Legend of Hao Lan (皓镧传)
I started watching Legend of Hao Lan (皓镧传), because I really liked the TV series "Story of Yanxi Palace (Chinese: 延禧攻略)" by Yu Zheng. The first episode already pulled me into the story. I was especially impressed by how Hao Lan was told off by Lu Bu Wei on the edge of a cliff. I think I needed something like that, when I was little. Just like Hao Lan, I was on my own, abandoned and betrayed by everyone, I lost a loved one, and I was in extreme pain. For a long time, I lived like a zombie without any emotions and let people use me as a punching bag to vent their stress on. I didn't know what to live for anymore, but I did find some solace in getting revenge one day and making a difference in the lives of everybody that I met. I wanted to be strong and powerful, so that I could finally get justice and let my voice be heard. I wanted to leave a mark, make this planet a better place (writing big, unerraseble graffiti letters "I have been here!") and die as a hero instead of living long as a coward. Looking back at that, I don't know where I got that courage and those crazy ideas from. Reality has caught up on me, as I grew up and kept getting disappointed in people and in the world, but I don't know what giving up is. From when I was very small, I kept trying to get help, day after day, for years straight, even though I was bashed, shot down, disappointed, ignored, not believed, and even mocked by the very bullies for that. After all the horror that I have seen and all the crazy things that happened to me, I cannot believe that I still have some of that fighting spirit left.
Just like the message of this TV series, life is cruel and a long, endless battle. If you want to live, you need to put on your armor and fight or be trash and a nobody your whole life. The world is out there waiting for you to be conquered. Either you view those that hurt you as small ants that you can step on and crush one day or die, helping them get rid of an eyesore, a pesky bug. Even when you become the king of the world and the most powerful and the wealthiest, the battle doesn't stop there. Then, it is extra important to see what is most important to you and what makes you happy. Protect that with all you have.
A lot of viewers were disappointed by the sudden and rash ending. I heard it was erased, because it strayed too far from the reality, as told in history books. The synopsis online and behind the scene footages seem to suggest that Hao Lan and Lu Bu Wei eloped in a boat together, leaving behind the palace, power and wealth. It does seem like the best, happy ending, cinematically speaking. But the realistic approach is not that bad either. After all that has happened, can they really love each other like before, as if nothing has happened? Won't the king be forever affraid that Lu Bu Wei would one day decide to steal the power from him? Will they not have the same arguments and disagreements again?
Just like a famous Hong Kong commercial quote: "Only care about what we once had, don't care for happily ever after" (in Chinese: 不在乎天長地久，只在乎曾經擁有). I always thought that it is better to cherish the happy memories and not ruin it by expecting it to last forever. But women can be fickle, so I might elope one day too. :)
Just like the message of this TV series, life is cruel and a long, endless battle. If you want to live, you need to put on your armor and fight or be trash and a nobody your whole life. The world is out there waiting for you to be conquered. Either you view those that hurt you as small ants that you can step on and crush one day or die, helping them get rid of an eyesore, a pesky bug. Even when you become the king of the world and the most powerful and the wealthiest, the battle doesn't stop there. Then, it is extra important to see what is most important to you and what makes you happy. Protect that with all you have.
A lot of viewers were disappointed by the sudden and rash ending. I heard it was erased, because it strayed too far from the reality, as told in history books. The synopsis online and behind the scene footages seem to suggest that Hao Lan and Lu Bu Wei eloped in a boat together, leaving behind the palace, power and wealth. It does seem like the best, happy ending, cinematically speaking. But the realistic approach is not that bad either. After all that has happened, can they really love each other like before, as if nothing has happened? Won't the king be forever affraid that Lu Bu Wei would one day decide to steal the power from him? Will they not have the same arguments and disagreements again?
Just like a famous Hong Kong commercial quote: "Only care about what we once had, don't care for happily ever after" (in Chinese: 不在乎天長地久，只在乎曾經擁有). I always thought that it is better to cherish the happy memories and not ruin it by expecting it to last forever. But women can be fickle, so I might elope one day too. :)
