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Cute Soul Swap drama with really good acting
(This review doesn't contain specific spoilers on this drama, rather from chinese dramas in general)Two things to be aware before watching this:
1. This is mainly focused on high school, so don't expect a lot of romance or kissing scenes (China doesn't allow pre-college dating).
2. Time traveling and body exchange also aren't "allowed" so they always do it in a way so it didn't REALLY happened, sometimes being it a dream or s fiction.
If you're looking for a nice and cute high school drama, then I really recommend this. The acting is on point, the best one I've seen from any gender-bender drama. The ML acts like an actual shy girl, not just a "guy acting like a girl", and the FL is very charismatic as a boy - nothing is over the top. More importantly, they actually act like each other, it's very satisfying. Congrats to all the actors!
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Kido Ma is Brilliant
I only watched this for Kido Ma, I honestly think he possesses a quality which only 5% of actors/actresses have and that is natural charisma. I have watched many of his drama and super consistent and always steals the show!!....This drama omg if you are a fan of comedy and a fun storyline then please watch.... The entire cast really plays a strong part in the drama and the character development is truely amazing!!..
Its a story in which the male and female leads keep swapping souls, keeps the story fresh! But the reality is both sets of families have problems with plenty of difficulties.... When Female Lead swaps into the Male Lead body she brings his family closer with a warmer approach, when the Male Lead swaps into the Female Body he brings more firmness and strength into her family. Both Families benefit from this....
Going back to the support cast, they are honestly amazing, watching I was saying many of these Male and Female supports like Gao Xuan Ming & Katherine Zhao are going enough at the Main Lead level, shows the life Kido Ma brings to the dramas he is in!!...
The chemistry between Kido Ma and Zhou Yi Ran is excellent.... Look my opinion has always been this is a Male Supremacy Industry, Kido Ma is the star that needs a cute talented female Lead, that's exactly what Zhou Yi Ran is, played the part perfectly. I would love see ZYR pair up in other Dramas with some of my other favourite male leads....
Fully recommend this drama
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Highly recommend if you need a laugh!
Thoroughly enjoyed watching this drama! I laughed soooooo much it's crazy! Ive never watched a drama where there was so many laughing out loud moments by both ML's!!! This even deserves a rewatch too! Kido Ma our ML absolutely killed it as Qiao Nan! I don't care if he's reading the encyclopedia in his next role, I'm going to watch! He's so captivating and honestly the new standard of dual characters! Our FL Zhou Yi Ran also did a fantastic job when she changed into Qiao Nan, attitude and demeanor was on Point!!!Was this review helpful to you?
A cute and soft soulswap story
first of all, this is an ordinary soul swap drama. it's really fun to watch if you like this type of series, but if it is not your thing, it won't give you anything new. not to mention the translations are terrible. that being said let's talk about why I like this drama. like I said before I have a soft spot for soul swapping series and I enjoy them a lot. when I started this drama all I knew was that it was about soul swapping. but now I finish the whole thing and can talk what is the good and bad sides of it.when a drama is telling you a story with exchanging souls you expect to have comedy. I tell you this f-drama has the comedy you expect. and you most likely won't get disappointed by it. the male lead's acting is convincing especially the female leads acting. it makes you believe that she has a man inside her body. The male lead is not bad either. there are just little moments that I found when he has a girl soul inside him he acts a bit too much or should I say "too girly" in a way. I am not sure how to describe it but you might feel that Mu Xiang Xiang in her body and his body are a little different. on the other hand, you won't feel that for Qiao nan. you might also fall in love with some of the supporting characters. apart from male leads, they are so much fun to watch and it doesn't feel like acting it feels like they are playing themself.
in this drama, you will also see the character's personal challenges and how they are facing them. and its progress very well. you are ganna see these characters grow up and how their relationship affects everyone around them as much as themselves.
in this drama, there will be ups and downs, the moments that won't suprıze you but in the end, this drama will make you smile, laugh, and makes you enjoy your free time. if you have a spot for soul swap dramas in your heart like me then I would say there is no reason for you to not watch it. this will give you what you expect. no more no less.
