Clove
Drama Land
One of the Best FL and Main Couple in a Modern C-drama
< Review mostly focuses on the main couple >
STORY
Overall: The absolute best part was how their characters were written and portrayed! The romance for the main couple was gradually developed and felt natural (don't worry, they have their fair share of sweet and romantic moments). Their relationships and friendships with other characters were nicely interwoven. The progression is good and while it sometimes quickly jumped to a month or two later (with a mere mention of it in dialogue), it was a bit more realistic compared to some dramas where a bunch of dramatic events occur in succession and they date/break-up in less than 2 months. Though there were times I wondered where things would go and how, it was never boring and only made me more invested.
Breaking it down,
Beginning: Don't be fooled by the initial tropes like cohabitation, bad first impression, and being online friends because there was so much more to offer. Their acting and reactions during the first third was highly entertaining and fun. It offers glimpses into who the characters really are as well.
Middle: Initially wasn't sure how the story would progress but with additional characters, there was more to the story and relationship development.
End: Changes in setting were somewhat randomly added sometimes in later eps to add more romance, but it helps since they were often in the same setting of either Zhou Chuan's house or the Yuan Yue Publishing Office.
CHARACTERS
1. Chu Li (Female Lead):
Chu Li retains the main characteristic of a typical FL that's bubbly and cute, but she goes beyond the typical damsel in distress that always fails and has to rely on the ML. Instead, she often refuses to! She was smart, thorough, persistent, firm, strong, and confident. She could solve problems on her own and knew how to stand up for herself.
2. Zhou Chuan (Male Lead):
Zhou Chuan started off as a character that had a rude demeanor and was the typical tsundere ML. However, his online persona and friendship with Jiang Yu Cheng showcased his nicer side in the beginning until we could see improvements in how he treated Chu Li.
Chu Li <3 Zhou Chuan as a Couple:
What I enjoyed about the two of them is that they kept this drama light and enjoyable. They gradually became interested in each other romantically until they came to see each other as partners in life. The best part of their relationship was how they were:
1. being mutually supportive,
2. respectful of each other's views/work/decisions,
3. concerned about each other's well-being (physical and emotional),
4. present in each other's happy and sad moments,
5. trusting/confident in their love and feelings for each other
6. understanding and accepting of each other's flaws
Overall, both Chu Li and Zhou Chuan were multidimensional characters that made rational decisions which made sense for who they were and what they wanted to achieve. While each of them had their flaws/weaknesses, they had their own strengths to utilize towards their goals. They weren't perfect but that's what made them relatable. Their efforts inspire viewers to do work hard, grow from our past, and end up stronger on the other side.
STORY
Overall: The absolute best part was how their characters were written and portrayed! The romance for the main couple was gradually developed and felt natural (don't worry, they have their fair share of sweet and romantic moments). Their relationships and friendships with other characters were nicely interwoven. The progression is good and while it sometimes quickly jumped to a month or two later (with a mere mention of it in dialogue), it was a bit more realistic compared to some dramas where a bunch of dramatic events occur in succession and they date/break-up in less than 2 months. Though there were times I wondered where things would go and how, it was never boring and only made me more invested.
Breaking it down,
Beginning: Don't be fooled by the initial tropes like cohabitation, bad first impression, and being online friends because there was so much more to offer. Their acting and reactions during the first third was highly entertaining and fun. It offers glimpses into who the characters really are as well.
Middle: Initially wasn't sure how the story would progress but with additional characters, there was more to the story and relationship development.
End: Changes in setting were somewhat randomly added sometimes in later eps to add more romance, but it helps since they were often in the same setting of either Zhou Chuan's house or the Yuan Yue Publishing Office.
CHARACTERS
1. Chu Li (Female Lead):
Chu Li retains the main characteristic of a typical FL that's bubbly and cute, but she goes beyond the typical damsel in distress that always fails and has to rely on the ML. Instead, she often refuses to! She was smart, thorough, persistent, firm, strong, and confident. She could solve problems on her own and knew how to stand up for herself.
2. Zhou Chuan (Male Lead):
Zhou Chuan started off as a character that had a rude demeanor and was the typical tsundere ML. However, his online persona and friendship with Jiang Yu Cheng showcased his nicer side in the beginning until we could see improvements in how he treated Chu Li.
Chu Li <3 Zhou Chuan as a Couple:
What I enjoyed about the two of them is that they kept this drama light and enjoyable. They gradually became interested in each other romantically until they came to see each other as partners in life. The best part of their relationship was how they were:
1. being mutually supportive,
2. respectful of each other's views/work/decisions,
3. concerned about each other's well-being (physical and emotional),
4. present in each other's happy and sad moments,
5. trusting/confident in their love and feelings for each other
6. understanding and accepting of each other's flaws
Overall, both Chu Li and Zhou Chuan were multidimensional characters that made rational decisions which made sense for who they were and what they wanted to achieve. While each of them had their flaws/weaknesses, they had their own strengths to utilize towards their goals. They weren't perfect but that's what made them relatable. Their efforts inspire viewers to do work hard, grow from our past, and end up stronger on the other side.
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