Our Generation

Come on, it could’ve been way better than this!

Disclaimer: This review is based solely on the aired version of the drama—no behind-the-scenes tea included.

After weeks of following this show... it’s finally over. And if you ask me whether I’d recommend it to others—my honest answer is: yes... but also, not really. Because this drama? It had so much potential—but also made some frustrating choices that held it back.

Let’s start with the good stuff:
The premise? Solid. Friends to lovers? Childhood friends? Total comfort food for the soul. It had all the ingredients to be a warm, relatable, slice-of-life drama with depth. Heck, it could’ve even become a quiet exploration of mental health... if it had been handled better.

But here's the thing: what kept this drama afloat wasn’t the script, wasn’t the direction, wasn’t even the editing (we’ll get there in a second). It was the cast. Every single actor—yes, even the child actors—gave it their all and practically carried this drama on their backs.

Because the script? Felt choppy. Scenes jumped around. Focus was inconsistent. And at some point, I genuinely wondered if the producers themselves were confused about how to build the Qushan gang’s dynamics.

The friendship within the Qushan gang lacked emotional glue. Their bond didn’t feel lived-in. It felt… rotational. Like, okay—who’s gonna check in on Ying Tao this episode?

Early on, she was glued to Yu Qiao. Every. Single. Episode. The amount of screen time they took up together could’ve easily been used to deepen other plots. Then, mid-season, bam! suddenly Fang Yuan becomes her emotional anchor. He’s calling her, updating her, checking in like it’s his full-time job. Meanwhile, Dushang? Still missing in action.

And don’t get me started on Dushang’s storyline. They hinted at domestic violence in his family early on. It was serious. But fast forward, and suddenly his dad just shows up like nothing ever happened? Zero closure. Zero emotional follow-up. Just swept under the rug.

Then—plot twist—right near the end, Dushang finally gets more scenes... and becomes Ying Tao’s main contact out of nowhere. After being sidelined for the entire show, he’s suddenly relevant? It felt like a punchline.

The biggest tragedy? These characters had so much potential. The actors were more than capable. But the direction failed them. Their interactions didn’t flow naturally, and so much of the emotional weight felt unearned.

Now, let’s talk about the one thing that made me stay:
Ying Tao and Qiao Xi’s chemistry.
Thank god for them.

Despite limited scenes together and barely-there exposition, the emotional connection between them still hit. Zhao Jinmai and Zhang Linghe deserve serious credit. They fought for that chemistry, and it showed.

Jinmai brought every emotion to life—grief, frustration, hope, love—all so authentically. And Linghe? He portrayed Qiao Xi’s silent battles and quiet despair with heartbreaking nuance, even when the script gave him so little.

And honestly? Qiao Xi’s character could’ve been legendary with better writing. He’s the perfect embodiment of a kid growing up with an empty love tank. His parents were present physically, but never emotionally. The emotional neglect? Gut-wrenching. So when someone like Ying Tao loves him fully—without condition—it scares him. He runs. Because love feels foreign. Like danger.

That’s the core of his character. And it works. It’s raw, it’s real, and it speaks to so many people.

Meanwhile, Ying Tao grew up surrounded by love. Her emotional cup is full—and that’s why she has the capacity to love others deeply. The contrast between the two? Brilliant. And it makes you root for them so hard.

One of the most important truths this drama quietly delivers is:
Not every parent deserves the title of ‘parent.’
Qiao Xi’s parents? Prime example of that.

And I loved that in the end, his mom didn’t magically change or chase him down. She stayed the same. No guilt, no awareness. Just the same self-centered, emotionally unavailable woman who thinks the world revolves around her. People like that? Their ears are decorative. Period. 😂

You can shower them with kindness and understanding—but it’ll never be enough. Because they don’t see you. And honestly? The healthiest thing to do is to leave. Before they break you more than they already have.

Now. We need to talk about the elephant in the room:
THE EDITING.

It was… chaotic. Especially in the early episodes. Transitions were jarring. Scenes ended abruptly. Filters changed without warning. Like—remember the Hong Kong scenes? Suddenly the whole vibe turned cinematic, like we were watching a completely different show. The first and last episodes felt like they came from different universes. Not sure if the editor just leveled up halfway through… or if it was just pure inconsistency.

So yeah. This drama wasn’t perfect. Far from it.

But do I regret watching it? Not at all. The story had charm. The characters were endearing. And thank goodness the leads weren’t another comic artist or programmer (I am SO over those tropes, lmao). The roles felt fresh, the conflicts were compelling, and the ending? Surprisingly satisfying.

So yeah. A bumpy ride—but not a wasted one.

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long long ago in a galaxy far away ... it had potential

Our Generation was one of the most anticipated dramas of Zhang Ling He and Zhao Jin Mai (I'm looking at YOU fans of ZLH, ZJM, or The Princess Royal). Yes, YOU includes me, I am you and you are me. Oh man ... if it isn't the dream to get the couple you loved in a period/historical drama to work together again in a modern romance setting. To preface, I did watch the princess royal, and yes I loved their dynamic there, was I super into the politics? well, no, but I was into the romance and I thought their comeback was great. We love a short-lived enemies to reluctant friends to old married couple trope, classic. In this essay, I will

joking, this is not an essay, but it's quite a long review for the 6 episodes I've watched so far. I just have some thoughts I need to get out.

