This review may contain spoilers
Interesting story, underwhelming cast
Before starting the review, I want to emphasize that while I do lean towards certain actors or actresses when I dramas to watch but I am not biased when it comes to good / bad acting.This is a very real insight into the IT industry in today's world. When you're behind the trend, you lose. When you don't understand the audience (in different industries) well enough to cater your product to fulfil their needs, you lose. When you do not have connections, you don't get a head start. Sad, but that's true. I love the progression of this drama. They brought us back to where it all began - university. This is another true scenario. If you see yourself as a kid who is just attending university to get a degree and earn credits enough to get yourself into the job industry, that is a very old-fashioned thinking. University is where people should get themselves equipped with not just academics but connections and experiences enough to get yourself a good start in the job industry (or even get a job at all). I like how the scriptwriter perfectly categorised these different types of people in university.
The story just made sense to me. Whether or not you're a person with natural talent or just a person who is so-so, the decisions that you make will eventually lead you into different pathways. Li Xun and Gao Jian Hong are your perfect example. This is why the story deserves a solid 8.
However, there are parts where I don't quite like or think the drama is lacking.
1. The female lead. I don't dislike the character but this actress is honestly not portraying the character well enough. Is it just me or the female character has a problem showing expressions? She doesn't look angry when she's supposed to, she doesn't look sad when she's supposed to. When she makes eye contact with the male lead, she is just staring at the male lead, but there is no emotion to it. She is quite stiff overall and I don't know about you, but I can't connect with the female lead character at all. In fact, I think the actress playing Ren Di does better than her.
2. How the story ended with no conclusion on Zhu Yun's parents' approval. So do the parents approve the relationship or not? They highlighted the parents' disapproval multiple times throughout the drama, I am assuming that their approval is very important and if you're heading towards a happy ending for the couple, shouldn't there be a firm conclusion to what the parents actually think?
3. You know how there's one part where Li Xun went to jail because he blinded Fang Zhi Jing. First of all, for a villain like him, why is he only imprisoned in the end? Also, his eye looked perfectly fine to me. Small detail but it kind of bothered me during the drama.
Overall, it is a good story. I like the progression but there are too many areas that are lacking. The chemistry between the characters are not exactly off the charts either. Highly recommend to watch but this is definitely not the kind of drama you'd get withdrawals after it's over.
Was this review helpful to you?
This review may contain spoilers
A very basic School/Varsity but unique of its own way
As saying before it is a basic varsity life romance drama but is different from others.Even common fight, romance scenes were not boring or skip able.
Firstly telling the bad part.
This is an IT based drama but as an IT person, I was often asking why they showing these are all so easy to work. Some college student can successfully build an IT company in short time but when a genius comes to picture they all just shake. a new game or software making was so easy because hero is genius, here they were showing. The expert will roll their eyes because of these.
The male lead is so arrogant person. He is terrible team player. Some will be coming in his defense that he was just telling others their true ability etc but even if you are Einstein still you need to respect your team member and tell them your plan. They may be can't contribute like you but can help you in small process.
The ending should have more scenes. Some scenes were shoot but didn't broadcast, don't know why.
Coming to the good part...
I had seen a clip of their romance scene which didn't grab me here but somehow saw a clip of their initial college days which made me curious.
An obedient female lead and a narcissist male lead which is very common in dramas. Later female lead fell in love and try to pursue the male lead, its all in here. Now why its different? Female lead was obsessed but wasn't price of her self respect. Time to time male lead needed to go after her. And the major plot began because male lead did something for the female lead's happiness when she wasn't even his girlfriend. She knows her priority even if the whole world is saying the opposite. She is intelligent, well aware, hard working person.
Male lead was genius programmer. He basically look down to everyone. He has backstory of how he was at disadvantages from childhood and that's why he couldn't afford any mistake. He had shown most of his good only to female lead. It was really surprising how sweet boyfriend he is throughout the drama. But terrible when he needed to push her away, he can hurt her to the core. He has some in his arrogance and you will root for him. He was truly a king like their osts saying. He can build an empire and can win over from scratch if anyone snatch it from him. All he need is his personal navigator. I was rooting for him most of the time because of female lead's believe in him. That strong impact she has on his character.
This drama keeps me confused what character should I like and what shouldn't. At some moment I hated a character and after some episodes I felt sympathy for him/her. At the end I couldn't hate anyone.
There were two more couple here. Their story closure were also very well written. Other support characters were also good. Everyone left impact, No unnecessary story or event was in this drama.
The drama beginning keeps the viewer curious which was good move from the script writer. And the ending was cherry on the top. You will find yourself smiling like the main two characters were without knowing.
