¡Adelante, adelante, calamar! (2019)

overrated

i forced myself to finish this drama and still fails to see why this drama received such rave reviews.

FL is creepy stalker who is way too aggressive yet she is forgiven by drama gods for her crazy behaviour because she looks pretty and acts docile.

ML smirks too much, thinks too much of himself and seems to fall for FL only because he keeps bumping into her and was forced to dating her.

The chemistry was thin.
The plot was non existent - the whole story consists of ML + FL 'building their relationship' around ML's schedule of gaming in the hope of becoming #1 in the country?
when i say building relationship - i mean the FL gives endless (creepy) support - while the ML takes it all for granted but sometimes act chivalrous to FL as payback.

Way too many flashbacks - we get it, SOLO was awesome, then disbanded because of personal issues of the leader ? like the leader not allowed to have personal issues?
the issues was between him and his GF - why must the team be broken up over iit?
i know the ML gave a whole speech about the why - still, i dont get it.

overall - watch if you like computer hacking thing and/or super big fan of the ML/FL
skip if you are looking for a solid romance/character development drama

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Get to the point!

This show was entirely too long! The first 10 episodes were a whole lot of nothing. I had a problem with the relationship of the main leads, and here's why: First, I loved him. He was like Mr. Darcy, not suffering fools, cold on the outside, but feeling really deep emotions. And when he started to smile? OMG, I waited for those smiles! That was the high point of this show. She was cute and did a good job on the part as written, but the character was too immature. She liked him for no apparent reason, stalked him and stared at him for the first 10 or so shows, had no opinions of her own, and was perfectly happy to just follow him and his life. She was too much of a doormat. I felt that her clothes, especially, were very distracting. Too oversized, so many layers and those stupid headphones around her neck. Though I didn't find the romance necessarily believable, it was sweet. The kisses? For his part - great! For her part? Open eyes, fish lips, not believable at all. And after stalking him through most of the show, he asks her to marry him and she rejects him? No way. And I didn't get the character of Wu Bai (DT) - I didn't get that at all. He was quiet through most of the show, staring a lot at others. I didn't know if there was supposed to be something deep and hidden in him, but I didn't feel it was necessary to the show. I did like the character of Mi Shaofei and the female lead's roommate, that was cute. So, overall, I'd have to say that most of the points I gave this rating were because of the male lead.

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I have tried my best to stay with this one. Sometimes I have watched series that have taken 13 episodes to get good and then I didn't regret it.

But for this series? I fast forward and skip every single bit about the flashbacks and the gaming and only watched for the TINY bit of romance between the two leads.

Maybe I have no interest in gaming series, but it just DID NOT entice or interest me at all.

The romance was okay, but then again, it wasn't enough for me to continue.

I do not understand the hype around this series, and I can't recommend it since I didn't finish it and barely watched any of it I fast forwarded so much of it.

Very disappointing!

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People trash this show saying it has nothing to offer other than Yang Zi and fluff but seriously this show is way more than that. First of all we get to see everyone’s struggle main character or not. Literally at the beginning we see wu bai/DT lose but then later came in 1st place just shows how we can’t always be perfect as we are humans. Second there’s bromance/relationship and by relationship im not only talking about our main couple but as friendship the bond that K&K has and the bond Tong Nian or Han Shang Yan has with everyone including Yaya, Solo, and K&K. Also, as I saw in some comment idk why but it appears that some seems to think that TongYang relationship was smooth sailing... no it really wasn’t 1st her mom but that alone wasn’t the biggest obstacle the biggest one was Han Shangyan himself and the fact that they both had never loved or had a relationship ever. We see at first Tong Nian trying her best for the relationship and Han Shang Yan being lukewarm as he’s not used to also he hadn’t opened his heart up yet. I mean some people say tong nian’s character has no meaning or doesn’t do anything to the plot... like wtf what y'all been watching. Y’all didn’t see how she changed Han Shang Yan for the better helped Yaya met her idol and finally helping SOLO’s daughter. Like literally without TN HSY would be alone like not literally as he has his bros/K&K but he won’t be able to open up and enjoy life like how he’s changed after meeting TN. Maybe the only thing that I disliked was the fact they they kept showing the flashback and how Appledog was suppose to be a big beauty that caught/drew everyone’s attention to Solo/ctf . Especially how they styled her hair in the flashbacks was a big no Appledog is pretty but not like how they described her to be. One more thing I notice was how people praise appledog saying how they wish tong Nian was that mature or confident like yeah she’s in her 30s she should be confident about herself. People be forgetting that Appledog was childish and insecure back then like she literally broke up a group just because she couldn’t stand seeing her bf’s ex/baby mama. There’s no maturity in there bc she was still young just like Tong Nian at least Tong Nian never broke a group up bc of her feelings. We see everyone mature through their own mistakes no one was perfect. Also the opening ost is just so damn good like this is the first time where I like a modern shows’ ost this much. Overall this show showed us fluff, sweetness, maturity, struggle, bonds/friendship/relationships , and last of all determination. It’s just so addicting to see them overcome all these obstacles and reach their dreams/goals with determination along with lots of struggle. This show definitely deserves a 10/10 and I definitely do recommended that everyone should watch it.

