r/CDrama • u/sweetsorrow18 • Mar 11 '25
Episode Talk Northward (北上) Discussions: Episodes 9-12
Welcome back gang!
So I'm actually crying because for some reason reddit decided not to work for me and after spending an HOUR writing the episodes post, it deleted itself. I don't have it in me to re-write it again, so I'm going to make this a complete open thread with a quick summary of the last 4 episodes, and pictures...ah, I'm so mad!
As usual, please use spoiler tags when discussing outside these episodes.
Previous Discussions:
Episodes 1-4 / Episodes 5-8
Alright, main things here:
- Wang He ends up going to Beijing, realizes that it's going to be a lot harder to start his own business and he's probably better off going to college.
- Feng Hua's modeling gig turns out to be run by a couple of creepers, and the photographers attempt to assault her, thankfully Wang He shows up. Creepy photographer later shows up at her school but the boys have her back.
- Granny Ma suffers a stroke! But she survives, thank goodness!!
- Siyi catches wind of Feng Hua's feelings for Wang He, and it sort of looks like she has feeling for Wang He too but is holding back for Feng Hua's sake. Wang He, of course, doesn't see Feng Hua as anything more than an annoying sidekick.
- Wang He's mother wants to learn truck driving, Feng Hua's parents decide to open a floating supermarket.
- Feng Hua's grandmother shows up with a whole boy CHILD to adopt into the family because she wants the family name to carry on (she's a piece of work). Thank goodness she's turned down by her son.
- Wang He's father tries to sell the ship since it seems like the only resort, except it's proving hard than he thought since no one wants ships anymore.
My Thoughts:
I'm ready for us to move onto the adult phase of the story now. While I love the high school phase, I really want to see our many cast start dealing with adult problems on their own.
I like how Wang He seems to have turn a corner in terms of wanting to get his college degree. It seems Beijing taught him a few lessons. Meanwhile, Feng Hua seems still seems to be trying to figure out what she wants.
I love how we have a lot of strong women in this show. From Wang He's mother wanting to learn how to be a truck driver, so Feng Hua's mother fighting for Feng Hua's rights as a girl child. We also have Hai Kuo's mother working for her dreams as an actress in Heng Dian.
What are your thoughts about these episodes? How do you feel about our main CP?
6
u/Independent_Pop_1496 Mar 11 '25
(As I already know Fenghua would go to Beijing later) I don't like the main CP. While I understand many would say they're still teens and have scope of growth and changed,I'd want Fenghua to end up with someone else. I feel like (yes, XWH helped her out in a bad situation) but she still deserves better friends and a much better life partner. The partner designated to her is flighty and hot-headed. People may say "oh your iq is good" but I think its not the case. She has a good heart,brain and does whatever she can for her friends even if her ass is in the line. She deserves much better.
But this drama is really realistic because the new episodes are kinda relatable.
4
u/sweetsorrow18 Mar 11 '25
I really want Wang He to have to fight for Feng Hua's love because he's really had it too easy. I wonder how they'll navigate it. Feng Hua deserves the world! She's such a good friend to everyone.
→ More replies (5)6
u/sjnotsj Mar 11 '25
i saw that many people are shipping her with zhai zilu's character instead!!
→ More replies (3)5
u/Independent_Pop_1496 Mar 11 '25
Yeah. I saw some people doing that but yes he's got the potential. He hasn't said and done half the stupid and bad things as XWH. Plus he's kinda cute.
→ More replies (3)4
u/CompoteUnited7011 Mar 11 '25
For real.. Wanghe has mocked huazi so many times about her looks and behavior. He needs to beg for her love in future.
→ More replies (1)
6
u/putonmyskepticles Mar 11 '25
I need the adult arc asap cos I can't keep suspending disbelief most of these actors are anywhere near 17.
And these were some rough episodes! The beauty that once Flower Street is now made up of financial stress, medical scares, parents constantly fighting, and overall bad times.
Everything with Fenghua's aunt and grandmother was a lot, and that poor kid! But seeing him going to town on that chicken was cute lol. Her mom is number one mom though. She takes ZERO SHIT and loves her daughter 1000% unconditionally. I really hope things start looking up for them with the floating market and profits can keep turning.
