Filter

Hilarious, Heartfelt, and Refreshingly Real ( The Alpaca ^^)

What stands out most about this drama is how much I laughed at its hilarious, absurd comedy, ranging from physical slapstick to quick-witted humor. Comedy is truly its core strength, but the fun romance and well-timed emotional moments give the story real depth.
​I also have to applaud Tan Jian Ci, who literally carried the show for me as Tang Qi. He created such a unique character, an utterly genius textbook nerd with a delightfully clumsy personality who constantly equates simple everyday things to scientific theories to understand them better. Seeing him put his brilliant brain to work like that was both impressive and hilarious. He is so good at comedy, bringing the show to life with his funny expressions and gestures, and he never hesitates to break his image just to make the audience laugh. Tang Qi will always be remembered! Li Landi was also great as Su Chengcheng, and props to the actors playing her filter personas (Su Miao, Fang Jin, and Quan Shengtang), who brilliantly captured her core personality while still making each persona feel distinct. They were Su Chengcheng in personality, but also not Su Chengcheng, if you know what I mean.
​Beneath all the laughs lies a meaningful message: accept and love yourself as you are. It was refreshing that they didn't sweep makeup under the rug or preach "accept your true self" while hypocritically caking the actors in it. Instead, they kept makeup as an object of self-love, something used to boost confidence or enhance one's natural beauty. The photo editing and filter aspects were handled just as thoughtfully, recognizing how front cameras, lighting, and angles can change how you look. Any technology is good when used for its intended purpose; the key is not overusing it or becoming dependent on it.
​Ultimately, it shifted my perspective on how we handle insecurities, showing that they can only be overcome once we accept them. Beauty standards constantly shift, but you will always be you. So learn to love yourself, stop comparing yourself to others, and remember, you are your own rare kind of person!
ALSO, WE CANNOT EVER FORGET THE ALPACA, IT WAS THE ULTIMATE CHARACTER(and the best one of all) OF THIS DRAMA.

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Filter: Slow Start, Strong Finish!

Started slow and cliché—your typical "pretty vs. plain Jane" setup. The first few episodes were a bit of a snooze, and some of the later ones dragged unnecessarily. But once it found its rhythm, it was pretty enjoyable! Mildly funny, with a great dynamic between the main leads.
Best part? No unnecessary breakups, no forced drama—just solid understanding and mutual acceptance. They were truly on the same wavelength, which made their relationship feel refreshing and wholesome.
**Spoiler Alert: The finale gave us exactly what we wanted—a happy ending with zero heartbreak. No last-minute misunderstandings, no tragic twists. Just love, laughter, and a satisfying conclusion.

Would I rewatch? Maybe not. But was it a fun ride? Absolutely!

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Super creative and modern

The cast delivers a solid performance as well that really pulls you in.

The chemistry between Tan Jianci and Li Landi is perfect and the banters between them, and mutual scheming is chef's kiss. Jianci is such an amazing actor who honestly just makes every character his own, and it's not exception in this drama, where he plays Tang Qi, a cosmetics phD who is as adorable as he is strategic, but struggles with an sensory overload eye condition.

Lost You Forever fans are in for a real treat as there are multiple LYF easter eggs scattered throughout the drama. The author of LYF is also the screenwriter of Filter. What a treat!

I'm loving all the characters including the side characters (Gu Yu, Lian Yu, Su Qingli). All of them are loyal to their friends and they aren't dumb at all and actually successfully help their friends face problems realistically.

For me it’s definitely an urban fantasy with comedic moments and a deeper exploration of the filters that we all have about ourselves and others.

This drama gets you laughing until your stomach hurts, cringe due to it's ridiculous antics, think twice about it's commentary about beauty and self love and fall deeply in love with Tang Qi and Su Cheng Cheng. This drama is amazing and well worth the watch.

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Everyone is beautiful in their own way

So many messages in this series. The FL had a lot of insecurities about her appearance and the persons around her just didnt realize how it affected her. Despite all the negative comment she got about her looks, she was still strong and tried to push through so it didnt Bother her that much. Facing these type of comments daily can definitely take a toll on you mentally. 
She getting the bracelet had both positive and negative impact. The positive side is that she was able to help others and the negative was the ML. 
He was going through it mentally. Mind you, his behaviour around her stemmed from them being in school and it was just a bunch of misunderstandings on both sides.
There are a lot of comedy scenes that will make you laugh out.
Fast forward to clearing up everything, they got their happy ending of course.
For the 2nd leads, I loved their interaction and chemistry more.
I think think OST was really nice.
Overall, it was a good drama but not something I would rewatch.

