A devotion so sweet and heartfelt, spins the story of Go Go Squid 2 Dt.Appledog’s Time!
Who would’ve thought that romance in the world of a professional robot combat can give us so much more than we ask for?!
Hu Yitian and Li Yi Tong star in the second installment of Go Go Squid painting the story of Wu Bai (Dt) and Ai Qing (Appledog) respectively. It aims to chronicle the love journey of Wu Bai whose fascination to the best female robot operator Ai Qing pushed him to aspire the same profession.
abbyinhallyuland watches Go Go Squid 2 Dt.Appledog’s Time on iQIYI.
Episode Recaps: 01 – 08 | 09 & 10 | 11 & 12 | 13 & 14 |15 – 18 |
8 Drama Moments To Love About The First 8 Episodes Of Go Go Squid 2 Dt.Appledog’s Time
“I’ve been waiting for this moment for seven years. I finally managed to stand in front of you as a contestant instead of a spectator.”
A fanboy who harbors utmost adoration to a pioneering robot combat player hailed as the fandom goddess is the quick picture of this series. And yes, it is a strangely engrossing take on one-sided love.
Wu Bai has embarked on an endearing love journey without reservation that it’s hard not to cheer for it to be reciprocated.
When he finally got the chance to play against Ai Qing in a robot combat competition, it also opened to a connection since they became a team representing China in a world robot combat tournament. Those moments he used to imagine became realities, that you can literally feel his hard-earned bliss emanate from his face.
All the while, Ai Qing is not aware of her position in his heart, and she is also yet to fully heal from her personal heartbreak with Wang Hao (Solo), another legendary pioneer in the circle.
The Singapore competition brings them closer to each other. However, Wu Bai had to leave and cut the chance of a blossoming romance to fix his vision problems. Because he can’t bear not seeing her face again, he braves the odds of a risky eye operation.
“300 Competitions. I don’t think, I’m good enough to date her until I won 300 competitions.”
Establishing the male lead’s long-running crush, and the female lead’s retirement choice brought about by pressing real-life problems; there’s a whole world to see that will circle between Wu Bai and Ai Qing.
After recuperating from his eye surgery, Wu Bai preps himself to lay the foundation he believes he needs – to be a man worthy of Ai Qing.
Three years since leaving China, he returns to target a championship with his newly established K&K Club. A team he named with Ai Qing in mind since she does not want to be called a queen – but a king.
He goals to win 300 competitions (one greater than Solo’s record) so so he can be worthy in his own conviction to formally date her.
Meanwhile, the last three years has taken a significant change in Ai Qing’s life by opting to get a stable job to support a new place she bought for her family’s welfare. She has been working for a company that sponsors professional robot combat tournaments.
“Long time no see. It has been three years.”
The world is still small for them as they both attended an event where Ai Qing represents her company and where Wu Bai plus his newly-formed team were also invited. Wu Bai fortunately gets another chance to meet his goddess. And boy, Hu Yitian is really making us so involved with his rendition of Dt with those longing gazes and beautiful lines.
“She showed up unexpectedly in front of me. At this time, I am glad and grateful to this world from my heart.”
Picking up from where they left off, Ai Qing agrees to his midnight snack offer and they catch up on the lost times. Suffering from stomach flu, Wu Bai couldn’t care less and ate the candy-flavored congee his goddess gave him. It inevitably made him vomit which turns to a blessing because of an entrancing moment he shared with Ai Qing.
“I see all living beings without intention, but I fell in love with you.”
Christmas really came early for Wu Bai who got a taste of heaven after reuniting with Ai Qing. When they visit a quaint store and bought fortune candies, even the message reflects what he felt at that moment. But, he knows that he has a long way to work on confessing his devotion to her.
He is also firm to be more serious with his goal to achieve his own personal dream that she does not know to be linked to her. At the event they both attended, he also grasped that her connection to Wang Hao was deeply entrenched based on their years of being together working on their team.
“I’m pretty good now. Life and work are both going well.”
Inevitably, Ai Qing was noticed in the event after teaching answers to a little boy who wants to win Solo’s signature. Catching up with her old friends, she politely declines the offer to join their team.
What he can easily do in robot combat games, Wu Bai can’t translate to his real life as he wallows on woes about his goddess meeting her ex-boyfriend. To execute his plans well, he cutely meddles on any tiny chance for the two to be alone like joining them in a dinner.
He can be quite plucky pretending to eat the food he does not like to please Ai Qing and mischievous childish in widening the gap of Wang Hao’s seat to his crush.
After the event, they go on a spontaneous group date at a theme park, he gets another cloud nine as they were captured in the picture by Shen Zhe (Grunt). He even paid a pricey amount for the photos to Grunt, who held the selcas on hostage.
“If you want to go back, you have me.”
Taking every chance he can have to be with his crush, Wu Bai obliges to her suggestion to visit Slide with 97 and Shen Zhe. After helping out with the store sales with impromptu fan event, they head for a drink. It chains another opportunity for him to get closer to her when he had to carry her back to her place.
