Not the most intelligent and unpredictable tv-show, but it's cute, romantic and funny and keeps you wanting to see more after each episode
23 Reviews
Cute
karri_tolaas_112 November 2018
Accidentally Addicted
melinahollow2 December 2018
I began this show on a whim because I didn't have anything else to watch and it became quickly very addicting. They always ended an episode in the worst possible spot with the intention to reel you into the drama. This show had a really fun story line which you knew where it was going but how they got there was interesting. The main characters had a really unique dynamic that I had never seen before. In some scenes the male lead wavered between emotions of child-like fascination and a dramatic masculine role. The female lead had two sides to her life throughout the drama which kept making me laugh and wonder if what she did was possible at all. There were many times throughout the drama that I wanted to shake the characters because they were being unreasonable but it all added to the drama. Because the male lead was a musician it was interesting to hear the type of music he created. Even though he was a famous singer in the movie it didn't really come across that he was actually involved in his performances in the show.
Sometimes this drama was difficult to sit through but it had a really cute ending and I would definitely suggest it to those who want to get exposure to Chinese dramas. If you know you like cheesy, school romance, international dramas, this show is for you!
Cute series
kerbilee16 December 2018
Warning: Spoilers
This was a cute series that kept my interest. There were a few things that were predictable and somethings that we over the top. However I guess some people actually experience those things. One spoiler though, the kitten did not grow at all, which is unrealistic.
Excellent actress and lovely storyline
sarahbeacontax22 November 2018
Love the main actress (Qing Qing). She's tough, funny, caring, cute, just love her! I get so annoyed with so many of the dramas when the main actress acts helpless or dumb (when they try to act 'innocent'). The main actor is so cute and funny! I absolutely love the scenes when he's jealous of guys being around Qing Qing. The actress that's super awful to Qing Qing drives me nuts (means the actress did an excellent job!).
The only downside of the show I see is the writing. The acting is perfect but I find the story writing can be messy at times or filler. Overall I really hope there's a second season!
Whimsical, surprising, sweet
carolyn_lateulere23 January 2019
I don't have a lot of experience with romantic shows from China, but I thoroughly enjoyed this one. I hope there is a season 2! Many parts of the show seem predictable, but it takes many surprising turns. The main characters make you root for them, and the villains have a depth you don't expect. All-around entertaining and sweet.
👑Upstaged °6.5° °mostly good° 💯%🔍
50fiftillidideeBrain14 November 2023
"I didn't look like this a day ago." Our FL is disheveled with dirt smeared cheeks, clothes sloppy, and hair a clump of matted weeds. She just pushed a total stranger against a building and smacked one on him. This was her desperation move; she was eluding pursuers, and they were gaining on her... Desperation? Or was this 💋 from her special reserve power?
These two have more in common than they realize. Each is fleeing (his father's / her grandfather's) chasing band of security, which is a common thing in Asian dramas. She's fleeing her engagement party - but this fool and her money had been soon parted a short time earlier, and she was already reduced to begging for food. Never fear! This maven-of-moxie is not even close to giving in to grandpop just yet. After the immediate threat is passed, our ML, Si Tu Feng, decides she's the perfect way to get revenge against his dad. Before Chen Qing Qing (Amy Sun) realizes what's happening, "His Highness" has dragged her into his father's wedding (his absence being the reason he had been pursued) and announces she's his fiance. Some quick negotiations and the realization that being his "fiance" means she can hide out and eat, seal the deal. She's engaged for real now. For real profit. That's where it starts, but this whirlwind cruises through classes, jobs, projects, crusades, and iterations. By the end of the show she threatens to upstage °him°, a pop idol.
