A Wonderfully Crafted Love Story

This is a wonderfully crafted love story that takes a unique spin on the time travel genre. I've seen many time travel dramas, but this one is undoubtedly the most intriguing. In this drama, the first time our male lead, Shen Bu Yan, travels back in time and meets our female lead, Lu Yuan, is actually the last time she sees him. He first meets the older Lu Yuan - and each time he time travels, he meets a younger Lu Yuan. So it's like a reverse timeline story which makes it even more depressing imo.

It is a low-budget drama, but I think they've used the budget very well. I can tell there's been a lot of care put into this. The cinematography actually looks really good and has some memorable shots.

I have to say, Zhang Ya Qin [Lu Yuan] carried this drama! She absolutely nailed the character. She perfectly showed the different personalities of each Lu Yuan, from a carefree Lu Yuan to an empress. She's also so beautiful I can't- On the other hand, Guo Jia Nan [Shen Bu Yan] honestly delivered a very mid performance imo... He was definitely outshined by Zhang Ya Qin.

Overall, I highly recommend this gem. It's a short one, so it should be very easy to get through. Plus, the story makes you wanna watch the next episode right away lol.

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Appreciating the Simple Things in Life

I finished Mangaban Nobushi no Gurume in one sitting and was pleasantly satisfied. The samurai was what attracted me to the drama in the first place. I saw a short trailer for it on Netflix, and it immediately drew me in. I thought it was an interesting idea for a culinary drama, so I gave it a shot. It's safe to say it didn't disappoint me. The drama isn't spectacular, but it does hit the marks for a solid slice-of-life drama.

Kasumi Takeshi (Takenaka Naoto) is a 60-year-old man who recently retired. We follow his journey to new destinations and we meet a variety of people on the way. Personally, I think some of people he met along the way were uninteresting. The writers could have done a much better job in that regard. On a positive note, his enthusiasm for the cuisines is contagious wherever he goes. Even if it's just a simple lunch box, as long as the atmosphere is good, he'll enjoy the food. I also like how he found love in simple things like sitting alone with a cup of coffee and reading a book. Takenaka Naoto, who played Kasimi Takeshi, did a very good job. However, I thought he was overacting a lil bit.

I also enjoyed the flashbacks to his past. They were relevant in showing the audience why he loves a certain food so much. One of his quotes that made me think back on special memories was this,

“They may look and taste simple, but they are still special and full of memories. I'm sure there’s a food for everyone that’s like what this croquette is to me.”

That is true not only for food but also for favorite books, movies, and so on. Even if the food isn't special to others, it is to you because of the memories you have associated with it. I think it's a lovely quote that makes us think back on good times.

Of course, I can't talk about food without mentioning how delicious it looked. It’s my favorite aspect of the drama. The cinematography was also excellent. In fact, it took me by surprise. The scenic and cuisine cinematography was visually appealing and created a soothing atmosphere. The music is also enchanting and magical, which added to the drama's atmosphere. Also, the samurai concept is unquestionably the most distinctive aspect of this drama. In every episode, the samurai appears for a brief moment, and it's always entertaining to watch.

All in all, I recommend it to anyone looking for a short, sweet, and entertaining drama.

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Indeed, It Was Delicious

Before I start, I want to say that there are minor spoilers!

When I first started watching Delicious Romance, I only intended to watch a few episodes. Surprisingly, I binge-watched 12 episodes before heading to bed. It was such an easy and entertaining watch, and that's one of its charms. I couldn't stop watching it. The dialogue was natural, and the humor was golden. The numerous characters, plotlines, and the girls' friendship kept me intrigued throughout. Let's start with the characters. I just wanted to mention that I appreciated them all. Of course, some were more entertaining than others, but all of them were interesting or likable in their own ways. 

