We have all seen this in dramas: the female lead is willing to cross all rivers and traverse all rocky roads to be with her ultimate crush – the male lead. For some reason, it hits differently when it’s the other way around. That is exactly what currently airing C-drama Love is Sweet 半是蜜糖半是傷 is all about. Top it with the dog eat dog world of investment banking and with an unforgettable secret crush to make a sweet recipe. It is even sweeter that it is headlined by such versatile and talented actors in Leo Luo Yunxi (Ashes of Love) and Bai Lu (Arsenal Military Academy).
Note: Potential spoilers ahead so please read at your own risk.
Despite being an avid drama-watcher, I was never one to binge-watch unless the drama has very addictive elements. From the first episode and now that we’re halfway through, Love is Sweet has definitely passed my criteria because of these:
Lovable cast. We already know that the leads can easily bait us into watching but the supporting cast is no different. Gao Hanyu (The King’s Avatar) and Riley Wang (First Romance) as the other male leads are a treat to watch. No one will have a difficult time developing second lead syndrome towards Gao Hanyu’s Du Lei. While Riley Wang’s Li Xiaochuan is like a big baby that you want to protect. He makes a cute pairing with Shane Xiao Yan (Little Nyonya), who is leading towards becoming one of my favorite best friends in dramaland.
Excellent music. What’s a good drama without good music? It’s a great touch that three of its cast members contributed to the album. These include Gao Hanyu, Riley Wang, and Ariel Ann (Du Lei’s mentor/fake sister). The songs fit in the scenes well and the lyrics resonate with the story, especially with the leads.
High quality production. It was this official drama trailer that really lured me to watch this drama. I was just in awe of how every shot seemed to be well-thought of. The post-production team worked hard to highlight the actors’ emotions. The glamorous cityscape of Shanghai as cherry on top made it even better!
Surprisingly important character. Whoever said that great things come in small packages is telling the absolute truth. This adorable furball just adds more sweetness to the love story of Luo Yunxi’s Yuan Shuai and Bai Lu’s Jiang Jun. Wangcai the Corgi will be enough for you to keep going in this drama!
Leads’ explosive chemistry. The kind of sweetness that this drama portrays is not the cringe-worthy type that you might see in usual romance dramas. What Yuan Shuai and Jiang Jun have is a mature kind of understanding and care for each other. Of course, all that maturity also has lots of playful and childish bantering in between. That’s what even makes them super enjoyable to watch.
At this point, I have no complaints about this drama at all. If Love is Sweet maintains all the elements that I’ve mentioned above, then it will surely add to my list of favorites this year. I’m beyond glad that I made the right decision to check this drama out despite being busy. It’s also a very bad decision for me to watch it now because I just cannot wait for the new episodes to come!
Ending my review with an adorable photo of this father-daughter tandem! Are you also watching Love is Sweet? What are your thoughts on it so far? I would definitely love to know!
Source: 1
lil
This drama does have everything working to it’s advantage over other pile of modern Cdramas. Great cast, leads nailing every emotion needed, amazing cinematography, expensive fashion, and the most important is that it will land it self on the stop of one of the best OTP chemistry. I love everything so far….or can’t complain yet. We have savior nothing but sweetness…is the other half hurt coming :'(
I just gotta say, Bailu’s chemistry with all her leading men has not failed yet. Just when you think you’ve seen the best, she proves it that she can romance anybody better than the last. I can’t wait for Forever & Ever with RenJialun.
EC
Totally agree with your review! Love this drama! Chemistry of the leads is crazy. They look really comfortable with each other. Second pairing isn’t my cup of tea but I do love the two female leads friendship and that they were both in the Legends together. Can’t wait to watch the next episodes.
Yooi
@EC me too. I kinda skipped the 2nd pairing’s stories, so boring. But yes, i love to see their friendship. The boys are all handsome. Cant wait for the next episodes.
DWS
I will never comment but this drama made me do it. It is so addicting. Waiting is the hardest parttt……!!
GO WATCH IT PLEASE…. their chemistry OMG I have never seen such chemistry. The background songs makes it even better.
Bai Lu & LuoYunxi make me in love! HARD!