AIL is a 2018 release that is rated a generous 7.9 on MDL. It is 1 season consisting of 30 30-minute episodes. As is typical for Chinese modern-day features, AIL is seriously flawed, yet it's endearing, winsome, sweet, fun to watch and oddly relaxing. Guo Jun Chen, who plays Si Tu Feng / "His Highness", isn't bad looking but he would never get a (typical) romantic lead role in Hollywood. He looks like an Irish boy with funny ears. He does have a beautiful voice. He makes a pretty girl, too. He can't do math, but he passed grandpa's tests, and grandpa's tests are the hardest. The best looking male actor (by far) is the rebel (Zhao Yi Qin). His voice is dreamy, too. It's gorgeous. His highest rated streamable shows are Fake Princess and Wait, My Youth, so they go into the queue. The FL does look like an entirely different person when she is in disguise. She's supposed to be "ugly" but she's a cutie, and much more alive when in her casual & gaudy garb. Our leads get pressured from all sides: difficult parents and grandparents, nosy classmates jealousy, a teacher called the witch, crazy fans, and a troublesome talent agency. He falls for her first. By the time she slows down enough to realize she's attracted to him it's too late to reveal her true identity without making him angry. Quandary😞.
AIL is frequently cute but painfully inept at the same time. There's poor acting, bad dialogue, logical faux pas, and general laziness about the quality. There's also some great acting. The leads and Zhao Yi Qin, who plays Feng's enemy, Lin Yi Yang, all do a wonderful job. Guo Jun Chen's Si Tu Feng is a convincing romantic lead. The viewer can feel his attraction to the vivacious Qing Qing. Most everyone else is wooden or stunted😑.
Things might be loosening up slightly, but the documented fact is that 🇨🇳society is not free. There's a fascinating split between the dialogue and acting of modern-day Chinese features and historic/fantasy pieces. In the latter, the characters are fully rounded with a full range of emotions. In modern-day shows and movies they are stiff with stoic expressions. The dialogue is simple to the point of being inane. They never get into deep explanations or deep explorations of intellectual, emotional, or philosophical topics, while the 🔮fantasy and 🎎period pieces can be quite intricate. Everything seems set up to subdue the brain and emotions rather than stir them up. They often have glaring logical gaps utilizing what I've tagged as dream logic: The viewer is required to know or accept things as so without explanations even when things look otherwise, like in a dream when you see your aunt Mabel but you somehow know it's really your younger sister. When your brain and emotions are already frenzied, Chinese modern-day features are weirdly soothing. There's Chinese 🔮 & 🎎 pieces that are among the best things I've ever seen, but there is not one modern-day feature that I would suggest to a friend or use as an introduction to Asian programming. Yet, AIL is surprisingly bright and carefree. The comedic timing is solid. It's actually a good recommendation for ✳10-16 year olds, as it's on that level.
One example of an irritation that must be dismissed is when Chen Qing Qing is looking at photos of her parents with a former schoolmate. She points out a photo from the first night they met, which was at a dance. In the photo her mom is wearing a long white dress, but in the later flashbacks mom's in a short red dress. Another annoyance is how our FL continues to dress up after Si Tu Feng knows her secret, including wearing glasses she doesn't need and drawing freckles on her face. He fell in love with the freckled cutie. Easing into a new look would be understandable, but as is, it's nonsensical. This is the type of sloppy stuff that frequents modern-day Chinese features and makes me slightly crazy - and I'm not fastidious. I can only imagine that people who are cannot abide shows like this, at all. You all know who you are, so be warned. Additionally, AIL drags alittle after the opening episodes and into ep10, but it then starts to get better again. Ep13 is adorbs. For the school dynamic they borrow from Boys Over Flowers, which is like calling out to a classic. They stumble into a gender-fluid school play version of Beauty and the Beast that is pretty amusing. There's also a bit with 2 guys fighting near a leaking helium tank that's funny.
In the balance, AIL is cuddly, spritely, and amusing. The romance is touching. The FL is inspirational - so much so that she's collected her own fans by the show's end. As many fans as His Highness? Maybe not, but give her time; there doesn't seem to be an upward limit to her reach.
