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Painful to watch and not what the poster promised
Things I liked1 The poster. I thought I'd finally watch a real rom com with mature actors and a classic premise. My illusions were shattered right away. After the first episode each episode was a cringe fest and I started hating everyone with each passing episode.
Things I hated
1 The ML actor. he's bot handsome, he looks old and he can't act. He had two expressions all over the series and even when he talked to his brother I didn't feel anything. Was it the script, the director or him? No idea. I only know that he's a terrible actor.
2 The love triangle. I dislike them in general, but here not only it was unnecessary but it ruined more than half the series. What was the point of this, amidst so many other stupid things, when the premise could give you hours of funny, intelligent, heartwarming rom com moments? I don't care with whom he ended up and honestly I don't blame the actor. The script was awful.
3 The sister in law from hell. That she was even redeemed in the end baffles me. She ruined the series with her laughable revenge plot and her unimpressive acting. She should rot in hell if you ask me. That the screenwriter thought it was smart to have daughter and mother talk about her attempt to kill like it was nothing makes me enrage. What kind of scene was it? If my mother attempted such a thing I'd feel losing my mind not talk to her like she was a person you could reason with. She attempted murder for god's sake.
4 The FL. I'm sorry to put her in the "hate" list, at first I thought I'd like her, but her character was awful. Her acting was awful and she never made me warm to her. Whether she smiled, was upset, was sad, was happy she had the same bland expression. She's old enough to have several dramas under her belt so I was expecting at least a decent performance. Inexpressive is the best I can say for her acting.
5 The lack of chemistry. I thought K dramas were great at first and that rom coms were one of the genres they excelled. After having seen quite a few I came to terms with the fact that actually they have no idea how to create a real rom com. They don't choose the right actors, there is no real kissing, no banter, and on top that they add unnecessary drama. Chinese rom coms are so much better. Cute, smart heroines, lovable green flag heroes, adorable banter and more and more decent kisses. If Koreans want to produce a series with stupid drama better not sell it as a rom com. that is what bothered me the most.
6 The mother. Awful woman, and I don't even want to waste my time listing her issues. Awful person, awful mother.
7 Everything else other than the niece and the secretary. What made me mad is the false promise of a rom com, the lack of acting talent from all the actors, the lack of chemistry and the addition of such a heavy and angsty plot that ruined the lighthearted comedy I was expecting and they promised.
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I think this is the first drama I didn't like one single thing
Things I loved1 I thought the premise was good and of course due to the promise and the blurb that it would be romantic, funny, original, full of tropes in a good way, basically a decent rom com. How fool I was.
Things I disliked
1 The 2ML. I didn't like that he fell for the FL. Why? I didn't see a single thing that could make me believe he was in love with her. She didn't do anything that was remotely interesting or smart or anything. Of course, people can fall in love with dull, stupid people in real life, so why not in a drama? You got me there.
Things I hated
1 The outfits of the leads, but especially the FL. What on earth was that? I'm okay with wearing whatever you want, but in a drama, what you wear has to be meaningful. So, I'm curious what was supposed to convey the way she dressed? That she was a 35 years old ready to take the vow? That she had a job that required for her to be dressed as a nun? That she wanted to convey an image of a pure soul? Whatever the heck they wanted to show it irritated me non stop seeing her dressed like a 70 years old grandma.
2 The acting of the FL. Even when she tried she was incapable to convey any feelings. She cried, I didn't care. She laughed same thing. She played the happy in love person, it left me cold. She managed one thing though. Every time she put her hands together in her lap I wanted to scream at her. Kudos for that performance. It was consistent all the way.
3 The ML. I've never seen a more dull, uninteresting, old fashion, boring male lead. I feel bad to trash both leads since they probably are good people and maybe also good actors, but in this drama they failed miserably.
3 The misleading poster, title and blurb. I was expecting a rom com or at least a lighthearted romance. I got two leads who don't know how to act other than boring. A script that had no reason to exist. What was the point of all this? There was no humor, there was no chemistry between the leads, there were dramatic moments that were more laughable and without any development, conflicts without any flavor, and the list goes on.
Honestly after having watched dozens of dramas I cans ay that this one could win the trophy of the most boring hands down. It's unfortunate, but the Koreans don't know anymore how to write a rom com or at least a fluttering romance. Even when they have the premise right, they ruin it with the cast and the directing and of course the plot.
I watch in parallel a Chinese rom com Legally Romance, and the contrast is so big, it hurts. I laugh every other line, my heart fluttered ten times already and I'm only in the fourth episode. The leads have so much talent and chemistry, I just can't get enough of their interactions. Where was all this in this drama? Nowhere.
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A marvelous story that a year later remains in my heart
Things I adored:1 The way her relationship with her best friend was highlighted. It felt so real, so moving. It was truly perfect. I could help but rule for them. It broke my heart to see them apart in so many occasions.
2 The premise. I love movies with that kind of premise but if you ask me here it was done in one of the best and original ways I've ever seen. I didn't expect to get hooked when I started but at the end of each episode I was looking forward to the next and I finished it in no time.