My personal favorite is Fang Xin, delivered by Zhang Han Yun. Because she is beautiful, her goals and needs can easily be fulfilled by others. Fang Xin, for example, has various allergies, but she has never had to learn how to cook according to her needs as others already provide that for her. For instance, her ex-husband was the one that prepared all of her food. There are several examples throughout that demonstrate how beauty can make life easier. However, beauty has certain drawbacks. Fang Xin is frequently underestimated and looked down upon, particularly in her workplace. What I admire about her is her strong work ethic, as well as her ability to bite back if necessary. Her characterization is unsurprising, yet I still enjoyed Fang Xin's character immensely. I like how she approaches situations, and I like how she recognizes that her beauty gives her an edge. Her romance with Zhang Ting (Ren Bin) was quite entertaining to follow. Zhang Ting was a little dull for me, but he's a genuinely sweet guy. Despite the fact that he didn't know Fang Xin, he treated her kindly. You could argue that it has something to do with her beauty. Still, the two were adorable together. 

Xia Meng, performed by Wang Ju, is my second favorite. Oh my gosh, Wang Ju was fantastic. She portrayed Xia Meng perfectly. Literally, chef's kisses. Xia Meng is successful and headstrong, and how could I forget her proclivity for telling lies after lies? Her achievement far outweighs that of her long-term boyfriend, Wang Ji Cong (Yang Bo Xiao). Because they work in the same department, Wang Ji Cong frequently feels inferior to Xia Meng. After the two break up, Xia Meng meets a charming fitness trainer named Lu Bin (Zhang Fan). The difference in income from her previous relationship affected her mindset and thus affected her current relationship. Her plotline was definitely the most interesting. I also like the conclusion to her relationship with her ex-boyfriend. That was the conclusion I was hoping for, and I'm glad that the writers agreed with me.

Finally, there is Liu Jing, who is played by Li Chun. She's not my fave, but she's still intriguing. She is a culinary blogger who also studied IT. She is unsure about what she wants to accomplish with her life. What she knows is that marriage is the last thing she wants to do, despite her mother's wishes. She frequently feels invalidated by her mother for not marrying. Even when she develops feelings for a man, he is a divorced single father (Jiang Shan Mu played by Zhou Cheng Ao). Divorced people face discrimination in China, therefore her parents were vehemently opposed to him. I'm not a fan of these kinds of parents in dramas since they're exhausting to watch. However, such parents do exist, and Liu Jing's parents are a prime example. Other than that, I like her relationship with Jiang Shan Mu and his daughter. His daughter was a delightful character. She has a lot of sass and is actually pretty mature.

The three's friendship is both realistic and entertaining. I enjoyed watching the scenes of their childhood. The dialogue is also exceptionally well-written and natural. It talks about many social issues, with humor thrown in to lighten up the drama. There are some cliche and cringy parts, though. I also feel like the drama could have been a couple of episodes longer. That would have allowed the story to finish up some characterizations, and some of the relationships would be more concluded. Overall, this drama was a treat to watch.

Note: An 8.5 might seem low for others, but just know that it's really high for me :)

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The Emotional Damage is Strong in This One

The majority of Shining For One Thing is really full of amusing and adorable scenes, primarily involving our main characters' interactions. Then there's a mystery aspect thrown in here and there to make the audience want answers. The balance between those two elements gradually makes the audience care for the characters. So as everything starts to unravel, the emotional impact of it works. Too well, in fact.

The alternate universe premise in this drama is so well-done. The reason for how it starts and ends adds so much depth to the story, characters, and especially the romance. The romance between Zhang Wansen and Lin Beixing is the heart of the story. There are many regrets in the romance here, and it'll undoubtedly make you drop a few tears, if not buckets. The romance will not only make you cry, but it will also give you lots of serotonin.

Till now, I'm still convinced that I'm in love with Zhang Wansen. The dude, for real, stole my heart and won't give it back. In all seriousness, he's a fantastic character, and Qu Chuxiao did an excellent job portraying him. Lin Beixing appealed to me as well, although she does not always act like a mature 30-year-old. That is my only criticism of her. Zhang Jianing did an excellent job of portraying the joyous and persistent Lin Beixing. Then there's the second couple. Unfortunately, I didn't connect with this pair. I like them as individuals, but I thought the pairing seemed a little forced.

