This review may contain spoilers
The value of community
"It's not scary to be forgotten. What's really scary is you don't know you were loved."I see a lot of reviewers saying this title was confusing, but I disagree. The plot is easy to understand as soon as you accept the supernatural element of it. If you can accept that the rules of this universe is unpredictable and a little volatile, the rest is fine.
My score for this show is highly subjective (as most reviews are, I guess), simply because the theme resonates with me. As soon as I realized this show deals with the concept of being forgotten, of being erased from everyone's memory, I knew I was in for a hard time. Rewatchability is low simply because I was so uncomfortable watching the story unfold. Xiang Yong's despair as he realized he was disappearing from the lives of his loved ones broke my heart. I have to commend the actors - I think they all did amazing jobs with their roles. The community of the island was warm and felt real. By the end of the show, I really loved every character. The visuals were also splendid - watching this during the summer was a great decision on my end. I think this is the perfect summer drama.
I came for the romance and stayed for the vibes, I guess. The romance between Xiang Yong and Hao Wei was a treat, but also frustrating at times. The journey of their relationship is slow and heartwrenching, but there's a touch of "loving you in every universe" here, which I always appreciate. The side couple was also enjoyable to me, which is not always a given.
If you've ever felt like no one loves you, like life would be better for everyone if you just disappeared, this show's message is that that's not true. Your presence has a real impact on everyone around you. In your struggle to deal with the highs and lows of life, there are people who like having you around. There are people you can have a meal with, cry with, argue with. Your life has value and innate worth even if you screw up and make mistakes. There is a place for you here.
We're nothing without our community.
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A Chef's Kiss
Everything was done beautifully. I loved the cinematography and the plot, it's very unqiue. Normally im not a fan of Taiwanese BLs not this one holds a special place in my heart.What I also appreciate about this show is the life lessons they teach us. One that stuck with me (in my own words) is trying to change yourself for people who dont understand your worth and pushing away the people that love and support you. It's often so hard to constantly remind yourself that there's people who love you for you, sometimes your mind tend to linger on the negatives and you let that control your life. I really like how He Xiang is able to confront the challenges that he was facing and learn a valuable lesson.
AHH I JUST LOVED THIS SHOW, THE MAIN COUPLE, SIDE COUPLE AND HE XIANG -LI WAN FRIENDSHIP , THE UNCLE, DAD AND ANGELA.
Im so sad that this series has come to an end but it would forever hold a special place in my heart💗
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Frustrating Finale....
I knew I shouldn’t have expected too much from this series, especially since one YouTube channel already warned me about the ending, but the story itself was really interesting, particularly the flashbacks to when they were younger.Their age timeline did confuse me a bit. When Chen Hao Wei asked that fugging annoying girl, 'Were you an art major?', it made me think they were in college. Or do Taiwanese high schools offer specialized majors like art? The characters just seemed portrayed way too young to be college students.
Even though the magical realism elements were better than anything from GMMTV, the way they wrapped up the ending was really disappointing. This is the second time in a row I've felt let down like this, watching a great series that completely fumbles the finale.
I have to admit the entire cast acted really well, but they seriously need to give Andy Wu better-written characters. I want to see him more 😭
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This review may contain spoilers
Heart-wrenching emotional depth
Spoilers below!He Xiangyong has a lot of emotional depth that I relate to, especially regarding his father. They have misunderstandings with each other in large part because Xiangyong looks down on himself and puts too much weight on other people's opinions, thinking they were putting pressure on him that he couldn't overcome nor amount to. I actually enjoyed how Xiangyong and his father indirectly worked out their issues as the son took on a new identity and was forced to face his inner turmoil. I was most interested in their relationship mending. I genuinely felt sadness when everyone completely forgot who Xiangyong was, 100% just thinking of how he was losing his family.
The epilogue scenes made me feel nostalgic and emotional.... easily my favorite parts of each episode. I think I would've cared more about Haowei's part if they added a little more depth to his story, like his family and work life, as we really only see his connection to Xiangyong. But honestly I only really started feeling that way toward the beginning of the end. I still wanted them to have a happy ending.
Like everyone else, I thought the second couple was very sweet. I enjoyed their storyline and that they began a relationship even without the wish because of Wanzhe's efforts.
The only part of the show I genuinely felt any sort of actual dissatisfaction was the last 30 mins of episode 12. They DEFINITELY needed to have the father and son have a reunion as soon as that Xiangyong regained his identity. Like wtf? So many times throughout the show it was "when I see my son again" and we don't see the moment they reconnect? They understood each other INDIRECTLY throughout the show because his father was speaking to Xiaoyou, not Xiangyong. By the time there was 10 minutes left in the show I was thinking "ARE WE SERIOUSLY NOT ADDRESSING THE FATHER?" I liked the scene that we got, but they could've had that PLUS a reunion after Xiangyong was able to see Haowei.
