summerfancy

The fun continues!

So many C-dramas start off good and then falter in the middle as amusement turns to serious drama , but that's not the case with 'Please Don't Spoil Me'! It continues the fun it started in Season 1...probably because the short episodes necessitate a fast-moving storyline, which keeps things light and amusing. The expressions and actions of the supporting cast members are hilarious as well as FL's clever schemes to continue her quest to remain at the Cold Palace. ML, on the other hand, is trying everything in his power to get her out of it and into his vicinity since at this point, he's thoroughly besotted with her. He does manage to get in some quality romance time, which begins to sway our intrepid heroine, but with the threat of elimination hanging over her, she's continues to resist his wiles. However, with the appearance of the heroine of her novel, she starts to feel some pangs of jealousy even as she's determined to matchmake her two protagonists together. This angers ML - and rightly so! He looked so hurt when he discovers her plot! Awwww!

I'm really looking forward to Season 3, but I'm on pins and needles as to how the writer is going to keep these two together...please, please keep them together at the end! At one point, the ex-heroine doctor discovers that ML has something wrong with his body, which he requests that she keep secret, even from FL. Soooo, is this going to have something to do with how FL (and ML) depart her novel? It seems to me that she's going to have to depart. A person can't stay conked out in reality forever. So, the question is - will ML go with her or will he appear in real life? Argh, the suspense is killing me!

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Pretty typical

First off, these C-drama 'shorts' have much worse acting than what you'd find in your typical 45 minutes, 40+ episode C-drama so you've got to approach them with that in mind. There was a handful that have fairly decent acting, such as 'Campus Ace', 'Here is My Exclusive Indulge', 'My Dearest Boss' and episodes 1-2 of 'Please Don't Spoil Me'., but most have bad acting, especially in the supporting cast. I would place the acting in this drama somewhere in the middle - FL's parents are terrible as well as her bestie that slept with her boyfriend. The love rival - it wouldn't be a C-drama without one - is so-so. FL & ML are by far the best actor/actress, but don't except to see them starring in a high budget drama any time soon, ok?

The storyline is pretty typical as well. FL standing in as bride for a runaway twin sister. ML apparently wanted to marry the sister (not a forced marriage on his part, I guess), but he also can't seem to figure out - at least not right away - that he's got the wrong chick. Yeah, that's a real deep love there, isn't it? But he's not a dummy. He's slowly putting things together and noticing differences. Question is - did he want to marry the sister or the girl he slept with at the very beginning? And why the hell was he hanging around the bar/hotel for the drunken FL to basically fling him on the bed and have her way with him? I guess these questions may be addressed as the drama progresses.

I don't really care about the bitchy bestie who slept with FL's boyfriend. Nor do I really care about the runaway sister who, no doubt, will reappear with second thoughts. I don't really care about the love rival except for the fact that she's typical - obsessed with ML and determined to have him to the point that she pretends she slept with him while he was drunk and is now supposedly pregnant by him. That's where episode 12 ended. I hope since the drama is blissfully short that this stupidity passes quickly. Morale of the story - don't get so drunk that you can't remember what you did the night before! I will be interested to know how quickly she pulls out the prenatal ultrasounds - within a day? A week? A month? Two months?

I'll update with further comments as the drama progresses. Although it's bad in many ways, the FL/ML are engaging enough to keep me interested in their story, old and worn out as it is.

UPDATE at episode 18: Only thing I have to say is - he's supposedly a powerful CEO with unlimited investigative resources yet it takes his wife to clear his name when it came to a fake pregnancy claim by the psycho actress? Why was FL sneaking around outside the doctor's door, listening to psycho actress's conversation and alerting another doctor to catch this unethical doctor instead of ML's secretary or hired henchman?

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A delightful, sexy threesome

Finally, a Chinese historical that managed to tell a complete story in 16 episodes! Once they cut out all the interfering emperors, evil concubines/queen mothers, obsessed love rivals and palace intrigue, they were able to produce a drama that had just enough intrigue to be interesting, contained plenty of cute/romantic/sexy moments and, most importantly, didn’t fatigue the viewer. Bravo! Let’s hope more C-dramas follow this template rather than the one they’ve been using for years. UPDATE: Nooooo! I spoke too soon. Apparently, there's a sequel coming, and no doubt, it'll probably be angst-filled. I think I'll just skip it and end the story with them going off to war or whatever. They could have easily ended the entire series at episode 16 - General #2 was gone, off doing whatever he does, and MC was happily married. No need to further screw up this couple's life, ok?

Although I can't praise this drama enough, I’ll admit that this drama wasn’t perfect - there were a few scene editing issues, which created unanswered questions like how did ML come back to life after the witch doctor declared him dead or how did FL and SML get out of the water cage, but those things can be overlooked if the storyline doesn’t drag or become overly angsty around mid-way point. I’m honestly sick to death of delusional, obsessed female love rivals, forced political marriages and concubines. Yes, yes, FL was forced to marry in the beginning by imperial decree, but the forced marriages I’m talking about are those in which ML is being pressured by parents/emperor to marry an obsessed female. I have no problem with arranged marriage plots between ML/FL.

That being said, there is a love triangle in this drama, but it's so different than other C-drama love triangles. FL was not partial to either man until later into the series. She seemed to like both equally, and even leaned toward SML after their experience in the water cage. I’m so glad that she didn’t ‘friend zone’ him immediately, and the viewers were given some breathless, heart-pounding moments between her and Fang Xian Xun. I’m glad she took her time deciding which fellow she wanted to be with, and I liked her comment to her friend/sister, Ling, about having concubines. I agree – if men can have concubines, why not women? It’s clear she liked both men, and I’m all for the threesome she imagined and the drama gave us when 1) they were drunk and she was sandwiched between them in bed; and 2) when the earth vine tied them together. So cute! So sexy! So suggestive of a 'threesome', which I've not seen any other drama be brave enough to incorporate into a plot. There were a lot of sexy/suggestive moments with both men, letting us know she was attracted to both. Glad SML actually got a fighting chance and was actually preferred briefly. So tired of SML always getting friend-zoned and not given a chance to compete. I think it’s more realistic for the FL to be torn between the two (rather like us, the viewers!), especially if both are great guys.

It was also interesting how the drama tried to keep the identity of her husband a mystery. Of the two men, I personally preferred SML because he’s my type (sort of a rascal, and I loved his long bangs – boy, did he ever look hot when his hair was wet from a bath!), and of the two generals, I think he’s the more dangerous because he’s deceptively easy-going. He hid his ruthlessness behind a light-hearted smile. ML was much more serious and straightforward, although he certainly wasn’t above using deception to achieve his goals. Actually, I think she should have been paired with SML; ML just seems to mature for her in both looks and demeanor. Don't get me wrong - I liked him - but they just 'look' like an odd couple.

