MariliT

Just wonderful - Don't miss it

Things I adored

1 The ML. What fabulous actor and what a great role. I fell in love with him from the first scene and was first with his character. How can you not fall in love with someone who's unique and talented and hard working and never lets life and stupid people get in his way. I wish there were more dramas with him I could watch. And to think I don't even find him handsome in a classic way, yet he was so perfect in his role I found him more than handsome in the end. I'm already on his profile looking for other shows with him.

2 The FL. Such a great actress and a positive character. I loved her as well from the very first moment and she never disappointed me. She is a great actress although I have to say that since this is my first drama with her I don't know how she'll do with another script and I hope she does better in the romance scenes because here there was something lacking. I'm going to search for other shows with her for sure.

3 Pei XI. Another wonderful character and his story was one of the most compelling. I loved every minute he was in and I was so happy for his story arc. The way it started it continued and ended. It was perfect all the way.

4 Lin Yi Xuan. What an adorable character and the actor did a great job to make me care about him. A loyal friend, a fierce competitor and the dash of humor we needed in this drama. He was perfect all the way.

5 Summer. Not a big character but he made me laugh the more with Lin Yi Xuan and he was also a great friend with a big heart. What else can you ask? His smile made me smile and his actions made my heart fond.

6 The friendship. The relationship between these characters was the highlight of the show along with the competition. I've never seen so many friendships that stood time so well and proved to be solid and real. I cried a lot of times and laughed as many and my heart grew fond of all of them. Such a great bunch of friends and competitors.

7 The script. The screenwriter did a great job creating so many real, compelling characters. I wouldn't even be able to choose my favorite from the cast. I adore the ML, but the rest of the cast is as good.

8 The competition part. It was thrilling and it's the first time after maybe a 100 shoes that I stayed awake for two nights to watch the series. Never happened to me to watch a whole series in two days and nights. I watched a lot of series I adored but I could stop for a few days and go back while here I couldn't stop. I just wanted to see what happened and how. Honestly, if not for the lacking in the romance department this would be on my top 3 shows.

Things I loved

1 The game universe. I didn't think I would, and some things went over my head, but it didn't take away from my pleasure. Competition was thrilling and I was at the edge of my seat until the last minutes.

2 The 2FL. I loved her, she was a great friend and a good journalist, but didn't adore her. Only one reason to this. She acted too childish sometimes, to the point that it was frustrating. I wish her relationship with Lin Yi Xuan was better developed as well. It still was adorable, though.

3 Gu Fang. We didn't have the chance to get to know him better but the little we saw made me love him and his behavior after the first championship was exemplary of a great athlete. I also loved his relationship with the ML.

4 Xia Ling. Another adorable character who contributed to make the series compelling, Not only the story with his sister was interesting but also his personal growth. I would have done without the drama but it wasn't that bad.

5 Sun Ze Yi. I repeat myself but he as also a great character and I'm so happy with his story arc. I think his was one of the most compelling. The actor played well and I'm happy with his personal story as well. I wish we could have seen more of his romantic arc.

6 Shu Wen. I loved her and how she stood up for what she believed. I loved her relationship with the ML, her ex and her team. A positive smart character whom I'd love to watch more as well.

Things I liked

1 Luo Tian. I wasn't fond of the actor to be honest, but his character won some points after he behaved so well with the FL. Not a negative point, though. He did his part and contributed to the whole series.

Things I disliked

1 I don't think make Luo Tian have feelings for the FL even though it never went far was necessary. I'm not even sure it contributed anything except for a few scenes that could have been done another way to express what the writer wanted.

2 The way the treated the romance part. Although I get that this was primarily a competition focused drama the romance was a big part of it and it should have been done better. They did dirty on the ML with the way they wrote some scenes and they never took the time to have the main leads have an explanation and that's a complete miss for me. I invested so many hours I think I deserved to see them happy and have a good explanation instead of a rush ending. Another thing the messed u was that they created a warm, great relationship between the ML and his ex and showed us how in love they were but failed to do so with the FL. That's something that frustrated me a lot.

3 The lack of chemistry between the leads when it comes to romance. let me explain because this is tricky. They had great chemistry when they bickered, it was a treat. Same for when they became friends. They were adorable. But it never translated to the scenes where they were together as a couple. I'm not sure why. They didn't even have a proper kiss. The two kisses, although it may have been only one, were fish kisses and left me frustrated and irritated. If you are able to make me lose sleep for two nights to watch this, you have to be able to write and film a great kiss. That's the only reason I take half a point of my rating. Because I think it's a great miss to mess the romance part so much. They didn't even have any sweet moments after they got together. it was more sweet and adorable before.

4 The ex. Fu Mi Ya. I know most people hated her, but I didn't. I think her reaction was natural in a way. She was in love she sacrificed everything for her career and she felt alone. It was natural to turn to her ex and they did a great job to show us how close they were and why she would still be attached to the memory of them. Did she go a little too far? Definitely, but she redeemed herself and that was a true redemption. I think they should have given us a scene where she realized Tony, her manager is the person she should be with. The actress did a good job by the way to make us not hate her character.

