![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
dangermousieYES! Ny dint of diligent unpacking I unearthed my DVD player and hooked it up. Guess what followed? Sitting on my compfy sofa, feet wrapped in a warm comforter (it was very cold last night), I ended up watching Eps 16, 17 and beginning of 18 of It Started with a Kiss. Oh, soooooo good!
Also, in the commercial breaks section, there were clips of some kind of ISWAK promotion event, with students asking questions of Ariel Lin and Joe Cheng and ROFL. My favorite was the girl who asked JC to tutor her. Heeeeee (he pointed out that she got into the drama too much as his IQ wasn't 200 :P)
So, so amazingly good.
Second half of Ep. 16 (wrote up first half earlier):
I love that whole scene where she makes him a lunch box and he teases her about it but she looks hurt so he takes it and then he is in the officen staring at it (the thing must be scarily inedible if Ah Jin's reaction to it later is any indication). And I love it, because if you think about it, he's in the office, no one will know if he threw it away, but he can't because it's hers. AWWWW. And then Apple comes in and asks if it's his gf's and you can see ZS almost audibly swallow and he looks so young and like he doesn't know and it's all very cute.
He is mellowing out more and more and it's adorable. Love how amused he is by XQ and his brother bickering in the hospital. And then when he meets that sick kid who used to hang out with YS, Ah Nou. That actually made me tear up a bit because I am a sap. He is so touched and gentle and patient with him and he offers to teach him homework even though he is already crazy overworked. And when Ah Nou matter of factly refers to him as a genius who could cure him, you see how he is so uncertain and unsure (and he so rarely is) and I realize that having all those expectations on you must be really daunting for him sometimes. He looks very vulnerable, which is another AWWWW.
And then he decides to give up his big dream, being a doctor, because his father is on the verge of keeling over from stress of his job and if he knew ZS was there to replace him, he'd get better, and I feel horrible for him. It's not just that he wants to be a doctor so badly, but he is giving it up for a job he literally hates. I love that scene when XQ comes across him at night downstairs, and he's clearly been up all night trying to think of another way out but he can't. And he looks so bleak as he says maybe he'll find something about it that he likes. And again, he tells all this to Xiang Qin! And she is the only person he tells this to. The thing is, he always shares with her, even though he doesn't with anyone else. He opens up to her which is a good good thing. And then he just sits there frozen in misery and she just hugs him and cries for him. It's like she is the conduit for his emotions and she expresses what he can't.
I really like how ISWAK, fluffy cute as it is, isn't just about mushy romance. It's about career and figuring out who you are and what you want to do with your life. Which is really cool.
And then he goes to the hospital and puts his jacket over his Mom which is OMG love. He is so different from the very standoffish person of the first ep. And then he starts his new job in earnest and it's sucking him dry. There is a very indicative scene where his brother and XQ squabble over dinner and he is so tired he doesn't even notice and then he gets up and goes back to work.
And then I see previews and I scream loudly. Very.
Ep 17 and beginning of 18:
First off, on a shallow note. He looks HOT in a suit.
I also love how when he leaves for work he now automatically extends his hand for the lunch box. I like the implication of it, as if she's been doing it every day and heeeee, considering it's horribly inedible, huge points to him for taking it every day. And I love how she goes to work with him and he is a bit taken aback, but she is totally bossing him :P
And then Director Bai shows up at work and XQ serves tea and it's adorable how embarassed ZS is at her praises of him. But of course, poor XQ doesn't realize he is digging her own pit of misery as it's all that glowing praise that gets Director Bai interested in ZS as a match for his daughter. And then the suggestion comes. And ZS just learned that the company is falling apart and he knows if he hooks up with Miss Bai, he'd be able to save it because Bai company is really well off blah blah blah. And so he agrees, even though he is so bleak about it and he clearly doesn't want to (love the scene of him flashing back to the conversation of how badly off the company is and he is all bleak there and XQ shows up and says when she is depressed she just has a big meal and he grimly says 'it's a good idea.')
