Perfect blend of historical romance and action

Literally all I want in my cdramas: smart-witted FL, caring and sweet ML, fabulous and equal romance, fun side action, and low key political plot. It’s the perfect length too at around 3 hours or so. We get lots of cute, romantic moments between the main couple as well as a sweet secondary couple and some kickass action while laughing out loud. Good vibes only!!

Side note: Apparently MGTV is the company making all these shorter web series, and I’m a huge fan!! I also tried out Hold On, My Lady which was also produced by them and enjoyed it as well. Will definitely be following for more despite the horrible subs!

PROS
❀ Unique main romance set-up | I feel like it’s uncommon for cdramas to have the couple be together when the show starts. Well, this is it. While we get a couple minutes of flashback to see how they got together, most of the romantic storyline is them hiding their hidden identities and then realizing how much they love one another despite those identities. I love how both of them can fight while having a normal civilian life (he’s a doctor while she’s the owner of a clothing store). They’re way more similar than not! Especially since both of them work as spies LMAO.
The side couple is cute too! It features the FL’s visually impaired sister with the ML’s good friend that he’s protective of. It’s a wholesome romance line with a very adorkable couple.
❀ Good enough action and plot to keep the story going | While the couple is trying to be a normal couple, they’re also trying to leave their spy jobs. Seems like it’s not that easy, and the plot thickens while their love gets tested.
❀ Yaas skinship | Got some good skinship moments. Sometimes the couple’s kisses are awkward but at least they be trying!! Unlike most kisses that are barely there/just a tap. Plus all the actors are eye candy so sis ain’t complaining.

CONS
✕ MGTV really thinks they can just machine translate and be done with the subs | Apparently this company is known for their bad subs, even though they produce such fun dramas. Sad!! It felt worse than Google Translate at some points as nouns were literally being mistranslated (they called someone a “proton” like —). I guess it wasn’t too bad for me since I’m used to reading machine translations of cnovels (truly a skill…) but it does take away from the enjoyment :’)
✕ Not the biggest fan of the ending | It was so anticlimactic. (SPOILERS AHEAD) so they just gonna live under the radar outside the city forever?? What a waste of their spy abilities and missions from the past. While I enjoyed the action, the whole political plot felt a bit lazy/loosely written, and there could have been a more satisfying ending for the couples. I understand it’s important that they have each other, butttt I’d rather have them living a normal life rather than keeping themselves hidden in the outskirts of city life. I’m certainly not expecting top notch resolutions considering this is a short drama, but I feel like our couples deserved better (even though they were certainly alright. I guess the important thing is that everyone is alive, lol?)
✕ Misunderstanding level: 0/10 | While the couple hid their secret identities from each other, the resolution was pretty solid and didn’t drag out. Plus it led to some steamy romantic scenes so again, I’m not complaining ;)

OVERALL
Honestly the only reason I picked this up was because of the raving comments. Do yourself a favor and give it a try! The episodes are only 12-15 min long - not a huge commitment. The comments about comparing it to Mr. and Mrs. Smith are spot on, so if that’s your vibe then you won’t be disappointed. No need to thank us later ;)

TL;DR: this shorter drama will make you laugh out loud with both its comedic and romantic moments. Just be prepared for the cumbersome subs.

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Cute if you’re a fan of love triangles

I feel like the ML is pretty easy to spot from the get-go but there’s a good balance of chemistry with both MLs (also not someone in the comments saying the guys should have gotten together - LOL!). I tried this one out because I’m a huge fan of romcom historical dramas, and the FL looked pretty strong, but I don’t think I could get past the love triangle.

To be honest I watched the first two episodes and last episode, and felt like I didn’t miss much. It’s very much a light-hearted watch with a quirky heroine and guys who are attracted to how ~different~ she is heehee. And ofc the ML be doting on her and whippeddd.

Other notes:
- Weird editing cuts that made me go huh??
- The MLs are gorgeous so you get some delicious eye candy (I feel like the FL is more on the cuter side)
- The opening gave so much of the story away I was like “yup,,, that’s it for me”
- I like how the FL can (kinda) fight but she be pulling one of those “I’m so independent imma (unintentionally) cause more drama” plot points
- I’m not watching hours of a drama to watch a girl choose between two guys,,, it’s 2022 y’all. Maybe she should have ended with both of them ¯\_(ツ)_/¯

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A must-see to complete this couple's story

Thank you Productive Procrastination for the translations!
This movie is a sequel and continuation of where the story left off in Puppet Prince, which you should watch first. The story in this movie is set three years after Puppet Prince, where the FL is trying to save the ML from his vegetative state. It honestly was more frustrating than the first movie, but not gonna lie the twist near the end got me. Did it absolve the frustrating bits beforehand? Somewhat... but in general I wasn't here for the angst done to the FL.

PROS
❀ The FL remains as optimistic, fun, and good-hearted as always | In my review of the first movie I noted how hesitant I was about the FL, but I ended up really liking her, and in this movie she stays great! I love how determined she was to save the ML and to regain his memories. When she realized she was overstepping her boundaries, she steps back. She's also smart and capable though, and ends up figuring things out on her own despite people going against her. We stan a heroine who knows kung-fu and uses her brain!
❀ Those twists near the end got me | The first 45 minutes got me low key upset, lol. I felt like the FL deserved so much better and there were more romantic scenes between the ML and the 2FL villainess. BUT the plot was saved by those twists near the end. I like how everything was fast-paced so watchers get to figure out the bad guys along with the main characters. I think both movies were unpredictable in some ways which really turned the storyline for the better. My only complaint is all that angst leading up to the twist.

CONS
✕ Not a huge fan of the amnesia plot | I guess you can't expect an epic Chinese story without an amnesia plot (/sob... why must they be like this). Anyway, this amnesia trope was hard to watch in this movie because the ML felt so cold towards the FL who had only the best of intentions. Like - sir!!! But future watchers should have more faith in him (at least more than I did, lol), because there are ~reasons~ why frustrating things happen. Y'all's patience will be rewarded. :')
✕ Not a fan of how much screen time they spent on the ice puppet | At one point I felt like I was watching a totally new couple (with the ice puppet as the FL) and my eyes rolled so hard. There's a limit to how many scenes I can bear where the actual FL's feelings get stomped on!! They even gave the ice puppet a flashback scene. All in all she was a pretty annoying character but at least she had good character development.
✕ Misunderstanding level: 9/10 | Bruh, even *I* as the watcher was misunderstanding the ML. All in the name of noble sacrifice.

OVERALL
Sad to report that while this is about the romance between the couple from Puppet Prince, there aren't romantic scenes surrounding them. I mean, the feelings are still there, but they're too busy trying to save the other (lmao). I'd say watch this if you're okay with investing a bit over 2 hours for both movies. The story is still pretty exciting (a lot is fit in these movies) and while I would have liked more ~romance~, at least we get a happy ending for our main leads.

(Note: My rewatch value is set to 5.0 always as a default as I'm not the type to rewatch dramas EVER. Thus, I do not take it into account when calculating overall score.)

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Steampunk, historical romance that packs a lot into the story

On my continuous quest to find Chinese fantasy movies with happy endings (one of my favorite genres but unfortunately not quite popular compared to sad/open/ambiguous openings), I found Puppet Prince.
Thanks to the translator Productive Procrastination for the great translations (you can watch it subbed on their site)!

PROS
❀ Likable main leads and supporting characters | I don't know any of these actors but they were pretty solid! I was hesitant towards the FL at first - she gets saved by the ML in one of the first scenes (like yes I guess it's necessary but is it really??) and her dubbed voice was a bit annoying. BUT she gets so much better! Throughout the story you can see she's a good soul and knows enough kung fu to stand up for herself and help other people. She's determined to get to the bottom of what happened three years ago and find her senior brother, even if it means going against the governor. I liked how capable she was.
On the other hand, the 'governor' aka our ML aka a powerful puppet is a literal puppet being used by the bad guys. When he meets the FL, he sees color and a potential future past being just a heartless puppet. It's really adorable how innocent he is about emotions and the world outside the government. (Of course, he just needs a spunky heroine to show him the good stuff!!)
The senior brother and FL's master are great characters that I also enjoyed - they definitely added color to the script!
❀ Creative settings | I loved the steampunk foundation of this movie. We got to see the illegal puppet market, an underground palace/prison place, and other cool background settings. While the plot wasn't anything new, I enjoyed this puppet-centric historical (I guess it would technically be a xuanhuan?) romance.
❀ There's an OST I really like | It's the second track in this playlist: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_9_Mp97iPY8. In general I thought the music was well-placed and added to the overall atmosphere.

