This review may contain spoilers
An unexpectedly good watch!!!
This is my first review so amma give a detailed one, the next ones... well let's see!!!I’m not a fan of romance dramas. They usually bore me with their predictable plots, clichéd characters, and repetitive. I was so shocked to find that, despite the plot's seeming a regularity, it has such a distinctive execution. It doesn't contain tropes like the annoying ex-boyfriend or ex-girlfriend, lead separations, irritating supporting characters, or family pressure.
Things that I liked:
- The relationship: Although I wish they added more rivalry between the teams it was nice seeing the brotherhood but it would've been nice if they gradually built that. I loved how there were no weird jealous side characters, no exes, and the healthy relationship b/w the leads.
- The Cinematography/Locations: The drama is further enhanced by the director's ability to capture the beauty of the countryside. In contrast to typical modern Chinese dramas, the foreign locales offer a distinct ambiance that gives each character a distinct visual appeal and a cinematic vibe. The locations have a certain allure that distinguishes it from other Chinese dramas. The cinematography was sophisticated and impressive, featuring various shots to highlight the nuances, and the snowy vistas further enhanced the already beautiful visuals. And OML THE OSTs were chefs kiss.
Things that put me off:
- The plot: It was disappointing that Meng Xiao Dong and Lin Lin 's love story wasn't concluded until the very end. I also did not like how Meng Xiao Dong was not present at the proposal when his relationship with the leads was so important. Additionally, I wish the drama had given viewers an explanation of the basic concepts of snooker, 8-ball, and 9-ball, because I had to literally google everything.
- Characters: The FL was alright, I wish the FL acted maturely, she pouted way too much for a 23 and/or 27??? year old. No offense... Especially, during that fight scene, I couldn't help but roll my eyes at the way she acted and then expected him to call when he hadn't done anything wrong. Like gurl... please act your age...
- Lack of communication regarding serious topics b/w the leads. They haven't communicated much or had any deep serious conversations about anything. As soon as am like finally they talking... nah they start kissing and this went on until the end of the drama, which gave their relationship no depth. During the first few eps the ml is constantly trying to touch her ... which okay they seem into each other but consent ... and she keeps running away.
- I cannot get those hosts out of my mind, like, while attempting to present a genuine competition on an international scale, transforming an international tournament into a dating show was cringe, unnecessary, and inappropriate.
Last but not least, despite its imperfections, Amid a Snowstorm of Love is the ideal blend of romance, friendship, and healthy relationships all around. The chemistry and casting were excellent. Idk what else to while ending... Thanks 4 reading!!!!
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My favorite in 2024!
I'm only about 10 dramas in this 2024, and this has already made it into my top 10 all time favorites. Been waiting for this to come out for a while because of Wu Lei and the anticipation was worth it! I prefer the pacing of stories like these, although it might not be for everyone. The OST is just *chef's kiss. And both the acting and chemistry between the characters is excellent. Butterflies all throughout the drama! Definitely recommend if your favorite C-dramas include "Road Home," "Love Me, Love My Voice," "The Oath of Love," "You are My Hero," "Hidden Love," or "You Are My Glory."Was this review helpful to you?
Light and Romantic Story
Cant stop watching and it's really hard to wait for the next episode. It gives positive mood to those who are in love ..The chemistry between the two leads is electrifying, igniting the screen with sparks of passion and tenderness. Their journey is not without its challenges, as they navigate through the complexities of their pasts and the uncertainties of their futures. Heartwarming tale that will melt even the coldest of hearts. With its stunning visuals, compelling performances, and heartfelt storytelling.Was this review helpful to you?
Great 1st half, Lacking 2nd half
Considering how much I LOVED the first half of this show, something seemed to shift post episode 19/20, I had to pause it to see if I'll love it when I get back again, alas, it got worse and even unbearable /unwatchable. Believe me I love Wu Lei, but something about their romance was just lacking as I found myself beginning to FF scenes (even with them together) 😬.Maybe it was the FLs continued aversion to his touch that made it awkward or maybe I got spoiled from finishing TLOSL before getting back into this, it felt like watching paint dry. He was putting in waaayy too much work emotionally and she just felt like a brick wall most times that even when some intimacy was hinted at Episode 23 it fell so flat I literally rolled my eyes 🙄. Even the tournament scenes I enjoyed in the beginning became annoying and I ended up skipping alot.
I'll say something switched from the 1st half that didn't get quite right in the 2nd.
Initially had this rated 10 but I'm bumping it down to 7, ONLY because of Wu Lei's sizzling hot charisma & smoldering gazes 🔥😍
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What have I just watched?
