thedramabinger

[thedramabinger]

Reset (开端)

My consistency atm is not bad with writing reviews aha. This show I’ve rewatched, I don't even know how many times, maybe like 4 times. It’s literally one of my favourite shows and if you continue reading you’ll know why!! I fell in love with Bai Jing Ting and Zhao Jin Mai from this series, and I’ve watched almost everything with these two in it. Cause wow, they are such good actors!! Going into this show for the first time, I think I wanted a time-loop show because I just finished watching Marry My Husband and was looking for something with good time travel and I came across the show, and just wow. My review for this show won’t follow the same layout I usually do, since it’s not romance based! 

My Rating: 10/10

Episodes: 15

Country: China

Genre: Thriller, Sci-Fi, Mystery

Aired: Jan 11th, 2022 - Jan 25th, 2022

Cast:

Bai Jing Ting as Xiao He Yun

Zhao Jin Mai as Li Shi Qing

Liu Yi Jun as Zhang Cheng

Huang Jue as Wang Xing De

Liu Dan as Tao Ying Hong

Zeng Ke Lang as Lu Di

Zhang Xi Qian as Ma Guo Qiang

Leon Li as Jiang Feng

Liu Tao as Du Jing Song

Synopsis (according to MDL):

An unexplainable phenomena finds college-going student, Li Shi Qing, trapped in a never-ending time loop where she is always stuck on a public service bus which is due to explode, bringing death and destruction to not only herself but to all on board.

Desperate to find a way to escape not only the time loop but her tragic fate, Shi Qing inadvertently drags fellow bus passenger Xiao He Yun into the time loop as well. Together they try to find a way to alter their fate by ensuring the bus arrives safely at its destination, but attempting to do so proves anything but easy.

Adapted from the web novel "Kai Duan" (开端) by Qi Dao Jun (祈祷君).

How did I feel about the plot?

This show honestly had me on my toes for a while. At one point, I already knew what and who caused the explosion, however, how the show plays out, and how every little detail matters in this show is really well done. I went into this show not expecting much since I’ve seen very little time loop shows/ movies done well, I was pleasantly surprised with how the author wrote this show/ brought together all these little details to help us understand how the story is coming together. From beginning to end I enjoyed this show thoroughly, because of how well put together it was. Time loop plus murder mystery, it's a concept we see a lot in Hollywood media, however, my first time in a Chinese production and it was executed so nicely. I also thoroughly enjoyed seeing the backstories of the other characters on the bus. By the end of the show, it makes you feel more connected with all the characters and you genuinely hope for no one to die. 

Beware of (Some) Spoilers Moving Forward!!!!!! 

The actors portrayals of the character

I could go on and on about how I feel about the acting in this show. My god. The actors, let's give a round of applause to them. *vigorous clapping* LOL. They. just wow. The actors in this show were phenomenal. Let’s start with Bai Jing Ting and Zhao Jin Mai, I have almost no words. These two are wonderful actors, they evoked all the feelings that most people would feel in a situation like this, through their acting. Considering this is a time loop show, a lot of the scenes are done in the same areas (aka on the bus) for the majority of the show. They always show these two actors waking up in the new loop, and every single time, their reactions are different. Sometimes they are significantly different, yet sometimes there are very subtle differences, and that shows how well they understand their characters. Let me just say, the actress who plays Tao Ying Hong, Liu Dan, she’s a gem. Her portrayal of this character was insane (literally), and she does a wonderful job portraying the sorrow and vengeance that her character feels throughout the plot. I, also, want to applaud all the other actors who play the characters on the bus. I felt genuinely connected to all of these characters, one because of the plot but also because of how the actors/ actresses portrayed them. I fell in love with all of them and their stories. 

Reset Review- an invigorating time-loop series worth your time

I gave this show a 10/10. Its rewatch value is off the charts, personally, as I’ve already watched the show like 4 times. The plot was executed well from beginning to end, the actors/ actresses do a wonderful job portraying their characters, even the length of the show is perfect, a good 15 episodes that are emotional, heartbreaking at times, filled with hope, fear, thrilling, and love. It was thrilling from beginning to end, and the 2 main characters' arcs, and how they grow to understand each other more and work together better as the show continues is just wonderful to see! All in all, I recommend this show to anyone who loves time travel/ loop series/ movies, or a good murder mystery. 

[thedramabinger]

Watashitachi wa Douka Shiteiru (私たちはどうかしている) - Cursed in Love

My first proper review for a j-drama. Idk why this is my first one. TBH I have a bunch of shows that I liked way more than this one. So, maybe when I get a chance I’ll also review those too! This show has been on my watchlist for a while since I really liked the male lead in another show I watched and I heard people really liked the dynamic and storyline of this show. The characters were odd? The plot involved Japanese sweets and getting revenge and learning the truth about a murder mystery. I actually really like the Japanese title more than the English Title, Cursed in Love, since the direct translation of the japanese title is “There’s Something Wrong with Us”. I feel like this title really represents this story LOL. I recommend this show mostly for soap opera lovers, anyone who loves super dramatic shows, and plot lines that are just so extreme but fun to watch! 

