Adage is Love makes us stronger. Being in love, that is. What about all the not quite there pining, fixation, the unrequited feels? They sure can debilitate. Being in love, once you get a taste…how do you let go when you do not even want to?! How to be alone without being lonely!? How do you chase back what you want most… desire is so overwhelming, that love, that person is something you can not see life without this very moment freshly snatched from it, it weakens your resolve, your judgment…yet it’s so understandable. You only live once, go fight for it LL, Tiffany and JiaYi cheered on. And LL did.
This is the episode we can’t escape YiKang observes LeiLei as a woman…keenly. Their development is nothing but very patiently peeling an onion layer by perfect layer. After easing into a friendship, sharing commiserating moments as 2 human beings in similar boats, but not a hint more. At the end of 4 is when I see the switch…is slowly turned on a slow burn at YiKang’s end. I love this ridiculously: the getting to know each other, a minute observation by a clear observation, taking the time to appreciate each other one kind deed at a time as human beings before the business of infatuation meddling in, before the pheromones take over our brains. For flailing to happen in an uncontrollable grandeur of sweeping off feet is…romantic and dramatic and what crack is made of, but it takes a deft firm confidence this slow simmer takes the time to make the clearest purest consomme of what an adult romance could have its full flavors developed.
Let me start the spazzing with the mother lode: they keep calling each other, by their full name, and it is the most squeeworthy thing. It started as them acknowledging each other, constantly, most of the time it is tainted with frustration at the beginning of the episode, no denying a closeness of their rapport: not exactly the best of friends yet from LeiLei’s vantage point, but a ripple in her new ‘calm’, gone is that big fuss over leading parallel lives as nobody to the other party. YK has already taken LL in as a friend he cares quite the good-nature sweetest busybody, but without his meddling LL would not break her cocoon of not inviting anyone in, friend or foe.
I can start every episode with YiKang horizontal partially naked.
‘Solitude…so nice’
Oh YK, you think you have the emotions all neatly sorted out and tackled, huh? That is never how these things work. Especially not when you are intruding into a certain lady’s life genuinely as a friend and she…is starting to make a habit of it, appreciating your kindness.
YK: Morning!
LeiLei is enjoying her cuppa (I assume YK made it), reminiscing every moment YK has given her a friendly poke.
‘I don’t like solitude as much’.
This chapter is titled: Heed! Comrade?! Day 1
I did not notice till rewatching the mention of days since they met last episode, or this episode marking the first day they are truly friends. I would say how attentive and observant YK is towards LL is squarely in the murky zone of just about to…fall. I love how we start the episode with YK being pragmatic, accepting the hand he is dealt, trusting being alone in solitude gives rise to a calmness he is indulging for a change of pace for his feelings. ‘Pragmatism’ for LeiLei is a different beast with her lovely meddling friends, throwing a suitor at her just to prove LL is so not over WT, under the calm front LL is putting on. Tiffany nudges LL again on The strategy of joining forces with YK breaking up WT and Helen so they both can have fresh chances with what they desire the most. It may not be the most moral thing to do, but as long as there is no ring on the finger, it’s fair game. Life is too short to not fight the darnest battles for happiness. LL has another ominous push with a bad dream not helping her fear of growing old alone. The sweet ladies promise LL they will take that family portrait with her. I believe them. And D’AWWWWWWWWWWWW.
After learning LL took a sick leave from Helen, WT FINALLY is showing me he cares about LL as a living breathing friend, waiting for LL as she is heading home boozed up…the wrong way.
Argh. On what planet is this a test if a friend is feverish. Of course if wind is Tony Yang is feverish and I happen to be stalking him, I would do that with lips involved and TY is not my ‘friend’ and he does not know me other than creepy stalker.
Mr. Dumbass of mixed signal: You are truly a very important person in my life.
And… ‘You are the first (girl)friend in my new ride’
LL allows herself to go with his vague words for a ride, immediately she caught Helen’s scent/perfume. She is no longer the one most important person/girlfriend to this ready to settle down ‘normal’ dude.
