I love love love what The Vendetta of An did with Zhou Mo because they manage to do so much in terms of setting the tone for the story, establishing stakes, and introducing the main character, and pack it all into like three scenes just through Xie Huaian's interactions with Zhou Mo.
Spoilers for The Vendetta of An episodes 1&2
Cause the first thing we get is the two of them drinking together as close friends and Zhou Mo crying about Huaian leaving and Huaian insisting that he needs to leave and acting aloof as usual but at the same time he tells Zhou Mo about his past and seems to genuinely care about him and their friendship. So you get the impression of a main character who is clever and dedicated to his revenge, but who also cares about the people around him and has this underlayer of sadness to him.
Then, plot twist number one. Zhou Mo betrays Huaian. And Huaian doesn't look surprised at any point in that interaction, and to top it off he doesn't even blink, much less hesitate before stabbing what is probably his closest friend in the chest. This is such a good way to introduce the primary antagonist of the story, because it establishes that Huaian's enemies could be anyone, even his closest friends. It's also a way to establish his ruthlessness. Even when faced with the betrayal of his closest friend, he doesn't hesitate to do what he needs to to survive. His bonds and friendships are not as important as his survival and revenge. (Makes me also wonder what he went through in the years before he got to Huainan) And finally, it cuts him off from ever returning to Huainan. This middle-of-nowhere village and the community he found are no longer safe places for him.
Then, plot twist number two. The beginning of episode 2 shows us that Zhou Mo is alive, and not only that, but everything that happened at the start of the previous episode was part of an elaborate plot by Huaian to free Zhou Mo from the Huben army. And this is the first time that we get to see Huaian not just being clever, but being a schemer. He carefully arranges events around him to be in his favor and thinks ten steps ahead of everyone else. And most importantly it reinforces our initial assumptions about him. He is kind and he does care about his friends, it's just that the world he lives in is cruel and has forced him to become someone callous and ruthless to survive.
So going into episode 2, you understand the fundamental parts of Xie Huaian's character:
He's not just clever, he's a schemer, and his actions usually have ulterior motives based on information he has and we don't.
His enemies are everywhere, and one misstep will put him right in their hands.
He is fundamentally kind, and cares for the people around him.
He isn't afraid to paint himself as the bad guy to achieve his goals and help the people he cares about.
And you get all of that from three or four scenes with Zhou Mo.
So i went into this Drama because i liked the premise of a rich Girl/Heiress running a way from Home and a arranged Marriage to go to College and find out the truth about her Parents. And while i liked the main couple in the beginning, i found them to be a little bit boring towards the end, I dunno. I still enjoyed the drama because of the plot even if i wasn't that invested in the main Couple. Now here comes the Main reason why I was so invested in this Drama.
The Second Couple Zhang Fang Fang and Lin Yi Yang. Even though they didn't have as much Screen time as the Main Couple, I was invested in them since their firsts interaction. Every Scene they were together in had me squealing like a teenage girl.
All in all i would give this Drama a solid 8/10 and will totally put this on my worth a rewatch list. Ps. can someone please cast Zhou Mo as a Female Lead already most preferably with Zhao Yi Quin as the Male Lead but I'm not that picky. Thanks 😘
I have no idea where I was going with this when I started it but whatever, I forgot so imma post it anyhow...(loooong post)
So like I blasted through Healer and since I no longer have exams and am on my uni holidays for the year, I ain’t even taking the time to goddamn breathe bc I started a new Asian drama - Accidentally In Love (C drama) and I got stuff to say!!! (Spoilers)
So first of all...how old are these kids and by “college” do they mean university or high school bc they be drinking and driving and shit but then there are scenes where they’re in uniform?? And have high school like classes and desk mates are a thing??? Idk what’s the legal age for drinking and driving in China??? Bc I keep thinking these literal children (ok teenagers at best) are ordering wine and getting drunk but then there’s a scene where they’re sitting at low tables in an art room of this supposedly prestigious school whacking at some A4 paper with brushes and blue paint and I’m like ????? What is this class meant to be???? Kindergarten arts and crafts????
