Addictive Hot, Unsatisfying Mess with Irredeemable ML

Summary:

* An irredeemable ML
* Too much skinship between ML and SFL. I lost count of the, “Ohhh, no he didn’t,” moments. Seriously!
* Happy Ending (although the ML didn't deserve one) is only 15 min out of 15 episodes
* Wavering and confusing (but gorgeous I know) SML. He should have stuck with FL. I would have rated this much higher
* They went all Edward Scissorhands and cut scenes that created a hot, chaotic, disappointing post production mess
* Series is like an old wooden roller coaster ride..in the end, it will leave you dizzy with a massive headache...

I just want to say that I REALLY hate giving bad reviews. It breaks my heart to leave one for Praomook. Maybe because I'm coming off the drama high of Tra Barb See Chompoo, a series that had almost the perfect formula for a revenge to love troupe. To say I was disappointed with this one is an understatement. I wanted to love Praomook because of Pon and Bua; HOWEVER, the first golden rule in romance writing is to NEVER make the ML's character irredeemable. The second golden rule is to NEVER show more skinship between the ML and SFL. The series managed to break both rules in one agonizing, infuriating, and disastrous fell swoop.

I do think because of the slicing to get this from 22 to 15 episodes, the show skimmed over fleeting signs of some good qualities in Lan. Also, Mook was a little too aggressive and unbending in the beginning. I kept wondering when someone was going to break to begin the healing to come to the inevitable happy ending. Unfortunately, the disappointing happy ending only happened with 15 minutes left in the 15 hour series. . Toward the end, I believed it was too late to save this relationship. I sort of hoped to see Mook (who matured in the end) ride away and maybe meet up with a Thai Idol, fall in love, and have two adorable kids with a cutaway of Lan languishing on a beach somewhere reflecting on what he did wrong.

Side Note: I've actually read forums where they were rooting for Lan's BIL (played by Ta Warit Tipgomut) to succeed in killing off Lan. This is how bad his character was written. I've never seen a ML's character become so disliked before. Honestly, I just want Ta Warit to star as a ML in something like My Secret Bride. REALLY love him.

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This was a struggle to watch...

Despite all the rave reviews, I REALLY struggled to watch this drama. The meet cute of love at first sight is not my favorite trope, but it can be good if done right (DOTS, Strong Woman, Go Go Squid. Etc…). Here it seemed unreasonable and forced. There is absolutely no build up of why the ML falls in love with her.

I was not fond of the FL either. She lacked depth, and her expression remained the same throughout which makes it hard to become engaged. Also, I just would have liked to have seen the ML paired with someone who could have matched his intensity, at least a little bit. I think Leo Wu’s infatuated stare works best with FLs with a little more energy and reciprocation.

Let’s face it, with his longing looks, Leo Wu could make a tree fall in love with him. I might have preferred a tree opposite him in this. At least it wouldn’t have kept dodging him every time he tried to get close. I just felt the ML was dragging the FL through most of the scenes.

The slow pace is also an issue for me. While I do appreciate these types of dramas, and I do like them sometimes, I have to be in the right mood and patience to watch them.

I do think if you're looking for something that is very low angst, a lot of eating, sleeping and minimal dialogue or Hallmark Channel-isk (skin deep love vs bone deep love), then you might really like this.

For the record, because of the hype, I tried to watch this several times, but after numerous attempts, I had to let it go. Summed up: This series is like hating tomatoes (LAFS trope, FL, slow pacing), knowing you hate tomatoes, but having everyone tell you to just try it, you’re going to love it, but in the end, you not only still hate tomatoes, you’re mad.

2 Stars. 1 for Effort. 1 for Leo Wu.

Note: The above review is based solely on my opinion which I feel is important to express. It is not meant to offend anyone who is infatuated with this series.

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Memorable and Brilliant Storytelling

Remarkable and brilliant. I’m still trying to gather my thoughts. From characters to storytelling, to cinematography to casting, this drama delivered on so many cinematic levels and more.

What drew me to this drama in the first place was actress, Zhao Lusi. Not once has she ever disappointed me in the roles she has played. Although I am a romance junkie, I was fascinated by why she chose a character somewhat out of the genre and out of her comfort zone. Now, I know why.

This drama is called, The Story of Pearl Girl. It’s not the Romance of The Story of Pearl Girl. How this series stayed consistent and true to Duan Wu’s life’s journey was brilliantly done. We watch her grow and evolve while finding love on the way. Her struggles leapt out of the screen. Her emotions embraced and pulled me into her world. Her acting is on another level. How she empowered everyone around her was also magnificent and inspiring.

A shout out to Liu Yuning who mastered his role as Yan Zijing. I don’t believe anyone could have played this role any better. His ability to carry a scene with sometimes little dialogue left a great impression. Expressions can be overdone and underdone. I believe he understood his character so well and brought to life a memorable character by his performance.

