This review may contain spoilers
The Past and the Present Rewrite the Future
The past and the present meet to rewrite their future. That is the central theme of this drama and at its core are two 19-year-olds fighting to survive in a world full of strife. This drama has been compared to the likes of the K-drama, Signal (which was inspired by the Hollywood film, Frequency), The Lake House or Il Mare, and the Japanese animated film, Your Name. The comparison is spot on, the premise is indeed similar about two separate timelines converging through a mysterious mail box and an orange tabby cat that is seemingly responsible for this connection.
As much as I loved this drama, I must warn those who are looking to start it. Don't go into this if you're not prepared for the possible emotional torment it will put you through. This is not a story of flowers, sunshine, and butterflies, it's a tale of woe and tragedy, and it'll break your heart at the very least. This is one of the most emotionally heavy C-dramas I've seen to date. It is set in both 1991 and 2026, following the tragic love of Ye Haitang and Tang Yixun, and their beautiful but miserable life together, spanning 35 years of sadness and longing.
Abandoned by her mother as a child, Ye Haitang was raised by a violent and abusive father, constantly living in fear and overcome with hatred. Tang Yixun is an orphan, struggling to make a living as a debt collector. Their paths meet and they form a bond that transcends familial and romantic love. But as luck would have it, fate seems to be determined to tear them apart, and it would've succeeded if not for the appearance of a magical mail box, giving them a second chance at happiness.
I'm not gonna lie, this drama is only 12 episodes long but it took me a week to finish it because it's not an easy watch. Some of the scenes are so heartbreakingly painful and the strong performances from the cast made me even more emotional that I had to take a break from watching it. Don't get me wrong, this is a superbly written, produced, and acted drama, but it's not the type of show that I will want to rewatch again and again. I literally ran out of tissues! Episode 8, most especially, drove me to tears that I ended up crying in my sleep! I tip my hat to Zhou Yiran, Wang Yinglu, and the rest of the cast, you succeeded in tormenting me deeply. Thank you for the sweet pain you inflicted on me! lol
As for the controversial ending, I actually don't mind it. I would've preferred if they had explicitly told the viewers what exactly happened to the characters, but I'll take it. I have some theories regarding the ending and I'm fine if I never get to find out what it truly means. I rather like the idea that I get to imagine my own ending. In my head, Haitang and Yixun are happily married in their 50's and Yu Nian and Shen Cheng met again, but under different circumstances. This is a 10 for me. Only the second C-drama that I have given such a rating. I don't think I will rewatch it anytime soon, though.
As much as I loved this drama, I must warn those who are looking to start it. Don't go into this if you're not prepared for the possible emotional torment it will put you through. This is not a story of flowers, sunshine, and butterflies, it's a tale of woe and tragedy, and it'll break your heart at the very least. This is one of the most emotionally heavy C-dramas I've seen to date. It is set in both 1991 and 2026, following the tragic love of Ye Haitang and Tang Yixun, and their beautiful but miserable life together, spanning 35 years of sadness and longing.
Abandoned by her mother as a child, Ye Haitang was raised by a violent and abusive father, constantly living in fear and overcome with hatred. Tang Yixun is an orphan, struggling to make a living as a debt collector. Their paths meet and they form a bond that transcends familial and romantic love. But as luck would have it, fate seems to be determined to tear them apart, and it would've succeeded if not for the appearance of a magical mail box, giving them a second chance at happiness.
I'm not gonna lie, this drama is only 12 episodes long but it took me a week to finish it because it's not an easy watch. Some of the scenes are so heartbreakingly painful and the strong performances from the cast made me even more emotional that I had to take a break from watching it. Don't get me wrong, this is a superbly written, produced, and acted drama, but it's not the type of show that I will want to rewatch again and again. I literally ran out of tissues! Episode 8, most especially, drove me to tears that I ended up crying in my sleep! I tip my hat to Zhou Yiran, Wang Yinglu, and the rest of the cast, you succeeded in tormenting me deeply. Thank you for the sweet pain you inflicted on me! lol
As for the controversial ending, I actually don't mind it. I would've preferred if they had explicitly told the viewers what exactly happened to the characters, but I'll take it. I have some theories regarding the ending and I'm fine if I never get to find out what it truly means. I rather like the idea that I get to imagine my own ending. In my head, Haitang and Yixun are happily married in their 50's and Yu Nian and Shen Cheng met again, but under different circumstances. This is a 10 for me. Only the second C-drama that I have given such a rating. I don't think I will rewatch it anytime soon, though.
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