Worth a tear but worth more Laughs
Finally, a SOLID non copy paste plot drama. Title is much better in Chinese! 不讨好的勇气 "Courage not to please others"Drama is much more enjoyable than all the other dramas currently out there right now.
Are there draggy episodes? Yes, and there are definite character scenes that I didn't care for, but it was within 80/20 (good/bad) ratio, so it remained enjoyable all the way through for me. And if you dropped it before the end, you'll miss the best growth story of the EX, whom to my surprise ended to be my favorite character.
Not quite a slice of life drama but there are surface level adulting problems in need of some comedy relief.
I've been anticipating actor Wei Da Xun in more ML roles ever since "Fireworks in my Heart" (Let's face it, he was the highlight of that drama). Of course, if you are just into popular dramas with pretty faces with giant white light shining on their skin smoothing faces then this is not it for you.
As for Teresa Li, she's been a hit or miss for me in her prior works, but this role fits her and she's doing a great job.
The show isn't all about standup comedy so don't expect all jokes no story. Rather it's about self-discovery through their love for standup comedy. As the drama develops, 16 ep on, there are more memorable longer skits, humorous and well written.
Worth complimenting:
1. Not having any one-dimensional bad characters. Yes, there were annoying characters, but almost all of them had "redemption" moments.
2. No silly women cat fights. Wow so civilized!
3. The Ex. How he changed little by little was so loveable. It was hard to decide who to ship w/ the FL. Favorite scene, Ep 22, 15 min in the ex and her confronting each other.
4. Hint of romance with no cringy drama tropes.
5. Open ended ending. As this is about self-discovery, the journey continues. So not ending up in a ... standard finale is very fitting.
Great script! Well done writers!
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The story is really good & FL acting really good
the FL appeared in Show Strike sword (2021) and that was one of the best CDdrama. I actually found her acting unique and niceshe has her own unique style.
Her acting here brings a strong story line & really wish to continue the next episode
please watch
worth it
I have watched just the first episode and I know it will be good and watch her transformation
please watch to find out the story. I started the drama without understanding what to expect, so the surprise itself is a value of this drama
unexpectedly good
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This review may contain spoilers
Finding your own path in life
Later, I Laughed/不讨好的勇气 (2024) is a great drama about finding your own path in life.The story itself is not perfect and has some parts where it felt like it was repeating or didn't truly seem complete. However, overall, it was wonderfully done. It shows the troubles and struggles of life and finding who you are and where to go to. It had everything a modern Slice of Life drama could bring, true friendships, family overcoming their struggles, work life and relationship problems, and some important flashbacks to the past to learn more about different characters. It overcame the seriousness of life by using stand-up comedy.
The theme of using stand-up comedy is unique for a C-drama and reflects the quite recent developments of the rise in popularity of stand-up comedy in China. (Fun fact: some of the side characters who played stand-up comedians are real stand-up comedians in China, you can find them on YouTube on Xiaoguo Comedy)
The acting was great and I loved how many of the side characters had an important role in the story. Most characters were given a chance to show their background and everyone had character development which was great! Even the ex showed that he could change, but that he didn't just do it for her, but more for himself.
It had an open ending (with regards to romance), but it felt like it was done in the right way for this drama, it shows that life and your view on life can indeed always change, which was what the whole story was showing. It also did give a direction to where it probably would go so the open ending didn't feel frustrating.
I would definitely rewatch it, but mostly for the comedy as I really loved that.
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A Potentially Great Drama Ruined by Its Ending
This drama starts off excellently, with a unique theme, an engaging narrator, and a solid foundation. The visuals are stunning, the cast delivers great performances, and the conflicts are well-presented.It explores the many struggles faced by young adults in their late 20s while highlighting deeply rooted Asian culture. Despite being a 24-episode drama with a large cast of characters, every character is well-developed and brought to life.
This drama is emotionally draining for the audience because it portrays situations many people might have experienced. The female lead (FL) has a tough life—at home, school, work, and even in her love life. She endures mental abuse without realizing it. Unfortunately, by the end, she still doesn’t gain this awareness, making her easily forgive people who belittled her—even those who never apologized.
