Warning: Ending Spoiler!! [All my posts contain spoilers, but this is the ending, so an extra warning message ^__^]
- Raymond and Lai Ging finally get together in episode 26 =) These two are a fun bickering couple and I found it cute how even though Lai Ging said she wouldn’t bother him again, she’d always be back by his side.
- In the scene where they got together, they had another argument when Lai Ging tried to make Damian remember Raymond was his son. Raymond yelled at her saying “It’s none of your business-who are you to me anyway?” This situation happened to them so many times and as Lai Ging angry walks off, Raymond starts saying to himself “Yea, and then you’ll walk away and faint somewhere again” XD (haha exactly what I was thinking!) Raymond then chases after her where he calls out “Ok! Let’s get back together!” Lai Ging: “You said we never even dated, what do you mean get back together?” Raymond: “Well we never dated and you said to break up” XD I’m really happy for Lai Ging hehe Raymond returned the necklace to her, saying that even though he didn’t initially intend to buy it for her, she liked it a lot and learned to treasure it- he realised she was the one who suited the necklace the most. She had never left him no matter what =)
- Damian eventually hands over the company to Bosco. Just as Bosco thought he had everything, Yiu Kwan re-appears and blackmails him with a video clip of him kicking Damian down the mountain. She wants Bosco to divorce Toby and be with her. As a result, Bosco starts having his affair with Yiu-Kwan and she’s constantly there to break up Bosco and Toby by publishing a photo of her and Bosco kissing each other all over the magazines. Even after that, Bosco manages to make Toby forgive him and tricks Toby in putting all her shares in “Wing Hoi” to a Trust Fund- where Bosco ends up taking ownership- successfully owning “Wing Hoi” and revealing his true face!
- The final 2 episodes have been quite peaceful, which gives a sense of closure to the series. I felt there were a lot of life lessons they were trying to communicate to the audience
- The highlight of these episodes was watching Damian- his actions were very moving, especially the scenes he shares with Raymond and his family. He realised so much after his accident and I enjoyed the way he was passing on those lessons learned to his family.
- Raymond didn’t do as much as I thought he would in these episodes leading up to the ending. I thought he’d turn evil or something xD but that didn’t happen. His greatest character development is from losing his mother and trying to accept the truth that Damian was his father. His best scenes were definitely his crying scenes around episode 20. There wasn’t any real confrontation between Bosco and Raymond but I’m glad Raymond wasn’t dumb to trust Bosco again. His approach was very mature
- I loved how they gradually revealed that Damian had already regained his memories, but continued to pretend he didn’t because he want to live in the happy moments 🙂 I loved Damian’s character change and it makes me feel that his character is one who represents has “grown through life” the most. He learned to let go and to cared about the people around him. Damian also didn’t want to make things awkward for Raymond so he continued to let him call him “uncle”.
- I t didn’t occur to me that even when Damian regained his memories, he actually could not remember the bit where Bosco kicked him down the mountain because he was already unconscious then. It was interesting that he was given hints from Yiu-Kwan (who thought he had already knew!) and he eventually tricks Bosco into thinking he remembers/have evidence! Damian was willing to give Bosco one more chance but unfortunately Bosco runs Damian over with a car!
- I thought it was pretty sad that Damian was killed 🙁 I was hoping it wouldn’t happen since in the opening sequence we see Raymond and Damian walking along the beach together. The comforting thing was that Raymond called him “dad’ before he died – he had won back his son and family…
- In the end, Bosco realised he had some form of liver cancer and Dominic gave up his life to save him. He made Bosco realise that his father loved him the most and eventually returns all his shares to Toby and giving in to the police that he killed Damian.
- At the end, we find out that Lai Ging has recovered and she and Raymond get married 🙂
- There’s probably more thoughts I’ve missed out from above, happy to discuss more for those is interested. What did you guys think of the ending?
- Overall I really enjoyed the series and cast 🙂 Damian and Cecilia definitely stood out. I love Raymond’s character <3 Happy that the characters are able to live on happily … 🙂
Like the parts Hanson and Lai Ging start dating and propose; it’s really funny that Lai Ging swallow the ring 🙂
The part where Ray finally called Damian “Dad” it was so touched.
