This review may contain spoilers
Healing Through Patience & Love is Truly the Best Thing
I've wanted to see ZLH in a modern drama for a while now and though he had those before, only after he shot to stardom after his roles in MJTY and KP, did more audiences see him as a versatile actor. This drama was a perfect offset of all of his previous roles because it was calming, relaxing, while showing how love grows naturally. Healing through patience & love was truly the best thing.Pros: This was such a lovely and fun in a subtle way series. I loved how every episode started with a particular TCM ingredient and it was explained how it worked and then it was incorporated into that episode for better or for worse. Both leads had their fair share of pain to go through and heal from and they found those ingredients if you will in each other. The ML or HSY was definitely the more mature and wise of the two. FL or SXF met him in the first episode just as she was going through a rough patch with her asswipe soon to be (like in the next episode) ex boyfriend. Due to the fact that all of the stress from that, work, etc, caused her insomnia, she was recommended to the neighborhood TCM doctor and that's how they met. Fate or the universe couldn't be more perfectly aligned for that meeting. For him it was like at first sight and this was he fell first and hard and it took her a much longer time to realize her feelings.
Let's not forget their chemistry! Well we all know ZLH can get it done; even XRH said that he is an eye-showing actor; so he shows you how he feels with his eyes before he says the words. But their kisses and even hugs were all that and then some! It got warm in my room quick lol! I also loved that she initiated a lot of their make out sessions and didn't just wait to be kissed. That was a lot more natural than the woman just standing there as the man goes in.
Their lives and romance were immediately intertwined because they also happened to live in the same neighborhood. He was the gentle healing soul that always told her to take her time and learn to love herself while he took care of the rest. He was literally the perfect man. You can call this a slow burn because it took her quite some time and funnily enough a push from her aggressive, arrogant ex to get her to understand what her heart and soul had known for a long time; that the right person was in front of her and next to her the entire time.
Though there was a third wheel in here, she was after the ML and once he found out what her thoughts were, he cut the cord quick. He wanted to be with one woman only. This was a mature romance with great characters. Not a single one took up space or needed to be tossed off a cliff. There was comedy especially the references to certain characters and series the actors actually played in was a great way to both promote those series and give it a real world feel. The leads way of expressing love was through flowers, sachets, nature, and cooking not always words and that was for the most part a great and symbolic thing.
The way they helped each other with things as well as their friends did; her bestie cleared the confusion of why XF rejected SY's confession in the first place; that it was out of fear not that she didn't care. Meanwhile, XF helped reconcile SY with his father towards the end after many years of estrangement. SY helped heal XF's existential identity crisis post breakup and made her stronger in her convictions not just as she even pointed out "an obedient dog that would follow your every command." I loved the united front that the parents and SY showed against the ex as he was kicked out of their house and also at the hotel, where even the GM stood up to him along with her two best friends and some other hotel staff.
All of the supporting characters were great! XY and LYS who were friends for 10 years and loved each other just as long but only got together after XF's constant pushing and prodding. XF's parents were funny and so great and supportive. All dramas should have parents like them. SY's grandfather was just awesome and comedic in a good way; when the families blended it was a very strong unit. SY's interns especially LJ are funny as well as the dude that's always single and his patients. You can see who all matters to them from who's invited to their wedding in the last episode. And the wedding was lovely especially the choreographed dance of the leads in the heart made out of flowers.
OSTs, extra info on TCM, sets though modern, we're all lovely and fit. For him the symbol of love was that keychain ring she gave him to ward off matchmakers and for her it was the satchet.
Cons: Though very few I did have some issues. For starters, the FL had this annoying tendency to go all deer in headlights when she was around him and couldn't say a single declarative sentence and that got kind of annoying. Because when she had to ask him questions about TCM or things she was interested in or talk to her friends or at work, she could just babble forever. But simple conversations were hard won. And at 27, you should be able to speak like an adult all the time. Glad that once she realized her feelings and they got together, she "grew up" so to speak.
