Falling into Your Smile (2021)

E-sport Romance

I came to watch this because of Xu Kai. His character was nothing too great and he fell too fast for the FL. As for the FL sometimes she was a little too cute. The underlying message about fandoms and internet toxicity was frequently highlighted, but not seriously addressed enough, thus not as impactful as it should've been. I liked the sections of game play where the characters of the game were 3D animated. Other e-sport dramas emphasized the training and work that goes into everything involved, but that was downplayed in this drama. There was just enough romance story, but I felt it was rushed and too easy for the FL and ML, same with the secondary romance. Not enough attention paid to the supporting characters backstory and there was plenty of time to do that. However it's a good watch and I do hope that there will be a season 2. Overall for me it's a 7.5/10

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Sooooo Sweet! <3

My comfort show!!! Never found a show as great as this one. This is my 5th time watching and it never gets old. I will always love this show. The actors in this show did fantastic and the team spirit was definitely present. I'm so glad I found this show and I will be a follower of if till I die. <<<<333333

Story :
The story was amazing, any like feel good drama where the female lead is tough and proves people wrong with a cold protective male lead, except this drama takes place in the modern time and focuses on E-Sports. The female lead being the only girl to play competitively in competitions and being the only girl on the team, needing to prove to the world that women can play just as well as men and maybe even better. The motivation to help someone or do something for myself and the world. The way it shares on the message of idols and their fans relationship causing problems and etc. Now, celebrities don't really have as much freedom and most of the times they follow what their fans say. This makes them lifeless and like a robot, which isn't true cause their human just like everyone else. The main factor is relationships, there is nothing wrong with celebrities wanting to be in relationships and as fans, they should have no right to tell them what they can and can't do. The fact that this drama managed to tell this so well and accurate is amazing. Also the sweet messages between celebrities and fans as well. Overall it's an average story but it has a strong message and provides so much happiness to anyone who watches. It really rings true to it's title "Falling into Your Smile" because as you watch, you would fall in love with the drama and the main lead's romance making you smile during every episode.

CGI:
I loved the CGI in this drama. Although it's a modern drama, the way it brings us into the game and the POV of the characters make it so much more entertaining. It feels real and like we get to see the characters abilities and sometimes even the emotions the actor is feeling is animated into the character. As someone who has played games like this one (League of Legends :p) it's rlly nice to see the actual POV of the game in first person.

Music :
The music was amazing! The intro song, the cute song between the main leads and also the OST!!! OMG i love the OST, it's so amazing it gives you chills while being an amazing song. It usually plays when the main team, ZGDX is playing the game against their opponents. It's a really powerful song and it makes for a really good "feel-good" moment, for ppl who knows what that means.

Acting:
The main leads acting was amazing. Their chemistry was off the charts! The main lead, Xu Kai is not new in the acting industry but he plays the cold guy persona so well. He looks so intimidating but as you warm up to him he becomes so soft and cute. The female lead, one of my favorite actress did amazing too. I've watched a previous drama of hers that I also did a review on, "Vacation of Love 2". She really shined in this drama as her character Tong Yao was so cute and really strong. The desire to prove everyone wrong and that females can play competitively was amazing and I loved how the director didn't right her to become soft once she started dating (as most shows do). The chemistry between both the main couple and second lead couple was so sweet!! The way they were both loyal to their partner despite being famous, especially Ai Jia, the wat he recognizes his girlfriend's car engine was the funniest and cutest thing in the world. The dynamic between all the teammates were amazing too, the way the whole ZGDX team feels like a family was amazing. I also love how the other members weren't babying Tong Yao and was actually treating her as a teammate rather than a girl was so amazing to see. The other competitive teams like YQCB, or FNC or DQ.five's team chemistry was also so good. Acting was amazing and on point!

Ending:
The ending, nothing much to say than it was amazing. Kind of expected who would win the finals but it still provided a feel-good moment and made me cry. The ending was also really sweet with a wedding between the second lead. What makes me mad is the cliff-hanger at the end, how it said that to lookout for next year when they compete for the world cup.... like this was such a great show, you cant just end it like that. We want season 2 pls!!!!

Amazing drama!! Loved it, can never get sick of it. Pls make season two, bring us back Tong Yao and Lu Si Cheng. Also if season two does ever happen, pls make it the same cast and not another version with a new cast.

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not a traffic stopper but still enjoyable

I'm giving this a 10 despite its obvious clichés and HUGE product placement because it's entertaining and fluffy...
Of course, it's nothing tremendously new, in fact it glorifies c-dramas tropes, still the ML and his fellas are so handsome and the action is so lighthearted that i truly recommend it for a rainy weekend. I couldnt help but think of another c-drama - very similar in vibe and cast choice - "My Unicorn Girl" (more points to this!), and realized once again that the producers push the same buttons of their audience. Also, they make it quite obvious that they address mainly teen girls by portraying a perfect romantic rich handsome young playful etcetc ML and a petite pouty FL (not the best cast choice here - her nick is Smiling, but she never smiles and totally lacks a sense of humour!).
The romance is way too predictable and cartoonish - read fake. Dialogues are cheap. The media is demonized. All the parents are some country bumpkins that need a slap in the face to see their children's value. The obsession of marrying off the daughter of the family is cringy af! The FL is half-naked most of the time, wearing just an oversize t-shirt in a house full of guys.
Major criticism: Some tropes would be nice IF NOT ABUSED... So, we get the idea that the FL is short and adorable for that, BUT they keep drilling in our minds that she is so short that she would produce short laughable sons; then we have a FATTY that is only concerned with stuffing his mouth, and totally laughable for doing this... We get the HUNK guy who's only into building muscles over finding love or appreciation or something similar, like being BIG means retarded? HOW IS THIS EVEN FUNNY???
What else to say... As a teen c-drama with some parody features, it ticks the right boxes.

