This is a biased review tbh
I jump into this without knowing the sypnosis of the special episode, so my disappointment is immeasurable and my day was ruined. I was expecting more scenes of the main couple as an actual couple cause we didn't get that in the first season but what we got was the backstory of the ex......Like sure its nice to know about it but to make it a special episode like really? It should have been included in the first season tbh. So that we can get a idea why Yu Zhen likes him so much. They made an entire episode dedicated to the ex and what enraged me more was that the ex and Yu Zhen had more chemistry and couple scenes than Yu Zhen and Lei Lei had in the entire series combined. Sure sure you can put the backstory of the ex but is there a need to make it a whole episode? 10 mins is more than enough and the rest of the time we should get Yu Zhen and Lei Lei as a couple. Honestly disappointed but tbh its a great story of the ex and Yu Zhen but still I don't want to see it. I fast forward it till the part of Lei Lei cause I was uncomfortable. So this is a biased review, this shouldn't affect you in any way from watching it. I just wanted to vent out.Was this review helpful to you?
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Well, slightly disappointing, but I still love this series.I did not only expire that this episode would rather focus on Yunzhen's past. The main pair barely got the screen time and annoyed me. The past should have been incorporated into the drama, in the special episode we can see the relationship between Shi Lei and Yunzhen, how they live happily. Received at least a few minutes at the end of the episode.
So for me it was a little bit bit and wonder how and why they loved each other. The special episode is unnecessarily wasted in the past.
However, I still love this drama and I still love Yunzhen Shi Lei pairs.
This can argue from the chemical level, which pair is better ... Yunzhen Zitong or Yunzhen Shi Lei ...
I'm still worshiping Yunzhen Shi Lei pairs.
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The special that dampened the main story.
The headline says it all. That’s my gripe with this special, it took away the limelight from the main story (which I love). The history of Zeetong and Yu Zhen should have been interspersed in the main story, that way viewers can understand Yu Zhen’s past heartbreak and fear of loving without taking away the euphoria of finally seeing Yu Zhen risking his heart to the lovable Shi Lei... Almost the whole episode is about the failed romance of Zee Tong and Yu Zhen’s, but their chemistry sizzled in this one episode. Thus, the warm and safe haven that Shi Lei represents somewhat challenges the viewers to ask, which one would you prefer to have? I hope to see another special solely on Yu Zhen and Shi Lei (with Shi Lei’s mom included?) just to replace the sour taste in my mouth left after this special.PS. It did not help that the two main actors (but not as Yu Zhen and Shi Lei) are guests in the Plus and Minus series on the verge of divorce! Really people behind this production, why are you besmirching the image of this pair?
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Same score as the series
Not gonna lie. It was not what I was expecting. However, I still enjoyed it.I gave it the same score as I did the series. I actually liked the background story a bit more, so I gave that an 8.
The acting/cast and music was the same score (8 and 10 respectively).
However, while the storyline for me was a bit better than the series, I'm not that eager to watch it again, cause I now know what happened and once is enough for me. Thus I gave that a 6.
My overall score was thus an 8, just like the series.
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Explaining Yu Zhen's Past with his Ex
This special should have been explained in the series and SHOULD NOT be a special episode.While it's great to know their past I would have liked to see more Shin Lei and Yu Zhen's couple moments in this special.
STORY:
Yu Zhen gets a USB from his Ex explaining why he left 7 years ago, showing off their relationship in video clips.
This is a good explanation as to Yu Zhen's relationship with his Ex, but it should have been included in the actual series... Or not included at all. A lot of this explanation was really unnecessary. Judging by the fact that Yu Zhen couldn't get over his Ex most of us can assume that they had a decent relationship. We really didn't need to see it. Again, this makes me uncomfortable to watch because I'm supposed to be cheering for Yu Zhen and Shin Lei's relationship. Do you remenice about your Ex and all the good times and sexy times you had with your Ex while you are with your new partner? I don't, so neither should Yu Zhen or his Ex. It's just insane.
OVERALL:
While it's not a terrible watch, it's really unnecessary. They should have made a special episode focusing on Yu Zhen and Shin Lei, not Yu Zhen and his Ex. It's just really bad judgement on the production end. This episode made me really uncomfortable and I'm now going to cleanse my eyes and pretend I never saw this.