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This drama is for those interested in a romantic comedy with plenty of heart. The drama leans more comical than romantic for most of the episodes (with some very funny scenes) but then morphs into more of a romance towards the end. Some viewers may be disappointed that the drama does not sustain the comedy all the way. I think, however, that the writer wanted to lean thoughtful towards the end to emphasize some serious messages. Chief of those was the point that appearances and accomplishments should not matter as much as they do when it comes to love and romance. The drama does a good job of making that point. The biggest problem is that we’re all supposed to believe that the female lead is unattractive but she is played by Sandy Li and, well, if she’s supposed to be homely, then the rest of us are in trouble. Sandy Li did a great job with a sometimes unsympathetic character. The best part of the drama, however, was Tan Jian Ci, who played the nerdy male lead, and was amazing. He has perfect comedic timing with an expressive face and body but he’s also able to convey sadness and pathos without spilling over into sentimentality.

Watch this drama if you need to escape all of the bad news in the world right now.

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good one

start - fml gives ml trauma twice first in school 2md by filter
there's misunderstanding for both which clears in last 10 ? eps
in starting I felt bad for FML later I did for ml because FML was deceiving him alot ,she faked death of the filter people twice
misunderstanding - ml says she's looks bad he meant makeup she thought he meant ugly so she starts to dislike him he does too because of school memories so in start he doesn't care about real her but fake her the filter, the first 15+ eps are took over by fakes story more the side characters than the FML and ml interaction, he interact with fake version for 15+ eps than with real one ,fake version are 4 people, then the filter characters is coming to end they suddenly add colour blindness? that time I felt like I'm watching a complete new drama because after 15+ eps ml and FML finally started to interact for real, I thought he would be angry and won't forgive but it gets solved easily, I wished the side characters parts was less and more ml FML interaction,
2nd couple - not interesting I skipped, I wasn't interested in their romance and why the 2nd couple is always pregnant in every drama ?
Good Comedy alot of comedy,
romance is good too it's starts usually at last 10-13 eps, I liked it enjoyed, can't believe the rating is only 8.5 ? not 9 10?
got hooked which is rare for me

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LOVE YOURSELF

This is a surprisingly nuanced rom-com that utilizes a sci-fi premise to explore modern beauty standards. It follows Su Chengcheng, an ordinary girl who finds a high-tech bracelet that allows her to change her appearance into several different 'beautiful' personas. Tan Jianci as the ML IS FANTASTIC. He plays a nerdy yet sincere character who keeps falling for Su Chencheng's various avatars, unaware that they are all the same person. It's genuinely funny, especially the absurd ways her personas have to disappear when her bracelet needs an update.

Moreover, the drama explores how we curate ourselves. Just like Su Chegcheng uses the bracelet to become the beautiful Su Miao or the professional Dr. Fang Jin, people in real life use social media filters to create idealized personas. This shows that when we spend too much time behind a filter, we start to alienate our true selves, like the FL who eventually realizes that while her personas get more attention, they aren't living her life; she is just a ghost haunting her own successes.

Also, this drama doesn't shy away from the reality that beauty makes life easier. As Su Miao, the FL gets job offers and social grace that she never received as her ordinary self. It critiques a society that rewards a solidified orsingle standard of beauty. This drama specifically highlights a 'big speech' the Fl gives to a cosmetics company, challenging the idea that a woman's value is determined solely by her aesthetic appeal. The ML Tang Qi falls for multiple versions of the FL without knowing they are the same person. This creates a fascinating psychological angle. The drama asks, 'Do we love a person, or do we love the projection of who we want them to be?' Tang Qi's journey is about realizing that he wasn't falling for different faces; he was falling for the same soul ( The FL's kindness, humor, and courage), regardless of the 'skin' she was wearing.

Lastly, by the end of the series, the leads start a beauty brand called ' Chirping Birds'. Instead of selling perfection, they promote natural and confident real beauty. True confidence doesn't come from hiding flaws, but from the hard work and authenticity required to pursue one's dreams as they are. The 'filter' wasn't just on her face; it was on her mindset. Once she stopped herself as 'not enough', she didn't need the bracelet anymore.

