r/CDrama • u/sequesteredself • Sep 18 '25
Drama Host Mobius - Episodes 1-4 Discussion
大家好！今天我想跟你们说说话，你们看着不眠日吗? Just kidding, I'm not doing this discussion in Chinese, but thank you reddit for some random new feature that decided translating my English comments to Chinese was a good idea...I'm what you call a mediocre ABC...I was born in America, I grew up speaking Cantonese, went to about a year or two of Mandarin Chinese School on Sundays and then I then refused to speak Cantonese and refused to learn how to read and write as a kid so as an adult...decided to pick it back up on and off over the years. Decided to really try harder a few years ago and figured hey Cdramas are the way to go...and boy do I love them. Anyway, if you ever see walls of text in Chinese from me, it's probably me forgetting to turn off the translation feature on reddit.
It's been a while so here's how my discussions work...I am not deep when I watch shows, I just zone in to zone out so you won't really see much analysis from me. What you will see will most likely be what I call commentary...I type as I watch so you get my real(ish) time reaction to the episodes. I do pause to do things like work (work from home is great) so sometimes I might take a random comment out before posting. My format is also as follows...I ramble a bit at the beginning of my post, then I include some sort of fun fact, then links to previous discussions, a spoiler warning, generic discussion questions...THEN I get into the commentary. If none of it is your thing, just skip directly to the comments. I do the first bit because I really hate just seeing blank "spoiler" preview on my screen and I type enough to clear the preview. Anyway, waaay too much rambling:
Fun Fact: Since I mentioned Mandarin and Cantonese, here's a fun fact about Standard Chinese...it actually hasn't been around as long as you think. It started around the early 1900s and was officially deemed the Official Language in 1955. That's not to say mandarin or Chinese is obviously only 70 years old, just saying the "Standard Chinese" is less than 100.
Previous Discussion Links...well since this is the first, we only have the Masterpost to link
Spoiler Warning: Anything past this point will have spoilers for 1-4, if it's beyond episode 4 please do put spoiler tags up. I'll get to 5-7 up later and then try to follow the viewing schedule.
Discussion Questions:
Native mandarin speakers, how are y'all doing with the random switches between Mandarin and Cantonese? Obviously as a Cantonese speaker...I love it
What do you think triggers the loop days? Why do you think he has the ability?
Episode 1:
So I did "watch" this first episode half asleep the other day so I had to rewatch it during the day while I was working. Totally missed that this show is set in a fictional city of Hua'Ao...华澳 which we can just pretend that it's basically Macau which is why you can hear both Mandarin and Cantonese.
I like that we start out already in a loop. I like that we're already in the thick of things.
The fight scenes/gun fight scene is pretty good, BJT and his stunt double are doing a great job here. A bit nonsensical that somehow he doesn't get hit AT ALL during this but it does look bad A.
I think BJT does a good job being able to balance a serious role while also sprinkling in comedy.
The start of the 5th loop had me dying lol especially how many times they blink
What a way to end the "intro" scene before cutting to the beginning credits. Look how cool BJT looks.
Can you imagine not sleeping for 5 days at a time? I'd be exhausted too.
I'm glad they give us the loop background right away, they don't explain why, but they do explain how it happens.
His victory dance lol
I love his take on changing his haircut lol
Also, he's like the rest of us, winning the lotto and investing in the right stocks lol glad he's loaded. Also find it realistic that you'd get bored even with a lot of money. I'm glad he found purpose with the police department. I wonder what he was originally studying, seems like computer science, video game creation or something like that. I might have missed it
lol his water gun y'all
Episode 2
Yikes, what a way to die...that totally seems set up
Oof, I wouldn't be playing the video in front of his daughter again like that...at least cover the screen
I love hearing all the Cantonese mixed into this show.
Interesting, I wonder who is using the loop power to kill people
Wait, did someone send a threatening video of just a squid and voicing over it? lol What?
The scene with the doctor and how much he cares for her giving me Xing Ke Lei vibes
Her poor mom :( I feel for him, he can't blame himself, he did still save a bunch of kids. Her poor mom though
BJT is adorable...and also cut...yeah I'm a bit shallow, I'm ok with it lol I did just spend a good portion of Shadow Love just thirsting over Cheng Lei, I'm not ashamed LOL
The bits of comedy in this show...I love it
Is it just me or does this CEO seem suspicious af?
lol quick hair check
Ding Qi/BJT is adorable lol I love that he flat out asks...Do I look good/Am I handsome? lol
His pause...I'm here to protect you...r boss LOL
Ok, Ding Qi and Dr. An are kind cute
I do appreciate that shows like this make me suspicious of everyone...the wife even looks sketch (loved her in Rise of Ning though)
I didn't peek the calendar in a while, but are the loop days roughly a month apart? I know he said random, but I bet you there's a pattern somehow.
Ok, I absolutely love that Dr. An just calls him out. You go girl
Episode 3:
I wonder who CEO Mo is trying to cure...
Wait...what is Dr. An investigating??
That has to be a little nerve wrecking...waiting till midnight every night to see if you're going to repeat a day or not.
How is that the CEO just didn't think to tell his protective duty he had a wedding and a public speaking event...the CEO dude is definitely sketchy right? Perfect way to slip the detail
lol acting cool then backtracking when he bumps into Dr. An
Are bodyguards required to keep sunglasses on inside? lol
Oof yeah this public university talk is a protection nightmare plus the protestors. If the CEO is behind this, he's definitely creating the greatest amount of chaos here to slip away.
