Melo Romance/Action Drama that requires your patience

Having watched quite a few first responder dramas (You Are My Hero/A Date with the Future/Light Chaser Rescue), it’s difficult not to compare “Fireworks of My Heart” with them. For many elements, “Fireworks of My Heart” is very similar to these other dramas. What differs, is the romance story of the main leads. The romance between Song Yan (ML) and Xu Qin (F) is melodramatic. The romance in the other dramas are more fluffy and sweet and rom-com like. It has about 50% romance and 50 % cases/missions.

Romance
Song Yan and Xu Qin were forced to be separated due to FL’s parents' strong disapproval. They are reunited after 10 years. The drama did not set a good foundation for viewers to understand their love for each other that could last more than 10 years. I am a big fan of second-chance romance, but I had a hard time rooting for this romance in the initial 10 episodes. I disliked Xu Qin and thought she was pathetic, selfish, cowardly and greedy. She was also very shameless in wanting to get back with Song Yan and became stalkerish and clingy. I had such a difficult time continuing. HOWEVER, I stuck with it and then realized why she acted that way (more about that later below). I was expecting the romance to be rom-com like, but then it dawned on me that this is a melo-romance. Once my mindset changed, I started to enjoy this romance a lot more. I understand why she acted that way and I slowly root for them to be together. When they finally get together, we have some scenes of sweetness and fluffiness, after all the angst we went through. A few decent kisses, a lot of hand-holding and hugging. I find the chemistry between the two leads OK but not great. I heard many of the kisses were censored out because they disappeared towards the last third of the show. This is probably due to the fact that this drama is broadcasted on national TV and the content is more controlled than web dramas.

Xu Qin (female lead)
As mentioned, I disliked Xu Qin so much in the first 10 episodes. But then I realized she has been emotionally abused and manipulated all her life by her mother. She was grateful for being adopted but she was having a hard time standing up for herself. I bet all viewers hate the mother and most are disgruntled about her ending. It was really sad to see how traumatic Xu Qin and her adopted brother are because of their parents. Xu Qin’s relationship with her mother seems like a domestic abuse situation. You want to leave, but you can’t. However, I am glad to see that she’s trying really hard… little by little, step by step. It was rewarding to finally see her stand up and leave her family for the man she loves.

Missions/Cases/Firefighting
If you have seen enough first responders drama, the cases in this drama will not surprise you. They are very similar to those I’ve seen in other dramas. I think “Fireworks of My Heart” actually does a better job in showing a variety of smaller, regular missions, e.g. catching a spider, helping an old lady, snapping a ring off a finger. Compared to what I’ve seen in other dramas, the bigger accidents, fires, and natural disasters are not as dramatic and the CGI not as good.

Firefighters and camaraderie
The boys together are always the most fun and most enjoyable parts in such dramas. You can expect funny banters between the guys, shirtless scenes here and there, training very hard and unfortunately, the loss of a life. I accidentally read a spoiler in the comment section and found out who died. Arggh… don’t be like me and please put a spoiler tag, people! We all look forward to the guest appearance of Vin Zhang, and like many, it was lovely to see his bromance with Yang Yang. I was expecting a certain exit for this character, but it was different than what I imagined (it was better). Now we just need another drama of Yang Yang and Vin Zhang as leads together!

Main Acting
I am a big fan of Yang Yang and think that his acting though might not be excellent, does not warrant all the criticisms. I think he did fine here, not as good as his performance in “Glory of Special Forces”. However, I don’t find him ‘posing’ instead of acting. And if so, it was the director’s fault. His acting of emotional scenes are more subtle since he is the captain and has to maintain a certain demeanor. On the other hand, Wang Chu Ran has a more difficult role to play. You can see the stark difference of her acting when she’s with her family, at work, and with ML. She is emotionless, soft-spoken and obedient when she’s speaking with her mother. She’s a cool, genius doctor who could be authoritative and business like at work. It’s when she’s with ML that her smiles, pouting, whining come out. I think Wang Chu Ran did an admirable job. For a drama playing against Yang Yang, I think she might have gotten my attention just a little more.

Supporting Cast
I do not get the ship between FL and her brother. There’s no way I will pick Meng Yan Chen over Song Yan! Everyone in the supporting cast did a pretty good job with no obvious subpar acting. I find Jiang Yu’s character quite adorable and he’s a good stand-in after Vin Zhang’s exit. I like the feisty little cousin, who stands up for Song Yan and says everything the ‘adults’ want to but are afraid to say. I love the sweet aunt and uncle who are there to support Song Yan. I dislike the subplot between Meng Yan Chen and Ye Zi. There’s something about Ye Zi that I don’t like from the first moment she’s introduced.

I worry many dropped this drama because they couldn’t get past the first 10 episodes, and were also expecting a rom-com instead of a melo. But if you like a more angsty, melodramatic romance in a drama like this, I would recommend this for you. This is not the best drama for its genre, but it has its own charms.


Other Random Observations:
1. Bad teenage wigs!
2. So many coincidences for the leads to meet in the first few episodes.
3. They really like to pour a whole bottle of iodine (?) on the wounds and cause pain.
4. Love the scene when families cook meals for the firefighters (but also quite unrealistic).
5. Like the healthy competition between the doctors. Not too many medical cases.
6. I quite like the songs in the OST. The lyrics are perfect for some scenes.


Completed: 7/29/2023 - Review #335

Leia Mais

Amazing Leads Chemistry, likable supporting cast but only OK plot

Overall Rating - 8.25
Subjective Romance Rating - 8.5
Objective Drama Rating - 8.0

Giving this drama an 8.5 is mainly due to the chemistry between Zhang Bin Bin and Janice Wu. Zhang Bin Bin looks so handsome in this drama. If you are a romance lover or a fan of either actor, I strongly recommend this drama. Otherwise, this is a decent one with equal parts business and romance. Most characters are likable and no one is too annoying or irritating. The villains are tolerable.

I am a fan of the leads, and that’s what prompted me to watch the drama. Because honestly, the business plot isn’t that unique and quite predictable. The part about ML’s pursuit of his dreams in the end reminds me of Yang Yang’s storyline in “You Are My Glory” but not enough for me to be moved like in “You Are My Glory”.

However, what shines are the characters. Zhang Bin Bin and Janice Wu are so lovable, fun and awesome together. They are both smart and petty (in a funny way). I feel like I am prying into their private lives when they are looking into each other’s eyes, having those lovely and realistic hugs and kisses. I enjoy the earlier episodes of their flirting and smart banter. Those earlier episodes are definitely a lot more fun. But the skinship (kisses and hugs) come in the latter half of the drama. The kisses are realistic but the camera tends to pan away and not give me enough close-up shots. LOL. Some might not like the long distance relationship but I find that pretty ok. Many dramas get boring after the leads get together, but at least the long distance relationship keeps things a little more interesting for longer.

Aside from the main romance, I love the fun relationship between FL and her grandpa. I look forward to their sarcastic, funny and witty conversations. Grandpa is one of the best in C-dramaland. On the other hand, ML’s sweet relationship with his little brother is also a highlight of the drama. It’s too bad we don’t see the kid enough in the last few episodes. That storyline ended quite abruptly. The co-workers/team chemistry is pretty good as well. All the team members are likable.

