This review may contain spoilers
Fate, comedy, and conflict
“Are You the One?” captivates with a compelling premise: two rivals that become a fated couple whose love is threatened by a great lie. This setup immediately hooked me, as it’s clear from the outset that obstacles will stand in the way of their happiness. While a promising concept doesn’t automatically make for a great drama, I found that AYTO successfully delivered a satisfying viewing experience.The drama excels with its engaging storyline, well-developed characters, talented cast, and a conclusion that manages to be pleasing. However, it does have its flaws.
Let’s start with the standout elements, beginning with the cast. I would like to start off by saying that the magic of great actors in comedic roles is undeniable. Having seen Zhang Wanyi in Lost You Forever, I was already aware of his impressive skills, but his performance in AYTO elevated my admiration. His portrayal of Cui Xingzhou diverges sharply from his previous role, yet he handles it with remarkable finesse. His comedic timing, whether through subtle facial expressions or his delivery, was spot-on. His tendency to speak in a whisper — which is something he did quite oftenly —, however, bothered me greatly at times, as it felt unrealistic that other characters could hear him when he spoke so softly.
Wang Churan, by contrast, had a less comedic role, though her early scenes were filled with humor that she executed brilliantly, forming a delightful duo with Zhang Wanyi. Her character undergoes significant shifts throughout the drama — arguably too drastic, though that’s more a writing issue than an acting one — but she consistently maintained a strong performance from start to finish.
Regarding the plot, a key topic of debate among viewers was the separation of Xingzhou and Miantang. Some felt Miantang forgave Xingzhou too quickly, while others thought she should have taken even longer or maybe not forgiven him at all. Personally, I appreciated the narrative choices here; their time apart felt justified, and their gradual reconciliation was coherent and believable. The pacing of their relationship was neither rushed nor dragged out, striking a balance that complemented the growth of both characters, who were well-crafted with relatable desires, fears, and distinct personalities.
One aspect I regretted was the waning romance between Xingzhou and Miantang after they officially got together. In the final episodes, their dynamic shifted from passionate lovers to more of a friendly rapport, which felt at odds given how recently they had married. Nonetheless, they remained the highlight of the drama.
Now, onto the elements that didn’t quite work for me:
A significant political event pivotal to the second half of the drama was glossed over with a simple time skip. This was a missed opportunity, as the event’s importance to the story warranted more on-screen exploration rather than being summarized off-screen. Though I do believe it shouldn’t be too dragged out, it would’ve been appreciated to see at least a little bit of those events.
As for the supporting characters, Shi Xueji emerged as a pleasant surprise, bringing kindness and warmth that resonated with viewers. However, her romance felt rushed towards the end, lacking depth. It did have a big potential, as we got to see Ziyu and her start to have feeling for each other and deeply care for one another. Ziyu, however, only let go of Liu Miantang in the very ending of this drama and at a point where I believe more time was needed for a good romance to be fully developed between him and Xueji.
He Zhen and Zhao Quan were engaging on their own, and their romance was charming when it aligned with the main plot. However, as their storyline diverged, it began to feel disconnected and unnecessary, leaving me questioning why so much screen time was dedicated to them when it no longer served the main narrative in a harmonious way.
My final verdict is that “Are you The One?” was able to leave a good impression and will probably stick with me for a while, as it was one of my favorite 2024 Dramas so far. It has its problems, some that could’ve been easily fixed, others not so much. In the end, however, I enjoyed it and would recommend it to anyone who’s thinking of giving it a go.
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Really good!
==Breakdown==Background plot / palace intrigue - 50%
Romance - 30%
Misc comedy - 20%
Background plot - Good
Romantic chemistry - Excellent
Misc comedy - Good
Production value and direction - Good
Overall thoughts: This is my first drama with Zhang Wan Yi and my second with Wang Chu Ran. I *really* enjoyed Wang Chu Ran in Fireworks (with Yang Yang) and was excited to see her in a historical Cdrama. Zhang Wan Yi impressed me! He has such an interesting voice, I'm so glad he did his own dubbing as I think his inflections added a lot to the overall story.
Highly recommend for: Romance focused watchers in search of great chemistry paired with decent production values in a historical Cdrama.
