Our Generation

樱桃琥珀 ‧ Drama ‧ 2025
Completed
fyifkit
45 people found this review helpful
Jul 28, 2025
24 of 24 episodes seen
Completed 0
Overall 8.5
Story 8.5
Acting/Cast 10
Music 10
Rewatch Value 8.0

Glad I completed it

Honestly I was thinking of dropping it at one point cause it felt annoying watching the FL keep chasing after him but I'm glad I saw it through cause u know what i like the idea of the girl not giving up on the guy even when everyone is telling her to. Cause at first i found the ML frustrating for not communicating better but then i thought things from his pov and its understandable why he doesn't want Yintao to see him at his lowest cause he has grown up with his mothers conditional love that depends on his academic achievement so to see Yintao love him for just being himself might be hard to grasp for him.
PS. i wish they showed more of the ML's pov of falling for FL cause it felt a bit one sided without enough of his scenes.

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Completed
cynthiad
52 people found this review helpful
Jul 26, 2025
24 of 24 episodes seen
Completed 2
Overall 9.0
Story 9.0
Acting/Cast 10
Music 8.5
Rewatch Value 8.0
This review may contain spoilers

Understanding is the Key!

Loved this drama!

SPOILERS BELOW…


Ying Tao gave it all! She knew that this new friend was lonely, unloved and scared. She saw what nobody else saw. She made a connection and gave that boy what nobody else gave him, trust, friendship and love. Because of her he opened a little more and saw the true value of friendship and love. As an adult, he felt as a failure! He thought he didn’t have nothing to offer since his parents only ask for studying and being number one. He was always compared to his dead brother. He didn’t received any love and he refuge in his studies. Only when Yingtao came up did he feel some hope.

I can understand many who say he abandoned Yingtao for so long but I also understood him. This was his way of coping with his life. He understood that maintaining Yingtao far from what he was dealing was the best way to not hurt her. He always thought that studying and becoming a professional was the key to have a successful life. QiaoXi didn’t have much as a normal, loving parents as Yingtao had, so he had to learn the most difficult way. He didn’t have no guidance, only be number one.

Looking at his past and seeing how lonely and unloved he was I can understand why he did what he did. That Yingtao probably should had moved on, I can relate and say she should have, but she had that pure, innocent love for QiaoXi that only he could have. He was her all and she was his all, they both knew it.

A special bond that couldn’t be broken even after all those years!

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Completed
MariyahRaza
31 people found this review helpful
Jul 29, 2025
24 of 24 episodes seen
Completed 1
Overall 9.5
Story 9.5
Acting/Cast 9.0
Music 9.5
Rewatch Value 9.5
This review may contain spoilers

Tough crowd - It’s exactly an early 2000’d show. Love it

All these comments about it being toxic and how she doesn’t choose herself make me think we haven’t been watching the same Cdrama.
FL loved her friendships more than life and since childhood had an unbreakable bond with ML. The lack of love and affection he got from his own family bond the two leads closer and connects them through childhood. It’s FLs story and her absolute certainty that this is her person. Most people can’t stick through the hardships and understand the true mental impacts ML character had that resulted in so much of his behaviors. Not saying it’s right or wrong but it is a true representation of a time where technology wasn’t so available. Letters and ghosting felt so different than anything we experience now. If you really watch this show and get up in the 2000s where there was still a stillness in the world and I you’ll adore this drama. I loved both of these leads in the Princess Royal and loved them both for different reasons in this one.

No folks this isn’t your self sufficient heroine here. Her story is fueled by her absolute certainty in her love

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Completed
elixirgood
51 people found this review helpful
Jul 26, 2025
24 of 24 episodes seen
Completed 1
Overall 9.5
Story 8.0
Acting/Cast 10
Music 10
Rewatch Value 9.0
This review may contain spoilers

Prepare yourself for a roller coaster of emotions

If you have read the novel lower your expectations a little bit. But this drama is beautifully done with amazing actors and actresses. I love both the acting of the male and female leads, they did a marvelous to portray the characters and their different emotional scenes. You might not understand certain parts but as you watch the drama you will slowly understand the story better.
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Completed
Berbox Kay lee Zona
55 people found this review helpful
Jul 21, 2025
24 of 24 episodes seen
Completed 0
Overall 9.0
Story 8.5
Acting/Cast 9.0
Music 8.0
Rewatch Value 8.5

Lin yingtaos journey of love friendship family first love and more....


