Welcome to the Open Thread, everybody! Isn’t Xiao Le such a cutie pie?? 😍
SOME IMPORTANT ANNOUNCEMENTS, earlier than we start:
ZERO SPOILER POLICY
1. We can be adopting a ZERO SPOILER POLICY for this Open Thread, apart from occasions which have occurred within the present, up up to now.
The spoiler tags don’t work in e mail notifications, due to this fact, please take notice that WE WILL NOT BE USING SPOILER TAGS FOR THIS OPEN THREAD.
ANY AND ALL SPOILERS WILL BE REDACTED to guard first-time viewers in our midst (though, I’d admire it for those who would save me the difficulty of getting to redact spoilers, heh 😅).
This consists of, however shouldn’t be restricted to, how characters &/or relationships develop, later within the present.
We have to defend the harmless! 😉
SPOILER ZONE
2. HOWEVER!! In case you’d like to debate spoilers from a rewatcher’s viewpoint, I’ve created a SPOILER ZONE for you, the place you possibly can focus on all of the spoilers you’d like, with out the necessity for spoiler warnings. You will discover it right here!
With out additional ado, listed below are my reactions to this set of episodes; have enjoyable within the Open Thread, everybody! ❤️
My ideas
Episode 22
Welp, issues are lastly heating up in right here, with Xiao Le arriving in Taipei to search for Guang Xi, as a result of, inevitably, that triggers off a sequence of occasions that simply brings Guang Xi nearer and nearer to the reality.
And Guang Xi realizing / remembering the reality is the Subsequent Large Occasion that’s due in our story, isn’t it? I do know Present’s been teasing us with blurry recollections and a number of echoes of previous occasions, so it seems like we’re actually virtually there now.
In fact, it’s similar to Xiao Le to be so useful and proactive, that he finally ends up aiding his personal grandmother, although neither of them is aware of it.
I suppose it is a good begin, within the sense that Xiao Le’s so candy, that he’s certain to attraction anybody, proper, even Grumpy Gran? And as soon as she’s charmed by him, hopefully that early seed will assist to endear him to her correctly, as soon as she (inevitably) learns that he’s her grandson?
I don’t understand how I really feel about Guang Xi stepping outdoors to take Mu Cheng’s name, as if he’d fairly converse to Mu Cheng whereas out of Yi Qian’s earshot.
On the one hand, I get that he’s speculated to be drawn to Mu Cheng, as a result of she is his fated love, however alternatively, I can’t shake the niggling thought that this isn’t how a person who’s engaged to be married to another person ought to behave.
It makes me really feel like his coronary heart is wandering away from Yi Qian – which it in all probability is – and once more, that provides me combined emotions. Like, sure, you’re drawn to your fated love, however.. dang, your poor fiancée..? 😅
Extra importantly, POOR XIAO LE. It was arduous to look at him not solely faint from not having had his insulin shot, but additionally harm himself and lose a lot blood, ack. 😭
I get that that is designed to create the state of affairs the place Xiao Le wants a blood donor, and Mu Cheng, in a panic reflex, lets slip that Guang Xi mustn’t be allowed to donate (as a result of it appears that evidently blood kin are dangerous donors, for causes I don’t fairly perceive).
Ooh. That certain makes President Mother and Yi Qian do respective double takes. I feel on this second, each of them can’t assist however understand that Xiao Le is Guang Xi’s son. I imply, how might they not; it’s fairly apparent?
However possibly President Mother is just too busy being snooty and imply to really make the connection, as a result of when she’s left alone with Mu Cheng, she doesn’t ask about this, however spends the time insulting Mu Cheng.
Gah. Present certain is aware of methods to make President Mother extra hateful than she already is, eh?
Yi Qian makes the connection, although, and I’m by no means stunned that Mu Cheng continues along with her charade of noble idiocy.
In fact, Mu Cheng’s justification to Yi Qian, throughout their rooftop dialog, doesn’t actually maintain water or make a lot sense.
I don’t know if Mu Cheng herself even believes the stuff that she’s telling Yi Qian; it sounds to me that she’s simply saying something which may make a fraction of sense, with a purpose to get by means of this confrontation.
At the very least Yi Qian appears to have a stab of conscience, since she finds it ludicrous that Mu Cheng would anticipate her to marry Guang Xi, whereas retaining this reality from him.
For a scorching second, I feel that Yi Qian’s going to inform Guang Xi the reality, however.. Mu Cheng certain understands Yi Qian’s insecurities very properly.
She faucets on the precise factor that will get Yi Qian to rethink her stance; that this may solely encroach on the wedded bliss that she’s about to have, with Guang Xi.
I’ve been fascinated by why Mu Cheng is so adamant on maintaining the lie, as an alternative of telling Guang Xi the reality, and I conclude that it’s partly as a result of she’s afraid to lose Xiao Le, but additionally, it’s to protect Guang Xi’s relationship with President Mother.