Our Generation starts off as a slice of life + romance drama that revolves around a group of friends from a little town in the rural areas called Qunshan, but more specifically around the journey of Zhao Jin Mai's character, Lin Yingtao, and Zhang Ling He's character, Jiang Qiaoxi, as they spend more than half of their life knowing each other as kids to adults. Their story begins as kids with Lin Yingtao as a bright and eccentric girl who loves living in Qunshan, and more than anything, loves her friends and her family. They essentially define her purpose and meaning in life, and without them, she doesn't feel whole. Then one day she meets a boy who just moved to Qunshan, foreign and dressed in all black, she was determined to become his friend. Jiang Xiaoqi lives his whole life in the shadow of his late brother—someone his parents will never forget, never let him forget, and is someone he has never even met. Treating him as if he was his older bother, his mother cruelly invades every aspect of his life, whether it's where he goes to school, who he gets to be friends with, what food he gets to eat, what colour he gets to wear, she always has the final say. For a fleeting moment of time, he is free from his mother's grasp when he moves to Qunshan with his father, and this marks one of the most significant time in his life where he meets Lin Yingtao, who carries the torch that brings the light to a life that is spent living in the dark. However, very soon, he's forced to move back to the city and continue his studies there. One by one, Yingtao's friends leave her and transfer to the same school as Qiaoxi in the city, and it isn't until quite a few years later that the Qunshan gang all reunite again when she herself transfers. From this point on, begins Yingtao and Xiaoqi's journey to healing each other's unspoken wounds, and what was once a childhood crush, starts looking a lot like true love. (At least I dunno, that's what Netflix has aired so far). If you don't like watching family issues, typical second female lead mean girl, forced to separate multiple times tropes, LOOK AWAY!! This is not for you queen.

BORE we read the synopsis, yea yea I know im sorry. A summary is like a mandatory thing, bear with me. I heard about the first episode being about when they were children, and then the next episode is them as teens. This type of beginning usually makes me hyped! Who doesn't love a good backstory? Well, unfortunately, I felt it lacked some emotional depth from what we would expect to be Yingtao's most cherished moments in life. I mean, she carried these memories into the city when she transferred, and never seemed to forget about Qiaoxi for a single day since he left. I was waiting for just a single moment in all of their childhood memories that screamed, YOU!! oh I'll definitely never forget you. It was kind of a typical kid experience, they played together, she shows him a bit of kindness, shares her pet with him, shares food, sure but WHEREE WAS THE DEFINING MOMENT GUYS. missing the it factor here man. In that sense, showing their childhood story to me was kind of useless aside from the fact that Qiaoxi never came back for her. We could've started from there and I wouldn't have minded. Then we very quickly see the gang back together as teens (with the actual actors) and I again, expected more. Maybe I'm picky, but when I watch a supposed group of childhood friends, I expect them to have this sort of chemistry that makes me believe they're truly best friends and one another's found family. In this drama, it was definitely lacking this bond. Something about it just felt a little ... ingenuine? I can't pinpoint if it's the script, or the directing, but I know part of the reason is Zhao jinmai's acting. Now don't get me wrong, I'm not saying she's a bad actor, but I think something about her acting as a teenager was a little off. You can say it's the awkwardness a teen is supposed to have, but no, I think some teenagers can be normal guys. She's the glue of the group, all her friends love and protect her, but somehow their entire friend group chemistry falls flat. Storywise, this is a great typical set up to be fair, I like the setting of this, it's just poor execution in my opinion.

Romance-wise, yes I will mention Zhang Ling He now. Idk what to say but just looking at him makes me happy. I don't know if it's the overdo edits right now or what, but he's literally handsome in everything. I don't think ZLH or ZJM are qualified to play so called 'teenagers' but I'll endure it because I'm really just waiting for their story as adults. Acting wise, I think ZLH does a good job portraying miserable, brooding, misunderstood boy stuck under the control of his mom. Am I getting a little tired of these terrible mother tropes? VERY. I am SO VERY TIRED GUYS YOU DON'T UNDERSTAND. After the korean remake of go ahead, be passionately in love, and the accumulation of evil stepmoms in historical cdramas, A GIRL NEEDS A BREAK. Tell me why this woman is threatening to move Yingtao's family to another province if Qiaoxi continues being friends with her. AND THEY AREN'T EVEN MILLIONAIRES OR SUPER RICH.. make it make sense. ykwim?? It gets to a point. Anyways, very obviously Qiaoxi is in love with Yingtao. He was shy as hell as a kid and suddenly he's cheeky, playful, and good at flirting in their high school era?? I will say though, he makes everything a lot more interesting when he's trying to win over Yingtao, and I'm enjoying their scenes together. ZLH's charm is enough chemistry for the both of them, but thank god they still kept the chemistry they had in the princess royal. Despite their lacklustre past, I don't think it's unreasonable for Yingtao to place a lot of importance on Qiaoxi even though they were apart for so many years (ok maybe a little unreasonable for her to think about him every day compared to the friends she actually grew up with), I mean, think about seeing your first crush again (who looks like ZLH), there's bound to be some sort of unresolved feelings right? Ep 6 ends with their big misunderstanding resolved and some other problems a-brewing, but I'm excited to see what else is in store because I think I'm solely here for the romance.

