I overall had a fine time with this game. I've gotten my kid fully-grown, did the family outing event and grew everything but the giant crops because I don't have the patience to grow those. Every Harvest Fruit has been eaten and most of my tools upgraded.
Forging for stuff was probably my favorite thing to do because it felt great to run around on my horse (or dinosaur), picking up truffles, stopping to pick fruits and nuts off trees and fishing. I felt like a genuine explorer!
That said, I didn't like being responsible for all of bitch work in the villages. The word "materials" has been cursed by this game. Most of these towns are surrounded by trees and have mines a few feet away, why can't they just cut down their own trees?
And don't get me STARTED on the high quality lumber. You would assume you could obtain that stuff through an upgraded axe, but NNNNNNOPE, you can only occasionally get that stuff by winning contests, otherwise you'll have to buy it from the shop in Herbstburg for like, 2700g A PIECE. Yes, you can ALSO craft it, but you need to grow the rarer flowers as part of their recipe (a recipe you have to unlock the option to buy). And most of the time, any building or storyline quest that needs the high quality lumber needs quite a bit of it.
The clothing options are sadly quite limited, as cute as they are. And unlike One World, there's no all-weather clothing, so if I wanted to go to the desert, I'd have to ditch my winter outfit, which sucks because I love the winter clothes. (You can also just go to the desert at night because it becomes a cold weather climate at night).
Getting feed is a pain in the ass because only high quality fodder corn gets you the best crop-fodder ratio. It's easier to just cut the obnoxious pasture of weeds in Lectenbury to get you 29 bushels of fodder.
A few of the contests in the game felt straight up broken or at least rigged. The Advanced Equestrian Challenge race could easily be lost by your opponents pushing you out of the way as your character gets shoved around so easily. Each race has these stupidly narrow checkpoint fences that you HAVE to run through, but the game is so slippery, I've lost races thanks to Judy pushing me outside of them (She's lucky she was practically my son's wet nurse). The carrots are pointless too because they just make you risk missing the checkpoint even more.
Both of the "Rush" contests; the Fish Frenzy and Mining Meet give you too little time to get to the spots where you can actually do the thing you're trying to win the most points at. For the Fish Frenzy, you can only fish from certain spots in Lilikila, so you'll lose time just running to a dock. Most of your time in the Mining Meet will be spent trying to avoid pitfalls, smashing boulders to reach gem nodes and digging for the stairs.
The Anthos Expo is a legitimate challenge though, as you have to make sure your crops get as many nutrients as possible. Every 8th day of the month, which is 2 days before the Expo, there's a special moon that shines, giving a boost to your crops. The Tiny Goddess will tell you the theme for the Expo a few days before the 8th, so you'll have to calculate which crops to grow and when so their quality can be boosted by the moon. This is especially important with fast growing crops like turnips as they tend to not take fertilizer well thanks to how fast they grow. Unfortunately, winning the Anthos Expo is based on the star rank of your crops, dishes and animals. I've submitted giant crops and still lost because it only had 1 star. The only way to get 2 star crops is by growing a shit ton of them until you've reached the highest rank for that crop. And even then, a 2 star isn't guaranteed, moonlight and all of that magic crap. I gave up on winning the Advanced Expo, the rewards for the contests tend to be extremely weak if they're not the high quality lumber, typically a single gem or a bag of strawberry seeds.
As is the case for Natsume, their marriage candidates look great, but have the personalities of cardboard. What they're introduced doing is basically all that they are and what they'll talk about. Judy only talks about animals, Neil only talks about cooking, Kaimana only talks about fishing tackle, Aolani only talks about fish. And they tend to suffer from Spot the Main Character Syndrome as the NPCS are painfully under-designed compared to them. Your introduction to Nikolai is particularly hilarious because you walk into the clinic and see the plain Dolph in his gray sweater and behind him is this Emo Gakupo reading a book behind him.
Sometimes it's the opposite and they look TOO plain. Westley and Jacques look virtually the same and although I married Arnold, he looks more like the younger brother of a marriage candidate than a candidate himself. But he seemed like the type of overworking guy that could only be stopped by a kiss, so I picked him over Nikolai, Kaimana, and Judy.
Raising our kid Legato (because music) was a struggle, although it makes having kids in a farm sim actually feel like a challenge. The baby will be wolfing down milk for 3 seasons straight, so do Judy's requests often as she'll give you milk as a reward. Feed the little blob around 3-4 times a day and hopefully Tiny won't pester you.
WARNING: I encountered a glitch where while I was in the middle of charging my sickle to cut some weeds, Tiny alerted me that my baby needed me. I ended up stuck with my charging circle still around me, but I was no longer holding my sickle. I was unable to move nor pause the game to warp around, so I had to close the game entirely.
