1This review may contain spoilers
"The Best Love Is The Kind That Awakens The Soul And Makes Us Reach For More" – The Notebook..
The Best Thing as the title suggests was truly the best in terms of acting, visuals, story pacing, romance development and chemistry.. No doubt about it.. Zhang Ling he and Xu Ruohan were obviously the heart of this drama.. Not just their characters but also them.. Their chemistry was electric and seriously it was that good.. Their relationship felt natural, built on meaningful gestures and honestly they didnt need anything grand.. Every interaction felt real.. Like watching two people genuinely fall in love.. It is truly a gem for its take on romance.. No over the top drama.. Just two people finding solace in each other.. Visually The Best Thing is a feast with the flowers, beautiful scenery and all the beauty you could ask for, including the actors..The premise might feel trope heavy but it was unique in its own way and the actors brought it to life in a way that was so natural.. I loved how he peeled Shen Xi Fan's layers.. Her indecisiveness, her blaming herself for everything that happens.. Its messy, its human, and it grabbed me right in the feels..
The Chinese medicine backdrop isnt just pretty window dressing.. I was surprised by how much it mattered.. It underscores the theme of healing, both physical and emotional..
The first 12 eps were a solid 10 for me.. But eps 12-16 were a bit irritating.. They added cliche scenes that didn’t quite fit the drama I had been enjoying until then.. Problems were bound to arise obviously.. But her indecisiveness and how it felt like she was leading him on despite knowing she shouldn’t, was not what I expected.. But whatever irritation I felt just vanished after that phase.. And honestly even when it was frustrating, ZLH made his character so good that I didn’t even care about anything else..
That being said, she totally deserved the ML.. After everything she endured.. The love she received wasn’t just a reward, it was something she had rightfully earned.. Her struggles, growth and the emotional toll she carried made her deserving of a love that was unwavering and pure.. Despite her flaws and mistakes, she never stopped trying in her own way.. In the end their love felt justified,earned rather than simply given..
“No matter what happened in the past, good or bad its part of who you are..
Accept the past, and focus on the present and the future.. ”
“In my eyes, every day you get better and more deserving of love than the last..
So from now on just focus on loving yourself.. As for the rest, leave it to me.. ”
Her friends and the rest of the supporting cast were too good not to be mentioned. However the second couple's story felt underdeveloped and lacked a strong sense of fulfillment.. I suppose that’s because the ep count was shortened.. Causing some of their scenes to be lost along the way..
The parents deserve their own spotlight.. They were truly outstanding.. Man they were really good.. Ep 25, with all the nervousness, anxiety, fear and pain felt so raw.. They were too convincing and natural.. Truly commendable performances..
The director deserves praise as well.. Each episode was beautifully executed.. They completely made up for any shortcomings the script had..
The FL’s mother having breast cancer felt like a story arc designed to give the ML closure for the pain he endured from his own mother’s death.. Back then he had to face that pain alone.. Watching helplessly as she withered away.. But now he had the chance to do for the FL’s mother what he had long wished he could do for his own.. Help her face it, fight it and bring her out of it safely.. At the same time, it was also for the FL.. To make her realize that she wasn’t alone.. No matter how bad things got, she had people who would stand by her.. Unwavering and ready to support her through anything..
" But In my heart, you are the most beautiful scenery in this world..
Xifan, Falling in love with you is the luckiest thing l have ever done..
Loving you is the best thing I have ever done.. "
Overall The Best Thing is such a lighthearted drama.. No complicated stories.. Just two people falling for each other and finding their way together.. Slowly but steadily, in a way that proves no distance is too far for them.. Its neither rushed nor dragged out.. It takes its time.. Allowing you to feel every step of their journey.. By the end you can’t help but feel happy because they made it.. And it feels truly earned.. The Best Thing isn’t just a title.. Its a promise.. There’s a reason everyone is obsessed and the drama more than justifies it..
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• 𝗡𝗲𝘃𝗲𝗿 𝗶𝗻 𝗺𝘆 𝘄𝗵𝗼𝗹𝗲 𝗹𝗶𝗳𝗲 𝗵𝗮𝘃𝗲 𝗜 𝗲𝘃𝗲𝗿 𝘀𝗲𝗲𝗻 𝘀𝗼 𝗺𝗮𝗻𝘆 𝘃𝗮𝗿𝗶𝗲𝘁𝘆 𝗼𝗳 𝗳𝗹𝗼𝘄𝗲𝗿𝘀 altogether in a drama, the appearance of those flowers on my screen were real healing element and stress relief to my busy days ✨ So thanks a lot to the crew of The Best Thing for making my days with those beautiful sceneries and cinematographies!
