Unrequited Love (2021)

Heavy unrequited story

This story depicts multiple females having unrequited love for men starting from high school carrying into adulthood. One sided love occurs for many of us at some point in our lives but this show depicts the worst sides of unrequited love. My own personal preference is shows that have strong female leads and that was not the case here for the lead or supporting female actors. They played their roles well but the characters were ultra annoying in their clinginess and whining. The female lead spent years in an unrequited love and then lied repeatedly when she finally gets to spend time with that person then was a selfish snob when that person didn’t trust her and pulled away turning her back on him. It took most of the series to have positive results that were then short lived and an ending that seemed rushed in the last few minutes. I like the male lead I’m just starting my third show with him in it. This show could’ve had a better storyline and ended in 20 ep vs 38. Musical scores were good. If you like unrequited love this may be a good show for you. So-so for me the first time and not on my watch list.

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good watch to reflect the youth

First off, this is all based on my opinion and taste, the story is good and close to real life scenario. However, it's pacing is too slow for me. Cast is amazing esp the FL, i guess she is the best choice for this character. Hu Yitian is improving but lacks facial expression on some scene esp if character is in pain/agonizing. It also deals the reality of every Asian family, the pressure on each member to thrive for excellency with no room for mistakes. The story makes me sad, esp the last part of last episode. Overall, this is a nice drama to watch if u want to look back on your youth.

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nice cast and production but slow paced

I watch this purely bcoz it's interesting, coz I never read the book, and neither have I watched the 2019 one.
It's true to the title, unrequited love. All the mains (except ML)all have unrequited love. Everyone pursues the one they love, but the opponent didn't like them back. The good side is that the FL is a strong, mature and determined person, and how she covers her unrequited love by studying is something that everyone who has unrequited love should try XD. Hu YiTian acts good too, here. he pays the typical "male god" ml, perfect and flawless. But the thing I like from the ML is that although he's talkative, he is more talkative and warm, not the cold type. The bromance and sismance in the ML and FL's room feels so warm and real. Mingrui shines in this series. He is a very likeable and friendly character who has good relationship with everyone. He supports ML's love, and he accompanies FL in her devastated moments. I would like to have a friend like that. Baili is a good, sweet friend, but a terrible lover. She chooses the person who has other girl in is heart. It's weird that he still likes him even after she has been treated like trash. Pacing is very slow, so I don't binge it, I watch it along with other dramas instead. It's much more enjoyable than the early 7 eps which I binged.
But the story dragged, with some unnecessary/toxic relationship, and many misunderstandings occur, and the story went downhill starting from eps. 35/36 onwards. The ending's rushed very badly, and the ending is a very unsatisfactory and open ending, so if you care about a drama's ending very much, this is not for u.
As others said, the romance here is very pure and not cliche. But the romance is just a small part of this. There are only like 5 romantic episodes while the others are only unrequited love. true to the title, ugh.

Nice usage of ost. The ost's slow and calm, like the love between FL and ML which develops slowly.

Overall 7.5/10. I enjoyed the friendship, mingrui, and the acting.

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Why I love this drama and at the same time am reluctant to recommend it.

If you’re looking for a light and sweet romantic drama this is not really it. Yes there’s romance however there is a lack of the main couples being together. Since the majority of the drama is really telling the story of how these different people all hurt each other as they fall in love and grow up. I am used to light and cute dramas like “Put Your Head on My Shoulder” or “Love O2O,” or “a Love So Beautiful,” I really wasn’t expecting this drama to be so real and make me feel so many feelings, and that’s why I loved it. Because even though ultimately it is a happy ending drama the stories it told we’re extremely relatable and I am sure many people will resonate and see their stories represented here. However it is this realness that also makes me reluctant to ever rewatch and to recommend to others. Chinese dramas, at least for me have become an escape from real life and it’s many trials. And this drama was actually more emotionally taxing than what it actually helped to distract me.

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To lengthy and not as good as the other one.

I have watched the Netflix version of this drama three times now and love it so much better than this one! I liked that this one dived into each of the characters stories a bit deeper. But I hated how long it was and the end was not all that satisfying. I really wanted to stop watching it at episode 30 because it was getting me mad. Lol

Storyline - has its pros and cons. Biggest con is that it was just way to long and the ending sucked. If you are going to go that long take the time to give a satisfying ending!? I like that it gave you more in-depth story into each of the characters. It explained more about each of them and their struggles in life and love. Other than that I was not pleased with this version as much.

Acting/Cast - I have nothing against the FL but I really liked the FL in the other version of this drama. I just am not a fan of this FL. The ML I really like. I mainly watched it because of him. I really liked him in “Go Go Squid”. I plan to watch the second one soon!? He did a really good job and has grown in his acting. Glad to see him in more dramas. The rest of the cast did good also. They told their stories really well.

Music - loved! Would like to own it.

Rewatch - nah, maybe. If I did I would skip a lot of parts but in all honesty I would not watch this version I would only watch the Netflix version. It has a satisfying ending and I really like the story and ending a lot better.

