LOVE THIS COUPLE! LOVE THE CHEMISTRY!

If I could give this more than 10, I would just for the chemistry between Nan Chu and Liu Xiao. I absolutely love the chemistry between the FL and the ML. DON'T BELIEVE THE NEGATIVE COMMENTS. The first episode focuses more on the firefighters than on the relationship between the leads and led to some dropping the show leaving low ratings. I stuck with it because Zhang Jing Yi is one of the most natural actresses who has a way of connecting with her costars. And this show is no different. I started to feel the chemistry between them quite early in the show. It becomes obvious that the ML is falling for the FL from early in the show and that she likes him too.

What I love about the ML is that even though he is tough as he needs to be as a leader, he is soft when it comes to the FL. Watching this ML do something as simple as adjusting the FL's belt and making sure her uniform was on properly is sweet. It especially sweet because he doesn't do this for anyone else. He is not only attracted to her outer beauty but also to the beauty within. Johnny Huang does an excellent playing his character. I love the way he is with Nan Chu and it is hilarious to watch the other firefighter's expressions when they see their leader doing special things for her. Johnny Huang's character, Lu Xiao, is not weak at all. He is strong and he leads with empathy and understanding for his team. For this, he is loved and respected.

The FL is strong in character. She will step forward to correct a wrong or to defend someone. She shows maturity and intelligence in her interactions with others. She is also a dancer, so there are some scenes with her dancing. It was a big bonus to see Nan Chu perform a dance scene with Liu Xiao. I rewatched that scene many times before I could move on. I just wanted to keep watching it and will go back to it forever! I loved Zhang Ying Yi in Lighter and Princess and might even love her more here. She is now my favorite actress.

Once you get to know all the characters including the firefighters, you will find yourself invested in their lives as well as the main leads. Therefore, as much as I am always looking for romance dramas, I do not mind any of these characters taking up air time. Bright Eyes in the Dark is much more than just romance or the lives of the two main leads when they are together. It is also about the characters finding their way in life and fulfilling dreams and goals. Nan Chu's career path is in dancing and acting while Liu Xiao's is in serving his country as a firefighter. And as much as Nan Chu sees Liu Xiao as her hero, she feels that while he protects the country, she will protect him. To Liu Xiao, Nan Chu is "like a piece of candy" bestowed on his life. You need to watch to feel the chemistry between the leads.

There was a comment in one of the reviews which said that "Wang Zi Qi played a bad character." NO. Wang Zi Qi played a character who is determined to reduce casualties with the use and technology and tougher training. He transferred in as a director. He pushed the team to improve and this only caused the firefighters to resist his methods. He is not a bad character. He just needed to learn how to motivate the team. He knew the ML years before and the ML is not against him at all. It was fun to see Lu Xiao (ML) help this new director fit in with the team. And he does eventually.


As I am waiting for new episodes to be released, I am rewatching from the start, and on the second watch, I see the significant details in episode 1 that you will understand more after watching the episodes that follow. Perhaps the producer should have opened the show with a scene of the couple that would hook the viewer rather than open with an introduction into the background of the characters. I am so glad I kept watching because now I cannot wait for the next episode.

And I should mention: LOTS OF KISSES! LOTS OF HUGS! LOTS OF LOVE! Nan Chu is not afraid to express her love. Many times it is Nan Chu who initiates the kisses and hugs.

THE ENDING
If you do not want to know about the ending. Do not read further.

I felt I needed to add this for those who might watch and be surprised at an ending they did not anticipate or like.
Before I go into my interpretation of the ending, let me say that I saw the live interview with Johnny Huang and Zhang Jing Yi where he said that the ML did not die. He said it was an open ending.
And before I go even further, let me say everything stated above still stands. I love the couple and the characters in the show. The characters were well developed. The relationship between the main couple was beautiful.
This drama deserves a 10. Many are changing their reviews because they are upset or disappointed about the ending because it seems the ML died. The drama ends with Nan Chu dancing on stage while the members of the fire department watch. There is an empty seat. But the scene shifts to Lu Xiao walking into the theater and sitting in the #34 seat. He claps at the end of the dance and no one but Nan Chu hears him. I interpret this as even though Lu Xiao is away protecting the country, he will always be there for her emotionally and in her heart. Another indication of the seat number could be to show that he did not sit in the empty seat that was saved for him. That seat was #1. He sat at #34 which from the signs, was located at the top right corner of the theater. It looks as if he entered an empty theater but it is clear that the back of the theater is empty. It could be he arrived late.

