As Beautiful as You (2024)

Best show ever

So, let’s set the bar low. This, dear readers, was my favorite show ever. But I mean EVER, not just in the c-drama world! This is how much I loved this show, so you can guess how much I’ll be gushing about the drama in this entire review (sorry in advance).

I’ve seen some comments about how the start up business plot was a bit forced… well, I have no idea how a company start up should looks like so, for me ignorance was a bless! Some said the plot was boring. yah… it has a lot of technical details (but it is, after all, a drama about a medical IA business). However, I love when they stuff shows with technical problems and tell us all about how they overcome them, instead of stuffing the shows with bunch of misunderstandings and fights, so for me, this was a perfect roller coaster of emotions plot.

Talking about my opinion alone, let’s begin with the actors. I have to say that I have a crush for Tan Songyun. She has this natural, strong way of acting that makes me forget that I am watching a show, then Xu Kai, was the perfect ML, with a not so talkative character, he doesn’t need to say a bunch of things for us to understand what’s in his mind. The chemistry between the ML is absolutely astonishing, the relationship they carry is beautiful, strong, clear, undramatic, with no huge misunderstandings happening, at least, it is the type of love that would really love to have!!!

Also, I absolutely love the fact that this 40 episodes show, doesn’t have a single boring episode, yes, perhaps if it had less 10 episodes there would be less not-so-interesting things happening in between, but still… it managed to put me, at the end of every single episode, in a completely Aweee mood. Mission accomplished, I would say.

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Copy/ paste office drama and misery

First review ever!!!
This is not the most terrible drama on earth ever but it felt like a copy paste of so many other office dramas that I just stopped feeling the need to go on with it, because at some point it just felt like I could predict the whole story.

Even though dear and beloved Xu Kai was part of the cast, there was not one character that stood out for me.
Love triangle, obsession , sabotage , first love, enemy to lovers were all present but they didn't make much difference in the acting and storyilne.

I would say for the 27 episodes that I watched that the plot felt repetitive with the same pattern of problem and resolution coming and going almost at the same rythm.

I wanted to love the drama and root for at least one character or anything else, but ,that is a NO for me.
Don't bother , unless you are here for Xu Kai.

P.S :Also english is not my first language, so sorry for the poor grammar.

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"Thousands of times," answered Xu Kai (ML) when asked about the number of kiss scenes with Tan Song Yun (FL) in the Chinese drama "As Beautiful As You". not thousands of times, right?

It feels like too much. Plus there are lots of 18+ scenes, if you use food as an analogy, the Chinese drama "As Beautiful As You" is mostly tasteless, so it makes you nauseous.

Even though the idea is good, you know. About a young woman who goes into business for a noble cause. Obstacles arise because the business is not on an MSME scale. A business that requires large investments with large risks too.

Unfortunately the conflict that arises feels far-fetched. Like when grandfather Han Ting (Xu Kai) made a fuss about a start-up company that was only 6 months old. The owner of a business group like that, you know, he must know that the company has only been established for about 3 years. Where is there a Julid conglomerate with girls like that?

Luckily, the drama writer created a warmer drama with the presence of 3 friends of the female lead, including their respective love stories.

This cliche idea is the possible answer to the rating of the Chinese drama "As Beautiful As You" at the start of its broadcast being very low. The rating for this drama on Mydramalist was only 6.9, then it slowly rose and now, when I write this review, the rating has reached 8.0.

A neat plot is the strength of the Chinese drama "As Beautiful As You", as well as a coherent storyline, good music, very strong ML and FL chemistry and cinematography that is pleasing to the eye.

Even the casting of actress Tan Song Yun made me curious, because she was "tall", "didn't have a chin" and other beauty differences that were very large compared to actresses Bai Lu, Yang Mi, especially the beauty from the Uighur tribe, Dilraba Dilmurat.