QUOTE📢
Don't hurt yourself for a man that doesn't love you.
〰🖍 IMHO
📣55 📝52 🎭60 💓60 🦋50 🌞50 🎨40 ⚡30 🎵/🔊67😅45 😭25 😱25 😯15 😖0 🤔35 💤35 🔚77
✳Age 10+ with the following cautions: PG-13 language + in Ep21 they drop an F💣 and in ep24 they use the word pr!(k.
With what I now know, would I choose to watch it again for the first time? I would probably skip it, despite its cuteness. The female lead is fun, however, and it's a close call.
In order of ~lite & trite~ to ~heavy & serious~ you may also like:
Modern Day: You Are My Destiny 7.3, The Kings Avatar 8, The Oath Of Love 7.6, I Hear You 7.3, Meteor Garden 7.5
K: A Witch's Love 7.8; love to hate you 8.9; Touch your heart 8.2; Crash Landing On You 9.1; Oh My Ghost 10; It's okay not to be okay 9; Hospital Playlist 9; My Mister 9.5;
Historical/Period:
Overlord 8.4, The Romance of Tiger and Rose 9.8, The Sleepless Princess 9.1, Under the Power 8.6, The Rebel Princess 9.1
K My Only Love Song 8.7 excellent comedy; Mr. Queen 8.5; My Sassy Girl / Yeopgijeogin Geunyeo 8.5; The Kings's Affection 8.3; Mr. Sunshine 9
Sci-fi/fantasy: Love Between Fairy & Devil 8.9; Douluo Continent 9.4; Heavenly Sword 9; Love and Redemption 10;
☮
These two have more in common than they realize. Each is fleeing (his father's / her grandfather's) chasing band of security, which is a common thing in Asian dramas. She's fleeing her engagement party - but this fool and her money had been soon parted a short time earlier, and she was already reduced to begging for food. Never fear! This maven-of-moxie is not even close to giving in to grandpop just yet. After the immediate threat is passed, our ML, Si Tu Feng, decides she's the perfect way to get revenge against his dad. Before Chen Qing Qing (Amy Sun) realizes what's happening, "His Highness" has dragged her into his father's wedding (his absence being the reason he had been pursued) and announces she's his fiance. Some quick negotiations and the realization that being his "fiance" means she can hide out and eat, seal the deal. She's engaged for real now. For real profit. That's where it starts, but this whirlwind cruises through classes, jobs, projects, crusades, and iterations. By the end of the show she threatens to upstage °him°, a pop idol.
AIL is a 2018 release that is rated a generous 7.9 on MDL. It is 1 season consisting of 30 30-minute episodes. As is typical for Chinese modern-day features, AIL is seriously flawed, yet it's endearing, winsome, sweet, fun to watch and oddly relaxing. Guo Jun Chen, who plays Si Tu Feng / "His Highness", isn't bad looking but he would never get a (typical) romantic lead role in Hollywood. He looks like an Irish boy with funny ears. He does have a beautiful voice. He makes a pretty girl, too. He can't do math, but he passed grandpa's tests, and grandpa's tests are the hardest. The best looking male actor (by far) is the rebel (Zhao Yi Qin). His voice is dreamy, too. It's gorgeous. His highest rated streamable shows are Fake Princess and Wait, My Youth, so they go into the queue. The FL does look like an entirely different person when she is in disguise. She's supposed to be "ugly" but she's a cutie, and much more alive when in her casual & gaudy garb. Our leads get pressured from all sides: difficult parents and grandparents, nosy classmates jealousy, a teacher called the witch, crazy fans, and a troublesome talent agency. He falls for her first. By the time she slows down enough to realize she's attracted to him it's too late to reveal her true identity without making him angry. Quandary😞.
