Love In Time Review (2022)

I didn’t know that Love In Time 2022 (我的秘密室友) is a fantasy romance drama as I wasn’t bothered about reading the synopsis before I started watching. I picked it because of the young actress whom I last saw in Forever Love. She was very sweet and innocent then and I was curious to see how she might have progressed. But the drama itself actually turns out to be a nice surprise. I was expecting it to be another rom-com with not much substance to the story but I was wrong. You can check out my Love In Time review below for more on this 2022 Chinese drama.

My rating: 7.5/10
Episodes: 24
Type: Romance, Fantasy
Aired: October 2022
Images Credit: iQIYI Taiwan Facebook

The Cast Of Love In Time 2022

• Yang Xu Wen as He Zheng Yu
• Julia Xiang Han Zhi as Chen Jia Lan
• Dai Gao Zheng as Jiang Sheng Hao
• Wang Meng Li as Wu Ji Rong
• Xu Kai Xin as Mu Shi Ming
• Yu Xin Tong as Chen Ke Xin
• Cao Zheng as Wu An Wen
• Chen Guan Yu as Zhou Da Jun
• Tian Zhong as Sun De Feng

Main Characters

He Zheng Yu

Zheng Yu is a top lawyer who has never lost a case. He is deemed to be a confident and an arrogant man who works for the rich to take advantage of the poor. However, he sees himself as someone who is merely doing his duty as a lawyer. Zheng Yu respects the law and believes in justice.

Chen Jia Lan

Jia Lan is a rookie reporter for a news organization. She loves her work and is a hardworking girl who is keen to learn and do her job well. She practices mixed martial arts in her free time. Jia Lan is a spirited girl but can be a little impulsive.

Supporting Characters

Jiang Sheng Hao

Sheng Hao is Jia Lan’s best friend from childhood. He is from a rich family and used to be a playboy until he fell in love with Ji Rong.

Wu Ji Rong

Ji Rong is a celebrity and Zheng Yu’s old friend. She married Sheng Hao but is undergoing a messy divorce after a few months.

Mu Shi Ming

Shi Ming is a top reporter and Jia Lan’s senior in a news organization. Jia Lan also sees Shi Ming as her idol.

Chen Ke Xin

Ke Xin is Sheng Hao’s ex-girlfriend. She is also deemed to be Sheng Hao’s mistress and the cause of his divorce. She is a shrewd and sophisticated woman.

Wu An Wen

An Wen is Ji Rong’s elder brother and manager. He appears as a very protective brother who is only concerned about his sister’s welfare.

Zhou Da Jun

Da Jun is Zheng Yu’s assistant. He is a loyal aide and friend to Zheng Yu.

Sun De Feng

Sun De Feng is Zheng Yu’s fellow partner in their law firm. He is jealous of Zheng Yu’s success and sees the latter as a rival to be kicked out.

Synopsis

Zheng Yu is Ji Rong’s divorce lawyer and good friend. During the divorce proceedings, Ji Rong suddenly decided to withdraw the accusation of infidelity against her ex-husband, Sheng Hao, and uttered that the evidence presented is faked. Zheng Yu is fired by his fellow partners as a result and needs to move out of the firm’s apartment.

Due to the suspicious nature of the divorce case, Zheng Yu starts to investigate what happened to Ji Rong to make her change her mind against her ex-husband. At the same time, he also moves into a rented unit that was previously occupied by a news reporter, Jia Lan. Mysteriously, the time and space of the unit will overlap at exactly the same time each night for about 46 minutes. There is also 4 months difference in their time dimensions with Zheng Yu’s world being ahead of Jia Lan’s.

In the beginning, the 2 of them don’t get along with each wanting the other to get out of their unit. But when Zheng Yu learns that Sheng Hao is Jia Lan’s best friend, he wants her cooperation so that he can find out what happened to Ji Rong. As the case gets more complicated and leads to murder, Zheng Yu and Jia Lan have to work together to change their friends’ fate. Romantic love begins to blossom between them as they spend more time together.

Love In Time 2022 Ending (Spoilers Alert!)

