Watching Again

Dark romance in turbulent time

This drama is a typical dark romance that takes place in a turbulent period, the Republican Era in China. It belongs to the slap kissed genre . All kinds of violence are to be expected.

We can't use today's lense to judge the past. We can only accept that things are different back then and this drama gives us a glimpse into that world.

Overall, the production did a great job with the set, the lighting, it has the right mood. All the actors gave it their all. The emotions can be felt across the screen.

The hardest part is the genre itself. Once we accept and get passed this, what happened in the drama becomes more real. One sure thing is the main couple's deep love for each other. His love can be too much sometimes. He suffocated her with his love. It's sad and touching at the same time.

The main actor Wanyan Luo Rong is relatively new. He did a great job this time. He had to cry in so many scenes. It must take a toll on him but he did great. It's time like this that you appreciate what a good actor can do to a role. He becomes the character and we can feel the hurt, the pain.

Initially, I wasn't too impressed with actress Zhong Li Li but she grew on me towards the end. Maybe it's her character or something else, I didn't feel a strong draw. Her chemistry with her costar is just alright. It could be better. I never truly feel her love for him in the drama. Something is missing.

The supporting cast are all great. I like them all. They really elevated the drama. I enjoy watching their scenes. The brotherly bonds are charming. Either way, they left a deep lasting impression.

Even some of the "villains", we can see their true hearts and feel bad for them. Sometimes people just make the wrong choices and had to face consequences.

Even though this is a good drama, it has low re watch value. It's the type that you only watch once. You witness their stories but hope to move on because it's too dark, too painful.

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Refreshing story and talented cast

What happen if you have to live as someone else? Are you willing to make sacrifices for your love ones?
Do you have the courage to love somebody no matter what? This drama will answer all those questions for you.
Through the main character's cute interactions, they'll make you laugh and cry with them.

The break out star of this drama is Duan Jing Yi. It's her first acting project and she impressed everyone.
Her portrayals of Shen Nan & Shen Yi are so natural and honest. Deep inside the strong outer appearance is someone so selfless, delicate & innocent. Her strong chemistry with her costar Shen Hao Nan made it enjoyable to watch. I found myself smiling so much through the first part of the drama.

Shen Hao Nan, an experienced actor, appeared in countless micro dramas proved that all those years of hard work paid off and he's here to shine. His detailed acting, his expressions and his eyes conveyed deep emotions. He made us believe all the ups and downs of Gu Yi Chen. We feel for him, care about him and root for him.

For the most part, I'm very happy about this drama.
The story, the acting, lighting, framing, everything is good. I really enjoyed watching it.
The appearance of Taiwanese veteran actor Morning Chang as Gu Yi Chen's grandpa elevated the drama because it gives the audience a sense of familiarity for the older audience segment. They grew up watching him.

The con of this drama is the portrayal of Zhang Yang's revenge. It's a bit unrealistic how everything went down again and again. The story about the brother was alright but it felt disconnected. Gu Yi Chen is already successful in his career so they don't really need to make him rich too. This is a short drama so we don't need too much side stories.

It appears that many scenes got cut due to certain restriction guidelines so sometimes it feels choppy.
Also the last kiss is way off target. I was super disappointed because it shouldn't be like that especially for an ending kiss. But after watching all the BTS kisses, I realized that they filmed all the kisses properly but were all cut and left out of the official drama. I can understand the reason but I wish they included all those kisses in the drama.

This is also the first time producer Hua Ping becomes a screenwriter. I really like her script. There are many memorable, touching, funny lines/scenes throughout the drama. Here are some of my favorites. You might have to come back here after finishing the drama to know why.



I'll list some below. There are some major spoilers so skip this part and come back after you've finished the drama.

