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Romeo & Juliet in ancient China with a side of political intrigue
A gripping tale about feuding families, power struggles, and an unlikely love story. Think Romeo & Juliet in ancient China with a side of political intrigue. Except instead of love at first sight and a secret romance, we have an arranged marriage and a slow transition from enemies to lovers.One character comments that marriage is all about mind games, and that’s certainly how the leads’ dynamic starts out. There’s mistrust and manipulation, and both are constantly on guard against each other. Equally matched in intelligence, their battle of wits is compelling to watch.
Wei Shao is quick-tempered, vengeful, and determined to keep his hate burning for the Qiao family, who he blames for the deaths of his grandfather, father, and brother. But the look on his face when he sees his future bride, Xiao Qiao, for the first time at the end of episode 1 (a great bit of acting from Liu Yu Ning) makes it clear from the start that he’s not completely immune to her charms.
His attitude pretty quickly shifts from “I don’t like her, but nobody else can mistreat her either” to reluctantly admiring her courage, cleverness, and consideration. As a man of war who often struggles to express himself, he’s a little dense when it comes to women and romance, but he eventually comes around.
Xiao Qiao, also called Manman, is a petite woman with a soft little voice, but looks can be deceiving — more than just a pretty face, she also has a sharp mind and iron will and can be cunning or fierce when she needs to be. Her brilliant ideas save the day more than once, and the two of them make quite the power couple.
Song Zu Er shows a lot of range as the female lead (especially compared to some of her other leading roles in contemporary dramas like “Cupid’s Kitchen” and “Legally Romance”), alongside Liu Yu Ning as the male lead. I haven’t seen him in anything else, but would look for his work based on the strength of his performance here. Playing a character who keeps his feelings to himself, he says a lot with just a furrowed brow or flash of a smile.
Liu Duan Duan (a familiar face from “The Rebel Princess”) playing Wei Shao’s wastrel cousin is also a standout role. His outwardly frivolous personality hides deep emotions and pain, and he does an excellent job with a complex and conflicted character.
At 36 episodes, the series never drags, blending family and political drama, action (that’s surprisingly violent in places), and a slow-burn romance. The leads’ relationship is paced perfectly considering all they have to overcome to be together. Aside from great performances from the cast and a well-written story, “Prisoner of Beauty” also offers beautiful costumes, a lovely orchestral score, and an ending that’s both happy and bittersweet. It’s one of the best historical dramas I’ve seen — not quite a 10 for me, because I don’t think I’d rewatch it, but certainly a quality production and an absorbing story.
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Crazy, Seductive, Genre-Blending Fun
Rules for watching Affinity:#1 - Don’t Take It Too Seriously
This short drama throws together every genre under the sun (romance, sci-fi, fantasy, horror, and more) into one juicy, addictive blend. This is junk food TV — just binge and enjoy.
#2 - Enjoy the Kissing Scenes
It certainly seems like the actors are — or at least, they’re very committed to their roles and not holding back in the physicality department (not that we’re complaining).
The hugging/kissing sequence in ep. 16 is so intense that I felt like falling off my chair just like Nong Yu. Goodness gracious, it’s like Xin Xu is trying to absorb or inhale her. Cui Yu Xin plays his desperate, barely controlled, obsessive male lead to perfection.
#3 - Embrace the Nonsense
Does any of the plot, world-building, or sequence of events make sense? Not really. The structure sometimes feels like someone threw a bunch of creative writing prompt cards on the table and said, "Here's our story outline!". But it’s wildly unpredictable and weird and silly, and that’s part of the fun.
I’ve noticed that short-length web series often focus on style over substance — light on the character development and plot, leaning on actors’ good looks and chemistry to keep viewers interested. This approach doesn't always work, but "Affinity" manages to pull it off. What plot there is is strangely compelling (dabbling in topics like genetic experimentation and shadowy government organizations), and the chemistry is so sizzling that you’ll want to stick around to see what’s next.
At the halfway point (ep. 20), I’m hooked and waiting to see where all of this is going. The synopsis doesn’t even begin to capture the craziness that is this drama; you just have to experience it for yourself.