I was relieved there were no female love rivals even though ML’s cousin pretended like she and ML were going to be married in order to help hide his whereabouts. It was a brief moment, and the viewer knows it’s not true so only the FL experienced any angst over it. There was one thing that annoyed me – how everyone was hiding the fact from FL that she’d been poisoned. Just tell her! It’s not like she was the shrinking violet type of female that would have dissolved into a million pieces at the news. Just a pet peeve of mine – keeping the truth from someone in order to ‘protect them’ – dramas do a lot of that kind of thing, and it’s super irritating.

Because this drama was relatively short, there was no secondary couple romance. Even though Director Liu had a crush on Ling, it didn’t overwhelm or take away from the triangle going on between FL and the two generals. This lack of a secondary romance kept the drama moving and blissfully short compared to most C-dramas.

Overall, it was a light and amusing Chinese historical that managed to add some intrigue without being blogged down with an overload of villains, which most viewers wish would just drop dead and leave MC alone. It was much sexier than the average C-drama with its prolonged stares, bared skin and intimate touching, not to mention the ‘threesome’ thing that provided the sizzle.

You won’t be wasting your time watching this drama. I hope more Chinese historicals will follow this template in the future – keep it short like the Koreans at 16 episodes and eliminate, or drastically reduce, all those elements that drive viewers crazy. There's going to be a sequel, but at least, they ended in a way that you don't have to watch the Season 2, if you don't want to.

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Review for both Part 1 & Part 2

Ah, the heartache that revenge brings! You’ve got to wonder why it’s such a popular pursuit in the Asian culture when it causes so much angst. Yep, that’s right. This is another revenge-based drama, specifically ML is out to avenge his family that was annihilated during some past incident. And a whole bunch of other characters are also engaged in petty revenges and grievances that ultimately become their downfall. These people really need to learn the art of forgiveness. They’d lead much happier lives. Well, let’s get started.

First off, this drama is way, way too long at 56 episodes, and it could have been shortened by eliminating a few characters. We have to watch so much extra stuff with these side characters, and honestly, it’s difficult trying to remember who is who, especially when the princes and princesses are added to the mix. The first 3 episodes are brutal a.k.a. boring as we’re introduced to FL’s family. We have to listen to Grandma Sheng wailing – I recommend ear plugs – and watch ‘never happy with her daughter’ mom show unabashed favoritism toward Yang Yang while scolding and punishing FL. Granted, FL is a sly girl, but she’s only mimicking the behavior she's seen from her granny and 2nd aunt who raised her (if you can call it that). There’s very little romantic interaction between FL and ML in the first 15+ episodes (unless you call removing an arrow from a dude's well defined pec romantic) so we've got us a slow burn romance here. Oh, he’s smitten right away, but FL isn’t interested in him. Instead, we get the story of her first love with the puppy-like A’Yao. ML watches longingly from afar while SML, Yuan Shanjian, watches with sour expressions and snarky comments. The 2nd half of the drama, starting at episode 28, we watch this odd couple (Ling Buyi & Niao Niao) gradually grow closer, but it’s not until the final two episodes that they become a cohesive pair, in the sense that they're finally communicating and working together as a unit. They're finally walking side by side.

Mixed into their relationship progression, we’re treated to a lot of bullying by the cocky chicks, some political intrigue as ML continues to pursue his revenge and, thankfully, some cute moments and subtle humor. I think one of the best things about this drama is that the villains get justice applied fairly quickly. 3rd Princess, 5th Princess as well as the old hag, Princess Ruyang, get their just desserts after only a few episodes of bullying, and honestly, it’s fun to watch these characters go down. With 5th Princess’s takedown, ML also applies discipline to the fathers/brothers that spoiled the girls who assisted 5th Princess in her bullying. I cheered and laughed heartily! Parents who don't discipline their children are largely responsible for that child's bad behavior so yes, they ought to suffer the consequences along with the child. Just an aside, during the bullying of FL by 5th Princess, a snake is released into the pond. Honestly, I think the snake would have swam the other way instead of pursing and biting FL. Most animals just want to get away from humans. Just saying, ok?

Comments on ML – he’s the poster child for the phase ‘still waters run deep’. Most of the time, he looks like a stone statue yet it’s clear that he has some very intense emotion raging beneath those abs of steel for FL. It’s a very subtle change of expression when she appears, but it’s clear he’s smitten with her, and he’s also quite forthright about it. He even tells her earlier on that he admires her. He’s definitely a frightening sort of fellow – I believe it was FL’s dad who says ML gives him chills – and it takes FL (as well as the viewer) quite a while before she starts opening up and drawing closer to him. This is a result of his overall ‘aura’ (he's like a tightly wound spring of steel, if you ask me) as well as her personality. I didn’t love ML like I did Dongfang Qing Cang in ‘Love Between Fairy and Devil’, but I appreciated him and wanted this lonely, intense soul to get the only woman he’d ever love. Unfortunately, fallout from his revenge causes him to lose her for five years (thank God for time jump or it would have been another 20 episodes!). So, how are you enjoying that revenge now, ML? Feels real satisfying, doesn't it? You chose revenge over love, and now, you're trying to kill yourself on the Northwestern front. But dang, he looks hot with that unbound, wild hair! I hope people watching this film will learn that revenge isn't sweet at all. You might feel satisfied for an instant, but it doesn't last, and you're back to hating the world again. One last comment on ML – this guy drives a massive carriage! It’s the ancient equivalent of a Cadillac, the Batmobile or maybe even a tank! I don’t think even the emperor drives such a huge carriage.

FL – it was difficult to like her at first because she is scheming and sly. It wasn’t until episode 8 when she punches the bullying bitch, Wang Ling, in the face that I started genuinely liking her. I get so tired of FLs who just take the bullying instead of fighting back. Then her cleverness in rigging the bridge to collapse with those idiot girls was amusing as well – although doing something like that in real life would be very dangerous. We also see her enacting payback on both 3rd Princess and 5th Princess, the latter leading ML to feel hurt because she didn’t confide her troubles to him. Basically, she’s the type of girl that solves her own problems, and she doesn’t easily put her trust in others because of her family experiences. This, as well as general immaturity, is what her character overcomes as the drama progresses. Her final hurdle is learning how to forgive ML for what she considers the greatest sin of all – abandonment. Just a note: ML really has no moral ground to be hurt for her not confiding in him - he's keeping a lot of secrets from her as well. He was definitely wrong to not share his burden with her, and he was damn scary looking after the massacre, but after five years, you'd think she would have softened a bit, but no, she continues on being righteously stubborn. Heck, I'd be more upset about the massacre than his so-called abandonment.

For a few brief moments, I wanted her to go ahead and accept Yuan Shanjian, our grumpy but patient scholar. He was the last man standing of her trio of admirers, and honestly, I think they were better suited in temperament. I could just imagine them sniping at each other into old age. But, I couldn't damn ML to a lonely life. He was too pitiful a character. So, I was glad in the end that she didn't accept Yuan Shanjian.

