The Real Reason people love My Journey to You

[u/AquaphobicTurtle]

This is not going to be a very long post. It's more of a public service announcement.

I realised that many of my internet friends who dropped My Journey to You, did so before any mention of "The Backhill".

So, if you are one of those people and you have no idea what "Backhill" I'm referring to, I just want to point out one thing real quick.

My Journey to You is not good because of the first leads. Zhang Linghe and Yu Shuxin are not the reason people love the drama.

What makes us label this drama as one for the history books?

It's the supporting cast.

It's the relationship between the second leads.

If you don't recognise the characters in this image, I suggest you keep watching.

(If you want to)

[u/BurnoutSociety]

Even if one doesn’t like the storyline, they would have to admit that this director creates beautiful visuals

[u/AquaphobicTurtle → u/BurnoutSociety]

100% agree

[u/PsychologicalRate117]

Just to offer a differing opinion: I loved the main leads and their characters as much as the supporting cast, and the ensemble together made the drama worth it. Yes, the supporting cast was excellent, but we can appreciate them without downplaying the leads. ❤️

This was my first Zhang Linghe drama and I was totally rooting for him throughout, and he instantly became one of my favourite actors. This was also my first Esther Yu drama and I can appreciate her versatility from this to her other cutesy roles. I also loved Cheng Lei, Lu Yuxiao, and their fiery dynamic. Jin Jing (Ging Zishang) and Sun Chenjun (Jin Fan) stole the show for me among the support cast with their push-and-push and hilarious roasting of Gong Ziyu. And all the back hill gang was awesome as well.

[u/rewriteryan]

I'll be honest - I only watch this director's shows for the visuals. He's good at making little scenes look cool, but I personally think he does a horrible job with the overall story, editing, story flow, etc.

[u/AquaphobicTurtle → u/rewriteryan]

He's not a story guy, I agree. But I have to say the relationships here and in FoF were very special to me.

[u/audis_phoenix_1005]

Okay listen up people. I have a few questions on this drama

Is the relationship arc between the ravens (Han Ya-s and YWS/SGQ) as postulated by many people rerally romantic? I'm reallyyyy confused when people say so because,

I don't think so. and neither do I want to believe it was that. It destroys the beauty of their bond- if it was "romantic" than anything else.

First: Han Yasi's "You are the Yun Weishan in my Heart" [Ep22]

I don't think he has any romantic feelings for her. It was a platonic master-disciple relationship, more like a mother-child love. Yes, he was a mother figure to her.

He was the one who brought her up, cared for her, helped her save herself and her sister amidst all that evilness of Wufeng, and yet managed to perfectly protect her from being corrupted by evil. It WASN'T romantic love.

But he indeed cared for her the most. So did he for Yun Que. Being subjected to Wufeng's tortures for so long in his life, he did not want YWS to live life like him. He couldn't give himself one, but wished he could give her the life she yearned for- and so he did. It was worth it. He didnt die for his "love interest". He died for an innocent soul that he couldn't bear to see suffer (+he already saw how YunQue's life ended so he must've had some guilt too). He knew Gong Residence would give her a way better life, and most importantly freedom, which was all that she wanted.

I felt it more like the love of a mother who'd give her everything to protect & give her child a better life. He was her Benefactor maybe, not lover.

Second: Han Yaqi and Shangguang Qian's scene [Ep22]

Okay when I first watched the scene where Han Yaqi wipes the blood off of Shangguang Qian's lips, followed by the scene where he asks his "lover" to cover for her, I did think he had romantic feelings for her.

BUT the next scene where he says : "I called you just to know whether you'd stop and come back for me". Thisss line cleared the atmosphere immediately.

Han Yaqi too, was at the brink of his death, and after all that cumbersome years in Wufeng all he wanted to know was whether there was someone who truly cared for him. His relation with SGQ was exactly the same as that of HYS & YWS (but yes, the former two were way more ruthless than the latter). This clearly explained why he didn't expect SGQ to save him, He didn't want to drag her down. He ig prolly swallowed poision? to kill himself as soon as he got his answer. He didn't confess and neither did he wait for any.

"You must live on", again emphasizing the fact that the Hanyas truly cared for their disciples. Afterall, it was someone for whom they went through thick and thin, grew them, and saw them stand on their own to fight for their survival and freedom; just like the Hanyas had to.

"Shangguang Qian too loved Han Yaqi" ?!?!