Edit: pretty sure it’s high school but the drinking is not explained???
But anyway rant over, basic premise: Chen QingQing gots da money and is the rebellious rich girl who doesn’t wanna get married and find out about her parents (one deceased, one missing) and enrols at Ming De College...against the wishes of her grandfather who has people chase after her...along the way she gets hooked into some drama with Si Tu Feng, idol and pop star, who similarly is trying to escape his duties to attend the wedding of his dad whom he is pissed at but then collided with QingQing, decides he’s gonna go anyway (after accidentally stealing a kiss off her) declares him and QingQing engaged (the amount of times I demanded she smack upside the head with the chicken drumstick she was holding in her hand ohohohohoho) which would start rumours and crap about their supposed relationship...they then go on to meet at Ming De College and various circumstances keep pushing them together...
Basically it’s very Meteor Garden/Boys Over Flowers except the girl is actually rich and hiding it, the boy isn’t actually that bad as far as demanding chaebols go...
there was some angsty trash in the first ep where he was using QingQing to spite his dad but idk mostly all he does now is chill with her, banter with her, ignore her, or help her out...after the adequate and expected “declaration of hatred and brief avoidance of the other at the start of this drama” period...
The girl fell in love pretty quickly and first...I mean I love me a boy falls first story but this is ok bc it’s a simmering slow burn...he’s pretty much totally into her but keeps denying it...
He’s actually pretty gentle and gentleman
The angry girl antagonist is actually a relevant figure in his life and he treats her well
SO, I’m only up to Ep 15 the ship brewing nicely, as well as a side ship I am attending to with careful consideration, and a ship that is sinking before it even began...
IM DONE AND IM MAD THEY DONE MAH HOMIE BRO GU NAN XI DIRTY!!! GU NAN XI WAS THE ULTIMATE FRIGGEN WINGMAN AND IM PISSSSEDDD!!!
As is per the usual: two bros, one love interest...when you’re close like that, your preferences tend to align, as is the case with Si Tu Feng and Gu Nan Xi...apparently more than once
Gu Nan Xi realises first Qingchen and Chen QingQing are the same person, Qingchen being the girl he’d fallen for and Chen Qing Qing clearly being the girl Feng had fallen for
He’s torn bc that’s his homie but also he technically liked her first??? To make things worse for him, he also starts falling for Qing Qing knowing that the two girls are the same and also bc she’s a cool friend who he appreciates and cares for
So he’s in love with both. Feng only likes Qing Qing. Nan Xi is in a bind. What does he do??
HE GIVES UP ON QING QING
He is forced to watch on as they become all lovey doves and romantic and he has his feelings just there with nowhere to go
HE EVEN SETS UP FIREWORKS FOR EVERYONE ESPECIALLY QINGQING TO ENJOY ON HER BIRTHDAY BUT THEN THEY ALL DISAPPEAR AND THEN HE FINDS FENG ROMANCING QQ UNDER THE TREE WITH A SONG AND HIS VERY SPECIAL GUITAR PICK GIVEN TO HIM BY HIS MOTHER AND NX IS ALL PISSED AT GOING TO THE TROUBLE OF GRABBING FIREWORKS AND HAS TO WATCH THIS LOVE SCENE AND TELLS HIMSELF NOT TO HELP ANYMORE OR KEEP THE MOOD GOING BUT LIGHTS THE FIREWORKS ANYWAY??!?!?! IM SO MAD THEY DIDNT GO BACK AND APPRECIATE HIS GIFT!!!!
He admits his feelings to her but knows that he’ll never have the same connection with her that she has with Feng and tells her as much and accepts their friendship and all g mcgee
Even when Feng has misunderstandings bc of Xinya, he keeps coming back to try and convince Feng of the misunderstandings and never NOT ONCE did that thing second leads do where they say “well fine I’ll have her then if you don’t want her bc I’ve been holding back all this time” BC HIS GADDAMN LOYALTY TO HIS BEST FRIEND IS SO FRIGGEN FIERCE
