I feel like this is yet another drama where forgetting the ending ever happened greatly improves the entire story.

Here's the thing - I love tragedy. I love something that makes me cry and feel things. Tragedy often shapes people and I think it's important for fiction to reflect that reality - not everything happens the way we want it to.

That being said, I think the LGBTQ community has dealt with enough. Considering gay marriage is legal in Taiwan (and in a lot of places all over the world), I would've rather seen a happy ending come out of this series. Especially because Xiang Hao Ting and Yu Xi Gu fought so hard to be together. I admire Xiang Hao Ting's unwavering love for Yu Xi Gu; his parents didn't accept it and he didn't care. He still fought to be with the man he loved. To have that taken away because of an accident...something about it just doesn't sit right with me. I usually love a tragic ending, but this one I didn't.

The acting in this show is incredible. Xiang before Yu's death is an entirely different person, and I think Wayne Song's acting is unmatched by any other actor in the show. His tears are believable; his anguish is, too. He really brought everything he has to bring Xiang to life for us and for that, I don't think I can give this show less than 7/10. But I think I would've rather seen a happy Xiang to the end. He played Xiang so well - bubbly, carefree, kind. He was like a giant puppy. The duality is respectable, but the entire last episode felt like the ending to another series.

I still have a lot of mixed emotions about it. Enjoying tragic endings doesn't mean all of them get a free pass. This one should've ended so much happier. I knew the ending was coming because I'd been spoiled long before watching it, but it still hit me because the two of them were so pure throughout the whole series. And it was so well written - things didn't move too quickly, and each character had adequate time to let us get to know them.

As for the side couple, I really loved them. I'm glad they got a happier ending at least. Lu Zhi Gang getting to go home meant a lot. I also really like that they're still together and happy. But I felt awful for Xiang when he had to listen to Sun talk about it... I think no matter how much time has passed, it's hard to be happy when someone else is living the life you'd imagined for yourself. No matter if that person is a brother/sister. It can be heartbreaking.

All the same - I'll continue to watch HIStory productions. Their past stories were fantastic and this was no exception. I just think the ending ruined it a little for me. But the casting was perfection and the story itself was great, too. I look forward to whatever they do next.