Love between Lines

I laughed, I cried, I swooned...I loved it!

For me, this is a work of cinematic art! ✨ I loved everything about it, and honestly it's hard to come up with highlights, because it seemed like everything was a highlight!

What immediately comes to mind that left an impression were (i) the performance of the main couple, played by CXX & LYX, and (ii) the way the story flowed & came to life so beautifully. CXX portrayed XZY so perfectly, with depth & nuance. I loved the range of his expressions, from distant & aloof to warm & caring. He is a stellar actor! Very dashing & handsome in this role, determined & clear but vulnerable too. I have become such a fan! Then, there's LYX who brought her acting skills to another level as HX. I already thought she was great after seeing her in MJTY, but here she played kind of an opposite character, very bubbly, positive, and kind, and like XZY, is very determined but can be vulnerable too. How they fell in love was so real and entirely believable, which is interesting seeing how it started in the VR world. I was amazed how they went from playful teasing to mutual affection & concern to fiery passion & back again. Their chemistry was so good that it felt like they were together IRL! I so enjoyed seeing their friendship & love blossom, them overcoming all odds, & of course being together at the end. My favourite modern Cdrama couple 💞.

Actually, there were so many moments while watching LBL when it felt more like an award-winning film rather than a 28-episode drama. Aside from the amazing acting (not just by our MC but really the entire cast was great!), the way this drama was filmed was too beautiful. From the opening credits with the very cute cartoons layered on top of the MC's more memorable scenes plus the theme song, to the closing credits with the architecture sketches & closing song, and every frame of each moment shown to us in between, everything was beautifully and thoughtfully done. The BGM & OST perfectly complimented the scenes, the framing & angles, the cinematography, the nature scenes, examples of modern & traditional architecture in Shanghai - it was a feast for the senses. The director & his team really put a lot of thought & heart into each still / frame of each episode, giving a certain feeling as I watched, a warm and cozy ambiance. There is a continuity in this feeling throughout the drama despite going from different settings (virtual to real world) and moods (playful, hilarious & romantic moments, flashbacks, stress & angst). So I really loved this connection and flow in the story. Maybe that's why I felt like it was more of a cinematic experience.

They say the devil is in the details and here the details elevated LBL. A beautiful sense of aesthetic permeated every scene, from their outfits (especially loved HX's Republican era outfits in Rongcheng!), interiors, exteriors, cars, buildings, streets, balloons - really everything was selected with purpose. I even liked the beautiful simplicity of the picture frame HX got for XZY with its clean lines. I also loved how they showed how much the MC cared for each other with the little details during certain moments (where if you blink you`ll miss), like how XZY charged HX cell while she was sleeping.

Definitely can go on and on...I mean the plot, character development, script/dialogue, everything was great! No real plotholes, no overdone tropes, no prolonged tangents. I appreciated how they focused on the MC throughout, with the side characters & revenge back story serving more as vehicles to develop the relationship & character of the MC. I also liked the parts in the script where they left a lot unsaid, leaving it up to us viewers to figure things out.

Thank you to the cast, crew & direction for gifting this absolute gem of a show! 👏👏👏 I am definitely coming back to this, I'm sure many times.

Read More

Escaped the world, Forgot All Things, and Fell Down a Long Romantic Dream...Under Moonlight

I "fell down a long romantic dream...under moonlight." This is it... Xiao Zhi Yu and Hu Xiu 💗 Watching Love Between Lines is like a wonderful dream with falling snowflakes, cherry blossoms, warm light, sunsets, and sitting on the rooftop in quiet conversation. Listen to the OST "Special Nights", and you will feel the vibe that resonates throughout Love Between the Lines. Then watch the love grow slowly yet steadily. It is in the flicker of a smile, the glances, the gestures, and those quiet moments when they were simply in each other's company.....under moonlight💗🌛🌸 This is a "watch and rewatch immediately" type drama. It is that good! There are some thoughtful moments, emotional moments, and some humorous moments. I smiled, I laughed, and I felt a little sad in a few parts, but on the whole, it was a light, uplifting romance drama. The chemistry is so beautiful💗

