Sunshine by My Side

Slow burn romance , light- hearted

I'm a big fan of age gap romance.
The main lead actors in this drama not only
they have a big age gap in this story but also have a big age difference in real life, but still
their looks and chemistry blended really well.

If you are a big fan of age gap romance
And love to see a handsome 26 yrs. Old ml
completely sweeping his feet off to a divorced but very capable 36 yrs old woman, that no matter his parents opposition, he is consistent, firmed and strong for what he believed in, that no matter what challenges and difficulties in life, he is strong, hardworking and without any hesitation he is willing to take any risks
to step in , in a world of an advertising competitve industry whether he become successful or not but to prove to those people who undermined him just because he is just young and inexperienced,
but more so, to prove to the woman he love that he is a reliable guy, that he can do it, not only physically he can be a good help for her, but also confidently to become a finacially stable guy someday , i can catch up with the level of your status and can be a man that you can rely on in everything in life------That's the kind of ML he is in this drama.

If you like that kind of ml in a drama, this drama is really for you. If you love Xiao Zhan in The Oath of Love , you will also fall in love with XiAoZhan as Shen Yang's character in this story. He is really a truly sunshine in this story.

I like Bai Bai He , of course she is a good actress too( watched most of her dramas). I think she also portrayed her character well , as at first hesitant 36 yrs old divorced woman who enter a relationship with a 10 yrs younger guy than her. Then , after she ended her 10 yrs marriage to her cheating husband, she seems to have this emotional witholding character that it sometimes hard for me to read. But then the past of her childhood memory , a cheating husband, an overbearing sister and unwanted suitor,
That's probably explained why she's kind of not too much engaging . Until she slowly bit by bit gradually opening up her emotion, herself to SY and then later when the episode progress you can see her starting to became comfortble to the company of SY. I think those projection of her characterin this drama was well acted by her.

Xiao Zhan's acting and his portrayal of Shen Yang 's character really sticking out to me here! My most loved character in this drama. After i watched The Oath Of Love which my introduction to him and watching this latest drama of him which is my favorite genre , curioused how he gonna pull off himself as an actor portraying a head over heels younger man - older woman romance. After i completed this series, he really didn't disappoint me. HE NAILED IT! Now i can put him in my favorite category noona romance actors like Lee Jong - Suk of RIABB, Jung Hae- in of SITR, Park Seo Joon of WR, Wang Ziyi of WWL, Song Wei Lo of FY, Wang Anyu of FIY and the list goes on.There were times that my heart was so heavy for him , sad when he is sad and happy when he is happy in this drama.

I love the characters of Shen Yang's parents.
Their beckering is cute, reminds me of my parents in law who are like cat and dog beckering most of their entire marriage life but they truly love and cannot live without each other. I'm glad SY's mother turned out not to be really a hardcore disagreeable mother. For a while I thought, she will be one of those typical character villain mother( like the mother in Something In the Rain) in most asian dramas , but Im glad she softened up later in the episodes once she saw how determined SY and proved to her that he is not backing down even if it means that he will be on his own.

I also love the friendship between SY , Song Chen and Pan Rou. Song Chen as a best friend of Sy is very admirable. He is very supportive and always there for SY no matter what his goal in life , even that means to resigned his job just to show him his support. A kind of friendship like that is just rare but also reminds you and appreciate the beauty of friendship you have with few people you know in life.
I love also the love story of Song Chen and Pan Rou, it tooks a while for Song Chen to have a courage to confess his feelings for Pan Rou but when he finally did it and was accepted, they' re inseparable. They're the side couple characters i liked in this drama .
There are some annoying side characters but most of the time i just skipped their scenes.

There is no skinship in this drama, here more of hugging and forehead kissing. Although i can live with it because of the overpoweringly great acting or portrayal of Xiao Zhan , but I would be lying if i said i dont need a lips kissing or some tender loving moment scenes.
Im not saying really deep but it would be nice to see a little vibes of like ROMANCE IS A BONUS BOOK drama( it's a perfect example to me)--- which is also a slow burn romance , writer really takes her time to emphasized the viewers throughout the series that love cannot only be measured by physical touch but by showing how much you care that person in so many loving and caring ways , it was really demonstrated well in that drama and the same thing here in SBMS, the only difference is that in RIABB ep 13-16) near towards the end of the series, writer really gave the viewers a many eye candy scenes. A physical interactions that it's not so over the top but it's just right in the middle, still maintaining the wholesome and decency of the drama but at the same time it is so satisfying to the eyes of the viewers.

