I just finished watching the whole series and the movie today. It was a really long TV series (23 1-1.5 hr episodes) and a short movie(1hr 48 mins). Last year or the other year, I was able to watch almost half of the series already when we borrowed the neighbor's DVD collection of it. However, I got tired of it halfway and only recently decided to watch it again.
Its story was good and mature. It dealt with marriage, divorce, extramarital affairs, relationships with age gaps, family, self-fulfillment, and of course the pursuit of happiness.
The reason why I gave up watching it before was because I got too frustrated and disappointed and mad at Wen Rui Fan and Li Wei En. Their behavior during the first half of the series were just too hateful. I read online that people would curse the two actors during and outside filming. It was proof that the program was widely popular and the actors were good in portraying the characters. Even when it was shown across Asia, the reactions were similar. The audience empathized with the difficulties of Xie An Zhen, Wen Rui Fan, Li Wei En, Lan Tian Wei, and the others.
After a year or so, I decided to watch it again. I needed closure hahaha and I read that it was a really good program. There are times when I felt the scene was a filler or the lines were preachy but then every TV series has them. The flow of the story and the characters more than make up for the program's deficiencies.
When I watched the final episode, I was convinced that An Zhen chose Tian Wei. It was downright rejection when she told Rui Fan "I can't go back". Moreover, her constant reading of Tian Wei's columns and her smile at the end had more meaning. It can mean two things (just friends or more than friends) but at least it was not an explicit no.
At the start of the movie (a continuation and ending of the series), I was more convinced it would be Tian Wei. There is no way one would stick postcards from a suitor on one's ref without any romantic inkling. In addition to that, she seemed happy and comfortable with Tian Wei (they had way more scenes too) unlike the awkward and forced meetings with her ex-husband. 30 mins through the movie, it was pretty much settled it would be Tian Wei but fine let the director attempt to convince us Rui Fan has a chance.
1. almost begging for one more chance through a product launch
- An Zhen forced a smile so it's a no
- Alright, she was touched by his words but not enough though
2. Meng-meng's speech at the school
- An Zhen also forced a smile and was feeling awkward
3. Kang De's endless hardsell for Rui Fan and An Zhen at the birthday party
- Honestly, it was over the line. He should know his limits.
4. Rui Fan buying and almost giving the ring
- The look on An Zhen's face was like saying "Sorry but please don't because you know I don't want to anymore"
Anyway, I was very much relieved when Rui Fan didn't give the ring and when he told Meng-meng to let go in the end. Finally, he realized that he can't be with her again, that her happiness is with someone else. It took him four years to realize. Wen Yu Meng too, it must have been really painful for a child.
For Wei En, I'm glad that she let Rui Fan know of Oliver's (the son, not the cat nor the stuffed toy) existence. Finally, she redeemed herself to me when she decided to raise the child on her own but not keep the secret of who his father is. Telling An Zhen was the right thing to do as her cousin, and also as the former mistress.
The climax was very corny, unrealistic, and predictable but it was another fun element of the movie. Finally, these two people can be happy together. It was a happy ending for everyone. Rui Fan as a father to both Meng-meng and Oliver, Wei En as a mother, Ho Ai Lin as a strong independent woman once again, Hao Kang De and Wen Rui Xuan with Zhuang-zhuang in a complete happy family, Lan Tian Wei and Xie An Zhen as a happy new couple. Even the minor characters had happy endings.
* As usual, I just grabbed some photos off Google images. :)
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