I Wanted to Like Them More Than I Did.
I really wanted to understand the appeal of Hira and Kiyoi. But across two seasons and a film, their dynamic never gave me what I was waiting for.Kiyoi I could actually follow. There's something interesting in watching someone who doesn't know how to express feelings slowly learn to do so, and he does show some growth over time. But Hira drove me to distraction — and not in a way the series seemed to intend.
Being shy or insecure isn't the problem. What frustrated me was that Hira never really stops seeing himself as a fan rather than a boyfriend. Even once they're in a relationship, even after Kiyoi explicitly asks him to stop putting him on a pedestal and to treat their relationship as something real and equal — Hira stays stuck. There's something almost deliberately self-diminishing about it, as if Hira has decided that the role of devoted admirer is the only one he's allowed to play, and has no interest in leaving it.
And that's what made watching so exhausting. Not the imbalance itself, but the fact that the series had two seasons and a film to do something with it — and didn't. At a certain point I genuinely started asking myself why Kiyoi would choose to stay in a relationship where his partner refuses to fully accept that they're equals.
And what makes it harder to brush off is how widely this series has been praised. I can see why the premise appeals to people — but a relationship built on this particular dynamic being celebrated as romantic gives me pause.
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This review may contain spoilers
GMMTV lo fai tutte le volte.
Devo dire che mi sta risultando veramente semplice apprezzare sempre di più le serie della GMMTV. E questo tipo di serie un po' thirller sono forse il mio genere preferito su cui si sta specializzando. Sono intriganti e non scontate nelle trama, anche se devo un po' dire che Off fosse il cattivo finale era un pelo palese, quindi dovrebbero lavorare un po' su quello. Però per il resto mi è piaciuta molto (devo dire che di bromance c'era solo il titolo, ma questa è un'altra storia), mi sono piaciuti DewTee in una maniera spaziale e non vedo l'ora di vedere cosa ha in serbo per loro il futuro (fancon a parte). Vi devo dire che ho trovato molto validi anche Singha e Off e mi sono ricordata come mai ogni circa mese e mezzo ritorna su questi schermi Neo, che veramente per la sua versatilità e le sue capacità dovrebbe essere tenuto ancora di più in considerazione. Una cosa che mi è piaciuta è che anche qui c'è un bel commentario su quello che sta succedendo nel mondo: mi era piaciuto in Not Me e in Burnout Syndrome e anche qua devo dire che è prorpio apprezzato. Quando una cosa mi piace molto non so mai cosa dire perché in fin dei conti continuare a dire che mi piace una cosa sembra un pelo ridondante. Per chi dice che il finale è un po' affrettato devo dire che in questo caso secondo me non è così ma è solo una percezione perché comunuqe le cose finiscono in questa puntata senza magari un'alteriore puntata conclusiva. Detto però questo sono comunque convinta che i finali affrettati siano altri e non necessariamente questo.Was this review helpful to you?
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Never-Ending Summer — 10/10
I didn't expect Never-Ending Summer to become a 10/10 for me.I usually gravitate toward easygoing, comforting C-dramas, so at first I wasn't sure what to make of this one. It had plenty of melodrama, complicated families, misunderstandings, and "villians" that gave me plenty to complain about. But somewhere along the way, I stopped caring about the messiness and realized how deeply invested I had become in Lu Xixiao and Zhou Wan.
And that's what made this drama work for me.
I believed them.
I believed their attraction, their banter, their stubbornness, and ultimately their love. Zhou Wan was cute and feminine but also strong, smart, straightforward, and able to hold her own against LXX. I loved that she could tease him, challenge him, and pursue him without losing her softness.
And LXX... I really loved this character. He had that bad-boy quality that made it easy to understand why ZW had a crush on him, but what got me was the tenderness underneath it. Especially the way his voice softened when he spoke to Zhou Wan. You could hear how much he loved her.
Then came the breakup episode.
The “As long as you say you love me, I'll forgive you for everything” scene and the fireworks scene absolutely broke my heart. LXX dancing while imagining ZW with the fireworks in the background was one of those scenes that stays with you. He was physically alone, but emotionally she was still right there with him. And the OST made it even more painful. Sunburn playing in my Spotify CDrama playlist brings me back to that heartbreaking scene.
But what ultimately pushed this from a 9 to a 10/10 was the ending.
The finale was so satisfying.
ZW's proposal was exactly what LXX deserved. After everything he had gone through, I needed to hear her finally say those things—to hear her acknowledge her feelings and choose him openly. It felt like the emotional reassurance he had been waiting for all along.