PLEASE RELEASE A NEW SPECIAL EPISODE WITH YU ZHEN AND SHIN LEI TOO!!!
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It's a Really Nice Follow-Up
With this episode, we finally get a feel for the past relationship dynamic between Yi Zi Tong and Jin Yu Zhen and an insight into Yi Zi Tong's actual nature. It also showed more of Shi Lei's part in the plot to force Jin Yu Zhen to break free of his past and act on his love for Shi Lei.So it was sweet, and illuminating. It rounded out Yi Zi Tong's character nicely. And it did so in an interesting way. It was also nice to finally have complete context for the accident Jin Yu Zhen had been in. We finally get a more complete feel for why he acted the way he did, early in the series.
All the acting was on par with the main series, as were the production values. It was really a nice fix if, like me, you were already missing the characters. Aaron Lai especially does a super job here playing pre-traumatized Jin Yu Zhen, who was so different than he was for much of the series. The final scene before Yi Zi Tong departed for America was heartbreakingly well acted. And I worried it was just a bit traumatizing for Aaron Lai to act out a car accident so soon after the one he had in real life.
It also left me really eager to see what roles Aaron Lai and Hank Wang respectively get up to next.
This was overall a nice, tasty treat that neatly closed the story. Like with the rest of the series, my only complaint was that there just wasn't more of it to enjoy.
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hands down my favorite episode
i know probably most of you think otherwise, but i love this special even more than the main drama. it's practically my favorite episode. it's just coool to see the past of yu zhen, more so cause of the striking difference it has with the present timeline. like the name zi tong calls him by, yu zhen was "real" back then, in the sense that his emotions were raw and his expressions were much less filtered than they're throughout most part of the drama. and it's just simply sweet to see more of soft, fluffy, cute yu zhen xDthat all aside, i think aaron and deyn got incredible chemistry. yu zhen and zi tong deserve their own drama. their story is sad but BEAUTIFUL. and it ended nicely. the friendship they share is precious still now.
i really think we could have an incredible prequel starring them. at least, they should work again as a pair in some other drama.
i understand the frustration of all the people who missed shi lei in this episode and wanted to see him more. however, i think this episode also had wholesome shi lei x yu zhen moments as well that are much better than many earlier ones? like, yu zhen being cute & needy & playful with shi lei. and i think we got to see that because yu zhen was reminded of the good & fun parts of his past relationship with zi tong. he was reminded how he used to be before the breakup & the trauma changed him. tbh, i started liking yu zhen (& his relationship with shi lei) only after the ost "you're my comma" played in that one scene where shi lei was helping yu zhen to sleep. the song really helped me understand yu zhen, just how helpless, heartbroken & alone he was, despite looking like an accomplished, strong guy on the outside. and i really wanted to see his past, when he was younger.
also, both yu zhen & shi lei seem more relaxed & mature here, though, in the timeline, it's probably only shortly after the end of the last episode of the drama, but a lot changed in them and that's apparent in how yu zhen was calm while watching zi tong's message. or how he was totally fine to see shi lei checking zi tong's text. that reminds me, i think zi tong & shi lei's friendship is another precious thing. it's also something i miss in many other dramas where two lovers of one person usually have a jealousy filled enmity.
i've watched this episode 2x. and i know i will watch it again. love real's shy grins every time zi tong touches the mole on his collarbones T_T bye.
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Was this really necessary?????? It pretty clear Real was never the one for him and he knew it.
Obviously Real wasn't enough for him and I believe down deep he knew it that is why it was easy for him to leave Real and move ahead. I hate the fact that at the end of the series they let his character talk about his current relationship and him and the side couple guy at the bar talking about the fact that he has finally been tamed just tells me once again he knew Real wasn't the one for him.
From what he says in his recording he wasn't the type to stay stable when it came to job opportunities or even relationship so basically he wasn't the stable type so why enter a serious relationship with someone to the point of buying a house with that person if you knew that is how you are but like he said Real also knew what type of person he was so he is also to be blame for engaging into a relationship knowing fully well what awaits you ahead.
