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OK enough if you’re in a drama slump and would want to get by with something easy
This is not the worst youth drama series, but it’s also not the best. Personally, it’s something you randomly grab off the shelf when you’re starving, so anything that would fill the stomach would be alright as long as you get by.The tone and style were definitely aimed at being lighthearted, romantic comedy (although it attempts to go slightly beyond that in the end), however, I still find some of the conflicts silly and absurd. I wish the writer attempted to write more realistic conflicts that would actually happen in school as young adults, not something obviously and directly plagiarized from someone’s daydream.
I also found myself clenching my fists a few times because of how utterly cringey some scenes can be, but I couldn’t help but keep watching until the end because the leads are adorable and their chemistry is there.
And I think that’s the strongest point of the show. They make it seem like they’re really in love, especially Tian Hong Jie as Zhang Ruo Xi. With a few improvements here and there, I’m hoping he could land on a huge project to show more of what he can offer. And oh, Chen Kang, too!
There are loose ends and rushed and cramped narratives, but the most disappointing of all is how the second ML’s story concluded. He deserved a better ending, even if it means not pairing him up with another secondary character.
Technically wise, there are also numerous hiccups that I’ve observed, so to enjoy the drama, it’s best to turn off your brain and just let the youthful romcom take the lead.
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Warmth in the mundane
Watching Resident Playbook gave me the same feeling when I watched the Hospital Playlist series, most especially because they share the same universe, directors, creators, and screenwriters.Like Hospital Playlist, it has a quiet and steady pacing with themes that tackled life minus the fiction cliches, tropes, and conflict.
It fills me with amazement how a series that merely used the different point of views of the main, secondary, and tertiary characters as the main storytelling device yielded high emotional impact. For a material like this, a writer would need tremendous talent to not turn it into a bore-fest.
I’m very contented with the ending and I’m usually good with a single season wrapping up the entire story, but for someone who’s now emotionally invested in the characters, I would like to see more of their journey (I am secretly hoping for a second season).
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Drama’s emotional grip is good; it’s something that you just can’t stop watching
I was one of those who was eagerly waiting for this drama, but was immensely put off by iQIYI’s intervention that ultimately led the team to rewriting the conclusion into a sad ending, as advised by AI (I have so much to say on this subject, but that will be an entirely different discourse).With that, I initially pushed this series further down my watch list, with no intention of picking it up at the moment. However, I noticed the good ratings steadily persisted despite the backlash it received. And I took that as a sign.
There’s nothing unique about the plot and the CGI and OST are decent at most.
There is nothing groundbreaking about it at all, if I’m being honest, but as someone who has watched over a hundred of dramas, there’s a slim chance that I'd come across a new material anyway.
What’s good about this drama is that the writer didn’t undermine its audience and treat them as ping pong balls—the writer demonstrated authority and knew exactly where the direction is headed (except for the ending) and it shows in the script, pacing, and quality of writing in general.
In fact, Ren Jialun himself said that the script is well written that we can immerse in it.
Aside from the consistency and the overall good quality, the cast delivered so well, especially Ren Jialun.
What I like about his acting style is subtlety. He knows how to add just the right amount of emotion and nothing over the top. I could feel he is fully in control of what he is trying to deliver, which makes him a good actor.
Although I didn’t find the FL’s character enticing at first, her character grows on you. And as you watch further, you kind of start to realize that Song Zu Er also did a good job portraying her character, too.
There is a good chemistry between the leads as well.
There are still some lose ends, but personally, they're something not difficult to overlook for this drama. For the entirety of the series, I decided to turn off my brain and ended up having an amazing experience.
Despite the sad, frustrating, and unsatisfying ending, with controversies surrounding the use of AI, the series is actually good and an enjoyable watch—the good ratings on this one are reliable!
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Decent time-slip for a short drama
If one can reconcile with the limitations of a short drama, this series can actually be a quite good binge.There are a lot of instances in this drama where one has to suspend disbelief, especially this is a speculative work of fiction where time travel is involved.
Production-wise, although unverified, I assume that this is made with little budget as well.
All that considered, I am especially in awe by how they were able to pack the story neatly within five episodes. No fillers, no fuss, just the story, romance, stakes, and resolution—all cleanly wrapped up in the last episode.
The acting is decent (special mention: Ding Yuxi school of ((eye)) acting), the pacing worked, and the OST is good!
More than anything, the emotional impact is also there.
Only downside is that the English subtitles on IQIYI are horrible.
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A more realistic slice-of-life exploring different types of love
I wasn’t supposed to watch Melo Movie, as I was under the impression that the “melo” meant melodrama, as in the genre.However, the “melo” means “romance” or “romantic” in this context—a mix-up I wouldn’t find the time to look into if I didn’t learn who the screenwriter of the series is: Lee Na Eun.
