My mediocre attitude to melodramas sometimes overcomes the desire to plunge again into another love story, which, as usual, has little to do with real life. But here is far from the same as in other melodramas - in the case of this drama, everything is real, without exaggeration. The story described here is definitely worthy of attention.
This is the first time I’ve seen Chinese dramas, and for the first time I wonder how you can describe each character so accurately, erase the boundaries between good and evil as such – and even if this division is traced indirectly, then in general you observe and realize that there are no bad people in this story. There are broken and strong in spirit, sincerely loving and indifferent to the feelings of other people, those who want to prove that they are worth something, and those who do not need to doubt their own exceptionalism at all. Life is really complicated, said artist Tian Suju, a friend of the main character Zhu Yun. It tests us for weaknesses, puts obstacles in our way, and in some cases does not forgive mistakes. Speaking of the artist, for me he remained one of my favorite characters and probably the wisest and most logical in his actions.
With each episode, you fall more and more in love with Li Xun, and you get a better understanding of how he hooked Zhu Yun. He is like a bright star in a lonely sky - after him he is ready to go to the end of the world and turn mountains. His cosmic level of intelligence is simply amazing, his performance knows no limits. He knows exactly what he wants and is always confident that he will win. But all this sometimes turns into a minus - the crown on the head is so pressing that the guy is convinced that only he and no one else can make a furor. For the realization of his own genius, he does not appreciate the work of other people around him, is able to destroy only one word, reproaching him for worthlessness, thereby wounding him so much that he literally breaks the life of his classmate Gao Jianhong.
In the second half of the series, Gao can be perceived as a person who personifies evil, but he simply did not cope with the figure of Li Xun. And that's not because he's weak. Because initially, when I was a student, I chose the wrong priority. To believe in himself, he had little inner enthusiasm - he needed outside approval. Gao was obsessed with winning, getting ahead, becoming number one – that was his biggest mistake. From a modest, capable guy, he was able in such a short time to turn into a dummy pursuing commercial interests and bury deeply in himself his really positive qualities. In pursuit of fame, money and the desire to prove that he is the best, Gao Jianhong lost himself, and also got cancer for dessert.
Watching the drama, you can think that the strongest character is Li Xun, because so much heavy burden fell on his lot. But the palm in this case, I give it to Zhu Yun. How much strength lies in such a fragile, bright and charming girl. She is able, like no one else, to sincerely love, to be faithful to the last, to work and learn, sparing no effort, not turning away from the right course. She is not bad, very smart and capable, in this respect not inferior to Li Xun. It's no wonder Joo got so deep into his soul. Despite all the difficulties of life, she remains herself, but at the same time improves and becomes the one who can change the world.
Of course, many people, including myself, may think that the relationship in the drama looks far from healthy. Zhu chooses self-sacrifice and is ready to do anything for Lee - quit working abroad for rabid money, start everything from scratch, be near and "swallow" harsh phrases and sometimes incomprehensible actions from his first love. She's like a tough tin soldier. And behind the seemingly bulletproof Lee lies a miserable person who has suffered a lot of pain, who keeps all feelings within himself and does not know how to adequately express them. But at the same time, he is able to love with all his heart and soul - one look at Zhu is worth it. Is there a 100% healthy relationship in real life? Life is complex and ideal relationships simply do not exist in nature. The drama just demonstrates that the main characters were able to overcome difficulties, carried through the years a beautiful feeling and managed to come to happiness.
Every hero has his own weaknesses. But they do not make them bad, but once again show human imperfection. Always and in everything, one must remain human, acting according to conscience and not bringing any negativity to a critical point. In the drama raised a lot of issues worthy of reflection, the focus is on the relationship between people. They are complex and multifaceted, they often appear pitfalls, but you should never forget yourself and your nature, otherwise life can punish you very seriously.
The drama was shot at a very high level. The actors played amazingly, believe each of them unconditionally - managed to get into absolutely every character. I especially liked the chronology of events. The student atmosphere is as accurate as possible. I am silent about the topic of IT in general, since there is an absolutely complete immersion here (I, as a technologist, completely penetrated). I want to note that the drama is not long, the script is competently written. The music also resonated in the heart. It’s impossible to break away for a second, I watched everything in a few days, and now I’m sad that it’s over. . .
