Reviews

A Korean Version of the stateside show "Younger."

Are there changes? Yes!

Some of those changes are strengths versus the original. Some things don't change that probably should have. And some changes do not work so well.

Here our female lead has secretly been divorced for over a year. She is destitute, living in her abandoned home, that has fallen to ruin and is set to be demolished, yes in only a years time, shrug. She sneaks into her best friends house (Our Male Lead) for food and showers while he is at work, and secretly has hired herself to be his housekeeper for some steady income. Her daughter is off at boarding school and draining what little resources our FL has, since her husband has up and disappeared with another woman and left her to raise their daughter on her own. Though, our protagonist is a college educated, certificate wielding, and award wining Copy Editor, not a single company will give her an opportunity because she has been a housewife for the past seven years and is nearing forty. Too old, too educated, and too experienced for entry level work, yet biased against for leaving the work force for a home life and believed too long gone to understand the copy world of today and its markets she is refused substantial middle and management positions. As a wrecking ball finally makes her homeless, our FL is forced into erasing her credentials and past and pretend to be nothing more than a middle-aged high school graduate to land the most basic contract work entry-level gofer position possible. Hey it gives her money, and its at a publishing house, her life's love.

Sounds familiar yes?

While "Younger," as its name suggests, has the FL not only pose as an inexperienced beginner, it ALSO makes her pretend to be in her early 20's as an almost 40 year old. Far fetched, yeah, but the show mostly makes it work. Here, RIABB, recognizes it is unneeded and unrealistic and forgoes this while still covering all the ageist issues in full.

Other changes include taking the Lesbian Life Long Best Friend and the CEO of the Publishing house Love Interest and morphing them together into a single character that is our Chief Editor Male Lead. (Note the Lesbian still gets 2 cameos as a High-end Fashion store owner who used to date our ML. It is important that the show at least nods to this character and also normalizes her Lesbianism by the ML considering South Korea's openly known homophobia.)

By the show doing this character adjoining, it creates a lifetime best friends to lovers story, which is a fan favorite trope amongst Romance lovers. The show knows its audience. It also works well, and allows there to be a lot of screen time with the two leads together in cohabitation, as just like in "Younger," our FL is forced to live with her best friend.

The college student daughter is made mostly irrelevant as a Philippines boarding school living middle-schooler. This is one of those changes I can't get behind. The daughter is used in the beginning to show the financial strapped situation our FL is in, but once she gets the job, the daughter is all but forgotten. The fact that this woman is a mother is left to die on the vine. In fact, that there even is a daughter at all becomes superfluous. It would have been better to have just cut the never met child from the script and made the husband even more of a monster as in he wouldn't let her work as a woman, mother or not. Why not, it would have worked for the purpose of the story just as well and saved us from the odd dangling fruit that is this mostly forgotten daughter in the Philippines.

Our younger hip Brooklyn tattoo artist love interest (Yes the Triangle Lives!) changes into a younger, most sought-after, book cover artist and his beautiful dog. We can not forget this dog guys, its just not gunna happen. The character is tied to the story better and ends up with some secret backstory that deals directly with the publishing house and our ML. This change works well and is perfectly serviceable.

Yes, even the "frenemy" lady boss exists in both incarnations as CEO Go. Here she is displayed more powerfully and much sexier than in "Younger," but as a character I am still not impressed. The dynamic between our FL and CEO Go is exactly the same and I really wish they would have changed this up. Do we really need this to be how we address sisterhood in the workplace? Are we supposed to decide CEO Go really is a good person in the end? Should women expect this relationship, and be okay with this dynamic? Is there really nothing better out there? These questions could create a whole topic of conversation and arguments, but let's just say that for the purpose of the show, this relationship is one of the more complex on display even with its little screen time.

Overall, the show mostly functions as promised. Around episode eight it unfortunately devolves into a generic everyone falls-in-love romance with the entire cast pairing off. (THE ENTIRE CAST!) But, around episode 13 it pulls itself back into the better and stronger original story-lines that were laid at the beginning of the series and follows them through the last 3 episodes. However, because we leave the main story for so long, and because the show tries so hard to be just a typical love story for all, the ending does come on flat. The triumphs don't feel as triumphant as they should. The lows, aren't as low as we went in the beginning of the series, and characters become simply puppets serving the plot and attempting to make us feel warm on the inside as everyone finds happiness in the arms of someone else.

