MsDarkqueen

Very well written.

I believe the series did end on a positive note. 'Acceptance' of one's feeling is the first step in the direction of confession. It allows a person time to contemplate things before making a final decision.

It's better than being oblivious or in denial.

I didn't want to read the novel earlier but now I feel that I have to know what happens after this season ended....I refuse to call it a series end, for me it will always be a season ending.

I have been consistently wrong in all my haunches as far as this season is concerned but I "Hope" I am right about getting season 2.

PS : console yourself by reading the novel in the meantime...... atleast we know how the boys' story actually ends.

Even I felt it was a strong affirmative.

What you are saying is true...but still let's hope this time we will get a season 2...in case we don't, atleast we have the satisfaction of knowing how their story ends in the novel.

Let's keep our fingers crossed.

The last dialogue of the series, with the voice over of Sheng Wang and Jiang Tian. In the end shot, the camera pans on a jar and a glass of lemon honey water with mint leaves ( the healing remedy ). So for me the series ends on an auspicious and positive note.

Jiang Tian: Can you try to pass the test and return?

Sheng Wang: Okay.

👍

It's just that if we knew for sure that there would definitely be a season 2, the ending would have been much more acceptable. It's the uncertainty of the next season that is creating a wave of disappointment.

In the end Sheng Wang after realising his attraction for his "ge", decides to keep some distance from Jiang Tian to curb his newly awakened romantic feelings. Jiang Tian is left confused as to why Sheng Wang chooses to maintain a distance between them. Sheng Wang's unwillingness to confide his inner turmoil with him hurts Jiang Tian the most

In the end shot of the series just before the ending credits, the camera pans on a jar and a glass of lemon honey water with mint leaves (as depicted throughout the show, it's the healing remedy). This indicates an auspicious and positive future for our youthful protagonists.The last dialogue of the series is a voice over of Sheng Wang and Jiang Tian.

Jiang Tian: Can you try to pass the (Final)test and return (back to Class A)?

Sheng Wang: Okay. (Yes!!!!)



This is a true coming of age story. If I put myself in either Jiang Tian's or Sheng Wang's shoes. Wouldn't I also make a similar choice at that age? When a person is attracted to someone that the society deems "unsuitable", No matter how much we 'Love' that person, a period of self reflection and introspection is required before we 'defy' the norm and take the plunge. It's also the fear of changing the 'status quo'. Thoughts of the implication, the romantic confession may have on their new found family. Fear that other person may not reciprocate your feelings. Youths on the verge of self discovery grappling with various concerns would normally take back a step to think things through. Doesn't mean they don't Love the other person.


But if the Love is strong enough to weather any storm then it's a Love that will last Forever till Eternity. So let's think of this ending as "Au revoir” and not goodbye. LET'S SEE THIS AS ELLIPSIS AND NOT A PERIOD.

The series is adapted from the book so the makers cannot deviate from the book too much. Irrespective of how the series ended and for whatever reasons the decision to end the series at this particular juncture was taken, I loved the series. After a very long time, a series managed to attract my attention and make me an active participant in the open comments section again. I have not felt like interacting in the comments section of an ongoing series for a long time because all the emotional ups and downs and the clashes in the comment section gets quite exhausting and emotionally draining. But if any series pulls me out of my self imposed hibernation then IT IS WORTH WATCHING for me and deserves all the love I shower on it.

If I had to choose between an open ending and closed sad ending. I would choose an open ending a million times because, "Open" means hope, it means "not yet but maybe". The whole world lives by "HOPE ".

Episode 12 - Emotional distance

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. He notices how Sheng Wang is slowly being more formal with him. Even the word 'ge' brother becomes a boundary that Sheng Wang repeatedly uses as a reminder of their future relationship.

* 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's crushed reaction shows he knew what Sheng Wang had done before he heard the verbal explanation from Sheng Wang)

* Later when they are having lunch at Grandfather Ding's house, Sheng Wang notices the absent bracelet on Jiang Tian's wrist. Upon Sheng Wang's inquiry as to what happened to Jiang Tian 's bracelet? Why wasn't he wearing it? Jiang Tian with deep pain in his eyes but in an offhand manner, told Sheng Wang that the bracelet had broken. Jiang Tian further asks if the absence of the bracelet affected Sheng Wang so much then why did Sheng Wang lie to the teachers about his bad performance?
(Jiang Tian confronts Sheng Wang indirectly and wants him to confess that he strategically fudged his papers to distance himself from Jiang Tian. Jiang Tian 's expression conveys agony over Sheng Wang maintaining the lie even in front of him.)

