Loving the Lie

Starts off fresh and strong, ends as a meh.

The good:
*Underused plot ideas free of many of the common tropes and cliches
*Some good acting
*Very visually pretty
*BGM/ost is not intrusive

The bad:
*FL was the weak link - OK actress, but not a good match for the role ---> becomes annoying as show goes on
*Plot not fleshed out right - tension, balance, sense of realism, dialogue, emotions.... all are lacking in screenplay.
*All acting was good but not extraordinary. The ML is gaining acting experience and improving, but still not quite exemplary.
*Teases spice, but also very much lacks said spice. Meager kiss scenes.

It just is what it is, which is a 7. Take it or leave it depending on how bored you are.

I would recc this only to people interested in watching Ma Hao Dong's acting career progress, because he IS getting better, and I think this is some of his best acting to date. IMO he has something special, and his career holds a lot of promise.

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Visually stunning drama with a beautiful cast

Is this drama worth watching ? The answer is yes.
Maybe you should watch it more than once for many different reasons.

This drama is a masterpiece in term of cinematography. If you're a film student or interested in Photography, you'll enjoy this drama immensely. Every frame is beautiful and you'll get lost in its beauty. You will learn a lot after watching.

Of course the main reason for watching should be the good chemistry between the actors. They all delivered. Despite their young ages, ML & 2nd ML did very well. I enjoyed seeing them in more mature roles here.

There will be some uncomfortable scenes at the beginning of the drama. Unfortunately, this can happen in real life even now. I think they did their best portraying this difficult situation. This also raises awareness of a topic or condition not many wants to talk about.

For a short drama, it exceeded my expectation. It's very well done. I hope you'll enjoy watching.

Update after episode 23:

Right up until the last part of the drama, this drama is still enjoyable to watch because it's beautifully filmed. Visually, it's one of the most beautiful dramas I've seen. The cast is also good looking. The styling is good too. Visually, there's nothing to worry about. The mystery took a bit longer to reveal but the reveal itself is very well done and touching.

In the later part of the drama, it has 2 story lines being told simultaneously so sometimes I felt like the 2nd couple kept on stealing the spotlight. They're featured prominently and their scenes are always so beautifully filmed. That totally takes away the focus on the main couple. I'm fine with it because I enjoy watching both couples but the distinction between main and 2nd couple become blurry in some episodes.

The weakest part of the drama is some parts of the story itself. Sometimes it's difficult to process what someone would do to achieve what he wants. But in the end you get what you deserve so it's a reminder to live our lives well. It's still enjoyable to watch overall but I don't feel as invest in ML's parents story line.

If you like the ML then this is one of his best dramas. He's allowed to show a more mature side. He's always likeable and was able to show his charm. He has good chemistry with all the other actors. He's very natural. I really enjoyed watching him in here.

I've seen FL in many short dramas but this drama is just different. They were able to show that special aura of a classical beauty in her. She was so graceful.

Another enjoyable aspect of this drama is the portrayal of the relationships between the 4 people. Everyone brings something to the table and they're definitely better together.

Update after episode 19:

Episode 18 is rather sad but needed to happen. FL did very well when she needs to show intense emotions. ML is always there to show his charm. Episode 19 is an important episode that moves the story forward. It's so touching to watch. The filming is very well done. The scenery is so beautiful. Everyone acted very well in the last few episodes. Can't wait to see more.

Updated after episode 17:
The drama is getting better and better. The cinematography is a masterpiece. Chemistry for the 2 couples is on fire. Highly recommend.

At episode 15, this drama's rating should be a solid 8 with an additional .5 bonus for how beautiful everything looks. This drama has high re watch value. Watching it the 2nd time, I felt it's better than the first time.

I was going to take a few pictures to share with you in the photo section but ended up with way more than intended because every frame is so beautiful. Check out the Photo section when you get a chance.

Sometimes I get lost in its beauty and wasn't paying close attention to what's happening. It's a masterpiece in term of cinematography. This drama is elevated because of the cinematographer. The BTS video clips and the actual drama highlighted the difference, it's unbelievable how the same scene looked.

The FL is so beautiful, her aura is so fitting for this drama. Everyone else looked great too but FL is a standout. Her scenes just captivate you. She's really good with emotionally charged scenes too. She's not afraid to look unkempt, she becomes the character.

ML is also a great cast. He's younger than the character's age but did just fine. He's so charming in here, longer hair is a great look for him. He did a great job with the caring boyfriend part, the rebellious son part, definitely believable. He has great chemistry with the FL too so that's also good news. I think this is one of his best works.

The 2nd ML surprised me a lot. He's so into his role which I find endearing. He's so caring for the people around him. His "relationship" with ML is so funny. I love their scenes together. He's a super caring friend to FL. To his leading lady, the 2nd FL, he's also caring, always there to rescue her when needed. I can tell he's a new actor and tried to compensate for his younger age sometimes a bit too much but he also has good chemistry with 2nd FL despite their age gap. They had quite a bit of intimate scenes which was a total surprise.

Story wise, it's not the strongest but interesting enough for us to enjoy the drama. There are some uncomfortable scenes regarding FL's sister at the beginning of the drama but the mystery surrounding that part of the story is still unfolding.

It's one of the better short dramas that's out now . The quality is so high for a short drama so I definitely recommend if you're on the fence.

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