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history3_trappedI've just started a rewatch, and I thought it might be fun to put up discussion posts for anyone who's also rewatching, watching for the first time, or just has random thoughts. I'm watching on Viki, where there are 10 episodes of 45 minutes each, so I'll start with a short summary and then some brief thoughts of my own (and then hopefully everyone can join in in comments!) I'll aim to get these up twice a week, on Saturdays and Wednesdays.
Episode 1
We meet our leads! Tang Yi's efforts to move his gang into legit business and Meng Shao Fei's long-standing obsession with him are both sketched very vividly. We also get a quick picture of Jack's insouciance, Captain Shi and his hilarious exasperation with Meng Shao Fei, Zhao Zi and Meng Shao Fei's friendship, and Tang Yi's close relationship with Hong Ye. Following Tang Yi's confrontation with Wang Kunchen and the latter's murder, we learn that Chen Wenhao is returning from Cambodia and the joint police and Interpol investigation into him begins. The episode ends with Meng Shao Fei looking sadly at his mentor's ID card as he thinks of her.
I love just how quickly the vibe between Tang Yi and Meng Shao Fei comes across, with TY seemingly as cool as a cucumber and MSF all peacocky, frantic energy - maximum efficiency in a short show and a great credit to the writing and acting. I also love the lift scene for many reasons, but one is that we briefly see TY flustered. Having MSF all up in his face is clearly having an effect on him, before he turns the tables so delightfully.
It's clear from his comments about Tang Yi that Zhao Zi is already finding men attractive, even before Jack turns the mega-wattage of his flirting on him. I really like this - it's one reason that the drama feels so grounded in its queerness. Zhao Zi isn't "gay for you" he's just gay, even if he hasn't necessarily articulated it to himself yet.
MSF is SO EXTRA that the character could have potentially been a bit annoying, but he's just so funny and charming. The "again" in "I, Meng Shao Fei, am not afraid of getting sued by you again" really cracked me up. OH MSF.
JAAAAAAACK (that is all.)
(Mod, could we please have a rewatch/discussion tag?)
Episode 1
We meet our leads! Tang Yi's efforts to move his gang into legit business and Meng Shao Fei's long-standing obsession with him are both sketched very vividly. We also get a quick picture of Jack's insouciance, Captain Shi and his hilarious exasperation with Meng Shao Fei, Zhao Zi and Meng Shao Fei's friendship, and Tang Yi's close relationship with Hong Ye. Following Tang Yi's confrontation with Wang Kunchen and the latter's murder, we learn that Chen Wenhao is returning from Cambodia and the joint police and Interpol investigation into him begins. The episode ends with Meng Shao Fei looking sadly at his mentor's ID card as he thinks of her.
I love just how quickly the vibe between Tang Yi and Meng Shao Fei comes across, with TY seemingly as cool as a cucumber and MSF all peacocky, frantic energy - maximum efficiency in a short show and a great credit to the writing and acting. I also love the lift scene for many reasons, but one is that we briefly see TY flustered. Having MSF all up in his face is clearly having an effect on him, before he turns the tables so delightfully.
It's clear from his comments about Tang Yi that Zhao Zi is already finding men attractive, even before Jack turns the mega-wattage of his flirting on him. I really like this - it's one reason that the drama feels so grounded in its queerness. Zhao Zi isn't "gay for you" he's just gay, even if he hasn't necessarily articulated it to himself yet.
MSF is SO EXTRA that the character could have potentially been a bit annoying, but he's just so funny and charming. The "again" in "I, Meng Shao Fei, am not afraid of getting sued by you again" really cracked me up. OH MSF.
JAAAAAAACK (that is all.)
(Mod, could we please have a rewatch/discussion tag?)
no subject
Date: 5 Jan 2020 08:43 (UTC)I *love* Jack popping up like a troll with "Aren't you the police?" And I hadn't quite picked up on that it's him who kills Wang Kunchen but you're completely right - who else could it be?
no subject
Date: 5 Jan 2020 11:56 (UTC)YES, THIS! Their back-and-forth is absolutely great. I love it when Captain Shi yells at Shao Fei, and his sarcasm and manner. I think their relationship with each other is another great dimension to the show.
I *love* Jack popping up like a troll with "Aren't you the police?"
Jack...has a mouth on him when he wants to. He truly will just throw remarks out there to increase the entropy in the room. XDDD
And yeah, I'm sure he's the one who kills Wang Kunchen, but how does he get away? There's another dude with Wang Kunchen. Wait, did Jack just straight up kill two dudes?!
P.S. I tweaked my Jack icon a bit, you may have version 2.0 if you like!
no subject
Date: 5 Jan 2020 20:56 (UTC)Yes! Of course. What was he going to do - leave a witness? Some people in this show are actually good at their jobs. XD
no subject
Date: 5 Jan 2020 21:24 (UTC)SOMEONE has to be :D
no subject
Date: 5 Jan 2020 21:30 (UTC)no subject
Date: 5 Jan 2020 21:32 (UTC)It's pretty sad that Jack is the only person out of the main four who's good at his job. That goes for being both Tang Yi's enforcer and a spy.
That's TWO JOBS he's doing.
Meanwhile, MSF is like "Tang Yi is not the kind of person who would order a hit on Wang Kunchen."
*five minutes later*
"SHIIIIIIIT."
He is so, so wrong about so many things. *facepalms*
no subject
Date: 6 Jan 2020 12:22 (UTC)I think that’s a little bit of a harsh judgement on Tang Yi. Surely he’s doing at least a reasonable job of being a gang leader and legitimising the businesses? At least until he lets Meng Shaofei come and live with him.
no subject
Date: 6 Jan 2020 12:34 (UTC)I think he's doing an OK job, but the end of the series makes it clear that he has to go atone for his crimes because of his failure to escape being ensnared by his need for revenge and his inability to let go of the past. Who's legitimizing his syndicate while he's in prison?
no subject
Date: 6 Jan 2020 13:11 (UTC)Yes, you’re right. TY does get sidetracked by prioritising his personal revenge but fundamentally he’s competent and doing a competent job (or so it appears). I see much less of MSF and ZZ being basically competent at their jobs. I guess the answer to this question overall depends on whether you see everything TY does for four years as a personally driven diversion, or just the final time period seen in the 10 episodes.
no subject
Date: 6 Jan 2020 13:54 (UTC)I don't think it's ever explicitly stated, but in the novelization epilogue, he only serves a three-year sentence (highlight to see spoilers). So, I would imagine that the only evidence the prosecution can really get on him is for attempting to kill Zhou Guan Zhi and shooting MSF.
I see much less of MSF and ZZ being basically competent at their jobs.
I headcanon that MSF is actually somewhat a decent detective, he just has a handicap for TY and the whole Xin Tian Meng stuff, so he always rolls low whenever it's a TY-related case.
ZZ googling "What to do if a guy confesses to you" at work is probably the best thing everrrrrr. XDDDDD
I guess the answer to this question overall depends on whether you see everything TY does for four years as a personally driven diversion, or just the final time period seen in the 10 episodes.
This is a good point. All joking aside, TY is also pretty competent, but again he has a handicap for things related Tang Guo Dong, so rolls incredibly low. XDDDDD