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i love everything about this drama. what pissed me a little was the slow burn. it took 24 eps before they got together and the remaining eps being them as a couple. i may be satisfied if they finished it off with a wedding but hey, its still good and worth watching! its really a comfort drama. i love xiaowen's character, it really clicked with the FL. Was this review helpful to you?
I'm still on the restaurant
👍
I watched a lot of school dramas in Chinese, and some of them have similar storylines. But I knew that each one would always be unique in some aspect. When I started watching 'Always Home,' I couldn't help but continue watching. I didn't think it would turn out to be so good, let alone one of the best. I picked this drama because of one of the actors, who played a role in another drama I enjoyed, and I wanted to see more of his work. As it turns out, he's one of the main leads in this drama.
I must say, this drama is really good. It explores how our lives change, and we often forget the good things that happened in our past, especially during our school days. However, something can trigger memories of the past, and even if our surroundings change, the memories remain. Even if our house is torn down or our favorite snacks are no longer available, it's okay as long as we have a way back home. And in life, there's always a way to get back on track.
If you're reading this and want to watch the drama based on my review, I can assure you that it stands out. It teaches us to cherish the moments we have and make decisions that matter. When the drama talks about 'home,' it's not just about the physical structure or furniture, but about something we all seek - love, memories, and happiness. Watching 'Always Home' won't disappoint you; it'll teach you valuable lessons. Although it's a romance, it shows us that life can be better if we choose to be happy, even if it's just for a moment.
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A refreshing and wholesome youth drama with the greenest flag characters.
I finally finished watching it, and now I'm sad. I didn't think i'd love this drama so much. The storyline was so refreshing and sweet. The main three characters ' song cong, jing xichi, and chen huan' er' are three of the best characters I've ever seen. They all had distinct personalities but somehow they fit each other so well.I really enjoyed watching their journey from high schoolers to working life.
The relationship b/w xichi and huan'er is one of the best in C-dramas. Their chemistry was so natural, the way they supported e/o through everything was truly a treat to watch.
I wished song cong would end up with du man. They had great chemistry.
Overall, they delivered everything and ended on a very good note.
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A Heartfelt Masterpiece
It's been so long since I've been this glued to a drama! Always Home is such a beautiful and touching story that I genuinely didn’t want it to end. I could have easily watched more because this wasn’t just about school life—it was about the journey of growing up, the struggles and love of family, and those small but meaningful steps in life.One of the standout performances for me was from Xi Chi (who I remember from Falling Into Your Smile). I completely fell in love with his character here—he's the definition of a green flag! His relationship with Huan Er was one of the most innocent and beautifully developed romances I’ve seen in a long time. Their love felt so pure, built on trust, care, and genuine understanding. And Huan Er herself was such a sweetheart—her warmth and kindness made her character truly shine.
Then there’s Song Cong, an SML that I absolutely adored! I was beyond happy that he and Qi Qi didn’t end up together. Qi Qi was such a baseless character for me—selfish yet selfless in all the wrong ways. She never even tried to understand others, whether in friendships or relationships. But Song Cong and Du Man? Now that’s a pair I’m rooting for! They have real depth, mutual understanding, and a bond that just makes sense.
Gosh, I’m really going to miss this show. It’s a 10/10 from me and an absolute must-watch!
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This drama was good light hearted drama ❤️
First i didn't wanted t watch ,then i liked the main lead from sweet teeth and falling in to your smile he is a cute gentleman and I like high school dramas tooThis drama has 2 couple leads ,i liked the main one for sure they are like always tom and jerry and she is a cutie and he is always irritate her ina good way and do things for her in silently.she was the first one who fall in love with him and he fell harder then I like this genre so much like hidden love ,wifty etc .the second lead not in my likings and they don't endup together too because the girl go to pursue her career abroad and get a boyfriend there and the boy likes a girl in his medical field too so that's okay to me they didn't had chemistry from first to end so I don't have any problem and I liked jing xichi and chen huan er more they are really good couple and have chemistry.