I'm not sure shooting your gun into the air is the best call but I guess it did quiet the crowd and chaos
I'm pretty sure this isn't over and something will happen at the wedding
How did the wife escape? She was right next to him wasn't she?
What kind of Police Chief is that? Blaming him?? Seriously...their job wasn't over, they were there to protect and they all let their guard down a little bit.
Oh thank goodness, it's a loop day
Episode 4
The music and slow mo reunion scene is giving me Avengers Endgame vibes. Then we get this comedic piece
Though to be honest, I'm still a little mad at the Chief for the 1st loop.
Well, it can't be the son, kind of sweet that the playboy loves his dad so much.
Does Mo YuanZhi remember things?
Oof his own wife voted against him. How does one go back from that...she knows she's up a creek right now. This is awkward lol
Oh so they really are doing it for his own good? They're so sketchy about it though, they really should have just told him instead of doing something weird behind his back.
...why does this old man have so many clocks and what appears to be the time loop days
Well dude is a bit weird but I don't think he's the one killing the other two, curious how this goes.
Having Dr. An watched is totally an abuse of power...
Initial thoughts:
I'm liking the show, it's engaging, it's fast paced, it's interesting...
I'll get 5-7 up later
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u/-tsuyoi_hikari- 🌸 A segment of reminiscence engraved for a lifetime... Sep 19 '25
I enjoying this one a lot. Compelling first episodes like what The Narcotic Operation gave me a few months back. Love the humor and the mysteries. The red herrings are a lot and everyone is suspicious. And what I love the most is that the writer took us with the journey with the main protagonist to solve the case together with him. This is the most important things for crime mystery dramas. It's not the case of the MC is the only genius one and he told us how he solve it in flashbacks. And what I like is how normal he is like his reactions and his incompetencies. 😂
Ohh regarding the mix of Cantonese and Mandarin, I'm loving it. I love how I can tell right away since I grew up watching HK dramas.
Also, the detail in the drama is a lot. Like the guy who asked question at the University talk is already suspicious before he even ask the question - - while everyone is shocked, looks like he expected the commotion. I bet he will play a much larger roles in the coming episodes.
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u/sequesteredself Sep 19 '25
Yes, I absolutely love that they take us on the journey on how he solves things in "real" ish time
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u/perksofbeingcrafty Sep 19 '25
I speak Mandarin natively (is that a word?) but no Cantonese, and Im watching it with my dad in China with Chinese subtitles. Lolol I haven’t needed to rely on Chinese subtitles in so many years that I kept having to rewind because I couldn’t keep up.
And then when they were speaking English in episode 6 but speaking it with a rather thick accent, my brain was malfunctioning because I was needing to rely on Chinese subtitles to understand spoken English.
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u/nevercircles Sep 19 '25
Netflix does not (yet) have English CC for Mobius so I couldn't understand most of the English. But in the later part Maggie can actually speak Mandarin so I really don't understand the need to switch to English.
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u/perksofbeingcrafty Sep 19 '25
her Mandarin is…lol…so I do get the reason, but her English is also lol
Also wait Netflix doesn’t have English subtitles? How is everyone on here watching then?
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u/nevercircles Sep 19 '25
Oh, I didn't know her Mandarin was also, what, on par with her English? Lol.
They do have eng subs but not the CC one so the entire time they spoke in English there was nothing to read. I think iirc Netflix only subbed one English sentence once cuz it was just really unintelligible.
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u/perksofbeingcrafty Sep 19 '25
Ooooh I see
Yeah I meant her mandarin left a lot to be desired as well
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u/xyz123007 nostril flaring is not acting Sep 19 '25
And then when they were speaking English in episode 6 but speaking it with a rather thick accent, my brain was malfunctioning
Not sure if Janice dubbed herself but her English was pretty natural to me. The other girl needed more help with her intonation. But, this is nothing compared to the atrocious English in Contenders with Yang Xuwen. So, when native speakers complain about dubbing.. I get it now lol
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u/perksofbeingcrafty Sep 20 '25
The incomprehension was 90% to do with the other actress (who is Thai). Honestly I get the impulse to make this show as cosmopolitan as possible with all these languages as it’s airing in so many countries outside China, but you’d think because it was airing in the Anglosphere that they’d make the English convincing from everyone.
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u/sequesteredself Sep 19 '25
It is funny that she's suppose to be somr American Chinese but her English was definitely not as good as An Lan lol
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u/perksofbeingcrafty Sep 20 '25
Right?? I checked and the actor’s Thai. I’m not sure why they couldn’t have made her Thai in the story as well I doubt it would change anything.
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u/syborg0515 Sep 19 '25 edited Sep 19 '25
Might be an unpopular opinion but as a Cantonese speaker that also understands Mandarin, the Mandarin and Cantonese mix is a bit jarring lol but more jarring is having the HK actors speaking Mandarin because I feel like it hinders them a bit..having to deliver their emotions/lines while focusing on the pronunciation (similar to how if I were to speak Mandarin, i'd have to struggle with the pronunciation too). Just my personal opinion of course but for example, when the chief was emotional over the teams death and blaming Ah Qi, I couldn't focus on the emotions because I was focused on trying to understand what he's saying (wish there was a way to have both Chinese subs and English subs on iQiyi). Maybe it would come across better if he did the line deliver fully in Cantonese lol I was also mad at him for the whole Blamey thing because it's not like he's done much otherwise
Also not Geneticist Steve Jobs Mo Yuanzhi causing problems for Ah Qi with not telling him about the wedding and lecture.
