When I Fly Towards You

No melodrama, no annoying characters—just normal people growing up

TL;DR at the end with no spoilers.

There's something about early 2000s camcorders that takes me back to my childhood, though to be honest I don't remember ever having one at home. Maybe it's the look of the onscreen interface, or the video quality, but it makes me feel like what I'm about to watch are memories of easier times in my life. Fittingly, the FL of this show makes a point of documenting her life using precisely one of those camcorders: at the end of every episode and also in many other scenes she films herself and her friends, and there are references to these clips interspersed throughout the story. Somehow, this evoked in me a sense of nostalgia for past events in the story as I watched, although I had seen them happen mere hours before; it surely has to be one of the strangest feelings I've experienced lately.

Complementing that is the expansion of what feels like the ending into 5 episodes—which show us glimpses of their growth into adults in between timeskips—as opposed to the first 19 episodes that cover their high school years. The longer ending gives us plenty of room to contemplate what is now 'long ago' for the characters at the same time they themselves look back on those days. It's not just you as a viewer remembering some scenes by yourself: it's you empathizing in real time with what's on their minds. That's very neat, if you ask me. If something leaves you indifferent, that means you've wasted a part of your life on it.

I admit that I wasn't sold on this show at first. I get an irresistible urge to pause when something cringy is about to happen because I hate the secondhand embarrasment, and the FL does a lot of that in the first couple of episodes to get the ML's attention. Thankfully, she drops that soon and instead shapeshifts into the worst nightmare of the government's censorship board: a teenager who is open about her feelings towards a member of the opposite sex. So much so that, in the real world, no sane bystander would be able to deny that she is verbally throwing herself at him, but here everyone avoids acknowledging the elephant in the room. It doesn't come as a surprise, though, seeing how Chinese dramas tend to normalize high schools cracking down on mere rumors of a relationship between two students. Coincidentally enough, the taboo is lifted in the very day of the graduation. This raises some obvious questions, but I won't go into that.

Leaving that little bit of social commentary aside, the dynamic between the ML and the FL is actually quite endearing. I've been past the point of tolerating overly insecure and controlling characters for years now, and I appreciate that these two and their three friends are just normal people. Everyone has their flaws, but they're not exaggerated for melodrama. You just see their relationships evolve over the course of several years. I missed some more development in their background stories, but I suppose the extra screen time was used to flesh them out as a group so it's okay. If I had to complain about something, it'd be that the relationship between the ML and the FL is too perfect: they always trust each other, always know what the other is thinking, always want to be together, and almost never have significant problems or disagreements. It's nice to watch, but real people can't be held up to these standards.

The contrast between the primary couple being obvious about their relationship and the secondary couple dodging the issue until the last minute was interesting, but the fifth friend whose role was just to add some variety and comedic relief... poor guy. The show makes it abundantly clear that this is about two couples in the making who always sit and stand beside each other, which results in the fifth friend always being relegated to the outside of the group. The only time he's allowed to be in the center of the group is when they're all sitting on the stairs in front of the hospital with him after he'd been taking care of his grandma on his own while she was hospitalized. Maybe I'm splitting hairs, you tell me.

All in all, the plot is all about putting them in everyday situations and having them work out their relatable but not life-changing personal problems. There's not much suspense or mystery because you know how it's going to end by the two-minute mark: the opening already tells you that much. You're just along for the ride. And, if you like the characters, the ride is great.

The thing with endings is they have a lot of influence on the aftertaste of the whole story. I'm reluctant to rewatch or reread things that I loved—and know I would love again—even 95% of the way through just because the ending ruins it all. Luckily, in this case the show ends in a satisfying way, arguably not rushed, and also justified by the events that lead up to it without last-minute asspulls to shift the narrative towards a certain conclusion. I think checking this point off is what makes it the best Chinese drama I've watched so far—for a grand total of four, that is.

