My ID is Gangnam Beauty

Episodes: 16
Synopsis:
Kang Mi Rae is a timid girl who grew up being bullied for being unattractive. After getting plastic surgery to become more beautiful, Mi Rae is trying to find her place in the world without being self-conscious of her face and plastic surgery and is still extremely timid in fear of being found out/bullied again. She starts her first year of university and people are very intrigued by her beauty at first and engage in friendly interactions with her to be her friend or romantic interest. However, the truth eventually starts coming out and people find out that she is not a "natural beauty." Immediately, she is called a Gangnam Beauty (a beauty who is only beautiful because of plastic surgery) and is bullied in numerous ways by students. While Mi Rae struggles to love herself as she wasn't accepted before or after surgery, she is able to find support and solace in her fellow classmate Do Kyung Seok. Do Kyung Seok remembers Mi Rae from his childhood and has always been drawn to her personality. He shows her that there is more to someone than appearance and is unwavering in his love and devotion to her as he supports her in her journey to find herself and love herself.

Review:

         I think this drama was a very cute, light-hearted watch. It definitely touched on a social issue that is faced in South Korea about the push for plastic surgery but also desiring the idea of natural beauty over "artificial beauty." The main character, Kang Mi Rae, is someone who has gotten plastic surgery to become beautiful and to escape her past demons of being bullied for being ugly. However, despite becoming beautiful, the past horrors still haunt her in college as people find out that she got plastic surgery and she gets called out for being a fake, a monster, and so forth. I really enjoyed the message that it was putting out and focusing a lot on being a good person, not being superficial, and finding acceptance and confidence within yourself. It was also interesting to see an actress get cast who has also gotten plastic surgery (and is very obvious that she has gotten plastic surgery) to play this role because it made it more real in many ways. 

            However, I did question the actress's acting here and there as I felt like there were other people who could've conveyed those feelings better than she did. At the same time, I also felt the "timid" character she had was confusing as it would shift weirdly from confident to being extremely timid to friendly. It wasn't just the actress's acting that I questioned as I also thought the male character's acting wasn't the best. Understandably, he wasn't an actor to start and is actually an idol. However, I think being an extremely attractive hero isn't enough to be considered a good actor. He had so little facial expressions it didn't seem to match the character he portrayed. It also didn't show the moral compass he held that well either. The character of Do Kyung Seok isn't what I'd want out of a K-drama boyfriend because he's so cold, emotionless, and yet acts out in ways that show how great he is. It just doesn't seem realistic and makes the character seem really one-sided. 

            The romance between the two was very cute though. I really enjoyed their dynamic and his unwavering support and acceptance toward her as she discovers how to love herself. The biggest driving factor of forcing the main character to come face to face with learning to love herself was the school bully, Hyun Soo Ah. Soo Ah is an extremely beautiful and likable girl who also suffered from insecurities that she kept hidden away. However, it was very clear that her insecurities were definitely manifesting in ugly ways and being released on to someone like Mi Rae. She also thrived off of the romantic attention males have toward her and wanted the girls to be her friend but never better than her. I wish they handled Soo Ah's character and situation a bit better. Did I like her in this drama? No. I would have definitely butt heads with this girl and attempted to put her in her place. However, do I empathize with why she lashes out the way she does? Yes. The girl has insecurities that are slowly shown and explained in this drama. However, she ended up getting scorned at in a similar bullying fashion when those insecurities/problems/unhealthy coping mechanisms came to life. They also never fully addressed her eating disorder which I feel like is also a big social issue that should be targeted--especially since Asian countries rarely talk about things of that sort in media. 

              All in all, this was a cute drama and I had a good time watching it. However, I do wish it could be better and I wouldn't go into this with high expectations for the acting, plot, and so forth. It is a very standard Korean drama following a very standard Korean drama formula. The social issues it targeted about superficiality and finding beauty within is always nice to see though. But do prepare to have your blood pressure raised when you recognize how childish these college students are for bullying Mi Rae and how they handle these issues. It's just frustrating with how incompetent and unempathetic they are when handling these situations.  

               

Ashes of Love aka Heavy Sweetness, Ash-Like Frost 香蜜沉沉烬如霜

Episodes: 63

Synopsis: 
        This historical-fantasy series is based on the novel called Heavy Sweetness, Ash-Like Frost by Dian Xian. The story starts off with the birth of our main character, Jinmi. Her mother, the Flower Deity, predicts that Jinmi would suffer a great love trial in the future and will die from it. Thus, before the Flower Deity passes away, she gives Jinmi an "unfeeling pill" to prevent her daughter from feeling and expressing romantic love. At the same time, she also requests the head leaders of the Flower World to hide Jinmi's identity as the Flower Deity and raise her instead as a little Grape spirit. 