Things I loved:
1 The production. It was my first Chinese drama and I was impressed by the quality of the production.
2 The heroine. I know many will have a different opinion but I thought she was a great character in both versions. She did her best in both and she was a genuinely good person.
3 The actress. I haven't seen her in anything else, but I think she did a wonderful job with her role. I felt for her on every step on the way.
4 The actor who played the best friend. He did a great job and made me rule for him and the heroine to be happy together. He was so in love with her, my heart raced each time they were together. I thought, you can't love someone any much more.
Things I disliked:
1 Many hate the mother in law, but I disagree. Wasn't she perfect? certainly not, but who is? She did her best to help her family even tough sometimes she was overbearing. I disagreed with her on many occasions, and that's why I put her on the disliked list, but I can still understand her point of view.
2 The ending. I can't say I hated it because the whole premise asked for this in a way, but it still broke my heart the way it ended. I can't rewatch this because I'm still raw with emotions after that ending. I know it was realistic and it made me have many discussions with my boyfriend and my friends, but I didn't want a realistic ending. I wanted an ending that no matter what path she chose she'd end with her first love. Not because he was her first love but because they were meant for each other and their love was the only real one. So, yes, this ending is so bittersweet I didn't give a 10. I can't give a 10 because it as I said it broke my heart. More for him than for her because when I remember how he loved her I can't help but think that his heart is broken as well.
3 I disliked thoroughly that they didn't have more chances to talk about their past in the second version. After what they had it wasn't satisfactory to just see them talk a few minutes and never talk about how what they had didn't last. Their last meeting felt cold and not worthy of their past. I know it's a matter of perception, but that's how I feel. I wanted them to have a last heart to heart, something to acknowledge that life did them dirty and it wasn't fair.
Things I hated:
1 The second ML. I find the character uninteresting and bland. I didn't feel like he truly loved and understood the heroine. But that's me and I can understand that others fell differently.
2 Lack of chemistry between the FL and 2ML. I didn't feel any chemistry between them. It felt forced. I felt like the chemistry between the ML and the FL was wonderful while with the 2ML it felt like they went though their lines trying to persuade us they had feelings for each other.
3 The actor who played the 2ML. I find him unattractive so it doesn't help and I can't help but laugh when others think he's sexy. That shows how different we can be. To me he's ugly and he also looked pervert for some reason. Not to add that he wasn't handsome enough for the FL who was gorgeous.
4 I said I wouldn't add the ending to the things I hated, but as I write this review, my heart bleeds again when I think that they weren't together in both time lines and I have to put it here as well. This ending was heartbreaking. What is more heartbreaking is that I believe that this is how it'd happen in real life. It shatters any romantic beliefs we have. I just think that to avoid this kind of endings in real life we have to fight. Fight about every single thing, but do we have the strength to do that? Should it be this way? Should we let the stream takes us where it wants or try to change its trajectory? So many questions.
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Adorable rom com with two great leads
Things I loved:1 The grandmother and the relationship with both the leads. What a great character, so moving and real. She reminded me of my grandma.
2 The male lead. So charismatic and he made me love him while I thought at first that he'd be far from being good in the role.
3 The female lead. What a sweet and capable actress. She was perfect in her role.
4 Her friends. I loved both, their friendship felt real and I loved it whenever they were together.
5 The main lead's assistant. I loved, loved his character. He cracked me up every time he was on screen and he was also moving sometimes. I loved his relationship with the male lead and the heroine.
5 The episode they went to Thailand. It was so lighthearted and beautiful, and funny and romantic. LOVED it.
6 The chemistry between the leads was off the charts. I think from all the series I watched until now they have the best chemistry topped only by the Suspicious Partner leads. I even think that this couple has a small lead in the chemistry department. It was easy to see they had fun and were close to each other. Wonderful couple.
7 The kisses. Finally some real kisses. The kiss in the kitchen was the best ever.
8 The character of the heroine. I loved how caring and sweet and capable she was and that she followed her dreams.
9 The ending. So moving, romantic and I loved the support they had for each other and that she ended up pursuing her dream.
10 The small boy and his scenes with the female and the male lead. Adorable, moving, I cried quite a few times.
11 That the setting was a hotel. I love everything that has to do with hotels.
Things I liked:
1 The father. He was a good person but I didn't like him all the time. He irked me a few times with his passivity and his past didn't work in his favor.
Things I hated:
1 The sister. I wish I could make her disappear with a magic wand. Hated everything about her and I certainty didn't feel sorry about what she supposedly went through. She was an awful person and she deserved much more than what she had in the end. She got out scotch free and I hate that.
2 I hate that the series has such a low score on IMDB. I'm not sure I understand why when other series that far from have this have high ratings. I'm being objective here and can see why some people wouldn't like some things, but the IMDB rating is so low that doesn't make any sense.
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It started at 9, it went down to 6
Things I loved1 The whole family court. It promised so many interesting and relatable stories. It delivered on some, not so much on others. I loved the story about the boy torn between his biological family and his adopted family, and the story about the stepmother who cared about her husband's children, only to be discarded like she was no one when he died. They were beautifully done and they left an imprint on me.