The old people clothing, I don't understand. Both leads wore clothes that were suitable for their parents and grandparents and you could see them wear that. I don't know why in modern dramas they do this to young adults making them look so elderly with the wardrobe. Only when at work and they had to wear a uniform or a suit did they dress their age.
Felt the ending was a bit rushed with her mom's illness and her again having thoughts of studying abroad. Also the fact that at the wedding SY said this whole monologue of things and XF said maybe a sentence or two felt uneven. They could have placed the illness somewhere else and then made her studying abroad, returning and having their wedding so much smoother. That's it.
Would I recommend it? I totally would. This was a breath of fresh air and homey and so nice like a warm hug at the end of a long day. A simple romance with symbolism, meaning, and a bit of humor. Definitely the best thing.
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a calm mature romance drama
this drama has a comforting storyline,it is very healing and cutee to watch,the male and the female lead are bot excellent,the chemistry is extraordinary,it has a ML who is a tcm doctor and a female lead who is a manager,her ex was kinda annoying,but i love her parents who was very supportive for her reltionship with dr.he,her friends also the second couple are so cutee ,if u are looking for a nice modern romance, this will be good choice for you.Was this review helpful to you?
A Calm and Beautiful Drama with Flaws
I'm currently watching episode 20. This drama is calm and relaxing, with a Zen atmosphere surrounded by traditional medicine.The main idea of the drama: taking care of yourself—your heart, your mind, your nutrition, and living at a slow pace… The rest, concerning the psychology of the characters and their actions, doesn’t feel complete or deep.
The drama is perfect for Lin He’s fans, who can enjoy his radiant smile and his prince-like image, as he takes care of his beloved with great patience and ultimately wins her over—let’s be honest—with quite a bit of determination (he’s not as naive as he might seem, our prince :)).
The female lead doesn’t have any particularly outstanding traits in her character. Sometimes, I wonder—what exactly attracts the doctor to her? I don’t understand or relate to her actions, even though the entire series revolves around her character. I don’t see any real drama in her life, as they try to portray. I just can’t believe in this "drama." She has a loving and supportive family, perfect friends, and a job she enjoys. I also don’t see much need for her to study abroad if it’s just for prestige ?
She is very beautiful and visually appealing as a couple with Lin He.
Her ex is portrayed in a very one-dimensional way to convince us that he is the villain of the story. As a character, he lacks depth and influences the plot in a childish way.
The second couple is very pleasant and charming, although at times, I feel like the female friend is too intrusive in her role. She solves all problems and takes the initiative without consulting her…
The supporting roles, in my opinion, are ok.
As for Lin He, there’s nothing to criticize—he does his job wonderfully, although his world is entirely confined to medicine. We never hear him talk about anything other than his herbs or treatments (this is a weakness in character writing: for me, he comes across as a very sweet but somewhat dull person). We’ll see later…
The script is based on endless recipes and plant names… without any remarkable dialogues (except for one or two amusing lines from Lin He). It contains a lot of text messages, which create a static and non-artistic rhythm.
For me, the series ended at episode 18. What are they going to show that’s interesting after that? If it’s not 8 episodes of feel good vibes but flat and linear.
This drama is mainly aimed at Lin He’s fans (to be honest, he is the only reason I’m still watching).
The music is pleasant and atmospheric, using piano, cello, and other instruments, but it lacks memorable themes or originality—it’s a copy that works.
The cinematography is visually appealing: colors, camera angles, looks…
In general, I’ve pointed out both the positives and negatives of this drama. It all depends on your personal perception!
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This review may contain spoilers
This should have been called The Bland Thing instead of The Best Thing. I don't watch dramas to see people living happy, comfortable lives doing normal things. The acting was generally good (although whoever thought it was a good idea to put Zhang Ling He on a skateboard made a big mistake because he did NOT look comfortable skateboarding). Plus I did learn a lot about traditional Chinese medicine, so there's that.
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Slow burn romance with hot doctor ?