It was journey of a boy who always think no one can help him to rise until a girl came to his life when he started to waver tough he wasn't distracted. He had gone to astray by his own choice and when he again started to rise he realized all the success would be in vain if the girl is not his side.
If you like college romance and revenge type drama, this is definitely for you.
Was this review helpful to you?
On the fence
I can be quite picky but the generosity of some of these reviews is quite something! Yes I'll admit that even I couldn't get enough of the ML buzcut, especially in the all black outfits. The drama, however, is nothing short of these seemingly adults throw a tantrum and whispering me to sleep at times.I does feature themes that do make slice of life genre deep and contemplative but childishness of it all dillutes most of the effect. Basically, you have this genuis ML with a prickly personality and seemingly non-existent social skills but ...wait! He also spurts out some words of wisdom and deep life insights and do some dumb things like land in jail quite recklessly.
Then the tantrums, first it's school and understandable, the it's competitions the work but it's adults hence ridiculous, the its other ML but with high stakes....
It's akin to the Joker's villain story being that he could never beat Batman at Mario Cart
Otherwise everything else - whatever's left - is not bad. Everyone else acting is solid. My reservations about the male lead's acting may be unjustified of the characters calls for such a depiction, but who on earth wears that face their entire life as if they were conscious they are the main lead of some Cdrama!?
Was this review helpful to you?
Excellent Cdrama Writing
Actually, I have watched a lot of Chinese dramas. I started with a light drama "A Love so Beautiful". I am quite a fanatic I could say. But I don't have particular favorites when it comes to actors and actresses. Once I read a good review, surely I would watch it. This one is amazing writing. Both artists played well in their roles. The actings are both standouts. With regards story, I will give it high quality with fewer flaws. After watching, I find myself shifting leads. It is quite heartbreaking that the ML who use to give outstanding performances here is facing huge controversy that gives negative feedback to this masterpiece work. I am hoping that he could work on a lot of projects that will make him shine more brightly. May he reflect and put by heart all the good qualities he played into this drama? He is an amazing actor after all. The female lead is also a great actress. This is worth watching a million times.Was this review helpful to you?
This review may contain spoilers
natural and cute chemistry between the leads!
I enjoyed watching the dynamics between the leads especially during their uni era. Like hes a genius but his EQ is quite low and she is forced to involve herself with him due to some issues. I liked how they didnt make the FL character boring and gave her chances to be independent and strong. However at the start its nothing much, she was mostly following everything he was telling her to do.For the ML i wont say hes a red flag but more like his personality became like that because of all he went through. He was quite a bad leader in terms of leadership and bringing the team together. I was triggered multiple times when he used to just throw around comments like "are you sure you can do it?". Hes used to doing everything on his own so didnt treat his teammates well. Except for her he made her learn and develop (but thats cause he likes her).
The villain aka their friend, their 3rd teammate in the group. I felt so sad for him because he was such a passionate guy who just wanted to learn. But in the team continuously his efforts kept getting disregarded by Lixun. I didnt like how Zhu Yun also just stood and watched all this happening. She only tells Lixun "be nicer to Jian hong" and thats it. She does apologise to him but again disregards his feelings and follows her and lixun's plan. So Jian Hong going "evil" was just a matter of time.
The romance is really cute. I feel both of them were really natural with each other. Even after the breakup they had a regular colleague relationship until they got back together.
However I do feel this drama could have been 24 episodes. Alot of the scenes felt repeated and situations were just repeating. Other than all the angst scenes its still a cute fluff~
Was this review helpful to you?
Was this review helpful to you?
This review may contain spoilers
Great chemistry but female lead deserves better...
I have such high hopes for this drama because of the high ratings and good feedback. It was also all over social media. So I went into this drama with high expectations, only to feel disappointed at the end.The leads have such good chemistry but the character of the male lead was so poorly written that I wonder what the female lead sees in him to the point that she's willing to destroy herself for this man. Fast forward many years later and she is still madly and deeply in love with him even though he treats her like sht. Yes, the male lead is broken but it doesn't cost much for him to treat the female lead a little better. Literally the bare minimum. So many misunderstandings in this drama that I feel could have been resolved easily with proper communication. Also, I really don't get why many people glorify the male lead haha. I wouldn't be able to handle him in reality.
Despite these points, I still managed to finish the drama. Probably because I'm curious about how the revenge plot ends. It has some good points. But for a drama that has so much hype, it was definitely a letdown for me.
Was this review helpful to you?
