As Beautiful as You

It’s A Nice Series

This drama has a lot of things going for it. The great performances by the leads is its strongest selling point. No matter what, I cannot fault their acting. Overall it’s a pretty solid and capable drama.

However, the screenwriters’ voice/views are at odds with the story throughout. There’s a fair bit of revisionism that frames things in a particular way, which the audience knows not to be the case. Or, they try to introduce things that were not developed adequately or shown at all to the audience. We’re just supposed to take their word for it.

Plus, when I look at how all the relationships are portrayed; they tend to contradict whatever views the screenwriters have on relationships, compatibility and the conflicts partners have, which leads me to believe the screenwriters have an odd view of the kinds of relationships they wish to portray. Surprising, it was this way for EVERY romantic relationship in the drama. And you know it’s a creative choice because the comments on the main page point out how different these things are to the novel.

The actual portrayals by the actors themselves tell a different story to whatever the screenwriters were selling and they were definitely trying to sell a viewpoint. It’s a shame the story didn’t align with it. I’ve said it before and I’ll keep saying it; I’ll buy whatever a writer tries to sell me, as long as they know how to sell it and do it convincingly enough.

After a certain point, I wasn’t getting as much enjoyment out of the series as with the earlier episodes. I felt like the viewpoint/voice of the screenwriters was getting louder than the story’s premise by the halfway point and they just seemed to be at odds with each other. I did enjoy the last three episodes the most. I felt like all the different aspects were mostly on the same page.

Final verdict is that this series is a good watch. Somewhere between average and above average. You won’t regret watching.

Read More

"Thousands of times," answered Xu Kai (ML) when asked about the number of kiss scenes with Tan Song Yun (FL) in the Chinese drama "As Beautiful As You". not thousands of times, right?

It feels like too much. Plus there are lots of 18+ scenes, if you use food as an analogy, the Chinese drama "As Beautiful As You" is mostly tasteless, so it makes you nauseous.

Even though the idea is good, you know. About a young woman who goes into business for a noble cause. Obstacles arise because the business is not on an MSME scale. A business that requires large investments with large risks too.

Unfortunately the conflict that arises feels far-fetched. Like when grandfather Han Ting (Xu Kai) made a fuss about a start-up company that was only 6 months old. The owner of a business group like that, you know, he must know that the company has only been established for about 3 years. Where is there a Julid conglomerate with girls like that?

Luckily, the drama writer created a warmer drama with the presence of 3 friends of the female lead, including their respective love stories.

This cliche idea is the possible answer to the rating of the Chinese drama "As Beautiful As You" at the start of its broadcast being very low. The rating for this drama on Mydramalist was only 6.9, then it slowly rose and now, when I write this review, the rating has reached 8.0.

A neat plot is the strength of the Chinese drama "As Beautiful As You", as well as a coherent storyline, good music, very strong ML and FL chemistry and cinematography that is pleasing to the eye.

Even the casting of actress Tan Song Yun made me curious, because she was "tall", "didn't have a chin" and other beauty differences that were very large compared to actresses Bai Lu, Yang Mi, especially the beauty from the Uighur tribe, Dilraba Dilmurat.

(Sorry about body shaming, the appearance demands of celebrities are different from those of ordinary people. 🙏🙏😀😀 )

Tan Song Yun's acting shines because of her high flying hours. He has been around the world of acting since 2012, even appearing on TV shows when he was 7 years old. No wonder his acting is good, it can match Xu Kai's acting, who has no less extensive flying experience.

If there weren't too many spices, I would really like the Chinese drama "As Beautiful As You". Lots of good quotes scattered here.

It's not surprising. The Chinese drama “As Beautiful As You” is adapted from the novel "As Beautiful As Beijing" (你如北京美丽) by Jiu Yue Xi (玖月晞). We know that Chinese philosophy is very "deep" and has been taught in families for generations.

I wrote the next review here:
https://www.maria-g-soemitro.com/2024/07/as-beautiful-as-you-CEO-CLBK.html

Read More

A love that grows instead of vanishing through the years.

