HIStory3: Faça Valer a Pena (2019)

Just human

I defined this drama "just human" because that's how I see it. Because that's the adjective that fits best.
This story depicts the many facets of human beings and I'm going to list the reasons.

I want to start by saying that I rarely write a review, because if I do there must be at least one of these reasons: 1. It has to be a great story that impressed me positively or 2. It has to be a story that made me feel deeply sad about something/disappointed.
This drama gave me both.

The story is very well thought, I really feel like praising the screenwriter/s and the director. The story of the main couple is just delicate. Two teenagers portrayed with all their true emotions, difficulties, fears, hopes. They look real, spontaneous. The events just flow perfectly and with realistic dynamics.
The way they build their relationship is through hard work, collaboration (especially after Xiang Hao Ting gains Yu Xi Gu's trust). It's cute how both fall in love with each other and slowly start to know their weaknesses and faults. It was harder for Yu Xi Gu because he was very introverted, due to all of his life's challenges and I can't blame him at all for that. He was just defensive and only a stubborn, crazy guy like Xiang Hao Ting could reach his heart. He was a boy full of energy who put his all to achieve anything he wanted and I admired him for that. His character development was splendid.
Sexuality, desire, feelings, are depicted just as a teenager would live them. Those few scenes fit perfectly with the dynamics and weren't forced at all.

The second couple was cute too, and I can't say it's not common to see age-gap couples (and who am I to judge if there's true love and dedication?). Sun Bo Xiang was a very good friend too and I appreciated his character a lot.

This drama made me the spectator of something extremely real. Social problems, family issues, the conflicts of young boys who yet have to build their future. That's how life is for the majority of people.

What got me deeply into it was the display of emotions (anger, sorrow, sadness, joy) because the actors did an amazing job and expressed it all with heart + another praise to the sound designer for the soundtracks. The music was so beautiful and emotional that, for me, it had a huge impact on the scenes.

I cried a lot at the end. I also felt a bit disoriented with the flashforward, it took me some time to understand what was happening and what fate was reserved for Yu Xi Gu. Many people say it's not fair (yeah you're damn right) and other say they skipped the last episode. I didn't expect all that pain and it left me hollow. But after thinking about it, I came to a conclusion: life can be like that. You can put all your effort into something and then it can slip away from your hands. Happy endings don't happen for everyone, even for the best, hardworking people. Sometimes it's just fate, or bad luck, however you want to put it. I know people who lost relatives or their partner in similar, unfair, circumstances. Life can be like that too.
"You naively think that something will be there forever. But then you understand it's a lie. That one day, it could not be there anymore". So, what it conveyed to me was this: live your life to the fullest, cherish every moment and never stop believing in your goals.
I firmly believe that this drama deserves a lot more attention and love.

Last, but not least, give a damn Oscar to Wayne Song.

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the ending...

why... why would the author do that... i loved this show, really did but the ending.. it was so unnecessary and out of nowhere, the scenes long after that incident were so weirdly out of place too, like, if you do mcd at least play the grief out a little more, dont make people cry and have them confused whats happening bc the time skip and new situations are so confusing and sudden... definitely not rewatching, sorry but no.
its been some time since i watched this and im writing this now since i just made this account, so i dont remember the details much, but i remember being just so confused at the end, at first not fully realizing what happened, then crying, but it was all just so out of place, the scenes didnt really feel like they were supposed to be there...

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i hate/love this serie

i have a hate love feelings toward this serie, do i see myself rewatching it? hell no
let me say the end did fuck it up, no offense.
id start about what i loved, and later on mention what i hated
i loved the chemistry the most, both couples have great chemistry , my favorite is Lu Zhi Gang i dont know why but i found him adorable and hot in the same time, i loved Xiang Hao Ting too when he is nice and not mean to Yu Xi Gu
i didnt like Sun Bo Xiang, i understand he is young so thats why he is childish but he was acting so crazy at some moments i was like "wth"

