Peridot83
Exactly what you'd expect, but then . . .
I thought I knew how this would end, but the last four episodes delivered something different.
At this point, the dramas featuring young, modern love in the big city amidst a growing career are all interchangeable. This drama, however, had two strong points - a mature, complex set of themes that truly stick with you, and a genuine love for the fashion and entertainment industries.
Eleanor Lee was adorable as Nuannuan, while also being competent and fierce. Her slow fall for the male lead was believeable and endearing. Leon Leong as Han Che did fine as a cold, 'genius' who is hiding a dramatic flaw and who desperately wants to be loved and understood.
The secondary romance was very well-acted and while more dramatic/cringeworthy also very much held my interest.
Music was competent. I would not rewatch - there's no particular scene that really stuck out to me.
I grade on other criteria:
Complex Themes: 9
A wonderful execution of: how success finds it way in many forms, and that you can find a fulfilling life if you are open to different possibilities. How finding true friends and partners - people with kind, generous inner character can be the most precious, and necessary components of a contended life. Also, a minor theme, but that it's important to be clear and express your feelings in words.
Character Growth: 7.5
Before the last four episodes, I'd have put this at a 5. In the end, though, Han Che realized he was endangering what was truly important to him by not changing his behaviors and actually changed. It's a truly rare quality in a person, and I liked how NuanNuan appreciated and recognized this.
Complex Women Characters and relationships between women: 8
Nuannuan was part of a girl group and has a female best friend. She also meets mentors and coworkers who are women all along the way. These relationships are by and large not complex, but they are plentiful with lots of screen time.
Production values: 7.5
The production is limited, and not very cinematic, but I did like that there was a lot of coverage of the fashion industry and a good representation of different styles, brand and clothes.
I thought I knew how this would end, but the last four episodes delivered something different.
At this point, the dramas featuring young, modern love in the big city amidst a growing career are all interchangeable. This drama, however, had two strong points - a mature, complex set of themes that truly stick with you, and a genuine love for the fashion and entertainment industries.
Eleanor Lee was adorable as Nuannuan, while also being competent and fierce. Her slow fall for the male lead was believeable and endearing. Leon Leong as Han Che did fine as a cold, 'genius' who is hiding a dramatic flaw and who desperately wants to be loved and understood.
The secondary romance was very well-acted and while more dramatic/cringeworthy also very much held my interest.
Music was competent. I would not rewatch - there's no particular scene that really stuck out to me.
I grade on other criteria:
Complex Themes: 9
A wonderful execution of: how success finds it way in many forms, and that you can find a fulfilling life if you are open to different possibilities. How finding true friends and partners - people with kind, generous inner character can be the most precious, and necessary components of a contended life. Also, a minor theme, but that it's important to be clear and express your feelings in words.
Character Growth: 7.5
Before the last four episodes, I'd have put this at a 5. In the end, though, Han Che realized he was endangering what was truly important to him by not changing his behaviors and actually changed. It's a truly rare quality in a person, and I liked how NuanNuan appreciated and recognized this.
Complex Women Characters and relationships between women: 8
Nuannuan was part of a girl group and has a female best friend. She also meets mentors and coworkers who are women all along the way. These relationships are by and large not complex, but they are plentiful with lots of screen time.
Production values: 7.5
The production is limited, and not very cinematic, but I did like that there was a lot of coverage of the fashion industry and a good representation of different styles, brand and clothes.
Was this review helpful to you?
