Heart of Stone (2025)

Chemistry? As artificial as plastic.

The plot? A classic case of Ctrl+C, Ctrl+V.

Our ML’s family member gets killed, and he’s back for revenge. Out of a quarter billion women around his age, who does he fall for? The enemy’s daughter, of course(here they are childhood sweethearts so one more clichè comes free) And—because fate has a wicked sense of humor—she’s conveniently average-looking. Chinese writers, I feel for you; creativity has officially hit saturation.

It follows the same age-old pattern: ML hides his identity, regrets it later, and oscillates between holding and leaving the FL—all in the name of "protecting" her. No new tricks, no fresh twists, just déjà vu in HD.

Now, onto the cast.

Dai Gao? The man can do no wrong—except here. I’ve seen him as a king, a bodyguard, an army general, a boxer, a model, a gangster (kind of), and now, a company chairman. And let’s be real—he absolutely devours that rectangular-framed, clear-glass, three-piece suit aesthetic. YUMMY. But his acting? Surprisingly... mid. Why? We’ll get to that.

Jin Zi Yuan is a solid actress, but she just didn’t bring her A-game. She thrives in period dramas, where she fits like a glove, but in modern settings, she sticks out like a misplaced extra. In this role, her expressions were rigid, and her dialogue delivery felt about as natural as a scripted reality show.

Now, their chemistry—oh boy. If childhood friends are supposed to have an unbreakable bond, these two must’ve had severe amnesia. Lovers? Barely. Their dynamic felt like an arranged marriage where intimacy exists, but it’s as thrilling as watching paint dry. This is precisely why Dai Gao’s performance didn’t shine—there was just nothing to work with.

As for the rest of the cast... well, they exist. Overacting galore, as if none of them attended even a single acting workshop.

And the background music? Or should I say, the complete lack of an impressionable soundtrack? A final nail in the coffin.

So, should you skip this drama?

No, no—watch it. But only if your expectations are lying comfortably six feet under.

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