summerfancy
US
This review may contain spoilers
Surprisingly Good!
I don’t expect much from C-dramas so I go in with low expectations. The Sweet Girl, however, exceeded those expectations. Not once in the 24 episodes did I get bored and press the fast forward button. I think that’s due to most of the drama being focused on ML/FLs romance rather than side romances or intrigue. Don’t get me wrong, there is, indeed, intrigue as a competing workshop tries to cheat their way into winning the chamber of commerce’s competition, but those scenes are kept at a minimum. Just like the secondary romance between Su Yi and Lvshai. Also, there’s plenty of psycho chicks who think they’re the only ones worthy of ML/SMLs love because somehow hanging around them entitles you. But, the psycho chicks, although annoyingly sure of their own worthiness, in no way has a rat rear end’s chance of coming between ML/SML and FL, and subsequently get banished by ML/SML for trying to do so. Nice to see men that take immediate action against these toxic women. Well, anyway, on with the review.
This period piece was set – I think – in the 1920s, which immediately wet my interest. Any time I find a C-drama set in a historical time period other than the dynasties, I pounce like a cat on a mouse. The costumes were romantic and a welcome change to the typical dynasty garb. I just wish more of the women had 20s hairstyles – really only Su Yi’s mom fulfilled that wish. At least, the men had short hair (although with A LOT of product in it), not man buns or long flowing tresses.
ML – If I didn't have a bad case of SML syndrome right from the start, I would have liked him better. Also, if his hairstyle for the first half hadn’t remind me of Edward Scissorhands, I might have like him better…but it was cute how he could expel a puff of air from his mouth and move that one strand of hair on his forehead. Wonder if he could do that naturally or it took him practice. I was impressed with the actor’s ability to express his character’s emotions. His expression turned so sweetly loving when he looked at FL (once he’s fallen in love with her, of course). He really did look like he adored her. And he expressed a fair amount of angst when FL nearly died and then when she was scheduled to marry SML. He also brought humor to the drama – not laugh out loud humor – just smiling to yourself humor. I would have been perfectly satisfied with FL’s choice if it weren’t for SML syndrome.
SML aka Mr. Pei – FL didn’t fall in love with him, but I did, and my heart broke for him as FL gravitated toward ML. I guess that’s the advantage of proximity. Honestly, there was no reason for her to choose ML over SML other than proximity…and the script told her to. Mr. Pei was sweet and kind and elegant. He was so happy when the evil Mrs. Qin arranged for him to marry FL, and my heart broke once again when she was snatched away from him at the last minute. Too be so close to your dream and then have it taken from you – no wonder he hated ML after that! Yeah, he strayed in the psycho chick territory for a while – she’s not yours if she loves the other guy, sweetie - but I still loved him. I kept telling FL that there were worse things than marrying Mr. Pei, and she just wouldn’t listen to me. Darn it!
FL – a typical spunky heroine although she was also incredibly stupid. How could she not know for 20 episodes that ML knew who she was? How could she think that he was in love with the previous Manager Lu when he told her to her face over and over again that he loved her? I can understand thinking he used you to get the book- since you heard something to that effect - but there’s no way she can't know that he knows who she is unless she’s just stupid.
Second couple – Su Yi and Lvshai. They were one of the first C-drama second couples that I was actually interested in - probably because the scriptwriter/director kept their story to the minimum. Their romance didn’t distract from the MC. I did find SFL’s timid behavior rather annoying, and honestly, would these Chinese parents really accept their son marrying a maid/shop worker? I know we’re in the 1920s, but these parents were surprisingly kind and accepting of their son’s choice in wife. Not that I’m complaining – I’ve had more than enough meddling Asian parents! I’m always happy to see nice Asian parents – although I could’ve done without the concubine thing. Sad to know that kind of stuff was still going on in the early 20th century.
The villagers did get on my nerves. First of all, what is this? A village of women and children only? How come Agui was the only male in the village? And why was FL the only woman willing to stand up to the bad guys? I guess the helplessness and dependency of the villagers just rubbed me the wrong way. Also, Grandma had TB but somehow recovered? TB was pretty deadly in those days so I found her recovery a bit far-fetched.
