Moonlight (2021)

honestly one of the best c-dramas in 2021

note: mandarin is my mother tongue, i speak it almost everyday
long story short if u wanna know if this show is good... i bought all 4 books of the original novel lol... :D

lets start off with the actors shall we?
visuals are OFF THE CHARTS!!! male 1, female 1, male 2 and female 3,, my goodness !!!!!! male and female 1 are the cutsie couple while male and female 2 are the cool and chic couple!! not to mention the 2 girls, they sing so well in real life!!! i recommend GWALLA and ChuLi is Here both by Esther Yu [ChuLi] and Reverse - Ma YinYin [GuBaiZhi] Both guys are smoking hot as well hahahaha

now the story -
unlike what esther yu dramas were always like, this sotry is more on the maturity side, like entering the workforce for the frist time, pursuing dreams and goals. this show is worth to watch because of the meaning of the story and basically how the show progressed and how the characters were portrayed. the main couple being goofy and finding love with each other while the second couple finding their love and passion for each other. so it is right for me/us to say that this show covers everything from different aspects. its like a whole package. story summary that is more in detail: chuli works at a book publishing company of her dreams ever since middle school, she meets her favourite novel writers, zhou chuan and jiang yu cheng respectively, coincidentally both of these writers were best friends since young! zhou chuan and chuli relationship grows steadier and closer as they work on publishing books together and.......living with each other under the same roof! and as for jian yu cheng, he meets his ex again, gu bai zhi and like the latter, they work together on books and also their broken relationship as to ge back together! overall, like ive mentioned, the story is lovely and very whlesome and family oriented as well. oo and honourable mention: er gou!! the doggo of the show hehe

acting skills,
well ding yu xi who played zhou chuan has already captured my dear old mum's heart so what else can i say! as for esther yu and chu li, their personalities are EXACTLY THE SAME! goofy and ambitious, no one can ever take place of acting chu li!!

music -
very nice! my favourites would be ChuLi is Here and NiuNiu! very cute songs!

and of course 10/10 wld rewatch! i even bought all 4 parts of the novels, which are VERY aesthetic. book 1 to book 4 is a spectrum from white to gray to black! :D

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Charming, with a takeaway lesson

Super cute drama, with lots of fluff. Solid acting across the cast. Decent storyline.

Female lead is well done, as you root for her every step of the way. Even though she may act cutesy, you see she is not a dumb girl and she works very hard to advance her career.

Second male lead is super attractive!

The colleagues are the main points of conflict in the drama and while annoying, the plot lines do wrap up by the end of the drama.

The overarching plot about publishing novels is also a refreshing one, and a great setting for a fluffy enjoyable romcom. Highly recommend.

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it's my first most favorite c drama and destined love story

after I completed watching the immortal samsara, this was my favorite c drama . as for the female lead and male lead strong bound together with their love and sacrificing each other. it's very journey that enable to understand and immensely in each other worlds. they overcome all challenges together which make their affection fully growth and able to understand each other's presence anywhere. their journey from strangers to soulmates in every life , happiness and tears , marriage with their hopes and aspiration unlike other individuals.

the drama attention with different colors and visual's of the drama and theme of drama created best and visual pleasing experience . as for the success of drama, The combination of strong writing, skillful direction, committed performances, stunning visuals, and thoughtful design culminate in a drama that is more than mere entertainment. It becomes a work of art that stimulates thought, triggers emotions, and leaves a lasting impression on those who engage with it.

Moreover, the supporting cast deserves recognition for their commitment to their roles, creating believable and relatable characters that resonate with the viewers. They provide a strong backdrop against which the main plot unfolds, adding complexity and dimension to the story.

in conclusion, this drama is just beautiful and heart warming ,character portraying with ding yu xi and yang chao yue great acting skills and stunning visuals comes together with unforgettable drama and storyline with creativity and new standard in drama production which create a great and stunning , heart warming drama that will stay in our heart forever.

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All Chinese dramas should be like this, so refreshing!

Very refreshing- from the storyline to the production, acting and the music background. All future Chinese dramas should follow its lead, then it can be equivalent to Kdramas :) Very classy and sophisticated drama.

