A Talented Girl Grows Up (2024)

FL delivers great kisses and good chemistry in a binge-able transmigration story... with caveats.

I am a fan of hers, but I genuinely feel like Chen Fangtong chooses fun projects and this one is no exception. I enjoyed my time with it and it was an easy binge watch. Lots to like in this one, so let's start with the positives.

The Good:
- Chen Fangtong is not shy in her dramas and those kisses definitely looked open-mouthed. She is funny and creates great chemistry with her costars. Always a pleasure to see on the screen.
- This is the second drama I've seen featuring the Male Lead, Zhao Wenhao, and I think he did an admirable job. I quite liked him in Blood of Youth (as the disciple to the gambling fairy) and thought he was part of some of the funnier scenes in BoY. He had moments of stiffness, but his loving glances were oftentimes on point and I thought he carried himself well.
- The show made me laugh. Oftentimes, I find costume comedies (especially transmigration ones) on the cringier side with their forced jokes. The comedy here was usually on point, witty, and genuinely amusing.
- It was often self-aware, calling out known tired tropes directly.
- Role reversal! I love a story with a girl who can pick up her man.
- The secondary couple was very sweet and a great no-drama side-couple that was very easy to cheer for.
- The story felt good, and the ending is not one that left me bitter or disappointed.
- The parents were sweet and loveable.
- It's only 24 episodes, 30 minutes each! That's definitely on the short side for a cdrama, and I appreciate that it was a satisfying watch without dragging

The Mid:
- It looked decent. Cinematography and costumes weren't first in class, but this was obviously a lower budget drama and I think they did a good job with what they had.
- Music was fairly forgettable but not poorly done or a negative.
- Some interesting choices with time skips. Entire segments of story were told with little comic segments, which I thought was a very clever way to not bog down the drama but also created weird disconnects in the plot.
- Chinese censorship of this genre (isekai/transmigration) strikes again! The ending probably created a lot of confusion for people who aren't used to watching this genre. But as this kind of story goes under censorship laws, it was wrapped up on the better side than most. The weird disconnects and confusions are expected to conform to "we cannot imply that transmigration is real" standards.

The Frustrating:
- Despite calling out tropes openly, it then face smacks into them (but will also admit that it did). If you know, why do you do it?
- Attack of the incredibly annoying second male and female leads! Oh boy, you will love to hate them. In defense of the 2ML, I think some of the experiences he went through in the later parts completely broke him. But the 2FL is literally just the kind that exists to be annoying.
- Suspension of disbelief is required! Well, more than is necessary, even for transmigration tropes. In no point is it explained how the FL's skills in the real world somehow translates into her martial competence in the story world. And things always go right in a very neat way for the leads. The villains are as flimsy as a cardboard cutout. The emperor is so agreeable that one wonders why anyone ever struggled to implement any changes before the arrival of the FL.

Overall, it was a very fun watch despite any negatives. I admit I am especially biased towards the FL, but if you're looking for a light watch and enjoy the isekai genre, this is not a bad watch. I would not recommend it if you're looking for anything deeper or more thought-involved. This is purely a feel good watch for when you want to turn your brain off.

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