Reviews

SOAP OPERA nonsense is unbearable, but worth it if you like the lads

Love Mechanics?

Sounds like a name for some hot pron video, but that is not it. Though cute actors and their play is basically the only merit in both cases, considering how much of the story is not making sense.

HAD TO DROP it after episode 4 because they have expanded the original “En” short story from 2020 into idiotic soap opera drag that grates me to no end. The script writers are using every lame way to stop the plot from moving, and after a random “jump the shark” accident I could not bear it any more.

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The series is using a trope that is not believable at all: drunk people who can still communicate confuse the person whom they love with someone else, which is not a thing in reality. Face recognition is the most reliable neural network in the brain, especially if the love is involved.

What really happens in stories like this is that a drunk person is not drunk enough to be sedated, so he still wants to have fun and does not mind if a person providing it is not the one whom he loves. “I thought it was you, my love” is the lie cheaters come up with when they get caught. (No cheating here, though.)

More details in a comment with spoilers tags below.

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Redemption in All Forms.

This series is more aptly named "Love's Redemption".

It's about love in its many forms. Lovers, parental, siblings, unrequited love, infatuations, loyalties and material greed. Sprinkle in fast pace tales of corporate greed, business intrigues, societal differences and there is a tapestry of stories that link up cohesively into a fireworks like finale. The biggest sticking point must be the somewhat incredulous qualification of a three month period of unquestionable devotion in a huge contract from a Russian! And there is also the full head of hair after major brain surgery .......

I admit I watched this for ZLS, and it is a redemption for her from her disastrous "Hidden Love". She morphed through several characterizations with much credibility and ease, beginning from a neglected childhood in the countryside to a struggling newbie maneuvering corporate politics in the big city. She went from deviously scheming affection for matrimonial gains to dealing with deep emotional turmoil and finally culminating into a mature loving partner, mother, daughter and friend. Knowing of her recent personal tribulations, this is truly a monumental work for her. Her only blotch is an incongruously done upper lip job that sticks out unnaturally.

WC literally fitted into the ML as Haoming. It is as if the series was written for him. Just like ZLS, as Xu Yan, he found redemption for his errors to be a better son, partner, colleague and person. But the period when he was abroad seem too fashioned after how a "Westernised" Chinese would behave, unbelievable. Easy love? Keeping a baby? Eyes roll.

I found WP as Qiao Lin as one of the most intriguing character. She comes across as refreshing, earnest and the best sibling, friend and colleague that one could wish for. In some ways, she out shone ZLS, especially with her authenticity in both looks and behaviour.

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Even Yu Ling eats up the acting in this drama.

I watched this with blind box drama and i tend to dislike Yu Ling acting from my previous dramas with her but surprisingly she eats up the acting in this drama . The sole reason because Xie Hongxin acting was more subpar compare to her. Her styling in this drama was quite lacking and her hairstylist was suspected to be her antis. For the chemistry, they are good match. So i stay for the chemistry and FL that was kind of rare for me to do that for Yu Ling.

For the summary, FL was transmigrated woman from modern era who had no memory for her past and wake up on ML bed discovers on her wedding night with the ML that she is not a virgin. FL discover she got daughter and want to hide her daughter from ML. I hate ML hypocrisy in this drama while FL found his 'secret' son and FL was right to points out his hypocrisy. FL just want to divorce ML while ML wants to keep her as his wife despite being hateful toward her. The child actors were very well chosen; the little boy looks like the ML, and the little girl looks like FL. The logic in this drama was kinda missing and the villain was quite old school style.

I wont rewatch this drama but i still recommended to hardcore fans of both actor.

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unique plot

Spoiler Alert: The only annoying thing about this show is the complete gulliabilty of the lead female character. Her sister screws her over a dozen times, and she keeps trusting her. Even the lead male is slow on the uptake. he is fooled just as often. It was really irritating, since both know their enemies are out to get them. When the hero gets shoved out of the way from a car driven by his foe, the lead female stands there for an eternity. all she needed to do was shout a warning! But no, she's chooses to shove him out of the way and gets hit by the car instead. While I loved the unusual story, and the actors, the writer's made them both unbelievably stupid.

