Between The Lines

I'm actually disappointed that he hasn't had more screen time, he certainly is one of my favourites, even when he's crying like a baby!!!

A reminder how fragile happiness can be.

But favourite moment has to be -

"Jiang Yu"
"Wake Up"
"Jiang Yu"
"Wake Up"

Kind of stole the episode for me

I don't mind a slow developing plot, I also don't want to judge it based on other similar themed drama's. Every drama I watch i try to judge on its own merits. I think my main issue so far is that most of the "big reveals" have been very low key. Everything has been laid out in front of us.. call it a lack of intrigue or tension that is where I feel its not hit on.

I certainly agree by nature XQ is more rebellious than MYC, but if MYC had met a SY type person would he be the elitist/ prejudice person has grown up to be? He never got to see anything outside of the walls his step mother built. I also agree this doesn't excuse his actions, he called SY trash, who by anyone's definition is a hero. That to me isn't remotely ok.

As every episode ticks by, I'm left with one question.... Why am I not enjoying this drama as much as I should be?
TBF i don't hate it, its been ok so far, but on paper this should be something so much more enjoyable. It has a good/great cast, the plot at least, based on the synapsis is interesting yet I've been left a little underwhelmed so far. One of the tags for this show is political intrigue, in all honesty I've found there is a distinct lack of intrigue. As far as the latest episodes go there has been some progress in regards the plot , the the choice the Crown Prince made and the his doubts around the fake DZY.
Both moments to me at least, lacked any real creative tension.
HY has been telling us all along who he was going to select as the Crown Princess and he did exactly what he said. If he had done anything else this would have been a complete 180 on his character.
Equally, HY discovering that there was no scar on the fake DZY was just not very interesting, it just lacked significant impact for something that should have huge implications moving forward.
As said at the beginning, I don't hate this, but I don't love it either, its all very average.

I'm never going to be on board with MYC attitude/feelings towards XQ regardless of how its interpreted, but that aside you can see a lot of similarities between MYC and XQ. They both appear victims of their upbringing and the parental pressure to conform. The difference though is SY. With SY introduction into XQ life, she observed a world outside of conformity, both romantically and a difference sense of what family life could be. Whilst this didn't last initially, she got to experience it and held onto those feelings until she reunited with SY. MYC never had his version of SY. He remained trapped. This doesn't excuse his behaviour but I do wonder if he had met his SY as teenager would he have turned out differently?

I've been thinking what should be the outcome for the " evil step mother" particularly as we move towards the end of this drama. Its safe to say, she deserves to be punished for her actions. I actually liked SY attitude towards her in episode 30. He was very measured, and very polite at least on the surface. I think perhaps more subtly it was actually indifference. He no longer see's her as someone that matters or at least that will influence the direction of his relationship with XQ.
I've always liked the quote "The best revenge is living well" so for SY and XQ this maybe would be the perfect revenge.

Everyone is entitled to their own beliefs, some I may agree with, some I may not. Personally, I like that this forum gives us all the opportunity to share different opinions on the DRAMA'S we get to watch. For me, the forum is about the drama's not our personal beliefs on faith or cultures.
As for this drama, all I will say is that I've enjoyed it immensely, regardless of how anyone interprets MYC or any other character. I will be focused on the remaining episodes in the expectation it finishes SY and XQ story strongly.

MYC does perhaps deserve some sympathy because he was raised by a she wolf of a mother, however I think the problem comes from the fact he isn't innocent either. He does have a his own agenda towards XQ and that influences his attitude towards SY and XQ. relationship. Whether it is brotherly or romantic love he feels towards XQ he has never asked himself if his actions are helping or hurting XQ. He is blinded by his own agenda to keep XQ by his side and that's what makes his actions wrong. Sympathy, perhaps. Innocent - no, at least in my opinion.

Yes the last few episodes have not really worked for me, I posted previously that I'm waiting for this drama to change gears, again still waiting. I'm also slightly concerned we will get a rushed second half the drama.

Really liked SY reaction and behaviour towards XQ after the confrontation with her step mother. He knew how hard that was for XQ and wanted her to know he was there for her.

Episode 29 was a bit of a miss for me, either as a filler or providing too much screen time to characters I don't like. However ep 30 was so much better, we got to see XQ stand up for herself and and her relationship with SY in an outright way. No hesitation, positively and defiantly. Loved it!
I've seen comments about XU step mother being evil, something I wouldn't have argued about previously. I've now decided she isn't actually evil I actually think she is simply delusional. The conversation that took place outside the shopping mall proved it! She needs some serious help!

