The On1y One – Season 1 Episode 4 Recap & Review

Episode 4

Episode 4 of The On1y One begins with Wang waking up hungover. He hides from Tian out of embarrassment and the latter sends him a question mark via text. Wang lies and says that it’s a stomach ache. He eventually comes down for breakfast. Both the boys avoid Auntie Jiang’s badly cooked eggs and head to school.

While walking to school, Tian reminds Wang about the previous night. Apparently, Tian challenged Wang to walk straight and record it on his phone. Wang then made Tian carry him on his back and walk home. At present, Tian gives him a digestive sweet to help with his mother’s food.

They reach school to find the English teacher Miss Jin making all those who haven’t done their test paper (given as homework) go outside the class and do it. Everyone is surprised when even Tian steps out. He didn’t finish it because he waited to leave home at the same time as Wang.

During the next lesson, the teacher tells them the model student of the year will be chosen soon.  As the class goes on, Wang texts Tian an apology for making him late. After the class, Tian tells Wang that he’ll be out later and to tell his mother that a teacher has asked to see him.

They come across Uncle Zhao’s shop and Tian then goes on his way. Later that night, while Wang is studying late, he hears noises from Tian’s room. He texts Tian, who comes over to Wang’s room and ends up helping him study.

The next day at school, Wang sees students bullying a mute janitor they know as Uncle Mute. He immediately steps in to stop them and Tian, seeing this, helps fight the rowdy boys. They then help the janitor go to his quarters. They reach a place that Tianyang calls Old Ding’s house — the same place we saw Tian meet the old man in the previous episode. Apparently, he’s an aggressive old man but Tian gets along with him and has lunch with him every day.

The old man comes out and Tianyang runs off (he once broke the old man’s house’s roof). Tian says that Uncle Zhao is the only one who understands what Uncle Mute says, so Uncle Mute spends a lot of time at his shop. Tian says if there was only one person in the world who understood you, you would want to be with them. The old man then prepares lunch for Uncle Mute and the boys. Tian teases Wang about being a picky eater but he has the old man’s food without complaint.

When they get back to school, both of them get in trouble for engaging in a fight. Despite their intentions, the Dean tells them off for getting violent. As a punishment, they’re told to sweep the school grounds.

Wang complains but the boys end up sharing a moment while they stand under the falling leaves. Tian admits that he earlier didn’t think they should get to know each other better since they had never interacted. But now that they have, he wants to leave the past behind and focus on the present.

Suddenly, Miss Jing and the Dean come by. Miss Jing has enlisted them to take part in the English competition as their punishment instead. The two conditions are that they must win the competition and that Wang must raise his standing in class by 50 ranks (Tian is already number one).  

At home, Wang decides to ask Tian to help him study. He knocks on his door and makes an excuse about his aircon not working. Tian sees through him but agrees to help anyway. What follows is a montage of Tian helping Wang study. One night, Wang notices Tian’s half-filled suitcase in his room. He grows serious and asks when Tian plans to leave. Tian says it’s been like that since he got here.

Suddenly, Wang’s father comes home and calls out to Wang. Wang drags Tian into the closet and hides them both. He says he wants to avoid a conversation about studying this late with his father. As he rants about his father’s questions, Tian smiles.

The next day, Miss Jing sends a message to Wang to come see her at Xi Le Welfare Society. Wang naively believes it and goes to the location where two youths are waiting for him. They accost him and start beating him up.

An epilogue of The On1y One Episode 4 shows “Jang Tian’s Very Moment”: Tian’s about to go to bed when he hears Wang studying in his room. He recalls what Wang said about staying up late and studying. That’s why Tian uses his chair to make noise which prompted Wang to text him.

The Episode Review

The On1y One Episode 4 puts more focus on Wang and Tian’s changing dynamic and it’s all the better for it. These two characters form the heart of the series and the other characters primarily function as scaffolding to bring the two closer to each other. The transition in their relationship, from stoic and competitive to endearing and friendly is lovely to watch.

Tian sparks most of this change, by the way he breaks down his walls for Wang and actively tries to get closer to him. Kudos to Benjamin Tsang for portraying the subtlest of emotions in Tian’s expressions and gestures. It’s always a delight to see a cold and aloof character’s inner softness break through with small smiles and meaningful glances.

So much of this show’s beauty comes from the way it’s made. The dialogue, the direction, the music, and the cinematography all come together to make something poetic and a bit ethereal, despite the ordinary setting. This is clearly down to director Liu Kuang-Hui, best known for his 2020 film Your Name Engraved Herein. A lot of the beauty that infused the movie can be seen here as well and it’s a true delight.