bojojoti

Wonderful review. Those things you found valuable in storytelling are the ones that bring me pleasure, too.

I often whine about the lack of logic, but when a drama can present something stylish and unpredictable, I'm willing to overlook that when everything else is diverting. Besides, it moves so quickly, who can think? There's no time to ponder the ridiculous thing when another larger, more ridiculous thing happens right after. My only regret is not realizing Viki didn't have the entire drama ready to binge.

I just finished a C-drama with a similar premise, Love Crossed. Sadly, it never explored the need for fantasy versus real relationships. It devolved into a silly romcom when, initially, I thought something more substantive would be explored. It seems, between our two expectations, that there should be a serious drama concerning AI and relationships in the making.

Your review made me add it to my Watch list!

It's not a drama quickly forgotten. The actors made their roles indelible. I'm angst averse, so I struggled throughout, but the outcome was worth the journey. It was cathartic when Su Jin's eye scene finally appeared! I do wish the writers could have handled the miscommunications more deftly. I tire of what I've termed dumbfounded mutism, where a character is accused of something and just stands there without speaking. At the very least, mumble, "I didn't do it" or something to the effect!

I agree about Mark Chao. For a stoic part, he was able to convey his emotions admirably through his eyes.

I always appreciate a drama that teaches me something, and I learned a bit about fabric in this one. I could have done without the love triangles, but Asian romances seem to find that mandatory!

Some dramas you might enjoy:
Hikaru no Go, a student develops a passion for the ancient board game of Go (I know that doesn't sound the least bit interesting, but I found it unique)
https://kisskh.at/45437-qi-hun

Lost Romance, a romance editor is transported into a novel as a villain, and she tries to use her knowledge to use known cliches to extricate herself from a bad ending
https://kisskh.at/59701-lost-romance

The Kidnapping Day, a desperate man kidnaps a child for ransom money for his ill daughter's surgery
https://kisskh.at/718187-day-of-kidnapping

The Prisoner of Beauty, two feuding clans use marriage to forge peace between them, but the husband can't get over the betrayal of his new wife's family (I especially loved how the wife remained strong and poised as she dealt with her husband's cold treatment; it's a wonderful enemies to lovers story)
https://kisskh.at/687393-the-prisoner-of-beauty

I would have easily rated nine stars (I don't rate as high as most MDLers), if not for the ending. I realize that disappointing ending is likely due to censorship, and I try to overlook it, but it did mar an otherwise very nice story. If I rewatch, I'll skip that part.

I often listen to the OST; it's so pleasant. I absolutely love "I See You" by Qian Xi.
https://music.youtube.com/watch?v=dvrVLTR_XAY&list=PLK6MrsCxIhGZDX0rSXpulCIadjlfVx71f

I enjoyed this and the Korean version. Both told an engaging story about the stoic boy and the bubbly girl who loved him. And both versions did poorly in wrapping the story up, but that's a common flaw in Korean/Chinese dramas that I've almost come to accept.

I like the actors, and I know I watched the drama because I rated it and left myself a note that four lifetimes meant a lot of tragic death scenes, but, for the life of me, I can barely recall the drama. It made so little an impression on me. Still, I rated it an eight, which is above my 7.5 rating for standard fare.

It helps immensely, in my opinion. If you don't watch season 1, you will miss all the tribulations the FL underwent for the ML. You'll better understand her obsessions, and you'll have the background for ML's life before she appeared.

I like Shen Yue and Chen Zhe Yuan, and any story revolving around writers/books is always a bonus to me. Unfortunately, the last episodes ruined any chance that I'd ever rewatch this.

Healer (action, thriller); The Devil Judge (mystery, drama); When the Phone Rings (thriller); Alice in Borderland (thriller); Death's Game (thriller); Mouse (thriller; I couldn't finish it because it made me too tense); Bad and Crazy (corrupt cop comedy; could be deemed mild thriller); Mobius (thriller); The K2 (thriller); The Kidnapping Day (thriller with a little comedy).

RomComs:
100 Days My Prince
A Dream within a Dream
A Romance of the Little Forest
Angel's Last Mission: Love
Another Miss Oh
As Beautiful as You
Coffee Prince
Dating in the Kitchen
Familiar Wife
Filter
Forever Love
Go Go Squid!
Hello, My Twenties!
Hi Venus
I'm Not a Robot
Kill Me, Heal Me
Lost Romance
Love between Fairy and Devil
Love Next Door
Moonlight
Mr. Bad
Mr. Queen
My Dearest Nemesis
My Fated Boy
My Love from the Star
My Sassy Princess
Oh My Venus
Perfect and Casual
Put Your Head on My Shoulder
Queen and I
Reply 1997
Rookie Historian Goo Hae Ryung
Secret Garden
Sungkyunkwan Scandal
The Love You Give Me
The Romance of Tiger and Rose
The Starry Love
To Fly with You
Touch Your Heart
Unforgettable Love
Wok of Love
You Are My Glory

Obviously, Hou Ming Hao reminds many of a kitten! It's not just me.

I don't ask a drama to be perfect, but it's magical when it nearly is. All I ask is to be entertained and have something unique presented to me like the cinematography in Glory. Those tea plantation scenes were memorable.

I agree about the flaws. There would be no way a large enterprise could flourish with all of the infighting and undercutting of the sisters with one another. It's hard enough for a family business to thrive when everyone is mostly working together! My advice to anyone considering going into business with relatives is to have a thick skin, set boundaries, and sign a strong contract.

Hou Min Hao as a baby dragon trying to spew tiny spurts of dragon flame was cuteness personified. The drama was worth watching if that were the only scene.

The actor has range. He can look innocent, adorable, fierce, or deadly.

So unprepared! That poster has what I thought was a cute nose tap between two flirty people. I'm still not quite recovered from that.

If you know it's going to be painful, at least you can guard your heart a bit.

Thank you! I'll check out the ones I haven't seen.

Offhand, can you name a drama you liked with a well-written love triangle? I've got a list of Love Triangles I Didn't Hate. The best love triangle I've encountered was in Reply 1988. It was done so honorably. I suppose the reason I despise love triangles, generally speaking, is that they're often ugly and underhanded. I'm very sensitive to the trope where one person believes another person is destined to be their partner and won't give up the obsession. I try to avoid those.

This is obviously a thing with me, as I've watched all but about eight of these (of the ones I have access to), and they are on my Watch Next list. I detest the toxicity of most love triangles and avoid them. I seem to rate the no love triangle dramas higher, too.

A comfort romcom doesn't have to be outstanding. Sometimes, my brain wants to coast.

There is nothing that compares to the acting, sets, visuals, and content. MDL's recommendations for those who liked Snowfall are

Guardian: The Lonely and Great God (it was one of my first K-dramas, and I loved it; fantasy with great OST and bromance);

Eternal Love of Dream (sequel of Eternal Love, which I liked; I've dropped this one so far, as it's much sillier);

Love on the Turquoise Land (which I've not seen);

Love Beyond the Curse (the Temu version of a vampire story, notable only for Dai Gao Zheng's torso, which is frequently displayed);

Blood (a vampire tale with the weirdest ending; not recommended);

and The Scholar Who Walks the Night (another vampire but from the Joseon Dynasty; I'll watch almost anything with Lee Joon Gi; Lee Soo Hyuk's voice is mesmerizing in this one; they made this watchable).

Maybe try Alchemy of Souls, an epic fantasy. It has a great OST, striking visuals, a compelling story, and memorable characters. There are no vampires, but there are soul swaps.