I love the happy ending for Hanson and Lai Ging!!!
haha saw how Random was putting the ring in the rice and the first thing I thought of was You’re hired…and “oh dear…the plan is going to fail” lol
It was neat how they mixed the idea of Raymond trying to get Lai Ging to try the new rice cooker 🙂 Didn’t quite get what the doctor was saying- how were they planning to take the ring out? lol
I loved that scene too- so touching!! I had a Huge smile on my face 😀
i broke into tears when Linus’ dad died )):
I thought the whole series was pretty good and I like Raymond and Damien. I was also very sad when he died as it would have been better if he lived. I disliked Bosco’s ex girlfriend intensely and just can’t understand how someone can be so cruel and nasty. Afterall he was a married man, what was the point of getting him back if he belonged to someone else. She was not even a good actress.
ahhh…first off, i have to say i feel like im starting to miss the show already 🙂 i will also miss watching fung almost everyday~ i cnt wait for an uninvited date to air~
im so happy that fung & ziqi got married and is expecting a child together 😀 its a good ending… i was so scared ziqi’s tumour’s gonna do her in~
as for bosco, i totally forgave him.. he really isnt such a bad person at heart and too bad it took his dad’s life for him to change for the better
im so sad damien died… he had just started to really enjoy his life, without hate. i was wondering abt tat beach scene too! so it was used as part of fung’s imagination :))
oh i wanted to ask does anybody know wats the difference between the mainland and the TVB version? cos mainland has 4 more eps… is there any edited scenes that v shd look out for?
Really? I didn’t know- would love to find out as well 😀
My friend has a relative that works at TVB.
From what I heard, it was because the viewer ratings weren’t that good and that the show wasn’t so well received by the Hong Kong audience so that’s why they cut 4 episodes out of the series when it was aired in Hong Kong.
so is there anything we have to look out for? important stuffs?
I don’t know. All I know heard was that people didn’t like the storyline so they cut the entire show short so they can air that new drama “The Comeback Clan” sooner. If anyone knows where to find to watch the 4 missing episodes, I would love to know!
u can definitely watch online :)) its just tat we dont know which parts are cut :/
@Elle… def not true… the TVB version is less complete than the Jiang4 version that aired earlier, but not by much. No important scenes were deleted, the were both 30eps. The SMG/Dragon TV version is the one with 34eps, but that had a lot of deleted scenes, because each episodes was less than 40mins to squeeze in more commercials.
so, yea, TVB did not cut is down by 4 episodes, but I sure hope it did, cuz the beginning was quite boring IMO
i think that the “showtime” in mainland is shorter. thus, there’s more episode?
This is how it works over here, in singapore.
Me too snow!! I’m already missing the series, and Fung of course 🙂
I think that would be a pretty sad story if Lai Ging left Raymond because of the tumour. I somehow wanted to see Raymond cry for Lai Ging but I’m happy for their happy ending 🙂
I didn’t think Bosco’s acting was too convincing in the final episodes. I’m not sure what to think of him, I felt kind of disgusted by his attitude just before he went to do his operation while talking to Raymond.
Damian’s death was so sad- you are so right about him just starting to live his life. I liked how Bosco realised Damian did not know he was kicked down the mountain- he killed Damian for no reason..
I luv the part in the elevator… he truly hated Hanson at that point
I feel so fung deprived after finishing episode 30!
The series overall was awesome!! I didn’t think the ending was rushed at all and i agree, it seems like it was trying to give out some lessons to the audience!
The part were Dominic and Albert died was sad and the part were Hanson finally called Damien ‘dad’ was so touching! I was so happy that he called him dad before he actually got killed.
I Love Hanson’s and Lai King’s happy ending and happy that they got a baby! 😀
I think the series was nicely paced 🙂 Really enjoyed watching the series. I still feel that the story/idea is not the most original and has been used many times- Damian, Cecilia and Raymond’s acting makes it brilliant.
I wonder what Yiu-Kwan is doing haha Will she wait for Bosco for life..? XD
I found the father and son scenes very touching. Damian and Raymond are really compatible. It felt that ultimately the show was focused on this relationship because it ended with the story about footsteps in the sand and how the father was always with the son in his life journey. It was sad that there weren’t more moments that they could spend with each other after Raymond acknowledged Damian as father.
The ending for Bosco felt a bit rushed. If there was more, I might be convinced that he would turn over a new leaf. I think he owes Toby, Cecilia and Raymond a more heartfelt apology. He robbed them of their loved one, murdering him in cold blood so he should show more regret. I only see relief not remorse in his last conversation with Raymond while in jail so it wasn’t enough for me.
