FreshKicks

Like with almost everything else in their relationship, Jiang Chen decides when things move to a new level. When he refers to her as his girlfriend I think she's actually surprised, despite all of her years of campaigning for the role lol.

What I love about this series is that she proves she can live independently of him and he acknowledges that he can't live without her -- almost like a reversal of the relationship dynamic. Had the story never balanced out their relationship this way I would have been very unhappy.

I'm starting to wonder if they're making Yu Xi Gu look so skinny and worn down at the beginning just so we can appreciate how much he will transform once the relationship with Xiang Hao Ting has been established.

In the different trailers where we get glimpses of the two of them after the relationship gets going, YXG is smiling and looks full of energy. Maybe this beginning part is meant to provide lots of contrast.

Yes, XHT is a good guy at heart. I was encouraged by the way he was so upset at himself once he'd recovered from the shock of the true impact of his stunt. He didn't gauge things well because YXG's circumstances are so far removed from his own. He might have pulled similar stunts in the past and they were laughed off by everyone involved.

It didn't help that XHT also had help from his friends in going after YXG. The other upsetting moment for me was when YXG got punched in the stomach. The poor guy was so befuddled. He had no idea what they were so mad at him about, and then he was in serious pain for a long time after.

And then XHT got rough with him as well! So much power being aimed at someone with so little means and so few friends.

This is one reason why I wish there was a scene where XHT simply apologizes to YXG for the hurt he and his friends caused him, physically and emotionally. For my own reasons those first episodes really shook me up and I'm so glad we're now past that phase of the story and the healing can start.

I'm partial to the "enemies to lovers" trope and also feel that in this pairing the vast distance between "enemy" and "lover" could present a challenge. It's not like XHT murdered one of YXG's family, but he nearly ruined XYG's chance at a scholarship for school, possibly murdering his future.

For most of the"enemies to lovers" series I've seen, the "enemy" aspect comes from something like sports rivalry, social snobbery, or even a difference in how the two protagonists perceive their own sexuality (e.g. Pete and Kao in "Kiss Me Again".) This one is about an alpha male who has many advantages in life thoughtlessly spoiling the dreams of a classmate who has been struggling since childhood. To watch someone with so much power wield it so gleefully against someone so needy was very difficult for me.

As the episodes continue I hope we'll get to see XHT really extend himself emotionally, to the point that he becomes the factor that makes it possible for YXG to *achieve* his dreams. It could well turn out to be the best "enemies to lovers" series I've ever seen.

I'm thinking along the same lines. When I look at the situation through YXG's eyes, where the experience he had with XHT just before XHT's courtship campaign had been so bad, I can understand why he'd be suspicious of XHT's sudden ardor. I think it would help XHT's case a lot if he were to come up with a simple and sincere apology for making YXG miss his exam. The ending of this episode has me hopeful that the stage might now be set for such an apology.

I also agree it's probably XHT's first time having feelings about someone that are more than just recreational. (His surprised reaction to YXG making his heart beat faster -- was that due to the fact that it was YXG causing it, or was it because he'd never had that kind of reaction to anyone before, female or male?) And it says something about his self-confidence that he doesn't seem to pause to wonder if YXG is even capable of liking other boys, let alone him in particular. Perhaps his success with the girls has made him believe that nobody can resist his charms.

I loved little details like XHT doing the push-ups in the medical room before YXG showed up, to burn off nervous energy and bulk up his "alpha male" muscles. And it was cute how "Earring" twin referred to "Nice Guy" twin as his younger brother, and how "Nice Guy" twin is beginning his own tentative friendship with YXG.

When he takes off his shirt it's absolute male beauty at its finest. Damn.

This week my interest in the "second couple" went up a bit, probably because Sun Bo Xiang is showing a little more self control lol.

No but they purchased the broadcast or distribution rights and gave it an audience. We wouldn't get many more shows if the production companies couldn't get a return on their investment.

I think this one might be doing well since the actors recorded that "Thank you" video that was posted this week.

He certainly doesn't hold anything back, does he? Can't blame YuXiGu for being mind-boggled.

Everybody hates on Viki but it's thanks to them that we get series like this. I'm happy to reward them with my business.

I'm 10 episodes in and enjoying it the whole way. All these terrible reviews on here make me doubt my sanity, though. I like both male leads and at this point wouldn't mind if either one of them ends up with the girl (although I'm already certain which one eventually does.)

Great song soundtrack.

Your perspective is interesting. By Episode 10 I was pretty much done with Kang Doo's sulking and the way he treated Moon Soo. I also didn't like how she just kept coming back for more, like a character from a 1950's movie where the woman always stands by her man no matter what. I haven't gotten to the part where she just stands there after he kisses her, but given how cold he was to her for two or three episodes maybe she was just feeling a little bit skeptical.

I can't stand when a drama resorts to "I've decided I'm not good enough for you so I'm going to drive you away by treating you like shit." And it's no better when the other person just takes the abuse and keeps coming back for more, "in the name of love" of course. Everybody seems to worship the Kang Doo character but I think he's way too into his own melodrama to deserve Moon Soo, who (by the way) suffered in the same accident as he did, but in a different way. Get over yourself, buddy.

So there's a nice twin and an evil twin. The nice twin looks to be the conscience of that mob of misfits and clearly has sympathy for YXG. I'm curious to see if anything interesting comes of that. :)

... although as I've watched it a couple of times, in addition to feeling excited I felt some worry and sadness as well. There's a definite hint that the story might take a tragic turn.

Never knew about this video - thank you!

I agree that the notion that he's super attractive is played up too much in the first episode. When the script has so many characters referring to something like that, there should be little question on the part of the audience or it will backfire. Plus I don't think it's even necessary for him to be a gorgeous-looking guy for the story to work.

I think it's more than a third wheel situation - it's more like a romantic rivalry. The question for me is whether the rival is sincere or just trying to get on Pete's nerves.

I love Viki too.

When he dropped to his knees my heart went right to my throat and I had to catch my breath.