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Dazzling chinese drama review
Completed
Dazzling
1 people found this review helpful
by mads6375
22 hours ago
30 of 30 episodes seen
Completed
Overall 10
Story 10.0
Acting/Cast 10.0
Music 9.0
Rewatch Value 10.0
This review may contain spoilers

just wow

Dazzling

Li Yunrui - Xing Wu
Guan Xiaotong - Qing Ye

Final Thoughts: 10/10 (first one since April btw)
Wow. I knew from the synopsis and preview that I was going to like this drama because of its tropes. It appeals to what I like to watch. But, this drama surprised me in the way that I was hooked on every single episode. The actors are perfection. Both Guan Xiaotong and Li Yunrui act extremely well and accurately portrayed these characters the best that anyone could. Qing Ye and Xing Wu are a match made in heaven and destined by fate. I love the chemistry they have and there were many times where I couldn’t tell whether Xing Wu was laughing or Li Yunrui just because it felt so real. Li Yunrui and Guan Xiaotong are both naturally so funny and they get each other’s humor. But, I have to highlight Li Yunrui. For me, he is one of my favorite actors. I feel he’s so underrated and I’m loving all the main roles that he has been getting. HE NEEDS TO DO MORE MODERN DRAMAS. I haven’t watched one of his historical cdramas yet, but his modern dramas are so good. He can fit the visual of any character and he plays it so well. So, directors, casters, whoever, CAST LI YUNRUI IN ANOTHER MODERN DRAMA.

Specifics:

Before starting: This is probably one of my MOST anticipated dramas of the year. I LOVE Li Yunrui’s acting, look, and character. His whole persona is amazing and I love his dramas. I have never watched a Guan Xiaotong drama before, so I’m excited. I heard that this drama has the same author as Speed and Love, which is one of my absolute favorites. I’m just waiting for that yearning and tension. I swear every c-drama actor looks 10x better with blonde hair. When Li Yunrui stepped out with his blonde hair, I was amazed, awed, and stunned.

Xing Wu is just like Jin Zhao. They both act like they can’t put up with princess behavior but fully express their feelings through actions. I liked this drama’s representation of two different lives. It shows two different perspectives on money that is relevant for everyone today. Also, I love the character development we are starting to see from Qing Ye. She is not just a bratty girl from the city, but her care and concern for Xing Wu’s grandma shows her kind character. Also, Xing Wu staying up and making sure Qing Ye was safe when it was raining starts to show his caring side.

Qing Ye helping Xing Wu’s grandma when she was having her seizure really shows her care. Their stares to each other when going to bed with just that curtain separating them. I love when characters communicate with their eyes. Xing Wu is really Jin Zhao’s brother with the scene of him fixing the air conditioner. I love the parallels!!! Qing Ye’s own parallel with her now helping him pick up the nail that fell and that whole slow motion scene with their hands slightly touching. It’s these little details that get me.

When Qing Ye got drunk and revealed her goofy side, u can tell Xing Wu is falling for her. His gaze showed how cute he thought she was. AND THEN THE SCENE IN THE RAIN. HOLY. THE TENSION. THE PROTECTIVENESS. THE ANGER BEHIND XING WU WHEN THAT WEIRD MAN ALMOST HURT HER WHEN SHE WAS TAKING A SHOWER. THE WAY THAT QING YE WAS ABLE TO GET XING WU TO HOLD BACK AND STOP BEATING THE MAN. “Trust Me. I promise you…No danger will ever touch you again.” His promise, so sincere and touching and genuine.

When Qing Ye announced she was leaving, u can see Xing Wu’s attitude change. I can tell he didn’t want her to leave anymore and he’s started to get used to her presence. Xing Wu being the savior once again…thank goodness he actually read the contract😭😭 “My home is your home”…they’re going back to Zhazhating!!! Wow they came a long way huh? From counting down the days to get rid of each other to asking for each other back. Xing Wu is really a caring person and wants to make everyone happy. I thought his dialogue telling Qing Ye “don’t always think of yourself as a burden. We have always treated u as family and we hope u do the same” I think that line was very sweet because he knew how doubtful she was about the extra work she’s adding to everyone’s lives.

OMGGGG…after Qing Ye got her hair permed and she ran straight into Xing Wu and he held her to stabilize her, both hands on her shoulders, and they were so close and his eyes. Li Yunrui’s acting with his eyes is so good. And then him saying she looks like Merida but that “black hair looks better than red. It’s prettier.” I also rlly liked the moment when Qing Ye was giving her pep talk for the hair salon business and Xing Wu was listening from the side and gave his silent support. His smile while doing that was so genuine and u can tell he really admired what she’s doing and appreciates her efforts.

