I watched up to episode 18. These are my personal thoughts.
So far, it has been pretty boring. It feels like nothing happens, but it is also not slice of life and there is not a lot of time spent on the characters [specially the leads] hanging out together and growing as people. The fighting scenes mostly disappeared and the racing scenes are very samey.
Speaking of the leads, they are not particularly likable, funny or charming. They are also not hateable or anything of sorts. They are just there. The best thing about them is their kiss/intimacy scenes. Like, I rarely comment on this kind of stuff, but wow. Their scenes are so good, I almost feel uncomfortable watching them, like if I am looking at something I should not be allowed to XD That one time they flirted with the apple in front of Zhao's garage was craaaaazy!
I kind of hoped there would be some focus on Mu [the FL] becoming a racer herself or a mechanic, since she showed talent and interest in both things early on. It is very obvious she has interests in car stuff, as she is seen taking photos of cars multiple times and she has deep knowledge on the subject. But, in reality, she exists around Zhao [the ML]. The plot is all about him [so far] and she is there as an add-on, of sorts.
On the side characters side of things, I really like Sanlai and Mu's stepmother. Snakey is fine, too. I am pretty sure Lin Sui is attracted to both leads, lol. I am wondering how Mu's dad and biomother will handle the news of Mu and Zhao's relationship. I think the dad already expected it to happen, based on some comments he made and it does not seem like he gives much of a shit about Mu, so...
There still are 11 episodes left, so maybe my opinion will change and I will end up liking this more than I do right now. If it ended on episode 18, I would give it a 7.5 at most.
Episode 13 and not liking FL very much, she knew she wanted to go abroad for studies, and yet became close to…
I started disliking Xifan during that time in the drama, but fortunately she does a 180 after the whole drama with her ex-bf and once she confesses and gets together with Suye, she is really really great.
I feel like this is one of those dramas I will never get sick of. It is so refreshing and healing. Watching this…
Agreed. This and "Love Me, Love My Voice" are dramas I can see myself rewatching myself multiple times later on, they just do good things to my hardened heart. I would also like to mention "Hidden Love", but sadly I cannot disconnect it from the depressing "The First Frost", so I will probably not rewatch it anytime soon :(
Incredible main couple. I love how Xifan gave Suye flower bouquets from time to time. I also like that she gave him a ring [well, two rings!]. Very cute. Suye is a sweetheart and I love how he embraces Xifan. I was not envious at all.
Some of their kisses were also very cute and novel. But, I think the most important thing in how nice it was to watch them together is that they are very clearly happy together. They have fun, smile a lot, laugh, tease each other, are very physical with each other, etc. Oh, and they do not hide the fact they are a couple from others. I hate when leads get together but are allergic to PDA.
Speaking of things I loved, the in-laws were all great. Suye's grandpa and Xifan's parents were SO lovely. They joined each other and formed a new little, cute family. I was happy for the grandpa, since he was usually by himself and such. Even Suye's father was not that unlikable. Also, Xifan's friends were really cute, specially her male friend I forgot the name [Lin?].
same watching it with pauses, you still generous I have it on 7.0, how you can throw book in head of women you…
You kind of have to watch the drama before you know you do not like it, though. Some people prefer to form an opinion after watching everything, while others [such as me] drop stuff they do not like watching for reasons x or y.
I did not like it as much as I hoped to like. It is not because the drama is bad, it is just too heavy for me [my fault for not checking tags properly and expecting everything to be fluffy like Love Me, Love My Voice and, well, Hidden Love]. If I am to believe this takes place in the same universe as Hidden Love [and not in an alternate universe, which would make more sense to me], it is kind of wild and sad how Zhi was living the dream [the worst she suffered was some heartbreak when she thought Jiaxu had a gf, and when her parents briefly were against her dating Jiaxu ] while Yifan was living a life of pure torment. Jiaxu had a bad time, too, but nothing compared to the misery Yifan [and Yan, by proxy] went through.
I do not want to bash Yifan, because she was facing a lot of mental torment and who knows what I would have done in her place, but it really soured my experience with the drama when she left Yan again. If she left for a day, a week or something, it would not be so bad, but six months is so rough :(
Hmm... I kind wish that since this is an interquel of sorts to Hidden Love, it was fluffy like that show, but to each their own. :)
So we have alternate universe versions of Sang Zhi, Sang Yan and Duan Jiaxu here? Hidden Love is my favorite drama, my heart almost leaped when I heard their names.
