Forever and Ever (2021)

Zhousheng Chen, You Have Come Afterall

"If there was someone in today’s society who carried with her the memories of two lifetimes and she loved you, what a blessing that would be."

The long await sequel to One and Only (周生如故), Forever and Ever (一生一世) is finally here.

Forever and Ever is a really beautiful and heart-rending drama. The love story between Zhousheng Chen and Shi Yi is just ethereal. Shi Yi is an unwavering woman, “my heart has already belonged to someone, it will not change”. She kept her words; she did not fall for anyone else except Zhousheng Chen. Upon hearing Zhousheng Chen’s name, she approached him and gets her way into his heart. Meanwhile, Zhousheng Chen is not a proactive person, he never has to speak out loud about his feelings towards Shi Yi but everyone knows his love towards her. His love towards Shi Yi is evident through his small gestures, and most importantly eyes.

Forever and Ever did a commendable job in delivering Zhousheng Chen and Shi Yi’s love story. The relationship between Zhousheng Chen and Shi Yi developed at a quick yet mellow pace. For those who didn’t watch One and Only, you might’ve felt a bit rushed and confused with the pacing of the relationship. However, they have waited for centuries to finally be together, they are given a second chance, and are finally together.

At the beginning of their relationship, there are awkwardness and courtesy between them. Though they are still polite to each other, their gaze and small actions just simply show how much they adore and love each other. Forever and Ever is the type of romance drama where gaze and action speak louder than skinship. The drama also has some comedy elements to it. If you have watched One and Only before, you might laugh and smile after seeing how Zhousheng Chen went from a cold and ice-y general went to a cute and chubby chemistry professor. Zhousheng Chen’s actions towards Shi Yi are actually just like any other romcom drama, but it’s not entirely like any other romcom drama. Forever and Ever manages to make all those cliché actions into something new and fluffy. For instance, when Zhousheng Chen carries Shi Yi’s bag while watching it, I am sure that you will let out a smile. Moreover, there are also some characters in this drama that will make you laugh, a big shoutout to uncle Lin!!

The second half of this drama is filled with sweetness and sugar! The romantic scenes in this drama will touch your heart, you can definitely feel every action and word that's spoken by Zhousheng Chen and Shi Yi, it is genuine and full of love. And there is no misunderstanding, breakup in here. Their relationship is just the cutest and the sweetest!!

The acting and chemistry of both Bai Lu and Ren Jialun definitely did not disappoint. The way Bai Lu and Ren Jialun convey their emotions through nuanced micro-expressions, and how they articulate every scene is just impeccable. Both of them managed to act so differently between One and Only and Forever and Ever, but still evoking the same affable charm and cute chemistry! Both Bai Lu and Ren Jialun need to get an award for their acting in One and Only and Forever and Ever. Both of their acting is infectious!! Especially Ren Jialun's acting in forever and ever - his portrayal is more three-dimensioned, ZSC in the drama is more lively, grounded, and vulnerable than in the novel. In addition, I also love how both Bai Lu and Ren Jialun uses their own voice in the drama!!

The entire drama production team has also successfully captured the essence and magic of the novel through the cinematography and script. The cinematography is dreamlike and majestic, with its warm color palette and color grading. Almost every shot in the drama can be beautifully framed. In addition, the drama also has a gorgeous wardrobe. I love how Shi Yi and Zhousheng Chen wear a subtle couple outfit, they have the same color scheme.

Forever and Ever also has an enchanting music score, filled with love and a hint of angst. Forever and Ever also incorporates One and Only background music in it, the combination of that two music makes the drama more beautiful. The music is effectively run in each scene, making each scene more beautiful and touching. The lyrics of the OSTs are really beautiful and meaningful. Reading the song lyrics while watching the drama will either make you smile or cry..

Due to censorship in China, the reincarnation storyline is censored, therefore, the production team alters the storyline. In the drama, Shi Yi doesn’t remember her past, but only fragments of it, and small impressions of it. For instance, during her visit to the city wall, she remembers a woman jumping down, but with different outfits and details from One and Only. In addition, I also love some alterations from the novel to the drama, instead of using a gun, Zhou Wenchuan uses a knife and... which led to the tragedy.

The strong forte of Forever and Ever is definitely its details and conversation. Every conversation in Forever and Ever is magical. The scriptwriter just manages to make every conversation meaningful. The correlation conversation to their past lifetime is done so beautifully. In addition, the parallels between One and Only and Forever and Ever is impeccably done, it is done is a subtle yet clear manner.

