spicyeggroll

Light, unfiltered, and adventurous love story between two broken souls

The premise didn't intrigue me but the comments about "dark comedy" did.

Was it funny? Well... sometimes. The kind of funny that gets a smile or short "ha!". But nothing too hilarious.
Was it satirical? Most definitely.

The storyline follows cases that were based on the Chinese prosecutor's office (Supreme People's Procuratorate) throughout the adventure of two characters (our ML and FL) that have downtrodden views of life. Their inner narratives are quite unfiltered, and the visuals which remain light in saturation + plucky music finish this theme of a raw, realistic view of the world. It's less romcom funny, more sarcasm+poking light of a situation funny. Overall though, Definitely Not Today is a refreshing drama in a world of cliches, tropes, and cold-hearted CEOs.

PROS
❀ Great acting featuring realistically imperfect characters | The ML has mental illnesses (the synopsis says social anxiety, but translated eps say OCD as well? Might be a mistranslation since he doesn't really exhibit OCD tendencies) while the FL is dealing with trauma from the past and trying to stay alive in a world out to get her. He's indifferent, she's prickly. Together they make a surprising duo and learn to care about the world around them - as well as living in it.
I've seen the ML in another drama (My Love, Enlighten Me) and he plays the indifferent look quite well. In this show though, he really puts the uncaring attitude to another level. The ML basically wants to die by suicide, since he doesn't think there's anything worth living for, and you can tell how much he doesn't care from his messy hair to his barebones apartment. The FL's actress is new to me but she played a brash woman who hides her heart pretty well. Apparently these actors are reunited from a previous drama of theirs, which is fun. The chemistry is pretty tame and the relationship goes from mistrust -> mild friendship -> trust -> something more (romantically). I like that it didn't jump into insta-love and they had an organic relationship progression (with bumbles and fall-outs in-between).
❀ Good production value | From the music to the small-town sets, this show went out of its way to give a realistic storyline while poking fun at the more violent bits. I honestly recommend to watch it in one go like a movie (especially as it has a widescreen ratio on YT, giving it a more professional vibe) and the contents are interesting enough to keep you going. What happens when 2 flawed people find themselves entangled in a mess that brings them closer than ever?

CONS
✕ It's not that deep... or maybe that's a pro? | Despite the show tackling intense subjects such as sexual assault, it doesn't go beyond a surface level of how it affects the main characters, keeping the tone light-hearted. I guess if this is a pro or con depends on the viewer, but I expected... more. I ended the drama with an "eh, that was pretty good" feeling and felt emotionally detached from the events going on.
✕ Misunderstandling level: 0/10 | In this just less than 3 hour drama, the main characters are unabashed and straight-forward, leaving little room for misunderstandings. Ones that do come up are on the antagonists' side lol.

OVERALL
While this Cdrama wasn't as profound as I was expecting, its "at-face-value" plot is welcoming and refreshing. I think all the actors did a great job, and the production in general makes this show unique compared to other contemporary Cdramas. Really recommended if you're looking for a light-hearted adventure that defies the usual drama tropes!

(Note: My rewatch value is set to 5.0 always as a default as I'm not the type to rewatch dramas EVER. Thus, I do not take it into account when calculating overall score.)

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Falling in love on the rink + competitive friendships!

I've read comments that viewers enjoyed this skating drama more than Skate Into Love and My Unicorn Girl which says a lot about the standard of ice skating romances. Not to say To Fly With You wasn't good - it was! It featured a heartwarming story of perseverance, sportsmanship, hard work + diligence, forgiveness, and falling in love. But it still ultimately resorts to classic Cdrama cliches that lengthened the storyline for nonsensical reasons and tested my patience. The overall feeling from this drama is a positive one though, mainly because I thought the production value of the skating scenes was impressive, and it got me emotional with the main characters' dreams (I must say, gotta love a training montage, and To Fly With You had one every couple of episodes lmao).

PROS
❀ Do-gooder short track speed skater x goofy/lovable figure skater | I love how the main leads are both ice skaters, but interested in different sports. There are great scenes of them helping each other out in their respective fields, which I just *clenches fist* love. The synergy!!! Their romance was one of those "first love + innocent" ones where they quickly catch feelings but are ignorant of the others' feelings. They start off as a bickering pair, intrigued by each other, follow up as friends that help each other in the rink + random contractual relationship, and end up as a couple by ep 22. Did it take too long to reach there? Lowkey yes because of dense feelings going on. I would have accepted it if they were too busy with training/resolving conflicts in their respective sports/anything sports-related, but the fact that we had to sit through a disgusting, gnatty 2FL who the FL was too nice to... bruh, we deserved better.
The good news is that once the couple is together, they're good as gold. They continue supporting each other in their endeavors and even trust each other when family drama happens. The FL's unwavering confidence in the ML really bolstered him in his pursuit from pair figure skating to single figure skating, while the ML's enthusiasm for the FL in chasing her dream pushed her forward. She's the type to think well of people, no matter what, and he's a golden retriever who's spunky and energetic. Both actors are new to me (although I've seen the ML in some clips of Forever Love, and it seems he has a similar playful character), but they both portray a youth/college role really well and had great emotion in their scenes.
❀ Sismances and team bonding | While I was annoyed at some characters at first for their cattiness, they quickly grew on me as the shows explored their backgrounds. The whole "she's mean but there are underlying reasons why she acts this way and once you dig those out and psychoanalyze her she'll turn a new leaf" trope is just *chef's kiss* muah. Especially for sports dramas. I love the eventual progression of the speed skater team and seeing the FL rise from a self-taught skater to a professional who beat previous winners. Her diligence and passion for skating was well-portrayed by the actress! I also enjoyed the friendship she has with another skater, Zhu Lele (lmao which is my Chinese nickname). Lele was annoying at times, but their sismance was definitely A+.
❀ THE MOMS!!!!!!!! | Me during the mom scenes: "Mommy? Sorry. Mommy? Sorry. Mommy? Sorry."
One of the reasons why this show stuck with me is the story behind the main couple's moms. The blurb already hints at some undelying animosity, but I love how the moms were able to reconcile through their children and communication. Both actresses were SPECTACULAR. Great angry and crying scenes, great expressions of regret, great acting to gain our sympathy. I love how both moms' legacies on the ice were carried on by their children (who end up dating!! Sheeesh). They were both passionate and headstrong women that had moving scenes. Coach Zhuang Ye (the ML's mom and FL's coach) and the FL's relationship was also well-done and nicely developed. The moms were the heart of this show.
❀ Impressive visuals/production on the ice | I don't have many expectations for Cdrama effects, but To Fly With You had pretty good visuals. I never skipped the scenes on the ice and although the music was rather repetitive, they utilized it in a way that dramaticized the skating scenes. It really made you pumped!! I couldn't even tell if they used stunt actors for some of the scenes (I mean, they must have, right?), which added a realistic layer to everything. Also,,, the ML did an AMAZING job with his figure skating scenes. Honestly his last match made me so emotional and got me rewatching Yuri On Ice scenes (a figure skating anime that's phenomenal).

