Crimson Whirlwind
Filled with sweetness – a humorous and playful drama intermingled with an at-times intense story
Yes! This is how romance/business dramas should be done, really glad I picked this one up. The storyline was well thought out, our main leads were on fire with their couple chemistry and couple goals, and the overall consistency and characterisation was on point. Recommend this if you’re looking for something sweet and light, but also want a serious side.
STORY
Overall, the storyline was solid, very consistent and the pacing was good and there were so many funny moments. The story follows our female lead Jiang Jun entering the investment banking business world and just so happens by fate meets her childhood frenemy Yuan Shuai. Though they start off on the wrong foot, they slowly grow closer and learn to love each and support each other. They were truly couple goals and I loved that. Along the way, they work through business cases together, with our climax around the 25-30 episode mark where they work through a particularly personal case. Don’t be expecting a purely fluffy love story, it’s more than this, focusing on the balance between a working career and a love life. It gets very serious, touching on business ethicality and corruption as well, so be prepared for that. I really liked the first episodes as we get to know our leads and see them bond over cases (and realise their feelings for each other). It definitely started slowing down at the 24 mark and got a tad dramatic, but stick with it and power through, you will be rewarded (you’ll know what I mean when you get to that WHAT moment)! The ending 6 episodes were more for closure and did drag out a bit, but it was a satisfying and sweet ending.
The drama also tracks our two lead’s relationship. From flashbacks to their past, to high school and to their current selves. The drama managed to portray the differing stages of their relationship really well. First realising their love for each other, then going to that very physical and intimate chemistry with very slow and long kisses, to fast forward when they’ve been living together for a while and just feel so comfortable in each other’s company.
Things I didn’t like (drags down my ratings)
Petty break up and make up. Jiang Jun was characterised as a strong, independent, at times stubborn and also short-tempered woman. So a lot of the times, she got angry/annoyed at little things and would cold shoulder Yuan Shuai. But they’d make up again really quick. There was just a few too many of these flutterings for my liking and it got a bit old.
The side couple Xu Li and Li Xiao Chuan. I’m sorry, this story arc was just a complete bore for me. I thought Xu Li was a naïve, immature, wilful, whiney and clingy character who dropped all her aspirations/career to pursue a guy purely based on a love at first sight moment. Their relationship felt really forced and I felt they were so incompatible on so many levels despite them trying to convince us otherwise. I liked Xiao Chuan’s characterisation as a high IQ but very low EQ kind of guy, Riley Wang did really well in getting that right. But overall I couldn’t connect with this couple and it got really annoying at times.
ACTING/CAST
Such great chemistry between our two leads, I felt them love each other in their own ways and though they bickered at times, the whole way through they loved each other intensely. Their acting was really great, especially Leo Luo who was able to convey top boss vibes but also be very caring and passionate. I really liked how he was so supportive of her and let her do her thing, but was always looking out and protecting her when most needed. Also those couple goals, when one of them is in the wrong and sincerely apologises and talks it out like mature reasonable adults. (Omygosh and don’t forget Wang Cai the little corgi, what a cutie haha)!
Props to Kido Gao, Du Lei, our second male lead who put on such a great show. He was by far the most complex character I’ve seen. Though people thought he was evil, I actually felt he was just complex and very multi-dimensional. He had conflicting motivations, struggled to find his self-identity and all the while been constrained by the values from his family upbringing. He was really interesting to watch, seeing him shift into multiple dimensions of his character throughout the drama e.g. menacing and manipulative but also really flirty and playful. I thought he portrayed his character so well, especially nearing the end when he reveals his truest self.
I thought the rest of the supporting cast was great and did their characters justice especially Yuan’s Shuai loyal assistant and also the supportive Qiao Na.
MUSIC
Music matched the moments, felt very sweet.
REWATCH VALUE
I’d definitely re-watch this drama. With a solid start, nail-biting and intense middle, to a very sweet ending. It was full of really fun, funny and cute moments between our two leads and I loved watching their chemistry. I’d have to skip over all the side couple bits though, they were really off-putting and sorry just wasn’t feeling it.