One really interesting thing I noticed though is that aside from two instances, your kid is referred to with gender neutral pronouns. At no point in the game was Legato called our son, not even in his character bio. He's simply our child and even the family outing events have the NPCs call him a child.
The game may have been rough around the edges, but I had a lot of fun with what worked. The world was huge, with lots of nooks and crannies to fish, forage, farm and tame. Sunsets were glowing and I was genuinely impressed by the night sky, the northern lights appearing every time. New seasons meant tides changing, which meant more areas to explore. Mining just a bit longer could lead you to underground ponds with rare fish. Storylines asking for hard-to-find materials were annoying, but also made the game last longer. Your stamina would deplete as you walked, but it was all the more reason to pace yourself. Explore a bit more everyday so you could find Harvest Fruit and boost your energy. Learn to cook for more replenishing meals, meaning learning how to grow better crops. Experimenting with crop locations so you can collect all of the mutations.
The length and size of the game leaves you with a sense of accomplishment. Things like crop mutations, forging, taming animals, fishing and mining take just long enough that you feel great when it's done.
Wrap up time.
FAVORITE VILLAGE: Lectenbury. Easy to navigate.
LEAST FAVORITE VILLAGE: Tie between Herbstburg and Lilikila. Both were hard to remember the location of certain stores.
FAVORITE FARM LOCATION: Herbstberg. Far from town, but the land is just big enough for crops and animals.(I'm currently at the Goddess Farm though because I'm the Supreme Leader fite me)
FAVORITE BACHELORETTE: Judy
FAVORITE BACHELOR: Kaimana for his looks. But he was all about that (sea)bass, so I ultimately dumped him
HOURS LOST TO THE WINDS OF ANTHOS: 186
Bye-bye!

Over the last few weeks, I have been watching the Taiwanese series "Unknown," https://youtu.be/Q272pIOu3co, based on Priest’s famous work, "Big Brother." Throughout its twelve episodes, this series has captivated my attention, challenged my viewpoints, encouraged me to reevaluate some deeply-held beliefs, and left me eagerly hoping for a second season that delves further into the saga of Zhiyuan and Qian. However, I am also grateful for the opportunity to experience even a single season of this thought-provoking series.
"Unknown," features Chris Chiu as the main character Wei Qian, telling the story of a young man who, at the age of 14–16, resorts to working for a gangster. Driven by the death of his abusive, drug-addicted mother and a desire to support his sister, Qian accepts various jobs including cleaning toilets and billiard equipment, eventually working his way up to become a bouncer at the hall.
During the first episode, Qian’s altruistic nature expands beyond his immediate family when he encounters a homeless boy a few years younger than him. Moved by the boy’s plight, Qian takes him in, names him Zhiyuan, and gives him his last name, Wei.
At a live fan meet for the show, actor Kurt Huang, who portrays Zhiyuan, mentions an ongoing debate on social media regarding who is the “better” character in the series: Zhiyuan or Qian. Displaying humility and admiration for his co-star, Yuan encourages fans to pick Chris Chiu’s portrayal of Qian, acknowledging Chiu’s remarkable performance and personal difficulties he has faced.
This moment during the fan meet serves as a testament to the genuine nature and selflessness that is so characteristic of Taiwanese people and their culture. Although it is true that exceptions exist, the willingness of Taiwanese people to help friends and even strangers, often at their own expense, is a quality that continues to astonish and inspire me.
Chris Chiu and Kurt Huang share a long-standing friendship that dates back to their childhood. Despite a seven-year age gap, which is often significant in Asian cultures, the two actors have maintained a strong bond, spending time together as kids and frequently gaming at each other’s houses.
Reflecting on their unique relationship, Chris has mentioned that he does not perceive any sense of seniority over Kurt, despite the age difference. Instead, he values their friendship and regards Kurt as an equal, highlighting the genuine connection and mutual respect that has developed between them over the years as well as just the hilarious antics they can get into.
Age gaps in friendships often fade into insignificance when shared interests, experiences, and mutual understanding take center stage. A prime example of this is my friendship with Mr. R., who, despite being a decade younger than me, has become one of my closest friends. The age difference rarely comes into focus, except for the occasional moment of lighthearted teasing when Mr. R. laments his advancing age. In these instances, I jokingly remind him that I will be sure to bring up his concerns in ten years’ time, when he will have a different perspective on the matter.
The friendships between Chris Chiu and Kurt Huang and myself and Mr. R. serve as a testament to the power of friendship to bridge gaps in age and of the potential for enduring bonds to form based on common ground.
Returning to "Unknown," it’s evident that this series subverts the conventional notion of a “better man,” presenting instead a balanced narrative that showcases the strengths and qualities of both Qian and Zhiyuan. In this context, the question of who is the better character becomes redundant, as each individual brings their own unique set of attributes that make them indispensable to the story and to the people they cherish.
