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Sugar Crown

no damsel - only distress

Sugar Crown

no damsel - only distress
Gentlemen of East 8th chinese drama review
Completed
Gentlemen of East 8th
4 people found this review helpful
by Sugar Crown
Apr 13, 2023
40 of 40 episodes seen
Completed 2
Overall 8.5
Story 8.5
Acting/Cast 8.0
Music 9.0
Rewatch Value 9.0
This review may contain spoilers

solid script, great brotherhood + interesting relationship dynamics

I watched this drama under the title "Flirting with my Enemy" on YouTube and was unaware that it's actually this drama until I was about half way through - and I am SO GLAD about that!

If you happen to read this before watching the drama. STOP. Just watch it, don't read up on it. It's the most enjoyable going into it without much prior knowledge about. But now for my actual review and why I think this is criminally underrated (7.7...really?!)

SCRIPTWRITING:
The drama was written by the leading actor and it makes a lot of sense. It just feels different, less dramatized and more focused on the individual personalities and relationship dynamics. Yes, it has tropes and a few flaws but I'll take a script like that over other dramas of the same genre (business, friends, adults). I normally struggle with a drama this length but I could have watched another 10 episodes, no problem.

FRIENDSHIP:
What I enjoyed most about this drama was the brotherhood of the four guys in their mid 30s, even if its unrealistic - this is how imagined me and my friends from high school would end up like as adults. One can really be called lucky to have such a bond even as adults.
A Chef, a Salesman, A teacher and a tech engineer. I really appreciated the diversity, in their style, overall personalities and how they approach their aspirations in life. I loved how they all evolved over time. Everyone had their own struggles, unrelated to the rest of the guys, yet they each supported each other and like true brothers sometimes had arguments over beers.
I think the actors were well casted, again no two are alike and all delivered good, natural performances. Both for the guys and the women. I loved the curly heads! Sad we dont see that more often.

RELATIONSHIPS:
I have to admit that no couple has insane chemistry or anything like that BUT the relationships were all so different from each other and the dynamics were as unique as the guys themselves, which made every couple interesting (to me). I liked how not every relationship started right away or was obvious. enemies-to-lovers, contract marriage, age difference (both ways), Ml chases fl first, simp and levelheaded girl... it has it all.

Healthy Spicy Times! Yes! Finally a drama where it's not a taboo topic at all nor is anyone shy. I was sooo glad that non of the gals were damsel in distress. They were as strong as the guys and 3 out of 4 were more accomplished than their male counterpart.
In the same breath I also wanna mention how much I appreciated the asexual relationship of the curly-hair-couple! It had nothing to do with being a prude or shy and I absolutely loved how she communicated what she needed in a relationship. He was just so adorable and they grew on me the most. They stayed true to their commitment and it shows just how every relationship is different and if you truly love each other you can make it work.

THANKFUL FOR:
...every drama that has adult leads and no evil parents in law (in that department we actually only see them in the final episodes) deserves praise from me. It was just so relaxing to not have to worry about that aspect.
I liked the adult humor, no need to be chaste among guys in their mid thirties. Maybe that's the reason this drama got pulled? There were a few zesty moments and I almost suspect that XF was Bi, but it's a cdrama so shh!
The King, damn his voice is just so great! - Platonic friendships are just great and they truly stayed that. I also loved his last minute coupling, made me smirk.

FLAWS:
Nothing truly bothered me, it was just small things that I didn't fully love. For example I couldn't fully catch the moment where XF and Shangneng fell for each other, since she just wanted a husband on paper and he's a playboy but suddenly he loves her?
This couple only grew on me the second round. At first he became too tame too quickly and basically became a trophy husband. + the initial love interest of Guo Teacher wasnt my favorite. Also the business side of the tech guy was too business-like for me at times but I still didnt skip.

ENDING (spoilers) & CONCLUSION
At the end of ep39 the guys reach a conclusion that induces this-is-gonna-be-the-end-of-the-drama type feeling. From that moment on, the plot was basically over and we got an entire episode of happy-ending. All struggle was left behind - almost fairytale like or the ending of a fantasy novel where a narrator takes over - but I liked it. It left me with a warm feeling.

All in all from beginning to end this drama has a solid script and a conclusive storyline. There are no plot holes or questions left at the end. A very satisfying watch to me and will stand out as the best male friend group cdrama to me :)
I recommend it as a chill watch, that has all elements you could wish for.

Edit: Just to address the "controversy" of this drama. It was removed from streaming services due to heated response from the public, expect from YouTube, but I find the reasoning hypocritical. 1st: The SA allegations came from viewers, not the actress herself. 2nd: these viewers seem to have been blind the moment the FL grabbed MLs butt a few episodes later. Where's the SA allegation here? Hm. Plus just in "My Uncanny Destiny" the ML also touched FLs chest? I don't get how a scripted (fictional!) drama, where you have to shoot a scene several times, can get such allegations? ...
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