Crowned Prince & wife - poster children for why people should be allowed to marry who they want to marry instead of being forced to marry someone else. It's even worse when one or both are in love with other people. Business/political marriages are a stupid tradition in any culture and should be done away with. Now if the children want an arranged marriage, then go ahead and arrange it but don't force them! Thankfully, the multiple wives thing has gone by the wayside; all it does is cause power struggles and discontent among siblings.

Best characters:

1) The Emperor – finally we get an emperor who has a sense of humor and doesn’t act like an absolute tyrant. He was approachable, reasonable and kindly. In many ways, you could say he’s been too lenient since he’s got a pack of rotten kids. He’s also willing to let ML chose his own bride. He nagged, but he didn't force. Honestly, he just wants him to marry; he doesn’t care who she is. The Emperor adds a lot of humor and warmth to this drama. I loved him despite having two wives.

2) Qi Qi – FL’s friend and future sister-in-law. She’s not the typical dingbat bestie. She’s got spunk without being annoying.

3) ML’s chubby sidekick guard, A’Fei. He just provided a lot of humor.

4) Prince Ruyang, the unfortunate husband of Princess Ruyang. He’s so funny because he wants to be rid of his loud, mean-spirited, arrogant wife. I was glad to see him stand up to her bullying for once in his life.

5) Consort Yue – I loved her cynical observations, her disgust with annoying family members and the smackdowns she provided to everyone who needed one. She was the complete opposite of the Empress who was kind to all.

Worse characters:

1) FL’s mom – this woman is a disgrace to motherhood. The best thing I can say about her is she wasn't loud or scheming; she was just overly stern and critical. She shows obvious favoritism towards Yang Yang and is continually disappointed in her daughter. She even runs her daughter down in public with the excuse that she was trying to save her from an engagement with ML. This was such a humiliating scene for FL - to listen to your own mother agreeing with the bullies! Even when FL does something noble (I'll die with the family rather than get special treatment bc of my engagement), mom still isn't happy with her and slaps her. This mom continually uses the same failed methods to discipline her daughter rather than using warmth and acceptance like the Empress, who basically becomes the mother the FL never had. Under the Empress, FL begins to blossom and flourish as her strengths are praised and her faults gently corrected.

2) 90% of all the female characters. This drama is packed full of bitchy, cocky and sometimes delusional women (those who thought they had a chance at marrying ML) that you want to slap. Also, wailing old ladies that split your ear drums - so annoying! By contrast, 90% of the male characters were likeable, which makes me wonder if this is a true reflection of Asian women, or if this is sexism that views men as poor, suffering creatures and women as devils straight out of Hell.

I didn’t like this drama as much as 'Love Between Fairy and Devil', mostly due to its length, so many side characters, and I guess, for me, Orchid and Dongfang Qing Cang were just a more romantic, loveable couple - but despite that, there were a lot of enjoyable scenes so you won’t be wasting 56 hours of your life, if you decide to watch. Also, I think I liked the message of the Fairy/Devil better since it was a message of overcoming hatred with love. I'm not big into revenge-based dramas because I think in the end, revenge only brings more suffering so it's better to forgive. The message I got from this drama is revenge is ok, but make sure you include your woman/man in your plans or they might get pissed at you and make you suffer for five years (or forever as FL was intending to do).

Although the music was mainly instrumental, it was quite beautiful and emotionally stirring.

My one disappointment - I wish we could have seen them married and living together in the house she built along with a couple kids. Maybe a scene showing them playing zither and flute. That, for me, would have been a more satisfying ending.

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An apologetic for cheaters

To me, this film spent too much time justifying the cheater (Gio) and making Cali (FL) out to be the bad guy (girl) because she didn't want to trust him again and take him back. Sure, go ahead and forgive him but don't give him a second chance to hurt you all over again, girl. Just say, 'I forgive you, but I don't want to see your face again.' No, not all men are cheaters, but this guy really did cheat, and I don't care if he was drunk or not. He was just downright stupid to begin with because 1) he hired this shank of a manager and 2) he got so drunk he slept with her. He KNEW Cali had a cheating dad yet he was stupid enough to place himself in a situation that's ripe for betrayal. What a dumbass. Yeah, when they meet again, he appears to have cleaned up his act (although he still has the bad influence of his cheating father and brothers, and uh, does he have a job?), but trust has already taken an fatal blow, in my opinion. Then early on, she's being pressured by all these fans of her blog to forgive him and take him back like she's the bad guy. I just don't like the message given out by this film or the way that FL's made out to be the villain. Why does this film remind me of that song by Gareth Gates 'Anyone One of Us', which is basically an apologetic for cheating? It's a great song in terms of sound, but it gives out a terrible message just like this film. And to make things worse, she's running after him at the end of the film as though, once again, he's the victim and she's the perpetrator. Don't waste your time on this one, especially if you're a person who, like me, draws the line at cheating. Yeah, people can change (which seems to be the theme of this drama), but why waste your time with a guy who has cheated when there's other men out there who won't?

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I've never connected so much with any other C-drama

I didn’t think it was possible, but this C-drama rivals anything I’ve seen in a K-drama, and I almost missed this gem! I wasn’t going to watch because the storyline revolved around an actor/actress, and I’m not crazy about celebrities, in fiction or real life. However, on whim, I started watching, and I was quickly hooked. Although the plot is based on ML getting amnesia after a car accident (an overused plot device) and thinking he’s the character he just played, it was fresh, interesting and an absolute delight to watch. It’s more like a split personality rather than true amnesia, and like FL, I dreaded the day that ML returned to his true self. The Grand Tutor was…I don’t know how to describe it…he was unbelievably perfect and absolutely adorable. It’s like every woman’s dream – her favorite fictional character coming to life and falling in love with her! The romance was heart-squeezingly good (brought tears to my eyes), and it didn’t rely on the usual, worn-out, predictable tropes/cliches to do so. The chemistry between these two leads was palpable. Now to the characters themselves.

Since I started watching Asian dramas, my all-time favorite ML was Ah Min Hyuk in ‘Strong Woman Do Bong Soon’ played by Park Hyung-Sik. No other character/actor have come close to dislodging him from #1 position and certainly not any Chinese ML, although Gu Yanzhen in Arsenal Military Academy and Zhou Chuan in Moonlight came darn close. Now, however, Min Min has to move over and share his #1 rating with the Grand Tutor/Mu Ting Zhou played by Jeremy Tsui. I absolutely loved this ML, and I don’t say that about a lot of Chinese MLs. The actor did an outstanding job bringing this character to life. This character was quirky and eccentric, making him a delight to watch! I loved how when acting as FL’s assistant, he carried around an umbrella as though it were a sword and wore his sunglasses on the back on his neck like a modern-day fella. He was always so respectful and caring toward his ‘princess’, and he shared some pretty hot kisses with her around episode 15 (sorry, can’t remember the exact episode). He brought so much dry humor to the series as both the Grand Tutor and Mu Ting Zhou. Really, he was the ‘COM’ portion of this Rom-Com since he was the only one providing any humor. Yes, he did break FL’s heart when he regained his senses (make sure you have a tissue box handy for eps. 21-22), and briefly became a cold-hearted bastard (worse than when we first met him), but by episode 23, he's had time to process what occurred and starts to feel curious about it. As a result, we start seeing his 'cuteness' again, especially at the start of ep. 24. Although it was painful to watch, from Ming Wei's perspective, could the real guy ever compete with the Grand Tutor at this point? Did she really want to remain in the relationship when the Grand Tutor was essentially dead? Mu Ting Zhou had some big shoes to fill.

