A very good drama, had my attention throughout. One thing C Dramas can do so well, and when they do it right, they really can make it a great product.
They showed the passing of time through mostly character conversations. But for the first handful of episodes it's kind of vague how much time has passed between each major incident. For instance, the breakup of Mu Jia and her first bf probably happened during the 2008 crash, and later Tian Rong clearly stated she bought her houses in 2008, which coincides with the breakup. However, after the breakup Mu Jia tells her mentor that she's been with bf for almost 6 years, which wouldn't add up to 2008, but sometime in 2009.
The romantic storyline is understated and you realize as you continue watching that Li Mu Jia understood there was an attraction between them right from when they were introduced properly at the business lunch with Wu Jian Qiu. (It's why she told him during their next encounter that she didn't want the business cooperation to be affected by personal, and he tells her that wasn't an issue.) When you realize this, then you view through this lens all of their interactions: from his attempts to her rejections, and afterwards her/their relationship.
I don't understand why he turned so rabid against the Shens. I mean I thought he was just out to get rich.
Actually I don't think it changed much before or after the counterfeit cover-up. Sometime after he expressed his admiration for STN was when he was forced to sell opium and deal with the coins. And though he was forced to do so, he enacted it all with ease. He followed orders and even gloated to himself on how he will bring down/frame STN.
When he was being taken into custody, he goads STN on also becoming dirty, but I think it also solidifies his own stance that he needs to do what he has to do.
He was relishing bringing down STN during the coin factory ambush set up same way he relished all the times to bring down Tu Nan afterwards.
However, I don't think his begrudging respect ever went away. Even after LQS saw that Tu Nan helped Jin Zhen escape, after Tu Nan caused the explosion--when Shen Tu Nan's body was carried out, LQS stopped them to cover the bloody hand sticking out. He just never let get in the way of his goal, mission, orders.
Oh, another thing. Jin Zhen had to convince Xu Nao to make the escape plan from Shanghai for two people. And she gave Chun Miao's Red Army dreams as justification. But actually Ruo Lai would never have left if NCM wasnt able to leave with him. So I don't think it was the best writing choice to reveal that info/flash back in that manner.
What, Xu Nao would have refused to include NCM if he wasn't told of her aspirations to join Red Army? The simple answer is that if he wanted Ruo Lai to leave for safety it would have to include NCM.
IMO, when it comes to faith I believe Shen Jin Zhen and the older communists shown were Marxists. (The tailor, Ru Lai's brother, Lei Ming). They all most likely joined as Marxists, after reading Communist works and literature.
Ruo Lai in the end tells Tu Nan to read Capital and that it will solidify his faith in the Communist Party. But actually, Ru Lai didn't join the Red Army due to his faith in Marxism, just saw that this was the better Party for China. It is very likely that his growth included reading more literature (the Ruo Lai we see in the end is perhaps a more committed Marxist and Communist; in fact, he almost would have to be). It's an interesting difference.
Also possible that Hans was somewhat sympathetic, since Germany had many Communists and leftist movements at that point, conflicting with the rise of Nazi Party.
Lin Qiao Song is so riled up by noble families joining communist, because it challenges everything his whole stance. He knows he does dirty work, but he does so because he believes (and later must believe) this is ultimately for the good of the country and people. The rich and noble, as much corrupt as they may be, can only be beneficial to the people...if only there is order.
He betrays his class for the benefit of those rich and noble, while the communists coming from rich backgrounds betray their class for the benefit of the people. He cannot bring himself to ponder and contemplate this. We see this one of his earliest interactions (convo with Ru Lai's brother) and then one of his last interactions. Though he is (or chooses to be) ignorant of the fact that between Engels and the Shens there were plenty of others in that same category.
He weirdly has always respected STN even while exclaiming hate towards him. But he also has no qualms in carrying out all the orders and relishing in the possible success. He was eager and willing to kill STN and cohorts to put blame on STN for counterfeit coins. This was before STN even turned 'dirty' by covering up for the higher ups, and LQS taunts him while being in custody.
Even after Shen Tu Nan lets Jin Zhen escape, when STN's bloody hand is sticking out from the stretcher--he covers it up respectfully.
