This review may contain spoilers
My favorite part of yumi's cells will always be the fact that it's not a black and white, destiny, love story. There's no past connection. There's no once you date you can't not be together. There's just 2 new people meeting, getting to know each other and starting a relationship Easily one if my actual favorites this year. I might go back and reduce 0.5 from my other 2022 dramas Since s1 I knew what will happen and that was for the best, since this drama is walking through new territory the anticipation can be dreadful, like Eve's ending ep had me in all types of turmoil 🤣 As an artist, as someone who hasn't found "love", as someone uncertain about alot of things in life, as someone who's alone, afraid to be alone and doesn't want ro not be alone, yumi's cells has been a healing drama for me At times it gave me courage, confidence, relatablility, hope, gratitude, happiness and envy❣
I have high hopes for sunrookie, lol I know nothing of him but I'm anticipating and longing for him😭❣
Maybe babi shouldn't have had a full season for himself, maybe it was better if by ep4 or 6 everything was wrapped up for sunrookie to show up faster and this could've been 16eps. Tho I won't mind a full season for sunrookie, I have high high hopes and I want to know how yumi will be with him
I'm mostly grateful the breakups made yumi stronger. And unlike 2521, she started appreciating her past loves😭
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" If I am a Weapon, only you can be my Swordsman "
'Sword and Fairy' as a drama, delivers deeper thoughts than it appears on the surface. The characters are deep and complex with an integration of different backgrounds, thoughts and emotions. No matter how different their paths maybe, even if the ending is controlled by fate, they are still willing to overcome the obstacles together, because, there are greater goals to live and die for.Unlike other wuxias, the drama doesn't really start with a backstory, so viewers may find it confusing. But I won't label it as confusing because the story actually follows the journey of exploring the backstory, the reasons of where they are today.
Still, I will be stating a little bit of introduction ( typically things you need to know) first, before going to review.
- The story basically follows Yue Jinzhao and Yue Qi, two amnesic orphans (NOT SIBLINGS) who neither remember their past, nor their roots were stranded in Wuyan Village 3 years ago. Unaware of their past, both orphans found solace in each other's presence, being emotionally bound, to the point that they could not live without each other. The duo set off on a journey to find their roots and their identity. On their voyage, they encounter evil sect 'Qiyuan sect' who try to scam them. In the process for seeking justice from Qiyuan sect, they discover that the sect may be way more complicated than just scamming. This sect may also hold secrets to their past and origin.
That was an extremely brief introduction, cause anything more than that could be a potential spoiler.
The drama has wholesome level of ANGST, no misunderstandings, and great potential TEARJEARKER!
The main leads are extremely dependent on each other, being each other's support for 3 years, they have grown a level of trust and maturity that no external forces can break.
The angst basically occurs due to the common troupe of 'sacrifice for the better world'. And ofc to protect the world, sacrifices are inevitable. Letting go of somethings are bound to happen. But there are too many sacrifices, too many to bear.
The first half of the drama brews the beautiful relation, friendship, romance, and memories to ensure worser heartbreaks, y'all HEARTBREAKS (plural) in latter half of the drama. So prepare your tissues.
Once again, the start of the drama may not be everyone's cup of tea as I mentioned before, afterall we are so used to knowing the background story in the very first episode before the main story starts, especially in wuxias. But this drama is instead about unraveling the background, the back story, cause we have two amnesic youth who have no idea about their history. Since the journey follows them finding clues to their identity, we know the story only when these two characters unravel them. So this has good amount of mystery too.
Its particularly saddening to certain extent because even the villains have a sad backstory, and so you cannot even hate them. Because their backstory and dark past are gonna rip you off everytime you are about to label them as 'black characters', yet at the end these VILLAINS are the ones who were the most SELFLESS ones from the begining. That is why, the characters are way MORE DEEP and COMPLEX than you could think.
All ' stranded threads' that you encounter in the first half of the story will be woven in the end. Everything will be in place by the end of the story.
This plot of this drama does a lots of play with emotions, so if you are able to figure out the backstory and emotions of the characters, you would actually realise that the plot and emotions run too deep. So you need to keep constant track on the dialogues, understand the meaning and emotions the every sentence represents. We gotta remember the fact that most main characters are basically in their 20s or even younger. They are forced to grow up lonely facing the antics of the society. So it has good integration of thoughts of both old age and young age, making the younger characters appear more mature than their mindset at that age should be.
I personally found the plot quite engaging, especially, since we had little bit introduction of every character posted by other fellow viewers ( I will write up the character introduction in the end), so it made my understanding of every characters' emotions very clear. The past titbits of memories, the timing of unraveling a particular mystery were well timely inserted. The pacing of story was quite good. The cgi wasn't the best, considering the fact that it's a tencent drama, but it has done a way better job than some of its last dramas. Besides the plot and the acting actually makes the CGI problem pretty much unnoticeable, and tbh it's not even that of a major issue, tho- I would label it as, has a room for improvement, since it wasn't the best.