The series centers around the effervescent Cherry (Lin yingtao), a beacon of positivity who brightens the lives of those around her. Her path intertwines with Jiang Xiaoqi, a young man navigating a complex family situation, and their connection adds a vibrant layer to his world.

"While perhaps not reinventing the wheel, this coming-of-age drama, centered on Ling Yitao's journey from youth to adulthood, still manages to feel refreshing.

Zhao Jinmai shines as Cherry, perfectly embodying her character's spirit, while Zhang Linghe delivers a compelling performance, especially through his expressive acting.

The series explores her relationships ( Family friendships and more ) particularly with Jiang Xiaoqi, whose limited screen time may frustrate some. However, his appearances are impactful, and the storytelling ultimately benefits.

The slow-burn romance between the leads, though facing setbacks, allows for genuine character development. Their eventual connection, after both characters address personal struggles, feels earned, even if somewhat idealistic. Ling Yitao's unwavering loyalty and capacity for love, shaped by her upbringing, are central to the narrative.

Ultimately, the show's strength lies in its characters and the undeniable chemistry between the leads. I highly recommend giving it a watch to experience it for yourself.

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Dropped 16/24
dramanest_
93 people found this review helpful
Jul 22, 2025
16 of 24 episodes seen
Dropped 0
Overall 1.0
Story 1.0
Acting/Cast 1.0
Music 1.0
Rewatch Value 1.0
This review may contain spoilers

DO NOT WASTE YOUR TIME

Complete waste of time do not watch this. It's literally painful to watch. The writing is god awful. The ML is a total coward, let's his worthless mother walk all over him constantly, treats his friends like trash including the girl he's supposed to "Love" and they all just accept it.

Every single episode is the same, it's a mix of everyone but the ML living a normal school life while the ML throws himself a pity party and disappears or ignores them. Literally every time he takes a step forward he immediately takes 10 steps back.
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Dropped 15/24
SamWantsToBelieve
35 people found this review helpful
Jul 31, 2025
15 of 24 episodes seen
Dropped 0
Overall 5.5
Story 4.0
Acting/Cast 9.0
Music 7.0
Rewatch Value 1.0

Overdone Perpetually Sad and Withdrawn ML

Overdone perpetually sad and withdrawn ML (but wait, he has his reasons *cue eye roll*) and FL that cares too much and forgives too easily. Not enough groveling (at least not where i stopped watching) plus the fact that they are so young and understandably immature makes it that much harder to watch. Not to mention the very hands off way everyone (his father especially) is towards how his mom behaves was driving me crazy.

The cast was good, (especially the first debuters) and I generally enjoy the leads but this storh was not it.
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Completed
honeybutter
23 people found this review helpful
Jul 31, 2025
24 of 24 episodes seen
Completed 2
Overall 9.5
Story 10
Acting/Cast 10
Music 9.5
Rewatch Value 9.0

rating of the drama production team 4/10. watching this drama felt like being chased by a deadline.

I've been waiting for this drama since I finished watching their previous drama, THE PRINCESS ROYAL.

note : we listen, we don't judge.

At that time I even read the translated novel Cherry Amber (Our Generation) first. I was very excited to wait for this drama especially because the story of the novel was very good, even though the novel was a translation, not the original novel. So I hoped that this drama would be better than the novel itself. Seeing the videos taken by some fans made me really look forward to this drama. Until finally I was sad because this drama which was originally 40 episodes became 24 episodes. and that made me not expect more from this drama. yeah, and it turned out to be true. after I watched this drama, this drama had a lot of cut scenes. watching this drama felt like being chased by a deadline. This drama actually has a very good story. It's normal for a woman to chase her crush, in this world there must be people like that. and after watching the Hong Kong scene, I came to understand why Yingtao was chasing Jiangqiaoxi so much. Because besides liking Jiangqiaoxi, she knew that JQX also liked her but couldn't because of his circumstances. It's not that he can't, but he wants Yingtao to wait for him until he becomes a successful man. In fact, Yingtao loves him for who he is even at his lowest point. So, this isn't a story about a girl chasing after a guy like crazy, but they've liked each other since childhood. But it's hard for the guy to like the girl because of her broken family situation. The girl likes him for who he is, but the guy doesn't want the girl to get hurt because she has to enter his world.

