Playing Go (2025)

Must watch

I really enjoyed this! It sounded interesting just based off the synopsis & it definitely was. I got hooked in right from ep 1.

The plot keeps you wanting more especially the way each episode ends. And the characters are developed so well - as a viewer you really get to know & understand their perspectives despite their questionable morals. I even started getting attached to one of them, rooting for his story to end well.

The background music fit each scene well & wasn’t too overpowering. I was also surprised when I noticed Wang Bao Qiang was both the executive producer and the main role - I’ve never seen his works before but I found it impressive he managed both jobs. All the actors did a great job overall including the child actors too.

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No matter what, the game must be played to the end.

I'll remember this as the drama that got me stress eating. It is pretty much what the tags here advertised: a nerve-racking, slow-burn thriller full of moral dilemmas and emotional complexity. It starts with a stubborn, unsociable, resentful small town Go teacher, Cui Ye, who gets thrown out of his comfort zone and into deadly trouble at a difficult time in his life and relies on his Go skills to manipulate the outcome and win. How far he is willing to take things and what he is willing to sacrifice on the way is very much the question. The stakes are ever rising and the tension is steadily building up to, and through, the finale. The plot twists were not many but incredibly well-timed and well-executed. Even though I predicted some of them were coming, the way they fit into the story left a deep impact. I also appreciated the dark comedy adding bittersweet irony to the mix. The way the drama weaved in heart-warming, funny, romantic or family moments worked perfectly to break the tension, add complexity and get you emotionally attached to the characters. The cinematography, soundtrack and attention to detail were all top-notch. Anyone who visited the south of China in early 2000s will feel very nostalgic:) I also really liked the way foreshadowing and symbolism were used to create anticipation and give better insight into the often hard-to-read main character.

I think the Chinese title is a slightly better fit because at its core the story is about knowing what kind of player a person is and using that knowledge to defeat them. Cui Ye is often shown reviewing past matches and contemplating why a person made certain moves to try and grasp how they think. He translates people's behaviour into game moves to gain insight into their characters and predict how they will act when faced with a given situation. It's like a psychological warfare where he actively sets traps to lure his 'opponents' to act they way he wants. Except life is unpredictable and doesn't follow the rules of the game. A smart move can bring about devastating consequences or require a hard to stomach sacrifice... Cui Ye is the most self-assured when dealing with his brother Cui Wei, because he knows him best. But of course, his brother has a good understanding of him as well. Theirs is a complex relationship with layers upon layers of past hurts and resentment. It's quite fascinating to watch these two 'battle it out' throughout the drama.

The characters are memorable but not for likeability. I think Cui Wei was the only one who didn't make me feel exasperated with him at some point. The rest either did stupid stuff (Xiasheng, the inconvenient sidekick;)) or I waited for them to finally do something (Shuhua, the wife). In general, the middle part of the series left me vaguely dissatisfied as I felt there was unrealized potential in Shuhua and Cui Wei's storylines. Maybe it's because I've just seen the actress playing Cui Wei's wife in a much bigger role in another drama, so I expected she would get her own arc. There was palpable tension between Wei and his father-in-law that never really got explained. The pacing also noticeably slowed down in this part, but never to the point where it would lose my interest. With how many emotions these exasperating people evoked in me, it was near impossible to distance myself from their plight. Teenage love is not my thing, but Xiasheng and his love interest really pulled at my heartstrings. However, the most compelling character (called one ear) arrives at the last arc and proceeds to steal the show! The way the ending unfolds kept me at the edge of my seat. It's so rare these days for a c-drama to have a cleverly wrapped up and emotionally satisfying ending. Not to mention uplifting! I thought they were toying with us by naming the end credit song (and last episode) 'things really aren't as bad as they look':)

As for Cui Ye, he exasperated me most of all. Part of the reason was the actor relying on micro expressions to portray his emotions. I admit I prefer more expressive acting. In some scenes I needed more 'emotional leakage' from him but he remained stubbornly blank ...which is probably how those around him felt too. Some of his actions are equally frustrating and hard to understand, but to be fair, that's also the strength of this drama. It doesn't provide you with easy answers. Is Cui Ye a socially inept genius or a selfish master manipulator? A loving father who doesn't know how to show it or a compulsive player who's willing to risk anything to win? There comes a moment in the drama where I felt it would've been better for everyone if he abandoned the game. It's an open question in the end if the outcome and what he risked by continuing was worth it. Watch and decide for yourself.

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