Crimson Whirlwind
Falling Into Your Smile falls flat, lacking depth in both storyline and characterisation
Sigh. This has been a sadly disappointing and underwhelming journey. I’ve been waiting almost a year and a half for this drama to come out, thrilled to see Xu Kai in a modern drama (just because he slayed Arsenal Military Academy). But unfortunately, despite all the hype, I was left completely underwhelmed and frustrated throughout Falling into your Smile, and alas it just fell flat on its face. I know this drama received rave reviews, and I myself tried my best to view it as objectively as I could, but be forewarned, unpopular opinions ahead.PROBLEMS
--The Storyline Itself--
I think the major turn off for this drama was its inseverable relationship with the internet/social media and how the toxicity of the online environment negatively impacted and influenced the characters. It was a major recurring theme throughout the drama and just felt over the top rather than impactful.
What made the story fall flat was the constant emphasis on the e-sports online forum being at the center of everything. Every time something was posted, over a number of episodes, we would follow the characters reactions and responses whether that be trying to mitigate the negative effects or finding a solution. And this sort of drama kept popping up and detracted from the storyline itself, the relationships between our characters and the actual e-sports competition. It left little time to properly explore team dynamics and character interactions. It felt like they were all being controlled by the comments of their fans and rather than promoting e-sports as a proud national sport that actually rather emphasised to their detriment the toxicity and negativity of the online environment, fans and their comments. And after awhile it got old and I felt frustrated, because it was obvious there would be a never ending onslaught attack on them and they just couldn’t catch a break to actually focus on what was important e.g. hand injuries, the feeling of winning, relationship and love, friendship and bonding etc.
The love story itself, for me, Lu Si Cheng fell too fast and too hard for Tong Yao and I felt it was completely unfounded. Though everyone’s been saying their chemistry was great, for me personally, I just couldn’t feel it. The bickering or banter dialogue lacked wit and class, and just felt plain boring and basic. And the whole height difference joke got old after awhile. It was a real struggle getting through the first 10+ episodes and I actually took a break from it. And sure it picked up when they started the kissing, but it just felt like a lack lustre relationship.
--The Game--
I really liked how we went into the gaming world, switching into the animations and really entered the game world. However, it stopped at that. The lack of explanation of: what was actually happening (they often just put up visuals of the game play and we had to decipher what was actually happening), the rules of the game and the avatar capabilities made the gaming scenes so much more confusing. The question on my mind was why where there so many competitions and which ones were actually important? There was no helpful commentary, no strategy for that matter and everyone kept switching game avatars that it made it so hard for me to keep up with who was playing who. This kept me distant from the gaming world, in addition to the games being entirely anti-climatic and very predictable. I think my main concern was that the competition gaming scenes felt like supplementary scenes to fill the main storyline rather than being the focal point, left on the backburner because there were so many other external problems at hand.
--Acting/Cast--
I’m sorry to say that I had issues with the acting and cast. I felt Xu Kai was pigeon-holed into this character of being tight faced and cold and tried his absolute best to bring some life into it, especially being one of his first modern dramas. I liked his characterisation and even development, from being well aware and acknowledging his flaws. Props to his ep18 7 minute monologue, that was some well written tight script writing that got his character and thoughts across really well.
Cheng Xiao as Tong Yao I thought was miscast and the only thing that worked was the height difference. Her acting felt expressionless, rigid and lacked the right emotion for the scenes. I couldn’t make out her character. I didn't really feel any character development, and she came across as arrogant, unapologetically righteous, and too easily influenced.
--Lost Potential--
They had an array of beautiful, lovable and ready crafted side characters, that were sadly dismissed as unimportant and majorly underutilised. In particular, Yu Ming (who had like one major scene in the beginning and then used as a side prop, despite having so much character potential to be explored), Lu Yue (brother dynamics that would have offered more insight into Lu Si Cheng's character), and Hierophant (this relationship was so fleeting and I don't know why, it could have been so well good if developed). These are such interesting side characters, I only wish their backstories and motivations were explored further, it would have helped craft rich characters and round off the team dynamics.
I think overall what got me was they were trying to cram too much into the storyline – while competing for the national title, juggling the pressures of social media and being a figurehead, the resistance of parents viewing e-sports as a mere game, managing the dynamics of the team, family relations and building a fresh relationship from scratch. All this in addition to the poor scriptwriting that felt flat and lacked the depth of clever conversation.
It’s honestly great to see an increasing number of e-sports dramas framing national pride come out on mainstream, as we learn and uncover more about the struggles and behind the scene challenges. I appreciate the drama’s vision and liked the world it was attempting to create both off and online, but just in this instance, it fell far from my expectations and I was left sorely disappointed.
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This review may contain spoilers
A surprising gem that delivers a cohesive story and clever characters
I came out of this pleasantly surprised, intrigued and overall satisfied. Fall in Love manages to humbly balance the light-hearted romance with heavier and darker themes of politics, war and strategy. First and foremost, I’m a sucker for Chinese Republican era drama (see Arsenal Military Academy and Rookie Agent Rouge) and so this naturally fell on my radar. The first few episodes are a bit cringe and feel super staged (and a bit confusing as we work out our bearings), but keep at it and as the story progresses, you’ll soon find how much of a hidden gem this one is.STORY
The story follows our male lead, Tan Xuan Lin and female lead, Mu Wan Qing who happen to meet under unfortunate circumstances and this leads to a series of misunderstandings. Cleared up quite quick, they appreciate each other’s strengths and wits and from there on out work together as partners (and later on something more) as they navigate through the tumultuous times in Shanghai.
Within 36 episodes, the story is well written, well-rounded and cohesive. I found the episodes breezy to watch, not much filler, but more story progression and kept me wanting to watch the next. The story flows well, divided into three distinct sections: 1) Wan Qing’s internal family drama, 2) Xuan Lin’s political strategy 3) At war. The last section fell away a bit, which is why I can’t give it a perfect rating I’m sorry. The ending episodes felt a bit confuddled (like introducing new villains?), it felt like they were rushing to the finish line but wanted to tie up all these loose ends.
I will flag the story comes front and centre, and the romance sometimes fades to the background, particularly the latter half of the drama. Which is a shame, because I love seeing our two leads get all romantic because the chemistry is so there.
Things I liked within the story:
+ Reference and referral back to key themes, conversations and symbols. See amulet, number switch, this idea of trust/belief in each other
+ The overall craft of constant misdirection and deception. Loved how our characters were three steps ahead of us and everyone gets played. This feeling of being blindsided is such a rush
+ This idea of new vs older generation (the father and son dynamics) leading the future
+ The exploration of each of the character’s history/backstory, uncovering the truth, and setting everything in its rightful place
CHARACTERS and ACTING
Brilliant and again unexpectedly good. Where has Chen Xing Xu been all my life, and how am I just finding out about him? What superb acting, he outshone everyone to be honest. He managed to capture so many complex emotions and feelings within the one expression. His character was flirty and playful, never taking anything serious. But that feels like a façade for what he is: a highly intelligent, cunning and slightly devious, fiercely loyal and courageous, natural born leader. He manages to shift into so many facets of his character effortlessly, from dark, looming and aggressive when he’s threatening someone to super light and jokey when he’s bantering with Wan Qing.
