Speed and Love

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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The swoony romance made me forgive a lot

The romance in this drama took me by surprise by how swoonworthy it was. The episodes 1 to 16 were simply amazing with some of the most butterflies inducing scenes I have seen in dramaland. I will definitely remember it for a long time. I must admit that the second part of the series was less good with some noble idiocy trope that I wish could have been avoided. However, even if this is one of my pet peeve, I had much more leniency for the main lead that I would usually have...Proof that I was completely smitten by He Yu. Indeed, I totally fell under the actor's charm.

I am not sure that I would have loved as much the main lead as a character if he would have been played by a less charming actor, the role was reaĺly swoony but also kinda reckless and selfish, even when doing things to "protect" the heroine. He did understand stuff by the end and still was amazing in many romantics scenes but still, I know that I would have probably nitpicked much more usually. The combo of fighter / car racer / obsessed gege was definitely the winning combination to make me forgive everything.

I would recommend this to people that are looking for a swoony romance and that do not mind noble idiocy.

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The Sun and Moon shines together!

This drama felt like watching the sun glow hot in the afternoon, then watching it set as a gust of cold air takes over. Eventually, the clouds disperse, the moon rises with stars shining brightly, and we end off with a quiet sunrise.

------Overall impression------

This drama left me feeling all the shades of love. First love, longing love, true love, fated love, last love, passionate love, friendship love, etc.

From the beginning, the tone of the story felt different from all of the C-dramas I have watched. Immediately, from the colour grading, acting, relationships between characters, and even the decision to set the story in Thailand first, it felt uniquely different. I was skeptical of the dynamic between the leads due to them being “siblings,” but almost right away the drama assured me that although the characters remembered each other as brother and sister, that memory was from over ten years ago.

As much as the main leads cling to that past relationship, they cannot help but acknowledge that they are now essentially strangers getting to know each other little by little. In truth, they are simply a man and a woman falling for each other.

By the end, I felt that the story tried its best to keep the pacing intact. There were definitely creative choices that could have been better in terms of what to cut and what to keep. I do not know much about Chinese censorship standards, so I will leave it at that. Still, I am grateful to the editor, director, actors, and producer for achieving something cohesive and genuinely sweet.

-------Emotional impact---------

The moments that affected me the most were:

1. When Mumu found out about ZhaoZhao’s underground boxing match. Her facial expression genuinely surprised me and pulled me in.

2. Episode 15, and honestly every kiss scene after that.

4. ZhaoZhao’s accident and Mumu’s desperation to know whether he was okay.

The ending felt satisfying, but I still wanted more. I needed extra scenes of their post-marriage life.

------Main couple and romance-------

The chemistry between the main leads is hard to describe. It felt like I needed to give them privacy while secretly peeking at them. It was like watching a real couple being sweet, but instead of feeling annoyed, I felt like Cupid appreciating his own work.

------Character development--------

The main characters played their parts well. This is something viewers have mixed opinions on, especially regarding Esther’s portrayal of 19 to 20-year-old Mumu. Personally, I understood her approach. Mumu was spoiled by her mother growing up, and while some viewers disliked her voice, that feels more like personal preference than an acting critique.

Her higher-pitched, small voice was used to show Mumu’s cunning side, how she uses cuteness to get ZhaoZhao and others to accommodate her. That said, there is room for refinement. Referencing performances by actors like Park Bo-young or Shin Eun-soo could have helped shape this portrayal further.

Mumu grew up accustomed to having things done for her, which explains her dependency. Over time, we see her become more independent, though her life still centers around ZhaoZhao. Her dream of astronomy was once ZhaoZhao’s dream, and she rejected many potential partners because of him.

ZhaoZhao’s character has more depth and is more thoroughly explored. His decisions toward Mumu are driven by his sense of “a man’s dignity” and the high standards he stubbornly upholds. What makes his arc satisfying is his gradual realization that it is okay to loosen that grip, to be vulnerable, and to let Mumu choose him even if he is not the “perfect” man he wants to be.

The supporting characters are not treated as accessories. San Lai, in particular, stands out as the true big brother of the story.

------Plot and pacing------

I have not read the original novel, so I cannot judge the adaptation fully. However, the editing does have issues. Some scenes could have been easily shortened to make space for others that were cut. For example, the scene where ZhaoZhao teaches San Lai how to drive was far too long and could have been reduced to a minute.

