The White Olive Tree (2025)

No. Way. I have no words.

I simply cannot believe that in our current world FULL of depressed young people who look up to these characters and relate to them, they somehow thought it would be a good idea to have the main leads take their own lives at the end?!?! Now anyone who also feels they will “never get well” has the excuse they need…good job, writers/directors. Slow clap for you. I don’t leave many reviews, but this made me SO angry at the sickening irresponsibility shown here…wow.

I don’t blame the actors, they did the job that was handed to them, and SO well, especially the ml. The ost is achingly beautiful, and the scenery stunning.

But….I just can’t even. It’s debatable whether lines were crossed with the brutality shown from ep 36, personally I didn’t like how far it went, but ok. But the ending wasn’t just bad, it was irresponsible and sickeningly stupid for them to do. It should probably be taken down and not shown unless they change the ending.

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please don't judge TWOT after only 2 episodes

First things first, as someone who has read the novel and absolutely loved it, I should have a critical look at the adaptation. But you know what, I've waited so long that my mind says: no matter what happens, you love it, even if your high expectations are not met.

Just one please, don't judge the drama after only 2 or 3 episodes, some people say that it is slow paced and yes that is true, but it gets better in the further episodes. Another negative point was that it was too much fluffy romance, but oh boy just wait and see when the 180 degree turnaround comes.

So please don't listen to the sometimes toxic comment section that is influenced by wannabe film critics on YT (AX). See for yourself, form your own opinion, not everyone has the same taste and that's a good thing. Criticism is good but pure hate is not.

I really enjoy the drama, the chemistry between the two leads is absolutely great. The set looks very good, and the fact that parts of the city in East Country were built especially for TWOT is particularly great. I also think it's great that you see the effects of the war on the individual characters. I've never had mental problems and don't want to presume to feel them, but the depiction of the characters' individual mental problems makes the pain sympathizing.

There's not much to say about the OST except that it's soooo good, just listen to the intro and you'll know where it's going.

so is TWOT a 10/10: no (for me it's a 10)
Does it have its flaws: yes
Is it still worth watching the drama: definitely

Finally all I have to say is just enjoy The White Olive Tree.

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Good actors with average script, direction and a 'be' climax. Zero rewatch value

Disclaimer !!! Personal opinion. Please watch the show and evaluate yourself. I am writing this review to express my disappointment other than rating which I usually do.

Warning: Consider your mental health before watching this drama!!!

First things first. I started watching this drama because of my interest in journalism and mental health theme.This drama isn’t about healing—it’s about wounds that never healed. Life is already miserable, and choosing to watch something even more painful and traumatic was my mistake. I never abandon what I start, and that, too, is my fault.


Whenever people see something emotional, they tend to call it great—that’s exactly what’s happening with this drama. It’s emotionally draining, with an abrupt and heartbreaking ending. Aside from Zheyuan's acting, nothing truly stands out. However, it does have the power to leave viewers emotionally shattered due to its intense depiction of physical abuse. If you enjoy watching such content, this drama might be for you. But as someone who can't tolerate violence, I ended up skipping a lot.


Here’s what didn’t work for me:

1. Filters – The visuals are overly whitewashed. A warzone setting with these filters just doesn’t work.


2. Slow Motion – I found myself hitting fast forward. It feels like the director is stuck in the last century.


3. Editing – Feels disjointed at times, making scenes look out of place.


4. Female Lead’s Character – As a war correspondent, her character is poorly written. Being introverted doesn’t mean being shy and blushing all the time—I can confirm this as an introvert myself.


5. Forced Emotions – The emotional scenes often feel unnatural.


6. PTSD Treatment – No doctor would handle PTSD like this. It’s far from realistic. Exposure therapy is adviced in safe environments. Not like throwing the patient under the bus.


7. Romance – If two people are in love, they should communicate. Acting like strangers even after sleeping together feels frustrating. CZY had insane chemisty in Our Secret, Mr Bad and HL. They had good chemisty but not insane like CZY's previous works.

8.Song Ran’s crying – She cries in almost every episode. Honestly, any actress could pull this off the same way. There’s nothing special about it, at least for me. Her charecter was poorly written as a war correspondent who is supposed to be brave and logical, no matter what.

