10 Comments On “Will Love in Spring: Eps 5 to 8 Open Thread”
GrowingBeautifully (GB)
Many thanks @pkml3! 😘 Now I can jump about in these threads with gleeful abandon LOL. 🤪🫣🤔🤭🫢🤫
GrowingBeautifully (GB)
EPISODE 5
What I like about the character of Chen Mai Dong is that funeral services to him is a vocation, and not just a job. He’s not out to just get the work over and done with. In the process of having to serve the dead, he ensures that he gives the living the care that they need as well. In this aspect, and throughout, his character is consistently written, which is something I appreciate.
I have a mini-spoiler from Ep 21 but since it has nothing to do with the plot but more with the moral lesson — or point of view — this cdrama wants to convey, I think it’s safe for me to write this and for you to read this. It’ll help you recast the male lead’s adventures and see them as his journey toward this enlightenment.
According to the male lead, he always thought that enlightenment was about facing death calmly. Given his profession, this worldview shouldn’t come as a surprise. But at the end of the story, he learned the enlightenment is actually about facing LIFE calmly.
So from being death-centric, he became the opposite. Because of his encounter with the girl and experience with love, he learned “carpe diem.” That’s the theme of cdrama: to make the most of every second, every hour, every day. I guess, it’s not that much different from the actor Li Xian’s previous drama “Meet Yourself” (2023).
GrowingBeautifully (GB)
EPISODE 5
LOL, CMD’s Granny lied. She got the village public broadcast to read the letter of appreciation sent to CMD so that ZJ would hear how well though of CMD was. She then promised CMD that she would do nothing more about bringing him and ZJ together. But we see that she engineered that ZJ should visit her on the evening that CMD would come home.
The first fight between CMD and Zhuang Jie. ZJ’s’s style of bulldozing her way into CMD’s life, presumably to get his attention, is perceived by him as her playing the fool, or ‘coming up with tricks’ ie she’s not serious around him or she’s just teasing him. He makes the cardinal error of saying aloud to her that he thinks she’s frivolous. I like his honesty though! But he lacks tact and is especially rude towards her.
When juxtaposed against how well he treats the bereaved, and even his colleagues, his behaviour towards ZJ stands in stark contrast.
In the scene timestamp 23:10 – 24:00, Zhuang Jie has walked uninvited into CMD’s room, switched on the music and touched the cds on the shelf.
They ask each other: “Is this what you do with everyone?” The fact that they both treat each other differently from anyone else is a sign that each is significant to the other.
She answers by saying that she finds him aloof and he says she’s frivolous. The thing is that ZJ is actually serious about getting close to CMD but he finds her methods off-putting. She’s offended and leaves in a huff.
One point of note is that CMD was willing enough to have a conversation with ZJ until he heard that she was leaving for Shanghai the next day. My guess is that it sounded like he was not in her plans at all, hence it was a waste of time getting to know her better. He stood up rudely and suggested that he saw her out. In addition, it might have seemed that she had come precisely just before she left Nanping in order to put pressure on him. Her way of taking liberties with him could understandably be misinterpreted and give a person pause.
Another guess is that thoughts similar to these might have crossed CMD’s mind: ‘What decent girl who has no intention of staying in Nanping to enter into a serious relationship, walks into a man’s room? What is she playing at? And how is the man supposed to react or respond to this situation?’
I find I don’t fault CMD for his reaction, and actually seeing this scene from the outside, ZJ did behave rather facetiously.
GrowingBeautifully (GB)
Thanks for your point and the theme @pkml3! I did watch the series until the end, and I know the scene you’re referring to. Yes that’s so true about CMD. He was so full of death being the great leveler and inevitable. He went about not really enjoying life. His thought was that the person who would leave would definitely go (and abandon him).
The subtle changes in him are hard to catch though. It seemed at times to be rather sudden.
Janey
Thank you @PM3 for these WLIS threads! Because of this show, I started watching Meet Yourself and I’m enjoying that, too. Looks like there was a thread (albeit short) on that show. I see the similarities and differences on the ML. Hopefully will post more thoughts soon.
Fern
Checking in here for the notifications. Much appreciated, @packmule3 🍪🍨.
grace
You are all watching this!
I want to watch Lovely Runner after stopping at Ep.2 but this show drew me in so strongly. I am savouring this show for all the emotions it give…Ep.7 & 8 had me brawling all the way through.
I love Zhuang Jie and how she has bounced back to life after her terrible accident but underneath all that hides a past she doesn’t want to revisit. I love how Chen MaiDong at both of her darkest times, gave her good encouragement and motivation to live well.
Strange, how ZhangJie ALWAYS calls Chen MaiDong, Chen MaiDong…his full name, including his surname. lol. She doesn’t feel close to him yet at ep.8 to call him MaiDong or not so formal to call him Mr.Chen or something. As if, she likes the sound of calling him in that way.
Life is busy and I’m only catching up as I go along, but just saying I’m loving this show and the very respectful depiction of transiting death in the funeral service. Loving this show so far!
@Janey, I enjoyed Meet Yourself a lot! ML in Meet Yourself is a more chirpy character and I love the FL who was the Mulan movie actress.
grace
@GB, a thought about ZJ’s frivolous-ness is that it could be a wall to hide her insecurities. It is as if all of it is serious, yet can be a joke. So if things doesn’t work out, it is a joke; if it does, it isn’t. There was a scene where CMD asks her, “Is this a joke?” and she answers that it can be and it may not be, depends on how he takes it.
Yet like how you say that they treat each other differently because of what they mean to each other, I think ZJ’s frivolousness is a result of her liking CMD. Like how you may more excited or more emotional with your crush or something.
