Season 1 Plot
Lok Chak Shun, a 1960s Hong Kong premature survivor, sought escape in street comics where he met Lung, a teen gangster mentoring him into petty crimes. When Shun’s autobiographical comics were altered at school, he publicly shamed the vandal—a reclusive art student departing soon. Overwhelmed by guilt, he then uncovered his father’s infidelity and Lung’s escalating gang war. Amid the turmoil, a severed kite string crystallized his crossroads: embracing Lung’s chaos led to imprisonment; pursuing the girl forged an artistic career marred by her abrupt emigration; confronting his father shattered the family, exiling him into solitude. Each path mirrored Hong Kong’s fractured identity—caught between colonial twilight and generational rebellion. The kite, once a childhood solace, now symbolized life’s irreversible pivots: a single frayed thread unraveling into lifetimes of regret or reinvention, bound by choices made in the breath between adolescence and consequence.
What If Season 1 aired on March 31st, 2025.
Season 1 Episodes
1. Kite
In 1976, Shun was guided by a kite leading to three events: meeting with Carol Lam, discovering his father was cheating on his wife, and his friend Lung need to flee. Since then, he embarked on three separate paths in three separate lives.
2. Dream
In 1981, after learning his father had been cheating on his mother, Shun worked as a drafter in a construction company. In another life, Shun met Carol and was encouraged to become a comic book artist, but the result was heartbreaking.
3. Destiny
Although Shun failed to become the chief writer, he was encouraged by a letter from Carol. In his third life, Shun was finally released from prison. In order to support his family, he had no choice but going into the triad underworld.
4. Choice
Lung was murdered by his enemy, forcing Shun to take over his business and officially became a gangster. In 1987, gangster Shun was already a well-known figure. In the first life, Shun has married Ying and applied for a civil servant job.
5. Lost
After eliminating his enemy Shark, gangster Shun established his position in the underworld. In his second life, comic artist Shun worked at Long Dynasty and met Carol again. In 1991, he set up his own company, but things didn't go well.
6. Faith
Artist Shun recalled his original intention of becoming a comic artist, turned it into a comic and confess his love to Carol. In another life, 31-year-old gangster Shun became a successful businessman. He met Carol at a painting auction.
7. Commotion
In 1991, civil servant Shun lived a normal life. He unexpectedly met Carol, and things got complicated. In other life, gangster Shun failed to get Carol's attention. In 1997, gangster Shun met someone when his business had been expanding.
8. Loneliness
Gangster Shun made a bond with Erica as his family and friend left him one by one. In 1997, civil servant Shun planned to emigrate to UK with his family. However, his plan was thwarted by his father's illness and an unfinished project.
9. Perplexity
Civil servant Shun had a fight with his wife over when he would join his family in UK, while Erica asked him to stay by offering him a promotion. In another life, artist Shun married Carol, but his creative block led him to drug abuse
10. Turning Point
Artist Shun turned his pain into inspiration, creating another hit. In 2003, while his career reached another milestone, a tragedy befallen his loved one. In another life, civil servant Shun unexpectedly met Erica during the SARS pandemic.
11. Temptation
When civil servant Shun was tempted to cheat, his wife asked for a divorce. In 2008, both he and Erica were involved in a corruption case investigation. She took the fall and went abroad. Years later, he lived a comfortable life alone.
12. What If
Gangster Shun gave up plan to leave town because of Erica. In 2008, Shun took the fall of a corruption case and was jailed. He married Erica upon release. 3 lives, 3 destinies, all converge in the end. Could there be other possibilities?