Lee Na Eun is the same screenwriter of Our Beloved Summer (2021), one of my favorite K-dramas from that year.
It wasn’t just because of the fluff though, nor it was just the resolution for the individual vs self conflicts of the series. It was the character depth that Lee Na Eun allowed the audience to explore.
Given the history, I was then compelled to pick up the series for my weekend binge.
Thankfully, for Melo Movie, Lee Na Eun was able to maintain her momentum in writing compelling characters.
In this series, a flawless switch of POVs among the characters, which includes the secondary characters, was used as a device for the viewers to explore the characters’ complexities and motivations.
My favorite part of the series is that it did not draw a glaring line to separate the main characters from the secondary characters; the secondary characters get their own stage to tell their own stories. With this, the audience are able to invest the same degree of emotional commitment they have for the main characters.
As we get to know more about the characters, we will see how they navigate the desolation of life and the consolation a love may bring.
Pacing is pretty decent for a 10-episode, too, and the OST is remarkable and unforgettable like its predecessor’s.
Regrettably, the plot lags behind, particularly the story of the main characters. It’s weak that it was overshadowed by the secondary couple’s and character’s narratives.
I am also not sure if having some loose ends remain untied is part of the writer’s intention, but some may come off as a plot hole, which is quite difficult to reconcile with.
Setting that aside, I’d still consider this a good slice-of-life romance, with a decent amount of comedy hitting the right note.
I’d gladly recommend this as a good binge for those looking for something uncomplicated but has enough emotional grip to keep one invested.
I’ll also be on the lookout for Lee Na Eun’s future work. Her storytelling style in slice-of-life might have just become one of my favorites!
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Weak worldbuilding and story structure; a slow-burn that doesn't work
CGI, cinematography, and OST are fairly decent.I got hooked with the first episode and thought the first arc was well-paced, with things running pretty much smoothly.
However, during the second arc, everything started feeling draggy and the push and pull of ML isn’t really working for me for some reasons, considering I’ve had a lot of this in the past.
Maybe it’s been dragged out for too long, or maybe the worldbuilding remained weak and lacked overall direction. Maybe even a combination of both.
I noticed that the series is character-driven. Still, the way they’re written also lacked depth.
I also don’t like how the ML’s character is written out. In the second arc, the second ML stood out better for me, which made me root for him instead.
When I was fast-forwarding a lot of scenes, I knew it was time to quit.
It’s such a shame, because they did a good work in writing the FL’s character: strong, smart, and beautiful.
And when I say smart, this is also in congruent with her view on self-worth. She set boundaries when the ML drew a line. She put more value on herself and the greater good rather than chasing a man who denied sharing any relationship with her. Maybe this will change, and the chase will start after the episode where I stopped.
Maybe even the plot will start picking up.
Unfortunately, at this point, even these possibilities couldn’t make me continue watching.
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A storytelling where the events unfold backwards, but unfortunately still under-delivers
The first episode reveals that the FL and ML do end up together—that’s one stress off the list.First episodes got me pretty hooked as the series begin to introduce the characters—tropey, as expected, but we have excellent series that didn’t really go outside the box either, so I don’t really use this as a deciding factor.
The main couple got together pretty early, which is not really an issue as well, but after this, everything went downhill—characters introduced that were forgotten, issues presented that were left unresolved, and the lack of compelling motivations of the characters.
The characters’ situations are all relatable, but it’s somehow difficult to connect with the characters themselves.
I think they also wanted to portray the main couple as someone with a healthy relationship, but I couldn’t look past the lies upon lies they had to do. The secondary couple is no good either.
I’m not pretty impressed with Julia Xiang’s performance as the FL and I don’t think there’s enough material for this series as it feels dragging and lacking.
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Only the premise is good, everything else is bad
I am aware that this is a low-budget drama and this could be one of the factors why the series didn’t work. At least for me.However, I have a few experiences with dramas with little funding that did not scream “low-budget!!!!” so I think this should not be an excuse to produce such a terrible piece and make it so obvious how the production team had to cut corners.
First, there are quite a handful technical mistakes I can name: terrible transition, mismatched footage, and the consistently poor editing in general.
In terms of writing and execution, I find it such a waste for such a good concept to be misused and not properly explored—there was an attempt to highlight the struggles of women in a patriarchal society, where the FL disguises herself as a man to secure a position in a government office. There’s also romance and politics in play, as the ML is a prince.
This trope is a no-brainer, and awfully easy to play with, if I’m being honest. I cannot comprehend why they couldn’t at least make this part work.