* Why are you running so fast? Episode 2.
* You wear a sweatshirt and pants in the summer. Don't you feel hot? Episode 3.
* Is Shen Nan a girl? Episode 5.
* Shen Nan, don't be nervous. Episode 5.
* Shen Nan, if you were a girl, I'd marry you. Episode 6.
* On the track , the only person I can rely on is you. Episode 7.
* Do you often watch romantic dramas? Episode 8.
* Have you ever been in love? Episode 8.
* Shen Nan, you're not interested in me, are you? Episode 8.
* If you were a girl, I'm sure you'd be crazy about me. Episode 8.
* But Shen Nan isn't a girl. Episode 8.
* Gu Yi Chen, my idol. Sooner or later, you'll be mine. Episode 9.
* I'm with you. You're not fighting this alone. Episode 9.
* I dreamed of marrying Shen Nan. Episode 10.
* Why do I feel like he's a girl? Episode 10.
* Why did you kiss me? Episode 11.
* Why is my heart beating so fast? It's about to explode. Episode 11.
* Did you really fall in love with him? Episode 11.
* Is Gu Yi Chen avoiding me? Episode 11.
* I'm fooling myself. Episode 12.
* You're really driven me crazy lately. Episode 12.
* Maybe you care about me just because we're teammates. Episode 13.
* You need to use your heart and not your brain to love. Episode 14.
* Shen Nan, did I do something wrong? Episode 14.
* Shen Nan, I like you so much. Episode 15.
* You've occupied my mind. You've occupied my heart. Episode 15.
* Actually, I'm a girl. Episode 15.
* You can hit me. Episode 16.
* These days, I haven't been able to sleep without you. Episode 16.
* You look good. Episode 17.
* You're like a little girl. So cute. Episode 17.
* When I see him with other girls, I feel really sad. Episode 17.
* Do you have someone you like now? Episode 18.
* I want to be with you forever. Episode 18.
* I can't harm you. Episode 18.
* I'm Shen Nan's twin sister, Shen Yi. Episode 19.
* You have deceived me for such a long time. Episode 19.
* Seeing me in pain, are you satisfied now? Episode 19.
* I've liked a girl for a long time. Episode 20.
* I fell in love with her at first sight. Episode 20.
* I don't know when I fell in love with her. Episode 20.
* Maybe you should ask yourself what would you be like if you lost her. Episode 20.
* Shen Yi, I really really like you. Episode 20.
* As long as you're happy, I'm happy. Episode 20.
* I really miss you. Episode 21.
* I want to be with you forever. Episode 21.
* I'm sorry. It's my fault. Episode 21.
* Is it sweet? Episode 22.
* Only you. No one else. Episode 22.
* I really love you. Episode 22.
* I love you the way you are, what ever it is. Episode 22.
* If you win, I'll also win. Episode 22.
* My ability can prove everything. Episode 23.
* Why didn't you accept the award? Episode 24.
* We won this together. Episode 24.
* I will protect our dreams. Episode 24.
* I love the way you are. Episode 24.
* Will you marry me? Episode 24.
* Catch up with me and I'll marry you.

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Visually stunning drama with a beautiful cast

Is this drama worth watching ? The answer is yes.
Maybe you should watch it more than once for many different reasons.

This drama is a masterpiece in term of cinematography. If you're a film student or interested in Photography, you'll enjoy this drama immensely. Every frame is beautiful and you'll get lost in its beauty. You will learn a lot after watching.

Of course the main reason for watching should be the good chemistry between the actors. They all delivered. Despite their young ages, ML & 2nd ML did very well. I enjoyed seeing them in more mature roles here.

There will be some uncomfortable scenes at the beginning of the drama. Unfortunately, this can happen in real life even now. I think they did their best portraying this difficult situation. This also raises awareness of a topic or condition not many wants to talk about.

For a short drama, it exceeded my expectation. It's very well done. I hope you'll enjoy watching.

Update after episode 23:

Right up until the last part of the drama, this drama is still enjoyable to watch because it's beautifully filmed. Visually, it's one of the most beautiful dramas I've seen. The cast is also good looking. The styling is good too. Visually, there's nothing to worry about. The mystery took a bit longer to reveal but the reveal itself is very well done and touching.

In the later part of the drama, it has 2 story lines being told simultaneously so sometimes I felt like the 2nd couple kept on stealing the spotlight. They're featured prominently and their scenes are always so beautifully filmed. That totally takes away the focus on the main couple. I'm fine with it because I enjoy watching both couples but the distinction between main and 2nd couple become blurry in some episodes.

The weakest part of the drama is some parts of the story itself. Sometimes it's difficult to process what someone would do to achieve what he wants. But in the end you get what you deserve so it's a reminder to live our lives well. It's still enjoyable to watch overall but I don't feel as invest in ML's parents story line.

If you like the ML then this is one of his best dramas. He's allowed to show a more mature side. He's always likeable and was able to show his charm. He has good chemistry with all the other actors. He's very natural. I really enjoyed watching him in here.

I've seen FL in many short dramas but this drama is just different. They were able to show that special aura of a classical beauty in her. She was so graceful.

Another enjoyable aspect of this drama is the portrayal of the relationships between the 4 people. Everyone brings something to the table and they're definitely better together.

Update after episode 19:

Episode 18 is rather sad but needed to happen. FL did very well when she needs to show intense emotions. ML is always there to show his charm. Episode 19 is an important episode that moves the story forward. It's so touching to watch. The filming is very well done. The scenery is so beautiful. Everyone acted very well in the last few episodes. Can't wait to see more.

Updated after episode 17:
The drama is getting better and better. The cinematography is a masterpiece. Chemistry for the 2 couples is on fire. Highly recommend.

At episode 15, this drama's rating should be a solid 8 with an additional .5 bonus for how beautiful everything looks. This drama has high re watch value. Watching it the 2nd time, I felt it's better than the first time.