The fact that they cut out the details on how Shen Tu Nan was able to escape his imprisonment. I can guess that LQS had his inside man start a fire (he told HCC that he has a plan to deal with STN's capture) and that is why the KMT leadership didn't delve into it too much. It is also possible that either Jin Zhen or Rulai saw his escape and decided not t pursue it, or Lei Ming decided to let him go in hopes of STN working from the inside once he gets out. (The flashback conversation we hear STN remembering is one we were not shown and that voice was Lei Ming)
Could be censorship because if they went against party wishes, it could be iffy. Or maybe just cut for time and Lei Ming had permission from upper-echelons.
Second flaw
The flash back to where STN and WRL are communicating by code and WRL works it out to 70? So they were communicating and confirmed the negotiating price? If so, there is no explanation of when, where and how. They should've just shown it linearly instead of going for the surprise factor. it was pretty obvious from the point STN told Hans that the shipment was right near the dock ready to go, that he was working to help the communists capture the Ore.
And if STN communicated with WRL regarding the negotiating price, then it is redundant for WRL to tell STN on the train with the gun pointed at him that he knows STN has been helping them. lol. Just for the sake of the audience. It made sense when it seemed that WRL figured it out on his own, and STN was also guessing and banking on WRL to figure it out. But if they exchanged secret code message, of course STN knows WRL knows, and WRL knows that STN knows that WRL knows.
*************************** Glad there wasn't much romance overall, and thankful the lead characters weren't a romantic relationship even though the drama did tease using other characters.
I will take a different route and say RuLai and Niu Chun Miao were shown to be a couple who may eventually be husband and wife, but then all implications of romance regarding all three character (RL, JZ, CM) were no longer given after the reveal of NCM's crush's death. Even that ended with the mention of RuLai and Chun Miao. Notice Shen TuNan also stopped mentioning, nudging, hoping for RuLai and Jin Zhen, mentioning marriage, after he saw Ciu Chun Miao's interaction with Ruo Lai.
People say it is sibling coded but actually it's the type of childhood close friends relationship that other genres use to turn into romance. Niu Chun Miao wanted to marry someone from the Red Army, and Ruo Lai becomes such a person. That being said, I don't believe romance was on the mind of any of them during the tumultuous period which continues after they leave Jiangxi, and they were all comrades entrusting their lives to each other.
I would also guess that Niu Chun Miao likely has died by the time Ruo Lai returns to Shanghai.
This is such a great drama. I can only hope that one day the People's Republic of China, under the leadership of the Communist Party of China, will develop and advance to the point that the capitalist-fueled celebrity fan clubs and their parasocial relationships can come to an end. XD
Finished watching this, and this is such a great drama because it is very different. I really appreciate how they…
My issues
1) Jun Oh wasn't told of the cancer diagnosis. But he is shown to be aware because he tells his gf that it may be his last drama. How? No explanation. Then I think we see another instance of Jun Oh mentioning his terminal illness when he wasn't supposed to be aware.
2) No background given about Seok Cheol Hwan, other than Min Oh was responsible for him being in jail. He loved his dog, and was given his dog back. We are supposed to assume he drugged Jun Oh to fall into the river...why, he was being controlled? Then he died and that's that with him.
Possession/evil spirit stories are always iffy. One issue why I didn't bother with last two episodes or so of From Now On, Showtime. Characters are conveniently just possessed and if they are still alive, they deal with the consequences. In one way...okay, harsh reality. But on the other hand, it's always convenient that it's side characters, or Second lead.
3) After Young Hwa ran into Seok Cheol Hwan the second time, she doesn't even bother to figure out with Do Ha what his deal is. Okay, she wants to figure out if it's true that she killed Do Ha and she wants to know what to do. But then, she gets confirmation of how/why Do Ha was killed, talks to Do Ha about it--STILL they don't bother discussing how/why/what this ties to Seok Cheol Hwan.
Jun Oh is a celebrity when convenient, lol. So many times he/his body is walking around with no drama, fan craziness; then when it is convenient to plot suddenly he is a celeb who will have people fanning around him.
Finished watching this, and this is such a great drama because it is very different. I really appreciate how they told the story though there were some plot holes and a few head scratchers. Twice the lead characters instead of talking about an obvious third party decide not to discus and compare notes, which is so weird. And then a few things should've had some more background explanation.
Still I just may write up a review for this, but I am so lazy to write reviews. Even so, I really loved the storyline and how they utilized flashbacks and scene repetitions. I was only slightly impatient with the repetition maybe one or two times, and that too faded away soon.