As for FL (Ming Wei), at first, I didn’t care for her because I didn’t like how she looked with the dynasty hair style, but as the drama progressed, I warmed up to her. I liked her quiet, calm and mature nature, especially for a 23 year old. She wasn't childish or cutesy like a lot of C-drama FLs. Never once did she dissolved into baby talk, pout or 'hmpf'. She was nice, but unlike a lot of C-dramas, she wasn’t bullied by the other characters because of her niceness. Yeah, we had a couple of bitchy side characters, but she didn't take their crap (even told Xu Lin she'd kick her butt), and their harassment wasn't overdone like in other dramas. Ming Wei was sweet and kind, the perfect stereotypical fairytale princess. She maintained this sweet, honest, kind and mature air throughout, and I really connected with her dilemma and heartache. I wept with her at the Grand Tutor's departure.

I even liked and was interested in the second couple (Xiao Zhao & Ming Qiao). FL’s sister was spunky but not loud or annoying like a lot of C-drama besties. I liked her encouragement to FL to be brave and seek happiness while it’s there. I agree. You’re inevitably going to be hurt when Mu Ting Zhou recovers his memory so does it matter if it’s now or later? Just enjoy the Grand Tutor’s love while he’s with you. That’s essentially her sister’s advice. Carpe Diem!!! The drama didn’t focus too heavy on the second couple (until the 2nd half) so I didn’t fast forward through their screen time. Their romance and MC's were well balanced. I also liked the support these two provided to ML & FL. And three cheers for Xiao Zhao hammering home a few truths MTZ needed to hear about his responsibility in regards to Ming Wei's heartbreak.

Being a C-drama, we couldn't quite escape the perquisite drama devices, but they were toned down unlike other dramas that overdo the angst. Be prepared for the following:

1) Xu Lin - the childhood friend who's obsessed with MTZ. This chick is apparently older than both FL and her sister yet she's the one acting like a childish, spoiled brat. The men in her life apparently doted on her too much, and she's pissed when Ming Wei threatens her queen bee status. All Xu Lin brought to the drama was, well, a bunch of drama. The storyline didn’t need her, in my opinion, but Chinese scriptwriters seem to think we always have to have an obsessed female love rival to annoy the viewer. I was not at all upset when dad slapped her at one point; she needed some sense knocked into her.

2) Parental opposition on ML’s side to marriage while he was still the Grand Tutor, but in this case, I can understand their concern. What happens when MTZ wakes up and finds that he’s married to FL? It’s a valid concern, but the parents could have voiced their complaint in nicer terms instead of going bat crap crazy. Second couple also experienced parental opposition bc of parents backstory. I believe FL's mom and Xiao Zhao's dad's connection was added purely to cause angst for 2nd couple.

3) A scandal. Ming Wei suffers the fallout of MTZ regaining his senses, which affects her career until friends and an unlikely ally rescue her. Honestly, if I were a fan, I would be more upset that they broke up since they were a storybook couple that you love seeing together. I'd be ragging on MTZ, not Ming Wei, but in these dramas, it's always the female that suffers the most in these media scandals.

My favorite scene was when ML/FL were getting married in episode 28. I loved the traditional dynasty procession down the street with FL/ML family and friends watching and waving while that wonderful song 'By Your Side' played. It was as if their characters (the princess and Grand Tutor) were finally getting a happy ending as well. (FYI - if Grand Chief Cabinet Minister was an actual drama, I wouldn't have watched it. I hate tragic endings. The last two episodes appear to be that story told in its entirety - all the clips you see in other episodes come together into a short drama.)

Finally, the music was fabulous! It really boosted the emotional connection between characters and viewer.

If I could give this drama 20 stars, I would. Yes, it could have been shorter, but for once, I didn’t get fatigued midway, and I was sorry to say goodbye to the Grand Tutor and his princess. Just wish we'd been able to see the birth of Mu Ming and his sister.

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Perfect ROM-COM

Don't listen to the bad reviews unless you're looking for a complicated plot with twists and turns. I absolutely loved this Rom-Com because it was exactly that - a Romantic Comedy that's heavy on the romance with some comedy provided by the supporting characters. It's a very satisfying watch for those looking for a simple, uncomplicated plot where romance is at the premium and misunderstandings at a minimum. In many ways, it's a typical Cinderella plot complete with a parent trying to push ML into marrying a girl of the parent's choice (aka business marriage). But unlike dad, ML cares more about his woman than the business. Bravo! Loved this guy! Every threatened misunderstanding is quickly cleared up in the next episode because ML has a backbone and isn't about to let his dad chose his wife, and FL is a sensible girl who has confidence in their love as well as herself. Nothing shakes this couple once together, and it's delightful to watch. The only thing I would have changed is ML handing the King Hotel over to his sister and he and FL running the hotel she was banished to and he later bought. I would have preferred that to her buying her own B&B, but you know, women have to be independent of men these days. But, anyway, this is a wonderful light-hearted Rom-Com with plenty of swoonworthy moments. You don't have to worry about being annoyed by scheming SFLs or tyrannical parents getting the upper hand, because ML isn't the type to put up with it. He's perfect although he's a bit grumpy at first...but I have a weakness for grumpy MLs...if he had had glasses, I would have actually swooned.

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Best C-drama of the year!

This drama was outstanding! Never once did I get bored; I watched every scene without fast forwarding – every detail is important, and there’s a lot of detail, which makes rewatching a must. The storyline was gripping and engaging even though it’s the old star-crossed lovers’ plot; only instead of warring families, it’s warring tribes. Most of all, the acting was top-notch, especially by Dylan Wang. This ML shot to the top of my ML Hall of Fame to share top honors with Ah Min-Hyuk of ‘Strong Woman Do Bong Soon’ and Grand Tutor of ‘Be My Princess’. Additionally, the OST was emotionally powerful and the special effects/idyllic setting visually beautiful. Although I didn’t understand a lot about what they were saying – I’m not into primordial spirts, etc. – I was still engaged and understood the basic plot. There were a lot of great messages too about how love overcomes hatred as well as other sins. So, let’s get started on the characters themselves.