Thankyou for reading till the end. this is my first review and I hope you will find it helpful. English is my second language so I apolige for anything misleading or misunderstanding.
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Nice little watch
I quite enjoyed this drama. Had a solid, engaging story. I do understand why this is rated lower than an 8 on here. Several factors, 1) it's not an idol drama so it does not have the "pretty people" that boosts the idol drama ratings higher than they should be. Also, the ending definitely brings the drama down, thanks to the censorship about soul swapping, transmigrations, rebirth, etc (if you've watched these type of dramas then you know).The Good
The plot was strong, especially if you enjoy soul swapping dramas. It's not a new concept but this one was definitely a fun watch because it had comedy, melodrama and romance well placed. It's a hidden gem for me especially among the high school dramas. The acting was rather good in this one, even from the supporting cast. Everyone played their roles very well and were convincing. Romance was definitely a strong factor here but didn't overshadow the story like most of these high school dramas do. It had more mature themes and plot to the show that made you care for the stories outside of the love connection. The final point I'll make is the high school setting was very nice, down to the outfits and even the attire of the kids outside of the school. This had a decent production value.
The Bad
I already mentioned that the ending brings this down and is why it's only getting an 8.5 from me. Could be higher if the censorship could remove that bit. There were some other aspects that didn't make logical sense in the story that I also wish the writers would not include it because it leaves one saying "yeah right, there is no way they would know that or that would not happen," but hey, it's a fantasy, fictional story so it gets somewhat of a pass.
Overall, I would still recommend this drama, especially for the more mature audiences because it's not necessarily a fluffy romance drama like many of those other high school dramas out there, if you are looking for that type of drama.
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Deep but not savage
This drama gives vibes of warmth and sweetness where each and every person goes through different circumstances in their life and then undergoes various aspects of behaviour. Xiang xiang becomes more bold and outspoken while qiao nan becomes thoughtful and more mature.I dont like dramas where main couple dont have skinship or much physical relationship not even kissing and hugging. But i would say this drama was exception coz in my opinion main leads didnt need physical relationship to display their affection. They were adorable as they were together. Both tried to give space and Thoughts to their partners. The pitch of story was high school but the issues they dealt with and the way they handled all the pressure without losing their cool & wits, it was all adult theme. Like adults should handle their issues.
The acting was spot on for everyone, i did got sentimental in some episodes bt i also laughed and lived with them trying to solve issues.
One thing bothered me is the ending. I didnt like How they turned the whole soul swap and all imaginary. Story was perfect as it was. There was no need to tweak it.
Overall good school drama for those who believes in relationship building and character development.
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A well acted soul swop Chinese Drama
The two students were really good acting as opposite sex and character types, one shy and poor, the other rich and indolent. The situations that arose were very amusing and sometimes painful and give a good glimpse into teenage life in China these days. Parental expectations and the exam system play a big effect in the storyline. It was a bit surprising to hear references to Mao and the Long March but after all China is a Communist country and they have to tip their hat to the censors. The AI TRANSLATION was generally good but sometimes mixed up the sexes unintentionally which can lead to confusion. The ending was a big surprise but gratifying…well worth waiting for.Was this review helpful to you?
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Mostly fun with an absurd ending
When You Be Me is quite a light drama with some funny moments, plenty of sweet instances but does take a dramatic turn towards the middle and completely flips the script at the end.The plot revolves around a quiet (practically invisible) girl who is poor yet studious (cliche) who saves the life of a popular, rebellious Taekwondo black belt boy from a rich family. The very same night, both of them swap souls. At first, both are awkward and then frustrated and start causing trouble for each other but eventually learn to hold back and try to live each other's lives to the best of their abilities. This duration of the plot is mostly entertaining and it's nice to see them experiencing each other's lives and trying to make it better in their own style. The show introduces their families and both have a unique family dynamic.
The male lead is spectacular as he portrays the female lead through his mannerisms and subtle expressions. The female lead does a good job as well however, the male lead truly shines in this series. Most of the drama revolves around their school and families.