The climactic accident would have benefited from more tension in the scenes leading up to it. Showing more of the underground crime world could have increased the impact, though I understand this is not that kind of drama.

-------Themes and meaning------

I loved the consistent use of sun and moon symbolism. It made the romance feel more intentional and poetic. Ultimately, the story emphasizes that they are both human beings making a conscious choice to be together.

-------Production and atmosphere------

The cinematography was excellent. I was initially skeptical due to the production changes, but the final result deserves praise. Thailand was captured beautifully, and the contrast with China and Vancouver was handled thoughtfully, making each place feel distinct and well-represented.

-------Comparison and context-------

This drama did not feel like a typical C-drama. It felt slightly inspired by Wong Kar-wai films, mixed with 2000s Korean romantic films, and a hint of Taiwanese cinema.

-------Personal reflection-------

This drama felt like a gift to end 2025. It was blissful, heartfelt, and genuinely lovely to experience~
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*Side note: Some viewers may dislike Esther’s voice, but it is something she grew up with and is part of the persona she shares with her fans. Disliking it is fine, but hurting or shaming someone over something that was never meant to cater to you is unjustifiable.

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Great Chemistry but its still incest

From the initial trailer of the drama, we might think he is walking toxic red flag baiting as well as mentally torturing her (I have not read the book)but in reality is one of the greenest flag in the cdramas I have watched. He does not say no to her. Lets her do whatever she wants and protects/saves her when she gets into trouble. He does not control her or stops her from doing stuff.

It would have been great if they were childhood sweethearts/neighbors but no. Jin Zhao was adopted by the dad when Jiang Mu's mom was still pregnant with her. They both grew up as siblings. He even asked her when did she realize he was not her blood brother implying it was not common knowledge that they were not related. They could have changed some parts of the story like they do with time travel / transmigration dramas. Otherwise it should have been open knowledge that they were not related i.e. from the beginning itself the parents should have stitched into the kids brains that they were not brother and sister. They could have pulled a 'Go Ahead'.

And for the FL's clips, I liked two of them only because it matched with her outfit. Rest all were a horror show. One of the clips in my view looked like an upside down cockroach. At first I did not like Esther Yu's acting because of this forced cuteness. I personally hated her but then I watched 'A Journey to You'. She was Awesome in that. Her best work yet! I honestly think it should stop taking such extra cute roles for a while.

For the FL and ML chemistry, it was fire!!! We could feel the yearning through the screens!! I had to block out the incest part in order to enjoy those scenes.

OST is on repeat !

Honestly if the incest part was changed, I would have given it a 10/10 . But its a maximum 8 from my side.

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A sizzling ride with a very bumpy road

I went into Speed and Love with very high energy. And for a good while, the drama absolutely delivered. Fast cars, nighttime Bangkok vibes, underground boxing, sizzling chemistry… and that mix of danger and romance? A clichéd bad boy meets good girl scenario? Sign me up! The first half of the drama was pure mindless fun, and honestly… I was addicted.

What immediately won me over was the aesthetic. Bangkok at night looked gorgeous, the racing scenes had real energy. And Jin Zhao living and working in a garage was just my kind of vibe. This drama knows how to look good~!

Then there’s the romance. Jiang Mu and Jin Zhao’s chemistry is undeniable. Their shared past, the unspoken feelings and the slow build of intimacy made every lingering look feel so intense! I loved how protective Jin Zhao was, how Jiang Mu gained confidence and became proactive… They had so many soft moments. I was giggling and kicking my feet. Episodes 1–15 are exciting, spicy and mindless fun in all the right ways.

But then… the drama hit the brakes. Hard.
Once the undercover anti-smuggling plot and noble idiocy trope kicked in, the storytelling started to fall apart for me. Maybe I should have continued to switch off my brain completely, but that just didn't work so well anymore. Scene transitions became more choppy, timelines confusing, and emotional scenes kind of rushed.

I had high hopes for a truly gripping angst arc. I was so ready for it… but it all felt flat and frustrating instead. I have to say that the noble idiocy trope just isn’t working for me.

