Ah, this Taiwanese drama makes my heart so happy, despite my panda eyes. As you know, I started this show just a couple of days ago, and thanks to the Memorial Holiday weekend (long weekend), I was able to spend some time with this memorable series. I love the slice of life depiction of young adults in this era, the era of freedom, which isn’t too far from the actual events surrounding Taiwan in 1995. Without getting into specific historical events, this show doles out nuggets of wisdom about youth and freedom, friendship and love. Oh especially love.
I take my word back regarding Jia En crushing on Ren Wei in the beginning. He was definitely a best friend and someone she shadows growing up. She gets so lost in his identity, she forgot about her own. That is why the analogy of building your own castle, and being the King of your own castle spoke so much to her. Realizing that she needs to blaze a path of her own, Jia En forgives Ren Wei for ratting her out for sleeping at a man’s dorm and becomes more independent. This goes to show that she didn’t have feelings for Ren Wei in that way. Instead, she treasures their friendship and connection they have forged since grade school.
Initially I suspected, like Bai Xue, that Ren Wei was just infatuated with her looks instead of actually liking her. I appreciated that the show brings to light the fact that maybe Ren Wei is only in love with his imagination, meaning, he is in love with the person that he imagined Bai Xue to be. Likewise, Bai Xue is in love with what she imagined Liu Chuan to be as well. As both Ren Wei and Bai Xue are rejected with their love, they are forced to evaluate their true feelings. So to my surprise, Ren Wei thinks about his dear friend and the fact that perhaps he should look at someone he’s more comfortable with. Even if the affection in this show changed in unexpected ways, it is done so genuinely that I’m not caught completely off guard. These two have not come to understand (or perhaps it is not their time), what it means to truly love someone.
Throughout the beginning and middle part of this show, Liu Chuan had been the one to advise Jia En, help her find resolutions to her problems, bail her out in difficult situations and play Mr. Perfect Prince Charming. But come to find, Liu Chuan doesn’t have it all figured out either. Thank God. Things aren’t given to him with a silver spoon as everyone imagined. He strived for freedom as much as anyone else. Part of his mission in college is to be free from his Legislative father’s demands and influences, as well as motivating his fellow classmates to embrace their freedom. There aren’t many issues that Liu Chuan can’t resolve, so when presented with the biggest obstacle and having to succumb to his father’s help, my heart truly goes out to him. He made a deal with the devil himself to save Jia En (and thereby himself) from expulsion from school.
At his greatest time of need- when he needs someone the most – his classmates and club members misunderstands that he had abandoned them. So it is with great pleasure to see that Jia En has not given up on him, in fact, she came to save him from himself. And to think that someone just needs to give the boy a hug – and maybe even the greatest love confession ever from a heroine.
Who here beamed like an idiot when Jia En put him through a scavenger hunt, using only the wise words that he taught her, but finally, giving him a confession that he too could learn a thing or two from? In the Treasure Hunt Club meeting room, in the final moment of the scavenger hunt, Jia En reminds him that he would be the first person she would tell once she discovers the meaning of love. She understands love much better now because of him. Liu Chuan is quite shocked but waits patiently (albeit with baited breath) while she confesses.
“Love is like a mirror,” Jia En states with a smile. “When in love, we see ourselves. When in love we grow as people. We learn to love ourselves,” she says. These are the things he taught her through their tribulations. However through the trials, Jia En learns that at a certain level, love is no longer that mirror. Love is now the courage to break the mirror and break the boundary that they’ve set for themselves. Because love shouldn’t have boundaries.
“You’ve underestimated me,” she continues, “you think I can only love a certain aspect of Liu Chuan, that I can’t love another side of Liu Chuan. You have set limitation to our love.”
Liu Chuan starts to fret.
“But you also gave me the courage to break those limitations. As a free person, you are worthy of my love. And as a person deprived of freedom, you are worthy of my love.”
Ah show, here’s my heart, you may do as you please with it.
Jia En plays the last cassette tape where she sings a song about love is freedom, then without having to say anything else, she throws her arms around him. The confession, the fact that she hasn’t given up on him, the fact that she loves him, and the sweet sweet hug, was all Liu Chuan needed to overcome his personal demon.
I might have died a little while watching this. Not only did I love the way they met, I love the way they got to know each other, supported each other and essentially made the best versions of each other. Now that’s true love.
Freedom, as a thematic element, is cleverly woven throughout the drama: the freedom from your family, the freedom to question authority, the freedom from limitations and thoughts of others, and finally, the freedom to love. There were moments the show took a little long (to my liking and impatient self) to get to the point, but once there, the journey is really quite worth the while. Like Liu Chuan said earlier, it’s not about winning or losing in the end, it’s about the process that matters.
If the show is anything, it is touching. Genuinely touching (like the last day of my life assignment), loveable characters (friendships that sustain and go to bat for each other), and a love that is worthy through thick and thin. I’ve gotten through the thick, and I’m bracing myself for the thin that is to come- before this drama wraps up. If we say ‘su-su’ in Thai, and ‘fighting’ in Korean to encourage perseverance, how does one use the same expression in Chinese?