This drama?? Unexpectedly stole my heart. The female lead is strong, guarded, and healing in her own quiet ways. And the male lead?? A literal walking green flag disguised as a charming fox. Playful but patient, witty but never pushy—he waits, he understands, and he sees her in ways no one else does.The chemistry? A slow burn that actually burns. The banter? Sharp. The moments of vulnerability? Gut-wrenchingly sweet.
It’s not just about romance—it’s about timing, growth, and finding someone who doesn’t rush your healing, but holds space for it.
The Best Thing didn’t come here to play. It came to wreck me gently.
10/10 would rewatch just to smile like a fool again.
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Ray of hope for love, Healing drama
This drama is really amazing.It's a ray of hope for people who have lost their faith in love. It will make you want to fall in love again with positivity. Such a soothing portrayal.
It gives you such immense happiness, it feels like something is healing inside you.
If you are into happy fluffy dramas just go for it.
I never thought I will get to see such a healing and happy drama after Love Me, Love My Voice but here we are 😊😊😊
The way FL treated him with such delicacy and care, it was just as if a beautiful Prince treatment .
The most beautiful wedding scene I have seen in a Chinese drama with so many people and such a great setup with flowers and amazing beautiful costumes. Just Perfect!!!
The Best Thing I Ever Did was to start watching this without having any clue of what this is about.
I feel this drama found me because I always hope I get to see good soothing drama 😍😍
Also loved the Cinematography and songs are 10/10.
Definitely added them to my playlist 💜💜
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Soft, Sweet & Stunning – A Cozy Romance You’ll Adore
This drama?? PURE FLUFFY GOODNESS!! It’s the kind of drama where you can just sit back, relax, and enjoy—no unnecessary stress, They have their fair share of misunderstandings, but the fun kind—the ones that make you laugh instead of stress out, no over-the-top drama… just good vibes all around.I loved the FL’s family dynamics! It felt so warm and real, The way they support each other (and the occasional chaos that comes with it) made everything even more enjoyable.
And the leads?? Absolutely adorable! Their interactions were cute, fluffy, sometimes awkward, and that little jealousy moment?? LOVED IT. Everything about their journey felt so real and relatable, like something you could actually see happening in real life. Just two people gradually falling for each other in a way that actually makes sense.
Also, ML??A complete GREEN FLAG and A real fox!! Hehee.. The "green tea boy" nickname suits him way too well! He knew exactly what he was doing, and I was living for it. Meanwhile, the FL completely nailed her role—she brought so much charm and authenticity to her character, making her feel super refreshing to watch. And together? Their chemistry was on point! Face card, acting —everything was a 10/10 for me!
Visually, this drama is STUNNING!!. The cinematography, colors, contrast, and frames—everything was just sooo beautiful, an actual treat for the eyes! Plus, the OST? Chef’s kiss.
Oh, and extra points for how well they incorporated TCM! The way they used herb names for the episode titles?? Lowkey genius! Little details like that just make the drama feel even more special.
Overall, if you’re looking for something lighthearted, fun, and full of heart, The Best Thing is definitely worth watching!
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This review may contain spoilers
I GET COMFORTED WHEN I WATCH THIS SHOW, may you find that comfort too
There is something comforting about this show that I cant quiet put my hands on, the feel, the cinematography, the music, the cast. Everything comes together to show you what a very soft story about broken love and healing to meeting someone who tells you that you actually do deserved to be loved.He Suye is a very soft man, and i don't mean that as an insult, that is an extremely positive compliment. The way he quietly shows care and puts in effort. he shows that loving someone means giving them a place where they can have peace of mind. He creates a safe space for her, nurtures her.
Shen Xi-fan is a woman that is healing, judging her at this point would be redundant because often times the sad version of us isn't us at all, but as far as I have seen her she is resilient and scared. Scared but not relenting. I appreciate the kind of personality she has.