UPDATE after finishing the series:
The second half doesn’t have nearly the same spark and breakneck pace, but the emotional journey of the characters is easy to get invested in, and we do get a happy (and suitably wacky) ending.
What works:
– The leads. Their chemistry is undeniable, but let’s be clear: it’s not a healthy or equal relationship for the majority of the series. But the genetic compatibility angle adds an interesting layer to their dynamic and at least explains (but doesn’t excuse) the male lead’s bad behavior. He starts out as someone who’s unable to experience emotions, but his deep connection with the female lead unlocks feelings he’s never had before. On top of that, they need each other for survival, which gives their intense, magnetic attraction a narrative purpose.
– Cui Yu Xin’s performance. CYX’s role as Xin Xu elevates the show from a campy time-waster to something that’s compulsively watchable, and I don’t think it would work without him. His character has more depth than what you’d expect at first glance, and it’s fascinating watching his expressions shift over the course of the series from lifeless, to like a beast stalking its prey, to tender and adoring and vulnerable. The scenes that depict his emotional awakening — like crying for the first time — are quite touching. He’s a versatile and expressive actor.
– The soundtrack. There are several memorable songs that are intense and moody and really enhance what’s happening onscreen (although there are also some odd selections).
What could be better:
– I wish Fang Jin’s female lead had more to do than react with wide-eyed fear to all the chaos. More often than not, her character seems more like a foil to the male lead without the same level of agency or nuance. There are hints that she’s supposed to be super smart, but we rarely get to see that. Both leads are immature and impulsive in different ways, and while emotional growth is a theme in the drama, Nong Yu doesn’t get nearly as compelling a character arc as Xin Xu in this area.
The show is pretty ridiculous at face value, but I’m rating it on its own scale with bonus points for novelty and just how oddly entertaining it is. I would put the first half at about an 8.5 and the second at more like a 7.
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Powerhouse Cast + Sweet Story
This one is a gem! “As Brilliant as Fireworks” is a youth drama with a time-travel twist about growing up, learning to have empathy, and making up for regrets.Some aspects of the plot, including the happy ending, could have been more developed, but overall it’s a delightful watch with a standout cast. The two couples (played by Zhang Chi & Yu Yin and Wang Yi Lei & Li Ke Yi) have a great dynamic both as pairs and as a group, the production values are nice, and the story is fun and fanciful while still having emotional impact.
As a side note, I continue to be impressed with Zhang Chi’s versatility as an actor. He’s more than just a pretty face (though that’s hard to ignore). Here, he gives a fine performance as a moody but tender-hearted high-schooler, but he’s just as convincing in other types of roles, like his unhinged and obsessive but vulnerable character in “Helpless Without You”, or as a flirty college student in “Secret Love Is a Star Candy.” He seems to pick interesting scripts too. Definitely a talent to watch.
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Longing, Love & Friendship
Despite being set against a fast-paced backdrop of street racing and prize fighting, the heart of “Speed and Love” isn’t thrill-seeking but rather the relationships that last through life’s ups and downs — family, true friends, the unconditional love of “two hearts, defying wind and rain together, resisting a broken life.”The emotional stakes pull you in from episode 1, where a pampered young woman (Esther Yu) travels to Thailand to reunite with her estranged father and the boy she grew up with (He Yu), who’s now almost unrecognizable. Her former top-student, doting “brother” is now caught in a dangerous lifestyle of illegal car racing and underground boxing matches.
It’s their first time meeting as adults and sets the stage for their rollercoaster of a journey together: from their first encounter, where you could cut the tension and unsaid words hanging in the air with a knife; to their magnetic attraction, flirting, and jealousy; to acknowledging that their feelings for each other are more than just childhood fondness and overcoming many obstacles to being together.
In the other roles I’ve seen them in, Esther Yu and He Yu both play rather “cute” characters (see “A Romance of the Little Forest” and “My Fated Boy” as examples). Here they’re playing more complex roles and deliver impressive performances on all fronts — emotional intensity, chemistry, non-verbal acting (expressions, eye contact, body language). It’s the leads’ performances and screen presence that make some implausible circumstances and hard-to-understand character behavior still absorbing to watch unfold.