The biggest disappointment was how the drama handled their separation and reunion in the second half.
I do understand that Jin Zhao is deeply traumatized after everything he’s been through, and his fear of becoming a burden makes sense… but to that extreme extent!? I’m flabbergasted. And not in a good way. Shutting Jiang Mu out completely, denying her the chance to communicate properly and to make her own decisions, and letting even her family and friends (!!!) lie to her for SO MANY YEARS crossed a line for me. It made the angst feel forced, dragged out and unnecessarily cruel.

And after they reunite by pure chance, Jiang Mu’s anger and her hurt feelings barely had space to exist. She quickly slips back into chasing him and making the first move again and again. Seriousness and light-hearted comedy vibes often bounced back and forth too much for me here. By the time they are back together, I wasn’t swooning, I was tired…

That said, the actors really did great. Esther Yu and He Yu delivered nice emotional performances, especially during crying and confrontation scenes. And I did appreciate that the final few episodes leaned back into warmth and healing... wholesome hugs, forgiveness, growth, and Jin Zhao finally facing his fears. Nevertheless, I couldn't find the spark from the first half of the drama anymore. The storytelling and characters lost me.

The ending also felt underwhelming. The pacing was off, the focus strange. Why so little time on the actual couple and their wedding? Censorship, why?

Final thoughts:
Speed and Love started as a ridiculously fun, stylish, chemistry-filled ride that I couldn’t stop watching. Unfortunately, it lost its way in the second half with messy writing and frustrating tropes that dragged on for too long. After everything the early episodes made me feel, the payoff just didn’t hit as hard as it should have. But I’m still kind of generous with my rating and try to keep all the things in mind that I really enjoyed.

[finished watching on 22 December 2025]

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ML carried this drama alone.

Finally done watching.

- Chemistry: 9
- Story: 8.5
- ML’s Acting: 9.5
- FL’s Acting: 4

The story is pretty decent. I really love bad boy–cute girl dynamics. The best part? No love triangle—which I absolutely hate. The leads have undeniably good chemistry, though the FL’s acting is incredibly annoying. I stayed because the ML was really good. I’m now a fan. Honestly, he carried this drama on his own.

The FL is just not good at acting. She only knows how to act cute and use baby talk. Her voice is so annoying—it was hard to watch her scenes. I have nothing against her personally; I’m judging purely based on her performance, especially as a female lead. She still doesn’t have what it takes to be one. In fact, the two female side characters (Nana and WQ) acted better than she did. This is my objective opinion, especially when comparing her to other actresses.

I want to commend the ML. He really made me believe he was JZ. He delivered his lines with depth and consistency. He’s one of the best C-drama actors I’ve ever watched. It’s my first time seeing him, by the way, and his acting was always on point. He’s the reason I stayed and finished this drama—he truly deserves to be watched.

Overall: A pretty decent drama and a good watch. Just don’t expect much from the FL, and prepare to be annoyed by her duck-face acting.

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From speed to snooze

Speed and Love Started with a very exciting premise but the story really took a nose dive to an anti climatic end. The build up is tantalising and will get you hooked. The FL and ML do a really good job however the writers really limited their characters. The siblings to non siblings angle can be off putting however the writers made sure that every other scene in the first half of the drama they reminded us that they were not blood siblings.


The racing part took over 2 thirds of the drams and suddenly disappeared- then we have a time jump which did not really move the characters along in understanding them. A missed opportunity for writers and directors to really use the accident, recovery period and the time that Mu Mu was missing Zhao and also looking after her mother to tap into deeper emotions.

This show was able to deliver eye candy, romance and bromance but plot was shallow and lacked depth. The parents were failures to both children - the mother abandoned the male child to an alcoholic father who could not look after him properly, before that she was already treating coldly in the house and had BL Anatoly said she did not want him there only to keep him there when Mu Mu spoke for the first time to call him. The father was an alcoholic who could not look after himself or the son and abandoned his daughter. Neither in the show sought redemption for the trauma they caused to the kids in my view. Yes dad stopped drinking and mum finally accepted Zhao however the writers missed another opportunity here.


She was separated from him for 6 years in that time she was being lied to by everyone and their dog about Jin Zhao- He had plenty of opportunity to talk to her- yet we still heard his story from others not him- Honestly frustrating. It just feels like everything seemed easy and wrapped up in a nice little bow. The drama is entertaining and beautifully shot. There is lots of chemistry between He Yu and Ester Yu which makes the romance really entertaining and easy to watch. They could have done more with this the latter half of the story. But hey ho! One of the better C drama’s this year and despite its flaws enjoyed the show.

