Reviews

The slap heard around Jinling

The Xu home was far from happy about the wedding. The parents tried hard to keep upbeat and Lan Xiang tried even harder. She wore the same smile she had when first being sent to the Lin home. Jin Qing arrives to pick up his bride and a bit set back when Scholar Lu comes out with the edict. He then sees a very somber set of parents. I like that Scholar Lu corrected Mr Xu and had him act like a father and not a servant before young master. It has not registered on Jinqi yet how thoughtless he’s been. He had YuChan handle the betrothal gifts but there wasn’t the line up of gifts and meeting the parents that typically start off a marriage contract. He has bypassed all that so Scholar Lu is making Jinqi very aware that the bride is coming by direct command of the emperor and not because she has chosen this groom. Jinqi stayed bowed for awhile and should have. He was so busy beating Han that he considered it a done deal with the Xu family once he won. There is a run in on the way to the Lin home by the scholars and town celebrating that not only had Han passed the exam, he was the top scholar. This was another cause for pause from JinQi because he never even considered that Han would actually pass much less come in first. This accomplishment is greater than a wedding procession and both men know it. Because JinQi asked politely and meant it, Han put aside his distaste and made things smooth for Lan Xiang’s sake. He did not want their marriage to be smooth…at all, but neither did he want to cause LanXiang embarrassment amongst her family and peers. He took his well wishers in to the restaurant and cleared a path for Lan Xiang to get through. She is the most reluctant bride ever and who can blame her? She gets inside the house and her reticence is obvious from the first forced bow. By the time it comes to bowing to Lin Qi she definitely makes it clear this isn’t her idea…at all. The resounding slap when her veil is removed said it all to him and the guests. The guests scatter and Jinqi saves face as best he can. I don’t know if he knows just how close he cut it with Han for getting married and what a shock resonated through her community at the shift in grooms. She is seeing her friends as the lady of the house and it is awkward for all of them. LanXiang is reminded they will get in trouble if she takes on too much of their work for them. I have to say I’m surprised at the mom’s attitude of JinQi getting slapped. She found it just punishment and became even more annoyed when she heard he disrupted a betrothal to get his own way. I liked that JinQi was smart enough to sleep in the side room. He gave her the respect of the true wife and her need for space. His pragmatic view that he will be experiencing the bitter and hard times first because of his actions at least proves he’s aware of his wrongdoing. I also truly enjoyed the little sling shot brother so happy Lan Xiang was becoming part of the family. He was the sweetest moment of the evening and maybe even got a smile out of her that we didn’t get to see. What disappointed me greatly was the preview where it seems the mom is calling Lan Xiang unreliable because she was the ONLY one in that house that didn’t deserve that tag. Even JinQi has shown how he falters. She helped basically save their entire family and then talked about like that. The cool points she got for her attitude about the slap she more than lost with that description.😝 The only good part will be less pressure from the son beater to get JiuGao married off. The one thing that hits me about JinQi is while he’s mulling things over in the spare room, he gives a grin that he would do it again if that was the only way to get the girl. He is truly smitten but shows her in the worst way possible. I’m gonna blame his dad.🤣😂😝🙄

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Three huge plot 'reveals'

First off - Mingyue's dad tells her that he and her mother are getting a divorce. So basically, both father and daughter are finally breaking free of the dominatrix. Second of all, over the course of the episode, Chen Ting's true colors - her hateful and psychotic nature - become more fully revealed. Her own daughter fully explains to Jian Jian just how much her mom hates JJ, her dad, Ziqiu, Ling Heping and even, it is implied, Ling Xiao. Then Chen Ting's own actions show her scheming nature - she executes a couple more of her passive-aggressive 'surprise visits' to manipulate people. This all leads to a blow-up, outright confrontation between her and her son, Ling Xiao who calls her out for her BS in front of JJ & his aunt. The amount of passive aggression poured out by Chen Ting during this argument would fill up buckets and buckets. Her hate even for Ling Xiao -- she still is blaming him for the death of her first daughter and even for the 'rebellious attitude' of her 2nd daughter - is plain to see. Finally, on a happier note: Li Haichao and He Mei are officially an item and it's so nice. This will finally tie up the remaining loose knots between ZiQiu and his family.

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Consequences and life changing events

