Heartwarming.
This c-drama was quite heartwarming, I was going through a block in terms of watching series but I gave it a chance and enjoyed it a lot.To some people it may seem that in the end its pacing was rushed as the story focuses more on school time, and I agree with that in part.
Also, something that is notorious and that I don't quite understand is the need for the characters to continue having such childish behaviors when they are already adults and that they are also surprised or embarrassed to kiss each other or have gestures of affection when they have been in a relationship for many years and even lived together, but hey.
I must say that I liked the story itself, it was fun, light-hearted, romantic, wholesome and with a very calm pace. Perhaps many people didn't like the latter because the group of friends had to face very few difficulties and got everything they wanted, and we know that in many cases in real life this doesn't happen that way, personally I don't think that this detracted from the story, it was just what I wanted to see, a quiet story without so much drama.
I really liked seeing how our male protagonist was letting the female protagonist more and more into his world and how his change was becoming noticeable. I would have liked to see more of the relationship between the secondary couple, they were a lot of fun to watch.
Without further ado, I would recommend it, it's not heavy to watch and if you're looking for a simple, quiet love story with little nuances this one is adequate.
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Let me introduce you to the best youth drama I have ever watched...
Now I am not one at all to rate dramas 10 stars I am so strict especially when it comes to casting and soundtracks. This drama has managed to enter my heart as one of the best pieces of media I've ever digested. Where to start...A nostalgic trip? The aesthetic of the show is pleasing, especially the incorporation of these old video camera diary entries which gives it more of this personal rustic feel. If anyone is a sucker for charming media this one is definitely something you should study ;)
I think everyone's main fear for female main characters is their cringe acting. Su zaizai has this amazing ability to be this cute character while also being strong? She's a teenage girl of cause who is scared of the most silliest things but she's also incredibly smart. I think this mix is what makes her so likeable. Some one said she was "stupid, cringe and needs help" which I completely disagree with. In fact, she's a perfect lead for a show. Her character's contrast with the problems she overcomes and the security she has with Lurang are something only other female leads could wish for.
Although this story hasn't got much plot due to it being a youth drama it works so well with telling the story. The way that each episode is made perfectly encapsulates what they're trying to portray. They balance the stories between all the characters so well, which gives the show a nice flow helping audiences relax and take in what they're watching.
I actually love how their remind the audience that these characters are teenagers. They're just kids who are maturing and make stupid decisions. When these characters believe silly myths, it really reinforces that message and its nice to see. Especially because modern media is full of adults (including this cast) portraying teens. The story encapsulates the minds of these teenagers and shows them in their most original form- warts and all.
I think the side stories are probably the most striking stories- especially Guran's and Guan Fang's. They're these two teenage boys who have to deal with problems that force them to grow up faster. They hide these sides from their friends and their characters slowly develop into being vulnerable and sharing their insecurities with their friends.
When I say the casting has to be some of the best I've seen in this industry I'm not joking. To begin with our two main characters portrayed by Zhou Yiran and Zhang Miaoyi. They did such a beautiful job. Miaoyi's version of su zaizai was amazing to experience. Like i mentioned before, she was able to show us this girl who otherwise would be seen as annoying and "cringe" but for some reason i was infatuated with her. She makes you want to root for her from the first moment you meet her and the way she blends perfectly with Yiran's Lurang- their chemistry is otherworldly.
The rest of the main characters also have such a perfect fit to their characters I couldn't have imagined them as anyone else. The acting was surprisingly really good especially since for a few of them this is one of their 5th or 6th works. They helped tell the story so well and there wasn't a moment where i had questioned the acting.
Who allowed them to have a soundtrack this good...? Half the time I don't care about soundtracks...but this one has such a warm and sombre vibe that I added a few of the songs to my playlist. It really tightens the idea of this being a feel good watch. Though it didn't give me as big as of impression as the rest of the show I am now obsessed with the white coast.