CONS
✕ I started fast-forwarding/skipping the secondary couple scenes | Don't get me wrong, the second couple consists of the best friends/roommates of the main couple and they cute af, but...,,, it's the typical secondary couple storyline. For some reason it's as much drama as the first couple, paired with misunderstandings, even a break up (whatt??), the FL's friend dating some other dude beforehand, among other things. Did I care about their theater club? Absolutely not. (I feel like they could have incorporated it better with the main leads and developed bonds through their scenes but it remained pretty separate from the main storyline.) Did I care about their romance? Not really either... the girl (Lele) was a mess half the time with indecisiveness and in general there was a lot of pushing/pulling that got me impatient. I think these characters are great as the silly foil/bffs of the main leads, but their romantic storyline was a no from me.
✕ THE MOST unnecessary sibling combo to ever exist | AKA the Xiao siblings. On the left, we have an immature male coach that, although he's an adult, uses young women's dreams of skating as a way to resolve his past trauma in seeing his best friend's death (btw, did this ever get resolved?? If it did, I must have fast forwarded past it. If it didn't... even more reason to dislike him). On the right, we see an immature younger sister who creates misunderstandings with every word out of her mouth because she's obsessed with the ML and can't take "no" for an answer. The left is a cockroach because despite all the shit he pulled, he survives it all and is still loved in the end by the team. The right is a gnat, because she be appearing EVERYWHERE and getting between the main couple for literally no reason. Their faces made me so annoyed I started watching their scenes at 2x speed, and even fast forwarded. For a sports drama, I didn't think there was TIME to put an annoying 2FL with evil intentions but I guess this is what happens with 33 eps. Tbh even skipping their scenes, ya ain't missing much from the show.
✕ Misunderstanding level: 4/10 | Definitely miscommunication between the second couple, and a slight misunderstanding between the primary couple when the ML confesses to the FL. Don't know why this misunderstanding was dragged on for a literal episode (he confesses at the end of ep 20 if I recall correctly, misunderstanding is the whole theme of ep 21, and they finally get together in ep 22). It was a juvenile situation (ML confessing to the wrong girl) and added screen time to the gnat, which was wholly unnecessary. I came in for a skating drama about teammates and chasing dreams - why did I have to sit through ~45 min of me yelling at the gnat for not telling the truth?!? ;__; alas.

OVERALL
I'm not sure if To Fly With You brings anything new to the drama game, but as a drama dedicated to the Beijing 2022 Olympics, it definitely makes a viewer emotional and pumped for the matches. The sismance, team camaraderie, and romance(s) make for a relationship-driven show that captures watchers' hearts as we follow the characters' dreams on the rink.

(Note: My rewatch value is set to 5.0 always as a default as I'm not the type to rewatch dramas EVER. Thus, I do not take it into account when calculating overall score.)

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Heartwarming cliches, surprising depth, superb chemistry

I'm going to miss this dimple couple!!
Many viewers describe this as a "feel-good" or "healing" drama, and this is exactly the case. Homcha's cozy seaside village setting already lays the foundation of its biggest themes: found family, love in unexpected places, diamond in the rough, overcoming prejudice, forgiveness/acceptance, wholesome bromance, and more. If you can ignore the product placement, the fictional town of Gongjin is a heartwarming place to visit when watching Hometown Cha-Cha-Cha.

PROS
❀ Production value was A+ | The thing about romcom tropes is that depending on the way the drama shows them, they can be ridiculously annoying or pleasantly refreshing. Homcha's tropes were the latter for me, and I think it was due to the accumulation of production, acting, and directing. The music was added in expertly (seriously, I associate the best vibes when it comes to the singer going "La-la-la-la-lalalala. romantic Sundayyy" for one of the OSTs), and the cinematography was an added bonus. I really think Homcha's production elevated this romcom for me, despite the well-worn tropes and dialogue.
❀ Literal flirting since day 1 | I saw this Instagram reel with Du-Sik eye-ing Hye-Jin the day they first met, and one of the comments was like "flirting since day 1." This is accurate. Although the characters aren't officially together until around ep 10, their chemistry is off the charts at first meet! I enjoyed their romantic progression from Du-Sik helping Hye-Jin settle into Gongjin as friends/neighbors into a romantic line between similar but different people learning from each other. Du-Sik opens Hye-Jin's eyes to the charm of a small-town life (be patient with her, as her socioeconomic prejudice is pretty conditioned and it takes her a few incidents to get out of that mentality), while Hye-Jin gets to spoil Du-Sik as this king deserves.
As for the characters themselves, they're both lovable. Hye-Jin is the more flawed one (more comments about this in CONS section), but this makes for excellent character development. She starts off as a snobbish dentist with a sense of justice who's trying to adapt to the sleepy seaside village of Gongjin but ends up really comfortable with this village and its people, despite a rocky beginning. She's a character with strong morals, definitely a sense of what's right or wrong, but is also empathetic (especially to children). I love that she's strong both mentally (thinks over her decisions and makes them resolutely) and physically (doesn't take sexual harrassers off lightly).
Du-Sik is the village chief and handyman. He's hilarious, light-hearted, and doesn't take anything too seriously. One of my favorite introductory scenes is when he pulls out all the licenses/certificates he has as a handyman - LMAO! To be honest I thought this guy was way too perfect - in his house, he pretty much made everything. He woodcrafts, fixes up boats, saves people from harm, delegates jobs, makes his own wine and tea, and everything in between. This man is literally self-sufficient. Underneath that playful exterior is a man plagued by nightmares and a deep-set trauma, which this drama later goes into.
As a couple, we have the uptight and snobby dentist x relaxed and easygoing handyman. You KNOW that's a set-up for cute happenstances, lessons learned, and a slight opposites-attract love story. Love this Sikhye couple! ("Sik-hye" combines their names and is also a sweet wine.)
❀ Superb side characters who are holistically explored | Homcha really dives into the side characters' backgrounds, and each one of them faces something that makes you want to cheer for them. (Also, love the 3 mysterious of Gongjin that the script includes haha.) Some of these conflicts include the difficulties of being pregnant/having children, losing a child, raising a child as a single dad, loss of loved ones, misunderstandings in marriage/divorce, failed careers, and more. Some scenes are heartbreaking, others are heartwarming. The common denominator is that the characters grow and come out stronger, emboldened by their new experiences and lessons learned. I'm in love with the imperfectly perfect villagers of Gongjin!
❀ Happy ending for everyone!! | Seriously, I was smiling the whole time while watching ep 16. Every character you root for in Gongjin gets their happy ending. Their stories felt completed and their endings were so satisfying to watch.

CONS
✕ Don't watch if you dislike romcom tropes | Personally, I loved the cliches that the writers of Homcha used, but I know some people may find it boring (including friends of mine). Others, like me, love the way the drama utilizes these cliches to make you fawn over the couple. Some of these cliches include: coincidential childhood/teen meetings between main couple, (slight) love triangle (although the 2ML takes it very well and finds his own romance later on), ML with mysterious/tragic past, getting saved from a stalker/harrasser, surprise angst towards the end, etc. Honestly though, it wasn't too bad and didn't have tropes I dislike like amnesia or forced separation. All the tropes used had feel-good romcom energy.
✕ Inconsistent character development | As much as I loved Du-Sik and think him a perfect ML, he was TOO perfect sometimes... even the 'flaws' about his mysterious past towards the end (ep 14-15 were the angstier ones) didn't really add depth to his character. He was just perfect from start to finish. Which is fine, I guess? But in contrast, Hye-Jin was imperfect and her character showed it well, which led to satisfying character development later on. In this way, the main couple's character writing felt inconsistent and lacking.
✕ Lack of logic when it came to the "incident" revealed in ep 14-15 | Don't know why the drama decided to use this heavily hinted incident as a point of conflict, but the actual reveal was anticlimactic and made me go "wat." The people who were mad/angry/upset were pretty emotional/illogical when it came to those feelings, and the guilt Du-Sik had was unwarranted. Sure, it added dimension to his character (the trauma leading to issues such as PTSD and survivor's guilt), but the set-up was weak. Very weak. I don't know, there was just this big build-up and foreshadowing and for what? It felt like the writers just crammed those characters/their emotions in for the sake of emotional angst to lead to the finale.
✕ Misunderstanding level: 0/10 | I don't remember any that jump out (feel free to point out any). One thing I liked about this drama is that the main couple is pretty open with their communication (ex: Du-Sik calling out Hye-Jin for her superficial attributes, them saying sorry to each other when warranted, etc). The other villagers had more misunderstandings, exacerbated by the hilarious gossip group, but it was all in good fun.

