Reviews

I'm not sure what to say about this drama... I hate giving bad reviews and I don't want to put you off because of this review. But it was, in my opinion, so tedious that I couldn't not write this review. I suppose I should firstly confess that I did start skipping large sections of this drama, it just got predictable, tedious and a little bit dull. I managed to condense the last hour and a half long episode into a 25 minute sitting.

Initially this drama started off at a pretty watchable standard. The young versions of the characters are played by the same people who play the adults, just in school uniforms. I liked the story behind the lead guys past, how he's looking for his sister, hiding out in book shops, living off of ramen. The introduction between the characters was great. The oddball friend falls in love with her best friends brother, the popular friend and the two guys crushing on her. I like the way that the oddball friend befriends 'Peter' and stays loyal to her promises.. however. I don't like the fact that this entire drama is based on the fact Ai Li Si refused to tell anyone who Peter was, and that her so called best friend didn't believe her. That was kind of the area things started to wobble.
Fast forward to the future and Ai Li Si has turned into this cold and distant woman who works as a science researcher. Now as a science researcher I would expect her to be fairly bright, despite her obvious emotional trauma. No. No she is not. The main female lead is probably one of the most naive, air heads I've seen in a drama. Now female empowerment in general is not something I talk about, I'm all for it but it's not something I ever talk about because I don't really argue my opinions. But this... THIS took the biscuit, the plate and the tiny little napkin it came with. I can't put into words how annoyed I felt at this female lead. I know a lot of female Asian leads are meant to be delicate flowers who need to be protected by the strapping young man with a six pack and a flaming axe made out of manly things, but this.. this.. I just can't. I don't see why or how the writers thought making the female lead so urghhhhh. I KNOW she's emotionally unstable but ughhh. Okay I'll stop talking about how peeved the female lead made me I think you get the idea, but it was like.. 73% of why I started skipping.
The actors themselves weren't awful, it was mainly just the way the characters had been written. I think with the scripts they were given, the actors did a great job. Not enough to win an Oscars (or Asian equivalent) but pretty good, especially in the first episodes when they're pretending to be high school students.

I like the way that bullying can be seen in this drama, as in... it shows that bullying can affect people whether that's the intention or not. There's one scene where Ai Li Si meets one of her past tormentors to try and only her memories, but he doesn't really remember bullying him. I think the way it shows that although it doesn't effect you, or doesn't seem like a big deal, bullying can be a big deal in some people's lives. It's kind of like how in Who Are You: School 2015 she tries to commit suicide, although not as extreme in this drama, showing the side effects bullying can have on the victims. Especially in Asia where you can hear a lot of extreme cases of bullying, but no one sees what's wrong with it (I don't know how accurate this is I'm just basing it off of blogs written by people who have taught in Asia).
That's second (and last) item I liked about this drama.

The music was okay, I don't really remember a lot of it... I know it wasn't bad, but I'm not about to go and download the OST.

So to summarise:
Good things - The first episodes where they're students, the portrayal of bullying in younger generations and the affect it can have on the victim.
Bad things - Weak female lead, predictable script writing and a little repetitive. Weak female lead and even seeping into weak second female lead is a large reason I disliked this.

But please keep in mind that this is my opinion and that I did start skipping because it bored me. It is possible that the parts I skipped had information to make this drama better, but in my personal opinion I highly doubt it. I was going to drop this drama, but finished it due to sheer will power. I wanted to give the drama a chance but it just didn't do it for me. I know a lot of people are fans of the innocent romance style, and if you like that kind of thing it might be worth giving this drama a try. But if you came up to me and asked me if you should watch this.. I'd say no. Or at least watch the scenes as kids and then just read up on the rest of the drama. There were a couple of good parts but I don't think that they were quite worth the other 10(ish) hours of not... very.. exciting script writing.

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Good Love Story

What a lovely and refreshing drama!

I watched this drama not only based on the beautiful pictures but also the storyline. Even though it is 24 episodes at around 11 minutes each it is well done and worth the watch.

A Mu/Shen Yu Xi infiltrates the Red Stone Villa for revenge on Chu Jing Chen's father who killed her parents. How she does that is by disguising herself as a man and becoming Chu Jing Chen's personal bodyguard. We all know that she will get discovered sooner rather than later. But when she is poisoned while taking a bath, he discovers her "star tattoo" on her shoulder and realizes this is the girl that saved him when he was kidnapped as a child.

