Romance on the Farm

Missing every definition

I thought it would be drama about a romantic story on a farm but this drama had little romance and even little farming.

It's instead a story about a girl does a VR testing for money. Not a problem, right... Well the game is practically nonexistent.
She just needs to earn money in ancient China to complete the game. The only way they incorporated the game is at the end of each episode stating how much she had earn and spend, and at the end of the last episode.

What irritated me the most were the 'family members' the Grandmother is a greedy, bias person, who favours her daughter, the first uncle and his family. Grandfather is a doormate, just like the girls 'father' and 'mother'. Her first uncle. Aunt and niece are just like the Grandmother. The second uncle and aunt are ignorant. In the beginning they seems like alright characters but they are just as bad as the first uncle.

Also what is so infuriating is that the 'family members' around the girl do terrible acts, naming a few; the first uncle sells the girl to a family who want to burn her at the stake.
The Grandfather essentially forcing the girl's 'mother' to give her unborn child to the first uncle, if it's a boy.
The first uncle's daughter manipulate the Grandmother daughter to trip the girl's mother resulting in her losing the baby.
The second aunt stealing the girl's money because her husband sold waterdown wine, resulting in someones death. She give the money to the first uncle who runs off with the money. Instead of giving back the money she sells her daughter to the girl.
THE LIST GOES ON!!


Also the girl does very little farming and the farming that she does happens near the end.
The writers could have made it a really cool story about having a farming system or the girl using her modern knowledge to make money but instead focused on making it a frustrating and confusing daytime drama.

Only good point is that acteurs were convincing and saved the drama, because this did not pass any vibe.

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Where's the ROMANCE??

This is the first time I've watched a drama that doesn't represent the title.

Yeah, the main leads have chemistry, and sure, their feelings grow over time but where are the actual romantic scenes? On a scale of 1-10, I’d give the romance a solid 7. it’s there, but just barely.

Instead of lovey-dovey moments, guess what we get? endless family drama about Lian Man’er’s relatives. and don’t even get me started on Shen Nuo’s unexplored backstory! bro had some secret political mission thing going on, but the show just hinted at it and never dug deeper. Like, hello?? that sounds way more interesting than what we actually got!

That said, the acting is legit good. Shoutout to the whole cast, especially the veterans. Zeng Shunxi is a 9/10—dude nailed the martial arts scenes, looked natural on horseback, and his expressions/voice totally sold Shen Nuo’s mysterious, sharp-witted vibe. Tian Xiwei was also perfect as Lian Man’er, her bubbly energy and those big, hopeful eyes fit the role like a glove.

Production-wise? no complaints. The cinematography’s pretty, the actors used their real voices (no awkward dubbing!), and the plot’s easy to follow. Definitely doesn’t look low-budget, and the directing’s smooth, zero cringe scenes. But uh… why is the soundtrack so forgettable?

In conclusion: worth watching? yes. Just don’t expect the title to match the story. It’s a good drama but man, that misleading name is a choice.

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This drama is like a warm hug.

Most of the dramas I've watched become my favorite when I go in with no expectations, and because of that, I have been able to enjoy Romance on the Farm to the fullest. If you do plan on watching this, keep this review in mind with a grain of salt, and also try to keep any expectations as bay.

I initially started watching because I mistook Joseph Zeng for another actor lol (Song Wei Long...I know. I've mainly been a K-drama watcher who is gradually re-exploring C-dramas). I just planned to have it streaming in the background as I worked. However, I did not expect to get this attached to it.

The cast is stellar, as in EVERYONE truly embodies their characters' personalities - from the main leads, to the screaming aunties, the homeless-turned-Robin Hoods, the jovial best friend of the main lead, and the scheming cousin (who, despite her dislike for the FL, still has just a tiny bit of heart in her).

The music, sound effects, etc. is perfect! It perfectly fits the scope of this tiny little cozy drama.

As for the series itself: it is a weird mix of genres and elements that just so happens to hit all the marks for me personally, and evokes a certain sense of nostalgia (as someone else mentioned!) which I still can't quite make out: it is my Gilded Chopsticks, my Hometown Cha Cha Cha, my Pride & Prejudice, my Tamako Market, my Harvest Moon, my Ragnarok Online. Very heartwarming, yet not too tragic, it is more of a slice of life with a slight hint of mystery that isn't too deeply seated in a tangled web like Alchemy of Souls or The Rise of Phoenixes due to the nature of it being a game. And unlike Gilded Chopsticks which totally swindled me in the first half with its humorous tones, then tragedy after tragedy, here, you just KNOW everything will be okay here.

