I’m cackling at the comments on video edits — when ppl see small details in the edits they didnt notice before, they’re like “was this edited out too 🤬” even when it wasn’t LOL
commenting yet again to appreciate smth else the show did really well -- showcasing the nuanced psychology and personalities of the leads vs. creating caricatures of traumatized boy vs. bubbly often shown in idol dramas
when Jin Zhao visited his mother in law, he became a 10 year old boy again. he was insecure that he wasn't good enough for mumu, that he doesn't have a proper family (mentioning he didn't have any relatives to ask about proper marriage customs), that the only mother figure in his life wouldn't want him (he stood from afar just to see her in Thailand, likely cuz at some level, he missed her). i also appreciate that jin zhao gave a voiceover towards the finale on where he "messed up", signaling his growth. some shows leave way too much left to the audience's imagination.
mumu, while being the light of jin zhao's life and bravely fights for their love, is still often times frustrated by his pushing her away, and eventually logically figures out a solution forward / cheekily tries to understand him better/ etc. while she's very feminine, she's still very capable in completing college in another country, securing a post-grad job, and even learning how to cook! her more playful & petty side only comes out with jin zhao, even after she matured, which i find endearing.
it's also easy to understand why mumu loves jin zhao so much, who always prioritizes her in the both the big and small ways. although his dream was astronomy, he chose to become an auto engineer in china (i assume to make more money, in hopes of eventually becoming "good enough" for mumu and to ofc fund the coffee shop); while mumu chose astronomy since jin zhao didn't have a chance to study it. after she moved into his nanjing apartment and she was running late and couldn't eat breakfast with him, he already prepared her a to-go box (likely a call-back to when she overslept for school in Thailand), showing how he still remembers her schedule and habits
i think all these details really make the characters come alive and be unforgettable. idk how im gonna move on :(
Someone on twitter posted an uncut version of the bed scene welp. the censorship is my worst enemy lol https://x.com/Lou_Anne0404/status/2003136497894179003
may both sides of your pillow always be cold!!!!!!!
also? I don’t know which producer/director/company needs to hear this or may be lurking on this page but if…
Also maybe the FL was a lot more shy in the Thailand scenes so easier to pass censorship? While she’s a lot more forward in Nanjing. I’m bored so I’m imagining the director / editor getting censored, throwing a tantrum, and purposely editing it like this to tell us they got censored 😂
probably made it to my favorite drama of all time. like everyone else said, the editing was choppy at times, but i thought the emotional scenes were extremely well directed and acted. with the cinematography, acting, osts, OOZING chemistry, insane push and pull tension, and sensible enough plot, i truly felt immersed in their world. the double yearning is a cherry on top
my complaints about a lot of dramas these days (both korean and chinese) are that they don't focus enough on the leads (too many characters and subplots), plot takes a 90 degree turn to squeeze out more episodes, chemistry fizzles out immediately after leads get together, screenwriter makes a stupid sad / open ending for no reason (cdrama) or to leave an option for season two (kdrama), etc. etc. this has none of that, which makes me so so so happy.
when Jin Zhao visited his mother in law, he became a 10 year old boy again. he was insecure that he wasn't good enough for mumu, that he doesn't have a proper family (mentioning he didn't have any relatives to ask about proper marriage customs), that the only mother figure in his life wouldn't want him (he stood from afar just to see her in Thailand, likely cuz at some level, he missed her). i also appreciate that jin zhao gave a voiceover towards the finale on where he "messed up", signaling his growth. some shows leave way too much left to the audience's imagination.
mumu, while being the light of jin zhao's life and bravely fights for their love, is still often times frustrated by his pushing her away, and eventually logically figures out a solution forward / cheekily tries to understand him better/ etc. while she's very feminine, she's still very capable in completing college in another country, securing a post-grad job, and even learning how to cook! her more playful & petty side only comes out with jin zhao, even after she matured, which i find endearing.
it's also easy to understand why mumu loves jin zhao so much, who always prioritizes her in the both the big and small ways. although his dream was astronomy, he chose to become an auto engineer in china (i assume to make more money, in hopes of eventually becoming "good enough" for mumu and to ofc fund the coffee shop); while mumu chose astronomy since jin zhao didn't have a chance to study it. after she moved into his nanjing apartment and she was running late and couldn't eat breakfast with him, he already prepared her a to-go box (likely a call-back to when she overslept for school in Thailand), showing how he still remembers her schedule and habits
i think all these details really make the characters come alive and be unforgettable. idk how im gonna move on :(
Black dress: 75-76
Bath: 78 (keep reading after the bath scene)
happy reading!
Remind me again if I forget
my complaints about a lot of dramas these days (both korean and chinese) are that they don't focus enough on the leads (too many characters and subplots), plot takes a 90 degree turn to squeeze out more episodes, chemistry fizzles out immediately after leads get together, screenwriter makes a stupid sad / open ending for no reason (cdrama) or to leave an option for season two (kdrama), etc. etc. this has none of that, which makes me so so so happy.
Tho Esther’s dramas are either a hit or miss for me, funnily enough, I think my favorite two dramas in the past five years are this + LBFAD