Things I hated

1 The way the FL reacted to their romance. There was a line I hated with all my heart because it made me question the whole relationship between the leads. She said when she was asked id she was sad that she wasn't as sad as she expected. That she was grateful to have met him bla bla. That ruined the romance for me. How the heck aren't you sad mere hours after you think your love story has ended? If you were truly in love there's no way you felt happy for all the stupid reasons you uttered. You need time to process all this and react in such a cold way. I'm sorry that was an awful line.

2 Zhao Yang. I wish he paid a heavy price for what he did and not only lose his job. His character was despicable and we never were given a reason other than jealousy. Good riddance.

3 Qi Yue. No shortage of characters to hate and I don't care about his redemption. I don't believe he would ever be able to do that and I think he should never get another chance to play. After all he tried to destroy the ML without any remorse. Good riddance as well. Not happy with the redemption idea.

4 Qiao Xin. The queen of malice. Do I believe she changed? I don't care. I don't want to see her again so why would I care? She was an immature and quite uninteresting character to be honest. Her acts didn't make any sense to me. How jealous and insecure can you be to try to smear someone who did nothing to harm you? Such a selfish nasty person.

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I get why some love it and others hate it

Things I loved

1 The fresh and original premise. The problem is I thought it would be a comedy and it turned out it was a mix of everything and anything and that irked me in the end.

Things I liked

1 The FL mother. I think she was a great mother even though at first I wanted to smack her.

Things I disliked

1 The FL. I thought at first I would love the actress and the character but little by little I came to dislike both. Sometimes I had the impression the actress was in a trance. Hearing her speaking put me to sleep.

Things I hated

1 The mix of genres that wasn't particularly successful. The sad vibe that was predominant put me off. I didn't expect that and it ruined it for me.

2 The ML actor. Oh God, it's not only that I find him unappealing, it's that his acting was as bad as the acting of the FL if not worse. Every time he spoke or appeared I wanted to shout at him to wake up and behave like a normal person. The "I know I'll die" stupid thing was unnecessary and made the whole series unwatchable. I wonder why I give it a 3. Probably because I think the premise was so unique it deserved it.

3 No chemistry between the leads. It's subjective, I know, but other than both make me feel depressed I didn't see anything that made my heart flutter and think they were meant to be together.

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Disappointing at all levels

Things I loved

1 The premise. I thought it would be interesting and it was for a few episodes. Then I stopped caring.

Things I liked

1 The FL. She's one of the actresses I like, but here something was amiss. I can't put my finger on it, but she didn't fit the role for some reason.

Things I disliked

1 The ML. Unfortunately I didn't care about his acting and I found him disturbing. Maybe he's a good actor but here he didn't deliver for me. I didn't want him to be guilty but I didn't care either and that's what ruined the whole drama for me. That he wasn't a compelling enough character to make me care.

2 The romance part. They didn't have chemistry in my book.

3 The ending. Not riveting and at that point i didn't care for that ether.

4 The fan part. I thought it would be good but it was limit disturbing. I didn't hate it but it wasn't dealt well with and that diminished my enjoyment. All in all, not as good as I was expecting and hoping.

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How can you rate perfection?

Things I adored

1 The FL. I thought I'd never like anyone more than Bai Lu. Well, it happened. I think Lu Yu Xiao became my favorite actress ever. Beautiful, sweet, funny, talented. I never liked any actress the way I liked her in Love Between Lines. She nailed every second she was in. The way she laughed, the way she cried, the way she teased, the way she kissed, it was a master class of acting. Her character was one of the best I've ever seen as well. Smart, dedicated, great friend, great daughter, the best girlfriend ever. I wish I could explain how much I loved her but it's impossible. I wish her a long and fulfilling career. She made me cry and laugh and swoon and I had some wonderful moments watching her in LBL. Absolute perfection. I think she is the best rom com heroine ever and i doubt anyone surpass her.

2 The whole series. Were they some things I didn't adore? Definitely. But when everything makes your heart flutter or sink and makes you feel alive and so lucky to see this drama everything is perfect. The premise was wonderful, the pace was great, the plot was compelling. Only details bothered me.

3 The chemistry between the leads. So wonderful to watch. Every smile between them, every hug, every word was perfection. I didn't expect that when I started it and I made it last as much as I could, but in the end I gave in and watched the last episodes only to feel sad and empty knowing I can't recapture the joy this drama brought me. When you think that I don't even find the ML that handsome and I've seen other dramas of him I didn't like, you can imagine how good this one is to make me love him as well.

4 The ML. I don't find him that handsome, and I definitely didn't like his clothes this time. But his acting was so subtle, so perfect that now he is on my favorite actors list. He was the perfect boyfriend, he had crazy chemistry with Lu Yu Xiao and it felt like they didn't act. They felt like a real couple.

5 The jealousy scenes. Both nailed them and they were so fun to watch. I would love a compilation of them just to rewatch them again and again.

6 The kisses. They were great. Finally some real kiss scenes that were believable and so rewarding. Perfection again.

7 Their relationship. Once it happened they were there for each other in such a way that you can only fall in love with them and want them to be happy.

