Best Time (2013)

"Best Time" is a drama with many good points that deserved my score of 9, but some downsides that refrained me to give it a perfect score 10.
The storyline I think, was wisely drew on a mixture of a workplace setting with a very complicated and melodramatic romance that keep you hooked in your seat despite of the 47 episodes length. At the contrary of other business related dramas this one never was boring neither disappointing but catches your interest and make you enjoy of the competition and challenges that comes up. In reference to the romance has something really good and that is the unexpected outcomes. It seems for a moment that the plot is so evident and is leading you to believe that the female lead would tilted to love a one person in particular but later you realise that maybe you were wrong. So you keep waiting for what would happen next. I must say that this drama is based on the novel "The most beautiful time" by Tong Hua.
The acting was generally good. Although, I didn't like much the character of Su Man's best friend. I was so please to see Chang Janine here (who has a main role in the new Chinese drama "You light up my star", starring with Cheng Joe). I think she is very good at melodramatic roles. Plus she has a good chemistry with Chung Wallace in this drama.
I liked the music, about all the opening song that repeats throughout the drama.
I gave a reasonable rewatch value because there are some episodes really touching that you wouldn't mind to watch again although maybe 47 episodes would be more difficult to digest twice.
I don't like to disclose the ending but I think there is something that has to be said as it is important to understand for what the sequel " Best Time Special" stand for. At the same time, is a fact already known by fans who have read articles about this drama, so it cannot be considered as a spoiler itself, neither rest any attractiveness to watch the drama...
...This drama has an open ending, this means that there are some loose ends. I believe the intention was to leave the viewers to get their own conclusions about how the romance should ends. So when you finish to watch the last episode you are given the chance to conclude the story there or if you feel disappointed or are really willing to see what happens next, then you might opt to watch the sequel, a 2 episodes specials in which you get a recollection of the whole story with two different endings.

This extension with alternative endings I think was a fans service for those who were hooked with the emotions and heartbreaking fates of the characters and unhappy with not knowing what happened to them. However, I particularly found this ambiguous conclusion and added endings quite a negative downside. My reasons are that the drama does not give you all what you want when they already spent 47 episodes for that; in addition, the special doesn't get under your skin as it did the whole story, maybe because it felt to forced or just as a thriller that in its more tense scene takes a break for some adds and then ruins the suspense. I would rather preferred they finished the story in one or other way at once without need to make the specials,

Anyway, I enjoyed much of this drama and I definitely recommend to watch it if you like romantic stories. The good think is that you can choose what ending you prefer and even see what would could happened otherwise.

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Sigh, I should have listened to everyone before I began this one. I was warned so many times about the disappointing ending, and in the end I was disappointed. I started this one and continued to the end majorly because of Wallace Chung – what an amazing actor he is. But not even his fine acting could make up for the convoluted and messy storyline.

STORY
The Drama started off well, with Su Man (Janine Chang) and Lu Li Cheng (Wallace Chung ) encountering each other multiple times in the first few episodes. They had great chemistry full of small bickering and smart dialogue exchanges. Their interaction was fun to watch and made me laugh at their unwilling chance encounters. I liked the idea of having the Drama set in a workplace setting, given we could contrast their at work and out of work interactions with each other. The first 20ish episodes did really well in setting a light-hearted joking tone, and seeing Lu Li Cheng slowly fall for Su Man. The big climax/ultimate betrayal was shot well (very heart breaking), and I loved the fact that Lu Li Cheng was there for her throughout the whole thing.
However, episodes 30 and onward went downhill, I’m even convinced they found a different director. I don’t know what happened, but all light-heartedness went out the window and the Drama did a 360 turn. It turned into a mess – there were random side plots developing, unnecessary and often pointless scenes, and the second female lead got her own whole backstory. We stopped seeing them in the workplace setting (which was what defined the whole Drama initially). We stopped seeing great Su Man and Lu Li Cheng interactions. And then the ending came, and I was like what…? And no, I wasn’t satisfied with the two alternative endings, but some proper closure was nice (I watched the Lu Li Cheng one of course). Be prepared to choose an alternate ending depending on which guy you’re rooting for.

ACTING/CAST
Wallace Chung was amazing as per usual, I just love his micro expressions and being able to read a hundred different emotions on his face. I was rooting for him the whole time, he truly cared about Su Man and was there for her when it mattered.
Janine Chang did a really great job portraying her character (although her wardrobe choice could have been better). She could turn on her fierce and strong persona for Lu Li Cheng and was all cutsy and loving toward Song Yi. Her actions and character development at times were questionable, but I’ll let that go.
Jia Nailiang’s acting needs work and that’s all I’ll say about him. I thought his character was a mess and was not properly thought out – what were his motives, intentions, what did he want? Very unclear.

MUSIC
They had a few good songs that fit some of the emotional scenes, but nothing too memorable.

REWATCH VALUE
I would be alright watching the first few scenes where we see lots of Su Man and Lu Li Cheng interaction, but the whole Drama again? That’s a no from me.

Honestly, I just felt this had so much potential. They could have spent the rest of the drama developing the relationships in a more meaningful way rather than have all that nonsense. Unfortunately, wasted potential is all I’m left with. Keen to hear your thoughts! xx

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