Bai ri meng wo

From the very start I was very impressed with this drama. The first episode felt grounded in reality and presented all the main characters as young adults behaving like such but also with a level of maturity that felt respectful. Sometimes youth dramas don't know how to balance the growing pains, friendship and romance but You Are Desire does it perfectly.

Xia Feng Yan created a story with solid development based on actual growing from well rounded characters that act and react in ways that feel natural. I am amazed this is her first project and I will keep an eye on her because she has a bright future.

Deng Ke (My Huckelberry Friends) also started in the industry as a screenwriter before transitioning into directing, so it was a perfect fold for Xia's story. He understood the assignment and complemented the script with beautiful cinematography, camera movements and choice of cast.

This drama could have died in the hands of a lesser cast but Zhou Yiran and Zhuang Dafei carried the drama flawlessly. Most of the story centers around them and how they interact with others when loneliness has been a part of their young lives for a long time. The supporting cast were also at their best, each with their own lives and struggles which made them well rounded individuals and not an artifact to push the leads's story.

All of these elements created a beautiful group of people dealing with different experiences. A slice of life drama where we understand the world is not always fair and parents make mistakes; where people need to learn to grieve in a healthy way. That families can all look very different from each other and that's okay as long there's love. That you don't always pass the university exam and your workplace might suck. A world where you fall in love and support one another as you grow together with a clear understanding of each other. That life can be sweeter when you are surrounded of good people who truly appreciate you.

Overall, You Are Desire it's a wonderful story that enjoyed from the very first episode to the last one. Criminally underrated, for sure, as I don't understand how more people are not talking about what is probably one of 2023's best cdramas.

I really liked the couples' chemistry and storyline. Their try of love is mature, supportive and sweet. You could tell from the beginning that they were soulmates. It's the kind of love I want in my life. The progression of friendship to romance was endearing and the way they supported each other through life's myriad obstacles instead of being a hindrance sets an ideal for us to strive towards. The side love quests are fun too. They create a parallel to the main casts of the diverse types of romance there are.

I do admit that the second half was a bit weaker. The beginning was fresh and exciting, but the pacing started to drag a bit later. I remember eagerly taking the time out of my day to watch it at the start but the last couple of episodes, it was more like: when will this end already? I feel like this should have been shorter and they should have been stricter in only choosing the best side plots to add (because there were SO many that killed the momentum). For the people complaining about the unfinished ending, just watch the special ep 31 and you'll get closure even though it's still a bit of an open ending.

A pet peeve I had....why was the lighting so BAD??? I got used to it after a while, but still; it was pretty annoying.

A bit off topic but.... Oh, and can we focus on the wardrobe for a second? Every single outfit was so gorgeous and it really complemented the characters' personalities; especially the female lead's, I would trade my wardrobe for hers in a heartbeat. Were do they find those clothes???

When I started the drama I didn't expect it much. I thought it would be like a typical Chinese drama. But the way the storyline, characters and relationships pulled me was immaculate. I really enjoyed the acting. Both the female lead and the male lead. Especially Zhou Yiran. He is getting more and more popularity day by day and he totally deserves it. The main leads' chemistry was out of the world. I loved them both. The friendship they had, the bonding and also the maturity they had in their relationship was more than enough to make me fall for them. I would highly recommend the series. If you like this kind of dramas I am sure you will love it.

If you have watched When I Fly Towards You, you'll feel you're watching it again, but not as good. They even used two of the same actors. I really like Zhou Yiran, but I find Zhang Miao Yi annoying and bland.

The inconsistencies are too blatant, making the entire series feel unrealistic... it just doesn't come together for me. Let's talk about the title too; one kiss in 30 episodes... ONE. I get that C and K dramas are kings of dead fish kidding scenes, but this one doesn't even try.

Now about the ending. Well, there isn't isn't one. You're left with major question marks, but not in a good way where your imagination fills in the blanks. The worst C and K drama I've seen thus far.