Fern
@grace, I understand what you mean, I think. Like the sort of giddy, sort of OTT response you might give to a crush? Yes. I don’t think she treats others that way. And it’s a direct response to his very obvious wish to ignore her – like he has thrown her a challenge.
Many thanks @pkml3! 😘 Now I can jump about in these threads with gleeful abandon LOL. 🤪🫣🤔🤭🫢🤫
EPISODE 5
What I like about the character of Chen Mai Dong is that funeral services to him is a vocation, and not just a job. He’s not out to just get the work over and done with. In the process of having to serve the dead, he ensures that he gives the living the care that they need as well. In this aspect, and throughout, his character is consistently written, which is something I appreciate.
Be my guest, @GB.
I have a mini-spoiler from Ep 21 but since it has nothing to do with the plot but more with the moral lesson — or point of view — this cdrama wants to convey, I think it’s safe for me to write this and for you to read this. It’ll help you recast the male lead’s adventures and see them as his journey toward this enlightenment.
According to the male lead, he always thought that enlightenment was about facing death calmly. Given his profession, this worldview shouldn’t come as a surprise. But at the end of the story, he learned the enlightenment is actually about facing LIFE calmly.
So from being death-centric, he became the opposite. Because of his encounter with the girl and experience with love, he learned “carpe diem.” That’s the theme of cdrama: to make the most of every second, every hour, every day. I guess, it’s not that much different from the actor Li Xian’s previous drama “Meet Yourself” (2023).
EPISODE 5
LOL, CMD’s Granny lied. She got the village public broadcast to read the letter of appreciation sent to CMD so that ZJ would hear how well though of CMD was. She then promised CMD that she would do nothing more about bringing him and ZJ together. But we see that she engineered that ZJ should visit her on the evening that CMD would come home.
The first fight between CMD and Zhuang Jie. ZJ’s’s style of bulldozing her way into CMD’s life, presumably to get his attention, is perceived by him as her playing the fool, or ‘coming up with tricks’ ie she’s not serious around him or she’s just teasing him. He makes the cardinal error of saying aloud to her that he thinks she’s frivolous. I like his honesty though! But he lacks tact and is especially rude towards her.
When juxtaposed against how well he treats the bereaved, and even his colleagues, his behaviour towards ZJ stands in stark contrast.
In the scene timestamp 23:10 – 24:00, Zhuang Jie has walked uninvited into CMD’s room, switched on the music and touched the cds on the shelf.
They ask each other: “Is this what you do with everyone?” The fact that they both treat each other differently from anyone else is a sign that each is significant to the other.
She answers by saying that she finds him aloof and he says she’s frivolous. The thing is that ZJ is actually serious about getting close to CMD but he finds her methods off-putting. She’s offended and leaves in a huff.
One point of note is that CMD was willing enough to have a conversation with ZJ until he heard that she was leaving for Shanghai the next day. My guess is that it sounded like he was not in her plans at all, hence it was a waste of time getting to know her better. He stood up rudely and suggested that he saw her out. In addition, it might have seemed that she had come precisely just before she left Nanping in order to put pressure on him. Her way of taking liberties with him could understandably be misinterpreted and give a person pause.
Another guess is that thoughts similar to these might have crossed CMD’s mind: ‘What decent girl who has no intention of staying in Nanping to enter into a serious relationship, walks into a man’s room? What is she playing at? And how is the man supposed to react or respond to this situation?’
I find I don’t fault CMD for his reaction, and actually seeing this scene from the outside, ZJ did behave rather facetiously.
Thanks for your point and the theme @pkml3! I did watch the series until the end, and I know the scene you’re referring to. Yes that’s so true about CMD. He was so full of death being the great leveler and inevitable. He went about not really enjoying life. His thought was that the person who would leave would definitely go (and abandon him).
The subtle changes in him are hard to catch though. It seemed at times to be rather sudden.
Thank you @PM3 for these WLIS threads! Because of this show, I started watching Meet Yourself and I’m enjoying that, too. Looks like there was a thread (albeit short) on that show. I see the similarities and differences on the ML. Hopefully will post more thoughts soon.
Checking in here for the notifications. Much appreciated, @packmule3 🍪🍨.
You are all watching this!
I want to watch Lovely Runner after stopping at Ep.2 but this show drew me in so strongly. I am savouring this show for all the emotions it give…Ep.7 & 8 had me brawling all the way through.
I love Zhuang Jie and how she has bounced back to life after her terrible accident but underneath all that hides a past she doesn’t want to revisit. I love how Chen MaiDong at both of her darkest times, gave her good encouragement and motivation to live well.
Strange, how ZhangJie ALWAYS calls Chen MaiDong, Chen MaiDong…his full name, including his surname. lol. She doesn’t feel close to him yet at ep.8 to call him MaiDong or not so formal to call him Mr.Chen or something. As if, she likes the sound of calling him in that way.
Life is busy and I’m only catching up as I go along, but just saying I’m loving this show and the very respectful depiction of transiting death in the funeral service. Loving this show so far!
@Janey, I enjoyed Meet Yourself a lot! ML in Meet Yourself is a more chirpy character and I love the FL who was the Mulan movie actress.
@GB, a thought about ZJ’s frivolous-ness is that it could be a wall to hide her insecurities. It is as if all of it is serious, yet can be a joke. So if things doesn’t work out, it is a joke; if it does, it isn’t. There was a scene where CMD asks her, “Is this a joke?” and she answers that it can be and it may not be, depends on how he takes it.
Yet like how you say that they treat each other differently because of what they mean to each other, I think ZJ’s frivolousness is a result of her liking CMD. Like how you may more excited or more emotional with your crush or something.
@grace, I understand what you mean, I think. Like the sort of giddy, sort of OTT response you might give to a crush? Yes. I don’t think she treats others that way. And it’s a direct response to his very obvious wish to ignore her – like he has thrown her a challenge.