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A drama adaptation of a fanfic!

I personally enjoyed the overall vibe of Speed and Love! It reminds me of one of my favorite Taiwanese dramas ever, "The Outsiders." The main focus is more about car racing which also reminds me of the Taiwanese adapted movie, "Initial D" They even have the CAR in this drama! It's very nostalgic for me hence I kept watching it! ^^

Firstly, I began waching this drama because of the synopsis and not the leads or any of the actors. The only reason I even stuck to this drama was, because of the plot. LOL Unfortunately, there were a few things that bothered me while watching this drama. But let's begin with the positives first.

THE SETTING! I absolutely LOVE the setting of this drama. It's set in Thailand, and the color gradient in the drama is GORGEOUS. I love how the director plays around with light and dark as well. You can see Jiang Mu (Esther) gets bathe in the sunlight occasionally, and then there's Jin Zhao (He Yu) sitting in the dark. By the end of this drama, I think it's safe to say this drama isn't about Jiang Mu, but more about Jin Zhao's life. Whoever designed the garage needs a raise, cause they used the tire as a SINK! I LOVE IT!

Jin Zhao is played by He Yu. He was orphaned as a child for reasons you may need to watch. Anyways, he grew up with Jiang Mu and takes very good care of her. He is the GREENEST FLAG character in cdramaland of 2025. I absolutely loved his acts of service, because he takes carrots and green onion out of Jiang Mu's plate so she could eat. He notices many things about Jiang Mu, and takes care of it without her having to ask. I think I saw 2 of He Yu's side character dramas, unfortunately I don't recall how his acting was there, but his name was memorable enough for me to look him up at one point. I digress. His acting in this drama is PHENOMENAL. I LOVE IT! This man can MICROact, he moves his facial muscles and is able to express through his EYES. Even the way he moves feels like he's embodying his character so well. A lot of male actors are not able to do this, I can count on my fingers how many other actors can do this, and He Yu is definitely on the list! For me, he carried the acting in this drama. I heard that he does his own drifting(correct me if I'm wrong) and I can definitely see it in the way he drives in the drama, it's very convincing and real to me. The way he fights is also quite satisfying, and apparently he also boxes in real life! This dude can do anything at this point.

Moving on to Esther's interpretation of Jiang Mu. Firstly, I did not read the novel, so I am basing my judgement on the drama itself. Jiang Mu is the younger adopted sister of Jin Zhao. She is typically a very happy-go-lucky girl who is always running after Jin Zhao and wanting to know what has happened with him since their family separation. However, she is no damsel-in-distress, she's able to fight for herself when it's needed and she's determined to get to the bottom of things when she sets her mind to it. She is also academically smart, possibly due to Jin Zhao's motivation. lol It feels like her world revolves around Jin Zhao, not her parents, not even her half-sibling. I honestly wish there was more half-sibling bond, but alas.

Acting wise, I think Esther's portrayal of a 18-year-old seems a lot more childish than one may be. I also think her acting from 1 to 19 was giving very "rookie actress" vibes because of the forced expressions, blank expressions with big boba but also blank eyes, or comedic expressions like when she's suddenly shocked: big eyes open and that's it. I thought for a second, it's the way the scene was edited - cause it just felt off when she suddenly had that expression on.
When Jiang Mu was driving or drifting, Esther's facial expression wasn't really there as oppose to how He Yu does it. I do not know how to describe what Esther was showing from my POV, but I know for sure she was not driving. lol There was a scene where she got out of the car all cutely which I thought was uneccesary. It just you'd think she would act "cool" cause she's drifting and all, but she didn't bring any of that charisma that I had expected of her. I was really hoping to see more of Jiangmu drifting, but unfortunately she only did it briefly all for Jin Zhao.
The first 19 episodes was difficult to watch Esther act as Jiangmu, but I pushed myself through it because I thought perhaps this is just her interpretation of a teenager and maybe it will get better as she grows up. Jiang Mu is not extremely cutified by Esther, but there is some cuteness trait to it because she's able to let loose and be comfortable acting like that around Jin Zhao. It sometimes it had me thinking whether or not the character is embodying Esther herself instead of the other way around.
Otherwise, she seemed okay around other side characters. I really enjoyed her portrayal in episode 19, granted it took some heartbreak to see it. Other than that, I don't think Esther's acting was terrible, nor was it amazing. I have seen a few of her dramas and many of her dramas are hit and misses for me. This was in the middle, I think she could've done better. I also think the drama fell off after Jiang Mu came back to Nanjing, I was getting bored by this point as there wasn't anything exciting left to watch.
Despite of this, the CHEMISTRY between the leads were intense, I think they looked good together!

