Flash Evaluation: My Fated Boy [China]

My pals, if you happen to’re available on the market for a light-weight, fluffy, feel-good romance, and also you both like noona romances or don’t thoughts them, then I actually would recommend giving this one a glance.

I’d had this present on my “need to watch” checklist when it first got here out in 2021, however one way or the other by no means received round to it, and man, am I glad that I went digging in my lists from earlier years, after I was on the lookout for a brand new drama nightcap – as a result of this turned one truly hit the spot completely. 🥲

WHAT IT’S ABOUT

Lin Yang (Li Xi Rui) and Lu Zheng An (He Yu) are childhood pals who grew up collectively.

Being 7 years older, she’s all the time handled him as somewhat brother, however he doesn’t really feel the identical means. Now that he’s again from his abroad research in any respect of 24, his greatest objective is to get Lin Yang to see him, not as a child brother, however as a person. 😁

OST ALBUM: FOR YOUR LISTENING PLEASURE

Right here’s the OST album, in case you’d prefer to hearken to it, when you learn the evaluation.

I actually hadn’t been anticipating a lot when it comes to the OST, on condition that this can be a fluffy little present that doesn’t look to have a lot of a funds.

Nonetheless, I used to be pleasantly stunned by how I discovered the songs on the OST properly pleasurable.

The track that ended up lingering with me most, is the track performed through the ending credit, which isn’t on this OST playlist, for some motive.

Right here it’s by itself. It’s titled 长不大的你, which interprets actually as “The You Who Can’t Develop Up.”

MANAGING EXPECTATIONS / THE VIEWING LENS

Right here are some things that I feel could be useful to bear in mind, that can assist you maximize your enjoyment of your watch:

1. Give the age hole an opportunity

7 years would possibly appear to be a giant age hole to you, notably if you happen to aren’t keen on noona romances to start with, however give Present an opportunity; it manages to shut that hole in a means that works, I really feel.

2. Some suspension of disbelief is required

Typically, Present stretches logic a bit, however it’s virtually all the time in service of serving up the feels, so I’m glad to roll with it. 😁

STUFF I LIKED

The premise

I’ve mentioned earlier than, that I are likely to battle with noona romances the place the feminine lead has truly helped take care of the male lead as an toddler, and has maybe even modified his diapers (like in basic k-favorite What’s Up, Fox?).

Funnily sufficient, that is the case on this present, however.. it didn’t truly hassle me.

In actual fact, I discovered all of the flashbacks to our leads’ youthful days fairly charming.

And, I’d even go as far as to say that Present makes use of the childhood flashbacks to strengthen our understanding our OTP’s relationship, and assist us see, with extra readability, why they’re so excellent for one another. 🥲

Additionally, I simply actually appreciated the thought of the male lead being a centered, adoring, decided pet, and Present gave me precisely that. 😍

Li Xi Rui as Lin Yang

I discovered myself rising to love Lin Yang very effectively, as a personality.

Once we first meet her, she’s already somewhat jaded by life on the whole, having devoted a lot of her youth to work calls for, and a not-quite-relationship that hasn’t gone anyplace.

I appreciated that she’s clearly succesful and good at her job, and effectively revered for it.

I additionally appreciated that she’s assured and self-possessed, and a fast thinker, even.

[MINOR SPOILER]

There’s a early-ish scene the place second feminine lead Li Tian (Tian Xi Wei) calls for that Lin Yang avoid Lu Zheng An, whom she has a giant crush on, which is a reasonably typical trope in romance dramas.

What floored me, was how Lin Yang is ready to analyze every little thing so clearly, on her ft, in a matter of seconds, after which calmly, with out ruffling a single feather, give Li Tian the perfect takedown I may have requested for.

I used to be a direct fan. 🤩

[END SPOILER]

As we progress by way of our story, we get to see many different points of Lin Yang as an individual, and I appreciated very effectively, that she may be as dorky and awkward, as she’s daring, assured and succesful.

By some means, it simply works. 😁

He Yu as Lu Zheng An

I actually, actually loved Lu Zheng An, as a personality.

I freaking cherished his Decided Pet vibe 😍; I believed he was every kind of cute, in the way in which he’s set on exhibiting Lin Yang that he’s worthy of her affections, and isn’t, and by no means was, a child brother to her.

As a personality, Lu Zheng An comes throughout as each impossibly youthful, optimistic and energetic, but on the similar time, he reveals flashes of actual groundedness and maturity, which I appreciated very a lot. 🥲

He’s not excellent, in fact, and Present does give him room to develop and turn into much more grounded and mature.

So if you end up getting aggravated when Lu Zheng An acts out, hold in there, as a result of our boy does develop up, and really properly too. 🥲

The OTP relationship

I actually loved this OTP relationship, from the early courting stage, to the purpose the place they mint their relationship, to once they get actually severe about their relationship.

The broad strokes of this relationship are fairly predictable, however Present makes all of it so watchable, and the OTP is so properly sparky, that I by no means minded.

[BROAD SPOILERS]

For instance, you simply know, from the get-go, that Lin Yang goes to withstand Lu Zheng An’s efforts to get nearer to her, however that doesn’t make it any much less enjoyable to look at him be a Decided Pet, doing all kinds of considerate, thoughtful, loving issues for her. 😍🥲

One of many issues I respect about Present’s remedy of the OTP relationship, is that when the OTP relationship is minted, our OTP doesn’t merely simply fall into being a pair; we get to see and expertise the preliminary awkward changes that they undergo, as they get used to being a pair.