I definitely think the show went a little awry with the supernatural occurrences. If I were Xiangyong in episodes 11-12 I definitely would be having a bigger existential crisis about human life LMAO. I'm also ignoring Haowei drowning for that rock.... like girl wtf was that. Xixi's role was somehow the least strange among the supernatural elements. Her sudden appearance was a bit off-putting and confusing, but we get the gist of her character as the show went on. Soooo I'm mostly ignoring the supernatural aspects of the show because it was a little much without real explanation but it didn't impact my opinion too heavily.
I enjoyed like 90% of my watch and am glad I gave it a chance. Some people seemed to have a hard time getting into it, but I never felt bored. I was most intrigued by the epilogue scenes from when Xiangyong and Haowei were classmates and Xiangyong's introspection throughout the show. After the ending of the epilogue parts, I cared most about how the father and son would reach an understanding (which is why I'm SO disappointed they didn't have a reunion).
Overall, the moments of Xiangyong's desperation were heart-wrenching and kept me watching more than the romance, which was definitely intriguing for the first half of the show but by the second half I cared more about the father! Like why was that shit making me tear up fr. I can definitely see myself rewatching parts of this show for inspiration, definitely got my emotions flowing!
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New, Cute... but...
I didn't read the synopsis before deciding to watch this, so I was surprised to find out that it was a fantasy series. That didn't bother me at all, though—I love all kinds of genres.The story they wanted to tell is there, and it's good. It also feels fresh and different. The couples have great chemistry, including their younger versions.
However, I found some episodes a bit boring. I can't quite put my finger on it, but some scenarios felt repetitive. Thankfully, the series kept introducing twist after twist, which made me stay invested and eager to find out what would happen next.
I just wish they had given more focus to the Girl in Black, Hong, and the White Guy toward the end. It was clear that they played very important roles in the overall twists, and I would have loved to learn more about them.
Overall, it's still a good watch and one I'd recommend.
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Amazing acting with some strange storytelling
I miss both couples already, but especially the mains! Both love stories were so emotional and romantic. The chemistry of the first couple is beyond amazing. Their intimacy was unreal. I mean holy damn. I won't recover from that anytime soon! It was hot and so incredibly emotional. Really well done. (If you want a treat, go find the actors reacting to the mains NC scene. It's one of the best reaction videos I've ever seen.)The second couple is so good to watch too. Their chemistry is also fire. They are more playful but also full of emotion.
Honestly, both couples seemed very confortable with each other, which makes everything better to watch. It feels natural. Thank you actors!
The other characters are also great. The dad, mom, and uncle made me so happy. They were very genuine characters that didnt feel forced.
There were a few weird storylines that were confusing and one or two characters who I didn't think were propely tied into what was happening (and their stories were definitely not tied up).
But overall I liked the story despite the sometimes awkward flow. Definitely watch this one!
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Someday I'll wish upon a star
I actually ended up enjoying this more than I thought I would, which is one of the best kind of surprises. I, for sure, thought this was going to falter halfway through (considering the number of episodes and the runtime of each) but for the most part, everything was as good as can get.Think it reminded me a lot of Taiwanese BLs, circa 2020/2021? What with the very melancholic tone and all the cameos, it immediately felt like the dramas that were released then. For what it's worth, it did stay that way until the end.
The story was quite simple - He Xia Yong wishes upon a shooting star that no one know who he is, and his wish is granted - but it was the execution that felt very genuine. Watching him heal the broken part of himself while no one knows who he is but his best friend, and then learning to love his broken self as he heals, it was very nicely done. Because he is surrounded by people he left behind at one point or another, his best friend, his father, and the love of his life Chen Hao Wei. And he needs to figure out how to reconcile with himself before he ever gains closure to all the doors he left open.
The logic is as logical as can be, which is not a lot but this story had a lot of heart and because they did it so well, it doesn't matter that I didn't understand half of the shooting star's workings.
Great acting, great chemistry, I don't really have any complaints except for the fact that the pacing can be a little slow at times but I guess that's also part of the calm, seaside setting.
