Por Causa do Amor (2022)

A good drama with great acting!

This is a very well acted melo-drama with a good dose of real life grittiness mixed in. The 2 leading actors acted so well in their roles and their on-screen chemistry was palpable! The tension between the 2 leads just grabs you and pull you into the story, and it keeps you in the story as the mystery surrounding their past unfolds. The scenes with Wallace Chung and Li Xiao Ran were just mesmerizing and gripping!
The real star though is the little boy, Ping-Ping! This young actor played the Ping-Ping so well, without going overboard on cuteness that i tend to find in so many c-dramas. I really enjoyed watching him! I loved the scenes where he's thinking about how to make money! He was so deep in his thought! The casting director for this show did an outstanding job casting these actors in their role! Bravo!
My one and only criticism is the hair cut they gave Wallace Chung's character. That was truly tragic, and not in a good way. It felt like they slapped a toupee on his head and called it a day. Talk about a bad hair day - for 30 episodes!! I just don't see the purpose of making his character look like that. The costume director could have done better I think.
Aside for that little hiccup, I really loved this drama. The acting was wonderful and the story moving! it's definitely a good watch!

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Cliché Central

OVERALL
Sometimes melodramas are worth the roller-coaster ride, and sometimes...they're not. This is one of these times. I recommend skipping this drama, no ifs, unless, you know, you're desperate.

THE STORY
This drama was supposed to be my cup of tea. I mean, it has mature vibes, good actors and a child. And yet, it turned out to be the complete opposite: a melting pot of melodramatic clichés, with a bland female lead and an over-the-top mean male lead. What's really tragic with Because of Love is that you can clearly see this is a prehistoric drama. The world has moved on from many of the annoying tropes of this series, such as never-ending misunderstandings between the leads or the idea that family has to be united by blood. It's totally out of fashion. Dramas are trying to show more communication between their leads these days, not less, and as Go Ahead shows, 21st century is about acknowledging the ties that aren't made by blood. Watching Because of You feels like regressing back in time, and not in a good way. I for one have zero nostalgia for these old TV tropes.

I have to mention, on the positive side (and it's really the ONLY positive point) that the OTP has two or three AMAZING scenes. Like really great love scenes. So good that they keep you watching to see if there's more...but there isn't. The drama is so busy with being overly melodramatic that the romance ends up receding to the background. After 24 episodes, I got sick of waiting for the greatness teased by these few scenes and dropped the drama. Bottom line: just skip.

THE ACTING
Good, but that was to be expected. Both actors are pretty seasoned, they know what they're doing. Their chemistry was also off the roof, which makes it all SO frustrating because the drama could have been much better if it had been exploited to the max. Sigh. Oh, well.

THE MUSIC
Inexistent haha I'm sure there was, but I only remember the LACK of music! It's something that I usually like (a lot better than the excessive background music we hear in 70% of dramas), but in this drama it sometimes made me sleepy...

REWATCH VALUE
Null.

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This drama is special.

This drama is special. Li Xiao Ran and Wallace Chung are wonderful actors.
I have never seen such an amazing chemistry between the lead couple. EVER. Whenever they were together it was like seeing fireworks. Seriously.! I have seen so many dramas but this has by fare the best chemistry ever.
Wallace was amazing at his role. His acting was superb and so believable. As was XiaoRans. An amazing female and male couple
The acting was generally great from the whole cast and deserves a perfect score.
Wallace Chung’s performance is outstanding! Superb acting from the whole cast.
The writers and director did a wonderful job... This show is awesome!

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Sort of underwhelming overall!

To be honest, I hasn't watch such a down to earth kind of romance drama in quite a while and I must say content wise it's definitely done well and really good casting choice!

So to start off, I would like to commend on Wallace Chung and Li Xiao Ran for their great chemistry! They didn't had any problems showing all the complicated emotions their characters had and I'm really thankful that all the side characters are not just tools in this drama. Just that Wallace Chung really should practice a little bit more on his Mandarin accent, every time he had to deliver long lines I was literally laughing instead of into his emotions but I'm super glad that he tried even though he knows it's not perfect. Even Morni Chang who acted as Nie Dong Yuan carried his role really well to the point that made me felt so annoyed like some super stubborn/self-entitled elderlies that we meet in real life!