My Rating: 7/10

Episodes: 8

Country: Japan

Genre: Food (Desserts), Thriller, Romance 

Aired: August 12th, 2020 - September 30th, 2020

Cast:

Hamabe Minami as Hanaoka Nao (Sakura)

Yokohama Ryusei as Takatsuki Tsubaki

Mizuki Alisa as Takatsuki Kyoko

Takasugi Mahiro as Jojima Yusuke

Kishii Yukino as Hasegawa Shiori

Yamazaki Ikusaburo as Takigawa Kaoru

Synopsis (according to MDL):

Hanaoka Nao's mother, Yuriko, works as a confectioner at Kogetsuan, a traditional Japanese sweets shop. Nao meets Takatsuki Tsubaki, the owner's six-year-old son, and they become childhood sweethearts. Tragedy strikes when Tsubaki's father is murdered. Nao's mother is arrested based on Tsubaki's testimony, and Nao is left homeless after her mother's death. With Nao as the daughter of a murder suspect and Tsubaki as the victim's son, they part ways with bitterness. Over 15 years later, Nao and Tsubaki cross paths again during a Japanese confectionery competition. Tsubaki, unaware of Nao's true identity, is captivated by her creations and impulsively proposes marriage. Nao, determined to prove her mother's innocence, conceals her past and agrees to marry Tsubaki, gaining entry to Kogetsuan. Little do they know the challenges awaiting them. Despite life's adversities, Nao and Tsubaki's bond deepens as they're drawn together. The truth behind the events of 15 years ago remains a mystery.

Adapted from the manga series "Watashitachi wa Douka Shiteiru" (私たちはどうかしている) by Andou Natsumi (安藤なつみ).

Beware of Spoilers Moving Forward!!!!!!!!!

Watashitachi wa Douka Shiteiru Ending

Watashitachi wa Douka Shiteiru has a happy ending, where Nao inherits Kogetsuan after revealing that she is the biological daughter of Yuriko and Itsuki, and essentially have a competition against Tsubaki for inheriting the store, where the grandpa and Kyoko (Tsubaki’s mom) both chose Nao’s dish. Kyoko did not know it was her dish, however. Tsubaki leaves Kogetsuan. However, Kyoko still believes that Nao doesn’t deserve to have that place. Kyoko tries to hurt Nao and during this time is when we learn that Takigawa-san was the one who murdered Itsuki by accident. He was trying to kill Kyoko due to her infidelity with Takigawa-san’s dad. Itsuki was just trying to stop Takigawa-san from making a mistake. Takigawa-san gets arrested (he calls the police on himself). Kyoko kinda loses purpose in her life at this point. She ends up purposely getting into an accident, because she put herself as an organ donor, so that Tsubaki will get her eyes when she dies, since he was going blind. After he heals, Nao goes to find him, and they get back together. 

Watashitachi wa Douka Shiteiru- something is definitely wrong with everyone LOL

I gave this show a 7/10. Plot was actually pretty interesting for the most part. It was very soap opera-y. I enjoyed it a lot in the beginning. As the show kept going, and the plot twists kept coming, it felt too soap opera-y and too dramatic. However, I understood the appeal of the story and the show. The romance, in my opinion, was lacking. Yet, I can understand that’s not the forefront of the show. Sometimes, the show felt dragged out. There were a lot of characters involved. Yet, seeing the character that we like, be the character who commits the crime, was so upsetting to see (very typical soap opera feels). There were also a lot of unnecessary time skips as well. I particularly did not care for the actor who plays Nao in this show. She kind of felt a little too stale and dry at parts, especially during the romance scenes, mainly in the first half of the show. As the show goes on, I appreciate how she represents Nao as a character. Kyoko was my favourite in terms of the actor representing her, she does a good job, with an eerie voice and a freaking annoying vibe that I just despised. I genuinely hated her character, and the actor did a good job presenting that. All in all, it was fun to watch, yet, I don’t see myself being able to rewatch it anytime soon. 

[thedramabinger]

Ski into Love  (嘘, 国王在冬眠)

Finally back to writing reviews. Maybe. Idk. I’ve been busy with school LOL.  I’ve watched so many shows since the last time I wrote a review but I honestly just lost interest in it for a while, because I didn’t want to write any notes while watching it. I wrote this review like 2 weeks after watching the show with no notes and just pure memory of what happened. I scored it as soon as I finished watching it though. I’m back, for now. This show is super popular because it has Lin Yi as the male lead, and the female lead is Esther Yu, who is known to be extremely loved but also can be extremely hated by fans. The characters were fun to watch, the plot involved snowboarding and webcomics (which I enjoyed for a bit), but the show ended up falling short in the end. Also, the title makes no sense, as there is no skiing whatsoever. But oh well LOL. 

My Rating: 6/10

Episodes: 23

Country: China

Genre: Romance with Snowboarding and Webcomic Art

Aired: March 11th - March 22nd, 2025

Cast:

Esther Yu and Wei Zhi

Lin Yi as Shan Cong

Fei Qi Ming as Lao Yan

Jenny Zeng as Jiang Nan Feng

Xia Hao Ran as Dai Duo

Hu Wen Xuan as Bei Ci

Wang Run Ze as Jiang Yi Ming

Xu Shi Yue as Wu Man Man

Zeng You Zhen as Shan Shan 

Synopsis (according to MDL):

After a scandal destroys her career, comic artist Wei Zhi seeks inspiration at Beishan Ski Resort, where she meets coach Shan Chong. As she struggles with snowboarding, her resilience reignites his lost passion for the sport. Together, they find love and a path to redemption. 

Adapted from the web novel "Xu Guo Wang Zai Dong Mian" (嘘, 国王在冬眠) by Qing Mei (青浼)

Beware of Spoilers Moving Forward!!!!!!!!!

What Episode did the Main Couple Start Dating?

Shan Cong and Wei Zhi finally start dating in Episode 13. Basically, halfway throughout the show. They get stranded in the middle of a forest during an avalanche, and take shelter inside a little hut that’s used for emergencies (very typical get stuck alone together that we would see in American movies during winter outings). They stay overnight as they have no signal and no proper way out. They basically make it very obvious they like each other and even sleep together on the cot. 