Again, this is why I love this drama so much, while this arc is tired plot device, and not too honorable of our heroine to butt herself into her ex’s current relationship, dragging her new friend/OTP along through the mud, this is not thrown at us without progression. We are familiar with LL’s recurring fear of forever alone, instigated by Tiffany and Jiayi constant bff coersion, WT’s suddenly flopping into her life putting ideas with their every encounter, especially damning is he is claiming he is a changed man. If a less desirable WT is still owning LL’s heart (I’ll just go with it, it’s convincingly acted out by Sonia, but that does not mean I have to understand…ie same stance as Tiffany and JiaYi), his presence is rendering a vulnerable LL out of options but to pine for him some more. And there after a whole day of girlfriend companionship therapy of encouraging her to heed, she is buzzed up, inhibition and clarity of thought is not at her finest and there props a WT all sweet and concerned about her being, genuinely, as a friend, just out of her reach…forever. And the bricks are neatly laid piece by piece for the next scene to happen.
This is a tiny passing scene, but there does not go an entrance of LL into her home without YK giving her a little pat of ‘Welcome home’ hello, and very often YK will give LL an intense look, a checking up on how she is doing, if I may and it left me so awestruck especially keeping in mind this is a guy being genuinely nice and caring 24/7 not because of romantic notions, and opposite of any encouragement from the lady.
YK: You are back.
LL has mistaken YK’s spread of work after hearing his recording at Tiffany’s spa as him working on a porno. This cracks YK up and his prankster mode is on asking if LL is interested in filling in as the leading lady.
Joking aside, he fills LL in on his new collab with Tiffany. I am not one to miss a Tony Yang nikkid cap uttering comfy~ with this face:
LL nudges in her agenda, proposing YK a position at her company. YK is understandably confused why LL would still care to drag him in when she is leaving.
LL: I want to be a lioness.
LL: All along I can only accept my fate and be an antelope.
Weak, vulnerable in need of companions to not be eaten alive.
LL: You are my enemy.
And we along with YK is going Whut!?!?!??!
LL goes on making less sense hammering in her point: If YK was not a failure at winning Helen’s affection, she could have had her happily ever after with WT.
So, your current misfortune is my problem.
Hmmm do not want to spoil you, but YK, that is how love goes: her pain is your pain, you know!?
Did I miss hearing an entire chapter or something just now?
Yup, she is your problem very soon, if not now.
Do I need to dedicate my soul to you?
More like you would dedicate your heart to this woman. 🙂
Helen has new ideas for their project, now they need a designer asap. Professionally, LL acknowledges Helen’s moves as very innovative, it also kills 2 birds with one stone giving her another chance to bugger YK to be her antelope companion .
This will probably be my new home from now on…
LL offers to buy YK lunch, he invites her into his possible new shabby home. He also has a game to play.
YK fakely sings praises of the poopy yellow walls, he then pulls a puppy cute face while ‘selling’ the place having no windows in the bathroom and rent is exorbitant.
You have not really rent the place, right?
Do I smell a sniff of genuine concern…and care!?
If you come, maybe I won’t leave.
LL is not giving up on her heavy-handed persuasion. She is upping the ante, throwing in housing and free rent. YK knows it is the dealing of his soul to satan again when she promises to clear up the storage room even when niece and her Mr is back from honeymoon. LL insists it is the deal of antelope in need of comrades.
I can let him know I have never let go of my feelings for him.
YK: For that, we could break them up.
Or we can put it as pursuing our happiness.
If you never try, you will never succeed,
LL throws in the adage as if it would make her stance less audacious.
You are utterly rotten.
YK has enough. LL can fight by all means for her own happily ever after with her WT, everything coming out of YK and every face, cringe, smirk he is making is more legit. He has learned his lesson well his opinion can be intrusive and he is trying to hold his tongue after the sat down last night. Here LL is at it again when he is expecting a nice lunch and a bit of pandering on his part to soften her letting him be her tenant longer. He is frustrated by all the accusations LL is throwing his way of being a coward, not deserving Helen just because he is not going along with her flow. But to me he is most disappointed with LL, how low she would go in her pursuit of happiness, he obviously has a much higher respect for her than her action is speaking. He has tried not to judge her too harshly on the issue, but he snaps and it pisses LL off more because of her pride. Deep down she knows these are the frankest, truest words even her BFFa deem not for them to say and it is not without struggling with her own moral compass she is taking this leap. But as a bystander, I can squee a little at how flustered YK is when LL is hurling insults at him stomping off. Even though he is the one asking her to leave, he does not mean it.
