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bumblethunderbeast

USA

bumblethunderbeast

USA
Fabulous 30 taiwanese drama review
Completed
Fabulous 30
2 people found this review helpful
by bumblethunderbeast
Mar 9, 2021
76 of 76 episodes seen
Completed
Overall 8.0
Story 8.0
Acting/Cast 8.0
Music 7.0
Rewatch Value 7.0

a sweet Taiwanese drama thoughtfully grapples with serious issues

If I were at a party, I would automatically assume that these three main characters flitted within social circles that never overlapped. Their differing values and life choices shaped them into three distinct women: (1) married, fierce career-minded mother going through a divorce, (2) free-spirited orphan who only worked part-time jobs in order to fund her travels and (3) awkward, timid book editor who is unceasingly kind. Yet as childhood friends, their deep bonds held into adulthood .

Of course, this series revolves around relationships—not just friendships, but also workplace colleagues and romance. And throughout this slow-burn, slice-of-life drama, these women were unified by shared space and love for one another. They held disparate perspectives that only helped each other grow more. They consistently supported one another without restraint, listened deeply and spoke difficult truths.

All three faced what felt like very real challenges:
• Struggle with viciously judgmental mother-in-law causing divorce
• Reconcile with daughter who has not been a priority
• Confront trauma of parental “abandonment”
• Explore how to love someone whose health is imperiled
• Muster enough courage to speak up for oneself
• Avoid the Cinderella version of romance to engage with someone who appreciates the daily, usual self

Obviously I enjoyed watching this, but that doesn’t mean it didn’t have its problems. Like many Taiwanese dramas,
• Some of the cute background songs lodged in my head for days
• The leads started with painfully extreme, stereotypical characterizations that softened over time but some of the side characters (mostly family members) remained over-the-top throughout
• Flashbacks were incorporated A LOT
• The drama was fairly long with 76 episodes
• I had little cultural context to understand some situations
o Is having a landlord-imposed curfew and punishments like writing pages for rule violations a normal practice when renting an apartment?
o Is it common for young adult children to make choices solely based on parental preferences?

So, overall, I would recommend this. But know what you’re getting into when you start. And be willing to accept the extreme characterizations in the first 5-10 episodes with the understanding that they will be seasoned and settled over time.
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