This review may contain spoilers
Comedy From Afar, A Tragedy Up Close
Tan Jian Ci does a phenomenal job in his portrayal of the ML and manages to turn a crabby, dislike-able ML into someone kinda cute. Don't get me wrong, TJC carried the drama and without him, this easily could have been an angsty melodrama. He has a natural talent for comedy and tongue-in-cheek moments. If it weren't for him, I most likely would have dropped the drama.
But please, let's be serious. The ML is a love that I don't wish upon anyone. Who else would want a crabby, sarcastic, sometimes downright rude good-for-nothing that cannot wash dishes, cook, clean, or do laundry and thinks the whole world runs around him. It might give viewers a little PTSD because we all know someone like this, but they often are not some conglomerate group's heir.
From afar, it's a comedy but up close, it's a tragedy. The poor FL who was on track to being a trad wife gets dumped by her fiance for a rich girl and her earnesty taking care of him and his whole family is thought of as suffocating. But because she was so set on being a trad wife, FL gave up a lot of career opportunities. Not only does she end up broke from buying a marital home by herself, she also has no job prospects and is taken advantage of multiple times by many different people. As the author would have it, the ML comes in and saves the day every time something happens. He loans her money, teaches her how to navigate work, diffuses or resolves plots against her, and eventually gives her a job (multiple times). It is safe to say that without ML, FL would have been cannon fodder and likely would have just been another unfortunate scapegoat. Unfortunately, she is also accompanied by several well-meaning but troublesome friends who don't always make the situation better and only add to the situation.
Needless to say, my issues lie with the script and characters but not the actors themselves. Wang Chu Ran does a great job in this drama because she manages to balance the fine line between drama, comedy, and tragedy. It's just TJC blows the entire cast out of the water in this one because he quite literally dominates the screen. In short, it's a male-saviour drama where the ML saves the damsel in distress. While it's not outright misogynistic, there are enough red flags for you to not love it and rewatch it later.
Red Flags (not an inclusive list):
- The streamer/front desk/dancer friend x the stalkerish gamer couple = No, just no. Completely omitting them would have made the drama better
- The random mini break ups the main couple goes through followed by reconciliation without changing any behaviors
- The last minute selling of the house because the ex's mom is sick (bro, there's literally no obligation to do anything for them anymore)
But please, let's be serious. The ML is a love that I don't wish upon anyone. Who else would want a crabby, sarcastic, sometimes downright rude good-for-nothing that cannot wash dishes, cook, clean, or do laundry and thinks the whole world runs around him. It might give viewers a little PTSD because we all know someone like this, but they often are not some conglomerate group's heir.
From afar, it's a comedy but up close, it's a tragedy. The poor FL who was on track to being a trad wife gets dumped by her fiance for a rich girl and her earnesty taking care of him and his whole family is thought of as suffocating. But because she was so set on being a trad wife, FL gave up a lot of career opportunities. Not only does she end up broke from buying a marital home by herself, she also has no job prospects and is taken advantage of multiple times by many different people. As the author would have it, the ML comes in and saves the day every time something happens. He loans her money, teaches her how to navigate work, diffuses or resolves plots against her, and eventually gives her a job (multiple times). It is safe to say that without ML, FL would have been cannon fodder and likely would have just been another unfortunate scapegoat. Unfortunately, she is also accompanied by several well-meaning but troublesome friends who don't always make the situation better and only add to the situation.
Needless to say, my issues lie with the script and characters but not the actors themselves. Wang Chu Ran does a great job in this drama because she manages to balance the fine line between drama, comedy, and tragedy. It's just TJC blows the entire cast out of the water in this one because he quite literally dominates the screen. In short, it's a male-saviour drama where the ML saves the damsel in distress. While it's not outright misogynistic, there are enough red flags for you to not love it and rewatch it later.
Red Flags (not an inclusive list):
- The streamer/front desk/dancer friend x the stalkerish gamer couple = No, just no. Completely omitting them would have made the drama better
- The random mini break ups the main couple goes through followed by reconciliation without changing any behaviors
- The last minute selling of the house because the ex's mom is sick (bro, there's literally no obligation to do anything for them anymore)
Was this review helpful to you?
