One of the best of the year
I really enjoyed this drama. Here's my breakdown:Pros:
-- It's a great battle of wits between the leads. Both the FL and ML are witty, sharp and keep each other on their toes, making the series tantalizing and binge-worthy.
-- The plot, though laden with many moving parts, is engaging and fairly simple to follow thanks to a single McGuffin that moves the story forward. While predictable in some ways (and honestly, which drama isn't), it also provides good twists and turns that keep you guessing and make for great cliffhangers.
-- The FL actress, Lu Yu Xiao, has this cute, girl-next door beauty. Not movie-star looks but an exquisite aura that explains why men fell hard for her. She plays a character who is also cunning, decisive and one of the best warriors out there but with none of that girl-boss trope that wrecks her femininity. It makes her more natural, balanced and approachable so her emotional scenes carry more weight.
-- The FX are awesome! It definitely made the wuxia magic come to life. Great production value and the rich, lush and wonderfully creative sceneries speak for themselves.
-- The final nemesis has plausible and deep underlying motives. To have a great lead, you need a great antagonist, and the actor, Yu Cheng En, with his naive-boyish looks, was a good fit for the role. His character deals with a mix of resentment, humiliation and obsession that makes him quite interesting and not one dimensional.
Cons:
-- I could do with fewer than 36 episodes. I'd say 26 tops. I fast-forwarded through some scenes with the secondary romantic couple (they weren't that interesting) and some family drama between the nemesis' families which seemed more like filler to me.
-- The acting range of Hou Ming Hao, the ML, is not elite, but to his credit, it was enough to render the character well. After all his story arch was heart wrenching and well layered. It demanded very intense scenes, so his role was no walk in the park.
-- One couple embodies mutual self-sacrifice while, in the end, while another couple alluded that marriage can be a stumbling block to one's career. You can find this dichotomy quite jarring or a plausible decision by the writers to provide different perspectives. So whether this is a pro or a con is in the eye of the beholder.
In the end, there are way more pluses than minuses so give it a go!
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This review may contain spoilers
Girlboss spills the tea on the final third
In my view, this is not, by any means, one of those "more pros that cons" type of drama. It is quite the opposite, but I'll start with the good.PROS
High production value and great visuals. One of the things I love about cdramas is how they let us peer into cultures and the many interesting trades. Whether it is Chinese Traditional Medicine (in 2025's "The Best Thing"), Bai culture in rural China ("Meet Yourself"), or aerospace engineering ("You Are my Glory"), I love series where I also learn more about the world that anchors the characters' lives. It reminds me of Western shows like CSI (forensics) or House (medical diagnosis) that are now few and far in between amidst the glop of detective-cop shows and courtroom dramas. Glory, on the the hand, delves into the world of tea farming and the care that must be taken to produce excellent crops.
Other good points about this drama are the costume sets and cinematography. The casting and acting throughout is solid, although I feel the ice queen vibe of the FL was a bit too much.
**** The next paragraphs contain a few spoilers. There are not that many, but there are indeed a several ****
CONS
Note that I am offering my perspective as a male viewer and that I fast-forwarded through many scenes, specially in the final third out of sheer boredom at the decline in quality. As you may already know, the drama centers around Rong Shang Bao, the headstrong lead of her powerful tea-farming, all women-leading, clan. The clan lives in in Lijin while the ML hails from the capital. In the last episode, around the 30-minute mark, Shang Bao speaks with another woman from the capital. She tells Shang Bao that "not everyone has the luck to be born in the Rong family. Also, not everyone has the freedom to live as they please." This conversation encapsulates the drama for me, coming across as the main point the authors wanted to drive home.
Yet it also defines what is so frustrating about this drama.
Lucky to be born in the Rong family? Are you kidding me? The FL expressed some platitudes about equality and mutual respect between men and women. However, throughout the series the Rong family never ceased to represent a turbo-charged reverse harem at its worst. The family essentially disregards men as mere laborers and replaceable pawns who have no room for leadership. At one point Shang Bao tells the ML, Jiang Lai, that throughout generations the Rong women only looked for meek, pliable men and that Jian Lai was anything but, hence why he is not a good fit for her. Even after the end of series I didn't feel that she changed her standpoint at all.