I finished the drama and I'm left with the feeling of "what have I just watched?".It's a simple storythat has a lof of fluffy moments. They cute and bring smile on your face. It can be treated as a "feel good drama". The cast is good looking and act well enough. The couple get together quite quickly, they hug and kiss A LOT. There's that intensivity that's usually absent in Cdramas.
That's for positive side.
For the negative.
Half of the screen time shows people striking billiard balls. Really. If it's not ML, it's FL, other players or even some random people at the club. The rules are never explained and as I know nothing about the sport I don't even know if the leads are winning or loosing. So there's no emotional build up during the scene. Sometimes a little is explained by a sport commentary. At the end I was skipping all billiard scenes.
Also, you have to switch of your brain to enjoy the drama. If you question a single thing everything will fall apart. For example, why other players want the best player to come back and make them loose their high ranks...
Honestly, I want to rant here about all the things that didn't make sense but I don't want to spoiler.
So, while I liked the intense romance part the rest was either skippable (the billiard) or boring.
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A perfect 10 from beginning to end!
This series is now on my top of most fave ch drama ever, I even bought fast track just to binge watch everything. From the story, chemistry of the leads, acting, cinematography and ost everything just fits naturally.Kudos to Wu Lei and Zhai Jin Mai for portraying Lin Yiyang and Yinguo so realistically that I feel like I’m also part of their lives watching their story unfold from start to end, everything about them just feels so natural and lovable.
I also like their friendship and the people surrounding them plus their journey to reach their dreams. It goes to show that you do not need a villain or to exaggerate a story because this series is soooo perfect for me I love a good romance that just tugs at my heart. I hope there will also be a spinoff with MX and LL story.
I’ll truly miss them all.
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Really loved it and enjoyed it immensely!!
A Definite 10/10 for this Romance Sport's drama. Really loved it and enjoyed it immensely!! I binged this, watching until early hours of the morning.Everything was great from Story which is very original in my opinion, Acting, Visual effects, Production and OST.
Wu Lei is an amazing actor in my humble opinion, he did very very well in his role as Yiyang. His acting and expressions were spot on and believable in every aspect for the character he portrayed. I was very emotional with the scenes of Coach He. He also did pretty well with english and also singing in english. I'm also impressed by Zhao Jin Mai (mere 21yrs old) as Yin Guo, I've only seen one other series of her, Reset but will look into the others she played in. Their chemistry was great and their love story was very believable. The scene where he proposed made me so emotional, it was just right with their friends in the background. The shot of the seating area from above (spelled out LOVE) was a perfect 'ending' of the proposal scene for us, the audience.
The other actors also did a great job with special mention for Wang Xing Yie, Chen Jing Ke, Ding Xiao Ying, Dong Zi Fan and Wang Jia Xuan. Also Yin Guo's mother, Wu Qian played by Jiang Hong Bo who brought 'real' angst in terms of the family accepting Yiyang.
First CDrama which I watched with part of the series being in a foreign country. Production was done very well and scenes (city, etc) and scenery was awesome, especially the island get away.
The sports side of it was exciting and first ever billiard/pool/snooker series that I've watched. The competitions were filmed very well with great angles, etc. Googled the rules of the specific games and it broadened my knowledge and opened a new sport to me, to enjoy. I normally love anything to do with horses, tennis and gymnastics and snooker is now part of it! We have a pool/snooker table but haven't played for some time and want to now play again.
Ost was awesome and will be downloading the songs used especially the main song, Love and shine.
Rewatch value is very high on this one. Will wait a month or so and definitely watch it again. I will miss the main cast and it's a pity that it has ended. Would definitely watch a second season if its at all possible.
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The charm - perfect chemistry of Zhao Jinmai and Wu Lei. Wildly addictive …A true romance
One of the best drama ever! Wu Lei and Zhao Jinmai are excellent actors, This is a drama that you shouldn’t missed… a must watch. It has a certain kind of magic! Whoever cast Wu Lei and Zhao Jinmai is a genius. Both actors give the best among the best chemistry and incredible natural acting. A kind of chemistry that only happens once in a blue moon, a very rare find. I fell in love with them and their chemistry makes the series special and extraordinary. You believe in their character and you believe in their romance.Great cinematography and storytelling . I love how realistic the story - on how their first met, how they get to know each other and how they fall in love.
Worthy of your time to watch and be ready to rewatch as it is wildly addictive!
