Even the second time it was wonderful
This was definitely a slow burner but maybe that contributed to the developing love being so believable. I only know I still did not fast forward any part on the second viewing of this drama. For me, the plot managed a great balance between, romance, family drama and 'business". The script also added to the sincerity of the story.However, the best part was the performances of , not only the leads, but the whole ensemble. I particularly became a mad fan of Ci Sha. I could rave about the music as well...I know this is not a good review as such. My only excuse is that I watch a lot of Asian drama, and have a list of favourites from a number of countries including China and this one is definitely in the top five .
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Do You Believed in Reincarnation?
'The life is short like a dream, how often can one enjoy himself if it is not for my one and only love, Shi Yi who deserve my lifelong pursuit' - this is the poem handwritten by Zhou Shen Chen in his wedding invitation card to show his sincerity in marrying his beloved.The one who understands will truly enjoy the stories. I love every details they tried to incorporate into the story to link and portrait between the prequel and the sequel. Similarly to One & Only, FL love to ML is Love at First Sight. Contrary to FL, ML love and affection towards FL is developed, accumulated and gets stronger by days. FL first word in both the drama is also Zhou Shen Chen. She still loves turquoise blue, books, poems, pomegranate, lotus flower, sleeps on the floor to be with her beloved, enjoys touching the nose bridge of the ML like O&O.
Whatever can't be done and incomplete in O&O is finally completed in F&E. Their love, their marriage, the handwritten poem 'Shanglin Fu' on the wall.
I wonder if Mei Xing is the reincarnation of Liu Zi Xing (Crown Prince in O&O) as a repayment from his previous life. The suicidal and loss of Cui Shi Yi in O&O has made him realized and regretted his previous life?
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Inferior to O&O
This was sadly inferior to One and Only, but it will still be mostly satisfying for anyone who watches O&O first. RJL is handsome and has a pretty good command of the screen, but his character is soooo frustrating. I saw someone else comment that they're trying to imply that because of his hyper intelligence he may be on the spectrum. I haven't read the book, so I really don't know the intent. But whatever the reason they had for making his character so stiff and backward, it didn't really work. Again, every annoying thing is this basically gets a pass if you watched the first series, because it just makes you want to see them together, no matter what. But my main point is they didn't really do RJL justice. In the first series he is so upright and stalwart, and has lived the hardest life possible and still somehow was more human and sympathetic than in the modern one.Was this review helpful to you?
This review may contain spoilers
If it's meant to be, love will find a way. ❤
"Even the most beautiful face will have to age. You are the best in my mind. I can see the bones of beauty inside you" Shi Yi to Zhou Sheng Chen.What a heart-warming, poignant, sweet, and tear-jerking story. A slow-burn, frustrating, and quite dragging at times, but still at the end of it, we still got our happy ending for our Shi Yi and Zhou Sheng Chen, which they really deserved.
I've been waiting for this drama to be aired as I am a fan of the novel from Mo Bao Fei Bao and fell in love with Zhou Sheng Chen's quirkiness, at times oddness and just being so adorable and him being a nerd. As well as Shi Yi's love for ZSC and how she supported him all throughout.
I just find it frustrating to watched the other actors/actress in this drama, (not included from my frustration are: the main couple, Uncle Lin, Ren, the misunderstood mother, the bff lawyer and roommate/bff of Shi Yi); I find their acting lacking and unconvincing. Specially the brother, his acting is so unconvincing and kind of lazy for someone who got pent up hatred, frustration for his elder brother. Also, some scenes for the other characters are unnecessary, which made the series dragging. Maybe they want to show their character development but ended poorly.
And I just want to rant here about the behavior of Shi Yi and Zhou Sheng Chen's maid, maybe because she's a distant relative of ZSC, but she's over the top! She doesn't know her boundary and just "boom" comes to their room without knocking, or correct word is "barging" to their room, which I find disrespectful and offensive. But the series just made it like it's just goofy or funny. I wanted to smack her head, as she always caught our couple in a very awkward situation or disrupt their sweet moments.
Anyway, thanks for Bai Lu and Allen Ren for giving us a wonderful series.
And by the way, I just want to say, I love and appreciate the OST of this series. It helps the viewers sets the mood and it's just worth of listening to it.
Over all, it is worth the time to watch the drama. ❤❤❤
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This review may contain spoilers
Visual Treat on the Eyes and Ears
This show is what Chinese shows will be if they had less restriction on the direction and pacing from the producers. I can see how amazing the whole drama scene would evolve into a slow paced character driven show which runs on its merit.The lack of flamboyant action, romance, character traits and music may be a turn off for many but it is what makes a show great when it stands just on its merit just from the acting and the power of the story. The direction was impeccable, giving ample time to enjoy the ambiance of each episodes.
The story of this show is simple, fall in love>propose>meet family>get married but this comes with a lot of caveats of Chinese culture. We get to meet how politics happens in wealthy yet down to earth families in China, how everyone is trying to stay quite be respectful yet getting hurt in every step of the way.