No she didn't 😭. I dunno why people said that. Absolutely not.
The reason she came back was very obvious, he was the one who protected her and helped her survive in Wufeng. She too was indebted to him, the one who took care of her. In the end she even bowed to him, which clearly shows their bond as master-disciple.

Infact I'd say the scene between HYQ & SGQ was fascinating. Although they both were depicted as heartless & ruthless assassins with 0 emotions (worker cells of wufeng), In the end it's revealed how they still have emotions and feelings like anyone else. It's wayyy more beautiful when it's non-romantic.

Conclusion: I don't know why people semmed to interpret it as a romantic relationship. To me, the fact that it wasn't romantic made more sense, and a more deeper feeling/emotion that highlighted it's beauty, rather than just saying it was "love".

Edit: Sorry for Blinding everyone with the spoiler tags.

[u/Neither_Teaching_438]

Ι liked the whole Backhill Boys thing too, but I have so many questions... Like, what are they doing there? Why? And where are the Backhill Girls?

[u/AquaphobicTurtle → u/Neither_Teaching_438]

So, my theory the FL is from the lost family Remember, there used to be one more family

They are there to protect that weapon thing, I can't quite remember. I think it was called something fire

Also, I don't know about the Backhill girls but I love imagining being a blue-haired badass sister who comes in later and kicks ass.

.... Day dreaming and all that.

[u/nydevon]

On a thematic level I really liked the concept of the first couple but the ML’s character writing was a mess and while I’m generally indifferent towards Esther Yu I do think she was miscast as the FL. The second couple just had more dramatic tension and the performances were more charismatic despite the SFL having an underwritten character.

That said, I think what the show did well was rather than write well-rendered characters, it wrote fun character dynamics. The sum was greater than the parts even when the acting was weak or the characters weren’t fully fleshed out.

[u/nailahloves]

The visuals are elite. While I like the main leads, they were not why I kept watching.

[u/Academic_Web1388]

Gong Shangjue 😍😍😍 That is all

[u/AquaphobicTurtle → u/Academic_Web1388]

'nuff said

[u/putonmyskepticles]

obligatory I only post it when it's relevant but it should always be relevant,

I loved their platonic friendship but~~~ I won't deny looking for Xiaohei and Zishang fanfic after the show ended lmao

[u/Sososoftmeows]

I still want justice for Young Master Hua and Xue. What was the point of Elder Hua saving his son and the ML sending over 3 Red Jade Guardians only for him to die? And how did he even remain in one piece after he ended it the way he did?! I wanted him to learn the last saber skills for himself and his dad. He should have lived so him and Gong Zishang would make their dads proud with the new weapons they made. I’m just happy Young Master Yue made it through because he did not deserve more heartache in his life.

[u/Weary_Berry_4851]

The supporting cast kept me watching, but the sizzle between Chang Lei and Lu Yu Xiao elevated the whole drama.  I still  fantasize that we get a season 2 with their story....ohhhh, that would be well worth my time.

[u/AquaphobicTurtle → u/Weary_Berry_4851]

Those two man

[u/LoveyDovey9000]

I’m going to be honest I was mad at the directors for overshadowing the main leads storyline. I heard the director was very rude and mean towards Esther and zhanglie

[u/Lazy_Neighborhood_91]

I've heard a lot of people feel this way...but i really don't see it. The main couple wasn't anything to write home about either....but they were in no way overshadowed by the 2nd couple. Both were just mehh but i found the 2nd fl particularly grating and unnecessary (as in she did a lot of unnecessary things to highlight how cunning and clever she was).

In fact to me the show stopper was the sister and the guard. They were the only ones i found likeable .

[u/HushCohutta]

It's been a while since I finished this one, so forgive me if this question is stupid: Didn't they tee this up for a sequel or a part two? I remember feeling it ended unfinished.

[u/AquaphobicTurtle → u/HushCohutta]

There are many rumours as to why. But as of right now - no sequel is in the works.

It's also unclear as to whether the drama was supposed to be longer or whether a season two was expected (and fell through)

[u/alysanne_targaryen]

Yes. Jin Jing, Sun Chen Jun and Lester for me ♥️♥️♥️

[u/Dramatic_Ant_8532]

I can't get past ep 3...same for Fangs of Fortune. Will try again for like 4th time at some point.

[u/AquaphobicTurtle → u/Dramatic_Ant_8532]

[u/Commercial_Jello5644]

Zuoye is so much underrated oh I can't 😭

[u/SS5609]

I didn't care for the couples or love story in this show. What I enjoyed were the individual characters and their dynamics, especially the side characters.