8 The relationship of the FL with her parents. It reminded me of my family and I felt for her father, her mother and the FL. I loved how close they were and how they were ready to listen to each other and forgive and support. The way my family is and the way I wish everyone were with their family.

9 The virtual setting. I loved it. So fun and original to see them in the virtual game. Was it perfect? Of course not but I wanted to ha fun. I didn't care about the credibility of this part. It was the best start of a romance ever.

10 I loved the relationship between the FL and her friend. They were there for each other without any judgment and this is another strong appeal of the drama.

Things I loved

1 The people who worked at Dynamic studio. They weren't developed enough but it was a healthy and creative environment which was refreshing and healing to watch after watching so many dramas with awful, toxic work places.

2 The best friend of the ML. He wasn't developed enough ether but he seemed a genuinely good guy and although we didn't see him with the FL's best friend we know that's where it headed and why not? I have some reservations because to be honest I felt like he's not appreciated enough but I loved him and I would like for him to find happiness.

3 The way the FL dressed. There ere a few outfits I didn't love but nothing I truly disliked. Most were very stylish and elegant and suited her. Well, she's gorgeous so it helps, but still. Cute outfits that suited her personality.

Things I disliked

1 The shoes the FL wore. most were ugly and shoes meant for old people. I'm not sure why she wore these.

2 The ML's clothes. I've seen many comment about how well he was dressed but honestly I thought exactly the opposite. The suits weren't flattering and the trousers same thing. They didn't make him look better but worse. None of his clothes were fitting. Let's be real, the 2ML was much more elegant.

3 The way they deal with the best friend and the husband. We didn't have time and enough information to side with her a 100%. I'm in no way in support of any kind of cheating, but I needed him to explain more. I needed her to take some time to think before making such a drastic decision. Nothing was really explained and until the "cheating" we saw some issues but not enough to make me understand her decision. That said, I'm all for her asking for a divorce. At that point, trust was lost and they could never be together and happy. Still, I wish they took the time to make us feel what both went through. After all they married because they loved each other. It should count for a few weeks of grief. Here we had the impression that from evening to morning everything was dealt.

4 The mother of the ML. I can't hate her, she went through a horrible moment and made a wrong decision, but she was a weak woman and I hate weak women in dramas. The actress wasn't great either. More like a robot than a real person.

5 The 2ML. I can't put him in the "hated" list. I can't put an abused child in this list, not even in a drama. Not even when he des some questionable if not despicable things. I wish we could see him happy to be honest and I took his last scene as he will find his purpose and some day he'll be happy. I didn't find him handsome at all so it's not because of that. It's because I think he was abused and lied his whole life and he deserves some happiness.

Things I hated

1 The father of the 2ML. The actor nailed the role, no doubt. I haven't abhorred someone so much since the 2Ml in So I Married an Anti-Fan. I wanted to punch him every time he appeared. Such a horrible horrible person. I wish we could have seen him suffer instead of a few minutes of confrontation. I wish I could see a confrontation with his wife, his son and the ML.

2 The story was too heavy in some aspects. I didn't like the abuse of the 2ML. it was triggering to me and didn't have its place in such a drama. Same for the fire thing. It would be as much compelling without these two things.

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Uneven and disappointing

Things I liked

1 That is was a law theme series. I love everything that has a law premise. That said, it started well and then it changed and went downhill. Some episodes were decent some were awful. It wasn't only the cases but the way they glossed over, and they rarely managed to move me. It happened but not as much as I thought.

2 The ML. Actually I hesitated were to pout him. I could also put him in the things I disliked, but he was better than the rest of the cast so I have to acknowledge this. That said, I thought he was looking quite old, his acting was too restrained, more than the role required, and even in the moving scenes he was holding back. Though he was better than the FL. Still a decent performance.

Things I disliked

1 The FL. I don't think she was good in this role. It felt like she had no idea how to act. She didn't deliver her smart ideas in a convincing way. She wasn't able to move me when she talked about her sister and the whole family debacle. To put it bluntly she didn't make me care.

2 The ML ex wife. I didn't hate her as others because I think she was flawed but I could clearly see what happened and how it was difficult for her to make the right decision. I don't excuse her, I just think she was a normal human being who made mistakes. She should have owned her mistakes sooner though.

3 The lack f chemistry. Unfortunately even though they tried both actors didn't manage to have any sparks between them. It felt to me like two high school students read their script instead of living it. After having seen so many K and C dramas, I can say that for me both were wrong for their role.

Things I hated

1 The FL mother. No redemption arc could save her. I loathed her and I wish she paid for what she did. There's no excuse for being such a coward and despicable human being.

2 The culprit in the animals case. I know he was there for an episode but he was one of the worst villains I've ever seen and it made me hurt, really hurt. My stomach was in knots.

3 The 2ML. I thought he was childish and so boring and stupid. I didn't like at all the way he chased the 2FL. I didn't feel their couple was one to rule for. I hate age gap but in this case it wasn't about that. He just seemed so immature from the first time he courted her to the stupid proposal. That was one of the stupidest I've ever seen. I wish she'd rejected him.

