My Girlfriend is an Alien: A Review

I don’t usually watch C-dramas for as far as I knew, the dubbing was extremely annoying and it only ruined everything else. Maybe it was me who was too accustomed to the atmospheres seen in South Korean dramas; gorgeous cinematography, the heartwarming OSTs and everything else that perfectly align with my taste. It wasn’t a long time ago that I was introduced to Chinese dramas titled Put Your Head on My Shoulder and A Love so Beautiful that my perception began to change. Suddenly, I grew quite a lot of interest in Chinese dramas, even as far as thinking of restarting my Mandarin language learning from tiny bits. However, the first drama that I would like to write a review on is My Girlfriend is an Alien. But why?

The reason lies on the appearance of this handsomely-sculpted man. Especially in suit.

As a Chinese Thai, Bie Thassapak Hsu is elegantly good-looking with perfect facial features and hot body. He sparks the classy vibes of those semi-veteran South Korean actors who are looking cool on-screen. Such a beautiful eye candy throughout the drama, thankfully. His acting wasn’t the best, but I found him charming enough and flowing with chemistry.

My Girlfriend is an Alien / 外星女生柴小七 (2019)

My Girlfriend is an Alien is a fantasy drama about a cute alien girl named Chai Xiao Qi, who was stranded on Earth after accidentally losing her annunciator; the only remaining means of returning back to the Cape Town Planet now that she had missed her spaceship. She was in quest of her one-and-only annunciator, which actually ended up in the hands of Fang Leng, an arrogant rich CEO whom she once rescued from a car explosion. Fang Leng suffered from a childhood psychological scar that caused him to forget about women every time he experienced rainstorm. The two crossed path and had their destiny intertwined ever since.

INITIAL IMPRESSION

Pure light-hearted romance with fluffy comedy that reeks laughter and giggles. I like that I don’t have to think hard to figure out anything inside but merely letting it flow like water. There were conflicts but no overbearing headaches that I felt, probably because everything has been surreal ever since the beginning of the drama. There is no need to involve serious thoughts or emotions because the drama doesn’t showcase heavy melancholy in the first place. Regardless, it’s a sweet healing comedy that brings smiles to the table.

Fang Leng (Bie Thassapak Hsu) is an arrogant rich guy who didn’t believe in love due to his long psychological trauma. Having grown up in such a pressuring atmosphere, he turned into such a jerk in front of women. If you have watched a lot of Korean dramas, you might find similarities with the the typical first lead in Kdramaland; arrogant, hate-and-love relationship with the main heroine, and a childhood trauma. Not a breath of fresh air in dramaland, but Fang Leng passes the point of meh because he doesn’t uphold his pride once he falls for Xiao Qi. He is still somewhat a gentleman, a freakin‘ handsome one. Thassapak Hsu portrays Fang Leng handsomely and adequately well.

Chai Xiao Qi (Wan Peng) is a pretty semi-perverted alien girl who possesses a superpower to do anything. She is easily ecstatic once she inhales male hormones, especially the ones emitted by Fang Leng. She mesmerizes me with her innocently uncontaminated traits that make me see her as a cute tail-wagging puppy. It’s my first encounter with Wan Peng’s appearance and I’d say that she didn’t disappoint. Not an excellent performance, but also far from an average one. Wan Peng delivers the character quite well, albeit not emotional enough, and brings the cuteness of Xiao Qi into life. Definitely an interesting character with pure heart.

Fang Lie (Wang You Jun) is a free-spirited artist who happens to be Fang Leng’s younger paternal brother. He wanted to become an artist, but of course his family was against that idea. His mother was eager to put him as the successor of the company instead of Fang Leng for an obvious reason. Acting-wise, Wang You Jun still looked stiff and awkward with his facial expressions in the drama compared to the other casts.

Jiang Xue (Yang Yue) is Fang Leng and Fang Lie’s long friend who has a crush on Fang Leng, and whom Fang Lie used to have a crush on. She will make such a badass smart independent career woman if not for her overwhelming obsession towards Fang Leng and the actions following. I don’t have any problem with her acting, though. She is indeed soo gorgeous.

ALLURING STUFFS

The cuteness is alluring. The over-the-top comedy also appears as entertaining. Pure uncluttered entertainment that allows me to rejuvenate. Despite the fact that nothing logical here, I am absorbed by the way everything was made simple in the drama. Logic isn’t pivotal in the first place here, so I’m gonna skip any excessive comments about the plot whatsoever or anything that doesn’t make sense in the first place.

