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Toxic love, gratuitous wickedness, and repetitive script.
Bad boy meets good girl. Nothing original in the sea. Since Rebel without a cause, the pattern has been used in so many films and dramas. But in this case, ML is not only rebellious, but also rude and arrogant. Even after what happens to his family or to the 3 years in prison, he behaves exactly the same as before. There are no regrets, or a different attitude toward the FL, friends, or colleagues. He is the same. Seems a privileged intelligence gives the right to behave badly with the inferiors (for him: all except him).FL is a nice girl who seems attracted to ML's intelligence. Her role could be even worse and more naive, but she defends her own capacities and intelligence. So, in that sense, we can save her. However, she believes everything that ML says or does. She doesn’t need explanations, nor does she need to be asked for her opinion. If he says or does anything, she believes him and follows him as a puppet. Even when he screams at her or defies her parents. If that is not a toxic love and a big red flag….
Her mother is especially snobbish and square-minded, but that doesn’t justify how he treats her parents. Even when we know he does what he does for her best interest. Who is he to decide for her?
Mention apart from the the 2 seconday male roles (Old Gao and Fang Zhijing). What on earth is someone going to believe such a level of hate and at such a young age? Nobody has suffered a bullying guy at school or university, or a jerky colleague? Does that justify even the intention of murder or the willingness to imprison a person? Old Gao has a serious problem of complex insecurities that made him absolutely crazy. No matter how the ML is, his attitude and actions cannot be justified or redeemed in the last two episodes. He needs psychiatric help.
In 36 episodes, everything is the same: bad guys, a good girl, and her nice friends. Well, I want to mention the role of her man friend: Tian Xiu Zhu. I imagine his name is Tian (Heaven) because indeed he is the only “angel” in the drama.
Love? I don’t see any love. Despite the fact that there are people like the main characters in the world, we can not romanticize them. Or at least, if we do, let’s do because they change and show love and mercy. One last episode doesn’t solve the previous ones.
I didn’t like. In fact, this drama made me feel uncomfortable. However, I waited until the end to see if there was any change, and endured all episodes because of the great performance of all actors and actresses. They were superb. Specifically: Arthur Chen, Zhao Zhi Wei and Zhang Jing Yi.
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Can you give yourself for love ? I can't, but can you ? Zhu Yun can.
It's a very good drama with very good actors and a good storyline. I really liked the overall feeling the story gave me and more importantly i loved the FL.But there is one thing i can't understand about her and that's her unconditional love for Li Xun. This guy is such a red flag, he never gives anything first, never puts himself on the line for her. She's just endlessly giving and he's always receiving. The little he gives (dress, food or just a smile) lets her feel extatic and that's sad to see. He's like and iron door on an iceland and she needs to warm the whole island before he dares to look at her. I know some ppl will disagree saying "he has traumas" or "he has business in mind" but when you put yourself in her shoes and the guy you love treats you like this your love will quickly turn into disdain. I would've loved if she was feeling disgusted by him and made him crawl for her but no. Whatever it was really good either way.
My girlies reading this remember : never crawl for a man, as a woman society makes you crawl since birth and when you learn to stand up, you have to stand firm on your feet or less some man will want you on your knees again.
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Combustible Chemstry With Problematic Elements
I find myself rather torn on this show. Initially I didn't like the romance - I felt the male lead was bit too standoffish and remote, making is extremely challenging in determining if he actually liked Zhu Yun (especially in the earlier episodes). Some of his decisions, especially the middle section of the show, felt incredibly toxic and, well, mean. Like, mean boy mean. And I still stand by that assessment all of the months since watching the show, but I find myself returning to rewatch their romance time and again. These two actors had excellent chemstry with each other, which makes some of their more problematic moments as a couple, or even as friends, palatable. I also see definite character growth between them as individuals and as a couple. I recommend going into this show knowing these two are flawed and their development takes time and patience. It's ultimately worth it in the end.The show does an excellent job with having a second male lead that is not actively vying romantically for the female lead. The female lead and second male lead are friends, but not romantically attracted to each other. It was refreshing to see the two male leads competing more so as friends, allies, and business partners rather than as potential love candidates. I can't remember the last time (or any time) a second male lead has not developed some sort of feelings for the female lead, and it was absolutely wonderful.
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At first I wasn't interested at all, but after a year, it managed to be somehow on my Netflix list. Watched a few episodes and it was good. Can't remember why i didn't like it last year. Anyway now I'm looking forward to more episodes. I hope this one ain't a waste of time.After the first few episodes, the cycle of the FL chasing the ML while the ML pushed her away, got so tiresome.