At first, I thought that the Rong would ultimately be depicted as a clear warning about the perils of an unbalanced harmony between the sexes where one side holds all the levels of power. It would ridicule the times when men trampled over women and deprived them of opportunities to vote, go to college and seek leadership positions. But no, this drama did not venture into any significant criticism of Rong's practices outside of showcasing the family matriarch as a stubborn elder bent only accepting men of high social status. In the end, the Rong sisters, FL included, had their differences against the matriarch but did not step away from all these family principles. The Rong clan makes Wonder Woman's Amazonian island look tame by comparison. I know dramaland caters to its audience, but this is one of those dramas where they lay it down too thick.
To add salt to the wound, Jian Lai changes from a levelheaded, witty ML that could go toe to toe against the FL (what I felt was the best part of the series), to a simp who is always after her despite her cold shoulders, which happened too many times, especially during the final third of the drama. She is pushing him away and he runs after her like a puppy begging to be back together. At one point, Shang Bao was to offer an explanation for keeping her distance but then never does until the Jian Lai comes to her for an explanation, which in the end didn't feel heartfelt.
There was also one scene where Jian Lai was bawling and shaken telling her about his family trauma. But through it all, Shang Bao kept her ice queen persona, just way too collected and didn't offer him a hug. Only when he rested his head on her shoulder in anguish did she put a hand over his shoulder. I know that she's supposed to be a battle-hardened, steely ice queen but it felt overdone and did not register to me that she deeply loved him. No wonder men don't want to make themselves vulnerable. It's even dangerous to do so in fiction.
That's not all. Before Shang Bao goes to marry another man, she seduces Jian Lai and sleeps with him. Only to then lock him up to make sure he doesn't ruin the wedding. Later we learn that she was suspicious of the man she was about to marry, but she was still going through the nuptials while her investigation on the guy was ongoing. By that point, she might have taken from Jian Lai what he might have been saving for another woman. Even if Jian Lai wasn't a virgin, to go from intimacy to locking him up before she goes to marry some other dude is as cold-veined and as asymmetrical of a relationship as it gets. Jian Lai deceived her at first too, but he wasn't a character that would have done all the things that she did to him.
Part of the reason I like cdramas is because Western media unabashedly rams the girl-boss archetypes down everyone's throat. This drama sadly brought the same negative repulsion I was escaping from. There is a scene where the subtitles stumbles through a translation using a very obscure or highbrow word. I always chuckle when I see them, and in this case it was the word impudent. How many people are going around calling others impudent?
In the finale, in front of several people, Jian Lai romantically lifts Shang Rong to take her to her boat. At first embarrassed at this PDA, she says "when we reach Lijin (Rong's headquarters) I won't allow you to be so impudent again." His response? Like a cute lap dog, he beams "then I'll listen to you, Lady Shanbao!" I mean, really? Might as well just throw a stick and ask him to fetch. And I'm sure Shang Bao she wasn't joking. If by impudent, she meant Jian Lai could no longer be bold or assertive, the drama as a whole made a good point that this is seriously what she expects from him. After all, she did say, that Rong women prefer mild mannered, obedient males.
To be honest, there was one sister that somewhat bucked the trend and finally decided to be with a man of lower status. She even had a daughter with him. However, this "reconciliation" scene was so rushed and abrupt that it carried very little emotional weight for me. Besides, she didn't explicitly say she wanted to marry him, only that she wanted him to live in the Rong estate.
Honestly, the guy was so meek, spineless, and submissive that they looked like a gross mismatch. I don't see what a strong Rong woman would see in him in the first place, and the drama made no effort to explain. It was the chemistry of an iceberg. If there was one plot line that should've been explored further, it was this one. They would have been great as a secondary couple, but in the end, it was a wasted opportunity.