CONS
✕ Honestly the beginning was rough for me | But hold on tight - the movie gets better!! Like I mentioned before, the FL wasn't the best at first and the first scene's CGI was... omg, it was so bad. There's a reason why Chinese movies have a special place in my heart with their questionable CGI (Bollywood movies are also up there, lmao). But after that over-the-top puppet scene in the beginning, everything else that follows is is pretty solid.
✕ Romance is kind of rushed since the movie tries to fit a bunch of things | My rule for going into these types of movies is not expecting much from the romantic storyline. The main leads get around 3-5 scenes (maybe 20 min in total?) to develop feelings and then they get pushed to the rest of the plot. While they're falling in love, there's an evil commander, random evil woman who wants to get with the puppet governor (which is never explained why), missing senior brother, mysterious events 3 years past, and a secret plot in the background. We get usual Cdrama tropes from hidden identities to "I can only see color near her" to asking the age-old question on what it means to be human. Anyway, I stan.
✕ Kind of forced the ending | I think this story could have been completed in one movie, but a random move by an unimportant character added angst which led to the need for a second movie. Was it satisfying? Not at all, and we could have saved screen time by instead getting the main couple to see rainbows or something as promised. Was I okay with it? Yeah, I'll bite because there's another movie... but still. The execution left a lot to be desired.
✕ Misunderstanding level: 3/10 | Happens once towards the end of the movie with your typical noble sacrifice move. Doesn't happen for a long time, but I have to note that it's another trope the movie utilizes.

OVERALL
If you're looking for a quick movie with steampunk/historical Chinese vibes and a sweet romance, I recommend this series (should watch both of them to get that happy ending). It's not a must-see, but I'm a fan of romance movies with happy endings in general and it's good enough to pass the time. Just a warning, this one has a bittersweet ending (low key cliffhanger) but the next movie completes the couple's story. Happy watching!

(Note: My rewatch value is set to 5.0 always as a default as I'm not the type to rewatch dramas EVER. Thus, I do not take it into account when calculating overall score.)

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Human x Demon story but they get a happy ending

How many times do I have to watch about a snake demon and human go through turmoil just to get a sad/inconclusive ending?? (@ Legend of the White Snake smh) Anyway, Hanson and the Beast is a contemporary fantasy romance between a demon and a human with - YES - a happy ending and minimal angst. I knew I was off to a good start when the very first minutes of the movie was a narration from a child talking about their father and mother meeting. Bless!! It's cute, sweet, funny, and has all the classic feel-good Cdrama tropes mixed in. Definitely recommended for a light-hearted fantasy romance!

PROS
❀ Fun main cast | The ML is a debt-ridden zoo-keeper who's going on dates to marry for money, but his plans keep getting foiled due to our innocent (and very pretty!) FL getting in his way. She tries seducing him in the naive way that a fox demon who doesn't interact with humans much would do, and hijinks ensue. Both actors were quirky and energetic with their roles, lending a comical tone. It was also refreshing to see the FL use her powers to defend/protect the ML, lol.
❀ Fun storyline that follows the main couple's romance | While the main couple is falling in love, the antagonist is dead-set on drawing the line between humans and demons. This includes capturing the rare fox demon (our FL) and spreading false news that humans tortured her. It gives the opportunity of a role reversal, where the ML has to save the FL this time.
❀ Hilarious supporting cast and scenes | This movie was like an exciting roller coaster ride. I loved the cat demon childhood best friend (why was he so funny??) who supported the FL through and through, the antagonist vulture demon whose evilness was sometimes mocked at throughout the movie, and all the minor demons featured as well. For hilarious scenes, we got an amazing bed scene (or, the prelude to one) that was wayyy more comedic than I expected, the debt collectors accidentally getting involved with the demons, and this movie set scene where the actual demons are hiding within an army of actor demons. A++ entertainment.

CONS
✕ Rushed romance | FL has loved the ML since he saved her when she was a small fox, and ML falls in love with FL after she supports him as a "fan." I mean do I buy it? Yesss because it's a fantasy romance movie but am I giving it a lot of leeway? Yes as well.
✕ No resolution on the dad plot | Man, I expected more on the dad plot! I guess they were running our of time to fit a resolution for him in, lol.
✕ Misunderstanding level: 0/10 | FL reveals her demon self pretty early on upon meeting and the main couple work together to beat the baddies.

OVERALL
Y'all know how hard it is for me to find a romantic Chinese movie with a HE? Maybe I been looking at the wrong sites, but... most of the time it's either a youth movie or a sad/'realistic'/open ending. I'm happy to have found Handson and the Beast. It may be silly at times, but overall it's a heartwarming and fun watch about a man who's struggling to fit into human society and a fox demon who refuses the limitations of her society.

Note: I just found out that this screenwriter also has a drama with the same concept of an organization that deals with monsters/demons in the human world, called Bureau of Transformer. Going on my to-watch list!

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Light, unfiltered, and adventurous love story between two broken souls

The premise didn't intrigue me but the comments about "dark comedy" did.

Was it funny? Well... sometimes. The kind of funny that gets a smile or short "ha!". But nothing too hilarious.
Was it satirical? Most definitely.

The storyline follows cases that were based on the Chinese prosecutor's office (Supreme People's Procuratorate) throughout the adventure of two characters (our ML and FL) that have downtrodden views of life. Their inner narratives are quite unfiltered, and the visuals which remain light in saturation + plucky music finish this theme of a raw, realistic view of the world. It's less romcom funny, more sarcasm+poking light of a situation funny. Overall though, Definitely Not Today is a refreshing drama in a world of cliches, tropes, and cold-hearted CEOs.

PROS
❀ Great acting featuring realistically imperfect characters | The ML has mental illnesses (the synopsis says social anxiety, but translated eps say OCD as well? Might be a mistranslation since he doesn't really exhibit OCD tendencies) while the FL is dealing with trauma from the past and trying to stay alive in a world out to get her. He's indifferent, she's prickly. Together they make a surprising duo and learn to care about the world around them - as well as living in it.
I've seen the ML in another drama (My Love, Enlighten Me) and he plays the indifferent look quite well. In this show though, he really puts the uncaring attitude to another level. The ML basically wants to die by suicide, since he doesn't think there's anything worth living for, and you can tell how much he doesn't care from his messy hair to his barebones apartment. The FL's actress is new to me but she played a brash woman who hides her heart pretty well. Apparently these actors are reunited from a previous drama of theirs, which is fun. The chemistry is pretty tame and the relationship goes from mistrust -> mild friendship -> trust -> something more (romantically). I like that it didn't jump into insta-love and they had an organic relationship progression (with bumbles and fall-outs in-between).
❀ Good production value | From the music to the small-town sets, this show went out of its way to give a realistic storyline while poking fun at the more violent bits. I honestly recommend to watch it in one go like a movie (especially as it has a widescreen ratio on YT, giving it a more professional vibe) and the contents are interesting enough to keep you going. What happens when 2 flawed people find themselves entangled in a mess that brings them closer than ever?

CONS
✕ It's not that deep... or maybe that's a pro? | Despite the show tackling intense subjects such as sexual assault, it doesn't go beyond a surface level of how it affects the main characters, keeping the tone light-hearted. I guess if this is a pro or con depends on the viewer, but I expected... more. I ended the drama with an "eh, that was pretty good" feeling and felt emotionally detached from the events going on.
✕ Misunderstandling level: 0/10 | In this just less than 3 hour drama, the main characters are unabashed and straight-forward, leaving little room for misunderstandings. Ones that do come up are on the antagonists' side lol.

