Speed and Love

Post Drama Withdrawal! Updated.

Emotions

I love Esther Yu, and this was not my first time watching He Yu. I truly enjoyed the character he played. I’m a big fan of boxing, martial arts, and race cars—especially Funny Car racing—so this story stirred up a lot of memories for me right away.

The one thing that frustrated me was the way the writer shaped the character Esther Yu played. The character she played is she always asked question and tested him. I genuinely disliked that part when she found him towards the end, making him walk.

However, Esther Yu brought the role to the screen so convincingly that I kept watching because of her. Her performance was so strong that I almost stopped watching out of frustration with the writing alone—which only proves how excellent she is as an actress. Even when I didn’t like the script, her talent held my attention.

I kept going, though, and when Zhao was injured, it hit me hard. It brought back painful emotions about my own son’s motorcycle accident, and that really struck home.

In the end, I still gave this drama a 10. If a storyline can make me want to stop watching because my emotions are all over the place, then the writers and actors did their job. That kind of impact isn’t easy to pull off.

I only wish Esther Yu had been written as a stronger, more physically powerful female character—seeing her do martial arts or real fighting scenes would have been incredible.

Update: I’ve now watched it 9 times. I genuinely cried during the accident scene and felt how deeply the two characters love each other. I couldn’t get it out of my head, so I kept going back to rewatch — not wanting to miss a single detail, especially the way Esther Yu and He Yu kept looking at each other. It made me wish we all knew love like that. It felt real… deeply real. That kiss though... several kisses where He Yu engulfed Esther lips... I never viewed that Chinese Dramas. I was like... whoa there buddy... so cute, I too, blushed and hid my face. All I know this wasn't a regular Chinese Drama for me... This was some real stuff right here (little slang used).

2nd Update: I hope this doesn’t stop me from watching either of them in future dramas, given how strongly I feel right now. I went through something similar with Yang Zi and Deng Lun in Ashes of Love — my mind simply couldn’t separate them from those characters. Seeing them in other roles felt like it would break something precious. It took time, but I eventually snapped out of it. That’s what happens when you stay true to a drama you absolutely love — it settles into your heart and refuses to let go right away. It's called "post-drama withdrawal".

3rd Update: Lawdamercy, this is the only drama that calms me down and makes me smile. I know this is a story but dang, I wish all men were like Zhao Zhao!

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Compelled to write a review because it's that good.

For me this drama is on a whole different level. So as a regular CDrama watcher, I didn't have much expectation, just a few romantic scenes, a change of heart, and a little bit of action, but damn. I was flabbergasted by SAL—the plot, the cast, the OSTs, everything.

About the cast:

Esther Yu—I see people hating on her unnecessarily. She is the perfect cast for SAL. She can do both—a mature grown woman and an immature teenager. I think the director knew exactly what the story needed.

He Yu—Imagine anyone other than him playing Jin Zhao, CAN YOU? That's it. He is irreplaceable. He is the whole package, and as the director said, heaven decided on Jin Zhao.

Ignore the negative PR. Just go and watch it. It's that good.

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First time watching a racing based drama and I’m hooked

First, I’m into cars so when I saw the trailer and synopsis about the drama I set a reminder to watch this and it’s better than what I’ve expected (in all c-dramas that I’ve watch, I really set my expectations low so I will not be disappointed).

What I really wanted to point out is that the setting was in Thailand, but its like, doesn’t say much about it. It’s like all of the people in Thailand were chinese-speaking and didn’t integrate much of it —they tried speaking in Thai but please, can the actors and the extras match the lips and the audio huhuhuhu it was so awkward while watching it 😭 I know they dubbed it because of the noise and all but yeah just my few pieces hehe

Another thing is that when Zhao and Mu were like in the driving scene, when MuMu was the navigator? (the one with emotional talk) I’m no race car driver but when they were talking, it’s like ZhaoZhao is not driving, the hands doesn’t move 😭 I know these are just little things but when little things are piled up, it becomes big.