Is it worth your time, I'd say so. It was stronger than a lot of the Kdrama romances I have been sitting through. Is it amazing, perfect, OMG you MUST watch this, best love story ever, you will never be the same, add any other hyperbole or adulation that are carelessly thrown about on peer review sites? No, it is not.

RIABB has warmth, and a message, strong acting, and a great production. It moves steadily and smoothly though its tale without rushing. It is filled with superficial cuteness, and all the typical swooning beats and moments you've come to expect from these types of shows. Yet, it has a unique base story that keeps it apart from the pack. I gave it a 7, 3 1/2 Stars, B grade. Better than average and a solid watch but not great or a must see.

I do want to note, that I did also open a conversation on the MDL discussion board for RIABB about the ML of this drama. There are things that angered me, and issues that I am seeing repeated in Kdrama romances when it comes to the MLs in general. While, by the end RIABB's ML does grow and learn, and ultimately try to be a better man, the first 6 episodes find him doing some very questionable (Not sexual) things when it comes to our FL. It was hard for me to move past these plot points when it comes to ML's character as a noble human being and just put a really large blight on him from my point-of-view. I find him morally questionable, and if this was real life, I would very much be against him. Even if he is smart, handsome, rich, and successful, with a generally amicable personality, and over-all good natured, what he allows to happen and lets his company stand for in the beginning of the series and what he is NOT willing do to for our FL or stand up for what was right, really bothered me and I was unable to let it go. If you want to go a bit more in-depth or offer your own opinion on the matter, look for the discussion above the comments section for RIABB.

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Interesting, but flawed

Peach of Time arrived on the scene at the end of the summer of 2021, which, at least for me, had aired (mostly) one disappointing BL after another. I was excited after Episode 1, as this appeared to be a series with more quality and on a higher level than previous series. After three or four weeks after excitedly anticipating each episode, my interest began to wane. By the end, my feeling was "okay... might as well tune in to see how this all turns out." Here are my pros and cons:

PROS:

THEME. The supernatural theme is an interesting one which, of course, has been explored in BL before (i.e., He's Coming to Me). This one had a different feel to it... more dramatic.

MUSIC. Really great! Yoon Oh (sorry, I forgot the actor's name) has a great singing voice. (And an alluring speaking voice as well.)

ACTING. The boys were all okay. But big kudos to the actress who played Yoon Oh's mom, she was a real pro and elevated the whole series.

CONS:

STORY. Too many scenes showing Peach publicly conversing with Yoon Oh and/or Mario. Anyone witnessing this would think Peach was batshit crazy (talking to himself), but no one batted an eye. I never fully understood the Mario character... what happened to him at the end? There were some other wtf moments interspersed throughout the series.

That's pretty much it. Pretty sure I'll forget about this one in time. The ending was open-ended, which might suggest a sequel, but I don't feel we really need one. What would it even be about? I suppose it could be more about Mario, but does anyone really care?

7.5/10 for me. It's that high because it started out very well.

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Great drama but can we talk about the 2nd ML?

First off, I want to say this is a good drama, happy I watched it. The main couple made me laugh and "awe" many times. I love that they didn't waste time being together once they admitted their feelings. They skipped right over "I like you" and went right to "I love you" Although, Yuan is a bit over the top sometimes and not in a cute way, like tracking her phone without her knowledge. I'm sure he could have just asked her... That proposal was super cute though, also Yuan Shaui's reaction to her pregnancy was unbelievably adorable.

I skipped through most of the 2nd couple's story. They severely paled in comparison to the main couple.

Okay now on to what I think is the biggest take away from this drama, Du Lei. He seriously stole the show for me. (To be fair, it’s possible I’m biased because I’m a fan of Gao Hanyu (Kido).)
I have so many mixed feelings because I actually felt for Du Lei. I feel like his back story is worthy of a 1st ML. As if you could pick it up and place it in another drama with him as the protagonist. There’s more backstory for him than anyone else. When I look at his actions from that point of view I feel sympathy for him. As lovely as main couple is, I was watching and waiting for Du Lei to find happiness
This is all true until around ep32 is when the story turns for him. This evolution of his character seems unnecessary at this point. He had an opportunity to get rid of Yuan Shuai already and didn't take it. He could have but didn't. Then 2 years later Jiang Jun's relationship with Yuan Shaui is pretty well solidified and this is when Du Lei makes his play for Jun? In addition to that Du Lei now has shady business dealings which seems way out of character. Also, he's a clever guy, he would know making her friend resign would not be favorable in Jun's eyes. This storyline just doesn't track. It's poorly placed and unnecessary.

