Skate Into Love (2020)

I watched this because of Janice Wu since I became a fan of her since Le Coup de Foudre. And as expected of her and her great acting skills, she didn't disappoint.

But given Janice's expected performance, Steven Zhang also caught my attention. Zhang was just as natural. The chemistry between the two leads is so good and refreshing.

To be honest, there's nothing special with the story (or at least for me). I'd say, it's your usual moderm c-drama formula:
- Stupid FL (not so much here though lol)
- Superior ML (in everything: looks, intelligence, popularity, etc)
- Childhood friends who lost touch with each other
- Breakup scene somewhere in the middle just to ruin a pretty good story (which I loathe on every drama honestly like wtf)

What made this interesting for me is the sports elements. I love how the story didn't just focus on the "romantic element" but it rather gave nice touches and highlights on the ice sport parts.

The only downside for me is that I think the supporting couples have way too much scenes than the leads, which I find unnecessary sometimes. Don't get me wrong. I really liked the supporting characters overall, but there are scenes that I think aren't really needed (probably unpopular opinion lol). I think this could have been compressed into 30-35 episodes for that matter.

But overall, Skate Into Love is an enjoyable lighthearted and fluff c-drama. With Janice Wu and Steven Zhang in it, you won't regret watching it. Very cute!

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inspiring, funny and full of lessons

this was a great drama with many different lessons to takeaway. the storyline is engaging and funny, and also has a slice of life vibe.
first, i think the actors did a really great job, the chemistry was good and there weren’t many awkward moments,( maybe just 1)
second, the storyline is somewhat unique, it’s funny, romantic and teaches you so much. you can see how the different characters persevere through their challenges and overcome their own family/friendship problems
third, all the characters whether main or support were given sufficient time to develop
overall, i think the whole drama was well thought out with a very good storyline!

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For one, janice wu is my ultimate girl crush. So i may be biased. Lols
But this drama is good. Not much heavy parent drama (except for the figure skater). Kisses are real. Couple ootd’s & twinning was superb, who ever thought of doing that was a genius. DengLun doing cameo as XuFeng, his character name in ashes of love was like a parody.
I just love when they write strong female leads
I just feel a lil meh on the hockey scenes growin up watching mighty ducks, lols
Drama encourages team spirit, hardwork, Realizing your dreams, friendship & family love.

Ps: i laugh so hard i almost cried at the scenes steven zhang’s parents though he was gay

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This is the drama adaptation of the novel by Jiu Xiao Qi. One thing you need to know for this drama is that it is unique from the novel, therefore they will add characters or plotlines to attract the viewer/audience and create their own color. To those who haven't read the novel it is a great inspirational drama that talks about dreams, passion, struggle, teamwork, family, friendship, and romance in both the sports realm and also in reality.

Storyline: Though the story seems very cliche, they dig a little deeper than the novel and add characters/plotline that make it more complete. My only qualm is that I felt like they could have done more with the ending.

Acting/Cast: For me, I couldn't pick a better cast to portray each their characters. Every one of the actors/actresses portrayed their character very well. There were moments of the drama where I was literally yelling at the screen because of how annoyed I got with some of the characters, therefore to the actors/actresses that is really commendable in my opinion.

Music: I am in love with the OST that was used in the drama. It went well with the scenes of the drama.

Once you will start this drama, it is hard to put it down. It is one those dramas that makes you reflect because it is super relatable one way or another.

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This is similar to Gank Your Heart or Go Go Squid. It’s a romantic comedy with a sports theme. But
it’s centered more around the students lives than the sports. There are about 5 couples in total and the second lead couple get a lot of screen time. In the beginning when the male lead bullies the female lead it’s a bit irritating. But the saving grace is that the female lead doesn’t cower away and look all pitiful. She’s strong and sassy and fights back. Their battle of wits is compelling and the sparks fly because their chemistry is what makes this drama shine. Expect lots of kisses and skinship.

