Fake It Till You Make It (2023)

Be your own scriptwriter

It is like finding your first love in your thirties.

I think this line summarizes the series very well. Honestly, I first started the series dreading the pace and how it was going. I don’t really like corporate series, nor do I know much about the cast. I probably watched one series of Elvis but the storyline was confusing, so I didn’t get very far. I have never seen any FL work so I was not sure if I wanted to proceed. But I saw an edit and I knew these two had amazing chemistry, so I had to give it a try.

I’m glad I did. Like every good story, you just need to get over the introduction of the plot. It starts out with FL living in a competitive world for lawyers trying to make ends meet and later meeting ML. Their coincident meetings blossom into a friendship with FL confessing later to ML. What I love about this series is that it is a mature love with a lot of corporate work but very relatable. You get to see that love does happen even when you’re in your 30s. As I mentioned earlier, I had never seen any of FL but I adore her soft demeanor but strong justice character. She always fights for what she thinks is right. She plays her character just right so I might start watching more of her stuff.

The ending sums up pretty much the whole drama “The city is still bustling, and it won’t stop for anyone. Just like life. Recalling every person I met, who didn’t start with trying to get ahead? Between the gaps of pretense, giving oneself another shot of adrenaline. Boss. Subordinate. Rival. Friend. Trapping yourself in one role after another, saying what you should say and doing what you should do. And believing that this is our life. But they, as if they had agreed, when they have perfected their act, they see a layer of truth. Happiness, success, and joy can’t possibly be the result designed by the scriptwriter of life. It can only be your own tangible experience. I’ve met many people in this city and they eventually taught me that the world is big, too big to imagine. So walk your own path, not according to the written script. Throw away the script and struggle to find your own life. It’s okay to fail. It okay to take the wrong road. Live freely. Isn’t that the most stylish thing?”

I thought this was just a corporate love story, but as you watch the ending, it reflects back to each character she met and the growth or fall of each one. I can’t help but love how the series unfolds. The one thing I love about this series is that there weren’t a lot of episodes and that the pace of the story was just right. Live life how you want. Because at the end of the day, you are your own scriptwriter, and finding the true key to happiness, peace, and your needs is within yourself. You never know what will be thrown your way so cherish each moment.

I highly recommend this to anyone looking for a mature corporate love story. It has great chemistry between the leads, and you can’t help but fall in love with the female lead as you watch her grow. Knocking off one star because it was just slow at the beginning for me. But every great story is always slow, to begin with :D

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Figuring out as we go along

Central business district (CBD) - a place where people come, meet, and go.

In CBD, we talk ambitions, we talk schedules, we talk business. As CBD folks
(1) juggle through various demands of bosses, clients, parents and colleagues,
(2) keep up with (or ignore) trends and assumed social expectations,
(3) battle with conflicting desires at different phases of life, there is little to no energy left for dreams, relationships and rests.

Every characters have various fake "masks" CBD folks would be familiar with.
(1) Tang Ying's 躺平 "tang ping" boss is a worker who have lost all work motivation after decades of high stress lifestyle that broke her health. Translation: The western equivalent social trend to "Tang Ping" are quiet quitters.
(2) Tang Ying's cringey client, Liu Mei Ling, is a lonely woman who wants to maintain her happy marriage bubble.
(3) Tang Ying's materialistic younger cousin, Xin Zi, is a young 20's who thought that successful and good enough man can provide her a stable life she wants.

Enter our main character, Tang Ying, a seemingly professional elite lawyer who had it all. But 1 episode in, all her fatigue looks, polite smiles and "yeses" on phones break this bubble. Indeed, the life of a true blue working class.

Her meeting with Xu Zi Quan, an investment banker who works nearby her workplace is a series of coincidences that unexpectedly turns to something more. I love the pacing of how they develop their relationship - the push and pull, the tango, the cautious (and kinda fun) testing. I love their individuality, and emotional stability - they are no prince charming nor damsel in distress. They have their life priorities and similar outlook that remains consistent and in tact throughout the stories - sure, Tang Ying and Xu Zi Quan are attracted to each other and enjoy each other's company, but they also have deadlines and demanding stakeholders to take care of first.