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I really enjoyed this show from start to finish and can see why so many people have raved about it. While the show has a lot of drama tropes and story lines that have been done before but it does them in the best way possible and it never feels forced or out of place. The two main leads and an incredible chemistry and there relationship develops in a way that makes me what to see them be together the whole way through. A big plus for me was the main male lead Shangyan, many times in shows like this kind of character is cold and really has no other character traits until the main female lead changes him. This show took this in a different direction, yes shanyan is cold in the beginning but even from the first episode you see these moment of warmth and I always prefers characters like this. Other benefits are that there was no forced love triangle. This last point is an angle I'm glad the show went with, their really is no villain in this show. All the characters are just people living there lives no one is being malicious. It just people growing and learning more about themselves and each other without some cartoon character coming in and trying to destroy them . Overall, this has been the best romance of the year in my opinion and just an all around joy to watch

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I REWATCHED GO GO SQUID!!

i watched this during 2019 when it first aired and it left an impact on me and the music was superb. i was hesitant to rewatch because everytime i rewatch some of my favorite shows i ended up liking it a little bit less. but after 4 years, i rewatched it and it does not disappoint. love love this drama so much. the acting from the leads was so good and tong nian and han shangyan's chemistry is chemistrying for real.

this is a grumpy × sunshine story and it emphasizes on ones dream and i like saying "people who have dreams are forever young" something like that. they did a good job of introducing CTF because it's new to elders and they don't know much about it.

Li Xian is hella handsome, even when he always puts a grumpy face. He's so handsome 💖
Yangzi is spectacular as always and never disappoints. This is my favorite drama of her.. I have yet to watch more. 💕✨️

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Honestly, this was just boring.

The KK team was the best part.
As with most CDramas, they broke up, and got back together, and broke up again, and got back together, and yada yada yada. I generally liked the FL, but she was a complete doormat with the boring hero, and not because she was "young." I didn't think she was "too young," I thought she was spineless and lacking in self-worth with the hero, which didn't make any sense because she came from a loving home, was brilliant and kind, and seemed to know her worth in all circumstances that didn't involve the ML. Also, it was never clear what she found attractive about him other than his looks.
Sadly, the worst part of this drama was the ML, who was straight up boring. I think he was supposed to be one of those cold / aloof male heroes-- which I usually have no problem at all with-- but he wasn't aloof, he was a snoozefest.

I did like his younger cousin, though. He was interesting, and I might give the spinoff a chance because of that character.

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As a very picky person when it comes to dramas, I've never been this satisfied with Romantic Comedy Drama.
100% rewatchable!!!!!!!!
I've been watching this over and over and over and over and I'll watch it again! LOL!!
I love Li Xian character here, and Hu Yi Tian too. Make me fall in love with them, that's why I'm watching the "A love so beautiful" again because of Yi Tian. I hope to see more of him in a modern Romantic Comedy Also Li Xian in a modern RomCom.
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Cute but unbalanced

This is probably one of the better written plots in a modern cdrama that I've seen — I truly felt like the story about HSY's was really cohesive as we met different side characters and figured out how each of their roles played into it. The part about chasing your dreams, about regrets, about life's priorities, and about memories and holding grudges — all of that was really powerful. I liked the second ship's plot too and how the main plot tied into them. Some different K&K characters had their little subplots as well (it wasn't very much but we got a really clear sense of their personalities).

