A romance in more ways than one - best modern Cdrama

This is my first romcom cdrama and I'm afraid the bar has been set too high, I've been making my way through some of the other recommendations but nothing quite comes close!

Initially I thought that 32 eps is way too long for a drama (I'm very used to kdrama romcoms) and when the characters get together around the halfway mark, I was wondering what more of the story they could possibly show and whether it would get draggy. But after completing all episodes with multiple rewatches I can honestly say it was not long enough!! I've come to appreciate being able to soak in that happy ever after (kdramas always compress this into the last ep) over multiple episodes (including a wedding and multiple time-jumps) - it is truly a luxury.

I initially came to this drama because of my interest in esports. There is gaming and it plays a large role in the plot especially in the first 10 episodes, but it's more of a plot device to let the leads re-acquaint themselves with each other and get together. I did find the 2 competition episodes quite realistic and very exciting.

On the cast, this was my first Yang Yang drama and I'm now a forever fangirl. I thought that he was perfect for the role, his character says the most ridiculously romantic things in a very serious and intense way. Actually, everything Yu Tu does is generally quite stoic and intense, and when he decides to pursue Jing Jing he naturally becomes this intense and serious romantic dude as well lol. Yang Yang just has oodles of charisma and the way he carries himself with such confidence really works for these type of 'da shen' roles. He's nailed the art of deadpan hum-bragging and subtle arrogance that never quite crosses the line into cockiness. His chemistry with Reba was off the charts, and honestly was one of the main reasons why this drama is imho now one of my favs and so rewatchable. I know that a lot of this is also down to Reba herself and how she made Jing Jing's character so natural. Their interactions and all those small moments were very nicely done.

Another thing this drama does excellently was really the dialogue. All the dialogue between the leads was very well done, engaging, witty and funny. I found myself smiling at my screen stupidly throughout entire episodes. There are numerous instances where they banter, tease and joke which was very well written and consistently good throughout the drama. It is probably because the author of the novel also happens to be the screenwriter, but the quality of the script was really very very good. I must confess however that I did fast-forward through some of the aerospace testing parts (summary: Yu Tu spends entire episodes on some desert base brooding about Jing Jing and being depressed while doing scienc-y stuff) but I liked how the show ended with the launch of Yu Tu's space... probe? thingy (sorry! It was not an area of interest). It really drove home the culmination of his dreams, which he held on to, and Jing Jing's unwavering support for him. A romantic concept for a romantic profession.

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Crazy mix of cute, creepy and cringe

First things first, you gotta know what you’re in for when watching this show. It’s above all a show that doesn’t take itself too seriously; almost everything about it is over the top. This has resulted in a crazy mix of extremes - extreme cute (our FL and the cutest OTP that ever lived), creepy (all villian parts) and cringe (basically anytime a side character was on screen, with the exception of Dad, Bongki and the SFL). It goes from one to the other in the bat of an eye. I loved the cute, could put up with the creepy and had to mark this show down because of the cringe.

It is, undoubtedly, hands down the cutest thing I’ve ever watched. I ADORED every minute of the cute: this show has one of my fav strong FLs ever and the cutest OTP of all time. Bong Soon is perfect as a TINY, harmless looking little pipsquek who is actually a Herculean superhero. It’s completely awesome and hilarious. The OTP is adorable. The word “squee” was made for them. Their chemistry and interactions are perfect, such that even the absolute cheesiest scenes and moments still worked for me, and soooo many scenes were extra cheesy and would have been cringe with different leads. Min Hyuk especially was just flawless in his portrayal of a puddle of goo. I loved that he was always so supportive of BS, loving her in spite of and regardless of her superpower. Yes this is a traditional role reversal but MH is no pushover, he totally deserves his badass CEO title and I loved the scene where he went toe to toe with the baddie and took him down. He is assertive and cocky and makes no secret of what he wants, yet is always respectful and kind to BS and waits for her patiently (quite literally) to catch up with him. I loved it. The OTP scenes and interactions were SO CUTE I was slayed (exactly how MH crumbles to the ground in the face of too much BS cute), but it’s really not all fluff.

Another shout out to the SML who makes up the third in the ass-kicking trio. His chemistry with MH (yes, MH) and the scenes they had were LOL hilarious and also my fav. When these 3 get together they light up the screen and it is always entertaining. The final showdown scene with the villian was also SO satisfying. 10/10.

The reason I’m not scoring this show higher is the cringe - all the filler characters and the amount of time we spent with them. I actually ff my way through the entire sequences with Tak Baek’s gang, Mr Oh, Mr Gong and even BS’ mother. Those scenes were an example of over the top slapstick that crossed the line into cringe for me.