✅ Plus points of this drama :
- no depressing misunderstandings, we had a few but they get resolved in the cutest way
- ml being the greenest red flag, this gege with ulterior motive has used every single means to seduce our fl
- beautiful styling (loved all the outfits of fl, so big appreciation to the styling artist who was responsible for deciding and pairing outfits, absolutely loved them)
Tbh, in terms of story, it probably felt like one of those ordinary stories to me, I won't say we had anything new on radar. It was sweet, cute, beautiful, and would be relish to green flag sweet story suckers. So if you are the one who falls in this category of viewers, I would definitely be recommending this!
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This review may contain spoilers
Pretty Decent but....Bland
I was waiting for this drama to be released for so long because of the cast but after I finished watching it I can't help but say that I'm disappointed. The synopsis on MDL seems to be a bit misleading because the FL went to see the ML because of insomnia which was caused due to a traumatic breakup and not work related stress.Pros:
1. Mature Romance
2. Little to no drama
3. Supportive parents
4. Wholesome friends and relatives
5. ML is The biggest green flag
6. representation for TCM
7. Great Visuals
Cons:
1. The Boyfriend was written badly: Ok i get that he's not the ML or even an important character but his character was done dirty...rather than giving him a personality they just use him as a plot device. His motivations for breaking up with her were not explained well, his reasoning for wanting to get back together are also not explained well and overall his character seemed unnecessary.
2. The FL's feelings for ML: In the beginning she is fresh out of a toxic relationship that had a huge impact on her that she was literally losing sleep over what he said to her.....from the snippets we see we can also see that he used to shatter her self esteem and degrade her....Now considering that i thought the Fl should have taken some time alone to get to know herself more and to enjoy being herself, but all we get to see is the "typical" don't worry, another man will fix your broken heart!
Another reason why I strongly wanted her to take time off from men is because she obviously hasn't had anytime to explore her own identity. She got into the relationship with her first bf when she was in college and as we know he used to impose his ideals on her and she became submissive to his demands...soon after she got out of that toxic relationship she gets into another relationship before getting to know herself more (And no i don't consider her treatment time a real break because she was being actively pursued by ML and she was sick)....Obviously when she gets into a relationship (no matter how good her partner is) she definitely will lose her ability to fully love herself because she's busy loving someone else.
So as a conclusion I think she was not ready for the relationship
3. The background cast was - unimpressive? : The supporting cast felt like a bunch of extras that randomly showed up without any real purpose...the FL's coworker's relationship was imo boring and i skipped most of it, the Ml's coworkers were equally boring and the 2FL was also badly written
4. The actual story is very basic, i think its a trend to give a plot that is bland and add a really popular cast to it to make it better...although some scenes were really good, the drama as a whole was unimpressive...The incorporation of TCM was intriguing though i will admit
5. The chemistry was not chemistrying: Although I could see how attracted he was to her I just didn't feel the same spark that i felt when I saw them with other co-stars (zhang linghe with bailu and esther yu and Xu ruohan with jerry yan), I felt like I was unimpressed mainly because FL's attraction for him was not as convincing
6. lastly something I don't understand in most dramas like these is what made them fall for each other....He fell for her at first sight but why exactly did she fall for him? are we sure she isn't confusing her appreciation towards him for curing her, her vulnerability to be loved by someone after her previous relationship (maybe she felt wanted because he loves her and this made her dependent on him after what her ex said about no one other than him being able to tolerate her)
Conclusion: Overall it was pretty decent to watch...don't think its worth rewatching though but I'm definitely more intrigued by TCM than I was before I started this drama
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Spring vibes and uncomplicated love in full bloom!
This drama is one of those feel-good, easy watches that you turn to when you just want to unwind, not necessarily for a gripping plot, but for the overall vibe. The story itself is very simple, but that’s part of its appeal. There’s nothing deeply profound about it but somehow, it manages to lift your spirits with its lighthearted energy. At its core, it tells a familiar love story, but it does so with such tenderness and warmth that it became a comforting escape for me.It’s about self-discovery, the importance of learning to love yourself before we can fully embrace someone else.
What really stood out to me was how much I ended up enjoying both the male and the female lead. They weren’t perfect and they had their awkward, cringe-y moments, but that just made them feel real and relatable. Their chemistry was undeniable and despite their flaws, they were a very charming pair.
I really appreciated how their relationship avoided the typical misunderstanding trope that often drags down. The issues they faced were minimal and resolved in a natural, unhurried way, without unnecessary drama or over-the-top delays. This made their journey feel more realistic,actually focusing on genuine growth and understanding rather than dragging out tension.