Esther Yu often portrays bubbly, child-like characters (and does it well — roles that could be annoying in other hands are somehow adorable in hers) but the way she plays Jiang Mu, especially in emotionally intense moments, makes it clear that she can excel in dramatic roles as well as comic ones.
Despite his baby face, He Yu delivers a mature performance as Jin Zhao, a resilient young man who hasn’t had an easy life. Even though his character makes questionable choices at times, you never doubt his feelings because they’re written all over his face — longing, adoration, restraint, despair, disappointment. His gaze and microexpressions give his “bad boy” character some unexpected depth and help viewers understand Jin Zhao’s thoughts even though he’s the type to keep them to himself.
Another standout role is Fei Qi Ming’s portrayal of San Lai, the male lead’s best buddy — a happy-go-lucky guy with a big heart. He’s one of those rare friends who’s there through thick and thin and gives good advice even if it’s hard to hear. Male friendship may not get as much screen time in dramas as female friendship, but it’s heartwarming to see the dynamic between Jin Zhao’s closest friends (including a rival-turned-friend played by Mike Angelo) who support him during his lowest moments.
To sum up, there’s a lot that’s unique about this drama — the setting (Thailand), the look (kind of a stylized, 80s vibe in the beginning, especially the neon-lit night scenes), the action sequences (even as someone who doesn’t gravitate toward that genre, the fighting is exciting and looks real).
Aside from some abrupt transitions and plot points that aren’t explained fully (perhaps scenes that were edited out to trim down the number of episodes?), the pacing is good, the plot doesn’t drag, and the ending is a happy one.
Looking beyond the sizzling chemistry of the leads, the story shows imperfect people learning to be better versions of themselves and navigating real-world struggles like broken families, alcoholism, and seemingly hopeless medical diagnoses. This realism, paired with the show’s talented cast and stylish production values, hooks you with a flashy first half and keeps you on edge with an emotionally gripping second half for an all-around captivating (and very bingeable) viewing experience.
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Fresh Take on Time-Travel
This was a fun one-time watch with a fresh take on time-travel. The premise: not just one person, but a whole family, gets transported to ancient times, where they make a livelihood by opening a restaurant using modern cooking methods and marketing strategies.The family is your typical sitcom variety — level-headed mom, clueless dad, lazy brother, precocious little sister. Some of the characters can lean toward caricatures at times, but the leads — played by Wang Ying Lu and Li Yun Rui — hold things together.
Wang Ying Lu as the female lead is smart, resourceful, conveniently a history buff, and pretty much single-handedly keeps her family alive in their unfamiliar environment. Her sensitive performance — enhanced by an expressive face and big, bright eyes — give the character some needed emotional gravitas in contrast with her loud and chaotic family members.
The male lead is a successful but lonely young official who ends up entangled with the Shen family, who he believes to be his relatives. He’s serious and stoic, but carries a lot of emotional baggage, and Li Yun Rui plays the character’s grief and heartbreak with a quiet devastation that’s compelling to watch.
Viewers should also be on the lookout for some lovely sets (particularly the ML’s manor) and costumes. There are scenes where the camera pulls back to linger on a meaningful moment that look like they could be paintings.
In terms of genre, it’s mostly comedy with a bit of romance and a political intrigue / revenge plot. The ending, as is typical in this kind of story, is a bit contrived in order to reconcile the past and current timelines, but it’s a happy one and handled better than most dramas I’ve seen of this type.
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"That kind of devotion, it was unrestrained."
“Our Generation” is a heartfelt and beautifully filmed story, but can be a bit of a gloomy watch.It follows a group of childhood friends nearing the end of high school as they navigate crushes, rivalries, and family strife.
Zhao Jin Mai plays Lin Ying Tao (“Cherry”), a lively young woman who’s a bit of a troublemaker and feels things intensely. Even after years apart, she can’t forget her childhood companion, Jiang Qiao Xi.
Qiao Xi is a top student who’s considered a prodigy, but he's also reserved and not the most emotionally intelligent. With an unhappy family life and a controlling, emotionally abusive mother, the only time he ever smiles is around Cherry.
The two had a deep bond as children, but when they reunite in high school, they have to fight hard to rekindle their friendship — first against misunderstandings, then against people actively trying to keep them apart and unexpected circumstances.