Honestly, I don’t even understand why it took them this long to get together. They basically show their attraction for each other almost right from the start. And start to be pretty possessive over each other very early on.  So, for it to take 13 episodes was crazy. However, the actual confession scene was pretty sweet. 

Misunderstandings?

They have quite a few times where Wei Zhi acts like a child and starts to ignore Shan Cong. However, he takes it like a champ and I guess thinks its cute, and handles it appropriately. 

They have a major conflict in episode 17, where they “take a break” aka break up. The reason for the break-up is literally the most generic trope and I haven’t seen it in a while, so it was pretty infuriating to watch. Her parents don’t approve of Shan Cong, and he thinks by leaving her and getting better in his career and having more money before he pursues her again is the right way to go. Fricking dumb. 

ALSO, they take a whole 4 episodes to get back together. So, they get back together finally in episode 21. The whole break-up was just dumb. It could have been removed from the entire plot and would have made no difference, except giving us more sweet moments between Wei Zhi and Shan Cong. 

Love Triangles?

So, Jiang Yi Ming has been in love with Wei Zhi since they were kids. He, honestly, wasn’t a bad dude. He was pretty funny and sweet. You could see he really likes Wei Zhi. Wei Zhi, tbh, wasn’t that nice to him and honestly just used him whenever she needed him. You can see her clear annoyance for him. I do understand that Yi Ming was very over the top, but he was always looking out for Wei Zhi and trying to keep her happy, so I really liked his character. When Shan Cong and Wei Zhi got together, he was really sweet and said he’ll step aside and treat her like a sister now. He earned my respect and was probably one of my favourite characters in this show. 

Shockingly, Shan Cong doesn’t have another person who was pursuing him very adamantly. 

Second Leads Romance

So, if I have to go by the 2nd Leads that they show in MDL, those characters are Lao Yan and Jiang Nan Feng. Jiang Nan Feng is Jiang Yi Ming’s sister and Wei Zhi’s best friend. Lao Yan is a snowboarder and Shan Cong’s friend. Lao Yan had a crush on Jiang Nan Feng in university, however, she doesn’t recognize him because he was bigger in university and he started snowboarding to lose weight. They basically have a weird connected past, and they reconnect in the future, when Jiang Nan Feng and Wei Zhi go to the ski resort for fun and inspiration for Wei Zhi’s comic. 

I hated their dynamic so much. I had no idea what was going on half the time. They were kinda dating. Then she basically drops him so fast, because she just viewed it as a fun fling. He was butt hurt but doesn’t do much about it. Then, they meet again when Wei Zhi goes back to see Shan Cong, and they act super awkward. Then, she starts to pursue him, after he quits snowboarding and gets a job at her company. However, he basically rejects her and says he views her as someone who he was just infatuated with but did not want to be in a real relationship with? Snkdfjnskjdfs like what?!?!?! Yeah, their entire dynamic was just so wishy washy, and I was so not down with it. 

Third Leads Romance

I don’t know if they’re considered third leads, but I am considering it that. Just cause i loved these two so much together. Dai Duo, Shan Cong’s disciple/ friend and Shan Cong’s sister, Shan Shan. These two were in a ‘secret’ relationship for about a little more than half the show run. Audience knows about it, however, Shan Cong “doesn’t”. I’m unsure if he actually doesn’t or pretends like he doesn’t know. I LOVE THESE TWO. They were the cutest and sweetest. Honestly, what I expected from the leads. They were just super fun and real. Their love for each other was just so cute. Shan Shan lost her legs to a snowboarding accident when she was younger. However, Dai Duo loves her as she is. He supports her getting prosthetics, but he is also okay with her not getting it if she doesn’t want it. They were both super supportive of each other career wise as well. They have a moment at the end of the show, where they write letters to someone in the future, and they write it to each other and they basically just confirm how in love they are with each other. DKJFNDGFJ UGHHH. I loved them. 

Ski into Love Ending

Ski into Love has a happy ending, I guess, where Wei Zhi and Shan Cong receive her parents approval. Wei Zhi wins a competition she entered for winter-related sports webcomics, earning a name for herself after losing her penmanship’s name and story to her shitty ex-company. Shan Cong goes back into the national team, and wins gold to allow him to qualify for the Olympics. Shan Shan gets her prosthetic legs, thanks to Jiang Yi Ming (he’s a doctor). They all live happily ever after. 

Ski into Love Review- sometimes maybe cute, sometimes maybe shit

I gave this show a 6/10. It was cute and started really well, however the rewatch value dies as the show continues. I appreciated the first half of the show for the most part, other than the little annoyances of Wei Zhi’s character. Shan Cong and Wei Zhi were super sweet during their initial phases of their romance. The plot, honestly, was kinda non-existent in the show. Yes, it was there. However, I didn’t exactly care for it and it didn’t add much to the show in any way, in my opinion. At first, I really liked the webcomic theme and snowboarding theme as well, however as the show kept going on it was pretty dragged out and added no good substance to the plot. The show, all in all, was very tropey. The show was executed well in the first half, however, just kept falling short by the end by adding all the unnecessary tropes to continue the storyline. 

[thedramabinger]

Falling Into Your Smile (你微笑时很美) 

Finally back to writing reviews. I’ve watched many shows since the last time I wrote a review but I was just too lazy to take notes on the episodes and how I felt. I re-watched this show a whole month ago but didn’t get to write the review because I fell into a slump. I’m back though. This show is super popular because it has Xu Kai as the male lead, and honestly, I enjoyed this show a lot the first time I watched it. However, after rewatching the show I can say I still enjoyed the show, yet, I wouldn’t say it was super crazy good like how I felt watching Amidst a Snowstorm of Love and Love Me, Love My Voice, etc. The characters were fun to watch, the plot was all about e-sports (which I actually really enjoyed), but I felt like it was missing something to make the show better. 