I appreciate almost all actors using their own voices and not dubbed. It seems like there’s quite a lot of live recording as well. I also like many songs played. There are just two love songs that are overplayed and I got a little annoyed. But as a whole, I enjoy the OST.

But the drama is not without faults. My biggest pet peeve is FL’s understanding/knowledge of all things technology when she first joined the company, especially since she’s a communications major and not an engineer. I have to suspend reality to enjoy those early episodes. The secondary romance isn’t exciting at all and didn’t bring anything new or add to the drama. I wish the ending for this pair was different. I also did not like FL’s hairstyles. They need to fire the hairstylists who gave Janice Wu such childish styling. I don’t feel that the pace of the drama is slow or that it drags in the middle episodes. That’s probably because the drama tries to put many subplots and filler plots within these 32 episodes. The result is that not all subplots are fully explored. I wish the drama had focused more on certain storylines and then removed some of them. If you don’t like China’s national pride in their aerospace technology, you might find this very preachy. At least it’s less than “You Are My Glory”. Lastly, this drama has a LOT of product placements! I didn’t think it took that much money to film this drama as there aren’t many elaborate sets, but there are so many advertisements - bottled water, Yakult yogurt drink, makeup/face masks, noodles, toothbrushes, etc.

Overall, this is a fun, office romance drama. Watch it for the leads chemistry and not for the business plot. It’s quite an easy watch and very bingeable.


Completed: 6/11/2023 - Review #317

Leia Mais

ONLY watch if you are looking for romance, and romance only

Completed: 9/5/2022
Subjective Rating - 8.75
Objective Rating - 8.0-8.5

Recommend: ONLY if you are looking for a mature office romance and nothing else.

I was starving for a good romance drama and decided to check this out. I have not really read any reviews or comments, so I am going into this blind and without any expectation. All I know is that Rowoon is the male lead and I want to stare at a good-looking guy and watch him fall in love. I assume this has a happy ending, but I wasn’t sure.

“She Would Never Know” is an office romance, and that’s about it. If you are looking for a drama with a bigger and more complicated plot, this is not the drama for you. The whole drama is about how our main leads fall in love, experience a very cute and adorable honeymoon phase, tackling relationship challenges and realizing how important they are to each other. The supporting cast also doesn’t have much going on in their lives and we follow their romantic journeys as well.

Our ML, Chae Hyun Seung, though handsome and cute, did appear stalker-ish in the initial episodes. We know without a doubt that he has a crush on his senior trainer, Yoon Song Ah. The way he follows her around could be a little too much for some viewers. His most questionable decision was made in the beginning episodes, when he tried to expose a certain relationship, when it was none of his business. We do eventually find out his reason for doing so and I sort of understand where he’s coming from, but still, this decision left a bad taste in our mouths. But you know what, I am glad Chae Hyun Seung did make this ‘mistake’, otherwise, he would appear too perfect. He’s smart, hardworking, polite, caring, lovable, funny and the best boyfriend you can find (after he officially becomes Jin Ah’s boyfriend).

Hyun Seung had a really rough start to gain Jin Ah’s affection, even though it’s no secret that he has a big crush on her. He has a lot of growing up to do. But there are many honest conversations between the two. They may not always be on the same page about how they feel for each other, but they are honest and communicate their feelings. Hyun Seung has learned to give Jin Ah’s space and wait for her, and when she’s ready to make that step towards him, she doesn’t hesitate and reciprocates his feelings.

Rowoon and Won Jin Ah have great chemistry together. I love their bantering and they make such an adorable couple (maybe because of the height difference as well). Their fluffy scenes make me grin like an idiot. The kisses are not bad either. I appreciate the writing for not making this a straight up romantic comedy with over-the-top comedic characters and super cheesy fluffy scenes. Their fluffy sweetness is sprinkled throughout the drama, so I don’t feel like I am on a sugar high.

*spoiler*

I am sure as viewers, we can see it coming: Jin Ah is definitely going to Europe. I also appreciate a somewhat realistic portrayal of a long-distance relationship. As much as both parties want to continue on, it’s difficult. The difficulties cannot be resolved easily because of nightly video chats and phone calls. Many dramas these days gloss over the fact that long distance relationships fail most of the time. Therefore, I appreciate seeing our lead’s breakup. Did it hurt me seeing how sad they both are? Definitely. But I am also confident that it’s going to be a happy ending in the end and I am ok with 1-2 episodes of suffering. I like that in the end, it’s Jin Ah’s turn to win Hynn Seung’s affection. I am glad she is doing so with honesty and sincerity, and not using any gimmicky tricks.

As for the supporting cast and their romantic relationships, we do have quite a variety:
♦︎ Lee Hyo Joo + Lee Jae Shin = such a dysfunctional and obsessive relationship. I still don’t know why Hyo Joo is so obsessed with Jae Shin. What really happened to make her feel that way? But you know what, I am happy with their ending. It’s a good closure and I am so glad to see Hyo Joo becoming a better person in the end.
♦︎ Director Lee + Chae Ji Seung (Big sis) = this is a total opposites attract relationship. The love-at-first sight is a little over-the-top and cringey, but they are quite cute and funny together. It’s a good contrast from Lee Hyo Joo + Lee Jae Shin’s dysfunctional relationship.
♦︎ Chae Yun Seung (2nd sis) + Husband = this is somewhat a side story that could be completely cut out and we won’t miss a thing. Since 2 of the 3 siblings have their own storylines, we can’t forget this sister as well. The best thing about this relationship is to see the cute daughter, Ha Eun. She’s adorable and sassy. A 7-year old in a 17-year old teenager body.

Aside from romance, we have a few side relationships going as well. We have the bromance between Director Lee and Lee Jae Shin. It is actually quite a sad story when you don’t know if what you have is true friendship or not. We also have a mother/daughter relationship between Jin Ah and her mother. Some might say the animosity is resolved too easily in the end, but I think that explosive outburst by Jin Ah is enough to set the healing process in motion.

“She Would Never Know” is in no way a perfect drama. The reason why I am giving this such a high rating (at least high for me) is because I really do enjoy our main couple’s romance. I am watching this at the right time and in the right mood. They are flawed but likable. They might make decisions that I don’t agree with, but I understand where they are coming from. Their story feels real and I was rooting for them from the beginning.

Leia Mais

The Sum of All Parts made this an Interesting Drama.

Completed - 6/21/2022

While browsing through Seven Tan’s filmography, I came across “The Eight”. This drama doesn’t seem to be very popular but since I like Seven Tan and Qin Lan, and the synopsis sounds interesting enough, I want to give it a try. It’s rare to find a Republican era drama that is NOT about spies, Kuomintang vs Communist Party or the Japanese Occupation. So, this is a breath of fresh air. Instead, this drama is about a college student becoming entangled in the business of the eight professions/guilds of Jianghu and how he plays a key role in their future.