I know people have found the "game" aspect to be pointless, but it serves the drama well as I haven't read the novel: although the character's values and motives for her actions seem very modern-day, you forget that as you continue watching and engage yourself in whatever kind of historically inaccurate, but super warm storyline is going on.

Regarding the toxic family: by modern-day standards, absolutely toxic. 100% would drop them. Had to fast forward the first few because I couldn't stand the grandma (who is justifiably nuts considering what she went through). However, it slightly demonstrates how hard it is to be of a certain standing, and the complex nature of relationships when all you have is each other - whether or not in the bigger picture you'd be better off without them. It's not something I agree with, but I can empathize with! When you have so little, yet everything to lose, it's much harder to want to lose anything or cut ties.

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LOVED IT

The camera quality, camera angles, everything was simply BEAUTIFUL! The plot was also very engaging, i watched this in 2 days. But, like other reviews say, there is very little romance despite the name of this drama. I wish they developed the ending of the real world a bit more and gave the couple more romantic screen time.

side notes:
Song Hailong (Hua Er's husband the illegitimate 4th young master) is my dream husband, the way he supported his wife but also righted her wrongs and stood by her even at her worst is so admirable. Xiao qi (seven, Man Er's brother) IS SO ADORABLEEEEEEEE. I hate her family idk how she forgave them but oh well. The last 2.5 eps had me sobbing thinking shen yi died and thats why he didnt visit her. I thought she lost her memory about him dying so everyone was lying to her that hes just at work. that rat took YEARS to come back to her, i was hating on him so muchhhh.

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Why does this show exist?

I liked the leads from their other starrers, but this show have me scratching my head and in need of a stiff drink.

The premise of this show is that the FL is a game tester for a new “farming” game set in a generic ancient China. The technology side is very vague.

She enters the game Fortnite style, and we know it is a game because big bold computer-generated graphics will pop up from time to time. She also talks about NPC, internet and her cell phone while she is in character. As a play tester, she never takes notes nor critique the gameplay. I hope she is not pay by the hour.

Dramas have used computer games/e-sport as backdrop for some time. A lot of them are based on wuxia games or contemporary shooters like CrossFire. Usually, the drama is firmly rooted in RL and only use recreated game segments to add some spice. However, this show is almost completely set in game except for the first few minutes where the FL was seen in the company's modern office. Oddly enough, there is very little CGI used.

Initially I was attracted to the concept but I end up finding the show very problematic. The biggest issue is the script and the setting. The FL was given a game winning goal which is a tough ask. She can’t exit the game until she reach that goal. This is an odd concept for a commercial game. What is the correlation between game time and real time? There has better be a health warning on the box.

This is not helped by the “world” being very confusing and, to be honest, sloppy. Sometimes it behaves like a game where anything goes and logic be damned. At other times, it is just like a normal world with rules and consequences. There is no clear boundary. We are left guessing if the show is going to play nice or jump the shark on the weakest pretence. This is further complicated by the ML running a more serious plot parallel to the “gaming” one. The player has no control over him, yet his actions/reactions are far more intriguing.

By the end of ep.6, the show has evolved into a tropey feudal family melodrama. Are we still watching a "game" or got bait-and-switched? I am so confused. The FL has little influence on what is happening around her but it doesn't faze her at all. There are no further hints that this is still a computer simulation. That's taking role playing and immersion to the next level.

I know this is a very circular way of asking my original question. Why does this show exist? It is disjointed, confusing and farcical. There are so many "NPCs" but most of them are awkwardly portrayed. A game can get away with it by design but not a proper drama. The show seems to have taken a shortcut to parachute the FL into the plot but then it becomes a completely different beast. The plot is lazy and self-serving. It flips from a farce to a tragedy without stopping for breath. What happened to cause and effect?

BTW, production value is questionable. Acting is definitely hammy and patchy. OST is adequate.

Maybe it will git gud later or the plot will actually make sense. How long are you prepared to wait for that to happen? It is exhausting to watch for me and I'm done. I still like the leads but I'm dropping this show on principle.

Caveat Emptor, my dear dramaland friends.

