As a 40 over episodes drama, the storyline coverage is inadequate, which leads to certain part being dragged and misunderstandings take a long time to settle down. The reason why the female lead leaves the male lead in the past is rather weak which makes people feel the plot is not well prepared, a lack of surprises.
The office environment especially for the male lead’s office is grand and it certainly bring up what his status as well as his company’s status stands. One flaw is that the other 2 brothers, who holds high positions and heads two other departments, their offices and staff were not pictured in this drama at all, which makes their status appeared weaker than how they should be or are supposed to be.
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For that reason, this drama falls into the common 'chinese drama' issue of being too long. To be honest, this was one of the drama's I watched when I first started 18 months ago and I hated it, but having recently watched a drama that had 70 episodes (COVID-19 lockdown has me binge-watching asian dramas), I thought I'd give this one another try as I thought I had mis-judged this one... And on a re-watch, it's actually much better than I first thought. However, the story still could been told in 30 episodes or less, because it re-hashed the same old mis-understandings/mis-communication trope and employed a significant amount of flashbacks that were unnecessary and irrelevant but if you've seen at least one other chinese drama then this will not be news to you and you'll know exactly when to fast forward (every flashback for example as I can guarantee it won't add much to your understanding of the plot or story at any given point in time).
Given the characters are supposed to be adults in their late 20's, holding high-level positions in their respective companies, you'd think there'd be less angst - something more common when your drama is set in a school, college or university. But no, one of the reasons I disliked this when I first watched it was because I thought that the female lead in particular cried far too much but on a second watch, that's not true. There is too much mis-understanding and plotting to frame the leads but given they've managed to get so many of those in to 48 episodes, I think they've done reasonably well in fact - and the female lead probably was entitled to cry when she did.
The above being said, I loved the casting and the characterisation as I thought they were all believable and played their characters well... It's just that the story they had to work with wasn't that good and I actually thought they all became a bit bored with it as well as the audience.
Given that I would score most chinese dramas as no more than a 5 (except for Le Coup de foudre is a 9 at least), this is a reasonably good watch.
My advice would be stick with it (although I'm sure you can guess what happens at the end); and fast forward anything that is in a hazy, sepia tone as they're flashbacks that are either irrelevant or get explained by a character at some point anyway so you don't miss anything.
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Very draggy plus too much misunderstandings
The reason I watched this drama is because I saw the ending somewhere in the internet and found it cute. But I should've read reviews before starting this long drama. This drama is a lot draggy with unnecessary misunderstandings between the leads.Story: The leads loved each other but then they get separated due to some reason. Then the FL starts to work at the ML company but they don't know about each other being in the same company. Then the same CEO plot follows with some cliches.
Firstly, the reason why they separated at the beginning wasn't too convincing. Plus both the leads run to London as soon as they start to misunderstand each other and this feels very irritating to watch. I literally watched 48 episodes just to feel very disappointed because of the leads. They get together in the middle, but then they again misunderstand each other and get separated. And the second FL also contributes to their misunderstanding. They could've ended it in short episodes but to watch the whole drama is a plain torture. I would never recommend this drama to anyone.
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So...when I came to this page, I thought, that there will be a lot of great reviews on this drama but the opposite is true :D :D Anyway I just wanted to say that I liked that drama and their acting was great, I cried in a lot of scenes but it's true that sometimes the storyline was just too much...I felt like they paid too much attention on some things and for example the car accident that happened to Nanxian's mother was like nothing happened...
Also I was disappointed from the Zhu Lin Lu's storyline, he deserved much more love and everything...but that's just my opinion :D
He was totally my favourite character from this drama ❤️
And also I didn't like that the main roles didn't stay together for a long time...someone always was misunderstood and in that case there were lots of breaking ups and getting back together...it tired me a little after some time
But I liked the drama in total, the actors, and I'm glad that everything ended well and that's the most important thing :D
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Read the other reviews. They’re much more eloquent than mine will ever be. I am currently on episode 33, my boyfriend and I decided two episodes ago to skip to the last one as we’ve had enough of the absolute ridiculousness of the story line - we reverted back and regret it. Took a break after episode 32, we can barely get through an episode without having an episode ourselves. Had to write this review to keep others from wasting hours of their life hoping for a cute Chinese romance - this is not it. Nuan is weak. The other characters are desperately psychotic- stalking, hopelessly and miserably in love with others who outwardly hate them in return. It’s sickening they all love abuse they inflict it upon themselves.
Oh and Nuan just happens to forget everything that has happened In her life, she shakes like she’s been in frigid arctic conditions. She can’t sleep (none of them sleep, ever) she can’t function properly as a grown women in society. Honestly I’m shocked that they’d write a character like this and expect us to believe she’s actually survived this long in life. She’s incapable of talking. He’s the most aggressively Psychologically abusive character I have ever witnessed. It is not cute. It is not love. It is abuse.
I just hate this show so much.
Unbelievable. They literally sleep together and then he disappears from her for life without a word and has the audacity to be mad at her!
姐姐sister is the only real one on the show. Wish she would just slap Nuan back to reality. She had a suicide attempt as a child - insinuated that is was because of her unrequited love for nanxian - reality is she probably knew she would be solely responsible to fully care for her inept entitled spoiled little sister for the rest of her life.
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Here to hurt ...
The ML is very toxic, nauseatingly so.He's abusive in many ways and not just toward the FL.
There was some manhandling of a turtle that really made me feel uncomfortable (turtles have feelings too!).
His condescending tone and mocking of the FL went on far too long.