His oldest brother who is in a wheelchair resents everything about Chu Jing Chen but hides his true feelings. But when Chu Jing Chen tells his father and brother that he will not marry the girl that his father has chosen for him to expand the villa because of his feelings for A Mu, we think we will see happiness. But alas, just when he tells A Mu that he wants to be with her, she finds the note that he says that he will not fall in love with her. A Mu tells him to go ahead with the wedding. Chu Jing Chen is so angry that he agrees to marry his father's choice even though he has told everyone, even the bride that he doesn't love her.

The wedding commences and we find that the bride is A Mu. We never know what happened to the original bride. A Mu attempts to kill Chu Jing Chen's father at the wedding but is stopped by Chu Jing Chen himself. After telling her to run away, A Nian is fighting off the guards from the villa. Chu Jing Chen arrives and finds an injured A Mu. He takes her to his mother's hidden place that only he and A Nian know about. Explanations are made and he reveals he knows who she is. They then finish the wedding ceremony.

Chu Jing Chen goes back to see his father. His father is agreeable with his marriage, now with her true name of Shen Yu Xi. He goes back to tell her that all is well. But that at his brother's suggestion he will go to the sect of the girl he was supposed to marry and apologize in person. He tells Shen Yu Xi that he won't be long and left A Nian with her for protection. But they didn't get far after all of his guards are poisoned drinking tea at the rest stop. But luckily A Liang, his other personal bodyguard, stopped Chu Jing Chen before he drank his. He then thinks about Shen Yu Xi and races back to her only to find her and A Nian gone.

He eventually finds her and A Nian. They both had been drugged with a powerful aphrodisiac in which A Nian took her hairpin to cut himself so that he would not lose control and attack her.

They find out it is the brother that was the real killer of Shen Yu Xi's parents and not Chu Jing Chen's father. His father after finding out that his oldest son had killed Shen Yu Xi's parents had cut his wrist and his tendons to walk hence him begin in a wheelchair. The father and brother do die.

The sad part was that A Nian fell in love with Shen Yu Xi. He never revealed his love to her, but I believe that both Chu Jing Chen and Shen Yu Xi knew how he felt that is why he left in the end. Then we had A Liang who was with the wheelchair bound brother who was so disappointed and upset that he no longer wanted to stay at the villa either, so he left as well.

But there was happiness for Chu Jing Chen and Shen Yu Xi because she discovered that she was pregnant, and they were going to have a child.

In the end, I found this to be just one of those nicely done dramas that has plenty of kisses and beautiful moments that can send your heart racing. The ML is really nice on the eyes, oh and always kissing her. The FL is a good compliment to him as well.

Very enjoyable and is definitely rewatchable.

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it just clicks with me

I think that this is Wong Kar-wai's cinematic masterpiece. It is a dreamlike exploration of love, loss, and the human condition. It's a film that lingers in the mind, a haunting melody that plays on repeat. I remember the first time I watched it, I was mesmerized by its beauty and complexity.

"The past is never over. It's just a story we tell ourselves."

The film is a tapestry of interconnected stories, each one a poignant reflection on the complexities of human relationships. Tony Leung's portrayal of Chow Mo-wan is nothing short of iconic. His nuanced performance captures the character's loneliness and yearning with a haunting intensity.

"Love is all a matter of timing. It's no good meeting the right person too soon or too late."

Zhang Ziyi's performance as Bai Ling is equally captivating. Her character is a mysterious and alluring figure, a woman who seems to embody the very essence of desire. Her chemistry with Tony Leung is palpable, and their scenes together are electric.

"Time is a thief, stealing the present from the future."

The film's nonlinear narrative structure adds to its dreamlike quality. It's like a puzzle, with pieces scattered across time and space. As the viewer, we're invited to piece together the fragments of the story, to connect the dots and discover the underlying meaning.

"Love is all a matter of timing. It's no good meeting the right person too soon or too late."

At its heart, 2046 is a film about the human condition. It explores themes of love, loss, memory, and the passage of time. The characters are constantly searching for love and connection, but they are often doomed to disappointment. The past haunts them, and they struggle to let go of their regrets.

"In love you can't bring on a substitute. When the Peony blooms, she stands tall. Does she mean no or yes?"

Wong Kar-wai's signature visual style is on full display in 2046. The vibrant colors, the stunning cinematography, and the evocative music create a truly immersive cinematic experience. The film's soundtrack, composed by Shigeru Umebayashi, is the perfect complement to the film's melancholic tone. It's a haunting melody that lingers in the mind long after the movie ends.

