You've heard of daddy-issues as tragic backstories now get ready for...MOMMY ISSUES!
*The characters are a metaphor for bad parenting!*This show didn't leave a huge impression on me but it gets a 9/10 for being the first Chinese modern drama that I watched all the way through and that deserves recognition if anything does. It's also not a bad show.
You should check this show out if you like:
1. Found family trope
2.Second-hand embarrassment
3.Slice of life
4.Food
5.Watching other people eat food while you're not
6.Food as a love language
7.Extensive and blatant verbal abuse of children throughout childhood and well into adulthood
8.Barely-there romance
9.Friendship and girls-supporting-girls
10.Easily resolved misunderstandings that don't stress the viewer out at all
11.Half-assed, there-only-for-laughs love triangles
12.Stories that handle concepts of trauma
13.Barely hidden implications about non-traditional family units (aka families with same-gender parents) being healthier than forced traditional family units.
14. Mothers having weird things for their kids...it's...complicated!
Summary: The story follows a widowed man named Li Hai Chao who runs a small noodle shop and takes care of his daughter on his own. He ends up becoming the primary caretaker for two neglected boys in the neighborhood and together with the upstairs neighbor dude, they make up a sweet, unconventional family unit. Then years later, the abusive parents show up and take the boys away just to prove that it's never too late to deeply traumatize and scar your children if you are determined enough!
So this show...is so comforting and cozy while also giving the viewers terrible anxiety. It's truly awe-inspiring how much drama they fit into a show that essentially has no central plot. Like I mentioned, the show is a "slice of life" type of show so for the most part it's about these people dealing with the banal difficulties of real-life but the circumstances of the characters are so dramatized and heightened that their daily issues involve weirdly high stakes.
Story: I really appreciate the time the show takes to really drive home the level of abuse and trauma parents can unpack on their children, intentionally or not. The whole concept of this show as I see it is challenging parenting norms of China, revealing the dark side of filial piety and asking real questions about what a true family consists of, and if blood really is thicker than water, or more importantly...should it be?!
Every one of the younger members of the cast (That is the main three kids, Jian Jian, Ling Xiao, and He ZiQiu as well as Ming Yue and Tang Can) are each different manifestations of traumatized children who grow up with some form of parental deficiency.
Jian Jian: Motherless, great dad. she is the least f*cked up one of the bunch. Her thing is that she was pampered because her dad didn't have the heart to be hard on her and she ends up rather demanding and unruly. She's very normal. She has almost no drama going on a personal level (just romantic bs). Although I did find her lack of sexual identity a bit odd given that she is the main "romantic" lead of the show. But I'm just gonna assume that's a cultural thing since "cute" girls seem to outweigh "mature" girls in terms of likability.
Next comes, Ling Xiao: Abusive mother, absent-ish father. He's just SO traumatized. He is the result of the most uncomplicated form of abuse. Depressed, with anxiety disorder. (He has little sense of preservation because he thinks he is unworthy of love and deserves the abuse he gets.)
He ZiQiu: He is the result of abandonment. He is emotionally suppressed and a perfectionist. (because he thinks he has to prove he deserves love)
Ming Yue: Is the result of a controlling mother and an absent father. She is childish and helpless as an adult. She is incapable of making any decisions. Utterly paralyzed between pleasing her mother and resenting her.
Tang Can: Commodified child star, burnt out. She is the example of a child who was used by her parents and praised when she brought in a profit and then later beaten down and ridiculed when she lost her benefits.
The story takes such good care of showing how damaged each of these characters are as adults because of everything that happened to them as children. The big event of the plot comes around episode 10 when Ling Xiao and He ZiQiu who had gotten away with moderate trauma, end up getting dragged back into really terrible family situations, suffer a form of arrested development, get traumatized even worse than before. The show is so good at showing their frozen mental and emotional state once they return to the story.
Then there's a lot of random plots at every turn with each revealing a new level of awful things that have happened to these kids. There are unnecessary love triangles but they seem to mostly be there for humor and they are all resolved quite fast and easily.