It is easy to write a villain with no morality; however, it is so trite and forgettable. This show takes the realism approach and tries to humanize with everyone even thought we want to hate them. Everyone is a victim and they are just trying to survive in this difficult world. The methodical pacing with artistic costume and set design made this show often contending with the best western shows. This show is a visual treat on the eyes and ears, while it is hard to binge watch something like this as it is made with immense care and depth, I would encourage everyone to slow watch it as it was meant to be.
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A slow paced love
The story is not as strong as it's predecessor "One and Only" but it still gives you a wonderful story. It may seem like the way they get together does not make any sense it was too fast so it may look like shallow or sometimes unreasonable. But watching how they grow and flourish their love was breath taking. They took things slow when it comes to falling in love, it was snail paced but such delight to see their progress each episode. This pacing makes you want to cherish each sweet scenes between the leads.The actors and actresses performance in this drama is Chief's kiss. They were such a delight to watch together.
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This review may contain spoilers
Slow. Just slow.
Ah this is a tough one to review because I really want to like this show.[Just to disclaim, I watched Forever & Ever (FE) after One & Only (OO). I did not read the novel before watching the shows]
Pros:
- the show started off quickly. 5 minutes into the first episode and off we go with the main couple.
- Bai Lu's acting is a 10/10 here. She carried OO together with Ren Jialun but over here, she topped it off a notch further. Her glances, side eyes, smirks, smiles and styling were all 10/10 here. I enjoyed just watching her expressions and looks.
- it does justice to the pain we had to endure in OO.
- the side characters are pretty cute and funny.
- there are sweet awww moments between Shi Yi and ZSC.
- Ren Jialun had some good emotional scenes towards the end.
Cons:
- the pacing.is.so.so.so.slow!!! I had to skip and fast forward half the show.
- it probably should be a 20-episode drama instead of 30 episodes.
- Zhousheng Chen is too stiff here. He's abnormally stiff even for an awkward chemistry professor. He's so reserved about his physical touches yet, he has no qualms about getting in bed with Shi Yi (???).
- Ren Jialun's glances in FE unfortunately didn't carry any weight nor invoked any feelings in me this time.
- too many kiss-block moments it got a little lame and tiring after a while.
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chemistry between the couple
I greatly admire the plot all the way along from 1st episode to final episode. understanding between them is really great. A nice and gentle love story. Understanding and accompanying each other in every situation. Honest with each other. Avoid misunderstandings. Always calm.I don't know how did they got such a nice story, plot, cast, script and everything so much good in this drama. I would never forget such a wonderful work. I always fast forward some scenes in every drama I watch. this is the first one I ever watched every single line carefully. it's really a master piece
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Perfect
If you like annoying drama, don't watch it.If you like drama with misunderstanding, don't watch it.
if you like drama with the weak, dumb and idiot protagonist don't watch it.
If you like irrational and illogical dram, don't watch it.
If you like the rival disturbing even the protagonist in love with the hero, don't watch
This masterpiece is for some people.
The actress Bai Lu is beautiful and spectacular and passionate, I'm going to clone myself and ask her to marry me.
To screenwriter Mo Bao Fei Bao thanks for respecting our brain and creating something with sense, rationality and logic.
I'm afraid to watch another drama and spoil my memories.
Similar dramas in their rationality
- The Legend of Fei
- What happened to secretary Kim?
- Touch Your Heart
Happy New Year
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A romantic courtship of a young lady with a rich scientist/ professor.
This is a drama series that I enjoyed watching very much. It may not need explanation, but just watch and repeat as necessary!. The story line is beautifully done. The dialogues are excellent, and the perseverance of the female character toward her future life was outstanding. And of course, she was played by Actress Bai Mengyan ( Bai Lu). It is however rather unfortunate that there were some sad drama happenings on both families involved; but I guess this was part of a daily life?.The young lady (Shi Yi) was a voice dubber actress, having her star rising due to her special performance over the character that she played. She believed in re-incarnation. The young man (Zhou Shengchen) that she met by accident at the airport was a scientist/researcher/ professor, but also the heir of a rich, influencial family. He is a bit of a nerd or eccentric, has a photographic memory, and owned a tiny crab as a pet. However, he was considerate, punctual and kind.
As what Shi Yi said, she believed that they were meant to see each other as part of the re-incarnation in life. She said that she felt happy just by seeing him nearby. Therefore, she just jumped to the opportunity when he proposed to marry her.
She ended up to live far away from him for a while, but always close to him at her heart. She encountered difficulties when dealing with the complex family life of a rich family, with Shengchen's complicated family name as well as his family history. She had to deal with his stepmother not liking her from the start, or to deal with his old sweetheart who ended up marrying his younger brother.
