Everyone Loves Me

A unique show with characters that shape the story into a compelling watch

The tension, romance, and comedy set in a multitude of different environments created the authenticity of the binge-worthy romantic comedy 'Everyone Loves Me'. The mix of home, school, and office-life seamlessly balanced out into an engaging and very pleasing watch. Putting the leads through so many dissimilar circumstances gave them the opportunity to put forward new faces of theirs all while exploring different sides of their lives. This approach at presenting the characters and their motives enabled viewers to align themselves with the plot that frequently moves into new territory–comedy, romance, and youth. In all, the crafting of the show revolves around workplace conflicts. The problems they faced in their office environment counterbalanced their interpersonal struggles, making the problem solving seem effortless as it seamlessly wove together both aspects within the series. This harmonization between these is what enabled the show to come to a perfect resolution in a gradual and not unnecessarily-prolonged way.

On top of reconciliation between characters, the struggles faced at work shone light on the characters’ true personalities. For example, the various work conflicts are solely what allowed us to dive into Gu Xun’s past. This was necessary to gain an understanding of his reasoning behind certain choices. The revealing of the journey he took to get to his current position gave him a side of vulnerability as well as a certain authenticity to the decisions he put forward. As for Qian Ling, her dedication in thriving at whatever task she's assigned, without backing down despite the disapproval of others, mimics how she’s someone who knows her worth and what she wishes to pursue.

The characters all serve a purpose, with each one of their personalities seemingly meticulously created in the goal of enforcing the series’ strong point of deliverance. To elaborate, every one of its aspects build on an atmosphere that makes it easy to learn about the main leads despite the ever-changing story settings. Qian Ling’s relationship with Gu Xun in particular depicts how she knows her worth and values staying true to herself above anything else. In fact, a particular staple that sets ‘Everyone Loves Me’ apart from other series of the romance genre is how independent Qian Ling proves to be throughout the 24 episodes. Furthermore, she’s not blinded by romance, nor does she easily let herself be swayed by others. A specific situation that depicts this independant personality trait of hers is when she is presented with the opportunity to switch to Gu Xun’s department at work. Despite being offered a better pay and the chance to work alongside her boyfriend as well as others whom she knows will value her efficiency, she decides to wait until she is confident switching is really the best choice for her.

As for the side characters, they pushed the story forward by providing the main leads with a chance to showcase their growth as individuals. Through Jian Hung Nan’s backstory of his friendship with Gu Xun, viewers got to see how caring and selfless the latter has always been. Jian Hung Nan looks up to him as a role model, his expression of love and admiration for Gu Xun enabling viewers to see him from a new perspective. Su Zheng brought on a new side to the main lead and enabled him to realize the lengths he’s willing to go to win over Qian Ling’s heart. As for Jiang Yishi, he provided a history to Gu Xun’s career in game production. This showcased Gu Xun’s dedication to his career and unveiled to what extent he strives to chase his dreams.

The good acting allowed for strong chemistry between the numerous characters whose lives are explored throughout the series. Qian Ling and Gu Xun set the example of a healthy relationship where each partner presents to one another their true selves. Despite both having personalities that might make them seem closed off to the outerworld, neither of them hold back from showing their love through acts of kindness, sweet words, and kisses. There are a lot of heartfelt moments that exhibit their vulnerability. That, combined with the hint of comedy incorporated into the ironicness of the too-perfect coincidences, helped bring them closer together. Throughout the show, Gu Xun strives to prove his respect for Qian Ling. This is one of their many interactions that show how they both truly cherish their love for each other and prioritize their special bond over all else.

Contrary to what seems to be the majority's belief, I wish that Gu Xun and Qian Ling’s online friendship, with Gu Xun secretly knowing about her identity as Dough Twist, had been more prolonged. I loved seeing Gu Xun slowly develop into someone capable of loving another for a change instead of pushing everyone away like he usually does. It was new and refreshing to watch the male lead become accepting of his feelings for his crush and embrace them to their fullest in order to get the determination he needed to make progress in their relationship. The contrast between Gu Xun's real-life self and online persona added a realistic touch to his personality. I enjoyed watching the thrill of Gu Xun juggling both his feelings for Qian Ling and the need to keep his gamer identity a secret from her while he transitioned between his different roles in her life. I think that the storyline's development would have benefited from more scenes showing these struggles of his.