I would have rathered him admit his feelings for Jiang Jun, maybe there's still a fight but for Du Lei to admit to Jun that she gave him hope when he had none and that's why he feels so strongly about her. Maybe then they could have remained friends. It would be fun to see Yuan Shuai and Du Lei being friends and still carrying that competitive spirit between them. Maybe working together and competing to be the best.
I just feel like they did Du Lei so so dirty. Even his sister was at the proposal! Dude was just cut right out of the group picture. ??

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Good but not great

This series generated quite a lot of expectations when it was announced that Jimmy and Tommy will act along Korean actors in a Korean-Thai co-production filmed in Korea.

The show has some strong points:

1) Good chemistry: Jimmy and Tommy have acted together in "Why R U" and have been a BL "couple" ever since... so we knew they have good chemistry. Their main issue was the challenge of going to Korea to film alongside Korean actors and get used to the Korean way of doing dramas. They talked about it in several videos you can find on Youtube and overall I think they did a very decent job. And yes, I know Jimmy's acting skills still need to improve, especially in the sad/dramatic scenes, but I felt he provided very nice moments throughout the series. In addition, his chemistry with Korean actor Choi Jae-hyun was not perfect but it was quite good despite Jae-hyun being 5 years older than Jimmy and having quite a bit more acting experience.
Both play their roles effectively and convincingly enough. And while other Korean BL series have had better chemistry among the lead actors (see "To My Star", "Where Your Eyes Linger" and "Mr. Heart" for examples) both actors navigated through the language barrier to present a very decent product.

2) The music: This was one of the best parts of the series. The OST is nice and all the music surrounding some of the scenes was always on point and even complemented the weather and the mood on the scene.

Now some of the not so strong points:

1) Plot: The story of someone being able to see a ghost is not new (see Thailand's very good "He's Coming to Me" with Singto and Ohm Pawat and the 2 episodes dedicated to the Thurs-Pao/Pae story in the disaster that was "Y-Destiny" for examples) but the story of Yoon-oh and Peach brought the added fact that Yoon-oh could not leave for the afterlife because he had a deep sorrow to solve. Despite what the preview mentioned about Yoon-oh and his mother being a bit distant, I always wondered about the "real" sorrow that Yoon-oh could have... was it a) his relationship with his mother, b) his feelings for Peach, c) the cause of his death, d) a combination of all of the above?
The first episodes were clearly focused on his relationship with his mother because Yoon-oh seemed to be hindering some anger or resentment towards her. Then, when Mario starts meddling in the Yoon-oh/Peach relationship, we see some hints of Yoon-oh being sad or regretful about loving Peach but not being able to remain with him forever. Then, near the end of the series, the issue of Yoon-oh's death is brought to the center with suicide being ruled out thanks to new footage from another car's dashcam. We also get very few details of Yoon-oh's visit to Phuket so we assume they fell in love with each other there but never had the chance to develop those feelings with Yoon-oh returning to Korea and Peach going to Africa for charity work.
The problem with all of these scenarios is that the plot never really focuses on one aspect alone and works on it to develop it in a more satisfying way. They jumped from the mother-son relationship, to the Yoon-oh/Peach relationship, to even involving the man trying to sue Yoon-oh's mother for malpractice as being the one who caused Yoon-oh to step into traffic and be killed (which is a weak argument as the man never pushed him or forced him to start walking on the street) and then, all is magically resolved in the final half of episode 10.