Okay, let's talk about the number of episodes that were originally 40 to 24. I really didn't enjoy the drama. Because watching this drama felt like I was being chased by a deadline. I was even willing to watch this drama even up to 40 episodes. Because this drama has a good story. Not only about romance, this drama also tells about friendship, family, stories of problems that relate to real life, etc. Even the director is not good at taking angles during filming. What should be zoomed in was zoomed out, and vice versa. And also many scenes were missing. For example, they should have shown the scene between JQX's mother and JQX's older brother, and they should have also shown the scene where Xiaoman finds out that Yingtao will meet JQX. There are many more missing scenes. I hope this drama shows more of the Mountain Squad's childhood moments. It would make it feel more like they miss their childhood.

And for the acting, I like Lin Yingtao/Lin Qile the most. She's very good at acting. Her acting is very rich, making her acting less boring. And as for Jiang Qiaoxi, I prefer his acting in the Hong Kong scenes. I don't like his acting when he was in school.
I really liked the Hong Kong scenes. It was such an emotionally draining part. I'm sad that it only aired for a few episodes. I wish this drama had more episodes so the audience could get more emotions from watching this drama.
This drama has a good story, and it would be even better if it was directed and produced by the right people. Whatever it is, I remain grateful and appreciative of the hard work of all the actors and actresses and the entire Our Generation team. I hope you all listen to the criticism and suggestions from the audience well.

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Completed
Jacque Paul
15 people found this review helpful
19 days ago
24 of 24 episodes seen
Completed 0
Overall 9.5
Story 9.0
Acting/Cast 9.5
Music 9.0
Rewatch Value 9.0

A Rollercoaster in a Teacup

Let’s talk about Our Generation (aka Ying Tao Hu Po, or Cherry Amber—sounds fancy, doesn’t it?). It’s a 24-episode Chinese coming-of-age romance that first aired in July 2025.

The Gist (Spoiler-light, promise!)
Lin Qi Le (enthusiastically played by Zhao Jinmai) is nicknamed Cherry. She brings sunshine wherever she goes—warm heart, mountain girl, total joy factory.
Enter Jiang Qiao Xi, the gloomiest transfer student ever—math genius, moody vibes, probably allergic to happiness.
Cherry’s family adopts him into their warmth brigade, and soon enough, he starts thawing like a block of ice on a sunny day.
They grow up, drift apart, then-plot twist-Cherry sends her childhood letters to his school. Cue gossip tornado in the city.
Heartbroken Cherry travels to find him, he denies knowing her publicly-ouch. Cue humiliation. Then, childhood friends rally around her, and her parents move to the big city so the whole gang can grow up together.
After all the drama, she finds him again, their feelings deepen, and -happy ending!

The Cast & Team Behind the Magic

Zhao Jinmai (Cherry)-beam of cuteness and determination.
Zhang Linghe (Jiang Qiao Xi)-cold on the surface, but we know better.
Fantastic supporting cast: Dong Jie (FL’s mum), Bao Jianfeng (FL’s dad), Dong Xuan (ML’s mum), Zhang Duo (ML’s dad), plus a squad of childhood pals: Yu Qiao, Qin Yeyun, Du Shang, Cai Fangyuan.
Directed by Zhang Kaizhou, written by Zeng Lu—the same team behind The Story of Ming Lan and Ode to Joy 2. Serious pedigree here.