I imply, if she had been to inform Guang Xi about what his mom had executed, that will destroy their at the moment amiable relationship.
I feel that Mu Cheng’s efforts to keep up the facade that President Mother had ordered, is partly to protect Guang Xi’s constructive relationship together with his mom.
President Mother’s resolution to deliver ahead the marriage might be a knee-jerk response to seeing Mu Cheng in Guang Xi’s orbit. Like, fast, let’s get Guang Xi married earlier than something occurs between him and Mu Cheng! 😅
The marriage instantly being so close to, have to be bringing out Yi Qian’s responsible emotions (and never her nerves like Guang Xi thinks).
After observing Yi Qian for a while, that’s my conclusion concerning the hesitation we’ve seen her show in relation to marrying Guang Xi. She feels responsible about mendacity to him, and never marrying him on false pretenses might be her ultimate frontier of decency, in a fashion of talking?
With the marriage arising so quickly, I do marvel if Yi Qian’s conscience could be the factor to cease this wedding ceremony in its tracks, and put Guang Xi again on the street in the direction of Mu Cheng and Xiao Le?
Episode 23
Guang Xi lastly begins asking some necessary questions of Lawyer Lin, and I really feel like, dang, it’s about time! How does anybody wait 6 years to ask what had occurred earlier than they’d misplaced their reminiscence, proper? That seems like fairly a stretch.
Lawyer Lin’s level that it’s a Pandora’s Field is so true; if Guang Xi had been to dig deeper, there’s positively a value to pay, for that fact. It will completely have an effect on lots of the relationships that he at the moment treasures.
Guang Xi’s resolution to not pursue it does inform us about his loyalty in the direction of the folks round him; he believes in them sufficient, to belief that it’s all good, even when he doesn’t know concerning the previous.
BUT! Like I’d predicted, that reminiscence card that’s embedded in his fortunate bracelet comes into strategic play, lastly.
Even when Guang Xi doesn’t need to dig into the previous, the previous comes surging to the floor, the minute he sees these pictures that he and Mu Cheng had taken on the photograph studio that day earlier than his mind surgical procedure.
And gosh, it’s as painful as anybody may think, for Guang Xi to try to course of the recollections, and the realizations that include these recollections.
There’s a lot shock, anger, betrayal and disbelief written throughout his face; kudos to Vanness Wu for delivering that complicated mixture of feelings so properly.
Regardless that Guang Xi’s emotions of anger and betrayal are fully justified, it’s nonetheless a little bit startling to see him swimsuit up the subsequent morning, with vengeance written in his eyes.
I suppose we’ve been spoiled with smiley nice Guang Xi for thus lengthy, that I’d conveniently forgotten that Guang Xi’s received this indignant, rebellious aspect, that received buried when he misplaced his reminiscence.
The way in which he baits Mu Cheng on the church, is a little bit arduous to look at, regardless that I can completely think about the place that is coming from. He’s so harm and indignant that that is his means of lashing again out.
It’s fairly dramatic that he takes Mu Cheng to the precise spot the place he’d collapsed on the street, to check and confront her, however y’know, with 6 complete years of betrayal weighing on him, I can perceive his must get dramatic.
Poor Guang Xi, although. When he talks about residing within the imaginary world wherein everybody else has created for him, it makes me consider 1998 movie The Truman Present.
Within the film, the protagonist lives in a pretend TV world, the place everybody round him is a employed actor, together with his relations, and he’s the one one who thinks it’s actual.
Enthusiastic about it, that’s not precisely that removed from what Guang Xi’s been by means of, within the final 6 years, sure?
It’s no marvel he’s falling aside and blazing with anger, all on the identical time.
On a tangent, I can’t assist however discover that every one the accusations that Guang Xi’s throwing at Mu Cheng, sound so much like what you guys have been mentioning within the feedback, in your dissatisfaction with Mu Cheng, heh.
Maybe, as Present works to deliver Guang Xi round, the remainder of us can be introduced round too?
Guang Xi, man of motion, doesn’t cease to wallow too lengthy in his newfound recollections. I kinda love that he doesn’t waste any time informing President Mother that, 1, he’s not going to marry Yi Qian, and a couple of, he’s going to battle for custody of Xiao Le.
Oh, and three, the obedient Guang Xi that she’s come to know, isn’t any extra. FWAH! Take that, President Mother. And who was juust saying, that every one her choices are good ones, eh?
However, when Guang Xi confronts Yi Qian, he does look like fairly stunned by her sincerity, when she tearfully explains why she’d lied to him.
Plus, she provides on a heartfelt confession, that in wanting to assist him get higher, she actually did fall in love with him.
However.. will Guang Xi be moved..?
