What is this drama about?
Lin Huaner is a young online streamer who believes that love isn’t necessary for life. She doesn’t have much dating experience, but she’s convinced that a modern woman shouldn’t sacrifice everything for a man. While reviewing an old romance novel, “Goodbye, Wild Weasel,” she suddenly finds herself transported inside. It’s 1999, and her task is to win the heart of the main character by following strict rules set by a talking pager. Any wrong decision will have consequences and keep her from returning to her own world. The practical Lin Huaner takes on the challenge, but it’s not easy, as ML isn’t interested in romance.
I started this drama mainly for the actress (Wang Yuwen), and I don’t regret it, as it was a very enjoyable drama—not perfect, but good enough to pass the time. Lately, we’ve had a lot of dramas where the main character is transported to a fictional world, so I guess there’s a demand for such stories.
The actors were great. I already knew Wang Yuwen from other dramas and really liked her, while I saw Chen Xingxu for the first time (apart from two episodes of Love Between Lines). At first, he seemed rather stiff, but over time, I really grew to like his character and his acting. Gao Haiming is a green flag CEO, which is practically unheard of. She has a wonderfully sweet personality, a bit introverted, without any sulking, jealousy, or cold treatment of others. Lin Huaner, on the other hand, is an energetic and fearless fighter for her fate. She was hilarious, especially when she had to face the absurd challenges set by the irritating pager. Together, they made a great on-screen couple, and there was great chemistry between them.
For most of the drama, we were dealing with a romantic comedy, with a focus on comedy, so it was enjoyable to watch. The actors really captured their roles well, which isn’t always obvious, as we know not everyone can pull off comedy.
What immediately catches the eye are the main character’s very cool outfits. It’s supposedly ’90s, but in a very good way. I’d happily wear some of her outfits today, as ’90s fashion is making a comeback. ML’s clothes were also interesting. He often wore colorful suits, turtlenecks, and cozy sweaters. More about their fashion HERE.
There were a few things I didn’t like. Sometimes the scenes were a bit long, but I could live with that. The main character’s best friend, Meng Meng, irked me. I couldn’t stand to look at her, so I avoided it as much as possible. I think it was the actress’s problem, as she had such a blank stare, which made Meng Meng seem incredibly stupid and naive.
Towards the end, the drama changed the tone, and it was pointless to look for even a hint of comedy. The ending itself was okay, but they didn’t fully explain it, and I feel unsatisfied. In the first episode, it was clear that ML knew FL (or maybe it was just my imagination), but they didn’t address it at all at the end. I guess I need to add my own explanation. Despite some of these weaker moments, I give this drama a very good rating.
Who is this drama for? For those who enjoy dramas set in a fictional world, for comedy fans, and above all, for fans of Wang Yuwen.
