Avenging your past self from a swindler is entertaining.
What would you do if your past self, whose failed marriage ended up with your own demise (financially and physically), was coming to meet you 7 years in the past as a man? This is the topic of this revenge drama. Would you trust a stranger who says he is you?This drama is entertaining and sometimes goofy. The Female Lead is on the way to her own death and Male Lead has to save her, because he is her past self in disguise. I laughed a lot and I also was angry a lot watching this drama.
On a serious note, This drama asks the question about regret in life.
What if we could make up for our regretted actions. Would our life be better or worse? Is there a butterfly effect?
I take this drama for a beacon of hope at what life could be if the good choices are made. I loved to follow the steps of Gu Nian ( past-self and future-self ) struggling through all the contradictions of her persona. Would you take a road if you knew it was leading to your demise? Get ready to challenge your own understanding with this drama.
Pros :
- Strong and badass Female Lead and Male Lead.
- Good acting : First time I see Luo Zheng sensitive like that in a gender swapping role. I like it.
- Fast pacing .
- Goofy moments.
- I like the OST.
- Sismance and Bromance.
- This plot could go further to a long drama. I could see FL drifting into parallel spaces :)
Cons:
- The actress seems anorexic to me, FL is supposed to be a skinny tomboy. This is really it. I am afraid for her when I see her.
- Female Lead is annoying sometimes. She is so stubborn, it is almost unbearable.
- Time travel logic inaccurency throughout the second half of the show. If what we see is FL's real life experience. If all of this pure virtual reality, then it is totally logical and that would be a good point.
- The ending is great but some elements feel logically off. I still like the drama. So don't relate too much to the logic to appreciate this drama. So weird.Someone is born out of thin air.
Overall:
I like everything in this drama. The flaws are minors. The plot is well executed. I am annoyed because Female Lead is so stubborn. But I enjoy the show and I recommend it if you like revenge dramas with badass Female Lead.
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Had a brilliant idea and potential to be a good drama but...
Life is a Choice had an intriguing premise that promised a thrilling blend of drama, fantasy, and emotional depth. The concept of the protagonist being betrayed by her husband and best friend, losing her daughter, and then being given a second chance at life—albeit in another man’s body—was brimming with potential. While the drama started strong, it stumbled in the latter half, but its initial charm and standout elements deserve recognition.
What Worked:
1. Mother-Daughter Relationship: Though fleeting, the bond between the FL and her daughter was heartfelt and poignant, leaving a lasting impression.
2. Sismance and Bromance: The camaraderie between characters, whether it was supportive female friendships or humorous male dynamics, added depth and charm.
3. Outstanding OST: The music beautifully captured the emotional highs and lows of the story, enhancing pivotal moments.
4. FL Fighting Her Younger Self: The early episodes, especially those where the FL wrestled (literally and emotionally) with her past self, were captivating and fresh.
5. 2ML’s Performance: The second male lead’s portrayal of an irredeemable “trash” character was so compelling it evoked visceral reactions, proving his acting prowess.
What Fell Short:
1. The FL’s Stubbornness: While a flawed protagonist can be relatable, the FL’s repeated poor choices and lack of growth became frustrating. Her stubbornness, which initially seemed like resilience, quickly crossed into tedious territory.
2. Repetitive Plot: The narrative lost its momentum, with the middle episodes dragging as conflicts and themes became redundant.
3. Forced Romance: The romantic arc felt unnatural and out of sync with the story’s emotional core.
4. Unfulfilled Potential: Despite its creative premise, the drama struggled to maintain its uniqueness, gradually becoming just another time-travel trope.
Overall Thoughts:
Life is a Choice delivered an impressive first half that hooked viewers with its originality, emotional weight, and engaging character dynamics. However, its second half lost the charm due to repetitive storytelling and underwhelming character development. That said, the drama’s strengths, including its creative concept, strong friendships, and emotional moments, make it worth a watch—especially the first ten episodes.
Rating: 7.5/10
A drama with a brilliant premise, great moments, but a lackluster finish.
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This review may contain spoilers
loving this so far - mild spoilers
we all agree that Luo Zheng has been typecast for most of his movies.f I personally am a fan, but I agree that some of the movies he's been in are mediocre. I'm sure he'd agree. This is a wonderful break from that, where he plays a woman sent back from the future to prevent his past self from marrying a man who will lead her to a tragic end.Luo Zheng does a great job playing this role. He's part comedic, party heartbroken. 2FL is wonderful as a best friend who is lying and cheating on her bestie with the husband, but you see her inner conflict, her longing for the man as well as the guilt over hurting her friend. And the hurt she shows when she finds out the lies or finds out she's not chosen.
2ML is a dirtbag. And the actor is soooo good at portraying it! He's narcissistic sociopath who uses others for his own gains, and at times I was drawn into his emotions and felt sorry for him, and was rooting for him, hoping he'd changed. I know, that says a lot about my gullibility. The fact that both women are duped and go back to him after realizing his lies was, of course, enraging, but also fascinating.
Weakest is the FL. Acting was ok. But reasonable minds may differ.
OST I remember a few songs in the show that I really liked, but others weren't memorable.
The script has some wonderful twists and turns that are keeping me guessing.
Give Luo Zheng a more array of roles, please. He can do it.
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