NOTE: In Chinese the #3 means life and the #4 means death. There is a significance in the #34. Perhaps the significance is that Lu Xiao's place in life is difficult as he is in a position that could go from life to death in a flash.
Whether you feel the ML died or not, or if this drama deserves a high rating, there is no denying how beautifully the emotions were depicted. I am leaving my rating of 10 even though I feel sad. I am sad because I will miss the main couple and the wonderful characters. Perhaps Lu Xiao did not die as Johnny Huang stated. He was away protecting the country. Nan Chu said, " You go protect the safety of the world. I will protect you." I am going with the premise that Lu Xiao did not die. And before you say the firefighters all looked so sad, so he must have died, perhaps they looked emotional because the dance was in honor of firefighters. And with that, I will rewatch the final scene again.

***As someone who does not like open endings and will avoid the shows that have them, believe me when I tell you this drama was beautiful on many levels. I have no regrets watching it.

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Loved the ML!

Let me start by saying I loved the feel of this drama. The warm undertones and emotional connection between Zhoa Jin and Xu Nuo kept me watching. This drama portrays the growth of the relationship between the ML and the FL. They met by chance and felt a pull toward each other. At the start, the FL was in a long-term relationship with her boyfriend, Peng Yu An who never seemed to have time for her. It is also clear that his father is against them being together and wants Yu An to have a more advantageous relationship with his partner. Without going into details, the FL breaks up with the boyfriend, but he refuses to accept the breakup. Yet, Zhoa Jin and Xu Nuo continued to grow closer and this is the part that made this drama so beautiful.

There is a secondary relationship between the FL's best friend and ML's friend Xu Yang. There is also a touching storyline with the ML's sister and her friend. This drama shows different relationships and motivations. Some relationships are based on dependency and convenience. Some are formed based on what might be considered to be advantageous. And some grow even when up against adversities...this is the slow burn we see with the ML and the FL.

I loved the ML! It baffles me that there are so many negative comments against the ML. He was warm, caring, supportive, considerate, gentle, and smart. His character is appealing because he shows strength and conviction. But even though he appears soft on the outside, he can defend himself. The ex-boyfriend sees him as pitiful as he is divorced and has a younger sister who has health issues. But this is just one of the indications that the ex-boyfriend is overconfident and too much into himself because others see the ML as handsome and wonderful. The ML is the main reason I watched this drama. Zhang Wan Zi is now on my favorite actors list! Sigh...

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I Will Forever Watch This Drama!!!

I am trying to get my thoughts together to express how much this drama took over my heart. I did not want it to end. I even went for a walk before I watched the last two episodes. And now that it is done, I am so sad because I will miss seeing Lin Yi Yang and Yin Guo. I also loved Meng Xiao Dong, the FL's big brother (cousin actually). Then there are the other characters with their own unique personalities and all adorable in their own way. This cast was amazingly put together. Before I write a review, I will list all the things I loved about this drama because my head will not get it together to write anything coherent. I blame Wu Lei in his role as Lin Yi Yang. The guy was so sexy and seductive, I literally swooned through each episode. Well let me start the list:

1. Lin Yi Yang played by Leo Wu(Wu Lei) His eyes are expressive and seductive and will melt you when you see him gaze at Yin Guo. But not only his looks will make you swoon. He is the best in his field of sport and will knock your socks off the way he plays a perfect game of snooker. He is also intelligent and scholarly. And he is a businessman.