9.The last thing I want to address is the ending. It’s an open ending, but no matter how you interpret it, it remains deeply tragic. Personally, I like to think of it as *** making a sudden escape. The alternative—that they eloped to the countryside—feels less convincing. Avoiding triggers without proper treatment only worsens PTSD, and in the novel, Song Ran could only offer love and care, not the professional help he truly needed.Judging by the way their spirits appear together at the end of the show, it seems they ultimately chose to end their suffering after ten years—the time it takes for a white olive tree to bloom. To me, the first interpretation makes more sense, as elopement seems unlikely given the immense support they received from their families.

The male lead's performance was outstanding, and the female lead, along with the supporting cast, delivered remarkable performances as well. However, the storyline is frustratingly cruel, an endless cycle of hardship without resolution. Don't waste your precious tears on a fiction that feels underdeveloped and incomplete.

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War is bad

This is a drama, that basically tries to tell us that war is bad.

The end.

Okay, maybe not the end,

The drama did have a romance with mostly decent acting by the leads medicre english and odd acting by some of the side characters. The female lead got on my nerves more then once, the male lead as well as his interactions with the female lead were fun to watch most of the time but he also had some moments of annoying. This main couple was probably the couple in dramaland that communicates the most with each other without actually communicating,.But their chemistry kisses where decent, even though I pretty much shipped the male lead with a guy at the mental hospital at one point just so he wouldn't go for the female lead and her childish ways.

There is a pretty decent obviously (if not for censorship) gay couple who could have made a great thruople with dr. Pei or maybe we could ship her with A Zhan... that could work too... The boys interactions had great chemistry enemies to lovers vibes far, far away from brothers.... And while A Zhan probably made most peoples heart flutter in the early episodes, He was swiftly overtaken by Ben in the later episodes, a guy who made the best of the limited screen time he got.

Back to the war is bad part of the plot. While there are several conflicts going on in the world. This drama is purely a work of fiction, Or at least that is what they tell us. Combining issues seen in conflicts all over the word doing their best to keep it clear from a specific war they do make sure we know that war is bad China is good, kind, the land of heroes there to protect the poor poor people of war (basically any American war movie out there, just with Chine instead of US). Rebels are evil creatures who see children as shields and are in it for the thrill of killing the innocent even the dogs get killed by these vultures who long to make things blow up.

Why the rebels decided to start blowing people up is of course completely irrelevant in this story as there is clearly only one side that is good and the other is bad. Period (agin much like 80s American war movies). With the nuance of war being profitable to mercenaries and evil journalists who do not care for the people.

However what they do add to the war is bad, is the amount of ways war is bad trying to evoke emotions over and over again. Trying to put faces and tie stories to the victims of war showing how it affects families, orphaned kids, kids who die, kids who eat candy and then die, throwing in some human trafficking and child brides, And top it all off with severe PTSD, depression, anxiety etc. By the end I actually felt very little. While I believe they tried to make us feel stuff and wanted to say that journalistd and pictures can change the world. I felt that they pretty much explained the process of dehumanisation/normalisation by over exposure instead.

So while the music is touching saying goodbye my friend... The ocean of sadness and attacks where Lost in the wait and I guess they didn't really make me find my way back to the emotions, The silent tears didn't find their way out and the only thing that felt like a knife in my chest was the OST who plays over and over again in my head and in my buds.

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2 Sides of A Coin

"It's better to die in broken pieces of jade than to live a life of clay"

This quote sums up the gist of the story. The drama is actually pretty deep. Although it is depicted as a romance-military genre, they took it on a much slower, very delicate and pretty dark approach. Why does it have such a slower pace? Well, because the journey that you're about to take is not going to be a smooth one. They indulge us with rosy and fluffy moments only to slowly pull you down, and further down, leaving heavy angst dancing in mid air.

It focuses more on the healing process rather than about the war itself. It delved deep into the core of relationships between lover, family, friends and colleagues; not forgetting the hope for humanity in general. The sensitive subject is not everybody's cup of tea. PTSD is no joke. I wouldn't say that they nailed this subject, but it's a fair exposure. The diverse characters explored in here will definitely leave a mark in your heart, whether it's a good one or a bad one. Simple small things like gesturing a smile, plain water bottles or even an apple will never be the same.