And then LXX's proposal was equally sweet.
And then the interview ending.
That was the icing on the cake. The final revelation that ZW had actually liked LXX since 2013 also made me understand her much better. Her feelings weren't something that suddenly appeared in 2016. There had been a genuine crush underneath everything else, and that made so much of her behavior click into place for me.
I actually rewatched the last episode on the same day because I loved it so much. I didn't want to immediately move on to another drama. I wanted to sit with this one for a while and appreciate it.
Finally, I'd like to acknowledge Daniel Zhou and Bao Shang En for their excellent portrayal of Lu Xi Xiao and Zhou Wan. Their acting, chemistry, and understanding of their characters made their relationship feel believable and genuine. They really brought these two characters to life, and I can't imagine this story working as well without them.
That's ultimately why it's a 10/10.
Not because it was perfect. It wasn't. I complained about plenty of things. But I felt this drama. I cared about these characters. I understood them even when I disagreed with them. I hurt when they hurt, and I was genuinely happy when they finally found their way back to each other.
Was it messy? Absolutely.
Did I complain? Constantly.
Did it emotionally damage me? Yes.
Did I enjoy watching it? Also yes.
And after all of that, it gave me an ending that actually made me happy.
A very satisfying, very heartfelt 10/10. ❤️
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Blossom through the cloud offers a relatively light, binge-worthy watch with solid acting and production values.
Ruan Sixian's journey isn't just a backdrop for the romance. Her three-year training montage and the professional hurdles she overcomes feel earned and inspiring.
The show shines brightest when portraying female capability. Mid-air emergency scenes feature all-female crisis teams- from the cockpit to the medical crew- handling intense scenarios entirely through professional competence.
Another incredible moment is when Captain Yue collapses mid-flight due to a sudden medical emergency, Ruan Sixian steps up with decisive composure and precise professionalism, successfully taking full command of the cockpit controls to steer the aircraft out of immediate danger landing safely.
Female growth and unwavering solidarity serve as the powerful structural backbone of the series.
For her debut as a FL, I think Liu Xiening has done a good job. Her initial gritty ambition, her "giving as good as she gets during their high-stakes confrontations" are watch worthy.
Rather than playing a standard, overly idealized heroine, Liu Xiening leans into Ruan Sixian’s pride, stubbornness, and wounded self-esteem, which grounds the melodrama and makes her eventual professional triumph satisfying.
Miles Wei steps easily into his signature "cool, sophisticated executive" persona. His character is sharp, charming, and authoritative, but also hides a supportive and dedicated side. Fu Mingyu character shows a significant growth from a cold CEO to a contrast cute lover to a supportive partner and professionally into a more visionary, employee-conscious leader
Cinematography
Stunning Aerial Aesthetics: The visuals inside and outside the cockpit are sleek, clean, and expansive. The show captures the beauty of flight, sunset horizons, and the sprawling airport runways with a cinematic flair that feels premium. The workplace sets look authentic rather than like low-budget studio stages, grounding the fictional airline in a believable environment.
The ending delivers exactly what it promises-a sweet culmination where career aspirations and romance merge smoothly. Both leads achieve their reform and captaincy goals without sacrificing their respect and love for one another.
Cons: Editing seems off in certain places
If you are looking for gritty, indepth aviation training scenes and authentic aviation timelines then you might find this superficial
The initial misunderstanding trope, work place power couple and corporate politics tropes are nothing new or ground breaking
Overall you can watch it for its unique aviation backdrop, for the depiction of a woman breaking barriers in a male-dominated aviation field. It is a low stress watch with decent chemistry, good supporting characters, family dynamics and plenty of comedic fun moments.
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Glad I finally gave in and watched this one
Upon a recommendation from a friend, I decided to give this one a try. I had been reluctant because 1) I tend to stick to romances with happy endings; 2) I don't do well with violence and bullying; and 3) 16 episodes - these series tend to be draggy.Y'all, it's been a minute since I've enjoyed a show so much. It was one of those "I'll just watch one more episode" dramas.
I felt the storyline was, if not unique, handled in an original way. I struggled at the beginning because everyone was very morally gray. But the script was tight and cohesive, I didn't feel like anything was wasted. I remember thinking numerous times while watching this how well it was written. I was invested in every minute of it, even though I had to fast forward through the fight scenes and close my eyes through the bullying. The different storylines were integrated so well, each piece of a puzzle fitting perfectly into the next. I really appreciated that everyone got the justice that they deserved.
