Meet Yourself

Meandering show that goes nowhere

I started off really like this show, the first 2 eps hit hard and made me cry alot, when something happens to a specific character.
The FL then takes a long trip to Yunnan and stays thre for awhile, the entire drama is just basically about her life in yunnan and the various characters' lives in Yunnan.

Yup. That's about it.

I went into this knowing this was a slice of life drama, but even in typical SOL dramas, something happens. Something usuallyhappens to th emain character to make them rethink life. Here? When that character passes on, I expect the FL to actually grief properly and that changes the whole outlook of her life etc. However, whatever happened in those first 2 chapters were never quite addressed again, and the rest of the drama goes on a completely different tangent. There was no huge conflict arcs - nada. Just nothing to look forward to. Ended up dropping this after taking 6 months to finish 13 episodes. I ff-ed to some of the later episodes - and it was the same-ish kinda tone - with small things happening to different characters, but I come off feeling like I didn't miss anything.

Some pros:
- Nice-ish scenery
- Good acting from most of the cast. I really like Damai's character and her story arc
- Every character has a "problem" in their life they needa solve
- Nice food scenes
- Promoted the yunnan food/culture sufficiently

Cons:
- This drama was wayyyy too long for something that had almost nothing happening. 25 episodes would have been enough
- Boring sets. Yunnan has amazing scenery but you barely see it here, the characters are just confined to the same old sets
- Boring music/OST - the same song plays over and over again for emotive scenes
- Too many characters. It's like an ensemble cast honestly. There are some characters i wasn't interested in, so the focus on their storylines bored me
- The romance was too slow burn and I felt that they should have stayed friends. Absolutely no chemistry between Li Xian and Liu Yifei that when they did get together, I couldn't buy it and didn't find it romantic
- LYF's acting is just meh. She goes around yunnan in perfectly-coiffed hair and thick makeup and red lipstick - seriously, woman. you are in yunnan on a supposed break, you can chill abit on the dressing up. She looked so out of place alongside other characters who were more naturally made-up. When I see things like that in the drama, where the lead is clearly dressed better than the other characters, it just shows me that the actor/production/both want to make the particular lead stand out. I get it, but do it via the storyline or the acting, and not the aesthetics please, it just looks so out of place. And yes back to her acting - she half-whispers most of her lines I have no idea why when everyone else is speaking at a normal tone, and has no emotions at all. I couldn't get into her character at all and Hongdou came off haughty/dismissive many times to different people. There were several scenes where she was thinking about her friend and it was obviously a sad scene, but there were no emotions on her face, nothing. It just takes me out.
- Li Xian is fine but I felt his acting here was abit forced. I've seen him in many other dramas and really enjoy his versatility

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loksyutnya keren, alurnya keren, castsnya keren

Nonton ini dibikin jatuh cinta sama karakter-karakternya yang sangat-sangat relatable. Setiap episodenya punya ritme yang pas, jadi nggak bosan2 banget atau ngerasa kelamaan.

Yang paling aku suka tuh alurnya yang ringan dan lokasinya yang nyegarin. Bener2 kaya diajak liburan bareng, wisata bareng, kulineran bareng wkwk dan dramanya jg punya keseimbangan yang sempurna antara humor, romansa, konflik.

Ni drama ga ada antagonisnya, jadi ga yang dramatis gitu. Terus akting castsnya ok, chemistry mereka jg ok, aku kaya ngeliat orang lagi ngobrol biasa, kaya lagi offcam.

Overall, ini drachin yang paling bagusvyang pernah aku tonton. Rekomendasi banget buat siapa aja yang cari tontonan ringan tapi menghibur, sempurna buat ditonton maraton. Dikasi S2 jg masih bagus sih ini.

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achievment unlocked - congrats you created group therapy clinic!!!

its slowpace drama in which every character got some personal problem.
But miraculously if you gather alot people with such problems at one place ...
congrats you created group therapy clinic!!!

Its alot alike to Hometown Cha-Cha-Cha, BUT I would say its not comedy... it specialises on vibe and healing and human relations including romance.

plot - FL is city woman, workaholic working in hotel. Cause of tragic situation she got emotionally drained.
She leaves resign work and leaves city for small village in search for peace and quiet life to regenerate her injuries.

genre - healing vibe, countryside, human relationships, romance

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Exquisite

Despite its flaws, this is one of my top five C-dramas. A story of finding yourself in the midst of heartbreak. It centers on a young woman who experienced deep heartbreak and went on a long term vacation at a sleepy town in rural China.

Plot: Slow paced in every sense of the word. This drama is character-driven and the romance is one of the most slow-burn you'll ever see. So this drama might not be everyone's cup of tea. But joining the FL in her path to healing and bonding with her newfound friends makes it all worth it.

