34 reviews
I was looking for a light, sweet romance and that is exactly what this series is. The acting was good all round but I didn't quite believe the matching of the lead couple. I actually found they had more chemistry behind the scenes when watching the YouTube BTS clips. They were both very endearing though. What I loved most was the friendships. The young guys were so lovely and loved the friendship between them (seriously would love to hang our with them :-) ) My favourite characters were Demo, 97 and Little Mi - such sweet guys.
There were slightly too many dramatic flash backs but most of them were necessary.
I love these dramas because they celebrate kindness and integrity which we need so badly in this world.
- alexandra-42857
- Aug 5, 2020
- Permalink
First things first: This show is definitely worth watching. Not because of the plot (it's pretty average and cliché if you ask me) but because of the amazing characters and the great OST.
There were quite a few characters I just loved seeing interacting so much, I wish I was a character myself and hang out with them. Especially the K&K boys, they were so adorable and fun!
The main couple was cute too but the evolvement and the stages of their relationship were so cliché, there were no real surprises there. Rather I was quite annoyed/frustrated with their behavior a few times.
The thing that annoyed me the most about this show and the main reason for minus points to me are the many many backflashes which were often repeatedly shown. If they were to be removed, I'm pretty sure this drama could be shortened to 2/3 of its current length. I'm not kidding.
Also, they focused too much on the backstory and past of Team Solo. A few backflashes to show what they've been like together and to explain their current relationship with each other would've been enough but nope, there several unnecessary backflash scenes and one of them was even 10 minutes long.10 MINUTE BACKFLASH IN JUST 1 EPISODE!!! To make it worse, their backflash scenes were even shown over and over again throughout the whole drama. Literally the exact same scenes! Kind of like the backflash of the backflash of the backflash! It was so tiring, I started skipping them.
There were quite a few characters I just loved seeing interacting so much, I wish I was a character myself and hang out with them. Especially the K&K boys, they were so adorable and fun!
The main couple was cute too but the evolvement and the stages of their relationship were so cliché, there were no real surprises there. Rather I was quite annoyed/frustrated with their behavior a few times.
The thing that annoyed me the most about this show and the main reason for minus points to me are the many many backflashes which were often repeatedly shown. If they were to be removed, I'm pretty sure this drama could be shortened to 2/3 of its current length. I'm not kidding.
Also, they focused too much on the backstory and past of Team Solo. A few backflashes to show what they've been like together and to explain their current relationship with each other would've been enough but nope, there several unnecessary backflash scenes and one of them was even 10 minutes long.10 MINUTE BACKFLASH IN JUST 1 EPISODE!!! To make it worse, their backflash scenes were even shown over and over again throughout the whole drama. Literally the exact same scenes! Kind of like the backflash of the backflash of the backflash! It was so tiring, I started skipping them.
- ninchenbienchen
- May 19, 2021
- Permalink
If you've ever been in true love anywhere in world in anytime of your life, you will relate to the lead characters all throughout the series. And it tops it with excellent acting from support cast and a feeling of being very real. You know you've a winner at hand if you feel for each character, and this show does have that with plentiful of sweet moments.
Go Watch It if you ever want to know how it feels to be in love. You'll not be disappointed even a bit. And I particularly liked the grandfather's role. He was terrific and every kid with a grandfather like him would relate to it.
Just a word of caution - give it sometime for first three to four episodes as it sets the stage for an enthralling ride of emotions.
- shriharsh-69466
- Apr 24, 2020
- Permalink
Story about a girl who is a Top student,cheerful and loved by everyone..and the boy who is about to turn 30 and wants to put the name of his country on the map by winning CTF world championship..
Fell in love with Han Shanghyan..
- manishas-89265
- Aug 7, 2019
- Permalink
Yang zi is so adorably cute as Tong Nian, and her love interest, Han Shang Yan (Li Xian) is equally endearing because of his sweet relationship naivety. The entire cast is absolutely fabulous! The tech world building is my fav in romance-esque dramas! Wonderfully entertaining, light-hearted romance. Loved it!
- rukku-32884
- Jul 30, 2019
- Permalink
Not sure why but I kept expecting more from this show, I think the story and characters have a lot of potential but it was lacking intensity and didn't quite hooked me like i was expecting.
Dull performances most of the time and some of the acting looked forced.
Didn't feel the connection between the main couple and more than love I saw friendship, I get the show is supposed to be for all publics but Its just not believable that a 30 year old has no desires or attraction to women and then he has a relationship with a girl acting like a 12 year old....
Enjoyed the gaming plot and all the friendships though.