Story
It's not your typical love story. A girl saved by a boy, got separated then tried to reconnect, they meet again and fall in love; the only catch is you have to put a warzone in the middle followed by its aftermath. It's not going to be a smooth journey as the main characters will suffer heavy trauma and life-alter experiences. It may differ from everyone's expectation, but I really love the depth of their struggle that they put on the table. It's really overwhelming to the point that me as a viewer has no room to breath. I may disagree with how they handle their issues but I'm just being mad because I can't really vent out my frustration at either of them, because it is understandable. Each has their own reasons and built-up to act the way they are.

It's not perfect. There are some issues with certain plots, certain pacings here and there, including a few lack of good editing and logic, but I guess the intention was to make us immerse and care deeply about the main characters. How they cope in a most dangerous, unimaginable situation; That somehow there is beauty in the most ugliest times. Yes, it made me root for them to be together from the get go. It also made me hope for the characters to heal and have a deserving happy ending (Just another me in a wishful thinking mode). Please be warned that the journey you're about to take, watching as it unfolds is like walking on eggshells. So, please proceed with caution and lots of tissues.

Main Casts :
* Chen Zhe Yuan as A Zan/ Li Zan
His depiction of A Zan/Li Zan is highly remarkable. You'll be captivated by him from the first moment he was introduced. His demeanor is shown as this cool, calm and collected persona. I was fully convinced that he is a de-mining expert that is doing well at his job. He embodies this character brilliantly. I was immersed with his journey from being a normal volunteer into a much darker phase; resulting from the war. The stark differences of his portrayal were immaculate. We could see how alive he was before and how messed-up he was after the trauma. The burden that he has to carry was shown ambiguously that it made us keep on guessing about his true condition. Is love ever going to be enough for him to heal? Will he snap? I felt those emotions coming from A Zan because he just wants things to go back like before so badly. Plus the guilt that he has over his friend's death, and not to mention his unfinished business in the Eastern Country. He has witnessed the casualties of war which fuel his unwaivering desire to help as much as he could, even if it means for him to break apart. His empathy towards others is off the charts. The world will be a better place if more people like him existed.

* Liang Jie as Song Ran
Song Ran is depicted as this indifferent person, as she grew up with lack of warmth because she has abandonment issues with her mother. Unlike A Zan who is much more mature, she can be a little childlike, disconnected and insensitive sometimes. That is her flaw. Often act as aloof, she meets A Zan which takes over her world. She was spellbound by him from the very first time they met and Liang Jie really nailed this character. I could feel how much A Zan has affected her. She is shown to be an independent, strong and resilient person but having A Zan in her life, somehow she became more fragile. But in dealing with her trauma, with A Zan by her side, she acts like she can overcome anything and rule the world. Those emotions were well portrayed in Song Ran. It's a much different vibe from A Zan. Her expectations of life radiate in a positive manner, a polar opposite from A Zan who is much reserved and a bit skeptic.

So which ones are you? Do you see things as half full or half empty?

Other casts :
* Eastern Country personnel
The supporting casts in here are mostly great, but it did suffer a few setbacks as their story kind of halted a little as we follow where the main characters are. So it felt a little disjointed as the focus was about healing the main characters. The narration helped a little, but I could only relate to their struggle through what the main characters experienced, causing me to feel a little less care about them in general but it doesn't eliminate my curiosity entirely.

* Family members
The cast for both families is commendable. I really like the dynamic between them. They captured the essence in general; about broken family and abandonment issues. Each portray good amount of emotion. It's believable.

OST
The musical score and the songs are really great. My favourites are Te Amo by A-lin and Moonlight Dance by Chen Xueran. Both tracks will stir your melancholic emotions; you'll be rooting for the couple to make it to the end.

Would I watch it all over again?
Yes, it's re-watchable. Highly recommended.