EP1. It cackles me as I watch Xiao Qi’s comical adjustment period on Earth in comparison with her advanced life in Cape Town Planet, thanks to Xiao Bu’s narrative from the so-called “Earth Survival Handbook”. [SPOILERS ALERT] When Ms. Chai, the bar owner, was guessing about Xiao Qi’s family background, she nonchalantly replied. “I don’t have parents. I’m not an orphan. The children on our planet are bred through gene pool. We have been long evolved away from the low-level sexual reproduction method of the Earth.” [END OF SPOILERS] Way too hilarious, isn’t it?

EP2. Xiao Qi Qi is the true epitome of childlike innocence. [SPOILERS ALERT] When Fang Lie was caught smiling sorrowfully, Xiao Qi said, “I read that people here smile because they are happy, and cry because they are sad. You are smiling now, but why do I feel sad over it?” [END OF SPOILERS]

One of the best qualities that I admire from Xiao Qi is her ability NOT to complicate things. In a world where one person can wear multiple-layered masks to cover up their true self, being truthful is, sadly, seen as childish and genuineness is in scarcity.

EP4. I really love the fact that Xiao Qi is very diligent in life, which is discernible through her every effort in anything. [SPOILERS ALERT] When Fang Leng suffered from a food poison, Xiao Qi was immediately on the move to admit him to the hospital, even as far as driving a motorbike knowing the roads were jammed to ensure that Fang Leng could make it to the hospital just in time. She persistently visited him even after being chased away just to make sure Fang Leng was okay. In the end, Fang Leng told her. “Even though you are a little weird, your world is pure and innocent.” [END OF SPOILERS] Breaks my heart a little knowing that the amount of wealth that Fang Leng possesses can’t buy his happiness and keep sincere people around him.

EP4. Another positive trait that Xiao Qi manages to deliver is her persistence and sense of responsibility. [SPOILERS ALERT] When Tropical Restaurant where Xiao Qi works under was cornered by reporters suspecting that the food had poisoned Fang Leng, Xiao Qi stood up and made a speech in front of the crowd and dazzling camera blitz. Absolutely not an easy task considering that even Ms. Chai, the restaurant owner, packed her belongings to avoid the blame. She persistently told everyone that the problem lied on Fang Leng’s allergy instead of their food. She even insisted on stuffing her mouth with endless food as a prove albeit her stomach  couldn’t actually digest human food. [END OF SPOILERS] You don’t find such a gut just anywhere, do you?

EP5. Have I mentioned the word persistence? Add it with unbending effort, then. [SPOILERS ALERT] When Fang Leng faced trouble regarding Fang Lie’s upcoming art exhibition which was one-sidedly canceled due to his stepmother’s intervention, Xiao Qi insisted to offer help knowing Fang Leng’s personality. “You always do this, always like to fight by yourself. Be it when you are ill or occupied with work affairs, can’t you just believe other people for once?” In the end, they really went all out as a team to make the exhibition happen. [END OF SPOILERS] Shows that two is better than one; having someone whom you can put your trust in is priceless.

EP5. I’d say that Fang Leng and Xiao Qi make a great bickering couple. They are just hilarious together, [SPOILERS ALERT] like the childish long quibble between the two ever since Fang Leng brought Jiang Xue to eat at Tropical Restaurant. Instead of feeling an ounce of jealousy like everybody had expected, Xiao Qi treated them with a special couple’s service and gave away couple figurines. When Fang Leng accidentally spilled his drink on the figurine, Xiao Qi got mad and kicked his leg. When Xiao Qi told him that she would hand over the other figurine to somebody else, Fang Leng got upset and bought the remaining couple dolls in the restaurant, thinking that they might have gone to Fang Lie. [END OF SPOILERS]

Xiao Qi’s unprecedented way of thinking is just way too adorable, isn’t it?

EP8. I like that Xiao Qi is always being truthful, be it in front of herself or other people. [SPOILERS ALERT] When Xiao Qi was pretending to be Fang Leng’s girlfriend, she noticed that he was being especially affectionate. She blatantly asked him not to treat her too well in case she got too used to it because she understood her feelings well. Xiao Qi believed that her heart would easily be swayed if Fang Leng kept treating her well. And I like that, even after saying yes, Fang Leng still showered her with gentleness like saying, “Don’t open the door (of your room) for other men, it’s not safe.” [END OF SPOILERS] I am melted.

EP10. It was heart-fluttering of Fang Leng to put honesty as the main virtue of a relationship. [SPOILERS ALERT] When he realized that Xiao Qi turned out to be the one who stole the sapphire stone, what disappointed Fang Leng the most wasn’t the theft, but the fact that she couldn’t tell him the truth. If only she desperately needed it, he could’ve given it freely to her. [END OF SPOILERS] It made me reflect that honesty and sincerity are the main foundation of a strong relationship.