My main issue with the plot is that it ends up debunking its own hypothesis. By the end of the show, every single bad mother (and OH they were all bad!) gets redeemed one way or another and the children just resume their filial piety. Sure, there are important conversations that come up but it feels a little pointless. Plots are either undone or swiped under a rug to make a happy ending possible. There's no real statement made about bad parenting patterns.
There is also the fact that the healthiest family unit in the story consists of two men raising three kids together which says a lot about the argument that families must look a certain way for children to grow up mentally stable and healthy but then three fourth of the way into the show, it has to make up a romance for one of the men, in a very meh performance of "no homo".
Acting: The older actors were amazing. The younger ones were good too. Particularly Steven Zhang whose fans will not let anyone forget just how great he was in the show! lol. Seven Tan is praised a lot for this show but except for a couple of scenes here and there, I didn't love the choices made for the character so I didn't love her performance even though I think she did great with what she was given. Song Weilong is the one member of the main cast I am hesitant to pass judgment on. He plays a deeply depressed character and his character comes across as extremely depressed and introverted, so I think he did do an amazing job portraying that but that also means his character is significantly less flashy than Steven Zhang's so he can seem like he didn't do a good job and was just awkward. Didn't love the supporting casts' acting much. But again. similar to Seven Tan, their childish and exaggerated performances do add up with their characters' personalities so maybe they didn't have bad performances so much as their characters were just exaggerated and irritating!
The music was fine. Except for when that one song keeps repeating a million times over every time something emotional happens. A lot of cdrama/kdramas do this. Much to my displeasure...
The production was good. Especially compared to all the modern cdramas I have dropped. The audio was good, set design, cinematography and etc. were good in the way that good things go unnoticed because they are natural.
Negatives: There is a romance between two of the main kids. I think it's best to know this and go into the show because some people tried to make a "this is incest" argument which, no it's not. Stop trying to make a mockery of a serious issue. It's like, people love the childhood friends to lovers trope until they actually get to see that transition and suddenly it's gross and "how can you fall for someone you played with when you were kids?!" well that's what friends to lovers looks like in practice, Karen. It's literally in the name! Don't like it, don't watch! Knowing what to expect, you can notice all the tiny easter eggs the creators put in the childhood era about a possible future romance. It's also decidedly melodramatic. Some would say the childhood era was better than the adult era. I think everyone needs to accept that people can't stay kids forever and it's weird to love watching grown-ass people acting like 15-year-olds.
I would not personally rewatch it. It's not really something that I was super wowed by. It was good but just for one watch.
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Found Families Forever
I love a good found families drama, which this does exceptionally well. The two fathers navigating raising their respective families and leaning on each other is absolutely adorable. You can feel the love and friendship they build over the years. Quite frankly, it's their relationship and the relationship they build with the kids that resonate with me the most. That, and the overall love of food that is intrinsically tied to the story. Some of the best food cinematography I've ever seen, even in cooking shows.The relationships between the three main leads, particularly their romance(s), was less interesting to me. I didn't dislike the characters themselves and I liked the moments of connection between them, but I felt the various romantic entanglements derailed parts of the story. The side characters also took up too much screen time (although I do have a special place in my heart for Tang Can). That said, the parts that didn't work for me never detracted from the heart of the story. All of the actors did an amazing job with their role and I overall enjoyed all of their performances.
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A great family story that ended a little weak
This drama started out strong. It was new and refreshing. The story of two (three?) broken families that come together to raise their children and provide them with a happy home.The family dynamics were amazing, the actors were able to convey great familial love in a very realistic way. We saw how families are not always perfect, but we are always there for each other when needed.
Honestly the relationship the two dads had was one that made us think they were romantically involved, and that was ok. It was honestly sweet and very heartwarming all around.
It also dealt with mental health issues, even if how that was addressed wasn't fully satisfactory.
Where this drama started to fail is when it rushed to the finish line. Things were glossed over. The relationship with the mother, how she reacted to not getting her way, all the harm that was caused to several parties, it was all just glossed over, like a switch had been flipped and now everything was ok.