Cast: Known in the West as the actress who played Mulan, Crystal showcases her superb acting skills in this drama. Her soft-voice and gentle demeanor matches this drama's atmosphere to a T. She's so talented. Fans will also recognize the ML as the protagonist in Go Go Squid. Xian is also a perfect fit since he doesn't have top model looks, making him a good fit as a likeable everyman who is devoted to his small town and fights for his ideals while trying to woo the FL in relatable ways.

The support cast have backstories that are for the most part endearing and engaging, but I could have done without the guitarist You Yu Hu and the ML's colleague, Xiao. A divorced single mom, Xiao is short fused and no-nonsense, so it was hard to understand why this professional woman was once married to a guy who is so mellow, introverted and simple-minded. I know opposite attracts but without any backstory the contrast between the two is jarring. She also shuns another potential suitor but there's little explanation behind her choices, making her character too one-dimensional.

However, my biggest peeve goes to the lazy and aimless guitarist Hu, a kind of a starving-artist stereotype who was the butt of all jokes. A character for comedic relief is understandable, but the guy was the target of so many put-downs that, as a male viewer, it got very annoying after a while. As icing on the cake, he had to be "rescued" in a scene by an older woman. In short, saying he was a wimp is a big understatement. They laid it down too thick with this character, so I skipped most of his story arc.

Final Thoughts: There is another concern about the script that few people talk about, but it needs to be said. The leads were both in their 30s. I believe the FL was already 30 when she met the ML and the drama makes it very clear that she is focused on building her career in the upcoming years. Similar to You Are My Glory, you get the sense that if the couple starts a family, it will be well into their mid-30s, at the onset of a geriatric pregnancy, and the challenges that it entails. No drama I've seen, whether in the East or the West, shows couples even remotely talking about this matter. It would serve the impressionable young adults who watch these dramas to see this important topic at least mentioned when couples plan for the future and decide whether to bear children or not.

All that aside, Meet Yourself is so highly rewatchable since it deftly weaves together wise teachings with inspirational stories about the power of friendship and community as we find our meaning, healing and thirsting for life. You'll fall in love with the sweet grandma, the chatty townswomen, and the charming backdrop and slow pace of life in rural China. I hope to see more dramas that explore more regions outside the big cities and shows more of the vibrant and diverse landscape of East Asian culture.

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Healing

The last 15 minutes made me so inexplicably sad and made me cry, I don’t know why🥹. This show was really comforting and served as a means to let go of some of my feelings, which makes me appreciate this gem a lot. Liu Yi Fei is incredibly natural in her acting in this show, she easily conveyed any emotions and really touched me with her performance. Li Xian: I only know him from some clips of “Go Go Squid”, and in those he looked rather stiff, so I didn’t know what to expect. He quickly proved to be very charming, fun and expressive (key word: eye acting😏) on screen, and I enjoyed all the interactions his character had.

I think the show had too many sub-plots though. Too many stories to be told, and at one point I started losing interest and only cared about Hong Dou, granny, A’Yao, and the girl trio (girl friendships 🥰🐥🍓🌸🌷🌞🌈💜💕❣️), basically anything that involved our main leads.


The OST and cinematography were also simply sublime and so pretty!

Overall, a beautiful healing series that goes right into your heart with a dash of romance!

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A light hearted drama

Firstly the story starts off with Xu Hong dou,the female protagonist,being depressed with the demise of her best friend and then decides to go on a trip to Yunnan, where she makes new friends and her life changes forever.
What attracted me the most in this drama is it's cinematography.The locales were scenic,very relaxing and pleasing to the eyes!!
Liu Yifei as Xu Hong Dou is apt for the role.
Li Xian as the male lead was good in his acting.All their friends were good.
The friendship development between all of them was nice .
This drama also teaches us to never lose hope in life,also find your place of peace and happiness and always follow your heart.
Particularly I liked the character of Granny Xie and her bonding with her grandson Xie Zhi Yao.
The music and background also are nice.
Overall a worth watching drama.Watch it for a relaxing change in your busy life.

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Giving a tired soul a bit of warmth – more than a healing drama

This is my first ever review after watching so many dramas; that's how much I love this drama.

Just like warm hot soup on a hungry raining day, this drama heals your soul. It just feels like you are watching a documentary of this village. It feels like you went into their world and are enjoying their stories. It doesn't feel like acting at all. All characters feel like these are made for these actors. Their play is so amazing. Everyone is a main character, and it highlights each household’s problems and their life.

Everyone is a main character, and it highlights each household’s problems and their life.. The story tells about life and choices we have to make in our life, different kinds of love, parents’ love for their children, neighbours’ love and friends’ love. Real-life struggles of families in an undeveloped village, friendship, and pure love between the main characters. In life, people come and go, and people part ways with attachments and feelings. It is so lovely and scary at the same time. The love between two people from different places and the courage to start and continue their love — it's so lovely.

I feel so attached to each and every character of this drama. Thanks to all the actors and screenwriter for producing such a masterpiece drama. Even 40 episodes feel short for me. This will forever be my first to watch whenever my soul needs healing. And sad after finishing, because these are characters and not real.

