Completed - 4/10/2022 - 8.25

"Dine with Love" brought together two individuals who have very different priorities in their lives. As they get to know each other, they fall in love and also change themselves for the better. Many meaningful quotes and lessons are shared through food and meals with loved ones. There is no shortage of cooking and delicious food scenes, and it's a great drama for romance lovers and foodies.

What I Enjoy:

1. Lessons through food and meals - Meal-time is very precious to many cultures and not just the Chinese. The Chinese title of this drama, "陪你一起好好吃饭" can be loosely translated to "I will accompany you to have a good meal". There is no shortage of conversations while at the dinner table between families, friends, co-workers and lovers, and I've enjoyed every single conversation. Through cooking lessons by FL, ML learns the meaning behind each dish and shares that through his TV show appearance. Along the way, he changes his way of thinking and his priority in life.

2. Yu Hao (ML) and Su Ke Lan (FL) - It's refreshing to see two leads who are calm, rational and talk through doubts and problems (for the most part). Although they have different priorities in life, they are able to rationally discuss work and life, and let the other person see their point of view. They might not always agree with each other, but at least we don't have petty and childish arguments, and they can agree to disagree. Su Ke Lan (FL) though might seem timid and quiet, but she has a quiet strength and stubbornness. I am all for more female leads who are like her. You don't have to be an abrasive CEO or a tomboy to show strength. We have enough of the cute/innocent, abrasive/rude, outgoing/tomboy female leads. How about just a lady who is strong, rational, talks normal, wants to fall in love but doesn't lose her brain afterwards? Yu Hao (ML) starts out as a typical cold CEO but has a warm and sensitive side to him. He has the biggest character development in the drama. I really enjoy seeing him change and learns to live a different life.

3. Romance - The two romance storylines in this drama contrast with each other pretty well. Yu Hao & Su Ke Lan have a slowly developed romance through getting to know each other, to making the initial step to cross the friendship line. On the other hand, Han Meng & Song Wen Xing have a fast-tracked romance that is hot and passionate. Seeing how both storylines develop was interesting. Additionally, I really like how Yu Hao is taking his time before making the jump and confesses. He thinks carefully and wants to be fair, and not just acts on impulse. It does take a little while, but I think it's worth the wait, and it's a big part of his character development. Once the leads got together, there is a decent amount of kisses and fluffiness for a few episodes.


What I don't quite enjoy:

1. Pacing - I think the pacing of the drama would be better it's the typical 24 episodes, 40-min each format. There doesn't seem to have enough happening to fill all the time. As much as I love Yu Hao taking his time to confess, the push-and-pull between the leads is taking a little too long in the first half of the drama.

2. Not enough screen time of leads together in the last third of the drama. I understand why, but I still feel dissatisfied especially I waited for so long for them to finally be a couple.

3. Same old trope of Unrequited Love alliance - C-drama really needs to get rid of annoying characters who won't take "no" for an answer when the leads are not interested. In this drama, we have the annoying actress Zhang Bi, who just won't stop her shenanigans in wooing Yu Hao. And of course, she has to pair up with Director Jin Yi to form an alliance and then they fall in love in the end. This trope happens in so many romantic comedies. I also don't like the ex-girlfriend returns plot, but at least I don't see that as often as the unrequited love alliance.


Mixed feelings (ENDING SPOILERS):
I am unsure about the ending. I can see why Yu Hao chose to do that on the TV show. But I much prefer seeing a private moment between the leads as they reconcile and confess their feelings to each other again. I was waiting for a moving, heart-to-heart declaration and I think the gesture is too 'grand' that it doesn't fit their personalities. It's without the doubt that it's a moving ending, esp. with the behind-the-scene video montage, and everything that Yu Hao said. But the TV show format feels like they are bringing all the characters back for one big hurrah at the end. Why would the ex-girlfriend and investor guy be invited back to see the proposal? They don't need to be present. I also feel that a proposal comes a little to suddenly. Let's reconcile, get back together, show me some cute and fluffy scenes, and of them figuring out how to live together harmoniously, before a big TV show proposal.


Other Observations:
1. I kind of miss Gao Yan Yu's glasses. ?
2. A couple annoying characters but bearable - actress, FL's ex-bf, ML's ex-gf
3. On paper, Director Jin Yi does seem like a better fit for Su Ke Lan = kind, loves to cook, loves children and volunteering, thoughtful and considerate, at times shy and cute. But we all know love doesn't work that way. Definitely no second-lead syndrome here!
4. I am still unsure what kind of company Yu Hao has. Is it just a Foodie App? But how come his company also owns supermarkets?
5. Songs are not overplayed and quite lovely.
6. I want to see more of the business storylines and not just the TV show.