XZF
I like the drama & i like the main couple. I’m not too crazy with the 2nd female lead. I’m wondering why they used a few background songs in English. I think there is no need for that. It feels weird because this is a Chinese drama.
gabilu
I think this is my favorite C-drama of all times…? (honestly, I don’t know, ’cause I don’t watch a lot of C-dramas, I’m more a K-drama watcher kinda girl)…
I LOVE it! The chemistry between the leads is… out of this world. Only their chemistry compensates all the boring secondary couple scenes and investing/banking storylines that no one cares for…
I’m extremely impressed by both Leo Luo and Bai Lu. The way they look at and react to each other, even when they’re not the focus in the scene is soooo good. And they nail every single comedic scene. I laughed sfm in Episode 18, I almost ended up crying… They sell this rom com like I’ve never seen in a C-drama. Hoping that there are no future stupid plot twist (e.g. birth secrets, amnesia, truck of doom, etc.) ruining the dynamic of the main characters, because I could watch 50+ episodes of them hanging out, walk the dog and flirt/fight/make up.
Nunu23
Their chemistry is off the roof – SO FREAKING GOOD!!! She’s falling for him but keeps denying it lol. The pace of their relationship development is great but from the trailer, there’ll be a fight/misunderstanding after they become a couple (her walking away from him in the tunnel looking place) since they haven’t had any major problems before.
Luo Yunxi surprisingly portrays Yuan Shuai really well. All sides of him – touching, dramatic, tough! SO SO GOOD LOOKING OMG HIS VISUALS ARE ON POINT!!
Bai Lu is awesome as well, never disappoints. She’s really beautiful and her visuals are more of a strong FL type not innocent and naive which fits Jiang Jun really well. She doesn’t act like those cutesy female leads that I want to smack which is nice.
First time I think Luo Yunxi has off the charts chemistry with his co-star. I was really looking forward to And the Winner is Love but that really disappointed me. I’ve seen some comments on other sites saying that Xu Kai would be more fitted to play Yuan Shuai. I’d say Xu Kai has great chemistry with Bai Lu but he doesn’t fit with this role.
Very looking forward to next week’s episodes. It’s going to be so cute and sweet!! I scream to myself every time I watch their cute scenes together lol. I don’t want this drama to end!!
chelsea93
I laughed out loud at all their scenes in ep 17 and 18. They’re so funny. and I have never seen yun xi in such a character. It’s such a nice surprise to see him as yuan shai. Their chemistry is so good. and I love the pacing of their romance. We can clearly see how they fall in love deeper and deeper.
and bai lu is such a gem as always. she nails every character, every genre. a natural and very talented. I am so glad that her portrayal is not an annoying FL. NOW COMES THE WAITING GAME FOR NEXT WEEK.
Nunu23
@Chelsea93 Agree on LuLu. I was rewatching The Legends and I have to say, Bai Lu is such a good actress! She knows how to act in historical and modern dramas very well!
Not to mention, she was a newbie in The Legends but acted like a veteran. Love her! A gifted chameleon actress.
sulkytofu
Luo Yunxi and Bai Lu really have very natural chemistry, and it’s really surprising to me how grounded their interactions feel. A lot of their expressions seem like extensions of their own actual personalities, and I think that’s a combination of both their great acting but also just how well done the pacing of the relationship development is (and also the fact that they’re good friends in real life). I love how each also support each other and are honest to one another about their flaws, and I really think the trend of a kind and doting ML in Chinese dramas recently is quite refreshing.
sihrudb
ok i didn’t start this right away bc I couldn’t really picture Luo Yunxi in this role but he is so great in this! my baaad. and how does bai lu have such great chemistry with every costar?! i also was a little hesitant about the allergic to tears storyline lol but it’s ended up being fine. such a fun show so far.
Jubies33
I am loving this drama to death! The wait for new episodes is a killer! I don’t even know what I will do with myself when this is over *sad face*
Janica Salvador
Okay, episode 18 is the best episode for me so far hahahahaha I was laughing and smiling like crazy. I love Jiang Jun’s octopus mouth dance, Bai Lu is so cuteeeeee. Also, when they started to imitate each other while wearing those fake lips. I just can’t help myself but scream every time I watch their cute scenes together.
kit grouke
I am here to declare that.. Leo Luo is shaking the Bai Lu and Xu kai chemistry foundation. Dude is smashing it!
Flashtone
This show is comedy gold can wait for Sunday! The office fantasy had me rolling!! Has great potential to be my all time fav drama. LYX-BL are sooo cute! Amazing chemistry! I want to see them again in next project plzzz
Bambibibam
Soooo in love with this drama ❤️ Haven’t had this much fun watching a modern chinese drama in awhile. Everything just perfect! Love every bit of it & i just keep asking for more!