So he is going to marry a girl he doesn't like to save his family (because he is clearly afraid Dad will keel over). How very Bollywood. And the thing is, he is at his wits end, and he's also shown that he is very thorough and he is willing to give up his heart's desire for his family. So giving up being a doctor was one, and XQ (because even his little brother points out he doesn't like new girl, he likes XQ) is the other. And he is a bit lost around XQ now. I think it's because he hates hurting her but he also feels guilty when he sees her sad. It's a mess all around. And I love how he instinctively tries to hide the truth from her (by being quiet when talking to his Mom about it) even though it's irrational as she'll find out of course.
And I love how he won't let his family know it's to save the business because then they will feel obligated and guilty and refuse.
So he goes on that arranged date (and then a second one). And he is on his best behavior and does everything correctly but it's as if he is an automaton. There is no real ZS left there at all. Importantly, the only times he really comes alive is when he comes across XQ (as when he sees her try to set off sprinklers) or when he thinks of her (OMG, when he and the new girl see a play and new girl points out she hates people who sleep in theaters and you see him smile rather adorably because he is picturing himself and XQ in a theater and she's asleep on his shoulder? SQUEE. He is fantasizing about her!!!!) And he tells new girl he remembers seeing her in the elevator and she thinks it's because she's impressed him and he lets her think that but of course the truth is, as was established earlier, he remembers everyone all the time.
And when she says she wants to see him again? The look on his face. A part of him was clearly hoping she wouldn't because then he'd feel he did his best and it didn't work out so he doesn't have to feel guilty and it's OK. And she calls the house and XQ picks up and yet again, you can see ZS feels wretched and guilty.
And then they have this fight where he tells XQ she should find someone else to love. And XQ is frozen and then is just lying in her bed. And she finally decides to give up.
And ZS is sitting in his room, staring blankly at nothing and looking completely miserable. And his little brother tells him he likes XQ not new girl, so what on earth, and I love how ZS, on a frozen tone, recites the new girl's good qualities (brain, cooking etc) as if it's a market or he is trying to convince himself and he's been repeating it to himself for ages.
And XQ goes on a date with Ah Jin. And the LOOK on ZS's face as he finds out she went on a date 'looking very happy.' OMG OMG OMG. I can't blame him for the other girl, but seriously boy, snap out of it and run after XQ. but not yet because I like my angst.
Also, in the commercial breaks section, there were clips of some kind of ISWAK promotion event, with students asking questions of Ariel Lin and Joe Cheng and ROFL. My favorite was the girl who asked JC to tutor her. Heeeeee (he pointed out that she got into the drama too much as his IQ wasn't 200 :P)
So, so amazingly good.
Second half of Ep. 16 (wrote up first half earlier):
I love that whole scene where she makes him a lunch box and he teases her about it but she looks hurt so he takes it and then he is in the officen staring at it (the thing must be scarily inedible if Ah Jin's reaction to it later is any indication). And I love it, because if you think about it, he's in the office, no one will know if he threw it away, but he can't because it's hers. AWWWW. And then Apple comes in and asks if it's his gf's and you can see ZS almost audibly swallow and he looks so young and like he doesn't know and it's all very cute.
He is mellowing out more and more and it's adorable. Love how amused he is by XQ and his brother bickering in the hospital. And then when he meets that sick kid who used to hang out with YS, Ah Nou. That actually made me tear up a bit because I am a sap. He is so touched and gentle and patient with him and he offers to teach him homework even though he is already crazy overworked. And when Ah Nou matter of factly refers to him as a genius who could cure him, you see how he is so uncertain and unsure (and he so rarely is) and I realize that having all those expectations on you must be really daunting for him sometimes. He looks very vulnerable, which is another AWWWW.
And then he decides to give up his big dream, being a doctor, because his father is on the verge of keeling over from stress of his job and if he knew ZS was there to replace him, he'd get better, and I feel horrible for him. It's not just that he wants to be a doctor so badly, but he is giving it up for a job he literally hates. I love that scene when XQ comes across him at night downstairs, and he's clearly been up all night trying to think of another way out but he can't. And he looks so bleak as he says maybe he'll find something about it that he likes. And again, he tells all this to Xiang Qin! And she is the only person he tells this to. The thing is, he always shares with her, even though he doesn't with anyone else. He opens up to her which is a good good thing. And then he just sits there frozen in misery and she just hugs him and cries for him. It's like she is the conduit for his emotions and she expresses what he can't.
I really like how ISWAK, fluffy cute as it is, isn't just about mushy romance. It's about career and figuring out who you are and what you want to do with your life. Which is really cool.
