This review may contain spoilers
started of on a good note but got weird
DISCLAIMER: this reviews contains criticism of the show if you do not wish to read it please don't read my post, this is my personal opinion on the show, this comment is not meant to upset go ahead fans or make them mad, this show in my opinion is really good other this one thing I find fault in. PLEASE GO WATCH THE SHOW FOR YOUR OWM PERSPECTIVES ON THE SHOW, even though i watched it years ago, I remember it being good, not all reviews are accurate please do not blindly listen to reviews do more research before you decide not to watch a show because of one comment!!!So i don't really remember this show because i watched it a long time ago but one thing i do remember is how this show is somewhat incest to me the way i looked at it, the show starts of with the brothers and Jian Jian, who if i remember right play together when they're little and were close. Later on we know the brothers mom runs away so they and their father end up living with Jian Jian and her dad, but not all of the time they have an apartment right next door so they spend alot of time at Jian Jian house and have a room at her house so i said they are living with them but not really. this is where i feel the story starts to get weird so in the plot she ends up with one of the brothers, but multiple times in the show the two father talk about how they want them to be a big family and how the brothers and Jian Jian are siblings: even Jian Jian and the brothers themselves call each other siblings and regard each other as siblings , so years go by with Jian Jian/ the daughter and Ling Xiao, He Zi Qiu the brothers, treating each other as siblings and later they developing feelings for each other, this is the reason i sort of say this show has incest, , how does one fall in love with the guy they called brother for years and no i do not believe they are using brother as honorifics for them being older and closer to her. its just hard to comprehend how both of the non-biological brothers have developed feelings for a girl whom they have genuinely regarded as a sister for many years, its honestly a little disturbing, to me it was weird how accepting their dads were of them dating when they basically raised them as SILBLINGS???? other than the whole siblings thing the show itself was good
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This review may contain spoilers
chosen family
i believe chosen family can be as strong as family by blood and it's heartbreaking to see jianjian cry when she said they're not like a "real family" because they're not family on paper. and thats why the romance later feel kinda odd to me. i like her friendships and i think it's cute they stay friends for years even after graduating.i cant help but think if i would like this better if jianjian is the older sister? instead of a younger sister. it's not a bad story and by the reviews there are many who really like it. i guess it's just not for me
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Cdrama version SO MUCH better than Kdrama remake!!!
The story of this drama is different from typical dramas which is what intrigued me to look into this drama. I heard about the korean version “Family By choice” being a pretty popular kdrama, but after reading reviews, I found out there was a Chinese version called “Go Ahead” (the whole series is available on Youtube for free!)I HIGHLY RECOMMEND watching BOTH versions but to watch the Chinese version FIRST!!!!
Cdrama version is 40 episodes and the kdrama version is 16 episodes. Think about it… how can they condense 40 episodes into 16 eps?!
My initial reasoning was I didn’t want to spoil the ending for myself by watching a condensed version of the story first so i decided to watch the Chinese version then Korean version right after
Both dramas have the exact same story line with minor changes
Cdrama version PRO / Korean version CON: story building & humor
Chinese version focuses more on story building and the relationship between the female lead and her family, friends and most importantly the male leads (the brothers). The cdrama gives you more time to love each character
For example,in the Chinese version, both brothers decided on their careers based on their love for their sister but the Korean version lacks this. I think just the brothers’ career decisions alone shows their love for their sister WAY more than the korean version
Although the ending of the cdrama version fell a little flat in the last few episodes and had an ending i wasn’t expecting (since i watched it first), I think it depicted the story a lot better as the Korean version has too many cliche situations similar to other kdramas & had less the story building.
Korean version PRO / Chinese version CON: romance & casting
I think watching the Korean version AFTER will soothe your craving for the romance between the FL and main ML. The chinese version wasn’t AS focused on romance between the couple.
Kdramas are generally also better at casting attractive actor/actresses so it was definitely nicer eye candy. Attractiveness aside, I think the kdrama cast acted better than the cdrama cast
it was so easy to binge the whole 40 episodes of the cdrama version. However, I found myself unable to focus at times while watching the Korean version
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Went in a weird direction
good points:•really good acting from the second male lead
•interesting dinamics between characters
•some funny scenes
•heartwarming moments
•bromance between the two dads
bad points:
•didn't feel the romantic chemistry between the leads
•bad acting from male lead
•ending felt unsatisfactory
I feel like they didn't do enough to explore the way the 3 of them started to have romantic feelings towards eachother. Close to the ending I wanted to skip the main leads romantic scenes all together because it felt strange.
