A very interesting article, thank you for sharing. I find the 3 top rated drama's from China pretty interesting. 2 fluffy romances and 1 clever crime drama. There very different drama's, and from what I recall different levels of hype.
I think the article also highlights that 2023 was at least for me was not a great year overall for drama's. There was some very good ones, but few great ones, with some some pretty big disappointments. Hopefully 2024 will bring some great drama's in all categories.
I think its the character interactions that are the most compelling aspect to this drama. In particular how Kim Baek Doo relates and interacts with those around him.
The dynamic's of his different relationships can be both happy and sad and yet its something I find very relatable.
I'm exhausted by this drama at this point. I don't actually know what message is trying to be portrayed here anymore. The leads inability to a draw any kind of line between themselves and their past relationships is beginning to look dumb and kind of self-destructive.
A new relationship is a little like building a house, you need a solid foundation. The leads here can't build a solid foundation with their ex's constantly being involved their lives and yet both leads seem unable to see this.
I decided to give this drama a try without being massively invested in it. Well.... don't I feel foolish.
Its handling of heavyweight issues from both the individual and a society perspective have been truly refreshing.
In the same way Class 11 are learning from Lei Ming, maybe this drama can highlight lessons to its audience on some of these issues that have been covered.
At a certain point lines have to be drawn between the past and the present.
Both the ml and fl seem some what trapped by their previous relationships and seem unable to put some distance between themselves and their past partners.
This is maybe to highlight that they are good people trying to be respectful to their past relationships, however at a certain point its damaging to all those involved as no one can truly move on.
The romance is not the most interesting aspect of the drama so far, the conflict or perhaps the complicated journey towards any potential happiness is the best part of this drama.
Peng Yu An is finally waking up to reality. His sense of pride and entitlement has begun to crumble. Unfortunately for him,- Pride often goes before a fall.
Nobodies perfect, the cast of characters are not perfect and at times they are not always totally likeable, but this is what makes them interesting to watch.
PYA feelings are less about love and more about possession. He is like the child who has stopped playing with a toy, but when another child wants to play with the toy he suddenly becomes interested again. This is not love, this is somebody who doesn’t want to lose, especially to someone who he thinks is inferior
I think what I like about this drama and the the original is that everything feels real. Real people, real problems and with real emotions. Most drama's I watch are either are cute and fluffy or driven by contrived situations that make little actual sense, and TBF I often enjoy these drama's.
This drama is telling a story that seems very relatable, it could be a friends story, a neighbours story or the stranger's story that you pass in the street.
Real life is rarely cute and fluffy, few rich CEO's fall in love with innocent poor girl, this drama is telling a story of how everyday people might meet and fall love, which I'm finding an engaging watch.
This drama started out like The Power Rangers and ended more like the Magnificat Seven. whilst I didn't love the ending, credit to all those involved, they made me really care about the characters.
Ruyi - will remain one of my all time favourite characters. Ning - an epically good character And a special mention - Yu Shi San/Alen Fang - who knew? You have set the bar with this performance. More of the same in the future please!
Finally Thanks to everyone I got to interact and share opinions with it's been a blast.
I don’t know why it’s so hard for scriptwriters to write a proper and logical ending. This happens to a lot…
Exactly, feel pretty much the same. The execution of the final parts of the drama just didn't work the way I hoped. It was messy and a little overboard with character deaths.
Honestly, I'm curious what the cast will say about the ending when they say goodbye to their characters. Regardless,…
I agree the good moments were great, but its like when I go out for dinner, the starter is good, the main course is great, but the dessert is just bad. The end to my meal will probably stick in my memory for longer. This drama could have been a great drama, but I feel short-changed by the ending
In order to to be a true great, you have to nail the landing........ I've loved so much of this drama but the ending here was not what i was hoping for. I can't help but think the scriptwriter was trying to be too clever for their own good.
In the end they didn't nail the landing for me., which just leaves me so disappointed.
BTW why does fluff have to be a bad thing when describing a drama? Sometimes I like fluff. Its like eating ice cream, I wouldn't want to eat everyday, but it's a nice treat every now and then.
I also don't get how the beginning of their relationship, is that much of an issue. Yes they connected through listening to each others voices but it was never the only reason they fell in love. I'm watching another drama currently and the reason the ML started to like the FL was because she tied a scarf around a dogs neck! Now that was a stretch!
