Forever and Ever (2021)

Do You Believed in Reincarnation?

'The life is short like a dream, how often can one enjoy himself if it is not for my one and only love, Shi Yi who deserve my lifelong pursuit' - this is the poem handwritten by Zhou Shen Chen in his wedding invitation card to show his sincerity in marrying his beloved.

The one who understands will truly enjoy the stories. I love every details they tried to incorporate into the story to link and portrait between the prequel and the sequel. Similarly to One & Only, FL love to ML is Love at First Sight. Contrary to FL, ML love and affection towards FL is developed, accumulated and gets stronger by days. FL first word in both the drama is also Zhou Shen Chen. She still loves turquoise blue, books, poems, pomegranate, lotus flower, sleeps on the floor to be with her beloved, enjoys touching the nose bridge of the ML like O&O.

Whatever can't be done and incomplete in O&O is finally completed in F&E. Their love, their marriage, the handwritten poem 'Shanglin Fu' on the wall.

I wonder if Mei Xing is the reincarnation of Liu Zi Xing (Crown Prince in O&O) as a repayment from his previous life. The suicidal and loss of Cui Shi Yi in O&O has made him realized and regretted his previous life?

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If it's meant to be, love will find a way. ❤

"Even the most beautiful face will have to age. You are the best in my mind. I can see the bones of beauty inside you" Shi Yi to Zhou Sheng Chen.

What a heart-warming, poignant, sweet, and tear-jerking story. A slow-burn, frustrating, and quite dragging at times, but still at the end of it, we still got our happy ending for our Shi Yi and Zhou Sheng Chen, which they really deserved.

I've been waiting for this drama to be aired as I am a fan of the novel from Mo Bao Fei Bao and fell in love with Zhou Sheng Chen's quirkiness, at times oddness and just being so adorable and him being a nerd. As well as Shi Yi's love for ZSC and how she supported him all throughout.

I just find it frustrating to watched the other actors/actress in this drama, (not included from my frustration are: the main couple, Uncle Lin, Ren, the misunderstood mother, the bff lawyer and roommate/bff of Shi Yi); I find their acting lacking and unconvincing. Specially the brother, his acting is so unconvincing and kind of lazy for someone who got pent up hatred, frustration for his elder brother. Also, some scenes for the other characters are unnecessary, which made the series dragging. Maybe they want to show their character development but ended poorly.

And I just want to rant here about the behavior of Shi Yi and Zhou Sheng Chen's maid, maybe because she's a distant relative of ZSC, but she's over the top! She doesn't know her boundary and just "boom" comes to their room without knocking, or correct word is "barging" to their room, which I find disrespectful and offensive. But the series just made it like it's just goofy or funny. I wanted to smack her head, as she always caught our couple in a very awkward situation or disrupt their sweet moments.

Anyway, thanks for Bai Lu and Allen Ren for giving us a wonderful series.

And by the way, I just want to say, I love and appreciate the OST of this series. It helps the viewers sets the mood and it's just worth of listening to it.

Over all, it is worth the time to watch the drama. ❤❤❤

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A pacifying end to the sad prequel

After the roller-coaster bad ending of Forever and Ever, I guess this serves as the "anecdote" that we want for the main leads.

What I like about it:-
(1) The story is simple and straight forward-no old cliches and over-used plots that are synonymous with romance dramas i.e. horrible mothers-in-law (there's one here but her evil intentions wreak limited influence on the story, just an annoying and irritating character), break-ups and reconciliation, cold and overbearing male lead, unrealistically virtuous female lead, that kind of flow....
(2) As with its' prequel, the OST is very nice
(3) No overdose of skin-ship either but it exudes warmth and romantic feelings through the leads' interaction with each other.
(4) A decent romantic drama to binge on.

What I don't quite like:-
(1) Maybe it was intended to follow the male lead in the drama to a T, I find Allen Ren's styling in this drama a bit dull. Compared to Zhou Sheng Cheng the graceful general, this modern version is a bit of a bumbling and awkward character, oftentimes boring.
(2) Again, because it's adapted from a novel, nothing much can be changed on the characters and plot. However, it'd be nice to provide some background story on certain incidents other than getting them across through the mouths of the leads.
(3) And why can't the do something about the styling of the second (or third) female leads - the girl who makes dress and likes the evil step-brother. She practically wears the same dress and beret throughout the drama.

