SHOULD I WATCH BE PASSIONATELY IN LOVE?
Should I Watch be Passionately in Love?Be Passionately in Love is easily one of the most heartwarming Asian romances you will ever watch. But it tends to leave it’s audience with a diverse misunderstanding of how the relationship of the main couple is supposed to be portrayed. Causing it’s viewers to express that it ultimately lacked the “passionate love” despite being written in the title. Overall resulting in a misunderstood version of the novel-based love story. While some claim it to be misleading and hold a boring dialogue, I am able to give you two conclusions of why this a must watch romance adaption!
Why should you watch this drama despite it’s mid ratings? You cannot and will not go wrong with this drama. From the original sound track, to the character development, family friendly aesthetic, and so on. That is if it’s viewed the way that the story was originally illustrated on screen.
With a total of 24 episodes, this novel-based drama starts off with a girl named Xu Zhi and a boy named Lu Zhou. They meet as young adults and the female lead pursues the male lead’s friendship after the intentions of trying to meeting his mother. However, the boy starts to convey strong feelings for her. Not yet acknowledging any feelings towards him, she also eventually see’s in a romantic aspect. Leading to the two developing a small but passionate first relationship. Unfortunately not long after their relationship forms the boy ends up leaving their home town to attend college abroad. Causing them to part ways and end their relationship. In conclusion he ends up returning and enrolls into her college in pursuit of her.
THE DRAMA IS NOT ACCURATE TO THE TITLE..
You may be thinking, “This sounds like a passionate and intimate drama!” It most certainly is, if you’re a patient viewer. We don’t get to see the main characters fully embrace one another until towards the end of the Asian series. From them starting off as young and “crushing” on one another, to the show ending with the leads older and united passionately in love. Even though the two reunite when they’re of older age they once again are able to reconnect the playful, innocent, relationship they had previously left off with. Forming another purpose in which some viewers deny the drama to be accurate to the title. The audience wasn’t expecting the type of passionate love that was displayed on TV. Which brings me to my first basis.
The 2025 Chinese drama faces some backlash due to it’s portrayal of staged kissing scenes. According to the media the lead actress of this drama, Liu Hao Cun is known in china for keeping a family friendly image. To the point of having a none kissing contract. Affecting her roles on the big screen. Despite this being in the drama over time the so called staged kisses between the actors become replaced by hugs and cuddles. Exceeding a playful relationship of affection towards one another. This twist in the drama has caused some viewers to immediately drop the novel adaption upon the discovery of the female leads contract. Because of the opposed contract audiences complain that the show Isn’t actually accurate. Where as I solemnly would disagree. Although the novel contains intense kissing scenes the drama shifts towards a more family friendly environment. It also shows us that lovers can absolutely show affection towards one another without there necessarily being a need for kissing.
THE ACTORS LACKED CHEMISTRY..
This is another frequent complain that’s fully displayed amongst the observers of this drama. Once again I will have to disagree, and here is why. The dynamic relationship of the couple in this Viki series can be seen as distinctively different from relationships in other dramas. It’s not your average, “Insecure girl chases after the cold shoulder cool boy” love story. This brings me to my second and final conclusion of why this drama is so misunderstood. The “lack of chemistry” people seem to often point out is actually the result of character/relationship development. In another sense the characters have to first grow individually before they can embrace their relationship amongst each other passionately. Resulting in a full dedicated love for one another.
In the novel the male lead returns to China in hope of resuming the spark him and the female lead had previously blew out. Even to the point of trying to enroll in her college. However, in the novel Lu Zhou (the male lead, also known as Lucy) is described to have a rough exterior due to past family trauma but portrays a soft poetic side to Xu Zhi. Whereas, Xu Zhi is interpreted to be resilient and witty. (Often being followed with the nickname, president Zhi) As the story continues with Lucy trying to pursue her again president Zhi is continually seen through the novel to suppress her emotions around Lucy and others. This leads viewers of the live action adaption to assert to the claim that the actors/characters were missing chemistry. But I can assure you this is not the case. The reason behind this common misinterpretation is due to the fact that in the novel President Zhi was yet to fully embrace her love to Lucy. We learn that it was unfortunately due to her experience with family trauma at a young age. Lu Zhou is able to relate and acknowledge this. Upon this matter she later in the show is able to convey stronger emotions towards him and her family. Meanwhile Zu Xhi also continues to show her full support to Lu Zhou as he deals with his family ordeals. In the end they both end up overcoming their traumas. Thus almost bringing my last conclusion to an end, which tells us that it’s not that the actors who lacked chemistry. In fact they were able to do such a phenomenal job at portraying these characters. Having us convinced at the beginning that there was something “missing”. Only to give us an ending to their love story we typically never would’ve imagined. They never once lacked chemistry, it was all part of a beautiful process. In the end I could actually feel the passionate love for one another. A passionate unconditional kind of love.
Lastly but certainly not least. The way the actors were able to articulate Zhi’s and Zhou’s developing relationship from the novel and bring it to life was outstanding to watch. By the end of the series, I could feel the joy that president Zhi and Lucy felt even when just glancing at one another. They were finally able to express their passionate love. Now to give a final conclusion towards my thesis about this romance drama. Yes, Be Passionately in Love is a misunderstood must watch gem. Are you willing to set aside it’s negative feedback and review the romantic Chinese adaption for yourself?
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