OVERALL
If you love love, family, and reconciliation, then Hometown Cha-Cha-Cha is the heartwarming romcom you're looking for! However, if the first couple of episodes don't capture your attention, I feel like the rest of the show won't (and this is what I tell my friends who were bored of it). Otherwise, I was in love with it from ep 1 and understand why people call it a "healing" drama. Only good vibes and energy from Homcha!

(Note: My rewatch value is set to 5.0 always as a default as I'm not the type to rewatch dramas EVER. Thus, I do not take it into account when calculating overall score.)

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Low-key shook at how much I enjoyed this drama

The fact that I watched this in a day without fast forwarding,,, that's never happened to me, lol.
There were so many things going against this drama when I first stumbled upon it, and I've been avoiding it ever since. They include:
- Multiple seasons (I get so tired after 30 episode dramas, I don't even know how I could last 3 seasons)
- Time-travel/different lifetimes aren't my jam (I thought this show had reincarnations for some reason (it doesn't), but that also isn't my jam either. After struggling through Eternal Love (TMOPB), I tend to avoid romances in different lifetimes)
- Body-swapping between the FL (at first I was worried they would both fall in love with the ML... nah. That doesn't happen)
- Random YouTube clips of this drama that I stumbled upon were weird (they really didn't do the story justice lmao)
BUT one day I was like "why don't we give it a go?" just because I realized the FL was Liang Jie, who I really liked in The Day of Becoming You (another body-swap!). And y'all... once I started, I couldn't stop.

PROS
❀ Romance, romance, romance | I think I fell in love with this drama because it's wholeheartedly devoted to the main couple's romance. There's a bittersweet secondary romance that's between the other character in the FL's body that I thought would be annoying (not a fan of tragic second couples - cough @ Fake Princess), but I actually enjoyed their storyline and thought it added depth to the whole throne-seeking storyline.
The main couple had excellent chemistry and were so darn cute together. Think, modern-day spunky heroine trapped in ancient times x stoic, doubtful, and suspicious 8th prince who has his hands full with his new wife. Cue the antics!! There's the typical historical cdrama tropes like jealous childhood friend, jealous other prince, fight for the throne, awesome servants of the main leads, plotting/conspiracy, sus empress dowager, and all that jazz. Sometimes I get tired of this court intrigue but I like the way it was written in The Eternal Love! It reads kind of similar to Chinese webnovels, with satisfying face-slaps (they aren't afraid of getting people to die/escape death lmao), one-dimensional villains that our main characters outsmart, and the main leads working together to navigate the conspiracies. We stan a couple team in ancient China!!
❀ The way it mish-mashes different genres | Alright, so I came in knowing about the time-travel into another woman's body, which made it become a historical cdrama, but after ep 20 it turned into a xuanhuan?? It was honestly so shocking and the plot twists got me gasping in bed. I don't want to delve into it too much because I feel like it'll ruin future watchers' enjoyment, but I have to say, as a fantasy lover I REALLY liked where that storyline went. Granted, it made for some lackluster exposition near the end full of dialogue, but it also added so much depth to the story. Shook!!
❀ I kinda liked every character | Whether it was the competent emperor, scheming palace ladies, 14th prince (love him!), ML's bodyguard, FL's maid, and even the other personality sharing the body with the FL,,, I liked them all. At first I kept thinking the other personality was a heartbroken pig teammate (she's more calm and reserved than the FL so it's really easy to see when they switch), but she ends up being pretty understanding and helpful. It's rare in a cdrama where I like all the characters, and I think the way they divided the screentime was perfect and kept me engaged without skipping scenes. (Especially since I'm the type to skip over secondary plotlines just to see the main couple bahaha)
❀ Well-rounded acting from FL | Although Liang Jie's character comes off as more child-ish than what I'm used to (after watching The Day of Becoming You), I was still impressed by the way she handled two personalities. I can tell her acting got better since this drama too! The ML's character was pretty straight-faced the whole time so he didn't really make an impression on me, but boyyyy can he kiss. Ooh lala. I think romantic moments in this drama were leveled up with his directness (heehee).

CONS
✕ It's all fluff/fun, not much depth | If you're looking for complex palace intrigue and twisty schemes, look elsewhere. The politics are fairly simple and, like I mentioned, very reminiscent of webnovels. I haven't read the novel this show was based on, but from my experience historical webnovels and manhua are more about satisfying face-slaps and triumphant main characters than deep schemes. I guess I would define it as "light in historical, heavy in romance, medium in comedy."
✕ Misunderstanding level: 4/10 | ALSO high-key shook at how few misunderstandings happen in this drama. I guess because of the main couple's devoted love for each other, there leaves little room for misunderstandings. I feel like half of this rating comes from the inherent misunderstandings of the plot (eg., confusing Xiaotan with Tan'er), while the remaining half were misunderstandings from noble actions. The best part is that the show resolves them quickly ( a couple of episodes at most) and doesn't use those misunderstandings as major plot devices.

OVERALL
I'm so glad I came in with no (almost low) expectations!! I fell in love with the main couple and can't wait to see how they fare in season 2 (which apparently people like more than season 1, woohoo). I can definitely understand the hype with this drama and recommend it for romance-lovers in general. I love how the main couple stay true to each other from beginning to end, no matter what time, space, or dimension they're in, and despite the complex turns the story takes. Truly an eternal love!

(Note: My rewatch value is set to 5.0 always as a default as I'm not the type to rewatch dramas EVER. Thus, I do not take it into account when calculating overall score.)

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Fast-paced and Cute with a capital "C"

Shanai Marriage Honey was the perfect translation of a shoujo manga into a live action drama. The romance is fast-paced and rushed (especially in the beginning), and while you don't really see the leads "fall in love" with each other, their interactions as they work out being a married couple are sooo Cute.

PROS
❀ If you're in a romantic mood, this show hits the spot | It truly highlights the normal stuff a married couple does, such as acting cute at the workplace, kissing/fade-to-black bed scenes (heehee), and all that romance jazz. I love how because of the length of the show, you don't have to wait HOURS to get to the couples' confession and the lovey-dovey interactions.
❀ Main leads had great chemistry | Wowww this actress has the most adorable smile. I like how the narrative highlights the thoughts of the couple, including their worries and assumptions of being married. The ML is your charming, popular-in-the-office kinda dude, while the FL is a happy-go-lucky, sometimes wily but mostly sweet accountant. They work great with each other and all the romance scenes are sizzling with cuteness and chemistry. Both actors were super nice to look at which is always a plus!
❀ Short length of the show was perfect for me | I'm the type to get tired of 30+ episode shows (and even 30 episodes is a stretch), so Shanai Marriage Honey, at 7 episodes (~25 min each), was sugary sweet, simple, and the perfect length for a quick romance story to love.
❀ Happy ending, of course | How could it not be?