* Even though Jiang Tian accepts Sheng Wang's decision to create space between them and gives him time to sort his feelings, Jiang Tian is upset by the fact that Sheng Wang can't bring himself to reveal his inner turmoil to him. As per his nature, Jiang Tian bottles up his pain and supportively helps Sheng Wang to move to the other class, only his eyes reflecting his suffering.

* Lastly, Jiang Tian shifts back to his original desk that he had vacated for Sheng Wang earlier in the series. He doesn't allow the new transfer 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 possessive 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.)

--------------------------------------------------


Episode 12 (My thoughts on the Ending.)
My Optimist heart defied all logic till the very End. But cannot blame the makers, they have been foreshadowing the ending since quite a long time. The series was quite poetic, one should not forget that poetry is often melancholic.

If I knew what 'End' awaited me, would I choose to watch the series? Truthfully I don't know the answer to that. No matter how much we speculate as to the alternate course of action the fact is we will never be able to go back and take "The Road Not Taken". We can just move ahead on the Road we have chosen.

Honestly speaking I am not disappointed with the Ending. it's just that .....(Read the remaining comment in the spoiler tag)

It's just that if we knew for sure that there would definitely be a season 2, the ending would have been much more acceptable. It's the uncertainty of the next season that is creating a wave of disappointment.

In the end Sheng Wang after realising his attraction for his "ge", decides to keep some distance from Jiang Tian to curb his newly awakened romantic feelings. Jiang Tian is left confused as to why Sheng Wang chooses to maintain a distance between them. Sheng Wang's unwillingness to confide his inner turmoil with him hurts Jiang Tian the most

In the end shot of the series just before the ending credits, the camera pans on a jar and a glass of lemon honey water with mint leaves (as depicted throughout the show, it's the healing remedy). This indicates an auspicious and positive future for our youthful protagonists.The last dialogue of the series is a voice over of Sheng Wang and Jiang Tian.

Jiang Tian: Can you try to pass the (Final)test and return (back to Class A)?

Sheng Wang: Okay. (Yes!!!!)



This is a true coming of age story. If I put myself in either Jiang Tian's or Sheng Wang's shoes. Wouldn't I also make a similar choice at that age? When a person is attracted to someone that the society deems "unsuitable", No matter how much we 'Love' that person, a period of self reflection and introspection is required before we 'defy' the norm and take the plunge. It's also the fear of changing the 'status quo'. Thoughts of the implication, the romantic confession may have on their new found family. Fear that other person may not reciprocate your feelings. Youths on the verge of self discovery grappling with various concerns would normally take back a step to think things through. Doesn't mean they don't Love the other person.


But if the Love is strong enough to weather any storm then it's a Love that will last Forever till Eternity. So let's think of this ending as "Au revoir” and not goodbye. LET'S SEE THIS AS ELLIPSIS AND NOT A PERIOD.

The series is adapted from the book so the makers cannot deviate from the book too much. Irrespective of how the series ended and for whatever reasons the decision to end the series at this particular juncture was taken, I loved the series. After a very long time, a series managed to attract my attention and make me an active participant in the open comments section again. I have not felt like interacting in the comments section of an ongoing series for a long time because all the emotional ups and downs and the clashes in the comment section gets quite exhausting and emotionally draining. But if any series pulls me out of my self imposed hibernation then IT IS WORTH WATCHING for me and deserves all the love I shower on it.

If I had to choose between an open ending and closed sad ending. I would choose an open ending a million times because, "Open" means hope, it means "not yet but maybe". The whole world lives by "HOPE ".

Episode 12
My Optimist heart defied all logic till the very End. But cannot blame the makers, they have been foreshadowing the ending since quite a long time. The series was quite poetic, one should not forget that poetry is often melancholic.

If I knew what 'End' awaited me, would I choose to watch the series? Truthfully I don't know the answer to that. No matter how much we speculate as to the alternate course of action the fact is we will never be able to go back and take "The Road Not Taken". We can just move ahead on the Road we have chosen.

Honestly speaking I am not disappointed with the Ending. it's just that .....(Read the remaining comment in the spoiler tag)

Sometimes payback is not logical. If the makers would have made the nephew or his wife turn against the uncle who raised him, it would be considered ungrateful and being unfilial.

So the best way to remove him from equation that leaves both the nephew and his wife's hand clean is to give him a natural death.

