This review may contain spoilers
" 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 YiranFinally, 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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This review may contain spoilers
What is good about this series is that it is great for passing the time and does have some interesting moments to it.I really liked the main female lead in the one with Arthur Chen - Lighter and the Princess. In this one she becomes irritating with her predictable standoffish childish behaviour. For me personally, it was really annoying with what she chose to do at her cousins wedding and especially as she took the coward's way out. I get that we should see it as being young behaviour and total immaturity, but it should have stayed within the family and been dealt with in a less humiliating way. Some things she did were just inexcusable.
As for the families in this they aren't perfect so expect a fair share of deep hurts, misunderstandings, past traumas, abuse, bullying, unfair treatment and one death that needs to be unravelled as too much secrecy or tip toeing around it makes it a bit of a mystery.
I didn't really like the music too much in this one at all so the main theme song took a lot of tolerating, but by the end, it was tolerated and not too bad.
The main male lead I didn't mind at all nor the younger brother as one seemed sensible and mature and the other quirky and cute. Both good characters with a bit of spunk and intrigue.
In regards to the main parents - the actors did a really solid job of portraying a strict unloving mother and weak spineless father flawed by their upbringings, yet despite that, both actually did love all their kids deeply only some of the choices they made along the way weren't probably right. However, what parent always makes the right decisions throughout life? I feel most parents do the best that they can and from what they know.
I probably wouldn't re-watch this one, but if you need something to pass the time that isn't light and fluffy then this could definitely be for you.
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Incredible performances from the entire cast make this heavy drama worthwhile
==Breakdown==Background plot - 85%
Romance - 15%
Misc comedy - negligible
Background plot - Quite good and important
Romantic chemistry - Excellent
Misc comedy -NA
Production value and direction - Good
I hope Zhang Jing Yi and Zhou Yi Ran star together again. Their onscreen chemistry was absolute fire, but they had few interactions in this drama. Since I watch C Dramas mostly for the romance, this show has no re-watch value for me, but I'm glad I took the time to watch it once. The story is an important one, told with a well written script and powerful cast.
Liu Dan (who plays the mother) was also standout in the drama. Super impressed with her acting.
Overall, worth a watch. Just make sure you're in the mood for a heavy story.
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Sometimes, to survive, you must become more than you were programmed to be
If you're looking for a romance drama then don't watch this drama. This drama is about growth, overcoming trauma and accepting the things that you cannot change.The drama mainly focusing on Qiao Qingyu and her family. Her big family will really made your blood pressure rise and want to punch the screen, but at the end it will be very very heartwarming as life do gets better eventually, we just had to navigate our life.
There are many parts in this drama where I can totally understand and relate as a woman, because this drama is written so well, the team made up of woman so it really hit close to reality.
I wouldn't rewatch this because some parts are heavily traumatizing, but it is overall still a great drama
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This review may contain spoilers
To be Youth or to be Adult
As someone who is a big fan of Zhou Yi Ran, I watched this show without knowing anything about it. Rather just watching it for both the mainleads as I've watch both of their previous works. I didn't know what I was entering when watching, didn't even read the synopsis.It's not a romance for sure. But rather a deeper understanding into youth's life and what they are going through. A deeper understanding of the Chinese Culture. A deeper understanding of each other as people.
The entire shows pacing was AMAZING, not once did it feel rush or too slow. Each character had their own storyline, even the villain. There were no plot holes, and everything had an ending. People may disagree and want more romance or dates or more college lifes, but I think it ended perfectly.
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'Youth must bravely face trials on their journey of growth'
This is not a love story. This is the story of two teenagers navigating their struggles to discover their morals and find solace in each other's company. This is a beautiful depiction of youth, culture, and Asian family dynamics. It'll make you scream at the screen, and you'll often find yourself crying. For some people, this will hit too close to home as an Asian girl. The struggles that we all have faced, small or large, at some point in our teenage life, the society we all have hated at some point in our lives, it's beautiful to watch it get recognition. This feeling that we must face trials and it will be okay, growing up is scary, and we don't know anything, but we will get through it.Qiao Qing yu, a girl always following the rules, finds herself at a crossroads when the reason behind her sister's death is revealed. We see her slowly come out of her cage, get injured, and cower because it's convenient to stay where we are, never get hurt, and never hurt anyone. She doesn't want to grow up because she doesn't want to be like the adults she has seen.
Ming Sheng, a kind boy but always misunderstood, who hides behind his mask of arrogance, never quite finds his footing in the world. Suffering from his own trauma, he becomes brave for someone else. He silently helps Qiao Qin yu, never questioning her, never telling her how much he has done for her. His presence is loud enough for Qinyu's silent world. Together, they battle the world, each with their own ghosts, and emerge as winners. Their love story is ever present in the whole drama, but only comes to completion in the last episode. And that was enough for the hopeless romantic in me.
