Gen Z

Laugh, learn, Live. Be good.

This series has the characters written carefully and its a matter of execution by the artists which they delivered so well. Kudos to them.
Its not much on TCM, nor romance but delves more into building and nurturing relationship, a healthy one with family and the society.
I started to watch this expecting for a romance but I realized through, life and drama is more than romance, people. And I find more interest and curiosity on the simplest bits this drama shares so I really had to skim through every episode for learning and understanding. Here, I laughed so hard then I get to thorough silence. I'm watching this again as some kind of an inner healing, an inspiration to stay good, finding balance to life.
Watch this through understanding the characters, the story is a picture of life, sketchy as it is but the characters are really inspiring.
For I who is fond of romance drama, I find this better and among the most interesting drama that has little of it. I won't threw in spoilers, you have to figure in the drama whether you agree with me or not.

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Had potential

The name Gen Z is just not well-suited for the drama. I disagreed with a lot of ways the things were handled by the grown ups in the drama. The whole concept of the drama was not for me. But I can say that the master-disciple relationship between the Xing Zheng and Sun Tou Tou had a lot of potential.

I'm not a fan of Tian Zhen and couldn't actually see him in favorable light once he left Sun Tou Tou drunk alone, where she almost drowned. He was too damn irresponsible at all times. Never stepping up when he made any mistakes, always allowing others to take the blame for him. Let's not forget that in order to alleviate his guilt about Meng Meng, he tried to keep her with him so that he could treat even knowing that it was beyond his expertise. I could only like him for the last part of the story because I chose to turn a blind eye to all of these things & because that's what Sun Tou Tou wanted.

I couldn't believe the way things ended for Meng Meng, what she needed was a therapist not Tian Zhen who wasn't capable of taking care of her. Her parents were even worse, trying to lock her up as if she was some monster. They all failed the poor child.

I didn't much care for how Ling Lan treated Sun Tou Tou, telling her to leave even without giving her the chance to prove that she wasn't guilty. Sun Tou Tou was a such a bright light throughout the drama, she was childish at times knowing that she would be kicked out even if she behaved, not really believing the whole thing about her being the descendant.

Zhao Lusi was the one who made the drama worth watching, her performance as an orphan who knew that she could be kicked out if she stepped one foot out of the line was marvelous. She is a joy to watch & it broke my heart every time she was blamed for things that weren't her fault. She got so used to it that she didn't hesitate in taking the blame & being selfless when she thought it would be better for her master's family.

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a long review for a for a rollercoaster of emotions

I have a lot to say about this drama, so if you haven't watched it yet and want an opinion (beware of spoilers!) feel free to read my LONG review.

I'll say one thing: Gen Z is a good drama, but it suffered from repetitive and dumb script choices.

If there's Lusi and the topic interests me, I'm in. That's how I got to Gen Z. I thought about watching it while was airing, but I decided to watch it when I was ready to really dive into the narrative.

This cdrama was a rollercoaster for me. I felt anger, hate, sadness, pride, happiness, anger again, warm in my heart, and many other sensations.

I had never seen anything about Chinese medicine, and I found it very interesting. Despite a lot of information that I couldn't understand - about 75%, if I'm being honest - at various times I managed to apply the things that Dr. Ren taught, in my life. Although, of course, I think that not everything is beautiful and not all things in life you will achieve just by wanting and having faith.

Following the trajectory of the main character, Tou Tou, was my motivation to finish this drama, to be quite honest. Yes, the core of the family is interesting, but the lawyer and that envious poor boy got on the nerve. Until now, I don't know what Shen Pen saw in her, for God's sake. Well, he was the one who married her, not me, lol.

Anyway, I didn't find anyone outside of the family nucleus, apart from the best friend, interesting to follow. I thought there were so many people that it ended up being poorly developed. Interesting characters, like the doctor of Western medicine, or, as I said before, the best friend, could have been explored more than the annoying lawyer who, despite having evolved, was just annoying and a snob.

Now talking about unnecessary characters: Meng Meng.