OVERALL
While this Cdrama wasn't as profound as I was expecting, its "at-face-value" plot is welcoming and refreshing. I think all the actors did a great job, and the production in general makes this show unique compared to other contemporary Cdramas. Really recommended if you're looking for a light-hearted adventure that defies the usual drama tropes!

(Note: My rewatch value is set to 5.0 always as a default as I'm not the type to rewatch dramas EVER. Thus, I do not take it into account when calculating overall score.)

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Falling in love on the rink + competitive friendships!

I've read comments that viewers enjoyed this skating drama more than Skate Into Love and My Unicorn Girl which says a lot about the standard of ice skating romances. Not to say To Fly With You wasn't good - it was! It featured a heartwarming story of perseverance, sportsmanship, hard work + diligence, forgiveness, and falling in love. But it still ultimately resorts to classic Cdrama cliches that lengthened the storyline for nonsensical reasons and tested my patience. The overall feeling from this drama is a positive one though, mainly because I thought the production value of the skating scenes was impressive, and it got me emotional with the main characters' dreams (I must say, gotta love a training montage, and To Fly With You had one every couple of episodes lmao).

PROS
❀ Do-gooder short track speed skater x goofy/lovable figure skater | I love how the main leads are both ice skaters, but interested in different sports. There are great scenes of them helping each other out in their respective fields, which I just *clenches fist* love. The synergy!!! Their romance was one of those "first love + innocent" ones where they quickly catch feelings but are ignorant of the others' feelings. They start off as a bickering pair, intrigued by each other, follow up as friends that help each other in the rink + random contractual relationship, and end up as a couple by ep 22. Did it take too long to reach there? Lowkey yes because of dense feelings going on. I would have accepted it if they were too busy with training/resolving conflicts in their respective sports/anything sports-related, but the fact that we had to sit through a disgusting, gnatty 2FL who the FL was too nice to... bruh, we deserved better.
The good news is that once the couple is together, they're good as gold. They continue supporting each other in their endeavors and even trust each other when family drama happens. The FL's unwavering confidence in the ML really bolstered him in his pursuit from pair figure skating to single figure skating, while the ML's enthusiasm for the FL in chasing her dream pushed her forward. She's the type to think well of people, no matter what, and he's a golden retriever who's spunky and energetic. Both actors are new to me (although I've seen the ML in some clips of Forever Love, and it seems he has a similar playful character), but they both portray a youth/college role really well and had great emotion in their scenes.
❀ Sismances and team bonding | While I was annoyed at some characters at first for their cattiness, they quickly grew on me as the shows explored their backgrounds. The whole "she's mean but there are underlying reasons why she acts this way and once you dig those out and psychoanalyze her she'll turn a new leaf" trope is just *chef's kiss* muah. Especially for sports dramas. I love the eventual progression of the speed skater team and seeing the FL rise from a self-taught skater to a professional who beat previous winners. Her diligence and passion for skating was well-portrayed by the actress! I also enjoyed the friendship she has with another skater, Zhu Lele (lmao which is my Chinese nickname). Lele was annoying at times, but their sismance was definitely A+.
❀ THE MOMS!!!!!!!! | Me during the mom scenes: "Mommy? Sorry. Mommy? Sorry. Mommy? Sorry."
One of the reasons why this show stuck with me is the story behind the main couple's moms. The blurb already hints at some undelying animosity, but I love how the moms were able to reconcile through their children and communication. Both actresses were SPECTACULAR. Great angry and crying scenes, great expressions of regret, great acting to gain our sympathy. I love how both moms' legacies on the ice were carried on by their children (who end up dating!! Sheeesh). They were both passionate and headstrong women that had moving scenes. Coach Zhuang Ye (the ML's mom and FL's coach) and the FL's relationship was also well-done and nicely developed. The moms were the heart of this show.
❀ Impressive visuals/production on the ice | I don't have many expectations for Cdrama effects, but To Fly With You had pretty good visuals. I never skipped the scenes on the ice and although the music was rather repetitive, they utilized it in a way that dramaticized the skating scenes. It really made you pumped!! I couldn't even tell if they used stunt actors for some of the scenes (I mean, they must have, right?), which added a realistic layer to everything. Also,,, the ML did an AMAZING job with his figure skating scenes. Honestly his last match made me so emotional and got me rewatching Yuri On Ice scenes (a figure skating anime that's phenomenal).

CONS
✕ I started fast-forwarding/skipping the secondary couple scenes | Don't get me wrong, the second couple consists of the best friends/roommates of the main couple and they cute af, but...,,, it's the typical secondary couple storyline. For some reason it's as much drama as the first couple, paired with misunderstandings, even a break up (whatt??), the FL's friend dating some other dude beforehand, among other things. Did I care about their theater club? Absolutely not. (I feel like they could have incorporated it better with the main leads and developed bonds through their scenes but it remained pretty separate from the main storyline.) Did I care about their romance? Not really either... the girl (Lele) was a mess half the time with indecisiveness and in general there was a lot of pushing/pulling that got me impatient. I think these characters are great as the silly foil/bffs of the main leads, but their romantic storyline was a no from me.
✕ THE MOST unnecessary sibling combo to ever exist | AKA the Xiao siblings. On the left, we have an immature male coach that, although he's an adult, uses young women's dreams of skating as a way to resolve his past trauma in seeing his best friend's death (btw, did this ever get resolved?? If it did, I must have fast forwarded past it. If it didn't... even more reason to dislike him). On the right, we see an immature younger sister who creates misunderstandings with every word out of her mouth because she's obsessed with the ML and can't take "no" for an answer. The left is a cockroach because despite all the shit he pulled, he survives it all and is still loved in the end by the team. The right is a gnat, because she be appearing EVERYWHERE and getting between the main couple for literally no reason. Their faces made me so annoyed I started watching their scenes at 2x speed, and even fast forwarded. For a sports drama, I didn't think there was TIME to put an annoying 2FL with evil intentions but I guess this is what happens with 33 eps. Tbh even skipping their scenes, ya ain't missing much from the show.
✕ Misunderstanding level: 4/10 | Definitely miscommunication between the second couple, and a slight misunderstanding between the primary couple when the ML confesses to the FL. Don't know why this misunderstanding was dragged on for a literal episode (he confesses at the end of ep 20 if I recall correctly, misunderstanding is the whole theme of ep 21, and they finally get together in ep 22). It was a juvenile situation (ML confessing to the wrong girl) and added screen time to the gnat, which was wholly unnecessary. I came in for a skating drama about teammates and chasing dreams - why did I have to sit through ~45 min of me yelling at the gnat for not telling the truth?!? ;__; alas.

OVERALL
I'm not sure if To Fly With You brings anything new to the drama game, but as a drama dedicated to the Beijing 2022 Olympics, it definitely makes a viewer emotional and pumped for the matches. The sismance, team camaraderie, and romance(s) make for a relationship-driven show that captures watchers' hearts as we follow the characters' dreams on the rink.

(Note: My rewatch value is set to 5.0 always as a default as I'm not the type to rewatch dramas EVER. Thus, I do not take it into account when calculating overall score.)

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Fell asleep in first half but second half took a 180 turn

I watched this movie in four parts... lol the first three times, I kept falling asleep. Nothing was really happening, it was boring, and I had to get my friend to recap for me. Thank goodness my friend kept prodding me to finish it, because halfway through the movie literally goes from 0 to 105. It's all action, gore, fighting, and the main lead being OP af. If you like seeing the protagonist beat up foes, this one's for you. Story-wise, though, there's a lot missing.
(Also, one of the reasons she made me watch was to see Da Mi and Woo Shik before Our Beloved Summer aired lol. I like both actors - they have young faces and bring refreshing emotions to the screen.)