2) Support actors: Tommy, the girl who helps Peach in the café (Shin-ji) and the girl's mother (Soo-jin) are all connected as Tommy's character, Mario, also has a deep sorrow that he couldn't solve in many many years, but ends up being solved in about 3 episodes of the series. He worked at the resort and fell in love with Soo-jin but then died on a fire without being able to see her. His sorrow was that he never knew why she didn't show up... we find the reason around episode 8 and that was it, nothing very significant.
Yoon-oh's mother and the man who is trying to sue her have some intense interactions as he blames her for his daughter being in a coma but she proves to him that it was not her fault. But, as the lead surgeon on duty and with the hospital trying to prevent a scandal that will generate bad reputation, she tries to hide the incident at first but then takes responsibility for it. The hospital director is just a crook who only thinks about the economic aspect and the hospital's reputation with a possible lawsuit instead of anything else and the 2 cops who investigate Yoon-oh's death are probably the worst cops in Korea by doing a very very poor investigation of the case.
Of all the characters, Mario and Yoon-oh's mother should be the 2 most important ones but he gets lost a bit thanks to a weak plot/scenario for his character and Yoon-oh's mother gets involved with the possible lawsuit and the hospital way more than she should. I mean, Peach tells her he can see and interact with Yoon-oh, she faints when Peach proves it by talking about the cat she adopted and then gave away because of her allergies and then, nothing... that topic is not touched again until the Christmas party when Yoon-oh sings on episode 10 and Peach tells her he is singing in front of her.

3) The finale: I get Yoon-oh had to leave but we never get the real reason of his deep sorrow, which is why I think it might have been a combination of all the 3 options I mentioned above. In the end, he just says "I love you" to Peach and without any goodbye, he just vanishes in thin air before being able to kiss Peach (for the third time on the series). Then, when Peach is in the now closed café, the kettle starts boiling out of nowhere which might signal that Yoon-oh came back or actually never left in the first place, but we never get a clear answer. The finale was a bit disappointing as big chunks of the last part of the episode were spent with Yoon-oh singing the same song twice, first at the party and later in front of the sea with Jimmy looking like he was about to freeze (they filmed in winter and both Jimmy and Tommy being from Thailand had to deal with snow and cold temperatures, something both were not very used to).

The movie version should come out at some point in 2022 and, if they follow all the previous Korean BL dramas, it will usually include a bit more scenes that were not included in the regular episodes due to time constraints. Hopefully, we get an extra scene with a bit more than just the kettle boiling, otherwise the finale will remain a bit disappointing.

In the end, the series had nice moments and I'm sure Jimmy and Tommy faced challenges when dealing with dialogues in Thai and Korean and also having to adapt to a mostly Korean production. Filming in a foreign country without dominating the language is always hard and it takes a lot of courage to do it. Sadly, the end product was just good but not great.

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Welcome to a roller coaster ride of emotions

Before moving onto the drama I would like to ask a question that --Is KINDNESS reciprocated in this world or is it not? I would like to ask again that Is KINDNESS reciprocated in this world or is it not? Let's talk about this at the end of the review .

Now coming back to the drama it was a roller coaster ride of 9 great episodes which contains the truth about a human nature. This drama tells us what we humans are capable off for the sake of money. How we can even go as far as killing and betraying someone we know for money. This is human nature.The only thing that is protecting us are those kind souls. Who even at the face of death helps someone else.

The story builds up in a way that helps the viewers understand the situation someone is ready to put their lives on the line. It tells us how our everyday life can be more of a hell than the real hell itself. And how the poor don't have the choice but to put their lives on the line to survive.

The cast of this drama did a pretty excellent job. They brought their characters to life.Jung Ho Yeon was outstanding in this drama in the way she portrayed Kang Sae Byeok. I loved her character. Also Lee Jung Jae nailed his character.

Now coming back to the question i asked earlier Is KINDNESS reciprocated in this world or is it not?
So the answer to my question is KINDNESS can be reciprocated back depending upon the person. It is reciprocated by another kind heart person. And through that we keep on living.

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As title really a sweet drama

A must watch drama.
I was expecting a change in Chinese dramas and finally got one. Usually in Chinese dramas the ML is so rich and cold etc.. etc.., I was expecting a change in this kind of dramas and this is the one. After watching a clip in YouTube I felt this is different from other Chinese dramas but I was thinking to drop this drama because I was not happy ML but I decided to watch this because of the FL, she is soo cute and perfect for this character. Both ML and FL did their job well especially the FL I can say she has a very much talented and have a bright future and I am very happy for not missing this drama.
At the ending episodes I felt little draggy but not get bored, you can enjoy the whole drama but don’t expect any challenging in carrier wise or character building. If you want to watch just a cute and sweet love story you can have a try. Even though ML and FL got committed little late but from first episodes their chemistry is very good.
I like this drama because there is no love rivalry or negative characters. Throughout the drama all are sweet moments.