I liked that I found myself laughing out loud quite often. It’s a true romantic comedy. It starts out with a bit of angst in the first 7 or so episodes and then it turns very sweet light and fluffy. But then during the middle as they set up the backstory for all of the couples and their issues it bogs down and gets a bit draggy. What saves the drama during this time is the chemistry and storyline of the main leads. Then when you’re tired of all the couples and even the main leads story gets a bit stale, then bang, the angst hits around episode 26. I was really expecting solid angst till the last bit of the last episode which has been typical in Chinese dramas lately. But surprisingly it lightened up way before then and was quite enjoyable. I like the motto of the drama which was repeated frequently throughout the last few episodes This drama teaches us that dreams don’t shine. What shines is you who’s chasing after the dream. And it doesn’t matter what dream you’re chasing. Whether you’re chasing a dream to be a world champion or to be an ordinary teacher or coach, what matters is that you chase after whatever dream makes you happy. Just be happy and do what you love and stay true to yourself.

I liked that this drama had tons of character growth. I also liked the sassy female lead that always stood up for herself. I wished that there was less time spent on side couples and more time spent on the competitive sports. And there were too many sports that were covered. It jumped from one characters figures skating issues to another characters speed skating issues to another’s issues with ice hockey. If they had just focused on one main sport like Go Go Squid did then the story would have been more cohesive and interesting. With all of the side couples and multiple sports to follow the story seemed to bounce around a lot and lose its focus. But by the end of the drama everything tied in together and the main theme of following your dreams regardless of how big or small they are began to shine through. At this point I began to understand the point this drama was trying to make and I really liked it.

Overall, despite the dramas various flaws, I really liked it and what it was trying to say. I also liked how they included the names and pictures of various Chinese athletes and paid tribute to them at the end of the drama. It was quite touching. This drama wasn’t perfect, it certainly had its flaws. But I walked away with a warm fuzzy feeling. Don’t be intimidated by the 40 episodes either. After taking away the beginning and ending credits each episode is less than 40 minutes long. So the 40 episodes fly by quickly. This is a good drama that I’m glad I watched.

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story (8.5/10): the ending was absolutely satisfying. it was a nice, clean wrap up to the series and any attempt at a season 2 will honestly ruin it. probably one of the most satisfying endings as i didn’t end up with any questions as to how other ended up, unlike certain dramas that leave me with questions like “how did *** relationship end up?” “did their parents forgive *** for ***?”

the plot itself is an easy manipulation of a classic cliche; they’ve known each other since childhood, one of them hates the other (though it’s typically both or neither), revenge plot, whoops i’m in love. nothing old and nothing wrong with a classic. it’s not original enough for me but i’m a sucker for cliche dramas as well.

besides the romantic plot, i really enjoyed the idk “side plot” (?) that was framed around dreams. they brought together all these characters that all, in the end, strive for their dreams instead of pining around and forgetting they’re full-time college students. it gives a great message and something i really enjoyed was liao zhenyu and xia menghuan’s relationship. menghuan didn’t allow zhenyu to just put his focus on her and her passions but made him realize that he should be on his own path as well, not groveling over his girlfriend’s dream. it brings a good balance to the relationship, to make sure they’re equals and not superior and inferior, which is glorified in too many dramas, along with other toxic/unhealthy relationships.

if the main genre was slice of life or youth or something, i think this could’ve gone so much better because the romance was lacking in individuality between other dramas. together, misunderstanding, break up, whoops lol i was wrong, together again. like biking and ending up at a hill, you bike over it, go downhill, then the path leads you back to the same hill. a circle of the same problems drama after drama.

i didn’t like what they did with bian cheng’s character. he experienced what seems like complete mood swings because he was blinded by emotion. it was done for entertainment, making there be a bad guy, but it just doesn’t sit well with me. all too extreme. on the other hand, zhou ran was someone i saw potential in as soon as i got a couple of episodes in, especially when she gave reasoning as to why she doesn’t like tang xue. it was weak hatred and i think she knew it too. they ended up giving her character a chance and zhou ran really reached her potential, a genuinely nice person who got caught up in jealousy and a bit of misunderstanding. as you watch, you can see her doubt whether she actually likes li yubing or if it’s just to get at tang xue.