2. Yin Guo, the FL , seems shy when she is with the ML, but she is a fearless 9 ball competitor/sportswoman. Zhoa Yin Mai plays her part with natural ease. She makes the romance believable in a way that reminds me of one of my favorite actresses, Zhang Jing Yi from Lighter and Princess in that she is also a natural actress who makes the romance scenes believable because of her connection with the ML. You will feel her love for him. She delivers her lines perfectly and knows just how to use her voice and tone to portray the scenes in a way you will feel connected.

3. Love at first sight is one I find relatable. The way the ML fell in love and pursued the FL might not be for everyone but for me, it totally captivated me to the point I watched the scenes over and over again while I waited for the next episodes.

I will need to gather my thoughts before writing more but do yourself a favor and DO NOT LISTEN TO THE NEGATIVE REVIEWS. Some of the low-rating reviews have been there from the start by people who have not even watched the drama.

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My heart....

I don't know if any show has affected me the way Hidden Love has. I watch with a smile on my face and I even cry through the sweetest scenes. First of all, the age gap is not an issue at all. He is only 5 years older and there is nothing inappropriate in any of the 25 episodes. Please do not be put off by any of the negative comments because you will miss out on a beautiful experience. I rewatched all the episodes while I waited for more episodes to be released. Now that I have watched all 25 episodes, I am so sad because I will miss Jia Xu and Sang Jhi! I also loved Sang Jhi's brother Sang Yan. I read that there will be a sequel with Sang Yan's story called First Frost. I am hoping to see the same actors play Sang Jhi and Jiaxu in First Frost.

Sang Jhi grew up in a loving family. Her parents are kind and generous. Her brother loves her and is protective of her even as he bickers with her. It is still so touching to see how much the brother and sister love each other. I enjoyed watching the beautiful dynamics of Sang Jhi's family. If you enjoy watching sibling relationships, it is another plus for Hidden Love.

Duan Jia Xu had sad family life and he worked hard to pay off his father's debts. What made his relationship with Sang Jhi so beautiful is that even though he didn't have money to spare, he always took care of Sang Jhi and refused to take money from her or allow her to pay for anything when he was around. And even more beautiful was the way Sang Jhi cared for Jia Xu by protecting and taking care of him. He never had anyone to rely on and instead took on the burden of taking care of his mother and father. It was so beautiful to see the emotions as he felt Sang Jhi's love for him.

Both Zhao Lu Si and Chen Zhe Yuan are the magic key to Hidden Love. Zhe Yuan expressive eyes...sigh. Just watching him play Jiaxu is enough to convince me that a 17-year-old girl would have a crush and fall in love with him. Lu Si was perfect for Sang Zhi. You just need to watch to see. The BTS clips provide information on the scenes and be sure to watch the extra scenes at the end of each episode. The strawberry scene at the end of episode 13 was one I had to rewatch immediately. I absolutely love this show!!! There is nothing quite like it.

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Beautiful Moments In Life!

I was drawn to this drama because it is a second-chance love story. I am happy I decided to give this drama a try. At the end of 40 episodes, I wanted to see more of the main couple and how they faced the next stage in their lives but I am content it was a happy ending with beautiful moments along the way. I will never get tired of seeing the way the ML looked at the FL. It was obvious since the start that he loved her then and now and will forever. I found myself going from one episode to the next and I am one who is easily bored even with the top-rated shows. From the first episode, I was struck by the emotions of the first time the couple was reunited after 3 years. Then I wondered why they broke up. But through it all, the love they had for each other was evident from glimpses of the life they shared before to the way they looked at each other in the present day.
I wanted to see more of the main couple but the drama also covers the relationships of the other secondary characters, which while I did feel some interest, I felt the need to fast forward when it got too tedious. But not once did I feel the need to fast forward through the main couple's scenes.

Incomparable Beauty is not about a beauty queen or physical appearance although the leads are attractive. It is about the moments in our lives where we shine for being who we are. Nothing compares to the special moments in life. Enjoy and embrace them and that you are worthy and special. And those moments in life are made precious by the people we share them with. This drama brings us through the ups and downs of life and the idea that ultimately it is the beauty of those special moments with the ones we love that compares to no other.

