it's following the novel very closely thus far. So for those who might be put off by qiao xi's mom, just hang in there until he decides to fight for himself, you won't regret it!
haven't been on this drama's MDL page till now and glad to see everyone feeling the same, but pls let me rant again to get this off my chest.
i watched this while it was airing before even reading the novel and rated it 8/10 bc of their chemistry + the way their characters were written - i loved their maturity for their age. i was soo bumped by the lack of kissing scenes because the title literally has the word "passionately" and you have Wang Anyu for goodness sake! Also, soo many scenes obviously were set up to show the characters' physical attraction and compatibility but it just cuts like that - multiple times!! but i just attributed it to china's strict censorship (didn't know LHC had a no kiss clause in her contract...)
THEN i read the novel (just finished it in fact) and now i rate this adaptation a 6/10... sorry the novel just had soo much more to offer that i felt this drama didn't showcase it's massive potential at being one of the best in 2025. The Best Thing was a rare one at surpassing it's novel by leaps and bounds (while majority novels and dramas are *equally* love by fans), but man... this drama left me high and dry though at least the novel satiated something in me.
So for future viewers, this drama isn't BAD but it could've been sooooo much more!
I'm struggling a lot with this drama. First of all it's not very appropriate for a doctor to pursue a patient…
have you finished the drama? because that's exactly what happened - they started off as friends (especially after finding out she was attached), was there when she was healing and finally got together as lovers after she did.
Sure, he started off interested in her and wanted her contact info but by no means was this predatory and inappropriate imo. in the first place, he wasn't a doctor per se for her, just a consulting medical practitioner which is a vastly different connotation as what you are suggesting. you can scroll down the comments quite abit, there has already been comments explaining the culture difference from the west and why your concerns should not fully apply to the drama.
To give my 2 cents, i think this drama is wonderful in our the decisions made throughout the 28 eps by the ML and FL are very realistic and i can see myself making the same when put in their shoes. Hope this has been somewhat helpful in aiding your appreciation of the message The Best Thing is trying convey - to love yourself first and the right kind of love will eventually come to you :)
He’s on a whole different level of handsome in historical dramas,it’s like he was made for that era.🫡
you took the words right out of my mouth. poor boy wants to escape hengdian and his fans are torn between wishing he escapes and wishing he takes on more historical scripts bc he is just perfect in the styling !!!!
rewatching (yet again lol) and i absolutely need to highlight how amazing the bgm was used to highlight he suye's emotions. Ep 3 around the 15min mark when he gets the text message from xifan
the music director and cinematography alone are enough reasons for you to pick this drama up!! so many small details and cultural symbolisms throughout the 28 episodes!
I saw some one saying Xu Ruohan is beautiful but she has ordinary beauty. That she will Shine around common people…
yeah there was a whole trending topic about her looks by antis lol, ZLH fans and casual watchers came to her defense though, she has such nice personality and smile!
Rarely come across a drama that deserves a 10 but this one takes the cake right now. It’s perfect so far. Like…
if you're up for something longer and getting to see even more depth in ZLH's acting, i highly highly recommend Story of Kunning Palace. It's his most complex character to date imo, and the plot is well resolved despite the various plot twists! (happy ending too!!)
The intro animation is soo cute. And half way through and seeing 2 such calm personality leads is really healing…
if you notice carefully the couple in the intro animation changed postures 3 times throughout the series according to the stage of their relationship. i love these little details heh
I don't think I understand what makes a 'healing drama'. I have the obvious pedantic understanding, but it's a…
hmm i think 'healing' can be pretty subjective to define - are the characters getting healed along the way or are the audience the ones getting healed? for me, i think these 2 definitions has been fulfilled by TBT.
perhaps you don't feel much healing in the characters because their 'traumas' and hurts are not very big or delved deeply per se? compared to cases like first frost or shows like meet yourself. but both ML & FL gave each other the courage to love again.
