Falling Down the Chinese Drama Rabbit Hole (Again)

 do lovers wither when separated by vast seas

in all its beauty, the past can't be held

life after life we pledge ourselves

but how long before it forever

expansive world, infinite universe

we are but emotional beings

simply watching over each other

seemingly unfathomable, we understand

may I give my all in this lifetime

as it comes from the heart, I give freely

love like a dream evocative of fine wine

I just want to stay intoxicated

I desire all the world has to offer

joy or sorrow, they all come to pass like flowing rivers

...

...

Had been inspired to attempt this English translation of a beautiful Chinese song when I finally emerged from the drama-induced haze that was Chef Hua <人间烟火花小厨>.

My first experience with obsession over a drama series was for Scarlet Heart <步步惊心>. I had binge-watched all 35 episodes very quickly often forgetting sleep, meals, even toilet breaks. I loved it so much I even bought the book that it was adapted from after the visual feast for more mental indulgence in the art of Chinese literature.

But that experience also left me so overwhelmed that I swore them off entirely. The intensity of the experience, the way it consumed my thoughts and time, shocked me. I promised myself: never to blindly follow the fad of chasing dramas again.

For nearly 10 years I had been successful. I avoided popular dramas fervently. Even if a short footage that I chanced upon intrigued me, I would strengthen my resolve to not start the series for fear of falling into that rabbit hole again.

Last year I succumbed. I had more time on hand; the hubby was out of town; I was getting interested in cooking... so when the close-up shots of cooking Chinese cuisine in Chef Hua caught my eye, I gave it a go.

It was the flint that started an inevitable forest fire.

I tried to rein myself in. When I wanted to start on Love like a Galaxy, <星汉灿烂> but saw that it had more than 50 episodes, I thought I found a good compromise when I found some "watch-it-in-one-go" YouTube videos of it. Just 2 hours is better than 50 x 45 mins right? But I was only deceiving myself and made things worse because I was so impressed and intrigued and obsessed that I watched longer and longer versions and eventually went back to watching the original series anyway! All 40+ hours and sometimes I even re-watched favourite scenes. Kill me.

With easy access via Netflix and YouTube to a wide variety of Chinese dramas that are being produced incessantly, one drama led to another with no end in sight. Over the past year, I have been sliding down the slippery slope of drama addiction once again into a world of complex story lines, historical epics, and modern rom-coms. 

For the talent that is Leo Wu, I watched The Long Ballard <长歌行> to Nothing but You <爱情而已>. I started on Amidst a Snowstorm of Love <在暴雪时分> but amazingly am not completing it because it lost its appeal. Because of the multi-talented Liu Yuning who is also a great singer and the original talent from Scarlet Heart that is Cecilia Liu, I indulged in A Journey to Love <一念关山> when I thought I would be stopping this crazy spree. In between, I completed Love Between Fairy and Devil <苍兰诀> and Only For Love <以爱为营> because of Dylan Wang. Most recently finished The Rational Life <理智派生活> with mummy, a fellow drama junkie.

My favourite of all the series thus far is A Romance of the Little Forest <两个人的小森林>. Initially I thought I would not be able to stand the over-the-top act-cuteness of Esther Yu but it appears that she is genuinely that way even in real life. Eventually even she grew on me although what kept me from abandoning it were the breathtaking scenery, the attractive Vin Zhang and the clever, smart and hilarious banter between the main lead characters who are intellectuals. Not to forget the recurring feature of one of my favourite books, The Alchemist by Paolo Coelho, and the sustainability theme which is a passion of both leads. *Swoon* So many of what I love in one series!

It really is a lighthearted and healing drama series. The cinematography often bathes scenes in warm, natural light, evoking a sense of comfort and rejuvenation. It was while *re-watching* one such scene where the female lead mistakenly assumed the male lead is leaning in for a kiss when it finally dawned on me. This was a series that I had curbed myself from watching previously! All I remember of the footage were the luminous frame of an inviting foyer, a sharp-witted dialogue, and an unusually long series title that involved greenery. The irony of my initial resistance to 'A Little Romance in the Forest' becoming my favorite drama is almost comical.

All these series have introduced me to talented actors, beautiful music, fascinating historical details, and clever storytelling. They've improved my understanding of Chinese language and culture, and provided countless hours of entertainment. As I ponder my Chinese drama obsession, I find myself in two minds. Part of me worries about the time I'm investing/wasting and the intensity of my interest. Yet another part revels in the joy, learning, and cultural exploration these dramas bring into my life.

Actually, I had not completed that translation of the song I shared at the beginning of this post. I am unable to adequately translate the last two lines which can also be encapsulated in the song's title "人间烟火". Its literal translation would be "the smoke and fire of the human world" but these four basic characters encompass so much more. It often represents the simple pleasures and small comforts of daily life. It can mean an in-depth appreciation of ordinary life. It can also symbolize the connection to humanity and the earthly realm, as opposed to the supernatural or divine. 

So for more than a year now, I had been grappling with its true meaning. Do I translate it as:

• "the enormity of our lives", 
• "the daily life of ordinary people", 
• "the hustle and bustle of human society", 
• "the warmth and vitality of everyday life",
• "the trivial but essential aspects of human existence"
• "The flavor of everyday life"
• "The warmth of human touch"
• "The pulse of the mortal world"
• "The heartbeat of society"?

Its complexity has me stumped. Interestingly, it is also this phrase (which kept reappearing in my series marathon) that encapsulates much of what I love about Chinese dramas - the portrayal of human living in all its everyday glory and complexity. 

So, obsession or not, I am going to allow myself to be continuously surprised and delighted by "the essence of human experience"!