Like Reply 1998... but not quite
Mixed feelings about this one.
I watched it after Love in the Clouds with Hou Minghao and wanted to see more of his work.
At first, it felt like Reply 1998 - youthful, nostalgic, and bittersweet. The leads’ chemistry was great… but from episode one, when Lu Xiaoxiao loses his chance at the entrance exam, I immediately sensed some Shonda Rhimes–style drama coming.
Thankfully, it wasn’t that tragic. The show just shifts from reply 1998 vibes to a When Life Gives You Tangerines tone, ending with a very Inception-style “wtf just happened?” finale and, by the end, I was just as confused as at the start.
The characters are interesting because they have flaws and we get to see their growth. I especially liked Bai Li and her struggle to be "free," which felt very compelling. However, the writing often fails in storytelling. Some characters are introduced and developed, only to be forgotten halfway through the plot, leaving their arcs unresolved.
In short, it’s a captivating series that keeps you watching, with a ML and FL, though the ending feels rushed and some characters are simply written out.
I watched it after Love in the Clouds with Hou Minghao and wanted to see more of his work.
At first, it felt like Reply 1998 - youthful, nostalgic, and bittersweet. The leads’ chemistry was great… but from episode one, when Lu Xiaoxiao loses his chance at the entrance exam, I immediately sensed some Shonda Rhimes–style drama coming.
Thankfully, it wasn’t that tragic. The show just shifts from reply 1998 vibes to a When Life Gives You Tangerines tone, ending with a very Inception-style “wtf just happened?” finale and, by the end, I was just as confused as at the start.
The characters are interesting because they have flaws and we get to see their growth. I especially liked Bai Li and her struggle to be "free," which felt very compelling. However, the writing often fails in storytelling. Some characters are introduced and developed, only to be forgotten halfway through the plot, leaving their arcs unresolved.
In short, it’s a captivating series that keeps you watching, with a ML and FL, though the ending feels rushed and some characters are simply written out.
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