The OSTS are beautiful, like so beautiful and once again, very well timed, earning brownie points to the scenes.
This drama, it's TOO BEAUTIFUL, and leaves too deep IMPRESSION, so do not miss it! You will definitely not regret watching!
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Now, let's go for a CHARACTER INTRODUCTION ( no spoiler, but I feel you may find it necessary to understand their emotions and thoughts better)
1) Yue Jinzhao - He is a mature thinking and decision maker when it comes to the Yue pair. He has great thinking cognitive skills. But he actually very careful and doesn't trust anyone except Yue Qi.
2) Yue Qi - basically has great IQ, but 3- year old EQ. She may be naive and have childlike thoughts but definitely not on spoilt side, but she is quite thoughtful and straightforward. She values friendship and relations a lot. She appears to be adorable and cute softie, but is quite sharp, strong and powerful. Latter episodes reveal that she is probably stronger than Jinzhao. She is dependent on Jinzhao, when it comes to decision making and taking sides. She trusts Jinzhao more than anyone else and is always willing to Jinzhao.
3) Bi Luohuan - mysterious complicated character? Let's unravel what secrets does his character holds. He basically seems very engaged with the life of Yue-pair, especially Yue Qi?
3) Luo Zhaoyan - A woman dressed on man's cloth. She is an upright head of the family. She puts protection of the people and sacrifice for people above anything else. She is always considerate of others even if that causes neglection of her own happiness. Bound by the curse ' Luo family twin's death, she holds many secrets and complicated emotions'.
4) Xian Qing - A thousand year old wolf demon. Demons are not really favoured in the world of chaos, so he faces lots of struggles in the journey.
5) Ming Xiu - has a dark past, hence she hates demons, but she trusts Xian Qing, since he is her master's friend. Growing up lonely with only her master around, she is emotionally very dependent on her master and doesn't like to approach people. She appears very cold and distant.
6) Ju Shifang - An orphan, who lost his parents at an young age. His mother was a well-known genius in gadgets and mechanics, so he has always lived with the motto, to learn his mother's skill, protect his mother's only gift for him ( DouBao), continue a hierarachy and be a hero who is respected by people, because he has always been neglected and looked down upon, since an young age.
____________________________________________________________
ENDING: (spoiler)
The ending, I personally feel is very satisfying. It leaves us with a message:
" No matter what fate holds for us, in the end, we are still destined to meet "
It is beautiful and leaves a deep impression, basically a happy ending, but in a different way.
They meet again and fall for each other again. But this time, not as a swordsman and a weapon fated with a short life with heavy responsibilities to protect people, instead as normal humans with emotions, feelings and freedom to live and love like normal folks, a carefree life.
So I would conclude it as a happy ending, I mean compared to them forcibly growing up and maturing, and leading rest of their life in such 'sacrifice for the world' like motto, isn't this a better ending. This time they can live a carefree life. No need to care about responsibilities of people, of the world. Just themselves in their own little world filled with peace and happiness.
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This review may contain spoilers
This series is a bumpy and sometimes muddled ride. The production team apparently didn't trust the original novel enough to give it a direct dramatization, instead opting for a "life lesson" approach that is completely absent from the book, and this in itself is done too poorly to have much impact.The book that this series is based on is a romantic comedy, pure and simple. It follows an outline that the series does keep intact to some degree: despite the bitter rivalry between a high school prince and the school's nerdy top student, the top student develops a one-sided love for the prince that ends up breaking his heart, only to have the situation reversed once both boys get to university. The top student has decided never to fall in love again while the prince (who has now become one of the most popular boys on campus) tries everything he can to win him over.
The book is very sweet and funny, with some touching moments along the way. (While the series was airing I posted a summary of the book's highlights in the discussion section on the MDL page.)
Rather than stick to the novel, though, the series forces two themes into the story that require some unfortunate disruption of the plot and the relationship dynamics:
- Always keep your promises
- Stand up for yourself
(You're forgiven if you happened to roll your eyes as you read that.)
For the "promise" theme, the promise in question is one that Pai makes to Itt under duress in high school, when Itt refuses to return a lost earring of Pai's that Itt has found. In exchange for the earring, Pai tells Itt that he'll do anything that Itt wants. Itt doesn't collect on this promise right away but waits until they're both at university, and what he requests is that Pai represent his faculty in the University Star and Moon contest, and win. (The series doesn't refer to it as the Star and Moon Contest, but that's what it is. The concept should be familiar to anyone who watches Thai BL.)
