Perfect and Casual (2020)

Cotton candy - fluffy, sugary, light and airy

This is a sweet, fluffy drama built out of well-loved tropes:
- Sweet bubbly girl + aloof intelligent/super-competent guy
- Girl provides the EQ to guy's IQ
- Guy who starts out thinking girl is foolish but falls in love as he gets to know her
- Guy is cold/indifferent to others but devoted to her
- Contract marriage to real love

This drama goes all in on the sweetness and cuteness of the relationship rather than playing up angst and conflict - there are some of the standard obstacles as well (FL has another suitor, ML has another suitor, relationship insecurity, family pushing them together/pulling them apart), but they're not taken very seriously and quickly resolved. It's also nice to see a supportive and loving relationship where the 2 want to help each other accomplish their goals. The acting was fine - I felt like ML's acting was a bit above FL's but they were still cute together and had good chemistry.

I really enjoyed watching their relationship progress and all the sweet fluffy scenes, but without a real story structure or any significant stakes or obstacles to overcome or even anything serious outside of romance, I started to lose interest, especially in the last quarter. There were big things that happened in their lives but they get resolved and there are no consequences. Also, I was not a fan of the story arc for either of the secondary couples. The sweetness of the drama was great, but it was just lacking depth for me.

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Currently obsessing with this drama!

Nope, this is not for you if you're expecting something new or mind-blowing. This is an easy going drama with not much plot just FLUFF and I'm chill with that.

Aside from the 'marriage contract' cliche, the main couple's relationship progress nicely, MC and ML think and act maturely and there are no unreasonable misunderstandings, not much push and pull (which frustrates me to death on most dramas).

If you're a fan of josei or slice of life kind of Chinese novel translations (mostly found on novelupdates.com) then you're in for a treat! This adaptation is simply fun I wish I could read the novel itself. <3

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Not worth the watch even if your bored...

It was cute in the begining but became hard to finish towards the end, completing 30 minutes felt like 3 days.
The fl is a statistic major who at some point in the drama gains knowledge about law for her part time job, so we can infer that shes booksmart. Despite these qualifications she makes descions as if she is operating with ZERO brain cells. The writers wrote her without common sense as it it wasnt in the dictionary. Her actions are really really really cringy.
The side couples were rushed towards the end and made no sense. It was as if the writers started bsing the plot just because they had to complete it somehow. All in all, a mess.

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Stereotypical? Yes. Cheesy? Yes. Likable? Yes.

I’m not one to shy away from a stereotypical and cheesy romance drama… if it’s done tastefully. A contractual relationship involving a cold capable ML and a clumsy bubbly FL is certainly nothing new. Us webtoon readers and cdrama watchers are well acquainted with this sort of plot by now. But even without an original and exciting script, Perfect and Casual (2020) does everything it needs to do right to pass the test.

I was pleasantly surprised to find that the ML is NOT a complete jerk for once. With an exception for some moments in the first two episodes, he is overall a very caring and considerate person. This is probably why they were able to jam-pack this drama full of sickly sweet and fluffy romance between the two leads. Which I’m all for! The chemistry was just right for a first love/youthful romance. And I also appreciate that the age difference (probably something like 28 vs 21 years old) didn’t make me think twice at all. In fact, if anything the FL felt like the more romantically experienced/ emotionally mature one in the relationship; in the best way possible. And speaking of the FL, she was perfectly likable and adorable as well… especially so when she was showcased with her two good friends. They made a great trio.

There wasn’t much of a storyline besides the romantic progression between the three or so couples in the drama. And it’s for this reason that I’m not giving this drama a higher rating. But all in all, I enjoyed Perfect and Casual for its cute moments and happy endings. It was a nice way to keep my boredom at bay. 7.7/10 stars.

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Drama muito fofo

Gostei bastante desse C-drama. História bem leve e a química dos protagonistas é ótima. O avô do é bem carismático. Até os personagens que surgem para criar conflitos, discórdia e intriga na vida dos personagens são bonzinhos. É muito difícil passar raiva assistindo esse drama. É uma história bem fofa e engraçada. A forma como a matemática é colocada na história é bem interessante. Apesar de achar que a personagem principal feminina poderia ficar mais esperta após ter sido enganada pelo primo, gostei da evolução dela, que é uma personagem inocente, sonhadora, fofa e forte.

