Decided to watch because it kept appearing on my YouTube recommendation, the pretty poster and the rather high rating on MDL. But I was disappointed.
The whole concept was good, but... 1. The leads were awkward. I think the trio (Xiao Ju, Xiu Xian, Kuan Yong) had better chemistry and acting . 2. I can't exactly describe it, but it feels like there wasn't a climax even though there was. Maybe it was the way it was produced? The whole series just felt rather monotone. 2. The ending is not what I expected, but why would He Lan say he'll wait with Pi Pi for Pi Pi's friends when she's a stranger to him? I know it's supposed to just give audience an ending, but that one line just made me confused.
I thought some parts were rather awkward (some actresses and dubbing), but they got better after the first few episodes.
Even though the last 4 episodes were rather rushed, it gave some explanation for whatever happened in the earlier episodes. I just didn't expect the villian to be vanquished so quickly, so I'm wondering what's gonna happen in season two.
Really like the chemistry between the leads, especially the way how Mo Lian Cheng treats Xiao Tan. Of course, there's Jing Xin too. Hopefully she'll appear in season 2.
I really like this drama, and my favourites are Ban Ruo and Jia Luo.
My respect for Jia Luo grew as I watch her mature from the youngest Dugu daughter into the wise, capable wife of Yang Jian. Of course, her growth is not without experiencing pain and loss but those instances just made me love her more. The Dugu daughters (except for Man Tuo) are really exceptional.
I just thought the last episode to be a bit... Yang Jian probably has regrets. Whereas with Jia Luo, I really admire her as she was able to keep to her true self, even as she rose in both status and power. It's not an easy feat. Compared to Man Tuo (and eventually Yang Jian), my respect for her grew even more.
The drama's okay. I just feel that it could be better. The transition between some scenes were kinda abrupt & it would have been nice to see more of their high school life, because that's where the story starts. I don't know how to describe the ending, but I had expected a more "proper" one.
Still, I like how the main leads' relationship is built on friendship rather than the typical guy-and-girl just fall in love theme. Li Li really gave her best, and because of her, Pei Shang Xuan slowly got back the courage to move on. I really admire the strong friendship they have.
P.S. Last "episode" is just a summary of the drama.
I think both NIF & NIV2 are just as good, they just have a different focus.
I really love the strong brotherly bond between Xiao Ping Zhang & Xiao Ping Jing. Actually, I just love the whole Chang Lin family. It was bittersweet towards the end when Ping Jing was the only one left. Yet I was gradually comforted as he grew into a person both his dad & brother would be proud of. But I was most comforted when he was able to put down his burdens & be his carefree self again.
Again, I cheered for the times Ping Jing & Ping Zhang won a battle/against the opposition. Those were really cool and at those instances, Ping Jing reminded me of Mei Chang Su. This only made him receiving Lin Shu's bracelet & escaping through the secret passage much more meaningful. The few traces of NIV here made a deeper impact on me.
It was better than expected. Wuba's really cute, but I still think the monsters could have been cuter. Tian Yin's adorable too, I like how they switch the gender roles.
I really love Mei Chang Su as a character. He's probably the most intelligent & selfless character I've ever seen in a drama. My respect for him grows as the plot develops, and I admire his friendship with Xiao Jing Yan. I really wanted him to live a bit longer.
I also love how there's always more than it meets the eyes for each character as well as their interactions, and how every "little" detail is something in this story.
Anyways, the plot development is brilliant. The way Mei Chang Su manipulates people is really amazing! But what made me love and respect him was the way he executed them. He didn't really resort to any dirty means and his backstory, his determination made all his effort so much more meaningful.
I initially had doubts because the focus is on a wider range of characters (as compared to With You). But the storyline and characters soon won me over. The cast is good, the story is realistic and sweet. I liked seeing the characters grow in their own ways.
Most of all, I like to see Lin Yang's attentiveness to Zhou Zhou. It's really adorable! Also, seeing Pan Yuan Sheng here was like seeing an old friend. He's really grown on me.
It's hard to choose which I like better (from WY and MHF,) but MHF's ending is more complete. I just wished Lin Yang & Zhou Zhou's scene was longer at the end. Rather than choosing, I think WY and MHF just complements each other.
