Why do they keep saying Han Li isn't much to look at??? I mean the man is handsome af.....
In the anime and in this live action, Han Li is meant to be average with looks. And I think that he is. This is opposed to someone who has very striking and unique facial features like for instance, Chen Zhe Yuan or Tian Xuning. There is a plainness to Han Li in the anime and a plainness to Yang Yang's looks. That doesn't mean he is ugly. It's kind of like how we can describe a girl as having 'the girl next door' look. It means there is a plainness, a sense of a nice classic features. That doesn't mean she is ugly. This is for example Jennifer Aniston vs someone like Angelina Jolie who has more striking unique features.
Yang Yang has the nice classic looks. He is very handsome in this particular way. This type of look is actually very refreshing. I think the first misunderstanding is to take him being described as average as an insult. Honestly, I came here to ask if anyone else found it just perfectly shocking how much Yang Yang literally looks like the Han Li from the anime?!?!?! Like, literally is the drawing come to life!!!!! And I just love Yang Yang for this role! He embodies the character and is just so perfect for this drama! He is very handsome and talented, wishing him continued success!
yeah, unfortunately I just don't like her. I don't hate her. This was a great role for her, good on her. I think this drama is great and I hope it succeeds. I just can't get into it....b/c of her lol. oh well.
True... Pure brainless people are commenting shit here..... They can't understand that the female lead's characterisation…
Did you even read my review? I praise the drama and both MLs. I state I understand the architype of FL and I like it. This isn't a hateful or brainless review, it's honest in that my main issue isn't with the drama, character or acting. it is what it is.
It was actually funny often, I like laughing. Obvi the voices are amazing and that's why I watched it. The rest is fine, its good for kids. The story is pretty honest about the intentional idolatry of pop stars and how it sucks our souls. I wonder how much people are going to acknowledge this truth.
Watching it again this OCT 2025 I'm realizing how much the drama being released so soon after 'The Prisoner of Beauty' was a major mistake. That drama was so good that viewers were extremely critical of Princess Gambit. If this drama had been released now, I would be so anxious every day for the release to watch it. It's crazy how release dates and what is also being released at the time can play into how the viewer feels about a drama. Marketing spent all that money and didn't think about this.
Thank you for your awesome review! I don’t read novels and didn’t watch the anime but I really like his character…
yeah man! Glad my review has been helpful. Blood of Youth is in my top 5 favs too. It really is the best across the board in all aspects. Gong Jun has such expressive eyes and that's extremely necessary for a character who is stoic and does a lot of his talking with his eyes.
This drama may fall short in this or that way, but all dramas have short comings. It's actually for the most part fun to watch. I think its biggest problem was being released so shortly after 'The Prisoner of Beauty'. If it had bene released in fall 2025 we would be praising it. Dramas like 'shadow love' and 'love in the clouds' are so much worse that Princess Gambit is like a drink of fresh water right now for me. Feel free to read my review for this drama to hear a little more.
Concerning the script issue. Actors bring their scripts to the shoot and do practice run throughs. This is professional. You can check out a bunch of BTS videos of this for many of the dramas. The persons at fault are the editing team for not selecting the right take or marking it incorrectly and it is certainly the editing team's fault for not catching this error and giving it the green light before releasing it for viewing. Very frustrating to see articles tearing down the actors who work very hard and are being professional.
It would be stockholm syndrom if she fell for Pei Yan...who literally kept trying to lock her up inside his house the entire show. I think it's a game of cat and mouse with Wei Zhao.
You are right. The writing is bad until the end. I just modified my rating!!!
Interesting characters, good plot points, the story had the making for something great! Which is why the writing having fallen short is so disappointing :(. I think you were fair and honest in your review without trying to tear down the drama. I really appreciated everything you shared. It is a well-rounded review. And ofc I know we are all thankful for the hard work the actors and crew put in so we could have something to watch while we wait for the dramas that are bangers :).
Yang Yang has the nice classic looks. He is very handsome in this particular way. This type of look is actually very refreshing. I think the first misunderstanding is to take him being described as average as an insult. Honestly, I came here to ask if anyone else found it just perfectly shocking how much Yang Yang literally looks like the Han Li from the anime?!?!?! Like, literally is the drawing come to life!!!!! And I just love Yang Yang for this role! He embodies the character and is just so perfect for this drama! He is very handsome and talented, wishing him continued success!