Overall, if this happens to be your first drama, you are going to enjoy it. Go into it with an open mind. This might be bias because I've already re-watched it (literally within the week I finished it)...But it stuck with me so much in more than just a "it was a good show" sense. I think the characters and the story were told magnificently. The downside to this show is you are going to severely miss them when it ends.
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This review may contain spoilers
sweet, fluffy, and soft youth romance!
95% of this story contains sweetness, happiness, smiles, and peace. there's minimal conflict that won't stress you out. i like the story of Zaizai and Rangrang, so sweet that i wish i could be like them. there's also the fitting part about lonely Gu Ran's story with his doctor parents, Guan Fang with his previous personality alongside his grandma, and Jiang Jia who seems cheerful but feels lost despite always appearing confident. the relationship between Zhang Lu Rang and his uncle, Mr. Lin, so heartwarming. this story is very light and heartwarming, guaranteed to bring a smile. Su Zai Zai was the luckiest and happiest girl, it's truly perfect life! Zaizai's warm and enjoyable family, Lu Rang's younger sibling who deeply loves his older brother but feels a bit distant due to their parents. the greatest happiness for me is Gu Ran and Jiang Jia. all the happiness in it never fails to make me smile and makes me wish i could be part of that friendship and celebrate every New Year with them, they are really supportive besties. and, Guan Fang could be with me then hehehe😋Was this review helpful to you?
To the future readers this is something you MUST WATCH!
Actually to be honest, tiktok made me watch this drama. I was quiet unsure if I should watch it or no because I am in a holiday and I wanted to enjoy but no something told me to watch it so I watched the first 10 episodes at around 3am while I am in a holiday, and god do I regret? NO and I never will. Falling into your smile will always be my number 1 drama no matter what but this drama will always have a special place in my heart. To the future reader of this review if you just came from watching a sad drama or a heartbreaking story I am 100% sure this drama will make your day and you won’t regret watching it. Trust me I am legit writing this review while I am still in vacation. I DONT write reviews much but this drama has made me write one. This drama is definitely a 10/10 it is amazing. It is wholesome cute and sweet. I tell YALL Episode 19-22 has me on the chokehold. This is the cutest and one of the best love stories ever written I am in love with this. And in the future if I watch a sad story or a sad ending drama I would definitely rewatch this to make my day better. Su zaizai and Zhang Lurang had the best love story ever.Was this review helpful to you?
Little bit dull
I've watched numerous dramas about high school students, so I wasn't initially very interested in this one. The reason I decided to watch it was because of a scene I saw on YouTube that I really liked. However, that scene appeared only at the end.The drama follows the characters from their teenage years through adulthood, from grade 9 to marriage and having children. It beautifully portrays how the course of life changes and how relationships grow stronger over time. I found the last episodes to be the most compelling.
Another scene I particularly liked was when the younger brother shared his feelings with his older brother's girlfriend. He expressed his worry about his brother and questioned why was he so affected by others' opinions, which had created a barrier between them. He reminisced about the times when his brother cared deeply for him.
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Another lovely Zhu Yi adaptation
Same author who wrote Hidden Love (Secretly, Secretly, Unable to Hide) also wrote this one.The novel's title is "She's A Little Crazy." I think that about sums up the drama. The actress does a wonderful job being a little crazy, but not annoying. It's the very typical high pitched nasal cutesy Asian female voice, but I think because she's so positive, it's not annoying.
Lots of comedy, lots of heartwarming moments.
ML did a wonderful job getting into character. He's quite different in "Falling Into Your Smile." Although the FL does 98% of the talking and the ML 2%, his lines are well delivered, perfectly timed. I think it's just as hard to play a quiet role because the acting is completely done by micro facial expressions and getting the right aura. The actor nailed it.
Music is mostly pleasantly retro, sometimes cheesy but really only where it needs to be.
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My favorite one Zhang Lu Rang like Su Zai Zai. The the one that Rang Rang say when he finished his presentation of his work that in the eyes of Zai Zai there's always Zhang Lu Rang.
This kind of friends I need them🙇🏻♀️🙇🏻♀️
It's been a while since I felt this kind of feeling after finishing a drama.