[i just watched yu yan's figure skating performance on ep 39 and can i say that was t h e most touching thing!?!?!?! he explains his emotional journey through, not only words, but through the choreography. his character developed so well, though there were some parts that didn't seem to fit well with me.]

acting/cast (9.5/10): they put effort into this. the cast was quite well done, though the main leads didn’t always seem to have the best chemistry, in my opinion, but the acting was well done. i got so mad at tang xue’s character so many times and, if acted poorly, could’ve made my hatred even stronger. same goes for li yubing’s character. the supporting cast did excellent work too, making sure to keep a nice balance in the by not bringing too much attention to themselves around the leads but not slacking off on their characters.

music (8.5/10): i noticed in SO many serious scenes that there’s a not-so faint instrumental that plays. when the leads aren’t speaking, the music is made louder despite it already being quite loud and obnoxious in the context of the drama. the lyrical music was edited in a better manner. i really REALLY like the songs on their own, especially actor of xia menghuan, he xuanlin’s snow and ice (冰糖炖雪梨). it’s such a beautiful song and such so well, it gives me goosebumps. and zhou shen’s 雪花落下? his VOICE!!!! working wonders on my soul. soft/sad chinese ost songs really do something different to you but that’s for another conversation.

rewatch value (7/10): it was a nice drama, enjoyable watch really. but i don’t think i would rewatch it anytime soon, maybe a year or so from now to reminisce. i was into it when i saw the drama but rewatching it seems like a waste of my time as there were so many stretched and tense parts, especially the bian cheng parts that jumped from a dude tryna get a girl to “haha lets hurt her boyfriend haha whoops that seems a bit far, no?”

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Best I have watched for 2020

I absolutely love this! I love this as much as A love so Beautiful. The leads' chemistry are superb! They are both likeable and you kind of wish they end up together in real life. The story is heartwarming and shows patriotism. I like how they show love and how this love can inspire young people to reach their dreams. I cant imagine how much they trained to prepare for their roles. Yu Bing really looked like a hockey player and Tang Xue a speed skater. I also loved the story of second leads Zhen Yu and Meng Huan. Their love story is so likeable as well. Their story can be a TV series on its own. I also loved the ending where they paid tribute to real athletes of China. This is a 10/10.

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Can’t believe Bing Tang is over, 40 eps seems too fast!

The drama overall was really good and there was never really a dull moment. There were lots of sweet moments between the couple & de supporting characters were well developed and had interesting plot lines as well. Though it’s a romance and youth drama, it really focuses on chasing after dreams, never giving up, and works to promote the upcoming 2022 Beijing Winter.

//VERDICT // I do highly recommend this drama 2 anyone who loves sports & youth dramas. It’s good and super easy 2 watch,& most of the characters are likable. Not dramatic at all!

P.S Li Yu Bing & Tang Xue made up 2 my favs list... u could check their gif in my profile

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Story 10/10- I love how China makes drama about sports that exists in reality. This drama will give a viewer HOPE if they are about to give up their dreams, the drama tells that why you need to choose between love and career if you love both of them why choose the two, And this drama taught you why team work is really important.
Acting cast 10/10- I love how all of them played the role so well. From the main lead to supporting actors (Friends of tang xue/ Li yubing, The parents of both parties, The managers, The team, Bian cheng and tang xue's cousin) All of them has a story and I love how this drama gives me the result that I want. Each person learned a lesson from their mistakes and experience. GREAT JOB
Music 10/10- I LOVE THE OST, Every scene fits the OST so well!!
Rewatched Value 9.5/ 10- I'm surely going to rewatched this drama

Overall 10/10- This drama deserves a highest rating, Award, Deserves to be praise and DESERVES SEASON 2!!!

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Dreams and how to achieve them.....

never written a review before so am not good at writing sorry in advance here goes...

Story:
for me the story and plot was common but presented really greatly this drama is just like any other sports drama they show u the hardship behind all those achievements and stuff but at the same time it was different in its own unique way it tells you how to be YOU or how to achieve your dreams how your loved ones support can make u fall as well as pick u up after u fall and how important is family and friends for someone who is going through both happiness and sadness this drama portrays it all and so well.

Acting/Cast:
in my opinion the main couple suits each other its just Janice I don't know how she does it but she makes that chemistry with every male lead she has worked with and u cant even tell its a drama and they are not actually in love in real life also Steven this is my 2nd drama of him the first one was 'Go Ahead' and he was a 2nd male lead in it but in this one he was the main lead and he did both roles so best that u cant even tell again that they are not in fact acting the 2nd couples were two one was the follower couple as I call them (Tang Xu's friends) and the other was the roommate couple (the roommates of both Janice and Steven) they also did so perfectly then there was the best friend couple and the villian couple the coaches the managers the parents all cast did it so perfectly.