Both actors do a fine job portraying the transition from teens to young adults. They deliver a palpable chemistry as friends who clearly adore each other but aren’t quite sure how to express it. Zhang Ling He in particular gives a nuanced performance — his Qiao Xi has a sadness and maturity that gives the character a magnetic presence. It’s a shame they spend much of the series apart.
I was expecting a sweet coming-of-age story from the trailer, but there ended up being more heartbreak than I anticipated. However, the relationship between the leads is a beautiful one characterized by an unrestrained devotion (as one of their classmates puts it) that endures through hardship to a happy ending. This kind of deep and unwavering commitment at such a young age might not be very realistic, but it makes for good fiction.
So many dramas feature miscommunication or people saying things they don’t mean, and while there’s some of that here, “Our Generation” also has a number of extended conversations where characters talk through their problems and properly express their emotions, especially in the last several episodes. It’s refreshing, and some of the best dialogue I’ve encountered in a drama.
With the right expectations for what kind of story you’re getting into, it’s a worthwhile watch — aside from good writing and performances, the series also features some nice music and is filmed in a warm, nostalgic color palette.
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Fun, Time-Traveling Romcom Takes a Detour
Starts out as a fun, fluffy romcom, with a college student waking up inside the world of her favorite serial novel and falling in love with the male lead. But the story takes a turn in the last several episodes with a darker tone and some villainy added for dramatic tension.However, it’s the characters and cast rather than the uneven plot that makes this worth watching.
Yi Beon is the ultimate fictional crush — flirty but respectful, devoted, tall and handsome, with a deliciously deep voice. Taecyeon plays him to perfection. Do men like this exist in real life? It’s no wonder our female lead can’t resist him despite her best efforts.
Seohyun is also charming as Cha Sun Chaek, a supporting character turned female lead, who adapts to Joseon-era life with surprising ease, putting her college smarts and cocktail-mixing skills to good use.
But the series never quite recaptures the spark of the early episodes as the plot takes a detour into Serious Drama Land — complete with unhinged villains, betrayals, and obstacles to keep the leads apart. Unfortunately, the genre-mixing feels abrupt and disjointed.
We do get a happy ending, but the conclusion feels a bit rushed and leaves some unanswered questions. The story would have benefited from extra episodes to flesh out the some of characters more and explore the late-stage plot developments.
Despite these issues, I still enjoyed the series for what it is: a mostly lighthearted historical romance. The leads’ chemistry, banter, and swoon-worthy moments are the main draw. At least their devotion to each other is one constant even when other aspects go awry.
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Youthful or Immature?
If you’re looking for an easy-to-watch love story, this isn’t it. Despite having 3 couples (and what the trailer would suggest), the genre is less of a romance and more of a palace drama.The primary thread that ties many events of the series together is about a corrupt noble family and all the trouble they cause. The story follows the leads, played by Bao Shang En and Song Wei Long, as they uncover the conspiracy and face various obstacles together.
While Chinese costume dramas can often have irritating supporting characters, here it’s the primary couple that is poorly written, particularly the female lead.
I think she’s supposed to be in her late teens, so it’s understandable the character is somewhat immature, but her whining and self-centeredness makes her hard to like, especially early on. She tends to make reckless choices without considering the consequences for herself or other people. The inconsistent way the character is written doesn’t do a lot of favors for the actress. She’s spoiled and sheltered and somehow also manages a household and is a savvy businesswoman.
Song Wei Long plays the brooding type well and looks great doing it (that furrowed brow; those deep, dark eyes!), but his skills seem underutilized here. His male lead basically has two modes — “war god” or infatuated husband — and not much character depth or development.
The chemistry between the leads isn’t remarkable, and the two are at odds more often than not. Poor communication for the sake for dramatic tension is common in romance dramas (unfortunately), and that plot device is used several times in ways that seem unnecessary and unlikely.
Overall, a sloppy script that struggles to balance comedic and serious elements — including a rebellion plot that’s difficult to follow at times — make “Youthful Glory” a somewhat disappointing watch. There’s some cute relationship development and exciting, gravity-defying (though unrealistic) action sequences, but it’s not one of the better historical dramas released this year.
