themarchioness

Since we answered your questions previously from the book angle, I thought I'd loop back from the drama angle now that I've finally finished it. The previous answer given from the book is essentially the same as in the drama... ZSC's father married her for his son, since his mother died in birth. The stepmom was the daughter of a family connected to the family. As you can probably tell from Wenchuan marrying Tong Jia Ren, those families of a certain class tend to move within each other, which is how the arrangement between ZSC's father and stepmom ended up coming about. But she was actually in love with the 2nd uncle and the result of their affair was the twins. As previously mentioned, he's ZSC's younger cousin and son of 2nd uncle. ZSC's stepmom has been raising him, though, since Ren's mom is deceased. I couldn't remember if the drama had revealed the identify of his mom... but in the last scene where Tong Jia Ren makes makes an appearance, SY makes a comment about it so they must have at some point. Anyway, Tong Jia Ren's sister is ZSC's mom... that makes for one awkward family tree! :P [Also, the drama doesn't really get into it because it kept the triad aspect of ZSC's family on the down low but in the book, his mother married into the family to investigate their shady business dealings and after that was discovered, the family punished her with death. Yikes! But, recall my previous quote from the book about how the only threat to the Zhou family is their own family members!] She was also behind the poisoning incident... not sure how clear that was in the drama, but it was played off as she came down with appendicitis (I think it was, can't really remember what illness ZSC claimed it was). As in the book, he died in the drama. When his mom was weeping outside of the operating room and 2nd uncle rushed in, she wailed that she'd lost both her children. Yes... since reincarnation is not allowed due to censorship, a loophole tactic often used is "dreams." And that's what they used here. She dreamed of their past when she was in her coma. As for the diary, from the excerpts read aloud, sounds like it's something she used to record her interactions with ZSC after they met in the airport and also included her thoughts regarding historical ZSC, who she'd researched after the dubbing project she worked on. In this way, the drama was able to include the same scenes that occurred in the book after SY woke up from her coma -- but I have to say, without the reincarnation concept, it fell flat for me in the drama. I try not to hold that against the drama as I know censorship's not its fault, but it's a miss, really.

The future head of the family will be Ren, and not ZSC. He gave up his right to that position.

Because I'm not at that part, my guess is that the diary you're referring to is the book Shiyi wrote. In her book, she wrote: “Beautiful bones. Those with bone do not have skin. Those with skin do not have bone. Yet, most people’s eyes are shallow, seeing only the skin-deep appearance and not the bones.” I don't know if this has come up in this modern version, but in One and Only, it was something Xiao Yu said when they were all drinking together to celebrate the new year. I haven't reached the end of FAE so I can't really comment on how this moment from the book was portrayed in the drama, but I thought I'd share that in the book, SY retained her memories of their past lives. (As has been discussed in this forum before, it's the reason why she trusts ZSC so implicitly once they meet in the present life.) Therefore, in the book, when SY was in her coma, ZSC read her diary. When she finally woke up, he made references to what she'd written - such as having finished writing for her the poem about the beautiful bones, promising to take her around the city to see everything (even though he can't do it in a horse) as that was something she'd yearned for in their past life, and that he must have used his 'beautiful bones' in the past to exchange for her being so beautiful in the present life and to remember him. And then he tells her that while he doesn't remember their past life, he does believe her that it existed -- which is especially huge as ZSC is otherwise a man of science. Yes, that's correct! Isn't that a not so great reason?! Haven't watched this part in the drama yet either so I don't know what explanation is offered, but in the book, it's explained that through ZSC's fear of losing SY, Wenxing hoped he'd give up the family and leave. She didn't want to watch the family members fight members fighting it out against each other until one had to die in order for the other to live. As explained in another part of the book, "It was very difficult for those of the Zhou family to have their lives taken by outsiders. The only people who could provide a true threat to them were their closest family," so that's what Wenxing was hoping to avoid (selfishly, she admits) by targeting an 'outsider' like SY who was also someone ZSC cared about.

Surprise! I just checked and noticed all remaining eps were released today. Thought we'd have to wait until next week for last 2 eps. Guess I'll have my "work" cut out for me in the coming days. Hehe.