Sorry my bffs, I may need new bffs in the form of Tiffany and JiaYi. It is hard to balance friendship with other obligations in life and they keep going at it relentless. Just the other day it was a matchmaking lunch with gooey moments straight down to drinking through the night to LL’s heart’s desire. And here Tiffany has arranged Latin dancing, the intimate moves between lovers, with hot instructors. Healthy exercise and HAWT men and…Tiffany can hook up a catch in one scoop.
While they are freshening up, JiaYi invites LL to be the 3rd wheel at her movie date with hubs later on, Tiffany gets a fast date with Mr instructor but we know she won’t blink to call it off to keep LL company. They suggest a booty call to WT preferably to a dark deserted nook. This coming from JiaYi’s mouth! lol All along I thought she is the square pants.
She has made her girlfriend stamp with her perfume….My position is..the backseat.
And the BFFs are devastated just seeing their LL pensive and terribly lonely without the one person she can’t have. LL puts on a brave smiley face telling them she is fine alone. She wants nothing more than a hot bath and a good rest.
‘Anyways, you have Huang YiKang to keep you company at home.‘ says JaiYi! AGAIN! I feel like we are soulmates of 10 lifetimes.
I love this following scene: LL prescribing herself some self-healing chicken soup for the soul
Happiness is my own pursuit.
I no longer believe in fairytales.
I do not need anyone bestowing me glass slippers. (I am ok all by myself)
But Tiffany and JiaYi make my eyes misty being too precious, they turn back fetching LL for a lady’s night. LL is moved to the brink of tears, she is ok by herself, but life is better with company. (What a lovely job Sonia, but who is not spotting her exact face?! :~~D)
YK sees LL’s necklace from WT in the trash and as the best maid/manny service EVER, he leaves LL a note in case she has dropped it by mistake. LL is still in a glum mood from their clash over lunch not even giving him a glance when he has his eyes all on her as soon as she enters, he has trash in hand (gahhhh I have hots for men who will do chores more diligently than I can ever without a fuss) and offers to throw the necklace for her.
Thanks for your nosiness, I can take care of my own business!
YiKang repeats exact words of her charged quip asking her to take care of her business from now on since he is leaving in a few daysand gets his head bitten off.
You are being too sensitive!
Both of their feelings are hurt and they continue venting on each other with their bickering… This is not the first time this turns into what exactly is defined as lover’s quarrel.
You are a weasel!
It is better than being shameless, by any means necessary.
And YK is the gentleman breaking up the conflict with a lets agree to disagree and good night. He never skips a good morning or a good night to LL even in the heat of a squabble. Attaboy!
LL contemplates if she is truly a horrible woman, his words haunts her. This is no treatment of a nobody who is going to disappear after a few days in her life, right?!
LL tells Helen she fails to recruit the help they are in dire need.
I thought that person is your friend.
LL frankly admits she thought so to, but she is apparently a rotten person in his mind. lol OTP is being quite cute shaken from all the mindless insults they are hurling at each other.
LL has a PlanB, she is going to compel WT to be the speaker of their event, emphasizing how important this is for Helen to prove her worth to the department on her first outing yet she is so considerate of his feelings inasmuch she can not bear to mention, let alone force him to oblige… but LL would.
What do I care, I am not your girlfriend. Helen clearly loves you so much…
Do you love her?
Cunningly played, LL.
LL is off to a foot massage with her pampering conjoined twinnie JiaYi. Sigh, the two of them has my quota of pampering for MONTHS done in weeks. *ENVIOUS* JiaYi is not reading into why LL would encourage the selfless sacrifice on WT’s part in the name of love.
BFF beats GF!
LL went where the gf dares not venture.
JiaYi, I agree with your face your bff here is scary and formidable.
OTOH, our guileless princess Helen is off to accomplish what LL fails to deliver: grabbing a YK…for now.
YK, the hopelessly romantic artist has given Helen an omamori wishing her best luck in romance. She has sweetly kept in pristine condition…because she met WT shortly after his blessing. OUCH!!! YK made one for himself, holding the secret adoration for her, and holding up that forced smile perfectly, breaking my heart he yearns for her answer to his question he has kept in his heart:
…Can you see my love for you?
