? WOW ?
Quick trigger warning for physical abuse.This show is pretty special as far as coming of age shows go. I really enjoyed watching this and appreciate the storyline. The show made me feel for the three main characters and it made my heart go through loops and feel happy and sad!
I love coming of age/university/young adult life shows. The family dynamics were really a special part of the show. They story really shows what a “found family” is and that was really touching. There we’re definitely frustrating moments, and there are events that feature physical abuse from a parent. But it’s wasn’t too much and it fit for the story. I think that there were a lot of highs and lows, there were melancholy moments and a lot of happiness too.
I hope you give the show a chance because it was worth it!
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I regretted procrastinating and not watch this first
This drama no doubt will bring you through a series of emotional roller coaster! With excellent casts, great story-line there is really nothing much to not like in this drama.I honestly feel that the roles are specially tailored for the casts because I couldn’t imagine it with other actor/actresses.
The series really shows the growth of each and every character as you watch the episodes; with life lessons to learn as well.
Do prepare a box of tissue when you start to binge on this series and not flood your sheets with tears like I did!
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a well-constructed story about familial and romantic love
I usually have a hard time enjoying dramas about growing up or family because of the melancholy vibe that is always attached to the genre. I've become sick of the cliche sad background stories that are dragged on and cause characters to undergo forced growth.The idea that three kids end up growing up together because of perfectly aligned unfortunate events is a bit unrealistic and cliche, but the problems that caused their positions in life are as realistic as it can get, which is why I love the drama. Nothing too weird or crazy happens throughout the show. The passage of time is depicted perfectly. The characters pass normal stages of life together, and at times grow distant because of such phases in their lives. It is shown that some relationships, even the strongest ones, can struggle to stay afloat because of time apart. Each character undergoes their own complex struggle with family, and their growth as individuals is well-paced. Every action characters take and the emotions they feel are supported by the strong plot. Throughout the story, there is a perfect balance of comedy, seriousness, and romance.
Three different families, each not following the normal family structure and undergoing their own unique struggle, are united into one. They created a new normal for themselves. The show portrayed how sometimes the relationships people choose to create can be stronger than the ones made by blood.
The only problem I had with the show was that some things were dismissed way too quickly. I understand it needed to be done for a complete story and happy ending, but it undermined the legitimacy of the problems. This is especially true for Ling Xiao's mom. It didn't bother me too much, since it was the ending, but it would've been nice for the problem to be taken more seriously.
I think the reason this show was executed so well is because of the amazing and talented cast. Sometimes I can find acting in Chinese dramas cringe, especially in the case of sad or crying scenes, but this drama didn't have that problem. The emotions were conveyed so well and it made the show seem so realistic.
I saw some people weirded out by the development between Song Wei Long's character and Seven Tan's character. I'd like to point out that if you look back, even to the episodes when they were still children, the relationship between Seven Tan's character and Steven Zhang's character are truly platonic. The show indicates how they tease each other and play around with each other like siblings would, while Song Wei Long's character has a completely different vibe with Seven Tan's character. It's true that Song Wei Long shows care for Seven Tan, but the fact is that they are not related at all. He has his own living parents and Seven Tan's character has her own living dad. His care for her was based in romantic feeling from the start. It's normal for a boy and girl, from two different families, who end up growing up together and spending so much time together, to develop some type of feelings. Steven Zhang's character was different, since his mother was no longer part of his life. Seven Tan's father became his only parental figure, while Song Wei Long's character still had contact with his mother and father. I personally, don't find it gross, because their different relationships were set up since the beginning.