Just enjoy what portion you can because at the end of day it is a piece of fiction intended to entertain you and take you on a fantasy journey where things just fall into place.

I definitely think he feels guilt for what his uncle did to He family that is guiding his actions.
He doesn't think he deserve her love but loves her nonetheless....so all his contrary actions of push and pull.

I was searching for the song that Sheng Wang was humming when Jiang Tian and himself were returning back from the cafe as shown in episode 11. I came across the below linked tweet on X, it has good explanation of the background of the song " The moon represents my heart", along with English translation of the lyrics.


This series has many hidden easter eggs for literary enthusiast. People who are interested in literature should rewatch the series to savour the metaphors and symbols that the scriptwriter has woven into the narrative of the story.

Credit to the original poster for the background information and English translation of the song's lyrics "The moon represents my heart".👇
https://x.com/aurora_5302/status/1839153465974816807

I ran out of space so leaving few other titbits My 'Very ' moments as comment to the original review.

Episode 11 "The moon represents my heart"

The phrase "choose the moon or sixpence" refers to a metaphorical choice between pursuing lofty dreams and ideals ("the moon") or more practical, material goals ("sixpence"). It's inspired by the novel The Moon and Sixpence by W. Somerset Maugham, where the protagonist leaves a conventional life for a more fulfilling yet unpredictable path as an artist.

Which would you choose—the dream or the practicality?

The age old conflict between - fulfilling societal expectations versus pursuing personal ambitions or happiness.
----------------------


Sheng Wang was discussing the story "the moon and the sixpence " that his mother often told him.

Sheng Wang's mother once asked Sheng Wang's father what he would choose? Sheng Wang's father chose the sixpence as it was near and more achievable. Sheng Wang revealed to Jiang Tian that his mother hoped that Sheng Wang would choose the "moon" for her.

Sheng Wang then asked what Jiang Tian would choose, after some caustic remark as to how young they were to think about such philosophical things yet, Jiang Tian said he would choose the "moon" (metaphorically he would choose Sheng Wang and their romantic relationship).

Probably Jiang Tian has already made peace with his choice.....What would Sheng Wang choose?

-----------------------------------

I was searching for the song that Sheng Wang was humming when Jiang Tian and himself were returning back from the cafe as shown in episode 11. I came across the below linked tweet on X, it has good explanation of the background of the song " The moon represents my heart", along with English translation of the lyrics.


Credit to the original poster for the background information and English translation of the song's lyrics "The moon represents my heart".👇
https://x.com/aurora_5302/status/1839153465974816807

I found a tweet on X, with the scene I was talking about, where we see from Jiang Tian's perspective what he saw.

https://x.com/izieeu/status/1838927867029381169

Also as per iqiyi's translation, Jiang Tian tells Sheng Wang that he is looking for the card wallet ( notice the word card WALLET).

Hope this helps you, many times with different translations and scenes moving quickly we don't get the whole scenario.

Actually even I though at first, that Jiang Tian had seen the card so he was smiling to himself and was eager to find it for Sheng Wang.

But later (after Jiang Tian finds the wallet) we are shown a scene from Jiang Tian perspective where Jiang Tian just seems to see the brown wallet and he assumes that Sheng Wang was clutching the wallet in happiness. Jiang Tian assumes that it is the card holder that is important to Sheng Wang...he doesn't know that Sheng Wang holds the transport card given by Jiang Tian close to his heart and not the actual Wallet.

That's what makes the scene so important that Jiang Tian without knowing the full significance of what Sheng Wang cherished, didn't hesitate to search for even a small object that Sheng Wang valued.

I will try to find the time stamp where Jiang Tiang perspective of looking at just the brown wallet is shown, he is unaware of the inside content.

That's quite an imagination you have.

My conjecture would be that they would have an intense conversation in the rain (filming in the rain was mentioned in today's interview if you have seen it).

In the rain, they may confess and probably there may be an additional scene later of how they are moving on as lovers.

I feel, that the director places lots of importance to metaphors and symbols so Rain can symbolically mean cleansing and acceptance, washed clean of old thoughts.

Qi jia hao may see them like you mentioned in your post because he will put a proverbial wrench into their romance later( as mentioned by people who have read the book)

Much appreciated, the extra explanation... Personally, I enjoy reading such material, gives more context to the series.

Too much foreshadowing going on in today's episode.

But I really liked the broken mirror analogy, even if the boys will get back together after their long separation they will not be the same, they would have missed out on many of their youthful moments of togetherness.