2 The husband of one of the judges. The one with the mutton shop. The actor did a great job and I wish he's get a divorce in the end.
3 The ML family. I loved the father, the grandfather and most of all the mother. Their dynamic as a family was great and I think the ML was at his best when he was with his family.
4 The friendship between the ML and his friend, the judge. It felt natural and I wish there was a better outcome for him. I was quite sad of how things ended with his wife.
Things I liked
1 The judge who was pregnant. She felt like a real person with doubts and a kind heart. I also liked that her husband seemed to love her.
2 I liked the whole team in the Family Court. They seemed to have a good relationship and care for each other. It was great to watch.
3 The career path both main leads chose. I think it was a good choice although it was also clear from the start that it would end in such a way.
4 The FL's friend. The only person who was funny and relatable. Not to mention a great friend.
Things I disliked
1 Several cases. They were too bleak and although I get that these things happen all the time, if you don't feel for any of the parties involved, you don't care either. I wish they had more compelling cases.
2 The accident part. Not necessary in my opinion. What was the point? Did it move the story forward? Not at all. So to me it was a waste of time and we could have some more scenes with the main leads.
3 The ML. The actor is sympathetic and quite good. But as much as I liked him at the first episodes as much I disliked him after he confessed to the FL. First of all it was in the most unromantic way ever. Who the hell says "I want to be the one to take care of you"? That's something you say after you fall in love and you show us that. You don't say that just because her grandma told you to take care of her.
Still, I said to myself, it wasn't perfect but he'll do better next time. Well, next time he did worse and until the very end he never recovered. He was mooning over a woman with whom he never exchanged a word of affection or love let alone lust. And with whom he never kissed.
Give me a break. I'm all for dramas without romance, but if you make the freaking relationship essential, give me something to care. It irritated me so much that episode after episode I lost patience and I didn't care anymore. I even wished they didn't end together.
2 The FL. Well everything i said about the relationship stands also for the FL. But here I also found the actress antipathetic. I don't know what was the issue, but even when she was meant to sound caring and idealist and kind she rubbed me the wrong way. I never fell for her. I never found her someone for whom I cared. The whole love debacle didn't end. I can't imagine her in a romance drama, she is too dry and she comes out as someone you love to hate, so she didn't help. It's a shame because I liked her at first.
3 The grandma. Usually I'm all for grandmas and there's always something I like about them. This time, I didn't care at all. First of all the whole thing felt too contrived. The feelings weren't there with the FL or the ML. the actress didn't do a good job in my opinion and the whole "she doesn't hear well" plot was stupid at best. It was meant to be funny, it was cringe.
Things I hated
1 The "love story". What the heck? If you don't want your drama to have a romance plot, don't write one. Bu if you want it to involved a romance plot then do something to make me care. They were adults and they behaved like they had an epic love story and fate was against tem when they didn't take the time to even talk about a solution. So yes, I can rant for a long time about this and you can't persuade me it was on purpose. Because if it was, then it was stupid. Have them at least kiss once. it's not like kissing is forbidden in Cdramas. Have them talk about their feelings. Wait for me to finish my work so we can talk, I assure you doesn't count as sweet words.
We had twice both leads reminisce about their past. What the heck again. What past? Five instances that weren't even romantic. There was no spark between the leads, no chemistry. It was dead from the beginning, but it was buried after he "confessed".
The most irritating thing, and that's when the rating started to fall freely, the break up. Did they want to establish a new record? Break up after a few hours? I hated both leads at that time, but even more the FL. She didn't show any emotion, and I think the actress can't show emotions, and none of them showed any will to talk about that. Crazy!! But as I viewer I'm supposed to care? Guess what? I don't. It wasn't like she was devastated and she didn't show it. No it was either bad acting either she didn't care.
2 Some of the cases. The children separated between the grandma and the mother was a case I loathed. A s a child who grew up without my brothers and sisters I can tell you how freaking sick is this. You think money is what makes a child happy? No, having his family support is what makes it happy. Having his brothers and sisters to play with, to care about, and feeling wanted. The reasons that stupid judge put forward made me sick. Because adults can't communicate children have to pay the price. No, children should never pay the price.
Millions of children have been happy with one parent over the centuries. I doubt any child has been happy growing up without his brothers and sisters. I have a great relationship with my family. I do get why I had to live away from them for most of my childhood, but no one will ever fill the whole in my heart. Love can heal, you can forgive, but you never forget and the pain never goes away.
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Not great
Things I liked1 The premise. I thought it was a wonderful, original idea and was expecting food to be much more present than it was. It wasn't and that was a big disappointment to me.
2 The ML. I like him as an actor and he's handsome which is a plus.
3 The director. A great character but I can't say I loved her. That's the issue with this drama. I just liked some things, there was nothing I loved.
4 The director's love story. Something new and interesting. I didn't care that much but I still liked see her happy.
Things I disliked
1 The FL. The actress is okay, but her character wasn't one I liked. I thought contrary to others that she was weak and when she tried to be different she often came of as unlikable. At first, I thought I'd love her. The break up scene was great, the first meeting with the ML as well, but then she started to annoy me. I don't know, she never clicked with me.
