This review may contain spoilers
The unofficial sequel to Love Game In Eastern Fantasy
Plot Summary:Chu Li is a finance major that somehow shifty’s her way into becoming a book editor, Zhou Chan is an author. Actually they’re online friends that have developed crushes on each other but neither of them knows the others identity at first and they butt heads constantly. Shenanigans abound.
The Second leads for me is actually the better relationship to follow. But they don’t get the screen time for it to feel satisfying. Which is fair since it’s not really their story.
Esther Yu, as Chu Li is an adorable well meaning and competent book editor. Ding Yu Xi, as Zhou Chuan is an arrogant, proud and dumber than his success would lead you to believe author.
Best of OST:
Esther Yu on the OST. Cute… 😍
https://youtu.be/4thQ92s26BU?si=IGNrJmEEiEkV_7Fc
Overall, this drama doesn’t really have a comprehensive OST, relying a lot on the above track. But it gets the job done.
https://youtu.be/dghP0XCF8eI?si=YF2Rj5uYXcDSV6SY
Gripes:
The pacing is a bit slow, I would have liked to have spent more time with the relationships, but the story got bogged in the minutia of the publishing industry, which I guess is exactly what they were going for.
Re-watch:
Would I watch it again?
Yeah, it’s cute enough, but I’d probably be skipping through a lot of it.
Would I watch it with my brother?
I might be able to convince him to watch it as a sequel to “Love Game In Eastern Fantasy”, but this is exactly the type of show he avoids watching.
Would I watch it with my kid?
I think when my daughter get’s older, I’d like to watch it with her, if only for showing her that this is a possible career path.
Final Thoughts:
The drama was cute, the romance was satisfying, but the publishing industry remains kinda boring.
Rating:
7.6/10
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Funny and delightful
I generally don't like it when the FL has a high annoying voice. HOWEVER, Yu Shu Xin does a great job in this drama and is so funny! She's got some sass to her. Ultimately, the actress is perfect for her role. Her bubbly demeanor suits the character well. Her bantering comes natural and I think she brings out the contrast between the ML and FL well.Ding Yu Xi is a great actor. Some parts felt a bit over the top, but then again, that's kind of his character.
I think the relationship between Zhou and his father is painful to witness. However, it is very honest. I had a similar mother/daughter relationship. I like how the drama resolves their issues.
Overall, the drama was well paced, well developed, and a joy to watch.
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A cutesy rom-com drama
If you are looking for a fun, rom-com drama, enemies to lovers romance, then this one will pretty much check all the boxes for you.A lot of people probably will start the drama because of Ding Yu Xi and personally, he is hit or miss for me. I thought he was fine in The Romance of Tiger and Lilly, I liked him in Intense Love, but he was okay in Moonlight. I think it’s because his stature is really feminine and small and so it’s hard to see him in a domineering ML role, but I know it’s a C-drama cultural thing.
This drama has mixed reviews depending on where you look. If you look at the Viki site, it’s a little lower, but if you look at MDL then it’s higher, so I guess it depends on what type of drama you are looking for.
This is a 100% You-have-to-be-in-the-mood-kind-or-drama.
You won’t get much substance, but pretty actors and cutesy rom-com troupes and that’s okay. Sometimes you just need to zone out and watch some rom-com C drama angst. The ML can be funny or annoying to watch depending on what kind of viewer you are.
Some found it problematic when the ML was being kind of mean to the FL in the beginning, again a very typical C drama troupe, but sometimes it can be a little over the top.
I overall thought the drama was okay and I liked it. I did fast forward here and there depending on how frustrating or over the top storyline was, but I did have a smile on my face for the cute scenes.
So, if you want to zone out or are a fan of the actors, it’s a good one to watch.
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This review may contain spoilers
Beautiful Rhythm of Romance, Goals and 2nd Chances.
