1Fantastic couple, wasted on immature writing
This entire show can be summarized as the power of one woman's obsessive love and sacrifice.Pros:
1. Fantastic chemistry. Really top-notch acting from both leads. they suit each other. especially Zhang Jingyi. I can feel her yearning, her boundless love, every time she looks at him. Their romantic moments seemed so visceral and raw, it almost felt voyeuristic.
2. Beautiful music and the editing really emphasizes it. The songs were placed with much thought and really heightened every scene.
3. Well-written villain (Gao Jianhong) for most of the show I heavily empathized with his feelings of insecurity, shame, anger and despair. He was indeed mistreated by the male lead and sometimes female lead too. Some of his actions are not justifiable but you can really understand why he became the way he did which I think is important in these revenge stories
Cons:
1. We, as the audience are aware who the main lead is but in this show all the characters also act like Li Xun is the male lead. It's like he has the protagonist halo. The supporting characters all behave as if they know they're just extras. It doesn't matter that Li Xun is rude, cruel and arrogant. He can yell at his friends. He can yell at his colleagues. He can humiliate them in public and they just sigh and say 'oh well thats Li Xun for you' 'hes smart and handsome so he can do and say whatever he wants'. It was so unrealistic. Nobody in real life is that passive or accepting of terrible behavior no matter how smart the other person is.
2. The way their relationship and ml and fl character arcs are written is so particularly infuriating. Straight-A student Zhu Yun who is perhaps tiring of her parents' controlling nature meets arrogant, brilliant, mysterious and carefree Li Xun as freshmen in University. She is somewhat fascinated by him but mostly they get on each other's nerves. But she acknowledges his genius and they fall in love as they work together. Ever since their partnership in the programming base, Zhu Yun is particularly loyal to Li Xun. She stands resolutely with him no matter how rude or cruel he is to her friends coz ultimately he is right and they are wrong, he is smarter and better than them so she and all their friends need to be accommodating of his cruel brilliance. She's probably the only one in the show to even try to confront him but rather than confrontation it's more of a compromise. She ends up agreeing with him anyway or justifying his actions. They begin a romantic relationship coz she chases him and swears she will forever be unrelentingly supportive and kind and submissive. Then he goes to prison. You'd think their characters or relationships would change after this huge shift but no. she's still blindly sacrificial and supportive and giving while he teases, insults, sneers and is at best detached. When they finally get together it's not a happy moment coz I didn't feel for one second that he loves her as much as she loves him. All the sacrifices, all the adjustments, and all the pain in this relationship have been borne by her. He gives nothing but he takes endlessly. The development to their reunion is shoddy at best. Once again they get together coz she pursues him. They don't even have one real conversation despite having gone through so many traumatic changes.. Everything is swept under the rug to tie the endgame up in a nice, pretty bow. The audience is still left with the feeling that they know as much about Li Xun as they did in the first episode and he still is that arrogant college freshman. You're left feeling something akin to pity for Zhu Yun coz you know for the rest of her life she alone will be bearing all the responsibilities and the emotional weight of their relationship.
Perhaps I am in the minority but alas I could not enjoy an unequal relationship where all the burden of the sacrifice and the fate of the relationship is solely on the female lead.
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good drama, terrible message
Let's be clear. I watched the drama and liked it, but I'm pretty freaked out by the amount of people giving it 10.As a drama watcher I could give it a high score, but not as a woman.
The moral to take away from this as a woman is that we better meet a brilliant man and be his shadow. No matter how brilliant you are, be content to sacrifice yourself for him and everything will be fine.
There is a particular moment, where they are given an award for a project where the FL has been the leader, but he is the one who gives the speech and gets the credit. Because what's going to make you happier than seeing your man succeed!
The same goes for Xu Li Na. The egg scene is extremely disturbing. Her husband is clearly an abuser, but she still stays with him, because it's our responsibility as women to make men better through our love.
No, thanks. I've had enough of this. The better the drama is, the more it pisses me off that it has such a toxic message.