PROS
❀ Good introduction to the actors | I haven't watched Itaewon Class but Kim Da Mi left an impression on lots of people and she did a good job in this movie too. Even though her character was written very lazily, she still managed to give off very intelligent and savage vibes for her character. Woo Shik was great in Parasite and in The Witch, he plays the lunatic working for the evil scientist quite well. Honestly, I'm impressed with how well he expressed the character because his lines bordered on cringe sometimes. The Witch is a testimony that movies can be successful, despite poor writing, due to the execution of the actors and the producer.
❀ Fun action, especially towards the end | Once everything gets out in the open by the middle of the movie, the action is non-stop. You basically watch the main character Goo Ja Yun beat all the bad guys up in a very satisfying way. The production quality for the action was eye-catching and vibrant, which makes up for all the boring scenes in the beginning. Like I said, the movie goes from 0 (nothing big happening) to 105 (a LOT of things happening) lol. So if you're struggling while watching, try to push through to reach that middle part.

CONS
✕ Really sloppy writing | This movie takes the idea of "genetically engineered superhuman children" and... that's it. Lol. It doesn't progress past the vague idea of one of the superhuman children turning against the researchers and nothing is deep. Main character Ja Yun wants to live and protect her foster parents. That means getting rid of the people after her. Solution? Kill those people. I'm a huge fan of sci-fi and have seen this vague storyline done 10+ times through Western books/movies/etc. The Witch: Subversion doesn't offer anything new, unfortunately, nor does it stand out against the myriad of stories with the same theme. The story doesn't have depth, the characters barely have depth, and the superhuman plot is not used to its potential. Everything about this movie just screams "shallow."

OVERALL
Honestly I feel like you shouldn't watch it until Part 2 comes out. Part 1 ends in a cliffhanger, there's barely a storyline going on, and the characters felt like caricatures. The reasons I kept watching were 1) my friend basically forcing me and 2) the main actors. The action towards the end and the female lead kicking ass make it worth the watch, but everything else is a hazy memory in my mind.

(Note: My rewatch value is set to 5.0 always as a default as I'm not the type to rewatch dramas EVER. Thus, I do not take it into account when calculating overall score.)

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It felt like I was watching poorly-written fanfiction of season 1

Came into this season right after binging and loving season 1. I was shocked at how much I enjoyed season 1, but season 2 shocked me again with how much I /didn't/ like it. All the enjoyable things about season 1 was pretty much gone, and the only theme that carried over was the main couple's intense romance that everyone loves. I feel like they not only butchered Tan-er's character from a smart, capable heroine who solved the puzzles with her partner to stale paint in the background, but also Mo Yi Huai's character where they made him cannon fodder for the sake of the plot. Instead of the characters being pro-active in dealing with antagonistic schemes like season 1, they were passive and reactive. I dunno, season 2 lost a lot of its charm and I don't think I'll follow the couple's story into season 3 since it seems like the same thing, rinse and repeat.

PROS
❀ Romance, romance, romance | Just like season 1, at the core focus of this drama is the main couple Tan'er and Mo Lian Cheng. Even though one of Mo Lian Cheng's love rival is literally a past version of himself (seemingly in a different dimension), the main couple stays true to each other. The way they reconciled Mo Lian Cheng's different selves was... okay. I guess the only way they could have ended that plot point. I know some other viewers weren't a fan (based on YT comments LOL) but I thought it was fine. At that point in the story, I was speeding through and could care less.
❀ I liked the modern setting in the first couple of episodes | To be honest, it would have been refreshing to keep the story but in modern settings. But the writers said "nah" and decided to rehash all the characters and premises of season 1. Original, much??? (/s)
❀ Still love the supporting characters | Tan-er's maid, MLC's bodyguard, and his younger brother prince are my fave.

CONS - caution bc I be ranting in here
✕ The way they butchered Tan-er's character | In season 1, I love how she worked with Mo Liang Chen and even Qu Xiao Tan to figure out the antagonists' schemes and get back at them. She was smart, and even though she was a little obnoxious, at the end of the way she got things done. In this season, only the obnoxious part of her character carried through. She barely did anything in terms of plot (most of the action was Mo Liang Chen trying to get a happy ending for this dimension and his fam), and her plans usually backfired (with the exception of like, 1, towards the end lmao). She wasn't annoying, per se, but she wasn't helpful for anything outside of the main romance. It was really disappointing to see a smart (and kind of powerful, with the orb magic!) FL regress into the same ol' same ol' Chinese historical heroine that runs around doing nothing and having dudes fall in love with her for doing nothing.
✕ The way they butchered Mo Yi Huai's character | Loved his bittersweet character in season 1, but in this season he's crazy. His character is inconsistent (in one scene he's obsessed with and 'loves' Tan-er, in another scene he laughs at her trying to seduce him) (Granted, he knows she has something up her sleeve but still homeboy really acted like he hated her), his motives are dodgy, and in general he gets pulled like the wind in whatever direction the writers want him to take. I'm tired of Chinese drama writers making villains mentally ill/obsessive... it's not only lazy, but leaves a bad taste in my mouth. We in the 21st century, surely we can think up of better villains? Anyway, all his charm and pure love in season 1 gets thrown out the window and he regresses into the stereotypical obsessive/possessive villain who will do anything, at all costs, to get a woman. Sigh.
✕ From pro-active to reactive | Like I said, the scheming/court intrigue became frustrating in this one with the characters finding things out last minute and figuring out a way to fix things. The crux of the problem was Mo Liang Chen trying to save his older bro (who the writers must hate as a character bc they always be doing him dirty) and because of that, tries not to stir stuff up. Oh, but other people be stirring stuff up. So MLC's there to act as a janitor and sweep everything into rights... until he can't. And shit hits the fan. And now they have a BIGGER mess to clean up. And as a viewer I'm done and skipping scenes.
✕ Misunderstanding level: 4+/10 | I honestly don't remember since I finished this a couple weeks ago but definitely more than the first season. Mo Liang Chen has Tan-er in CIRCLES with him acting as himself, being himself but in an earlier time/different dimension, and acting as himself with a mask aka lookin like another dude. To be honest, I couldn't keep up with the actor switching roles and I don't think he did a good job. I had to constantly read the YT comments to figure out if it was the OG Mo Liang Chen or the new one. Comments be like "ohh he's colder as the new MLC and much sweeter as the OG one" and I was like "who???" bc they both be having the same ":|" expression. The FL was confused, I was confused as a viewer, and in general the execution was Very Messy (TM).

OVERALL
The Eternal Love lost its charm for me. I really don't understand why this season is some viewers' faves - maybe bc of the unnecessary angst that was created? Season 1 was fun and fresh, season 2 was the opposite. We got reuse, reduce, recycled characters/background, romance that felt cheapened (especially with Tan-er losing ALL her memories of season 1. Like she gains a little back but not the whole thing, it seemed like (although it was not clearly showed)), and heavily wasted potential on plot elements. I feel like I should have skipped this season and went directly to season 3. Nevertheless, I'll be taking a break on this series before moving on (if I do so at all).

(Note: My rewatch value is set to 5.0 always as a default as I'm not the type to rewatch dramas EVER. Thus, I do not take it into account when calculating overall score.)

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Heartwarming cliches, surprising depth, superb chemistry

I'm going to miss this dimple couple!!
Many viewers describe this as a "feel-good" or "healing" drama, and this is exactly the case. Homcha's cozy seaside village setting already lays the foundation of its biggest themes: found family, love in unexpected places, diamond in the rough, overcoming prejudice, forgiveness/acceptance, wholesome bromance, and more. If you can ignore the product placement, the fictional town of Gongjin is a heartwarming place to visit when watching Hometown Cha-Cha-Cha.

