As Beautiful As You (2024)

B- grade Adaptation, Solid Acting, Great Cast

SUMMARY OF GOODS and BADS

BEFORE reading my review, please make sure that you don't invest your time in arguing with my review as I will BLOCK ALL fanatic fans ... who cannot bear to hear any criticism about their idols. I am sorry ... my opinion and rating stay. I am giving an honest review based on my experience. AND Yes, outfits/fashion are part of the experience. That's why the Academy Awards have a category for them. Life is too short to bicker over little things ... just give an honest review and move on!

THE GOODS:
The CEO character development is perfect. There is no erratic behavior.
Both Seven and XK did well in drama, although not as perfect chemistry as her previous drama: Road Home.
The script changes include some characters that make the story more authentic.
Of all the episodes, I enjoyed the bonus episode the most. It's from the novel ... the way it was filmed was perfect. I felt both actors did well in the last episode.
I like that Lili ends up with a guy who loves her more. He's simple .. I think her life will be easier.

THE BADs:
Fillers: the first 20 episodes - lots of fillers without Main Leads.
Changes I disagree: (See my episodes comment) - the ex-BF and her friend got married. She even attended the wedding. Why did she seem ok with it? It doesn't make sense. And breaking the safe to steal documents? And so many others ...

The theme song - didn't feel romantic and actually a little annoying ("Anything you want me to be ... " ) I had to mute it. The song sang by Seven is good.

Seven's wardrobe - not consistent with the scenes ... For example, their date night on his birthday she wore this black and white jacket ... not very flattering or feminine. Very matronly. It's not her fault but the stylist of this show! Sometimes the wrong outfit takes away the mood of the moment. Sorry I am into fashion :-) And her wearing shorts to meet the family for dinner ... OMG.... She's 26 years old, not 18! At least she should wear a dress/skirt! This is a rich family and the grandpa writes Chinese calligraphy- that shows traditions!

THE most egregious thing that the script writer did in this drama is to make Seven (JX) look like she is a poor decision maker. While it's ok to make mistakes during the development stage to become wiser, it's not ok to behave reckless/criminal/giving-up while doing it. And when she returns, all she did was acknowledging that HT was right all along! Come on ... he lied to her. His actions shows disrespect! I would give him hell!

The second thing that I didn't like is the change in the script to make HT like JX too early in college. This takes away some of the tension in their relationship I think ...


*******

This is one of the dramas that I couldn't wait to see. It's a story of an engineer (I am also one so hurray to Chinese dramas for pushing the envelop in developing strong female entrepreneurs) who aspires to start a new AI company. In the process, she makes personal sacrifices and finds true love. Yep, it's romanticized.

Is it boring with all the AI stuff and business? Yes and no ... I think the business side (well it's either high tech, military training, or fire department ... I wish China dramas can offer more variety like fashion/other industries - but I think the mentality is building the communist theme of usefulness for the country) of it is always going to be there. I mean this is 28 years old female lead .... are we expecting just pure romance? it's not realistic ... She's a career woman ... the leads work together to develop into a believable couple through resolving personal and career conflicts. It's not all about going to movie/dinner dates... The conflict is going to involve career choices - his and hers!

I am a fan of TSY ... she's in her best element here. Her acting, looks, and styling are just perfect. However, it doesn't mean that I will watch her drama if it's not good (I watch for content so I will drop the drama if it's not entertaining). I don't watch some of her dramas because of the male leads or the story. But this one seems solid so far.

I have read the book many times so I was really waiting for this story to be dramatized with a solid actress. I think she's just perfect for the role. Her looks is natural for the role. When she reacts to being harassed, it feels honest and natural.

Surprisingly, XK is also good here. She and XK have chemistry. I haven't enjoyed XK's drama since Story of Yanxi Palace. I feel he fits this role.

As expected (well the rewrite is a little predictable), she didn't reply to his text because SHE DIDN"T get it ... what else? Her character is straight forward and kind (in fact he likes her because she's a nice person), she would have replied to him if she had received the text (duh!). Anyways, people who have read the story and understand her personality can guess what happened.

