Young and Beautiful (2021)

I Felt Cheated, A Waste

The drama started with so much potential. At first I like the female lead coming from the country to the big city. She left her parents because they where forcing her to marry someone she did not liked. I thought WOW this will be a strong women character. I was fool. The lead character became a naïve innocent petty female who everyone's problem was on her shoulder and fell guilty about the wrong doing that everyone did. Even when people betrayed her and stab her in her back she still would take responsibility and trust them. Through all the episode the lead female character to me became pathetic and annoying. She had 3 men in her life that she said she love but showed very emotion. I even laugh that she sleep with the first 2 but with the 3rd, the leading male she had him sleep on the sofa. The friendship between the 3 leading female was also questionable. I really did not consider them friends. The leading male the only one that I fell gave us a good story was "Yang Ting Dong" who realized that the women he was chasing would never care fro him and allow someone else in his heart. The lead male was also annoying. He could not speak up and correct things and preferred for someone else take his love away. Instead he stay with the women he did not like and only wanted her as a friend. That was the 2nd lead female who would say one thing and do another. She never accepted "Yang Ting Dong" because they were friends and she would not want to break that friendship but like the "Xing Tian Ming" who was also her friend. Did she like him better because he had money. I did not feel he treated her that good for her to be in love with him. The worst is that the lead main characters do not get together until the last 2 episodes and then they still throw another problem that get s everything solve in the last 7 minutes. I wasted my time. This drama could have been shorter and a better script. I found episodes 9-35 boring with the same all thing. They leave everything for all the characters to be solve with in the last 5 episodes. The actors try their best for a good performance but the scrip stinks.

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Don't watch this drama

This drama is a disaster. Do not waste your time. 42 Episodes of repetative dialogue.

100 men chasing the FL. This is a drama you will end up hating both main leads and yourself through persisting watching 42 episodes of rubbish. This should be available to prisons to put the inmates in torture, that's how bad it is.

The ending is obviously rushed to.... Writers had little creativity.

The acting wasn't bad but not great. Usually after a drama I leave saying I might want tune into this support cast next drama. This didn't happen. Non of the cast won me over. Both leads characters are ones you will dislike in the end. The emotional torture they put their friends through is unforgivable and they still remain friends the group.

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Initially Really Promising...BUT...

Initially really Promising...but then the plot lines and character building started to deteriorate......still hoping for more promise (after watching 24 Episodes!)


I really, really like the initial plot-line of this series and especially wait to see in each episode the carefully-assisted growth of the main female protagonist , Liu Wen Jing (Crystal Zang) from a rural-girl into a fine woman of character and sophistication. In addition, we wait with eager anticipation the potential romance of our female lead with our male lead, Professor' Xing Tian Ming (Xu Kai Cheng), as we witness as well his gradual transformation & slow-burn softening-of-edges from an arrogant intellectual into our female lead's prince charming.

However, by the time I reached Ep20, the repetitious "stupidity," blunders, and inability of the main characters, particularly Liu Wen Jing, to learn from the past, speak firmly for the truth, but instead just silently endure become ABSOLUTELY EXASPERATING and, frankly, just TERRIBLY ABSURD. Their hoped-for growth, better strength of character, and wiser decision-making give way to seemingly endless and repetitive mistakes and the same weaknesses (i.e. Wen Jing not really able to say "No" to abuse from family, even the most irritating people, and her tendency to sulk rather than speak the truth and her mind---(and yes, even the preposterous idea of work in Africa--really???). I was finding myself fast-forwarding through scenes by Ep21.

By Ep24, halfway through the series, I decided to just stop watching...and allow some time, still hopeful that the next Episodes (or till the end) would be better, which is really sad as I very much like the characters of Wen Jing and Tian Ming, played magnificently and convincingly in-character by Crystal Zang and Xu Kai Cheng.

Plot: A Beautiful and good-hearted rural lass with just a Junior High School education attempts to go to the Big City (Shanghai) to seek for a better life...and in many twists and turns of fate, befriends a wholesome group of friends who help her go through the difficulty of navigating through fast-paced, sometimes treacherous life in the city...misunderstandings and conflict, unavoidable romantic relationships (secret or otherwise) blossom and wither within this close-knit clique, but their friendship remain strong through any trial and adversity...