2 The mother. Something rubbed me off with her character and never warmed up to her.
3 That the show didn't keep it's promise for a lighthearted romcom about food.
Things I hated
1 The whole story about the ex and his mental health. I don't think it was handled well and it made me cringe quite a few times. I felt the handling f mental health was superficial, but the most irritating was that I didn't expect that. Yes, I knew it was about a physiatrist but I didn't expect that kind of dark content. I hated every minute about this. All in all, a failure at this level.
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Adorable couple
Things I loved:1 The main actor and the character he played. He was great in his role. Funny, endearing, moving. He showed the right emotions each time and it was great watching him go through so many different things.
2 The main actress. She's a good actress and also beautiful. I didn't like the scenes she wore short skirts because it took me out of the scene since she's too thin, but of course it's such a stupid thing to say and I know it.
3 The chemistry between the main couple. I think this is one of the couples I loved most since I started watching Korean and Chinese dramas. Not only they make a beautiful couple, they also make you feel that they get each other and can be happy together.
4 The last episode. I wish thee were more episodes so lighthearted. I loved that they took the time to create a proper ending. I loved seeing all the couples and the main couple finally alone. One of the best endings.
5 I loved the opposed managers friendship. It felt real and touching.
6 The main lead's assistant. Such a fun and endearing character. I loved his relationship with the male lead.
7 The part showing him in Africa. it was a great way to establish the character and he shone in these scenes.
8 I didn't expect this but I loved the attorney with the journalist. They managed to make me feel their relationship would work.
9 I loved how the relationship between the male lead and the attorney evolved. It was funny and sweet.
10 The kisses in the last episode. This is what should happen all along. It's a shame when you root for a couple that they kiss so few times especially when they have that kind of chemistry. Same for the cute moments between them.
11 I loved the moments they were at odds but these as well could be more.
Things I liked:
1 The whole team. They were good and I loved how they interacted with each other.
2 The mother story. It was a bit heavy but well played and believable.
Things I disliked:
1 Not enough romance, not enough cute moments, and it's a shame because the leads were great together and I'd love it if there were more intimate moments between them.
2 It's weird but I disliked the manager's couple with the agent. I liked both characters, and I thought I'd be happy if they got together but it turned out it didn't work for me for some reason. It felt forced and the actress gave me the impression that she wasn't at ease, that she was exaggerating her role which made me feel uncomfortable. As I said weird, since I liked them as characters.
3 The relationship of the assistant and the PR girl. I didn't like the way she behaved with him, so it wasn't a couple I was rooting for.
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The leads ruined it for me
Things I loved1 That it was related to Hidden Love that I adored and I thought I knew the character of the ML since I had adored him as well in Hidden Love. So I was excited to watch this.
Things I liked
1 That she was a journalist. My favorite job in the world. Unfortunately she never convinced me that she was a good one.
2 The parallel between present and past. When it's well done it's great and I've seen other dramas where I adored that. Here there were some good scenes in the past and the resent but all in all nothing to make me care.
Things I disliked
1 The second couple. It's funny that both actresses, the FL and the 2FL are in the list of those I won't watch any drama with her anymore. I think they're no great and every time I try to watch them they come out as too childish or too flat.
2 The ML. I won't say I hated him, but honestly after watching his role in Hidden Love played by another actor and loved him, here he felt lifeless. I can't comment of how he was written in the novel, but it would be surprising if the novelist created two so much different versions of him. in Hidden Love he was one of my favorite characters other than the leads. Here he tried too hard to play the brooding hero but in the and he wasn't convincing. To be honest I don't think I'd watch the actor in anything else since he doesn't appeal to me and seems like an adolescent and I can't see him in any thing adult. Unfortunately I don't find him a great actor either.
3 The FL. This was my last attempt to watch something with her. She isn't a good actress, it's now established. She is flat and bland and doesn't steer any emotion when she recites her lines. Is she pretty? Probably for many people. I don't like her acting so i don't find her attractive either. It happens when you dislike the acting of an actor to find them unappealing and the opposite is also true. I don't find some actors handsome but when they act I suddenly find them gorgeous. To make things short, the casting was wrong if you ask me. This is nowhere near the masterpiece that is Hidden Love. Humor, emotions, romance are on the highest level. Here there's nothing to keep. Maybe a scene here and there, but that's all.
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It had potential
Things I loved1 The premise. I love everything that ahs to do with undercover and I was hoping this would be romantic, funny, and original. It delivered a few laughs and some interesting moments but it was nowhere near romance. They wasted the potential of the series and they mislead the audience.
Things I liked
1 The FL. She's a good actress although that she would pass for a 20 years old was ridiculous.
2 The last scene here she goes undercover again. It seems to me that this story has much more potential.
Things I disliked
1 I didn't care about Nora or Albert. Everyone is crazy about hem, I'm not. Their acting didn't impress me and their characters were bland most of the time.
2 That Albert was supposed to be a romantic interest for the FL: I didn't see any chemistry and I thought that it would be ridiculous if they went down that road.
3 That it didn't have any romance and that the supposed ML didn't have anything interesting to do and he was there for the décor.