CONTEXT:
BOOK: they met through the bike accident, he liked her because she's so honest and nice, he helps finance her startup
DRAMA: they met in college, won an AI contest together (that means he's only just a little older than her - this makes more sense and more fun to watch because in the story he's too mature for her), he texted to ask her to be his girlfriend, she didn't reply because she changed her phone number ... anyways, all these changes make the story more interesting because it allows XK to have more screen time and explains his feelings for her. Also, most dramas always have this past interaction so it's easier for viewers to accept the attraction between the couple.

The rewrite is wonderful because it includes more screen time for XK and other characters. I feel that the book was a little lopsided on the female lead. In this case, they create opportunities for the leads to meet each other.


COMMENTs on the Episodes
ep 1-3: very well done- established her dissatisfaction with her current job and relationship with Han Ting.
ep4: draggy because of flashbacks to the same old speech! And lady who convinced her to join the startup to make 3d printing. BF Shao Yi Chen chip in the first investment. I wish they would just explain that her startup company name is a combination of Xing (her name) Chen (his name)
Another change from the novel: Wei Qiu Zi will be the bad friend who stole the boyfriend. Looks like she likes him.
ep5: startup - getting funding - they are trying to make it fun to watch the process of getting funding for a startup.
ep6-8: The past few episodes have been focused on setting up her startup ... while this is her characterization, the novel as well as the drama, could be less focused on this. I think the drama could have done more to make the scenarios less boring and contrived. This is more of the director problems.
If I have to put a rating on 4-8, I would give them 8.0 or 7.5 - this is purely on the fact that the dramatization is not smooth and natural... more like a hiccup here and there trying to rush things to compact them into nice packages.
I wish that they would just focus on 1 or 2 events and give details and real feelings to them.
ep9: breakup went so fast ... and the use of flashbacks again. The scene at the bar has been changed from going with girl friends to just going alone. HT took her home ... this is all new in the drama.
Both HT and YC are good guys ... that's why she never really got angry with YC ... she even gave him the invested money and profit later on. She can see that the personalities/goals are different.
HT, from the novel and also drama, is a busy man. He doesn't have time do trivial stuff ... He runs an empire. So the mentality will be different from the YC, who does have free time to go dating, watch movies, and cooks.
In fact, HT specifically tells JX that he doesn't have time to cook with her all the time. Once in a while is ok.
It just works out better for her as she is also busy with her career and they are in the same field.

*********Ep14 - moving into the same building *****
I've been waiting for Ep14, which marks the beginning of a new development in this drama. The main leads will have more screen time together as we watch their relationship unfolds. It's finally a transition to their romantic story ... she's now beginning to be aware of him as a man.
I think the drama makes a good call to enhance the story with minor characters like Lili and others to add depth and authenticity to the story. From the way the story is told, I think Lili will get together with Su Zhi Zhou.
One thing I don't like in the drama is that they have made HT too typical and familiar: loss of parents (in the novel they are alive), falling for the JX from school, etc ... The mysterious aura of him from the novel is missing.

***** this trailer shows a preview of the relationships of all the characters *****
A lot of people asked who will eventually be the man for Lili so I am going add a hint from the trailer here:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VMyFSyNt0Oo
My money is on the honest and simple guy, JX's coworker, not HT's friend.
Can't wait for Ao Rui Peng - Qin Li to show up too ... looks like he will propose!


Unfortunately, for people who like to see the main leads together more, it hasn't been happening enough during the past 17 episodes (I think that could have contributed to the lower rating ... some are dropping the drama due to this). To have a bigger high quality cast, the script has been developing minor characters.

Hopefully, the romance will heat up soon ... looks like they are changing the novel again during 18-9.
But keep in mind, C drama is not like K drama. It's 40 episodes, not 16. And the cast is bigger. To keep them around, they need to be in the drama even though they weren't in the novel.

If you just want to see only the main leads all the time ... this drama is not it. As I said, I skipped a lot during the first part of the novel which deals a lot with her business and old life.
But I am hoping that the direction will change soon ... 21 is when probably, you will see some hope of them being together more.

