Reviews

First Impression: Always Meet Again

Overall: the first two episodes set the stage well. 8 episodes about 25 minutes each. Airing on iQIYI https://www.iq.com/play/always-meet-again-episode-1-1d04lztvma8?lang=en_us ; GagaOOLala https://www.gagaoolala.com/en/videos/6303/always-meet-again-2026 (not available in U.S., Canada, Australia, New Zealand, U.K., Mexico, Spain, Chile, Peru, Colombia, Argentina, Brazil, Portugal, Japan, Korea, and Taiwan); Heavenly (S. Korea) and FOD (Japan)

What I Liked
- different situation where time travel happened
- protagonist had a believable amount of disbelief, then acceptance
- flirty protagonist

Room For Improvement
- there had better not be a silly miscommunication

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A Quiet but Powerful Romance Built on Perseverance

“Love Story in the 1970s” proves that sometimes the most meaningful romances are not the loudest ones, but the ones that grow patiently through life’s ordinary moments.

This drama excels in portraying the subtle, enduring beauty of a love that develops amidst everyday life and shared struggles. What drew me in immediately was how organically the characters evolve, making their relationship feel authentic rather than forced. Fei Ni and Fang Mu Yang are not only shaped by the social and economic pressures of the 1970s, but also by their personal ambitions and ideals, which makes every step of their journey resonate deeply.

Fei Ni stands out as a grounded and determined protagonist. Her drive to pursue education and improve her life is portrayed with such sincerity that her setbacks feel real, yet never discouraging. The drama does an excellent job of showing how her kindness and initiative toward Fang Mu Yang are not merely romantic gestures but extensions of her pragmatic and empathetic nature. This adds layers to her character, making her both relatable and admirable.

Fang Mu Yang is equally compelling. His bravery, evident from past acts, is paired with a quiet vulnerability that only Fei Ni seems able to perceive and nurture. Their dynamic is refreshingly honest there’s no instant love at first sight, but rather a slow-building connection forged through shared responsibility, mutual respect, and everyday moments. Watching them navigate the challenges of a fake marriage, and eventually build a real partnership, is both heartwarming and profoundly human.

What makes this drama truly shine is its balance of romance and character growth. The story doesn’t rely on dramatic twists or over-the-top plot devices instead, it focuses on how ordinary circumstances financial struggles, family obligations, and societal expectations shape and deepen the bond between the two leads. Scenes like them learning to live together in a cramped apartment, supporting each other’s dreams, and facing setbacks together are portrayed with a quiet intensity that naturally draws the viewer in.

The supporting characters also enrich the story without overshadowing the leads. Their interactions with Fei Ni and Fang Mu Yang provide context, conflict, and occasional comic relief, all contributing to a fuller, more immersive narrative. Every gesture and line of dialogue feels intentional, reinforcing the era’s social atmosphere and the personal stakes for the characters.

From a production perspective, the drama’s attention to period detail is impressive. The settings, costumes, and music evoke the 1970s authentically without feeling dated, providing a beautiful backdrop for the characters’ emotional journeys. The cinematography subtly emphasizes the intimacy of shared spaces and small victories, making each moment feel significant without ever becoming melodramatic.

I particularly appreciated how the romance unfolds. Fei Ni and Fang Mu Yang’s relationship develops gradually, rooted in trust, shared responsibility, and emotional support. The series captures the essence of a love that is steady, sometimes understated, but ultimately resilient. There is a poignant honesty in their struggles whether dealing with disappointment, societal pressures, or personal doubts which makes their moments of joy all the more satisfying.

In conclusion, “Love Story in the 1970s” is a beautifully crafted, character-driven romance that celebrates perseverance, kindness, and the quiet power of everyday love. It left me genuinely moved and reminded me that the most profound relationships are often built not on grand gestures, but on patience, empathy, and mutual growth. For anyone who appreciates heartfelt and realistic storytelling, this drama is an absolute must-watch.

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The Romance Drama That Breaks the Usual Cliches

I started About Love expecting the same formula that many Chinese romance dramas usually follow. Most of the time it is sweet scenes repeated again and again, unnecessary misunderstandings, and characters acting unrealistically just to keep the story going. But this drama surprised me in a very good way.
About Love is not the typical lovey lovey romance story. The relationship feels much more raw and realistic. The characters are flawed and emotional and sometimes even frustrating, but in a way that actually feels human. They make decisions based on pride, fear, and personal struggles instead of just following predictable drama logic.
One thing I appreciated a lot is that the writing respects the audience. The story does not drag the same misunderstanding forever and the conflicts move forward naturally. Conversations between the characters feel genuine and sometimes uncomfortable, which makes the emotional moments much stronger when they happen.
The acting also plays a big role in why the drama works so well. The chemistry between the leads does not feel forced or exaggerated. Instead it comes through quiet moments, tension, and small emotional reactions. It feels less like a scripted romance and more like watching two people trying to figure out their complicated feelings.
The pacing is also better than what we usually see in this genre. The drama focuses more on character development and emotional growth rather than repeating the same romantic clichés over and over again.
Brutally honest, this drama made me realize how average many romance c dramas actually are. About Love does not rely on the usual tricks and it is clearly trying to tell a more honest story about relationships.
It is not a perfect drama, but it is definitely refreshing. If someone is tired of the usual sweet and predictable romance stories, About Love is a drama that actually feels different and worth watching.

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This Drama Had Potential But Missed the Mark

So... I want to start by saying that my issue isn't really with the character played by Park Seo-ham. I actually like him a lot as an actor and he was honestly the main reason I started watching Our Universe in the first place.