Finally, the ending seemed a bit odd to me. Why would FL suddenly decide to take the kids and head out on an adventure, leaving ML behind? Did she get bored because she was no longer Superflash? I don’t get it. And then ML runs after them to join them in their travels. Uh, who's minding the shop and producing money? Why did this family suddenly decide to travel when everyone was perfectly content at home for the previous 24 episodes? Just makes no sense to me.
But, overall, this drama exceeds my expectations, and I would highly recommend it.
This period piece was set – I think – in the 1920s, which immediately wet my interest. Any time I find a C-drama set in a historical time period other than the dynasties, I pounce like a cat on a mouse. The costumes were romantic and a welcome change to the typical dynasty garb. I just wish more of the women had 20s hairstyles – really only Su Yi’s mom fulfilled that wish. At least, the men had short hair (although with A LOT of product in it), not man buns or long flowing tresses.
ML – If I didn't have a bad case of SML syndrome right from the start, I would have liked him better. Also, if his hairstyle for the first half hadn’t remind me of Edward Scissorhands, I might have like him better…but it was cute how he could expel a puff of air from his mouth and move that one strand of hair on his forehead. Wonder if he could do that naturally or it took him practice. I was impressed with the actor’s ability to express his character’s emotions. His expression turned so sweetly loving when he looked at FL (once he’s fallen in love with her, of course). He really did look like he adored her. And he expressed a fair amount of angst when FL nearly died and then when she was scheduled to marry SML. He also brought humor to the drama – not laugh out loud humor – just smiling to yourself humor. I would have been perfectly satisfied with FL’s choice if it weren’t for SML syndrome.
SML aka Mr. Pei – FL didn’t fall in love with him, but I did, and my heart broke for him as FL gravitated toward ML. I guess that’s the advantage of proximity. Honestly, there was no reason for her to choose ML over SML other than proximity…and the script told her to. Mr. Pei was sweet and kind and elegant. He was so happy when the evil Mrs. Qin arranged for him to marry FL, and my heart broke once again when she was snatched away from him at the last minute. Too be so close to your dream and then have it taken from you – no wonder he hated ML after that! Yeah, he strayed in the psycho chick territory for a while – she’s not yours if she loves the other guy, sweetie - but I still loved him. I kept telling FL that there were worse things than marrying Mr. Pei, and she just wouldn’t listen to me. Darn it!
FL – a typical spunky heroine although she was also incredibly stupid. How could she not know for 20 episodes that ML knew who she was? How could she think that he was in love with the previous Manager Lu when he told her to her face over and over again that he loved her? I can understand thinking he used you to get the book- since you heard something to that effect - but there’s no way she can't know that he knows who she is unless she’s just stupid.
Second couple – Su Yi and Lvshai. They were one of the first C-drama second couples that I was actually interested in - probably because the scriptwriter/director kept their story to the minimum. Their romance didn’t distract from the MC. I did find SFL’s timid behavior rather annoying, and honestly, would these Chinese parents really accept their son marrying a maid/shop worker? I know we’re in the 1920s, but these parents were surprisingly kind and accepting of their son’s choice in wife. Not that I’m complaining – I’ve had more than enough meddling Asian parents! I’m always happy to see nice Asian parents – although I could’ve done without the concubine thing. Sad to know that kind of stuff was still going on in the early 20th century.
The villagers did get on my nerves. First of all, what is this? A village of women and children only? How come Agui was the only male in the village? And why was FL the only woman willing to stand up to the bad guys? I guess the helplessness and dependency of the villagers just rubbed me the wrong way. Also, Grandma had TB but somehow recovered? TB was pretty deadly in those days so I found her recovery a bit far-fetched.
Finally, the ending seemed a bit odd to me. Why would FL suddenly decide to take the kids and head out on an adventure, leaving ML behind? Did she get bored because she was no longer Superflash? I don’t get it. And then ML runs after them to join them in their travels. Uh, who's minding the shop and producing money? Why did this family suddenly decide to travel when everyone was perfectly content at home for the previous 24 episodes? Just makes no sense to me.
But, overall, this drama exceeds my expectations, and I would highly recommend it.
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