Meet Yourself

A warm breeze, a stroll through the market stalls, a chat in the gardens

In recent years, my grandpa had an accident and I had to hurry back to the Taiwanese countryside, staying there for half a year. During that time, I felt loneliness and grief, anxiety and anger, but most of all warmth and comfort. Being enveloped by the web of different characters and sense of community, I spent so much time with relatives and family friends, some who I thought I already knew and others who I had never met before, learning so much about them and about myself.

This drama makes me think of that time and feel a similar way. It made me finally want to sit down and write my first review. I'm writing as I rewatch "Meet Yourself" with my sisters.

To some this show may feel too much like a tourism promo or a music video. If you feel like that early on, I suggest you drop it. But, to me I haven't felt so comfortable watching a show in who knows how long.

I laughed out loud too often, grinned endlessly, and teared up at various points. The show is so well-paced and flows smoothly that I'm having a hard to commiting to a show after this. Even while I was watching, I kept slowing down and replaying episodes to prolong it. I don't feel that it is glorifying a rural lifestyle. Rather "Meet Yourself" really just highlights the mundane and reminds you of how much we should appreciate it. You don't watch this show for dramatic reveals or sudden plot twists. It only includes the drama of daily life.

I want to mention some of the side characters/stories I particularly enjoyed. At first I was concerned there would an uncomfortable relationship between Xia Xia and Na Na, especially when I found out the actor is 17... But ultimately, on his end, it was about his first adult crush and growing into adulthood; on her end, she was receiving his kindness and care in her journey of healing. Another relationship I enjoyed was Hong Dou and Hong Mi. I love that they portrayed this type of relationship where the nuances of having a sister are so real, showing the insecurities of each, the support they provide, and their roles within the family unit. Ma Ye's storyline ranks low for me, though people like him are definitely common so it was important to show. The various relationships, crossing generations and character, all had so much heart.

And the main romance...it make me so happy just thinking about it. I don't even have a strong desire to see Xie Zhi Yao and Xu Hong Dou get married or their life after episode 40 like I would many other dramas because I already know it'll be at the same speed and happiness that is true to them. The maturity of both in their lives and the occasional immaturity of both when in love (particularly Ah Yao) was so satisfying and endearing to watch.

Li Xian and Liu Yi Fei are at their best in this drama. It's a combination of the nature of this show and the type of roles that are the ideal fit for them. In some other roles, they come off a bit stiff, but, here, both feel very natural and comfortable here. The whole cast from the elderly grannies and aunties to the young kids of the neighborhood performed their roles beautifully. Xiao Ke Ai and Cui Bazi also performed 10/10~~~

Some elements are a bit repetitive but not to the point of relentless. There was a continuous amount of wind related metaphors/names. I did enjoy the poetry and culture of it so was not bothered, just occasionally found humor in it. Also, the music flows well with the vibe of this show. Maybe because I just finished watching a drama that only had BGM without vocals, the songs, at times, felt never ending.

Thank you for reading all this if you made it down here. Upon my first watch, "Meet Yourself", or "Going to The Windy Place", really was just the right temperature for me. Just thinking on it, I'm so content. It is the warm breeze that I'm sure I will need over and over again.

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Don't just exist, LIVE!

Meet Yourself is a very refreshing, calming, healing drama. This drama is not plot driven drama but instead it focuses on each characters, not only the main leads. We could see the lifes of each villagers and how they handle their tribulations in their daily lifes. It also includes friendships, family, community and has a mature take on relationship between man and woman. No episode is boring or feels like a filler episode. The drama speaks about how our lives these days are just filled with work - home and the ambitions to reach something (which is fine) and so monotonous and feel fast, but sometimes we forget to appreciate time and small happiness that happen. It reminds us just no to exist, but live! The cinematography is really beautiful and refreshes my eyes and the chemistry between the leads is wondeful. All the actors work really well and make you want to be a part of the community. Heavily reminds me of Reply 1988.

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The epitome of a healing drama

This drama really struck me different. It reminded me of the joys that life has to offer even though loss and hardship is inevitable. Watching an episode or two calmed a lot of my anxieties. The series did a great job of making you feel a connection with the individual characters and with the village as a whole.

