Speed and Love

Deep obsession with this

I'm watching this drama recently. I watched 15 episode and every episode give goosebumps😍, and excited for next episode 🫣
this is a masterpiece with main lead Heyu and Eshter yu,🫰 and now I am obsessed with this jin zhao character (Heyu) 🤭
worth watch it if anyone doesn't know what should they watch then this is a answer to give your time with happiness and excitement, your time doesn't waste it in this drama
I love it and wish to session 2 and hope this review helpful for everyone
thank you Heyu and Esther yu and all team work to give this masterpiece
Thank you ☺

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A refreshing look at modern CDrama with bad guy/good girl RomCom drama.

"Speed and Love" is a modern CDrama starring Esther Yu and He Yu. The story is interesting and cute. Personally, I do not like Esther Yu's dramas because most of the characters she portrays are childish. She used her natural, high-pitched, squeaky voice, which is annoying; however, in this drama, she used a lower-pitched register, which is less irritating.

This drama's synopsis is refreshing compared to other typical C-dramas about stern-faced CEOs, contract marriage, or childish Love. This story is unique in its portrayal of a bad boy/good girl dynamic, and it adds depth to the characters of Jin Zhao and Jiang Mu.

Her acting in this drama is better, and she should look for roles with mature love rather than silly or childish characters.

Synopsis: The series revolves around the siblings Jiang Mu, the sheltered and pampered younger sister, and Jin Zhao, the extremely gifted older brother. When Mu is nine years old, their parents get a divorce, and her father and Zhao move to Thailand. As such, Mu and Zhao's lives become two paths that never cross. After learning that her brother is adopted, Mu flies to Thailand alone. When they meet again, the once elegant boy has transformed into a rugged young man hardened by the streets. Zhao is now into boxing and racing, living a life full of wild thrills and danger that is completely unfamiliar to Mu. Undaunted, Mu works to assimilate into the life of Zhao and her father's family. Aligning with her talents, her studies, and life in Thailand are just as splendid, and her enthusiasm and empathy brighten Zhao's life. As Zhao's co-pilot, she is his perfect navigator. Seeing that Zhao is stuck in a quagmire, she decides to pull him out and take him home. When an accident separates the two again, Mu takes on the responsibility of caring for the family while pursuing their shared ambition in aerospace. Many years later, Mu returns to China after graduation. Mu and Zhao reunite again in Nanjing.

My Reviews:
1. Acting: 8.5
2. Script: 8.5
3. Music/OST: 8
4. Production Quality: 8
5. Cinematography: 8
6. Rewatchable: 8
7. On-Screen Chemistry: 7

Overall Rating: 8

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Every day is a Winding road filled with Sizzling Love until it burns

Honestly this started off really good, hot and sizzling our leads eyes yelled yearning, spunk and all round entertaining and fun to watch... Though I have seen He Yu in several dramas before this, I am going to say that this role fit him so much better than the others and truly made him shine in a completely new muscular light. As most of the times we get to see him he is wearing a tank top and dripping some kind of liquid to enhance the curves of his upper arm and back muscles.

Yes there is the whole I loved you as a non biological sister now I long for you as a lover that is slightly disturbing at times but every single gaze from start to finish pretty much saiys we are not siblings and girl you are not a kid anymore... And yes there is a slight attempt to dress her all innocent but they do also show that she really is not that innocent or naive, but rather a 20 year old that knows what she wants (in a way we rarely see in cs).

The twists, the winding roads of the first 3/4 of the drama are pretty fun to watch but then came the inevitable turn that just took all this heat and chilled it down in to some kind of annoyng mess.

Making it go from an 8,5 or even 9 to a 6 landing it a generous 8.

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Decent, Flashy and Fangirl-Friendly

It was a decent watch overall but it definitely didn’t live up to the expectations I had before starting it...
The script, directing and especially the editing held this drama back from being truly good for me.