Helen is awesome coming up with the marvelous idea of designing an omamori into a luggage tag as a thoughtful gift, tying into the beauty product they are promoting: A hope in a jar for the life’s journey, the pursuit of happiness. A girl can always use a good luck charm in love. She is commissioning YK to redesign his gift to her as a savvy business move. Her idea so sound YK is out of excuse to refuse. This shakes his resolve of mind made up to stay far far away from her in order to trap his feelings in an eerie emotional calmness that is ‘nice’, he thought. And now he realizes he was just numbing himself, he is nervous knowing he can not safely contain himself when he has to face Helen (and WT) constantly. And who is he to be all noble judging, lecturing LL when he is crumbling over just a job offer?!
Remember that happy dance LL did over foot massage gloating her win over the gf and how it should make Helen jealous? Oh what a coincidence in the juxtaposition Helen pulled on LL unintentionally.
If LL has no care for YK, as a comrade, a buddy, whatever the label is atm, he is a constant she appreciates, she even assumes they are friends! If she does not place his opinion on her in some form of significance, why is she fuming, demanding an apology of his harsh words when her ultimate goal is attained?! Instead of focusing on pining after WT and be vexed by him and/or Helen, LL is taking a strange detour hollering at YK, and for what? For YK not apologizing his words hurt her feelings. Quite a big tantrum (which I enjoy hahaha). YK will be there stewing in her same misery and there is the chance he’ll crack and give in what his heart desires, everyone is weak under the influence of love. She knows all too well, has ample experience. YK is not as aware. He is holding his head up, he insists he sets out to help Helen out, for her good, nothing more, unlike LL. LL is calling him out, he swore he could and would keep a distance from Helen now that she has found her happiness but here he is eating his words. Would Helen insist on his help if she knew his feelings? Is this simply a friendly gesture when he is not being honest with himself ?!
But YK has a point, what happens from this point on, he is not naive to the possibilities, but he did not set out to selfservingly tear a pair of lovers apart. He uses Wizard of Oz as an analogy of how they may be on the same yellow brick road but their motive and intention can not be more different.
You want HWT, I want the happiness of Helen.
But Helen does not look the vision of bliss. WT finally fess up LL is his ex, a fact Helen can sense since day1. H is such a sweetheart (WT does not deserve), she does not make a fuss about it but is not afraid to let her thoughts be known.
It is not easy to cheer on LL this episode, while you have to understand and be supportive of your bestie hitting a trainwreck headon because that is what she wants to do most in life, there is no way you can cheer on wholeheartedly. But there are moments like this one where she is being reasonable and professional, approving YK’s presentation despite not in her sharpest mind, prioritizing her responsibilities above her emotions, aware her heart is not wanting the right thing but what will make it sing. Or so she thought.
We have a sequence of them unaware of the gazes the other party is focusing, ALL THE TIME, impressed with how truly professional and talented and competent the other is, even with ulterior motives (though I am behind YK his intention is pure, just not to LL)
This scene got my loudest squees. Imo this is Day1 YK has feelings for LL, dazzled by her putting her all at work. The experience of working beside Helen is giving him a pat on the upside of his head, down from his high horse, he truly feels how hard it must’ve been for LL and she has been handling Helen with genuine respect as a colleague. Seeing how passionate and dedicated she is with her job, guilt hits him for judging her, butting in with his over simplistic pragmatism. All through this exchange Tony’s YK has never break focus on LL with a new layer of tenderness.
How are you holding up?
You are really passionate about your work…
You can not let go of the job you have loved for 10 years.
(‘That is the true motive of you staying, right? I can admire that,’ YK must be thinking)
LL feeds him his medicine of the Wizard of Oz analogy. She acknowledges his concern for her well being, but as he said, Dorothy, lion and Tinman are not of the same breed. With that, my squeemeter got off the charts!
Can I…apologize to you first?
I will interpret that precious delicious smile on YK is him doing a little dance inside because LL puts his words to heart…at least she mocks him. A snide response is better than her non-treatment cold shoulder last few days.
Sorry, I should not criticize you. Everyone has their own approach with love.
He then pouts on so adorably for LL’s forgiveness throwing in her nicks of Little Auntie, LeiLeiSis, pleading her to take him back as a friend. Did I say he is adorable?!
YK: OK? *pouts* OK? *poutspouts* OK! *smiles*
Of course LL succumbs. Oops she takes a bad fall.