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IF I'M BEING HONEST
THE PLOTThis show started off really great. The first episode was enough to catch my attention especially with little JianJian! They showed how close their family bond is and I liked how it was going until they added romance between the main leads into the plot. I think it would've been just fine if they didn't include it lol as it has probably made some people uncomfortable since JianJian has always seen them as brothers and they weren't exposed by the scriptwriters to have romantic feelings towards each other so it just felt weird. + I feel like He Ziqiu didn't even like her romantically and their r/ship is platonic but his friend planted the idea into his brain making him think he likes her when its just brotherly love.
Other than that! I could feel the plot changing from being focused on the family to being just like any other cdramas. It had a lot of potential from the start but it all went POOF after the brothers returned from overseas.
I like how they portrayed the "close family bond ended up being distant" because they were away from each other for so long and were just holding on to empty promises. JianJian being awkward with them after they came back was totally understandable and the brothers forcing themselves on to JianJian acting like they havent been distant from each other for 9 years was frustrating but also understandable.
THE CHARACTERS
He Ziqiu's character was remarkable and I LOVED his bond with the father as the scenes of them together are always so pure and honest it was so refreshing to see. Their heart-to-heart moments made me cry too.
I feel like the good parents are too good and the bad ones are badbad as that is how the scriptwriters portrayed them to be. It just didn't seem very realistic to me especially the father being literally perfect lmao.
LingXiao was an okay character meh Song WeiLong's acting was a little stiff for this character as LingXiao is literally ~angsty and troubled~.
Li JianJian ! I liked the woman she grew up to be. It was evident that she's dependent on her brothers and spending time away from each other made her independent. There weren't much flaws to her character as to me she is just straight up adorable. I liked how she didn't let things bother her and how straight-forward she is, saying whatever that is on her mind.
OVERALL
It's a good drama to watch I guess but it just stirred away from the original plot after uni life when i would love to see the drama being fully family-oriented but i'll just take what i can get.
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Great until melodrama ensues
Overall, a great drama with high production value, but after a certain point, it becomes so melodramatic that it reminds me of those old family dramas that runs episodes by the thousands.This drama begins with an extremely unique conception - a group of young children coming from incomplete and dysfunctional families band together. They face various adversities together, and I must admit that I went through half a box of tissues watching them soldier through their hardships.
Alas, that's where all the fun and games ends. The last third of the drama ticked all the right boxes a soap opera should have. You'll find yourself rolling your eyes more often than not, and I can almost envision the familiar scene of my grandmother watching her daily dose of with a box of sour plums at her side.
I jacked up the speed to 3x just finish the rest of the show.
Overall, watch it for the eye-candy (SWL and SZ are <3), and the unique premise. Feel free to drop it after ep 30, trust me, you're not missing out on much.
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Most top rated drama of the month
It's my first time writing a review for this drama. seriously, this is one of the best drama that I've ever enjoyed a lot. All characters done an amazing job, they stick to their characters. I am pretty sure that they don't disappoint you. Although last few episode does not go to our expectations but these are the plot that is necessary. If you are interested in family drama then go for it. you will definitely like it. After watching this drama i have a feeling that how great if i also have such childhood friends so i can share all feelings!!! Everything about this drama is so natural, feel like i I'll rewatch it soon.Firstly i am in this drama because of Tan Songyun... But after i watching this drama i like all the cast.
Tan Songyun (30 yrs), Song Weilong (21yrs), Zhang Xincheng (24 yrs) all have done a very good job, does not feel like there would be any age differences..
In chinese proverb, there is a saying that Jia You (go for it) You will love it!!!
