sulkytofu

I will be truly so happy if this is the ending, so many fluffy romance Chinese dramas don't end in a wedding!

I hope so as well! There is still a lot of growth that both of them need to go through after getting together. Let's wait and see how they decide to handle that part of the story!

The part when they are adults again/in the same time as Episode 1 and 2 is my favourite. It's very sweet, cute, and awkward. I am hoping that we do not get too much angst, and that we get to that part very soon!

The reality is that the legal system is never unbiased or fair. Even what we consider as justice and law can be shaped by our own social and cognitive biases; not to mention that different rulings and decisions may be formed based on these decisions. I do agree with you that I think the framing of the drama does have its limits. This is first and foremost a fluffy romance drama, and even the original novel completely sidelines the legal aspect of the story. In many ways, the drama also makes Chong Wen seem like a very "bad" character, but in fact the way in which he went from seeking to pursue justice to wanting to acquire greater fame and fortune is very sympathetic and understandable. In fact, if the drama were framed differently, I am sure that Li Chong Wen would have also made a great ML (but that's another drama and another story). One can have conflicting or even complementary opinions (of wanting to uphold justice and then of wanting to make more money); what's refreshing is that we see Qian Wei handle these decisions through the course of her entire adulthood period.

I would recommend also if you are comfortable waiting until maybe more episodes are out. Then we can see if they deviate from the novel and add in a bunch of problems that are not in the story to create "angst," or if they maintain the crackly, fluffy, and wholesome story that is happening right now.

In the original novel, it is a very, very happy ending.

Yes! To be honest, the original story did not really have angst which I actually appreciated. I don't like it when a great romance where the two leads actually communicate really well suddenly face a bunch of contrived issues to create problems or angst; not to mention that Lu Xun does such a great job at being upfront of his feelings and not beating around the bush, while Qian Wei doesn't take advantage of his affections and is very clear to Chong Wen about how their (former) relationship is not working. Moreover, the original story also devoted time to real problems for the couple that while they aren't angsty, are still interesting to see (i.e. we've been friends for so long, how do we get used to be intimate and affectionate with one another?) I really hope they do not throw in a bunch of "time-travelling" "parallel worlds" "other dimensions" into this drama because I think it would take away from what is the core of this story - that is reflecting on how someone who you may have missed in the past may in fact be one of the most important people in your life.

I do not want to spoil you, so I will warn that my comment below has spoilers for the novel. If you want to skip it, I will say in the novel there is no fantasy/parallel world/reincarnation.

(MAJOR SPOILER FROM THE NOVEL) In the novel, there is no fantasy because Qian Wei realized that she was going through her memories. She remembered things that she had not paid attention to before or noticed previously, which was why her relationship with Lu Xun turned out to be very different. In other words, the entire "time travel" portion is actually just her in her coma rethinking events and sifting through her memories. I actually loved this approach because when she wakes up, they don't just magically fall in love. Their relationship is still at a standstill; they are still boss and assistant, Lu Xun has no idea Qian Wei now knows he always loved her. Qian Wei after the coma then realizes who has cared for her for so long, and then now has to think of how to build that relationship with Lu Xun in real life. (END SPOILER FROM THE NOVEL).

I feel the same way in that I am worried about the angst. If there is a lot of angst it means there is deviation from the original webnovel, which is a shame because I liked how there were no useless problems in the original story. At the heart of the story is both people's relationship and their character growth; nothing to do with trying to figure out how to turn back time, change the timeline of what happened, etc.

I am a little worried too, because without spoiling too many things, even when Qian Wei and Lu Xun get together there are still other challenges they need to address. To put it simply, the coma really provides a catalyst for their situation, but does not resolve it. However, when I watched the trailer I saw a lot of angsty previews which the original novel did not have, and it worries me that we are already at this point even though there are still 20 episodes remaining. We will wait and see, but my hope is that both of them do not go through too many tough times together, and that the drama sticks closely to the novel.

It's truly a very sweet and lovely drama! I admit I may be biased as this is one of my favourite cnovels, and I really loved Lu Xun and Qian Wei's hilarious dynamic. However, I've just watched the trailer and saw so many angst scenes and some discussion of parallel worlds, which makes me nervous since these did not exist in the original novel. I hope that this drama continues to maintain the comforting, sweet tone that it currently has, and does not put our main couple through too many difficult times!