- **Story/Plot**: 2.25/3
1. Synopsis (0.25)❌
2. Initial Impression (2eps) (0.25)✅
3. Genre Adherence (0.25)✅
4. Emotional Engagement (0.25)✅
5. Logic (0.25)✅
6. Plot Coherence (0.25)✅
7. Dialogue (0.25)✅
8. Pacing (0.25)❌
9. Character building/Development (0.25)✅
10. Story Richness (0.25)✅
11. Plot Twists (0.25)❌
12. Messages (0.25)✅
- **CAST/Acting**: 1.75/2
1. Lead Actor Performance (0.25)✅
2. Lead Actress Performance (0.25)✅
3. Main Couple Chemistry (0.25)✅
4. Supporting Actors/Actresses Performance (0.25)✅
5. Casting Precision (0.5)✅
6. Character Transformation (0.25)❌
7. Scene Stealers (0.25)✅
- **Directing/Camerawork**: 1.25/2
1. Camera Movement (0.25)✅
2. Editing (0.25)✅
3. Continuity (0.25)✅
4. Lips singing (0.25)❌
5. Visual Details (0.25)✅
6. Cinematic Tension (0.25)❌
7. Lighting (0.25)✅
8. Flashback Integration (0.25)❌
- **OST (Original Soundtrack)**: 0.5/1
1. Opening OST (0.25)❌
2- Ending OST (0.25)❌
3. Background OST (0.25)✅
4. Overall OST (0.25)✅
- **Style**: 0.75/1
1. Costumes (0.25)✅
2. Set Design (0.25)✅
3. Colors (0.25)✅
4. Poster (0.25)❌
- **Ending**: 1/1
1. Closure (0.25)✅
2. Emotional Impact (0.25)✅
3. Logic (0.25)✅
4. Personal Satisfaction (0.25)✅
Total Rating: 7.5/10 +0.25Bonus
>>>>Final Rating: 8/10

Read More

ABAY - This series does capture you

I don’t watch based on reviews and barely write reviews, however I had to because I have seen some reviews with definitely wrong information as through they’re just writing it knocked down the ratings which is unfair.

I read the book and saw the series and here is my take:

Comparing to the book:

HT is more ruthless in the book than the series. They met differently in the book. ZD was his friend with benefits in the book and that’s why in the series you see her coming and going as she pleases. Those who didn’t read to book might missed that and questioned it. They did add on with SY and her best friend getting together to have more drama. How he went to Germany and met her again. However, I felt the stay pretty close to the book as they could. JX was naive about the business world but learned from her mistakes. HT and JX loved each other very much in the book even though through the betrayal and some of the mean things HT said to JX (in the book it’s far worst).

Acting : I thought XK did a great job portraying HT. The serious looks and the gentleness at time. I wished he would take more roles like this as he’s a great actor. Seven did an awesome job portraying JX as well. She was impressive with expressions of emotion and explosive. The acting all around was great. Humor, anger, sadness, etc, you will feel it with all the actors. So not sure why some reviews said acting was horrible.

Chemistry: XK and Seven had great chemistry. Even with the age gap between them, you can’t tell. Their eye expressions of love for each other and then the betrayal you feel it all. Kudos to XK and Seven on an outstanding performance.

Favorite Episodes were 35 - 41, especially 41. As they grow older, their love deepened and you can feel that even though the extra episode was only about 10 minutes. Get ready to cry on this one.

OST: I only really like 3 songs on it so it was okay.

Overall: I didn’t want to put too much spoilers as I feel you shouldn’t based what you watch on reviews. See it for yourself. For me, the was a great drama overall and I would rewatch it. If you like a modern drama of ruthless business world, this is it. It has it all, betrayal, ruthlessness, romance, etc.

Read More

Best C-drama with the best OST 2024

This drama was an absolute masterpiece from start to finish. The scenery, the OST - especially the song "You are Everything" by Saji and Hooleeger, the talented cast, the impeccable settings, the captivating romance, and the well-crafted plot - there was never a dull moment. Even the side characters were excellently portrayed. Believe me when I say this is one of Xukai's big breaks. Like this drama is so so good. Top notch.

I was a bit apprehensive when I saw Xukai taking on a more mature role, but he exceeded all expectations and showcased his amazing versatility. The chemistry between Xukai and Seven Tang was wonderful to watch. In fact, all the actors, including the skilled portrayal of the villainous characters Cheng He and Zeng Di, delivered outstanding performances that really drew me into the story. They acted so well that I ended up hating them.

