Excellent Remake
I think the biggest reason this season has a low review rating is because they referred to it as season 3. Many wanted to watch the continuation of the lives of the original characters and cast in a new season, myself included. However, this is not really a season 3. It seems like a re-imagining of the original story from season 1. I am usually against remakes, reboots, etc but this is an exception.When i first started watching i kept wanting to compare to the originals which got old and tiresome within a few episodes. Yes there are parallels but should be viewed as previously stated a re-imagined series. Go into it without the comparison.
After watching this season i immediately rewatched season 1 which was my favorite in the slice of life related genres. I think the season 3 story surpasses season 1 in somes ways but not all. I really like both of them in their own way and consider them favorites.
The editing, sets, story, and music are all high quality. The cast gave excellent performances. At times one character (He Min Hong) was annoying to people in the story as well as many of us watching but it was not poorly written. Also, to be perfectly clear from my point of view the actress (Zhang Hui Wen) gave an excellent performance alongside the others of the main cast. The character was written that way and it's reallistic. Ever have an annoying person in your life? Yes? Ok.
I highly recommend season 3 to everyone except those that will give a bad rating just because they wanted a continuation with previous characters. It's one of my new favorites. I will definitely rewatch this more than once and can't wait to see season 4.
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Ode one Joy , Ode zero Joy
1. I haven't watched season 1 and season 22. I came here because of Sun Qian, Wang Anyu, Dou Xiao
I express my opinion through this lens.
From the series, I miss the joy. Why is this the title of the series? The 5 "girlfriends" have such different backgrounds, personalities, ages and interests. That there is no basis for friendship. The basis of the relationship between the 5 women is compassion, revenge and feminism. Because of the latter, the 2 boys' playground is so small that you can only see it with a magnifying glass. Dou Xiao as a younger brother to be brought up, Wang Anyu as the enemy image. Romance? forget it. I'm at 31/33, but it doesn't give me anything.
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eh
TLDR; If you’re looking for the same content as s1 and 2, you’re out of luck. S3 has new characters, and honestly, they’ve changed p much everything that I forget it’s from the same universe/place as s1 and 2. Even the building itself is completely renovated. The one thing that I think is the same is the track area where Andy would jog, but other than that I don’t see much similarities. There’s really only one thing abt the story I like from the original, and it’s talking abt societal issues. I will say though, they’re pretty bold to make one of the main characters intolerable and to the others on F22. Acting is pretty much on par with the original. Music is pretty standard, and rewatch value is p low to me. Onto s4, so you don’t have to watch it and waste your time lolStory: Idk if it’s bc it’s a more recent show, but they tackle a lot of workplace issues that women face in China like sexual harassment and job searching, which wasn’t as obvious in the original story. I quite like it bc it’s more realistic that way. This might be the only point I enjoy abt this show ngl. Kinda slow at the beginning. Honestly, I’m not sure what the plot is supposed to be bc I know there’s like arcs bc it’s supposed to be slice of life, but I feel like there’s parts where the focus on some more than others. Here’s the thing: I feel like there’s 5 diff arcs happening at the same time. And they keep flipping to each one at sometimes random times idk. In the previous seasons, I never really thought abt there being multiple simultaneous arcs, if any. The story just seems more coherent and fluid than what they did here. In terms of character growth, not as good as S1 and 2 tbh. I feel like they’re dragging it out, and I’m expecting something redeeming to happen, but I feel like it’s going nowhere. They’re really trying to make her hateable, but I don’t see an end goal to all that tbh. In the original, it was more gradual over the course of the show, and you got to see a side of them that showed that they came a long way. I know I probs shouldn’t be so critical since it’s technically new cast new season and all that but if they’re going to share the same name, they should at least have a bottom line.
Acting/Cast: still really good, esp when you can tell the characters are supposed to be acting coy when you know that’s not their personality. Also, the actors make annoying characters unlikeable and are believable.
Music: It’s not bad, really.
Rewatch value: tbh [redacted] ruins the show as an experience bc the writing on her character is not as good as Qu XiaoXiao’s. She stays the same throughout the show.
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The cast are less well known compared to season 1 & 2 but played their roles well.
Most outstanding is He ming hong in playing idealistic but ignorant character begging to be given a scolding.
Yu chu hui role is abit incredible. How many young girls would dare do what she did with her parents and be so clever at handling complexe office and soceity politics at such an age.
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Positive for Women roles
For the past 3 days I have been watching this drama. I didn't watch Part 1&2. I really like this Drama. There are five different women, with different mannerisms. I would like to state; if you want a storyline which features a ML as a demeaning, get in the woman's face, jerk her around and treat her badly through out the Drama and ends up with her at the end, this storyline is not for you. These five women go through ups and downs. There are funny moments and sad moments. They get o each others nerves from time to time and there are idealism clashes as they try to make it. It doesn't address sexism and sex harassment very well. Chinses Romantic/Drama storylines need to do more in promoting positive images of female leads. I like that the woman don't allow anyone get over on them. If someone gets in their face they fight back.There isn't any chemistry between Ye Zhen Zhen and Huang Dai Wei as far a lovers. As friends they are good together. I have a feeling that in Part 4 the Producers will manufacture a love interest between the two. Fang Zhi Heng is the strongest of all the women. If you watch the Drama, you'll see what I mean. The interaction between Yu Chu Hui and [Yu Chu Hui's mother] was powerful. My heart ached for both of them. Every one of those women had their trials and tribulations to go through.
I just finished the total Part 3 and I am looking forward in watching Part 4. Producers went into depth of each one of the woman. There was a reason and it worked. I could go on and on about this Series. You'll just have to watch it and see why I liked it.
I recommend people watch this Series.
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S3 is so disappointing
Ode To Joy S3 is so disappointing. How can S3 be a sequel? S3 has different actresses and role names. Shall not talk about their acting skills.If you can’t stand my review then stop reading now.
S3 scriptwriting is really so bad, everything about this drama is so silly. I would be shocked if the screenwriter for S1 & S2 is the same as S3.
* Neighbors relationship is so superficial
* Each characters is either so childish or naive or even shady eg. He Ming Hong role is so so irritating.
* Every love relationship is so unrealistic & ridiculous
* Each family relationship is so extreme & ridiculous
* Problems encountered are so silly & ridiculous
* Every trouble solving and reasoning are foolish, unbearable
One positive comment is the apartments settings eg 2202 are quite realistic.
BUT the walls must be cardboard made since they can eavesdrop each other conversations in the apartment and corridors, and so much bickering.
Stop. Can’t watch anymore.
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