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Sweet, Innocent Romance

This drama was somewhat different from all the other contract marriage dramas I've watched. It is also the first drama I've watched where the main couple are in a stable and healthy relationship throughout as opposed to all the side couples that seem to have a lot more drama. It had very unique comedy, especially at the start, but after the first several episodes, all I felt was second hand embarrassment.

I remember wanting to watch this drama when it came out because I loved the cover picture. I'm glad I decided to watch it now. "Perfect and Casual" despite how odd and perhaps cringe the title sounds, it is the perfect title for this drama. Zhang was the "perfect" professor/mathematician (who definitely had really bad OCD) and Yun Shu was the "casual" student who happened to be in one of Zhang's classes. They also dressed the parts really well throughout. Zhang is almost always in a suit and Yun Shu dressed like a university student that couldn't be bothered to dress up.

Despite the fact that we only see him teaching her at university twice, even after they were married and even became a real couple, not once did it not feel like a student/teacher relationship. It made me uncomfortable how she always referred to him as "teacher/mr". But I loved how innocent their romance was. They were both each others first and they were both really awkward (in different ways) when it came to romance, but they somehow pulled it off and made their relationship work.

I loved Miles and Xu Ruo Han in their roles. Miles was perfectly casted as Zhang, everything about him made him look like the perfect, awkward and nerdy professor. Xu Ruo Han was great playing the part of Yun Shu. Her smile and aura made her character seem very genuine, despite her characters stupidity from time to time, not once did I find Yun Shu annoying because the actress played her in such a way that I couldn't dislike her at all.

I loved all the side characters and how close everyone was in this drama. I especially loved the grandpa who was the catalyst to the beginning of all the relationships, at least Yun Shu and Zhang's relationship, and somewhat the start to Yun Lan and Lu Yu's relationship.

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Kind, mature main characters is what sets this apart from the typical contract relationship.

The first 2 or so episodes are full of typical tropes that set up the story, so initially I wasn't impressed. However, once you have the setup out of the way, you start to get to know the main characters and that's where the heart of the show really lies.

The title refers to our two main characters, the "perfect" Statistics Professor Zhang Sinian who always has to have a calculated answer for everything, and the "casual" easy-going Yun Shu who is lively and easily trusts people to a fault. A series of events leads Yun Shu to enter a contract marriage with Zhang Sinian.

The male-lead is not your usual cold and arrogant type. The contract relationship that they enter into is created out of Zhang Sinians desire to fulfil his Grandfathers last wishes, so from the very beginning we know he's a kind and thoughtful person. He's very clear to Yun Shu that he won't force her to do anything she doesn't want to, and goes out of his way to make sure she is comfortable with her decision and their relationship.

If you dislike naïve characters, don't be put off by the female-lead's first impressions. Yun Shu might seem like the typical clumsy, naïve character at the start, but that's just to set up the meet-cute. She's actually quite endearing, and wants to believe people are good at heart, but when it's clear that someone is not a good person she's not a fool. I also loved that she spoke her mind and was not indecisive with her feelings throughout the show.

The lovely main characters aside — I mean seriously, I want to be as sweet and kind as them — what impressed me about the show is how it didn't rely on toxic behaviour or contrived conflicts in order to set up the right situations for the show. Too often dramas concoct reasons for the main leads to be forced together (or apart), and quite often it involves some kind of lie, manipulation or misunderstanding. It felt so refreshing that characters actually communicated with each-other, which meant that any misunderstanding were resolved quickly. The pace of the drama was also well done so that the obstacles to their relationship that did come up didn't feel contrived or draggy.

I was less invested in the secondary couples (I usually always am), but still found their stories quite unique and interesting. In particular, Yun Shu's two best friends who once dated but are now just friends. They had great rapport.

All in all, this was an enjoyable, light-hearted watch with enough tension to keep you interested, plenty of sweet moments and no frustrating situations to drag the pace. A perfect recommendation for anyone looking for something sweet and casual.

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Not your typical contract marriage. Nice acting and script.

If you like stress-free dramas with a lot of fluff, this one is for you. There are no annoying villains. Not much drama, just pure love. There's nothing new about the story but the way it was written plus the acting, is what sets it apart from other dramas with the same theme.