Speaking of too long ... that is what this was; several scenes with that one Pan guy and the creepy actress wanna be side chick could've been left out all together.
I skipped a good portion of this show just b/c of them.
Then what was up with that other secretary or whoever that airhead was?
How did she land that job with such a childish work approach?
The side romance with her and the one guy was okay, but felt off most of the time.
*sigh* Another one down.
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Super slow phased story
Super slow phased series. Watched the first six episodes. Skipped to the tenth episode. Watched a few episodes then skipped again. I'm afraid this pattern is a bad sign, I found no interest in it.Usually, using backstory to build a more engaging characters is a good idea. It also gives the viewers the opportunity to know and empathize with the characters of the story. Making the characters more real and relatable to the viewers. Sadly, the use of a backstory here was just an excuse to prolong the story.
Nothing made much sense in the story. FL left ML due to unfortunate circumstances. After seven years, she finally decided to come home. Decided that she wants to work at her Ex company. The push and pull between ML and FL got so tiring because it lasted more than half the whole show . It turns unrealistic on the latter part of the story. On how forgiveness and acceptance was given all over the place even when it's really unrealistic.
It was really difficult to love the story , with all the bitterness it showcases all though out the series..
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Unforgettable love at it best
I really love this drama. The scenery, the background, the music, the lead actor, the supporting actor etc. My favorite Chinese drama so far. Before I decided to watch this, I already read many reviews about this drama. Whatever, I still want to watch it. Surprisingly it's really good. Even though there are many episodes, I don't consider it's draggy. Every moment of this drama is really meaningful and enjoyable to me. And yes, this drama is really tear jerker. I don't know how many times I shed tears seeing Wen Nuan cry. She really nailed her character. This drama is portrayed well by all actor. I really love every character here. They did really well. Thumbs up.Was this review helpful to you?
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This is a good drama that missed the chance to be a great romantic story. Although it has too many episodes, the supporting cast stories are nice. The main lead couple has good chemistry but plot was full of depressive attitude from the female lead, even if her character was written like that, their dramatic life became and her indulgence and self sacrifice for everyone else was overly extended and it got tiring toward the end. Forgiveness for his mother and embracing her selfishness was ridiculous. Even then, the cast did a great job delivering their characters. It is really not a bad drama to watch while waiting for a better one. Was this review helpful to you?
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My Two Cent
Ugh, how to put it mildly, disappointed? i watched this because of Hans Zhang, bias?, No..let me make things clearer. I love the actors, their acting is wonderful, you can really feel emotions from them, pity, hate, love but c'mon, Nuan's character, spent 7 years in working UK and still wasn't tough enough, if you're an Asian working in a different Country, you are tougher than what her character portray, and to work in the same company for HIM, even if it is not on the same floor before, you would already have a plan that was why i was intrigue for the first few episodes. And its true, the series dragged for a longer episode, it didn't have too. I was intrigue by it the from epi 1-9 but i kept skipping some parts that for me was totally irrelevant and went down hill from there. It just like watching a Roller Coaster ride that doesn't make sense, Anyway wouldn't recommend watching, i just tolerated it.Was this review helpful to you?
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Too Draggy - Not Worth Watching
As a preface, I am doing Covid-19 stay at home binge-watching. This is the 4th in my series of catching up on non-period or costume Chinese dramas that have been recommended in the list of the best Chinese dramas. This drama was on the list but the MDL previous reviewers all gave low ratings. It is always my practice to follow the comments and views of others before watching any drama -- this is my first exception and I was punished -- feel like I have buyers remorse. I was punished to the point that I am writing this review to remind others that the opinions of others REALLY MATTERS. I can only repeat what was said in almost every previous review. I am just saying it in the year 2020.My praise is short - actors did their best with the material.
My criticisms --- Just a shortlist of the obvious:
1. too draggy (story too long)
2. too many repetitive storylines
3. too many flashbacks as fillers
4. story is too illogical
5 story lacks true romance just cruel romances and a "sick" writer
6. story is also poorly edited and tries to use music to bridge the poor editing
Overall I can only give this a 7.00 which is very low for me. A true waste of talent. Still trying to guess why this drama is listed as a TOP 15 Chinese Drama (along with NIF, and very noteworthy historical dramas) for a viewer.
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Its a hate/love thing
This show is so great but frustrating at the same time and not in the good way that Ashes of Love is.Overall I really do like the love story, I love the mystery they add in about their previous relationship and their fathers. I think the story is bittersweet but beautiful as it's clear these guys are meant for each other and only love one another. So in terms of that I think the show is good. It also has great side/supporting dramas and actors/actresses who I love and make the show even better.
That being said, I am about to rant for a second. There is SO MUCH misunderstanding and going back to square one between the two main actors that it honestly gets annoying to a point where a lot of people stop watching. The only thing that makes it bearable is with each misunderstanding they reveal a little more about the past and the events that have led up to this. ALSO, the other main female who is convinced she is going to marry the guy and the guy just continuously allows her to act like they are together annoys the crap out of me, it is SO unrealistic. If a guy let a women act like that with him for a long time in front of me I wouldn't want to be with him, no matter what our past history is. AND THE WEDDING BULLSHIT. Like, he seriously was hoping and expecting her to crash a wedding?! That's not romantic that's incredibly immature. I do think its important that she finally chased him but I do not agree with the writers thinking that's a good story twist. The male's mother is also insanely annoying but that's nothing new in dramas of any culture.
But overall it was a good story. It had its faults as I mentioned but overall there are a lot of cute moments and it really shows how women can be strong and influential in the business field. I do think its worth watching and giving a try.
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