A Light and Enjoyable Watch
The story is light and fun to follow. The OST is nice to listen to, and the visuals are beautiful—I really like the color tone of the cinematography. The actors did a great job, and the chemistry between Jiang Mu and Jin Chao is strong, it makes you smile without realizing it.Jiang Mu is cute and adorable, but she also has a cool side. She’s a navigator, knows a lot about cars, can do taekwondo, drives a pink truck, drifts, dances, sings, and even cooks. She’s truly a multi-talented female character.
I hope Esther Yu is always happy, continues to be successful, and is surrounded by kind people and good days.
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Purely disappointing
Here’s a corrected and more polished rephrased version while keeping your opinion and tone clear:⸻
I’m giving this drama a low rating mainly because of the FL. If you’re a fan of Esther Yu, you might enjoy this drama. To clarify, I don’t hate Esther Yu, and I haven’t watched all of her dramas. However, I don’t like her acting. It feels like there’s no improvement—she consistently portrays her characters as childish and overly cute, which doesn’t suit the storyline. Her acting also doesn’t match the depth of her character, and she maintained this childish behavior until the final episode, which I found annoying.
I also don’t understand how people see chemistry between the ML and FL. I actually liked how the ML portrayed his role, but the FL’s acting ruined the overall storyline for me. There’s also a part where the FL goes to Thailand to see her brother. At the beginning of the story, she develops romantic and lustful feelings for her adopted brother, which I find inappropriate.
Some episodes also seem like they were cut or rushed. Overall, I don’t feel that Esther Yu was suitable for this role. Given her resources, I think she would benefit from investing more in acting classes.
In conclusion, I liked the story and the ML’s performance. However, if you’re already familiar with how Esther Yu acts in her previous dramas and feel the same way, you might want to skip this one.
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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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I have never hated a character more
This has got to be the worst FL I have ever seen in a C-drama. She is a fully grown 20 year old woman, but she acts like a 10 year old, everyone treats her like a child, but also sexualizes and fetishizes her the whole time. It is disgusting. She has no personality whatsoever and even when the writers attempt to give her some skills they walk it back immediately. 29 full episodes and it still can't pass the Bechdel test.. Unconscionable.Was this review helpful to you?
He Yu, He Yu, He Yu
Speed and Love stays true to its core: romance. At the center of it all is He Yu, who delivers an undeniably captivating performance as Jin Zhao. His microexpressions, subtle intensity, and overall portrayal make the character irresistibly charming and sexy.Honestly, he carries a lot of the show’s emotional weight with nothing more than his eyes and that devastating smile.Esther, meanwhile, leans once again into her familiar persona: cute, bubbly, and a little childish. While I do like her, this particular style of acting can feel repetitive, and at times even tiring. I found myself skipping through several romantic scenes simply because the dynamic felt a bit too cringey (because of Esther’s childish expressions) for my taste.
That said, the drama as a whole is still enjoyable. It’s not groundbreaking, but it’s sweet enough to make your heart flutter, largely thanks to He Yu’s performance. With themes of family, friendship, and love woven throughout, Speed and Love remains a worthwhile watch for anyone craving a light, romance‑driven series.
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I cant move on from this couple now(;´༎ຶД༎ຶ`)
seriously i love them i love the story but thry deserve more eps (;´༎ຶД༎ຶ`)🙏🏻im not fans of the leads but i watch some of esther's drama like LBFAD, MJTY, SIL and now this one! (❁´▽`❁)ーshe really nailed every chars!! and this is thr 1st time i watch Heyu's drama and Wow i fell for him seriously now(;´༎ຶД༎ຶ`)🫶🏻
i reallu love their chemistry fr, and this genre are kinda different too, i mean i rarely find romace drama with this kinda of story so i really find this so refreshing and fun to watch, and the trope of He fell first He fell harder OMG love this!! i hope to see them on together again in other drama or maybe another season? im up for this!!!!Ｏ(≧▽≦)Ｏ
well im not good write reviews but seriously good works for everyone in this drama, they deserve all the lovessss 🫰🏻(｡˃ ᵕ ˂ )🫰🏻💞
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The Most Perfect Modern Drama I've Ever Watched
In 10 years this is the most perfect and on point modern romance drama I have ever seen. It's like a dream .The story is both well written and has sensitivity and depth in how it addresses the characters' struggles, pasts, loves and sacrifices. Without missing or taking away, everything was on point, the romance, the anguish, the action and much more.
