A fake CEO fake marries a fake seductress
Notable Actors/ActressesWang Zi Qi: Qin Hao
Zhang Yu Xi: Song Yao
Director
Scriptwriter
Xu Meng
Chinese Title
猜猜我是誰
猜猜我是誰
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This is a deceptive drama that is a story within a story within another story. Spoilers below on the hidden story that this drama parallels. Anything in BLUE or under BLUE headers are details that I didn't include in the [Recaps] or had added days after I originally published. Or it may be snark 😆. I marked details that I extra loved in ROSE.
Topics covered in this discussion
Le Petit Prince
In Episode 21, we found out that Yao Yao's favorite star was Planet B-612, which is from the French Children's classic, "Le Petit Prince". This introduced me to the book and I was awe-stricken at how the drama referenced it from the beginning. This is a fantastical story with profound metaphors on themes of loneliness, friendship, love and loss. Through the charming Little Prince we appreciate his observations about life, adults, and human nature. The tone is whimsical, somber, and optimistic.I highly recommend reading the book before watching the drama. Or read after to make these intriguing connections. The drama put a lot of heart in every aspect to convey the tone and messages from the book. It’s a paradoxical endeavor, like the book, to convey the message “beauty is unseen” through a visual medium.
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| Adults are better able to appreciate this book Hmm... The drama's poster mimics the colors of the book |
A Little Prince lived on a faraway planet, Planet B612, which had 3 volcanoes, 2 active, 1 dormant. He fell in love with a proud, silly rose, caring for her and protecting her from the wind and cold by placing her under a globe. She flirted with him, refusing to wake until she was fully radiant. He decided to leave when he felt like she was using him. Rose apologizes for failing to show that she loved him. She wishes him well on his journey and says she doesn't have to be in his globe anymore, she will try to take care of herself. He laments not knowing how to love her.
In his journey, he met many colorful characters, including a fox who taught him love. Why to love, how to love and build trust, to be responsible with love, how to appreciate love, how sometimes we must part with love, and how to cherish those memories. The Little Prince learns that his Rose was indeed special because she is the object of his love and that he had "tamed" her. "Tamed" means "to create ties", to need each other. He realizes he should have judged her by her actions, how she perfumed his planet and lit up his life, how he should have realized her tenderness underlying her silly pretensions. He wishes to return to her.
"One sees clearly only with the heart. Anything essential is invisible to the eyes."A snake will allow him to leave Earth to go back to Planet B612. He tells his friend, the narrator, not to worry. His body would only look dead because it's too heavy to carry back to the planet. Narrator doesn't want him to leave. Consoling him, The Little Prince has a present for him. He says:
"When you look up at the sky at night, since I will be living on one of them, since I will be laughing on one of them, for you, it will be like all the stars are laughing. You'll have stars that can laugh"The stars can laugh and he hopes that the narrator will always laugh when he looks at the stars. The Little Prince allows the snake to bite him. The narrator never finds his body but continues to search.
Beautiful, right? Every illustration was portrayed by drama, some very obviously, others super subtly, capturing the book's mood and metaphors. Identifying each detail was an exciting treasure hunt.
Characters
Song Yao = The Rose
- Her hair in a bun, looking like a rose bud
- Lives in a florist shop, surrounded by flowers
- She represents flora and life
- When she is upset, she tends to her plants, rejuvenating them
- The Rose was feisty, silly, and pretentious, like our drama’s heroine. Yao Yao also has a protective façade, an over-the-top actress
- The Rose was alluring, Yao Yao is able to attract powerful men with her electric eyes
- The Rose always talked first. She says many things that she doesn't mean.
- The Rose isn't afraid of getting in someone's way, she thinks she can fight tigers, Yao Yao is unafraid to fight scumbags
- Her toy doll is of the Little Prince. This doll wore the seal pendant and is holding a rose. He connected our CP
- The Rose has 4 thorns. Yao Yao has Bestie SSS, Techie Gu, Boss Song, and JXN as her defenses.
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| 4 Thorns |
Qin Hao/Ji Cheng Chuan = The Little Prince
- The Little Prince wore scarfs, ML wears turtlenecks
- ML’s long coats resembles The Little Prince’s
- He is the literal prince of Cheng Tian Corporation
- Planet B12 has 3 volcanoes, our ML’s home is grey and rocky like the interior of a volcano. There’s no greenery until she arrives
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| Planet B-612 The death stairs make sense now. They are at the bottom of a volcano |
- The Little Prince was lonely, like Qin Hao
- The Little Prince loved to watch sunsets when he was sad
- The Little Prince rakes his volcanoes so that they don’t erupt, ML is afraid of fire.
- The Little Prince doesn’t answer your questions but he will never let go of the ones he asked himself
- ML is a fake CEO. The book mentions how people will believe anything you say as long as you wear a nice suit.
- Like the Little Prince, Qin Hao protected and shielded Yao Yao from wind, cold, and predators.
- His toy frog is a Prince with long legs. Our ML caught him for Yao Yao, but wasn’t ready to give him to her yet. Instead, she got a bigger Prince.
- Earth was dry, sharp and hard similar to Chengtian Corporation. It is a recurring image.
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| Chengtian = Earth |
- His time on Earth was 1 year, the marriage contract was also 1 year
- His disdain of mushrooms
"I know a planet inhabited by a red-faced gentleman. He's never smelled a flower. He's never looked at a star. He's never loved anyone. He's never done anything except add up numbers. And all day long he says over and over, just like you, 'I'm a serious man! I'm a serious man!' And that puffs him up with pride. But he's not a man at all -- he's a mushroom!"
