As Beautiful as You

Rewatch factor is high.

The story is standard. The acting is good. There were NO majorly irritating and constant villains.

The main reason why I am reviewing is to encourage viewers to just watch. Its a good drama as a whole. However ep 31- 40.5 has one of the most logical plot storyline I've seen and the ending episodes from ep 38 to 40.5 onwards has some of the most logical plot development and it didn't do a token ending. The ending made so much sense. Cdrama endings are usually the absolute pits. The ending is complete. I absolutely hate it when the director or writers loses the grip on their story. Yes the couple spend enough couple time to satisfy any of you who like romance.

And for Xu Kai fans- thank God he finally has a role where he behaves like a man and I don't feel sorry for him. I like Seven in a Journey Home but she is radiant here in the last 25% of the drama. She is her usual self acting well but she is comfortable, radiant and totally is Ji Xing in the last bit.

Just go past all those negative remarks. This is a good 40.5 episode drama to marathon through.

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The romance was sweet!.

Just finished this, and it's one of the first time where i didn't dislike the separation, because it made them both better after, it was also really nice to see a ML actually changed after a separation, and the way he apologized was sweet, you could definitely tell he learnt a great deal of lessons. They went from not having much flirty scenes or chemistry, and the episode they went to Germany, the ost, and the chemistry and flirty was kicked up at a whole new level, there chemistry was amazing, and there kisses too, they looked genuinely deeply in love, the acting from both leads were great as well. I enjoyed all the business stuff, usually I'm not a huge fan of the genre, but I liked it. There were terrible characters, as well as great ones. This is definitely one of the best Modern Mature Romance Chinese Drama I've watched, Really enjoyed the romance and character developments, and maturity they both came back with after the separation. :)

The acting was pretty great for both leads, it was believable when they fell in love, with there words, expressions and actions, and when they were arguing it was soo intense, i don't think I've ever seen Xu Kai acted in a scene like that, it was like a real couple fighting, so it was very realistic.

My least favourite character was that one, i'll throw-up in my mouth if i call her a friend haha... I'm really happy she was technically kicked out of there friendship, though it wasn't said but evident with the 3 having there own group chat and they don't talk to her anymore, i get how she felt and who cares what she wanted to do, but saying stuff like she don't regret what she did, just shows what a terrible friend she was.

Zeng Di was super annoying, but i'm happy the FL handled her well, and I love how the ML made her know that he had 0 interest in her and she wasn't even an option.. dang!! that was brutal, but i loved it!!. He also apart from eating dinner/lunch with her as a friend and business partner, he had boundaries with her. She also got what she deserves at the end, so that put a nice smile on my face.

There were other side couples, I find myself being interested in side couples lately, usually i'd skip them in whatever drama i watch, but i did like the different typed of couples in this, Li Li romance was very interested and i was well invested to see how it'll turn out, as well as the streamer bestie, the ML's little uncle and his grandaunt.. there combo was cute and hilarious!!. There was another couple, you'll see if you watch, just skip them! hahaha

What i enjoyed with this is that when the FL broke up with the ex-boyfriend, there wasn't any flirting etc between her and the ML, though we knew from day one how the ML felt, he never rushed or pushed her, but once they went to Germany, the chemistry went from 0-100 and it started getting sweeeet, it was soo cute, sometimes they didn't have to say anything, the look in there eyes were enough. Then it went from 100-1000 real quick hahahaha, it was event that the ML was meant for the FL and visa versa, usually in some of these with an ex-boyfriend who break up during the show, it's a little hard, but it wasn't here, it was evident that it was love, everything she did was different from with the ex.

Anyways, I think I said too much. This was another drama that I almost put on the side because of some comments I read, please don't miss out on shows you're interested in because of comments, we all have different taste and different way of seeing things, what i wrote here is from my perspective watching, you may or may not like it, but you'll know because you know what you like, if this sounds like something you'll like then go for it, if not, then don't, it's entirely up to you.

Happy Drama Watching! :)

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A good adaption of the novel!