As if this wasn't enough, the same woman who said she wasn't lucky to be born a Rong, also said this: "I don't have the Founding Emperor's jade seal. Nor do I have a powerful natal family, willing to support me. I don't even have a husband worth relying on. In this world, there isn't a single person who truly loves me. But I must love myself. I must protect myself. And above all, I must protect my children."
I'm sure this is one of the character's the embodies the author's voice and I have to disagree to an extent. Not having a capable man by your side is tragic. But I don't think anyone can say that there is a single person who truly loves them. If not a parent, there is a relative. If no relative, there are a lot of charitable men and women out there. So love yourself? Yes. Protect your children? Why sure. But one does not need some jade seal or Rong family to be blessed.
I wouldn't one to be associated with a Rong family for the reasons I explained above. Also, that Jade seal that she mentions worked well as an indestructible (and overused) plot armor, but it is what it is . A work of fiction. To me the real jade are those people who, though imperfect, truly care as well as the spouse who is, or can grow to be, that capable partner in life we all would be blessed to have at our side.
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Enjoyable escapism
This drama is good cotton candy. If you are in for the plot, you'll be disappointed. There are some plot holes and loose ends nothing major and the drama makes up for it in bunches thanks to its great acting, comedy and visuals. Chu Ran was made for this role where she can be silly and showcase her comedic talent. She was giving off some young Julia Robert vibes. On top of that she looked so beautiful in those dresses. As the lead couple, Chu Ran and Ryan cannot be more photogenic. Their chemistry and banter is what also keeps you in the drama. I particularly enjoyed their lines where as transmigrators, they talked about pop culture and how to identify if someone is from the modern era or just a character who only exists in the book.For the plot you have to be more forgiving, although it does have some twists and character reveals that were not telegraphed so it was not all completely predictable. The side characters, in particular the ML's bodyguard, were also fun to watch. With regard to the secondary leads, Yi Xuan from Unforgettable Love (2021) is lovely and radiant as always (I never get tired of her beaming smile) while Xiao Tian from My Little Happiness (2021) always does a great job even though the script didn't offer him much to chew on. The same goes for the Empress who was another antagonist that could have used more of a backstory to give her depth. Nevertheless, the shortcomings are not too significant when considering the drama for its visuals, the chemistry between the leads and its bright and colorful cinematography.
The ending is great, full of positive vibes, and it was beautifully shot. In sum, while the plot and character development are not top-notch (I did fast forward here and there), the selling point here is the beautiful and charming Chu Ran, along with the great casting, comedy and the visuals. These alone make the drama a good watch for carefree and enjoyable escapism.
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A Pure Delight
No need to add marshmallows to this warm cup of choco. This is a genuine heart-warmer. The plot is mid, but if you ever been in a broken relationship, this drama will prove to be cathartic. Good vibes all the way thanks to great acting, luscious imagery and strong chemistry between the leads.Aside from an ex-boyfriend, who appears rather briefly, there is no central, captivating antagonist and the second leads are more of an afterthought. The dynamics of the drama center on the leads and that's okay. They hit it out of the ballpark. The FL is the same one from Perfect and Casual and again brings that same level of casual, pristine beauty to this role. Whether it is her endearing smile or teary gaze, she elicits a wide range of deep emotions.
There are also no Mary or Johnny Sues here. Just imperfect and hurt young adults trying to give romance another try. The secondary characters are lovely but I must take exception with the FL's dad who perpetuates the cliche of the emasculated, bumbling husband who is only known as the guy who cooks dinners, gets screamed at by the wife, and has little to say or hardly offers any leadership or agency in the family (Meet Yourself also comes to mind). It's turning into a cliche.
Thankfully, the ML is not the CEO tired trope (neither a doctor nor lawyer, for that matter), but a Traditional Chinese Medicine doctor and I thoroughly enjoyed learning more about this side of Chinese culture. Glad to see dramas showing more diverse professions and facets of life. My main misgiving about the ML is that he asked the FL to hang out at his apartment at first rather than go for a cup of joe. In real life that wouldn't fly. No self-respecting girl would hang at a dude's apartment from the get-go and if she does, that'd be a big red flag. Other than that, the ML was for the most part patient, level-headed and humble, adding layers to what could have been mishandled as just another one-dimensional, always-confident hunk lacking any depth. Like Meet Yourself, this drama is worth a rewatch just as when you need warm tea on a cold night.