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Forever in My Heart

Just like Zhu Yun will forever have Li Xun in her heart and Li Xun will forever have Zhu Yun in his heart, Lighter & Princess will always have a special place in my heart. This is my 4th watch and I don't know why it has taken me so long to write a review. Every time I watch L&P, I am stunned by the sizzling chemistry and the depth of love the leads have for each other. If you have not watched this drama, do not believe the criticisms against the ML and the FL's character. They could not be any further from the truth. Watch for yourself.

The ML's character is one that if you come to understand him the way Zhu Yun did, you will love him. He is not the usual sensitive ML but rather rough on the edges due to his rough life experiences. The way Zhu Yun softened Li Xun made their romance even more compelling and believable. Li Xun’s dream was the basis of the company he founded called L&P. His dream was to build a system to provide medical service to the public in order to reduce the cancer death rate. But due to circumstances, Li Xun ends up losing it all. After a break up and time skip, the couple works together to regain all that was lost and it is through this collaboration that we see how the couple's romance develops in their love for each. I watched every minute of Lighter and Princess with no desire to fast forward except through Gao and his wife's marital problems. And as Li Xun's back story is revealed, I loved him even more and it was entirely convincing that Zhu Yun would love him because she understood him. She was the light in his life, the "princess" who is someone innocent yet also someone willing to take risks.

The chemistry between the leads sizzles...and sizzles...and sizzles. The match between Chen Fei Yu and Zhang Jing Yi is amazing. The person who selected this cast deserves an award. They are comfortable with each other. I am a big fan of Zhang Jing Yi since Lighter and Princess. She makes it all believable because she is a natural actress who looks comfortable in intimate roles. The way she hugs and cuddles with her ML made me believe she loved him. You can feel the connection. Chen Fei Yu's gazes as he looked straight into his Jing Yi's eyes conveyed deep emotions of love. There is this yearning that is a mix of love and regret but one that said he loved this woman with all his heart and soul. His eyes deserve a special award for L&P! It is this chemistry that left me with the feeling that I never wanted it to end and now over a year since I watched L&P, I cannot move on. I feel it calling to me all the time because I miss this couple when I am not watching L&P.

Lighter & Princess is a masterpiece. You can watch it on the surface or look deep into significant details. Lighter & Princess. Two words you might wonder how they go together. The lighter Li Xun carried with him was his father's. It was broken at one time but Zhu Yun had it mended. But perhaps he no longer needed it as she became his light drawing out of his painful past and bringing him into her innocent fairy tale existence of a "princess." I loved the way he called her "Princess." And yet he didn't treat her as if she was nothing but a princess. He allowed her to grow and learn on her own by guiding her and giving her hints on how to achieve her goals. And she understood him.

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A Story With a Male Lead Like No Other!

Story Of Kunning Palace has a well-laid-out plot that will make you sit through all the episodes without the urge to fast forward or skip scenes. The story unfolds with bits and pieces of the past that are told through flashbacks. The past heightens the intrigue as it is surrounded by a sense of darkness. The flashbacks serve the purpose to contrast with the FL's present events as it shows her what could happen in the present.

The characters of Story Of Kunning Palace are one of the major factors that make the drama fascinating because the characters are not your typical leads. Zhang Ling He as the male lead was outstanding as Xie Wei. There are scenes where he gets really angry such that there is a dark side of the character yet a times a rather endearing side especially when he shows jealousy when there is another love interest for the FL. Bai Lu again succeeds in forming a certain chemistry with her ML.
Her scenes with Zhang Ling He were well connected as they were matched in the dynamics of their performance.

Story Of Kunning Palace is an excellent choice if you are looking for a drama mixed with palace intrigue, revenge, and romance with the unique addition of flashbacks to a past life to add a quality of hindsight. The characters are well-written and interesting with a plot that keeps you going from one episode to the next. The romance is slow burn but when the leads finally come together, it is well worth the wait. And of course, Xie Wei as a ML like no other, is well worth the watch! And the kisses....more than worth the wait!

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