EP11. [SPOILERS ALERT] I like that, upon discovering the truth about the sapphire stone’s theft, Fang Lie believed Xiao Qi when she told him that she was the true owner of the stone. He even went, “If you told me earlier, we could have stolen the stone together.” [END OF SPOILERS] Aigoo, how heart-throbbing.

EP16. [SPOILERS ALERT] The scene where Xiao Qi cried for the first time was always comical to me. She kept howling that she was leaking because she had no idea about tears at all. It reached the point where Ms. Chai even brought a mop and a bucket to the room in case the leak ruined her furniture. I can’t even. [END OF SPOILERS]

EP18. This is one of a few dramas that makes me develop a second male lead syndrome, albeit not so fatal. Fang Lie is always there to protect Xiao Qi from troubles, especially those resulted from Jiang Xue’s manipulative behavior. [SPOILERS ALERT] When Jiang Xue purposely accused Xiao Qi for being a gold-digger and humiliate her in front of Fang brothers, Fang Lie took her side and chased her out. Xiao Qi asked him if he had thought of her as a materialistic girl, Fang Lie only replied, “If you like money so much, I have to become a rich man so that you will like me.” And I like that Fang Lie didn’t require too many complicated explanations once he trusts Xiao Qi. [END OF SPOILERS]

EP19. It feels good to see the warm interaction between Ms. Chai & Xiao Qi, who seem rather like a mom and a daughter. Although Ms. Chai initially regarded Xiao Qi as a cash cow, her motherly affection grew as time passed and she truly cares for Xiao Qi.

EP21. When Xiao Qi was bothered by the competition between Fang Leng and Fang Lie, she challenged them with a tennis match, and I like that she knocked both of them down with her superpower strength, indirectly telling them not to leave her alone. [SPOILERS ALERT] But then, Fang brothers finally knocked it off; Fang Leng saying that he would not come to her but waiting for her to come, and Fang Lie keeping the distance from her at workplace. [END OF SPOILERS]

EP22. The relationship between Fang Leng and his father is quite heart-breaking for me. [SPOILER ALERT] When his amnesia news went public because of a certain someone, the first thing his father did was swamping him with rage, to which Fang Leng replied, “I didn’t expect that after I told you about my illness, you still worry about business more than me.” The psychological wound was still there after a long time that Fang Leng still built a wall between him and his father. [END OF SPOILERS]

EP23. Xiao Qi is the true epitome of purity. Knowing all of Fang Leng’s troubles, she tried to help him by listing the things she is good at. It’s indeed sweet of her, honestly, except for the fact that the list includes “Keen perception of handsome males.” How could Fang Leng resist his laughter?

EP24. In every failed relationship, what matters the most is how it ends. It’s important to give a proper closure so that all those memories will not turn into a miserable one. [SPOILERS ALERT] After Fang Leng knew about Jiang Xue suggesting to get married to wrap up his company problems, he genuinely told her that she deserves way better than him.

“Compared to me, what you should really care about is yourself. You are worth finding someone who really loves you. Don’t use me to tie yourself anymore. Let me go and then you can really get out. I believe you will find true love in the future. Thank you for having loved me.” 

I think it’s indeed a really pretty closure. [END OF SPOILERS]

STUFFS THAT IRKED ME

Jiang Xue’s manipulative trait 

As hateful as some of her traits are, Jiang Xue is one of the most interesting characters in the drama. A total classy girl crush on her league, I would say. At first, Jiang Xue made it clear that she could accept Fang Leng’s rejection, which was refreshing. [SPOILERS ALERT] I like the words she uttered to Fang Leng at that time. “I should really appreciate that you can directly say not to me. People always say sweet words to me, but only you tell me the truth.” [END OF SPOILERS] She is also cool and doesn’t look like the type to get impulsive in front of other people because of personal feelings.

Nonetheless, I was quite triggered with the fact that she was keeping a spy under Fang Leng’s company for her own personal gain. And even purposefully erased Fang Leng’s memory about Xiao Qi, that’s just straight-up cheating the game, gurl. Jiang Xue also lied to Fang Leng about numerous things to make herself stand out among his other ex-girlfriends, especially Xiao Qi.

The common hateful slapping scene that exists in most Kdramas with triangle love. [SPOILERS ALERT] Jiang Xue slapped Xiao Qi after telling her that she didn’t deserve Fang Leng’s love. Xiao Qi fought back with another slap which triggered her anger even more. Upon Fang Leng’s discovery, Jiang Xue pretended a good fall to make it like Xiao Qi had a bad intention. [END OF SPOILERS] Just imagine how scary Jiang Xue’s glare was. Such a trick is lame and cheap. And what turns me off the most is the way she keeps pulling such tricks countless times.