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Breath of Fresh Air
This just went straight to the top of my list of best short vertical dramas. It’s a sweet story with a younger man / older woman romance, minimal misunderstandings or conflict, and a fresh plot. Yang Peng Cheng and Wang Gege are well cast as a sincere young rancher and a career-driven wedding planner whose relationship progresses from bickering to flirting to a business partnership and more.It’s also beautifully filmed, mostly outdoors in a scenic grasslands setting. (Watch for the horseback riding scene early on that looks like it could be in a Hollywood Western.) A precocious kid and cute animals (baby sheep and cows, puppies, horses) add to the to feel-good vibes.
This one stands out as a breath of fresh air among all the repetitive, trope-y short dramas out there and shouldn’t be missed!
P.S. For viewers looking for more like this, “The Crush” (2025), also starring Yang Peng Cheng, is another heartwarming story with lovely locations and cinematography that’s worth watching.
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Entertaining but flawed story with missed opportunities for character development
I can understand why this drama was popular — it’s both hilarious and heartwarming, with likable leads and a great ending.But it’s not perfect. If there’s a weakness in the story, it’s the way the female lead’s character is written.
Kim Hye Yoon has a lot of emotional range to cover as Im Sol, the female lead, and gives a mostly convincing performance. She can switch from a sweet smile to sobbing in an instant. Sol is perky and determined, but acts like a teenager, not like a woman in her 30s (having a crush can do that, I suppose).
Her obsession with protecting Sun Jae and thinking she can “rewind” all the bad situations in life can be grating (not to mention unhealthy). I would have preferred to see her living a full and happy life with her disability. Plus, It can be hard to sympathize with her as a main character because it often seems like she’s just making things more difficult for herself with impulsive or illogical decisions, and it’s frustrating watching her torture herself (and break the heart of the man who loves her) trying to control the future.
Byeon Woo Seok has a lot of charm as Ryu Sun Jae, the male lead, and has great comedic timing. He delivers a convincing performance showing the two sides of his character (sweet, slightly awkward student vs. more confident, polished performer who still has a goofy side). The fact that he did his own singing for the role is impressive.
However, the leads’ relationship never really develops, and seems more based on infatuation and destiny than any kind of meaningful connection. The actors’ good looks and cute dynamic do a lot to gloss over the show’s missed opportunities for more character development.
But the way the show gradually reveals what the leads remember about each other is compelling, while the multiple timelines make for a plot that’s fast-paced and keeps you guessing.
There are also some standout supporting characters — the second male lead is a scene-stealer with his shameless flirting and dimpled smile, and the FL’s grandma is great (the touching scene between her and Sun Jae in the last episode might be my favorite moment in the whole drama).
While the series has its flaws, it’s still an engaging watch. Viewers should be aware that the story touches on some darker topics (depression, suicide, kidnapping), but overall this drama lands firmly in the rom-com genre. It doesn’t always strike the right tonal balance, and the time travel elements can be confusing and leave some unanswered questions, but the cast and the against-all-odds love story manage to hold things together.
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His quietly loyal but deeply sensitive and perceptive Li Wu is a beautifully portrayed character. At 19, he’s terrified of being a burden to Cen Jin, the woman who’s taken him in to sponsor his education despite having her own problems. At 21, he’s fallen in love with her, but she sees their relationship as that of an older sister and younger brother. At 27, he’s heartbroken, even traumatized, by their separation and desperate to find a way back into her life.
What stands out about Daniel Zhou’s performance is how good he is at showing barely contained emotion — being close to tears, or hiding a delighted smile, or fighting against resentment or jealousy. His character may be quiet, but he feels things deeply, and communicates through his actions more than his words, which causes problems at times.
Cen Jin, played by Michelle Chen with a charming blend of cuteness and maturity, is harder to pin down as a character. Her emotions aren’t as easy to read, or perhaps it’s that she doesn’t understand her own feelings clearly. She also has a bad habit of walking away from conversations that make her uncomfortable. Still, Cen Jin is a multifaceted character — compassionate, self-reliant, decisive, but cautious when it comes to romantic relationships. She has good reason for being wary of getting hurt, but also finds it difficult to ignore Li Wu’s unwavering devotion.