PROS
❀ Production value was A+ | The thing about romcom tropes is that depending on the way the drama shows them, they can be ridiculously annoying or pleasantly refreshing. Homcha's tropes were the latter for me, and I think it was due to the accumulation of production, acting, and directing. The music was added in expertly (seriously, I associate the best vibes when it comes to the singer going "La-la-la-la-lalalala. romantic Sundayyy" for one of the OSTs), and the cinematography was an added bonus. I really think Homcha's production elevated this romcom for me, despite the well-worn tropes and dialogue.
❀ Literal flirting since day 1 | I saw this Instagram reel with Du-Sik eye-ing Hye-Jin the day they first met, and one of the comments was like "flirting since day 1." This is accurate. Although the characters aren't officially together until around ep 10, their chemistry is off the charts at first meet! I enjoyed their romantic progression from Du-Sik helping Hye-Jin settle into Gongjin as friends/neighbors into a romantic line between similar but different people learning from each other. Du-Sik opens Hye-Jin's eyes to the charm of a small-town life (be patient with her, as her socioeconomic prejudice is pretty conditioned and it takes her a few incidents to get out of that mentality), while Hye-Jin gets to spoil Du-Sik as this king deserves.
As for the characters themselves, they're both lovable. Hye-Jin is the more flawed one (more comments about this in CONS section), but this makes for excellent character development. She starts off as a snobbish dentist with a sense of justice who's trying to adapt to the sleepy seaside village of Gongjin but ends up really comfortable with this village and its people, despite a rocky beginning. She's a character with strong morals, definitely a sense of what's right or wrong, but is also empathetic (especially to children). I love that she's strong both mentally (thinks over her decisions and makes them resolutely) and physically (doesn't take sexual harrassers off lightly).
Du-Sik is the village chief and handyman. He's hilarious, light-hearted, and doesn't take anything too seriously. One of my favorite introductory scenes is when he pulls out all the licenses/certificates he has as a handyman - LMAO! To be honest I thought this guy was way too perfect - in his house, he pretty much made everything. He woodcrafts, fixes up boats, saves people from harm, delegates jobs, makes his own wine and tea, and everything in between. This man is literally self-sufficient. Underneath that playful exterior is a man plagued by nightmares and a deep-set trauma, which this drama later goes into.
As a couple, we have the uptight and snobby dentist x relaxed and easygoing handyman. You KNOW that's a set-up for cute happenstances, lessons learned, and a slight opposites-attract love story. Love this Sikhye couple! ("Sik-hye" combines their names and is also a sweet wine.)
❀ Superb side characters who are holistically explored | Homcha really dives into the side characters' backgrounds, and each one of them faces something that makes you want to cheer for them. (Also, love the 3 mysterious of Gongjin that the script includes haha.) Some of these conflicts include the difficulties of being pregnant/having children, losing a child, raising a child as a single dad, loss of loved ones, misunderstandings in marriage/divorce, failed careers, and more. Some scenes are heartbreaking, others are heartwarming. The common denominator is that the characters grow and come out stronger, emboldened by their new experiences and lessons learned. I'm in love with the imperfectly perfect villagers of Gongjin!
❀ Happy ending for everyone!! | Seriously, I was smiling the whole time while watching ep 16. Every character you root for in Gongjin gets their happy ending. Their stories felt completed and their endings were so satisfying to watch.

CONS
✕ Don't watch if you dislike romcom tropes | Personally, I loved the cliches that the writers of Homcha used, but I know some people may find it boring (including friends of mine). Others, like me, love the way the drama utilizes these cliches to make you fawn over the couple. Some of these cliches include: coincidential childhood/teen meetings between main couple, (slight) love triangle (although the 2ML takes it very well and finds his own romance later on), ML with mysterious/tragic past, getting saved from a stalker/harrasser, surprise angst towards the end, etc. Honestly though, it wasn't too bad and didn't have tropes I dislike like amnesia or forced separation. All the tropes used had feel-good romcom energy.
✕ Inconsistent character development | As much as I loved Du-Sik and think him a perfect ML, he was TOO perfect sometimes... even the 'flaws' about his mysterious past towards the end (ep 14-15 were the angstier ones) didn't really add depth to his character. He was just perfect from start to finish. Which is fine, I guess? But in contrast, Hye-Jin was imperfect and her character showed it well, which led to satisfying character development later on. In this way, the main couple's character writing felt inconsistent and lacking.
✕ Lack of logic when it came to the "incident" revealed in ep 14-15 | Don't know why the drama decided to use this heavily hinted incident as a point of conflict, but the actual reveal was anticlimactic and made me go "wat." The people who were mad/angry/upset were pretty emotional/illogical when it came to those feelings, and the guilt Du-Sik had was unwarranted. Sure, it added dimension to his character (the trauma leading to issues such as PTSD and survivor's guilt), but the set-up was weak. Very weak. I don't know, there was just this big build-up and foreshadowing and for what? It felt like the writers just crammed those characters/their emotions in for the sake of emotional angst to lead to the finale.
✕ Misunderstanding level: 0/10 | I don't remember any that jump out (feel free to point out any). One thing I liked about this drama is that the main couple is pretty open with their communication (ex: Du-Sik calling out Hye-Jin for her superficial attributes, them saying sorry to each other when warranted, etc). The other villagers had more misunderstandings, exacerbated by the hilarious gossip group, but it was all in good fun.

OVERALL
If you love love, family, and reconciliation, then Hometown Cha-Cha-Cha is the heartwarming romcom you're looking for! However, if the first couple of episodes don't capture your attention, I feel like the rest of the show won't (and this is what I tell my friends who were bored of it). Otherwise, I was in love with it from ep 1 and understand why people call it a "healing" drama. Only good vibes and energy from Homcha!

(Note: My rewatch value is set to 5.0 always as a default as I'm not the type to rewatch dramas EVER. Thus, I do not take it into account when calculating overall score.)

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Low-key shook at how much I enjoyed this drama

The fact that I watched this in a day without fast forwarding,,, that's never happened to me, lol.
There were so many things going against this drama when I first stumbled upon it, and I've been avoiding it ever since. They include:
- Multiple seasons (I get so tired after 30 episode dramas, I don't even know how I could last 3 seasons)
- Time-travel/different lifetimes aren't my jam (I thought this show had reincarnations for some reason (it doesn't), but that also isn't my jam either. After struggling through Eternal Love (TMOPB), I tend to avoid romances in different lifetimes)
- Body-swapping between the FL (at first I was worried they would both fall in love with the ML... nah. That doesn't happen)
- Random YouTube clips of this drama that I stumbled upon were weird (they really didn't do the story justice lmao)
BUT one day I was like "why don't we give it a go?" just because I realized the FL was Liang Jie, who I really liked in The Day of Becoming You (another body-swap!). And y'all... once I started, I couldn't stop.

PROS
❀ Romance, romance, romance | I think I fell in love with this drama because it's wholeheartedly devoted to the main couple's romance. There's a bittersweet secondary romance that's between the other character in the FL's body that I thought would be annoying (not a fan of tragic second couples - cough @ Fake Princess), but I actually enjoyed their storyline and thought it added depth to the whole throne-seeking storyline.
The main couple had excellent chemistry and were so darn cute together. Think, modern-day spunky heroine trapped in ancient times x stoic, doubtful, and suspicious 8th prince who has his hands full with his new wife. Cue the antics!! There's the typical historical cdrama tropes like jealous childhood friend, jealous other prince, fight for the throne, awesome servants of the main leads, plotting/conspiracy, sus empress dowager, and all that jazz. Sometimes I get tired of this court intrigue but I like the way it was written in The Eternal Love! It reads kind of similar to Chinese webnovels, with satisfying face-slaps (they aren't afraid of getting people to die/escape death lmao), one-dimensional villains that our main characters outsmart, and the main leads working together to navigate the conspiracies. We stan a couple team in ancient China!!
❀ The way it mish-mashes different genres | Alright, so I came in knowing about the time-travel into another woman's body, which made it become a historical cdrama, but after ep 20 it turned into a xuanhuan?? It was honestly so shocking and the plot twists got me gasping in bed. I don't want to delve into it too much because I feel like it'll ruin future watchers' enjoyment, but I have to say, as a fantasy lover I REALLY liked where that storyline went. Granted, it made for some lackluster exposition near the end full of dialogue, but it also added so much depth to the story. Shook!!
❀ I kinda liked every character | Whether it was the competent emperor, scheming palace ladies, 14th prince (love him!), ML's bodyguard, FL's maid, and even the other personality sharing the body with the FL,,, I liked them all. At first I kept thinking the other personality was a heartbroken pig teammate (she's more calm and reserved than the FL so it's really easy to see when they switch), but she ends up being pretty understanding and helpful. It's rare in a cdrama where I like all the characters, and I think the way they divided the screentime was perfect and kept me engaged without skipping scenes. (Especially since I'm the type to skip over secondary plotlines just to see the main couple bahaha)
❀ Well-rounded acting from FL | Although Liang Jie's character comes off as more child-ish than what I'm used to (after watching The Day of Becoming You), I was still impressed by the way she handled two personalities. I can tell her acting got better since this drama too! The ML's character was pretty straight-faced the whole time so he didn't really make an impression on me, but boyyyy can he kiss. Ooh lala. I think romantic moments in this drama were leveled up with his directness (heehee).