"Maybe one day you'll escape your past. If you dream hard enough."

2046 is a film that demands patience and attention. It's not a straightforward narrative, but a series of interconnected stories that unfold slowly and deliberately. But if you're willing to let yourself get lost in its dreamlike world, you'll be rewarded with a truly unforgettable cinematic experience.

"I once fell in love with someone. I couldn't stop wondering if she loved me or not. I went to 2046 hoping to find her there. But I never found her."

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Ok I like Kat-Tun so I thought why not watch Jin in a drama? I am glad I did because I certainly wasn't disappointed. Yukan Club is about a bunch of rich kids who like to solve crimes instead of going to class. Each one of them has a special talent or specialty that helps in solving the mysteries or problems of others. This is a feel good comedy with light romance and light mystery. The characters learn something new each episode but its nothing that is life -changing. Yukan Club isn't a drama that will make you watch it as a marathon, but is a good drama to watch after a drama with really heavy adult themes. Generally you can tell that everything is going to go well for the characters so it doesn't have much suspense, you can almost always tell how its going to end. As a light comedy its fun to watch and it doesn't take itself too seriously either.

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Girl from nowhere? Nah

Before we start, yes there are indeed similarities between GFN and this drama however at the same they are quite different from one another in terms of plot. Each episode is a continuous storyline so not to worry about having a different plot in each episode.

Story;
The story.., ah how to describe, I wouldn't say predictable but for me it lacked a little something but that's just my preference maybe because I have watched a lot of thrillers. Some scenes are creepy but nothing too heavy or any jump scares so don't be scared! It did feel very short though I hope they added some elements into it because It did make me want to watch the next episode immediately.

Acting;
Loved it. Nothing too much or unnatural, everyone played their part well.

Music;
I FUCKING LOVED THE TRACK
Incase anyone needs it, its 断面 by Dios.

Overall, just go for it. Its just 23 mins long, 7 episodes; good for a late night watch if you're bored.

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it lost me

Overall: though the man m/m dynamic was not my favorite*, the first few episodes were set up and done well, but then the plot deteriorated and by the end I was angry. Note that there is an extra scene after initial credits. Aired on Gagaoolala and Viki.

Content Warnings: physical abuse/physical assault off screen but wounds shown, punches, non con kiss, mental health struggles, manhandling, manipulation, dentist/patient, age gap (10? years), if you have anxiety about dental visits then there are some scenes that might make it worse

What I Liked
- the sweet moments
- a few funny moments
- acting
- good kissing/continued physical affection
- dance scene at the end
- production value

Room For Improvement
- *the cold dentist and the vulnerable/traumatized (continuous) patient was not a favorite dynamic, I didn't like the side immature high schooler and reluctant bar manager either
- too many couples (4) most of which did not have enough development and 1 of which was extremely rushed
- the sister punching Jin Xun An twice and trying to punch him in the face was awful, you can care about your sibling but Bai Lang is a fully grown adult and you don't physically assault people, speaking of
- WTH was that with the dad, he's a total abuser but then on screen shown as a little grumpy and basically has no consequences (i.e. he should go to JAIL!!!!) This being glossed over was awful and it was totally unnecessary to the plot. He could have been the standard homophobe like the majority of BL parents.
- way too much time spent on flashback and showing an entire past relationship that I cared nothing about
- cliche ex enters the picture which leads to
- terrible communication skills for adults in their 20s/30s
- a straight wedding in the only Asian country where same sex marriage is legal complete with a bait and switch proposal had me fuming

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wasted potential...

cw/ spoiler warning: sa, abuse, harrassment, plot in general

First of all I want to say this series had major pacing issues, the first 6 episodes could've been 3 episodes and the last 2 should've been 4-5 episodes. I know the most of the plot happens in the first episodes but still.

I really liked the cast, they did their best with what they were given.

Now, the wasted potential comes from Tae-Yi and Juha, both of them were way too problematic to be redeemed with one shitty apology. Juha had like 3 scenes where he harrassed/ borderline assaulted Se-Heon (given his internalized homophobia his actions are more nuanced and his hug scene with Doyoon is a great start to redemption), but Tae-Yi??????? He assaults Se-Heon physically and verbally and then s*xually?????? For no good reason????? Foul. I can't believe Se-Heon forgave him so easily because first his reaction to that kiss and then his action outside the bar were absolutely horrible and his apology was just "sorry that I hurt you" like be fr.

