After a year of waiting in anticipation, we finally get to see the result of the choices (or perhaps lack thereof) made by our beloved characters. Will they achieve their ultimate wish/goal, or will fate lead them to a different path? Or perhaps, will fate lead them to a path where they will always be destined to make the same choices?

From S1 to S2, we follow XY and CX’s journey together along with TSJ, XL, FL, AN, etc who accompany them along the way. We come to understand how they are shaped by their experiences, their traumas/struggles, their expectations and goals. 

My personal thoughts:

The lows:
As someone who has read the novel, I will say that S2 (technically part 2) had several disappointing changes that ultimately left me wondering how they could possibly undermine the strong plot and character development from S1 (which was pretty faithful to the original). While it is understandable for adaptations to have some tweaks due to a variety of factors, the inconsistencies and choppy editing left things feeling lacklustre. Whether you’ve read the novel or not and no matter who your favourite character (or ship) was, the changes downplayed the complexities of each character and their relationships, and the meaning behind the entire theme of lovesickness/losing someone forever. I think it is fair to say that all the characters were impacted and got the short end of the stick. It is unfortunate that LYF was one of the many victims of such changes (due to censorship or other reasons). It would have faired better by being a bit more faithful to be main events and the essence of characters in the original. I think a good 30 eps would have given viewers more context to follow along with a conclusive storyline.

The highs: 
The actors really carried the show, and I thank them because they really did their best with the script they were given, which helped me pull through in S2. They have a good grasp of their characters and executed the array of emotions beautifully. ZWY and YZ (also TJC) absolutely SHINED this season - their acting range and calibre are some of the best I have seen in a while. I am so happy they were casted and can only hope they collaborate again in the near future. That level of chemistry should definitely be utilized again. In fact, all the cast members did an amazing job! They pulled my heartstrings and are the heart of the series.

Although there were some questionable and illogical changes, they did include some scenes that were not part of the novel, which added onto the storyline and the characters’ POV.

Also, shoutout to the supporting cast: Grandpa, Haoling Emperor, Lao Sang, Ru Shou, Mao Qiu (Chubby) who made the drama that much more vibrant.

Overall, the drama as a whole was still very memorable with many meaningful life lessons touching on life, love, and loss. The detailed discussions and analyses you see in MDL reflect just that - the deep impression the characters have left on the viewers. I still recommend this series and highly recommend the novel if you haven’t already checked it out.