What was mostly a fun series, suddenly turns very dark and melodramatic towards the 15th, 16th episode and I sped through it because it was getting a bit too much. Luckily by the 18th episode, this side track of a plot is dropped and everything returns "back to normal" which was a bit bizarre.
I also enjoyed the roles of the parents. The male lead's brother stood out. They explore the relationship the brothers shares and the current strain on their relationship. However, for whatever reason the series decides to briefly show a very dark side to the loving older brother and there was no redemption from that character for me after that. They killed my love for their relationship.
This is probably where the show becomes a bit of a drag. But the final disappointment was the ending. It would be best to completely skip the final episode. Yes, it was somewhat of a happy ending but it still manages to annoy you.
If you were hoping for romance then you won't really find anything. It's left up to the imagination of what will happen in the future.
It's a fine show to binge if you don't have big expectations. Mostly the series was entertaining. I've just highlighted some of the bigger moments that I disliked.
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What do you like about this drama?
I really like this drama, I thought it was an ordinary romantic soul exchange drama, but this drama taught me a lot of life lessons. If you are looking for a school drama with an uncomplicated story, this should be on your list. The romance is a little slow and not very romantic and there is no kissing. This is a little review opinion from me🌟Was this review helpful to you?
Finding yourself through another person’s eyes.
Shorter Chinese dramas are becoming a stable. Also, some of these shorter dramas give new comers, who are not yet proven, a chance to act in dramas before they are called up to the Epic Dramas. What makes the Chinese Drama ‘When You Be Me’ a special gem is the writing. The writing of Pei Li and Hua Qian Ci nail this double body swap of a girl transferred to a male body and a boy transferred to a female body and the learning experiences they get because of it (This writing team also wrote A League of Nobleman). How do men relate to women? How do women relate to men? What are their differences? The drama When You Be Me has unpredictable outcomes that should keep you engaged, unpredictable to the very end. Unlike some Chinese dramas where the writers lose their way towards the end of the drama, this storyline is consistent and has logical order all the way through. Explore unique possibilities in this new Chinese double body swap drama ‘When You Be Me’.There are so many little things that are great about When You Be Me, besides the two leads (Zhou Yi Ran as Mu Xiang Xiang and Kido Ma as Qiao Nan). It depicts teens in leadership roles, camaraderie among peers, bullying, good parental guidance, good and bad family dynamics, a slew of talking points that will keep your mind occupied for days. You can tell that these young inexperienced actors had a great director (Chen Chang) with great ideas on how to interpret their characters. The writing was believable and inventive, but so in tune with the possibilities of an actual body swap. Both young actors locked in on their character and neither one abandoned it during the body swap scenes, which added to believability and escapism. The male and female characters are polar opposites. Qiao Nan is a brash athletic spoiled second generation rich Plutocrat (Chaebol) boy and Mu Xiang Xiang is a top student who is a timid and introverted girl, and comes from a poor family. This swap makes for hilarious antics, nonetheless.
Ladies, what would be one of the first things you would give into, if you inherited a male body with little fat? I could have just died with laughter when the first thing the girl in the boy’s body did was to go buy a really expensive fancy decadent desert and eat the whole thing, not having to worry about calories. Men are so fortunate to burn calories so quickly. Even as funny was that the boy (in the girl’s body) learns how to use emotional guilt, utilizing the emotional cry to get his way. Nothing beats a try, but a cry.
When You Be Me is a great fantasy body swap drama to add to your binge-watch list.
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When You Be Me
untuk ketiga kalinya aku nonton drama china, aku benar-benar sangat selektif dalam memilih tontonan drama, baik itu drama china maupun drama korea. Di drama ini benar-benar semuanya aku menyukainya baik itu akting keseluruhan para pemainnya, alur ceritanya, bahkan plot twist dari akhir ceritanya. Aku bahkan tidak akan mengir jika itu semua hanyalah hayalan belaka dari seorang Mu Xiangxiang yang sedang mencoba gim di masa depan. Aku benar-benar terbawa perasaan dan benar-benar tertipu. Aku sunggu menunggu kelanjutan dari kisah ini. Aku sungguh ingin melihat kelanjutan dari cerita ini. ಥ‿ಥWas this review helpful to you?