I generally have no issues with a slow burn dram, when there is plenty of character development and up until the last few episodes I've not had an issue with the pacing. However, the last few episodes have generally contributed very little, why are we taking so many episodes talking about the Crown Princess selection, rather than actually selecting the Crown Princess? As far as character development outside of the leads acknowledging their feelings has there been any actual character development? I understanding from those that have read the novel I can expect improvement in the plot, so I will keep watching, but this drama hasn't seemed to have decided what it wants to be. Its not a full rip-roaring adventure and its not a slow burn character driven story either. It feels a little stuck between the two.

I'm glad its not just me who feels this way!

I'm kind of still waiting for this drama to change gears. Everything so far has been fine, nothing bad but equally nothing really great either. I've just drifted along with the plot and the characters. I think its because some of the characters haven't resonated with me yet, with some falling into your typical stereotypes. I've had the feeling that this is a plot/characters that I've seen before in other drama's and as each episode ticks by that feeling has remained. I guess I'm hoping for a little more than what I've seen so far in later episodes.

18th July 2023 - Extract from my journal .....

"I watched episodes 25 and 26 of FOMH today, during which I seemed to have developed some curious symptoms.
Firstly, I noticed my face was hurting, in particular around my mouth and cheeks. I quickly obtained a mirror and on inspection I had a large smile plastered across my face. It seems smiling too much can hurt!
Secondly, When obtaining the previously mentioned mirror, I realised I was experiencing pain across my back and neck area. Most concerned I quickly asked the internet what could have caused this. It seems I was experiencing whiplash like symptoms. It appears that the rollercoaster of emotions displayed across these 2 episodes had given me whiplash!
My final symptom, I was suddenly starting to feel dizzy... increasingly concerned I again asked the internet, and the most likely cause appeared, all my blood had flown to my mouth and cheeks to maintain the smile on my face, so much so that I had become light headed.....
Its left me with a couple of questions , Firstly, is it possible to get diabetes from watching a drama? some of those scenes today were very, very sweet. Secondly, do these episodes require a heath warning? We got moments of joy for SY and XQ and moments of pain as our brave firefighters try to handle the aftermath of their experiences during the earthquake. This was all wrapped together in a couple of episodes.
I have now been confined to my bed in order to recover" End of extract.
All joking aside, for anyone unsure about watching this drama or considering dropping it, watch it, push through and experience episodes 23 -26 you won't regret it.

I posted earlier how much i enjoyed episode 23, so I've just re-watched it. I need to give a shout out to Wang Yan Lin. I've loved his interactions with Yang Yang ,so he was already one of my favourite cast members. His playful interactions often have left me laughing. Towards the end of episode 23 I got see another side to his character. The anguish he portrayed in that scene was brilliantly done.
After watching that scene again I could almost feel his pain.

I've posted previously, that its been a pretty enjoyable watch so far, and after 11 episodes that's still the case. I like it for what it is. My reservation so far is that it has the feel of something I've seen numerous times before and whilst that's not necessarily a bad thing I hope we can expect a few more surprises. There's plenty of episodes left so i will watch with interest for a those "WOW" moments to appear.

I think overall episode 23 has been my favourite so far. The emotions leapt off the screen from start to finish. It was raw emotion from the opening scene and it carried it through to the closing moments. Well done to the cast, being able to cry on demand for a performer is pretty much expected. To share the emotion behind those tears with audience, one scene after another was pretty epic. More please.........

Unpopular opinion - Maybe MYC deserves some sympathy too - I can already hear the cries of nooooo ringing out followed by a chorus of boo's!
I should premise the statment with SOME sympathy and that is not the same as forgiveness. I find his interactions with XQ unsettling and he's pretty much always offensive to SY so I had pretty much decided he was in the "bad guy box"
The reason I've come around to the idea that he at least deserves a little more understanding than i originally thought was for one of reasons I've used in defending XQ. His family, in particular his mother. His mother has controlled his entire life from seemingly day one. Even to this day his mother spies on his actions and monitors his bank account. He is forced to agree to every action his mother decides. I can't pretend to know what it would be like to live in that environment.
Personally, I still think MYC belongs in the " bad guy box" the vibe with XQ is all wrong and being a jerk to SY can't be ignored, however having thought about it I do have some sympathy for him. To be raised in that family would be difficult for anyone and maybe despite not liking him I have at least some sympathy for him.