From there, whenever Pai seems about to fail in his attempt to win the competition, Itt shows up to berate him for not fulfilling his promise (i.e., the promise he was coerced into making to a thief for the return of a stolen item.) The fact that the series attempts to glorify this situation into something profound just shows how dim-witted the writers are. Pai would have been perfectly justified to punch Itt in the nose to get that earring back.
In addition to bullying Pai over the contest, Itt is also the agent for delivering on the "stand up for yourself" theme. Over the course of their freshman year in college he does this by showing up to publicly torture Pai in a number of circumstances. It's all for Pai's own good, you see. Itt's logic is that if Pai gets abused and embarrassed enough he'll finally learn to stand up for himself. (Ironically, when Pai finally *does* stand up for himself by confronting Itt over Itt's constant abuse, Itt gets furious!) (But then Pai immediately breaks down crying, so maybe Itt has a point there...)
Another problem I have with the "stand up for yourself" theme is that I never get the sense that Pai has a problem doing this. In high school, in fact, Pai is the leader of a club that is in direct competition with a club led by Itt, and this requires him to stand up to Itt a number of times.
Eventually Pai's own parents become complicit in this "stand up for yourself" scheme of Itt's, which only serves to make them look like bad parents. We never see how and why they come to do that, so it just becomes more of the series' lack of logic.
An element of the series that does follow the book more closely is the pairing of two other characters, Pure and Folk. Because their side story is not weighed down by any forced profundity, it contrasts refreshingly with the constipated interactions that are foisted upon Itt and Pai.
Pure is an equal-opportunity playboy, seducing women and men alike. After Folk becomes the latest in his string of one-night stands, Pure suddenly finds himself charmed and attracted by Folk's earnest sincerity. Their story becomes a well-done example of the "accidentally in love" trope and in some ways saves the series.
When it comes to the actors and their performances, Fiat is so assured and charismatic in the role of Pure that the other performances pale next to his, with the possible exception of JJ as Pai's best friend, Waan. As a viewer you are left with no doubt as to why Pure can attract others so easily. There's also a lot of good-natured, relaxed humor in Fiat's performance, including some cheerful asides about his own lack of height.
JJ's performance is equally relaxed. His prior experience in other series allows him to make Waan into a naturally chill kind of guy.
(The bromance between Waan and Pure is also a lot of fun. This is another original creation by the series and is something that the screenwriters actually get right, starting with the way in which the two first become friends. The only other thing I'll say about it is to be sure to watch for a scene where Waan takes Pure to see a doctor. These two guys definitely have chemistry, and as a result many viewers end up dearly shipping them as a couple.)
The other performances vary from very good (Marc as Itt, and Aun as Folk) to struggling (Win as Pai). In Win's case I like to think that he was hobbled by the script and direction. There are moments when his talent breaks through, but unfortunately this doesn't happen often, and as a result the chemistry between him and Marc isn't quite what it should be. (For me they don't reach the threshold of establishing themselves as a pairing to be shipped as 'MarcWin'. In fact I won't be surprised if they don't do another series together. 'FiatAun', or 'FAun', on the other hand....)
I hope we'll get to see Win in other roles where he can show his acting chops a little more. In the publicity videos I've watched he is upbeat and energetic in a way that Pai is never allowed to be.
For those interested in knowing how things go in the kissing department, have no fear. The kiss between Pure and Folk is suitably sexy and seductive, while the two that happen between Itt and Pai are plush and soft. For me the amount of lip action between those two was actually a little surprising. Given the tone of the series I expected something along the lines of what happened (or didn't happen) between Sarawat and Tine in '2gether'.
As a final comment, I need to say that it got to where I could no longer stand the endlessly meandering piano music on the soundtrack. I first realized how truly bad it is in a scene where one of the characters is sitting outside a hospital operating room, mourning the death of his mother. The major-key noodling just keeps going and going, as though he's merely waiting on a friend who's gone to use the rest room.
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This review may contain spoilers
Want Something Sizzling Hot? Look Elsewhere
Overall: Well that was a thing. Though it has similar flaws with most Korean BL (rushed/choppy plot), I'm downgrading it because of the odd/bad ending. Watched on Viki.Content Warnings: there's some manhandling - wrist grabbing, shoving to the ground
What I Liked
- the music
- the original premise of opposite personalities, we have a strict/disciplined guy vs free wheeling/out of the box thinker type guy. (unfortunately it didn't play out as I had hoped)
- that they showed some consideration for one another (not wearing perfume and covering sharp kitchen corners)
- juxtaposition/parallel of the opening scene between the two protagonists
- I did chuckle a couple of times
- that ear nibble/bite
Room For Improvement
- the nonsensical plot: why wouldn't the boss just fire the chef and hire the new one? The chefs should have teamed up at the end and opened their own restaurant together to teach the boss a lesson. There were no people at the fairground, how did the ferris wheel run? How do these chefs have so much free time? Why would the first chef's friends congratulate the 2nd chef???
