It is refreshing when Asian production companies attempt something unconventional and succeed in delivering a story that feels original. While the opening episodes of this fantasy romance are delightful and feature a concept that catches you off guard in a positive way, the narrative begins to unravel as you progress, devolving into a mess of confusion and constant misunderstandings. Although the cinematography on the island is gorgeous and both couples provide a heart-fluttering sensation, the ending was a total letdown for me. Given how tangled the plot became, the series really required more care in how it wrapped everything up. The show runs 12 episodes, each around 35-40 minutes.
After losing his job, He Xiang Yong returns to a small island near Taipei, where he faces a tense relationship with his father and the crushing sensation that the entire island is judging him. While with his best friend Li Wan Zhe, he wishes upon a shooting star to be unrecognized by everyone. To his surprise, the wish comes true the following morning; nobody knows him, and his own father, who runs a B&B, even mistakes him for an intruder and kicks him out. It is during this chaos that he notices Chen Hao Wei, his old school crush, working at the B&B. Because Li Wan Zhe also made a wish to the stars—wishing to feel unconditionally loved—he is the only one who still knows Xiang Yong’s true identity. Wan Zhe manages to get Xiang Yong hired at the B&B by setting him up with a fake identity. Simultaneously, Wan Zhe’s wish begins to manifest through his friend and customer Aomi, who starts chasing him intensely. As Xiang Yong and Hao Wei spend more time together, they fall in love while untangling misunderstandings from their childhood. However, around episode six, a new burst of magic occurs, waking both men up in a completely different timeline. In this new reality, his dad is single, Aomi’s feelings for Wan Zhe have disappeared, and everyone is facing fresh heartbreak. The story reveals that the island has a deep history involving these wishes, and a single mentally ill resident is apparently the only one capable of undoing the damage. The final stretch is riddled with plot holes and rushes toward an ending that makes the romance feel kind of unsatisfying. I was having a great time until that point, but those last three or four episodes just drained all the fun out of it for me.
The series’ greatest asset is undoubtedly the island and its breathtaking cinematography. Whether the characters are wandering near weathered old buildings or gazing at a distant skyline, every shot is stunning; the show consistently finds beauty in every setting, even including some underwater footage. These top tier production values are evident throughout. I found myself completely hooked on the sweet childhood friendship of Xiang Yong and Hao Wei, as every episode weaves in wonderful, simple flashbacks to their teenage years that leave you with a warm, cozy feeling. That same chemistry carries into their adult lives, providing plenty of tender moments despite the ongoing confusion. While both actors are good looking and perform their roles well, the constant angst in their relationship eventually begins to wear on you. Fortunately, the second couple picks up all the slack; watching one guy chase after, care for, and slowly win over the other was incredible, making them perhaps one of the best secondary couples I’ve seen in any BL series. Huge credit goes to that pairing alone. The overall island atmosphere and the supporting cast—including the dad, Uncle Hue, and the old lady running the shaved ice shop—are all handled really well. It is a shame, however, that they didn’t put in the extra effort to stick the landing. They could have easily ended the story at episode eight, right when the couple shares that kiss and falls back in love, but they stretched it out for four more episodes instead. While there is a lot here worth getting invested in, the plot becomes a maddening mess, and I’d bet barely anyone could actually explain what happens by the end. The show doesn’t always make sense, but it possesses so much heart, love, chemistry, and natural beauty. That is what this rating is really for. (7/10)