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Heart-wrenchingly and Hilariously Beautiful
Go Ahead is without a doubt my favorite C-Drama I’ve ever watched. I’d seen quite a few before this one and I wasn’t really expecting anything amazing from it, but by the end of episode one I was already 100% percent sold on the story. And by the time I was finished with it I was left with some mad post drama depression because no other C-Dramas were matching up to this one.There’s a ton going on in this drama, but I think this is probably the best way to sum it all up, Go Ahead is an emotionally devastating and uplifting show about the story of how three unrelated kids (Li Jianjian, Ling Xiao, and He Zi Qiu) and two single dads (Li Hai Chao and Ling Heping) become a pseudo family. The story covers a full twenty years of the characters’ lives.
Often, shows that span a long period of time loose me, it’s hard to follow characters and a story when the setting, characters and story are so frequently changing with the time, but I was fully invested in every period of their lives.
I would say the show takes place in three main sections. The first is when the children initially meet as little kids, and the current family dynamic is set up, the next takes place during high school, and the third with the characters as adults.
Go Ahead takes family dynamics and shows how they change over time, how people can grow further apart and closer together, and how said change isn’t always a bad thing. It was one of the most beautifully heart wrenching pieces of media I have ever consumed. And the OST only added to it, it made both the happy and the sad moments much more intense and there’s not a single miss of a song in the soundtrack. I never skipped the into or outro sequence, never once.
Though it isn’t the initial most important point, there is a romance plot that takes significance in the latter half of the show. Without spoilers I can say there were a few directions taken that I didn’t think I would like, but ultimately did. And I ate up the romance. As with many other drama watchers, I watch most of them primarily for romance. I did, however, find myself equally invested in all aspects of this show.
The family dynamics are incredibly complicated, both the stories with the characters’ biological families and their chosen families were expertly done. And as is a trend in the drama, all of it is absolutely heart wrenching.
It’s not just heart wrenching though, it’s also absolutely hilarious and incredibly wholesome, honestly just the whole package. Unlike many other shows I’ve seen, this one is actually able to transition between all the different tones smoothly, the tone never seems confused and the switch ups are never jarring.
It also establishes some friendships too, every character regardless of how “important” they were to the main story, had a story of their own. It was nice to see every character treated like an individual person. They all felt real, at least in the way they can for being in an overly dramatized story.
And I loved every single one of them. I would die for them all I swear. Except for like one villain. I would like to kill her. The dad’s though, I can’t even express how much I loved both of them, them and all three kids were a delight to watch together.
I have never watched another show that has managed to emotionally wreck in the way this one did but did not leave me feeling depressed. It left me thinking when I had finished it, and I couldn’t start another show for weeks because I was too hung up on this one.
My only gripe with the entire show is the last episode. Don’t get me wrong, it was good and did wrap most everything up neatly in a relatively satisfying way, I just wanted more. There was so much more I wanted to see from these characters, but I’ll have to suffice with what we got.
It’s a pretty long drama too, very rarely does a long drama leave me wanting more, but I would have eaten up twice the amount of content with these characters.
I don’t think this review could ever possibly express how much I loved it, but it’s all I got for now.
If you haven’t given it a shot, please do. Go Ahead is an absolute gem among C-Dramas.
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You should watch this I guarantee you'll love it
My my my myFirst 10 episod got me crying like fool
Little Xiqiu was really good in acting, I couldn't help to feel so sad seeing him, he's such a kind little boy, even grew up to a much more kind teenager. Despite of everything that happened to him, he still had so much heart and kindness to give to others.
I had to say Ziqiu is my favorite character in this movie and my heart goes to him a lot.
(Personal Note : when I saw that scene when little xiqiu secretly washed the laundry at night I really couldn't help but cry, poor little boy, but he's so kind I can't with him)
Can't forget Dad Li whose kindness is really extraordinary. I mean, how come a person be this kind???? I really live for this story
Jianjian character is so nice, they're all so realistic.
LingXiao also perfectly portray that big brother that we all long for.
The only char I hate is Ling Xiao mom, I hate hate hate her.
Anyway you should watch this drama, I guarantee you'll love it
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Families often are made up of blended broken pieces.
Go Ahead is a concept drama I have not seen before in any of the 200 Asian Dramas I have viewed. The premise and format is that different. This drama carves a different lane for itself in the highway of dramas. Go Ahead is a raw account of a blended multiple family dynamic, which has at its center, the best dad figure ever in Asian Dramas. If the writer really knows this person after who the character is patterned, he or she would have been privileged to have known him.Go Ahead is such a great drama centered around family, which honors dads. If you have that special dad in your life, hug him and do a “Daddy and Me” with this drama. So many Asian Dramas have good examples of bad examples. The dad in Go Ahead is a good example of a great example.