AHHHHH Thank you Rang Rang, Zai Zai, Gu Ran, Jiang Jia and Guan Fang 💞💕
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This review may contain spoilers
my new comfort drama
i love how this drama had no toxicity whatsoever which made it so heartwarming and easy to watch, cattree really did so well directing this drama and you can see how detailed he is with the moves in the bts clips being so specific how. he wants that scene to feel.we got to see a little background from all the characters and what type of life they lived after school, and their pasts, knowing them a bit better. zaizai and rangrang had the cutest relationship, it was basically love at first sight from both ends but we only got to see progress from zaizais end. the playlist for this drama is also soso good i listen to it when i study nowadays.
i honestly don't think i'll ever get over this drama really, i watched it while it was ongoing everyday i looked forwards to a new ep or two to come out, and when i was waiting i would go to the actors profiles to see if they've updated their profile with anything. my fav part of this drama would have to be when rangrang proposed to zaizai, the video he made. using clips filmed off of zaizais computer really got to me, and you could really tell whenever he was with her he'd. always have the biggest dimple smile on his face.
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Overhyped?
This is an unpopular opinion but I didn't love this drama. The cast was good and I believe the story was not bad either. I think this is just not my poison. I skipped most of the scenes because it got so boring for me. The reason why it ended on my watch list, was because everyone and their mother was swearing by it. A few even mentioned that it was the perfect drama to watch if you wanted to heal your heart after watching Hidden Love. I think I might have gone in with high expectations. It just did not hit the mark. The leads were great. But the flow of the story just didn't do it for me. It had cute ending but it still didn't quite hit the spot. I guess it's just a matter of preference. All in all cute story.Was this review helpful to you?
Nice. Simple. High-school sweetheart yet inspiring.
Honestly, this drama has been popping up on my Netflix feed and I decided to check it out. It's only 30 minutes per episode giving you 7 hrs 20 mins to finish.I love their chemistry, and how their relationships build up and the other cast. Their group reminds me of my high school friends without romances haha.
The memories they created together during their school days, ups and downs, and the struggles of finding what they want to do with their lives and careers.
The way they added a camera to be used to film their daily lives gives me 90s vibes and the drama ‘25-21’.
Seeing the screen of those films just makes me emotional. Even though they met in 2012, times went by fast.
From start to finish, I have nothing else to say. It may be simple, but the way the main characters are portrayed, and how the male lead is introverted shows how his character drastically changes because of the female lead. This change is an example that anyone who comes into your life will make a difference.
I got emotional once in a while because of my experiences in high school with friends and life in general.
“We cried, laughed, parted, and met again. The charm of youth is never about getting what you want, but about every unexpected tomorrow and every person you meet by chance.”
This quote really inspires me to be patient and not to be pressured with life.
8/26/23 00:51am
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é muito bom
eu gostei muito de ver tudo, e achei a quimica deles perfeita. foi simples e confortável de ver sem muito drama desnecessário. amei. acho que para as coisas serem boas não precisam de ser demasiado forçadas. e este drama mostra exatamente. alem de mostrar uma vida de adolescentes que muitos querem viver, logo é uma motivação para as pessoas viverem a vida. vamos fingir que eu não estou a escrever isto só para a diguez conseguir dar friend em mim lol djdjdj 10/10 foi muito bom de se ver ameiiiiiWas this review helpful to you?
This review may contain spoilers
No melodrama, no annoying characters—just normal people growing up
TL;DR at the end with no spoilers.There's something about early 2000s camcorders that takes me back to my childhood, though to be honest I don't remember ever having one at home. Maybe it's the look of the onscreen interface, or the video quality, but it makes me feel like what I'm about to watch are memories of easier times in my life. Fittingly, the FL of this show makes a point of documenting her life using precisely one of those camcorders: at the end of every episode and also in many other scenes she films herself and her friends, and there are references to these clips interspersed throughout the story. Somehow, this evoked in me a sense of nostalgia for past events in the story as I watched, although I had seen them happen mere hours before; it surely has to be one of the strangest feelings I've experienced lately.
