One of the things that strike me when I watched Love Scenery is its similarity with Love 020 especially in the beginning stages. Both dramas have a gaming theme and the way the game is presented is also the same. Rather than showing viewers computer graphics, the leads take on the game characters instead. Hence, there is some fun and flirting going on during the game sessions which is unlike Go Go Squid! whereby the gaming aspect is much more serious.

Personally, this kind of presentation is interesting initially but after a few episodes, it starts to get repetitive for me. If you like how it was done in Love 020, you most probably would like Love Scenery as well. But if you don’t, I guess you can skip these scenes or use the fast forward button and not miss anything much. The good thing is the online game will take a backseat once the leads know who the other is behind the username.

No Groundbreaking Plot
Love Scenery is not the type of romance that you watch for the plot. Basically, the story is nothing extraordinary. In fact, some might even find it boring because there is really nothing much going on throughout the 31 episodes. There is hardly any bickering unlike Hello Mr. Gu. So, if you like more “drama” to your romance, Love Scenery is not the one to watch as it is more towards the plain sailing type just like My Little Happiness.

There is little angst and anxiety in the story which makes it a great choice if you want a stress-free drama that feels sweet. Even if the girl is older than the guy in the story, the age gap is not the focus of the drama. Just like in Go Go Squid 2, it does get mentioned but it is never a hindrance to the romance.

Thus, the love story of the main couple is more towards finding out each other’s identity followed by the wooing phase and then getting together. Once they start dating, the focus shifts to the 2 lovers learning to get along and supportive of each other with sweet moments in between. With no extreme ups and downs to the romance, it should resonate with those looking for a simple love story.

Chemistry Between The Leads
Many viewers are raving about the great chemistry between Lulu Xu and Lin Yi in Love Scenery. So, if you can feel the sparks between the leads, it doesn’t really matter anymore if the plot is light and thin. After all, a romance drama’s selling point tends to be the leads’ chemistry rather than the plot.

For me, their chemistry is sizzling in some scenes especially the kissing ones, but not in others. It is pretty obvious that she is older than him which is fine with me though which is why I could sit through all the way to the end. But if you are not into an older woman and younger man romance, Love Scenery might just fall short especially when he keeps addressing her as senior in the drama. That takes away some of the chemistry for me too although overall, they did well enough to make me cross the finish line.

My Verdict – Nothing Special
I think 31 episodes is really stretching things a little too far for this drama. With a thin plot, the last few episodes aren’t really necessary to me. It is not a drama that I would re-watch as it is kind of forgettable after the last scene is over and done with. While the chemistry is good, Love Scenery is really for those into plain-sailing romance who just want to watch a couple simply falling in love and dating and nothing more. There is some comedic element provided by the supporting characters to lighten the mood further for a rom-com feel but the focus doesn’t really run away from the main couple’s relationship.

Personally, I would prefer to watch Lulu Xu and Zhang Han in Sunshine Of My Life. This is because there is more to the story there and the romance feels more realistic and matured although the progress is kind of slow. I guess it depends on your liking for more youthful romance or otherwise. I would think Love Scenery will resonate more with the younger crowd with a college student being the main male character compared to a CEO in Sunshine Of My Life.

For this Love Scenery review, I think a score of 7/10 would be fair. I can’t give it any higher with such a thin plot. Watch it if you like simplicity in your romance with no toxic third parties and parental disapprovals. If you can also feel the chemistry between the leads, that would lift the drama up considerably and makes it worth the ride. Otherwise, it could be a boring one to sit through.