Recommended if you liked Hidden Love
Just finished this today and I give it a solid 7 stars. I liked this despite some flaws. The strongest part of this drama was the relationship between these two young lovers, played exceptionally well by Wu Lei and Zhao Jin Mai, while its weakest was in the elements of production.Both leads were well-cast in this romantic drama and my biggest delight was watching them playfully enjoying each other's company and slowly letting each other in. Our FL is at first suspicious of our ML since she is inexperienced and away from home. Our ML is living and studying abroad having left behind a troubled past. He is living a relatively uncomplicated life, but the appearance of this pretty young lady makes him realize how much he is really missing. We are drawn into their relationship and are made to feel a part of it---every glance, every smile, every intimate moment. I basked in this youthful love, reminded of my own relationship with my husband when we first started dating.
Centered around this love story is the sport of billiards. Both are young athletes who are competing in billiards tournaments and although somewhat interesting, (I had no idea there were so many different types of billiard games---Snooker, 6 ball, 9 ball, etc.), it often detracted from the main focus of these two lovers. Many gorgeous people abounded in the cast and the talent was underused. I think a more compelling story would have been to give some of these young people more to do than just stand there and look beautiful. One example was Dai Si. The plot seemed to be going towards a possible triangle, but instead underused her in the name of not creating conflicts. In fact, the only conflict in this drama is within our ML and his troubled past. There is very little in the way of outer forces working against them which makes for a very benign plot.
The last few episodes were weakest because they dealt more with a national billiards competition that took away much of the focus of the two young lovers, but gave the ensemble cast more screen time. I think the goal was to produce a youthful, romantic drama for a younger audience with as little conflict as possible. The lessons/message being: love your person, love your sport, love your country.
I also appreciated the on location filming in Finland and getting to see some of the snowy sites. The extras were great and it gave our main leads an opportunity to practice their English.
OST was great. Perfect mix of youthful tunes with just a touch of edgy songs for the billiards competitions. The piano score played during the couple moments was my favorite. I have already added it to my Spotify playlist.
I recommend this title for those who want something similar to Hidden Love.
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I’ve watched Amidst a Snowstorm of Love MULTIPLE times
..., and it just gets better with every rewatchWhat stood out the most was how beautifully Lin Yiyang loved Yin Guo and how she loved him in return—every moment between them felt raw, genuine, and heartfelt. The show captures the magic and vulnerability of first love, pulling you into their world where every glance and gesture carries meaning. It also explores the hardships they faced, both in their love lives and careers, showing their resilience and growth as individuals and as a couple. Lin Yiyang’s unwavering devotion to Yin Guo—his doting nature and constant support—will absolutely melt your heart. 🥰 On top of the romance, the show also brings much-needed awareness to the game of billiards, showcasing the skill and strategy involved while delivering highly entertaining competitions that keep you on the edge of your seat. Add in the fantastic music that perfectly complements every emotional moment, and you have an unforgettable series. For a full breakdown and in-depth review, check out my YouTube channel! @DISBYDEM
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A Captivating Tale of Love and Emotional Struggles
Amidst a Snowstorm of Love is a Chinese drama that attempts to blend romance with political intrigue, set against the backdrop of a harsh and unforgiving world. While it has an undeniably beautiful premise, filled with grand landscapes, intricate relationships, and emotional twists, the series ultimately struggles with pacing issues, predictable plotlines, and underdeveloped characters. Despite these shortcomings, there are still moments of depth that give the series its charm.The premise of Amidst a Snowstorm of Love initially piques interest: a young couple whose love is tested by the conflicts around them, with elements of loyalty, betrayal, and sacrifice woven into their relationship. However, the show struggles with its execution of the plot. Early episodes set up a promising world filled with intrigue, but as the story progresses, the narrative begins to falter under its own weight.
One of the biggest issues with the plot is its predictability. While some twists are introduced, they often feel recycled from other similar dramas, and the audience can foresee the outcome well before it happens. This lack of surprise makes the series feel formulaic at times, undermining its potential to be a standout in the genre.
