Saved from a summer slump
Good enough series, saved by the story, its strong supporting cast ( mother, teacher and friends) and slice of life setting.Not everyone can make a good modern drama, very weak acting wise ( ml was exceptional in Blossom so I guess that mysterious cold look works better for him). Personally not a great fan of one problem after another kind of trope and typical cliched cp, repeating issues etc without any character growth and story progression.
However, an easy going light watch, run in the background kind of acceptable production, saved from a summer drama slump.
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Bland pairing!
Boring story and no chemistry, thought it would get better after a few episodes but it only got worse! I blame the director and the script.The ml and fl characters could have been written in a better way by giving them interesting complimentary on screen personalities, but even the actors are not able to deliver! It's a shame, Song Wei Long and JinMai are individually quite capable, but together they are proving to be quite bland!
Also, too much unnecessary time spent on 2nd male lead in the first half, who is equally tepid by the way! Overall very disappointing!
Chemistry is not defined by physical touch, it is in how the CP is able to connect with each other and their ability as actors to convey this connection on screen ( since this is a visual medium) , and honestly Shine On Me is not successful in bringing the emotions to the viewers. It is lacking a lot by a mile. Amidst a Snowstorm of Love for example is amazing in that regard, that's a drama slow burn done right! Korean dramas do this rather well as well, I highly recommend "My Liberation Notes". "The Best Thing" is an excellent modern drama with similar aesthetics but simply a thousand times better in every possible way.
**Update**
Well now it is over and I will have to stick to my original rating.I want Song Wei Long to get a really good script, he deserves another opportunity because this purposeless story combined with poor screen writing and Direction has been a solid dampener for him! Jinmai has been luckier in the past,she doesn't need our good wishes on that front!
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Neat! Winning in its human elements.
Let's just say, the director ran with the writers and the actors went seeking their characters.Winning in its human elements - a well woven suspense drama and setup giving us a peek into the complex secret lives of the many residents of a notorious decrepit building, as our crime branch detective duo dig into the mysterious case of the missing lady and her father.
Retro look from the 90s was done very very well.
Only gripe, it often felt far too stretched specifically in the second half. I do understand the need to unravel the suspense as deliciously as the mystery was built, however it was five episodes too many.
Emotional portrayal of the leading characters- both the MLs, FLs, as well as the perfect creepiness of every single villain and villain-adjacent character is what makes this drama work. Anything less would have made this story sorely unconvincing given how long we spend exploring every new suspect, and then watch all the evidence and the associated crimes ending up being red herrings for the main case.
It took some time to get used to, but somewhere mid way you get pulled in by Dylan Wang and his many side quests rather surprisingly.
Well done! A tighter script would make it a 10 but 8.5 it is .
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Rich, layered, beautiful tapestry of a production
I am smitten by the landscapes, direction and cinematography with such subtle angles that there is a movie like quality which only Chinese cinema can deliver. When you get the right acting talent who are not only both gorgeous to look at, but also pack a solid punch both as actors and as characters in the story, there is no doubt the drama is off to a fantastic start!! I am personally disturbed by the butchering parts of it but grin and bear it by covering my eyes as it is a significant part of FL's character design and lends heavily to her extraordinary skills, as one may discover in the first 7 episodes. Xi Wei has a strong presence. Meanwhile, ML is all demure and mysterious, yes please we have been waiting to see ZLH on screen again for a very long time so Hell yeah!!!! Both are well matched, so hats off to the casting as well! Highly recommend.Drama aesthetics and actor face cards 💯
Use of the colour White - snow, falcon, robes 🤍🪟❄️
Landscape wide shots, close ups, ethereal transitions ✨🏔️
Fight choreography 🗡️⚔️🗡️
I was not satisfied with ZLH's limited screen time and one dimensional portrayal of the character in the script, what with him being more of a supportive role than a lead. I for one started watching POJ only because Zhang Ling He is in it, everything else that is good was a bonus like the FL is written so well, there are some new talents like Deng Kai and Lin Muran to watch out for, there are some really cool aesthetic shots and a cinematic softness that the director brings. But at the end, it can be disappointing if you are only here for Zhang Ling He! I think last 10 episodes have tried to make up for it but it was not enough for me personally.
P.S I don't think it would have been THAT much of a joy ride had I not read the novel , but it certainly dimmed the golden halo the Director built in the first 6 episodes. Ah, the pre novel aura!!