The multifaceted nature of the characters in "Unknown" contributes to the series’ appeal, as it challenges viewers to appreciate the diverse qualities that make each character “best” in their own right. This refreshing approach to character development encourages a deeper understanding of the complexities that make up human relationships and the ways in which individuals can complement one another.
Despite the flaws and setbacks faced by Qian and Zhiyuan in Unknown, their characters remain endearing and worthy of admiration. While confusion, misunderstanding, and passion occasionally lead them astray, their enduring care and love for each other, their family, — their unwavering commitment to those they hold dear, even in the face of adversity, resonates deeply with viewers and embodies the spirit of the One Republic song “Nobody.” As such, it becomes difficult not to root for both characters and to acknowledge their efforts with an internal standing ovation.
As the first episode of "Unknown" progresses, Qian’s dedication to his family and friends is further demonstrated as he takes on multiple responsibilities. In addition to caring for his sister and Zhiyuan, whom he considers as a brother, Qian becomes a professional gamer to supplement his income with livestreams.
The turning point in the first episode of "Unknown" arrives when Qian decides to break free from the gang’s control, but his attempt to leave is met with resistance. Hu, a member of the gang, retaliates by kidnapping Zhiyuan. This then forces Qian to participate in three critical matches as a means to secure Zhiyuan’s release.
The high stakes of these matches take a toll on Qian’s physical well-being, as he sustains a punctured lung and a head injury. The consequences of these injuries are severe, leaving Qian with a blood clot on his optic nerves and debilitating migraines. This intense and emotionally charged sequence of events showcases Qian’s unwavering determination to protect his loved ones, even at great personal cost.
In a touching display of brotherly devotion and sacrifice, Qian manages to win the matches despite his injuries, securing Zhiyuan’s freedom. Overwhelmed with emotion, the 11-year-old Zhiyuan breaks down in tears, expressing his belief that Qian should have prioritized his own safety.
Qian, however, reassures Zhiyuan that leaving him behind was never an option, emphasizing that without Zhiyuan, he has nothing. Qian’s heartfelt admission, declaring that without Zhiyuan and his sister Lily, he would have nothing in this world, reveals the depth of his love and commitment to his family.
With the support of his friend Sang Pang, whose parents offer him affordable housing, Qian also joins a startup gaming company and finishes a four-year college degree in three years. Alongside Sang Pang, Qian works with Xiong, an individual whose life experiences have shaped him into a resilient and driven person. After facing the adversity of his wife leaving him, Xiong sought refuge in a monastery but was encouraged by the monks to reintegrate into society. The diverse backgrounds and journeys of these characters, brought together by their shared passion for gaming, add depth and richness to the narrative of Unknown.
The poignant mantras uttered by Qian and Zhiyuan in the first episode of “Unknown” encapsulate the essence of their individual journeys and the heart of the series itself. Qian’s powerful statement, “Stay alive. . . live on. . . so you can find your home,” highlights his unwavering determination to create a better life for his family, even in the face of adversity.
Zhiyuan’s words, “In the end, life comes down to just a few things. . . where you come from, where you linger, what you want, and what’s left,” resonate with a deep understanding of the complexities of life and the importance of staying true to oneself and one’s loved ones.
"Unknown" explores the ways in which Qian and Zhiyuan navigate these mantras, grappling with the notion that sometimes, prioritizing the safety and well-being of one’s family may require the willingness to lose or give up personal ambitions. The characters’ growth and resilience in the face of these challenges ultimately culminate in their ability to overcome obstacles and emerge victorious, all while protecting the people they hold most dear and gaining what they most want/need in their lives, one another.
This series has had a profound emotional impact on me, offering a powerful exploration of themes such as love, family, and self-discovery. Its ability to connect with viewers on a personal level is a testament to the depth and authenticity of its storytelling.
This intense emotional engagement has been both cathartic and demanding, requiring introspection and self-reflection to fully appreciate the complex themes that Unknown presents. The delay in writing this series of posts is a result of this necessary process, allowing me to fully absorb and understand the impact of the show on a personal level.
"Unknown" has provided me with a newfound understanding and appreciation for the complexities of interpersonal connections and the transformative power of love and resilience. I am forever grateful to the creators for crafting such a powerful story that has not only captivated my attention; but also, aided in my personal growth and emotional healing.
https://preview.redd.it/h2ka40c1sh1d1.png?width=720&format=png&auto=webp&s=190d3fffc704e4c222e32bed4e2ddab2f408c68d

#Unknown #TaiwaneseBL #關於未知的我們 #ChrisChiu #KurtHuang