Not so Much Love but Winter
This was a decent Thriller, Mystery , Drama not so much Romance but decent couples and a buch of obsessed psychopaths here and there.Our villains are okay portrayed one being a combination of Macaulay Culkin in Home Alone meets Saw with a dash of Him... The other just our everyday obsessed bully.
Our leads are of course purer than pure, sweeter than sweet okay they may have some imoure thoughts here and there but they do cater to the one and only deal and ignore all others no matter how much time passes etc. All done in a pretty playfull manor with some really good kisses and decent all round chemistry.
The female lead is actually pretty smart, not when it comes to emotions but other stuff and so are the resto fo the women in this which is kind of refreshing for a C.
The other couples are okay, some better than others and while some of the side characters have moments that make me wonder what happened to their brain. Most of the time tey do thir jobs well and that is good enough.
The level of Protect our heros, Chinese propaganda is also kept under control, and the pacing is also better than a lot of other cs. Mmaking it an okay watch that could have gotten an 8,5-9 but there is just a little bit to much cringe and immature men in this to make it all the way up there.
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balance between charm and mediocrity
"Love Song in Winter" is a series that strikes a balance between charm and mediocrity. The premise revolves around a winter romance that promises warmth and connection, but it often feels like it’s treading familiar ground without offering anything particularly new.The characters are likable enough, but they lack the depth that would make them truly memorable. While I appreciated their chemistry, it sometimes felt forced, and their development throughout the series was inconsistent. I found myself wishing for more backstory and emotional depth to really invest in their journey.
The pacing was a bit uneven; some episodes flowed nicely while others felt dragged out, making it hard to stay fully engaged. The winter setting was beautifully captured, adding a cozy vibe to the overall aesthetic, but it wasn’t enough to completely elevate the story.
Overall, "Love Song in Winter" is an average watch that has its moments of sweetness but doesn’t quite reach the heights of a truly great romance. I’d give it a 5/10—enjoyable for a casual viewing but not something I’d rave about.
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Psychological romance with a scenery chewing villain…
I enjoyed this drama overall. I have not seen a modern cdrama that has such a large amount of collateral damage. (I’ve seen plenty of costume ones that have so many dead bodies, but no modern ones). That alone made this a novel watching experience. At its heart, this is a psychological study of the female lead and the killer.I liked Sun Yian. Sure, she was a noble idiot for breaking up with Jiang Cheng Yi not once but twice. However because this is a psychological study of how she handles the death of those around her, I minded this less than I normally did. The relationship between the leads was good. In both flashbacks and the present, we saw all the ways in which their relationship worked. And it was obvious that the only real impediment was Sun Yian’s guilt over her friends’ death. She is subdued as a lead, but this is supposed to be a consequence of the depression she feels because of her guilt. The winter setting really adds to the somber vibes in my opinion.
Jiang Cheng Yi is a likable hero. Johnny Huang has plenty of charisma and plays the lovable dork well. It works here too. I did get the sense that he didn’t figure out the mystery of who the bad guy was until late mostly because the plot needed him to do so. It does make the entire police department seem like they can’t do their job. However, I really like that he believed Sun Yian and he didn’t hold a grudge for long. Many times a past relationship between the leads keeps them apart arbitrarily when they “can’t get over the past…” except they show them not caring about the past unless it’s convenient for the plot. I didn’t get that sense here. Also, some viewers had an issue with the fact that when she breaks up with him, he gets an apartment next to her and keeps an eye on her that way. I did not have a problem with this. He isn’t trying to force her to take him back. He’s generally worried about her because someone is stalking her and he wants to make sure she is safe. Plus he is a police officer and actually has the resources to keep her safe.
The friends were also good. They were likable and sympathetic to both leads. They struck me as college friends who could see both sides and because of that, they felt like genuine friends as opposed to simply comic relief or a fount of bad advice for our main couple. Their story tied in with the main one and worked for the flow of the drama.
Wan Peng is honestly one of my biggest problems and still a good part of this drama. Watching him slowly devolve and become unhinged where he had held things together well before was definitely compelling. I thought they gave him a good back story and a reason to be obsessed with Sun Yian. It’s true that little encounters we view as insignificant can be life changing to others. That being said, one of my biggest problems with Cdramas is the idea that the 2ML or 2FL has that our main lead “must” love them. And so in that sense, his obsession with Sun Yian seemed more along those lines and very much something we have seen before. Until the end when it became over the top. The transition from menacing background figure to full blown villain was clunky for me. And the reveal about his parentage came completely out of left field for me.
