One of the few dramas that left the deepest impression on me. The complex friendship dynamics were just so well-written. I fear no one gets this drama the way I do.
Congratulations on the 7 Baeksang nominations, including Best Actress for Kim Go-eun and Park Ji-hyun. I’m happy…
Omg yass so deserved. This was my #1 kdrama of last year, literally a masterpiece. This drama had one of the best acting performance I've seen. I hope it wins something and gets more attention because it’s seriously underrated internationally.
I wonder why this drama is really not talked about much on social media when it has been doing extremely well…
Which social media? I’ve seen a lot of people talk about it on Weibo. If you mean international platforms like X or Tiktok, it’s probably because the 1970s period genre itself isn’t very popular among international cdrama fans.
It’s fine though, it did really well in China, and that’s what matters.
So the guy is a creep and we have to suddenly find that cute and gush all over it? Dude she clearly doesn't want…
the way you frame their dynamics is so extreme and ridiculous. you gotta be so miserable irl if that's how you interpret their story and dynamics.
also this is romance fiction, not a social commentary piece. sometimes it’s okay to just view it within the emotional world the drama is creating instead of applying real-world frameworks to it.
After twelve letters now another drama which cause back in the past. Both being good. We need more retro stories…
There are actually quite a lot of Chinese dramas set in the 1970s to 1990s. You can check out the recommendation section. But most of them lean more toward slice-of-life and family themes rather than romance.
This is not an idol drama lol, It requires proven acting ability for main characters. Most of them have or had…
Tbh there's nothing wrong with being categorized as an idol drama. It's just a term influenced by Taiwanese idol dramas in early 2000s, which later adopted by Mainland China to describe youth-oriented romance dramas starring visually appealing actors. Over time, the label stuck and became an industry classification.
The term itself is not inherently negative. Many idol dramas are well-produced and culturally impactful, it’s more about industry perception and career trajectory than the genre itself.
The negative connotation usually comes when some productions prioritized visuals and traffic over acting quality, or when plots feel formulaic or too unrealistic. Also when certain actors became typecast and keeps doing idol dramas back to back for a long time, as that can make people take them less seriously as actors. That’s why it’s often seen as a good move when actors balance idol and non-idol projects from time to time instead of staying in one lane for too long.
Idol dramas can be high quality too but non-idol dramas tend to offer more opportunities to showcase acting range and depth, and they’re also more likely to be nominated for major prestigious awards. China produces hundreds of dramas every year, so idol dramas rarely stand a strong chance of competing with non-idol dramas at major awards, no matter how popular or successful they are. Popular idol dramas are usually recognized mainly at platform-level awards. (Weibo, Iqiyi etc).
Don't know why these chinese makers are obsessed with making 90s 80s dramas can't they do more like make somthing…
Is it really that many? I never noticed that. I don’t think there are that many compared to costume dramas. I personally love dramas set in those period of Chinese history. I find them interesting and fascinating and I’ve learned a lot about the people of that time. One good thing about cdramas is that they produce so many each year, so there’s always plenty to choose from. If one isn’t to your taste, there’s always something else you can watch, or you can catch up on older dramas you haven’t seen~
This is not an idol drama lol, It requires proven acting ability for main characters. Most of them have or had…
Idol dramas are a category used to refer to romance dramas that usually feature young, good-looking leads. They often have stylish, aesthetically pleasing production and are targeted more toward younger audiences. Idol dramas can be either modern or costume. Examples include How Dare You, Love In the Clouds, The Prisoner of Beauty, The First Frost and Shine on Me. Youth/highschool romance dramas also fall under idol dramas.
Non-idol dramas usually have more realistic, heavier and grounded storylines. Romance is minimal or sometimes non-existent. Examples include serious political costume dramas like Nirvana in Fire, Republican-era dramas like War of Faith, suspense dramas like The Long Season, and slice-of-life dramas set in the 1970s–90s like The Bond.
Wuxia can be both idol and non-idol depending on the tone of the story and the amount of romance.
It’s been a while since I watched the OG Japanese version, so I don’t remember enough to compare, but I really enjoyed this remake.
Shin Shiah is so pretty and charming! Come to think of it, it feels like it’s been a while since we’ve had such a gentle, sweet FL in a K-drama/K-movie. I really love her here.
Unpopular opinion I guess but the breakup was what made this drama particularly memorable for me. If it ends with a happy ending for the main couple, I don't think this drama would hit me as much. It probably will become just another forgettable romance for me. It's precisely the "what ifs" and "what could have been" scenario that made the romance delicious. I find the first half really boring but I pushed through to see why people loved this drama so much.. and yep I finally got it.. the breakup scene, which made me cry, (one of the best breakup scenes I've ever watched) truly elevate this drama for me. It's heartbreaking in the best way.
I haven't finished the drama yet but I think the 8.9 rating came about likely because, despite the simple storyline,…
I feel like the cringe part is only in the beginning, during the high school phase when the FL is chasing the ML. But besides that, the FL actually has a very likable and charming personality. I think the drama has some real depth, especially after they grow up. I don't remember much of the plot details anymore, but I remember thinking it was a solid youth and coming-of-age drama—like Always Home. The drama is definitely targeted more toward younger demographics. It's a good drama for its own genre. I know a lot of people particularly loved it for the nostalgia of youth and high school memories it brings.