Watched this drama after ALSB and the only similarity is the drama's high school setting. Still, I really enjoyed this series.
The characters and emotions were real. I like how Geng Geng and Yu Huai's relationship is built on a strong friendship bond, rather than the typical just-romantic one. I admit that visual-wise, ALSB does it better overall. But that allowed me to appreciate the characters and their personal stories better.
I also really, really love the interaction between the characters (especially with Geng Geng, Yu Huai and Xing He) as well as to see their growth as they overcome each obstacle.
The only thing that I didn't like is the ending. It was too rushed. I was really looking forward to a better Geng Geng Yu Huai moment that I can swoon at.
I really like Zhao Li Ying & Zhang Han from "Boss & Me". It was nice to see another side of Zhang Han - it seems like Si Yi & Xiu Wu are more like "equals" here and they're still cute together.
However, the movie left me disappointed as it felt rushed and had lots of missing pieces towards the end. Also, Jung Il Woo's role in the movie felt forced and awkward.
Just feeling that it's a pity because the plot had potential (and the cast too!).
This drama's probably gonna stay as my favourite for a long time. I love the leads, they're just so sweet & cute together!
I love the story's simplicity and the occasional humour they throw in, especially those during their high school days. Those episodes were the best! That said, I can't help but to see some similarities between ALSB & ISWAK.
I like Gong Ming and Xiang Xiang's scenes, they were really sweet (they have a good chemistry!). However, the dubbing is a little weird and it took me a while to get used to... That said, the story gets better from the middle part. But the ending could have been much, much better. I was really disappointed :(
I like the overall plot, but I felt that the drama had much more potential.
1. The female leads are not very bright (especially at the beginning). No offense, but the actress who played Mo Er could have been prettier and perhaps someone who could act better. 2. Being a 2016 drama, I had expected better CG effects. 3. As others have mentioned, is the storyline from Fushigi Yuugi?
I guess overall the drama is okay, but it just keeps getting sadder towards the end!
The part I enjoyed most would probably be the middle part, where they were assembling their team. Then they just start dying one by one. Although it's nice to see that eventually everyone's alive and well, but it was hard to watch Mo Er being the only one who remembers (even Shang Guan Jin forgot her). I kept hoping that once she met them all, they'll just miraculously remember her. But I guess not...
The ending becomes bittersweet when Chi Yu finally meets Mo Er and it was revealed that he remembers her. They finally get their happy ending... although, I was expecting for a longer reunion scene for the duo.
The first half of the drama was not bad. However, Li Xia was nowhere to be seen during the second half - you'd start wondering if she's the main lead. Thus, the romance between Li Xia and Xiao Si is more or less none existent. It also feels weird that only Zhi Ang and Yan Mo knew of Qi Qi's true nature and that whatever evil deeds Qi Qi did was left unexposed. Another thing that left me hanging was how no one but Yu Jian felt the loss of Duan Qiao's death, and how Li Xia literally disappeared from the last few episodes, only to appear for a few seconds at the end of the last. It felt incomplete.
The redeeming points of the show would be Xiao Si and Zhi Ang's friendship, Zhi Ang and Yan Mo's relationship as well as Yan Mo and her father's kinship. Zhi Ang and Yan Mo seemed more like the main leads if you ask me.
I just felt that there was potential for it to be better.
The whole concept was good, but...
1. The leads were awkward. I think the trio (Xiao Ju, Xiu Xian, Kuan Yong) had better chemistry and acting .
2. I can't exactly describe it, but it feels like there wasn't a climax even though there was. Maybe it was the way it was produced? The whole series just felt rather monotone.
2. The ending is not what I expected, but why would He Lan say he'll wait with Pi Pi for Pi Pi's friends when she's a stranger to him? I know it's supposed to just give audience an ending, but that one line just made me confused.
But it's not subbed.
Even though the last 4 episodes were rather rushed, it gave some explanation for whatever happened in the earlier episodes. I just didn't expect the villian to be vanquished so quickly, so I'm wondering what's gonna happen in season two.
Really like the chemistry between the leads, especially the way how Mo Lian Cheng treats Xiao Tan. Of course, there's Jing Xin too. Hopefully she'll appear in season 2.
