2
mango sorbet
procrastinating~
Chen Fei Yu’s face now triggers my fight or flight response (pros: chemistry, cons: writing)
I love how this drama gave us the fattest load of potential I’ve seen from cdramas in awhile only for it to sadly explode in our faces. I was (rightly) excited for Lighter & Princess because of Chen Fei Yu, but the writing definitely does not match up to the talents of the cast.
STORY
This drama can best be described as a mix between your classic college rom com and a business revenge drama. I didn’t have much of a problem with the plot, but if you’re looking for a masterpiece, you should stop thinking about this drama, period. It has all the markings of your classic annoying cdrama—uselessly over-the-top events, dumb misunderstandings, toxicity, and a neat ending that doesn’t make sense at all.
What I really took issue with was how the characters were written. I don’t know who thought it was a good idea to make the leads (and the side characters) some of the most insufferable, selfish, unaware people I’ve ever seen. I personally think I’m someone who easily forgives the plot, but a horribly cliche story paired with the most annoying characters known to man is not a good combo.
Li Xun is your usual cold, unemotional genius, but he’s also incredibly rude, overly arrogant, possesses an insane superiority complex, and never changes. Zhu Yun is basically his puppy-eyed sidekick who cannot seem to think for herself. I think this drama would’ve been 300% more enjoyable if these two actually realized they weren’t the center of this world.
ACTING
And what pains me even more is that the acting was actually pretty good. Chen Fei Yu actually brings emotionally subtlety to his cold ML character, a trope that is usually rife with stiff and personality-less acting. I liked the aloof, seemingly-apathetic nature Chen Fei Yu gave Li Xun. It was so natural that it felt like he was the character, so much so that his face now triggers my fight or flight response (hence the review title) since my brain equates Chen Fei Yu to Li Xun and I have come to despise Li Xun xD.
Zhang Jing Yi as Zhu Yun wasn’t half bad either. She captured pretty well Zhu Yun’s childlike innocence and stubborn determination. But I felt like she could have been far more emotive, and also it seems as though she has no idea what to do with her body while acting. She stands still with her arms hanging by her sides 97% of the time.
The chemistry between Chen Fei Yu and Zhang Jing Yi was the sparks-flying type, though. Great bantering, cute scenes, and some nice cuddling scenes. I enjoyed it thoroughly before the drama went down the drain.
MUSIC
I loved the soundtrack to this show. From Zhou Shen’s dramatic and heartfelt ballad to punk rock and band covers—the music in this drama were honestly all bops, especially the songs Ren Di’s band covered. Plus the Pu Shu songs they included? Chef’s kiss. Really managed to capture the hopeful, young sadness that this drama was going for that the writing didn’t succeed in conveying.
REWATCH VALUE
BYE, there’s no way I’m putting myself through this pain again. Maybe the first half, though. Maybe.
STORY
This drama can best be described as a mix between your classic college rom com and a business revenge drama. I didn’t have much of a problem with the plot, but if you’re looking for a masterpiece, you should stop thinking about this drama, period. It has all the markings of your classic annoying cdrama—uselessly over-the-top events, dumb misunderstandings, toxicity, and a neat ending that doesn’t make sense at all.
What I really took issue with was how the characters were written. I don’t know who thought it was a good idea to make the leads (and the side characters) some of the most insufferable, selfish, unaware people I’ve ever seen. I personally think I’m someone who easily forgives the plot, but a horribly cliche story paired with the most annoying characters known to man is not a good combo.
Li Xun is your usual cold, unemotional genius, but he’s also incredibly rude, overly arrogant, possesses an insane superiority complex, and never changes. Zhu Yun is basically his puppy-eyed sidekick who cannot seem to think for herself. I think this drama would’ve been 300% more enjoyable if these two actually realized they weren’t the center of this world.
ACTING
And what pains me even more is that the acting was actually pretty good. Chen Fei Yu actually brings emotionally subtlety to his cold ML character, a trope that is usually rife with stiff and personality-less acting. I liked the aloof, seemingly-apathetic nature Chen Fei Yu gave Li Xun. It was so natural that it felt like he was the character, so much so that his face now triggers my fight or flight response (hence the review title) since my brain equates Chen Fei Yu to Li Xun and I have come to despise Li Xun xD.
Zhang Jing Yi as Zhu Yun wasn’t half bad either. She captured pretty well Zhu Yun’s childlike innocence and stubborn determination. But I felt like she could have been far more emotive, and also it seems as though she has no idea what to do with her body while acting. She stands still with her arms hanging by her sides 97% of the time.
The chemistry between Chen Fei Yu and Zhang Jing Yi was the sparks-flying type, though. Great bantering, cute scenes, and some nice cuddling scenes. I enjoyed it thoroughly before the drama went down the drain.
MUSIC
I loved the soundtrack to this show. From Zhou Shen’s dramatic and heartfelt ballad to punk rock and band covers—the music in this drama were honestly all bops, especially the songs Ren Di’s band covered. Plus the Pu Shu songs they included? Chef’s kiss. Really managed to capture the hopeful, young sadness that this drama was going for that the writing didn’t succeed in conveying.
REWATCH VALUE
BYE, there’s no way I’m putting myself through this pain again. Maybe the first half, though. Maybe.
Was this review helpful to you?
