a beautiful and healing masterpiece
The growth. The realizations. The love. The sacrifices. The friendship. The brotherhood. The love for the sport. This series tackled so much and was able to give justice to everything.From the love of the sport billiards. To the family and brotherhood/sisterhood built from the sport as well. The story perfectly woved all these together.
And can I just gush at the level of whipped the male main character is from the get go? The weekend 14hr commute just to spend a couple of moments with her- and this is just a couple of weeks after they’ve met. His love for food and his reasoning for it and why he sees that as a perfect way to bond. It’s just so heartwarming!
I also want to give props to the honest and reliable bond that both main characters have with each other. It isn’t flashy. BUT it is the kind that feels home. Their relationship feels like the warm cup you need during winter. The blanket you need at night. It honestly just feels like the perfect company you need on any season in your life- it feels like that because it’s exactly the way they also portrayed it!
The romance was alrady top notched. Definitely 100/100! Adding the brotherhood, the supportive and loving family, this just made this series a billion times better.
The brotherhood itself needs its own paragraph because his friends never gave up on him. Even when they are on opposing teams or cities represented they both still made a truce to make sure that their long time friend was/is okay. They made sure he goes back to where he truly belongs. I mean that kind of bond and love is just insanely heartwarming! His bestfriend even went and lived to a different country just to be with him- that kind of loyalty is on a different level! This series is just so beautiful! It makes me want to tear up nonstop!
Honestly, to anyone who’ll ever read this. Watch it. It’s such a healing show.
PS. The music is also so freaking fantastic I need it as my ringing tone!
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Growth, Maturity, and Love (Romantic and Familial)
A story full of growth and maturity.A beautiful and sweet story that has little drama to no drama.
I think the only gripe I have about this series is that it was a bit too slow at the start and some of the female leads so called college friends aren’t really true friends.
Other than those small issues, it was perfectly beautiful.
I also how mature both main characters are. It made the series easy to watch. Their chemistry is also on fire. I was able to appreciate their chemistry and their relationship because it wasn’t an instalove kind of story. The admiration and feelings took place gradually and real.
Plus, I love how tight knit, loving, and supporting the female leads family are. Her mom, cousin, aunt, and uncle are core people that made her the way she is.
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came for the romance, but stayed for the friendship
This drama had made me cry nonstop. I was already crying by the 2nd episode until it ended. It was so beautiful and heartbreaking at the same time.I would admit, the love story part of this series isn’t strong. There wasn’t a strong memory or experience for the female lead to suffer all that for the male lead. But what made it so beautiful isn’t the romance. It’s the friendship.
The friendship the female lead had with her childhood friends. Their loyalty and love to her. It was proof that what they have surpasses any kind of romantic love. It was a kind of soul bond that was so beautiful I can’t help but wish everyone experience that kind of friendship.
Trust me, the series is toxic- with male leads parents and the teachers more focused on math trophies and recognition than a childs welfare. It was toxic in a way that the male lead is so prone to ghosting and to just being so bad at communication that the female lead suffered 90% of the time. It was also so bad that the male lead got away with everything because the female lead was so in love with him. I actually am angered by the fact that she had to do everything for them to workout.
The truly saving grace of this show was the friendship.
I can proudly say, I came for the romance, but stayed for the friendship.
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In so much awe.
My heart is both overjoyed and confused with everything that just happened.One thing that is for certain is how I admired how this series was written. How everything interconnected. I’m still curious as to who in the future the others are in MiaoMaio’s life, but I’m currently too overjoyed to think about it, YET. Lol!
The story of this show is quite an adventure. It contains so much life. There’s joy, guilt, love, secrets, but never any true betrayal between them. I think that is what I also admired the most. The camaraderie in this story is top notched.
The romance wasn’t heavy, it was cute, sometimes I even felt like I need more, but everything was done just right that I couldn’t properly complain.
I think the only caveat I have is how every fight with the demons, whichever tier they belong too, always ends too fast. The bulk isn’t actually on the demons, but on the characters themselves.
Overall, this is such a solid drama.
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Rewatch Worthy
A true og in the KDrama world.Rewatching this made me realize how ahead of their time this show was.
Even if this was more than ten years ago, the writing is beautifully crafted in a way that the story shows growth.
It is both funny, heartwarming, and emotional.
The chemistry between the leads isn’t what you’d call steaming. But it is cute.
The second male lead also known as the villain is both annoying and pitiful.
Overall, I’m really glad I rewatched this.
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Short and Sweet
I liked watching this drama. It was short and sweet. It’s a feel good drama, that’s for sure. The time travel aspect of it was quite weird and lacking towards the ending though. But overall, I liked how the story progress. I wish it was given more time to show better character development. I wish the ending also gave more insight about how their relationship will progress further. But I guess that will remain as wishful thinking on my part. This is still a good drama to watch for those interested in a fun and sweet vibe.Was this review helpful to you?
Young Love & Growth Filled Drama
A really great drama that's lighthearted, youthful, fun, and at the same time showed a lot of growth and maturity from all the characters and couple pairings.The storyline is great, albeit, just a tad dragging in some aspects. But I really appreciate how the series isn't angst, love triangle, and lovers quarrel filled. I love how it's mostly about how these group of college students learned and growed with each other. How they helped each other. And how it portrayed a couple willing to work through a long distance relationship and a relationship that's both from very time consuming fields. I guess in a way it also showed work-life balance and how it's more achievable when both partners communicate. Plus, it really helps in appreciating the series more when the pairings and characters aren't jealous and obsessed with their partners. It's a breather to watch shows that are more growth focus than anything else.
Speaking of growth, Ren Chu's growth is the most admirable in the series. It wasn't an overnight thing that took place. But it was really gradual and was happening all throughout the series. From a detach and unfeeling person, to a person who learned to understand social cues and non verbal cues of the people around him, especially his partner. Plus, how he is as a partner is really just top notch. He really went above and beyond- up to point of making his partners own soymilk and being a practice dummy for her studies- and this was even before they became a couple!
As I did mention above, there are some scenes from the main couple that could've been skipped on and there are some pairings that needed more screentime. From the three couple pairings, admittedly I was most invested with the second leads pairing of Xi Bai and Xin Yu. I really loved their dynamics and their characters. The stoic and serious doctor and the fun and loud ballerina. I would've loved to see more of them and how they both learn to compromise with each other. Their story is really great and I just wished to see more of them and how they are as a more learned couple. Especially since it seems that Xin Yu's Mom already knows about her love for Xi Bai; it would be a great touch if they were introduced.
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The Second ML Deserved Better!!!
Started as a lighthearted and fun drama. I initially watched this show because I recently discovered the actress Yang Zhi Wen, I'm honestly very glad that this drama of hers did not disappoint. It is important to note that towards the latter part of the series, it has become laden with angsty, dramatic, and cliche parts. I somehow appreciate how the resolutions didn't drag on anymore, the drama was more than enough already. Also, I think the most heartwrenching part was the ending for the second male lead. His chemistry with the female lead was amazing that I couldn't help but ship them more than the actual main leads. Even if he was the competitor in terms of the heart of the female lead, he didn't do anything dirty that'll ruin their relationship. He stayed at the side of the FL through it all and he played fair and remained loyal to the man he treated as a brother up to the end. Zhao Tian Yu portrayed his role really well, as a viewer, I just want the best for his character. So basically, I think that even though he didn't capture the heart of the FL, he has captured the hearts of the viewers instead.Was this review helpful to you?