I can’t help but mention that I was horribly pissed off by Zhu Yun’s mother – it’s just that throughout the viewing I was internally angry when she appeared. It's amazing that Zhu didn't turn into a terrible bore with such a mother. . .
I rarely cry during movies and after, but here I cried three times. I guess that says a lot. The Chinese can do everything, including making a great movie.
This is the first Chinese drama I’ve seen. And she's amazing. I can’t stop, so when 36 episodes ended, I started watching a second time.
This is a story about love and hatred, about friendship and betrayal, about the attitude of fathers and children, about failures and success.
In the first series, we are shown how the beautiful Ji Yun returns to the city with her friend, how the shaved and harsh Li Xun leaves prison, how the insidious Gao Janhong makes plans. And then we go back 7 years, when these three were freshmen in the Applied Technology Department, about the history of their friendship. For the first half of the series, I kept thinking, what happened between them, because they are such bosom friends? The ending of this story is worth watching the series to the end.
I want to highlight the positives:
1. Actors. Stunningly coped with their role, very well conveyed the emotions and character of the characters, as well as their development in the course of the series, the characters are real people, they believe. Here, every actor in his place - both the main and secondary, played very well, 10/10.
2. Student atmosphere. As a former software student I experienced nostalgia for this time, the atmosphere was conveyed very accurately. It was interesting to compare education in China and Russia, so much in common! Even the joke about slow computers in the whole university amused.
3. Real codes. That's just respect. Rarely do you find movies or series about programmers where the code is real.
4. The love story of the main characters. She is very beautiful, touching the soul. Li Xun is certainly a fool in many ways, but despite all his toughness, I rooted for their history.
Yes, there are disadvantages in the series, but the series leaves behind a very positive aftertaste. It's a complete logical story. It's both comedy and tragedy. But after a fall, there is always a rise.
I can't call myself an expert in the genre of drama, but this one is great. A kind of youth melodrama, made so carefully and at the same time reliably that it is impossible to break away from viewing, and then you want to reconsider.
“Kinopoisk” in its own interpretation of the name, which in the English version looks like “Lighter and Princess”, and in another Russian – “Lighter and Princess dress”. The series is based on a literary work, but, unfortunately, I do not speak Chinese, I cannot assess whether we owe the thoughtfulness of the plot and details only to the literary basis or the main miracle here was created by the scriptwriters.
The plot, in general, is not new: in one group of software students are Li Xun - a genius from a poor family - and Ju Yun - a beautiful honorary student from a wealthy family. And also an ambitious headmaster, passionate about music, a guy who used to be the first and suddenly became the second, a short-sighted kind man ... All types are absolutely recognizable, here they are, we definitely met them among our classmates or classmates. Except maybe genius, because it's a rare bird. The first half of the series is a perfect youth melodrama about uni, sleepless nights, projects, exams and a touching first sense. Those who are still learning will instantly recognize this unforgettable feeling of youth, freedom and openness of the whole world, who have already unlearned - will remember and nostalgize.
The main attention is attracted by the main characters. Li Xun (Chen Feiyu) is not just an arrogant wit who everyone owes, he knows how to be caring and attentive (although he rarely hides it from everyone). He likes to show off and does not like to admit mistakes, in general - this is quite a lively person with his weaknesses, and the actor copes with the role perfectly: no sweetness, a deep living of dramatic events.
Ju Yun (Zhang Jingyi) is a good, obedient daughter whose mother has already painted her whole life ahead of her: what to do, where to study, whom to marry. But when faced with difficulties, Ju Yun discovers courage and perseverance, and she sincerely enjoys life, and people are drawn to her. Very high-quality acting work. And when these two are together, there are sparks that are breathtaking. A lot of light, irony, tenderness, friendly handicrafts - a long time ago I did not see love filmed like this. And it seems that it can no longer be better than the first part, but then the second comes, and it turns out - maybe.
What could be more beautiful than youthful, undiminished love, before which all roads are open? Only she, who passed through the crucible of grief, scorched by misfortune, but from this became even more piercing and wise. The second part is for people in their thirties, when it becomes clear that when you were young you just didn’t look at your feet, and then started stumbling and realized that you would never come to your ideal future. And how these guys, who were 22, if not less, at the time of filming, managed to convey all this experience, these internal changes that happened to them, I don’t know. But they did. Everyone around tells the main characters that they have not changed, but it is not true, they have changed. They just could not betray themselves in the main and keep love.