Also the dad ending up with a woman all of a sudden just felt like they were trying to make sure there was no gay triggers to pass censorship.
It all felt rushed, unnatural, and kind of a WTF ending. I wish they had taken the time to resolve things in a less dramatic and abrupt way. Even the side stories were left hanging with no resolution.
Lastly something that bothered me quite a bit was how blood ties are glorified here. Maybe it is a cultural thing, but a mother that abandons her child does not have the right to come back when the child has grown and demand that he be her caretaker when she is going through some rough times. Much less does she have the right to ask from anything from that child after severely abusing him. But in this drama it is made to seem like as her child he should give up everything he dreams for to take care of his mother. No one seriously intervened and tried to make this situation stop and in the end no one made sure this lady faced some serious consequences for her actions. It was a bit upsetting.
Even the side stories had a recurring theme of the child having to yield to the parent even when the parent was being unreasonable and causing strife. As a mother this seemed wrong, we shouldn't teach our children that they should always bow to our requests, we are humans and make mistakes also.
Anyways that is my little rant and why this drama didn't score a 10 for me.
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This review may contain spoilers
Should've dropped it
This drama is a draag. The family by choice argument is nice and I believe it, I was totally into this siblings linked by heart plot (that's beautiful) and then they made it into a love story?? They were not siblings, but childhood sweethearts?? Unnecesary. And then trauma after trauma, accident after accident, awful mother after another. Not for me.Was this review helpful to you?
The drama follows three children — Jian Jian, Ling Xiao, and He Zi Qiu — who grow up together under the care of two single fathers. Though not related by blood, they form a bond stronger than any traditional family could define. Their journey from childhood to adulthood is filled with laughter, pain, misunderstandings, and reconciliation — all portrayed with remarkable warmth and sincerity.
What makes “Go Ahead” so special is its authenticity. The characters are beautifully written, flawed but lovable, each carrying their own wounds yet finding healing in each other’s presence. The performances are outstanding: Tan Songyun brings vitality and depth as the free-spirited Jian Jian, Song Weilong captures quiet vulnerability, and Zhang Xincheng delivers a touching mix of strength and sadness. Their chemistry feels effortless — real siblings in every sense of the word.
The writing is tender and introspective, filled with life lessons that resonate long after the episode ends. The pacing is gentle, the dialogue thoughtful, and the cinematography softly nostalgic. The music — delicate piano themes and heartfelt ballads — perfectly complements the show’s emotional tone.
“Go Ahead” reminds us that family isn’t defined by DNA, but by love, patience, and the people who choose to stay. It’s not just a drama — it’s a warm embrace for anyone who’s ever longed to belong.
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This review may contain spoilers
A family of choice, abandoned by their mothers, raised by devoted fathers.
Relationship between the three friends who grew up together:===============================================
From the get go, it was easy to see that Jian Jian clearly favored Ling Xiao over He Zi Qiu. She made Zi Qiu's life quite difficult and it made me a bit worried about what kind of man Zi Qiu would grow up to be, to always have to beg for affection. But thankfully, he turned out all right. Overtime, she outgrew the little jealously she felt about him becoming her brother and Zi Qiu's mother becoming her step-mother. But we could see that she took him for granted because he agreed to everything she wanted. And maybe that allowed him to have fun along with her, be a little naughty and forget that his mother left him to a stranger who could have treated him badly. Next, we have Ling Xiao, who was treated cruelly by his own mother, then later abandoned without much care. He had to grow up too early, compared to Jian Jian and Zi Qiu who were always lost in their own mischief. He was the mother of their friend group, who had look after both of them once he decided that they were his family. It was painful to see how life split the three apart, and for a moment I wondered if they would ever be the same.