The first few episodes were hard to get through, though things did improve later especially once I adjusted my expectations and settled into the show.
One of the biggest issues was the editing, particularly in the middle portion of the drama. Scenes would abruptly cut to completely different moments that seemed to take place days later, with little to no explanation. This made the story feel disjointed, created noticeable plot holes and repeatedly broke the immersion for me.
On top of that, there were directing and logical issues throughout the drama some scenes simply made no sense and felt like they existed purely for emotional impact rather than storytelling consistency.

That said, the drama wasn’t without its charms. The chemistry between the leads was genuinely enjoyable, the overall theme had potential and the car racing scenes were one of the highlights! A big part of my fangirling came from the fact that the plot reminded me strongly of the Wattpad-style romance novels I used to read as a teen. Making it kind of a nostalgic watch.
Visually, Speed and Love was definitely a feast for the eyes and consistently delivered when it came to aesthetics, making it easy to keep watching.

When it comes to this cdrama my biggest surprise was definitely He Yu! This was my first time seeing him as a ML and both his performance and visuals stood out. I genuinely hope to see him in more lead roles in the future.

Would I recommend this drama? It really depends on what you’re looking for. If you want something visually appealing, chemistry-driven and very fangirl-oriented and you’re willing to overlook the problems it has, then it can be a fun watch. ^^
Would I rewatch it? Probably not. Once was enough for me and if I ever miss parts of it, I’d rather visit FMVs than sit through the entire drama again.

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Best Chinese drama of 2025 (after Love's Ambition and The Coroner's Diary)

OMG I literally finished this drama within three days (29 Dec 25 – 31 Dec 25), and I am completely in love. This drama got me hooked from the very first episode. It feels fresh and different, with a well-written script that clearly shows how much effort the team put into it—seriously, well done.

As someone who prefers romantic dramas, this one checked all the boxes for me, especially with such amazing leads. Esther Yu and He Yu were honestly the perfect fit for their roles, ngl. Their chemistry feels natural, and I love how each interaction between them becomes more intense without unnecessary dragging. Every scene feels meaningful and keeps you wanting more.

What really stood out to me is how the drama beautifully shows the growth of both leads, from their youth to becoming mature adults. Their emotional development feels realistic and earned, which made their journey even more touching to watch. Overall, this drama isn’t just romantic—it’s heartfelt, engaging, and unforgettable. Definitely one of my favorites
Ending my 2025 with this drama honestly made my heart so happy.

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The Adrenaline Rush of Precarious Street Racing and Love for a Toddler-Like Teenager

Welcome back to my review. As usual, I’m sorry for delaying “Speed and Love” review because I’m just too idle to write down my thoughts (FYI, my holiday will end in three days, so I’m making sure that I complete this review before getting back to school and being busy again). Without further ado, let’s just dive into the review.

“Speed and Love”, formerly named “Star Trails”, is a rom-com drama adapted from Shi Jiuyan’s novel with the same name (in Chinese), staged in the perilous world of street racing in Manshi, Thailand (supposed to be a remote area in China named Tong Gang). The series revolves around a pair nonblood-related siblings, Jin Zhao and Jiang Mu. After a crushing divorce, their dad moved out from the house and took Jin Zhao with him to Thailand, where they struggled to make ends meet to the point that Jin Zhao needed to quit from high school and took up odd jobs instead, including establishing a self-independent garage and joining high-stake racings in the midnight to earn some cash for the family. FYI, Jin Qiang married another Chinese woman, Zhao Meijuan, at that time and bore a new daughter, Jin Xin (no doubt there will a lot of mouths to be fed).

Meanwhile, Jiang Mu stayed in China with her mom, Jiang Yinghan, at Nanjing. However, Jiang Yinghan soon found a new Canadian-Chinese boyfriend, Chris, and they decide to marry together and live in Canada from then on. Nevertheless, Jiang Mu didn’t agree on her mom’s remarriage and demanded to stay behind in China for she didn’t have a good impression on Chris. After having petty arguments back and forth, Jiang Yinghan finally agreed to let Jiang Mu stay at her father’s place and told her about the past of Jin Zhao as well. This piece of truth only fueled Jiang Mu’s personal desire to search for Jin Zhao and her hope to rekindle the old memories together.

