8 for the storyline, but 9,5 for the rewatching value

English is not my main language so please bear with me haha

As many people keep comparing this show to WIFTY, I’ll try to see both from my perspective. I’m an avid cdrama watcher but please remember that this is purely my opinion and preferences.

I, with no hesitation, give both shows a solid 9/10. Both are youth dramas with problems circling around teenagers and their recklessness towards life, but they have different approach to it:

1) If I could depict WIFTY into a scenery, then it would be a wheat field in the afternoon with a beautiful sunset, the dry smell of wheat leaves, and the tranquility of the wind blows. The show gives me a warm aesthetic; even the OSTs are of those slow and clutching songs. Those aesthetics goes well with the story, I cried 3 times watching the whole show because it just reminds me of heartwarming memories of my teenage days with my friends (and also family). The tinge of sadness is always there, but it’s pleasing sadness.

2) On the contrary, EFT gives me the vibe of summer pool. The smell of water that’s mixed with alum, scorching heat but your skin is cold because of the water, sounds of water splashing, and your friends’ screams as they have fun. EFT is definitely goes for the comedic and colorful side of youth more than WIFTY. I do feel the warmth in some of the episodes, but more than that, the whole show is just so chaotic (in a funny way), even they make fun of the supposedly sad episode. They breaks the 4th wall numerous times, my favorite is when Linglong meets her campus roommates and turns out it’s just the old characters from the high school arc and she goes something like “does the producer does not have budget or what?” I’m laughing so hard at that, because apparently yes, they do not have much budget for this drama. This drama is supposed to be a B-tier drama (because of the budget) but the good reviews in the website makes it an A-tier, a great proof that they execute everything well, even though there are some scenes that can be improved.

I’m gonna talk more about EFT because this is an EFT page.

Talking about execution, as someone that has read the original novel (you can search “Once We Come Across Love”), there are minor and major changes made and while I think some scenes are kinda disappointing, I understand why they changed it that way because it just goes well with the flow of the whole story. Good thing that they decided to dive deeper into the relationship of Lingchao and his father, because not only that we can understand Lingchao better, but also because it is where I think we can see clearly just how nurturing Tutu is, because mostly this side of her is hidden throughout the story. I was also kinda disappointed of the very few OST used in this drama, but then it’s a low-budget drama so I won’t complain. The ML is also singing for the credit scene which is very cool?? He is an idol, right?

Okay, move for the casts, I ADORE the FL and ML. I even follow their contents on twitter because they looks genuinely having fun working on this drama together. Their behind the scenes are my favorite because they look like a real childhood friends that bicker 24/7. Oh and I also love how they choose to make the FL’s best friend to be a fangirl of an idol named Junhui and Wen Jun, which is the ML’s real name, they are also using the ML’s real photoshoot pics for it. I give it 10/10 for the dedication and detailed research.

I’m watching all kinds of shows, and I include cdramas as a “very light” entertainment, which is shows where I don’t have to use much of my brain to enjoy it. WIFTY is excellent in so many ways, but EFT wins my heart because of the comedic atmosphere they give. That’s why, for rewatching value, I give EFT slightly higher score (9.5) than WIFTY (9.0), please remember that this is only my opinion.

If you prefer shows with more elaborate storyline, warm aesthetic with slow musics, you might love WIFTY. But if you like something more comedic, less-serious and a very light drama, you can try EFT because this drama has no rise of problem at all (they have some, but they are resolved just like that).

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