CONS
✕ It's all fluff/fun, not much depth | If you're looking for complex palace intrigue and twisty schemes, look elsewhere. The politics are fairly simple and, like I mentioned, very reminiscent of webnovels. I haven't read the novel this show was based on, but from my experience historical webnovels and manhua are more about satisfying face-slaps and triumphant main characters than deep schemes. I guess I would define it as "light in historical, heavy in romance, medium in comedy."
✕ Misunderstanding level: 4/10 | ALSO high-key shook at how few misunderstandings happen in this drama. I guess because of the main couple's devoted love for each other, there leaves little room for misunderstandings. I feel like half of this rating comes from the inherent misunderstandings of the plot (eg., confusing Xiaotan with Tan'er), while the remaining half were misunderstandings from noble actions. The best part is that the show resolves them quickly ( a couple of episodes at most) and doesn't use those misunderstandings as major plot devices.

OVERALL
I'm so glad I came in with no (almost low) expectations!! I fell in love with the main couple and can't wait to see how they fare in season 2 (which apparently people like more than season 1, woohoo). I can definitely understand the hype with this drama and recommend it for romance-lovers in general. I love how the main couple stay true to each other from beginning to end, no matter what time, space, or dimension they're in, and despite the complex turns the story takes. Truly an eternal love!

(Note: My rewatch value is set to 5.0 always as a default as I'm not the type to rewatch dramas EVER. Thus, I do not take it into account when calculating overall score.)

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Tom and Jerry but make it a CDrama

Objectively, I don't think this drama is that bad. But subjectively, I really struggled to finish this and small things got on my nerves. I was looking for another body-swap drama after adoring The Day of Becoming You (which I really recommend!!) but the body-swap portions of The Lonely Planet got tiring after the first couple of episodes. At the half-way mark, I was watching at 2x speed until the leads got together (ep 17) and slowed down from there. I still really had to push myself to finish.

PROS
❀ Main actors did a great job in their roles | Yang Shi Ze and Zhang Ling Yi are new to me, but I enjoyed their screen time! I like how the ML has an unconventional face (whoa @ his cheekbones) and how the show tried to make him more than a cold CEO. He loved his dog, was tacky in fashion, and was playful when he wanted to be. I wasn't impressed by the FL's character, but the actress was adorable and had great energy.
❀ Main leads pull off a bickering couple well | I wasn't sold on their chemistry BUT the way they were at each other like cats and dogs was fun. This kind of relationship also lends a casual vibe to it though, which is another reason why I was indifferent about their romantic progression.
❀ I liked the way the main leads got together in a business venture | She's the designer, he's the operations manager. It was great to see them balancing each other out and struggling through the challenges of a clothing start-up. Unrealistic, for sure, but sweet and fitting for such a light drama.
❀ Loved the camaraderie of all the people who had their personalities switched with their pets | There's a frog prince (who wants to be an actor), a hamster girl who can't stop eating/working out, and a turtle dude who apparently goes into hibernation. I wish they had more screen time, because they were so fun to watch!

CONS
✕ Instead of giving more time to fun characters, we get to follow lousy side characters | AKA the second leads. A huge reason why I watched this show at 2x speed was because of these useless characters that I could care less about. Their actors had one expression the whole time and it was ":|"
The 2FL starts out with the ML but they end their relationship around ep 6 when the ML finds out she's been cheating on him and is a gold-digger. For some reason, the show follows her around still afterwards and even gives her a redemption arc!!! Like, pls - get this woman's face off of my screen. The actress was a wooden plank, too, so I didn't even like or hate her. She was just,,, THERE. To fill up time, I guess. Why was this necessary???
The 2ML is someone the FL has a crush on in the beginning of the drama and we get the unexpected pleasure (/s) of seeing their entire relationship, from kisses to an evil mother, all the way to the break-up in ep 11. WHY???? LMFAO I could give 0 fucks about this dude and his evil mom. They tried to make him an in-depth character by giving him a whole arc too ("Mom, I want to move out of your place and end your toxicity"). Again, a waste of my time. Again, the actor himself had no emotion and walked around like a wooden plank. The show tries to get them together near the end but by that point I was skipping through their scenes.
Even the goofy characters of the ML's friends (and the second couple) was pushed aside to make room for these useless second leads. They made the secondary couple meet, date, and get married in the span of ~3 episodes!
✕ Inconsistent and disappointing use of the body-swapping premise | In this drama, the leads take on the personality of the other person's pets, so the FL becomes dog-like and the ML becomes cat-like. The way the writers use this premise is VERY inconsistent, and they played the game of "pick and choose" for what traits would pop up. For example, the FL becomes a loyal dog and her first instinct when she changes personality (or gets upset) is to run to the ML's side. This was emphasized so much in the first couple of episodes, and forgotten about later on. It also didn't make sense that the pets would be feeling the same way as the humans when they were upset (it was just thrown around randomly during key plot points??).
There was also a slight imbalance on the pet traits. It was obviously shown when the FL became Coffee (the dog), because she would start getting super expressive and loud, while the ML only got withdrawn and uncaring when he became the cat. I think there's quite a bit of cat traits to work with (ex: curiosity), but this show just made the ML lethargic/lazy. There's another cdrama called Make A Wish that does the cat-human trope better. It irritated me how clingy the FL became when she was a dog, and I thought it was REALLY telling that the writer decided to make the FL behave like that while the ML didn't have to deal with such a huge trouble. She was loyal to the point of not reading important contracts in the beginning, which was sososo messy.
You might think I'm reading into it, but to me this is just another way of writing a ditzy, naive, immature FL. I don't think her character is inherently that way, but that dog personality really made it seem so, which was super grating.
✕ These characters forgave and forgot way too easily | Someone who plagiarizes the FL is forgiven, the cheating gold-digger ex is forgiven, the evil mom is forgiven, even the sexual harrasser CEO near the end has barely a punishment (I bet he would have been forgiven if there was another episode!).
✕ Misunderstanding level: 3/10 | They happen more than I would have liked but are resolved within the episode or less (even the FL's noble idiocy in the later episode is quickly uncovered). These misunderstandings are because of a lack of communication (ugh) but the leads later on communicate and apologize for them, so there's that I guess.

OVERALL
The Lonely Planet's quirky premise sets the tone for the rest of the show: light and silly. Even the romance is more of the "playful" type than "passionate" type. Unfortunately, its reliance on too many common cliches and the lack of creativity with the pet-personality-swapping plot point made it a miss for me. I was only able to finish out of sheer determination. If the points I made in the CONS section don't bother you, then I'd say go for it, since it's at its core a light/fluffy romcom.

(Note: My rewatch value is set to 5.0 always as a default as I'm not the type to rewatch dramas EVER. Thus, I do not take it into account when calculating overall score.)

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OTP with CLEAR COMMUNICATION + fantastic writing/dialogue + swoonworthy romance = A++++ Cdrama!

I can't believe I've been sleeping on this drama until now!!!
Not only was this the first drama I slowed down to actually 1x speed (I usually watch them in 1.25-2x speed), but it made me want to bump down my scores for other contemporary dramas. THIS is the gold standard I've been looking for in cdramaland, with characters that are logical and reasonable, dialogue that's open and consistent, and a VERY WELL-BALANCED romance that was naturally cultivated.
To be honest, I only picked this drama up because of the body-swapping plot. I'm a big fan of stories where the couple swaps bodies (Secret Garden, It's a Boy Girl Thing), and I was only expecting the funny comedy bits. BUT what I actually got was a story with well-developed characters and clever dialogue. Color me impressed!!! I've become a fan of this writer's work and I've seen amazing reviews for his other dramas too.

