This was an enjoyable, low-stress modern drama. I really liked Zoey Meng as the bubbly main character Gao Yang, and there were some mysterious (but not too convoluted) events involving her father that kept me curious through to the end. For me, the romance between the leads was the weakest part and I never found myself rooting for Gao Yang and Yan Li, but there is a side couple that I loved.

When her father's company goes bankrupt, Gao Yang is quickly forced to realize that her identity, self-worth, and friendships were all tied to her wealth. However, Gao Yang's poverty lasts for pretty much only one night because Yan Li brings her to his huge apartment. I wish Gao Yang had experienced more challenges on her own because things work out so easily/luckily. She does find a job on her own and works hard and persistently, but even in her financial condition she still purchases robot vacuums and sheet masks? She's kind-hearted, isn't spiteful, and does experience a lot of growth, so overall I still liked her.

I couldn't stand that Yan Li repeatedly called Gao Yang stupid, despite his actions showing that he saw merit in some of her ideas. I can be more forgiving when this sort of thing happens in a youth drama but Yan Li is a smart, mature adult. I guess it was supposed to convey how he loses reason when it comes to her and had feelings for her?? Yikes. In comparison, the second male lead Li Ming Che (played by the charming Li Shen) supported her creative ideas and appreciated her! When Yan Li had moments in the drama later on where he was sweet or affectionate, it actually gave me the creeps because it felt so unlike him. I was also disappointed when Gao Yang ignored the differences in her and Yan Li's personalities, and made him change his behavior for her while not doing the same for him. (The sweatshirt scene was The Worst.)

My favorite character was Xiao Zai because he was so funny, down-to-earth, and a supportive friend. The most memorable moments of this drama for me were Gao Yang's moments of self-growth and interactions with supporting characters. Also, although there were several characters facing unrequited love, none of them turned to any villainous behavior, which was a nice change. No scheming, no persistent 'I can't live without you', no creating misunderstandings. While I didn't love this drama, it was a nice break between some heartbreaking and emotional historical/fantasy dramas.

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I thoroughly enjoyed this drama! It had me laughing out loud, I loved every character, and found so many aspects very relatable. I loved the Victoria Song & Song Weilong pairing and there's a great balance of other storylines aside from their romance. Although, I did find the ending rushed and would've loved more depth from certain characters.

Yes, He Fanxing (Victoria Song) is naive and sometimes quite silly, and you will shake your head at some of her actions. But not everyone has the same experiences at the same age, and she does learn from her mistakes. Plus, her silliness is exactly what Yuan Song (Song Weilong) likes about her... Yuan Song approaches the relationship with the passion of youth; I love his fearless pursuit of Fanxing even though I knew he couldn't truly understand the societal and familial pressure she feels. I thought him being an intern at the company she works at would have probably been a bigger issue...

I loved Fanxing's relationship with her family - I was quite surprised to see Zhang Yujian play her twin brother, He Canyang, but I loved it! Their dynamic was hilarious and heartwarming. Zhang Yujian's deadpan delivery and side-eye glances were on point. The one storyline I could not believe though was his romance storyline. It just seemed to come out of nowhere and felt out-of-character. I also loved Fanxing's two best friends, Song Xue and Xiao Yu. They each had such different lives and priorities, and maintained such supportive friendships. I was glad that both friends had their own storylines. Then there's also Fanxing's work friends! I loved all the office scenes, especially Cong Xiao and Chang Huan. Cong Xiao was a great contrast to Fanxing, and I loved her insights and advice.

I liked the second male lead Ye Lu Ming (David Wang) much more than I would have expected. His character is so funny, slightly over the top and somewhat strange, but he's also driven and smart. If he had met Fanxing before she fell for Yuan Song, I honestly think he would've had a chance. I didn't like some of his actions (like deliberately meeting her parents) but mostly he was a guy who went in 100% for what he wanted. Also, his cousin/assistant was really funny and I loved her.

As for Yuan Song's friends, Cai Minmin was such an over-the-top spoiled and childish character, but at the same time, I would totally believe someone like her exists... I was glad to see her experience some growth throughout the series. Her friend Zhanni was so down-to-earth and loyal.

I do admit, it's ridiculous what a small world it feels like in this drama. That aspect was 100% unrealistic but SO fun and entertaining. It made this drama a mix of realistic situations and laugh-out-loud coincidences.

