Chemistry between the leads is off the charts . . .

These two leads! The romance is very much worth the watch. A great connection between two adults, who are so comfortable emotionally and physically. Credit to the two main actors.

The tension of the first half is addictive as two very different individuals figure out if they fit, and if they are enough. The side actors are not memorable, the music is so so, and the plot is fairly simple . . . but the chemistry!! The yearning!

The romantic scenes are worth a re-watch.

I grade on other criteria:

Complex Themes: 5.5
Take the time to pursue greatness in your youth but don't let a once in a lifetime romance slip through your fingers due to ambition. All will work out in time. Making sacrifices for your country is the highest honor.

Character Growth/Complex Characters: 7.0
The excellent acting between the two leads is so good, that it gives complexity much more than the script/plot would suggest. Jing Jing remains essentially the same, but Mr. Yu does have a crisis and a set of humbling realizations that allow him to be an excellent partner going forward.

Complex Woman/Relationships between Woman: 7.0
Props to featuring women in careers with ambition, but otherwise they mostly just talk about men with one another.

Cinematography/Production Values: 7.5
Clothes and styling were all well done. There was a limited number of sets, but the sets were done extremely well.