Sweet First Love (2020)

There's nothing sweet with the first part of the story.

Sweet First Love is the title of the show but I found nothing sweet at the first part of the story. There maybe some kind of weird love in there, only it was overpowered by the dominating brotherly love shown by the ML.

ML grew up with FL. FL was an orphan, her parents died on an accident. So they lived as brothers and sisters. He took care of her in his own way and help her through her traumatic experience. He also bullied her a lot. FL took care of him too, feeds him home cooked meals and puts up with a lot of his shit.

If you got fed up with the not so cute bullying, just skip to episode 16. I promise, it gets a little better after that.

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You may feel frustrated if you like a coherent storyline

I've became interested in this drama after seeing some scenes but with no idea about the whole story.

The story is completely not credible.
First, it spans over 5 to 7 years (it starts when they are in high school and at the end they are working professionals, who have completed their studies in engineering and medical school).
They are about 18yo when it starts and let's say 23-25 at the end.
The main couple interaction stays at high school level almost till the end... their characters don't really change over this period of time. I mean, I can accept she's shy at 18 but not at 25, it's just ridiculous...
The ML liked her since he was a kid but he only confesses when he's 20 something... And the FL takes all this as granted.
But then, that's Chinese drama !?

Also, the FL is supposed to be very good at what she does professionally but she's just stupid when she's shown some evidence about what happened to her parents/foster parents in the past - she takes it all as it is shown, never questions, even if it comes from her enemy. It takes some episodes for her to start thinking there's something fishy...

The antagonist also behaves as a stupid brat, "I've always had everything I wanted so I'll have you". It goes like this for years and in the end, 180° turn - after throwing a tantrum like a 3yo she suddenly realizes it can't be...

The other aspects, like their professional lives, are more or less credible... you go through medical school and training for years (I assume it's not easier in China than in western countries) then you end making cakes? I respect all professions but they could have given her a research position (which was said she was good at) if she can't stand losing patients.
The ML wins a prize for his robot and transforms the award ceremony in proposal?

What I liked - ML and some of the scenes with FL. Some said he was too cold - I see his character rather as someone who doesn't know how to behave and for this I found him touching. He always had one thing in his mind, since he was a kid - and that was the FL (which I find spoiled and immature in this relationship). He completely lacks any sense of humor. He shows some changes in the end, he becomes more careful for other's feelings. There were also some funny moments (ML dancing...).

Also, 2nd couple seems more natural - I won't point what I found not so credible.

That's all I've had to say, I would recommend it if you have time to spare. I generally watch dramas at 1.5 speed so I can't really appreciate the OST.
As for re-watching, perhaps some cute scenes, but definitely not all of it.

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Undervalued For Me

I've had this drama on my watchlist for a couple years and haven't started it due to the adopted siblings romance and the many bad reviews, but this drama not as bad as it's made to be IMO as the adopted siblings romance between FL and ML works for me because they don't feel like siblings 1: ML never saw the FL as his sister at all from the age of five, 2: the Su Parents always told him to protect her so ML sees her in a romantic view from the start and not as a sister. people also complain about FL leaving her adopted family when she realizes the truth and I also was upset about it but then I put myself in her shoes, she was a young sheltered girl who just learned her family is a lie and her family isn't her family at all (although us viewers know Su Parents love her)

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Not-so-good, but watchable

I am somehow annoyed by the story, especially abt the FL. FL is really mature in her childhood, but her character development is bad. She went from a mature, caring sister to a childish, impulsive and I felt that except the childhood rewind parts, the FL is more like a little sister, ML more like the bro. The misunderstanding part is just weird. Why don't the FL ask her parents about her childhood, and instead believe a lie created by her love rival? Just unreal. ML has a better character, he became mature and caring towards her sister, and he is more hardworking (in my perspective). The only thing I don't enjoy from ML is that he is a bit over-possesive.

The thing I liked from this drama are the supporting characters. Le Di Yin is very-well developed. He went from the silent, unfriendly, and introvert to a cheerful, gossipy, and active character. Liu Zi Wei is also well-developed. From the lazy and naughty character to a considerate and hardworking woman. Ouyang Yu is very friendly, but I just pity him, cuz he is a good person but always got misunderstood and hated by others, n he didn't get a good treatment either . An underrated character.