Why It Feels Like a Tightrope Walk- but in the Best Way

This show is emotion overload in a gentle package: You’ll giggle at the endless energy Cherry brings.
Then -bam -you might find yourself sobbing when Qiao Xi ghosts her.
You’ll cheer at the reunion, fume at parental drama (his mum, moving him to Hong Kong? Why?!), and marvel at Cherry’s resilience.

And that EPILOGUE? A warm cup of closure that hits just right-no loose threads, just happy sighs.
“It’s like a circus walking on a tightrope.” There’s angst, there’s joy, there’s friendship so tender and messy and real. FL is adorable and raw, ML is… wow. Parent characters range from touching (hers) to exasperating (his)-and honestly, we all know a mum like his somewhere in real life.

A Silly Tidbit (For the Giggles)
If this drama were a dessert- it’d be your grandma’s secret-recipe pavlova:
**Cherry is the meringue: sweet, light, uplifting.
**Qiao Xi is the fruit compote: tart, unexpected, sneaks in flavor slowly.
**Supporting friends are the whipped cream: fluffy, comforting, just enough.
**Parents (some) are the crumbs that fall and annoy you- but hey, they keep it real.
**And all together? A treat with layers you never saw coming.

Final Thoughts: Our Generation is a simple, funny, tear-jerking, heart-warming ride. Cherry’s sunny spirit meets Qiao Xi’s storm, their lives twist, they unravel, then find each other again—on that tightrope of growing up. Every emotion plays in harmony.

Go watch it. Bring tissues, a snack, and your inner child ready for an adventure.
Rating: 9/10 🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟💖

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Ongoing 24/24
Skoobs
51 people found this review helpful
Jul 21, 2025
24 of 24 episodes seen
Ongoing 0
Overall 9.5
Story 10
Acting/Cast 10
Music 10
Rewatch Value 8.0
This review may contain spoilers

this show is a heartfelt letter of family struggles

ONE OF THE BEST ROMANCE-YOUTH DRAMAS

This show is a tear-jerker, and I definitely know that by the end of the drama, I will cry in some parts. It showed not only one side of family struggles but also covered some of what it's like: we have a perfect family like Qi Le's whose parents have deep-rooted relationship with their daughter, a single father like Ye Yun's who still works despite his broken leg, an abusive partner like Du Shang's father, and a family with a broken bond like Qiao Xi. It covered not only one scenario of a family but also showed how different situation of parenting affects their child's growth, and I think that it's part of the reason why it's entitled 'Our generation.'

Starting as a child in the first episode, Qi Le grew up to be a very jolly girl, as having a parent who is always willing to support her gave her the comfort of connecting easily with others. On the other hand, Qiao Xi, having the opposite kind of family, forced him to be a quiet and timid child. As Qi Le shone her personality on him, it wasn't hard to develop some feelings towards her. And I think that this is a very natural feeling to have as a child, since having 'crushes' is something we can't avoid going through the teen phase, especially when you adore someone very much for a specific reason, like Qiao Xi's adoration for Qi Le's positive personality.

One thing that I love about this drama so far is how it shows not only the main character's family struggle but also the other supporting characters, like Du Shang and Ye Yun. Despite the drama only airing halfway, it already built up so many emotions towards the group, and how all of their relationship turned out to be like meeting again.

Our generation is definitely one of the best youth romance dramas out there, especially with the pacing of the story. It's so balanced and every episode was well crafted. I could barely see anything negative about it to point out. From family drama, to romance, and even the supporting characters are so good that they are not only existing there to shine the main characters, but they have their very own personalities.

CHARACTER ANALYSIS:
(will only mention the characters that impacted me most)

1. Lin Qi Le - a very positive character from the start until the updated episode. She is the type that I believe most people would like to have in life, as a friend or as a person. She's honestly one of the greenest flag female lead in dramas - always positive and never lost hope with Qiao Xi. When most of the female leads separate after their partner tell them something to lose hope, Yingtao is someone who would always find a reason not to let go, and that's part of the reason why I can't blame Qiao Xi for loving her so much. She's such a gem.