My respect for Jia Luo grew as I watch her mature from the youngest Dugu daughter into the wise, capable wife of Yang Jian. Of course, her growth is not without experiencing pain and loss but those instances just made me love her more. The Dugu daughters (except for Man Tuo) are really exceptional.
I just thought the last episode to be a bit... Yang Jian probably has regrets. Whereas with Jia Luo, I really admire her as she was able to keep to her true self, even as she rose in both status and power. It's not an easy feat. Compared to Man Tuo (and eventually Yang Jian), my respect for her grew even more.
Still, I like how the main leads' relationship is built on friendship rather than the typical guy-and-girl just fall in love theme. Li Li really gave her best, and because of her, Pei Shang Xuan slowly got back the courage to move on. I really admire the strong friendship they have.
P.S. Last "episode" is just a summary of the drama.
I really love the strong brotherly bond between Xiao Ping Zhang & Xiao Ping Jing. Actually, I just love the whole Chang Lin family. It was bittersweet towards the end when Ping Jing was the only one left. Yet I was gradually comforted as he grew into a person both his dad & brother would be proud of. But I was most comforted when he was able to put down his burdens & be his carefree self again.
Again, I cheered for the times Ping Jing & Ping Zhang won a battle/against the opposition. Those were really cool and at those instances, Ping Jing reminded me of Mei Chang Su. This only made him receiving Lin Shu's bracelet & escaping through the secret passage much more meaningful. The few traces of NIV here made a deeper impact on me.
I also love how there's always more than it meets the eyes for each character as well as their interactions, and how every "little" detail is something in this story.
Anyways, the plot development is brilliant. The way Mei Chang Su manipulates people is really amazing! But what made me love and respect him was the way he executed them. He didn't really resort to any dirty means and his backstory, his determination made all his effort so much more meaningful.
Most of all, I like to see Lin Yang's attentiveness to Zhou Zhou. It's really adorable! Also, seeing Pan Yuan Sheng here was like seeing an old friend. He's really grown on me.
It's hard to choose which I like better (from WY and MHF,) but MHF's ending is more complete. I just wished Lin Yang & Zhou Zhou's scene was longer at the end. Rather than choosing, I think WY and MHF just complements each other.
The characters and emotions were real. I like how Geng Geng and Yu Huai's relationship is built on a strong friendship bond, rather than the typical just-romantic one. I admit that visual-wise, ALSB does it better overall. But that allowed me to appreciate the characters and their personal stories better.
I also really, really love the interaction between the characters (especially with Geng Geng, Yu Huai and Xing He) as well as to see their growth as they overcome each obstacle.
The only thing that I didn't like is the ending. It was too rushed. I was really looking forward to a better Geng Geng Yu Huai moment that I can swoon at.
However, the movie left me disappointed as it felt rushed and had lots of missing pieces towards the end. Also, Jung Il Woo's role in the movie felt forced and awkward.
Just feeling that it's a pity because the plot had potential (and the cast too!).
I love the story's simplicity and the occasional humour they throw in, especially those during their high school days. Those episodes were the best! That said, I can't help but to see some similarities between ALSB & ISWAK.
P.S. there are only 22 episodes, really.
1. The female leads are not very bright (especially at the beginning). No offense, but the actress who played Mo Er could have been prettier and perhaps someone who could act better.
2. Being a 2016 drama, I had expected better CG effects.
3. As others have mentioned, is the storyline from Fushigi Yuugi?
I guess overall the drama is okay, but it just keeps getting sadder towards the end!
The part I enjoyed most would probably be the middle part, where they were assembling their team. Then they just start dying one by one. Although it's nice to see that eventually everyone's alive and well, but it was hard to watch Mo Er being the only one who remembers (even Shang Guan Jin forgot her). I kept hoping that once she met them all, they'll just miraculously remember her. But I guess not...
The ending becomes bittersweet when Chi Yu finally meets Mo Er and it was revealed that he remembers her. They finally get their happy ending... although, I was expecting for a longer reunion scene for the duo.
The redeeming points of the show would be Xiao Si and Zhi Ang's friendship, Zhi Ang and Yan Mo's relationship as well as Yan Mo and her father's kinship. Zhi Ang and Yan Mo seemed more like the main leads if you ask me.
I just felt that there was potential for it to be better.