I just started watching the HIStory series the last year or so and, phew, how far it's come. From a sucky first season to a second season with a very flawed beginning and an amazing second half, the third season is the series at its best. Of course, coming off the positive reception and hype from Trapped, Make Our Days Count had a lot to live up to unfortunately. I will say that Make Our Days Count is still one of the best of the HIStory series but it isn't able to hold a torch to Crossing The Line or Trapped. However, there is potential here but it's muddled by jarring flaws, overused tropes and a polarizing ending.

The main relationship is absolutely wonderful and the way it progresses is very well done and one of the best aspects of the show. However, I do agree and understand with some that found Hsiao Hao-Ting's sudden attraction to Yu Xi Gu to be out of left field. Also, his toxic traits are glossed over, especially in respect to how he treats his girlfriend (I'm so sorry, I cant remember her name!) in the beginning. One can see how Hao-Ting's entrance into Xi Gu's life causes Xi Gu to reroute his whole plan to fix Hao-Ting's. Despite this, I found the chemistry between the actors to be electrifying. The actors did a very GREAT job at conveying several emotions. And Xi Gu is absolutely adorable!

As for the second couple, I was immediately put off by how it started and even at the end, I felt indifferent. I'm happy for the characters being happy in the ending but their relationship was built on toxicity. Sun Bo is whiny and doesn't know how to take no for an answer and does not know the meaning of consent. While it is brought up soon after, the issues are quickly glossed over for gratuitous sex scenes. I dont know, I just felt that Chih-gang felt obligated to start a relationship with Sun Bo if not it was not going to end well.

Everything seems to be going well with both couples until the last episode... where you learn about what happens to Xi Gu. At first, I was just in total shock. The feeling then transitioned into just pure upset and confusion over the decision to kill Xi Gu off. I do agree with many that say that they dont mind a sad ending if it's done well but this one is so random and appalling that it's actually an insult to not only the viewers but the characters as well, especially Xi Gu. Xi Gu did not deserve the ending he got. He suffered so much and ended finally achieving some type of happiness for THAT to happen. Also so much time was set up in the last episode to holding off on the shock of Xi Gu's death that we never really got to see how the other characters that were important to Xi Gu reacted in the aftermath. I was so mad that there was so showing of any type of emotion with Chih-gang. Chih-gang cared for Xi Gu so much and was practically like a surrogate brother to him. He was always looking out for him and was even against Hao-Ting being with Xi Gu in the beginning because he didn't want Xi Gu to get hurt and believed Hao-Ting's intentions to be hostile and for good reason. For there to be no representation of emotion from him is insulting to Xi Gu's character and what he signified to the show and these characters. And also what about the twin that liked Xi Gu? Another loose thread. There are showings of his crush on Xi Gu throughout the course of the show that never really go anywhere (not even a confession). He also cared deeply for Xi Gu and protected him from Hao-Ting and the rest of them in the beginning (I was shipping him at this moment with Xi Gu, they would've been so cute). You mean to tell me that he had no type of reaction to Xi Gu's death in any way? What was the writer thinking?

The ending is certainly going to leave many disgruntled but some will also come to understand it. While I do understand why they did it for the sake of the title, there was SO MANY OTHER WAYS that this could have been handled without death. The story could've ended with them bot being together at the end because they realized their forever really didn't mean forever. They just grew apart and learned they weren't meant to be but that they are grateful for their relationship for making every day they had together count. No matter if the love doesn't last forever, at least it mattered at the moment where they were in love. THIS could've been done. I don't know.

Overall, the show is saved by great acting and great music and a few surprises that turn the BL genre on its head (such as the girlfriend not being a villain THANK GOD). This show is still miles and miles better than what HIStory was in the beginning but it truly was potential wasted. Maybe after time I'll learn to love it a little more, not like I dont like it now but for now, I'm just that the show ended the way it did that left its audience with more question than answers and a lack of closure.