After settling down in Thailand, Jiang Mu enrolls a language foundation course and a Thai high school too (though this is a heavy point stressed in the novel, it’s completely brushed aside in the drama since it’s going all out in the aspects of emotional tension and sexual interactions). Not only that, she also learns about Jin Zhao’s new life and finds that he’s beginning to look like a stranger in her eyes. To understand his world better, she also learns how to race since Jin Zhao always participates in illegal street racings. Soon, she falls in love with Jin Zhao and slowly peels away his thick fortress, ultimately gaining his heart. But, an accident will occur in no time and the two is separated for a very long time, breaking each other’s heart while still yearning. Will they finally give in to their fates or fight against it to stage another fluffy love story?

To put it frankly, I do agree with most of the viewers that the plot is very cliché except the racing part. Firstly, the myriad numbers of tropes crammed into this drama is pretty outstanding, considering it only has 29 episodes. Nonblood-related siblings, spoiled girl x bad boy, accidental hugs, friends coming to disturb your peaceful moments of kissing, noble idiocy, ML decides what’s good for FL without asking for her consent. Those tropes have been utilized by other rom-com dramas and some even do better than this one. Honestly, if it hadn’t been for the electrifying chemistry of the main leads, most people would’ve dropped it long ago, and so do I.

However, I want to praise about how well the racing arc is done, especially Jin Qiang’s methods of how to adapt to tricky situations by relying on your neural instinct. The machinery of car is also explained in basic language so that viewers of non-physics background can grasp the foundation easily (one of them happens to be me, since I’m very awful in physics, but don’t get me wrong, I have deep fascination for mechanics and machinery stuffs).

Now, please welcome our high-and-mighty spoiled little queen Jiang Mu. Well, she does act like a spoiled 10-year-old little chick, as if she were a vexatious mosquito hovering around Jin Zhao’s orbit. No offence, but I’m also a picky eater and tend to pick out the vegetables that I dislike. However, there’s a little discrepancy between me and her. At least, I keep my tongue well shut while nitpicking the vegetables, unlike Jiang Mu, who keeps pouting and scowling interminably till I get irritated of her. Also, why does the designer love to dress Jiang Mu in conspicuous sexy clothing that apparently doesn’t fit her image as an ordinary high schooler at all? Even she only wears her uniform as a formality to conceal the black shirt and mini skirt beneath. And how does she know about cars just by having a single glance (the part where Xiao Yang and Tie Gongji are having a difficulty at)? And how does she manage to learn drifting after having seen Lin Sui performs it one time? And from when does she develop a feeling for Jin Zhao? I know it’s a taboo stuff for others when it comes to siblings falling for each other, but I think that’s fine for me. The thing that keeps troubling me is perhaps she had fallen for him since her childhood years and that feeling grows incessantly over years in the shape of the spoiled queen (don’t get me wrong, she initiates most of the intimate acts). Esther Yu’s acting and baby-ish voice don’t help much with Jiang Mu’s interpretation either. She’s trying hard to act like a toddler just because the script demands so, and she turns 180 degree into a mature woman in six years, but not that mature though. Check out the reason below after I finish blabbing about the ML.

For the ML, I actually and truly love him very much that I also want him to be my boyfriend. Welp, who doesn’t want to? He can race, cook, dry your hair, repair the water heater, exceptionally outstanding in physics, draw, fetch you back from school as if his time had been reserved just for you, and many other things I can’t think of anymore. But, the noble idiocy really irks some people and I really don’t know why because noble idiocy is a rudimentary key point during their separation arc or it would’ve been less fulfilling (for me). Also, Jin Zhao’s character is also shaped from the harsh reality of the world and how he can overcome the trials and vicissitudes of life. I think He Yu has shone brighter than ever and it’s his outbreak role after several mediocre performances. He totally rocks Jin Zhao’s portrayal and embodies his essential point quite well.