I tend to be pretty picky about the pacing of a drama (especially C-dramas) but the pace of Meet Yourself is quite perfect. A review I read on here described it as meditative at times which is a great way to put it. It's not exactly fast paced, super exciting, or dramatic. Instead it focuses on more realistic interpersonal matters and some big life lessons. And even though some of the subject matter can get quite deep, the overall tone stays lighthearted and happy. After watching an episode or two I was always left feeling a little happier to be alive which sounds a bit dramatic, I know, but I'm telling you this one just hit me different!

There is a lot of side characters that you get to know throughout the series. To me most of the side character stuff fit in very well and did not feel like filler or get boring. I liked how some showed up only every few episodes and it felt like "hey there's a familiar face", like running into an acquaintance you enjoy. And some you get a lot closer to. To be completely honest there were maybe 2-3 scenes I skipped through in some of the later episodes where I was just uninterested in the conversation they were having, but that's pretty damn good considering how many other dramas bore me to the point of skipping to only bits where theres development in the romance lol.

I very much enjoyed the music in this series, in fact after writing this I plan on putting most of the soundtrack on my playlist. It's also nice having a musician character who doesn't overdo it on the singing but instead we get a nice song from him every once in a while. I often get bored when someone sings a whole ass song in the middle of a show but I found his song moments to be pleasant. I will say though that with any drama with this many episodes you run the risk of overplaying the themes. I think if you were to binge this the songs might get annoying but I watched probably 1-3 eps a day and didn't have this problem. Also there's this one song that talks about a horse as a metaphor for the heart and says "I'll give you the saddle of my heart" and this made me giggle a little but they use this song in some serious parts so it took me out a little hahah but I actually don't mind the song despite the lyrics being funny to me.

ANYWAYS tldr; watch this show, it is happy, lovely, beautiful, healing.

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I met myself and can't forget.

I casually stumbled onto this drama one day, thinking it would be just another forgettable watch. The first episode felt simple but oddly captivating. Then, out of nowhere, this random female character shows up—and let me tell you, her acting hit different. First thought: “There’s no way they kill her off. I need more of this character.”

Well, guess what? Plot twist. And right after that, the whole tone of the show shifted, and holy shit, it was GOOD. Slow? Yes. Simple? Absolutely. But somehow, every character, every house, every little detail feels alive and real. Even the songs hit so hard, I have to skip some of them—they bring back this overwhelming nostalgia, like I’m reliving simpler, better times I never even had.

And can we talk about how there’s no villain in this show? Finally! A drama that’s not drowning in random evil masterminds showing up to ruin things just because the writer got bored. Seriously, why can’t Chinese dramas stick to this formula more often? No Buddha-tier main characters who are weirdly perfect, and no surprise villains popping up halfway through to cause unnecessary drama. Everything here feels believable, and somehow, this show made me feel like I’ve lived in these houses. I’ve never even been to China (yet), but now I’m weirdly intrigued to go.

There are very few pieces of media that grab me by the soul and refuse to let go, and this drama did just that. Honestly, I’m scared to rewatch it—not because of the emotional rollercoasters, but because of the memories it stirs up. It's like revisiting an old photo album and realizing just how much time has passed.

All in all, this isn’t just a show—it’s a whole experience. And now, I’ll probably be thinking about it for the next decade.

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so healing <3

honestly i wasn’t expecting much but from the very first episode, i found myself crying with the female lead. her pain felt real, not overacted or exaggerated, just raw and honest. the way they portrayed grief really stayed with me. it didn’t try to glamorize it, just showed it for what it is.

i’m in my early 20s, and lately i’ve been feeling like time is slipping away from me. i always feel like i should be doing more, that i should already have things figured out. i worry a lot, about what’s next, about what I haven’t done yet and it makes it hard to just be in the present.