I actually kind of already like Sang Yan 2.0 better than 1.0, but nobody can replace Zhi 1.0 and Jiaxu 1.0 in my heart. Oddly enough, when I saw the FL the first time, I was sort of reminded of Zhi, because both of them are extremely cute women.
This Zhuang guy really missed on having a nice, cute and kinda funny girlfriend for no good reason. I am only…
Little update after watching up to episode 30, mostly focused on the FL:
Xiguang is an absolute QUEEN. After watching many FLs who insist on keeping their relationship with their respective MLs "low profile" or hidden altogether, watching Xiguang go to the banquet party thing to surprise Yusen and ending up making their relationship as high profile as possible just to be at his side was so satisfying.
Then, a few episodes later, she absolutely DESTROYED her old crush, Zhuang, with words alone. That dude is a MESS and I am glad she realized he never really gave a shit about her, that he chose to believe stupid gossip time and time again, over trusting her based on her character and actions. I also loved how she said she never really needed to choose between Yusen and Zhuang, that from the moment Yusen was clear abous his feelings towards her, they were always going to end up together.
I also like how hardworking she is. Xiguang does not really need to work, and she already made clear she was fine with lazing around and going with the flow, but she became passionate about the whole PV thing and became effectively a quasi-specialist in the field in a few months of hitting the books and working hard on the garden project thing.
What I am trying to say is that Xiguang is a really cool FL! I was a bit worried halfway through the drama that it would be one of these dramas where the leads' relationship is super unbalanced, with the ML doing most of the work and being clearly more in love with the FL [rather than both loving each other equally], but it is not like that at all.
However, I do think there is not nearly enough screen time dedicated to the leads being together :( Honestly, it is still better than some other dramas [specially kdramas, where it is sometimes hard to believe the leads really love each other and want to spend time together], but "Love Me, Love My Voice" really spoiled me because Gu Sheng and Mo Qin Cheng spent so much time together in that drama and I really enjoyed watching their relationship evolve.
This Zhuang guy really missed on having a nice, cute and kinda funny girlfriend for no good reason. I am only…
Episode 14 update: I was afraid the FL would be avoiding the ML for too long after his confession, but then she just told him to pursue her in the open, screw office gossip, for him to do his thing and impress her. :O What a woman!!!
This Zhuang guy really missed on having a nice, cute and kinda funny girlfriend for no good reason. I am only on episode 9 and wondering if he will have the gall of trying to 'pursue' her later on.
This hard ass, bad-boy looking cop being sweet to the FL melts me. Also, their first meeting during the jewelry…
Brief thoughts as someone who watched up to episode 21:
The leading couple takes the golden medal for the most, the MOST awkward couple in a drama I have watched. They are getting more comfortable with each other, but boy... I could feel my soul trying to claw its way out of my body as I watched them in their first dates. That is not to say I dislike them together, though. They are very cute, and there is some teasing from both sides that is very heartwarming [there is not NEARLY enough teasing between couples in dramas and I hate because teasing is one of the most fun things about being part of a couple].
By the way, I love how the FL sniffed the ML's jacket after he put it on her, and also licked her lips after their first kiss. Things like that feel very natural. On the ML's side, even though he is hella awkward, he just blunt things that take your breath away, like when the FL asked him what he liked about her, and he just said he liked everything about her. And once again, the ML is a hard-ass extremely competent police officer who becomes a puppy when he is interacting with the FL. So cute!
The second leads' "romance" has not even started yet. I had high hopes for them after the earthquake arc [they were cute and sweet to each other then], but nothing... Instead, we get interactions between the 2FL and that fucking Lu Feng [?] guy... Someone please take him away from my screen, I cannot stand this guy. I hate this creepy, promiscuous, perverted lecherous kind of character. I am not even sure anymore if Shu Wenbo is even the 2ML, maybe the nasty guy is supposed to be Xia's end game? Eww. Please no.
Anyways... I am enjoying the drama, but as I expected, there is not a lot of time dedicated to the leads being together :( Watching this after "Love Me, Love My Voice", where it felt like at least half the drama time is dedicated to the leads interacting with each other has been a little disappointing :P
I just finished this drama and I loved it from beginning to end. It is the fourth drama in my tiny list of favorites [the others being 30 but 17/Still 17, Hidden Love and Gaus Electronics]. Here are a few of my thoughts regarding the drama.