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A beautiful drama

Living on a farm nestled far away from the hectic pace of modern life is a dream cherished by many. However, the reality of farm life, particularly in a JOINT HOUSEHOLD setting, brings forth its own set of challenges and complexities. 'Romance On The Farm ' portrays authentic farm life set in a game world.It has a rich storyline of love, family value, and forgiveness. The exceptional performance by the actors is so impressive.

However, romance has a diverse perception. Some prefer grand gestures or lavis displays of affection while others seek solace in the subtleties of daily existence. It's a remainder that love is not always about the big moments but about the small everyday acts of kindness, compassion, and affection that we show to one another. The way Shen Nuo and Man Er selflessly lend a helping hand and stand by each other's side through thick and thin serves as a shining example of what it means to truly love and cherish someone.

Another worth mentioning character, Song Hai Long, who always protects, supports, and helps his wife [Lian Hua Er] till the end regardless of all her misdeeds is truly appreciating.

Every OST in the drama is so beautiful. One of my favorite"You, me" 你啊,我啊 by Song Yuning, which is also covered by the actor Joseph Zeng. Both of their voices are balm to the ear.

So, if you're looking for a heartfelt story set in an idyllic rural setting and want to get a beautiful cinematic experience, 'Romance On The Farm' is a must watch.

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The name should have been “The Rustic Charm and Hardships of the Rural Living”.

I started watching this drama almost at random; romantic things don’t attract me much and neither does the farming. Zeng Shunxi must have been the one who attracted me to watching it after all. But there was a delightful discovery: I simply loved this series! Firstly, I never expected Realism to be there in a drama! But it was the closest one to a slice-of-life series (which I haven’t watched before) that I can imagine. The plot follows the realistic logic, the desires and grudges of the characters are realistic, as well as their relationships. The problems the series raise – oh my, they are so believable! You might ask why strive for realism if we’ve got enough troubles in a real world. But way off the mark! For some that’s a kind of an escape, for others it’s a thing that, on the contrary, will wake them up to see the reality. But that’s what shows a true quality of the work. It seems not at the least the show for solely entertainment but a solid and considerate work of art – something I never hoped to find after reading a title. The name of the series is misleading; it should have been called “The Rustic Charm and Hardships of the Rural Living” based on what we actually see in the drama.

Speaking of the plot and the storytelling, it was a bit strange that everything began from a game but the main female character got stuck in the game without coming back to her world during the whole plot. I believe that it could have been more understandable if she showed more anxiety about being unable to go home (she seemed to be quite busy and sometimes happy about the game family affairs and never worried about the amount of TIME it was going to take her to finish the quest – in other words, the time she would be missing from her reality). I also think that the complexity of the NPCs and the depth of the problems she faced (the family ones, please note – and she is the person who actually has the problems with her ‘real’ family) suggested it was not the gameplay but the quest from Heavens for her. Only provided that she matured and solved the unsolvable family problems could she return to a real family, ready to deal with her real problems, too. I haven’t read the novel if there’s any – probably it was that way there, I don’t know.

As for the characters, they are all great (in the end there is a scene where the FL is asked to rate the NPCs – what she does is the same I would have done characterizing all the cast, and, evidently, the heroes of the story). That’s the great ending of the calendar year – I have seen some dramas where I finally feel that not only a couple of characters can be appealing. The people are quite different here: the timid and caring members of the family, the ones showing spiritless tenacity, the selfish cowards, the manipulable enviers, the ones who undergo a serious character development or stick more or less to their original personality but somehow become smoother and more tolerant. And this describes only the family members (there are many – the original Chinese families are so big!) and there are others! The corrupted officials, the secret agents who have to act on their own, the outlaws so realistic and at the same time righteous that they reminded me of Robin Hood’s men – and the main characters, of course!

Lian Man Er seems a typical traveler from one world to another in the beginning but later she proves to be a very strong and cheerful personality. Perhaps her image illustrates what a good businesswoman should be like far better than those in the business-oriented modern dramas. She’s come up with so many ideas of how to make money – and actually succeeded! Sometimes she uses knowledge from the modern world but she would have failed if she only relied on that. She’s just born to be a founder of start-ups. At the same time, she a believable and charming girl with very human emotions whenever it be love, family troubles, business or injustice of the world. I believe that this type of a role suits the actress very much and I was never bored of watching her – which cannot be said about many other Chinese representations of female characters (in various genres portrayed by different people) who usually come short of the character development compared to the male characters. This girl is lovely and she’s a genuine core of both the plot and the family she acquires.