I tried so hard to get past each episode, but the longer I put up with it, the more it increasingly became unbearable to watch.
I’m giving extra points because of Zhang Linghe. His good performance was good for a television debut.
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This is one of the best dramas in 2025 – and I know we’re not halfway through the year yet
An audacious claim, one might think, but I am typing this with a bad case of headache–from too much crying.I am also currently wrapped up in a bittersweet anguish that comes from being reminded that a beautiful story is not always happy. And I think that what the series made me feel would stay with me for a long time.
The series does not have an outstanding nor a unique plot. A grim reaper traipsing in the human realm, and unexpectedly, bumping into romance? There are plenty of dramas who have already done that.
To be honest, I’m quite on the fence on the chemistry of the leads as well.
But, none of these matter. At all.
First, while I’m hesitant about the leads’ chemistry, their individual performance is stellar.
I just know that Gong Myung and Kim Min Ha were made for their role as they have portrayed their character really, really well.
Second, the story is not linear, and the expositions come in trickle.
As the plot is not unique, viewers might feel like they have already caught up and figured everything out after some time, until a little plot twists here and there would come right out of the gate—a great surprise, not overbearing, and something that may or may not make sense (ending is not conclusive).
Still, everything felt easy, smooth, and natural, despite the coalescence of fantasy, romance, youth, comedy, and melodrama genre–this is how you’ll know a writing is great.
I am also in awe by the brilliant use of plot devices in setting the tone and resolving an issue. This comes in (unremarkable, small) objects, color grading, and events. They do not initially stick out, assuming they’re intended to not stand out, but the lightning bolts and realizations would definitely come in the end.
The pacing is good and steady that watching it almost felt like a walk in the park—literally and figuratively. Viewers wouldn’t have to labor to catch up or slow down. The stride is just perfect.
There is consistency in the series, too.
Aside from romance, the series explores some really heavy themes: death, grief, and life.
Technicalities aside, what I love about the series is that it didn’t come off preachy about the grandeur of overcoming pain and choosing to live on.
Some may find comfort in the series, but personally, it felt like the story of my pain is being told.
The only bad thing about the series that I could think of is that the ending is not conclusive, which could be a dealbreaker for a lot of the viewers.
Still, I think there is beauty in not knowing everything. This way, like in real life, the story would feel authentic—harsh, real and meaningful.
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Ridiculous, silly, and an utterly enjoyable watch!
I started the series without looking up anything about it – I just know it’s a Ding Yuxi romcom with Zhao Lusi as the FL, so I was sold immediately.Watching the first few episodes made me feel like the entire thing (plot, story, characters) is an irony of some sort. Like it was poking fun at something, but I couldn’t put my finger on what it is exactly.
So, I went back to MDL to check and was able to confirm that the series is actually a satire, and there is a whole interview detailing what the message it is trying to convey.
Now, I just know that it intends to, or in some way, critic the current state of dramas, but I haven’t been able to check the interview as I want to interpret the series based on my impressions. Partly, I was also trying to avoid spoilers but mainly, I just wanted to enjoy the series as is. And boy, I did have fun!
As a satire, it implies that there are subtexts that needs to be understood, and points that need to be seen. However, I didn’t want to tiptoe around those to avoid affecting my experience.
And so, I didn’t take the series seriously, but in a good way. Since I kind of know the intention of the series, I was able to suspend disbelief and let the story flow on its own. I had fun and a good laugh in every episode, and the series did not fail to send out butterflies to my stomach.
What I adore is how neatly the story concluded, which is ironically, something that a lot of dramas fail to do.
Regardless of how one process the drama though, it would fare well both ways. If one will view this as a commentary, then it is pretty well done as it literally pokes fun at the ironies and every trope there is in a drama.
If one chooses this as something to pass time, it is still a good choice, as it gives a good level of entertainment and a good dose of romance. Most importantly, it has a highly satisfying ending!
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Promising plot with unique storyline and horrible writing. An OK rom-com, thanks to Wang Hedi
The series nudged on the topic of social roles in ancient and imperial China, with high focus on the oppression and discrimination against women: this is my first time learning about the burial rites in ancient China where (childless) concubines and palace maids were buried alive with the deceased emperor. Aside from Wang Hedi, the unexplored and rarely told story about this funeral custom made me pick up the drama despite the mixed reviews it garnered.The storyline also explored themes of death, revenge, and domestic abuse, although the narrative did not heavily focus on those.
Comedic bits were inserted in between scenes, which actually worked, and they were neither awkward nor forced. The comedy made the overall tone lighter and digress from the heavier and darker aspect of these subjects.