ML (Dongfang Qing Cang) – he was just badass cool, especially in the earlier episodes as he’s kicking butt with his hellfire. It’s amazing how Dylan Wang could look supremely cold yet dangerously intense at the same time. When he rescued FL from the fairy interrogation in ep 9, all I can say is ‘WOW’! He kicked butt, both old nastypants, the High Wizard or whatever he was, and Changheng’s. Then when he took the rest of the lightning bolts for that bratty brother, another ‘WOW’! I did enjoy him lightening up a bit when he was playing Orchid, but he was best as the badass Supreme Moon. His dream scene in ep 31 was beautiful yet tear-jerking at the same time. He also managed to provide a bit of comedy/cuteness with his grumpiness – especially when they were in the mortal world. I liked how he softened after FL restored his love tree, but he was better as the badass, and the badass returned as he's preparing for his final battle with the evil god.

FL (Orchid) – she was naïve and sweet yet smart and courageous at the same time. Nobody else dared talk back to the Supreme Moon like she did, and I loved when she stood up to Danyin and the other fairies who tried to bully her. I especially loved how ML secretly helped her throw them on their butts during the exam. I literally cheered. I get so tired of seeing FLs just accept the bullying. She was the perfect FL to warm up ML’s love tree. That being said, I didn’t care for her as the Goddess in the last few episodes. Like ML and Changheng (he didn’t seem particularly happy with the change either), I wanted my sweet, bubbly Orchid back. I’m glad at the end, the Orchid we all fell in love with returned to greet ML home.

Second couple: it’s rare for me to be interested in SCs, but I was interested in the Black Dragon and Jieli’s relationship. My only complaint is I wish we’d seen Shang Que in his dragon form more often. It was nice to see the female bestie as a deceitful character needing redemption rather than the typical dingbat.

Changheng was the perfect SML, but at no time did I ever prefer him over ML. I’m glad that he didn’t accept Danyin’s feelings in the end. I’m glad they became friends instead. Not everyone needs romantic love for a happy ending.

The characters I disliked the most: 1) ML’s bratty brother. He was never happy; he was continually whining and causing problems; 2) those Moon people wailing on and on about those 100,000 soldiers instead of considering the burden it placed on ML; and 3) – that hypocritical and merciless brother of Changheng. He was always saying how bad the Moon people were, but he wasn’t much better in terms of behavior/character. He was just as hateful as the Moon tribe.

I liked how the screenwriter avoided a lot of the typical plot devices such as an obsessed female love rival and control freak parents. Yeah, there was a lot of unrequited love going around, and big brother Fairy was an asshole, but this mostly affected secondary characters not our main couple. But, of course, we had to have the noble idiot thing starting with ML and ending with FL. Ok, I can accept sacrificing for someone you love (like ML at the end), but I personally don’t think a leader needs to make such a sacrifice for ‘the people’, especially when most of them are ingrates. The drama managed to only be angsty in the final few episodes, which is a welcome relief.

Although I loved this drama, I have to admit that there were a few unanswered questions like 1) what happened to the spikes that ML had to endure at night? Were they removed after FL withstood the cave?; and 2) how exactly did ML return from the dead? I'm glad he did - don't get me wrong - but they kept saying how if you kill FL, you'll kill ML so apparently killing him was something that could happen yet here he is, alive and well, at the end. So, I wish the drama would have given us a few more minutes at the end to explain and show our MC marrying, etc.

UPDATE: YAY! IQIYI has a special episode (36+) in which ML is talking about his married life with FL. So, so cute and wonderful! Thank you to IQIYI or whoever decided to have mercy on us fans!!!!

There’s so much more I could say, but let me stop here. It was an awesome drama. WATCH IT! YOU'LL LOVE IT! Read less

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Good drama but unsatisfying ending

I'm always excited about a drama set in a time period other than the dynasties, and this drama delivered with beautiful costumes, atmosphere and suspense. My only complaint is the ending. For me, it ruined the entire series. I'm just not a fan of open endings, and honestly, why end it with the viewer not knowing whether ML is dreaming or if it's real? Such a disappointment and letdown. And I really hate the 'I can't be with you because your (fill in the blank) killed/maimed/cheated my (fill in the blank)' trope for separating a couple. Children should not have to pay the price for their parents sins, and has anyone in China/Korea ever heard of the word 'forgiveness'? I've never met a people so bent on exacting revenge...at least that's how these dramas portray the Asian culture. Because of this crappy ending, I subtracted 1 star from my overall rating.

I liked FL's mature, cool-headiness. None of that cute crap that Chinese dramas love in their leading ladies. She was smart and capable. Once again, I just didn't like her role/attitude in the ending.

I first watched Jing Chao in 'Princess Silver' and fell in love with his acting. He can go from cold and calculating to passionate and intense at the snap of your fingers. Unfortunately, once again, he didn't get the girl...but neither did ML depending on how you want to interpret the ending. SIGH.

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Very good but...

I watched this drama shortly after it came out, but recently I went back and watched it again because frankly, it can get confusing, and that's it's biggest flaw. With the scenes jumping back and forth between worlds, I really wish the director or whoever would have put something on the screen saying 'Republic of Korea' or 'Kingdom of Corea'. Also, it was hard to discern at times what the chief villain was doing by replacing people in the different worlds and what their purpose was - too many people were being replaced. Even the second time around, I didn't catch all the subtleties. Long story short - it was confusing at times, and I'm glad the King was smart enough to figure it out because I sure couldn't!

What I liked: the music was excellent. The romance was lovely, when it was there, and the actors/actresses did an great job with their roles. I think this is my favorite Lee Min-ho drama; I think he looked his best, and as always, he delivered plenty of emotion while still being an 'man of science'. Woo Do-hwan was handsome with those sexy lips and showed versatility with his two personalities.

My favorite scene: when the King is riding to FL's rescue on his white horse with his minions following.

What I didn't like: the inconsistency in FL's character (I'll get to that later) and the ending, which is too open for my liking. The King has asked FL to be his Queen, but she never answered him, and at some point, he just drops the subject altogether, and I guess they just date for the rest of their lives since we're shown old hands but who knows if they ever married. I guess the Kingdom must have become a Republic since the King apparently died without children. Who knows.

My favorite characters in order:

1) Jo Eun-sup - He was so cute with his longer hairstyle and he was really the only character that brought humor and light-heartedness to the drama. I loved him! His little sister was cute too when she made the 'I'm watching you' gesture to Jo Yeong. I honestly don't know how these people could so easily replace their counterparts since your closest friends and family ought to be able to tell a difference as demonstrated with the little sister, Na-ri & the King. They may lookalike, but their personalities and habits were completely different.

2) The King - he was just the kind of ruler you'd want. Smart and benevolent yet capable of strength and decisiveness. He had the Prime Minister's ticket right from the beginning and made sure not to fall into any of her traps. I loved when he said a decisive 'no' when she asked if she could marry him. I also loved his devotion to FL and his patience with her (she was getting on my last nerve in the beginning with her attitude). He was indeed the heroic King one hopes for.