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Exquisite
Despite its flaws, this is one of my top five C-dramas. A story of finding yourself in the midst of heartbreak. It centers on a young woman who experienced deep heartbreak and went on a long term vacation at a sleepy town in rural China.Plot: Slow paced in every sense of the word. This drama is character-driven and the romance is one of the most slow-burn you'll ever see. So this drama might not be everyone's cup of tea. But joining the FL in her path to healing and bonding with her newfound friends makes it all worth it.
Cast: Known in the West as the actress who played Mulan, Crystal showcases her superb acting skills in this drama. Her soft-voice and gentle demeanor matches this drama's atmosphere to a T. She's so talented. Fans will also recognize the ML as the protagonist in Go Go Squid. Xian is also a perfect fit since he doesn't have top model looks, making him a good fit as a likeable everyman who is devoted to his small town and fights for his ideals while trying to woo the FL in relatable ways.
The support cast have backstories that are for the most part endearing and engaging, but I could have done without the guitarist You Yu Hu and the ML's colleague, Xiao. A divorced single mom, Xiao is short fused and no-nonsense, so it was hard to understand why this professional woman was once married to a guy who is so mellow, introverted and simple-minded. I know opposite attracts but without any backstory the contrast between the two is jarring. She also shuns another potential suitor but there's little explanation behind her choices, making her character too one-dimensional.
However, my biggest peeve goes to the lazy and aimless guitarist Hu, a kind of a starving-artist stereotype who was the butt of all jokes. A character for comedic relief is understandable, but the guy was the target of so many put-downs that, as a male viewer, it got very annoying after a while. As icing on the cake, he had to be "rescued" in a scene by an older woman. In short, saying he was a wimp is a big understatement. They laid it down too thick with this character, so I skipped most of his story arc.
Final Thoughts: There is another concern about the script that few people talk about, but it needs to be said. The leads were both in their 30s. I believe the FL was already 30 when she met the ML and the drama makes it very clear that she is focused on building her career in the upcoming years. Similar to You Are My Glory, you get the sense that if the couple starts a family, it will be well into their mid-30s, at the onset of a geriatric pregnancy, and the challenges that it entails. No drama I've seen, whether in the East or the West, shows couples even remotely talking about this matter. It would serve the impressionable young adults who watch these dramas to see this important topic at least mentioned when couples plan for the future and decide whether to bear children or not.
All that aside, Meet Yourself is so highly rewatchable since it deftly weaves together wise teachings with inspirational stories about the power of friendship and community as we find our meaning, healing and thirsting for life. You'll fall in love with the sweet grandma, the chatty townswomen, and the charming backdrop and slow pace of life in rural China. I hope to see more dramas that explore more regions outside the big cities and shows more of the vibrant and diverse landscape of East Asian culture.
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Lighthearted Fun
I'm more of a CDrama guy, but this KDrama hits the right buttons. However, let me warn you that one must give this drama some leniency in terms of plot. As others have mentioned, the premise behind their main misunderstanding in the first episode is one big, head-scratching eye-roll. I mean, the writers could have done better there. But they make it up by weaving stories of perseverance, comedy and redemption in the story arch of the charming and entertaining leads.The romance between them is definitely crackling with chemistry. The FL gives off down-to-earth, relatable vibes while ML balances those GQ-perfect looks with a wide emotional range and charming goofiness as opposed to the old tired cold and always composed demigod who can do no wrong.
The first episode gets things moving quickly and crescendos to a banger in the end that, without giving it away, encapsulates the series' title in a tantalizing way. Let's just say that the leads' chemistry shoots to the roof here. Overall, this is a good lighthearted drama that has you cheering for both leads. I also love how they both look after their mothers and closed ones. It's a home run!
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