This review may contain spoilers
Sometimes it is.
I usually do not leave a review for dramas I drop because I think it's a bit unfair. I also rarely drop and usually keep watching even when it's pretty bad because I always hope there will be something better or that it'll make sense in the end. But this drama is 37 episodes, OK ? 37 episodes of 40 minutes with barely anything I appreciate in it is a bit too much to subject myself to. As much as I love watching Wang Zi Wen. So when I reached the end of episode 7 thinking "gosh still 30 left to go", I figured it was time to give up.
As context, I started it for two things ONLY : Wang Zi Wen, and the promising unusual friendship between her character, Jiang Tian, and Wu Jing Fang. After seeing her rendition of Ye Wen Jie in "Three Body", I just needed to see more of her works, especially in a lighter role. And these kinds of unexpected platonic bonds are my fuel and my passion.
I do not like romance however I wouldn't have minded a little if this was good (according to my subjective preferences). Not only is there a lot here (romance should be one of the genres, I don't know why it's not) but it's not very well written and the "first love rekindling after 10 years" trope, especially with the guy still liking her after so long, is a nope for me.
BUT even with that I was perfectly ready to keep watching. For her great acting, Ms. Wu, their relationship and the rest of the story. But you see, Jiang Tian is actually extremely unpleasant. Sure, she probably has to go through a positive arc and I do admit she has potential. She's cute when she's nice and her personality is interesting.
BUT after 7 episodes I could still barely connect with any of the characters. I hated her workplace and all her dumbass colleagues. Mr. Qian is a freaking prick and yet everyone is expected to lick his boots like he's some kind of Messiah. Is that even possible in a normal company ? I was looking forward to her working on her own, sure, but for that I would need to continue watching. Which is not gonna happen. Also her best friend wanting to push her towards her ex constantly while she was still with her boyfriend (basically encouraging her to cheat or to tempt her to ?) for 5 episodes was so incredibly annoying that I started to dislike seeing her despite their relationship being absolutely adorable and having so much potential.
BUT the final move for me was the "unfaithfulness" of her boyfriend. It was so forced and stupid. The way she found out is terribly convenient ("oh sure, take my phone full of unfaithful conversations with another girl, you know the password"). And honestly none of what he said was false - Tian can be very domineering and unlikable. Telling her that she's all good and he's the villain isn't going to change anything. That woman he chatted with could have been his best friend (if they didn't talk romantically like they seemed to do with each other though...) and if that was the case, I don't see how it would have been wrong in any way. But Tian didn't even try to listen or consider what he had to say. And even with that, maybe he truly wanted to make things better between them. Not trying to excuse cheating in any manner and not saying that his relationship with the other girl wasn't at risk of becoming physical, because it seemed like it was. But this whole plot point was an absurd excuse to push her back with the other guy. She shouldn't have had a boyfriend to begin with if it was to insert this ridiculous arc that dragged for way too long. Alternatively, he should have just broken up with her directly from the start of the show to push forward her character's growth and give an additional justification to her coming back to her hometown, without this silly cheating thing.
That's really too bad. I really wanted to witness the growing affection between Tian and Jing Fang and their developing career and life. The acting is very good and I'm sure there are a lot of great things in the following episodes. But I cannot go through this. Especially if these 7 episodes accurately reflect the 30 remaining ones. It was supposed to be a comfort drama but it ended up becoming a stressful, unnerving one. Maybe I'll give it another try later, skipping every annoying scenes just to watch what I'm interested into. But not right now.
I'd rather keep watching what I enjoy. Life is difficult and short enough.
As context, I started it for two things ONLY : Wang Zi Wen, and the promising unusual friendship between her character, Jiang Tian, and Wu Jing Fang. After seeing her rendition of Ye Wen Jie in "Three Body", I just needed to see more of her works, especially in a lighter role. And these kinds of unexpected platonic bonds are my fuel and my passion.
I do not like romance however I wouldn't have minded a little if this was good (according to my subjective preferences). Not only is there a lot here (romance should be one of the genres, I don't know why it's not) but it's not very well written and the "first love rekindling after 10 years" trope, especially with the guy still liking her after so long, is a nope for me.
BUT even with that I was perfectly ready to keep watching. For her great acting, Ms. Wu, their relationship and the rest of the story. But you see, Jiang Tian is actually extremely unpleasant. Sure, she probably has to go through a positive arc and I do admit she has potential. She's cute when she's nice and her personality is interesting.
BUT after 7 episodes I could still barely connect with any of the characters. I hated her workplace and all her dumbass colleagues. Mr. Qian is a freaking prick and yet everyone is expected to lick his boots like he's some kind of Messiah. Is that even possible in a normal company ? I was looking forward to her working on her own, sure, but for that I would need to continue watching. Which is not gonna happen. Also her best friend wanting to push her towards her ex constantly while she was still with her boyfriend (basically encouraging her to cheat or to tempt her to ?) for 5 episodes was so incredibly annoying that I started to dislike seeing her despite their relationship being absolutely adorable and having so much potential.
BUT the final move for me was the "unfaithfulness" of her boyfriend. It was so forced and stupid. The way she found out is terribly convenient ("oh sure, take my phone full of unfaithful conversations with another girl, you know the password"). And honestly none of what he said was false - Tian can be very domineering and unlikable. Telling her that she's all good and he's the villain isn't going to change anything. That woman he chatted with could have been his best friend (if they didn't talk romantically like they seemed to do with each other though...) and if that was the case, I don't see how it would have been wrong in any way. But Tian didn't even try to listen or consider what he had to say. And even with that, maybe he truly wanted to make things better between them. Not trying to excuse cheating in any manner and not saying that his relationship with the other girl wasn't at risk of becoming physical, because it seemed like it was. But this whole plot point was an absurd excuse to push her back with the other guy. She shouldn't have had a boyfriend to begin with if it was to insert this ridiculous arc that dragged for way too long. Alternatively, he should have just broken up with her directly from the start of the show to push forward her character's growth and give an additional justification to her coming back to her hometown, without this silly cheating thing.
That's really too bad. I really wanted to witness the growing affection between Tian and Jing Fang and their developing career and life. The acting is very good and I'm sure there are a lot of great things in the following episodes. But I cannot go through this. Especially if these 7 episodes accurately reflect the 30 remaining ones. It was supposed to be a comfort drama but it ended up becoming a stressful, unnerving one. Maybe I'll give it another try later, skipping every annoying scenes just to watch what I'm interested into. But not right now.
I'd rather keep watching what I enjoy. Life is difficult and short enough.
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