Things I hated
1 That they sold it like there would be romance and I stared it and wasted my time. I thought it'd be a romantic comedy mixed with some mystery, but it never had any real romance.
2 The actors who played the CEO of the company and the woman who has his right hand. Despicable characters and I hated both actors. I never like the male actor, no matter where I've seen him and he's everywhere.
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Such a disappointment
Things I liked1 The premise. It has food, it has a feisty chef, it has conflict. All things I love. If only it delivered.
2 The 2FL. The 2ML. They were funny and better actors than the main couple.
Things I disliked
1 The ML. Bad acting, not handsome enough, not even a great character. During the first episodes I found him charming from time to time, so I pushed through. But after episode 5, I sped up the episodes to arrive at the end. It became a chore. He overacted, I can't find another word to describe his acting although it doesn't seem that way at first.
2 The female chef. I get her character, I still didn't like her. She was beautiful though.
3 The FL. I was so happy to see her in the first episode. I thought she was beautiful and that her character would loosen up and make her charming and sympathetic. The opposite happened. I disliked her more and more. The acting was too wooden and the character got on my nerves in the end. She didn't make me feel anything I didn't care about her, not an iota. As for the chemistry with the ML awful. No chemistry at all. and I blame both leads or rather the casting person.
Things I hated
1 The brother. I shouldn't, yet I did.
2 The grandmother. I wanted her to die a painful death. Such an awful character. No redeeming qualities for me. What was the point of this character? Actually what was the point of the whole series?
3 The drama for the sake of drama. Too much angst, not enough humor, not enough romance. A disaster. It staretd well, it went fast downhill.
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Just wonderful. Great acting, great plot, so fun and heartwarming. Don't miss it.
Things I adored1 The plot. I'm not a fan of going back and change things plots because most times than not they start well to fail after a while and become nonsensical. Here it has been done so well it's believable and therefore much more impactful. I just fell in love with the concept and the way it was developed.
2 The father of the FL. His journey and his relationship with the FL and his family altogether made me cry more than once. It also made me laugh and yearn for my family. One of the best family dynamics I've ever seen. I wish I could start the drama again and re-experience everything I experienced while watching their family scenes. I wish he could be there until the end.
3 The FL. What a great actress. I never thought when I watched her profile that she could be that great. To be honest I think that she is the best Chinese actress based on this drama. I'm not sure yet how she'll fair with other dramas, this is the only one I watched her in but she was perfection. The difference between her younger self and the present self was done so well and she made it seem effortless. What surpassed me even more is that I never expected her to be that beautiful. Don't get me wrong, she's not unattractive, but at first I thought of her like any decent looking average actress. At the end of the drama and after watching her laugh, cry, be mischievous, be kind, be tough, be heartbroken, be in love I found her gorgeous.
I adored every scene she was in. She was so natural it felt like she didn't act. Her chemistry with everyone was perfect. Her family, her friends, the ML, the 2ML. I've never seen that to be honest. I also adored her character. She was smart, tough, kind, but also with faults and clueless therefore relatable. One of the best characters in a rom com, period. Oh, and I adored that she broke the 4th wall. Many don't like that in movies or series, but when it's well-done I love it. Here it was perfect. The actress delivered it with such talent I was looking forward to it.
4 The brother of the FL. What a great character and his relationship with the FL was perfect. It reminded me of my relationship with my brothers. The teasing, the love, the bond. The actor did a great job and made me connect with his character, with his struggles, his joys, his entire arc. I also loved his romantic relationship and the relationship he had with the ML. I'll be looking for other dramas with him.
5 The ML. He was perfect in his role. Do I find him particularly handsome? No. Did I like his haircut? Definitely no and I took my time to start the drama because of this. But what a great job he did that he made me forget haircut and everything after only one episode. His chemistry with the FL was unparalleled. Their banter, their friendship, their romance, everything was perfection. I couldn't have enough. this is the first drama I watch with him and have no idea how he fairs in other dramas but here he was absolutely perfect.
He was great as the college student in love, as the cold boss in present days, as everything actually. He impressed me and I rarely say that if ever. This was one of the best couples I've ever seen. I loved his character as well. So loyal, romantic, funny, driven. what else can you ask? Nothing.
6 The last scene, the one from their future. It was the scene I needed to make it absolutely perfect and they delivered even in that. Thank you all for such a great drama.
7 The humor. I have to make a separate entry about this because it's the first time I enjoyed so much the humor in a series that wasn't even pure comedy. It was so well done and between all characters that I enjoyed every minute of this. between the man leads, between friends, between the families.
Things I loved
1 The parents of the ML. They were a great couple although I regret we didn't see them a lot. I loved their relationship but also how they were with their son. Loving, supporting, and they made me laugh quite a lot.
2 That it was about lawyers. I love dramas with lawyers but usually they get boring after sometime or they fail at some level, usually relationship-wise. To be fair here the lawyer thing wasn't the focus, but still. It was a big part and I loved that and how they had principles and fought the good fight. We need that more than ever.
