A Gripping Family Drama
I initially watched this drama for Zhou Yiran after seeing him in Twelve Letters, but was disappointed that, despite being billed as the male lead, his role felt more like a supporting character. The story centers on the female lead, Qiao Qingyu (played by Zhang Jing Yi), and tackles dark themes such as bullying, suicide, depression, abandonment, abuse, misogyny, family pressure, conformity, trauma, and grief. This is more of a family and coming-of-age drama than a romance or youth series with characters that you either love or hate. The plot follows Qingyu as her family uproots to escape rumors about her older sister Qiao Baiyu’s mysterious death, and she becomes determined to uncover the truth behind it.The first half is engaging as Qingyu investigates her sister's past which reveals her family dynamics. However, the second half drags, especially with the brief arc about Mumu's family issues, which felt unnecessary. The drama’s characters are polarizing; for instance, I found Qingyu’s portrayal frustrating and unrelatable. At times, her younger brother seemed more mature than she was. She’s often standoffish, withdrawn, and acts on her own misunderstandings, especially toward Ming Sheng (Zhou Yiran) and her parents. She doesn’t show much appreciation towards people who support her like Ming Sheng, Mumu, or even the male teacher who offered to help her. Although complex and flawed, her character didn’t resonate with me due to a rather flat performance by Zhang Jing Yi. Throughout many scenes with Ming Sheng coming to her aid, she often looks at him with a blank, emotionless expression. After admitting that he's always there for her whenever she needs help, Ming Sheng asks "Are you touched by this?", she responds with icy detachment, "I don't want to be indebted to you. It’s not until episode 21 that viewers finally see her genuinely smile, laugh, and express real emotion while spending a full day with Ming Sheng. However, the moment is short-lived as the focus shifts to her vacant expression after he leaves. While some actors can convey deep emotion with just their eyes, Zhang Jing Yi unfortunately falls short in this regard. The storyline where Qingyu learns to dance in a short time and is able to perform on stage, despite having much less experience than her older sister, felt unrealistic.
I felt more empathy for the older sister, Qiao Baiyu, who endured bullying, abandonment issues and trauma but ultimately realized her parents’ quiet love for her. Her tragic ending highlights how suicide transfers pain to loved ones. However, the mother, Li Fanghao (Liu Dan), stands out as the most compelling character—a strict, tormented woman shaped by guilt, grief and patriarchal family pressures. Despite her harshness, she loves her children deeply and tries to protect Qingyu from repeating past mistakes, making her both tragic and relatable.
Ming Sheng’s resentment toward his father seemed unclear, as both parents share responsibility in a divorce and his mother was the one who left him to pursue her career ambitions. Although Ming Sheng harbors resentment toward his father, the two share striking similarities—they are both reserved, dependable, and prefer to demonstrate their feelings through actions rather than words. Ming Sheng’s personal growth is rooted in coming to terms with his father, all while he steadfastly supports Qingyu in the background. While his role is less prominent than the female lead’s, Zhou Yiran manages to convey impressive emotional depth, especially in the poignant scene at the Qiao family’s noodle restaurant where he breaks down in tears.
Overall, the drama is a decent watch with strong ensemble acting, effectively portraying themes of overcoming struggles, healing from loss, and resilience.
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This review may contain spoilers
Reborn is a heartfelt and gripping drama that really stayed with me. It follows 16-year-old Qiao Qing Yu, played beautifully by Zhang Jingyi, as she searches for the truth behind her sister’s mysterious death. The story is full of quiet strength, deep emotion, and a powerful sense of justice.Zhou Yiran brings real warmth and depth as Ming Sheng, Qing Yu’s classmate and quiet supporter — their chemistry adds so much heart to the show.
What I loved most is how personal and real it all feels. It’s not just a mystery — it’s about grief, love, and the courage to face the past. Reborn doesn’t try too hard, it just tells a powerful story, and tells it well.
Definitely worth watching if you love character-driven dramas with emotional weight.
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3 Reasons you should watch Reborn
Set in the early 2000s1. This drama talks about the low awareness of how some deadly diseases are transmitted and the stigma victims face even after death.
2. Talks about the lack affection and attention given by parents, family, friends. For some people they just need validation from people close to them, that's how they are wired, and when they don't get it, they breakdown totally and lose the will to fight.
3. It also talks about bravery and a sense of justice, to make things right.
I hope with this, you can try out Reborn. I'm still watching it, so far I have sincerely enjoyed this drama.