Now, to the love story that I didn’t expect, to be honest. I told myself, If I saw at least one kiss scene from the leads, I’d be happy. However, we didn’t just get a kiss scene, we watched a remarkable romance of togetherness unfold before our eyes For a drama where romance wasn’t the main focus, they somehow wove in a gem of a love story that will not be soon forgotten. Even dramas that have “love” in their titles cannot come close to how the series did justice to the character’s and feelings and emotions toward one another.

Overall, The Story of Pearl Girl has left a lasting impression that will resonate with me for many months, if not years to come.

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A phenomenal cast - intersting story...Loving it!

I didn't have too high of expectations going into this since I'm not very familiar with the cast; however, within two episodes I've fallen in love with everyone, especially the FL. OMG! She is so spunky and adorable. She seems to bring out the best in every scene, no matter who she's playing opposite. I do love the chemistry between her and the ML. Their banter is cute and energetic.

AND, I can't say enough good things about the support cast. The guardian(s) who surround the ML are so engaging and entertaining.

As far as the story line, I'm hooked, and can't wait to see what happens next. Some scenes give me a Twilight feel, only with a livelier and smarter FL. There is also some entertaining bromance which rounds out a great script with amazing characters. I highly recommend this series.

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Far Exceeded Expectations

Going into this drama, I expected it to be good because of Bai Lu. She never disappoints. I only remember the ML in LBFAD, and thought his performance was good. I just never thought this pairing would be as hot as it was.

The opening scene was like sitting at the top of a roller coaster and then the rest was a wild ride of intrigue and passion. What made this so good was the writing, the acting, and the cast. What makes or breaks a drama for me is how the actors portray their roles. I MUST have three dimensional characters in order to keep watching, even if the pacing is slow. Everyone does an excellent job at eliciting emotions here: regret, sadness, happiness, jealousy, anger, despair, and passion.

Speaking of characters, the FL has three, THREE ML's to contend with. Goodness! And they all did such a great job of showing why they loved the FL.

The scenes were beautifully done. I also liked the subtle humor sprinkled throughout and the natural chemistry between the leads. I became a bigger fan of Bai Lu and an even bigger fan of Zhang Ling He.

**I watched this first by myself, and then with my twin who has never watched a Chinese drama. She just happened to watch the kissing scene on YT, and then begged me to watch it with her. She LOVED this! It was great watching this once. It was even better binge watching this with my best friend.

An absolute must watch (alone or with a friend). 10/10.

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Awestruck and Spellbound

So, I've been left awestruck and spellbound by this series. My eyelashes are still damp while writing this.

This has to be one of the fastest paced dramas I've watched in a long time. The episodes just roll one on top of the other, so you're binge watching this at 3 am.

The chemistry has the perfect fire from episode 1 to episode 39. There is no misunderstanding or insane second m/f leads. There are so many interesting side characters, especially Jin Niang Zi. Good gracious. She was so fun to watch as she set up one of the most dynamic scenes in the series. Loved her!

I'm still reeling from the beauty of this drama, the leads, the story, and the music.

The OST, which I sometimes overlook, is exceptional.

The one quote I will always remember, besides the hauntingly beautiful dialog between the leads is this one:

"Peace is hard to earn in the world." And so it is.

Highly recommend. 10/10

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Surprisingly Good

I wasn't sure about watching another version of this series since I wasn't a big fan of the FL in the Chinese Version. She was a bit harsh and rough around the edges, so much so, I kept wondering how the ML fell in love with her. I ended up dropping it.

I'm glad I didn't let my negative experience with that version keep me from watching this version. I LOVE the FL here who much more vulnerable and is softer around the edges. She also explains her insecurities a lot better....something that was missing with the other version.

I'm looking forward to see how the loves grows between the leads. I would recommend.

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Beware… You will become Obsessed

Make no mistake, this series will suck you in and leave you breathless, even before you knew what happened.

I LOVED the beginning of this series. Yaya is my go-to Thai actress so I was excited to watch her in something with both a lot of angst and romance. She's emotional and heartfelt and puts everything into every scene.

That being said, after the BIG misunderstanding and separation, adjusting to the leads' fallout was a little jarring. In addition, I found it difficult to watch some of Mario’s scenes between the secondary female characters, AND THERE ARE A FEW. Some scenes are cringy and others are too affectionate/touchy for my liking. There were times I was conflicted on whether to root for Kla to reconcile with Khim after all the misunderstandings have been sorted out.

In fact, through a few episodes, I started to doubt the ML's love for the FL. I also didn't agree with how he used the SFL to test the FL's devotion and love. I do believe the director/writer could have done a better job of making both of the leads jealous of each other without crossing the line of too much skinship with other characters. When a series does this, it runs the risk of breaking the momentum of a great romance and ruining the dynamics and chemistry the leads built along the way. Also, the ML is rather cruel when it comes to wanting his revenge on the FL.

Okay, now on to what this series did right.

Chemistry
Chemistry
Chemistry

The series does end up righting itself...like in a great way. With each progressing episode, I became addicted to the couple. Their scenes together should be an inspiration to every Lakorn moving forward.

