This review may contain spoilers
BEST YOUTH DRAMA SERIES! FOREVER!
I have already watched this back in 2019. I was hooked in watching C-Dramas last 2019 and going back to my roots.and I don't really know the actors and actresses at that time but I was so hooked that I could not put down my phone and I remembered I was bawling my eyes out while watching the last 2 episodes in my flight.
Now to 2023: I started rewatching again because I fell in love with Hou ming hao/Neo Hou again and wanted to watch his old dramas. This Drama still never failed me to love and get hooked and be sad at the same time.
If you have watched REPLY 1988 then this drama has the same feelings and friendship.
This Drama needs to have a SEASON 2! I need my open ended closure. Because Sad Biao and Scud Yang! <3
I know they maybe still communicating through letters and at the same time the world is moving to modernization maybe perhaps they could talk and see each other again. (My wishful dream)
and HUA BIAO needs to have happiness in his life.
The Story:
It was beautifully written, friendship was so natural and fresh. It always brings smile to my face every time and every time I also get sad as this events can really happen in real life. The set was also natural that it feels like I have been there before, like I could relate to the current situation they have.
For those who are saying that romance felt like an add on, it wasn't! It was part from the very beginning subtle hints like the one you experience while you were young small crushes and some mutual understanding that no words can express but action speak louder than words.
Characters:
Hua Biao - His life was so full of pain but he never forgets to smile and put his friends first whenever they need help.
I just wish he could share his world more to other people so that he wont feel like his alone.
Yan Xi - was adorable I think she portrayed her so well, she started to trust herself and be more confident.
Li Yu - Was always there, a good companion who would try his best for his family and friends
Si Tu Er Tiao - Was the best friend who will stand up for you and would show his support always. I find him funny. when he feels so left out but that's really normal in real life friendship.
He Mei - lakcs the confidence, I do hope she finds her passion and courage. She was a bit off for me. No character development.
Nonetheless this drama will be forever in my heart. I do hope for a good closure but we all know Chinese drama's dont do that sometimes. In my heart they had a happy ending and have met again in the future.
Love & Faith will find its way.
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What a wonderful drama
If I could I’d give even more than 10 stars.This drama convinced in so many points.
No overdramatized plots. No weird storytelling to make it more dramatic.
This drama also has no heroes, or big love story, or school bullying, or perfect people.
It shows you a calm, nostalgic trip into the life of school kids, that try to handle their lives, their problems, their wishes and hopes.
School, first love, friendship, family, hardships……the struggles of teenagers who are taking the next step into adulthood.
And this drama does it in this absolutely fantastic way.
The FL is so normal. No quirky, complicated person. But someone who could be you and me.
It’s no ugly duck to beautiful swan, or anything like that.
The show kept it realistic. And I loved it.
I saw here some comments complaining about the open end. Sure, I’d also would have loved to see a bit more…. but on the other had, it ended perfectly. Because when you finish school, a new part of life starts. And this is simple another story to tell 😊
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The actors were on point, laughed, cried, got mad, got scared with them... but Yang Xi was the one who captivated me and hooked me to watch this drama 'til the end (even though I really dig into this for HMH).
Music brings this nostalgia feels... especially the happy memories of teenage years.
As for the rewatch value, it was really nice to watch it slowly. I wouldn't recommend you to binge this if you don't like open endings.
It started off good but ended up beautifully written. I got some good quotes from here and I will surely always keep it in my mind.
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P/s the male lead look like hyunsik, kim jinu(Winner) and Luhan all together.?
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This review may contain spoilers
Could Have Been Epic
So sad that this drama started off with great potentials yet it left me with an open ending with so many questions and loose ends. Especially with the main lead's love story and how focused the story was on studying/grades and the importance of students' career path yet, the ending didn't do their future after all the hard time they suffered any justice.I also want to commend this drama for a lot of things like how the FL that had bad grades wasn't forever labeled as a lost cause and instead she worked hard and made it on her own and how characters with unrequited love moved on without jealousy drama that targeted the main "couple". I also like the simplicity of the set, it wasn't extravagant and reflected exactly each family's income.
Finally, if you came here after someone recommended this to you because of reply 1988, please don' t watch this drama with that in mind. The comparisons between the two shows ruined the experience of this drama for me.
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Hua Biao stole the show and my heartttt
I started watching this because I had just finished watching Love in the Clouds, and I loved Neo Hou's acting and smile. I went in blindly, saw it took place in 1996 and I went for it. I love these dramas that show strong friendship and their everyday struggles. I was NOT expecting Hua Biao's character to be so cheery and encouraging, his smile in the first episode had me in a chokehold!!! His character would have been the lad I would be madly crushing in school. He was the ond that outshone the rest, and I just loved his onscreen presence, and his story arch. The amount of times I caught myself replaying some of his scenes would've made me finish the drama much sooner than before. Absolutely magnificent. The rest of the characters were charming as well but I didnt quite like the subtle misunderstandings especially between Hua Biao, Yang Xi and Li Yu. But I'm glad it didn’t drag too much. Huang Deng Deng was really charming here as well, I loved her determination in getting to be acknowledged by Li Yu. Ugh I dont think I'll be getting over this drama any time soon.Was this review helpful to you?
This review may contain spoilers
Que amorzinho de Cdrama escolar, tinha tempo que não via um drama desse gênero que fosse tão bom assim. Amei o clima nostálgico dos anos 90 e me apaixonei perdidamente por aquele protagonista, ele é um amor em todos os sentidos, não tenho nada a reclamar dele, inclusive enrolei para terminar de proposito porque não queria que acabasse tão cedo kkkk. É daqueles dramas que quando você acabam deixam um gostinho de quero mais.Esse foi um drama realmente encantador, já me sinto triste por ter terminado, foi muito bom acompanhar o crescimento desses jovens e a forma como a amizade deles vai se solidificando cada vez mais depois que superam juntos as dificuldades da vida, dá gosto de ver.