Shen No is the main male character and he’s excellent… and seen really seldom. Actually, the plot doesn’t suffer as it is planned this way – Shen No is for sure a mysterious character if not for the audience, then for the characters. But ah, if only we could see more of Shunxi! His portrayal of the secret agent is so brilliant and the personality of Shen No is so attractive! And yet he is shown less often than any other Man Er’s family member. If you ask about the romance, well… it still can be found! But you better say to yourself ‘less is more’ as it is of a very good quality and not the main topic of the narration at all. It is given as a subtext; it is always there as the characters keep their identities a secret from each other and both suffer from a perspective of being driven apart. You can feel how deep their relationship is when they just help, trust and forgive each other for granted, the things which are so rare both in life and in series. And no! There haven’t been all kinds of these stupid misunderstandings just for the sake of melodrama! The characters are so reasonable and mature that my heart is grateful to the script writers. Well, returning to Shen No, he is smart and a rather good strategic thinker, he is brave and righteous as a hero should be, he’s an excellent fighter and not so brilliant farmer especially when he tries to avoid the job but actually, he learns extremely fast. Add to this that he does not look at the family that gave him shelter only from this perspective; you can tell from his behavior that he is a kind and a noble man. Ah, again, if only there was more of him in the plot!

A young doctor, Wang You Heng, who is Shen No’s rival in love, also deserves all kinds of respect. Not only he doesn’t do anything that would put the viewer off liking him (to resolve the love triangle) – he does many noble and selfless deeds. He does not fight with Shen No for Man Er’s love when he sees where her sympathies lie. He saves the lives of the villagers working as the doctor even if he has to do it in secret. And, more importantly, after a crisis in his work, he does not give up continuing the most difficult path he has chosen to be his calling. He is a very likable man who, I feared, could have met a sad ending if the script writers wanted to solve the love triangle in a common way. But no, everything settled quite peacefully and harmoniously.

As for the settings, they’re gorgeous, but this has been noted by many reviews before mine. And I also appreciate that even though we don’t get as many locations as in other dramas, the sights don’t get old.

Now to the topics that are raised in the narration. Actually, there is nothing you cannot find in dramas and life – but the proportions are so accurate that it is not just a brutal life – it’s a masterpiece. The corrupted officials and the illegal syndicates leading to higher taxes, the forceful removal of the villagers, pressure on the family members to get what the officials want, and people not knowing how to confront this oppressing force. The power of the officials seems so devastatingly omnibus that it is very true to life indeed. And you never know how a bunch of the good characters would stand up against it. In a reality, they would not have had a chance; but in a game they DO (because finally – it’s a game, remember, they have quests and even though a player can lose a game, she/he is supposed to win after some attempts!) It is so inspirational but creates a sense of longing as well – where to find enough chances, guidance and characters as brave and upright as these ones to raise and bring justice to the people? I am just being wishful but the good questions should be stated before they can be solved, too.

I never expected this drama to be this good (and I’m telling this after watching a ‘Mysterious Lotus Casebook’ – but again, they are so different that you can’t compare them – if only in the way how well-rounded both stories are). It may be not everyone’s cup of tea as the topics are serious and the characters are sometimes painfully realistic probably reminding of the people we might know in real life. If you want to see a love story – that’s a very specific one, a piece of art but hidden from the sight. If you want to see a farm – you see the atmospheric setting with growing rice and (thank you, script writers x3) without (almost) any harm done to animals which you must expect when you deal with a ‘farm’ topic. There is no animals protecting topic here, of course, but at least some family members treat their ox and a dog pets and not meat and that’s a start. But if you think from this description that there is no humor at all – no, there is some, and it is decent and unintrusive. The interactions are really interesting to watch.

To sum up, everything has been really well developed, beyond expectations. I fell in love with the visuals, with the issues, with the music and songs and with actors – even more. Sometimes you should give a drama a try even if you don’t understand from a title or an abstract or a poster what genre and depth it is going to be.