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One of the best modern c-dramas in the recent years
Among the normal youth c-drama, there might be some dramas with unexpected depth and warmth. Lighter & Princess is one such drama. Great acting, amazing chemistry, good soundtracks, and wonderful cinematography - this drama has everything the audience needs to enjoy it.Lighter & Princess is adapted from the novel The Lighter and the Princess’ Gown, written by Twentine. The name is taken directly from the story. 'Lighter' symbolizes the ML, Li Xun. He always carries a small lighter along with him, which he got from his father. 'Princess' depicts the FL, Zhu Yun. Li Xun always used to call her Princess and also gifted her a 'princess gown', when they were in college.
L&P proves that rather than an over-the-top plot and dumb comedy, a simple plot and depthy characters are enough to make a drama loved. Lighter & Princess is actually a hard-hitting drama with a slow and subtle plot build. It touches many real life problems as well. The pace of the story was perfect and catchy. The drama started in the present day and shows flashbacks to the past, when the leads were in college and, in Li Xun's case, when he was a high schooler as well. I won't talk much about the plot because of the risk of spoiling something, since the synopsis barely says what actually happens in the drama. The thing about the story that wowed me the most was how everything has a rich backstory. Everything is explained without loopholes. The reason why Li Xun always carries a lighter, why he dyed his hair blonde when he came to college ( yeah, we get to see Chen Fei Yu in blond hair, and believe me, he looks awesome in that! ), and why he always calls Zhu Yun "princess" or "your highness" etc. Everything connects with each other and makes the story beautiful and moving.
The romance in the story is another aspect I liked. Li Xun is an arrogant but brilliant student, who is very much ahead of his class in coding and programming. He was even more gifted and talented than his teacher. He's handsome as hell and attracts many girls, whom he drives away through humiliation. He's always been confident in himself and hasn't had even a bit of self-doubt. Many people admire him for his brilliantness and good looks, but they hate him for his arrogant attitude. He never trusted anyone but himself and always acts like he's the king. He doesn't abide by any rules and thus becomes completely opposite to Zhu Yun's character. Another aspect of the story that I enjoyed was the romance. Li Xun is a conceited but an intelligent student who is well ahead of his peers in coding and programming. One could say tha he I as gifted and talented even more than his teacher. He's also handsome as hell and attracts a lot of girls, whom he drives away through humiliation. He's always been self-confident and has never had any doubts about himself. Many people admire him for his intelligence and good looks, but they also fear and despise him for his arrogant demeanour. He never trusted anyone but himself and always pretended to be a King. He does not follow any rules and so becomes the absolute opposite of Zhu Yun's character. Zhu Yun is the ideal daughter that any parent would desire. She's beautiful, innocent, and pure as well.
When Zhu Yun first meets Li Xun, despite despising him, she's attracted to him by his carefree personality and confidence as well. As far as she could remember, Zhu Yun had always walked along the path that her mother had paved for her. She hasn't made a single decision for herself before and came to study programming because of her mother as well, not because she likes it. Thus, when he, Li Xun, entered her life, Zhu Yun had an urge to step out and experience life by herself. Because of Li Xun, she even started to have a liking for programming as well. Slowly, she saw herself falling in love with him. Li Xun noticed himself caring for the 'princess', who suddenly barged into his life, giving off warmth in his cold life. The romance was kinda slow burn and we got to watch how they warmed up to each other and dealt with every difficulty together.
The side characters were as interesting as the main characters too. No one felt unnecessary, and everyone had their own individual stories even without much screen time. The side characters were absolutely necessary for the plot. My favorite side character is, of course, Ren Di. I love her personality and how she deals with problems and follows her heart. In a way, she's similar to Li Xun but more open and friendly.
Now let's talk about the acting. I have not watched any works of Zhang Jing Yi or Chen Fei Yu before, but I have heard people say that Fei Yu's acting was lacking in Ever Night, his first drama. I don't know about it, but in this one he was absolutely phenomenal. I like actors who portray emotions through their eyes, and Fei Yu is one like that. He has gotten on my list of favorite actors with just this drama. Just through his gaze, one could decipher what he's feeling. That pain and anger that had been inside him for solong, we could see it. Zhang Jing Yi's performance made it seem like she was born for this role or that the character was made just for her. Her innocent appearance is perfect for the character and makes it believable.
