FreshKicks

I had the same disappointment in the "keep it secret" part (it also drove me up the wall in "Gangnam Beauty") but I thought Miao Miao was redeemed when she explained that a part of her just couldn't believe that he liked her too, or that their relationship would last. She was so fearful that he would realize he'd made a mistake and change his mind, and didn't want to be humiliated in front of everyone else if that were to happen.

As for He Xin and Kaituo, I know I'm in the minority when I say that I thought their eventual pairing seemed forced. Between Kaituo and Miao Miao there was a real spark but I didn't feel there was much chemistry between him and He Xin.

Why did she never stop calling him "Senior" lol

Except for Miao Miao's sister. It seems the production didn't even try to make her seem older over time. When a kid is that age the difference in appearance from year to year can be significant.

It would have been nice to have a time-skip at the very end where we get to see her as an adult .. or maybe in a Season 2.

And the female lead that starts out clutzy and dorky and plain and is transformed by the end into a beautiful, self-assured woman of the world.

Three episodes in — I’m liking it so far but if the FL’s character were any more ‘plucky’ they’d have to send her to the chicken farm.

It’s ok to love both couples and both series ... I do! ^__^

You’re right! Those two roles were perfectly cast. There is real fire between them.

Thank you! So much about that scene felt strange to me. Perth’s acting was a bit “hammy” and there were these pauses where it was like someone in the group was trying to remember his lines.

"Nice to see the parallel between father and son, both hot headed and using fists real fast, but calming down and listening to their respective loved ones."

Nice insight there!

In Episode 1 there is too much time spent on the interviews. I realize they wanted to give the audience a sense of who everybody is but it's better to "show" that than "tell" it interview style. They could have jumped right into the main story and used flashbacks or other methods to give the background of each character.

There's been some talk on twitter that there might not be any BL in this series but Episode 2 hints at two possible BL couples.

Like others I think the pace is too slow. On the Mellow website they show a view count for each segment of the episodes and in both Episode 1 and Episode 2, the number of views drops significantly after the first segment. That's really unfortunate for Episode 1 in particular because that first segment was interview after interview, a real snoozer. This should be a lesson for other series: don't start out by putting people to sleep.

Good work, Detective Katana! ^__^

I'm confident now that the series won't pull the rug out from under us by way of a sad ending.

Based on the main trailer for the series, Xi Gu does end up tutoring Hao Ting, and based on the preview for the next episode (with the celebration scene) maybe it leads to some success.

In the main trailer there's also a scene where Xi Gu is walking back home alone and is just reaching his apartment building when he finds Hao Ting there waiting for him. Hao Ting starts running toward him and then the scene cuts away. I wouldn't be surprised if this is their reunion after Hao Ting's parents give him permission to get tutored.

His tears were believable and heartfelt. A talented actor!

In the story I was glad that Hao Ting's mom got to see that. It changed the whole direction that things were going.

Hao Ting has the most kissable lips in Asian drama. Holy shit.

That makeout session on the couch was worth the wait, especially with Xi Gu taking so much initiative. He's not passive anymore and it has fueled their chemistry.

I like that the score on Viki is above 9. The low score on here is surprising. There are much worse series that get higher ratings.

What this one lacks in polish it makes up for in passion and commitment. You can tell that everyone involved in the production is giving their all.

So much love for this series elsewhere but on here everyone’s so salty lol

It’s in Thai for me too. So relieved! I’m thinking I should probably delete my comment about the subs now since it was a false alarm.

Amen to that!

I agree with so much of your comment! Although I do think Soo Ah was essential to the series. She is one of the best villains in any series I've seen, and I was disappointed when they gave her a gimmicky "redemption" plot at the end. Like you, I don't think she deserved redemption, and the way Kyung Sok kept giving her the brush-off was so enjoyable. (One of my favorite moments is when Kyung Sok says to her, 'Congratulations. I never thought I could hate someone this much.' He looked so menacing!) I think it would have been truer to the Soo Ah character if she'd just ended up transferring to another university and started over with her plotting and scheming. Her sudden contrition just didn't ring true.

As for Mei Rei, the core theme of the series is about her coming into her own after years of self-loathing and rejection. To her, getting attention from Soo Ah and being accepted by her other schoolmates required overcoming a lifetime of being judged negatively. I think she had suspicions about Soo Ah early on but talked herself into thinking differently, either out of a lack of confidence or a wish to maintain ties to a person who is naturally beautiful.

I *really* appreciate what you say about the Yoo Eun character. I loved her -- her beautiful smile, the way she always supported Mei Rei, and her friendship with Jung Boon. (One of my favorite moments with her is early in the series, when Kyung Sok drinks the shots on Mei Rei's behalf during the 'impressions' drinking game. Jung Boon whispers to Eun, 'There really must be something between them!' and Eun smiles and whispers back, 'I know, right?' I'm sure that moment passed unnoticed by a lot of people but my immediate thought was how much I'd love having a friend like her.)

I too wish she'd had more screen time.