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A Normal One!!!!
I saw the Reviews before I start the drama and saw the people saying the drama is not that great and story line is not good . Yes I agree with that cause it is one of the most common old stories where the poor and Family and Leads pushing each other . But In a diff way it's been so long that I saw this troupe again so I saw it and It was good and I really like first and second leads but I did not get the second leads story.I suggest you to watch because it is not that great to some but it will be good for some on the whole it would be a one time watch as per stroy wise but if you want to see it for Actors then yes even I might watch it.
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Watch Lighter and Princess first!
Listen to me. Have you seen Lighter and Princess? No? Watch that first. You’ve seen L&P already? Then be prepared for a downgrade when watching this. These two shows are quite comparable. The setups are the same (a college romance in the beginning) and the basic structures are similar. Both include a breakup at the midpoint with a timeskip (not a spoiler), with a significant business focus sprinkled in between while ML desperately attempts to salvage whatever love they have for each other. It’s difficult not to compare them.The first 14 episodes or so are fairly standard. Nothing to write home about. A college romance. He’s a sneaker designer starting his own business, while she’s a struggling college student entering the world of business finance to support her mother. Slowly but surely, a romance develops, only for the show to break them up in the latter half of the story. Sound familiar? I told you it’s similar to Lighter and Princess. This is where the writing truly begins to test your patience.
I wouldn’t call it toxic per se but the “will they, won’t they” shtick was really annoying. The pushing each other away in order to protect the other person had my eyes rolling numerous times. ML is particularly guilty of this, and his decisions led to significant consequences.
There is a second couple, but many would find a professor-student relationship pairing weird, but I didn't think much of it. Their storyline was not particularly interesting by the end anyway.
For me the best thing about this show was the opening duet performed by Arthur Chen and Sabrina Zhuang. Really good.
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Watch the first 15 episodes only
I am writing my first review out of frustration with this show. It is a shame because it had a promising start, which is partly why I at least wanted to write this. After all, I felt I invested a good amount of time watching this show, only to be short-changed at the end. You wanted to see how they will separate and find each other again, but after their major break-up in the middle, the show would spend 13 of the rest of its episodes with the FL just hating the ML and pushing him away, only to suddenly realize at the last episode that she is lonely enough and realize that is she okay now to get back with him. The show spent such a long time with their reconciliation, dragging it along with such a bad story arc of revenge, a third richer guy competing with the ML, and business stuff. By the time you get to the end and the leads reconnect, you are left with a lingering annoyance, asking yourself what just happened. By this time, you are so frustrated with them dragging the story along that you just could not feel happy when they finally got back together AT THE LAST EPISODE because it just felt so rushed and out of nowhere. Especially the decision process of the FL, she and her friend were just really annoying with their bitterness and desire to be successful. I mean there is no pay-off in terms of maturing or learning from their mistakes, the two women are just miserable, until the 2nd girl gets cancer, and the FL suddenly just misses the guy that she tried to push away really aggressively, even sabotaging his business, and just decides okay let's get back together. Again, by this time, you are just so mad at her that you don't want them to end up together anymore. As I painstakingly watched the show progress, I learned that the writer is known for such endings, so next time I will steer clear of said writer's work. they say the source was a bit darker, but the writer of the show managed to make it worse by dragging it along. Like I said, watch until the middle, then move on... because after this the series becomes with a story that could not get out of its angst.Was this review helpful to you?
Rough around the edges
I couldn’t stop giggling from the chemistry in the first 16 episodes. Those two, Gan Yang and Ding Zi Tong, are well matched. The story itself was lacking in parts but the actors and actresses did an astounding job with the script.I've seen people complain about the misunderstandings but I think that the big misunderstanding that lead to the breakup was understandable compared to some other dramas I've seen.
Both characters had their own flaws but at the end of the day, they just wanted to protect the other. I'd say they acted like each others sheild but ended up as each others enemy.
I didn’t really care about the attempt at making up which was almost completely one-sided sadly. Their sad scenes weren't as good as their cute, lovey dovey scenes and then each of their big reveals to each other about everything that happened during and after that breakup was rushed and neither seemed to care rather than to be silent and "feel bad". I wanted some yearning and begging from both sides because they are both stupid😂
That being said this drama is more character driven than plot driven and the drama does a good job with that. Don't take the drama too serious and you won't be disappointed. Also people need to stop the comparison with lighter and princess to this drama. They are not the same even if they are the same genre. Good bye now👋
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If you love to watch misunderstandings jealousy spicy drama.. Then This is a good drama
Actually i liked it cuz.. I don't like drama which shows that luvey duvey,Cute drama....i just get bored when drama shows they are happily staying nothing bother them in life.. I ... Cuz life is not that simple as they putting in all cute drama...but i liked this cuz it have some spicynessIt's a good happy ending.. But there is something missing in logic when they fly Shanghai to Beijing so fast .
