Reviews

The summers we remember forever

The first four episodes transported me back to my first love, my high school best friend. That unforgettable summer together. My first experience of discovering what it meant to love someone, and the bittersweet realization that perhaps it wasn’t felt the same way on both sides.Like Chiharu and Wataru, there was something unrequited about it. A one-way love. My best friend loved me deeply, but as a friend, while I felt something very different. And then there was the letter I received when I moved to the U.S. I still have it to this day.How many of us are lucky enough to have great memories of those first summers when we were discovering who we were and discovering the person we might love?That’s what I love about the way the writers tell this story. Nothing feels forced. The relationship grows organically, almost imperceptibly, as two people slowly find their way toward each other through small glances, fleeting touches, and warm hugs. Sometimes the most powerful moments are the ones where almost nothing is said.Warmth is what separates mammals from reptiles. And perhaps that is what makes human connection so powerful. A simple touch, a warm embrace, the closeness of another person, it can heal aches and pains that words sometimes cannot.Maybe that’s what first love really is: a summer we never completely leave behind.

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Simu's backstory and other choices

She was so much stronger than any of those other spirits who coveted the lantern and the Sovereign status. No wonder the lantern literally chose her. 🤗And did she have her senses when she was chosen or she never had them? 🤨But why did she erase their time in the illusion world from his memory? Did she think it would be a weakness to her or maybe a threat to him? 🥺Also, I don't know if Left Hand can be trusted, however Right Hand is definitely getting high just to get his little imaginary moments with He Simu where she's head over heels for him... Sir, that illusion was nothing like the real version! 🙄P.S. Starting to remember a bit more of what was happening.

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I’ve waited so long to watch this & i had a decent time

i feel like if these were two twenty+something minute episodes i would be a bit more saitsfying but i feel like it just gets Really fast ，trying to cram everything in to the first episode. i liked it at first ，plopping us immediately into the action & meeting the mecessary people ，but i guess my issue is that we don’t really focus on anything ？but i also can’t say i think the cooking portions should be longer because i think everything is in place. i guess my real issue is that this does feel like two separate cjapter acts are squeezed out & into one episode. & there’s n o major climax either. luís fróis just felt like a second hurdle to jump so i just look at nobunaga like he’s doing too mch ｡･:*:･ﾟ★,｡･:*:･ﾟ☆　　 ｡･:*:･ﾟ★,｡･:*:･ﾟ☆ & indeed he is doing too much ，he jas this stiff★ness that tamamori also has but i like it more with tamamori becaise he literally has no memory but he does have understanding of his situation which is HE CAN DIE AT ANY SECOND . . . & with nobunaga the rigidity makes him less opposing like he isn’t that confident ，which could actually go somewhere ｡･:*:･ﾟ★,｡･:*:･ﾟ☆　　 ｡･:*:･ﾟ★,｡･:*:･ﾟ☆ but yeah tamamori is a cutie as always ，he’s stiff like i mentioned but he has his cutesy little mannerisms that come in incredibly clutch & kind’ve flesh out his character more. it is mostly a him thing thoigh but what works works for the part ！ ｡･:*:･ﾟ★,｡･:*:･ﾟ☆　　 ｡･:*:･ﾟ★,｡･:*:･ﾟ☆ i also really like when isekai protagonists actually have some fucking sense. he tells people at first ，that’s okay ，he also doesn’t have memories which is an added layer but then he keeps his mouth shut becaise he can accidentally fuck everything up. & he gets with the program quick. i started『 bon appetit ，your majesty 』a while ago & yoona you pissed me off with how long it took to get with the program ｡･:*:･ﾟ★,｡･:*:･ﾟ☆　　 ｡･:*:･ﾟ★,｡･:*:･ﾟ☆ something else i really like is the historical anachronism. they didn’t tell her our name i think but kaede looks so cool if i ignore the optics but nobunaga’s leopard print was so fierce ｡･:*:･ﾟ★,｡･:*:･ﾟ☆　　 ｡･:*:･ﾟ★,｡･:*:･ﾟ☆ i think besides the unsatisfying first episode arc ，the rest episode was pretty fine & I’d imagine it’s going to be a lot better from here on out. i like this show i think I’m oging to have a fun time.