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This review may contain spoilers
In the drama , Are you one . I didn't find any part of it intresting. This time few romantic scenes were not enough to balance the drama. Inspite of having forty episodes , ending was not satisfactory though it had happy ending for the main characters. personally , I found it was a boring one.
About acting except few actors everyone did a great job
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Awesome Drama
I had not much expectation on this drama as I don’t know both of the actor well except ZWY lost of forever and I don’t really like WCR acting.First few episode really catch my attention and I started to enjoy every episode.
WCR acting skills has improved a lot and she able to carry LMT role very well. From a housewife to the bandit leader. ZWY acting and emotion of every scene is really on points. My fav scene is the iconic waterfall scene and his lovey dovey husband scene.
This drama is not disappointed and I have rewatch it few times.
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Sweet Turning Angsty
The first arch of the drama is to show how sweet FL is an an amnesia victim. Her loving support to her fake husband won her his genuine affection. I was so worried when the time was getting close for ML to have his wedding to his cousin. I thought, no way FL is going to be a concubine, and plus I really don't want this drama to turn into a harem story!The second arch is when she regained her full memory. We can see how FL suddenly changed her demeanor from sweet and head over heels in love with her husband, into this angry woman who found out that everything has been a lie. Her smile is just not the same anymore. She kept up pretending to still have the amnesia for a bit, and this is where it differs from the novel, where she left him without a second thought!
I'm up to ep 22 now. ML just found out the real identity of FL, which I think he's not totally sad about, because all along he thought of Lu Wen as his match.
I've been a fan of Zhang Wan Yi. I'm glad I get to watch him again not long after Lost You Forever 2. He does have a rather peculiar stare, which some people might say that he's too stiff. But not me, I like it, it's his trademark of some sort! I never watched Wang Chu Ran in any drama before (only heard about high criticism of her drama with Yang2) but boy she's so beautiful, and acting wise she's matching so well with Zhang Wan Yi.
Can't wait to see what ML will have to do to win her again. To be fair to him, it wasn't his plan to fake their marriage in the first place. FL called him "husband" and as a General Commander, he seized that opportunity and just played along with it. Otherwise the whole drama wouldn't exist haha.
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Hidden Gem of 2024
Gave it a 10 to boost the ratings quite more for it deserves it.This is a drama that wasnt even in my radar for dramas this year and only saw it here in mdl as well. Genuinely I could not express how much this type of dramas are heartwarming of the way they portray romance. This drama is definitely equal slight close in terms of maturity and romance themes alongside Love Like the Galaxy, one of the few chinese costume dramas that still holds up till this day.
If you appreciate great and coherent storytelling where the scriptwriter definitely took time to craft the events, this is the show for you. Story and character arcs did not feel rushed because of this. Speaking of characters, despite the show having 6 notable characters, 3 couples, the drama made sure to give audience an idea and set individuality to each so the romance between couples and their conclusion did not feel forced unlike most costume dramas I've seen this and past years. I appreciate this. Surprising favorite character i've had in this show is the Empress, a really interesting empress/character I've seen in a while in cdramas.
Only downside is that it ended actually damn. Amazing drama and might've saved costume dramas in 2024 as of right now.
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When a fairy fallen from the sky meets the God of War
Are You The One is the TV adaptation of the chinese novel The Possession of My Beloved. It tells the story of Liu Mian Tang, a gorgeous woman who has lost the memory of the last three years of her life and Ciu Xing Zhou, a Prince unrelated to the Imperial Family who poses as her fake husband, the destitute merchant Cui Jiu.Both make for an attractive pair, though the neighbors of North Street think the young is a good-for-nothing man.
THE STORY
The director managed to do a 40-episode drama from a 143-chapters novel by keeping some of the key points, but while needing to remove and twist around some of the source material.
Having read the novel, I think he was successful in his endeavor. The drama was both well-directed and written, which made for an enthralling watch. It's ascertained by the high ratings this drama got on multiple platforms
THE CHARACTERS
The characters had to be rewritten to fit a more visual medium and thus be accessible to a wider public.
