Jerry Yan is one of the most handsome Taiwanese actors and I have watched him in a few dramas. His character here is quite different from the immature-but-funny-and-sweet brats he generally plays. Here, he's a cold, ruthless businessman who does not believe in love or marriage. I liked him here and he definitely stole the show! Wu Tong is really clumsy and at times, really stupid. She's the perfect damsel-in-distress, something that ticked me off a bit. I'm kind of used to strong drama female leads now and characters like her make me want to roll my eyes at them every minute. If I got a penny for every time she fell down, I would be a millionaire. But the woman is plain stubborn. She never got rid of those heels (and how did she afford them anyway since she barely managed to earn her living). But anyways her character wasn't entirely hate-worthy. I mean, she was the sweet, innocent, perfect lead after all. Tong Tong was alright. Nothing compared to Xaio Le obviously (Xaio Le was too classic). Supporting characters were fine. My personal favorite was the special assistant.
The OST was good enough. This was my third Chinese drama (I think) and although these dramas are longer in terms of episodes, they're enjoyable. I could rewatch Jerry Yan's scenes with his child and Wu Tong but the rest I would definitely skip in the second round (if there is one). It's a good drama overall and when it comes down to it, definitely worth the watch.
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Friends, being too forgiving only makes you more attractive to the kinds of men who mistreat women and therefore need to be forgiven a lot.
Content Warning: contains a sexual assault scene while the female lead is unconscious. The assaulter is forgiven instantly and never truly held accountable.
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The saving grace of this drama is definitely the OTP. The two main leads, Jerry Yan and Tong Li Ya, had superb chemistry. They both had outstanding performances in this drama, and I was captivated by their scenes together. Usually in other dramas, the OTP is most important to me; in dramas like this one, however, the child is just as important. Unfortunately, the child actor was very average. He was cute, yes, but nothing about his performance stood at all. His dubbing severely detracted from his performance, and his acting was mediocre. The supporting actors were alright. Nothing particular. Zhong Mou’s(Jerry Yan) assistant was funny, and of course, Jerry Yan himself was just phenomenal. His acting was on point and his crying scenes were just so emotional provoking. I personally didn’t like Wu Tong’s (TongLiYa) character, although her acting was fantastic. She is a strong mother, but she is also such a pushover.
Some of the music didn’t fit with the scenes, especially the english songs played at the club scenes made me cringe. Jerry Yan’s ending song, and Jin Sha’s song, however, were amazing. I loved it.
For me, re-watch value isn’t that high. I would re-watch some scenes between the OTP, but I don’t think I would watch the whole drama again. In the end, I do recommend this drama if you're in the mood for a heavy melodrama. Even with all the ridiculous plots, it still managed to make me tear up in some scenes. If you also care about an amazing OTP, like me, then I recommend watching just for the OTP. 7.5/8.5
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Acting falls short of my expectation. I think both leads did an ok job, but not to the extent to be impressed. I know the female character is trying to portray her deep and touching love for the child, but she acts too hysterical and crazy by constantly worrying and crying at the earlier episodes. I pity her though, because she has to cry a lot for those scenes. Her crying skills is good, but overly excessive which loses its appeal.
I didn't like the slow pacing of the show and they focused quite a lot on side characters (the 2nd male lead, 2nd and 3rd female lead, the male lead's secretary and mother to just name a few..) which wasn't interesting but in fact feels like fillers. I prefer drama that focuses on the leads and properly develop their relationship. The main leads' lovey-dovey scenes were cute and had sufficient chemistry, but sadly, the drama didn't had a lot of this.
Development wise, I can't see how the male lead develop feelings for the female lead. He kind of suddenly transited from "I want nothing to do with her" to "I like you, please be together with me."
In conclusion, with average acting, slow pacing with fillers and poor development of characters, I would give this a 3/10, just for the main couple's chemistry. Otherwise, I don't recommend the 34 episodes.
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For the music, I just love the soundtrack especially the instrumentals and Jerry Yan's Having One of Me as both an ending and an insert song. I may have not heard his beautiful voice in this drama but at least his song was still playing in it ;)
For the rewatch value, I believe that there are only a few dramas worth rewatching since I'm also not a fan of rewatching. However, I'd love to rewatch some scenes because of the emotional impact that they gave me when I watched them for the first time. Overall, I haven't watched so many good C-dramas and I already consider this as one of the few good ones so I recommend this to anyone who's willing to try a good Cdrama. And for Jerry Yan fans like me, you definitely shouldn't miss this!
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LnF was certainly an unexpected find. I loved the story which was heartwarming and addicting. The acting was good and chemistry was great. Especially the love scenes were so natural as compared to korean drama, it shows how a couple should and do act when they discover they are in love.