Plot and Pacing
After watching the first couple episodes, I question the overarching plot of this drama. This is weird. Why do these 8 guilds need an outsider to help them make the change? Can’t each leader take care of its members and help them lead a normal life? Well, since that’s the premise, I’ll go with it. The strength of the drama is the sum of all parts. Each guild is very distinct and its leaders have different personalities and skills. The drama gives each of the 8 professions a decent amount of screen time for watchers to get to know them. I really appreciate this as that did not happen when I was watching “The Mystic Nine”. In “The Mystic Nine”, some of the leaders are casually mentioned or resorted to being in a big montage. Not here! “The Eight” was able to weave the different stories into its big general plot. There are some pretty cool scenes and subplots that I’ve never seen before in a C-drama, e.g. The Battle of Generals (using a city’s model as a chess board and different colored sand to battle it out) and the Battle of Mechanics (a very smart way of fighting without the use of weapons). The pacing of the drama was great in the first 2 ⁄ 3 of the drama. I was engaged and interested as we traveled from Beijing to Kunming to Guangzhou and Shanghai. But when it hits the last third of the drama in Shanghai, I realize events happened without being shown. Watchers have to pay close attention to the voiceovers/monologues and conversations. If you don’t pay attention, you might miss some details. The pace of the last 3 episodes are especially fast. There are so many events and plot twists that these episodes are jam-packed with action. This is either due to censorship or editing. For once, I wish the drama was actually a little longer to give us a little breathing room in the final episodes.

Characters
I enjoy getting to know all the characters of the 8 guilds. None is really annoying and I like each of their little stories, though some are still given more screen time than others. Our male lead, Hua Min Chu, is smart, cool-headed and a great strategist. I was initially concerned that he would be an idealistic and naive fresh college grad, but am pleasantly surprised that he’s not. He is the soul of the drama, as he influences those around him with his ideals and actions. One of the villains is shown from the beginning of the drama, and he continues to be one throughout the rest of the show. Though we finally get to know his story towards the end, I don’t think I pity him at all. This is a drama with a big main and supporting cast. I do think the drama does a good job in presenting the main cast to us in a way that we know enough of them to care about them.

Acting + Dubbing
This is my first introduction to our main lead, Ou Hao. I am glad to have discovered him and will look out for his other dramas. You can see his character grow from a fresh graduate to the leader of the guild. There are quite a few emotional scenes, and his crying/tearing is believable and not overdramatic. He doesn’t smile much in this drama, but when he does, his dimples make my heart melt. I didn’t find him attractive in the beginning, but as he matured and became more charismatic, he became more handsome in my eyes (Ok, a little hair gel also helps). Seven Tan and Qin Lan’s acting meet my expectations. They are just great actresses. The rest of the cast also did a great job. For most of the cast, actors use their real voice except for Qin Lan (this is very disappointing as I love her voice), and Cheng Xing Yuan (who played Qi Ming). However, you can still tell that it’s studio recording and not live recording. There are times I could hear dialogues being dubbed over in post production by a voice actor.

Romance
Romance is only a subplot in this drama and the love triangle is not unbearable. You won’t find an evil second female lead or jealous exes. Hua Min Chu (ML) and Gua Dao Ren (FL) have great chemistry. But not sure if some scenes are edited out, I didn’t quite see enough affection developed on the ML’s side. Obviously he cares for FL in the beginning but he could have cared for her as a friend and not a love interest. Aside from this, the second half of the romance is nicely developed.

Action + Production
There’s actually a decent amount of action scenes in this drama, both fighting and shooting. However, many of these fights are in slow-motion and that’s my pet peeve. The best fight scenes are those done by Assassin leader Yi Fang and especially in the last two episodes of the drama. It’s also great to see that 3 of the 4 female leads can fight! This is not a big budget production. I think the majority of the budget is spent on costumes for Qin Lan (as Lady Jin Xiu), Ou Hao (as Hua Min Chu) and Cici Wang (as Zhong Yao). These three are the “richest” of the group, so I guess they have more than 2 sets of clothes. Qin Lan has beautiful dresses, especially her Qi Paos. Ou Hao looks dashing in a variety of suits but he looks the most handsome to me when he’s wearing a simple black shirt and black pants. CiCi Wang has the most variety of suits and dresses. Everyone else wears the same 2-3 outfits. The graphics and green screen scenes are not that great either, especially the fake far away shots of the trains. The sets and props seem to be of OK quality.

Overall, I quite enjoy this drama. I am giving it a solid 8.5 because I think it’s hard to weave stories of so many main characters into the main plot. I think “The Eight” did a pretty good job.

Leia Mais

Slice of College Life Drama - Life's decisions and lessons

Completed - 12/27/2021

"Be Yourself" is a college drama that focuses on the life of four students who live in the same dorm room. They all come from different family backgrounds and have different personalities. This is a slice-of-life drama and the romance is only a subplot, quite different from the popular "Put Your Head on my Shoulder". This is quite a stress-free watch.

This drama follows the life of these young ladies during their 4 years in college. It covers a variety of topics and each episode ends with an epilogue and a life lesson learned. I think college students or recent grads would enjoy this drama. Nothing too dramatic happens, and some plot lines can be quite predictable and you've probably seen them in other college dramas. There's the cliche princess roommate that annoys the heck out of everyone. There's the love triangle where two roommates fall for the same guy. Of course, we have family members who are disapproving, too controlling or overly protective. Though these storylines are predictable, it's also to be expected in a slice-of-life drama.

We have two very supportive and lovely boyfriends. I find the courtship more entertaining than when they are together. You actually don't see too may cutesy, fluffy romantic scenes. I think our princess doesn't deserve her cute, caring and supportive boyfriend. I'm glad the princess does grow up and become less annoying. We also have romances that didn't go anywhere but that's actually more realistic.

I enjoy watching the journey of these four young ladies, following their individual character development, growing up and entering life after college and into adulthood.

Leia Mais

Romance-focused in first 1/3 , Politics and War-focused in the last 2/3 of the drama

Completed - 12/18/2021 - 8.25

My initial desire to watch this drama was because of Evan Lin. I saw him in "Crush" and immediately took a liking to him. I've also never watched a Chen Xing Xu drama (I avoided "Goodbye My Princess") and wanted to see if he's as good as people said. This drama surprises me in a way that I thought it would be a lot more romance-focused than it really is.

Story/Plot - As my headline said, the first third of the drama has a stronger focus on the romance between the three leads. We all know who the FL is going to end up with. We see the romance developed between our leads from frenemies to lovers, and for a romance junkie like me, I am satisfied with this part of the drama. More to come about romance later. The middle part of the drama (episodes late teens and twenties) is my least favorite. It lost my attention and I thought the plot dragged a little bit during the Beijing events. The back and forth lasted a little too long for my taste. However, I am glad that the drama has a strong (and surprising) finish. The last 10 episodes have a more serious tone as it deals with war conflicts. I wasn't expecting this drama to have so much politics. But, I thoroughly enjoy the last 1/3 of the drama and felt that the pacing was good.

