The Rational Life (2021)

I really liked the story

what delighted me the most is that despite the difference between the age in the drama and in real life, there was no lack of intimacy, as in some who barely had a kiss at the end, I looked at the whole drama in the shortest time, the story was very calm, and you can still develop many things for a second season, although I find it difficult, I liked the couple a lot, things that are not common to see in a society like ours, which judge more than they try to make us happy, I recommend it to anyone , I expect a second season, or at least the 3 extra episodes subtitled on Netflix. (used google translate from Portuguese)

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Enjoyable and light drama, yet too dominant office plot and near too perfect main characters

I came across this drama on Netflix and found it quite enjoyable to watch. Yet, it didn’t fully convince me or intrigue me with anything unparalleled, it was a rather smooth storyline so you could already expect where things will lead to.

Aspects which I liked:

For people who just started their career or are within the midst of it, there will be something in the drama you can relate to. Whether it’s obstacles in women’s careers, financial independency, pursuing a stable job vs a career path with more uncertainty or not knowing what you want in life, you can find all those topics in the drama. The main messages are also linked to this, as in Ziyan’s story: she got lost and forgot about what she truly wants but eventually gets back her self-esteem and path in life (“At our age, we should understand that not everyone can see the view at the top. What if we’re the ship that ran aground? Then we just rest until the next wave comes.”) Or Su Yang who believes you can only be happy and live life when you’re established, but then realizes that having the support of people you can trust actually makes you stronger and helps you to believe in yourself. Of course, there’s also the “pride from the achievements of your own honest hard work and growth” aspect. In the end, Ruoxin earns her spot at the top without playing dirty tactics and not ridiculing those losing their power. In addition, though related to societal norms, I liked the way the mothers analyze how they raised their children and what matters to them as mothers. The friendship between the mothers was a nice side benefit. And overall, I liked that the relationships between the main characters were supportive and sincere, everyone was pulling in the same direction. Also, all the couples were very likable.

Aspects I didn’t like:

I think the central character, Ruoxin, is lacking a bit human touch. Of course, she has some setbacks, but they are mainly related to bad luck, stress and office politics than something that can be traced back to her. Other than that, she always does a fantastic job, always has a diplomatic and sharp answer at hand, gives precise commands in a blink, and always has a solution to tackle things efficiently. I cannot count how many times she was praised as capable and outstanding in the series. Why does a strong female character need to be presented like an iron lady? I cannot help but compare her to the female lead in “Find yourself”, which I found way more believable. I think it’s only natural that you doubt yourself sometimes and that you don’t always know what’s right (at least from my understanding, perfectionist people doubt themselves the most). There will also be days when you can’t work that productively, a task you’re not good at, or a situation that renders you dumbfounded. In the end, Ruoxin learns how to open up a little, but other than that, she remains stiff, not only in terms of personality but also in her body language. And it’s not only her, Xu Minjie, Lisa and Qi Xiao are equally near too perfect characters. I get that Qi Xiao is determined, hard-working and reliable. But isn’t he like the perfect boyfriend – smart, handsome, always caring, always doing his utmost and succeeding in it, and always understanding how other people feel? He’s even that good at cooking and diversified in his recipes that he can make dishes reminding Ruoxin of her childhood. Well, it’s a drama series after all.

Another aspect I didn’t like was that the office plot was too dominant. I get that the main stage of the series is the office and that it’s about a career-driven woman. But watching the trailer didn’t give me the impression that it’s a series about office work on electric cars. I almost felt like I was working there. And is it really necessary to constantly work overtime and be available 24/7 for your boss to deserve to be called capable and hard-working? Apart from eating out and Ruoxin’s fascination about astronomy, what else have we learned about the private life of the main characters? I think that “Find yourself” was more multi-dimensional in this aspect and outlines the societal linkages of the characters in a more holistic way. And while the characters in “Find yourself” were going through understandable struggles of a relationship with an age gap (family, colleagues, neighbors etc), in “The Rational Life” you’re left with a happily ever after and never get to the point where they need to work on their relationship (it only gives a glimpse when Qi Xiao prepares for the design contest). Moreover, the kissing scenes in “The Rational Life” felt unnatural – a little bit more passion wouldn’t have hurt the drama. And finally, something which I normally wouldn’t bother to point out, but I found it funny that they were emphasizing so much the environmental aspect of their electric cars, while neglecting that the product life cycle of electric cars isn’t 100% clean (and it depends on the energy source) plus they were always carrying around plastic bags and take away in plastic packaging.