CONS
✕ Misunderstanding level: 2/10 | Very small misunderstandings happen (maybe a couple of them?) and are resolved within the episode, aka within 20 minutes lol. Overall the couple has pretty good communication and the FL especially is pro-active about her feelings. Love that.

OVERALL
It's the perfect, happy marriage kind of show if you're in a romantic mood. Lovable characters and limited cast make for a tight-knit romcom that'll make your heart smile. Plus, it's easily bingeable and won't take too many hours out of your day.

(Note: My rewatch value is set to 5.0 always as a default as I'm not the type to rewatch dramas EVER. Thus, I do not take it into account when calculating overall score.)

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Simple, sweet, and satisfying!

This drama is literally 4 hours long and as the length suggests, goes at an exceptional pace. There's a very limited set and some important scenes are left off screen so the viewers are left to surmise what happened via dialogue. Despite the low effort energy, the storyline was super sweet and if you're looking for a quick fix romance, this one's for you!

PROS
❀ Comedy overload | I swear... this show is funny and no one can argue that. From the second-in-command bandit dressing up as the FL's personal maid to the ML romantically catching the FL after she fell from the roof (and dropping her/injuring his arms in the process), this drama delivers on comedic value. The ML and FL's servants were HILARIOUS (especially the FL's... they really utilized the most out of that actor HAHA) and the added visual/audio effects kept the tone super light and fluffy.
❀ Cute romance | The pairing is mischievous, rough and tough female bandit who likes to cook x scholarly and gentle general's son. They make for a cute pair! The actors had great chemistry and I love their little moments in bed (where they're hugging each other). Also, FINALLY a drama with kissing scenes where the couple closes their eyes while making out. LMAO it always comes off as unnatural when couples keep their eyes open while kissing (as well as uncomfortable). The leads are quick to fall in love with each other and become supportive partners. Yay!
❀ Fun antics with the second couple | The second couple is the general's first son and his wife; both characters are fun/likable and go through minor growth along with our main leads. Seriously, the wife's confrontation with her husband was so satisfying to see and the husband's subsequent romantic deeds was great.

CONS
✕ Falling into tropes | Y'all I can't with the evil second female lead who can't take no for an answer trope... Anyway, this kinda woman shows up in this drama too to mar the story with bad acting (along with her maid, yikes) and dialogue. Not that it's a huge annoyance since you KNOW she won't get her way, but... lmao. Can't believe they added her.
✕ YT subtitles aren't the best | I'm grateful for the subs but they were a lil yikes... you could definitely see syntax/grammar errors and wrong pronouns.
✕ Misunderstanding level: 1/10 | Small ones happen but for like 10 minutes. I kid you not, at the breakneck pace this show goes, misunderstandings are NOT something to worry about.

OVERALL
Simple, sweet and satisfying love story between two leads with great chemistry. I'm a huge fan of the FL (the actress is so pretty!) and her straightforward attitude. Someone on YT commented that she's a mix of the FLs from General's Lady, Chef Hua, and Fake Princess, and I agree.

(Note: My rewatch value is set to 5.0 always as a default as I'm not the type to rewatch dramas EVER. Thus, I do not take it into account when calculating overall score.)

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Adorkable couple + a fight for the throne = light-hearted romcom with court intrigue

Left me smiling and with all the warm fuzzies. I really loved the main couple's chemistry and dynamic (naughty bandit x righteous crown prince), as well as the OST. It's upbeat, cute, lively, and a perfection reflection of the drama.

PROS
❀ Well-casted with an actress I fell in love with | I ended up loving Eleanor Lee's depiction of the spunky, sometimes naughty but mostly well-intended Chang Le. She's a robber and proud to be one; the whole reason she gets embroiled in the crown prince's mess is because she's trying to save her village people. There's less face-slapping in court than I expected from the synopsis and the majority of the plot, when the couples aren't being cutesy with each other, is the fight for the throne between the fifth prince's faction and the crown prince's faction. A lot of old people doing machinations for the young generation, which was funny to see.
❀ Romantic storyline picked up quickly | For the main couple, it happens in the first 5 or so episodes even as the crown prince is mistrustful of CL. She smashes all expectations he has of her (or, Yu Yao, the girl she's pretending to be) in funny ways. For example, he takes her to a casino thinking she would be scared off by the gamblers but she ends up winning a lot of money for him and he ends up forgetting about his 'mission' because he has so much fun. Lol! The second romantic line between Nong Ying, CL's martial artist maid/bodyguard and Gong Sun Mo, Li Che's scholar and strategist, progresses a bit slower but also lovingly. Finally, the last couple of Li Heng (the fifth prince) and Zhu Yan was the typical stuff between two well-read scholars who fall in love through couplets and poetry. I didn't care at all for this couple (more details in CONS section).
❀ Can't say enough about the OST | I thought they did a wonderful job with the music additions, which added depth to scenes (whether it be comedic value, a sense of triumph/romance, or something else). Maybe because the music was very pop-like which appeals to me compared to sorrowful ballads (lmao), but I like several songs in the OST which is pretty rare for me.
❀ Why is the couple so adorkable??? | I loveddd the scenes where LC and CL are just being silly with each other and making kissy faces. All the feels!! I thought the actors had great chemistry together and they were the cutest couple. CL's adorable facial expressions made me cheer for her the whole show, and LC's boyish and charming personality was the perfect match. I know some people complained about wanting more from Li Che as the crown prince, but I personally liked how he wasn't a hypermasculine dude with no emotions. You could really feel the love and loyalty he had for his people. I think "boyish" is a better description than "immature" in his case.
❀ Foreign royalty that DOESN'T get between the couple | I feel like whenever foreign royalty (especially a princess) comes up, the writers are like "Yesss let's bring angst + drama through this poor soul who only has eyes for the ML." Nah, none of that happens here. The foreign princess Ali Ati remains sweet and level-headed throughout the story. We stan women who have self-respect.
❀ The name of the game is damsels NOT in distress | I loved the number of times we saw women characters save the day in this drama. They aren't too over-the-top with it but it's definitely a recurring theme, whether it's CL's mastery in picking locks/figuring out gadgets or NY with her top-notch martial art.
❀ Set costumes have STYLE | Seriously, why did the outfits for the guys (especially LC and LH's) look SO good??? I've been binging historical romcoms this past week and this drama's outfits for the princes are top game.

CONS
✕ The third couple y'all... | I literally have nothing to complain about this drama OTHER than the LH and ZY couple. I thought ZY was fine but basically a useless character the whole story. Like,,, she had no role except being the tragic partner of LH. And LH omg... at first I saw people hating on the couple and I was like "nah I'll give them a chance." WRONG. They spoiled the story for me. Everything is light and fluffy and then a scene with them comes up that's all tragic and shit (as they are on opposite factions in the fight for emperor). Compared to the other witty and fun couples, they are boring and I jumped on the bandwagon and skipped through their lame couplets and encounters. You really can't make excuses for LH's character who spirals because of his love for ZY and does ridiculous things. Throughout the story, he remains weak, indecisive (outside of stuff pertaining to ZY), easily manipulated, immature, and selfish. But even skipping this couple's scenes, you'll still be able to understand the storyline which made me feel better lol. I just don't understand why they got as much screen time as they did. Ooh the only saving grace - good music during their heartbreaking scenes.
✕ Misunderstanding levels | Between the main couple: 0/10. I can't think of a scene where a misunderstanding happened because LC and CL fall in love pretty quickly and are loyal to each other through the end. Even CL's hidden identity gets straightened out without a fallout. Between LC and the dimwit fifth prince: 10/10. Yes, it was for plot purposes, but it made me hate LH even more. What a dumbass.