Todos os personagens ganharam o destaque que mereciam e não posso deixar de dizer que a família dela era a mais divertida de todas.
A forma como essa historia foca na amizade entre esses 5 adolescentes é simplesmente maravilhosa. Mas devo alertar que esse não é aquele tipico drama escolar cheio de romance ou de grandes encontros e desencontros.
Leve Spoiler sobre o final
O final foi bem realista, mesmo que você sinta que preferia um desfecho diferente para eles, é totalmente compreensível aquele desfecho. Todos que já passaram por essa fase da vida sabem que o momento de dizer adeus aos amigos de infância é inevitável, já que cada um tem que seguir o seu caminho em busca de seus próprios sonhos. Mas não posso negar que isso partiu meu coração, principalmente por causa da separação daquele casal super fofo que estava se formando, já que realmente torci por eles.
Achei triste o destino do protagonista, ele que era um aluno tão brilhante não pode ir para a faculdade por causa do problema de sua avó, é uma pena mas compreendo completamente sua decisão, se ele fizesse algo diferente naquele momento acredito que iria se arrepender por não ter passado mais tempo com a avó que era tão importante em sua vida.
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Un des meilleurs school drama
Ou comment grâce à ce drama, j'ai pu faire un retour dans le temps et retrouver mes 17 ans! Même la saga des "Reply" ne m'avait pas fait cet effet là. J'ai été cette adolescente de 17 ans. Ecoutant du Léon lai. Lisant "Ranma" et autres. Découvrant mes premiers amours. Batifolant avec mes meilleurs amis (aujourd'hui encore à mes côtés). Respirant à plein poumons mes rêves. Embrassant avec espoir mon avenir. A travers cette oeuvre, je me suis revue, humant ces effluves nostalgique avec bonheur.Ce drama est simple. Une tranche de vie parmi tant d'autres. Hua Biao, Yang Xi, Li Yu, Si Tu Er Tiao et Yang Xiao He Mei, ce petit groupe d'amis qui à travers 24 (trop courtes!) épisodes nous emmène dans ce voyage merveilleux qu'est l'adolescence, l'insouciance, les joies qui frôlent joyeusement avec les larmes. Il n'y avait rien à raconter et pourtant, je me suis accrochée à eux, poursuivant avec eux mes rêves d'ado. Des premiers prémices du premier amour à l'angoisse sur un avenir incertain, à la réalisation de leur rêve, les personnages grandissent à travers leurs amitiés, leurs amours et leurs relations familiale. Et nous avec.
Hua Biao interprété par Neo Hou est le personnage que l'on aime dés le premier regard. Une sorte de coup de foudre. Sa simplicité, son sourire incroyable, son regard lumineux et sa prévenance envers sa grand-mère en font un personnage chaleureux au grand coeur. Il est l'ami dont on aimerait tous avoir, dont aimerait toutes tomber amoureuse. L'interprétation de Neo Hou tout en justesse doit y être pour beaucoup...
Yang Xi est l'héroïne "cuteness" (oui ce n'est pas un mot, je sais...) par excellence. Non seulement adorable mais aussi tellement joyeuse et dynamique. Elle est le moteur du groupe, entrainant joyeusement derrière son sillage tout le groupe. J'ai adoré sa joie de vivre et son envie de s'affirmer et de devenir quelqu'un, de trouver sa voie. Ses interactions avec Hua Bio était juste "kawai", du genre "s'ils ne finissent pas ensemble, je n'ai plus qu'à arrêter les dramas pour toujours!".
Il arrive que l'on puisse craquer pour le second lead....Si Hua Biao n'aurait pas été aussi indécemment joli garçon, Li Yu aurait été définitivement mon chouchou. Sérieux, intelligent, droit comme un i, ce personnage a su m'émouvoir à travers ses regards perdus envers Yan Xi, ses actions parlaient d'eux-même et j'ai plus d'une fois eu le coeur brisé pour lui. Sa loyauté ne s'arrêtait pas à Yan Xi, ses amitiés avec le reste du groupe, notamment Hua Biao étaient inspirantes. Pas de rivalité humiliantes, ici point de triangles frustrantes. Juste un groupe solide ( cela rappelle Lovely Us, d'ailleurs avec Marcus Li, un autre personnage incroyable).
Nous nous retrouvons donc à adorer trainer avec eux. Comme de vieux potes. Ce drama a été une cure de jouvence incroyable. Les références nostalgiques sont parsemées un peu partout et c'est avec joie que l'on s'exclame "whoa, Leon Lai!" ou "Whoa Ranma!" entre autres... Les épisodes nous réchauffent le coeur et c'est avec beaucoup de tristesse que l'on voit arriver le dernier épisode. C'est un peu dire au-revoir à ses amis. Continuer son chemin seul, espérer se retrouver plus tard, une fois adulte...
Je n'aurais pas dit "non" à une saison 2. Peut-être.
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O drama me fez voltar aos meus tempos de escola nos anos 90, que nostalgia! O enredo se desenvolve muito bem e não te cansa, o desenrolar é bem realista, a trama foi muito bem construída. Dá gosto de ver o desenvolvimento da amizade deste grupo de adolescentes, suas histórias pessoais com suas famílias, a descoberta de seu primeiro amor e a loucura que é o pré-vestibular.
Hua Biao tem um lugar cativo na minha lista de melhores protagonistas!
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