An invisible thread connects those who are destined to meet. It may stretch, but will never break.
The aforesaid quotation is an ancient Chinese proverb which encapsulates our leads’ love saga. This Homeric drama whetted snug emotions in my heart and made me grin from ear to ear, especially when the leads canoodled with each other. I have a fervent penchant for the dramas that involve healthy and affectionate mains’ relationship and if the leads get together in the early phase of drama, then that would be cherry on the cake, wherefore this drama plucked my heart’s strings the way it did. This drama depicts the Michelangelo phenomenon beautifully. In case I forget to mention, the OSTs of this drama are simply mesmerising! I am listening to them non-stop these days.The story of this drama is like a gently babbling brook on smooth rocks. It seems simple, nothing out-of-the-box or avant-garde, and yet is aesthetically pleasing. It might be this simpleness which lends such aesthetics to the story. I might be the only one but as I am growing old, I am finding myself liking these kind of relaxing and simple stories more than others. The male lead, Lin YiYang, falls in love with the female lead, Yin Guo, at first sight and rest of the story enunciates the constantly evolving relationship between them. She was like a warm zephyr for him amidst a snowstorm who brought spring into his heart after a long winter season. We get to see the leads going from strangers to friends, friends to lovers and lovers to those who can’t live sans each other. Whenever I saw Lin YiYang, I was reminded of Marie de Rabutin-Chantal’s quote, “I love you so passionately, that I hide a great part of my love, so as not to oppress you with it.” The actors breathed life into this story with their top-notch acting. These kind of stories can easily go downhill if conflated with subpar acting. Whenever I watched the leads on the screen, it made me feel as if I was peeking into a real couple’s private life, which highlights the level of the acting.
The cinematography was posh and sumptuous. The employment of different kinds of shots, like long shots, extreme close-up shots etc. to accentuate the nuances was commendable. The snowy vistas augmented the already beautiful cinematography. Another point that I would like to bring into your notice is the apparel of the characters of this drama. I, personally, found them very attractive. It could be because of my love for denim but hey, as I said, it’s my subjective take on it. I didn’t know anything about billiards apart from its existence. I ferreted out lots of information about the sport solely so that I could understand the matches and could get soaked into the thrill and nervousness whenever they were shown. Another thing that touched my heart was esprit de corps amongst leads and their friends’ clique. It was nice to see the warm friendship between Lin YiYang and his two friends, both of whom were his wingmen in the relationship.
This is my first review, so pardon me if I made some mistakes. I decided to write a review because I am pretty influenced by Rainer Maria RilkeI’s quote, “The work of the eyes is done. Go now and do the heart-work on the images imprisoned within you.” I wrote as much as I could think of so that I won’t fall victim to the dreadful l'esprit de l'escalier, though it seems I am inevitably going to.
I shall rest my figurative quill with the gilded lines of Gordon Lightfoot’s ‘Song for a Winter’s night’ that sum up the feelings of Lin YiYang when he first saw Yin Guo:
“…If I could only have you near
To breathe a sigh or two
I would be happy just to hold the hands I love
On this winter night with you.”
An honourable mention to Roger de Bussy-Rabutin’s words on the subject-matter of long distance relationship:
“Absence is to love what wind is to fire; it extinguishes the small, it inflames the great.”
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Slow, cozy love story
When I first started watching it I was looking for a drama to warm me up on these cold nights, and this one is definitely it.The story evolves in a way as if you're part of the it, it's overall a great drama with a really nice ost and great acting.
I really loved it, and definitely recommend watching it if you're looking for a slow, cozy love story!
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Not Until I Meet You Amidst A Snowstorm of Love
I've been looking forward to this drama since the casts were announced. I am a fan of Wu Lei's and Jin Mai's works. I struggled to get through the first few episodes. Not until I picked it up again and binge through it, I found it very enjoyable. It has a light plot, no annoying characters, no repetitive conflicts. Conflicts also are resolved in appropriate times. The billiards scenes are not too long or not too short, just enough. For me everything was just appropriate, I don't feel the urge to skip any of the scenes. And I made me giggle a lot, to see Yin Guo and Yiyang. The early awkward meetings, the pining and yearning that Yiyang did (ughhhhh I swoon), and the moment they got together, I squaled.Wu Lei did amazing acting through those eyes, the yearning look, the guilty look, and the determined look. Jinmai also did very well on potraying Yin Guo, you can see when she is shy, when she is nervous, or when she is confident in the competition.
