Meet Yourself

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.

Read More

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.

Read More

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.

Read More

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

Read More

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.

Read More

Sloooowwwww, but so pretty!

OVERALL
This drama is truly unique. As of now, I don't think there's another one quite like it. Watch it if you 1) are looking for a nice slow burn, 2) want a drama with mature vibes, 3) like slice-of-life series. Skip if 1) lowkey propaganda bothers you, 2) ensemble dramas (which focus on many different characters) bother you, 3) dramas without a plot bother you.

THE STORY
Let's be honest: there is no story here haha This drama is just about life. It does start out as a story (something happens, FL needs a break and goes to the countryside), but then it's just 40 eps of FL living in the countryside, travelling back to the city, and living some more in the countryside. As someone who is not really into slice-of-life dramas, I dropped the drama at least 10 times. But I kept going back to it every couple of months because it's SO different, and I can now say I'm really glad I pulled through.

What's good about the drama:

- Mature vibes, from ALL the characters. No childish, annoying women, no high-pitched baby voices. Real people. I LOVE it.
- FL and ML have a very refreshing relationship, the friends-to-lovers type but in which both are really self-aware. Once they get together, they're also quite playful, and they have pretty decent chemistry. I liked them a lot!
- The script is at times quite deep. Lots of topics are addressed in this drama, from burnout and work stress to mourning and loss, and many inspiring quotes are told. You can tell when a drama takes itself seriously because the writing is 10x better than average.
- The cinematography is AMAZING. Awesome scenery, great filters, nice sets. Everything is flawless in that department! It makes you yearn for country life haha
- Story-wise, the second half of the drama is MUCH better than the first. It feels faster paced, and we get more of the main leads (rather than the many side characters)
- The relationship between family members is super endearing, especially in FL's family

That being said, Meet Yourself is not going to be in my list of favorite dramas of all times for a couple of reasons:

- I prefer dramas with a plot. The first half of this drama felt SO slow. I kept falling asleep while watching, even when skipping parts. Artistically, the slow pace is meaningful (it reflects how life also feels slower in the country), but I personally do not watch a drama to see life unfold in real time. I have enough of that in real life, thank you! Give me a plot and a decent pace! Luckily, the pace picks up in the second half.
- There are too many characters with a "story" of their own, and they're not all interesting. At least, I couldn't care for most of them. It would have been better if only 2-3 of them were 3D (developed) and the rest were just 2D friends or neighbors.
- In the first half (mostly), this drama feels too much like government propaganda to lure people into the countryside (go there, there's less stress, people are nicer, and they need you). Almost every ep had the characters gathering somewhere to talk shit about the city and how their lives were miserable there, and every other ep, some characters pointing out how life is hard for the people in the country because of lack of funds/labour/etc. It kind of got old and pulled me out of the story.

I still definitely think everyone should give this drama a try. If Chinese contemporary dramas could all go in this direction (and improve it), that would be so great!

THE ACTING
Fab, fab, fab. Liu Yifei was awesome! But the rest of the cast didn't fall too much behind. Their interactions were so organic, you don't often see that in dramas!

THE MUSIC
Catchy and fitting, but only the Chinese songs. The English songs were a monstrosity! haha

REWATCH VALUE
Low. It's just too slow for me. But I'd love to rewatch some clips, especially of main couple!

Read More

A well-written mix of happiness, angst, sorrow, joy and excitement portrayed magically!

I once dropped this show after watching 3 episodes. They were too deep and sad for my mental state back then and I decided to stop. But I'm just so glad, months later, I gave this show another go. Best decision ever! This has to be one of my favourite shows. This show has made me wanting a WFH set-up in a beautiful airbnb in a peaceful environment so much!

What I like the most about this show is that ALL the leads have a brilliant background and story. Yes, you heard it right. You do not feel any imbalance in how they handle the multiple characters. Enough and more time is spent on the struggles, achievements and daily life of all the characters instead of being focused on only Hong Dou and Zhi Yao.

I also like how they've shown a broken yet extremely independent and sensible woman in the form of Hong Dou. She prioritises her mental health, is willing to work on herself when things are not right but overcomes it all (with the help of our wonderful characters) to get back on her feet. She does not let others guide her future and is a force to reckon with. Whether it be her family, or love, nothing gets in the way of her dreams, and that is just aspirational. What is even more amazing about this is that she does all of this without stepping on others, she considers everyone's feelings, acknowledges them and talks it out peacefully, commendable!

