DinoAvila
Popular does not necessarily mean good or quality drama
It seems it is a trend nowadays to have good cast/actors but not a good drama. In MD, the FL seems to be the reason it is popular. She is popular and indeed she acted good. The acting (of the rest of the cast including the ML) is less than satisfactory. The comedy part is wanting.One area that noticeable in dramas (K or C drama) is directors have difficulty in the love story part. It is more often at best cliche; at worst stupid. Only a few dramas where directors got it right.
Just like the earlier commenter, it started good. Then it went astray...
But if you like the FL (like me) - then its ok to finish the drama.
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A Drama worthy to be watched!
This drama is a gem. It is realistic in most of its aspects. Its not perfect but boy.... if you wanna watch what is life (modern at that) in asian countries (although this is Beijing) - then this is the drama for you.It depicts life in asia including China.... in a modern setting. In addition, it shows the complication of living as a family in a modern city from those who come from the countryside where they have to make a start: from looking a place to stay, to looking for a job; to the different crooks/predators in the city; to the toxicity of the corporate world or workplace; to.........
Add to that the value system, morality issues, family issues, divorce issues, to have a child issues, love rivalry issues, parents issues - they are all in this drama.
It seems messy, but the director and the gang were able to put up this drama without so much issues on script, screenplay, acting, plot, story, cinematography, etc. Imagine the complications as enumerated above, yet the director is able to come up with this seemingly flawless drama. What a beauty.
Yes, some parts of the drama seems sad - but that's life in a city under different personal, family, work situations. Add to that the maturity level of the characters - and they would affect the character's life in a modern city.
The ML and FL story is lovely: it has its sad moment as well as challenging moments, yet it has a beautiful ending.
However, the part of Ke Ying is a bit sad. She is unfortunate. Her character is in a situation wherein her options are either: FIRST the Devil - the rich boyfriend who is a predator-like in using his wealth on a hapless prey. I can not blame him entirely for his predatorial approach as it is the culture/norm in China specifically where the society allows divorce. A young wife whose young husband is hopeless in a modern city without work and without close family support; the result is divorce, then enter the rich predator. SECOND the deep blue sea - the young wife's useless husband. He is hopelessly immature, lazy, not supportive of his wife and directionless. He in fact rely only on his wife for support or both of them rely on the meager income of the wife.
Kudos though to the actors - they (all) were able to deliver or perform their roles/characters well to make this drama very realistic.
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Chinese Dramas need to improve
The first 10 episodes are endeed cliches for a contract marriage, rich boy-poor girl drama; not much issues there, although one could sense the attitude or character of the ML - one word, abusive. Then, it became true in the next episodes (up to 12 at least) - the ML abusive and controlling attitude.Yes, it could happen in reality. However, this drama seems all systems go for the "glorification" of an abusive/controlling person more so if doing it on the one you profess to care or love.
This attitude seems common in Chinese Dramas. Does this suggest that the movie/drama makers: producers, directors, screen-writers have this attitude? If so, then China is hopeless as this would seem to suggest that this kind of attitude is pervasive in Chinese society in general - I hope I am wrong. Where is Confucianism now? Gone?
It seems that only few producers/directors exist in China. These few at least were able to produce good quality dramas - but only a few so far. What come to mind are: A love so beautiful; The love you gave me; Love is sweet. At least these few can be of hope for improvement of quality of Chinese Dramas.
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Once in a while type of drama... worthy to watch
Its a drama that will glue you till the last episode. Yes its light, but it is also relevant and realistic. You will not get bored. Its not perfect but it will make you feel good.Wang Yuwen (FL) again delivers a superb performance. To me, she carried the drama, although the 2ML/3ML and 2FL/3FL did well too. The ML seems off at times in acting especially when startled by the FL. His acting seems wanting or short of the desired action.
The two mothers? Wow! I like both. They help keep the drama lively....
I just indicate 10 in all rating category (in spite of the ML acting issue) as it ought to be more than 9.5; the music? I forgot how or what the music was. I was simply too immersed in the drama episode by episode...
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A drama about the fourth love pair or 4th ML and FL
Its a wasted opportunity: great actors in a shallow plot and mediocre drama. Bai Lu is a top notch actress. DW and Zheming Wie are quality actors. The others are good too. But......the plot is nowhere to be found: it is a drama that is worth 10 or less episodes but stretched to 36. Screenplay is bad that for almost all episodes up to 30 (?), both the ML and FL are still not together for good; in fact, both are still distanced or detached from each other. Yet both are top notch in their careers - failing to identify their respective romantic hindrance (this is supposed to be a romance drama).The drama seems to be about the love story of the 4th ML and FL: Guan Xian Chend and the Editor Tang Yi. Not even about the 2nd ML and FL nor the 3rd ML and FL; more so about the ML and FL.