Love In Time has a happy ending to me although you may also interpret it as being bittersweet. Zheng Yu of 2022 dies when he goes back to 2021 to try to stop Sun De Feng from killing Jia Lan. Sun De Feng kills him in anger as he thought he has been set up since Zheng Yu of 2021 and Jia Lan are being interviewed live at the same time that he is meeting Zheng Yu of 2022. He couldn’t understand why he is seeing double and subsequently becomes insane due to the confusion.

After Zheng Yu of 2022 dies, he merges with Zheng Yu of 2021. This means Zheng Yu of 2021 inherited all the memories and emotions of his future self. Jia Lan could not accept her lover’s death initially but gradually got over it. It takes her some time to see Zheng Yu of 2021 as the same person as Zheng Yu of 2022 which they basically are especially after the merger. The recording done by Zheng Yu of 2022 before his death also helps Jia Lan to overcome the barrier whereby he mentioned that he will always be by her side.

The drama ends with Zheng Yu of 2021 proposing to Jia Lan. She accepts his proposal before they share a kiss.

The Time And Space Overlap

Basically, Jia Lan and Zheng Yu are stuck in a time loop whereby someone has to die. The night Zheng Yu picked up the origami crane is the same night that Jia Lan was knocked down. He was there when she was being wheeled into an ambulance but didn’t know it was her until much later. The origami crane enabled the time and space overlap when he moved into the apartment that she used to occupy.

In Episode 10, Zheng Yu finds out that they could traverse between 2021 and 2022 by using the 2 different entrances to the apartment. As Zheng Yu of 2022 is 4 months ahead, he could use the events that have happened to warn Zheng Yu of 2021. Hence, together with Jia Lan, they could change certain events in 2021 before those are expected to happen such as Ji Rong’s death.

However, they realize in Episode 21 that the conclusion is the same even if they try to best to change certain events. Once they resolve a case, another one will crop up to push the ending towards Zheng Yu’s or Jia Lan’s death. The last one involving Sun De Feng who has always been jealous of Zheng Yu’s success finally results in his death when he goes back to 2021 to stop him from harming Jia Lan.

When Did The Overlap Cease?

When Zheng Yu of 2022 dies and merges with Zheng Yu of 2021, the time and space overlap ceases. With all the bad characters taken out of the picture in 2021, Zheng Yu of 2022 basically ceases to exist. It is precisely because of the villains that Zheng Yu was forced out of the law firm in 2022. But if that had been prevented in 2021, then none of the events plaguing Zheng Yu of 2022 and Jia Lan would have happened including the move into her apartment and her accident. Without that, there would be no time and space convergence.

When Did The Main Couple Get Together?

Jia Lan starts to get jealous when Zheng Yu seems to be getting close to Ke Xin as part of their investigation in Episode 8. Both of them begin to feel that they like each other in Episode 9 although they are still bickering most of the time. In Episode 10, they fear that the time and space overlap won’t happen again. Hence, Jia Lan asks Zheng Yu about his feelings for her. He responds with a kiss.

Jia Lan is frustrated that Zheng Yu fails to make his feelings clear in Episode 11. She is afraid that the kiss is merely done on impulse. Zheng Yu expresses his love clearly to Jia Lan in Episode 12 and they officially start dating then.

In Episode 20, Zheng Yu of 2021 also begins to fall for Jia Lan after being asked by his future self to watch over her. He clearly admits his feelings to Da Jun in Episode 21 and confesses to Jia Lan directly in Episode 23.

Is There Any Breakup?

Jia Lan requests for a breakup in episode 15. This is after she found out that she will end up in a coma due to an accident 4 months later. Jia Lan didn’t want Zheng Yu to suffer the pain of losing her. She moves out of the apartment but Zheng Yu refuses to give up on her and the effort to change their fate in Episode 16. They reconcile in Episode 17 due to Zheng Yu’s persistence. Jia Lan then moves back into apartment to be with him.

