Twelve Letters (2025)

What would you do for those that you love?

What would you do for those that you love? Would you give up your happiness? Would you give up your life?

These are the questions at the heart of Twelve Letters, a fantasy and mystery drama about love, found family, sacrifices, hope, and the power of choice. The story is set across two timelines — Meiwan Town in 1991 and Beixing City in 2026 — and it revolves around our two protagonists, Ye Hai Tang and Tang Yi Xun. The world was not kind to them in 1991; their lives were filled with pain, suffering, and darkness. The only glimmer of light was them meeting each other due to unfortunate circumstances. For reasons initially unknown to the audience, one moment changed the course of their lives forever, resulting in a heartbreaking separation and a lifetime of longing and regrets. That is, until one day when a letter from 1991 arrives via an abandoned and mysterious mailbox in the year 2026, opening a connection between the past and the future. Will fate intervene, alter the timeline, and rewrite this tragic love story?

Right off the bat, the first thing I notice about Twelve Letters is its gorgeous cinematography. It is intentional and artistic — flawlessly capturing the beauty of Meiwan Town in 1991, with its natural rivers and mountainous backdrop in every frame, along with the run-down buildings of its residents that even the breathtaking sceneries cannot hide. There is a greenish tint to the color grading, giving the feel of a different era, teleporting us back in time. The Cantonese music, VHS tapes of old HK movies, landline phones, fashion — everything adds to the 90s aesthetic, making this a believable and nostalgic period piece. With the hauntingly beautiful osts cleverly used throughout the drama, I can't help but praise the love and thought that was poured into this drama. However, the stunning visuals do more than just set the scene; they are a reflection of our protagonists' shattered inner worlds.

Ye Hai Tang and Tang Yi Xun are two broken souls who find solace in each other. At first glance, they seem like polar opposites — a bright student and a troubled delinquent — but they are actually two sides of the same coin. They are pitiful, weary, and yet still so loving, selfless, and kind. They make me want to wrap them both in my arms and protect them from the cruelty of this world. The way they care for each other, only wishing for the other's safety and happiness, is so pure. Their relationship proves that chosen family can be stronger than blood. Like beautiful mosaic art, these two broken souls feel whole together. The raw and powerful performances from Wang Ying Lu and Zhou Yi Ran truly stand out.

And it isn't just the main couple who embodies this spirit of unconditional love and sacrifice — the supporting characters are wonderful as well. I love Cha, Rat, Xin, Nian, Cheng, Manyu, Guan, and Miao Miao. Each has their own distinct personality; all of them are flawed but endearing. There is an overarching theme in this story about how ordinary people have the ability to ease the suffering of others even if they feel like they are insignificant. These characters are prime examples of that value. The sacrifices they make on the behalf of Ye Hai Tang and Tang Yi Xun are selfless and heart-wrenching.

This was not the type of drama I normally watch and it emotionally devastated me. It was dark, brutal, and at times painfully realistic, and I took a considerably long time to complete it despite its short 12-episode run because I had to keep taking breaks in between episodes to catch my breath due to its heavy themes. This drama did not shy away from showcasing domestic violence and toxic family dynamics, putting the ugly reality of growing up in broken homes on display for the world to see. There were many times when I felt sick to my stomach and I cried my eyes out until my shirts were drenched in my own tears. Twelve Letters is one of those stories that will touch your soul and make you feel a dozen emotions all at once, and it is not for the faint of heart. And yet, the story drew me in unlike any other.

Despite how dearly I loved this drama, I couldn't give it a perfect score for one main reason: the dual-timeline structure was tricky to follow at times. The 2026 timeline had a linear flow, meanwhile the 1991 timeline jumped a few months forward only to jump a few months back inconsistently. This created disjointed moments in the narrative, and I had to pause the drama a few times in order to understand the chronology of the events. Even with this issue though, it did not detract from the genuine impact this story had on me.

After a rollercoaster of emotions, and many days of dragging my feet, I can finally say that Twelve Letters is worth all the tears that were shed. This story will stay with me for a very long time. It is not a drama for everyone. It is triggering for those who are sensitive to topics such as domestic violence, child abuse and neglect, gambling addiction, and violence connected to poverty. But for those who love character-driven mysteries and are brave enough to watch and make it to the finish line, you will uncover a heartfelt and unforgettable journey of selfless sacrifices, persistent love, and hope shining through the darkness.

