This review may contain spoilers
First love, loss & closure: a story with emotional poignancy at the start that languished at the end
I really liked this drama until episode 22, when it became boring and slow.
For me, the best, most memorable part of SOM is LWM. I don’t think I would be as emotionally invested in the story if another actor played ZX, he really did a phenomenal job with his portrayal of ZX, with a lot of angst, inner turmoil, and suppressed emotion. I would like to see a drama spin-off or read a novel with ZX as protagonist.
ZJM as NXG was good too. I like her acting but the chemistry between her & SWL was not there all the time, and a lot of their romantic scenes were awkward. It might be because these didn’t flow very well with the rest of the story. I was also not convinced with SWL's acting, thought his expressions were too bland/wooden in many scenes after they got together. Although I appreciated a lot of the script & dialogue, the pacing of the story after ep 22 became uneven (too much on the business side, too much attention on NXG’s father’s mistress & comeuppance, etc.), which made the MC’s romantic moments feel unnatural and forced.
Overall, I liked the growth/development arcs of NXG & ZX, family dynamics of the MC, and the friendships with Yin Jie, Chris & Dr. Fang. Also enjoyed seeing the different sceneries in China (Changbai ski resort & desert in Dunhuang), and appreciated seeing how business was conducted, and even learning about solar panels & integrating green design into buildings (although this could have been shortened!). But as a romantic drama? I didn’t really feel it at the end.
For me, the best, most memorable part of SOM is LWM. I don’t think I would be as emotionally invested in the story if another actor played ZX, he really did a phenomenal job with his portrayal of ZX, with a lot of angst, inner turmoil, and suppressed emotion. I would like to see a drama spin-off or read a novel with ZX as protagonist.
ZJM as NXG was good too. I like her acting but the chemistry between her & SWL was not there all the time, and a lot of their romantic scenes were awkward. It might be because these didn’t flow very well with the rest of the story. I was also not convinced with SWL's acting, thought his expressions were too bland/wooden in many scenes after they got together. Although I appreciated a lot of the script & dialogue, the pacing of the story after ep 22 became uneven (too much on the business side, too much attention on NXG’s father’s mistress & comeuppance, etc.), which made the MC’s romantic moments feel unnatural and forced.
Overall, I liked the growth/development arcs of NXG & ZX, family dynamics of the MC, and the friendships with Yin Jie, Chris & Dr. Fang. Also enjoyed seeing the different sceneries in China (Changbai ski resort & desert in Dunhuang), and appreciated seeing how business was conducted, and even learning about solar panels & integrating green design into buildings (although this could have been shortened!). But as a romantic drama? I didn’t really feel it at the end.
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