Loving Strangers

My Mister C drama remake

It's not that I don't love the C cast, but anyone who watched My Mister the K drama with Lee Sun Kyun & IU will always compare & it's unavoidable. While watching this made me miss Lee Sun Kyun (RIP) more. His voice was so iconic and I watched enough of his dramas where I was deeply saddened by his passing.

They made plenty minor adaptions for the C drama version but overall story is the same. It's worth watching as a standalone but if you watched the K version then the C version will feel different.

-Lee Sun Kyun felt more depressed than Mark Chao
-IU felt darker than Zhang Zi Feng
-Jang Ki Young the debt collector was way more convincing than Zhang Xin Cheng
-The bad guy GU Chen's character didn't give off the one dimensional sleazy vibe so I actually like this character better than than the K drama version.

I am a fan of the C cast but My Mister holds a special place in my drama list

Read More

Superb

I’ve just finished so I want to add my takeaways as I have a lot of thoughts after completion. I only add spoilers in case I unintentionally do but I promise to try not to…..word of caution.

You would be surprised off your pants when you realize this is a remake because it independently stands alone as an excellent piece. This is for those who haven’t seen the original. On the other hand, you would praise the creativity of these producers for their adaptation and how they made it equally as good if not better…if you watched the original. In all, this is engagingly good and deserves a lot more buzz than it currently is receiving.

First, this drama is quiet, almost like a silent movie. This might be off putting if you’re into fast paced heavy dialogues. However, the leads Mark Chao as Jia Qi and Zhang Zifeng as Zhou Yuan perfectly relays the emotional language of the drama. Conversations are often brief, restrained or deliberately unfinished. Long pauses, averted eyes, and shared quiet moments carry more weight than words. This is more so in first few episodes so adjust to it. However, as you silently watch, you absorb the undertones of what the characters cannot say or have learned not to say. It conveys loneliness without melodrama. I became accustomed after minor frustrations because I’m impatient but trust me, it’s impactful once adjusted to remind us that healing doesn’t always come from words. Both leads are doing such an excellent job, so impressed.

Second, it’s heavily character driven. Here is a story of two people who are totally opposite in life. Status, age, family situations, etc. He’s middle aged in a highly considered job. A family man with a child, with a loving supportive mother and family. However, he appears trapped in a stagnant marriage and suffocating workplace politics. She’s in her early twenties, struggling with debt, low paying jobs, caring for her ailing bedridden grandmother. As each episode unfolds, you become absorbed in their feelings and emotions. They are us, one way or another so that’s why it feels connective.

So how do they connect? That’s the core of the story. How do they? Why? It’s definitely unintentional. Their meeting actually intersects through a morally gray corporate scheme. So as not to spoil much, I hope this is enough to whet your interest to know how this unfolds. It does subtly in ways that make us as humans think quietly of our own lives connecting situations and emotions. It has that effect throughout every episode.

The leads relationship is complicated. Somehow they connect, yet don’t. She’s young, hungry for anything that brings meaning to her life. Unintentionally, she is drawn to the male lead as she hears his struggles, and finds him to be kind and just. She becomes aware of his personal problems and becomes drawn to him, almost as his protector. He on the other becomes very aware of her cold demeanor but discovers by chance her poor situation. Because of that, he shows her kindness and support. They begin to form a pact almost, two people internally struggling finding comfort in the company of each other. I wouldn’t say it’s romance, but more of an unlikely friendship difference in age and status, yet recognize the warmth of companionship in each other.

The side characters are those dear to the leads. His wife, mother, his brother and uncle. Her grandmother, her one friend, and her enemy who was once her childhood bestie. There’s also the office characters. They play an integral part in balancing the story, connecting the leads growth, as well as real life presentations of life in general. They don’t overshadow the leads story. It’s actually well balanced to complement the whole storytelling.

