alon-luna

Another light and fluffy series with an adorable green forest couple. This one has an even slower pacing and smaller scope than Shine on Me, in terms of plot and background/location. It focuses on traditional Chinese medicine and not much else, which can be boring for some. I expected to fast forward a lot through it, but found that I liked learning about it, even if I have no opinion on its effectiveness. I like how the story does not propose that TCM replace scientific methods of curing people, but can be a good supplement instead, to alleviate pain and discomfort. Introducing a different ingredient at the beginning of every episode was also a nice touch.

This drama also focuses on healing and has a very good message...that in order to be happy in a relationship, you have to learn to love and value yourself- not just in terms of your physical health, but also in terms of your mental health and who you surround yourself with. The female lead, Shen Xifan, was coming out of an abusive relationship, which was a cause of anxiety and physically affected her. The male lead, He Suye, helps her out of it in the sweetest, most supportive way. Later on, she returns the favor by reuniting him with his father, who he had an unresolved resentment with.

Their interactions were very cute and fun to watch. The chemistry between Xuo Ruohan and Zhang Linghe is also good. I don't have a favorite type of female lead and don't specifically care if they are depicted as girlish, mature, tomboyish, etc for as long as the character fits the story and the main couple has good chemistry. Xuo Ruohan's Shen Xifan is very ladylike. She is gentle but strong, vulnerable but also a survivor. She has dreams and ambitions (ex: studying abroad) that she isn't afraid to explore. Her character reminds me of Zhang Ruonan's character in the First Frost, in a good way and with far less trauma. He Suye is a very caring and soft spoken male lead, but he can also be boyish/playful. He has a naughty streak that can be quite funny, especially when exposed by his grandfather and when his friends tease him. I like how, in spite of being a gentle and soft spoken doctor, he knew when to get angry and stood up to her misogynistic ex without even saying a word.

I also really like the female lead's parents and the male lead's grandfather. They were very supportive of the main couple and there were a lot of heartwarming family interactions because of that. Her parents' reaction when they found out how nasty her ex had been to her was very touching.

Despite being shot in only a few locations, The Best Thing is also (visually) a very beautiful drama to watch. There were many shots of landscapes filled with flowers, blooming plants and trees...the characters looked and felt like they were in a fairy tale, even if filming was done in the heart of the city. I kind of wondered if all the flowers were real in the wedding scene at the end. Everything was so beautifully arranged/decorated that it made me wonder what happened to all that foliage after the event.

One thing I kind of took issue with is that the female lead decided to pursue a private business after she came back from abroad. I don't have a problem with career changes, but a big deal was made of her studying hotel management in terms of the plot, so it was strange how she decided on the career change so abruptly after coming back; it felt like a waste after going through so much effort to get her scholarship.