All of the actors had such great chemistry with each other. There wasn't anyone that "didn't fit". I'm usually all about the romance, but other than a couple of longing looks by the leads, they remained just co-workers. But I thought it was perfect when she came back and said, "I'm no longer your subordinate" and there was a kiss (though we really didn't get to see it).
The actors ALL did such an excellent job, but there were four standouts for me.
1) Ahn Bo Hyun as Do Bae Man. I know, he seems to play this type of role a lot, but it suits him. He has the military, tough guy bearing down to a fine art, which has the danger of becoming a one-note performance, but there's always that hint of playfulness in him. I do, however, wish they'd do a better job with his makeup. He always has an off-color, pasty appearance, often with more lipstick than the leading lady.
2) Kim Young Min as Moon Goo. After loving him as a good guy in CLOY, this was a complete 180 for him, and he nailed it. The power struggles behind the smiles, and he was chilling when he dropped the friendly facade. The fact that he was always impeccably dressed stressed that he always had others do his dirty work.
3) Oh Yeon Soo as Noh Hwa Young. Wow! She was a general that wasn't afraid to do her own dirty work. He cold and calculating demeanor, coupled with that slight evil smile gave me the creeps. And can we just talk about what a terrible mother she was?
4) Kim Woo Seok as Noh Tae Nam. I felt he had the most character development. He was so evil at the beginning. Once his life started to fall apart, his fear and his vulnerability drew me in. My heart broke for the fact that his mother was a soldier first, and a mother second. He wanted her to love him, and that just wasn't going to happen. The trauma he suffered through the mass shooting, his PTSD, as well as the friendship he developed with one person in the military, I couldn't take my eyes off him. Then, at the end, when he was working with the dogs, I felt like he was trying to get his life back, but he was so terribly lonely.
I am so glad I finally took the time to watch this one.
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Yummy with side of Hot
A younger male lead who doesn't simply fall in love—Chi Heng becomes completely obsessed with Sheng Shu Ran. And honestly, that obsession is what makes this drama so addictive.Chi Heng is calculating, determined, possessive, and willing to cross some serious lines to get the woman he loves back. Staging a car accident just to bring Sheng Shu Ran back into his life tells you immediately what kind of man we're dealing with. His behavior isn't always healthy or right, but as a fictional character, he's fascinating to watch.
What surprised me was that the story doesn't rely only on their age-gap romance. The Fu family feud, business battles, revenge, and buried secrets give Chi Heng his own journey. We watch this younger man fight his way through people who underestimate him and slowly uncover the truth while becoming powerful enough to protect what he wants.
Sheng Shu Ran isn't simply a prize at the end of his revenge. Their relationship carries history, complicated emotions, attraction, and pain.
Is Chi Heng a walking red flag? Absolutely. 😂 But that's also part of the fun of Wild Love. This is not a sweet little romance—it's obsessive, messy, dangerous, and passionate.
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It feels like a wish you never knew you had
I don’t know what possessed me to read the book. I geuss it is cause I wanted to understand the show better. I still stand firm saying they should have never gotten back together. Too much angst for my heart. The way I dislike Luke should be studied. The way I feel for Flora should be commended. The way she accepted him back is beyond understanding. At some point, maybe her going back to her ex would have been better. I’m just angry that the show was unable to capture and invoke the level of emotion the book brought.At the end of the day, trust my taste.
Read or watch The Early Spring.
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Love without any TOXICITY
This feels like someone who's very very close to me like a family or beyond got their happy ending...I was smiling like an idiot. Loved this amazing drama ,this gives warmth of the light of hope for those who are struggling with endless darkness following them despite hardwork and difficult journey so don't lose your inner strength and just sail through.Each one of them got their deserve ending, be it the people whom we despise in the drama or the people for which we root.
Such a beautiful story, didn't think I would've watched a story set in 70's and even like it.
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Great watch
Early Spring is a beautifully crafted, healing drama perfect for viewers who appreciate mature romances and introspective storytelling. It requires patience, but the emotional payoff in the final episodes makes the journey incredibly rewarding.The Slow Burn: The storyline takes its time establishing the characters' everyday lives, personal traumas, and gradual healing. It perfectly captures the "spring" motif—a slow thaw after a long, cold winter.
