The Problematic of the Unproblematic

Get ready for the final episode. Yes, you will need tissues. Of course you will need tissues. Did you think we'd get a happy ending? I'm beginning to suspect Chinese dramas never have happy endings. Damn you, drama. I'm getting all dry from crying... less because I'm stricken with grief though and more because I don't like this ending at all. JoAnne: On a certain level, I think it's a good ending. But as far as feeling satisfied for people I cared about, no - not a good ending at all, because it's not an ending at all. Eleanor: I don't think we could have had a good ending without something like this though. I think they sort of went with the least sad ending that they could have. 

This penultimate episode is Ah Cheng's episode ... and Liang's. Ah Cheng keeps cleaning up mess after mess and finds a rather unexpected helper in Liang. More danger is averted and more people die, but the Mings are never safe. Should we be glad all three brothers are still alive at this point - or does that mean we should fear the end of this show? JoAnne: I keep waiting for one of them to die! Not that I want them to...but could it really happen? Could they all survive? Eleanor: Maybe they will all die. Noooooooooooo!!!!

Ming Tai is in for a surprise on a grey rooftop - a surprise and a tearful goodbye. There seem to be a lot of goodbyes recently, but we're still not sure who is going to walk out of this intact. As we all suspected, that tape recorder survived the fire (*note to self: hide valuable things inside a big clock in case of raging fire*) and of course, it means the Mings still won't get their well-deserved peace and quiet. JoAnne: Plus, either I misunderstood something or my mind is genuinely blown. But no biggie. Eleanor: Well hopefully things get sorted out for all of us but especially for the Mings. *sigh* I think I am going to need to get some tissues soon. 

Wang Manchun continues her rampage and she threatens to unravel everything the Mings have fought for for so long. Who will live and who will die?! What a nailbiter so close towards the end! You would think we would be starting to tie up loose ends, but there are so many, I can't stop worrying. JoAnne: Can we possibly make it to the end with not one Ming dying? Eleanor: YAAAAAASSSSS!!!!!! This episode!!!!!! Oh my heart!!!!  王凯‬ boom!!!!

Of all the characters remaining alive in this drama at this point, Wang Manchun is by far the craziest one  - having her loose in the streets, out for blood, is a damn scary thing. But YAY for some excitement, the previous episode was just too boring. JoAnne: I was just thinking how this was actually one of the most exciting episodes for me of the whole series -I would actually love an entire drama about Wang Man Chun. Eleanor: Ooh yes! She is such an interesting and fascinating character! And it certainly ups the ante to have her roaming around about to cause havoc. 

Pretty much absolutely nothing happens in this episode, except for an extended farewell scene between Big Sis and Ming Tai, which includes the washing of some hair. There are also some Manchun scenes in which she has her hair down (that happens when she is in prison, normally), and some utterance of truths between Big Bro and Big Sis at the end. I'm going to have a hard time getting back into this, maybe, because I'll keep seeing their past lives... Eleanor: Oh man, yeah, it's a total adjustment. It almost feels strange to be back. haha. 

This is the episode in which Ming Tai faces a death squad and is shot in the heart. Yes, I speak the truth. Ming Tai dies and that's his salvation. It's an episode of pain and healing. And an episode of reckoning. Bittersweet victories are won, but is this the end of the struggle? Oh no. There are six more episodes. Should we just keep going? How can we stop now? I can't carry this rage around for weeks. Eleanor: It will be all over soon *rocks back and forth*

Another really, really tough episode to watch (though so much brilliant acting in it!). Big Sis' emotional break-down in the courtyard of Division 76 is one of my "favorite" scenes in the whole drama. And finally, we're starting to realize what is being played. This plan has about 1000 layers but if I'm not thoroughly mistaken, I think it's moving exactly where Ming Lou et al. want it to move. But damn, the risk!!! Holy shit, Kakashi. Ho-ly shit. Eleanor: I've said this before, but I think that the true star of this show is Jin Dong. He is utterly phenomenal in this show. Of course Liu Min Tao is AMAZING AMAZING in this episode and Hu Ge and Wang Kai...so much amazingness!

Certain parts of this episode are horrible to watch, thank god for words who can skip over the horror. Ming Tai is being tortured, but shows us just how strong he really is, while Ming Lou is being tortured in a different way, but just as cruelly. Be strong, man. Be strong. If only Big Sis wasn't on her way to Division 76 too... JoAnne: Yeah, I can't wait to see how that works out. Eleanor: Can we please skip this episode? 

kakashi: Who is playing whom? And why? This drama does a very good job at making us doubt the intentions of some of the characters as the Death Plan keeps unfolding. Ultimately, this episode is about Ming Tai and his teacher, about their very complicated relationship. Crazy Airplane Wang is a character I will remember until the end of my days, that much is clear. JoAnne: True for me as well. I hope going through the recap helps me understand what the hell he did, because it was completely pointless as far as I could see when watching. Patience, woman, patience !  Eleanor: It will eventually make sense Jo. Even then, we might not like it, but it will definitely make more sense. 