And to comment on who suffered more in the relationship, I actually feel both of them had suffered equally the same. A lot of viewers sympathized that Tan Jing as a woman suffered more as she repay all the debts on her own and take care of her sickly child but if we look at both their situation, Nie Yu Sheng also couldn't live a proper live as well. He was entirely on his own when he fell into depression, it was a huge mental breakdown which is a really dangerous issue for anyone who suffers them in real situation.

For what I really hate about this drama is the "hypocrisy" and how two-face the head doctor is. In one of the episodes, Sun Zhi Jun got into a fight with Nie Yu Sheng at the hospital due to doubts of the new medical treatment and the matter escalated to their head. Out of fit, the head just suddenly called off the surgery that the son needed desperately... Though the head made it sounded like he cancel it to protect his doctor and to punish the parents but in fact, he had no care if he was jeopardizing the son's live who was the actual patient! On the other hand when Nie Dong Yuan found out that Sun Ping is his real grandson, the head doctor here acted as though he is very concerned for the grandson when he was the one who took away the opportunity to have the surgery done way earlier!

And another thing is as the drama progressed halfway, it became quite a drag mainly due to the slow fight between Nie Dong Yuan and Tan Jing and distrust between the leads...

But overall, it's definitely one of the better dramas released in recent years when we are all flooded with shitty "romance dramas!

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TOTAL LOVE

This drama had a strange attraction for me. First, it analyzed what love is, how love is destroyed, how love can be renewed, and how love is used to manipulate. It also has one very distinguishing factor - the best acting that is emotionally moving by all of the characters throughout the drama. Although the storyline is familiar and actually more of a Korean-type drama even including the "white truck of death", "amnesia", "birth secrets" and "revenge" you are immersed in the journey that all of the characters take to reach the conclusion of this masterpiece. Each episode was addictive and the only flaw I could find was the need to move the "revenge" aspect along faster to stay within 30 episodes. The acting brought out many tears of consequential collateral damage - break-ups, death of loved ones, and emotional breakdowns. The music was really a consolation prize until someone on the set decided to start banging on the piano like a speakeasy when dealing with serious corporate decisions. The only part I did not like. Otherwise, the OST was so appropriate throughout and set the mood for each scene. I feel that this is a "mature" drama that can draw on the viewers' personal experiences of fighting for a well-deserved total love. What is taught is "total love" that can be achieved even in the most challenging environment or circumstances. Worth watching and totally a rewatch just to watch Wallace Chung.

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This is a great melodrama with a mature love story of two individuals that, in spite of the fact that they are deeply in love with each other, they seem to be destined to be lonely, unhappy, and miserable. The storyline is clichéd but the leading actors are the force that drives this drama to successfully tell a story that is full of despair, mistrust, longing desires and, at the same time, is full of loyalty and determination from the male lead to hold his family together. The story telling using flashbacks in a back and forth manner instead of long sequences can be bothersome at times but it works with the overall somber tone of the drama. The leading couple has great chemistry together and their body language and facial expressions bring the characters to live in a way that the viewer is left feeling every bit of their pain and raw emotions. The drama is not perfect, the leading lady can be annoying and frustrating with her lack of trust on the male lead that was constant and steadfast with his decisions and feelings, but, at the same time, even if her decisions are misguided, she truly believes that lying and leaving him was for his benefit. The drama is not perfect, some resolutions are overly dramatic and the end feels rushed and lacking; but this is a drama that is excellently executed and worth watching. Enjoy it!

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A strangely engrossing tale let down by the ending

After a spate of all "chemistry" and no plot C dramas I stumbled upon this one and was very pleasantly surprised. The synopsis was unappealing, but I gave it a go and was hooked from the first episode.

It's an excellent mature, romantic tale with a good dose of melodrama thrown in. The pace is slow and the acting understated yet compelling. Both leads perform well oozing a gentle pathos that draws you into the tale. The supporting cast all did well with no one letting the side down.

I skipped very little of the first 15 or so episodes and stuck with it pretty well up till the mid-twenties where it veers off into a different tale entirely, one which interested me only slightly. Which was a shame as, if woven correctly into the story from the start, it could still have held interest.

