Aussie Guy
This review may contain spoilers
Definitely worth watching + one criticism
This review contains spoilers. It's better to watch the show before reading what I've written.
Each week, I waited patiently for the next episode of "History 3: Making Our Days Count" to be released on VIKI. It's been such an amazing show and I have thoroughly enjoyed it. The final episode, however, is not sitting comfortably with me. At this very moment, I am in front of my computer after having completed the drama and I'm feeling completely gutted and wishing that I had stopped watching the show at episode 18.
By way of background.... my very-much-loved son passed away a couple of years ago and this final episode has brought back all the misery, all the heartache and all the grief that I felt when he died. I mention this as an indicator of the impact that this last episode had on me and also because there is a parallel between my experience and Hao Ting's story. It is a huge credit to Shao Hui Ting's writing and Tsai Mi Chieh's directing that I am now feeling this way. In addition, Wayne Song's acting was absolutely outstanding; he brought me to tears. I honestly hope that he wins an award. He deserves it. I also know that I feel this way because of Juan Zhi, too, and his ability to create an incredibly real and very likeable Xi Gu. I applaud the abilities of every one of these people with all my sincerity. What makes me reflect the most, though, is that I wish that I did not have to experience these painful feelings again without benefiting from some positive gains as well. For example, when I look back on my son's life, there are so many positive aspects to it for which I am extremely grateful. This sense of the value of a life was not there in the last episode of "Making Our Days Count". For me, such positive gains in the midst of terrible tragedy seemed to be missing and I was left feeling meaninglessly heartbroken.
I'll explain what I mean.
Xi Gu did not deserve to end so miserably. He had already been through more than enough. His struggles contained life-lessons for all of us and were worth so much more than a few bits and pieces in a biscuit tin. That Hao Ting's parents did not honour the memory of Xi Gu a little more was cruel because even in death, Xi Gu kept his heartfelt, solemn promise to Hao Ting's parents and gave their son the reason and the momentum Hao Ting needed to make a great life for himself. It would have been wonderful if Hao Ting's and Xi Gu's homosexual relationship, brief as it was, could have been celebrated because of all the good that it eventually brought. This did not happen though. Instead, we were introduced to "Phoebe" and the glimpse of a heterosexual relationship now being important. In my opinion, Xi Gu's promise to Hao Ting's parents in an earlier episode was worth its weight in pure gold and was worthy of acknowledgement and story development rather than being pretty much forgotten. Had Xi Gu been remembered with fondness and gratitude by everyone who mattered, the tragedy would have felt worthwhile and it would have sat much more comfortably with me. It would have been cathartic.
To be honest, I usually find the "six years later" (or equivalent) kind of last episode challenging. In this particular instance, I would have liked the final episode to lead the me along a little more gently instead of keeping everything a mystery until right near the end. While all the characters in the drama had had 6 years to move on and get used to the situation, as the audience, everything was brand new to me and it was hard getting my head around it all and trying to make sense of it. Maybe this is just me, though.
While I know that I have been negative in writing the above, please keep in mind that these critical thoughts relate to just one double episode in one drama. And the drama was well worth watching.
In closing, I sincerely want to thank all those involved with the different History series. You are doing the world a great service by showing same-sex dramas and teaching the world that gay is OK. What's more important, though, is that you are leading the way with helping the world see what gay relationships look like, that they are not something scared of and, at the end of the day, that love is love. I congratulate everyone on their amazing work.
Each week, I waited patiently for the next episode of "History 3: Making Our Days Count" to be released on VIKI. It's been such an amazing show and I have thoroughly enjoyed it. The final episode, however, is not sitting comfortably with me. At this very moment, I am in front of my computer after having completed the drama and I'm feeling completely gutted and wishing that I had stopped watching the show at episode 18.
By way of background.... my very-much-loved son passed away a couple of years ago and this final episode has brought back all the misery, all the heartache and all the grief that I felt when he died. I mention this as an indicator of the impact that this last episode had on me and also because there is a parallel between my experience and Hao Ting's story. It is a huge credit to Shao Hui Ting's writing and Tsai Mi Chieh's directing that I am now feeling this way. In addition, Wayne Song's acting was absolutely outstanding; he brought me to tears. I honestly hope that he wins an award. He deserves it. I also know that I feel this way because of Juan Zhi, too, and his ability to create an incredibly real and very likeable Xi Gu. I applaud the abilities of every one of these people with all my sincerity. What makes me reflect the most, though, is that I wish that I did not have to experience these painful feelings again without benefiting from some positive gains as well. For example, when I look back on my son's life, there are so many positive aspects to it for which I am extremely grateful. This sense of the value of a life was not there in the last episode of "Making Our Days Count". For me, such positive gains in the midst of terrible tragedy seemed to be missing and I was left feeling meaninglessly heartbroken.
I'll explain what I mean.
Xi Gu did not deserve to end so miserably. He had already been through more than enough. His struggles contained life-lessons for all of us and were worth so much more than a few bits and pieces in a biscuit tin. That Hao Ting's parents did not honour the memory of Xi Gu a little more was cruel because even in death, Xi Gu kept his heartfelt, solemn promise to Hao Ting's parents and gave their son the reason and the momentum Hao Ting needed to make a great life for himself. It would have been wonderful if Hao Ting's and Xi Gu's homosexual relationship, brief as it was, could have been celebrated because of all the good that it eventually brought. This did not happen though. Instead, we were introduced to "Phoebe" and the glimpse of a heterosexual relationship now being important. In my opinion, Xi Gu's promise to Hao Ting's parents in an earlier episode was worth its weight in pure gold and was worthy of acknowledgement and story development rather than being pretty much forgotten. Had Xi Gu been remembered with fondness and gratitude by everyone who mattered, the tragedy would have felt worthwhile and it would have sat much more comfortably with me. It would have been cathartic.
To be honest, I usually find the "six years later" (or equivalent) kind of last episode challenging. In this particular instance, I would have liked the final episode to lead the me along a little more gently instead of keeping everything a mystery until right near the end. While all the characters in the drama had had 6 years to move on and get used to the situation, as the audience, everything was brand new to me and it was hard getting my head around it all and trying to make sense of it. Maybe this is just me, though.
While I know that I have been negative in writing the above, please keep in mind that these critical thoughts relate to just one double episode in one drama. And the drama was well worth watching.
In closing, I sincerely want to thank all those involved with the different History series. You are doing the world a great service by showing same-sex dramas and teaching the world that gay is OK. What's more important, though, is that you are leading the way with helping the world see what gay relationships look like, that they are not something scared of and, at the end of the day, that love is love. I congratulate everyone on their amazing work.
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