i moved to the city for school, and since i’m a pre-med student, going home isn’t something i get to do often. my days are usually packed, early morning classes, skipped breakfasts, long nights spent studying. i’m constantly busy, but deep down, i feel like i’m just going in circles. that line from Dou about feeling like the hand of a clock, always moving forward but with no real direction really hit home. it felt like she was speaking for me.

this drama made me pause for the first time in a while. it reminded me that i don’t need to have everything figured out right now. i’m still young. i have time. there’s no need to rush through life like every day is a deadline. we never really know what tomorrow brings, and maybe that’s okay. maybe it’s enough to just live one day at a time.

what i loved most about this drama is how real it felt. it didn’t just focus on the leads, it gave space to the other characters and their own stories. everyone was going through something, and the show gave each of them a chance to heal. it felt less like watching a scripted show and more like witnessing the lives of people i could actually know. people like us, who are lost, tired, and just trying to make it through each day.

i also loved how the main leads' relationship wasn’t rushed or overly romanticized. it grew naturally, and it was rooted in mutual healing. nothing felt forced, it was slow and steady.

if you’re in your 20s, or even 30s or 40s, and you’ve been feeling tired or unsure about where life is going, i really recommend this drama. it serves as reminder that it’s okay to slow down. that you don’t have to keep moving just for the sake of moving.

after watching it, i’ve decided to take a short break before my final year of school. i didn’t realize how much i needed that pause until i watched this drama. we all deserve to enjoy life and not just survive it. maybe i’ve been moving so fast, i forgot that i’m not running out of time.

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Simple, Therapeutic & Lively

If you are looking for a nice, calm, real and emotional modern story with romance, look no further than this epic piece

Story: From the get go the story is emotional with FL life changed quite suddenly and it sets the tone for what happens next. Its real and can seriously happen to someone if not already in real life. Changing settings to restart a new is not an uncommon phenomenon. Cut to meeting ML and his family and knowing his own story and how the two people and their lives end up matching and develop. All in the while, family incorporation mixes with life goals and adding in romantic parts. Very nice dialogue and plot

Acting: ML/FL chemistry is great and I have always been a fan of the FL, so I may be biased here but to me the acting has been done well. Support characters acting is on par and I like how it all gels together.

Music: Nothing too fancy, just dandy

Rewatch Value: If you are down to watch a series of healing, moving on with life and tackling challenges with a partner/romantic partner than this is one not to be missed, I have rewatched some of the epic moments multiple times.

Overall: I am aware there are some people finding this a slow drama however this is what its all about. This was never meant to be a fast pace drama, as it attempts to reflect how people heal, make choices and ultimately how they change their lives or others in a positive way. I find this fantastic modern drama starting off in 2023.

Cheers everyone, and hope anyone that attempts watching this enjoys it as much as most people have so far.

Shing

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Long but enjoyable

It was too long thanks to all the characters and their issues that needed to be resolved, but it did manage to tell a story without the usual Chinese template. There’s no tropey romantic moments (accidental kisses, blisters on heels, fireworks, etc.) and no love triangles, obsessed chicks or tyrannical parents. There was an internet scandal, but it was a past event in one of the side character’s lives (thank you, screenwriter, for not putting us through one of those!) This drama is mostly about relationships and the problems/benefits of living in a small village. There’s a slow burn romance between ML/FL, and that’s about it. We do have a side character (Mr. He, the musician) hooking up with an old lady (old compared to him but not old as compared to the various aunties or ML’s granny), but thankfully, their romance does not take a lot of time. I think he would have been better with the web novelist or even café worker, but for some reason, Asian dramas are obsessed with older women-younger men romances these days. I still don’t like an age gap of over 5 years, and this one looked about 10+!

My favorite character is probably Mr. Ma (or Haochao – I’ll always remember this actor by his Go Ahead role).