3 The 2FL. She was beautiful and talented. I connected with her in many cases, but there was something I didn't get. The music thing. Until the end I'm not sure what was going on. I also would have preferred her relationship with the 2ML was more developed in present day. Most of what we saw was in the past. It was good, but not enough.
4 The 2 ML. I could have hate him. He created enough problems for the main couple and he was a big part of the FL's life. But I didn't hate him. His arc was so well done that I felt for him more than anything else. I did get why he turned the way he did, and I'm happy with the ending. I loved his relationship with the FL, it felt real and I could relate to both. I also loved his relationship with the ML. That also was well done. The whole drama is a study of how to write good and relatable characters and fall in love with them even when you're not supposed to. The actor also did a good job to portray a nuanced character.
5 The 3Fl, Zi Xin. To be honest, I don't like the actress much, and I can't imagine her as a main lead. I imagine her as the villain more, and I was ready to dislike her in this drama as much as I disliked in her in other dramas. But once again her arc was well done and you can't help but like her and want her to succeed. This is what makes this drama perfect, that there's nothing to truly dislike.
6 The mother of the FL. I loved the actress and how well she embodied her role as the lovable spouse as well as the understanding and supportive mother of two smart and sassy children. Great job.
Things I disliked
1 I can only think of one. The music thing with the 2FL. I'm not sure what was the joke. I know I must be dense but what did they say? Could or couldn't she sing? Confusing and to be honest, not that funny after a while. Luckily it didn't take too much time, but it was still annoying.
Things I hated
1 The true villains, but this is also something that adds to the perfection of this drama. I hated the abused woman arc and of course the stupid CEO who was a bit of a caricature villain to be fair, but well, she wasn't a big part of the story so I can overcome this.
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Perfection
Things I adored1 The ML. I can't say it enough but he must be one of the rare actors who can play with my emotions that much. Whether he's sad or playful, serious or funny he gives me all the feelings with his eyes. He's gorgeous, that's a given, but there are other very handsome actors whom I don't care at all. He is like a walking green flag and I adore green flags when it comes to romance. I've seen him in Our secret as well, and loved him. What can I say? I ADORE him.
2 The premise. I'm a lover of high school dramas that spill in university. But this one was particularly great. They weren't together at school yet it felt like they grew up together.
3 Loved their relationship and how protective he was of her. So many swooning moments. But it wasn't only him. She protected him as well and that was great to watch.
4 The relationship between the FL and her brother. So fun, so sweet, so moving. Little demon became my favorite phrase.
5 The parents. Her mom was gorgeous and she played her role to perfection. I was so happy with the relationship the parents had with their children. It was great to watch them grow up in such a loving family.
6 The brother of the FL. At first I thought I'd dislike him. I didn't know what to expect. Then I've seen how he treated his sister and I adored him. The actors played their relationship so beautifully, so naturally. I loved his friendship with the ML as well. And of course how understanding and how protective he was with both o them after they got together. Such a great character and the actor did a stellar job to make me love him.
7 The young actress who played the young FL. Such a great actress and so fun to watch her. I was looking eagerly for the scenes she appeared. Such a talented person. I hope she has a great career.
8 Every single moment they showed each other how they felt. The milk, the hidden star messages, the airport scene... So many wonderful, lovely scenes. I think this is the only series out of maybe 50 I've seen that I'm sure I'll rewatch one day.
8 The whole drama. If I had to label it I could never give it less than 10 even with some imperfections.
Things I loved
1 The FL. Why isn't she with the rest of the cast in the "Adored" list. Well, I feel like I'm not being fair, but I have to distinguish those I adored and although I loved her I don't care to see her in other series, so that tells me that she lacked something. I went directly to look the other series the ML lead was in, but I didn't do the same for her. That said, I loved her, no doubt about that. She did a wonderful job to convey all the despair and the romantic feelings she had for him and I wanted to hug her so much when she suffered. I loved how genuine her feelings were and the actress conveyed these in a great manner.
2 The ML mother. She was a beautiful person and the actress made me feel for her. I loved how human she was about her feelings while trying to protect her son.
3 The friends of the ML and the brother. They were funny and adorable.
Things I liked
1 The university period. There were parts I loved but others not so much so that's why I putt this in the I liked things list. I could have done without the whole "having to care about his father" story.
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This review may contain spoilers
I was 8.5 until I counted the times God was mentioned and how many villains got out scotch free
Things I adored1 The uncle of the FL. Great actor and incredible character who stood up for his principles from start to finish. It's rare to see a father written this way but it was the right way and it was heartwarming to see they never ruined his character. My heart went to him many times during his feud with that stupid daughter he had.
Things I loved
1 That it has a cooking theme. I love the premise and this one didn't disappoint.
2 The FL. She became one of my favorite actresses after Legally Romance and she proved once more that she's a wonderful actress. That said, I can't put her on the adore list and I'm sad but her character wasn't really developed and sometimes she came out as too childish. Especially regarding the romance part. She called the ML Mr. Jiang even after confessing her love, she slept on the same room but had to specify in another bed. She never stood really up to the 2FL or the cousin or anyone who wronged her. Yes she was likable and lovable, no doubt about that, but she was nowhere near the fabulous character of Legally Romance. Not her fault of course, but I have to rate with what I have.