Realistic Conflicts: Instead of relying on typical C-drama tropes like evil mothers-in-law or exaggerated misunderstandings, the conflicts are internal and deeply human, focusing on career struggles, familial expectations, and self-discovery.
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One of the best depictions of self-imposed justice out there
I am in online spaces about kdramas and I have my own cycle of people I interact with. A few months ago, I saw some of them talking passionately about The Killing Vote. I had heard about it before and while the plot seemed appealing, it wasn't one of my top priorities either. However, the more posts I saw about it, the more curious I became so I decided to give it a try, at least.Whatever I expected, couldn't be compared with what I got. For The Killing Vote has become one of the best watches not only for this year but in general.
The premise is simple. An organization, named Gaetal, emerges from the shadows and starts capturing criminals who escaped harsher punishments and are free to roam in society. While they are captured, Gaetal does a broadcast and let the public vote for the criminals' fate; whether they should die or no. Shaken by this situation, police operates in order to put an end to this but in order to do so, they have to work with Kwon Seok Joo, a former professor who had been arrested for the murder of his daughter's killer.
The story might not be completely unique or extraordinary but soon, it became clear to me that the drama differed compared to other series with similar themes. The Killing Vote had established from early on that it would deal with complex sociological concepts, such as corruption, justice and vigilantism. As someone who has watched a fair amount of dramas with similar premise (such as Taxi Driver and Vigilante), I was curious about the approach that The Killing Vote would choose in order to address these matters. Unfortunately, having experienced some sort of disappointments from previous watches, I was sceptical about whether I would find what I sought in The Killing Vote and I kept my expectations low.
The Killing Vote remained consistent when it came to its goal; to showcase the reason why people succumb to self-imposed justice, after losing their faith to the judicial system. What the series did better compared to others similar stories about vigilantism was to highlight society's opinion, too. The drama portrayed people's reactions in a realistic and plausible way. A big part of the population, fed up as they were, agreed with Gaetal's purpose and supported it while another part found Gaetal's justice extreme and were conflicted about it. On the other hand, as the voting continued and the public opinion started shifting, what started as an act of frustration against the system, became commercialized in order to profit those in power.
The image that was portrayed, albeit fictional, did not represent a utopia where justice prevails all the time and where criminals face their punishment. Instead of taking a full stance in support of or against self-imposed justice, The Killing Vote presents the arguments of both sides, letting the viewers form their own opinion. It constantly raised questions about morality, the law and capital punishment and even weeks after finishing the drama, I still ruminate about it.
One of the most memorable moments in the drama was what Seok Joo said at Ju Hyun while they were at his home: "Lady Justice wears a blindfold because she's afraid of bias in decisions. If you don't look at cases and the people involved clearly, how can one pass fair judgment?". This quote resonated with me a lot, for I too have thought many times about the symbol of the blindfolded Lady Justice. For me, it didn't represent lack of bias in judgement but blindness when it came to certain people. The justice system is prone to manipulation and corruption and The Killing Vote highlighted this numerous times through the villains. When people of power are not held accountable for their crimes and when justice keeps turning a blind eye to them, pent up feelings are about to explode. And more people like Seok Joo will take matters into their own hands.
The pacing was neither too slow nor too quickly. The story was told in a linear way, using some flashbacks from time to time in order to provide context for past events. The story wasn't too complicating but it had me second guessing the identity of Gaetal's founder. I am aware of the delays that had occurred while the drama was airing but trust me, The Killing Vote is great as a binge watching. Once I would finish one episode, I would immediately go to the next one, in anticipation to what would happen next.
The direction was sharp and impactful, especially in emotional heavy scenes. The director was also the one behind the kdrama "The Manipulated", so as expected, the action scenes (albeit fewer) were exciting to watch. As for the soundtrack, it was enjoyable enough and added tension to the story.
One of my most favourite aspects of the series was the characters. They were the heart of the series and I quickly found myself immersed in their backgrounds and relationships. The way their emotions were portrayed managed to move me, I could feel the pain of the characters and I even cried during some scenes which is something I didn't expect to happen.
The main trio, consisted of Kim Moo Chan, Kwon Seok Joo and Ju Hyun, was a highlight of its own. Three different people who represented different perspectives of justice. Their goal was similar but their methods differed. They constantly challenged each other and in the end, the influence was imminent.
Seok Joo was one of my most favourite characters in the drama. He was more than just a mere murderer. His character was so complex and morally grey and while one wouldn't necessarily support his actions, they would be able to at least understand his motive. He was a pained father, who saw his daughter's killer escape prison and who took justice in his own hands to avenge her. For eight years, he lived in pain and regret and although he hid his feelings behind a cold facade, he harbored great pain inside him.