- choppiness: scenes would just leap from one thing to another, how did they get out of the freezer?
- overdone cliches: "I can explain" (2 minutes of silence and gives no explanation) "I refuse to listen to your explanation (although you had 2 minutes to give me your explanation) and I will never speak or see you again in my entire life even though we work together"
- the flat, cliche evil female character who also has zero repercussions
- lack of explaining character motivations: why did the 2nd chef sign the contract? He has a really nice apartment so he can't be broke?
- the ending, they didn't talk/date for 3 months, what??? The parallel was nice but we all know they should have kissed at the very end.
- some shaky camerawork
- I felt bad for that octopus
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Don't Think Twice, Love's All Right is a good drama dragged down by the limitations of its industry
One only need to look at the comment section to see my commitment to this drama (/Shrug/ Li Yi Tong fan). Obviously, I had and have major incentives to declare this to be the best thing since grilled steaks. Alas!I was minutes away from finding out if the site has a 'zero' rating. Thankfully, Chinese drama writers after their obligatory sacrifices to tragedy managed to guide my 'ship' to port. Now, instead of being angry, I am merely annoyed.
The show is set in a large town where everybody is one acquaintance away from knowing each other. Essentially, there are four stories within:
1. The titular romance between our leads. Call this Pretty Woman with Chinese Characteristics. Contra those who avoided it purely 'cause of the male lead, in its first half, it is by a far the best thing about the show. It is truly heartwarming. Watch to episode 19 and stop!
2. The second romance is between a Legalist (The Chinese political theory of governance) and a broken-hearted romantic. Their romance is the funniest part of the show. Now I would totally watch a time-travel drama where a love-lorn romantic finds themself in Qin China. I didn't quite agree with the ending, but it was not all bad. It is the second-best part of the show.
3. The show starts to get weighed down by the other arcs. The usual drama, typical of C-dramas, involving scorned lovers and orbiters was generally weak and, in my view, unnecessary. But the man who broke our romantic's heart was charismatic enough to be a stand-out.
4. The absolute worst part of the show is the arc between Chinese Chuck Bass (When you see it, you'll see it) and Blair Wenwen. It has to be industry malpractice that allowed it to survive the cutting room.
The show tries to execute a complicated pirouette after episode 19 when it seems that our leads are sailing into a life of domestic bliss. They try to pull back the curtain and show life after the initial romantic glow fades. In my opinion, everything after that ruins the show. Episodes 1-19 were riveting television for me. After, it became a chore. I disagreed with every decision and typical of C-Dramas, they introduced far too many moving parts, dumbed down characters and engaged in aggressive acts of 'filler'--long pans, multiple flashbacks. The works!
This drama has many truly astounding actors. Li Yi Tong puts in the most charismatic turn I've seen on screen all year. I've got no beef with them. The writers, the production crew, the director and needlessly long drama seasons ruined what would have been an excellent drama. What-ifs aside, I cannot in good conscience recommend that you put in 30 hours on this. You won't be bored. That much is true, but I doubt you'd love it.
P.S
1. C-Dramas need to bin the whole 'scorned second woman' trope. Guaranteed cringe every time.
2. If you watch this, then after episode 19, skip to the opening scene of episode 37. Li Yi Tong manages to be both very cute and incredibly beautiful (there should be a word for that) and I don't think that is very fair.
3. Apple and Lenovo seem to have been major sponsors of this show. As far as I'm concerned, they are to be blamed for the post ep-19 clusterfucks.
4. https://mydramalist.com/35155-nodoka-no-niwa is the show that many of MDL users thought this would be. I'm tempted to watch it too, but the Japanese dial things up to 11 and I think I need lighter fare now.
5. C-Drama writers, tragedy is overrated. Happy endings and many babies for everybody; it won't kill you, you know.
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The acting is a bit over exaggerated...but if you've watched other Japanese dramas before you probably wont mind it as much.
There really isn't much to say about it, I enjoyed it and it's worth the watch if you need something to put you into a good mood because it's very simple and happy.
Don't let my lower ratings make you not want to watch it, for all you know this could be just what you're looking for!
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It was fun to watch and the actors ate
I know it's not everyone's favorite, but I really liked it and enjoyed watching. Of course, if you compare it to the drama and spiciness of the first season, is somehow lacking, but seeing it as it's own show, I feel it was messy enough to be entertaining.Controversial opinion; my favorite couple was JackDean (maybe expected from me cause last season my favorite character was Boston). From Only Friends I really tend to enjoy the mess and Drama, and they gave me all of it! The acting was amazing from everyone, but Mix ate everyone up.
