I've into kdramas for a decade but I never gave any other country's dramas a chance. 'A Love So Beautiful' is the first cdrama I watch and I've gotta say I was pleasantly surprised with the drama as a whole. I think the production was carefully done and the story was properly written and developed, though I have major complaints about stuff here and there. Still, I think the characters were all very relatable and acted according to their age in all the different stages of their lives. I think the story was very realistic and that's probably my favorite thing about this drama.

Be aware, this review will contain very specific plot points and spoilers that would definitely change your perception of the show if you haven't watched it and don't like spoilers. I don't recommend to read it if you haven't watched the drama.

Chen Xiao Xin is a girl heavily crushed on a guy who wouldn't turn his head back to check on her for years. She was brave for making moves on him even though he was blatantly not interested, she was persistent and had a clear goal in her life: become Jiang Chen's something. However, she also had a very poor image of herself and terrible self-esteem and dignity for obvious reasons, which I tolerated in the first episodes because it wasn't that extreme. But after a while it became tiresome and I found myself disliking her multiple times. Still, I liked a lot that she was the one to break up later and she gave herself some place in his life and even made him wait (although only a little bit) until she made up her mind. The writers redeemed the character with that, or so they tried, but I accept it and think she was a pretty good character overall.

Jiang Chen is a cold guy who doesn't care about anything or anyone; he's the smartest guy in school and focuses only on his studies. Until he meets a girl that chases him around and eventually makes him get used to her, as he finds himself caring for her and waiting for her. At first I thought he was just the jerkish type of cold male lead but who would soon change because of the FL and treat her right. Even if I was proven right later on, I think they carried the 'cold guy who never expresses his feelings' narrative for way longer that I would've liked.

I liked their relationship when they dated between 2009-2012, but so many things stressed me out: the fact that they never properly kissed, did not sleep with each other, JC never told CXX she liked her even (during those 3 years), and those things that are definitely unrealistical for a relationship lasting that long. Their relationship was realistic in other matters, like being too busy and not having time for each other, longing for the other, trivial misunderstandings to major ones that changed their lives.

Despite this, I think they made up well for what they put CXX for 20 something eps by making JC the absolute sweetest and clingest boyfriend with the softest gaze and deepest voice. As I watched the last 4 eps I live tweeted my reaction and found myself just yelling at JC's tiny bits of attention. When he realized she was laying down on his office and he went there, slept next to her and then woke up because she'd leave, and back-hugged her in the purest way and asked her to come back soon. God! Or when they were walking holding hands and she said her hand was sweaty and he switched places so he could still hold her hand while walking together. God! OR when they were at the bench before making up and he holds her hand and puts his head on his hands holding hers and says he's sorry. God!

Even if I think his character was dull and nothing compared to the SL, I rooted for him too and think JC was really into her. It annoys me, though, that he only told her he loves her directly once (the confession was absolutely cute and heartwarming) and twice while talking to Bo Song, but he didn't even know he was on a call. But I guess drama directors just really love the cold, no feelings guy.

Now, moving to the best character of the show, Wu Bo Song. A boy with only one induced thing on his mind: swimming. Until he meets a girl that makes him think of her all day long. What they did to WBS is horrible and I feel so sorry for him. The fact that he wrote once that he loves CXX (confession 1), then openly confessed before graduation that he was in love with her and that she'd do anything for her (confession 2), and finally, they even made him propose (confession 3) and say the sweetest things in both 2nd and 3rd confessions. It hurt me so much to see him tell CXX that he was joking when he first confessed, later on admitted to not be joking and that he actually loved her but he had decided to give up on her. Then years later he confesses to love her once again, proposes to her and even tells her he knows what her answer would be but he still had to try. Hello? Did you have to hurt me so much like this, writer-nims? When he said he didn't plan to do it so soon and that he wanted to give her more time but "you know I get anxious when I see a certain someone." Was that necessary? Please, answer! Was that necessary? Holy God, it hurt me so much. Whenever he said that he would do anything "his boss" wanted, he bought her all the stuff she ever mentioned she needed. When JC asked if the ground where they were standing was hers and WBS appeared and said that if she wanted he would buy for her. Please! Why do they need to do that! They just made my poor boy suffer so much for nothing.

On top of that, when he was knowingly rejected and called Lu Yang and started drinking with him, simply showed him the ring and LY immediately knew what was going on. Then JC came and writers even made WBS literally beg him to "let him" have CXX? WBS said "give me CXX back" and JC replied "she's always been mine." I never wanted to punch a character so much. But I was so much more hurt because of WBS begging him and later finding out he was actually on a call with CXX... because even if he was hurting and even if he loved her to death, he still knew she wouldn't be completely happy with him even if she ever accepted him and wanted the best for her and got out all those words from JC... I'm just baffled at the amazing character he was and how he was paid dust. Literal dust. I can't wait to see Gao Zhi Ting on a ML role in a romance drama to finally see him get the girl and be the happy boy he deserves to be.

Lin Jing Xiao was the baddest and kindest girl ever and I loved every aspect of her personality during school and college days. Since the very beginning I knew she and Lu Yang would end up together since it was the obvious thing to happen, although I didn't think they would have such a lovely story. I used to think LY was just the loser-y friend of the group but he was so much more than that. I loved the beginning of their relationship and how honest they were with each other, the fact that their love was so pure and they lasted so long having their cute dynamics. I teared up a bit when they were saying their vows and how purely in love they were with each other, complementing the other nicely. It was the best couple of the drama obviously and one of the best second couples ever. It made me want to see more of both actors.

Overall, I agree on the common idea that this drama was good in like 75% because of the friendship, 10% on the plot and 10% Wu Bo Song alone and 5% on the main couple. They were dull for like 20 eps until JC finally decided he needed to TALK to get things like, you know, an adult would do. At least he did open up and he became sweeter and kind and most importantly, not behind the scenes but actually showing it to her. It bothered me so much that he never told her he loved her once in 22 eps. Yes, love can be also demonstrated in acts and he definitely showed her his love and I will give him that because, as a viewer, I know he loved her dearly from school days. But it wouldn't have hurt him to say it every once in a whilecwo that she wouldn't be so hurt. The first time he said it to her (out of 2 total times that are in the same scene), he said "then why do you always forget that I love you with all my heart." Please, you never said so before? She's not a witch to know what you're thinking. Also, I just remembered when she told him she was tired of trying to figure him out and his thoughts, that she was not curious to know about what he was thinking anymore. And then he started TALKING. That's how you resolve adult problems.

Anyway, despite my criticism and the fact that I'm terribly dissatisfied with what they did to Wu Bo Song, I still loved this drama very much and think they portrayed all the stages of life in an amazingly realistic way (despite certain fiction instances, of course). Their struggles and concerns were always according to their ages, their feelings and how they reacted to them was lovely, as they wanted to be their best selves no matter how young or old they were. Their friendship was very pure and I loved all their trips together, they really cared for each other as friends and it made my heart warm. I must say I had never watched a drama that went from school life, through college and until post-college adult life and do it so well. It's really such an espectacular drama, I would recommend it always.

I'm excited to see how the Korean version is going to develop the introduction to adult life and if they will correct some wrongs on the Chinese ver. And especially, I'm expecting the SL not to suffer as much as Bo Song wrongfully did.