When Romance and Comedy Get Lost in the Plot Twists
A Dream Within a Dream is hilarious from the very start and will have you laughing out loud for many episodes. It’s filled with genuinely funny moments that will keep you giggling nonstop. The early episodes stay lighthearted and playful, with the characters growing closer through sweet interactions, skinship, and kisses. The plot flows smoothly, without much filler or slow pacing. I found myself rewinding the same moments because I couldn't stop laughing which I haven't felt since lbfad aired.
But then, like many C-dramas, the story takes a sharp turn. What could have wrapped up beautifully by episode 20 gets dragged out unnecessarily. Suddenly, the show forgets it began as a romantic comedy and shifts into a more serious tone, where the subplots take center stage. As the mystery unfolds, the relationship between the two leads begins to fall apart, and not by their own choice but by those who forgot that two characters need more interaction for their love to be believable.
The warm, comforting moments I loved were replaced with constant misunderstandings and arguments, creating emotional distance between the leads—and between them and the audience. Their connection fades, and the once-charming romance feels almost completely erased.
Towards the end, the show becomes more focused on explaining villain motivations than allowing the leads time to heal, reconnect, or even share meaningful moments together. While there’s a small attempt to revive the romance near the finale, it comes too late. By then, the spark is gone. The man desperately seeks her forgiveness, love and trust but our female lead refuses to have any kind of self awareness and emotional growth and easily loses her charm. Repetitive scenes where she continues to repeat the same words to the male lead where he doesn't get a single second to share his opinion or even open his mouth drove me crazy and I wish I could forget it happened. I could say the same thing about second lead couple which also had a lot of potential with its funny moments, but any attachment to them evaporated by a man's refusal to show his feelings until the very end. Someone needs to be taught that dragging romance until the last episode for a couple to decide to be together isn't romantic at all! On the contrary, you lost every butterfly in our stomach by the time they get together.
Overall, it’s definitely worth watching for its original concept and the hilarious performances by every character. But hopefully, one day, Chinese dramas will learn to let go of the obsession with endless backstories and excessive subplots. We watch these dramas first and foremost because they’re marketed as romances—not as convoluted mystery thrillers. If the story had stayed true to its heart, it could’ve easily been a 10/10. Unfortunately, the unnecessary dragging took away what could’ve made it one of the best shows out there. Maybe one day someone will figure it out.
But then, like many C-dramas, the story takes a sharp turn. What could have wrapped up beautifully by episode 20 gets dragged out unnecessarily. Suddenly, the show forgets it began as a romantic comedy and shifts into a more serious tone, where the subplots take center stage. As the mystery unfolds, the relationship between the two leads begins to fall apart, and not by their own choice but by those who forgot that two characters need more interaction for their love to be believable.
The warm, comforting moments I loved were replaced with constant misunderstandings and arguments, creating emotional distance between the leads—and between them and the audience. Their connection fades, and the once-charming romance feels almost completely erased.
Towards the end, the show becomes more focused on explaining villain motivations than allowing the leads time to heal, reconnect, or even share meaningful moments together. While there’s a small attempt to revive the romance near the finale, it comes too late. By then, the spark is gone. The man desperately seeks her forgiveness, love and trust but our female lead refuses to have any kind of self awareness and emotional growth and easily loses her charm. Repetitive scenes where she continues to repeat the same words to the male lead where he doesn't get a single second to share his opinion or even open his mouth drove me crazy and I wish I could forget it happened. I could say the same thing about second lead couple which also had a lot of potential with its funny moments, but any attachment to them evaporated by a man's refusal to show his feelings until the very end. Someone needs to be taught that dragging romance until the last episode for a couple to decide to be together isn't romantic at all! On the contrary, you lost every butterfly in our stomach by the time they get together.
Overall, it’s definitely worth watching for its original concept and the hilarious performances by every character. But hopefully, one day, Chinese dramas will learn to let go of the obsession with endless backstories and excessive subplots. We watch these dramas first and foremost because they’re marketed as romances—not as convoluted mystery thrillers. If the story had stayed true to its heart, it could’ve easily been a 10/10. Unfortunately, the unnecessary dragging took away what could’ve made it one of the best shows out there. Maybe one day someone will figure it out.
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