This review may contain spoilers
An unconventional sweet drama
What started out as a misunderstanding turns out to be a love going both ways. However, can they overcome obstacles along the way to get their happily ever after?Certainly this kind of idol urban drama where love is the center is nothing new but the most striking thing is the definition of love in this drama is not limited to romance. There is family/responsibilities/filial piety, friendship, and comradery. In addition, the drama highlight upon each career aspects of all characters.
Male lead is definitely not your typical domineering CEO. Rather he has flaws, but is willing to listen and understand others. This character doesn't have much lines compare to FL and second leads but the actor's acting is immersive that grounded it for me. Timmy Xu did an excellent job in presenting a 3-dimensional character that I can relate, sympathize and like. One thing I have to say is that there is finally a drama where the domineering CEO actually is seen working hard and not falling in love all day long. Also, this male lead, Xiao Shangqi, does not have the golden finger to solving or having an answer to everything. Xiao Shangqi is certainly in the dark in almost every situations where he either has to slowly figure out the puzzles himself or with FL. Our male lead is a most understanding, patience, devoted, faithful character to FL I have not seen in a while. You'll wish there is such character is real life. Sadly, there's no such tall, rich, handsome, loving man in real life that would chase their partner like Xiao Shangqi. If there is he does not have to give chase, I would be the one chasing. LOL
All the actors/actresses did a good job. Each carries their character well. Although there are noticeable traces of weaknesses in some. As a viewer, I think there are some inconsistency in FL behavior/characteristics. The actress could have done better maybe in acting out a more loveable/relatable or softer character. There are also instances where she is "acting" instead of "being the character". However, this is just my opinion.
I wouldn't exactly say I love it but I do like it. It was an enjoyable watch. I would re-watch it again. Well, I have re-watched some episodes. ^_^ The story is logical. The storytelling itself is not excellent but very comfortable. Some situations are very relatable and grounded and there's no over the top or suspense of disbelief. And best of all, we have a satisfactory ending wrap, which is sometimes rushed in many other dramas.
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Friends and relationships - the good, bad and everything in between
To me, this drama is primarily about the complicated nature of friendship and how old patterns are hard to break even years later. I liked the second chance at love, although the lack of clear background story made the first 10 episodes rather confusing.The highlight for me was the parallel between the trio of friends - past and present. The FL took on a job in a remote place, very different from her high school dreams, but also found 2 co-workers with whom she formed a beautiful bond of mutual support. They were very close friends, always there for each other, without overstepping the boundaries necessary for personal growth.
Enter ML, with whom she had had a long friendship marked by unrequited love and then separation. They were also part of a friendship trio in school, with the ML chasing and protecting his crush (who was in an abusive home environment) and FL always being supportive. This created an unhealthy dynamic where the ML became the perpetual knight in shining armour, his crush a damsel in distress who had to manipulate others for survival and the FL stuck in the middle.
Unfortunately, the cycle continued as adults. The ML tried to distance himself from the former crush and her manipulations, yet old habits are hard to break. It led to many tensions in his relationship with the FL and in the end a series of uninspired choices and negative consequences that impacted his whole life.
I was glad to see the FL take a firm stand and disengage from the codependent cycle, making her needs and well being a priority, regardless of the ML's actions. There are subtle tones of emotional depth and maturity throughout the varied relationships portrayed by the drama - friendship, family, romance etc.
All in all, a quiet slice of life that made me ponder about relationships, with a solid happy ending for everyone.
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This review may contain spoilers
The art of spoiling a beautiful love story
Series that had potential (great actors, CL = Timmy Xu & Victoria Song) but the pace is a bit slow (especially from ep. 18-19 => the very end) and the story watered down / lengthened unnecessarily.PLOT: Reunion of 2 best-friends / almost lovers, who left 3 years earlier on a misunderstanding. FL= radio presenter, ML= heir CEO hotels. They finally become lovers (ep. 20?) but the father's death and economic evil rivalries lead to a break-up (=> 15 ep. of mainly investigation and a lot of ML make-up attempts).
Apart from these lengths, other defects:
- Victoria Song too old for the ML and the role,
- Lots of "dramaland" (surrealistic coincidences, like always meeting by chance in a very big city... or evil characters always hearing the important plot points through doors...) :)
- inconsistent FL character: super stubborn, not smart, supposedly used to do taekwondo but doesn't know how to defend herself, gets married but leaves overnight for Lebanon as a war journalist, etc.
- Unbearable 2nd FL from the 1st part
It could be a great drama, if the story had been better written BUT ... at least it allowed me to discover Timmy Xu (great potential).
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Série qui avait du potentiel (TB acteurs, CL = Timmy Xu & Victoria Song) mais le rythme est un peu lent (surtt à partir ép. 18-19 => dernier épisode) et la story délayée /rallongée sans nécessité.
PLOT : Retrouvailles de 2 best-friends / almost lovers, qui se sont quittés 3 ans + tôt sur un malentendu. FL= animatrice radio, ML= héritier CEO hôtels. Deviennent enfin lovers (ép. 20 ?) mais rivalités économiques & DC du père entrainent break-up (=> 15 ép. d'enquête et de tentatives de make-up du ML).
Hormis ces longueurs, autres défauts :
- Victoria Song trop âgée pour le ML et le rôle,
- Bcp de dramaland
- personnage FL pas cohérent : super entêtée, pas futée, taekwondo mais ne sait pas se défendre, se marie mais part du jour au lendemain au Liban comme journaliste de guerre, etc.
- SFL insupportable ds la 1e partie
Cela aurait pu donner un grand drama, si l'histoire avait été mieux écrite MAIS ... qui m'a juste permis de découvrir Timmy Xu (great potential).