Speed and Love was magical, exciting and nostalgic from the first episode. This perceptible magic in the story, characters and cinematography is the result of a set of well-executed factors within the drama that produced this result that leaves a mark inside.
●♡● Plot:
Absolutely charming, nostalgic, exciting, and full of adrenaline. The story tells of the precious friendship between Jiang Mu and Jin Zhao from childhood until their sad separation, the time spent drifting apart in longing, and finally their reunion.
Jiang Mu's father, seeing that his best friend had been the victim of a tragic accident that left his son behind, took him into his home. Thus, Jin Zhao and Jiang Mu grew up with a beautiful friendship in which Zhao Zhao (ML) always took good care of Mu Mu (FL), driven by his sense of duty towards her, who was born premature and fragile. After Mu Mu's parents divorced, her father took Zhao Zhao to Taiwan, and since then, years passed without contact until Jiang Mu decided to reconnect.
From then on, Mu Mu and Zhao Zhao's lives intertwine again, and in the same world, they face the pains of the past and present, as well as the challenge of living their love for each other through many uncertainties, adversities, and hopes.
It is about not giving up on the person you love, it is about true love that is tangible and can be painful, requiring sacrifice, patience, forgiveness, perseverance, and a sincere desire for the other's well-being.
●♡● Jin Zhao (He Yu):
This character was simply beautiful to behold, his love was pure and tangible through his incredibly thoughtful actions and his care for Jiang Mu. He truly wanted what was best for her, to the point of making absolute sacrifices, as he did in her worst moment, preserving her from failing to realize her potential and dreams, allowing her to develop so that she could make her choice to remain of her own free will in a position of power and not obligation. The pain he felt from his total lack of faith in himself had grown from hearing from Jiang Mu's mother that he was bad luck for them and a burden. He lived a kind of sacrificial love, and as the story developed, Zhao Zhao was finally able to deservedly surrender to his love for Jiang Mu and let her heal his wounds, having learned not to walk the road alone but with her by his side.
Furthermore, He Yu's performance completely took over my mind! Simply mesmerizing in his smallest expressions, he masterfully conveyed Zhao Zhao's feelings. He creates incredible tension before speaking and through his glances. I need at least 30 more dramas starring him.
●♡● Jiang Mu (Esther Yu):
Jiang Mu has been a woman of unwavering perseverance from the beginning, and thanks to her, their relationship can finally come to fruition, with her herself being that hope that never fades. It was very exciting to see how she always overcame the distance Jin Zhao put between them, stemming from his fear of showing her and himself how broken he was inside. Mu Mu's journey of development and maturation was also very satisfying! I love how she cornered Jin Zhao!
I'm liking Esther Yu more and more! The first time I saw her, I found her strange and even disliked her girly and cute performance, but then I saw her different sides, understood her charisma, and witnessed her deepening and evolution. I just love her!
●♡● Romance:
The chemistry that Esther Yu and He Yu built in their performances was breathtaking. You can feel the tension in their gazes and scenes through the screen, it's so strong that you hold your breath anxiously waiting to see what will happen next, it gives you butterflies in your stomach, it's very exciting. Their romance seems like a dream, I simply lost my mind with their performance. This couple ruined all the others.
●♡● Cinematography:
The cinematography is among the most beautiful I have ever seen, with a mix of colors, angles, and lights, creating a nostalgic and magical summer atmosphere in the streets of Taiwan, which are half vintage and half modern, reminiscent of a coastal city. The play of colored lights is dazzling and makes it seem like a dream; it is idyllic. It reminded me of “The Forbidden Flower,” and I was really looking for a drama that conveyed that same feeling. The experience that the cinematography provides is dreamlike and intoxicating.
●♡● OST:
The OST blended perfectly with the scenes, contributing greatly, especially the song “Away” by R.E.D Zhou Luoxi (Alyce). Every time this song played in the scenes, my heart would start racing.
