I watched all 7 episodes. There are ways to find them on the internet...and even if you have to watch the subtitles in a language other than your own, the story line is easily understood.
Gushan is invited to return to China with Yuewen and his fiance'. It seems very clear that Yuewen truly wants to continue his relationship with Gushan...but secretly... as he plans to marry his fiance'. Gushan is heart broken and doesn't want to go to China under those terms with them. He remains in Japan.
Just like Gushan's heart is broken, the glass heart of the blue mushroom poison is broken. Yuewen receives a letter that Gushan has quietly ended his life with the poisonous blue powder.
It's a sad ending.
But....
Now...I know this sounds strange...but we DON'T have to accept the endings that are handed to us. The ending in a series is how the writers perceive the final outcome. It CAN be rejected...and in our own minds we can say, "That's YOUR idea of how it ends...but it's NOT mine." We can change the outcome...change the ending. It is fiction, so our own endings are just as valid as the writers ending.
So...how does my ending go?
Yuewen realizes that the house in Japan is the only world that Gushan knows. He understands that it wouldn't be possible for Gushan to thrive in China. If he were to go through with his plans of selling the house, Gushan would remain in Japan and once again become a wandering lost soul. Yuewen discusses this with his fiance'. Being the kind person that she is, she likes Gushan and wants the best for him. She points out to Yuewen that should he not sell the house they are no worse off than before he ever found out about the inheritance.
Yuewen discovers that his father left a modest trust fund for Gushan...enough for him to live a simple meager life.
He tells Gushan of his plans NOT to sell the house...and that Gushan will have a home to live in...but Gushan will have to pay the utilities and for food. His trust fund should more than cover those basic expenses. With an embrace and a passionate kiss he promises Gushan that he will never leave him. The he will visit him in Japan for two weeks at the beginning of each new season.
Yuewen begins to reflect upon the potentially dangerous influence of the blue mushroom upon Gushan. He decides that the mushroom tank, the mushroom shed and the blue mushroom powder must all be destroyed. Yuewen convinces Gushan to give him the mushroom powder. He takes the empty glass heart, cuts off a small lock of his own hair, and carefully places it into the glass heart. Gazing into Gushan's eyes, he places the glass heart and chain around Gushan's neck. He seals the gesture with a deep kiss.
Yuewen arranges to have the mushroom shed and the glass tank containing the mushrooms demolished. After the demolition is completed, Yuewen, his fiance', and Gushan light a fire and watch the remains of the shed burn until all of it is nothing but ashes. And among those ashes are the ashes of Yuewen's and Gushan's father. The build a memorial shrine for the father over the ashes.
The blue mushroom has been destroyed, never to grow again.
Yuewen and his fiance' return to China without Gushan. The saddened Gushan remains in Japan..with feelings of uncertainty...teetering on fears of abandonment and hopelessness. But Yuewen texts him daily, throughout the day, every day, reassuring Gushan of their love....promising him that he will return to their home in Japan soon.
Yuewen is a man who is torn in two...he loves both his fiance and Gushan. At first we're angry with Yuewen but then we remember that it was Gushan who seduced...pushed...pursued Yuewen. We accept Yuewen's decisions.
Yuewen's texts are the life line to Gushan that nourish his soul with love and with hope. Staying in the only home that he ever loved, he retains a sense of safety...of stability.
The beginning of the new season arrives...and along with it Yuewen flies to their home in Japan. He arrives alone....without his fiance'. This impossibly beautiful fairy tale romance between Yuewen and Gushan is possible, after all. For two weeks they live in a dream like bliss.
After two weeks, it's time for Yuewen to return to China. Gushan has come to terms of being in a relationship with a married man. With a sense of relief, he understands that Yuewen is not abandoning him.
The journeys back and forth to Japan continue. After one year Yuewen and his wife have their first child...and name him Gushan after their beloved brother/brother-in-law. Yuewen's wife has no knowledge or suspicion whatsoever of the romance between Yuewen and Gushan. The deception seem unfair...but it's the only compromise that Yuewen can think of to keep all of them emotionally safe.
Yuewen calls Gushan, begging him to fly to China to meet his newborn nephew and namesake....and to accept him as a god son.
Gushan is a timid man...lacking in self confidence...and unsure if he's able to make a journey to China alone. Gushan is even unsure if he's fit to be a god father. Sensing Gushan's reluctance, Yuewen flies to Japan to accompany Gushan back to China with him. When they arrives at the airport in China, they're met by Yuewn's wife with the newborn baby Gushan in her arms. Gushan rushes towards them, Yuewen at his side, and they all embrace.