Props to our female lead, she did so well and I loved her characterisation. It’s rare (typically we see naïve and pure female leads as the go to in Chinese dramas), but here Wan Qing is equally intelligent, so switched on, possesses vision and foresight, merciful but not a door mat. I loved how she could hold her own (see ep29 as evidence), was rational and reasonable and unfazed by anyone standing in her way.
Both were complex characters with tragic backstories, and we see how this has shaped who they are. The pair were matched really well, in mind and body, and together were an incomparable force to be reckoned with. Yes they were open with each other and had this unwavering belief in each other. But I did get frustrated when Xuan Lin hid things from her or lied to her in the name of protecting her. She could obviously handle whatever came her way, so I would have liked him to be more truthful with her.
Our array of side characters and their journeys were given enough time to develop alongside the story and worked well. Evan Lin as Xu Guang Yao was your typical supportive second male lead, for me his acting needs a little work, but his character development was on point. We really see him come out from his sheltered father to his own person with will, fighting spirit and new belief. We were also given optimistic and persistent youth’s pursuit of love (Tan Sang Yu) and also a more mature, realistic and accepting blossoming relationship (Gu Yue Shuang).
MUSIC and REWATCH
The music grows on you and fits well with the emotional scenes. Though I usually don’t rewatch dramas, I would actually rewatch this one again. It was filled with surprises and kept me on edge throughout. Like I mentioned, it is well crafted and the story flows on from one episode to the next smoothly.
WATCH FOR:
+ Lead interaction, banter, chemistry and teamwork. They are by far one of most perfectly matched couples that you can’t help but root for. I loved seeing them team up seriously to face challenges, where they lean on and confide in each other, and somehow pick up on these hidden cues they share between them
+ Clever characters. I love how they outsmart everyone, the cons they pull, their ability to predict the future. They know what’s up and more often than not they keep the audience in the dark until their reveal. A lot of ah-ha moments that were like little surprise easter eggs that gave me this feeling of pure delight
+ Tight script writing, witty banter and conversation, cohesive story that delves into the backstories, histories and present lives of our characters. 36 episodes doesn’t feel long, and to be honest thought they should have added some more episodes to the concluding section so it didn’t feel too rushed
WATCH OUT FOR:
- Staged production. I wouldn’t say cheap, but the production does feel unrealistic at times, so I wasn’t entirely immersed into the Republican era world. They definitely fused a lot of contemporary aspects in costume, design, speech and what not.
- The trailer was a bit deceptive in categorising it as a light romantic comedy. In fact, when you actually start to watch, it gets hella serious and dark at times. There’s a lot of war strategising and talk, battle and fighting scenes, a lot of time is given to how the Warlords manage their affairs, soldiers and territories. So the romance and their relationship is neatly interwoven within the story
- The ending 4 or so episodes. It does lose its way, starts to get a bit muddled and messy. They jam packed so many new characters and new plot lines, that it felt a bit unnecessary and unfounded. But I understand they wanted to have this big climax and promote the whole national pride thing, but it meant the romance takes a backburner.
Overall, I’m so glad to have picked this one up and stuck with it. Left me pleasantly surprised and exceeded my expectations. There’s a lot to like with this one, so give it a go and let me know what you think!
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Cuteness masking underlying toxic and unhealthy relationship
I wasn’t going to waste writing a review for this, but the more I thought about it, the more I needed to get this out there. I thought the female lead was done well, liked her growth and watching her find her own way after a massive setback in her career. But if you ask me what a toxic relationship looks like, this one would be it. The male lead was overprotective, highly possessive, had anger management issues, cold yet clingy and so dependent.STORY
The story moved fast enough and 24 episodes was well enough. The climax around episode 18 was entirely underwhelming and uncalled for. It became super overly melodramatic toward the end and that made it cringey and laughable to watch.
I have to say though I really liked watching Nuan Nuan find her own new career, reigniting passion and pursuing and excelling at something she has natural talent. Her ideals of hardwork, effort and kindness were really nice to see. She was surrounded by calculating and manipulative evil characters, but she managed to hold her ground. Their relationship on the other hand is another story that the more I watched, the more I disliked. It started off well in terms of them living together, learning and supporting each other in tough times, the banter and light disagreements. But then the back and forth of them being together and then not got boring after a while. And made me lose interest in the two and their relationship.
ACTING/CAST
Characterisation was confusing at times. Both male and female lead acting was average and subpar, nothing memorable. I thoroughly disliked our male lead and thought his acting was so rigid and flat. He was so overly protective and possessive it was unhealthy. Our female lead would talk to another guy and he’d get so worked up and throw a temper tantrum. Han Che would get so clingy, like he wouldn't be able to live in this world without her. This was by far a drama with a whole of lot of hugging, kissing, handholding etc. But it also felt super forced and urgent and trying to instil a sense of ownership, rather than something sweet and loving.
Our side characters were also subpar. I didn’t like Han Xue and Gu Li’s relationship, I thought she was a spoiled princess and their relationship was built on a servant/king relationship that now I think about is also so unhealthy. He would drop everything and run to her at her call and wait on her hand and foot. I thought Fang Han Chen and Lin Jia Yi were additional and uninteresting characters that added no value but to fill episodes.
Music, nothing memorable and quite repetitive. Rewatch value, no thanks.
Overall, I just felt the sweetness of their love masked the underlying toxicity of co-dependency. The drama romanticised possessiveness and clinginess. I just felt like Nuan Nuan was stuck in an unhealthy relationship with Han Che, and was so in love with him that there was no way she would ever be able to leave, a bit like Stockholm Syndrome. Especially prominent when he kept on saying, I’ll never let you go and you can never leave me. And when she tried to, he came following her and demanding her back. Even though they share sweet moments with each other and I can see they do like each other, I just feel like this unhealthy reliance on each other should be checked rather than let loose. I’d definitely be interested in how you perceive their relationship. Keen to hear your thoughts!! xx
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This review may contain spoilers
The long, arduous and literal journey of self-discovery and finding one’s passion
We follow the story of a young boy – insolent, foolish at times and happy-go lucky – as he grows up and finds his passion in the game of Go with the support and guide of Chu Ying, a spirit from centuries ago. The drama does well in depicting the very arduous road to self-discovery, sprinkled with a whole lot of growth for our protagonist Shi Guang, and poignantly explored the mentor and mentee relationship/friendship well. However, my rating sticks at 8.5 because I had trouble connecting emotionally to our main character – I didn’t particularly like him and found it hard to relate – but despite that in some way I still felt the need to root for him. Other things I took issue with are the pacing of the whole drama and the last episode.--Things I liked--
Shi Guang’s growth, undeniably he grew up a lot from being a petulant little child, to an easygoing happy go luck teenager who never takes anything seriously, to someone who can hold their own and knows what they want in life. His character is very reactive which is the main reason I couldn’t connect with him as much. He would often act impulsively before he thought properly, ready to dive head first into his decision without thought to the consequences or how it would affect those around him. Then he would spend time apologising and trying to right his wrongs. In a way, it’s an accurate and realistic depiction of one’s life, we all make mistakes and act irrationally. Shi Guang never shyed away from owning up to his wrongs, which served as his saving grace. At times, I was extremely frustrated with him and annoyed he lacked foresight, empathy and smarts. His easy-going, smiley disposition really carried him and made him able to bounce back from hardships. You really go on a journey with him as you track his growth through the 36 episodes.
