This review may contain spoilers
Well-presented hackneyed stories
I really liked the beginning and was already hoping it might turn out to be another "Prisoner of Beauty" or "Melody of Golden Age", but unfortunately, it turned out to be a complete disappointment.
The script feels like it was slapped together in a rush—the plot structure and the female lead were lifted straight from *The Glory* (why? it was that the weakest part of that drama), and to this pathological female lead—who borders on psychopathy and sadism—they added a family of handsome princes with masochistic tendencies. The beginning was unconventional, but unfortunately, that was the extent of the characterization; the writers didn't even attempt to develop the characters. They stayed exactly the same from start to finish. Such cardboard characters get boring very quickly.
Essentially, there were no surprises in this drama. It relies entirely on tropes that have been used for years, and every viewer is familiar with them.
The only things moving forward were some shallow little stories—briefly attention-grabbing, yet devoid of any emotional resonance or deeper concept. It was as if the screenwriter were simply ticking off boxes—rushing through the process without truly engaging with the characters or the story's logic. Competent, but lackluster.
In my opinion, if you want to portray characters as intelligent through their actions, you have to write those actions intelligently, too. Unfortunately, that didn't happen here—things that should have emerged naturally from the sequence of events are instead pulled out like a rabbit from a hat.
The director seemed to do the plot more harm than good; many of the shots completely lack flair. I understand that many visuals exist simply to give the viewer a lovely view of the actors -and I’m all for that; I enjoy looking at beautiful people in nice settings with good lighting—but such shots really ought to have some relevance to the action, which isn't necessarily the case here.
It’s a real shame that Meng ZiYi was done such a disservice by such a flat role; I really like her as an actress and appreciate her restrained acting style, but here she simply didn't stand a chance. They turned her into a mannequin for pretty outfits—a character who cares only about her own interests and takes pleasure in saying things that hurt others.
I kept waiting for her inner shell to crack so we could see her soul, but I’ve reached episode 23, and unfortunately, it turns out it wasn’t armor after all - just an empty cardboard box. It could have been such a fascinating story, bordering on something like "The Double", but it seems to have been beyond the capabilities of the screenwriters and the director.
This is the first role of He Yu’s that I’ve seen, and you can really sense him trying to make something of the part. I even feel a certain sympathy for him, as he likely wants to play a fully fleshed-out character and is doing his best to breathe some life into such a poorly written role. It probably isn't particularly satisfying to play a masochistic maniac in love - why in love reasons that aren't even entirely clear.
As for the rest of the actors—many of whom I really like and respect—it is truly a shame to even speak of them. I understand that people have to make a living and pay the electricity bills, but they shouldn't be subjected to such a disservice.
I don’t know why so much money was poured into such a weak script. Perhaps there was just enough propaganda thrown in to convince the approving official—who doesn't strike me as a particularly sophisticated connoisseur of literature or film—to greenlight the production.
All in all, it’s an aesthetically pleasing but unoriginal drama that lacks real characters; it’s an okay watch, but not one that leaves a lasting impression. It’s perfect for girls who have just broken up with their boyfriends and are, firstly, furious at the world, and secondly, dreaming of a Prince Charming who will love them regardless of logic or psychological realism. A tub of ice cream and this drama, should lift their spirits. In other situations, however, it might be worth considering something with more substance; many short dramas offer greater psychological depth.
The script feels like it was slapped together in a rush—the plot structure and the female lead were lifted straight from *The Glory* (why? it was that the weakest part of that drama), and to this pathological female lead—who borders on psychopathy and sadism—they added a family of handsome princes with masochistic tendencies. The beginning was unconventional, but unfortunately, that was the extent of the characterization; the writers didn't even attempt to develop the characters. They stayed exactly the same from start to finish. Such cardboard characters get boring very quickly.
Essentially, there were no surprises in this drama. It relies entirely on tropes that have been used for years, and every viewer is familiar with them.
The only things moving forward were some shallow little stories—briefly attention-grabbing, yet devoid of any emotional resonance or deeper concept. It was as if the screenwriter were simply ticking off boxes—rushing through the process without truly engaging with the characters or the story's logic. Competent, but lackluster.
In my opinion, if you want to portray characters as intelligent through their actions, you have to write those actions intelligently, too. Unfortunately, that didn't happen here—things that should have emerged naturally from the sequence of events are instead pulled out like a rabbit from a hat.
The director seemed to do the plot more harm than good; many of the shots completely lack flair. I understand that many visuals exist simply to give the viewer a lovely view of the actors -and I’m all for that; I enjoy looking at beautiful people in nice settings with good lighting—but such shots really ought to have some relevance to the action, which isn't necessarily the case here.
It’s a real shame that Meng ZiYi was done such a disservice by such a flat role; I really like her as an actress and appreciate her restrained acting style, but here she simply didn't stand a chance. They turned her into a mannequin for pretty outfits—a character who cares only about her own interests and takes pleasure in saying things that hurt others.
I kept waiting for her inner shell to crack so we could see her soul, but I’ve reached episode 23, and unfortunately, it turns out it wasn’t armor after all - just an empty cardboard box. It could have been such a fascinating story, bordering on something like "The Double", but it seems to have been beyond the capabilities of the screenwriters and the director.
This is the first role of He Yu’s that I’ve seen, and you can really sense him trying to make something of the part. I even feel a certain sympathy for him, as he likely wants to play a fully fleshed-out character and is doing his best to breathe some life into such a poorly written role. It probably isn't particularly satisfying to play a masochistic maniac in love - why in love reasons that aren't even entirely clear.
As for the rest of the actors—many of whom I really like and respect—it is truly a shame to even speak of them. I understand that people have to make a living and pay the electricity bills, but they shouldn't be subjected to such a disservice.
I don’t know why so much money was poured into such a weak script. Perhaps there was just enough propaganda thrown in to convince the approving official—who doesn't strike me as a particularly sophisticated connoisseur of literature or film—to greenlight the production.
All in all, it’s an aesthetically pleasing but unoriginal drama that lacks real characters; it’s an okay watch, but not one that leaves a lasting impression. It’s perfect for girls who have just broken up with their boyfriends and are, firstly, furious at the world, and secondly, dreaming of a Prince Charming who will love them regardless of logic or psychological realism. A tub of ice cream and this drama, should lift their spirits. In other situations, however, it might be worth considering something with more substance; many short dramas offer greater psychological depth.
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