The series is set in 2016 and 2024, switching back and forth throughout. The timelines are handled well and show connections and contrasts between characters and their situations. This structure also gives the leads a richer and more meaningful history together, keeps the pacing brisk, and doesn’t let the story linger too long on conflicts.
Other than an ending that’s a bit lackluster and the FL’s whiny best friend, there’s very little not to like about this well-told story.
What to Watch for:
– The leads make an adorable couple, from their height difference to their contagious smiles. Their relationship has has a sweet, giddy quality that’s really heartwarming. They’re both very protective of each other, which sometimes leads to stupid decisions, but they way they try to shield each other (both literally and figuratively) from pain and problems is endearing, even if they sometimes go about it the wrong way. Yes, there’s an age gap (between both the characters and the actors). If that bothers you, this drama probably isn’t for you.
– The character development. The main characters are more realistic than what you often see in dramas. They’re not perfect or invincible; they have flaws; and they go through a process of growth, reflection, and learning what they want in life.
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When a handsome, down-on-his-luck government agent (Seo Kang Joon) goes undercover as a student at a swanky private high school, he stirs up plenty of trouble (and interest) as he struggles to balance his mission with issues he encounters at the school — including bullying, power-tripping rich kids, suspicious school officials, and a certain female teacher (Jin Ki Joo) who’s determined to keep an eye on the new “problem student.”
Pairing leads from two of my favorite dramas (“Are You Human Too?” and “The Secret Life of My Secretary”), I was looking forward to this show, and it didn’t disappoint.
Seo Kang Joon brings a certain intensity to his roles that works well for the male lead, Jeong Hae Seong. You get the sense that even though he might look like the strong, silent type, there are a lot of emotions simmering beneath the surface.
Part of an intelligence team tasked with locating stolen cultural treasures, Agent Jeong looks effortlessly cool and confident on the job but also has moments of being awkward, easily embarrassed, and overwhelmed by his emotions. At heart, he’s just a nice guy with a lot of empathy who also happens to have some impressive fighting skills.
His character is multifaceted and gets more of a backstory than Jin Ki Joo’s female lead, Oh Su A, a teacher who’s caring and determined to make a difference for her students, but a bit silly. However, she does get some character growth, and JKJ gives a charming performance. The two of them have a playful, somewhat goofy dynamic that’s fun to watch, even though the romance takes a back seat to other plot elements.
There are also plenty of interesting characters besides the leads, particularly Chairwoman Seo. She’s a terrifying and formidable villain without being one dimensional. Her daughter, the student council president, is also a well-written and layered character— infuriating and pitiful at the same time.
Although this series does touch on a few serious topics (including the previously mentioned bullying and self-harm), it’s an entertaining watch that’s exciting from the get-go, doesn’t take itself too seriously, and offers lots of laughs, all without stretching out the story with too many episodes. Plus, everything gets wrapped up with a satisfying ending where the main characters each get their own little epilogue. Recommended!
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Unexpectedly engaging story about imperfect people
Interesting, atypical characters make this an entertaining watch. We have a female lead who got jilted at the altar by her two-timing fiancé and starts to question her taste in men when she gets involved with a scumbag (as the title suggests) shortly after her failed wedding. She’s spunky and stubborn and sincere, but also a bit naive.Not that she has any examples of healthy relationships or reliable men in her life, with no father, a divorced sister, and an immature mother who has a different boyfriend for every day of the week.
It’s the scumbag who’s our male lead — admittedly a sexy and enigmatic one, but still a jerk. Yuta Tamamori plays the role with an understated charisma that provides an interesting foil to the FL’s enthusiastic and somewhat impulsive personality. His character capitalizes on his good looks as a bartender who charms women out of their money on the side. However, there’s a saying that all behavior is caused, and his stems from a secret (and probably PTSD) that keep him closed off to genuine relationships.
What that secret is and whether or not he stays a scumbag, I’ll leave to you, dear viewer, to find out.
