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Another Victim of Second Couple Sabotage
Rating: 8/10
Moonlight is a cute, trope-heavy romance that I enjoyed overall. The story isn't especially original, but romantic tropes are popular for a reason! The main couple has good chemistry, the characters are well developed, and the publishing-industry setting gives the drama more to explore than romance alone.
If you're an Esther Yu fan, you know her acting style. She uses her signature baby voice quite a bit, which fits the character but won't appeal to everyone. I enjoyed her performance overall, although I sometimes wished she would dial it back a little.
The drama does drag in places, and I wasn't equally invested in every storyline. I notice a trend in more current dramas where, for whatever reason, the second couple is just completely unlikable (as a couple). Not sure why but multiple recent dramas have had it so I was annoyed when the second couple had screen time. I felt that way with this one. Still, I enjoyed it enough that I don't regret watching it. I wouldn't rewatch it, but I wouldn't turn it off if it came on, either. I'd recommend it to fans of lighthearted Chinese romances and workplace dramas.
Spoilers
I loved Chu Li and Zhou Chuan together. He's gruff, mischievous, and very much a tsundere, while she sees through his exterior and brings out his softer side. Their personalities complement each other well, and their chemistry carried the drama for me.
My biggest mixed feeling was Esther Yu's baby voice. It suits Chu Li, but after watching Esther in several dramas, the same mannerisms can become repetitive. A little more variation would have made some emotional scenes stronger.
The second couple, Jiang Yucheng and Gu Baizhi, frustrated me. Their problems never felt fully resolved, yet they suddenly seemed deeply in love. I also wasn't invested in Yu Yao's relationship with her husband, although I understood his frustration with her neglecting her family for work.
I was glad Chief Editor Xia's credibility took a hit. His snobbish attitude toward Chu Li because she hadn't studied literature was unfair; formal education isn't the only way to develop talent.
I also loved that Zhou Chuan remained devoted to Chu Li when the actress showed interest in him. He wasn't swayed, and I appreciated that loyalty. Overall, the main couple carried the show for me. The slower pacing and frustrating secondary romances kept it from being a favorite, but I still enjoyed it.
Moonlight is a cute, trope-heavy romance that I enjoyed overall. The story isn't especially original, but romantic tropes are popular for a reason! The main couple has good chemistry, the characters are well developed, and the publishing-industry setting gives the drama more to explore than romance alone.
If you're an Esther Yu fan, you know her acting style. She uses her signature baby voice quite a bit, which fits the character but won't appeal to everyone. I enjoyed her performance overall, although I sometimes wished she would dial it back a little.
The drama does drag in places, and I wasn't equally invested in every storyline. I notice a trend in more current dramas where, for whatever reason, the second couple is just completely unlikable (as a couple). Not sure why but multiple recent dramas have had it so I was annoyed when the second couple had screen time. I felt that way with this one. Still, I enjoyed it enough that I don't regret watching it. I wouldn't rewatch it, but I wouldn't turn it off if it came on, either. I'd recommend it to fans of lighthearted Chinese romances and workplace dramas.
Spoilers
I loved Chu Li and Zhou Chuan together. He's gruff, mischievous, and very much a tsundere, while she sees through his exterior and brings out his softer side. Their personalities complement each other well, and their chemistry carried the drama for me.
My biggest mixed feeling was Esther Yu's baby voice. It suits Chu Li, but after watching Esther in several dramas, the same mannerisms can become repetitive. A little more variation would have made some emotional scenes stronger.
The second couple, Jiang Yucheng and Gu Baizhi, frustrated me. Their problems never felt fully resolved, yet they suddenly seemed deeply in love. I also wasn't invested in Yu Yao's relationship with her husband, although I understood his frustration with her neglecting her family for work.
I was glad Chief Editor Xia's credibility took a hit. His snobbish attitude toward Chu Li because she hadn't studied literature was unfair; formal education isn't the only way to develop talent.
I also loved that Zhou Chuan remained devoted to Chu Li when the actress showed interest in him. He wasn't swayed, and I appreciated that loyalty. Overall, the main couple carried the show for me. The slower pacing and frustrating secondary romances kept it from being a favorite, but I still enjoyed it.
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