I also like the character of Chairman Xie. He is a self-aware and brilliant guy who knows exactly what he wants and gives his all to achieve the same. Although his character is too good to be true and very philanthropist-y for my liking, kudos to him for being like that and staying at it throughout the show. His commitment to his goal and community is commendable and it makes me look out for my own Chairman Xie.

My favourite characters though have to be of Na Na and Da Mai. They have developed beautifully over the show, given their best performances and worked magic on the screen. The bond between the two is also magical and something I aspire for. But having said that, all the actors including the village aunties and uncles, have brilliantly depicted their roles and the acting in this show is very top-notch by everyone.

What amazes me to this date is just how calm, composed and peaceful Xu Hong Dou sounds. The tranquility that sets whenever she's talking is no joke. So gentle and so sweet. It's like she could say 1000 mean things to me, and I would still be focused only on just how tranquil and gentle she sounds. I've never heard any actor portray a character like that and usually I find it very annoying but Hong Dou's tone matched the entire show and it's concept so well that it was a brilliant touch!

What I didn't like about the show is the little Chinese propaganda flowing throughout, but personally, I've learnt to overcome the same after having watched countless Chinese shows. At some point it also feels like a tourism documentary but I don't find any problem with that because the show has otherwise delivered on every single front so what's the problem with a little advertisement. I've been to Yunnan, Kunming and Dali and hands down the beauty of these places needs to be shared with everyone.

If you're looking for a feel-good, deep, and absolutely BRILLIANT show, then don't think twice. THIS IS IT. I can't recommend this show enough to everyone. What an amazing 35 hours of my life. Cheers! 🌸

Read More

Friends

This has to be one of my favorite dramas. Everything about it touched my heart.

Every villager, from the innocent little children to the beautiful wise grannies became friends that made me laugh, frustrated me, made me want to defend and protect them - and brought me to tears.

Every cast member was perfectly chosen and the story was brilliantly developed. Each character was given time so that you learned about them empathized with them, cheered them on, and wept with and for them. I can’t say there wasn’t a character that annoyed or bothered me due to tropey storylines. You’re able to watch them struggle and overcome things while being supported by each other. There was no backstabbing or crazy childhood friend being goaded by an overly controlling mother trying to force an arranged marriage.

The Ml and FL had sparks flying off the screen the whole drama. It was a joy to watch them draw closer and build up a solid, mature friendship before they committed to each other.

I just have to say that the ML’s granny had to be my favorite. She loves hard, fights back, teaches and protects her family and friends without reserve. The actress that portrayed her made me want to get to know her. This was a beautiful way to portray healthy familial love.

Some people might give this drama a low score because it takes so long for the leads to become a couple, but I think that’s one of the great things about this drama.

If anyone notices the FL’s obsession with time represented by the clock in the intro, at the hotel, her need to always know what time it was - even to rent one of the children’s wrist watch, and the comment made by the clock repairman at the beginning which basically said if one gear breaks the whole clock shuts down. After a few days the FL stopped obsessing with time As her heart and mind began to unwind from all the pressure she put on herself because of work, that is when her healing began. Then eventually she was able to remove her self from the clocks mechanism and realize that life is what we make of it, while strict adherence to her former jobs regulations, the importance of recognizing that rules and time can be their own prison. And, it is much better to let life roll on and do what you can to the best of your ability.

The friends she made in this little village were more understanding and loving group. Every quirky character was portrayed beautifully.

Needless to say, this one deserves rewatching. I feel like I missed a lot and want to go back to see them all again.

Read More

There’s virtually nothing happening for the first 4 episodes…

I dropped the drama as it is too slow. The cinematography is good, but the drama is shot like a movie, with no plot happening for the first 4 episodes. There’s a man staying in the lodge who is a comic relief as usual who is quite irritating and pointless as a cast, who does not contribute to the storyline. I dropped it without watching further. I do not understand why the drama has such a high rating, besides the fact that the two leads are good looking and Yunan itself is picturesque. The precipitating factor for the FL to move to Yunan is due to the passing of her good friend, but that is merely a device used by the scriptwriter. Overall too slow for me to continue watching.

Read More

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.

Read More