Let's just pretend the second half of this episode did not happen, okay? Let's hope I have the strength to recap this and what is coming. Damn, show. Damn. JoAnne: Nope. Now I'm pissed off. At everyfuckingbody. Eleanor: Is it sort of weird that I've been looking forward to Jo's reaction ever since I watched this episode? 

This is a very good, very emotional, and very brutal episode ... it drives home the message that there cannot be any true and lasting happiness in times of war. Ming Tai is getting engaged/married and both Big Bro and Teacher Wang misuse this happy occasion to set their plans in motion. Wow, that's so cruel. While I cannot stop thinking, a bit short of breath, that Hu Ge looks stunning, absolutely stunning in a tuxedo. I have realized that Trainwreck reminds me of Gu Hye Sun. This explains my outsize antipathy, since it means she gets everything she deserves, plus everything I feel about Gu Hye Sun's acting. Eleanor: Kakashi, Hu Ge does indeed look AMAZING in a tux! *sighs* *pauses to stare before thinking about what lies ahead*

kakashi: Back to Disguiser! It's been a long time since our last recap. Our guys are currently in a good place, but not for much longer, that much I can tell you. Like ... not at all much longer, dammit. But! This episode sees the return of our beloved "Airplane Wang"! I've really missed his menacing intensity... JoAnne: I love him to bits. And it HAS been forever, wow. It's easy to lose track because we see so many of these faces in NIF and so I don't feel like I'm away - but then we come back to this and it hits me that I've really missed these characters. Eleanor: Man, it has been a while. I miss these characters so much. They feel so real to me. Granted I see these faces often on Weibo, but yeah, it's not the same as seeing them here. 

Watches, watches, watches! And more watches! There aren't enough people in the world to buy them all. I must say, I pity Jin Dong who seems to be stuck at Baselworld on this day too when it's a beautiful, warm spring day outside. There are tons of pictures of him (and watches) and of watches (and him) but I think we don't need to see them all. I selected the ones that bring out either his or a watch's beauty the most.

Did you like the two videos ? I hope we get more! We also got new pictures, which I want to share as well. Below, you see Jin Dong in front of the Kappel Brücke (Chapel Bridge). It's the oldest wooden covered bridge in Europe and contains a number of interior paintings dating back to the 17th century. Sadly, many of them were destroyed along with large parts of the centuries-old bridge in a 1993 fire. Damn you, wood. Why do you burn so well... (it's restored now, so you can walk across like before).

No, I couldn't go to Basel. But hey, let's just pretend I did go and I did see him, okay? Also, we're getting more Jin Dong goodies, this time, in the form of two videos! (Many thanks to Joyce for making them available for me) Documenting him strolling around in Lucerne - and him packing his suitcase. I must say, I'm mighty impressed by his packing skills. And he's so very handsome...

Dear Squeeglets, it is very much uncertain I can skip work tomorrow to go see Jin Dong because of some other commitments, which is of course DAMN %&?!%&* unfortunate, but part of the thing called Real Life or Adulting. In any case, my weibo-literate friends are busy supplying me with Jin Dong in Switzerland pictures, which gives me warm-fuzzy feels, because it's just like that time I picture-stalked Lee Jun-ki when he was in Switzerland . Fond memories. And this is what we got from weibo:

It's only been two months since I managed to successfully stalk an Asian Star and now, miraculously, another opportunity has arisen. Is this fate, telling me to go for it? Or can I expect to fail this time because meeting TWO OF THE MING BROTHERS is just too much luck for one girl? In one year? Well, I am not sure we will ever know, but Jin Dong is in Switzerland right now and with the help of my Weibo-literate friends, I now know exactly where he will be this Thursday.

Hu Ge in green is ...... but unfortunately, his incredible beauty is severely spoilt in this episode by the immense stupidity of Man Zai and Jin Yun combined. Or rather, the writer must have temporarily lost his (her?) mind. It's so stupid I want to rip my hair out. JoAnne: It felt very K-Drama. Eleanor: Yes, I felt very ragey about this episode. 

Preparation begins for the next big assignment - a prison break - and Ming Tai is back to being fully professional. Well, there's a little something called "defection" on his mind, but the forces around him seem to think that it's still too early to change camp.  JoAnne: But I'm so used to him pouting now that this face of determination just looks a boy plotting revenge on the kid who stole his marbles. Eleanor: LOL Dang those eyes!