4 The ending. The conversation between the leads. So trite and pseudo philosophical. Who the heck says things like that with a straight face? It was like they both read a script and not having a genuine conversation and I'm the queen of such conversations. There was no passion, no conviction, nothing. One of the less satisfying endings out there. Not to mention the memorial like we went through the dead people after a reward ceremony. Awful.

5 The ex wife's husband. I just mention it because he was so insecure and stupid it ruined every scene he was on.

6 Some cases like the animal and the bulling cases. I do get why they did it and I applaud that, but it was too hard to watch for a series that wasn't supposed to be that brutal. As for the last case it takes the crown for the most stupid case and the most stupid outcome. I didn't get what he gained or why she behaved like nothing had changed. Both idiots.

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I wish I could rate it a 100 and it had a 100 episodes

Things I adored

1 Almost everything.

2 The genre. Lighthearted romantic mysteries are my favorite series and I'm bummed I can't find enough in any language. This one was particularly good, much much better than the Australian version for sure, but also any other series I watched over the years. The atmosphere, the music, the decors, Shanghai, most of the cases. Everything was great. A true gem and a real pleasure to watch it. I even tried to slow down just to have something to wait for.

3 Wen li, the FL. I adored her character and the actress. She played her role perfectly. So beautiful, so elegant, gorgeous outfits. A witty personality, clever, generous, kind, with a sense of humor. To me she was perfect. I didn't dislike a single one of her scenes.

4 Qiu Heng, the ML. The only way I can describe how I felt about him is that I fell in love with the character and the actor. I can't imagine anyone else play this role. He was absolutely perfect. His smile, his way of looking at her, his sense of humor, his relationship with his team and all the other characters. I wish I found someone like him in real life. I couldn't find a single thing I didn't like. Not to mention his good looks and his way of dressing, Dashing.

5 The chemistry between the leads. Perfect couple. They both shone in their scenes together and my only regret is they didn't kiss more. That would be perfect.

6 Tao Zi. Such a great character and I wanted her to be happy. So brave and loyal and smart. I loved her. She was the perfect sidekick to Wen li.

7 Xiao An. Another attaching and lovable character. His romance with Tao Zi was one of the highlights of the series. So many cute and funny moments. I also loved how loyal he was and his relationship with the ML. That was one of the best work relationships I've seen in a series. Built on respect but also camaraderie and loyalty and care.

8 Song and Tan. I adored both. The way they came into the series, their relationship and their loyalty to Wen li and the other characters. They have been a big part of why I adored this series.

9 Uncle Xiang I want to mention him separately because he was perfect in his role. It was so clear he loved Wen li and he cared about everyone. His acting was truly good.

10 Su Yun. What a marvelous actress and so beautiful. I had tears in my eyes when we first met her and I loved how things evolved. She was the cutest and I wish her a great career. She shone in the series and deserves a big bravo forthe way she played her role.

11 The cars. I loved all of them. I don't even drive but these cars are so gorgeous.

12 The last scene. So fitting to the rest of the series. I won't spoilt it but it had everything: humor, romance, elegance. I wish it wasn't the ending.

Things I loved.

1 All the other characters. The aunt, the forensic doctor, Ru Qing. Each one brought something to the series.

Things I hated.

1 Hated is strong maybe but disliked isn't strong enough. I hated the way the sister story went. I didn't mind Wen li having to deal with this, it made her character more layered, but the whole script was stupid. Not their fault sine this is from a series and I think it was written by the author this way, but still. So stupid. Even with such a stupid plot they could have done something better. It didn't pay off in the end.

2 Ru Shan. Yes, we are supposed to hate him, but to me it was much more than that. It made me feel uncomfortable and it wasn't only the character but the actor. I guess we can say he managed to play his role well and maybe you are right, but still. It didn't fit with the lighthearted vie of the series. It ruined perfection for me. I can't give it less than 10 with everyone else being perfect, but if I had to rate only the sister plot, 5 would be generous.

In conclusion, one of my favorite series and I wish they'd do another season. I know they won't, but I can still dream. They created a family and I adored every member of this family.

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When I fell in love with Ji Chang Wook

Things I loved:

1 Ji Chang Wook. I never thought I could fall in love with an actor and yet here I am. When he wore his glasses and didn't have his hair styled, he was just adorable. His acting skills and especially comedic are fantastic. I could rave about him for hours so let's say he's my first crush.

2 The secondary characters. I loved all of them. The whole lawyer team, the moms, her nemesis, and the female prosecutor.

3 The story. Although I thought it could be better regarding some points, it still was great and interesting.

4 Nam Ji Hyun. I'm not in love with her, but she's a great actress and she was great showing her feelings. I especially loved her comedic moments.

5 Ji Chang Wook. Fine, I repeat myself but he deserves it, and I just wanted to add it again to talk about the meeting scenes. I loved each and every one of them. The bickering and the care they had for each other shone through.

6 The relationship of the female lead with her rival, the woman her ex cheated with her.

Things I disliked (although not much):

1 Not enough romantic, sizzling scenes. I'll probably say this again and again, but it's a shame such wonderful series (Korean and Chinese) lack at this department.