Speed and Love ruined me FOREVER because now I'll compare everything to it. I highly recommend it!
Edit: I discovered why the drama reminds me of "The Forbidden Flower", it's because they are both by the same screenwriter and director, Zhao Xiao Lei!
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came for esther, stayed for he yu
this is such a surprising and unexpected find at the tail end of this year. speed and love really broke expectations for me. i've been a fan of esther since she starred in "love between fairy and devil" and i've been in a drama slump lately so i thought to give this a try. to say that i was hooked on the first episode is an understatement. the only other drama i've chased this hard was "a dream within a dream" that aired earlier this year.i am such a big fan of this cast and i know esther typically gets a lot of hate for her cutesy voice and personality, but i feel like her contributions fit this drama perfectly. we can see her mature throughout the episodes and time skips without feeling like something in her vital personality is missing. she portrays the role of mumu flawlessly. the ray of sunshine she brings into zhaozhao's life can't be missed.
i can't say that i've seen any of he yu's other productions, but i definitely will start now. he did not disappoint in his performance at all and we, as the audience, is able to watch zhaozhao slowly mature alongside mumu (not to mention my tiktok feed is now full of edits of him). apparently he filmed all the racing scenes without a stunt double as well!
the storyline isn't perfect, nor is the editing, and i've heard that many scenes did not pass the censorship in china and ended up cut in the final production, but this story is perfect to turn off your brain and just enjoy. i love this storyline of childhood friends turned lovers and seeing zhaozhao and mumu navigate their relationship throughout the years is super satisfying. this was such a refreshing and surprisingly great drama to tune into and i genuinely enjoyed every episode!
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" The Sun and Moon shines together "
This is hands down one of the best dramas of 2025. I had not enjoyed watching any dramas since, like, October (since Love in the Clouds). This drama is a pure gem. I miss them so much. I felt the 29 episodes were kinda short and could have been at least 30 to 35 episodes, considering it had the plot, but well.The storyline itself is very, very enjoyable. I did not like this drama when I first started it. I felt I would not like this because of, you know, the characters, and I’m not very interested in the cars or those aspects. I had not watched any dramas based on racing or more of those plots, so I was like, “Will I enjoy this drama?” But then, after like, I think, ep5 or something, I really started picking it up. And then I binge-watched most of the episodes. I started it pretty late. I started it when it was almost about to be finished, which was a very good thing for me because I could see what was happening and if it was a happy ending,. But I wanted to know what would happen, so I got a lot of spoilers. Even though I knew what would happen in the future, I was really hooked. That actually made this drama alot better to watch. I really agree that it has a unique concept, the racing competition, the cars, and the world around it. It’s a new, refreshing concept. The romance is very typical. Nothing is new, except for the cars and the world around it, which is very uniquely done.
Jin Zhao's accident, I think, was one of the turning point of the drama. Until then, it was going along as normal. It was like a very typical drama but also well-executed within its aspect. The accident became a major turning point because, due to it, they broke up. They meet again after, I think after 6yrs. She, who was a cute girl back at the garage, changed into someone independent and matured into a strong woman. He also changed from a reckless bad boy racer into someone more responsible for his actions and for the people around him. I think that was perfectly portrayed because the evolution of their characters is what makes the story better.
Looking back at the garage storyline, Jin Zhao was reckless and careless, and Jiang Mu was a cute girl pursuing the love of her life. After the accident, they had evolved significantly. He became a responsible man, and she also focused on her studies. I think the story is perfectly written in that aspect. However, I feel the breakup could have been shorter. Their breakup lasted at least 4eps, and I think that time could have been used for something else. After they reconciled, I wish they had done something better, like returning to the garage for a reunion with all their friends. That could have been a very wholesome moment. At the garage, Jiang Mu was 20 and Jin Zhao was 24. Now at 28 and 32, revisiting those memories could have been very emotional and meaningful. I really wish the ending had incorporated that because the garage parts are wholesome, and I prefer that side of the drama, the bad boy and the light, cute girl, compared to the new mature side. But I understand that’s how life works. You mature at some point. You can’t always remain young, reckless, or constantly pursuing love. You have to grow into a responsible person and rediscover yourself. I think that is well portrayed in this drama.