Edit: beware, these are full spoilers of the ending. after finishing this drama, I can conclude that this was definitely a frustrating watch. Qiaoxi hurts her again and again, disappearing without a trace every time, when he knows that's what she's most afraid of. What is your goal boy. Because if it's to give her a broken heart indefinitely, he's really good at doing that. I liked Yingtao maturing once she started university, and I liked her friendship with her seniors, it showed that yes she could live just fine on her own, and yet she always has this void in her heart that has yet to be filled. I salute Yu Qiao for being such an understanding friend, he was the mvp in this couple pairing when he himself wanted the girl. What I disliked, was actually the fact that we don't get to see Qiaoxi's friendship with the Qunshan group ever get as deep as Yingtao's. I know that they're the OG Qunshan group, but Qiaoxi was also an important part of their lives, and they all consider him their friend. This truly gets downplayed in this drama, which I guess also plays into why Qiaoxi feels the only thing he can go back to is Yingtao. It just makes it feel like Qiaoxi is part of their group solely because of Yingtao and for being a pitiful kid. Aside from this, whatever, sure his trauma makes sense, and ignoring her for years makes sense, but I really expected more from this drama. The script isn't as good as you expect it to be with these two as the leads, and certainly pales in comparison to their dialogues in the princess royal. Even the Hong Kong arc, I really expected an explosion of chemistry or something, only to be met with the most stubborn guy ever. And how did it get resolved? A quick I'll stop loving you now, then he 'chases' after her.. hmm nice try buddy, you still didn't catch up though. And to make it worse, he had to be taught what to do in their moment of reconciliation. Talk about disappointing, whatever happened to the cheeky Qiaoxi?? Wasn't satisfied with how they tied up their ending here, love a happy ending but their path to getting there was unreasonably rocky. Don't get me started on Yu Qiao and Qin Yeyun's short open ending, we deserved a proper confession and a confirmation of them ending up tgt and I stand by that. Cai Fangyuan barely got any lines in their last scenes tgt too, why didn't they tell us what he's been up to? This was more a rant than a review, I advise anyone who hasn't watched yet to save their time! Stick to the edits only.

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toxic man/ obsessed woman

so to start, I love these types of dramas. I have watched all from go ahead to exclusive fairytale to love in a galaxy!

The story started of strong , I loved the build up 🆙 of the friendships each special in their own right. The overarching family issues and how they impacted those relationships. These stories were well developed and served to move the story along as well give character development. The actors played their roles really well and gave depth and dimension to the characters.

The issue for me was- I did not understand the ML’s struggle or thought process I would say from when he decided to quit math! I was further confused by the FL who seemed to have unwavering loyalty and love for a ML who does not seem to care about her. All the decisions he made were not thought out, did not consider the FL feelings and always were selfish! This is not to diminish his experience of abuse., because i can see how parenting played a significant role-

FL in many ways since childhood was able to show love to the ML and also to her friends. At no point in the drama was I convinced that the ML loved her too! I haven’t read the book and understand that the ML experiences are more fleshed out but I can only judge from what I see. She could have loved him as friend, because explain to me how one can just leave after a declaration that of love and a first kiss! No communication for two years. The dumped FL then spends years talking to herself justifying her obsession instead of pursuing healthy reciprocal relationships. All the while hurting her friends along the way.

In all honesty this was an enjoyable drama but I hated the fact that I found myself rooting for the SML/mr pilot and couldn’t understand why he didn’t get the girl. The drama gave me no redemption/healing journey for the ML as to why he deserved a happy ending.

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Hide & Seek

So what's so great about ml that the fl like?

What did he do for fl to be this head over heels?
Boy leaves her town when she was a kid and she doesn't see him again, but he promises to come back.
He doesn't. She writes to him, no responds for years.

She goes to see what's up with him at his new town, but he acts like he doesn't know her?

Ok now Cherry got the most loving parents. Right? Yes. You would think this girl would know how to pick a guy who treats her special right? No. She's super crazy for the guy who doesn't really stand up for himself and her.
Not the type of guy to pick, but sadly she's crazy about him.

Yes, I know ml got family issues, still he should stop giving fl false hope.

The side characters can be annoying, but the advice they kept giving fl was great.

Too bad she didn't take it.

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This drama really disappointed me.