As Beautiful as Beijing was my first Chinese novel I've ever read, and it took my expectations way higher. I had read the novel while waiting for the drama to air. The novel really has my heart, so I was doubting if this drama would be able to portray this well. And for me it did!
I knew Xu Kai would nail this role and he did really well. Ofcourse Han Ting's character here was not cold like the novel. He had emotions here and personally I liked the change.
I don't think any other actress could have nailed Ji Xing like Seven. There was no change in her character compared to the novel. They kept it the same.
The chemistry between them is insane ngl. To me they looked like a real life couple.
The writers tried to stay true to the novel. And one thing I didn't like about the drama was that there were too many side characters.
And the extra ep really made me cry like I did when I read the extra chapters of the novel. It couldn't have been more better to give an ending to the drama!

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Xu kai and Tan Songyun did a great job, their chemistry is on fire.

I have been following this drama since before it's release. I only read half of the book, only till our leads ONS 'coz i didn't want to be spoiled while watching the drama am glad i did that. It's a slow burn romance and the ending is so overwhelming i cried a river. I am glad i watched this drama. I am a fan of Xu kai's and watched his dramas before, he's always a treat to watch, his acting in this one is really good. I liked him here more than i did in Best choice ever. His take on Han Ting is spot on 10/10. And this is my first drama of Tan Songyun. I must say i became a fan of her. Their chemistry is off the charts. Hope they get paired again soon.
Goodbye for now. I will catch up Xu kai's "Moonlit Reunion" and "Firefighter" when they release. Hopefully soon.

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The chemistry between Xu Kai & Tan Song Yun was lit!

It started out slow, and I wondered if it is just like Best Choice Ever, Xu Kai's character being rich and coming back from a foreign country to take over the business. Then we have Tan Son Yun's character that's pretty similar to Yang Zi's character, the only difference being their professions and knowing each other when they were young. Here's to hoping that it is better than Best Choice Ever because that one also had an amazing cast but result was so underwhelming. Xu Kai and Yang Zi made such a cute pair but the story lacked depth. I started out liking that one first as well, but lost interest by the end of it.

This one looks better. The best thing about Tan Song Yun is that she does her characters so well. It doesn't seem like she is acting. Her roles suit her very well. So far, I love her character & how she refuses to back down. The worst part about workplaces is when people refuse to stand up for each other & instead take pleasure when someone is down. This displayed sexual harassment & the harasser so well. When the harasser themselves try to pull the victim card, when they are called out on their obscene acts! It is sickening. How none of her coworkers see anything wrong in that is beyond me.

I'm so glad she quit that job. I agree with a lot of things Han Ting said but why on the earth is he trying so hard to alienate her? To be her position, starting a company with no support and backing requires a little faith as well. She seems like someone who could succeed once she understands where she is going wrong.

I look at women like Zeng Di in at think about how strong and resilient they had to be to reach the place they are now. But what a waste it is when such strong women resort to shady tactics when the man they like don't like them. For heaven sakes, find someone better who's into you. What a waste of good character. A few days ago, I watched Who Rules The World, Feng Xi Wu was such a brilliant character.

The breakup wasn't surprising since we knew that was gonna happen. It was sad to watch though. But Ji Xing took Shao Yi Chen for granted, hoping that he'll always be there. But Shao Yi Chen could have waited had he wanted her in his life, but like he said they wanted different things in life. Now, I think Ji Xing might be okay if there's any development of feelings between Yi Chen and her friend. With Han Ting at her side it, they can hopefully be around each other and be friends. Because Yi Chen is a nice guy.

I get that it seems like not a lot of time has passed since they broke up and he seems to have easily moved on. To be honest, he has moved on easily and that's one of the reasons why him and Ji Xing wouldn't have worked out long term. I do have mixed feelings about Wei Qiu Zi though, I get it is hard to move on from unrequited love. But she wasn't considerate of her friend's feeling. Had she waited some more and then confessed, I would have respected her. But she confessed not long after he broke up with Ji Xing. He turned her down. And once they got together, Yi Chen seems have completely gotten over Ji Xing. They should have found a proper way to break it to her. But she found out on her birthday. All in all, I think they'll work it out and be friends so all is good.

