You Are Desire (2023)

Quite Enjoyable

To each their own, but I personally really enjoyed the drama. I agree with majority that the trajectory of the plot changed in the second half but I also think it wasn't "out of the blue". It changed bc they changed. They weren't kids anymore and were considered adults in the second half. Making their own decisions and facing the consequences of those decisions. We also got to see what happened in ML's past and FL's fighting certain "boulders"(iykyk) to find her own path for her own life.

Without spoiling anything, I would say the first half is about two kids with troubled homes/past who find comfort and support in each other. Second half, young adults who reconnect and develop deep feelings for each other while supporting each other's dreams.

It isn't as romantic and fluffy as WIFTY, but the leads still have amazing chemistry. I think it was nicely developed too. And there are definitely some kicking my feet in the air moments too.

Definitely watch the special ep to get some more answers.

I think if you go into this drama thinking it will be as romantic and cute as WIFTY, you'll be greatly disappointed. ZYR's characters in both dramas are drastically different, but tbh.. I might like Shen Juan a little more ?

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A bright smile but the story made me very disappointed

I'm so really sorry to say but the plot story is very common, flat and is not suppose a teenager do like they really look very mature even though they comes from a broken home.

Is so hard to finished moreover there are 30 episodes! Honestly, I want to give up on episode 11 but I try to survive the end and finally I'm here now for add my review. The story really disappointed me, I thought they could finish it well at the end of the episode but unfortunately it looked strange and I didn't get the gist of the story because they were too focused on Shen Juan and Lin Yujing's romantic relationship. There are 30 episodes but I feel like the way they wrote it was like 24 episodes. They wasted too much money to make it to 30 episodes... I think 24 episodes is more than enough. The disappointment that has been hidden since episode 8.

Actor/Actress has a good acting especially both of them has a dimple and is look bright smile.

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dropped //:

I dropped this at episode 20, I completely lost all motivation to continue it. the chemistry was just not there for me, yes the female lead was strong willed but to me she got totally bland once they began dating, pacing felt off. I won’t lie the part that had me most interested was whether or not his uncle would survive and what was the deal with the kid his uncle took in, those few episodes were peak. The romance was completely lacking, even when they were dating it felt like I was watching best friends rather than a couple, hardly any romance scenes at all except hugs here and there to remind us “hey, they’re dating”. once the college years hit everything just got so boring and once I feel like I’m forcing myself to watch new episodes that’s when I know it’s time to drop.

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What Happened Half Way?

Honestly, this show would have gotten a 9 star review, if things didn't take a weird shift when the characters got into college.

The story first focused on both the FL and ML, until the second part where the FL's storyline was overshadowed. It wasn't like she wasn't there however the balance between them was thrown off. After part one, the main focus should have been the aftermath of what happened in highschool. However, the subject of focus wasn't correct and was executed in a very bad way. Which is a shame.

Since this story is an adaptation, I cannot say what had changed except from what I've read of the novel's description where the ML's financial situation isn't the same. Whether they did more changes beyond that or they written something different with small references to the original work, I'm not sure. Either way, the change in the story is a bit too big to be overlooked, even with a great cast.

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Good "coming of age" drama

I quite liked this drama, if I ignore some of the points I found a bit unrealistic (could be due to cultural differences).

Strong performances, I especially liked the male characters.

This was amongst the first "coming of age" C-dramas I watched, and coming back to this review now several months later, I can add that a lot of them are quite similar.
I guess what made this stand out the most for me was the acting, and the beginning was quite memorable for me (for some reason).

I don't really remember the music, so I just give "average" star rating for that.

SMALL SPOILER:
^^^^
^^^^
I found the situation when her mum took her back quite unrealistic, and I didn’t quite understand why she got straight back in contact with the others, but not him.

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Refreshing Drama

The drama brings refreshing storyline, unlike other bubbly high school drama, this one stressed heavily on the FL and ML family issues while they're in high school. The story starts where FL was ordered by her mom to live with her dad (mom and dad divorced) without any explanation whatsoever, her mom even tranfered her to the school nearby her dad area without her knowledged. She felt her mom and the world had abandoned her, especially her dad treated her no worse than her mom. Each of her parents seems to always demands (order) her to obey disregarding (simply didn't care) her feelings and needs to be given care and listened to. I
Near her father's home and while trying to fix her bracelet, she meets ML and his friends. Turns out they all study in the same school she just transfered to. Worse, the ML is her deskmate and has a bad rumor surrounding him making his classmates avoid and afraid of him. On the other hand, behind his quiet demeanor, turns out ML have to man up and carries the burden to keep his caretaker (uncle) silver shop running, while the caretaker is in comma at the hospital. ML's mom also has passed away, while his father works abroad. That explains why he lives with his uncle since the age 10. Due to their family relationship issues, the ML and FL found comfort and solace in each other. They understood each other's heartache. Both leads deals their issues like normal adults human being, on the other hand the adults (mostly FL parents) acting like spoiled selfish child.