This drama is for the girls who have been wronged by their families or society, the ones with unhealed trauma, the ones who never wanted to grow up, the ones who raised themselves. Welcome to the journey. You can do this! Fighting!
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This review may contain spoilers
To Break Free From The Cage
"Reborn," adapted from the novel 'Huan Yu', unfolds its story with a somber and atmospheric tone. It explores heavy themes, primarily focusing on the main characters whose lives are shaped and burdened by the unresolved traumas of their past. At its core, it examines the struggle to escape the lingering grip of memory, guilt, and loss, told through morally grey characters and layered storytelling. The drama raises the question: does confronting the truth lead to liberation, or are some doors to the past best left closed? It is a slow-burning exploration of identity, consequence, and the emotional cost of seeking freedom from a painful past.STORYLINE₊ ⊹❅
The early episodes of the drama are well-paced and pulled me in right away. The story presents itself wrapped in layers of mystery, and I found myself genuinely curious about the characters—especially the main protagonist, Qiao Qingyu, and her family. Following her journey in the first part was engaging, as I tried to understand the emotional distance and coldness from her mother, who constantly limited her freedom.
Although I admit, as the episodes progress, it does become more frustrating to watch. The drama starts diving deeper into heavy and emotionally draining topics, which can feel overwhelming at times. While there are a few attempts at lighthearted moments, they are short-lived and don’t really provide much balance. Instead of easing the tension, things only continue to get gloomier as the plot unfolds. While this tone does fit the drama's themes, it felt overwhelming for me as there weren't much emotional relief provided.
It didn't help that almost everyone Qiao Qingyu encountered either had bad intentions or looked down on her. Even her own family, the Qiao clan, was hard to like. Also, it was disappointing to see her parents placing so much value on maintaining ties with that toxic family, despite clearly seeing signs of their toxicity. They seemed more concerned with preserving blood relations than confronting the truth. Most especially her dad, who remained too obedient towards the Qiao clan.
The second half of the drama is where things started to lose my interest. I initially expected this part to focus on Qiao Qingyu's personal growth; how she would triumph above the painful past of her family and their struggles. However, it shifted even more towards Qiao Beiyu's story and their parents. I felt that they dragged on Qiao Beiyu's story too much as they keep adding too many twists towards the truth behind the real cause of her death.
The romance is clearly not the main focus of the drama, even though there was noticeable chemistry between the main leads. Unfortunately, the story didn’t delve deeper into this aspect, so their romantic development ended up feeling superficial to me.
As for the ending, it felt both satisfying and unsatisfying. It was satisfying in the sense that Qiao Qingyu and her family finally found closure regarding Qiao Beiyu’s death. They were able to break free from the emotional cage that had haunted them for so long and sever ties with the toxic Qiao family. However, it was also unsatisfying—Qiao Qingyu’s reunion with Ming Sheng felt too brief, especially after everything they had been through.
The cinematography matched the mood of the drama and added to its overall gloominess and emotional weight.
CHARACTERS & ACTING₊ ⊹❅
Zhang Jingyi as Qiao Qingyu
Qiao Qingyu may have been just a teenage girl, but she stood out as the most courageous member of her family. I appreciated how her character was written, firm and determined in seeking justice, yet still given moments where she would doubt her choices and be vulnerable. These moments highlighted her quiet strength and resilience.
Zhang Jingyi delivered a memorable performance as Qiao Qingyu. She captured the character’s emotional complexity well that I found it easy to connect with her. Her facial expressions, especially, conveyed so much depth and feeling. I thought she was wonderful in this role.
Zhou Yiran as Ming Sheng
Ming Sheng was a character who had his moments, especially because he was always there for Qiao Qingyu. However, I felt that his role was mostly limited to being a supportive presence rather than having his own fully developed arc. His personal story wasn’t explored in much depth. Although, I still did liked his character. He came across as mature and dependable, but with a hint of a rebellious and youthful spirit underneath. It made him quite endearing, and I love how he tried to always be there for Qiao Qingyu.
Zhou Yiran’s performance as Ming Sheng was impactful. His microexpressions were subtle but effective, and he really carried the emotional weight of his character’s inner conflict towards his father. Even with limited focus on his storyline, his acting made Ming Sheng shine in his own ways.
OSTs₊ ⊹❅
Unfortunately, I wasn't an overall fan of the songs used in the drama. I could barely remember any of them.