Acting - Evan Lin brought me here and I heard that he shot this drama before "Crush". I do think his acting here is not as good as in "Crush". For a first drama, he did pretty well and I am sure many of us fell in love with him, for his looks and his role as Xu Guang Yao. However, I have to say, comparing to Chen Xing Xu's acting, Chen is far superior. The role of Tan Xuan Lin is complex and multi-faceted. Chen Xin Xu was able to show his fun, flirty, romantic, jealous, and serious side. He is the best part of the drama. Even though I probably won't watch "Goodbye My Princess", I will look out for his other dramas. Zhang Jin Yi as our FL did an admirable job. She has good chemistry with Chen Xin Xu, but there are times some of her smiles seemed forced. Maybe that's only me thinking that way. All the veteran actors were great and the younger actors/actresses have a lot to learn. The younger actors/actresses did fine, but I would not say they're on par with Chen Xing Xu's acting.

Romance - Our main is romance is fun and flirty. I enjoy how their romance was developed. Though I pitied Evan Lin/Xu Guang Yao, our leads are the perfect match for each other. No second-lead syndrome for me here, no matter how pretty Evan Lin is. LOL. It's nice to see our main leads' relationship is built on trust and understanding, even though there are secrets between them. We have a FL who is just as smart as our ML, and she's not annoying. Tan Xuan Lin (ML) and Mu Wan Qing (FL) are a match made in heaven. However, the secondary and tertiary romances are not as good. I actually was very annoyed with the childish and stalkerish behaviors of the supporting characters. I am not invested in the other romances at all.

OST/Production - There are two lovely songs played in the drama. I am glad that they weren't overplayed and the volume did not overshadow the dialogs. I tried to search for the OST on Spotify but couldn't find them. I would say, overall the OST is decent. Because this does not seem like a big production drama, I do find the battle scenes somewhat unrealistic. The set designs were OK but some props seem flimsy. And the worst thing is the dubbing. I wish the actors have used their own voices. I am so incredibly annoyed by the voices of FL's stepmother and Actress Gu Yue Shuang. I just saw Chen Xin Yu (who played Gu Yue Shuang) in "Princess Silver" and it's really hard to picture her in this drama with that annoying girly voice.

Other Observations:
1. Handsome guys in suits and long coats - LOVE
2. female characters also have nice dresses and costumes
3. Good mix of romance and investigation/politics
4. Characters seem to be able to travel between cities in lightning speed

Leia Mais

Great Lead Chemistry, Acting and Production

Completed - 3/31/2021 (late review/notes posted)

Finally finished this drama and it has to be the longest one I've watched to-date (3/31/2021). It took me about 18 episodes to get really invested in the drama. I think the middle of the drama is the best. Acting of the leads along with the emperor was amazing. The supporting cast did a great job as well. Everyone commented on the cinematography and the costumes, and they are great. It's interesting to see a historical drama uses such toned-down color, nothing is too colorful even the concubine's costumes.

The chemistry between the two leads was amazing. I felt their love through their banter, argument and heartbreak. I felt that there isn't enough scenes where the two of them are together... I wanted more. Both are smart and intelligent characters. I do feel that FL needed a little more saving than I like, esp. since she's such a strong character. Everyone said the ending and the last 10 -15 episodes were horrible. I didn't think they were horrible but they do feel rushed and some decisions were uncharacter-like. The leads have such strong trust throughout the whole drama, that it didn't feel right when at the end, there was mistrust. I wish the ending was better. They suffered so much that I wish they could end up happy. I became a big fan of Chen Kun after watching this drama, and his character, Ning Yi, is one of my favorite MLs.

The music complemented the drama well, and this is the first drama that I realized not many songs where played throughout the drama. It's just enough to convey and support the scenes, but not overwhelming enough that every time an emotional scene comes up, you hear the same songs playing over and over again.

I would not recommend this show to someone who doesn't like angst and politics. It's definitely a very angsty melodrama but the acting is superb.

Leia Mais

More over-the-top comedy than I expected, especially from a supposedly 30-year old woman.

Subjective Gut Rating: 8.25

My expectations of the drama might have ruined “Lovely Runner” a little bit for me. I was expecting a back-to-the-past sweet and innocent romance with some longing, angst and uncertainty due to the fantasy element of the show. But in reality, this drama is full of over-the-top comedic moments and loud characters that I was not prepared for. I am not adverse to comedy. There are actually a few very funny laugh-out-loud moments that I enjoy tremendously through the creative writing of the team. I just had some troubles adjusting and re-calibrating to the tone difference (expectations vs reality) and I believe this dampened my enjoyment a little. Of course, this is all on me.

My main criticism of the show (maybe a little more objective than my preference of the tone) is the decisions made by our female lead, Im Sol. I have a hard time believing a 30-year old woman would act quite immaturely and without a plan. I understand the initial shock of going back to the past. But once that wears off, and you have a mission to change the past, all you could come up with is to bulldoze your way into Rye Seong Jae’s life? There’s no plan of action. Instead of behaving like a mature adult (who has gone through some really tough times in life), Im Sol behaves like a teenager. The only way the drama shows her ‘maturity’ is when she yells at the kids for misbehaving.

I also feel that the drama could be shorter. After a while, it feels rather repetitive going back and forth. There aren’t enough intimate moments between the leads during their high school days. The only I could think of is in ep 12 when the leads were lying in each other’s arms and professing their love. These are the moments I want more. I would have loved to see more of the present-day timelines stories and how the leads fall in love with each other all over again. Therefore, I was especially happy in the last few episodes. That’s what I was looking for. That’s the tone of the drama that I was expecting. The last few episodes probably bump the rating back up to an 8.25-8.5.

Having said all that, there’s a lot to like about this drama. First of all, I think the acting is pretty good. I was a little unsure of Byeon Woo Seok’s acting at first, but he did a good job, especially with the more emotional scenes. He’s so tall and lanky, and really does have the body for a swimmer. The drama doesn’t shy away in showing us his perfectly toned torso and abs. He also doesn’t mind showing his sillier and pettier side. Kim Hey Yoon is such an experienced actress at a young age. I realize she’s not the young high school girl in “Sky Castle" anymore. She has matured and her acting as well. Does she look different to you? Her role as Im Sol has a lot of comedic moments. I think I like her emotional scenes more enjoyable though. Song Geon Hee plays the role of the second male lead, Kim Tae Sung. Tae Sung is a lovely bad boy character, but a typical second male lead in a K-drama. I think I would have developed second lead syndrome if I found the actor, Song Geon Hee, attractive. Well, no second lead syndrome from me. It’s Seong Jae all the way.

The supporting cast has some amazing veteran actors such as, grandma Sung Byung Sook, FL’s mom Jung Young Joo, and ML’s dad Kim Won Hae. FL’s best friend is played by Seo Hye Won. Her pairing with FL’s brother as a couple is just a little too much for me. They provide a lot comic relief, but they are too loud and annoying for my taste.

I don’t mind the mystery/crime element of the drama. At least I felt that is justified to start this whole going-back-to-the-past process. However, as mentioned earlier, it felt repetitive. I was never sure why he’s so dialed into our leads. Is it mainly because of the cell phone or a mentally ill, psychotic state of mind? The drama never really fully explains how and why the fantasy element. One can only guess from the last episode who started it all. It’s OK, I won’t judge the drama too hard for that. I am more bothered by the illogical decisions and loopholes of the drama.