She had some great moments when she rebelled, when she smiled, when she cried and of course she made me feel what she felt. I also liked her inner monologues and her relationship with her best friend/crush as well as her relationship with Nina, her uncle, her parents. I still think she could be much better if she had a better character development ad acted more like a young woman in love rather than treat the romance as an afterthought.
3 The ML. he's a good actor, no doubt. this is the first drama I watch with him but there's a chance I'll look for other dramas he was in. Now there were too many things I disliked in his arc and especially the last episode. He forgave the stupid 2FL who nearly killed him and he never affronted her. Not his fault, the fault of the stupid writing, but I have to take thins into account. It was bad for his character. Same for his supposedly friend, the doctor. I also have many issues with the romance part. I know in real life they are years apart with the FL but I never felt like there was a big gap between them in the drama. Yet he never kissed properly the FL except for one kiss in the last episode.
Many things were lacking in the romance part and after noticing how many times God has been mentioned in this drama I guess this is the reason. it seems for some stupid writers being in love and show it is contrary to the God's will. Effing idiots they ruined the drama for me. Other than that I have several issues with some of his actions, like asking the 2FL to get back with him. What the heck was that? No explanation, no following up, then confessing to the FL like this had never happened, a messed up arc. He also never learnt about the contract, about Lin Yan, so many things that weren't satisfying. But the last episode ruined things the most.
4 The camaraderie in the uncle's restaurant. It was heartwarming and needed to lighten up all this negativity the drama brought. There were other characters like the president of the contest, or the chef in the ML's restaurant, or Blu's mentor that were decent and nice to watch.
5 Nina, the housekeeper. She wasn't in many episodes and I hated the way she was written off for most of the drama but I loved her character and he relationship with the FL. Even more than her relationship with the L. I was happy to see her back even if it was for a reason that broke my heart. Great actress and character.
6 The best friend of the FL. He was always good to her and supported her whenever she needed it. He had no idea about her feelings and he was confused about his but he had the best arc to be honest. He learned from his mistakes and grew as a person. He respected the FL and was her first fan. He made mistakes in his personal life but he tried to correct them and for that alone he is one of my favorite characters.
7 Chu Ting, the girlfriend of the best friend of the FL. The most normal person out there and I understand her reactions all along. I'm happy she found happiness with the best friend. I also have to add that the actress was very beautiful and had great outfits, which is nice to watch.
8 The FL's parents. Great parents, great characters. I loved seeing them as a couple, but also seeing the support of their daughter and they were the only ones that provided a bit of humor in this otherwise quite depressing sometimes drama.
Things I liked
1 Blu. I didn't care much about him but at east he was a decent character and that's a lot for this drama where decency doesn't come along often.
Things I disliked
1 The lack of real romance. I expected more since the chemistry between the leads was there but the story of the competition and the illness took so much space it left no space for real romantic moments and that bothered me a lot. One of the reasons the rating isn't better. There were some heart fluttering moments but they were rare and never enough.
Things I hated
1 I guess the low rating has to do with how many of the characters were despicable, but to me the fact that there were that many awful characters was one of the reasons I kept watching. I wanted them to pay for their actions. So let's start and let me tell you the list will be longue. First that atrocious caricature of a person with more eyeliner than Boy George and the talent of a high school student in their first school drama performance. That he had a love story on top of that was ludicrous and I skipped all the scenes after a while.
That he won also was frustrating to watch and that he put up a performance to congratulate the main couple contestants irritated me to no end. Why did the writer needed that? They should leave him be the miserable know it all unethical and arrogant son of a "beach" he was all over the drama. And the nail in the coffin, he became a helper at the uncle's restaurant. Spare me the violins. A character I hated from start to finish and I never want to see again that ugly, untalented actor. He had the nerve to say his sister is a good person when his love interest asks. What a distorted view of what is good and what is bad. Unbelievable.
2 The cousin. Yes they gave her a way to redeem herself but she stays on my hate list nonetheless. The things she did and how crazy she went for a competition losing her soul, if she ever had one, were beyond anything I can tolerate as a human being. The FL vexed me to no end when she didn't reciprocate ever. Why? I'm a pushover notoriously but even I would accept things to a certain point and would never forgive her. That said, I have to admit that due to her father and the parents of the FL I was happy to see that the family wouldn't be affected because of that stupid girl. She didn't deserve Blu either, but there you have it. Whoever wrote this wanted a world where there is no accountability and everyone can be happy even when they are despicable human beings.
3 Boris. Okay first of all ridiculous to choose someone called Boris to be a villain, but it is what it is. The thing is I hated him and wanted him to suffer, but he's also the only one I wasn't too mad he got off scotch free. I get where he came from although he has no excuse to behave like a lunatic when he was a grown up man. But I can understand that when we are hurt and we see things from a distorted angle we can become our worst enemy and go too far. So there's no doubt he remains in my hate list despite the redeeming but at least there was story there. The other villains had no story, they were just villains without reason.