I don't think her story wasn't important, but her existence within the plot had no use other than developing the ML's romance with the FL, and make he grows up as a person (and it's good that he became better at some point because, for the love of God, he was such a spoiled brat).

In my opinion, I would have had no problem placing her as a student or as a second female; I would prefer that to simply watching a huge disservice to psychological disorders by placing a character who clearly had a compromised mental condition to be stuck with a 25-year-old guy who basically played the role of her pseudo-boyfriend (and, no matter what you guys say, it did look like a boyfriend. sorry, guys).

There are a lot of things in this drama that I can tolerate if I try really hard, but not this one. There is no plausible and justifiable reason other than that they needed a way out for the two main characters to get even closer and decided to make the worst possible choice: creating a poorly developed female character that will only serve as a development tool for the male character. End. As always.

Like, why does she live in ML's parents' house without any psychological support? is there any logic to this? It's OBVIOUS that whoever watches it will be annoyed by the character, because there's no explanation for 27 episodes about what the hell could have happened with her!

Now, let's be honest: this drama was a representation of the patriarchal system in practice.

Basically, we had all men (the father, the ML, and the poor envious man) making mistakes after mistakes and having the women (whether the wife or the FL) wipe out and take the hit for them. This irritated me SO MUCH throughout the drama, but so much so that it got to a point where I just wanted to curse the writers.

In my opinion, the drama wanted to show that not all the wisdom and altruism in the world is a solution to pettiness. And that's exactly what pp's mother said: we give our best to strangers.

The father, basically, has all the ideas and dumps them in everyone's lap to solve them. my wife to clean it, the other one to lend it to me, this one to solve it for me, my disciple to solve the shit I caused by lying to two patients, and so it goes. Everyone smoothed things over for him, and I thought the words his son gave him was well deserved; He is extremely selfish, indeed.

The son is not left behind, obviously. He almost killed FL with his irresponsibility, he let her take the blame for him TWICE and it took the girl almost dying for him for him to become "a man". At least, he evolved, right? There are people, like the poor envious man, who spent the entire drama lamenting how difficult his life was, humiliated the FL, set her up, and other awful things but, of course, carried on as if nothing had happened, like ?????

Well, I've been through a lot of emotions with GEN Z at many, many points. I don't think it's a bad series, I just think that maybe it tested the intelligence of those who watch it a little, putting things that don't make any sense to the plots, actions without consequences (especially if coming from men), and endings without... Outcomes (?). To this day, I wonder whether or not FL is the successor.

The writers were like: Could it be? find it out!

Other than that, I loved it. I complained, but I liked it. I just thought it was kind of silly that the actor didn't kiss because he was an idol; There are so many idols out there who do this and it's fine, you know? He looks like that boy from Miss Crown and Mr. Lizard, who can't kiss because of his wife. If you want to become an actor and have these silly impediments, honestly...

Anyway. Watch it, give it a chance. Lusi puts on a great performance, we have good performances from other actors too, interesting reflections, beautiful people, hints of romance and a wonderful protagonist.

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It's one of the few love story dramas that I really enjoyed. I received electro-acupuncture treatment for a year so I am interested in this topic of Traditional Chinese Medicine. I really hope this drama inspires more young people to learn about it too. One of the best things I like is Ren Xin Zheng and his wife, they are so cute. The grandparents are also cute too. They are respectful elders with both wisdom and wittiness.
The drama has a good balance between reality and the usual perfection in the C-drama world. Each character has his/her own problem that is common in life and has a realistic ending, some are sad but overall are happy ones.

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Zhao Lusi was good, and everyone else was bad. A horrible and boring script

"Gen Z - Hou Lang" is a melodrama about Chinese medicine. I finished watching the drama today, and I must admit this is not a great script.

Zhao Lusi acted better than everyone else in this drama. Still, her screen times were low compared to other series because it is an all-star cast, and the character building is very slow.

Her onscreen chemistry with the ML, Luo YiZhou is not great (she had the best onscreen chemistry with Yang Yang and Wu Lei, imo.) Her characters in WRTW and LLTG are much better, stronger, and more complex than Sun Tou Tou.

