This review may contain spoilers
[Insert Description for Drama “Love Between Lines" in the 剧本杀 System]
As another reviewer mentioned, this show is truly nothing special. You go through the typical tropes of CEO-employee romance, VR/video game dating, family-influenced breakup, etc.
The difference between "Love Between Lines" and many other scripts that follow the same formula is how excellently the pacing is executed. Despite the fact that the story is nothing to write home about, the storytelling is never completely stuck or too rushed. You can watch an episode without skipping scenes if you'd like, or you can skip scenes yet still understand the plot. Few shows allow both to be viable options.
Anyhow, the first standout of this show lies in the romance. The female lead, Hu Xiu, is mature, independent, and loving, but she can also be clumsy and somewhat "easily appeased". The male lead, Xiao Zhiyu, is an ingenious yet cold architect, but he can also be both socially and romantically awkward, willing to grow (especially in the area of communicating feelings), and clingy. My purpose for the obnoxious "character-trait listing" is to say that both leads are imperfect, making them more interesting, human, and likable than many of today's "perfect leads". It goes without saying that Lu Yuxiao (who I find extremely endearing) and Chen Xingxu both performed their roles wonderfully; anything less would flatten the show's romantic core.
The romantic development between the leads was executed in a similarly compelling fashion. There is no unexplainable "love-at-first-sight" or irresolvable sexual tension to hinge the relationship on. Instead, the relationship between the leads progresses organically (this is difficult to explain without overt spoilers). There are many small bumps on their journey to love, but most (if not all) are realistic and avoid the pitfalls of melodrama. While I dislike that a lot of these bumps are resolved through make-out sessions with a small side of communication, the conflict-resolution mechanism is internally consistent with the male lead's awkwardness/touchiness. The relationship is not perfect, but it is—truly—romantic.
The final thing I'll address concerning the romance is the breakup. I understand that the most skepticism for potential viewers comes from fearing the breakup that commentators have argued is "out-of-character" for the smart female lead. I actually don't agree here. The female lead is shown to be altruistic, family-oriented, and prone to small bouts of guilt. Considering the then-unresolved tension and grief between the two leads' families, I found Hu Xiu's decision to break-up reasonable and in-character. If the break-up still sounds bothersome, know that it lasts only one-and-a-half to two episodes.
The second stand-out is the integration of the game "Ju Ben Sha (剧本杀)". I found it to be a compelling vessel for communication between the leads, and much of the dialogue that happens in the game is implicit but critical direction for the plot. I did hope to see a few more game scenes, but I understand that, for both leads, some part of the past must go.
All in all, I believe this show is worth a watch! I apologize for the abstractness in the review; I would be more concrete if not for the risk of spoiling too much.
The difference between "Love Between Lines" and many other scripts that follow the same formula is how excellently the pacing is executed. Despite the fact that the story is nothing to write home about, the storytelling is never completely stuck or too rushed. You can watch an episode without skipping scenes if you'd like, or you can skip scenes yet still understand the plot. Few shows allow both to be viable options.
Anyhow, the first standout of this show lies in the romance. The female lead, Hu Xiu, is mature, independent, and loving, but she can also be clumsy and somewhat "easily appeased". The male lead, Xiao Zhiyu, is an ingenious yet cold architect, but he can also be both socially and romantically awkward, willing to grow (especially in the area of communicating feelings), and clingy. My purpose for the obnoxious "character-trait listing" is to say that both leads are imperfect, making them more interesting, human, and likable than many of today's "perfect leads". It goes without saying that Lu Yuxiao (who I find extremely endearing) and Chen Xingxu both performed their roles wonderfully; anything less would flatten the show's romantic core.
The romantic development between the leads was executed in a similarly compelling fashion. There is no unexplainable "love-at-first-sight" or irresolvable sexual tension to hinge the relationship on. Instead, the relationship between the leads progresses organically (this is difficult to explain without overt spoilers). There are many small bumps on their journey to love, but most (if not all) are realistic and avoid the pitfalls of melodrama. While I dislike that a lot of these bumps are resolved through make-out sessions with a small side of communication, the conflict-resolution mechanism is internally consistent with the male lead's awkwardness/touchiness. The relationship is not perfect, but it is—truly—romantic.
The final thing I'll address concerning the romance is the breakup. I understand that the most skepticism for potential viewers comes from fearing the breakup that commentators have argued is "out-of-character" for the smart female lead. I actually don't agree here. The female lead is shown to be altruistic, family-oriented, and prone to small bouts of guilt. Considering the then-unresolved tension and grief between the two leads' families, I found Hu Xiu's decision to break-up reasonable and in-character. If the break-up still sounds bothersome, know that it lasts only one-and-a-half to two episodes.
The second stand-out is the integration of the game "Ju Ben Sha (剧本杀)". I found it to be a compelling vessel for communication between the leads, and much of the dialogue that happens in the game is implicit but critical direction for the plot. I did hope to see a few more game scenes, but I understand that, for both leads, some part of the past must go.
All in all, I believe this show is worth a watch! I apologize for the abstractness in the review; I would be more concrete if not for the risk of spoiling too much.
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