Since the clash between their online personas and true selves is what adds depth to their characters, eliminating the fun dynamic between the leads being teammates while video gaming was an impractical choice. Not only would it have reinforced the gaming trope within the series, but it also would've been interesting to see the portrayal of their newfound connection in the real world through the online video games. Placing scenes of the leads video-gaming together later on in their relationship would parallel their first moments together. This link to their past would clearly show their realistic growth as well as the stark contrast between their relationship at the beginning and the end. Staying consistent and not cutting off what connected them with one another in the first place would have provided a closure without neglecting any aspects of their relationship.

Gu Xun and Qian Ling both have layers to their personalities that unravel through their relationship; causing not only a bond, but a sort of connection between the main leads and the viewers as there is room for interpretation and discovery of the characters.

Another one of the series' pros besides its layered characters, convincing chemistry, and outstanding sets, would be its soundtrack. From its opening song, to the one that plays over the credits and every background music in between an episode's begining to its end—they all stood out in a way that made me replay certain scenes just to hear the songs again.

In all, the series’ execution was flawless, with the eye-catching sets and the actors’ outstanding performances enabling the show to carry its numerous tropes into the memorable drama ‘Everyone Loves Me’ deems to be.

06/17/2024

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Slowburn and Boring

They really tried with this show, got an amazing cast and wasted their efforts. The leads dont get into a relationship until the drama is almost towards its end and even tho i love both leads but there seems to be barely any chemistry between them.
Tooo much focus on other things in the plot and too much repetition of problems between the leads. Infact the 2nd couple of the assistant and main lead's friend is having loads chemistry instead and way more interesting plot between them.
I was excited for this show but it's dissapointing. Still I'm finishing it bec i want to see the 2nd couple get together.

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In the mood for laughter and love

If there's one thing I appreciate about cdramas it's that, from time to time, they manage to produce a story with characters behaving their age but also showing a pleasantly surprise maturity to their actions. In recent years, youth dramas like Love O2O, Our Secret, You Are Desire or When I Fly Towards You come to mind. Everyone Loves Me falls into this category. We are presented a group of characters who are young enough to make mistakes, but old enough to be aware of their limitations, of their missteps, and learn to grow from them.

I really liked both leads. Particularly Ling's spitfire personality, which is a breath of fresh air and I loved every minute she made Gu Xun sweat. But he didn't lose against her. Gu Xun was charming and overall had a great presence, boy needed to be taken down a notch tho. And thanks to the fact both leads are written as equals through their entire journey together, at the end of the drama it feels like they have come out as better people. I even dare say, it feels like their story it's just beginning.

Lin Yi and Zhou Ye have great chemistry and managed to portray their characters really well. They clearly had a lot of fun working together and with their character's development. I would love to see them work together again in the future.

The rest of the cast was also very good. The supportive characters hace each a function in pushing forward the story at the workplace and the leads's personal lives, which made for some very interesting office tension and hilarious interactions out of it. For example, at the beginning of the story leading man it's arrogant enough to know a good quantity of girls are crushing on him but for someone who claimed to be so popular, he spent a good portion of the story dealing with loves rivals from right to left, up and down. Everyone Loves Me? More like Everyone Loves Her. The results were awesome.

This was a very fun and easy going drama for me, with lots of re-watch potential. Every time I watched a new episode, it put me in a good mood and that's enough for me to recommend it.

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A very good drama that I can wholeheartedly recommend. I had a great time watching it - it was genuinely enjoyable. I absolutely loved the female lead: she was strong-willed, confident, refused to let anyone walk over her, and was fully devoted to love. Of course, she did have one flaw - during conflicts, she couldn’t bring herself to listen to the other side. I also loved the relationship between the main characters. Her initial love that turned into hatred, his realization of who she really was, and his fight for a second chance - it was all very engaging to watch. I also liked that obstacles kept being thrown in their way, yet they always managed to overcome them.

The secondary couple’s storyline was just as interesting. It’s a shame that toward the end, it became quite underdeveloped, because I definitely saw potential for much more there. The same goes for the plot about releasing their game. Since the drama’s main story revolved around it, I really missed seeing the final touches before its release, as well as the actual moment it came out. It would’ve been nice to see that they truly made a big impact on China’s gaming scene and created something innovative. After all, throughout most of the show, we were told it would be the first game of its kind in China - yet in the end, all we got was a short celebration of millions of downloads. That didn’t feel satisfying to me.

