A Masterclass in Short Drama Quality
Wow where do I begin? What a beautiful slice of life drama! It's beautifully realistic, at times poignant and bittersweet, at other times steadfast and fluffy. Overall, love was the main theme—love in multiple forms. Sisterly, friendship, maternal, familial, and most of all, the steady, sacrificial love of a soulmate who understands you innately.
I adored the story. Although it was quiet and simple, it didn't ever become boring. The conflicts felt real and not thrown in for the sake of drama. The familial difficulties were real, relatable, and pulled at my heartstrings. I believe anyone who has ever felt misunderstood by their family or felt the pull of a dream that wasn't supported would be able to relate. On the other hand, I loved how it was portrayed and eventually how it ended. Not everything has to be dramatic, not everything has to be black or white. Sometimes it requires give and take, other times it requires facing truths you don't want to. It gives people hope that someday, the other person may understand, or at least accept what you wish to say or do.
As for the acting, it was absolutely beautiful, especially the Male Lead. Liu Xiao Xu impressed me with his acting. I love that he didn't overact, but every move felt impactful. Even his vulnerability was wonderfully soft and true to his character as Yu Wen Zhou. His tears were real, his gaze full of quiet affection, his gestures subtle but poignant, and his heart simple yet steadfast.
The Female Lead also impressed me. Her actions were not overly childish like many short dramas and even high budget dramas tend to do. She was playful, but knew when to be serious, yet you could also tell when she was around family that her upbringing forced a level of maturity into her that came as a result of needing to constantly prove herself.
The side characters as well were all wonderful. The FL's sister, the ML's best friend, and all their family on both sides were absolutely wonderful. They fit the aesthetic of the story beautifully.
Lastly but certainly not least, I must applaud the production. The director and production crew clearly knew what they were doing, and the cinematography reflected that. For a low budget drama, it felt more expensive than many high budget ones I've seen. Although the sets were simple, the camera work made each setting feel like it was meant to be that way, that anything extra would ruin it.
My favorite part was how quiet the drama was. There were no loud music clips that didn't fit the story. If anything, I didn't hear any music. Although the end clearly had music that was cut off, it didn't feel annoying because the entire drama had already been intentionally quiet.
All in all, 10/10! It's a wonderful comfort drama that I might rewatch on a rainy or quiet day. I loved every moment!
I adored the story. Although it was quiet and simple, it didn't ever become boring. The conflicts felt real and not thrown in for the sake of drama. The familial difficulties were real, relatable, and pulled at my heartstrings. I believe anyone who has ever felt misunderstood by their family or felt the pull of a dream that wasn't supported would be able to relate. On the other hand, I loved how it was portrayed and eventually how it ended. Not everything has to be dramatic, not everything has to be black or white. Sometimes it requires give and take, other times it requires facing truths you don't want to. It gives people hope that someday, the other person may understand, or at least accept what you wish to say or do.
As for the acting, it was absolutely beautiful, especially the Male Lead. Liu Xiao Xu impressed me with his acting. I love that he didn't overact, but every move felt impactful. Even his vulnerability was wonderfully soft and true to his character as Yu Wen Zhou. His tears were real, his gaze full of quiet affection, his gestures subtle but poignant, and his heart simple yet steadfast.
The Female Lead also impressed me. Her actions were not overly childish like many short dramas and even high budget dramas tend to do. She was playful, but knew when to be serious, yet you could also tell when she was around family that her upbringing forced a level of maturity into her that came as a result of needing to constantly prove herself.
The side characters as well were all wonderful. The FL's sister, the ML's best friend, and all their family on both sides were absolutely wonderful. They fit the aesthetic of the story beautifully.
Lastly but certainly not least, I must applaud the production. The director and production crew clearly knew what they were doing, and the cinematography reflected that. For a low budget drama, it felt more expensive than many high budget ones I've seen. Although the sets were simple, the camera work made each setting feel like it was meant to be that way, that anything extra would ruin it.
My favorite part was how quiet the drama was. There were no loud music clips that didn't fit the story. If anything, I didn't hear any music. Although the end clearly had music that was cut off, it didn't feel annoying because the entire drama had already been intentionally quiet.
All in all, 10/10! It's a wonderful comfort drama that I might rewatch on a rainy or quiet day. I loved every moment!
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