This review may contain spoilers
Do not try this at home type of love story
**Top Notes:**
An immersive and fun story setting. The plot flowed well, and while it can be slow in some arcs, there weren't any annoying time fillers or plot holes.
The backdrop and costumes for the game scenes were unrealistically beautiful, which helped keep the in-game story separate from the real-life one. This was done really well, so I wasn't confused by the different plots and how they played into each other in real life. I'm also just a gamer and have a taste for traditional Chinese design, so I loved watching the in-game scenes.
**Middle Notes:**
It's a slow burn love story, but it's definitely worth the wait. YangYang and ZhengShuang have great chemistry, and I was riding off their obvious interest in each other even before they officially got together.
All main characters had their own backstory and character arcs. I didn't feel like I was watching how the 2 leads fell in love, and everyone else was just an accessory. It felt like every character was the lead of their own story and could see potential sequels for many of them. All the different love and character stories were intertwined and built on one another.
Mao Xiaotong wasn't very popular at the time of release, but this role definitely helped her build more recognition. She surprised me with her acting, as her previous roles were very serious and cunning, so honestly, I struggled to see her as the fun, playful Erxi. But by the time her character was tested, I believed wholeheartedly that she was good and kind.
**Base Notes:**
The friendships were very heart-warming. Great friendships tug at my heartstrings more than beautiful love stories. Both the male and female leads were surrounded by friends who were loyal and genuinely cared for them. I loved that, as I find dramas with scheming and backstabbing friends draining to watch.
If I had to rate this drama from cozy watch to scheming palace intrigue, this would sit somewhere in the middle. It leans towards cozy, but it also uses some mini-villains to test the characters.
From start to finish, this drama had me sucked in. All the side plots embellished the main story and made the world feel more real and engaging. I was a teenager the first time I watched this drama and thought I could find my XiaoNai in real life as well. HIGHLY DO NOT RECOMMEND TRYING THIS IN REAL LIFE. You will not find your XiaoNai; you will find creepy strangers and creeped-out strangers instead.
It's been almost 10 years since I first watched this drama, and I've probably rewatched it over 5 times from start to finish. If you're sleeping on this one, don't. It's a classic for me, and I highly recommend it to every C-Drama enthusiast.
An immersive and fun story setting. The plot flowed well, and while it can be slow in some arcs, there weren't any annoying time fillers or plot holes.
The backdrop and costumes for the game scenes were unrealistically beautiful, which helped keep the in-game story separate from the real-life one. This was done really well, so I wasn't confused by the different plots and how they played into each other in real life. I'm also just a gamer and have a taste for traditional Chinese design, so I loved watching the in-game scenes.
**Middle Notes:**
It's a slow burn love story, but it's definitely worth the wait. YangYang and ZhengShuang have great chemistry, and I was riding off their obvious interest in each other even before they officially got together.
All main characters had their own backstory and character arcs. I didn't feel like I was watching how the 2 leads fell in love, and everyone else was just an accessory. It felt like every character was the lead of their own story and could see potential sequels for many of them. All the different love and character stories were intertwined and built on one another.
Mao Xiaotong wasn't very popular at the time of release, but this role definitely helped her build more recognition. She surprised me with her acting, as her previous roles were very serious and cunning, so honestly, I struggled to see her as the fun, playful Erxi. But by the time her character was tested, I believed wholeheartedly that she was good and kind.
**Base Notes:**
The friendships were very heart-warming. Great friendships tug at my heartstrings more than beautiful love stories. Both the male and female leads were surrounded by friends who were loyal and genuinely cared for them. I loved that, as I find dramas with scheming and backstabbing friends draining to watch.
If I had to rate this drama from cozy watch to scheming palace intrigue, this would sit somewhere in the middle. It leans towards cozy, but it also uses some mini-villains to test the characters.
From start to finish, this drama had me sucked in. All the side plots embellished the main story and made the world feel more real and engaging. I was a teenager the first time I watched this drama and thought I could find my XiaoNai in real life as well. HIGHLY DO NOT RECOMMEND TRYING THIS IN REAL LIFE. You will not find your XiaoNai; you will find creepy strangers and creeped-out strangers instead.
It's been almost 10 years since I first watched this drama, and I've probably rewatched it over 5 times from start to finish. If you're sleeping on this one, don't. It's a classic for me, and I highly recommend it to every C-Drama enthusiast.
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