The minute that Xing Wu found out that Qing Ye went with Meng Ruihang and he saw that picture of them, he instantly dropped what he was planning to do and rushed over. I loved how Xing Wu said extremely confidently “I want you to stay” when Qing Ye asked him his opinion. The line from Xing Wu that went “I’m the one who brought you back, so everyday you decide to stay, whether that be a year from now, I will always protect and care for you.” Such a comforting character to have in Qing Ye’s life. I don’t think Xing Wu realized how important Qing Ye is to him until she was gonna leave.

“Qing Ye has the power to change the environment. When she wants to do something, she puts her whole heart to it. People are naturally drawn to her without realizing it and they end up standing with her. And in her light, we’ll see who we really are.” I think those are some of the most genuine words that I’ve heard. Xing Wu saying this about Qing Ye means he really understands her and truly believes she is a light in his life.

This drama just doesn’t stop hitting with these scenes where Xing Wu is protective over Qing Ye. The scene where Xing Wu literally dropped a possible job offer to be with Qing Ye after she got bullied. When getting those green spiky things thrown on her, Xing Wu was the one who got them out for her and washed her hair. UMMM…HELLO! When Xing Wu pinned down Qing Ye to “teach her self-defense and teach her a lesson on how to protect herself”…was that rlly necessary. Where can I sign up for those self-defense lessons….just kidding…not really.

When Xing Wu was teasing Qing Ye about how she ran straight into a dead end and she said “So, sometimes, I still need you.” He was so taken aback. He literally couldn’t stop smiling. Umm…ok so who told me we were getting a SHIRTLESS SCENE!? The red light and the dripping water, the directors had to know what they were doing. “Life is full of cracks, but that’s where the light gets in. No storm will last forever and the sun will always rise every day.” Also, I just have to comment on their note passing. I giggled when they started passing notes because that’s what like you expect out of like a schoolgirl/schoolboy crush…it was just really cute.

“Having someone who understands you is a blessing.” …. “To me, you’re that blessing.” I’ve been watching too many c/k dramas. How is my heart speeding up at their pinkies touching!? The apron scene was full of tension. I swear both Xing Wu and Qing Ye looked at the other’s lips when she was putting the apron on him. And then the scene on the bus, I love it. When Qing Ye got up to give an elderly woman her seat and almost fell over when the bus moved, Xing Wu said “Grab onto me…and then Qing Ye grabbed on to the tiniest part of the fabric of his shirt…it was hilarious.. BUT THEN…Xing Wu grabbed her hand and put it directly on his arm.

I feel the angst coming and I’m scared. In episode 20, you really see Xing Wu’s worry fester for Qing Ye. When Xing Wu got that ping at night and couldn’t find Qing Ye, I love the hug that they shared after. All of his worries and fears bottled up into that moment where he just had to hold her and see that she was ok for himself. He said “let me hold you a little bit longer.” I love the yearning. Not only that, but his whole scuffle with Cao Ping at the hospital. “Don’t touch my people”

“I don’t want any walls between us. I want the real you. To Cao Ping, Cao Fan is his everything. To me, you are my everything.” HOW MUCH MORE OF A CONFESSION CAN BE MADE IF IT’S NOT THAT????? I love this detail that the screenwriters added or the author wrote. When Qing Ye and Xing Wu were taking the test and their writing prompt was about being “dazzling.” I love the play on words with the title and the whole meaning of what Qing Ye and Xing Wu wrote with their voiceovers. Basically, being dazzling can be anything is what Qing Ye said. It can represent strength, hesitence, beauty, resilience, but also the insecurities that people may have can be their version of being dazzling. Then, Xing Wu followed it up and we got a mini confession voiceover type. He said that when he looks at her, he remembers every moment with her to be dazzling. Absolutely love the writing here.

The fact that Xing Wu was saving his grandma, rushing into the burning house, but still managed to get Qing Ye’s laptop. He was still trying to provide for his mom, grandma, and Qing Ye at the same time when he was the one who just ran into a burning building. Talk about selflessness. When Xing Wu visited the old house and saw remnants of his old life, that nostalgia really got me. When he started crying, I started crying. Especially since Xing Wu isn’t a guy that reveals his vulnerability, I felt his emotions. I think Li Yunrui acted that part out perfectly and I love how Xing Wu started to lean on Qing Ye for that emotional support. Their hug shows the deep bond that they’ve built. Xing Wu and Li Lan Fang’s family must be some of the most unlucky people in the world.