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Our origins don’t define us. It’s what we do with what we have.

Dear reader,
What if you try to resist a fate that aims to separate you from your loved ones? How hard would you fight if the adults and the world kept letting you down? And what if despite the fragility of your memory and body, you still hold onto some moments because they are worth more than life itself?
This show is the answer.

It’s about this two kids, A' Tang and A' Xun who didn't have the power to choose where they came from. In fact, everyone didn't have that power in the small town of Meiwan. Surrounded by poverty, abuse, and desperation, yet their best and worst selves, packed in twelve short, unforgettable letters and episodes.


Main Characters:
The soul of this series lies in its two leads. I had just seen Wang Ying Lu in another role where she played a fierce and mischievous character, but her performance here is on another level. There’s a behind-the-scenes story where she accidentally hit her head on real concrete and just told the director, "Let's continue shooting." Read that line again cause she's a savage for being so professional and staying calm. I was also amazed at how she seamlessly portrayed a lot of heart wrenching emotions. Her as A'Tang who only wants freedom is full of angsty ride but still felt so familiar and relatable.

And then there’s Zhou Yi Ran. I saw him in The Land Of Warriors and on When I Fly Towards You. But his portrayal of A' Xun was truly a painfully brilliant career milestone. Who said only Park Bo Gum could get to play best husband and father of 2025? At least Gwan Shik had a wife for him cause well, let me tell you that this yearner-of-thirty-freaking-years A' Xun exists. He was just a young man who loves giving and eating bread (with filling). Everyone was out to get him yet can still switch between dangerous to a green forest within a short second especially if his found-family needed him.

All throughout the drama bot these leads were not just cutting onions; he was eating them raw.

Now the supporting cast. I miss them all, specially the billiard house found-family. Their character development, along with the leads, let me see them not just as supporting casts but also as reliable and precious characters. They were a comfort place in Mei Wan but can also give you a gut-punch. And the villain... Oh you will hate him with every fiber of your being. He's worse than trash. And when you get to hate a villain role so much you pause just to curse them, you'd know the actors did a great job. Whoever cast them all and whoever decided to let their real raw voices be showcased in the drama needs to have a raise. I hope your pillow always stays cold when you sleep.

Within a few minutes of episode one alone, it has left me breathless, and I don't think I'll be forgetting it anytime soon. And so I agree about the peeps on X demanding the cast receive at least an award for this one. Never mind the emotions you'll feel while watching, both of ZYR and WYL's eye-acting and facial expressions in this short drama deserves a broadway award. This drama honestly gave the cast a lot of opportunity to showcase their talent for acting; many peeps in C-ent must be aching to work with them again now. I'll surely be tuning in for their next projects.


Music:
It’s not just the acting, though. It’s the feel of the show. One song from 福祿壽 (Fu, Lu, and Shou), an indie band I admired since 2023 (thanks to Noel's bio), was featured here. It was 春暖花开去见你 (I'll see you when spring comes and flowers bloom). I hadn't heard any new releases or news from them since 2021, so the moment I heard it as a background track, I knew I had to see every scene it was in, no matter how heartbreaking. The other songs were so fitting for the vibe as well. Music was one of the reasons I can't rewatch these songs and the drama, because I know I'd just torture myself.

The cinematography is a character in itself; every ray of light, every shadow, and every drop of rain or flake of snow tells a story. You can feel the cold of Meiwan’s streets and the fleeting warmth of the characters’ sanctuary through the screen.


Overall: ♡
If this story were a movie, it would demand an IMAX screen, 3D glasses, and with a mountain of tissues by your side. Yet I watched this drama only for free within a week, and I never felt so guilty for not paying for something so masterfully made. If you want to feel melancholy for two youths and cheer for them despite the odds constantly going against their favor, and if you want to have a good, soul-cleansing cry, then this drama deserves to be in your watchlist.


I’m sorry if you found errors with my English, not my first language. This was a long read wasn't it. But thank you so much for visiting this review!

PS: The headline quote is from the series 'His Dark Materials,' spoken by the character Marisa Coulter. Ye Hai Tang reminded me a lot of this character so I had to add her quote as this headline and it was quiet fitting alongside one of my favorite scenes from the drama.

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