“Lovely Writer” was really hyped up in the Feeds during its airing. Everyone is in love with the drama and especially how cute Byeon Woo Seok is. Because of that, I might have expected a lot more. At the time of this review, “Lovely Writer” is rated 9.1 on MDL. That’s really high for a drama from any country. I have an enjoyable time watching, especially the first ⅓ and the last ⅓ of the drama. But I could only give it an 8.25 (rounding up to 8.5) rating.


Completed: 7/7/2024 - Review #458

Leia Mais

Decent sequel but NOT a must-watch, esp. if you forgot all about Season 1

*edit* Subjective Gut Rating: 8.25 (increased from 8.0)

I watched “Young Blood” season 1 during my obsessive C-drama watching year in 2021. I only vaguely remember the fun schooldays. I almost forgot that it ended on an unfinished note and was happy to hear season 2 is happening with almost the full cast back, especially for Steven Zhang and Zhou Yu Tong. But is season 2 just as enjoyable as season 1? After I read my notes on season 1, I am afraid it’s not as good.. It’s a decent sequel but the pacing is inconsistent and it did not hold my attention for the full 27 episodes.


What I Like:

Acting - The all around acting of the full cast is consistently great. The six main cast members did not disappoint, nor did they exceed my expectations. The drama also has a pretty good veteran supporting cast. Despite the change of actor for the role of Wei Ya Nei, it did not affect my viewing pleasure.

Individual character development - Although the three-year separation is a little weird for the overall plot, I am glad to see that it allows for each member of Section 7 to develop and grow. I am especially glad to see that innocent and sweet Pei Jing becomes more independent, and not just hide behind Wang Kuan. I am glad to see Yuan Zhong Xin and Zhao Jian continue to be the dynamic duo who understands each other and creates troubles together. I do wish to see more individual stories and the process of their individual growth and achievements.

Badass FL - Zhao Jian as the section leader was badass in season 1. I am glad she continues to be the calm and badass leader of the group. Oftentimes, this does not last for a full season, let alone two whole seasons. It’s so nice to not see a damsel in distress who needed to be saved by the male lead, or a female lead who loses her smarts when she’s in love.

Villain - I haven’t seen such an interesting villain in a while. Yuan Hao is not plain evil. Actually, aside from being an emperor in power and wanting to maintain his power, I don’t think the drama portrays him as a bloodthirsty evil person. He just wants what most emperors want. He’s looks menacing, is intelligent, sarcastic, funny and incredibly strong physically and mentally. Section 7 is full of smart team members, so it was nice to see how they try to outsmart Yuan Hao, and vice versa.

Section 8 - I assume they were introduced in season 1 but I had no recollection. But the small amount of screentime the three members of Section 8 have here impressed me. I actually want to know more of their history and stories. They were a surprising delight that stole the thunder from the main cast.

Costumes - I love all the costumes especially when the cast is in Xia traditional hairstyles and attires.


What I have mixed feelings about:

Romance - I love the more mature romances in season 2. Yuan Zhong Xin and Zhao Jian have a fun relationship as they have such similar personalities and are on the same wavelengths. The scene in prison where they pledged their love for each other in a unique way, is one of my favorite romantic scenes. Wang Kuan and Pei Jing continue their sweet love. It’s interesting to see them being the more lovey-dovey type and holding hands all the time. They are definitely not shy in showing some public display of affection. Wang Kuan is such a polite, mellow and gentle scholar that I would never have thought he could be a super protective and assertive boyfriend. Both couples understand and trust each other. However, despite liking how the romance is written, I think the chemistry is just decent. I wonder if it’s because the drama focuses too much on their mission, and the romantic moments are hard to come by. I feel that it’s such a waste as the romances and the four actors could have delivered so much more when given enough time.

Darker Tone/Comedy - I was a little taken back in the initial episodes as the drama started off with a more serious tone than I expected. It was quite political and comedic moments were lacking. But then, these comedic moments start to show up more, and unfortunately, I feel they were a little out-of-place. The comedy doesn’t seem to be as funny as before. Supporting character Yu Chi Yuan is the ‘clown’ of the drama. His dumb, comedic moments are fun for a while but then they happen way too often and I get annoyed.

Pacing - Personally, I feel that the middle of the drama dragged. The pace was great in the first ⅓ of the drama, then slowed down in the middle and picked back up in the last ⅓. Unfortunately, I lost my concentration during the slower episodes, and it fails to gain my full attention back even in the final episodes. Because the second season focuses on one main mission, there aren’t enough to keep me invested for 27 episodes. The pace would be better if this is a 24-ep drama, or if there are other smaller side missions that lead to the finale.

CGI/Action Scenes - If the drama spends money on costumes, it definitely saves money on CGI. We got some fake horseback riding going on here. Luckily, this is not a xianxia drama, so most of the fight scenes do not require CGI. Speaking of fight scenes, I was quite happy in the first couple episodes as we have some close combat fighting. But there aren’t enough throughout the drama and I do not enjoy the slow motion scenes they have in these fights. I was glad they did give us a final fight in the end and not just casually mention it.


Overall, I wish I had watched both seasons back-to-back as I might enjoy it better. I think if you want to skip season 1 and go straight to season 2, it’s possible as well. As I said, I forget almost everything in the first season. This is a decent sequel but not a must-watch. But if you like the cast and want to continue the journey with them, then it’s not bad.


Completed: 8/24/2023 - Review #343

Leia Mais

Excellent Friends-to-Lovers transition with a slow burn romance that's worth the wait in the end.

Subjective Gut Rating: 8.75

“You Are My Lover Friend” is one of the few dramas that did the friends-to-lovers trope right. The transition is awkward, uncertain and slower than others I’ve seen. This gives a more realistic approach to this romance. Zhang Xin Cheng and Wang Yu Wen are perfect in their roles, and they have such great chemistry as friends and as lovers. On another note, I am a little surprised that business takes up quite a bit of screen time. I was expecting it to be more like “The Love You Give Me”. Some might find the plot draggy due to the slow romance and the business talk.


What I Like:

1. Friends-to-Lovers Transition/Main Romance
Instead of jumping from realizing one’s feelings -> a minute of uncertainty -> confession -> being lovers, “You Are My Lover Friend” took a more natural and slower approach. The realization of feelings took a while for both characters. Of course, there’s the more traditional approach of uncertainty, worrying that 13 years of friendship will go to waste if the romantic relationship doesn’t work out. This drama has those worries as well, but additionally, there’s the uncertainty after the confession, which is not quite an outward confession. Everything is so murky, as it should be. Did they really agree to be together, or not? Are they looking for the same kind of relationship, or not? From beginning to the end, it takes the leads a long time to finally be together. I think this slow burn romance is worth the wait. Once they are together, they are cute and fluffy, yet mature and supportive. They understand each other so well that they don’t need to say a word, the other will know something is not right. They communicate, they support unconditionally and they trust in their partners to not interfere with their work and decisions. They are the perfect dynamic duo in a relationship.

