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Intense Love chinese drama review
Completed
Intense Love
0 people found this review helpful
by hey887984
Mar 9, 2023
24 of 24 episodes seen
Completed
Overall 7.0
Story 7.0
Acting/Cast 10.0
Music 8.5
Rewatch Value 6.0
This review may contain spoilers

A collection of stereotypes combined into one drama

Firstly, I wanted to explain why I titled the review as such. After watching the entire series, I felt that the writers wrote the characters based off of gender stereotypes. Female characters portrayed as somebody who acts based on emotions, and Male characters who uses brain. Generally, I do not think much watching dramas like this, but it just came across that way to me, and I can't un-think it.

To explain, most of the female characters were portrayed as weak individuals, who do whatever emotions tell them to do no matter the stake. A great example of this scenario is how they portrayed Gao Zi Tong. I know that she's supposed to be an evil character, but her actions does not make any sense - which brings me to think that the only possible explanation is because of her emotions. Another example is how Zhou Su Ying (ML's sister) chose to act immaturely when she found out FL dates her brother - and have a scandal with her idol.

While all the ladies portrayed that way, the males were portrayed logically. ML has good character, very put together, and smart. The drama writer chose a classic "god-like" ML, where he's an introvert, who acts cold, and all the females are drooling over him.

*To break down the characters throughout the drama:
- My first impression of the FL was rather distasteful. At the beginning of the drama, the FL seems to act bratty and spoiled, despite her age, which is 27 years old. The scene where she asks her manager to fetch her best clothes to seduce ML leaves a bad taste. More example of this behaviour is how FL woke up from anaesthesia, and the first thing she said was if she injured her face. She should've asked if there were people who got hurt by accident, but instead, her narcissistic behaviour popped out. Thus to conclude this FL's behaviour in the beginning of the drama, her character would fit more into the annoying 2nd FL in a love triangle.
Moreover, many tend to downplay how severe careless driving is. Based on the drama, FL drove carelessly, which caused an accident. Many tend to overlook that incident, and the drama turned me off at the beginning. Thus I skipped the accident scene right away.
However, after progressing through the drama, I saw character development thankfully. She became a nice person and also well composed, unlike her character before she met ML. Too bad that the writers made her too forgiving for her own good.

- The first impression of the ML, too, was not good. What irks me is when ML tried to ask FL to leave right after a sasaeng attacked FL. I understand his intention to discharge FL because FL is too immature and disturbs ML's work; however, I feel like ML has no sympathy. It's unmannered to evict someone who was just attacked and not ask them if they were okay first.
After watching the drama, he too had a major character development. I'm not sure if it's a character development or it's his true nature all along, but I'm happy with his character at the mid-to-end episodes when he gets warmer.

The side characters:
- I feel like it's necessary to discuss the CEO, who I think is the biggest villain in the story. I don't get why such CEO still stands and not getting canceled after doing such inexcusable and unprofessional business strategy. Clearly, after Xu Jia Wei confessed his side of the story during his Live, he mentioned that the entire scandal was set up by the CEO, and yet we didn't see the ugly ass in jail.
- As for the second villain in the story, Gao Zi Tong, she's badly written as her entire evil purpose does not make any sense. Sure, her complex and jealousy gets to her, but is it enough to do such stupid things on the internet that could potentially ruin her career altogether?

For the entire story:
I think the story is nothing new or refreshing. It's basically a carbon copy of dramas that existed. I can't say that this drama is a copy of " You Are My Glory" since this novel came out a year before, however, as much as I hate to compare, "You Are My Glory" is the perfect example of "nothing new" drama that have an excellent story writing. However, I am not saying that this drama is the worst of the worst, just average. If you love dramas that feels familiar, maybe this might be enjoyable for you.
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