The cinematography in L&P was simply beautiful. Each and every scene was aesthetically pleasing and very pretty to watch. It's rare to see such top notch cinematography in a c-drama, unless it's historical or xianxia.
The songs and background music used in this drama were catchy and very much in sync with the actual drama. I especially liked the song "Fireworks" by Zhou Shen and the opening theme.
Finally, it has been a long time since I properly liked a modern c-drama. I was disappointed in almost all the modern c-dramas I have seen this year. But, thank God, this came to my rescue. I highly recommend this drama to everyone who has been disappointed in the quality of recent modern C-dramas because I'm sure this won't disappoint you!
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really good drama, eng subs don't do it justice :(
Prior to this drama's release, I had heard about the cast and filming of it. I was surprised by how much I enjoyed the drama, the cast's chemistry, the storyline, and the soundtrack. The writers did an amazing job adapting the novel to the screen, maintaining many key moments from the novel and the two main characters' relationship, while making minor changes to plot and character backgrounds for better story flow and progression. The drama covers the story of romantic, familial, and friend relationships.I think the story portrays a very realistic relationship between the two main characters. The male lead, Li Xun, and the female lead, Zhu Yun come from very different family backgrounds and experiences, Li Xun a more tragic and Zhu Yun from a loving, well-off family. The story starts as more of a friends-to-lovers trope, but it's very clear how quickly they fall for each other. Zhu Yun, having always been an obedient daughter sees a side that she desires to be in Li Xun, and by being with him, she can rebel and be her "true self." The leads are not actually together for much of the drama, however, the team did a great job illustrating the push-pull of feelings prior to the actual relationship.Both characters have flaws--Li Xun is too closed off, a bit arrogant, and impulsive, but both love each other immensely, shown through LX pushing away ZY to protect her, and ZY still trusting him all throughout. Aside from the obstacles in their relationship, The college segment of the drama was so charming; all characters were lovable and the interactions and work they did remind me much of my own college experiences.
The distinction between the college romance and workplace romance is something I really enjoyed; there was a very obvious character development and while things seem different, they still are the same. LX and ZY still love and trust each other, continuing off from before, LX is still pushing away ZY to protect her, but ZY comes back stronger and determined to help him win his life and dreams back. I really love ZY's character in the way that she is strong and does everything in her power to protect LX because she loves him. I also think that the other coworkers at Feiyang are so funny a highlight of these emotional first few episodes of part 2.
Both lead actors portrayed the characters so well, I truly believe that they were meant to play them. Through behind the scenes clips, you can tell how hard they worked on bringing Li Xun and Zhu Yun to life. Chen Feiyu and Zhang Jingyi had amazing chemistry--there were so many moments in the episodes where they improvised and their interactions felt so natural.
I watched this drama completely in Chinese and had read the novel prior, and the Youtube English subtitles don't do the lines justice, often translated too simply or cliche/cheesy. Many of the lines hold deeper references to the novel and directly relates the personality and character progression, which is lost in these translations. Lighter & Princess is so much more than your standard idol drama; there's a long time span, imperfections in characters and relationships, and growth. While I feel like the ending few episodes of Lighter & Princess were a bit rushed, I'm still amazed by the closing scene, quoted exactly from the novel, with the carousel turning back time through their relationship, the coded heart stops beating, Li Xun's breathing, up to where they first met in college--this time from Li Xun's perspective. Though it's a happy ending, I can't help but feel a little sad every time I see that last clip. I will definitely be rewatching.