Contract marriage. Teacher-student relationship. Cold guy, carefree girl. These are all very common themes we see in drama land but it was nicely done here. Plus, I really like the casting, especially the leads; they really suit their roles.

What makes it different from other dramas with the same theme??

(1) Cold guy, carefree girl:
Unlike most dramas with this theme, the ML here is cold but not arrogant and the FL is carefree but not clueless. The ML is not the typical domineering ML. He's actually warm-hearted as seen on how he cares for his grandfather. He's also gentle and polite to the FL. What makes him seem like a cold person is his very logical view of the world as he does things based on 'rationality' rather than emotions. The FL, although clumsy, manages to do things and make decisions on her own; she's not very dependent on the ML. I really hate dumb FLs and I understand the frustration of some people who have watched the series when Yun Shu got conned twice. Initially, I thought 'How is that even possible?!' but as I watched more and more, I started to understand her character and why she would do certain things. There's always a reason behind their actions so sometimes you'll hate the characters but later sympathize with them as the story progresses.

(2) Contract marriage:
Unlike other dramas, a lot of people knew about the contract early on. The contract was not something that could make or break their relationship once people found out about it. The contract was like a stepping stone for them to start a love journey together. It was like an 'excuse' for them to care about each other during the time when they were still uncertain about their feelings. Unlike other contract marriages in drama land, the leads here don't hate each other but are just plain awkward in the beginning which is as expected of strangers who suddenly have to live together. Falling in love is not unexpected because the relationship between the leads is actually good. They have a lot of differences but they both try to compromise and it's clear in their actions that they really care about each other.

(3) Teacher-student relationship:
This part was not emphasized that much but it added a certain thrill to the story. The age gap was not that big. I like how they did not focus on this but instead, they focused on their development as husband and wife. I also like how the leads are able to learn from each other. The ML, being the older one, was not portrayed as a know-it-all. He would get the FL's opinion or seek advice from other people. He understands that he has limitations and that he's not perfect unlike the domineering CEOs so typical in other dramas. For me, this makes his character more human and relatable.

So, to summarize:
Story - nothing new, but well-written
Acting/Cast - perfect, they really suit their characters
Music - the songs were mostly of the same artist, it gives the drama a fun and casual vibe and I like it
Rewatch value - this drama really puts me on a good mood so i'll definitely rewatch
Overall - recommended for those who want a stress-free drama, no complicated story line, just a very light and fluffy romantic drama

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should be "Mr Pefect and Ms Clumsy" instead. ZHANG LAOSHI HERE I COME!!

I was hesitating if i should watch it. in the first ep I found that the ML is really cool but hes strict. I didnt like the FL at all, she was really clumsy but shes like a sun, she always shine. The age gap is my fav genre. and also teacher/student relationship. But sadly there aren't many dramas like this.
while watching it, i was head over heel with Zhang Laoshi. he looks cold and strict but deep down, hes soo unprofessional with LOVE. U guys need to give it a try. I just love the story so much, Mr. Perfect really suits Zhang Sinian. And Ms Casual ( i prefer Ms Clumsy) also really suits Yun Shu.
Overall, yall need to watch it.

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best love story

I started because the male lead was too swoon worthy ??? Initially, I thought the female lead was a bit awkward in her acting but she definitely grew on me. She isn't "stunning" in her looks but she is very 耐看. I find her really pretty now because of this drama. And she is adorable too! Male lead is really good looking, and I love his character. I love these kinds of lighthearted dramas. I squeal every time romantic moments occur

i should really just watch dramas per your review. so far our taste has been pretty similar and hit rate is about 80%. It's a lighthearted and sweet drama when you need to take your mind off things.. glad i decided to watch it. I binged all 18ep over the weekend.
yes agree on the mother part! They get you cheering for them! lol!

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Cute but more like a damsel in distress type drama

Its a typical plot with a few different twists in how characters are presented and yes there are double couples in this drama but i was put off with the male lead always seeming to always be saving a damsel in distress with the female lead. I prefer the second leads romance towards the end cos it did drag out in the last few episodes. The development of the male couples relationship and how much the male lead cares for her seems to be what the drama is worth watching for.
Overall its a good drama but didnt need to have a long ending, personally think it couldve ended at episode 18 or something.

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