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cute fluffy drama

Falling Into Your Smile is a delightful drama that combines friendship, romance, and a dash of comedy, all set against the backdrop of esports. If you love the idea of a light and heartwarming romantic comedy with an esports twist, this is definitely for you!

While the plot may not offer groundbreaking originality, it more than makes up for it with its pacing, character development, and relationship dynamics. The focus is less on plot twists and more on the personal growth of the characters and the challenges they face, both professionally and emotionally. It doesn’t rely on a traditional antagonist but highlights the darker side of fame, including the toxicity of social media and obsessive fans.

Even if you know nothing about gaming, the drama stands strong as a charming romantic comedy. The chemistry between Xu Kai and Cheng Xiao is just perfect! The bickering, the teasing, and their gradual romance feel organic and incredibly sweet. Their relationship builds in a realistic and refreshing way, keeping the tension light but engaging throughout the show.

Tong Yao’s character is a standout—she’s ambitious, hardworking, and adorably clueless at times, but her responses to situations feel authentic and relatable. Her growth is steady and human, a quality that’s often missing in many drama characters. Lu Sicheng, while seemingly aloof, is honest and complex. His layers are revealed as the series progresses, making him both lovable and responsible in his role as team captain. And let's not forget his playful teasing, which adds to the charm of their relationship!

The drama doesn’t veer too far into serious territory, staying true to its rom-com roots while giving viewers some heartfelt moments. Oh, and the music? It’s simply addictive. You'll find yourself putting it on repeat long after the episodes end!

Overall, Falling Into Your Smile is a feel-good watch that captures the essence of esports, love, and friendship, making it the perfect binge for anyone in need of a sweet escape!

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Must watch Cdrama!!!! I petition for season 2

I'm not interested in esport so at first I hesitate if I should watch this drama or not, so watch trailer on YT and I found it interesting. I like the cast too so I watch it right away, and I did not regret watching this drama because the storyline is so good. The animation of the game is so good! The couple is so cute, they would bicker with each other like everyday but they're also sweet. The second lead too are making this drama go on without the watchers getting bored.
Their acting is so natural 😍 , The main leads acting was a chef's kiss and the second leads too. Without Cheng Xiao and Xu Kai, the chemistry of the main leads would not be as good as theirs.
The OST of this drama is also good but not so good, that you would add the song to your Playlist.

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I only watched this because people were recommending it and after watching Lie to Love with CX I decided to give it a shot.

Originally, I saw this RIGHT when it came out, like on the first release date. However, I saw the first episode and there was something about it that I just couldn't continue with it (I tried to find out what it was again but everything seems fine to me so idk what the fuck was wrong with me then).

I have never seen anything with Xu Kai in it so I didn't really know what to expect, and the only thing I saw with CX was the new show Lie to Love. A lot of people don't like CX for some reason which I'm struggling to understand but to each their own I guess, and I know that there was some sort of boycott over this show about plagiarism or something? But nonetheless, I still really enjoyed the show and what the actors did.

Now, usually, like in You Are my Glory, I can see why some people compare the two. It is both very heavy in gaming (maybe a little less in YAMG) but they both had similar concepts. HOWEVER, I skipped every gaming scene in YAMG and not to pat myself on the back or anything, I was pretty into this game on FIYS and watching how people interacted. I didn't skip in real close up animations of combat clips and was actually pretty engaged. I enjoyed how they depicted the sexist world of gaming and how the female leads dealt with constant misogyny from both men and women. I liked how they showed a lot of emotion and had funny clips but also sad clips and also showed us the struggles of professional gamers and what that's like for their careers and their families. Especially in a country like China, it's very common and traditional to study study study and then find a good stable office job or something and live your life quietly. Going into video games, something seen as just wasting time, it really shows you people (young people in this case) can take a really deep form of passion and turn something they're good at into a profession. This is one of the many things I enjoyed about this.

The second thing is the relationship between all the characters. YOU CANNOT TELL ME ALL VIEWERS DIDN'T FALL IN LOVE WITH AT LEAST ONE OF THE BOYS.

For me personally, lao mao and lao k are taking the gold medal for who won my heart. Lao K's cold demeanor that slowly changed into this warm friendship was such a realistic depiction (not to mention he looked hot af while doing so ;)) because it goes through the emotions of betrayal and abandonment. Seeing some one he doesn't even know and never had an input about replacing one of his closest friends really hurts. But in the end, Lao K and Tong Yao have such a cute sibling bond. Lao Mao on the other hand is definitely the mood maker. His constant bickering and how he and Lao K contrast each other makes me melt with happiness. He can be so clueless and stupid at times, but when things get serious it's like a different version of him. I still can't get over how amazing of a relationship Lao Mao and Lao K have and it lowkey shattered me during that one fight. In the end, they called a truce and continued to hang around each other and went back to the way they were before (side note, no way was there not a slight 'bromance' there because if it weren't for Chinas censorship, I 100% would've thought they had a lovers quarrel and were dating)

TLDR; WATCH THIS. ITS SO GOOD. (also, there's cute kitties involved)

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