U-Prince The Series: The Ambitious Boss (2017)

I sincerely hope Mantou doesn't choose either of them

I wasn't planning to write a review since it's been years since I watched this, but I noticed there were only positive reviews, and I thought I’d share my perspective.
The plot, in theory, is actually quite good. Mantou is betrothed to Li Tang and in love with him, but Li Tang doesn’t reciprocate her feelings. To make matters more complicated, her parents arrange a marriage for her with Brian. Then, in a typical love triangle twist, Li Tang starts to realize that he might actually like Mantou after all. It’s a classic love triangle setup, and I have to admit, I’m a fan of love triangles — they frustrate me to no end, but that emotional messiness is what makes them so compelling. I probably would have really enjoyed this drama if it wasn’t for the fact that both potential love interests are complete jerks.
Both Li Tang and Brian treat Mantou like a prize to be won, constantly objectifying her and turning her into the center of a toxic competition rather than seeing her as a person.
Many people criticized Mantou for being stupid and dense, and yes, I can see why they’d say that. But the beauty of the story lies in Mantou's journey. She begins as someone desperate to earn love, only to realize by the end that her worth doesn’t depend on the approval of anyone — especially not two mediocre men. Her arc of self-discovery and empowerment is what ultimately makes the drama somewhat worth watching.
As for the acting, it’s decent — not the best I’ve seen, but certainly not the worst either. None of the performances really stood out to me in a remarkable way, though they were serviceable for the story being told.
I don’t think I’d rewatch this drama, mainly because Li Tang and Brian just annoy me so much. However, I did really enjoy Mantou’s character development, so if I were to watch it again, it would probably be for her storyline alone.
Overall, this drama has all the ingredients of a strong romantic setup, but it’s undermined by its frustrating male leads. Still, its message — that a woman’s value isn’t determined by others — is a redeeming and resonant takeaway.

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