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Cute college romance drama with good leads chemistry - just don't think too hard
Subjective Gut Rating: 7.75
“City of Romance” is an easy-to-watch, short college romance drama. Aside from a couple episodes in the end that are frustrating for me to watch, this is a quick and light watch.
The leads have great chemistry and I like how their romance is slowly developed from misunderstood strangers to lovers. Bai Xiao Duo (FL) is an outgoing and fun girl on the outside, but she’s endured pain when growing up, thus, had to rely on lies to get through her adolescence. Su Yan Cheng (ML) is cold and aloof and hates lies due to his own family history. So, what will happen when someone who lies and someone who hates lies get together? Sounds great but the execution is only OK. There’s really not a whole lot of excitement.
However, I found myself really liking FL and not finding her annoying. Wang Zi Xuan did a good job playing this role in making this outgoing character over-the-top a little at times, but also suffers internally. I enjoy how the romance develops, and enjoy the leads earlier conversations before they get together when they would open up to each other. This is what frustrates me in the last few episodes when they stop communicating. I also particularly enjoy their first date before confession. It started off awkward and cute, but after the confession, they are so comfortable, flirty and intimate. I am quite surprised at the quick display of PDA, especially one particularly passionate and hungry kiss (too bad we don’t get more of those).
The supporting cast is supportive and fun. It’s weird to see Xu Bin play such a crazy and playful character in this drama, after seeing him in the BL “Stay with Me”. The secondary romance and the love square are fine and don’t take up too much screen time from the leads.
Since this is not a business romance, the comic stuff is just sort of there with the biggest focus of Black’s secret identity.. The same goes with the research that ML and his partner is doing. That research is quite laughable and unrealistic. Don’t take that seriously.
Since this is a lower budget production, there are lines that were dubbed over quite visibly due to either censorship or post-production adjustment. The makeup is all over the place and I hate seeing uneven white and pasty makeup. The songs are just there and not very memorable.
Overall, this is a good watch if you are looking for a light college romance, and can shut down your brain on the other aspects of the drama. Don’t think too hard. The leads' romance and chemistry are enough to make this somewhat enjoyable.
Completed: 3/8/2025 - Review #551
“City of Romance” is an easy-to-watch, short college romance drama. Aside from a couple episodes in the end that are frustrating for me to watch, this is a quick and light watch.
The leads have great chemistry and I like how their romance is slowly developed from misunderstood strangers to lovers. Bai Xiao Duo (FL) is an outgoing and fun girl on the outside, but she’s endured pain when growing up, thus, had to rely on lies to get through her adolescence. Su Yan Cheng (ML) is cold and aloof and hates lies due to his own family history. So, what will happen when someone who lies and someone who hates lies get together? Sounds great but the execution is only OK. There’s really not a whole lot of excitement.
However, I found myself really liking FL and not finding her annoying. Wang Zi Xuan did a good job playing this role in making this outgoing character over-the-top a little at times, but also suffers internally. I enjoy how the romance develops, and enjoy the leads earlier conversations before they get together when they would open up to each other. This is what frustrates me in the last few episodes when they stop communicating. I also particularly enjoy their first date before confession. It started off awkward and cute, but after the confession, they are so comfortable, flirty and intimate. I am quite surprised at the quick display of PDA, especially one particularly passionate and hungry kiss (too bad we don’t get more of those).
The supporting cast is supportive and fun. It’s weird to see Xu Bin play such a crazy and playful character in this drama, after seeing him in the BL “Stay with Me”. The secondary romance and the love square are fine and don’t take up too much screen time from the leads.
Since this is not a business romance, the comic stuff is just sort of there with the biggest focus of Black’s secret identity.. The same goes with the research that ML and his partner is doing. That research is quite laughable and unrealistic. Don’t take that seriously.
Since this is a lower budget production, there are lines that were dubbed over quite visibly due to either censorship or post-production adjustment. The makeup is all over the place and I hate seeing uneven white and pasty makeup. The songs are just there and not very memorable.
Overall, this is a good watch if you are looking for a light college romance, and can shut down your brain on the other aspects of the drama. Don’t think too hard. The leads' romance and chemistry are enough to make this somewhat enjoyable.
Completed: 3/8/2025 - Review #551
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