Things to appreciate. As I said earlier, this *actually* had forbidden lovers--not some 'misunderstanding' or *hidden/actual truth* etc. They actually acknowledged reincarnations don't manifest in the the same face/body. Of course, when it came to the reincarnation where they deal with that past life, the reincarnation took the same form. I don't think it would need to be the case, but it makes more sense for dramas to have same actors. XD Plus, it was an important aspect in the story.
Kim Young Dae is really impressive. Had watched him earlier in Sh**tting Stars back when it aired. Found this drama when searching for things to watch, and so this is my second drama of his.
Anyway, this is really underrated. It's just that it's not what everyone is accustomed to. It's not really about physical romance, it's not a light-happy story. It's not a melo either, but just a sort of muted, underlying vibe. Things are hinted and shown in the beginning but characters claim something else--then we see it unraveling and characters realizing.
The first scenes immediately tell you this is not supposed to be a 'happy' ending with the couple in terms of their physical life. But their souls get their peace and satisfaction.
If you watch understanding that what was shown in the first episode is the foundation of their story, which means they really cannot be together--and you are into that type of story, then you won't be disappointed with this drama.
Watched this. Loved it. Wish there were more dramas like this. But I do have one question, which when I get a…
In the flash back of Song Ren telling Shuai Dun Cheng to shorten the rope and lie about measurements, I am pretty sure Song Ren mentioned Fan family and even that one of them were in the administration. I don't remember if Song Ren mentioned Fan Yuan's name specifically, but Shuai Dun Chen was not the least bit guarded when he should've been. Of course surname doesn't mean same family, but still....
I get that that he is not supposed to be shrewd, as Cheng Ren Qing said, both Shuais may not know much about the ways of the world. But he was told big names were behind the conspiracy .
Watched this. Loved it. Wish there were more dramas like this. But I do have one question, which when I get a chance I'll go back to double check the scene.
I am in the midst of watching this one (in middle of episode 10) and this is a beautiful drama so far which *actually*…
Let's go past the fact that Do Ha has some gall to be lecturing and giving judgement to Han Min Oh when he already tried and failed twice due to the amulet, and still plans/hopes to do so. For a a more "altruistic" reason, of course, in his view.
Will go past the fact that Young Hwa and Do Ha treated Do Ha's possession of Jun Oh lightly and they were too traumatized to think from Min Oh's perspective after the murder attempt. Seriously, that is his brother's body, neither of them bother to explain to him--Do Ha is too arrogant to explain; Young Hwa is too oblivious in her kind heartedness to see Min Oh suspecting them. The drama tries to blame Min Oh for the route he took by having people repeat 'psychopath' but dude, he sees a spirit possess his body with no one bothering to explain to him. In his state, he won't think and remember the detail that Jun Oh was diagnosed with the cancer before he even met Young Hwa for the PSA.
How would a person react when they know their loved one's body is being possessed, told that possession is killing the body. Then another person keeps giving explanations and excuses for the weird behavior of the possessed person? Min Ho sees that Young Hwa knows that his brother's body is possessed and she tries to steer Min Ho away from realizing the possibility.
Go past those points. But how is Do Ha not even curious to how Min Oh found out about thisJust keep pushing it off as 'psychopath' and 'mentally unstable' without recognizing or suspecting that perhaps he should be worried about whoever told Min Oh to kill Young Hwa. Yes I know Min Oh disappeared at the hospital--but Do Ha is not even bothered to try to get the information from Min Ho.
I am in the midst of watching this one (in middle of episode 10) and this is a beautiful drama so far which *actually* had enemy/star-crossed lovers. There is no 'secret truth' behind the enmity. The ML did what he did the FL is who she is and her family aren't secretly at fault, etc. It is just the harsh reality of war and history.
I wasn't going to comment before I finished but I had a gripe starting in episode 9, and had to stop in the middle of 10 and comment here about it.
They showed the passing of time through mostly character conversations. But for the first handful of episodes it's kind of vague how much time has passed between each major incident. For instance, the breakup of Mu Jia and her first bf probably happened during the 2008 crash, and later Tian Rong clearly stated she bought her houses in 2008, which coincides with the breakup. However, after the breakup Mu Jia tells her mentor that she's been with bf for almost 6 years, which wouldn't add up to 2008, but sometime in 2009.
The romantic storyline is understated and you realize as you continue watching that Li Mu Jia understood there was an attraction between them right from when they were introduced properly at the business lunch with Wu Jian Qiu. (It's why she told him during their next encounter that she didn't want the business cooperation to be affected by personal, and he tells her that wasn't an issue.) When you realize this, then you view through this lens all of their interactions: from his attempts to her rejections, and afterwards her/their relationship.