CeeVieAr
Love Is Sweet has the highest quality of cast ( ♡Leo Luo and Bai Lu♡) , production, fashion and storyline among all the Cdrama Rom-Com concurrently screening!!
The number of times I rewatched all of their scenes together… uncountable. LIS deserve all the hype…
ilovekcdrama
Super in-love with this drama! YS and JJ chemistry is amazing and they haven’t even started dating yet!? Been in a drama slump lately and I’m so happy I came across Love is Sweet. The best drama for 2020. This is my first time watching Leo Luo and I must say he’s really good. Bai Lu is great as well. I became a fan of her since Lucky’s First Love. She can really build great chemistry with her on-screen partner. Can’t wait for tomorrow. THE CONFESSION!!!
SP-427
Like everyone else, I can’t get enough of YS and JJ’s scenes together. I find myself smiling like a fool every second they are together. The type of relationship they share and the history they have… it’s everything I love. Bai Lu and Leo have done a phenomenal job; their chemistry is magic! <3 The acting has been fantastic all around but I have been particularly impressed with Leo. He has really added the perfect amount of charisma and charm to his strong character. I'm in love with every side of YS: the invincible business man, the devoted secret admirer, the child protector of JJ… I love all of him ^_^
They were sooo cute! My heart! <3
TicLife
Where can I order 200 hours of just YS and JJ talking to each other? Just take all my money. They’re so damn cute in every moment. Not much angst between them yet, which I’m LOVING. Such a beautiful thing to watch them growing closer.
Xing Yun
I’m here for <3 Bai Lu <3
Watched her in The Legends as the FL, The badass demonic queen, and I loved how she makes the character hers I mean she makes you feel no one can do better at the role… omg her acting is so realistic thought she’s a newbie. Then I went to LFL then AMA after that I registered to be her full fledge fan, this woman is so so talented in acting…. A versatile actress…. I wish in future she works in many dramas with popular male lead actor and also with good stories.
Will marathon Love is Sweet once it end. I'm happy LIS is a hit drama shower with so much love from the viewers. Hope the second part end well.
Btw, I see LIS have some hot kissing scenes. Bai Lu indeed a good kisser.
bibi
@Kit Grouke
They have great chemistry but again she had great chemistry with all her male leads and her co-stars.
I love how she acts! She can slay both cute, and edgy, or badass characters, omo even a tough-guy character. She is the best gender bender I have ever seen. What can’t you do babe? ❤️_❤️
Bonita
Been following BaiLu since Legend… But now shipping her with leo luo. Her chemistry with leoluo is too much that it can ruin my shipping with BaiLu and XuKai. Hope this drama gets a lot of compliments and higher rating…
Cindy Mindy
I never normally comment, but dang this drama is the BEST. The two leads are AMAZING. Lots of cdrama romance scenes are ruined by the leads being really self-conscious/trying not to look amorous and the resulting kiss/flirting scene is awkward – especially those scenes where the FL looks like she doesn’t enjoy the kiss . These two characters have clear sexual tension, and it is explosive.
Bai Lu and Luo YunXi are also brilliant in their comedic roles – I loved the octopus lips and his dancing seduction routine in her daydream, haha.
I’m gonna be rewatching this one for the next few years, haha. It’s by far the best romcom I’ve seen.
Someone mentioned the fashion, and OMG! His suits and her pantsuits are so luxe. I’m so glad it showed Chinese people can do classy dressing. (I’m looking at you Count your Lucky Stars – most revolting wardrobe choices ever)
Chicken
@cindy Mindy. LMAO!! seriously, let’s not mention count your lucky stars. A fashion drama, but low budget clothing …
OMG. IM SO glad so many people are loving this drama. I love…LOVE the chemistry between YS and JJ. I’ve never seen a more comfortable, yet extra oozing chemistry than this couple. Like most of you guys, I just fast forward to 2nd lead…I don’t see how their story is relevant, except time fillers.
I really pray the second half is not angst…I can’t take it.
Trinity
I feel bad because I LOVE LOVE Leo and have been waiting for this drama since earlier this year and I ended up dropping it 🙁 The banking stuff is boring, the side characters aren’t interesting and FF worthy, and there are so many senseless and stupid situations and things that happen. I had to suspend disbelief way too often I just couldn’t anymore. So many cringe scenes. Leo says some sexist things in the first couple episodes. I didn’t want to dislike Leo so I dropped this 5 episodes in.
Next time Leo and Bai Lu. Next time.