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anything for my love esther
If it wasn’t for the second lead story, this would be a 5/5 stars. They just took up too much space to be honest, and it was very annoying. The main couple were chef’s kiss though! I loved them: they were fun, cute and entertaining to watch and especially in the last episode… sigh… I nearly shed a tear, too cute (yes, despite Esther Yu’s baby voice, you get used to it… why her character had to act like a child sometimes… that’s something else). Anyway, now I lowkey want a botany professor who likes no one but me. Meh. *cries* (edit a couple of days later: the opening title is such a bop, I can’t stop listening to it, it makes me so fucking happy<3)Was this review helpful to you?
This review may contain spoilers
FL&ML love story is so adorable so heartfelt and so lovey dovey. My teeth ache becoz it too sweet I simply cannot 'tahan'. I totally can relate and find myself smilling shyly in between their cute scene. Then best romance scene form Zhang Bibin so far. I personaly think, his acting skill is much² better here than Here We Meet Again.However SML &SFLM story was taking so much airing time and make the whole series felt draggy. Im not rooting for them at all and keep on skipping their scene.
#dontworry #HappyEnding
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A bumpy ride for me
Copied from my Viki account:This series was overall just okay. The acting was excellent in many areas. I thought Esther Yu shined the brightest when she got to play the comedy up for her character. Vin Zhang seemed to be genuinely holding back laughter in some parts. However, the storyline and themes were a bit disorganized. The set up was kind of messy and unclear, which I'm sure is in part because some things seemed to be lost in translation. It hit a bit more of a stride toward the middle, though. It was stronger when it focused more on topical issues of beauty, intelligence, and the unfair standards and assumptions people can make about others—especially women. I felt like the narrative romance between the two main characters would have been stronger if the series focused in more on those issues as they related to Yu Meiran. They should have let Vin Zhang's character be more fallible in this respect to make the overall message stronger. Basically a missed opportunity.
But I think C-Dramas tend to suffer from these binary gender assumptions/roles a lot; there's an effort to challenge it, but so many times the writing falls back on this idea that 'men are smart and strong. women are dumb and weak'. Seriously, if I had a dollar for every time I heard a character say 'women are this way and men are this way'.... And even if you do have a 'smart and strong' female character, they become 'maiden-ized' to give the male lead opportunity to play his role as the chivalrous romantic partner. That's when I think they take an interesting premise and interesting characters and make it boring and lose the plot.
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Too Youthful
This show is pretty good, and romantic. It shows everything you want in a normal Chinese drama about older characters. But, because the character are in their late 20s/early 30s, I thought it would be more mature. It was aimed for people around my age, late teens/early 20s, and it was shown in the characters' personalities. But towards the end, there was some character development and the characters became more mature and relatable. I would definitely suggest this show to someone who likes high school and college dramas.The music, however, was very good, I have already downloaded the soundtrack. I always look for a catchy or tear jerky soundtrack, and this was both, 10/10!
I give it a 7.0 as the overall score.
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i want another story like this!
hear me out: i want another story like this, but maybe a bit more mature?I watched this show in 2024, and i find it was still so fresh!
i love the character's stories and the blend of science/ influencers. i think the full potential of this story was still untapped.
the part i hoped to see more of... is their complicity! even in early episodes we can appreciate their connection in a way that the ml was sensitive to her but still annoyed. when their complicity was put forward, it was probably the best times!
what we realize in the end is that the FL characterizes a free soul, and a resilient flower, something that inspires a lot. i liked the imagery and the evolution of the characters, but i think a more mature take in the early episodes could have been better!
Esther is among my fav actresses, but i am often perplexed by her acting! she is more witty than expected and held her dynamic character well. ( although in the beginning it was too much!!)
it was the first time i saw the ML and i'm surprised i haven't seen him before!
i think these two together make one of the best on screen couples i've seen in cdramas!
lastly, a perfect remake would be with 70% less of the second couple story... it was borderline interesting but all the coverups were just tacky, i didn't connect one bit!!
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Worst screen writing ever!
the most rubbish, non sensical screen play that have been written with not that bad casting. writers have a mind of a 5 year old boy or a caveman, literally. you'll see. just put your hand on the forward button cause the only worthy moments are the Chemistry between the leads. even that is like 10% of the show.Was this review helpful to you?
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Slow burn, fake dating, cute, angsty, giggling the whole time!
I suffered for 20 episodes ?? The fake dating arc couldn't help much either. Then he went abroad for bloody 3 episodes. Though I was obsessed with the way he pursued her when he came back just for her!!! AHHHH!! I LOVE MY BABIES!! I only got the last 3 episodes of them actually together. It wasn't enough!!!!! 😭😭😍😍🤭🤭😫😭🥰🤌🤌😍💙The whole reason I watched the show was because of the clip of the ML laughing and I fell in love with his laugh. THAT SCENE HAPPENED IN ONLY THE LAST EPISODE!!!!!! I suffered 34 episodes just to hear his laugh 😭😭🥺😭 Although i am obsessed with his smile as well. And the FL is soooo pretty and cute and I just love them together!!😍😍🤌🤌🤭😍😫😭😭😍
His younger brother was adorable and sarcastic and I loved him. I skipped a lot of scenes of the second leads, her boss and best friend. I wanted them not the SMLs so I just skipped most of their scenes🫣😂
The second hand embarrassment killed me at times but I got through it for them. DID I DESERVE JUST 3 EPISODES FOR THAT!!!?? NOOO!!! WHY DID IT TAKE 34 EPISODES FOR THEM TO FINALLY KISS???!?! I DIDN'T DESERVE THIS SUFFERING!!! Also found out from a comment/review below that they cut out a kiss scene from episode 20. WHY??!!?!??? It would have been worth it and then 15 episodes of them together after suffering for 20!!!! But NOOOOOO!! 😭😭
p.s. going to watch that cut scene now lol. OMG JUST WATCHED IT AND I AM OBSESSED!!! WHYYYYYYY DID THEY DELETE THAT!!! IT WAS PERFECTION!!! The passion, the chemistry, I died! They could have glossed over it as her being drunk/sick/ill but atleast we would have been satisfied. It was the best kiss out of the whole drama and they deleted it 😭😫😭🥺
They are PERFECT together! Looking back on it the slow burn was kinda good and I was giggling and blushing around the fake dating trope and it was so satisfying to see him gradually falling for her 🤭🤌😍
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Super cute and low stress - I recommend you don't take the bad reviews to heart
I just wanted to say I really enjoyed this series. I think Ms. Yu did a fantastic job with her role. She is so cute (and beautiful :-) and does a super job being cute and "girly" as we say in the U.S. without making it at all cringey. She really steals the show, I'll look to watch anything she is in. All the actors did a great job.The story is fun, low trauma, and a good diversion after a long, hard day.