AIL is frequently cute but painfully inept at the same time. There's poor acting, bad dialogue, logical faux pas, and general laziness about the quality. There's also some great acting. The leads and Zhao Yi Qin, who plays Feng's enemy, Lin Yi Yang, all do a wonderful job. Guo Jun Chen's Si Tu Feng is a convincing romantic lead. The viewer can feel his attraction to the vivacious Qing Qing. Most everyone else is wooden or stunted😑.
Things might be loosening up slightly, but the documented fact is that 🇨🇳society is not free. There's a fascinating split between the dialogue and acting of modern-day Chinese features and historic/fantasy pieces. In the latter, the characters are fully rounded with a full range of emotions. In modern-day shows and movies they are stiff with stoic expressions. The dialogue is simple to the point of being inane. They never get into deep explanations or deep explorations of intellectual, emotional, or philosophical topics, while the 🔮fantasy and 🎎period pieces can be quite intricate. Everything seems set up to subdue the brain and emotions rather than stir them up. They often have glaring logical gaps utilizing what I've tagged as dream logic: The viewer is required to know or accept things as so without explanations even when things look otherwise, like in a dream when you see your aunt Mabel but you somehow know it's really your younger sister. When your brain and emotions are already frenzied, Chinese modern-day features are weirdly soothing. There's Chinese 🔮 & 🎎 pieces that are among the best things I've ever seen, but there is not one modern-day feature that I would suggest to a friend or use as an introduction to Asian programming. Yet, AIL is surprisingly bright and carefree. The comedic timing is solid. It's actually a good recommendation for ✳10-16 year olds, as it's on that level.
One example of an irritation that must be dismissed is when Chen Qing Qing is looking at photos of her parents with a former schoolmate. She points out a photo from the first night they met, which was at a dance. In the photo her mom is wearing a long white dress, but in the later flashbacks mom's in a short red dress. Another annoyance is how our FL continues to dress up after Si Tu Feng knows her secret, including wearing glasses she doesn't need and drawing freckles on her face. He fell in love with the freckled cutie. Easing into a new look would be understandable, but as is, it's nonsensical. This is the type of sloppy stuff that frequents modern-day Chinese features and makes me slightly crazy - and I'm not fastidious. I can only imagine that people who are cannot abide shows like this, at all. You all know who you are, so be warned. Additionally, AIL drags alittle after the opening episodes and into ep10, but it then starts to get better again. Ep13 is adorbs. For the school dynamic they borrow from Boys Over Flowers, which is like calling out to a classic. They stumble into a gender-fluid school play version of Beauty and the Beast that is pretty amusing. There's also a bit with 2 guys fighting near a leaking helium tank that's funny.
In the balance, AIL is cuddly, spritely, and amusing. The romance is touching. The FL is inspirational - so much so that she's collected her own fans by the show's end. As many fans as His Highness? Maybe not, but give her time; there doesn't seem to be an upward limit to her reach.
QUOTE📢
Don't hurt yourself for a man that doesn't love you.
〰🖍 IMHO
📣55 📝52 🎭60 💓60 🦋50 🌞50 🎨40 ⚡30 🎵/🔊67😅45 😭25 😱25 😯15 😖0 🤔35 💤35 🔚77
✳Age 10+ with the following cautions: PG-13 language + in Ep21 they drop an F💣 and in ep24 they use the word pr!(k.
With what I now know, would I choose to watch it again for the first time? I would probably skip it, despite its cuteness. The female lead is fun, however, and it's a close call.