To wrap up this review, I just want to comment on the pattern I've been noticing of having male protagonists be good at basketball. If I had a nickel for every time I've seen that in a Chinese drama, I'd have four nickels. Which isn't a lot, but it can't be a coincidence at this point considering it's a 100% rate.

TL;DR:

Watch this for a great coming-of-age story with main characters that don't create forced melodrama and are actually reasonable people. It's hard to describe this type of show in just a few words, but it manages to differentiate itself from other works in the way characters and interactions are crafted. Admittedly, this is something more felt than rationally analyzed, but I think a big part of it is just developing characters to deserve the happy ending the show openly promises you from the start—and then not fucking up the ending itself, of course. You won't find heavy drama here, but it doesn't need it either to tell a compelling story.

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The one and only romance to fly towards... all of its watchers can testify!

I could do without Hidden Love, Love 020, and Falling Into Your Smile. The same can't be said for When I Fly Towards You.

If you like a beautifully paced and written youth drama with some scattered embarrassing (but not cringy and coincidental) moments, a genuinely smart and confident female lead (you will never find another Su Zai Zai), insightful and witty comments, character growth and life lessons, mostly a lack of nationalized propaganda, interesting and adorable side characters (I could watch a whole drama on any one of them), realistic and relatable characters, and a romance without weird break-ups, triangles, and other fire pits dramas tend to fall into...

Watch this. Otherwise, you're missing out.

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I WANNA GO BACK AND JUST FALL IN LOVE!

I don't know where to start. My heart is so full right now. Getting the chance to meet Zhang Lurang, Su Zaizai, Gu Ran, Jiang Jia and Guan Fang's precious high school life to college to working individuals makes me tear up. I really loved every scene and I enjoyed everything. I definitely recommend this!

This became my favorite chinese drama dethroning Hidden Love. I need to give it to my main guy Rangrang. 😗

This story starts with a one sided crush from the female lead, trying to get closer with the male lead. Her persistence and her hardwork and she gives him assurance even though they're just friends. You know she likes him but he does not confess until they're old enough to take responsibility of what they have. And the male lead's confession is everything. I basically screamed when he confessed. It was the best timing. Their college scenes are one of the best.

THEY'RE MADE FOR EACH OTHER 🌻⭐️
They never made each other doubt
They always put each other first
They always find time
They are perfect for each other
I am so so happy for them

If I'd have someone like Rangrang in the end, then it's gonma be worth it 😭

I'd give everything just to have a Season 2 for Gu Ran and Jiang Jia. This would be the best since I want to see more of them. 🥰

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A Soft, Genuine Love Story That Proves Simplicity Can Be Perfect

“When I Fly Towards You” is a full 10/10 for me, and honestly one of those rare dramas that feels effortlessly special from beginning to end.

What makes this drama stand out the most is how authentic and gentle it is. It captures young love in such a soft, sincere, and innocent way without ever feeling exaggerated or cringey. Instead of relying on dramatic twists, it focuses on how people slowly open up to each other, how trust is built over time, and how meaningful it is to be truly seen by someone at that age.

One of my absolute favorite things is that there isn’t really a big, dramatic subplot where everything falls apart. There’s no forced “something must go wrong” moment just to create tension. It stays consistent and grounded, which makes it feel so refreshing. You’re not constantly waiting for heartbreak or unnecessary conflict, you’re just watching their relationship grow naturally. Even when small challenges come up, they’re handled in a simple, mature way, so the story always keeps its warmth.

The romance itself is one of the purest I’ve seen, but what really makes it special is how it develops. Su Zaizai’s feelings start early, but they don’t feel shallow, it’s more like she’s drawn to him in a quiet, genuine way. From there, everything builds slowly and naturally. She’s open, warm, and expressive, while Zhang Lurang starts off more reserved and distant. Watching him gradually become more comfortable, more open, and more sure of himself because of her presence is honestly one of the most beautiful parts of the drama.

What I love is that their relationship it’s in the small things: being there for each other, supporting each other, understanding each other without needing too many words. They don’t try to change each other, but they grow alongside each other in such a natural way. It feels steady, comforting, and real.