As for the leads, I definitely liked ML. I liked this actor an A’Yao better than his Go Go Squid role because he was friendlier, warmer, smiled a lot and was just an all-around nice guy. I also liked that he was just a normal guy – he wasn’t a born-rich CEO – trying to make a happy life for himself and his community. He was realistic as was his romance with FL. As for FL, I liked her quiet mature demeanor, but I wasn’t wild about her, probably because she was too reticent. Half the time, I didn’t know what she was thinking or feeling, and it took her until nearly the final episode to admit to loving ML…and she didn’t say it, ML said it for her. I like still waters that run deep, but I never really saw any ‘deep’ emotion from her. And at times, she could act childish – like when she got mad at ML for suggesting the café worker meet her problem head-on. But, overall, they were a realistic couple who didn’t rely on the normal tropes to express their devotion to each other.

Although I found the drama enjoyable, I did have some questions at the end such as:

1) FL apparently goes to Yunnan to heal from her best friend’s untimely death. Her friend had encouraged her to live life to its fullest, to find what she enjoyed. However, how is FL’s life any different at the end than what is was in Beijing? Yeah, she has a boyfriend now and strong relationships with the people she met while staying in the village, but she’s still focused on a career above all else. Rather than being happy with a single homestay in Yunnan, she wants several homestays throughout China. How is that relaxing? How can you stop and smell the roses with those big plans? How can she spend quality time with A’Yao if she (and he) is busy with work? For once, I’d like to see a drama where the leads are happy being together and enjoying a simple life rather than toiling away at a career. Success is not measured by wealth or prestige; it’s measured by how content you are with your life.

2) It’s been a year, and they still aren’t married. At least, the in-laws are finally meeting. Talk about a slow burn romance. Sorry – I’m not a fan of open endings. I like things signed, sealed and delivered. There's plenty of hints that they will eventually marry, but without seeing it, the story isn't complete in my mind.

3) I understand ML’s desire to develop the community so that there’s more jobs for the residents, but do they realize that development will change what everyone currently loves about the community? You’re no longer going to have the peace and quiet, the strong connection with your neighbors that you previously had when there's a bunch of noisy tourists everywhere not to mention all the new people moving in, forcing their values and ideas on you. There is a reason why some people chose to live in a small community, and they aren’t happy when the city comes to them, ok? Honestly, I could see those men who attacked FL’s construction site being more upset about that than not getting their fair share of the ‘wealth’. Living in a community that’s currently experiencing high development, I can well understand current residents not being pleased that their paradise is being changed. I think more time could have been spent showing the downside of development.

4) Also, the big development push is getting a bookstore to move into the community. Well, I like bookstores, but they’re starting to be a thing of the past thanks to e-books so how it that a benefit?

5) Finally, I preferred the homestay FL stayed in to the one she built. The one she stayed at was homey and quaint, idyllic even, while hers was nothing more than a hotel. There was no ‘home’ in the homestay, no character or warmth. It looked institutional to me.

I gave an overall rating of 9.5 because I wasn't wild about FL's character. I couldn't 'connect' with her even though I prefer mature characters. I had a hard time believing that she actually loved A-Yao because she didn't express the warmth of love very well. Also, I marked down the music because, although I liked the songs, I got tired of hearing them over and over again for 40 episodes.

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Pretty, but that's about it.

City life is stressful, folks, so let's move to a beautiful village in China! It's by a glorious lake backed by glorious mountains. Sample its delights in a gorgeously photogenic homestay full of vintage and artisanal charm, where you can sit peacefully sipping tea in a flower-filled courtyard with tinkling windchimes, friendly cats, no litter and not one single bug even though there aren't any screens. While you are here, you will be gently encouraged into wholesome activities by adorable grandmas in cute cultural costumes, while random people impart wisdom to you in not-at-all-clichéd epigrams and show you the True Meaning of Life! (tm)

Unfortunately, the promotional postcard was just that; much surface, little actual dramatic content. It was vaguely soothing to watch for a while just because it is so pretty and nicely shot, and all the points I am giving it are for that. But it didn't deliver anything else, for me: some cute photogenic moments but no real depth to anyone, and definitely not enough story to fill 40 episodes. The romance left me not only cold but actually feelIng lIke kIcking the ML's cheesy white grin - he was annoying and kinda preachy, and after far too long waiting for something interesting to happen I came to my senses and dropped it. I love a thoughtful slice of life, but it has to not bore me, and sadly, this did.

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