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| Mushroom hating face |
Each planet the Little Prince traveled to, he encountered characters that represent human nature. In order of appearance.
Father Ji = The King
- On the 1st planet, there was a King who had no subjects. He was commanding but his power was ineffective. The King wanted the Little Prince to stay and be his Justice Minister. Similarly, Father Ji was the head of Chengtian, he delved out projects, but he felt inconsequential. Father Ji wants JCC to visit him more.
- The King was kind and had thoughtful leadership principles.
“One must command from each what each can perform. Authority is based first of all upon reason. If you command your subjects to jump in the ocean, there will be a revolution. I am entitled to command obedience because my orders are reasonable”.
- Father Ji was also warm, there were moments where he advised JCC, but I am not sure we saw those leadership skills. JCC, on the other hand, had some of the King’s qualities. Both when he was domineering to Yao Yao but also when he was leading the team.
- The King wanted to keep the Little Prince on his planet, but settled for commanding him to be his ambassador.
- Father Ji's calligraphy art said "High Goddess of Water", drama's subtle clue that he secretly supports JCC's marriage with Song Yao
- Thank you Father Ji for commanding JCC to have Yao Yao move in with him.
Shen Si Ling (SSL) = The Vain Man
- On the 2nd planet, the Little Prince met a vain man who regarded anyone else as an admirer. This characterization was the easiest one to pick out. SSL preened in front of his reflections and flexed his achievements at any opportunity. He desired acknowledgement.
- The vain main was the most entertaining to the Little Prince
“Vain men never hear anything but praise.”
“To admire means to acknowledge that I am the handsomest, the best-dressed, the richest, and the most intelligent man on the planet.”
- The Little Prince wondered, "I admire you....but what is there about my admiration that interests you so much?"
Shen Shaung Shaung = The Drunkard
- The 3rd planet was the shortest visit. The Little Prince met a Drunkard, surrounded by collections of bottles (both empty and full), who drank because he was ashamed of drinking. This was the shortest trip but made the Little Prince feel the most sad. This association with Shen Shaung Shuang may be the weakest because it is a rom-com. Her idolating obsession can be regarded as an addiction. Her pillow was empty and full 😝. She wasn’t embarrassed, but I was for her. 🤣She also had the shortest amount of screen time.
Jiang Nan Xuan = The Businessman
- The Little Prince spent the most time on the 4th planet talking to a businessman who never looked up because he was preoccupied with numbers. Jiang Nan Xuan is obsessed with finance. When Qin Hao came to Jiang Nan Xuan to tell him about liking Yao Yao, he didn’t bother to look up (which was a great joke about Qin Hao’s love obliviousness)
- The businessman liked owning things, the stars, diamonds, islands, and ideas. Always wants credit for his great ideas. Jiang Nan Xuan was proud of his idea of transferring away Qin Hao’s money so that he wasn’t under the control of the electric eyes.
- He has only been interrupted 3 times in his life from counting. Once when a beetle fell on his desk and made a loud noise (When Qin Hao slammed his laptop shut, telling him to reply to Song Yao?), once during a fit of rheumatism causing him to be unable to walk (When he was clobbered by the metal can at the warehouse?) and lastly by the Little Prince now. (When Qin Hao asked him for confession advice?)
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| "It's a terrible job I have." |
15 = The Lamplighter
- A lamplighter lives on the 5th planet, the tiniest and strangest one of all. He is a man compulsively flickering his light, not knowing why he does things except following orders. Each scene of 15 has him playing with his lighter. The lamplighter wants to rest (Chen Jing Hui told him a couple of times that he “no longer has to do this”) but can’t. He was actually thinking of someone besides himself.
- Interesting how his sun is red. Perhaps, that represents all the blood shed he caused?
Song Ling Ren = The Geographer
- The 6th planet has a geographer that only knows data but not how to enjoy the items of his knowledge. When Song Ling, our human data machine, Ren went to the museum with Gu Zi Jun, she was only able to spout off facts but never considered admiring the beauty of those works. The geographer told him to go to Earth. Similarly, Song Ling Ren helps direct Qin Hao with information.
Chen Jing Hui = The Snake
- A Snake on Earth. He and the Little Prince are similar in that they both suffer loneliness. Prince notes that it is lonely in the desert, Snake replies, “It’s also lonely with people”.
- The snake was small, no thicker than a finger (the actor’s stature wasn’t tall) but he believes he is more powerful than the King. Chen Jing Hui always fiddled with his pen, which may also reference "no thicker than a finger".
- The Snake claims he can send the Little Prince back, Chen Jing Hui gave JCC a plane ticket to “send him back” abroad.
- The Snake caused the Little Prince's death, paralleling Chen Jing Hui's role.
Gu Zi Jun = The Little Fox
- This cutie may represent the Fox, the one who taught the Little Prince and Song Ling Ren how to love. In order to build trust, he taught how to develop trust and “rites”. He said for the Little Prince to first come and sit far away. The fox would then look at him from the corner of his eyes. Then each day, the Little Prince can come closer and closer because the Fox would be used to him and anticipate his arrival. This was how Gu Zi Jun and Song Ling Ren’s relationship was built.
- He was the wisest about love, able to recognize that Yao Yao had fallen for Qin Hao before anyone else
- He looks like a little fox. Kaleidoscope, which looks like a fox burrow, is actually owned by Gu Zi Jun.
