I saw this was rated an 8.0 here and that exactly is what prompted me to write this. There are many other dramas and movies in the Dramalist which are better than this but rated less. The beginning was all very thrilling and I was very much intrigued, only to be disappointed later. The story was okay but it was very much dragged and repetitive. Cruel Romance is set in the Shanghai of 1930's and it is the first time I am watching a drama in that background and that was a good thing for me. The setting was beautiful and so are the dresses and I really liked the retro feel. I think the actors were good but their caricature like roles didn't helped me to enjoy them.I was cringing at times for the heroine's character. Lead guy was hot with all those abs and the girl was also beautiful. The music was fine. Re watch???? No i wont re-watch this ever.