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Absolutely Amazing
I haven't enjoyed a drama in a long time, and this is it. Just felt right and real. The acting was awesome, not for a second did I think these characters weren't real. I loved the OST and the writing. LOVED IT. I have only ever given go ahead and you are my. glory 10/10 and this definitely joins the list. From the moment I started I couldn't not play the next episode. I liked how they didn't go back and forth but showed in a timeline, that really kept me interested. Overall give it a try, I promise you won't regret.Was this review helpful to you?
This review may contain spoilers
A Heartfelt Journey Through Youth and Growth ?
“Lighter and Princess” (2022)unfolds as a beautifully crafted Chinese drama that begins with the familiar setting of a college campus drama—a world where dreams and youthful romance collide. Yet, this 36-episode series evolves into something far more profound, delving into the complex terrain of human struggle and personal growth.Plot and Themes ✨:
Initially, 'Lighter and Princess' captures the light-hearted charm of youth, with its vibrant characters and their pursuit of dreams. But as the story progresses, it reveals a richer, darker undercurrent—a narrative that doesn't shy away from the rough edges of life. The drama is divided into two well-paced segments, each marked by impeccable cinematography and a soundtrack that perfectly complements its emotional beats.
At its core, the story is about the imperfections and struggles of its characters, which ultimately make them memorable. The journey of Li Xun (Chen FeiYu), Zhu Yun (Zhang JingYi), and Gao JianHong (Zhao ZhiWei) is a reflection of our own human quest to navigate flaws, seek redemption, and strive for personal growth.
Reflections and Insights 💭📚:
Watching this drama brought to mind Mitch Albom's memoir, *Tuesdays with Morrie*. The recurring theme, "What’s wrong with being number two?" resonates throughout the series, particularly through Gao JianHong's journey. The drama explores why we chase after being the best and questions whether this pursuit is truly fulfilling.
In essence, the series suggests that personal growth is not about outshining others but about surpassing our past selves. It’s a journey of self-improvement and understanding what truly matters to us, rather than merely striving for external validation.
Characters and Development 🌟❤️:
- Li Xun: An introverted genius who struggles with loneliness and a desire to make a difference in the world. His character's evolution—from a solitary coder to a loving partner—highlights the complexities of balancing personal pain and relationships.
-Zhu Yun: The supportive and rebellious friend who learns to assert her independence. Her growth reflects the struggle of balancing personal dreams against societal expectations and familial control.
- Gao JianHong: The rival who battles envy and personal insecurities. His story is a powerful reminder of how destructive jealousy can be, and how true victory lies in personal self-acceptance and growth.
Acting and Cast 🎭🌟:
The performances are exceptional. Chen FeiYu and Zhang JingYi embody their roles with such depth and authenticity that their chemistry is palpable. Each emotion, from joy to sorrow, feels genuine and compelling, drawing viewers deeply into their story.
Music and Cinematography 🎶📸:
The soundtrack of *Lighter and Princess* is a standout feature. The opening theme and the accompanying OSTs perfectly capture the emotional highs and lows of the drama. Combined with stunning cinematography, the music enhances the viewing experience, leaving a lasting impact.
Final Thoughts 🌟💬:
*Lighter and Princess
transcends the typical campus drama. It’s a poignant exploration of growing up, facing flaws, and the power of love. The addition of a cancer storyline in the final episodes serves as a powerful plot device, pushing characters to confront what truly matters in life.
In summary, this drama is more than just entertainment; it’s a profound reflection on life, growth, and the human condition. For anyone looking for a series that offers both emotional depth and insightful reflections, *Lighter and Princess* is a must-watch. It’s a gem that will stay with you long after the final episode ends.
Rating: 10/10 ⭐️
"May we all find the strength to love and be loved, and never forget what truly matters in our journey through life."
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Not a 10/10 for me
If you’re wondering whether to start this drama, just know that it’s not everyone’s cup of tea. And just because I expressed my different opinion about this drama, I received hate from those who loved it. But that’s ok, it’s contrary to popular opinion and I guess some just cannot have an open mind.The pace and the storyline is quite fast and interesting. I did not really fancy the first 25 episodes. The general storyline of starting university, facing its ups and downs was fine. However I could not like the ML and the way he treated the people around him. And the way the FL just followed him like a puppy just didn’t sit right w me. Episodes 26-36 was much better as it showed more maturity and development in most of the characters.