My thoughts so far :

A Zan - "She needs me so I have to do better"
Song Ran is treated as one of his goals that he needs to reach; aside from his work and physical ability. Unknowingly, she became one of his obstacles when he was not doing well. A Zan puts Song Ran above him. Although he wanted to keep up to match her but he ended up feeling defeated and useless, like he was left behind. Especially when Song Ran seems to be able to move on a do a lot of things. It's not his fault because he was built differently. His mother's absence since childhood forced him to be mature at a young age, so naturally he is being protective. It's understandable that he didn't want to drag Song Ran into his abyss, especially if he wasn't sure if he could come out of it.

Song Ran - "As long as he is with me, I am good"
A Zan is being treated as her motivation and her support. It hits differently. Song Ran puts A Zan by her side like her equal partner. It's not her fault though as he keeps bottling his feelings inside and does not reach out to her most of the time. So she trusts that he is doing fine when in reality A Zan is still struggling. But Song Ran in hindsight knew that A Zan still hid things from her. Thus she kept reaching out to him, ensuring that he didn't feel alone. For example in episode 18; where A Zan was struggling with guilt and isolated himself, and when Song Ran found him, she acted normal and asked how he was and cuddled him. The conversation seems natural and she didn't force him to tell, yet she shares her experiences dealing with nightmares however differ it may be. And when he offered to prepare her a supper, she didn't leave him alone instead casually joined him in the kitchen. She kept showcasing to A Zan that they are in this together, without having to say anything. For me that means a lot; but for some it may just not be enough or even damaging. 2 sides of a coin.

Edited - After ending
The ending is up to your own views of life. It's bittersweet as it left for us viewers to ponder by ourselves. The 'elope' thingy is up to our own interpretation. If you feel they didn't make it, then it's your call based from your own limit. How far can you really go for love.

In my opinion, both leave everything behind to live on their own terms of happiness; as long as they are together. It may not fit into our own standard of happiness; growing old, having kids, like a normal picture perfect couple. As for me I'm picturing them having a home somewhere in the mountains, live their slow-daily life just like what they have shown us earlier on. It may differ from yours, but I'm not here to argue.

In hindsight, I do think that they both died mentally during the kidnapping scene. Where Song Ran decides to self-inflict herself in the neck, and having A Zan to witness that shocking incident. Both barely hanging on to live on just for the sake of one another.

It's a beautiful story. It's been a while since I get so affected with such heart-breaking experience. This is a contender for 1 litre of tears in my book.

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Acting Masterclass Marred by Story, Script

Chen Zhe Yuan was the reason I waited for and then watched this drama as it came out. While he and the FL Liang Jie delivered believable performances of multi-layered nuanced characters, the whole show fell flat because of the story and stilted English dialogue.

Eastern Country was some kind of random, scrambled ethnic mess with no cultural identity or language. It wasn’t until deep into the second half that we learned a little about why the war was being fought. Because this very important piece of the story was ill-defined, it was hard to fathom why all of these characters that we loved would give their lives to try and fight for it.

Ran was a reporter that went into a war-torn country alone??? Big grown men who are current war correspondents have a team with them, but this small Chinese woman can go at it all by herself? Plus, they didn’t show her actually taking pictures much.

After the first deployment and return to China, I felt like the drama really hit its stride. The best part was Zan dealing with PTSD and Ran with depression in the midst of the bullying mix-up. The conversations were filled with pain as a result of being unable and/or unwilling to rely on each other with their weaknesses. I loved this depiction of depression and how these real issues hinder relationships. I didn’t want them to go back, but I was surprised that I didn’t mind it so much when they did, and I liked the resolution.

Everything past episode 35 was absolutely ridiculous. One dude made it so the two leads killed themselves. I wish the leads would’ve both died from their wounds in eastern country. How she survived a cut to her jugular, and he with multiple stab wounds and torture is unbelievable. This was so unnecessary and totally predictable when they kept showing the guy hunting down Zan. What was the point of having them survive the attack just to kill themselves?

I also knew Benjamin wasn’t going to make it from how they did his story. They gave us nothing with the Doctor, and his relationship with Sasin which was my favorite felt unsatisfactory as well.