One more thing about Su Zheng. At one point in the series, I got the impression that he wasn’t actually in love with her and was just trying to provoke Gu Xun - which would’ve been both funnier and more interesting. This feeling came from episode 15, during the cake scene, when he approached the main couple looking like he was trying not to laugh - but in the end, it turned out differently :(

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Not quite there yet as a real Romcom.

If you look at the trailer or read the description you will immediately think this a great Romcom. However, this fell short in so many ways. Let me first say the highest rating I gave is for the story. The story had real potential to be a blockbuster hit. It had all the makings to start a good Romcom. It just never got there. If I had to sum it up it was just boring. It never had two parts that go together. You know, peanut butter but no jelly, bread but no butter. The title does not go with anything. So a great story but the leads were not enough to pull it off. Individually they were cute but together no chemistry. I tried to give it every chance I could. I watched objectively until the end. I gave up better dramas for this. But when you start fast-forwarding through most of the episodes, you know something is wrong.

Many of the comments ask why the ratings are so low. This has a slow pace and never really goes anywhere. It reminded me of those short dramas on YouTube that give you different versions of the same plot. I fault the director for not knowing where to go or lead this drama to make it more exciting and loveable. I fault the writers for giving the actors too much dialog that they could not pull off. Thus, making the actors look like bad actors.

On a positive note, it is a rom-com and there were some funny moments. There was a hint of romance but it was barely fulfilled because it took so long. It has a happy ending.

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Charming Yet Flawed...?

Overview:
As a fan of Zhou Ye's previous works like "Scent of Time," "Back from the Brink," and "Love Me, Love My Voice," I eagerly anticipated this series. Although familiar with Lin Yi, the male lead, I hadn't watched any of his previous series. It tells a lighthearted story of two individuals transitioning from being gaming partners to real-life partners.

Plot Summary:
The story revolves around Yue Qian Ling (Dough Twist in the game), a spirited and talented gamer who catches the attention of another pro player, Gu Xun (Campus Hunk). Unbeknownst to each other, they form a close bond as game partners. Qian Ling has a crush on Gu Xun, her schoolmate, while Gu Xun is enamored with Dough Twist. This sets the stage for a comedic romance filled with misunderstandings and miscommunications.

Character Dynamics:
The series explores the dynamics between Qian Ling and Gu Xun as they navigate their feelings while unaware of each other's true identities. There's humor in the advice Gu Xun gives Qian Ling, leading to misunderstandings and rejection. The revelation of their identities adds a layer of complexity to their relationship, causing both to approach and avoid each other in turns.

Pacing and Enjoyment:
At first, the show is exciting and keeps you interested. But in the middle, it starts to drag and feel a bit boring. The dating part, which should have been more exciting, doesn't happen until episode 20 out of 24, which feels late. It would've been better if they showed it earlier. Despite this, the music is still nice and adds something cute to the series.

Acting and Performance:
While Zhou Ye and Lin Yi deliver decent performances, this series doesn't fully showcase their acting abilities. Both actors have shone in more serious and emotionally charged roles, whereas this leans towards light-heartedness. Nonetheless, the cast does well in their respective roles.

Rewatch Value:
The series holds rewatch value up until around the 15th episode but loses steam in the middle. Despite its enjoyable moments, the dragging plot during certain parts may deter viewers from revisiting the series frequently.

Final Thoughts:
It offers a blend of humor, romance, and gaming culture, making it a light-hearted watch. While it has its entertaining moments and a strong start, the pacing falters towards the middle, impacting its overall enjoyment. However, fans of Zhou Ye and Lin Yi may still find it worth a watch for its charming performances and cute storyline.

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Romcom? Yes but with so many drags

This one felt like a romcom after a long time, but let's just say i couldn't feel the emotion or the angst even when he hurt her. It was actually interesting and fun at first few episodes but after the truth got revealed, it kind of started to feel like a drag. It felt like those regular and usual stuffs like every drama after that. The only factor which kept me motivated to watch till the end was the ACTORS!! Both Zhou ye and Lin yi are one of my favourite actors, so they are the main positive factor which kept me going. I felt more chemistry with the second leads tbh 😭 The main leads offscreen chemistry actually looked amazing, the crew should have used it wisely...If you are planning to watch something after a long drama slump, then i suggest you to watch this one.