2. Friendship + Flashbacks
I love how the flashbacks are used in the epilogues. They don’t disrupt the flow of the present-day time but show us exactly how great these 4 friends were in high school. The flashbacks also correspond with what happened in the episode. Dramas like these usually show flashbacks over and over again, which could be annoying and repetitive. Instead, I look forward to them at the end of each episode. It’s actually quite lovely to see the main focus of their friendship is in the present-day timeline, and how they continue to be the best of friends. You can see how Jiang Shi Yan and Feng Wei Ran’s tight bond extends to their business partnerships. They might have different points of view, but when a company decision is made by Jiang Shi Yan, Feng Wei Ran does not question and just trusts his decision. Tang Yang and Jiang Yan An have the more typical sisterhood going on, though not as much of a focus than the friendship of the 4 of them.

3. Cheng Hui + Sheng Ni Na (2nd romance)
They are so cute together! I’m a big fan of Cheng Hui and it’s great to see him in this quirky role, a different kind of quirkiness than his role in “Will Love in Spring”. I love that he’s a man of few words and is blunt and sarcastic. It’s a nice contrast to Sheng Ni Na, whose profession as an actress shows that she’s more well-rounded and socially capable. I am actually very happy to see her not depicted as a spoiled actress, but a sensible and mature one. I love how Cheng Hui and Sheng Ni Na grow close together from a few initial pleasantries, to a few words, and quick texts, to cooking and bonding over food and stars. I wanted to see more of them together, but also thought this is just enough for me to be interested and intrigued by their story. OK, I take that back, I want a little bit more of them!

3. Tang Yang (FL)
Tang Yan is an example of how an independent, strong, mature woman can act without being mean and bossy. Tang Yang shows that she’s competent without being petty. She does not need to be saved by a man, and can stand on her own and fight with grace at work. She is righteous and will stand up for those who are mistreated.

4. Jiang Shi Yan (ML)
What a perfect boyfriend and a total green flag, who is not boring! I’ve seen enough boring green flags and he’s perfect yet interesting. Even in the first episode, there’s no way you can’t tell he’s in love with Tang Yang by how considerate and thoughtful he is. He always puts Yang Yang in the first place and does all he can so that he can be with her, without compromising his work. It is possible to have a male lead fall head over heels without losing his cool and losing himself. I also like his jealous pettiness.

5. Zhou Mo
There’s something about the character Zhou Mo, played by Wu Hao Chen, that I find very interesting and mysterious. He’s painted in a bad light, but I always thought there’s more to him than meets the eye. It’s not that I find Wu Hao Chen handsome, but there’s something about how he portrays this character that mesmerizes me, especially the fake smile and mask he put on.

6. Original Soundtrack
There are only a few songs in the OST and I like all of them. I am also glad the music is not overplayed and each song is played at the right time in the right mood. I couldn’t locate the songs on Spotify, if you find them, let me know!


What I Have Mixed Feelings:

1. Slow Burn romance
I think the drama could have been better if it was only about 24 episodes. The romance does take a long time to happen. It could have sped things up in the first 10 episodes, and started the transition a few episodes earlier. Luckily, the recognizing/questioning of feelings happens in the earlier episodes, otherwise, this will feel even more slow burn. There are also way too many near-kisses. Such a tease when you know both Zhang Xin Cheng and Wang Yu Wen are great kissers!

2.Business Plot
I wasn’t anticipating such a focus on the business. The lack of suspense and excitement makes the business side of things less interesting. There aren’t enough ups and downs to keep me interested throughout the whole drama. Coupled with a slower romance build up, 30 episodes seem too long for this drama. I also wanted to see the bad guys taken down in a more humiliating fashion. It’s not epic enough!

3. Jiang Yan An + Reng Wei Ran
Their married life is really fun to watch. This couple brings in a different kind of chaotic energy that is very hilarious in small doses. Unfortunately, their marriage problem came in like a whirlwind from the left field. That was not a fun side plot to watch and I wish the time was spent on the other couples, or cut to make the drama shorter.


Overall, I had a great time watching this drama. There are many likable characters (including the two fun moms!), good all around acting and chemistry between all characters. If you don’t mind a business plot and a slow burn romance, this is a good watch. Although I want the villains to end painfully, the drama does tie up the romances nicely with a fun wedding and dance to end on a positive note. My gut didn’t tell me to give this a 9+ rating, but because I like the friends-to-lovers trope and transition so much, I’m giving this a 0.25 bump to 8.75.


Completed: 10/13/2024 - Review #498

Leia Mais

I watched this drama, so you DON'T have to.

Stop! Don’t watch this drama! Unless you are forced to, or are watching this because of a watch challenge like me, please do not waste your time. I usually have a pretty high tolerance for bad dramas, but this one takes the cake (pun intended…LOL). I even find joy in watching “Playboyy” but unfortunately, “Love Syndrome III: Uncut Version” only brings me pain. It’s not even fun to hate-watch. I usually watch my dramas at normal speed, but I have to resort to 1.25x and then 1.5x because I couldn’t wait for it to end..

Let’s start with a few things that I consider as positives:

1. No Product Placement! It’s so rare these days to find a Thai drama when it’s not trying to sell me snacks, drinks or beauty products. Aside from turning me off from eating cakes, no product placement is good. But then, I wonder, if they are able to get sponsors, will the quality be better?
2. The last scene when everyone is all dressed up for the ceremony.
3. Mmm… there are some abs shown here and there.
4. The action/fight scenes look good at 1.5x speed. LOL.


Where do I start with things I don’t like?

1. BAD acting. It’s so bad that I thought both leads were newbies, but then realized they both have several dramas under their belts already. Really bad! Watch it for 5 minutes and immediately you want to drop this drama.
2. Ugly wig. Why do they give Itt that ugly wig? Is it because they need to follow the hairstyle of the web novel?
3. Poor Editing and writing. Enough said.
4. Flashbacks galore. So many back-and-forth flashbacks throughout the whole drama. I understand you are trying to tell the audience what happened in the last 3 years, but they could do a better job. Towards the last few episodes, there are so many flashbacks that I got annoyed, and these are not flashbacks to tell a story either.
5. Toxic Relationships. So many messed up relationships in this drama. The leads are very unlikeable to begin with. They got a little better in the last 2-3 episodes.
6. Meaningless conversations. The drama is dragged down by people standing around for meaningless and unsensible conversations and dialogues. I don’t want to hear about cakes anymore.
7. The leads fight all the time - the WHOLE drama from start to end.
8. The last subplot introduced is unnecessary and out-of-place. I don’t need a psycho to pop in to stir up trouble when I just want the drama to end.
9. Plot, or lack of a plot. The leads could have shared their limelight with the other couples, esp. Nan and Mac. At least this toxic couple seems more interesting. I still don’t know why Day + Itt and Night + Gear got over their initial rough start to be together. I thought if I waited long enough, I'd see a flashback about it.


I am sure some viewers enjoy this drama. I am just not one of them. But if you are curious about how bad this is, “Love Syndrome 3” is the perfect watch-party drama with your friends. I did that for 4 episodes and it was very fun and hilarious. Thanks Cave Clowns for keeping me company!