When he was being taken into custody, he goads STN on also becoming dirty, but I think it also solidifies his own stance that he needs to do what he has to do.
He was relishing bringing down STN during the coin factory ambush set up same way he relished all the times to bring down Tu Nan afterwards.
However, I don't think his begrudging respect ever went away. Even after LQS saw that Tu Nan helped Jin Zhen escape, after Tu Nan caused the explosion--when Shen Tu Nan's body was carried out, LQS stopped them to cover the bloody hand sticking out. He just never let get in the way of his goal, mission, orders.
What, Xu Nao would have refused to include NCM if he wasn't told of her aspirations to join Red Army? The simple answer is that if he wanted Ruo Lai to leave for safety it would have to include NCM.
Ruo Lai in the end tells Tu Nan to read Capital and that it will solidify his faith in the Communist Party. But actually, Ru Lai didn't join the Red Army due to his faith in Marxism, just saw that this was the better Party for China. It is very likely that his growth included reading more literature (the Ruo Lai we see in the end is perhaps a more committed Marxist and Communist; in fact, he almost would have to be). It's an interesting difference.
Also possible that Hans was somewhat sympathetic, since Germany had many Communists and leftist movements at that point, conflicting with the rise of Nazi Party.
He betrays his class for the benefit of those rich and noble, while the communists coming from rich backgrounds betray their class for the benefit of the people. He cannot bring himself to ponder and contemplate this. We see this one of his earliest interactions (convo with Ru Lai's brother) and then one of his last interactions. Though he is (or chooses to be) ignorant of the fact that between Engels and the Shens there were plenty of others in that same category.
He weirdly has always respected STN even while exclaiming hate towards him. But he also has no qualms in carrying out all the orders and relishing in the possible success. He was eager and willing to kill STN and cohorts to put blame on STN for counterfeit coins. This was before STN even turned 'dirty' by covering up for the higher ups, and LQS taunts him while being in custody.
Even after Shen Tu Nan lets Jin Zhen escape, when STN's bloody hand is sticking out from the stretcher--he covers it up respectfully.
The fact that they cut out the details on how Shen Tu Nan was able to escape his imprisonment. I can guess that LQS had his inside man start a fire (he told HCC that he has a plan to deal with STN's capture) and that is why the KMT leadership didn't delve into it too much. It is also possible that either Jin Zhen or Rulai saw his escape and decided not t pursue it, or Lei Ming decided to let him go in hopes of STN working from the inside once he gets out. (The flashback conversation we hear STN remembering is one we were not shown and that voice was Lei Ming)
Could be censorship because if they went against party wishes, it could be iffy. Or maybe just cut for time and Lei Ming had permission from upper-echelons.
Second flaw
The flash back to where STN and WRL are communicating by code and WRL works it out to 70? So they were communicating and confirmed the negotiating price? If so, there is no explanation of when, where and how. They should've just shown it linearly instead of going for the surprise factor. it was pretty obvious from the point STN told Hans that the shipment was right near the dock ready to go, that he was working to help the communists capture the Ore.
And if STN communicated with WRL regarding the negotiating price, then it is redundant for WRL to tell STN on the train with the gun pointed at him that he knows STN has been helping them. lol. Just for the sake of the audience. It made sense when it seemed that WRL figured it out on his own, and STN was also guessing and banking on WRL to figure it out. But if they exchanged secret code message, of course STN knows WRL knows, and WRL knows that STN knows that WRL knows.
***************************
Glad there wasn't much romance overall, and thankful the lead characters weren't a romantic relationship even though the drama did tease using other characters.
I will take a different route and say RuLai and Niu Chun Miao were shown to be a couple who may eventually be husband and wife, but then all implications of romance regarding all three character (RL, JZ, CM) were no longer given after the reveal of NCM's crush's death. Even that ended with the mention of RuLai and Chun Miao. Notice Shen TuNan also stopped mentioning, nudging, hoping for RuLai and Jin Zhen, mentioning marriage, after he saw Ciu Chun Miao's interaction with Ruo Lai.
People say it is sibling coded but actually it's the type of childhood close friends relationship that other genres use to turn into romance. Niu Chun Miao wanted to marry someone from the Red Army, and Ruo Lai becomes such a person. That being said, I don't believe romance was on the mind of any of them during the tumultuous period which continues after they leave Jiangxi, and they were all comrades entrusting their lives to each other.