I was going to take a few pictures to share with you in the photo section but ended up with way more than intended because every frame is so beautiful. Check out the Photo section when you get a chance.

Sometimes I get lost in its beauty and wasn't paying close attention to what's happening. It's a masterpiece in term of cinematography. This drama is elevated because of the cinematographer. The BTS video clips and the actual drama highlighted the difference, it's unbelievable how the same scene looked.

The FL is so beautiful, her aura is so fitting for this drama. Everyone else looked great too but FL is a standout. Her scenes just captivate you. She's really good with emotionally charged scenes too. She's not afraid to look unkempt, she becomes the character.

ML is also a great cast. He's younger than the character's age but did just fine. He's so charming in here, longer hair is a great look for him. He did a great job with the caring boyfriend part, the rebellious son part, definitely believable. He has great chemistry with the FL too so that's also good news. I think this is one of his best works.

The 2nd ML surprised me a lot. He's so into his role which I find endearing. He's so caring for the people around him. His "relationship" with ML is so funny. I love their scenes together. He's a super caring friend to FL. To his leading lady, the 2nd FL, he's also caring, always there to rescue her when needed. I can tell he's a new actor and tried to compensate for his younger age sometimes a bit too much but he also has good chemistry with 2nd FL despite their age gap. They had quite a bit of intimate scenes which was a total surprise.

Story wise, it's not the strongest but interesting enough for us to enjoy the drama. There are some uncomfortable scenes regarding FL's sister at the beginning of the drama but the mystery surrounding that part of the story is still unfolding.

It's one of the better short dramas that's out now . The quality is so high for a short drama so I definitely recommend if you're on the fence.

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Visually stunning drama and the symbolism of lights.

For a short drama, the quality far exceeded my expectations. It's a visual feast for the eyes. Every frame is captured beautifully.
The lighting is just magical. It was used as an instrument to set the mood and tell the story very effectively here. I would recommend this drama for the visual aspect alone.

The story's portrayal of women was a surprise. The struggle to break through what was considered the norm was a fresh take. Suffered through her whole life, Di Shi Qi's world changed the day Ouyang Shao appeared.
Her journey from the darkest, hopeless place to become the most powerful women was inspiring.
Her strength is admirable. Not just Di Shi Qi, the women around her really held their fates in their hands. It's so unusual to see women coming together, helping each other for stories from this era. This is what makes this drama stands out from the rest.

Ouyang Shao was the light that shines her path in the dark. They had a special bond. He pulled her out of misery in her darkest days, helped her and became her protector in the palace. He did everything silently, behind the scene at first but eventually he can no longer keep it a secret. His love is constant and unconditional. Despite everything, he stood by her, sacrifice his health, his body again and again hoping to make everything better for her. He tried to give her what she wanted the most, freedom. His unconditional love and trust is the foundation for the happiness they both deserved.

There are moments when the lighting just takes your breath away. It immediately created that warm feeling whenever Ouyang Shao appears next to Di Shi Qi. The light is warm and embraced her surroundings. The most impressive scene is in episode 5 when she was in the tree drinking. The lighting of this scene is so surreal, like in a dream. It's so beautiful.

In episode 4, when the 2 assassins talked, the use of shadows and negative space really made that scene special. The dialogue " If you get soft-hearted, you'll die" then the continuation of that scene into the morning... showing the warm light beams signalling a new day. That whole sequence was so impressive and magical too.

There are countless moments where I just want to pause the screen to have a closer look. The production did a great job and deserves all the praises they can get.

The overall story is not new but the execution is fresh and engaging. The main actress He Xuan Lin stole the show. She draws you in and won't let go.
The main actor Cheng Yu Feng is a rising short dramas star. Next to He Xuan Lin, you can see some limitations but overall, he did well. The main couple looks good together. Their costumes are well made.

Overall, I still recommend this drama. There’s an issue with the treatment of ML's character towards the end but maybe it's to highlight the achievement of FL.

The ending song is beautiful, well written lyrics that perfectly tells the story from his point of view.

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Familiar story but production is low budget and poor excecution

This drama has potential at first but the execution is not up to par. The main couple didn't have star power and chemistry.
Closer to the end, their acting are both pretty bad. The lack of chemistry is what sunk this drama.
It's ok to watch as a filler while waiting for other dramas.
The best thing about it is the theme song but it was borrowed from another movie.

Below was my impression of the first 13 episodes:

This drama resembled Embrace In The Dark Night but is much lower quality.

The drama feels low budget but surprisingly easy to watch. The episodes are short and we should be done within 2 weeks so not much commitment.

If you like this kind of stories then you'll like it regardless. The story will always be the same, just like "old wine in a new bottle ".

I'm about halfway done and is still interested in it so that's good. The actors are doing an ok job but the production felt so low budget and the story is so shaky at times. Still, I noticed ML always managed to show up with a perfectly ironed shirt.