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I am beholden

The final episode, appropriately titled “Beholding,” may be the most beautiful expression of Changyang’s love. His joie de vivre, passion and emotional intensity make us wish that everyone could experience a partner who looks at them the way he does. For Changyang, there is only one person in his eyes. Gender becomes irrelevant. What he sees is the person, the soul he has chosen to behold.And perhaps that is exactly what Zelia is trying to say.The series feels like a commentary on China’s risk-averse attitude toward same-sex relationships. “The social divide between us” does not weaken their love; it seems to intensify it. If absence makes the heart grow fonder, then societal pressure makes their bond stronger. The more the world tells them what they cannot be, the more determined they become to simply be.I was particularly intrigued by Zelia’s use of Venezuela’s brutal Hunter School as the antithesis to the social constraints surrounding homosexuality in China. Was this simply part of the story, or was Zelia deliberately creating a symbol of rebellion against rigid systems of control? The Hunter School represents one extreme of a society that attempts to reshape people through force. China’s social environment represents another kind of pressure, less physical, perhaps, but capable of controlling lives through conformity, shame and public judgment.Then Zelia finally makes her own Hitchcockian cameo, appearing as Director Li. I translated the text message she sent and reads as follows:“Mulan disguised herself as a man to join the army in place of her father. When a woman dresses as a man, it's called "leiwu satao" (a type of martial arts performance); when a man dresses as a woman, it's labeled "effeminate culture." Is this a case of cultural hatred towards women, or a societal lack of confidence in its own culture? Ultimately, it's only when humanity entered a patriarchal society that we fell into a social acceptance of male worship.What does it matter if you're male or female? We're all just a shell containing a soul. Some retain their spirit, some lose their soul; some are clear-headed and blind, some can't distinguish right from wrong. When will humanity be able to let go of gender?”And what she says after their film is criticized for being gay-centric may be the most direct statement of the series’ philosophy. Mulan can disguise herself as a man and be celebrated as a heroic cultural icon, yet when a man displays femininity, society is quick to condemn him. Zelia asks whether this is cultural hatred toward women or simply a society insecure about its own definitions of masculinity.Her conclusion is even more provocative.What does it matter whether we are male or female? We are all merely shells containing a soul. Some retain their spirit. Some lose it. Some remain clear-headed while others become blinded by convention. Some can distinguish right from wrong, while others simply follow what society tells them. And ultimately, she asks: When will humanity finally be able to let go of gender?That, to me, is the real theme of this series. Love does not see gender first. Society does.Zelia’s reference to Chinese netizens as moths dying in a flame could not have been more pointed. The frightening power of strangers to elevate, destroy or even ruin someone’s life through online judgment is a sobering commentary on modern society. Reputation becomes public property, and people who have never met you can decide who you are.Shi Yu Hao’s redemption caught me completely off guard. But beneath that redemption, I also sensed something darker, the price people sometimes pay when they become trapped by the expectations of others. In a country where the entertainment industry has seen a disturbing number of young actors do not live beyond 45, the storyline carries an uncomfortable resonance about the cost of losing one’s way, one’s identity and ultimately one’s will to live.Very few series know how to end on a high note. A Winter’s Sun Wakes the Wind in Spring Hill does.It ends with a rising sun.Not a declaration that everything has changed. Not a fantasy that society has suddenly become accepting. But a suggestion that change is possible. That love can survive the systems designed to contain it. That perhaps one day, China may look at same-sex love not as something that needs to be hidden, explained or condemned, but simply as love.And that is why the final image stays with me. It reminds me of that lone man standing in front of the tanks in Tiananmen Square. One person standing against something vastly more powerful. He did not stop the tanks. But he made the world stop and look.Perhaps that is what Changyang does. He simply stands there, loving the person he loves.And asks us to behold.

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Choices they don't talk about

The way Zhao Ling made Fifth Master Fu pay for what he did to Tingyun's mother was very satisfying. I have always had a soft spot for morally grey characters and vigilantes, and Zhao Ling embodied both with this one choice. 😏Though, I am upset that they are going back to him not explaining things to Tingyun. It's been proven a million times and more that communication is their key to success and, most importantly, to avoiding unnecessary misunderstandings... If only he would tell her his reasons for that choice and other choices she's questioning now. I think she would come up with a very clever plan on how to corner Lord Yu again... Ehh, Zhao Ling, Zhao Ling... 😔To be fair, I am actually hoping Chuan or Biao tells Tingyun, because I don't think Zhao Ling will. His understanding of what would protect Tingyun and what wouldn't has been quite questionable so many times before, and it seems he's not learning from his past mistakes. 🥺

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i found it so ironically sad that until the…

i found it so ironically sad that until the end Naoya was terrified that he would turn out to be like his father & cause of that, everyone would abandon him, the fact that Takaaki didn't correct him - making it clear that if there was a chance anyone would turn in sociopathic megalomaniac it was him & not Naoya, was the only bitter note in this BL. i loved how this developed & there was more growth on Naoya's part then Takaaki, but their relationship went from something vague & fetishy to something semi normal - cause with Takaaki in the mix, there is no such thing as normal, as from the word go i am sure he developed a fixation on Naoya & was ready to do & did everything, so Naoya would allow Takaaki to be close to him. ironically cause of Naoya father he needed someone needy & dependent that followed him around like a shadow & would will to follow his every order - Takaaki gave Naoya the stability & support he didn't have at home - little wonder their relationship lasted as long as it did. cause it met both their needs. on some levels this was hella complex & cause of that it was very interesting & well executed. also kinda appreciate that we didn't have any NC scene's sometimes they add, but most of the types they exploitative & there to cover up subpar plotlines of acting. am so happy there is a special cause i really liked this couple (or rather i love Naoya & cause of him am willing to accept freaky Takaaki)... lol

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Love and Duty

This episode did so much for us. First, Tinn finally acknowledged his love for Phob out loud, both to his father to Phob himself.Then, we see those domestic, adorable scenes of them living together, which is probably my favorite scene in this episode so far.Afterwards, we see Phob torn between love and duty, he wants to get information from Tinn yet at the same time is afraid to do so. Him looking for an important document in Tinn's briefcase and finding the rings inside as well is such a masterful scene; even while he is betraying him, he still finds traces of his love for him.I hope they get a happy ending, even if they struggle a lot, this is probably my favorite series this year!

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Shu is very decisive, he knows what he wants…

Shu is very decisive, he knows what he wants he goes for it, but if he thinks feelings aren't reciprocated he is fast to cut things off.& maybe Takoi needed that wake-up call. even though i don't blame him, he hasn't come out to himself & isn't 100% comfortable being around Shu, in a romantic way - when they just hanging out in a platonic way he is fine, but the sec he sense tension he takes a step back & that's why i aint shocked or even bothered, about how he was fast to deny the allegations of him finally coming out. i get Shu, but he should be more understanding given everything i pointed out, as i am sure he noticed too - 1st hand, so why not have a conversation, instead of deciding for Takoi ??? oh well guess he is cutting his losses. this started off so cute & sweet only to end on a sour note... ugh

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