The one I felt most sorry for was Lao Gao. Yes, what he did was terrible, very malicious and downright horrible. BUT… I do believe Li Xun had a part to play in how he turned out to be. And the fact that till the very end- Li Xun was not even a little bit remorseful of how he treated Lao Gao during the early days was truly sad.
Li Xun was the most disappointing character of all. At the start of uni, he was arrogant, tactless, self-absorbed and narcissistic. After going to prison for 3 years, you would have thought that he would change, be more humble, learn a tough lesson in life no? Truly.. no. He comes out of prison, he’s still the same incorrigible stubborn a**hole. He even admitted it himself. There were many many things he could have done better:
1) Treated his teammates in his IT club with more respect, more courtesy and be less condescending. That is a mark of a good leader.
2) He should have treated Zhu Yun with more dignity and respect. Instead of doing things his own way, he shld have been open and honest and letting her decide and make her own choices. Not manipulate the situation “for her own good”.
3) Zhu yun- in a way I respect her for sticking by his side. She could get past all his flaws and “help” him become a better man. But in that manner, I felt she lost her own self respect and what could have been a different future.
4) make more effort in trying to convince ZY parents. At least show them how much he loves her, that he will take care of her etc.. after all, that’s what most parents want for their children anyway. That assurance. nope nothing… didn’t even try. Or try harder. Ok the mum was over board and pretty much condescending (just like LX) and prejudiced towards him as well. But I did not agree with them getting married just like that behind the parents back.
The ML had a god-like complex, where he thinks he is the best and he is superior. If he had changed towards the end of the drama (which had some hints of it around Epi 30-34) but come 35/36 again he showed his superiority, I may have liked him more ;)
Anyhow, in conclusion: the drama itself is quite good. I just won’t glorify the ML’s character and behaviour or agree with his actions. So it’s not your typical hero/ fantastic/ romantic/ “perfect” ML, FL.. just watch with an open mind:)
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romanticizing toxic relationship for 36 episodes!!
I was rooting for this drama to be good, namely because Arthur Chen is in it. His other projects aren’t watchable for me as I’m waiting for Immortality… but for now I will watch this drama and take my crumbs here and there.At first the drama was good, then good enough, and now it’s getting hard to watch. Simply because it is too long of a show for the narrative it has. And it’s a shame, because with the story it had potential.
One of the main things that really sends it home is that the main characters aren’t like able. Li Xun, played by Arthur Chen, has a lot of problems and acts rashly and behaves horribly to others around him without any conveniences. And the whole reason why? Well .. there is no explanation. You get half an episode (20 minutes) on his background to explain why he is closed off.. meanwhile you get full few episodes for plot points that don’t advance the story along at all. As for the story it’s hard to tell what it is, but it should’ve been wrapped up sooner.
The whole thing with their coding is hard to watch and boring because I know how coding works. I code, and they language they use may not be the same I do, but the story around the coding isn’t working. Arthur Chen is just good at is, there was no build up or reason why, and Zhu Yun is even worse. He keeps her by her side and she never has a chance to show her being good, she just picks up where he left off etc.
The show is pretty at times, but other than face value it isn’t great. The tonal shifts are so jarring, I don’t know why C-Dramas do this thing where the dynamic between the leads is so toxic but they play it off as charming. Li Xun is not charming, realistically no one would respect him with the way he is acting even if he is good at coding.. he’s got pretty privileged.
Now the kicker for me is the part I’m at where they just now introduce a childhood friend of Zhu Yin’s that took her own life.. and it’s tone deaf. It’s weird to me because they have a character that clearly has things to explain about his upbringing, but Zhu Yun- who has never had any moments building up or any recalling of this friend .. suddenly remembers? She is triggered for the sake of more episodes and I’d be fine with it if they didn’t have Li Xun’s character where they could have time to develop him. And at this point the drama is offensive when she tells another new character that he killed the girl, meanwhile mental issues like that shouldn’t be solely put on one person to blame, she is immature for that and I don’t like her for that. That behavior is so wrong and should’nt be portrayed as righteous. The guy who she pins it on wasn’t perfect, but you never blame someone for anyone’s death unless it’s murder. Mental issues are horribly misunderstood and it’s shameful.