3) Jo Yeong - of course, he has to be 3rd favorite even if he was suspicious and a wet blanket. He was the exact opposite of Eun-sup.

4) Court Lady Noh - how can you not like whatever role this actress plays? She's a staple of Korean drama.

4) FL gets into this category because the King loved her and the actress did a good job with the role. I wasn't crazy about her character though because 1) her initial attitude toward the King (she was snarky and rude); and 2) her inconsistencies. Although she displays strong emotion towards the King whenever he's gone, missing him like crazy, crying, etc., she refuses to leave her world and become his Queen. This is what really bugs me about her. I understand wanting your family and career, but he's the KING! He has to have an heir, especially since he doesn't have a brother or sister or nieces or nephews. I see the King sacrificing for FL and his country over and over again; it would be nice to see FL make a sacrifice for him - especially after he searches endlessly for her, visiting multiple universes. It would go a long way in convincing me that she loves him as much as he loves her. This inconsistency shows itself once again at the end where we don't see them marrying, etc. They just 'vacation' or 'date' in between worlds. It was cute, but are you really satisfied with this kind of life? Isn't the King feeling pressure to marry? None of these questions are answered, and you're left to answer them yourself.

Characters I didn't care about: Sin-Jae, Na-Ri. They were just there as supporting characters.

Characters I hated: The chief villain, of course, Prime Minster Koo (really hated this greedy, ambitious woman) and all the traitor's minions. I also couldn't stand Luna and her dazed look, ugly hair and crappy attitude. Don't know how dad and Na-ri couldn't tell something was up with this girl.

That's my take on this drama. I would have liked to see more closure at the end instead of this 'dating' between worlds nonsense and I would have liked it to be less confusing.

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Still interesting although it's definitely a low budget B-rate drama

Even though this is definitely a low budget drama with B-rate acting on the part of most of the cast, I still found it enjoyable, mostly due to the plot and FL.

First, the plot. There's definitely holes that leave you wondering, and I never did really figure out what was going on with the marriage thing between FL/ML. They were definitely married early on (I can't remember which episode) because I saw the red books, but FL seemed to split her time between his place and Grandpa's mansion. And I was as surprised as they were when FL turned out to be pregnant since I wasn't sure if they'd actually slept together or not. I'm not even sure why an actual pregnancy needed to be added other than to get ML to finally confess and move into Grandpa's. And then I really don't understand the ending, but hey, as long as they're together at the end, I'm ok with it. Sort of like the movie The Lakehouse. Just turn off your brain and enjoy the happy ending. But other than these inconsistencies, I did enjoy the idea of her falling in love with the villain of the book. I also liked the twist concerning the FL of the book's true nature. I think with some tweaking this plot is worthy of a higher budget production.

Second, FL of the drama. I liked her and she's got enough talent to eventually make it into a higher budget film. Heck, she showed a wider range of expression than that plank of wood that played FL on 'Falling into your Smile' so if the plank of wood can break into the big time, hopefully, this actress can too. I can't say the same about ML. He was rather stiff and spoke too softly at times, but he was without a doubt a handsome guy. Maybe a different director can coax more expression/emotion out of him.

The rest of the cast was 'meh', but at least, there weren't any really hateful b***** or control freak parents. Overall, although not on par with the high budget films, I liked it better than other B-rates I've watched.

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Good but too, too long

I'll start with the headline - it was a good drama but the episodes were far too long. Most were an hour and 20 minutes, quite a bit longer than most K-dramas. It seemed endless. Most of this was due to all the story arcs - SFL/SML, the parents, the friendship between the older women, the brother, the exes...on and on. Rather than being supporting cast, everyone seemed to be leads because they all had their own stories.

FL/ML were great although ML was a dope to keep missing his opportunity to tell FL he liked her. I enjoyed their chemistry and their story. My second favorite match up - friends to lovers. My favorite is enemies/rivals to lovers - yeah, I like the bickering if it's witty and not just bitchy, if you know what I mean. I like couples that one up each other, not just bicker because one or both are disagreeable. Well, FL/ML isn't that way. Yeah, she's pretty bossy and aggressive while ML is sensitive, but it works with these two. However, I would have liked to see them get married and have kids. Here they are 34 years old and FL wants to wait a year to get her restaurant off the ground. That will make her 35. It's getting a little late to produce more than 1-2 kids. That's why we have a population crisis in developed countries. Then as a viewer we - like ML - have the cancer threat handing over our heads. Will they make it to old age together? Who knows.

I wasn't really interested in the 2nd couple. That's common for me. I don't care for 2nd or 3rd couples in C-dramas so I'm probably not going to be interested in them in K-dramas. I don't mind a 2nd or 3rd couple getting together but don't spend so much time on them that it takes away from the main couple's romance. SML is a reporter yet we never see him writing. He's also a perpetual do-gooder, and like ML, he's the sensitive one. There is a slight twist in regards to the kid. I won't spoil it for you.

Now the parents - I can truthfully say I detested FL's mom. She was overly sensitive to how people saw her and her family, she had an inferiority complex because she ran a snack shop and therefore unsuccessful in her mind, and she was always trying to tell FL what to do with her life. Fortunately, FL was as strong willed as her mother and wasn't having any of it. Even though ML's mom was rather cold, I preferred his family to FL's because it was calmer and quieter. At the end, I was beginning to think the dads were becoming alcoholics because they were constantly getting drunk together. I supposed when you're married to women like these two, you could be drive to it. Also, WHERE THE HECK DID THEY GET THE MONEY TO RETIRE? Supposedly, they weren't as well off as ML's family but they could retire from the snack shop business at the end. And what the heck were they going to do in retirement? Neither one had a hobby. And while we're on the subject, who was supporting FL after she came home? Did she have savings from when she worked? Wouldn't medical expenses have depleted that? Nobody was in dad's shop so how were the parents supporting FL & her brother? Sorry, these are questions that I asked myself about this family.

The exes - ML's ex was reasonable and quickly realized that getting back together with ML wasn't on the cards. Thank goodness! I hate the clingy ex-girlfriend trope who is a borderline psycho. FL's ex turned out to be the clingy one, but actually, I think the dude got a raw deal. He went through the cancer with FL, taking care of her, etc., yet because he needed a break while she was going through depression, he got disqualified and cast aside like a worn out shoe. I felt sorry for him. Who doesn't need a break after caring for a sick person - that's why they have respite care services. I just don't think he did anything worthy of being rejected. It would have been better for the writer to make him a cheater since FL was always intended for ML.