Humour. There are several laugh out loud moments throughout the drama that come at unexpected times, but fit perfectly. It was a form of release in the face of all the tension and felt very genuine and authentically crafted. See mooncake scene haha.
The relationship between Chu Ying and Shi Guang was unique – giving off father-son but also friend-friend vibes. It was a very close, intimate and respectful relationship that I saw flourish, grow and only strengthen. They were able to support each other during the hardest of times, even until the very ending moments.
The friendships and side character arcs. I really liked the breadth and width of all the people Shi Guang met along the way. We got time to delve into everyone’s lives a bit and that helped with the richness of the Go world and of the bonds of friendship. Of course I liked Yu Liang, he was indeed the detonator and initiator for Shi Guang, but I appreciated how this worked both ways. His character went through personal struggles and everytime he would circle back to Shi Guang for motivation and inspiration. They were like magnets, connected in a way but on their own individual journeys. Also special mention to Fang Xu, I had initially pegged him as a stock standard character ready for revenge and superficial acclaim, but he surprised me with character complexity and dilemmas that lifted his character to a higher dimension.
--Things I take issue with—
Time and pacing, this was something that put me off the drama the most. The episodes were long, almost an hour each and literally depicted one hour of the character’s life, sometimes to the point of being excessively long. And this meant that Shi Guang’s progress felt incremental, at the end of every episode, his skill level picked up only by the smallest amount. A lot of the scenes could have been sped up and I felt we didn’t need to see every nook and cranny into his life. We journey through a long 5+ years of his life and watching the drama, you really do feel it.
Last episode. The last episode felt disconnected in tone, problematic in many ways and for me, let the whole drama down.
***SPOILERS AHEAD****
After Ch Ying left, the momentum left with him and we spent the remaining time picking up the pieces and hurriedly tying up loose ends, the go competition faded into the background. Yes, they depicted Shi Guang’s five stages of grief well, but underlying that, I was annoyed with him because it felt like his actions were out of spite and ungrateful. The last episode felt disconnected from everything, random, with major tonal shifts. All the suspense and tension disappeared and it suddenly felt like a bl rom-com that didn’t really fit the past episodes.
In particular, Hong He’s journey arc felt like such a cop out. We spent so much time of Hong He and his journey and abruptly ending it felt so wrong. Hong He was the epitome of the best friend, almost to the point where I was like no way someone can be this good, loyal, kind and selfless. He was never jealous or hated on Shi Guang’s talent along admired, he was super self-aware and did everything in his power to help his friends, even if it meant they surpassed him. His ending was undeserved and made me feel wholly dissatisfied.
Yu Liang and Shi Guang’s relationship was built up so much from the very start when they meet up as kids and throughout the drama, time and time again, we play on this idea of them competing against each other so much we eagerly await this. And then in the final episode their attempts to give us that feel like another cop out, unmomentous and lacking any significance.
***SPOILERS END****
Other minors things are they didn’t really explain the rules of Go properly, so when watching the competitions I couldn’t really follow what was happening. Also, being a predominantly male centred drama, all the female characters felt like they were only there to purely serve as support figures.
There are a lot of things to like in this drama, par the final episode. Everything worked well, albeit the drama being a bit slow and drawn out. The friendship, comradery, mutual trust and passion were all displayed to the max and I really like the band of them coming together to share the same bond over a game of Go. I appreciate this will not be everyone’s cup of tea, so watch when you’re ready to take a journey – be warned it’ll be a long one, but one that is fulfilling and rewarding.
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This review may contain spoilers
Stellar acting and fantastic production delivered an emotional on-point journey
What a thrilling and emotional journey, action-packed and so inspirational. Props to a stellar acting cast, our two main leads did so well, particularly Xu Kai. The story, the premise, the historical setting, the characters were so on-point, I fell in love the first few episodes and couldn’t stop. Literally binged the whole thing in less than a week - it was that good. I rarely touch dramas with more than 30 episodes, but I was hooked on this one. Xu Kai for eye candy haha. Be warned the last 10ish episodes goes to shits and falls apart - structurally - it gets so messy and so much unnecessary death. Let’s break it down:Story
Commend, love the idea and concept. Gender bender’s usually are meh, the girl tries too hard and ends up coming across super phony. But this was good, I was convinced and she held her ground. I loved the premise of military school and going on trips and training exercises, bunking and what not. Liked the little missions, heists and just general school interactions. The good first half is stellar and I would rewatch over and over. Then... come 35 it starts to go shits up and I have no idea what’s happening. Suddenly these subplots come into play and I’m like what..? And then to top it off people start dying left right and centre, for no reason then just because oh yeah there should be a death about now. The whole ending story was super contrived, unbelievable and illogical, with no proper explanation and a lot of plot holes. So please be warned, as you enter the last episodes it gets a bit confusing and feels out of place. I feel like they could have ended it about 40 - just to the bit where they graduate. And then from beyond, it all turns to shit and becomes super unbelievable and muddled.
The romantic side of it is definitely more restrained than what you’d find. It’s more about friendship, commanderie and protecting/caring about others. The love triangles drove me crazy but it was a guilty pleasure watching them, loved all the interactions XLC had with GYZ and SJS. I personally would have liked more from XLC and GYZ, like many others if you didn’t know before, while watching the drama you’d think XLC and SJS are the mains.
Production
Just have to note what style and fashion! Loved the beautiful costume design and get ups, it fit the characters so well: Pinstripe suits with silver chains for SJS; Body length leather jackets and black boots for GYZ; Trench coats and neck ties for XLC.
Acting
Bai Lu held her ground and was amazing in her role. She totally immersed herself as a male and did it very well. Props to her. If I’m nitpicking, two things, her most common phrases are: I can’t be bothered to talk to you and what should we do now? Just came up repetitive and needed more script polishing. I thought her acting was rigid at times and I wanted more from her especially in her emotional scenes, and also because Xu Kai was doing an absolutely amazing job. I fell in love with Xu Kai slowly. He was your typical jokey, playboy, never taking anything serious. But boy did I fall. Seeing him grow, realise his feelings, fight for her, care for her and love her. His acting was superb. From his eyes, I felt what he felt and cried along with him.
Although I have to give SJS some props for his acting, what a tease he wast. He started off super cold and distant, but then started smiling and became so warm. Amazing support cast, they did a spectacular job and it all fell into place. Great characters, great team, lovable.