Dull performances most of the time and some of the acting looked forced.
Didn't feel the connection between the main couple and more than love I saw friendship, I get the show is supposed to be for all publics but Its just not believable that a 30 year old has no desires or attraction to women and then he has a relationship with a girl acting like a 12 year old....
Enjoyed the gaming plot and all the friendships though.
I'm not fun and fan of C-drama. I've watched PA and GMP. Like the historical story and even read the novel. And so far Go go squid stolen my heart. A story where it happens daily lives in reality. LX and YZ have so best chemistry...and hmm maybe in real life too..
I like this drama. But it is stretched too long. Some scenes are too childish for my taste and too many repeats of the character's past. Good drama for teenagers and young people.
The plot is quite interesting and having beautiful emotions emerging out of the character of li xian for yangzi.The drama is damn addicting must to watch if you are rom com lover.
- kbrdeeksha
- Aug 14, 2020
- Permalink
This series captures a lot of topics from sportsmanship, finding oneself, healing of relationships with friends, first love and sweet romance. It also deals with romance and adjustments involving age gap. Our male lead is an angry 30 year old man who has big disappointments in his professional gaming field together with his past friends. He sets up a gaming club to train young players to be professional competitors with an aim to win a national championship for his country. He meets a devoted fan who is 10 years his junior and she changes his life despite his initial rejection of her. It is delightful to see how the relationship develops and the changes our male lead makes that affects his relationship with his past friends and his priorities. The only thing I did not like about the series is that it has way too many flashbacks. I think the number of episodes could definitely be reduced to make it more entertaining.
- mosquitocyn
- Dec 18, 2024
- Permalink
I haven't watched the whole series yet, but I do not want to anyway. The acting is soooo bad and the plot is just...something. Absolutely boring and cliche. Want better dramas from the Chinese industry. It's the 21st century guys, wake up. Seriously we don't have the patience for people to have childish behaviour. I am usually optimistic but I just can't deal with this drama.
Like hundreds of people, I agree that the rating on Viki & MDL for this drama is bias of the actors. It's only popular because famous Chinese actors are starting in it. It doesn't deserve its rating. We have to change how we perceive our views. This is unfair to dramas which are actually worth watching but are not recognised for their quality.
Don't start attacking me for my opinions either. I'm just being honest. Just watching the first five episodes I could take more in. I found myself frequently skipping unnecessary parts. People who are actually sane and value their time, stay away from this drama. They is no point in wasting your precious brain cells eat hing this. Either find something else to do or watch a drama with watching.
Like hundreds of people, I agree that the rating on Viki & MDL for this drama is bias of the actors. It's only popular because famous Chinese actors are starting in it. It doesn't deserve its rating. We have to change how we perceive our views. This is unfair to dramas which are actually worth watching but are not recognised for their quality.
Don't start attacking me for my opinions either. I'm just being honest. Just watching the first five episodes I could take more in. I found myself frequently skipping unnecessary parts. People who are actually sane and value their time, stay away from this drama. They is no point in wasting your precious brain cells eat hing this. Either find something else to do or watch a drama with watching.
The series is different from other youth romance drama. The settings characters is really nice, thanks to the actors for their vivid interpretation of the character. The plot showing the young people's living conditions and mental outlook in a simple way. The love of Go Go Squid! expresses delicate and true emotions. That's why majority female will fall for it.
There is irrational plot, or the story feel like dragging to make it 41 eps. But the portion is really small compared to positif plot that given to us. Additionally everyone on the drama; Han Shanyang with CTF's circle even Tong Nian with his university's ACM, show us how to persue our dream and have faith on it as well as have patrioticm to bring glory to our country! What a positive insipirational series. Really recommended!
Very well-paced for a 41-episode drama, needed no cliche plot twists like secondary leads, etc. to keep the ball rolling. Theme of achieving dreams is inspiring, but it also tackled themes of friendship, dignity, and filial love. Love the character growth in the last 15 episodes, compared to other dramas of the similar trope. Li Xian is phenomenal in this drama, and Yang Zi shone as well.
