MsDarkqueen

Some thing confused me in episode 12.
Does anyone have an explanation or opinion?

Jiang Tian noticed Sheng Wang had buttoned his shirt in wrong holes, so he unbuttons it and rebuttons it.

But then why does he button Sheng Wang's coat wrong?

1. Jiang Tian was distracted so mistakenly buttons the coat wrong( But why?)
Or
2. Jiang Tian deliberately buttoned the coat wrong.( But Why?) ( To me it seemed like a deliberate action by Jiang Tian)

I could understand the result, it allowed pepper to correct the mistake, creating discomfort and unease for Jiang Tian.

I agree.

Form your own opinion.

A person may watch varied series depending on their frame of mind.

Everything you watch need not be meaningful and deep.

Sometimes simple series leave deep impact, seemingly frivolous series give great pleasure and uplift the mood.

I don't have problem with people who dislike a series. I just can't tolerate these people having a condescending attitude towards those who enjoy the very same series.

Well said 👍

Ratings are always subjective as it depends on personal opinion.

Ratings are often swayed by extreme emotions of Spite and Adoration. It's rarely objective because most people are not rational while ratings.

People often use the ratings as a weapon instead of a tool.

I have long stopped deciding which series to watch based on ratings or suggestions.

My advice is for everyone to form their own opinion whether to watch the series after viewing the first few episodes.

I never understood why people throw shade at people who really enjoyed the series whereas expecting people to honour their criticism

Everyone has their own choice just because someone didn't like a series doesn't NEGATE the fact that OTHERS did like it.

Don't pay heed to unnecessary negativity....

1. For season 2.
"Keep your Expectations low but Hopes high" is my viewpoint....I am so glad that many people who loved the series are making an effort to showcase their support by various means to give a helping hand.

I believe the Universe is listening, so instead of repeating negative words it's better to say positive things.

As far as I am concerned. I would be among the first batch of people to jump with joy if we get the 2nd season, however if NOT then I have the book to read on to know how the story of the two protagonists end.

2. Ratings and Reviews
Ratings and Reviews will always be "subjective", at the most it can give an idea about how the majority of the people feel.

My suggestion is not to look at the ratings too much, watch the first episode if you find you could get through that episode then at least give two more episodes a try...if you still feel interested in the show more than likely you will end up liking the series.

Similarly with Reviews read two to three positive ones and find two to three negative ones...if you really want to get a feeling about the series... in spite of reading the reviews sometimes I feel I have my own opinion which was not reflected in ANY of them. People should rely on their OWN judgement and experience. If the people are sceptical about the ending, they can always ask to be spoiled in the comment section beforehand.

"So take reviews and ratings with a grain of Salt"


3. Series based on novel.
Many books are adapted into series. NOT just Asian but also Western. There will always be people who end up liking the novel better than the live adaptation and vice versa.

As far as THIS series was concerned, I didn't feel the need to read the novel till the series ended. Without reading the novel, the series very distinctly managed to convey what the protagonists felt and how they were affected by various changes. For me the series was able to stand on its own, without the need to fill the holes in the narrative of the story by looking up how things unfold in the novel. That's what I look for, I don't want to fill in the blanks from the novel for the explanation of the ongoing series, neither want to rely on the novel to understand the behaviour of the characters.

After the series ended, I started reading the novel as I was eager to know how their story ends. BUT I didn't read the earlier chapters as for me how the show portrayed their story till the end episode was superb. I started reading from the chapter 'Exile' (many novel readers revealed that the story has been covered till that chapter).

I understand why many people feel frustrated with the ending. It depends on how ONE looks at it. For me, it's not THE END because their story doesn't end at this juncture. So I was OKAY with the ending even if the second series doesn't come about.

Yeah that's true...I suppose it's more comfortable to film intimate scenes with a co-actor who is a long term acting partner.


Love the cat🥰.( I am a dog person but cats have their own charm)

The director of this series is approachable and sincere in answering fans' queries, so everyone who loved the series have joined hands in trying to make season 2 a reality.

Thanks for the link.

The interview was insightful.

That interview with Starbox magazine was released just before the finale... someone on twitter had translated a few of their Q and A in English.

Today a new snippet was released from their interview for Waves magazine, I haven't seen anything translated from that as of now. The magazine cover for Waves magazine feels like futuristic setting (I can visualise them playing leads of a drama set in dystopian future), their good chemistry is evident from the photoshoot and drama.