The ending was perfectly paced and didn't feel rushed at all. The special episode provided a satisfying conclusion, though the death of the character Han Ting due to old age was heartbreaking. Him using the forgiveness card on Ji Xing once more before dying made me burst into tears. The bittersweet nature of the finale struck the right balance, as not every story can have a completely happy ending. We got to see Han Ting and Ji Xing's happy moments, their marriage, pregnancy, kids, and them growing old together.

I also adored the cute cat character Dahuang. Even the Mother and Son duo (Lu Linjia and Mrs. Han). They were the comedy part of the drama 😹😹😹. While I had some minor quibbles with certain characters' storylines, such as not being able to see more of what happened to the villains, Cheng He and Zeng Di, after they got investigated. They deserved harsh punishment, especially Zeng Di. I also felt like Huang Wei Wei's storyline was left unfinished - she deserved punishment too. I didn't like how Wei Qiu Zi's story was written off, but I liked her a bit despite her flaws. I also wished for more scenes with Li Li and Su Zhi Zhou in the special episode - they deserved more screen time!

Overall, this drama deserves a 10000000/10 rating from me. It had everything - drama, comedy, romance, family, friendship, business, breakup, colleagues trust, relationships, lots of kisses, both happy and sad moments. This drama has everything you want and I would highly recommend it to anyone looking for an impactful and well-crafted viewing experience. I don't think there will be any drama like this, honestly but let's look out for more upcoming dramas.

Read More

Xu kai and Tan Songyun did a great job, their chemistry is on fire.

I have been following this drama since before it's release. I only read half of the book, only till our leads ONS 'coz i didn't want to be spoiled while watching the drama am glad i did that. It's a slow burn romance and the ending is so overwhelming i cried a river. I am glad i watched this drama. I am a fan of Xu kai's and watched his dramas before, he's always a treat to watch, his acting in this one is really good. I liked him here more than i did in Best choice ever. His take on Han Ting is spot on 10/10. And this is my first drama of Tan Songyun. I must say i became a fan of her. Their chemistry is off the charts. Hope they get paired again soon.
Goodbye for now. I will catch up Xu kai's "Moonlit Reunion" and "Firefighter" when they release. Hopefully soon.

Read More

Rewatch factor is high.

The story is standard. The acting is good. There were NO majorly irritating and constant villains.

The main reason why I am reviewing is to encourage viewers to just watch. Its a good drama as a whole. However ep 31- 40.5 has one of the most logical plot storyline I've seen and the ending episodes from ep 38 to 40.5 onwards has some of the most logical plot development and it didn't do a token ending. The ending made so much sense. Cdrama endings are usually the absolute pits. The ending is complete. I absolutely hate it when the director or writers loses the grip on their story. Yes the couple spend enough couple time to satisfy any of you who like romance.

And for Xu Kai fans- thank God he finally has a role where he behaves like a man and I don't feel sorry for him. I like Seven in a Journey Home but she is radiant here in the last 25% of the drama. She is her usual self acting well but she is comfortable, radiant and totally is Ji Xing in the last bit.

Just go past all those negative remarks. This is a good 40.5 episode drama to marathon through.

Read More

The romance was sweet!.

Just finished this, and it's one of the first time where i didn't dislike the separation, because it made them both better after, it was also really nice to see a ML actually changed after a separation, and the way he apologized was sweet, you could definitely tell he learnt a great deal of lessons. They went from not having much flirty scenes or chemistry, and the episode they went to Germany, the ost, and the chemistry and flirty was kicked up at a whole new level, there chemistry was amazing, and there kisses too, they looked genuinely deeply in love, the acting from both leads were great as well. I enjoyed all the business stuff, usually I'm not a huge fan of the genre, but I liked it. There were terrible characters, as well as great ones. This is definitely one of the best Modern Mature Romance Chinese Drama I've watched, Really enjoyed the romance and character developments, and maturity they both came back with after the separation. :)

The acting was pretty great for both leads, it was believable when they fell in love, with there words, expressions and actions, and when they were arguing it was soo intense, i don't think I've ever seen Xu Kai acted in a scene like that, it was like a real couple fighting, so it was very realistic.