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A big time waste

This drama graph goes like this boring then complicated afterwards little interasting and again a cliché.
Too much extend the story . With patience I watched the drama with a lots of expectations about the ending part . But the way the drama end just a few words released from my mouth and that was What a time waste . Literally
Drama started with a stroy of a girl who since childhood liked a boy who promised her that when they grown up he would marry her and with this thought she always around him but never let him know . He didn't forgot that little girl but with the time passess he moved forward in his life . He had a date but she still around him without letting him know . As time passes he started acknowledge her but as a friend because he was not sure about his true feelings and also because of his past love relationship then he started fall for her but due to some misunderstanding he said some hurtful words to her that she disappointed from him and when he realised his mistake but it was too late for him. He started pursuing her . When everything was going well they again drifted and in the very last part of the drama they met and he said to her after a long time and she gave a smile to him and the drama gets over . Yes that's it ,I mean what was this . I didn't watch the whole drama to see such an ending . So a big no for my side.

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Its okay, but not really good

This story starts out with this sweet romance that parted ways and then nothing more happen. A part of me thinks that the author was trying to tell us that the truly romantic stories should end before they become to complicated.

This is a story of confusing, miss understandings, allot of stallking, and by that i mean allot its as if the hole plot revolves about people stalking other people in the name of love... Making up this perfect romance in their head but not really willing to face the reality of love including humans and not the idols in ones head.

Things I Loved about this drama was the female leads dialog (at times) she was very smart end full of integrity yet lack self a steam and though she may have projected confidence she truly was a person full of fears and with extreme defense mechanisms. All good things rarely shown in c-dramas. Unfortunately she also made som annoying choices and made me want to shake some sans in to her at times. She was not very likable ether if I´m going to be completely honest and the dialog did not last long enough to bring up the score of this drama.

The male lead seemed to be oblivious and disappeared more often then Houdini, but did have his sweet moments with fluff and romantic gestures that will make you cringe. There where some sweet moments but to be honest his best friend was allot more likable, handsome and sweet.

The other side characters ranged from mid annoying to full blown I have to skip there scenes because this is just to painful to watch. the only forced kiss in this whole drama was made by a girl. But then again I would not say any of the relationships in this drama where particularly healthy even if people did not force theme selves on others. This Drama also portrayed how pathetic people who will give upp everything including themselves for love look while showing how hard it can be to give upp old habits comparing unrequited love to addiction and chronic disease (yes this is a plus).

The story was pretty predictable at times but did offer a few twists and new takes on common trops but add upp to a meh. And is dragged out waaaaaaay to long.

So all in all I am done, I´m not watching it again but Í'm happy it exists, its just not really good...

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I would like to start with the story which is a typical teenage story about Love. So many misunderstandings have to be resolved for the couple to finally realize that they were really meant for each other. Family issues have been so strong, yet I wanted to see how the FL would have mediated to things accordingly, given that the ML's family has already suffered and that she really loved ML. The acting was commendable! the chemistry is there, that is why people who have watched it may have caught unexpectedly. Witty and pretty FL with a strong, talented & handsome ML. However, some 'unreal' resolutions may have resolved them 'only if' they faced the problems head on. This may not be the typical ending that we expected, I just hope a season 2 will inspire the viewers to follow the couple's journey.

OST was outstanding, I feel so relaxed to hear the songs played in this drama. Yet, I imagine how hard/heavy some episodes are. This simply means that the song water has truly connected with the story. Well done!

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The Struggle Is Real

I watched the original 2019 adaptation and really liked it, so I was looking forward to seeing this take on the story, especially seeing that Hu Yitian was in this take as well.
Overall I really did enjoy the series. I thought the acting was great and that type of story is one I always am drawn to.
If you are a fan of the long burn, this is without a doubt the show for you. You wait *so long* to see our leads finally get together, through the ups, downs, little moments that make you smile, moments that make you want to throw things , and all of their many *many* miscommunications throughout this series.
The moment in episode 32 with the kiss in the middle of the library with the goodbye was so much more frustrating than the 2019 adaptation, I had to yell into a pillow.
It's once the wait is over is when it goes downhill, in my opinion.
When they *finally* got together through it all in episode 35, which was a beautiful moment, we got maybe an episode/episode and a half of happiness before something throws a wrench into that. I seriously yelled when I saw the fast forward to years later.
Which brings me to the end.
Now I understand the ending was a callout to the conversation our leads had at the beginning of the series, about how an open ended ending is more romantic because it shows the hope for more, but after the end, I was hoping for more episodes or season 2 in the works.
So much in the series, and not just the love between our leads, was also left with an open ending. The only "ending" we got really was with our secondary couple, but really not. The ending leaves us wanting to explore more about their adult selves, about the company post-funding and how possibly our FL's firm can help with them, they can explore the professional/personal balance as our leads re-learn each other after so many years without any contact.
After the journey we all went on, after all the trials and tribulations we experienced with them, after having their chance at love be cut short, all we get is a "Long time, no see" and a look at each other, and that's it, nothing else? Nothing after 38?
At least with the 2019 adaptation we had an ending, a button at the end of it, a feeling we completed the journey.
This adaptation, as much as I liked it, left me with C-Drama blue balls, and had to watch the 2019 adaptation to get me to an ending.
The show was great, the ending, not so much.