2. Qiao Xi - He is a very well-rounded character and has shown huge progress halfway through the show. Starting off as a very timid boy who is scared of going against his parents, he will become someone who can finally stand on his feet. He used Qi Le's positive attitude as a drive to change himself for the better. And I think that his growth is one of the beautiful things I have seen so far. He clearly wasn't happy with what he did, and giving up on something he is not happy to do, but was forced to take action, requires so much courage. It took him years to finally step out of the shadow and tell them how he actually felt during those times they forced an expectation on him that he didn't want to achieve. Honestly, during the separation arc, I felt so bad for him having to struggle so much - and I can't really blame him for losing confidence that he can't even stand to see Yingtao, but then I'm glad that Yingtao was able to guide him back home again.

3. Qin Ye Yun (Qi Le's female friend) - to be honest, I really thought that she hates Qi Le since the beginning, as Qi Le mentioned having to dislike her, but then at the end, it was them being closer than the others. Growing up, Ye Yun has been with her father, who takes care of her and vice versa. Among all of the characters, she is so far the most emotionally mature that I have seen, very emotionally mature compared to the others. She was able to keep her romantic feelings in check, not blaming others for having the center of attention instead of her, or for putting the responsibility on the guy he liked just because she developed a feeling. Another thing about Ye Yun was her love towards her father, that she is selfless enough to even consider stopping going to school just so she can help provide for her father, and I think that's rare to see someone who is selfless enough willing to risk their future just to provide. And I am not saying that everyone should be this kind of person, but for a daughter who has only been with her father all her life, it is a very tender feeling to know that your child loves you that much.

4. Hong Fei (Qiao Xi's mother) - she loves someone who isn't there anymore and left someone who was there all along. Every mother can definitely relate to the loss of a child they have given birth to, and erasing that memory is so hard to do that it always stays there, no matter how much you try to remove it. Her trauma was too scarred that it affected Qiao Xi, but that's not enough reason to actually force him into something he is not. She may not be a perfect mother, and to be honest, she is too far away from being a perfect mother. But, hopefully, as the story progresses, she will eventually change her mind and become less selfish instead of pushing her expectations towards her son. As Qi Le said, Qiao Xi needs a mother, not mathematics.

ACTING ANALYSIS:
1. Zhao Jin Mai as Qi Le - this is the first time I have ever watched her drama as a main role, and I would say that her acting is astounding. I have tried watching her other dramas before, but could never try to continue the next episode. This one, however, is a different deal. It feels like Qi Le and Jin Mai are just one person, no acting.

2. Zhang Ling He as Qiao Xi - as always, he could never disappoint me. May it be fierce-looking, crying scenes, happy scenes, or even the saddest scenes, his facial expressions would always exceed expectations. He has a very expressive face that makes it hard not to smile when he smiles. Playing as Qiao Xi, however, he does kind of look older than what year 10 is usually like, or that might be because I'm too used to seeing his face in historical roles. But then, even his voice sounds too deep and mature for someone to be underage. Acting-wise, he did it effortlessly well.

Overall, this drama has a great coming-of-age story that encompasses different family bonds. If you are into dramas like 'Go Ahead,' this is a type that you would definitely love. There are no boring scenarios in every episode that won't tempt you to skip some scenes. Character-wise, everyone seems dynamic except for the female lead so far, so it's quite fun to see the build-up of the story. Acting-wise, it's not cringeworthy or underwhelming, as they have outperformed, even with the supporting roles. This is definitely a must-try to watch as a youth drama, and I would love to see you put in a review about it as well.

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Completed
Wynndzofchange Finger Heart Award2 Flower Award2
85 people found this review helpful
Aug 3, 2025
24 of 24 episodes seen
Completed 23
Overall 10
Story 10
Acting/Cast 10
Music 9.5
Rewatch Value 9.0

Love, Acceptance and Mental Illness

I’ve seen a lot of comments about how the FL should have given up on the ML from the very beginning because he “ghosted” her. If they had paid attention to the FL as a child, she had an incredible sense of the pain other people endured, and choosing to stick by them. She was different from others in her outlook on life, it’s experienced and its difficulties and always reached out to those who were hurting.