I have a feeling that Xiao might be married. Oh turns out he just had a child, I was just worried that the child came with a mother that he was still married to. Good save, but I worry that Su Zhi Zhou might change the dynamics. Worry because despite being a bit reserved Xiao seems like an okay person, SZZ is actually better but I want him to be with someone that wants to be with him as well.

They got together without any issues, so it wasn't really surprising that they had their first fight. This way they could figure out each other's line. They both were at fault with why they fought. Han Ting could have clued her in on why things had to be the way they had to be. While she is intelligent, she isn't as strategic as Han Ting and needs more time to come to the same conclusion. She shouldn't have let Zeng Di's word bother her that much. Of course she is going to feel hurt when she put in so much time and effort in the company. At the same time, Han Ting's hurt is also valid, he has been loyal to her but they need to draw boundaries and figure out what goes and what doesn't so this does not happen in future.

I am glad they resolved their differences. I'm glad that Ji Xing and Hang Ting both figured things out even though they needed a little help. I like that Han Ting actually accepted where he went wrong and Ji Xing also realized the complexity of the decision he made. I like Qin Li, he was a decent person who didn't push himself where he wasn't invited, not unlike Zeng Di. The extra episode was nice and at the same time bittersweet, at least they got to grow old together.

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"Thousands of times," answered Xu Kai (ML) when asked about the number of kiss scenes with Tan Song Yun (FL) in the Chinese drama "As Beautiful As You". not thousands of times, right?

It feels like too much. Plus there are lots of 18+ scenes, if you use food as an analogy, the Chinese drama "As Beautiful As You" is mostly tasteless, so it makes you nauseous.

Even though the idea is good, you know. About a young woman who goes into business for a noble cause. Obstacles arise because the business is not on an MSME scale. A business that requires large investments with large risks too.

Unfortunately the conflict that arises feels far-fetched. Like when grandfather Han Ting (Xu Kai) made a fuss about a start-up company that was only 6 months old. The owner of a business group like that, you know, he must know that the company has only been established for about 3 years. Where is there a Julid conglomerate with girls like that?

Luckily, the drama writer created a warmer drama with the presence of 3 friends of the female lead, including their respective love stories.

This cliche idea is the possible answer to the rating of the Chinese drama "As Beautiful As You" at the start of its broadcast being very low. The rating for this drama on Mydramalist was only 6.9, then it slowly rose and now, when I write this review, the rating has reached 8.0.

A neat plot is the strength of the Chinese drama "As Beautiful As You", as well as a coherent storyline, good music, very strong ML and FL chemistry and cinematography that is pleasing to the eye.

Even the casting of actress Tan Song Yun made me curious, because she was "tall", "didn't have a chin" and other beauty differences that were very large compared to actresses Bai Lu, Yang Mi, especially the beauty from the Uighur tribe, Dilraba Dilmurat.

(Sorry about body shaming, the appearance demands of celebrities are different from those of ordinary people. 🙏🙏😀😀 )

Tan Song Yun's acting shines because of her high flying hours. He has been around the world of acting since 2012, even appearing on TV shows when he was 7 years old. No wonder his acting is good, it can match Xu Kai's acting, who has no less extensive flying experience.

If there weren't too many spices, I would really like the Chinese drama "As Beautiful As You". Lots of good quotes scattered here.

It's not surprising. The Chinese drama “As Beautiful As You” is adapted from the novel "As Beautiful As Beijing" (你如北京美丽) by Jiu Yue Xi (玖月晞). We know that Chinese philosophy is very "deep" and has been taught in families for generations.

I wrote the next review here:
https://www.maria-g-soemitro.com/2024/07/as-beautiful-as-you-CEO-CLBK.html

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ABAY - This series does capture you

I don’t watch based on reviews and barely write reviews, however I had to because I have seen some reviews with definitely wrong information as through they’re just writing it knocked down the ratings which is unfair.

I read the book and saw the series and here is my take:

Comparing to the book:

HT is more ruthless in the book than the series. They met differently in the book. ZD was his friend with benefits in the book and that’s why in the series you see her coming and going as she pleases. Those who didn’t read to book might missed that and questioned it. They did add on with SY and her best friend getting together to have more drama. How he went to Germany and met her again. However, I felt the stay pretty close to the book as they could. JX was naive about the business world but learned from her mistakes. HT and JX loved each other very much in the book even though through the betrayal and some of the mean things HT said to JX (in the book it’s far worst).