WT and Helen visit LL at the hospital. YK can’t help giving Helen a loaded stare as she is pouring her genuine concern over LL. Yes, we know Helen is perfect YK, and she can not be yours. Instead she picks a sleazy looking derp who is putting a smile on LL you can not do, just with his silly presence. You are allowed to sulk. But he just takes a woeful split second, he is back to all concern about LL, talking sense to her taking a few days off in her condition.
And that is what LL did, even forbidding Tiffany and JaiYi to go out of their way visiting. Home alone, she takes a moment enjoying the quietness, but her growling tummy says otherwise:
YK to the rescue bringing her supper/nightcap. LL is visibly impressed.
This is how intense and swoony YK looks at LL, not breaking the stare for a moment. How did LL manage to eat instead of droolzing?
You are really starving, huh?
*OS decides to delete 20 mookie’s pervie thoughts out loud here*
Hard to tell you are quite caring, thoughtful and considerate
(and yummy and delicious and hot…ok I added a few of my adjectives here, LL uses one)
YK nudges LL some more to forgive him, whining he has already apologize. But LL tells him she has not accepted his apology, hasn’t she?!
Ji An-Lei *swoon~*
We had been through a lot of good times together.
Even though it is by sheer accident we are under the same roof,
I have to thank you.
Is this your farewell speech?
His ‘farewell’ speech is more than amazing:
Anyways, you add oil!
YK stresses again he has no place to criticize LL, she is the one who truly knows her feelings and how important WT is to her.
*I love the fact LL is so immersed in her work this episode she has no time (nor care) to pine over WT. Whew*
Let him know how good you are…no regrets.
If all else fails, cry a good cry.
Life goes on.
But don’t you ever ever forget…
How amazing you are.
Truly.
LL smiles, but she doubts how true he can know her in 2 weeks.
YK is so sure he has her down:
She looks tough and fearless, but not. She has a feisty tongue but her heart is as soft as silken tofu. There is no way around LL headbutting her full on, but she succumbs to a persuasive word. LL’s face is too telling of how spot on he is.
You can not be read by your cover.
LL feeds in his spot on assumption she is opposite to the front she puts on, faking a wince he reads her wrong…but she quickly asks for Mr psychic’s love advice what she should do with herself if she is as he said.
Someone who would let you be yourself, no pretense.
With her patience and perseverance apparent from the years she has been pining incessantly for WT, he is sure she will find the one, soon. No truer words. *And she has found him already. :D*
With this, another honest heart-to-heart (they seems to have a few good ones every episode huh?! No wonder) The funky mood between them is completely lifted. LL even jokes she is not worried for him finding a job after this project because he can be a love-mancer.
YK thanks LL wholeheartedly as his landlord, to which LL is charitable in complimenting him as an alright (we all know she means PERFECT!) tenant. That is 2 huge compliments (after saying he’s considerate) in one sitting YK!
I will give you a ride for your checkup, ok?
And LL takes serious notes on how sweet this guy really is. I sigh a big relief out of all my awwing and squeeing it takes a great clear head to give credit where it deserves, in this case, giving YK this appreciative look for being the sweetheart he is in the middle of infatuating about another person.
LL must be having a good night’s sleep, serenity can be a peace of mind, a tranquility…a form of happiness.
I take this exact alarm clock please!
Her voiceover continues on the thought, this peace of mind, this serenity, this tranquility, this contention…this happiness (embodied by this piece of hotness HYK) is unaware to her at the time.
mookie 
WHere do I start???????
There was definitely soooooo many moments in this ep where I was like “UM are you sure you’re in love with Helen?????”
I’ve finally got my net back and finished this and ep 5! I absolutely adored the glance that YK stole at the office (you took the perfect gif where he’s in a blue tee) That alone made me squeeeeee! It’s not like in other dramas where the director or screenwriter try to hard to avoid these kind of scenes because they are afraid the audience would read too much into the OTP before their time. This director/screenwriter has taken a more realistic and natural approach, allowing the characters to acknowledge each other’s existence and work ethic, instead of being stuck on how much YK is in love with Helen and just throw a million shots of the actor thinking about her/crappy memory flashbacks/ badly done montages. The people behind this drama get it. Real life situations. He is not oblivious and is almost absorbed by LL’s presence and he does not even know it. LL is more neutral in that she appreciates his presence and the fact that there is someone at home waiting for her, unlike the IN-LOVE *stares* and attention that YK is unknowingly throwing at her.