Yeah, the last 2 episodes will be released next week, but don't worry. It will be a happy ending. The book definitely ends happily. :)

She repaid him through 以身相许, hahahaha. I kid. But it does work! ;)

I was just telling a friend the other day that reading the book should be required reading for anyone watching the modern version of F&E, heheh. Definitely give the book a try @Mouse. You will see how modern day ZSC simply shines in the book. As I've mentioned before, Book ZSC is similar to F&E ZSC in that they're both absent-minded professors. But once Book ZSC decides to marry SY and make her a part of his plans, he really applies himself to the relationship - none of this awkward, tip toeing, shuffling around stuff (that, honestly, has only gotten more awkward in the drama now that they're married). The greatest difference between Book ZSC and F&E ZSC, however, has been in how they interact with his family and handles the power struggle. I feel like the more recent episodes (and in particular the conversation his younger cousin shared with SY's cousin) have done a better job of laying the groundwork to show how there are parallels in modern day ZSC's life to his life in the past, and hopefully that will continue as we get to the real meat of the story (the family conflict). That you are unclear as to who the villain is, at this point, is not a surprise because even in the book it catches you by surprise (I'm assuming that point will stay the same). But I would say that the suspenseful angle of the drama, overall, has been lacking compared to the book because they haven't really been emphasizing his family conflict. Instead they've been shuffling around which bedroom ZSC's going to sleep in at night and making him ride pink motorscooters while wearing pink beanie helmets. I don't know, sometimes I think the drama's biggest problem is that it hasn't decided what kind of a drama it wants to be. At times it's going for this rom/com angle (and I suppose that's consistent with the theme of iQiyi's Sweet On series) but really, Beautiful Bones is not a sweet story -- at least not in that way.

I don't think that's the case. MBFB is author of the book and screenwriter for both these dramas, and she rocked OAO. (She was also one of the screenwriters for "My Sunshine," which was also good.) Like I mentioned, I think it's because of the changes they've had to make to F&E (censorship reasons) that have totally changed the effect of the modern story. I was merely commenting on my surprise of how changes that seem small in nature actually have a big effect.

Definitely OAO had a good plot. I applaud MBFB in how she updated her book for the script in that regard, but also that’s my whole point… It’s not that the modern story lacks plot or isn’t developed. MBFB’s book is really good and the story is engaging! It just hasn’t translated as well to script, which is a little bit surprising given how closely it is following the book — and that’s because of the changes they’ve made (probably to accommodate the reincarnation avoidance thing). Like raindrops, the tweaks are small but their ripple effects cast wide…

yes. Like an egg in your mooncake?

O M G The pink scooter with the little beanie helmet… I get that they’re trying to make him all cute and everything…. But they are killing me…. My friend keeps telling me to breathe and throw Book ZSC out the window. I’m trying, but it’s an exercise I keep failing… 😅

I’m enjoying Cute Programmer at the moment. Hope it keeps up! Nope Has the weather turned cooler for you yet?

Same and I find it ironic considering how so much of the story in OAO was created/fleshed out just for the drama while FAE follows the book much more closely, yet the effect is totally on a different scale. The difference is the changes made to historical portion of the book really enhanced OAO whereas the changes made to modern portion of the book, while few, are of huge impact to FAE!!! I know they’re trying hard to avoid referencing reincarnation directly and going more for this effect of SY being pulled to the past, but this sensory attachment to the past has a very different effect compared to when she has outright, direct memories of her past. It changes the dynamics. ZSC is also way too passive. It can be painful watching him… I miss his charisma and confidence from the book, it’s what makes his character attractive.