In Episode 20, Jia Lan believes that someone will have to die in the closed time loop they are in. Hence, she wants to be the one to die since she is already in a coma 4 months later. If she is to be saved, she is afraid that Zheng Yu will be the one to die instead after they have managed to save Ji Rong. Jia Lan wants Zheng Yu to forget her but he refuses to do so. In Episode 21, Zheng Yu promises Jia Lan that he will respect her decision but wants them to cherish each moment that they have got. Jia Lan agrees.

Apart from a breakup, there is no love triangle in Love In Time. While Shi Ming did show interest in Jia Lan, he didn’t pursue her once he finds out that she is dating Zheng Yu. Jia Lan also sees Shi Ming merely as her senior and idol.

What Happened To Ji Rong?

Part of the story is told in Episode 11 when Zheng Yu confronts An Wen. An Wen is a gambler and has piled up a huge amount of debts. After Ji Rong married Sheng Hao, she wanted a break from her entertainment career. This left An Wen with no more source of income as he was her agent. Hence, he colluded with Ke Xin to frame Sheng Hao for infidelity. This will then lead to a divorce and Ji Rong will return to the entertainment circle. But Ji Rong found out about the plot. That is why she withdrew the infidelity accusation against Sheng Hao during the divorce proceedings and wanted to get back with him.

In Episode 12, An Wen is arrested for trying to kidnap Ke Xin to prevent her from spilling the beans to Zheng Yu. He confesses that he had a disagreement with Ji Rong when she wanted to reconcile with Sheng Hao. An altercation resulted in Ji Rong falling one floor down. An Wen left Sheng Hao’s bungalow in panic. When Ji Rong awakened from her concussion, she sent An Wen a message while walking back to the house. But she ended slipping into the swimming pool due to the dizziness and drowned.

In Episode 14, the real reason for the dispute is revealed. Ji Rong actually wanted An Wen to surrender to the police because he was the one who knocked down Jia Lan in a hit-and-run accident. The siblings were quarreling in the car that night after the divorced proceedings as Ji Rong knew that her brother had framed Sheng Hao for adultery. The lack of attention while driving caused the accident.

Did They Manage To Save Ji Rong?

Yes, Jia Lan and Zheng Yu managed to save Ji Rong when An Wen is arrested in Episode 19. With An Wen sitting in jail in 2021, he could no longer frame Sheng Hao. Hence, the altercation with Ji Rong that caused her death wouldn’t happen.

Therefore, a change has taken place and Ji Rong is still alive in 2022. However, the one who has died is Jia Lan instead and Zheng Yu of 2022 finds that out when he wakes up the next morning. So, his next mission is to save Jia Lan.

Although Ji Rong lives, her ending with Sheng Hao is still the same. She wants a divorce in Episode 19 due to disagreements with Sheng Hao over her brother. Sheng Hao reluctantly signs the papers in Episode 21. They realize they do have a lot of issues in their short relationship. In Episode 24, Sheng Hao is agreeable to make their divorce final but he also tells Ji Rong that he will learn from his mistakes and gradually woo her back.

Love In Time 2022 Review – Pretty Well-Done

For a time travel and sci-fi drama, I think Love In Time is pretty well-done. At the very least, it doesn’t try to play safe when it comes to the ending. A lot of Chinese dramas in this genre will use the last 10 minutes to explain that everything that happens from the start is nothing more than a dream or story from a novel. It was done in Mr. Bad as well as The Day Of Becoming You. For Love In Time, there is much more satisfaction to the way they end the story. It may not be an ideal ending to all but it is understandable despite the complex story.

Personally, I don’t find this to be a breezy watch. This is not a drama like those sweet rom-coms whereby you can leave your brains behind such as A Romance Of The Little Forest and Once We Get Married. Love In Time requires your full attention as the time will keep switching between 2021 and 2022. If you don’t pay close attention, you wouldn’t be able to follow the story especially when the male lead is playing 2 versions of himself. Neither can you skip scenes as the events that happened are interconnected. Therefore, leave this drama out of your list if you are looking for a sizzling romance and lighthearted drama.

