A Female Student Arrives at the Imperial College
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This review may contain spoilers
I want to go back to being a student & date
[First Impression (Ep1-6)] Yan Yun Zhi is indifferent to Sang Qi at first until he finds out that she's his late best friend's sister, then he's intrigued. Meanwhile, she finds Yan Yun Zhi to be an annoying stickler, but he saves her time and time again. I've been seriously laughing (with tears) at some of their interactions. I’m wondering who is going to fall first?![Actors/Actresses] Xu Kai Cheng and Zhao Lu Si is the best pairing for this hilarious series. I cannot get over Xu Kai Cheng's varied expressions in this. Zhao Lu Si always delivers on being funny but she has brains in this, too. Ao Rui Peng is the third reason I wanted to watch this - and he is just adorable (there really is no other word for him in this.) It's my first time watching Ren Hao, so I think he does a good job as the second lead.
[Behind the Scenes] I’ve only found videos of the cast having fun behind the scenes - and that’s not a bad thing right? :) Zhao Lu Si shot a video of the cast for her social media account, and it’s pretty cute. Skipping stones can be a good pastime, right? (The scenic location from Ep14.) I like watching Xu Kai Cheng and Ren Hao carrying the ladies (core strength is necessary).
[OST] I enjoyed the OST but undoubtedly my favorite would have to be The Rivers Resemble Mirrors (百川如镜) which is performed by Yan Yun Zhi and Sang Qi twice in the series (but I’m not sure who the real performers are for this song). The guqin just slays me every time. I hope they release a version without the series dialogue/sound bites in it. Liu Yu Ning’s Take Advantage of Your Youth (意气趁年少) is the perfect anthem (he always delivers). Zhang Yue's Meet the Female Disciple (遇见女弟子) is very catchy and is in sync with all of this mischief.
[Ending] Happy ending for all, except for the bad guys.
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Flying to his heart❤️
[First Impression (Ep1-6)] I like looking at Wang Kai more than I thought. (And he’s a Gu!) His micro-expressions induce my macro-expressions. My eyes dilate whenever I catch the flicker in his eyes or the twitch in his lips because of love. Let’s not talk about the silly grin I have for this man. Tan Song Yun is difficult to watch though only because her character is suffering too much from a misogynistic boss and she thinks it’s our ML’s fault. Nooooo!I don’t think there’s anything special about the story. I’m shamelessly in this for Wang Kai and Tan Song Yun. It is better than I thought though. Not boring, basically, lol. And not overly dramatic. So far, there's zero patriotism. You may get hypertensive at the blatant misogyny.
[Actors/Actresses] It’s interesting watching these two. I’m not sure there’s natural chemistry between them, but I feel it and I think it’s because they’re carrying it by pure acting skills. Or I’m just biased. I can admit that.
[CP Name] It’s Rare That the Quarrels Stopped
Gu Nan Ting + Cheng Xiao = Nan De Xiao Ting Le
顧南亭 + 程霄 = 南得霄亭了
南得霄亭了→ 難得嘵停了 = It’s Rare That the Quarrels Stopped
[Glossary]
凡心 Fán xīn – Mortal heart. The mundane desires of humans e.g. love. (Ep15)
以身相許 Yǐ shēn xiāng xǔ – To devote one’s life/body to / To give one’s heart to (Ep16)
[Ending] Happy.
[A Highlight] For whatever reason my memorable scene is..... Ep12’s amusingly awkward badging moment.
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This review may contain spoilers
Blooming Love, Blooming Mysteries
Our Blooming Youth is definitely worth to watch! The cinematography, the vibes, and the Ost, everything is perfect! the romance isn't exaggerated which made me even more amazed at how good the story is. The lead actors have a great chemistry. Park Hyungsik is a brilliant versatile actor who can really capture his audience. ?? OBY is a wonderful beautiful drama! Thumbs up to the whole team!???The chemistry between the lead pair is fabulous. Their romance is very beautiful and very deep. Two lost and wronged souls hold on to each other for redemption - such a beautiful plot. Friendship and trust being the underlying theme, no intimate scenes (very PG), but very subtle meaningful romance throughout. The hero has huge size trust issues and has been trianed to doubt everything to survive and protect himself. The heroine is a smart detective but she is also impulsive, and often acts first and thinks later.
