Zui Shi Ren Jian Yan Huo Se (2023)

I cannot recommend this drama!

What a weird drama, oh my god I don't even know where to start..

Alright about the premise, the whole way the relationship/marriage started is completely insane. I kept watching, because Perfect and Casual had a similarly insane first 2-3 episodes & after that it turned out to be one of the better cdramas I've seen.
In all honesty around e7-8 I started thinking this show will be like that too, before the secondary love interest shows up most of the episodes were a work of art. There were several episodes in a row where there was no plot, but only very chill, cozy and a bit moody romance & I felt I could keep watching content like this for a hundred more episodes.

I think our leads look great together, in an attractively misfitting way. They had slowly developing, but good chemistry & if I focused exclusively on their romance, then that was quite good up until the finale. They had their ups and downs, but there were no serious problems or misunderstandings that took too long to resolve.

This is a visually stunning show, it's really high up there in terms photography & the sets, sceneries are just amazingly beautiful..

To me this drama feels a bit like they hired the best possible actors, the best possible cinematographer, procured some great background music inserts and gotten an amazing director too. Unfortunately as it often happens the writer did not work out. I already talked about the premise, but I'm almost at a loss of words about the things that go down in the second half of the drama. There is big twist too & that is indescribably absurd & once that is resolved ridiculous business problems crop up & suddenly the money required to solve problems shoots to the stratosphere, they start throwing around numbers that make no sense..
There is some propaganda related messaging as well in the final episodes, though I'm not sure how much of it is intentional.
Unlikely coincidences sure happen a lot in dramas, but good gawd in this one the unlikely chance meeting trope sure is overused & that's an understatement.

One thing that is not writer's fault is the puppies on the show. What the characters describe as "stray dogs and cats from a nearby village" are specimen of incredible pedigree. To me that was extremely immersion breaking, similarly to when in other dramas they adopt and raise randomly found imported hedgehogs that look like $2000. Though in this show it's worse, because the meaning & messaging associated with strays is very significant & then showing dogs that are worth more money than my car is just absurd.

Just to reiterate, the plot twist shocked me more than anything else I can remember in cdramaland, the egregiousness of it, not because it was so impactful.. I'm even suspecting that a large chunk of the drama failed censorship, so they quickly filmed that birthday scene & moved on from all family conflicts with a single stroke.. (the 23 episode length does support this theory) I'd be happy to read your opinions about that under this review :P

5.5 may seem like an unnecessarily low rating, but I don't have it in me to go any higher!

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A Warm Story

What I like about this drama is the story. This one tells about Si Qing, who neglected by her family since young, and her only need is a warm family, a house where she belongs to.

I understand Si Qing's feelings, because as someone who's from a broken family, what they wanted aren't a big house, just a small ones, when their loved ones accompany them through their days.

Although I didn't really like Jing Chen's personality, he's such a person who always put himself on a pedestal. I dislike his action through the series, how he got his revenge for Si Qing to Xiao guy. I thought he was just adding a problem for her, and he really can't do anything for her other than cooked warm food and gave her a warm house. He did have his own aspirations, and make through it in the end.

Anyway this one is a short, warm story. I loved how they are always for each other, how Jing Chen gave Si Qing a really warm house, warm food, and a love she deserved.

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It's such a lovely healing drama. I like how the male lead is so unusual. He doesn't possess any fancy materialistic things, yet emits a very charming charisma. He doesn't even have a bigger-than-life purpose at the beginning either. He also loses his ownership of the village in the end. I like it that way as it doesn't give false hope. As a non-Chinese, I don't like how all mainland Chinese dramas portrayed all foreigners as villain but oh well, it's a different topic.
And the female lead is very realistic with her materialistic list but in an honest and hardworking way. I find the idea of the male lead thinking that his second half of life belongs to the female lead when she bought his winter solstice house model super cute.
To me, this drama is healing with its soothing and sweet daily lessons.

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light drama that is fun to watch

tbh at first I didn't like the attitude of the FL like the way she just went to someone's house and even disturb his work...as a person who likes to make miniatures I do really hate to be disturb because by doing this you need focus that's why I do understand the situation he's in but I'm Also surprised that he did not reacted much then later I found out that he's emotionless.....but as the time goes by the FL improves so as him.....he is slowly opening his vault locked heart because of her I just love this drama.... after watching intense dramas watching this like makes my stress go away.....from the start till the end I only smiled it's so light that you just need to ready your snacks and your blanket and watch it in bet while it's raining outside........idk why this drama is not popular.....but for me this drama deserves more recognition..........

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I was surprised by the plot.