A big shout out to ML Ding Yuxi who played his role REALLY REALLY WELL!! He’s an author who has a hot temper, socially awkward and a coward when it comes to love! 😄👍🏼❤️ His previous dramas were Intense Love (I did not like because I couldn’t stand the actress) and The Romance of Tiger and Rose (which was good but I believe his voice was dubbed). In this one he really shines! 👏🏼👏🏼 He shifted from throwing tantrums, to being in love, to showing sadness and crying all with ease. He had a way of drawing the audience to feel and understand what his character was going through. I especially loved how he dealt with problems and issues he faced, which such class and maturity. The scenes which I particularly loved were when he was facing the ghostwriting issues and wanted to give up- he was holding back his tears in the kitchen; and when he received his award. His facial expressions were so real and deep. I also liked how his character was smart and mature when handling questionable circumstances- e.g asking his friend to accompany him to the hotel room when meeting with Song Xi, and keeping his distance from her and telling her off. Very man!

To me the FL Esther Yu was somewhat less desirable. Some reviewers enjoyed her cuteness and bubbly persona, whereas others found her voice and whining annoying. I am of the opinion of the latter. Yes her voice is very squeaky and high pitched, and she likes to whine- so unfortunately for me I did not enjoy her acting/ character.

The chemistry between both leads was pretty good, kissing scenes were nominal nothing great. I did feel towards the 2nd half it seemed that Zhou Chuan loved her more and was more invested in their relationship. She seemed to brush him off more often and focus on her career. I did enjoy the chemistry and storyline of the 2nd leads, although quite predictable. Their proposal was way better, I mean who goes to walk alone in the streets during New Year’s eve and your boyfriend has to search for you via a tracking app? Just sadddd...

BROMANCE!! This was one of the highlights. :):) The friendship between Zhou Chuan and Jiang Yu Cheng was very admirable, even when they were both chasing the same girl, they didn’t fight or get angry with one another, JYC even confessed in front of ZC! I found that so hilarious and never seen before in any drama! Lol.. love their brotherhood ;)

Music background was also sophisticated and relevant. Songs were alright, nothing really memorable. I did find the story to get draggy towards the middle till the end. They introduced more characters and side storylines, which I skipped. Some plots also became repetitive. I hope that future Chinese dramas could be shorter maybe between 25-30 episodes.

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Sweet Rom-Com + Challenges faced by Book Editors and Authors

7/26/2021

As part of the Sweet On series, it is to be expected that this is going to be a sweet and fluffy romantic comedy. I'm glad to know that there's more to it than the usual cheesy love story. I love books, therefore, I decided to watch this drama as it's about publishing companies and authors. It's a very different vibe from the K-Drama "Romance is a Bonus Book", but it's just as enjoyable. I am glad that the actors real voices are used and the drama seems to have a combination of live recording and dubbing (not that bad).

Setting/Plot: I am not sure how realistic this drama is in regards to the challenges editors and authors face each day. However, I enjoy watching how editors work with their authors and how much effort is put in to getting a book published. Though the scenes might seem overly dramatic, the gist of what's happening seems realistic enough. The drama also focuses more on the challenges of established/veteran writers, than newbie writers trying to break into the industry. In many C-Dramas, we always see overly-bearing and disapproving parents. This drama has it, too, but it's part of an essential plot and character development of our ML. However, I do have to say that the antagonists do seem quite over-the-top. If they are really working in a publishing house, they should have been fired long time ago for their unprofessionalism.

Characters: FL at first glance seems to be another cliché female lead that is innocent and naïve. Many give up on this drama because they find FL's real voice annoying. It does take a little bit to get used to her "childish" and "whiny" voice, but once you do, it's a great story to uncover more about her. She is independent, energetic, persistent, NOT a pushover, and a go-getter. I enjoy discovering her personality throughout the show. ML, on the other hand, has more character growth. He started as an introverted, arrogant yet childish and petty famous author, to becoming more open, caring and mature. FL is more of a discovery throughout the show, and ML is more of a character development. In contrast, the secondary leads are much more mature, and go through a different set of challenges in life and romance. At the end of the drama, they have changed to become a better partner and better versions of themselves. The supporting cast has their individual role in the drama. The antagonists make your blood boil and you really want to slap them in the face for their unprofessionalism.

Acting: This is the second drama I've seen FL in after "I've Fallen For You". Both her roles are quite similar that she's bubbly and high energy. After getting used to her voice, I enjoyed her performance as she could be cutesy but you still love her, and want to root for her. It's also my second drama of ML after " The Romance of Tiger and Rose". He did a good job in playing this awkwardly cute guy, and then changed into his author character. I am especially impressed in Ep 35 in the scene with his father. You see his eyes slowly welled up and all the feels! 2ML is a handsome guy but I feel that he could look a little wooden at certain scenes. His best scenes are when he's bickering with ML. As for 2FL, she did a decent job but I find her crying scenes not believable.