The Best Fathers :
=============
Li Hai Chao: The best parent I have ever seen in any stories. Just how generous can a person be? There is nothing you can hate about him. He is made of all the good stuff in the world. Seeing that he lost his wife to childbirth, he could have become just as vile as Chen Ting and mistreated his child. But he was never that kind of person, he raised a daughter who was maybe a bit mischievous but all in all had a happy soul. He took in Zi Qiu and always treated ling Xiao well. He was both a mother and father to all three children who grew up to become the decent human beings they were. It was easy to see his genuine care for the children. He just eluded warmth. I was glad we had a character like that to balanced out the selfish mothers.
Ling He Ping: I wasn't a fan of him since he was more of an absentee father. Normally, it would have been understandable as he was the primary breadwinner of the family. But his absence resulted in the psychological trauma faced by his only living son who was neglected and mistreated by his mother. For far too long, He Ping humored Chen Ting at the cost of his child's mental health. I'm usually someone who is against violence and don't even tolerate excuses for slaps. But I didn't feel sorry when Chen Ting was slapped. What a poor excuse for a mother. Once she was out of the picture, Ling He Ping was finally focused on his child and became a decent father who started looking after his son.
Mothers who abandoned their sons:
===========================
Chen Ting: What a horrible character. I wonder where the ideas for this character came from. I do hope people who have mothers like these have grown up at least as well adjusted as Ling Xiao or are holding on and trying their best to live their life. She first mistreats her son, then abandons him without looking back, she then goes on to marry someone else and have another child (wth was going on in her mind to have another one. She is not a mother material), has an injury so now all the adults in her life don't want to take care of her so Xiao has to, when he has no obligations to do so. But he is guilt tripped into doing so. Even after he has fulfilled his duty as her "son", she then forces him to stay with them for more years. When is able to get rid of her tentacles and come back to a place where he was happy, she finds it in herself to come play with his head. She is mad at the woman he loves, hates her because that woman cared more for Xiao than her selfish ass ever did, then she tries to set her son up on a date with another woman, as if that's not enough she tries to kill herself leaving behind a letter for Xiao to find. She never had any mercy on her son. (One of the ickiest characters I have come across)
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Easy breezy slice of life family drama full of warmth
No wonder this is such a hit, an easy breezy slice of life family drama, Go Ahead is the happy pill for gloomy 2020. Whatever you're going through right now, or missing your family so damn much, this is the perfect comfort watch, complete with comfort food porn.Such a charming ensemble cast oozing with chemistry helmed by Seven Tan, who is such a natural actress and comedic talent, Song Wei Long who is drop dead gorgeous, relatively greener but held his own, and Steven Zhang who really shone in this drama. I love his Zi Qi! Sun Yi as bff Ming Yue also did well. And the most adorable dad ever Hai Chao played by Tu Song Yan.
I'm not a fan of the Ling Xiao-Jian Jian romance, maybe it's second lead syndrome, their feelings are deep-rooted since childhood, but I'd prefer a more gradual transition from adopted siblings to romance, than stolen kisses as confession of feelings. I appreciate though there's no overwrought love triangle. But this drama is not about romance anyway, its strength lies in tackling relatable family matters and great friendships.
With a 40 episode drama, there is a slight drag in the middle. The probably only stressful stuff in this drama is the 'mother' issue, but the drama balances that with warm scenes. Thank you for the endless warmth, Go Ahead, and the reminder to push forward whatever hardships we're going through, there's always someone to hold your hand, as there are bonds even stronger than those tied by blood.
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Lovely slice of life
Such a comforting drama about found families and the strength of their love for one another. I really enjoyed how they teased out the generational conflicts between children and parents and came to a refreshing resolution that resonated with real life and was both believable but not cruel.I loved the first half of the show before the romance storyline was introduced, but once it was the story didn’t linger on it (but you will need to suspend disbelief and just run with the premise). As another review said, I wish the drama transitioned that plot line better will and explored how Jian Jian felt, how Ziqiu and the parents felt with this development. It’s clear why Ling Xiao is in love with Jian Jian but I wish they did more to convince the audience - the abruptness added to the discomfort a bit for me. Thankfully they also didn’t linger on the love triangle that is hinted. Ziqiu’s love for Jian Jian was different than the love Ling Xiao had for her and eventually it’s clear there isn’t really a love triangle. The romantic elements felt a bit forced as was all the love triangles between the friends, but I think those elements aside it was really refreshing to see the story focus on the characters’ growth, struggles with their careers, self-esteem, self-loathing, mental health issues, coming to terms with their values even when in conflict with their parents’, and the selflessness of Li ba’s love for his three children in contrast with the selfishness of some of the mothers in the show.