Additionally, the pacing in Amidst a Snowstorm of Love feels uneven. At times, the plot rushes through key emotional moments, leaving little room for the characters' development. In contrast, other episodes drag on, stretching out minor subplots that don’t add much to the overall narrative. This inconsistency affects the flow of the series, making it harder to stay fully invested in the characters’ journey.
The character development in Amidst a Snowstorm of Love leaves much to be desired. The protagonists, while charming in their own right, are often one-dimensional. The female lead, who starts off as strong and independent, becomes somewhat of a stereotype as the show progresses, relying on her love interest to define her role in the story. This regression in her character arc is disappointing, especially considering the potential for her to be a more layered and dynamic character.
The male lead, while fitting the classic "stoic hero" mold, also lacks depth. His motivations are unclear at times, and his emotional journey feels underexplored. While he has moments of vulnerability, these are few and far between, which leads to a disconnect with the audience. The chemistry between the leads is certainly present, but the lack of depth in their characters makes it difficult to fully invest in their relationship.
The supporting cast also suffers from underdevelopment. While some characters serve as interesting plot devices, they rarely transcend their basic roles. The lack of fleshed-out secondary characters limits the emotional impact of the show, as it feels as though many key relationships are only superficially explored.
Visually, Amidst a Snowstorm of Love shines. The cinematography is beautifully executed, with stunning landscapes and dramatic snow-covered scenes that complement the mood of the show. The use of sweeping landscapes helps to evoke the harshness of the world the characters inhabit, and the cinematography truly enhances the overall atmosphere of the drama. The attention to detail in the costume design and set decoration also helps transport the viewer into this visually immersive world.
However, despite the visual appeal, the beauty of the show can’t completely mask the flaws in the storytelling. The stunning scenery and elegant costuming sometimes feel like distractions rather than enhancements, especially when the plot falters or fails to engage. While the visuals are striking, they can't make up for the lack of strong narrative momentum.
Amidst a Snowstorm of Love attempts to tackle themes of love, loyalty, and sacrifice, but it often falls short in fully exploring these topics. The central relationship between the leads is undoubtedly the driving force of the series, but it often feels repetitive and stagnant. While the romance is heartfelt at times, the lack of emotional depth in both characters leads to a relationship that feels more superficial than profound.
The theme of loyalty is explored in fits and starts, with the characters’ personal struggles often overshadowing these deeper concepts. The constant back-and-forth between the leads and their external conflicts detracts from the emotional core of the story, making it difficult for the themes of loyalty and sacrifice to resonate fully.
The series does try to explore the broader implications of these themes, especially within the context of the political and social landscape, but the exploration feels underdeveloped. The drama misses opportunities to dig deeper into these issues, which could have added layers of meaning and emotional complexity to the story.
In conclusion, Amidst a Snowstorm of Love is a visually stunning series with a solid premise, but it fails to deliver on its potential. The plot is predictable and struggles with pacing issues, and the character development is lacking, especially for the leads. While the romance is charming at times, it never reaches the emotional depth required to make the series truly memorable.
The show’s beautiful cinematography and compelling setting are its strongest points, but these cannot fully compensate for the underwhelming narrative. Amidst a Snowstorm of Love is ultimately a mixed experience—there are flashes of brilliance, but the execution leaves much to be desired. It may appeal to fans of historical romance dramas, but those seeking a more nuanced and engaging storyline might find it lacking.
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Predictable like any other Chinese romance drama
I like that the scenes aren't overly exaggerated/fake compared to the typical Chinese romance dramas, but everything is super predictable. I haven't read the novel, so I can't say it depicted it well or not, but I felt like it was mainly focused on their relationship and not as much on billiards. Moreover, they don't have many challenges to overcome. The little difficulties that come along the way are resolved naturally or with little effort. Everything went super smoothly for the ML, and I'm still not sure how he was able to afford everything for the FL despite being a "poor student." Their chemistry and acting weren't too bad, but the main leads are basically all over each other as soon as they get together. It would've been nice if they could've explored some of the other characters' stories like Jiang Nan, Meng Xiao Dong, and Lin Lin. It just felt everything was repeating and made it super dragged out.Was this review helpful to you?