Anyway, I guess the writer(s) did good in presenting human nature. They made plenty of recognizable characters: an underprivileged but gifted ML, a nice girl next door type from a picture perfect family, loyal friends, backstabbing envious friends (their hopes and dreams, their arrogance, greed, deception, discrimination).
All in all I think it's a good watch.
❤️
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This coming of age, opposites attract, character driven drama is not my usual binge-fluff. Good performances from the cast. A good variety of supporting characters, providing the story with richness. A bumpy journey with a hopeful ending. Oh and a Zhou Shen soundtrack I love!
I sympathise with FL, she suffers from a lot of noise; her parents, self doubt, lack of clarity and direction. Her life is privileged and secure but she is numb. The Lighter sets off a spark within her, she starts to believe her own ability and takes risks. Her growth is subtle but not without value. That spark is more than romance, it's challenging and gives her purpose.
She found security in ML's brilliance. He always has a plan. She's kept in the dark a lot, which is problematic, definitely, but his actions show he always had another plan.
ML is a brilliant AH that makes for an interesting watch. He does grow and mature enough to wrap up the story, but he still has a lifetime to continue growing. I liked that he doesn't say "Don't worry, I've got this" he says "You worry. I fix it." I didn't like the tickling 🤮😅 I don't find that endearing.
Someone commented they could do with therapy. Most people could benefit from therapy 😅.
A shout out to "Ling Ba" (Go Ahead reference) for kind of adopting this troubled kid.
9/10 recommend
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If time could stop at the moment we first met.
“Lighter and Princess" is a captivating Chinese drama that tells the story of a selfish yet brilliant young man and a kind-hearted, innocent young woman who meet in college. The male character is always seen carrying a lighter and affectionately refers to the female character as his princess. Initially, the male character's selfishness can be frustrating, but as the story unfolds, he learns valuable lessons and becomes more considerate and compassionate towards others.The two lead actors deliver stunning performances that beautifully portray the depth of their characters' emotions and the challenges they face. Despite the obstacles they encounter, their love ultimately conquers all.
The drama is filled with both heart-wrenching and heartwarming moments, leaving the audience on an emotional rollercoaster. The ending quote, "If time could stop at the moment we first met... she may be the last person I see in my life," speaks to the profound love shared between the two characters.
Overall, "Lighter and Princess" is a great love story with amazing characters that will have you both crying and laughing. It's a must-watch for fans of Chinese dramas.
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Good first half
I’m only giving this a high rating for all the episodes before he went to prison. It was a great slow burn romance and I love how they did it with “the bad boy” and “the good girl”. But holy moly after he got out of prison he was the most verbally and emotionally abusive person. But then you would see her smiling with him in the next scene? And he never apologized for his behavior? I would have loved to see something like - After prison he was trying to push her away because he felt like she was too good for him and he didn’t deserve her- but he never explained why he was so awful and atrocious to her. And then she just loves him no matter what? I don’t like love stories where the mall treats her like crap and she still loves him anyway…But anyway the first part before he goes to prison is the only part worth watching.
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A love story about two people growing together
Lighter & Princess is more than just a romance drama. It is a story about ambition, dreams, personal struggles, and finding someone who believes in you. Li Xun and Zhu Yun have one of the most memorable relationships in modern C-dramas. Their personalities are completely different, but that difference creates incredible chemistry.Li Xun appears cold, arrogant, and difficult at first, but behind that personality is someone with strong emotions, deep determination, and a painful past. Zhu Yun is the person who slowly understands him and becomes his greatest support. Their relationship is not just based on attraction — they challenge each other, push each other to grow, and become better because of their connection.
What makes their love story so powerful is that they go through real struggles. After university, their paths separate because of misunderstandings, pride, and painful circumstances. Li Xun faces a major downfall that changes his life, while Zhu Yun has to deal with the hurt of losing the person she loves. Years later, when they meet again, their reunion is filled with unresolved emotions, but their bond proves impossible to erase.
The most beautiful part of their story is watching them slowly rebuild their relationship. Zhu Yun does not simply save Li Xun; she understands him and chooses to stand by him, while Li Xun learns to let go of his walls and accept love and support. Their journey from passionate young love to a more mature relationship is what makes the drama so unforgettable.
The acting is excellent, especially in the emotional scenes. The drama handles both sweet moments and painful moments very well, showing that love is not always about perfect happiness but about choosing each other through hardships.
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One of the best cdramas!!