(TO BE CONTINUED)

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Nice Drama for Self Empowerment, I think

Hmmm, it started nicely, or perfectly I might say. It's one drama that anyone can easily relate to, not that fairy tale story that's possible to happen to any normal being once in a blue moon.
I liked how the female lead developed through time, not just in appearance, knowledge, social skills.. you won't notice that much it as you watch since she progressed bit by bit. But as you think back on the previous episodes while you're watching episode 30+, then you'd realize how she had improved herself. Though it was weird that supporting characters had the same hairstyle for 10 years haha
The production and story was well distributed across the 10 year storyline (except the end), the development of friendship, their issues with one another and the emotions/feelings of the characters was well portrayed.
But downside was for the last few episodes, while I was already on the 38th episode, I kept on thinking how can they fit the rest of the story for only 4 episodes? It's the 38th episode and the two leads have yet to admit their feelings and be in an OFFICIAL relationship. So you get less than 2 episodes of them being a couple, which some might say would be enough since their story started when they were friends and "love" could not be gauged with the number of days a couple has been together, or that their memories together is worth more than counting the days of a labelled relationship. But it just feels like something's missing. Also with the sudden turn of relationship of WeiWei and YeHui... (one day he despises the idea of being a couple with WeiWei, then one day he loves her so much already) just felt superficial for some reason.
But all in all, I don't regret spending more than 40hours on this drama. It's decent and the fact that it made me cry a few times, it deserves positive feedback :D

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Not a cliche. Loved how it started ,but then got boring

I have watched only 20 episodes , but i am already impressed. This is not a typical ordinary romance cdrama . All the characters have their own ups and downs and it essenrially doesnt focuses on only the lead couples srories . Not a cliche bossy president and damsel in distress story . I just adore crystal zhang and xu kaicheng for their top notch acting. The emotions come out so real . Even the village setup is too good . Other characters also fit in their respective roles . The story revolves around a bunch of friends all having different jobs and roles in the city oh shanghai . They help each other , fight , love . Overall its a must watch , waiting for the rest of the episodes anxiously.

And the rest of the episodes spoilt it for me ! The female lead was too fragile , everyone was attacking her ... it was too annoying !

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The Legend of Liu Wenjing

I call it legend because if this was a historical that's what they would title it. Its rags to riches and if you've ever read a rich person's rags to riches story then I would say they did ok. I will tell you right now ...modern women will relate to her struggle with relationships and career choices. Summarizing, she wins some and she loses some over a decade. To the story, I had no issue with her struggle with relationships. I applaud the director for not zoning her onto the ML lead. I was shocked by the shaming from some discussion boards because its 2021 and women still have to endure this double standard. The double standard that was perpuated by cdramas.

Let's address the issues that some struggle with...Why wasn't she only with the ML? The ML is high academic society and she came from rural country with no high school education. She thought he pitied her for some time. He is called the professor for a reason. By the time she knew he liked her, her best friend was in love with him. Its important to address because many say they would never do what she did. Actually many women would and have stepped aside if their friends like the same person. Her best friend...gawd Hua Hua!...lol.

Hua Hua was not just her friend...she was her sister...period. She loved that girl. Why ? ...Hua Hua was city poor, educated and sophisticated. She was the only female that completely accepts Liu Wenjing ...not even Xu Wei did this. How do I know ?...Hua Hua and Liu Wenjing brought each other home to their impovershed houses. Those who have lived poor tend to protect and hide their space from others to avoid shame. This is why all is forgiven with these two...they are family.

Why was she with the second ML?...Why not? I'll tell you the turning point for him and it's not when he came to her hometown. It's the day our Ye Hui met her ex fiancee Wan Shanji in the middle of night while walking home. Ye Hui is super rich, modern and intelligent. He walks with an entourage...lol and personifies the playboy lifestyle to the hilt and so she couldn't stand him... until that night. Their relationship speaks volumes and had me in tears. So many times loving someone is not enough...compromises and change must occur and still it fails. Their pairing is the hardest to watch because it's all to real for many couples. Their courtship was for years...this was not an idle pairing. He knew her almost as long as the professor...

The professor was not the ML we expected. Cdramas had us programmed for the aloof, ingenius and ambitious ML...We didnt get that ...lol. It was refreshing because I laughed and cried more with this ML than I usually do. Geniuses are notoriously hard to work ...because they think everyone else is wrong...lol. I rooted for him but he summarized himself well in the end. Do we suffer in silence ?...Yes many actually do but there is a time to speak regardless of the consequences. He was lucky this time but he almost didn't get the girl...

Liu Wenjing is the not so perfect FL that I loved. She wasn't the mary sue or the female boss. She was a mix of everything. She suffered in silence. She saw what she wanted to see...of which we're all guilty. She knew her place but wanted to break free. She tried to balance her gratitude to her friends without becoming beholden to them. No one achieves greatness alone. She was well aware there was a machine behind her. She opened her heart to those who were true to her...and when it wasn't enough... she let it go. Her family was always her family regardless...that includes her extended family. By the end when she overlooks the city in true cdrama fashion...I applaud her success. She earned it...clean.

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It was a bit disappointing.