In order of ~lite & trite~ to ~heavy & serious~ you may also like:
Modern Day: You Are My Destiny 7.3, The Kings Avatar 8, The Oath Of Love 7.6, I Hear You 7.3, Meteor Garden 7.5
K: A Witch's Love 7.8; love to hate you 8.9; Touch your heart 8.2; Crash Landing On You 9.1; Oh My Ghost 10; It's okay not to be okay 9; Hospital Playlist 9; My Mister 9.5;
Historical/Period:
Overlord 8.4, The Romance of Tiger and Rose 9.8, The Sleepless Princess 9.1, Under the Power 8.6, The Rebel Princess 9.1
K My Only Love Song 8.7 excellent comedy; Mr. Queen 8.5; My Sassy Girl / Yeopgijeogin Geunyeo 8.5; The Kings's Affection 8.3; Mr. Sunshine 9
Sci-fi/fantasy: Love Between Fairy & Devil 8.9; Douluo Continent 9.4; Heavenly Sword 9; Love and Redemption 10;
☮
I'm absolutely in love with this series
graceacademy25 November 2018
I love this show so much . The acting was amazing the characters kept me laughing and wondering what's going to happen next . There was a lot of drama and twists in the story. I found this show to be highly entertaining I couldn't wait to watch the next episode . I hope that we get a season 2 please !
Accidentally in love!
kaitlyn_seitz30 June 2019
Too Immature
cozen11 December 2020
Are these really college students? There immaturity and innocents speak more of a middle schooler than someone in college. And I recall college so bright and filled with color coded designer room schemes. There's just too much telling in this show and not enough showing.
Characters Develop
Kachuni21 November 2018
Cheesy but good!
priyayeturi21 January 2020
Outstand
ashypoo-6154111 April 2019
Warning: Spoilers
Great story line but was hoping for more at last episode after main Male actor says i love you to main female actress was hoping to see a engagement scene and more instead of jumping way ahead into the story but all and all was amazing hope to see a season 2 with all same characters.
Such a nice series
shreyachugh16 April 2019
Cute and interesting
leahcubed27 January 2020
Warning: Spoilers
Chen Qin Qing (Sun Yi Ning) comes from a wealthy family and escapes an arranged marriage by going to college in disguise as an ordinary, somewhat nerdy, girl. A chance encounter with "Your Highness"/Si Tu Feng leads to a series of interactions. Si Tu Feng is also a wealthy heir but has chosen to focus his time on being a leading pop star. The two develop an unlikely friendship and Chen Qin Qing drags Si Tu Feng along with her on the many adventures she creates. Chen Qin Qing finds the need to toggle between her actual look and the alter ego she has created based on the needs of the situation and those around her do not readily recognize her whenever she takes off her disguise. This is a fun and quirky love story.
I was a bit disappointed that she did not go back to dressing beautifully. On one hand I get that it is really cool when someone can love someone regardless of how they look. But, for me, I found that can be taken too far. If you want someone to look less than their best because you may have some jealousy or insecurity - I am not completely comfortable with that either and that is why I rated it down.
I was a bit disappointed that she did not go back to dressing beautifully. On one hand I get that it is really cool when someone can love someone regardless of how they look. But, for me, I found that can be taken too far. If you want someone to look less than their best because you may have some jealousy or insecurity - I am not completely comfortable with that either and that is why I rated it down.
Teenage fare
droche-499666 November 2018
Love it
floresyenis21 January 2022
Thoroughly entertaining
magnoliacream15 September 2022
Lighthearted, bubbly fun but surprisingly well directed and acted. I was expecting fluff when I clicked on this as I was just looking for something to take my mind off work, but this actually made me sit up and listen well, not just half-dazedly lounge around.
Chen Qing Qing (Sun Yi Ning) runs away from home to escape an arranged marriage. Changing her appearance, she enrolls in the university her parents went to, with the intention of finding out details about their death.
She meets the university star, famous singer Si Tu Feng (Guo Jun Chen), who happens to sit beside her in class. Would their relationship graduate to being more than bickering desk mates?
One of the things that drew me in to this drama was the music. Loved it!
Chen Qing Qing (Sun Yi Ning) runs away from home to escape an arranged marriage. Changing her appearance, she enrolls in the university her parents went to, with the intention of finding out details about their death.
She meets the university star, famous singer Si Tu Feng (Guo Jun Chen), who happens to sit beside her in class. Would their relationship graduate to being more than bickering desk mates?