The cancer arc - if you're going to use cancer as a story arc for one of the leads, please use a cancer that's curable or has a higher survival rate than stomach cancer. Yeah, it was stage 2, but still, it's stomach cancer. For a FL, use breast cancer or thyroid cancer or even Hodgkin's Lymphoma. I really hate when the writer uses cancer for a young person. There was other serious illnesses out there that aren't death sentences yet still needs attention and management throughout life if they needed that 'curse' to bring about angst and resistance to marriage.

Finally, the music was utterly forgettable except for when we got a warm moment between ML/FL. It sounded like the beginning of a Disney princess animation movie. I expected woodland creatures to gather or Sleeping Beauty to float by while dancing with Prince Philip.

Overall, it was a good drama and worth watching (if you have the time), but beware of 1) FL's mother and 2) the episodes were too darn long.

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Very enjoyable to watch!

One of the main reasons I like this C-drama and gave it 10 stars, when it might have only deserved 9, is because it managed to avoid a lot of the things I hate about C-dramas...or at least toned them down so that they're not annoying as hell. I think we actually managed to complete 24 episodes without a social media scandal that caused FL/ML to get fired or break up! Amazing - especially considering that both leads were celebrities. It reminded me a lot of 'Be My Princess' - another C-drama that I absolutely love. In both, although the leads were actor/actress, social media scandals were toned down, and their relationships were, for the most part, accepted by fans. So refreshing!

I like this particular actress very much. I first saw her on Princess Silver, and I liked her maturity. In Princess Silver, she was a much more serious character, but in Double Love, she's playing the upbeat, cute personality type. However, she manages to be cute without being annoying! No pouting or baby talk! Bravo! Also, despite her 'cuteness', she is fairly mature. She doesn't take the bullying crap from the cocky chicks or the netizens, and when she gets mad at ML, she almost immediately wants to forgive him and only delays doing so because her brother tells her to make him suffer longer. Not only that but she's mad because of a very good reason (not some arbitrary childish offense), and it's the same reason the FL on 'You've Got Mail' should have gotten mad but didn't. Still, this short-lived anger did lead to my favorite scene in the whole drama - ML outing their relationship in front of the whole world...or at least those at the festival and those watching at home. So refreshing to see celebrities openly admitting to a relationship instead of hiding it like they're a couple of criminals. Celebrities shouldn't be afraid of their fans. They are entitled to private lives, which include having a girlfriend/boyfriend and marriage. Being a Westerner, I don't understand why Asian fans feel entitled to dictate their idol's private life.

As for ML, this actor played the same kind of role he usually plays - the tsundere. It would be nice to see him get outside his comfort zone (or type cast) and play a light-hearted, rascally character so we could see the full extent of his acting skills. I did enjoy seeing him with lighter colored hair, and I would encourage him to eat some food - he's much to thin for his height. I know FL said he had a nice figure, but honestly, he's a bean pole. However, the Chinese costume designer, for once, clothed him well in long coats and turtlenecks - very classy, very chic. I liked his steady, quiet presence, and he didn't have any childhood sweethearts clinging to him nor any previous relationships to cause angst except for his long lost mom showing up briefly at the end. He did, however, have a psycho chick obsessed with him, but she wasn't as annoying as most of the C-drama psycho chicks because he didn't give a crap about her nor did he have any previous or present interaction with her beyond work (she was an actress in the drama he and FL were a part of). In the game, apparently, it was a delusional rumor among players that they were a couple, but I saw no evidence of it. He was only ever interested in FL, both inside and outside the gaming world.

Also, this drama manages to focus almost solely on ML/FL's relationship. We didn't get a lot of side relationships, which waste the viewers time (well, at least, I feel it wastes mine). We did have an odd relationship between FL's brother and the actor, Qiao Bei, but it didn't consume too much time, and honestly, I think Qiao Bei had more reason to get mad at the brother concealing his gaming identity than FL had getting mad at ML for the same time. The brother wanted to sign him as an actor and pretty much harassed him - nicely harassed - but still harassed. Qiao Bei told him over and over again, he wasn't interested, but the brother kept pursuing him so I guess the brother was a male psycho chick. Nevertheless, I enjoyed the relationship FL had with her brother - they had good sibling chemistry.

Parents did not factor into this drama much and caused very little angst. They were actually pleasant, what little we saw of them - one episode, I think.

There were some characters, however, that were simply unneeded and sort of ceased to exist at the end. For example, FL's brother's friend, Zhao Jing Xing. Honestly, I really liked this character as a love rival for ML. He wasn't as handsome as ML, but he was damn cool. Unfortunately, I couldn't figure out what he really wanted and why he was even in the drama. He told the brother he only viewed FL as a sister yet he behaved as though he was romantically interested in her. He acted down in the dumps when ML outted their relationship so I'm confused at what he really felt or wanted. Also, Yiwei, ML's childhood friend, who apparently had a one night stand with Jing Xing in the past? Not sure. All I know is she pursued him like a psycho chick - all the way to Europe. Why he was in Europe or where he got his money - I don't know. Then she (Yiwei) re-reappears at the end at the award ceremony without Jing Xing so I have no idea where that relationship went, if it went anywhere. So, Jing Xing was a very mysterious character, whose only purpose was to make ML jealous. FL's best friend's character was pretty useless as well...but at least she wasn't the typical dingbat bestie. We saw very little of her. Also, at the end, we see ML/FL married with children. However, they're totally focused on the girl while we're left to assume that the little boy is theirs as well. They don't acknowledge him at all, other than to pick him up and carry him inside. Is he theirs or not? We had one other 'romance', and it was practically non-existent. At the end, a bitchy actress that joined the drama halfway through is suddenly brother's girlfriend. So glad I didn't have to watch the details of that relationship.

I did like how they handled the game portion. I like that they spent equal time outside the game as they did inside the game, and I liked how all the game characters were real people outside the game so there was no leaving fantasy ML behind, etc. I liked how ML/FL got 'married' in the game - just like in Love O2O. My only complaint about the game is that we got to see the real person behind the game character with the fan, but we didn't get to see the real person behind the game character that became FL's disciple. He was part of their group and should have been on the video call with everyone else.

So, the drama wasn't perfect, and there was some loose ends that never got tied, but overall, I really enjoyed watching this drama because it wasn't annoying like a lot of C-dramas who over exaggerate 1) social media scandals, 2) obsessed love rivals; and 3) tyrannical parents. It was just a very enjoyable romance.

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Long but enjoyable

It was too long thanks to all the characters and their issues that needed to be resolved, but it did manage to tell a story without the usual Chinese template. There’s no tropey romantic moments (accidental kisses, blisters on heels, fireworks, etc.) and no love triangles, obsessed chicks or tyrannical parents. There was an internet scandal, but it was a past event in one of the side character’s lives (thank you, screenwriter, for not putting us through one of those!) This drama is mostly about relationships and the problems/benefits of living in a small village. There’s a slow burn romance between ML/FL, and that’s about it. We do have a side character (Mr. He, the musician) hooking up with an old lady (old compared to him but not old as compared to the various aunties or ML’s granny), but thankfully, their romance does not take a lot of time. I think he would have been better with the web novelist or even café worker, but for some reason, Asian dramas are obsessed with older women-younger men romances these days. I still don’t like an age gap of over 5 years, and this one looked about 10+!