But the actors tho? Especially, San Lai & Jin Zhao, they are damn great!!! The fighting scenes of He Yu? It was amazing! ✨

The cinematography when there’s like a racing competition was excellent, too!!! I was not expecting that level of production cos girl I am hooked every race scene AND THE SOUNDTRACK??? I LOVEEEE 💗

Lastly, I’ve been reading the novel and there’s some changes that I liked is that when MuMu and Snakey had the heart to heart talk? I AM WEAK WITH GIRL FRIENDSHIP I DEF LOVE THAT THEY MADE SNAKEY THE ONE WHO REVEALED SOMETHING NOT THE CRAZY FRIEND. The other scenes should not have been changed but oh well, censorship and all I think. It’s still a good watch tho.

and I think that’s all hehe will continue to watch tho because it really exceeded my expectations but probably will not rewatch it, but can watch some clips tho when it appears to my fyp.

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Can't stomach lead actress in rl - this is not a hate review

I love this story. I love the setting. Beautiful scenes and shots. Script is great. I love the characters that are written. I love the cars. I love the costumes/clothing. I love He Yu for this role. He is just perfect for it and a 10/10 with his acting.

But I can't seem to get past how much I don't like Esther as a person. And I've watched a lot of her interviews and variety shows to try to get to like her. I enjoy cutesy girl characters like this role and I get why she was chosen for this part. It's b/c she plays up this type of thing up in rl and I really think it's very fake.

I Try not to hold it against her that I don't like her. An actress can create a facade however she wants. But public opinion can have repercussion on a person or drama.

I'm trying not to hold it against the drama. She is playing the part, she is pretty, she can act. But she is also playing the role she always plays.

Unfortunately, I am dropping this drama. Everything else is so great.

I'm bummed. It's just so gag me to see the cutesy I'm innocent act change to all the sudden 'I know how to fix cars'. And 'I can drift' and getting on to the motorcycle in skimpy clothes but totally emitting the vibe that I'm cool and used to it. I think I wouldn't be so gagged if it wasn't Esther. I do actually like the trope if the drama is done right.

If you don't have a problem with Esther I think you will really like this drama. I just can't get into it.

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It's surprisingly enjoyable.

I was somewhat skeptical about this one. But after I started watching, I really enjoyed it. Everything is so unique about this drama. A large number of episodes were filmed in Bangkok, Thailand. The cinematography seems really good.

The acting is also good so far. Jiang Mu's character is quite different from her other previous works. He Yu is also doing great as Jin Zhao.

It's really sad many people are giving low ratings without even watching the drama. I'd probably give this drama round 8 till now, but seeing the reviews, I decided to give a 10.

Anyway, if you can get past the sibling thingy, then it's an enjoyable watch. Quite different from mainstream Chinese dramas.

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Supid FL

I am at the 4rd episode. I don't like FL character. Is so strange, stupid, like a psyco. She is behaving like a spoiled teenager who has no contact with real life, like I cant believe that a woman will act like that and put herself in danger situation and put him also in the same spot .... she is so stupid ( for example he is in a entourage of gangsters and she tells him let go I'll protect you... wtf?!! a movie for teenagers who don't yet have developed emotional intelligence. )

... and with sexual desires of a grown woman of course... this is so toxic. The music sometimes is like in a sexual movie... a mix of things. A lost opportunity of a good drama. Yes, I get it. Some people like superficial and toxic dramas.

I wonder what is in the head of an actress to play a role like this at 29 after so many others dramas.

Yes, it's not my kind of tea, but I wished to have a good drama to watch.

I cant understand the Chinese women in dramas... Woman child archetype is the real thing there... this mental and emotional state is scares me... like what will be the future of relationships and life.

I like a lot the ML, and also his acting. His character is mature, present. I wished he had a grown partner and a spoiled adolescent. Next drama.

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Not your typical cdrama - give it a try.