OST playing on repeat, fit in so well.
Rewatch Value, yes but I’d have to stop at around the 35 mark and end it there. Just felt like the ending few episodes were so messy it ruined a lot of things for me. And it would have just been better if we ended it sooner.
Overall, this drama had me laughing out loud, grinning like an idiot, sobbing like a baby and constantly on my toes with the tension. I commend everything about this drama and would 100% recommend just to watch our two main lead interactions. Keen to hear your thoughts! xx
*SPOILERS* Things to watch for I loved:
- Every time GYZ thinks he has lost her and then finds her again. That relief, care and love made me so emotional. Just from his eyes, I could feel everything he felt. He did it so well in being able to portray that emotion. He just had so much love, it was impossible to contain. And the thought of losing her was just too much, it would impossible to comprehend losing someone you love so much.
- Everytime GYZ protects her identity being blown e.g. shower scene, medical examination
- Everytime GYZ shoots on point
- SJS’s teasing moves to win her over and when he smiles at her
- Piano scene - that did it for me
- When he comes back and tells her it’s because of you I’m in love with you.
- When they’re holding hands at the dinner table
- Button scene
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Playful and fluffy start, but beware second half and tonal shift in drama
A love story that starts out fluffy and full of chemistry and ends in an underwhelming hurrah with a completely irrelevant tangent that ruins the characterisation of the leads. To sum up, I’m felt so underwhelmed coming out of this drama, because I came in expecting something great but was severely disappointed, to the point where I wanted to drop the drama going into episode 20ish. I applaud the acting and two lead’s chemistry despite the age gap, but the characterisation of them and tonal shift really let the whole story down.STORY
The story started off well (really well) and then went downhill, fast. I enjoyed our two leads, Gu Sheng Nan and Lu Jin's meet cute moments, loved their banter and encounters and also the cooking aspect (which was why I picked up this show, love all things food). It felt very light hearted, humorous and playful the first 10 or so episodes and I liked seeing the two grow closer and feel something more for each other. I liked the main lead’s intense devotion, love and care for our female lead.
Then things I didn't like started to come one by one
I didn’t like how the love rivals popped in for a few episodes and then completely disappeared when they got rejected. Didn’t flow that nicely, and felt they were there for props rather than being smoothly integrated into the storyline.
I didn't like how whenever Gu Sheng Nan met trouble, Lu Jin would come to the rescue playing the white knight and flout money and power to resolve the problem. Rather than work through problems together, they both liked to do things solo and keep the other in the dark.
And then come episode 20 and onwards, the introduction of a whole new character (don't want to spoil who) was completely irrelevant and unexpected and to be honest, added no value and shifted the whole thing away from cooking, food and the kitchen. It turned into a business drama, super serious and with a revenge plot that felt so out of place. The tonal shift was too extreme, and by the time they tried to bring it to an end, I was so done with our two main leads. Lu Jin came off as possessive, completely at the mercy of Gu Sheng Nan, and literally felt he would jump off a cliff for her. And Gu Sheng Nan came off as super immature, naïve, annoying and completely oblivious to how her actions were hurting Lu Jin.
ACTING/CAST
Our two leads were great, good chemistry. Our male lead was a tad better at showing his care, concern and love in general and was good with verbally expressing his feelings.
The side couple was completely unnecessary, felt so cliché and typical. I was disinterested and skipped through their bits. Xu Zhao Di felt shallow and superficial as a character and I didn’t see her growth enough and couldn’t figure out why Meng Xin Jie liked her. Their relationship progressed so quickly I didn’t feel any romance at all, it felt really contrived.
MUSIC
Nothing all that special, the intro song is nice.
REWATCH VALUE
I’d rewatch the first few episodes of the cooking and seeing them get together, but then I'd have to drop the last half of the drama.
Overall, didn’t love this, which is a real shame because it started off really well. So if you want to give this a go, just beware the second half of the drama. Keen to hear your thoughts as always xx
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You shine best when you’re pursuing your dreams – a heart-warming and inspirational drama
All in all, this was a solid drama that deserves commendation. I thoroughly enjoyed the notions of teamwork, comradery, friendship and brotherhood, fighting for one’s dreams despite the obstacles both physical and mental, love and support that were warmly embraced in this drama. However, this was a drama with faults that dragged that unfortunately drag down my rating.STORY
Solid plot line that flowed well for a massive 40 episodes. The first 25 episodes were done really well, pacing, plot wise and character development were all really good and I liked seeing our two leads grow closer together. Liked the humourous revenge plot line and liked their interactions with each other. However, after episode 25, it went downhill and saw a complete 180 degree tone shift into something darker, depressing and at times frustrating. It was super light hearted, funny and engaging prior but then suddenly all this revenge, violence and depression started to appear and weigh down the drama. I felt they added these extra subplots to beef up the drama, but were not executed well and didn't align with the character's characterisation. A major stump for me was the double standards regarding ‘lying’. We spent the first 20 episodes building Tang Xue’s character as someone who absolutely cannot stand lies and this even inhibits her relationship with Li Yu Bing. But then after episode 25, she lies one after another and expects everyone around her to just trust her. And then in the end who feels the consequences and ends up apologising? Li Yu Bing.
I felt Li Yu Bing copped it hard for no reason and Tang Xue got let off everytime. Despite this, I thought their moments together were very cute and could really see how much Li Yu Bing liked her and cared for her. Loved how they each had something from each other e.g. snowflake necklace and pink hockey stick. However, I just felt I needed more from Tang Xue, both in emotion and action.
ACTING/CAST
Janice Wu is not my first choice in actress and actually her expressions and also loud, brash, lack of subtlety in character put me off this drama initially. But I continued on because I liked the banter and humour between the two leads. I think Janice played the character well, I feel like that’s the only sort of character she can play. Very obvious, almost aggressive and nothing subtle.
However, Steven Zhang, boy was I pleasantly surprised by his acting. He did his character so well and I ended up rooting from him. I loved his sense of justice and how supportive he was. I felt like Li Yu Bing really expressed how much he loved Tang Xue, whereas I couldn’t feel it that much from our female lead. I really followed his journey from success, to setback and to comeback and I really appreciated this character arc.
Side characters. There was a lot of heat about the amount of side characters and the time spent on them. I totally get that, it was excessive and unnecessary and the side character stories didn’t have much depth and felt quite superficial. But they did relieve tension from our main lead and built up quite a nice friendship support network which I love.
Our ‘evil’ characters were so off. I liked Zhou Ran’s growth and understanding. But Bian Chiang, what was going on with him? He was deluded and I had no ideas what his motives were and his character and acting felt off. An uninteresting character that had more say in the plot then I wanted him to.
MUSIC
Moving and inspirational soundtrack, really like the whole snow and ice motifs throughout.
REWATCH VALUE
I’d rewatch the first 25 episodes and then leave it at that. I don’t really need to relive anything after. It was super depressing, frustrating, annoying and just felt completely unnecessary.