There are some parts where I feel disappointed, but I don't regret watching this as a time-killer. Incredibly full of bubbles lol

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My favorite drama and I can’t stop rewatching

Review

Okay, so i read all the reviews, especially the negative ones and all I can say is that I disagree and i feel bad for them cause they didn’t enjoy the drama as much as I did.

I thought the best part of the drama was the casting… Ren Shihao and Kabby Hui were perfect for their roles and they played it perfectly. I enjoy their banter and chemistry a lot. I felt Su Muyun’s frustration about being in love with his pseudo-sister and unable to expressed it the right way (it’s not like he can just confessed to her like a regular high schooler in love can) so he’s expressing it in different ways like bullying her to get her 100% attention. So he bullies her but he also protects her at every cost and always wanted to be around her, wherever she is. He’s a little stalker! Lol. Su Nianfeng’s naive and not so bright character I also adore as she played it to a tee. I know some people were frustrated about her naivety but that’s just the way the character was. I think Kabby was adorable portraying her. Both male and female leads were so good looking and were shippable together in real life despite their age gap of 7 years… with Kabby being older. I could not believed Shihao just turned 18 years old when this drama was made. He looked 18 to me from the start and when he portrayed 23 at the end of the series, he looked it. Both leads looked like teenagers at the start of the start drama and they grew older and matured seamlessly as the show progressed/ended.

The romance is slow burn but i enjoy it from the minute the first episode came til the last minute of the last episode. The storyline is obviously not perfect. It is not Game of Thrones so i won’t put it in that category but it is in the category of light fluffy romance and it certainly won that category hence the 10/10 star rating (9.5 for the plot). I saw that people complained of plot holes and there’s certainly quite a few but if people read the web novel, I think a lot of them would make sense or be plausible. For example, the age gap of Su Muyun and Su Nianfeng.. the blurb on my dramalist and everywhere else says 2 years but it was never explained in the drama if that’s what it was and it wasnt even addressed. In the book, they were told that she was 15 months older, i think for the sake that she was never told she was adopted. In reality, when secrets were revealed, Su Muyun was actually older than her by a few days and that’s actually more believable for the drama. Su Muyun is the older, more mature and possessive “brother” lol.

There was also people asking where she got the money to open a shop. In the book, she inherited some money from her parents when she turned 18… it’s mostly money from her dad’s family, if i remember correctly. The inheritance was not mentioned at all but doesn’t that make sense where she got the money to open the shop? Anyway, in the book, she was a doctor and 10 years later, she was a full fledge doctor. There was no mention of a bakery or shop.

I’ve seen enough Chinese dramas to know that the kissing scenes are always gonna be lackluster if you compare them to Spanish telenovelas or American/European shows.. that i already accepted. My first Chinese drama was Meteor Garden and while i loved it, the kissing scenes were a joke ?. Love O2O’s kissing scenes were even worst (though i understand the first kiss was supposed to be that awkward as per the book but that doesn’t explain the rest of the kissing scenes later on lol) but i have to say, no complains with Kabby and Shihao’s kissing scenes. If it was lacking, it was how it was directed due to china’s censorship. However, I liked their kissing scenes and there were many times that i think they were kissing for real and not just putting their lips together. I think i just feel their passion for each other, especially if you watch the last episode, the way Su Muyun looked at Zhou Yifeng, you can just see the passion and desire… but maybe it’s just because of Ren Shihao’s eyes lol. There’s like a burning intensity there. Lol.

No, it never bothered me that they grew up as siblings. They knew they weren’t blood related right from the start and Su Muyun liked her even before her parents died. They promised they will marry each other when they grow up so they can always stay together when they were 7 year olds. Su Muyun made it clear right from the start that he never regarded her as his sister.

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One of My Favourites

I personally have a different view from the majority of the reviews I've seen. I thoroughly enjoyed this cdrama and its plot. I've rewatched it many times, and after seeing Exclusive Fairytale get so hyped up, I can't believe this cdrama wasn't.

First off, the OSTs are so great! It suits the cdrama perfectly, and I like listening to it, so if you're someone like that, do listen to the OST - you can find it on Spotify.