         As a result, Jinmi grows up happily and naively. Unaware of her true identity, she believes that she is a little grape spirit with limited powers. She constantly wants to improve her powers so that she could bring her childhood friend, who died in an accident, back to life. Her constant search for prowess from stronger deities leads her to become entangled in a love triangle with the Fire Deity Xufeng and the Night Deity Runyu. Xufeng (aka phoenix) and Runyu (aka dragon/ or as Jinmi likes to call him: "xiao yu xian guan/little fish fairy) are both the sons of the Heavenly Emperor and both treat Jinmi exceptionally well. As Jinmi matures, learns about her identity, and also begins to learn to love as the unfeeling pill's effects fade, she finds herself stuck in difficult situations and making hard decisions in the name of love. 

Review: 

          This drama is absolutely beautiful and it definitely became one of my favorite historical fantasy dramas very quickly. I love dramas that spin-off of mythical stories, fantasy characters, superpowers, and so forth--as long as it is not done in a cheesy way. While some parts of this drama can feel a bit corny, the cinematography, acting, and character developments made it very pleasurable to watch. I watched this back in the winter but to this day I still listen to the official soundtrack on repeat and feel some type of way. I've also gone back and rewatched some of the emotional, aesthetic scenes to relive the feelings I had when I watched this drama initially. This is one of those dramas that has very intense, memorable scenes that stick with you long after the drama has finished. While I really enjoyed this drama, I still want to put out there that this drama may not be for everyone. It is a long series filled with multiple plots, characters with magical powers, and numerous worlds and realms (human world, demon realm, heavens, etc). If you enjoy dramas like Three Lives Three Worlds, this would fit your taste.
             The one thing that I really loved about this drama was that the casting for all the characters was so perfect and the acting was top-notch. I didn't expect anything less from Deng Lun and Yang Zi, but I was very surprised at the male second lead actor, Luo Yun Xi. Luo Yun Xi plays the role of Runyu, who is the first son of the heavenly emperor. His incarnation is a dragon and he has a gruesomely depressing backstory. His character is soft-spoken but with an ambition to rise higher and achieve more than what fate determined for him. The way Luo Yun Xi played this character--with softness and sadness in his eyes, confused brows from not understanding love, and eagerness and desire that consumed his spirit to take what should be his--it was absolutely stunning. He really showed how multi-layered Runyu is as a character and instead of antagonizing him, the audience learned to empathize and understand him while not fully agreeing with the decisions he was making.
              I also thought Deng Lun was an appropriate cast for the role of Phoenix (the second son of the heavenly emperor). The way Deng Lun's eyes are shaped give off the soft, sad look that one would imagine a phoenix would have, and his facial expressions and mannerisms give off the fire of one that would be able to rise from death. His acting was also extremely enjoyable and he made it so easy to love his character and root for him throughout the drama. He does play a more headstrong and impulsive character compared to the character of Runyu. However, it is that contrast that makes you recognize the pros and cons of each character and who is more compatible with Jin Mi. Now for Yang Zi playing Jin Mi: Yang Zi looked absolutely stunning with her long hair and costume attire. I think this was the drama where her outfit and aesthetic matched her beauty the best. Jin Mi is a very complex character that shows a lot of growth emotionally in the drama and Yang Zi did amazing portraying that. I have to say that she has to be the queen of crying scenes because every time she cried my heart would hurt.
              The chemistry between the characters was also all-around amazing. Friendships felt genuine and the romance felt passionate.  There are a lot of side characters so I won't dive deep into that, but they did an amazing job as well. I really enjoyed the side romances and friendships that developed throughout the drama. It was also interesting to see how good the chemistry was in the beginning of the drama because Jin Mi cannot feel romantic love because of this "unfeeling pill" inside her. However, that chemistry was undeniable and as the pill's effects wore off, that chemistry and passion only grew. I also loved to see the romance take on different stories such as the first meeting in the flower world/heavenly world, then experiencing a human trial in the mortal world, and then coming back to the heavenly world. It was just funny how many twists and turns there were, and they kept coming back to each other. At the same time, I really enjoyed the ending of both characters individually working to save the other one as fate forces them apart in the cruelest ways possible. This drama definitely gets sadder as it goes but it's so addicting!
             It is a very complex drama so this review could go on and on. Instead, I'll just list some favorite scenes and see if it matches any of your favorite scenes from this drama. This drama definitely has a special place in my heart, and I highly recommend this for anyone who wants their imagination to run wild. Also, it is currently up on Netflix under the title: Ashes of Love -- and you can find it on Youtube and other drama streaming sites as well. Check it out! 