That office romance

As a full-time office worker, I’d say that office romance is never going to be my cup of tea. Companies demand workers’ responsibility to finish the work well and professionalism not to involve personal feelings in the scope of workplace. As fantasy as this drama might have been, it still bothers me to see Fang Leng’s work distraction because of Xiao Qi. [SPOILERS ALERT] Like when Fang Leng was in a serious teleconference with his subordinates, Xiao Qi recklessly came in to bring his lunch box and even spouted nonsense about Fang Leng liking her, making their conversation go public and embarrassing Fang Leng in front of his subordinates. [END OF SPOILERS] I found such an attitude overbearingly bothersome.

LOVELINES ALERT

Fang Leng & Xiao Qi

It is needless to say that Fang Leng and Xiao Qi make a good pairing as a romantic couple right off the bat. The bickering was amusing and it didn’t get over the top. Fang Leng is  cold and somewhat cocky but still manages to articulate his gentle side. Xiao Qi is naive about the life on Earth but doesn’t come off as too gullible or blatantly ignorant. In fact, both show consideration towards other people. Nobody was being too jerky with each other, even the bickering only came off as humorous instead of a distraction.

Their relationship developed in a smooth pace in my opinion. It wasn’t a rush so I could slowly discover a hunch of their chemistry together. From the girlfriend-cosplay thing, Xiao Qis countless efforts to help Fang Leng, Fang Leng’s consideration towards Xiao Qi who fears traffic intersection, everything is honestly heartwarming. Sometimes it bugs me that Fang Leng can have a quick change of heart, but overall his behavior is still bearable throughout the drama.

Fang Leng keeps loving despite the disappointments that break his heart over and over again. He keeps running back to Xiao Qi even though she keeps, unwillingly, getting rid of him. Countless times she tried to erase his memory, Fang Leng told her that feelings can’t be deleted.

Fang Lie & Xiao Qi

Xiao Qi fell for Fang Lie at the first sight mainly because of his charms, kind gestures and playfulness. His mischief definitely gets along well with Xiao Qi’s cheerful traits, making parts of their scenes went so comical as a duo. Chemistry is there, but I believe that I have only seen them as a brother-and-sister relationship, no more or less.

I mean, they have been soo hilarious and silly since the beginning.

Later on, Fang Lie’s feelings grew as he began to appreciate Xiao Qi’s admiration and consideration towards him. She makes Fang Lie feel important, a quality which plays a huge role given that he has always been the back burner in his family. I don’t have anything against him, really. He cares for Fang Leng and protects Xiao Qi when she faces troubles. The rivalry between the two brothers to win Xiao Qi’s heart is adorable to watch, often laughable too. Sometimes it bothers me that even after Xiao Qi realizes her feelings for Fang Leng, she is still wishy-washy and does nothing to Fang Lie, who numerously confessed to her. But then, it might be that she doesn’t intend on staying long on Earth, that she doesn’t think about the big picture.

FINAL THOUGHTS

As written above, logic isn’t presented as a pivotal aspect of the drama. Nonetheless, some narratives did tug at my heartstrings, like how Xiao Qi suggested to Fang Leng to make peace with his illness instead of pressuring himself with self-blame with something goes wrong.

“But compared to the trouble that life gave you, which makes you feel like a psycho, isn’t it better to just accept it? Life has been such a boredom. Sometimes, you need to see something different.”

I believe that we are the master of our own life, making ourselves the only person capable of transforming our life as a whole. However, let along a transformation, even the slightest change will never happen if we are still in constant battle with ourselves, so why not accept ourselves as we are?

Throughout the process of discovering yourself, you might be weighed down with the pressure to blend well as part of the crowd. When Xiao Qi was feeling distressed about the thoughts of having to stay on Earth and adapt herself well, Fang Leng reassured her not to see it from different another perspective and relinquish her worry and insecurity.

“Even if they are born in the same planet, the same city, even the same family, they are still different. Some people look happy, but they are actually lonely. Some people seem to own everything, but they can’t seize anything. Even if you are a special one, you are one of many different types. Everyone is living in loneliness and fear, so all you have to do is to think of yourself as a slightly different person, right?”

Speaking of the harsh truth behind life, Xiao Bu mentioned a thing about how useless pride when you have nothing. “What is dignity? Can you use it as money? Can you change it for handsome guys? Is your dignity more important than enjoying the great life on Earth?” Personally, I’m not the type who will choose pride over anything else. It is good to hold pride on something you find precious enough, but it might turn into an arrogance once your pride takes a toll on your livelihood. In the end, each person should identify their order of priority and makes the most of their respective life.

GRADE

7.5/10