The cinematography was nothing but beautiful! All the shots with spring vibe , the costumes , everything was done well and complimented the theme of the drama so well.
I also appreciated the small details, like the metaphors using herb names as the episode titles at the beginning of episodes. It’s a subtle touch, but it made a big difference in setting the tone for each episode. I found it really clever how those names fit the mood of the story, adding an extra layer of meaning.
Zhang Ling He and Xu Ruo Han in my humble opinion aced their roles. ZLH portrayed his character with a perfect balance of charm and vulnerability, while XRH's performance was full of subtle emotional depth, making her character easy to connect with. I didn’t notice any inconsistencies in their acting—each moment felt genuine and natural.
Also FL's parents here were nice and supportive, which I thought was a refreshing change from the typical unsupportive parents in the dramaland.
The only thing that kind of annoyed me was the FL's friend giving unsolicited and stupid advice here and there. It felt extra. Also, I couldn’t vibe with the second couple 's romance at all but thankfully, it wasn’t overdone and I’m glad the screen time dedicated to it was kept to a minimum. The main plot stayed on track and that’s what mattered most.
Overall, this was a refreshing watch, perfect for those looking for a light, feel-good experience. I would definitely recommend it if you are looking for a sweet, uncomplicated romcom with little to no drama.
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This review may contain spoilers
Calming mature couple
I've watched 6 episodes and I'm extremely invested in this drama. I'm going to stop watching the drama until all the episodes are released and then binge watch all the episodes. I think my emotions would end up in shambles if this has a sad ending, even though it doesn't seem like it, I'm gonna wait for the show to end before resuming. The characters are very mature, they talk about their own circumstances instead of wait for them to randomly pop up and create drama. I think that is the aspect that I love the most about this drama.EDIT: I complete watching the drama very heartwarming the only weird part I found about this drama is that in episode 27 and episode 28 they show only the ML missing the FL because she was abroad and the FL even pushes the date of returning back by 2 months just because she got an internship which she tell the ML about only after get the internship. You see how much the ML misses the FL but you never get any scenes about the FL missing the ML. It was quiet weird to see that for me.
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BEST START TO 2025
I don't even have a reason to give it rating less than 10!!!Everything is amazing about this drama, the acting, the casting, the scenes and the CINEMATOGRAPHY, OH MY 🙇🏻♀️♥️
The leads have top notch chemistry I swear, no regrets watching this drama, it's perfect 😭😭♥️♥️
You just can't resist watching it.
Zhang Linghe is so so soooooo freaking handsome 😭😭😭😭😭
The story is beautiful ❤️
Apart from the lead actors, we have Wang Youjun, Fang Lie!!!! 🥹🥹🥹🥹♥️♥️♥️
I was very happy to see that his voice wasn't dubbed and he did a great job too!!
In short- THIS DRAMA IS WORTH IT!!!!!!!!!!!!!! 🙇🏻♀️😭♥️
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The best thing is really the best drama on 2025
This is the first modern Chinese drama that I watch after so long and I'm hooked. Each episode makes u salting, giggling, screaming and smiling like crazy 🤣 The doctor is so naughty, wild and handsome too.. The chemistry is chemistrying 🤭 perfect cast & visuals, beautiful shot, and best ost too.. The title really portray this drama which is the best thing (drama) that I've ever watch for the early of 2025. Everything here is 'the best' Congratulations to all team 👏🎊On the last episode, it was so beautiful.. I'm crying happily and they left a message to love ourself first, then we will get the love that we deserve 🥹
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This review may contain spoilers
While I generally love the uneventful fluff genre, the second half of this drama is just a bit too much on the boring side for me. Sure the leads had amazing chemistry & facial expressions, so those two things by themselves are almost enough to carry the show.. Let's be real though, the leads are together for like 10 episodes & in that time barely anything happens in Hallmark TV style. The problem is not that there are no complications such as love triangles, or villainous enemies or whatever else, it's just that there is barely any comedy, bickering or even slice of life with depth in here. Someone in the comment section compared this to `Love Me, Love My Voice`, while the official dating part is similarly smooth sailing in both, that show is way more interesting across the board, it's not even close, there is just a lot of artistry and even excitement there. There are so many cdramas that are similarly complication free, but are ten times better than this one.Beyond that TBT has 3-4 pretty bad episodes around half way in, epi14 to 18-ish. There is a noble reason breakup that is technically not a breakup, but the leads were dating in everything but definition & then FL's ex came back kicked up a huge fuss for no reason for another 90 minutes.