The man from her town who was a salesman (remember the cow poem?), her frienemy who was actually her best friend, the boys who were misfits in their own way were also taken under her wing. Her gift of being able to see under the masks of false bravado people wore and love them through their difficulties was always part of her character, and it didn’t change when she grew up.

She could see through the ML’s stoic and all of behavior and enticed him out of his shell with acceptance and love. She genuinely cared about him, even as a child.

The ML was riddled with PTSD along with physical and emotional abuse from his mother, and had no support from his father. No child should have to endure that kind of emotional torture and manipulation.

She may not have known what the names of the things he endured were called, but she saw the real person underneath his hide and seek behavior.

When an animal is hurt or in pain, it will seek out a remote and place to be alone to heal. Tgis is what the ML did, and not only that, he didn’t want his mess to affect the FL, and tried to keep her away despite his desire to get closer to her.

They lived each other. Obe found themselves unworthy of love, and the other knew love and acceptance were the cure.

Every single human being on the planet has issues. Judging a person with mental health problems and kicking them to the curb when they need kindness and help only exacerbates their problems. Are the creeps out there that should be blocked and never looked at again? Yes. But you can’t throw everyone with those tendencies of hiding from people under the bus because of them.

This story was a prime example of what kindness, patience and love can do for someone who has been traumatized and abused. I found it heartwarming and encouraging.

The cycle of hating one’s self by believing the lies you are fed, and craving the closeness and companionship of someone who knows you and loves you despite your pain is real..

Be kind. Use discernment between the real creeps, and those who have been so beaten down by life that they have no hope and feel there is no future.

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Completed
twinty Finger Heart Award2 Flower Award2 Coin Gift Award1 Big Brain Award2
83 people found this review helpful
Aug 8, 2025
24 of 24 episodes seen
Completed 80
Overall 10
Story 9.5
Acting/Cast 10
Music 9.5
Rewatch Value 10
This review may contain spoilers

A Beautiful Heartwarming Journey of Love and Growth

My review is based purely on the drama.

I did not read the novel.

Our Generation is an adaptation of the novel, Ying Tao Hu Po (Cherry Amber) by Yun Zhu. It is a story of enduring friendships, family, love, and growth in pursuit of dreams and self-knowledge. It centers around a girl named Ying Tao (Cherry) and her friendship with Jiang Qiao Xi, Yu Qiao, Qin Ye Yun, Du Shang, and Cai Fang Yuan. They call themselves the Qunshan gang. Ying Tao forms a special bond with Qiaoxi, and their story is one of young love that grows beyond time and overcomes adversities. Our Generation is a beautiful emotional journey that shows how the characters share experiences and traverse through societal expectations and the challenges of their personal lives to find themselves.

⊰FORMAT⊱

The drama begins with an introduction of the young characters primarily through the eyes of Ying Tao in episode1. By episode 2, the drama uses a time skip to the high school years. The high school years end around ep 15 and move into the college years, ending with their adult years in ep 24. Throughout the drama, flashbacks are used to inform or highlight the connections between the past and present. The flashbacks add significance to the theme of growth beyond time. Pay close attention to dialogue and expressions as everything in this drama holds significant meaning.



⊰CHARACTERS ⊱

🍒Ying Tao is a bubbly, kind, empathetic, and resilient girl who is the center of the Qunshan gang. As Yu Qiao once told her, "It is not you who needs us, it is we who need you." Perhaps her positive nature and confidence come from growing up in a loving home with wonderful parents who love her. She isn't afraid to face conflicts. Her outgoing, positive nature is the sugar coating to her tough backbone. She does not give up. This aspect of Ying Tao's personality remains constant throughout her growth. She has a wonderful sense of empathy for others, and she will take the initiative to help those she feels are in need. Her friendship within the Qunshan gang endures the changes through time. And her bond with Qiaoxi grows from friendship to one of love. Ying Tao's realization of her goals to become a teacher who uses her strength to help her students know themselves embodies the themes of Our Generation. This innate aspect of her character makes it easy to understand why she was drawn to help young Jiang Qiaoxi.