Overall, a really great drama I’d recommend for someone looking for a balance between fluff and seriousness. I really appreciated the storyline, scripting and overall aesthetics of the production and costumes. I thought characters got their just desserts and justice was served, good triumphs evil. Love lasts despite trials and tribulations and stays sweet. What did you think? Keen to hear your thoughts! xx
STORY
Overall, the storyline was solid, very consistent and the pacing was good and there were so many funny moments. The story follows our female lead Jiang Jun entering the investment banking business world and just so happens by fate meets her childhood frenemy Yuan Shuai. Though they start off on the wrong foot, they slowly grow closer and learn to love each and support each other. They were truly couple goals and I loved that. Along the way, they work through business cases together, with our climax around the 25-30 episode mark where they work through a particularly personal case. Don’t be expecting a purely fluffy love story, it’s more than this, focusing on the balance between a working career and a love life. It gets very serious, touching on business ethicality and corruption as well, so be prepared for that. I really liked the first episodes as we get to know our leads and see them bond over cases (and realise their feelings for each other). It definitely started slowing down at the 24 mark and got a tad dramatic, but stick with it and power through, you will be rewarded (you’ll know what I mean when you get to that WHAT moment)! The ending 6 episodes were more for closure and did drag out a bit, but it was a satisfying and sweet ending.
The drama also tracks our two lead’s relationship. From flashbacks to their past, to high school and to their current selves. The drama managed to portray the differing stages of their relationship really well. First realising their love for each other, then going to that very physical and intimate chemistry with very slow and long kisses, to fast forward when they’ve been living together for a while and just feel so comfortable in each other’s company.
Things I didn’t like (drags down my ratings)
Petty break up and make up. Jiang Jun was characterised as a strong, independent, at times stubborn and also short-tempered woman. So a lot of the times, she got angry/annoyed at little things and would cold shoulder Yuan Shuai. But they’d make up again really quick. There was just a few too many of these flutterings for my liking and it got a bit old.
The side couple Xu Li and Li Xiao Chuan. I’m sorry, this story arc was just a complete bore for me. I thought Xu Li was a naïve, immature, wilful, whiney and clingy character who dropped all her aspirations/career to pursue a guy purely based on a love at first sight moment. Their relationship felt really forced and I felt they were so incompatible on so many levels despite them trying to convince us otherwise. I liked Xiao Chuan’s characterisation as a high IQ but very low EQ kind of guy, Riley Wang did really well in getting that right. But overall I couldn’t connect with this couple and it got really annoying at times.
ACTING/CAST
Such great chemistry between our two leads, I felt them love each other in their own ways and though they bickered at times, the whole way through they loved each other intensely. Their acting was really great, especially Leo Luo who was able to convey top boss vibes but also be very caring and passionate. I really liked how he was so supportive of her and let her do her thing, but was always looking out and protecting her when most needed. Also those couple goals, when one of them is in the wrong and sincerely apologises and talks it out like mature reasonable adults. (Omygosh and don’t forget Wang Cai the little corgi, what a cutie haha)!
Props to Kido Gao, Du Lei, our second male lead who put on such a great show. He was by far the most complex character I’ve seen. Though people thought he was evil, I actually felt he was just complex and very multi-dimensional. He had conflicting motivations, struggled to find his self-identity and all the while been constrained by the values from his family upbringing. He was really interesting to watch, seeing him shift into multiple dimensions of his character throughout the drama e.g. menacing and manipulative but also really flirty and playful. I thought he portrayed his character so well, especially nearing the end when he reveals his truest self.
I thought the rest of the supporting cast was great and did their characters justice especially Yuan’s Shuai loyal assistant and also the supportive Qiao Na.
MUSIC
Music matched the moments, felt very sweet.
REWATCH VALUE
I’d definitely re-watch this drama. With a solid start, nail-biting and intense middle, to a very sweet ending. It was full of really fun, funny and cute moments between our two leads and I loved watching their chemistry. I’d have to skip over all the side couple bits though, they were really off-putting and sorry just wasn’t feeling it.
Overall, a really great drama I’d recommend for someone looking for a balance between fluff and seriousness. I really appreciated the storyline, scripting and overall aesthetics of the production and costumes. I thought characters got their just desserts and justice was served, good triumphs evil. Love lasts despite trials and tribulations and stays sweet. What did you think? Keen to hear your thoughts! xx
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