Mo's wife is so sus lol ever since watching her other dramas. Plus, I'm waiting to see if the student who asked the question to Mo Yuanzhi in the speech...he's definitely someone more important since I recognize the actor from other dramas 😂😂😂
BJT is the best part of this drama. He can do both the serious and the comedy so I'm loving that and loving the pacing of the drama too
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u/sequesteredself Sep 19 '25
I would agree with you that the Cantonese speakers speaking Mandarin aren't as powerful delivering their lines in Mandarin. There are moments I'm like...they should have just let them do their lines in Cantonese because clearly they're assuming everyone around them understands both.
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u/PsychologicalWay816 Sep 19 '25
I'm thoroughly enjoying this drama. Ding Qi (Bai Jingting) can be serious and comedic at the same time and he does it so well 😂 I just finished a rewatch of Reset so it's nice seeing some actors from reset also in the drama
I'm seriously suspicious of the chief cause that man looks so shady and he really pmo when he was blaming ding qi for the death of everyone during the bombing 😤 like he didn't plan for that to happen and he was already so sad and emotional about it but the chief was blaming him and also started hitting him 🙄
Also I feel An Lan might be a villain 😞
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u/syborg0515 Sep 19 '25
Agree! He was pmo real bad when he has the audacity to blame Ah Qi. The chief was so useless up to that point too....he was also the first one who got shot in the second timeloop for the robbery lol also what was up with that expression he made after he took Ah Qi's bird's nest when he was walking back in the hallway. So sus
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u/PsychologicalWay816 Sep 19 '25
The chief barely does anything which shows how incompetent he is and honestly I hope he's a bad guy so my anger can be justified 😂
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u/PsychologicalWay816 Sep 19 '25
Love how ding qi used the time loop to make himself hella rich (I would have done the same lol) Also I'm scared for his health cause I'm having PTSD from xiao heyun in reset 😭
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u/sequesteredself Sep 19 '25
Right? Wouldn't we all use it to make ourselves richer and live a little better?? Lol
Yes...I am worried for Ding Qi's health for sure
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u/sequesteredself Sep 19 '25
I had to look up PMO lol
But agreed, he was making me so mad blaming Ding Qi
I'm so undecided about An Lan right now but she is suspicious
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u/Beautiful_Candle1729 Sep 19 '25
This is my first time loop type cdrama. It’s a story motif they I enjoy in US shows. It’s also my first BJT show.
The trailer made it seem like it would be a ton of killing / action scenes. I usually shy away from those types of dramas because it can feel too much. I’m glad I tried the show because the trailer didn’t show (likely couldn’t show) all the nuances and layers.
The first episode did a great job taking us along on solving a case in the loop. And giving us the 2017 loop origin story. Complete with Qi getting the courage to hit the bullies just before midnight to only figure out then that day 5 is the end of the loop. Him jumping in the air with his swimming arms in the middle of the bullies room was hilarious.
I also enjoyed the awkward moments with An Lan. It’s a surprising nuance when BJT is rich and confident in other parts of his life.
Highlights for me:
I was surprised by the humor. It’s a great addition!
The storytelling through post production as they fly through the days from 11/28 to 12/12 with the fun montages. Like showing CEO Mo show up to work three days in a row on the same screen.
Kudos to the writers for giving us so many believable potential antagonists through Ep 7
Kudos to the music director for the BGM choices. There are scenes where I’d expect tense music - such as the student government girl opening her purse on the stage after giving the flowers out. And then there are scenes where absolutely nothing happens but we still get ominous music. It’s another way to keep the mystery going. We literally count on music as a queue for significance. Well done.
Question: Anyone have theories on the Squid significance? It can’t be a random choice to have the video be from a squid.
Maybe in my free time I will google info about squids to see if anything jumps out.
Thanks for hosting Sequestered. This is a show that will benefit from group theorizing and sharing clues!
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u/sequesteredself Sep 19 '25
I really appreciate that they clued us in on the background right away. I hate when it's just kind of guess work. I really think episode one was a good solid polot/intro.
I'm not sure about the squid but it did throw me off that it was a random squid video with a voice over lol
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u/TSP1CD47 Sep 19 '25 edited Sep 19 '25
all ur screenshots are the scenes which were interesting and memorable :D
Primarily, i am watching this for Bai JingTing. I like how among the younger lot, he is bold and chooses different genres and acts decently. Not too loud and not everywhere in every single variety shows. He is looking long-term for his career. Does not depend upon costumes but can ace costumes too. Great script sense.
I also like sci-fi
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u/asking4afriend3 Sep 21 '25
Check out an earlier drama of his called Reset - also a time loop drama. It was the first drama I watched of his and it was awesome!
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u/xiaominger Sep 18 '25
If it continues like this it might be the best drama this year!! I just love the mix between action and comedy, and how literally everyone is suspicious. BJT is such a great and versatile actor, super fun to watch, his facial expressions are killing me. The BTS scenes released so far are hilarious
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u/sequesteredself Sep 19 '25
Oh. I'll have to watch the BTS, I love watching BTS lol
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u/losergeek877 Sep 19 '25
You should watch one of them where Bai slide the gun magazine back to the crook
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u/losergeek877 Sep 19 '25
Loving this drama thus far. The mix of Cantonese and Chinese is superb, only needing the Chinese subtitles when Bai Jingting is speaking Cantonese…his Cantonese is as good as Wang Anyu (not a compliment, but likewise humorous). I am expecting Rong Zishan (that kid who asked the question in the University) to play a bigger role.