It started off strong, a classic childhood friends to lovers, and then when they meet up again, he acts like he doesn't know her, and therefore Lin Yingtao chooses to ignore him, but when he reveals why he acted the way he did, and they make up, suddenly they're in love? They haven't seen each other for 8 years, and when they get over the hardships, they're in love? We didn't get to see actual scenes of them spending time together and falling in love. Jiang Qiaoxi, the main character, has had as much screentime as the side ones. And now he's off to Hong Kong, ignoring Lin Yingtao ''because he doesn't want to hurt her''. Boy you're hurting her more by doing this. Just communicate with her, and you can resolve it together. It's such a shame that this elite cast is wasted on a poor storyline, especially after The Princess Royal, which set high standards.

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《Our Generation(樱桃琥珀, 2025)》 - We Shape Ourselves Through Each Other

A Name That Became a Scar, and Then a Smile

“Lin Yingtao(=Lin Qile) had no interest in grades or anyone else. To her, there was only Jiang Qiaoxii.
The name that Qiaoxi’s father had given him carelessly was always bitter, a reminder of disdain and resentment.
But in Yingtao’s heart, those three syllables turned into something else—
like a poem, sweet and clear, her voice carrying a smile that softened the air whenever she called him.”
(Excerpt from the Original Novel)

His name, once nothing but a wound, was transformed by her into a moment of warmth.


The Weight of Memory, the First Consolation

Burdened by the shadow of his deceased brother, Jiang Qiaoxi’s grew up as a boy always waiting for love that never came.
To him, memory had always meant pain.
But in Lin Yingtao(=Qile)’s presence—honest, open, and brimming with affection—he discovered something new:
that memory could also be joy, and that being remembered did not always mean being trapped by sorrow.


The Meaning of a Name

To Qiaoxi, “Jiang Qiaoxi” was once nothing but a symbol of neglect,
of yearning for affection he never received.

But for Yingtao (=Qile), the same name meant something entirely different:
to bring happiness,
to guard a smile,
to make someone laugh.

The moment Qile’s naming turned into a gift,
she witnessed a quiet boy’s face come alive with color.
To her, it was more than a scene—
it was the first time she understood what it meant
to bring light into someone else’s life.
She saw what it meant
to breathe warmth into another person’s existence.


Fragmented Time and Memory

Their shared childhood became unforgettable precisely because it was a time when their identities had not yet hardened.
Open hearts and malleable senses made every moment indelible.
And when distance grew between them, memory was all that remained.
Letters became the way to hold onto those memories.
Even undelivered, they deepened the bond—
a fragile thread that connected two people across absence.


Growing Pains, and the First Shattering

But reunion did not bring comfort; it began with rupture.
For Lin Qile : entering a new environment meant rejection, jealousy, and rumor—wounds inflicted by the small society of adolescence.
For Jiang Qiaoxi: seeking a wider world only brought him into harsher walls of control and expectation.

Their affinity collided with the demands of the world, and each carried scars from the impact.


A Missed Gesture, A Deeper Wound

Jiang Qiaoxi thought ignoring her would protect her.
But silence and absence only erased her efforts,
turning his protection into betrayal.
The more urgently he tried to keep her safe, the more deeply Lin Qile was hurt.
When he said, “Let’s begin again with Qile,”
to her it sounded like erasing “Yingtao,” erasing the very years they had lived together.
And so she whispered that perhaps she would rather have known nothing at all.

Yet, in his clumsy teenage way, Jiang Qiaoxi finally began to close the distance—
admitting his loneliness, showing his longing,
and little by little, the bitterness between them started to loosen.


The Collision with Parents

“I didn’t get hurt because of a friend. I protected one.
I am becoming someone better than before.”
(Excerpt from the Drama)

But Jiang Qiaoxi’s growth came at the cost of clashing with his parents.
His parents, bound by guilt over their lost first son, placed all their hopes on the second.
They called it love, but it was chains.
What they could not let go of in the past, they forced onto the present.
When Jiang Qiaoxi began to resist, they blamed Lin Qile for changing him.
What they believed to be protection was in truth control.

And his rebellion against it set the stage for a deeper generational conflict.


From Novel to Screen

Compared to the novel, the drama sometimes falters in rhythm.
But by expanding the conflict from peer rivalry to parent-child struggle,
it widens the lens—
turning a story of youth into a story of generations.

What emerges is a narrative that is not only intense, but also tender—
a story where growth is inseparable from pain,
and where memory itself becomes both the wound and the healing.

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OUR GENERATION: A JOURNEY OF FRIENDSHIP, LOVE, GROWTH, AND RESILIENCE

°❀⋆.ೃ࿔*:･ Our Generation, also known as Cherry Amber (樱桃琥珀), is a youth slice-of-life drama that explores themes of friendship, family conflict, romance, and enduring love. While it features familiar tropes seen in other youth dramas, Our Generation stands out by taking a different path set in the 90s, it highlights the influence of the Qunshan community on six childhood friends. Each of them grew up with different personalities that initially remained the same, forming the foundation of their strong bond. But as they matured and entered adulthood, their experiences began to shape them in new ways, showing how growth and change can influence their lives °❀⋆.ೃ࿔*:･

STORYLINE 𖡼.𖤣𖥧𖡼.𖤣𖥧

The story begins with Yingtao’s childhood as leader of the “Qunshan Squad,” introducing the close-knit group and their personalities. Qunshan is a small community where neighbors care for each other. Yingtao’s life changes when Jiang Qiaoxi joins the group after warming up to her. Despite their different personalities, they bond over shared interests like Yingtao’s special rabbit, Chunlu. Our Generation has well-written characters: Yingtao is kind and lively, supported by loving parents; Jiang Qiaoxi is quiet, smart, and gifted but controlled in childhood; Qin Yeyun is hardworking, caring for her injured father; Yu Qiao is athletic and protective; Cai Fangyuan is the funny helper, like Du Shang. Though different, they all get along well.