2 The second couple wasn't developed enough. I wanted to see how their relationship evolves and have them confess their feelings.

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I was expecting much more

Things I adored

1 The first poster I saw. I thought, that's my kind of rom com. I thought to be honest that they would live in different apartments, and I was pleasantly surprised to find out they were living together. I think it would be great if they lived as neighbors, but here we had more chances for bickering and romantic moments. So the premise was great for me and I was excited to watch it.

Things I loved

1 The ML. First of all, I find him handsome and that always plays a positive role to me when the series is a rom com. I have seen him before in Filter and I liked him, but the FL wasn't good enough for me, so it influenced his performance as well. Here, I found him much more handsome. I tried to watch the Love Me, Love My Voice, and he was gorgeous, but unfortunately the series didn't work for me because of the FL. So this is the first series where I liked both leads and him in particular.
He nailed the arrogant but kind lead, and honestly if not for him this would be a dull drama. I loved the banter and I loved his character. He was never truly mean or truly spoiled. He made the effort to change and he changed. Yes he did sometimes small things that could be interpreted as such, but he was the perfect tenant at the end of the day. He never took advantage of the FL, he paid for everything she did and it was part of his growth arc. He was always there for her. He brought a lot to his character with his acting and I loved him.
I loved how smart and hardworking and honest he was in every aspect of his life. Yes, he kept something important from the FL, but let's be serious, it was nothing that had any negative impact on her. I want also to add that he can kiss.

2 The father of the ML. He was a decent person and I was happy to see the the ML and him have a good relationship. I didn't find the actor particularly good, though.

3 The father of the FL. What a kind, understanding father. I wish he had more scenes.

Things I liked

1 The FL. So, this is difficult for me to write because I thought she would be great in this role, and she wasn't. What went wrong? Quite a few things. Let's start with the trivial. I didn't like at all her hair. It was always unkept and not in good way. The color didn't work, it made her look older than she is, and that bothered me during the whole series. This is the second drama I watched with her, and in the How dare you? she was gorgeous. So I expected her to be beautiful here as well. But the hair didn't do her any favors. I think it should be much lighter. Even worse, she was dressed as a 40 year old suburban housewife. I can't describe how much I hated her outfits. I probably liked two in the whole series, and just liked them. I didn't love any of her outfits and clothes are important to me in a rom com. The ML had some debatable outfits as well. But mostly he was dressed quite well. I hated that her friend and the ML talked about it and yet she never changed to a better way to dress.

These were the trivial reasons I didn't love her, but there were many others. Her character in the first episodes put me off. I though I had been transported back in the fifties. Who the heck thinks the way she thought? She got on my nerves a lot during these episodes and I was truly happy she broke up. Not because she deserved someone better, but to see her eat her words. Never a good sign to start with disliking one of the leads.
Her character was equally bad in the last episodes. I particularly hated the discussion with the father of the ML where she corrected him about living together with he ML like she was a 16 year schoolgirl, when she was in a relationship before and we saw her with the ML at the hotel. Stupid, illogical dialogue that made me dislike her.

Same illogic decision to sell the apartment and then act high and mighty when he complained. I'm not sure what happened to the screenwriters, but they surely made a mess of the last episodes. Her work attitude bothered me as well. A doormat, and to be honest she changed a bit too late for me. Then, there was her attitude in general. Sometimes she was bitchy, especially in the last episodes and that ruined a bit the series for me. I didn't get why she was like that. He never did anything to deserve that kind of coldness. The banter they had at first gave place to cold and detached comments I didn't appreciate. It's like the screenwriter lost the plot. It felt like she didn't care about him, and he was the only one to make any effort.

I have a lot more to say about her character. She had some great moments where she teased him , or when she laughed with his antics, but there weren't enough of these moments to make up for the lack of swooning moments. There were not enough kisses, not enough heartfelt moments, not enough chemistry in the end.

So, although I can't say I disliked her, I didn't love her. I though she was bitchy without reason, cold without reason, and that she looked so much older than him bothered me a lot. It felt like she didn't put much effort to be honest. Even in the last episode, when she talked with his father she came off as arrogant and bitchy than funny and witty. I regret another actress didn't have the role. I'd love a remake with a new actress. I have quite a few I think would be better playing the part.

2 The friends. Both were good friends, but I didn't care really for any of these. Yao Jing Jing was a bit much sometimes and although I find the actress good and gorgeous, she didn't have a lot to go here. Dang Yu wasn't interesting enough to me and I didn't care much about her love story.

Things I disliked

1 The secondary couples. I didn't care about any of their relationships.

2 The 2MLeads. Both were uninteresting to me and I fast forwarded their appearances after episode 20.

3 The mother of the 2ML. Yes, she was intrusive and have no patience for that kind of sticky mothers.

4 The ex. AI apart, he was an awful actor and his character was nonsensical. We never saw him have any growth and maybe it was the voice they used but it was so unnatural to listen to him that it was creepy.

5 The ex of the ML. I'm not sure why she was there in the last episodes. She was an idiot and we didn't need her to be part of the story anymore. Stupid if you ask me.