(cover page image is also uploaded in the photo section of MDL by a thoughtful member)

Thanks for sending the link to the novel version you are reading.

Seeing Sheng Wang fall in love was quite relatable to falling in love at that age...the realisation, wanting to be close to your love but fearing you will reveal too much, even mundane gestures from your loved one makes your imagination run wild, heightened awareness of their presence.

Cannot praise both the actors enough.

Let's keep on being optimist together.

I have a good feeling about the possibility of Season 2...Both the actors did such an amazing job portraying their characters that they left a lasting impression.

All the efforts that the fans are putting into promoting the series + the 'the journey being not over' messages from crew and cast will materialize .

I will keep my fingers 🤞 till I official hear that the season 2 has been cancelled.

Even I have read a few chapters of the novel from where the story ended. But because of the raw translation it's not as gripping as it might have been in the original language.

I am also noticing how much the live adaptation has spoiled us, because on paper we get to read only one character's perspective but onscreen we got to see the reactions from both actors irrespective of who is narrating.

I will continue reading the novel as a placeholder till the announcement of the next season.

"Wasn't "Meet you at the blossom" also a Chinese BL production under Thailand?"

What you wrote is quite correct...


Personally, I feel the fans should ship the characters and not the actors...it is ok for the fans to write and make edits about how Jiang Tian and Sheng Wang are suitable as a romantic match but they should refrain from shipping the actual actors Benjamin and Eric..( The actors will be paired with others in future project, so better to appreciate their individual work and support their pairing for this drama, hoping they part as good colleagues after S2.) [I also see that many fans are mindful of the situation, so are not promoting these actors as CP]

I agree with you and understand that shipping actors as couples and engaging in fanservice in BL series is a double edged sword, it limits their potential to showcase their skill with other actors and promotes toxicity but also generates INCOME and POPULARITY.

For whatever reasons, the way this series was promoted seemed more mainstream with less promotion on CP and more focused as a group project and the story. Which is noteworthy but ONCE again they expect some kind of a return so we should show our appreciation by helping with the promotion.

Also may I add, @Froehlein I admire the manner you communicate with people on this forum, please continue writing, you have unbiased views and are quite tolerant of dissenting opinions. It's a pleasure to read them.

You do bring some good points on the table for discussion. I firmly believe that season 2 will be released for this particular series, IF fans keep supporting the drama....Leaving posts on the official account, making tik tok or you tube edits, joining official accounts of the series, continuing streaming the series on legal platforms. This is the way to increase the popularity....Signing the petition is also a positive move, it shows that fans are invested in the drama.

Now to address some other points as per your post...IN MY OPINION ( based on things I have read and understood from different places)

1. The open ending - I too believe, the open ending of the series was given as a plausible deniability, IF there was a backlash against the Chinese actor, Liu Dong Qin( Eric/ Sheng Wang)...This was a kind of a safety net for other chinese actors too. Working in BL is a risky move for any Chinese Actor, it may go either way, the government may ban them from ever working in any Drama Produced in China or they may become more popular.( Chinese government is very ruthless, they end up banning even very popular Actors at a drop of a hat for even minor offences like tax ) ....The netizens in China are quite unpredictable, they may either support the actor or really tear the actor down.

So with all the possible risk involved, the series makers had to test the waters of how the series would be received by everyone.

But thankfully things went smoothly, Netizens of China mainly complained of the plot, the Chinese government didn't take any objection because the actors were careful in the way they promoted the series....The series makers kept things very low key in promotion.

All in all, things worked out for the best...So now they can make a season 2.

2. Funding and profit - As mentioned in your post, compared to other BL series they have a drawback, they cannot generate funds by the way of selling merchandise or fan meetings as a couple. (Though I did read somewhere the Main Leads were planning to hold a fan meeting somewhere in the near future, I don't remember details).

Therefore the Fans have to ensure they watch the series on a legal platform to help the series generate income because the BOTTOM LINE OF EVERY BUSINESS is PROFIT ( and/or FAME in Showbiz).


I believe The Chinese Actors and Investors are trying to circumvent the restrictions on BL in China by Distributing/Producing it as a Taiwanese series or Thai series. They are testing the waters and seeing how it will be received by the Chinese government as well as the effect it may have on Actors' career.