But besides the main characters, there are still secondary characters – everyone is in their place, and they are all remembered, although many may seem funny, ridiculous or strange, and all of them are important. And the humor was excellent, I have not laughed so much in a long time.
And in addition to the love story, there is also a hate story, and in the end you wonder which one is the most important? Is it worth dedicating a life of revenge, is it worth it to the end to stand your ground? And the conflict is solved in a very human way and teaches a lot of things, which, you know, is a rarity in our time. By the way, in the series there is not a single single stereotyped villain. No one wanted a tragedy, but it happened, as often happens in life. Social problems are also raised: inequality and nepotism, the rigor of public discussion and attitudes towards stumbled people.
I also liked the way it was shot: details are well used (lighter, dress, fob with pig, etc.), there are very beautiful and significant symbolic scenes. Also, I just learned more about China: for example, when people put food on each other, they express care and love. There is a sign that if lovers fall together under the first snow, they will meet old age together. On New Year’s Eve, the Chinese are playing cards.
The musical accompaniment is also quite bright and always appropriate, several songs are already on my playlist.
Of course, the drama is more focused on female viewers. Yes, it is a fairy tale - whether about Kai and Gerda, or about a princess and a beggar, but what will our life be without fairy tales? If you want to be objective, you should put 9, because if you want, you can find fault with something. But, to be honest, this series gave me so many good impressions and joyful moments that I do not want to find fault.
10 out of 10
When I started watching, I was full of prejudices, before that Chinese TV series seemed to me some kind of imitation, as if in a student play they were trying to show a Hollywood film using the most European faces. But this series is good in itself, it is original in everything from the structure of the narrative (in the first series 2019, with the third 2012, then again 2019) to the characters and characters.
At first it seems that now there will be a classic story of “lady and bully”: an obedient and diligent girl periodically encounters a rude and mysterious boy with discolored hair, who does not even really look at her, everything knocks on the keyboard. But the story is deeper and more interesting.
The bully is not a bully, but a programming genius, a leader with his vision, plans and ideas, he has the best score in the entrance exams, and he is very handsome. The drama cliché where the hero achieves the heroine is replaced by communication and a game of cat and mouse, where it is not always clear who is hunting for whom. He calls her a fool, but hides her with his jacket, drives her away, but allows her to leave the key, ridicules, but teaches. And she looks for herself and her meaning in it, because it is easy to fall in love with it, and she does not know what she wants by herself.
In the series, the atmosphere of youth is very vividly and accurately shown, when you have plans, dreams, the world at your feet, and any injustice hurts. Girls look at boys and boys look at the world and find their place in life. But all this is so within the framework of the plot, so justified and understandable that it is not sewn with white threads. There is not a single cardboard character: everyone has their own motivation, shortcomings and advantages.
Three students stand on the mountain and make plans for the future. One of them is a genius and a leader who knows exactly what he wants and where he is going. The second loves genius and is ready to believe in him and follow him, putting his soul into the work with all his responsibility and diligence. And the third wants to prove that he is also good, as good as a leader, he is torn between his desire to be in a strong team and succeed, but always be second or try to do his own, to get out of the shadow of genius. Where will they come from?
Three fellow students live in the same dorm room. One schmuck and a headmaster, thinking in grades, scores and perspectives. The second helps the first, does not know what he wants, falls in love, does not sleep at night to learn, become better and prove something. The third drops out of school to start a group. Very different, sometimes irritating in some of their manifestations, they carried their friendship through the years and remained mutually supportive, remained honest, it is so good.
Someone changes, becomes calmer, cynical or wiser, and the pair of main characters over the seven years of the plot retain their main features for different reasons. She decides for herself that she will always believe in him and be on his side, and he says little about what he thinks and decides, but always looks at her.
And such a moment: the hero is very beautiful, thin-faced, as if an anime character or a prince from Soviet cartoons plays in a movie. The way she looks at her grinning, the way she leans over her... good, you smack. He flicks his lighter, runs his finger through the fire, as if he were ready to burn.
- He's afraid of losing company, you're afraid I'll get hurt. - What are you afraid of? - I'm not afraid of anything.
All this, of course, a fairy tale, albeit in the modern entourage of the IT industry. But this is a good fairy tale, where evil and good go their way and come to a logical conclusion, and love conquers everything.
