Give this show a shot, even if you don't like body-swapping tropes

I was kind of skeptical coming into this drama as I usually don't prefer watching dramas with the body-swapping trope. However, I was pleasantly surprised by the setup and humor. This is a great drama to binge-watch, especially with mature and understanding leads -- just make sure to not think too deeply about the logic of the plot.

The Good:
+ The acting and chemistry of the cast is A+++, with a special shoutout to Steven Zhang whose mannerisms and understanding of both characters were on-point
+ Mature and understanding leads (really enjoyed the process of watching the leads fall in love), no toxic relationships, no evil second leads
+ Humor of the body swaps
+ The romance -- the male and female lead complement each other so well, lots of skinship!

The Bad:
- The show does not display the most accurate portrayal of the characters' occupations, especially with the female lead. She takes too much time off work, so make sure to throw out logic when watching.
- I think the show could've done a better job developing the side characters more. Though they're all very wholesome, they can seem pretty one-dimensional at times. If you like shows that are lead-centric, this show is for you.
- Based on my experience, Asian dramas don't produce the most logical body-swapping shows. Unfortunately, this drama falls victim to illogical plots as well.
- Just don't watch the last 5 minutes of the final episode haha

Overall: I was debating between rating this an 8.5 or a 9, but decided with 9. The chemistry and acting of the cast were very great and the story was solid up until the last 5 minutes of the final episode!

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Best ML Ever

Had to write a review because of the male lead <3 I gotta give a special shoutout to my boi Yuan Shuai. He's not your typical cold-hearted male lead, this guy's got character. I don't want to spoil the show, so please watch and judge for yourself! I would argue that this is one of the best modern C-romance dramas of 2020!

Story:
If you're looking for a drama with a unique storyline, then this drama may not be for you. This drama follows many typical Asian drama tropes including the childhood-turned lovers' trope. However, this show executes these tropes well with a modern and fresh spin so that the story does not feel too draggy.

As many of the reviewers and commentators have mentioned, the first 30 episodes are hands-down fun and fast-paced without dragging on unnecessary misunderstandings. The last 6 episodes did feel unnecessary especially with how they dealt with the second male lead's character development. They should have either extended the show by a couple of episodes to flesh out the male lead's development or just cut down a couple of episodes to just wrap up the romance storyline. I did enjoy the last few episodes of fluff, so I would recommend just fast-forwarding the unnecessary angst in the last few episodes.

Romance:
Hands-down, best C-drama couple ever! The chemistry between the two leads is on FIRE. I haven't been invested in dramas this year until this show. Both leads' acting is on point -- their acting and chemistry feel so natural. I've watched quite a few Chinese romance dramas and often had to drop or fast-forward due to unnecessary misunderstandings, the dumbing down of female leads, or that the male leads are too abusive to my taste. None of this happens in this drama -- the main couple was both rational and mature about their decisions. Though not the most progressive, this show is truly a modern drama in the context of Chinese society -- a step in the right direction. The female lead stays headstrong and smart throughout the entire series, something that isn't common in Chinese/K-dramas.

I honestly didn't care much about the second leads. I liked them separately with the main leads, just not together. However, they didn't detract too much from the show.

Music:
The music was alright. Some of the English songs were distracting during important scenes, but this isn't that big of a deal.

Rewatch:
I usually don't like rewatching shows, but can totally see myself rewatching this show on a rainy day.

I highly encourage you to give this show a try -- it's super easy to binge!

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Most Refreshing Competition Show

One of the most entertaining idol competition shows I've watched. Positive vibes all around from the contestants to the judges. There is a greater focus on the contestants vs the judges, which I appreciated.

Contestants: Maybe it's due to the editing, but the vibes were mostly positive. Contestants were encouraging each other instead of strictly viewing each other as competitors.

Talent: Talent level-wise is not close to the Korean produce series. In the Korean produce series, contestants were well-rounded in dancing and singing. That's not to say that the contestants in Chuang are not talented. The contestants in this season were extremely talented in one area and less so in the other.

Extra: Highly encourage viewers to watch the side shows as well (dorm diaries, are you werewolf, vlogs, etc.). This show is the rare exception where I could name most of the contestants (almost 100).

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