Love Your Bones Forever (2021)

ended happily after the bitterness and suffering in the prequel

After giving my brief review on One and Only, of course I didn't forget to write my short review for the sequel of One and Only for this drama "Forever and Ever"

after the tragic ending and the bitterness they suffered in the prequel finally I can see so many romantic and sweet scenes of them in the sequel, I am very happy and satisfied because the writer is not stingy to give us a lot of their romantic scenes, the development of their relationship from the episode to the end of the story is true -really touches my heart, this is the only modern drama I've ever watched whose life is closer to the real life path I've ever seen, compared to other modern dramas I've watched so far...


to be honest if look at the acting, and the characters other than the main leads, I like all the players in one and only more than Forever and Ever, as well as the soundtrack in OAO is much more lively than in FAE, but overall 10/10 for this sequel.

I LOVE BOTH OF ALLEN REN AND BAILU ACTING FOR THIS DRAMA..

Leer más

Wish that it's longer

This drama has given me mixed feelings. I love the drama, no doubt. The characters, the visuals, the sceneries and the storyline. They are all great. However, I'm caught in this dilemma where there are things I wish I could see from the drama but at the same time, I understand why they are not shown.

*Spoiler alert*

Here are some things I wish to see:

1) They went on and on about how complicated Zhou Sheng Chen's family is but other than the brief talk or tiny revelations of the family story, there is no further elaboration. A little more family drama will be good actually.

2) Zhou Wen Chuan is the villain of this drama. However, throughout the entire drama, I've been seeing the result of his evildoing but not so much the act itself. It feels as though they skipped though the evil parts and went straight to the end result.

3) Considering how long it took Zhou Sheng Chen and Shi Yi to finally have that peaceful relationship, 3/4 of an episode is really not enough. Would really want to see a little bit of what happens after marriage.

Based on my interpretations, here are the reasons why I think they did not elaborate further on the points above.

1) This is a continuation from One and Only. It's kind of reasonable to put more focus on the main couple's relationship seeing how the prequel had already given them a tragic story. I see everything that had happened in Forever and Ever as an answer or response to the prequel.

2) I guess the main theme of the drama is really slow romance, not exactly family drama. So again, they probably want to put the focus back on the couple's chemistry and how that is strengthen through the ups and downs.

3) Throughout the drama, I see one thing that seemed to be the end goal and the couple had the hardest time fulfilling it - making that wedding happen. Having the wedding in the end as a happy ending to the drama seem to be quite appropriate.

Again, these are just purely my interpretation. I love the details put into this drama and the hidden meanings behind every action and everything that had happened. This is definitely a great continuation from One and Only.

Leer más

A Must Watch

I found this to be such a wonderful drama. It was slow but very much worth it. The lead characters were wonderful and they had so much chemistry. I love the story even more because I just finish watching "One And Only" and there is so much of this drama talks about "One and Only." Ren Jia Lun and Bai Lu are in both drama and I was curious about how good this drama would be. Well it met my expectation. They are a great team together and their acting is just wonderful. I believe both of these drama have become in my top 10 list. The actors did a great job in their performances. I loved all the characters. A must watch for everyone. The music was great.

Leer más

STRENGTH OF CHARACTER IS WHAT MAKES PEOPLE BEAUTIFUL!!!!!

THIS DRAMA IS S2 OF DRAMA [ONE AND ONLY] WHERE THEY ARE REINCARNATED AND CONTINUE THERE ROMANCE. THE LOVE STORY IS DIFFERENT FROM OTHER ROMANCE DRAMA . THE LOVE STORY IS NATURAL AND SWEET . THERE IS MANY LETERATURE POEMS AND QUOTES IN THIS DRAMA. ZHOU SHENGCHEN AND SHIYI ARE SO CUTE TOGETHER THEY SHARE STRONG BOND AND AFFECTION . THEY Got ENGAGED AFTER KNOWING EACHOTHER FOR 3 DAYS [MAYBE]
its like a trial marriage . after they got engaged they got to know each other deeply and tackled family problems and the relation grows stronger. shiyi goes to coma due to accident but zhou shenchen takes care after her and promises to be with her no matter what happens to her,,
GIVES YOU GOOSBUMPS....

