You Are Desire (2023)

Refreshing Drama

The drama brings refreshing storyline, unlike other bubbly high school drama, this one stressed heavily on the FL and ML family issues while they're in high school. The story starts where FL was ordered by her mom to live with her dad (mom and dad divorced) without any explanation whatsoever, her mom even tranfered her to the school nearby her dad area without her knowledged. She felt her mom and the world had abandoned her, especially her dad treated her no worse than her mom. Each of her parents seems to always demands (order) her to obey disregarding (simply didn't care) her feelings and needs to be given care and listened to. I
Near her father's home and while trying to fix her bracelet, she meets ML and his friends. Turns out they all study in the same school she just transfered to. Worse, the ML is her deskmate and has a bad rumor surrounding him making his classmates avoid and afraid of him. On the other hand, behind his quiet demeanor, turns out ML have to man up and carries the burden to keep his caretaker (uncle) silver shop running, while the caretaker is in comma at the hospital. ML's mom also has passed away, while his father works abroad. That explains why he lives with his uncle since the age 10. Due to their family relationship issues, the ML and FL found comfort and solace in each other. They understood each other's heartache. Both leads deals their issues like normal adults human being, on the other hand the adults (mostly FL parents) acting like spoiled selfish child.

Speaking of acting, it's not that it's bad but this is the second time I see the ML portrays this kind of depressed, aloof, quiet and couldn't careless character (when I fly towards you - same type) , I hope he will not get stuck in playing the same character over and over again, because I think he has potential, his acting is on point. I hope earnestly as his carreer grows his agency will find him dramas with different genres and more versatile characters.

Another thing I like is how the screenwritter paints the FL character as calm and collected with a bit of mischieve and SMART, quite different with highschool/adult drama in general where FL often portrayed as not weird, stupid, careless, clumsy, screaming talking too much and damsel in distress, where the smart female character always portrayed as beautiful, villainess or that evil biyatch. This smart and collected character for an FL in highschool drama especialluly is what I have been waiting for all this time, like Zhao Lusi character in Who Rules the World.

Like the trend of highschool/romantic dramas in recent years, this drama also did not prolong in resolving the issues arrising in the storyline, Apart from the ML uncle in comma, the issues in the drama resolved quickly, and strengthened the character and the relationship of both leads.

I have watch the drama until ep 17. The obstacles left that have not yet addressed so far is the FL overbearing mom who dragged FL back to their hometown forcing her to once again changed school and confiscated her cellphone that disabled her from contacting any of her previous friend. Which I find extremely weird though, she's smart but instead of borrowing any of her classmates or besties cellphones to contact the previous friends, she used the school's security phone which happens to be located at the school gate where FL mom suddenly parked. I get that the writter probly trying to stressed the reason she lost contact with anyone, while at the same time picturing how overbearingly forceful the FL mom is, but still with the ML character's IQ and everything that has been going on in the drama, the inconsistency is too much.

Another unresolved issue is the mysterious dude the ML almost punched few episodes back that may relate to the uncle in comma. Just guessing. After the FL move back to her hometown without telling him directly, the ML's world could not get any worse, his dad returns from abroad only to ask him to sign permission form to let go the ML's uncle life support, for the doctor have done everything in their power but no sign of his uncle getting better. Missing the FL and conflicted with the decision to terminate the life support, ML found a letter left by FL in his stacks of books on the last day she said farewell in their class. Consoled by the letter, ML finally decide to sign the consent form to unplugged the uncle life support. ML also reconsiled with his dad, before dad returns to work abroad.

In ep 17, finally the FL graduate, because she firmly wants to keep her promise to the ML to go to the same uni, the FL fights heaven and hell with her mom, finally she was able to attend the uni of her choice and meet again with the ML, however awkardness arose between them due to her abrupt transfer without saying goodbye.

Now I'm excitedly anticipating how this drama will present the ML and FL transition from "special" friend to lovers. Especially if they have kissing scene, I hope the ML and FL kissing scene can be as good as or even more like that kissed Chen Zhe Yuan did in "Our Secrets" ep 19/20 (sooo goood), not just random pressing lips altogether with no movement. Hope the could superbly act it out.

I honestly don't pay attention to other supporting character's romance or whatever plot, everytime they're dominating the screen I fast forward lol. Sorry I just don't wanna waste my time besides I find their storyline doesn't relate at all with the FL and ML relationship. So skip.