OST/Costumes: I scored the OST lowest in the categories because they play the title song a little too much for my taste. It comes up every time there's a romantic scene, and it's quite unnecessary. Give us some peace when we enjoy such romance. I am especially disappointed in the last episode when the two male leads are delivering their heartfelt monologues and songs started to play. The volume is as loud as their voices and it's really distracting. I want hear their voices and feel their emotions, and not the loud music. Having said that, Ryan Ding's song "月光变奏曲"/Heartless Poem" makes me happy as it's so upbeat (his singing is just OK though). On the other hand, everyone has quite a nice wardrobe. You see different looks - for work, for play, for outdoorsy activities and formal events. Our four leads look amazing.

Bromance: The bromance between our two male leads is the best part of the show. When they are together, you feel their chemistry and laugh at/with them when they are bickering like children. 2ML is most lively when he's with ML. I want to see more of them together as they have such a fun and supportive relationship.

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bingeing on sleepless nights

as a book lover, this series tickled my fancy as it shows what happens behind the scenes in the publishing world. i know that the romance aspect is what the audience is looking forward to, but i love the fact that the background of FML was a little more complex, not complicated nor exaggerated as some dramas would normally have, but was eventually taken care of with the help of SFL.

this is the first drama of Esther that i've watched and i'd have to say that i wasn't disappointed in her character nor by her acting. i've read some reviews that her pitch is quite irritating - hers isn't the first high-pitched voice i've heard on a Chinese drama and there are others that are more annoying than hers. i think her laugh is quite contagious, i actually giggle every time she does! she played her role very well and i'm looking forward to watching her other series.

i've watched Ryan in TROTAR (LuSi) and IL (YuXi) but this is the best one i've seen of him. he exudes that certain air of arrogance and gives intense stares that just gives his audience butterflies in their stomach. he had me at TROTAR but totally captured my heart in Moonlight. his character's attitude is literally something i would want to acquire: not really caring much about what others think as long as you believe that what you are doing is right and that you are not harming others.

ShiZe and YinYin... where do i even begin? the chemistry between their characters is undeniable. it is my first time watching them and despite them pretty new in the industry, they were able to portray their roles very well. they will surely have more projects to come - i hope they'll get the FML & FFL roles soon.

PS: the bromance chemistry between ZhouChuan and YuCheng is pretty strong and competitive with that of their female leads hahaha! oh, and don't tell me that am i the only one who thinks that there's really something between YuYao and SuoHeng ? i didn't read the manga so i've no idea if it's there. ^_^

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Just what you would expect - nice to have a good storyline and strong cast

Just what you would expect from a Chinese Drama. Leaning into the soap opera realm. Too many episodes. And, only shows you the pretty and clean side of China - as usual - they use the rich people to showcase and those striving to just make a living never complain. That's okay - these are made for enjoyment and escapism.

Here's the ongoing Chinese drama relationship issue that seems to go on and on. To get the most episodes out of any series - the characters never learn or, finally come to their senses in the last few episodes. So, have the fast forward button at the ready and use it. It will save you lots of frustration. I was able to skip nearly entire episodes and not miss a thing. When the ML and FL petty argue - skip it - it never goes anywhere. Lather-rinse-repeat.

Villain is from within and takes tooooooo long to be exposed and brought to justice (like that ever happens in a Chinese drama - insert eye roll).

Because this has a touch of rom-com to it - expect the major couples to drag out their stuff to the very end. Again - fast forward and save hours. Or, vacuum, cut vegetables, clean, etc. so you don't feel you have wasted your time when they have their next disagreement and spend three episodes working it out.

Because FL is college educated and acts like a adult in the first episodes - expect the drams to go off the rails in the middle. Fast forward and save yourself the frustration when those moments begin. Easy to spot when they end the way Prime shows the show progress while you are zipping through.

Overall, I liked it and would recommend it. But, I have learned to spot and ignore the fluff and wasted pixels. As long as i get to enjoy the characters for who they are and see the story have a beginning, middle, and end - I am happy. Enjoy.