Overall the story and the acting is really good specially XZ. He is mainly the reason
Why I endure the slow moving plot of this drama. I enjoy and i frustrated sometimes but all in all am very happy and satisfied the ending specially in the award ceremony scene( minus the given enough time of the hockey couple in the last episode).

There is no break-up, no heavy misunderstanding, no love triangle
No ex - girlfriend come back ( our hero is just so pure in this drama), no evil parents , no accident or any amnesia plot , not complicated and It is really easy to follow drama .
I highly recommend it for those viewers who like to watch this kind of genre!

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Plausible reasons why the rating wasn't higher

First of all, the intro music is fantastic, it makes me want to listen to smooth jazz.

The biggest missteps the writers made for the international market are as follows:

- The ex-husband wasn't punished for committing adulty
his power, meddling, and rightness made me angry because his role just did not make sense

Xiao Zhan- I love him, love him, love him... I loved his character, but he lacked the power to defend himself and her, why? I expected him to have the strength to kick the ex-husband to the curb... with words... isn't this 2021?

We watch movies to escape, but when the subject matter of divorce, younger man older woman, and self employment is beautifully written only 75%, the rest of the world who enjoy Chinese drama would say, WTF happened to the other 25%?
So, as much as I loved watching, Sunshine by myside, I was constantly screaming, why, why did the writer make him or her say such idiotic lines.

That's why the rating was only 8. Your mistake was in giving the ex-husband more power then the hero and heroin, and you forgot your international audiance.

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Underrated jewel

Has been sometime since I had the urge to write a review, but this series deserves one.
To me the plot itself wasn’t anything new or way above , but the actors did such a wonderful job.
Because in this age gape stories, the ML is usually super jealous, or too immature, and always have that bunch of stupid and annoying superficial “misunderstandings “ that makes me feel sick, but this show doesn’t have that.
The ML has a good character, seems like down to earth but of course does some noise things but I like his acting.
The FL to me was the real gem of this serie. Always steady, calm, racional, passionate and logic.
Even her way of speaking and demeanor made the scenes realistic.
Themes like poverty, family and many aspects of life were well explored to me and the support roles also did a pretty good job.

My evaluation is high because I really could feel many of the emotions that they wanted to convert, so If you’re in doubt, I suggest you give this serie a chance.

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I wanted to love this more but could not.

The leads had great chemistry I wanted to see more of them maturing into their roles and into their relationship. Instead, there were fillers of so many other couples and stories that was unnecessary. The best friend of the male lead and Pan I was fine with them, I enjoyed them on screen. The relationship with the parents and son I enjoyed. The ex-husband and best friend's romance went on way too long, the mother and father bickering went on too long for me also, the sister of the FL, the professor etc. wayyyyy too much screen time for that group. I ended up fast forwarding in many areas due to these relationships lacking strength or interest to the show and realized that I didn't even miss anything critical or of value to the characters. The show dragged and it could have been done in less scenes. Hated the advice the mom gave about the son not matching the FL, what a way to tell someone they are not good enough or the person they like is out of their league and to give up, that part hurt a bit. The end no kiss, a hug, not after all my precious hours of watching till 1am and I have work; it drove me to come here and comment. There was a great opportunity to make this a better show, and it just became OK; instead of great, fantastic, lets add this to top 10 list, let me tell a friend they have to watch. I will keep this one to myself.