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Rewatchable, but I don't highly recommend

This is my second time I'll be writing a review, so please bear with me.

First, the story is quite the usual cliche wherein the ML is a lame, and popular cold guy, and the FL is into him etc. She confessed, gets rejected, and fell for him again. (on which I personally think as a viewer is just stupidity)
Second, the way the ML had it easy winning the FL back is concerning, knowing how rude he is to her when she confessed, and even made her graduation memory a piece of junk.
Third, and most important, I think there's a lot of fillers scene that divert from the novel.
Lastly, the screenwriter could've include at least one extra ep for a preview of life after marriage like those costume dramas, so the audience won't be puzzled a lot about the story's pacing or whatnot.

PS. Overall, it's a MEH drama for me.

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=> A nice, cute, refreshing and comforting drama.

Rom-com series with Lin Yi

PLOT: The FL, student and designer, is rejected with a bang ### SPOILER (ep. 7)### by a TOP student/game designer, the ML, who she has been crushing on for a long time. They are on the same playing team (without knowing it). and work then in the same company (design of a Class A I-game).

PROS:
+ a very cute CL, with 1 beautiful alchemy. They are both intelligent, with temperament. No naive innocent FL, it feels good.
+ excellent young actors, who bring endearing characters to life. There is no Great Villain, all the characters (or almost all) are credible.
+ The narration is lively and skillful. The images are beautiful, the settings realistic.
+ The story is well constructed, without unnecessary twists. The guiding principle is the creation, design stages and promotion of an online game.
+ The OSTs are catchy and well suited to this type of series.

### The recurring morality of Chinese series: perseverance to believe in your dreams AND hard work (for the honor of China) (◎_◎;)

=> A nice, cute, refreshing and comforting drama.
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Série rom-com avec Lin Yi
PLOT: 1 FL, étudiante et designer, se fait rejeter avec fracas (ép. 7) par 1 étudiant/concepteur de jeu, le ML, pr qui elle a & crush depuis longtps. Ils sont ds la mm équipe de jeu (sans le savoir). et travaillent ensuite ds la même Entreprise (conception d'un je-game Class A).

PROS:
+ un CL très cute, avec 1 belle alchimie. Ils sont tous les 2, intelligents, avec du tempérament. Pas de FL innocente naïve, ça fait du bien.
+ d'excellents jeunes acteurs, qui donnent vie à des personnages attachants. Il n'y a pas de Great Villain, tous les personnages (ou presque) sont crédibles.
+ La narration est vive, habile. Les images sont belles, les décors réalistes.
+ L'histoire est bien construite, sans twist inutile. Le fil directeur est la création, les étapes de conception et de la promotion d'un jeu en ligne.
+ Les OST sont entrainantes et bien adaptées à ce genre de série.

### Moralité récurrente des séries chinoises : la persévérance quand on croit à ses rêves ET le travail acharné (pour l'honneur de la Chine) (◎_◎;)

=> Un drama nice, cute, rafraichissant et réconfortant.

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Not an amazing love story, but amazing friendships

I was rewatching this and I now understand even more why I liked this when I first watched. Yes the story is a bit bland, the plot is a bit messy but there were 2 main things I actually enjoyed.
1/ the trope, honestly I personally am quite a fan of the gamer/gamer trope. This drama executed it.. messily but I still found it relatively funny. The whole 'dynamic' was so messy therefore funny
2/ The friendships. It's very rare that dramas about romance are able to portray friendships in a nice way, but this one did so amazingly. The characters all displayed a certain level of maturity that I don't often see with other 'extremely romantic' stories. I assume this is due to the weird concept of 'if you love somebody, they mean everything to you and you depend on them for everything'. This idea has been portrayed by so many others dramas that it's a bit disturbing. I love how this drama portrayed not only true friendship, but also proper independence from the other partner. Around the ending when the whole company acquisition thing happened, the FL displayed proper backbone instead of just going along with it. In so many instance, we get to see not just the FL and ML but all characters properly treating their friends.

So overall, this might not have been an amazing love story, however I will give it full credit where it's due. This one truly outshined so many other stories for me just because of it's friendship dynamics.

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