Han and LanXiang are both lamenting their change in fate at the wall. Here I am glad Han is admitting that he was the one pushing the marriage. He is sorrowful about everything where I think LanXiang is weeping for her mother. She never really had a chance to voice her views. They send a last message and he confirms he is heading off to take the exams. I did not completely understand her response to him, but I am taking it as a let’s remain friends message. JinQi was publicly beaten in front of family and staff for giving his family an edict they could not refuse. I think he unknowingly is paying the penance the Lins owe the Shens for their desertion at Qia Lan’s engagement party. Lan Xiang is looking at the pouch that was initially supposed to be for JinQi. She is playing through their refusal word for word that painted her an unfit candidate when she had her Shen status, so how is she feeling about the acceptance of the maid newly made commoner? Is the pouch kept for what might have been, the cautionary tale of being in the emperor’s favor or not, or a tribute to the mom that made a replacement when first one wore out? She is busily sewing a wardrobe for LanXiang to have some proper clothes when she gets there. She has been a seamstress for the family so she is equipped to know what to make for her. I have to admit that the next generation of Lins gives me some hope for them. All the elders are so socially motivated or cowardly. The gpa stoically standing over JinQi and ordering the punishment. Where was his righteous indignation at deserting the Shens and letting them be slaughtered?😝🙄I did not expect there to be such fondness between the Lin siblings and it was good to see. It was fun watching the plans they had to rescue their brother til third sister did it for them. Xiuru has come into her own as the Marchioness and I like that she quietly stands firm and shows no sign of timidity. Everything is about calming down the mother who has no clue what disaster the Duke’s family would have brought to them. I have to admire Ms Zheng with her stance of death before dishonor and her contempt of the cowardice of her brothers. Her mother, there are just no words for her expectations from her daughter. I liked the offer that was extended but no such character was going to be found in her mother. 😝Even the Marquis respected her choice as wrong as her politics had been on which Prince to back. I found I felt no satisfaction in seeing another family exterminated as those two young boys were headed to the execution block with the rest of the males. All this blood shed for undeserving royals just kinda leaves a bitter taste with the collateral damage and scramble to survive. Scholar Lu reminds LanXiang that she can use that decree to hold those at bay wishing her harm. Who really wants to try to contest the emperor? We’ve already watched three different families wiped out by them. Furong has an identical story with LanXiang. Her family trusted the Duke and were betrayed. Shen patriarch and her father made same choice to stand fast and their families paid the price. She recognizes her sister and Ms Zheng were similar age when committed suicide, but even with their deaths it is nothing to rejoice over, except for the emperor. There seems to be a collective sigh of relief he cannot hurt them anymore. She looks down on Scholar Lu for having no explanation as to why good people died for no good reason or why justice was not made for them. I don’t think she realized LanXiang also well acquainted with that scenario and all three of them have the exact same questions. I really wish Furong and Han would have paired up because I think they would have made a better couple long term. I really don’t think LanXiang wanted marriage at all at this time in her life. She would have accepted the Hans as a good fit for her parents, but her feelings really aren’t given consideration by either suitor. Both know they used outside means to try to get their way. JinQi just had the invincible emperor card to override all dissenters, including the bride. 😝🙄Neither suitor bothered getting Lan Xiang’s opinion and their competition did neither of them any favors. I liked the frank chat JinQi had with YuChan. She is surprised but at least relieved they know her temperament and she will not be another heinous attitude to deal with. I don’t know how Ms Zheng would have been, but she was unafraid to take killing off the table so it is better that we never got to find out. She died courageously in spite of her gray/black character and I give her credit for that considering her parents. I liked that Scholar Lu asked to sit with the Xu’s at the wedding as Lan Xiang’s mentor. That was a thoughtful gesture from one who truly understood their misgivings. I like to think he was standing up for his friends the Shens as well and looking out for their daughter. 🌹The preview has an interesting encounter with Han and JinQi. JinQi is politely requesting they make way for LanXiang's carriage and Han is expressing surprise he didn’t order it due to emperor’s decree. 🙄😝 JinQi deserved that remark and no telling how this challenge is going to go down.

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And here we are again…

What if?What if destiny gives us a second chance only to make the same mistakes all over again? “If I knew then what I know now, what would I do differently?” Here comes another classic Heaven Can Wait trope: going back in time and fix our shit.And wait… did Luke just have a growth spurt? Damn, he looks bigger and broader! As for Mick, having a famous older brother like Win must come with serious expectations. But he’s doing just fine on his own. He definitely inherited that talent for subtle facial expressions—the little looks that make his acting feel real without trying too hard. And Tara as Tyler? Perfect comedic relief! His timing is hilarious without turning everything into a circus.What if Ji isn’t the only one who got a second chance? What if Ruth remembers everything too? Imagine two guys trying to change their destiny without knowing the other is playing the same game. Nice twist.After just one episode, I’m already curious to see where this goes. There’s clearly more to Ji’s second chance than simply fixing the past, and I’m looking forward to seeing how everything unfolds.

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Good Boy EP.1 — A Second Chance at the Little Things in Life

What would you do if you could return to being seventeen?At thirty, Jirapat is so lonely that, as he lies dying after a traffic accident, he realizes there is no one he wants to attend his funeral.Then he wakes up in his childhood home, thirteen years in the past. His father is alive, his mother is making breakfast, and his sister is calling him to get up.What touched me most was not the chance to change his future, but the chance to experience those ordinary family moments again.His mother casually tells him to go out and get some ice cream. His beloved cat Mee is there, too. These little things feel precious when we know what he has lost.Determined to become a "good boy," Jirapat starts making small changes. He arrives at school on time, opens his heart to Tyler, and even tries to help a classmate in trouble — although that gets him scolded!I like that his second chance isn't about becoming rich or successful. It's about learning to care for other people and allowing them into his life.And then there's Ruth, the student council president. Jirapat seemed to have some lingering feelings about him in his previous life, so I'm curious to discover what happened between them.Accidentally hitting Ruth with a basketball and sending him to the infirmary is certainly an interesting way to begin their story! 😂A charming first episode, with warmth, humor, and a little sadness beneath the surface.I'm looking forward to seeing how Jirapat's second chance changes both his life and his relationship with Ruth. 🍧🐈🏀

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like they can do better i really believe that

this was a necessary break from the end±less loop of kohsaku running away from confrontation. this is a neutral way to go about gozyupolar’s crush on the teacher ，him having a heterosexual partner his age that he’s committed to steers us away from indulging in a potentially harmful relationship but it’s also running away from the weight of their power imbalance. it’s like whatever though that’s not really the story they’re going for which is whatever. mashiro & chasshiro are cute though i like that a lot ｡･:*:･ﾟ★,｡･:*:･ﾟ☆　　 ｡･:*:･ﾟ★,｡･:*:･ﾟ☆ the supporting cast has been very fruitful for filling out this show because kohsaku cannot carry this. he was fun in the beginning but it’s just really tiring. i can’rt get into the relationship when we’re not making any progress.

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