3 months didn’t seem so long after all. Perhaps I’ve been bogged down by commitments. Holidays didn’t really turn out as I planned actually. When I most wanted to go out, everyone was busy. Then, when I turned reclusive, everyone wanted to go out. Weird.
In any case, the past week has been spent at home watching TVB serials. In a way, it served as a form of reflection/closure to the holiday period. I termed it as “satisfying the demon within” so as to get myself into the studying mood, but in a way, it was more than that. Marathoning TVB serials was more than just “satisfying”, it was about healing, and reflecting, and finetuning myself for the academic year ahead.
I realised, as I look back in the last 3 months, that I’ve not spent much time with myself at all. Having time to myself is very important, because it allows me the freedom, and space, and the time to take stock and refocus. Since Junior College, it’s become a very important part of my life. I wouldn’t mind if there was someone close to share in the experience of refocusing, but unfortunately, there isn’t anyone at the moment…. Anyway, that’s besides the point. I guess the past week spent watching serials provided that much needed breathing space before I plunged in again.
Don’t ask me why I like TVB serials so much. I’ve watched my fair share of alternatives, from US serials, to Japanese serials, to Taiwanese serials, and even anime, but nothing provides as much enjoyment as that of TVB serials. In a way, TVB serials, if I could describe it, is like looking at life through rose-tinted glasses. Watching such serials feels as if I’ve living life through those characters, experiencing what they feel, and laughing/crying with them. Perhaps this is a testament of good acting, or good scripting, but I just don’t feel that way for most other serials; e.g. US serials are too alien, Japanese dramas are too heavy/abstract, Taiwanese dramas are either too juvenile or too soap-opera, Singapore dramas are too…. micro. Or maybe I’m just biased (most likely).
In a way perhaps, Hong Kong serials are almost always uplifting. The endings are cheesy at times, or hasty at other times, but most of the time after finishing a serial I always feel uplifted, and always leaves me with a smile. So far, I can recall only 1 serial which had a bad/abrupt ending, but I couldn’t really see it ending any other way, to do so would be a farce. Perhaps it’s just me, I always end up being absorbed into any story I bother to pick up. When I got my first picture book, I believe it was duckwing duck, I remember being so incensed at the behavior of one of the villains that I actually tore out the page with the evil guy, leaving my parents shocked. I eventually learnt that those were just books, and since then, have been treating my books rather well. Which also explains why I’m drawn into books by Stephen King. There are some who do not approve of his writing style, especially with the vulgarities, but he has this ability of making the story come to life vividly. Reading his books is just like watching a movie; I can really picture the scenes in my head.
I’m sorry, I realised I was deviating again. In any case, this new academic year marks a new chapter, in a way. It’s a long walk out from the darkness behind, but I’ll persevere. Change of studying style, more efficient use of time; all these will take some adjusting, but I hope it’ll come good in time. Of course, it also means that with a more efficient use of time, I’ll also be able to track the latest TVB drama serials.
Lastly, if you’re wondering what I was watching though, I watched Heart of Greed and Journey of Life, both starring this cutie (8/10!) called Linda Chung. Very cute, or maybe I’m just drawn in by the characters she has been playing so far.