I enjoyed this best when I focused on the relationship between the leads and their family and friends. The police stuff felt a little flat to me. That being said, their relationship was compelling enough to me that I minded the flaws less than I sometimes do. Also, this gets bonus points for being different in a sea of same-y type modern dramas. I had no trouble finishing it and enjoyed it very much. I don’t see myself rewatching though.
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Emotional one
The story revolves around a girl and a boy who fall in love during their college years. Their relationship blossoms beautifully, but it doesn’t last long as the girl decides to end it for reasons unknown to the boy. Years later, fate brings them together again—she is now a doctor, and he has become a cop. Their professions cross paths during a case, reigniting their connection. They attempt to reconcile, but the unresolved issues that led to their breakup resurface, creating tension in their lives. Eventually, they part ways again, yet their work keeps bringing them into contact.The narrative combines elements of suspense, murder mystery, vengeance, and a heartwarming love story. While the plot has its moments of brilliance, the slow pacing and the female lead’s somewhat underwhelming performance might not appeal to everyone. However, the intertwining of professional conflicts with personal emotions keeps the audience intrigued.
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Johnny Huang and Sun Qian just didn't quite have the chemistry to carry the romance storyline. I liked their storyline, past and present, but perhaps it's because I had last watched Sun Qian in Islands, where she had fantastic chemistry with her co-star. I liked the supporting cast: Wang Tian Chen played his role so well that I forgot I'd ever seen him in anything before (coincidentally he was in Islands, too, though not paired with Sun Qian. Guan Zi Jing and Jackie Li are a ray of light here, infusing humor into the story as well as heartwarming friendship with the leads, and they also navigate ups and downs in their marriage well. He Hong Shan always impresses me with the range of her roles.
The psychology and motivations behind the thriller plot were solid but it dragged on for too long. Sometimes the only thing reminding me that this was also a romance was the Eric Chou OST.
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Not a strong plot but watchable and mediocre acting from main CP
Love Song in Winter is a romantic melodrama that starts with Johnny Huang, Sun Qian, Kira Shi, and Wang Tian Chen. It involves murder, the crime of passion, and the rekindling of love between the main CP.The pace of the drama is not bad. Johnny Huang has played a typical role in his modern dramas. He is not a good actor, but somehow, he makes it work in this type of role (policeman, firefighter, and soldier)
The on-screen chemistry between him and Sun Qian's character was okay. No spark between them. Wang Tian Chen played a good and convincing bad guy in this drama. The last episode ruined this drama for me. It should ended when they caught the bad guy. Episode 36 was meaningless, and it should not be included.
Synopsis: It tells the romantic love story of the reunion of the detective Jiang Cheng Yi and the anesthesiologist Lu Yan. They encounter each other by chance eight years after breaking up and unravel their misunderstandings as they work together to solve a serial murder case. Since the anesthesiologist Lu Yan "runs into" her dead college friend Deng Man during a night shift, strange things around her occur successively. As the investigation proceeds, Detective Jiang Cheng Yi, Lu Yan's ex-boyfriend from many years ago, is embroiled, and the long-hidden truth of eight years is gradually revealed.
My Reviews:
1. Acting: 5.5
2. Script: 7
3. Music/OST: 6
4. Production Quality: 6
5. Cinematography: 6
6. CP Chemistry: 5
7. Rewatchable: 6
Overall Rating: 6.0
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Well-rounded show
While I was able to guess who the big bad was fairly quickly due to my previous experience with C-dramas, this show did a good job of revealing the intricate details of their motive slowly and in a way that still allowed for plot twists and surprises.The romance takes a back seat to the murder mystery plot and is viewed more as a clue in the story rather than a major component. I had no issue with this; however, the moments in which they decided to allow for romantic moments between the couple were strange and out of place. There were 2-3 episodes in which the investigation was heating up and was completely halted for a few episodes of a romantic subplot.
Finally, I felt that once the investigation was completed, the opportunity for a good conclusion of the couple was lost to more flashbacks and a weird compilation of conclusions to the various side characters' stories that leaving very little room for us to see a true happy ending for the main couple.
Overall, it was good drama, one of the best Chinese dramas I've seen, and it is worth watching.
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Amazing drama - Must watch
A Must-Watch for Romantic Drama LoversThis drama truly exceeded my expectations and deserves a spot on every romantic drama fan’s watchlist. I was initially hesitant to start itmainly because I wasn’t a fan of the lead actress due to her role in Way Back Into Love, and I’ve found Johny’s previous dramas, like Love Designer, to become draggy and dull after the 30-episode mark. But I completely misjudged this one.
From the very first episode to the 36th, it was an absolute treat. The pacing was tight, the story stayed engaging, and the chemistry among the cast was spot-on. Every actor delivered an impressive performance.