Park Sung Woong delivered a powerful performance as Seok Joo. I first watched him in Bloodhounds where he played a villain and his role in The Killing Vote showcased his transparency. He portrayed Seok Joo's pain and anguish in a very moving way, especially when Seok Joo would break down. I liked the way he used his face to express Seok Joo's emotions and how the tone of his voice would convey Seok Joo's anger and grief. This drama made me respect Sung Woong as an actor and now I am more eager to check the rest of his filmography.
Moo Chan was another character I came to like. It was interesting to see him resolve to unorthodox methods in order to fight for justice, even if that meant that he had to break the rules. His clash with Seok Joo was another aspect I found amusing because while both characters had opposing ideologies, at the same time, they bended the rules in order to achieve their goal. As the story revealed more context regarding their past relationship, the tragedy that surrounded them and the bittersweet feelings they harbored for each other started making more sense. Moo Chan was against Seok Joo's justice but he felt for him and his daughter while Seok Joo still wanted to make Moo Chan see the world from his point of view.
That was the first time I saw Park Hae Jin and I had a great first impression. He conveyed Moo Cha's inner turmoil very convincingly, especially when he interacted with Seok Joo. He was very captivating and his presence on the screen commanded my attention.
Of course I couldn't forget to talk about my girl, Ju Hyun, who has earned a spot in my list of my most favourite female characters in kdramas. No matter what some people said about her character, I loved her charming yet fierce personality groom her introduction. I appreciate the fact the writers did not reduce her as a typical cold and insensitive police officer by allowing her to be expressive and confident in her abilities. I loved watching her put clues together and solving the case thanks to her intelligence and her development from someone who followed the rules by the book to someone who acknowledged the necessity to bend said rules in order to fight for justice was really good.
I was already familiar with Im Ji Yeon after having watched her in The Glory and since then, I've been wanting to get into her filmography. I personally loved her as Ju Hyun, she was whimsy, charming and energetic, in contrast with her role in The Glory. She did well in the more serious scenes and the only thing I would have liked to see more is her character to be more emotionally expressive, like Moo Chan and Seok Joo.
The rest of the supporting cast did a good job, too. Lee Min Su was a villain you loved to hate and Kim Kwon was perfect for this role. He portrayed Min Su's personality and obsession with Seok Joo in a very uncanny way and yet, I couldn't stop looking at him. Kim Yoo Mi as Min Ji Young, Min Su's mother delivered another good performance, this mother-son dynamic was disturbing to say the least and both characters made my blood boil.
On a lighter note, I adored Ju Hyun's sister, Ju Min and Ji Hoon, a classmate of hers who became her friend. These were two characters I loved the most and their dynamic was so fun. Both actors did a good job with these roles, their chemistry was very natural and they conveyed their characters' emotions very convincingly, particularly Seo Young Joo as Ji Hoon.
Of course I will not turn a blind eye to the drama's flaws. I acknowledge that during the last episodes, there was a dip in quality, particularly in the last one. I believe that for a more cohesive conclusion, at least two more episodes were needed, because the climax was handled in a rushed way. Additionally, there was room to develop some characters and their dynamics a little bit more.
As a whole however, I really liked The Killing Vote. The ending, bleak as it is, gave me some type of catharsis when it came to the characters' final arcs. I understand that many viewers were upset but in my opinion, the outcome was logical for this type of story. Justice is a very complicated topic and when the law allows criminals to pass because of their status, people will riot. Maybe, just maybe, some radical actions are needed. The drama doesn't dictate what's right or wrong. Watch and judge on your own.
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The Fluffiest of fluffs that you needed!
I thought i am beyond these fluffy dramas but apparently not. There is just something about a softy CEO ML with the badass FL. Also the best part is even the supporting characters were so much fun like not a single annoying side part. I was actually invested in the female friendships. There is this scene where the ML's mother is comforting FL's step sister lol yeah that happens. Just that converstation felt so genuine for some reason that scene has just stuck with me. The writers have really tried to show the female bonds, they all seem like a lived characters.Now on to the part that needed improvement. What the hell was up with the editing? Was the editor just trying to sabotage the drama? I guess the director should get some blame as well cause the vision is just messy. Its saving grace are the characters honestly.
