I really tried

I really tried to enjoy this drama. I can enjoy cheesy, I like romantic, good chemistry, protective, decisive and caring ML, not complicated plots, I find all this great but, grown up women acting worse than 5 years old was unbearable and I ended up skipping a lot of the show just stopping in the rare moments the FL had a bit more depth. I guess that doesn't bother most part of viewers because of the general high ratings. I was actually more drawn to the support ML relationship development with the young sister of the first ML but after getting some good amount of screen time they are cut off and show later on in random scenes without a real follow up.

Positive: Beautiful buildings and homes. I din't give 1 out of respect to the ML who was quite good and able to convey love and emotions in spite of the FL character role.

Read More

3D characters, interesting dialogues and set up, great sense of humor

I wish more people would see this show. It's unique, refreshing with 3D characters, interesting dialogues and brilliant sense of humor. Usually dramas develop the main couple and then have a considerable amount of uninteresting monochromic "fill in" flat other events. Let's go crazy is colorful in all aspects, keeps a brilliant sense of humor, tenderness and interest throughout the 20 episodes with the majority of its characters and events - a mega achievement in drama world. Even though not perfect with some details a bit off , I still don't hesitate to rate it a 10 hoping and hope more people will take an interest on it. What could normally be frustrating such as initial shyness of FL and indecisiveness of ML ( personally give up on dramas with such traits in the main leads) in this drama I could accept them easily because they were justified and were weaved naturally with other positive and attractive character traits . The only improvement I would truly suggest would be on the wardrobe, but then again fashions are different according to cultures and times. OST is beautiful especially RuoFan main theme.

Read More

Sweet, uplifting and very entertaining

In spite of the technical and economic limitations of the production, including one of the main characters often looking directly into the camera (ha ha ha) I highly recommend this show. I watched it in Iflix years ago and want to re watch it now as I need o break from the usual c-k and thai dramas format where there is suffering, angst, drama, misunderstandings and mean people . "Meant to be" is an extremely uplifting, funny and sweet show. You don't need to skip any parts and although is 50 episodes you end up with a smile in most part of the episodes. The main FL is hardworking, sincere and faces life with a lot of good common sense. The male leads are all sweet and have quite distinct characters in such a way that although there is a slight leading into which one will "get the girl" at the end it is developed in a way that you don't feel particular stress which one will be "the winner". Loved it, so in spite of the obvious production limitations I am giving it a 10. Even my husband that never, ever would watch a drama, I could see him sometimes entertained with it. I which there was many more shows like this one.

Read More

Great premises but erratic delivery

It started promising. Great set up with an equestrian club, a single father and nanny romance, even the evil bitchiness was not directed to our main leads which I was enjoying. But then it went sort of train wreck. A whole lot of nonsense with an over-the-top spoiled evil woman allowed everything and anything over and over again. The hysteria of that family and the amount of trauma they must have induced in that child is so over the top LOL. The ML went from an easy-going and kind nature into a nonsensical mode just for the sake of creating angst since the romance was going pretty well early in the drama. In the last arch, after the evil bitch went abroad, the angsty romance from the 4 main characters was sort of rescued. My frustration is that it could have been so good since the plot was unusual and interesting, but the delivery and poor character development of the father and nanny couple were some of a disappointment. Having said that, I noticed that people in the comment section enjoyed the drama and I get why since it also kept me interested enough (used fast-forward though) to go till the end. So if you like the genre, I would say go for the plot, mute when the clown characters are in scene, and laugh when the nonsense is so much that laughing is about the only thing we can do.

Read More

True growth and achievements on a more real take of life - "The Story of Ming Lan" genre

You you appreciate solid growth and achievements overcoming life difficulties, supported by love and trust you will feel rewarded with this drama.

The behavior of characters and family life context portrays what seems to be much closer to reality than fantasied dramas. This would be something that would normally putt me off watching it - concubines, hard mother in law, plotting and meanness - however the way the ML ad FL navigate through all the difficulties with steadiness of principles, trust and loyalty is very rewarding. Even the concubines setting is laid out in a way that the love of ML for FL is never tainted and in general most characters grow and become better human beings through difficulties and forgiveness within reason.

As for the amount of wickedness, unpunished mean deeds and consequent frustration at times, I would prefer to dose it down, however I opt to fast forward when its getting too much for my personal preference. That is why I give it a 10/10

Read More

Frustrating unbalance between good and evil.

Starts promising - FL is going to grow through adversity and become a businesswoman - but then writers said, "Let's just keep throwing in a lot of evilness and crappy difficulties to extend this thing for 40 episodes without any regard for the audience's sense of justice and fairness". Not even the FL character development, creative work, and sweet romance were enough to keep me going. Need to get back to the Story of Yan Xi Palance to get some sense of redemption from my favorite ever kickass FL that has the most intelligent and creative ways of dealing with unfairness and evil in a very rewarding way without relying on constant external help.

