Why you should watch This?
This drama portrays a hero who does not involve himself with politics of palace and tries to avoid it. I think his only goal as portrayed is to serve his people that is the people of zhenzhou(his territory) and protect his family and loved ones. Well in normal peoples' lives they also want to protect and care about only their loved ones and the world can go to hell, They don't care about other things if it is not related to their loved ones and hence this drama connects well with the people.Was this review helpful to you?
This review may contain spoilers
Liked the overall storyline. But did like the emperor and shi xueji characters. I understood why liu miantang didn’t chose the emperor, because he compromised his feelings for he desires, and didn’t let go of evil people who were around him so he could obtain the throne, and become emperor, even sun yun ‘er who he knew hurt the woman he supposedly loved( liu miantang). Such a hypocrite. Then without hesitation he gave sun yun’er a tile and may his other helper ‘s daughter the empress. Then stated he wanted to be a good ruler, comprising is part of getting things done and relationships but siding we evil people is a bit too much Was this review helpful to you?
Watchable
I couldn’t really get through this one because it just wasn’t much to my liking and bored me but it’s watchable for sure.The Good
The plot was interesting. I loved how it was shrouded in a lot of mystery. The actor choices were good since there were tons of traffic stars to get people interested. It’s an easy watch with a story that isn’t over complicated. It had a decent enough production quality with okay lighting, sound, sets and costumes. The OST was decent as well.
The Bad
Although the plot was interesting, I didn’t like the execution of it. It was very slow and bored me quite a lot. The first half of the story focused a lot on the main couple playing house with not much romance but I would have preferred to see more of the overarching story play out instead. Next, the actor choices were good to drive in traffic but the acting wasn’t good. I couldn’t connect much with the characters and their plight because they weren’t expressing themselves very well. Finally, there was a lot of predictability to the story, even from the first episode. I don’t even need to keep watching to understand how this story will flow. It was cut and dry and didn’t offer many twists. I put this on hold and came back months later thinking I would see it differently but wasn’t the case.
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#TeamExpressionLord vs #TeamPerceptiveWife, who's your pick?
The show begins with the Lord Huaiyang pretending to be the spouse of Liu Miantang, his favorite adversary Lu Wen's alleged concubine. The plot revolves around this fake couple who are a perfect fit due to their lies and deception.The intellectual ability of the main characters, especially the female lead in the drama was one of its strong aspects. The lead characters were proficient at overcoming tricky situations. It also was surprising to secondary female characters being quick-witted. The acting was fantastic. I watched this drama primarily for Zhang Wang Yi, as I was captivated by his portrayal in Lost You Forever. His facial expressions were entertaining to watch. This was my first time watching this actress, and I thought her performance was great.
One of the weak elements was the pacing. The middle was dragged out, the early arcs were overly relaxed, and the conclusion was a little bit rushed. There had been some off-screen scenes, which would have been better shown with at least two episodes instead of secondary characters story. Some characters, in my opinion, were saved till the very end to add depth in areas that seemed to be lacking.
With its subtle wit and strong acting, the show is enjoyable. I wish that the main characters' backgrounds had been explored in greater detail throughout the story. Felt like LMT's past as Bandits wife wasn't given enough attention, and her acts were only talked about rather than shown. These inconsistencies could have been dealt in earlier episodes. Overall an enjoyable drama with comedy, romance, politics, intelligent characters. I rate it 8.5.
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Lovely chemistry between ML & FL
This is all about the romance between Cui Xingzhou (ML) and Liu Miantang (FL). It’s such a beautiful romantic tale. The ML and FL’s eyes and smiles emote all the necessary emotions that are needed to portray the characters. I watched the entire series because of these two. Zhang Wanqi (ML actor) and Wang Churan (FL actress) are really great. I liked Zhang Wanqi in Lost You Forever. He already displayed great acting in that show. I started watching this show largely because of him. I continued watching this show because of the chemistry he has with Wang Churan. I will pay more attention to both their shows now onwards.Was this review helpful to you?