I kinda liked the fact that on the first half, it is Yiyang who guided and helped Yin Guo, but on the second half, it is Yin Guo who helped Yiyang got back on his feet and back to the court. The symbolism using the compass necklace was cool. Fate brought them together through the snowstorm.
Overall, it has been a very cute, enjoyable watch. My eyes are also blessed because there are too many eye candies in this drama. Worth to watch and binge!
Side Notes:
I personally kinda confused where to look, when Yiyang, Jiang Yang, and Xiaodong are together in a scene 🤣
I am adding Lin Yiyang to my list of the best C-drama boyfriends because of those act of services are crazyyyyyy.
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A very qualified and sweet modern drama
EARLY REVIEW -Let me start off by saying I am loving the show so far....There is nothing wrong with it. I love the pace, love the cinematography. Love how good the dialogue is and how realistic the scenes are. The story is intriguing and chemistry is more than what I could ask for.
But hear me out, I have a problem with the characterizations. Especially the FL. She seems a bit..2D. The initial scenes where she books a hotel and says "I'm the mature one" made me think I have a lot to look forward to, only to be disappointed by what happened in almost every scene afterwards. She seems like a pretty, rich, protected girl who couldn't get a thing done on her own or have a thought of her own. I genuinely don't see her taking a decision about anything. She seems like the girl who acts pretty dumb and leads on every single guy and accepts every other act of love, only to leave them in the end for a better option. She verbally never confirmed the relation, whereas the poor ML flaunts her as his girlfriend everywhere he goes. When her friend asks "How is it gonna work long distance" she pretty much says "she didn't think about it" which is idk something a clueless school girl would say. She has no idea where it is going and mind you she is at a point in her life where she is figuring out her career.
I have some irks about the ML too. Like how has he never approached a girl before but brings his A game to the table? He almost acts cocky, like a person must have lived with a girl to gain such kind of confidence with those
I have watched till Episode 8 and my reaction started to change too.
Yes, it has been mostly nice so far but I am having trouble with the fact that they show the main leads as one-true-love but but… there is no strong basis for any of it. The leads have barely talked to each other. There has not been one decent conversation between them on ANY topic.
It still feels too ‘young love’ to me where it is all about chemical attraction. Why do you both like other so much? First couple of episodes, I was okay with it but in episode 7-8, the guy is constantly trying to touch her (which okay.. I get that you are madly attracted to her… and she seems into you) but she keeps running away and ya all have not really talked about ANYTHING. Please try to actually have a conversation.
Also, the guy is supposed to be shy and severe and the girl, too young and inexperienced but they are 27 and 21. Not that young. It is a bit hard to watch them behave like teenagers. It feels a bit inconsistent.
I think I would have even been okay if there wasn’t the constant…’I can’t help but lean in to try to kiss you’!
FINAL REVIEW -
A very qualified and sweet modern drama, I feel it's surpassing even the sweetness portrayed in the novel.
Especially the male lead Wu Lei, embodies my ideal type with his starry eyes, and captivating jawline, despite his youthfulness, he exudes a strong sense of masculinity.
Both leads deliver very stable performances that are both sweet and convincing. The plot avoids excessive melodrama and unnecessary separations to ensure audience satisfaction; it is a very decent drama.
Particularly noteworthy is Wu Lei's transformation into a truly sexy and charming character as he matures throughout the drama. His tender affectionate gaze towards the female lead deeply immerses me in their love story! He portrays an enamored boyfriend who longs for possession of his beloved woman.
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Love amidst snowstorm, billiards and naps
I've watched Wu Lei in Nothing but You and since I prefer modern romance, I was excited for this series. 'Amidst a Snowstorm of Love' was very much talked about when it was released in early 2024. I started watching this series in late October 2024 to hype myself for a trip to Chengdu (where Wu Lei grew up). Oh dear, I struggled with this series. I paused this series after episode 11 and restarted when I wanted to watch something while cutting papers for work.What I liked:
1) Bromance - I love the dynamics between Lin Yiyang, Jiang Yang and Meng Xiaodong. I was relief that there was no bitterness between Yiyang and Xiaodong despite their childhood rivalry. Yiyang - Jiang Yang interactions were also delightful to watch.
2) Acting - Standouts are Wu Lei, Chen Jing Ke and Wang Xing Yue! Wang Xing Yue carried himself very well - his character is same aged or slightly younger as Wu Lei's (27 years old at start of series) but in real life, Wang Xing Yue was only 21 years old during filming.
3) Supporting characters - I really like Wu Wei, Jiang Yang, Meng Xiao Dong, Lin Lin, Chen An An and the endearing Meng Xiao Ting.