I don’t hate the drama though. I just have issues with it because I’m sick of waiting for Arthur Chen’s Immortality to release because he put a lot of work into that also. This drama for him is on, he gets time to shine and recognition. Other than watching it for him I don’t recommend. Maybe for the hater to lover trope.. honestly watch something else for that. This is taking too long for these two and it can be over shorter and written better overall.
… update… they really are not having any redemption for this drama here. I am really at odds with all the amazing 10/10 reviews.
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World is a battle field , few just haven't given up yet.
If you're here to connect with few characters deeply to their present, past and future, this drama is for you. If you are one of those who doesn't want to hope because of broken friendships or relationships, This drama is just right for you.You live through the rash youth, the one where you have hope, You will live through the adulthood where you have to push yourself to hope and maybe , maybe if you have atleast one person in your life who would stand for you when the world stands tall against you, this is where it is. Overall watch this to see dreams , to just love even when you have nothing and when you are just surviving, it is alright , This is your fight.
Loved few characters , hated few but overall lived through it all.
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best youth drama..i love it!!
i was never a fan of chines dramas until i watched L&P. once you watch its first ep you become crazy to know what caused all of them to this stage and then you go for it! it has amazing storylines ,some dialogues are worthy to be written down on your dairy . FL and ML made the drama fantastic . i just cant help myself not to be obsessed with it .truly love love love it!!! briefly it is an excellent combo of romance, comedy, seriousness and the things which we youth are facing these days . it deals with reality that you just cant say it does not Happen in real life , i suggest you must watch it .I BET YOU WONT REGRET IT :)Was this review helpful to you?
THIS BECAME TOP #1
There had not been a cdrama that topped Forever Love for me, til I started watching Lighter & Princess. This is the most unique story with a side of comedy and seriousness. The strong personalities of the characters were unmatched. Finally, there is a female lead who is standing up for herself and for what she believes is the truth. The main lead is untouchable, he is at the top of geniusness but still needs the female lead. The dialogues between them were amazing. THE CHEMISTRY is literally the best. I’m so glad its not another cdrama where the female lead acts all shy and shocked when they touch. It was realistic. This whole drama was so so good- EVERYONE GO WATCH IT.Was this review helpful to you?
The way the writers set up the story in the second half makes it seem like it's going to be a revenge story after the male lead returns. They also set it up to be a business drama about a start up company. The start up related stuff is fun to watch. The revenge story fell flat for me. There was all this buildup making it seem like they were going to get the perfect revenge. What actually happened to the bad guys was not worthy of all that buildup. I really wanted to see one of the antagonists go down in flames. Yet all I got was 5 seconds of him going down for his own unrelated wrongdoing.
Now for the romance, this couple was cute at times (there were a lot of tickle attacks). However, someone mentioned their relationship was toxic and I have to say I kind of agree. In the beginning, a lot of it involved ML leaning in, invading her personal space, trying to make her blush, and ordering her to do things. He would get away with being bossy and rude because of his pretty face and the fact that he is a "genius" programmer. FL's obsession with ML was a bit alarming. They manage to slip in a shirtless scene toward the end for the thirsty folks...so I guess that's a plus. Like I said, they were cute together, but there were a lot of red flags that should not be ignored either.
One thing I liked was FL's growth story. She becomes a better programmer and gains more confidence in herself. I wish she gained the ability to stand up to her parents. I think she actually did toward the end, but I don't think it actually resolved anything.
Overall, I think it's a decent watch. It's not amazing or mind-blowing as some people are making it out to be. The romance is okay (though it has some red flags). The songs are pretty awesome. I think if you lower your expectations, there's a good chance you will enjoy it.
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