PS. I started this without any expectation because I saw many allegations about this with Hometown Cha-Cha-Cha. But after finishing, this drama became one of my all-time favourite dramas, more than Hometown Cha-Cha-Cha. This drama has more details, more warmth, more emotions than HCCC and nothing similar at all except that this was a village-based drama.

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A Death That Inspires Life...

I loved this. But I'll start with a gripe so I can end on a good note.

I remember interacting with an MDL user once who said she didn't like Cdramas because they glorified work in an unhealthy way. That stuck. I thought it was interesting, since I expected Chinese entertainment to portray more traditional family dynamics, being a traditionally patriarchal country. But I discovered this is not the case. Almost all dramas portray both spouses working in some capacity. So, as I've watched more Cdramas, unfortunately I think this critique is true. I'm not sure if this is just a Chinese ethic or if it's propaganda from the government (any time a drama portrays the government as "goodhearted" and "functional" instantly smells fishy; there is no such government. And entertainment is the place where much of that critique happens in countries with the freedom to speak their mind in media (but not so in Cdramas! It makes me a bit leary)). While the writer and/or director managed to meld this glorifying of work into a much healthier and more tempered message about healing (that includes taking something of a break from work, but not really, because Hongdou can't help but jump in again) and finding your passion, discovering who you are, finding a partner to build a life of mutual dignity and respect with, and figuring out what you want in life, it still smacked of the clear message, "Every good, responsible citizen will do their part." But again, the glorifying of work (thankfully) was almost smothered by the more positive, cozy, and upbeat elements of this story, and these allowed me to embrace it despite some of the drawbacks.

On to what I loved.

The drama just oozed cozy, comfy, and relaxing vibes. The plot plods along at a gentle, soothing pace, like a stream flowing slowly and calmly to its destination. The leads' relationshop was one of the healthiest I've seen in a modern Cdrama. It was all just so comforting and like a warm hug (my favorite kind of slice of life drama). It does remind me of Hometown Cha Cha Cha in ways, but it's a much slower pace, and very little drama or angst in comparison. I love the quiet, ambient moments where a person is just filmed enjoying a breeze in Youfeng Couryard, or sipping a cup of tea as steam wafts from their drink, or shots that almost felt like snapshots or still lifes of the countryside in all its quaint beauty (I can totally see why this area boomed with tourism after this drama aired!).

Finally, as I was close to finishing the drama, I thought about how much Hongdou's life was changed (for the better) by traveling to Yunnan. And it was all because of Chen Nanxing. If it weren't for Chen Nanxing's death, Hongdou would never have gone to Yunnan, and she would never have grown, blossomed and flourished like we see her do as she rediscovers who she is, and what she wants in life. Nanxing changed Hongdou's life, but also so many other people's lives by extension. What a beautiful legacy! I hope my death can mean as much (whenever it happens, haha).

I just loved watching Hongdou grieve, heal, fall in love, and find her feet and stumble upon her passion unexpectedly. It was beautiful, and inspiring.

P.S. Granny has to be my favorite old grandma from any drama to date.

P.P.S. The music was perfect.

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Tempo super slow. Vague characters esp. in support roles. Selling point is just the scenery.

The story progresses super slow. I could watch it with full attention for only 10 minutes then I had to go with 2x speed, but that's still too slow. In the end, I had to go faster or else I wouldn't be able to get myself to the end of the episode. And at the end of EP.1, I didn't feel like I missed anything at all.

In EP1, it's the story of FL and her best friend - which is boring - really. They try to make it touching, but nothing in the girls' relationship moved me. The story between them is very loose. I don't feel attached to her friend or believe they're best friends at all. The script writer team did very less in building the foundation for the girls' relationship - I don't see where their strong bond comes from nor believe the bond exists or is even real. And with nothing to convey, the team still forces their way to drag the girls' story into a full EP. This sets a too lagging tempo for the series from the start - which is hardly a wise opening strategy for any series, I would say, as this means they imprint their 1st impression in the audience's eyes as a boring story.

Since the ML doesn't show up in EP1, I gave myself and the series another go with EP2. Here, the setting changes from the city to the pretty village in small town. The set is very relaxing. The atmosphere totally contrasts with EP1 (in a good way). The cinematography is decent and does justice to the location.

However, the same problem isn't solved. The story hardly goes forward. Nothing much happens along the way. I don't feel life in other characters apart from the main characters though they're close relative, colleagues or has long dialogue in their own scene. They're very puppet-like. The team has done a bad job in introducing their characters. And the huge problem is - I don't feel that any character (even FL or ML) is interesting. Until the end of EP2, they still can't make me feel engaged to their characters or story.

And when I glance to see the number of total episodes.... my gosh 40 is to many for this level of story. I imagine it's gonna get more dragging. They're going to squeeze all kinds of their bodily liquids into dragging it to 40. No matter those liquids are blood or tears, it's gonna turn into plain water half way.

So with that glance, I decide to drop this series.

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