Binge, Stream or Skip? Drama Review // Cute Programmer《程序员那么可爱》

 

You can watch the trailer above or start watching episode one here.

Warning! Spoilers ahead.

I mostly watched the last few episodes on 2x speed as it was getting somewhat draggy and annoying. BUT, the front parts, at least the first half of the drama, were still highly entertaining and quite light-hearted so I would still say that this drama is stream-able but borderline skippable.

Synopsis: (taken from the official Youtube channel, Tencent Video)

After falling in love with genius programmer Jiang Yicheng, Lu Li enrolls into the school he once studied at, and also took up the same major - calculus. Setting Jiang Yicheng as her role model in her heart, she achieves good grades in school. However after graduation, she did not expect that Jiang Yicheng's company does not recruit female employees. Lu Li decides to disguise as a man and enter the company. However, she met difficulty both in dealing with Jiang Yicheng's demands, as well as hiding her identity. Finally with her perseverance, she grabbed hold of an opportunity and managed to come to an agreement with Jiang Yicheng. The two would become a "contract couple" and stay together for one year. Slowly, Jiang Yicheng finds himself falling for Lu Li.

Note: Instead of calculus, I think they meant computer science.

What I like about this drama:

Contractual marriage. Anything that has contractual marriage, a good-looking CEO as the male lead, I like. This drama is one of those typical contractual marriage dramas where the male lead (ML) is those arrogant CEO while the female lead (FL) is the one head over heels for the other party first and so, is very sacrificial in their relationship initially. Nothing very special in particular, nonetheless still entertaining as I like romance cliches.

Although somewhat a classic contractual marriage centered storyline, this drama is different such that you don't get a mean mother-in-law for the FL. Instead, the ML's mother is the one who very much pushed for the couple to get together, albeit, quite forcefully, on the guy's end. The FL, of course, is very much willing to do it. The parents of both the ML and FL are very supportive of their children, so no mean parents in this drama.

Who I like in this drama:

Chen Yiming and Jiang Zitong. Basically, one of the more prominent side couples. Chen Yiming being the ML's best friend and later on, also a good friend of the FL. Jiang Zitong being the ML's younger sister. Both of them are the biggest supporters of the main couple. Like at least, using a much less forceful method, unlike the ML's mother, who every now and then threatens the ML via his father. Initially I thought Chen Yiming would be that nice second lead but I'm actually very glad that he wasn't.

Then there is Gu Xiaoqi, the super loyal best friend of the FL. I swear, the FL's BFF in such romance shows are always the best. They are super loyal, super supportive even though they get neglected after the FL gets the guy.

What I don't like about this drama:

It got very irritating towards the back, like when the FL left the ML. The pile of misunderstandings stacking, which is typical and expected of such storylines by now, hence these parts can be watched on 2x speed.

Who I don't like (or possibly even dislike) in this drama:

Li Man, the main antagonist of this drama, and the ex-girlfriend of the ML. All her petty tricks and stuff that main antagonists do to break up the couple. But, they are married! How could she still! Whether their relationship has love for each other or not, it shouldn't matter to her. They are legally married, so she should have backed off. Funny thing is, this actress played a similar character in another drama, Perfect and Casual. Not hating on the actress but, just hoping that she don't get stuck in such roles!

Other notes:

At some point, I lost interest in the main couple and were more interested in the side couples. Aside from the side couples, what was entertaining was how ALL their parents are such matchmakers. Yes, including Gu Xiaoqi and Gu Mo's parents.