2
13
3
virgievirgie
Lost in Dramaland
Too long for an uneven pacing SLOW healing drama.
Subjective Gut Rating - 8.25
“Meet Yourself” is a beloved drama here on MDL and I can see why so many people are in love with it. I was hoping to love it too, but unfortunately, I only like it. I hesitated to watch this due to its rave reviews and I need time to ensure I am in the right mood to watch this drama. Objectively, this is a great drama but for my subjective rating of my personal satisfaction and enjoyment, I can only give it an. 8.25. I have two main criticisms only but they are enough to prevent me from truly enjoying the drama.
What I Like:
1. Grandma Xie - Who doesn’t love grandma??? She’s witty and funny, and it’s a ray of beautiful sunshine. I love how she defends her loved ones both verbally, physically and emotionally. I love her intelligent way of pulling strings behind the scenes to get what she wants. We need more grandmas like her!
2. Sceneries - Can’t really argue with the picturesque landscapes and relaxing sceneries in this drama. I want to visit this little village and take a long vacation as well. I really like the boarding house with the courtyard, even if it doesn’t have good soundproofing and I might fall on my face when walking down those cobblestones.
3. Acting - Great acting all around… from the youngest to the oldest. Those four child actors are amazing and I believe they use their own voices and speak the lines themselves. The main cast did not disappoint, nor the supporting cast.
4. No annoying characters -Oftentimes, dramas set in the rural areas or countryside will have annoying side characters or villagers. I actually like all the aunties and grannies in this drama. They are loud, but they are not annoying and each of them has their own personalities.
5. Chemistry - Though I think the romance is a little too slow burn, I do think once Xu Hong Dou and Xie Zhi Yao get together, they have really good chemistry. Their display of affection and skin feel natural and mature.
What I have Mixed Feelings or Don’t Like:
1. Slow Pacing - My biggest criticism is the pacing of the drama. I understand this is a healing, relaxing slice-of-life drama. I’ve seen my share of them as well. But the first 20 episodes really are slow with nothing much happening. 40 episodes for a healing drama is too much. I feel that the drama could have spent some time on the stories of the supporting cast in the first half, instead of jamming them all in the second half. There are so many interesting stories that could have been explored more instead of doing so half-heartedly.. The romance can be slow-burn, but when everything is slow, the slow burn romance feels even slower. I am a binge-watcher and I keep on falling asleep (I am also tired from work). Even though I stopped binge-watching and watched only a couple episodes a day, the drama still doesn’t hold my attention throughout. I find myself not tempted to hit the “play” button for the next episode. If I wasn’t persistent in continuing, I could have easily dropped it within the first 20 episodes.
2. Music - I actually quite like the songs in the soundtrack. BUT, they play the songs waaaay too often and too loud, and often the same songs repeatedly for many episodes.. For a healing drama in the countryside, I would have liked to have fewer songs with lyrics blasting when the actors are speaking their lines. Maybe some relaxing instrumental background music to complement the tranquility of the drama (but will I fall asleep more? Mmm….). I was quite annoyed with all the singing.
I would definitely recommend this drama if you are in the mood for a slow, healing, slice-of-life drama. It has beautiful scenery, excellent acting and a very fun supporting cast. The drama is just too slow for me. Additionally, this drama should not be compared to the Korean drama “Hometown Cha Cha Cha”. HCCC is a rom-com with annoying characters. “Meet Yourself” is totally different. Two very different genres and feel to them.
Other Random Observations:
1. FL has so many pairs of sunglasses.
2. There’s a lot of cooking and eating.
3. There are some pretty funny moments, and lovely conversations.
4. Those 4 kids warm and break my heart.
5. Ep 19 is one of my favorite episodes - the mushroom episode brought out so many different emotions.
6. Reminds me of the Taiwanese drama “A Thousand Goodnights”. Both dramas are like promotions from the local Tourism Board.
Completed: 9/12/2023 - Review #353
“Meet Yourself” is a beloved drama here on MDL and I can see why so many people are in love with it. I was hoping to love it too, but unfortunately, I only like it. I hesitated to watch this due to its rave reviews and I need time to ensure I am in the right mood to watch this drama. Objectively, this is a great drama but for my subjective rating of my personal satisfaction and enjoyment, I can only give it an. 8.25. I have two main criticisms only but they are enough to prevent me from truly enjoying the drama.
What I Like:
1. Grandma Xie - Who doesn’t love grandma??? She’s witty and funny, and it’s a ray of beautiful sunshine. I love how she defends her loved ones both verbally, physically and emotionally. I love her intelligent way of pulling strings behind the scenes to get what she wants. We need more grandmas like her!
2. Sceneries - Can’t really argue with the picturesque landscapes and relaxing sceneries in this drama. I want to visit this little village and take a long vacation as well. I really like the boarding house with the courtyard, even if it doesn’t have good soundproofing and I might fall on my face when walking down those cobblestones.
3. Acting - Great acting all around… from the youngest to the oldest. Those four child actors are amazing and I believe they use their own voices and speak the lines themselves. The main cast did not disappoint, nor the supporting cast.
4. No annoying characters -Oftentimes, dramas set in the rural areas or countryside will have annoying side characters or villagers. I actually like all the aunties and grannies in this drama. They are loud, but they are not annoying and each of them has their own personalities.
5. Chemistry - Though I think the romance is a little too slow burn, I do think once Xu Hong Dou and Xie Zhi Yao get together, they have really good chemistry. Their display of affection and skin feel natural and mature.
What I have Mixed Feelings or Don’t Like:
1. Slow Pacing - My biggest criticism is the pacing of the drama. I understand this is a healing, relaxing slice-of-life drama. I’ve seen my share of them as well. But the first 20 episodes really are slow with nothing much happening. 40 episodes for a healing drama is too much. I feel that the drama could have spent some time on the stories of the supporting cast in the first half, instead of jamming them all in the second half. There are so many interesting stories that could have been explored more instead of doing so half-heartedly.. The romance can be slow-burn, but when everything is slow, the slow burn romance feels even slower. I am a binge-watcher and I keep on falling asleep (I am also tired from work). Even though I stopped binge-watching and watched only a couple episodes a day, the drama still doesn’t hold my attention throughout. I find myself not tempted to hit the “play” button for the next episode. If I wasn’t persistent in continuing, I could have easily dropped it within the first 20 episodes.
2. Music - I actually quite like the songs in the soundtrack. BUT, they play the songs waaaay too often and too loud, and often the same songs repeatedly for many episodes.. For a healing drama in the countryside, I would have liked to have fewer songs with lyrics blasting when the actors are speaking their lines. Maybe some relaxing instrumental background music to complement the tranquility of the drama (but will I fall asleep more? Mmm….). I was quite annoyed with all the singing.
I would definitely recommend this drama if you are in the mood for a slow, healing, slice-of-life drama. It has beautiful scenery, excellent acting and a very fun supporting cast. The drama is just too slow for me. Additionally, this drama should not be compared to the Korean drama “Hometown Cha Cha Cha”. HCCC is a rom-com with annoying characters. “Meet Yourself” is totally different. Two very different genres and feel to them.
Other Random Observations:
1. FL has so many pairs of sunglasses.
2. There’s a lot of cooking and eating.
3. There are some pretty funny moments, and lovely conversations.
4. Those 4 kids warm and break my heart.
5. Ep 19 is one of my favorite episodes - the mushroom episode brought out so many different emotions.
6. Reminds me of the Taiwanese drama “A Thousand Goodnights”. Both dramas are like promotions from the local Tourism Board.
Completed: 9/12/2023 - Review #353
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