🌸Love Between Lines begins with the premise "life is like a game." And at first, you might wonder if this might be a virtual game drama. It is not the focus, so don't think too much of technicalities. The virtual game illustrates the theme of dreams vs. reality. The line between the virtual world and reality is not defined —at times, the leads fall out of their game character roles. "Between illusion and reality, parallel lines intersect." (OST) After the first two episodes, the drama shifts more into the real world with visits to the virtual game world here and there. I am one of those who wanted to rush through the first two episodes because I am not keen illusions and fantasy. However, I find myself going back to the earlier games because it all makes more sense now. There is a significant connection between their relationship in the game and their relationship in reality.

MAIN CHARACTERS

🌸Lu Yu Xiao, as Hu Xiu, shines as a natural actress. Her performance was so believable that I can imagine she is really this person in reality because she didn't appear to be acting. Hu Xiu is a kind, intelligent, resilient, and determined FL. She delights and captivates Xiao Zhi Yu/ Qin Xiao Yi, with her vivacious personality. She is honest and not afraid to share her thoughts, and when she does, she is clear and to the point, but gentle and warm. She went to the virtual game to escape the reality of her life. Yet, it is in the game that she faces her inner conflicts when Zhi Yu/ Qin Xiao Yi's asks the question, "Do you know what you want?" She decides to reclaim her dreams instead of keeping a bad option, as those who do "spend the rest of their life with that bad option without realizing it."


🌸Chen Xing Xu, as Xiao Zhi Yu, is captivating with his calm perfection. Zhi Yu is strong, steady, perceptive... he listens more than he talks. He plans his way carefully. He doesn't rush to interfere but rather observes and allows Hu Xiu to make her decisions. His quiet strength gives the romance a sense of calm. He is protective but knows when to step back. I have to mention his expressive eyes, his slight smiles, and his aura. They were everything! There is a sense of mystery as his goal is to clear his father's name and reclaim his original identity, which, due to the circumstances of his father's death, has been kept a secret since childhood. For Xiao Zhi Yu, the virtual game is where he can reclaim his name, Qin Xiao Yi. In the virtual world, he is Qin Xiao Yi, Warlord Commander, described as "cunning as a fox, deep and complex." Needless to say, he is just as cunning in the real world.


🦊THE RELATIONSHIP🐰

🌸 Hu Xiu and Zhi Yu's relationship is mature and based on equality. They work together. They come to trust each other. They come to love each other. Zhi Yu sees Hu Xiu's talent and potential. He knows she is clever, but does not realize till later that she is the clever rabbit who outwits the fox 😂 He sees her as someone who "doesn't need anyone's approval to prove her worth." He allows her to grow, and he doesn't try to make her who he wants her to be:

~~~~~ 💗 " She exists, she grows, and she becomes who she wants to be. That alone is already beautiful enough." 💗

🌸And even though Zhi Yu doesn't share all his plans and thoughts with Hu Xiu at first, she somehow understands him. She senses his needs. He tries to protect her by keeping her out of his problems, but it is Hu Xiu who gives him the "token" he needs to win in both the game and reality. She guides him to open up to his mother because she might never know what he is thinking. And Zhi Yu showed his support sometimes in silence and sometimes in open communication. Hu Xiu knows she has someone who believes in her as she tells him :

~~~~~💗 "Because of you, I have more courage to chase my dreams and make up for all my regrets." 💗

🌸Love Between Lines isn't only about the blending of illusion and reality. It beautifully depicts the balance between two different people who seek to reclaim a loss. Hu Xiu is the gentle emotional rabbit. While vulnerable, she is fiercely resilient and quick-witted. Zhi Yu is the cunning fox who finds himself softened by Hu Xiu's enthusiasm and passion. They come to an understanding and a relationship based on trust, equal respect, and appreciation for each other.

