3
A Parody of Cliches, That is Full of Overused Tropes
I finally got around to watching The Lost Romance after hearing it hyped as one of the best Taiwanese dramas, especially since I’m a sucker for transmigration into a novel stories. And… I have so many mixed thoughts.
On paper the premise is brilliant: a meta drama that parodies cheesy romance tropes, pokes fun at cold CEOs, second male leads who never win, and evil “perfect” heroines. It seems like it’s going to be self-aware and subversive. But here’s the thing: while it laughs at clichés… it also indulges in every single one of them.
The show calls out how Situ Ao Ran (ML) and Qing Feng (SML) both being in love with Chu Chu (the “novel FL”) is just writer convenience — but then makes Xiao En (our actual FL) fall for Ao Ran in exactly the same way. Honestly, their romance feels forced. There’s no reason they’re in love besides because the script says so.
Qing Feng + Xiao En pairing would’ve made far more sense. Qing Feng’s feelings were natural, his growth believable, and his interactions with her felt grounded. Instead, we got Ao Ran: a cold, personality-less CEO who magically softens once he “loves” her. It doesn’t read as romance, more like obsession.
For a drama that mocked the “evil SFL” trope, it was disappointing to see Chu Chu become the villain by the end. The satire collapses when it falls back into the exact mold it was mocking.
The Real-World Subplot was easily the weakest part. Tian Xing’s sibling rivalry and chaebol family politics were so boring I ended up skipping them. The “real world” added little, except showing that Xiao En is basically a stalker, she literally spies on her crush via cameras, sees him get thrown off a building, and doesn’t call the police. Make it make sense.
So in short..
ML (Ao Ran / Tian Xing): Bland. Never really developed.
SML (Qing Feng): The MVP of the entire show. His feelings made sense, his sincerity stood out, and honestly, he deserved the better. But I would've liked him to be better in the second half.
Xiao En (FL): Equal parts frustrating and entertaining. Embarrassing at times, but I couldn’t stop watching her antics.
Qiutian & the Lilies girls: Absolute gems. Their friendship with Xiao En was heartwarming and way more “romantic” than the actual romance. The comedy relief duo where actually fun.
The Ending is predictable, tropey, and unearned. The “happily ever after” felt like the drama ticking off boxes instead of giving us closure that made sense.
Overall
Despite all the plot holes, hypocrisy, and tropes it mocked but also embraced, The Lost Romance is still fun. The novel-world hijinks were the highlight, the friendships were delightful, and even the frustrating characters were entertaining. It’s one of those dramas you’ll rant about non-stop, and yet still keep watching.
Worth watching if you like meta set-ups, don’t mind cliché overload, and enjoy ranting while being entertained.
Rating: 7.5/10
On paper the premise is brilliant: a meta drama that parodies cheesy romance tropes, pokes fun at cold CEOs, second male leads who never win, and evil “perfect” heroines. It seems like it’s going to be self-aware and subversive. But here’s the thing: while it laughs at clichés… it also indulges in every single one of them.
The show calls out how Situ Ao Ran (ML) and Qing Feng (SML) both being in love with Chu Chu (the “novel FL”) is just writer convenience — but then makes Xiao En (our actual FL) fall for Ao Ran in exactly the same way. Honestly, their romance feels forced. There’s no reason they’re in love besides because the script says so.
Qing Feng + Xiao En pairing would’ve made far more sense. Qing Feng’s feelings were natural, his growth believable, and his interactions with her felt grounded. Instead, we got Ao Ran: a cold, personality-less CEO who magically softens once he “loves” her. It doesn’t read as romance, more like obsession.
For a drama that mocked the “evil SFL” trope, it was disappointing to see Chu Chu become the villain by the end. The satire collapses when it falls back into the exact mold it was mocking.
The Real-World Subplot was easily the weakest part. Tian Xing’s sibling rivalry and chaebol family politics were so boring I ended up skipping them. The “real world” added little, except showing that Xiao En is basically a stalker, she literally spies on her crush via cameras, sees him get thrown off a building, and doesn’t call the police. Make it make sense.
So in short..
ML (Ao Ran / Tian Xing): Bland. Never really developed.
SML (Qing Feng): The MVP of the entire show. His feelings made sense, his sincerity stood out, and honestly, he deserved the better. But I would've liked him to be better in the second half.
Xiao En (FL): Equal parts frustrating and entertaining. Embarrassing at times, but I couldn’t stop watching her antics.
Qiutian & the Lilies girls: Absolute gems. Their friendship with Xiao En was heartwarming and way more “romantic” than the actual romance. The comedy relief duo where actually fun.
The Ending is predictable, tropey, and unearned. The “happily ever after” felt like the drama ticking off boxes instead of giving us closure that made sense.
Overall
Despite all the plot holes, hypocrisy, and tropes it mocked but also embraced, The Lost Romance is still fun. The novel-world hijinks were the highlight, the friendships were delightful, and even the frustrating characters were entertaining. It’s one of those dramas you’ll rant about non-stop, and yet still keep watching.
Worth watching if you like meta set-ups, don’t mind cliché overload, and enjoy ranting while being entertained.
Rating: 7.5/10
Was this review helpful to you?