My Rating: 7.5/10

Episodes: 31

Country: China

Genre: Romance with E-Sports

Aired: June 23rd, 2021- July 15th, 2021

Cast:

Xu Kai as Lu Si Cheng

Cheng Xiao as Tong Yao

Zhai Xiao Wen as Jiang Yang

Yao Chi as Lu Yue

Rachel Wang as Chen Jin Yang

Zhou Yi Ran as Ai Jia 

Sun Kai as Xiao Peng

Gao Han as Lao K

Xiao Kai Zhong as Lao Mao

Merxat as Yu Ming

Cui Shao Yang as Xiao Rui

Wang Yi Jun as Lee Kun Hyeok 

Synopsis:

All-male ZGDX e-sports team loses a player due to a hand injury. They need to choose a replacement for the team. 

Tong Yao is a popular female gamer who is known for her skill but also recklessness. She got into gaming through her ex-boyfriend who ended up abandoning her for the OPL world. The manager of ZGDX, Xiao Rui, messages Tong Yao an invite into recruiting her for the team. At first she is not welcomed by the team, especially Lu Si Cheng. However, as they continue to interact and live at the base, she forms a closer bond with the team and an even closer bond with Lu Si Cheng, the captain of ZGDX. 

This drama was adapted from the web novel “You’re Beautiful When You Smile” (你微笑时很美) by Qing Mei (青浼). 

Beware of Spoilers Moving Forward!!!!!!!!!

What Episode did the Main Couple Start Dating?

OMg. They literally take a whole third of the show just to establish the fact they are dating. They are officially together in Episode 21.

I don’t mind slow burns, and in this case it was fine because there is a lot of plot in this show in terms of gaming and the e-sports world. There is also just a lot of hesitation between the two, as her ex-boyfriend, Jiang Yang, was also an e-sports professional gamer and they lost contact because of it, and therefore, she originally didn’t want to have a relationship with anyone in the same field. She also hesitates as the fandom is highkey crazy and a lot of people were convinced they were already dating before, and were already shit-talking Tong Yao for “seducing” Si Cheng. 

Si Cheng asks Tong Yao very casually in episode 20 if she wants to try, and she asks “try what?” and he says, me. LOLOLOLOL I almost died here. In episode 21, she thinks he was joking, and was very indecisive on what to do but she almost confessed in a previous episode so I don’t know what she was hesitating for. She then accepts him later in this episode. 

Misunderstandings?

They have a misunderstanding in Episode 17 after Tong Yao gets into a fight at an event with another lady who was in charge of that event. She pushes the lady and that lady makes a whole video accusing Tong Yao of physically hurting her and it goes viral. Tong Yao gets banned for one game. During this time, Si Cheng isn’t talking to her and Tong Yao is butt- hurt about it. He explains later on in Episode 18. 

There’s also another time in Episode 26 where Si Cheng is acting cold and distant with Tong Yao after the harmful package incident with Tong Yao. He ignores her and acts cold with her for days. In Episode 27, Tong Yao asks Si Cheng if they’re breaking up because he’s been cold, however, he consoles her and tells her he’s just angry at himself that he can’t protect her. 

Love Triangles?

LOOOOOOOOOL This show is essentially a harem. Every captain from almost every team loves Tong Yao akjsndkfjsdfs. It was kinda funny. But jokes aside. There really isn’t a love triangle at all. 

Jiang Yang tries to get Tong Yao back, however, she was very set in stone that she wouldn’t take him back. She explains to Jiang Yang that the reason she doesn’t want to get back with him is because he never treated her as someone who could walk alongside him. 

Another funny character who was obsessed with Tong Yao was Kun from FNC, he was soooo funny. I laughed the whole time his character appeared on screen. He just felt like comedic relief tbh. 

Second Leads Romance

OMGGGG. Ai Jia and Jin Yang were so fun to watch honestly. Zhou Yi Ran. my love. My obsession. My fav c-drama actor. Akjsndfkjsnkdfs. Zhou Yi Ran playing Ai Jia was a delight to watch. The first time I watched him was in When I Fly Towards you and his character is so different in Falling Into Your Smile. Their romance was different, but honestly, very true. Jin Yang had no interest in the world of e-sports but she supported Ai Jia throughout it. She ended up buying his team too LOL. and she helped him reconnect with his mom again after she kicked him out for wanting to be a professional e-sports gamer. 

Falling Into Your Smile Ending

Falling Into Your Smile has a happy ending where they win at the finals thanks to Tong Yao. Then, we watch Ai Jia and Jin Yang get married and Tong Yao catches the bouquet. It was a typical sweet ending. 

Falling Into Your Smile Review- A Fun Romance between Gamers

I gave this show a 7.5/10. I enjoyed it thoroughly as it was a fun show to watch with e-sports, friendship, romance, conflicts, etc. If I’m being completely honest the reason why I can’t rate the show any higher is because I just felt the show was mediocre at best. I don’t know how to explain it. I was happy when the main leads got together, and honestly, some of the conflicts were fun to watch and I understood how they dealt with it. However, it was just a fun watch. I can't say that I was obsessed and eager to finish the show. I think the reason I couldn’t enjoy this show to the fullest was because Cheng Xiao’s acting in this show was mediocre at best. She kind of always had a poker face throughout the show aksjbfksds.