Leer más

A seemingly satisfying sequel

I'm going to be honest - it's not as good as One and Only. I don't know if it's the modern setting (I do admittedly prefer historical dramas when it comes to Chinese cinema) or if it's seeing the characters I had expected to see mirrored instead take on such different personas in their reincarnated lives, but it just doesn't hit that high note for me that the prequel had.

Music - There were a few songs which I really did enjoy, particularly "Continued." Many of the lyrics of the songs helped carry the theme of reincarnation and finding love again, which was particularly thoughtful, especially given the censorship which prevented too much focus on the past lives element. However, after rewatching scenes from One and Only and then Forever and Ever again, I feel like this drama lacks in having a minimal background score, which is one factor which gives a more polished quality to the ancient times version.

Acting/characters - Bai Lu and Allen Ren are adorable in this drama too, but whereas I was engulfed immediately in their chemistry in One and Only, this was an excruciatingly slow buildup, perhaps because of Allen Ren's character in this life. While Zhousheng Chen of the past was warm and protective, the modern Zhousheng Chen seems more introverted and awkward. It isn't until much later that we see he does retain the same warm personality as his past self, but it's closely guarded due to the circumstances of the plot. Shiyi's character also changes quite a bit. Gone is the eager-to-please little girl pulled by the strings of responsibility and in her place is a rather assertive young woman who is comfortable in her own skin and in standing her ground to get what she wants. Honestly though, the true star of this film was the character of Zhousheng Ren (the male lead's cousin). To say he's precocious would be an understatement. Portrayed as wise beyond his years, his subtle Old Man way of thinking which breaks every now and then - usually when interacting with Shiyi's female cousin - is just adorable to watch.

Story - I honestly found all the awkwardness a bit tiring. Even the potential for more comedic elements was tamed into just a few glances and stunted attempts at teasing. The film does suffer just a bit from diluting the fact that, in the novel, Shiyi remembers her past life and her desire to be with Zhousheng Chen is what drives her forward to pursuing him. It was only after I read the translation of the novel the show is based on - which the show follows very, very faithfully except for the reincarnation remembrance - that I accepted the direction the show was going.

Would I watch again? Eh, probably not. It's nice to know there's a happier ending, but my joy at their pairing isn't for the Shiyi and Zhousheng Chen of the modern era. It's for the reunion of souls and the continuance of love from One and Only as it's the relationship in the past that made me want them to be together. Had this been a standalone drama, I'd have dropped it after the first four episodes.

Leer más

Disappointing modern love story inspired by a beautiful historical love story.

This drama is not the sequel of One and Only. It is another story with a new couple who is not the one from One and Only reincarnated. But it is good to have watched One and Only before. Because this drama makes a lot of references to the original story and it helps understanding the essence of drama and the state of mind of the two leads.

STORY:

A woman named Shi Yi created for herself a fantasized ideal man named Zhou Sheng Chen based on the main character of a movie she is working on and on historical informations she collected. She meets a Zhou Sheng Chen in real life who is not really like her fantasized one. She still falls for him trusting he is her destiny. The guy is a scientist very down to earth and logical and despite being from a rich family, he is not a typical heir of a conglomerate. He just wants to be a scientist.

I liked the first part where they are discovering each other and putting the cart before the horse. Because he has family pressure and because she is just head over heels for him. They looked very cute chasing each other from city to city and from China to Germany and back. There is also some kind of love triangles to spice it up. I liked that the FL is one to take initiative, be straightforward and send signals to the guy.

The second part when they are "official" is awkward. They have to discover the things they did not take the time to know beforehand. They really look good together but it is not sparkling chemistry. She is cute taking the time to make their relationship be the most normal one but he is so awkward that it is sometime cringe. These two in their everyday routine trying to get used to each other and to their life together, explaining things to each other, I thought is was lacklustre to the point I started losing interest.

They are also facing their respective families. Shi Yi's family is not complicated and it is rather fun. But ML's family is totally dysfunctional and even fckd up. It is clear that such a family does not exist in the modern world. They purposely took some crazy royal families you can see in historical cdrama and transposed to the modern world with no nuance at all. So the main couple meets the most opposition here from people who talk family but don't act like family.