This review may contain spoilers
a pleasant surprise
I was committed and watching mostly daily. It has many good pointsWhat I liked :
- the acting was great
- I really like the cinematography and this drama was really beautifully filmed, great camera work too. I personally really liked the scenes at the waterfall and the one near the lake when they were throwing the piece (the colors looked beautiful here). Even the scenes with ML riding a horse, it looked great and good that he was actually riding a real horse
- the leads characters were the best. Strong and intelligent ML and FL, a perfect match. Their characters were well written and captivating. Badass couple, that complement each other.
- the chemistry was perfect, their relationship and skinship looked so natural. Their hugs always felt so comforting. The actors were also really expressive with their eyes, we could felt their emotions.
- I’m still marked with some really good scenes like :
-> when he left to war, the divorce letter and her going after him. them talking and hugging after that
-> the breakup scene at the waterfall
-> them fighting side by side in the last ep, that was awesome
etc….
- The side couples were also interesting to me at some level
- I liked watching ML slowly falling in love. Even if he was lying, he still treated her right and was a pretty good husband
- I really loved the music, the OST is beautiful
- the costumes were great
- I liked the empress character. She was kind and such a good person, she deserved the world
- Lord Zhao was funny, I liked his friendship with ML
- the emperor : was quite a bit annoying at first and he is actually pretty weak, but at least he is a good emperor and it was good to let go of his thing for FL, working with ML and finally maybe starting something with his empress
- I liked how ML’s mom gradually started to like her daughter-in-law
- the wedding: truly amazing. We spended a lot of screen time on the wedding-wedding night. That was perfect❤️and they looked stunning
- had some funny moments
- not really any stupid love triangle
- happy ending for all the couples, maybe I wished it would have been a longer epilogue, seeing kids could have been cute too
- I think the last fight and last few eps were exciting, their plan and how it went down. Maybe a bit basic for the villain, but not disappointing
On some other notes :
- it was quite annoying his aunt and cousin, at least some character development for the cousin. Her mom really ruined her
- Personally, the separation was too long…. and it was getting a bit annoying
- had some boring moments and the beginning was a bit slow (even if I enjoyed watching the leads and their chemistry, they got a lot of screen time together too)
- I wish past ep 31, when they got back together, we could have gotten another kiss or more romantic scenes ? maybe another cuddle in bed, I don’t know. We still got some good moments, but maybe I would have liked more. Or just more scenes with the leads
I would recommend, I liked it more than I thought I would
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Appreciation for this drama that turns out to be my best c-drama of 2024.
IMO the best drama of 2024. Used to be annoyed at Wang Churan's previous drama (becos of her indecisive character with Yang Yang) and didn't have any hope at her next project (i admitted by being bias becos impacted of the previous character). But i waited for the drama to end so i can binged watch, and it turns out as a great drama. Not the typical damsel in distress kind of Female character, know what she wants, know when she's wrong, although she's a dominant personality but know how to step back so that her man can step up and being pampered. Also able to stand beside her man whether in strategically planning or mere fighting is trully rare. Of course supported with the Male Lead character that are both funny and serious at the same time, thanks to ZWY new interpretation of the character. I read the translated novel and couldn't finished it becos of how red flagged the male character was. Despite being annoyed at some of the side character (ex. the aunt) but my sole focus are the main character (both female and male).Also despite the hate that WCR receive at the time they filmed this. She gave her best for this project that turns out great.
Thanks to this drama, I am now waiting for WCR and ZWY next project. I'm giving all the appreciation that this drama should have receive.
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A Captivating Blend of Humor and Emotion
The storyline of Are You the One? is both engaging and captivating. With a perfect blend of humor, it ensures that viewers remain entertained throughout. The comedic elements are well-timed, providing moments of genuine laughter, while the emotional scenes evoke feelings of sadness, joy, and a rollercoaster of mixed emotions, making it a truly immersive experience.The male lead deserves immense praise for his performance. His portrayal of the character is fantastic and executed with exceptional skill. He masterfully conveys emotions through his expressions and voice, which is both soothing and captivating. His nuanced acting makes the character come alive, and his performance is undoubtedly one of the highlights of the drama.