None of them were chasing for marriage or forever. They just happen to connect and enjoy the flirting, one interaction after another, until they decide to take the leap.

In the era where many people (and series) idolise "finding purpose", "chasing dreams" and "romance where women must have it all", I am glad to see a relatable contemporary dramas of people with relatable struggles that perhaps hit slightly too close to home as well as a grounded onscreen CBD partnership that I can believe happening in real life.

"Fake It Till You Make It" is a true blue, hustle bustle lives of busy professionals in CBD. We can feel the characters' pressure, anxiety, confusion under the layers of masks.

Some eventually decides to take down these masks, while some decides to push on. More importantly, none of them dwell on their past choices nor stay down after a fall or two. They regroup, and start again...until they make it.

Some of my favorite relatable quotes from FITYMI, just because
~~~
There is a phrase that suits you a lot - it's called 拧吧 (twisty - refers to someone who awkwardly makes things more complicated than it has to.)
Actually there're a lot of things, you think too much. It's better if you can keep it simpler.
The world isn't as complicated as you imagine.
But it's okay. Youth is a process of twisting. I was like that when I was 20.

~~~
Do I really want to be a lawyer? I don't know.
Between the lawyer I had in mind and my present life - the stress, anxieties, insomnia, and walking on thin ice I am facing now - which one is more authentic?

But I do know, there is nothing more absurd than talking about dreams in CBD.