An added powerhouse is the OST. I actually searched the song that stood out to me because It mirrors the dramas quiet style reinforcing the characters. Its called When The Dandelion Blow Away Long Voyage.
“ The wind tugs at my roots, yet I stand and face the storm. Life may weigh and dreams may bend, but I will rise and carry on”. ( For Yuan’s perseverance even when life is harsh)
“I’ve walked through storms and silent nights, carried burdens that few can see. Yet in stillness a new light gleams, a hand to hold, a chance to be” (Jiaqi’s patient nature and willingness to trust). Actually the whole ost is beautifully aligned to the story, so it’s very well incorporated.

In some ways I am happy to write this totally free from the well known and loved original, My Mister. I haven’t seen it but my daughter loved it. This then hopefully gives you a little insight as to how the adaptation of this version is and makes you want to check it out. I am totally enjoying it. It is
overall a superb production from the script writing, the acting, cinematography, the plot, with every episode leaving the desire for more.
——————————————————————-
It is finished! 1/26/26

I’m able to read the two other views and I appreciate reading their comparisons. However, mine stands independent from original so therefore, totally based on this alone. In my unqualified opinion, the leads, side characters, everyone in this series deserve an award for their part. They delivered excellent performances that drew in viewers to emotional heights that touches deeply. The directors, writers, producers managed to nearly bring a complete story without any loose ends. (few leftouts at ending). This is a masterpiece. My unqualified opinion of masterpieces is a story that widens perspective to every day life and it’s nuances, and not just touches your heart, but makes you think long and hard of it’s effect on things that matter to our humanity. Though loaded with so many themes, it’s long enough. I’ll just touch on two that most stood close to my heart.

Yuan and her grandmother lingers long and meaningful. I loved their relationship. I honor this young girl for taking care of her elder. I can’t begin to imagine their life of survival. Their few scenes of communication, thru signing, smiles, head kisses were so precious. Yuan taking her to see the moon….oh my heart. I’d love to meet the actress who played grandma so I can hug her sweetly and tell her she’s a phenomenal actress. In my culture we prioritize elder care.

Yuan and Jiaqi, a love story for the ages. Love that wasn’t romantic, love nevertheless. Love that connected through shared loneliness and hardships, that flourished quietly and effectively. The breakdown of barriers are loads of tears, especially for the young girl who had to carry an overloaded load. Jiaqi recognizing her burdens, showing compassion, it helped her unload and recognize her self worth. In doing so, he thawed his own burdens, by the silent understanding and support from her. This tells us that at our most human, we are fragile, tired, and often alone. Yet even in that state, we are still capable of deep kindness. Love can come from kindness that can be life saving in ordinary, unglamorous ways.

This drama in itself is extremely good. Excellent even. I have nothing to compare it with. That makes me happy. Worthy of recognition for its deep messages that embeds where it matters…the heart. I’m so glad as it’s a healthy reminder that our lives intersects differently but at its core is that kindness and acts thereof are healing medicine in walk.

I will love to see My Mister someday, and I will watch it without comparison. I know from everyone’s praises that it too will have resounding connections. Isn’t that what we seek from these entertainment tools? Far long, thank you for reading. Take care.

Read More

Decent adaptation of a masterpiece

My Mister is my favourite kdrama of all time. Expectations were sky-high for this adaptation, and Loving Strangers mostly delivers. The core of the story is the warmth of the unconditional friendship that develops between the leads. While I don't think the leads have exactly as much chemistry or dynamism as the original, they have enough to make this a good watch.

The plot of this adaptation mainly mirrors the original with some story differences. The pacing feels faster, as many of the longer dialogues are shortened. There isn't as much philosophizing. The neighbourhood vibe is less important. Jiaqi doesn't introspect as much as Dong Hoon. The downside of all this is that Jiaqi is more difficult to understand as a character than his kdrama equivalent. He is a very withdrawn character and even colder to his wife than Dong Hoon.

Once the emotional sparks finally get lit, Loving Strangers became a really good drama. But for me, that took almost 20 episodes. The original starts slow as well, but it ramped up more quickly. A huge factor is the music, which doesn't do enough to set the mood and at times feels out of place.