Shengchen' close friend and his lawyer (Mei Xing) had initially taken an interest in Shi Yi, as well as Shi Yi's company dubbing director (Wang Ying Dong), but Shi Yi had always have her interest in Shengchen only.
In the fight to win Shengchen's heart, Shi Yi's allies have always been her best friend (Hong Xiaoyu), Shengchen's younger step sister (Wen Xing), his personal driver (Uncle Lin), and his old grandma Qin.
With all of the difficulties to adapt into the Zhou family, Shi Yi slowly was getting to know Shengchen. Her kind approach and her patience to him finally developed into a blossoming love between the two of them; although the road to happiness was a little slow, awkward and sometimes had their funny moments to cherish.
At the end, and as happened through the perils and dangerous events, they accomplished what they were looking for since the beginning.
Cast/Characters
Cast
Shi Yi was played by Actress Bai Mengyan ( Bai Lu). I never saw movies starring her before. However, I must say that she was a star performer. She is very pretty and she has grace and natural beauty. I just love to see her acts in the drama: on her physical acting, her looks and expressions in playing the role as Shi Yi.
Zhou Shengchen was played by Ren Jialun. With wearing glasses as a scholar, he was quite convincing and sometimes funny. Shi Yi's friend - Hong Xiaoyu was played by Wang Yueyi. Other characters were Mei Xing played by Ci Sha, Long Bin as uncle Lin, Wang Ruixin as Zhou Wen Xing, Luo Hai Qiong as Qin Wan - Shengchen's step mother. Tong Jiaren was played by Jin Li Ting, and younger brother Zhou Wen Chuan by Luo Ming Jie.
Characters
Shi Yi's and Shengchen's characters can be considered to be very conservative in today's standard. I found that it is delightful to listen to their dialogues, and how Shi Yi's slowly got closer to Shengchen.
As a room mate for Shi Yi, Xiaoyu had been the driving force which brought the couple together. It was quite refreshing when Xiaoyu coached Shi Yi on the background as Shi Yi timidly spoke to Shengchen. Xiaoyu accelerated the relationship between Shi Yi and Shengchen.
I do not particularly like the Qin Wan's character - the stepmother of Shengchen. She appeared to try to have her own way to secure her position in the Zhou family, as she was losing control of Shengchen. Shengchen's grandma however was quite warm and friendly toward Shi Yi.
Music
Simply beautiful music theme, and it added to the romantics of the drama.
Rewatch Value
I rewatched some of the episodes or portions of them multiple times, because of variety reasons: to get details of the dialogues, to see funny moments or memorable moments between Shi Yi and Shengchen, or to try to better understand the story line. Bai Lu's character had this special expression when she looked at Shengchen. Lots of precious and priceless moments to watch over and over again!
Scenery/ Filmography
Overall, the filmography of this series was outstanding. There were beautiful views of the various sites, including the historical City of Xian, the Zhou's family mansion with a front yard full of parked big, luxurious cars/ limousines. Some filming was done using drones, and the views from above were spectacular. There were also the night scenes with perfect lightings, adding some romantic and memorable events of the drama.
Personal Comments
- As a note, I did not watch the prequel of this drama series - One and Only. I am fine with what I saw as independent series, although the prequel may help with some understanding of the story line
- Shengchen character appeared a little bit too young as a professor.
- I sometimes regretted to see the sad endings of some of the drama characters from the Zhou family. I wonder what happened to the story's reception if such events were not happening?
- I felt sorry for Tong Jiaren's character, as she was still clinging to her rejected love from Shengchen. I despised Wen Chuan's character as being jealous of his older brother (Shengchen), as being irresponsible to his former wife ( Jiaren), and to be a playboy with one of the Wang's family character.
- Mei Xing's character was a little odd and seemed out of time with his hair and dress as a lawyer. I felt sorry that he lost his love to the two persons to whom he initially want to be close - Shi Yi and Wen Xing.
- Shi Yi was extremely beautiful when she wore make ups and with a red Chinese dress.
- Shengchen's photographic memory was outstanding - first when he wanted to memorize Shi Yi's phone number, and secondly when he drew a copy of the lotus flower painting that Shi Yi drew previously for Uncle Feng, completely from his memory.
- I like Uncle Lin' s character in the drama, who considered Shengchen as his own son.
- It was rather amusing when someone mentioned that since Shengchen had a crab as a pet, his entire Zhou family stopped eating crabs.
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A beautiful love story
I have enjoyed Forever and Ever so much that I have watched and watched it again. I loved the ML and FL. Yes, one could nit pick and find fault with anything but for me, this was my type of perfect drama and love story. I highly recommend it if you are someone like me who loves a good romance with a happy ending.I have also read the book at least twice. Too many dramas go on and on, but this one had a purpose in every episode and I definitely didn't get bored wanting to fast forward.
I honestly cant find any reason to dislike this drama.
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Too much unnecessary sub plots, background dialogue for a series and the script should have been improved at the onset
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