It was good and entertaining but may not be everyone's cup of tea, and ofc is no masterpiece.
Bonus points cause I always love OF OSTs !
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Everybody lies.
This psychological suspense thriller featuring a female hardcore detective starts out well. Ran Dongdong investigates the death of Xia Bingqing, a young woman with secrets. To figure out what happened to her, Dongdong has to piece together who Bingqing was and why someone wanted her dead. As the list of suspects in this complicated murder case grows, it is clear that everybody lies whether they are doing it consciously or not. The way Dongdong nails down inconsistencies in the various testimonies by unreliable narrators and incisively teases out the truth is riveting.Work and life collide for Dongdong when it is discovered that her husband Mu Dafu crossed paths with the victim and he had twice rented a hotel room at the likely scene of the crime. She explores the complexity of love, marriage, and fidelity in both the work and personal arena and the lines start to blur. She begins to interrogate him like a suspect. In fact, he gets the worst of it because there are no professional restraints at home. Not that he is a paragon of virtue, far from it!! He was always a bit of a narcissist humanities professor that openly indulges in deeply intimate, highly flirtatious but ostensibly intellectual discussions with professional peers and students. She was fine with it until inexplicably, she is not. Likely because they fell out of the idealistic love phase of their relationship or maybe because he stopped telling her about these women that fall for him.
I did not expect to see this suspense plot devolve so deeply into a dark exploration of marriage between a dislikable and messed-up toxic couple. Both Song Jia and Wang Yang deliver mesmeric performances as flawed, complex, egotistical, and ultimately selfish characters. I did not like either of them. In fact, there are no heroes in this story. Other than the poor kid, pretty much everyone is a terrible person. Even the victim is too much of an architect of their own fate and is not empathetic. Neither of the two parallel plotlines is satisfactorily resolved. The whodunit mystery ends up being a howdunit procedural with too many plotholes and a weak, trite, cop-out motive for the murderer. The way the relationship is resolved also leaves unanswered questions although there is closure in the sense that Ran Dongdong and Mu Dafu really deserve each other. May they live tortuously ever after.
I enjoyed this drama up until episode 10 after which it turns into something I had no interest in watching. I can see how it may hold some appeal to people who like difficult relationship stories. My rating of 6.5 is for the very mediocre suspense plot, which is what I came to watch.
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Climb up a mountain but fall off a cliff
Everything went off a cliff towards the end. By knowing there will be two more seasons I could predict the events simply based on other failed TV series. This is why I wait for the whole season to come out. Season 2 will be a disaster since there is nothing left to build on. This is a very poor attempt at cash-grab.The story build up nicely. The actings are superb. The production is great. It has so much potential from the beginning toward the climax. However, the materials are only good for one season of around 15 episodes. 21 episodes is already a stretch let alone 2 more seasons. A lot more characters and settings should have been added. The power balance disappear toward the end for convient plot - the classic Korean season ending.
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THE STORY OF A BOY NAMED OU YANG AND A GIRL NAMED LIN MEIYA ..A MUST WATCH ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
FOREWORD:This is the longest Review I have ever written,So bare with me.It was a long drama,with a rich story and complex characters so I will spend time sharing my experience I had with them,In the hope that someone would watch and enjoy it as I did.
I finished this drama a few days ago, but I couldn't bring myself to review it right away. It felt like returning from a long flight around the world or like an astronaut trying to feel the ground again after landing on Earth. That’s what watching 65 episodes of a journey like this feels like.I was emotional,I had lived with the characters for days and It is taking me awhile to let them go.To this moment,I’m not quite sure how I stumbled upon this six-year-old drama, but it found me. And once I saw the episode count, I sighed and asked myself, “What could they possibly be talking about for 65 episodes?”
Curious, I dug into other reviews. Most were positive, though many were upset about a particular late-stage twist. But maybe that’s part of the magic discovering a drama that quietly sailed past your radar for years, and watching it knowing where the bumps and curves are. What pulled me in further was the cast almost entirely unfamiliar to me, except for Zhang Tao (Chen Zhe), who I'd seen in Nothing But You and Love The Way You Are. I went in with no expectations, just the strength of long-standing positive comments that had persisted across the years.
THE STORY
The setup is familiar: boy meets girl abroad.
But here, instead of meeting on the plane, they first collide literally on the streets of Paris. Ou Yang is running from his father's men, dodging responsibility and expectations, when he tumbles over Lin Mei Ya, who’s working at a small patisserie. Their official meeting happens later when they’re seated together on a flight back to China, thanks to an upgrade by Mei Ya’s wealthy best friend.Almost sounding like "Fake It Till You Make It"? Unlike the FL In FITYMK,who prefered silence, Lin MeiYa who is tipsy on champagne and probably happy for the upgrade, leaves a chaotic impression and the accidental suitcase switch becomes the spark that binds their paths.