The e-sports plot was fun to watch and I did really enjoy that part of the show as this was my first time seeing a plot like this. The fandom being crazy for the guys were super real, the chronic injuries that professional e-sports gamers face was shown, the stigma of being a professional gamer was also explored. I really appreciated and enjoyed these arcs in the story. 

Falling Into Your Smile is a fun watch where you see pro-gamers explore the world of romance, team bonding, dealing with societal stigmas on gaming, etc. I did enjoy the show and it was a cute, fun watch and I didn’t regret the time I took to watch it. 

[thedramabinger]

When I fly towards you sketchbook page ☀️🌻📹

[thedramabinger]

First thoughts on The Romance of Tiger and Rose

I’ve watched about 6 episodes and omg i love it so far! It has the fun premise of a screenwriter entering her own work as a character that is meant to die soon. It’s the generic webcomic style of basically being reincarnated as the villainess and how she has to get through without dying and basically forcing the main guy to fall in love with her.

It has a very fun, comedic atmosphere but also very sweet moments between the main leads. I like where the drama is headed so far and can’t wait to keep watching! It’s the perfect light hearted show I needed atm since I was starting to go into a slump with watching dramas !

[thedramabinger]

Favourite Quote from Amidst a Snowstorm of Love (Ep 9)

"He's so sexy, he makes me faint"

This line made me squeal like a little girl when watching this scene akjsdnkfjsnkdjfnkjs

it was just a thought in yin guo's head but i still screamed, because i felt that

[thedramabinger]

Amidst a Snowstorm of Love (在暴雪时分)

Yet another one. As you can see I love a fluffy, calm, feel-good romance show and here is another one that I can add to that list. Amidst a Snowstorm of Love made by the same showrunner as Love Me, Love My Voice, was another success in creating the sweetest meet cute and showing the most wonderful relationship between two people. This show was cute on top of cute on top of cute, and I was in love with the characters, with the romance, just every little bit. 

My Rating: 10/10

Episodes: 30

Country: China

Genre: Meet Cute Romance with Billiards

Aired: Feb 2nd, 2024- Feb 14th, 2024

Cast:

Leo Wu as Lin Yi Yang

Zhao Jin Mai as Yin Guo

Wang Xing Yue as Meng Xiao Dong

Ding Xiao Ying as Lin Lin

Chen Jing Ke as Jiang Yang 

Dong Zi Fan as Wu Wei

Wang Run Ze as Li Qing Yan

Han Dong Lin as Chen An An

Wang Jia Xuan as Meng Xiao Tian

Synopsis:

Yin Guo is a professional billiards player in nine- ball, and she has a tournament in Hel, however, she came a few months earlier to scope out the place as Meng Xiao Tian (her cousin) was planning to attend school there. 

Yin Guo meets Lin Yi Yang during a snowstorm where they are stranded at a bar. Lin Yi Yang fell in love at first sight. He tries to help out the cousins by getting them a cab, and thus starting their journey of getting to know each other. 

This drama was adapted from the web novel “Zai Bao Xue Shi Fen” (在暴雪时分) by Mo Bao Fei Bao (墨宝非宝), who is also the author of the novel “Really, Really Miss You” which inspired Love Me, Love My Voice. 

Beware of Spoilers Moving Forward!!!!!!

What Episode did the Main Couple Start Dating?

It’s kinda like alluded that they are essentially together after Episode 6, however, Yin Guo still questions if they are in a relationship in Episode 9 LOL which caught me off guard because the way she asks him is by asking if he has a girlfriend at school or something???? but I understand why she was asking. She was just clarifying what they were. He then clarifies that he’s serious about her and that’s I guess technically when they were official. 

Misunderstandings?

They have a minor dispute in Episode 18. This is it though LOL. They have no other misunderstandings other than this. This misunderstanding also only lasts less than an episode.

Episode 18 is when Yi Yang was trying to toast Yin Guo’s mom as a way to try to create amends for his prior actions as a child, however, Yin Guo’s mom still acted extremely cold towards him. 

Yin Guo felt like Yi Yang was treating her more cold because of her mom and she walked away from him creating a rift between them. 

In Episode 19, they solve this misunderstanding. Yi Yang came to try to make up with her the next morning but she had already left for training for 2 months. He texts her that he’s there, and she calls him, and she wonders why he didn’t call the same night and because of that she got even more mad the next morning and left without saying anything. He basically gives in and says “I miss you, I’ll go now, bye” and let me tell you his response made me so sad and I felt bad like I stood him up * sobs *. 

Yin Guo talks to the driver who is taking everyone to training, and they have a sweet relatable moment, and he asks her why she didn’t stay at home an extra day to relax. She takes this as an opportunity to go back and make up with Yi Yang, and takes a cab back to him. 

Love Triangles?

There are no love triangles. hehe

There are love rivals but, are they really rivals? (the answer is no lol) We have Li Qing Yan who likes Yin Guo, he’s one of Meng Xiao Dong’s disciples (Meng Xiao Dong is Yin Guo’s cousin). Then, we have Cheng Yan who likes Lin Yi Yang, she is a member of Dongxin City, which is the club that Lin Yi Yang was a part of when he was young. 

Second Main Leads

Honestly, were they really the second main leads? LOL. I barely understood how it was listed as such. Their romance was subtle, and they were just there. I didn’t really care about them tbh ahahahaha. Yin Guo was very invested in it though, however, I wasn’t really bothered.

Amidst a Snowstorm of Love Ending

Amidst a Snowstorm of Love has a cute ending where they both find out that they had anonymous accounts where they only talked about each other. After the Asian Games, he takes the core friend group on a trip. During this trip, he proposes to her while singing the main song of the show jskjndfkjsfkjs (i’m not screaming you are). He did this sweet comparison where he compared his life to the Truman Show and said that the world he created around himself in Hel was fake, and this girl aka Yin Guo, shows up and breaks his reality. He proposes and she says yes right away and then they have a 3 year time skip and it’s just a massive reminiscing scene in Hel. 