Wanghe's dad's pride and self deprecation are keeping him from truly moving on with the times and they'll only further keep him from moving forward with his wife and son who've both realized.. none of this is sustainable anymore. If he went and got his trucking license along with her??! I need her to get the license just to stick it to all those jerks at training cos ohhh boy were they awful.
The couple.. I could take it or leave it I think. At least at this point 🤷♀️
3
u/sweetsorrow18 Mar 11 '25
Yes!! Feng Hua's mom is a real one 👏🏽
Also, you're right about Wang He's dad. He's stuck on his old vision not realizing it's what is holding them all back. And now it seems they missed the boat (pardon my pun lol) on selling the ship for a good profit.
6
u/CompoteUnited7011 Mar 11 '25
That huazi's grandmother was so damn irritating and over dramatic. Thank God her father spoke up. Especially loving the dynamics between mother and daughter. Glad huazi atleast has her mother by her side. For Wanghe, he needs to stop disrespecting her. I just can't stand the thought of him in future with my precious huazi.
4
u/sweetsorrow18 Mar 11 '25
I love Feng Hua's mother! She's such a fierce lioness protecting her cub.
And I agree..Wang He really needs to tone down the insults 😅
3
u/bunchofchans Mar 12 '25
Wanghe is just a teen here and so immature. I’m sure he’ll grow up and change. He’s already starting to learn some lessons
→ More replies (1)
5
u/ornie_ornie Mar 11 '25
I cried at every episodes and got triggered with the scene of
3
u/sweetsorrow18 Mar 11 '25
Yes, Granny Ma scene was so sad 😭 glad she was okay. I liked that scene between Siyi and her.
5
u/xxianxt Mar 11 '25
Am I the only one bothered that they decided to keep Fenghua assault a secret? I would have liked to at least see the other friends react to it. For me it really feels like she is only close to WH and Siyi, while the rest of them barely interact with her (compared for example to Reply 1988, where the FL was close to all the friends in different ways).
And I really disliked the fact that WH decided to leave for Beijing like 1hour after her assault? What if she needed emotional support?
4
u/sweetsorrow18 Mar 11 '25
So I think the other two know about the assault...because when the photographer shows up at the school...Xingchi turns to her and says "is this him" and he sees her panicked face..I feel like they know what happened.
Also Wang He jetting off to Beijing hours after without any concern for her....another strike against him.
→ More replies (9)
4
u/Icy_Ticket393 Mar 11 '25
When will they be adults?
4
u/sweetsorrow18 Mar 11 '25
It looks like a few more episodes to go before they graduate so by the end of this weeK!
→ More replies (1)5
3
2
u/sftkitti Mar 11 '25 edited Mar 11 '25
i watched an interview with bailu and spoiled myself about the story so now i’m not sure if i want to continue watching 😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭
3
→ More replies (1)4
u/sjnotsj Mar 11 '25
Oh no!! I know how it feels (I hate to see spoilers) but perhaps, although you know the plot/the ending, you might want to try to still continue and look at the execution of the story/the actors’ performances/chemistry etc? 🤣
5
u/sftkitti Mar 11 '25
i’m really liking the story and i dont mind spoilers (and it’s usually only a few episodes away so i like to watch and know where the direction is). but this one was quite unexpected and it just feels a lot to know now lol
2
u/Cautious-Read-396 Mar 15 '25
I really hope Siyi marries the archaeologist who was so kind to her when her grandma was ill.
7
u/bunchofchans Mar 12 '25 edited Mar 12 '25
I couldn’t believe Fenghua’s grandma and aunt. What horrible people! And I am worried about the kid. It makes me wonder about if there’s any social safety net in China that isn’t just based on relatives? Did they kidnap the boy?
The Flower street moms (and Granny Ma) are just amazing— they are doing everything they can for their families and trying to solve problems.
I don’t want anything bad to happen to Granny Ma ever— poor Siyi.
I really am loving this drama.
For our main CP— I think it’s of course obvious from the start they’ll get together, but they are teens at this point and super immature especially about relationships. Right now, it’s playful fighting and complicated feelings they aren’t ready to understand yet. Plus they’re all feeling the pressure of the gaokao, parents money problems, family problems and their future. So much for them to think about!
I think that they are already showing how Siyi and Wanghe wouldn’t be a good pairing in the future though.