Here are some interesting details:
1. During Zhousheng Chen's past lifetime, he was only covered with the dusty white cloth when he died. This lifetime, he is allergic to dust”
2. Shiyi’s crocs: zsc 520 - Zhousheng Chen I love you
Zhousheng Chen’s crocs: 忙着赚钱。sy 520 - busy earning money. Shi yi I love you
3. In Shi yi's past lifetime, she jumped down in sequin shoes to marry Zhousheng Chen. And this lifetime, Shi Yi wore a sequin dress to marry Zhousheng Chen

The only drawback of this drama is it might be confusing for those who didn't watch One and Only or read the novel beforehand. For those who didn’t watch One and Only beforehand, watching Forever and Ever might be a little bit confusing, but not too confusing too. The drama provides few clips and hints of what happened in Shi Yi and Zhousheng Chen’s past life in Forever and Ever. But the drama didn't thoroughly explain Zhousheng Chen's family tree and hierarchy, so you might have a hard time understanding who's who and what's their relation with each other.

Overall, Forever and Ever is a very beautiful romance drama, even though the drama doesn’t stay 100% true to the novel, the drama still captures the very essence of the relationship and plot beautifully.

“I think, I must have used my beautiful bones as an exchange for you to have unrivaled beauty, as an exchange for you to remember me, as an exchange for you to be able to utter my name when your lips moved.”

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Amazing True Love from HlSTORICAL Time until MODERN Time (MUST WATCH ONE & ONLY FOR THE 1ST)

why I wrote you have to watch "ONE AND ONLY" first, because your feelings when watching will be very much different if you start this without watching the first season...maybe you think you will still understand the story line but emotions, feelings and moods when you watch it will be much different ... well ... so you are strongly advised to keep watching the first season first, although you may read that the first season ended sadly but I guarantee you will be satisfied with the story and after that you would give 10/10 point for this drama with 2 season...

actually this is my first time to write a review before finishing a drama as a whole....but my love for this drama has pushed me to write it....

In short, this drama begins with their very deep encounter and love story between a warlord and king of Nancheng who is very loyal to the kingdom, Zhou ShengCheng which has a called "BEAUTIFUL BONES " by all the people (because of his loyalty to the kingdom who always struggles to overcome the people, not interested in power, wealth or beautiful women only CSY who has melted his hearts) with his very beautiful and intelligent student, CuiShiYi. in historical times they both could not be united by fate where ZSC was accused by a cursed prince who was jealous and wanted to marry CSY had rebelled so that he had to end tragically and because of her love and deep loyalty CSY followed her teacher by ending her life too...but before she dies, she makes a wish if they meet in another life...she hopes ZSC can marry her first...and...

FINALLY HER WISH CAME TRUE , THEIR LOVE IS MEET BACK IN MODERN TIME....(FOREVER AND EVER)

Their suffering in historical drama finally brought them to modern life.

I've never read a novel from this drama before, so I feel I don't need to nor will I compare the story or characters of the cast to the novel....

I really like the story line which is unique and has different characteristics from modern dramas in general, even though it tells the story about now but every time I see an ancient building or residence in this drama can indirectly bring me back to feeling warm when I watch OAO (this is also one reason why you should watch OAO first ) I also like writers to write about the differences in their characters from historical dramas to modern times, so I feel there is an interest for me to watch those differences.....

ZhouShengChen who is an innocent chemistry professor but super genius, responsible, mature sometimes a little shy feels sweet and makes me feel excited to see him especially when sees him in a relationship with ShiYi...he is full of warmth and concern for him, as if made me feel how comfortable it was to be his girlfriend...hahaha...he was reunited with the girl he loved so much in the past but couldn't be with him (because of the oath he made before he met CSY that he would never marry for the rest of his life made him felt guilty towards CSY at the end of his past life for not being able to return his love)

ShiYi as a voice actress who is graceful, beautiful and sometimes a shadow of the past can be seen in her mind makes her have a deep feeling for ZSC from the very beginning of their meeting. some things in the past that hurt her deeply are still a bad feeling in her and I'm sure all of that will be cured after she entered into a romantic relationship and married the person she loved very much from historical times to the present, ZhouShengChen.

and...i really like watching their developmental approach when dating...hahaha...their relationship is very sweet, adorable and mature as well as caring and warm...i really love it....

ALLEN REN and BAILU really are actors and actresses who are very potential and professional...two different characters in two periods of time have been presented by them very perfectly. the characters zhoushengchen and shiyi feel very alive in this drama...their acting is very good, beautiful and natural...as I said in the comments page, so natural that sometimes I forget I'm watching and this is just a drama...

I'm really hope that both of them and this drama both One and Only (season 1) and Forever and Ever (season 2) can get a lot of AWARDS for their really very good performance because they really deserve it...

I'm also very happy that they didn't omit all the soundtrack from historical dramas in this modern drama, and made us still can feel the environment that was brought to modern times...they were good at doing that...some songs added for modern times this also feels okay to me and is suitable for modern-day stories.

I can be sure I will repeat this drama because even before this drama ends I have used my free time waiting for the continuation of the new episode by re-watching this drama ... so for rewatch value, no need to ask again, I will definitely give full marks for it.

overall : 10/10 for this season 2

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