This review may contain spoilers
TJR Amazes Again
I only watched the series or miniseries for TJR. I had really no idea what it was going to be about other than a dark comedy but who and what his character was. I had no idea even when I saw him filming this with the mushroom haircut, but as soon as I found out that his character BF was a young adult who was basically a younger version of Rain Man a genius chef, but with special needs watching him play, the role was absolutely stunning. I have worked with kids with special-needs when I was basically a kid myself through the big brother/big sister foundation of America and I know just how special and amazing they are. So to see a normal young adult play one where he I am sure has never had real contact with one and do so convincingly was quite special. TJR a born talent, not just with a degree from a drama school.I can't say the story itself all the way around was mighty special and it honestly pissed me off when FHW would call him an idiot or a dumbass or beat him up because of his own narcissistic grandiosity issues and not really understanding that the entire world didn't owe him anything until literally the last five minutes of the last episode. I am glad that he finally understood who BF was as a human being and started to respect him as one. I do think they cut a lot because the duration of each episode was all over the place or it could just be that they had originally wanted 12 episodes and it ended up being 15. Regardless, I commend TJR on a job very well done and also the about that a few days ago the actor who played FHW came to the festival where TJR was performing live on stage for the very first time with multiple songs to give him a pat on the back so it's great that he gets to work with these veteran actors repeatedly. He played the part of a person with special needs very, very well. The speech how slow it was the repetition you understood exactly who he was from the moment he opened his mouth in the very beginning. And his performances with his mother in flashbacks, just made your heart clench and tears run down your face. It was heartbreakingly, beautiful.
Would I recommend it? For him I would and it's really not bad at all as long as you can get past some of what I call verbal and physical abuse toward him and the constant diarrhea of the mouth from FHW's character with the cheesy poetry. Being a poetry author myself, I understand how the literary world works a lot better than that character. But definitely to support whoever you want to support give this miniseries a go.
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See you later…Maybe if you allow yourself to take a second chance at life.
Hilarious in its tragedy and surrealistic in its cynical realism, See You Later…Maybe is a disco ball that reflects the vices of modern times, creating a sparkling and vivid light display for you to dance to or stare at once the quiet finds you. Manufactured idols, fake, inflated numbers, money, money, money, sacrifices made for a fabricated 15 minutes of fame in the internet bubble that barely means anything in the world outside of it, and betrayal of oneself, all neatly packed into a comedy that you can chuckle at until you realise the bubbling sounds escaping your throat come from reality of life wrapping around your neck.Fang Haowen, spectacularly portrayed by Jia Bing, is a solid foundation of the story. He is quite frankly an asshole. Blinded by the successes he believes his writing genius is entitled to, stubbornly refusing to see the small successes he already has (a lover, a friend, a job that pays bills, a simple and content life, really), he attempts to climb to the top of publishing world, and when he betrays himself over and over and over again, at the peak of it all, he’s nothing but a naked king with starlight stabbing his too thin skin and too big ego. The descend is inevitable, you either die at the top, gracefully climb back down or you’re brutally pulled down, crashing against the cold hard surface.
Tian Jiarui’s character, Bie Fan, is the heart and soul of the story. The only sincerity among lies and schemes and fake ideals. He’s an antithesis to everything that Fang Haowen is. Intellectual disability, loss of his loved ones, his life is hindered by uncontrollable forces, and yet he never loses resolve, kindness, and bright eyes capable of seeing the light in the darkness. Fang Haowen’s book helped him through the hardest times, and he’s willing to help his favourite writer in return. When Fang Haowen declared war against himself and the forces were unequal, Bie Fan was a hand reaching out for him.
The creators of the show bring those two worlds together to tell a story of second chances. The cinematography and artistic choices made add to the storytelling in the most compelling and unexpected ways (especially want to point out the long, uninterrupted shots used when the story touched upon livestreaming) Exceptional actors breathe life into characters, they never ridicule them or treat them like caricatures to make fun of or lecture you about. Rather through ridiculousness and absurdity, they paint a simple yet touching picture. Success lies in human connections, love, understanding, and support. The rope they offer is not one to hang yourself with, but one to use to climb back up.
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What I especially love about his acting is that he doesn’t simply play the character; he makes you forget that you’re watching an actor. You feel the character’s emotions, struggles, warmth, and vulnerability as if they’re happening right in front of you. His expressions speak even when he says nothing, and that kind of subtle acting takes real skill.
Tian Jia Rui truly brings depth and life to the story. His performance is natural, nuanced, and emotionally captivating. He’s definitely an actor with incredible potential, and I’m excited to see him take on more challenging roles in the future. ❤️✨
A drama worth watching, especially if you want to appreciate an actor who knows how to make a fictional character feel real. 👏🎭
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Dark, Chaotic, and Surprisingly Poignant
Folks, I loved this one. It easily sits on my top shelf of favorites for moderns.I loved the wit and the sometimes deadpan, dry, offbeat humor. I’d describe it as a dark comedy because there were definitely moments when I felt guilty for laughing, but I couldn’t help it. The humor was built around serious and taboo topics, and somehow it worked.
