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ITS *PEPÉ LE PEW & PENELOPE*
The original Mandarin title (also IMDb) “Burning Love” is an inaccurate adjective for the story. iQIYI/MDL uses a better descriptor (“Ardent Love”) or more accurately, *HIS (ML’s) Ardent Love*.Production seems fine and the acting is good but after reading the comments, I must be the only one that didn’t care for this drama.😉, Sorry, guys!
Imho, the leads don’t go well together and there’s no synchronicity or chemistry until the very last 20 minutes. The ML inexplicably likes the FL and is super attracted to her, but the FL is too emotionally-young and frigid, (as well as annoyingly cantankerous toward him for no good reason). For MOST of the drama, she’s just NOT into him and is visibly repulsed by him, pushing him away over and over. *Almost* every kiss is forced (or drugged), so their relationship has no consensual companionship, which made it tedious and uncomfortable. If I didn’t already know the ending would suddenly become “happily ever after” in the last 20 minutes (after the ML convinces the FL to “act” with him through skinship - the ONLY hot scene), I’d be rooting for the ML to STOP pressuring/pursuing the FL and to move on from her. The costume department has the FL wearing the SAME green cardigan or pink sweater with white tulle skirts and white sneakers almost every day. The only parts of this drama that I liked were Actor Cao Tiankai’s interactions /scenes with other side characters, and his exploited (but AMAZING) abs. 💙
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SO-SO PLOT, SENSUAL ML
I just really love Zhang Shan’s laugh. (She and actress Han Yutong have great laughs).The production, directing and acting are all fine, but the storyline is pretty mediocre. For me, its REALLY tedious when leads extensively lie about their identity, (unless they HAVE to, like a government agent or underground crime boss). But... I was warned in the synopsis, so I have no excuse for having watched it 😉. The lying went on for most of the drama, so there’s no REAL feeling of the leads getting to know each other’s TRUE selves (except for that the ML doesn’t hide his sensuality).
When the truth finally came out in the very last few episodes, the drama was more likeable (for me). It was SO cute when the ML was apologizing and he drew an air-heart for the FL, saying his love was genuine. I also thought it was funny and endearing how the business-rival parents grumpily and reluctantly decided to work together for the sake of their kids.
The wedding at the end, was annoyingly interrupted (as usual) by the ML’s ‘girl’friend, awkwardly confronting him and confessing to him on the stage at his wedding. (No one does this tactless crap in real life, lol). Then, more absurdly (also as usual), she tries to stab the FL on the public stage. (Haha, give me a break. Who would be dumb enough to send themselves to jail instantly for attempted homicide? 🙄) Aaanyway, the ML’s inner dialogue and vows were very cute.
Even though this drama was overall ‘meh’, I did like the ML’s character, genuine sweetness and pursuit of FL. He has great chemistry. The FL character has a cute personality too, but she is too prudish for the first 2/3. Unless she truly just didn’t like the ML, it makes no sense for her to draw a line after having had a one-night stand AND liking the ML enough to ask for a flash marriage / contract. The cat was already out of the bag 😳.
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SUSPEND DISBELIEF for ADORABLE PRODIGIES :)
This was ridiculously cute, funny, and clever, although a bit disorganized with a TON of loose ends. It needed SO much more backstory, as well as more romance and chemistry. The 4 kids are SO cute, but the 3 boys raised by the shifu are hilarious: The financially savvy CEO business kid, the computer-whiz geek and the kung-fu master kid (I love that he had random qi powers and no one batted an eye). Also, I love how at the end, everyone just tolerated the FL's faithful, CEO guy-friend, who had helped her all these years and planned to be her lover. No one was the wiser about what he REALLY wanted, and kept calling him 'uncle'. His secret irritation just flew back in his face as everyone hugged him and included him in the family photo. Haha, poor guy! ;) Extra thoughts: 1) Why does the ML's company have a children's daycare center for employees, but employees with kids are ostracized or avoided for hiring? I must have missed something. 2) The child-abuse inflicted by the villainous half-sister onto the little daughter as well as the elder-abuse inflicted by the psych hospital nurses onto the FL's mom made me SICK 💔. Thankfully, justice is served.Was this review helpful to you?
CLEVER, ZOMBIE CUTENESS
I really enjoyed this! It is probably my favorite zombie series / movie, and I'm NOT really a fan of the zombie genre. This was incredibly witty, adventurous, and funny. It had such a great vibe and so much out-of-the-box creativity. There was a bit of dark humor and a few serious parts as well. Unfortunately, the romance was only implied, so nothing ever actualized. The ending was left open in that way. I would've added a star to my rating if the main leads had developed romantically and had at least one kiss. However, this drama was done amazingly, even without the lovey-dovey stuff. Choi Jin-hyuk as a zombie 🧟♂️ might be my favorite role he's played. He was SO cute when he smiled in anticipation about eating tripe. Omg, he's handsome 😍 and his zombie-smile is pure sunshine that melted me. The melodic rock soundrack by artist "I'll" was AWESOME. I love the main song, "Be Ok".Was this review helpful to you?