My least favourite character was that one, i'll throw-up in my mouth if i call her a friend haha... I'm really happy she was technically kicked out of there friendship, though it wasn't said but evident with the 3 having there own group chat and they don't talk to her anymore, i get how she felt and who cares what she wanted to do, but saying stuff like she don't regret what she did, just shows what a terrible friend she was.

Zeng Di was super annoying, but i'm happy the FL handled her well, and I love how the ML made her know that he had 0 interest in her and she wasn't even an option.. dang!! that was brutal, but i loved it!!. He also apart from eating dinner/lunch with her as a friend and business partner, he had boundaries with her. She also got what she deserves at the end, so that put a nice smile on my face.

There were other side couples, I find myself being interested in side couples lately, usually i'd skip them in whatever drama i watch, but i did like the different typed of couples in this, Li Li romance was very interested and i was well invested to see how it'll turn out, as well as the streamer bestie, the ML's little uncle and his grandaunt.. there combo was cute and hilarious!!. There was another couple, you'll see if you watch, just skip them! hahaha

What i enjoyed with this is that when the FL broke up with the ex-boyfriend, there wasn't any flirting etc between her and the ML, though we knew from day one how the ML felt, he never rushed or pushed her, but once they went to Germany, the chemistry went from 0-100 and it started getting sweeeet, it was soo cute, sometimes they didn't have to say anything, the look in there eyes were enough. Then it went from 100-1000 real quick hahahaha, it was event that the ML was meant for the FL and visa versa, usually in some of these with an ex-boyfriend who break up during the show, it's a little hard, but it wasn't here, it was evident that it was love, everything she did was different from with the ex.

Anyways, I think I said too much. This was another drama that I almost put on the side because of some comments I read, please don't miss out on shows you're interested in because of comments, we all have different taste and different way of seeing things, what i wrote here is from my perspective watching, you may or may not like it, but you'll know because you know what you like, if this sounds like something you'll like then go for it, if not, then don't, it's entirely up to you.

Happy Drama Watching! :)

Read More

Amazing acting and Chemistry by Seven Tan & Xu Kai - Business-heavy with slow romance

Subjective Gut Rating: 8.75

I am very surprised that I like “As Beautiful As You” so much. What cemented the 9.0 rating is the amazing chemistry and acting by Seven Tan and Xu Kai. They have proven that they are more than just good-looking idol actors.

However, there are a couple things that might prevent you from loving this:
1. This is a VERY business-centric drama. The main plot revolves around Artificial Intelligence and 3D medical device and printing industry. You can’t fast forward all of that, because you will then miss the intricacies of the business scheming, the character development and basically the whole main plot.
2. Slow burn romance. If you are expecting a cute and fluffy romance, you will have to be very patient. The journey is slow and full of emotional highs and lows, but it’s totally worth it in the end.

If you are fine with the above-mentioned two points, then you might enjoy this drama as much as I did.


What I Like:

1. Seven Tan & Xu Kai
I cannot sing their praises enough. I’ve seen many of their dramas in the past. I know Seven Tan is a good actress, but I don’t remember thinking she was awesome until this one. There’s so much growth in her character, and seeing how Seven Tan brings her character to life is a beautiful thing. I see controlled emotions, happiness/shock/pain in her big expressive eyes, and the subtle facial expressions so beautifully executed that she doesn’t need to utter a single word. Adding to that is her ability to dub her own lines very well. I believe has always done that, and it shows her experience in this area. Similarly, I’ve always been a big fan of Xu Kai and believes his acting is so much better than the projects he picks. He’s one of the actors where he can convey a myriad of emotions with his big expressive eyes as well. With a good script, these two experienced actors elevate themselves to a different level. They have so many good tension-filled scenes together before the characters get together.

2. Main Romance
As I said, this is a slow burn romance. But that doesn’t mean the leads do not have scenes together. They actually have many scenes together and the chemistry is evident, even though half of the drama is focused on their business relationship. I enjoy how But Han Ting (ML) guides and supports Ji Xing (FL) to make her own decisions, face her own consequences without always there to save her. Their relationship develops slowly and steadily. Once they get together, you can tell how they are meant for each other. It’s no wonder FL’s ex-boyfriend comes to the realization that he just can’t give her what she needs. The best part for me is not the cute and fluffy part. It’s the anticipation of the big blow out and confrontation. I knew it’s going to happen and I was DREADING it. When it did happen, I was heartbroken while watching Seven Tan and Xu Kai act their hearts out in those gut-wrenching scenes. That confrontation and the subsequent episodes are what cemented my 9.0 rating. The last 10 episodes of this drama is a roller coaster ride of emotions.