Aside from romance, the drama also discusses dreams. There's Zhang Wansen, who aspires to be a veterinarian without borders, Gao Ge, who wants to study art, and Lin Beixing, who has no clue what her ambition is. Those are just a few examples. I appreciate this aspect of the drama because it creates relatability and realness. It, overall, adds more depth and elevates the story from just being romance. The side characters are also quite enjoyable. There's the confident Gao Ge, the misunderstood Maizi, and the friend you can always turn to, Yang Chao Yang. However, Zhan Yu didn't do much for me. Visually, it's a pretty drama. The OSTs do not disappoint either.

Overall, it's a wonderful drama following an emotional romance. It's not perfect, but it does bring out lots of emotions.

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Surrendering to the Flow of Time

"Today, the time seems to flow at a leisurely pace. Why don't I just surrender myself to that flow?" - Natsuki

The amount of warmth my soul received is illegal. I'm sure that speaks volumes about how much I adore this miniseries. Kitchen For Singles is an 8-episode miniseries that lasts around 9 minutes each. I’m happy to say that this small production exceptionally soothed my heart and lifted my spirits.

This tranquil and harmonious atmosphere pervades throughout the drama. I'm not sure about others, but the vibe made me want to pick up a book and read for hours on end. The music is soft and mellow, at times, it's the sort of music that makes you want to jam to alone in your bedroom. The soft-spoken voice of actress Matsumoto Kiyo is appropriate for the drama. Her voice-over narration, along with the music, is flawlessly infused with everything.

Can we also discuss her kitchen? It's so cluttered, but it gives the kitchen so much character. Her entire apartment is warm and inviting. It really does make me want to move to an apartment myself, and live like Natsuki lol. The culinary aspect of the drama was also well-done. The food looked delightful. And as I expected, there isn't much to the story. Nonetheless, I was captivated by the drama. The whole vibe of it is deserving of a 9/10.

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It's Sweet, but Nothing Else

Sweet Teeth is part of iQiyi's Sweet on Series, which features, as you might expect, sweet/fluffy/adorable dramas. This show certainly achieved its purpose of being extremely fluffy. However, there isn't much more to it. That is not to suggest that dramas cannot be fluffy. It can be as fluffy as it wants, but the characters must be interesting as well. Side note: there are no major spoilers, but I do want to warn you that there may be mild spoilers. I don't think it's anything bad, but I'll put the disclaimer out there just in case.

Here, everything is... bland? Sure, there are many sweet scenes between the three couples, but the characters themselves are nothing spectacular. The narrative, like the stale characters, is pretty simplistic. But it's a typical romantic C-drama, so I'm not expecting anything spectacular in terms of narrative. I believe that the drama failed miserably in making the characters intriguing or likable.

Okay, I admit it: we do have Ma Yi Yi. She is, nevertheless, whinier and more immature than a toddler. She's nothing but stale, but that doesn't mean she is not a walking red flag in a relationship. On a more positive note, the actress who plays Ma Yi Yi, Wan Zi Lin, is stunning. Her look is perfectly in line with Ma Yi Yi's "fashion-blogger" persona.

Deng Hao Ren, played by Liu Te, is her partner. The guy is apparently a playboy, and the two bicker too often. And, no, their bickering isn't cute; it's irritating. I swear, my ears suffered so many bleedings. Liu Te's acting wasn't convincing for me, which resulted in a lot of cringing on my part.

Wu Ying (Zhang Bo Jia) and Liu Yu Cheng (Zhai Xiao Wen) are the other side couple. Zhai Xiao Wen, like Liu Te, was unconvincing. Liu Yu Cheng's persona is like this gentle/soft boy, which didn't work for me. Wu Ying, on the other hand, is tolerable. She wasn't too bad of a character, and the actress portrayed her well.

Finally, we have the main couple. Zeng Li (Wu Xuan Yi) and Ai Jing Chu (Bi Wen Jun). They were cute. Again, nothing special, but their interactions were adorable.