If we only saw Tae-Yi verbally warning Se-Heon and then warming up around ep 4 it would've been excusable because his mental state was still bad because of his brother.

Briefly touching on Juha and Do-Yoon's "kiss": obviously kisses aren't the most important part of a bl, and actors shouldn't do it if they don't want to, but this excecution was just really lazy, in my opinion it would've worked exactly the same if not better if it was a kiss on the cheek. I'm also a bit dissappointed we never got a conclusion to their story, even if they just remained friends they could've shown up at the end.

That was all I have to say I think, in conclusion it had a lot of potential but they lost it near the end.

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Can my review simply state...please read Amrita's review below mine? No? By the description of this drama I wasn't sure what to make of it but 2 episodes in I had already grown very fond of it. By the time it was over I adored it.

It is by turns silly and touching. After all, the stories are set every week at a Child Welfare center and they involve stories of abuse, neglect and abandonment. Those working at the center take their jobs very seriously but the situations are handled sensitively and with a light touch with emphasis on the help the children are given.

There is also the very comedic "Freaky Friday" like situation of the two main characters switching souls. I, like most was wondering...do those two scenarios even fit together? The answer is yes, they do. Because watching a timid, by the book earnest social worker switch bodies with a hardened gangster with a reluctant heart of gold turns out to be a surprisingly winning combination.

Let me also say that Matsuda Shota is turning out to be a talented chameleon-like actor who can pull off amazingly dramatic moments while also having a real talent for physical comedy. You can see it if you watch Meitante No Okite, but in Don Quixote, he perfects the skill. His 'old Gangster in a young man's body' persona had me in stitches. He curses and grumbles and gets dragged into situations he absolutely does not want to be in and that is comedy gold!

The supporting cast was great. I loved all of Shirota's co-workers at the Child Center and I loved the quirky family like loyalty and atmosphere of Sabashima's crew. They all had their own personalities but weren't over utilized and didn't take away from the main story lines. I liked the episodic feel of the weekly situations and problems solved at the Child Center.

This show is dramatic but not overly so with tender and touching moments. There are moments I laughed out loud and actually rewound to watch and laugh again. At 11 episodes it didn't drag on and was just the right amount of time for a story of this nature. If you haven't seen Don Quixote, I really recommend it. It is a charming drama about family, friendship, honor and doing the right thing; both for those you love and for those in need.

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This drama is truly a work of art in every sense of the word. Never have I seen such flawless, intricate and well-constructed plot with exceptional acting skills in a drama... It is so well written that every after episode, the suspense builds up and the plot keeps getting better. There is a complete balance of romance, drama, action, suspense tangled with love, friendship, betrayal, war, politics and revenge. The drama depicts many flaws of human nature so there will be times when you get so frustrated with the story but then again it teaches you the subtle meaning of life. There are a lot of clever twists in the story that you will never guess what will happen next. I absolutely love these twists because they keep you on your toes and keep you captivated to this drama ‘til the very end. It is also remarkably fast-paced that never will you experience a boring moment. The ending was good and very endearing to the heart.

The cinematography was good. It was able capture the life at the time of Joseon era in vivid colours.

The acting was outstanding. Each character portrayed their roles exceptionally well. I love all the characters in this drama. The female lead who is willing to sacrifice her own life and fight for the man she loves. The male lead who is conflicted and torn between his loyalty to his family and for the love of the woman he shouldn’t have. The antagonist for being so good at being the evil villain. The supporting characters were also good and endearing. They’ve become vital part of the story that without them the story would have been incomplete.

The Princess’ Man is undeniably the best drama I’ve ever watched so highly recommend it to everyone.

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Oh Thats it?

Its fluffy and nice, and probably too short for its own good. Even if its something you will forget after a few days, I stiill enjoyed it though.

I will have to admit that i got to watch it years after it was aired -as there were mostly not-so-great reactions to it during the original airing, that i simply just brushed it off. Also it was aired at almost exactly the same time as some of the most famous and praised BL of the time (Semantic Error, Cherry Blossoms After WInter and Blueming ) so this series just simply didnt stand a chance that time.

I finally got to see it (right after One:High School Series was aired), and at a time when i was looking for light series to watch. it was a blessing to see all episode in one bingeing because id probably like it a lot less if id have to wait for two 15 minutes episodes per week.

I really liked the whole tone of the series - the lack of budget was pretty obvious, and it looked like the whole series was probably shot in less than a week's time at the most. It was obviously intendedas a movie that was divided into 8 mini tiny episodes - with very little to non-existent cliffhangers after each episode.