Your criticism of Love Between Lines is fair enough. I'm simply explaining how the rating may have come about, since you think the drama is severely overrated (in your own words).
I really don’t want to sound like a party pooper but this is a severely overrated show…. Love the leads down…
I haven't finished the drama yet but I think the 8.9 rating came about likely because, despite the simple storyline, there aren't really many huge flaws that are dealbreakers for most people. The main characters are well-written and well-acted, and the romance/chemistry is really great that it more than offsets the other minor flaws. Yes, the drama could have been even better, but the lackluster parts are almost negligible to many people.
Since almost everyone I've seen is collectively enjoying this drama and viewing it as a solid, decent romance, a lot of people are probably rating it somewhere between 8.5 and 10. Because the ratings are overwhelmingly positive, it rounds up to nearly 9. Usually, romances with final ratings of 8.5-8.7 have quite a few 6–7 scores mixed in. But this drama has nothing too bad to make a lot of people rate it below 7.
Just look at this director's previous drama, When I Fly Towards You—it's a very simple high school story with no groundbreaking plot and plenty of clichés, but overall It's still a well-made, feel-good nostalgic youth drama, which is why it holds a 9. Some people might think it's overrated or just a typical school drama, but while it's not a storytelling masterpiece, it's a good youth drama without any major flaws, so the overwhelming number of 8.5–10 user ratings holds it steady at 9.
The ratings show how much people are genuinely enjoying the drama as a whole rather than holding it to standards of near-perfect storytelling.
Even you yourself, with all your criticism of it, rated the drama 8.5, so can you imagine how those who thoroughly loved it would rate it? The final high rating is naturally expected. So I don't believe Love Between Lines is overrated; it totally reflects the majority consensus on how people feel about it, albeit the flaws it may have.
Shin Hyesun’s acting and comedic timing are simply 10/10.
It’s fine though, it did really well in China, and that’s what matters.
also this is romance fiction, not a social commentary piece. sometimes it’s okay to just view it within the emotional world the drama is creating instead of applying real-world frameworks to it.
The term itself is not inherently negative. Many idol dramas are well-produced and culturally impactful, it’s more about industry perception and career trajectory than the genre itself.
The negative connotation usually comes when some productions prioritized visuals and traffic over acting quality, or when plots feel formulaic or too unrealistic. Also when certain actors became typecast and keeps doing idol dramas back to back for a long time, as that can make people take them less seriously as actors. That’s why it’s often seen as a good move when actors balance idol and non-idol projects from time to time instead of staying in one lane for too long.
Idol dramas can be high quality too but non-idol dramas tend to offer more opportunities to showcase acting range and depth, and they’re also more likely to be nominated for major prestigious awards. China produces hundreds of dramas every year, so idol dramas rarely stand a strong chance of competing with non-idol dramas at major awards, no matter how popular or successful they are. Popular idol dramas are usually recognized mainly at platform-level awards. (Weibo, Iqiyi etc).
Non-idol dramas usually have more realistic, heavier and grounded storylines. Romance is minimal or sometimes non-existent. Examples include serious political costume dramas like Nirvana in Fire, Republican-era dramas like War of Faith, suspense dramas like The Long Season, and slice-of-life dramas set in the 1970s–90s like The Bond.
Wuxia can be both idol and non-idol depending on the tone of the story and the amount of romance.
Shin Shiah is so pretty and charming! Come to think of it, it feels like it’s been a while since we’ve had such a gentle, sweet FL in a K-drama/K-movie. I really love her here.
Your criticism of Love Between Lines is fair enough. I'm simply explaining how the rating may have come about, since you think the drama is severely overrated (in your own words).
Since almost everyone I've seen is collectively enjoying this drama and viewing it as a solid, decent romance, a lot of people are probably rating it somewhere between 8.5 and 10. Because the ratings are overwhelmingly positive, it rounds up to nearly 9. Usually, romances with final ratings of 8.5-8.7 have quite a few 6–7 scores mixed in. But this drama has nothing too bad to make a lot of people rate it below 7.
Just look at this director's previous drama, When I Fly Towards You—it's a very simple high school story with no groundbreaking plot and plenty of clichés, but overall It's still a well-made, feel-good nostalgic youth drama, which is why it holds a 9. Some people might think it's overrated or just a typical school drama, but while it's not a storytelling masterpiece, it's a good youth drama without any major flaws, so the overwhelming number of 8.5–10 user ratings holds it steady at 9.
The ratings show how much people are genuinely enjoying the drama as a whole rather than holding it to standards of near-perfect storytelling.
Even you yourself, with all your criticism of it, rated the drama 8.5, so can you imagine how those who thoroughly loved it would rate it? The final high rating is naturally expected. So I don't believe Love Between Lines is overrated; it totally reflects the majority consensus on how people feel about it, albeit the flaws it may have.