If you like to watch misunderstandings, jealousy, reality, then yes you can give it a try...
Unnecessary :yes some story plots they gave unnecessary they just put some cringe scenes which made drama unnecessarily lengthy..
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A great romance drama
When they just met, he respected her and even respected how she wanted things to go when it came to money.While in college and when she just started working, I think she is just over doing it and can’t accept his kindness. I think it’s very selfish because he really loves and cares for her.
This secret she is keeping about paying back her relatives, I could see it messing up their relationship.
Finally she told him and now his family went through a hard time and I blamed him for not being honest.
Why I cant stand her? Her actions towards him after they met again. She behaved so heartless and just ugh!!! I was really sad to see the guy keep chasing her. Her reasons for not wanting to be together was just foolish in my opinion. Anyways, for me, I don’t think she deserves him and that’s just me. She needed to stay by herself. For the ending, if they didn’t get back together, I would have been happy either way. But we got to see their wedding and it was a beautiful setting.
Overall, it is a great romance drama.
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Love is enduring and transcendent
This drama is one for the acquired audience who appreciates how enduring and transcendent love can be! I read a bunch of critique (and way too many comparisons with L&P….) and honestly don’t sleep on this show!!!! The drama portrays a love that is organic, poignant, realistic, not as something fleeting, but as a force that persists through time, pain, and change.Cast - The cast is stunning with visual compatibility and both online offline chemistry. Believe me I watch so many BTS and interviews! On screen, I love the puppy golden retriever playful extroverted side of CFY which is refreshing compared to his usual cool reserved roles. Off screen, their BTS is a show on its own. Both CFY and ZDF obviously hit off very well. CFY usually dissociates and is introverted with little interaction with his female costars but ZDF really brings out the playful fun side of him. They’re always seen playing / laughing / bantering / joking with each other with comfortable skinship.
Storytelling - I love how their love transverses across each season of their life (school, work, debts, career, dreams). Their love story as college sweethearts was so adorable to watch. Just the right amount of awkwardness & clumsiness and endearment & first love innocence. The way they navigated social class differences was thoughtful, the way they navigated long distance was bittersweet - uplifting when rooting each other but filled with longing and yearning each parting. When they got older and reshuffled their priorities, they learnt to be strong for love in spite of trauma and getting hurt. To learn to be bold in taking risks and sacrifices for love.
Character - I love Sabrina Zhuang’s portrayal of a FL who is strong and delivers queen energy. She is principled and draws clear boundaries without compromising and knows to prioritise herself and her peace. Her way back to finding love / finding him is nuanced & authentic. Some say her behaviour towards the ML is hateful and the pace for reconciliation is “slow” but can you blame her?? it’s a realistic execution of showing how one struggles with a heart wrenching break up and trauma that is long drawn-out —— this pace is deliberate to give her space and room to let go and forgive, rediscover what she wants (how much she loves me), get past the torture of hurt & self-blame & guilt and then to trust and love again.
The journey of heartbreak and healing (done both apart and together) is necessary to elevate the emotional impact of their reunion. It shows how love is hard earned! It reminds us that love is not only about finding someone, but growing with them in spite of regrets and mistakes, losing and rediscovering them, and realizing that true love is powerful and worth risking it all.
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Communication is Key
I will preface this with saying that I have seen a lot of reviews saying not to watch all of this drama, that it is a waste of time, frustration with the fl, etc. While I agree that she was often infuriating for her stubborn and know-it-all attitude, most of her behavior is understandable. Exaggeration of responses by characters in dramas is nothing new as they keep us coming back…to see how it will work out. Right?Now my thoughts on the story:
I think that the point of a lot of these stories is largely overlooked because viewers want heart flutters and characters that are nearly oerfect in their affection once the couple unites. This drama is too close to realty and that is what frustrates viewers and doesn’t give the dopamine hit required to give them heart shaped clouds and fast beating hearts.