My only takeaway from this drama is that the two leads could convincingly cry and make you feel something, but I wouldn’t recommend this drama. I’m sure my dissatisfaction stems from my unfamiliarity with the source material, but this kind of drama definitely isn’t for me.

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Not for the Faint of Heart; Drama You Won't Soon Forget

this drama will always have a special place in my heart. i've finished it hours ago and went to sleep exhausted from all the crying. even now, i keep thinking of it and tears up again which prompted me to write a review, as someone who have been watching countless c-dramas for years and never write a review ever before but this time i feel so empty and need to vent my thoughts. SO PLEASE BARE WITH ME!! this drama will forever live in my head rent-free and piercing through my heart. A TRUE MASTERPIECE IT IS. i respect those who don't like it because this is not everyone's cup of tea. it is so HEAVY and DEEP at the same time that explores themes of mental illness and the impact of war so WATCH WITH YOUR OWN RISK!!

first of all, this drama has broadened my ENTIRE perspective on how the current world is going through right now, causing them to live in fear and anxiety every seconds, not knowing if today is their last day or if tomorrow will come, while we're here with abundant resources and still not satisfied with our own lives. i wanted to take a moment to express my sincere gratitude to all the soldiers out there who endure the hardships of war, facing danger and making immense sacrifices to protect their nation and lives of their citizens. i am so proud of you all.

what left a big scar on my heart is that both main leads have gone through so much. they portrayed their roles SOO WELL. THEY NAILED IT!! EVERYONE IN THE DRAMA!!*applauses* the male lead who desperately wants to help those suffering from war and longs for peace in the world, tragically experiences a deeply traumatic event that leaves him irreparably broken. he was utterly destroyed, haunted by the past. watching him was like reliving the trauma with him, explain how his acting was SUPERB. on the other hand, the female lead also went through a great lengths of pain, highlighting how hard it is for those with mental illness to open up and their fear of being perceived as weak or a disappointment to others. i wish i could give everyone in the world who struggles with mental illness a big tight hug. you all deserve love and support.

back to their love story, this drama really represents a saying goes 'love conquers all' or perhaps more accurately, 'love endures through life and death'. i deeply admire their love story, witnessing how they love each other so profoundly that they would willingly sacrifice themselves for the other. last few episodes show how love meant for them in a way they can't live without each other. if one were to leave, they believe there would be no point in continuing. they went through ups and downs together and always have each other's back. even when one struggles with PTSD and the other with depression, they find solace and comfort in each other's presence. i was MOVED TO TEARS every single times they tried to put a smile on their faces to comfort each others during their shared suffering. it might seem weird to say, but i finally understand that love is not merely about being together. it's a quiet strength that holds u tgt during storm, the selfless act of putting another's needs before our owns, and the unwavering belief that u have in each other. love is so pure yet can make us blind.

as for the OSTs, i have no words. the way they seamlessly blends with the visuals and enhances the storytelling is truly masterful. it's like a hidden layer of meaning, adding depth and emotion to the overall experience. just hearing the music can bring me to tears. ik i might seem overly emotional lol but the OSTs are truly exceptional.

LAST BUT NOT LEAST, i would like to say that after watching countless dramas for several years, THIS IS MY NUMBER ONE drama hands-down. it took me on an emotional rollercoaster throughout all 38 episodes, making me experience a wide range of feelings, from joy and laughter to sorrow and grief. i felt deeply connected to the characters and their journeys. HOWEVER, it also destroyed me emotionally. im so traumatized to the point im still processing the trauma of some of the heavier plot points. BUT EVEN SO, i hope to recover and rewatch it someday.

MY ADVICE FOR THOSE WHO HESITATE TO WATCH: dont let all the reviews weigh u down from picking it up. LISTEN TO UR GUTS. give it a try. if u dont like it, then drop it. dont force urself to love it because this is not everyone's cup of tea. although, i truly hope this drama receives high ratings because it deserves all the attention it gets.
Thanks for sticking with me to the end! i appreciated it.

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Realistic portrayal of the effects of war in a soldier's life

As someone who read the novel prior watching the drama, I am delighted with the book's screen adaptation. There were brilliant scenes that were awesome and portrayed more than what I imagined those to be. Great job to the TWOT family for a job well done!