Solid drama that was a tribute to national pride and winter sport. Appreciate the character arcs and their growth as they bounce off each other and learn from each other. It definitely didn’t need 40 episodes and some of the subplots let the whole drama down in flow of plot, tone and Tang Xue and Li Yu Bing’s relationship. But if you like sport dramas (which I do), strong themes of fighting for one's dream and never giving up, then this is for you. Keen to hear your thoughts as always! xx
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Things I love
Han Shang Yan was amazing as he was and I love the black outfits. He did really well for a character that had a very antagonistic personality. Tong Nian did just as well as a ditzy, naive and very pure girl. The couple chemistry was really great and I could feel the cuteness oozing from them. Would have loved more couple moments. The whole idea of the Capture the Flag (CTF) competition, love at first sight and even the friendship ties can be commended and was done relatively well. The whole story revolved around CTF and unfortunately, it wasn't explained too well. But a very interesting concept and something I had never heard of before. The love at first sight was a classic and I love the play on that for the first few episodes. The friendship bonds and also the past interlinking with the present was done well, though flashbacks had one too many (easy to skip over though, you don't miss much). And the past was a bit what... a bit of a no big deal.
Oooh and I also absolutely loved the whole candy motif throughout. It was amazing and worked really well for character building and solidifying. Giving Han Shang Yan a unique quirk that defines him and can sum him up in a few words. Loved that candy tin and how it appeared throughout the whole thing.
My main concern
The plot or lack of plot or more like drag and unnecessary filler episodes. The first 18 episodes were stellar and very nicely done. Then we went on a whole tangent of Han Shang Yan being a jerk until 28ish episodes and that really put a dent in the storyline and actually detracted from the romance and the overall plot. And while that was happening, they decided to add this superficial romance between two side characters that was so awkward and unnatural. I wouldn't say they rushed the ending, but I feel like it could have been planned out a whole lot better. The whole CTF competition faded into the background and suddenly it wasn't that important who won or lost. The story had such a strong start and the couple chemistry was amazing, so I question why the breakdown in plot happened. It definitely brings down the rewatch value.
Music
Songs were amazing and loved both of them singing their tunes. Downloaded the soundtrack right away to listen to, very inspirational and emotional. And I love how they added them singing songs too. So cute, couple goals.
Rewatch value
I’d definitely binge the first few episodes to around 18 including their first aquarium trip out to Hawaii. That was pure gold and I absolutely loved seeing Tong Nian chasing Han Shang Yan. And seeing them bond, really bond. Then I’d skip episodes 20-30 completely irrelevant and super frustrating. Just a mid subplot that added no value and was like what...? The ending did get messy and felt like a rush to the end or even an ending that wasn’t thought out carefully enough. Like they weren’t sure how to exactly end the love story. But definitely rewatching cute moments because their chemistry was hot but also very endearing at the same time.
Overall I can say a solid drama with some good cute acting. And funny scenes that make it super lighthearted, nothing too heavy. Very contemporary drama about growth, learning to forgive and friendship and love. Some really nice themes underlying the whole drama. Just be prepared for the drop and lag in plot midway - just skip through it! As always keen to hear your thoughts! xx
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STORY
The Drama started off well, with Su Man (Janine Chang) and Lu Li Cheng (Wallace Chung ) encountering each other multiple times in the first few episodes. They had great chemistry full of small bickering and smart dialogue exchanges. Their interaction was fun to watch and made me laugh at their unwilling chance encounters. I liked the idea of having the Drama set in a workplace setting, given we could contrast their at work and out of work interactions with each other. The first 20ish episodes did really well in setting a light-hearted joking tone, and seeing Lu Li Cheng slowly fall for Su Man. The big climax/ultimate betrayal was shot well (very heart breaking), and I loved the fact that Lu Li Cheng was there for her throughout the whole thing.
However, episodes 30 and onward went downhill, I’m even convinced they found a different director. I don’t know what happened, but all light-heartedness went out the window and the Drama did a 360 turn. It turned into a mess – there were random side plots developing, unnecessary and often pointless scenes, and the second female lead got her own whole backstory. We stopped seeing them in the workplace setting (which was what defined the whole Drama initially). We stopped seeing great Su Man and Lu Li Cheng interactions. And then the ending came, and I was like what…? And no, I wasn’t satisfied with the two alternative endings, but some proper closure was nice (I watched the Lu Li Cheng one of course). Be prepared to choose an alternate ending depending on which guy you’re rooting for.
ACTING/CAST
Wallace Chung was amazing as per usual, I just love his micro expressions and being able to read a hundred different emotions on his face. I was rooting for him the whole time, he truly cared about Su Man and was there for her when it mattered.
Janine Chang did a really great job portraying her character (although her wardrobe choice could have been better). She could turn on her fierce and strong persona for Lu Li Cheng and was all cutsy and loving toward Song Yi. Her actions and character development at times were questionable, but I’ll let that go.
Jia Nailiang’s acting needs work and that’s all I’ll say about him. I thought his character was a mess and was not properly thought out – what were his motives, intentions, what did he want? Very unclear.
MUSIC
They had a few good songs that fit some of the emotional scenes, but nothing too memorable.
REWATCH VALUE
I would be alright watching the first few scenes where we see lots of Su Man and Lu Li Cheng interaction, but the whole Drama again? That’s a no from me.
Honestly, I just felt this had so much potential. They could have spent the rest of the drama developing the relationships in a more meaningful way rather than have all that nonsense. Unfortunately, wasted potential is all I’m left with. Keen to hear your thoughts! xx
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STORY
The story arc was done really really well. It was clean, pure, paced well and didn’t drag on unnecessarily. A rare find. 37 episodes will go by in a flash and you’ll be craving more. There were a lot of sweet and funny light-hearted moments that make you smile, and this was perfectly paired with some of the heavy serious stuff that happens later on. The whole plot was thought out really well – they were able to integrate the present and past (four years ago) fluidly. I really liked how Yi Bai and Yun Duo’s connection was way deeper than originally thought.
Every character had their backstory and past experiences they needed to face. In particular, we see Yi Bai’s swimming journey and the hardships he faced to get him where he was, I loved seeing his character development. His drive to achieve his dream was really moving.
Yi Bai and Yun Duo’s relationship is definitely a slow burn – from friendship to love. You see their chemistry from the moment they meet (I loved their first meeting) and it carries throughout the Drama. You might get frustrated at the slow progression of their relationship, but trust me it pays off in the end, they are the cutest couple.
The end has good finality and resolve to it – everything is cleared up. Don't you love a happy ending ^_^
ACTING/CAST
Dylan Xiong’s smile is the cutest thing ever and I loved seeing him smile. His expressions were sometimes unclear (I hear he is relatively new in the acting field), but his smile made up for it.
Tan Song Yun was gorgeous and did such a great job (loved her outfits). They were definitely one of the cutest couples ever. And even when they faced an obstacle, they were able to talk it out and stay strong.
The second couple - Qi Rui Feng and Yang Yang provided the much need comedic relief and I loved watching them interact with each other.
