Editorials 
2
5
1
1
2
1
1
This review may contain spoilers
They Met at Their Worst and Became Each Other's Best
Dazzling is a coming-of-age story about two young people who meet each other at their lowest, become friends, and slowly push each other toward becoming the best versions of themselves.
Qing Ye, a big-city girl suddenly sent to a small seaside town because of her family's troubles, initially clashes with Xing Wu, a hardworking local boy who is struggling to support his family and questioning whether finishing school is even worth it. What starts as constant bickering gradually turns into trust, friendship, and eventually love.
What I loved most was how naturally their relationship developed. They spend more than 20 episodes getting to know each other, supporting each other, sharing their dreams, and becoming an important part of each other's lives. There is very little physical affection and they never properly confess before their separation, but somehow it doesn't feel like something is missing. Their care for each other is expressed through their actions, and that unspoken understanding became one of my favourite parts of their relationship.
At its heart, this is much more about youth, friendship, family, dreams, and growing up than romance. Qing Ye comes from a comfortable life and initially struggles to adjust to the realities of a small town, while Xing Wu is constantly thinking about money, family responsibilities, and whether he can afford to keep chasing his dreams. I liked how their different backgrounds allowed them to learn from each other. She helps him believe that his future can be bigger than simply surviving, while he and his family teach her that love, sacrifice, and genuine connection cannot be bought with money.
The small seaside town is almost a character itself. The community, families, friends, neighbors, seaside views, lavender fields, and sunsets give the drama such a warm summer atmosphere. I especially loved the sense of community, where people genuinely look after one another. The friend group and family relationships add a lot of heart, and almost every major character gets some form of growth and closure.
Qing Ye was also a pleasant surprise for me. She may initially come across as spoiled and childish, but I understood her struggles. Going from a comfortable city life to suddenly sharing a crowded home in a small town would be a huge adjustment for anyone. I liked that she wasn't simply a damsel in distress. She was smart, adaptable, assertive, and capable of solving her own problems.
Xing Wu's story gave the drama even more depth. His family genuinely struggles financially, and he has to consider immediate income instead of simply following his dreams. I liked that the drama didn't magically solve everything. His progress came through hard work, perseverance, education, and the support of the people around him. His journey made the coming-of-age aspect feel much more meaningful.
The drama is beautifully filmed, and the seaside setting gives it an incredibly comforting atmosphere. The OST also fits perfectly, especially the songs by Liu Yuning. It has that relaxing summer feeling that makes you want to sit back and simply spend time with these characters.
That said, the middle portion definitely became slow and repetitive for me. There are quite a few problems and setbacks, and at times it felt like the story was taking too long to move forward. I also think too much time was spent on their youth while the reunion after their separation was far too short and underdeveloped. After investing so much time in their journey, I wanted more from that part of the story.
Because of that, I wouldn't recommend Dazzling if you're mainly looking for romance. The romance is a beautiful part of the story, but the drama is ultimately a coming-of-age story about friendship, family, dreams, and growing up.
Overall, Dazzling is a warm and visually beautiful drama about youth and finding your place in the world. The pacing can be frustrating and repetitive at times, but I loved watching these two meet at their worst and gradually become people who brought out the best in each other. Their journey felt more meaningful to me because love grew naturally from everything they built together along the way.
Qing Ye, a big-city girl suddenly sent to a small seaside town because of her family's troubles, initially clashes with Xing Wu, a hardworking local boy who is struggling to support his family and questioning whether finishing school is even worth it. What starts as constant bickering gradually turns into trust, friendship, and eventually love.
What I loved most was how naturally their relationship developed. They spend more than 20 episodes getting to know each other, supporting each other, sharing their dreams, and becoming an important part of each other's lives. There is very little physical affection and they never properly confess before their separation, but somehow it doesn't feel like something is missing. Their care for each other is expressed through their actions, and that unspoken understanding became one of my favourite parts of their relationship.
At its heart, this is much more about youth, friendship, family, dreams, and growing up than romance. Qing Ye comes from a comfortable life and initially struggles to adjust to the realities of a small town, while Xing Wu is constantly thinking about money, family responsibilities, and whether he can afford to keep chasing his dreams. I liked how their different backgrounds allowed them to learn from each other. She helps him believe that his future can be bigger than simply surviving, while he and his family teach her that love, sacrifice, and genuine connection cannot be bought with money.
The small seaside town is almost a character itself. The community, families, friends, neighbors, seaside views, lavender fields, and sunsets give the drama such a warm summer atmosphere. I especially loved the sense of community, where people genuinely look after one another. The friend group and family relationships add a lot of heart, and almost every major character gets some form of growth and closure.
Qing Ye was also a pleasant surprise for me. She may initially come across as spoiled and childish, but I understood her struggles. Going from a comfortable city life to suddenly sharing a crowded home in a small town would be a huge adjustment for anyone. I liked that she wasn't simply a damsel in distress. She was smart, adaptable, assertive, and capable of solving her own problems.
Xing Wu's story gave the drama even more depth. His family genuinely struggles financially, and he has to consider immediate income instead of simply following his dreams. I liked that the drama didn't magically solve everything. His progress came through hard work, perseverance, education, and the support of the people around him. His journey made the coming-of-age aspect feel much more meaningful.
The drama is beautifully filmed, and the seaside setting gives it an incredibly comforting atmosphere. The OST also fits perfectly, especially the songs by Liu Yuning. It has that relaxing summer feeling that makes you want to sit back and simply spend time with these characters.
That said, the middle portion definitely became slow and repetitive for me. There are quite a few problems and setbacks, and at times it felt like the story was taking too long to move forward. I also think too much time was spent on their youth while the reunion after their separation was far too short and underdeveloped. After investing so much time in their journey, I wanted more from that part of the story.
Because of that, I wouldn't recommend Dazzling if you're mainly looking for romance. The romance is a beautiful part of the story, but the drama is ultimately a coming-of-age story about friendship, family, dreams, and growing up.
Overall, Dazzling is a warm and visually beautiful drama about youth and finding your place in the world. The pacing can be frustrating and repetitive at times, but I loved watching these two meet at their worst and gradually become people who brought out the best in each other. Their journey felt more meaningful to me because love grew naturally from everything they built together along the way.
Was this review helpful to you?