I would also guess that Niu Chun Miao likely has died by the time Ruo Lai returns to Shanghai.
1) Jun Oh wasn't told of the cancer diagnosis. But he is shown to be aware because he tells his gf that it may be his last drama. How? No explanation. Then I think we see another instance of Jun Oh mentioning his terminal illness when he wasn't supposed to be aware.
2) No background given about Seok Cheol Hwan, other than Min Oh was responsible for him being in jail. He loved his dog, and was given his dog back. We are supposed to assume he drugged Jun Oh to fall into the river...why, he was being controlled? Then he died and that's that with him.
Possession/evil spirit stories are always iffy. One issue why I didn't bother with last two episodes or so of From Now On, Showtime. Characters are conveniently just possessed and if they are still alive, they deal with the consequences. In one way...okay, harsh reality. But on the other hand, it's always convenient that it's side characters, or Second lead.
3) After Young Hwa ran into Seok Cheol Hwan the second time, she doesn't even bother to figure out with Do Ha what his deal is. Okay, she wants to figure out if it's true that she killed Do Ha and she wants to know what to do. But then, she gets confirmation of how/why Do Ha was killed, talks to Do Ha about it--STILL they don't bother discussing how/why/what this ties to Seok Cheol Hwan.
Jun Oh is a celebrity when convenient, lol. So many times he/his body is walking around with no drama, fan craziness; then when it is convenient to plot suddenly he is a celeb who will have people fanning around him.
Still I just may write up a review for this, but I am so lazy to write reviews. Even so, I really loved the storyline and how they utilized flashbacks and scene repetitions. I was only slightly impatient with the repetition maybe one or two times, and that too faded away soon.
Things to appreciate. As I said earlier, this *actually* had forbidden lovers--not some 'misunderstanding' or *hidden/actual truth* etc. They actually acknowledged reincarnations don't manifest in the the same face/body. Of course, when it came to the reincarnation where they deal with that past life, the reincarnation took the same form. I don't think it would need to be the case, but it makes more sense for dramas to have same actors. XD Plus, it was an important aspect in the story.
Kim Young Dae is really impressive. Had watched him earlier in Sh**tting Stars back when it aired. Found this drama when searching for things to watch, and so this is my second drama of his.
Anyway, this is really underrated. It's just that it's not what everyone is accustomed to. It's not really about physical romance, it's not a light-happy story. It's not a melo either, but just a sort of muted, underlying vibe. Things are hinted and shown in the beginning but characters claim something else--then we see it unraveling and characters realizing.
The first scenes immediately tell you this is not supposed to be a 'happy' ending with the couple in terms of their physical life. But their souls get their peace and satisfaction.
If you watch understanding that what was shown in the first episode is the foundation of their story, which means they really cannot be together--and you are into that type of story, then you won't be disappointed with this drama.
I get that that he is not supposed to be shrewd, as Cheng Ren Qing said, both Shuais may not know much about the ways of the world. But he was told big names were behind the conspiracy .
Will go past the fact that Young Hwa and Do Ha treated Do Ha's possession of Jun Oh lightly and they were too traumatized to think from Min Oh's perspective after the murder attempt. Seriously, that is his brother's body, neither of them bother to explain to him--Do Ha is too arrogant to explain; Young Hwa is too oblivious in her kind heartedness to see Min Oh suspecting them. The drama tries to blame Min Oh for the route he took by having people repeat 'psychopath' but dude, he sees a spirit possess his body with no one bothering to explain to him. In his state, he won't think and remember the detail that Jun Oh was diagnosed with the cancer before he even met Young Hwa for the PSA.
How would a person react when they know their loved one's body is being possessed, told that possession is killing the body. Then another person keeps giving explanations and excuses for the weird behavior of the possessed person? Min Ho sees that Young Hwa knows that his brother's body is possessed and she tries to steer Min Ho away from realizing the possibility.
Go past those points. But how is Do Ha not even curious to how Min Oh found out about thisJust keep pushing it off as 'psychopath' and 'mentally unstable' without recognizing or suspecting that perhaps he should be worried about whoever told Min Oh to kill Young Hwa. Yes I know Min Oh disappeared at the hospital--but Do Ha is not even bothered to try to get the information from Min Ho.
I wasn't going to comment before I finished but I had a gripe starting in episode 9, and had to stop in the middle of 10 and comment here about it.