I like how long it was, because it allowed a very gradual progression in the relationship of the leads [and honestly, longer dramas rock! it sadddens me that I only got to watch some of my favorite dramas for 16 or even 12 measly episodes]. Anyways, the leads start off voice chatting, not knowing how each other looks like. Then, they meet in person [wonderful scene <3] and not too long after they start dating, but as some characters point out, they look more like good friends than lovers, and that is because the FL is a tad evasive and unsure about her feelings [does she like the ML as a person or his voice/what he represents as her idol?] and also uncomfortable with physical intimacy.
Through the episodes, she slowly grows comfortable with him, leading to the first awkward kiss, and then other progressively more natural kisses. Trust me, our homegirl goes from "deer in the highlights" whenever the ML initiated physical intimacy to being borderline superglued to his side and initiating intimacy herself. Honestly, she gets so attached that she looks miserable after their second trip, because she got used to seeing him all the time and now they are back to "real life" where work and stuff get in the way. Many FLs who were initially "won over" by their respective MLs do not really grow in a way where I eventually believe they love their MLs like the MLs love them and that is not the case here.
Both leads love each other and it is a treat to watch, which is helped by their incredible chemistry. Some people prefer the "opposites attract" kind of leads, but the leads here are actually quite similar to each other in preferences and temperament, and honestly? I prefer it this way. Just like the leads in Gaus Electronics are a chaotic bimbo/himbo duo and had some much fun watching them [to the point I already rewatched it twice], the leads here are calm, soft spoken, low key and very, very cute.
Btw, I love how basically every time the leads see each other, they have a smile on their faces.
If I have any criticism towards the leads is that both are way overqualified. They are perfect at everything they do [the FL is younger and less accomplished, sure, but she does everything perfectly through the drama... also, she is supposedly bad at cooking, but that never really comes into play], professionally or what not and everyone always loves them. They are flawless. But, that is not a big deal to me, as if this drama feels like a fairy tale [the nice kind of fairy tale] of sorts to me.
Speaking of criticism, I wish the second couple's [Juemei and Xiaoxing] romance was better explored. Both characters are quite cute, but for a significant amount of episodes, no progress is made regarding their romance. They are obviously interested in each other, and... Nothing happens, until they finally start bonding... in episode 30 out of 33 ._. It was good, but it could have been better. I needed more.
There is also the third couple with Doudou and Yasong. This is the "noona romance" [if this was from Korea] of this drama. They are the long time friends care a lot about each other... Err... I mean, obviously love each other, but are not together for bullshit reasons. They have incredible chemistry and look amazing together, even better than the 2nd couple.
Last piece of criticism: I did not like the random 4th wall breaking in episode 32. And, another much less revelant one: There were not enough cute "meow" noises in the later half of the drama.
I do not have much to say about the other characters, not because they are bad, but because there is a LOT of them and pretty much everyone is super nice here, with the most annoying ones being the FL's cousins from time to time. It is just a whole bunch of fictional peeps. I do want to mention Mu, who had the same ":<" facial expression and 0 emotions in his heart the entire time we saw him and the little gremlin who worked in the FL's family's supermarket, she was super cute and I like how she prevented the FL's younger cousin from being extra annoying.
Honestly, at some points, it felt like I was watching a drama where the characters had died and were living in perfect harmony in some kind of heaven. The second half of episode 30, for instance, feels very heavenly. It is the opposite of the Korean drama "Happiness", where I was sure the characters were living in some variation of hell, because everything sucked lol.
One thing I liked about this drama is that we get to see characters reacting to the development of the leads'/second leads' romances and the leads reacting to their reaction. It is gossipy, but it is part of the fun of watching romance dramas to me. Teasing is always fun. It disappoints me when the world around the leads does not react to their changes in relationship.
So far, it has been pretty boring. It feels like nothing happens, but it is also not slice of life and there is not a lot of time spent on the characters [specially the leads] hanging out together and growing as people. The fighting scenes mostly disappeared and the racing scenes are very samey.
Speaking of the leads, they are not particularly likable, funny or charming. They are also not hateable or anything of sorts. They are just there. The best thing about them is their kiss/intimacy scenes. Like, I rarely comment on this kind of stuff, but wow. Their scenes are so good, I almost feel uncomfortable watching them, like if I am looking at something I should not be allowed to XD That one time they flirted with the apple in front of Zhao's garage was craaaaazy!
I kind of hoped there would be some focus on Mu [the FL] becoming a racer herself or a mechanic, since she showed talent and interest in both things early on. It is very obvious she has interests in car stuff, as she is seen taking photos of cars multiple times and she has deep knowledge on the subject. But, in reality, she exists around Zhao [the ML]. The plot is all about him [so far] and she is there as an add-on, of sorts.