Just for this final episode I took notes as I watched followed by some conclusory thoughts to share. I love how this final episode opens with SH calling upon one of the others to come park her car. This is the essence of HP, right here; a group of friends who always has each other’s back. SH taking out her phone to record the others’ promises when she tries to confess that she and LIJ are dating. 🤣 Bear’s reaction when he finally realizes SH is serious about dating LIJ. I especially love how thrilled he is by this news, all the more meaningful given what we know about their triangular attachments in the past. Omg, LIJ asking to be fed is soooo cute. Although I half expected SH to refuse with the excuse that she needed to feed herself first, haha! Mom’s delight at the thought of getting to experience the Camino de Santiago makes my heart sing. We should all have dreams no matter how old we are; they keep us young and spry. Is this all we’re going to get of Bear’s mom and her reaction to her son’s dating news? I hope so! Awww, I don’t think I’ve ever seen KJW as happy as he is right now watching LIS sing karaoke ❤️ Ahahahaha, and then on the opposite spectrum you have LIJ watching SH like she’s a musical genius when truly, those are singing skills only a man in love would appreciate. I’m cringing with KJW and LIS. MH. That moment when she called Bear, “Oppa.” ❤️ (also, her coffee delivery later in the episode where Bear returned a finger heart… why are they so cute?!) KJW offering to take the twins home instead of springing another elevator pop quiz was hilarious. I swear he is the one who’s grown the most! I can’t handle the thought of this being the group’s last band practice. Stop talking like this!!! You will have more jam sessions in the future. You will!!! In fact, they’ll probably be old surrounded by family, children, and grandbabies at their feet and still rockin’ it out together!! That 👍🏼… sniffs Finally! A resolution of some sorts for KJW and LIS. Aw… it’s over! 😭😭😭 As always HP brought us a heart warming episode filled with ups and downs - sometimes contrasted directly against each other like with SH’s two patients in the ICU - but always, always, with heart… I really like how they wrapped things up. Bringing back old storylines like Daddy Long Legs - SH is such a boss, studying the reports to see which members have been carrying their weight and who hasn’t… even boyfriends are not spared her wrath! Resolving old storylines while creating new ones like DJH’s apt scam and bringing a newborn child into his life all within the same episode. There were meaningful moments, too, like when Bear’s former patient who miscarried returned with new life… You know, I don’t even mind that the drama spent the time to bring that jerk cardiothoracic surgeon back into the fold for this episode. He can be such a terrible human being, and yet, we saw today how his years of experience still brings value to the table. This is something I have always appreciated about HP, whether it was S1 or S2… it shows us how even though our Fab Five are already smart, talented, and amazing physicians, they’re still always seeking to grow both as individuals and as professionals. That’s something to admire and emulate… today and every day, we should be like them and try our best! P.S. Where was our Lee Il Hwa cameo?! I was really hoping we’d at least get a scene of AJW smiling across the table from JGW’s mom.

I thought I’d finally catch up today… but I see they released VVIP eps… 😅 Guess I’ll just continue to plod along with this drama. Haha.

oops, I just realized my previous post had a typo in it. Meant to say, if I think about his character solely in terms of the DRAMA (as in, if the book didn’t exist), it’s not so bad…. You all prob figured out already what I meant to say, but in case there’s any misunderstanding I wanted to clarify!

No cat. Watching any good dramas right now?

They've rewritten the nature of his modern character as compared to how is portrayed in the book, and I have to admit, it's something I'm struggling with. If I think about it his character solely in terms of the book, it's not so bad. After all, it's rather adorable seeing him fall in fluffy love with Shi Yi. But any time we see him with his family, it just gets my back up because this is not how book Zhousheng Chen would be! He wouldn't be walked over, he'd command respect, and he certainly wouldn't be locked inside the factory yard for several hours by his brother. He also wouldn't be caught off guard by his family running a background check on Shi Yi, because he would've fun it first himself. I just... gah. Book Zhousheng Chen is definitely the absent-minded professor, as portrayed in Episode 1, but he's not otherwise clueless or a doormat. He's charismatic too. And his uncle considers him a formidable foe in their struggle for power within the family. Anyway, it's not that I'm not enjoying the drama - on the contrary, I like it very much - but it does take some mental shifts sometimes. As for the side characters, right now they're just kind of orbiting in the sphere, but if the drama follows the book in that regard, I expect their characters to become more fleshed out along with their stories as the drama goes along. Right now it's mostly focused on Zhousheng Chen and Shi Yi, which is where it should be and which I appreciate!

No. I rarely talk with my boss. Is that weird? :) Have a long weekend this weekend?

Have to leave the house for that need! 😅 Sad the weekend is over?

I just started watching Police University tonight, lol. Resting up this weekend?

My mom grumbled about that too... but then called me back the next day to tell me she'd already marathoned through the first half of the drama. LOL.

are you spying on me? Making a phone call? hope you have a happy, productive work day! Good night!

Nope, getting ready for bed. Counting down to wknd?

I want to be careful, because I don’t want it to sound like it’s not an esports drama because it’s a deep drama and esports dramas are not. That’s not the case at all. Esports dramas can have a lot of depth too. (GYH, whee!) But YAMG is not an esports drama simply because it’s not. Like I mentioned, it was just one aspect that they did in their lives and the thing that brought them together initially, but it’s not as if the story then remain rooted in/centered around the game of esports. If it had, it would’ve been an esports drama, but it didn’t. YT didn’t even keep playing the game, really, once he went back to work, except to play occasionally.