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dangermousieI have been catching up with the Taiwanese drama Autumn's Concerto (also known as Next Stop Happiness) and such adoration!
I fell madly for it when it came out but then got sidetracked which worked out brilliantly - now I have all these yummy eps to catch up on. I am through ep 14 now and OMG. OMG.
The story of NSH, in case you don't remember, involves two damaged individuals - Ren Guanxi, an utterly screwed-up son of a soulless rich bitch and Mu Chen, a poor girl working in a school canteen and living with a predatory stepfather. They end up being drawn to each other, of course - it's the first time he comes across genuine warmth and goodness and she has finally found someone who will protect her, no matter what.
So far, so Mars (the shades of my favorite Taiwanese drama of all time are there, even if it's not as amazing as Mars) but that is basically the set-up. Guan Xi is severely ill with brain cancer and Mu Chen makes a bargain with the devil (or next best thing, his Mama) and promises to disappear from his life in exchange for a better chance at a cure. In one of the most cruel break-up scenes ever, she tells begging Guan Xi (who is running after her car) that she doesn't want to be with someone who has no future and drives off. Of course, it's a twdrama, and she does not know she is pregnant.
Fast forward 6 years and Mu Chen is a single mother living with her son in a small village in a somewhat poor but happy existence. And Guan Xi is a successful lawyer engaged to a young doctor who helped save his life. You see, he has forgotten everything before his surgery and everyone, his fiancee included, has conspired to keep his past from him. It's not all bad - without remembering his traumas, he is not really screwed up any more. And then fate brings him back face to face with Mu Chen and her son. And he finds himself falling for her all over again without remembering her...
Anyway, the main reason I adore NSH is that it's totally like this perfect fanfic written by my 14-year-old self. There is everything I want! Boys shielding girls with their body, angsty make-outs in the rain, adorable cute children who long for a father, angry remembrances etc.
Ep 14 made me SCREAM. SCREAM SCREAM SCREAM. Because OMG he finally remembered her. On the day of his wedding. And the way he is falling apart OMG. Because, of course, he believes she was such a horrible soulless person to him (and he also realized he has a kid he never knew about). We are back to screwed up Ren Guanxi. And for a good reason, too. I would go on a rampage!
The scene where he confronts her about is SO GOOD. Because I can so understand his anger. He was almost shaking, and he was crying OMG. I have to say, I wanted to shake Mu Chen and tell her, "tell him, dummy! Tell him the truth as to why you did it!" But I guess she's supposed to be super-good and doesn't want to destroy his new bond with his mother.
In some ways, NSH set-up now reminds me of My Lucky Star (which I adored) where the Hero wants to make Heroine pay (having valid reasons to believe she walked out at the worst time of his life etc) but is just so bad at it because he can't help but love her. Mmmm.
Have a shippy MV:
ETA: Remember that drama that was supposed to be with Joo Ji Hoon about a straight guy who pretends to be gay in order to get a room (his roomie is a girl). They are going forward with it, casting LEE MIN HO IN THE ROLE OMGOMGOMGOMGOMGOMGOMGTHANKYOU.
ETA2: Ugh, it's the writer of Stained Glass, a total trainwreck, storywise. I hope he/she got better since then.
I fell madly for it when it came out but then got sidetracked which worked out brilliantly - now I have all these yummy eps to catch up on. I am through ep 14 now and OMG. OMG.
The story of NSH, in case you don't remember, involves two damaged individuals - Ren Guanxi, an utterly screwed-up son of a soulless rich bitch and Mu Chen, a poor girl working in a school canteen and living with a predatory stepfather. They end up being drawn to each other, of course - it's the first time he comes across genuine warmth and goodness and she has finally found someone who will protect her, no matter what.
So far, so Mars (the shades of my favorite Taiwanese drama of all time are there, even if it's not as amazing as Mars) but that is basically the set-up. Guan Xi is severely ill with brain cancer and Mu Chen makes a bargain with the devil (or next best thing, his Mama) and promises to disappear from his life in exchange for a better chance at a cure. In one of the most cruel break-up scenes ever, she tells begging Guan Xi (who is running after her car) that she doesn't want to be with someone who has no future and drives off. Of course, it's a twdrama, and she does not know she is pregnant.
Fast forward 6 years and Mu Chen is a single mother living with her son in a small village in a somewhat poor but happy existence. And Guan Xi is a successful lawyer engaged to a young doctor who helped save his life. You see, he has forgotten everything before his surgery and everyone, his fiancee included, has conspired to keep his past from him. It's not all bad - without remembering his traumas, he is not really screwed up any more. And then fate brings him back face to face with Mu Chen and her son. And he finds himself falling for her all over again without remembering her...
Anyway, the main reason I adore NSH is that it's totally like this perfect fanfic written by my 14-year-old self. There is everything I want! Boys shielding girls with their body, angsty make-outs in the rain, adorable cute children who long for a father, angry remembrances etc.
Ep 14 made me SCREAM. SCREAM SCREAM SCREAM. Because OMG he finally remembered her. On the day of his wedding. And the way he is falling apart OMG. Because, of course, he believes she was such a horrible soulless person to him (and he also realized he has a kid he never knew about). We are back to screwed up Ren Guanxi. And for a good reason, too. I would go on a rampage!
The scene where he confronts her about is SO GOOD. Because I can so understand his anger. He was almost shaking, and he was crying OMG. I have to say, I wanted to shake Mu Chen and tell her, "tell him, dummy! Tell him the truth as to why you did it!" But I guess she's supposed to be super-good and doesn't want to destroy his new bond with his mother.
In some ways, NSH set-up now reminds me of My Lucky Star (which I adored) where the Hero wants to make Heroine pay (having valid reasons to believe she walked out at the worst time of his life etc) but is just so bad at it because he can't help but love her. Mmmm.
Have a shippy MV:
ETA: Remember that drama that was supposed to be with Joo Ji Hoon about a straight guy who pretends to be gay in order to get a room (his roomie is a girl). They are going forward with it, casting LEE MIN HO IN THE ROLE OMGOMGOMGOMGOMGOMGOMGTHANKYOU.
ETA2: Ugh, it's the writer of Stained Glass, a total trainwreck, storywise. I hope he/she got better since then.