I also LOVED the exchange where YK is getting shut down by LL as she just cant be bothered listening to him. I almost died when he was just about to go into detail how he could make the product better and she cut him off with “shut your mouth.”LOL. I love how his reaction is not offended or bewildered, it actually seems like he is rather amused with LL and is getting used to her curtness instead. That kinda subtle and down-played reaction is so sexy to me!
Even for the a millionth that he is staring at her, the scene where he is asking her is she really that hungry was sooo happening as well. C-uuuuteness overload. I’m not sure how she could eat with him staring at her like that. I guess her method was to gobble down everything in the most unladylike way to contain herself from jumping over to him and eating him instead. That eating in that barbaric way would somehow get her to calm herself down because the tension in the room has gotten to a level that she can’t even suppress??lol
And finally offering to take her for a check up???????? COme on?!!! Where is that genuine guy who is not romantically attracted to you but would still care for you so vehemently????? That’s right, in TW fantasy land with TY being the protagonist of that very lovely story.
EP 5 had me when he almost admiring her, just watching her strut around the office and then at her, when she sits at her desk, conveniently horizontal to his assigned desk. He excitedly sends her a text saying ” Let’s leave together?” And I’m thinking , wedding on some beautiful island or winery, followed by another beautiful honeymoon where they can just keep bickering but ultimately his eyes will only be for her. Seriously whoever is directing this has a good sense of capturing emotions not known by the characters themselves.
SO now we have a mopping, greeting, and driving YK slowly getting his way into what we’re anticipating, her heart.
THis is sooooo much better than Love Forward.
OH I NEED TO HUG YOU MY KINDRED SPIRIT LENA!
This drama’s success hinges on how spot on and as you put it ‘they get it!’ by all involved having the eye to capture every tiny nuance and flicker of subtle emotion between the lines of the OTP. It is crucial to have a Tony and a Sonia who are perfect with their every reaction face, flawless, but it also takes a super meticulous PD to have the clarity to put it on screen. The lines are slice of life genuine, making sense these characters are as real as they come across to me, but it is also all these hundreds of captions, split seconds conveying a thought, a reaction, a back and forth between the OTP that is reponsible for the narrative drive.
And you put it well why I love the pace and development of these characters, especially how they deal with YK. They are pitch perfect in the progression, how the stares are intense, every bit swoonworthy, but never crosses that line of more innuendo than this point of development required. They are also masterfully effective in how YK is convincingly moving on pragmatically, thoroughly planning out his plan of action, yet an effective scene, a line or two of Helen, you get that whole flush of emotions YK is guarding his heart against with all the stops and emotional sandbags, but it was rushes in. Lesser productions will serve us endless scenes of pining, this drama make so much more brilliant use of screen time illustrating YK and LL’s developement of a mutual understanding and admiration as human beings, a brownie point at a time. They have their priority straight!
I totally remember that face of him with that slight disappointment that he is not allowed to impress and get his pat on head like a loyal puppy or Pig in Babe for a job nicely done THEN the amusement it was actually her indirect nod she trusts him and respects his work enough. When you care about that person on whatever level, you are just that high-strung on their every hint of emotion and get out of control over-thinking. Oh I adore that apology scene ridiculously much as well. Oh TONYTONYTONY he is gloriously perfect, that balance of concern and fanboying his capable ladyboss on top of his guilt of judging her too crassly even though he is not without basis, he mans up to it, and he turns his boyish charm way off chart without ever overdoing the cutesy. He did so so much for that scene entirely effortless. I still have my jaws on floor dropped.
lolz haha of course you and me would have a hard time eating anything that is not made of Tony Yang’s face MUAHAHAHA ok, maybe just pervie me. But in all seriousness I love that LL has no capacity in her to see YK as a guy/romantic interest in any slightest shape or form yet or else she won’t be eating like a pig if she cares. She is a deadly focused person and has stubbornly set her mind to get a WT a a goal she must attain soonish. She is not easily swayed off course, a super yummilicious YK or not in presence.
And he is borrowing niece’s hub’s bike for that! haha but as always the spectators have a clearer view, it’s much more precious YK is truly going it out of being a lovely guy friend, nothing more.