OVERALL
Everything is perfect EXCEPT the storyline of the third main couple. I could care less for them and they ruined an otherwise wonderful story. With that said, it's still worth watching for the other two couples (especially Li Che and Chang Le... y'all they are so cute I cannot). Historical romcom lovers will like this one!

(Note: My rewatch value is set to 5.0 always as a default as I'm not the type to rewatch dramas EVER. Thus, I do not take it into account when calculating overall score.)

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Modern meets history in this goofy romcom with a lovable cast

I originally watched this because I saw it contained similar elements to The Romance of Tiger and Rose (main couple goes from modern to historical times, FL goes back as a villainess while the actual "heroine" spirals, etc), but I think I like this one more! The historical plot is better written, imo, and the leads are more likable. It probably helped that they started off in a relationship and it only grew throughout the series.

PROS
❀ Loveee the OST and soundtrack | I'm obsessed with the opening song, which is so light and fluffy and romantic and a perfect reflection of the drama's tone. I thought the writers did a wonderful job mixing the historical with modern elements, which showcased for some hilarious scenes (ex: playing Beethoven's 5th on the zither when the cast was trying to join a music competition, dancing the tango for the competition, etc).
❀ Understanding FL and loving ML | Even though in the beginning of the drama, the main couple's relationship was strained due to Tu Si Yi's (the ML) fame as a musician, the FL stayed strong and devoted when she went into the VR game to get him back (and despite a lot of obstacles). I loved her upstanding attitude and thought the actress did a wonderful job with her role. Despite the ML losing his memories for a bit in the drama, you can still see his love towards Zheng Zheng (the FL) even though he doesn't quite understand it. It was sweet seeing him "fall in love" again and their reconciliation when he regains his memories.
❀ Lots of side couples to root for | And the fact that they all get happy endings in the last episode... *chefs kiss* We love to see it. Even the villain (second prince) is more hilarious than evil; you really can't take him seriously. Superficial plus... but all the actors/actresses were gorgeous too hehe.
❀ In general, each episode brought a smile to my face | Seriously, some of the characters' antics were so funny (especially the second side couple with TSY's lil sis and Cui Xun). If you don't take this drama seriously (which you shouldn't, going in), you'll be left with all the warm fuzzies each episode.
❀ Wonderful happy ending in the modern times | In To Get Her, the main couple is trying to get back home ToGetHer (get it?) and make awesome relationships along the way (although technically I guess the rest of the game characters are NPCs, lol). The length of 30 episodes was perfect to keep the plot tight and flowing. It's light-hearted, playful, and features lovable characters.

CONS
✕ VR game details were underutilized | I think the scriptwriters got a little lazy with the video game component. You reallyyy have to suspend reality to let the details for the VR game slide by (which is fine, since this is a romcom and not a scifi, but they could have done so much more imo). After the FL goes into the game and looks at her stats, there's not much "game-related" options that happen. She gets some random skills here and there that didn't add to the plot and the explanation for getting their consciousness back by beating the game was a bit iffy. Not a big deal, but kind of a lost opportunity.
✕ Misunderstanding level: 1/10 | Not much in this drama... I'm adding a point though, for the inherent nature of the plot where the ML lost his memories and wasn't in the know for a bit. There were also small misunderstandings in their relationship in the modern time, which were resolved quickly. None of those "I pushed him away for XYZ" or "she didn't know why I did XYZ for her own good" misunderstandings that last for episodes.

OVERALL
Hilarity + couples you want to root for + low stakes game = fun romcom that'll leave you smiling.

(Note: My rewatch value is set to 5.0 always as a default as I'm not the type to rewatch dramas EVER. Thus, I do not take it into account when calculating overall score.)

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Cute, satisfying, HILARIOUS historical romcom with a quirky cast!

This drama was funny and refreshing - a lovely drama for me to get back into the scene after not watching Asian dramas for a while. It wasn't perfect, but it was the perfect historical romantic comedy - with a happy ending - for me to watch.

PROS
❀ Good acting from male and female leads | Especially the male lead... shEESh, his cheekbones. I enjoyed both the actors and the female lead's facial expressions are super cute and add to the comedic factor in the show. The male lead actor is great at acting cutesy as well while balancing a somewhat darker side.
❀ Goes against the grain of ancient historical settings | In QQ's script, the Huayuan city is a role reversal of ancient China where a matriarchal society exists. (There's this one scene where a woman is like, "Wow, look at how you can see that young man's ankles in public - shameless!!") This absolutely cracks me up and really added to comedic value.
❀ Super cute romance | It's a great balance between the sweet male lead, HS, and the plotting female lead, QQ. They had so many wonderful moments, and the actors did a great job.
❀ I loved the commentary about gender equality | QQ originally writes the script to be pro-female, but ends up discriminating against guys... being in her script, she recognizes that there is no equality when either gender lords over the other. Love the lessons learned!
❀ The bromances were wonderful omg | The servants of QQ and HS... LOVE, LOVE, LOVE them. Their acting and dialogue were top notch and never failed to make me smile and laugh. They were definitely A+++ supporting characters - couldn't have asked for better sidekicks.
❀ Happy ending!! A little too short for my liking, hehe. They wrapped up the "fell into a script" plot tightly (so tight you can't ask questions, but we don't question drama plots right). Soundtrack was nice too (especially the intro music). This was also the perfect length for me at 24 episodes, which I appreciate because it's hard for me to get through 50+ ep dramas.

CONS
✕ The self-sacrificing look is not a great one... | Not gonna lie, QQ was annoying at times. She had good motive for her actions, but it was hard for me to empathize. Also I mentioned before the actress's depiction was super cute, but it got a lil stifling in some scenes. Anyway, I think this con is a reflection of the drama's need to have a plot than anything else.
✕ Dialogue wasn't perfect | There were some scenes, especially in the beginning, where I questioned the logic and motives of characters. It wasn't bad, per se, but surprising to see in a drama with otherwise okay writing. The lesson I learned, lol, was not to take anything too seriously.
✕ Misunderstanding level: 5/10 | I thought this was exacerbated by lazy script-writing but yeah, prep yourself for unnecessary misunderstandings for a couple of episodes in this drama.

OVERALL
I can see why this series is hyped, and I'm fully on board! Like I said, this wasn't perfect by all means, but it WAS a perfect historical romcom with a lovely cast and satisfying ending. Perfect for my tastes!

(Note: My rewatch value is set to 5.0 always as a default as I'm not the type to rewatch dramas EVER. Thus, I do not take it into account when calculating overall score.)

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Supposed to be inspirational but falls flat

First - kudos to the actress/director Jia Ling for managing to lose 100 lbs in a year! I don't blame her for wanting to make money/get popular from it too in the form of a movie. I feel like fans seem to be divided on the whole weight loss stuff but good for her on getting more healthy. A Lululemon deal doesn't hurt at the end of the journey either, lol. So get that bag sis.