Some of my favorite scenes: 
Episode 11: Drunk bed kiss scene

Starting from Episode 20-21: the mortal realm scenes are so cute such as:
- when she finds out the emperor is YaYa
- When she sees Runyu and says the exact same thing she said when she first met him in the heavens
- Ep 25: Phoneix pretending to be sick
- Ep 26: Asking her to be his queen
- Ep 28: The phoenix lanterns he set up for her; when Pu Chi and the Moon God uses the puppet curse on Sui He so that she would stop ruining things
- Ep 31: The puppet show and kiss -- so aesthetic!
- Ep 33: JinMi's mortal death
-Ep 34: The mortal realm wedding

Ep 32: The demon princess and Mu Ci's scenes
Ep 36: Phoenix and Jin Mi falling in love
Ep 38: "Are you not scared of going to hell?"
            "I am a god. I am not scared of hell. Just what you think." --- Phoenix, you have my heart!
Ep 57: Mu Ci and demon princess scenes are so cute and sad
Ep 58: Run Yu and Jin Mi's argument
Ep 59:  "你何必为了一只鸟，放弃天下所有的蛇，而投入一只龙的怀抱呢？"LOLOL Yan You (snake god) got me weak! [Translation: Why would you give up on the snakes for a bird and then go into a dragon's embrace?]
Also when Yun Xi acts as Yan You, very good and on-point acting
Ep 60: Wedding... FINALLY
Ep 61: Epic war

Ruyi's Royal Love in the Palace 如懿传

Episodes: 87

Synopsis:
       Ruyi is from the Ula Nara clan and related to the previous Empress Yixiu. When Empress Yixiu falls out of favor and is locked away in the cold palace, Ruyi is thrown into harem politics. This caused problems with how she would climb to power, how she was supposed to continue loving her childhood love (the emperor Qian Long), and how she was to accustom to her new role as a concubine. Over the years, she survives many conspiracies that other concubines set up to drag her down. She remained steadfast to the role she was supposed to play while quietly supporting the emperor from behind. Time after time, she took on these trials and tribulations with grace and she worked to prove her innocence through sincerity and intelligence. Eventually, she climbs up the ranks to become Empress.
        During this process, her relationship with Qian Long slowly becomes irreparable as the two slowly lost trust in one another. Ruyi, despite remaining loyal and loving, became disillusioned and disappointed with the man she fell in love with as a young teenager. She also was becoming disenchanted with the harsh reality of life in the Forbidden City. This is the story of the life of an empress who rose to the ranks but yet left quietly. 

Review: 

      Every time I watch a drama about the loves and trials in the imperial harem, I end up becoming extremely invested in the relationships, the power struggle, and the manipulations/calculations. Powerful women are so addicting to watch--especially when every woman in the drama try to play to their own strengths and weaknesses. Harem dramas are often rooted heavily in self-preservation, power, and romance. To a certain extent, the imperial harem is a survival game. Who survives till the end? Who makes it through unscathed? Who has the power to live on in the living's memory? 

        So with that alone, I enjoyed this drama because it fulfilled what I was looking for at the time. But this drama is very unique in the way it was made and in the way it tied to the actual history in that our main character is one who does not fight for power or affection--but lives on the virtue of being a loving wife and being responsible. It is an interesting take on an empress who is historically recorded to have cut her own hair during an argument with the emperor, be treated coldly after, and not have a name/place in the burial grounds despite being an empress. It was also nice to see a  drama that portrays a woman of her virtue and calm demeanor. It made the viewers empathize with her struggles through subtle details. This drama was a very good example of how a drama can show and not tell.
        Let me start off with the pros. The acting in this drama was phenomenal. Every actor and actress brought their own charm to their characters. The emotional struggles that they went through often could be seen without dialogue. The acting with eyes in this drama was beautiful. Admittedly, the women in this drama (especially the main lead) did a significantly better job in acting compared to some of the male roles. There were times I was slightly disappointed with the blandness of Wallace Huo's acting as emperor. It wasn't necessarily that he's a bad actor but when he was paired up with such amazing actresses, the chemistry often felt lacking on his part. The cinematography was also beautiful in the way it captured the essence of living in the forbidden city. The costumes that the actors and actresses wore also often held a regal air to it. It was a very beautifully executed drama and you can definitely see that this drama had funding through the little details of the clothing, cinematography, food, objects, and so forth.
        It was also interesting how they painted another concubine in such a negative light--often scheming and power-hungry. It was interesting because this drama was broadcasted at the same time as Story of Yan Xi Palace. Story of Yan Xi tells a completely different story where the virtuous main lead was actually the concubine painted in such a negative light in this one. It also makes the character of Ruyi more evil, power-hungry, and so forth. It was two interesting takes on the same history and the same two people. It definitely provided a lot of food for thought. This drama definitely showed the ending of Ruyi as one that was rooted in disappointment toward the emperor. I thought it was a beautiful touch to show how Ruyi and the emperor grew up as childhood lovers, only to reach the end and find that they have become strangers to one another. That underlying love despite the growing disappointment and resentment toward each other was beautifully portrayed. There was a lot of nuance. 