Jin Zhao is completely a man in love because he has gone to every extent for her, and she has done the same. But his love was more expressive, especially after his accident, because he truly understood the value of having her in his life and how much happiness she brought him. She had always expressed her love for him since the day they met, while he kept his love inside and rarely showed it. Later, once he left behind his past and started a new life, he really recognized how important she was to him. The steamy scenes after their breakup were so good and well justified for everything they went through. Even at the garage, all those scenes were beautifully shot, even if they were very short. All those love moments, like when he admires her from afar, show the love in his eyes even before they started dating. He never wanted to express that side of himself because he was involved in ongoing cases, constant competition, and couldn’t afford to be distracted by love. She, on the other hand, always expressed her feelings openly.
As for the actors itself- Esther Yu, I think she's well cast for the drama. I have not watched much of her contemporary dramas; I have watched most of her historical ones, and I think she does a good job portraying her characters. Especially in this story, the female lead is a character who was very bubbly and light at some point in her life. Esther Yu has portrayed that so well. In the future, once she is no longer a teenager, she matures, and I think she has also done a very good job portraying that. Even though at some point the cuteness was a bit overdone, I think it suits the character on the paper. So overall, I think she has done a very good job.
As for He Yu, I have not watched many of his dramas. I have only seen him as side characters or second leads. But I think he has done a very good job, and he is getting all the recognition he deserves. I think he is becoming more popular, and I love that for him. I love his styling. The stylist in this drama was cooking literally, I would steal the outfits they had. Especially with Jin Zhao's outfits, the sleeveless tank tops at the garage, the bruises on his face after a fight. Those small details were actually well done. He was so damn hot in those scenes.
I also really love Jiang Mu's outfits. She was very aesthetically dressed! Something I noticed was he was always wearing black, and she was always very colorful. She was like a sunshine. I kind of emphasize it in that way because he was always wearing dark colors, and she was always in cute dresses. She was the sunshine in his life during his darkest moments. I think those small details were very well done.
The cinematography is another awesome part. All the car shots during the racing competitions were very well done. I think I heard that He Yu did not use a stunt double for his racing scenes, that makes him so damn hot. All those city shots, all those racing scenes, they were amazing. Thailand was the perfect location because it has all the aesthetics.
These pros actually cover up the flaws in the drama. There are flaws, like unnecessary cuts in scenes and incomplete sequences. But once you get deep into the drama and hooked, you don’t actually care about those things. You just feel, “I want to watch this.” Even though it’s not perfect, you still want to watch it. The cinematography is perfect. I love all the car shots and will definitely re-watch them. The racing scenes and car shots are something I have not seen in Chinese dramas before. This is a very unique concept, and this drama has portrayed it so well. I really miss them so much.
And last of all, I want to say I really want a season 2 for this drama. Even though they concluded it on a very good note, I think I need a season 2. It could be about 12 to 15 episodes idc, but I want a season 2. The episodes should be lengthy, at least showing the aspects of each other’s lives: how she was when he was not there, or how he was when she was not there. I think they showed some of this in the drama, but not enough. I really wish Jin Zhao could have yearned more for her after they broke up, because I think he got it a lot easier. I know he had a physical condition and his own reasons for the breakup, but I felt he could have done more for her, and she could have played hard to get. I want Jin Zhao to yearn more for her and finally reconcile with her. Jiang Mu easily accepted him once they met, which I think is because she was still in love. But he wanted her to move on because of his accident, and he did not want her to suffer with him. I think it could have been done better—he could have yearned more for her, and the yearning part could have been more emphasized.
If that was done better, this could have been a proper 35-episode drama, incorporating all these scenes: the garage scenes, the reconciliation, recalling memories, and more. They did include some of this in the drama, but it was not emphasized or well narrated. I want a season 2 with at least 12 episodes. Idc if it’s just 12 episodes, but I want those perspectives. It could be really nice, because there are a lot of people who actually love this drama. I want him to go back to racing, not as reckless as before, but more as something he enjoys and not under constant pressure. I also wanted to see more of the friendship between Lin Sui and Jin Zhao. They were kind of rivals at first, but then became very good friends. I want more of those friendship scenes.