It was also a pleasant change not to have any evil baddies creating constant friction.
The only negative was the length, wish it was shorter, maybe 20 or so episodes. I loved the first half of the drama more than the latter, especially I hate the writers putting in fillers to keep the drama running for so long.
overall good romantic and addictive. I would definately recommend to watch if your are looking for this genre.
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I would have given this a higher mark if not for some of the pissed off moments I had watching a really naive to the point of being stupid female lead. It was really annoying seeing how many times she did the damsel in distress moments by physically falling down in front of her man. Aside from that, excellant drama, my first China drama, I look forward to seeing more dramas from there now.
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This review may contain spoilers
End, you are not worth the journey...
I actually go back and forth from liking and hating this drama. I feel so bipolar. This is such a guilty pleasure that I want to forget yet once in a while pops in my head to call me for a rewatch.But watching this again now, I definitely unsatisfied with the ending.
First off, the good things:
As many reviews has mentioned has similarity with Autumn Concerto (a drama which is dear to my heart), and in which case yes, the plot narrative is definitely the same.
From the secret pregnancy, then the cute toddler kid, with struggling and loving single mom, and a rich jerk baby daddy who has a pretty sophisticated GF. It is like a carbon copy of plot device from Autumn Concerto. I always liked those secret pregnancy dramas with cutie toddlers. I keep rooting for the babies to experience having a full family and their happy ever after.
Sadly for this drama, the bad things:
The happy-ever-after here feels like a bad case of Stockholm syndrome or abused woman who just cant get away from the abuser.
I mean, the ML is one big BIG jerk, who is characterized as smart yet get easily manipulated. For all his brains and heart, he can easily forgive other people who manipulated him, berated him and used him; but then he turns to bite and distrust the FL pretty fast and deep. I get mad at my screen. The worst part is how he conscientiously separated the mother from her kid. That is just wrong.
I keep waiting and hoping for an alternate universe dramaland, where the FL ends up with a kind man not the ML.
But sadly the SML in this drama is the same type of cruel or way worse than the ML. SML is way into the competition with the ML, he uses, hurts and assaults the FL for his own selfish agenda. He should have spent some time in jail. In the end, all were forgiven.
Then there was the mother-in-law who was horrible as a mother and worse as a grandma and just wrong as a human being. Then there father-in-law, who was as horrible as everyone in his family. they were one big lump questionable and cruel people.
I feel bad for the kid on How he will be raised by these people. He grew up with a kind mom for 5 years but after that he will be raised by these tr*sh people. This family doesn't deserve the FL or her kid. But sadly she doesn't realized it, cause she is a doormat of a character. I mean i get that she has some mental issues and easy to be manipulated, but to have a female lead who is weak just makes me so angry.
i wish there was an alternate ending, with her having enough backbone to Kidnapped her kid and goes somewhere away. Or just file for divorce and use ML's brothers manipulation, ML's mom bitchy attitude, and ML distrust in her as the cause her ultimate distress and demand to get a big fat alimony with sole custody of her kids.
Or this totally needs to be a transmigrating drama. She dies giving birth and she goes back to the time before she gets pregnant with her child and makes a conscious choice not to meet the ML and the SML. They are the bane of her sad experiences.
I could not get over the the narrative which was wrong in so many ways. and the acting isn't even to mention. everyone was all kinds of shallow portrayal.
The journey was one roller-coaster, and the ending still feels like a horror train crash with the zombies eating away the mangled disarray of a plot in this drama...
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This one has the vibe of Autumns Concerto, domineering ML + meek girl formula
I was interested with the show mainly because of JY. Story was your typical domineering CEO and a meek nice girl finding each other again and falling in love.I don't like FL very much though. Either she's a very good actress playing a meek girl or she has really weak acting skills.
Somewhere in the middle of the story, I can already see the head on collision traffic ahead. FL's character is very weak, so I like the domineering ML better even though he's rude most of the time.
Sure I can understand hiding a pregnancy and fighting for custody afterwards. What I don't understand was her keeping close contact with the 2nd ML. It's like courting for disaster..
Also with the final episode, can't the writers just leave them in peace to have their happy ending? I love a happy ending, always. What I don't like is the part where everything was either forgiven or forgotten..
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Acting: If I have to say something about acting here I would say only one line, "The actors satisfied their characters." I loved acting. There was no extra drama & the emotions were very well expressed. The actors didn't let the drama to be a drag & I didn't abandon it. Seriously it was good.
Music: There was only OST but it was great!!! <3
Story: Well I just started on the spur & read the plot after watching one episode. The story perfectly depicts the parental love & how a single unthoughtful step in life can change everything. I liked how Wu Tong & Zhong Mou relationship established. It wasn't like love at first sight & here & there & everything's set. But something that took time & they understood each other. They overcome different problems together & alone. I loved that part a lot. It has a unique charm in it!!! The ending was most satisfying.