Overall, a pretty good watch in my opinion :)
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A beautiful story of love, loss, and redemption, with a dash of magic realism
This is so deep and beautifully portrayed. While the story appears to revolve around two sweet love stories at the surface, its soul runs deep and brings out several philosophical life questions around love, loss, regrets and redemption.BL-Needle Score: 7.5 Reasonable BL-ness
He Xiang Yong and Chen Hao Wei were school-day friends with a promise of becoming more, but a misunderstanding around Chen Hao's behaviour, intentionally complicated by a girl in their class, leads them to fall apart. He Xiang Yong leaves behing the friendship and also their island home to work in the bigger main island and they no longer remain in touch. Cut to the present, He Xiang Yong comes back home after complications at his workplace and is afraid to share the truth with his father, who he sees as overtly critical of him. But he comes back and finds that Chen Hao is working with his father at their guesthouse. Chen Hao seems to be looking for his old friend, among other things. But He Xiang Yong and his childhood friend Le Wang Zhe, both seem frustrated with their lives and in a state of drunken frustration wish for what's troubling them most to go away - He Xiang Yong wanting to no longer live as himself with all the problems of his life and Le Wang Zhe wanting someone to love him truly. They wake up the next day to find their wish fulfilled and all hell break loose!
From hereon the story takes us through an unique experience for both these people who had their wishes fulfilled to realise that their lives may not have been that bad and all the ideas that they had about people in their lives were not correct after all...as they struggle with the changed reality and the absurdity of it all, they find their own wishes backfiring on them...and realise that the price to pay for a fulfilled wish is too high....He Xiang Yong struggles to convince Chen Hao he is He Xiang Yong and the love Chen Hao is waiting for and Le Wang Zhe is afraid that the love from Hama-chan will vanish somehow.
What transpires after this is a beautiful journey of them trying to find their selves back, their memories, families, love...people that love them instinctively feel that they know something , can remember memories that feel more like dreams than actual lived realities...He Xiang Yong understand his father's love and concern for him, Le Wang Zhe gets past his cowardice and tendency to run away everytime something goes wrong, and Che Hao realises that that He Xiang Yong is the same He Xiang Yong that he is pining for, even though he can't seem to remember anything - as if his heart and soul-memory is helping his cognitive senses to reconstruct a reality that didn't exist
The story is portrayed really beautifully.... the doubts, regrets, and frustrations of having lost one's own self and all memories, and emotions connected with that self....the wish to forget and run away, made them realise how much they loved and wanted the life that they were running from and yet, the same life seems unreachable because of their own doing...
I loved the twists, the portrayals, and the deep life questions this brings up. The love stories are cute too, but they are just the surface for this deeper tale. A BL from Taiwan after a long time didn't disappoint. Definitely recommended.
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Be careful what you wish for
Once again great series from Taiwanese production. The whole story got even better because of the Island and showed how people are living outside of mainland. Great actors, production and even if it’s not with highest budget, you couldn’t tell it and notice it. Make sure to be careful what you wish for, every wish is having their own price….Was this review helpful to you?
Wishing Upon the Shooting Stars: A Tale of Electric Chemistry and Uneven Pacing
When the trailer for Wishing Upon the Shooting Stars dropped, its promise of emotional depth and an intriguing premise immediately hooked me. This 12-episode Taiwanese drama, starring Jed Chung and Chu Meng-hsuan, kept me eagerly awaiting every weekly release.The Premise
Xingpu Island is anchored by an ancient legend: throw a stone into the sea, and your wish may come true. He Xiang-yong (Jed Chung) returns home from the city, crushed by failure, and wishes to be someone else. He wakes up with a new identity—Zhong Xiao-you—forgotten by everyone except his best friend. Complicating matters, he runs into his high-school crush, Chen Hao-wei (Chu Meng-hsuan), who is now working at Xiang-yong's family B&B, unaware of their shared history.
The Breakdown
The drama's greatest strength is the seamless weaving of past and present, anchored by the stellar chemistry between the lead pairing. The connection between the characters feels authentic, grounded in shared history, and bolstered by raw, emotional performances that elevate the production.
However, the series is not without its flaws. The secondary romantic arc feels forced and unearned, leading to "cringe-worthy" moments that disrupt the tone. Furthermore, inconsistent pacing and unnecessary filler scenes often stall the story whenever the spotlight moves away from the leads, breaking the show's momentum.
Final Verdict
Despite inconsistent pacing, gaps in character development, and uneven performances from the secondary leads, the show remains a compelling watch. The emotional core carried by the lead actors—and the standout work from the younger cast—more than makes up for the script's occasional missteps. This is definitely worth your time.
If you’re interested in more of my thoughts on this series and others, feel free to check out my profile.
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Confusing storyline
Although i understood what they wanted to convey it really wasnt well thought about. The main character still had the same face but the double character didn’t really go well with the storyline, maybe just maybe if they had another person playing the same person it wouldve been better. Same with the second lead, usually the sedond lead has a good too but this was’st something i would recommend as a must watch. It’s something i would watch just to pass timesince i skipped alot to reach the end.I liked the father character and i believe the actors did their best, the storyline not very strong which directly impacted the viewers interest rather than the acting
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