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10 out of 10
In the midst of a snowy setting, the beginning unfolded slowly. The narrative carried a sense of continuity, pace, or pattern within a specific context. The initial encounter left me puzzled – was it their first meeting or did they already know each other? His watchful gaze, the drink offered, and her reaction initially hinted at familiarity, yet as the story unfolded, her messaging conveyed a sense of them being strangers to each other.After watching the second episode, it became apparent that the narrative had commenced with a flashback. It seemed as though she was recounting their story to someone, adding a layer of intrigue to the unfolding tale.
Without revealing too much, about their relationship status that they were either be strangers or have known each other before.
Must watch it if you ship the love story .
I like Wang Xing Yue character though he got less screen but he looked cool all the time . I really hope that his love story also accomplish . So for this I think director should plan with season 2
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An invisible thread connects those who are destined to meet. It may stretch, but will never break.
The aforesaid quotation is an ancient Chinese proverb which encapsulates our leads’ love saga. This Homeric drama whetted snug emotions in my heart and made me grin from ear to ear, especially when the leads canoodled with each other. I have a fervent penchant for the dramas that involve healthy and affectionate mains’ relationship and if the leads get together in the early phase of drama, then that would be cherry on the cake, wherefore this drama plucked my heart’s strings the way it did. This drama depicts the Michelangelo phenomenon beautifully. In case I forget to mention, the OSTs of this drama are simply mesmerising! I am listening to them non-stop these days.The story of this drama is like a gently babbling brook on smooth rocks. It seems simple, nothing out-of-the-box or avant-garde, and yet is aesthetically pleasing. It might be this simpleness which lends such aesthetics to the story. I might be the only one but as I am growing old, I am finding myself liking these kind of relaxing and simple stories more than others. The male lead, Lin YiYang, falls in love with the female lead, Yin Guo, at first sight and rest of the story enunciates the constantly evolving relationship between them. She was like a warm zephyr for him amidst a snowstorm who brought spring into his heart after a long winter season. We get to see the leads going from strangers to friends, friends to lovers and lovers to those who can’t live sans each other. Whenever I saw Lin YiYang, I was reminded of Marie de Rabutin-Chantal’s quote, “I love you so passionately, that I hide a great part of my love, so as not to oppress you with it.” The actors breathed life into this story with their top-notch acting. These kind of stories can easily go downhill if conflated with subpar acting. Whenever I watched the leads on the screen, it made me feel as if I was peeking into a real couple’s private life, which highlights the level of the acting.
The cinematography was posh and sumptuous. The employment of different kinds of shots, like long shots, extreme close-up shots etc. to accentuate the nuances was commendable. The snowy vistas augmented the already beautiful cinematography. Another point that I would like to bring into your notice is the apparel of the characters of this drama. I, personally, found them very attractive. It could be because of my love for denim but hey, as I said, it’s my subjective take on it. I didn’t know anything about billiards apart from its existence. I ferreted out lots of information about the sport solely so that I could understand the matches and could get soaked into the thrill and nervousness whenever they were shown. Another thing that touched my heart was esprit de corps amongst leads and their friends’ clique. It was nice to see the warm friendship between Lin YiYang and his two friends, both of whom were his wingmen in the relationship.
This is my first review, so pardon me if I made some mistakes. I decided to write a review because I am pretty influenced by Rainer Maria RilkeI’s quote, “The work of the eyes is done. Go now and do the heart-work on the images imprisoned within you.” I wrote as much as I could think of so that I won’t fall victim to the dreadful l'esprit de l'escalier, though it seems I am inevitably going to.
I shall rest my figurative quill with the gilded lines of Gordon Lightfoot’s ‘Song for a Winter’s night’ that sum up the feelings of Lin YiYang when he first saw Yin Guo:
“…If I could only have you near
To breathe a sigh or two
I would be happy just to hold the hands I love
On this winter night with you.”
An honourable mention to Roger de Bussy-Rabutin’s words on the subject-matter of long distance relationship:
“Absence is to love what wind is to fire; it extinguishes the small, it inflames the great.”
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Magic is in the Fluff
The romance in this was absolutely swoonworthy! I often found myself grinning from ear to ear and blushing like a psychopath. So, it's definitely a 10/10 for the chemistry and the fluff!! However much I enjoy that, I can't justify more than a 7.5/10 when I felt the actual plot was just okay. Despite being a series with sports as a focal point, I was surprised that I don't think i felt any tension during the matches. I felt like I knew what was going to happen the whole time. It would have been nice to have been thrown a curve ball.Was this review helpful to you?