*********Ep20-21 - business trip to Germany*****
I highlighted this episode because it's one of the major milestone in the main leads' relationships. In the novel, he knew at this point that he likes her and wants a relationship with her. He told ZD that he is committed and will pay her off for her help.
Actually, the filming location is in China's German town, Qingdao
20 was the best so far - just like the moments in the novel. They spent time together in Germany. I have to rewatch this again to see why I don't feel the magic of that time in Germany ... but I am missing that feeling in the book. There should be a lot of tension and anticipation of that unexpected change in HT's attitude towards her. I guess the drama changed the fact that HT was more reserved in his feelings. So it was her joyous and beautiful personality that influenced his ...


Ok ... up to this point, I am disappointed with the script. It's trying to be everything and added a lot of things that I am not interested. In eps 21, the leads are only together for a few minutes...
I am lowering my rating, not because of the actors, but because the story is not too focused. Too many side couples and stories that I am not totally invested in.
When the story is not focused on the main leads, I feel that it lessens the effect. In the novel, I feel that it's more intense. But in this drama, not so much.
I've waited long enough 21 episodes... and it's still setting the same tone.
I hope that 22 will pick up ... otherwise, the rating I give to this drama will be lower because the script is not meeting my expectation.

Up to now, I think I would give this drama a lower score 7.5 ... I hope the next 20 episodes are going to be more focused on quality and details.

*** Eps 22 - one night stand
This episode is actually the first time I feel that the emotions are correctly conveyed. I feel this is the first time to JX's emotions come through and Seven handled it well.

*** Eps 23
I figure out what it is that differentiates the JX of the drama from the novel. In the novel, HT and JX had a conversation RIGHT AFTER the one night stand. This conversation shows her personality (emotions and habits: when she's nervous, she talks more and behaves unreasonably) and his logical thinking. I wish they would include her vivacious personality more when they are together.
She's too subdue most of the time when she's with him.
I wish they include these moments instead of the uncle's mom becoming an internet celebrity ... this joke is too normal

I don't know why but I also don't like the couple song ... it doesn't have the right feel to some moments ...

**24 Finally Relationship confirmed.
This is actually what should be done ... the drama follows the script of the novel, allowing her to show some of her personality more when dealing with HT.
I don't get Cdrama ... why the females are rendered useless in the kitchen and the men are always the perfect chef?

**25 The script goes off road again
Come on ... who would be stupid enough to stand in front of a violent person and said I recorded everything inside of his home? Isn't this privacy problem????
Again inserting the friend's talk show is not relevant here ... she's not even in the same field.
And giving ZD all the shares without the context of old intimate relationship just doesn't make sense.

**26 Lili discovers her BF has a child
Lili's mystery bf had a wife who died in child birth. He has a daughter that he protective of ...

The drama still has a lot of side characters screen time ... I feel it's a permanent direction of the script writer.

** 27 on it gets better ...
more screen time for main leads.

**29 the script gets even better
I think the emotional sharing is the key. And the leads do share more ... so it feels more authentic.
The Yichen couple got married... I don't think that it makes sense for JX to attend their wedding.
Lili broke up with BF ...
Wow Chinese work place have a lot of personal relationships ...

**30 Breaking up
The script changed it to JX opening the safe to get the documents. This doesn't make sense to me. But I didn't like the way the novel's way either: https://www.hetushu.com/book/4303/3182715.html

And then the lady at the office confessed her love for Su Zhi Zhou out of no where!
**

33
The script was changed again so that HT doesn't know where JX went.
More than 1/2 of the episode was devoted to XK reminiscing and getting drunk. I wish I could see more of JX and the Ao Rui Peng (Qin Li) but no such luck. The rest of the episodes are time fillers with other people talking about things I am not interested in. This is the gripe I have about this drama. There are only 7 episodes left. Make it COUNT!
34
Just too fillers again ... The first 17 minutes - HT goes to "Germany" ... lots of communist theme about talent cultivation for the country. They meet again ...
35-40 how they get back together and how he got injured etc ... resolution of Lili's love ...

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