The main couple is SO cute when they're together; it's funny because it's usually the opposite for me (I care more about a couple before they get together and then they get boring) but in Go Go Squid, I absolutely loved seeing her bubbliness and how the ML gradually became softer as well. The K&K Team and their teasing added such a fun dynamic to their relationship as well.

But while the main ship was cute when they were together, it was kind of unfortunate how uncute they were when they weren't. From the start, I felt like the "love at first sight" part was really cringey and awkward, and the female lead was crazy and obsessive with how she followed around the ML and tried to bypass rules when he clearly showed that he wasn't interested.

After that, the "disapproving parent" trope was really annoying in this one because of how the ML ended up being super rude to the FL while she still continued to chase after him. In certain situations, I appreciate the unfiltered character who is not afraid to still love despite being hurt but I really think that at some point you should have some pride and self-respect. This part dragged on for a lot longer than I wished and the way it was "resolved" felt a little unsatisfying.

Individually, I also felt like the ML's backstory and characters were so fleshed out, the female lead kind of got the short end of the stick. Yes, we knew she was a smart computer science major and an internet singer, but none of her subplots were cohesive like the ML's; instead, they just seemed to appear or disappear randomly, unexplained, and her future felt like a throwaway sidenote as it was told to us offhandedly. I really wish her character got a little more depth.

The gaming part was okay to me but I honestly found it difficult to understand what was going on in competitions (compared to Falling Into Your Smile, where I felt all the anticipation and stress of every match) and for that reason, I didn't really feel the high stakes that the drama was trying to show.

Even aside from that, I thought the leads were SUPER adorable when they were together, and this was a pretty fun watch.

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I wrote this review while watching the show. I really liked the actors and their interaction but what bugged me the most was the clothes the lead wore. It was very distracting for me because it made it harder to believe the characters age. It may sound judgmental but as a society (U.S.) we do it all the time when an older women tries to look younger by wearing tighter and skimpy clothes.

As of ep.25, I wasn't sure I would like this drama but I gave it a chance and am glad I did. I enjoy watching smart female leads and this one is that, except for the fact that she seems to blindly follow him around without much question. I realize that some of this is cultural based on what the Chinese government will allow to be shown. I kept shaking my head at the parents making dating decisions for their children but yet again I have to remember the cultural context. One thing that is really getting on my nerves is the frumpiness of the lead characters clothing. Is there a reason she is wearing oversized sweatshirt dress? Her friend is running around in shorts. Are the clothing that both leads are wearing happen to be the fashion "in" in China? The clothes are not flattering on either one of them. I am enjoying the CTF storyline and all the training that goes into it. I've laughed at the male lead and his cousins interaction at New Years eve dinner and I've cried at the anguish that the male lead is going through.

Update, ep 41, I don't want this drama to end, it feels like I've been left hanging and wanting more. I have so many unanswered questions. One thing I would like to acknowledge is that someone finally got a clue and stopped dressing the lead in overly frumpy clothes which didn't make her look younger. Light colors and frilly sleeves can helped create a younger look. Her blindly following him was also addressed. If you have been avoiding Chinese dramas, take a chance and start with this one. It has a good story line, the actors are great and have chemistry (as much physical contact that the government censors will allow).

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This drama story is not flawless but it comes pretty close to perfect. It's fluffy, does not have too much waves, sticks to the esport as advertised, and is also a commentary about regret in your twenties and moving past all difficulties to build a good life.

The romance is awesome, if a little cringeworthy. I loved all the cringy bits as that is what adds the ultimate fluff to this sweet romance story.

The screenwriter is the author of the novel, so I can safely say that what is not in the book, is in the drama and what is not in the drama, is in the book. One story on two mediums... equals more of this cute story for us to see and obsess over. In the novel, God Gun in a bigger and older con-artist. It's a good thing he wasn't that all over Squiddy in the drama, because that wouldn't go over so well onscreen (though I'd love to see those moments!) This speaks of the author's skill of writing and turning her novel into a screenplay fit for TV. Awesome job!

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