If you like cold, brilliant boy falling for earnest / kind girl, this is the drama for you
==Breakdown==Background plot - 45%
Romance - 40%
Misc comedy - 15%
Background plot - Fine
Romantic chemistry - Excellent
Misc comedy - Good
Production value - Good
If you're looking for a drama where the boy (eventually a man) is cold and brilliant and secretly smitten with the upright, good girl (eventually a woman) then this is the one for you. It's *almost* the best in genre (that I've seen so far) and the chemistry between the main couple is chemistrying 100% of the time. Both the ML and the FML were masterful in their scenes together and the romance that takes place on screen felt authentic.
The problem was the story. Or rather, the story is problematic. Usually (interestingly enough) I can easily disassociate and watch a problematic story with no issue. But I felt like the writers took extreme measures (from the middle to the end) to have the ML mistreat the FML to such an extent, I couldn't root for them to be together in the end. I actually wanted her to walk away and leave him in the dust. All I needed was one begging scene, one scene where he crawls for her, something like in 'A Love So Beautiful' when Jiang Chen begs Chen Xiao Xi to give him one more chance, and then he's openly smitten from that point forward.
Unfortunately, the writers never gave it to us, Lighter barely apologizes to Princess, and thus I ultimately felt unsatisfied.
But if you don't need a groveling scene in these kinds of scenarios, you'll likely love this drama. It might become your favorite.
For the record, 'A Love so Beautiful' remains my favorite cold guy falling for kind girl show. If you have any other recs, please let me know!!
Was this review helpful to you?
This review may contain spoilers
A fantastic drama - highly recommend
LIKED====================
ACTING
The acting is magnificent; the leads can do more with a five-second look than many actors do with 16 episodes. The supporting cast is also quite good.
CHARACTERS
Him - he's an arrogant genius, a true genius. He's not Do-san; he's not just good at programming and weak elsewhere. His genius comes through in his ability to analyze business trends, in art, in philosophy, in predicting people's behavior. He's a slightly saner, slightly nicer Hannibal Lecter. And coupled with that genius is an absolute arrogant belief in himself and his superiority over others, it's both his greatest weakness and his greatest strength. Couple all of that with an iron will and you have a truly formidable and often downright frightening hero. Numerous times I found myself shaking my head at his behavior but fully understanding it.
Her - The extent to which she falls for him is frightening. She will forgive nearly anything he does and has an unshakeable trust in both his ability and his decisions, even though he makes numerous bad decisions throughout the show. You'd expect her scary love combined with his super arrogant, ultra genius to lead to an unequal relationship and there are certainly moments of inequality but overall this is one of the more equal screen partnerships you'll ever see. The directors walked a tightrope here and, for the most part, kept upright.
CHEMISTRY
Romance - these two... I'm not a big believer in chemistry as I often disagree with folks who say characters have it or don't have it but these two? This is the definition of chemistry. This show has some of the finest hugs, kisses, and conversations you'll ever see onscreen. There are several scenes between them that I've watched over and over and over. They are sooo gooood together!
MUSIC
I rarely notice soundtracks but as you're watching the captioned lyrics crawling across your screen - they become an element of the story, reinforcing the visuals. And catchy? I literally can't get Zhou Shen's fireworks out of my head.
OTHER
Cinematography - it's outstanding. It doesn't overpower the drama but every scene perfectly sets the mood.
The Plot - I was immediately hooked and despite some issues (we'll get to those) it worked for me.
DIDN'T LIKE
===================
First - let's be clear - I loved this drama so these are quibbles for me but for some folks they might be more problematic
Lack of growth - Our lead will make some mistakes. And he has some character flaws. And that's okay! But I didn't feel that he necessarily learned from those mistakes or fixed his flaws. There wasn't a lot of observable growth.
Time Jumps - The plot hooks you right from the beginning but... but then we take a LOOONG trip down memory lane to how their relationship started. Initially, I was frustrated as I wanted to get back to the present but this part of the story is interesting so once I got hooked on THAT part of the story I was okay. But it took a few episodes.
Love Denial - one of my pet peeves is when a character decides that their OTP would be better off without them so they sabotage their relationship, often in a way that is nearly guaranteed to turn their partner into a soulless, sobbing husk of a human. Unfortunately, there's a lot more of that going on here than I like to see. Having said that - it worked for me as much as this trope can ever work for me - I could understand the motivation even though I didn't agree with the decision.
School Setting - I'm not generally a fan of school settings and a good chunk of this show is set in school. But without being too spoilery, the ostensible school setting is better understood and more closely akin to a work setting.
Plot Holes - there are some glaring plot issues if you stare too long or look too closely. They didn't bother me too much but the story would have been better if they'd fixed them.