          As for the cons, the drama did drag toward the middle as it focused a lot on how the emperor's children were often dying either from sickness or due to the power struggles within the palace. It felt like every two episodes was a repeat of previous situations where children died, mothers cried, and life moved on. Understandably this drama tried to capture the whole time. However, it got a bit tiring to watch as it felt very slow and uncomfortable. I also didn't like how they used the actors/actresses in the beginning episodes when they're supposed to be playing 15-16 year olds. The main leads are a bit older and more experienced in acting, so as the drama went on they fit their roles better with much more ease. However, when they had to play 15-16 year olds, it made me very uncomfortable because it just didn't seem to fit for those scenes.

All in all, this was executed very well. I would recommend this drama if you're looking for an imperial harem/historical drama. However, do prepared to watch it for a while as it has many episodes and it can drag here and there. 

Accidentally in Love

Episodes: 30 

Synopsis:  

Chen Qing Qing grew up with her wealthy grandfather in a privileged household. She desperately wants to avoid an arranged marriage and find love the way her deceased parents did when they were young. On the day of her wedding, she runs away from her hometown and heads out to enroll in the same college her parents studied at hoping to find out more about herself, about life and love, and also about their death. She changes her appearance and name in an effort to hide her true identity and to blend in with her classmates. However, blending seems to be out of the question when her deskmate in school happens to be the arrogant famous singer Si Tu Feng. She has numerous run-ins with Si Tu Feng and they often butted heads with one another. However, as the two get along and learn more about each other and each other's situations, they begin to fall in love with one another. 

Review: 

         This is everything a drama should NOT be. I watched this in a time where I just wanted to watch something that was light and did not require me to give much thought to the plot/characters. Thankfully this drama did fulfill that aspect in the sense that everything was predictable and the plot wasn't unique. The characters were also one-sided and lacked depth and growth. At times I even found inconsistencies in how the characters behaved or viewed things. It started to feel more like a guilty pleasure watch for me than an actual drama watch. I was only able to get through it by ignoring the cliche plot and exaggerated acting. 

           This drama basically used all of the tropes a romance drama would have had back in the late 2000s and early 2010s. This drama could have had a lot more potential to be better than it was. Unfortunately, it ended up being too cliche for my taste. I felt that if certain storylines and themes were developed more, such as the plot where the side characters were falling for each other (good girl falls for bad guy), this drama could actually have something to offer. I enjoyed seeing the inner turmoil and conflict between the side characters in their relationship but it never reached it's full potential and instead plateaued to end up as filler scenes. 

           The main couple also didn't have much to offer either as it felt as though they were very different from each other. They were always bickering and hiding things from one another. As it went on it didn't seem as though they were supportive of one another's life decisions. It was just hard to really invest in their love story when the characters felt so one-dimensional and flat. 

Definitely not something I would recommend to people. Not when there are healthier relationships being portrayed in dramas with better acting and better plots. 

A Love so Beautiful

Episodes: 23 (+1 special episode)

Synopsis:

The story follows a group of friends as they take on high school, college, and adulthood together. The main character, Chen Xiao Xi, is a warm and bubbly girl who doesn't like to study but has a passion for drawing and for chasing after her childhood friend and neighbor Jiang Chen. Jiang Chen is cold, intelligent, and structured and is often there for Chen Xiao Xi while appearing uninterested in her advances. As the two develop their relationship from friendship to love, they also make bonds with their friends who include competitive swimmer Wu Bo Song who actively pursues Chen Xiao Xi, Xiao Xi's best friend Lin Jing Xiao who is a beautiful, intelligent tomboy, and Lu Yang who is known for his boisterous personality and his undying love for Lin Jing Xiao. 