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| If this is his home, why can Song Yao make him move downstairs? Techie Gu is the best friend a rose can have |
- Gu Zi Jun also doesn't like mushrooms. The fox was romantic like the Little Prince, both would look down on shrooms. When given the mushroom, he became upset and went to find Song Ling Ren, his defiance that he does know and want love.
Liang Jing Yi = A Baobab
- On the Little Prince's planet were bad seeds called baobabs. They may appear sweet and innocent at first, but if allowed to grow, they can take over the planet. One must nip those in the bud as soon as you can tell if it is rose or a baobab. Liang Jing Yi was malicious and could have become a bigger nuisance, but our ML made things clear from the beginning. Liang Jing Yi called out the green color she was wearing, how baobab!
Sheng Si Qi = Monotony?
- The fox taught the Little Prince that he wishes to be "tamed", to be loved, in order to break the monotony of hunting for chickens and being hunted by hunters. He desired a connection to someone else, to become special.
- Is Shen Si Qi a hunter? He wants SSL to focus on work. Is Shen Si Qi monotony?
Story Parallels
In almost every episode, themes of protection and building love and trust were present. Endless call backs to the book. Each time the Male Lead shielded our Female Lead from wind, cold, or predators. Each time he nurtured her. Each time he gazed at her. He is seeing past her “silly pretensions” and her bravado and appreciating her tenderness and how she “perfumed his planet and lit up his life”.Her presence represents nature and life. She is surrounded by florals, tending to them, reviving them when she feels sad. He is her plant, she energizes him and literally sprayed him with her water bottle when he asked her to move in. She even served him flowers to drink. Yes, she is proud, reckless and overly imaginative, but she supports him and fills his void of loneliness. The trust and life they developed is how readers imagine the Little Prince and Rose would live once he returns to her.
The Mystery
The story starts with the narrator showing an illustration of a snake wrapped around its prey, about to swallow him whole. After which, the snake will lay dormant for 6 months, digesting its meal. For the drama, 6 months became 15 years. Our male lead has been engulfed by a fiery snake, laying dormant until he comes to Chengtian to unravel the mystery of the past.
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| Creepiest scene, BTW |
As a child, the narrator drew his interpretation of this fearful event. Adults see it as a "hat". Children see "a snake has eaten an elephant". Thus, the difference between grown-ups vs children, concrete vs fantastical. It is exhilarating to see beyond the surface.
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| How our CP presents vs how they really feel |
The Meeting
In Episode 1, Qin Hao protects Yao Yao by using his body to shield her from predators. Paradoxically and humorously, a tropey bidong that establishes the deeper references to the book. They will always protect each other.
The Narrator imagined that the Little Prince "took advantage of the migration of wild birds" to leave his planet. Qin Hao comes back from abroad and surprises this flock.
In Episode 2, Qin Hao tries to find the pendant in order to become CEO. In a gymnasium of women, he only focuses on Song Yao, wondering where she came from and why she was here. In the book, the Little Prince questioned the Narrator, who had crashed landed his airplane, which planet he came from. Narrator was proud of his abilities, but the Little Prince was amused by his falling out of the sky, which annoyed the Narrator. Our gloat-faced Yao Yao was similarly irritated by Qin Hao.
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| Yao Yao looks like she is being chased by birds |
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| Here is what the wild birds brought her |
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| "What planet do you come from?" |
The Pretensions
Episode 3, our Rose isn't afraid of tigers.
Fortunately, Qin Hao pulls her behind him, protecting her. He started to appreciate Yao Yao's tenderness but both are still necklace agenda driven, the pretenses continue. At the end of the dance, Qin Hao sees that Yao Yao is wearing the wrong necklace, a little star. It wasn't the seal he was searching for, but it was actually who he needs, his little star. When he looks up at the stars, the Little Prince sees his Rose. Yao Yao is a star, shining brightly, dazzling with her electric eyes.
The Lighthouse & Well
In the book, the Narrator and the Little Prince searched the desert for water. It is the unseen aspects that made this journey beautiful and memorable. The desert is beautiful because it hides a well somewhere. The two reached the miraculous well and tasted the sweet as a feast water. Whenever the narrator has a drink of water when thirsty, he will recall their walk under the stars, the song of the pulley, the effort of his arms. "It did the heart good, like a present"
In the book, the Narrator and the Little Prince searched the desert for water. It is the unseen aspects that made this journey beautiful and memorable. The desert is beautiful because it hides a well somewhere. The two reached the miraculous well and tasted the sweet as a feast water. Whenever the narrator has a drink of water when thirsty, he will recall their walk under the stars, the song of the pulley, the effort of his arms. "It did the heart good, like a present"
Episode 4, Qin Hao and Yao Yao wandered all day around the island, climbed up the clanging metal stairs, and enjoyed the ocean view up high. We hear seagulls singing with Yao Yao humming. The hum of "Long, Long, Ago" will make them recall this moment, and subconsciously, their childhood moment here. The breeze on their faces, the water glistening, and can almost smell the saltwater. The scene had no dialogue. It was slow and lingered to allow the audience to feel the invisible. The drama flashes back to this moment often because both will always remember this "present". To the Narrator, water represents the Little Prince. To the Rose, water also represents our Male Lead. He is her nourishment and her life.
The Betrayal & Escape
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| No dialogue needed |
The proud Rose would cough whenever she told stories beyond her knowledge. She would "pretend to be dying" to avoid humiliation and the Little Prince would have to pretend to nurse her. When Qin Hao went to Yao Yao's apartment, she was coughing up a fit to hide his intel and to defenestrate Techie Gu.
