A bit rusty, let’s go light here. I’ve been healed by this drama. Healed from frantic Adhd drops and pick ups. Healed from 1-2 episodes every other week. Not healed, from the disappointment we all know far too well with these dramas. Usually hitting us about half way through. But no, this drama in particular found its way to rob you of your enjoyment in a mere segue from one story to the other.

The Hare

Despite an amateurish beginning in terms of performances, this is what started the incredibly strong and relatable premise that took hold of me to end up binging the entire series in 2 days. We’re introduced to Ruo Hua and her seemingly competent yet clearly depressed younger brother. I’ll keep this blunt so I don’t go off ranting more than my attention span and grammar can keep up with. There’s nothing impressive nor noteworthy here besides the rare topic of toxicity and mental manipulation their mother lays out and keeps her foot on for the entirety of the story.

A flashy production flex. While this side of the story presented a quite unique direction towards a very typical subject, there’s little to no substance behind everything we’re being taken along to witness. Constant traveling back and forth between school and pampering. Relentless amounts of job hunting, exams, and home migrating. There was so much “progress” to take in at face value, but provided little to at times absolutely nothing behind it nor what came after. We’re never taken through a single day at the office, a single class or study session of Ruo Hua’s days in college, a single minute of job hunting. It’s directionless behind several fluffy relationship arcs and depression sequences, not a single time have i felt an ounce of character development here, for anyone. Ruo Hua remained the same dull character that has no idea what she wants to do in life, while at the same time somehow managing to do just about everything that’s put in front of her. Rapid pacing without ever hitting a single finish line in any of its aspects.


The Tortoise

Slow, defined steps. Meaningful dialogue. Top class performances. Set goals, realistic obstacles. This, is where you put your bets on. This is what you’ve come to watch. Half of my time i considered a complete waste with utter confusion as to why i kept consuming, this other half reminded me again and again why I couldn’t put it down.

I could rave about this half twice as much as i can rant on the half assed.. other half. But I won’t. This run alone gets my stamp of approval to go in completely blind to see why this is by far my favorite drama that failed as whole of what it had set out to do. And why it can be much more forgiving because of that for anyone else.


Overall

I’ve come to accept the realization of scenes that were cut out and/or adapted differently that resulted in the many faults of this drama’s pacing. But they don’t excuse the god awful decision making and quality of the changes itself.

But what I’d want of anyone looking to give it a watch, forget all of these faults. Make friends of the fast forward button if need be. Just let your time and attention be swooned away by the peak of this drama. Ruo Hua clearly wasn’t the favorite child nor story here.

Give in, to An Xin’s enchanting performance. Cheer on Xiu Fang through every beautiful, struggling step of the way. A hidden gem.