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I like the contract relationship trope and this drama only has 24 episodes, but I still managed my expectations... and was disappointed. The initial setup of the contract relationship turned me off a little because I hate when it's based on manipulation and deceit, but I continued on because the leads have really great chemistry. The grandma is also such a joy! Unfortunately, there are just SO many annoying things I can go on about. Both main characters have a childhood friend who is in love with them and won't give up. One of them keeps swooping in to save the day again and again, and the other schemes against the couple again and again, and this causes almost all of the conflict throughout the drama. I didn't love either of the main characters' management of boundaries.

Even though the main couple looked cute together, the writing was cheesy and the male lead was especially immature. Although I liked that he respected the female lead's dream and supported her, he was so jealous, childishly petty, and clingy. I guess at least he stopped being a manipulative schemer. (For a similar CEO & designer dynamic that's more mature, I recommend Sunshine of My Life from earlier this year! No contract relationship though.)

Lastly... the second couple. YIKES. Shang Ke is one of the most annoying characters I've seen this year. Usually the male lead's best friend is a fun character and I like seeing their friendship but Shang Ke was an immature troublemaker. To make matters worse, his love interest was an awesome, smart woman who he was really no match for. I ended up skipping their scenes. Instead, Yin Si Chen's assistant Fei Ang was the hidden gem here! On Gu Xi Xi's side, her friend was somewhat annoying and somewhat unreliable towards the beginning, but at least she was loyal.

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This is my favorite drama of 2019. Dramas in historical settings are often too tragic or stressful, so the humor in this drama was a breath of fresh air! It's funny without being silly. That's not to say this is a comedy though, as the political intrigue is intense. The plotting is intricate. Zhang Ruoyun is seriously stellar as Fan Xian, a laidback, smart, and sarcastic young man who doesn't want anything to do with court politics but finds himself inevitably pulled in. He treats his friends with loyalty and respect. He's also very smart, but the great thing about this drama is that he's not the only one. There are so many formidable characters. I can't wait for the second season.

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I'm giving this a 10 because it absolutely succeeds in what it sets out to do: a true slice-of-life story about the residents of a small village, with some absolutely stunning scenery. (I hear that it's increased tourism in Yunnan and I completely understand!) There's a tragic event in the beginning that sets up the story: a grieving Xu Hong Dou (Liu Yi Fei) decides to leave Beijing to spend a few months in the small village of Yun Miao.

Although the first few episodes in the village are a bit slow, as more about each character is revealed I gradually found myself appreciating every single person! The aunties, the grannies, the adorable children, the other short-term residents. Each character has depth, their own struggles and challenges, hopes and fears. The friendships were truly heartwarming. I loved Xiao Chun's straightforward demeanor, Da Mai gradually opening up, and Xia Xia maturing. A romance develops between the leads quite naturally, but if that's what you're primarily watching for then it'll require some patience. Liu Yi Fei and Li Xian had great chemistry and were very cute together.

I really enjoyed watching this almost every night and unwinding, just a perfect way to end the day. I'm such a fan of this director & writers team, as Find Yourself and Go Ahead are both among my favorites. (Noting that they have a different feel to Meet Yourself--Find Yourself is a bit more comedic and Go Ahead is more melodramatic but all three have a lot of heart.)

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I wanted to check out the first episode out of curiosity and ended up watching all eight episodes within 12 hours. It was 100% Park Jihoon's portrayal of Si-eun that hooked me. Those sad eyes and that emotionless voice expressed so much intensity. Choi Hyun Wook was also so charismatic as Soo-ho; his energy is infectious and the two of them together really warmed my heart. However, to be clear, this isn't a warm drama! This is intense and violent, the eight episode length gives it such a fast pace although still allowing character development to be evident. Every cast member played their part so well.

I truly hope this gets a second season. Noting that I have not read the webtoon.

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I haven't seen the Taiwanese version so I watched Love in Time with no expectations. Love in Time started off promising, with the arrogant lawyer Zheng Yu and passionate reporter Jia Lan frightened and confused when time-space begins to overlap for 46 minutes every night. The cases they're working on and their respective best friends, Ji Rong and Sheng Hao, cause their lives to intersect, allowing them to get to know each other gradually. However, by episode 15 I had lost interest. Much of the plot is about saving the relationship between Ji Rong and Sheng Hao, but it failed to create any sort of emotional investment. There was just no depth to them or the villains in the drama so the the story lost too much momentum.