- munawarohwaroh
- Oct 31, 2020
- Permalink
I am from the US and the only C-Dramas I usually really like are gamer dramas. Let's face it - C-Drama is the leader in Gamer Dramas. With that said this is not my favorite one, but still has a lot of good points - the ML, laughter at a lot of points, the development of the romance, the camaraderie of the team members, love of family (grandpa). Enjoyed Fall Into My Smile Better for a couple of reasons. However Li Xian, the male lead did an excellent job portraying the character of handsome, passionate in his esport career in winning a world championship for China, serious, leader, cold, not interested or experienced in any woman or romance in the beginning, loyal - but still all with a warm heart. His acting seemed real. The other actor that seemed real was his Grandpa who really showed his heart as well. Some of the other actors, especially female, however, just seemed mediocre to me - even fake sometimes when trying to be so upbeat, the smiles, then trying to switch to being more mature at times (such as in the case of the FL), just didn't seem to match the ML's charisma. It seems like there is a pattern with C-Drama's drama's with there being 10 year differences in ages and trying to make the FL to "kiddish" which the ML does call her a kid many many times in the drama, (unlike Fall into My Smile it was the first time the FL resonated with me). The series could have been cut back to 31 instead of 41 because there were to many reminiscing scenes. I can understand doing it in episode 40 (reviewing everything before the final), and a few times in the beginning, maybe again in the center at an appropriate time, but it was over, and over and over again - got to be a little boring to keep seeing those same scenes so many times. The Chinese are master's at product placement and at times thought that more time was spent on the script trying to fit in the product placement than actual content about making the story - from Jeep, to Wendy's, to toothbrushes, to face masks, to chairs, to who knows what. Also, the ending was very disappointing. It was a happy ending with the ML and the FL yes, but would have liked to see at least a wedding photo or something similar. And the open ending about the Final Championship? Did I miss something? Either I did or put out a second season, shouldn't leave it like that IMO.
- PalmBeachG
- May 15, 2023
- Permalink
This is my first review of a Chinese TV-series. I did this just to give honour to the two leading actors and emphasize how impressed I am with their acting, especially Li Xian. Li Xian as Han Shang Yan is just perfect! He nailed it! Every facial expression and body movements of him did justice to the role. He has also a very charming personality that makes you love him the more you see him. Yang Zi as Tong Nian is quite convincing as 19 year old young lady though she sometimes overacts (more like a 14 year old). However, that is forgiven since I totally love her cuteness/loveliness and her adorable performance as Tong Nian. The chemistry of these two and their superb portrayal of their roles are the reasons why I gave «Go Go Squid» a 9-score. It is their awesome tandem that made the viewers ask for more. You feel their love to each other and the audience is given dream moments of «how-to-be-in-love again».
I belong to the older generation whose awareness of the CTF is out of reach. So I just followed the flow of the plot. The competition scenes were real enough for me. The family bonding is touching... Han Shang Yan with his grandpa and stepmother; Tong Nian with her parents and her two best friends; and of course, the brothership of the teams.
Furthermore, I give my respect to the supporting casts too. They all played their role well.
The cinematography is good and I like the soundtrack. Thanks to the director and the whole crew of «Go Go Squid» for an entertaining drama you gave to the TV viewers.
PS. My apology for not giving the same interest in the sequel «Go Go Squid 2». The two new leads did not reach my expectation. They did not have the charm and vividness as Li Xian's and Yang Zi's in the first season. I stopped after some episodes and just watched the scene in the last episode where everybody was waiting for 😉.
I belong to the older generation whose awareness of the CTF is out of reach. So I just followed the flow of the plot. The competition scenes were real enough for me. The family bonding is touching... Han Shang Yan with his grandpa and stepmother; Tong Nian with her parents and her two best friends; and of course, the brothership of the teams.
Furthermore, I give my respect to the supporting casts too. They all played their role well.
The cinematography is good and I like the soundtrack. Thanks to the director and the whole crew of «Go Go Squid» for an entertaining drama you gave to the TV viewers.
PS. My apology for not giving the same interest in the sequel «Go Go Squid 2». The two new leads did not reach my expectation. They did not have the charm and vividness as Li Xian's and Yang Zi's in the first season. I stopped after some episodes and just watched the scene in the last episode where everybody was waiting for 😉.
- Lola-53999
- Apr 25, 2021
- Permalink
In an attempt to garner insipid ratings, the writer, director and other creators did a hatchet job on this series and made good actors look bad and irrelevant. The consistent lack of wisdom in the elders in this drama is nauseating. A teacher who judges a man on the little knowledge she has of him which is all second hand, too many adults talking as if they gained nothing (not even a speck of wisdom from life's experience ); people so locked into their own perspective that they fail to hear or see it others.
The first three episodes were actually better than falling into your smile and you are my glory. But where the writing changed for the former and the evolution of the characters and the showcasing of a profession that few know about propels the latter into a space all its own, this descends slowly into film that takes up space and time but lacks substance - a perfection of Hollywood. Why come in second in a race this is pointless and insulting to the many who still use more than 10% of their brain?