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Reflection on generational differences

Most of the comments I read about this drama point the lack of a true romance between the two leads. But I think that their love story is not so much the focus of the script. Instead it is a very good reflection on sexism and the role of genders in contemporary society. This is especially true if we take into consideration how all the male characters are written and the stark differences between the older and younger generations. Lao Xue and Fang laoshi are two faces of the same medal, they aren’t complete scumbags, both of them are genuinely convinced that what they do is in the best interest of the woman they love, but neither of them are actually aware of how deeply sexism is rooted into their mindset. Their controlling behaviour is out of line and upsetting, but they both don’t understand what they’re doing wrong. Lao Xue believes that he wronged his ex-wife by cheating on her, the real unforgivable thing about him is that he can’t see her as a whole person and he can’t respect her autonomy both in life and at work. Fang laoshi thinks of himself as a dependable caring man, but he actually never put much effort to see and get to know the person he likes. What he does is forcing his presence on her.

The younger generation is represented by the three young men Sheng Yang, Song Chen and Hao Junjie. All three of them show a completely different attitude towards the female characters. They never try to force, manipulate or gaslight their love interests. They act like companions, growing along them.

As for Jian Bing supposed coldness towards Sheng Yang, I think that the way she acted was actually very mindful of his feelings. She didn’t rush into a relationship she wasn’t ready for, risking to hurt both Shang Yang and her feelings in the process. She took her time, made sure she was ready to commit and then accepted him fully in her life. And she told as much to Shang Yang’s mother. she is such a well written character with a lot of depth. But I think she is more relatable to a more mature audience.

All in all it was a very enjoyable show, the photography was very beautiful and I have screenshot many scenes because I liked the light so much. I’m an illustrator and I especially loved how they actually showed all of Shang Yang and Jian Bing’s works. Art itself can be considered one of the main characters of this drama.

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Finding your own sunshine

"Sunshine By My Side" is a beautifully nuanced drama that I rated 9/10. What truly resonated with me was its thoughtful and authentic portrayal of womanhood in all its forms—girlhood, teenage years, young adulthood, and motherhood. The drama explores the evolving roles of women in society, highlighting how they perceive themselves and how they are viewed through the lenses of other women and men.

One of the most refreshing aspects of the drama is the journey of the female lead, an almost 40-year-old successful woman who seemingly has everything—career success, stability, and societal recognition. Yet, beneath this exterior, there is a poignant exploration of the idea that fulfillment is more than just professional achievements. It’s about emotional connections, self-discovery, and finding joy in the everyday moments of life. Watching her navigate through this phase with grace and vulnerability was both inspiring and deeply relatable.

The drama also delves into the intricate relationships between women across generations and social roles. Whether it’s the innocent aspirations of girlhood, the uncertainties of teenage years, or the responsibilities and sacrifices that come with motherhood, each stage is portrayed with sensitivity and authenticity. The interactions between female characters—whether as friends, colleagues, or family—offer a profound look at solidarity, competition, and mutual understanding that women experience throughout their lives.

Another strength of "Sunshine By My Side" is how it challenges societal expectations and the pressures placed upon women. The drama doesn’t shy away from exploring the subtle biases and stereotypes women face in the workplace, in relationships, and even within themselves. It presents a compelling narrative that questions the traditional definitions of success and happiness, encouraging viewers to embrace the complexity of womanhood without judgment.

Moreover, the contrast between how women are perceived through their own gaze versus how they are viewed by others adds layers to the storytelling. The drama provides a refreshing take on self-acceptance, resilience, and the courage to redefine one’s life at any stage.

In conclusion, "Sunshine By My Side" is a profound and emotionally rich drama that offers a deeply moving perspective on the multifaceted nature of being a woman. It is a must-watch for anyone looking for a drama that goes beyond romance and delves into the essence of personal growth, societal expectations, and the quiet strength of women navigating life’s complexities."

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This is not for me...especially the Main Romance

I don’t usually write a review of a dropped drama, but I figured this could be helpful to others who feel the same way. Is this a horrible drama? No, not really. But it’s not enough to keep me wanting to continue on and there are elements I don’t enjoy that are central to the plot.

Disclaimer:
I am a romance lover. Romance (whether it is a main plot or subplot) can make or break a drama for me. If I love the main romance, I can overlook some flaws.
Not always a fan of noona romance (older woman/younger man). I want to give this drama a chance because of Xiao Zhan. The only other noona romance I can think of that’s similar and I liked is “The Rational Life”. But I watched that years ago, and I might not like it as much if I were to watch it today.