3. Backdoor scheming
I personally find the business part of this drama interesting. There are enough plot twists to keep me invested when in actuality, I really don’t know much about the industry. However, as I follow along, I can see everyone is playing chess. Who is a chess piece and who is the chess player? Who is the behind-the-scenes master controlling everyone? There are so many smart dialogs exchanged between ‘villains’ and ‘villains’ vs ‘the good guys’. The subtle and the not-so-subtle digs at each other, the condescending and fake congratulatory messages....all of this is exciting for me (but maybe boring for you). I wrote on a Feeds post and admired a scene between two ‘villains’ and their scheming inside a teahouse. That scene was so well-shot and acted. The lipstick mark on a tea cup, offered to the other. The subtle evilness going between them and the secret pact formed when he took that tea cup with a lipstick mark. The lighting, the tension, the meaning behind all this

4. Ji Xing’s path to success
In a way, this drama reminds me of Seven Tan’s other drama “Master of My Own”. Both are business romance dramas with a strong focus on her character’s journey to professional achievements and success. I enjoy following Ji Xing’s growth in “As Beautiful As You” more, partly because the male lead is there to support and guide her along the way. In “Master of My Own”, the male lead isn’t as supportive, but we do have a great female mentor. I think her challenges of starting her own business are realistic and believable. Just because you have the talent, ideals and drive, it doesn’t make you a successful entrepreneur.

5. He Rui Xian as Li Li
He Rui Xian is such a beautiful and sultry actress. She plays an amazing Li Lil, showcasing her sassiness, charisma, and a very free lifestyle. I also think He Rui Xian’s acting has improved a lot. There was a scene at a wedding when she was discussing marriage with her boyfriend. I can see the change of emotions in her big eyes from happiness, shock, disbelief, sadness, anger… all in 10 seconds. I was amazed!

6. Love the Mother/Son Duo. Love FL’s parents. Also like ML’s grandfather (wise, cautious but not too stubborn).


What I have Mixed Feelings and Don’t Like

1. Enough of torture for Ji Xing
As much as I enjoy following Ji Xing’s road to success, at one point, I just had enough bad things happen to her. I feel so bad that time after time she’s put to the test. I feel tired watching her overcome all these challenges, and I wish for her to just get a breather!

2. Make Up
OK, this is my pet peeve. I cannot stand overly white and thick foundation, especially on male actors. I know Xu Kai has pale skin, but he is sickly pale here. Not only him, but all the other male actors don’t seem to look good at all. Luckily, the ladies fare better and don’t look as ghostly.

3. Loud Music
Another pet peeve of mind is super loud background music playing, especially when the actors are speaking.

4. Dubbing/Recording
I was praising Seven Tan for her dubbing, but unfortunately I can’t say the same for Xu Kai and for Gao Han. Xu Kai dubbed his own lines, but he obviously still needs a little more work and practice. Gao Han has a voice actor, but his voice and his acting don’t quite match. I also wish there’s more live on set recording, instead of mostly studio recording.

5. Gao Han and Luo Ze Kai
Something about Gao Han and his role (Dr Shao) doesn't quite gel with me. Maybe because of the more soft-spoken character he’s playing, or the ugly makeup or the dubbing or his hairstyle or his acting. Something is not right and I can’t pinpoint what that is. Luo Ze Kai on the other hand was fine when he’s playing ML’s best friend and confidant. His personality is livelier and he’s more comfortable. But when he plays the role of Li Li’s boyfriend, his personality changes 180 degrees. In the beginning, he is charismatic and sexy when he’s trying to seduce Li Li. Then the acting switches and he becomes boring, bland and emotionless.



This review is getting too long. Anyway, I would recommend this for you if you are fans of Xu Kai and Seven Tan, business plots and slow burn romance. It reminds me a bit of “Master of My Own” (business plot) and “Fake It Till You Make It” (business-heavy, and great leads chemistry but a very different type of romance).