Speaking of acting, it's not that it's bad but this is the second time I see the ML portrays this kind of depressed, aloof, quiet and couldn't careless character (when I fly towards you - same type) , I hope he will not get stuck in playing the same character over and over again, because I think he has potential, his acting is on point. I hope earnestly as his carreer grows his agency will find him dramas with different genres and more versatile characters.

Another thing I like is how the screenwritter paints the FL character as calm and collected with a bit of mischieve and SMART, quite different with highschool/adult drama in general where FL often portrayed as not weird, stupid, careless, clumsy, screaming talking too much and damsel in distress, where the smart female character always portrayed as beautiful, villainess or that evil biyatch. This smart and collected character for an FL in highschool drama especialluly is what I have been waiting for all this time, like Zhao Lusi character in Who Rules the World.

Like the trend of highschool/romantic dramas in recent years, this drama also did not prolong in resolving the issues arrising in the storyline, Apart from the ML uncle in comma, the issues in the drama resolved quickly, and strengthened the character and the relationship of both leads.

I have watch the drama until ep 17. The obstacles left that have not yet addressed so far is the FL overbearing mom who dragged FL back to their hometown forcing her to once again changed school and confiscated her cellphone that disabled her from contacting any of her previous friend. Which I find extremely weird though, she's smart but instead of borrowing any of her classmates or besties cellphones to contact the previous friends, she used the school's security phone which happens to be located at the school gate where FL mom suddenly parked. I get that the writter probly trying to stressed the reason she lost contact with anyone, while at the same time picturing how overbearingly forceful the FL mom is, but still with the ML character's IQ and everything that has been going on in the drama, the inconsistency is too much.

Another unresolved issue is the mysterious dude the ML almost punched few episodes back that may relate to the uncle in comma. Just guessing. After the FL move back to her hometown without telling him directly, the ML's world could not get any worse, his dad returns from abroad only to ask him to sign permission form to let go the ML's uncle life support, for the doctor have done everything in their power but no sign of his uncle getting better. Missing the FL and conflicted with the decision to terminate the life support, ML found a letter left by FL in his stacks of books on the last day she said farewell in their class. Consoled by the letter, ML finally decide to sign the consent form to unplugged the uncle life support. ML also reconsiled with his dad, before dad returns to work abroad.

In ep 17, finally the FL graduate, because she firmly wants to keep her promise to the ML to go to the same uni, the FL fights heaven and hell with her mom, finally she was able to attend the uni of her choice and meet again with the ML, however awkardness arose between them due to her abrupt transfer without saying goodbye.

Now I'm excitedly anticipating how this drama will present the ML and FL transition from "special" friend to lovers. Especially if they have kissing scene, I hope the ML and FL kissing scene can be as good as or even more like that kissed Chen Zhe Yuan did in "Our Secrets" ep 19/20 (sooo goood), not just random pressing lips altogether with no movement. Hope the could superbly act it out.

I honestly don't pay attention to other supporting character's romance or whatever plot, everytime they're dominating the screen I fast forward lol. Sorry I just don't wanna waste my time besides I find their storyline doesn't relate at all with the FL and ML relationship. So skip.

Lastly, I'm sorry for the long review I'm just very excited with this drama, I hope my enthusiasm and excitement for this drama can reach to you fellow mydramalist fans as well and hope we could support the drama together until the finale.

Cheers

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Sizzling Yiran-Sabrina chemistry, cute dimple couple!

I'm only a third in but am writing this review to convince those hesitating about 白日梦我 (I prefer the Chinese title than the nonsensical English one!) to PLEASE WATCH THIS Yiran gem!

First watched Zhou Yiran in When I Fly Towards You (WIFTY) and was charmed by the dimples and 'simple' acting/plot there. He's a little bit broodier and mature here. He's also reunited with Guran (WIFTY) and in this school, he's the bad boy with good grades - we find out that he's repeating a year because of what had happened to the uncle who cared for him as a child.

Shen Juan (Yiran) is trying to run his uncle's silversmith shop (no spoilers) while studying. At the start of the school year, he gets a new desk mate - the gorgeous and clever Lin Yu Jing (Sabrina) - a transfer student from a 'broken' home. The unfolding of their friendship is natural and the pace exactly right.

There's a spate of youth/high school C-dramas but this hits different because of the amazing chemistry between the leads. What's refreshing is also a FL who is not coy, shrill, flirty or too stupid to live but with her head firmly screwed on the shoulder. When she discovers that SJ is having trouble paying the shop rent, she and the other 2 friends (Yi Yang & Song Nan) find ways to make money to cover the rent.