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A lovable and appealing farm romance amidst non-appealing family matters

I was quite skeptical to watch this but after reading the reviews, I gave it a try and trust me, it didnt disappoint me. Glad that I watched it, though late, it really entertained me!!
The plot is simple with our female lead, Lian Man'er, entering a NPC game designed by a gaming company and all the experiences, difficulties, hurdles, love, hate, friendship, family relations, tensive moments, and, of course, trying her level best to gather 1000taels of gold, all form the crux of the story.
Tian Xiwei as Lian Man'er, is awesome. Seriously, I am totally impressed by her performance as a quirky, cheerful, smart, intelligent, village girl with also a bit of kindness and humanity to her personality. She is full of business ideas and works very hard to earn money, and all the emotions and struggles she undergo were excellently portrayed by her. 👏💯
Joseph Zheng as Shen Nuo, is my favorite character in this drama. He is cool, smart, loving, caring, gentle, helping, amiable,and becomes the most reliable person for Man'er, also the person she wants to be with. His acting is splendid 😍💯
I really liked the love track between them, which is a sensible and mature love story.
Coming to her family, they are the epitomes of all the worst thoughts of human hearts, we can think of in this world.
And how Man'er gets her way through this family out and finally with Shen Nuo, save the country from a rebellion forms the latter story.
The photography and locations deserve a great appreciation. 👍👌The backdrop was very pleasant and eye appealing for me. I really love it.
The music is excellent too, especially the track, You, and me. Its become one of my favorites now 😍
On a final note, if anyone is thinking to watch this drama, go ahead without any hesitation and you will certainly enjoy it.
A MUST WATCH HIGHLY RECOMMENDED DRAMA. 👌

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Je ne pensais pas faire de critique sur ce drama, n'ayant pas le temps de le faire, mais il y a si peu de critique en français que je me décide à le faire tout de même.
En premier lieu, ne vous attendez pas à un drama focalisé sur l'univers du jeu vidéo. Nous sommes loin d'un "cross fire" ou de "de three body" par exemple. Man'er nous est présentée comme testeuse du jeu et entre donc dans un univers virtuel où elle doit finaliser une mission afin de sortir du jeu. Le concept est intéressant mais il faut savoir que le drama ne tourne pas vraiment autour de cela. Certes, quelques petits détails viennent nous rappeler que c'est un jeu, mais à vrai dire ce thème est un sous-thème. Si vous recherchez donc un drama où le protagoniste gagnerait en compétence et en niveau mission après mission, agiterait fiole et grimoire tout en étant à la recherche des derniers plantes d'alchimie, ce drama n''est définitivement pas pour vous.
Il est à noté que le drama ne se décrit pas non plus comme un "jeu vidéo", ce n'est donc pas un mensonge en soi non plus....
Alors avec tout cela, le drama vaut-il la peine d'être vu?

Définitivement.

Cela serait bien dommage de passer à côté de cette perle sous prétexte que cela ne tourne pas autour du jeu virtuel.
C'est un drama bénéfice d'une très très bonne qualité visuelle! Tout est presque parfait au niveau de la réalisation : les voix des acteurs non doublés, des effets sonores naturels et surtout, une qualité de l'image magnifique! Les couleurs sont maîtrisées et équilibrées. La profondeur des noirs est mise en valeur par l'intensité des couleurs plus claires et le contraste y est parfois saisissant. La dernière scène de repas de famille dans le dernier épisode est d'une beauté époustouflante. C'est bien sur, la dernière qui m'a le plus marqué, mais tout au long des épisodes, la réalisatrice nous offre des images de très belles qualités, filmées avec talent. ce qui me pousse à aller voir ses autres oeuvres...

La bande son est magnifique ! "Letters from spring" transcendait chaque scène, c'est une chanson qui va rester longtemps en tête!

Le jeu des acteurs est juste parfaite! du plus exécrable (la grand-mère) au plus adorable (13) en passant par nos deux protagoniste : Tian Xi Wei est une de mes chouchous depuis ses débuts. Sa progression dans le jeu est impressionnante, et je suis ravie de voir qu'il ya plus de finesse dans ses expressions, plus d'intensité dans son regard. Lorsqu'elle pleure, je pleure avec elle, lorsqu'elle rit, je ris avec elle, lorsqu'elle crie, on serre les poings, bref, son jeu a évolué et il n'y a pas de doute à avoir sur son talent!
Joseph Zheng n'est pas un acteur que je connais, je crois avoir survolé quelques un de ses dramas. J'ai vraiment apprécié sa prestation ici. Je suis très sensible aux voix, et j'apprécie beaucoup la sienne : ni trop basse, ni trop haute, il possède une magnifique voix posée avec un timbre riche et ambré. C'est donc un acteur qui entre dans ma "watchlist"!
Je n'oublie pas de dire que tout le casting a été exceptionnel! Vraiment, pouvoir nous faire détester, compatir, aimer et pardonner tout en même temps n'es pas une chose aisée.

