Pretty Li Hui Zhen

This kind of bullying is all too common from fans of Asian actors and singers taking revenge for imagined slights toward their personal favorites. Here, as in most cases, it's complete bullshit. It's also unconscionable. This kind of online bullying is exactly the kind of thing that lead to a popular singer taking her life just a couple weeks ago, and she's far from the first. To the person or persons who wrote these reviews, grow the hell up and think twice before you post bullying things like these reviews. Luckily, in this case, they tried to bully one of the most popular and respected actresses in China so they got no traction.

Now on to the review. This is a stellar cast. The acting is wonderful and solid from each and every cast member. It's a poignant and touching comedy/drama about friendship, interpersonal relationships of all kinds and the nature of love.

It may not be for everyone as the central plot point is a misunderstanding that's a little hard to buy, but the actors really sell it, so it works for me. The main heroine is quirky, but doesn't fall into the western 'manic pixie dream girl' trope that's so annoying in western films. In fact, she's quite the opposite--charming, optimistic and grounded.

As a side note, one of the things I like best about it is that the heroine doesn't need to get a 'makeover' for the male leads to develop affection for her as would absolutely have happened in a western show of this type. Kudos for that, show runners. Now, that may happen before the end, but her appearance is not why the male leads or her coworkers come to cherish her, and I find that very refreshing.

At this point, I've watched through episode 22, and I'm finding it absolutely delightful. The idea that anyone could have honestly reviews it as 1/10 after actually watching it is simply not believable, and the critiques offered in those reviews make it very apparent that they didn't actually watch it at all.

If you haters gonna make 100 account to bash on her then go ahead. yall act like yall watched this drama before, giving out these 1 stars smh.

So I watched 'She was Pretty', and loved it. When i caught a preview for this remake on facebook, i HAD to check it out. I was not disappointed. Not only is it longer (40 vs 16 episodes), male lead syndrome is again SUPER strong in this one, the story doesn't drag, the cast is good and the characters are engaging. I thought the lead actress did a great job, towards the end I really started to miss her messy curls. I thought Yilun Sheng was a bit too stiff in his role as Bai Haoyu, but still can't complain! I thought the drama overall did not do under for the Korean original.

Then coming to add it to my watched list, I was honestly shocked to see it only got a 5/10 overall rating. I checked out the reviews and noticed the obvious smear campaign (apparently against Dilraba Dilmurat and prizes the show and actress won?). The politics behind a production or the reputation of an actress are not reasons to downvote a series or movie. This isn't rotten tomatoes and we're not toddlers.

Now this was my first Chinese drama. I came to it via it's Korean drama parent, I never had any intention to veer into Chinese productions before. So what you might accomplish here with this smear campaign is dissuading potentially new international watchers to start. I don't think that's something anyone should be proud of, I would think that's a terrible waste and mistake. It introduced me to the chinese language and some excellent acting and it has literally opened the doors to Chinese productions for me. That's extremely valuable. I am disappointed that 's check on the quality and validity of reviews isn't more rigorous against this sort of thing happening.

I have responded by reporting all obvious troll reviews and would suggest everyone reading this review does the same.

This show it's actually okay, I mean the korean version is way better and if you watch that one first you will get extremely frustrated with the Chinese version. This one is waaay to long.

This one is made well, and I love how the main female lead has developed and interpreted her version of the character, her acting is great. The secondary male lead is fantastic as well, you have loads of fun watching him act this carefree, wild and happy guy, both together have great chemistry.

The problem comes with the male lead and how this adapted version of the script drags the main plot way too much and it's completely unnecessary, they have written the male lead as a clueless and heartless guy, who is pretty much unaware of what's going on in front of is eyes and just obsesses over the past. The korean version mastered this part with Park Seo Joon and with only 16 episodes they wrapped the story neatly and nicely.

Then there's the too good to be true character of the female lead forgiving unforgivable things and being literally a punchbag for everyone treating her and doing whatever they want to do to her. Is just the least realistic thing in the world.

Anyway, the show is interesting but if you have to watch only one version, the korean is the one to go.

Li Hui Zhen (Dilraba Dilmurat, Qu Zhihan) was pretty, kind and feisty in school, always coming to the rescue of chubby Bai Haoyu (Sheng Yilun, Zhou Baizhen) from bullies. They became close friends but parted ways when Haoyu went to the US with his dad. Twelve years later, Haoyu, who has gotten over his chubbiness and has become handsome and successful in his career, gets in touch with her and asks that they meet. At the appointed meeting place, Haoyu does not recognize Hui Zhen and instead mistakes her pretty best friend Xia Xiao (Li Xirui ) for her. Dismayed at Haoyu's mistake caused by her less than appealing outward appearance, Hui Zhen begs Xiao to pretend to be her. Thus starts a rather uncomfortable (mistaken-identities trope is not a favorite of mine) though intriguing drama. The discomfort level rises when Haoyu turns out to be the new boss in Hui Zhen's new job.

What kept me engaged was the second male lead Lin Yimu (Zhang Binbin), Hui Zhen's playful though mysterious officemate whose declarations of love Hui Zhen never takes seriously, mistaking them for pranks. I love how he likes her despite her appearance. Their interactions are delightful. I would have preferred them to end up together since Haoyu had Xia Xiao anyway.