The first half follows them growing into high school seniors. After Jiang Qiaoxi moves to the city, he cuts contact with Yingtao, who misses him and her friends deeply. Learning something is wrong with her letters, Yingtao visits the city and finds him, but their reunion ends with misunderstanding. Her parents then decide to move to the city, marking a new chapter for Yingtao, Jiang Qiaoxi, and the squad.

Before the second half, Yingtao reunites warmly with her friends and clears the misunderstanding with Jiang Qiaoxi. She faces struggles keeping up with expectations, while Jiang Qiaoxi competes and balances school absences but still meets his friends. Yeyun cares for her sick father, highlighting the drama’s theme of friendship and support. Jiang Qiaoxi works hard but faces pressure from his demanding mother, which deeply saddens the group. Though misunderstood at times, his friends begin to truly understand his struggles. Before the second half of the story, Yingtao reunited warmly with her friends. Jiang Qiaoxi explained the misunderstandings between them, allowing their friendships to restart. Yingtao struggled to keep up with high school and expectations from friends and teachers. Jiang Qiaoxi was often absent due to competitions but always found time for Yingtao and their friends. Yeyun cared for her seriously ill father, showing how much Our Generation talks about good friends and supportive family. Jiang Qiaoxi worked hard, smart, quiet, and humble but his mother’s constant demands made him feel like he wasn’t enough. Though the Qunshan group sometimes misunderstood him, they grew to truly understand his struggles.

Yu Qiao focused on sports but always made time for friends, while Du Shang and Cai Fangyuan built a website and helped out. High school was full of adventures and heartbreaks, especially for Jiang Qiaoxi. After winning an Olympiad, he decided to stop living in his family’s shadow and to be seen as his true self. The second half starts after Jiang Qiaoxi and Yingtao share their first kiss and confession, right after her exams as she prepares for university. It was emotional because Yingtao believed they’d attend the same university. This marked their last meeting, with many blaming Jiang Qiaoxi for leaving, but this time his decision came from deep depression Yingtao didn’t know about.

When Jiang Qiaoxi left without saying goodbye, Yingtao was heartbroken, and the whole Qunshan Squad felt it too. They focused on school, hoping he’d come back. The story then shifts to Yingtao’s university life, where she meets new friends and seniors who support her through tough times. She sees one senior’s painful breakup, making her think about Jiang Qiaoxi and relationships. Meanwhile, the rest of the squad follow their paths: Yu Qiao trains to be a pilot, Du Shang becomes a doctor, Cai Fangyuan studies literature, and Yeyun cares for her dad. They eventually find out where Jiang Qiaoxi is but keep it from Yingtao until Yu Qiao visits him and decides it’s time to tell her.

The final arc is emotional Jiang Qiaoxi’s flawed choice and Yingtao’s brave decision to find him and reunite. Before officially dating and focusing on their future, everyone found success: Yu Qiao became a pilot, Yeyun got a car and grew happier, Du Shang became a doctor, and Cai Fangyuan pursued writing. Yingtao also learns the full story about Jiang Qiaoxi and his cousin and encourages everyone to stay strong.
When they all reunite, they reflect on how fast time passed and how much has changed. They finally set off fireworks they missed in high school. Though their paths changed, life brought them back together. Despite fights and disagreements, Yingtao married Jiang Qiaoxi. They knew the future would have challenges, but as long as they were together, they were ready to face it and stay side by side.

────୨ৎ────CHARACTERS ────୨ৎ────

Zhao Jinmai as Lin Yingtao / Lin Qile ִֶָ𓂃 ࣪˖ ִֶָ🐇་༘࿐
Zhao Jinmai portrayed Lin Yingtao in a very natural and convincing way. Yingtao’s life was lively and full of joy because of her upbringing. She had loving parents who cared deeply for her and valued her happiness above all else. They never pressured her with unrealistic expectations whether it was for herself or for her relationship with Jiang Qiaoxi. Instead, they encouraged her to follow her own path. As the leader of the Qunshan group, Yingtao always cared for everyone around her. Even though she loved Jiang Qiaoxi, she still made time for her friends and her pets, something that also brought her closer to him. Yingtao is a well-written character who grew into a courageous, outgoing, and friendly young woman. She is the kind of friend who knows how to calm the storm. While she wasn’t the smartest student at first, her determination to stay alongside her friends pushed her to prove her teachers wrong, studying hard to achieve good grades.