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Shocked the chemistry

I’ve always found Chinese dramas—especially the historical ones—a bit difficult to get into, so I usually just stick to K-dramas. In fact, Hidden Love was the only C-drama I’d ever finished! But then, I saw a viral clip of a scraping treatment (Gua Sha) scene from a this drama. The chemistry felt so unique that I decided to give it a try, thinking I’d drop it after an episode or two if it didn’t click.
To my surprise, I ended up binge-watching 26 episodes straight, skipping sleep and meals! Now, I’m desperately waiting for the next episode. I’m officially a C-drama convert and can’t wait to see what else is out there!

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Kind of dull and slow

This is a show about 'healing'. The female lead is having insomnia and gets to know her doctor the ML. The show doesn't really hook me and I'm on episode 8. I signed up with iqlyl to watch this show because there was a lot of hype about it. It's definitely a slow moving drama and I don't understand the great ratings. I love the male actor in many movies like the one he is on currently pursuit of Jade. That show is a 10/10 and I am never bored. Yet with this show it's mostly just talk and nothing really happening. The FL was fabulous in forbidden flower. That show I was never this bored. All in all, it's a good show to "kill time" between shows waiting for new episodes of pursuit of jade to drop but this one was one snooze fest for me. I'm struggling to watch the thing and want to speed up the show to 2x. Currently doing 1.5x.

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Reality Isn't Bad After All

This drama is about Sep Mi-rae, a webtoon producer who doesn't go on a date anymore because of her past experience. One day she was given a chance to try a gadget that brings her to a virtual world with an ideal boyfriend she wants. After subscribing to a specific amount who can customise her ideal guy. She unexpectedly made a person who was exactly like Park Kyeong-nam, her work colleague that likes her.

This drama reflects today's reality. How people want to escape it and experience a virtual world that seems perfect. Where you are the leading lady with your ideal man. It may seem happy at first, but if you think about it, it won't last forever. It was never real.

Just like how Seo Mi-rae chooses Park Kyeong-nam over her custom made boyfriend. Shows that choosing reality over your virtual fantasy was never a bad choice. It may be fragile, because you can't predict when people may change their feelings for you. But with holding on and understanding with each other, you can stay longer than you think.

Life was never a smooth ride in the sea, it may be in dating, family, work, and more. But accepting it can help you change to be a better person.

Reality may be fragile and imperfect, but it’s more meaningful than a perfect illusion that was never real.

MY RATING | ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ ⭐⭐⭐⭐
Acting & Cast: 9
Storyline & Writing: 8
Directing & Pacing: 9
Cinematography & Visuals: 10
Music/OST & Sound Design: 9
Overall: 9.0

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Fun, and Surprisingly Emotional

For a 12 episode run, it wrapped up surprisingly well, though not perfectly. The plot, while not super original, was still suspenseful and had me hooked. The leads’ dynamic was hilarious and tender, and their acting chemistry was obvious. I do wish the romance aspect was given more time to marinate, but for the short time they were given the leads brought their weight to the emotional aspect of it; if it weren’t for their acting abilities, I don’t think it would have worked.

What sets this drama apart from other human-creature romances is their handling of life and death. While things wrap up nicely, the overarching theme seems to center on living life to the fullest, no matter how it ends. No amount of trying to change it or worry is better than enjoying what you have.

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rewatch review

i actually only decided to write this because before the rewatch i saw a comment saying these were two mature adults... but they are definitely not mature in their romantic relationship with each other HAHA. While they're successful and respected adults professionally and both maintain filial piety, they both clearly like each other and know where their boundary is (not interested in a long term relationship) and start blaming each other as things don't work out. I think a mature romantic relationship would be a) no relationship no blame b) short term consensual relationship c) long term with compromise d) some variant where they transition between the three options with full transparency and strong emotions but little blame and less repetition in cycles.

It's kind of a guilt watch for me. Such emotionally erratic courtsmanship is less attractive in my older years. Watching them in their growth individually is still wonderful though.

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