The Little Prince began to distrust the Rose because of some "inconsequential" things she said and how she would order him around to do things for her, similar to Qin Hao and Yao Yao. The Little Prince decided to leave his planet, leave his Rose. Before leaving, he rakes out his volcanoes and pulls up the last baobabs. He says goodbye to Rose, but she is silent, unable to express how she wants him to stay. The misunderstanding between the 2 are too great.
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| This one captured the mood of the book and colors One of the scriptwriter's favorite scenes BTW, what would make coffee green like that? I want to try. |
Episode 6, Yao Yao meets with Qin Hao, wanting him to stay, wanting to be upfront with him about being hired to spy on him, but unable to express this. She failed his test because Techie Gu had sent his info to Chen Jing Hui. At the airport, he tells her everything was fake, including his feelings for her when they were at the planetarium.
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| The planetarium is on theme for our intergalactic traveler and his little star Everything here was real |
The Little Prince was surprised that his Rose had no reproaches and was calmly sweet. Rose apologizes to the Little Prince for being silly and not showing him her love. She wishes for him to "be happy." Yao Yao also apologized and said, "No matter what, I am glad you are fine."
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| She wishes him well |
Narrator said he believes that the Little Prince escaped by the "migration of wild birds." Qin Hao and Yao Yao broke up at an airport.
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| Probably couldn't use any fowl because a certain someone wouldn't go for that. Maybe this is why it represented him coming to Chengtian (Earth) instead 😆 |
The Marriage License & Sheep
At the beginning of the story, the Little Prince asked the Narrator to draw him a sheep. The sheep will eat the baobabs. He rejected the sheep that looked too frail, that was a ram, and that looked too old. He wanted one that was healthy, a real sheep, and would last a long time. The Narrator was at his wits end trying to please the Little Prince. He eventually drew a box with a few holes outside. "The sheep you want is inside." The Little Prince was very satisfied with this sheep." His magical thinking allows him to see clearly with his heart.
The sheep is a metaphor for a relationship, and for this drama, it is for marriage. He wants a healthy, real, and long-lasting relationship. A good sheep, or good relationship, would uproot baobabs or interlopers. Sometimes, the Little Prince would persistently fret about this sheep. Will it eat roses too? The Narrator, not understanding the deeper meaning, nonchalantly confirms it can eat a rose. Yes, a relationship can hurt the one you love. This made the Little Prince very upset, especially when the Narrator can't see the importance of "sheep eating flowers for millions of years" This was when he went into his "mushrooms suck" rant because mushrooms don't know love.
"It's not important, the war between sheep and the flowers? .... Suppose I happen to know a unique flower, one that exists nowhere in the world except my planet, one that a little sheep can wipe out in a single bite one morning, just like that without even realizing what he's doing -- that isn't important?"
The Little Prince burst out sobbing. The Narrator took him into his arms and rocked him, promising anything in order to console him. He promised to draw the sheep a "muzzle" and a "fence" for his flower. A ring and a home to protect the relationship.
In Episode 7, Qin Hao forced Yao Yao to marry him. Recall the marriage license picture above. See with your heart which one is real. She wore a white wool coat. He got a sheep! At the Civil Affairs Bureau they saw a "sick" relationship ending and an "old" relationship committing to lasting even longer. The ram? Hmm... Either it was Liang Jing Yi who he rejected before getting to Yao Yao, or it may be Yao Yao's various replacement offers. 😂 I lean towards the latter.
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| Keep your 401K, he only wants a marriage |
Yao Yao: Why do you want to marry me?Qin Hao: Because I like you
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| It's a great picture |
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| Did this box say, "baaa"? |
Hilarious book linkage time. An astronomer found a Planet B-612 but because he was dressed ridiculously, no one believed his theorem. Years later, he presented the same idea again and was accepted because he was wearing a nice suit. The drama has Yao Yao and JXN back-to-back looking like this.
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| Techie Gu and Bestie SS were dubious about her plans |
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| Don't think Qin Hao and Boss Song agreed with JXN either, but they went along with it. Power of the penguin 🐧. |
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Crazy Astronomer =Yao Yao 🤣🤣🤣 How witty is the director? Her telescopic lips kissed her new planetary husband via text message |
Later in the episode, the warehouse hijinks happen. While taunting him, Yao Yao fell off her bicycle. Qin Hao was amused and picked up the bicycle instead of her, much to her chagrin. When he looked back at her, the electric eyes took action, leading to one of my favorite hilarious contrasting expressions scene.
Ah, this parallels the book, but between 2 different characters. When the Little Prince first came to Earth, he met the Snake. At that time, he connected with him about their mutual feelings of loneliness and found the Little Snake very funny. He notes that the snake wasn't very powerful, doesn't have feet, and couldn't travel very far. So this is how our heroine gets picked up? And he shielded his Rose from the cold with the most romantic line, "It feels worse for me to see you cold."
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| "You're a funny creature..." |
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| Very, very, very funny |
The Proud Rose
Episode 8, Qin Hao made Yao Yao go with him to his father's house. She had a hard time putting in contacts. Her eyes all teary, Qin Hao felt terrible and asked her if she hated him. Aww. Refusing to let him see her cry, she poked him back.
"For she didn't want him to see her crying. She was such a proud flower..."
"I shouldn't have listened to her. You must never listen to flowers. You must look at them and smell them. Mine perfumed my planet, but I didn't know how to enjoy that."