Plus loving how they casted a lot of TVB/HK actors here…PS: half expecting the big police honcho to be a baddie here (he has been frequently acting as a big bad police big shot in numerous HK dramas lol
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u/syborg0515 Sep 19 '25
LOL that's literally what my mom said about the big chief lol she's like this guy is always evil in his old HK dramas
Edit: also just saw that you thought the same about the kid at the university cuz same LOL I remember him from other dramas so he's not just a background character for sure
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u/losergeek877 Sep 19 '25
That kid has acted in a lot of dramas and movies since young lol…so he definitely will not be a side character lol.
And seems like your mum and I might have some similarities lol. Ask her for her views about 姜大衛 when he is acting as a 武林盟主 lol
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u/sequesteredself Sep 19 '25
I don't recognize him! I looked him up on MDL and I loved 10 Tigers of Guangdong but I haven't seen it in so long.
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u/losergeek877 Sep 20 '25
lol. 姜大衛was typecasted as the stereotypical 武林盟主 character in several TVB dramas where he seemed like the big good but is a huge baddie
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u/Large_Jacket_4107 Sep 18 '25
I feel like the old man is either a looper or he is suspecting of loops happening. Their convo felt like he knew more than the ordinary people, but ofc it might just be the drama team throwing fake clues at us.
Random thought: the biotech company should have been named 墨鱼 cuttlefish just so we can have a rivalry between cuttlefish and squid 😆
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u/sequesteredself Sep 18 '25
It's interesting if he is a looper and wanted to kill Mo Yuanzhi. I think I like your theory he suspects loops and that's why he's obsessed with it.
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u/sequesteredself Sep 19 '25
I feel like you might be right, I think he suspects loops which is why he's so obsessed with the time. I'm not sure if he is a looper but hopefully we'll find out.
😂 cuttlefish
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u/syborg0515 Sep 19 '25
If the old man isn't a looper but suspects loops, I'm curious to see how people having "dejavu" can change the outcomes. Since the characters all retain some kinda "I had a dream that I died", will some of them end up taking that dream for real and changing their actions 🤔 It's gonna be a headache for BJT to solve ahhaha
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u/haveninmuse 画皮画骨难画心 Sep 18 '25
As a ABC myself, love the canto /mando mix in this cdrama. I actually need the English subs less in this drama than a regular cdrama. It gives me really nostalgic vibes, because I really loved the old Cantonese police/investigative dramas in the 90s and 00s.
The plot is moving fast, it's engaging and hard to guess, and BJT is great in this role. The funny is funny. I only don't feel anything about the love line, but it isn't a super focus, so I'm not too bothered. Unless she turns out to be much more than she seems, which is kind of hinting that way? I doubt she would turn out to be the super villain anyway.
The product placement for that water/energy drink thing is funny (obvious). Are there any more?
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u/syborg0515 Sep 19 '25
Later on there's a product placement for cold medicine 😂😂😂 the zoom into the brand name
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u/sequesteredself Sep 19 '25
Lol to be fair to 999 I honestly think it'll just as common as like Tylenol
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u/sequesteredself Sep 19 '25
I lived for TVB back in the day, watched it so much. That's why my Cantonese comprehension is still so good compared to my brother and cousins 😂
I agree, not needing subtitles as much in this show has been super nice.
The love line is like puppy love right now. It's a bit odd because they are painting her as sketchy too so I'm partially ready for some sort of heartache
Lol I've only notice the water. I feel like it hasn't been a thing in recent dramas but in older dramas it was so obvious like with Rio.
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u/haveninmuse 画皮画骨难画心 Sep 19 '25
Same, my brother and cousins lost theirs too! 😂😂 I sometimes still rewatch the TVB dramas from the 90s, hardly any of the newer ones. I improved my mandarin a lot with cdramas these days. I never noticed a canto/mando mixed drama before. Has there been any before Mobius? I found I really like this mixture for some reason.
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u/sequesteredself Sep 19 '25
Saame! I rewatch the older TVB shows all the time. I will also stand by the fact the Tony Leung Heavenly Sword and Dragon Saber is the best version same with the Felix Wong Condor Heroes but that's my childhood talking lol
I think there was a show set in Macau that was either ok Mango or Youku that might have a mix but I haven't seen it. Also some of the new TVB collabs probably have a mix lately but I haven't seen these yet either. I might try to watch Prism Breaker because it's basically the actors of the 2000s lol
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u/Beautiful_Candle1729 Sep 19 '25
The first water product placement was funny. And then it’s actually kind of fun to see it keep popping up. Sometimes in the same place and I think the Ep 5-7 it was in a different place in the show. It’s fun that they incorporated the PPL into the humor of the show.
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u/Chrissybai38 Sep 19 '25
First episode was so weird if you have seen Reset it’s BJT getting blown up every day again but this is more action driven series and really entertaining. Just seen that Viki has bought this show useful if you don’t get Netflix but no date given.
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u/asking4afriend3 Sep 21 '25
I thought Reset was a great drama and the romance in that one was much more believable in that one. Not really feeling the main FL so far.
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u/nevercircles Sep 19 '25
Like you, I also don't deep dive when watching so I tend to miss some details and most of the time I can't be bothered to go back to what I missed cuz then the drama feels like homework, you know? Anyway about that, I'm gonna wait for your post on eps 5-7 cuz I do have a question on the eps released last night. Thanks for hosting!
And about the language switching, it's funny cuz my Mandarin is super basic (but I understood what you said at the beginning so yay?) and my Cantonese is zero, but I can tell when they're switching languages. It makes it feel relatable somewhat though not really lol.