Amidst a Snowstorm of Love Review- Meet Cute with that Shy, Awkwardness that evokes the feeling of falling in love

This show in my eyes is a 10/10. I enjoyed basically every second of this beautiful, charming, wholesome romance between two green forest characters. If I’m being completely honest, the majority of the characters in this show is a whole green forest. The romance was just romancing. From the meet-cute, to the awkwardness of getting to know each other, to the hand holding, kissing, communicating, long distance relationship, rejoicing of being physically together again, growing and succeeding together. Everything was just done so well, so elegantly, I was squealing like a highschool girl in my seat watching this show. 

The billiards plot was also extremely fun for me to watch, as I was not really well versed in billiards nor even knew there were multiple types. Lin Yi Yang’s plot with Dongxin City and his coach was really heartwarming to watch and just seeing him becoming more understanding and growing in character was just wonderful to watch. 

This show was the most perfect watch for me. I felt like I was falling in love at the same time as the characters. The cinematic scenes with the actors that had amazing chemistry and wonderful acting skill, just made the experience that much better. 

Amidst a Snowstorm of Love is a must-watch for romance watchers who love shows with supportive main leads, supportive friends, little misunderstandings, a lot of kissing and chemistry, and watching two people just fall in love.

[thedramabinger]

Serendipity’s Embrace (우연일까?)

I was really excited about this show for a while since it was advertised like crazy and I love Chae Jong Hyeop and Kim So Hyun as actors. After watching this show in one night, I have to say I’m slightly disappointed with how the show went. I expected over the top cuteness, since it was advertised as a pure romance yet I finished a little unsatisfied. Keep reading this post to find out more about the show! 

My Rating: 6.5/10

Episodes: 8

Country: Korea

Genre: Just Romance

Aired: July 22nd, 2024- August 13th, 2024

Cast: 

Kim So Hyun plays Lee Hong Ju

Chae Jong Hyeop plays Kang Hu Yeong 

Yun Ji On plays Bang Jun Oh

Kim Da Som plays Kim Hye Ji 

Lee Won Jung plays Kwon Sang Pil

Hwang Sung Bin plays Son Gyeong Taek 

Synopsis:

The synopsis of this show is so misleading on MDL (MyDramaList) so here is a proper one. Lee Hong Ju was seen giving love letters to Kang Hu Yeong, but don’t be mistaken, those love letters were from Hong Ju’s bestfriend Kim Hye Ji. They keep coincidentally meeting each other and interacting, and Kang Hu Yeong slowly forms a crush on Lee Hong Ju. However, he ends up moving to the US without telling anyone. 

10 years later he is back in Korea for business, and he somehow stumbles across Lee Hong Ju again at a cafe during a blind date. Thus continues their story 10 years later and we wonder if Kang Hu Yeong’s first love will finally come into fruition? 

This drama was adapted from the webtoon “Uyeonilkka?” (우연일까?)  which was written by Nam Ji Eun (남지은) and illustrated by Kim In Ho (김인호). 

Beware of Spoilers Moving Forward!

What Episode did the Main Couple Start Dating?

Hong Ju and Hu Yeong start to date in Episode 5. Hu Yeong confesses and kisses Hong Ju in Episode 4, however, she’s extremely flustered and keeps trying to avoid him. Hye Ji and Hong Ju talk in episode 5 about how making relationships complicated isn’t necessary since you never know what will happen and what will hurt them, so they should go for it. Hong Joo also has a dream that night where she sees Jun Oh is leaving and she tells him to stop showing up in her dream, and then Hu Yeong enters the dream and he says he’s going back to America and that she won’t stop him, and then he asks one last time if he really wants her to go. After this dream is over, Hong Joo decides she should just go for it, and tells Hu Yeong that she doesn’t want him to go back to America and kisses him. 

Hong Joo’s Past

I thought they would elaborate more on this. However, the plot point is just there to show her fear of being abandoned. They don’t add any more to this topic. I was hoping to see why her mom abandoned her, and what her aunt and uncle did after one of the scenes where they show them talking about what to do with her because the aunt is pregnant. Yet, they never go back to it. It felt disappointing to be honest that it was never explored more. 

Misunderstandings?

There are some misunderstandings between Hong Ju and Hu Yeong in episode 7. This is when Hu Yeong’s mom stirs up shit saying that he changes girlfriends too much and she’ll end up getting hurt if she stays with him. Hu Yeong also finds out that she might be working on Jun Oh’s animation project for his book and was butt hurt that she never told him. Yet, Hong Ju gets mad that he was mad about that because she doesn’t believe that he should care or that he saw how much she liked Jun Oh. 

This gets solved literally a few scenes later when Hong Joo watches two students escape from the bushes, that Hu Yeong was there during the time she escaped school to go to confess to Jun Oh and saw her cry and dread over him before. Hu Yeong also learns that she has a fear of people who leave her behind without telling her why or saying goodbye, which is why she kept putting her distance from him and always saying goodbye, since he left the last time without saying bye. 

Love Triangles?

LOL. This show is a fat love triangle/ square/ pentagon? Hong Ju likes Jun Oh, but Hu Yeong likes Hong Ju, and Hye Ji likes Hu Yeong and then I’m pretty sure Kwon Sang Pil likes Hye Ji. However, it's done very decently and doesn’t make it a big deal, if anything it just makes it more amusing. 

