Lighter & Princess (2022)

Would I recommend this? Yes. Is this the top modern cdrama of 2022? Maybe.

Where do I even begin to describe L&P? I didn’t hear of it in 2022 but somehow it was one of the first few shows I heard about in 2023 so I decided to give it a shot after all the reviews. I seldom start on shows with leads I don’t even know but after this I can safely say I’ll be watching their future works!

The story is broken down into 2 parts and this storytelling is quite unique for a modern c-drama. It starts off in the present for the first part then goes back to the past and we’re back to the present for the last part. For me, points were deducted for the first part of the show - while I appreciate the elaborate set up and foundation of their relationship in college, I think it’s longer than it should’ve been. Maybe it’s because we already got a glimpse of what the present looks like so I feel like I was just waiting for the inevitable to happen. The first part could’ve been at least 5 eps shorter to focus more on the present imo.

I say this as I much prefer the ‘present’ storyline. Their matured selves and the story is just a lot more engaging and is also peppered with even more likeable side characters. There’s a lot more to unpack and focus on for the present timeline but I felt like they simply swept some things under the rug? Which is why I feel like it’s regretful they didn’t allocate more episodes for the present instead of the past. But maybe it’s on purpose cos it’s kindaaa apt?? Keeping the viewers focused on the past just like how our leads kept dwelling on history.

Li Xun is a controversial character but I like such male leads (it’s fictional after all) - not everyone is a knight in shining armour much as he liked to think of himself as one LOL. He’s not your clear-cut-good-guy male lead which imo is something different to watch!

It’s a bit of a slow burn romance but the leads spend a lot of time together. As such, much of it is 暧昧 but it’s quite realistic. I would also realistically say it’s a good show but not off the charts. Would I rewatch? Perhaps the key moments but definitely not the bulk of college. To be fair, it might be the top modern cdrama for 2022 simply due to the lack of competition! So yes, it’s worth the watch. Don’t forget the special episode as well, it has additional scenes

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Entertaining, Romantic, Youth!

When this show came out, I was SO invested and obsessed. The first half really pulls you in and makes you fall in love with Li. Xun and Zhu Yun. I could see why this show attracted a lot of young viewers. In the beginning, the love is playful, curious, and passionate. Young love that steals your heart. The second half is more angsty and slow-burn, given what Li Xun has been through. Li Xun is a genius but fell behind opportunities due to setbacks. Zhu Yun is hardworking and loyal, and now has the background to support Li Xun. I found her character to be likable, and only she could put up with Li Xun. They contrast each other yet are compatible.

The themes of friendship and betrayal were predictable, as in many life dramas. Looking back, I enjoyed L&P and was impressed with Chen Feiyu's acting. His character was cold and believable, and his secret glances/actions tugged at your heart. This drama plot didn't give me a feeling that it was groundbreaking or revolutionary, but somehow gave me what I've been missing in dramas these days.

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TAMAT JUGA AHSHJSKS asli ini 36 episode yg melelahkan, awalnya kek bosan gtu kan trus tahan2 dikit baru enjoy nonton ampe 12an mulai bosan lg kek bzirr masa gini2 aja ampe kelarrr, lalu aku nontonlah drama lain ampe 6 episode, eh pas skrol reels lwt cuplikan drama ini Ig trus kek "hah ada ginian ntrr?? oke mari lanjutin" LALU MULAILAH MASUK KE LEMBAH ALUR CERITA YG BERTUBI2, cape bgt ini dramanya literally ga hbs2 konfliknya, dikasih happy2 bntr doang pas pertengahan sblm konflik panjang sama di akhir secuil, tp tetap menghibur dan kepo makanya tetep kujabanin ampe episode terakhir

nah mari bahas dramanya, jujur cowonya red flag dikit, pas awal2 itu apalagi ampe konflik gedenya itu emg diliatin bgt karakter keras cowonya ini, tp hbs itu aman kok si li xun mulai sadar dan berubahh, yg super green flag cewenya ges disini si zhu yun literally yaAllahh kek bucin bgt trus rela lakuin apa aja buat li xun, ya emg bodoh dikit si, yg confess duluan aja dia, tp ntr pas di masdep si li xun yg mulai confess duluan ajak balikan Ig, trus hikmah yg dipetik adalah kegigihan mereka ini si, dr masa kuliah ampe pas udh kerja literally keren bgt mereka tau apa tujuannya dan literally fight for it, trus proses pendewasaannya juga, si li xun from "dimana aku berdiri, disitu puncak gunung" to "aku mendaki gunung ga sendirian" team work sama friendshipnya mantepp, truss ini ceritanya tentang anak pemrograman coding2 gtu gess, jd beneran hal baru bgt buat aku, bikin aplikasilah gamelah gitu2 pokoknyaa, trus tokoh antagonisnya menjijikkan bgt pen nampar bolak-balik mukanyaa