I didn't know that this was Luo Yi Zhou's first drama, and he did a decent job. Although he and ZLS played love interests, there was no kissing scene at all, so it was disappointing.

I love Zhao Lusi and her acting abilities; however, I do not like the GenZ script and Wu Gang's and Jiang Shan's acting. The drama is disappointing and draggy. It could be better if it were cut short by half. Wu Gang has been typed cast in the same type of role. He is an overbearing father prideful and stubborn husband who does not talk or express his feelings. Grrr…. If it were not for ZLS, I would drop this drama a long time ago. The curveball about Sun Tou Tou being Ren Xing Zheng's daughter in ep 35 was ridiculous, and it took until ep 39 to explain that she was not.

Between episode35-39 it added the Covid situation into the drama, which was unnecessary. The wife who cared for Ren Xin Xheng, because he had Covid, did not use a mask or protective gear. Even though it has a happy ending, overall, the acting was boring, and too much TCM propaganda. Bad script, so I give it a 6.0 rating.

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Learned, endeared, and appreciated

This series isn't the type of series I would have queued to watched. I started watching this because of Zhao Lusi. It dragged for me in the beginning and i found it to be different from a typical series I have watched. Regardless of the story or theme, seies usually flowed showing relevant scenes. If once in a while I come across a "so-so" series, it'll have irrelevant scenes thats added as a filler & didnt make sense to be added...like it was a waste of time. This series has a lot of scenes like conversations within family, colleagues or friends that we can say not necessary but actually helped carry the series.
I found some comments here regarding romance in this series immature.
This series is not about romance. It is there but itll be slow and tho you know it is coming, it came towards the end - to me, it was placed perfectly.
It will be slow for viewers as they start watching it and you'll feel you are trying to hold on for something good but eventually you'll stick to it because you anticipate the next banter between husband and wife, talks between grandson and grandpa, naughty exchange of TouTou with her master, learning about Meng Mengs condition, techniques to help live, learn TCM, etc.
This series will guide viewers with open mind how to live better, and healthier. It is educational at the same time entertaining.
It is not a perfect series, but it is one that if you give it a chance, you will stay til the end.
The characters in this series evolved flawlessly and artists all did an exemplary job in each their roles. The casts meshed well with each other. Casting director deserved his paycheck for his work here.
Production was just awesome 👌 Location chosen were all 👏 that I cant help imagine the hardships production encountered.
Overall, it is a series I will highly recommend. Don't get impatient watching because by episode 10, you will pick up things you would try to help you live a better life even in a small way.

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Great Themes, Weak Storytelling

I picked up this drama because of Zhao Lusi and its focus on traditional Chinese medicine. I don’t usually enjoy romance-heavy or school-themed dramas, so I appreciated the different premise. What worked for me was the exploration of Chinese medicine versus Western medicine, the cultural references, and some thought-provoking dialogue. Zhao Lusi delivers a strong performance, even if her character felt overly immature in the early episodes.

Where the drama really falters is in the storytelling. The resolution of conflicts often felt unrealistic, poor decisions were brushed over too easily, and the pacing dragged across 40 episodes. Just when it seemed like a climax was building, it never really arrived. The writers aimed for something unique, but the plot came off fragmented and rushed.

If you enjoy Chinese philosophy, poetry, or the cast, there are still redeemable qualities here. I wouldn’t rewatch it, though a few scenes with meaningful dialogue stood out. Overall, it’s a 7.5/10 — decent but not essential viewing.

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A COLLISION OF WORLDS. (SECOND TIME WATCHING IT)

The drama "Gen Z" follows Sun Tou Tou, a spirited orphan working as a delivery driver whose life changes when renowned TCM professor Ren Xing Zheng discovers she is the last descendant of a legendary acupuncture lineage. Invited into his new apprenticeship program, she clashes with his son Ren Tian Zhen and a diverse group of students as they grow from skeptical beginners into dedicated practitioners, with a subtle but enjoyable enemies-to-lovers romance between Tou Tou and Ren Tian Zhen.