"Flowers are so contradictory!"
The episode ends with her attacking him with her spray bottle because he teased her again. Our male lead really doesn't understand flowers.
The Homecoming
Episode 9, Wearing a rose colored coat, Yao Yao moved in with Qin Hao, bringing life to his dreary, grey volcano. He had decorated her room with flowers everywhere - in vases, on the blanket, on the walls as realistic and abstract art, and in the colors of the furnishings. He even bought floral perfume and make-up for her vanity.
The Fire
They danced around each other, her searching for the contract, him unaware why he keeps thinking about her. Episode 9, Yao Yao accidentally set fire to his basement (Is this one of his active volcanoes?) causing him to have a severe PTSD attack. She loosened his tie (his "scarf"), stayed with him, wrapped him in her arms, stroking his hair, like how the Narrator consoles the Little Prince.
Episode 9, Wearing a rose colored coat, Yao Yao moved in with Qin Hao, bringing life to his dreary, grey volcano. He had decorated her room with flowers everywhere - in vases, on the blanket, on the walls as realistic and abstract art, and in the colors of the furnishings. He even bought floral perfume and make-up for her vanity.
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| Caught a rose for his home |
They danced around each other, her searching for the contract, him unaware why he keeps thinking about her. Episode 9, Yao Yao accidentally set fire to his basement (Is this one of his active volcanoes?) causing him to have a severe PTSD attack. She loosened his tie (his "scarf"), stayed with him, wrapped him in her arms, stroking his hair, like how the Narrator consoles the Little Prince.
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| "I dropped my tools.... There was, on one star, on one planet, on mine, the Earth, a little Prince to be consoled!" |
When the Narrator and the Little Prince searched for the desert well, the Narrator carried him because he was falling asleep. Looking down at his face, the Narrator was moved.
"It was as if I was carrying a fragile treasure. It actually seemed to me there was nothing more fragile on Earth. By the light of the moon, I gazed at that pale forehead, those closed eyes, those locks of hair trembling in the wind, and I said to myself, What I'm looking at is only a shell. What's most important is invisible...."
When Qin Hao woke up with Yao Yao besides him, he picked her up, with the same marvel. The moonlight shined on her face. What's most important is unseen.... his gratitude for her presence, her instinct to care for him, their developing love.
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| He is looking at a shell, what's most important is unseen |
He confided in her, trusting her, and she believed him. The 1 year wedding contract started, they began to truly see each other.
The Promise & Shield
Episode 10, Yao Yao put on the most ridiculous cultural show for the foreign guest. Yao Chuan argued, revealing Yao Yao's insecurities. Our proud flower, once again, did not let him see her cry. But our prince has finally become smarter. He saw her good intentions underlying her silly antics and vowed to "cover" her from harm. This was the first time that what has been present but unseen was spoken aloud.
"The business about the tiger claws, instead of annoying me, ought to have moved me... I should have judged her according to her actions, not her words. She perfumed my planet and lit up my life.... I ought to have realized the tenderness underlying her silly pretensions..."
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| "I will shield you" |
Our rose wasn't done fighting tigers for her prince. She confronted Joseph and managed to escape. Our prince "covered" his rose in his arms, relieved that she was safe. After their funny tit-for-tat, he once again protected her from the swarm of reporters.
The Wedding & Fountain
Episode 11, Qin Hao slickly got Yao Yao to agree to marry him. Most unromantic and cutest wedding proposal ever. He once again will shield her from wind, cold and predators.
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| The Glass Globe |
The Little Prince met a merchant who invented pills to quench thirst. Just swallow one a week and you no longer feel any need to drink. Why would one need such a pill?
"They save so much time. Experts have calculated that you can save 53 minutes a week."
This bewildered the Little Prince. The merchant continued his hard sell. You could do anything you like in those 53 minutes that you saved.
"If I had 53 minutes to spend as I liked, I'd walk very slowly toward a water fountain..."
Our bride walked very slowly towards her groom, our rose found her water fountain, this is how she likes to spend her time. He is the recurring theme of the sweetness of water, representing the journey to the desert well, up the lighthouse, giving her nourishment and life.
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| Our male lead is a literary tall drink of water. |
I will take back my foolish opinion in the Recaps that the wedding needed to be warmer toned. Every detail, every image, was intentionally designed.
The Tears, Muzzle and Fence
Episode 12, our rose was finally able to allow her prince to see her cry. He comforted her and protected her. He gave her a ring ("muzzle"), a commitment, and they built a warm home ("fence") together.
She took out a baobab (Liang Jing Yi) for him by bluffing it 10 million dollars and also raked out one of his active volcanoes (replaced his stove to electric). He tended to her wounds, nourished her with yummy food, and appreciated her beautiful kindness.
He later took out some baobabs for her in Episode 13. Sorry, SSL, you're being very baobab right now.
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| Baobab plumber |
There was a misunderstanding with him investigating her mother's accident. She continues to protect him during this. Our loveless businessman advised our prince, "If a woman says yes, it might not happen. If she says no, it's definitely not happening". JXN was wrong, our prince has learned not to listen to his rose. He understands her and is able to feel her intentions.
The Little Prince climbed up the highest mountain to see if there were people present on Earth. Only echoes of "I'm lonely... I'm lonely..." were present. What a peculiar planet!
"And people here have no imagination. They repeat whatever you say to them. Where I live I had a flower: She always spoke first..."
Qin Hao climbed up the rock wall (which has stars as climbing holds) because Yao Yao was giving him the cold shoulder. He felt alone. Yao Yao spoke about her concerns and they made up quickly. I will forgive the drama for it's crazy Spiderman scene now.
