Why Is He Still Single?

Basic that worked

Basic plot, cliche history as commonly seen in C-Dramas, but the acting of ML really got me.
How can I despise and like a character back and forth so many times? lol.
FL also played a good part in it, their chemistry was built through the history in a good pace but almost went rogue at the end LOL.
Support characters made their part as well the "occasional encounters or destiny parts" that happened many times. But in the overall the serie was very lightweight, simple and direct.
Got me angry, frustrated and laughing many times and in many degrees but I think those were some of the expected reactions from it.
I recommend it if you want something simple, cozy and friendly and don't want to hack your brains to imagine the end.

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It takes the right woman to bring a Narcissist down. A good watch

Why is He Still Single - is a modern RomCom CDrama starring Wallace Huo and Zhu Zhu about a middle-aged successful interior designer who is quirky yet kind-hearted, commitment-phobic, and does not believe in marriage until he meets his match in Dr. Gu Ye Jia.

Zhu Zhu did an excellent job portraying a clueless doctor who is looking for love herself and who becomes entangled in Yu Yu's life. It is cute and funny. The supporting cast is quirky and humorous as well.

Synopsis: A quirky yet kind-hearted man, firmly against marriage, sparks humor and reflection as he navigates life. Despite his eccentricity, he finally meets the woman of his dreams and must decide how to win her heart, proving that no man won't marry, just one who hasn't found the right match yet.

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

Overall Rating: 7.5

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A concept home high in design, but lacking in character

--Review--

At first glance, WIHSS seemed delightfully distinct from the predictable layout of idol dramas with their cookie-cutter tropes and 50-shades-of-pink ethos. The ML Yu Yu, an arrogant interior architect, bludgeons sensibilities with his acerbic quips and genuinely prickly personality. On the other end, we have the FL Gu Yejia, a veteran doctor whose grounded confidence, discerning compassion, and independent outlook defy the conventions of girlboss cosplay and parental machinations of blind date ambushes.

The polished production and cinematography escort you through a visual excursion of Shanghai—from vintage record shops to terraces overlooking its glitzy skyline. The shots are subtle yet elegant, and the scenes are rich in detail, but never pretentious. In particular, YY's home sets the vibe of pristine, controlled solitude, a fitting space for his idiosyncrasies and neuroses. The music underscores the mood and doesn't try to crash the party. Throw in some witty dialog, humor, and a crippling hemorrhoid and this show was looking like a bespoke design that could have been crafted under the exacting standards of Yu Yu himself.

Unfortunately, after settling in for a few episodes, the distinguished first impression turned out to be more of a stylish showroom than a lived-in abode designed for actual people. YY's patchwork of idiosyncrasies feels more like a projection that conveniently flashes for scenes and gags than a cohesive personality whose quirks have left a deep imprint in the world around him. He oscillates between offending others through obliviousness and firing off socially observant zingers. He’ll display OCD-level rigidity about certain habits and work details, then turn strangely nonchalant about things you’d expect him to obsess over. It's not a demand for YY to act as a robot, but an indictment of the writers who did not craft a character based on the solid foundation of flesh and blood, with connective tissue linking personality and behavior. Perhaps the writers tried to pull a hautism (handsome-autism) gambit to keep the ML charming enough to not completely repel the audience. But for me, this only amounted to half-baked characterization and putting lipstick on a hemorrhoid. And handsome-hemorrhoid still begets ... hemorrhoid.

This oversight doesn’t just shortchange the audience of a unique character and story, but denies us a fresh angle on life. We don't truly get immersed in YY's unique world of looking at things, the cost of his sacrifices against convention, or his way of relating to and valuing others. Yes there will be moments where he defies his prickly exterior and does nice things for others, but they come off as momentary gestures without deeper roots or reflection. Subsequently, this issue also spills over to YY's relationships, including with his assistant Lin Sa. Like his other relationships, there are reactions, but they resemble tepid ones from a six-month intern rather than a decade-long assistant. You don't get the accumulated exasperation, reflexive countermeasures, and tormented fondness you'd expect from someone who has survived so long in this professional marriage.

Gu Yejia also doesn’t change for the better. She quickly goes from a doctor with measured compassion to a Mother Teresa figure with inexhaustible patience for both Yu Yu and his neighbor Xiao Man. How the two become instant friends, beyond plot convenience, is still a mystery. GYJ presumably doesn’t have many friends because she’s busy, not because she’s never encountered needy people before. And Xiao Man’s primary traits seem to be that she’s confused and a drinker. If the missing pieces in GYJ’s life were truly healing YY’s hemorrhoid—both physical and personality-wise—and XM’s alcoholism, then you start to wonder why she doesn’t just randomly pick a suitor from her blind date conference calls and offer them the same salvation package. Ironically, I ended up agreeing with the chemistry rooners. What exactly do YY and GYJ see in each other, where is the attraction coming from, are there even signs of mutual affection?