First, if they had just shown ML as the boy next door neighbor who takes care of the FL instead of making him the adopted son, the irrational hatred for this movie would be much less. They clearly have no blood relation as the ML is the son of a friend of the FL lead's father. However, many negative reviews will focus on this. The other complaint is the FL's voice. If you don't like her voice, then no review will change your mind, so I suggest you skip her dramas as she uses this voice in most of them.

As for the show itself, this is one of those no-skips dramas that keeps you riveted from episode to episode.
1. The background of Thailand is amazingly beautiful. You get to see the lit-up streets, the waterfront boats, even the cafe at the end is cute.
2. The acting is superb, special shout-out to the ML for playing that bad boy seeking redemption character and making it so real. The smirk he does at times says so much.
3. The racing scenes are fairly good, the inclusion of real classic street racing cars was a bonus (RX-7, GTR Skyline, S200, etc.) As a former street racer, these cars bring back so much nostalgia.
4. Story kept it moving, no filler episodes with pointless arcs.

Some people may dislike the noble sacrifice arc but there is another review on here that explains it so well what was going on in the ML's thought process. In this case, the trope actually made sense.

Highly recommend if you like action and romance.

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WHAT A GOOD MOVIE

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really Good one

I really liked the two main character fl and ml and side characters too, story is really good,I finally find one that I don't have to drop ? i almost drop 90% of them in middle ,I think chinese should make less eps shows they can't keep it for long , this one the problem I think is Esther acting skills ? she doesn't have any facial expressions changes at all ? when there's sad or crying scene there's just tears , where the ml is really good at acting boy showed 100% sadness on his face , I liked and kept watching for him and story was good, they didn't ruin this by adding unnecessary drama, work
i think it was a bit lacking only for sad scenes, I'm watching her other drama and I don't see any issues there

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IN MY OPINION

For me, this drama stands out as an exceptional piece of storytelling, providing a captivating experience that perfectly complements the conclusion of our year alongside another gem "Shine On Me." The quality of the acting is nothing short of remarkable it evokes a strong emotional response that is incredibly satisfying to witness. The cast has managed to embody their characters so fully that their performances go beyond mere acting it feels as if they are genuinely living and breathing the complex emotions of love, pain, longing, happiness, and sadness. You can see these sentiments reflected vividly in their eyes making it a truly immersive experience. However, while this drama is undeniably great I felt that the pacing between episodes 21 and 25 was somewhat rushed. During this segment, certain narrative details seemed to be present merely for the sake of filling the time, lacking the weight and significance that they could have carried. This left me with a sense of emptiness, as if the writers could have devoted more attention to the smaller nuances that would have enriched the story.

The original soundtrack (OST) is absolutely phenomenal I find myself listening to it daily, as the melodies linger in my mind haunting and wonderful all the same. As both a drama and music enthusiast, I place a high value on a good OST, and this one truly stands out as one of the best I've encountered.

My journey with Esther Yu began back in 2019 or 2020, I believe, when I became introduced to her through my affection for Lisa. Over time Esther has shown remarkable growth and resilience, particularly in facing criticism regarding her speaking style and performance. Admittedly, I was part of the initial wave of negativity directed at her but as I started to explore her work in different dramas and witness her immense talent in singing and dancing I came to recognize just how far she has come. Today, I can confidently say she is a gifted actress and singer deserving of all the applause she receives. Similarly, I’ve had the pleasure of watching He Yu in various dramas, where he typically played supporting roles, and it brings me great joy to see him gaining recognition for his work. He is indeed a fantastic actor and while many others could fulfill his character's role his portrayal feels distinctly unique and resonant. It’s as though he completely embodies Jin Zhao and Jin Zhao embodies him.

One thing I truly appreciate about this drama is that it allows not only the lead actors but also the supporting talents to shine brightly. Their performances did not fall flat instead, they demonstrated their utmost potential, contributing significantly to the overall quality of the production.

I wholeheartedly recommend this drama! It is simply that good, and I believe many viewers will find it just as delightful as I have.

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