I have been waiting to watch When a Snail Falls in Love for, what seems like, forever. Not only am I a Wang Kai fan, but I really enjoy this author’s complicated mysteries. But does the show actually deliver on my expectations? Come join me as I take a look at the reasons you should give this drama a look-see.
SYNOPSIS: Detective Ji Bai and new criminal profiler Xu Xu may seem like an awkward teacher-student pair at first glance, yet they are actually the best partners in the police force, solving one crime after another. Ji Bai slowly falls in love with Xu Xu, yet she is a girl who is as slow as a snail when it comes to love. Just as Xu Xu starts to reciprocate Ji Bai’s feelings, the dormant “Angel’s Killer” reappears.
#4 Cinematography
If you are looking for a drama that has more of a movie vibe then this is a good choice for you. Everything looks slick from the action sequences to the scenes where our detectives are busy detecting.
#3 The Profiling
I am enjoying the mix of profiling and traditional detective work. The combining of the two type of detective styles makes for a nice mild conflict between the OTP (One True Pairing). Just enough for Xu Xu and Ji Bai to have some sizzle without huge conflict.
#2 Xu Xu
I love that Xu Xu is the genius profiler of the couple. So often (especially in Kdramas) it is the men that are the traditional genius character which makes the role reversal a nice change. Also, Olivia Wang portrays the serious and socially awkward Xu Xu to perfection. You can practically see the wheels turning inside her head as she analyzes various situations.
#1 Wang Kai!
Wang Kai as the character Ji Bai is an example of perfect casting. He was born to play a brilliant alpha male cop. Thankfully he has great chemistry with Olivia Wang (this being the second time they have paired up romantically in a drama) and their comfortable working relationship comes across in the drama. Not to mention I crack up every time they reference the obvious height difference between our leads.
While there are a ton of pros as to why you should start watching, there are one or two negatives. Personally, I think they have not done the best job of explaining the various connections of the blackmailed chaebol family. If I hadn’t read the novel first, I would be a lot more lost. That said, I eventually was able to make sense of everything, it just took a little longer than I like.
I also think the passage of time could have been handled better. Sometimes it took me a moment to realize that months had passed and not just a day or two. Yet another aspect that you eventually figure out, but still….
BONUS: Wang Kai Wearing a Hat
Wang Kai in a sexy straw hat is my new favorite thing. Now I kind of wish that Asian dramas had a western genre to dip into. Or maybe Wang Kai could be the Asian Indiana Jones….pretty much anything that involves him donning a hat.
So in conclusion, after 6 episodes I am happy to continue watching When a Snail Falls In Love. Hopefully it will stay strong until the very end with no last minute plot derailments.
You can find all the latest episode of When a Snail Falls in Love HERE.
Til next time,
Kmuse
I am loving this one too!
I read the English translation of the novel (halfway) and am now struggling through the novel in Chinese (2nd half), and I think it’s a worthwhile struggle!
I am watching the drama, waiting impatiently for the episodes to air, and enjoying it. I have to agree with you, though, the links between the story arcs are not easy to catch. I am still not sure how the (*POSSIBLE SPOILER*) Ye family kidnapping is linked to the human trafficking case. Reading the novel didn’t really help me because they were separate cases there.
I am a little sad that Xu Xu’s older brother has been cut out of the drama, though.
I was just mentioning that to Drama Geek that they are combining all of the mysteries into the main family one. Kind of wish they had kept them separate and just had a longer drama. It would make more sense that way. But still loving it.
That’s true.
Convoluted plot aside, it looks like a well-made drama. Hope it remains so till the end.
Are you also watching the other Ding Mo adaptation, Memory Lost?
No. Will have to look it up. Thanks for the suggestion
The Hat Game: I’ll see your Wang Kai & raise a Jung Woo Sung in The Good, The Bad, The Weird
Love that movie
Omg yes I love Xu Xu! I’m glad to see something developing between the leads in the episodes this week. I’ve seen Love Me If You Dare with Wang Kai there, and I was so glad to see him as a lead role in this drama. He’s perfect for these type of dramas in my opinion.
Tbh, following the cases was a little hard at the beginning but I’ve re-watched a few episodes which helped. Still haven’t read the novel yet and I don’t plan on doing so until the drama finishes. I’ve heard some people who read the novel first aren’t quite enjoying the drama as much…don’t want to have that happen to me. xD
I watched the drama and am trying to follow the english translation of the book. It’s my first experience with serious Chinese dramas. It seems to me that the plot and the characters are significantly different in the book vs the drama. Am I missing something? Or is it because they might have a second season to fit other stories/characters?
I started Love me if you dare and it seems closer to the book. Confused! 🙁
They’ve acted together for the third time actually. The first one was when both were starting their careers about 10 years ago.