This drama is more focused on the extreme importance of open, honest communication between couples. It’s not only important or reserved for your best friend. It’s something rarely communicated between parents and their children, especially when parents are more focused in marrying off their children than they are in teaching them how to live life together with their future spouse.
This drama exemplified a gap between two strong, romantic and sensitive people who focused on happiness together and dreams of the future rather than the process of understanding how the other processes thoughts and responds to difficulties.
Granted, the ml was better at listening to the fl than she was to him, they both viewed everything through the happily ever after lenses of their love goggles - and when life’s difficulties and bitter realities hit them, those lenses cracked, and woke them up.
They both wanted to tell the other about their difficulties but their internal dialogues made assumptions based on their thoughts and not the reality of what the other person felt or needed. This is a dangerous and often disastrous thing for relationships. Trying to keep the other person from feeling any unhappiness (which is temporary in difficulties), neither had the courage to bear their struggles to the other. The result? A rift in the trust they had built, romanticized dreams crumbled and anger lead to resentment. This resentment resulted in defensive barriers to shield the fl from pain and her anger into bitterness. The ml was riddled with guilt and remorse.
None of their attempts to move on or accept the reality of their situations had any affect on their feelings, so they both dived into their professions and channeled that energy into success.
When they reunited both wanted to go back to the other. While the ml did everything he could to rekindle, the fl fought him off. And nothing would have worked until they both faced their part in the failure of their past relationship.
This step was imperative to their relationship. True reconciliation cannot happen if only one person recognizes their contribution to the failure - and the ml had done that.
The fl on the other hand was incredibly stubborn, and it took her a long time to finally recognize what was truly important. She’d lost herself in her anger and hurt, and it took the scare of losing her best friend to cancer to wake her up.
Frustrating for the viewer yes. But also the reality of life and a good lesson to keep in mind. Nothing in life is guaranteed. Loving someone well does not mean you or they will be around and you’ll both leave the planet at the same time. This is a reality I have seen many times over in my life. People leave us in various ways, but those who leave when the grim reaper calls are the hardest to lose. This then should be an impetus to spur us on to looking at everyone in our lives in the realistic view of they could be gone in a moments time.
This is another lesson from this drama.
While romance and warm fuzzies are great diversions fueling our desire for someone to love and to love us in return, the true meaning to having a spouse or friend for that matter is that openness and honesty - transparency - that exposes your good, bad and ugly sides is what is needed along with open and frank communication, is what makes and keeps a bond strong and lasting.
And then at the end of one’s journey, sadness can linger, but the relationship of two people who loved well through all circumstances will never die.
Other things:
Music was good
Production was done very well. Scenes, prop placement, timely music cues and locations chosen to reflect the mood of each scene were excellent.
Casting was also very good. You were drawn to each character with excellent introductions and development. Enotinal responses to the good-guys, the bad-guys and the cutesy 2nd couple were well dispersed and added to the tension and relief very well.
Ovet all I gave this a 9, as the ending was too rushed and focused more on the recovery of the ml’s business than the resolution and redevelopment of the lead couples relationship.
Maybe another label type is needed for classifying dramas - business, business romance. A lot of dramas are labeled as romance when that seems to be the secondary part of the story, and would give the viewer a much better impression of the drama. Tge romance label is used too liberally when classifying dramas, and many seeking warm fuzzies are disappointed which results in bad reviews for the shows and negatively impacts the actors and production crew.
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Highly recommended!! Go with the flow..
I was very sceptical and was about to drop this drama because of the negative reviews i saw here. But im glad I didnt. It all depends on your perspective and what you look for in a drama. The common problem i read was it was very laggy by the end. I kind of agree with that but given the circumstances for the female lead it was kind of understandable. The chemistry is out of this world and acting too. This drama made me feel a lot of emotions and im happy i didnt drop it. Dont listen to others and try watching it . Drop it only if you feel like its too unbearable. I’d say definitely give it a shotWas this review helpful to you?
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No Money No Talk
Welcome to my review (or I'd rather call it a rant). It's been quite a time since I wrote review for 'Undercover High School', so I really miss the review section where I can blab freely whenever I want to and minimize the risks of being attacked by delulu fans.FYI, 'Eat Run Love' is one of my most anticipated shows, even when the melon just started swirling around (I'm giving this a shot for Chen Feiyu because 'Lighter and Princess' didn't work on me). Imagine me being obsessed over the novel to the point of reread it back and forth. But lord, was I mistaken again? Right now, I'm going to start my rant so please bear with me.