(Sorry about body shaming, the appearance demands of celebrities are different from those of ordinary people. ???? )

Tan Song Yun's acting shines because of her high flying hours. He has been around the world of acting since 2012, even appearing on TV shows when he was 7 years old. No wonder his acting is good, it can match Xu Kai's acting, who has no less extensive flying experience.

If there weren't too many spices, I would really like the Chinese drama "As Beautiful As You". Lots of good quotes scattered here.

It's not surprising. The Chinese drama “As Beautiful As You” is adapted from the novel "As Beautiful As Beijing" (你如北京美丽) by Jiu Yue Xi (玖月晞). We know that Chinese philosophy is very "deep" and has been taught in families for generations.

I wrote the next review here:
https://www.maria-g-soemitro.com/2024/07/as-beautiful-as-you-CEO-CLBK.html

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If you like Seven Tan then this drama is watchable, but nothing special and predictable.

As Beautiful as You is a business rom-com about Ji Xing and her college mate, Han Ting, who lost touch for 10 years. Han Ting had a crush on Ji Xing and confessed his love for her while he invested in her startup company.

Synopsis: Ji Xing has worked diligently for a top IT firm for three years but needs help to stand out in a fiercely competitive corporate world. Frustrated, she decides to quit and launch her own company. She soon attracts the support of a powerful mentor and investor, CEO Han Ting. With his backing, her entrepreneurial journey begins to gain momentum. As they collaborate closely, their professional relationship deepens, and unexpected romantic sparks fly.

My Reviews:
1. Nothing special about this drama; it is predictable but watchable.
Seven Tan acted well, and Xu Kai did his best acting in this drama, where he showed a little emotion when they broke up.
2. As I mentioned, Xu Kai is a handsome actor who is pleasing to the eye. Still, I cannot complete any of his historical costume dramas, only the modern ones, where his acting skills are more bearable.
3. The ending is predictable, and their brief breakup is understandable but also expected.
4. The supporting cast added too many unnecessary fillers (2nd CP, 3rd CP, 4th CP, etc.). The drama would have been better if it had been cut to 30 episodes instead of 40 because of fillers.

I am giving this drama a 6.5 rating because the script was nothing special and predictable but watchable because of Seven Tan.

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A love that grows instead of vanishing through the years.

- **Story/Plot**: 2.25/3
1. Synopsis (0.25)❌
2. Initial Impression (2eps) (0.25)✅
3. Genre Adherence (0.25)✅
4. Emotional Engagement (0.25)✅
5. Logic (0.25)✅
6. Plot Coherence (0.25)✅
7. Dialogue (0.25)✅
8. Pacing (0.25)❌
9. Character building/Development (0.25)✅
10. Story Richness (0.25)✅
11. Plot Twists (0.25)❌
12. Messages (0.25)✅
- **CAST/Acting**: 1.75/2
1. Lead Actor Performance (0.25)✅
2. Lead Actress Performance (0.25)✅
3. Main Couple Chemistry (0.25)✅
4. Supporting Actors/Actresses Performance (0.25)✅
5. Casting Precision (0.5)✅
6. Character Transformation (0.25)❌
7. Scene Stealers (0.25)✅
- **Directing/Camerawork**: 1.25/2
1. Camera Movement (0.25)✅
2. Editing (0.25)✅
3. Continuity (0.25)✅
4. Lips singing (0.25)❌
5. Visual Details (0.25)✅
6. Cinematic Tension (0.25)❌
7. Lighting (0.25)✅
8. Flashback Integration (0.25)❌
- **OST (Original Soundtrack)**: 0.5/1
1. Opening OST (0.25)❌
2- Ending OST (0.25)❌
3. Background OST (0.25)✅
4. Overall OST (0.25)✅
- **Style**: 0.75/1
1. Costumes (0.25)✅
2. Set Design (0.25)✅
3. Colors (0.25)✅
4. Poster (0.25)❌
- **Ending**: 1/1
1. Closure (0.25)✅
2. Emotional Impact (0.25)✅
3. Logic (0.25)✅
4. Personal Satisfaction (0.25)✅
Total Rating: 7.5/10 +0.25Bonus
>>>>Final Rating: 8/10

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The romance was sweet!.