All in all, the series is sweet and enjoyable, maybe it even motivates you to work harder for your career since it was almost like an advertisement for hard work, but other than that, there’s not more to it.

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"Rational Life"! Will it be a good watch or downright ugly?

I finally finished it.
Except for the horror genre, it was a rollercoaster ride of all the emotions that can be felt while watching a drama.
The first ten episodes are captivating.
I became so engrossed that I binge-watched the first ten episodes that I forgot how quickly time passed.....
But from episode 11 to 21, I was so bored that I became frustrated wondering how long it would take them to realise they love each other.
Surprisingly, it began to improve again with the next episode.
& I felt a strong desire to end this show.
It gets even better near the end.....
Episodes 32 and 33 are two of my favourites.
I was happy, angry at times, annoyed at times, felt the sadness as well as regrets of their mothers from their pasts, felt butterflies from heart-fluttering scenes, laughed my ass off at times, as well as cried a bucket at the end of it.
In a nutshell, it was a wonderful journey.
Based on the first half of the show, I'm sure most viewers will drop it.
I was also considering putting it "on hold."
Nonetheless, I forced myself to go for it.
But as I managed to secure closer to the end, I realised that all of the boring parts from the first half were necessary for all of the emotional scenes and heart-fluttering moments at the end.
So I'm writing this review because I'm glad I forced myself to wrap up it.
So I'd also advise trying to force yourself towards the end.
You will not be sorry later.
More importantly, don't forget to watch the special three episodes.

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Pleasantly surprised

I went into this drama thinking it would be slow and boring but I really wanted to watch this new series with Dylan Wang. The storyline is very similar to the Korean drama Something in the Rain. But I enjoyed this one so much more, I was constantly eager to watch the next episode. And I was able to binge it in 2.5 days.
Meteor Garden was one of my first introductions into Chinese dramas. And it was a breath of fresh air to watch such a different character portrayed by Dylan Wang in A Rational Life. He was sweet, kind, and just overall a good person with nothing wrong with his personality. The complete opposite of his crazy over-the-top character in Meteor Garden. His acting has definitely improved. Although I have not watched his other historical Chinese dramas yet.

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Woman Who Crushes Both Work and Romance (Maybe)

A rollercoaster of emotions, workplace drama, and a sprinkle of romance that had me glued to the screen (most of the time).

So picture this: you've got Shen Ruo Xin, the epitome of a career-driven woman in her thirties, navigating through the chaotic world of office politics like a boss (literally). She's smart, she's savvy, and she's not about to let anyone mess with her hustle. But let's not forget the supporting cast – from the overbearing mothers to the charming love interests, each character adds their own flavor to the mix.

Now, don't get me wrong, there were moments where I found myself checking the clock, wondering if we really needed another subplot about Ruo Xin's boss and his shenanigans. And don't even get me started on the endless parade of characters.

But when it comes to the romance department, things really start heating up around episode 21. That's when the real flirting kicks in, and let me tell you, the chemistry between Ruo Xin and her childhood sweetheart-turned-love interest is off the charts. Sure, there were a few cringe-worthy moments along the way, but hey, that's all part of the fun, right?

Now, I won't spoil the ending for you, but let's just say there were a few moments where I found myself yelling at the screen, wondering why Ruo Xin was putting up with so much nonsense from certain characters. Seriously, girl, you deserve better!

But despite its flaws, "The Rational Life" had me hooked from start to finish. It's a journey of self-discovery, love, and maybe just a little bit of office drama overload. So grab your popcorn, settle in, and get ready for a wild ride through the ups and downs of modern-day career woes and unexpected romance.

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Worth watching if you're here for nice, cosy, slow-paced drama about love