Park Hyung Sik hits it out of the park with this one. Not only he looks every part the Prince (he is gorgeous in this role), but his dreamy, deep eyes are pools of despair, mischief, brilliance, haughtiness, wisdom, rage in turns, and they cloud with confused desire for a girl who is bethothed to his best friend (in a social contract of arranged marriage) and out of his bounds for all means and purpose. 'You must never know'....he tells her at one point, knows he will lose her if he makes one misstep. And yet he would do anything to keep her by his side.
Jeon So nee in a very competant performance - only has eyes for her Crown Prince, she does not even realize that she has started to exist for him, and will do anything to be always by his side, even if that means she will be have to be disguised as a Eunuch for her entire life. Their relationship is a tall climb, peppered by danger and distance that is way more than just physical.
The crime and mystery element is very well placed, the usual political intrigue present as usual (Josean court was known for this, so it would be surprising not to have it) and the loses and the wins by the Crown Prince are innovatively told. It has so much going for it.
The show deals with science, superstition, psycological warfare, social injustice, greed, revenge, all woven with a very cute romance as the backdrop. Most importantly, watch it for a feminist hero who breaks down walls for the badass woman in his life in a suffocating era where women were just mere objects raised to serve social contracts between families. He believes in her mental and physical abilities without any prejudice and treats her as an equal outside of their strict social hierarchy (watch them switch between best of friends to being master-servant in some truly hilarious scenes).
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Blazing Fire! Blazing Love Chemistry❤️
[First Impression (Ep1-10)]The drama starts off tense, exciting and heart-wrenching with the fire rescue of Nan Chu (Zhang Jing Yi) and the earthquake rescue. It establishes the distinct characteristics of Lin Lu Xiao (Huang Jing Yu) and Lou Ming Ye (Wang Zi Qi) well and gives us a glimpse of our female lead, Nan Chu. Lin Lu Xiao is fearless, selfless, a born leader, but may be prone to react emotionally. Lou Ming Ye is analytical, practical, a revolutionary perfectionist, but incapable of relating to his peers. Nan Chu is calm, resilient, artistic, and determined to pursue her dream of dancing. Thank goodness, this is not a love triangle.
It is light toned and comedic with introspective moments, but surprisingly not macho. Along with the standard bravery, many of these firefighters show a "maternal" side. Story leans more towards firefighting, the ordinary everyday cases and the spectacular rescue missions, developing the next generation, with brotherhood at the heart. But it also has a good dose of romance. Nan Chu and Lin Lu Xiao meet again through the reality TV show, naturally develop feelings toward each other and have a mature and supportive relationship. Even though he has saved her countless times, I don't feel an overabundance of hero worship.
Along with our leads, I am really enjoying the supporting firefighters. Instructor Yang is the mother hen. Former engineer Yu Qi Lei and master Jenga player is the stable core. Cute bulldog Liu Ru Yi balances humor and wisdom. The Newbs, Yi Jiu and Shi Quan, may be annoying in the learning process, but I do root for them. There's also thrifty Lei Da Gong, stuttering guy, good looking upcoming Qi Huo, and a pair of background twins. The non-firefighters, eccentric Jiang Ge and pitiful little brother Lin Qi round out this world. I hope Zeng Keni's character Yan Dai gets more screen time.
Episodes 2-6ish and sometimes the reflective thoughts of being a firefighter parts are slow, but it culminated to an emotional resonance in Episode 10. I enjoy seeing how these missions affects all at the fire station, the firefighters and the reality TV actors. I see blazing chemistry in our main couple, it is sweet, comfortable relationship. There's also a tiny, adorable side romance with Liu Ru Yi and Dr. Wan. Mostly, I am looking forward to the bromances.
[Actors/Actresses]
Huang Jing Yu is the default tough guy of Chinese Entertainment. I haven't seen him before, but he really embodies this role. He is physically strong, but there is emotional vulnerability. Zhang Jing Yi doesn't quite fit the stereotyped image of a dancer/actress, but her quiet acting style works for Nan Chu's resilience. Wang Zi Qi has perfected his uptight face and I am giddy each time Lou Ming Ye and Lin Lu Xiao interact.