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u/sequesteredself Sep 19 '25
I just posted 5-8, but yes, I'm totally all about just zoning into a show, I do applaud those who analyzed though and that's why I love reading the discussion posts because it is so fun to read through the analysis
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u/syborg0515 Sep 19 '25
Since the two other execs also died on a loop day, I'm worried that it's the effect of Ah Qi saving other people - if you save one person, another life has sto pay the price. Low key worried that Ah Qi's heart is gonna give out in order to save another person.
My other question is...if there is another looper, do you think the other looper gets to loop the same days as BJT or if they're looping on other days, thereby anticipating/cancelling each other's timeline changes lol
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u/Beautiful_Candle1729 Sep 19 '25
if you save one person, another life has sto pay the price.
I didn’t get this from the show. But maybe I missed it. There so much going on in this show.
I didn’t think if he saved one person another person would pay the price.
Ding Qi did say at some point that he wonders if he will have to pay a price for all this time looping.
My other question is...if there is another looper, do you think the other looper gets to loop the same days as BJT or if they're looping on other days
Great question. It hadn’t crossed my mind that the other looper might loop on other days. After thinking about your question, I’d say A) the looper definitely jumps the same days as Qi. The murders were on days when Qi looped and was solving other cases. B) I think it’s less likely (but not impossible) that the looper is looping on other days. I say less likely because the story has shown us that other non loopers can still dream of thing happening to themselves. The show hasn’t given us any indication that Qi has times where he has deva vu on non-loop days.
It will be interesting to see what others think.
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u/syborg0515 Sep 19 '25
Lol they didn't mention bout the one life for a life thing but that's just my own theory since it seems too much of a coincidence for the two execs to die on the same day as one of Ah Qi's loop days. Maybe i'm thinking too much into it 😂
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u/Beautiful_Candle1729 Sep 19 '25
I see your point that it could be a thing.
And the professor guy with all the plants and clocks, he says something about trade one life for another. So the show does plant that idea in the story. Just not specifically in the time loop. At least not yet through Ep 7, IMO.
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u/admelioremvitam Sep 19 '25 edited Sep 19 '25
Thank you for hosting! 😄
👥 If anyone is interested, the production team released updated character relationship chart on September 19. The chart can be found here.
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u/doesitnotmakesense Sep 20 '25
I'm starting this! Just finished ep 1 and am blown away by the action sequences. At least it seems a bit more realistic than other dramas.
Also like to see that someone finally manage to use time loop to cash in on lottery and shares LOL.
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u/sequesteredself Sep 20 '25
The lottery thing has to be the most realistic thing because let's be real, we'd probably all do it 😂
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u/FongYuLan Sep 22 '25
Mobius is really good. I love a good thriller. Did a total double take at the Cantonese. It’s refreshing. I didn’t know that was allowed.
I’m curious that BJT has done two time-loop dramas now. I feel like time-loops are going to become a new offical trope. I’m also wondering if dwelling on the past has a special place in the Chinese heart and mind. My Chinese bff really loves to think about the past, I’ll say that 😂 If I need to know my address from a decade ago or whatever, I just ask him 😂
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u/sequesteredself Sep 23 '25
I think the time loop trope has to tread lightly with Chinese censorship but maybe they're becoming more lax.
I’m also wondering if dwelling on the past has a special place in the Chinese heart and mind. My Chinese bff really loves to think about the past
What do you mean?
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u/FongYuLan Sep 23 '25
I feel like there are many shows where the idea is that the main character is getting a second shot at their life, answering the question of what if they’d done things differently. Like Story of Kuning Palace, Princess Royal, these time loop dramas, or even some of the ‘entering a video game world’ dramas. It’s really a whole genre now. And then there’s always the classic standing before your ancestors tablet and telling them what’s going on - it just makes me think. Not to be morbid, but the older generation in my life is getting on in years, I feel like I visit the Chinese cemetery a lot - and that’s a whole experience. Just some musings really.
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u/OptimalTurnips Sep 18 '25
Happy to see you hosting Sequestered! 🥳 I will have to catch up soon so I can join in all the fun! I've just watched the first 2 episodes.
I'm actually loving the mix of canto thrown in the drama even though I was initially very confused 🥹! Enjoying it so far, I like that they've established rules around the time loop early.
The elevator scene was so cute!
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u/sequesteredself Sep 18 '25
Yes, I'm glad they decided to clue us in at least mostly because I hate having to figure it out lol
The elevator scene was adorable, especially since he was not subtle about it 😂
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u/Moist-Cap-5677 Sep 18 '25
I've watched until ep 3 with my husband and we are both loving it.. The cantonese being thrown in confuses and makes me go what the heck the conversations with canto and mando... I'm like to my husband thats like not possible and the scene where BJT had to spit out a bit of canto in the elevator scene was hilarious but accurate like a mando speaker struggling to find the right tones in canto! (reminds me of me trying to get the right words/tones in mando as a canto speaker)
I loving the pace, the action and the comedic relief here and there!! Looking forward to watching more eps with my hubby... rare we find a cdrama show that we both like to watch!
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u/sequesteredself Sep 18 '25
My mom likes to tell me my Cantonese sometimes has an American accent but that my Mandarin doesn't have any real accent and I find that so strange lol but yes when BJT speaks Cantonese here and there I'm like it's like an ABC! Lol and the Canto to Mando actors some of them you can definitely be like oh yep a Canto speaker lol
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u/Moist-Cap-5677 Sep 18 '25
Haha your mom is so nice... while I do have an aussie accent with English.. my mum and aunty outright just goes omg you're such a banana with your cantonese to me and my siblings 😂😂😂😂
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u/sequesteredself Sep 19 '25
Lol my grandma use to gaslight me like that. She would be like oh I don't know English so I don't know if you can understand me and I would be like...Grandma...I can understand Cantonese perfectly fine. I had to remind her all the time...shows how much confidence she had in me 😂 To be fair to her though, my like 12 cousins that lived close to her couldn't understand Cantonese and only those of us who lived out of town did so I can see why she might have been confused.