On the side characters side of things, I really like Sanlai and Mu's stepmother. Snakey is fine, too. I am pretty sure Lin Sui is attracted to both leads, lol. I am wondering how Mu's dad and biomother will handle the news of Mu and Zhao's relationship. I think the dad already expected it to happen, based on some comments he made and it does not seem like he gives much of a shit about Mu, so...
There still are 11 episodes left, so maybe my opinion will change and I will end up liking this more than I do right now. If it ended on episode 18, I would give it a 7.5 at most.
Some of their kisses were also very cute and novel. But, I think the most important thing in how nice it was to watch them together is that they are very clearly happy together. They have fun, smile a lot, laugh, tease each other, are very physical with each other, etc. Oh, and they do not hide the fact they are a couple from others. I hate when leads get together but are allergic to PDA.
Speaking of things I loved, the in-laws were all great. Suye's grandpa and Xifan's parents were SO lovely. They joined each other and formed a new little, cute family. I was happy for the grandpa, since he was usually by himself and such. Even Suye's father was not that unlikable. Also, Xifan's friends were really cute, specially her male friend I forgot the name [Lin?].
I do not want to bash Yifan, because she was facing a lot of mental torment and who knows what I would have done in her place, but it really soured my experience with the drama when she left Yan again. If she left for a day, a week or something, it would not be so bad, but six months is so rough :(
Hmm... I kind wish that since this is an interquel of sorts to Hidden Love, it was fluffy like that show, but to each their own. :)
I actually kind of already like Sang Yan 2.0 better than 1.0, but nobody can replace Zhi 1.0 and Jiaxu 1.0 in my heart. Oddly enough, when I saw the FL the first time, I was sort of reminded of Zhi, because both of them are extremely cute women.
Xiguang is an absolute QUEEN. After watching many FLs who insist on keeping their relationship with their respective MLs "low profile" or hidden altogether, watching Xiguang go to the banquet party thing to surprise Yusen and ending up making their relationship as high profile as possible just to be at his side was so satisfying.
Then, a few episodes later, she absolutely DESTROYED her old crush, Zhuang, with words alone. That dude is a MESS and I am glad she realized he never really gave a shit about her, that he chose to believe stupid gossip time and time again, over trusting her based on her character and actions. I also loved how she said she never really needed to choose between Yusen and Zhuang, that from the moment Yusen was clear abous his feelings towards her, they were always going to end up together.
I also like how hardworking she is. Xiguang does not really need to work, and she already made clear she was fine with lazing around and going with the flow, but she became passionate about the whole PV thing and became effectively a quasi-specialist in the field in a few months of hitting the books and working hard on the garden project thing.
What I am trying to say is that Xiguang is a really cool FL! I was a bit worried halfway through the drama that it would be one of these dramas where the leads' relationship is super unbalanced, with the ML doing most of the work and being clearly more in love with the FL [rather than both loving each other equally], but it is not like that at all.
However, I do think there is not nearly enough screen time dedicated to the leads being together :( Honestly, it is still better than some other dramas [specially kdramas, where it is sometimes hard to believe the leads really love each other and want to spend time together], but "Love Me, Love My Voice" really spoiled me because Gu Sheng and Mo Qin Cheng spent so much time together in that drama and I really enjoyed watching their relationship evolve.
The leading couple takes the golden medal for the most, the MOST awkward couple in a drama I have watched. They are getting more comfortable with each other, but boy... I could feel my soul trying to claw its way out of my body as I watched them in their first dates. That is not to say I dislike them together, though. They are very cute, and there is some teasing from both sides that is very heartwarming [there is not NEARLY enough teasing between couples in dramas and I hate because teasing is one of the most fun things about being part of a couple].
By the way, I love how the FL sniffed the ML's jacket after he put it on her, and also licked her lips after their first kiss. Things like that feel very natural. On the ML's side, even though he is hella awkward, he just blunt things that take your breath away, like when the FL asked him what he liked about her, and he just said he liked everything about her. And once again, the ML is a hard-ass extremely competent police officer who becomes a puppy when he is interacting with the FL. So cute!
The second leads' "romance" has not even started yet. I had high hopes for them after the earthquake arc [they were cute and sweet to each other then], but nothing... Instead, we get interactions between the 2FL and that fucking Lu Feng [?] guy... Someone please take him away from my screen, I cannot stand this guy. I hate this creepy, promiscuous, perverted lecherous kind of character. I am not even sure anymore if Shu Wenbo is even the 2ML, maybe the nasty guy is supposed to be Xia's end game? Eww. Please no.