🌸 Episode 7 marks a significant point in the relationship when Zhi Yu brings Hu Xiu with him to a wedding where he plans to have a business meeting. The groom turns out to be Hu Xiu's two-timing ex-fiancé. It is here that Zhi Yu and Hu Xiu grew closer when he helped her face her past and move on. I loved it when he told her that she did nothing wrong, so she didn't need to hide. I loved it when he retrieved her missing shoes and knelt to put them on her feet, even though she said she could do it herself. I loved it when he carried her on his back when he saw her limping. The lyrics from the OST "Closer"fit so well here.

💗How long did we wait, going from strangers
to familiar faces ?
It was destiny that brought me to meet you.
In my heart, there is now a place for you;
Believing in this is the ultimate meaning of life.
Drawing closer to you and closer to myself,
the frozen night begins to flicker.💗


WHAT I LOVE

🌸 I have many favorite scenes, but it was the leads who made me love this drama. Lu Yu Xiao is delightfully natural. She gave Hu Xiu the energy and sweetness that brightened Zhi Yu's life. Chen Xing Xu's expressive eyes, his calm, his charisma made Zhi Yu stand out as the male lead we all want to watch. I cannot tell you how many times I would go back just to watch his facial expressions. He made me love Zhi Yu!
🌸 Beautiful OSTs
🌸 The ambiance: the moonlight, snowflakes, cherry blossoms


OTHER CHARACTER ROLES

🌸Pei Zhen is Zhi Yu's stepbrother and rival. Sadly, Pei Zhen is driven by desperation to prove himself worthy because his father never finds him good enough. He blames Zhi Yu for taking all that is his. I realize many will hate him, but I found myself feeling pity for him at the end. And before anyone misunderstands, at no time did I feel any sml syndrome. I am too in love with Chen Xing Xu as Zhi Yu for any of that! But I don't see Pei Zhen as evil. He is too caught up in his need to win over Zhi Yu. He lacks love and affection, so when Hu Xiu puts a bandaid on his forehead to cover his wound, it means more to him than many would imagine. The fact that he emptied a small box of something that was probably of more monetary value than a Band-Aid to store the Band-Aid from Hu Xiu, is a clear indication of how much her simple action meant to him. The band-aid is a symbol of his inner wounds. He feels he needs Hu Xiu. His desire for her is desperate, selfish, and aggressive, while Zhi Yu's love is steady and patient. Pei Zhen represents the theme of redemption. He knows he is wrong and seeks to know if a building can be changed if the foundation is already set. To this, Hu Xiu tells him:

~~~~~💔"So what ultimately decides a building's final appearance isn't the foundation but your vision." 💔







ENDING SPOILER

🌸It is a happy ending, but I have one disappointment. There is an "elopement", but it is only to the top of the high-rise building designed by Zhi Yu. There is no married life with kids, but you will get a cute kitten that they decided to adopt to make them a family of 3. (I understand the kitten as a pet opens up the converstation that we shouldn't fear loss). After watching the ending to Shine on Me, it is hard to settle for anything less than an adorable child. There is no cute child in LBL. There is no engagement ring. Nothing. Some might say it works for the drama as Hu Xiu focuses on her career goals. I suppose I could try to see it that way too😢 And I suppose it should be enough that it is a solid happy ending, as they are never going to break up the way they love each other. It also helps that they discussed marriage, and Hu Xiu appeased Zhi Yu's frustration saying, "You are not part of my plans. You're already written into my life." And of course, I have no doubt Zhi Yu will get his wish. Eventually.

Don't miss the scene following the credits of the final episode.
It is a new story.
"Welcome to Rongcheng. It's a new world. Embrace your destiny."

I wonder if this means season 2 and a wedding. I know it doesn't, but I can only hope💗

Read More