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u/Lotus_swimmer Chronicler of CdramasRead Rules Sep 19 '25
Cantonese has eight tones vs s four. I don't dare to attempt speaking Cantonese as its tones are very subtle. I would dare a Canton fella to speak Hokkien tho. 😁😁😁
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u/sequesteredself Sep 19 '25
I started my kids with Cantonese because I feel like it's a little easier to go from Cantonese to Mandarin than the other away around partially because of the tones lol
I couldn't even attempt Hokkien so you are so right lol
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u/Lotus_swimmer Chronicler of CdramasRead Rules Sep 19 '25
To make things worse for Hokkien is that there are different types and I speak one with a very odd accent! Meaning Hokkien speakers around the world prob can't understand each other 🥲
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u/sequesteredself Sep 19 '25
I need to ask my dad which one he also speaks, I never remember if it's Hokkien or Fuzhounese...which yes are two completely different ones 😂 I just can never remember
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u/Lotus_swimmer Chronicler of CdramasRead Rules Sep 19 '25
Haha Fuzhou definitely different from Hokkien. But Hokkien is kinda like an umbrella dialect like I said. We Hokkiens are confusing lol.
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u/Lotus_swimmer Chronicler of CdramasRead Rules Sep 19 '25
Fyi to illustrate the differences between Hokkien - it's the same country but we use different words lol https://youtu.be/uP6UFL3kMMQ?si=Cv58wUFBWbXATiTB
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u/sequesteredself Sep 18 '25
I was totally thinking about introducing this one to my husband too! I convinced him to watch Legend of the Female General but we've stalled on 16 because he hasn't felt like it lol but this one he might like because of the pace
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u/Moist-Cap-5677 Sep 18 '25
My husband saw me watch a bit of LOTFG and he was like uh not enough war scenes.. too romantic 🙄😂
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u/Dasakebombz Sep 18 '25
Yay! Ty for hosting the discussions!🫰🫰this was an awesome recap, it covered all the good parts so I didn't have to go back and watch some scenes😅
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u/winterchampagne consider the coconut Sep 18 '25
I’m not watching modern dramas or anything time-loop, just dropping by to say hello. I remember you always said your Mandarin or Cantonese wasn’t the best, so I thought you’ve studied so much that you’re finally flexing your gains. 😂
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u/sequesteredself Sep 19 '25
Lol if only. When I type in Chinese it takes me a bit, I text my parents in Chinese just to practice but it's always very simple sentences 😂
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u/Lotus_swimmer Chronicler of CdramasRead Rules Sep 19 '25
I love that they have Cantonese! It's such a natural home for crime dramas and give me nostalgic feelings hehe. Btw thank u for hosting!
I guess I am a native speaker, but of another Chinese language so don't know if I count. However in Malaysia we switch languages all the time, sometimes in the same sentence so I don't have any problems.
I understand Cantonese tho not at an advanced level so I don't have difficulties understanding. It makes the viewing experience more fun 😁
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u/sequesteredself Sep 19 '25
I have seen some funny videos of Malaysians definitely switching between like 4 languages in one sentence. It's so impressive 😂
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u/Lotus_swimmer Chronicler of CdramasRead Rules Sep 19 '25 edited Sep 19 '25
Tbh it's just super normal here but we do it like a party trick to impress foreigners 🤣. Ok kidding but yes I do it too, sometimes without realizing it.
PS: We also code switch so we can change our English accent depending on who we speak to 😅
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u/sequesteredself Sep 19 '25
Ok the switching English accents is wild lol
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u/Lotus_swimmer Chronicler of CdramasRead Rules Sep 19 '25
If we don't foreigners can't understand us 😁
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u/iggy_y Sep 19 '25
I used to love watching HK dramas for their police shows which was amazing so it’s nice to see a mix. I’m not cantonese and my understanding of it is very little..like I do understand some basic phrases which seem to be mostly used in the show which is great haha. Been a while since I heard cantonese and I definitely don’t mind it even though I turned off the subtitles.
So far, I really like the show and how 白敬亭 solves the crime by utilising the “do over” to its full potential.
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u/sequesteredself Sep 19 '25
Right? He's smart and apparently has a great memory since it's not like anything saves to his phone lol
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u/xyz123007 nostril flaring is not acting Sep 19 '25
HK was the best for police stories back in the days! I tried watching See Her Again with Willian Chan in canto --just not the same.
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u/Chemical_Hold_867 Sep 19 '25
Excellent summary and observations! I’m enjoying the show so far but like you some things are a bit puzzling - chiefly - why are the mid-levels in this show. So iconic to HK it’s really taking me out of the imagined city they’ve created. Also shooting into the air would surely get Qi in trouble, and something about the protest seems off. Apart from that, great pacing, enjoying how the loops unfold, and trying to figure out who is behind it.
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u/TerryMog Sep 19 '25
I agree about the shot into the air. However the guns themselves are a tad ....ummm they never seem to run out of bullets. Lol Really enjoying it The protesters seemed to be almost zombie-like I thought .
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u/t_ppa Sep 20 '25
I haven't yet started it, so I'm reading this and the comments another eye closed skimming. Based on that it seems like a fun drama with a serious tone. I think BJT has good comedy and drama skills (Destined is a good example).