Overall, the cast and acting was spot on. Couldn’t have found a better cast. I found myself loving the male tension in the air when the different swimming groups faced each other off. They found such a good looking bunch of guys – good job casting team haha.
MUSIC
I'm listing to the soundtrack as I'm writing this, so yes the soundtrack was amazing and fitted the scenes so well. In particular, the swimming competitions had such great inspirational and uplifting music and made the scenes suspenseful and made me even a bit teary.
REWATCH VALUE
I’m not into rewatching Dramas, but this one I would definitely rewatch again. If you're looking for a bit of inspiration and motivation to achieve your dreams or goals, this would be your go-to. If you're looking for a cute couple, who face things together head on, this would be your go-to.
Seriously, hope you give this Drama a go, even just watching the first episode. Keen to hear your thoughts! xx
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This review may contain spoilers
A well-crafted masterpiece that delivers a powerful message, keep fighting never give up! 10/10
What a triumph this was, I don’t think I have ever seen such perfection before in all forms: production, story, cast, music, CGI bam bam bam all integrated into a consistent coherent and powerful story. I stumbled upon this one by accident and thought I’d give it a go. I was not expecting it to be this good, it exceeded my expectations a hundred times over and I can see why so many people have fallen in love with this. I actually can’t fault it and am so impressed by how well-crafted the drama is and how much thought was given into every scene, every battle, every game and strategy, the timing, balance between light and heavy, character contrast and dynamics. Watching online gaming may not be your thing (it’s not mine), but The King’s Avatar immerses you into the world of Glory and makes you never want to leave it again.Story
I wasn’t all too familiar with the background of this (this live-action being based on a novel and anime), but no matter, I found myself drawn in immediately from the first gaming scene. We follow Ye Xiu’s rise and fall in the professional e-sports arena, and his journey to forming his own Xing Xin team, meeting a lovable and unique bunch of fellow Glory enthusiasts. The story arc was beautifully done and was very consistent (you may feel it drag in some places, but please just stick it out and keep watching, it’s worth it). From beginning to end, the story, the plot and the message was there and strongly delivered.
There is no romance in this, but it doesn’t need it at all. It purely focuses on commaraderie, friendship, never giving up despite when all odds are against you, believing in yourself and your ability, it’s okay to make mistakes we’re only human, the value of teamwork and every good thing we can all learn a thing or two from.
The production, the online gaming component was all spot on. And also the script was so smooth, all the conversations had double meanings within in them and were deep and complex.
Acting/Cast
You know what, I was pleasantly surprised by Yang Yang’s performance. From Love020, I thought he was just a pretty face and acting subpar. But boy was I impressed. He was the perfect cast for Ye Xiu and I commend his acting ability. He embodied Ye Xiu’s character so well, I didn’t feel like he was acting, it felt so real and fit him so well. He was able to bring out Ye Xiu’s cheeky side yet tad arrogant self, serious gaming face, and the feelings of hopelessness, loss and triumph simultaneously.
As for Maggie Jiang’s character Chen Guo, I can totally understand the comments on her looking older and also being annoying at times. In the first few episodes we see her, she does come off as clingy, hot tempered for no reason and annoying and also later on, making foolish and stupid mistakes. She wasn’t my favourite character, but I appreciate her persistence and positivity and her belief in the team.
The whole team’s acting was spot on and I couldn’t fault anyone’s performance. Everyone did their character justice and I loved seeing the team dynamics and interactions. For those burning for romance, you can maybe see a very subtle romantic undercurrent between Ye Xiu and Su MuCheng. And I loved seeing them to be able to help each other and comfort each other during tough or sad times, they were always there for each other.
Music 100% on point again and fit in so nicely with the whole production. Listening to the OST on repeat.
Rewatch value 10 again. After just finishing it, I’m already going back to the beginning and rewatching it again. I am pining for Season 2, please come out soon!
I just want to stress again, of all the Chinese dramas I’ve seen, this is by far the best thing I’ve watched. Pure glory in every form. Every scene had a message or meaning behind it, everything fit in so well and I was on the edge of my seat gunning for team Xing Xin. I felt everything Ye Xiu felt and was with him every step of the way. Do yourself a favour and watch this drama now. Keen to hear your thoughts as always! xx
Ponderings and Musings *SPOILERS*
- Why didn’t Ye Xiu ask Qiu Fei to join his team if he was his apprentice from before?
- Please explain why they put up Lu Ji and Chen Guo up to play despite them having zero skills
- If I’m nitpicking, I would have loved to see more vulnerability and character development in Ye Xiu’s character. He was able to help out so many other people in different and unique ways. I wanted him to rely on his team a bit more and just show a little bit more of his vulnerable side. He is not always invincible and that’s okay.
- The brother thing was a bit weird, I know they were trying to stick with the original content
- The final battles got a bit technical and I had trouble following every single move, had to rewatch it a couple of times. Appreciate the easter egg in episode 1, but would have preferred if they did a bit of reminding in the later episodes so we would be ready for it.
- Character development and growth. Would have of course loved to see more of this from each team member. But understand the nature of 40 episodes (felt so short, it went by so fast) and the fact they had so many people to introduce. I commend them for being able to break into a new character in around 3 episodes.
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This review may contain spoilers
Watch for the two main lead’s intense chemistry and top acting
Took me a few days to process and get my head around everything that happened, needed time to let everything sink in before I could write this (especially the emotional ending). First off, I have to say the only reason to watch this drama is to watch our two leads, their dynamic, exchanges, emotions and intense relationship/soul mates/brotherhood vibe. What a pairing, such intense chemistry and solid acting that really carry this whole drama and are the only reason the rating for this drama is so high. The plot, story, production all fall flat and the acting is the only thing that can make up for it.Story
The story itself and premise is interesting, though poorly executed. Largely attributed to the cheap visual effects, lack of production quality, comical CGI effects and the fantasy animations. I appreciate the multi facets of genres this brings including supernatural, fantasy, crime, science combined together along with light comedy and brilliantly crafted character interaction. The story started strong for the first 20 episodes, we got to know all the characters, a good look into the SID and solving small crimes and also see our two main lead’s friendship flourish and develop from their initial meeting. We went through two main antagonists that propelled the story, but by the time we got to around 29 and our major villain appeared, it really dropped off and went askew. Full of plot holes, scenes that occurred with no explanations, others poorly explained, messy random scenes, and characters running to and fro with no purpose. And the ending episodes, though filled with drama lacked finesse. In terms of the ending (that everyone keeps saying is tragic), I agree is sad. But there was a sense of finality to the whole drama and to the characters which I really liked. But in addition to that finality, of case solved the world is safe, they also added this element of a continued story. Our two main lead’s story is not over and though we won’t be able to see it, we know that it will be there and they will find a way back to each other again. They have an undeniable affinity toward each other. So though sad, I appreciated it and understood why the ending was done like that. But overall I would have liked a tighter and better executed storyline. I also think the cheap production made the story comical, almost laughable and unrealistic at times which didn’t help. Also notions of hatred and revenge appeared too frequently and were characterised by all the villains, they became so two dimensional with no real motivations or complexity to their character. And this whole thing of misunderstanding as the resolution to a lot of the problems was used way too much e.g. evil guy being evil because he thought A happened, but then it’s revealed actually B happened. Used so many times it got old. I also really like the ideal of suppressing evil and spreading virtue, which was a clear strong message, unfortunately only really delved into nearing the ending. They should have really delved into that early on and have it play throughout.