A non-trivial love story about bossy FL and cute ML who also is much younger than the leading girl. The story is wrapped around the corporate business of a car company and their business. It explores social issues such as - sexism in the workplace, pressure on "leftover women" from their parents, pressure on young married couples to have kids from their parents, and of course, pressure on couples where the guy is much younger than a girl. Although there is a lot of just everyday work-related stuff happening in this drama, it is nevertheless very interesting . I watched it from beginning to end without the desire to skip or to switch to another drama. At the same time, almost no cliffhangers (for me it's a plus, you won't spend sleepless nights binge-watching if you don't want to) and the development of the feelings of the characters is really smooth and nice. Also very realistic (no hate-to-love staff etc.)
FL s personal story is also the one I liked. She's the kind of person who is reserved and would analyse everything and it's not easy for her to give in to feelings. Therefore we find her in her 30+ alone. Luckily the guy whose character is quite opposite - cute, sensational and outgoing finds her and tries to win her heart.
There have also been quite a few funny moments and several dramatic moments (not the kind you'll be crying over but the kind you'll feel the strong feelings heroes had at that moment.
The actor's play is great, especially I did like Dylan Wang, he really has a character. Side couples and other actors are not always so great but hey, they didn't occupy too much time anyway ( I kind of thought the best ML friend and his girlfriend are kind of silly and didn't like them personally, but everyone to his taste) ///

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"I don't want to tippy toe and look at the view that someone else shows me."

I honestly put aside this show for awhile because I tend to find noona romances not well done, cringe, and plot-lacking. As I started watching The Rational Life, I was genuinely interested in the FL's story and character. Normally, work politics and the work plot are served to the side of romance and not much of it intrigues me. A lot of the work drama is often petty and the female lead ends up annoying me.

There were a lot of eye-opening and moving moments in the show--as a woman. The FL holds strong ideals and is fiercely independent; she can't fathom being in a relationship or get married only to help lower a man's cost of living. She has a lot of really great logical reflections, many which I relate to. Is the FL being too rational when she wants to stand on her own? I LOVED that The Rational Life brings about the issues that the modern woman faces: Sexism, ageism, gender roles and expectations. Your value is not attributed to your hard work and dreams, but instead what you bring into society as a mother and wife. In return, you are seen as not a fit candidate to climb higher.

The Romance: very slow burn and very cute! I like that Dylan didn't try to overact cool or try to appear to be something the character is not. The ML is young, but responsible and reliable. He respects and admires her as a person first. Funny because that's a bare minimum the other men in this show cannot do. I didn't find the romance or his acting cringe, but rather endearing. The pace is realistic, while still entertaining to watch. I thought the age gap was done well, and the chemistry was there in the subtle glances and smiles.

The Love Triangle: I was surprised by the SML, I thought he was gonna give old, creepy, power tripping boss vibes when pursuing her. As we see in the show, a lot of the other men could not handle rejection. The SML was classy and reasonable, maybe he utilized his position in some minor parts, but that was unavoidable since he was her superior. He respected her value, and probably thought they could be a power couple together. He thought "better quality, more expensive, higher views" would be anyone's choice if given the option.

The FL's best friend is the other view of the traditional housewife. She is regretful when she looks at the FL, who is still in a "promising" career. Not fully knowing that the FL has her own set of struggles in the workplace. The sacrifices she made to be a housewife are resulted in gaps in her career -- making return to work life not easy. I think her story is something many housewives can relate to. Society praises motherhood and homemaking, until they don't. Because your workplace is in the home, it's not a job right? I found it very sad that she felt her husband had "changed." In reality, he most likely held these expectations, but hoped she would come around eventually -- and by then she would have no choice because she HAS to rely on him. A side plot that actually adds value to the show's message!

Overall, a well done representation of modern society in the lens of a woman. Although themes were not that new or creative, the message was still refreshing. Highly recommend if you want a drama that gets you to reflect, but still be cute and entertaining!

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Noona/Office romance with perfect cast and production

This could have been just like any other noona romance but it was not.It solery focused of business
and then the romance came in after.
If you are not a patient person,I wouldnt recommend this drama but unffortunetly you would miss out
on a very good project that was excuted with care and high intelligence from both actors and writers.
Its a slow burn,they spend most of the time really conducting business and somehow you find yourself
sacked in the boardroom with them,watching the bad guys skimming and loosing which gives you a silent
satisfaction.
The FL is the main character,she is carrer driven,goal setter,with an ability not to crack under intense pressure
in an industry that is designed to give one high blood pressure.But she navigates the corridors of power with
ease,a fake sime and a problem solving attitude.
She gets paired up with a young ML who by "accident" finds himself thrown into the battle ground and early
on he understands that he has to protect the FL from the wolves who have nothing in mind but to kick her out.
When she gets demoted,he follows her and stick with her till the end of his term.Did I mention he also falls in
love with her and they have to fight another battle outside the office beacause of their age difference..and win
her mother who from my opinion stood between a thin line of weird and psychopath.I have seen share amount of
mothers in asian dramas but this one took the trophy,the only difference is that she would get a quicker redemption.

