During the Snowstorm (2024)

A Sweet & Fluffy Romance but Not a good Sports Romance Drama

Subjective Gut Rating - 8.25

If you want a fluffy romance, then you are at the right place. The romance between Lin Yi Yang (ML) and Yin Guo (FL) is the central plot, and everything else is to support their romance. They have excellent chemistry together. If you are looking for a sports drama, you will be bored in the ⅔ of the drama, but a little more delighted in the last third.


Main Romance
I am personally not a big fan of love-at-first sight, and it’s even harder to believe it happens to Lin Yi Yang, a guy who is too busy to think about love. But nevertheless, it happens to him in the most unrealistic way, and the rest is history. ML is the perfect boyfriend - smart, caring, considerate, loyal, only has eyes for FL and ignore all suitors, and most importantly, loving through actions and not sweet-talking. Luckily(?), he’s not as perfect as the ML in “Love Me, Love My Voice” (LMLMV). He actually has a personality and flaws, which makes the romance a little more interesting. There are plenty of loving and longing gazes, and Leo Wu can melt anyone with his eyes. The romance is cute and fluffy, and really does make me smile. However, after about 15 episodes of nothing but sweet romance, I got a little bored. There are a few episodes that were soooo slow and draggy that I wish FL would just go back to China already. They really only knew each other for a very short period of time, and they fell fast and hard. A week of dating and you’re already telling each other how much money/assets you own? There are quite a few of OK kisses, definitely not as extended or passionate as in LMLMV, which is a little disappointing. What’s more disappointing is FL constantly blocking ML’s kisses and rejecting him. Some say ML is a little horny. But I’d say you have limited time together and you see each other once a week, of course he wants to kiss and hold his girlfriend as often as possible before they are separated. The constant rejection becomes rather annoying and repetitive. I’d rather FL kisses back shyly than turning her head away. Having said that, this is a lovely romance from start to finish. They met as shy young adults, and grow to support each other unconditionally. I love how FL expresses to ML that she would be behind him 100% and be his safety net.

Other Romance
Well, basically non-existent. There’s plenty of time to shower us with more scenes of the smoking hot Wang Xing Yue/Meng Xiao Dong and his romance with Lin Lin. They obviously had a very interesting past and I’d like to see a more smitten Meng Xiao Dong. I want to see how they could break up 3 times, yet still are very attracted to each other. What a lost opportunity! If the drama has spent less time in the first half of the drama on a super slow-paced romance, there will be time left in the second half for this romance, and other more interesting plot.

Snooker/Billiard
Watching this drama reminded me of watching my dad play snooker at the snooker hall when I was little. And this is one of the reasons I want to watch this drama. Rarely do we see this profession being spotlighted in a drama, let alone an idol drama. I enjoyed all the competitions and friendly battles. The drama does not really describe the sport, so if you know nothing about snooker/billiard, you might be bored. There’s a lot of strategies involved in the sport, but this drama is not trying to educate the public. The camaraderie of the players reminded me also of e-sports. You can be friends off the court, but respectful competitors on the court. In the end, China just can’t shy away from this national pride, and the writers have to insert international competitions into this drama. I actually would have liked to see how Lin Yi Yang transforms and modernizes the club. I want to see the process and the result of his new ideas, but that plot is short-changed.

Healing
Before I watched this drama, I read that viewers dislike ML moving back to China for FL and giving up his original plan. I disagree with that. ML did not give up his dreams. Instead, FL is the catalyst and the push that he needed to really pursue his dreams. He longs to go back to China and correct what he’s done. He longs to go back home. He wants to see his Teacher again. Meeting FL and seeing how passionate she is about the world he left behind, is the best thing that could have happened to him. The second half of the drama focuses on ML’s journey home and to reconnect with those that he left behind. It was really touching when ML and his teacher reconnected.

Brotherhood/History
There aren’t enough scenes of the 3 brothers in this drama. As much as I love romance, I really wish there’s more time spent on the past and present friends/brothers/frenemies between Lin Yi Yang, Meng Xiao Dong and Jiang Yang. The three men have so much chemistry together and are so fun to watch their sarcastic comments to each other. I also wanted to know how ML lived his life from when he retired from age 16 to 27.

Acting/Supporting Cast
I enjoy everyone’s acting, especially our leads, Leo Wu and Zhao Jin Mai. Leo can play a lovesick puppy so well. I don’t think anyone can be immune to his gazes to FL. He has some very emotional scenes when he speaks with his eyes, as Lin Y Yang is a man of few words. Leo did a pretty good job. Zhao Jin Mai/Yin Guo appeared quite mature when she was first introduced. But as she started dating, her youth shows and she acts a lot younger than ML. However, once she’s in competition-mode, you can see the calm maturity and fierceness in Zhao Jin Mai’s eyes. The rest of the younger cast did a fairly good job. Of course, the veterans are great, e.g. FL’s mother and ML’s teacher. There aren't any annoying characters in this drama. Instead, we have loving families and supportive team members and competitors.


I recommend this drama if you are looking for a cute and fluffy romance. Mind you, there are times when the plot is a little slow in the first half but if you just want romance, then this is good. However, if you are looking for a well-balanced sports romance, then this is not a great one. Too much focus is spent on romance and not enough on the competition or other interesting sports plot. Nevertheless, I had an enjoyable time watching this.