Completed: 3/10/2024 - Review #415

Leia Mais

Leave them alone! They just want to live a normal life! (+ Blood, Gore, Violence)

I never thought “Moving” would take the top spot of the most violent Asian dramas I’ve watched, beating “Bulgasal” and “Arthdal Chronicles”. I thought this drama would be about superpowers, kind of like the Thai drama “The Gifted”. Little did I know this was way more than I bargained for.

I am not sure why this drama was named “Moving”. Maybe because the characters' background stories all moved (aka touched) me. Each of the gifted just wants to live a normal life with the people they love. Why can’t the evil governments let these poor souls be? Getting to know each of the characters is the best part of the drama for me. The adults and the villains have suffered so much. We have devoted parents who give up everything, so that their children can be safe, and won’t be exposed and exploited. We have parents who just want to live an honest life and make a living, yet are forced to be trained as soldiers and assassins. At the end of the day, there are only 3 characters I hate - Deputy Chief of NIS, Principal of the high school and the North Korea dude.

If you are watching this drama for Zo In Sung and his return to the small screen after 7 years, you will be disappointed. His screen time is so limited. I was expecting to see him more towards the end. He’s great as usual but was reduced to a supporting role more than a main role. His chemistry with Han Hyo Joo is great. Their love story is so sweet and adorable yet sad and heartbreaking. You can totally see how his son, Bong Seok, takes after his super dad in the romance department. Lee Mi Hyun is a badass single mom. It was so hard watching her raise her son alone and the ways she tried to keep him safe.

Fried Chicken Man, Jang Joo Won, must have the most violent scenes in the drama. Every time I see him fight, I mentally prepare myself to look away. But when he’s just a single dad, he’s so sweet, like a big teddy bear. His little love story has the same awkward adorableness as Kim Doo Shik. Both men just want to spend the rest of their lives with their wives and children. Is that too much to ask for?

I was not really prepared for the drama to focus on the kids/teens so much in the first 7 episodes. Their stories are pretty good, but not as interesting as the adults. There are some cute and funny scenes between Jang Hee Soo and Kim Bong Seok. I like how their friendship slowly develops into something more. However, I find the transition from kids to adults storylines somewhat disjointed. The back-and-forth switching of the timelines could be confusing as the drama tells the stories of different characters.

“Moving” has a star-studded cast of veteran actors. I thought to myself, “Hey, I know you!” as there are so many supporting roles played by amazing actors. There’s no reason to worry about the acting in this drama. The makeup department needs to get an award. The wounds are amazingly real, that’s why I had to look away. It was too much for me. On the other hand, the CCI of flying is quite hilariously fake. Maybe I am more used to C-drama wuxia wire work.

I would recommend this drama if you enjoy super powers, thrillers and action scenes. “Gore” is one of the tags, so be warned. Each episode is captivating and keeps me entertained. 20 episodes went by really fast and I wanted more. Will there be a season 2? We shall see!


Other Random Observations:
1. Don’t forget to watch past the ending credits!
2. Bong Seok’s accidental floating and Hee Soo trying to hold him down - very cute!
3. Dong Shik, “An Intentional failure is not a failure.”
4. Monster is a romanticists, reading ‘romance’ novels, e.g. Fox Volant of the Snowy Mountain
5. Like parents, like children - Bong Seok and Hee Soo with the sky + ground attack, just like Doo Shik and Joo Won.


Completed: 9/22/2023 - Review #357

Leia Mais

Sweet and Innocent Romance - Beautiful Siblings Bond - A Journey to Find Your Own Path

Subjective Rating - 8.25

I am a little surprised that “Otonari ni Ginga” aka “A Galaxy Next Door” has quite a low rating (7.6). Granted, Jdoramas usually score lower on MDL than K-Dramas or C-Dramas. I wonder if viewers are a little put off in the first few episodes due to its typical manga-like over-the-top acting.

If you are not familiar with Japanese manga/anime adaptations, you will find the acting in this drama could be a little much. But once you get past it, there are many heartwarming stories of family, love and finding yourself. I binged all 32 episodes (15 mins each) and if I had to wait for weekly episodes, that would be torture!

Romance - A sweet, innocent and cute romance developed between our leads. An interesting way of telling the story of a contract marriage, our leads have to endure quite a bit of challenges during the initial episodes. The chemistry is good and I especially enjoy the quiet moments and heart-to-heart conversations that they had. One thing great about Japanese dramas is that they are not afraid of silence. They don’t feel the need to fill every ‘romantic’ conversation with background music and dictate how viewers feel. There were several conversations between the leads, and a kiss scene that is so quiet, that I can’t help but listen carefully, feel what they are feeling and be touched by the emotions. Of course, you have to first get past the initial over dramatic acting. FL is direct and honest, and not afraid to take the initiative. ML is more shy but consistently stands by FL’s side and supports her decision without question. The dynamic between them is fun and complementary.

Siblings Bond - Just watching the three siblings is worth an 8.0 rating. The two child actors are so cute and adorable. The little sister is smart and reads the room very well. She’s a really good wing-girl for the couple. The little brother exudes such cute clinginess to his brother. I love that they say “splitting happiness and sadness into three”. Due to the passing of their father, they all have to grow up too fast and mature way beyond their years. Scenes of the two children are heartwarming and beautiful. I especially love the scene where ML was struggling to cover the little boy’s ears, so he couldn’t hear the conversation about Santa Claus.

Share House - This has to be the funnest share house I’ve seen in any drama. Though the other two housemates do not have a lot of screentime, they show up at the right moments. With the addition of the editor and big sis manga artist, the supporting cast is caring and fun. There are no annoying character in this drama. Who doesn’t want to live in a house where you can be animals in a zoo, play games and fireworks during the summer festival, decorate and celebrate with lights in the yard and have summer bbq and camping as well.

Manga career - Although the drama does not go into detail about the manga industry, it is still interesting to see some of the drawings, and they are beautiful! I love the manga that ML drew for FL to encourage her and to tell her that she’s lovely just the way she is. That was so romantic!

Finding Your Own Way - But the overarching plot of the drama is FL’s journey to leave her predestined path and home to find her own way. Without going into spoilers, I find the burden FL has to shoulder quite interesting, especially the thorn bond and its effect.

Overall, I had a great time watching “Otonari ni Ginga”. It did take me a while to get past the initial episodes and to get used to FL’s personality. I like how the romance developed and especially love the siblings bond. Just these two elements are worth at least an 8.0 for me. I’ll round up my 8.25 to 8.5 to give the rating a little bump. LOL 😉

Completed: 7/6/2023 - Review #328

Leia Mais

Thrilling Republican Spy drama - Great Cast and Acting

Completed - 1/12/2022

"The Rebel" is a thrilling and exciting spy drama during the Republican era in Shanghai. The drama spans 13 years from 1936-1949 and is divided into three arcs: 1) Guomingdang/Nationalist Party vs Communist Party, 2) China vs Japan, 3) Guomingdang/Nationalist Party vs Communist Party. Some might feel that it's a drama about Chinese propaganda. However, I disagree. Does it talk about the greatness and ideals of communism? Yes. But that is also a big part of Chinese history. The inhumane treatment of the Japanese against Chinese is well-documented in history books and through stories told by grandparents who lived through those times. There has always been injustices and corruption in governments all over the world, not just in China.

