DRAMA REVIEW: BEST TIME (最美的时光)

Hi, my name is Sally. I am new to this blog. I have recently became a big Fan of Wallace’s after watching him in Best Time. I almost fell head over heels in love with him through his character Lu Li Cheng. After that, I have been searching everything linked to him. Thanks to Himmy for letting me join you guys here.

Himmy: Yay, I found my Lu Li Cheng gang 😛 This is Sally’s first post,  so everyone please give her a warm welcome.

Peanuts: Merry Christmas & Happy Holidays !

My favorite Chinese drama, Best Time, was based on a novel by Tong Hua, a writer from China who graduated from Peking University and went to live in America in 2005.

The drama was directed by Cang Lai-zan and the main actors were Wallace Chung, Janine Chang and Jia Nai Liang. It is a very touching and romantic love story filmed into a melodrama. The best part of the storyline is the unconditional love of one man, Lu Li Cheng (Wallace Chung). He willingly gave his time and love to a woman named Su Man (Janine Chang). Ever since the first time he met her, he knew she had had a crush on another man, Song Yi (Jia Nai Liang) for 10 years.

Ten years ago, Su Man (Janine Chang) and “Basketball No. 1”Song Yi (Jia Nailiang) were from the same school. Song Yi was a few years her senior. Song Yi exceled in academics in school and his basketball skills were also superb. Su Man fell in love with him ever since.  Many years passed. Su Man never heard news about Song Yi, but he left a deep impression on Su Man. Ten years later, Su Man became the general manager of an Accounting firm owned by Ma Lang Tang, who was her best friend. At this moment, Song Yi (Alex) had returned from the United States to join the MG Group and was about to become a director of the investment company. This prompted Su Man to join the company to be near Song Yi, the man she had had a crush on for so many years.

In the same company, was the Company Investment Officer, known as Lu Li Cheng (Wallace Chung) who was successful. He also has the desire to become the vice CEO of that company, so Song Yi became his rival. Lu Li Cheng had met Su Man earlier, during a prank orchestrated  by Ma Lang Tang. Thus he formed an unfavorable impression of Su Man. Later Lu Li Cheng found out her true identity and motive for joining the company. He threatened her, yet he also appreciated her talent and kept her by his side.

The situation became worse when Ma Lang Tang and Song Yi became a couple and Lu Li Cheng developed feelings for Su Man. Lu Li Cheng was the one who broke the news to Su Man about her parents’ accident while they were on vacation. Her mother died, her father was seriously injured and later had cancer. Having to deal with Song Yi’s betrayal and her parents’ death, she was devastated. But Lu Li Cheng was with her throughout all these, consoling and giving full support to her. He told her gently, “I will always be by your side no matter what happened.” Isn’t this touching?

I love this story because the actors portrayed those characters so perfectly. I almost cried my eyes out especially in the episodes where Song Yi betrayed Su Man and got together with her best friend and during her parents’death. All these while, Lu Li Cheng was there for her, without much rest himself, accompanying her all along.

Food for thought: Su Man has been in love with Song Yi for so many years. He couldn’t forget his former girlfriend who was dead. He appeared weak and fickle-minded towards Su Man. Can it even be considered as love when both Song Yi and Su Man had never even dated? They did not know each other’s personality well. There is also the 10-year gap, with both of them living separate lives.

Song Yi did nothing for her but gave her heartaches instead. He betrayed her trust and love on the day he left her to be with Ma Lang Tang. Whereas, Lu Li Cheng has everything a woman wants—he is successful, handsome, intelligent, mature, thoughtful, caring and most importantly faithful in his love for her. Deep inside the heart of every woman, there is a longing for her man to be there for her in times of grief and sorrow. I am choosing the latter. What about you?

The original novel has an open ending but the director felt that he should satisfy the audience by creating two alternative endings. I dislike the first ending where Su Man chose Song Yi. Instead, I love the second ending wherein Su Man chose Lu Li Cheng. This is a happy ending, at least to me as Lu Li Cheng has done so much for Su Man. I guess the author wanted an open ending or for Su Man to be with Song Yi because of the original name given to the novel, The Secret Burried by Time. It means Lu Li Cheng’s love will forever be hidden in his heart from Su Man. 😢

Himmy: I really like Lu Li Cheng’s character. He’s confident, humorous and smart. He might appear to be mean on the outside, but he actually has a very warm and generous heart. He’s proud of his hard-earned success and never forgets where he comes from. Aiya, not enough words for me to praise him—just one word, perfect!

Wallace Chung as Lu Li Cheng

Janine Chang as Su Man

Jia Nai Liang as Song Yi

 

 

 

 

 

   

Himmy: Lu Li Cheng is so good at posing lol.

Himmy: Two of my favorite scenes 😀

The drama with English sub by Viki.

English subbed trailer

Himmy: Damn you Su Man, damn you!