This made every little thing pop all of the extra, for me, as a result of this made the evolving relationship really feel that rather more actual. 🥰

One other factor that I actually appreciated, is that our OTP has fairly wholesome communication habits.

Sure, there are events once they don’t inform one another issues, and attempt to act on their very own, within the curiosity of the opposite particular person, however by and enormous, we get to see them discuss issues out, and it’s nice.

Additionally, shout-out to the bed room scene when our OTP ultimately consummates their relationship; the skinship feels so pure, and the scene is delivered in a means that feels loving, but fairly electrical. 🔥

[END SPOILERS]

The shortage of poisonous characters

This was a giant plus for me, as a result of this labored out to be a particularly healthful story world.

Even Lin Yang’s love rival Li Tian (I actually didn’t notice this was Tian Xi Wei, as a result of I’ve by no means seen Tian Xi Wei in a contemporary c-drama 😅) finally ends up accepting our OTP relationship, and supporting their love.

Should you’re bored with poisonous secondary characters peopling your drama worlds, then this ought to be a giant plus for you too. 😁

The gal buddies

I grew to actually benefit from the friendship between Lin Yang, Cao Ling (Zhao Yuan Yuan) and Yao Dan (Lu Xiao Lin).

They’re such good buddies, and actually care about each other, to the purpose that they’d every drop every little thing, in the event that they felt that the others within the group wanted assist.

I additionally respect that Present offers Cao Ling and Yao Dan their very own mini tales as effectively, fairly than allow them to be flat secondary characters who exist purely for the sake of our OTP.

[SPOILER ALERT]

I believed Cao Ling’s challenges as a single mum had been notably poignant, although Yao Dan’s pressure along with her husband over whether or not or not they need to have youngsters, was very relatable as effectively.

[END ALERT]

Zhou Xiao Chuan as Ma Le

I discovered Ma Le to be on the sillier, extra comical aspect of issues, however I grew to understand his goodhearted nature.

[SPOILER ALERT]

I appreciated how we may see his sincerity in the direction of Lu Zheng An rising over time, a lot in order that he would threat his personal enterprise going bankrupt, so as to defend Zheng An. 🥲

I additionally thought Ma Le’s crush on Cao Ling was fairly cute, and I did root for his or her little loveline, as effectively.

[END SPOILER]

The dad and mom

Should you’re bored with controlling, poisonous dad and mom in Dramaland, you then’ll be glad to know that the dad and mom on this story world usually are not that in any respect.

There are glimmers of concern that seem to work in opposition to our OTP, at factors in our story, however relaxation assured that these dad and mom are a number of the most loving and supportive drama dad and mom to ever grace Dramaland. 🥰

I did love the context (which we study early on), that these dad and mom had been such good pals, that they’d made a pact to turn into in-laws, if in any respect doable. Candy. 🥲

THOUGHTS ON THE ENDING [SPOILERS]

In fact Present serves up an all-around glad ending, as a result of that’s simply the type of drama that is, proper?

I’ll say that I ended up feeling very happy with this ending, although I hadn’t bargained for the sudden 4-year time-skip.

To begin with, I really like that we open the ultimate episode with the backstory of how Zheng An had first fallen for Lin Yang.

All collection lengthy, he’s solely alluded to the time he’d fallen for her, however now, we lastly get to see that second of hyper-awareness that he experiences for the primary time, whereas serving to her take away the remnants of that sticker from the scar on her shoulder.

It’s so endearing how, when Lin Yang remarks that nobody would need to marry her due to her scar, Zheng An instantly guarantees her that he’ll marry her – which is a promise that he retains, within the current.

Awww! Isn’t that candy? 🥲

It’s so like Zheng An, to sneak out through the halftime break, at his live performance, in order that he can huddle up near Lin Yang – and pop the massive query, whereas everybody else’s backs are turned. 😁

Although Lin Yang’s acceptance appears somewhat rushed, I do like that we get that spotlight reel of cuteness, earlier than we see her pull him in for a kiss.

And, on that observe, I have to say, Zheng An actually kisses her like he means it, and I positively swooned throughout my flooring, in response. 🫠🫠🫠

Like I mentioned, I used to be fairly shocked by the sudden 4-year time skip, however it was good to have affirmation that everybody’s doing effectively, 4 years later.

Li Tian’s doing effectively abroad and even has a boyfriend, Cao Ling’s give up her job to begin a restaurant, and Ma Le’s adoringly by her aspect, and Yao Dan even broadcasts that she’s pregnant.

It was little sudden for me, to see that Zheng An and Lin Yang have already got a son (whom she likes to decorate up as a woman, similar to she’d used to do, to Zheng An 🤭), however I’m suitably amused at what Present’s going for:

The concept that their son and Cao Ling’s daughter, are beginning to bond in a means that’s extraordinarily harking back to how Zheng An and Lin Yang had bonded, as youngsters.

The thought that we may have a cycle of occasions sooner or later that precisely mirror our OTP and their dad and mom, amuses me fairly a bit, I’ve to admit.

I really like this idea of continued cuteness and heat, by way of the generations, the place our OTP’s friendships will stand the take a look at of time, simply as their dad and mom’ friendship has. I do love that.

My coronary heart; it’s full. 🥰🥰🥲🥲

THE FINAL VERDICT:

Straightforward-breezy, healthful and really slurpable.

FINAL GRADE: B++

TRAILER:

MV:

WHERE TO WATCH:

Present is accessible on Viki, Youku and YouTube.

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