Just an Encore

Just like what icupchu said, the male lead, Xinliang, is a 'typical' second lead; and I'm here because I'm on my Ding Yuxi fever recently so I thought I won't be having any second lead syndrome, but I was wrong. Chen Xun portrayed Ji Xiao, the second lead who actually the 'typical' male lead, really really well. I am amazed at how the actors, especially the both males, brought their character alive.

As for the story, I really like(d) the plot and conflict Just An Encore brings at the beginning: jealousy between Yan Ze and Xiye. But the more the story goes, the more dramatic it is, the more I find this drama is another typical school romance. I'm not saying I don't enjoy watching this, I do; but starts from episode 20-ish, the acting of the casts (especially Chen Xun during all those Ji Xiao-Yan Zhe cute moments; like, lord, his eyes????) hard-carry my motivation to finish this drama.

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Friendship, secret crush and coming of age

A true high school drama about friendship, secret crushes, so much held feelings, jealousy and making up. It was beautiful. Pretty realistic too! I thought our FL might get a make over when she grows up or something like most dramas but I'm proud they let her be the same 🥺 she looks so cute still and it feels more realistic as well like that after all one doesn't change that drastically in mere years in most cases. I'm just a little sad they ended it like that they never got to confess to each other they both just knew. Yan ze at the end when asked abt he Xin Liang she was like "we broke up" which meant they did date but ended it? The reason is prolly him going to USA but I don't get why it's always that put as a reason when at the time long distant was a thing at least we needed an explanation I don't like to be kept guessing it feels like there's a gap in the story 😩 coming of age genre writers in every story be like "let's have one of the leads leave to a faraway place and both of them seperated then meet after some years" as if Internet and long distant relationships are a joke to them 🙄. Another complaint of mine is that both ji xiao and Xi yi were too rigid at times it felt a bit unnatural tho I understand it's how model student is seen but uh it's a bit too much tho I'm glad they made them later be more human. The story had sooo much jealousy and envy between girls while the guys were just "let's compete" pushing each other then "hey I gave up" hands over the FL peacefully. While the girls were more uh vicious? I mean it is a truth but stilllll too much 😂altho friendship prevailed at last yet they could've made at least one good friend or smthg I felt it was too dramatic at some point but it's okay as well it's tolerable. In conclusion it's a good story does make sense and is a good light watch. Actors did a great job especially our xiao ding and FL (I know her from a river runs through it) she was great here 🥺 they really represented their characters very well! I loved the supporting chars as welll they were all so cute and as a teacher myself I felt like they were my own students 😂 it also made me nostalgic abt my high school days 🥹. Well done!

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Ding Yu Xi is, once again, a big standout

I think Ding Yu Xi must be my favorite CDrama actor because I find myself watching mid-dramas just for him. He seems to be the only actor I will do this for, but his performances elevate even the most *meh* dramas into something special.

==Breakdown==
Background plot - 50% (more and more as the show progresses, but averages to 60%)
Romance - 30%
Misc comedy - 20%

Background plot - Some good messages
Romantic chemistry - Heart-achingly excellent from the ML, okay from the FL, but ultimately with no payoff
Misc comedy - Good
Production value and direction - Fine

Ding Yu Xi's character here is a lot of fun. The other characters are well drawn but not necessarily well-acted. The main female was okay, as was the second male lead, the brother, and the returning friend (antagonist for the middle part of the show). But the actress who played the BFF was not good and like nails on a chalk board every time she showed up on screen. That said, the character was a good one, just not well portrayed.

Although, this drama did (on its own) have some interesting messages which, if they'd finished the drama on a strong note, would've taken it from an 7.5 to a 9. However, the last two episodes completely fumbled the story by giving us a non-ending, incredibly unsatisfying after so many episodes and slowness. Such a shame.

THAT SAID, still worth a watch for Ding Yu Xi if you are between other dramas.

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2 only for Xiao Ding

Things I loved

1 Xiao Ding. he's the only one in this drama who deserves wasting my time to write a review. It was already clear that he would be a great actor and he is. In all of his other dramas. The rest is dull, stupid and frustrating to watch.

Things I hated

1 Yes, you may call me superficial, but I don't see why to show her character we should go as far as give her that atrocious hair cut. She's beautiful and people can be beautiful and come in all kinds. Stupid as the heroine, kind, mean etc. So this hair cut was just to make us hate her? It was mush better in the last episode.

2 The last episode. So much time wasted in nothing and only 2 minutes in the main couple.

3 The FL character. other than the haircut I thought the actress was decent. But her character was awful. I didn't feel an ounce of sympathy for her and that says it all.

4 The whole script was flat and had no swoony or fun moments. Just angst and unoriginal scenes. Awful.

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Could have done it better.