now about how this show ended, Yu Xi Gu suffered his whole life not to have a tragic ending like that, like whats the message that they wanted to deliver? he worked his ass off to later on die at young age?
i want to say while i usually avoid watching sad endings, there is times when i watch them mostly when i can feel from the plot that it could be sad and from the vibe too you can sense the possibility of it having a sad ending so at that time you feel prepared with that, but guess what with this one? when the main characters have no issues with each others they just suddenly added a sad ending which felt out of place? suddenly he got a car accident because of salt? while car accidents happen in real life yeah but in a serie it felts that they just added it for the sake of making a sad end, at this point i accept if one of them decided to leave for some issues or relationship problem instead of this bs.. we didnt even see the car accident or him getting hit it felt weird, then how it ended? Xiang Hao Ting being depressed all the ep and not being able to move on with his life? wth? why not after sometime make him remember his lover and appreciate their precious memories with a smile instead of it being the opposite and making the whole ep so depressive, looks like he is living miserable for his whole life?

the thing is that the last impression of a serie is as important as the first impression, the first impression is what make you decide to watch a serie or not , while the last impression is what your review is going to be about because it leaves a huge impression of how you feel about a serie

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I've fallen in love with this web series since the first season, I had to admit that the first season is not that much good in some aspects but still it showed a good start for the franchise. I've watched every story in the first and second season (personal favorites are Obsessed, Crossing the line and Right or Wrong) and each part had a completely different story than the other and gives different lessons each time. When I heard that a third season will be released, I'm pretty much excited because I really liked the second season so I had really high hopes for the third season. I watched Trapped right after the episodes are completed and IT IS ONE OF THE BEST so I really expected a lot for Make our days count because of the success Trapped had. I thought that because it is a high school drama, like the others, it would have a GREAT AND HAPPY ending but boi it f*cking killed me to the core.

STORY:
The story is great, I'd be honest IT F*CKING GREAT. I fell in love with it. The transition of the story is smooth nothing fell out of place, everything is written beautifully (yes including the last episode or the last 2). I really love a series if it could make me cry because there's something about tragic and sad stories that makes me feel something. MODC made me realize that even the most (almost) perfect relationship (which Shi Gu and Hao Ting had) can turn into a completely devastating ending. MODC is unique among all the other story in the whole franchise because MODC is the only story that had a very painful and sad ending. A lot of people hated MODC because of the final (2) episode/s and I saw that on how the ratings dropped. I think that MODC doesn't deserve this and should have atleast a rating of 9/10 and it doesn't mean that when a story had a tragic ending that it's not a great story. Yes we don't deserve such a devastating ending and I'm also very mad at how things happened and would REALLY LOVE a happy ending because they really deserved that.

ACTING:
The acting is just wow. I could say that it's a perfect cast. No one felt out of place and Shi Gu and Hao Ting are SUCH GOOD ACTORS. You can really feel every emotion they show, the sincerity of their words, and the love that they have for each other.

MUSIC:
The music is really great. All of the music is coherent with the scenes and gave the right atmosphere for different scenes. I loved the opening song but it really makes me cry whenever I listen to it because it reminds me of all the memories they had and really broke me after watching the last episode. The ending song didn't really made sense to me till I listen to it with the english lyrics then I realized that it all f*cking made sense. Now every song that reminds me of how Shi Gu and Hao Ting loves each other, kills me and makes me breakdown and cry

REWATCH VALUE:
I WOULD DEFINITELY REWATCH THIS maybe except the last episode but maybe I'll watch that last episode again cause for me it is just good (even though it's a really bad ending and would love if they had a better ending) it just gives a really wonderful lesson. We should literally make our days count because we don't know what will happen in the future and a small change/accident can greatly change the future.

OVERALL:
I think that Hao Ting really showed his love for Shi Gu till the last second and maybe even for the rest of his life. He made all of his days with Shi Gu count and I would never ask for more. Hao Ting changed Shi Gu's life and they're very lucky to have found each other and the impact Shi Gu's death affect Hao Ting really showed how true and pure his love is for Shi Gu.