The plot is centered around two people who have different personalities and even different backgrounds, which are none other than Ding Zhitong and Gan Yang. They encounter each other for the first time at the university. While Ding Zhitong is obsessed of making money to make ends meet, pay her relatives' debts, and help her mother, Gan Yang is the opposite. He comes from a well-off family and has a carefree attitude of life, as if nothing bothered him at all. It is literally love at first sight, if you ask me. He immediately falls for her and chases her in every endeavour, though she can't guarantee their relationship will be long-lasting.
She herself nearly jeopardizes the relationship when her family's debt is piling up. She keeps Gan Yang in the dark about this matter since she thinks that he will only squeeze every single penny for her sake. Eventually, when her cousin demands the money, Ding Zhitong finally opens up to Gan Yang about her reason of being so money-minded. It should've ended there. However, Gan Yang also has his own problems to solve, from his mother's 200-million debt to his fraudster father who keeps making trouble for him. He hides this from Ding Zhitong as well. She mistakes the whole thing (let alone mentioning Xu Chenxi) when Gan Yang asks for breakup. They do break up for 6 years until the Training Box project puts them back on track again. Will they reignite their love once more or will the fate play a cruel trick for the couple?
Nah, second chance romance... Not something I'd be amused about. I've seen a myriad of dramas covering second chance romance flopping one after another, either because of the actors' lackluster performance or the poorly written script which can't be saved at all costs. This show falls for the latter category and half more comes from the former (I'll talk about this in another section). As you can see, the novel itself isn't that problematic, but the screenwriter decided to screw everything up into a wacky script that not even an Oscar-winning actor can save. First off, she stretches the past of the leads for 17 episodes and that is enough already. As for the breakup, it's one of the novel's vital points so it's okay-ish for me. Second, when they meet again, the FL becomes insecure of herself, whether to pursue her career and destroy ML's dreams or to support him unconditionally. Meanwhile, ML has turned into a simp who does nothing but to wait for the FL even though she clearly states 'I don't want to see you anymore'. This can be categorised as stalking, don't you think?
We've also got unnecessary third wheelers here. Feng Sheng in the beginning is enough already, thank god he lets go of Ding Zhitong willingly when she can't love him. Nevertheless, the second one is more jerk-ish. That old guy Wilson just irks me and the way he always stalks her is no different than ML. Fortunately, Xu Chenxi redeems herself and gets together with Wang Yi - I almost thought she's another toxic bitchy girl too.
Now, to the acting... I only come here to give Chen Feiyu another chance and surprisingly he does decently despite the crooked script. I feel so sorry for him, but this show won't be any breakout or boost his popularity at all. His character is also written in such a messy way that he turns into a lovestruck puppy who does foolish things for the sake of love, even when FL tramples on his dignity, he still loves her so dearly. At first, it might be your mistake for lying to her and now you want to make up. But, as you can see, she's mad with you and if you had just told her the truth, she wouldn't have been that resentful. In real life, this kind of ML will never exist throughout the century, except for those who have fallen head over heels for you.
Move forward to the FL. This is my third show of Sabrina Zhuang after 'Binary Love' and 'You Are Desire', two of which I dropped in the past. From my perspective, I don't think her acting skills has improved and worse, she plays this pouty-faced, stone-hearted, self-centered, arrogant little chick (her character is already unbearable enough hhhh). She doesn't even give the ML a chance to explain the reason of their breakup, let alone giving him a second chance to prove himself. What kind of FL is this, girl? *sarcastic eye roll mode* I won't be commenting on her acting because she only acts on whatever provided in the script.
So, the problem lies on the screenwriter again. Girl, please don't write this kind of shit anymore. No women will trample on men's dignity like this, even if they're exes - exes still respect their former partners too. The way you write them is too outrageous, making the show into a dreadful love horror. If you had just stuck to the OG source, things wouldn't have gone that worse because the FL respects the ML and even gives him the chance to explain himself, unlike the one you screw up.
SFL is no different than FL. When you're in a happy-go-lucky period with that jerk Deng Boting, have you ever contacted your past lover? The answer is NO! After he dumps you and wants a divorce, you're in a dilemma and you want to get back to him again. Worse, he waits for you all this time and still pining on you, just like ML does. Man, are you simping too?
Only the third couple's story is well-developed. I really like Xu Chenxi and Wang Yi's cute interaction loll. Unfortunately, it's the only pro that I've got to mention here.
