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Cute but unbalanced
This is probably one of the better written plots in a modern cdrama that I've seen — I truly felt like the story about HSY's was really cohesive as we met different side characters and figured out how each of their roles played into it. The part about chasing your dreams, about regrets, about life's priorities, and about memories and holding grudges — all of that was really powerful. I liked the second ship's plot too and how the main plot tied into them. Some different K&K characters had their little subplots as well (it wasn't very much but we got a really clear sense of their personalities).The main couple is SO cute when they're together; it's funny because it's usually the opposite for me (I care more about a couple before they get together and then they get boring) but in Go Go Squid, I absolutely loved seeing her bubbliness and how the ML gradually became softer as well. The K&K Team and their teasing added such a fun dynamic to their relationship as well.
But while the main ship was cute when they were together, it was kind of unfortunate how uncute they were when they weren't. From the start, I felt like the "love at first sight" part was really cringey and awkward, and the female lead was crazy and obsessive with how she followed around the ML and tried to bypass rules when he clearly showed that he wasn't interested.
After that, the "disapproving parent" trope was really annoying in this one because of how the ML ended up being super rude to the FL while she still continued to chase after him. In certain situations, I appreciate the unfiltered character who is not afraid to still love despite being hurt but I really think that at some point you should have some pride and self-respect. This part dragged on for a lot longer than I wished and the way it was "resolved" felt a little unsatisfying.
Individually, I also felt like the ML's backstory and characters were so fleshed out, the female lead kind of got the short end of the stick. Yes, we knew she was a smart computer science major and an internet singer, but none of her subplots were cohesive like the ML's; instead, they just seemed to appear or disappear randomly, unexplained, and her future felt like a throwaway sidenote as it was told to us offhandedly. I really wish her character got a little more depth.
The gaming part was okay to me but I honestly found it difficult to understand what was going on in competitions (compared to Falling Into Your Smile, where I felt all the anticipation and stress of every match) and for that reason, I didn't really feel the high stakes that the drama was trying to show.
Even aside from that, I thought the leads were SUPER adorable when they were together, and this was a pretty fun watch.
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I wrote this review while watching the show. I really liked the actors and their interaction but what bugged me the most was the clothes the lead wore. It was very distracting for me because it made it harder to believe the characters age. It may sound judgmental but as a society (U.S.) we do it all the time when an older women tries to look younger by wearing tighter and skimpy clothes. As of ep.25, I wasn't sure I would like this drama but I gave it a chance and am glad I did. I enjoy watching smart female leads and this one is that, except for the fact that she seems to blindly follow him around without much question. I realize that some of this is cultural based on what the Chinese government will allow to be shown. I kept shaking my head at the parents making dating decisions for their children but yet again I have to remember the cultural context. One thing that is really getting on my nerves is the frumpiness of the lead characters clothing. Is there a reason she is wearing oversized sweatshirt dress? Her friend is running around in shorts. Are the clothing that both leads are wearing happen to be the fashion "in" in China? The clothes are not flattering on either one of them. I am enjoying the CTF storyline and all the training that goes into it. I've laughed at the male lead and his cousins interaction at New Years eve dinner and I've cried at the anguish that the male lead is going through.
Update, ep 41, I don't want this drama to end, it feels like I've been left hanging and wanting more. I have so many unanswered questions. One thing I would like to acknowledge is that someone finally got a clue and stopped dressing the lead in overly frumpy clothes which didn't make her look younger. Light colors and frilly sleeves can helped create a younger look. Her blindly following him was also addressed. If you have been avoiding Chinese dramas, take a chance and start with this one. It has a good story line, the actors are great and have chemistry (as much physical contact that the government censors will allow).
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The romance is awesome, if a little cringeworthy. I loved all the cringy bits as that is what adds the ultimate fluff to this sweet romance story.
The screenwriter is the author of the novel, so I can safely say that what is not in the book, is in the drama and what is not in the drama, is in the book. One story on two mediums... equals more of this cute story for us to see and obsess over. In the novel, God Gun in a bigger and older con-artist. It's a good thing he wasn't that all over Squiddy in the drama, because that wouldn't go over so well onscreen (though I'd love to see those moments!) This speaks of the author's skill of writing and turning her novel into a screenplay fit for TV. Awesome job!
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“When E-Sports Took a Backseat to Pink Luggage”
I had been planning to watch Go Go Squid! for quite a while, primarily because of Yang Zi and Li Xian — I find both of them compelling actors. The e-sports angle finally pushed me to start, since that felt like a fresh hook compared to typical fluff. The show is based on the novel Stewed Squid with Honey.So I dove in, thinking: okay—maybe I’ll find something more than just “girl meets boy in modern city”. But… well, it turned out to be a mixed bag for me.