But not all is lost in terms of characterization. XM's BYD inventory and pet bulldog Daoge were actually the best performers in staying in character. As product placement, BYD reliably presented its design, tech, and comfort without stepping on the plot or hijacking the camera. And Daoge behaved like a dog is supposed to act: confused by the decisions of the characters and scriptwriters, but too fixated on food and doggy things to care.

Sadly, I'm not a bulldog and do care about the plot and characterization. So despite relishing the beginning, I eventually skipped 10 episodes to the end, found XM in a bizarre last-ditch love-triangle, and immediately thanked my decision to circumvent the clogged plumbing of this plotline. Like Confucius famously said, "hemorrhoids are to be spectated, not suffered." It's one thing to be filled with the giddy holiday spirits watching the ML writhing on the ground from hemorrhoidpocalypse; it's another to lug my own lump of coal across the finish line. This could have been an 8.5 drama, but I could only muster up a 6.5 for the unfulfilled potential.

--Category Ratings--

- Overall - 6.5 (generous)
- Plot - 6
- Theme / Concept / Impact - 8
- Acting - 8
- Visuals - 8
- Audio / Music - 8
- Rewatch - 6
- Cultural/Topical Accessibility - 8.5
- Subtitle quality - 8.5

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Great acting, mediocre script

Exactly as the title says.

The acting is great, but the drama is just a middle aged version of regular chick flicks. The drama didn't offer anything spectacular for me. All throughout the drama, I thought to myself, I know this kind of script and drama showcases Wallace's range, but this is just too mediocre for his caliber.

The first episode made me laugh, but the novelty wore out fast as soon as I grasped the characters and story outline. I struggled to finish it, but I powered on because the drama only had 16 episodes.

I'm glad I watched it and got it out of the way. Definitely not worth a rewatch, though.

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China's Sheldon Cooper

I can't help but compare this show to The Big Bang Theory and Yu Yu to Sheldon Cooper as each episode unfolds with rich characters. The actors play their roles very well and express the sophisticated emotions and complex relationships realistically. The cast has excellent chemistry.

It might be because I have people in my life on the autism spectrum (ASD), but that's the lens through which I see Yu Yu. Like Sheldon, Yu Yu thinks he is smarter and more talented than everyone around him. His quirks are borderline OCD, he misses social cues, is passionate to the point of obsession in a single subject he doesn't understand metaphors or sarcasm leading to misunderstandings, and he tells the absolute truth as he sees it, all leading to awkward yet funny and endearing moments. ASD brains are wired differently so they can appear cold, arrogant, eccentric and very quirky which can make them seem rude yet they care about people and have a warm heart yearning for connection with others.

I'm not sure how wallace Huo prepared for this role but he nails the complex nature of a man struggling through relationships with ASD. Awkward moments happen which leads Yu Yu through some brilliant yet subtle humor. Excellent show.

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Easy to watch C-drama with just 16 episodes

Easy to watch C-drama with just 16 episodes are pretty rare, but this one really delivered its message well in a short run. It’s a drama filled with laughter, great scripting, and some surprisingly well written dialogue. From the very first episode, you can already see why the ML is still single hahaha. But his journey feels complete thanks to the love and support of his friends and family.
The FL is beautiful, smart, and funny. The rest of the cast did an amazing job too. I’d definitely recommend it.
The last episode has a beautiful, touching confession. And yes, it has a happy ending. ♥️

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First love at 40 is tough :)

PLOT: ML, a talented but eccentric and somewhat autistic interior designer, makes life difficult for those around him. He keeps crossing paths with Dr. Gu, also 40, calm and not particularly interested in marriage. As they meet, she gradually begins to open up.

+++ Wallace Huo (always excellent) and Zhu Zhu as CL
+++ The difficulties of a mature romance between two "older" bachelors: a subject rarely explored from this angle.
+++ Very cute and surprisingly expressive dog (kudos to the trainer)
+++ Lively direction, with beautiful work on the visuals, framing, and lighting, but the pacing is slow at times.

### Xiao Man's character is annoying (I don't know how old she's supposed to be, but she's childish, very dependent... I have trouble understanding the connection between her and Dr. Gu (o-_-o) ) and she takes up way too much screen time.