The “Taming”
My favorite part, the Little Prince met a wise Little Fox. He wanted him to be "tamed" in order to break the monotony of life and become special to someone.
"(Tamed) means 'to create ties'... For me you're only a little boy just like a hundred thousand other little boys. And I have no need of you. And you have no need of me, either. For you I'm only a fox like a hundred thousand other little foxes. But if you tame me, we'll need each other. You'll be the only boy in the world for me. I'll be the only fox in the world for you..."
"If you tame me, my life will be filled with sunshine. I'll know the sound of footsteps that will be different from the all the rest... Yours will call me out of my burrow like music."
The Little Prince's golden hair looks like wheat. Whenever the fox sees wheat or hears the sound of the wind in the wheat, these lovely senses will remind him of the Little Prince.
The Little Fox instructed him to sit a little ways away at first, then each day slowly approach a little closer. He must be patient in order to build trust. The Little Prince should come at the same time.
"For instance, if you came at four in the afternoon, I'll begin to be happy by three. The closer it gets to four, the happier I'll feel. By four, I'll be all excited and worried; I'll discover what it costs to be happy! If you come at any old time, I'll never know when I should prepare my heart..."
Episode 14, Yao Yao asked Qin Hao to come home early. When he did, he stood outside, smiling at the lights inside. When I first watched this, I thought this scene was incomplete. I didn't see the invisible beauty. Qin Hao can't see her, but he can feel that Yao Yao is inside waiting for him, excited for his return. Profound design from the drama.
"One sees clearly only with the heart. Anything essential is invisible to the eyes."
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| One of my favorite scenes due to its hidden depth |
The rest of this episode was them frolicking with acting lessons, enjoying each other's presence.
Before meeting the Little Fox, Little Prince came across a field with hundreds of roses. He thought his Rose would be very annoyed if she saw all these other flowers that looked like her. He was upset because he thought his flower was only 1 such flower, but she turns out to be an ordinary rose. In Episode 15, Liang Jing Yi accused Yao Yao of being a corporate spy. This scene was a humorous ruse from Yao Chuan to lure out the real spy, yet it also alludes to Little Prince's feelings that his Rose may be not special.
The Little Fox enlightened the Little Prince that his Rose was indeed special and unlike all the other flowers that he met. He went back to field and told them how they are nothing like his Rose.
"(She) is more important than all of you together, since she's the one I've watered... put under glass... sheltered behind a screen...for whom I killed caterpillars... Since she's the one I listened to when she complained, or when she boasted, or even sometimes when she said nothing at all. Since she's my rose."
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| I am impressed by the director's imagery and ability to capture the book's illusions |
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| Yao Yao and Qin Hao continued their playful interactions. |
The Train
The Little Prince met a railway switchman who described how passengers constantly rushed from one place to another aboard trains, chasing after each other, never satisfied with where they were and not knowing what they were after. Only the children know what they're looking for.
The Little Prince: They spend their time on a rag doll and it becomes very important, and if it's taken away from them, they cry...The Switchman: They're lucky.
Our drama represented this as CEO station. Our male lead is both the adult passenger and the child. Initially, he was like these passengers, on a never-ending quest, but not truly searching for what matters. He found Song Yao, "tamed" her, and they protected each other. He also represents the child. He has developed feelings for the doll, knows her importance, and if taken away, he would be devastated. He is lucky indeed. He has disembarked this train and will declare his love to Yao Yao.
The Confession
Episode 16, again, Yao Yao protected Qin Hao, offering to house, feed, and care for the un-CEO. They both are finally aware of their love for each other. Qin Hao prepares a confession at the carousel. The Little Prince laughed at the Narrator's suggestion to have elephants on his tiny planet to stomp out the baobabs. The would have to be stacked on top of each other! Well, a confession and commitment would certainly extinguish any baobabs from interloping. So clever. He is the planet in the center of this carousel.
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| This is better than a Ferris wheel Take that, Yin Si Chen! |
Yao Yao felt insecure, she needs to take care of her mother and felt like she was unworthy of him. Reluctantly she went to meet him, but bought this snow globe first, which represents the Little Prince watching the sunset. Sunsets console the Little Prince when he's sad. This snow globe was an apology to him for not being able to accept his love, to remind him that there are sunsets and other things to enjoy.
"because of the color of the wheat."
His last lesson, "you are responsible for your love".
When the Little Prince was about to die, he thought about his Rose.
"You know... my flower... I'm responsible for her. And she's so weak! And so naïve. She has 4 ridiculous thorns to defend her against the world..."
He was overcome with fear and sat down. Qin Hao needed to protect Yao Yao, despite his PTSD, he set a fire in order to protect her, to be responsible for his love. Fear took over and he collapse down next to her.
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| For her, he will face fire |
Episode 17, those 4 ridiculous, adorable and dependable thorns were able to find them with his smoke signal. Yao Yao realizes she can't lose him. They continued to strengthen their bond, falling further in love.
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| She's wants to be "tamed" |
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| Narrator rubbed the Little Prince's temples |
Episode 18, Yao Yao supports Qin Hao and helps him overcome his fear of fire.
They celebrated Christmas together. The Narrator said the journey to the desert well was like a Christmas present, doing the heart good. The Christmas tree lights, the music of the midnight mass, the tenderness of people's smiles... It's radiance and warmth was represented with our gang.