PS I scored rewatch value 1 because the input doesn't allow 0

Read More

Unique, fun and keeps you interested all the way

It was a story of loving friendship all the way. No cliches, and some unexpected elements of surprise. Lots of fun moments that had me laughing out loud, and some other very cute and sweet ones. I felt happy and satisfied. I thought the romance element between boy and girl was very, very sweet and the friendship between the two male leads was as beautiful and cute as the dimples of the merman. The music was very pleasant even if it wasn't memorable. The only cliche, if we may call it so, was the "bad guys" that resembled more like those in a western type of children's movie. The cinematography was quite good and the merman tail itself deserves a high rate. A great variation from nowadays dramas that often fall short of my expectations.

Read More

Delightful

This is a positive love story where the main leads in spite of their shortcomings learn to navigate and evolve in their relationship with loyalty and commitment never doubting the love for and of each other.

What I liked

- The FL shortcomings, developed since she was a child from a plausible survival instinct and they are balanced as she starts to improve her character when finally in the presence of real love. This has been the only exception I didn't mind a FL lying
- Some of the settings are truly beautiful
- The little sister is very engaging
- The second ML's "evil" is justified and you can't but wish him well
- At a certain time it's quite fun that the "evil" cousin intending to harm the FL actually gives her a break by engaging the second ML away from her.


What I disliked

Second couple ML - Made me skipped the whole relationship. That is why I don't give a 10
Evil family members - Also skipped the whole thing.
Second FL - a bit too much of evil doing for my taste

So in the end by skipping these parts and a bit of the stressful evil plotting of the second FL, you end up with a solid twenty episodes of a delightful relationship.

Read More

The low score reviews could be quite unfair

I don't quite get such harsh reviews for this drama which is why I am contributing with this review. Maybe expectations were very high and if the writer had chosen to grade down the initial level of exaggerated reactions and actions from family members and FL idiotic "first love" the reviews would be much better. I skimmed through the parts above mentioned and I was delighted to watch the development of a great romantic relationship between the main leads. They are great and provide many episodes of great entertainment and smiles. Family members also get better and even the idiotic support ML even though is dragged for a while in his annoying role, after a while starts to be toned down.

If you like the ML and FL give it a try, don't worry too much with a couple of initial general idiocy and I think you will enjoy it quite a bit.

Read More

Entertaining till the end

The first time I picked up this series I gave up by the end of the first episode because both the FL's lack of facial expression and the game's graphics put me off. However, I kept noticing the MDL high rating and after almost a year I decided to give it another try, prepared with a high tolerance for the FL and game component. It was really worth it and if you have been put off by the same elements, I can tell you that even though the FL's suffers from lack of expression, her character is actually great and the games are well done with amazing anime parts that easily pull you in the fights. The side plots are well integrated into the main plot, are varied, and are dealt with within a certain number of episodes, making the whole thread fairly satisfying. I also quite liked the secondary couple which for me is rare. I am really glad I gave it another try.

Read More

Less secrets are healthier

Although the plot interest solely relies on keeping secrets and never telling important and at times crucial facts to the main leads I think it went too far for melodrama's sake.

I still give it a 9 because the main couple does really well, but personally, I would have preferred a more positive last 4 episodes if, at least, the most crucial fact had been known to the ML. This could have been easily achieved by the writers and I believe it would have made more sense, helping to balance all the previous sorrows that are pretty heavy all throughout the drama. I thought it was really a shame to harness till the very end on an overdramatic plot.

Read More

Great potential not fully developed

What I liked

The FL is so great
The storyline is new and rich
There are 3 really beautiful songs

What I didn't like
Couldn't figure out if the ML is not a good actor or if the issue is the limited character development bordering on unhealthy obsessions
There is a dismal background theme. It is quite depressing and it would be all right to be used in the actual painful memory scenes however it is liberally used throughout the drama in the main lead's interaction rendering it a constant "doom" feeling instead of a romantic one. This was actually my main issue with this show and often I had to mute the scenes. They might have realized there was an issue with it because towards the last story arc it was not used anymore.
The storyline with so much great potential felt undeveloped and at times disjunction and forced.
The FL has obvious issues in the kissing scenes and tightly closed her lips as if disgusted by it. That was weird LOL. I actually admire the dramas where the main leads don't need to obviously kiss in the lips yet are able to convey amazing chemistry and romantic feelings by closeness and tenderness.

Read More

Main leads are wonderful and have a real relationship. Good foundation and no cliches

I loved the main leads and their relationship. Truly. The story is interesting and the plot has a good base for its development. Very enjoyable and one is able to get regular satisfaction from the story development without long waiting periods. Has good pacing with particular praise for the first half of the drama.

In spite of the somewhat weak medical facts/plot, usual in C Dramas, and a few situations that were either overdramatic with a violin playing in the background, or didn't make much sense, I really loved this drama with its real human characters with both qualities and flaws. Only one character is evil, however, its presence is minimal and only towards the final. In the last episode, they try to rescue his character in a silly way. The last episode actually is pretty much meh... but since I really enjoyed this drama I still rate it a 10.

Read More