What I disliked:
1) Yin Guo characterisation - Sadly the female lead is underdeveloped. There was no character growth - she remained childlike & naive even with 2 time jumps. She never struggled because everything was handled by Yiyang or her family.
2) The romance - Sadly it is lackluster to the point that I fast forward all Yiyang-Yin Guo scenes to 1.5x speed. I didn't buy their love because their love being developed. Yiyang was smitten at first sight of Yin Guo, which is quite unnerving because he didn't know her personality but he already falling for her [looks and childlike behaviour, I guess?]. Yiyang even admitted in episode 20-something that he had only shown the best side of him to Yin Guo but not his worst side. I also don't like that Yin Guo was coy when there was nobody around. They had already been intimate and in relationship for 1.5 - 2 years. Plus Yin Guo doesn't seem to contribute much to the relationship. I dislike her comments about Yiyang's stubble (which was hardly visible) and his image. What's with the shaving scene?
3) Writing - I haven't read the book in which this series is based on but I assume the book focused more on their romance from 2 POVs rather than individual growth and eventual romance. I think it'd be great if this series had been about a lost man reviving a career in billiards after relearning the sport from a rookie. Remove the very first peeping through the window shot and all the naps.
4) Editing - I wish there were explanations about billiards, snooker and 9-ball so viewers have better understanding of the sport. The competition shots were alright but they never created any suspense for the viewers.
Favourite scene
When Lin Yiyang, Jiang Yang and Meng Xiao Dong hung out eating skewers
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10 out of 10
In the midst of a snowy setting, the beginning unfolded slowly. The narrative carried a sense of continuity, pace, or pattern within a specific context. The initial encounter left me puzzled – was it their first meeting or did they already know each other? His watchful gaze, the drink offered, and her reaction initially hinted at familiarity, yet as the story unfolded, her messaging conveyed a sense of them being strangers to each other.After watching the second episode, it became apparent that the narrative had commenced with a flashback. It seemed as though she was recounting their story to someone, adding a layer of intrigue to the unfolding tale.
Without revealing too much, about their relationship status that they were either be strangers or have known each other before.
Must watch it if you ship the love story .
I like Wang Xing Yue character though he got less screen but he looked cool all the time . I really hope that his love story also accomplish . So for this I think director should plan with season 2
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Beautiful relationship that touches my heart the most
I never thought I'd end up loving this C-drama so much. After finishing it, I find myself rewatching it every night before bed, and it always puts a smile on my face. Each time I watch, I notice new details about the characters that make me appreciate them even more. I’ve completely fallen for Lin Yi Yang—he’s exactly the kind of guy I’m drawn to, so it’s no wonder he’s become my all-time favorite character. Wu Lei and Zhao Jinmai’s performances are incredible; they make the characters feel so real. I’m absolutely hooked on their love story, and the chemistry between them is perfect. I really hope they star together again! The story moves at a great pace, without any unnecessary dragging, which I love. The supporting characters are also a joy to watch. I find myself tearing up during many scenes because of how touching they are. Overall, I’m so glad I discovered Lin Yi Yang and Yin Guo. Even more, I’m grateful that Wu Lei and Zhao Jinmai brought them to life so beautifully.Was this review helpful to you?
Great 1st half, Lacking 2nd half
Considering how much I LOVED the first half of this show, something seemed to shift post episode 19/20, I had to pause it to see if I'll love it when I get back again, alas, it got worse and even unbearable /unwatchable. Believe me I love Wu Lei, but something about their romance was just lacking as I found myself beginning to FF scenes (even with them together) 😬.Maybe it was the FLs continued aversion to his touch that made it awkward or maybe I got spoiled from finishing TLOSL before getting back into this, it felt like watching paint dry. He was putting in waaayy too much work emotionally and she just felt like a brick wall most times that even when some intimacy was hinted at Episode 23 it fell so flat I literally rolled my eyes 🙄. Even the tournament scenes I enjoyed in the beginning became annoying and I ended up skipping alot.
I'll say something switched from the 1st half that didn't get quite right in the 2nd.