How they met and how they fell in love with each other is beautiful itself. It is just that how they part ways is tragic itself. I'm thankful they met each other and devastated that they had to be so far apart from each other.
"Don't cry because it's over, smile because it happened."

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TEARS FOR DAYS

I've just finished this series and I am drained, emotionally. I cried the entire last 2 episodes. Everyone knows the ending and it is not my favorite, either. Of all the BL couples, I wanted these two to have their happy ever after more than anyone. That's what made the ending so heartbreaking. The writing suffered the most here (and there are so many high moments that it was doubly disappointing.) But I can't necessarily fault the writer for creating a tragedy. In this world of super goofy BL series, having something more serious is still welcome, despite breaking my heart.

Overall, this is one of the best series I've ever seen. It has many flaws but the honest depiction of gay, teenage love with such tenderness and vulnerability was amazing. There was an ease to the relationship conveyed with just a simple shrug or touch of the hand that conveyed so much more. These two actors really embodied their characters and found a way to express their love that few have done in this genre. The powerful direction really raised this to another level.

The series starts slowly. I wasn't a fan for the first episode or 3. So many tropes and cliches. I found both actors wooden at the start. Yes, their characters are both closed off, but neither of them could play that aspect very well. I did not believe Xiang Hao Ting's transformation at all. It came from out of nowhere and it was such a complete reversal that it felt entirely false. But once the boys start opening up to each other, it became an entirely different feeling and both actors came alive.

The middle portion is what sets this series apart from so many other BL series. This felt like a REAL romance. There was affection, tenderness, vulnerability, intimacy, an ease and comfort between them. I'm tired of BL couples who don't hold hands or kiss. That's just stupid. Who wants a relationship devoid of intimacy? No one. It defeats the purpose of creating these series. If you want to see boys falling in love... SHOW THEM falling in love. This series does that.

The issues brought up about society's tolerance or lack of tolerance were all handled fairly well. A bit trite and resolved more easily than in real life, but at least they were not ignored or used only when convenient, like in so many other series.

Loved the group of friends. Felt like they were all friends in real life. The brother-sister relationship was fantastic. The moment when Xiang Hao Ting worries that he is unlikeable and she reassures him was one of my favorites of the series.

Sun Bo and Zhi Gang's relationship was also good. I'm not normally a fan of the May-December romances in Bl series, but here it did not bother me. And from my own experience I can say, there are a LOT of boys out there who like "daddies". So it's not like this isn't happening every day all over the world. And here, with Sun Bo as the aggressor and Zhi Gang so vulnerable and resistant at the start (and indeed throughout the entire series until the very last episode), it took away the normal creepiness of this type of relationship. I think showing them together 6 years later also showed that these relationships can work out if both partners are open and honest.

For the most part the acting was very very strong. I don't think Huang Juan Zhi had a false moment. Wayne Song went from forced over-acting to some incredibly powerful moments. His breakdown in the last episode was devastating. His personal charm and charisma made up for what he lacks. Wilson Liu also vacillated between forced moments and then great, honest and vulnerable scenes. There was something so sweet and naive about him that you fell for him instantly. His friendship with Xiang Hao Ting felt very real. I also loved the sister, mother and father. Very strong performances throughout.

Aside from the ending, which felt rushed and pieced together, almost like they didn't know how to end the series and just threw it together, the writing was very strong. Wonderful lines of dialogue that I would hope someone might one day repeat to me. Very well done. The music was understated and supported the romantic nature of the storyline very well. Direction was very strong.

QUESTION FOR BL LOVERS: Why does this trope exist? "I don't like guys. I only like him." Is this because the women who write these stories and the women who mainly watch them want some hope that "He'll leave the guy when he grows up and then I can have him."??? It doesn't really make sense. If you're willing to write/watch a story where two boys fall in love, then let them be gay, or slowly come to realize they are gay. They can still be uncomfortable. They can still be unsure. They can still have eyes for only one man. I remember my first love. I don't think I even looked at another man while we were together. No one else existed, but him. Write THOSE characters.

As noted in another review, I will watch this one again - but I will probably skip the last episode and just imagine the future I had hoped for these two boys.