But what really made it work for me was the balance. As random and chaotic as some parts of the script could be, they were woven together with poignant and genuinely beautiful moments. It kept the drama from feeling too outlandish or farcical. The pacing and execution made the whole thing feel incredibly dynamic. I also really enjoyed the social commentary on netizen culture, particularly given how increasingly problematic that culture has become.
My only critique is around the representation of neurodivergence. I appreciated seeing it represented, but I've noticed that film and television often focus on a particular neurotype or portrayal. In reality, neurodivergence is incredibly diverse, and repeatedly centering one presentation can unintentionally reinforce stereotypes or create a narrow idea of what neurodivergence looks like. That's something I'd note for others in the neurodivergent community who may have different experiences.
But overall, I just loved the ride. It gave me humor, weight, chaos, and a whole range of emotions—and somehow managed to weave all of those things together beautifully.
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Meaningful, emotional, and hilarious at the same time
This drama is so unique it’s nothing like what I have seen before. It knows how to be hilarious but then at the same time there’s times when you want to cry, which I did. There is countless amount of times when I would be crying and laughing at the same time. It is such a healing joyful and humorous experience. All the actors did a amazing job and this drama is definitely worth my time. Definitely one of the best comedy drama in a while. What would of made this drama better is if they would of change the ending.Was this review helpful to you?
不生不死 Unable to Live, Unable to Die
If I had to describe See You Later… Maybe in one phrase, it would be "reality through exaggeration." The show brilliantly highlights the ironies of life and the misnomer of modern success. Let’s be honest: in today’s internet and social media age, talent without a marketing package is practically buried alive. Virality is the key to exposure, and virality depends on extremities. The more extreme an event or action is, the more viral it goes, and the more "success" one can garner. That’s the formula of our world, and this drama perfectly illustrates the sheer absurdity of it all.The story follows a washed-up writer, Fang Haowen (played by Jia Bing), and his only true fan, Bie Fan (played by Tian Jiarui). Bie Fan is a brilliant young man on the autism spectrum who happens to be a phenomenal chef because he can memorize every recipe he comes across.
Right off the bat, I should mention the humor. The jokes here often come from laughing at the characters' misery—they are dark, cruel, and incredibly cynical. Yet, as exaggerated as it sounds, the show depicts how the social media marketing world actually works with terrifying realism. Fang Haowen is a mediocre writer, but to market his books today, he is forced to make a choice: sales or dignity? The show perfectly captures the effectiveness of influencer livestreams, while also exposing the truth behind them: despite the "live" label, everything is heavily scripted. It’s all fake.
Plot-wise, the story is a wild fusion of Forrest Gump and a fever dream. It’s filled with bizarre events and a chain of hilariously failed suicide attempts (drinking poison, hitting himself with a spade, hanging, jumping off bridges—you name it). From there, things jump from one surreal scenario to the next, almost like a dream. At one point, he encounters characters from Journey to the West; when Tang Sanzang refuses to take him to the "West" (death), Fang Haowen ends up meeting various sages. He even meets Vincent van Gogh! They have a surprisingly nice conversation where, despite speaking different languages (Mandarin and French), they perfectly understand each other. Van Gogh complains about how poor he was because he couldn't sell his paintings. Later, Fang Haowen and Bie Fan are chased by a tiger that eats Fang Haowen's ear, causing them to fall into a giant hole. After starving for days, a python shows up to eat them, but they end up killing and eating the python instead!
When they finally return to civilization, the story takes a fascinating turn, exploring how AI might replace creative writing. It shows a dystopian future where new books are produced even after the writer dies, and the AI's writing is technically "better." But the catch? AI can't feel. It has no emotions, no tastes, no physical senses. This is exactly when Fang Haowen finally has his realization.
Amidst all this chaos, Bie Fan’s storyline is incredibly heartwarming, tear-jerking, and funny. I love how humor is woven into almost all of his scenes. One of my absolute favorite moments is a very subtle one: he places his mother’s ashes in an urn and puts it right next to the other condiments on his restaurant's seasoning shelf. It’s a quick shot that many viewers might miss, but it is so deeply moving.
Final Thoughts
This drama makes us laugh—not necessarily because the punchlines are traditional jokes, but because we are laughing at the characters' misfortunes. In a way, each character’s story reflects our own lives. But when we watch our own struggles played out on screen, we find it funny. It also doesn't shy away from exposing the dark sides of the publishing and marketing industries, like plagiarism.
The moral of the story asks: What is success? Success isn't about what people say about you; it’s about how meaningfully you live your life. As Bie Fan’s mother told him in her final words: Don't fear failure. Hope is always there. By the end, Fang Haowen realizes that the destination isn't what's important; the important thing is that we finally understand ourselves during the journey.
A quick warning before you watch: if you only watch dramas for the "eye candy" and incredibly good-looking actors, you might want to skip this one, as looks aren't the focus here. But if you appreciate phenomenal acting (especially a standout, transformative performance by Tian Jiarui) and a brilliant, thought-provoking satire about life, you are in for a great watch!
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