Personally, I was hooked when I first watched the first five episodes of Lighter and Princess. I watched this twice and all I can say is that this drama will really melt your heart and make you feel that love is worth fighting for. Even if the ML and the FL had gone through a lot of obstacles together, they never gave up on each other and still found their way towards each other's arms. The friendship, the romance, the drama and everything in between are all worth watching for. So to speak, this drama deserves to be watched.Was this review helpful to you?
Lighter & Princess' is the Perfect Rom-Com for a Feel-Good Watch
2021 Chinese romantic comedy drama that tells the story of two people from different backgrounds who fall in love despite their differencesThe acting in "Lighter & Princess" is good, and the chemistry between the two leads, played by actors Wang An Yu and Zhang Ya Qin, is believable and cute. The drama is well-paced, and the storyline is engaging, although it does have some predictable plot points.
The drama also touches upon themes of social class, discrimination, and the importance of family.
Overall, lighthearted and enjoyable romantic comedy that will leave you feeling warm and fuzzy inside. While it may not be the most groundbreaking or original drama out there, it is still worth a watch for fans of the genre.
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Lighter and Princess is enemies to lovers done right. The tension between the two main characters was next level and their chemistry was obvious in every scene. When the story starts off in present day, it’s very intriguing and you want to know more, but then it quickly jumps to flashbacks and stays there for much longer than expected. Parts of the flashbacks to college dragged on and there was a bit too much focus on school projects, but their evolution from strangers to rivals to friends to lovers was fantastic. The two of them felt like opposites in most ways but for some reason they seemed to get each other. The development of their relationship felt really organic. It was a little disappointing that they got together and the story immediately flashed forward three years, as it would have been great to see more of them as a happy couple in college, although what they did show was adorable.
The main conflict that unfolds at the end of the college storyline was a little strange. For two supposed geniuses, neither the villain nor Li Xun seemed to have particularly good plans. Li Xun could be very impulsive and hotheaded but, since they showed that he did plan his revenge, I would have expected it to be better. The way that he treated Zhu Yun felt pretty unnecessary.
At this point the story flashes forward another three years, to where they started in the first episode. One thing I found kind of bizarre was that they chose to have only three years pass since the end of the college storyline, but the characters really acted like it had been at least 10 years. Zhu Yun helped Li Xun get back on his feet and even though he really didn’t deserve it, it was satisfying to see her use her accomplishments, skill, and charm to get what she wanted for both of them. The company they both begin to work at became one of my favorite parts of the show. All the coworkers were shipping the two of them so hard and it made for a lot of comedic scenes. The chemistry the two of them had in the scenes when they are older showed how they had changed and it was darker and more mature than before. I really enjoyed the second half of the show because of their sizzling chemistry.
Li Xun was definitely a bit of a red flag and he did say some very hurtful things to Zhu Yun. Even if you could tell he was trying to push her away and that he felt bad, there was never enough of an apology to her. She gave and gave to him and he really needed to grovel instead of giving a short apology. However, even before they got back together, this couple was really the definition of a couple that would burn down the world for each other. Even though Zhu Yun did put up with a lot from Li Xun, she wasn’t willing to take any bullying from others, whether it was towards herself or Li Xun. I love seeing a protective female lead. Towards the end, the couple was very cute, I just would have liked them to get back together a little sooner.
Old Gao, their classmate turned villain, was a classic insecure man and I didn’t have a lot of sympathy for him. Li Xun definitely screwed him over a few times but Old Gao’s level of anger felt way too high for the situation. It was obvious that he actually resented Li Xun so deeply because he was jealous that Li Xun was smarter, better, and attractive to women. Li Xun’s trust in him felt insane to me when it was obvious how much Old Gao resented him. The resolution of this storyline in the end was such a disappointment and felt like a total cop out. I wished they’d gone a different way with it.
I could not stop watching this show and I binged it so fast. The chemistry was fantastic, the music was amazing, and there was a good balance between darker, lighter, and more comedic elements.
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The beginning of how I fell in love with Feiyu. Actually, it seems like I once saw an fmv/video from their drama on my YouTube homepage, but I wasn't interested at that time. I really liked their love-hate relationship, and surprisingly, when they were dating, it was really cute, like a real relationship. Lixun liked to tease Zhuyun, but I didn’t really like the early episodes. I thought they were quite long, especially when it went back to their college days, but it turned out that was the exciting part. Although I didn’t really like it when Lixun broke up with Zhuyun, luckily Zhuyun was very patient with her husband, and thankfully it had a happy ending. Was this review helpful to you?