This drama was the hidden gem of 2025 that leaves you thinking about self-acceptance. I recommend it (‾◡◝)

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A Fun Fantasy Rom-Com With a Unique Concept ✨

Filter was honestly such a fun and unexpected drama for me. 😂 I started it expecting a light fantasy romance, but I ended up enjoying the characters, comedy and emotional moments much more than I expected. The concept of a bracelet that can change Chengcheng's appearance sounds completely crazy on paper, but somehow the drama turns that ridiculous idea into something entertaining, emotional and surprisingly meaningful.

What I loved most about Filter is that the bracelet isn't just a gimmick. Every transformation reveals a different side of Chengcheng and allows the drama to explore identity, insecurity, beauty standards and self-worth. At the same time, it creates some absolutely ridiculous situations. There were moments when I genuinely thought, "What am I even watching?" 😂 but I couldn't stop watching because the comedy was so entertaining.

🌸 Su Chengcheng — The Heart of the Story

Su Chengcheng is actually a much more layered character than she initially appears to be. At first, she seems like an ordinary girl who lacks confidence and constantly compares herself with other people. She is especially affected by how others perceive her, and that insecurity becomes one of the most important parts of her character.

But what I liked about Chengcheng is that she isn't weak just because she is insecure. She is hardworking, clever, compassionate and willing to help people even when she doesn't gain anything from it. She can be timid in some situations, but when someone genuinely needs her help, she can surprise you with how brave she becomes.

Her transformations make her character even more interesting because every identity brings out something different from her. Sometimes she becomes confident, sometimes elegant, sometimes intelligent and sometimes completely chaotic. 😂 But underneath all those appearances, her basic personality remains there.

Personally, though, I had mixed feelings about her as the female lead. I liked Chengcheng as a person and understood her character development, but sometimes I felt that she didn't have enough of that strong, powerful main-female-lead presence that I personally enjoy. I wanted her to feel more commanding and impactful in certain parts of the story.

Still, Li Landi deserves credit because she had to portray Chengcheng through so many different situations and personalities, and the emotional continuity between those versions was surprisingly convincing.

🧠 Tang Qi — Annoying, Intelligent and Surprisingly Soft

Tang Qi was probably the character I found the most interesting to analyze.

At the beginning, he can come across as cold, blunt and even slightly irritating. 😂 He is extremely logical and observant, but his biggest problem is that he doesn't always know how to communicate his emotions.

He notices tiny details that other people miss, and his sensitivity to visual differences makes him particularly suited to his work in the beauty industry. But ironically, the man who is so obsessed with observing appearances slowly becomes someone who learns that appearance isn't actually what makes a person attractive.

And this is where his relationship with Chengcheng becomes meaningful.

What I really liked was that Tang Qi isn't simply attracted to a beautiful face. He repeatedly becomes interested in different identities because of their personality, kindness, intelligence or the way they interact with him. He doesn't realize that many of those qualities are coming from the same person.

His reactions to Chengcheng's various transformations are also comedy gold. 😂 The man is supposed to be extremely intelligent, yet sometimes the situations around him completely destroy his ability to behave normally.

Tan Jianci's comedic timing was one of the strongest parts of the drama for me. His facial expressions, awkward reactions and completely serious attitude during ridiculous situations made some scenes even funnier. At the same time, when Tang Qi becomes emotionally vulnerable, the character has a completely different feeling.

😂 Chengcheng's Different Identities — The Best Part!

Honestly, the different identities were one of the biggest reasons I enjoyed Filter.

Su Miao brings out the glamorous and confident side of Chengcheng. Watching Tang Qi become interested in her while we know the truth creates so many funny and awkward situations.

Fang Jin was another identity I really enjoyed because this version allows the drama to explore intelligence, confidence and emotional strength in a different way. The contrast between Chengcheng herself and this identity makes the transformation feel more meaningful than simply changing someone's face.

Then we get Quan Sheng Tang, which was completely different again. 😂 Watching Chengcheng take on a male identity creates some of the funniest situations in the drama, especially because Tang Qi's reactions become even more hilarious.

And then there are the animal/object transformations. Some of them are completely absurd, but that's exactly why they work. 😂 The alpaca moments especially gave the drama that chaotic personality where you genuinely don't know what ridiculous thing is going to happen next.