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Visual Treat on the Eyes and Ears

This show is what Chinese shows will be if they had less restriction on the direction and pacing from the producers. I can see how amazing the whole drama scene would evolve into a slow paced character driven show which runs on its merit.

The lack of flamboyant action, romance, character traits and music may be a turn off for many but it is what makes a show great when it stands just on its merit just from the acting and the power of the story. The direction was impeccable, giving ample time to enjoy the ambiance of each episodes.

The story of this show is simple, fall in love>propose>meet family>get married but this comes with a lot of caveats of Chinese culture. We get to meet how politics happens in wealthy yet down to earth families in China, how everyone is trying to stay quite be respectful yet getting hurt in every step of the way.

It is easy to write a villain with no morality; however, it is so trite and forgettable. This show takes the realism approach and tries to humanize with everyone even thought we want to hate them. Everyone is a victim and they are just trying to survive in this difficult world. The methodical pacing with artistic costume and set design made this show often contending with the best western shows. This show is a visual treat on the eyes and ears, while it is hard to binge watch something like this as it is made with immense care and depth, I would encourage everyone to slow watch it as it was meant to be.

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A slow paced love

The story is not as strong as it's predecessor "One and Only" but it still gives you a wonderful story. It may seem like the way they get together does not make any sense it was too fast so it may look like shallow or sometimes unreasonable. But watching how they grow and flourish their love was breath taking. They took things slow when it comes to falling in love, it was snail paced but such delight to see their progress each episode. This pacing makes you want to cherish each sweet scenes between the leads.

The actors and actresses performance in this drama is Chief's kiss. They were such a delight to watch together.

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Slow. Just slow.

Ah this is a tough one to review because I really want to like this show.

[Just to disclaim, I watched Forever & Ever (FE) after One & Only (OO). I did not read the novel before watching the shows]

Pros:
- the show started off quickly. 5 minutes into the first episode and off we go with the main couple.
- Bai Lu's acting is a 10/10 here. She carried OO together with Ren Jialun but over here, she topped it off a notch further. Her glances, side eyes, smirks, smiles and styling were all 10/10 here. I enjoyed just watching her expressions and looks.
- it does justice to the pain we had to endure in OO.
- the side characters are pretty cute and funny.
- there are sweet awww moments between Shi Yi and ZSC.
- Ren Jialun had some good emotional scenes towards the end.

Cons:
- the pacing.is.so.so.so.slow!!! I had to skip and fast forward half the show.
- it probably should be a 20-episode drama instead of 30 episodes.
- Zhousheng Chen is too stiff here. He's abnormally stiff even for an awkward chemistry professor. He's so reserved about his physical touches yet, he has no qualms about getting in bed with Shi Yi (???).
- Ren Jialun's glances in FE unfortunately didn't carry any weight nor invoked any feelings in me this time.
- too many kiss-block moments it got a little lame and tiring after a while.

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chemistry between the couple

I greatly admire the plot all the way along from 1st episode to final episode. understanding between them is really great. A nice and gentle love story. Understanding and accompanying each other in every situation. Honest with each other. Avoid misunderstandings. Always calm.


I don't know how did they got such a nice story, plot, cast, script and everything so much good in this drama. I would never forget such a wonderful work. I always fast forward some scenes in every drama I watch. this is the first one I ever watched every single line carefully. it's really a master piece

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Perfect

If you like annoying drama, don't watch it.
If you like drama with misunderstanding, don't watch it.
if you like drama with the weak, dumb and idiot protagonist don't watch it.
If you like irrational and illogical dram, don't watch it.
If you like the rival disturbing even the protagonist in love with the hero, don't watch

This masterpiece is for some people.

The actress Bai Lu is beautiful and spectacular and passionate, I'm going to clone myself and ask her to marry me.

To screenwriter Mo Bao Fei Bao thanks for respecting our brain and creating something with sense, rationality and logic.

I'm afraid to watch another drama and spoil my memories.

