The premise of the Show was interesting, a mix of “To Sir with Love” and “Schoolhouse Rock!” done Chinese style. It worked in parts, but not as a whole. The Show was hamstringed by a messy script with obvious plot holes, one dimensional characters and too many episodes.

Right from the start, the show is asking us to suspense our disbelieves in a big way as a troubled/aging idol is parachuted into a music teacher’s job at a high school. We are told that the idol has all the formal qualifications, but he was also shown to be a man-child and hopeless with life skills. I can understand if he was from an uber rich family and then transitioned into a pampered idol, but his father was a schoolteacher, and he has teaching qualifications so how can he be totally detached from the mortal realm? Needless to say, the show spends a lot of time in transforming him into a good, responsible and respectable teacher. How much time? Basically the first 10 episodes (and counting). It then used the next 20 episodes to play through all the push-pull shenanigans of the two sets of OTP’s. It wasn’t a total waste of time as there are nice, cute moments but it was a long time to watch the same teasing, misunderstandings and will-they-won’t-they tropes. BTW, the 2OTP was cute but it was a marathon as well.

It was a moment of relief when the 1OTP finally have their first kiss at ep.29 but the good time never last. The Show then proceeded to create all kinds of angst and then a breakup that was, frankly, nonsensical. Up to that point, the CP has the support of all their friends, family and students but the FL didn’t want to go public and she couldn't handle the attention from the media and nasty comments from the netizens. Yes, that’s a very tropey plotline but in this case, it made little sense when she was resolute up to that point and her decision was baffling. What added salt to injury was just before the breakup, the ML proposed to her and she accepted. You’d think that meant something solid but it was all forgotten in a flash. The ring was never seen again and there was no mention of a fiancé. There was only one reference to that scene in a flashback and then a throw away line from the ML near the end of the show. That key plot development just went puff?! I have seen shows that would have ended on such a high note. On top of that, they continued to live under the same roof and taught the same class. It served to generated a lot of awkward moments; both leads are pining for each other (too many flashbacks of their sweet moments) and the ML spent an episode behaving like a lovelorn puppy (with silly, upbeat soundtracks). It really made the breakup look comical rather than sad.

At the end of the day, a HEA ending was never in doubt, so we just ended up spending the last few episodes watching the CP picking up the pieces and start the whole push-pull trope again. Seriously, if they cut that whole plot out, it would have made no difference.

This brings us to 2 important issues with this show. Firstly, it was too long. 20 episodes would be optimal with the material at hand. 25-30 would be acceptable if they deep dive into some of the subplots that were MIA or lightly treated. But 40 episodes were a bridge too far and the show moved ponderously (and in circles at times) and there were many filler scenes/plots.

Secondly, there are 4 credited writers including the director for a fairly simple story. I don’t know if they worked on different parts or were brought in as script doctor(s) but the end result was a hodgepodge of ideas and plots that weaved in and out of the central theme. Sometimes, the subplots add to the storytelling but a lot of the time they were inconsequential. Some even illogical or hit a dead end and forgotten. The collateral damage of this is character development. The ML had a lot of growth to his character and his backstory is the most elaborate but the FL was like a weathervane. Her behaviour and moods swung all over the place. Sometimes she is strong and stubborn, other times she is weak and indecisive. You can’t predict where she is heading. Most of the other characters are one dimensional. The SFL was not a horrible person which is a blessing but the SML was weirdly constructed. He is the only antagonist, but he was a grey character for the bulk of the Show and then he was suddenly IT. Why? Is he bad, sad or mad? Was it jealousy of the ML? Unrequited love of the SFL? There are vague hints about his behaviour but it is not very convincing nor coherent.

One good thing about the show is the setting of the school and the students of class 8. They are a lively bunch and provided many distractions from the otherwise sparse central plot. However, where other school dramas might address some serious societal issues and teenage angsts, this Show kept a fairly low profile. Sure, there are some angsty moments, but everything will always come up roses. There are more than one budding young love but there were no confessions, just feels and wistful looks.

OST started off nice and effective. I especially like the jazzed up classical pieces. However, the later episodes really overworked the love songs as they are almost playing non-stop anytime the leads are pining for each other.

As a show to watch in between big ticket items, it is fine but it is way too long to sit through again as a rewatch.