Qin Hao carried a sleepy Yao Yao to the car. When the Narrator carried the Little Prince, his feelings of seeing the invisible beauty of this fragile being evolved as he saw his lips parted in a half smile.
"What moves me so deeply about this sleeping little prince is his loyalty to a flower - the image of a rose shining within him like the flame within a lamp..."
Qin Hao saw Yao Yao's devotion to him. A lamp can easily be blown out with a gust of wind, therefore, it is even more fragile. It must be protected!
Qin Hao recreated the snow globe, but instead of being consolation sunset, it is now a force field to protect his rose. She is beside him, accompanying him through the trials of life.
"The reason why stars shine is to help everyone to find their own star one day. And I've already found mine. She's right in front of me. Song Yao, I adore you."
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| The prince has found his star, his home, his love. |
The Meeting Again
When the Little Prince first met Rose, it was sunrise, she was bud, arranging herself. She pretended to still be sleeping because she wanted to be at her most magnificent before meeting him. After meeting her, he kept admiring her beauty. She asked for breakfast.
Our drama playfully and cleverly presented this reference as Qin Hao and Yao Yao's morning after scene in Episode 19. Qin Hao woke up first and kissed the perfectly gorgeous Yao Yao, who could not suppress her smile. She truly looks like a sweet flower goddess. Teasing her that he knows that she is awake, he kisses her and nuzzles her nose. She opens her eyes and demurely looks at him. Cute, beautiful, sexy. He said, "Merry Christmas, Mrs Ji". Is this alluding to Rose's birthday? They then had breakfast where he kept staring at her. He adorably stole her milk and made her stare at him.
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| Even the eyebrows match! 🤣🤣🤣 Imagine the director whipping out the book... Director: Can you copy this expression? WZQ: Is this the first day we've met? |
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| A perfect flower |
The Fire Again
Each time there is a fire, something is revealed. Basement fire showed Yao Yao's tenderness, allowing our prince to confide in her. 2nd fire elucidated Yao Chuan's need for each other. This 3rd fire in Episode 20 unmasked Ji Cheng Chuan's true identity. The Prince has broken free from the snake and is ready to fight back. Yao Yao lost her electric eyes, her power and curse, more fragile but also more free, insecure yet showing tremendous bravery, to fight alongside him.
The Tragedy
After a year of being on Earth, the Little Prince planned to go back to his Rose. He allowed the Snake to bite him. When he fell, "there was no sound". He told the Narrator that he would look dead but that isn't true. The Snake should only have enough poison for 1 person, but he told the Narrator not to come near, trying to protect him. The Narrator couldn't find his body and was always searching.
The Tragedy
After a year of being on Earth, the Little Prince planned to go back to his Rose. He allowed the Snake to bite him. When he fell, "there was no sound". He told the Narrator that he would look dead but that isn't true. The Snake should only have enough poison for 1 person, but he told the Narrator not to come near, trying to protect him. The Narrator couldn't find his body and was always searching.
Before leaving, he gave the Narrator one last gift.
"When you look up at the sky at night, since I will be living on one of them, since I will be laughing on one of them, for you, it will be like all the stars are laughing. You'll have stars that can laugh"
Episode 21, Chen Jing Hui threatened JCC with Yao Yao's safety. Wanting to protect her, he made a secret sacrificial and painful plan. Yao Yao went to Yuzhou Island to search for more clues. She learned JCC's true identity and wandered around with melancholy. She climbed back up the lighthouse, where there always was the 2 of them remains only 1. The Little Prince searched for people, meeting a flower with 3 petals, a flower of no consequence. After she was unable to tell him about where the people were, he simply said good-by to her. Originally, the script had JCC break up with Yao Yao before his fake death, in order to minimize her pain. Yao Yao must be feeling like broken "a flower of no consequence". This melodramatic plot was thankfully deleted, but this scene may be a remnant.
When he died, Yao Yao received the phone call. The scene became silent. At first, I didn't realize the connection to the book, but noticed how the world froze and went silent. I hated this plot point but because of its connection to the book, I will forgive the writer. It was out of character for JCC not to tell Yao Yao, but it was in character for the Little Prince. JCC's body wasn't found because he had faked his death.
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| Silence |
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| She no longer has anyone around her |
Holding his Andromeda gift to her, she allowed her prince to see her crying once more. When she looks up the stars, at his planet, will she be able to see him laughing? Will she be able to laugh?
The Return
The Little Prince felt powerless, he laid down in the grass and wept. Episode 22, Yao Yao found JCC, but he is unable to face her. He is afraid that the snake will have enough poison for 2 people and will take her away from him forever. JCC silently wept, missing her, failing her.
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| The colors and the mood match perfectly |
The Narrator managed to catch up to the Little Prince, who didn't want the Narrator to suffer with him. The Little Prince was determined but took his hand, trying to reassure him. The Narrator said nothing. The Little Prince also said nothing, because he was weeping. Yao Yao has found JCC. Yao Chuan said nothing.
The Villain Defeated
Episode 24, Chen Jing Hui lost 15, he is all alone, looking at the lighter, remembering the flickering smiles. He's despicable, but it's very poetic.
JCC is no longer alone like Chen Jing Hui, he has Yao Yao. Together, they went to the top of the wall and defeated him.
Our gang celebrate. The Little Fox taught the Little Prince the importance of "rites".
"It's the fact that one day is different from the other days, one hour from the other hours. My hunters, for example, have a rite. They dance with the village girls on Thursdays. So Thursday's a wonderful day: I can take a stroll all the way to the vineyards. If the hunters danced whenever they chose, the days would all be just alike, and I'd have no holiday at all."