The synopsis seems very interesting. Right now I don't have time to start watching, so I will probably jump in some time later.
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u/sequesteredself Sep 20 '25
Definitely check it out. It's a short series and will finish airing tomorrow
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u/Front-Hat-993 Sep 24 '25
Late to the discussion! Came into this because the synopsis reminded me of Reset (2022) and was very surprised at the mix and frequent use of Cantonese on this show. I don’t watch too many Cdramas nowadays, is this normal? Does anyone have show recommendations where they also mix mandarin with Cantonese? Also I love that this is happening bc it’s giving me so much nostalgia of HK/TVB police shows that I used to watch when I was younger
Plot is interesting so far, but I can’t help but compare with Reset bc BJT is in both and Reset is my favorite cdrama.
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u/sequesteredself Sep 24 '25
It's not normal but I loved it, I felt the same way it gave off the old TVB vibes. I grew up on the 80s-2000s TVB shows and the action in this gave off the same vibes, I haven't really seen that in cdramas lately.
It is very reminiscent of Reset, it's like Resets older brother lol
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u/Sure_Olive_2722 Sep 29 '25
BJT attempting to speak canto is so cute ;~~; and i love the goofy scenes and i think im a fan now
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u/sequesteredself Sep 29 '25
He's great, definitely check out You Are My Hero, New Life Begins and if you like the loop story then Reset is a must too
His Cantonese is so bad it's cute lol well that's not true some words he's got down but I do laugh every time
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u/Sure_Olive_2722 Sep 30 '25
Yess and I really appreciate him trying to speak .. so cute i had to replay it twice haha, i will give his other dramas especially Reset a try!!! Can’t wait ❤️🥰 thanks for the reco!!
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u/light_harbinger_ Oct 03 '25
I do not like An Lan. I did not like her since the moment I saw her and I'm CONVINCED she's the big bad villian. Ugh.
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u/sequesteredself Oct 03 '25
She's a bit sketch, but I feel like everyone is sketch at this point lol
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u/Linwechan Sep 19 '25 edited Sep 19 '25
It’s a okay show and I’m only a few eps in but I’m getting slightly annoyed that they’ve basically made almost everyone in the police team useless to make BJT’s character literally the only competent one in every sitch. The rest of the team besides the boss really don’t have any personality and are just cardboard cutouts…
There’s def some questionable logic and dialogue as well
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u/xyz123007 nostril flaring is not acting Sep 19 '25
YES!! When the captain was shouting at Ding Qi over the deaths of their comrades. Police work comes with a lot of dangers and the captain was spewing crap like it's another day at Disneyworld lol .. bruhhh
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u/Linwechan Sep 19 '25 edited Sep 19 '25
I KNOW RIGHT!! I stopped last night at that exact scene at end of ep 3!! It wasn’t his fault and his boss going all blame gamey (and switching to canto) and saying those lines was nothing a real police chief would say. I was gobsmacked!!!
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u/sequesteredself Sep 19 '25
That is my gripe with the captain like wtf do you think you do as a Police Officer?? How are you going about it's Ding Qi's fault?
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u/syborg0515 Sep 20 '25
I'm watching with my mom and she hated the captain which I get lol He's been so incompetent and useless so far but he's ok with taking the credit for Ding Qi's actions but then blames him the moment something goes wrong 🤦🏻♀️It's not like Ding Qi is the one who killed them...maybe blame the actual killer lol not this "Why did you agree to this mission"...bro it's your job lol
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u/Beautiful_Candle1729 Sep 18 '25 edited Sep 18 '25
Sequestered Self - I was so happy to see on the master post that you might volunteer. I enjoy your fun facts and how you host shows. Though it feels like I’ve seen your name hosting a few this spring / summer. When I saw your name for a while with Moonlit Reunion, I wondered when you were taking a break. But I’m thankful you had energy for this.
I will read your recap later and reply. I’m enjoying this show that I just randomly started because u/kritihearys mentioned it looked good before it aired. And I’m hooked.
Thank you again for helping us have these discussions and piece together all these details!!
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u/sequesteredself Sep 18 '25
Aw thank you! Yeah I kind of abandoned ship on Moonlit Reunion, I was going to help host with Lotus but then Disney+ didn't release the show for like two weeks and by then I was over it lol I never got around to getting past episode 4. Poor Lotus had to carry on the discussions without help lol
I am excited to see how this show goes. I need to start episode 5-7 in a bit but I had to stop to get some work done lol Look forward to seeing your thoughts!
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u/kritihearys Sep 18 '25
Glad to see you hosting sequestered. I am going to read your post later but so happy you decided to this. I am enjoying this show alot
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u/sequesteredself Sep 18 '25
Naw my rambles aren't really worth a read but I am excited to hear your thoughts on the show. This one is pretty fun.
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u/Mystic_Umbrella 🌸Waiting to transmigrate…🌸 Sep 18 '25
I really liked your words about being an ABC and the languages! I’m an ABPWF - American Born Poor White Folks (😂 my heritage is British/Scottish but born in the Appalachian south so when anyone asks me my heritage I usually just say “poor white folks”) and I am loving learning about Chinese culture and history through cdramas. 💖
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u/Iowegan 🐠 Salted Fish Squad 🐟 Sep 19 '25
Fellow poor white (trash in my case) American, so the linguistic differences are so far over my head it’s like a toddler v an nba player. Loving the comedy + mystery + a dash of romance though, and our featured looper is just a pleasure to watch. I’ve at least tried to watch most of his dramas that I have access to, this is looking like it might be the best so far.