I am so lucky I've decided to binge watch this after watching the series Love Game in Eastern Fantasy. I just could not get enough of these two lovely main leads. They were so lovely and their chemistry is insane!! This series, is such is lovely! Did I say lovely again, Let me repeat and reiterate, LOVELY! This series helped me relax and its such an easy watch, and I'd recommen to watch this specially if you are stressed (like me!) LOL. I definitely enjoyed it and be transported to their wonderful and funny world.Characters
Characters are well thought out and the actors had fleshed them out so wonderfully. The friendships and dynamics are well entertwined. The characters are acted so well, that you don't see the actors but rather their personas themselves.
Gems
I love the fact that the male lead is such a green flag! SUPER DUPER greenflag! Once the male lead had decided to pursue his feelings its green light all the way! I also love that there is no annoying love triangles, b-chy villains, misconceptions, prolonged misunderstandings. And this show is so healthy that it didnt let the viewers suffer on the misunderstanding but instead promoted how the characters are very proactive with maintaning their connection and healthy communication. Yes! healthy communication! I LOVE LOVE this about this series. Plus the male lead is not your STUPID male that blindly believes a woman's statement at face value, but instead can see through their intentions. and not put himself in a situation where he could be misunderstood. Another plus is that the female lead is very confident and secure that you don't get that noble idiocy syndrome, like I will just go and let you be happy kind of move.
Story
The story is weaved of which it highlights character's goals - it might discovering love, understanding important truths, seeking succesful careers, rekindling one's craft as well as exploring a 2nd chance at love. I hope I didn't divulge too much but instead let this be an encouragement for you to see for yourself and enjoy this wonderful series!
The rewatch vallue is 10! I can totally watch this again and again! And laugh to my hearts content!
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This review may contain spoilers
this drama was almost impossible for me to finish due to how boring it is. the FL carrer is bizarre and she is tedius, with a workaholic persona that made her blind to the other aspects of her life. the ML was unreasenable, he hid from her for several episodes that they were online friends just to have fun manipulating her, and also, he was always comanding her to cook, which wasn't nice to watch. both of them were too naive.
and to top it all, there were the dull and uninteresting supporting characters, i skiped all of their scenes.
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A classic!!
As much as I love the fluff and flirting with no satisfying conclusion of the main leads new drama “ Love Game In Eastern Fantasy”…It’s made me appreciate this drama a million times more… a proper beginning, middle and an end.
The story may seem slow in certain areas but with 4 more episodes than LGIEF… you get to see 75% of the cast from LGIEF and you get multiple kiss scenes, confessions and a proper ending with both leads in the scene 🎬
I’ll still be rewatching my Miao Miao and ZiQi clips from LGIEF but I’ll be forever binge watch Moonlight for its satisfying storytelling.
Please let the drama gods 🙏 pair these two for another Romcom in the future ♥️
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A beautiful love story set in the publishing industry.
Personal review:I loved this show. I absolutely adored it. The message was simple, chase your dreams and fight for what you want, but very sweetly portrayed. One of my pet peeves with Chinese shows is that they don't know how to wrap up the show. The beginning and middle are good but the end just falls apart; not this show. The last few episodes are one of the best. I loved the ending. The relationship between the two main leads was so good and honest. It felt like I was being given a peak into their lives, rather than just them telling a story. There is no extra drama, so it might not be for everyone , but I loved its understated story telling. No character was wasted, and everyone felt like real three dimensional people with their own motivation, dreams and way of doing things. Just a wonderfully told, simple story.
If I think about it, the story shows different relationship between different people and in different time in their life's, and how they got there. Our main couple were just starting their journey into their lives, professionally and personally. The second couple were people who had already broken up once, because of circumstances, and got a second chance. There were relationships between editors and writers, bosses and employees etc. So, this show is very different from your usual run of the mill Chinese dramas. I could actually empathize these these people and there lives. It felt real.
