The last 3 episodes were better than the previous 27 the characters finally developed and matured. The messages re: parenting adult children were good in that they exemplified what to avoid.
The ages and popularity of these actors draw on different segments of the population so the hope is that they will create new audiences for both actors.
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Popular Lead Actors
Sold Out on You features fantastic chemistry and natural acting between the male and female leads, and the supporting cast is mostly believable despite a little overacting. However, the narrative itself simply feels too long, bogged down by a recurring theme of toxic parenting. I almost gave up on the series entirely around episode 8, but after taking a break, I decided to push through the final episodes—though I did find myself fast-forwarding through some of the subplots involving the country folks.Was this review helpful to you?
Questionable watch
Lost interest. FL was not convincing however I disliked her petulance and the messages around the cultural differences.I think the FL was not a good choice for the role.
The character who was in a toxic realtionship and allowed herself to be an enabler was an interesting portrayal; her acting was convincing. That part of the narrative was very good at addressing alcoholism and its ramifications in a family.
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Cautionary Tale beautifully portrayed
It’s wonderful that someone had the intellectual fortitude to create this series. It’s a sensitive contemporary topic which is a problem throughout the world, not just in Chinese culture. The casting was spot on and the acting was first-rate and natural. The actors all appeared to capture the essence of the characters. The FL is masterful in this series, as well as in her performance in Nothing But Thirty. The complex subject was handled with grace. It’s a cautionary tale beautifully portrayed.Was this review helpful to you?
Progressive messaging in an Historical Setting
The strength of this series lies in its progressive messaging: partnerships are mutually supportive, traditional gender roles are challenged, and female characters actively take control of their lives. These themes reflect refreshingly modern values and aspirations.However, the pacing is questionable. As this epic, slow-moving narrative dragged on, I became far less engaged. I am genuinely baffled by its 9.6 rating on Viki!
The main cast delivers solid, professional performances and is visually attractive, while the voice actors are completely plausible. I also loved hearing musical threads of Tristan and Isolde woven into the background during tragic scenes.
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This would be a 10 Manhua except ....
NO MEANS NO! HORRIBLE MIXED MESSAGES to young women about sexual consent. Cringey to watch the 2 scenes where the FMC pushes back during a forced kiss then relents/succumbs. The series would have been a 10/acceptable except for this deleterious message.NO MEANS NO! The "No means no" movement for women refers to the concept that a woman's verbal or nonverbal refusal to engage in sexual activity should be respected and that any further advances are considered sexual assault. It's a foundational principle in discussions about sexual consent and violence prevention, emphasizing that consent must be freely given and can be withdrawn at any time.
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Acting appears to be well done. Story or narrative disappointing
This series’ story started out in an interesting direction then collapsed. Trust is fragile. The series portrays the negative effects of dishonest communication and of toxic and exploitive parenting on adult children.
The MCs and a supporting character all came from dysfunctional families where parenting was toxic and in the case of one female character exploitative. The FMC and the MMC naively avoid honest communication: both characters made faulty assumptions leading to misunderstandings which created conflict in their relationship. The MMC was portrayed as an unsighted emotionally distant and cautious person. The FMC was portrayed as a petulant immature young woman who was inexperienced in dealing with the MMC. The acting appeared natural. The story was disappointing. It glossed over the exploitation of the mother of the supporting female character; she was given an invitation to her daughter’s wedding. Also ignored and not addressed was the explosive, manipulative and controlling behavior of the FMCs mother. She hid her husband’s serious condition from his daughter and more. Finally the narrative floundered in the last few episodes and the events were predictably trite and both MCs continue to behave immaturely even after they marry especially the FMC. Turning to alcohol to assuage pain or to openly reveal truth is an overused trope - isn’t there another way to express disappointment/sadness and an unwillingness to speak honestly about feelings?
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A Captivating Journey Through Time: Seasoned Cast and Flawless Storytelling
A wonderful show with a seasoned cast delivering authentic performances! The narrative is engaging, revealing key events with excellent pacing as the story unfolds. The time jump to seven years later completely hooked the audience, leaving us captivated and eager to see how the characters themselves and their relationships had evolved. Interesting too to get a glimpse into life in S. Korea in the 80s.Was this review helpful to you?
