Memory Of Encaustic Tile Review

Memory Of Encaustic Tile (昔有琉璃瓦) struck me as a nostalgic drama and it has been some time since I watched one. Thus, I thought why not and decided to just dive in without expecting much. Frankly speaking, this kind of drama has always appeared similar and predictable to me but they can still be interesting with proper plot execution. Whether this one managed to secure my vote as a great drama will be detailed in my Memory Of Encaustic Tile review below. But if I have to summarize my opinion in one word, I would say that it is slow-moving.

My rating: 7/10
Episodes: 34
Type: Romance, Youth
Aired: January 2022
Images Credit: Youku Twitter

The Cast Of Memory Of Encaustic Tile

• Yukee Chen Yu Qi as Shao Xue
• Lin Yi as Zheng Su Nian
• Kevin Yan Zi Dong as Zhang Qi
• Zhang Tian Ai as Lin Shi Yin
• Sun Kai as Wu Huan
• Tang Xu as Shao Hua
• Ma Li as Yu Dong Ge
• Fang Zi Bin as Zheng Jin
• Yuan Ran as Jin Ning
• Ophelia Yang Na as Zhang Ling
• Li Da Guang as Lin Tian Bao
• Yan Qin as Ji Lan
• Zhou Ting Wei as Dou Si Yuan
• Bao Tian Qi as Fu Qiao Mu
• Mu Le En as Tang Ya
• Wang Shuai Bo as Mo Hai

Main Characters

Shao Xue

Shao Xue is a sprightly teen and a high school student. She has a very bubbly and expressive personality. She can also be mischievous which often puts her at odds with her mother. Shao Xue is an average student but good at languages. She is especially close to Su Nian, Zhang Qi, and Shi Yin.

Zheng Su Nian

Su Nian is Shao Xue’s schoolmate and neighbor. He is 2 years her senior and always makes it a point to take care of her. Su Nian is one of the school’s top students and has many female admirers. But he isn’t interested in any of them and is a rather reserved guy. He is also a sensible son who doesn’t give his parents any trouble.

Zhang Qi

Zhang Qi is a rebellious teen and Shao Xue’s classmate as well as good friend. They live close to each other. He comes from a single parent household as his father died when he was still young. Zhang Qi often quarrels with his mother who has no time for him due to her work. He doesn’t like to study much and has poor overall results but is a maths prodigy.

Supporting Characters

Lin Shi Yin

Shi Yin is Shao Xue’s best friend and classmate. They also live in the same neighborhood. Shi Yin is a pretty girl who likes to beautify herself. She appears as snobbish at times and doesn’t like to be associated with Wu Huan whom she sees as beneath her.

Wu Huan

Wu Huan is Shao Xue’s classmate and friend. They live close by and he is brought up by his mother. Wu Huan is poor as his mother is sickly and he has to work after school to support her. However, he is a good and courteous boy.

Shao Hua & Yu Dong Ge

Shao Hua and Dong Ge are Shao Xue’s parents. They work in the palace museum Restoration Department. Shao Hua specializes in restoring antique clocks and watches while Dong Ge’s expertise is in restoring silk fabrics and costumes. Shao Hua dotes on his daughter and tends to indulge her. But Dong He is a much stricter parent and often nags and scolds Shao Xue for misbehavior. They are also very good friends with the Zhengs who are their closest neighbor.

Zheng Jin & Jin Ning

Zheng Jin and Jin Ning are Su Nian’s parents. They are best friends, neighbors, and colleagues with the Shaos at the Restoration Department. Zheng Jin is also an expert in restoring antique clocks and watches. Jin Ning works as a restorer of old paintings and reports to Luo Huai Jin who is her master. Zheng Jin is on the quiet side while Jin Ning is a very laidback and easygoing mother. She also likes Shao Xue a lot.

Zhang Ling

Zhang Ling is Zhang Qi’s mother. She raised him up singlehandedly as her husband had passed away years ago. She is a career woman and works in a magazine publishing company. Zhang Ling often needs to travel for work and leaves her son to his own devices. But she loves him in her own way.

