“Beautiful Story, But Too Heavy and Dragged Out”
I started Go Ahead because I heard it’s a warm, healing story about three kids growing up together and becoming family. And honestly, the first few episodes were really nice — I loved the sibling bond, the simple moments, and the cozy feeling.But after a while (I watched up to episode 21), it became too heavy and dragged out. There was just too much drama, constant family problems, misunderstandings, and repeated emotional conflicts. It started to feel tiring instead of comforting. I kept hoping it would pick up, but it stayed slow and overly dramatic.
I think the actors did great, and the idea is beautiful, but the storytelling could’ve been tighter and less exhausting. If you enjoy long, emotional, slice-of-life dramas with a lot of family baggage, this might be for you. But if you’re like me and prefer lighter, more focused stories with a steady pace, it might not hold your interest.
— ⭐⭐⭐/5 (Good start, great acting, but too long and too dramatic for my taste.)
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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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This review may contain spoilers
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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One of the Best Dramad
I have watched this drama 3 times since it aired. It never fails to make me LOL and bawls my eyes out. I put it in the category of all time greatest. From the smallest and youngest actors all the way up to the eldest actors, it's just a magical piece. It's a rare episode that nothing good or bad happens. You will love it from beginning to end. It made me wish I had "brothers of another mother" in my life. You just can't go wrong watching this drama.Was this review helpful to you?
Simply beautiful
I've seen many C-dramas by now. Some of them were really impressive, some of them just all right. But Go ahead made me feel I was watching one of the most beautiful dramas so far. It's just a story about people, but the kind you can't stop watching and go to be... you just need to see another episode to know...if they are okay.Please see for yourself...I'll know what I mean.
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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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a cdrama you CANNOT miss out on
i first watched this c-drama 2 years ago, the story didn't really resonate with me, but I found the acting and the chemistry of the two leads to be amazing. the story was also very real in it's own sense - none of that cringe I get while watching other cdramas.but after having just rewatched this drama, and at the exact age and stage of life as the characters at that, I'm overcome with emotions. not only did the story actually resonate with me this time, but I could feel the emotions of the characters for real this time. i was laughing, crying and eventually balling my eyes out at all the same time. this is a truly spectacular, coming-of-age drama that you HAVE to watch. at LEAST once.
this will forever be one of my faves - even considering rewatching it one more time tbh!
ALSO - this cdrama got adapted into a kdrama!! so make sure to follow along with that too. i watched the first two eps and it seems rlly good.
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Family
Really recommend it for those who really want to find out about what a real struggle in family is. This story bring out value more than what I expected. Each episode was really good and the story from each cast was top notch. Hope that many other will also try to watch this too. I bet you won't regret it.Was this review helpful to you?