Similar dramas in their rationality

- The Legend of Fei
- What happened to secretary Kim?
- Touch Your Heart

Happy New Year

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Not bad but not that great either

I hardly watch modern cdramas for their fillers and unnecessary scenes. because of “one and only” I came here with open mind that the modern version have to omit the reincarnation theme due to censorship. thus, I watched without much expectations.

there are few things that bugged me throughout the show.

1) story of junior nanchen which was changed into a story instead of her real past life memories. how that tie to the ending when ZSC read what she wrote in the book and when she woke up, narrated what she dreamt. it’s disjointed, knowing in the show, it’s based on “story” so it felt like she had this fantasy or fetish (lol) towards ZSC.

2) supporting characters. honestly, some are fine but characters like Wenchuan is questionable. he seems like a lingering emo guy who don’t appear much then suddenly he’s going full bad guy. those good ones are Mei Xing, Uncle Lin and the stepmother. but still I just feel it’s not enough?

3) acting. I know the leads shot this first before “one and Only” the chemistry for both dramas were on fire but I guess due to the plot that’s not driving them anywhere, they seemed to shine lesser here. also, abit of personal opinion about RJL’s line delivery. as episodes goes by, hearing him sigh at every sentences made me tired too lol. Bailu here is just okay.

even though the pacing is much slower than the other drama, I managed to finish it means it’s quite a nice show to give a try but won’t be something I’ll rewatch.

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BaiLu and RenJialun are ❤️ and the details are appreciated

I’ve watched til the 22nd episode and had been waiting for One and Only and Forever n Ever since long ago! Now the wait is over and their acting are amazing!

I can’t express how the character, plot development, music, cinematography are making it one of the best dramas I’ve ever watched!
Note: It is my personal thought with a lil bias from my love for Bai Lu?❤️

I love how Mo Bao Fei Bao and the director added details, parallelism and related stuff and memories from One and Only; they are making me to emotional and feel like I’ve been with Shi Yi for so long, waiting and supporting her to love with the one she loves. The writer successfully made the audience engaged and emotionally invested with the flashback and memories of One and Only.. Without One&Only, Forever and Ever couldn’t be as satisfying as it is now. That is the critical point that makes this drama different from others out there and it really strikes my heart!!

The production team + writer + great actors and actresses + OST singers = 100% PERFECT

I love each OST’s lyrics. I’ve read all of them and been listening to “如一” sang by Allen for two weeks straight…
I love verbal and non-verbal communication among ML & FL & supporting roles.
I would like to express my appreciation for the scenes where it is romantic and meaningful without saying a romantic word nor skinship as follows:
“13141152099”
“1yuan coin from year 2011” 2011=爱你时宜
“4/7 from lunar calendar —> 5/11 as marriage anniversary day” 7+4=11 | 511=我时宜
“1,2,3,4,5” “6,7,8,9,10” “11（十一）”
“ZSC520 | SY520”
& many many many many more scenes that I COULDNT EXPLAIN THEM ALL ? I know many people would agree with me that all these details are so impressive and not every drama can make it so natural and sweet?

All the poems and words from the past or the book or the history should also be noted as this really confirms how Chinese language is beautifully written and should be admired. I would say, as a person who know Chinese, I think all credits should also go to MoBaoFeiBao again:) Or maybe she is just my type-of-favorite-writer haha!?

I love the way each character has their past, present and future in their eyes and actions. They are the reflections of their bones ? . The personalities, thoughts toward the world, beliefs and attitudes are reflected from each person’s bone and soul, the drama is making this point clear and obvious.

I am trying my best not to compliment much about the actors and actresses as I know how BIAS I’m for Bai Lu and Allen Ren❤️ I love them both and respect their well-rounded abilities (acting, singing, dancing and atmosphere- making?) I love how they are really engaged and involved with the dramas. I couldn’t find a word to admire the ML&FL acting skills… (it’s beyond my English skill, sorry??) So, I’ll just hope they could act with each other again in the future!

The chemistry is the best. The expression is perfect. The storyline is well-thought and well-written. The lil details are admirable.
I just love all of Forever and Ever, I mean it :)
I love how beautiful and delicate it is!

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