’d make it in the long road, perhaps they would…She was just as kooky as him, it showed at the very end.
- JoJo’s fiancé was pretty decent on paper. Yet, I believe he got what he deserved in the end. Why would he willingly put his girlfriend/fiancée as “Woman B” in the experiment? Why would he have her be the person to date Alan? He didn’t win me over from the get go. Especially when he was trying so hard to get JoJo to get rid of Alan (by ignoring him, and giving him back the ring, and throwing out the 180 flowers). And then he humiliated Alan at the party…it left a very bad taste in my mouth.
- Overall verdict, college students in 80s Hong Kong were very dislikable and arrogant, the fashion actually mimicked the early 2010s with an 80s twist, Alan Tam’s songs were very nice, Brigette Lin has a timeless beauty, and…the professors and scholars who oversaw the experiment were the true villains of the story.
In other reviews, people mention how Alan’s ways were exhausting and that he was the only one in love. Yet, you can’t play with someone’s heart like that. Everyone was crazy.
JoJo and Alan deserved each other. 🫤