Despite starting filming after the drama adaptation of Da Mo Yao (Ballad of the Desert), the other Tong Hua novel Secrets Hidden in Time will hit the small screen next month in early January 2013 as the drama Best Time starring Wallace Chung, Janine Chang, Jia Nai Liang, and Han Xi Ting. I’ve written my novel review earlier this year, and its by far my least favorite Tong Hua novel. I said then that Tong Hua ought to stick with her bread and butter the period novels but since I read Secrets I’ve also read her other modern novel The Time Never Back (Time that Passes By Never Comes Back) and its absolutely lovely and so different than anything else she’s done. Which really makes Secret the outlier since Tong Hua can write a modern novel well, making even doubly confused why this one sucked donkey balls. I think it really is the premise and ending where female lead Su Man is fixated and obsessed with her first crush Song Yi to the exclusion of common sense and pride, and they end up together in the novel after he dumps her for her best friend first. Ugh, Song Yi remains supremely grody to me to this day. Conversely the other male lead Lu Li Cheng is so awesome he was the only reason I finished the novel.
I was at the flagship Eslite yesterday and saw the republished edition of Secrets on sale with Wallace and Janine on the cover. It was shrink wrapped so I couldn’t flip through it, but I wonder if Tong Hua changed her ending in it? There are been lots of chatter that the ending to the drama is different which is why I want to watch this drama so bad. The opening theme song and title sequence has been released and looks soooooo good. Secrets had a pretty makjang second half which works well in a drama setting, plus Su Man and Lu Li Cheng have tons of super shippy scenes in the novel that I can’t wait to watch onscreen. Wallace and Janine look like they have explosive chemistry, Jia Nai Liang looks sufficiently annoying and constipated that I am rubbing my hands with glee ready to hate on the live action version of douchebag Song Yi, and Han Xi Ting makes for a super spicy Ma La Tang. And the opening theme sequence gives away a major spoiler in Ying Er‘s cameo appearance as Xu Qiu, and she looks fantastic and super sexy and bitchy. Love it! This is yet another drama I’m looking forward to starting 2013 with and I must say it looks promising indeed.
Opening Theme for Best Time:
Hahah. Constipated is an apt description. Why would anybody ever pick that boy over manly Wallace???
Janine looks gorgeous… what is the plot of Tong Hua’s other modern novel?
Stupid question sorry. Wallace is not the male lead? But Su Man ends up with the other guy? Huh?
But everything is with Wallace. I am confused.
https://koalasplayground.com/2012/07/06/wallace-chung-reveals-fans-to-vote-for-ending-to-drama-adaptation-of-secrets-hidden-in-time/
Oh my goodness just re-read your old article and the photos, Ms Koala the photos! Am going to watch it now just to see him rescue Su Man.
Oooh can’t wait. I’ve turned into such a major Janine fangirl after watching Sunny Happiness bahahahah :3
This is off topic, but I’ve been wondering – Ms. Koala, have you ever watched Mars (with Vic and Da S)? What did you think of it?
Does anyone notice that Janine Chang looks like a mix-up of Liu Shi Shi and Hirokita Maki put together? I never looked her up before but from the pictures, I thought I was looking at Maki and ShiShi.
Does any one know when Da Mo Yao will air? Does it even have an broadcast slot yet?
Yeah!!! So looking forward to this. I must be one of the few to like the novel (except for the ending). To me, I read it like a drama so all the illogical obsessions seems just like any other Korean fluff dramas. I can’t see the matching bracelets that the girls r suppose to be wearing in the first few pics though. Just hope that it is just my poor eyesight n not an overlook – a subtle detail that mirrors the girls relationship.
What a nice way to start the New Year. I’ve been looking forward to this!
i just hope a great ending… wallace and janine.. and seriously.. i just realized that wallace acted in Meteor Garden 1… hehe..
ps : janine is really pretty.. btw is she really dating Peter Ho?
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Still, turning 18 is great because you are “allowed” to have some fun – like a teenager – but
still enjoy of the pleasures of adulthood. If you require any more persuasion that there’s a need to mark the occasion, there is a superstition theory to note that the tradition of celebrating birthdays originated the Europe in a time when people believed that good wishes, presents and positivity would ward off evil spirits. This is the reason why even the government gives them the right to participate in the political proceedings and cast their votes as per their opinion about a particular party.
I felt like puking blood when I finished reading the novel. The ending doesn’t make any sense at all! I can’t believe that the same author was behind Bu Bu Jing Xin. All in all disappointed. Why would anyone want to make a drama adaptation of this story is beyond me.
Just read the news today. This show is starting to air on 20 November 2013. Yahoo!!! can’t wait.