I don’t know when I’ve seen such a strong, flawed but justifiably so, heroine. She never backs down or loses composure, aiming those steady, beautiful eyes like a weapon at whoever she’s sparring with. And the script! I keep seeing (via captions, lol) lines that I want to keep and display, some of them humorous like when the father said, “This family is finished! Just dig a grave and bury me alive!” Well, maybe I shouldn’t laugh, but I did. Have I mentioned I love this drama?💗
When I was young and in my dating years, a nice guy and I were considering marriage. One evening leaving a restaurant, he opened the car door for me (young men did that back then) and got in such a hurry he forgot to notice if I was actually IN the car before slamming the door on my foot. Nothing was broken, but it hurt like h. I thought about how it would be to wed someone who could be so careless he would hurt me and decided it was over. Why did I tell you this? It is impossible for me to imagine a couple torturing each other repeatedly and deciding they are in love. This is a sign of disordered thinking at a minimum and doesn’t bode well for their future. That’s what I think, anyway. I watched a few episodes and gave up.
This might be off topic, but what was with the persistent cricket sound near the end of the first episode? I thought it was in my house! It was so loud, it should have been listed in the cast!
I am keeping current with ongoing episodes and want to say those of us who stuck with Si Jin through the sometimes tiresome family woes are getting rewarded now! So if you’re struggling with the early stages of this drama, take heart.
Are we watching the same series?? He has tons of scenes!
I agree with Bianca; I’m longing for more Zhang Wanyi in every episode. But I think my expectations were wrong; I was looking for a romance-centered drama while this one is more of a family/multiple characters story. Although I don’t enjoy those as I probably should, this series is still compelling enough to keep with it, mainly because of the marvelous FL who makes her winsome, loving, brave character come to life in sparkling ways.
Episode 10. I know, I know, I said I was going to stop comparing the drama to the novel, but with 828 chapters…
I don’t know the novel at all, but whenever I see such a scene (especially when it is overlong) in a drama, I am instantly bored. I already don’t like to be in my own kitchen; please spare me the kitchens of others! Also, the secondary characters are having long, looooong conversations sitting in chairs. After the first few words, I just want to die. And then I remember I have the ability to fast forward to the future, but is this any way to endure a drama I’ve been looking forward to? Get it on, already!
After falling completely for the main couple and growing fond of many of the characters, flawed as they were, and did I mention the main couple who personified fire and heat of the best romantic kind, may I just say I hate this kind of ending to the core?! Okay, at least they appeared to be alive, but why couldn’t they find each other—was she lost from her home, did they lose everything—was that why he couldn’t send his letters to her, no address? I wanted them to find happiness and have babies as beautiful as they are. If I watch another drama before it is all out, I am a frog!
Even though I ran the last few episodes at 3x speed, I have been loyal to this drama and watched it all the way through, which is becoming increasingly rare. I really enjoyed the twists and turns that continued to the very end and thought the acting was quite good. This is the first time I have warmed to Zhang Yu Jian. I had never seen Sunny Sun before and found his performance good and the character extremely complex yet on a wrong road for revenge that he could not possibly win. Wang Zi Qi was amazing as always.
I really felt this drama was two seasons in one: the part about Si Yuan’s mental illness (which too conveniently disappeared, I thought), and the second section where the intricate plottings of crime occurred throughout the years. This section I liked much less, because I was overwhelmed with many characters, schemes, shifting timelines, etc. In my educational career, I was privileged to earn a doctorate but feel like I need another one to understand this.😝 So I have a question I hope someone can help with. What was the significance of the field of flowers (poppies?) Qi Xia saw in the moonlight? Why was Si Yuan staring at the door at the very end? Did his imaginary brother return?
Nahh same. I was thinking the same thing. He didn't go out to rescue him even though knowing that he was in danger.…
Yes, he is absolutely going down as my most disappointing character of 2025 so far. Such a contrast from the loving and playful brother Siyuan imagined.
You really be suspecting everyone lmao. Cannot judge though I am doing the same. So many plot twists already,…
I don’t know how weird he looked but I immediately distrusted him…but maybe that’s because I’m identifying so strongly with ML, who is always so likable no matter what role.
Like most everyone else, I was quite impressed with the acting in this drama, particularly CZY. I did skip whole episodes because the pacing was agonizing to me, and I have difficulty with war-based dramas as well.
Overall, I think it was a worthy effort that emphasized loyalty, friendship, sacrifice and courage. But the most predominant theme I took away is one I’m not sure was intended (but maybe it was)—that making such a sacrifice can border on obsession and a type of selfish stubbornness. If the ML had just volunteered once, he could have done a great deed without affecting the lives of his loved ones. But by returning again and again, he ruined the FL’s life as well as his own and cost the death of his dear friend. Everyone who knew him was affected in a painful way. What really is more important in life, serving strangers but by no means saving all of them over a long period of time, or fulfilling the needs and safety of family and friends? He was a hero, but the trajectory and promise of his original lifeline was shattered and destroyed. And how many in the war-torn country will even remember his name?
The White Olive Tree was quite a story without easy answers. I know I will remember it for a long time.
I really felt this drama was two seasons in one: the part about Si Yuan’s mental illness (which too conveniently disappeared, I thought), and the second section where the intricate plottings of crime occurred throughout the years. This section I liked much less, because I was overwhelmed with many characters, schemes, shifting timelines, etc. In my educational career, I was privileged to earn a doctorate but feel like I need another one to understand this.😝 So I have a question I hope someone can help with. What was the significance of the field of flowers (poppies?) Qi Xia saw in the moonlight? Why was Si Yuan staring at the door at the very end? Did his imaginary brother return?
Overall, I think it was a worthy effort that emphasized loyalty, friendship, sacrifice and courage. But the most predominant theme I took away is one I’m not sure was intended (but maybe it was)—that making such a sacrifice can border on obsession and a type of selfish stubbornness. If the ML had just volunteered once, he could have done a great deed without affecting the lives of his loved ones. But by returning again and again, he ruined the FL’s life as well as his own and cost the death of his dear friend. Everyone who knew him was affected in a painful way. What really is more important in life, serving strangers but by no means saving all of them over a long period of time, or fulfilling the needs and safety of family and friends? He was a hero, but the trajectory and promise of his original lifeline was shattered and destroyed. And how many in the war-torn country will even remember his name?
The White Olive Tree was quite a story without easy answers. I know I will remember it for a long time.