Many of the moments of resolution and moments of love between the characters and the siblings were so endearing and lovely to watch. Those moments made the length of the show worth it and it felt as peaceful as sitting in a bright warm sun-lit room.
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I Cried A Lot But It Was Worth It
Go Ahead is a seriously wonderful drama about family, friendship, suffering, and forgiveness. Reflecting on the series I’m overcome thinking about how much they love and support one another. The acting and chemistry between all the characters is done so perfectly. Even the “evil” characters are done perfectly.At first glance 40 episodes seemed like a lot but by the end I felt it could have had more. In fact my only criticisms of the show is that I wanted to know more about where some people ended up in the future.
Originally, I put off watching this drama not only because of the number of episodes but I thought it may not fit with the romance dramas I usually go for. However this series delivered. There’s a healthy sprinkle of romance mixed in throughout the series. Not that it is necessarily heavy in romance but heavy in love and sort of intimacy/closeness amongst the family and couple/s that is just so satisfy to see play out.
If you’re debating watching this drama, don’t debate anymore. Watch it.
Would 100% Recommend
Would Re-Watch (with tissues)
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Beautiful Storyline
One word to describe Go Ahead“BEAUTIFUL”
This is the most beautiful drama I have ever watched.. I’ve watched so many dramas and Go Ahead really has a perfect, well written, touching, meaningful storyline!!
The flow is just perfect, not draggy and not too fast you won’t feel bored with the story
it gets interesting before you start to feel bored..
This drama will teach you so many things, from how to love a family, how to treat your parents, until how to forgive someone
but what I love is that it tells that “Family love is something that cannot be replaced and we should cherish” ~
The characters Li Ba and Ling Ba also tell the way parents think about their children and something that parents cannot tell us (their true feelings)
I feel like I gained a lot of knowledge when watching this drama, not like what I usually feel (watching something just to get rid of boredom)
I know that there are a lot of spoilers about the kiss scenes
Hence, I am telling you guys
The romance is 💯 !
Even though main leads love story wasn’t exposed that much as this is a family drama not pure romance drama but I can feel their sweetness for each other without them showing it
Also LJJ LX HZQ relationship is amazing too!
Oh God they were successfully make me laugh and cry so badly hahaha
Tips:
Prepare tissues!! hahaha
Not because there are many sad scences but you won’t able to hold your tears due to the beautiful and touching story...~~
I really need second season :(
and more drama like this !!
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MASTERPIECE OF 2020
The best drama ever. Huhu. They put all realistic family problems in just 40 episodes. I have cried and laugh because of this drama! The story plot is really good and I really hope they will have another season!!! Whenever I see their old pictures, I feel nostalgia. (Am not crying). The actors/actress are really goood! They are so natural and exceptional! Personally, I love Tan Songyun and I love her even more! Plus, Steven and Weilong. Though, Weilong is her partner in the drama, I want her to be partnered with Steven❤️. Rewatch value is surely 10 and I've recommended it to my fam and friends, they really loved it a lot! Kudos to the Team and actors of this drama. They really done well!!!Was this review helpful to you?
Best C drama
Loved this drama and each one acted beautifully especially Seven Tan. She is actually a versatile actress. Loved her natural acting and was looking very beating in this drama. Have watched it more than 3 times. Never get bored watching it again and again. The dram focuses on the daily life of people who are not related to by blood but still stay together facing challenges of life. The love and support for each other even after getting separated for some time show that one does not require to be related by blood to love, protect and support one’s family.Wish this drama had some more episodes or a sequel in future with same cast members it would be a another hit drama I guarantee.
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