Music:
I love the main OST "The moment I met you" has become my fav song now I prefer the female version which was mostly played at the backgrounds of the scenes.

Re-watch value:
I don't re-watch dramas that often and I wont be re-watching this but the people that actually rematch dramas will definitely love to do it since its a light drama.

Overall:
I will say that the main focuses of this dramas I really the scenes that were extra like the keyboard warrior scene and Yu Yan's anxiety scene that gave me massive goosebumps overall please watch it once u will not regret it.....

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I went into this only really knowing the FL - Janice Wu. I know the stories she usually picks and the characters she usually plays, so I had a pretty good idea of what this drama would be - it was exactly what I imagined. Also sorry my reviews are always really long hahaha.

STORY:

This drama hit basically all the high points of your common rom-com mixed with drama stories. Couple dislikes each other at the beginning, someone goes out of their way to make the other person's life miserable. There's fighting, laughing, crying, etc. I think that in terms of the story, it was a pretty basic drama.

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I think this drama excelled at adding the strong goals of each of the characters. Everyone had their own personal dream to accomplish and worked their hardest to achieve their individual goals while also helping their friends and loved ones achieve their own. This part, I think was rather enjoyable to watch. On the negative side, however, this makes the show even more unrealistic. All of the main characters in the show not only had a strong dream, but they were also perfectly adapted to achieve those goals with little in the way of stopping them.

While the story does show failures and injuries that slow them down, it still felt a little unrealistic to me. The FL is one of the best at her sport and even after taking almost 2 years off after an almost fatal injury, she returns and is one of the top athletes after just a few months (legit like 4 months because this first happens in their first semester of school). It's just unreasonable to me.

Regardless of that, I still think the story was enjoyable. It moved along fairly fast, even though 40 episodes is a decently long drama (especially contemporary).

Another low point to the story? WAY TOO MANY SIDE PLOTS. By the end of the drama there's like 4-5 fully fledged relationships that come out. Every character (minus Yu Yan) end up with a significant other (even the "bad guys"). Again, super unrealistic, but it's a romantic dramedy. I honestly skipped through a bit of this TV show, mostly through the side character plots. It was just a bit much.

Now getting to the bad guys in the story. I think the point of the show was to show that even "bad characters" can come around. They showed that part well enough. But honestly the "bad guys" - namely Bian Cheng and Zhou Ran - were hardly bad enough to even be a bad guy. I'd call them fairly annoying at most. They disrupted the MLs lives enough to be annoying, but weren't bad enough to actually be threatening. Bian Cheng especially. He was so ridiculously set on his goal to be with Tang Xue, but they never talk about WHY he actually "likes" her. Meh.

CHARACTERS:

Tang Xue - The leads I think were pretty solid. I really like Janice Wu in general, so she definitely hit the right points with me. She was able to be pretty badass in this drama. A much stronger character than others she's played. Her character was refreshing for me because it's rare that a FL is so powerful and outspoken.

Li Yu Bing - This was my first drama for this actor. At first I was not super into his acting. Mostly because the producers had the adult leads portray the "child" versions of them in some flashbacks. It was cute and funny, but it kind of ruined my image of LYB haha.

Others - none of the other characters ridiculously stood out for me honestly. There was also just too much focus on all of them.

OVERALL:
This was a decent drama. It's fairly popular in China for this year and there were no major issues, minus some story lines / character development. I think that I wouldn't watch it again, personally, because it really wasn't THAT different from any other drama. The chemistry between the leads was ok, but not mind blowing. Decent for a one time watch (with some skipping), but I wouldn't rewatch.

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This may be one of my favorite watched dramas for the year.

One of my favorite moments was the talent show. The episodes leading up to it showed Tang Xue to be really bad at singing but during the actual every I was shocked that she didn't flop. I also really enjoyed the initial love triangle, well Hexagon maybe?

It was nice that for once every character, for the most part, had a picked match though I do wish to have seen more of Bian Cheng and Zhou Ran. I feel like there at the end there was definitely something sparking there.

At the end of episode 40 there was a small slideshow of the different athletes that had performed in the winter Olympics representing china and the medals they had won which I thought was super cool.

after finishing the drama one character stood out most to me even though only momentarily popping in every now and again which was Song An Jie portrayed by Qu Xiao Yu. I'm defiantly looking forward to seeing him in other dramas.

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