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Definitely skip this one!

This drama is not perfect by any means. The pacing is bad, one notices points where the story was edited in a heavy handed way. Some of the acting was a bit exaggerated at times and a few of the characters were underdeveloped. But when its dialogue finally connects, it is well delivered and so sentimental it makes one forget all of its shortcomings. This drama’s shortcomings I think have a lot to do with budget issues maybe but I can’t be sure. I do notice these same weaknesses with many Taiwanese dramas, especially in the boys love genre.

But at the heart of this drama was simply a coming of age story. It spoke of the pivotal moments that inevitably occur in one’s life that shape who we become, especially when we are young. The vibrant colors and airy capricious environments hint at the naivety of youth.

In the end it’s a beautiful told story about a man who has been through so much disappointment he has lost faith in love and the comically younger and immature boy tenacious enough to teach him to trust again. And a who is constantly buffeting by some of the saddest circumstances. He just cannot catch a break but despite this he tries so hard to make the best of the abysmal cards he was dealt. It took a free spirit to show him that there were things worth living for other than excelling merely for the sake of escaping his struggles.

The drama ends rather sadly but that is not a bad thing per say. We all want to see an ideal happy ending even if only to escape from our own lives sometimes. But it simply isn’t realistic and I tend to find that depressingly refreshing. Sometimes bad things happen, sometimes the things we want don’t always work out the way we planned and sometimes love ends for one reason or another, but it doesn’t mean that it wasn’t worth it.

That’s truly the lesson to take from this. In the end I’ve seen so much potential from the HIStory series and it always falls flat at some vital point especially at the end and I’m not entirely sure why. It’s like the writing takes a hiatus or something. Overall if you watch this one though disappointed you can enjoy it. You will simply have to release expectations. However I personally recommend skipping the HIStory franchise all together, good riddance it isn’t coming back. Their ideas need more time to bake.

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An emotional roller coaster ride !

Being a fan of HIStory series I decided to watch this one and this was a complete roller coaster ride. Ended up watching all the episodes within a day.

Awesome star cast, oustanding acting and amazing story line until the last episode. This kept be hooked to it right from the first minute of the first episode. No misunderstandings, complete teenage love story. Pure, simple and beautiful love story. Their struggles, spirit of not giving up irrespective of the struggles they are going through.

I always like a happy ending since the story stays with me for days. The last episode takes a big toll on your emotions. Cried for almost entire 55 minutes.

Everything was perfect. Guess it was too perfect from the start hence it had an imperfect ending. There could have been umpteen number of ways to end this story.

Definitely can be rewatched apart from the last episode. Guess I am gonna do the same ! To come out of this emotional trauma...

PS: Its a must watch for all BL lovers. This will definitely top your list of favourite BL stories.

Leia Mais

HIStory 1 and 2 walked so HIStory 3 could run.

This is the best HIStory. What a meaningful, sweet and sad ride.
Their love is cute as if, and the story and acting superb.
Let's give a proper place to the secondary couple, they delivered and hardly i like both couples equally and feel that they made a fantastic job with both in every sense.

This series has serious doses of lovely moments, great kisses and hot sex scenes. Enjoy.

The stories of both couples feel deep, interesting, with layers, just how it should be. Every character is well built, have their background and you connect with them, see them overcome issues and grow their love. Fantastic acting.

This is the first time that i cry my eyes out for a ball of rice.

I am on the shortest side, the one that loved the sad ending (be warned, ep. 10). The acting at the end is just... outstanding. The way those emotions are portrayed it just breaks you into million pieces.
Is not often when you see this kind of pain and absolute devastation without an ending redemption, a glance of hope. There's none, there's no way. I am in love with how such an inner core sadness was projected and we were able to taste it in all her glory. Is devastating but totally profound. This is the truth and realism of that kind of feelings, if you experienced that before, you know this was you, this will always be you.

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Just so well done!