Back in China, the story branches out into a mix of family business drama, class tension, and deep emotional arcs. But it’s all done with a grounded charm. The rich and middle-class circles are intertwined not with melodramatic force, but with a believable closeness and unexpected share of a "historical" neighborhood that will be the center of action throughout the show.
THE MAIN CHARACTERS
OUYANG (Male Lead – Sun Shaolong)
Ou Yang is not perfect, but that's exactly why you will love him, a big boy with a kind heart and an electrifying smile.He is fears, love and hate, make me want to get to know him, to get closer to him, he needs grow up, and he's always growing up. I would feel sorry for him, even pity him, for what he has gone through,but you just have to walk that path with him.
Ou Yang is like most young people with dreams, for love and family he wants to break free to realize freedom, wants to escape the dramatic sense of destiny, in the face of inner pain and struggle, he can only be brave to face. He loves deeply, directly and bravely, but in the face of the cruel reality he needs to make a choice, he has to bear, carry, this is the price of growth.At a times you want to reach into the screen and give him a hug..and say "OUYANG you are doing the best you can"
Ou Yang is a man unafraid of love, vulnerability, or emotional risk. He doesn’t hesitate to open his heart, nor does he hide his need for connection.
When he flies Lin Mei Ya across two continents under the guise of "work," it's not just about business, it’s about having someone in his corner, both literally and emotionally.In the solitude of the kickboxing ring ,a passion he keeps hidden from his controlling father, he finally allows himself to be seen. And Lin Mei Ya, with her quiet strength and unwavering support, cheers him on effortlessly.
In that moment, he’s not the heir, not the businessman, just a man who needs someone to believe in him. And she does.
Much of the controversy among viewers surrounds a major twist in the story, and while some felt betrayed by it, I found it painfully human. It raises a haunting question: What would you do if you discovered that the person you love is suddenly out of reach not by distance, but by a truth that makes it impossible to be with them?
The drama doesn’t shy away from this. Instead, it explores it through silence, moral struggle, and emotional collapse. Ouyang becomes a character you don’t just watch, you empathize with. His journey hurt, but it also healed something.
LIN MEIYA (Female Lead- Chai Bi Yun)
Lin Mei Ya is not your typical heroine. She doesn’t come from wealth or privilege, nor is she running from a gilded cage like Ouyang. Instead, she arrives in Paris chasing a second chance at life a quiet pursuit born from a history of rejection and resilience.
Born with a birth defect and abandoned by her biological family, Mei Ya is a survivor. She is the product of love not the convenient kind, but the selfless, healing love of an adoptive father who nursed her back to life. That strength carries her into adulthood, and it defines every step of her journey in To Be With You.
When she returns to China, she believes she’s about to step into her dream life, marrying the man she loves and finally settling down. But life has other plans. Betrayed and heartbroken, she finds herself in emotional chaos. It’s in this fragile moment that she crosses paths with OUYANG once again, not as strangers, but as two people standing at a crossroads. What follows over the next episodes is not just a love story, it’s a testament to her unshakable spirit.
Mei Ya doesn’t play the victim. She turns pain into power, faces adversaries like the fierce Li Weiwei (pre-redemption), and refuses to be bullied or broken.
Her dynamic with Ou Yang begins with friction fueled by their suitcase mishap and clashing personalities but soon evolves into a deep friendship and, eventually, a rare and unbreakable bond. She is good for him, he is good for her, and together, they heal and grow.
What made me truly love Lin Mei Ya was the depth and unwavering strength of her love for Ou Yang. Even when they were faced with an unspeakable twist,she refused to believe he had walked away without a reason. Her faith in him never wavered. She told everyone with determination, "I will go find Ou Yang, and he will tell me the truth." And when that truth finally came to light, painful, raw, and heartbreaking, she didn’t run. Instead, she stood beside him, on that rooftop, with all his brokenness laid bare, and said, "I knew you wouldn't break up with me for no reason."
That moment wrecked me. It wasn’t dramatic or loud, it was tender, resolute, and full of grace. Lin Mei Ya didn’t just love Ou Yang; she believed in him when it mattered most. And that made all the difference.
LI DONG (2nd ML) -Wan Si Wei
Li Dong is a beautifully crafted character who quietly stole our hearts,and by the end of the show we affectionately nicknamed him "Uncle Li."
His character radiates a deep emotional warmth, marked by unwavering loyalty, quiet strength, and a rare kind of gentleness.
Li Dong’s love for Lin MEIYA is patient, selfless, and deeply sincere, he supports her not with grand declarations, but through steady presence and silent sacrifice.