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BAD ASS WOMEN
The only word I'd said for this drama is love..love..love and eat. I love 2 fathers who love their children unconditionally regardless if they're biological children or not...their loves shone through times, reproach to all parties. Song Wei Long, Seven Tan, Steven Zhang dynamic brothers and little sister relationship with a lot of emotional struggles as family came from different abandonment, the best Dads Li Ba and Ling Ba, the sibling would dropped everything to help out the others trouble. Ling Xiao's mom was kind of crazy, chronic PTSD after the lost of her first daughter that traumatized Ling Xiao as he tried to deal with his Mom's possessiveness over his guilt. He ZiQui reconciled with his mom finally after so much heartaches. A lot of eating scenes as family and friendship, all looked so delicious foods that I would gladly sat with them eating Li HaiChao's cooking. I like the most was the way Ling Xiao declare his relationship with Li JianJian in front of their dad....and he hesitantly accepted the relationship - ZiQui was the one firstly asked for his permission. Anyway....He ZiQui gave Ling Xiao and Li JianJian an ultimatum in their boyfriend - girlfriend relationship not to mess up 'sibling relationship' if their love didn't work out. ZiQui's seeking for kinship to the family who raised him while Ling Xiao had loved JianJian since high school in desperation of a drowning boy/man from sinking psychological burdens.All bad Ass women were all in this drama; the women who abandoned their young children, or women who're forcefully dictating their children to go to what their best vision to their kids. These women didn't allow their children to make mistakes and learn life lessons. Tolerate, love, understand, hopeful, forgiveness won over regret, disappointment, sadness, anger, bitterness of these women. They became one family....and that's the best ending ever.
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Drama With A Lot of Heart
Story centered on found family and follows characters overcoming obstacles and caring for each other.There's so much to love from the filming to acting.
Enjoyable Aspects:
- Clear love that these characters have for each other (not even limited to our main trio, parent-child relationships, friendships (between the three girls, dads, and more). The way this is conveyed is also realistic: there's horsing around and casual affection. Conflict arises and eventual reconciliation
-ALL THREE 'EPICS' of the main trio. Showing the adversities the characters went through their childhood, fun antics in their high school , and aftermath of separation in adult years. The child actors acted amazingly with surprising emotional depth (and adorableness). High school years was so fun, with wild Li Jian Jian getting into all sorts of trouble dragging along her older brothers. Character development as adults
- Realistic relationships and characters, with all these sensitive topics and traumatic childhoods it's all handled really well. We understand the rationale for 'villainous' characters like the negligent parents. But there isn't an immediate reconciliation, emotional trauma is clearly seen within the characters.
-Quick end and solution of Love Triangles: The ever detestable love triangle strikes again in this drama. But, they're relatively quickly reconciled and regular dynamics resume
-Romantic love takes a back seat. This drama is much more focused on slice of love and familial/friendship love between the characters, supporting each other with everything ranging from messy family dynamics to dreams. The love that blossoms between LJJ and LX doesn't cause a dramatic change in their interactions and luckily doesn't affect their bond with Ziqiu.
-LJJ's antics, her optimism and outlook on life is really admirable. She's really the glue or light that keeps her family grounded. High EQ from her childhood carries into her adulthood.
Regrets:
-Jealous of all of these dynamics. Where are my ride or die older brothers that choose their future career based on me? D: Where are my sisters (before misters) that don't hold grudges and unconditionally support me? Sign me up for a father like LJJ's
-Craving more content from the good ol' days of youth. The child actors are so good, it's a shame we couldn't see more of the bond and happy times of our found family unit. Same goes for high school days, so much humor content we missed out on!! Or maybe that's just me being better about annoying neglectful parents re-popping up into kid's lives and ensuing distress created
-Not watching drama earlier, though maybe this isn't a regret? I was able to binge the drama and overcome any sad drama times in 2 days! Steven Zhanggggggg <3333
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Story Ended
I like very much for the music / original sound track. it looked like the director want the story ended in the last episode, it mixed all the conflict and the climax.The emotional connection between the casts is very good …. It's real. I love it.
Actually I am very selected to watch Chinese drama that have long episode. This is the first drama I watched streaming, and I'm curious for the next episode in Hunan TV although there's no English title. I don't understand what they are talking about but I'm still love watching them.
We need special edition to get good ending story or maybe there will be session 2.