On the whole though, a great watch; not fluffy and saccharine but still sweet. Maybe one for a more mature audience.
The music wasn't bad.

Worth a watch.

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Tearjerker melodrama

Sometimes I am a sucker for melodramas, especially those involving critical illness, because the drama can play your emotions and make you cry your heart out. Of course with one caveat, clever writing (not those with cheesy lines and cheap characters) and great actors. This is one of those dramas. It is packaged nicely, great actings, good OST (the opening theme song has a nice and touching lyrics) and great storytelling. The drama moves from the present to the past where we get to see the early relationships of Tan Jing and Nie Yu Sheng, since their puppy love times. And this provides a good background story. The back and forth between past and present were done seamlessly, you don't feel it disrupts the story at all and almost works as one piece. This is a drama of love that stands the test of time, as well as family and betrayals. I thought all the main actors and actresses played their part well. Of course this is not an idol romance drama, so you get to see actings from a more mature and experience actors and actresses. I really enjoyed this drama from start to finish and would definitely recommend it if you like melodramas.

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Extraordinary! Amazing story and cast

There's very little stupidity in this movie. Get that out of the way first.

Very realistic emotions and great drama and story reveal. Fantastic ML and FL with amazing performances by support as well.

What I love most is probably the leads. Just amazing chemistry and nostalgia. If you like old love discovering each other after years have passed... or just amazing story, then check this out.

There's no stupid or silly characters or sidekicks. It's just great drama done well. Again, very little stupidity.

Probably one of the best dramas I have seen in last few years.

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Gem of a drama

Let me just start by saying that this is one of the few dramas that I have watched without missing a scene. The acting was phenomenally done. So real. And I'm not just talking about the leads. All the characters were so real, not overdone like other dramas. So much chemistry between the main couple. Wallace Chung is such a good actor and his character NYS the same. At the start of series he is shown as tired, gaunt doctor who is a caricature of his old self. He has lots of angst for the FL and shows this occasionally. He has acted superb in these scenes. TJ is acted perfectly by Li Xiao Ran, as cold, mature lady who is not to be bothered by circumstances and continues forward. Sometimes she is frustratingly cold to NYS but if you understand her past them you this is justified.
Special mention to NYS's father. He is authoritative rich guy who is facing ill health. he comes across the bad guy through out the series but somehow grows on your towards the end. His interaction with his grandson ping ping *Super cute* is a delight to watch. Also SFT, second lead in the story, he is shown as warm, calculative person who has hidden motives. He sacrifices everything for his aim and succeeds, but the few scenes in the last episodes has deftly shown the next. Its quite satisfying to watch his part.
Such a beautiful love story and satisfying ending *sigh*. I was anticipating a dramatic ending but they stayed true to the tone and did not make it over the top. And thank god for that as it makes perfect sense to all the characters and their story.

Overall I definitely recommend this drama, you will not regret it.

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A glance of reality....

Story: Everything was good from start to finish, never a dull moment.

Characters: I really enjoyed watching FL and ML, and their interactions within each other and other side characters.
FL: She is a loving and devoted mother to her sick son.
ML: He loves FL very much from his childhood to the present. His love for her is like true love, he can love no one else.

Mr. Sheng and Shu Qin: The side couple here is interesting to watch. Shu Qin is a strong, confident, and kind woman. While Mr.Sheng is ambitious, strong, and decisive. They have good chemistry and I like watching their scenes.

ML's father: He is a strong and thick-headed old man. In the end, he redeems himself with his love for his grandson and backing down.

Mr. I Show Up when I'm Needed aka FL's guy friend: His character was frustrating to watch because he is like a delinquent. He causes trouble and doesn't have much going on. Towards the end, I see why he did the things that he does, and after all, he just wants an explanation for his injury. I wish they didn't kill him at the end :(.

It was a happy ending, an amazing plot that display human life and interactions. As humans, there are always ups and downs, and sometimes we all have to choose our battles, we win some and we lose some.

Side note: Just found out that this author is the same who wrote Goodbye My Princess and Siege in Fog. So go watch it if you are a fan of her previous works :).

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