Acting/Cast
I cannot imagine a better casting of our two main leads. Their chemistry was off the charts, their banter funny and cute, their emotions intense. Though censored, I could feel how deep their relationship was. Hands down some amazing acting. Props to ZYL who did an amazing job at portraying three characters, good and bad. Loved their every moment and honestly the way they looked at each other, gosh so much emotion, love, devotion and care. So much intensity and power in their expressions, I literally teared up just by looking at them look at each other. Every expression from Shen Wei hit me straight in the stomach and left an ache in my heart. His feelings were so clear to me. I was always craving more from Yun Lan’s side, just wanted more in his response to Shen Wei. Their characterisation was done so well, they emobodied these two to perfection. Loved the lollipop motif throughout, also the glasses/black mask. I enjoyed the supporting cast as well and thought they each did a great job at being distinct yet complimenting our leads.
OST
Amazing and so emotional. Listening to it while I write this review. Loved the intro song, felt it tells the whole drama in the one tune.
Rewatch value
I felt so emotional coming off this drama and feel like I’ll need to take a breather before I can go back to it. But I’d definitely rewatch our two main leads and their interaction with each other. As for the oddly paced and muddled plot, I’ll have to take a pass on that and skip over that.
Don’t be put off by the ‘sad’ ending and loose story/plot. If you enjoy top acting, then this is for you. Watch it for the two leads and their interactions as they face the trials and tribulations together. Watch them grow from friends to something so much deeper, past your typical cutesy superficial relationship to a well crafted nuanced and highly emotional charged duo. I’m really glad I picked this one up (because I am in no way a fantasy fan) and saw it through to the end, well worth my time. Keen to hear your thoughts!! xx
My fav scenes (Commending ZYL’s performance)
- When SW says you’re worth it (god I could watch that over and over again)
- When SW gets the lollipop stuffed into his mouth (such an adorable expression)
- When SW’s kneeling in the rain
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Unexpected gem delivering an interwoven storyline, nail-biting climax and characters you root for
SHOCK AND SURPRISE! This one was an unexpected find that delivered everything I wanted and more. It had a solid storyline that had two timelines sophisticatedly interwoven with each other and that intersected at perfect moments. The mini climaxes spaced throughout the drama were tense, suspenseful and full of thrill. I felt invested in the characters and their vendettas and dreams. The overall story arched well intermixing sci-fi elements, space and time dimensions, tad bit of horror and major dark/evil vibes. But it also had the clever humour between characters, a really motivational and inspiring message of never giving up on one’s dreams and friendship that perseveres through the tests. I came in not expecting much, only being a big fan of e-sports dramas, and was pleasantly surprised with this hidden gem. Worth the watch, 36 episodes will fly by!STORY
I will flag I am not a sci-fi fan, but this drama had the perfect dose of it. It was founded on the sci-fi element of being able to communicate across time. But beside that, it told two distinct (yet very cleverly interlinked) stories, following the lives of two e-sport gamers Xiao Feng in 2009 and Lu Xiao Bei in 2019. I loved seeing the two get to know each other initially from disbelief to genuine friendship and camaraderie, by the end they had such a precious and trusting friendship I loved seeing that progress through the storyline. The two stories though set in different time periods with different challenges, they both floated messages of never giving up in the face of hardship and failure. I loved seeing them pursue their dreams regardless of the never ending spew of obstacles e.g. age, money, pressures from family, disability.
The story was tightly crafted. The mystery was woven through and wasn’t fully revealed until the final moments though hinted at continuously throughout the story. The romances were a nice side dish and rounded up the character development and interaction. And I loved the range of the supporting character cast. Surrounding each protagonist, we had a bunch of lovable distinct side characters who accompanied the protagonist through thick and thin.
I loved being immersed into the gaming world of Cross Fire. I would have love more explanation on the game rules though, and how exactly the point system works. That was never fully explained so I was left unsure during the competitions on who was winning/how many points they needed to win. The live role play of the game worked really well and felt realistic. Loved the costumes and effects and general cinematography of the gaming world.
Overall, very well crafted storyline that delivered on what was promised. Contained elements of everything you want in a good drama, with nothing too overly cliché or predictable. I feel like a lot of thought was given to the storyline and how they wanted the two characters to intersect and at what moments.
ACTING/CAST
Both new actors for me, I had never seen them in anything before. But I liked the casting and thought they did really well in their roles. Lu Han really sold the role for me and I thought really encapsulated the character of Xiao Feng, a determined and headstrong yet kind and supportive leader. He had very strong morals and that reflected throughout the whole drama in his actions and speech. The only thing I would say is the whole time I was begging him to get a hair cut hahah, you'll know what I mean when you see him. I felt Leo Wu was still fleshing out his character and lacked the emotional side that I was craving, but he did the humour and banter very well and I liked seeing his gaming face.
Our whole supporting character cast was amazing and did their job. Love interests were different, yet displayed similar characteristics. Our Big Bad did really well and gave off amazing dark and evil vibes, that I loved seeing how they progressed to that stage.
Music was subpar, fit the moments, but nothing too special. Pure heart of Chasing Dream by Gala Band was a great song, slightly alternative, but really helped build up important moments and just worked in that weird way.
Definitely worth rewatching again from beginning to end. I think I would skip the darker scenes, they did get a bit intense at times.
Cross Fire definitely hit harder than I thought it would and left an impression I was not expecting to find in this drama. I purely picked it up because I am fascinated/obsessed with e-sports dramas and have literally watched every e-sport Chinese drama there is. The way the story was crafted and the two timelines working so well together makes the drama's selling point. Majorly recommend if you're looking for something new and fresh. This definitely strayed away from your typical Chinese drama. Though be warned, it does get dark and they do deal with some serious topics and themes, but of course it's interlayered with light-hearted and really laugh out loud moments. Keen to hear your thoughts as always!! xx
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Filled with sweetness – a humorous and playful drama intermingled with an at-times intense story
Yes! This is how romance/business dramas should be done, really glad I picked this one up. The storyline was well thought out, our main leads were on fire with their couple chemistry and couple goals, and the overall consistency and characterisation was on point. Recommend this if you’re looking for something sweet and light, but also want a serious side.STORY
Overall, the storyline was solid, very consistent and the pacing was good and there were so many funny moments. The story follows our female lead Jiang Jun entering the investment banking business world and just so happens by fate meets her childhood frenemy Yuan Shuai. Though they start off on the wrong foot, they slowly grow closer and learn to love each and support each other. They were truly couple goals and I loved that. Along the way, they work through business cases together, with our climax around the 25-30 episode mark where they work through a particularly personal case. Don’t be expecting a purely fluffy love story, it’s more than this, focusing on the balance between a working career and a love life. It gets very serious, touching on business ethicality and corruption as well, so be prepared for that. I really liked the first episodes as we get to know our leads and see them bond over cases (and realise their feelings for each other). It definitely started slowing down at the 24 mark and got a tad dramatic, but stick with it and power through, you will be rewarded (you’ll know what I mean when you get to that WHAT moment)! The ending 6 episodes were more for closure and did drag out a bit, but it was a satisfying and sweet ending.