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Combustible Chemstry With Problematic Elements

I find myself rather torn on this show. Initially I didn't like the romance - I felt the male lead was bit too standoffish and remote, making is extremely challenging in determining if he actually liked Zhu Yun (especially in the earlier episodes). Some of his decisions, especially the middle section of the show, felt incredibly toxic and, well, mean. Like, mean boy mean. And I still stand by that assessment all of the months since watching the show, but I find myself returning to rewatch their romance time and again. These two actors had excellent chemstry with each other, which makes some of their more problematic moments as a couple, or even as friends, palatable. I also see definite character growth between them as individuals and as a couple. I recommend going into this show knowing these two are flawed and their development takes time and patience. It's ultimately worth it in the end.

The show does an excellent job with having a second male lead that is not actively vying romantically for the female lead. The female lead and second male lead are friends, but not romantically attracted to each other. It was refreshing to see the two male leads competing more so as friends, allies, and business partners rather than as potential love candidates. I can't remember the last time (or any time) a second male lead has not developed some sort of feelings for the female lead, and it was absolutely wonderful.

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At first I wasn't interested at all, but after a year, it managed to be somehow on my Netflix list. Watched a few episodes and it was good. Can't remember why i didn't like it last year. Anyway now I'm looking forward to more episodes. I hope this one ain't a waste of time.

After the first few episodes, the cycle of the FL chasing the ML while the ML pushed her away, got so tiresome.

Anyway, I guess the writer(s) did good in presenting human nature. They made plenty of recognizable characters: an underprivileged but gifted ML, a nice girl next door type from a picture perfect family, loyal friends, backstabbing envious friends (their hopes and dreams, their arrogance, greed, deception, discrimination).

All in all I think it's a good watch.
❤️

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At the end, when they recapped their journey over 7+ years, I was glad I paced this out, I felt nostalgic, even though in my reality it was only a matter of weeks.

This coming of age, opposites attract, character driven drama is not my usual binge-fluff. Good performances from the cast. A good variety of supporting characters, providing the story with richness. A bumpy journey with a hopeful ending. Oh and a Zhou Shen soundtrack I love!

I sympathise with FL, she suffers from a lot of noise; her parents, self doubt, lack of clarity and direction. Her life is privileged and secure but she is numb. The Lighter sets off a spark within her, she starts to believe her own ability and takes risks. Her growth is subtle but not without value. That spark is more than romance, it's challenging and gives her purpose.

She found security in ML's brilliance. He always has a plan. She's kept in the dark a lot, which is problematic, definitely, but his actions show he always had another plan.

ML is a brilliant AH that makes for an interesting watch. He does grow and mature enough to wrap up the story, but he still has a lifetime to continue growing. I liked that he doesn't say "Don't worry, I've got this" he says "You worry. I fix it." I didn't like the tickling 🤮😅 I don't find that endearing.

Someone commented they could do with therapy. Most people could benefit from therapy 😅.

A shout out to "Ling Ba" (Go Ahead reference) for kind of adopting this troubled kid.

9/10 recommend

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If time could stop at the moment we first met.

“Lighter and Princess" is a captivating Chinese drama that tells the story of a selfish yet brilliant young man and a kind-hearted, innocent young woman who meet in college. The male character is always seen carrying a lighter and affectionately refers to the female character as his princess. Initially, the male character's selfishness can be frustrating, but as the story unfolds, he learns valuable lessons and becomes more considerate and compassionate towards others.

The two lead actors deliver stunning performances that beautifully portray the depth of their characters' emotions and the challenges they face. Despite the obstacles they encounter, their love ultimately conquers all.

The drama is filled with both heart-wrenching and heartwarming moments, leaving the audience on an emotional rollercoaster. The ending quote, "If time could stop at the moment we first met... she may be the last person I see in my life," speaks to the profound love shared between the two characters.

Overall, "Lighter and Princess" is a great love story with amazing characters that will have you both crying and laughing. It's a must-watch for fans of Chinese dramas.

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Lighter & Princess' is the Perfect Rom-Com for a Feel-Good Watch

2021 Chinese romantic comedy drama that tells the story of two people from different backgrounds who fall in love despite their differences

The acting in "Lighter & Princess" is good, and the chemistry between the two leads, played by actors Wang An Yu and Zhang Ya Qin, is believable and cute. The drama is well-paced, and the storyline is engaging, although it does have some predictable plot points.

The drama also touches upon themes of social class, discrimination, and the importance of family.