He even had an almost intimate moment when drunk Ai Qing held his hand and placed it on her cheek declaring her happiness that he’s back. The heart flutters which warmed Wu Bai dissipated quickly when Ai Qing explained how a talent like him would be wasted if he won’t come back.
His heart also breaks for her sudden confession of how she still yearned to play in the world that has taken the most significant years of her life.
Ai Jing, who entered the room, honestly told Wu Bai of how she knows her sister’s pain and explained how she had to live a life that is entirely not hers. Staring at her face, Wu Bai promises that if she wants to go back, she will always have him.
Wu Bai’s night became literally long tending to Ai Qing’s drunk habits. And if only he can read between the lines, he’ll know that he has already occupied a space in her heart.
“From now on, we are friends. Friends for Life!”
Team K&K officially sealed its core team with Shen Zhe’s contract signing. It seems bromance will also overflow in the next episodes as the core leaders aspire to be the best.
Satisfied with his new robot, he learned about the team’s effort in analyzing his maneuvering, hence he easily synched to the bot he named “trashcan”. However, their training got interrupted when Ai Qing’s camping squad needed their help for food.
Apparently, the little girl whom Wu Bai shared a room when he was recovering from eye surgery signed up to Ai Qing’s company’s teen camp for robot making thus creating the connection.
An unexpected aberration caused Ai Qing a problem. Thankfully, the little girl called Wu Bai and found out that Ai Qing is the instructor she mentioned to her. After feeding the children, he ushered Ai Qing to take a shower at K&K’s training camp. They share another close-proximity-we-wish-to-be-Dt’s-goddess moment to Hu Yitian’s fans. *wink
“This is the place where we first met.”
Offering a tour of K&K camp, Ai Qing notices a custom-made globe and he explained the marks indicate the places where he won tournaments. Then, he moves closer to her when her gaze locked at a place where Wu Bai explained to be the place where they first met.
They trace the sequence of memories they had of each other. Curious if she said something weird when he took care of her the night that she was drunk, Wu Bai gives a knee-weakening response.
“You can’t scare me no matter what you do. Because I’m brave.”
Reckoning how little she knew about him, Wu Bai obliges to answer her questions. Of where he has been in the last three years. He also tells her that he came back to China because someone important to him is there – someone he can’t forget – someone he loves.
Surrounded by a love spell, Ai Qing returns Wu Bai’s adoring gaze. But Zhuo Yi obliviously invited himself to the two’s conversation and Wu Bai had to force him to do an errand since he just broke an all-important moment for him.
Fate favors the fervent as Wu Bai gets another sweet moment to hug Ai Qing who faltered her step. But Zhuo Yi who quickly accomplished the errand given by his captain returned to interrupt the two again.
Contemplating on how Ai Qing is perfectly cut to become a captain, Wu Bai surmises on his plans for her and the team. Back at home, Ai Qing finds Wang Hao waiting for her with the same dumpling box she just bought and was munching. He intended to give the key to the first practice house they used to have as a team, but halted his plan when she seemed to have grown literally farther from him.
At home, Ai Qing chats with her sister about meeting Wu Bai and his team. Ai Jing who is convinced that Wu Bai has feelings for Ai Qing teases her sister whom she believed has a crush on him too.
Go Go Squid 2 Dt.Appledog’s Time Episodes 1 – 8 Musings
For people like me who was not able to see Go Go Squid nor read the original novel, you don’t need to worry.
The plot was tweaked to give awareness to the world of robotics, so it slightly deviated from the initial draft of its original story.
We rarely see a fanboy chasing after his long-time crush in dramas. Often, it’s the other way around. And it’s quite cute because Hu Yitian is currently starring in another one-sided love series, totally opposing his role in Go Go Squid 2 Dt.Appledog’s Time.
Also, in his other romance dramas, he is often being chased, so it’s refreshing to see him do the chasing this time. Notably, I’m impressed on the screenplay of this series so far. It has quite a range in terms of emotions given its storyline does not have a wide range to move around. The synergy of the characters to their lines adds palpable personality.
What We Should Look Forward To?
Friendship and exploring the world of robot combat are secondary charms to be layered in the series. Much as I want to linger on the love journey, the rest of the characters’ introductions warrant quick side stories.
In particular, I want to see Ai Jing and Grunt’s fun connection evolve to a sweeter note. That vendo machine first encounter scene was definitely worth 5 stars, and the wall kiss was utterly cool. I can’t wait what sprightly romance these two will embark on.
The hinted conflict Wu Bai is keen to tackle, points to a rivalry with Wang Hao. It aims to a projected championship showdown and a race to claim Ai Qing’s heart.
Even without Hu Yitian (with whom I am really doting on honestly), I like the ability of this series to make a gloomy mood to clear skies. So having him is already a bonus. I like how it left a room for surprises under the preconceived excitement of finding out how love will progress between Wu Bai and Ai Qing.
Photos: iQIYI | Go Go Squid 2 Dt.Appledog’s Time Official Weibo page
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