In the last part, things take a fast pace as bad schemers are unveiled. It ends with an unexpected final showdown and our couple being "separated" for some time before the happy ending. I thought it was intense and emotional and a good final stretch with some action and a proper closure for most people good or not good. Our cute leads lives married happily ever after and the crown goes to the young crown prince.

CHARACTERS:
- Great ones: Shi Yi so lovely and patient with her bf/husband, the young crown prince
- Good ones: Zhou Sheng Chen the scientist who was a 30 something y.o. virgin, Driver (uncle Lin) MVP of the first part, Shi Yi typical loving Chinese parents, Grandmother typical nice grandmother who makes nice confusions and gives away secrets, the two distant cousins who look like lovers, Mei Dong Lin Mei Xing's dad.
- Silly ones: Mei Xing who did not know better, Zhou Wen Xing who did wrong thinking she was doing right, Tong Jia Ren who barked at the wrong trees and ended empty handed, Wang Man who loved a crow thinking he is a swan.
- Bad ones: Zhou Wen Chuan, Qin Wan the mother, the bad uncle.
- Underused: Xiao Yu Shi Yi best friend and Du Feng the cop. Their story should have been better developed.

OST:
Not so good. Repetitive with one style for one place of action and sound effects for the funny situation. I am really not fan of playing these songs at key moments. It is more disturbing the pace than helping the mood.

REWATCH VALUE:
Bai Lu and Allen Ren are not enough to save this drama. The cuteness of the main leads is not enough to make me rewatch (Also knowing that there is no real kiss) .

OVERALL: 7.5/10. I watched this as a part II and it is so so. I found it was cute but the family opposition and schemes from family members were quite badly told and silly. I don't get the demise of some characters when it was really not worth it and you have to put this on recklessness or crazyness. It also lacked entertaining situations. I will stick with the first Installment. In fact, this drama just managed to make me love One and Only more. Because it made its ending even more tragic and beautiful: There is no reincarnation. Love as much as you can when you still can.

Leer más

“How often can life’s pleasures be enjoyed? Shi Yi, alone, is all that I ask.”

Forever & Ever ruined romance dramas for me in general since it is so beautifully written and acted. It is just very rare to find romance dramas that do not have stupid misunderstandings, petty games of push & pull, breakups and just about love, trust, loyalty and absolute understanding between two people in love. I can never stress out how wonderful and fantastic this drama is. Zhousheng Chen & Shi Yi’s relationship is really beautiful -- I rarely use this word to describe relationship in dramas but they have ‘soulmate’ kind of relationship since they can see deep into each other's souls where no words are needed to be spoken. I never seen a drama where the leads actually smile at each other as much as they smile to each other here -- they look totally in love, smitten and extremely blessed to be at each other's company. And this drama is actually better with each rewatch since the love & romantic details in it are really amazing.

THE LEADS’ PERFORMANCES
Ren Jialun is truly fantastic as the awkwardly shy Zhousheng Chen to the point I really thought that is his real personality. His awkward body movements, the way he will lick his lips when he's nervous, to those blissful and shy smiles -- the attention to details when he is playing the character is just magnificent. And I love how Zhousheng Chen handle his toxic mother with such a grace -- never disrespecting her but also never allowed her to mistreat his wife as well.

And Bai Lu as Shi Yi in Forever & Ever is just beyond awesome. I really think they need to write more amazing FL character like her -- bold, straight forward and just full of love. The way she comfort her husband, understand him like no one does, all the sweet little gestures, or the way she laugh at him are just fantastic. She is perfect but at the same time appear very humane and approachable. Plus, she did all the first moves, how awesome is that?

BEAUTIFUL VISUAL DIRECTING, CINEMATOGRAPHY & COSTUMES
I love how the Director using frames a lot in the drama to display characters’ thoughts and distance and how when they are shot in the same frame, its to show how both is at the same state of mind. And I also notice the drama used a lot of earthly colors like yellow, white and brown for soothing and warm effects and that is why you will feel the drama is very relaxing and healing. Or using shadows when the couple had their first night together which is one of the best directing I've seen for this kind of love scenes.

I also love how this drama will be using characters' outfits to tell a story or their motivation. I like how Zhousheng Chen & Shiyi will always wear same color with different shades before their marriage while same color with same shade (coupling outfits) after their marriage. Or how the antagonists in the drama will always wear black, literally, black all the time. Or grey character like Weixing will always wear black & white.