*******
Early post leak bad subs check-in***
After the initial high, POJ has been dwindling on a stretched storyline and editing going slightly off-key. I prefer to see consistent momentum in a drama like this which has really good source material in its novel. Overall, production quality remains above average but story telling has been faltering and not quite building creatively either the political aspects nor able to keep the romance progressively flourishing.
A little disappointed by the way the story is unfolding, scenes are almost standalone with little transition fluidity.
9.2 is too high, it should sit comfortably between 8.5 to 8.8, no more.
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The drama is as superficial as my critique
What in the low grade drama fest did I just watch! I did not know it was possible to dislike a male lead so much until watching the Forbidden flower. ML is weird, not even good looking (though cameraman tried his best to give him aesthetic angles) making every scene less tolerable, ml's acting is the weakest point. Music is like a different entity, failing completely. Ruonan as the fl delivers as the clingy infatuated youngster, ml looks too old for her. Even then , overall there is this bizarre low budget vibe in the series that is hard to reconcile with. Almost like a college project despite scenic elements.The drama is as superficial as my critique. There is nothing to take from here. Whoever recommended this after speed and love needs to get a life!!
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Sublime
Love, warmth, and everything in between.TFT is an intense experience walking us through dark nights, holding us close in its warmth in the cold, making space for silences and allowing trust to find its way back.
Bai Jing Ting and Zhang Ruonan are hauntingly captivating in their slow dance - Sang Yan being gentle and careful and wenfei hesitating but willing. A million lights light up when they get together, hope bubbling with every new day.
Excellent acting. Superb direction/ screen play. Music could have been even better but still great overall. Highly recommended for deep romance fans.
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Black tank tops and you are gone girl! Speed and Love is intoxicating!
C-Drama fandom has rightfully been reeled into the pair like a lovelock, owing to the intoxicating performance of He Yu as Jin Zhao. He has got the charm, the intensity, the looks, the fierce racing drive, watching him is like falling into an inescapable trance. THANK YOU #HeYu! My heart is full with yearning & nostalgia.Overall, I completely enjoyed the pace and the vibe of the series and love the pull it has on our hearts as the audience who want to cheer for Love and adoration LP show towards each other, that implausible first love is not so hopeless after all!!
Story wise we have an average offering, however the execution itself is impressively elevated. Cinematography is magically captivating with its dark, moody color palette and angles. The scenes from the garage with the large rotating fan always get to me, spellbinding work with shadow and light ! Something similar with how the rain scenes play out. This is Director's nod to the Sun & The Moon interplay in the series, bravo! Would have preferred the full series with only this type of light work but they eventually had to give in to the Sun, the light, and the happy ending!
The portion specific to the Racing is wonderfully done as well, at par or even better in many ways from many international productions. Director has given memorable shots of the lead pair with their palpable chemistry sizzling off the screen. However, Esther Yu was lacking immensely in first 10 or so episodes with her flat face or her extra bubbly persona, flip flopping with the range, it did not come off very well. She's been great though episode 20 onwards. I also enjoyed the bromance of the extended male cast, He Yu's friend SanLai, and the unexpected friendship with LinSui (Mike Angelo). The criminal elements of the racing world were done away with just a narration, it would have been meatier to have shown more , even 10 minutes, on how and what happened.
Jin Zhao & Mumu are the kind of love pair we all want to have, the longing, the strong silent bond, the care and respect, it is all there even with the 4+year age gap, the connection is adorable and steamy at the same time !!
He Yu's Performance 10/10
Esther Yu's Performance after episode 20 9,5/10
Drama Rewatch value 10/10
Cinematography & Action 10/10
**watching it for the 4th time and updating the rating to 10 because it is truly well deserved.
Coming back here in March to emphasize on the fact that Speed and Love has the most beautiful OST and BGM ever done for any drama. Music director and composer and everyone involved deserve an award for infusing this story with so many heartfelt feelings. Keep listening, keep loving good music 🖤🩷🩶
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Stale Potatoes //Reply 2016
How can a production team put together a great cast but not spend a minute on a good story and screenplay.What is the point of all the hype when the delivery is underwhelming, nothing new to show, no fresh paths to pave, no deep conversations to be had? These early episodes have a weak foundation script-wise. Even if one were to just replay the same old love trope borrowed from a thousand other k-dramas, the best one could have done is attempt to make it tantalising enough to give some butterflies. Alas, it doesn't! Don't sell us poorly regurgitated 2016 in 2026.
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Beautiful character writing
**a fine example of what Good writing can do for a drama**I wrote this review somewhere during the first 10 episodes and honestly it has superceded those initial thoughts in that the writing is consistently good and viewing experience got better with every episode. Increasing the rating for obvious reasons.