Yes this story is simple, yes its a bit fluffy but simple and fluffy can be fun too.
In the end, I like this drama for what it is and not what it isn't.
Normally when I watch a drama it's pretty obvious to spot the red flags, those moments which will likely cause misunderstanding or conflict between the leads. These are normally in the guise of, a love rival, a disapproving family or lack of communication.
The surprising thing with this drama is in every instance where I thought they may create an issue they have swiftly diverged from this path. They have zagged when I normally expect them to zig. This is such a nice change of pace.
I've called Yu Shi San a scene stealer in this drama, and in the latest episodes it was like watching everything that is fun when he's on screen. When he's at his best, providing dubious advice on matters of the heart or his playful interactions with the other cast members it actually look's like Alen Fang s truly having a blast portraying this character. He has been great in this role.
Ruyi and Ning interactions still remain my favourite moments, from planning out their latest mission or the appropriate way to say goodbye, the serious or the light-hearted moments are always great to watch.
As a couple Mo Qing Cheng and Gu Sheng are something that should be aspired too. Their honest, open communication is something that should be admired. In drama's or even in daily life this is a rare quality. I feel like I'm watching the best version of a relationship develop before my eyes.
In any healthy relationship there should be a degree of balance. In this drama there is none. When you have both the ML and SML either apologising or chasing around proving themselves this displays a lack of respect and a lack of trust.
This is a badly written drama that does no favours to the any of the cast, with the FL in particularly being difficult to like.
1 
I think the article also highlights that 2023 was at least for me was not a great year overall for drama's. There was some very good ones, but few great ones, with some some pretty big disappointments. Hopefully 2024 will bring some great drama's in all categories.
The dynamic's of his different relationships can be both happy and sad and yet its something I find very relatable.
A new relationship is a little like building a house, you need a solid foundation. The leads here can't build a solid foundation with their ex's constantly being involved their lives and yet both leads seem unable to see this.
Its handling of heavyweight issues from both the individual and a society perspective have been truly refreshing.
In the same way Class 11 are learning from Lei Ming, maybe this drama can highlight lessons to its audience on some of these issues that have been covered.
Both the ml and fl seem some what trapped by their previous relationships and seem unable to put some distance between themselves and their past partners.
This is maybe to highlight that they are good people trying to be respectful to their past relationships, however at a certain point its damaging to all those involved as no one can truly move on.
Peng Yu An is finally waking up to reality. His sense of pride and entitlement has begun to crumble. Unfortunately for him,- Pride often goes before a fall.
Nobodies perfect, the cast of characters are not perfect and at times they are not always totally likeable, but this is what makes them interesting to watch.
This is not love, this is somebody who doesn’t want to lose, especially to someone who he thinks is inferior
This drama is telling a story that seems very relatable, it could be a friends story, a neighbours story or the stranger's story that you pass in the street.
Real life is rarely cute and fluffy, few rich CEO's fall in love with innocent poor girl, this drama is telling a story of how everyday people might meet and fall love, which I'm finding an engaging watch.
Ruyi - will remain one of my all time favourite characters.
Ning - an epically good character
And a special mention - Yu Shi San/Alen Fang - who knew? You have set the bar with this performance. More of the same in the future please!
Finally Thanks to everyone I got to interact and share opinions with it's been a blast.
This drama could have been a great drama, but I feel short-changed by the ending
In the end they didn't nail the landing for me., which just leaves me so disappointed.
I also don't get how the beginning of their relationship, is that much of an issue. Yes they connected through listening to each others voices but it was never the only reason they fell in love. I'm watching another drama currently and the reason the ML started to like the FL was because she tied a scarf around a dogs neck! Now that was a stretch!
Yes this story is simple, yes its a bit fluffy but simple and fluffy can be fun too.
In the end, I like this drama for what it is and not what it isn't.
The surprising thing with this drama is in every instance where I thought they may create an issue they have swiftly diverged from this path. They have zagged when I normally expect them to zig. This is such a nice change of pace.
Ruyi and Ning interactions still remain my favourite moments, from planning out their latest mission or the appropriate way to say goodbye, the serious or the light-hearted moments are always great to watch.
This is a badly written drama that does no favours to the any of the cast, with the FL in particularly being difficult to like.