Aside from the excessive fluff, I also liked the Yu Yi (Merxat) plotline. I like how it was integrated into the story and Zeng Li's characterization. Zeng Li was mostly dull, but I enjoyed how she harbors resentment toward her mother for the way her family is. That, I believe, was the only intriguing aspect of her. When Yu Yi was introduced, it made the story a little more interesting. It also allowed Zeng Li to recognize her feelings for Ai Jing Chu which I appreciated.

With that being said, I still recommend this drama to watch whenever you're stressed or want a break from heavy dramas. It's very sweet and light-hearted!

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A Thrilling Journey Built on Nonsense

By reading the synopsis of the drama, you already know that it's complete nonsense.  Plastic surgery, as mentioned in a comment below, takes a long time to recuperate (gatalito). And even longer if you receive full-face surgery. Another commenter mentioned that voices can't be changed, which is obvious (Waikiki man). I'm sure the writers are aware of this, but I'm guessing they're hoping the audience will turn off their logical thinking. Thus, if you plan on watching this drama, go into it with your brain off.

Now, many things annoyed me. The first is, of course, the plastic surgery plot device. It just doesn't make sense. I was hoping it would be the end of the drama's nonsense, but it wasn't. The writers had to do something ridiculous towards the end of the drama that reminded me of wuxia dramas somehow. I literally have no idea how or why they ended up there. There's also another illogical thing in the drama where a character has a great sense of smell. I mean like, they can smell something miles away. Okay, I exagerrated a bit but you get the idea. Another thing that irritated me was Pan Qi Wen's (Zhou Yi Wei) strange relationship with Wang Xiao Ai (Yuan Shan Shan). Don't get me wrong: I respect Wang Xiao Ai for her courage and strength. However, there were times when I disliked her. Her weird relationship with Pan Qi Wen didn't work for me. I won't go into detail about this because it would involve spoilers, so I'll just leave it at that.

However, if you persevere through the nonsensical, you will find yourself immersed in a thrilling journey that our main character, Pan Qi Wen, embarks on. From the first few episodes, there are already so many twists and turns. There were moments when I thought to myself, "Oh, I know exactly where the writers are going with the story." Of course, I didn't. Everything is not as it seems. Everyone is not as they seem. The real fun begins when Pan Qi Wen eventually chooses to utilize his new face and identity as Song Kun to his advantage in order to discover the truth behind his face alteration. That would require him to enter Song Kun's dangerous world of corruption, and train to truly be him.

I have to say, the drama did an great job with the villains and the mystery aspect. The villains were a treat. Each one of them had their motives and each was cunning in their own ways. Pan Qi Wen's scenes with them were among the most interesting and exciting. The mystery in this drama is quite convoluted. There are several layers to it, and numerous people are involved. Looking back, the writers left many crumbs throughtout the drama. Even a minor reaction from a character might be a significant clue to the mystery.

I started the drama for Zhou Yi Wei, and I'm not disappointed. He truly delivered. He embodied Song Kun and Pan Qi Wen. And surprisingly, I also enjoyed the many bromances in the drama. Zhou Yi Wei had great chemistry with all of them. The bromances provided tremendous comedic relief as well. I also have to applaud Chi Jia as Li Yao. His scenes with Zhou Yi Wei were some of the best. Unrelated, but the drama's setting is very nice and I loved Song Kun's outfits lol.

In short, don't use your brain when watching it, except for trying to uncover the mystery. The villains, mystery, and the acting are worth giving New Face a try.

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An Unforgettable Life Journey

I cannot describe the overwhelming amount of emotions I'm experiencing right now. The Bond was such an emotional drama, and it was an experience I'd never had with any other family drama - ever. To say that this drama is unforgettable is actually an understatement. I had high expectations walking into this drama, yet it still managed to exceed them. I have so many things I want to say, and I want my review to do justice to the drama. However, I'm not very good at expressing how I feel. Still, I will attempt to be as coherent as possible. Here I go...