❤️‍🩹Jiang Qiao Xi is introduced as a quiet and subdued child who was a brilliant student and a math prodigy in episode 1. He comes from a family with a tragic history. His older brother died. His parents treated him as a substitute son. His mother sets high expectations for him because she wants him to fulfill her dreams of what her late son should have achieved. He had to wear black because that was his brother's favorite color. He was never allowed to be himself. But when he meets the young Ying Tao, she tells him his name is special after she discovers his parents chose it randomly with no thought for its meaning. She make him feel he is Jiang Qiao Xi. She brings light and warmth into his life. She is his "hero." But Qiaoxi is a flawed character due to the mental abuse from his mother.

A significant quote from Jiang Qiao Xi that describes his character flaws:

"Back then I thought life was just a cage. For my freedom, for the people I loved, I kept searching for the key.
I was so sure... I am that smart, so I can pick every lock.
Now I see, the world is not only full of notable cages...but with countless invisible confinements.
In front of those, I am a fool.
I will not pull the people I love into those cages with me. "




✈️Yu Qiao is Ying Tao's close friend who stood out apart from the rest of the Qunshan gang. Even though Yu Qiao has special feelings for Ying Tao, he never puts his needs before hers. He admires her for her kindness and courage. He knows she can take care of herself. He once said, " She can make a rock look innocent." I liked his character so much that I hoped until the end that he would be happy. It is satisfying that he succeeds in his goal to be a pilot.



💘Ye Yun is Cherry's best friend. She works hard to help her crippled father in his business, and she appears mature and level-headed. Even though Ye Yun acts as if she doesn't need anyone, Ying Tao never gives up when Ye Yun pushes her away. She sees her struggles and wants to make her happy. She softens Ye Yun with her persistent friendship. When Yu Qiao signs up Ying Tao for the cheerleading team, she objects until she sees Ye Yun sitting apart from the rest of the team. This experience of teamwork in facing adversities strengthens their friendship. Ye Yun has feelings for Yu Qiao, but it was never reciprocated. However, the drama leaves us with some hope that these two will one day become more than friends.



🍒FAMILY & FRIENDSHIP🍒

Ying Tao's parents are supportive and caring. This contrasts Qiaoxi's parents and the reason Qiaoxi often eats meals and spends time at her home. The families from Qunshan support each other. They share each other's burdens.
The friendship between Ying Tao, Qiaoxi, Yu Qiao, Ye Yun, Cai Fang Yuan, Du Shang is heartwarming. They will run to help each other and even give up a birthday wish to the one who needs it most. One scene that stands out for me is when Qiaoxi made red scarves for all of them, and when his mother came to take him away, they all stood with the red scarves around their necks in a clear sign of solidarity. How wonderful for Qiaoxi to turn around to see this sight. While the drama makes it clear that Du Shang and Cai Fang Yuan are equal in friendship with the rest, their characters were not as developed as Yu Qiao and Ye Yun. I would have liked to have seen more of them.



🍒💕🍒YING TAO & JIANG QIAO XI🍒💕🍒

The romance between Ying Tao and Qiaoxi develops during high school. I will highlight some significant moments to show that there is a gradual development in their romance. Every episode adds some meaning to their relationship. Their first meeting in high school in episode 2 begins with a misunderstanding. Even though the misunderstanding is not cleared up until ep 6, there were many moments in between showing they cared for each other. In episode 6, after Qioaxi chases Ying Tao's bus to talk her about the misunderstanding. The drama hints at Qiaoxi's dream of a future with Ying Tao when he tells her he wants to live up to his promises to her the way his cousin in Hong Kong keeps all his promises to his wife. He doesn't want to get her hopes up when he is not free to follow through on his promise. And yet he contradicts himself by showing his desire to get close to her. Qiaoxi's explanation for his behavior is simply, "Heart over head."