What i liked:
1. Cute leads, even the second M-F couple looked good too.
2. Sung Kyun is probably only one of the few Korean actors who has noticeable natural groin on screen (loved the gym scene)
3. Characters are all likeable so they all made up for the small details and inconsistencies.

What i dislike:
1. No real character development especially for the 2 main leads - Ye Min and Bong Deok at least got a little backstory scenes where there is nothing for Cheol Soo and Seol Won.
2. You call those kisses? For real? Dont cast actors for BLs if they dont want to engage in actual kissing.
3. As much as i liked the lead actors, their limited time onscreen together hasnt really made me feel attached to their characters and budding love.
4. Also as much as i liked the M-F second couple, the problem was that they took precious time away from our main couple. The series should have focused more on Cheol Soo and Seol Won.
5. Who in their right minds decided its ok to shower with the towel wrapped around your waste? Dont make shower scenes if you are too prude to even do it right.

With the onslaught of so many trashy new BL contents being aired right now - some of which are taking themselves too seriously (and too racy) at the cost of being convulated, its at least refresing to go back a little bit in time to find something that is so basic, simple and entertaining. I would probably enjoy it better if the episodes were at least 10min longer so we can actually see real progression and would have loved to see at least a full episode of the 2 leads as actual lovers
.
Easy to watch and rewatch!

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Probably the best drama of all time

After binge watching Yanxi Palace in three days three nights it has done quite some damage to my emotions towards dramas I watched after that. My feelings getting attached to dramas takes time but this.. This drama had me hooked instantly like never before? The romance really saves the drama honestly

STORY: 9.8 It's not face paced nor slow paced but perfectly right in the middle. I feel like if more characters died I would've been more emotional but it's a good thing that the drama didn't lose too much of the characters like xueman and yizhou. Ngl I do enjoy dramas that contains misunderstandings and jealousy. Just brings spice into it, this drama didn't had much but it's still really good. Nothing bad about the story, I'm honestly happy about the ending, still sad that the main couple lost their first unborn child so was wishing to see them have kids or have some scene in the future! (Really really hope they have a S2) in general and overall, no complaints

ACTING: 10 The acting is just *chef kisses* allen's acting did NOT disappoint. I love how he fits the young, free, and funny role to a more darker mature role. He rely suits it, and I'm looking forward to watch Under the Power after this! Zhang Hui Wen's acting is wiite good, may need some more skills and practicing but she has a lot of potential! All the other characters wether its support or the main role did an AMAZING job. not to mention the martial art scenes where they fight is so fucking clean and high quality. It's almost like it's very different from other dramas, its so cleannn. In geberal and overall: 10 would'e took 0.2 points off bc of zhang hui wen's acting but I'll just let it slide

MUSIC: 10 Loveeeee the osts!! Absolutely beautiful!! And the bgm really fits the situations. And the sounds are very high quality too. No complaints honestly

REWATCH VALUE: 100/10 There were SO many memorable scenes I can't even count how many times I've replayed it before even finishon the drama. (Never knew facial expressions would make me replay it 10x tehe) From my journey of starting to watch C dramas actively from 2017 until now, I'd never thought of finding a drama that I get so attached to until now. It's been a while since I've felt like this. Debating if this is #2 or #1 favorite dramas of all time..

Overall: 10/10 It was good, although didn't make me cry from previous dramas (probably because of after watching yanxi palace) Until the final episodes where rong hua got killed and nalan yue running towards her crying just made me so emotional to drop a tear. What really got me was rong su and yizhou. They deserve a happy ending.. (Can we talk about how pretty rong su is in that formal *lady like* costume?? The baby blue and flower pins and that hair downnn suits her so well *ched kiss* She looks so good :() I'm really satisfied with this drama but will take me a few days to get over with. I reay wished to see them with their future kids tbh was really wishing that, then I would've been completed.

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cute but rushed

Overall: this was cute but they tried to cover too much plot and it felt jumpy/rushed. 8 episodes total, about 20 minutes per episode. Aired on GagaOOLala and Viki.