Pros:
The main leads had amazing chemistry. The acting of everyone was top notch. Many people did find the females' leads voice a little annoying, and her way of talking did bother me in the beginning, but her character is so different from her voice; she is so headstrong, that it became an interesting dichotomy for me; analyzing how she used her voice to throw people off and then get them to do as she wants. She was manipulative, but so earnest and good, pushing forward despite all obstacles, that it was amazing to watch. She never gave up on her writers and used every tool in her arsenal to help them.
The male leads character was also one that could have been very off putting, but this actor knows how to make him seem endearing rather than annoying. It amazed me how two people that could have become so unappealing, both the leads, were wonderfully handled by the actors. They felt like real people, who are actually people you could root for and not caricatures of the traits we like in our drama hero or heroin.
It was wonderfully balanced, especially the main male leads scenes with the second male lead. Their friendship is goals. They sometimes felt like two gossipy ladies, constantly fighting each other, but still the first person the other went to for help. They made me laugh at their antics and I enjoyed every minute they were on screen.
The music was very subtle and beautiful, quite fitting of the story they were trying to tell.
Cons:
The biggest issue I had with the show was that the story of the second couple felt underdeveloped. The only time I was bored during the show, was actually when the second couple was on screen. Their story had so much potential. I understood what they were trying to show, but I had to make leaps of conclusion, which annoyed me (I am not giving more details to avoid spoilers). I could logically deduce what was going in the characters head, but their story needed a little bit of oomph, some details; something just felt missing. I still liked their input to the show, and the second female lead was also a badass, she just felt like two or three people, throughout the show, without me as a watcher being shown the transition between those three personas. Same with the second male lead. He changed his mind and opinions, and they were unable to make me follow his logic.
Other than that, the show is a unique piece of storytelling that might not be for everyone, but one that I loved. What I would suggest is that you definitely give this a try. It is show that deserves being watched.
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not exactly my cup of tea, but enjoyable all the same
I came to this drama after finishing Love Game in Eastern Fantasy, excited to see Esther Yu and Ding Yu Xi together again, however, I found that Esther’s characters just ain’t for me.I guess LGIEF was an exception for me since the plot had everything I liked, but on this one, I found myself getting put off my Esther’s overly cute acting yet again. Both main characters come off as quite childish in this drama.
It ain’t that the acting was bad, but just not my cup of tea. Zhou Chuan’s antics were just so… childish is the only word I can use, really. He was a grown ass man who bullied the girl he liked, for lack of tact on how to treat her properly and, as I woman myself, I honestly can’t see how she chose him instead of the second male lead, who was more affectionate and direct in his intentions and a lot more attractive for that. Still, the chemistry between Esther Yu and Ding Yu Xi is undeniable, as annoying as their characters were to me, the both of them still look insanely good together (the kissing scenes were are little lacking tho, the secondary couple delivered a much better job at that).
On the other hand, the story of the drama was great, about dreams and supporting/going after one’s goals and hopes, and I loved that, which makes me think this is an enjoyable drama.
Also, as childish as the main couple were, the secondary one is a lot more mature with adult drama in their lives, looking more like adults in love than a couple of cute teenagers like the mains couple did to me.
If you’re bored or like Esther’s acting, do check the one out, since it’s a nice enough drama, however, I wouldn’t consider it a must watch, it’s just nice enough.
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This review may contain spoilers
My favorite C-Drama! <3
This was a show with the most bestest of all best endings: just a sweet happily ever after with our main characters being successful (girl)bosses. I loved everything about this show: the fun, the vibes, the music, the cinematography, the characters and their relationships. It was just such a fun show. Chu Li is such a great female lead: strong-willed, funny and sweet, you just have to root for her. I really loved the actor playing our male lead; he almost felt like an animated character at times, he made so many scenes sososo funny and I loved the bromance with his bestie. The second lead's second chance romance was so good too! I was very invested in their relationship!! Generally, all the side characters were interesting enough for me to care, I didn't skip a single second because I was overall so invested in the show. Shed some tears in the last episodes because it was either really sad or really sweet and happy. Overall, my favorite CDrama together with "A Romance of the Little Forest" (I knew I could trust Esther Yu! love her so much after these two dramas) - literally zero complaints: the perfect sentimental, fun romcom<333.Was this review helpful to you?