Et l'histoire?
SI vous êtes allergique aux familles toxiques, vous devriez soit passer votre chemin....soit essayer tout de même. C'est en effet, les premiers tons de l'histoire. Une famille rurale et dont le centre de cette histoire est la famille. Très vite, on se trouve à grincer des dents, à vouloir en frapper quelques un, à se dire que c'est horrible d'avoir une famille comme cela.....MAIS.
- Bien que cela puisse paraitre frustrant de voir des personnages aussi détestables, Man'er arrive toujours à s'en sortir. Ne se laissant jamais faire, ayant toujours du répondant et une attitude de guerrière, cette frustration devient plus que tolérable. On apprécie de voir les complots de la famille se tourner contre eux et on applaudit à chaque victoire de Man'er.
- L'évolution de cette famille est formidable. Ne serait-ce que le premier épisode et le dernier épisode, il y a un énorme fossé. Cette évolution est logique et naturelle, elle vient avec les obstacles et les leçons que chacun en tire. La moralité est inspirante, et bien que cela puisse ne pas plaire à tous, en ce qui me concerne, j'ai adoré : Il n'y a rien de gravé dans la pierre. Les gens peuvent changer. Un travail honnête fera de toi une personne honnête. Avoir une famille c'est accepter le mauvais comme le bien de sa famille. etc....
Cela parait simpliste, mais j'ai vraiment aimé la façon dont on a voulu nous démontrer le sens de la famille. Le dernier épisode où Man'er doit faire ses adieux fut déchirant, les scènes des membres de sa famille ont été magnifiques.

Ce n'est donc pas un drama qui plaira à tous, mais en faisant abstraction du fait que cela ne soit pas un "jeu video" (et ca serait dommage de s'arrêter à cela, non?) ou que la famille au départ est abjecte (je ne vais pas vous le cacher, c'est le genre de famille qu'on fuirait tous), c'est un magnifique drama soigné, accompagné d'une bande son remarquable dont l'évolution de chaque personnage est réelle, authentique, avec une finalité pour chacun d'entre eux satisfaisante.
La romance est adorable et commence par une amitié sincère entre nos protagonistes. Leur sentiment évolue aussi de manière lente mais naturelle. Bien sûr, nous devinons assez rapidement l'issue de leur relation et qui est Shen Nuo, mais cela reste plausible et il faut avouer qu'on s'y prend facilement au jeu. Le seul regret que j'aurai est une fin un peu trop rapide et sans nous avoir donné quelques petites explications. Alors oui, on le devine assez bien, mais je n'aime pas ce genre de fin, je préfère quelque chose de plus tranchée.

C'est un super drama que nous avons dévoré avec chéri (qui est un joueur de jeux vidéo, cela ne l'a pas dérangé que le thème "jeux virtuels" n'ait pas été exploité) à la vitesse de l'éclair.
Donnez lui une chance de vous convaincre!

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Compensa demais, só não leva o final para o pessoal que fica tudo bem.

Não é genial, mas tem uma história cativante, onde o romance DEFINITIVAMENTE não é o foco, apesar de estar ali também para deixar nossos corações quentinhos – e talvez isso tenha desagradado algumas pessoas que assistiram, eu nem tanto.

Eu AMEEEEI que a FL sempre tinha uma ideia diferente para fazer dinheiro, a bichinha é esperta e usou todos os seus conhecimentos da era moderna a favor para pensar em novos negócios e lidar com obstáculos. O ML também contribuiu com diferentes pontos de vista, o que me passou uma energia de The Double, só que muuuito menos dramático.

Essa duplinha é GOLD e rendeu uma cena inesquecível logo no começo, quando ambos estão com problemas e fazem um trato para se ajudar. Nisso, o ML aparece com um bebê no colo para impedir que a FL seja levada pela casamenteira, o que seria terrível considerando que era um casamento de sacrifício.

Ele diz que a FL não pode se casar com outro, afinal, eles já têm um caso e até mesmo um filho. A FL foi pega de surpresa porque essa parte da criança não havia sido combinada entre eles. Mais tarde, é revelado que ele emprestou o bebê de outra pessoa e ainda fez a família da FL pagar a mãe da criança, porque ele não tinha dinheiro.