PROS
❀ I HAVE to start with the main leads, which were perfectly carried out by Steven Zhang and Liang Jie | Liang Jie played the exuberant entertainment reporter Sheng Sheng who's looking for an exclusive interview with Steven Zhang's character, Jiang Yi. The first episode starts off pretty slow, not going to lie, but the moment their body swaps (at the beginning of ep 2), hijinks ensue.
Both actors did a GREAT job in depicting masculine/feminine traits! I have to say though, Steven Zhang was HILARIOUS when he was acting as Sheng Sheng - his facial expressions turn from slightly indifferent to lively and his body language was also perfect. He's definitely made a fan out of me in this drama. Jiang Lie was also great, although acting out the colder Jiang Yi doesn't ask for much since he's pretty withdrawn to begin with. Either way, both characters had laugh out loud moments that had me cackling in bed.
Not everything is happy, though. We get into Jiang Yi's lonely childhood and how he grew up in a broken household. It was wonderful to follow his journey of reconciling with his past and learning to forgive - especially when it came to his relationship with his mom. While Sheng Sheng was there to support him and add her own thoughts to the situation as an outsider, serving as a catalyst, he decides to be pro-active and take the first step of leaving the past. It would have been easy to keep him as a cold idol that has a traumatic past, but the show goes in-depth by making him emotionally complex and more than just a caricature of an idol.
While Sheng Sheng grew up in a loving family (love her parents!!!), she deals with a nice high school friend who has feelings with her. I appreciated the mature way of dealing with him though: give him a chance, see where it goes, make a firm decision at the end of the day. Again, because of body swapping, Jiang Yi is there to support almost every step of the way. While I'm not the biggest fan of the leads dating other people during a drama, this show handled it very maturely as Sheng Sheng is honest about her feelings (or, lack of) from step 1 to 100. So it's not really a love triangle/hurdle.
❀ The individual characters were awesome, but put the couple together and they're FIRE | This couple is by far one of my favorite couples in the cdramas I've watched. They display a perfect balance of a healthy and passionate relationship. Usually for cdramas, it's either one or the other. In this case, we got awesome chemistry between the leads (+1 for steamy kisses) as well as the best dialogue and communication (+1 for almost no misunderstandings). When the characters act out of emotion, they take a step back to sincerely apologize to one another. They handle situations like adults, and even cliche plot points like evil paparazzi weren't drawn out because of the maturity of the characters. They act their age, look their age, and enter relationships befitting people their age. We stan!!
As for the relationship itself, it goes from mild inconvenience/annoyance -> supportive friendship -> endearing love. Body swapping is an amazing trope that makes it so the leads have to spend a LOT of time together to figure out what's happening. That is to say, there's not much plot otherwise. The whole story surrounds the couple, their relationship, and the body-swap issue. So don't go in thinking there's some big baddie that comes into play. Instead, we see loads of screen time with our two main characters and their hilarities, as well as their developing relationship.
❀ This drama isn't afraid to poke fun at its own tropes and surprise watchers | The way the dialogue points out classic drama tropes that it utilizes is super cute - there's a scene where the ML's like "thinking about this situation/script... shouldn't *I* be the ML?" when referencing the minor love triangle between the FL's high school friend and the CP. Some tropes that surprised me:
- Really nice 2ML: they actually delved into his character and past history with the FL (they were high school buds and he's the student of her mom), which adds a level of depth to their relationship. You can really tell the FL's emotions are pure platonic and the lines are clearly drawn. He respects those boundaries.
- Evil 2FL: show said "psyche!!" While I was wary of her at first, the show actually goes into her character and highlights her struggles as well, making her empathetic and three-dimensional. The fact that the writer gave some screentime to a female character that COULD'VE gone down the wayward path (see: evil 2FLs that are illogically obsessed over the ML) is super commendable and sadly not done enough in cdramas. (Are my standards too low? Maybe, maybe not.)
- Cold ML that treats FL badly when they first meet before reluctantly getting along: Nah, that doesn't happen. The ML is wary and apathetic at first meet, maybe, but he's not mean. There's a scene in the first couple eps where she calls him out for not keeping the elevator open for her (typical behavior for mean MLs) but right afterwards the elevator opens up again - lol! Homeboy actually kept the elevator open for her. After their body switch in ep 2, this trope kind of goes down the drain.
- Secondary couples: nada. There is a *tiny* hint of one but otherwise, the show is 100% occupied by the main couple, which was refreshing.
❀ The FL actress sang the opening song and the ML actor sang the ending song | The talent??? Maybe this is a psychological thing, but I always view a show better when I hear the main actors singing an OST. In this case, the soundtrack was already catchy (the songs, while limited, are sweet/melodic without being too sad and ballad-like, which I appreciated), but knowing that the main leads sang really elevates the soundtracks.
❀ PERFECT LENGTH | No drag; tight writing; every second is enjoyable. It's rare for me to find a drama where I won't skip/fast forward a few seconds, but this one fit the bill. In general my stamina is pretty low when it comes to episode count (ex: I couldn't finish Love O2O or You Are My Glory, classic contemporaries, bc they stall around the 20 ep mark, and had to force myself to push through You Are My Hero after ep 30), so this 26 episode show was the sweet spot *chefs kiss*.

CONS - will have spoilers!! (But tbh this section is mostly pros as well)
✕ Misunderstanding level: 1/10 | Aight, I put a point because the most MINOR misunderstanding happens near the beginning that leads to Sheng Sheng trying out dates with the 2ML Po Qing. BUT the leads quickly recognize the miscommunication AND this whole shebang is neatly straightened out when SS indeed confirms her non-feelings for 2ML. Her intentions are clear cut (we stan FLs that get straight to the point!!) and nothing is overly dragged out. Other than that, like I said, the leads' communication is A+++.
The break-up that happens near the end (tbh a surprising trope that I didn't think this show would use), is VERY well-explained and reasonable. It's not a break-up for the sake of breaking up, but due to an external, legitimate concern that both leads had. The separation period is only a year and the resolution is, while quickly explained, not a bad one. Usually I'm annoyed at these last-minute break-ups (y'all this is why I can't with wuxias where the leads are always breaking up/getting back together...), but this one was necessary as part of wrapping up the story.

--SPOILER W/MY THOUGHTS ABOUT THE ENDING (I also vaguely talk about other shows' endings lmao)--
It's one that's used in cdramas quite often (for censorship reasons, is my guess) and featured in many well-loved dramas. If you've seen The Romance of Tiger and Rose or General's Lady, it's exactly that kind of energy. But unlike those dramas where the indirect narrative is a small twist that's not even addressed (TROTAR) or acted as an impetus for the leads meeting each other (GL), the way The Day of Becoming You writes it in emphasizes the message of the entire story: to truly understand someone, you should put yourselves in their shoes. You never know what other people are going through, so try to look at the situation from their perspective - by doing so, you can strengthen your relationship. I thought the way this twist was written in was clever and holistic, bringing the drama to a full wrap and tying things together. The big picture is that it fit the overall narrative, which to me is rare in cdramas.

OVERALL
Wow, I can't gush enough about The Day of Becoming You. I feel like when it comes to Chinese dramas, I tend to get annoyed at common cliches that are overutilized and find them conservative. Not in the sense of wanting more raunchy scenes (LOL which sometimes I lowkey want but an Asian drama's charms are its rare skinship moments that make you appreciate it more), but in the sense that storylines like to play it safe and keep the plots rather traditional. No one will bat an eye at a cold CEO ML that's toeing the line of misogyny because he's good-looking and fits Asian drama convention. But a ML that learns to recognize his worth through meaningful conversations with the FL in a non-hyperdependent way? Hard to come by.
The Day of Becoming You's luring point is a playful body-swap premise that'll make you laugh out loud, but I ended up staying for the three dimensional characters and superb writing. I've never given a rewatch value over 5 (because to me, 5 is like maybe and straight in the middle), but this drama inherently deserves a rewatch from me. Highly recommended!