P.S: It's really worth your time!!
P.S.S: While watching it you'll definitely notice the phone & it's no use complaining. The only person who has phone according to 2014 is Xaing Jun!!! I was like "why are they using those phones!!! why!!"
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This review may contain spoilers
Loving, Never Forgetting is a very good drama that will stir all kinds of emotions from the viewer. The drama is not perfect, but it is a very good watch. The leading male characters are quite imperfect and wounded human beings and the lead female can be exhaustingly naïve, but they are the reason that the plot keeps viewers watching. This drama brings about how the decisions and grudges of past generations can exert painful memories and feelings in their offspring that can bring disastrous consequences for all people involved. In this drama there are many obstacles and major character growth before the characters can finally find peace within themselves to be able to move on into a happy ending. The leading couple has good chemistry but the leading lady causes a lot of misunderstanding while trying to bring the family together and she became a victim to her own naivety and simple-mindedness. Still, the drama is a good watch if not for some extreme leniency toward the wrong doers. Overall, a nice drama, enjoy it! Was this review helpful to you?
And yet, Loving, Never Forgetting managed to do just that.
A story of a one-night stand that changed the lives of the Li and Xiang families.
A tale of custody fights, gripping parent-child relationships, sibling rivalry and power struggles. The pacing is excellent. Show offers a nice blend of introspective moments between mothers and sons. Similarly, underneath the surface, we see simmering bondings between the fathers and the sons, foreign and yet familiar — quiet, scary but endearing.
Jerry Yan is superb playing the aloof and tough businessman Zhong Mou but his skillful acting makes me empathizes with him despite the cold facade he puts up in the custody battle, yanking his son away from the only mother he knows and loves. The tenderness he shows towards Tong Tong in the moment of need is pure magic.
Even though Zhong Mou grew up without experiencing maternal or paternal warmth, he is innately capable of seeking deep within himself to shower love for a son that is suddenly thrust into his otherwise lonely life. Sworn never to fall in love and marry, his impenetrable wall of bachelorhood gets melted brick by brick by the generous, loving, and open-minded Wu Tong. Initially skeptical of her motives, he keeps her at arm’s length but finds himself increasingly drawn to the woman whom, despite not remembering their moment of intimacy, bore him a son.
Tong Liya is perfect in the role of Wu Tong. She’s strong-willed but in a feminine way. Her maternal instincts are powerful: protective, unselfish but realistic. Some viewers feel she’s feeble which is somewhat true given that she's naive to a fault but her flaws are understandable and do not detract from the overall story arc. She makes me feel her pain and I cried alongside her when she has to part with Tong Tong, struggling to balance her own needs against what’s best for Tong Tong.
As a family melodrama with its angelic female character, Wu Tong is someone that believes in the good of everyone and naively thinks she has the power to effect change. Despite being told time and time again, that 30 years of hate and bitterness just doesn’t go away overnight, she continues to march on inside her own cocoon thinking somehow she can be the catalyst that will propel family unity.
The chemistry between Zhong Mou and Wu Tong is off the charts earth shattering. I don’t know how many times I re-watched the scene where Zhong Mou broach the elusive subject that he is falling for her. This OTP is undeniably a match made in heaven.
Tong Tong is adorable and just perfect for this role, maybe too perfect (said some) but then again, I didn’t mind that at all. His delightful interactions with Wu Tong and Zhong Mou warm my heart and put a smile on my face.
As for the supporting casts, I must say this is one of those few rare times when I’m hard pressed to complain about any character. Each has his/her own honest story to tell. Kudos goes to Personal Assistant, sidekick extraordinaire, Lin Jian Dong whose loyalty and affable demeanor gives the show light-hearted moments. His dorky affection for Liang Yue Qi is subtle, like a tree-lined vista, providing much needed shades to its oblivious passersby. The most villainous of the characters, Xiang Jun, sent shivers down my spine for a few episodes, making me feel the hate for him brewing but the hate slowly withers away as the show winds down towards redemption. There isn’t a moment where I felt like fast forwarding. Instead show kept me up late and made me waste away whole weekends drooling for what’s next.
If I had one complaint, it would be the ending episodes which felt like scene fillers. I could easily do without these last few “dramas” — my heart did not pound as much as it did in the beginning as Zhong Mou overcomes one crisis after another. The ending could have been wrapped up a few episodes earlier.
Loved the OST especially the one by Jerry Yan.
A heartfelt melodrama that touches two generations and the bad blood that binds the Li and Xiang families, and ultimately a woman who wants to unite them all. One that moved my soul. A must-watch.
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