Lastly, I'm sorry for the long review I'm just very excited with this drama, I hope my enthusiasm and excitement for this drama can reach to you fellow mydramalist fans as well and hope we could support the drama together until the finale.

Cheers

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Sizzling Yiran-Sabrina chemistry, cute dimple couple!

I'm only a third in but am writing this review to convince those hesitating about 白日梦我 (I prefer the Chinese title than the nonsensical English one!) to PLEASE WATCH THIS Yiran gem!

First watched Zhou Yiran in When I Fly Towards You (WIFTY) and was charmed by the dimples and 'simple' acting/plot there. He's a little bit broodier and mature here. He's also reunited with Guran (WIFTY) and in this school, he's the bad boy with good grades - we find out that he's repeating a year because of what had happened to the uncle who cared for him as a child.

Shen Juan (Yiran) is trying to run his uncle's silversmith shop (no spoilers) while studying. At the start of the school year, he gets a new desk mate - the gorgeous and clever Lin Yu Jing (Sabrina) - a transfer student from a 'broken' home. The unfolding of their friendship is natural and the pace exactly right.

There's a spate of youth/high school C-dramas but this hits different because of the amazing chemistry between the leads. What's refreshing is also a FL who is not coy, shrill, flirty or too stupid to live but with her head firmly screwed on the shoulder. When she discovers that SJ is having trouble paying the shop rent, she and the other 2 friends (Yi Yang & Song Nan) find ways to make money to cover the rent.

Ten episodes in and there's still no romance in the grand sense but you KNOW the ML cares for the FL and vice versa. They enjoy a day out at an amusement park, they have a hot pot with their buddies, they spend a couple of days at a farm - these are things that make youth memorable but there's nothing forced about them.

We get a sense that Yu Jing's divorced parents are troublesome adults but I don't really care and just am rooting for this adorable couple to get together! Special mention, too, to Yu Jing's stepbrother - the cute and hot lawyer
Fu Ming Xiu (Chen He Yi).

Can't wait to watch the other 20 episodes! Must add that Mango TV subs are HORRENDOUS! There are some auto-translate howlers e.g. Shen Juan = 'aunty' but it's free on YT, so can't complain.

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One of 2023's best cdramas.

From the very start I was very impressed with this drama. The first episode felt grounded in reality and presented all the main characters as young adults behaving like such but also with a level of maturity that felt respectful. Sometimes youth dramas don't know how to balance the growing pains, friendship and romance but You Are Desire does it perfectly.

Xia Feng Yan created a story with solid development based on actual growing from well rounded characters that act and react in ways that feel natural. I am amazed this is her first project and I will keep an eye on her because she has a bright future.

Deng Ke (My Huckelberry Friends) also started in the industry as a screenwriter before transitioning into directing, so it was a perfect fold for Xia's story. He understood the assignment and complemented the script with beautiful cinematography, camera movements and choice of cast.

This drama could have died in the hands of a lesser cast but Zhou Yiran and Zhuang Dafei carried the drama flawlessly. Most of the story centers around them and how they interact with others when loneliness has been a part of their young lives for a long time. The supporting cast were also at their best, each with their own lives and struggles which made them well rounded individuals and not an artifact to push the leads's story.

All of these elements created a beautiful group of people dealing with different experiences. A slice of life drama where we understand the world is not always fair and parents make mistakes; where people need to learn to grieve in a healthy way. That families can all look very different from each other and that's okay as long there's love. That you don't always pass the university exam and your workplace might suck. A world where you fall in love and support one another as you grow together with a clear understanding of each other. That life can be sweeter when you are surrounded of good people who truly appreciate you.

Overall, You Are Desire it's a wonderful story that enjoyed from the very first episode to the last one. Criminally underrated, for sure, as I don't understand how more people are not talking about what is probably one of 2023's best cdramas.

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I really loved the overall vibe of the drama. Very calm but not boring at all. It's the perfect healing drama for me. The plot was good, especially after every episode, the comments made by the main characters truly made it remarkable. I loved the pacing of the drama. Something I loved about this drama is how naturally the relationship progressed between the main leads. The way Shen Juan and Lin Yujing overcame their fear and came out of their respective shells makes it such a good drama. Especially the growth of Shen Juan and in this case the impact of Lin Yujing was amazing. One of the few dramas where the main leads have an amazing healthy relationship without any unnecessary misunderstanding. Also I must say the bonding of the friends was also great. Overall a memorable drama which I highly recommend to people who want to watch something about individual growth and healing.