The cast truly made everything come alive. Every character felt natural and perfectly cast, and the chemistry, not just between the leads, but within the whole friend group, was incredible. Their friendships added so much warmth to the story, and it genuinely felt like watching real people grow up together. I laughed so much because their interactions were just so effortless and fun.

Another detail I absolutely loved was the storytelling format, especially the use of her virtual diary. It added such a personal touch, letting us see her thoughts and feelings in a way that made everything more intimate and meaningful.

The pacing was also done beautifully. Nothing felt rushed or dragged out, it just flowed naturally, letting each moment have its space.

Overall, this drama is comforting, nostalgic, and incredibly heartwarming. It shows how simple and beautiful love can be without needing unnecessary drama, and that’s what makes it so memorable. It leaves you with that soft, happy feeling long after it ends.

I loved everything! The story, the characters, the format, the humor, and especially the way the leads’ love grows so quietly but so deeply.

A perfect 10/10, without a doubt. 💫

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Chef's Kiss ;'>

Straight to the point review.

• i love the cinematography. Cutaway shots are aesthetically pleasing 🥹
• the short messages in the end is so powerful, makes me weak with heart eyes 😍
• su zaizai's lines are deep that i want yo use it to my fiance hehe 😋
• rang's character development every episode is to die for. ( the slow changes on how he treats su zaizai 😭)
• the set decorator did a good job with their aesthetic rooms. (Not me searching for the flower pillow and failed 🥲)
• i love their fits too, stylists did great. (Especially gu ran's & su zaizai's)
• the ost in this drama brings you back to your young days. I dont know whats in these songs and its giving throwback vibes. Too bad not available internationally, only option is reuploaded through lyrics videos in youtube by fans. (My favorite OST is the one in the beginning 🥰)
• the supporting roles own story is good.

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A typical school/campus series that have its own charms

I just love that even though this drama is "typical school drama" it still shown its own charms. What I love mostly for this drama are the characters well except for Rang's parents, you will know why hahaha.

Even though main characters are Zaizai and Lurang, the drama was able to unfold stories from their friends.

Guan Fang's background story, his character development and his relationship with his grandma was told in a good way that it makes me miss my grandma too. He wasn't just a character intended for comedic relief, he has his own story to tell.

Gu Ran's situation with his doctor parents are well told too, they shown a perspective of a child who's unintentionally got neglect by his parents due to the kind of work they had and love how they shows Gu Ran's perspective within the situation.

Jiang Jia's choosing what career to go through was represented well, as a person who go through the same thing, choosing for career path was one of the hard things to go through in entering college and the way they shown how Jiang Jia put her mind through it and not just choosing relentlessly is something I applaud for her arc.

As for the leads, Rangrang came from a family who constantly compares him to his sibling who appears as "better" than he is. As a child who also had a sibling I kind of experience this kind of thing, maybe this was "normalized" in asian household? Which should be stop as confidence is something hard to build for, it's easy to destroy one's self-esteem but building it again is not. I like how they show his brother's pov with this situation too, not just Rangrang. Not dwelling too much with the parents for the succeeding episode was good too, his parents don't deserve to have a close relationship with him as they are the reason for affecting and questioning his worth, however, it's good that things changed after his "brother" incident but reconciliation is not needed and they didn't push that arc thank god. I love how they focuses more on his closeness with his uncle and celebrating with him during holidays. Him seeing different light of life after meeting his friends was represented well. He is so introverted boy who got to meet extroverted friends.

As for Zaizai, she had a good and cheerful family, most of her arcs came from school related stuffs unlike Guan Fang, Gu Ran and Rangrang's situation. She knows her worth and standing up for herself is something I admire for her character. Unlike other female leads in other school dramas who are damsel in distress, Zaizai is a character who knows her rights and knows how to defend herself. She is also the pillar of F5 (their squad), without her initiating to know Zhang Lurang in first episodes the squad wouldn't even the way that they are in succeeding episodes.

