A Love So Beautiful is a Chinese high school drama that was
online on November 2017 in China through
QQLive. The series ran for 23 episodes
(45 minutes each) and a series special. It ended on December 2017 and garnered
more than 3.5 views. It was aired in Taiwan, Malaysia, Philippines, and Korea.
It was also made available in
Netflix reaching far wider viewers in Asia.
ABS-CBN also aired a Tagalized version of the series in its afternoon slot via
it local TV Channel and online channel,
iWant TV.
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| By Source, Fair use, https://en.wikipedia.org |
Here is the list of the 10 things I loved about the show: (SPOILER ALERT)
1. Hu Yitian
Chinese superstar, Hu YiTian is just adorable in the series. His character as Jiang Chen, a smart high school student who lived in the apartment next to
Xiaoxi (Shen Yuen). He loved studying and had low social skills. He was always
quiet and would always keep his thoughts to himself. He lived on his own ever
since his father died and his mother moved to another place for work bringing
along his younger brother and leaving him behind. He is always annoyed at
Xiaoxi’s antics but ends up falling in love with her. He became a prominent
cardiac surgeon later in the series.
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| Image Source: Netflix |
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| Image Source: https://www.soompi.com |
Shen Yue and Hu Yitian have great chemistry
as they are both beautiful to look at. Their height difference looked so cute
it reminded me of Park Bo Young and Park Hyun Sik from
Strong Woman Do Bong Soon. But Yitian needs to improve more on some
of the drama parts. Gao Zhiting outshined him in this category.
2. Gao
Zhiting
The supporting cast, Gao Zhiting is also remarkable in his role.
He plays the role of a nonchalant teenager whose whole childhood had been
dedicated in training as a swimming athlete. He was loyal to Xiaoxi and would
always attend in her every need. He had been very vocal of his feelings for
her, but his love remains unrequited. He became a celebrity after winning
championship for China.
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| Image Source: Netflix |
Zhiting’s treatment of the character was very
playful but when it came to the heavy scenes, I was amazed how those smiling
little eyes can be full of pain, sadness, and longing that you just wanted to
pull him into a hug. He really did deliver where those emotions are needed the
most.
3. Highschool
Throwback
The drama series relived memories of my high school days. That
feeling of having a crush, seeing him all the time and hoping that he/she would
look at you the same way you did. While the drama series started as a petty
love story, the story progressed in a more mature direction as the characters
grew into adulthood. The sentimental feel is so relatable.
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| Image Source: https://www.pinterest.ph |
4. An
overview of culture and a touch of serious themes
I love how the drama
showed more of the Chinese culture such us the hot water refills, the honoring
of the dead, the school system, etc. I watched mostly Korean dramas, so the setting
and cultural nuances came new for me.
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| Image Source: https://www.avirtualvoyage.net |
The story was both character and plot driven.
I love how they were able to focus and expand on the simple teenage issues like
having a crush, joining sports activities, being sick in school, student
elections, gaming, etc. But at the same time, it also dealt with bigger issues
such as the outbreak of Bird Flu during those times, death, depression,
divorce, career choices, marriage, and even sex.
5. Squad
Goals
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| Image Source: https://www.soompi.com |
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| Image Source: http://www.chinatimes.com |
I loved how all the five characters: Jiang Chen (Hu Yitian), Xiaoxi
(Shen Yuen), Wu Bosong (Gao Zhiting),
Lin Jingxiao (Wang Ziwei), and Lu Yang (Sun Ning) bond together and
formed a friendship that lasted over time. It wove a beautiful subplot apart
from the love triangle of Xiaoxi, Chen, and Bosong. The adventures they shared together and how each of them
goes out of their way to help each other will really melt your heart. The drama
had the same feel as Weighlifting Fairy and Meteor Garden combined.
6. Lu Yang
and Jiangxiao’s lovestory
Wang Ziwei also showed her acting prowess in the
series as she played the role of Lin
Jingxiao, Xiaoxi’s bestfriend.
She was also one of the smart students like Chen.
She is boyish and very aggressive. She first had a crush on their school doctor
and even confessed for a violation she did not commit just to save her crush
from being fired from the school. She later outgrew her petty crush and
realized she had feelings for Lu Yang.