4 The mother of the 2FL. I think I hated her the most of all. What an awful character without any redeeming qualities. Not only she was a dangerous mother to her children with her advice and her enabling but she never regretted any of her actions. A two faced beach who I wanted to suffer though hell. She knew what her daughter had done and instead of asking her to take responsibility she pushed her to harm even more the ML. Seriously I hated her every second she appeared. I wish she paid a hefty price for her maliciousness and never have anyone forgive her. Cruel and terrible person and instead of making her pay for her cruelness they gave her a love story. Are you effing kidding me?
5 Li Yan. Another stupid character you have to hate. Going along with the despicable 2FL was his downhill. Although I can't move him from the hate list, I get why he did what he did. Well, as much as you can understand a villain. He showed early on redeeming qualities and that's something in this ocean of bad characters.
6 The doctor, supposedly friend of the ML. He was one of the worst. How can a person who vowed to protect and cure people can go along with a near murderess and forget all his principles because he had feelings for her? No, here's no way this person should be redeemed. So as I write this review I come to understand because so many people gave a lower rating than me. Because of this kind of things, the unaccountability of the villains.
7 The last episode. What the heck was that? After all we went through we had a heavy episode and not even an interesting one. Eulogy? Are you effing kidding me again? He was a gift from heaven, Who in their right minds writes this? Yes until now I had the drama at 8.5 but I'll go lower it to 8. Enough is enough. The praying, I watch Cdramas to avoid that kind of western stupid thinking and now I have to see it in Cdramas as well? I think this is the drama that had more times mentioned God and that kind of things than any other. Thank God, God's gift, God heard my prayers, and every other sentence was about God. No doubt the stupid writer chose to redeem everyone. They probably think it's their mission.
Only I watch dramas to get entertained and one of the things I expect is to have realistic arcs for the characters. There's no effing way in hell anyone would forgive any of these awful people. He wrote a letter of forgiveness because there were no terrible consequences. That is the understatement of the century. Are you effing kidding me for the millionth time?
Then we also have the cherry on the top with the musical sequence and none of the actors had any natural gift for that. It could be great if they had spent more than 20 minutes to learn how to act and if the vibe of the last episode was lighthearted. But after an awful over the top dramatic episode you give me that? Yeah, hard pass. You are idiots. Instead of giving us a few moments with the leads and a kiss or two we have that nonsensical finale. Now that I think of it I'll lower it even more which pains me since I loved the main couple, but it is what it is.
8 The 2FL. A psychotic person with as many issues and the distance to the end of the Earth. We're supposed to understand why the idiot forgave her and it is because she showed remorse. So she almost killed him, she was the reason he lost his taste buds, his sight, she tricked him to take the restaurant away, but because she went to the police after he almost died, she had a redeeming arc. I will definitely avoid this writer because I'm so frustrated I could scream.
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A mix of boring and sweet
Things I loved1 The theme. I've never watched a series based on the brewing theme and I wanted to learn things and watch them drink and discuss beer. I don't like drinking at all but wine and beer are two drinks that fascinate me as of their popularity and I always want to find out more about how it's done.
2 The beginning. I loved the FL character and wanted to find out more about her journey. The issue is that somehow it got boring after a while and I wasn't so much into her journey.
3 The FL. She's one of my favorite actresses after Business Proposal, so she is the reason with the theme that I started this. I think she's as cute as ever and she's a good romantic comedy actress. I will definitely continue to look for her dramas. Did she have chemistry with the ML? I guess. I wasn't that transported by the romance so I can't really say.
Things I liked
1 The ML. it's the first drama I watch with him, and I think he did a good job with his character. My issue is that I never warmed to his character. I wanted to love him, but it didn't happen. I didn't dislike him, that's certain, he was a great person, I just didn't connect with him.
2 The other characters. They were good and I don't have anything to complain. I just didn't care enough to put them on the "love" list.
Things I disliked
1 It was quite boring, and I think this is the first review where I say this. I'm not easily bored and I don't mind slow pace at all, but with this one it felt sometimes like nothing happened.
2 The village theme. Others are attracted by it, but that's not my case. I love villages as setting as much as big cities, but I dislike everything that comes with like meddling people and hidden lessons. It wasn't that bad, but it wasn't something that appealed to me either. All in all, it was a sweet, heartwarming drama with a little too many boring moments.
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Boring is the word
Things I liked1 The premise. I thought it would be well-acted and interesting and since I love the trope I was ready to have fun. I didn't even smile once.
Things I disliked
1 The grandfather. I never warmed at him. I think it's the actor I disliked even more than the character.
2 The brother of the ML. I didn't connect with him and his issues, but that's probably because they didn't care to make me connect. Everything stayed superficial.
3 The ML. I thought he'd be great at first but I changed my mind episode after episode. I've never seen him on something else so I can't say if he's talented and didn't shine here or if this is his acting style. If the latter, he was wrong for the role. He didn't make feel anything either.
4 The FL. I haven't seen her either on another series but in this one she was completely wrong for the role. She wasn't cute or beautiful enough to carry the character so I ended up indifferent to her as well. All in all, a bland and uninspired script delivered by actors who did the minimum.
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