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Sweet romance between an author and his editor

Moonlight (2021)

My first completed CDrama for the year!! Light romcom with a few heart tugging scenes.

Likes:
1. Hands down the winning chemistry between Zhou Chuan and Chu Li. They were perfectly matched.
2. One of the best bromance between Zhou Chuan and Jang Yu Cheng. I love their friendship.. they tease each other and always try to be better than the other. But they also have each other's backs when needed. Zhou Chuan supported Yu Cheng during his break ups and his new novel, Yu Cheng advises Zhou Chuan on relationships and duing the ghostwriting scandal.
3. The relationship between Zhou Chuan and his father was also a memorable one. I love Ryan Ding's acting.
4. The publishing house setting and having a glimpse of how book publishing works.
5. The visuals and the nice soundtrack.

Dislikes:
1. I didnt like eps 31-35 that much. It could have been compressed into 3 episodes.
2. The second leads' love story was boring esp the first half. I fast forwarded any scene related to the old lady.
3. Chu Li's unbelievable editorial skills. She was intern and was able to sign the best authors without any experience. She rose to deputy editor to chief efitor in just 4 ( or 5?) Years which is also unlikely. And whoever styled her should have been fired. She was always in baggy clothes or casual attire in the office.

Rating: 9/10

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Surprisingly enjoyable

These kinds of fluffy rom-coms are often too cheesy for me, but I liked this a lot, despite the cheese, because it was just so overwhelmingly nice and relaxing to watch. Struggling? Feeling traumatized? This is for you: it's like a warm. pleasantly scented bath in a really clean, luxurious bathroom in the House of No Worries. Many have griped about Chu Li's cutesy voice, but I found it soothing, along with her calm and positive attitude, and really enjoyed her growth as an editor. Zhou Chuan is a brat, but he's cute and he improves, and I especially enjoyed the arc with his father. The second couple are wonderful eye-candy (let us take a moment here to appreciate the shirtless shots of the SML, because yum). They had a pretty good storyline too, there were many other nicely portrayed side-characters, and the setting of the publishing house/pro-writer world kept me engaged throughout. Yes, it takes a leisurely speed - it is a cdrama, of course it does - and the romances are slow, and while sweet, they're not particularly steamy. But if you are looking for a relaxing dose of niceness where everything works out, you should definitely try this.

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well paced, motivational drama ! worth watching

this is now one of my favourite dramas of 2021, i didnt expect to enjoy it as much as i did!

i loved the cast, the leads chemistry was great both before and after they started dating. the character of chu li was especially my favourite, her passion and motivation to do what she loves and what she believes is right honestly really motivated me haha, she is vedy confident in what she does despite having to be put down by miao while he was still there. she never gave up on others and her character is how i hope i am irl.

i didnt find there to be boring episodes, i think it was well paced in relation to the number of episodes it has. if i had to comment on one thing i didnt like about it then it would be the girl who tried to get zhou chuan to date her even though he has a gf and she was literally right there - feel like this is so overused in dramas but it only lasted a few eps so wasnt a big deal lol

good drama to watch if you want something light and romantic but also focuses a lot on the work life and family/friend relationships. there are no breakups and there was one misunderstanding but it was solved pretty quickly!

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Chu Li was made for Yu Shuxin

So I've watch this drama during the time it was aired because that time it was on my long time break

Yu Shuxin playing as Chu Li, though I won't count myself as pomegranate, it felt like Chu Li is Yu Shuxin and Yu Shuxin is Chuli
Chu Li's humor and serious side was just so Yu Shuxin
I can't say that it's the "best work" as I haven't watch her other drama, but I think Shuxin really did great, despite it's like her playing herself
Ding Yuxi was so adorable, tbh for several parts Zhou Chuan was just, eh, typical tsundere boy, but he add his own flavor to the character, maybe adding his own self for Zhou Chuan
And I Love Zhou Chuan and Jiang Yucheng bromance, one of the reason why I love this drama

on the other hand, while most of the time I was more interested in 2nd cp than main CP of the drama, moonlight wasn't just it
I won't lie that Jiang Yucheng and Gu Baizhi chemistry was one of the hottest but their characters was just frustrating, always have an urge to skipped their parts

Kinda sad that Yu Yao and Suo Heng have so much potential as wlw representative in this drama, I was rooting for them, but I know back then the acception of wlw wasn't as big as "bromance", and after that Qing Lang happened so yeah

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