A surprisingly good show from Mainland China, especially since a lot of the dramas that have been released lately have been unimpressive. This is a show mainly for those that want an older cast- and by that I mean past the age of 20 somethings. It’s much more realistic to have executives that are the correct age, and if you’re going to have a couple that are reunited again after a previous romance, like this does, to actually have some years on them. Let’s face it, a separation of a year or so is just not that drastic. That’s more of a temporary break up.

The script writers and producers were honest about their world of entertainment and letting us see into it a little bit. We might forget with all the glitz and glamour how savage the world can be for them. I wouldn’t wish this life on anyone I cared about, even as I appreciate what they bring to us. It’s true that artists suffer for their art. The topic of depression, as others have said, is handled really well, I just wish they would handle the problem of overwork less cavalierly. They portray it as necessary and in a more positive light (like she's a badass because she does this) rather than for the serious health risk it really is. Overwork can lead to depression and mental illness, as well as a host of other health problems. Probably not getting sick when caught in the rain for five minutes though. Just saying.

Cinematography: It's helmed by the same director as Le Coup de Foudre, so a lot of the cinematography and style will feel familiar, such as the sunlight filtering through the leaves and classic window shots. It’s kind of nice when you can recognize an artistic style right off the bat.

Cast: The actors are really good. You get a full range here. The MFL, whom I first saw as the gentle empress in Yanxi Palace, is just the epitome of refinement. The MML, Godfrey Gao, our Magnus Bane from the Mortal Instruments series, just breaks your heart in so many ways. The supporting cast is also pretty good. You kinda love the little starlet and at the same time kind of want to have a do-over in raising her so she’s not such a brat. The SML- who was a bit of a surprise- makes it easy to become really fond of him. He comes across as a bit of an old soul, certainly doesn’t seem his age, beyond his face of course. I love that the antagonists in this aren’t vicious just for the sake of evil. They all have their motivations, and it makes sense even if you don’t particularly like it.

Misc: The music is really on point, about what I’d expect from a Chinese drama. Even if the show itself lets me down I can usually enjoy the OST. :) The title of the drama was a bit misleading though. Like, the opposite of what it actually was, just like Le Coup de Foudre. That show’s romance was anything but a bolt of lightning, it was a really warm and lovely slow burn. This show was more about always having someone there for you, even if you didn’t know it or appreciate it. Perhaps this director lives in Alice’s world.
Alice: ” If I had a world of my own, everything would be nonsense. Nothing would be what it is because everything would be what it isn't. And contrary-wise; what it is it wouldn't be, and what it wouldn't be, it would.”\o/






****slight spoiler****







Is this far enough down? Ok. There is a strange otherworldly parallel in the last few episodes where one of the characters dies (won’t say who), and the MFL is talking to the MML about how short life is and how you never know when you or someone you care about is going to leave this world…. It just sent chills down my spine knowing what happened to Godfrey not too long after that. I still get them whenever I think about it. For those that don’t know or remember, Godfrey Gao, the MML, dies in RL soon after the making of this show, ostensibly from a heart attack. It’s hard to watch this show at all without your heart aching when you see him, but this just .. was hard to watch. I hope in his next life he is able to claim as much happiness as he brought to others in this one.