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What a hot mess!

It sucked.

The central love story:
The ML is an idiot and has zero reasoning skills. He decides to believe his gf time and again and just ghosts the FL and then pop's back up in her life without any explanations.
The FL gives in too easily and deserved a lot better. Her character proved how blind love can be, she kept loving despite the push and pull and didn't even stop to think that this was far too toxic for her.
They ending was confusing, claiming that they ended up together. Why? She deserved better and ML was honestly too in love with himself to ever trust anyone and went out of his way to prove that he didn't need her in his life.

When they packed up their bags and departed to home, I knew something messed up was coming.

Other characters:
My heart went out to Jiang Bai Li, FL's best friend. She just couldn't give up on a guy who was so toxic that he hit on FL the first time they met and Bai Li was right there. She deserved so much better.
Zhang Ming Rui, friend to both ML & FL was the only sane person in this entire show. I wished he would have ended up with Bail Li.

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i’m just talking

i think i have to preface this with the fact that i was and still am very much attached to the original from two years ago & when i found out about this at first i felt .. extremely indifferent towards it especially bc of the extended length of the drama but nevertheless i still ended up watching it .... and finishing it today! & i have some thoughts!
starting with the negative and ending it with the positive
one change they made that i strongly disliked is that they turned the girl who in the original was mostly just in the background and kept her crush on huainan a secret into a literal menace .. in the 2019 drama her story even though seemingly insignificant added a nice layer towards the end which i really appreciated but in the remake .. to be frank i wanted to strangle her and i’m honestly glad they completely discarded her at some point bc again ... menace to society but also with that said in general i think they did a lot of the female side characters extremely dirty ... aside from the fact that yes some people are just .. bad people and have no desire to redeem themselves some of it just wasn’t necessary at all especially when it comes to riqing i wish they hadn’t made her embarrass herself over and over again during the first half bc it would’ve been sm easier for me to like her which i really wanted to and actually do now that i’ve finished the drama but thinking back on how she used to be .. it’s just sad that she also had to be the one to make a complete fool of herself bc of huainan .. and speaking of huainan it will forever be a mystery to me how he managed to wrap all of these people around his finger like .. he’s kind of smart well read and good looking ..... ok ..... and .....??????? makes no sense but thats the universe the drama is set in and also kind of the world we live in i guess *shudders* .. one more thing: the treatment of mingrui by huainan especially towards the end really got on my nerves .. again i don’t get why he would do so much for someone who hasn’t rly given him anything in return you’d think mingrui is also in love with huainan (pls watch waiting for you in the future) but i digress ... on that note: MINGRUI
mingrui is ... and i rly don’t believe this can be argued .. The best character and one of if not my favorite part of the drama bc as much as i love luozhi and baili .. mingrui rly has my heart and i wish he had gotten a better more fulfilling ending to his story and growth like the other three (luozhi, baili & huainan) did actually this entire review could’ve just been one sentence “mingrui deserved better” but where’s the fun in that! anyway i think he’s perfect and i love love Love that they didn’t make him fall for luozhi like he did in the original .. i was so sure they would go the same route but they didn’t and for that i’m so grateful bc i genuinely appreciate his and luozhi’s friendship so so much and i really didn’t want it to end .. also speaking of friendships luozhi’s friendship with baili and with mingrui are probably my favorite parts about the drama next to just mingrui’s existence i really really love how through everything luozhi and baili kept supporting each other and never stopped caring for each other i love those two together so much and i’m so glad that they used the added time to explore their relationship and show instances of them being close and being there for each other which is also why in the end i really can’t say my concerns about the additional episodes were confirmed ... i enjoyed most of it ..... like the predatory old guy turning out to be mohan’s uncle who she used to get revenge on baili ????!!!!! talk about a plot twist (i’m so glad they didn’t end up together thank you jesus) and just in general like i already mentioned i really appreciated them exploring luozhi’s relationships with baili and mingrui and not just huainan!
so lastly i have to speak on my girl .. the one and only !! luozhi ... tbh i see a lot of people who give her shit for the way she handles things throughout the drama and i just .. don’t agree i think her character is so refreshing and intriguing she’s smart witty caring NOT a pushover knows what she wants aware of the world around her ... frankly i have no reason to dislike her and neither should you. case closed.
as for my final conclusion .. despite its faults and errors i think it was a good drama and remake and i’m glad i watched it bc it introduced me to similar yet different versions of my favorite characters so if you’re someone who’s seen the original and isn’t sure about watching the 2021 version i’d say definitely give it a chance bc i think you might appreciate the new and different aspects to it and if you’re completely new to the luozhiverse hii and welcome the original is on netflix pls do check it out and once you’re done wait a few weeks maybe even months and give this one a try as well!

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