My favorite character is probably Mr. Ma (or Haochao – I’ll always remember this actor by his Go Ahead role).

As for the leads, I definitely liked ML. I liked this actor an A’Yao better than his Go Go Squid role because he was friendlier, warmer, smiled a lot and was just an all-around nice guy. I also liked that he was just a normal guy – he wasn’t a born-rich CEO – trying to make a happy life for himself and his community. He was realistic as was his romance with FL. As for FL, I liked her quiet mature demeanor, but I wasn’t wild about her, probably because she was too reticent. Half the time, I didn’t know what she was thinking or feeling, and it took her until nearly the final episode to admit to loving ML…and she didn’t say it, ML said it for her. I like still waters that run deep, but I never really saw any ‘deep’ emotion from her. And at times, she could act childish – like when she got mad at ML for suggesting the café worker meet her problem head-on. But, overall, they were a realistic couple who didn’t rely on the normal tropes to express their devotion to each other.

Although I found the drama enjoyable, I did have some questions at the end such as:

1) FL apparently goes to Yunnan to heal from her best friend’s untimely death. Her friend had encouraged her to live life to its fullest, to find what she enjoyed. However, how is FL’s life any different at the end than what is was in Beijing? Yeah, she has a boyfriend now and strong relationships with the people she met while staying in the village, but she’s still focused on a career above all else. Rather than being happy with a single homestay in Yunnan, she wants several homestays throughout China. How is that relaxing? How can you stop and smell the roses with those big plans? How can she spend quality time with A’Yao if she (and he) is busy with work? For once, I’d like to see a drama where the leads are happy being together and enjoying a simple life rather than toiling away at a career. Success is not measured by wealth or prestige; it’s measured by how content you are with your life.

2) It’s been a year, and they still aren’t married. At least, the in-laws are finally meeting. Talk about a slow burn romance. Sorry – I’m not a fan of open endings. I like things signed, sealed and delivered. There's plenty of hints that they will eventually marry, but without seeing it, the story isn't complete in my mind.

3) I understand ML’s desire to develop the community so that there’s more jobs for the residents, but do they realize that development will change what everyone currently loves about the community? You’re no longer going to have the peace and quiet, the strong connection with your neighbors that you previously had when there's a bunch of noisy tourists everywhere not to mention all the new people moving in, forcing their values and ideas on you. There is a reason why some people chose to live in a small community, and they aren’t happy when the city comes to them, ok? Honestly, I could see those men who attacked FL’s construction site being more upset about that than not getting their fair share of the ‘wealth’. Living in a community that’s currently experiencing high development, I can well understand current residents not being pleased that their paradise is being changed. I think more time could have been spent showing the downside of development.

4) Also, the big development push is getting a bookstore to move into the community. Well, I like bookstores, but they’re starting to be a thing of the past thanks to e-books so how it that a benefit?

5) Finally, I preferred the homestay FL stayed in to the one she built. The one she stayed at was homey and quaint, idyllic even, while hers was nothing more than a hotel. There was no ‘home’ in the homestay, no character or warmth. It looked institutional to me.

I gave an overall rating of 9.5 because I wasn't wild about FL's character. I couldn't 'connect' with her even though I prefer mature characters. I had a hard time believing that she actually loved A-Yao because she didn't express the warmth of love very well. Also, I marked down the music because, although I liked the songs, I got tired of hearing them over and over again for 40 episodes.

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I've liked other family drama better

It’s an okay family drama if you have a lot of time on your hands (49 episodes) and nothing better to watch. I liked ‘Seo Young, My Daughter’ and ‘Beautiful Love, Wonderful Life’ better. The plot isn’t complicated, but there’s a mystery as to why adoptive mom ‘stole’ FL as a baby as well as the backstory of all the parents, which takes a long time to develop. The romance between ML/FL also is a slow burn, and ML is one of those annoying guys who’s too nice to flat out tell the obsessed chick and her mother that ‘we’re not dating, I’m not her boyfriend’. Yeah, he tells Seo-Ah, her coworkers and FL that he’s not her boyfriend, but he apparently isn’t firm enough because nobody believes him. This wishy-washiness on his part delays his romance with FL because she keeps hearing conflicting information. He tells her one thing, but everyone else is telling her something else. As a result of this aggravating ‘nice guy’ persona, I would have preferred Hwang Na Ro, the resident black hat (guy up to no good) to be ML. At least, he has a redemption story going on as his ill intentions get up-ended by the love/acceptance he finds at the villa. He actually shows character development while Jae Hee (ML) starts out as a nice guy and ends as a nice guy. Really, there’s no character development of either lead; we just see them dealing with obstacles in their family/work lives. The biggest opposition to their romance is the dog poop stuck to Jae Hee’s foot called Seo-Ah, but that’s his fault for not being firmer. That’s always the problem with these childhood friend relationships – MLs can’t seem to bring themselves to be mean or rude to these obsessed brats. And Seo-Ah is a first class brat - she throws multiple tantrums. She's an embarrassment to womankind everywhere.

The two things I didn’t like about this drama:

1) I would have preferred Jae Hee’s parents to remain separated. I would have liked to see the first love between his dad (Woo Hong) and FL’s adoptive mom (Jung Soon) to finally be realized after so many years apart. I think it sends a bad message to these obsessed chicks for Jae Hee’s parents to get back together. Why? Because it’s saying if an obsessed chick hangs in there and somehow forces/pressures the guy to marry her, then he’ll eventually realize her worth and love her in return. That doesn’t usually happen in real life. Most of these relationships end in divorce as portrayed in this drama. I understand that the Asian culture admires persistence but persistence can easily become obsession as we see in so many Asian dramas in the form of a resident psycho chick who has no self-respect and can’t let go of a man who doesn’t love or want her. I would have preferred to see Jae Hee’s mom become independent and stay independent without a man in her life.

2) I really disliked Hwang Na Ro ending up with Seo-Ah. Despite his ill intentions, he didn't deserve to be matched up with that brat . I couldn’t stand Seo-Ah’s character, even when she finally apologized to FL, and I didn’t want her getting the guy I felt should have been ML. After professing themselves in love with different people, they suddenly fall in love with each other? Ah, why? What did either of them see in each other? Their romance seemed forced as though the screenwriter felt the need to have everyone matched up with somebody at the end. I think it would have been better to see Seo-Ah focusing on her career and maybe going on blind dates (a testament that she's over Jae-Hee) and see Na Ro coming back to the villa after his time to prison, ready to start a new life (that's what he really needed - family love and acceptance - not some bratty cupcake). It just was unbelievable to me that Na Ro and Seo-Ah would genuinely fall in love so soon after being in love with other people.

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