Unique cinematography and setting for a cdrama

**this is my first time writing a review so sorry if it is really badly explained**

Cinematography/Directing
The way this drama was shot and directed was such a breath of fresh air to cdramas! It's hard for me to explain but the way the drama was filmed gives off a bit of an indie vibe/more mysterious than your regular romcom cdrama with a bit of mystery. The combination of the architecture and interior design of Monster Vintage plus the costume styling of the characters really helped set the tone for this drama as well. The trailer shown for this drama on MDL focuses more on the drama's romantic aspect, making it seem lighter than it really is. One of the best parts of this drama would be the Monster Notebook segments at the end of each episode. These clips are shot like old films and give more insight into the characters in a fun way. Even if you dislike the romance in this drama, I think the cinematography itself is worth staying for!

Music
Other than the cinematography, the music is the best part of this drama. Every single OST is amazing! I would rewatch this just for the music.

Romance and Mystery
The ratio between romance and mystery in this drama is 50/50 in my opinion. Some episodes are romance heavy while others are focused on solving the cases the two MLs receive or uncovering secrets hidden by each main character. Some of the cases are really dark but a few are a bit more light. The romance aspect is nothing special but the mystery behind each character is what makes this drama stand out more.

Acting
*I have a bit of a Robin fan filter but I'm trying to write this as unbiased as possible*
The main cast are all relatively new so the acting is not bad but not good. Characterwise they all play their roles quite well. Overall the acting is good enough to get through the drama (no extremely awkward acting) but would not rewatch for acting. Also, Robin's character is hilarious. ( I feel like he's most people's favorite character)

Pacing
It's 36 episodes so it can seem a bit slow but it isn't that bad.

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Fun drama to binge during free time

Really entertaining to watch! The HE BE story interfering plot is pretty new to watch, and the story is really relatable for drama fans. The FL and supporting characters really embody the joys and struggles of CP fans rooting for their favorite couples. The FL's acting is pretty good. There isn't any dull moment to her life and she plays the part well. ML's acting is decent too, although his character has a pessimistic outlook on life, making him appear more solemn at times. Other than that, the scenes were pretty good, especially as the main leads' relationship progressed. The ML and FL have quite a good CP as well. There are a couple of cute moments throughout the drama.
The trailer makes the drama seem very suspense based, but there is still a lot of comedy in this show for those who enjoy a sweet drama. The actresses for Ye Xining and Ji Fei were really great too!
The only downside of this drama is that a few parts of the plot could be written better and Yu Le's character was a bit bland. The actor seemed overly sad in some scenes which kind of made his character a bit dislikeable at times. Other than that, Yu Le's character was decent.
Overall, this show is a good drama to watch if you have some spare time to burn. (Also great for CP fans who want to see some funny, sweet and shocking moments as well.)

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