And then he goes to the hospital and puts his jacket over his Mom which is OMG love. He is so different from the very standoffish person of the first ep. And then he starts his new job in earnest and it's sucking him dry. There is a very indicative scene where his brother and XQ squabble over dinner and he is so tired he doesn't even notice and then he gets up and goes back to work.
And then I see previews and I scream loudly. Very.
Ep 17 and beginning of 18:
First off, on a shallow note. He looks HOT in a suit.
I also love how when he leaves for work he now automatically extends his hand for the lunch box. I like the implication of it, as if she's been doing it every day and heeeee, considering it's horribly inedible, huge points to him for taking it every day. And I love how she goes to work with him and he is a bit taken aback, but she is totally bossing him :P
And then Director Bai shows up at work and XQ serves tea and it's adorable how embarassed ZS is at her praises of him. But of course, poor XQ doesn't realize he is digging her own pit of misery as it's all that glowing praise that gets Director Bai interested in ZS as a match for his daughter. And then the suggestion comes. And ZS just learned that the company is falling apart and he knows if he hooks up with Miss Bai, he'd be able to save it because Bai company is really well off blah blah blah. And so he agrees, even though he is so bleak about it and he clearly doesn't want to (love the scene of him flashing back to the conversation of how badly off the company is and he is all bleak there and XQ shows up and says when she is depressed she just has a big meal and he grimly says 'it's a good idea.')
So he is going to marry a girl he doesn't like to save his family (because he is clearly afraid Dad will keel over). How very Bollywood. And the thing is, he is at his wits end, and he's also shown that he is very thorough and he is willing to give up his heart's desire for his family. So giving up being a doctor was one, and XQ (because even his little brother points out he doesn't like new girl, he likes XQ) is the other. And he is a bit lost around XQ now. I think it's because he hates hurting her but he also feels guilty when he sees her sad. It's a mess all around. And I love how he instinctively tries to hide the truth from her (by being quiet when talking to his Mom about it) even though it's irrational as she'll find out of course.
And I love how he won't let his family know it's to save the business because then they will feel obligated and guilty and refuse.
So he goes on that arranged date (and then a second one). And he is on his best behavior and does everything correctly but it's as if he is an automaton. There is no real ZS left there at all. Importantly, the only times he really comes alive is when he comes across XQ (as when he sees her try to set off sprinklers) or when he thinks of her (OMG, when he and the new girl see a play and new girl points out she hates people who sleep in theaters and you see him smile rather adorably because he is picturing himself and XQ in a theater and she's asleep on his shoulder? SQUEE. He is fantasizing about her!!!!) And he tells new girl he remembers seeing her in the elevator and she thinks it's because she's impressed him and he lets her think that but of course the truth is, as was established earlier, he remembers everyone all the time.
And when she says she wants to see him again? The look on his face. A part of him was clearly hoping she wouldn't because then he'd feel he did his best and it didn't work out so he doesn't have to feel guilty and it's OK. And she calls the house and XQ picks up and yet again, you can see ZS feels wretched and guilty.
And then they have this fight where he tells XQ she should find someone else to love. And XQ is frozen and then is just lying in her bed. And she finally decides to give up.
And ZS is sitting in his room, staring blankly at nothing and looking completely miserable. And his little brother tells him he likes XQ not new girl, so what on earth, and I love how ZS, on a frozen tone, recites the new girl's good qualities (brain, cooking etc) as if it's a market or he is trying to convince himself and he's been repeating it to himself for ages.
And XQ goes on a date with Ah Jin. And the LOOK on ZS's face as he finds out she went on a date 'looking very happy.' OMG OMG OMG. I can't blame him for the other girl, but seriously boy, snap out of it and run after XQ. but not yet because I like my angst.
![[identity profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/openid.png){kind=small}
no subject
Date: 2006-09-30 07:06 pm (UTC)But - imagine remembering everything all the time ** shrugs ** And - EEEEE! Ah Nou ( Arnold in my translation, I think) appears again and he is still alive! I was crying my eyes out when YS was leaving the hospital and Arnold was so sad. :(
no subject
Date: 2006-09-30 09:00 pm (UTC)And yup, Arnold is still around, yay :)