I’m not sure if Xiu Ya is just naturally indifferent or if she has genuinely forgotten what happened, but from a rational perspective, it’s hard to act normal toward people who made even breathing feel like a burden. As an Asian, I’m very familiar with the parenting culture in Asia. The drama portrays this culture so realistically that the mother, who unwittingly hurt her child, never feels remorse or apologizes, even by the end. And it’s true—most parents believe their actions are for their child’s benefit. So if the child gets hurt along the way, that’s just something they have to go through; it’s not the parent’s fault. People often say, “Parents only want what’s best for their children,” but if even we don’t always know what’s best for ourselves, how can someone else?
Shi Ye represents rebellion. Perhaps that’s why he was sidelined in the drama, even though he’s the male lead. This is the first time I’ve seen a male lead without any standout qualities or moments to shine. He never gets the spotlight in the story. Yet his character had so much potential for deeper exploration, which the writer completely squandered. While the other male characters were given numerous strong points, the male lead was left without a single one.
Of all the people close to Xiu Ya, only Shi Ye never told her to apologize. But in the end, why does it feel like Shi Ye’s presence in Xiu Ya’s life was nothing more than a passing breeze? Meanwhile, her ex-boyfriend’s character development is made ridiculously unrealistic.
Zheng Hao is kind; from the start, he just didn’t understand other people’s emotions. Someone like Zheng Hao can indeed become a better person once they start to understand different perspectives. However, in my opinion, people don’t change that quickly. His transformation into a “good” character feels unrealistic, especially since the drama otherwise strives for realism.
Honestly, I feel like it would’ve been better if none of the characters ended up in a relationship. Their thoughts are just too inconsistent. Xiu Ya never realizes what she truly needs, Zheng Hao changes for others, and Shi Ye struggles with low self-esteem after choosing his career path, without even realizing it.
The drama is good—the pacing and the conflicts raised are compelling. The actors genuinely feel like stand-up comedians. Although I didn’t fully understand some of the comedy routines, there were many that made me laugh.
But what’s the point of raising so many social issues if you can’t resolve them?
The reason I gave this drama an 7.5 is that it doesn’t offer closure.
I often watch and read stories with open endings, but none have ever disappointed me as much as this one. Other dramas with open endings still resolve their characters’ issues before leaving things open-ended. This one asks the viewers to resolve the characters’ problems themselves.
So what’s the takeaway from this drama? Frustration? Or a realization of how harsh the world is? Are they saying that even fiction can’t solve these conflicts?
The ending was terrible.
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Using standup comedy as a unique way to tell a story of self-discovery and growth
Subjective Gut Rating: 8.25With the use of standup comedy, our female lead Wu Xiu Ya, discovered her former true self which she hid deep inside of her. Due to an incident in high school and her freely expressing her displeasure, she learned a hard lesson and never spoke up for herself much anymore. But through reconnecting with a former classmate and finding solace in standup comedy, “Later, I Laughed” follows the journey of Xiu Ya to become a much more independent and self-aware person.
There’s a lot to like in this drama. I like the use of standup comedy as a way to express your true feelings - Although not all the jokes land successfully, I did have a fun time watching different characters performing. You are able to truly understand Xiu Ya’s point of view and perspectives through her jokes. The drama might not flat out show you that, but paying attention to her jokes disclose a different side of her.
There is truly no villain in this drama. Are there characters that annoy the heck out of me? Of course. The mothers aren’t always lovable. But, if you think from their perspectives, their worries and controlling behaviors all stem from their upbringing and life experiences. Deep down, mothers want what’s best for their children. They were brought up a certain way, or had experienced tough challenges in life that they don’t want their children to follow in their footsteps. Is the boyfriend patronizing and chauvinistic from FL's point of view? Most certainly. But if you don’t tell him how you truly feel, how else would he know? He really just wants to take care of you, and that’s the only way he knows how to. Don’t forget about the nosy and gossipy co-workers. But they aren’t any different than characters in other business dramas. It just seems to be Chinese culture.
The drama spends a considerable amount of time in promoting stand up comedy and dives into what it is and the challenges it faces in the entertainment industry. But I quite like learning more about it. At least it’s a unique profession that we don’t see much in drama-land. The camaraderie between the comedians at the bar is lovely to see. The 5 of them makes an interesting group of unique individuals from all walks of life. I also like the scenes of them hanging out and making fun of each other.