The first episodes were slower in setting the pace, but this improved in the succeeding episodes. However, a struggle in consistency is notable as the story progresses.
What initially gripped me made me want to skip a few minutes of some episodes because it fails to anchor on the message and theme of the story.
The story lacked depth and the usual revenge and star-crossed lovers tropes did not even allow me to develop a deep emotional investment for the leads and other characters.
It is important to note that a number of scenes, especially the steamy ones, were omitted due to censorships, but upon checking, the said deleted scenes do not hold much significance to the development of the story, unless (steamy) kissing scenes are a prerequisite to your good romance.
For the romance aspect, Wang Hedi delivered. He makes a successful tsundere who’s down bad for the female lead.
This is my second Wang Hedi drama coming from Love Between Fairy and Devil (LBFD) and based from the two series of Wang Hedi I’ve watched so far, I can see that he has the ability to build chemistry with his co-lead. Yes, his handsome face is enough to give you butterflies in the stomach, but he also makes use of facial expressions in conveying emotions that are very effective.
In contrast, I feel Chen Yuqi (as Bu Yinlou) fell short in acting. She was average in some scenes, but overall, I cannot identify the emotions she wanted to convey—by making her eyes appear larger and doing these rapid eye movements, what does she want me to feel exactly? Grief? Joy? Or is there an incoming gag that I need to anticipate so I could break into laughter?
Bu Yinlou is actually a rare female character type who’s clumsy and funny but has a thinking head on her shoulder. Often times, Bu Yinlou is independent and does not need saving when stuck in a dire situation. It's a shame this character was not portrayed better, effectively, and consistently.
The secondary characters have their own story, too, but the narrative did not dwell on these and clearly, the focus of the story was to resolve the conflicts of the main characters.
From a technical standpoint, the writing is definitely askew and the inconsistency is jarring. The plot holes (life of concubines in the inner court, Deer's Reed Residence tunnel, to name a few), though, would not require much effort to ignore.
Wang Hedi’s fight scenes have good choreography and again, to underline his acting skills, he was able to depict the strength and tenacity of his character during these scenes. Some scenes had stunts which were unnecessary (I remember Wang Hedi was just trying to climb into the bed, but he had to flip awkwardly in the air like an acrobat just to do that).
It’s a shame for a drama with unexplored topics like ancient burial customs to make a sharp turn downwards due to horrible writing, but for those looking for an instant fluff, especially Wang Hedi fans who want to admire his good acting (and face), this could pass as an enjoyable watch.
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Even Ding Yuxi’s school of acting couldn’t save this…
I have absolutely no problems with overly used tropes:1. FL
- has an emotional intelligence of a five-year-old
- terrible in academics
- amiable among her peers
2. ML
- smart without even trying
- school’s sporty heartthrob
- eccentric
- huge tsundere
- most importantly, someone who is head-over heels for FL
3. Misunderstanding on top of other misunderstandings due to lack of or terrible communication
4. Love square
After all, these are effective formulas for a successful romcom.
However, the execution is so terrible.
In fact, there are subplots (FL is pretty insecure about herself; SFL and ML have family issues) which they could’ve played with—they can probably be used these as a device for character development or even as an accurate portrayal of what people their age go through.
It’s just such a shame that these were not properly utilized nor explored and were left to disperse in a corner (though I doubt they could execute these properly). I’m just not aware if these are things that will be resolved in the end, but I’m afraid I could no longer wait for it as I’ve really run out of patience with this one…
I have a huge admiration for Ding Yuxi; it was actually because of him that I picked this up. And it breaks my heart to be dropping this as this is ½ of his youth dramas.
I would love to see him in school uniform doing romcom, but unfortunately, my love for him (plus plenty of fast-forwarding scenes) alone couldn’t make this work.
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Fake marriage trope built on deception that was stretched out way too long
One of my favorite tropes is fake marriage, but the series overextended it and backed it up with ML's lies upon lies—this arc could’ve been shorter, because they were mixing in a lot of things that did not add value to the plot at all.The fake marriage arc felt like a huge chunk of fillers, and it was quite a challenge to get pass through them.
It does not help that the FL’s character is not my cup of tea. She’s like a confused philanthropist who’s a tsundere and a badass for the most part but gets affectionate during full moons. I'd usually pass this as a part of dimension in a character's depth, but for Liu Mian Tang, it's not really convincing.
The secondary characters were more likeable and had more potential for a proper character development, but I doubt this will be properly explored.
Are You the One is definitely not the one. At least for me.
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The plot is good. Writing is decent. I find the pacing a bit slow, with zero build-up. I can foresee the story dragging, offering no grip to keep me going.
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