The story line was good but it felt like they dragged it tooo much, the cast and the acting was really good , after reading the plot and watching the trailer i was really excited to start this drama and it was very good in the beginning but it didn't maintain the same hype throughout the drama , except for the main male lead helping the female lead with her problmes there was no other special scene . There was no romantic scenes and i expected a lot in this drama since it has a cute storyline but I'm very disappointed with this drama. The cast and storyline were soo good that they could have made the drama sooo much better arghh i feel so disappointed and the ending was rushed . Could have done it better :(

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Even Ding Yuxi’s school of acting couldn’t save this…

I have absolutely no problems with overly used tropes:

1. FL
- has an emotional intelligence of a five-year-old
- terrible in academics
- amiable among her peers

2. ML
- smart without even trying
- school’s sporty heartthrob
- eccentric
- huge tsundere
- most importantly, someone who is head-over heels for FL

3. Misunderstanding on top of other misunderstandings due to lack of or terrible communication

4. Love square

After all, these are effective formulas for a successful romcom.

However, the execution is so terrible.

In fact, there are subplots (FL is pretty insecure about herself; SFL and ML have family issues) which they could’ve played with—they can probably be used these as a device for character development or even as an accurate portrayal of what people their age go through.

It’s just such a shame that these were not properly utilized nor explored and were left to disperse in a corner (though I doubt they could execute these properly). I’m just not aware if these are things that will be resolved in the end, but I’m afraid I could no longer wait for it as I’ve really run out of patience with this one…

I have a huge admiration for Ding Yuxi; it was actually because of him that I picked this up. And it breaks my heart to be dropping this as this is ½ of his youth dramas.

I would love to see him in school uniform doing romcom, but unfortunately, my love for him (plus plenty of fast-forwarding scenes) alone couldn’t make this work.

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Okay, so have you watched A Love So Beautiful, or When We Were Young...?? Well this is like a mix, but the difference is that they are all in a boarding school, boys and girls.... The main girl is really cute, you will love her hair, and she also has a strong character... she likes one cute intelligent guy ( apparently this guy also likes her but he is too shy) and there is another popular cute guy that is always bothering her, but i think he also likes her.. I just watched the first episodes bc i cant watch anymore sites to watch with eng subs.. but i have spoiled myself with the ost clip at the beggining and at the end.. and well i just can´t wait!! =) Please help support or request at viki so we can have more eng subs... PLEASEEEE..!!

Regards!

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Konklusi Yang Mengecewakan

Drama ini sangat menjanjikan sejak episode 1. Memberikan built up karakter yang benar-benar sangat dalam dan juga berbagai problema yang cukup menarik untuk diikuti. Tensi dramanya terus naik hingga ending dan selalu meninggalkan banyak pertanyaan dan beberapa ketidakmasuk-akalan di beberapa episodenya. Rasa kagum terus hadir saat saya menonton drama ini karena benar-benar bisa menghadirkan watching experience yang emosional, realisitis dan heart-touching. Sampai pada final eps, episode 31, saya menonton drama ini dengan sangat sangat semangat, karena saya tau ada banyak hal yang perlu diselesaikan didalam story line, ada banyak kesalahpahaman yang perlu diluruskan, ada banyak kebenaran yang perlu terungkap yang merupakan sisa-sisa dari eps2 sebelumnya. Maka dari itu saya berekspektasi besar untuk episode final ini, berharap akan melihat konklusi gede-gedean dan tentunya heart-touching. Karena sepanjang eps 1-30 saya sempat meneteskan air mata dibeberapa bagian dari drama ini. Tapi ternyata semua tak seperti ekspektasi, episode 31 hadir justru merusak kualitas drama dan storyline serta built-up karakter yang susah payah dibangun didrama ini dari eps 1-30. Episode 31 nyatanya tidak menyelesaikan semuanya, malah menjadi ending yang tidak berkesan justru bikin kesal. Ada banyak plot hole yang saya kira akan tertutupi di eps terakhir, nyatanya saya yang terlalu cepat menilai drama ini. (SPOILER : Contohnya tentang apel natal, sama sekali belum ada penyelesaian, tentang Zhou An yang tau tentang He Xin liang yang suka dengan Yan Ze saya rasa dihadirkan dengan sia2 dalam cerita, saya pikir akan berguna nantinya ternyata tidak berpengaruh ke plot utama, hanya mengulur-ulur waktu saja) dan masih banyak plot hole dan fact lainnya yang perlu diluruskan dan diangkat ke permukaan.

Untuk akting para cast-nya semuanya cukup bagus, terutama aktor tampan Ding Yuxi yang menjadi nyawa utama dari drama ini. Dengan pembawaannya yang seru dan juga sesekali terlihat 'Sad Boy' , dapat menarik simpatik dan hati dari para penontonnya dengan cepat. Aktingnya & looknya sangat membantu, sangat match dengan karakternya sehingga kita pun sebagai penonton mudah terkesan karenanya.

Musik di drama ini rata2 ear-catching, terutama lagu opening dan original soundtrack yang dinyanyikan dengan merdu oleh Ding Yuxi

Overall, meski drama ini sangat menyebalkan di ending dan merusak hampir seluruh kualitas drama yang sudah dibangun dengan susah payah dari awal, tetapi tetap saja drama ini menjadi salah satu teenage series yang cukup menarik untuk ditonton, heart-touching, emosional, tentunya jga bikin baper.

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