The Bond chronicles the life of the Qiao siblings during a period of China's rapid modernization. After their mother's death, the Qiao siblings are forced to fend for themselves at a young age, while their father neglects them. The eldest, Qiao Yi Cheng, takes on the role of a caretaker and raises his younger siblings. Thus, an eternal bond is formed as we see them go through thick and thin when facing the reality of the world. We follow them through their entire life, from childhood to adulthood. We witness them confront their challenges at such a young age that it's natural for viewers to become attached to them and root for their success. By the end of the drama, you will feel like you're a part of the Qiao family as well.

The story is absolutely immaculate. Never was there a point in which I felt bored. Everything kept me glued to the drama. It depicts many harsh realities of life and is just a highly accurate representation of life in general. The drama elicits a wide range of emotions. It makes you feel as though you have lived through decades of life as the characters have. All of the problems that arise contribute to the story and characters' growth. Some characters come and go. Whether it is a brief or long-lasting encounter, they all have an incredible impact on our main characters.

This drama is, without a doubt, a character-driven one. Each one of our main characters has its shortcomings. But in the end, they are all genuinely great people. They make bad decisions at times, but I never hated them at any point; all I wanted was the best for every one of them. These bad decisions also allowed the characters to learn from their mistakes. All of the characters are very distinct. It's fascinating to observe the different ways each one of them approaches their problems.

Qiao Yi Cheng is already shouldering a great deal of responsibility in raising his siblings at such a young age. I relate to him to a certain extent since I am the eldest child. Due to unforeseen circumstances, I was saddled with foreign responsibilities at a young age. Of course, it's nowhere near Qiao Yi Cheng's predicament. I genuinely admire and respect him. Bai Yu's depiction of Qiao Yi Cheng is memorable, and I can't imagine any other actor playing this role. He's natural as the eldest child who is sick of solving his family's problems (haha). Overall, his portrayal of Yi Cheng is on point. 

Another character I want to shine a light on is Qiao Si Mei. She piqued my interest because of Song Zu Er's absolutely fantastic portrayal. Growing up, Qiao Si Mei is the one in the family that is influenced by the growing entertainment media during that time. She loves fangirling over celebrities, and she especially loves living in a fantasy. Since little, she's always fantasized about the perfect love story. Many events throughout her life are evidence of how naive she is when it comes to love. This is influenced by the romance novels she's read. Although she is always scolded by Yi Cheng for her foolishness, she remains persistent in her views of love. Honestly, her character provided immense comedic relief for the majority of the drama. She's such a fun character. Combined with Song Zu Er's charming portrayal, this makes Qiao Si Mei one of my favorite characters. Although she is a very flawed character, I still love her. It was very interesting and sometimes frustrating to witness our naive Qiao Si Mei go on a journey discovering the realities of love. The conclusion to her arc is fitting and satisfying.

There are plenty more characters who I would like to commend. Qiao Er Qiang, the second brother, is also a fantastic character. Yes, I want the best for everyone, but if I had to choose only one, it would be Er Qiang. Then there's the incredible Qiao San Li. She and her spouse, Wang Yi Ding, are both amazing individuals. Finally, we have the family's youngest child, Qiao Qi Qi. He does not get nearly as much screen time as the other main characters. You can't help but adore him based on what we've seen of him. I love his bond with Qi Wei Min, his cousin who is essentially his brother. In terms of acting, I can confidently state that the whole cast delivered.

The music in the drama is also superb. It has a nostalgic sense about it that never fails to make you both smile and cry. I'm actually listening to the OSTs right now as I am writing this review. I can't stop.  It's simply that amazing. I was overjoyed to see that the OSTs are available on Spotify. I've been listening to the OSTS on repeat, and you may find yourself listening to it on repeat as well. 

I don't usually say this, but The Bond is undoubtedly a MUST-WATCH for those who enjoy life and family dramas. It's a top-tier life drama that includes realistic, complex, and engaging characters that make you love them to death despite their flaws. Even if you're not into this kind of genre, I still highly suggest that you check this one out for yourself. Seriously, you will be doing yourself a huge favor. Thank me later.