This is one of thosse drams you watch slowly,with your own pace. but I commend the directors and writers for giving us
a solid show.ther ewas no dragged story line.And it was an educational piece on the world of business and environment.

Also Hallo Dylan Wnag..I trust him with any role,He will deliver and give you more than you bargained for,I call him the male
version of Zhao Lusi.I lowkey wish his potential chemistry was reciprocated but acting with someone 20 years older
than you in real life,creates some sot of invisible boundaries.But he is acting was kiss chef that this lack of chemistry
was not visible.

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Amazing chemistry and stoey

Just finished it and what a refreshing change from ongoing shows I have been watching.

Just happened to run across it somehow and it's a true gem. Intelligent characters and not much fillers for once in this drama.

Doesn't have the best music but the production quality is incredible. Food actually looks like food instead of other shows that show high end food using food you can buy frozen. Settings and locations are top notch. They really spent all out in production costs for this show.

Great chemistry and not too much fluff or cutesy nonsense. I think it will appeal to 18+ and less for teens.

Great story and realistic romance and difficulties in romance. Love actress who played the 2 moms.

It's a gem and definitely you will enjoy it.

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A fresh breath of air! A total GEM

Being frank enough I wasn't going to watch this cause always in dramas where the girl is elder to the boy there is always unwanted drama, but this was an exception and I can tell I was so happy to find this drama(btw I completed it in 1.5 days)

I will start from rating the drama
acting - 10 /10
chemistry - 100/10

Looking at this drama I really liked how each and every character was involved very perfectly.
From mom's of the leads to friends and colleague everyone was not unreasonable and the friends especially were very supportive and not the one who ditched or did some weird thing to make the male couple fall in trouble.
- A well set drama where it not only tells the importance of love but it also feel about how to keep calm when thing go down and not be depressed .
Its is a very up lifting drama.
You should definitely watch this
PURE GEM

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Strong Female Lead! Women not talking about men!

I enjoyed this series because it strikes all the right notes for me -- no one is extra-super special, characters are generally realistic, situations are plausible, settings are appropriate, and, best of all, everyone acts like a real person - which is a joy after seeing so many canned plots.

It passes the Bechdel test with flying colors - also a delight - women talking to other women about things other than men -- their goals, dreams, supportive friendships - it was really top notch there. As an older woman, I often have trouble suspending disbelief when the female characters are two dimensional and/or disappointing stereotypes of what men THINK women talk about or do when they don't have any men around to flirt with.

FL was brilliant in her role, and played it with great skill. What was particularly noteworthy was how her persona held up and remained consistent within realistic boundaries. That's not an easy thing to do. Got a big kick out of ML, who I kept thinking of as "Pineapple Head" (from Meteor Garden) - he got to play a well-rounded, good hearted young man and did it well. Supporting female lead was, sadly, not a well-fleshed out character -- too much "ditz" for the job she presumably had, but I thought friend of ML had some good character development and a great young lion moment with his parents.

I had to revisit the portrayal of FL's mother in my mind a time or two - in many ways at first, I thought it was badly done, however, in the latter episodes, a chance remark makes the wild mood swings and other personality oddities much more understandable. I still think it was a speck over the top, but the chance remarks tamed it. Nice to see Mom do some growing up, too. Great green jacket on Mom!

There's also an element which I have now seen in several Chinese serial stories - comeuppance within realistic boundaries. I like this -- it doesn't happen as often as we'd like to think in real life, but when it does, it happens with doorbells, not trumpets, which is how that element worked out in this show.

I recommend it and encourage you to wait through the few places where it drags in order to see a glimpse of life played lovingly and believably.

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DEF ONE OF MY FAV CDRAMAS

So...I havent watched much cdramas as I usually watched kdramas but this is like the 6th chinese one I have watched so far and I really liked it! It's very realistic and relatable and I especially loved the main lead's characters as they're very mature and likeable that I learned a lot. The female lead had me getting a girl-crush on her cuz she's sooo admirable!! I guess that was the most refreshing thing I liked about this drama and I loved the moments she finally started having butterflies from the male lead and actually found a real love..I didn't mind the second male lead much because I dont blame him for admiring her a lot and honestly he wasnt that bad like ive seen worse SML in some kdramas...this one was pretty cool/chill. ANYWAYS i already miss the main characters and im desperately searching for any similar cdramas (that have mature leads not annoying childish ones)

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