=> Wallace Huo literally carries the series on his shoulders!! Watched it once, but I won't watch it again.
********************************************************
C'est dur un 1e amour à 40 ans :)

PLOT: Le ML, designer d'intérieur talentueux mais excentrique et un peu autiste, mène la vie dure à son entourage. Il ne cesse de croiser le chemin du Dr Gu, 40 ans aussi, calme et peu tentée par le mariage. Au fil des rencontres, elle va peu à peu percer sa coquille.

+++ Wallace Huo (toujours excellent) et Zhu Zhu en CL
+++ Difficultés d'une romance mature entre 2 "vieux" célibataires : sujet peu abordé sous cet angle.
+++ Chien très cute et étonnamment expressif (Kudos au dresseur)
+++ Réalis° vive, avec un beau travail sur les images, les cadrages, les lumières, mais la narration est lente par moments.

### Le personnage de Xiao Man est agaçant (je ne sais pas quel âge elle est censée avoir, mais elle est puérile, très dépendante, ... j'ai du mal à comprendre le lien entre elle et le Dr Gu (o-_-o) ) et il prend bcp trop de place à l'écran.

=> Wallace Huo porte littéralement la série sur ses épaules !! Vu une fois, mais je ne regarderai pas à nouveau.

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Perfect Ending

This drama was a mixed bag of nuts that I didn’t know what I would pull out if I put my hand in the bag. And I loved it.

The ML - Yu Yu - was endearingly annoying initially. Like many creative people many of his thought processes and social difficulties came from overthinking and the inability to put into spoken words what he was thinking and feeling. This character was a beautifully flawed human being who wanted to connect with people but didn’t know how.

His behavior is classic ADHD with sides of social anxiety and OCD. His design theory of a “warm zone” was also a way he expressed his desire to connect on an intimate level with someone but could only do so through his designs. Wallace Huo performed exceedingly well (as he usually does) and made his character lovable even when he came across as a snob or a jerk. He made you love and feel frustrated with Yu Yu at the same time.

Every character in this drama was well cast - even the little pug.

There were no angst driven sub plots, no villainous characters and I loved how the writer connected all of their lives together and they grew into solid friendships.

The music was lovely and very appropriate to the scenes.

There were chats cters who came in and moved out of the storyline which gave it a slice-of-life realistic feel.

The romance is a slow one between the leads, and it was beautiful, painful, funny and realistic. They weren’t carried away by emotion or hormones, but slowly and steadily drew closer and then came together. Tgey built a good foundation and then started dreaming.

This drama was so good in showing that our assumptions and snap judgements of people that are different from ourselves are often very wrong. It showed that even though someone might be annoying doesn’t mean they are terrible people and how important it is to look outside the “normal” and see the beauty hidden behind the thorns and briars.

By the end of the last episode I was smiling so much my face hurt. The ending was truly beautifully done.

If you’re hesitating to watch because it’s not a typical rom com, put the thoughts aside and watch this. There’s so much packed into 16 episodes and worth the time to watch and rewatch!

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Wonderfully Refreshing

I really liked this series for many reasons. I am a huge fan of Wallace Huo, he is not only gorgeous but he is also an excellent, very talented actor. He basically carries this whole show and his portrayal of the quirky, eccentric character is spot on and his sarcastic remarks were hilariously funny., I was laughing out loud a lot during the show. I also really love Zhu Zhu, a beautiful very talented actress and I think she was perfectly cast as the FL. The ML and FL chemistry were really awesome, loved the mental, sarcastic bickerings between them, perfectly match.ed couple.
The supporting actors were also perfect and the whole circle of friends had a wonderful chemistry/vibe among them. I especially loved the pug, what a cute dog (I want one now!). The scenes between the ML and the FL lead's father were hilariously funny as well.
This is a well written, well directed and well acted wonderful series. The music was beautiful and perfectly chosen for each scene. Thank you for this wonderful storyline and experience!! Bravo to the whole production team!!

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Wallace Huo is handsome!

I saw Wallace Huo on the poster and decided to click and watch it.
I don't know how this show will pan out--Chinese shows seem to have more budget now than before and in ep 1 the show gives off a glossy tint--with everything shiny sparkly (like the netflix shows we get to see nowadays)
I am not sure about the FL, haven't watched her before.
But at 45 the ML looks as smouldering as he was the first time I saw his show--as Bo Jin Yan.
The show was funny in ep 1 and I was laughing out loud at several places.
the only thing that keeps nagging me at the back of my mind (after ep1) is the kind of eccentricity they're showing ML has--at moments he doesn't look eccentric he looks a wierdo.
anyway, let's hope the show doesn't disappoint as a lot of modern c-dramas have in recent times.

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