For the movie itself:
PROS
❀ Character growth
In the beginning, we see Le Ying essentially get bullied by everyone in her life. She's a people pleaser and thinks about others before herself - even to her own detriment. Her sister walked all over her, her best friend and ex-boyfriend walked all over her (and cheated in the meantime), and even her lover/coach walked all over her in the end. Boxing was the one thing though that she genuinely wanted to do for HERSELF. Getting into that ring and having a sparring session. She stayed strong in that regard and eventually got her goal in the end. One might think that winning the boxing match is her goal, but I think a more subtle - and important - goal is the ability to say no. And I enjoyed how that manifested at the end of the movie.

❀ Decent cinematography
I really liked the filters they used - it almost reminded me of a Wes Anderson color scheme. The shots were done pretty well and the boxing match was great. I heard that they consulted with an actual famous female boxer on that scene and it shows.

CONS
✕ Anticlimactic ending
I know I went off about the character growth lol but I thought the results of the boxing match would have been more... inspirational, I guess. This is probably the American in me lol. You kind of end it with an "all that and for what?" thought. I mean, obviously for the MC's own internal growth. But it makes it less powerful when the physical reality doesn't match the mental. I think maybe, they were aiming for a match like in Rocky where the journey is what matters, not the outcome. Basically if you give it your all then it doesn't matter what happens. But for some reason it doesn't feel as satisfying. Yes, she discovered her self-worth in the end, but I feel like she was so abused/mistreated in the beginning that the trade-off doesn't really match.

OVERALL
YOLO is one of those movies where right after I ended, I was like "this all?" But after sitting with the message, I started to appreciate it more. Is it inspiring? It's supposed to be, yes. It didn't quite reach the mark for me, though, although I can still appreciate the intent.

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Female lead that I ended up falling out of love with...

I initially liked the first 2 ep as it featured a cold and cliche general, funny and outgoing female lead, and lovable side characters (there's side couples EVERYWHERE. At least 4 by the point I dropped the series). I love the romance-centric theme of General's Lady and how the leads fall in love quickly and have great screen time together. BUT. It got a bit boring for me so I decided to read recaps of the rest of the episodes - lol.
Satisfying/sweet ending, but I don't think it was worth it to watch the last 10 or so episodes (especially since I was watching it in 2x speed).

PROS
❀ Sweetly/sickingly romantic | Like I said, there are side couples everywhere lol, and the main couple gets together pretty quickly. (The FL confesses in the first couple of episodes and the ML follows after another couple of episodes. Out of 30 episodes, they are officially a couple with reciprocating feelings in the first 10 episodes.) I liked this deeply romantic plot and how their love was emphasized throughout the story. BUT. At what cost?? (More on that in the CONS section)
❀ Pretty set and outfits | The visuals were aesthetically pleasing.
❀ Satisfying face-slapping | As the drama takes place a bit in the FL's family home, there are some cunning concubines/sisters she has to deal with. I loveee reading about family feuds and seeing the FL overcome abusive households, which happens in this drama. BUT I also feel like the abusers were let off a bit too nicely.

CONS
✕ The trade-off between romance and misunderstandings... | Okay, the thing about the romance is that you have obstacles to overcome romantic conflict, right? There's way too many for me in this drama to continue watching. Most of the conflicts arise from miscommunication/misunderstandings, and after reading recaps of the next episodes I saw it continued down the line. No thank you from this watcher.
✕ Wasn't feeling the 2 leads | I already wrote off the ML in the beginning because he literally has no personality, lol, other than being a military general and loving his wife, but I was super disappointed in the FL. The actress herself was hilarious and, imo, did the role well (she wasn't annoying in the beginning despite her antics), but I got tired of those machinations after 10+ episodes. She's not the brightest bulb, but she's also not dumb. She's just... there. In the beginning, she was quick-witted despite not having many skills and straightforward. As the pair fall in love, she starts scheming behind her husband's back (very inconsequential but also annoying things) and basically not contributing to anything. The bulk of the face-slapping with her own family was initiated by the ML (her plan with the new concubine was a small redemption). She just gave off very classic shoujo anime main character energy. The ML's character is hard to work with already, but the actor's stone-cold face didn't help. His lack of emotions was almost comical, and this stayed true to the end (as I ended up skipping to see the last episode). I mean yeah, he smiled sometimes, but I kinda need more than a couple of smiles to make me like the character... lol. He definitely becomes a devoted general husband, don't get me wrong, but his face didn't match his actions.
✕ Misunderstanding level: 7/10 | There weren't big misunderstandings in the grand scheme of the couple's love but it's still present. Even though the misunderstandings were about small things they were cringey and I had to skip through them. Chinese dramas really love to make use of the "innocuous yet grating for the sake of angst" situation, and this one was no different.

OVERALL
In essence, I had high expectations for General's Lady after the comical first couple of episodes, paired with my favorite tropes. (Tropes being: cold ML/heartwarming FL, FL gets married off to 'demonic' general instead of another girl (Beauty and the Beast energy), FL comes from mean family (Cinderella energy), etc.) BUT I should have known better, because along with those tropes came 2010 drama energy, where the girl is 80% of the time in need of getting saved, and the romantic plotline obliterates most of the characters' common sense. Which is fine! But hun, this was aired in 2020 and at this point of my life I'm ready for better romcoms than what we've had for the past 10 years.

(Note: My rewatch value is set to 5.0 always as a default as I'm not the type to rewatch dramas EVER. Thus, I do not take it into account when calculating overall score.)

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Couples who grow together STAY together!!! and end up saving the country along the way

If I could rewind time to rewatch this whole series again, I would do it right now.

I was so excited for DESTINED I even broke out my rusty Mandarin to try reading the webnovel it was based on (Chang Feng Du, or "Long Wind Crossing") before the series even aired. (Turns out my Mandarin was a bit too rusty lol.)

If you're a fan of:
- a heartfelt couple who goes through THICK AND THIN together to solve problems and save civilians
- intricate political schemes featuring a 3-dimensional, cunning villain who's easy on the eyes
- host of side characters that brighten up the screen
- diverse genres from war time, palace intrigue, business start-ups, to even slice-of-life and rom-com
- and main characters that go through amazing growth throughout the series,
Then this drama is right up your alley!!

PROS
❀ This couple is my new gold standard for historical dramas
No misunderstandings, unnecessary break-ups, and over-the-top arguments/bickering. JUST mutual affection and understanding, riding the same frequency, passionate embraces, staunch devotion, and growing with each other. The ML Gu Jiusi is at first a carefree dandy, but you can see that he's still soft-hearted and caring, which sets his character up for huge potential. The FL Liu Yuru is getting ready for an engagement as per the young ladies of the time period, but in the series she blossoms into more than those expectations. I adored how both leads inspired the other to go beyond what society expected of them. For GJS, it was maturing past his playboy tendencies to become an official that brought peace to the people, and for LYR it was seeking a surprise passion: business.
Their interactions were so sweet! I love how LYR turned her accidental marriage into something productive and pushed her husband out of his comfort level. On the other hand, GJS's open mind and natural intelligence also sparked new drive and passion into his wife's heart. Individually, they became dependable and strong. Together, they were a gold star team.
Their romance took up a good portion of the story and hooks you in with satisfying character development from the get-go. After the first 10 episodes or so, underhanded scheming upends their lives as they grow more into their roles to save the family.
OH! I also loved their kiss scenes :)) not to mention the couple looked gorgeous together.