A little love for the 2nd Couple

The 2nd couple in the beginning I didn’t care for. However, by the end they stole my heart. I actually enjoyed their story more than the main couple because I was giggling, kicking my feet and flailing my arms in the air when Gyeong Taek finally confessed to Hye Ji. It was such a funny, yet cute moment for someone who struggled with showing his feelings outwardly. His stuttering and hiccuping and then screaming I love you three times, was just so cute. 

Then, when he finally agrees to let their relationship be known and he puts her heel on her feet, and grabs her hand and looks straight into her dad’s eyes to say “Abbu-nim, I'll take her”, and her dad at first says in a half angry voice “my daughter?” And then says super happily, “take her” and he picks her up princess style and runs away giggling that the dad accepted them, was just so funny and cute. 

Serendipity’s Embrace Ending

The show ends with a sweet scene of Hong Ju meeting Hu Yeong at the airport to accompany him on his trip to America. She uses up all her vacation days she has saved up to go with him and be with him for a while as he settles his score with his mother regarding the lawsuit. 

Serendipity’s Embrace Review- A Very Generic Romance Story

I give this show a 6.5/10. It is sweet and I love the actors, however, the storyline is overdone. The overbearing mother who is trying to force the ML to go back to America because she wants to be controlling? The FL who fears being abandoned? The Ex that left her without giving her a reason and comes back and wants her back? The romance that is all based on fate/ coincidence? It’s all over-done and has been seen before many times. Therefore, the ideas and concepts didn’t feel fresh at all. The romance itself was also not something I was super excited by, which made it a bit more disappointing. It was just a sweet watch, however, nothing felt unique. 

[thedramabinger]

Silent (J Drama) Episode 1 Feelings

Set up of the first episode is just heart breaking, they show many moments that are foreshadowed and go straight into the relationship between the two and what happens between Tsumugi and Sou in a way that felt nostalgic but also bitter sweet.

They foreshadow with a scene with Tsumugi and Sou in the winter, and tells him that when the snow falls its silent. Then the scene cuts and brings to present day where its raining, and she mentions its too loud.

There is also a scene where she mentions that they had an earphone exchange for Christmas, and how the earphones stopped working 3 years ago which is foreshadowing that Sou lost his hearing entirely 3 years ago as well.

They manage to make my heart hurt the whole episode by the way they set it up.

Minato finding out that Sou was deaf through his sister and having a whole breakdown genuinely hurt me. You could see the pain that Minato was feeling. The actor did a wonderful job portraying this.

The denial seen in Minato and Tsumugi hurts.

Aoba accidentally meets Sou and tries to talk to him, but he signs a bunch and explains everything but of course she doesn't understand anything. You can also see the pain in her face throughout this.

[thedramabinger]

You Are My Glory (你是我的荣耀)

I was looking for another fluffy, feel-good show like Love Me, Love My Voice and stumbled upon this greatness of a show. Similar to how I started Love Me, Love My Voice, I had no idea what You Are My Glory was about, however I recognized the male lead as the lead in Love O2O (which I'm sorry to say I still haven’t watched to date welp). Coming out of this show though, and I’m just stunned by how much this show has made me fall in love with love again. 

My Rating: 9.5/10

Episodes: 32

Country: China

Genre: Romance with a lot of Aerospace plot

Aired: July 26th, 2021 - August 16th, 2021

Cast: 

Yang Yang plays Yu Tu

Dilraba Dilmurat plays Qiao Jing Jing 

Synopsis:

You Are My Glory is a story about Yu Tu (played by Yang Yang) who is an aerospace engineer and his new budding romance with celebrity Qiao Jing Jing (played by Dilraba Dilmurat), 10 years after he rejects her. 

Qiao Jing Jing needs to save her endorsement with a mobile gaming company as footage was leaked of her horrible gameplay. Losing this endorsement could ruin her chances in getting a new role in a famous director’s movie, hence, she starts to practice to get better and vouches the mobile gaming company that she will participate in a live gaming competition to prove herself. 

During this time, Yu Tu accidentally sends out a game invite to Qiao Jing Jing, not knowing that it was her, and she reconnects with him through this mobile game. She then asks him to coach her how to play as she realizes that he is extremely good at the game. Thus, beginning a new chapter in their lives. 

This drama was adapted from the web novel “You’re My Glory” (你是我的荣耀) by Gu Man (顾漫). 

Beware of Spoilers Moving Forward!

What Episode did the Main Couple Start Dating?

Yu Tu and Qiao Jing Jing officially start dating in Episode 21. They also get married in episode 30 in a group wedding run by the aerospace industry.

Yu Tu actually rejects Qiao Jing Jing again in Episode 15, since he feels that he can’t be the best boyfriend for her since he decided to stay in the aerospace industry. However, after both of them dread about it for at least 3 episodes, he decides to attempt to woo her back. 

He asks her out in Episode 20, but she doesn’t give a definitive answer as she is afraid he will break her heart. However, in Episode 21 she finds out that he did fulfill her wish of getting a Penta Kill for her birthday and he came rushing to her at the karaoke bar high school reunion to keep attempting his luck. She accepts him then and thus begins their cutesy relationship. 

Misunderstandings?

There is a bit of misunderstanding between Episode 15 to Episode 18, as Qiao Jing Jing doesn’t understand why Yu Tu rejects her again. However, this time was needed for Yu Tu to  grow some balls LOL aka gain some confidence and pursue her. 

Why does Yu Tu reject Qiao Jing Jing both times?

Yu Tu rejects Qiao Jing Jing in highschool because he was very naive and felt like the girl he should date should be as intelligent as him with more future prospects. 