Love and Shine no matter how the snow is falling!
One of the best dramas of this year. This drama really brought back the sweet memories of our own relationship beginnings and a lot of us wished to go back to our younger days when we experienced this.Love and shine no matter how the snow is falling is a great anthem for this drama. Very refreshing and beautiful story. The leads were wonderful but Leo Wu was fantastic as Lin Yi Yang, a layered deep character with a hint of darkness. He pretty much drove this story.
I also really loved Zhao Jinmai’s portrayal of Yin Guo as the innocent, protected girl but yet independent and determined. The music and the production was very beautiful. I don’t have anything negative to say about this drama.
The thing that struck me the most was how refreshingly normal this relationship was the ML and FL were equals, did what they loved and showed their love for each other in a very honest way. They both nurtured each other and grew through the relationship. LYY finding his direction and his way back to snooker was very well done.
Even the friendship between LYY, MXD and JY was done well and really cracked me up. MXD was the funniest of the lot of-course.
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never felt more single
A ROMANCE DRAMA done rightso on to the review...
what do I need to do to get a Yi Yang in my life , do I need to do good deeds , donate to charities, wish upon on a star , like I need to know
I've never seen a PERFECT GREEN FLAG in my life, the way he cares and does everything for her , their relationship is definitely the hero of this drama , they'll have you screaming and kicking your feet like your a 15 yro School girl
just the way thier relationship develops is BEAUTIFUL
this is a drama is must watch , you will not regret it
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A beautiful romanctic story
this is my first time writing a proper review..then you should know how much i loved it. the last drama i love this much was hidden love. then i was waiting for a perfect drama and finally found this one. writing this before completing the drama ... will update when completed ,about the ending..hope it makes me satisfied.And i did not properly give my attention to the music of this drama so just ramdomly rating that part only. if it is really good someone please rocommend.thanks in advance.
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There was no storyline, but the main characters were the reason for drama survival.
There was no storyline, but the main characters were the reason for drama survival. Throughout the entirety of the drama, the focus remained solely on two characters. It's puzzling why they chose to cast so many additional characters when there seemed to be a lack of substantial screenplay to justify their inclusion.Was this review helpful to you?
When you watch this, you might find it hard to move on
I'm absolutely obsessed with this drama because it's such a breath of fresh air! I mean, come on, no antagonist means no unnecessary stress and tension - just pure positivity and good vibes all the way. It's like a cozy blanket on a rainy day, you know? Once you finish watching this show, there's just no way you won't want to watch it again. You will also have a chance seeing some parts of Finland. When it comes to Zhao Jinmai and Leo Wu, their chemistry is so natural and effortless that it's almost like they were really dating.Was this review helpful to you?
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?
where is the oomph
oh i wish that was shorter. it was cute at first but then it really dragged on the 2nd half to the point that it became boring for me. i wish they made the billiard competitions way more exciting than that to balance it out since the romance has been pretty much easy and again, we got 30 eps! it's too long for a story like this. listen, in real life, i love that of course lol but as a drama watcher, i would love to be entertained with a little angst and drama here and there. i just wish the couple is more playful than that. they're athletes! i feel like there's so much potential here but they didn't do much. honestly, this male lead is sweet and he's a provider alright. i've never seen someone down that bad so quickly omg. i do think the writers gave his character more depth and personality than the female lead which disappoints me. i just wanted more from yin guo as a character. so yeah, visually beautiful couple. i do think these actors have chemistry. decent acting. but the writing, romance and characters didn't have that oomph ya knowps: lin yi yang did not have to sing in front of everybody in the end tho omg lol i can take the other pda stuff but oof.... thank god that was a short scene hahaha
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Beautiful Drama with passion of Love
This drama is extremely sweet and beautiful! You can see the love in the ML eyes from the beginning and they are just so sweet together. The acting is really good and the story shows a slow burn in a wonderful way! The way the male lead grows throughout this story as well as the female lead is very heart-warming.Was this review helpful to you?