Acting : I thought XK did a great job portraying HT. The serious looks and the gentleness at time. I wished he would take more roles like this as he’s a great actor. Seven did an awesome job portraying JX as well. She was impressive with expressions of emotion and explosive. The acting all around was great. Humor, anger, sadness, etc, you will feel it with all the actors. So not sure why some reviews said acting was horrible.

Chemistry: XK and Seven had great chemistry. Even with the age gap between them, you can’t tell. Their eye expressions of love for each other and then the betrayal you feel it all. Kudos to XK and Seven on an outstanding performance.

Favorite Episodes were 35 - 41, especially 41. As they grow older, their love deepened and you can feel that even though the extra episode was only about 10 minutes. Get ready to cry on this one.

OST: I only really like 3 songs on it so it was okay.

Overall: I didn’t want to put too much spoilers as I feel you shouldn’t based what you watch on reviews. See it for yourself. For me, the was a great drama overall and I would rewatch it. If you like a modern drama of ruthless business world, this is it. It has it all, betrayal, ruthlessness, romance, etc.

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A love that grows instead of vanishing through the years.

- **Story/Plot**: 2.25/3
1. Synopsis (0.25)❌
2. Initial Impression (2eps) (0.25)✅
3. Genre Adherence (0.25)✅
4. Emotional Engagement (0.25)✅
5. Logic (0.25)✅
6. Plot Coherence (0.25)✅
7. Dialogue (0.25)✅
8. Pacing (0.25)❌
9. Character building/Development (0.25)✅
10. Story Richness (0.25)✅
11. Plot Twists (0.25)❌
12. Messages (0.25)✅
- **CAST/Acting**: 1.75/2
1. Lead Actor Performance (0.25)✅
2. Lead Actress Performance (0.25)✅
3. Main Couple Chemistry (0.25)✅
4. Supporting Actors/Actresses Performance (0.25)✅
5. Casting Precision (0.5)✅
6. Character Transformation (0.25)❌
7. Scene Stealers (0.25)✅
- **Directing/Camerawork**: 1.25/2
1. Camera Movement (0.25)✅
2. Editing (0.25)✅
3. Continuity (0.25)✅
4. Lips singing (0.25)❌
5. Visual Details (0.25)✅
6. Cinematic Tension (0.25)❌
7. Lighting (0.25)✅
8. Flashback Integration (0.25)❌
- **OST (Original Soundtrack)**: 0.5/1
1. Opening OST (0.25)❌
2- Ending OST (0.25)❌
3. Background OST (0.25)✅
4. Overall OST (0.25)✅
- **Style**: 0.75/1
1. Costumes (0.25)✅
2. Set Design (0.25)✅
3. Colors (0.25)✅
4. Poster (0.25)❌
- **Ending**: 1/1
1. Closure (0.25)✅
2. Emotional Impact (0.25)✅
3. Logic (0.25)✅
4. Personal Satisfaction (0.25)✅
Total Rating: 7.5/10 +0.25Bonus
>>>>Final Rating: 8/10

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Seven and XK: Best CP pairing in years who produced 1 of the most beautiful C Modern dramas EVER.