What is more pitiful than actors who seem like they're pretending to act? Having intelligence to ace University but clueless about real life? It also implies and demonstrates that you can be qualified for working in a field yet fail to see or even ignore what is blatantly defective in your work. Too many characters talk without demonstrating wisdom or insight. We call this in the world where brilliant minds are educated being bright but not shining: grades superior but world knowledge inferior.
I watched this because a lot of the characters have potential but the failures in this drama are an inside job. When conversation is vapid and unhelpful to the growth and development of characters, one has to wonder if a show is just marking time. Too many of the characters and relationships have no depth and are stunted from growing. Indeed, when written words remain one or two dimensional on screen then intelligent viewing is not a requirement. When characters evolve and the audience is educated then the third and fourth dimension widens viewing impact by overriding audience's personal prejudices . Lies and omissions can make or breaks show. In this case flashbacks don't help but contradict purpose and intent. It just takes you further down the rabbit hole. The storyline promises much but delivers little. It does have flashes of and that makes it sadder to witness. The integrity of the creation became the prey of other priorities.
The first three episodes were actually better than falling into your smile and you are my glory. But where the writing changed for the former and the evolution of the characters and the showcasing of a profession that few know about propels the latter into a space all its own, this descends slowly into film that takes up space and time but lacks substance - a perfection of Hollywood. Why come in second in a race this is pointless and insulting to the many who still use more than 10% of their brain?
What is more pitiful than actors who seem like they're pretending to act? Having intelligence to ace University but clueless about real life? It also implies and demonstrates that you can be qualified for working in a field yet fail to see or even ignore what is blatantly defective in your work. Too many characters talk without demonstrating wisdom or insight. We call this in the world where brilliant minds are educated being bright but not shining: grades superior but world knowledge inferior.
I watched this because a lot of the characters have potential but the failures in this drama are an inside job. When conversation is vapid and unhelpful to the growth and development of characters, one has to wonder if a show is just marking time. Too many of the characters and relationships have no depth and are stunted from growing. Indeed, when written words remain one or two dimensional on screen then intelligent viewing is not a requirement. When characters evolve and the audience is educated then the third and fourth dimension widens viewing impact by overriding audience's personal prejudices . Lies and omissions can make or breaks show. In this case flashbacks don't help but contradict purpose and intent. It just takes you further down the rabbit hole. The storyline promises much but delivers little. It does have flashes of and that makes it sadder to witness. The integrity of the creation became the prey of other priorities.
- debbiecheryllayne
- Oct 9, 2022
- Permalink
I really Love this Drama...
It gaves me a Very different vibe in Drama....
A never ending Smile and making me Feel Inlove again..
I really Love and I fall inlove in this drama.. To point that after watching this.. I search this drama looking for the same genre and vibe......
It gaves me so much Happiness....
Thank for Giving me a Lot of Emotion and Happiness 😍😍😍😍😍😍
- mirabuenosharlene
- Feb 19, 2021
- Permalink
The story of the drama?
Awesome and awkward. But, it does teach you how time can change your relationship with people. How success and failure can change your relationship with people. And who doesn't like awkward romance engraved in comedy and cringe and a good sports based drama.
The actors?
Umm, well, I liked them, people think that all the male actor did was stare, but get the vibe bro! His character is supposed to do that.
Umm, ok so why didn't you give a perfect rating?
Well because the drama was lengthy and slow. THAT'S IT.
Never thought I will love this drama looking at the storyline... But I was wrong. It's one of the best modern dramas... Actors Lixian and Yangzi are just really good in their roles. The whole team was amazing. U guys really gotta go watch this one.
So far, this is the best Chinese Modern drama I've seen. The chemistry between Han Shang Yan and Tong Nian is over-the-top that it feels so real. You can't even distinguish if they are acting or not. I will miss the original KK boys, they add more fun in the whole drama too.
- tanmaryjoy
- May 9, 2021
- Permalink
I just finished this drama & I'm here again from the start. At first I didn't feel like watching it because for me it's too long, but now 41 episodes isn't enough for me! I need moreee!!! I'm so in love with this drama & it's OST and especially with Han Shangyan & Tong Nian's love story, it's simple but it's just so beautiful for me. I'm really hoping for another season with the same cast and to see how their marriage went. Han Shangyan and Tongnian are so sweet together !! The chemistry between them is so strong and real and i hope they dated in real life :-D.watching this master piece again as I reminded all the fun time.
- talatalalia
- Aug 28, 2022
- Permalink