I've seen comments where people didn't understand the name-change thing, but it was mainly for the female lead to discover her identity, which she lost after her parents passed. Yes, her rediscovery - especially the job changes: I completely understand why she tried to do med school for her friend Le Diyin and decided she couldn't deal with the grossness and the exhuastion of med school, but becoming a bakery business owner just didn't seem realistic - she should've stuck with her job, or they could have shown her struggles as she switched jobs - could have been potrayed in a better light, and they tried to romanticise it a little, but it was a good enough attempt. Yes, they were raised to be siblings, but considering everyone knew they weren't related by blood and it allowed them to get closer for the plot to work, I think it makes sense. Sure, being neighbors could be an alternative, but I liked the way it is.

Overall, I would recommend watching it. I get that it's not for some people, but it became a lighthearted, brainless binge for me, especially when I'm feeling down and want a little bit of banter with romance.

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I just Can't. Glorifies Abusive Relationship, Stupid FL

My new thing is to start these KDramas at Ep 5 or 6, in the hopes that I get past the toxic, bullying ML that all of these Kdramas love to glorify. I HATED the ML. On a Superficial level he was not good looking at all and I didn't understand why all the girls threw themselves at him. His personality was awful. He treated everyone, and I mean everyone like utter crap. His love for his adopted sister was creepy and boarding on obsessive. Why do so many of these shows glorify, bullying, toxic, controlling, emotionally abusive behavior as "romantic." His constant need to protect could have been "romantic" if not for all his other behaviors. It's like the men in these stories never grew up passed the "Pull the girl's pigtails to get her to notice you" stage of life.

I liked the FL at times, at other times she drove me crazy. Her constant trusting of people who everyone told her not to trust. Mainly one of the main bad girls, don't know, nor care what her name is. She's so annoying, obviously fake and spoiled. Everyone around her but the FL can see it. The FL's best friend keeps saying this girl is NOT her friend.

The spoiled mean girl repeatedly embarrassed her and the FL being the dumb idiot she is, constantly ignored it. And why did the female lead hate her? Simply because the FL's brother liked her, even though it was clear the FL saw him as her brother. The mean girl barely talked to the FL's brother! Had zero relationship or friendship with him, but decided she would do everything in her power to destroy this girl. Because you know, the plot called for it.

The mean girl destroyed the FL's family by accusing them of killing her parents and kept saying "have you ever wondered why they adopted you?" Then she played 5 seconds of a 10 year old conversation. The FL never once questioned, how the mean girl got the recording, or documents or why the hell she would even have them to begin with. She had ZERO relationship with her family! But she believes everything she says and immediately cuts ties with her brother and her adoptive mom and dad who just the episode before they showed how much they loved her and how well she was treated. But all it took to sever ties was the word of a mean girl. I really hated the FL at this point because, her reaction made zero sense. At the very least hear the parents out and not just take the b### word for it.

She kept saying, I want to find out the truth, but she never actually did anything to search for the truth. And if the harpy spoiled b had "documents" as proof. It didn't dawn on the FL to take those documents with her? She barely even looked at them. The ENTIRE Scene was so contrived and completely out of left field and honestly ruined the show. Because it made absolutely no sense and made the FL look like an utter, unlikable, fool.

When the brother finds out the 5 second tape was doctored and she listened to the parents story she STILL cut ties with them. Saying "Until I know the truth..." B you know the truth! Who are you going to believe? Later she finds further documents that prove there was something fishy going on, but had nothing to do with her Adoptive family and she STILL doesn't make up with them.

Also while the Adoptive parents seemed nice, where the hell were they? From episode 5 - 9 they weren't in the picture. It seemed like they two were living on their own and the ML was making the FL cook all his meals for him and then spent all his time criticizing the FL's cooking. Was that supposed to be "cute?"

I'm on EP 15 and now the FL is about to move in with some stranger she just came across and clearly is in league with one of the mean girls? Again, how stupid is the FL? Not to mention the FL has her own apartment and wasn't looking for an apartment, but suddenly the show brings this new conniving girl into the picture without explanation? For reasons? Did I mention every single woman in this show is a conniving B that's out to get the FL? Again, for reasons. The FL did NOTHING to any of these women, yet she has 4 or 5 of them scheming against her. I HATE it when a show has ONE conniving B that targets the FL. This one has like 5!