Because it's a low budget dramas, we can't use the same standard to judge. It's about the feeling you felt while watching. You have to overlook many details and just believe in the story.

The 2nd arc of the story will surprised you a little. It'll give you something to think about. The problem is if you've seen stories like this before, it's not hard to guess.

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Average drama that takes place during the Republican Era

This drama will be a quick watch if you like the main actor. The story takes place in the Republican Era so we can't judge what happened using today's lense.

For a drama from that era, it's already tame. It's an alright drama. I'm only watching because I like the main actor. He's still pretty much the same as his older drama Rival Love but that drama was better for many reasons. Although he's being type cast, he does a good job acting with his eyes. He seems too nice to be a general from that era.

The chemistry is just alright. The styling made the FL look older sometimes.

Overall, it's an average drama. Only watch if you like the actors and want to support them.

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Beautiful cast but the mood is tense

The drama started out well with the strong cast, very photogenic and had great chemistry.
The mood between the couple is quite tense at the beginning. Everyone is having their own agenda.
Like many couples in the real world, the main couple is always so proud. They love each other but must pretend that they don't. This game, while playing with their feelings, is quite fun.

Xu Nuo has a fire burning lamp on her bed stand literally signaling her burning desire to win. Her jealousy is cute.
Shen Jia He always cares about Xu Nuo , he's very protective of her but she always gives him an attitude due to past misunderstandings. They eventually confessed their true feelings and everything was good again.

The thing about this drama is there are many forced kisses, it's easy to understand because it's a remake of a slap kissed Thai drama. Fan Zhi Xin suffered quite a bit of slaps to the point that he needs to ice his cheek.

The story took a bad turn after episode 33. I suffered with the couple and wasn't able to recover fully after this.
Overall, it's still worth a watch if you're a fan of the cast.


This is the summary of the their love game. It contain spoilers so don't read it if you don't want to know exactly what happened.



As Shen Jia He softens around episode 6, he started saying: "I can do anything for you." Xu Nuo started pressuring him with "Do you love me? Do this for me." Fan Zhi Xin is very good with these emotional scenes.

Episode 7 is the turning point for the couple emotionally. The outfit she wears in the morning made it so funny. She's still so proud at this point.

By episode 9, they're still playing with each other's feelings.

By episode 10, both are trying to cope with each other's lies but reach breaking point by episode 11. Love without trust can't last. That’s the lesson XN’s mom taught her.

After he saved her in episode 12, Xu Nuo started to change in episode 13. She tried to seduce him and it’s fun to watch.

Episode 14 is when he retreats slightly...but found his answer from the answering book. It said to trust your first instinct. If you're too greedy, you'll lose everything. He decided to pick her and cleared their misunderstandings.

Episode 15 is when he says he loves her, only her and leave it up to her to give him an answer. Her true feelings were revealed when she thought he was in danger.

I'll try to update the game progress up until episode 33 :)

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Has potential but fell apart halfway through. Chemistry went from promising to lukewarm.

Review based on the first 24 episodes:

I have to be honest about how I feel about this drama now. This drama is not a good drama. It has potential initially but now it's a disappointment halfway through or specifically up to episode 24.

Initially, the main couple has good chemistry and I'm counting on that to get me through this drama. But as soon as they kissed, all the magic is gone. At that time, I already felt the chemistry was falling apart but I pushed that thought away and still thought those episodes were the best so far. But the more I watched, the more boring the relationship got. By now, it's so lukewarm that I'm having a hard time believing.

In addition to this, they made 2FL's role ridiculous and unlikable. She's very pretty and I like the relationship she had with her husband but they made her character so unbelievable and unlikable that my mood is always down after watching.

I'm sad to say that if I stop watching now I won't miss it much. I'm only here to keep everyone company but I'm totally losing interest.

They'll be releasing the rest of the drama soon so I might tough it out and finish it but I was so close to dropping it.

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Update after episode 31:

It's so hard to regain interest after almost dropping it after episode 24 but I tried to continue since I'm closer to the end. The relationship of the main couple no longer have the same draw for me. This is most detrimental aspect in the overall enjoyment of the drama. I think everything else is still pretty much the same up until now. I'm still watching but lacked the feeling of excitement like I did at the beginning.

I regained some interest after episode 31 but felt sad about everything leading up to it. I know this drama will end nicely in the next 3 episodes. I just wish they did this sooner.
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Update after episode 34:

Towards the end, nothing much happened. Everything is as expected. I gave it a 7 rating because it's just an alright drama. It could have been much better.

The chemistry of the main couple didn't live up to my expectation. Their behind the scene pictures at Disneyland had better chemistry than in the drama. I don't care much for the military stuff so without the chemistry, there's nothing to look forward to.

I just finished the drama but I'm sure I'll forget about soon. The best thing about this drama is its soundtrack.

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