personally i relate with the overarching theme of this show alot. i'm approaching my 30s with no partners in sight. it's not like i dont want to love/be loved, but i just simply dont have much courage to put myself out there and try - not because of past experiences like the characters but just because i tend to overthink alot. I'm personally healed by smth i didnt know was broken through certain lines in this drama. it emphasises alot of accepting and loving yourself first before you can love others (like Suye, who has clearly reflected and accepted his failed first love, is able to chase Xifan so commitedly). And also that a failed rs in the past doesn't mean love is hopeless. Reflect on the past and learn more about yourself/what you're looking for, it doesn't hurt much to give love another try
Her name is Zhang Yiling in the novel, her presence was totally omitted in the drama haha. She's not evil though, both Suye and her could talk amicably when they met again
I am watching episode 25. I don’t think He Suye needed that guilt trip from the junior. There was no way the…
i love how it's a very real scenario though, it made me ask myself what i would do if i were in his position, and i concluded that i'd make the same decision as Suye.
they end up talking soon after though, xifan did apologise for her emotions and he explained his position
Exactly. No more looking forward for everyday anymore. It's left me empty and sad suddenly. Don't know how much…
there's a reason why TBT was voted as the #1 healing romance novel, i completely understand why when u have HSY 😭 the crew and actors really brought the script alive especially ZLH!!
I've liked his school modern dramas (though i'm a sucker for his costume dramas, this man was BORN for guzhuang omg) but he does modern romance so wellllllllll. I'm glad he mentioned during the fanmeet that he would try to take up more modern scripts in the future since TBT is received so well!
Also yes agreed on his first first billing, i hope producers and directors look at him even more kindly from now on, he's a treasure who's so humble and keeps improving himself!
i watched this while it was airing before even reading the novel and rated it 8/10 bc of their chemistry + the way their characters were written - i loved their maturity for their age. i was soo bumped by the lack of kissing scenes because the title literally has the word "passionately" and you have Wang Anyu for goodness sake! Also, soo many scenes obviously were set up to show the characters' physical attraction and compatibility but it just cuts like that - multiple times!! but i just attributed it to china's strict censorship (didn't know LHC had a no kiss clause in her contract...)
THEN i read the novel (just finished it in fact) and now i rate this adaptation a 6/10... sorry the novel just had soo much more to offer that i felt this drama didn't showcase it's massive potential at being one of the best in 2025. The Best Thing was a rare one at surpassing it's novel by leaps and bounds (while majority novels and dramas are *equally* love by fans), but man... this drama left me high and dry though at least the novel satiated something in me.
So for future viewers, this drama isn't BAD but it could've been sooooo much more!
Sure, he started off interested in her and wanted her contact info but by no means was this predatory and inappropriate imo. in the first place, he wasn't a doctor per se for her, just a consulting medical practitioner which is a vastly different connotation as what you are suggesting. you can scroll down the comments quite abit, there has already been comments explaining the culture difference from the west and why your concerns should not fully apply to the drama.
To give my 2 cents, i think this drama is wonderful in our the decisions made throughout the 28 eps by the ML and FL are very realistic and i can see myself making the same when put in their shoes. Hope this has been somewhat helpful in aiding your appreciation of the message The Best Thing is trying convey - to love yourself first and the right kind of love will eventually come to you :)
the music director and cinematography alone are enough reasons for you to pick this drama up!! so many small details and cultural symbolisms throughout the 28 episodes!
6.5 > 6.7 > 6.8
congrats team!!
perhaps you don't feel much healing in the characters because their 'traumas' and hurts are not very big or delved deeply per se? compared to cases like first frost or shows like meet yourself. but both ML & FL gave each other the courage to love again.
personally i relate with the overarching theme of this show alot. i'm approaching my 30s with no partners in sight. it's not like i dont want to love/be loved, but i just simply dont have much courage to put myself out there and try - not because of past experiences like the characters but just because i tend to overthink alot. I'm personally healed by smth i didnt know was broken through certain lines in this drama. it emphasises alot of accepting and loving yourself first before you can love others (like Suye, who has clearly reflected and accepted his failed first love, is able to chase Xifan so commitedly). And also that a failed rs in the past doesn't mean love is hopeless. Reflect on the past and learn more about yourself/what you're looking for, it doesn't hurt much to give love another try
they end up talking soon after though, xifan did apologise for her emotions and he explained his position
I've liked his school modern dramas (though i'm a sucker for his costume dramas, this man was BORN for guzhuang omg) but he does modern romance so wellllllllll. I'm glad he mentioned during the fanmeet that he would try to take up more modern scripts in the future since TBT is received so well!
Also yes agreed on his first first billing, i hope producers and directors look at him even more kindly from now on, he's a treasure who's so humble and keeps improving himself!