It's not running at snail speed, they didn't focus on a crazy girlfriend and make her look evil. There are real-life issues being addressed and the writing and acting are so well done on top of their chemistry being 100% organic. There is ZERO forced affection between the two. I am really happy I'm watching this while it's being aired. It is a treasure for sure. One of a kind. Amazing story, great actors, great supporting actors/side stories, on top of incredible cinematography. Sex scenes are done with taste and don't look forced or fake. It is clear to me everyone involved in this project is giving everything they have. 100%.
So well done. I can't even! My brain goes into overdrive every week. I normally don't re-watch BL or comment, but this one I can't help myself. I don't think I will get sick of it. Sadly, it is really changing the level of expectations with BL dramas because nothing seems to compare anymore. The other series I thought were amazing now pale in comparison.

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Almost a Masterpiece

This series came the closet of any series I have watched (since “Until We Meet Again” to becoming a masterpiece. It is a brilliant and superb work of beautiful art that will be remembered. It is a profoundly moving and deeply spiritual series that is one of the best if not the best acted BL series. The ending just let me down in so many, many ways. So, it never quite reaches the mountain top. They just did not believe that they had an amazing story and instead went to tug at heartstrings and missed it completely. This is a story of love. Actually, two love stories where nothing else really matters. Both are deep, intense, and forever. You know that; you sense that; you feel that. One love is destined for tragedy and the other is destined to transcend time itself in its simple beauty and intensity. No matter how you look at this series, it will be one that no doubt will deeply and profoundly affect you. It is impossible not to feel. The acting in this series is nothing short of superlative. All four have shown great depth to their characters and took us on a journey through their characters’ developments. The major flaw in this series is that it did not bring the audience on the journey even if that journey is painful. If you want to read my full review of this amazing series, go to ppbongi.medium.com. Thanks.

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Unpopular Opinion

Unpopular opinion time but, I didn't like the main couple. I actually fell in deep (deep) in love with the second couple. I thought their chemistry and story was overall better than the main. I don't mean to write negatively but, what i mean to say is, I still think the series is watchable as a whole even if the second couple isn't the main lol, what a mess my review is turning out to be.

I really liked the progression of the second couples story better, it was a happier ending, even more so because the grandpa(?) want's to see his grandson again even if they did reject him earlier for being gay. Their chemistry was amazing, the shower scene omgosh, so hawt. I feel so lewd, I rewinded that scene alone several times and i loooooove looooove age-gap couples especially if the top is younger than the bottom. Trust me, the story is good too even if i am focusing on the steamier parts haha.

I liked almost all the HIStory (series) and this one was no different.

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Bittersweet

I really wish i could give this drama a perfect score, but the ending gave me chronic depression, so this is my rating for what it's worth.

Also I've never written a review here before, but I feel the urge to talk about this drama and give you guys my insights.

I'll start by the things i like the most :

Both Wayne Song (Xiang Hao Ting) and Huang Juan Zhi (Yu Xi Gu) did a remarkable job. Whether it's a sad, funny or sexy scene, I have to say they both delivered. I think the casting was perfect. In my opinion, no one can sell that sweet, kind hearted, naive, innocent and broken feel more than Juan. When he's actually happy, his smile felt so genuine and from the heart. The way he looked at Xiang Hao Ting when he punched him after he made him miss his exam literally sent shivers down my spine. You can see the sadness, despair and hurt in his eyes. A face that'll make the worst kind of people feel guilty (which is what they were actually going for, hence why they lingered on that shot). All and all, that kid can act.

Now to Wayne aka Xiang Hao Ting. I don't know where to start with this one. I usually hate that typical high school jock image, and let's be honest, asian dramas usually love to push that image to the extreme with their leads (not saying all of them do, so please put down your pens, just the majority). However, I just loved every aspect of Xiang Hao Ting character. Starting from the way he was nonchalant about someone getting close to his gf (altho he acted on that later, but that's beside the point), to the way he almost immediately accepted the fact that he's crushing on a guy, to when he properly broke up with his gf before starting to chase after Yu Xi Gu, all the way to how affectionate he was with him (even if he was a bit clumsy on how to approach him at the beginning, but I mean come on, we all would be if it turns out we like a different gender for the first time), and I can go on and on. His funny and giddy personality was not cringey at all, but rather light and very much heartfelt.