Love feels like this.
Road to Success is calming and endearing, ml, fl and students have a respectful camaraderie. The story is not new but is heart touching. Both ML and FL are mature and live life with a balanced kind of seriousness and lightness as adults we all aspire towards with age.
I commend the writers for allowing viewers to witness such types of characters.
There are many good dramas airing right now, but this one has slowly whisked away my heart with its simplicity and consistency. I found myself looking forward to the episodes for this one more than the others without realizing it until now.
#heatwarming #comfortdrama #foundfamily #healthylove #matureromance #teamspirit #hope #therapeutic
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Pleasantly Surprising!
This is a pleasantly surprising drama and exactly what is needed to cool down from passionate and dramatic hangovers from high intensity or emotionally triggering series like SAL or TFF.I started watching with zero expectations, but there it was offering a bit of family, a bit of neighbourly "lane" living in a quaint little house with an attic, and two architects making it their home together for a brief while, there that's how the drama pulls you in!! Republican era virtual game played a big role in setting up the intrigue and attachment between the CP in the initially episodes, quite successfully too! Some elements became repetitive later on but we can give it a pass for the sake of ml's mysterious stares and fl's audacious challenges in return - the push and pull in the game itself to one up each other is quite entertaining!
FL's home is a character of its own, quite in contrast to ML's sparse , spacious apartment. In a way , capturing the bright cosy unencumbered personality of the fl versus the stoic, controlled, sharp subterfuge of the FL. It works really well, but without stirring too many feathers, they are comfortable to watch, having a natural agreeableness without getting overshadowed by overt passion or eagerness. They are just naturally, beautifully existing in each other's lives.
Second ml proved to be quite predictable and felt like a forced villain, He looks uncannily too much like Kang Ha Neul to form any major hatred towards frankly! Senior Peng on the other hand , the entire "bring to justice" story line is a bit forced in the second half and is definitely a weak point in the drama.
It would not be fair if we don't talk about the amazing female friendship depicted in this series. Not only are fl and 2nd fl unconditionally available for each other, but they also don't have impractical expectations from each other. I am here for the women supporting women in any and all choices made, in how independent and responsible both of them are, and how dependable their friendship is. Pure and solid foundation of love and acceptance! A wonderful part of the drama is watching them both being trustworthy friends!
It is hard to watch the cheating angle of the 2nd pair but i must appreciate how realistically it was depicted. Thank you writers, no waaaa waaaan crying, one person realising what a big mistake it was and accepting the consequences like an adult and the other facing her reality and moving on ! the Space they give each other, a tragic ending to otherwise what was a good marriage!
Lu Yu Xiao comes off as extra charismatic in contemporary setting, hope she will do some more modern dramas.
This is my first drama of Chen Xingyu. He can pull off the serious coded actor vibe, not too sure about the romance aspect. I find him to be a bit limited in range, but if anyone can suggest more of his dramas I'll be happy to explore.
Highly recommended for anyone looking to avoid heartaches, heartbreaks, or having attachment issues. Go for it!
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Speed & Love meets neo-Noir in the 90s
First 4 episodes have been like a fever dream. Finally, Song Wei Long gets a good chance to show his acting prowess and Zhang Jing Yi fits right into this angsty fast moving plot. Solid acting . Dark 90s hood atmosphere appreciated. If the intensity keeps up, this could be an unforgettable romance.Also, this drama is completely SAL coded, 90s raw version, some scenes are ditto
Update episode 23-
Great music!
It has fizzled out as fast as it heated up. First half of this drama was brilliant. Should have kept the tone but they didn't, reeled us in and then left us out to dry! Well, the ride up was really fun .
****************************
Novel - Reading the novel was not a good experience, their relationship is shown to be dysfunctional, toxic and violent, not just dark and sad. Agression, codependent survival and PTSD like behavior is a big motif throughout. These kids developed unhealthy coping mechanisms continuing cycles of rejection and resentment to detached surviving and disconnection, they never witnessed loving relationships, and lacked adult guidance. The male protagonist is filled with hate resentment while the female lead is in Survival mode, developing a Stockholm like complex being the younger more vulnerable one. Their situation is horrifying. Moreover, author has a strong desire to focus on their sibling type of relationship, instead of moving away from it. I am glad the drama has steered away from these core problems in the novel, and chosen not to fetishize their situation like the author did.
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Welcome back to K-drama land sisters!