THE ESSENCE OF THEIR RELATIONSHIP
I love that the essence of their love did not change at all despite both of them has different personalities than their previous life in One & Only. Shi Yi will fall first and Zhousheng Chen took time but when he did, she can feel it in her bones despite his love being silent.

And the most important of all, they found calm & tranquility with each other just like in One & Only -- the same calmness and safety. That is why when everything else is failing him (like his family), he always find her, since she gave him the comfort just like Shi Yi found the comfort in Zhousheng Chen in One & Only. They are still one heart and mind -- in fact stronger since now, no explanation needed as they trust each other unconditionally.

And both of them really gets each other. They really knows and understands each other in some fundamental ways. For Shi Yi for an example, all Zhousheng Chen's socially awkward and shy personality to his weird antics -- are the aspects that made her love him because they're what make him who he is. She doesn’t want to change him as she love him just as he is and vice versa. Their relationship is not just about physical beauty but they're about really seeing deeply into each other’s souls. Their attraction is based on trust and understanding. I love that their internal monologue would be like; 'I should hug her. She would also want me to hug her' which I find interesting since Zhousheng Chen completely understand what Shi Yi wants. Even when they moved to Xi'an, the house that he bought and the furnitures in it are based on Shi Yi's preference even when she is not there to tell him. They have this 'Us against the world' mentality so adversities only make them closer instead of the other way around.

THE FUNDAMENTAL OF THEIR RELATIONSHIP
"Most people see the skin and not the beauty of the bones." – and their relationship is not just bonding on the physical aspect but bonding of the soul.

Both One & Only and Forever & Ever explored both Zhousheng Chen & Shi Yi’s relationship with this fundamental core. The 'bonding of the soul' -- something that can’t be seen from the surface but both of them see each other’s' soul for who they truly are. That’s why when some people complained that they couldn't understand why someone as gorgeous as Shi Yi could be attracted to someone socially awkward and nerdy like Zhousheng Chen, it is exactly what the drama wants to achieve -- Shi Yi sees his beautiful bones instead of his skin and see the beautiful man he is from the inside and fall in love with that part of him. It was meant to be portray that way.

Lots of people just see the drama from the surface, thus passing it merely as fluff but once they actually see each scene on what the writer actually intended to tell, they are just gonna be surprise with how full of depth is their story -- whether in the past or the present.

CONNECTION BETWEEN THE PAST & PRESENT
I also love how the writer connect the past and the present -- from something simple as drying of Shi Yi’s hair to helping her changing shoes which both happened in One & Only and Forever & Ever.

To the part where Zhousheng Chen taught Shi Yi Guqin in One & Only and gifted her the Guqin factory in Forever & Ever. Or he gifted her tea all over the place in One & Only and gifted her Tea House in Forever & Ever.

Or something big like he guard the whole city for her safety in One & Only and he sent someone to protect her when she went back from Germany in Forever & Ever.

ZHOUSHENG CHEN’S SILENT LOVE
One of the greatest thing about Zhousheng Chen is his silent love. Like he will always do things silently -- never expecting anything in return but Shi Yi could always feel his love despite he never mention it -- whether in this life or their past life. For an example, a simple scene like showing him paying their dinner together with his student at Xi'an where no one know except his assistant. Looking from the surface, it seemed like a filler scene but its actually to show his selfless and sincere personality since everyone in the room thought it is his assistant who is treating everyone to dinner.

I love how the writer and director chose to portray Zhousheng Chen’s love that you can truly passed it as something insignificant because Shi Yi didn’t even know most of them. Like him calling her taxi at Xi'an -- even when he could tell her that it was him who did it, but he didn’t when she thought this nice gesture is from his assistant and not from him. Or how he helped the injured delivery guy -- he could tell her how he helped him (in the later episode) which will expose how he drove all night just to see her that day and again, he didn’t. Or the pomegranate scene that he passed as something he found on the street when in fact we as an audience knew the length that he go through for something that she said in her sleep. Or something big like how he sent someone to protect her when she went back from Germany since he feels she is in danger to asking Xiao Ren to accompany her at the Old Town – both instances, Shi Yi never knew.