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Not very good.
this drama really didn’t need to be 36 episodes.In short I skimmed through the last 12 episodes so this review won’t be the best. It’s just coming from someone who is hard to keep interested for long. Dramas have done it though. I watch many dramas and find gems that I am floored at how they keep me interested. This one didn’t…
At first I watched to keep up with the schedule but gradually lost track of it and then stopped watching all together. Now it’s just another drama that has been checked off the box for me. It went downhill after the first breakup.. the male lead character was frustrating me but I wasn’t paying attention anyways.it’s of cliches and situations that were just boring to me. Guy and girl are old friends and fall in love but oh wait- their other best friend loved him too? And they re meet? Yes. That is what I got from this. Not profound, not offensive. Just existing.
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This review may contain spoilers
He Xiaoran Reunited With Her First Love Who Also Was Her Best Friend.
Almost Lover 🤍▫️Main Point
~A three friends who were best friends during high school separated during graduation and were meeting again after 8 years.
▫️Opinions
~ The drama was started with a bit confusion and questioning for the friendship and relationship of ML, FL and SFL. You will understand what happened between them after watching the drama until 10 episodes.
~ I preferred the drama that showed the flow of the story where it started with the past to future. But for this drama, the production make the story starting in future first then recall back on what happening in the past. The production want the audiences to keep watching if you want to know what happens to them in the past.
~ The story was a smooth and clear since ML and FL started to meet again then FL fall in love for the second time to ML and ML also fall in love with her then they’re both couples. They were in nice and peaceful relationships until SML came back to the story.
~ I loved this drama since FL started to fall in love with ML first then they had a misunderstanding which made FL broken heart and move to another place to start a new life. Later ML came back from overseas and move to the place where FL was there and they’re meeting again.
~ SML has a black heart because she jealous and doesn’t want ML and FL got into relationships. She tried to do anything so that FL will argue with ML and confused about ML ‘ s feeling towards her. I am so pity with her character since she want to be the best and choose the man who rich and stable even she knew that she doesn’t happy. She also faked her life in order to live with that guy.
~ The story also relates to marketing and strategy of the business (hotel). ML was a general manager of Jifeng hotel and he try to build up the hotel’s reputation in order to be independent and get away from other guy’s company and share. He was a good general manager since he able to think and solve the problem immediately.
~ FL and ML were so adorable and sweet together. They’ll have a lot of conflicts and causes them to break up their relationship. I understand that the production was trying to make the drama interesting but why they need to break up later they will get back together again. I dissatisfied with this kind of drama. I was hoping to see the couple was strong and ignore all the things that might be a reason for them to break up.
~ As usual, if the drama has more than 30 episodes there will be more conflicts and dissatisfied scenes that we could see in this drama. I thought I was ready when I start to watch the first episode. But when I keeps watching, I was frightened to see if the scenes were too bad and boring. Hoping the production will make a good job for this drama.
▫️ Main Character
~ Victoria was a good actress and she able to play and build the chemistry with all actors for the most of her drama. She was pretty and has a good body. She able to play as He Xiaoran very well. I can feel her jealousy when she heard about ML with SML in past. She’s too cute and too serious in playing the character.
~ Tammy Xu was a handsome and young actor. I loved to see his smile. He able to make the chemistry with Victoria and play a good job.
▫️Conclusion
The drama was interesting and bought the good actors and actresses. I loved to see the chemistry between FL and ML and also the story was good and attractive to you to watch.
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Hidden gem
At first i was skeptical to watch this after reading the synopsis but after watching the first and second episodes the storyline offers so much more than what it's written in the synopsis.What i love about the drama:
- the hotel background : i always love hotel theme ever since kdrama hotelier from 2000an
- business struggling, bad guys, SFL cinderella syndromes
- ML and his brother, and reconciliation with his father
- ML with emotional bagage and painful past
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If It’s Meant To Be, Fate Will Bring You Back Together
A suspended fate caused by a misunderstanding and miscommunication. Both He Xiaoran's skepticism and Xiao Shangqi's yearning for warmth are understandable. In the end, their fate and love can put all other things aside. There is no toxic scheming SFL. Chen Fei Er's scheme is still tolerable for me when I know her past.The story starts nicely until the climax. I'm thankful to the production team for not taking main leads screen time for the second couple like many other dramas. XSQ's painful past brought HXR into his life. Despite his silver spoon, he doesn't act recklessly. He believes in HXR's ability so he sees no need to impose his power to boost her career. It's something rare to find in rich male lead characters. HXR knows about the misunderstanding and has learned to open her heart to XSQ. She doesn't have any ambiguous relationship with SML even when she is not with XSQ. They learn to amend their mistakes and both take step by step closer to each other.
Chen Fei Er's character development is the best and most noticeable. I'm glad she found her real happiness while being independent. Sui Ming Wei is one of the best SML. He knows when to be kind to FL and when to give some space. He doesn't be a pitiful SML. Li Hui's character is kind of new to me. Her problems aren't lesser than the main leads. Taiyang being a spoonful of cuteness is an icing on the cake.
Expecting more side characters after the story:
1. Xiao Xian was more included in the later part. It's a shame he was gone after the business problem was done as the story starts with XSQ's distant connection with his family. I want to watch more brotherhood between them.
2. Zhao Mingxuan's life in prison and his fate both in Deju and his family.
All the actors act their characters nicely. Xu Wei Zhou's act was worth his Breakthrough Actor of The Year award. Song Qian acts as a hurt strong woman conveyed perfectly. Their eyes and expressions catch my attention and make me absorbed in their story. My heart just melts when they smile and cry.
All OST are good, especially Song Qian's 不过是, 再见. But, I can't give a very high rate for music as the songs are good but it didn't linger on my head and they aren't boosting the scenes enough.
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