Su Jiao Hua (2024)

Good

After spending two years searching for this drama, I finally got the chance to watch it. I'm also glad I didn't set my expectations too high, because while it's good, it could have been even better.

What I loved most was how deceptive the first episode is. It makes you think you're about to watch a romance about a teenage girl obsessed with an ex-convict, but suddenly everything spirals completely out of the protagonist's control. The forbidden fairy tale she created in her own mind gives way to a far more dangerous reality. The man who initially seems like nothing more than a quiet drug dealer turns out to be willing to do absolutely anything to carry out his revenge—even using her as a pawn in his plan.

And the way he does it is genuinely disturbing to watch. I felt deeply uncomfortable during several scenes, yet I was completely hooked by the way the story keeps escalating. Every decision makes the situation worse, turning everything into one massive snowball of consequences. I also really enjoyed the dynamic between the two leads: he constantly tries to manipulate her, while she refuses to give in and ends up making all of his plans much harder to execute. Their power struggle works incredibly well.

Overall, it's a solid drama. I really liked both protagonists, and even the police investigation manages to stay engaging without becoming repetitive.

That said, there are some flaws that are hard to overlook. The biggest one is the runtime. The drama is simply too short, which prevents several important plot points—especially in the final stretch—from being properly developed. Some events feel rushed and leave noticeable plot holes because there's not enough time to explore them in depth. I couldn't shake the feeling that the story had some excellent ideas that deserved a few more episodes to fully reach their potential.

Even so, it's a gripping romantic thriller that kept my attention from beginning to end. Watching everything gradually spin out of control is incredibly entertaining, and there were plenty of moments when I was genuinely anxious for the characters. Despite its shortcomings, I really enjoyed the experience.

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