Review:

     This is a coming-of-age drama that reminds me a lot of It Started With A Kiss/Playful Kiss/Itazura Na Kiss as it revolves around an average girl who chases after a smart and highly popular boy. However, this drama was better in the sense that it was more realistic in how Chen Xiao Xi is more than just the standard "plain, below-average" girl and how Jiang Chen does have and can show emotions. Jiang Chen is definitely still distant and reserved but he shows his care, affection, and concern in a fairly noticeable way and it is often picked up on by the main character and their friends throughout the drama. Chen Xiao Xi does actively pursue after Jiang Chen but there were many scenes in this drama where she stands up to him if she feels upset, chases after her own dreams of being a cartoonist, and also maintains strong connections with her friends throughout the drama. This drama showed the importance of communication between lovers and friends regardless of how similar and different they are with each other. It also showed how it is okay to show emotions and to wear your heart on your sleeve. Showing emotions and being open about one's feelings is anything but a weakness. As a matter of fact, it was what allowed the story to progress and for the characters to grow individually and together. 

       I loved the simplicity in this drama. There are times I want to watch dramas that are intense and making me feel ten shades of emotions from happy to angry. However, there are also many times I come to watch dramas to destress, to remember simple times, and to also feel a bit hopeful about things working out and about life working out. This was the perfect drama to help me destress and also look at mundane experiences through a new lens. This drama world was basically a story of high school students growing up, taking exams, becoming better people, and falling in love. It is very standard in our day-to-day lives but this drama brings out the perfect blend of humor, nostalgia, and innocence.  

        Other than outstanding main leads that show both depth and character, the side characters also offer diversity to the cast and also help push the story along in positive ways. For starters, I want to talk about our second male lead, Wu Bo Song. He is genuinely a good person and a good friend and his complex character makes it easy to empathize and understand him. His love and support for Chen Xiao Xi is so wholesome and genuine. Likewise, he also shows how despite being in the same friend group as Chen Xiao Xi, the levels of friendship within the group differ and that they all work fairly hard to overcome individual differences. Her friends Lu Yang and Lin Jing Xiao also offered an interesting contrast in the way their relationships are, personality, and academic level. They were also genuinely good friends.
        Highly recommend if you want a drama that is positive, warm and breezy, lighthearted, and cute.

Meteor Garden

Episodes: 49

Synopsis: 

This is a remake of the classic Meteor Garden/Boys Over Flowers/Hana Yori Dango drama. It is the classic story of a poor, hardworking individual being placed in an academic environment dominated by wealthy students. She fights against the bullying and oppression enforced by the four wealthiest, most attractive students in the school--called the F4. And as she gets to know them, change them for the better, and grow with them, she befriends them and even falls in love with the leader of the group. 

Review:

I do not know if my taste has changed but this drama was horrible. Normally, I watch dramas that I want to watch and I enjoy them for the most part. Why watch something you don't want to watch? Right? So when I saw that a remake of the original Meteor Garden was coming out on Netflix, I was excited. That drama was a part of my childhood--with the bad hairstyles, the feisty interactions, the rags to riches plotline, and so forth. So I was excited to relive those memories but it was such a letdown. For starters, the plot for Meteor Garden/Boys over Flowers/Hana Yori Dango is extremely outdated and not keeping up with times. It portrays an unhealthy relationship that lacked trust and communication, and also constantly romanticizes abusive behavior such as harassing, physical violence at times, verbal abuse, stalking, and so forth. It is problematic in many ways and it is easy to hide those characteristics behind the mask of it "being romantic," of the girl "being clueless and naive," and of the guy "caring a lot about her and this is the only way he knows how to show it." 

           Back in the day, when the previous versions of this story were made, it was more acceptable. Many people were not as educated about abusive behaviors, manipulative tendencies, what makes a healthy versus an unhealthy relationship, and so forth. Times have changed. Those dramas were a thing of the past, and dramas have been changing for the better. There are now more strong female friendships, strong female leads, supportive male leads, numerous healthy relationships, and so forth being produced. So I hoped that this remake (especially since it is on Netflix) would not be a carbon copy of the original. I wanted the general gist of what made that drama so popular and addicting -- fancy elite boys and the idea of someone outside of that socioeconomic circle becoming a part of that world and the funny, feisty antics of two people from two different worlds falling in love...(also cute guys). But despite those, I also wanted to see a healthier relationship, strong friendships, growth with the times, and so forth. I wanted it to be unique instead of just the "newer version of the previous versions." But it did not provide me that satisfaction. Sure, some scenes were altered and there isn't much they can do when they're falling a manga plotline. But I'm sure there could have been changes to the script, to the way the characters are, or even to the way the characters grow. Let's just say it was a big fail starting from the fact that it did not keep up with the times and instead even further highlighted abusive behavior (more than the original dramas did). 