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And this is a show you need to watch with an open mind, especially if you're not familiar with the cultural context, it helps you understand the choices Qing Yu’s parents made.
I really admire how Qing Yu’s character was written. She’s strong, resilient, and faces the toughest situations head-on. Her relationship with her mother, Fang Hao, is complicated, but as she uncovers what really happened to Bei Yu, she begins to understand the pain, the burden, and the responsibilities her parents carried. You can see her slowly shifting from a child’s perspective to a more mature, adult view as she processes everything.
There’s also a subtle romantic thread between Qing Yu and Ming Sheng. From the moment they met, he’s been her rock, offering unconditional love and support when no one else could.
Major kudos to the entire cast. This is a truly unique series with rich, well-developed characters. Definitely worth watching.
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This review may contain spoilers
When the Past Refuses to Stay Hidden
Review for Reborn (2025 C-Drama)Reborn is a touching and exciting drama. Qiao Qing Yu’s search for the truth about her sister keeps you watching. Every episode is full of mystery and emotion. The ending leaves many questions. We need Season 2 to know what really happened and see justice served!
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A Stirring Tale of Silent Struggles and Selfless Love
StoryThis is not a sugar-coated tale. It presents a raw and realistic portrayal of societal pressures—particularly the intense expectations placed on a daughter-in-law and the emotional burdens a son must silently carry. The narrative unravels how deeply people can compromise morality to protect their pride and secrets. Amidst this complexity, the love story between Ming Sheng and Quao Qingyu stands out as a moving testament to emotional maturity. It captures how one can love deeply, selflessly, and without expectation—a rare and beautiful kind of devotion.
Acting / Cast
Zhou Yiran delivers a compelling performance as Ming Sheng. His portrayal is deeply mature, bringing nuance and emotional depth to the character. He communicates vulnerability and strength with remarkable ease, clearly demonstrating his growth as an actor. Zhang Jingyi is equally impressive—her emotional range, poise, and authenticity breathe life into her character. Together, they share a natural and captivating chemistry that draws the audience in and makes their relationship truly believable.
Music
The soundtrack is outstanding—emotive, immersive, and beautifully curated. It’s one of those rare playlists that lingers in your memory long after the drama ends, and it’s already earned a permanent place in my Spotify library.
Rewatch Value
Without a doubt, this is a drama worth revisiting. In fact, I’ve already started rewatching it. It stands out as one of the finest works featuring Zhou Yiran and Zhang Jingyi, and it’s a story that continues to resonate with each viewing.
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The moon is beautiful tonight
Reborn is a rare show. Its exploration of the human condition is both harrowing and beautiful. Great writing, great acting and great settings all come together to deliver an unforgettable show. This is one of the best shows, ever.Qing Yu is an amazing human being. She has the most pragmatic view on life. She has suffered, suffers through most of the story but explores her life through trying to understand what people are about. Then in the ultimate tribute to humankind, she gives back to all around her in spades.
Ming Sheng is both rebellious, unbending, loyal and someone who can’t stand his father and yet Qing Yu opens his eyes. These two together show how, as young actors, with so much experience behind them, can deliver a performance beyond other actors their age.
The writing is so respectful. The subject matter not easy I would think in that part of the world but full marks for tackling a number of key health and social issues on many different levels.
Qing Yu’s mum, a brilliant actress, who we have seen deliver great performances in other shows, is superb yet again. She deserves an award as does Zhang Jing Yi. We see a mother who is devastated, depressed, but determined to survive - because that’s what you must do.
Qing Yu’s wider family are the pits. The writing doesn’t hold back on how traditional village and family values make life tough. We cheer for her and her mum as they tackle the father’s family both head on and through doing the right thing.
Ming Sheng’s family is seen through the eyes of juggling a professional career. This is where the writing is brilliant. It has us thinking a certain way, with prejudices until we see subtle changes make us realise that his father is a decent human being.
Then to top it all off, the show reveals what love really means: the moon is beautiful tonight. That is to say, to share life with someone, with all its ups and downs but for you to be behind one another right up until the very end.
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a story you don't want to forget
the hangover after this drama is impressive, because it is very difficult to find such a deep, realistic and at the same time beautiful story.topics that are raised, about acceptance in society, about gossip that can destroy everything and the consequences that follow every decision, so deep and realistic images that this drama becomes not just a story of love, but a path that not everyone can go.
the characters are gradually revealed, the secrets that disturb come to the surface. Watching all that was incredibly emotional for me.
i felt incredible chemistry between the main characters, although I would like more moments with them. nevertheless, this drama deserves the title of best of the year!! 🫶🏻🫶🏻
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A HEAVY WATCH< BUT THAT'S MASTERPIECE.