The wedding scenes were also kind of incomplete. They could have done more with the wedding, especially after the roller coaster of emotions. I think it was a bit rushed at the end, but overall, the wedding was done pretty well. Still, more could have been added.
I would definitely recommend watching this drama. It’s not everyone’s cup of tea. It’s either you love it or you hate it. Try at least five episodes and see, because it gradually improves a lot. Even I did not like the cute aspects of the female lead at first, but I adapted by around episode 10. The way the characters mature in their lives is very wholesome to watch. So give it a try. This is a really good drama for me.
[Please avoid any grammatical errors or spelling mistakes]
Happy Speed and Love watchingg!!!
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Zhao Zhao and Mumu Never to Part
I've been hooked with other dramas before and I always love the feeling of finishing it and find a happy ending. This is one of those moments. I've read the novel and fell in love because I couldn't wait for the rest of the episodes. The drama followed the novel closely with elements added and a few details taken. I can say its almost a 1:1 adaptation except for the last parts.This story took me through the whole life of Zhao and Mu and told through Mu's perspective that's why we can't see much in Zhao's lens but in the moments we are shown, it truly wrecks my heart and Mumu is the one responsible in piecing them back together. I guess that's also how it is for Jin Zhao.
I thank the crew for adapting the drama so wonderfully.
I'm a bit sad they took out the line from the novel "Don't run. My legs aren't good. If you run I'm afraid I can't keep up." from Jin Zhao. That line broke my heart so bad because he had lost his leg with no hope for recovery. But at the same time I'm glad drama Jin Zhao didn't lose a lot and he get to keep his leg and even recover slowly his health which probably took superhuman effort for drama Jin Zhao and even more so for novel Jin Zhao. If its in exchange for having Jin Zhao regain his mobility, I'll gladly give up that line.
Regarding the proposal, maybe it's me but I also like the simpleness of it. Still, I also loved that Jin Zhao in the novel proposed in a grandscale for Mumu while in the drama, his proposal is tied to the keychain, a significant object in the drama and novel. Though we didn't get to see the full wedding, I'm happy the way it ended. I'm actually quite satisfied with everything.
I'm also happy Jin Zhao got a bit more closure and happiness with his mom this time. It's extended in the drama and I'm happy to say it play out visually.
I thought that its regretful that Zhao didn't chase Mumu as much as Mumu did but now that I look back, Mumu had always had the upperhand in the relationship. Whatever she says will affect Jin Zhao and you could say Jin Zhao is helpless when it comes to her. As they said, she's the navigator and he's the driver, without her telling him which way to go, he probably would be lost. And we can see that throughout. Yearning for Mumu when they separated, his goal has been to aspire to where she would be. She's the biggest reason he's the Jin Zhao we know now.
I'm happy to get the drama version of Jin Zhao, another version that wasn't pushed to the point of no return and suffered a lot. And my heart aches for the novel Jin Zhao yet both of them became happy because Mumu always returns to them and lead them the way to happiness.
Thank you Speed and Love. I can't say enough how much my heart is moved by the reflecting light and togetherness of the sun and moon.
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An interesting story with a spoiled ending
The beginning of the story was interesting and even exciting, then even after her return from abroad, the story was still good. But it wasn't explained why her mother hated him so much. In addition, their wedding was supposed to be like what? The ending spoiled the whole story.Because of the ending, I wouldn't watch this series a second time. It was too fast for how the story flows relatively at the beginning.
And I managed to do that with Ester, with whom I often don't give her voice. ☺️
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The plot around racing cars is epic, and the fact that this was filmed in Thailand makes the aesthetic of the show more vibrant, which was really nice to see.
I wished Wang Qin (Sun Mei Lin) had more screen time since she is my favorite character of the show, and Lin Sui (Mike Angelo) as well. I feel like this is Mike Angelo's best show so far because he looks so handsome with his hair and aesthetic in this show, and his chemistry with Jin Zhao is just perfect.
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