An Interesting Plot

The plot itself is an interesting concept. The time and space overlap is well-executed. The time switches may be very frequent and you might have more than a few in a single episode but there is a logical sequence to them. So, it is complicated if you don’t pay attention but makes sense if you follow closely the dialogues and story.

However, the plot isn’t complete in my view as the cause of the time and space convergence isn’t well-explained to the viewers. There is a brief dialogue about it that revolves around science but the magic of the origami crane that creates the overlap each night is not touched upon. We are supposed to just accept the overlap occurs and certain things are destined to be. Fortunately, the missing piece doesn’t have a bearing on the story itself and thus, the overall plot still flows logically.

Love In Time has similarities to Reset but minus the intensity and thrill. The former is about preventing a death while the latter focuses on eliminating suspects to stop an explosion. Romance is also given a lot of prominence in Love In Time. So, I’m not sure if this would appeal to those who want more excitement in a sci-fi fantasy drama as it seems more suited to romance drama fans despite the average chemistry between the leads.

Leads’ Chemistry

The chemistry between Yang Xu Wen and Xiang Han Zhi isn’t that great in Love In Time. He is 8 years older than her in real life and it shows in the drama. Yes, it is consistent with the characters that they play as Zheng Yu is an established lawyer while Jia Lan is a fresh graduate. But their interactions on screen isn’t electrifying enough to make viewers feel really invested in their love for each other. Their dull kisses also didn’t help to give us stronger romantic vibes.

I guess their chemistry is passable for a sci-fi drama as romance is not the sole focus. At least the acting is good enough especially for Xiang Han Zhi who is still a relatively young actress. Her character is an impulsive and sporty one and she displayed those aspects rather well to project an energetic Jia Lan.

I haven’t watched Yang Xu Wen since The Legend Of The Condor Heroes which was produced more than 5 years ago. He has certainly matured a lot from those days. In Love In Time, he can switch between prideful and loving effortlessly as he plays 2 versions of the same character. It is not easy to be the same but not exactly the same which is what he has to do in this drama.

Good Pacing

I think it is good that this title only has 24 episodes and the scriptwriters made use of the screen time effectively to give viewers a highly watchable drama. It is not the usual cookie cutter romance drama but one with more substance to the plot. Hence, there are few filler scenes to slow down the pacing. Everything that happens in the story has a reason to it. Therefore, I don’t have the urge to fast forward or skip scenes. The pacing is consistent throughout the drama despite the constant back and forth between the 2 time periods.

However, I believe some viewers might still find certain stretches to be a little boring. As mentioned, the romance is a major part of the story. Thus, if you don’t feel invested in the couple, you would wish they get over the dates quickly and continue on with the cases to stop the villains and prevent a death.

Having said that though, there is nothing mysterious about the cases either except perhaps for the first one involving the second female lead. The cases are not meant to be the star attraction but merely a conduit for the protagonists to change certain events in the past. So, on the flip side, you could enjoy the romance but find the cases to be rather bland instead.

My Verdict – For Time Travel Drama Fans

I think Love In Time is one of the better time travel Chinese dramas out there. It doesn’t have the feel of a typical rom-com under the guise of time travel like The Night Of The Comet 2 nor does it leave you hanging with an incomplete ending like Love Under The Full Moon. It is not a sugar and fluff drama but one that combines romance and mission made possible via a 4-months time and space overlap. There is meaning to the romance and why it naturally happens and becomes a necessary part of the story.

The couple’s relationship starts off in an interesting and comical way when the 2 protagonists meet and end up as roommates. Basically, the drama draws your attention pretty early and if you like the couple, it will be a very enjoyable production throughout. Even if you don’t find them to be sizzling lovers, the time and space overlap will evoke your curiosity. You will want to know how they will resolve that overlap and what will happen in the end. Personally, if they could just turn the romance up a notch, this would have been a more memorable drama. As it is, the couple’s feelings lack depth and the overall romance appears bland to me.

For this Love In Time review, I would give it a score of 7.5/10. It is good for a time travel drama with its more substantive plot. But it is not if you are looking for a passionate love story. I would say watch it for the sci-fi element. If the romance happens to appeal to you too, then it would be the icing on the cake.