O ML também deu tudo de si para manipular a família escrota dela e convencê-los a deixar morar lá por um tempo, algo necessário para sua verdadeira identidade continuar oculta e para resolver o que precisava. Antes disso, ele também explica que o bebê não era deles e que gostaria de morar ali como um primo distante da mãe dela, e não como um caso que a FL teve.

Agora, se você é como eu, e detesta quando o segundo pretendente amoroso da FL ofusca o principal por ser mais legal, ter mais momentos românticos, ou quando atrapalha o casal, podendo até mesmo se revelar como um vilão oculto (ou alguém que se torna um vilão no final por não ter seus sentimentos retribuídos), então vai gostar desse drama.

No começo, ele realmente desconfia da identidade do ML, e tem medo que isso coloque a FL e sua família em perigo, mas ainda sim, ele se mantém uma pessoa íntegra e justa, até mesmo confirmando a falsa identidade do ML em um momento crítico e, na reta final, quando todos na vila passam a odiar o ML, ele é o único que percebe que há algo mais acontecendo ali, e de que as coisas não são tão simples quanto parecem – e que o ML nunca faria algo ruim assim sem motivos.

Gostei do final dele também, apesar dele nunca ter se declarado para a FL, acho que conseguiu transmitir seus sentimentos de uma forma muito bonita. E também foi recompensado pela FL no fim, que consegue uma boa oportunidade para o rapaz continuar avançando em direção aos seus sonhos, ele merecia muito!

Também foi muito especial ver ela se despedindo de todos nas entrelinhas, garantindo que estão bem e que continuaram bem mesmo quando ela não estiver mais lá. É ainda mais simbólico quando consideramos que quase todos ali já a prejudicaram uma ou mais vezes.

Inclusive, o drama está sempre mostrando os dois lados da história, cada um deles tinha uma intenção, e entendemos a fundo porque eles agem assim, o que os levou até ali. No fim, fica claro que, após a família passar por tantas coisas, inimigos do lado de fora e dentro, eles estão mais fortes e agora juntos de verdade, como deveria ter sido desde o começo.

Ainda há coisas impensáveis e injustificáveis que foram feitas, acredito que até imperdoáveis, mas ainda sim é nítido como todos parecem ter refletido sobre suas ações e dispostos a serem pessoas melhores consigo e com os outros.

O ritmo da história é outro ponto positivo, dá para contar nos dedos quantos dramas chineses conseguem contar uma história sem deixar partes vitais de fora ou enrolando demais e cansando o espectador.

Aliás, quando o ML passa por uma experiência de quase morte no último episódio, e também nos braços da FL, eu fiquei com medo de ter mais um final como o de Moonlit Reunion ou até mesmo The Double (não vou dar spoiler quanto à esses, mas ambos lidaram com essa situação de formas diferentes e igualmente odiosas).

A surpresa, no entanto, foi positiva! Porque a cena de choro corta para alguns dias ou semanas depois, o narrador (ou outro personagem que não identifiquei quem era) está contando como os problemas da vila e do governo se resolveram e, assim que a cena voltou para a FL, em uma conversa ela deixa escapar que ele está na capital à trabalho.

Não lembro direito, só sei que foi mais ou menos na metade do último episódio, até aqui, eu não tinha críticas – eu só não amava, mas tinha gostado. E como nem tudo são flores, descobrimos que o ML prometeu voltar depois de um mês ou algo assim, só que ficou longe por ANOS e tem se comunicado por cartas com ela.

Saber que já se passaram anos desde a última vez que eles se viram, e que ele prometeu voltar rápido e não voltou, dá um peso muito triste à cena. Eu, por exemplo, me imaginei no lugar da FL e eu fiquei com raiva do ML, com vontade de não perdoá-lo se o visse de novo.

Afinal... O QUE CUSTAVA FAZER UMA VISITINHA PELO MENOS? Ele é alguém influente na capital, com certeza tem os meios, contatos e dinheiro para dar uma escapadinha sem afetar muito o trabalho que ele tem feito por lá para melhorar as coisas para o povo.

Achei isso tão ilógico, é um dos plots de final de drama que mais detesto. Simplesmente não entra na minha cabeça! E o pior nisso tudo, é que os anos foram passando, e ela estava cada vez mais perto de atingir o seu objetivo dentro do jogo (e ir embora).