Lin Tian Bao & Ji Lan

Tian Bao and Ji Lan are Shi Yin’s parents. They live in the same neighborhood as the Shaos and the Zhengs. All of them are good friends.

Dou Si Yuan

Si Yuan works in the Restoration Department under Sun Qi Rui. He is an apprentice in the restoration of cultural relics. He loves his work but is undecided if he should move on to more lucrative jobs given his qualifications. Si Yuan is not good at expressing his feelings and is a noob when it comes to romance.

Fu Qiao Mu

Qiao Mu joins the Restoration Department as an intern and reports to Sun Qi Rui. This means she is also Si Yuan’s co-worker. Qiao Mu is a nice and caring young lady.

Tang Ya

Tang Ya is Shao Xue’s new classmate and friend. She is a timid and shy girl who is instantly attracted to Wu Huan when he speaks up for her.

Mo Hai

Mo Hai is Shao Xue’s senior at university. He appears as an attentive and nice guy who helps her to settle down in her new environment.

Synopsis

The year is 2002. There are 5 friends who live in the same neighborhood and attend the same school. They practically grew up together. Their parents also know one another. Some of them are good friends of each other and work as antique and cultural relic restorers in the palace museum.

Among the 5 of them, Shao Xue shares a special bond with Su Nian who lives just next door. He is 2 years older and she regards him like a brother. She is also close to Zhang Qi who is her classmate. As time passes and they grow older, the feelings among them also start to change. Su Nian and Zhang Qi start to see Shao Xue differently and begin to fall for her. But they hide their feelings and Shao Xue is oblivious to it all until much later.

Shao Xue’s dream is to venture abroad and explore the world. Su Nian prefers to stay put and wishes things will never change. But when tragedy strikes, hard decisions have to be made. Over time, the 5 friends also have different paths in life that they have to take once they leave school and become adults. Will Shao Xue and Su Nian’s relationship endure the passage of time and circumstances?

Memory Of Encaustic Tile Ending (Spoilers Alert!)

Memory Of Encaustic Tile has a happy ending. The drama closes off where it started with an old photo of Shao Xue, Su Nian, and Zhang Qi. It is 7 years later and 2 kids are holding the photo. They are at the entrance of the Restoration Department of the palace museum. The kids are there for a visit and they are Si Yuan and Qiao Mu’s son as well as Su Nian and Shao Xue’s daughter. This is implied from their family names and their conversation which mentioned that their fathers are working there.

Just prior to that, we are treated to Su Nian and Shao Xue’s wedding. They decided to hold their wedding ceremony in the neighborhood where they have lived for most of their lives to create happy memories of the place. The old neighborhood is slated for redevelopment and everyone will have to relocate then.

When Did Su Nian And Shao Xue Start Dating?

Su Nian’s jealousy started to show in Episode 24 when Shao Xue entered university and got to know Mo Hai who is her senior. She was unsure of Su Nian’s feelings until Episode 25 when he almost kissed her. But she feared that things might change for the worse if they got together. Su Nian impulsively kissed Shao Xue again in Episode 26 when she tried to cheer him up after angering him.

Shao Xue finally confessed her feelings to Su Nian in Episode 27 after a dangerous outing to a remote location for a volunteer project. She took the initiative to sleep with him and they became a couple then.

Is There A Breakup?

Yes, Su Nian asked for a breakup in Episode 30. He found out that Shao Xue had landed a job overseas but didn’t tell him about it in Episode 29. They quarreled over it. Shao Xue eventually decided to forgo the offer when she learned that Su Nian had already planned for their future home.

However, Su Nian felt that he would be a burden to her and hold her back from her dreams. He also found out from Zhang Qi that Shao Xue had given up an opportunity to study abroad once before because she didn’t want to leave him while he was grieving over his mother’s death. Hence, Su Nian made the decision for a clean break so that Shao Xue will take the step to move abroad.

Shao Xue ended up working overseas for a few years. But when she faced a crisis that forced her to take stock of her life, she discovered that she missed that sense of belonging that only home could offer. Mo Hai conned her when he got her to become his business parter and she became a suspect in a misappropriation case. She was also sick and needed surgery. After she was cleared by the police, she went back home to recover.