Zhao Lusi shines as Sun Tou Tou, bringing an unfiltered, chaotic, funny, yet vulnerable charm that balances the drama’s more academic moments. The heart of the show lies in the relationships between the professor and his students, especially the touching, non-blood-related father-daughter bond between Ren Xing Zheng and Tou Tou. For viewers curious about herbalism, acupuncture, or Yin-Yang philosophy, the series serves as a visually engaging introduction to TCM as both medicine and a holistic lifestyle, enhanced by serene cinematography and calming natural landscapes.

However, the drama has been criticized for its patriarchal undertones. Professor Ren often comes across as rigid and self-righteous, prioritizing tradition over modern sensibilities, which may alienate viewers who prefer more progressive leads. Although branded as a Gen Z story, its tone feels traditional and old-school, with student rebellion largely portrayed as something to outgrow in order to respect elders. At 40 episodes, the pacing also suffers, with a repetitive midsection and some secondary student subplots that overstay their welcome.

Overall, "Gen Z" is a slow-burn healing drama that rewards patient viewers with warmth, wisdom, and a distinctive focus on traditional Chinese medicine. Despite occasional preachy writing and pacing issues, it stands out for its unique premise, heartfelt mentorship storyline, and strong cast chemistry—making it a worthwhile watch.

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Una storia che vi farà riflettere molto su voi stessi e sulla vostra vita

Inizio col dire che ero molto indecisa se iniziare questo cdrama date le numerose recensioni che lo definivano noioso, lento o altro. Dal mio canto, invece, l’ho trovato un drama incredibilmente interessante.

STORIA: Per prima cosa, i rapporti che si vanno a raccontare sono molto più ampi e variegati: non è la semplice storia d’amore tra due ragazzi, ma è una storia di amicizia, famiglia, amore, salute e senso ultimo della vita.
Non ci sono momenti noiosi o superflui rispetto alla storia generale: ogni personaggio porta uno specchio di vita in cui molti possono riconoscersi e le loro problematiche vengono affrontate in modo da permettervi di riflettere su diversi metodi di approccio e di risoluzione del problema.
È un vero e proprio comfort drama.

L’unica nota dolente per me sono stati alcuni approcci alle patologie che da professionista sanitario mi hanno un po’ infastidito. È una forma mentis che ormai è parte di me, quindi un po’ come uno dei protagonisti della storia per alcune cose mi sento di dissentire.

ROMANCE: molti si sono lamentati anche dell’apparente mancanza di romance, in realtà io credo che in GenZ venga raccontata una delle storie di innamoramento più belle, coerenti e con il giusto passo. Se siete amanti del trope “enemies to friends to lovers”, questo cdrama vi piacerà molto.

ATTORI: gli attori sono stati fenomenali. Ognuno di loro è riuscito a portare sullo schermo l’essenza del proprio personaggio, quasi a farlo sembrare una sorta di documentario o di storia vera. Zhao Lusi è una garanzia: il modo in cui riesce ad essere così spontanea ed emozionante in ogni suo personaggio la rende una delle migliori attrici cinesi attualmente. Il dottor Ren mi è sembrato un vero medico di medicina tradizionale cinese e anche la sua performance è stata impeccabile.

ATTENZIONE: ci sono molte tematiche forti (suicidio, morte, violenze, disturbi mentali), quindi fate attenzione e valutate se riuscireste ad affrontarle.

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Zhao Lusi MADE this show

Skipped most of it. starting about 10 ep in I just watched parts with Tou Tou (Zhao Lusi), and then, after they got together, I just watched parts with Tou Tou and Tian Zhen. Zhao Lusi HELD THIS SHOW TOGETHER. There is no other way to put it and it can't be emphasized enough. Matched with Tian Zhen's actor's puppy dog eyes whenever he looked at Zhao Lusi, and I made it to ep 40. But only just. And only when he's looking at her. He's not the most compelling of actors. Though I want to know how he can do the splits! That part blew me away. And when he thought his father had torn Zhao Lusi away from him forever. That's it.

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