People who stay here only have goals. 5 year goals, 10 year goals. Their thinking is realistic and rational, having weigh all the pros and cons. Those crazy people who wants dreams, have already escaped.

~~~
This city is still bustling, and it will not stop for anyone, just like life.
Recalling the people I met, who didn't wish to have a great head start and stay ahead?
Boss. Subordinate. Friend. Rival.
Trapping oneself in one role after another.
Say what one should say. Do what one should do. Believing that this is our life.

But they, somehow seemingly have great tacit understanding.
When they have perfected their pretense, they somehow come to one truth.

Happiness, success, and joy can't be determined by some scriptwriter. It can only be our own tangible experience.

I've met many people in this city.
And they eventually taught me, that the world is very big, bigger than what we can imagine.

So walk your own path, and not according to a written script.
Throw away the script, and struggle to find your own life. It's okay to fail. It's okay to walk the wrong path.

Live freely [at your own terms].
Isn't this classy?

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Mask On/Mask Off

This is a sweet little contemporary romance. It is relatively short at 14 episodes, so the pacing is tight. It is also angst light in the sense that there are no nasty parents nor psycho second leads. There are plenty of angst from a different quarter though and this forms the underlying message of the show. So, let’s talk about the love lines first.

The ML is handsome, and the FL is attractive. They are well matched and have good chemistry. They are sweet, loving and there is a decent amount of skinship, but nothing more than hugs and kisses. It is great to see that they understand the need to communicate. They talk through issues, and they trust each other. They act like mature adults and don't yo-yo between love-hate like some other dramas. It did take them a while to sort out their feelings but once they are a couple, there is no going back and no self-sabotage. They form an united front against anyone who try to come between them.

Interestingly, relationship issues are not completely off the table. The show touches on issues like jealousy, ghosting, gaslighting and some serious obsessive behaviours. It does feel a little tropey when you take it all in. It works out in the end, but it is hardly a joyride for all concerned, especially the FL’s sister.

Now, let’s talk about the rest. As the title implies, “faking it” is now such a part of modern culture that you will find it everywhere. Whether it is being pretentious or just to disguise one’s background, it is like a mask that people puts on or risk being unfairly judged and labelled.

If you think this is a great opportunity for satire then you’d be right. However, while this show is willing to poke fun at some common tropes (luxury handbags at 3 paces, anyone?), they are hardly cutting. We might get a chuckle out of it, but this is common fodder for Chinese comedies nowadays. I would almost call it a missed opportunity.

In that sense, the main theme of the show is not about fakes. Yes, there are plenty on display, but they are just props. The show is really a cautionary tale about achieving a good work life balance. This is significant because our leads certainly face that challenge and they also have to take off their masks before they can truly love each other. This is the real message of this show.

I’m glad that the show highlights such plights, but it does feel a little hollow. Nobody want their health or relationship to suffer because of excessive workload/work pressure but I have a sinking feeling that the positive messages are going to fall on deaf ears when you consider the current 996 work schedule in China and that is often the bare minimum. The pressure to conform is just too great. It is a noble sentiment, to be sure, but how many Chinese workers can achieve a healthy balance?

Putting this aside, the show is quite enjoyable. Production value is good, acting is solid and the OST is pleasant. If you are not in the thick of the rat race then this would be a very agreeable distraction while it last. Peace out.

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When love is continuous

This show is one of the most mature and thoughtful romances I've ever seen. The interactions with the leads are full of chemistry. It's not like a fire that quickly burns out, but it's a consistent simmer that seems to never fade. The leads have so much care for each as they go from strangers to friends to lovers to partners for the future. There's some sort of magic that the two hold. The dialogue is extremely well written, emotional, and their conversations and feelings are communicated so well throughout the entire series. It's not very often that you watch a fictional romance and it feels more than a 2D storyline. This series felt like a 4D piece of someone's life. Their story doesn't end with the last episode, it's a continuous story just as life is a continuous story.

I'd like to end my review with some of the lines used in the proposal scene. I've never cried at such scenes as they typically feel cheesy, overdramatic, and feel like a finale to what should be the start to a new chapter. Rather than the show end with a proposal, it ended with them going out for a midnight dinner talking like normal. Their normalcy is a form of love and that's what its magical.

"Love is not a noun, it's a verb."

"Romance isn't about actions, it's about us."

"Falling in love with you is a continuous process."

"Do you want to build a world that belongs to us?"

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Remain Mature as You Make It!

This grown and sexy career climbing series gives the challenges and thrills of it all. Vanity is shallow. And those with substance win in the end. The dating dilemma turn real revelations into unknown realities that set the tone for deeper connections. The way this series dealt with possessive and controlling behaviors was well done. The ML and FL chemistry was palpable, supportive and warm. Navigating challenges and inner insecurities can be quite tricky. Yet, the leads showed just how much communication is key. This series does not drag and does not have time to fluff. It sets the tone for what's real and what's a want. Very well-done cast and crew in producing and mature production that gives insight on what could be if passions, purpose and persistence to remain authentic collide. Must Watch!

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Scriptwriting at its best

