This is a masterpiece
This is a masterpiece but it may not be the type of drama you like. Don’t waste your time if you’re looking for a comedy, thriller, action, mystery, crime, or fantasy series with some romance. You’ll find this too slow and boring. But you’ll enjoy and really appreciate this series if you’re in the mood for a serious drama that focuses on character development, thought-provoking dialogue, and realistic life challenges such as infidelity/divorce, dysfunctional families, and the pressure that long work hours and business competition puts on friends and lovers.The plot is mainly driven by the impact of infidelity and divorce on the life of the female lead (FL), a spoiled and snobbish stay-at-home housewife and mother who is forced to go back into the work force in her mid-30’s. The friends and family who help (and sometimes hinder) her journey of self-discovery and self-reliance are well-rounded and nuanced. There are no real villains or black-and-white characters. The FL is not particularly likeable in the first couple of episodes, whilst her cheating husband is rather sympathetic - a good but weak man, under a lot of pressure from his high-powered job.
The script-writing, acting, and cinematography are superb. The soundtrack/score is based on jazz/blues, which worked really well with the urban and modern business setting of the series. (And I’m not really a jazz/blue fan.)
I only have two niggles: Firstly, I found the FL’s mother too loud/hysterical in many scenes, so I fast-forwarded through some of those in the middle episodes without really losing much of the overall story. Secondly, there is very little kissing/hugging/skinship in this series, but the romance/love is definitely there and plays in important part.
Was this review helpful to you?
Beautiful story telling about family and work life
This is a grown up drama about life, marriage, divorce, work, and family. One of the best melodrama I have seen in this category. It is a dated drama, made 3 years ago, not new. However, the acting and the story telling are excellent and really hook you in from the start. The FL character does improve. It was quite annoying at the start. I did not like her attitude but her growth through the whole drama was very well written. Her friendship with her bbf lasted across many trials. Try this drama and you will not regret it.Was this review helpful to you?
Tang Jing is not excepting responsibility to all the games she'd played to get passion from Hehan. She had dragged Hehan into these mess. Their relationship is not a business, Love or Non-Love is not a negotiable contract. She kept saying she'd waited for 10 years, but it had been 10 years of Hehan's life as well. She never trusted Hehan, and holds grudge, wouldn't let it go. Now Tangjing wants to punish her best friend-Zijun for all the games she had done...who is the spoiled child now. Who should get blamed here? She is in her late 30th, an adult, must to take obligation instead of blaming anyone else. She needs to learn to respect the man she so-called "love".
Zijun is the most pretty one inside out, she has no harm to anyone. She is very forgiving person. So she deserves the best after all.
Coming-up 2nd season of it, the ending should be like this:
Hehan and Zijun, two love birds eventually come together for good. TangJing meets the man of her dreams much happier than she ever dreamed of because the passion she was looking for is in the new love but this one does not allow her go her way.
Zijun’s ex-husband’s Junsheng , remember he’d always loved Zijun but her childish ways drove him to Lingling’s arms.....over time, Lingling has proven to be the manipulator as she truly is...that leads eventually their divorce, but Junsheng finally begins to stand up, no fear in him as a man instead of mouse he was. After divorce, he too eventually finds someone new to love, so he grows up, always being Hehan’s friend as well as Zijun's.
Zijun's sister and husband finally grow up and settle down for him to take over the restaurant so Luo Luo can ride off in the sunset with Old Zhun.
Everyone gets what they deserve.
Finally to Chinese crew and producers, please don’t let the audience down when make 2nd season of it. Thanks
Was this review helpful to you?
This review may contain spoilers
My presumptuous life as Mrs. Chen ended just like that.
This drama is so good! It's not a groundbreaking story by any stretch; It's an all too familiar slice of life that's handled so elegantly and with great sensitivity, I absolutely savoured the world that this show created.The First Half of My Life tells the deeply immersive story of a newly divorced woman and mother of one whose life is plunged into uncertainty from one day to the next; the theoretical rug is pulled out from under her. This woman who has been living the self-satisfied life of a pampered housewife suddenly has to take stock and figure out how she's going to survive both emotionally and financially while raising a young boy and navigating complicated and painful family situations.
Ma Yi Li perfectly captures and encapsulates the role of Luo Zi Jun; she handles this role with amazing nuance and quiet strength. I cheered for her at every turn as she embarked on the journey of her life to regain an independent foothold in a society that had passed her by.
The supporting cast and their stories are equally compelling and relevant to Luo Zi Jun's story and all storylines blend seamlessly together to give a completely beautiful whole.
The relationship between Luo Zi Jun and Tang Jing (played by Yuan Quan) is inspiring. The two women have a lovely selfless friendship characterised by loyalty and fierce protectiveness. This for me is one of the best parts of this drama.
Yuan Quan is stunning in her role of Tang Jing, I was so impressed with the self assurance that literally oozed out of her pores.
Every cast member in this drama deserves a special mention, there are no superfluous characters and the acting overall is top notch from Chen Jun Sheng, to Ling Ling to Old Zhuo, the whole entire cast is brilliant full stop. The characters' opposing ideologies and values greatly enrich this story and provide insight while widening the scope of the subject matter in the narrative.