Overall, I think the series deserves a lot more credit than the ratings show. Great acting from the 3 main leads in my mind (Damian, Raymond, Cecilia), it would have been so different if they had chose the wrong cast! Well written dialogue and meaningful story. I’ll miss the show.
I totally agree with you ade! Raymond and Damian are really compatible as father and son and their scenes were so touching!!- I think this is the second time? (First being The Drive of Life?) I also felt that their relationship was the driving force of the series and the key behind the theme of “Growing Through Life” I was touched by the footstep story at the end too. It was neat that Lai Ging was pregnant- a happy ending for the two, and also linking the idea that Raymond was going to be a father soon too 🙂
I agree with you about Bosco too. I didn’t really forgive Bosco in the end..it felt weird. Like you said, he should show more regret…not got to jail just to make his dad proud and so he won’t have to live in fear and guilt. It took his dad’s life for him to realise his dad loved him..?
Ah niceee…well put together 🙂 It actually sounds like a good ending even though it feels cliched. From seeing the trailers I thought Raymond was going to turn “bad” at some stage, but I guess not XD Would’ve loved to see Raymond play a more important part in the story though.
Bosco is such a tool. I think men who uses woman are the worst!
Hello,
Thank you for sharing these great thoughts on TVB dramas. I really enjoy ‘Growing Through Life’. It is one of the best drama to come out from HK and Shanghai. A great cast and a fantastic story line about life and love in today’s society. What is so interesting about this TV drama is the intriguing characters and the relationship between the Hoi and Chung families and the Corporate World. I quite enjoy the performance of Raymond Lam, Vionn Song, Bosco Wong and Damian Lau. You start to grow with the characters and feel the emotions and intensity that builds up as conflict develops along the way. Watching it on TVB at the moment and loving it…
Cheers,
Edward
Great to hear from another GTL supporter 😀
In short, I enjoyed the acting from Damian, Bosco and Raymond. Unlike everyone else I feel weird about Cecilia. I think her acting is overacted at some places.
Overall I agree that the ending is rushed especially for Linus. The production team should’ve made him suffer more to give him justice for his wrongdoing so that the audience can forgive him.
i agree with u on cecilia. i think she’s ok watching her before but her acting here is kinda.. i dont know, weird or something.. sometimes even the way she smiles.
i like dominic! i havent seen him in like a nerdy papa role before ;))
I agree, they should have made Linus suffer more so we can forgive him..I think it would have also been interesting to see some kind of confrontation between Cecilia and Bosco considering he manipulated her so much etc
I’m not sure if I’m missing something but..what happened in the past with Damian, his brother and Raymond’s mother? What was the lie that they mentioned (that jack made one lie to protect Raymond’s mother, and has felt guilty about it since? Was it to do with putting Damian in jail? or lie to win Raymond’s mother off Damian/Pierre?
Finally finished watching GTL, I’m quite happy with the ending, it wasn’t rushed compared to other TVB endings. One thing I don’t like about the ending is how Lai King’s tumour suddenly dissapears!
haha yea i find tat kinda too unrealistic.
my first reaction when I saw that scene was “yea..right..WHATEVER……” lol -.-
Oh wells, at least its a happy ending…lol I don’t know how much satisfied I’d be seeing a hospital operation scene where she under goes her operation and its cured! lol
It’s really suck that TVB cut 4 ep out. I want to watch the missing ep. Could anyone help me please?!!! Thanks
the ending was sooo sad =[ soo sad damian and dominic dies, and bosco turns good again at least =[.
hi there
i want to know how the get the song when linus find the cd for hanson sister thanks
In jail, Bosco explained why he did not attend his father funeral, so that others people would come. I was convinced he changed.
Whatever faults, we had a great series.
Thanks for your thoughts. I enjoyed the series a lot more than I expected to. It was good to see a TVB show using more actual buildings/offices/homes to film in. Besides, how many more times do we need to see the same HK homes by the water double for wealthy characters’ homes in a series? 🙂
I liked the bit where Damien died. They didn’t make a big deal out of it so the scene seemed pretty relaxing, so it sort of gives us a chance to see the depth of the whole story. I like the ‘simplicity’ of it. It’s somewhat sad, but at least Raymond called him ‘dad’ before he died.