Complementing that is the expansion of what feels like the ending into 5 episodes—which show us glimpses of their growth into adults in between timeskips—as opposed to the first 19 episodes that cover their high school years. The longer ending gives us plenty of room to contemplate what is now 'long ago' for the characters at the same time they themselves look back on those days. It's not just you as a viewer remembering some scenes by yourself: it's you empathizing in real time with what's on their minds. That's very neat, if you ask me. If something leaves you indifferent, that means you've wasted a part of your life on it.
I admit that I wasn't sold on this show at first. I get an irresistible urge to pause when something cringy is about to happen because I hate the secondhand embarrasment, and the FL does a lot of that in the first couple of episodes to get the ML's attention. Thankfully, she drops that soon and instead shapeshifts into the worst nightmare of the government's censorship board: a teenager who is open about her feelings towards a member of the opposite sex. So much so that, in the real world, no sane bystander would be able to deny that she is verbally throwing herself at him, but here everyone avoids acknowledging the elephant in the room. It doesn't come as a surprise, though, seeing how Chinese dramas tend to normalize high schools cracking down on mere rumors of a relationship between two students. Coincidentally enough, the taboo is lifted in the very day of the graduation. This raises some obvious questions, but I won't go into that.
Leaving that little bit of social commentary aside, the dynamic between the ML and the FL is actually quite endearing. I've been past the point of tolerating overly insecure and controlling characters for years now, and I appreciate that these two and their three friends are just normal people. Everyone has their flaws, but they're not exaggerated for melodrama. You just see their relationships evolve over the course of several years. I missed some more development in their background stories, but I suppose the extra screen time was used to flesh them out as a group so it's okay. If I had to complain about something, it'd be that the relationship between the ML and the FL is too perfect: they always trust each other, always know what the other is thinking, always want to be together, and almost never have significant problems or disagreements. It's nice to watch, but real people can't be held up to these standards.
The contrast between the primary couple being obvious about their relationship and the secondary couple dodging the issue until the last minute was interesting, but the fifth friend whose role was just to add some variety and comedic relief... poor guy. The show makes it abundantly clear that this is about two couples in the making who always sit and stand beside each other, which results in the fifth friend always being relegated to the outside of the group. The only time he's allowed to be in the center of the group is when they're all sitting on the stairs in front of the hospital with him after he'd been taking care of his grandma on his own while she was hospitalized. Maybe I'm splitting hairs, you tell me.
All in all, the plot is all about putting them in everyday situations and having them work out their relatable but not life-changing personal problems. There's not much suspense or mystery because you know how it's going to end by the two-minute mark: the opening already tells you that much. You're just along for the ride. And, if you like the characters, the ride is great.
The thing with endings is they have a lot of influence on the aftertaste of the whole story. I'm reluctant to rewatch or reread things that I loved—and know I would love again—even 95% of the way through just because the ending ruins it all. Luckily, in this case the show ends in a satisfying way, arguably not rushed, and also justified by the events that lead up to it without last-minute asspulls to shift the narrative towards a certain conclusion. I think checking this point off is what makes it the best Chinese drama I've watched so far—for a grand total of four, that is.
To wrap up this review, I just want to comment on the pattern I've been noticing of having male protagonists be good at basketball. If I had a nickel for every time I've seen that in a Chinese drama, I'd have four nickels. Which isn't a lot, but it can't be a coincidence at this point considering it's a 100% rate.
TL;DR:
Watch this for a great coming-of-age story with main characters that don't create forced melodrama and are actually reasonable people. It's hard to describe this type of show in just a few words, but it manages to differentiate itself from other works in the way characters and interactions are crafted. Admittedly, this is something more felt than rationally analyzed, but I think a big part of it is just developing characters to deserve the happy ending the show openly promises you from the start—and then not fucking up the ending itself, of course. You won't find heavy drama here, but it doesn't need it either to tell a compelling story.
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