He rejects her again in the future because he feels that his job in the aerospace industry is not well paying, and he will always be busy and won’t have time to care and love her properly. 

Love Triangles?

There are no love triangles.

In the beginning of the show, they introduced us to Yu Tu’s ex-girlfriend, who is also a highschool classmate of both Yu Tu’s and Qiao Jing Jing. She has come back to try to win Yu Tu back, however, she was unsuccessful extremely early on and we never see her again. 

Qiao Jing Jing’s ex also shows up at her door one day, yet leaves when he sees Yu Tu. He tries his luck again after the mobile gaming competition, however, Qiao Jing Jing sticks her ground and tells him she’s not interested, in her own way of course. 

You Are My Glory Ending

You Are My Glory has a cute ending where there is a time skip 5 years after they got married to show us that Yu Tu successfully launches God Searcher and Qiao Jing Jing was there to support him and love him through that process. It’s just that feel good ending that we need. 

You are My Glory Review- Sweet, Pure, Supportive Love 

I give this crazy good show a 9.5/10. This show was a ball of sweetness, it was pure, supportive and mature. It fulfilled every checkbox that I look for in a romance. The main characters have the healthiest relationship once they get together, they talk about all their feelings, they understand each other, and stay supportive of each other in their busy life-styles. The premise of this show was fun with the one character being an aerospace engineer and the other one being a full-blown famous celebrity, however, their healthy attitudes and supportive nature made the show just a delight to watch. 

My review of this show lost 0.5 only because close to the end of the show they kept having so many time jumps, and also in the beginning of the show I felt Yang Yang’s acting felt a bit too stiff.

This show, all in all, was just a sweet, pure, supportive romance between two green flagged characters that starts with a rejection when they were in highschool and 10 years later it blooms into a full-blown cute relationship. 

This show is a must-watch for romance watchers who love supportive relationships with little misunderstandings, a lot of kissing, and a love story that transcends generic romance. 

[thedramabinger]

Love Me, Love My Voice (很想很想你) Review

I went into this drama not knowing anything about it. I didn’t know the actors nor the plot. However, after watching this drama filled with honey dripping sweetness, I was so glad I gave it a watch. 

My Rating: 9/10

Episodes: 33

Country: China

Genre: Pure Romance with good Music and too many scenes with food

Aired: Nov 30th, 2023 - Dec 16th, 2023

Cast:

Tan Jian Ci plays Mo Qing Cheng/ Qiang Qing Ci

Zhou Ye plays Gu Sheng/ Sheng Sheng Man

Hou Wen Yuan plays Zhou Zheng/ Jue Mei Sha Yi

Yang Xi Zi plays Geng Xiao Xing

Vincent Cao plays Feng Ya Song

Chen Hao Lan plays Dou Bing/ Mo Mo Er

Synopsis: 

Sheng Sheng (played by Zhou Ye) seems like a typical university student, however she has another identity online as “Sheng Sheng Man” where she makes music in the folk pop genre. One day, in a voice chat room while Sheng Sheng was talking to her friend, her idol, Qiang Qing Ci  who is a voice actor (played by Tan Jian Ci) enters the voice chat and speaks to her. Thus, Sheng Sheng’s world into professional music and love begins. 

This drama was adapted from the novel “Really, Really Miss You” (很想很想你) by Mo Bao Fei Bao (墨宝非宝). 

Beware of Spoilers Moving Forward!

What Episode did the Main Couple Start Dating?

Sheng Sheng and Mo Qing Cheng start dating as early as episode 8. She is reluctant to accept since they have only been together a handful of times, however, Mo Qing Cheng persuades her to start a relationship with him. 

Misunderstandings?

There are literally no misunderstandings, no break ups, no petty problems between the main couple as they talk about their feelings pretty straightforwardly. This show was genuinely a breath of fresh air between two green flagged characters. 

Love Triangles?

None. Nada. There was no second male lead or female lead there to squash the other person’s feelings. Purely feel good. 

Love Me, Love My Voice Ending

Love Me, Love My Voice has a cute typical happy ending, where they skip 2 years into the future and basically wrap up the story where they show that Sheng Sheng has finished her postgraduate studies and is beginning to work professionally as a composer. She is also preparing to get married to Mo Qing Cheng as he has already bought them a house. They go on a little vacation to their first retreat spot, and take wedding pictures and essentially reminisce about their time together. 

We also find out that Zhou Zheng and Geng Xiao Xing are also officially together. We also get a cute ending for Feng Ya Song and Dou Bing, where he finally takes the courage to try to confess to Dou Bing and she essentially accepts by telling him to stop talking, and takes his hand. 

Love Me, Love My Voice Review- Cute, Fluffy, Wholesome Romance

I give this show a wonderful 9/10. This show literally was the fluffiest, cutest, most wholesome romance for a girly who loves romance. It fulfilled every checkmark. The main characters have the healthiest relationship, the premise of voice acting and folk pop music was new and super fun to watch and listen to. I’ve never listened to any folk pop music before this show, but I was genuinely loving every song in this show (P.S. i have all the songs from this show added to a playlist on Spotify luls). They were massive foodies, which didn’t help me as I was watching the show. It made me always crave food when they described recipes or he was whipping up a dish. 

My review of this show lost a point only because I felt the character’s romance stayed very stagnant close to the end and not much was changing. Also, with the random time skip I felt like the ending was rushed. It felt like it was supposed to have a 40 episode run, but the show was cut short. 

This show, all in all, was just pure fluff with a new fun premise of voice acting and folk pop music, with a lot of food added in to create a unique wholesome romance. 

In my opinion, it's a must-watch if you love romance shows with little to no misunderstandings, no love triangles and pure fluff romance <3.