Since the drama was cut short, there were a few scenes that came out of no where and it was quite confusing. I also have a problem with the SCRIPT! There were many times where I'm like wtf is wrong with this script, it's so cringe or it doesn't make any sense! Especially the lines given to Mike D'Angelo! WHO GAVE HIM THOSE CRINGEY AF LINES?! We need to talk!! "I like Chinese women" 'I like handsome men"- Jiang Mu. And then they wanted to cover the dog's eyes because Jiang Mu thinks it may be able to tell someone that they're dating or whatever I don't remember what she said exactly, but I thought that line was stupid. Who WROTE THAT?!

I would recommend this drama if you enjoy fanfic-like romances.
However, if you want a good script, I don't think this will fulfill that itch for you.
If you're a sentimental, and nostalgic kind of person, this may be up your alley due to the setting of the drama.
Also if you love Initial D or any car racing movie or drama - Give this drama a try!

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ummm

bruh they literally grew up and referred to eachother as siblings... no.

yes they are not biological but when u grow up with someone and referred to them as a sibling then its really really weird if u catch feelings for them... espically is you guys have a sibling relationship. So when she stopped calling him brother and he got excited that really really icked me outtttt........

Also the whole gang, racing and underground boxing just felt soo sloppy like it was just so unrealistic the fights felt too edited and despite having lots of action scenes each felt sooo comical.

Also love our girl, female lead, but why does she naturally have driving abilities, magically has a black belt in karate and being knowledgeable in mechinc despite acting and being helpless before mentioned. Like every interesting characteristic she had was pushed into her just needing to be saved by her handsome brother who is actually not her brother cause no same blood...

ewww I was just reminded of the scene when he introduced her as his gf despite literally calling eachother siblingss 😬😬😬😬

Extra info, female lead is literally freshly adult so him liking her is also really really weird.

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A Total Heart-Racing, Emotional Masterpiece I Did NOT Expect to Love This Much

This drama has easily become one of my top favorites among the Chinese dramas I’ve watched. I was initially drawn in by the trailer and didn’t expect much, but it turned out to be far better than I anticipated, leaving me with no regrets after watching it.
The emotional delivery is one of the drama’s strongest points. The tension, love, and pain are portrayed convincingly, making the story emotionally engaging without feeling forced. The cinematography deserves special mention, the contrast and visual composition enhance the atmosphere beautifully and elevate the overall viewing experience. Another standout element is the car racing scenes. They are exciting and well-directed, and I genuinely felt the thrill while watching them. The OST also fits the drama perfectly, strengthening the emotional impact of key scenes, and it’s good enough to earn a spot on my playlist. Performance-wise, He Yu gives a compelling portrayal that has definitely earned him a place among my favorite Chinese actors. As for Esther Yu, she continues to shine—having watched many of her dramas, this role once again proves her talent and versatility. It’s honestly hard not to admire her work.

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A Drama Worth Watching — But Only After It’s Complete

I can’t understand how quickly each episode flies by. I made the mistake of starting this drama before it was fully completed, and honestly, it’s been really hard to wait for every new episode. After Moonlight, Esther Yu truly proves her versatility she leaves behind her childish mannerisms and delivers a performance that fits her role beautifully. The male lead is impossibly cute, and all the supporting characters have done a great job as well. Overall, it’s a fantastic drama. One piece of advice: don’t start watching it before December 29th, because waiting for each episode is incredibly difficult.

Unbelievably good. I honestly don’t know how or when I will get over this drama. I absolutely loved He Yu and really hope Esther continues to take on roles like this in the future. Ending could have been better - just 1 more episode but a MUST WATCH

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