You Are My Hero

A Very Slow Start

You Are My Hero leaves me the impression that it is not the typical romance drama that is full of fluff and sweetness à la Love Is Sweet and My Little Happiness. Instead, it is like a slice-of-life kind of storytelling with a great theme song thrown in at the right moments. The drama depicts the lives of our protagonists which revolve mainly around their work followed by their romance. Both of these aspects are intertwined as their work gets in the way of their romance but also helps it along as the nature of their jobs allows them to understand one another and become supportive of each other.

A Boring First Half
Personally, I find the first half of the drama to be incredibly slow. I was tempted to drop it around Episode 7 to 10 but soldiered on with a heavy dose of fast-forwarding. It is boring because many of the scenes are about the main characters’ daily work as a special police officer and surgeon. It alternates between the two characters’ work life with some romance thrown in between.

Hence, it is not entirely a police drama with lots of action or a medical drama with more interesting patient cases. You get bits and pieces of both worlds and I think this is where it falters as it becomes neither here nor there. While you do get surgery scenes in You Are My Hero, these do not have the same standard as a medical-themed drama which is much more focused such as TVB’s Big White Duel.

I guess one might argue that this is a romance drama in essence which is true as well. In a way, they need to set the foundation on the importance and selfless nature of the couple’s different professions to build up the romance. So, if you like this kind of little chunks of the daily life of the characters, then You Are My Hero would be a great drama to watch from start to finish. Otherwise, the drama only starts to get more interesting after the halfway mark as the characters grow on you.

A Different Feel To The Romance
It is hard to describe the romance between Ke Lei and Mi Ka. Perhaps it is apt to say that they have a very unique relationship dynamics between them. There is a lot of shyness in the beginning although they are both around mid to late 20’s in age. It is not like Love Scenery whereby the man is bold and there is not much awkwardness when it comes to physical intimacy. Ke Lei and Mi Ka’s interactions are respectful and innocent-like in contrast.

If you like to watch a step-by-step progress of a relationship from meeting to a wedding proposal, You Are My Hero would fit the bill. It details out the wooing stage and the experience of holding hands for the first time as well as the first kiss. The shyness and blushes give the romance between them a dose of innocence. After the couple get together, their interactions are cute and they like to joke with one another which is very different from the usual bickering like in Hello Mr. Gu or an overdose of fluff like in Perfect And Casual.

Basically, you don’t watch You Are My Hero for an intense romance. Ke Lei and Mi Ka’s relationship isn’t over-dramatic and it doesn’t give viewers fairy tale vibes all round. Instead, the romance feels more grounded and solid which is very different from pure fluff just to pump up the sweetness level.

Good Casting
I think whoever did the casting deserves a round of applause. Both Sandra Ma and Bai Jing Ting fit their characters really well. Sandra Ma gives Mi Ka a soft-spoken demeanor but steely determination as a surgeon. She shows toughness when she needs to be while changing into all smiles and cuteness when she is with the man she loves. The change in expressions is very natural when you watch her on-screen.

Bai Jing Ting also gives Ke Lei a very charming but shy persona despite being a tough man at work. It is satisfying to watch the contrast with the good acting skills displayed. When the leads are put together, they have their own kind of chemistry to project an easy-going and loving couple. Their facial expressions and body language show that they are very comfortable with each other as a pair of lovers.

My Verdict – Superb For Some But Not Others
I can understand why You Are My Hero is a superb drama for some viewers. This is a very positive romance drama with no silly misunderstandings and breakups which is similar to Sunshine Of My Life and Forever Love. The female character is strong and independent. There is communication between the lovers and they are supportive of each other when times are tough. The romance progresses at a realistic pace and the screenwriters build a strong foundation for the love to grow.

On the flip side, some may find it boring and draggy like I did. You really need to be patient for the romance to progress and grow on you if you are not really interested to watch the characters at work in the beginning. Furthermore, this is not a drama whereby you can expect lots of passion and kisses. It is a relatively clean drama and I guess they need to keep it that way to pass the censorship board given that the main character is a police officer. Personally, I think it is better that way because it gives the relationship a different feel from the usual romance dramas. But if you prefer hotter and more passionate scenes like in Love Designer, you won’t find that same feel in You Are My Hero.

Overall, I would give this You Are My Hero review a score of 8/10. It is a watchable production for those who like simple storylines and clean plots with a slice-of-life feel to the protagonists’ story. Despite my own personal take that it has long boring stretches, it is only fair to also highlight the positives which lead the drama to a strong finish. Give it a try if you want a realistic and positive feel to your love story but drop it if you are looking for an intense romance drama.

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