5 The FL superior. Yes, she was an ambitious woman who lost her way but what I didn't like was the way the FL looked up at her and forgave her. Why the heck? She was a greedy, immoral woman who tried to undermine the ML. Another reason I disliked the FL.

Things I hated

1 It wasn't romantic enough. It didn't deliver what the poster and the premise promised. No swoony moments, not enough chemistry. Apart for a few moments, it was bland in the romance department. The proposal was another dark moment. The ring was gorgeous, the proposal itself awful. Why did I went through 36 episodes? For that? Not even a kiss. Give me a break.

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Adorable couple and good second roles

Things I adored

1 The ML. I didn't expect him to be that good. I went into this without much hope, but I was hooked from the first episode. I loved his character. He was a good doctor, a great leader, a perfect boyfriend. He also can kiss and that made the story even better. I truly loved his character.

2 The cousin of the FL. My favorite character. He was truly adorable and I adored his relationship with his cousin but also with the ML. Great every time he appeared.

3 The mother of the FL. I love the actress, (I've seen her in other dramas and she always steals the scene) but here she was so funny and adorable. I wish she had a bigger role.

Things I loved

1 The FL. She was adorable most of the time, and although her acting got on my nerves sometimes, with the wide eyes and the deer caught in the headlights expression, she did a good job and made me care about her. She had chemistry with the ML, more than what she had in the PYHOMS with her costar in my opinion.

2 That they lived so close. I loved that. It was well done and it made it easy to have some funny and moving moments between the main couple.

3 The 2ML and the 2FL. I saw that some didn't like the second couple, but I did. They weren't annoyed to me and I cared about them. The 2FL is an adorable young woman, kind and naïve and I wanted her to be happy. My heart ached for her when she was unhappy. As for the 2ML , I wanted to slap him sometimes with how clueless and cruel he was, but he got to his senses and changed so I forgive hm. The actor did a good job and I loved him despite his flaws.

4 I loved the past connection. It gave me butterflies and was looking forward to the moment she would find out. Good job.

5 I loved the ML and the 2ML family. They were all funny and the interactions were great between all of them. it reminded me my family.

Things I disliked

1 The ex and the previous relationship of the 2ML. It seemed unrealistic to hold on her for so long, but then again it happens in real life as well to let people who don't deserve it take our lives hostage.

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A pleasant escape

Things I loved

1 The premise. So refreshing and I loved the colors, the dreamlike atmosphere and the whole concept. It was quite original and interesting even though I believe it could have been much much better.

2 The FL. I loved how beautiful and at the same time normal the FL was. This is the first time I watch a drama with her and although I can imagine many other actresses play the part and be probably better at it, she also embraced the role. I find her beautiful, no doubt about it, but I also think this role was made for her in a way. Do I think she nailed each part? No, definitely no. But she gave me quite few feelings and that's enough.

3 The ML. First drama with him as well, and I'm stunned about how younger he looks. He was also good, but I can imagine other actors play the part as well. That's my issue with this drama. The actors did a good job, and the roles fitted them but I also felt like something was missing and other actors could have given better performances. I also loved the ML with red hair. Gorgeous.

4 I liked quite a few of the boyfriends. They were interesting characters and the way it evolved about each of them it wasn't half bad. Again I imagined a few different scenarios and outcomes but they did a decent job.

5 Some of the FL outfits. Not all of them but some were gorgeous.

Things I disliked

1 The character development could have been better. I never saw the full potential of the couple. It's a shame because there were infinite ways for the premise to evolve.

2 The female writer. She got on my nerves more than once and at the end of the day I wanted her to to disappear from my screen. I started hate her.

3 The little time the ML appeared in the first episodes. That was quite disappointing.

4 The lack of chemistry. I have to say that this was my biggest peeve. I didn't feel the chemistry between the leads. Each one gave a decent performance but together there was no spark. They didn't move me. There were no true romantic moments.

5 The FL previous relationship. Something was lacking there. I didn't feel much and that is a problem when you want the viewer to connect with the protagonist. Was it a FL acting problem or a direction one? I can't say, but probably a bit of both.

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Innovative and interesting concept

Things I loved

1 The concept. I don't watch short dramas because I never found one I liked. But I like competition shows so this caught my attention. I don't regret watching it. I may didn't like everything but the concept worked quite well, which I didn't expect to be honest.

2 The short drama that it won. I did think it was the best. The acting and the direction were good. I also liked the one that came second. Different but also well done. I didn't care for the third one and I regret that one of the directors who lost for one vote didn't have the chance to come back because his was my favorite. The rest of the 7 last dramas wasn't to my liking. Too ordinary and I've seen many similar stories to care. That said, they found a way to make it work and I'm looking forward to a second season.

Things I liked

1 The jury. I didn't love them but I liked all of them. They were funny and seemed to love being there. I want to believe they ere honest in their assessments and I quite agreed with most of the evaluations.

2 Most of the dramas presented. They were interesting and different enough to keep my attention. I'll admit there were some I disliked a lot and I would have voted out right away and would never reached the last round, but all in all I agreed with how the voting went.