OVERALL IMPRESSION₊ ⊹❅
The drama had its good moments, but overall, i’d say it was decent. I didn’t read the novel, so I went into this without knowing much about the plot. Unfortunately, it didn’t fully meet my expectations. I held on and finished it mainly because I really liked the first half.
This might be enjoyable for those who appreciate emotionally heavy themes. However, it could be a bit challenging for those looking for a balance between the heavy and lighthearted moments, as the tone stays mostly somber throughout.
FAVE SCENES₊ ⊹❅
- All the moments of Qiao Qingyu and Ming Sheng
˖ . ݁❅𝜗𝜚❅. ݁₊
"Some say the person you love is a lighthouse that never goes out at sea. It's a promise in confusion, a constant. It's the light and the hope in the darkness. It points you, day after day, toward true love. And so I walked many roads, but they all led back to you" — Qiao Qingyu
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A Teen Mystery That Hits You Right in the Feels"
Reborn (2025) is a fresh and emotionally gripping C-drama that combines teenage angst, mystery, and slow-burn romance in a way that feels both heartfelt and fun. Set against a backdrop of high school hallways and city shadows, it follows 16-year-old Qiao Qing Yu, a determined girl haunted by the mysterious death of her sister. When she transfers to a new school, she crosses paths with Ming Sheng—the classic brooding rebel—and together they start digging into a past that everyone else seems desperate to bury.What makes Reborn stand out is its emotional honesty. Qing Yu isn’t your typical “strong female lead”—she’s flawed, vulnerable, but never gives up. Her bond with Ming Sheng builds naturally, filled with awkward silences, meaningful glances, and the kind of slow trust that makes their partnership so satisfying to watch. The mystery unfolds gradually, with each episode peeling back more layers, all while keeping us invested in the characters’ personal growth.
Visually, the drama is polished and moodily lit, capturing both the youthful energy of school life and the darker themes of loss and justice. But it never gets too heavy—there’s just enough levity, friendship, and teenage awkwardness to balance out the tension. Add to that a strong supporting cast and some clever twists, and you’ve got a drama that’s easy to binge and hard to forget.
In short, Reborn is perfect for fans of character-driven stories with real stakes and emotional depth. Whether you're in it for the mystery, the romance, or just the nostalgia of high school secrets, this one’s worth the ride.
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This review may contain spoilers
DAMN
these kids can't ever catch a break omg.. i knew this show would be emotional but GOD DAMN. these people are making me wanna run fades 24/7 bc of the freaking rage bait. idk how my girl qiao qingyu didn't crash out earlier in the series bc i would've been like the momma fr! momma had some good acting bc she was pmo left to right, i swear it was so hard for me to side w her. i really thought that the parents were the ones to blame but it was lowk js the dad and his stupid family, like girl i wanna catch all of y'all outside rn. i think my fav character is either ming sheng or wang mumu bc both of them were so adorbs (we all knew mumu wanted sheng idk who she was tryna convince that she didn't want that cookie..) and ming sheng was such a green flag! idk if i ever thought that he would like switch up on the dad but i'm glad he did bc my boi is such a cutie patootie. that ending lowk pmo bc yeah yeah i wanted them to kiss but i couldn't see no wedding? :( anyway it was a really good show and i'm surprised how much grinding i did to catch up on daily releases! i was gonna initially rate this an 8/10 but nah we switchin it up bc of the last few episodes. idk if y'all expected more spoilers or key points from my review but you needa watch the show yourself to really get the hype!!Was this review helpful to you?
Pls go watch NoW!?
it has left me with the emotional stability of a love-struck jellyfish. 🫠✨ Zhou Yiran and Zhang Jingyi didn’t just act , they breathed new life into every frame. Their chemistry? So palpable it deserves its own postal code.At its heart, Reborn isn’t just a romance. It’s a story of self-worth, growth, and finding the courage to love — again, and better. Watching two broken souls slowly stitch themselves together with quiet moments, awkward glances, and fierce loyalty made me feel like I was watching love blossom in real-time.
Zhou Yiran? He was not acting. That man embodied soft masculinity in a way that should be studied. The vulnerability, the restraint, the “I’ll protect you even when I’m breaking” energy? Iconic. Legendary.
Zhang Jingyi? A revelation. Her character was no damsel — she carried her scars with grace, intelligence, and a quiet boldness. The way she learned to trust again felt earned and true. I stan a woman with depth and standards. Period.
What makes Reborn stand out isn’t just the romance — it’s the introspective pacing, the modern poetic dialogue, the fashion-forward cinematography, and that addictive “slow burn but emotionally explosive” storytelling that leaves you clutching your pillow at 3 a.m., whispering “Just one more episode.”
Crossing fingers for more projects with the two as FLand ML.🥹🥰
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