I remember the 90s (before the internet), those weren’t easy times but they were memorable times.. beepers, waiting by the phone, bangs, Tamagotchis, aol, and the thirst for freedom.
Tagged: In a Good Way, Taiwanese Drama
The word is ‘chai oh’…how it sounds, not spelled
Thanks Lidy! It almost sounds like ‘chai yo’ in Thai, which is hurray!
I believe it’s spelled “jia you.” I haven’t seen this drama yet, but given all the great reviews, I’ll definitely make time for it. Thanks for sharing your thoughts, Fia.
Hi chobling. So I thought I was getting close to the ending.. but this series end with 26 episodes! I’m still yet so FAR away at episode 17. I don’t know whether to laugh or cry. Maybe a little of both. Glad that I get to watch MORE, but a little nervous of what else is in store. Hope you have time to start on it soon 🙂
My original post was not posted. So sad that took me 20 minutes to write and it was quite lengthy too. =(
Oh darn Fun! I hate it when that happens.. But someone once said that the second time around will come out even better 🙂
This is definitely a shorter version from my original.
加油 the pinyin is “jiāyóu”, it literally means “to add oil”. The English translation
1. Do you best!
2. Go go go!
3. Press on!
4. Good luck!
5. Hope things gets better for you with your bf/gf/parents/etc
6. ?Anything that makes sense? Basically it is an expression to encourage one to keep moving forward (you add in oil to your motor for it to continue on) or to stay strong.
Source credibility: me, 1 semester of Mandarin Chinese and years of experience watching spoken Mandarin Chinese dramas or you can Google it.
@Chobling, it is definitely a must watch. Have you even started on Bu Bu Jing Xin?
@Fia, welcome to Zombieland due to the best love confession ever. The whole treasure hunt confession was a lot more meaningful than a kiss and it is understandable since it is the 90s, Asian people were just more conservative. I love how the confession didn’t involve a single “I like you” since they pass that stage, she was talking their love and how she felt about their love. Btwn Taiwanese are awesome in creating kiss/bed scenes (It Started With A Kiss, They Kiss Again (sequel to ISWAK), Fated to Love You, Autumn Concerto, The Pursuit of Happiness, Mars, Devil Beside You, etc). Out of the bunch listed, I highly recommend Mars and Autumn Concerto. Ironically both drama has a college settings as well.
Anyways, I love how they ended Bai Xue’s one sided love towards Liu Chuan. That argument they had, made her realize that she had only loved his perfect side and that she really does not know him. Jia En has seen every side of him, the good and the bad. And I loved how Jia En told Liu Chuan that he underestimated her love, their love. You go girl!
I am stuck on episode 20, not that the drama is lacking in anything but knowing that there is only 6 more episode, I can’t bear say goodbye to it. I heard more so have read many complaints about how the writer ended the drama. IAGW supposed to have 33 episode but due to its mega hit popularity in Taiwan, the rest will be filmed on the big screen. I believe filming will start or it will premier? I forgot. This will be Taiwanese second drama to ever get a sequel in a movie format. There was a lot of negative reviews for The Fierce Wife but I believe in IAGW’s writers since they have written 20 great episode from which I have not been disappointed with. It may have not liked the slow pace but I find it just about right. It really does have a realism appeal to it by slowing things down. It is definitely worth it too. It’s all the little details that makes this so real and refreshing to watch. This is a very dialogue driven drama.
I don’t know where you are in the drama so I won’t spoil it.
[I copied this in case it doesn’t post]
Thanks to you, I am hooked on this drama too. I haven’t watched a TWdrama since Meteor Garden days. I’ve tried some other ones but lost interest. It’s so good to see they are using old techs. I haven’t seen them in ages. Seem so ancient yet it was only almost 20 years ago. And back then, the scrawny guys like Liu Chuen were the hotties (although I’d like him to be more meaty and taller). So far, I am loving the storyline.
Haha, my thoughts exactly. I do like the tall, dark and handsome heroes. Not to go all pride and prejudice on you. Glad to hear you’re hooked, M!
Lego was not this thin before. I forgot which role required him to lose weight, but he shed 11 ibs, since then he hasn’t gain it back. I like him during his Honey and Clover days. Kristen is pretty tall making Lego to appear short. He is a tiny bit above the Asian average height, 5’8″ which isn’t too shabby.
It seems that most of the characters in this show are skinny, which isn’t a bad thing 🙂 Lego is good looking in his own way. I can pretty much fall for a leading guy, regardless of his stellar or non steller looks, it’s all about the charisma onscreen. Some may not be handsome at first sight, but grows on you because of his character.
Wow, he’s 5’8? Yea, that’s asian size. She must be tall to make him look short. I guess I’m so used to the 6ft tall korean hotties, a short looking guy on screen is a miss to me. lol And yes, Lego has his own handsome charm.