If the drama sticks to the original novel, @sakie is absolutely correct that there is no fantasy element or parallel worlds or reincarnation involved. However, I am watching the full trailer right now and am a little worried about how many angst scenes there are (these did not really exist in the original novel) and all of the discussions of parallel worlds. So we will wait and see what happens, because I am not too sure either.

Surprisingly, at first I was really hesitant about the casting as someone who's already read the novel first. This is because Tao did not match what I envisioned Lu Xun to be like, while Song Zuer seemed to give off a much more elegant demeanour than what I expected Qian Wei to have. After catching up to the majority of episodes, however, I can say that both of them are perfect for the role. The chemistry is sparkling, and the way in which they bicker, their facial expressions, and how they always take care of each other is so swoonworthy and adorable. I also remember thinking the novel gave off a much more "pink" and rosy-tinted feel, but I love how the cinematography, muted palette tones, and the filming of the drama have made the story feel a lot more mature and sweet; like a cup of tea that gently warms your heart over time. They did a wonderful job with the adaptation, and I'm so excited for every week as the new episodes get released.

Reflecting on the actual storyline itself, this drama also has some of my favourite tropes. For those of you still on the fence about watching, these are my favourite elements:

(1) Second Lead Gets the Girl: This is one of my favourite and underrated tropes, but this is a second chance romance, where two people who missed each other before now have the opportunity to be with one another. It's ironic in that Lu Xun is the ML, but he also technically fits the "second lead role" since previously Qian Wei never saw him as a romantic love interest. The drama does a really great job showing how what was once a missed opportunity is now the start of a new romance, and paying attention to little details (i.e. folding paper origami, bottles of milk tea, handwritten notes) that show the development of their relationship.

(2) ML Always Loves FL: ML is considered cold, but actually he's very nice and kind to other in my opinion. He's not a jerk at all, is very balanced with his emotions. Although he is very logical when it comes to his work, he is really devoted to the FL and becomes passionate around her. Tao also does such a good job showing some of the ML's quirkiness, but also how he is the FL's rock, and is always there to be by her side when she is going through difficult times.

(3) Not A Fantasy Plot: If the drama follows with the storyline, what I will say without spoiling things is that this is not a fantasy, nor do things magically get resolved out of love. Both the ML and FL have a lot to communicate over and to navigate as they get to know each other differently from what their relationship was in their "first life." I really like how the story does not stop at their high school and college years, but instead follows them to their adult life.

I'm unsure if things will change with the later episodes, as 33 episodes is quite long for a fluffier romance drama. However, I loved the book so much and highly recommend it to anyone who is looking for a very sweet and warm romance. I'm so excited to be able to watch it live with everyone; and I love all of the happy and sweet discussions on this thread!

Bonus: Qian Chuan and Shi Yun are my all time favourite second lead romance, I absolutely love their dynamic. They are definitely the "idiot" x "idiot" couple, and I love how protective they are of each other.

The legal part has very little to do with the actual storyline; this is first and foremost a sweet and fluffy slice-of-life romance, centred about the question of, "what if we did something different when we were younger, would our relationship be different?" The legal element is used to provide a career backdrop, to show how their lives have been entwined for so long from when they were students to now. They do not solve legal cases together, there are no legal matters, it's more about their relationship (kind of like Le Coup de Foudre where at one point they work together but it literally is not the main part of the story).

I can't say whether they've changed this in the drama because I'm waiting for more episodes to come out before I start, but if you're worried about long-winded discussions about work or thriller cases, there is absolutely none of that in the original web novel.

It's a very sweet romance. FL is completely oblivious to the ML's feelings, ML is the type who is cold on the outside but passionate to the one he loves and he only sees her in his entire life.

It's not draggy but it's more comedic, if the drama sticks to the storyline something viewers may be bothered by is that FL really does not know at all the ML likes her (even though it's really obvious from an outside perspective.) There isn't really a big love triangle (ML kind of blocks anyone from coming near her) , and it's more about how two people have a "second chance romance" due to the coma.

For those who are interested in the web novel, it's available here and it's entirely completed: https://www.novelupdates.com/series/dont-fall-in-love-with-the-boss/. It's a very sweet story, and I like how it takes place across a lot of time. In other words, it doesn't just magically conclude with her waking up from the coma, but rather about how both the ML + FL's life changes through their experience with her being in a coma. Not to mention, ML is truly very doting and devoted to FL; I hope that they will keep this throughout the drama.