Liu Mian Tang (LMT) is described as a beautiful creature descended from the sky who makes every head turn. She's presented as having been the favorite concubine of a famous bandit, but as she has amnesia, she is just the wife of a merchant who spent a great chunk of his fortune to heal her. This makes her grateful to her husband and leads her to handle household affairs but also becomes a shrewd businesswoman whose sole objective is to have her husband enjoy his life and hobbies without worries.
She's played by Wang Chu Ran, an up-and-coming actress who embodies the role and can be as sweet as honey or as cold as ice when it's needed.
Ciu Xing Zhou (CXZ) is a duc who rules over his fiefdom and having to fight with a spectacular opponent, Lu Wen. He's lucky enough to stumble upon the amnesiac favorite concubine of the latter. He acts as her doting husband to try and lure out Lu Wen.
It's Zhang Wan Yi, a young actor who is also an up-and-coming actor that some people might have seen in Lost You Forever.
I felt he really nailed his part here. As Cui Jiu, he was absurd, but as CXZ, he was more imposing.
The supporting roles were well-casted and interesting to watch. They didn't weigh down on the story. On the contrary, they brought different flavors. He Zhen and Marquis Zhennan were more of a opposite attracts while Miss Shi and Zi Yu were more of a couple whose love would go from a relationship of mutual trust and friendship.
This drama is an easy watch with high rewatch value. One isn't bored when they watch it. Though it starts slow because as an audience, we get to witness in real-time the love growing between the couple, its remains engaging. I eagerly waited each day for new episodes to release.
The drama is bright and not a stressful affair.
In fact, Are You The One is one of the three costume dramas that really kept me engaged in since the beginning of the year. The other two dramas are The Legend of Shenli and The Double.
I recommend this drama to those who love inner court dramas like The Story of Ming Lan and The Sword and The Brocade ;
smart heroines like the two precited dramas, The Story of Yanxi Palace and The Court Lady ; Love Like The Galaxy ;
As a novel reader, I'm really happy with this drama adaptation given the restrictions. It was first slated as a two-parts drama but to be able to release it in one shot, they had to cut it down about 10 to 15 episodes.
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Very overrated tv series drama of custom history !
I've finished watching it.... I'm disappointed, throughout 40 eps, the story is only to discuss fake marriage and how the main male hero must win back the heart of the main female.Yes, even though it was successful & finally officially married towards the end of the story, but the socio-political intrigues & wars within the empire were cut completely.
There is also a very crucial 3-month time skip in the middle of the story, maybe because it was censored, banned because there were elements of a political & military coup against the legitimate ruler.
The ending is happy.
But the last 10 eps, seemed very rushed, especially the last 5 eps.
Too many characters appeared & were wasted throughout the story, because the total eps were only 40.
Moreover, the female protagonist, it is unclear why at the end of the story suddenly becomes a tough martial artist like her husband who is a famous warlord.
WTF.... Total score value is only 7 out of 10. Got a score of 7 more because the female protagonist is very beautiful, bro.
If she wasn't there, I would give a total score of only 5 out of 10.
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Lord Huaiyang
It was a series that I liked and watched. I was curious. I waited for the episodes. That's why I can say it's a good series. It attracted me with its plot and story. The actors were very good. In fact, what makes you watch the series are the story and the people who portray it. There was a good CAST. They were compatible. Apart from the leading roles, our supporting roles are also of high quality and did a very good job. They made it watchable. There were minor mistakes. I got bored in some episodes. Because it was too long. Trivial events were squeezed in to fill the gaps. They seemed to be smirking. But when you look at it in general, it is a series that is watched with pleasure with a good story, good acting and good management and plot. I recommend it to everyone.Was this review helpful to you?
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Perfect Ending
Wow, beautiful! I must admit, this is the first time I've seen a perfect ending in all the cdramas I've watched. Initially, the first 5 episodes felt slow and even boring to me, but I persisted. As I finished each episode, I found myself wanting to know what happened next, and by episode 11, I was hooked! I even felt sad when Cui Xingzhou told Liu Miantang he was leaving for about a month or so - I actually cried in that episode! That's when I knew I had grown invested in the drama. The chemistry between Cui Xingzhou and Liu Miantang was wonderful. What a series! 10/10 rating from me.Was this review helpful to you?
