Night of Love With You (2022)

humorous + lighthearted watch !

I was initially drawn to this show due to Liu Xiening, the actress who plays the female lead in this series. I have been a fan of Liu Xiening since her idol days in Gugudan. That being said, I honestly held little expectations for this show. Most series with previous and current idols turn out to be pretty average, with bland storylines and acting skills. I didn't anticipate for this series to be any different; I thought that I would drop the show after a couple of episodes since the synposis didn't seem incredibly unique. Not only that, but I have a super short attention span, so it's common for me to lose interest in watching a drama after a couple of hours/days. I'm rarely able to sit through airing shows because the one-week wait time gradually ceases my interest.

But this time I have to admit that my assumptions were wrong. Not only did I finish the show, but I eagerly refreshed my page each time a new episode was released. While there were some inconsistencies within the show here and there, I would definitely recommend that everyone gives this show a shot. This was a show that gave me a nice laugh every couple of days, and there are so many surprising elements that you would never expect. If you're looking for a short, light-hearted watch, this is the right show for you.

PLOT + STORY:

While this show does take the rather "wholesome" route, there are a couple of different elements involved, which do enough to set it apart from the other fluffy/universe traveling(?) dramas I've watched. While some people have pointed out that this show's concept is similar to 'W: Two Worlds Apart', I think that it is still a bit different, considering that the main female lead (Luo Qing) is a professional comic book character herself.

Not only that, but the drama does lean a *tiny* bit into the crime genre. There isn't much suspense in regards to who the actual perpetrators are, but rather how the characters manage to escape each situation. Keep in mind that it is still a light-hearted show though; a lot of the so-called "mysterious" scenes are come hand-in-hand with a funny joke or occurrence.

In addition, each episode is around 9-15 minutes, so it is only natural that the story lacks in development. The plot speeds by rapidly, so I honestly do question how some relationships manage to escalate so quickly. Thankfully, this wasn't a huge problem with the main leads, therefore it doesn't take away too much from the primary plot. However, be prepared to see a lot of inconsistencies and plotholes. In my (not-so-professional) opinion, the story is paced well in the beginning, but becomes less consistent and more rushed towards the end. Still, as long as you're able to overlook those miniature flaws and hone in on the general storyline, I still believe that it is an enjoyable watch. (And for everyone asking, yes, there is a happy ending!)

CAST + CHARACTERS:

The female lead (Luo Qing) set this show off to an amazing start; her lines are just ICONIC and draw you into watching just to see what else she manages to pull out of her sleeve. Liu Xiening does an outstanding job with her facial expressions, and her confident delivery fits the role perfectly. Compared to her performance in 'Hello Debate Opponent', she has stepped up to a whole new level. If there is anything that I take away from this show, it is definitely Luo Qing's shameless attitude. She slayed.

To be frank, I wasn't quite sold with the male lead (Leng Yehan) at first, but I think that he slowly grew on me. The whole "cold-blooded male lead" just wasn't doing it for me, however, as the relationship between the leads progressed, my attitude towards him changed. The male lead (Leng Yehan) acting more warm and protective towards the female lead (Luo Qing) just seemed more natural to me. Overall, it could be better, but seeing as this is Guan Yue's first drama (that I know of), I think he still has a decent execution. His character becomes more and more lovable through each episode, I promise.

Next is Song Ruoyun, the second female lead. Besides Liu Xiening, I think that Song Ruoyun's actress, Pu Yutong, is another gem on this new cast. Each time Song Ruoyun's face would appear on screen, it would unleash some fury in my brain. If the screenwriters tried to create one of the most menacing characters possible, they certainly succeeded. Song Ruoyun is your standard pesky second female lead, and each scene was wrapped up well. (Not to mention, her character has the best wardrobe of the entire cast, I would kill to have one of her dresses.) Anyways, I hope to see Pu Yutong get opportunities to play bigger roles in the future!

After that, there's Mu Nanchen, the second male lead. Compared to the rest of the characters so far, he's definitely the only "morally upright" person. I definitely see how the screenwriters wanted to portray his role, but I do think that it is rather weak compared to the three mentioned above. The actor, Liu Yakun doesn't utilize many expressions, so it's difficult for me to believe that he truly has feelings for the female lead, Luo Qing. In general, his character just seems really undeveloped, but I guess I can't expect much with such short episodes. I will give him some credit for being a nice male lead though, he isn't incredibly frustrating. After all, he has to somehow balance out the other morally grey characters.

Last but not least, we have Luo Qing's precious and stupid little brother, Luo Cheng. He's my second source of comedic relief in this show, and I'm glad that he consistently appeared in every couple of episodes. His dynamic with his sister (Luo Qing) is just absolute perfection, and I would not have wished for a different portrayal. If romance isn't your cup of tea, maybe consider watching for this ball of sunshine?? And the banter.

FYI, I will mention that the supporting cast/extras of this show are lacking. Delivery? Not on point. Expressions? Non-existent. But does it take away from the show? No, not really. Sometimes I'd see some really bad execution, but I'd only be frustrated for a minute or so before a positive element of the show took my mind off of it.

MUSIC:

I wouldn't say the OSTs are anything *too* special, but they began to offer me a sense of nostalgia as I watched the last two episodes. The opening music is probably my favorite (I'd watch through the opening credits to hear the whole thing). I'm not sure if any of the song selections are playlist-worthy to me, but music is all subjective!

REWATCH VALUE:

Since this show has super short episodes, I will definitely be revisiting it a couple of months/a year down the line. At least, I WILL be watching Luo Qing's scenes because it's a source of free serotonin. It's funny and cute; there's no reason for me to not have these plotlines stuck in my head 24/7.

And if you've somehow read to here, and you're still wondering whether this show is worth it or not, I have two last words for you: WATCH IT.

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