I'll start with the parts that truly impressed me.
✨ The way Song Ran was thrown backwards during the live broadcast of the war that erupted a few miles away from the hotel where she stayed at - EP.1 This is just pure art and is brilliantly executed, giving me a glimpse of the dangers in a war correspondent's life.
✨ Azan and Ranran's first meeting. I remembered I squeed that time because the main leads' chemistry is just like that bomb - explosive.
✨ Introducing Rina, Sia and Zoro in the drama. These characters were not present in the book but adding them in the drama brings more depth into the story. Rina's death is a good reason for Saxin to become a soldier. In the book, Saxin played a minor character and it just mentioned that he became a soldier (from a journalist) because if he doesn't, then the younger ones will be the one to do it. Sia and Zoro being the kids in the photo CARRY is just perfect. It's beyond my expectations really. And that photo was powerful as just as how it was described in the book.
✨ Acting. I absolutely love Chen Zheyuan's acting here. I've seen him in other dramas but nothing compares to his performance in this drama. He is top notch! Jiang Lie also performed excellent in most parts. Though there are scenes where I think she can do better but overall, it's a powerful performance from her.
✨ OSTs. This drama boasts of great soundtracks that gave me LSS throughout but Te Amo is just on another level. It's gold!
✨ Cinematography. The scenery, the lighting, color, visual effects, everything just blend perfectly justifying its tag as an S-drama.

Now, here are the reasons why this drama is only a 9/10 for me. Some storylines fell short of my expectations. This is a problem with me as having read the book first because I can't turn off my filter all throughout. I know there would always be differences between the book and the series but there were things I wished were included in the drama such as follows:
🤦 Azan and Ben's competitive fight. In the book, Azan requested to join the Special Joint Force but to do so, he needs to pass the training at the American training ground. Btw, Ben is described as an American in the book. Caucasians, having natural advantage in body built and height, were looking down on Azan, Ben particularly. Azan was given a "special treatment" all throughout the training and by the end of the day, he was forced to duel with Ben where he emerged victorious. That's how he earned Ben's trust and respect and they became brothers from then on.
🤦 The school bullying arc. It fell flat for me because this story was supposed to show us the power of a renowned journalist's words, that it could have a ripple effect that's beyond her control. I think there could be a better way to portray that scene.
🤦 The September 26 event. I wish the drama sticked to the original material, i.e. Azan threw the suicide bomber inside the house where a family of six were hiding which is eventually the cause of his first trauma. It is more powerful and will effectively support the later episode's scene about a family inside the dungeon trapped with explosives and how Azan overcame his trauma by saving that family.
🤦 There are a few scenes that are just not making sense like in episode 1, Song Ran removed her helmet and threw it away while running for her life as the bomb was about to explode. Why did she remove the helmet??? 😭 Another one is her going to war sites without wearing any protective gear like helmet and a PRESS bulletproof vest. The battle at Mt. Matuman, it should have been done at nighttime because they were planning a sneak attack on one of the terrorists' strongholds. Why in the daylight when you will clearly be visible from the enemies??? And lastly, Ben's death. Ben died in the book when he tried to save Azan. He was captured and tortured to death in front of Azan's eyes which added to his severe PTSD. In the drama, it's just unacceptable that they killed him just like that. If he already escaped and got back to the base whole, he should have survived by all means. If the plan is to kill him in the drama, then they should have done it in a very convincing way. It's so anti-climactic to be honest.

Anyway, these flaws didn't hinder me from enjoying the drama. It's one of the best I've ever seen and would still recommend it though with caution since it could trigger negative emotions for those unprepared. I, myself, cried a lot the first time I read the book. And even after reading it for the third time, I still feel deep pain inside. It's truly a wonderful masterpiece with a powerful performance from all casts and staff.

Congratulations TWOT family!

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I would say it's worth a watch

This is just my opinion
but the story did a good job on potraying the ptsd most people in the army go through.It did not romanticize the ptsd aspect of tht story like many other dramas do .The acting was very good and the male lead really brought out all the emotions.I would have really liked to see more of of ben and the doctor as their story felt very incomplete..Overall I would say I liked the drama , yes there could have been a few changes to the story but the ending was perfect according to me . The white olive tree represents purity and peace and it gave us a hint about their life.