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Quarantine Romance in Quarantime Times

●FIRST IMPRESSION
Informative short web series about covid19, filled with sweet quarantine moments. also delivering that Love comes your way in unexpected ways and unexpected times.

●PLOT VIEW
I was highly surprised yet not because I actually saw a vlog where two neighbors fell in love in times of quarantine. So it was an amazing series diving into the times of covid19 and showing the struggles faced by different individuals. Many stories and dramas will be made in the future about this global crisis but the Love virus will remain a drama to provide specific information during the critical time. Such shows should be appreciated for their quality. Even though it is flawed but the compact 6 episodes still entertained a lot.
The drama focused on the benefits of quarantine and what could one do even when they are alone. Modern gadgets had brought us closer, and even though distance keeps couples apart they are still connected. The old school romance had once again filled my heart with love because of how modern we become, these old things are more meaningful than modern gadgets. the romance was one part of the drama, it basically focuses on giving out information regarding the global crisis and how to deal with it.
The struggles and discrimination doctors faced were light, because I have seen what we have gone through in these 2years and it is still ongoing. Since it's a light drama it can be overlooked.

●ACTING/CAST
The casting was good and the acting was subtle. Am satisfied with their presentation of the drama. It had to be subtle to maintain its easy connectivity to the audience.
Tubtim as Dr. Pai was a responsible and strong doctor doing her duties diligently. The way she did live steams to make the viewers aware of the covid19 was appreciatable. she never backed down and always took the initiative showing her strong side doing the right things
Blew as Techin was adorable with the cute antics he did to pursue. He had amazing facial expressions for doing his frolics. Both the actors had lovely chemistry.

●MUSIC
OSTs were so meaningful. Like whoever wrote the lyrics did an excellent job.
“You are our hero” is dedicated ost to all the doctors, who are leaving their loved ones behind to help the needy patients.
“love makes no sound” ost is like a summary of love couples who live in long-distance yet love each other.

●REWATCH
I would probably rewatch this for its cute moments and a short length.

●APPRECIATION
This drama deserves appreciation for raising awareness and showing how doctors around the globe are working hard to fight against this deadly virus

●FAV SCENE
The balcony date ep-3

●RECOMMENDATION
If you want to watch something light, warm, and super short, then give this drama a chance.

●QUOTES
taking care of others with good intentions won't help, the only thing we can do is by taking care of ourselves: Mother of Techin

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I watched it last year and I still think about it

I just wish I could watch this again for the first time and I am waiting for the second season holding my breath. Normally I forget about new seasons and I just watch them when they pop up somewhere but with Extracurricular I check at least once a month if there is any news.
The acting was amazing, the story had me absolutely hooked and I watched it in two days. The music and cinematography makes it even better, I've listened to two songs from the soundtrack ever since I first watched it. Such a good show for anyone who likes thrillers and antiheroes. It's perfect!

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Surprisingly Good

I wasn't sure about watching another version of this series since I wasn't a big fan of the FL in the Chinese Version. She was a bit harsh and rough around the edges, so much so, I kept wondering how the ML fell in love with her. I ended up dropping it.

I'm glad I didn't let my negative experience with that version keep me from watching this version. I LOVE the FL here who much more vulnerable and is softer around the edges. She also explains her insecurities a lot better....something that was missing with the other version.

I'm looking forward to see how the loves grows between the leads. I would recommend.

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Great premise but painfully ableist

I started watching the first episode and I was very happy with it. I loved the main character instantly and it had very good dry humor. As far as I understood the premise of the story was basic but that doesn't mean anything, I'm sure they made something great out of it.
What wasn't great was that carricature of a disabled person. I was in physical discomfort seeing the actor act like that. The character is a harmful stereotype of disabled people being stupid, strange and - what I found worst - dangerous. Of course disabled people can be bad people, but the drama implied he's bad because of his disability. It would have been very easy to come up with a different character, just saying.