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A Thought Provoking Drama Gem
An unexpected thought provoking Gem of a drama ... this drama explores the sad sometimes frustrating and helplessness of family conflicts, the physical and mental anguish immature parents can inflict and damage on their children, told thorough laughter, tears and love in comic relief style can often be soul wrenchingSurprisingly enjoyable and touchingly funny reflecting lives ups and downs, with poignant references to "Humanist" theorists, Maslow's "Hierarchy of Needs" Model, the need for physiological, safety, love and belonging, esteem before striving for self-actualisation ... as well as references to wider literature that supports and add weight to this drama
"Life is what happens to you while you are busy making other plans." (Saunders1957)
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Everything in drama is just perfect
I watched this drama because of a reel I saw on Instagram I thought this a love triangle kind of a story but fall in love with the story when I started watching it . Tu Songyan's character is so good. This drama shows how good a person can be and how selfish a person might be to leave their child. This drama contains a special kind of affection.All the characters were so perfect for the roles .I felt bad when the girl was left alone after the boys left and when they came back it was so awkward between them .Was this review helpful to you?
Very entertaining and realistic feel-good drama
First of all this drama felt soo good. I dont know how but it just felt really good to watch. It had a nice vibe while watching. I must say I did think that it was gonna be another one of those stupid, over dramatic and complicated love triangle dramas but this drama felt very natural. The romance in this drama is also very light and has a ton of comedy in it. The screenplay's really well done. I avoided this drama for a very long time because I thought it would just be dragged long condiering how many episodes there was but it rteally wasn't dragged at all. From how they met as kids to how they grew such a close bond, it all felt wholesome. I genuinnely recommend watching this drama. Although I did feel that the story felt a little boring and maybe a little too 'not-dramatic'. It was great watching them grow through the ages and overcome their differences, changes and grow closer together. I loved every aspect of this drama and it also had a very wholesome ending! The acting of the cast too was just as amazing! I could feel great chemistry between the three leads and I very very very much loved the character of Dad Li. He was such a strong and compassionate character, he melts my heart. Overall great entertaining drama about what makes a family and the struggles within a marital household. And about how the people hurt learn to heal. 👦🏻👧🏻🧒🏻🏫🤧👨🏻🍳👩🏻🎨🧑🏻⚕️🏠Was this review helpful to you?
Totally awesome series
WOWI absolutely loved this series and am sorry there is no more to watch. Loved it so much, I am compelled to write a review.
Music: One of the few series where I watched the Intro and Credits because of the songs. Just wished there would have been some upbeat songs.
Acting: I have to read the subtitles, but the acting was still so top level performances. The tone, intonation, expressions all rang true to keep me engrossed. I had to playback several times to keep up with the reading because I was so busy watching the acting.
Story/Script: Definitely made me cry in some episodes but there was enough laughter to avoid total sadness. One of the best I have seen so far.
I will definitely re-watch in the future.
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The acting of all the characters are very good and realistic. Great chemistry from seven tan and her two brother. Loves the ost and it fits well with every scene.
Great story line and it has wide range of emotions in a good way.
From this drama, the only thing that I hate is Ling Xiao's mother. She is just untolerable. She think that the world just evolve around her and everyone is talking bad about her. She doesn't really love Ling Xiao but just want to use him. But in the end she also come around, so thats end well.
Overall, its really worth it to watch Go ahead.
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Go Ahead and watch it.
I really enjoyed this series from beginning to mostly the end. Not that I didn't like the end, it was just a little drawn out. I liked all the characters. Everyone thinks the Ling Dad is the stronger one because he is a police officer but he is continuously bullied by Li Dad. Their arguments are so funny.The plot was predictable but I still liked watching it.
I think Ling Xiao has PTSD from his sister's death and the subsequent imploding of his mother. I don't like the fact that it was never resolved and he sort of uses JianJian as a crutch or a lifesaver for when he goes through episodes.
I hated his mother from the very first episode and I hated her to the end. She was so selfish.
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