The female lead, on the other hand, is nothing short of breathtaking. Her beauty is unparalleled, and her screen presence feels like witnessing a stunning view in real life. Beyond her appearance, her acting skills are equally commendable. She brings depth and authenticity to her character, making her a joy to watch.
The chemistry between the leads, Wang Ye and Wang Fei, is mesmerizing and adds to the charm of the drama. Their performances were so impactful that I found myself missing them deeply after the drama ended. The entire cast and crew did an incredible job, delivering a show that leaves a lasting impression.
If you're looking for a drama that combines humor, emotion, and outstanding performances, Are You the One? is a must-watch. It's a journey you won't regret taking, and it will leave you wishing for more even after the final episode.
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Very Refreshing Drama
This show was light and absolutely beautiful. The second and third couples didn't dominate or take away from the ML and FL love story! The story did not drag out. The chemistry for all couples were totally in sync. I loved how they used the Empress' foodie habits as part of her character. I also didn't expect Zhang Wanyi to be so funny 🤣. After watching him in Lost You Forever, he was so serious but in this show he plays an entirely different character and does it so well. Wang Churan has grown on me... she's beautiful and talented. This is one of the best dramas for 2024. I saw people compared it to the Double. While I loved the double, it didn't really have alot of chemistry between the ML and FL. In this show the emotions between the ML and FL is on point.Was this review helpful to you?
Subtle comedy, perfect scriptwriter
Watch it in the context of comedy,deceit,politics, female inequality and you will enjoy it. It's not meant to be an epic story or Big twisted plot. The beauty is in the excellent script,the directing and editing.. The main leads were excellent actorsI thoroughly enjoyed the subtle humor. It's funny without the usual screaming whiny females or stupid scenes. This series is all about strong female characters, witty strategy and a bit of power politics
I think it would appeal to global audience rather than the traditional diehard mellow drama fans who expect pitiful crying or overdramatic deep plots. Just relax and enjoy the subtle humor and you will love it
Highly recommended
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Such a fun story!
There’s a lot to love about this one. ML is adorable. He’s a good guy who makes a mistake and just keeps digging himself deeper into trouble, even after he wants to correct it. Zhang’s facial expressions had me laughing- especially when his fake wife made moves on him. He’s usually so calm, but there are times that his face could tell the whole story. He was very fun to watch.I like that the female lead (and the secondary females) are very intelligent and competent while still remaining warm and compassionate. Too often the female leads are either cold or are just not smart. The women in this show are very well rounded and likable. I particularly enjoyed watching the empress grow into her role.
The men in the shadow guard were also fun to watch, trying to get out of the messes that their leader put them in, ha.
While some of it was predictable ,it was entertaining to watch the story unfold. And there were some unexpected twists. There was growth among all of the main characters, and that was heartwarming. It was a happy ending, with most of the loose ends tied up neatly, but not all of them. I enjoyed this one a lot.
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One of the best drama but the ending was so rushed, IMO ?
Honestly, I was totally obsessed with this drama at first! The cast was amazing, the cinematography was stunning, and the soundtrack was everything! The villains delivered impressive performances, making me love to hate them, lol. But around ep 22, things started to drag. I mean, Liu Mian Tang got her memory back and suddenly everything was just so... slow. And don't even get me started on Prince Sui. I was expecting this epic arch-nemesis, but he just ended up being a mama's boy. Like, what even was the point of their revenge plot? They could have easily done off with him from the first episode, duhhhOn the other hand, Marquis Zhennan was EVERYTHING. His humor was on point and kept me going even when I wanted to give up. And can we talk about Xue Ji and He Zhen's character development? I was so here for it! He Zhen went from potential rival to a loyal friend.
But, sadly, the drama just felt so rushed. Like, what happened to Prince Sui in the end? And his adopted daughter, Ms. Sun? And Lord Huaiyang's sister - why didn't she divorce that trash husband? The sudden dethroning of the puppy king and his mother without resistance was also unconvincing.
So many questions left unanswered. I'm giving it 9.5/10, mostly because of the amazing cast (WCR and ZWY, I'm looking at you!). They made the show worth watching, even if the pacing and plot fell short.
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