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Spunky, energetic barista x awkward, unsociable architect from high school to college

Youth drama at its finest! I love how this show stayed true to its warm, endearing tone from beginning to end. Every potential enemy turns into a friend. The main lead were childhood friends turned high school sweethearts turned college couple. Their best friends also have a similar progression. Everyone gets happy endings as they wrap up high school and everyone managed to pursue their dreams while staying together.
It's a feel-good, unrealistic yet heartwarming rendition of young adult years.

PROS
❀ Main leads are a team from beginning to end | I picked up this drama for the ML actually, despite not being the biggest fan of youth dramas, because I wanted to see how the show portrayed his social anxiety disorder. It was awesome to see him slowly open up with the help of the feisty FL (I love how they call her Rui Ge, like older bro), while he on the other hand helped the FL with her studies and getting into college. They're a team, through and through, and their bond remains tight throughout the show.
I've become a fan of the actress for the FL. I love how full of energy she is, how she would randomly dance, and how she was comfortable with grandiose actions. I feel like she really got into her role! The ML was like a little puppy, especially when he opened up. I don't think the role itself needed much from the actor, but his face was really good at exuding those puppy vibes.
Romance-wise, their chemistry is sweet and like the rosy blushes of first love; their relationship is innocent and naive. There's a lot of interrupted kisses (lol, maybe like 5+?), but the kisses near the end are sugary sweet and satisfying.
❀ Cute secondary characters that I really liked | The FL's best friends are loud-and-proud Cheng Er Luo and studious actress Zhao Yi Shu. While wary of the ML's unwillingness to open up at first, they gradually become friends and understand each other. Cheng Er Luo ends up calling the ML "Nan idol," lmao. There's a couple of other sweet couples (diligent diplomat Yang Yu Fei x bad boy/slacker Liu Bin; fierce coach x well-read coffee house owner) that light up the screen as well. And one of the wittiest characters of the cast was Chen Hao, the FL's younger half-brother. He was so cheeky!
❀ Nostalgic school moments that make you want to re-live teen years | From setting off fireworks during evening study period to cheering on your friend at basketball practice after school, Meeting You really encapsulates the best times of high school and college. Even studying for the college entrance exams is a team effort that, while stressful, remains light in tone.
❀ Sha-la-la-la OST that matched the light tone of the drama | It's a shame the YT audio has such poor quality (they would take away background music during scenes, I guess for copyright reasons?), which really killed the vibe. But I'm listening to the full OST as I write this review, and it's really cute! Makes me feel like a high schooler again.
❀ Awesome adult characters | From the supportive moms to the devoted teachers, all the adults passed the vibe check in this drama. Love, love, loved their limited screen time and interactions with the young group. 10/10 great role models.

CONS
✕ A relationship that toed the line with co-dependency | I was low-key surprised at some of the dialogue that happened between the leads. I mentioned before that it was nice seeing the FL bring the ML out of his shell while the ML helped tutor the FL, but when people (namely, parents) wanted to separate them, the answer was a firm, "no." FL might not get into this university suitable for the ML's future? ML's answer: "I'm not going." FL gets an opportunity to go to Italy to hone her coffee-making skills but that means leaving the ML? FL's answer: "I'm not leaving." If not for the coincidential plot points that allowed the main couple to stay together the entire drama, I shudder to think of how the couple would have sacrificed potential futures for each other. Not to say you can't, as this is a nuanced discussion that people have to have, but the drama never took the steps to start that conversation. It retained its singular focus of "we won't be split up again" from beginning to end. On one side, it's testimony of the main leads' devotion (very nice!). On the other, it toes the line of some head-scratching as you begin to think about potential co-dependency. The solution? Don't think too deep about it.
✕ Misunderstanding level: 0/10 for the main couple, 4/10 for second couple | Xia Rui and Nan Xi are solid from beginning to end. They trust each other even through rumors and other external interference. Cheng Er Luo and Zhao Yi Shu (the second couple) take a much longer time getting together. He's dense af, she's missing her opportunities to confess. Their relationship was sweet at first but got a bit overdone when they went to college.

OVERALL
While I have mostly positive things to say about this drama, it stays on the superficial side. This is a positive, as the tone is light-hearted and fluffy (no need for angst to enter the equation), but it also makes it a bit difficult to keep the engagement going. I found myself watching scenes in 1.5x-2x speed out of sheer impatience. So while the show didn't have too much depth, that's exactly how it should be enjoyed. I still recommend it though, for a youth drama that's more romance than coming-of-age, highlighting the fun times of young adulthood rather than the struggles.

(Note: My rewatch value is set to 5.0 always as a default as I'm not the type to rewatch dramas EVER. Thus, I do not take it into account when calculating overall score.)

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Thought it would be my type but turns out it wasn't

Maybe I'll get back to it one day? But for now... nah. I'm good.
[Be careful of spoilers below]

PROS
❀ The first episodes definitely drew me in... | I was looking for a romantic cdrama that wasn't pure fluff, and Fairyland Lovers caught my eye. I'm a big fan of stories within stories, which this show has. Inside the overarching plotline between the main leads, we also have sub-stories of spirits that the spirit doctor heals. This lends it an anthology-like feeling, which I'm really into. While I only watched up to the stories of the first two spirits, they had bittersweet backgrounds and nicely done resolutions.
❀ Acting and OST were pretty good | I have no complaints on this end. I haven't seen these actors before but I think they all did their jobs well. And yet, something just didn't click with me...

CONS
✕ This is the first cdrama I've seen where the ML has facial hair | And I'm not a fan. The actor looked great - really! Kind of a rugged energy, paired with the dashing, kdrama combo of long coat + turtleneck. But I'm not sure the facial hair was necessary, because you would think a being who's been alive for hundreds of years would want to look more... polished, I guess? Instead of the facial hair making him look 'immortal,' it just made him look older. Which, again, is fine! BUT in contrast to the FL?? Well.
Visually, the main leads' wardrobe and mannerisms make this drama look like an age gap romance between a schoolgirl and a businessman. (I guess technically it is, since the ML is older.)
✕ But the FL wasn't a schoolgirl? | She wasn't! However, she sure acted like one. In the beginning, I was impressed by her emboldened attitude. She was brash and mouthed off about being the 26th descendant of some martial arts technique or whatnot. Fun! All too quickly, she loses some of that luster and shine. Every other episode, she gets saved by the ML (is there a need??? Once or twice is alright, but I can only stand oh-so-many 'fall into ML's arms scenes. PLS . Even the second couple gets such a scene.) Her outfits consist of exceptionally baggy clothes and overalls. Pair that with unkempt hair that's sometimes in braids, and the FL gave off VERY young vibes. She acts like how she dresses, too. I remember getting irritated when I saw her beg the ML to help heal the spirit in the second sub-story. And as someone who has a pretty low tolerance for imbalanced relationships, it irked me to see the ML basically renovate/re-model her entire living space and buy her dad's IOUs. I commend her for trying to live off of being an actress/artist, but her hard work gets tossed away once the super rich ML waltzes in. OH and the fighting - why does the FL get a couple of kicking scenes (lots of waving her hands around and appearing intimidating rather than instigating action) while the male leads get kung-fu fight scenes? It hurt me to see a FL start off so strong and quickly veer off the originally written path so quickly into the drama.
✕ Yeah so I read recaps of the later episodes and it basically becomes a makjang | Spare me from the multiple personalities, amnesia plots, kidnapping plots, "let me leave you for your own sake" scenes, and more. ✕
✕ Misunderstanding level: 0/10 | Where I stopped (ep 7/35), no misunderstandings happened. The ML just figured out the FL was his past lover.

OVERALL
This drama wasn't what I expected at all, and not in a positive way. Maybe if they toned it back with the main plotline and instead focused on creating more detailed and complex sub-stories, I would have enjoyed it more. (And if the FL was a little more mature/acted her age, I would have continued watching.) As it stands, I'm left scratching my head because this show tried to do so much: have a love that spans through time, while following another couple, while saving the world, while having smaller stories about spirits, etc. I think I'm leaving this a 3/5 because it has potential, but at the end of the day this story is just not my type despite a promising beginning.

(Note: My rewatch value is set to 5.0 always as a default as I'm not the type to rewatch dramas EVER. Thus, I do not take it into account when calculating overall score.)

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