Overall, lighthearted and enjoyable romantic comedy that will leave you feeling warm and fuzzy inside. While it may not be the most groundbreaking or original drama out there, it is still worth a watch for fans of the genre.

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Lighter and Princess is enemies to lovers done right. The tension between the two main characters was next level and their chemistry was obvious in every scene.

When the story starts off in present day, it’s very intriguing and you want to know more, but then it quickly jumps to flashbacks and stays there for much longer than expected. Parts of the flashbacks to college dragged on and there was a bit too much focus on school projects, but their evolution from strangers to rivals to friends to lovers was fantastic. The two of them felt like opposites in most ways but for some reason they seemed to get each other. The development of their relationship felt really organic. It was a little disappointing that they got together and the story immediately flashed forward three years, as it would have been great to see more of them as a happy couple in college, although what they did show was adorable.

The main conflict that unfolds at the end of the college storyline was a little strange. For two supposed geniuses, neither the villain nor Li Xun seemed to have particularly good plans. Li Xun could be very impulsive and hotheaded but, since they showed that he did plan his revenge, I would have expected it to be better. The way that he treated Zhu Yun felt pretty unnecessary.

At this point the story flashes forward another three years, to where they started in the first episode. One thing I found kind of bizarre was that they chose to have only three years pass since the end of the college storyline, but the characters really acted like it had been at least 10 years. Zhu Yun helped Li Xun get back on his feet and even though he really didn’t deserve it, it was satisfying to see her use her accomplishments, skill, and charm to get what she wanted for both of them. The company they both begin to work at became one of my favorite parts of the show. All the coworkers were shipping the two of them so hard and it made for a lot of comedic scenes. The chemistry the two of them had in the scenes when they are older showed how they had changed and it was darker and more mature than before. I really enjoyed the second half of the show because of their sizzling chemistry.

Li Xun was definitely a bit of a red flag and he did say some very hurtful things to Zhu Yun. Even if you could tell he was trying to push her away and that he felt bad, there was never enough of an apology to her. She gave and gave to him and he really needed to grovel instead of giving a short apology. However, even before they got back together, this couple was really the definition of a couple that would burn down the world for each other. Even though Zhu Yun did put up with a lot from Li Xun, she wasn’t willing to take any bullying from others, whether it was towards herself or Li Xun. I love seeing a protective female lead. Towards the end, the couple was very cute, I just would have liked them to get back together a little sooner.

Old Gao, their classmate turned villain, was a classic insecure man and I didn’t have a lot of sympathy for him. Li Xun definitely screwed him over a few times but Old Gao’s level of anger felt way too high for the situation. It was obvious that he actually resented Li Xun so deeply because he was jealous that Li Xun was smarter, better, and attractive to women. Li Xun’s trust in him felt insane to me when it was obvious how much Old Gao resented him. The resolution of this storyline in the end was such a disappointment and felt like a total cop out. I wished they’d gone a different way with it.

I could not stop watching this show and I binged it so fast. The chemistry was fantastic, the music was amazing, and there was a good balance between darker, lighter, and more comedic elements.

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Lots to Love, a few things to hate

Where to start with this, because overall I felt like this was such a much needed improvement on typical cdrama fare.

Arthur Chen proves that good looks and incredible acting skills can go hand in hand (Leo Wu is another example). In fact when you consider how young these guys are, they both should have an incredible future ahead in adult roles. The intensity that is required of him in this role plays a huge part in the credibility of the script, so kudos to him. Job well done.

Likewise, a lot is askes of Zhang Jing Yi, who for the most part plays it well. There are times when her silence or inability to respond feels extremely frustrating but this could be the constraints of the script or the directing.

Be warned, it gets very heavy and serious with topics like revenge, obsession, tragedy, the usual cdrama tropes of 2FL delusion, rude controlling parents, jealousy that gets twisted to never be the perpetrators fault but everyone else’s.

There are moments in the show where it all becomes a little unecessary and actually damages what could have been the best cdrama I’ve ever seen. Instead the low blows and cheap shots the writers throw into this show randomly is destructive to it. That’s where my disappointment ends.

The other friendships that form, between college friends through to the awesome gang at Flying Network help support the two leads who really need it throughout. When you lack family support the friends need to come through and there are some touching scenes.

The romance is genuine, and the chemistry between the two is amazing.

Occasionally it felt draggy, but all dramas do at times. I would have loved a little more variety with scenes, it gets very top heavy with college classes, programming group - I do think they could have got the message across about who dominates who without 50 hrs of classroom/club scenes (over exaggerating but you get the drfit) and towards the end too much tedious office scenes, but thats just balance and you kind of tolerate it when the story is good.

Loved the music, the OST was top notch, however I supose it will be hard to find? I never can find full drama OST’s for chinese shows on the streaming services.

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