This review may contain spoilers
How to get into a relationship after deception 101 (aka amnesia trope done right!!)
I'll just start off by saying I am NOT a fan of deception in a relationship as I believe it establishes an unequal relationship dynamic that makes it uncomfortable to watch. I am also not a huge fan of amnesia plots because it opens the door to lots of miscommunication, frustration (to the characters AND viewers), and feels like drama for the sake of drama.SO. How did I end up liking ARE YOU THE ONE so much despite the deception and amnesia? I think it's because you get:
- amazing character growth from the ML (from using the FL as a pawn to treating her like the badass, independent woman she is)
- a quiet, but strong-minded FL who holds her ground (she made him work to get back into her good graces but doesn't draw out the process. We stan a woman who knows what she wants!!)
- a dynamic duo couple who complements each other well (physically, mentally, romantically via chemistry, you name it)
- interesting writing that focuses less on angst and more on the logical flow of a relationship progression, mostly since the characters are down-to-earth, like-minded, and decisive.
If you're on the fence about watching this because you've been burned bad by amnesia tropes, I would say give this one a try! The ML's grovel is gooood and the romantic scenes are super sweet.
PROS
❀ We love a good grovel
I thought the ML Xing Zhou was a bit of a punk in the beginning. He was okay with his arranged marriage while playing house with the amnesiac FL Liu Mian Tang in order to sus out his enemy, Lu Wen. He even thought about keeping the FL as a concubine for a hot sec. Talk about a bombastic side eye!!! BUT, the ML recognizes his feelings early on (I would say around ep 12) and starts to go against his family's wishes with the arranged marriage. And after falling in love, he pretty much only has eyes for the FL.
On the FL's side, I love how the drama showed her brilliant mind and capable demeanor from the get-go. Even though she had amnesia, she was determined to make the best of her life with her fake husband, who came off as a dandy who played Go all the time. Even then, she was still suspicious of his lies. She regains her memories around ep 17 and keeps up the act because she wants to use the ML for her own gain. She cuts ties with the ML after their business is done. If you like a good ML chasing FL/grovel session, this drama delivers. I love how the ML not only loves her, but also respects her. His dialogue constantly mentions how he could even gift her the moon, but he knows that if she wanted it, she could get it herself. And that's on feminism!!
❀ Quieter depictions of female independence
I am a huge fan of these types of shows that highlight women characters' strengths without being super in your face with "rah rah girl power!!" scenes. Those are good too! But quieter depictions hit harder. I feel like most of the (main) female characters were written with consideration, and their growth really shone in different ways.
- Miantang: she was smart and strong-willed from the beginning and remained so until the end. She constantly reminded her grandpa that marrying wasn't her main goal. When she set her mind on something, she made it happen (whether it's a porcelain business, escort business, or figuring out the villain via a tea party lol). Honestly she was almost OP (overpowered) to an extent, but I still love her for it.
- He Zhen: her journey was establishing her own independent porcelain venture without the oppression of her silly dad and brother. I feel like this actress has a propensity for independent, business-minded female characters lol (I remember her from New Life Begins), and she delivers yet again. Of course, the help from ML's physician cousin Zhao Quan is also welcome. I thought their interactions were both sweet and hilarious.
- Xue Ji: tbh she annoyed me the most in the beginning because of her meek and mild manners but that just makes her development even more impactful. She's used to being in the background but still analyzes things with wit and speed. And when she finally stands up for herself - SO satisfying! Her and the emperor/Ziyu ended up being a great match and I enjoyed their slower, softer romance throughout the series.
- Even side characters like the ML's mom and his ex-fiance Bing Lan have their own moments of clarity and growth.
❀ Simplifying a lot of intricate relationships
To be honest, I like how the show didn't draw out misunderstandings or angst. The plot certainly set up the characters for a LOT of angst. Like think about it: the FL liked this dude and then gets amnesia and has a husband, the ML, who ends up falling for her, but the ML not only has a fiance but also some girl who wants to be his concubine. And the dude the FL liked actually likes her back but ended up "betraying" her with a girl who's obsessed with him and also he gets engaged too, to another girl. Like bruh.