For this paragraph, this is going to be a hell of a ride, so please bear with me. The show does convey dangerous moral impacts about how to selflessly sacrifice your dignity for someone you’re not supposed to love and how unrequited love soon blooms into a bold yet dangerous possessiveness. This is shown when Jiang Mu confronts Wan Qing in an unfriendly manner and keeps thinking that she has an affair with Jin Zhao, when he actually never reciprocates her feelings. If Jiang Mu had initiated a more proper and clearer communication instead, things wouldn’t have gone awry and the girls would’ve made such good friends from the get go (I tried really hard to suppress my urge to yell at Jiang Mu, seriously). Not only that, the show also romanticizes taboo stuffs such as how you ogle for that person to be your emotional anchor when things go wrong or unlike your expectation. If the person-in-demand doesn’t give you the respond that you desire, you’re going to start throwing tantrums here and there, in order to attract his attention back to you (which is not worth your time at all). I even have to restrain myself not to take any lessons from this show so as not be deluded into an astray path, given that this show is directed for young teenage girls like me, who will be self-deluded in your little fantasy bubble and have a great rage when your reality turns out to say no to you.

Now, to the OSTs. Yes, I love most of the OST in “Speed and Love” especially the upbeat hip hop track sung by Yan An (not Pentagon’s member). I also like the sultry song by Alyce Zhou (R.E.D) and the wistful memory in Zhang Bichen’s track. The other tracks are as pleasant as well. Backgrounds and settings are thumbs-up for me, while the costume can be toned down a little bit for our dear Jiang Mu.

Will I rewatch? That will be a 50/50 answer. If you’re looking for hot sexual tension and dozens of intimate scenes, then you’ll have a great fun here. However, if you’re into a coherent storyline, I’m sorry to say that this show doesn’t fulfil this requirement. It’s time to end my review now (since I have to go to sleep now), good luck and happy watching!!!

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Fork in the road

I totally ate this series up. The main leads had such crazy chemistry that it was just intense. I had to keep checking myself on why I am swooning over sibling love, but I just simply think they are two kids who grew up together and end up falling in love. I read fantasy romance so the plot isn't something I would consider weird or gross. I mean, once you get past that, it is a really cute and sweet drama. I enjoyed it so much. My 11 year old who watched with me sometimes kept asking why the girl aka Jiang Mu aka Esther Yu sounds like a kid, LOL. Well, this series was definitely trademark Esther Yu series. I don't hate her. She was in her element. As for Jian Zhao, He Yu really owned it. I just really had fun with this and such a good one to end the year.

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Bankable stars and romantic scenes can’t save this series from inconsistent characters ?

The director, known for previous successful dramas like "Love Is Sweet " and more..., had set high expectations.
Visually, the series is undeniably appealing. The styling, and aesthetics are well done—even “hot” at times. Both leads are attractive and have good on-screen chemistry. Esther’s acting, while often repetitive, suits a broad audience with her naive, childlike, and bubbly charm. However, her range is extremely limited in nuanced, emotional, introspective, or demonstrative scenes. Still, she fits her role visually; she looks beautiful and very young. A lot of effort has clearly gone into the visual aspect of the show.

From EP1 to EP 13
Yet, one of the most striking issues lies in the characterization of the main heroine, which feels completely inconsistent. She refuses to accept her mother’s decisions about her personal life—which is understandable, perhaps—but at the same time remains cold toward the woman who is kind to her, the stepmother. Her father, although shown only in a limited and underdeveloped way (which is disappointing), appears to be caring in the past despite his flaws: he cooks for the children, shares a passion for cars, and spends time with them. He feels more human than the mother, who struggles to accept another boy in her home. The heroine, meanwhile, never takes a moment to talk to her father, understand what’s happening, or reflect on her place in the family.

