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I was never planning on writing a review until I watch this drama.
This review reflects my opinion only.There are so many positive reviews on this site that I thought I might give this a try to give one among few differing opinions here for those looking for it.
Story:
There is not much logic to be found in this story. As many know already, the e-sport aspect has been butchered by the writer so I'm not gonna pretend to understand the industry and give my two cents.
Too much fluff in the relationship between the leads and any conflict feels superficial. We're not shown why the ML fell for FL, or the process of recognizing his feeling, properly. He just suddenly started to flirt with her for everyone to see.
The plot is very tropey, just like CEO cliché story transplanted to e-sport industry: Genius, super rich male lead with the short tempered girl.
Side characters serve no real purpose other than to react and facilitate the relationship of the main lead couple.
Acting:
Only touching on the leads acting here.
Xu Kai is okay, not great, not too bad either. If he has any brilliance to show, the script wouldn't allow it haha.
Cheng Xiao is very bad at acting, period. She has mostly the same facial expression throughout, wide eye repertoire when she's trying to emote. She even acted the same way after Tong Yao fell off the stairs (can't remember the episode). She's been in a few dramas already, none of which I've watched, and starting with lead character from the beginning. She'll continue to act as leads in the future, but if her performance in this drama is any indication, I wouldn't watch any of them.
IMO, this drama is overhyped on this site.
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This review may contain spoilers
I would have rated this even higher had the story not shifted tone in the second half.What I didn't like:
- First half was good up until ep 16 I think, and then the editing became increasingly choppy (scenes' transitions not done seamlessly) and some issues were thrown in without being properly addressed or even being necessary (her friend, her mental condition, ML identity revelation to the public etc.).
- Drama felt more melodrama as first, but when the leads reunited, it was more romcom-y. What with the common CEO trope being introduced later.
- Too long epilogue to stretch the drama for more episodes. Would have worked better with less episode count, but that's an issue with most c-dramas.
- ML's behavior deviated a bit too much after the separation. I understand he got his sights and lifestyle change from a reclusive songwriter to a CEO, but the changes made were a bit jarring that I felt tad disconnected with his character. Mom also accepted the ML so easily after all that happened in the beginning. Had I not watched mother-daughter argument when she visited her, I'd have thought that she accepted him cos he was no longer blind and for his status hahaha.
- Love the songs and BGM, but a lot of times, they didn't fit the scenes.
- Her being a psychology graduate was not too relevant to the story.
- ML family relationship was not fully explored (tho I like that we were shown his relationship with his father remained quite distant despite reconciled when FL came over cos that seemed more believable, for me at least)
- Second couple was boring that I FF them a lot.
Might seem like a lot of dislikes, BUT, this is actually one of the few modern c-dramas that I enjoy quite a lot this year.
- No overdubbing.
- The acting. Almost everyone acted so well in this, even Evan Lin whose this was only his second acting project (but first being aired). I think he will benefit most from working in this drama and I look forward to his future projects. Wan Peng was great as always. She was very convincing in whatever the character's trying to sell that I didn't feel like she was acting.
- Leads got nice chemistry.
- Their relationship progressed naturally and believable. I totally get why they fell for each other.
- No evil second lead trying to come between them. Even their separation was not caused by anyone else but was personal issues that they needed to overcome themselves.
- Characters behaved like real people. Conversations were rational and relatable.
- We were shown what the characters feel, and not just told verbally. (I like the scene in the hospital when ML was trying to touch his father before he went into surgery, but retracted his hand upon contact, cos it was unfamiliar for him).
- Like I said before, love the music, when inserted properly.
Overall an enjoyable watch.
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This review will be all over the place, but you get the gist I hope.
I am only able to finish watching this as I have read the novel. As the scriptwriter is the book author, the story followed closely the novel sequences except having to change (a very important) plot point to work around censorship. This however became a pitfall as it was a very important plot point that drove FL motivation in pursuing the ML and persisting despite all issues they had to endure.We were repeatedly told throughout the drama that Zhou family were supposedly so powerful and so complicated, but not much was shown except some accidents involving FL. Except mom-in-law being a bit of a b**** earlier on, everyone of them were so nice to the leads. The only villain was so so so weak (bad acting + bad characterization).
Some events in the story were so inconsequential that they might as well not be included.
I read the novel many many years ago, but from the writing (or translation), felt that ZSC was a very charismatic person despite being a nerd scientist, which sadly was lost in the drama portrayal. I'm not a big fan of MBFB , as I felt her writing is over indulgent, with style over substance, and her drama adaptation even more so. Beautiful Bones was perhaps her book that I liked more compared to her others, unfortunately this drama
Good thing about this drama, (1) everywhere they filmed looked pretty, (2) acting overall ok.
Note that I didn't watch One and Only as I felt the backstory didn't warrant a whole series with 24-ep.
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I thought it became rather stale at that time, but the development picked up quite a bit in the second half.
There's nothing groundbreaking in the story and the writing is pretty average.
What saved this drama was the directing, which elevated the writing above what it was.
Chemistry was very good, which was unexpected for me since I couldn't see it by their visuals alone.
They make quite lovely onscreen couple, SHK and PBG.
I love love love the OSTs. Made way into my playlist which I kept on repeating for quite a while after I finished watching this drama.
Still listen to them sometimes now.
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A Piece of Your Mind has A Piece of My Heart
I just finished another rewatch and thought to leave a very short review for this gem.I love this drama so much.
While watching it gives me a very warm feeling. The relationship of Ha Won and Seo Woo is what I imagine an ideal relationship is like. A relationship of mutual longing, respect and reciprocation.
Some might call it slow, but for me that is how it's meant to be, a story driven by characters rather than plot. The atmospheric directing and very good music alongside that help to elevate my watching experience.
Too bad the 4 episodes were cut and always left us wondering of what could have been. But that was what it was, and as it is, the drama is perfect for me.
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