K-Drama 
This review may contain spoilers
Selfless and Generous friendships
8/17/2021I've watched quite a few slice-of-life type high school dramas and I find that they all a few things in common. You will end up loving the friendships and the relationships storylines. However, I also find it increasingly difficult to distinguish and separate these high school dramas from each other. They all seem to focus on studies, exams and esp. college entrance exams in all of them. The romance storylines might be a little different, but they are all very sweet and innocent in their own ways. However, this might be the only one (but I might be wrong) that they discussed a little bit about the physical changes of these teens - development of breasts, hair on their legs and even one wet dream.
The young actors did quite a good job considering considering this is the first drama for several of the leads. I've seen Neo Hao in "A Girl like Me" and I find his acting in this drama SOOO much better, even though this is a 2018 drama. I enjoy the selfless friendship of these teenagers. There isn't anyone that is jealous of others - school or love life. Even though we have a love triangle/square, the characters never hate each other out of jealousy. The bromance between the male leads is endearing and supportive. I especially love the grandmother/grandson relationship. I love grandma as she's so cute and also heartbreaking when she's battling Alzheimer's. Personally, I enjoy all the HK references, esp. music (The 4 Gods), having grown up listening to the same types of music and loving Leon Lai as well. If I am correct, there's a lot of live recording instead of dubbing in this drama. If there's dubbing, it will be the actor's own voice. What a breath of fresh air, after watching so many dubbed historical drama. I also enjoy the songs sung by our male leads.
On another note, I do find that the pacing is a little slow in the middle of the drama (I do have a tendency to think slice-of-life drama a little slow). I find myself being distracted by other things and lost my attention. I would like to see more development on the minor characters storylines - Class teacher's crush (what happened?), Yang Xiao He Mei and the brother's ambiguous friendship, Li Yu and Huang Deng Deng's friendship. I can see how many find this drama similar to Reply 1988. But I never doubt who the FL is going to end up with, unlike Reply 1988 which kept me thinking. I want more of the romance as there's a lot of back-and-forth without much going on.
Overall, this is a nice and sweet drama, but I don't think I will remember much of it later on. I also enjoy the songs in this drama very much. It's a good palette cleanser for me after watching "The Wolf".
Was this review helpful to you?
This review may contain spoilers
I actually didn't mind this series, but prefer high school aged individuals going on to adulthood and beyond so this type of "slice of life" isn't something I'd get into on a regular basis.
What is great in this drama are all the antics, the school environment and pressures that go with it, the strong bonded friendships and the stories connected to some of those individuals.
Hua Biao is a genius that lives with his grandmother and is poor yet does the best that he can to make things work and is always optimistic, thoughtful and kind. He never really tells anyone his problems or asks for anything if it can be avoided yet will listen to others woes and help if he can.
Yang Xi is not as clever and is long distance runner with "two secret admirers" including her childhood friend, Li Yu, and Hua Biao.
Li Yu is a straight A student who lives above Yang Xi - they both share the same birthdate and year. He is kind, considerate and will help his friends without them even asking plus keep it in confidence with no questions asked. He is also like another son to the Xi's.
Situ Er Tiao is from a wealthy family only is not into exams or school plus can be a bit mischief, but is loyal to his friends and will go the extra mile if he has to to help any of them.
I could relate to the hours of studying and sitting for exams and how, as friends, we rallied around one another and supported each other through thick or thin. So, I can remember being just like the students in this drama only we didn't exactly clean pools or sell dumplings nor did we really eat alot at each others homes. Also, none of the girls I knew were as whimsical or babyish as what I see in some these drama whether young or old.
We didn't cheat like how the whole class cheated in one episode which was really cool I might add, but we did sometimes have answers written on our wrists/arms or on rulers and erasers.
Brings back some fun memories!
What I don't relate to or agree with at all in WWWY is the mentioning of "forgetting teachers faces" or "teachers names" as time passes even if "teachers remember students after years." However, in that one episode, it was in reference to one teacher only.
I feel it is so untrue!
Like our parents, teachers have just as much influence and impact on our lives as we grow and develop from kindergarten through to university, so they aren't forgettable nor should they be.
I still remember my first day of primary school plus my very first teacher right through to middle school and high school.
Some of us don't forget our teachers no matter how much time goes by!
Hou Minghao did a fantastic job of his character as did the others and especially the old woman that acted as the grandmother.
I've read about the ending being "bittersweet" elsewhere, but I reckon it was quite realistic. After we graduate from high school we either go on to university, work or have a gap year so all the teens going their own ways seemed normal although it was all done in the last 15 to 20 minutes of the last episode. So, a bit rushed I suppose and not tied up in a way that would have been more acceptable for some.
This isn't something I'd re-watch over and over again, but am sure for some it will be the best drama ever!
In fact, it is a good drama only it is a bit on the young side for me.
Was this review helpful to you?
Overall, I gave it a rating of 10/10 because I just love everything about it It's not only about a romance, but it's also about youth, friendship, family, fulfilling our goals and dreams in life. It gave me the Korean 'Reply' series vibes because the setting is from 1996. I had mixed emotions throughout the drama (in a good way), it's so heartwarming, it made me fell in love, laugh out loud, burst out of tears, most of the episodes gave me a touching feeling, and most importantly, it gave us good moral values and realizations in life.
