This movie will break your heart, mend it, and then run it over with a train. I've always tried to avoid romance movies in general because I always think that they'll have unsatisfactory endings, but seeing that this movie received numerous nominations and awards, I decided to give it a shot.

The storyline of Better Days isn't a stranger to the c-drama industry, and it seems very cliche. A "bad" ML, studious FL, and the 3rd person, whether it be a bully or a love interest, are the bases of a school drama. However, this movie illustrates the struggles of victims of abuse, bullying, and doesn't put a filter over it, making it different from other movies on the same topic.

Each person in this cast fits their role perfectly, from their outward appearance to their voice to their style of acting, it really makes you hate and love the characters. The protagonists make you want to give them a hug, and the antagonists make you want to give them a huge slap in the face, successfully engaging the viewers. To be honest, I didn't recognize many members of this cast, and only knew the FL and ML, and after checking it seems quite a few of them are rookies/newer to the industry, yet each of them portray their roles so well. Zhou Ye especially stood out, and her acting was exceptional throughout the film. She embodied the character of a high school bully so perfectly that it makes you feel as if she's not acting at all.

Overall, this movie is one that you must watch. It shows the beauty of teen romance, the stress of school, and the reality of school life.

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Good concept, bad execution

Cast:
The cast for this drama is great and I was expecting quite a bit, but it just didn't work. Luo Lunxi is a good actor and that is undeniable, and in this drama he performs well and embodies his character perfectly. Cheng Xiao, on the other hand, is considerably newer to the acting world, and although her performance in LTL is much better than FIYS, she still lacks in many ways. I find that she doesn't fit the character she plays, and the FL and ML put together just don't have that chemistry that I look for.
The side characters are possibly my favorite part of the drama, and each one of them portrays their role so extremely well. Huo Jian and Xie Ming Hao are portrayed very well by their actors, and give a very convincing performance to the point where you hate them when you see them. Everyone does well in their roles, and I think that overall casting was done really well for this drama.
Plot:
When I watched the trailer and read the preview, they were extremely intriguing, and when you watch the first few episodes, that's exactly what you get. However, after around 15 episodes, the story starts to drag. This may be due to the fact that most c-dramas are stretched to 30+ episodes, leading them to needing an extra segment. Both villains are extremely important to the plot, but that period between the two villains is what I think is dragged out. The romance between the two leads is similar to that of a fairytale, with no real issues, and although it is a good watch, they put too much time into it IMO.
OST:
There's really no debate on this, the OSTs for LTL are insanely good, and they fit the story very well. I've had the album on repeat for awhile now and I still want to keep listening to them. I think that the OSTs were made extremely well, and that they are one of the parts that I look forward most to.

Overall, this story is a good watch, but there is a certain number of episodes that aren't exactly necessary.

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A Xianxia Fairytale

Being one who hasn't always enjoyed historical dramas, I didn't hold high hopes for this drama. I had never given a chance for xianxia dramas, but seeing as people seemed to have very mixed reviews, I decided to watch it, and this drama did not disappoint.

The story is very intricate, and although it has a slow start, everything pulls itself together nicely. It starts off in a very cliche way, the cold ML and the bubbly FL fall in love, but then it takes a turn (around episode 20 ?) and starts to become more engaging. I have to admit that while watching the first few episodes, I was slightly tempted to bench the drama and watch another, but eventually the story does gain traction and prompt viewers to be more intrigued.

Zhou Dong Yu has been criticized a lot during this drama for her appearance, acting, and popularity, but I think that she portrayed Shang Gu/Hou Chi very well. In the first arc, Shang Gu develops from an immature carefree goddess with little power to one that looks more mature and acts the same. In her second character, she plays someone quite similar to Hou Chi, but I still do think that there are differences between the two that could've been shown more by Dong Yu. In my opinion, her appearance matches the role perfectly, she can look very young and also portray a more mature role, which she also does in her other works. I believe that her acting skills are some of the best in this generation, and that her appearance is very refreshing and unique.

Xu Kai, in my opinion, is one of the best actors to play a cold-hearted role, whether it be in a modern drama or a historical one. He knows how to control his face to show different emotions, and especially in his eyes. Bai Jue and Qing Mu are polar opposites, yet Xu Kai manages to pull off both characters and convince the viewers that they are two completely different people even if they do have the same appearance.

Both the FL and ML played multiple characters and personas throughout the drama, and although I do think that the acting lacked a bit in the second life, they still deserve a round of applause. In addition to this, the remaining of the cast also did an exceptional job at portraying their characters, and I was equally invested in watching their relationships bloom.

Both the CGI and the OSTs for this drama are some of the best I've seen in awhile, and the lyrics are especially matching to the story. If you're considering watching this drama, I'd say that you should do it. Yes, there are almost 50 episodes, yes, the start is a bit offsetting, but it's a great xianxia drama that's worth watching.

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