Content Warnings: none

What I Liked
- that opening scene isn't super common in fiction (but very common in real life)
- funny moments
- the characterizations/opposite personalities
- the friendships especially Han Ji Yu and Ji Hoon, that's the friend who tells you honestly that you got a bad haircut lol
- need a spin off with the friend and the new character introduced at the end

Room For Improvement
- they needed to narrow the plot because scenes would quickly jump from 1 to another and it felt rushed overall, they didn't clearly explain some parts
- I thought that scene at the end of episode 1 was a preview for next week but it was actually an extra scene in the first episode. The second episode had it as well with an extended scene before the next week's preview. This was a bit confusing.
- having a conversation while someone is on the toilet
- too many falls
- the dead fish lip presses

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Don't get me wrong- I enjoyed watching this drama as it aired. It was a nicely written drama, not too long and the storyline was good enough to have me want to watch it each week.

The story is a fairly basic one, but I thought the actors in the show played their parts very well. I haven't read the manga, but I thought each of the actors looked great (love you MatsuJun!) and at no point was I cringing due to wooden acting. I really hated Saeko, and I thought Ishihara Satomi played her part to perfection. However, I felt the strength of this show was in it's supporting characters- Rikudo, Sekiya, Kaoruko etc. They provided the comedy when the main storyline got a bit too much.

The music was great- not only did I LOVE the Arashi song, the other music was very well suited to the show.

I probably won't rewatch this show again- hence the low rewatch value score, but overall I enjoyed this drama. It's definitely a great one to watch when you want an interesting mix of melodrama and comedy.

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Not all “idol romcoms” are equal: Or “The kind are rewarded”

This was a show which had it all, good writing, direction, fantastic performance and visuals. Was it full of cliches and tropes, and seemed cut from the mold of other dramas with similar tropes? Both yes and no. While I have not watched others to be able to make any substantial comparison, just on its own merit this was a drama which can stand tall amongst others of its ilk.

After a few rewatches, it became clear to me that more care, consideration and thought than what was common (for an idol romcom/pure romance) were given to the script/screenplay, and the whole production as a whole. There was a coherent theme/message, and recurring motifs, simplistic as they were. The small details mattered in this show.

It was also a showcase in how to go about achieving a wholesome, healthy, mature and loving relationship (for the leads). Communication, communication and communication. They took the time to talk with and reassure each other, tried to understand the other’s perspective, apologise when in the wrong etc. They did it often and habitually. It was especially stark when put against that of the other secondary couples.

There was not much unnecessary conflict, and any devices - i.e, misunderstandings or “love rivals” - for the development of the leads’ relationship were never utilised beyond their usefulness to the story. The respective dynamics were also a vehicle of growth for the leads. It was all very utilitarian. It could either be a plus or negative. In any case, I appreciated the straightforwardness. It resulted in a breezy, romantic and heartwarming drama experience.

While riding on the common tropes and cliches distinctive of its genre, it also tried to subvert some of them. It was a show “aware” of itself. It poked fun at the aggressive-CEO-tropes, and made fun of itself as a “mindless idol drama”. There was sarcastic and dry humour. There was also lovely usage of old movies to make its point across.

Having watched the ending and then returning to the first episode again, I was really struck by how coherent, cohesive and consistent the whole storyline was. The writing was truly solid.

Performance wise, suffice to say that WZM portrayed Prof Zhang impeccably, playing a staid, aloof and wooden character with much warmth, sensitivity and nuance. It’s impossible not to fall in love with Prof. Zhang. XRH was the perfect foil for him, playing Yun Shu naturally in all her adorable, sweet, effervescent and optimistic glory, subsequently blooming into a stronger and more mature character as the show progressed.

The secondary characters gave memorable performances too, and I especially loved ZLR’s portrayal of GZY. It was an organic and dynamic performance, giving the character a realism which I found particularly compelling.

In defense of the “Mary-Sue” female lead:

Was she absentminded, naive, too trusting and not particularly smart nor streetwise. Yes. Was she stupid. No.

Her being kind, generous and trusting might be looked upon by some as idiocy, but the show itself - via the character of the grandfather - clearly told us, it’s both her strength and weakness.

The show was not shy in letting us know that her helpfulness to others have garnered her opportunities which she would not have had just based on her academic or work skills.

Of course, as a viewer, what one thinks of the old-fashioned message itself is up to themselves, but the show was at least unapologetic in promoting the adage: “Nice girls finish first”, or that “compassion will be rewarded in kind.”


Conclusion:

For being a purely romance driven drama in its particular sub-genre, this was an example of fine writing, production and performance, as cliched and trope-y as it was. I feel fortunate in my encounter with this gem of a romcom. It’s undoubtedly a favourite now.

(All my thanks to the production/writing team, cast and crew).

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