Her character reminded me of Sang Yan from First Frost, but with the roles reversed both characters showed dedication to their partners long before officially dating, often through acts of service. Unfortunately, Yingtao was sometimes misinterpreted simply because she is female, and societal perceptions tend to judge women more harshly. However, if a partner understands the other person’s situation, it’s possible to work things out unless there’s no love in return. In Yingtao’s case, Jiang Qiaoxi did love her, but his circumstances and introverted personality made it harder for him to express himself, especially next to Yingtao’s more extroverted nature.

Zhao Jinmai captured every side of Yingtao perfectly from her happiness, to her sadness, to moments of joyful tears. She brought Yingtao to life, making her dedication to friendship resonate deeply. Her portrayal of Yingtao’s clumsiness and funny moments made it easy to see why the Qunshan Squad loved her so much. Yingtao has officially become one of my favourite modern female characters, because she made me cry and smile while showing how much she cared for and cherished her friends. She never stopped them from doing what they loved, even when it made her feel sad.

Zhang Linghe as Jiang Qiaoxi ⋆⭒˚.⋆🪐 ⋆⭒˚.⋆
Zhang Linghe portrayed Jiang Qiaoxi in a perfect and well-directed way. Jiang Qiaoxi is a quiet, smart, and deeply introverted character, someone I truly understood and felt pity for because of everything he went through. His childhood was shaped by a controlling mother who dictated what he liked, from his favourite food to his preferred colours. Because of this treatment, he became reserved and struggled to express himself. But meeting Yingtao and the rest of the Qunshan Squad changed him. For the first time, he began to hope to be seen, loved, and heard. Jiang Qiaoxi is often misunderstood because of his choices, but I found him realistic. His personality and upbringing made his struggles believable, and he needed a source of strength, a motivator which he found in Yingtao. Through her support, he learned to face life’s hardships and keep moving forward.

Jiang Qiaoxi reminded me of Wei Yifan, as both are flawed characters shaped by different traumas and imperfect decisions. Those experiences ultimately helped them grow into stronger people who learned to fight for themselves. One of my favourite things about Jiang Qiaoxi was how he remembered the little details about each member of the Qunshan group, never forgetting them. He would give them special gifts as a way of showing how much he valued their friendship.

Zhang Linghe’s performance was exceptional and flawless. I cried with his character, especially during his time in Hong Kong. He portrayed the shy yet mature high school student so well the intelligent one always willing to help. His emotional and happy scenes felt so natural, and there were so many moments where I just wanted to hug his character. Jiang Qiaoxi has become one of my favourite youth male characters to watch grow from high school to adulthood. He overcame his past traumas, worked hard, cherished his friendships, and remained determined. And through it all, he never forgot Yingtao, loving her until the day they reunited. In summary the other qunshan squad also had their very good characteristics I resonated with, all the supporting characters acting were good and not forced. I loved Yingtao's family and how they took care of Jiang qiaoxi.

Explaining the Hong Kong Arc and the Romance Story 🍒💌🤍
The Hong Kong arc in Our Generation reminds me of The First Frost. Both stories have flawed characters who distance themselves from the people they love. Jiang Qiaoxi suffered a lot during their two years apart he dropped out of school after his cousin’s injury, worked multiple jobs, and cared for his uncle. The writer made sure Yingtao’s words weren’t just about her but were meant to help Jiang see the bright side and hold on to those who cared, especially the Qunshan Squad. When she tried to leave Hong Kong, he realized he couldn’t lose her and ran after her taxi. By the end, they became a couple.

The romance arc for the main leads was written in a way that made sense to me, even though the script had flaws. We didn’t get to see many scenes of Jiang Qiaoxi thinking about Yingtao, but I still understood their relationship. It began when they met as children and never forgot each other despite years apart. When they reunited, their love story naturally continued in high school because they already knew each other well, and their personalities hadn’t changed. Yingtao never forced her feelings on Jiang Qiaox,she simply included him in the Qunshan Squad and cheered for him because of how smart and capable he was.
During their high school years, their crush grew as they cared deeply for each other, often sharing quiet, intense glances. Yet, they prioritized their studies and futures before anything else. If the drama had more episodes, it could have shown more of their adulthood era, since Our Generation is about much more than romance.

The Hong Kong arc itself had flaws, as some scenes weren’t shown in full at first. But I later understood the purpose it was meant to show Jiang Qiaoxi learning that life has ups and downs, no matter whether you’re successful or poor. You can lose anything, money, family, friends without warning. Yet, even with these challenges, there are better days ahead, and the sun will rise again. Yingtao wanted him to remember that, and to never forget that his name carries a good and hopeful meaning, not something bad.

FAV SCENES 🐰ྀི🌺❤️
Qunshan squad childhood scenes
Qunshan group reunion in high school
Ying tao and Jiang qiaoxi High school moments
Jiang qiaoxi cooking for ying tao
Yingtao and yeyun besties moments
The bunny and cat scenes
The representation of family and friendship importance
The use of good cinematography that shows when the leads are happy or sad.
The ending scene of "Our generation" it was a very good happy ending
Domestic yingtao and Jiang qiaoxi and so much more....