Instead of dropping the series though, I kept going and did enjoy the last 7-8 episodes because of Zheng Yu's storyline. I won't spoil it by going into specifics, but Yang Xu Wen did a great job. Unfortunately, I found Jia Lan really annoying. I liked her character in the beginning; she's energetic, cares about people and getting justice for them, isn't afraid to speak up. The issue is that while Zheng Yu's character experiences so much growth from beginning to end, Jia Lan doesn't and just seems immature in comparison. (Maybe another actress in the role would have been more convincing?) I didn't care about their romance at all, and in the second half I watched those scenes on double speed.

I did think the logic of the time-space overlap worked well, and also shout out to Chen Guan Yu who played Zheng Yu's assistant Da Jun and provided comic relief. Overall, Love in Time isn't the worst drama but missed the mark.

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If I were rating solely the main characters and their story & romance, this would be a 10. I haven’t seen Jeremy Tsui’s past dramas, but he plays the sharp and confident Liang Yi, to perfection. I’ve seen several of Qiao Xin’s dramas and I’m not a fan of her acting (especially when she has emotional scenes), but the writing and the chemistry make up for it here. Her character, Qiu Yan, is quick-witted and daring, doing whatever it takes to take control of her own fate, including lying and manipulating—but she does have a bottom line & is a caring person at heart. I loved both the bickering dynamic & the teamwork between Liang Yi and Qiu Yan, and the gradual development of their relationship from dislike to mutual admiration to love. It’s refreshing that they are direct with each other and there aren’t misunderstandings, things aren’t dragged out. This is a pairing where you 100% feel like they’re meant to be together and I would absolutely rewatch all their scenes together.

Besides the leads, I adored Song Jin and Liang Yi’s mother, and they both brought so much warmth and laughter to the show. The opening song is so good, but I don’t remember any other songs from the OST.

However, overall this drama isn’t a 10 for me for a few reasons. There’s investigating cases, cute romantic moments, a bitter rivalry, terrible family members, life-or-death stakes, and sometimes it felt a little uneven. (I recall a few episodes in the middle of the drama that I didn't quite care for.) I really disliked Qiu Min from beginning to end, and the resolution her character received at the end was jarring. I was also not a fan of the last half of the final episode and wished the writer(s) had went in a different direction, but I do give credit for including many references from previous episodes. It felt like there was attention paid to the details.

Still, I have a feeling this will end up in my favorite dramas of 2022 list! I had zero expectations when I started it (thought it'd be a filler drama lol) and ended up being delighted by the main characters.

Content warnings: episode 19, r*pe (scene begins at around the 33 minute mark) & a suicide attempt; episode 34, suicide

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This drama is a big YIKES. Initially I was intrigued by the revenge storyline and the mysterious fire three years ago, and I liked the cast. Unfortunately, the never-ending obstacles started to become unbearable so after episode 19 I skipped to episode 29 to spare myself some misery. There are some terrible events that occur that felt unnecessary. The villainous characters were one-dimensional, obsessed with the pursuit of their one goal, regardless of the cost. The main romance bored me and I can't recall any memorable moments. (Maybe they had some good moments in the nine episodes I skipped?) The final episode was anti-climactic and fell flat.

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I'm pleasantly surprised by how quickly I watched this and how much I enjoyed it! I watched most of it without subtitles so I didn't fully understand all the scientific/business aspects of the storyline, but that doesn't matter to me since what I loved was the romance and the characters.

I loved every single scene between Chen Bo Lin and Zhang Tian Ai as the main characters Zhou Erwen and Li Nanen. Zhou Erwen is a serious, principled, and stubborn genius working determinedly on an ecological project with Gao Mu, Wu Suowei, and Yu Buji. He frequently makes decisions on his own, alienating his teammates. When Li Nanen goes to France to study architecture, she meets the four of them and it becomes her goal to join their project. Li Nanen is lively, upbeat, and relentlessly pursues her dreams. Although Li Nanen and Zhou Erwen's personalities initially clash, they learn from and inspire each other. Their relationship develops at a great pace with so many heartwarming moments. That's not to say there weren't obstacles between them—there are MANY, including some classic c-drama tropes (sigh)—but I had faith that they would be able to overcome everything. They thoroughly won me over and I would rewatch all their scenes.