I wouldn’t call this a sports drama — boxing is just the backdrop to a story about damaged people trying to figure how to not let their pasts define them. However, this J-drama does offer some surprisingly emotional performances along with a bit of mystery, some laughs, and an "odd couple" romance (though this takes a backseat to other plot elements) with leads whose contrasting personalities make for a compelling watch.
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Funny but flawed story
A quirky but entertaining story about a woman who can change her appearance and the man who unknowingly falls in love with every version of her. It’s part romcom, sci-fi/fantasy, and office drama all rolled into one eccentric package.Neither of the leads are particularly likable at first — one has low self-esteem and gets tangled in a web of her own lies while the other comes across as rude and fickle. But both are pretty self-aware about their faults, and as the two work out their conflicts and misunderstandings, we get a different kind of take on an enemies-to-friends-to-lovers plot.
However, one thing bothered me that made an otherwise fun show less enjoyable: Some of the behavior that the female lead resorts to in order to hide her multiple identities is cruel and emotionally manipulative. She feels bad about it, but keeps doing it anyway. How she treats the male lead is played for laughs (and many of the circumstances the two get into are hilarious) but if you look past the humor, she’s pretty heartless. His anger is fully justified when he finds out the truth, and in my opinion he comes to terms with it a little too easily. But this being a drama, love conquers all.
Regardless of how the characters are written, the actors do a fine job. This is my first time seeing Tan Jian Ci in a comedy. His male lead is a serious, highly intelligent person forced into absurd situations, and he shows a lot of range in what must have been a challenging role. Landy Li successfully portrays the female lead as a woman with an inferiority complex who has to learn some self-acceptance. I also appreciated that the leads’ best friends (also the second couple) are well-rounded and interesting in their own right, more than just a side storyline.
This drama definitely falls in the “something different” category. It’s not perfect, and the way the moral of the story comes across can be a bit heavy-handed at times, but it has a unique plot that avoids the usual romcom cliches and a good cast, along with some decent-looking special effects and nice background music. While the last few episodes are a bit anticlimactic, it has a cute ending.
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Good cast doesn’t completely make up for a mediocre script
Despite its talented leads and sweet, slow-burn office romance, “Shine on Me” gets bogged down by a rocky beginning and a business-heavy script.The story follows Xi Guang (played by Zhao Jin Mai), a recent college graduate from a wealthy, well-connected family. She’s nursing a powerful (and painfully awkward) crush on her university classmate. Why is anyone’s guess — he has the personality of a wet blanket — and on top of that, he’s already rejected her.
But she can’t get over him — even after our male lead, Yu Sen (played by Song Wei Long) comes onto the scene — though the two get off to a pretty rough start themselves. In fact, neither of the leads are particularly likeable at first, and the setup of the series withholds certain key pieces of information, leaving the audience in the dark about why characters behave the way they do.
The FL’s pining over her crush seems foolish rather than sweet, and the ML acts so petty, even vindictive, that you wonder how she’s ever going to warm up to him. You want to shake them both by the shoulders and tell them to get a grip.
For the first 6 or 7 episodes, I was doubting whether it’d be a worthwhile watch, but suddenly circumstances arise that allow the leads to have some compassion for each other, and it’s like a switch is flipped that changes their dynamic.
That’s when the slow-burn romance starts. Both Zhao Jin Mai and Song Wei Long play their parts well and do a fine job showing the characters’ development, emotional struggles, and growing connection as colleagues and then as a couple, but I wouldn’t say this is a standout role for either of them. I’ve been hoping to see SWL in another role that rivals the complexity and emotional resonance of his performance in “Go Ahead” (2020), but this isn’t it.
Most likely because the script doesn’t give them a whole lot to work with. The first part makes it hard to feel invested in the main characters because of their unexplained tension, while the rest of the drama spends a lot of time on unlikeable side characters and business dealings that don’t add a whole lot to the story.
What to Watch For:
- The arc where Yu Sen is trying to win over Xi Guang is super cute and cotton-candy sweet. His patient and persistent pursuit is the probably the highlight of the series.
- The soundtrack
What to Potentially Skip:
- The tedious business discussions and solar energy hype
- The time spent on the second male lead, whose indecisiveness and insecurity is frustrating to watch (why do so many women like him?)
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