[Behind the Scenes]
This group of fire guys; Huang Jing Yu, Wang Zi Qi, Tang Xiao Tian, and Zhang Ling He, are the 185 guys. Wang Zi Qi's measly 185 cm pulls down the average.
Huang Jing Yu and Wang Zi Qi became really good friends after this drama and are filming another one together. So many filming leaks. They are like 2 little kids on the playground, always rough housing. HJY posted this cute video: "A pair of good friends who seem inseparable but are distant now". https://weibo.com/1989519725/NksMudYbu
Bro Moments #2 - https://weibo.com/7837228036/NlPgdtDnS, #3 - https://weibo.com/1989519725/NlZbzzUx7, #4 - https://weibo.com/7837228036/NmSpHwVSN
Pool: HJY 1 - https://weibo.com/6065285238/NmgVFl9Jk, 2 - https://weibo.com/5941634924/NmU1Br2DZ, WZQ - https://weibo.com/1831127035/NmgVA3gFF
Interviews: Failed Jay Chou Concert - https://weibo.com/3953405721/NmaLQ1FMw, Boy Band - https://weibo.com/6525010965/NmgvB308S
LLX helping Nan Chu with her uniform - https://www.douyin.com/video/7281734771363925285
Ep 3 & 26: WZQ interview -https://m.bjnews.com.cn/detail/1696746833168158.html. Small details were designed to show LMY's meticulous and rigorous personality like keeping his toes in a horizontal plane. Most memorable scene? When his mom came. (It's his real Mom on episode 26) - https://weibo.com/5999417377/N0BFCupgN
Ep 12: ZLH playing "Twinkle, twinkle little star" - https://www.douyin.com/video/7281338306942520637
Ep 13: LLX teasing Mother Yang about his crush - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LqBsaICnmxc&ab_channel=TANHT75, HJY & TXT ghost - https://www.xiaohongshu.com/explore/650fb39a000000001e0337ea?source=webshare
Ep 19: Lu Si Yu being an awesome actor - https://www.iqiyi.com/v_1b8vy0s9kxc.html
Ep 21: The "my homework was burned in a fire" kid actor has a lengthy resume. We just saw him in I Am Nobody as Zhu Ge Qing's little brother but more Netizen laughter inducing, he was young Song Yan in Fireworks of My Heart.
Ep 22: Our trio being punished - https://weibo.com/7837228036/NlPBi6rhV
Ep 26: LLX ties Nan Chu's hair - https://www.iqiyi.com/v_yhxby1hx6o.html, WZQ & his mom 1 - https://www.tiktok.com/@meyvatziq08/video/7287813087678237958?_r=1&_t=8gMGte6S72g, 2 - https://www.xiaohongshu.com/explore/651a8c49000000001a02354c?
Ep 29: The crowd reacts to the kiss - https://twitter.com/19990710z/status/1709501949782216772?s=46, WZQ soccer BTS - https://m.weibo.cn/detail/4954691886909139
Ep 30: HJY helping WZQ with mask - https://www.douyin.com/video/7282072568658480418, Cooling down after the rescue interview - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kinarb1LdJA, WZQ soaked - https://weibo.com/1622861757/Nmz09x2hm
Ep 31: Zhang Jing Yi blooper. HJY and ZLH giggling at her - https://weibo.com/7837228036/NmKagk7Nm
Ep 32&33: Crying - https://weibo.com/1831127035/Nmh71f8m8, Wall shove - https://www.xiaohongshu.com/explore/6513796c000000001a016abf?
Ep 34: HJY & WZQ drinking - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3N6RhpjNWY8
Ep 38: HJY holds a snake. Eek! - https://weibo.com/7837228036/NnvuVxQbt, Rural life and drones - https://weibo.com/7837228036/Nn31ghC6K
Ep 40: HJY crying, little bro WZQ consoles - https://weibo.com/7837228036/NnviKB6wl
HJY wears a mask - https://weibo.com/7837228036/Nnn3jFTJe
[Ending] Open Ending
[A Highlight] Episode 20 Pre-credits: Elevator
[Music] Favorite OST from the drama are: 是不是注定要相遇 (Are We Destined To Meet?) by: 李紫婷 (Mimi Lee) & 命中注定 (Destined) by: 刘宇宁 (Liu Yuning)
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