It has become one of my most favourite dramas. Give it a try.

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Not bad but not good-Jisoo

Decent drama tbh
Ok yes, it had flaws but it’s not as bad as the comments are showcasing it like if I read the comments before watching this drama I would give it a pass since my time is valuable…
I did watch it a while ago but I can say it started off well like a good 8.6 then the whole thing when the uncle died and my girl Sabrina Zhuang’s character following her mother's guilt trip and I don’t even know what her mother’s problem like let her have her life?? hello??Sky castle parent behaviour!! I enjoyed her and her brother’s relationship it was good and cute ??✅since mine with my brother especially is hella opposite??? …but let's not get to that ok main thing is that this drama has a lot of sub troops…like the high school thing was going so well and the aesthetic was so dreamy and nostalgic but they made the whole transfer thing …..and then highschool sweethearts meeting at university troop agin I was invested but then switch up focus of this toxic boy like why ???? are you dumb?Shen Juan I mean Zhou Yi Ran I mean our male lead his uncle died, right? And the relationship between the male lead and uncle was so good this boy was the jealous one and why would he blame the male lead for the uncle's death…I felt like slapping that character and even made some delusional conversations with this toxic dumb boy he was such a purple crow?‍⬛?‍⬛ (purple crow felt like the best insult I could come up with it the feeling I think it will do much emotional damage to that guy purple crow sounds irritating and yes this boy was damn irritating)tbh jealous, green-eyed, malicious, spiteful, bitter character he was just unwanted drama anyway next to the whole thing with the male lead following his passion for archery like what? There were so many troops in this drama. If they stuck with one this drama would have been so much better ... .wait….why do I sound like I regret watching this drama? Noooooo….i meant to say this drama has its shortcomings but it’s worth a watch….this is unrelated but i liked the dimples of the main leads it was cute also why does Gu Xia first come off as a bully and then bully with problems and suddenly she is the fl’s bestie? Anyway i think this is the rollercoaster raw rushed review with no format whatsoever hope you enjoyed it I don’t think this is a helpful review but it sure is entertaining?‍♀️

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a waste of time and energy

what a waste of amazing actors with loads of potential to be used in such a horrible way like this, you are my desire isnt about teenager love instead was it really love? it was teenagers liking the time they spent together and mistaking it for love as it didnt even seem like a romance drama.. the first few eps were honestly everything it was amazing but episode 10 and onwards was when the writing team got lazy. how did we have this amazing actor zhang lurang be wasted of his talents and made to be a main character that is so self centred. every supported him in his dream of running a shop in the memory of his uncle but gave up halfway through to pursue gun firing but was never there for his best man who endured pain on his own. he sold the shop and others took pity on him but what about his “friend” who also made memories there, he was called dramatic. really disappointed with the time i wasted on this drama.

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dimple cpuple

i really love this cdrama, the plot is really good too. Zhou Yiran & Sabrina Zhuang have the cutest moments behind the scene, Shen Juan & Lin Yujing have the CUTEST moments in here, i just really love this cdrama so much, the plot is really good because Lin Yujing had a really cruel life with her parents, and with Shen Juan he also had a rough time through the years, but when they meet each other their life’s just got even better because they have each other, the ending was kind boring but when I saw the special episode i was happy, their matching dimples were cute too, people may be disappointed because it was rarely romantic, but i think it was a mature drama not that much skinship.

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The dimple couple

I first found this drama on TikTok and let's say this drama ATE, like it's a high school drama with a girl sitting next to the school bully. Most people would say this flopped but instead this drama ATE and left no crumbs. I honestly was surprised to see Zhou Yi Ran because When I fly towards you was an absolute flop this one was sooooo good I've been rewatching it so many times and their dimples are like so cute. Zhou Yi Ran is so comfortable with Sabrina Zhuang. Plus if you like K-pop idols Sabrina Zhuang in this drama reminded me of Jisoo from blackpink and Winter from aespa. Both of their visuals are on top and when I saw Sabrina playing the electric guitar in this drama I was like damn this girl hella talented. Honestly I totally recommend this drama and couple they're so cute with their dimples. I absolutely love this and the behind the scenes are sooo cute. Zhou Yi Ran said Sabrina was a pretty girl and she is indeed, There chemistry is sooooo good. I definitely recommend.

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