As for the economic aspects, it's also nonexistent that I don't feel the need of it anymore. The novel stresses this part heavily, but you chuck them out in a cruel manner (I mean the screenwriter again). It's as if doing business was such an easy thing. On the other note, you've also deployed tons of cliches
Cinematography, costume, and directing is quite alright - haven't got on my nerves yet and that means everything is acceptable. OSTs are crappy as well - none of those 7 songs hook me up, despite being sung by numerous well-known singers (for instance, Liu Yuning, Tia Ray, Yao Xiaotang, and many more).
Now that we've reached the final part of the review, I sincerely advice you not to touch this show unless you're a die-hard fan of Feiyu or Sabrina Zhuang. This show ain't worth your time at all and it's the first time I rant again since 'Go Back Lover', so you can imagine how my blood is boiling right now. Also, the ending sucks too - why should they get a happily-ever-after ending like other modern dramas? I'll end my review here, goodbye, good luck, and watch it at your own risk if you're that mule-headed.
Side note:
Why do I name my review with 'No Money No Talk'? This phrase is what my parents often say to me. If you don't have money, don't ever think to appease your lover, let alone taking care of yourself. So, money is still regarded as the cause of everything and is able to destroy every single thing that we love dearly, where the same case applies to the leads too.
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Don't care about the reviews..just watch with your own opinion
I was about to drop this not because it is bad but because of the negative reviews.I saw the reviews and was afraid to continue watching after break up scenes.But then I decided to rewatch because I can't get rid of their chemistry and love story.So I continued.Well I also hate when couples break up in dramas while they love each other.I can't handle such things so I hated that part. Reviews say they find this drama annoying because FL is always pushing ML away. So I think from her place as in the drama. And yes I would also feel like her if I were in her situation. And I can feel both of their pains,what they have been through. They have their rights for their feelings and pain. Most of the people who rate negative reviews to this drama are the ones who can't move on from Lighter and Princess. So if you are new to this drama, please do not listen to people's opinions. Just follow your mind and heart to complete or drop the drama. For me , I can understand the leads and I enjoyed. And I got emotional by this. Thank you 🩵Was this review helpful to you?
Major Disappointment
I had a lot of high hopes for this drama but I was sorely disappointed. I honestly couldn't watch through the whole thing without skipping because it was genuinely so boring.CONS:
The biggest issue was the beginning, the 2 leads have so much in common that it seems like a cheap way to convince the audience they belong together.
As usual the woman is highly ambitious but poor with tons of baggage and the man is rich and handsome and willing to risk opportunities for her at first sight .
Their romance and chemistry was not convincing and you could tell me they were siblings and I'd believe you.
The acting was quite lackluster and the actress especially wasn't able to pull of the nuanced role she was given and it made the FL's character seem a bit bland.
Didn't like how they made the ML such a huge pushover and his personality seems very contradictory considering he's supposed to be "smart".
The fact that they showed us present day in the first episode made it less fun because everyone had an idea of what would happen, It also took away from my joy of shipping the FL's friend and prof together because I knew they would not end up together immediately atleast.
The relationship, though mildly cute, was not convincingly strong enough to result in so much drama...The main leads did not share any significant chemistry. The main cause for this according to me was bad direction and not choosing a suitable FL actress. She doesn't have much experience and it clearly shows because she was unable to convey the depth of the Fl's feelings, Arthur Chen's acting was good but nothing amazing and he definitely has more potential imo with a better script and cast.
I ALSO FORGOT TO MENTION THIS BUT WHY DOES EVERY FREAKING MODERN DRAMA WITH A STRONG FL, HAVE A ML SAVES FL DURING PERIODS SCENE?????? like the writers want to show that he saves her when she is vulnerable and vulnerability comes only during periods and i'm surprised these women are always so unprepared considering it happens EVERY. SINGLE. MONTH. smh
This drama was so bad that I forgot it was still airing after 2 days of not watching any new episodes.
Overall the Beginning was bad and the ending was also bad. The 6 is for the supporting actress who i think did a pretty good job in the beginning and her styling throughout the show was immaculate. Arthur chen's acting was nothing to write about but certainly wasn't bad enough to complain about either. If i ignore the obvious cliches and other factors this wasn't the worst thing I've watched atleast the first half wasn't.
If you like Arthur chen and don't really care about plot and chemistry then watching this is for you. (Im literally not even writing pros because the music was the only good thing everything else was just decent)
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