My main issue with romcoms is the way they (mis) portray the sunshine and the grump in the sunshine - grumpy trope. The sunshine is always a boundary disrespecting, no filter, hyper active manic pixie girl who is infantalized by a scowling alpha introvert.

I'm very pleased to tell you that this does not happen in Go Go Squid. From the first episode, I loved both Tong Nian and Han Shangyan. The writers get both the characters' shades right. Tong Nian is a sunny, personable, intelligent and accomplished young woman yet she is naive in a way only sheltered young women can be. She is respectful of Han Shangyan's boundaries and pulls down the walls that he's built around himself, one sweet smile at a time. Speaking of the latter, his gruff on the exterior and big softie on the inside personality had me hooked from the get-go. Han Shangyan is not your typical alpha male lead - for all his threatening attitude, he's actually a caring person and very, very vulnerable. The min he realises he's fallen for Tong Nian, you start seeing how he changes (in fact, that mean-to-everyone-but-a-gentle-giant-only-to-her attitude had me MELTING). He does not infantalize her even though he recognises that she's much younger to him not does he get all huffy-puffy and male ego-y because she's much better than him in every aspect (personality, intelligence, education and wealth). He is more than happy to support her just as much as she is ready to support him. Really, their love story was so wholesome to watch.

All additional characters were also wonderful and kind (unlike the extremely bitchy and nasty society shown in LoveO2O) and the production aesthetics one of the best that I've seen in c-dramas (I'm still new. Have only watched 6 thus far).

Go Go Squid has replaced My Little Happiness as the best c-drama I've watched and I cannot wait to discover more of Li Xian and Yang Zi's works.