City of Romance tells the story of a girl who lies a lot and a guy who hates lies. What sets it apart from other college-setting romantic dramas is how the female lead is such a complex and flawed character with self-image and self-esteem issues. Her compulsive lying is honestly a difficult watch but the story becomes more compelling when you realize that it’s her own way of protecting herself after years of verbal and physical bullying—that she’s lying for self-preservation.
Since the recurring theme is lying and the moral tension it creates (especially if the other person hates lies), the romance is all about their quiet and intimate moments of growing, learning to trust, and being honest with each other. To quote her father, what matters the most is how partners communicate, understand, and accept each other in a relationship—and they did.
City of Romance isn’t simply their love story, it’s also about her healing and journey towards self-love.
I’m so tired of all these redemption arcs of family members who are also the root of all their trauma (Encanto being the no. 1 example of it). It’s fine to be civilized, but let’s not forget all the mental & emotional abuse and magically mend the relationship.
Yeah, I could get in board with this because it won’t be dragged for 16 episodes and each episode won’t be an hour long (except maybe the first and last episodes).
Unfortunately but not surprisingly, more men who are still active have had rape allegations that were dropped/settled out of court.
Park Shi-hoo - sexual assault; admitted to sexual activity but claimed it was consensual. She was drunk.
Lee Jin-wook - sexual assault; also admitted to sexual activity but claimed it was consensual. I searched old articles to refresh my memory but a lot of them have already been deleted + no mention even in Wikipedia (I know, not the best source but the most accessible to mass). How he keeps getting casted on big budget dramas (Bulgasal, Squid Games 2) is beyond apprehension.
Seeing Seo Kang-joon and Park Hyung-sik side by side (albeit through the article's thumbnail photos only) brings me back to 2014—I literally started my first ever 50+ episode family drama because they are the first and second male leads in the love triangle. Oh, the things I do for pretty boys lmao
Blue Period managed to tackle a lot of themes despite the two-hour runtime: starting art later in life (and comparing one’s progress to another’s), pursuing passion over practicality, expressing one’s self, and proving that hard work is just as valuable as talent.
This one is definitely for the artists, for those who love arts, or for those who are going through their own blue period in life. 8/10
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1 
He’s on a roll on all three platforms (Tencent, Youku, iQiyi) and 2025 isn’t halfway yet. Love that for him!
Kuddos to Yan Zhixian because wow, what a phenomenal actor.
2. No break up
3. Yes, but not dragged.
4. Yes, happy ending
5. Definitely romance
6. Yes, specifically episode 18.
Since the recurring theme is lying and the moral tension it creates (especially if the other person hates lies), the romance is all about their quiet and intimate moments of growing, learning to trust, and being honest with each other. To quote her father, what matters the most is how partners communicate, understand, and accept each other in a relationship—and they did.
City of Romance isn’t simply their love story, it’s also about her healing and journey towards self-love.
I love them so much together. It’s cute and sweet and fluffy. The two leads communicate so softly with each other.
Park Shi-hoo - sexual assault; admitted to sexual activity but claimed it was consensual. She was drunk.
Lee Jin-wook - sexual assault; also admitted to sexual activity but claimed it was consensual. I searched old articles to refresh my memory but a lot of them have already been deleted + no mention even in Wikipedia (I know, not the best source but the most accessible to mass). How he keeps getting casted on big budget dramas (Bulgasal, Squid Games 2) is beyond apprehension.
Thank you for the service!
Will definitely check these two dramas out!
Glad it wasn’t DUI, cheating, sexual harassment, or tax evasion scandal, though.
This one is definitely for the artists, for those who love arts, or for those who are going through their own blue period in life. 8/10