What saves this drama: 1) Bai Lu; no not her acting, she is a quality and charming actress but her acting is desirable -not because she is not good, but because of bad plot and screenplay. It is just the presence or inclusion of Bai Lu that made this drama a magnet to fans. 2) Great production: the producer must have infuse money to get good actors/actresses as well as sets/venues.
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Drama is good due mainly to the FL and her acting
The plot is simple but relevant especially to the teenagers or high-schooler/college students . The screenplay is quite fair although most negative is on the character/role and performance of the ML; the other cast (except for the best friend of the FL) are understandable in their irrelivance, if not so-so performance. What negates the FL's performance, which to me she was able to play her role quite well, impressively; and to the whole drama in general - is the performance (screen writer's fault may be) of the ML. Yes, he is supposed to be genius and excellent in almost all aspect. And academic geniuses usually are dumb in love matters - the ML character/role is seemingly appropriate. But he is too robotic - in actuation, gesture, thinking, speaking and all. Being robotic (literally in the drama) - can be understandable; being a genius and therefore dumb in love issues - is understandable too. What is not tolerable is his being too naive and clueless or unthinking on love issues. He is suppose to be smart, scientific, research wizard, calculating, analytical, etc - yet he seems to have failed in those areas when applied in love. He is even sometimes uncaring towards the FL - in her predicaments or pressing concerns as he is too preoccupied with his own concerns on how to win the FL (neglecting the FL's concerns even in front of or beside her). In fact, a lot of his actions or utterances - are unnecessary or irrelevant. He is not really handsome (face); and has lean or skeleton like body. The producers could have chosen a better one. The ML has some lapses or outbursts (seemingly unreasonable) towards the FL - yet he failed to acknowledge those lapses, thus raising the issue about his accountability (a very important aspect in being a good person). perhaps it was director's or screenwriter's fault. But for a chinese drama to fail to address accountability (personal, in this case) issue - is a red flag as non-chinese watchers still think about the virtue of Confucianism. So, non-accountability seems un-Confucian; a letdown.Was this review helpful to you?
Good but could have been better
Production is superb. Great locations or setting; high quality venues. Excellent actors with good acting. Quality or top notch actors. However, script and screenplay could have been improved. It has the potential of being a quality rather top quality drama.One of the issues (among many?) is:
As seems typical of Korean Drama, has difficulty when it comes to portraying or rather establishing love connection between ML and FL. Its either too shallow or done the shortcut way - thereby depriving emotion or drama into the romance or love between ML and FL. Its like, they saw each other - voila - they are on already........
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Worthy to be rewatched
This drama is one of the rare chinese dramas. Where as most chinese dramas are more for commercial motive rather than artistry, this drama has achieved (at least for me) the right balance for the two. Other chinese dramas (only a few so far) like a love so beautiful, oath of love and the love you gave me - are close to perfect (none being perfect) - this one is almost at the level of the earlier mentioned almost perfect dramas. This one, other than the romance (which is sweet and superb), also has an added suspense, and a lot of twists. Except for a few negligible portions (that makes this drama not at same level as the a love so beautiful and oath of love, but at the same level as the love you gave me) - the rst of the drama will make you want to rewatch it; as well as you will realize that you already have finished an episode and the next and the next and the next.....I have just finished my second watching of this drama...
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Story is good......
This drama is good. Story is acceptable. The best about this drama is the FL. As is the case of most dramas - the FL usually carries the weight. Or more appropriately, more often than not, saves the day.In this drama, the ML seems too old. Yes, its a mature drama and the roles (member of parliaments) are usually that of middle aged persons. However, there seems to be a mismatch between a super pretty FL and a too old looking ML. In addition, while its true that there are cocky persons in the world - but they are generally detested. Its also true in movies or dramas. The ML here is a bit cocky; combined with his being too old to the pretty FL - its a recipe for viewers distaste.
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So far, after 2 eps, a little disappointment
The FL and other cast are kind of good. Hope its noticed, that in most dramas - the FL carries the whole drama. The ML? more often than not, a disappointment especially in terms of acting. This drama is no different, as I continue to watch this drama - hope the ML will improve. After two episodes, the ML seems immature and has some narcissistic (or may be childish attitude) tendencies in him.So far too, there's problem in screenplay. Screenplay issue tends to produce a lot of disconnects that confuses the viewer(s). Hope again that there is improvement about it in succeeding episodes.
But the drama as a whole seems wholesome - is not because of those issues mentioned above. Again, the FL carries the drama so far....
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