One thing I find especially interesting is that criminal profiling is highly, highly contentious and academic analyses (as well as meta-analyses) have found conflicting conclusions and results from its effectiveness. I think a lot of what we may associate with profiling in popular media may also be considered now as forensic psychology or even criminology, and that there may be significant overlaps (and even updated developments or theories) that are shared between these fields.

What I really like, then, is that this drama shows a protagonist who is not arrogant or infallible, but also doubts himself and his work. Kim Nam Gil does such an amazing job with his facial expressions, especially when he shows himself both trying to think like a murderer, while also being disgusted at the stories and experiences that he hears from talking to killers. I remember that while watching some of these interviews I felt very revolted at some of the discussions even though there was rarely any gore or horror; instead it was about the psychological tension and anxieties surrounding the cases. Even though the drama immediately reveals who is the murderer, you are left continually wanting to watch the acting performances. Most of all, it is really exciting to see the way in which our protagonists grapple with increasingly more terrible cases, as both a result of and an influence on their growing abilities with profiling.

Last of all is that I think it is also really nice the drama also occurs over an extended period of time (sometimes bureaucracy, missed cases, lack of information also result in certain cases needing years to resolve). There is so much character development that can still be covered, and it's a shame that this drama is so short when it is so tightly written and the performances are so well done.

I feel a little nervous about this one, not because of the actors, but rather because the scriptwriter and director have productions to their names that had a lot of problems with pacing and plot. Sassy Go Go is one of my all time favourite dramas because of its complex characterization and its pacing, while also maintaining its light and fluffy tone. On the other hand, Jugglers was great as a fluffy com-com but had lots of logical inconsistencies and pacing issues. What this drama ends up being will be very interesting, especially as the screenwriter seems relatively new as well.

That being said, Kim Jae Wook always chooses such different and interesting scripts, and has played so many different characters it'll be exciting to see him in this one. Fans have always wanted him to do more romance dramas, so it's great to see that he's in his next production. I'm also looking forward to Krystal's growth as an actress, especially as she's taking a wide variety of different settings in her acting projects. I also always have a soft spot for a super introverted heroine who may seem unassuming on the outside, but is mentally and emotionally very strong internally. Overall, the tropes in this one seem ripe for a sweet and odd romance, and I'm really excited to see how this unfolds!

The thing that's been really interesting is seeing William's career trajectory, because he honestly was never known in the Hong Kong entertainment industry as an actor, and really only became popular in mainland China. I definitely agree with you that William's acting still needs work and that I'm not yet convinced by his performance; while Mark's stage presence is incredible and I can't really ever imagine anyone else playing Ye Hua.

I'm still definitely invested in the story and I think William should be complemented on taking a role that is definitely challenging, but personally I find both Xu Kaicheng and William's acting right now to be slightly lacking given the weight of their roles.

His performance in Goodbye My Princess was incredible, he was only 23 years old back then. He's been a child star for a long time, it's been amazing seeing the range and depth of characters that he can portray.

As a joke, his voice in real life is very, very deep and low, which which is why people often say he has the voice of an "old uncle." It's definitely not what you would expect from someone his age!

Some general first thoughts: I'm not really convinced of the acting of Xu Kaicheng and William Chan; Xu Kaicheng's expressions sometimes are a little exaggerated, while I don't think William Chan gives off the worldy and even "immortal-like" personality of Fang Zhu. I think they are interesting casting choices for this drama, and really look forward to seeing their development. I do have to say, however, that visually they make a great contrast — I especially love the serene blues and verdant gardens of settings where Fang Zhu resides, and the dark and twisted environments that the Emperor inhabits.

Although I know it's meant to be ambiguous in the beginning, I (ironically) feel as if the Emperor and Haishi have a lot more chemistry; it feels a little strange seeing Haishi as a little girl grow up directly under Fang Zhu's tutelage and have romantic feelings for him. Honestly, I feel like they should have just kept Yang Mi as the girl in the beginning instead of replacing her with a much younger actress.

That being said, I'm therefore really looking forward to the growth between the Emperor and Haishil; especially as I'm a fan of the second-romantic-lead becomes the main romantic lead trope, but also because I currently like their enemies dynamic at the moment.