Also the ML seemed more comfortable with the material and the acting in general than the FL. I am not saying she was bad but the ML was just that good. But they have the best bickering dynamic which is refreshing and it stays till the end which makes is even better.
One irk i had with the story is that * spoiler*
i wanted the FL to ask the ML to get married cause that would have given such a full circle moment for her character growth. But the one we got is actually super cute too.
Watch it when you just need some fluff and relax.
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This review may contain spoilers
Starts of great, decent for most part but deflects from the novel and ruins the ending
Just another cliche one time watch romance chinese drama with the whole CEO and middle class girl plotline and how he makes her dreams come true with aviation industry settings. I think I have lost count of how many times I have seen Miles Wei play the same CEO type of roles but then again it suits him well. Li Xie Ning did extremely well with her role plus her portrayal of a air hostess turned pilot was great.The storyline is nothing new or out of the box with the strong point of the entire drama being the chemistry between the leads and second leads. The pacing was decent and didn't feel over stretched and draggy at all, the humor at times was also on point.
-----------------------SPOILERS BELOW------------------------
Here comes the biggest shitshow of this drama. The one thing that I loved about the novel was how the relation between the leads progressed and how they both were there for one another during the tough times. There was no unnecessary breakup something the drama forcefully added for no reason. They literally turn FL's character into a coward who at the very first instance of trouble turned her back towards the man who literally was there during her toughest times both professionally and personally. I do get she loves flying and how hard she has worked for it but instead of trusting her partner and herself, she simply dumps the man out of nowhere. Even when the whole mess is solved and knowing she screwed up and hurt the person who loved her, she still doesn't take a single step to mend things other than giving a bullshit emotional speech and simply moves on while he is the one making all the sacrifices and taking steps towards her. They literally made FL just like her mother. Even before this shitshow during their entire relation arc it was clear it was the guy who was head over heels while she was the one taking everything for granted.
FL and her broken relationship with her mom was a big part of novel and her character development something this drama fucked again. FL resents her mom for abandoning them and moving on with her new family. While some of the resentment was born from a misunderstanding where as a kid ,FL thought she was cheating with but it turns out he was only her manager and it is cleared by the end something FL does apologize for but the main thing was in the story her mother never once accepted FL as her daughter in front of others and behaved like strangers while showering love on her step daughter. She was never there in the past after FL's dad died leaving FL struggling for herself and her dreams while the mother was busy with her new marriage. By the end FL makes it clear that while she is wrong for thinking her mom cheated, she can't forgive the fact her mother was never there for her all her life while she was poor and struggling and now that FL has everything she wants, be it money or a loving boyfriend it is too late to make amends. She makes it clear she will be her daughter but only in the name and wants nothing more to do with her and rightfully so. All the confrontations that happened between them were so beautifully done.
While this drama goes the full cliche forgive the selfish parents no matter how horrible they were just for the sake of happy ending. The whole reunion between them literally had me facepalming but then again they did turn FL' character into a selfish coward just like her mom so wonder she forgave her mother and was all lovey dovey. I literally skipped through the last eps since looking at it made my blood boil.
A good drama ruined by the ending.
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A Surprisingly Mature Take on Love and Relationships
I went into this drama with zero expectations, and somehow, it completely won me over. It has such a creative concept, and more importantly, I think it executes that concept really well.What makes it so interesting is the way the story keeps playing with different relationship tropes. It starts with a role-playing murder mystery game, then moves into a boss-and-employee dynamic, and eventually becomes a landlord-and-tenant relationship. I really enjoyed this mix of familiar and unconventional setups, especially because each one gives Xiao Zhi Yu and Hu Xiu a completely different dynamic. He’s her boss at the office, but her tenant at home, and then they also have this whole secret connection through the virtual game. I love how these different sides of their relationship gradually intertwine instead of feeling like separate gimmicks. And beyond the romance, there’s actually a deeper story underneath. The drama explores trauma, family issues, and how past experiences can shape the way people approach relationships and life.
The romance itself is also refreshing. The female lead starts the story heartbroken and jobless, trying to rebuild her life and her dream, only to unexpectedly find love along the way. She’s the one who pursues him first, while the male lead takes his time to understand and process his feelings. Their relationship grows naturally from shared interests and similar dreams, but more importantly, they have to learn how to communicate and build trust. It feels like two adults actually learning how to be in a relationship rather than simply falling in love because the plot says so. I also really enjoyed the second male lead. He’s this great mixture of villainous and unexpectedly soft, particularly when it comes to the female lead. Dai Xu really surprised me in this role, and honestly, this is the drama that put him on my C-drama radar.