Zhang Qi told Su Nian about Shao Xue’s predicament in Episode 33. Su Nian was worried and rushed to see Shao Xue. They reconciled then. Shao Xue asked Su Nian to marry her in the same episode. At the same time, he had already prepared to propose to her and did so with a ring in hand. Shao Xue accepted and they held their wedding in Episode 34.

Did Zhang Qi Confess?

Yes, Zhang Qi finally confessed to Shao Xue that she was his first love on her wedding day in Episode 34. In fact, he already admitted to Wu Huan about his feelings for Shao Xue in Episode 16 but told him to keep it a secret. All along, he couldn’t figure out what to do because he was afraid things will change between them if he confesses and he also knew that Shao Xue only has eyes for Su Nian. So, he chose to do nothing and let things be.

Zhang Qi’s confession on Shao Xue’s wedding day was like a closure for himself so that he could move on. He was content that Shao Xue regarded him as her best buddy. He wanted her to be happy and was instrumental in getting her and Su Nian to patch things up.

Who Did Wu Huan End Up With?

Wu Huan had always seen Shi Yin as his light. This is because she was the only one who offered to be his friend when he was ostracized while in pre-school. So, he always had a soft spot for her although she grew to resent his attention as they grew older. However, Shi Yin also knew he was sincere and was always there for her. She couldn’t let go of him when it was time for them to leave school. She also started to get jealous when Tang Ya began to get close to him. So, Shi Yin wanted Wu Huan to accept her as his girlfriend and they started dating in Episode 24.

However, their relationship became problematic over time due to their uneven social status. Wu Huan felt that Shi Yin was embarrassed to be with him and they often quarreled over his work. He also didn’t want to owe her anymore as she had rejected much better suitors and opportunities because of him. Hence, he asked for a breakup in Episode 29.

2 years later, Wu Huan met Tang Ya again when she applied for work at his company in Episode 30. She still cared a lot about him. When Shao Xue returned home for a break in Episode 31, Wu Huan informed her that he and Tang Ya will be getting married.

As for Wu Huan, she went on to become a news reporter and is often seen on TV. She has matured and wished Wu Huan and Tang Ya well when they saw each other again.

Other Key Events

• Su Nian’s mother was diagnosed with terminal cancer in Episode 16. She died in Episode 18.
• Shao Xue got an offer to study abroad but quietly turned it down to stay with Su Nian who was still grieving over his mother’s death in Episode 19.
• Zhang Qi was accepted into a top university and Shao Xue encouraged him to take up the offer in Episode 19. He left for his university studies in Episode 22.
• Si Yuan confessed to Qiao Mu in Episode 20. They registered their marriage in Episode 23.
• Su Nian switched to arts as he wanted to restore old paintings like his mother. He was accepted into the Arts Academy and moved into its dorm in Episode 21.
• Wu Huan decided not to pursue higher studies in Episode 21. He started working at a logistics company through Shi Yin’s connection in Episode 23.
• Zhang Qi was preparing to go to Cambridge University in Episode 23.
• Shao Xue entered university to study linguistics in Episode 24.
• Shao Xue told her father about her relationship with Su Nian in Episode 29 as she didn’t know if she should take up the offer to work abroad.
• Su Nian and Shao Xue met again when she returned home for a short break in Episode 31 but they had nothing to say to each other.

Memory Of Encaustic Tile Review – Heartwarming But Long-Winded

Memory Of Encaustic Tile gives viewers a very nostalgic and heartwarming feel. The friendship among the younger generation as well as their parents will touch you as you watch. Chances are you will cry for some of the scenes. You will be affected by both the sadness and heartening moments as the characters journey through life.

However, while there will be tears, I don’t find it to be as strong a tearjerker as Go Ahead which is also another coming of age drama. That one is more emotionally moving as the drama includes the characters’ experiences and bonding as kids. Memory Of Encaustic Tile begins with the kids already in their teenage years. Their lives are pretty much stable with loving parents who care a lot for them. A tragedy only occurred around the halfway mark. So, for the first half of the drama, you will merely see a bunch of kids with their typical teenage life that revolves around school, exams, crush, mischiefs, and friends.