One of the things that drew me in to this drama was the music. Loved it!
For children
hanalisss21 December 2021
The show has zero depth and the plot has more holes than swiss cheese.
There's so many things making no sense whatsoever.... But if you are looking for something very lighthearted and not complicated at all, you will like it (I guess)
There's so many things making no sense whatsoever.... But if you are looking for something very lighthearted and not complicated at all, you will like it (I guess)
Annoying
gracexu-4958729 May 2019
It was so difficult for me to watch this show. The main character is unlikeable, annoying, and mean. Her love interest is just as annoying if not worse. Both are terribly immature. In fact, all the characters are immature and petty. I can't understand how any of these charcters end up in relationships.
So much happens that is completely unrealistic. For instance, a character kidnaps other characters and no legal action is taken. The reason for kidnapping is even more ridiculous. Backstories don't make sense either.
This show is also filled with tropes. Attractive singer, mean girl group, new girl. Nothing new or exciting about this show.
Main Girl Is too Unlikable
bluemountainwolf4 March 2019
Qingquing is too unlikable. The premise was okay and I could watch through the first couple of episodes, as the premise was a cute one, but then Qingqing starts doing some pretty terrible things that just made me dislike her so much. I stopped watching. If I can't root for the character, or understand their motives enough, then it's feasible. But if you give me a character who makes a ton of rash, irresponsible decisions, top that off with a bad attitude, and lack of good character, what do you have? Qingqing.
I don't even want to watch on to see if she redeems herself. I get making an MC naive and rash, but this is too much, and just didn't work.
I don't even want to watch on to see if she redeems herself. I get making an MC naive and rash, but this is too much, and just didn't work.
simp male lead, dumb females
lizadinardo2 February 2024
Boy meets girl, girl hates boy, boy hates girl. Time passes, and boy and girl develop feelings for each other. Girl lies to boy about background as hiding from grandpa and doesn't want to be caught. So far so simple, til jealous friend of boy tries to toxify thing is the best synopsis i can give.
Now why i hate such a lovely idea for a show
I never understand a show where people hate others behaviour and then go and hang around with them,, expecting an immediate change in their behavior.
This is a simple story glossed out with lies, stupidity and scheming and is not even on a high level. One girl wants what she can't have, So will attack and bully those in her way. Our lead female is a tough girl who overpower the lead, yet doesn't beat up the bullies . No one reports bullying, theft, etc to keep people in the circle iit seems.
The quest for romance would be lovely if the acting wasn't so bad, and the male lead so stupid he didn't have to simp up to every woman to give her what tthey want and leave him unfulfilled it seems, a recipe for long term disastier.
The show does enough to say, how stupid will the next thing tey do but thats about it. The spark of romance they could of played more with, was too simple and boring. For most of the show. Just seems a determination at stages to be in a toxic relationship
so bad writing, bad story, bad acting. If characters don't learn, from how mean or stupid others are, it says a lot about supposedly smart asians.
Now why i hate such a lovely idea for a show
I never understand a show where people hate others behaviour and then go and hang around with them,, expecting an immediate change in their behavior.
This is a simple story glossed out with lies, stupidity and scheming and is not even on a high level. One girl wants what she can't have, So will attack and bully those in her way. Our lead female is a tough girl who overpower the lead, yet doesn't beat up the bullies . No one reports bullying, theft, etc to keep people in the circle iit seems.
The quest for romance would be lovely if the acting wasn't so bad, and the male lead so stupid he didn't have to simp up to every woman to give her what tthey want and leave him unfulfilled it seems, a recipe for long term disastier.
The show does enough to say, how stupid will the next thing tey do but thats about it. The spark of romance they could of played more with, was too simple and boring. For most of the show. Just seems a determination at stages to be in a toxic relationship
so bad writing, bad story, bad acting. If characters don't learn, from how mean or stupid others are, it says a lot about supposedly smart asians.
See also
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