I'm ready to bail on this. I may skip a few eps, but it's a frustrating show. I just want to get to the point where she realizes she was wrong about her parents but I'm not going to watch another 10 episodes of everyone ganging up on this poor FL, while she acts like an utter trusting, forgiving, idiot. Especially when she doesn't trust the two people she should trust the most - her PARENTS!

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Good but get to the point

The ML was really good, but the female was really dumb, to say the least. I am currently watching it but feel like I can give a good descriptor on what to expect. Literally, nothing romantic has happened so far, like we know he does everything he does because he has feelings for her and she learns this but, never acknowledges it and it's never brought up again. A random girl whom she now doesn't like, tells her information that doesn't make a lot of sense, so she decides, yes I am going to believe this consistent liar that no one around me likes over the actual people in my life. The audio recording used, even with it edited doesn't say anything incriminating, and she never actually read the report about the accident, now we know the villain lied on it, but she believes it to be true without opening it. The whole murder subplot is completely unnecessary. She moves out of her home because of this and keeps saying she wants nothing to do with her adoptive family until she finds out the truth, yet isn't doing ANYTHING to find out the truth. I love the second female lead, she is my favorite so far, her intuition has been on point from the start and went from trying to manipulate the main female lead to willing to fight anyone being mean to her so fast and I love it. At this point I am just trying to finish it, the acting is good, the relationships are good, this random plotline is not and I am considering just skipping the next few episodes until this whole murder plotline is over.

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Very light school romcom drama

Early episode it started okay and then it went downhill so fast. The plot is messy, like the writer wants to throw every cliche romcom plot here, with popular cold ML and naive dumb but super positive and enthusiastic FL, her bestfriends, girls fawning over ML but he only has eyes for the FL, the unreasonable villain etc

I don't even understand why they had to change Zhou Yi Feng's name and decided to adopt her, they can just raise her normally instead of making both ML and FL seems like a sibling and then suddenly they're dating, what? I can't even fathom how no one, like their school mates, not even surprised and accept the Su siblings suddenly became lover. It doesn't makes sense because people always thought they are siblings. Then the villain suddenly just there and start scheming like wtf, i get she was jealous but childhood jealousy until she grown up is just doesn't makes sense.
Overall i got bored easily while watching this.

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Very plain and expecting story.

STORY--------------------------------
Of course, like a regular drama, there is a love triangle, and the jealous rival tries to ruin the lead's relationship. Very plain and normal. The story seemed a little bland, but the scenes were good. The music, cast, and acting was good too. Nothing really stood out to me in this drama, but it was okay to watch.
ACTING/CAST----------------------
The acting and cast was great! I loved their behind the scenes too. Nothing cringey, nothing over emotional.

MUSIC--------------------------------
Very subtle and flowing music. Great for working!

REWATCH VALUE-----------------
I wouldn't rewatch it, since it seemed like a more plain storyline, and very sterotype "drama plot". But it all differs based on the person. I would probably just rewatch a few scenes.

OVERALL-----------------------------
I would recommend this to people who have slightly lower expectations for a drama. I personally was fine with this, but the conflict was the part that dissatisfied me the most. So if you are really bored, this is a good one to watch, though there are a few better dramas out there. I had to rely more on the acting to make this judgement. Definitely not the worst.

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I tried to like it

I honestly tried to like it and understand the characters but honestly I don't think I liked any of the characters.

The plot was kind of weird cause she's like his sister basically even though there's no blood connection. If you're ok with that, you could watch it.

The characters were kind of annoying because the FL kept getting into problems and always needed to be saved by the ML. I got irritated at some points cause it felt like she depended on him so much, and she just didn't have much of a personality. On the other hand, the ML was annoying cause he kept making her cook for him like dude you should maybe learn how to cook. And second of all, he was way too clingy. Now, don't get me wrong, I like clingy, but he was like obsessive like he wouldn't let her do her own thing which bothered me. I think space and limits are very important in any relationship but in this show, he just kept making her do things for him and what he wanted. Overall, I just didn't really enjoy this show, except some parts of their relationship is cute.

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