Let’s start with what I Like:

Strong Female Leads - Stories about women in their 30s can be inconsistent. Dramas claim they are independent and mature, but their actions tell a different story. However, Jian Bing (FL) and Liang Shan Shan (2FL) prove to be the minority. Through their actions, thoughts and feelings within the first 18 episodes that I watched, they are truly mature and independent. They don’t rely on men to provide them with happiness. They live for themselves and are professional when at work.

Acting - There’s really nothing for me to pick on in terms of acting. From what I’ve seen so far, the main and supporting cast deliver good performances. I was especially impressed with the veteran performance from ML’s parents when they were having a big argument. I bet that sequence was done in one shot as the way they yell at each other seems so real.

Make-up - It’s lovely to see a drama without white filters, strong backlighting or white thick foundation on the actors' faces. I don’t think I’ve ever seen Xiao Zhao look so ‘real’. Everyone just looks normal and in character.


That’s all I can think of. And now with the negatives and why I can’t continue on.

Main Romance - As I mentioned, the main romance can make or break a drama for me. Unfortunately, this romance is giving me similar vibes as “Go Go Squid 2”, another drama I dropped. Sheng Yan (ML) is a mature 26-year old at work. He was professional and knows enough to keep his mouth shut and to Fake It Till he Makes it (<-- a little plug of another drama who has an excellent romance LOL). However, when it comes to love, he is a little puppy, always following FL around. And because FL is such a mature woman, his puppy eyes stop being cute after the first few episodes. I dropped “Go Go Squid 2” for this same reason. I like an unrequited love, but for that to last so long, when ML is a mature adult at work, seems off to me. I like a slow burn romance, but not when I don’t feel any romantic chemistry between the leads and when they are so different in the stages of their lives. They seem more like sister/brother or mentor/mentee to me. Maybe the romance develops into something beautiful in the second half of the drama, but at ep 18, it is not motivating me to continue on.

Plot - The pace is also quite slow. 36 episodes are way too long. There isn’t much happening in the first 18 episodes, and nothing different. I do appreciate the story of a female (and badass) director. Everything that happened is predictable. I don’t think this is supposed to be a slice-of-life drama, thus, I expect more from the plot. Are there touching moments? Yes. Is it well-acted? Yes. Does it make me hit the “play” button next? No. As a binge watcher, this is a big indicator of when the drama is not for me.


This review is super subjective and I am sure many love this drama. To me, I was expecting more and it didn’t deliver. It’s not a bad drama, just not enough for me to continue on when there are too many other dramas waiting for me.


Completed: 9/30/2023 - Review #360

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a lil sunshine who beings joy and happiness?

first of all i just want to say thank you to the whole crew who made this work come to life.
this drama is healing as it brings joy to one's life and all the actors made their characters come to life, and especially Xiao zhan. while watching Sunshine by myside i feel like i am watching xz's daily life, before he had joined the entertainment industry, interpreting himself and he NAILED IT. he is a hardworking young man who is trying to achieve great things by working very hard. ❤
So far, i just mobe everything about this series and cant wait for the rest of the episodes ( even tho i wish there were 100 eps of it)

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Well written

I struggled with this until I realised it was a Jane Austen story in modern clothes! A woman wants to make her own choices for her own reasons and everyone in her circle feels perfectly entitled to share their opinion about it. The opinions and judgments show the insecurities of the different characters, who are beautifully and carefully developed. I found many layers to this drama and found it shone a bright light on the viewer’s own inconsistencies and shortcomings by highlighting the behaviours of the characters. I’m glad now that I didn’t give up and could grow somewhat along with the characters although in the beginning a few of them were maddening. I would suggest watching this in close proximity to “The Rational Life” which has similar themes, or even with a Jane Austen such as “Persuasion” where everyone chips in their opinion and influence whether or not it is welcome or qualified. I found this show quite deep from a feminist perspective. To really understand the heroine, you need to watch to the very end. Your patience will be rewarded.

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