Quando faltava literalmente 2 táeis, ela relutou em colocar dentro do báu (onde contabilizava o status da missão) porque estava esperando por ele, gostaria de vê-lo antes de sabe deus o que aconteceria depois, mesmo a FL não tinha certeza.

Enfim, ela deixa o dinheiro ali do lado, porque é interrompida por seu irmão mais novo que a leva para outro lugar, onde finalmente os olhos dela encontram os do ML, eles sorriam e ela acorda do jogo. Como? Eu não sei, afinal a FL não chegou a guardar o dinheiro.

Mas independente disso, o pior acontece agora... a FL desperta muuuuito bad vibes, arrasada porque foi como um sonho bom que teve fim. Ela descobre então que todos lá eram realmente só personagens, não havia outro player como ela, ou seja, ela não os veria na vida real.

Aqui, eu acho que mentiram para ela, porque pareceu que um dos envolvidos ali na cena estava mudando o assunto, o que me leva a crer que o ML era sim um player dentro do jogo, como ela, e não só um personagem da história. E já já eu retomo isso!

Temos mais um corte aqui (a cena dela na vida real foi bem curta) e estamos novamente dentro do jogo, onde vemos que a personagem dela continua no jogo conversando com o ML, dá a entender que a relação deles continuará a partir dali e acaba nisso.

O que eu entendi foi: a FL entrou no jogo e assumiu o papel de uma personagem que já existia na história original, então quando ela cumpriu seu objetivo como player, ela voltou para a vida real, mas a personagem dela continuou lá dentro porque já fazia parte do universo da história.

Anteriormente, descobrimos que apesar da player influenciar várias coisas lá dentro, o final ainda sim era fixo e aconteceu como previsto para acontecer.

Vi que algumas pessoas gostariam que o casal (dentro do jogo) tivesse se casado e tido filhos, só que como o drama só termina com eles conversando depois de se reencontrarem, não vemos nada quanto ao futuro deles. Particularmente, eu considero esse o menor dos problemas!

Eles se amam e sabem que o sentimento é recíproco, agora estão juntos de novo depois de tanto tempo separados, isso é o que importa. O ridículo mesmo é que, depois do episódio final, fomos "agraciados" com um episódio especial com menos de 1 minuto, olha só que fiasco!

O especial é só uma continuação de onde a FL da vida real parou, ela está no mesmo lugar, ainda assimilando tudo o que viveu, quando olha um quadro de funcionários, desenvolvedores ou algo assim na parede, e no topo dele vê o rosto do ML com outro nome.

Um pouco mais atrás dela, dá para ver um homem de roupa social olhando diretamente para ela, ele também usa um crachá com a foto do ML. Não vemos o seu rosto em nenhum momento, ele chama a FL pelo nome, ela o encara de volta, sorri emocionada e foi só isso.

Voltando às teorias, entende-se que ele trabalhou nesse projeto, então pode ter participado da mesma experiência que ela e, quando a história do jogo chegou ao fim, ele também voltou para a realidade. Essa é a única explicação plausível para o ML chamar o nome da FL!

Alguém comentou que, por ser um dos envolvidos na criação do jogo, o ML foi quem tirou a FL do jogo, entendendo que, mesmo sem ela ter colocado os últimos dois taéis no baú, ela levantou o valor necessário para sair do jogo. Não temos certeza disso, mas é uma possibilidade.

Enfim, então teoricamente há dois finais, um para a realidade e outro para o mundo do jogo, e ambos são pouco desenvolvidos, o do jogo ainda acabou bem, o da vida real e que deveria explicar as coisas, acabou mal.

Honestamente, eu já vi finais bem piores (e em tramas similares também), só que esse me frustrou porque tudo estava correndo tão bem... eu realmente acreditei que nos livraríamos da maldição da reta final em c-dramas, onde os produtores cagam com todo o desenvolvimento.

Felizmente, a cagada só afetou o episódio final em si, e não a reta final. E todos estão vivos, yay! Só caiu um pouco no meu critério mesmo, por isso a nota de 7.5.

Acredito que ver que existia um episódio especial, levantou às minhas expectativas só para derrubá-las novamente, creio que isso me afetou mais do que deveria.

Mas fico feliz de ter assistido essa obra, eu me diverti bastante durante o processo, torci para os planos deles darem certo, passei raiva com a família dela (para depois ver valor em sua redenção) e simpatizei com o casal. A parceria deles me lembrou mais casais da vida real do que da ficção, o que me agrada muuuuito.

Super recomendo!

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