Gushan has found not only the love of his life...but a family as well. And so, this impossibly beautiful fairy tale love continues, fuller and richer than Gushan could have ever hoped for. It not only survives but it thrives and prospers.
And so ends Season 1. Season 2 ... just as dreamlike...just as surreal...just as beautiful...will follow.
Just as we truly do...in one way or another...create our own destinies in life, we can choose to create our own endings to the BL series that we watch.
This ending is as real as the writers' ending. Never accept what you don't want to accept.
The five main leads each performed their roles to perfection. A very serious theme was delivered with a blend of humor, sadness, and ethics to create a captivating production.
This is one of those series that we just don't forget.
This was more than just a series, it was one of life's lessons....those momentous times in our lives when we reach an epiphany of understanding of who we are...or who we should be...and why we are here.
Watching the sequence of events unfold in this story was just as much of a growth experience...a learning experience...for me as living the actual events of the story myself.
So often we question the path that we've taken...self doubt entering our minds and overshadowing our convictions. But...if we move forward....moment by moment...day by day...following our moral compass and doing the right thing, that inner strength within us....the strength of a warrior...wells up and resumes command. It keeps us on course.
You might be wondering why I've taken this series to heart. Why has it touched me so profoundly. I am a doctor...and so often I've questioned my life path. It's been one of dedication driven by self determination and self sacrifice. Was it...has it been...worth placing the lives of others before the needs of my own life. Each episode of this series gave me a re-affirmation of why I chose this path...and of why I continue to follow it.
This was a very interesting series that held my attention from beginning to end. At first, the story seemed as though it might become an ordinary girl meets boy...or better said....girl meets demon, girl falls in love with demon...love story. But as the story unfolds, the twists and turns, the subplots and side stories, create a world of fantastic imagination embellished with beautiful imagery.
I will make this review short and to the point. It was beautifully scripted. The juxtaposition of the present with the Joseon period of Korea gave the series an unexpected...and masterfully crafted...depth.
There will always be people who cruelly criticize....berate....brilliant series. Perhaps such vitriol gives them a sense of unbridled power over the actors. Perhaps it gives them a sense of ultimate control not only over the production but of the world of viewers themselves. For whatever illogical reasons these people choose to dismantle works of cinematic art, just ignore them. If the trailer beckons you, follow it...follow the series to its end. You will not regret my advice.
1 
Gushan is invited to return to China with Yuewen and his fiance'. It seems very clear that Yuewen truly wants to continue his relationship with Gushan...but secretly... as he plans to marry his fiance'. Gushan is heart broken and doesn't want to go to China under those terms with them. He remains in Japan.
Just like Gushan's heart is broken, the glass heart of the blue mushroom poison is broken. Yuewen receives a letter that Gushan has quietly ended his life with the poisonous blue powder.
It's a sad ending.
But....
Now...I know this sounds strange...but we DON'T have to accept the endings that are handed to us. The ending in a series is how the writers perceive the final outcome. It CAN be rejected...and in our own minds we can say, "That's YOUR idea of how it ends...but it's NOT mine." We can change the outcome...change the ending. It is fiction, so our own endings are just as valid as the writers ending.
So...how does my ending go?
Yuewen realizes that the house in Japan is the only world that Gushan knows. He understands that it wouldn't be possible for Gushan to thrive in China. If he were to go through with his plans of selling the house, Gushan would remain in Japan and once again become a wandering lost soul. Yuewen discusses this with his fiance'. Being the kind person that she is, she likes Gushan and wants the best for him. She points out to Yuewen that should he not sell the house they are no worse off than before he ever found out about the inheritance.
Yuewen discovers that his father left a modest trust fund for Gushan...enough for him to live a simple meager life.
He tells Gushan of his plans NOT to sell the house...and that Gushan will have a home to live in...but Gushan will have to pay the utilities and for food. His trust fund should more than cover those basic expenses. With an embrace and a passionate kiss he promises Gushan that he will never leave him. The he will visit him in Japan for two weeks at the beginning of each new season.
Yuewen begins to reflect upon the potentially dangerous influence of the blue mushroom upon Gushan. He decides that the mushroom tank, the mushroom shed and the blue mushroom powder must all be destroyed. Yuewen convinces Gushan to give him the mushroom powder. He takes the empty glass heart, cuts off a small lock of his own hair, and carefully places it into the glass heart. Gazing into Gushan's eyes, he places the glass heart and chain around Gushan's neck. He seals the gesture with a deep kiss.
