I don't know why it took me so long to watch this! I agree that some people might think it's overrated, because there's nothing much going on, but that's what I liked about it! there are no evil in laws, no random crime happening in the back, no sudden accident or disease, no annoying 2nd leads, no out of nowhere breakups... it's just life happening! And I really enjoyed that! And most of the characters were really fun to watch 😂😂
Replying toaerielle•Jun 30, 2024•Liked Jun 30, 2024
First Time watching it and I stoped at ep 29 :< I'm weak, I thought this is a good ending huhu D':
Honestly, as someone who has read the novel and rewatched TTEOTM several times (LOL at self), I can now say that the drama ending is as it should be because it really highlights the karmic cycle. TTJ was a victim of circumstances but ultimately came out of it as a benevolent, enlightened being. He WILL have his happy ending with LSS and Ami although it was not shown on screen because he made absolute redemption. There is also an official audio released by production based on the HE chapters of the novel. Ch.35 is quite sweet. If you can bear it, try to watch it till the end. Jiayou! 💪
Ok, so after reading all of the mixed comments/reviews and watching this anyway, I want to say a few things!!! I am really glad I watched it! Please read further if you are also a person who watched things for yourself despite reviews and don't mind small hints (but no spoilers)!
I loved this drama, but agree that I did not care for the open-ended ending! HOWEVER, to rank this show in its entirety lower than an 8.5 based on that is absolutely CRIMINALLLLLL !!!!!! hated some of the rushed character endings, and certain moments as well, but I could not get over how great the acting, visuals, chemistry, and story were overall... so the annoyance/disappointment of this openish ending could not override the rest for me lol I also think that the ending and certain words said mean we can give ourselves a happy ending in our heads and hope for the best or a special episode release lol
If you understand the premise of XIANXIA dramas with fate/reincarnation/memory/love, you will like this one, especially if you enjoyed the following: * Love you Seven Times * Ancient Love poetry * The Last Immortal *Till the End of the Moon *The Journey of Chong Zi
I hope there will a Part 2 that would answer all the unanswered questions in Part 1.
Is TanTai Jin related to the God of War, Ming Ye? Why did the God of War lie in wait for TanTai Jin? The explanation he gave was a bit lame, as the two seems more closely linked than that.
What is the mystery behind the name Cang Jiu Ming that his master gave to him? In Chinese, it means 9 Ming. Is he the re-incarnate of Ming Ye after 9 generations?
How did TanTai Jin became the Demon King before Li SuSu intervene? It appears The Demon King, TanTai Jin, allows Li SuSu to return to the past as he did not interfere with her ritual process, and he recognises her. Why?
Quick background: The Philippines was colonized by Spain for more than 300 years. Jose Rizal, a National Hero of the Philippines, was an instrument for revolution when he wrote Noli Me Tangere (lit. Touch Me Not) - an 1887 novel that explores brutality, religious hypocrisy, and corruption by the ruling government and the Spanish friars. Juan Crisostomo Ibarra, the main protagonist of the novel, is a well-off and educated mestizo who eventually falls victim into the schemings of the Spaniards, while Maria Clara is his childhood sweetheart who embodies the innocence, purity, and naivety of a sheltered woman during the Spanish colonial period. Rizal’s two novels, Noli Me Tangere and its sequel, El Filibusterismo (lit. The Filibuster) are required readings in high school and the Life and Works of Rizal is a mandated course in all higher education institutions in the Philippines.
While the drama is set in a dark and difficult story, Maria Clara and Ibarra puts its own fun spin that caters to the current generation—this is an isekai wherein the main character is suddenly transported into the world of the novel she is reading; in this case, Noli Me Tangere.
What makes this an effective story is that the female lead, named after Maria Clara but is commonly called “Klay”, is a nursing student who is also a breadwinner for her family. At the beginning of the drama, she complains about the need to study the Rizal course (e.g. deeming history, humanities, and social science subjects as irrelevant) and explains why the current generation is ignorant towards the country’s history. The working Filipino class, which makes up more than half of the total population, is simply busy trying to survive the day and night. Spending their time on others and caring about it is a privilege they cannot afford. Her everyday struggles as a working student, as a child of a broken family, and as a citizen of a developing country is timely and relatable. Her situation and her character are great representations in a drama that clearly knows what message it wants to convey and to whom the reminder is for.
