Comfortable Watch
I really liked some parts of the show, and there are other parts that were not so good. I split the difference in my rating, but I can see where some will absolutely adore the show and others will be annoyed.
On the good side were the characters and their portrayals. The characters have some nuance to them, and the conflicts they face seem real and how they got to their current predicament is relatable. The two leads do not have obvious flaws, which makes it easier to follow along with their story. With one notable exception, the secondary characters have redeeming features as well.
The ML, played by Chen Xing Xu, and the FL, played by Lu Yu Xiao, are likable in part of the acting. It helps that they look good, but again they capture the strengths and vulnerabilities of their characters. The relationships on the show feel like real people going through tough times, particularly the relationships with the FL.
One hook to the show is the virtual reality world where the two leads first meet. It has a gorgeous Republic era aesthetic but the characters do not die in the end, unlike in the Republic era cdramas. Both the leads look fantastic in these VR scenes, which I am guessing helps to explain the ratings here.
Finally, in spite of my issues with the plot, I like the ending. It feels very natural and realistic, avoiding a couple of cheat codes that writers like to use in romance shows. The FL makes her intentions clear, but they still have some navigation ahead.
On the down side, the plot is pedestrian. It never really challenges the viewer and it never moves much beyond standard romantic drama fare. The story goes into vertical drama mode and the reasons don’t make a whole of sense There is some technical stuff that doesn’t seem internally consistent, most notably that it is not clear how the VR world works. Finally, one character just gets worse and worse, until we learn he is basically Satan. That character’s integrity is sacrificed in the end to give the rest of the characters something to fight against, just really unsatisfying if you think to much about it.
In the end, a comfort show with likable and attractive leads, but some details will annoy the heck out of some viewers.
One final note. I have only seen Lu Yu Xiao in one other drama, Romance in the Alley. In that drama she plays a young Shanghai architect in a messy romantic relationship with a colleague while facing family pressures that complicate her love life. It is a supporting role and I kinda feel like Love Between Lines was a continuation of her story. At least in this story her love interest doesn’t jump off the roof when she makes a move.
On the good side were the characters and their portrayals. The characters have some nuance to them, and the conflicts they face seem real and how they got to their current predicament is relatable. The two leads do not have obvious flaws, which makes it easier to follow along with their story. With one notable exception, the secondary characters have redeeming features as well.
The ML, played by Chen Xing Xu, and the FL, played by Lu Yu Xiao, are likable in part of the acting. It helps that they look good, but again they capture the strengths and vulnerabilities of their characters. The relationships on the show feel like real people going through tough times, particularly the relationships with the FL.
One hook to the show is the virtual reality world where the two leads first meet. It has a gorgeous Republic era aesthetic but the characters do not die in the end, unlike in the Republic era cdramas. Both the leads look fantastic in these VR scenes, which I am guessing helps to explain the ratings here.
Finally, in spite of my issues with the plot, I like the ending. It feels very natural and realistic, avoiding a couple of cheat codes that writers like to use in romance shows. The FL makes her intentions clear, but they still have some navigation ahead.
On the down side, the plot is pedestrian. It never really challenges the viewer and it never moves much beyond standard romantic drama fare. The story goes into vertical drama mode and the reasons don’t make a whole of sense There is some technical stuff that doesn’t seem internally consistent, most notably that it is not clear how the VR world works. Finally, one character just gets worse and worse, until we learn he is basically Satan. That character’s integrity is sacrificed in the end to give the rest of the characters something to fight against, just really unsatisfying if you think to much about it.
In the end, a comfort show with likable and attractive leads, but some details will annoy the heck out of some viewers.
One final note. I have only seen Lu Yu Xiao in one other drama, Romance in the Alley. In that drama she plays a young Shanghai architect in a messy romantic relationship with a colleague while facing family pressures that complicate her love life. It is a supporting role and I kinda feel like Love Between Lines was a continuation of her story. At least in this story her love interest doesn’t jump off the roof when she makes a move.
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