In past MDL reviews I have written several rants about the 50 billion scam industry, Big Eastern Pharma advertising itself in dramas. This one here is a pretty good attempt at whitewashing that. The focus on acupuncture alleviating chemo pains is a good choice, since there is a lot of scientific evidence of that actually working & being useful. Though there is a lot of crap in this show, make no mistake. Like doing Moxibustion through clothes to fight period cramps and endless other examples in almost every episode. Nonetheless I have to admit that compared to previous similar dramas the representation of eastern medicine is by far the least dumb here. (still plenty dumb, since it's a pretty hard sell)
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Too many episodes, not enough story…
I know I’m probably in the minority with my rating but this drama was good but not amazing to me. The plot was a basic setup, very similar to some other modern dramas but managed to keep me until the end.What I liked:
The TCM profession was interesting and I would have liked to see more about it in the show. I know the focus was on romance so it only skimmed the surface of the profession. I also enjoyed the story between Shen Xifan and her ex. It definitely pulled on my heart strings when it reached the conclusion because it’s very relatable. Although there were some moments where I felt the directors trying to push the drama to be for a younger audience (i.e. them tiptoeing around Shen Xifan’s need to spend the night), overall, the drama did offer a more mature view on relationships and I appreciated that especially since most of the cast is late 20s/early 30s. I like when dramas provide a more realistic take on adult relationships in this age range.
What I didn’t like:
This show shouldn’t have been no more than about 16 episodes. There wasn’t much story to tell especially after the main couple got together. There was a ton of uneventful dialogue and basically we were just watching a couple date, sending random text messages about nothing, having conversations about who fell in love first and late night dinners. There just wasn’t a story, it was just a series of random events between two people. I wish I would have but I didn’t find that very entertaining because it dragged on for so many episodes. One thing that bothered me was the overuse of slow-mos. There were so many slow motion scenes throughout this drama when watching the main couple date or stare at each other. To me, it just dragged the already uneventful scenes even more. The supporting cast also didn’t add much value to the story. They attempted to give us a little bit of them here and there but most of the interactions with the main couple was just uneventful and they didn’t flesh those characters out at all. The final thing I will say is the character setup between Shen Xifan and He Suye was cliche. Follows the same formula as a lot of other modern dramas. Female Lead is in a long-term relationship when they meet and Male Lead is single but falls first. Would have been nice if maybe the roles were reversed or both were in relationships or single. I wish these dramas would give us something different.
Overall, if you’re just watching because you are fans of the actors, then you’ll enjoy this along with most of the ratings here. Judge it for yourself.
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This show is absolutely heartwarming!
If you're looking for a drama full of angst, heartbreak, and intense twists, this might not be for you. But if you want something warm, wholesome, and full of heart, you're in for a treat!With so many shows that leave us feeling drained, this one is like a breath of fresh air. It’s the kind of drama that just makes you feel good—light, healing, and comforting. The ML and FL actually talk things out, apologize when needed, and support each other in the sweetest way. Their moments together are adorable, and the story just feels so natural and real.
No frustrating misunderstandings, no over-the-top drama—just a beautiful, healthy relationship and characters who react in a way that actually makes sense. It’s the kind of show that wraps you in warmth and reminds you of all the good in love and life.
If you need something to brighten your day, even just a little, this drama will do just that. It’s cozy, heartwarming, and will leave you smiling long after the episode ends. 💕✨
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I have no issue with pure fluff dramas, but they have no issue being this long.
I think this show is actually kind of like Chinese medicine - you won’t get spectacular results, but it will sooth your mind and heart. But it also somehow left a bitter aftertaste in my mouth.I do think this is a rather nicely delivered and healthy romance and great chemistry. The progression of feelings between Su Ye and Xi Fan had such the right pace. I enjoyed Xi Fan’s friends. Loved her family. Even though I am not convinced with the practice of traditional Chinese medicine, I think they did an amazing job with balancing it with western medicine - showing the pros and cons of both in the larger picture (and not claiming TCM can cure cancer or something). And if the drama was truly just them falling in love and some background progression at work, with less characters, that would in fact be a great drama for me.
Sadly, I think my biggest issue was the fact it was not really a pure fluff feel-good type of a show. Both leads had to deal with truly serious issues that were negatively impacting their lives, but these issues were introduced, not developed and then had a quick closure. So I could neither just chill watching the drama, nor I could get in depth about the themes they were introducing. Because they never truly explored these conflicts and issues and just glossed over them, the whole show just felt flat.
Then we have the difference in quality of writing between Su Ye and Xi Fan. One was a layered character with real flaws, real struggles and nice development (Xi Fan), one was stagnant with no versatility, too perfect to exist (Su Ye). By all means he felt like a supporting character for Xi Fan’s story. And while I was also in love with him at first, at some point I wanted to see a little bit more.