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A Gripping Journey of Homeless Assassins Unmasking Evil

Smoking was both unsettling and engrossing from the start. Despite the fact that it was a really disturbing watch for me, it surely held my undivided attention. It's loaded with violence and gore, which made me cringe and feel uneasy several times. As a result, this drama is not suitable for those sensitive to excessive violence. However, if you can handle it, I highly recommend it.

The drama has some very intriguing individuals, each with its own set of storylines that gradually unfold. All of the characters are distinct and three-dimensional. Together, they create an unconventional found family that will surprisingly warm your heart at times. They are cruel people, but they still have rules and morals that they follow. Hifumin, I believe, is not cruel like the others since he is a very vulnerable character. The actors' portrayal of the characters was believable.

The drama is short and fast-paced, making it easy to binge. The story progresses very well, and it's full of tension. It's action-filled, though nothing impressive, it was good enough. There was a point in the story when it was trying to evoke a lot of emotion from the audience, but unfortunately, it didn't work for me.

In terms of technical components, the drama does not disappoint except for the music. It's a visually appealing drama with a grim tone. The atmosphere in some scenes is also spine-chilling. There are several screenshot-worthy moments, and the camera angle is also rather fascinating in some scenes. In brief, it's a solid and intense drama worth checking out. 

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Project Strawberry Fair: Designing the Perfect Vengeance Plan

Satsui no Michinori caught me off-guard - in a good way. The drama is peculiar, eccentric, and, at times, relatable, even though the main characters are conspiring a murder. When the protagonists discuss the murder plan, they do it so casually. It's as though they're discussing the weather rather than plotting to murder someone. And I think that's where most of the humor lies in this drama. I've never seen anything like that with the same "feel" before.

Our two leads: Kubota Kazuma and Azuma Mitsuru, balance each other. It was interesting to see the development of their plan through their extensive and detailed discussions as to what is a good idea and what is not. Their consultations with other characters were fun to witness as well. I also love the little moments when the characters get a little side-tracked, and one scene, in particular, was too relatable.

The conclusion is satisfying. There are also some lovely scenic shots. My only gripe is that I couldn't connect with the motives presented to the supporting characters. The drama's explanation, in my opinion, was lacking. But overall, there's not much to complain about.

In short, it's a captivating miniseries with a pretty good story (nothing amazing) and excellent dialogue. This drama further exemplifies how unique Japanese dramas can be. It's undeniably a gem worth savoring. 

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A Victim of "Good Drama, but Ruined by Annoying Characters"

After not finishing a proper Chinese costume drama since December and not enjoying one in a long time, I placed a lot of hope in Listening Snow Tower. And it did, for a short while, live up to my expectations. The introduction to the characters, their backstories, and the relationship between each of them were all done properly at the start. The world-building was intriguing, and so was the set-up for each characters' motivations. However, as the story progressed, it began to leave a bitter taste in my mouth as a result of several frustrations.

The supporting characters and the side storylines are undoubtedly the highlights of this drama. The side storylines were all distinct and enriched the supporting characters. You understand their motives, and you root for them as you watch them grow. They were so entertaining, and they made the drama fast-paced for me. Many people have commented on how slow this drama is, but it wasn't slow at all for me. Although I liked the supporting characters, there were two exceptions: Chi Xiao Tai and Gao Meng Fei. Seriously, was the writer high when they created the two characters? Chi Xiao Tai practically went through zero characterization. While Gao Meng Fei went through terrible characterization. Like What? You have great characters like Hong Chen, Gu Guang, Ren Fei Yang, etc... and then you have these two cockroaches?

To put into perspective how terrible Chi Xiao Tai is, I want to say that Hao Chen (from Love and Redemption) is a saint compared to her. If you know Hao Chen, then you now understand my hatred for Chi Xiao Tai. Chi Xiao Tai is like a hair strand that you find in your food that makes you lose your appetite, and you feel completely disgusted by it. She's like the spider in the corner of your room that you want to kill. She's like a vexing bug that just won't ever leave you alone, and you wish it didn't exist. Girl was like possessed throughout the entire drama. She was so selfish, obsessed, manipulative, delusional, and any other terms relating to the aforementioned ones. She never changed. She only grew out of control because no one was willing to do anything about her behavior.