But what I love most about this drama is how genuinely adult it feels. Everyone looks like they’re actually in their 30s, and more importantly, they have problems that actually feel appropriate for people in their 30s. And thank God, they behave like it too. 😂 There’s no unnecessary childish drama. Instead, we get careers, ambitions, trauma, communication problems, trust issues, and characters trying to figure out what they actually want from life and love. And big applause for the chemistry between Chen Xing Xu and Lu Yu Xiao because they really sold this relationship for me. I definitely see Chen Xing Xu in a different light after this. He completely won me over as a leading man, and I genuinely enjoyed watching him in this role.
The second couple deserves a shout-out too. The female lead’s best friend is divorced and still grieving the end of a long-term relationship. What caused her marriage to fall apart feels painfully realistic, which is probably why her story hit me more than I expected. Their problems come from the kind of things that can genuinely happen when two people grow apart. It’s a very grown-up kind of heartbreak, where sometimes two people can love each other and still end up unable to make the relationship work. I also love that their storyline doesn’t steal attention from the main couple. Instead, it gives us another perspective on love after heartbreak, with a subtle new romance developing through a business partnership.
Overall, this drama surprised me in the best way. I really didn’t expect to like it as much as I did, but its creative storytelling, unexpected romance setups, mature characters, and deeper emotional layers genuinely won me over.
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More Than Just the Nerdy Love Interest
About Youth is such a gentle, sweet little series about first love, and I think what made it work so well for me was how much more there was to Xu Qi Zhang than the usual “nerdy love interest” role.He could so easily have been written as the shy, passive boy who gets swept up by the popular guy and exists mostly for the romance. Instead, Xu Qi Zhang has his own interests, his music, his responsibilities and his own little world. He's someone who has had to grow up early, but that doesn't take away his ability to find joy in things.
And somehow, he's the one who teaches Ye Guang what living actually means.
I really loved that dynamic. Ye Guang may be the one who seems to have everything, but Xu Qi Zhang is the one who understands how meaningful the small things can be. Their relationship feels soft and sincere, and I especially liked that neither of them has to become a completely different person for the romance to work.
The series isn't perfect — Ye Guang's parents frustrated me quite a bit — but the tenderness and atmosphere won me over.
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The silliness entertained me for about ⅔ of the show
This show is pretty silly. It’s so silly that it can get away with a lot. Super bad CGI and ridiculous SFX? Nonsense plot developments? Idiots everywhere? All in good fun, haha!I took it easy and just let it roll. And I really was entertained and having fun for a good while, happily blowing through episodes. But then I don’t know if it got less funny or I just got over it, but by 2/3 of the way through or so, I started to sour on it, and by the end I was struggling to finish.
The main character, Li Changshou, is extremely overpowered, but he hides it. His schtick is that he is “steady”, ie doesn’t like risks, plans carefully, anticipates all the different outcomes. This is the theme that a lot of his characterization and development revolve around, but most of the time it just means we get a lot of grand scheme reveals (“it was part of his plan all along! Wow!”)
There is a transmigration framework that’s largely irrelevant, except that a lot of his spells are inspired by modern technology. It took me a moment to realize that it’s not the tech itself, it’s still magic (ie he didn’t actually recreate the transistor).
Changshou is goofy and funny, and it’s fun to watch an OP character with this kind of personality. Most of the time he’s likable and fun and I was rooting for him. But other times, he just... isn’t very nice, and it started to bother me more and more. He is pretty unapologetic about using people with no regard for what they want or even their best interests.
This does go hand-in-hand with his “play it safe” attitude which avoids sticking his nose out for others. But if you really look, he does try to protect the people he cares about. It's just that, being a jerk to those he doesn’t is apparently not a thing the show has any problems with- eg nobody is pointing it out or debating him about it (instead, his character development and growth seem to be more about overplanning). I think it’s even supposed to be funny- like, omg, he was a jerk to somebody he shouldn’t have treated so badly, thus setting back his own plans! Haha!
Well, things tend to work out. But not because he cares; more because it just gets brushed off with some laughs. Gosh, I felt like I was getting gaslit. I still overall liked him, since he’s rushing around saving the day for everyone, but I did also get more and more irritated watching him emotionally manipulate people with no consequences.
That aside, we also have a FL in Yunxiao. I think they tried to make her too distant and unapproachable at the beginning, so that later when she gets humanized into something more suitable as a love interest, it’s jarring and confusing.