If Fans want future collaborations of Chinese Actors in Taiwanese production and want to see more Chinese BL novel's adaptation into drama...THEY CAN continue showing their support, Investors want the series to be popular. If the actors have some limitations and can't promote it openly then ALL the more reasons for the fans to stay positive and try to help with the promotion as much as they can.

So Let's try to give a helping hand to increase the possibility of Season 2.

Oh.. that's an interesting interpretation. That's what I like about reading different views on a scene.

I did think of it as Jiang Tian guarding the place warning people away from what he believed belonged to Sheng Wang.

But I didn't think of the seat as a source of comfort to him as you pointed it out in your comment....Jiang Tian wants to gather strength and comfort from Sheng Wang 's seat in his absence to feel more closer to him....

Also, did you notice Jiang Tian looks back while the teacher is explaining the poem, he feels Sheng Wang's presence as if he is sitting right behind his desk..... Jiang Tian is definitely looking for some kind of closeness with Sheng Wang.

"I think only those who are willing to really look will understand..."

This sums up the series perfectly..some people SEE but don't LOOK.

They don't see the forest for the trees.

I have to agree wholeheartedly with that.

This series has been made with lots of thought and shrewdness....it's like you keep on walking and suddenly you realise you have come full circle.

It is so much more than just a BL series, it is a feast for literary enthusiasts....after a very long period of time, I am actively reading various posts for interpretation of the scenes by different people.

Definitely worthy to be rewatched..

PS: Rain did symbolise something in episode 12, just not the way we had discussed earlier.

It symbolised Trials of life: Rain is often used to symbolize trials of life, ominous foreboding, and a time of introspection.

Ok..

Well let's be delusional together then.

I believe the second season was always planned because the director tried to mobilize the fans into being more proactive from the very first episode.

The way the season ended also is a clear indication that the slow pacing of series from episode 8 onwards was to cut off the season at an open ending .

The director has been urging the fans to show their appreciation thereby increasing visibility, it is a good Marketing Strategy to get the fans invested from the beginning by promising a second season if the response was good.

So I think the second season is already planned and shooting dates are fixed if already not shot earlier as you speculated.

We just have to wait for official announcement.

Analytical Spoiler below , don't read if you haven't watched episode 12 yet.




I believe Jiang Tian was not upset Just because Sheng Wang was sent to a different class, they would still be living together at the dorm and probably hang out at grandfather Ding's house for lunch.

So it was not the physical distance so much as the deliberate emotional distance that Sheng Wang created that bothered him which culminated into him banging his fist against the wall in frustration and anguish.

Jiang Tian notices subtle changes in Sheng Wang's behaviour throughout the episode.

* When the score cards are passed around, Sheng Wang doesn't even bother to look at the report card handed over to him by Gao Tian Yang, he just passes it on to Jiang Tian. This momentarily stuns Jiang Tian because he realises that Sheng Wang knew beforehand that he would not stay on in class A. Jiang Tian involuntarily drops the pen held in his hand. He knows it is Sheng Wang's attempt to put some distance between them. When Sheng Wang tells Gao Tian Yang that he didn't get the report card, Jiang Tian merely leans back and listens with an uneasy expression.
(Jiang Tian reaction shows he knew what Sheng Wang had done before he heard the verbal explanation form Sheng Wang)

* Later when they are having lunch at old Ding's house, Sheng Wang notices the absent bracelet on Jiang Tian's wrist. Jiang Tian asks him if the absence bothered Sheng Wang? Jiang Tian flippantly said it had broken, he further asks if the absence of bracelet affected him so much then why did he lie to the teachers about his bad performance. Jiang Tian confronts him indirectly and wants him to confess that he strategically fudged his papers to distance himself from Jiang Tian.

* Even though Jiang Tian accepts Sheng Wang's decision to create space between them and give him time to sort his feelings, he is upset by the fact that Sheng Wang doesn't confide his inner turmoil to him.

* Lastly he shifts back to his original desk that he had vacated for Sheng Wang earlier in the series. He doesn't allow the new tranfer student to sit at that desk. He tells Gao Tian Yang that the seat was always his.( My interpretation for this is that Jiang Tian is not possesive of his desk but rather is holding Sheng Wang's place for him until he returns back, he is unwilling to let anyone else sit there.)

You have a flair for words.

You are yet another person whose analysis on episodes,I love to read.

Thanks for sharing your thoughts. Reading other people's reflection gives a glimpse into different mind sets and allows us to see characters' motivation and actions from multiple perspective.