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It started well but never met its full potential

Things I loved

1 The premise. A bit different than most dramas and although I dislike stories involving a divorce this sounded interesting and went into it with high hopes. The hotel setting is also one of my favorites so I was looking forward to it.

2 The FL. I loved her in Why is He Still Single and wanted to see her in another role and this one seemed perfect for her. I'll leave her in the love list, but I have to admit I was a bit disappointed in the end with her character and her acting. But she's gorgeous and had some great outfits and some great scenes. All in all, though, I was expecting so much more. I thought it was her character in Why is He Still Single that left a bit to be desired but I realize now that it's her way of acting in general and it doesn't speak to me.
It's fine to play the decent, reserved woman, but when you can't connect when she's mad or sad or anything there is a problem. That said, I was so invested in her arc I wanted her to be happy and get rid of all riff raff around her, aka her family and that stupid 2FL. She was good in some scenes with the stuff and her friend, but she wasn't that good with her family and the ML. Something was missing and left me unsatisfied in the end. I even dropped her from my favorite actors list. I found her acting monotone and I wish she had more range. Tat said she'0s so gorgeous I will seek her next drama to see if her acting is better or rather different.

3 I loved the ML friend. The actor did a good to convey things and his character was decent and I was rooting for him. I didn't like the ending and I wish he found happiness in his personal life, although not necessarily with the chef.

4 The jazz orchestra and Daniel's father. He was a character and I loved the way he found his place among the rest of the hotel residents and stuff. He was good to the FL and fair de spite his son's feelings for her.

Things I liked

1 The ML. It's my first drama with the actor and I won't look for his dramas but he did a good job. Not great, but good enough. My problem with his character is the same as with the FL. Not engaging enough. Yes, they are mature and they can't act impulsively all the time, but it'd be great to see a little more sparks between them. To be honest, his confession was at least believable and I wanted him to be happy. It's just that for the most part of the series he didn't show any strong feelings about anything and that bothers me. I'm older than them and I'm passionate about life and everything all the while being reserved. So something fell off. Also, I didn't find there was tons of chemistry between him and the FL. Not enough to make the romance shine. Last thing, his character was a little off-putting at first with the whole cheating fiasco, but I think he redeemed himself in the end.

2 Most of the stuff, even those who were against the FL at first. If you ask me their short arcs were much more interesting than some parts related to the main leads. I liked the camaraderie and even the pettiness between them. It made for something real we all encountered in our jobs.

3 The chef. I just liked her but nothing more. I don't think I really cared about her and at first I felt like her character was too childish for a professional. I just liked how supportive of the FL was. The rest was meh.

4 Duan. I know he got on the nerves of many viewers and I get why but to me he was funny and to be honest kept my interest all along. If they had taken a bit if time to develop his character better he could be one of the best characters in the series. It's a shame they stayed on the surface, he had potential. The actor did a great job.

5 Tan. Contrary to others I found his character the most believable. I know people like him and he never did anything wrong. He was honest about his feelings and I'm irritated when I read that the FL misled him. No she didn't. If you are an adult you know there are periods in your life you get confused and yes you can be confused about your feelings. She apologized if he got the wrong message and he understood. He also made a few faux pas insisting she comes with him, but this is the human nature.
He didn't force anything and she didn't do anything reprehensible. Grow up all of you who think she was in the wrong. I liked his character and his relationship with the FL is the most sensible in the whole drama. Only in my circle I know three couples who had similar experiences. People have the right to fall in love and to fight for that love as long as they don't harm the other person. You have the right to think of kissing someone even if it's for the wrong reasons. It doesn't make you a bad person and the list goes on.

Things I disliked

1 The ex-husband of course. Although I didn't hate him and he proved to be somewhat decent by helping her. I hate cheating with all my being but I think he paid enough for a stupid mistake and with all that happened to him I can't say I hated his character. I think the actor sold well the arc and that's also another reason I only dislike him.

2 The owner of the hotel, the aunt. I don't know why but although she did some good things for the hotel, I found her character underwhelming and her long support of her nephew got on my nerves.

3 Some of the cases the FL had to deal with. They were badly written and over the top. To be fair I didn't like the hotel at all. Not the style and not the vibe. I've seen other dramas where the hotel shines, here it was bland and whatever action they took to improve the sales didn't work for me. That they claimed having results was ridiculous at the best.

4 The lack of romance. Except for a few kisses where was the romance? No sparks between them and although I get that romance wasn't the focus if you have it even as a second or third component you have to deliver nevertheless. Another reason I was disappointed from the whole drama.