Worry not, because I promise the show neatly de-tangles all these entanglements and we get three solid couples by ep 30ish. Instead of focusing on worrisome angst, I like how the show highlighted the cute and endearing scenes between each couple. The entire opening theme is the main couple being lovey-dovey with each other, which gives you a clue on how much screen time is devoted to them lol.
CONS
✕ Executing of the political schemes could have been better
Miss 10 minutes and you'll miss an entire plot - LOL. A lottt of things happen and the writing glosses over them. This includes wars, rebellions that get quelled, an emperor getting deposed, evil ministers with their nasty plots... honestly a lot of plotting that gets told and not shown. This starts from the beginning as well: we're given the backstory of Lu Wen vs. Lord Huaiyang (ML) but their battles, plots, and "betrayal" gets told via a couple lines of dialogue. Despite it being a huge foundation on the main couple's relationship. So I feel like we as watchers miss out on critical moments that pertain to the political intrigue part of the plot. And I'm not gonna lie, it's hard to keep your interest when plot points get bulldozed through with dialogue. I didn't find the main villain intriguing either and after the reveal of the main characters' identities (ep 20ish), nothing about the plot surprised me anymore. I honestly kept watching to see the main couple kick butt.
✕ Give the people what they want!!!
What we (or maybe it's just me) wanted that they teased us with:
- Moreee action! Especially the FL + ML combo. We got one INCREDIBLE scene with them together and I wanted more.
- More secondary couple development!! Why was the He Zhen/Zhao Quan couple's main storyline focused on making freaking porcelain??? Lol, I get that it was important for her dream/goal. But I'm sure they could have fit a couple of romantic scenes.
- More FL emotion: looking back, I do recognize our FL was OP and that kind of stunts her emotional range. Or maybe it's the actress's range herself. But honestly her two modes were: 1) hard-working and loyal woman who goes after what she wants, and 2) mad at ML for lying to her. I'm not mad at this, I just feel like her character could have been elevated with a bit more range.
✕ Misunderstanding level: 5/10
This is hard to rate because the amnesia storyline is inherently a misunderstanding, which is why I gave it high marks. BUT, the cats are outta the bag by ep 20ish and there are no more deception from there on out. Just our ML and FL standing on a united front against their enemies.
OVERALL
These are new to me actors and I'm a fan!! The ML actor looks like he could be a 2ML (lol) but his presence is good. The FL actress delivered but hoping her future roles allow her to explore more emotions. For a drama I wasn't too sure about, and jumped in almost blind (as I started watching it right as they were airing the last episodes), I'm impressed. And honestly, my favorite execution of the amnesia trope to date.
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One of the Better Romances
I have to say I really enjoyed this one. As always, I am impressed with Zhang Wan Yi's earnest performances and this did not disappoint. He has the most expressive eyes I have ever seen and handsome to boot. He is the perfect leading man and I am looking forward to seeing him in future roles.This romance was different from most romances where two people meet, like or dislike each other, until the romance grows. Here we have deception, a better written amnesia plot and an interesting, albeit simple plot line that does not meander and is easy to follow. The secondary characters don't overtake the leads and everyone gets a satisfying wrap up to their story.
Our FL is the breathtakingly beautiful Wang Chu Ran. I first saw her in The Longest Promise and knew she would one day shine as a main lead. She is very talented and was so natural in her part as Liu Mian Tang. This was a fun watch and there was no character I found annoying or inept. There was chemistry between our two MLs and watching them together was a joy. I want to try Crab Roe rice!
My favorite secondary characters were Yuan Yu Xuan as the Empress and Xu Mei Ling as Nanny Li. I first saw Yuan Yu Xuan in Novoland: Pearl Eclipse and loved her from the beginning. She is just so cute and a fine actress. I enjoyed her character in this one, though similar to her part in Pearl Eclipse. Huan Can Can returns as yet another evil rival similar to her role in Lost You Forever. It's unfortunate when the supporting actors get type-cast.
I was impressed with the depiction of the struggles of women working to make a name for themselves, while enduring the lack of esteem by their families. Although this is unrealistic for its time period, I appreciate the effort in appealing to modern audiences.
I recommend this drama for romance lovers who want an uncomplicated plot with a happy ending.
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