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Beautiful storyline

This was a series that tugged at my heart because as a mother i would have been devastated by my childs sudden death...
Yoon Oh and Peach were friends that became more than friends after his death and they made the best of their short time together beautifully in synch.
It just reminds the rest of us here on earth to try and appreciate what you have before you lose it to whatever circumstances life throws at you.
Those of you that try and analyze the the storyline too much....stop wasting your negative time by dissing this series and try living in the positives...
Well done to the production crew for a beautiful story and hoping for SEASON 2 PLEASE ????

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Much talked about but very predictable drama.

I'm watching this drama for all the rampage behind it and while I enjoyed watching it, I think it's just another survival drama.

There is really nothing innovative, maybe just the fact that the games were simple because they were based on children's games but after that it is just a group of desperate people, for different reasons, willing to do whatever it takes to win. the award.

The acting was excellent as well as how everything was executed but let's say that all the characters fulfilled a stereotype of this type of genre.

The message was also the same as those often given in these dramas: "How much can we lose our humanity because of our ambitions?" There is nothing really remarkable, other than the performances, because everything was so predictable.

Even the end and there were characters who died stupidly and there was no great development.

Maybe I'm tough but it's because everyone talked so much about him that they created great expectations, that people like me who enjoy watching this type of genre didn't bring him anything new and innovative.

I still recommend it because it's not that bad. It is short and entertaining.

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You really have to turn your brain off before watching.

Is the chemistry between Jae Hyun and Jimmy good? Sure. They are cute. Yoon Oh and Peach as characters have good dynamics with contrasting personalities. But is this enough to watch the show?

I feel like the show tried to portray the subjects of loss, regret, miscommunication/lack of communication. How some people can be so focused on their own feelings, they can’t see other people and the truth that is there. It all felt extremely flat though. Having not much screen time, it’s not wise to add many plot lines and side characters. Pick one main and one side plot and develop them as well as you can - that’s the way to go.

Quite a number of things make no sense. Peach staying at his dead friend's house, and no one questions it. The investigation of the police was a joke itself. Yoon Oh can manipulate objects in real life, since his mom heard him playing the guitar, but it’s not really brought back for them to communicate with each other in any way? Give him a laptop, making him type! Peach flirting with the air with the people around him. These are just a few things that happened without proper explanation, and were there just for the sake of the plot progression, even though they made little sense.

The biggest let down was Yoon Oh’s relationship with his mom. It would be an amazing plot for his character development and driving force of the show, but they decided to just… resolve it in the first half of the show and bring it back at the end. This should be the focus!

The quality of the acting depends on the actor. Jae Hyun for sure does well in his role, while Jimmy struggles quite a bit. He has improved a lot since his Why R U days, but I don’t think he has yet reached the level worth compliments. Got to love them dry crying scenes.

The drama is for sure pretty. Saved quite a few screenshots. The cafe scenes were just aesthetic heaven for me. The soundtrack was also one of the better aspects of the show. All songs were fitting the scenes they were used for.

Overall, it was all just misdelivery. Not once have I felt sad, even with such an emotional topic. Yoon Oh vanishing Thanos style made me laugh my ass off at the end, especially with how they robbed fans of that kiss.

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This is a drama which don't get high popularity like other stars but it is a masterpiece. I randomly watched this drama but I ended up loving it. Nothing extra all were intact to subject. A beautifully conveyed that every person is unique. Never judge anyone based on their sickness and treat them as patients. Instead treat them as they are unique in their own way.
The message conveyed in the drama is very beautiful. I wish more dramas of this kind are made. Importance of every life is showed very wisely. I would recommend everyone to watch this drama. It is emotional and You wont regret watching it. This drama relaxes your mind and soul. Not a romantic drama but a meaningful one. Overall a very good drama.

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Bargaining for Love

My Bargain Queen is an office-romance drama that is set in the beautiful port city of Tianjin, China. The premise is based on two industries that are disparate in nature but not mutually exclusive - the bargaining or negotiation consultative services and the hotel business. There is a significant shift to an online bargaining business model towards the latter episodes.