She became an astronomer at the end of the series and married Lu Yang.
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| Image Source: https://twitter.com/bubbletian |
Lu
Yang (Sun Ning) on the otherhand, was a carefree student who shared the
same bright and sunny disposition as Xiaoxi.
He was often bullied for being lame and geeky. He had a heart ailment which
almost put his life on the line. He developed feelings for Jingxiao and was heartbroken when he learned that Jingxiao had feelings for someone else.
He loves computer games and reading trashy novels. Later in the series, he
underwent a heart surgery after proposing to Jingxiao.
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| Image Source: Netflix |
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| Image Source: Netflix |
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| Image Source: Netflix |
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| Image Source: Netflix |
That scene while Lu Yang was being wheeled in the operating room for his heart
surgery and Jingxiao held up her hands showing her finger wearing the pop top
of the soda can which Lu Yang used in proposing to her before she even knew
about the surgery was really tear jerking. Ziwei really made me cry. She also
shined during the wedding scene when Jiangxiao
and Lu Yang were exchanging vows.
7. Bird Flu Outbreak
I love that scene when Xiaoxi was suspected to have been
infected of the Bird Flu virus and she was quarantined in their school clinic. Chen and Bosong both find ways in comforting here while in isolation. Bosong used a hot pack to make it appear
that he too had the fever. As a result, the school doctor quarantined her
together with Xiaoxi and their other
classmate, Li Wei (Wang Jiahui).
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| Image Source: Netflix |
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| Image Source: Netflix |
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| Image Source: Netflix |
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| Image Source: Netflix |
But Chen did not want to lose in this competition. After his attempt of
providing comfort failed when his MP3 player with his recorded message was
mistakenly given to Li Wei, Chen was asked by their class adviser to
use the school’s PA system to broadcast the symptoms of Bird Flu and spread
awareness. He took this as an opportunity to reach out to Xiaoxi. He stole the confiscated novel that Xiaoxi have been reading and read it aloud in the broadcast system.
Xiaoxi heard his voice and narration
and was thrilled to finally know the ending of the story.
8. Did you
hear that?
I love the part when Bosong confronted Chen about Xiaoxi. When
he was finally able to push Chen into speaking out what he truly felt for
Xiaoxi. I thought his outraged was because of Xiaoxi’s rejection of his
proposal only to find out after Chen speak out, that he was helping the two clear
things up. Xiaoxi was on Bosong’s phone and was listening to Chen’s confession
all along.
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| Image Source: Netflix |
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| Image Source: Netflix |
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| Image Source: Netflix |
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| Image Source: Netflix |
9. Jiang
Chen’s love for Xiaoxi
I love how Chen’s
character started caring for Xiaoxi
and how his feelings deepened. That moment when he introduced Xiaoxi as his girlfriend and really mean
it really drove me crazy. So is the stolen kiss when Xiaoxi was drunk and they were walking home.
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| Image Source: Netflix |
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| Image Source: Netflix |
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| Image Source: Netflix |
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| Image Source: Netflix |
I love how he subtly protects Xiaoxi, pretending not to care by
bullying her. That scene at the library really made my heart flutter. I also
love the scene when he gets jealous with Bosong
which was explained more when the end part showed Chen’s point of view.
10. Xiaoxi’s naivety
I love how naïve and innocent
Xiaoxi’s character was. She can be annoying yet cute at the same time. Her
perseverance and determination to do everything to make the person she loved
happy even at her own expense.
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| Image Source: Netflix |
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| Image Source: Netflix |
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| Image Source: Netflix |
I love the part when she sneaked in
to Chen’s clinic and slept there while waiting for Chen. She indirectly
conveyed that she will always be there for him. That sealed that while things
may have been rough between them, her heart always belonged to him.
A Love so Beautiful is available in Netflix with English
subtitles. But if your tired of reading subtitles, you can catch the episodes
dubbed in Tagalog through iWant TV.
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Reference:
- https://mydramalist.com/24644-a-love-so-beautiful
- https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/A_Love_So_Beautiful
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