City of Streamer could really have been a great drama from start to finish but somehow, the wheels fell off as it crosses past the 30th episode. The story starts off well as it is engages you with the relationship complexities of the Rong family and the excitement of Shi Zhen’s spying activities. We are also not told what exactly happened in the past. Hence, there is the intrigue and curiosity there as to why certain characters are against the villain.

Moreover, the female lead is an educated, courageous, and independent woman despite it being a Republican era drama. So, there is a certain satisfaction in watching her story develop and how she is able to think for herself. However, there is a shock to the story in the last quarter of the drama and this is where it gets overly dramatic to me. It doesn’t render it unwatchable but I strongly believe it could have been better written. This is because once the shock is revealed in Episode 30, the plot basically becomes predictable.

A Revenge Plot (Spoilers Alert!)
If you expect City Of Streamer to be a fluffy romance drama, you will be disappointed. The main focus is actually revenge with love thrown in to up the ante and dramatic aspects of the story. Where it starts to falter is the reveal that the couple could be half-siblings. By then, they have already consummated their relationship. Now, this is where it gets predictable to me because you know they can’t be related since they have already slept together. From there, it doesn’t take much for you to guess who killed the female lead’s parents. What is left is only the details and the fate of the couple and villain which will then keep you hooked to the end.

The other thing that doesn’t feel good to me is the whitewashing of the second male lead’s crimes. In the last quarter of the drama, he is suddenly depicted as a good man when he had tried to kill Jia Shang earlier for the sins of the latter’s father. The collateral damage he caused in his quest for revenge didn’t seem to bother Shi Zhen as she worked closely with him to bring down the villain towards the end.

So, there are weaknesses to the plot which are concentrated mainly in the last 10 episodes. The focus on the revenge to wrap up the story may be apt as it started out that way. But I think some parts are shortchanged in the process and it shows in how the story flowed towards the conclusion.

Not A Really Romantic Story
City Of Streamer is not a typical breezy romance drama with a lot of lovey-dovey moments like Love At Night or Why Women Love. It has a more matured and serious feel to it. The guy is hopelessly in love with the girl while the latter wants revenge against his father. So, you can already expect theirs to be a complicated relationship. There is no simple getting together because they fell in love. In fact, their actual dating life only lasts about 4 episodes out of 40 in total. Thus, this couple’s sweet moments and skinship are definitely in short supply in this drama.

What replaces a full-fledged relationship though is the yearning and suppressed feelings especially on the girl’s part due to her need for revenge. The love undertones are obvious to the viewers but it is just that you don’t get that satisfaction of seeing them throwing caution to the wind and embarking on a romance until pretty late in the drama and that also for a rather brief period.

Therefore, City Of Streamer may not fit the bill of a truly romantic tale unless love vibes and chemistry alone are enough for you to get your fill of the romance. Furthermore, some viewers might have issue with the female lead who appears rather cold at times because of what happened to her family.

A Revengeful Female Character
If you like watching a smart and independent-minded female character, you would probably be able to relate to Shi Zhen. But her past caused her to become revengeful towards the villain. Hence, she can’t let go of that need to see justice done despite how much the male lead loves her. In City Of Streamer, Jia Shang’s love for Shi Zhen is pure and sincere. He tries his best to accommodate and make it up to her.

But Shi Zhen’s love for Jia Shang is more restrained. At certain times, her hatred towards his father seems greater than the love she has for him. So, if you are looking for a sweet romance, then Shi Zhen might appear as too cold and cruel towards the male lead. But if you are watching this for the revenge plot, then Shi Zhen’s actions will become understandable.

Personally, I find her coldness went up a notch in the last quarter of the drama which is a little inconsistent with her overall character and the depth of her feelings for Jia Shang. But it is still acceptable to me though because I don’t think it will be realistic either for the character to easily forgive and forget.

Chemistry Drives The Romance
The leads’ acting is commendable in City Of Streamer. The casting and styling were done right with the female lead appearing more matured than the male which is consistent with the characters in the story. Jing Tian gives Shi Zhen an aura of confidence and modernity. She is neither too cold nor too ardent and appears to be able to strike a balance between a revengeful and caring woman at heart with her depiction of the character.

Timmy Xu plays Jia Shang well and portrays him as a wuss when it comes to love but stubborn and determined against his father. The hardened expressions and anger when interacting with his father gives viewers the impression that he is a man with a spine. But when it comes to Shi Zhen, the softened expressions and yearning in his face reveal the depth of his love for her.

Put Jiang Tian and Timmy Xu together and the chemistry is obvious on screen. The longings are expressed through their eyes and gazes. They may not have a lot of sweet moments to show off their love in the drama but their interactions are ladened with unspoken feelings and desire similar to Because of Love. In short, their sizzling chemistry drives the romance in the drama to make viewers crave for more.

My Verdict – Go Ahead And Watch!
City Of Streamer is definitely a Republican drama that is worth a watch. No doubt, there will be the usual concubines and the inferior status of women as part of the story. But it is not the focus of the drama if you are worried about watching a group of women fighting for a rich man’s attention. Instead, you will be getting revenge as the main plot with greed, murder, illicit love, and other heavy topics being present along the way. Hence, I’m not too sure if younger viewers will enjoy this as City Of Streamer is far off from the usual school romance dramas like Shining For One Thing and Our Secret.

The overall story is captivating to me and chances are you will get hooked in the beginning. The pace slows down a little around the middle but it doesn’t really feel dragged out unnecessarily. It is easy to fall in love with the male lead and there is developing maturity in his character as the drama progresses. The female lead may be colder but she is a strong character that viewers can root for. They are not many kisses to look out for but they did include a passionate one that would make you press for replay.

For this City Of Streamer review, I would give it a score of 7.5/10. There are weaknesses to the plot and screenwriting but they are not a serious hindrance to the overall enjoyability. Watch it for the plot and the leads’ chemistry but don’t expect a fluffy romance drama to avoid disappointment.