A Thoroughly Worthy Watch
With an engaging narrative and convincing performances from both the main and supporting cast, this series humorously exposes the flaws of traditional gender roles and the complexities of marriage and career—a thoroughly worthy watch.It struck me as inconceivable that the series was delayed because of allegations that were not proven to be true. The scenes with the AI were awkward at best but the rest of the series was quite interesting to watch.
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Satire with a Lot to Chew On
I thoroughly enjoyed being brought into the lives of these characters. Xiao Fang is a sharp spoof on contemporary societal expectations, strict gender roles, modern parenting that infantilizes children. It comments on the financial costs and transactional nature of modern marriage, contemporary childrearing, and the fallout from demographic policies that resulted in men with no prospects for finding partners. Are women finally having a moment? This narrative is an empowering story of a younger generation reclaiming its agency.
The series exposes cliché advice from older generations—such as the romanticized notion that "when people are poor, love is pure." The story presents a darker reality: money is a necessity in marriage, and genuine love may be a luxury. Another fallacy: the assumption that transactional arrangements cannot succeed. When partners share values and learn to understand and respect each other as they navigate life together, even a pragmatic arrangement can end in a loving relationship.
I loved the setting and the thoughtful portrayal of rural communities being renewed and valued as repositories of a treasured way of life. Furthermore, the handling of the male lead’s deceitful, noxious, and manipulative father - the way the narrative forces him to finally see himself clearly—was spot on.
The ending was grounded in reality - bittersweet yet hopeful. Altogether, Xiao Fang provides a compelling, enjoyable narrative elevated by natural, precise acting.
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Soooo Depressing
Hate the ads for the candy and food appearing in the K-dramas- they are really overdone. I don't think Netflix offers the best in K, C or J dramas.The narrative began in an interesting way then the narrative failed. The acting nor the plot were able to convince me that these characters were in their 30s and still so clueless.
Both characters were struggling and had very odd ideas about what is possible in a relationship.
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Totally irresponsible birth mother at the center of a complex plot
I enjoyed the plot complexities however I didn't think the writer properly addressed the fact that the birth mother was irresponsible and created havoc by having a child and keeping that critical information from the father. She was too easily given a pass. I also read that single mothers in Japan in 2024 are very rare and usually exist at the poverty level. That fact is true of single mothers in most societies. I found it to be unrealistic that the father character and his partner of 3 years were unable to communicate more truthfully and were not able to openly express affection for each other.The extent that several male characters were supportive of women and child rearing was refreshing to see especially in a paternalistic society which is prevalent in most developed countries. The male lead was an example of role reversal and may influence thinking on the subject of gender roles in
societies.
The acting of the ML was refreshing spot on!
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A Twisted Tragedy
Story is twisted-a tragedy as was the ballet Swan Lake. It was masterful that background music we hear is from the ballet as a foreshadowing of events.FL realistically wouldn't accompany her former lover and his fiancee -who is an new acquaintance -while planning their wedding. Definitely not relatable. Also unrealistic that the FL would bring DNA results to mother of the ML without the father present. A modern approach would have been more interesting for me.
The toxic parent trope did have dire consequences- not for the older generations but for the lead characters who are indelibly traumatized by parents psychological and emotional abuse in their formative years and for their child. This series is a tragedy in the final scene they are living separate lives- there is no turning back in time - it would be unrealistic to expect a happy ending for the main characters.
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Too Many Tropes
An interesting start to the narrative ruined by predictable tropes. It’s devolved into a toxic parenting drama filled with cliché portrayals of antagonists and particularly the angry outbursts of the Chairman Na character. It's a failure of the director to opt for trite portrayals of emotions lacking nuance. I liked the performance of the two Lee's; particularly their acting was effective in humorous scenes. I'm curious to see how the plot unfolds so that in itself is positive but I think they are overplaying the despicable twins; though the actors were convincing. I am skipping over parts and I find that I am completely baffled by the 9.6 rating and that it's listed as a comedy. I now understand the comedy angle after watching the final scenes in the last episode.Was this review helpful to you?
Overly Dramatized
So far the FL has pursued the ML unabashedly. She acts impetuously and on her own even after she marries and seeks a divorce from the ML. The age difference between the ML and FL is supposed to be only a few years but the FL looks many years older than the ML; makeup looks heavy. Too bad they didn't cast someone more suitable for the FL. Acting skills of FL appears to be forced overly dramatized, not believable. ML is slightly more believable. Narrative began in an interesting way however it became tedious. I fast forwarded thru many episodes and didn't watch to the end.Was this review helpful to you?