That being said, the real problem for me is the way the story arc is developing. The more episodes I watched, the more frustrating it became, and at some point it also just started feeling boring. Another thing that really made the experience worse for me is the FL’s storyline. Her decisions, and the way the story keeps going in circles around the same emotional beats, have become frustrating. Instead of moving the plot forward in an interesting way, it feels like the drama just keeps dragging things out.

What disappoints me the most, though, is the direction the writers chose for the plot. Instead of focusing on the incredibly heavy and meaningful situation the characters are actually in, the drama keeps pushing the love triangle, and that’s honestly the least interesting part of the story. These characters suddenly have to deal with grief after losing people close to them, and at the same time they basically become parents overnight to a very young child who just lost their own parents. That’s such a powerful and emotional premise. Watching two people trying to navigate grief, responsibility, and learning how to become a mother and father for a child in completely new circumstances could have been incredibly deep and meaningful storytelling.
Instead, the drama seems much more interested in dragging out the love triangle and giving the SML a huge amount of screen time. Tbh, it almost feels like he has more presence in the story than the actual ML, which makes the whole thing feel… unbalanced, for lack of a better word.

The story would honestly make much more sense at this point to me if the FL and the SML ended up together and there was no romantic connection between the main ML and the FL at all or maybe the SML could have just been a close friend with FL... someone whose presence triggers a bit of jealousy in ML and helps him realize his feelings for the FL. (Yes, it’s cliché, I know, but honestly it would still be better than what we have right now) instead of forcing a love triangle that takes away from the much more interesting emotional core of the story.

I really do like Park Seo-ham and I wanted to keep watching for him but the way the story is unfolding just isn’t working for me. At this point it feels more frustrating than enjoyable, so unfortunately I think I’m going to drop this drama.

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From Intriguing to Typical: A Disappointing Turn

This was an excellent watch—until it wasn’t. I adored the beginning and truly felt it was on its way to becoming a top-shelf favorite. I even found myself immersed in the intro song, which beautifully captured the haunting feel of its tragic rebirth theme. The female lead came across as powerful, the male lead was bold, and the mysterious political landscape created the kind of intrigue that always pulls me in. The side stories were equally compelling, touching on consequences from the past and offering redemption arcs for characters who had once done terrible things.

But about halfway through, the tone and focus shifted heavily toward the romance, and I wasn’t there for it. I know this drama has a big following, and I can see why—there’s a lot to love—but for me, the shift just didn’t work. It watered down the power dynamics and overtook more interesting subplots, and their romance ended up feeling too cliché for my taste. The change was so drastic that the leads no longer felt like the strong duo they had been earlier on, and the extended focus on the male lead's later arc dragged on for too many episodes. I also found the main mystery—the “whodunit” introduced at the start—incredibly predictable, which was disappointing because the writing had been so sharp in the beginning. I kept second-guessing myself, thinking it couldn’t possibly be that obvious, but it was.

In the end, I couldn’t finish the last few episodes—that’s how checked out I became after watching such a strong start slowly turn into something more typical. And to make matters worse, despite repeatedly asking people not to, several people dropped spoilers in the comments on my posts. So, even the ending was ruined for me. My entire experience with this drama turned sour near the end.

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A warning I probably should have taken

I went into it expecting a messy but entertaining BL, and while the premise had potential, the execution never fully worked for me. Unfortunately, the drama never dives deep enough into those feelings, and the characters often feel stuck going in circles instead of actually growing. The romance lacked the emotional impact I was hoping for, and many conflicts felt dragged out or unnecessarily repetitive. There are a few moments where the chemistry between the leads shows glimpses of what the story could have been, but overall it never fully commits to its more complex themes about honesty, consequences, and real emotional change. In the end, it wasn’t terrible, just frustratingly average — the kind of show that had the ingredients for something much better but never quite managed to deliver.

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WHY IS THIS SO FUN

To be honest at the beginning I didn't expect much. I mean; it's an adaptation of a game and its value is hugely promotional for the game. But it's a good drama and it's surprisingly entertaining like I LOVE those characters so so much. Although the focus of course goes to the male leads, I felt like I adored the support characters — despite the minimal time they had. Like those tomato and his friend duo that is always arguing? Xiaoguang?? Xia & Xiaoguang friendship & the overall team dynamics. Even Yize's rival (not ding fan, the guy from QC) is humanized as we realize that his desire to win is not malicious. He provokes but he has deep respect for Yize. And even the cameo of the older brother arc was interesting. For such a short drama, it surprisingly tackles many events and plot points. Definitely worth watching. Also I'm pretty sure the bromance was added also so the advertisement could reach a niche audience that has been growing in the recent years but it's still so strong like lmao I love Yize and Han Che a lot.
Lastly, it would have been awkward that the eSports was not animated (obv budget) but they managed to pull it off both nicely and smoothly! Is it a masterpiece? No. But it has good writing, is entertaining and has loveable characters.

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WATCH IT PLZZZ

Am going to be frank this was like a fresh of air after too much suffocating dramas a good slice of life literally had everything in it romance, comedy, slice of life and that annoying character that u feel like u want to strangle🤬. The characters were developed ughhh words cannot describe it and the confessions oh my God just uggghh 😭was shedding tears for them literally loved every bit of it and through all of it i learnt about what the people of that era went through and even got interested about and did a deeper dive. All in all don't miss it plzz this will be my go to chinese drama from now onwards and lastly congratulations and thank you for the team that brought this about. Am even trying to wake myself up from the delusion that a character like arthur chen doesn't exist inreal life damn it but all in well EVERYONE SHOULD WATCH IT HEHEHEEEEEEE🫣

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