The main love line is written with immense sensitivity and restrained poignancy, this is one of the very few times where (MILD SPOILER) I wasn't mad at an ambiguous ending (END SPOILER) The relationship between Luo Zi Jun and He Han (played swoonily by Jin Dong) is literally doomed before it even begins, it's not even quite a relationship yet there's a great depth of feeling between these two, it's palpable and they can never openly act on their feelings. It's so good the way this relationship is written and acted.
Characters are tested and true colours are brought to the fore; the characters each walk a full journey with comprehensive growth and progression.
This story makes me look forward to a sequel and I just found out there's going to be one!
Music is evocative smooth jazz and piano solos, perfect for this drama world.
Just watch it, this is a definite 10 out of 10 show.
Was this review helpful to you?
This review may contain spoilers
This drama tells the story of Zi Jun, who divorced her husband after he cheated. It tells the story between four people, and how they experienced heartache, betrayal, and redemption. It mainly focused on our FL, ZiJun, who suffered greatly after her divorced. As a modern woman, like many house moms, she mainly focuses on her child and family affair. She didn't have a job, and she is a stay-at-home mom that lives a high middle-class life; where she depends solely on her husband's income. As the story goes, Zi Jun finds her life falls apart, after she finds out her husband cheated; and then she divorced him. After divorce, ZiJun struggles financially and along came our ML, He Han; who stood at the side watching her life falls apart after her divorced. At this point, He Han is dating ZiJun's best friend (Although it looks like He Han and Tang Jin never really officially say they're dating). He Han watched ZiJun, and slowly give her advice and help her. Throughout this process, ZiJun and He Han developed feelings for each other. ZiJun finds herself liking her best friend's "bf" and the story goes on to unfold everything. The drama focuses on friendship, family dynamics, and relationship. I love the mature vibe, and character development between ML, FL, and FL's friend. Was this review helpful to you?
I will say that if you're looking for something super fluffy, cute, lots of romantic elements, etc. This show is not for you. The romance is almost non existent and is more of a slice of life of 30-something year old characters growing as they navigate through what life throws at them.
Normally, this type of drama isn't my cup of tea for the exact reason above. I tend to, well, like a little more romance in my romance, but for some reason I couldn't look away from this drama. It was well done. I likely will never watch it again, but I do not regret the time I spent watching this one even a little bit. Indeed, I am glad I gave it a chance. :)
Another SN: Don't expect a "romantic" ending either. It is much more realistic than that.
Was this review helpful to you?
This review may contain spoilers
Heartfelt drama, must watch
I have watched many Chinese office and love dramas but this one was different, And I really loved it. I almost binged watched the last 20 or so episodes . The female leads character and her family were little irritating In the initial few episodes , but Becomes interesting when she understands her state after separation , understands how the male lead helps her in her difficulties not expecting anything, She develops love unknowingly but cannot express it because of her friendship. This kind of plot might look quite common but the way the male and female lead expressed was really good and makes this drama must watch . This is one of the drama , I was glued to after a long time and I really recommend to everyone. I was so heartbroken when in the end the two lead characters are not united. Maybe they wanted a second season and decided to do so, but when we are so much attached to the characters, it feels so bad for few days after the end. I would personally request direction team to consider a happy ending in future drama especially when you make a really good one.Was this review helpful to you?
The First Half of My Life é um drama moderno com um ótimo roteiro, atuações, figurino, cenário e uma OST sofisticada. Uma história apresentada de forma suave, madura e elegante. Os personagens são muito interessantes, o que me fez ansiar cada vez mais pelo próximo episódio.
Uma das coisas que mais valorizo em um drama é ver a evolução do personagem. Como foi prazeroso acompanhar a evolução da protagonista (Luo Zi Jun).
Zi Jun, uma esposa mimada e frívola que desde o casamento não trabalha se vê completamente perdida no meio de uma situação inesperada: a traição de seu marido e por consequência um divórcio. Daí em diante ela terá que lidar com várias questões que podem facilmente acontecer em qualquer lugar do mundo como: a busca por trabalho após um longo período sem exercer alguma profissão, conciliar a criação do filho com o emprego e algumas tantas outras questões de relacionamento com amigos e uma família um tanto “complicada”.
A maneira como o drama mostra as relações pessoais dos personagens é muito fácil de acompanhar e você fará facilmente a conexão com alguém que conhece que vive com uma família brigona por exemplo, ou aquele cunhado sem vergonha que não trabalha.
Não pense você que o drama vai focar só nisso, este é só o começo. E quanto ao amor?
Todo mundo conhece aquela expressão “A vida é feita de escolhas”, certo? Mas ela se aplica também a quem você ama? Podemos escolher quem iremos amar?
Zi Jun conta com a ajuda e apoio de uma amiga de longa data, Tang Jing, que é uma profissional super bem sucedida e seu namorado He Han que no início não suportava a superficialidade desta amiga de sua namorada.
He Han é um personagem encantador e seus conselhos são todos muito assertivos e ajudam imensamente nossa protagonista a progredir. Mas e se no meio desta aproximação He Han e Zi Jun começarem a ter sentimentos um pelo outro? O que eles devem fazer?
Talvez este drama possa não agradar aos mais jovens, mas a maneira como enredo é desenvolvido é tão notável que me fez parecer estar acompanhando tudo de dentro da história.
Was this review helpful to you?