2. Synopsis 🧑💻⚔️
The story centers on Tong Nian (Yang Zi), a computer-science prodigy / online singer, who meets Han Shangyan (Li Xian), a former top e-sports CTF player now running his own club/team.
Tong Nian falls for him at first sight, pushes into his world of gaming/esports, and over time supports his ambitions while they navigate romantic misunderstandings and team dynamics.
There is the team “SOLO” backstory, there are flashbacks to ten years earlier, and there are various side characters (the club, teammates) doing their own arcs.
So from my lens, the “promise” of the drama was: e-sports + competent female lead + strong male lead. Great on paper. But reading stops at “promise”.
What I Liked ✅
First: Yang Zi & Li Xian are compelling together. Their chemistry has moments where it really works — the way Li Xian’s Han is cold but with hidden emotions, and Yang Zi’s Tong tries to support him. Even though I at times found some of her behaviour irritating (see Cons section), I can’t deny the charisma both bring.
The supporting cast and team arc: One of the things that actually worked for me was the club/teammates subplot. The idea of pursuing dreams, of being part of a team, wanting to represent something bigger — I liked that. I read that many viewers thought the secondary characters elevated the show.
Some meaningful moments in maturity: I did enjoy the flashback/back-to-then vs now aspect: how the characters’ thinking changed, how their life decisions evolved. This I felt clicked with me (I’m 20, so maybe more able to see that growth bit).
The set-up around e-sports feels fresh compared to many modern romances: Even though the execution faltered (again: see cons), the concept itself — genius programmer meets former top player in an esports club — is something I had hoped for and appreciated.
What I Didn’t Like / Criticisms 🙄
The female lead’s behaviour & characterisation: This is my biggest gripe. Tong Nian is educated, brilliant, talented — she has big brain creds. But so often her actions felt childish, naïve, over-the-top in a way that clashed with how smart she should be. For example, chasing the ML relentlessly, following him into restricted areas with no obstacles, etc. it made me cringe. “The FL’s mannerisms are off … I really cannot either…”
So yes: as a 20-year-old Asian girl who isn’t a stereotypical “sweet-girly, baby-acting” heroine — it was hard to reconcile.
The male lead's backstory & team’s purpose: OK, Han quit his team SOLO, built K&K, etc. But the reasoning felt stretched, sometimes illogical, and the esports scenes themselves were under-delivered. Although I came for the esports angle, too often we saw monitors with black boxes or over-dramatised “game scenes” without real immersion.
The romance vs. the story balance: Since I came for the esports element, I found the romance (and many romance-drama tropes) overwhelming. The first ~10 episodes are very “clingy-girl/aloof-guy”.
The pacing & the flashbacks: The show has 41 episodes. That’s long. Some scenes felt repetitive, flashbacks were abundant, walking-down-memory-lane. The length and the drag made the earlier episodes especially rough.
Suspension of disbelief & unrealistic moments: Yes — the “fan girl meets idol in restricted team restroom no barrier” situation, the “talented genius girl who in real life should behave X but behaves like Y”, the “team vehicle picks her up as ‘sister-in-law’” — these moments made me roll my eyes. Feels like the plot picks convenience over realism.
So in the end: Was it worth it? Yes and no.
If you love the leads (Yang Zi & Li Xian) and you are okay with a sugary romance with e-sports skin, then you will probably enjoy it.
But if you are like me, looking for a serious esports drama, or a modern romance where the female lead feels her intelligence and maturity in actions (not just credentials), then you’ll be frustrated at times.
For me: I enjoyed the supporting cast, I enjoyed when the story did lean into dreams/ambitions/team, but I was frequently annoyed by the romance clichés, the character inconsistencies, the unrealistic fan-idol logistics.
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I think this drama is totally wrong in some aspects. First, the Title.
I think the title of this drama is not suitable because the main character is the ML, not Squid (FL).
Second, the Summary
It's about the ML who's almost 30 years old, owner of gamer's club, always focused on chasing world tournament and always put a side romance, meet the FL who's a college girl, genius, fashionable, famous in cover singer and fallen for the ML.
Third, the Scene
Although the spirit, struggle and effort of the ML to bring his country as world championship is so great but too many Flash Back scene and the worse is.. those flashback are repeated in many episodes. Those should be unnecessary scene.
All the Casts are doing their great job. I like the KKK office interior and the costume of every actor & actress.
Yes this drama is entertaining, but after watched it twice.. I think it's just another Rom-E-Sport-Com.
I hope the Second Season are much better
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With all that said, I enjoyed watching this show. It was very cute. There wasn't much to it.