The writer of My Mister, Park Hae Young, has a lot to say in her dramas about the mental health struggles that people go through. Loving Strangers has all the same events as My Mister, but the deletion of certain dialogues means that it doesn't answer the 'why' question. We simply don't get the same detail about Jiaqi's motivations and worldview that we get from Dong Hoon. He felt more lifeless and closed off.

To be fair to Mark Chao, I think he's playing his role very accurately and did justice to what was on the page. The script just makes it harder to grasp him. Similarly, I think Zhang Zi Feng also played her role well. Her character just wasn't written to have as much agency and fierceness as IU's.

Even the positive changes made in the adaptation are more about fixing possible plot holes than trying to write a deeper story. Both the CEO and the loan shark character are better sketched out here than in the original. I kind of expected this as soon as I saw Zhang Xin Cheng (imo the most talented actor in this cast) playing the loan shark, since he's great at playing these more raw characters. Unfortunately this isn't the type of drama where a villain's performance is critical.

For fans of My Mister, I think this is still worth watching to see a different interpretation of the roles.

Read More

absorbing, quality adaptation

the original is one of my fave K dramas but this adaptation also stands strong on its own. the main leads delivered and the supporting cast was equally good. I was particularly moved by FL's acting. her eyes alone can deeply convey different emotions. you feel for her, and you get absorbed in her pain, her worries, her joy, her hope. as for the ML, I became a fan of Mark Chao after I watched Ten Miles of Peach Blossoms. he did not disappoint.
weeping may tarry for the night but joy comes in the morning: this was beautifully expressed in the story in a steady, hushed, thoughtful and impactful way. excellent acting and powerful storytelling.

Read More

A show that has a bit of something for everyone

Loving Strangers will always be compared to the original. For me, it was a show that started so well, dipped in the second half but finished with some of the most beautiful moments in any drama.

In short, the acting was superb. Mark Chao and Zhang Zi Feng were at their finest. In fact, Fi Zheng deserves an award for the portrayal of the most down trodden of all characters in drama history. Zhang Chao as Gu Chen was also very good - a despicable human being. Jiang Yi Yan as Yi Jun really carried her role well but perhaps the writing softened her too much.

Where it lost some of its shine was Jia Qi’s brother and uncle. They were fine enough but overbearing at times and did not have the depth of the Korean originals. The brother was over the top in his views. The uncle took too long to stop being a procrastinator. Yu Yu, the aspiring actress, and girlfriend of the brother, was terrific. She played the best drunk I have ever seen. It was a heartbreaking performance. Her redemption a pure delight.

It’s true the original had longer episodes of 16 episodes @ 1 hr 15 min or 20 hours as opposed to 28 episodes @ 45 minutes or 21 hours in terms of viewing output. The issue, with Loving Strangers, is that it seemed not as taught in the second half and the story over inflated. Also, some of the key character elements from My Mister regarding a couple of characters are missing.

This show was beautifully filmed. The writing lacked clarity at times but not when it came to the best performances. It was choppy at times and the soccer moments didn’t quite blend in.

If you haven’t seen My Mister, I think you will find this show is, despite its heartbreaking moments, a triumph. It’s just that for me, I was comparing it to the original, and I make no apology for that. It could have been great 😊

Read More

Wow, 我爱上了女主角

I went into Loving Strangers already loving the Korean original My Mister, which set the bar incredibly high. But honestly—wow. This Chinese remake doesn’t just live up to it, it completely surpasses it for me. The emotional depth, pacing, and atmosphere feel even more refined, and it proves that China is truly on the rise when it comes to high-quality storytelling and entertainment.

Zifeng Zhang delivers an absolutely outstanding performance. It’s hard not to be deeply moved by her acting—every glance, every silence feels heavy with emotion. She portrays vulnerability and resilience so convincingly that it naturally awakens a strong sense of protectiveness in the viewer. You don’t just watch her character; you feel her struggles.

Loving Strangers is quiet, painful, and beautiful in the best way. It understands loneliness, kindness, and human connection on a deep level, and long after the episodes end, the emotions stay with you. A powerful reminder of how impactful great acting and thoughtful storytelling can be.

Read More