Personally, I find the drama to be too slow paced. After 8 episodes or so, I can’t wait for the characters to grow up and give us a more interesting story. Maybe because the plot is just too predictable for me to have the patience to sit through it without skipping. It gets boring after a while to watch a few teenagers plodding through life. I guess if you like slice-of-life youth dramas, then Memory Of Encaustic Tile might fit your preference. But if you want something more from the plot, then this would be lacking.

A Subdued Romance

For those who are looking for a full-fledged college romance drama like To Fly With You or even Our Secret, I wouldn’t think Memory Of Encaustic Tile would fall into that category. Firstly, the couple got together pretty late in the drama. For the most part, their relationship has a brotherly-sisterly feel to me. Add in the various friendships among the characters, the drama does not have a strong romance flavor to it.

Secondly, the story to the main couple’s romance is not exactly well-executed either. There is a lot to digest once they started dating and problem cropped up. There are time jumps here and there that the story seems rushed towards the end. So, it is hard to figure out at times how long time has passed for some scenes. It also feels inconsistent with the slower pacing that dominates a substantial part of the drama.

Perhaps if you like a big brother to lover transition to your romance, then Memory Of Encaustic Tile will seem sweet. The guy really cares about the girl and they do like to be around each other. You would also know that they will end up together as you watch. Thus, it is predictable in that sense. That is why I also wondered if it could have been more interesting if the screenwriters have made it less obvious who the female lead would end up with. After all, 2 guys are in love with her and the time period stretches more than a decade.

Acting And Chemistry

I think the overall cast did a good job with their respective roles. Yukee Chen is still convincing as a high school student despite her age. I have only seen her in xianxia and historical dramas prior to this such as Ashes Of Love and Heaven Sword And Dragon Sabre. So, it is a change for me to see her in this drama with a teenager role. But she still managed to give life to the character with her cutesy antics and expressions. She projected a very bubbly Shao Xue to the viewers to give us the feel of a very energetic and cheerful lass.

However, some may feel that the actress’ portrayal is overdone and exaggerated as she is trying too hard to be cute. Some scenes may appear so but overall, I’m okay with her acting. At the very least, she doesn’t put me off. You would have to watch a few episodes to see if her portrayal resonates with you as her character largely remains that way for the whole 34 episodes.

As for Lin Yi, I don’t think his role is a challenge for him. After all, he has played a student before in Put Your Head On My Shoulder and Love Scenery. He appeared calm and cool as Su Nian and his emotions can be seen from his eyes. Although he is much younger than Yukee Chen, the age gap is not obvious at all in the drama. They have pretty good chemistry together but I wouldn’t term it as top notch. At most, they are sweet rather than sizzling as a couple.

My Verdict – Okay For A Youth Drama

I think you really need to like this genre to find Memory Of Encaustic Tile to be a great watch. You need to like the slice of life feel and coming of age stories to be able to relate to it. Yes, it is heartwarming and will make you teary. This is where this drama shines as it depicts the daily lives of the various characters who are neighbors and good friends. Not many dramas can effectively stir your emotions and this one happened to be able to do so up to a point.

However, it is also a little slow-paced and predictable. You wouldn’t enjoy it if you expect more to the plot and want things to move faster rather than be stuck with tales of school and teenage life for more than half of the total episodes.

In addition, it is also not a romance-heavy drama. In fact, I find the romance part falling flat with too much melodrama. The guy’s selflessness isn’t necessary and even seems a little cruel to me. Some may find quiet sacrifice as romantic but it is still too cliche to my liking. Furthermore, a guy who doesn’t know how to support his girl’s dream and talk things over is not good optics for a viewer when it comes to an ideal on-screen boyfriend.

Overall, I would give this Memory Of Encaustic Tile review a score of 7/10. It is okay to watch and remember to have a few pieces of tissues within reach. The fast forward button is always there if you start to find it boring like me. You won’t miss much even if you scan and skip. I would say forget the romance and just enjoy the interactions among the different characters. The romance wouldn’t make you swoon unless you really have a thing for childhood friend-cum-big brother vibes to your love story.