Up until episode 12, we see a girl who comes to live with her father’s family after years apart and settles in as if this is completely normal and her place is legitimate. She doesn’t seem to consider whether it’s convenient for the family or if she has the right to stay. At just 18, she decides, “I’m staying here…” without consulting anyone. Her only focus appears to be her boyfriend and her teenage romantic impulses.

Her behavior towards the male lead is particularly immature—like a spoiled 9-year-old: “make me tea, cook for me, I don’t like this, bring me that, drive me there,” and so on. She claims to stay “to help him,” but what exactly does she offer? Her actions revolve almost entirely around romance, instead of using the opportunity to connect with her sister, family, or contribute in a mature way. Perhaps her character will develop later, but I personally wanted to see these essential traits early on to understand, empathize with, and support her.

There are also subtle moments that struck me as surprisingly sloppy in writing: for example, a scene where the female lead is drunk with a friend of the male lead, and the male lead comes to pick up the girl, leaving the other girl almost" unconscious" without saying or doing anything. So Everything in the series centers ONLY for the main female lead. It’s an incredibly small, human detail, yet it speaks volumes in the context of a film where every second should help the audience understand a character.

The chronology of events is also confusing. When did her love first begin—at nine years old? The timeline is unclear. Did it happen later, perhaps instantly under the shower, as the show suggests? Similarly, the male lead’s intentions are barely conveyed, with only one line to explain his feelings, yet their interactions suggest something very different. A romance allegedly starting when he was 13 seems implausible, especially given the complex family context. The story asks the viewer to suspend disbelief to accept these developments. From the very first episodes, there are many highly provocative adult scenes, and at the same time, there are brother-sister relationships or depictions of a vulnerable young girl, which is unsettling

Overall, the plot emphasizes romantic drama at the expense of consistent, believable character development. I suspect the series will follow predictable patterns: a few kisses, some tragic obstacles, and time for the heroine to grow—possibly during university—before exploring mature relationships.

By “visual,” I specifically mean styling—wardrobes, looks, cars, the city—rather than directorial choices. The styling is very successful. Lighting, however, often misses the mark; for instance, please avoid that whitish glare on the male lead’s face in close-ups. The racing scenes are well-executed but may feel technically weaker compared to Western standards. For comparison, even the “Fast & Furious” films, despite being commercial, display strong action dynamics cinematography, and big budget

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Mini C-Drama extended to full length one with more budget

The leads' chemistry is unmistakable and probably that is what kept me hooked onto the show for 13 episodes--the ML's smouldering look and his overall performance is sincere, so is FL's--I actually like Esther Yu.
But the plotline is convoluted and not necessarily in the good way--it seems to be going nowhere and though individual scenes are nice--there doesn't seem to be any story arc that might want me to keep watching the show--when there are other shows (korean as well as chinese) with better plotlines waiting for me to watch.

After a point--the show reminded me of the mini c-dramas with a hot male lead--fight sequences--etc. but the sets show limited budget--compared to which this show does have bigger budget and the cinematography isn't bad. Probably given the length of each episode, the makers could have made this a 10 episode show or an 11 one at most.

To use an analogy from the show itself, the show's progress is like the patterns the FL makes when she learns how to 'drift'--high speed and potentially exciting but staying in the same place running not in circles but in oblong shapes.

The songs are good and I like several of the side characters and definitely the leads' performances but that alone cannot save the show.

So sadly I had to drop this show.

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Very different and awesome

After a very longtime I like modern cdrama very much especially I really like to talk about ml heyu his acting is good and he is hot and handsome at same time frist time in my life after reading novel of a drama I felt no one can be perfect as heyu in Jin Zhao role and for Esther many people complian about her acting and voice but for me she is awesome more than okay I like her acting and her role and many little details I like about this drama is location I mean it's different I really like ml place it's different from typical cdrama good apartment well organized things maybe after seeing same things I like different one this time and also I like racing and fighting story of male lead because in other drama only male lead and female scene together is good but in this drama their solo story or scene made me hooked I'm excited for future episodes.