Episode 24
Yeah.. no. Guang Xi isn’t moved in any respect, by Yi Qian’s tearful (albeit heartfelt) clarification, and y’know what, I feel that’s true to character.
It’s true that Yi Qian’s been dedicated to Guang Xi within the final 6 years, notably throughout his restoration, but when there’s one factor that Guang Xi takes extra to coronary heart than loyalty, it’s betrayal – loyalty’s flip aspect.
And since Yi Qian’s betrayed him by mendacity to him, he’s standing agency and breaking issues off along with her.
In fact, at this level, most of us are in all probability pondering the apparent; that Mu Cheng falls squarely into that class too. She’d been loyal, however then she’d betrayed him.
However Guang Xi’s constant about this, in that he’s not forgiving Mu Cheng both.
(Okay, certain, I anticipate that he’ll finally forgive her in some unspecified time in the future, however he should be persuaded the arduous means, and I’m curious to see how Present pulls that off in a means that convinces each Guang Xi and the remainder of us who’ve been scuffling with Mu Cheng’s choices.)
I’m not stunned that Mu Cheng’s first intuition is to run away with Xiao Le, as a result of, like she tells Tuo Ye, Guang Xi’s a hotshot lawyer and he’d be fairly able to utilizing the legislation to take Xiao Le away from her.
With no cash to rent a hotshot lawyer of her personal, I can see why Mu Cheng would really feel that the most secure means to make sure that she doesn’t get separated from Xiao Le, is to run away with him.
Actually, I feel Tuo Ye’s a really loyal and first rate dude, however I do assume that his confidence in defending Mu Cheng and Xiao Le could be misguided.
In spite of everything, he thinks that he’ll be capable to clear up every thing just by marrying Mu Cheng. Clearly, he isn’t properly acquainted with the legislation and the way legal professionals can faucet on it in strategic methods.
He’s well-meaning and earnest, although, and I can perceive why Mu Cheng would possibly conform to his proposal, as a result of she’s that determined to not lose Xiao Le, and since there’s a hoop of consolation and assurance in Tuo Ye’s phrases.
Plus, it’s clear that he actually does love her and Xiao Le.
With restricted choices earlier than her, and Tuo Ye being so honest and earnest in his proposal, I can perceive why somebody in her place would possibly say sure, regardless that their coronary heart isn’t really in it.
However like I mentioned, Tuo Ye deciding to go up in opposition to Guang Xi is fairly shortsighted and foolhardy, and it doesn’t take Guang Xi lengthy, to have Tuo Ye cuffed and brought away, for his restaurant illegally making and serving liquor on the premises.
Ahhh. Okay, so Present had deliberate forward too, with these drunken moonshine arcs.
On that notice, I simply wished to reply to Ele, who expressed shock that I allegedly assume that the writing’s good.
Enable me to make clear that I don’t assume the writing is definitely good; I’m simply considerably impressed that the writers deliberate forward and mapped out a bunch of particulars, in order that these particulars would have relevance to our story at later factors.
That’s greater than what another reveals do, so credit score the place it’s due. That also doesn’t make the writing good, although. Simply so we’re clear. 😉
I did really feel unhealthy for Guang Xi, although, when he tries to inform Xiao Le that he’ll be his father any more, and all he will get in response from Xiao Le, is a shushing, as a result of Mu Cheng could be mad.
That have to be actually perplexing for Guang Xi.
But additionally, that does present the power of the connection between Xiao Le and Mu Cheng, and the way Xiao Le isn’t prone to take simply to any separation from her.
Maybe that’s why Guang Xi comes up with that wild thought, that he and Mu Cheng ought to get married, in order that, 1, Mu Cheng received’t must be separated from Xiao Le, and a couple of, he’ll be capable to acquire satisfaction from watching her torment at being trapped in a loveless marriage.
At this level, I really consider Guang Xi, that he’s placing this on the desk, in order that he’ll be capable to punish Mu Cheng in gradual and excruciating element, for every thing that she’s executed to harm and betray him.
That is an fascinating twist I hadn’t seen coming.
Are we.. going the route of a contract marriage now, then? I’m very curious to see the place this goes!
Within the meantime, I do really feel unhealthy for Yi Qian for having to take care of canceling the marriage. That may’t be simple, whatever the circumstances.
Though, Yi Qian makes zero sense when she says that she retains making up completely different causes for the cancelation. Woman, are you aware nothing a few cowl story? Consistency is KEY. All you want is ONE cowl story. 🤦🏻♀️
Director Dad being all gentle and sort on this scene can be a bit bizarre for me, as a result of I’m so used to seeing him glower with darkish schemes on his thoughts. I needed to remind myself that Yi Qian is the apple of his eye, with a purpose to roll with this scene.
Nonetheless, I’m glad that Yi Qian has her father on her aspect and by her aspect, at a troublesome time like this.
Now, deliver on the contract marriage hijinks, Present – I’m prepared!!
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