'THERE IS NO REAL DESPAIR, ONLY PRISONERS OF THEIR THOUGHTS' :O)
Be Passionately in Love is a gorgeously shot, expertly acted drama that suffers from a major identity crisis. It's like being invited to a five-course gourmet meal, only to find out the main course is a beautifully plated picture of a steak. Firstly, the title vs. the execution. For a show called Be Passionately in Love, there is a staggering lack of physical intimacy. Due to the lead actress's reported 'no-kissing' clause, the drama relies on 'fade-to-blacks', forehead touches, and camera angles that do a lot of heavy lifting. It creates a strange tension where the characters say they are burning for each other, but the screen remains polite and lukewarm.
Secondly, if there's a reason to watch this, it's Wang Anyu. Playing Chen Luzhou, he manages to convey a level of longing and smitten desperation that feels 100% autthentic. He's doing the work of two people to convince the audience that this relationship is high-stakes. Whether he's bickering or pining, his performance is the anchor that keeps the story from drifting into 'just friends' territory. Xu Zhi is not your typical bubbly C-drama heroine. She's cold, nonchalant, and hyper-focued on her architecture goals ( she wakes up at 4AM, the true horror of the show). Some viewers find her 'robotic', but I see it as a realistic depiction of a guarded girl with a complex family past. The problem is that when you pair a 'cold' character with a 'no-kissing' rule, the romance can feel one-side, like the male lead is chasing a beautiful statue.
Moreover, despite the 'plataonic' passion, the show is actually a very soothing, high-quality watch. It captures that specific feeling of young, pure love where a simple hairband or a shared umbrella feels like the world. It's a 'slow-burn' that eventually just...stays slow.
In conclusion, watch it if you want a 'healing' drama with a magnetic male lead and stunning visuals. Skip it if you need the 'passion' in the title to actually be on the screen.
Secondly, if there's a reason to watch this, it's Wang Anyu. Playing Chen Luzhou, he manages to convey a level of longing and smitten desperation that feels 100% autthentic. He's doing the work of two people to convince the audience that this relationship is high-stakes. Whether he's bickering or pining, his performance is the anchor that keeps the story from drifting into 'just friends' territory. Xu Zhi is not your typical bubbly C-drama heroine. She's cold, nonchalant, and hyper-focued on her architecture goals ( she wakes up at 4AM, the true horror of the show). Some viewers find her 'robotic', but I see it as a realistic depiction of a guarded girl with a complex family past. The problem is that when you pair a 'cold' character with a 'no-kissing' rule, the romance can feel one-side, like the male lead is chasing a beautiful statue.
Moreover, despite the 'plataonic' passion, the show is actually a very soothing, high-quality watch. It captures that specific feeling of young, pure love where a simple hairband or a shared umbrella feels like the world. It's a 'slow-burn' that eventually just...stays slow.
In conclusion, watch it if you want a 'healing' drama with a magnetic male lead and stunning visuals. Skip it if you need the 'passion' in the title to actually be on the screen.
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