If you like highschool drama go for it it's really good
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Fantastic ending
I don’t know why this slice of life youth drama isn’t getting more traction. Loved that the extroverted jock ended up with the girl and not the cold head of the class. Enjoyed the journey and just general life that all of the characters experienced. my heart actually broke that is was over. they did such a wonderful job of closing the story. My only complaint was I wish there was more time of them as adults before the closure. And you never got to see Song and DuMan actually get together. but definitely one to add to my rewatch list.Was this review helpful to you?
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As expected, youth cdramas are always the best!
This one is a little underrated but so good!! Characters are nice, funny and cute. We get to know not only the main characters story but also their parents story. We also see the main characters growing up as teenagers to adults, going to universities and then working. Qi Chi and Huan Er are extremely cute together and also charming characters! They had a good chemistry together and the actors did a great job in general!The last episode was really heartwarming and leaves us with a good message about friendship, life and maturity. I wished Song Cong had a better closure tho but I really liked the ending in general and I think it was a good and emotion closure to the drama.
Really recommend this if you’re looking for a good youth drama about friendship, love and family!
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Best school drama 2025
I absolutely loved "Our Secret" drama and now Always Home has also made it to my favorites list!Always Home" beautifully captures the essence of family, love, and the struggles of modern life. It is a heartwarming yet emotional story that explores themes of homecoming, forgiveness, and personal growth. The pacing is steady, balancing lighthearted moments with deep emotional connections.
Acting : The cast delivers outstanding performances, making each character feel real and relatable. The supporting characters also add warmth and humor, making the drama engaging from start to finish.
Music: The OST is soothing and perfectly complements the drama’s emotional tone.
Rewatch Value: This drama has a high rewatch value, especially for those who love heartfelt family, friend stories. Its comforting storyline, well-developed characters, and emotional depth make it worth revisiting.
Overall 10/10
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If you loved WIFTY & Go Ahead - Watch this <3
super underated and i reccomend everyone too watch this if they love slice of life, school and friendship shows, with a bit of romance of coursethis drama was everything i wanted from Go Ahead, but didn't get and ill proudly say this beats Go Ahead by far!
the pacing was perfect - we had enough eps at the start to get us into the show, know and understand the different characters and their circumstances, including the parents! it was beautiful seeing how the 3 families had their different problems, whether it was with their children, their husbands or wifes and how each dynamic was unique but realistic.
it showed how to value your loved ones in the moment, because you never know when they will leave you behind or how it's okay to be selfish and do what you want to, get help when you always help yourself and others! how having a proper wedding after having kids and a stable income is perfectly ok and should be normalized & how everyones love languages are different but still love languages!!
jing xichi was by far my fav written characters! when he had to give up on his first love - football - and lost his dad around the same time was heartbreaking to see, because he lost his spark there an then. he became the quite, serious student who was getting top grades in his class, from being the fun, hyper and lively athelete :<. Nevertheless his progress was amazing! getting a job offer from companies because of a project he made for his friends in his first year shows how far he's come -- and even though it wasn't football that gave him happiness anymore, he got a replacement; Chen Huaner! A girl who admired from the behind the scenes and who supported him at his lowest. the dynamic of their relationship was beautiful
my only major problem was with Qi Qi character -- at first i understood her but as the story grew i didn't like her that much! her reconcilation with Huaner could've been better executed and I'm glad her and Song Cong broke up and went their seperate ways --- they were not made for each other, it seemed very forced. the ending for Qi Qi does her justice i'm glad her development was executed right! As for Song Cong, his development and character was also perfect at the end! he got to focus on himself & his studies and during that he reflected on his personality and fixed the void that was missing!
overall this drama covers many aspects in a meaningful and beautiful way <3
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You might like it - give it a try
I understand that everyone has different tastes, and I know many people might enjoy this drama but personally, I found it quite boring. I usually love school-themed slice-of-life dramas, but for some reason, this one just didn’t click with me. Each episode felt unnecessarily slow, and I struggled to stay engaged or emotionally connected to the story.For context, I have really enjoyed dramas like When I Fly Towards You, Exclusive Fairytale, and Our Secret so I went into this with similar expectations. Unfortunately, this just wasn’t my cup of tea.