She once asked him how would she know he did all this if he never tell her but he said he simply did it out of love so it didn’t matter whether she know it or not -- exactly just like Zhousheng Chen from the past. This is not including the one that Shi Yi can see like the wedding cards or the wedding lanterns. I think no other drama actually show this much romantic details in their story -- I find it truly captivating.

SHI YI’S LOVE & AGENCY
Some people misunderstood Shi Yi since she seemed to agree with everything when it comes to Zhousheng Chen. Its not that she didn’t have agency but she understood him to the core. Like she didn’t have to protect herself or fight for her rights, because she know he will do it for her -- since he will never ask her to do something that she didn’t like or uncomfortable with. Like she know she didn’t have to move for him after the wedding, since he will move for her. Their relationship is actually rather fascinating in this aspect - a complete trust and understanding of each other.

He can’t come home as initially planned, she totally understands it. Need to leave early while they are in the middle of dating, she's cool with it too. Not because she's a pushover, but she knows that despite of anything, she is #1 in his heart -- a real mature understanding that reflect her state of mind.

CONCLUSION
Zhousheng Chen may not remember anything (unlike Shi Yi) but everything that he did in Forever & Ever is the things he regrets and couldn't give her in One & Only. That is why, he is my favorite romantic lead in any drama because his love is sincere, pure and did not ask anything in return -- its okay if she never knew what he did as long as she feel his love and that is all matters to him.

Leer más

This review will be all over the place, but you get the gist I hope.

I am only able to finish watching this as I have read the novel. As the scriptwriter is the book author, the story followed closely the novel sequences except having to change (a very important) plot point to work around censorship. This however became a pitfall as it was a very important plot point that drove FL motivation in pursuing the ML and persisting despite all issues they had to endure.

We were repeatedly told throughout the drama that Zhou family were supposedly so powerful and so complicated, but not much was shown except some accidents involving FL. Except mom-in-law being a bit of a b**** earlier on, everyone of them were so nice to the leads. The only villain was so so so weak (bad acting + bad characterization).

Some events in the story were so inconsequential that they might as well not be included.

I read the novel many many years ago, but from the writing (or translation), felt that ZSC was a very charismatic person despite being a nerd scientist, which sadly was lost in the drama portrayal. I'm not a big fan of MBFB , as I felt her writing is over indulgent, with style over substance, and her drama adaptation even more so. Beautiful Bones was perhaps her book that I liked more compared to her others, unfortunately this drama

Good thing about this drama, (1) everywhere they filmed looked pretty, (2) acting overall ok.

Note that I didn't watch One and Only as I felt the backstory didn't warrant a whole series with 24-ep.

Leer más

Same Old Drama with good casts

Overview: I’ve watched many of the leading actors’ previous works and they’re very good at it. The chemistry is so-so and the feeling is like they’re friends. The guy did his acting well with introverted scientist feelings and the girl was said to be introverted as well but that’ll be too boring so they let her light up and be naughty. The overall theme is nothing new really. Same cliche just different people. The amazing reviews here must be rigged because I truly didn’t enjoy it. Too passive, too predictable. We’re rich, you’re poor. We’re Rich and grew up together so we have inside love turmoil. Inheritance same old battle. Why did I even bother?

The producers are probably trying to find a hit drama like Eternal Love 1 and 2. The setting is also redone over and over BUT great chemistry and story made up for it. You know it’s a cheesy drama but can’t help but be drawn.. sweet liar drama is also same old setting recycled all over but the chemistry is good.

This drama didn’t meet the chemistry standard of those two. It’s really a very friendly mood.

Pro:
- good acting by super Pro actors. Main guy did act like an awkward scientist but unbelievably castrated look. Really he doesn’t look too energized but more confused and awkward.
- predictable plot if you like predictable things

Cons
- the guy was castrated in his previous life so he doesn’t have the passion. Or maybe he is castrated naturally. By episode 15, I can’t find any intensity.
- same recycled setting. It must have been done in the same neighborhood. The guy’s mansion is something I’ve seen before in other dramas. The ‘owners’ looked uncomfortable sitting on the mansion chairs.
- sickness part takes like many many episodes. Same old scene, same old setting.

Leer más