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Gotta love a man in a good suit

Things I loved:
- first things first: Luo Yun Xi. He owned, carried and made this drama, hands down. I don’t think it would be half as beloved with anyone else in the ML. So much love for this guy, can’t gush enough about how he brought to life the perfect blend of jerk + softly caring intense protector. He manages to make YS really cocky and overbearing but at the same time you can feel his care and the intensity of his feelings towards the FL. He does such annoying things but never goes overboard and is never annoying himself, if that makes sense. Luo Yunxi is such a balanced and charismatic actor. I’m totally sold.
- also loved Yuan Shuai as a character, and how he literally wins everything. In great style. It’s totally unrealistic but y’all know that I’m here for it. I loved how he was this cocky and brilliant investment banker who could manage anyone and see through all competitors’ schemes and was always ten steps ahead of everyone, and who was still very upright and principled: he takes responsibility for his subordinates and refused to engage in any shady business. There does not exist such a perfect man. Bonus points: he basically spends the entire drama looking sharp in the most dapper and stylish designer suits. Seriously, the man cooks, cleans, and beats people up in a suit. You know you love a man in a good suit.
- chemistry between the leads was great! I liked that FL was strong, stubborn and not a doormat. She isn’t your typical cdrama romcom heroine, I.e. she isn’t overly cheerful and idiotic but adorable. I don’t think the show really spent enough time focusing on what made her so amazing such that both the ML (when they were young) and the SML fell in love with her so easily tho, but it wasn’t a big deal, I don’t ask for too much in my FLs just that they are not annoying, not doormats, and easy on the eyes (all met in Jiang Jun). Together with LYX, the OTP pairing chemistry was off the charts and they tore up the screen. Loved all their interactions, in the build up towards getting together - all the small looks ML gave her, their antagonistic behavior; those moments when she starts to fall for him back - it’s all great.
- jia yuan ji had the best character appearances ever! He was too funny.
- story was ok, pacing good, the business plot lines were not boring or too far fetched and quite engaging. I enjoyed the story, except I do feel that they could have done away with the last 6 episodes, as much as I love all the time we get to spend with our characters. More on that below.

Things I didn’t like:
- the second couple. I ff-Ed through most of their scenes especially in the later half of the drama. Their story was really draggy and I didn’t understand why both of them were behaving the way they did. They were also boring to watch on screen. Totally not interested in them except as a plot device to support our main couple.
- how long it took FL to forgive ML, including that final scene where she takes a stick and hits him. Supposedly done in good fun, but I didn’t actually find it funny or amusing. It was just a bit too much? Maybe it’s a cultural difference? Anyway it was weird to me. This was around episode 30, she gives him the cold shoulder for quite a long time (felt like days or weeks in the drama) before that as well, which I thought was unnecessary given that she was just trying to punish him for his mistake (there isn’t any doubt they still love each other).
- how their relationship never reaches the same sense of satisfying towards the end (after the time jump in ep 31-36) as it did before. Episodes 21-26 were catnip, loved every bit of their onscreen moments during that time. They exhibited a close, loving yet playful relationship with a lot of cute moments. After they get back together in 31-36 they never quite exhibit the same kind of closeness, maybe because the show doesn’t even spend any time with the couple after they get back together in ep 30 (not even a minute of gratifying “basking in each other’s company while the music plays” moments) and we are immediately taken forward by 2 years in a time jump, where they behave like an old married couple bickering with each other. And yes they do spend the majority of the last few episodes bickering, it’s like play fighting, which I take is part of their relationship dynamic (and quite true to their characters in the drama) but at the same time, not quite satisfying enough. I wanted to dwell in more cute lovey blissful moments between our OTP for a few more episodes and not be taken through this strange time jump where additional (and strange) plot lines unfold. I felt they could have ended the story line at 30 and added on a few episodes where we just get to enjoy nothing but cute moments from our OTP. (Side note: this is also part of why I enjoy You Are My Glory so much, show understands the extreme gratification that comes from just watching your favourite OTP spend time interacting with each other on screen. I don’t think any plot actually happens in the last 4-5 episodes and we literally just get to bask in the happy, cute, lovely moments between the OTP, and its absolute bliss.)
- 31-36 also totally massacred SML’s character. I understand that show was trying to say that he was always that way, but I thought they could have ended with him as “good” and it would have been fine. It was also really strange that he would think that he would have a chance with a girl who has been in a 2+ years long committed and loving relationship with another man (and not just any man but like the literal KING Yuan Shuai) and was still doing the same things after the time jump of 2 years. And not just that but he would try to make a move on someone else’s girlfriend after she tells him she’s getting married - didn’t make sense at all!

All in all, I really really enjoyed this one despite its very real flaws. And yes, so much love to LYX.

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