Other Random Observations:
1. I know all eyes should be on Leo Wu, but Wang Xing Yue is so smoking hot in suits.
2. People in Finland only speak English and Chinese? I don’t think I hear any Finnish at all.
3. I like a FL who is just as amazing professionally as the male characters. FL looks so cool.
4. Pestering a player about his love life and forcing him to confess his love during an international tournament is so UNPROFESSIONAL!!!
5. How can a player who just had surgery be selected to the national team???


Completed: 3/3/2024 - Review #413

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ml LOVES the fl

I’d say what really made this drama stand out to me is the way we see the characters falling in love. The ML is so expressive with his eyes that I could immediately tell when he became obsessed with the FL. This woman had him ON HIS KNEES in love with her. The way he acts when she’s in the room is insane, it felt like I was really watching a crush form and grow. Although I couldn’t tell right away when the FL fell for him, I thought their dynamic was so cute. The trope of falling in love in a foreign country is not overdone, so I really liked seeing it here. It is a refreshing watch and a perfect drama to start on a snowy day!

The supporting characters also really cared for the main couple and helped push them together. The FL’s brother in particular was stellar (I don’t want to spoil so that’s all I’ll say). He got a 10/10 from me.

This is a great winter watch, especially if you’re tired of corny dramas where the main couple doesn’t even like each other.

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STOP overthinking and watch it already, you WILL NOT regret it

Okay, just to show you all how good this is, I have to say that this is my first ever review after 4 years of watching dramas. I simply have to write one, because I feel genuinely sad for the people who have not seen this yet.

First of all, I have to say that I absolutely LOOOOOOOVE the cast and the way they play their roles, it's just perfect. You could really feel their love with so much intensity. This drama had me squealing, giggling and rolling in my bed non stop. I fell deeply in love with both the leads and all the other cast. They all made this drama so much more wholesome.

I think that their relationship in the beginning is sooooo cute and sometimes cringy and you get immediately immersed. However, as the show goes on they develop such a beautiful relationship, that I hope something like this could exist in reality. They go through very good times, but also very bad times and you can see how much they support each other in everything. It's so HEARTWARMING.

I gave the story only a 9 because it's not a really complex plot but I don't think more is needed honestly. It's simple but perfect at the same time, I think it just suits everything else about this drama.

I'm giving the music a 9'5. It's so good and there are certain parts that stayed in my head so much that I'm listening to it even in my free time. I think it really goes perfectly with the flow of the drama and it made me very emotional in the right moments. Very good.

And lastly I need to emphasise on the rewatch value of this. It's CLEARLY and UNDOUBTEDLY a 1000. I did not make a mistake, it's a 1000. Its been a week since I watched this show, and I have tried watching other 3 dramas that are not making me satisfied in the least, because there is simply no point in even comparing them to this one. It's too good. That's why I'm back here writing my first ever review, and that's also the reason why I'm about to watch it again, even though it has only been a week since I watched it. I am SO EXCITED.

LISTEN TO ME AND WATCH IT. THANK ME LATER. ENJOY!!!!!

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=> A good Rom-Sport series focusing on billiards, with a great CL.

PLOT: ML, was a genius snooker gamer, abruptly retired 10 years ago. He now studies and lives in Finland. It was there that he met FL, a young 9-ball player, for whom he fell in love at first sight. They become closer and she tries to convince him to return to China and resume his career. That's wath they will do despite the obstacles.

PROS:
+ A convincing CL, with all the green flags: trust, respect, attention, tolerance, etc. A very good performance from the 2 actors.
+ a simple but credible story, without a love triangle, without a vengeful ex, etc. Real life, what!
+ Lots of excellent, endearing actors.
+Well suited OST
+ This is a drama, supposed filmed mainly abroad, but they are some inconsistencies on the reality in Finland (does everyone speak Chinese or English? Large Chinese community in Helsinki? ...)

CONS:
- Some inconsistencies in the timeline
- We remain hooked on this series by the quality of the CL, but the story is too simple for it to always be exciting. OK, a sports career cannot be rebuilt in a day, but certain narrative arcs could have been shortened.

***************************************************************************
Avec Leo Wu
PLOT : Le ML, snooker gamer de génie, a pris une brusque retraite il y a 10 ans, il étudie et vit maintenant en Finlande. C'est là qu'il rencontre la FL, jeune joueuse de "9 balls", pour laquelle il a le coup de foudre. Ils se rapprochent et elle tente de le convaincre de revenir en Chine et de reprendre sa carrière. Ce qu'ils vont faire malgré les obstacles.

PROS:
+ Un CL convaincant, avec tous les green flags : confiance, respect, attention, tolérance, etc. Une très belle performance des 2 acteurs.
+ une story simple mais crédible, sans love triangle, sans ex revancharde, etc. La vraie vie, quoi !
+ Beaucoup d'excellents acteurs, attachants.
+TB OST
+ un drama supposé tourné principalement à l'étranger, mais quelques incohérences sur la réalité en Finlande (tout le monde parle chinois ou anglais ? Large communauté chinoise à Helsinki ? ...)

CONS:
- Quelques incohérences dans la timeline
- On reste accroché à cette série par la qualité du CL, mais la story est trop simple pour que ce soit toujours passionnant. OK, une carrière de sportif ne se reconstruit pas en un jour, mais certains arcs narratifs auraient pu être raccourcis.

=> Une bonne série Rom-Sport focus sur le billard, avec un great CL.

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