I can't even count how many times my eyes got red & wet while watching this show. What a storyline!!I can't explain how much I related to Qingyu. The generational traumas, suffocating family natures, family violence. I loved her courage. Every time her parents tried to cut her wings, to stop her curiousity, to stop her from exposing injustice..she tried to fly even harder. As the elder daughter of family, my heart was crying for Beiyu. She would never become unstable if she grew up with her family and siblings. If her grandparents and father's side cared even a little for her.
Everyone has their own perspective. That doesn't mean they aren't at wrong with their mentality, views, words, actions, decisions. Some cut are too deep to forget and forgive. Beiyu and Qingyu's mother's heartwrenching grief touched me. It was too late to grief and regret!
Qingyu and Ming sheng were so cute. Stole my heart. Please i feel so fulfilled with their momentsss <'3
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This review may contain spoilers
Deep, emotional realistic drama about life and coming-of-age
Reborn is a heartfelt coming-of-age and family drama that really surprised me with how deeply it hit. It shows modern society in a brutally realistic way—nosy neighbors, careless gossip, people who judge without knowing anything. At times, it felt so real it reminded me of things I’ve seen around me in real life.The story focuses on teenagers slowly growing up, making mistakes, clashing with their parents, and learning step by step what life and responsibility really mean. The characters can be frustrating—especially the leads, who sometimes act immature—but that’s what makes the growth feel earned and believable.
There were quotes that stayed with me long after, especially this one from Ming Sheng’s dad:
“Being an adult isn’t freedom—because everything you do freely comes with responsibility. True freedom is being a teenager.”
That hit deep and captured the painful transition into adulthood so well.
The FL’s bond with her sister and mom was beautiful and heartbreaking. I judged the mom at times, but the show made me realize—just like the FL did—that some parents love deeply but silently. The dance scene using her sister’s choreography had me crying hard. It felt like they were dancing together.
Even her little brother stood out—such a rare protective sibling dynamic that made me love him. Usually, siblings in dramas just tease or fight, but here, their bond felt so genuine, especially after their shared loss.
If I had to nitpick, the sudden friendship with the former bullies felt rushed and unearned. But still, I was happy to see the FL find a place where she belonged. She truly deserved that peace.
This is such a good, realistic coming-of-age drama that covers so many important themes. It truly deserves a 10 for being one of those rare shows about life—filled with lessons to learn and messages that stick with you long after it ends. It made me shed some tears which is personally rare so yeah. Also with how heavy it is overall, the ending quite literally makes up for everything, it was heartwarming.
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In a world where there is always a beacon of hope ?
finished 9.5/10 🌟What a wonderful journey I had with Reborn, a drama I didn't know I needed but that came to me at the crucial moment 💗
A raw, realistic and above all reflective story that makes us question how far we are willing to go to be happy.
This year has definitely been Zhang Jing Yi's year, his two 2025 dramas have been among the best of the year for me... She has a magic hand for choosing good products and always offers us an impeccable performance 👏✨
Zhou Yiran is a growing actor and he's doing very well. I loved his character and the personal growth he's had.
I have to highlight the script, which was IMPECCABLE, and the performances OUTSTANDING 👏💗
23 chapters where the direction and execution of the drama show you different nuances... you can't help but cry or feel angry because its characters captivate you.
Simply incredible.
I didn't put all the punctuation although I was tempted to do so because I would have liked the reconciliation not to have taken so long but for everything else it's incredible ✨
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Crushed my soul
Genuinely the most heart-wrenching, soul-crushing, gut-punching thing I've watched. It's so perfect, everything, the plot, the characters. It's so beautifully written and so realistic. To the people who promoted this as just a youth romance drama, did this drama so dirty. Genuinely, it's so much more than that; it goes deep into the treatment of women and the tragic realities that many people go through, a story of courage. I love this drama so, so much. Not an episode went by without me crying one minute, but then I'd be giggling when Zhou Yiran showed up LOL.I'm so glad I decided to watch this. Zhou Yiran and Zhang Jinyi did NOT disappoint.
Also I would advice people to maybe be careful if sensitive because there are quite a lot of triggers: bullying, abuse, violence, victim blaming, slut shaming. Some people may be sensitive to these things, so be wary.
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