Apart from the above, I hate to admit this but when I first saw him and his ex kissing in the series the first time I went like damn their chemistry is something else and this special episode just confirmed it not to compare and believe me I love the main couple.
Their story would've been beautiful if the love they had for each other was on an equal level. Real to me was the only one completely in love that is why he was devastated after their breakup or should I say after E-Stone abbandoned him.
That is why I hate the idea of them bringing him into the picture and making his character a big deal. They main couple could have still ended together even without him in the picture that is why I don't really understand the use of him doing all what he did in the name of helping his ex to move on. Till the end he had the last say in defining their relationship and I hate it.
And with the main couple being on a verge of divorce in "Plus and Minus" just makes me feel uneasy with this special episode.. I really don't think this was necessary.
I would have loved for this story to be a totally different series not related to "Be Loved in House" but this happening only if their love for each other was on an equal level.
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Not a lot but still just enough
I am talking about what the episode has, not the exact content, so hopefully this will not be considered spoiler.The special episode really filled my heart, it was so wholesome!!!
They showed how an ex does not necessarily mean a villain, and that even though it was in the past, what they had still love. And the hurt of having to separate when they still like each other, especially the helplessness the one who did not make the decision was acted out so beautifully (tmi: I was patting my screen throughout a scene?)
And not only did they redeem the ex, they ended it with a sweeter note of how even someone who might have felt so broken, and like their world has ended at a point, can find happiness on moving on. I really appreciate how they neither showed a relationship as better nor another one as superior.
If anything was missing, it would be screentime for any other character, but I wouldn't complain.
This small and sweet episode itself has overwhelmed me - in a good way. <3
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The biggest contradiction of the series
If you watched the series, you will know that Yu Zhen and Zi Tong were together and then broke up in a turbulent way seven years before the events of the series. Zi Tong actually comes back to Yu Zhen because he wants to relieve the burden of their past relationship and let him go on with his life and live happily with Shi Lei. Which makes sense, despite being incredibly annoying (I would have preferred it if Yu Zhen was able to actually go on with his life without his ex having to step in and get involved in everyone's business). As ridiculous as it might sound, Zi Tong gave Yu Zhen and Shi Lei his "blessing" and left. The whole Zi Tong business had already lasted long enough at that point, he got lots of screentime in the series, to the point that both main characters saw him in their dreams. At the end of the series I was already thinking that this character had been shown way more than necessary, so when I saw the special episode I was hoping to get some more moments about Yu Zhen and Shi Lei.Instead of that, we got an entire new episode where Zi Tong Just. Won't. Leave.
As much as his story with Yu Zhen was important for the plot, it should have been incorporated in the series in some way, or abandoned altogether. If the past is past and it's time to think of the present and the future, then why is it necessary to see everything and more about a past relationship? At some point I just came to the conclusion that someone in the production team really loved the Yu Zhen/Zi Tong couple, so they tried to create more content about the two of them despite their couple not being endgame. I can't think of any other valid reason beside that (or trying to get on my nerves).
I only recommend watching this if you're someone who wants the full picture about Yu Zhen and Zi Tong. If you're looking for sweet moments about the actual couple of the series, prepare yourself to be disappointed.
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The past
Just finished the special, I don't know what I was expecting but i'm not really disappointed. Is the ex off my list? Eh, he could've handled the situation better really, instead of the way he did that caused Jin Yu Zhen to close off his heart. The end with Yu Zhen and Shi Lei was adorable of course. They are still in my top 10 fave couples for sure. I would rewatch this special but only for the end part really, I don't need to keep reliving his pain that had me almost break down watching Jin Yu Zhen cry.Was this review helpful to you?
Really a special episode of 18 minutes without the main lead!!!!!!!!
So this is a so-called special episode with only 24 minutes, and 18 minutes were given to Zi Tong and Yu Zhen's back story, and like only 6 MINUTES of the actual main leads. Like this could have fit in the series and they could have removed those unnecessary scenes like Shi Le dreaming about Zi Tong and Yu Zhen making out and Yu Zhen thinking out Shi Le making out with Zi Tong and I liked they didn't made Zi Tong a stupid EX who is back for desperation he has a guilt to overcome but it could have fit in the DramaWas this review helpful to you?