Initially had this rated 10 but I'm bumping it down to 7, ONLY because of Wu Lei's sizzling hot charisma & smoldering gazes 🔥😍
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Amidst a Snowstorm of Love: A Mesmerizing Journey Through Romance and Growth
As an avid CDrama enthusiast eagerly anticipating the release of "Amidst a Snowstorm of Love," I can confidently affirm that this series delivers an enchanting and heartwarming narrative that captivates from start to finish. From the stellar cast to the picturesque setting, this drama is a must-watch for anyone fond of Chinese romance dramas.The allure of "Amidst a Snowstorm of Love" lies not only in its enchanting storyline but also in the impeccable performances of its cast. Wu Lei, in particular, shines as the male lead, Lin Yi Yang. His portrayal of a determined graduate student who falls deeply in love with Zhao Jin Mai's character, Yin Guo, is nothing short of captivating. Wu Lei's mesmerizing gaze and impeccable acting skills draw viewers into the depths of Lin Yi Yang's emotions, making it effortless to become enamored with his character.
Zhao Jin Mai's portrayal of Yin Guo is equally commendable. Despite initial reservations about her innocence, Zhao Jin Mai flawlessly captures the essence of a young woman navigating both professional sports and budding romance. Her character's development from a shy and apprehensive individual to a confident and fearless competitor is a testament to Zhao Jin Mai's talent and dedication to her craft.
A special mention must be made for Wang Xing Yue's portrayal of Meng Xiao Dong, whose presence adds depth and intrigue to the storyline. The entire cast deserves recognition for their outstanding performances, contributing to the overall visual and emotional appeal of the drama.
The use of Finland as a backdrop adds a layer of visual splendor to the storytelling process. The breathtaking landscapes and enchanting locales serve as the perfect setting for the blossoming romance between Lin Yi Yang and Yin Guo. The pacing of the story is expertly crafted, keeping viewers engaged and invested in the characters' journey from beginning to end.
The soundtrack and musical score further enhance the viewing experience, complementing the emotional depth of each scene. The carefully curated selection of songs adds another dimension to the storytelling, breathing life into the characters' emotions and experiences.
One of the most compelling aspects of "Amidst a Snowstorm of Love" is the undeniable chemistry between the main characters. Lin Yi Yang's unwavering devotion and quick confession of love for Yin Guo, coupled with their palpable on-screen chemistry, make for an unforgettable viewing experience. The portrayal of their love languages, with Lin Yi Yang's acts of service and physical touch complementing Yin Guo's words of affirmation and quality time, adds depth and authenticity to their relationship.
While the main storyline is undeniably captivating, there is a longing for closure in the unresolved story arc of Meng Xiao Dong and Lin Lin. Despite their secondary roles, their characters' journey leaves viewers invested and yearning for a sense of completion. A brief epilogue or closure would have provided a satisfying resolution to their storyline.
In conclusion, "Amidst a Snowstorm of Love" is a visual and emotional masterpiece that surpasses expectations. From its stellar cast and picturesque setting to its captivating storyline and heartfelt performances, this CDrama is a testament to the beauty of love and the power of storytelling. It is a must-watch for fans of Chinese romance dramas and a timeless addition to the genre.
Note: This review is written by me, edited by ChatGPT for readability.
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Amidst a snowstorm of love
This is my another comfort drama. i had watched my dramas upto 600, but these three drama's are my favourite:- 1 Put Your Head On My Shoulder, 2 When I Fly Towards You and Third one is this. No unnecessary breakups, misunderstandings or love triangle. This is overall good drama. Perfect Cast, Ost, Story and Productive. I hope i will seen many drama's in the future too.This is my another comfort drama. i had watched my dramas upto 600, but these three drama's are my favourite:- 1 Put Your Head On My Shoulder, 2 When I Fly Towards You and Third one is this. No unnecessary breakups, misunderstandings or love triangle. This is overall good drama. Perfect Cast, Ost, Story and Productive. I hope i will seen many drama's in the future too. ❤️❤️🌸
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This review may contain spoilers
Romance of the year!!!!!! What!?
This is one of the best shows ever this year an easy number 1!When I started of this show I didn’t expect much at all then as it went to the bar scene when he saw her for the first time wow I got absolutely chills I mean the way he looks at her through out this show is insane. The male lead is one of the greenest flag I’ve ever seen the way he tries so hard to make sure she is good even though he has nothing is incredible.
Throughout this show we see their love story, friendships , family dynamics and how it changes from how it was in the beginning to a different and stronger bond in the end. Now were there moments that I cried? Yes oh wow and those moments where I was literally crying was so wholesome this show was beyond good. I do feel it should have been 36 episodes instead of 30 it felt rushed at the end and we didn’t see the second lead couple story in full but overall good.
It is a definitely must watch it will exceed your expectations and more everything was beautiful I love the female lead and how she handled everything showing up for him and being there for him without her giving up her dreams but sharing each others dreams.
If you must do something this year it is definitely to watch this show Amidst a snowstorm of love!!!!
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