Even in moments of pain or rejection, he remains kind and composed, always choosing to protect rather than pressure. His emotional maturity and ability to love without demanding anything in return set him apart as a truly remarkable character.
What made Uncle Li our favorite wasn’t his romantic storyline, but his moral integrity and calm wisdom. He embodies a kind of manhood that values inner peace over pride, understanding over ego. Li Dong feels authentic and profoundly human.
In a drama with that heavy emotional twists and complex relationships, Li Dong stood out as a grounding force, someone who shows that love, when rooted in patience and respect, can be one of the most powerful and beautiful forces of all.
Did I mention he was the reason Ou Yang’s father had so many sleepless nights? He was the quiet force behind the scenes, Ou Yang’s unspoken manager and the owner of the gym where Ouyang often hid while chasing his mischievous ambitions. More than that, he was his best friend.
"Uncle Li" the name pinned by Lin Meiya back when she was just a student, working at the restaurant across from his,was deeply connected to both of them in one way or the other.But watching the woman he loves fall for his best friend must have been painful, but Li Dong is different.
LI WEIWEI (2nd FL/Li Dong's sister)- Shen TaoRen
Li Weiwei,is one of the most beautifully developed characters in modern Chinese television.
At first, she fits the mold of the typical bubbly, slightly annoying side character chasing after Ouyang despite his constant big-brother attitude toward her and being the sister of the ever-composed Li Dong.But everything changes after a pivotal event that becomes a turning point in her life. From that moment, Weiwei undergoes an extraordinary transformation, channeling her energy, loyalty, and razor-sharp comedic wit into protecting the female lead, Li Meiya, with an intensity that’s both heartwarming and hilariously entertaining.
What makes Weiwei so beloved is how she balances her fierce sense of justice with a wildly entertaining personality. She refuses to let anyone hurt Li Meiya or come between her and Ou Yang, becoming her self-appointed bodyguard, truth-teller, and cheerleader all in one. Her methods are often over-the-top and laugh-out-loud funny, but they’re always driven by genuine care and courage.
She becomes the heart of the story, a symbol of loyalty, growth, and redemption. Her journey from lovesick girl to fearless protector is one of the most satisfying and beautiful arcs you’ll ever see in a drama.
CHEN ZHE – The Villain (Zhang Tao)
Chen Zhe is the kind of antagonist that leaves a lasting impression, not because he’s flamboyantly evil, but because he’s calculated, cold, and quietly manipulative.
As a high-level player in the business and emotional entanglements of the drama, Chen Zhe operates with a polished facade that masks his dark ambition. What makes him dangerous isn’t just his actions, but how convincingly he blends into the lives of those around him, earning trust while plotting betrayal. He’s not loud, but he’s ruthless, someone who values power above loyalty, and control above love.
His villainy is rooted in deep insecurities and a thirst for recognition, which pushes him to cross unforgivable lines. Whether it’s using people as pawns or destroying lives for personal gain, Chen Zhe doesn't hesitate. Yet despite his efforts to manipulate outcomes and maintain power, his end is both fitting and sobering. Eventually, his crimes and schemes catch up with him, and he faces legal consequences, symbolic of how even the most carefully masked villains can’t outrun justice forever. His downfall is not just about punishment, but a moral closure.
OTHER IMPORTANT CHARACTERS TO NOTE:
XU SIYU: FL's best friend.She is a life lesson,she serves laughter and tears on the same plater.
JIANG YI LONG: ML's right hand man,bodyguard,hunter,ride or die,training partner,Jiang Yi Long has only one job; OU YANG
OU RUI: OU YANG's infamous sister,the center of gravity in Chen Zhe's web of deceit and his demise
Conclusion
To Be With You is one of those rare gems that quietly sneaks up on you and leaves a permanent mark. With its deeply emotional storytelling, rich character development, and refreshingly mature romance, it delivers far more than one might expect from a 65-episode drama. The writing is a solid 10/10, grounded, layered, and emotionally intelligent, with dialogue that feels natural and real. The casting is flawless. Every actor, even those previously unknown to me, embodied their roles so convincingly that they became unforgettable, especially the leads, whose chemistry was magnetic in the most subtle, soul-deep way.
While the music wasn't its strongest suit, it hardly mattered. The drama moved at such a gripping pace, packed with emotional intensity, action, and layered plotlines, that there was hardly space for a ballad to linger. And yet, the romance between Lin Mei Ya and Ou Yang didn’t need a sweeping soundtrack or physical intensity to be felt. They spoke with their eyes, touched with meaning, and held each other’s hearts in a way that made every hug, hand-hold, and lingering glance feel more intimate than a kiss. Their love was quiet but profound, deeper than the ocean.