Yuewen arranges to have the mushroom shed and the glass tank containing the mushrooms demolished. After the demolition is completed, Yuewen, his fiance', and Gushan light a fire and watch the remains of the shed burn until all of it is nothing but ashes. And among those ashes are the ashes of Yuewen's and Gushan's father. The build a memorial shrine for the father over the ashes.
The blue mushroom has been destroyed, never to grow again.
Yuewen and his fiance' return to China without Gushan. The saddened Gushan remains in Japan..with feelings of uncertainty...teetering on fears of abandonment and hopelessness. But Yuewen texts him daily, throughout the day, every day, reassuring Gushan of their love....promising him that he will return to their home in Japan soon.
Yuewen is a man who is torn in two...he loves both his fiance and Gushan. At first we're angry with Yuewen but then we remember that it was Gushan who seduced...pushed...pursued Yuewen. We accept Yuewen's decisions.
Yuewen's texts are the life line to Gushan that nourish his soul with love and with hope. Staying in the only home that he ever loved, he retains a sense of safety...of stability.
The beginning of the new season arrives...and along with it Yuewen flies to their home in Japan. He arrives alone....without his fiance'. This impossibly beautiful fairy tale romance between Yuewen and Gushan is possible, after all. For two weeks they live in a dream like bliss.
After two weeks, it's time for Yuewen to return to China. Gushan has come to terms of being in a relationship with a married man. With a sense of relief, he understands that Yuewen is not abandoning him.
The journeys back and forth to Japan continue. After one year Yuewen and his wife have their first child...and name him Gushan after their beloved brother/brother-in-law. Yuewen's wife has no knowledge or suspicion whatsoever of the romance between Yuewen and Gushan. The deception seem unfair...but it's the only compromise that Yuewen can think of to keep all of them emotionally safe.
Yuewen calls Gushan, begging him to fly to China to meet his newborn nephew and namesake....and to accept him as a god son.
Gushan is a timid man...lacking in self confidence...and unsure if he's able to make a journey to China alone. Gushan is even unsure if he's fit to be a god father. Sensing Gushan's reluctance, Yuewen flies to Japan to accompany Gushan back to China with him. When they arrives at the airport in China, they're met by Yuewn's wife with the newborn baby Gushan in her arms. Gushan rushes towards them, Yuewen at his side, and they all embrace.
Gushan has found not only the love of his life...but a family as well. And so, this impossibly beautiful fairy tale love continues, fuller and richer than Gushan could have ever hoped for. It not only survives but it thrives and prospers.
And so ends Season 1. Season 2 ... just as dreamlike...just as surreal...just as beautiful...will follow.
Just as we truly do...in one way or another...create our own destinies in life, we can choose to create our own endings to the BL series that we watch.
This ending is as real as the writers' ending. Never accept what you don't want to accept.
Diego Chang
The five main leads each performed their roles to perfection. A very serious theme was delivered with a blend of humor, sadness, and ethics to create a captivating production.
This is one of those series that we just don't forget.
Watching the sequence of events unfold in this story was just as much of a growth experience...a learning experience...for me as living the actual events of the story myself.
So often we question the path that we've taken...self doubt entering our minds and overshadowing our convictions. But...if we move forward....moment by moment...day by day...following our moral compass and doing the right thing, that inner strength within us....the strength of a warrior...wells up and resumes command. It keeps us on course.
You might be wondering why I've taken this series to heart. Why has it touched me so profoundly. I am a doctor...and so often I've questioned my life path. It's been one of dedication driven by self determination and self sacrifice. Was it...has it been...worth placing the lives of others before the needs of my own life. Each episode of this series gave me a re-affirmation of why I chose this path...and of why I continue to follow it.
For me, this series was a 10 +.
I will make this review short and to the point. It was beautifully scripted. The juxtaposition of the present with the Joseon period of Korea gave the series an unexpected...and masterfully crafted...depth.
There will always be people who cruelly criticize....berate....brilliant series. Perhaps such vitriol gives them a sense of unbridled power over the actors. Perhaps it gives them a sense of ultimate control not only over the production but of the world of viewers themselves. For whatever illogical reasons these people choose to dismantle works of cinematic art, just ignore them. If the trailer beckons you, follow it...follow the series to its end. You will not regret my advice.