❀ The side characters had significant depth
I love how the show focused on side characters as much as the main leads. Relationships of all types are featured: romance, bromance, sismance, revengemance (lol?), and more. The biggest shout outs I have are:
- Pan Xuan and General Zhou's bromance: one that transcends beyond official positions
- Zhou Ye x Ye Shian x Gu Jiusi's bromance: I literally pump my fist whenever I see them working together in court
- Liu Yuru x Ye Yun x Qin Wan Zhi's sismance: I love how each of them are capable in different ways (businesswoman, physician, and female general!)
- Luo Zi Shang as the villain and his subordinates: this villain!! He's smart and he knows it. Manipulating everyone everywhere he goes. But with his backstory and how the actor portrays him, you CAN'T help but feel as if he deserved more. Obviously too late with his evildoings, but you can't help but think: "what if?" in terms of his upbringing and situation. One of my favorite villains to date.
- Jiang He, GJS's maternal uncle: another intelligent character with hidden depths. I love how he was introduced and integrated into the story, as well as his role in wrapping everything up.
- GJS's mom and LYR's mommance: lol sismance but they're in-laws. Both strong women in their own unique ways.

❀ Everyone was casted really well
I loved Bai Jing Ting in You Are My Hero and Reset, and he was AMAZING in this historical piece. His facial expressions - especially towards the beginning - were hilarious as he acted as a carefree dandy. Later down the episodes, even though his character matures and starts to command attention both in the palace and on the battlefield, he still retains some of that playfulness. Song Yi's character also grows from a demure lady to a smart businesswoman (after trials and tribulations), and she executes that transformation really well. At first her dub was a bit sweet/sing-songy to me, but I got used to it as it matched her character. Liu Xue Yi as the villain was stellar as well - even though he was super evil I felt for him. I really did. And not just because of his sad backstory and good-looking face, lol.

❀ Really enjoyed the plot execution
Although I know there was deviation from the book, I love how the storyline pans out. I thought everything was revealed naturally and methodically, and the storyline was tight from beginning to end (meaning - no unnecessary fillers). You looking for a Chinese drama with minimal plot holes? You came to the right place. The writers did a great job tying up loose ends, in my opinion. You get to see the outcome of all the major characters and the final conclusion - which did have tragic moments as per unspoken historical Cdrama rule - was ultimately fulfilling. I literally felt like I had withdrawals after I finished the last episode.
As for the plot, we get to enjoy a host of genres: first we see a rom-com background where two seemingly different people end up together. Then, tragedy strikes and they walk through fire together to save their family and rebuild from scratch, lending a slice-of-life feel. LYR is building her business while GJS enters the government as a lowly yamen runner. As he works his way up (literally climbs the official ladder through numerous achievements and plans), we get introduced to war and much more action. Finally, the main leads make it to the capital and the show continues in a palace setting as everything leading up to this moment gets revealed.

❀ Subtle message of female empowerment
I feel like many Cdramas try to push feminist ideals in your face and end up getting a bad rep. DESTINED doesn't have that focus; rather, the feminist ideals are naturally integrated in the story and characters. GJS - literally greenest flag to have ever flown - is open-minded and not afraid to call people out.
- Why would you have filial piety if your father doesn't deserve it? -> A statement he makes that LYR is shocked about, but ends up applying to her own situation.
- Who says that women can't do what men do? -> GJS's message that inspires LYR to find her own passion rather than living for the sake of her husband.
- Women from all sorts of life: from LYR's birth mom to her friend that takes a stand in her hostage situation to the antagonist team's brothel owner who also takes control of her own life, each woman is depicted with quiet strength and resilience.
In terms of female empowerment, this drama does an amazing job in "showing" those ideals rather than just "telling" the audience.

CONS
✕ I can't really think of anything huge under the haze of my overall love for this drama, but some weaker plot points include:
- 2ML/villain's obsession with the FL: I know Asian dramas tend to oversell childhood friends but even the flashbacks weren't strong enough to supplement his attachment to her
- how our main couple never caught a break after they established themselves: it was literally one conflict after another lol. I didn't mind it but I can see why folks get tired after ep 30ish since the series starts dialing up the palace drama and politics.

OVERALL
DESTINED balances multiple genres really well, but at its heart is a young couple who goes through obstacles and end up growing as individuals while saving people. Along the way, they gather a colorful crew of loyal friends who become the pillars of the nation. While the FL and her business does take a step back in the latter quarter to make room for the ML's kingmaker moves in the palace, she still supports and supplements him. At the end of the day, they were certainly destined for each other.

Brb, about to rewatch it now ;)

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Turning your fave cliches into an enjoyable watch

Sisters regressing in historical Chinese settings with switched-weddings ain't a new plot to anyone. But this one is SOLID. Let's face it, these re-used tropes are well-loved for a reason and definitely my guilty pleasure. But who says guilty pleasures always have to be trashy?? THREADS OF DESTINY was stunning, and I didn't even mind the weak plot in favor of likeable leads who kept the pot stirring. Short historical cdramas keep it going!!

PROS:
❀ Kickass FL and an ML who appreciates her abilities | Bruh from the very first 5 minutes you can see how awesome the FL is. She takes no bs from anyone!! She is every viewer's intrusive thoughts when watching those historical cdramas lol. Annoying sister crying and faking in front of parents? SLAP HER JEEZ. And she's smart about uncovering hidden schemes, especially the annoying ones from her sister ugh. ML is a lil irritating at first because of his playboy persona but the FL defff doesn't make excuses for him and you can see his true personality is the type to appreciate her fierceness, lol. Ofc under his playboy persona he's actually quite sharp and protective of her.

❀ Pretty set-up, good acting | No complaints on this end. The leads looked great together and had satisfying chemistry.

❀ Random but I really liked the FL's character in general | Her voice is soothing, her face is calm. She just gives off mature queen from the get-go and stays that way until the end.

CONS:
✕ Actual storyline was all over the place | I'm literally sooo confused how the ML was the crown prince??? Like where tf was the emperor the whole time during the show lol and how was his grandma not Empress Dowager/why were they never in the palace/did I get his role confused? There's a cool plot twist towards the end that was done for dramaticism, no rhyme or reason for a second regression. But I am WEAK for a double regression so they got me there. Also the conflict with Prince Ning was muddled with plot holes but tbh I was barely paying attention to it and threw it in the background (just like the writers did).

✕ FL's sister was annoying af | I was tired of her after scheme #625 and although there's a twist to her character in the end I couldn't be bothered to care lol.

OVERALL
Shawty (our FL) popped off in this minidrama and I was all about it. Watch this if you want to indulge in well-loved cliches but also appreciate a SATISFYING and HAPPY ending with plenty of face-slapping and counterattacks.

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More slice-of-life, please!!

YESSS transmigrating to the past as a stepmother!! While this is a pretty fresh concept in Cdrama-land, I've been reading Cnovels with this premise for years. And you would be surprised how much revenge and action these writers can fit in a "slice-of-life".

A FARMER'S FORTUNE is sweet, cute, and a quick watch at 15-min episodes. That makes the total runtime around 6 hours, which honestly makes it great as a bite-sized piece of enjoyment. We start with our FL in the present, struggling to reclaim her ancestral property from her scheming brother and sister-in-law, and just aggravated with the family rule that properties get handed down to males. So while she's lamenting to her ancestors, of course she knocks someone's altar down and gets transported back in time... as his stepmother?!