Aside from the two leads, I liked every major side character except for one: Wan Wei. She's awful from start to finish, and I'm warning you so you don't get your hopes up about her. I liked the project team members; their relationships with each other were nuanced and sometimes tense. There are also multiple side couples, exploring how love isn't always enough, how people can change (for better or worse), and how sometimes you only love the idea of someone.

Surprisingly, there was a lot of action in this drama, like scientific espionage and corporate scheming. It definitely helped build urgency and kept the drama moving at a fast pace. In the last five episodes, I thought (and hoped) things would wind down but it was dramatic all the way until the very end.

Also, just want to mention that since much of the drama takes place in France, there is a lot of French spoken. I have no idea if the French lines were written or spoken well, or if the translations were accurate.

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I can't believe I watched this entire drama. I found the main actress annoying in the beginning but decided to give it a second chance. It was briefly entertaining, but then things just stopped making sense. Everyone is in love with (or more accurately, obsessed with) either Yun Qian Yue or Rong Jing. Everyone wants to keep them apart. There's the most bizarre poison I've ever seen in a drama. I lost interest before they even returned to modern time, which felt like a different story altogether. Anyhow, sorry for this jumble of sentences that probably makes no sense. That's what the drama felt like as well.

Also, Ye Qian deserved better and the violence of what happens to Qin Yu Ning was too much.

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I have not read the novel and didn't recognize any of the cast members, but I LOVED THIS. This is probably the first modern Chinese drama in a long time that I enjoyed from start to end.

I was initially concerned that it would be too sad/unbearable to watch given the title, but I was laughing so hard within the first couple episodes. This drama is set in college and explores not only unrequited love but missed opportunity, timing, regret, and second chances - but it's much more about the present and the future than being wrapped up in the past. It doesn't focus only on the main character's relationship and there are many storylines centering around other characters. There's a serious, reflective feeling to this drama that emanates from the main female character's maturity and self-awareness. I loved Luo Zhi so much - I'm not saying she's a perfect person (who's not flawed?) but I found her so relatable and admirable - and I loved her relationship with Sheng Huai Nan.

For me, I really like a strong cast of supporting characters and friendship is one of my favorite themes. I loved Luo Zhi's relationship with her roommate Bai Li, and Sheng Huai Nan's group of close friends, Zhang Min Rui. Although I didn't love every single storyline (Shui Jing's was my least favorite), I appreciate how it conveyed the complexity of feelings and relationships, and how things aren't black and white.

The episodes are about 30 minutes, which made it so easy for me to keep hitting 'next episode'. At 24 episodes of this length, I think it could have actually used a few more episodes to develop the final storylines more. But like I said, I loved this drama, would rewatch it (rare for me), and I think I'll look for the novel!

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The Wolf was a miss for me... This drama centers foremost around the love story of Bo Wang and Ma Zhai Xing and if you find yourself invested in their relationship then you will enjoy this drama. If you don't, it'll become a chore to watch. Especially in the latter half, this drama didn't resonate with me and I didn't feel any emotional pull.

It's abundantly clear that Bo Wang and Ma Zhai Xing had a strong connection to each other, from beginning to end. However, I first started losing interest during episode 15, because I felt that Bo Wang's actions were over-the-top. I understand that his goal was to push Ma Zhai Xing away and make her give up on him, but I refuse to believe he had to resort to those actions. Then it was Ma Zhai Xing's turn to cause me to lose interest. Halfway through, I started to feel like Ma Zhai Xing was obsessed with her memories of Lang Zai, self-absorbed, and not nearly as smart as she thought she was. Did she ever consider what Bo Wang had been through in those eight years or try to understand the ways that his situation had changed? All she did was try to bring back every single thing they liked together in the past, to drag him back to the Lang Zai she had preserved in her heart. Sure, you could say she was trying to help him find his true self, she brought him warmth and kindness... but she disregards his precarious new identity as a prince and becomes his weakness, a tool that can be used against him, and she doesn't even realize it.

When Ma Zhai Xing finally learns the truth, I thought this drama had a chance to prove me wrong and offer some growth. But what does Ma Zhai Xing do? She repeatedly makes emotional, impulsive choices when it comes to anything relating to Bo Wang. Does it ever really feel like she cares about those loyal family troops of hers? From beginning to end, I felt like that kindness and pureness of heart that everyone loves Ma Zhai Xing for has always been reserved for and dedicated solely for Bo Wang. Even if it seemed like kindness toward another character, wasn't that character someone related to Bo Wang?