Team Yao Chuan + SSL are together for New Year, they have "rites", and are creating these special memories together.
Yao Yao and JCC's story ends where they started, back at Kusama club, back at Kaleidoscope, back at the planetarium.
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| Returned home |
The Ultimate Return
The drama returns to the "real world". Song Yao is alone, facing doubts, but able to forge ahead on a new beginning. She will face critics and fans. A new editor will come, someone to enhance her views, to console her, to provide encouragement. A bright, sunny man with "Dangerous Design" opens the door.
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| "I'm Qin Hao" |
"For me, this is the loveliest and the saddest landscape in the world. It’s the same landscape as the one on the preceding page, but I’ve drawn it one more time in order to be sure you see it clearly. It’s here that the little prince appeared on Earth, then disappeared. Look at this landscape carefully to be sure of recognizing it, if you should travel to Africa someday, in the desert. And if you happen to pass by here, I beg you not to hurry past. Wait a little, just under the star! Then if a child comes to you, if he laughs, if he has golden hair, if he doesn’t answer your questions, you ’ll know who he is. If this should happen, be kind! Don’t let me go on being so sad: Send word immediately that he's come back.... "
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| The loveliest and saddest landscape in the world |
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| He's come back!!! This final imagery is simply poetic and awesome |
Other Symbolism
Yayoi Kusama is a Japanese artist known for her whimsical, surrealist, interactive art with a euphoric mood but also some underlying somber. I have been to her "Infinity of Lights" exhibit. You go into this tiny room that has mirrors strategically placed to give the feeling of standing at the edge of universe, surrounded by infinite lights. It evokes feelings of grandeur contrasting with being just a tiny spec, peaceful yet eerie, hearing the hum of universe.
Yao Yao and Qin Hao met next to a print of Kusama's pumpkin, one of her most well-known motifs. It represents an allegory and self-portrait. She is drawn to pumpkins because of their "charming and winsome form, their generous unpretentiousness and solid spiritual base". The drama emulated the mood of her work, a fitting idol.
The club's name is actually, "Dr. Oscar +". Don't know if that represents anything, but because Kusama's pumpkin is so distinctive, I dubbed it "Kusama Club". And alliteration is better.
Kaleidoscope
Yao Yao's florist shop is named Kaleidoscope, a playful name that conjures up infinite images and feelings at different times. Like this drama, there are images beneath the initial view, with a surprising depth of feelings.
Acting methods of Stanislavaki and Brecht
Yao Yao tried to teach Qin Hao polar opposite schools of acting. One is based on realism, the other breaks the 4th wall to provide political and life commentary. This drama is similarly contrasting.
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| 4th wall breaking, but somehow also looks real |
Stephen Chow
The director is a fan of Stephen Chow. The scene where Song Ling Ren pushed Gu Zi Jun against the van and Qin Hao's basement passcode are homages to his work.
The director is a fan of Stephen Chow. The scene where Song Ling Ren pushed Gu Zi Jun against the van and Qin Hao's basement passcode are homages to his work.
Compilations
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| "One sees clearly only with the heart. Anything essential is invisible to the eyes." |
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| "I will shield you" |
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| "I will support you" |
The Creators
The Author
Antoine de Saint-Exupery was born in France and learned to fly airplanes when he was just 12 years old. A military pilot and independent explorer, he wrote and illustrated "The Little Prince" during a 2 year self-imposed exile from occupied France to the United States. The plot of being stranded in the desert comes from his real life ordeal, which left him hallucinating and fighting to survive. Rose may have been based on his Salvadoran wife, Conseulo de Saint-Exupery, whom he met during a crash landing. His Wikipedia page is fascinating. At the age of 44, he disappeared over the Mediterranean while flying. How eerie that his ending resembles the Little Prince.
Screenwriter
The scriptwriter was interviewed and stated that the "Song Yao writes a story" introduction was later added in order to pass the censorship review. Ironically, the book's narrator was discouraged by "grown-ups" to continue his art to focus on more practical things. The screenwriter probably didn't intend for this part to be represented in her creative process. Although this force majeure weakened the beginning, it tied up the ending in the most beautiful and poetic way.
The Director
I enjoyed connecting the subtle images to the illustration. Very impressed with his eye and attention to details. I feel like I can even smell the flowers. Truly, every sense was stimulated to envelop us into the emotional world of The Little Prince. BTS pictures of him.
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| With his wife, how whimsical |
OST
- The romantic background music is a French melody
- The ending OST has lyrics like “tell me which star you come from”
- Interlude, “Love’s Answer” lyric “your fragrance becomes a picture in my mind…. I open a level in 2-player mode, a lifetime of blossoming flower seasons..."
- To me, the opening OST also sound French
Playlist
- 读心人 (Mind Reader) - 吴莫愁 (Momo Wu)
- 猜星游戏 (Game of Guessing Stars) - 孟慧圆 (Meng Huiyuan)
- 爱的回答 (Love’s Answer) - 弦子 (Xian Zi), 王嘉诚 (Wang Jiacheng)
- 别爱我 (Don‘t Love Me) - 王嘉诚 (Wang Jiacheng)
- 谁的谁 (Whose Who) - 王凯琪 (Wang Kaiqi)
- Bad Guy - 刘思涵 (Liu Sihan)
- Kiss Me Now - 戴燕妮 (Dai Yanni)
Music isn't my strong point. I may add to this section later if I have time.
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