Their squad is also something you'll love in this series, all of them are for there for each other through thick and thin. The way they resolve one's problem together and support each other's decisions is something I really admire with their friendship. Their rapport and dynamics as a squad felt so real, it wasn't forced, they all went through gradual process of building friendship, Gu Ran and Rang already know each other since they were kids though. From only knowing one's name to slowly getting to know one's personality and that's where their friendship begins.

For the Loveline aspects, it will take a while for them to officially date but you can tell in early episodes that both are whipped with each other. I love how Rangrang wasn't your typical cold, arrogant and rude male lead, he is just quiet but a lovely boy as Gu Ran said, he is just your boy who is shy and awkward but that doesn't make him a cold and arrogant. I love how he embraces Zaizai and the squad with his life.

Zaizai on the other hand wasn't the female lead who constantly stalks and follows the male lead, both of them went though getting to know each other phase, though Zaizai takes the initiative, she didn't harass the male lead contrary to other school dramas. I love the rapport within their relationship, the misunderstandings doesn't drag on as it was resolve within 1-2 episodes. The assurance and communication of these two is so good that'll make you ask if they are really high schoolers? Those two are better than adults. Their trust for each other is too good to be true, nonetheless, it's something to dream of in real life.

Gu Ran and Jiang Jia's love story was your typical frenemies-to-lovers trope with a little bit of one sided crush, it was executed well though! This is the first time I love second couple as much as the first couple.

Guan Fang doesn't have his own love line which is not really much needed and I applaud the director for that, not because your friends are in love you have to be in love too. I love how he is fifth wheeling though HAHAHAHA.

For me this is their own charms, it may be your typical coming-of-age drama they were able to show us the innocence of friendship and youth. It wasn't forced, it feels like you are growing with them too. The five main characters felt that they are real as they faces their own shortcomings, they weren't perfectly perfect, they have weaknesses and they slowly overcome those throughout the series. It's like you were also one of their classmates as well since those situations are something you did experience or might experience too. That's something some youth dramas failed to show as most of them focuses on love story and having an oh-so-good godlike character that can do all and a dumb-dumb character that will depend their life with their crushes, of course I love those storylines as I am really a sucker for youth dramas but it's kind of outdated trope now to be honest, I'm glad When I Fly Towards You gave something typical but admiring storytelling for youth dramas.

I've been waiting for this drama since their booting, I'm so sad when it gone through postponement of filming to changing some actors and filming setting (Guan Fang and Gu Ran's actors are well fit though so I don't mind the changes with their actors), they've gone through much. I saw Miaoyi's video crying after watching first episode and I can really feel her as this production have their setbacks while filming, I'm really glad that her and Yiran didn't left the show despites of the despites, can't imagine someone playing Rangrang and Zaizai as both of them embodied the character so well.

The success they're getting right now was well deserved, I just hope Youku promoted it the way it deserves, they kind of stop promoting this show after releasing Hidden Love not that I'm telling HL don't deserve it but I just hope they didn't neglect this series as it was a gem for coming-of-age drama.

Anyway, I'll be having a hard time to watch Zhang Miaoyi and Zhou Yiran's Drama with Seventeen's Jun and Dafei as I can't move on with their team up. They embodied Su Zaizai and Zhang Lurang so well that I don't want them to see with other partners, however, I'll still watch those to support my newly favorite actors. I'll watch out for you Yiran and Miaoyi! I'm glad both of you are open to work together again, hoping for more success!!

PS. The OSTs are so good too! The feeling of nostalgia and wanting to go back in year 2012 while listening to it was captured in the songs.

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Best youth film have ever watch

This is how I want all the script writer to be writing their school or college drama. I can say this is the first school drama I watch that I don't skip any episodes the acting is the best I even backward some of it, their friends is the best so funny except for the main lead parent I find small annoying, and the best things I like about this drama is that there is no annoying character that disturb the main lead relationship and I like the FL acting is so good if there is something call persistence, nothing is more than that and all the parents in the drama a very lovely. I was having a bad day just came across the drama and all my worries fly away....