It’s so fun to share in this drama excitement with like-minded individuals as enthusiastic as yourself! Lol
I can’t wait to watch ep 1 properly (i really enjoyed your recap) and more episodes tonight! I want to pace myself though but I’m not sure if I can!!
Happy to find another one blogging and reviewing and rewatching poh. Will be keeping you company. I too really enjoyed this show and its 2 leads, more than word csn say.
hugz! I think this is a bit underrated…as in less people has been watching it BUT everyone that has tried it out, 99% loved it more than words can say…which is my parameter of what a great drama is about.
I don’t know ab 99%, came across sites profiling this show, then they stopped, and some people criticising it as being slow, then it seems the rating is low.
Donot understand though why they do not like it. I love it, the show, the 2 leads, the small details that the production team took care to include, many ofbthr supporting stsrs, the pace, the leads thoughts. I am so attracted to sonia’s grace, composure, girlishness when she giggles(I think I am more attrscted to sonia more than to tony and mind u, I am female, in fact, I just came to know of her watching poh).
Also, do not understand why it is so underrated, becsuse to me, it is really, really good (not perfect, but 1 of the best shows I hv seen. Did I say I love it?
I do not know any and when peeps complain about a perfect coq au vin is not cooked fast enough they deserve their fastfood.
Sonia is very good, but she is a tad too plastic for me and wearing circle lens when emoting/acting is my peeve. She has very slight moments of OTT for me, I’m nitpicking, and Tony is just a better actor, attractiveness or not. Frankly he is not the most beautiful face on a guy for me.
I think the coq au vin vs fast food is a good comparison, very apt. It is true. If you like fast food, so be it, you just miss really good food, and that’s your loss.
I also have aversions to plastic, unnatural people, particularly in the women. So far, Sonia has not struck me as that way. She is sophisticated yet girlish and seems humble, that I believe is the unexpected. Of course, people keep public fronts and actual self, but so far, from the interviews, etc that I have seen of her, she seemed quite genuine. I also seem to see that there is a slight difference btw the sonia before she broke up with her long time boyfriend and now, like she is more grounded. Going through bad times and reconciling with these sadness do that to people, makes them more grounded, not so flashy, and overall, the person who doesn’t try to impress impresses more.
I tend to agree too that Tony is a better actor. Sonia doesn’t do the shouting, etc well, she does the melancholical scenes better, but she was kind of cute when she did the shouting in poh (like when she shouted at HYK after he stayed the night away), unnatural but to me, cute. Can’t explain but I just like her style, can’t say that that is something I usually do, been taken, or been smitten, even though the other actresses may be better actresses, more beautiful, or others. There is just something about Sonia (the whole packaging) that I like. And likely, if not for this show, and each other, I do not think i will like Sonia or Tony so much. With the show behind us, each of them seem to shine more brightly when with the other, it is either psychological or uncanny.
Sonia is my favorite TW actress atvm, and I can’t think of any actress impressing me so even in her past lesser dramas. I have been smitten by her since Black and White so I do notice she has done a few procedures through the years, you can google her model years. It is not too drastic, but is is more visible to me since Fierce Wife, just nothing ostentatious…and her spot on acting do capture my attention way more than anything on the surface.
As a habit, I do not read too much into actors/actresses lives. I just do not care as long as they are not criminals or absolutely horrible. Sonia does come across to me as very pleasant and down to earth and very very classy on top of her striking goddessy looks and supermodel status she is the whole package.
I do liked Tony since way way back when he was mostly a very promising newbie in some TW trendy indie movies and he was so memorable in Crystal Boys a 2003 TWdrama, so I have been constantly watching his everything…it is just they are rarely as good as TPoH. He has never been awful, he has been one of the most promising, brilliant, natural born actor of his generation since the day he shows up. It is more impressive when an actor can elevates himself/herself and shines in less stellar production. Sonia as well, I did not care for the writing for Fierce Wife at all, and drama was terribly overrated for me, BUT she still manages to impress me for her terrific job. Even in Black and White as a supporting role, she was absolutely scene stealing. She is just born with a natural talent for this business as well. Of course I am thanking the powers above for such a lovely written drama and a sensible ladydirector for these 2 to collaborate and have precious synergy…finally showing us what they are capable and worthy of!