SOME PEOPLE MIGHT NOT LIKE
Work Setting - this entire drama is set around a series of work challenges. I enjoyed this but I've heard that some people are not fond of this kind of drama.
Was this review helpful to you?
This review may contain spoilers
Satisfying journey of naive teenager to the working adult
their journey may seems so longUntil they met and till everybody let go of their hatred and move on
i think this drama can show their character development
The ML seems arrogant at first but as epoisode go on you may feel he changed a lot
He let go of her ego of being the best or as known mr know it all due to some circumstances
Until the end you can see her character really changed to mature adult and he really think a lot before he going to make decision due to the past mistake
The ML even though he really young but eventually he really did well in this drama
He really have nice future if continue to impove her acting
The FL character is so naive at the beginning with her pure soul and heart that make the ML changes time by time. I think when he met the ML she feel joy and upgraded when he give her difficult task
That make she think she really enjoy the courses and how challeging is it. The parent is really typical educated parent that always save their image. Feel sad till the end they seems not approve their daughter wedding. In real life when a women married they may need their parent to blessing their marriage but at least ML and FL get support from their friend.
The story also teach us about forgiveness
When we get betray, we only think on how to get revenge and that will make our heart fee burdened by that revenge
In the end ML forgive the friend betrayal and start afresh.
Was this review helpful to you?
Realistic and Refreshing: A Break from the Usual C-dramas
Pros:-Realism Over Cringe: Unlike many C-dramas, this series stands out for its realism, a refreshing departure from the usual cringe-worthy moments.
-Escape from Kdrama Tropes: For viewers tired of typical Kdrama romance, this series offers a welcome change, providing a unique storyline and character dynamics.
-Chemistry Between Leads: The chemistry between the main characters is exceptionally good, making it feel like you're watching a genuine couple evolve from their college days into adulthood.
-Subtle Acting and Expressions: The male lead's subtle acting, particularly through eye expressions, adds depth to the characters, enhancing the overall viewing experience.
-Natural and Smart Female Lead: The female lead's portrayal as a natural, smart, and adorable character is a highlight. The absence of exaggerated attempts at cuteness is a refreshing departure from typical character portrayals.
Cons:
-Prolonged Friend Talks: One downside of the series is its tendency to linger on friend-related conversations, which may make the pacing feel slower than necessary.
-Ideal Episode Count: The storyline could have been more effectively conveyed in a shorter format, perhaps condensed to 25 episodes. This would have maintained a tighter narrative without unnecessary stretches.
This C-drama provides a realistic and engaging storyline, a welcome escape from the clichés of both C-dramas and Kdramas. The outstanding chemistry between the leads, coupled with subtle and natural acting, makes it a must-watch for those seeking a genuinely enjoyable romantic series.
Was this review helpful to you?
This review may contain spoilers
Of piercing gazes and steadfast love.
I was hesitant to watch this drama despite the good reviews that I read as, TBH, the title was a little odd. However, now that I have watched it, the title makes perfect sense and is apt!What I enjoyed:
- ML and FL had chemistry and they carried the drama well.
- Plot was quite intriguing on the whole. I was riveted and I kept wanting to know what would happen next. Plot moved along quite fast. Some lines of the drama were "da bomb" and meaningful.
- This was my first time watching the ML and I must say that he has charisma. He had a brooding and yet, piercing gaze. I liked his role as a super confident dude simply because he knew his own capabilities and he knew that he was remarkably talented and smart. He also had the work ethics to boot.
- I liked that the two leads only had eyes and feelings for each other. They were true to each other.
- I liked the whole bunch of people from Flying Heart Company. They were funny enough. I liked how they ended up supporting ML and FL.
- I liked the supportive female friends in the form of Ren Di and Fang Shu Miao. I liked that there was no b*tch in this drama and that Xu Li Na turned out to be endearing.
- I liked that the drama was pretty realistic on the whole. For instance, I liked how FL's parents were portrayed because it added realism.
- The starting track was dramatic and well-composed. I have been listening to it! The other songs as part of the OST were nice too. The songs fitted the different parts of the drama.
- I liked that the story had a happy enough ending and that everything wrapped up quite nicely.
What I didn't enjoy:
- Oh, I hated Gao Jian Hong and Fang Zhi Jing. They were total scumbags. I hated them to the core. I hated how they were so insecure and instead of using proper and ethical ways to better themselves, they chose to step on others to climb up.
- It was heartbreaking to see how ML lost his loved ones - parents and sister. I hated his brother-in-law.
Overall, this drama is pretty excellent and I highly recommend it! :o)
<3
Was this review helpful to you?