OSTS / CINEMATOGRAPHY ๋ ࣭ ⭑๋ ࣭ ⭑๋ ࣭ ⭑๋ ࣭ ⭑
The OST and cinematography in Our Generation were well done, with lyrics that perfectly matched the emotions of the scenes, especially the happy and emotional moments. The cinematography was bright and beautifully captured those special moments in an almost ethereal way which I liked.

OVERALL IMPRESSIONS ⋆ ˚｡⋆୨🍓୧⋆ ˚｡⋆
Our Generation was a good watch for me despite its writing flaws and short episodes, mainly because I wanted more for all the characters. It reminded me of my own childhood and friend groups. The drama was more than just a romance, it highlighted the growth from childhood through teenage years and into adulthood. It focused on the importance of friendship and trying to resolve issues with good closure rather than leaving things hanging. This drama made me cry many times with its inspiring and sad quotes. It really made me reflect on my friendships, both in real life and online. Our Generation reminded me that being an adult doesn’t mean we have everything figured out. There are times when we make mistakes, get misunderstood, or even get wrongly accused. I have made mistakes and been wrongly accused myself, but I always try to be forgiving and grow into a better person.

One thing I truly appreciated about Our Generation was its emphasis on studying. It shows how we can be smart but still lose everything due to life’s hardships. But when we hit rock bottom, we have to stay strong and hold onto hope for better days ahead because bad times can always turn into good. The drama’s ratings don’t do it justice, but it’s definitely one everyone should watch and judge for themselves. It’s not a show for everyone, but it deserves a chance. It feels like a slice of life with heartwarming characters. The family dynamics were another highlight for me. The drama shows how bad parenting can damage someone, but if we stand up for ourselves, life will improve. Maybe it takes years, but the light at the end of the tunnel is always better than the darkness in our hearts. Jiang Qiaoxi never fully reunited with his family, but he learned to let go of anger and focus on his present and future. The Qunshan Squad will always be dear to me. They made my summer youth drama worth the wait.

FAV QUOTES 🌟🜼💬
“If you keep locking yourself in the past, you will suffocate. People move on too. If you keep clinging to the past, to what’s already gone, you will feel stuck.” - Yingtao’s mum
“Childhood memories stick and never leave.” - Yingtao

“Let civility guide our words and deeds. Live with honor, learn with your heart.” - Jialin High School board quote

“I am done living like someone else’s shadow. I want to be known for who I am.” -Jiang Qiaoxi

“What really matters is knowing who you are and what you really like to do.” - Yingtao

“Youth is like a roll of toilet paper; it looks like a lot, but once you start using it, it runs out fast. So figure out how you want to waste it.” - Yeyun

❀ Thanks for reading, I really resonated with our generation, I understand it may not be for everyone, but to anyone reading this, I hope life gets better for you, and that the light shines upon us even in times of hardship ִֶָ𓂃 ࣪˖ ִֶָ🐇་༘࿐

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Huge colossal disappointment - When show don't tell becomes tell don't show for the ML

Before the review I would like to say - I love Youth Dramas. The whole journey from school to their adulthood of the characters is nice to watch. This Genre need not have twists and turns. Little things even simple interactions between characters matters. Here characters take the centre stage.

Now coming to this drama, I went with so much of expectation. I have heard a lot of this PH house. On top of that good actors in the genre I loved. But...
First few episodes they build the equation pretty well. I loved the kids. You know from the beginning that FL is the big rock of the group who easily gets attached to the people. It is also shown how her relationship with ML develops. So far so good although there is still choppy editing with no organic flow it is still interesting.
Problem starts right there but we don't notice. First problem is we do not know the timeline. We never get the idea of how long ML was in Qun Shan with her. They just mentioned he will leave next winter. We do not know how long he has been there in the first place. Only from novel readers we know they were together for two years. Timeline is never really shown clearly.
Slowly the loop starts. ML is missing more and more. All we get is characters discussing about ML. We do not know what happened with him. Here and there we do get glimpses. It is really glimpses. Be it his mother tearing up his letters or their family fights. We get more of side characters reaction than the ML's reaction. Even ML's father gets a good 1 minute scene of aftermath of their fight but not ML. Every episode the FL's friends discuss about ML but ML is not in the picture. Side characters get their perspective, their life story in full glory but not ML. We do not know how his life was, how he coped with toxic mother, what his cousin's role was in his life etc etc.. He pops in to give some romantic cheesy dialogue and then disappears.
Every episode there is a new character revolving around FL but ML who is supposed to be one true love of her life is still MIA.
May be this is the story of FL , her growth etc..But we hardly get to know about the most important person in her life who she is holding on to for so many years. Even side characters get more time than the so called ML that is the problem.
Even for a moment if we forget that ML exists and try to enjoy her journey that too is not fully carved out well. The friendship between the gang too is there but not there. Most of her friend group sort of disappear and reappear once in a while. Editing is so choppy. Random scenes appear disappear and sometimes it feels out of order. And the school gossipping and characters are so out of touch. There are scenes far and wide between which are good. But they are all in isolation.