The impressive thing is that these identities don't completely erase Chengcheng's personality. They feel like different pieces of the same person being exaggerated.

👭 Lin Yuan — The Friend Everyone Needs

Lin Yuan was one of my favorite supporting characters.

She isn't there just to be "the best friend." She genuinely understands Chengcheng and supports her without constantly judging her. Even when Chengcheng's situation becomes completely unbelievable, Lin Yuan doesn't simply run away.

Their friendship was honestly one of the healthiest relationships in the drama.

I also loved the comedy between them because they have the kind of friendship where they can be completely ridiculous together. 😂 Their scenes feel natural rather than forced.

And Lin Yuan's relationship with Gu Yu adds another enjoyable layer to the supporting cast.

🤝 Gu Yu — The Reliable Best Friend

Gu Yu is the type of supporting character who makes the story better simply by being there.

He provides a nice contrast to Tang Qi. Tang Qi can be overly serious and analytical, while Gu Yu is more relaxed and socially comfortable.

Their friendship is another strong point of the drama. They don't just exist because the male lead needs a best friend; they actually feel like people who have built trust over time.

I especially enjoyed how Gu Yu could understand Tang Qi even when Tang Qi himself couldn't understand what he was feeling. 😂

👩‍⚖️ Su Qing Li — The Sister Who Looks Cold but Cares Deeply

Su Qing Li initially gave me the impression of being the typical intimidating older sister. She is confident, successful and much more polished than Chengcheng, which naturally makes Chengcheng feel insecure around her.

But the more we understand Qing Li, the more we see that her seemingly cold attitude isn't simply because she doesn't care.

She has her own way of showing affection. She can be strict and sometimes frustrating, but when Chengcheng genuinely needs support, her protective side becomes much clearer.

I actually liked that their sisterhood wasn't portrayed as perfect. They have misunderstandings, differences and moments where they don't understand each other, which makes their relationship feel more realistic.

❤️ Tang Qi & Chengcheng

The romance isn't the most intense part of the drama, but I liked the underlying idea behind their relationship.

The real question isn't simply "Will Tang Qi fall for Chengcheng?"

It's more like:

"Will he eventually realize what he actually loves about all these different people?"

That makes their romance more interesting.

I also liked that the drama slowly moves the relationship away from physical appearance and toward personality. The filter keeps changing Chengcheng's face, but the person underneath remains the same.

That's basically the entire emotional point of their relationship.

😂 The Comedy — 10/10 for Chaos

The comedy was probably the biggest surprise for me.

Some scenes were so absurd that I couldn't take them seriously—and I don't think the drama wanted me to. 😂

Tang Qi's reactions, Chengcheng trying to maintain her secret, the different transformations, the awkward misunderstandings and especially the animal transformations created so many memorable moments.

This drama knows when to be serious, but it also knows when to completely embrace its ridiculousness.

And honestly, sometimes I wasn't even watching for the romance anymore. I was watching because I wanted to know what crazy thing Chengcheng was going to turn into next. 😂

🌷 The Message Behind the Filter

Behind all the comedy, Filter actually has a pretty meaningful message.

The drama constantly asks us how much appearance affects the way people treat us—and how much our own insecurities affect the way we see ourselves.

Chengcheng initially believes that changing her appearance will solve her problems. But gradually, the story shows that confidence doesn't come from having the "perfect" face.

The filter can change how you look.

It can't change who you are.

And I think that's what makes the concept work so well.

🎭 Final Thoughts

Overall, Filter was a really enjoyable drama for me. It isn't perfect, and I personally wanted more from the female lead in terms of that strong main-character presence and wanted the romance to have a little more depth.

But the creative concept, hilarious transformations, strong supporting characters, Tang Qi's personality, Chengcheng's different identities and the underlying message about self-worth made it a memorable watch.

It's one of those dramas where you can laugh at something completely ridiculous in one scene and then unexpectedly get an emotional moment in the next.

For me, Filter is best described as:

Funny + chaotic + creative + wholesome + surprisingly meaningful. 😂❤️

It may not be everyone's type of drama, but if you want something different from the usual C-drama romance formula, I definitely think Filter is worth watching.

Story: ⭐ 8/10
Acting/Cast: ⭐ 9/10
Music: ⭐ 8/10
Rewatch Value: ⭐ 8.5/10
Overall: ⭐ 8.5/10

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