Well Intended Love (2019)

So I binge watched this show in two days, despite its many, many flaws which i will be pointing out in this review.
I probably may not have even finished this if I wasn't bored out of mind because, thanks to the corona-virus outbreak the city I live in is on lock-down mode.
First of all, the plot of this show is full of Chinese Clichés that anyone who has ever read a chinese web novel will definitely know.
Domineering, rich CEO who falls for a poor, beautiful and young actress, who just happened to need his help. And so he proposes a marriage contract right off the bat, cause, you know, he just didn't want to let her get away *rolling eyes*.

Now lets start with the things that I did like about the show. Well, now that I'm actually writing this review, its kinda hard to think of stuff that I actually liked about the show. I'll try anyway.
1. The ML was not portrayed as a cold faced, emotionless guy like the typical characteristics of a rich, chinese CEO. I honestly do not understand why the chinese TV-industry, and all the web novels that have a rich CEO character always portray them as cold faced and supposedly emotionless guys.
This ML on the other hand was thankfully quiet expressive with a dang impressive smile. Which also seems to be one of his few redeeming qualities. His interactions with the people around him were almost playful for the most part.
2. The soundtrack was quiet nice.
3. I also liked that after every episode there were short scenes that added a bit more character to the show.
4. I quiet liked the character of the ML's assistant and the FL's best friend. Those two were genuinely likable characters. The ML's best friend was also quiet likable.

Now onto the things that I didn't like.
1. THE PLOT. I don't wanna elaborate a lot here cause, honestly, the plot was quiet nonsensical. There are just too many things that were wrong with the story.
2. The ML's character. What the ML did, was wrong on so many levels. The manipulation, the lies, the stalking. If this guy were real, I'd suggest some real hardcore therapy for him, cause honestly it felt like if it weren't for the "Villains" he wouldn't even understand that the things he did were wrong.
3. The FL. I'm sorry if this is harsh but she just seemed stupid to me. The whole goody two shoes and extremely kind act did not work for me. It did work for the ML, cause apparently it was 'her kindness towards strangers' that endeared her to the ML. It seemed quiet pretentious to me though cause, why would you want to help people who you know are just waiting to see you fall. No one is that kind. She ain't no Cinderella and this isn't a fairy-tale. The real world doesn't work like that.
She also seemed to be independent or at least that's what these people seemed to be going for but it wasn't convincing at all. She seemed like she wanted to have her own career and become a top actress without anyone's help. But she just came off as a damsel in distress most of the time who was pretending to be tough. And its not that i don't get that, i mean she's only 21 and fresh outta college and hes her savior and all that but at the end of it all she didn't really do much in terms of her career. After she finds out all the things he did, she did put up a fight and I do like that but she also gave in real soon.
4. Their relationship. This is the definition of a manipulative, abusive relationship but its been covered in riches and decorated with romance to fool the viewers. The abuse may not be physical and may not seem obvious but it is there none the less.
They have never been equals in the relationship. The ML takes on the dominant role right from the start. Neither of them are honest with each other. Their entire relationship is based on a lie. And an extremely unnecessary lie at that. I mean, if the ML liked her, he could have asked her out like any normal human being and they could have dated but instead he wanted the guarantee that she would be with him regardless of what she wanted and so he cooks up the whole bullshit that is this plot.
The FL isn't much better either. After they reconcile, she goes and meets his mother behind his back and invites her into their house when he isn't around despite knowing how much he didn't want to meet his mother. I mean, sure it was the mother who came to her first and not the other way around. But when she found out about everything she should have talked to her husband and instead she goes behind his back and feeds him his mothers food by lying. She didn't want to be manipulated by him but she herself was doing the same. This was honestly a complete breach of trust and after all that she didn't even apologize. Instead he apologizes for shouting when she hurt him so much. After knowing everything that his mother did whether right or wrong, fact is that his mother hurt him and as his wife she should have talked to him instead him trying to manipulate him into reconciling with his mother.
5. The Villains. I really dislike the way they portrayed the "bad guys". An Ran's character had so much potential but instead they turned her into a cannon-fodder brainless female who would do anything to get what she wants. Its was honestly plain stupid. A beautiful, well educated, rich, independent woman who literally had the world at her feet ruins her own life and probably her family's too just because she couldn't get the guy she wanted. I mean, REALLY?
On the other hand, there Nan Tian. I can sort of understand his motivation but his actions are also plain stupid.
6. It struck me as really odd that they never even mentioned the FL's family. Did she ever have a family? Was she an orphan? Did she just pop out of the earth? There was literally not a single word said about her family. If she was an orphan, then why was she so stupid. Again, I apologize if this sounds harsh. BUT, the way i see it is, if she was an orphan and grew up by herself, I think she should have been at least a little bit smarter. I mean, its a harsh world and growing up is tough as it is but without having anyone to depend on, it would have been brutal. So if does/did have a family, why was it never mentioned?
7. The office culture in the ML's company. The ML, gets up in the middle of a meeting because his wife called him. He comes back to find his employees chatting on their phones cause he wasn't around. And just because he was in a bad mood having fought with his wife, decides that no one is allowed to have their phones switched on during meetings or their salaries will be deducted. Now, this same ML is siting in another meeting. His poor employees are giving a presentation but our ML is too busy chatting with his wife on the phone to pay attention to the presentation. What kinda bullshit is that!? Who would ever respect a boss like that?

Honestly i could probably rant a bit more, but I'm gonna stop here.
If you do watch this show, do so at your own discretion.

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