Gen Z Episode 5

Superficially light-hearted, this drama touching on some heavy topics.

Finally watching this series (it's been on my list for a long time). I've got to say that I'm really, really impressed by Zhou Lusi's rendering of the Sun Tou Tou character. Yes, she seems superficially feisty and silly and difficult. And obviously good for a laugh or too. But Tou Tou is actually so clearly very, very complex. There is a deep sadness and tragedy behind the silliness and it surfaces as a sincere practical wisdom at times. Her words of absolution and encouragement to the boys who were so depressed about mis-diagnosing Meng were pretty touching. And her legit talent as a cook surprises all her higher-status peers. And then the episode closes with her honest bewilderment at not understanding the point of bowing in memory of the TCM predecessors, speaking the words: "I don't know them. And they are not your relatives. ... This is so strange." Many would find her behavior disrespectful but she is speaking with sincere bewilderment. Lusi's well-known talent for connecting the emotions of the audience with those of her character is on full display here as, even with an unconventional character like Tou Tou, she still draws us in so she becomes our surrogate in each scene.The layered, complex nature of Tou Tou seems apropos for the show itself. On the surface, this drama seems fairly light weight, cute, funny and not heavy on drama. But it keeps dipping it's toes into some pretty heavy topics such as Meng nearly dying due to an ectopic pregnancy, the risks of mis-diagnosis and social class-distinctions (Tou Tou's poverty up-bringing as an orphan compared to the others - and how that affects one's view of things like ritual and what is/isn't practical). I suspect the show will be bringing most of these topics back up in more depth as the series progresses.

Read More