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Drivel
I was absolutely shocked by how much I disliked this drama after reading other reviews here and elsewhere!I've enjoyed everything else I've seen of Zhao Lusi's work, and I do think both she and Chen Zheyuan portrayed their respective characters well, but I found the character of the FL wholly unpleasant - spoiled manipulative lazy brat anyone? - and the story itself decidedly uncomfortable.
I'm aware that the portrayed crushes of both the young and teenage FL were entirely innocent, but imo the ML could not have been unaware of the soulful stares and puppy dog eyes that were directed his way. Which makes the ML's behaviour look not so great. He should not have encouraged her in the ways that he did - in my own subjective opinion!
I tried hard to see it as a coming of age style story, but by the time FL starts university she's still painfully immature despite her frequent sulky assertions of being an adult!
When I realised that I was fast-forwarding through most of the episodes in a vain attempt to get to any point where the FL was bearable to watch I surrendered and finally dropped the show. I hope that FL did continue to grow emotionally and intellectually, but I couldn't stay the distance.
I'm glad that many people clearly love and enjoy this drama but sadly it's not for me.
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Oddly flat
While I did finish this drama I ended up f-forwarding through at least a third of it, largely because I just wasn't that invested in most of the characters.High points:
I loved the relationship development between the ML and his step-father. Loved it! Actually cried real tears when ML finally calls step-father dad.
Also very much liked the secondary relationship between the coach and FL's best friend. Given their respective romantic back-stories it progressed suitably slowly and was quite sweet.
It was very nice to have a FL who was highly competent, intelligent and with just enough character flaws to be interesting.
FL's boss's wife's story of empowerment. This was change I could believe and really enjoy! Watching her despair and lack of agency turn to quiet self-confidence was a joy.
Low points:
Redemption of the FL's boss (and to a lesser extent the boss's business rival) . I find the idea that someone who is utterly self-absorbed and quite ruthless would somehow change so dramatically to be absurd and honestly felt that the changes went so far as to be OOC. Probably my own cynicism showing but there you have it.
I didn't like the third romantic couple, both of whom also had dramatic personality changes over the course of the drama. Personal growth I'm certainly here for but once again I found the changes to be extreme, OOC and not believable.
For the rest, sadly it was kind of meh. Wu Lei was himself, a touch more animated than I've seen so far and ofc very pretty to watch. I agree with many others that there was very little chemistry between the two leads and as a result this drama distinguished itself by being the first where I f-forwarded through main couple interactions on several occasions.
Can't see myself ever re-watching this one!
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Serious miscasting
Please don't get me wrong, I love LYX, but in my opinion this was a terrible role for him. He's a beautiful ethereal dream of a man who despite his best acting efforts could not convince me that he was physically capable of the rescue feats his character performed. As the competent lawyer though? Yes please I'll sign up for more of that.Unfortunately, very few of the supporting characters were likeable or believable. All the regular tropes showed up - the envious/scheming alternate love interests, the emotionally damaged *everyone*, the sweet innocent female relative who has to be protected, the nasty potential mother-in-law... you get the picture.
In the end I skipped through a lot of the last 12 or so episodes just to see how the resolution was achieved. It was ok. But probably not worth the effort to get there. I ended up feeling rather early that if these people just talked to each other we could have ended the drama much earlier. Possibly episode 2.
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Loved this from start to finish.
This is the first c-drama I've been invested in enough to pay for the final episodes, and it was completely worth it.If you’re not into slice of life or the premise of ML deceiving FL for political gain, you probably won't get past the first relationship arc on this drama. For me, the gradual changes in the ML from implacable enemy to ardent admirer were very well done, with just enough resistance and denial on his part!
Her shift from implacable enemy to lover was the second relationship arc and again I enjoyed the slowness of it, her frustrations and justifiable anger. The 'Mr and Mrs Smith' segment in the middle was hilarious when both are out to get the other.
And the final relationship arc, their trust, togetherness, cleverness in dealing with their various enemies and troubles, well I watched and loved it all with a smile on my face.
For a change, I didn't mind either of the secondary pairings but the emperor and empress was by far the sweetest.
Things I didn't like; the Lian matriarch's obsessiveness and vindictiveness as well as the actress's scene-chewing. A badly written one-dimensional character and either poor acting or direction resulting in scenes I just wanted to get away from. And they returned to that plot point over and over again. ? Prince Sui and Consort Xian also got to overact horribly in the last couple of episodes so I suspect it's a direction issue.
The political plots got quite silly at the end and the resolution by the main couple was highly improbable, but no more so than most cdramas! We did get a lovely fight sequence with added bickering from the lead pair which was fun and amusing to see.
All in all, I didn't fast forward at any point and I will definitely be adding this to my rewatch list!
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