It's not that I disagree with the positive reviews...
...but honestly I don't have the attention span for this kind of slow-progressing storyline.The slowburn romance was lovely. Ding Yu Xi absolutely blows it out of the water as the tsundere ML who is clingy and head over heels in love but unable to show it. I love a good grumpy/sunshine setup.
But the majority of the drama revolved around the FL's career in editing and her workplace troubles, which almost immediately got tiring and I started skipping scenes by like 8 episodes in. (Ironic, actually, since I personally have worked in the fiction editing business for years now. You'd think it would be uniquely interesting to me.)
Also, Esther's voice >.< I cannot get over the baby talk, it's just impossible to ignore.
TROPES:
- boss/employee relationship (author & editor)
- grumpy ML / sunshine FL
- ML falls first and is clingy, possessive, jealous, physically affectionate
- cheerful, hardworking but poor FL
- love triangle & eventual secondary couple
- workplace drama set in the publishing industry
- good skinship, great kisses, but be prepared to wait for it
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fun until it got too dragging
I initially really enjoyed this drama.It was fun until it got too dragging.
I liked the female main lead- at first, but her life just revolves around her work. I understant the grind. The love one has for their work and passion. But in this case, it superceeds almost everything in her life. At first it was cute and admirable, but as I kept watching, it became too cringey and dragging. It felt like it was romanticizing how you’re supposed to just take every hit if if means you get the goal. It portrayed how its okay for a company to just use you as a tool, as long as you produce something again, they’ll take you back. It’s aggravating to watch. And the female main lead just allows it all to happen.
I also have an issue with how nothing about this series goes a bit deeper in terms of personal relationship between the leads… For almost all the 36 episodes all she ever talks about with everyone is work. All about the book, manuscripts, ghost writing, etc. I swear, it’s all about books and work. I know that’s the theme, but there should be something deeper in there. It felt superficial. There is nothing in this story that gave the characters some dimension. The male lead has so much character in him, but when he interacts with the female lead it turns bland, because it’s all about work. Nothing fully about them…
Episode 35 is one of my favorite episodes as it was a full circle for the father and son. Out of all the episodes, this one showed heart the most. The essence (challenges and happiness) of parent and child relationship was fully embodied here.
Out of everything they dealth with in this series, the issue with the celebrity is the part I loathed the most. Too much unnecessary drama for a series that’s supposed to focus on the publishing world.
I came here after watching a drama from the same leads, I had high expectations because I gave that drama such high ratings, but this, the story and execution, sadly really disappointed me.
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This review may contain spoilers
honestly just not it.
The plot/story is cute and interesting and has potential but whoever wrote this has issues. let’s start with the characters, fl is cute and all. ml is childish and toxic and a red flag. 2ml is nice but I don’t understand why they have to push him with 2fl, which is his ex, back together when they just didn’t work out and still have a lot of problems they really need to talk over instead of just showing some interest in each other here and there. there’s a side character with curly hair, and in this drama it’s pretty passive aggressive and also almost directly saying that she’s ugly bc in one of the episodes the fl had to go on a blind date, which she didn’t want to go to, so she styled her hair like that girl’s hair (which is also her friend/coworker) and she said that she styled herself like this so that they guy wouldn’t like her. I mean, how much more obvious can you make this. this story was not written well nor is it written by someone with good morals. it’s still a semi cute drama is you really need to waste some time I guess. oh and also tbh I’m not feeling a whole lot of chemistry between the leads. sure there are moments where they get close in distance, yk but they just don’t really hit much emotions or anything. again I think part of it has to do with the writing and not just actingWas this review helpful to you?