Ten episodes in and there's still no romance in the grand sense but you KNOW the ML cares for the FL and vice versa. They enjoy a day out at an amusement park, they have a hot pot with their buddies, they spend a couple of days at a farm - these are things that make youth memorable but there's nothing forced about them.

We get a sense that Yu Jing's divorced parents are troublesome adults but I don't really care and just am rooting for this adorable couple to get together! Special mention, too, to Yu Jing's stepbrother - the cute and hot lawyer
Fu Ming Xiu (Chen He Yi).

Can't wait to watch the other 20 episodes! Must add that Mango TV subs are HORRENDOUS! There are some auto-translate howlers e.g. Shen Juan = 'aunty' but it's free on YT, so can't complain.

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One of the Best Chinese Dramas I've watched

You are Desire
1: I rate the story a 10 out of 10 because the story was talking about Zhuang Da Fei who was a High School Student went to live with her dad. Their relationship was bad and they often argue a lot and the brother didn't seem to care at all. But one day Zhuang Da Fei met a boy name Yiran Zhou. They went to the same school and started talking to each other and having fun in school. They then started to like each other and promise to go to the same college. But Zhuang Da Fei's mother realized their relationship and forced her daughter to come back home with her and get into a better college and even didn't want her to date Yiran Zhou because she thought he was a bad kid with poor grades/etc. But Yiran Zhou proved to Zhuang Da Fei's mother that he is a good kid and promise to take care of Zhuang Da Fei. The Story also talked about Yiran's cousin who always wanted to make Yiran mad by blaming him for his Uncle's death and want to take over the shop. He and Yiran were on bad terms and had a bad relationship with each other. But they eventually calmed down and reconcile.

Music/Opening: The Music Opening was so good. It was like playing a goddess song and sad and happy story. The drawings/pictures while playing music looked very cool and amazing. The drawings looked so real and beautiful. That they deserved a rating 10 out of 10.

Acting: Zhaung Da Fei and Yiran Zhou's Acting was very good and I feel like they deserved a reward for the acting parts where they had to act some hard parts like the kissing, being mad, and even sad.

Rewatch Value: 10 out of 10. (Idk what that means but I rewatched this 1-30 episodes 4 times already and it's very good and makes me want to rewatch it 100 times.)

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One of 2023's best cdramas.

From the very start I was very impressed with this drama. The first episode felt grounded in reality and presented all the main characters as young adults behaving like such but also with a level of maturity that felt respectful. Sometimes youth dramas don't know how to balance the growing pains, friendship and romance but You Are Desire does it perfectly.

Xia Feng Yan created a story with solid development based on actual growing from well rounded characters that act and react in ways that feel natural. I am amazed this is her first project and I will keep an eye on her because she has a bright future.

Deng Ke (My Huckelberry Friends) also started in the industry as a screenwriter before transitioning into directing, so it was a perfect fold for Xia's story. He understood the assignment and complemented the script with beautiful cinematography, camera movements and choice of cast.

This drama could have died in the hands of a lesser cast but Zhou Yiran and Zhuang Dafei carried the drama flawlessly. Most of the story centers around them and how they interact with others when loneliness has been a part of their young lives for a long time. The supporting cast were also at their best, each with their own lives and struggles which made them well rounded individuals and not an artifact to push the leads's story.

All of these elements created a beautiful group of people dealing with different experiences. A slice of life drama where we understand the world is not always fair and parents make mistakes; where people need to learn to grieve in a healthy way. That families can all look very different from each other and that's okay as long there's love. That you don't always pass the university exam and your workplace might suck. A world where you fall in love and support one another as you grow together with a clear understanding of each other. That life can be sweeter when you are surrounded of good people who truly appreciate you.

Overall, You Are Desire it's a wonderful story that enjoyed from the very first episode to the last one. Criminally underrated, for sure, as I don't understand how more people are not talking about what is probably one of 2023's best cdramas.

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I really loved the overall vibe of the drama. Very calm but not boring at all. It's the perfect healing drama for me. The plot was good, especially after every episode, the comments made by the main characters truly made it remarkable. I loved the pacing of the drama. Something I loved about this drama is how naturally the relationship progressed between the main leads. The way Shen Juan and Lin Yujing overcame their fear and came out of their respective shells makes it such a good drama. Especially the growth of Shen Juan and in this case the impact of Lin Yujing was amazing. One of the few dramas where the main leads have an amazing healthy relationship without any unnecessary misunderstanding. Also I must say the bonding of the friends was also great. Overall a memorable drama which I highly recommend to people who want to watch something about individual growth and healing.

It has become one of my most favourite dramas. Give it a try.

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