I dont even know where to start with this review. Brace yourselves, it is going to be a long one. First of all , I am big fan of Seven and XK individually as actors so them acting in this drama was kind of a dream come true as a fan. It is like seeing your faves finally collaborate on a project. When this project was announced, I was so excited and I knew that ABAY would be very good because they are both very good actors and great people but I have been honestly blown away on how their chemistry was so beautiful on and off screen; they exceeded my expectations by miles.
The GOOD: SO much
1stThe chemistry; Omg they just oozed chemistry every time they shared a scene together and it was so palpable. It didnt even have to be a romantic scene but you could sense their amazing chemistry.
We got so many scenes between the leads and so many romantic moments; this was such a pleasant surprise because I have seen many C modern dramas failing to deliver on that promise.
Han ting outfits looked amazing. The drama just screamed money lol; like watching it, I could tell that a lot of money had been spent on it. I love seeing a very good drama with great budget.
The business aspect of it. Color me shocked that for once I was actually interested in the business side of a modern C drama. I actually loved it and learned quite a bit. I actually looked forward to these scenes as well.
I also did not mind the secondary characters and actually loved their storylines; another 1st for me bc I have watched many modern C dramas where they either spoiled the story at 1 point or they didnt add anything to the story.
Seven's acting. She is already an outstanding actress but she excelled here . I love her acting so much; it is so natural. She is also very good in emotional scenes. The break up scene is 1 of her finest moments as an actress. 1 of the best break up scenes I have ever seen and I really need her to be awarded for that scene in particular.
Xu kai's acting. I have watched a few of his dramas and imo this is his best acting yet; one that shows his best acting potential since story of yanxi palace and Arsenal military. Ive recognized his acting prowess early on but I feel a few dramas he had been in previously didnt showcase that properly. I was so impressed with his acting in ABAY. It is like he was possessed by the spirit of Han Ting.
Cinematography, directing, even the script.
The not so Good:
I dont have anything bad to say about this drama. I loved it so much. I cant count the amount of times I have re-watched it already. I also cant remember the last time I have rewatched a drama this much, that's how much I love this drama.
If I can be nitpicky, Seven's styling was a bit of a hit and miss; She is my fave and she is so beautiful but I wished the styling team was a bit better....like I said some episodes the styling was so amazing and others it was just ok. I really loved the whole styling of her wedding day; honestly 1 of the best styling Ive seen in a C modern dramas.
Also I feel like the show spent a lot time showing how Han ting was affected by the break up (which XK portrayed so beautifully; I kept tearing up at these scenes lol; I really felt his pain) and didnt do that a lot with Ji xing although she was heartbroken as well. This kinds of influenced a lot of people imo to feel more sorry for him even though they were both at fault imo.

Please watch it and you wont be disappointed. Finding a good modern C drama is like finding a needle in a haystack imo. So many of them out there but not many good ones IMO. I dont know when we are going to get such a great pairing (with the best chemistry) and good drama in general. Dont get me wrong, this type of plot is kind of common in dramas but what makes ABAY special imo is Seven and XK chemistry and a good story.
I want them to collaborate again in the future but with Seven not repeating partners, who knows?
Anyways. if you want a good mature romance, lots of chemistry and so many scenes between the leads, a great secondary cast with great storylines that didnt deter from the drama, great cinematography, directing, beautiful ending....watch ABAY :).

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An electrifying chemistry and the sheer brilliance of Xu Kai almost makes up for everything else

I’m not gonna lie, the story here is quite poor. If you’re someone like me, who enjoys business plots and strong female leads (distinguished from pseudo-strong leads), then you’re going to be in a place where you’ll want to pull out all your hair out of frustration in many instances.

I say this here after interacting a lot in the comments and being attacked by people for voicing any opinion other than sheer love for the show. This page has been quite hostile and unlike every other show I’ve followed when it comes to voicing a less popular opinion. Still, that is not going to make me change my opinion. You’re free to disagree! :)

The writers have done pretty badly to the female lead and other female characters in the show. The show follows all the usual tropes that you notice in your Chinese dramas - so nothing new there. You have an absolutely annoying second female lead who does not take no for an answer and just wants to ruin the main leads. Then you have your average family drama, often noticed in most business dramas. For them to show such strong business rivalry, there is much less screentime given to the sister and her thoughts that you’re just not able to understand where her problem lies other than the basic point of rivalry. Now onto the main lead, they have tried their best to show her as a strong character but it falls flat in your face when you actually analyse her character without being biased and trying to separate her from Seven Tang. She is shown as an incredible engineer - but that is where it ends. She starts a business without literally any research or without consulting with people close to her (read: her boyfriend with whom she is considering a life), she has no business skills and does not take advice when given which results in one failure/problem after another - all stemming from the same cause, she is shown as considerate but often fails to understand the ML, etc. etc. All this points at a pseudo-strong character (possibly written with very basic understanding of feminism and strong females in business) that fails to interest you and makes me quite angry with just how opposite of strong she comes across as. Also, the business aspect - that does not go just for the FL, most things here do not make any logical sense when it comes to how business, management and investing take place in the real world.