Her parents Mr. and Mrs Shen are good people, just like any Asian parent. I love the character of He Suye's grandpa, a very enigmatic old man, wise and fun loving but not too assertive. I love how in this show the adults act like adults and we see the different shades of maturity and wisdom they show.
overall a very very good show.
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Cute but kinda boring
This was okay, but I just wish there was more that happened. There wasn't anything in this besides the main couple's story and while they were cute together and I thought the actors had chemistry, there just wasn't enough to make 28 episodes of just them entertaining. After they got together, I was honestly just bored. There were some minor side storylines, but none of them were interesting enough and when the focus is on the leads to this extent, you're not really that invested in side characters and their drama. At least, that's how I felt.Anyway, cute couple and that's about it.
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The Best Thing… to Fall Asleep To
Personally, I found this drama pretty boring. It lacks substance and doesn’t really have anything meaningful to say.The interactions aren’t particularly engaging, which makes the whole thing feel quite monotonous. I was honestly bored most of the time, and the main couple didn’t do much for me either. On top of that, the pacing is way too slow.
I don’t know, but it genuinely felt like they were eating all the time. And about the ML everyone calls him a “green flag,” but I didn’t really see it that way. He came across as quite calculated and overly meticulous at times, especially when he’d pretend to be drunk just to get closer to her or make her approach him.
The ironic part is that the fl is trying to cure her insomnia, while the drama itself basically worked as a sleeping pill for me.
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The Best Thing' is actually one of the The Best Things I've ever watched
This drama is a modern Chinese drama that made me fall in love with it. 10000/100 😍The storyline is beautiful and suspenseful, the cinematography is amazing, and of course Zhang Linghe and Xu Rou Han acting made viewers feel their journey of falling in love, learning about healthy relationships, and don’t forget the traditional recipes that are important for health 🤣. Overall, Zhang Linghe and Xu Rouhan's chemistry is very natural and undeniable. I hope they will reunite in a modern drama in the future.🥰
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Fluffy, healing, romantic. Zhang Linghe is the star of the show.
This drama is about the female lead who goes to a TCM (traditional chinese medicine) doctor (the male lead), in order to cure her insomnia. The story follows their daily lives and love story. The big focus of the drama is the female lead’s job and insomnia (due to emotional stress from her ex-boyfriend). We also get a glimpse of the male lead’s job and his strained relationship with his dad (more of a side plot).POSITIVE:
- Fluffy, cozy, romantic and healing.
- Zhang Linghe looked sexy as always. I loved the calm, secure and protective presence his character gave off here.
- Dreamy cinematography. Vibrant colours and many stunning flower landscape shots.
- Sweet and sexy kiss scenes.
- No break up, no misunderstandings, no drama. This is a very stress-free show.
- Nice OST.
- Traditional chinese medicine highlights that got me interested in the topic.
- Cute ending that puts a smile on your face.
NEGATIVE:
- The second half was boring at times, especially as the leads got together. Somehow I needed more skinship/romance as a couple.
- Mother’s sickness. I hated the sickness plotline so much, it almost ruined the drama for me. I didn’t like the resolution either. I could do without these two episodes.
- Lackluster ending. Ok, the wedding was super cute and all but at the same time I felt bored and kept thinking “when is it going to end”. The last two episodes were nice montages but I expected actual dialogue with you know, heartwarming words and all.
OVERALL:
This is the perfect drama to watch if you have a stressful life and need something sweet and uncomplicated to relax your mind with. It’s cute, it’s cozy, it’s romantic. If you love Zhang Linghe, it's definitely a must watch especially as this is his best modern drama so far. If you don’t know the male actor, well… you will LOVE HIM. He is the perfect boyfriend here, charming, calm, sexy, caring. Basically every girl’s dream. And the drama is just that. Dreamy. You won’t find mindblowing dialogue or deep plot. But if you want sweet vibes, with a healthy relationship and beautiful spring settings, watch this.
FAVOURITE QUOTE:
Loving you is the best thing I've ever done! (ep 28 / male lead)
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