The drama also tracks our two lead’s relationship. From flashbacks to their past, to high school and to their current selves. The drama managed to portray the differing stages of their relationship really well. First realising their love for each other, then going to that very physical and intimate chemistry with very slow and long kisses, to fast forward when they’ve been living together for a while and just feel so comfortable in each other’s company.
Things I didn’t like (drags down my ratings)
Petty break up and make up. Jiang Jun was characterised as a strong, independent, at times stubborn and also short-tempered woman. So a lot of the times, she got angry/annoyed at little things and would cold shoulder Yuan Shuai. But they’d make up again really quick. There was just a few too many of these flutterings for my liking and it got a bit old.
The side couple Xu Li and Li Xiao Chuan. I’m sorry, this story arc was just a complete bore for me. I thought Xu Li was a naïve, immature, wilful, whiney and clingy character who dropped all her aspirations/career to pursue a guy purely based on a love at first sight moment. Their relationship felt really forced and I felt they were so incompatible on so many levels despite them trying to convince us otherwise. I liked Xiao Chuan’s characterisation as a high IQ but very low EQ kind of guy, Riley Wang did really well in getting that right. But overall I couldn’t connect with this couple and it got really annoying at times.
ACTING/CAST
Such great chemistry between our two leads, I felt them love each other in their own ways and though they bickered at times, the whole way through they loved each other intensely. Their acting was really great, especially Leo Luo who was able to convey top boss vibes but also be very caring and passionate. I really liked how he was so supportive of her and let her do her thing, but was always looking out and protecting her when most needed. Also those couple goals, when one of them is in the wrong and sincerely apologises and talks it out like mature reasonable adults. (Omygosh and don’t forget Wang Cai the little corgi, what a cutie haha)!
Props to Kido Gao, Du Lei, our second male lead who put on such a great show. He was by far the most complex character I’ve seen. Though people thought he was evil, I actually felt he was just complex and very multi-dimensional. He had conflicting motivations, struggled to find his self-identity and all the while been constrained by the values from his family upbringing. He was really interesting to watch, seeing him shift into multiple dimensions of his character throughout the drama e.g. menacing and manipulative but also really flirty and playful. I thought he portrayed his character so well, especially nearing the end when he reveals his truest self.
I thought the rest of the supporting cast was great and did their characters justice especially Yuan’s Shuai loyal assistant and also the supportive Qiao Na.
MUSIC
Music matched the moments, felt very sweet.
REWATCH VALUE
I’d definitely re-watch this drama. With a solid start, nail-biting and intense middle, to a very sweet ending. It was full of really fun, funny and cute moments between our two leads and I loved watching their chemistry. I’d have to skip over all the side couple bits though, they were really off-putting and sorry just wasn’t feeling it.
Overall, a really great drama I’d recommend for someone looking for a balance between fluff and seriousness. I really appreciated the storyline, scripting and overall aesthetics of the production and costumes. I thought characters got their just desserts and justice was served, good triumphs evil. Love lasts despite trials and tribulations and stays sweet. What did you think? Keen to hear your thoughts! xx
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STORY
The start for me was so great, from episode 1 I was captured by the scene playout and acting. The first episodes shift between past and present, so the audience could make the subtle comparisons between past and present and slowly piece together the love story. A lot of other people said it was difficult to tell apart past and present, but for me I thought it was very clear. Just watch for the tone and lighting. The past has a beautiful golden haze and rosy colour, full of sunlight. Whilst the present was done in a colder, darker almost blue tone and colouring. The interconnectedness of the past and present flowed together so nicely, I was eager to watch both sides e.g. how the youthful couple were going vs how the couple would restart their relationship.
THEN… then it just went pear shaped and I got so confused. After the climax, where we find out what happened with our male lead all those years ago, the female lead still wants to be with our male lead, so I was like great it’s all worked out. Let’s move on from this and start growing as a couple. But then the next episodes were a bunch of unnecessary filler and weird characterisation and behaviour. Without spoiling too much, I just felt the main couple lost its chemistry (after so much pining and longing) and they just started acting really awkwardly and out of character. I get the director was trying to portray that minute and in the moment decisions in our past greatly affect our future, and that we change with time and can’t go back to the past anymore. But the whole growing and changing with time message just fell short and was swept up in all the angst, emotion and back and forth between the two, I just wasn’t really sure what they were trying to say.
I appreciate the ending scene when they’re on the steps (you’ll get it when you get there), the scene placement was quite powerful and done nicely. But the message itself felt hollow and actually left me thinking, are you saying that because of time, they don’t need each other anymore? It was trying to say something, but left me thinking about something else.
ACTING/CAST
Kris Fan’s acting was on point, I commend him for his ability to transform into two completely different and polar opposite characters on the spot. His young self was immature, cheeky, fun loving and so light – he did it brilliantly, I felt myself drawn into to his character. Then on the flip slide, we’ve got someone carrying this great weight and struggling to find self-worth. By far, this is the most I’ve seen a male lead tear up and he did it so well, I was crying along with him. My only point was that you may find his older self slightly frustrating (but I think this is more due to the characterisation rather than his acting). His character often acted in confusing and contradicting ways that made it hard for me to understand what exactly he was thinking.
Cecilia Boey was an interesting choice for me. I just wasn’t able to vibe with her in her young self, she had a sullen and quite rigid expression and didn’t capture the youthfulness of first love for me. However, I grew to like her in her older self and felt her maturation. Again, her character actions were off and not consistent e.g. running away from the main lead but then initiating hugs.
MUSIC
Music was gorgeous, fell in love with the OST. The music was perfectly suited to each scene. My only critique would be why is the music on so loud that it covers the character’s dialogue and I struggled to hear the conversations. The music was very fitting and mood-setting, and captured the emotional heartache, angst and loss.
REWATCH VALUE
I can’t rate this too high because the ending fell apart for me. But I’d definitely rewatch the first 10ish episodes when we’re flitting between past and present and seeing first love develop between the two.
Overall, a beautiful drama that captured youth, first love, mistakes, dark shadows that haunt you, second chances and how each decision impacts you in unexpected ways. I would recommend giving it a go, I feel like you’ll be hooked from the start because it is a killer start. But just be warned about the ending few episodes, you may be put off, but keep going and power through to the end. I feel like everyone will get a different moral or message out of it, just depends on how you interpret it. But I think it’s a drama worth your time and who knows, might get you to think about your past, present and future self. Keen to hear your thoughts! xx
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