Anyways... I am enjoying the drama, but as I expected, there is not a lot of time dedicated to the leads being together :( Watching this after "Love Me, Love My Voice", where it felt like at least half the drama time is dedicated to the leads interacting with each other has been a little disappointing :P
I just finished this drama and I loved it from beginning to end. It is the fourth drama in my tiny list of favorites [the others being 30 but 17/Still 17, Hidden Love and Gaus Electronics]. Here are a few of my thoughts regarding the drama.
I like how long it was, because it allowed a very gradual progression in the relationship of the leads [and honestly, longer dramas rock! it sadddens me that I only got to watch some of my favorite dramas for 16 or even 12 measly episodes]. Anyways, the leads start off voice chatting, not knowing how each other looks like. Then, they meet in person [wonderful scene <3] and not too long after they start dating, but as some characters point out, they look more like good friends than lovers, and that is because the FL is a tad evasive and unsure about her feelings [does she like the ML as a person or his voice/what he represents as her idol?] and also uncomfortable with physical intimacy.
Through the episodes, she slowly grows comfortable with him, leading to the first awkward kiss, and then other progressively more natural kisses. Trust me, our homegirl goes from "deer in the highlights" whenever the ML initiated physical intimacy to being borderline superglued to his side and initiating intimacy herself. Honestly, she gets so attached that she looks miserable after their second trip, because she got used to seeing him all the time and now they are back to "real life" where work and stuff get in the way. Many FLs who were initially "won over" by their respective MLs do not really grow in a way where I eventually believe they love their MLs like the MLs love them and that is not the case here.
Both leads love each other and it is a treat to watch, which is helped by their incredible chemistry. Some people prefer the "opposites attract" kind of leads, but the leads here are actually quite similar to each other in preferences and temperament, and honestly? I prefer it this way. Just like the leads in Gaus Electronics are a chaotic bimbo/himbo duo and had some much fun watching them [to the point I already rewatched it twice], the leads here are calm, soft spoken, low key and very, very cute.
Btw, I love how basically every time the leads see each other, they have a smile on their faces.
If I have any criticism towards the leads is that both are way overqualified. They are perfect at everything they do [the FL is younger and less accomplished, sure, but she does everything perfectly through the drama... also, she is supposedly bad at cooking, but that never really comes into play], professionally or what not and everyone always loves them. They are flawless. But, that is not a big deal to me, as if this drama feels like a fairy tale [the nice kind of fairy tale] of sorts to me.
Speaking of criticism, I wish the second couple's [Juemei and Xiaoxing] romance was better explored. Both characters are quite cute, but for a significant amount of episodes, no progress is made regarding their romance. They are obviously interested in each other, and... Nothing happens, until they finally start bonding... in episode 30 out of 33 ._. It was good, but it could have been better. I needed more.
There is also the third couple with Doudou and Yasong. This is the "noona romance" [if this was from Korea] of this drama. They are the long time friends care a lot about each other... Err... I mean, obviously love each other, but are not together for bullshit reasons. They have incredible chemistry and look amazing together, even better than the 2nd couple.
Last piece of criticism: I did not like the random 4th wall breaking in episode 32. And, another much less revelant one: There were not enough cute "meow" noises in the later half of the drama.
I do not have much to say about the other characters, not because they are bad, but because there is a LOT of them and pretty much everyone is super nice here, with the most annoying ones being the FL's cousins from time to time. It is just a whole bunch of fictional peeps. I do want to mention Mu, who had the same ":<" facial expression and 0 emotions in his heart the entire time we saw him and the little gremlin who worked in the FL's family's supermarket, she was super cute and I like how she prevented the FL's younger cousin from being extra annoying.
Honestly, at some points, it felt like I was watching a drama where the characters had died and were living in perfect harmony in some kind of heaven. The second half of episode 30, for instance, feels very heavenly. It is the opposite of the Korean drama "Happiness", where I was sure the characters were living in some variation of hell, because everything sucked lol.
One thing I liked about this drama is that we get to see characters reacting to the development of the leads'/second leads' romances and the leads reacting to their reaction. It is gossipy, but it is part of the fun of watching romance dramas to me. Teasing is always fun. It disappoints me when the world around the leads does not react to their changes in relationship.
Anyways... I loved it, bye.