Just finished this, and it's one of the first time where i didn't dislike the separation, because it made them both better after, it was also really nice to see a ML actually changed after a separation, and the way he apologized was sweet, you could definitely tell he learnt a great deal of lessons. They went from not having much flirty scenes or chemistry, and the episode they went to Germany, the ost, and the chemistry and flirty was kicked up at a whole new level, there chemistry was amazing, and there kisses too, they looked genuinely deeply in love, the acting from both leads were great as well. I enjoyed all the business stuff, usually I'm not a huge fan of the genre, but I liked it. There were terrible characters, as well as great ones. This is definitely one of the best Modern Mature Romance Chinese Drama I've watched, Really enjoyed the romance and character developments, and maturity they both came back with after the separation. :)

The acting was pretty great for both leads, it was believable when they fell in love, with there words, expressions and actions, and when they were arguing it was soo intense, i don't think I've ever seen Xu Kai acted in a scene like that, it was like a real couple fighting, so it was very realistic.

My least favourite character was that one, i'll throw-up in my mouth if i call her a friend haha... I'm really happy she was technically kicked out of there friendship, though it wasn't said but evident with the 3 having there own group chat and they don't talk to her anymore, i get how she felt and who cares what she wanted to do, but saying stuff like she don't regret what she did, just shows what a terrible friend she was.

Zeng Di was super annoying, but i'm happy the FL handled her well, and I love how the ML made her know that he had 0 interest in her and she wasn't even an option.. dang!! that was brutal, but i loved it!!. He also apart from eating dinner/lunch with her as a friend and business partner, he had boundaries with her. She also got what she deserves at the end, so that put a nice smile on my face.

There were other side couples, I find myself being interested in side couples lately, usually i'd skip them in whatever drama i watch, but i did like the different typed of couples in this, Li Li romance was very interested and i was well invested to see how it'll turn out, as well as the streamer bestie, the ML's little uncle and his grandaunt.. there combo was cute and hilarious!!. There was another couple, you'll see if you watch, just skip them! hahaha

What i enjoyed with this is that when the FL broke up with the ex-boyfriend, there wasn't any flirting etc between her and the ML, though we knew from day one how the ML felt, he never rushed or pushed her, but once they went to Germany, the chemistry went from 0-100 and it started getting sweeeet, it was soo cute, sometimes they didn't have to say anything, the look in there eyes were enough. Then it went from 100-1000 real quick hahahaha, it was event that the ML was meant for the FL and visa versa, usually in some of these with an ex-boyfriend who break up during the show, it's a little hard, but it wasn't here, it was evident that it was love, everything she did was different from with the ex.

Anyways, I think I said too much. This was another drama that I almost put on the side because of some comments I read, please don't miss out on shows you're interested in because of comments, we all have different taste and different way of seeing things, what i wrote here is from my perspective watching, you may or may not like it, but you'll know because you know what you like, if this sounds like something you'll like then go for it, if not, then don't, it's entirely up to you.

Happy Drama Watching! :)

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An engaging watch & life lessons

I didn't expect to be so drawn into this drama. It gradually captivated me, thanks in part to the chemistry between the two leads and the engaging side stories of the FL's friends.

Having abandoned Only for Love due to its superficial, childish storyline, As Beautiful As You is a much more sophisticated exploration of the business world and romantic relationships. The ML's deep, insightful thoughts offer valuable life lessons as he learns to open his guarded heart to love. It's not that he was incapable of love, but rather that his approach was more business-oriented and practical than the FL's. The drama effectively portrays the challenges of startups and the journey of two individuals discovering love.

The author's storytelling is well-crafted, although I must admit that some of the director's choices, such as unnecessary highway and building shots and questionable editing transitions, were distracting. Nonetheless, this is a drama definitely worth watching

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Xu kai and Tan Songyun did a great job, their chemistry is on fire.