The actors did a decent job overall, though I didn’t see anything particularly outstanding in the performances. The storyline itself felt too drawn out, and I can't help but wonder if a shorter 24-episode format might have made it more watchable.
I honestly feel a bit disappointed after investing my time in this. I usually rely on ratings and genres when picking dramas, and I rarely drop shows with an 8.0+ rating but this one I simply couldn’t finish despite trying my best.
Again, I know this show might resonate with many viewers and that’s perfectly fine but it just wasn’t for me.
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You don't get everything you want in life
Where do I start?im a huge sucker for highschool cdramas. But this one made a huge impact on me. An amazing drama with good characters, visuals, storyline, morals, etc. I love the fact that this drama was realistic, and you just watch the characters grow and get mature. The love square at the beginning was good. At first, I did get second lead syndrome, but as the drama progressed, I got to understand that Xichi is perfect for Hanuer. Everyone has their problems, just like how life is very unfair and has ups and downs; first Song when his mother got paralysed, and then Xichi's dad, who died (I was not expecting that one bit). Last but not least, Hanuer's mom, who got a tumour. It showed me in life you don't always get the things you want, like Li Tian never went to Cambridge and Xichi never got his soccer dream he always had, but it did teach me to adjust and be happy even if you didn't achieve your goals. Their friendship circle is very wholesome. I first did not like the character Li Tian, but as the drama progressed, I started to love him more and more. He was the only one who noticed the love square, and He was the only person who gave comedic relief in stressful moments(ABCD😂😂). I especially loved the fact that Song Cong did not end up with QiQi. I thought she didn't deserve him, and since she's the SL, she will end up with him, but I'm glad that's not the case. The whole casting was perfect, as a person who watched the ML star in different dramas as either the second lead or as the Ex, I think this drama is his path to success. It's painful to watch the always funny, chaotic, easy-going person as Xichi goes to a mature person after his dad died. Overall, a great drama to watch to teach you life lessons, amazing couples, good comedic scenes and very nostalgic. And you'll get motivated to study after their hard work. The romance is slow burn, but as soon as it starts, you'll melt with cuteness. highly recommend this drama!
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RECOMMENDED
*I can't exactly express in words my awe with this drama, but I'll try!Starting this I was quite hesitant to watch. But as I watch more and more, I see it's beauty and worth.
This drama, starting from the cast, is splendid. I especially loved the acting of the Male Lead (Jing Xichi), he's very good, (at first I actually thought the Male Lead was Song Cong). And as well as other actors (I was kinda disappointed with QiQi a little). Their chemistry together is good, from friendships to romantic relationships. I also judged a few characters who were actually who I never thought they would be, in a good way. You can tell it's a good drama.
It's pacing was just right. Although at first I was a bit reluctant with how they felt close already, after just a short period of time. But as you watch more you witness yourself—they're growth with each other, the romance between the characters, and how they slowly become adolescents to adults.
This stands out, even just a little, from other romance dramas. Although the plotting of getting close, falling in love, and being in a relationship is cliché, they showed it in a nice and perfect way, where you won't get tired of it at all. It has flaws, but it's not something that tears the fact that you shouldn't watch it.
Their chemistry is actually like INSANE! The way the drama actually showed every little emotion and action that led them to falling in love with each other is just awesome. And the way their eyes show the affection, and how you can see through their hearts, that they're actually in love. Although I was a bit cringed with how they were when they first got together. They're still worth to be with each other.
It doesn't just revolve around romance and falling in love, it shows the pain, sorrow, grief, hardships, and challenges their families went through. It's good that you can feel those very emotions they intend to show. And their course in finding they're dreams, and fighting to achieve it. It simply shows reality.
I actually hoped there'd be more episodes, to show more of their future. But still, they ended the drama beautifully, just enough for you to witness.
P.S. This review might not be that convincing for you to watch this drama, but please do! It's worth it, that's what I can promise! I think I can top this off as my favourite, out of all the chinese drama I've watched! One more thing, it made cry quite a bit.
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