5 The ending. I could even out it on the hate list so much I disliked it, but because I get what they wanted to convey I leave it here. But, and here me out why, I hated the ending when I think of the FL's behavior. I'm someone who refused to move to another country because my boyfriend wanted to, someone who put my job before my relationship quite a few times and never regretted. Someone who chose to study later in life instead of getting married and never regretted either. So it's not like I don't get where the FL is coming from.
I support her move to Switzerland, which was funny to me since I live close to EHL where she's supposed to go to, and of course I'm with the ML and his decision to wait for her. That's the adult and decent thing to do. You respect her goals and you trust your relationship. But when the FL said she made the decision alone without even talking to him, that's where I draw the line. If you are in a mature and honest relationship you talk with the other person even if your mind is made. You don't decide alone and then show not remorse at all, that's a lack of respect toward someone you claim to love. If you are strong you give the other person the chance to weigh on your decision. It's an implicit right and it takes nothing away from your independence. When you don't even mention something that big to him, you are weak, tactless and to be honest not in love. You don't deserve someone like him who supported you all along and is ready to wait for you.
That's where my disliking for the FL character comes. She never showed true feeling for the ML. he was always the one to support her and to show his feelings. I know she was cheated and she was cautious but she's a grown up adult who indulgent her stupid family and she can't have the common courtesy to talk with her boyfriend about something that big? You don't respect less alone love him. A miss that ruined the drama for me.

Things I hated

1 The nephew. I wish I could see him suffer more. What an arrogant little jerk who never worked a day in his life and only learned how to manipulate people and things to his advantage. At least he got some kind of punishment.

2 The despicable 2FL. She did a great job for me to hate her and that I found her ugly didn't help. I think she was awfully dressed and her make up was appalling. All in all one of the ugliest characters inside and outside. The baby twist was also stupid and worthy of a teenager first draft. I hate that kind of predictable clichés when they aren't funny or moving. She got what she deserved but the baby story was left without an outcome and that was also something that irritated me.

3 The sister. Such a leech and until the end she was a stupid, unworthy character who the FL should cut ties without a second thought. That's another reason I didn't like as much as I thought the FL. She was spineless a lot of times and she never was up to the challenge if you ask me regarding her family.

4 The father if you can call this. With a father like him you better not having one. A stupid, manipulative, horrible person. The FL should cut ties with him as well and be a bit more honest with him and with how they made her feel. Every time he appeared on the screen I wanted to slap him.

5 The mother. I think I hated her even more than the sister and the father. The FL was her daughter and she treated her a source of money for her husband's whims. The whole arc with the mother was stupid to be honest and I didn't care what happened to her. I'd love it if she stayed away from her daughter instead of the comme il faut ending we had. Shameless the whole family.

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Too slow for me

Things I loved

1 The premise. I loved the plot and having a cooking theme is always a plus for me.

Things I liked

1 The ML, and believe me that wasn't something you could count on when it started. I don't find the actor attractive at all and coming from Love is Sweet where I hated his character, I was biased toward him. He managed to make me love him in this so kudos to him. I liked his character and he did a great job to convey how he felt in every scene. The reason i don't put him in the love list is that many times it felt like he was too calm, too subdued, like unnaturally slow. From the way he spoke to the way he acted.

2 The FL. Cute and decent actress but to me she failed in making me care about her character enough. It's not that I didn't like her, I just didn't love her. Too bland, and her expressions were always the same. Add to that the mother imbroglio and the break up and I'm not that fond of her, even though she admitted it she behaved badly toward him. I won't look for any other dramas of her because she is too generic for me. I prefer either more dynamic actresses or fluffy and cute. She was neither.

3 I liked the rest of the characters but not enough to make a separate listing for each of them. I liked a lot the second couple and especially the actress. I liked the third couple but it was more complicated since I hated the director at first. I also liked the father of the ML. The actor did a great job.

Things I disliked

1 The father story. I felt so sorry for him and made me want to slap the ML and the grandmother even though I get where they were coming from. No one can ever understand the pressure a father or a mother feel to do good for their children. I dislike these kinds of plots in Kdramas anyway. they drag down perfect plots to make them more what? Relatable? Keep that for the dramas not for the rom coms.

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Fluffy and cliché but so enjoyable

Things I loved

1 The male actor. I think he is a good actor and although not handsome in a classic way he's very attractive and the role fitted him. I've read many complaints about his character but I didn't feel he did anything over the top except for one thing and he tried to correct it. Usually I hate characters who are very controlling but this wasn't the case here, although there was a part I didn't like.

2 The female lead. I thought at first she was boring but after watching You are My Lover Friend, I loved her acting and the series so much I went looking for her other shows and here i am. That said, I didn't out her on my adore list because I felt like her character didn't have a great arc. She started great and then she changed to someone with less panache and less self worth and I didn't like that.

3 The female lead friend. I think she was a good actress and her character was great. I loved their friendship and it was one of the highlights of the series.

4 The grandma. I loved the relationship between the female lead and the grandma. She was adorable and she acted well. Another highlight.

5 Fei Ang. I loved the actor and the role. Great all the way. I wish he ended with the best friend.

6 The chemistry between the main leads. I started watching this and another show they have together and I found them in both great.

Things I disliked

1 The fashion. It wasn't great in my opinion. I've seen actresses and actors dressed a million times better in other series, and they weren't about fashion. I noticed though that shows about fashion tend to have a worse sense of fashion and I think this happens because they try to have a unique style, but unique shouldn't mean awful.

Things I hated

1 The 2FL. What the heck was her problem? One of the worst 2FLeads and I've seen quite a lot. Her only goal was to create problems and she managed quite well. She was ridiculous in the end with all her machinations and I wish she paid the price.

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