Li Xian is incredibly sexy. Yang Zi had awful hair and awful clothes. Hu Yi Tian is the second lead but has very little screen time (IMO, THANK GOD because he continues to have the same emotionless face). But who cares, Li Xian is really hot. Watch this drama for Li Xian. You can thank me later...
That's it.
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Very Cute!
Go Go Squid isn’t really an adoringly original storyline or concept with a lot of overrated cliches finding their place here and there. But I can’t deny that there was something kinda cute about the storyline.The actors had good chemistry. I liked our main leads and whilst I can’t deny that I wasn’t entirely a big fan of our main male lead in the beginning he did make me warm up to him as the events progressed.
The pacing of the series is a bit out of place if I’m honest. There are moments which felt really progressive and helped to keep the storyline alive but there were others which did drag a little admittedly.
Overall I thought this waa a cute drama. I’m not sure
whether I’d watch it again but I liked the romance and our main couple a lot.
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I am fan of historical costume dramas but have heard lot about this so thought to give it a try.and I found it quite interesting except a few point. First, let me tell you what I didn't like. Yangzi character and her acting, she is supposed to be brilliant in university but she behaves like a ten yr old, talks like that behaves like that. She can act cute and nice but I don't think she can do any complex role. yes, she can cry but NOT ANY COMPLEX EMOTIONAL role. She needs to change her stylist she dresses up all the time like 14 yr old at home. her roommate Ya ya had better dress, apple dog had better dresses than the main lead. He character is obsessed and stalker and instead of getting mad with her and report to police the male lead falls in love with her that was quite No NO. she has no passion in a romantic scene. there is no chemistry except jumping on him she cant portray anything else. when his BF whom she has been stalking and its she who has been asking him to go and get married but when he proposed she plays dumb, ( nineteen yr hmm)
Sorry I don't see any serious acting here
Long long flashbacks were quite boring they could have made just one flashback and finish off. Needed some editing here and there.
Now let's talk about good points there are many good things to enjoy this drama , cast is so perfect from main lead to the whole boy team all actors except that first manager of KK team all were suitable. You just fall in love with the boys and young KK team.
Li Xian is a v good actor he has portrayed his role v well from angry stubborn leader to caring boss and lover. His expression when Tong Nian's( Yang zi) mother tell him to stay away from his daughter, his interaction with all the boys of his team, the way when he cried in the tub with his friend Solo is the best scene. In fact, this drama is not a love story its about team, hard work and friendship. good to show to motivate people.
There are many cute moments and kissing scene here and there( with no passion mind you) oops M I too harsh.
I gave it 7.7 and 8 for the good story and acting of all the actors
and yes set sp KK office was nice, good interiors and colour.
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Story: This drama will not be winning any awards for great storytelling but it is filled with great characters that are very endearing. The romance is cute but I think my favorite part of this drama was seeing the friendships and interactions. Although some of the character motivations do not make any sense.
Cast: Li Xian is what made this drama. His expressions and reactions were golden. It was fun seeing his character change and develop. In the beginning, Yang Zi's character was kind of annoying to me but over time I grew to enjoy her bubbly character as well.
So overall, I recommend this one as a light fun watch. Nothing groundbreaking but there's a lot of fun to be had.
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A MUST WATCH.
I held off on watching for years bc Go Go Squid Season 2 was not good (let’s be honest, it was bad).I accidentally watched that first so I gave up on Season 1. I stumbled upon this again and decided to give it a try. Omg I’ve never been happier to be wrong. THIS WAS JUST AMAZING.
1. Li Xian as the ML is enough for me to justify why this drama is so good. He is dashingly handsome and the swag he gives to this character is the cherry on top. His chemistry with the FL is phenomenal.
2. FL is not the best looking actress but I have to say, she’s a great actress. Her character here is surprisingly not the typical annoying young girl in love. She’s smart, calm and very understanding. It made sense why ML fell for her even though he’s so picky.
3. The bromance is very sweet and touching.
4. It doesn’t focus on the competitions but on the interpersonal relationships which is why it’s so good.
5. No dumb love triangles. The leads do go through rough patches but it needed to happen for them to grow and strengthen their love.
6. No “evil” dumb characters. Just a lot of growth, development and wonderful story about this group of incredible people.
My suggestion- watch this., then watch the last episode of season 2 for their bonus happy ending!!
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BEST FOR ROMCOM GENRE LOVERS
if you are the type of person who loves romcom drama series, this is definitely for you, i personally find this one addictive, there are some episodes and scenes that i really rewatched for the nth time lol even after i only finished i kept coming back for those episodes that has cute and funny scenes just to replay iti highly reccommend this one to mostly teenagers, or even older people with a young heart, im sure you guys will enjoy go go squid ❤️ its fun and worth to spend your free time with
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