Bottom line, Bad Romeo will tug on every one of your heartstrings while you experience the leads happiness, and sadness together. There is no denying how Yaya and Mario brought some beautiful chemistry to the small screen...so much so, I'm not even sure they're aware how beautiful.

Overall, this is one of the best Lakorns I've ever watched. My advice, if you do plan on watching Bad Romeo, you might want to call in sick the next day, because you will be binge-watching for seventeen episodes straight.

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Conflicted characters with Intertwined Fates

This is one of the best Lakorns where there isn't a lot of slapping, which I liked. The ML has to be one of the most conflicted I've watched, and tries EVERYTHING to redeem his past sins against the FL. To watch him slowing fall in love with her is almost poetic.

I did enjoy the FL who is absolutely adorable. Also, in the scenes where she has to look frightened or hurt, I thought she did a VERY good job.

The chemistry between the leads is realistic and it becomes a slow burn through out. I recommend this series if you want a very nice ML and bubbly FL and don't mind the violence associated with the main plot.

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Keep Coming Back to Main Leads

I'm not going to say this is the best costume drama out there; however, it has become one of my favorites. It's sort of low budget with some editing issues, but what carries this series is the chemistry between the leads. I absolute fell in love with watching them fall in love. I've gone back to watch this several times, especially the romantic scenes since they are so well done.

The secondary cast is good with enough evilness to keep you on your toes. The SFL sort of reminds of a Lakorn evil sister. She truly is wicked.

The one thing I didn't like so much was the seriousness of the ending (although this is a happily ever after). I think I would have written it a little different. Still, highly entertaining with some angst. I do hope to see both leads work together in a future project. Adored their onscreen chemistry.

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One of the Best Taiwanese Dramas Out There

First, the cast is perfect. The music is phenomenal (and not just because of ML, Marcus Chang...okay...it's because of Marcus Chang). The story line is original, and the romance value is a 10+. I LOVED everything about this series.

I do admit I did have a little bit of the SML syndrome, but just because he's absolutely adorable in this series. As a writer, I appreciated the "editor" and "author" roles and the characters who portrayed them. What I found profound was how one of the characters gets stuck inside the "books" because the author neglected to finish his story. It made me feel sorry for all the characters I've created, hanging out there in limbo, waiting for me to give them their ending.

An overall wonderful, romantic, well-written drama.

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The ML made me cry!

This is my first U-Prince Series, so I wasn't sure if I was going to like the less than 16 episodes, but it was so well done! I've been putting off watching this, but LOVE both Esther and Push! They are beautiful together. The episodes go fast, and there is a lot happening in each. The execution of character development was spot on. I won't give away the spoiler, but the ML, who I though was irredeemable, fought hard to change my mind in the end. If a series shows too much skinship with SFL, I'm usually done, but ML's groveling was soooo VERY satisfying to watch. I felt real remorse from him...his crying scenes...OMG!

I do recommend this series, although I think it is rated lower than the other ones.

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Hidden Gem

I almost didn't watch this because of some of the reviews, but gave this a shot, and found myself highly entertained by this series. I REALLY have to like a FL in order to watch, and I LOVED the FL in this. She's tough and flirtatious and funny. The ML has a different personality than most ML's I've watched. He's not one dimensional so sometimes I had to guess on what he was thinking. He even had me wondering how much he loved the FL up until the very end.

The chemistry between the leads is spot on, and I enjoyed the real kisses between them. I would recommend this series for the lead couple alone.

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It’s in his kiss…

I highly enjoyed this series for several reasons:

1. Strong FL
2. Real kisses from ML (hot!)
3. Great supporting cast

I love Thai series that shows a strong FL who isn’t simpering or a doormat to the “evil” characters. This FL knows how to dish it out. I also loved the REAL kissing scenes from the ML which makes this a rewatch for me. There is a major misunderstanding and a surprise twist at the end I didn’t see coming…which is rare for me. I can usually figure out subplot early.

In summary, the ML is torn between his love for his sister and the FL which makes him do some idiotic things, but nothing irredeemable (which has happened in a few new series I’ve watched lately). I do highly recommend Lying Heart.

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Beautiful, Classic, Perfect Love Story

I stumbled upon this series by accident and have become an addicted, infatuated, love-sick fan of the story and leads. This my favorite trope (enemies to lovers) done to perfection.

To be honest, I didn't think I was going to love the FL (whom I have to love more than the ML) at first, but my gosh, she grew on me fast. She's quirky and spunky and beautiful.

Sandwiched between the falling in love of the leads is a great history lesson on Thailand. I can't count how many times I paused to research the name of the characters. It was fascinating.

Although this is a slow-burn romance (not my favorite), it does a wonderful job taking of you on the journey toward their love.

Falling in love with the series while watching the characters fall in love was a wonderful experience. I plan to watch this more than once, maybe 10 times. The only thing is, trying to find this on a watchable platform is almost impossible.

10 Glorious Stars

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