I was not too sure about this drama from watching the first episode. The opening turned me off but I am glad that I stuck with it. True the lead girl did drive me nuts sometimes and in the back of my mind, I wished she had been more strong-willed and not so dependent on the men around her. However, the story was a good old fashioned romance and played out like a soap drama. If you're in the mood to watch a nice show with a lot of sweet moments Cruel Romance is the one for you. The acting was done really well and the male lead was fantastic. The costumes and glimpse into 1940's Shanghai was also really nice to watch. The only thing I really didn't like was how the characters would change so dramatically so quickly it felt rushed at times and slow at others. Also the last two episodes I wish had been done a little better. Overall it is worth watching but not for everyone.