Gotta say tho, when it comes to sexy scenes, and altho this might be an unpopular opinion, the side couple stole the show for me personally. That sex scene in the bathroom... yeah felt like I shouldn't be watching that lol. But you can clearly feel the way they're craving for each other. Not to say that I didn't enjoy the sexy times between Xiang Hao Ting and Yu Xi Gu, there are just some things I didn't really like, that I'm gonna point our later on. But all and all, one of the best chemistries I've seen in a while when it comes to sexy scenes.

Now for the story. Personally, I'm a sucker for the whole orphan nerdy kid who's fighting to stay afloat type of plot. They really did a great job with that, and each time Xiang Hao Ting would buy lunch for Yu Shi Gu, I could feel his discomfort at the idea of accepting something for free from someone. And even after they started dating, you can still slightly feel that discomfort in his eyes, so props for character continuity. The way the parents reacted to their son liking another boy was for me very unexpected. I don't know what I expected exactly, but the whole family seemed so dysfonctionnel in a good way, with the dad being playfully angry at his son, and the mom and sister being like "here we go again, what's new" and laughing it off, I at least expected the mom to be more accepting (even tho she was the most reasonable out of the two). The sister tho was for me the star of the family. Not only when it came to accepting her brother, but even before how she comforted him when he was doubting whither he was a good person, the way she likes to tease him, but always there to support him. Tbh, the whole brother-sister relationship from the start was very realistic and fun to watch.

Now I'm not one to pay a lot of attention to the music in shows, so all i gotta say is the soundtrack of the last episode was on point.

Let's get to the things i didn't like :

Well as you all expected, yes, I absolutely hated the ending. Well, hate is a strong word. I'll say that I despised it with passion.
Not the fact that is was a sad ending, just how it came out of nowhere, and how unnecessary it was.

Like I get the shock factor and all, but killing off such a beloved character was honestly plane rude from the writers. And just when he started to actually feel true happiness too. Generally when there's a character that suffered so much throughout his life, you'd expect a great payoff for him in the end, something to make you go like "oh, he totally deserves to be happy, he went through so much". But nope, at the end I was like "what the f*** was the point?".

The fact that they also never showed what actually happened, or the funeral, or how Xiang Hao Ting dealt with the loss at the beginning and went straight for a 6 years jump, all those things made the series unfulfilled.

And as a gay man myself, the ending for me was undeserving for both lead characters, and honestly made me think that it gave reason to all those people who say that a gay couple can never have a happy life. When I said that the series gave le chronic depression, I meant it (at least for the couple days after i watched it).

Now more specifically, when it comes to the sexy times, I didn't like how Xiang Hao Ting got upset because Yu Shi Gu didn't want to have full on sex with him at the beginning. Realistically speaking, and giving the personality of Yu Shi Gu and the fact that he's a virgin, I expected Xiang Hao Ting to be more understanding and to pressure him less. As a result, when Yu Shi Gu finally gave in during there vacation, I still felt that he didn't just to please Xiang Hao Ting, and not because he himself was ready. Don't get me wrong, the scene itself was great, but the payoff was less palpable, for me at least.

I also didn't like how some of the side stories remained unresolved. For example, the ex's best friend and the whole deal with the photo. Since she told him "a person who does something like this is not fit to be my friend", we never heard from him since.
Also on the same note, I could've sworn that one of the twins (the nice one) showed that he had feelings for Yu Shi Gu, just because of some shots where he would seem upset when Xiang Hao Ting came to see Yu Shi Gu in class, and the way he was defending him all the time. Maybe I've been reading too much into these scenes, but I know some of y'all saw the same thing and would agree with me.


Tbh, I can keep going with this review, there are still so many things I wanna talk about, specially regarding the side couple, but this is already getting too long. To summarize :
A good drama, great acting, great plot and pace, could've been perfect with a better ending.

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