After getting lost in Chinese dramas for the last 2 years, "Can This Love be Translated" has managed to redirect my attention back to k-dramas again.This is an appreciation review for my15 year obsession with Korean dramas and commend this drama for pulling us hallyu viewership back to finding something worth watching again.
I was not aware that Hong sisters had so many anti-fans. I am a follower since Master's Sun, they do quirky-funny very well , DoRaMi is their signature style for heroines - over expressive, a bit neurotic, a bit excited hinging on anxiety.,. of course FML (Go youn Jung)doesn't compare to Gong Hyo Jin however this is a good attempt by her specially as Dorami.
ML and 2nd ML (Kim so Hyun and fukushi sota) are both amazing, both softly endearing, both speaking so much with their eyes. I already like KSH, however Fukushi Sota left a lasting impression and has gained a new fan.
I loved the multilingual writing covering both Japanese and Italian. I read a few reviews about Japanese dialogues not being written in the right context and I think this is an important critique for future dramas. Like I want something that has the trifecta of Korean, Japanese and Chinese being used fluidly (writers are you listening??!!) .
Overall, beautiful landscapes, lovely chemistry bw FML, ml and ml2., some good music. Some bad editing in between but salvaged towards the end. This love was translated rather well!
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Where is the the intrigue and charm?
This series is missing something as a viewer. Neither is it able to build intrigue and mystery nor does it have endearing loveable characters to root for. It is not very successful either as a story or in its protagonists. I am struggling to feel anything for the leads and the cases they are chasing. It could have been so much better with evocative ambient music and more developed interpersonal connection. Master - Protegee , King- daughter, King- Minister, Detective duo, ...there is nothing specifically charming enough in any of these relationships, nor in the mysteries these pairings are trying to uncover/cover. What great talent, Bai Lu and Wang Xingyue could have been great even as siblings in this series, only if the screenplay was good enough, but it is not! It tries so hard to be smart that it forgets to be entertaining! Sorry guys, it is a skippable drama.Was this review helpful to you?
Entertaining supporting Cast and a mild law office romance! Easygoing Binge-watch!
Unlike most dramas, this one actually picks up and gets better in the second half.The best part of the drama is the support cast, although not fleshed out enough, FML's three colleagues are simply unique and adorable in their own personalities. Same for Attorney Wu, wow what an impeccably calm and tempered guy, he totally deserves to be a board member in a law firm!! CP's parents are also funny as well. I just love that they are all written with just the right amount of humorous elements!!
ML has many gotcha endearing moments, he plays the serious professional well, I prefer this version of him over the sappy in love character he becomes after confessing love towards the FML. Put him in a power suit and let all the dapper oozing do the talking :D !! FML seems so delicate but her character is strong & talented., first half her acting was not very strong (watch her in The First Frost for her improved acting chops!)
Overall not a lot of depth in the CP and low chemistry, but it was decent enough for us to get invested in the relationship and appreciate how their storyline and the supporting cast is able to bolster the overall office drama setting and keep it moving forward. The focus on law and significance of the responsibility of being an ethical lawyer is well depicted.
Due to all these bonus reasons, I am adding +0.5 to make it a perfect 8.
Don't expect fireworks but be ready to find yourself cruising through episodes after a while.
It was okay at get go but i was able to watch it without getting bored most of the time, easygoing binge!
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Heaven is a place in office where you fall in love
First two episodes opened really well, set the office atmosphere, immediately revealed character dynamics and has already set alit likeable chemistry between the main leads. Who can resist a serious and smitten Seo In Guk, hardworking and hot, and fl so talented and capable!The story outline is reminding so much of the I need Romance vibes x Misaeng and also takes the CP's story forward from "Boyfriend on Demand"- Haters to lovers, competing to appreciating, resisting to accepting, silence to kissing , if you know what i mean!
This is also a good time to bring out realities of office work in 2026, we know some of us are literally swimming through rain because a terrible boss would rather have you ill and tired at office instead of safe and healthy working from home just to make sure the real estate investors can continue benefitting!
Some of us are down for a good office romance, and this looks like a perfect retreat. Two dramas per week is not ok in this day and age! Intense bingers unite!
********update*******
We are at midpoint, there is no office Slice of life, characters are becoming blander by the episode. K dramas really need to understand it is not just about a kiss, it is in the how and why of the process. Reducing the rating for now, let's hope a miracle will cure the faltering script. SIG can do emotion, to make him stand expressionless like a statue in every scene is Direction failure. I did like that the decision to stay was ml's own, instead of waiting to be asked. Ml and fl finally took initiative at the same time, they were ready, the timing was right.
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