So then what makes the show worth your time? It definitely was worth my time and I would watch this show again and again (barring certain aspects).
1. The sheer brilliance of Xu Kai - I have seen a few of his works before so I’m not surprised that he acts so well. But I’ve noticed a different kind of aura around him that I’ve not noticed before and it makes me very attracted to him and his character.
2. The brilliant fashion sense for most of the characters - I have really enjoyed watching some great clothes in this drama
3. The wonderful character of Lili - it is not often that you come across an actually strong female character in Chinese shows. This is one character that I’ve absolutely loved. She is not afraid of going after what she wants, knows her demons and is vulnerable like just any human, values herself to know when to tell the guy off, boldly accepts what gives her pleasure, stands her ground and does not need anyone to protect her in the business world and so much more. Is she flawless? No. But who is? She is a strong independent woman and I’m all for it
4. Last but MOST IMPORTANT, is the stunning chemistry between our two main leads. Their acting has been so natural and the two have come across as a very beautiful and mature couple. I like that they maintain their individual identities even while dating and are not afraid to call each other out. I also like how they grew in their characters after the breakup and came back even stronger - all signs of a healthy relationship (only post the break-up, the FL was VERY VERY TOXIC BEFORE THAT AND NEVER APOLOGISED FOR HER BULLSHIT AND HAD ZERO COMPREHENSION SKILLS AND I'M STILL SALTY ABOUT THAT). Nothing seems forced between the two and it has been quite a pleasure to watch their romance evolve. And not just as characters, even the actors have suited one another and have created a work that will go down with a place of its own. They have brilliant sparks flying and you just can’t help swooning over them.

I would definitely recommend this show for the stunning romance but would leave a word of caution: do not try to make sense of the business aspects - most of it does not make sense.

Edit: This show has one of the best endings I have ever seen in a Korean/Chinese drama. I am going to give this show extra marks just for the 10 minutes of absolute bliss that extra episode is. I'm not crying, you are!

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Chemistry? Where is it?

There is nothing amazing about As Beautiful As You unless you want to watch Xu Kai. If you are a fan of Tan Song Yun, you might enjoy this. I am not a fan of Tan SongYun and avoid her in romance, but I wanted to try because of Xu Kai. I am not saying she is not a good actress, but my personal experience with watching her in romance dramas is that she is awkward and looks uncomfortable with any scene requiring skinship. She makes the romance scenes cringy. I end up feeling uncomfortable and annoyed watching her. But this is not the only reason the romance aspect failed. There was no convincing build-up. The romance lacked emotional depth. One minute the FL is with her long-term boyfriend. Then they break up. One night stand with Han Ting. Then they got together and I was left feeling as if nothing but Han Ting giving Ji Xing looks of interest showed that he fell in love with her. There was nothing to show why he would be interested in her. I could not feel the emotions or feel convinced Han Ting was attracted to Ji Xing. The fact that she had a boyfriend and was engaged after they met made it even harder to understand why he wanted to be with her. I didn't get the feel that there was something special between the leads.


As a business drama, this is not impressive. And I have enjoyed other business dramas. I thoroughly enjoyed Rising With the Wind where the FL owned it! The FL in Rising with the Wind was brilliant and on par with ML in intellect and business strategy, whereas in ABAY, the FL was pitiful as a businesswoman. The story was incredibly BORING! Even Xu Kai who played the authoritative and smart businessman well, could not save this.

This is not a horrible drama as seen by the mixed reviews. You will enjoy this if you like the leads and do not find the FL annoying and if you like Tang Song Yun as an actress. She overacts. One example is the break-up scene some feel was the best they have seen. What is with the screaming? And the jumping up and down in anger? On the one hand, I watched Han Ting stare atJi Xing with pain in his eyes, and on the other hand I cringed at Ji Xing throwing a tantrum. Unless you find the couple sweet and endearing, the chemistry between the main couple will fall flat where the romance is concerned and incredibly boring where the business storyline is concerned.

I pushed myself to finish this. I had to force myself to get to the end so I could write this review. Okay, I admit. I used the fast forward button in a frantic search for the chemistry. Chemistry? Where is it?

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