The summary from Viki is not very accurate. The title could even make you think this is a contract relationship drama. This drama is really about mature, career-driven individuals trying to succeed in demanding jobs while keeping their values. The main couple is played by two amazing actors with great chemistry. What really sets this drama apart from others for me is the script. The characters deal with real world problems and have to decide what values they are going to stick to. There really are no evil characters. Everyone is trying to succeed at work and you get to see how that impacts others. There are similar issues in private life that are discussed. So much depth in the character growth from many of the characters! There is definitely romance and comedy, but this isn't really a romantic comedy. There is a lot of depth that for me makes this rise above all others I have watched this year. Don't miss out on this gem!

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Love starts from friendship? or after friendship?!

Where should I begin, I first started this show and then put it on hold from episode 2, tbh most shows from this year I've been doing the same thing, there were just a few that catches my absolute attention. After a while I went back, and well this captured my absolute attention, and I just finished it, loved it and I have no regrets at all.

After finishing the show I realized that the story, set up, city life, romance and OST reminds me of a early 2000 classic American romance drama filmed in NYC or Manhattan, it has that type of vibe, it's so subtle, and simple yet interesting and entertaining. The casting was pretty perfect, the ML and FL did very well in their roles, and they had amazing chemistry together, and formed a nice MATURE relationship, with no nonsense.

One thing that kept me watching was the way how the main cast got together, it was interesting to wait and see and experience them being strangers, then friends, and then lovers etc. all while they go through the different stages of life with their respective careers. So if you want something mature, simple but entertaining, about life, career and love, no major drama, and a mature romance then this is for you, it left me feeling very complete, and it also leaves you with a nice subtle feeling.

hope you give this a try.

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A good love story with less cliche shit

One of the most mature relationships I have seen in C dramas so far. Instead of dragging issues, misunderstandings and blaming each other for it they just sit down, talk about it and fix it . That is what a good healthy relationship is supposed to be and both the characters played their part quite nice.

FL wasn't some damsel in distress waiting for some prince charming but rather a strong independent woman who could deal with her problems be it professional or personal. ML turned from a guy who isn't fond of committing to a good doting boyfriend who only sees FL in this world. From being strangers to friends to teasing to a healthy relationship and finally the proposal it was really beautiful.

FL's sister Xinzi too went from being in a toxic relationship to a painful breakup to finding love again was actually a good relatable story that many girls go through. Instead of just continuing a relationship with a possessive and insecure boyfriend which could have gotten way worse with time, she ended it no matter how much it hurt as she knew it was for the better and thank god they didn't show the ex bf as some violent and parasitic guy who ends up kidnapping her (which usually happens in mostly C dramas) but rather a guy who knows he has problems and needs to deal with it.

Overall from start to end a nice show with less cliche shit

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30+ LEADS, CHEMISTRY & HEALTHY REALTIONSHIP ♡♡♡♡♡

PROS:

◇30+ LEADS
◇CHEMISTRY ?
◇HEALTHY REALTIONSHIP
◇NO TOXIC PARENTS
◇SLICE OF LIFE
◇FRIENDS TO LOVERS TROPE
◇MUTURE ROMANTIC REALTIONSHIP

CONS:

◇Everything about the sister drama
(I skipped all her scenes)

◇Some work politics
(Also skipped through them)

◇How characters wouldn't turn off their phones or at lease silence them.
(I guess that's realistic and this is a slice of life after all)

Overall LOVED THEM honestly recommend this drama for them and their realtionship.
Two 30+ adults living their lives and trying their best to have a healthy realtionship. ♡♡♡
So happy I saw an edit about this one and picked it up when it was airing.

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It encompassed everything I wish all romance dramas could offer

“Maybe I think love is not a noun but a verb.” – Xu Ziquan

I cannot believe I found this hidden gem two months after it was initially released.

This is a very good slice-of-life middle-aged modern C-Drama.
The chemistry of the main leads was sufficient to keep me engaged throughout the 14-episode series. Their mature and engaging dialogues held my attention and left little room for me to focus on the other supporting couples or characters in the show. To be honest, I even skipped a few of the supporting scenes just to catch more moments with the main leads. This drama predominantly delves into the professional lives of an investor and lawyer, which might make it feel a bit sluggish for those who aren't fans of this genre.

It encompassed everything I wish all romance dramas could offer. Here are few reasons:
1) A mature romance with actors in their 30s, which is a departure from the usual Chinese dramas with mature romance involving older actors.
2) Mature characters. One of the primary reasons I usually don't enjoy Chinese dramas is their tendency to feature immature characters, which I find hard to tolerate.
3) It consisted of 14 episodes, each lasting an hour, following the format more akin to K-Dramas. This format, unlike other Chinese romance dramas with a minimum of 24 episodes, avoids unnecessary filler episodes, tedious family melodrama, and annoying secondary character subplots.

I wholeheartedly recommend this to all romance enthusiasts. The chemistry between the main characters is truly exceptional. ??

P. S. This drama has turned me into a fan of Elvis Han. I'm eagerly looking forward to his future works!

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Why did i didn’t know this was so good.

Why did i didn’t know this was so good. Chemistry ✅ Highly charged banter ✅ balance of immature naïveté + matured resolution of issues ✅.

Being in the same profession, id say the pressure of competition, absence of work life balance, & the emotional/ mental breakdown is all too real. That scene where the FL’s former senior/ supervising lawyer was crying in the hospital and still trying to work? That happened to me too. I was just so tired. Tired but there’s this nagging guilt that if i don’t do it, no one will... my team will suffer. And this voice in my head saying you cant slack off. Thankfully, iv since learned to value my health & time better. So i guess that relatability is a factor to me immensely enjoying this.

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