This review may contain spoilers
So much more could have been done with the story
I mainly started this drama because of the two leads. I genuinely enjoy watching their work. I first became familiar with Zhang Ling He through "The Princess Royal" and thought his acting was excellent, so I wanted to see more of his projects. Wang Chu Ran caught my attention in "Are You the One", where I really enjoyed her performance and the way she conveys emotions on screen — especially impressive considering how many dramas I’ve seen with weak acting.
The supporting cast was also strong, and overall I felt the acting and casting were one of the drama’s biggest strengths. The chemistry between the two leads was amazing, and I truly hope they reunite in another project.
However, despite the great cast, the drama fell short in several major areas, which unfortunately led to the actors receiving unfair hate. These are the main issues I felt held the drama back:
1. The Sad and Confusing Ending -
From what I understand, the original author is known for tragic stories, but I really wish the drama had chosen a different direction. The ending killed almost every character, and I would have preferred a happy ending for the main couple in the actual timeline we followed from the beginning — not just in a parallel universe.
The parallel universe concept was a nice touch, but it didn’t make up for how unclear the real ending was. For example, I didn’t even realize Qing Yi died until I went online and read an article explaining it. The emotional impact was lost because the storytelling was confusing, and the execution of the tragedy felt messy rather than meaningful.
2. Killing Off Everyone / Rushed Pacing -
After Qing Yi’s return, the drama suddenly became extremely fast‑paced, as if it was rushing to wrap up every remaining plot point. It would have been much better if the story had taken its time early on to set things up properly, then slowly addressed the conflicts instead of cramming everything into the end. And honestly — they killed off EVERYONE!! I get that Republican‑era dramas tend to be more dramatic, but this was excessive. Almost every character the audience becomes attached to ends up dead. One or two deaths can make sense, maybe even three, but wiping out nearly the entire cast just leaves a bitter taste. Some deaths, like Qing Yi’s subordinate, felt completely unnecessary.
3. Lack of Emotional Bond With the Child / Family Issues -
From the beginning, many family members — especially Qing Yi’s biological mother — were written as one‑dimensional, which explains why both leads grew up the way they did. I accepted that. But because they experienced so much neglect, I expected the story to show them building a healthier relationship with their own child, Le’an.
After Qing Yi’s return, I wanted to see him spend more time with his son and try to win his heart. It’s unrealistic for an adult to suddenly say, “I’m not your uncle, I’m your father,” and have the child accept it instantly. The drama missed a huge opportunity to show a meaningful father‑son bond developing.
As for Susu, her constant emotional push‑and‑pull and her revenge-driven choices were frustrating, even though I understand what the story was trying to portray. Still, after Qing Yi returned, I wish she had shown more affection and finally told him she loved him — something he had been longing to hear since the beginning.
Conclusion -
The story was clearly meant to be a tragedy, but it fell short in many areas. The hate the actors are receiving is unfair, because the issues came from the writing and production choices, not their performances. If the script had allowed it, the cast could have delivered much stronger romantic and emotional moments.
As someone unfamiliar with the original novel, I found the drama disappointing despite its beautiful visuals, strong acting, and even some great OSTs. I truly hope the main couple reunites in a future project where they can fully showcase their talent — something this drama didn’t allow them to do.
The supporting cast was also strong, and overall I felt the acting and casting were one of the drama’s biggest strengths. The chemistry between the two leads was amazing, and I truly hope they reunite in another project.
However, despite the great cast, the drama fell short in several major areas, which unfortunately led to the actors receiving unfair hate. These are the main issues I felt held the drama back:
1. The Sad and Confusing Ending -
From what I understand, the original author is known for tragic stories, but I really wish the drama had chosen a different direction. The ending killed almost every character, and I would have preferred a happy ending for the main couple in the actual timeline we followed from the beginning — not just in a parallel universe.
The parallel universe concept was a nice touch, but it didn’t make up for how unclear the real ending was. For example, I didn’t even realize Qing Yi died until I went online and read an article explaining it. The emotional impact was lost because the storytelling was confusing, and the execution of the tragedy felt messy rather than meaningful.
2. Killing Off Everyone / Rushed Pacing -
After Qing Yi’s return, the drama suddenly became extremely fast‑paced, as if it was rushing to wrap up every remaining plot point. It would have been much better if the story had taken its time early on to set things up properly, then slowly addressed the conflicts instead of cramming everything into the end. And honestly — they killed off EVERYONE!! I get that Republican‑era dramas tend to be more dramatic, but this was excessive. Almost every character the audience becomes attached to ends up dead. One or two deaths can make sense, maybe even three, but wiping out nearly the entire cast just leaves a bitter taste. Some deaths, like Qing Yi’s subordinate, felt completely unnecessary.
3. Lack of Emotional Bond With the Child / Family Issues -
From the beginning, many family members — especially Qing Yi’s biological mother — were written as one‑dimensional, which explains why both leads grew up the way they did. I accepted that. But because they experienced so much neglect, I expected the story to show them building a healthier relationship with their own child, Le’an.
After Qing Yi’s return, I wanted to see him spend more time with his son and try to win his heart. It’s unrealistic for an adult to suddenly say, “I’m not your uncle, I’m your father,” and have the child accept it instantly. The drama missed a huge opportunity to show a meaningful father‑son bond developing.
As for Susu, her constant emotional push‑and‑pull and her revenge-driven choices were frustrating, even though I understand what the story was trying to portray. Still, after Qing Yi returned, I wish she had shown more affection and finally told him she loved him — something he had been longing to hear since the beginning.
Conclusion -
The story was clearly meant to be a tragedy, but it fell short in many areas. The hate the actors are receiving is unfair, because the issues came from the writing and production choices, not their performances. If the script had allowed it, the cast could have delivered much stronger romantic and emotional moments.
As someone unfamiliar with the original novel, I found the drama disappointing despite its beautiful visuals, strong acting, and even some great OSTs. I truly hope the main couple reunites in a future project where they can fully showcase their talent — something this drama didn’t allow them to do.
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