Xing Wu why are you doing this to me? I cried twice in the span of 2 episodes. When Xing Wu was talking to Qing Ye’s dad, the last sentence that he said was “Spend more time with Qing Ye. She’s tough and independent, but she gets lonely sometimes. She needs a family to love her.” The way Xing Wu is able to understand and care for Qing Ye is so deep. I have such a love/hate relationship with their last conversation on the beach. When they were talking about their future and when they would meet again, they’re really leaving it up to fate. I love how Qing Ye uses their reunion as motivation to achieve more and help Xing Wu not give up. Xing Wu broke me with: “Qing Ye, keep on moving forward. I will catch up.” I think that sentence is bigger than any love declaration he could have made. It shows that Xing Wu wants Qing Ye to be the best version of herself and he will also be the best version of himself to deserve her.

Qing Ye really showed how much she’s grown to love Zhazhating. I love the way that she described the community: “If you were starving, would you think about other people that are also starving around you? Most people would say no, but the people at Zhazhating 100% would.” Also, I literally burst into tears at the part where Qing Ye was saying bye to Xing Wu’s grandma. I don’t know if it’s just because I get emotional with old people or because I know that interaction is the last time Qing Ye is going to see Xing Wu’s grandma. I really wish Qing Ye could’ve been there for the funeral. It was beautiful with Xing Wu’s words that show blood relation doesn’t mean anything when it comes to true family.


Out of all the dramas I’ve watched with this separation/reunion trope, dazzling has been my favorite because of their mutual improvement. They aren’t separated because something tragic happened, but they are separated to help each other grow. I loved when Qing Ye used that 3 tap thing to tell Xing Wu she made it into Qingbei University as motivation for him.

I LOVE EPISODE 28. When they met again for the first time, the looks in their eyes. Qing Ye was in disbelief. Xing Wu just had a look of longing. Not only that, but when their hands touched, Xing Wu’s smile grew 10x. The tension, the longing, the reunion…finally . ALSO, XING WU LOOKS SO GOOD IN A SUIT AND GLASSES. . And then when Qing Ye asked him about his love life, Xing Wu was so quick to respond “No progress. I’ve always had someone in my heart.” CONFESS.

I lied, episode 29 is even better. “Sometimes, slowing down is the only way to meet the right person.” YES. Qing Ye and Xing Wu are finally meeting again in Zhazhating, at the lighthouse where they first met, had their first kiss, and finally confessed their feelings. I loved it. The visual was insane too. The “dazzling” light. Xing Wu’s glasses I can’t. Li Yunrui really can pull off anything. The way that he pulled her in for that kiss. He literally cupped her whole face. I love how this has been so long coming that they don’t even verbally confess, just straight in for the kiss. “I realized that he is the brightest light in my life.” I love the motif/symbol of light showing how the darkest times can be made better with that one person by your side. Xing Wu is literally the perfect boyfriend. HOW DOES XING WU MAKE EVERYTHING SO ATTRACTIVE AND FULL OF TENSION!? when they were cooking at the house and she stepped in front of him to look in the refrigerator and then he pulled her into him.

“Love is a gamble and you must accept the outcome.” I love this quote, I think it captures the love perfectly. Love is such a crazy experience, you can’t be rational about it, you can’t predict the outcome, and you just have to let fate take its course. That’s why I love the meaning behind the chinese words “yuan fen” because I think it represents fate in better words than just fate. It’s the natural drawing of two people together that are meant to be together no matter what and this drama portrays that perfectly.

I think Li Yunruis drunk acting is the cutest. When he said “fly” and started flapping his arms, it was so cuteeeee. I lied, maybe episode 30 is the best. I WAS NOT PREPARED FOR THAT CONFESSION OF “I LOVE YOU” TO EACHOTHER. AND THEN HE PICKED HER UP AND WRAPPED HER LEGS AROUND HIS WAIST THEN WENT IN FOR THE KISS. HE WAS FULLY IN IT BRO. Xing Wu’s shirt being half unbuttoned answering all the calls that keep on interrupting them. I love how they stop, then answer the call, then go right at it again. But then, we all know what happened after….
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