An Intelligent Romance Drama, Sweet but Lacks Sizzle

Excellent drama with intelligent dialogue and mature characters. Good story development. Good acting. Good chemistry. Motivational. Inspirational. More than a romance drama, this was a story of growth for individuals who had become trapped and stunted by their circumstances, both professionally and emotionally. This was true, not only for the main leads, but for numerous supporting characters as well. All of the characters were integral to development of the story. A very well-thought-out script.

Admirable, capable FL character free of the babyish voice and cutesy nonsense you typically see in cdrama female leads. Angsty, straightforward ML, seemingly brusque and hot-tempered, but warm and honorable in reality. Both lead characters were outstanding and hard-working and exemplary. A real joy to watch their stories unfold.

An idealized romance where the partners are nearly always thoughtful and considerate and problems are handled quickly. A little too-good-to-be-true, but is exactly the stuff every romantic dreams of. Pretty much perfect for stress-free viewing. The slow-burn romance was well done with a comfortable vibe and natural, easy banter between the leads. But, it lacked fire and sizzle with only a few tame kisses and one love scene that, honestly, felt a bit awkward and could’ve been left out altogether as it seems Wu Lei isn’t entirely comfortable with these sorts of scenes yet.

“Sizzle” isn’t necessarily created by sexy love scenes and gratuitous skinship any way. That’s not necessarily what I’m looking for. “Sizzle” is created when there’s a heart-pounding energy between the leads that makes you want to watch and rewatch because their chemistry is so intense, almost palpable. I didn’t get that from this drama. While there were several swoon-worthy moments here and there, the “Nothing But You” leads’ chemistry remained quite tacit and mellow over the whole series—very realistic as real life isn’t full of hot moments all the time, but, honestly I want a bit more spice from my dramas because I get enough real life from real life. Still, overall, a very, very heartwarming story and many sweet moments.

I enjoyed watching, but have no real interest in watching it again.

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Middle-Aged Couple Finds Love

It’s refreshing to see a mature, seasoned-by-life couple, late30s/early40s, finding love and having a passionate romance. Sweet love isn’t just for the young and gorgeous! This drama is so full of warmth and love and healing. This good woman—kind, selfless, plain, down-to-earth—heals the stomach troubles and the troubled soul of a cranky, lonely, persnickety man with her excellent cooking and cheerful personality. Her family, which includes her lovable autistic brother, a studious daughter, and her ever-loyal best friend, becomes his family. Funny, heart-warming family drama.

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Hilarious Drama Turned Train Wreck

Fantastic start—super funny, outstanding acting, great chemistry, but the latter episodes turned twisted and bizarre. Just straight up weird. Mental illness was treated like a joke—extremely poor, irresponsible, and insensitive writing. The drama features the most bizarre sibling relationship I’ve ever seen. I could have really loved this drama if it hadn’t turned so dark. It left me with a hollow sadness and disappointment that I was still trying to process after it was over, like “What the heck just happened?!”

The ridiculously handsome ML really wowed me with his acting though. He did the comedy bits, slapstick, and exaggerated indignation surprisingly well. And, the kiss scenes did not disappoint at all! Man, oh man! He’s gooood. This insanely handsome man is my new crush . He was an actor I had dismissed previously, but I will definitely keep my eye out for his new projects now.

I feel the ML’s extreme good looks, his almost comic-book chiseled jaw, superhero good looks, kind of work against him, making him look cold and unlikeable. But, this drama “Perfect Mismatch” showcased his warmth very well. When he smiled big, with dimple and teeth showing, he became so down-to-earth and real and endearing. I’d love for Directors and future scripts to bring that approachableness out more so we can appreciate this actor more.

The FL does cute and adorable flawlessly. Her exaggerated country-bumpkin style turned track-suit queen was unappealing, but, then again, that was the point. Mr. Perfect liked her regardless of her appearance. They seemed like a mismatch, but in fact, they were perfect together.

The drama was disturbing, but the happy parts made me really happy. I smiled so much when the ML smiled. This actor seemed to genuinely like his cute and charming leading lady. His smiles seemed so real with her. And again, the kisses—Wow! I definitely revisit certain scenes over and over again and will rewatch the whole drama again one day.

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Strong as Steel

Strong as steel—That’s what this woman was. Phenomenal story. Inspiring. Sobering. Thought-provoking. “Hard-working” is a compliment. It’s an admirable trait, but when is enough enough? When does healthy ambition turn into greed?

FL character is the most savvy, unafraid, and determined business woman I’ve ever seen. Level-headed, fair, kind, but took zero crap from anyone. Set in the uber masculine steel industry, the FL was able to hang with the big boys and beat them at their own game. Yet, she was still a normal woman with normal vulnerability and limitations, a woman who desired love.

I found her sensible approach to love quite admirable and rational. While romance was not the center of the story by any means, there was indeed a mature and beautiful romance that developed and it was, chef’s kiss, relationship goals. This was full-grown woman, not a child, who knew how to recognize and appreciate a good man. She knew how to love well. She wasn’t looking for rainbows and fairytales. She knew how to accept reality and roll with it, instead of cry and boo-hoo if things didn’t quite go her way.

Amazing acting from everyone. Outstanding cast. A nice change of pace if you’re tired of vapid, tropy romances and want something more substantive and cerebral. Wow, just wow!

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Sweet. Romantic. Steamy.

Given the steamy trailers, this drama is surprisingly sweet and full of warmth and charm. The gorgeous coastal scenery and the laidback beach vibe are like a vacation getaway for us the audience. The OSTs are great—some slow and sultry, others fun and upbeat. The actors are all knocking it out of the park. The visuals are top-tier. It’s a pretty drama to watch with its stunning cinematography, stunning native costumes, and stunning people. Jerry Yan’s undeniable sex appeal has us swooning, but his character Xiao Han’s calm demeanor, sincerity and gentleness are what moves our heart. Actress Xu Ruohan’s unwavering confidence in the face of such a seasoned, handsome man and her mastery of the playful character, He Ran, are truly admirable. She’s young, but she’s holding her own well. She unabashedly pursues that gorgeous man. And, the sensible, responsible ML tries to push her away, but he finds himself smiling constantly, involuntarily, at her antics as if he just can’t help succumbing to her charms. We, the audience, can’t either! Their chemistry is both adorable and smoking hot. Really enjoying this! Just disappointed the drama’s final edit deleted some of the hottest and best scenes (ep 9 for example). You can find them if you search hard though.

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A Quality Watch

As of episode 20, these are my thoughts:

High-quality drama with excellent writing, good pacing, exciting plots, positive female roles, gorgeous visuals, top-tier production, and beautiful cinematography. The smart female lead and the warm, supportive female friendships surrounding her make this drama a delight. The way the women overcome mistreatment, misfortune, and injustice is moving. Their strength—inspiring. The tension that builds as the male lead navigates his precarious position as a double agent fighting corruption keeps the drama from becoming estrogen-overload. Action, romance, intrigue—something for everyone.

The slow-burn romance between the lead couple is one of most healthy and healing relationships I’ve seen (at least, as of episode 20). Of course, our male lead is still hiding some key details about himself because of the nature of his work; but, they are still beautiful to watch because of their excellent communication. They don’t allow misunderstandings to drag on too long. She earnestly explains her fears and worries instead of expecting him to read her mind. The male lead truly tries to understand his lady’s vicissitudes, goals, aspirations, and needs. He provides her the emotional security a woman desires and supports her in her endeavors. Their kisses are swoon-worthy and heart-fluttering, yet tastefully done.

Overall, a quality watch thus far!

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