As for Gao Meng Fei, I just didn't understand him. He degenerated into this obsessed and deluded man. His motivations were valid initially but quickly devolved into absurdity. He contradicts himself frequently and was a hypocrite. The drama attempted to evoke pity for him at the end, but I was completely unfazed by it.

As for the leads, they were fine. I liked their slow-burn romance, and it was fitting with the story. Xiao Yi Jing reminded me of Mei Chang Su because of his illness, calm composure, and strategic thinking. He's certainly not in the same league as Mei Chang Su, but he's a great and complex character nevertheless. Qin Jun Jie was exceptional. I actually think he was the best actor in this entire drama. On the other hand, Yuan Bing Yan was alright. When comparing her performance here to her performance in Love and Redemption, you can tell she has definitely improved in L&R, and that's great. She played Shu Jing Rong, and the character was underwhelming as the female lead. I mean she wasn't terrible, but I believe the writer wasted potential with her character. Ming He definitely outshined Shu Jing Rong for me. Despite falling into a love obsession, she exudes a powerful aura and is noteworthy as a villain. Angela Yuen did a good job portraying her; at times, her acting felt a little off for me, but overall, it's nothing to complain about much. The rest of the cast had standard acting. It wasn't intolerable, but it wasn't exceptional either.

Lastly, I want to throw out a few more things I didn't appreciate. There were a lot of missed opportunities with the characters and the plot. Especially, towards the end, the supporting characters weren't used to their full potential. There were also a lot of flashbacks around the 50 episode mark and after that, which were all skippable. Some things were also unnecessary. Overall, I don't recommend this drama. After watching 56 episodes, it didn't give me a rewarding feeling of "it was worth it." If it weren't for the annoying characters, perhaps I would have rated this drama a 7.5 or an 8 which is good/great in my book.

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It's Quite Standard but Still Delightful

When put into a pile with other romantic youth dramas, Summer Again fails to stand out. However, that doesn't necessarily mean it is bad whatsoever. It utilizes the same formula as other youth dramas, so it manages to capture what a youth drama is supposed to be well. The stunning coastal location of the drama also made it quite peaceful to watch. Thus, after shedding tears for another drama, Summer Again provided just enough comfort for me.

This drama addresses the same themes that are addressed in other youth dramas. For example, discovering and becoming one's true self. That theme was handled well in this drama, and I found myself relating to our female protagonist, Tong Xi. And, to be honest, I'm sure many of us, if not all of us, have tried to act in accordance with the character we wish to project. In this case, Tong Xi attempts to create the image of a beautiful, well-spoken, goddess-like student. This is in stark contrast to the outspoken and tough personality she attempts to disguise. Tong Xi's fangirling is undoubtedly the most relatable aspect. I fell in love with Tong Xi thanks to Ni Ke Xin's charming depiction.

There are also themes of family, forgiveness, and acceptance. The families of Tong X, Lin Nan Yi, and Ni Xiao Wan exemplify this. They all have very different family circumstances, but it's nothing we haven't seen before. They addressed it in the same manner that previous dramas have. It's nothing extraordinary, but it gets the message across. 

The romance in this story is quite subtle. If you haven't already noticed, it's heavy on the childhood friends trope. So, if you're not a fan, I'd steer clear. However, I didn't mind it here much. I enjoyed how they handled the friendship-to-love narrative. The leads' companionship is endearing and comforting. The leads' chemistry was great as well. Also, Tong Xi overshadowed Lin Nan Yi, in my opinion. The other pair is also adorable. Again, this is a subtle romance, or hardly none at all until the end. They are another friends-to-lovers. All of the main actors are newcomers, but they provided a solid performance. Some supporting actors were substandard, though. 

In essence, Summer Again is a standard youth drama featuring lovely seaside scenery. It's the kind of drama you would go into without many expectations, except the assurance that it will bring comfort. Although it's a pretty standard drama, I enjoyed it quite a bit so I definitely recommend it.

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