Acting on point, BGM on point. The BGM gave a very nostalgic ambiance which is very appropriate to the drama's time setting. Acting is superb and pretty convincing that's why I was able to move on tears on touching moments.
Was this review helpful to you?
Importance to watch
The most inspiring drama 8 have ever watched... It's worth to watch. You all should give it try... I just love this drama. It's so emotional and the story lining is perfect.Weird but yassss this drama inspires me to study hard and achieve my dreams.
It also teaches me friendship.
I'm just obsessed with this drama!!!
The best drama ever.
✨✨
Jsjajajauhsbsvsvshhshsjajakkajshsgvsvsvbshshsjjsueueisuuwjejeheuhehehshshhehehehehhshshsbsbshus
The thing i don't like about dramalist is that we have to write 500 characters... It can atleast move on to 150....like bruh 500 is too much.
Was this review helpful to you?
Was this review helpful to you?
Was this review helpful to you?
Was this review helpful to you?
about the drama
actually this drama is very good and i was very happy that in the last everyone does something what they like but i think the ending could be in a better way, may be i think there will be a second season for which i and every viewers are waiting for like we are very desperate for second season with the same casts and their acting was so natural and hence i loved it. LOVE FROM INDIA and i am gonna say that if anyone was in 11th and 12th must see this that everyone should every little things and if you are good in something then please be more focused on that so that that thing will be improved.Was this review helpful to you?
This review may contain spoilers
the comparisons to the reply series, especially 1988, are very apt. this is both a good and a bad thing - the things that keep the reply series firmly at the top of my favourites list are all here (family, friendships, first love, the bittersweetness of growing up, nostalgia), but so are a lot of the frustrations (dude, just talk to her! it's nice that you're being considerate of your friend's feelings but she's allowed to make her own choice).i fell in love with the first few episodes, but found myself enjoying it less as it went on. the tone shifted wildly from funny and lighthearted and sweet to just sad. sad isn't a bad thing, but i wish they had kept some of the humour and sweetness while they dealt with the heavier topics. the plot also seemed to be spinning its wheels for half the episodes, covering the same ground multiple times (so many 'i was just about to confess but didn't because she started talking about li yu again' moments!). i wish the plot had kept moving and covered more time, instead of getting so bogged down.
overall this drama has a lot of positives - the characters are strongly written and acted, the cast have great chemistry and there are so many moments that hit you right in the feelings - but i couldn't help feeling let down by the tonal shift in the latter episodes.
Was this review helpful to you?
One of the Most True-to-Life Coming-of-Age Stories I've Seen
Wow. I don't know if I'm emotionally ready to write this review, but let's go...This drama could almost be split in half: I loved the first part, while the second half haunted me. I found myself wishing the latter had more humor and fewer real-life challenges. But at the same time, those challenges fit the drama perfectly.
As someone in my late 40s, this was an incredibly nostalgic watch. Even with the cultural differences, so much of it felt spot-on to me, and I deeply identified with many of the situations explored throughout the drama. I felt like the storytelling captured so many authentic aspects of youth—the friendships, struggles at home, parental dynamics, future aspirations and uncertainty, and the realization that not everyone will go on to college, often because of differences in financial security and individual abilities. You start out feeling like everyone is on equal footing, but inevitably, people begin to take different paths based on the opportunities available to them and the skills they develop.
And then there were all the silly, impractical things we only do or think about when we're young—the things that seem completely reasonable at the time but make you look back and smile later.
This was such a beautiful drama, and I'm honestly surprised it isn't talked about more on social platforms. I think this is one of the more true-to-life coming-of-age dramas I've watched. It was an amazing journey to follow these characters all the way to the end, especially after becoming so attached to them. More than anything, I think I'll remember this drama for the characters I fell in love with and the nostalgia it brought back.
Was this review helpful to you?
When we were young
It's the one of the best drama that i have ever watched... It inspires me alot!!! The way drama represent friendship, family and school is so amazing also thd way it shows the problems of family and teenager.. I guess it can be retable to all. Also how it represent the mind set of teenager can be retable.It's must watch drama!
Idk why so less people know about this drama but the drama deserves the popularity and should be watched by each of u!!
Idk why tf they want the review of 500 character..isn't this much review is perfect!?
Ffgghjfssgii huyfg vhhrsaethb tybcetyuv dthjj yu
Was this review helpful to you?
The main male lead is acted by minghao which i found he did an extremely good job as hua biao and i immediately fell in love with his character. The chemistry between the male and female lead were awesome and there were many funny and cute moments between them. The second male lead will also make you fall in love with him and he is always taking good care of the main female lead while suppressing his own feelings for her knowing that she likes the main male lead. I love that it is set in the 90s and it brings back many nostalgic feelings and shows a different way of life of teenagers back in the 90s compared to the 20s. I feel that it gives me a new and fresh perspective of the 90s
As for the OST, it is sung by the main male lead called young people don’t hurt people and it sounds so good it has been on repeat ever since I finished this series. Neo has an amazing voice that you will fall in love with. Kudos to the production team and definitely hoping for a season 2! :)
Was this review helpful to you?