The acting was great. I wouldn’t say I was especially amazed by any of the performances (it’s not the best of the year type of situation), but they for sure satisfied me. The chemistry between Zhang Ling He and Xu Ruo Han was refreshingly natural.
Production wise, I for sure loved the little addition of herbs description at the beginning of each episode - took screenshots of every one of them. I do think they overdone the slow motion candy sweet romance styling for some scenes though.
Overall, I know many people loved it, so did I at first. But the drama lost me somewhere in the middle and I never got back on the hype train.
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Cute and Fluffy romance with great kisses and a super green flag ML - Perfect stress reliever
Subjective Gut Rating: 8.25Writing this review after watching the Easter Egg and BTS clips of Zhang Ling He might have affected the rating. LOL. He’s quite adorable and personable in all those clips and he puts a big smile on my face. But for real, he did a really good job here. I am looking for a drama to relieve stress, and this is the perfect drama at the moment, though “The Best Thing” is not a perfect drama objectively.
What I Like:
1. Zhang Ling He - After his recent success in all the non-modern drama, it’s so refreshing to see him in “The Best Thing”. He’s so well-casted here. He has a young face, and is playing the role of Dr. He, who is serious at work but innocent in love. This is perfect for Zhang Ling He. He wears a mask during many of his scenes, yet you can tell from his eyes what he wants to convey. His eyes can smile! It’s hard to not fall in love with his character and him.
2. Romance - This is the sweet, adorable, flirty and fluffy romance that I need at the moment. The leads have a lot of chemistry and their scenes together are fun and flirty. Who knew you could flirt with Traditional Chinese medicine and names of herbs. There’s no angst and they understand each other so well. Su Ye (ML) always has Xi Fan (FL)’s best interest. He is patient and supportive, and gives her time to make her decisions, and waits for her to be ready to share. But I also like that Xi Fan doesn’t hesitate to take the initiative, though she’s not the first to fall in love and to court. There are many ‘first’ moments in the drama that she is the one that took the first step.
3. Kisses - We know Zhang Ling He and Xu Ruo Han are great kissers from other dramas, so it’s a pleasure to see them here. There is an abundance of good kisses and they all happen naturally. It doesn’t feel like they’re kissing for fan service, but really kiss when it’s the right moment.
4. Traditional Chinese Medicine - For some, this might be too much. But I love learning about TCM and its usage throughout the drama. I also like how ML tries to use the names of the medicine to express his romantic feelings, and flirt with FL. Since I am reading Chinese subtitles, I am not sure if other subtitles could convey the same message or if it's all lost in translation.
5. Cinematography, Flowers, Wedding - There are many pretty scenes in this drama and I’ve seen many screenshots that many MDLers posted. There are beautiful flowers in many scenes for different reasons and conveying different messages. The wedding takes place at a gorgeous location and beautifully decorated with flowers as well. This wedding also makes me smile and grin. I feel truly happy to see the leads getting married.
What I have Mixed Feelings and Dislike:
1. Drama Length - This drama could be shortened to 24 episodes instead of 28. There’s really not a whole lot going on once the leads got together. I think we can forget the mother’s arc at the end and just focus on FL’s future plans.
2. Music + Slow motion- The songs are lovely (except I don’t quite like the English ones). However, they are played ALL the time. I don’t need a song when a romantic moment happens. I don’t need a song when the leads are looking at each other. I don’t need a song when I am trying to listen to the dialogs. On top of the repetitive music, I also don’t need every single romantic moment to be in slow motion to tell me this is a romantic moment.
3. Red lips - Zhang Ling He has such pale skin and they put red lipstick on him. HIs lips are as red, if not redder, than Xu Ruo Han’s lips. I looked at his handsome face and I got distracted by his lips and not in a good way.
4. Too Homey? - Aside from walking, cooking, eating and hanging out, the leads really didn’t do much for fun. It works for ML’s personality, but maybe a little boring for the viewers.
5. Unprofessional? - OK, this is a romance drama and courting has to be done during those medical appointments. But when you think about it, it’s a little unethical and unprofessional, right?
Lastly, I would recommend "The Best Thing" if you:
- Are looking for a cute and fluffy romance with a super green flag ML (who can be too perfect for you).
- Are looking to relieve stress and not think too much about anything.
- Are a fan of Zhang Ling He and Xu Ruo Han
- Are interested in learning about Chinese Traditional medicine
I am all of the above, therefore I am rating this an 8,25 (rounding up to 8.5 because of Zhang Ling He)
Completed: 3/14/2025 - Review #554
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