The show is actually just very confusing about the different factions and cultivation levels and types of beings, and how they relate to each other. And there’s no sense of scale for the power levels, like the discrepancies seem huge- it’s all very muddled. Plus too much grandiose Daoist mumbo jumbo, overusing the term “karma”- come on, facing the consequences of your own actions is just basic cause-and-effect. Yunxiao's weird transformation from mythical being to love interest is just another symptom of the poor world-building.
And then, in the end, I did not care too much for their relationship. For a few episodes, their story resembles a classic drama romance with contrasting personalities, minor clashes, and relationship building. It’s alright but not enough, and moving on from that, something about the dynamics and/or level of development just didn’t do it for me. In fact, I feel like I still don’t have a good read on Yunxiao’s personality or goals, nor do I even know what she is (some sort of cloud?)
But on the bright side, the show does have a lot of pretty great side characters. Ling’e is funny, cute, and a good sport; Ao Yi the dragon prince is cute too; but my favorite character is probably Zhao Gongming, the FL’s sect brother. That guy’s deadpan muttering is hilarious. But he only seems to do fly-ins, showing up occasionally, and is not even important enough to factor into the ending. Boo.
By the 20s of episodes, the show starts to get more serious. It still has some jokes to the end, but the tone feels very different. And without all the lighthearted fun that kept me entertained, I realized I didn’t really care that much about the characters or their story.
Near the end, the constant stream of unveiled schemes honestly made my eyes roll to the back of my head. From what I understood of it, I was satisfied by the villain motivation, seems unique- but then it all got weirder and weirder. The last few episodes are honestly kind of a mess. I got the gist, but I was also very confused. To be fair, my poor viewing comprehension probably also had to do with not caring very much about any of it.
For acting, I thought it’s pretty good. Ao Ruipeng is great for goofy roles, and Ai Mi does such a good job too. But my favorite is still the vastly underutilized Zhao Gongming... I never saw He Wunjun before but I hope he gets more roles.
I think the styling is fine, people look quite nice and there are a good variety of costumes. The sets and scenery look decent. Some of the CGI/SFX are pretty fake, but I thought that’s part of the joke. I think the music is done well, always appropriate. And I liked the OST, which covers lots of different styles.
Overall I found this show fun and entertaining for a good long while and I was ready to give it 8 or 8.5 just because I had fun watching it. But as you can see, my rating plummeted. Not only did some of Changshou’s actions bug me more and more, but also once the fun and games ended, I realized that I really didn’t care too much for anyone. Plus the ending is a mess.
By the way, I was surprised at the beginning to recognize this story from a forgettable donghua I watched awhile ago and quickly dropped. In the donghua, the number of buxom young women throwing themselves at the main character got to be too much, and I dropped it because it reminded me annoyingly of those harem animes- written by boys for boys. I don’t actually know how the romantic entanglements end up developing for either the donghua or source material. But for the drama, I’d say the shape of the harem is still here, but it’s very toned down. The girls have a lot more going for them than just their romantic interest, and their crushes feel more like a joke. They aren’t that clingy or obsessed; Ling’e for example, mostly just acts like a little sister. So I had no problem with it and don’t know if I would have even flagged a potential problem if I hadn’t seen the donghua first. I have to say, though, Ao Ruipeng in this show looks uncannily like his cartoon counterpart.
ENDING – READ AHEAD ONLY IF YOU WANT TO KNOW, CONTAINS SPOILERS
This ends on a cliffhanger. If you ignore the cliffhanger, it’s not quite a happy ending, but it has hope (Changshou will need to take some time to bring back Yunxiao).
Leading up to that point is a mess of tragic sacrifices, confusing time travel, and things you didn’t know were allowed by the world’s mechanics. And who/what even is “Fate”, who plays childish games and talks like a human? Ok, whatever.
Most of the tragic sacrifices are undone, but you know who stays dead? Dragon crown prince. See, the characters couldn’t be bothered turning back time an extra hour or two to save him, because nobody cares about him. His girlfriend remembers him for about 5 minutes after he explodes in her face, and then everyone forgets about his existence.
But actually, the sacrifice that bothers me the most is from Li Changshou’s sifu’s story. This man’s girlfriend and sifu went on a journey to find a cure for him; I was so confused because the sifu is never mentioned, all the waiting and hoping is for the girl. Then in a random scene he is shown dead, but he isn't mourned or even mentioned. Am I missing something?
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