All this leads to discourse about whether FL is obsessed. If they had shown the life of ML and good bonding of FL with ML in the school (not just romantic dialogues with FL blushing all the time whatever few scenes they did have in the school) they would not question the love. FL has more bonding with her friend YQ than with ML JQX...
Basic rule of visual story telling is "show don't tell" but it was all "tell don't show" for ML.
After episode 18, I finally lost all hope of holding on to this drama. It was a mess that cannot be salvaged.
Sighhhhhh

PS: I am not a "fan" of ZLH. His only other show I watched is Flourish in Time which I liked. So it is not about the actor not getting screen time. It is about the character and the flow of the story lacking depth and visibility.

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Yingtao is One-in-a-Million

First off all, don't let the low-score reviews deter you from trying out this show, they are generally from people who reviewed it prematurely without even completing.

The drama sells to you a coming-of-age story of both Yingtao and Qiaoxi, childhood friends who later become separated a couple of times due to varying life circumstances but eventually find their way back to each other (yes a HE!).

Along the way though, are many obstacles our main couple have to overcome - be it emotional abused turned trauma, or just... life. Throughout the childhood, high school and uni arc the script and editing gives viewers Yingtao's POV, so many of Qiaoxi's decisions and actions (or lack thereof) become puzzling and is one of the reasons many dropped the show, accusing him of becoming cowardly and undeserving of her love.

But to be fair, the editing had cut many important contextual scenes (yes ZLH filmed those alr but were not spared from post-production) that can give viewers further insight to his personality shaped by prolonged emotional abuse and pressure from his family. In the novel, this aspect was thoroughly fleshed out so readers were able to better understand his train of thoughts and dilemma during his low points.

Despite this though, I think ZJM and ZLH both did so so well in portraying their characters - the faithful, hopeful, positive and courageous Yingtao and the overthinking, emotionally inept Qiaoxi who only has her as his life's hope. Say what you want about them but this couple truly understand each other best, even more than us viewers. So please quit with those 'red flags' and 'obsessed' shallow accusations. We get to see Yingtao confronting Qiaoxi's self-deprecating nature and how he comes to love himself and place his identity in the right places.

The last 4-6 episodes were really beautiful and are a must-watch, i feel they rounded off the story really well. While some details and plot were changed from the novel, it is still a beautiful story of friendship, hope and arden love.

If you're looking for a fluffy, easy, fast-paced drama then this might disappint you. But if you're strong enough to go through the angst, take enough effort to understand the characters then you'll be rewarded with some fluff and a beautiful end to their story.

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The kind of series I would rewatch for angst feeling

This drama was full of stressful scenes yet memorable and have lots of meaningful moments. What I liked about the characters is Ying Tao, I desire to have a friend like her, she's the kind of person who would be there for you through ups and downs and uplift you when you're about to give up. This series taught us to cherish our youth, before we face the adulthood. Years have gone by so fast, and the rest will be adulthood so take risks before it's over. It taught to us to be brave and speak what's in our heart. Yingtao's wisdom was such a fresh air, something that wake us up in the darkness full of uncertainty, she's the one who will remind you to stand on your ground and have faith in yourself. I'll definitely rewatch some of the scenes, especially the stairs scene in HK. Overall, this drama was full of childhood moments that makes you want to reminisce your childhood memories especially the heartwarming ost that's nostalgic.

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Frustrating, but an okay drama.

Spoilers ahead!


Okay, this drama was interesting to say the least. It had great potential in the beginning until they graduated high school. After that the writers messed everything up. At first the FL is very head strong, the leader of their little pack, and over all a strong character who doesn’t take no for an answer. Towards the middle and end of the drama the writers completely switched her character into a weak, man pleasing, idiot, who would do anything for a man that ghosted her for years on more than one occasion (granted the first time wasn’t the ML’s fault).

The ML Qiao Xi… lord there’s a lot to say about him. First off both his acting and Cherry’s acting is PHENOMENAL! Don’t get that twisted. But lord have mercy it’s so frustrating how spineless that man is! Communication is key to ALL relationships and if there was ANY communication in this drama then this show would have had a higher score all in itself! He’s so so so sooooo cute, but damn. It comes to a point where two people are just having to fight so hard that it’s not even worth the stress and emotional damage for the relationship anymore. Also Qiao Xi is mentally not okay and I hate he never got the professional help he truly needed.

Now the main leads romance is very sweet when it does start, but it’s not enough to make you forget everything that happened along the way, do with that what you will, but I’d be mentally prepared to be upset, frustrated, and confused before watching this drama. Also it drags a LOT!

I don’t regret watching this at all, and I don’t think people should be rating this drama anything lower than a 5, but it could have been done sooo much better. The writers fumbled hard! Especially with how good the actors genuinely are!!!

I suggest everyone watch it at least once.

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