Unfortunately, the second half of the drama has more flaws. I think the rich guy overstays his welcome. The drama spends way too much on him and FL, and their non-relationship. It’s hard to believe a man of his caliber would fall for a girl he barely knows. Then all of a sudden, he disappears! Is it reasonable for someone like him to act that way just because of a blunder? Yes, it might hurt his pride, but it was way over-exaggerated to be realistic. Viewers for sure know he’s not going to be the last man standing, but at least he serves his purpose as a mentor and life coach for a brief period of time.
The romance isn’t satisfying either, and I was so hopeful in the beginning with Shi Ye’s longing looks. Although the chemistry between Xiu Ya and Shi Ye isn’t electrifying, they do have good conversations as friends and co-workers. The confession scene and the transition from friends to lovers are disappointing and anti-climatic. I was hoping for so much more fun banter and cute scenes before reality sets in. Luckily, we have a great second male lead in Zheng Hao. As I mentioned earlier, he wasn’t a horrible boyfriend, just a clueless one. But once he realized his faults, he changed and did not turn into a petty and evil 2ML. He is correct that Xiu Ya never gave him the chance to get to know the real Xiu Ya. He would have fallen in love with her just the same.
What brings down my rating even more is the last arc about the mother. The drama is able to find a way to address Shi Ye and his mother’s argument in a unique way at the wedding. That was a fun performance to clear the air and bring down the house. Unfortunately, the same could not be said in the resolution between Xia Ya and her mother. That arc becomes just like any other C-drama I’ve seen before. Is it realistic? Probably, just not creative.
The first half of the drama sets the stage for a great character development of Xiu Ya. But the second half falters with the extended rich guy plot, disappointing friends-to -over transition and uninspiring writing of the last arc.
But ultimately, at the end of the drama, viewers can see how far Xiu Ya has come along. She’s no longer the crowd pleaser who hides her own desires and feelings. She has learned to take the time to really find out what she wants in love, in career and in life. I do enjoy “Later, I Laughed” very much in the first half. With only 24 episodes, the drama moves along at a decent pace and the overall acting is good. I also like the songs played. Therefore, I still rate it a somewhat high 8.25, especially for its uniqueness in highlighting standup comedy in China.
Completed: 12/9/2024 - Review #526
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No more people-pleaser
I really enjoyed how the main leads experienced lessons in their lives, how they stumbled upon major realizations via stand-up comedy, and how they were willing to expand their horizons in order to find true freedom!I like romances, but this drama ends with the beginning of great possibilities among equally-devoted men. I found the ending to be innovative, positive and uplifting.
I like how the red dress plays a role in this drama. It makes an indelible impression.
I didn't laugh so much at the stand-up comedy, although I thought the comedy routines were witty. Some of the antics were funny. I felt very strongly about the bad, lazy colleagues!
As a whole, I found this drama inspiring, how one oppressed woman found her own voice to tell the world, "Here I am! I can finally be my true self!"
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Reality and Warm!!!
This type of shows are not that common where it shows about Stand Up comedy but this comes under Slice of Life Genre .This Drama is about How Life goes on , Ups and Downs of the Life , Family and Love and The biggest Factor is about adjust of letting go our oneself which is quite common in these days and where the root cause is , I really liked how the characters the actors portrayed is really good and I really appreciate this drama .
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Spoilers!!
The first few episodes were hard to watch but once I got through them I thought the tough part was over. I liked the FL and ML and thought they had good chemistry and was excited to see where the drama would take us. What I wasn't expecting was all the extra characters in FL's life and her self exploration which honestly, didn't feel like she changed a whole lot. ML seemed to be hidden behind the ex and the other guy, I was disappointed he wasn't pulled more into the spotlight given what a talented actor he is. Just as I started to enjoy the drama and see the light at the end of tunnel, drama suddenly brings in the troupe mother who objects, likes the ex better, is really sick, wants ML gone,"knows what's best", and gets her way. I mean it took forever for the leads to get together and then to bring this up AND the ex is STILL around at the end? I thought FL was suppose to grow out of being a people pleaser... yet the ex is doing what he wants to do. My expectations were probably too high for this drama.Was this review helpful to you?
It ended as soon as it was starting to get satisfying.
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