I have been following this drama since before it's release. I only read half of the book, only till our leads ONS 'coz i didn't want to be spoiled while watching the drama am glad i did that. It's a slow burn romance and the ending is so overwhelming i cried a river. I am glad i watched this drama. I am a fan of Xu kai's and watched his dramas before, he's always a treat to watch, his acting in this one is really good. I liked him here more than i did in Best choice ever. His take on Han Ting is spot on 10/10. And this is my first drama of Tan Songyun. I must say i became a fan of her. Their chemistry is off the charts. Hope they get paired again soon.
Goodbye for now. I will catch up Xu kai's "Moonlit Reunion" and "Firefighter" when they release. Hopefully soon.

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Rewatch factor is high.

The story is standard. The acting is good. There were NO majorly irritating and constant villains.

The main reason why I am reviewing is to encourage viewers to just watch. Its a good drama as a whole. However ep 31- 40.5 has one of the most logical plot storyline I've seen and the ending episodes from ep 38 to 40.5 onwards has some of the most logical plot development and it didn't do a token ending. The ending made so much sense. Cdrama endings are usually the absolute pits. The ending is complete. I absolutely hate it when the director or writers loses the grip on their story. Yes the couple spend enough couple time to satisfy any of you who like romance.

And for Xu Kai fans- thank God he finally has a role where he behaves like a man and I don't feel sorry for him. I like Seven in a Journey Home but she is radiant here in the last 25% of the drama. She is her usual self acting well but she is comfortable, radiant and totally is Ji Xing in the last bit.

Just go past all those negative remarks. This is a good 40.5 episode drama to marathon through.

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One of my most fave modern romcom cdramas of all time

I want to start off by saying I wasn't going to watch this drama. I've never really watched anything with Xu Kai and although I know Seven Tan is a great actress, I was always convinced she had trouble nailing more intimate scenes. I was worried about the lack of chemistry. This drama proved me wrong in so many ways.

The chemistry between XK and ST is something I never knew I needed. The storyline allows the leads to exhibit so much healthy growth throughout the drama. Lately, I've been feeling like cdramas lose steam towards the middle-end of the drama but this drama only gets better with time. The leads have real issues that normal day to day couples deal with - miscommunication yes but also different love languages, how one gives love and how the partner expects to receive it. ML just wants to protect, but FL wants transparency.

I absolutely love the love between the leads as well. He has no problem touching, hugging or kissing her or even asking for kisses and I just think it's the sweetest thing ever. XK did so, so well in this role with his microexpressions and his execution in emotional scenes. He has definitely made a fan out of me. Seven of course was excellent AND she totally reciprocated in all intimate scenes which was honestly refreshing to watch. She also had no problem exemplifying a young entrepreneur with a big dream and working hard to make it to the top. We get to see her grow in her profession and in her personal life.

The supporting leads also did their best to bolster the storyline but never overshadowed the leads. XK and ST always got the most screen time which is what fans want in the end as LEADS. I can't say the same sometimes for these other dramas when second leads and ancillary storylines honestly just get in the way.

I'm going to miss waking up early for another episode of this. Kudos to the cast and the team!

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Not good.

the story follows the entrepreneurial journey of fl ji xing. also follows her friends and colleagues.
romance is the central theme of the show.
A lot of filler content. the pacing is slow.

my huge problem is the ml. lot of red flags. as an investor in fl's company, his intentions are muddled. he himself isn't clear if he invested because it's fl's company, or he wants to buy and destroy competition. doesn't follow simple ethics. lies to the love of his life to leverage her work for his benefit in sibling power play. doesn't disclose conflict of interest while doing business. talks down to fl. is very cold and arrogant, very "I know better". there isn't much of a character arch there. with so much screentime given to their relationship, which is a sham in name of romance, I had to drop the show. the writers continue to frame as ml's self serving actions as 'he was just looking out for her'. when the fl confronts him about his exploitation and betrayal, and turns away, the ml says "in my life, love isnt everything."

disappointing.

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