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I loved it

I just finished watching the last episode, what can I say... I loved this drama!
At the beginning it may appear as an easy-silly romantic drama and sometimes a bit slow-paced, especially the character of Song Ran but at some point her behaviour evolves and also the plot of the story becomes really endearing and you want to watch more.
The last 3 episodes are heartbreaking.. but this story really shows the psychological damages caused by war in a realistic way. What's more, the actors are amazing! Sasin, Ben.. everyone acting was great, especially Li Zan was brilliant showing in an excellent manner the dark feelings caused by PTSD.
The ending may be upsetting for someone, but it follows somehow the original novel and well, life is not always "rainbows and unicorns" especially in a war environment.
It's totally worth it, if you don't mind to cry a little, give it a try!!!
Will I watch it again? Yes, but not soon because it left a hole in my heart.. so I need time to heal, but I'll definitely watch it again in the future because it's worth it.

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I'm trying to collect my thoughts piece by piece, but I'm probably not going to do it well. However, I can't hold back my review any longer.
I can say that this is the most tearful, the most difficult drama in my entire history of watching dramas, I won't be ashamed to say, in my entire life, but nevertheless the most beautiful that I've ever seen. There are simply no others like it! It's one of a kind. The story is difficult, the story of life, penetrating to the very bones, touching even callous hearts. It is impossible to watch it calmly, even with a stable psyche or a carefree outlook on life. This story is very pacifistic. It makes you think about the fates of people not only in war, but also beyond it, to cast aside selfishness and show empathy (which I myself, by the way, really lack).
But we, who are far from the war, cannot even imagine what it is really like to experience its consequences. I think this drama has greatly influenced my perception of the modern world, left a mark on my soul that I will not be able to look at some things the same way. This is the value of this drama - to open your eyes to things that many cannot imagine. Naturally, I do not mean only the war, but also the relationships between people, what is going on in someone's head and how, for what reasons they act this way and not otherwise. We can continue to forever spin different options in our heads, if only they had done this or that, then it would not have been like this or that. And if the script can really be twisted as you want, then it is unlikely that you will be able to keep life under control. Even the impulses of the heart, you can not always restrain. Therefore, I accept this drama and the book as it is, abstracting from the thought that "this is just a movie." In general, this drama generates a lot of thoughts, themes on which you can discuss forever, there are not enough symbols to describe everything. Returning to the drama. This is a very beautiful story about friendship, love, duty, compassion, help, humanity. And an equally sad story about pain, suffering, injustice, disappointment, even death.
Honestly, I am not happy with every director's technique, not happy with every plot arc, not happy with every moment of the script, and not even delighted with every emotion played. But it would be blasphemy to dwell on minor flaws when such serious topics are touched upon.
But, as for the acting, the last episodes make up for those minor flaws that (as it seemed to me) were at the beginning. The actors did an incredibly difficult job. Zheyuan... how painful it was to watch him in the last episodes and how accurately he conveyed the state of his character.
This drama has a leisurely narrative, a lot of attention is paid to details, dialogues, looks. And I really like it. Each scene makes you feel the moment to the fullest. As many viewers have already noted, in a rush and dynamics we would have missed all the essence of what was happening and the meaning of this drama. Moreover, such a sensitive topic cannot be revealed in a bang-bang, slapdash and done. Many were not able to grasp the meaning and understand this drama, and if the usual "dynamics" were added here, it would have been something completely incomprehensible.
Having initially resigned myself to the book ending, I accept all its interpretations, both positive and negative, and those in the middle (maybe they did not live long, but happily), they all have a place to be. And it simply cannot get any worse, because the main thing is that the characters are together. The ending was filmed very beautifully, they brightened it up as best they could and did it very worthily. It turned out to be gentle, bright, shrouded in love and definitely not like the original, which would have made us suffer even more (if they had shown everything as it is).
I really loved this drama. It caused transformation and reflection in me, and that is why it became important to me. That is why I will still recommend it for viewing. It is with such works that this world has a chance to change.

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