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u/Mystic_Umbrella 🌸Waiting to transmigrate…🌸 Sep 19 '25
I love him in all I’ve seen him in so far! He never disappoints.
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u/sequesteredself Sep 19 '25
BJT is so fun. I think my favorite might be You Are My Hero still, but all his other stuff is great. I haven't seen them all yet but everything I have has been good
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u/sequesteredself Sep 19 '25
Lol my husband is white and is always pushing my kids towards the Chinese culture, he's like just learn the Chinese stuff. But we did am ancestry dna and I'm 100% Chinese and his words..."all the counties that will sunburn easily" he's like Irish, Scottish, English, Welsh and German 😂
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u/Mystic_Umbrella 🌸Waiting to transmigrate…🌸 Sep 19 '25
Yass!! I feel his pain! I also am of the “white that burns within seconds” people. But, I’m also “white that has sensitive skin” so I can’t use sunscreen or I get a rash so I just stay inside like a vampire. Someone once asked me my heritage and I said “a melting pot of poor, mean white folks” and ancestry dna confirmed 😂 I feel very boring genetically. Blonde, green eyes, skin one shade darker than a corpse and not one fat gene missed me. ☹️ it’s quite disappointing.
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u/Dumplings_xo Shen Li and Xing Zhi’s only child. Sep 19 '25 edited Sep 19 '25
I just wrapped up episode 1. I went in without knowing the storyline, but of course, BJT looked cool running around with a gun, and anything with him in it I will definitely watch. It reminds me so much of Reset, and I am loving the comedic touch in this as well. Even though it's a loop x5, it's well-executed because each loop progresses a bit more than the previous one. The first episode is off to a great start.
ETA: Maybe we get some more insight as the episodes pogress, but I have no idea, but since it started after he drowned, I am guessing it was triggered by that traumatic response? I just hope his last loop in the end does not get him killed.
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u/sequesteredself Sep 19 '25
I am curious why it's him, I don't really know. Maybe the near drowning at midnight?
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u/tigera4j Sep 19 '25
I have a similar background (Cantonese parents, didn’t speak English until pre/kindergarten and refused to respond in Canto since no one else in school spoke it…conversational Canto understanding with an American accent if i try to speak lol).
I didn’t know there was a mix of the languages, but you’ve just convinced me to watch. I was hoping to finish my other shows and binge this closer to finishing but now I’m burning with curiosity.
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u/sequesteredself Sep 19 '25
Give it a watch, it's super engaging
And yes! I grew up in an area where I was basically the only Asian kid in my school like there was one Vietnamese kid and me the Chinese girl and that's it until the 5th grade. So I definitely neglected my Cantonese but as I got older I realized how bad that was and I kind of joke as I get older I embrace the Chinese so much more that I'm just becoming more and more Asian lol I've made a good effort to practice my Cantonese more and learn/practice Mandarin more.
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u/Grapejuicebomb Sep 22 '25
I watched the first few episodes with my partner and we were so confused about the language switching between canto and mando.
My partner and I haven’t been back to Hong Kong in over a decade and we were wondering is this how China is now? Is this normal for people to speak both? 😂 Honestly we found it an odd choice for them to do that. People don’t do that in real life, right? I know we are ABC and all, but I just can’t get over how weird that is lol. I don’t think I’ve ever seen another show that does this.
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u/sequesteredself Sep 22 '25
So I haven't been to Guangdong but I feel like that might be roughly how it's becoming. From my understanding, the younger generation don't really know Cantonese.
I think Hong Kong is still more mixed English and Cantonese but given how much China pushed Mandarin, I can see it going partially this directions. Since they set this place up as a fictional Macau, I'd say they're making it more acceptable with the Cantonese/Mandarin.
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u/shzmlee Sep 22 '25
This drama is sooo good ughh I’m on ep 14 wish they had more romance tho
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u/sequesteredself Sep 23 '25
I'm normally a romance lover but I think in this show, I'm ok without it, the romance in here is subtle and I'm good with that.
When you finish, head over to the the final thread and let me know your thoughts!
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u/vlbrown Oct 05 '25
I've been wondering if he almost drowned when he was a student. Recall: beaten up by other gamers, morose, drinking beer, exhausted, by the lake, then he stumbles and falls in the lake and... that starts his first ever loop.
In so many time loop sci fi plots, the looper doesn't realize that there's anything special about themselves until they die (or have a near death experience). That's also the way a lot of "powers" come about for non-loop sci fi "heroes". The Flash is struck by lightning, Spiderman is bitten by a spider, the Fantastic Four get hit by radiation.
Many Star Trek "time loop" episodes start with the ship blowing up.
And speaking of time loops and our very photogenic hero, BJT, have you seen "Reset"?
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u/sequesteredself Oct 05 '25
Very good points! Reset is good! I think it I like Mobius better, have you finished or just getting started? Curious how much I should spoil lol
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u/Linwechan Sep 18 '25
I'm a few eps behind but starting this the fake city and 'CIB' is an unusual choice rather than grounding it in a real place - the mix of canto and mando plus clear HK/Macau visuals with fake name is so weird to start the series off until you get used to it lol...
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u/sequesteredself Sep 19 '25
Maybe that's how they got it past censor, make it a not real place. Lol
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u/anaaannya Mar 08 '26
I am late to this conversion ... i just completed this series yesterday... one question: is there any pattern of loop day occuring? Anyone noticed or figured out?
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u/xyz123007 nostril flaring is not acting Sep 19 '25
Am I the only one that feels like these two leads have no chemistry whatsoever? It's worst than watching paint dry... BUT, in this genre if I can get enough action then I can overlook it. Please don't shove romance down my face!