I would recommend this drama to those:
1) who love a good spy story in the Republican era
2) slight romance that does not interfere with the main plot
3) amazing acting by the cast - both young and veteran actors and actresses

Personally, I enjoy the first 20 episodes (1st arc) the most in this drama. The introduction of all the characters were nicely done through storytelling and amazing acting. The middle arc is a little slow for my taste but the pace picked up in the last 5-8 episodes. I do think this drama could be shortened a little bit. Throughout the drama, we see networks of spies from both parties at odds end, and trying to one up another. I wouldn't say the plot is unpredictable, but it's engaging enough to keep my attention for the most part.

I cannot say enough good things about the amazing acting of all. I've seen Zhu Yi Long (ML) in "Guardian" and "The Story of Ming Lan" before. "The Rebel" has got to be his best in acting. When he's lost and confused, when he's lonely and sad, and those few shy and adorable moments - he acted so well and I felt for him. He was acting so intensely that I worry his veins on his forehead are going to pop. LOL. However, I think it took quite a long time for his character to grow his EQ. He's way too emotional to be a soldier/spy for the first 2/3 of the drama. On the other hand, I am most attracted to Wang Yang, who played Chen Mo Qun, in the beginning. He was so charismatic and sexy as the villain. And then when he became a traitor, you can see how he's changed internally and externally. That pride and charisma are gone, and the guilt and distress show up for the rest of the drama. I can't forget to mention the two male veteran actors, Wang Zhi Wen ( who played Gu Shen Yan) and Li Qiang (who played Ji Zhong Yuan). They are both amazing and probably keep the young ones on their toes to improve their acting to the veterans' standards.

This is my first drama of Tong Yao and she was equally great as Zhu Yi Zhen. She might look a little old to play a college student initially, but that doesn't mean she didn't act well. She doesn't have too many scenes for someone listed as a female lead, but when she's there, her presence shows. It's so nice to see a smart, brave and confident female lead. I also wanted to mention Zhu Zhu who played Lan Xin Jie (2FL). I finished watching her in "The Bond" not too long ago. Here, she's sultry, confident, smart and sexy. You can't take your eyes off her.

If I have to say one thing that I wanted more, is the romance, since I am a romance junkie. I understand that the romance storyline should take a back seat in a spy drama. But our leads have so few scenes together! However, that doesn't mean the chemistry is not there. You can feel that sad and quiet romance throughout the drama. The unspeakable love and longing through quiet actions and simple words. If the director can't give me romance when the spies are in action, how about give me a little more at the end? Or am I too greedy since we actually have a somewhat happy ending for them? I was cautiously hoping and praying that they could be together at the end, after all they have gone through.

For all the Republican era dramas that I have watched, "The Rebel" is probably one of the better produced one. It looks like they have spent some money on the set designs and props used. The men have different sets of 3-piece suits and uniforms. Women have nice qipaos and dresses. Zhu Zhu looked amazing when she's strutting in her amazing costumes.

Objectively, this might be a 9.0+ drama for many but personally, it's a solid 8.5.

Leia Mais

Perfect Drama to relieve your stress and lift your spirits

Completed - 4/5/2022 - 8.75

I am liking the current K-drama trends of having only 12 episodes instead of the long-drawn out, draggy 16-episode drama format. This is especially true for comedies and romantic comedies. This drama is perfect if you want something light and funny, and a palate cleanser after watching something serious/tragic.

Setting/Plot - Personally, I am a big fan of the contract marriages and enemies-to-lovers tropes. The setting of this drama is right up my alley. Moreover, I also purchased dumplings from Bibigo and many other packaged Korean foods from my local K-mart. So, seeing FL being a food researcher and have that as the backdrop is interesting to me. There are many common rom-com tropes and cliches in this drama. But for the most part, the drama surprises us with not going along with the usual directions of these tropes. The drama also makes fun of these tropes/cliches by using the TV show within the the drama. It's so refreshing to see.

Likable characters - We have four very likable leads. You find them funny and sweet, and you root for their career and relationship success. ML might first appear as the classic narcissistic CEO. There are many comparisons of him to the ML in "What's Wrong with Secretary Kim". I actually like Kang Tae Moo here a lot more. His narcissism didn't really last long and he turns sweet quite soon in the series. The ML in WWWSK actually is a lot more annoying. Our two female leads have a great sismance, and are so supportive of each other. They are both independent and funny, and did not bow down to road blocks and challenges in life. Last but not the least, who doesn't like the dimples of our sweet 2ML and his kind character.

Romance - Our main leads have great chemistry, especially before they are officially an item. Once they are together, the sizzling chemistry changes to something sweeter. It's hard to find a rom-com where the secondary romance is just as interesting and fun as the main romance. There's just enough screen time for our 2ML/2FL to develop their romance, not overshadowing the main romance, and yet not so insignificant that we wish they don't exist. The two romance storylines co-exist really well in this drama and I am invested in both of them. In a way, they contrast each other pretty well: love at first sight vs slowly developed romance, theme park dates vs hiking dates, rich ML vs rich 2Fl, sweet romance vs hot/steamy romance. Additionally, we got amazing kisses in this drama with both couples. No fish kisses and the ladies also initiate kisses.

Tragic Past done well - It's not hard to guess that ML's tragic past will be part of the plot. I was initially concerned that this subplot will dampen the mood of this super funny drama. I immediately thought of how the ML's tragic/family story in "Her Private Life" is the weakest part of that otherwise amazing sweet rom-com. Fortunately, it didn't happen here. It was not dealt in a melodramatic way, but in a sweet way demonstrating how FL supports ML. The drama didn't drag this for several episodes. Instead, just several sweet scenes with flower shopping, lovely dinners and umbrellas, and a few heart-to-heart sweet conversations.

OST - lovely songs especially from MeloMance. The drama also incorporates some comedy-like noises during funny scenes.

Supporting Cast - Usually I would be annoyed with someone like 2FL's cousin. She is loud and overdramatic but for this drama, I found her hilarious. I love her craziness and her use of English in between her Korean words. Maybe I am in such a good mood enjoying this drama that she becomes tolerable and funny to me. However, others may be annoyed. Same goes to FL's mother and FL's male co-worker. They are both really loud and can be either funny or annoying.

Ending - I think the last episode is somewhat predictable. In a way, I am a tiny bit disappointed as it falls into the classic rom-com tropes. I don't want to give out spoilers, so let's just say the last episode is average compared to other episodes.

Overall, I haven't had so much fun watching a romantic comedy in a long time. I rarely give out a 9.0 to rom-coms, but I am feeling good and also in the right mood, especially while I am also watching "The Longest Day in Chang'An".

Other Observations:
1. Ahn Hyo Seop has really big hands. But why are they ALWAYS so red???
2. Hairstyle changes when you are not a narcissistic CEO anymore. AHS looks so much better when his bangs are down and not in hair gel.
3. Kim Se Jeong has such a BEAUTIFUL voice!
4. Here's a duet with Kim Se Jeong and Ahn Hyo Seop singing "Love, Maybe". So good! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FemG1XPyvNI
5. I have those Bibigo dumplings in my freezer right now! Shown on TV in the last episode. LOL

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