I'd also Like to call out Ding Guan Sen for doing a super great job also. His expressiveness felt so real to me that nailed his role so very well.
My recommendation, if you want something sweet and cute, watch it!
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stupid but cute
Really interested to watch this for see the chemistry between Vin Zhang & Yu Shu Xin. The plot itself kinda stupid in some part, but overall drama still consider cute for me. So yeah I succeed watch till the end and you can say I quite like it... Haha.....The stupidity:
- The way Jin Xi (JX) fall in love to Li Tian Tian (TT) is one of the most stupid way to fall in love in drama world. Just because TT give umbrella to him when it's raining he instantly falling in love with her.
- How the man (JX & Zhuang Yu [ZY]) never really learn from their previous mistake. Like JX that lying to TT about his leg...
- The one year break for both man (JX & ZY). Whatever the reason the drama give us, the one year break is just stupid.
- The easy forgiveness the woman (Yu Mei Ren[MR] & TT) give to the man (JX & ZY). Especially TT give to JX. Just because of his leg, after that lie & the one year disappearing. Too easy baby....
- All the flirt that MR did. It's like MR did have the score, it's gonna be more interested if we can see MR like did the scoring or whatever. But the trick like ZY said, later on, useless since he already use it on MR too... Haha...
- All the 'cuteness' that MR show in the drama. Like when she kinda force the cuteness. Like when she left alone in the library.
- The stupid concept of make up. MR things she completely different without make up. Hey you're not in the superman movie, where Clark Ken took off his glasses & become superman he is unreckoned by anyone else.
What I like or consider cute:
+ The positive attitude of the woman (MR & TT). Like TT said about MR being the FL, "It's because you're able to reflect on yourself. Most people in the world would like to take the credit for themselves when succeeded, but blame others when they fail. You'll dread when you succeed, while reflecting on urself when u fail. That's why you are the leading role."
+ The cuteness is stupid, but still cute in some scene. Like when MR pretend to be village witch or what (the one she use basket in her head). It's somehow cute.
+ ZY just so cute... From the first we can see how jealousy he is. But it took him a whole year to realize his own feeling. And after that his attitude toward MR just so cute & protective. I like it... Haha...
+ The chemistry between Vin Zhang & Yu Shu Xin not so disappointed. I really like their interaction.
+ The little cut scene at the end of each episode...
Overall: This one cute little drama to watch.
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It’s not what you would expect
Overall, the main leads were great and so really good chemistry however it would have been a lot better if they had more screen time and most of their kissing scenes were edited out. The storyline was a little be confusing at so parts but not that hard to follow along. I avoided any scenes involving the second couple as their story wasn’t connected to the main leads at all and took up way too much of each episode! I would rewatch but would have to keep skipping because of 2nd couple scenes. Don’t get me wrong I like the actress in the 2nd couple but her character took a lot of screen time away from the main leads. Hope there is a chance we here these main leads get another drama togetherWas this review helpful to you?
Light-hearted romance fluff you can watch if you wanna feel good!
I've been seeing a lot of mixed reviews about this show but AROTLF will hold a special place in my heart.As a newbie watcher of C-dramas, this was a good watch! Plot was definitely not that new BUT the characters made it memorable because of their chemistry. If you're a fan of 'She fell first but he fell harder' trope, give this a watch! Plus, this definitely reminded me of Hometown Cha-Cha-Cha! The scenes from the girl MC's hometown were beautiful and calming to watch accompanied by the fluff romance. Would give this a solid 10 but was a bit disappointed how the main leads was overshadowed by the second couple - now they owe us a season 2!
Nevertheless, I could see myself re-watching this if I just wanna feel happy and uplifted!
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TWO LOVE STORIES
So the drama started strong with a beautiful FL and a gorgeous ML. The FL strong and independent a beauty blogger with power seemd to me only until she met the ML again that's when her character started to shift. She became like a little girls too clingy i know she just wanted to make him fall inlove but really that's how you do it?! Acting like a high-school girl even though like she is 26. Not my cup of tea.He did eventually fell in love with her but that was a long and tiresome journey didn't actually feel like she fell for him only him for her.
I planed to write a long review but i don't think it's needed 😕 just wach it if you want to have fun their love story had depth only form his side in my opinion only he grew she stayed the same. Too childish was her character.
On the other hand the SFL and SML their story was really amazing they did show love and they grew in their relationship it was heartwarming to see them together.
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