Special shout-out to Wen Peng—bsolutely loved his role. He was the only character I connected with in The White Olive Tree drama, and he once again proves he has the potential to be one of the best second leads of the coming decade and maybe even a future main lead.
The actors playing the cops also did an outstanding job. Overall, this drama was a pleasant surprise and an emotional, well-executed experience. Highly recommend!
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Romantic Drama
The chemistry between the leads is undeniable, sparking genuine emotion with every interaction. The storyline is both heartwarming and thought-provoking, exploring complex themes of personal growth and finding love in unexpected places. The writing is sharp, the acting is superb, and the soundtrack perfectly complements the emotional rollercoaster - a must-watch for anyone seeking a truly immersive romantic experience."Was this review helpful to you?
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Just not for me
If you just want to watch this show for the romance go on and enjoy, but I can't really say that the romance was worth it for me when the production was lacking as much as it was.If you are or have enjoyed the show don't read this just continue enjoying it for what it is to you. But I just needed to rant a bit and just speak my peace on this and move on.
Okay, so as a production girlie...this one just doesn't quite meet my expectations. The editing is all over the place and almost like they didn't get the shots they needed and didn't realize until they were editing the episodes together. A lot of scenes just end out of nowhere, not in a suspenseful way but in a...did they forget about the other people in the scene, kind of way.
It feels very unfinished/unpolished. The crimes are really only there to bring the main couple together or tear them apart....it wasn't even a serial killer...I'm also a true crime girlie, so words matter. He's a killer, but doesn't fall under the definition of a serial killer, and with a whole plot dedicated to a professor of criminal psychology....it becomes a bit eyebrow raising with how lazy the writing is with regards to the actual crimes. There were whole episodes that could have been boiled down to about 5 - 10 minutes and then combined instead of showing the same shot over and over again. Also the bg music when they are showing a cop take down or whatever seriously gave me heavy blinks
I watch too many shows to not catch on who the bad guy was once her nurse friend is murdered. I thought it would get better, but it never felt like anything or anyone was actually developed as a character outside of like the bad guy and even he was so lazily written it felt like a checklist of personality traits rather than a real person. Also, can we stop with the crazed laughter when the character is shown repeatedly to mask his emotions? Like why are we going full comic book villain in the 11th hour?
Pretty much everything would have been solved within 2 hours had people actually communicated with one another. If the whole plot hinges on one character just not speaking to the people around them...what was the point? Seriously, lets not tell our mother's that we are the targets of a stalker who has used people to kill our friends. Maybe don't try and met up with him or accept rides from him. I seriously hate when smart characters do stupid things just to make the plot move in a direction the writer wants it to.
Also, in what world would he be allowed to stay on the investigation of his step-brother without having a briefing with his chief? because once you are the target/victim you don't really get to pursue that suspect anymore.
I wanted to like this show, but no amount of liking an actor(s) will let me see past lazy writing and production to this degree. If it was just a straight forward romance I think I would have been more forgiving. But there were multiple character choices that just didn't make sense for their shown personality nor their actual profession. It's just like a Dick Wolf show in the USA with kind of pumping up the cops and the profession of a cop. As some would say, copaganda. China really is just the USA of Asia.
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Good plot but lack of realistic emotions
I like the overall plot on this. The suspense of it was very good, but I felt both leads did not show enough emotion toward one another and especially at a few pivotal moments within the drama. I would have rated it higher if it would have contained more romance between the leads. I felt like the farther into the drama the less they showed regarding their emotions. For example, when the male lead was hurt in action and was in the hospital, she was too calm for it to be realistic. When she was kidnapped toward the end, he remained too calm as well. Granted they both were very laid-back characters but they still should’ve showed more emotions during these crisis, if they loved each other as much as they claimed. I would not rewatch this drama, as it was hard to be invested in their relationship due to their acting.Was this review helpful to you?
The weak point of the series was the character Lu Yan. Sun Qian is a talented actress, but her role was overshadowed by Kira Shi and Jackie Li's performances as Yu Zheng and Tang Jie. Lu Yan felt lifeless, even in moments where she tried to show some emotion. Maybe that's why the romance between Jiang Cheng Yi and Lu Yan came off as lukewarm. I personally preferred the relationships between Yu Zheng and Yu Bo Feng, as well as Da Zhong and Tang Jie. Yu Zheng and Yu Bo Feng, in my opinion, should've been the main couple. The chemistry between those two actors was outstanding, and their story was far more compelling.
As for Da Zhong and Tang Jie, they were the sweetest couple. I loved their dynamic, the respect and affection between them. And the OST? Absolutely beautiful!
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