Other Random Observations:
1. Xu Kai looks like a little boy when he’s playing basketball. When he doesn’t have to be the boss, his eyes change and the inner child shows.
2. Han Ting (ML) teaches Ji Xing (FL) how to fish; but Xiao Yi Xiao fishes for Li Li (2FL)
3. I also like the character development of Su Zhi Zhou - from a boy to a responsible man.
4. I might have shaken my head when the childhood connection was introduced.
5. Ji Xing’s cell phone case changes as she progresses to different stages of her career.
6. Interesting games of blowing cards and weighing soups
7. So many printed contracts and proposals for a tech company. Where are the tablets and e-signatures?
8. That’s one huge diamond engagement ring!


Completed: 8/5/2024 - Review #469

Read More

Seven and XK: Best CP pairing in years who produced 1 of the most beautiful C Modern dramas EVER.

I dont even know where to start with this review. Brace yourselves, it is going to be a long one. First of all , I am big fan of Seven and XK individually as actors so them acting in this drama was kind of a dream come true as a fan. It is like seeing your faves finally collaborate on a project. When this project was announced, I was so excited and I knew that ABAY would be very good because they are both very good actors and great people but I have been honestly blown away on how their chemistry was so beautiful on and off screen; they exceeded my expectations by miles.
The GOOD: SO much
1stThe chemistry; Omg they just oozed chemistry every time they shared a scene together and it was so palpable. It didnt even have to be a romantic scene but you could sense their amazing chemistry.
We got so many scenes between the leads and so many romantic moments; this was such a pleasant surprise because I have seen many C modern dramas failing to deliver on that promise.
Han ting outfits looked amazing. The drama just screamed money lol; like watching it, I could tell that a lot of money had been spent on it. I love seeing a very good drama with great budget.
The business aspect of it. Color me shocked that for once I was actually interested in the business side of a modern C drama. I actually loved it and learned quite a bit. I actually looked forward to these scenes as well.
I also did not mind the secondary characters and actually loved their storylines; another 1st for me bc I have watched many modern C dramas where they either spoiled the story at 1 point or they didnt add anything to the story.
Seven's acting. She is already an outstanding actress but she excelled here . I love her acting so much; it is so natural. She is also very good in emotional scenes. The break up scene is 1 of her finest moments as an actress. 1 of the best break up scenes I have ever seen and I really need her to be awarded for that scene in particular.
Xu kai's acting. I have watched a few of his dramas and imo this is his best acting yet; one that shows his best acting potential since story of yanxi palace and Arsenal military. Ive recognized his acting prowess early on but I feel a few dramas he had been in previously didnt showcase that properly. I was so impressed with his acting in ABAY. It is like he was possessed by the spirit of Han Ting.
Cinematography, directing, even the script.
The not so Good:
I dont have anything bad to say about this drama. I loved it so much. I cant count the amount of times I have re-watched it already. I also cant remember the last time I have rewatched a drama this much, that's how much I love this drama.
If I can be nitpicky, Seven's styling was a bit of a hit and miss; She is my fave and she is so beautiful but I wished the styling team was a bit better....like I said some episodes the styling was so amazing and others it was just ok. I really loved the whole styling of her wedding day; honestly 1 of the best styling Ive seen in a C modern dramas.
Also I feel like the show spent a lot time showing how Han ting was affected by the break up (which XK portrayed so beautifully; I kept tearing up at these scenes lol; I really felt his pain) and didnt do that a lot with Ji xing although she was heartbroken as well. This kinds of influenced a lot of people imo to feel more sorry for him even though they were both at fault imo.

Please watch it and you wont be disappointed. Finding a good modern C drama is like finding a needle in a haystack imo. So many of them out there but not many good ones IMO. I dont know when we are going to get such a great pairing (with the best chemistry) and good drama in general. Dont get me wrong, this type of plot is kind of common in dramas but what makes ABAY special imo is Seven and XK chemistry and a good story.
I want them to collaborate again in the future but with Seven not repeating partners, who knows?
Anyways. if you want a good mature romance, lots of chemistry and so many scenes between the leads, a great secondary cast with great storylines that didnt deter from the drama, great cinematography, directing, beautiful ending....watch ABAY :).

Read More