Klay’s progressiveness (and contrast to Maria Clara) in such a conservative time sticks out like a sore thumb and it is fun to watch. She is chaotically, annoyingly, and charmingly Gen Z. Not to mention, the discourse with her professor and the men in the novel are actually engaging and eye-opening. But it is her realizations, her awakened patriotism, that strikes the heart.
True to the novel’s satirical nature, the drama discusses domestic violence, education, labor, misogyny, and ethnocentrism while closely following the events of Noli Me Tangere - and eventually, El Filibusterismo. The thing about an isekai is how the main character will attempt to change the course of the story. And while Klay did make changes, the drama serves as a reminder that history cannot be rewritten. What is bound to happen will happen. Historical revisionism has been rampant in the country and knowing how this drama aired during this time makes this so much more relevant and brilliant than what it already is.
And there are always the happy ending chapters of the novel 's epilogue if you need them.
Ch.35 is quite sweet. If you can bear it, try to watch it till the end. Jiayou! 💪
I loved this drama, but agree that I did not care for the open-ended ending!
HOWEVER, to rank this show in its entirety lower than an 8.5 based on that is absolutely CRIMINALLLLLL !!!!!! hated some of the rushed character endings, and certain moments as well, but I could not get over how great the acting, visuals, chemistry, and story were overall... so the annoyance/disappointment of this openish ending could not override the rest for me lol
I also think that the ending and certain words said mean we can give ourselves a happy ending in our heads and hope for the best or a special episode release lol
If you understand the premise of XIANXIA dramas with fate/reincarnation/memory/love, you will like this one, especially if you enjoyed the following:
* Love you Seven Times
* Ancient Love poetry
* The Last Immortal
*Till the End of the Moon
*The Journey of Chong Zi
Is TanTai Jin related to the God of War, Ming Ye? Why did the God of War lie in wait for TanTai Jin? The explanation he gave was a bit lame, as the two seems more closely linked than that.
What is the mystery behind the name Cang Jiu Ming that his master gave to him? In Chinese, it means 9 Ming. Is he the re-incarnate of Ming Ye after 9 generations?
How did TanTai Jin became the Demon King before Li SuSu intervene? It appears The Demon King, TanTai Jin, allows Li SuSu to return to the past as he did not interfere with her ritual process, and he recognises her. Why?
Is Jiu Ming going to return? And how?
While the drama is set in a dark and difficult story, Maria Clara and Ibarra puts its own fun spin that caters to the current generation—this is an isekai wherein the main character is suddenly transported into the world of the novel she is reading; in this case, Noli Me Tangere.
What makes this an effective story is that the female lead, named after Maria Clara but is commonly called “Klay”, is a nursing student who is also a breadwinner for her family. At the beginning of the drama, she complains about the need to study the Rizal course (e.g. deeming history, humanities, and social science subjects as irrelevant) and explains why the current generation is ignorant towards the country’s history. The working Filipino class, which makes up more than half of the total population, is simply busy trying to survive the day and night. Spending their time on others and caring about it is a privilege they cannot afford. Her everyday struggles as a working student, as a child of a broken family, and as a citizen of a developing country is timely and relatable. Her situation and her character are great representations in a drama that clearly knows what message it wants to convey and to whom the reminder is for.
Klay’s progressiveness (and contrast to Maria Clara) in such a conservative time sticks out like a sore thumb and it is fun to watch. She is chaotically, annoyingly, and charmingly Gen Z. Not to mention, the discourse with her professor and the men in the novel are actually engaging and eye-opening. But it is her realizations, her awakened patriotism, that strikes the heart.
True to the novel’s satirical nature, the drama discusses domestic violence, education, labor, misogyny, and ethnocentrism while closely following the events of Noli Me Tangere - and eventually, El Filibusterismo. The thing about an isekai is how the main character will attempt to change the course of the story. And while Klay did make changes, the drama serves as a reminder that history cannot be rewritten. What is bound to happen will happen. Historical revisionism has been rampant in the country and knowing how this drama aired during this time makes this so much more relevant and brilliant than what it already is.
Maraming salamat, Maria Clara at Ibarra!