Reborn (2025)

" To live in hearts we leave behind is not to die ".. - Thomas Campbell

What should I start with?? I hated most of the characters in this drama.. Except obviously our leads and a few of their friends.. The adults especially were just infuriating.. So much of the pain and damage in this story gets buried under the guise of pride and so called values.. It was frustrating to watch.. I managed to avoid the spoilers for so long so I went in expecting something else but definitely not this..

Great leads, great performances.. And Zhang Jing Yi is just the best thing about this drama.. What a career she's been having.. She is an impressive actress and she seems to be on a path to glory.. Zhou Yi Ran was good too but obviously this was Jing Yi’s drama..

Now, about the mother character.. In a drama like this, where emotional acting is key to elevating certain moments, you would expect her to deliver a pretty solid performance.. But honestly she didn’t.. It just didn’t feel real to me.. No offense but maybe someone else would have been better suited for that role..

Love is the brightest element here..
But it's also the start of a disaster..

Just a heads up.. The following might sound harsh but that’s only because of how irritated I felt while watching.. No offense to anyone.. This is just how it came across to me..

I honestly hated the FL’s family and her relatives from the core of my heart.. The father was a spineless worm and the mother was a clueless, dumb woman.. They didn’t deserve their kids.. Just giving birth and working hard to raise them isn’t everything.. They were partly responsible for everything that happened.. Every individual in her life failed Qiao Bei Yu.. Her parents failed her too, especially her mother.. Its so hard to understand this, a girl died, their child, their family and nobody except the FL seemed to care?? It took her mother 14 eps to show some concern for her dead daughter.. To open her mouth and question the people who were also part of the reason for her death.. And it took her close to 20 eps to actually react.. Yeah she was depressed, fine.. But does that really take away the blame?? Qiao Bei Yu literally ran back to them, asking for help, begging them to protect her.. And they still sent her back to those monsters they called relatives.. And oh God, where did they even bury her?? Why couldn’t they at least fight for a better place for her??

" Their love is silent but profound " Is it worth it if they couldn't protect their daughter?? Is it worth it if they couldn't make sure their daughter lived a life without being constantly harassed by people?? And is it still worth it if they couldn't protect her even from their own relatives??

I wasn’t expecting this drama to be so story driven and deep..

I liked the ML and his family’s story.. It was scripted well.. Their issues were nothing compared to the FL’s family, so it was actually nice to get some screentime away from that mess for a while..

Something about the couple.. With all the other irritating parts this one really got to me too.. The FL was way too harsh on Ming Sheng.. The only person who was truly ever there for her, who did so much for her and she called him a burden.. I don’t understand how anyone can think that breaking someone’s heart just to push them away is the right thing to do.. What justifies that?? His mother left him, he is distant with his father, his grandfather died.. And now the person he loved told him she hated him and called him a burden.. How is he supposed to feel?? She chose her family.. Fine, good for her.. But is that how you treat someone who did so much for you??

Now the romance part.. It was obviously minimal.. Well they were teens dealing with issues that would be too much even for adults but, they were sooo good together.. The chemistry was strong.. And Zhou Yi Ran the forever green forest.. He was her Lighthouse.. ( You will get the reference if you have watched the drama.. ) I so badly wanted to see their dating era.. But we didn’t get that.. Still that’s alright.. I just hope we get to see them together in a modern drama soon.. The romantic finale was really good but it ended up feeling a bit too short all things considered.. After everything they went through, I just wanted a little more time with them together..

Overall this drama is excellent.. But I think a lot of the poor reviews and lower ratings come from people expecting something else entirely.. It was never just a romance drama.. It’s heavier, more emotional and painfully real at times.. Just go in with no expectations..

A life unremembered is a life truly lost..

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Two teens, no peace, all emotions — Zhang Jingyi & Zhou Yiran era

Zhang Jingyi x Zhou Yiran

Finally, my most anticipated drama of the year is here — and it did not disappoint.

Zhang Jingyi once again proves she’s THAT actress. The way she carries Qiao Qingyu’s trauma, the quiet mystery in her eyes, the weight of depression, and still—that spark of youth trying to fight for her sister’s truth? Flawless.
Zhou Yiran complements her perfectly. He hides pain behind a playful smile, showing that not all scars scream. Their chemistry? No intimacy, but the eye contact alone speaks volumes. Sometimes tension doesn't need touch — just two hearts syncing in silence.

This drama packs it all — youth, romance, thriller, grief, secrets. It’s literally a genre buffet.
What more could we ask for?

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