Written by Shui Qianmo and Wang Xiongcheng
QUOTE
Neighbor Lady to this dad: “I don’t know what good things our family did in our last lifetime (for us to) meet such a great person like you in this lifetime”.
In Go ahead, there are actually two single dads with children. One dad is a stern policeman and the other sweet dad owns a soup restaurant. Each shares the financial and parenting responsibilities of this accidentally blended family. While not giving up on finding the right woman as a wife, these two dads just worked out a workable lifestyle after loosing their mates, centered around living their best life for their children. With one child, his mother just dropped him off at the door step of the sweet dad and never came back. The sweet dad just took him in. There was less stability before the fathers joined ranks. Afterwards and for the sake of the kids, the fathers worked out a workable arrangement. What is uniquely appealing about Go Ahead is that the family dynamics consist of two sons, two fathers and a daughter. Therefore, the daughter has to learn many female things on her own, without useable help from the rest of the males in the house. This is a source of laughter moments throughout the drama. The three unrelated siblings are raised like triplets. They have a bond thicker than blood.
Cast
Families often are made up of blended broken pieces.
All three actors were raised to superstar level from Go Ahead, because of the immense popularity of this show.
Trương Tân Thành or Steven Zhan plays the athletic brother who finds his little sister annoying, but would give his last drop of blood to protect her. He was dropped off by his mother and a abandoned. The dads fully accepts him as if he is blood.
Tan Songyun plays the rough and touch tomboy with big brothers. Her performance is one of the best in long time. Her comedic timing is excellent, as she portrays a youthful girl in several stages of life and maturity and she nails this roles. One brother is athletic and clueless and the other brother is sensitive and very perceptive. The girl was raised like a tomboy and is the youngest. She wants to marry her older brother.
Chinese heartthrob Song Weilong plays the genius but sensitive brother, willing to put aside embarrassment in order to learn what his baby sister needs. She is the only female in this family dynamic and he has no real clue what little girls need when mothers are absent, but he tries his best.
Each single dad developed his role and contribution in this symbiotic family arrangement. Each dad’s gifts help this blended family correctly congeal together.
Zhang Xilin and Tu Song Yan
Zhang Xilin plays the dad who really does not understand women. He has figured out that women are the opposite of men, but not much more. He willingly acquiesces, knowing his limitations. This dad acts as a wage earner and contributes cash not nurturing.
Tu Song Yan plays the dad who takes on the role of the nurturer. He holds this family together. He is in touch with his feminine side without being feminine at all. It is just that his skill sets are the most needed for this blended family to flourish.
If you were waiting for a good reason to subscribe to VIKI, well here it is, Go Ahead.
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Truly Heartwarming!
This is such a heartwarming story. I love the dynamic amongst the 3 main leads and the 2 fathers. They all portrayed their roles so well including the young actors who played the children version of the 3 leads.Tan Song Yun's acting as Li Jian Jian was brilliant; she truly depicted a character who is full of life and optimism and I couldn't help but laugh at her antics. The father, Li Hai Chao, is the parent every child aspires to have and every parent aspires to be. He has such an open and generous heart and the actor Tu Song Yan portrayal of a man who truly loves his children was so on-point. The love story between Li Jian Jian and Ling Xiao could be better developed but nevertheless it was enough to overcome my initial resistance to the idea that they are 'siblings' (they are not!).It is a story where you wish you were part of their family and you wish that you could continue to see their story develop further but alas, all dramas must come to an end!
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Beautiful Drama ... I Cried A Lot
Honestly, I was very late to watch this drama. This drama consistently sits at the top of the MDL rating. For some reason, I only got interested in watching it this year, and it turned out to be very satisfying.A very thick family drama, indeed. This drama shows that the key to happiness in a family lies in the role of the "wife" and "mother" figures. How these figures affect their husbands and their children.
If you are looking for a romantic drama, maybe watching this is not the right choice. But if you want to be more grateful for your life, I suggest you watch it immediately.
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