Well, what to say about this drama? I would say that it is a well-constructed drama, it has romance but the plot is not based on it, I would say that this plot is based on friendship, loyalty, opening up to others, fear, forgiveness, it is that drama of self-knowledge. I started it thinking it would just be a romance with an arranged marriage plot, but it goes way beyond that, if you are expecting a steamy romance this drama is not for you, the romance is just a background. I thought the story was well done, impeccable acting and good production, I liked it but I didn't love it.

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Cute, healling romance with an exceptionnal aesthetic aspect

Drama remarkable for the beauty of its images, landscapes, the enhancement of traditional craftsmanship.
The architecture is magnificent!! => this drama was filmed in Wuyi County in Zhejiang, at the Jingyuan Ancient Houses Museum . Now, I just want to visit !!

Plot: "impulsive" marriage between 1 career banker FL (craving a family live and home) and 1 ML, handsome, very introverted, architect/craftsman, who restored an old village (that of his adoptive grandfather) for help local artisans. In this unlikely couple, each one will gain the trust of the other, heal the wounds of the past and gradually build a solid bond.

PROS:
+ people who like art, crafts, history,... will appreciate the images, the scenery, EVERYTHING is exceptional.
+ the actors are good, especially the ML who speaks little, but his eyes express so many emotions!
+ no big twist or "great evil", the story is simple enough to be realistic.
+ the production is effective: slow on certain emotional passages, more often dynamic. There are no lengths.
+ The song lyrics just fit the drama so well.

CONS
- the animals (puppies, kittens) are all babies who don't grow during the 3 years that the series is supposed to last :) ;)
- Some story arcs are hasty and give the impression that the difficulties were solved too easily.
- the brother's character is ambiguous, it is difficult to define him for a long time.

=> a short series (23 ep. of 35 minutes) comforting and very aesthetically pleasing.
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Drama remarquable par la beauté de ses images, des paysages, la mise en valeur de l'artisanat traditionnel.
L'architecture est magnifique !! => this drama was filmed in Wuyi County in Zhejiang, at the Jingyuan Ancient Houses Museum .
Plot : mariage "impulsif" entre 1 banquière carriériste (en manque de famille et d'1 maison) et 1 ML, beau, très introverti, architecte/artisan, qui a restauré un ancien village (celui de son gd-père adoptif) pour aider les artisans locaux. Dans ce couple improbable, chacun va gagner la confiance de l'autre, soigner les blessures du passé et construire peu à peu un lien solide.
PROS :
+ les personnes qui aiment l'art, l'artisanat, l'histoire,... apprécierontles images, les décors, TOUT est exceptionnel.
+ les acteurs sont bons, surtout le ML qui parle peu, mais ses yeux expriment tant d'émotions !
+ pas de gros twist ni de "great evil", la story est assez simple pour être réaliste.
+ la réalisation est efficace : lente sur certains passages émotionnels, dynamique le plus souvent. Il n'y a pas de longueurs.
+ The lyrics just fit the drama so so well.
CONS
- les animaux (chiots, chatons) sont tous des bébés qui ne grandissent pas durant les 3 ans que la série est censée durer :) ;)
- Certains arcs narratifs sont même hâtifs et donnent l'impression que les difficultés ont été résolues trop facilement.
- le personnage du frère est ambigu, on a longtemps du mal à le cerner.

=> une série courte (23 ép. de 35 minutes) réconfortante et très esthétique.

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winter solstice

oh my goddddddddd
I don’t even know where I should begin.
what an amazing drama!!?
I did not know what I was missing on, until I watched this!!!!
Beautifully made and enacted. Since the time I have finished watching it, although it is over, it is still fresh in my mind, like every single scene and dialogue. My heart feels so different after watching it. I love itttttt…!
The leads, Lu Yang Yang and Chen Xin Hai did a commendable job.
Talking about the Plot, it is very fresh and unique. It is different and I love the fact that they have portrayed the FL to be so powerful and independent while the ML is working on preserving and art and loves his wife.
The lead couple are in a flash marriage, and the show slowly unfolds as they gradually know each other, and fall in love. The entire journey of them is too beautiful, so sad that it has only 23 episodes.
I wish I could forget completely about it and watch it all over again.
This drama has inspired me in soo many ways, like following my heart and dreams, being fearless in pursuit of what sets my heart on fire. Loving truly and loving slowly. It shows how country life or as we call it, the “slow life” is not always bad, but rather good in so many ways. I just loveeeeee this drama, I connected the characters and laughed when they laughed and cried when they cried….!
Jusr very beautiful.
if you have come sooooo far in reading my review then I would request you to watch it please ?

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