The plot revolves primarily around the romances of the characters involved in those lines of work as well as the people around them. In addition to the romance with all its associated tropes and the light comedy,, we also have the business aspects, slice-of-life elements as well as some measure of angst and tragic circumstances (in the backstory) as well.

This production which completed principal photography in October 2020 is aired simultaneously on Dragon TV as well as Youku streaming platform, among other regional broadcasters and streamers. The screenplay is adapted from the novel of the same name (我的砍价女王) by The Sleeping Meow (睡懒觉的喵), a nom de plume. The Ritz-Carlton in Tianjin is featured as the site of the fictional Evergreen Hotel while a number of scenes were filmed at The Happy Valley Theme Park. Kenny Lin reunites with Nicky Wu since Scarlet Heart (2011) while Wu Jin Yan and Wang He Run last collaborated on Yanxi Palace: Princess Adventures in 2019.

The production quality is well above average for this contemporary setting due to the posh set designs of The Ritz-Carlton. As expected of a rom-com, warmer colours and soft filters are applied generously in the visuals, with which I have no problems. The cinematography is generally adequate but there are some editing issues as well as certain scenes being cut which affect scene transitions but thankfully without impacting on the flow of the story.

The story works well when focusing on the business aspects, with some interestingly written subplots on the business rivalries and workplace machinations. The romance is decently developed, in particular for the main and secondary CPs. The family dynamics, in particular the FL’s mother, appears somewhat overemphasised while the inclusion of the dreaded angst from the third CP detracts from the initial positivity and feel-good vibes. The 40-episode length does give the overall impression of being drawn out for a romantic drama of this nature. Contemporary C-dramas really should consider shortening the production to perhaps 30 episodes or even less.

I went into this drama for Wu Jin Yan whom I’ve been a fan of since Story of Yanxi Palace and Legend of Hao Lan. She performs commendably here as the FL Xia Qian where her mature disposition and her own voice dubbing suits the role perfectly. The consistency of the characterization isn’t without its flaws especially towards the closing stages, which I attribute to the screenplay. Kenny Lin plays the ML Sheng Zhe Ning, who starts off as a cold and stoic hotel CEO that eventually evolves into a warm and somewhat adorable personality. Both Wu Jin Yan and Kenny Lin complement each other very well together with the right maturity levels and convincing chemistry that makes them a compelling OTP.

Nicky Wu and Wang He Run portray the SML Qin He Bo and SFL Fu Shuang Shuang respectively as the second CP of the show. Theirs is the age-gap romance which, to me, comes across as natural and organic in depiction and development. The only issue I have is Nicky Wu’s voice or rather his enunciation which lacks clarity at times. Wang He Run’s character has a significant story arc which contributes to a degree of growth that provides an additional dimension to her portrayal.

The supporting characters of He Zhi Juan and Ning Meng, respectively played by Ma Si Chao and Song Yi Xing are the main issues in the drama for me. On top of the characterization being poorly conceived, being used to create over-dramatic angst in the plot particularly at a very late stage does scream of lazy scriptwriting. The controversy giving rise to the drama isn’t particularly convincing and, to make matters worse, I feel the acting from these two actors is extremely weak. Ma Si Chao does not resemble a medical practitioner that he portrays and every time he speaks, he sounds out of breath like he is hyperventilating. Some portion of the blame has to be placed on the direction for this. Song Yi Xing’s acting isn’t the most riveting either but for all intents and purposes, she does succeed in making Ning Meng the most infuriating character in the drama. In some ways, I suppose these two do match each other as third CP and annoying couple from hell.

The soundtrack for this drama features warm mellow ballads while the BGM is well-suited although somewhat lacking in variation. I do however enjoy the creatively-rendered title sequence and the accompanying opening instrumental theme. Full OST listing as follows:

Warming Slowly 慢慢热 by Wu Jinyan 吴谨言
To the One Who Loved 致爱的人 by Lin Zike 林子珂
Child 小孩 by Chen Xijun 陈希郡

All things considered, My Bargain Queen is not a bad option to choose, especially if you’re a fan of the leads and in the mood for a light workplace romance. However 40 episodes is a commitment and the slight inclusion of melodramatic elements may dampen the mood at certain points. Proceed with caution but, for the most part, I did enjoy the overall storytelling of the drama.

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