The production value was another standout. Shot across three countries, the drama brought an unexpected cultural richness and cinematic beauty that’s rare in C-dramaland. From bustling streets to elegant foreign backdrops, the setting became a character of its own.
If there’s one point of contention among viewers, it’s the major twist that caused a temporary separation of the leads, but even that, in hindsight, added emotional depth and realism to their love story. For me, it wasn’t a flaw, it was a test they passed with grace.
In the end, To Be With You isn’t just a drama, it’s a journey. One of love, loss, resilience, and redemption. A complete, heartfelt experience that I’ll remember for a long time.
Someone said that this drama is a combination of all the good things that you wish can happen in K-drama and C-drama,and I completely agree.
If you reached the end of this long long review..check out the TT edit video Input together for all the important moments between Ou Yang and Lin Meiya:
https://vt.tiktok.com/ZSkeqP4qL/
PS:Thank you YouTube Community from the MZTV Channel for all the beautiful comments,laughter and tears..You made it fun and ease to watch a very long journey to the East.
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Watch Pee Mak!! Seriously though, Spellboud and even Master's Sun had scarier scenes than this movie so it has a theme of horror but more like mock horror. This movie was funny from start to finish.
My teenage brother who doesn't like to watch much foreign movies enjoyed this movie just as much as me; we couldn't stop laughing.
The plot is solid with, surprisingly, a few twists. The cast had great chemistry with one another which made this movie an even bigger success.
The music is incoherent but with a comedy, it works perfectly. The budget, you can tell immediately, wasn't big; however, the comedy is based from the cast and their interactions.
The pace is good, the acting is great, and overall a 10 rating movie for me when they can make me laugh more than what was shown in the trailer.
Would definitely watch this movie again, esp. when introducing friends/ family to asian media entertainment.
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As for acting and cast, Surplus Princess is a perfect example of a drama that has great casting. Upon starting the drama, I knew none of the actors/actresses (except for the one playing Shi Kyung because I finished Two Weeks as Surplus Princess was airing). But regardless, they drew me in with their individual charms and how well they all portrayed various emotions. While I found the drama hilarious, when tense scenes came, each character's emotions were portrayed beyond my expectation and they were believable and natural. Not to mention, all the love floating around is just absolutely adorable.
Thinking back to the soundtrack and BGM used throughout the series, there wasn't much that stood out, but everything fit in. The music felt well-placed and repetition of tracks was kept to a minimal. A couple of songs grabbed my attention, and I give the PD's props for using music sparingly.
As for the re-watch value, there isn't much to be found in this drama, but it doesn't mean that the ride wasn't worth it. The re-watch value for Surplus Princess depends on how attached the viewer is to the cast and the chemistry between them.
Overall, Surplus Princess stood its ground exceptionally well. The writers understood how the episode cut changed pacing and most importantly, they loopholes were irrelevant and the primary plot was executed nicely. Furthermore, the cast is lovable. The relationships that blossom throughout the series are cute and gave me more than enough reason to finish the series (as if ten episodes were a lot, hah). I recommend this drama for anyone looking for something light-hearted and easy to watch.
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Story: Like I said the premise was an interesting one but when I found out that the kid was suppose to be 14 and then the female lead is almost 30, I was scratching my head how it would all turn out in the end. For the actual plot, except for the first few episodes, there wasn't any and by the end i would just have eps playing in the background while i was doing other things. Whats funny is i didnt miss anything. By the end I was just like i want to see if the couple would be able to end up together. One thing I did like was the romance. It was so cute and well written. The ending was kind of open ended but not really.
Acting: Ive only ever seen the actress who plays Tae Ri and shes only played very serious or robotic characters so it was nice to see her play someone who is naive/innocent. She had good chemistry with the main actor from SuJu. And while I liked the supporting characters, NONE of the characters (main or side) managed to make me have an attachment to them.
Music: The song by the fake girl group in the show was fun but they played it so many times i got tired of it. There were few other songs but they fit the show well enough.
Rewatch: This is one of those dramas that could be watched again but the question is do you really have to see it another time...
Overall Lee Tae Ri is funny at times but nothing you have to go out of your way for.
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OMG! Why!!
Watching this series was torturous and you are essentially left with the question: OMG! Why? It really is that bad. It is bad from so many angles – too numerous to actually mention. From its infantile storyline to its mediocre acting to its awful and I do mean awful plot. This is yet again another cliché-driven trope-filled Bl that even if you have never seen a BL, one could figure out where the story is going. Oh, it had cute moments, but it unfortunately slipped into a standard formula that left no one guessing as to its plot, and frankly asking oneself why did I sit through this? Nothing was original in this story except perhaps the name of the vampire city which was named Thaiwlight City. Now that was cute!Was this review helpful to you?