This story was so, so, so cute. If you enjoy slice-of-life historical dramas then this will be up your alley. The villains' schemes are countered pretty smoothly but they put up enough of a fight to make the plot engaging. The side characters have heart, and there are unexpected twists surrounding the ML as well. Also I love love love child-raising stories!! It's not too deep in this short drama series but the kids do play a big role in the story and are very likeable as well.

Things to look forward to:
❀ Sweet and hardworking FL who has to turn everyone's opinion of her as an evil stepmother to someone who cares about her kids
❀ Mysterious but supportive ML who ends up respecting (and ofc loving) the FL despite initial wariness
❀ Super cute kids!! And love the character development of the older brother
❀ Silly antagonists who keep the pot stirring
❀ Soft and tender romance with a pretty natural, smooth progression

✕ The only con I would say is a meh ending - it's happy and satisfying but too quick to fully even enjoy before it ends.
BUT honestly since it ends on a good note I can't complain too much.

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Uplifting women's voices and how they don't need no man

Women-oriented show that highlights how past a wife, concubine, and servant's title are mothers, sisters, and daughters who have their own talents, aspirations, and goals.

BLOSSOMS IN ADVERSITY has this theme at its forefront from the initial scene, where a young Hua Zhi saves a ship in a storm by bravely climbing up the mast and letting the sail down. If you're a fan of:
- Wholesome family dynamics
- Cute and angst-free romances
- Intelligent, business-minded FL
- Seeing main characters starting from the bottom and working their way up,
Then this drama is for you!

PROS
❀ Family at that heart of the show
While this show has many other plot points going on (some palace dealings, several romantic lines, etc), at its heart is the Hua family women and their relationships. I thought I would get bored with the family drama, but I think the show did an excellent job in highlighting all the different characters' strengths and weaknesses. I especially appreciated the growth we see in all the women from when they first get kicked out of the capital to when they come back, stronger than ever. At first, they only wanted a man to rely on. With the guidance of Hua Zhi and the Hua matriarch (grandmother), the women started to stand on their own two feet - no men needed. Hua Zhi (FL) leads to family to success by starting various business ventures and gaining allies (and enemies) along the way.
While I was worried all the different characters would be confusing, the family is not that complex and quite easy to follow. They were also quite likeable and thus I didn't find myself fast forwarding past any of their scenes. I feel like it takes great writing to get me invested in heavy family dynamics, and BLOSSOMS IN ADVERSITY hit the mark.

❀ Highlighting the strength of women in different situations
Whether it's with an abusive husband, stuck in a trap of six other concubines, or marrying into a treacherous family, I enjoyed how the show was still able to highlight the perils and obstacles of the various Hua women. While this doesn't mean that everyone has a glorious comeback and comes out victorious (in fact, there are some tragedies that happen), I still appreciated how the show explored the different plights of women during the time period.

❀ Mature(?) romance that is straightforward and sweet
I put mature with a question mark because I'm a bit conflicted in my analysis of the overall romance. At face value, it's very sweet and to-the-point. Gu Yan Xi (ML) encounters the FL after traveling back from the North and is impressed by her lack of fear towards him and intelligent dialogue. He gives her good advice while she navigates her family drama and is a solid shoulder to lean on. The only issue is that his other identity is the Commander of the Security Bureau, which has a deadly reputation. Between the couple, this is *actually* a non-issue as the FL is quite understanding of his double identity and even his confession to his identity (at the ep 20 mark) is met with a calm response (as she had a feeling already). With this regard, I feel like the romance is mature and steady.
The plot point that gives me pause is how the ML handled his inner conflict of choosing the FL vs choosing the emperor (who he sees as a father figure). I feel like we never really get resolution on this from his character, but rather the resolution is forced on us via plot. See, throughout the entire show the ML is the backbone of the emperor's Security Bureau and rooting out rebels, but he's also the FL's companion and supporter. Towards the end the emperor kind of makes him choose between the two by giving the FL a hard time which becomes the core of the break-up (happens at ep 33, but they get back together in ep 36 also it was a soft break-up anyway lol). I never felt like the ML took a solid stance in this regard which makes me hesitate to say this is a *mature* romance - rather, the writing makes it so there aren't huge conflicts between the leads.
HOWEVER, I did like the candid dialogue that Hua Zhi and Gu Yan Xi had about not having misunderstandings/miscommunications. So that is certainly a point towards the maturity. (And every drama should have that convo!!) I guess I'm just flip-flopping in my analysis lol.

❀ Awesome fight scenes
One of the reviewers said the ML had fists of fury and they weren't wrong!! Lol while there weren't many action-dominated scenes, the few that were there were all stellar. Especially the choreo for the ML - his punches got me cheering him on. Of note, I thought the assassin x cooking competition scene in ep 28 had fire filming and execution.

❀ Rare moment where I LOVED the music
The opening theme immediately got me HOOKED. It's so triumphant, adventurous, and catchy. Whenever that theme came on I knew something good was gonna happen in the story, lol. I also like the reprise they made of the theme that's purely instrumental. It was giving Bridgerton vibes and just added to the overall atmosphere.

❀ The way everyone started coupling up around the ep 30ish mark
It was so cute what the heck!! Everyone was so easy to root for and it made the overall happy ending very satisfying to see.

CONS
✕ Weak palace drama
While I enjoyed how the palace drama gave us a chance to see more of the ML's backstory and ACTION(!!), the overall plotline was weak and felt nonsensical. At some point I was just waiting for the emperor to d*e so that anyone(!!) could take the throne after him. For real. I feel like this weak palace plot exacerbated my side-eye at the ML because I wasn't convinced he had to be as loyal to the throne as he was. The final conflict wasn't even instigated by our leads, they just had a (helping) hand in it. Because of the ML x emperor loyalty though, I didn't feel as if the ML had time to grow. Like, he "made his own decisions" in certain scenes towards the end but it wasn't as resolute as it could have been, since he was still juggling both sides (his lover aka the FL vs the emperor aka his father figure) towards the very end.

✕ ML frozen face
I expected this going in but it's actually so noticeable it's funny. The ML actor (Hu Yi Tian) is TALL and HAWT, don't get me wrong. Major eye candy. And his smiles make everything worth it. The only problem is his stoic face for 97% of his screen time. I *feel* like the actor was trying to do some micro-expressions with his eyes, but I wasn't really seeing it. Will eye candiness (I mean come on, he looks SO good with that curly flowing hair) make up for frozen face syndrome? It will for me. I feel like the writers did well with making his actions speak for themselves.

✕ Misunderstanding level: 0/10
ML has hidden identity but it wasn't a huge misunderstanding or major issue.

OVERALL
This drama will leave you with all the warm, fuzzy feelings. ALL the characters (except the emperor who is shown to be cowardly from the get-go) are immensely likeable and fun to watch. You'll fall in love with not only the main couple and their stalwart support of one another, but also the beautiful female relationships that blossom in this drama. I feel like Zhang Jing Yi (FL actress) always does a great job with strong FLs and this historical piece was no different. I guess she does step into Mary Sue territory at times, but she also learned from her elders quite a bit (especially towards the beginning) to get her foundation set up. Nonetheless, BLOSSOMS IN ADVERSITY truly highlights the power of family when worst comes to worst, and how one can utilize that love and power to climb back from adversity.

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