The plot is an adaptation of Zhang Yue Ran's web novel, which was also used to film a drama centered on family…
I completely understand where this review is coming from, especially regarding the controversy around Zhao Lusi and her agency — it really was a complicated, messy situation. That said, I think it’s a bit unfair to put the full weight of the industry’s impossible beauty standards on one actress. At the end of the day, this is her livelihood, and sometimes it really is a choice between the fire or the frying pan — comply or risk being sidelined by the system.
As for the drama itself, I feel the moral issues surrounding Lusi’s agency feud are one thing, and the show’s quality is another. Whether or not a TV show should mirror reality is always up for debate, but I personally think fiction is meant to romanticize, exaggerate, and entertain — not to serve as a documentary. Of course, everyone’s free to like or dislike a series; that’s what makes discussions interesting. But judging a drama primarily through external controversies can unintentionally overlook the work of the entire cast and crew.
If the goal is to start an industry-wide conversation about beauty standards or mistreatment of artists, then absolutely — a boycott or critique aimed at that issue makes sense. But criticizing Love’s Ambition for not being “realistic enough” feels misplaced. Not every drama needs to reflect real life; sometimes it just needs to tell a story — flawed, dramatic, and entertaining — and that’s perfectly fine.
Qiao Ci is so cute and candid that even his cousin-in-law prejudices against the Qiaos took a vacation. I absolutely adore Wei Shao and Man Man love language. It’s in everything! When they’re staring at each other I’m like ‘guys, get a room?’ 😄
But I love type of long ending like that 😁 I like to watch the happiness much longer after so much struggle…
I generally do too 😅. I just didn’t didn’t get why this time it annoyed me so much. Maybe it’s the frustration of how sloppy episodes went from 35 onwards.
Episode 40 felt like sitting through a slideshow after the movie’s already ended. The big moments were done — love won, justice landed, villains gone — and then it just… kept going. Everyone was smiling, celebrating, being peaceful, but I was checking the time like, why are we still here? It’s not that it was bad, it was just too much of nothing after everything. I was happy for the characters, sure, but also a little bored out of my mind. Give me my ending, let me feel it — then let me go.
What is it with Jiang Si’s sisters and abusive husbands? It’s like the Jiang family took out a Platinum Membership at the "Abusive and Deranged Husbands for Daughters Club™" and renewed it annually. Honestly, it’s both depressing and absurd: the eldest sister endured emotional abuse and manipulation, plus a mother-in-law who basically ran a labor camp, while the second sister straight-up married into hell itself — physical violence, humiliation, complete loss of dignity. And the worst part isn’t even just that they’re trapped; it’s that they cherish their chains. Like, “Oh no, I’m suffering horribly... but at least I have a husband...” Hello??? Is the bar in hell? It’s tragic, but it also brutally highlights how deeply women back then were conditioned: staying in a marriage — no matter how degrading — was seen as more honorable than leaving. A broken spirit was easier to bear than the shame of divorce or abandonment. Even the people who loved them, like their own family, sometimes reinforced that mindset. The whole culture was sick — and Si Jin absolutely does not sugarcoat it. Meanwhile, Jiang Si is out here like, “I’d rather live free and poor than die slow in someone else’s prison.” Queen behavior. Breaking generational trauma one defiant stare at a time.
Ep 25 and 26 were everything I’d been waiting for! That argument in Yuanzhong’s sea of consciousness when he said “You’ve already sentenced me”? It was felt! And the fact that it was Qian Lin — of all people — explaining Yuanzhong’s pain and loneliness to Tanyin was very symbolic. I loved seeing how all of Yuanzhong’s people happily responded to his choice to let go. A'Xiu smiling fondly at the wooden bird Tanyin gave him was way too cute. And OMG that cliffhanger?! They really said “no peace for the emotionally invested.” I barely got to exhale after the making up and they’re already dragging me back into chaos???
"She does not decide anything at any point which contradicts the aggressive and loud character she is otherwise supposed to. And now, to add insult to injury they even come up with a cancer story? Come OOOON!"
You said it all!!!! FL was so loud and aggressive with everyone and anyone but that one Ex who came absolutely out of nowhere to claim her back? It made 0 sense whatsoever
The leads' behavior was so unrealistic and childish at some point. The fact that ML resorted to pushing FL away so badly and boderline bullying just because he was too afraid of his love being unrequited was very kindergarten esque.
I struggled to find anything to laugh at for something that was sold to me as a comedy. There's so far, no funny element to be seen. On top of that, the supporting characters are all so boring, and the whole crew is failing at making it up for the plot (and maybe the directing) shortcomings.
The mums' friendship is way too competitive to feel genuine. The FL dad is too close to being a loser with 0 self esteem to pass onto the next gen. The ML mum failed to convey the right balance between being a loving mother and also yearning for a great career path. She just looked like an emotionless person, over helself, with no emotional intelligence, without the professional success to show for the lack of family relationships she sacrificed.
All in all it feels like it could've been a great show, but it's just a very boring one.
This is everything I felt watching the show. I painstakingly reached ep 7, but the only reason I keep going is because I want to finally see them getting together despite the directing and the plot being so dull.
1 
As for the drama itself, I feel the moral issues surrounding Lusi’s agency feud are one thing, and the show’s quality is another. Whether or not a TV show should mirror reality is always up for debate, but I personally think fiction is meant to romanticize, exaggerate, and entertain — not to serve as a documentary. Of course, everyone’s free to like or dislike a series; that’s what makes discussions interesting. But judging a drama primarily through external controversies can unintentionally overlook the work of the entire cast and crew.
If the goal is to start an industry-wide conversation about beauty standards or mistreatment of artists, then absolutely — a boycott or critique aimed at that issue makes sense. But criticizing Love’s Ambition for not being “realistic enough” feels misplaced. Not every drama needs to reflect real life; sometimes it just needs to tell a story — flawed, dramatic, and entertaining — and that’s perfectly fine.
You said it all!!!! FL was so loud and aggressive with everyone and anyone but that one Ex who came absolutely out of nowhere to claim her back? It made 0 sense whatsoever
The leads' behavior was so unrealistic and childish at some point. The fact that ML resorted to pushing FL away so badly and boderline bullying just because he was too afraid of his love being unrequited was very kindergarten esque.
I struggled to find anything to laugh at for something that was sold to me as a comedy. There's so far, no funny element to be seen. On top of that, the supporting characters are all so boring, and the whole crew is failing at making it up for the plot (and maybe the directing) shortcomings.
The mums' friendship is way too competitive to feel genuine. The FL dad is too close to being a loser with 0 self esteem to pass onto the next gen. The ML mum failed to convey the right balance between being a loving mother and also yearning for a great career path. She just looked like an emotionless person, over helself, with no emotional intelligence, without the professional success to show for the lack of family relationships she sacrificed.
All in all it feels like it could've been a great show, but it's just a very boring one.