This show was interesting, because I watched thinking it would be a simple “feel-good” show to watch over the weekend.
Things a bit complicated when the repetitive actions of men taking advantage of the innocence the female lead had, which might’ve just been the actress being way too naive. Her character seemed to portray a person who always did things out of a good heart, and repeatedly got into sketchy situations not knowing what can happen. (This did get a tiring.)
The rating I gave isn’t that high, mainly because I was very disappointed with the plot. Both leads in the movie didn’t persist pursuing each other, but rather just like each other from afar. Though there were times they tried to confront their emotions, they would shove it off the second one or the other expressed these feelings. My biggest thing was how the second lead male had more scenes with our female lead than the male lead himself. In a way, it seemed like it was made for the second male lead and the female lead. As soon as they got together, things were falling apart because now the second male lead refused to let the female lead chase her dreams, which is a bit wrong because he fell in love with her because of her innocence and passion. Their breakup was also very confusing because there wasn’t that much of a heartbreak as they both moved on after they lost someone close to them.

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Good story of personal growth

ABOUT THE STORY
Fascinating story - 10 years of the life of a simple village girl who came to Shanghai to realise her dreams. It was really entertaining to watch how LiuWenjings (FL) life has progressed and how she has changed and grown up. As a sideline, there is also a love story between FL and one of her friends. The story although has some far-fetched ridiculous coincidences (as a lot of Chinese dramas usually have) in general is quite realistic. The life of the main characters is full of ups and downs, twists and turns. Although I have noticed, that while in the beginning series side stories of FL's friends have been nicely detailed. But by the end of the drama, some of her friends have been barely shown and the development of their stories becomes a little messy...
The main story is about how life paths can really go in predictable ways. Also about how one can change his/her life if they work hard and stood up for their principles. About how lack of communication can lead to misunderstandings in relationships, and how small lies can ruin someone's life. Another thing that I like - is the representation of time passing by. The story encompasses 10 years, and if you watch it one series a day - and not binge-watch, then by the last half of the drama you really have this feeling of things having happened a long time ago.
(SPOILER ALERT)
On the YouTube, where I was watching it, a lot of people in the comments have been complaining that "ML is actually not with FL until the end" and " we came here to watch ML+FL chemistry, where is it?" seem to misunderstand what the drama is about ))) I didn't feel cheated, because I have been expecting nothing more than what the story the director wanted to tell

ABOUT THE CHARACTERS
Many people in the comments have been complaining -"Why Professor couldn't confess to her, why Hua-Hua is so mean etc." But actually, when you look at the characters a little closer, all of their behaviour starts to make sense. Professor - such a passive in love guy - he would not have the guts to confess or say NO to someone he doesn't love. In reality, this kind of guy ends up in a relationship with a proactive girl that he doesn't like, just goes by the way of least resistance. FL (Wenjing) - is this kind of self-sacrificing girl, she would do anything for her family, allow friends to walk over her and always feel that it's her fault, not theirs. Hua-Hua is a typical toxic friend.
Although the characters were well written, ML and FL s chemistry was .... bad. It was difficult to understand their feelings for each other, especially Professor's feelings for FL from the beginning till the end. By the end of the drama when they are finally together, their interactions look outright fake. It could be either bad work of an ML actor or director. FL chemistry with 2ML was quite nice though.

CONCLUSION
All in all, it was nice for me to watch this drama because of the storyline. But regarding expressing feelings, ML FL interaction, actors play, well there are better dramas out there.

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I enjoyed watching the development of character of the FL. Wen Jing blossomed from a shy country girl to a confident entrepreneur all the while maintaining her good character of putting others above her self.
I forwarded through a lot of the scenes as I found them unnecessary and boring.
In the middle of the whole thing I learned to love the relationship between Wen Jing and Ye Hui. They both sacrificed a lot to maintain their relationship. The writer spent so much time telling the stories of these two almost 1/3 of the 42 episodes) that I was sad and upset when they ended their relationship so abruptly. I found my self wishing they could've ended together at the end, because Ye Hui fought for her love all the way till the end, while the male lead watching, supporting and wishing from the side line.

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Endless predictable episodes

I have finished all 42 episodes to watch and although nothing interesting happens in 40 episodes,the last two episodes are worthy.
Even if the plot is fine,Liu Weijing comming from countryside and after 10 years spent in Shanghai she becomes quite successful with mostly the Professor help, the fact that 40 episodes are mainly just for filling put in shadow the cast team.Is like being in class and writing tons of pages with nonsense information.
I did watch it again because i liked the chemistry of the leading actors which it will be a joy to see them again in other productions.

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The most boring drama I've seen in a while. The first three episodes will show you early on that this drama perfected the recipe for disaster. I wanted to watch this because of a lot of familiar faces.

But I cannot tolerate it. And what's with the musical scoring? It wanted to highlight the scenes like something profound was happening when there's none. The musical scoring wanted you to feel excitement when it in reality, it's really boring. It wanted you to feel romance when there's none.

Then I've read some reviews that the FL was chased almost by all the guys only to finally realize that she liked the ML on the last two episodes.. Well then this show is not for me. I don't wanna waste my time.

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