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nothing can ever compare

I don't even know where to start.. I am crying like a baby cause I just can't accept the fact that I finished this drama. Nothing Nothing Nothing will ever compare to the feeling of comfort this tv show brought to me. I am afraid I'll never like any piece of fiction more than this, no I am almost certaint I will never enjoy a piece of fiction like this one. My heart is swollen with passion, heartache, joy, sweetness, nostalgia and every emotion possible all together. I will never never never forget this drama. There is no comfort drama that could ever top the way this drama healed me. At the same time it is also my biggest heartache cause I just passed my teenage years and I now know for sure I will never experience a youth like theirs. I will long forever for a group friends like theirs, and even tho I never got my young Zhang Lurang, I will keep waiting for adult Zhang Lurang in my future. Ah... I just can't stop writing... the lingering feeling that this has really ended... I just can't let go of these characters!! I will miss them so much it's unreal I could start crying all over again ...
pls pls pls if u are reading this and still haven't watched it don't waste a single second! I can swear on my heart you'll never regret it.

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Cotton candy fluffy goodness

So, one of my favorite dramas of all time is "A Love so Beautiful" (2017) and I watch it at least once a year. I've been looking for a similar drama about friendship and first/only love and nothing came close until I watched When I fly towards you. I absolutely love this drama and watched all 24 episodes in a few days. Now some might be wondering if When I fly towards you is a carbon copy of A love so Beautiful and in short the answer is no. Both are youth dramas that cover teen up to adult years. Both have a fl that has a massive crush on the ml. Both can be considered slice of life and have a group of 5 friends with two being females and 3 being males. This is where the similarities end though. In WIFTY the Female lead Su Zai Zai (ZaiZai) falls in love at first sight with the male lead Zhang Lu Rang (RangRang). However, unlike in A love so Beautiful and many other youth dramas, the ml falls for the fl from their first encounter as well. So instead of the typical scenario of the fl pining over a ml that shows little or no interest in her, Lu Rang shows how much he cares for Zai Zai from the beginning. Their crushes and feelings for each other are mutual, developing as a healthy friendship that turns into more as time goes by. They also each have their own strengths and weaknesses when it comes to academics and help one another get better at their subjects by tutoring each other. I thought this was sweet and very rare in dramaland. Usually the ml is a genius and the fl is considered dumb, failing all her subjects etc. Often ml is calling her an idiot and the fl agrees. You get none of that in WIFTY. Zai Zai is outgoing, has her own interests outside of her crush (She keeps a film diary throughout series), gets good grades, and is exceptional in English/language. And Lu Rang isn't a 2D genius that knows everything. He is at first very shy, negative with low self esteem (before meeting his friends) due to being constantly compared to his younger prodigy brother. He is exceptional in science but weak with English. In other words the two leads are realistic.

I will now list what I loved most about this drama and what made it unique:
*Shows great friendship with a group that grows up together on screen.
*Felt attached to 2nd leads as well
*No unnecessary drama
* A feel good cutesy drama that never borders on annoying
*Cool alternative dreamy soundtrack that fit the scenes of the series (I never tired of listening to it)
*I really liked the slow mo scenes and cinematography
*THERE ARE NO LOVE TRIANGLES (HALLELUJAH)
*We as the audience get to see not only the fl fall for the ml, but the ml fall for the fl more and more with each episode.
*There are so many cute romantic scenes in this drama that I was smiling like a school girl, which is I guess the point of a drama like this. It brought me back to innocent first crushes I had in highschool.
*Well developed characters and their family life etc. You could get a good idea of each character's motivations and why they might feel a certain way. For example, we find out why Lu Rang is so quiet and doesn't think highly of himself.
*Such good pacing that this drama even at 24 episodes is bingeworthy
*And lastly, Zai Zai and Lu Rang are the most compatible cutest couple I've seen on screen in a long time.

Rating: 10/10

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