           In the other versions, the male lead has been seen to bully, throw things at the female lead (in the beginning), take the female lead's personal objects, hire people to scare her in all the wrong ways, and so forth. (All bad stuff!). But in this version, despite those things (as they're a part of the story), there was also that one scene on the roof where he corners her and displays violent behavior before trying to comfort her. It made me so uncomfortable. She was frightened and his behavior was inexcusable for the situation at hand. It is not sexy for a man to punch the wall right by the female lead's head, corner her, drag her around, push her around, throw things at her, and verbally abuse her. And I'm not even saying it was just the male characters in the drama that I found flawed and unhealthy. The female lead was no better as her character constantly caused misunderstandings due to her inability to communicate (despite being so outspoken about all the wrong things), failing to read situations (you can call it naive, I call it on purpose), and so forth. 

           Not only that, the acting wasn't even great. I have seen the actress for the female lead act in another role where I really liked her in (A Love so Beautiful) but this was not a good look for her. I found her annoying in this role. Dylan Wang (the male lead) is cute and I was enamored at first when I saw the trailer for Meteor Garden...but this role also did not necessarily put him in the most positive light from my perspective. The attractiveness of an actor should not excuse character roles that perpetuate messages of sexual violence, abuse, and manipulation. I know they have the potential to do well and make it big from some scenes here and there, and also from other dramas I have seen them in. But this drama had overly cheesy acting, awkward dialogue, and affection that didn't flow well from all the bickering and abusive behavior the main leads would subject the other to. 

All in all, I did not like this drama and would not be recommending it to people. 

Feel free to watch it. But keep this review in mind so you can recognize the toxic behaviors early on as well. 

You are the Apple of My Eye (Movie)

Synopsis: 

This 2011 movie is a coming of age movie. The story began in 1994. Shen Chia Yi is a hardworking, intelligent student whereas Ko Ching Teng is a mischevious student. The two begin to interact when Ching Teng is caught masturbating during class and is reseated next to Shen Chia Yi. The two help each other in different ways, and Chia Yi eventually helps tutor him for exams and encourages him to study. The two experience many changes as they grow up, fall in love, get into college, fall out of love, and so forth. It was charming and wholesome in its own way, and it is a movie that definitely brings out a lot of nostalgia as you see how much the characters grow as people and the good memories that still follow them throughout life. 

Review:

I really enjoyed this movie. It was a perfect blend of comedy and seriousness. It demonstrated the lifeline of young love and the continuity of friendships that last into adulthood. It was both beautiful and wholesome, and it made me very nostalgic about how I would feel about my current friends when I am much older and moving on to a new stage in life. I did find the scene when they were "shooting handguns" [masturbating]pretty exaggerated and I was sitting there like "oh my god, what am I watching?" but I'm pretty glad that this was recommended to me. 

        It illustrated very realistic struggles that students in Asian countries often face. Their academics and college entrance exams are essential and many students are very stressed out. Shen Chia Yi is a fantastic student and extremely hardworking, but she did not do well on her admissions examinations because she felt ill (due to her period) and it affected what school she got into. It shows that tests are not necessarily a clear indicator of success or hard work; and likewise, it also showed how prioritizing on standardized examinations can lead to extreme stress and tying self-worth to their academic results. 

        It was also lovely to see how the relationship between Chia Yi and Ching Teng developed, and how they both learned a lot from each other in different ways. Ching Teng learned how to study and improve as a student while Chia Yi learned to enjoy life a bit more and loosen up. Even though their love story [spoiler alert] didn't have the standard happily ever after where they end up together, I think the fact that they separated for a while to come back to one another as friends who will always love and support one another is even more beautiful. To see the support her friends had for her in her future success and future relationship although they were all crushing on her in high school was incredibly heartwarming and an excellent example of how a healthy relationship-to-friendship transition is done. 

      I would highly recommend this movie for anyone who wants to watch something that is light-hearted, and that pulls on your heartstrings.