Romance in the Rain (2001)

This series was soooo good. I watched it on YouTube. Not the greatest quality but the story will pull you in. I was sad, happy, frustrated, mad and so much more. Family drama, wicked relative, revenge, action, redemption, love, chemistry. It has it all. I loved the character development. Over time you are able to see the characters mature and grow. Just great. Definitely a must watch and most likely a rewatch.
I didn’t know what to expect and in truth the beginning episodes will throw you off a bit but if you can get through the first two episodes you will not stop watching.

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I love this Chinese series. In fact, this was the first Chinese drama that I watched, the first series that I bought in CD (yeah, that's almost 20 years ago), and the only series that I'd rewatch everytime it's shown on TV. I can say my Mandarin improved from watching this so many times.

From a simple love story of Yi Ping and Shu Huan, the plot brought us to a family drama, friendship, a love triangle, war, redemption and ultimately back to love. The songs by Vicky Zhao were classic. Acting was also excellent. Even if it has 40+ episodes, I never got bored in watching this. How many times have I seen this? I didn't even count the number of times.

I miss this series. Maybe it's time for me to watch it again.

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Qiong Yao always succeed makes me cry with her drama. Romance in the Rain is maybe one of her best drama played. This drama change a lot from the book. I usually manage to read the book until finished after i watch the drama in my tv country. But for this drama, the book itself can't intrigue my interest to read until finished.

The main change is because Du Fei (DF) factor. In the book no character named DF and maybe that's why the book itself quite boring. And book the ending for Ru Ping (RP) is really really sad.

Cast: For me every cast play they part perfectly & they fit to their role. Because i watched this after i watched Princess Pearl, i quite happy with the different kind of role played by Vicki Zhao and Ruby Lin ^_^

Very much in love with the soundtrack. Maybe my most loved soundtrack at their time.

Re-watch: Love to re-watch it. Although every time i re-watch it i must prepare box of tissue next to me :p. Re-watch it right now still not feel this is outdated ^_^.

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The Nostalgic Echoes of Romance in the Rain

Currently, I'm revisiting the classic drama Romance in the Rain, and it's bringing back a wave of nostalgia. My first encounter with this series was way back in the 6th grade (2002). Naturally, many of its nuances were lost on me as a young girl. What resonated most then was the seemingly perfect pairing of Yiping and Shuhuan, along with its undeniably beautiful and easy-listening soundtrack.

However, revisiting Romance in the Rain as an adult offers a completely different perspective. The drama reveals itself to be remarkably complex, extending far beyond simple romantic entanglements. It delves into the intricacies of a dysfunctional family, the corrosive effects of revenge, and the tragic consequences of youthful irresponsibility, poignantly illustrated through the stories of Erhao and Keyun, as well as Mengping's heartbreaking trajectory. The backdrop of chaotic wartime conditions further enriches the narrative.

I must commend the entire cast, the actresses and actors flawlessly embody their respective characters, bringing depth and authenticity to their portrayals. Moreover, the drama culminates in a satisfying and beautiful ending. And, of course, the soundtrack remains a timeless treasure in my opinion

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Most people will remember Vicky Zhao for “Huan Zhu Ge Ge,” but this series is probably her best work. She's one of those rare actresses blessed with looks, charisma, and sheer talent. She single-handedly made this mediocre series into something worth watching.

Vicky’s Lu Yi Ping is one of the most complex and sympathetic heroine. She grew up in an emotionally and physically abusive environment. Like a wounded animal, she’s bitter, vengeful, and tends to lash out unexpectedly. Torn between love and hate, she doesn’t always say what she means and doesn’t mean the awful things she says. That mental struggle is all there in Vicky’s eyes. There's a subtle tension and weariness in the way she carries herself as well. I was glued to the screen rooting for Yi Ping to put down her burden and find happiness, even if it’s with a wishy washy guy like Shu Huan.

Compared to Vicky, the rest of the core cast is a letdown. Ruby Lin doesn’t even bother to figure out what makes her character tick, which is a waste since her Ru Ping could’ve been much more interesting. Alec Su, likeable as he is, can’t do comedy and his attempts to be funny are cringey. Xu Lu is over the top fake as the insane Ke Yun. But the most unforgiveable performance has to be Leo Ku as Shu Huan. Now Leo doesn't have the screen presence of a leading man. He's also a so-so actor with a limited range of expression. His hospital reunion scene with Vicky is meant to be dramatic and heart-rending, but the look on Leo’s face is so dopey it borders on comical. How something like this makes it into the final cut is beyond me. The director should have made Leo redo half of his scenes until he gets it right, or just cast a different actor.

The writing itself fluctuates between the profound and the absurd. Do they honestly expect me to believe that the way to treat mental illness is to make the patient re-enact all the love scenes in their past? Or that a man who forces women he doesn't love to marry him is the most romantic guy in the world? Or that a wife and child beater still qualifies as hero? I get that the show is telling viewers that life - and people - are not black and white. It ends up undoing that premise by sugarcoating everything in an attempt to make us feel all warm and fuzzy.

Don’t focus too much on the show’s flaws or it will drive you crazy like Ke Yun. Just enjoy it for Vicky Zhao as she’s simply wonderful here.

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