A pivotal moment that highlights the romance is in episode 9 when Qiaoxi sees Ying Tao at her cheerleading performance. He stands apart from the crowd with eyes fixed on Ying Tao. This is one of my favorite scenes because of Zhang Ling He's portrayal of a love-struck young man...the stare, the smiles, the look of pure delight...makes it clear he is in love with Ying Tao. He made me smile. But personal struggles get in the way and by the end of high school, which takes place in episode 15, Ying Tao and Qiaoxi reach the turning point of their relationship. They confess to each other and Qiaoxi tells her his dreams of their future together. Then he disappears. While some might dislike his actions for not being honest with her, I saw the struggle within him as if he wished his words were true. It was clear he did not want to leave her. While some criticized the drama for not revealing his reasons for leaving, I felt Zhang Ling He's acting was enough to show how much his character wanted to stay and how deeply he loved Ying Tao. I felt too sad knowing Qiaoxi was going through something he did not want Ying Tao to know. His last vision of her before he leaves is one of happiness.

Ying Tao and Qiaoxi meet again in episode 19 when she goes to find him in Hong Kong. He tries to make her leave, feeling he is not worthy of her. Jin Mai put everything of Ying Tao into her acting. This is where we see the empathy and courage of her character. Her performance, especially her speech in episode 21, is one I have watched multiple times. She makes it clear that Ying Tao understands Qiaoxi. Jin Mai put enough anger into her performance without overacting. She tempers anger with empathy and love. Ying Tao does not back down and tells Qiaoxi, "I fought like hell to get here. I am not leaving!" The last 5 episodes of Our Generation culminate in a beautiful outpouring of love, trust, and acceptance. Zhang Ling He's emotional performance as he struggles to resist his need to be with Ying Tao is one that stands apart from his previous roles. Qiaoxi appears tired and defeated as if hanging on to the last thread of resistance. There are glimpses or yearning between the facades of stubborn resistance. There is also humor and witty dialogue. The scenes are so beautiful, I watch on slow speed to catch every single word and expression. I will not spoil it for you with the details, except to say they are emotional yet funny.


🍒💕💍THE ENDING🍒💍💞

Our Generation has a happy ending. The wedding scene is beautiful and creative. However, I wish they had included the family and friends. I felt as if I ate the whipped topping of a delicious piece of cake and didn't eat the rest of it. I know the family and friends are present, but we don't get to see them. The final episode shows their life together as a couple and their relationship with parents and friends. It also includes their careers and accomplishments of their goals. Our Generation is one I will watch again and again. I found myself rewatching scenes and pausing to absorb the dialogue and emotions. Our Generation was a beautiful and heart-warming journey of love, family, and friendship.



🍒SIGNIFICANT QUOTES FROM YING TAO🍒

"Once I decide to love you, I'll love you forever.
Even if you become extraordinary, I will not love you anymore
Even if you remain ordinary, I will not love you any less."

" Jiang Qiaoxi, do you really think you won that battle with your mother as child?
That was a superficial victory. You've always wanted us to love you as you truly are,
But do you ever know your true self? Do you accept and love that person?
You just want to add a halo around your true self so you feel worthy of love.
This is the toxic root of yourself."

"You pushed me away and still, I don't hate you.
Because I know deep down, you wanted to come to me and be there for me." 🥰


❤️‍🩹SIGNIFICANT QUOTES FROM JIANG QIAO XI❤️‍🩹

"I know I'll never be perfect in my lifetime
But don't you see, Ying Tao? I just don't want you to suffer with me."

"Ying Tao, all these years I've been trying so hard to prove that I am Jiang Qiaoxi.
Back then I had good grades, I gave up math and forfeited my guaranteed admission.
Even resorted to extreme methods to prove I am Jiang Qiaoxi.
But just now when I heard you say my name...I realized I existed all along."


🍒❤️‍🩹 HE CARRIED HER ON HIS BACK🍒❤️‍🩹
Qiaoxi: Ying Tao, I can hardly keep my life together. How can I be there for you?
Ying Tao: That's why I came. Jiang Qiaoxi, don't be scared, I found you!



🎶FAVORITE OST- GROWTH BEYOND TIME (excerpt)🎶

...You're the key to who I am
Accompany me to become myself

...Silent dreams are calling
You're the key to all I've dreamed
Accompany you to become yourself

...The story takes root and loneliness melts away in warm embrace;
I've always been here....💞

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