gemwendz

They stayed true to the book I guess which is focused on Song Ran. I, too, would love the drama to focus on Azan's trauma since it's more complex.

Me too 😭 But fun fact, Rina is an additional character in the drama. She's not mentioned in the book. Adding her gives depth to Saxin's story which is really good.

The drama mentioned that Azan was in a coma for about 3 months. In the book, they met for the first time after that incident in Happo at the airport which also was months after he woke up.

In fairness to the boss, he didn't know about her trauma. He was actually very happy for her since her works have gained international praises and is a strong contender for the world's top journalism award that year which is also a boost for their station. He will be supporting her all out once she open up about her struggles, at least that's what's in the book.

If they'll follow the book's timeline, the reason for the first onset of his PTSD will be revealed at a later part. The reason for his tinnitus. Then his PTSD will get worse after they're back to Eastern Country where the big plot twist happened.

He survived based on the next episodes' preview.

Oh my God! I saw it coming but it's still too painful to watch. 😭

But that smile near the end of episode 12 is somehow a glimpse of sunshine in these heavy episodes.

My thoughts, the bombing scene at the orphanage, the one captured by Song Ran, isn't what I imagined it to be. The drama is way gentler than the book since it didn't show the children's dead bodies. I would have loved the drama to show its gruesomeness to the full but I'm also afraid it will have a negative impact on my mental health. So, I am still contented with the way that scene was brought to the screen.

Can someone be kind enough to create a topic under recent discussions for each episode's preview? Just posting the links there for easier tracking? Thank you so much in advance! ❤️

I would have wanted Shen Bei to be only annoying rather than outright infuriating. Kudos to the actress for aceing this role!

I agree. People should respect each other's opinion because you cannot force someone to look at things the same way as you do. If somebody don't like it, fine. Scroll up. If somebody like it, then good. Scroll up or engage or push that heart button. It should be simple. This is a free forum and everyone should be able to express their opinions freely without the fear of being stoned. Just my two cents.

Please continue expressing your thoughts. Don't let others pull you down.

It was a mirage. Not real olive trees and white for that. It's in the book. The inspiration for the title THE WHITE OLIVE TREE.

I was also bothered with that one. Why did she remove the helmet when the bomb's going to explode?

I love how they justify the use of Chinese actors to portray Benjamin and Saxin by letting them be of "Chinese descent." Both actors are eye catchers too! 😍

I think the drama is staying closely to the novel which I appreciated a lot.

There's only a tiny bit I would have wanted to see in the drama that wasn't shown which is the antagonism between Benjamin and Azan at first. The battle between the two during the test and how Azan earned Benjamin's trust and respect afterwards. It would've been great to see those actions come to life.

Well. 🤷

There is. You can find it in this page's "Recent Discussion" section.
https://www.wattpad.com/story/363818186-the-white-olive-tree

She was already heartbroken because she didn't get the Reporter of the First Half of the Year award. It was compounded when she "learned" that the boy she was attracted with for the first time in her life had a girlfriend and that GF was the same person who beat her to the award. That's why she felt so heartbroken.

The drama is OA though. It wasn't that harsh in the book and Shen Bei is only annoying in the book while she is infuriating in the drama. Haha! Song Ran isn't overreacting in the book. She silently ate dinner without looking at Azan the whole time. Then she gave back the red string when she got the chance, thinking that it was given to him by Shen Bei in the first place.

The drama portrays as if she only had him to take photos/vids when in the book, it's not. They barely see each other though. But I guess if they do it that way, it also wouldn't be as romantic as they want it to be. And we'll have different complains if that were the case. 🤣

You can probably read the book if the drama doesn't suit your taste. It is the BEST Chinese novel I've ever read so far. It's only about 68 or 69 chapters with an epilogue so it wouldn't take much time. I really love the novel and had been looking forward to this drama since more than a year already. ❤️

I could only guess they want to make it as less brutal as possible. This drama is part of iQIYI's Love On series. So, the focus is more on the romance than of the chaos around East Country. The book has more actions. But for the me, the drama is still decent.

In the book, ML is part of the Peacekeeping Mission, they're not part of the frontlines who battle with the rebels. After the bombing in Uglai, he felt helpless and wanted to do something more. The drama didn't show how many lives were lost in that scene but in the book, a lot of people were killed although it could be more had he not driven the car to a less dense area in the city. That picture "Carry" was supposed to be of a soldier carrying a dead child. But in the drama, the child was alive.

That event deeply resonated with him that's why he asked to be assigned to do a more active role than what he currently does.

I absolutely love this drama after 8episodes. ❤️ I try not to compare the book and the series though I couldn't help it sometimes. Although the drama's heading towards romance department, I couldn't be happier knowing how beautifully executed the scenes were, just like watching the characters in the book coming to life. I am so happy! 😍