I kept powering through this drama because I felt committed to seeing how things would end, but those last 10ish episodes didn't make sense to me. We kept being reminded of what a connection and understanding Ma Zhai Xing and Bo Wang had, and YET Ma Zhai Xing didn't see through his actions during that battle scene? Sorry, you can't keep trying to sell me the ~special connection~ and ~Ma Zhai Xing is so smart~ but tell me that Ma Zhai Xing had no suspicions at all despite everything that happens during and after the battle. Then, the last episode celebrates Ma Zhai Xing as this grand hero and it made me roll my eyes. First, where was that Ma Zhai Xing in the previous ten episodes??? That's what I wanted to see much earlier. Second, what happens just doesn't make sense, for each character. I won't get into the details because I don't want to spoil anything.

As for the other characters: Although I liked Ji Chong's character, especially in the beginning, I was never rooting for a relationship between Ji Chong and Ma Zhai Xing, because it was always clear that her heart belonged to Bo Wang. I was surprised that I liked Bao Na a lot, except for her last story arc, because it felt too contrived for me. The biggest surprise for me was Wang Jia Yi as the fourth prince: a great performance and a likable character. (Can you believe it was only about two years ago that Wang Jia Yi was on Idol Producer and auditioned while holding that stuffed animal?!) The biggest missed opportunity for this drama was Yao Ji. Xin Zhi Lei is such a great actress and I would've loved to see more of her character's backstory. I also liked the members of the Night Fury a lot but would've liked more depth to them than just their fierce loyalty to Bo Wang. There was a scene where they did acknowledge their internal conflict, but I thought there could've been more. The emperor had a strong storyline throughout the drama and the actor did a great job. In general, the political storylines were pretty solid.

All in all, I'm glad I watched The Wolf because I was so curious about the hype, but it was a disappointment for me.

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The Starry Love was such a satisfying, entertaining drama that gave me the kind of story I've always wanted! When I first saw the trailer, I wasn't sure if I wanted to watch it because it looked too comedic for my tastes, but I soon realized that the comedy also served to offer insights into our characters. The four main characters are so well-developed that I truly loved each of them.

The twin princesses who have a strong & loving bond, always putting each other first and supporting each other; Yetan is tough on the outside but has a fierce & loyal heart, Qingkui is gentle and kind and doesn't hesitate to speak up for others. I especially liked Qingkui because sometimes kind-hearted characters are made out to be naive damsels in distress. Qingkui played to her strengths, was always clear-headed, and could speak so eloquently.

Finally, a Heavenly Prince who is decisive and remains true to his heart; typically this sort of character is torn between responsibility and love, the world vs one person. Shaodian Youqing had so many memorable lines. And lastly, a Void Prince whose scheming is actually always for the sake of those he cares most deeply about. The romance between Chaofeng & Qingkui won me over first, but at the conclusion of the second story arc I was so moved by the main romance!

Not only do Li Lan Di and Chen Xing Xu do an excellent job with humorous scenes (it's not easy to avoid being cringey!), they have excellent chemistry and capture the emotions of their characters so well. (I hated Chen Xing Xu's character in Goodbye My Princess and thought I'd associate it with him forever, but his performance here has proven me wrong.) I have probably watched every Chen Mu Chi and He Xuan Lin scene at least three times. Chen Mu Chi looks so good as Chaofeng that I'll really need an adjustment period the next time I see him in a drama. In addition, the supporting characters were all great, Hai Chao was *hilarious* and totally spot-on, Fei Chi was funny as well, Yetan's friends were wonderful, the villains were immensely hateable, Wu Dai was adorable.. The only annoying character is Biqiong but don't worry, she has very little screentime.

The last ~10 episodes are so fast-paced, but I'm not complaining. It's a nice change from 50+ episode dramas where half the episodes feel like a slog. I do hope for an epilogue/bonus scene, but if we don't get one I'm still satisfied, as this drama brought me so much joy. It feels very rewatchable and it's making my all-time favorites list.

Regarding the OST, I played Mao Buyi's version of 天地无瑕 ('Flawless World') on repeat for weeks. A beautiful song, and I didn't feel like it was overused in the drama.

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