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The Noble Idiocy trope needs to die!

If I'm honest, this show is a bit of a Jekyll and Hyde for me. I think this is due to a mix of script and production issues. Let's break this down.

First of all, the Thailand location, fight club and street racing are largely set dressing. The show does include some nefarious plots that might not go down well with censors. Being set in Bangkok allows them to play the NIMBY game. The real A-plot is the OTP's romance.

Before we start, I have a confession. I'm not a big fan of Esther Yu. I have watched some of her shows. Her persona doesn't always vibes with me. As far as I'm concerned, she did good in this show. Having said that, some of her antics can be annoying. The good outweighs the bad.

On the other hand, the ML is handsome with a strong bad boy vibe. He is a street fighter/boy racer combo. You won't see many young idols being able to pull this off convincingly. Kudos to the ML.

As I mentioned before, the backbone of this drama is our leads' love story. They are not blood related. They just happens to grow up in the same household.

They got separated when the FL's parents divorced and the boy went to Thailand with the dad. The man remarried and had another daughter. His current wife is a kind hearted woman and the little girl is cute. Their story is perfunctory though.

In a similar vein, the fight club stuff and some of the street racing are there to add colour and some grit to the ML backstory. The racing part can be fast and furious. However, most of those scenes are computer generated and repetitive. It served its purpose, moves the plot along and delivers the ML into harm's way.

BTW, I'm sure most of the show is shot in China. Some B-rolls and key scenes were shot on location. Ask no questions, my friend. You just roll with it.

As if on cue, the dreaded mid show break-up with bonus Noble Idiocy was delivered onto us. I know he loves her deeply and he always has her wellbeing at the forefront of his mind, but to break up at that juncture when she was lost and confused is just cruel. It is Noble Idiocy by definition.

He even told the FL after they reconciled that he just wants her to be happy. The FL has the perfect comeback. She told him that she can't be happy without him. Ouch!

What is more nonsensical is their separation lasted SIX years. I can accept 6 months. I get that he was making plans to look after the FL in the long term and getting his health back, but that will be for naught if the FL falls in love with someone else. What happens if she is seriously ill and he is not by her side? That shoe doesn't fit well on the other foot.

The writer tries to explain it all away by having everything slot into place magically. She also drops us into one of the sweetest and most romantic storyline in recent memory. Yes, I have watched enough dramas to know that we need angst and dramatic tension, but I think it could have been done better. All his mates chastised him. Calling him out for pushing her away and making unilateral decisions. It is angst for angst sake.

This is where I find the writer having double standards. She knows full well how people should behave. For instance, the BF of the FL's mother promptly married her even though she told him they should break up because of her heart condition. Good on ya, Chris. The wife of the FL's alcoholic father is a saint. She stood by him through thick and thin. So why can't the FL be trusted? To just blame the ML's stubbornness is fairly self serving.

Yes, she is "only" twenty years old then, but she has a good head on her shoulders. The only reason I can think of is so that they can stretch the show to 29 eps. Am I too cynical?

I know this sounds negative. I actually enjoyed this series very much. The Romance Tragic half of me loved it. The Rational Critic side wants a quiet word with the writer in a dark alley. LoL

I know it will sound crazy, but I would seriously suggest you watch the first few eps to get your bearings and work out who's who. Then skip to EP.22 and watch to the end. You won't miss much.

These last few eps are really the heart and soul of this drama. All the swoon worthy moments. The easy flowing skinship that feels real. Plus bonus flashbacks. Everything you need in a romance drama are lovingly packaged in a neat package. The rest are fillers.

To say I'm conflicted is an understatement. When it is good, it is AMAZING. Then you have the rest . . a real grab bag. They are not hanging offences, it does drags the whole show down a notch. It could have been THE best drama of 2025. Peace.

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