The Miracles (2025)

Amazing Short Story

In my opinion, this is a true masterpiece of short-form drama. Each story runs only 15–30 minutes, yet within this limited runtime, the director consistently delivers compelling narratives with no unnecessary dragging or dull moments.
As each story is standalone and narrated in either one (15mins) or two (30mins) episodes. with no connection. So you don’t have to watch this in sequence, and can always randomly choose your favourite episode or the episode with your favourite casts in it to watch. Below I have a brief breakdown of the popular casts on the episodes.

Every character is thoughtfully written, carrying complexity and emotional depth that feels authentic to their circumstances. The richness of each scene clearly conveys the essence of its theme. The series explores a wide range of subjects—entrepreneurship, business ventures, social transformation, environmental issues, industrialization, relationships, kinship, choices, struggles, risks, and even sci-fi—creating a tapestry of stories that feel both diverse and cohesive.

Blending realism with heartwarming storytelling, the drama is infused with action, comedy, and occasional adventure. Many of the stories are inspired by real-life events, spanning the era when Shenzhen was still a developing region full of opportunity to its present-day status as a thriving metropolis.

The production boasts an impressive ensemble of nearly 80 well-known actors from the film and television industry, each delivering strong and memorable performances.

Special mentions and brief, low-spoiler impressions:
   •   Ep 1–2 – A poignant portrayal of a mother’s love and anxiety, highlighting how far a mother might go to help her son.
   •   Ep 3–4 – Hu Ge & Yu Shi: A powerful story about an ethnic tribe grappling with modernization, offering insight into cultural traditions and the pain of change.
   •   Ep 5–6 – Bai Yu & Wang Yu Wen: A lighthearted misunderstanding that unfolds into a sweet and fun romance.
   •   Ep 7–8 – Zhang Song Wen: A touching narrative about balancing habitat preservation with urban development.
   •   Ep 9–10 – Zhang Ye Cheng & Mao Xiao Tong: A deeper, more somber exploration of the finance industry, touching on stock market risks, greed, and exploitation.
   •   Ep 11–12 – Zhang Yun Long & She Shi Man: A story centered on friendship, social entrepreneurship, and the courage to take a leap of faith.
   •   Ep 13–14 – A romantic tale set around a bookstore, featuring subtle mystery and a hint of magical realism.
   •   Ep 15 – Wang An Yu: A moving story of a decades-long friendship between a young social entrepreneur and a cleaner who profoundly inspires him.
   •   Ep 16 – Jin Shi Jia: A capable performance in a storyline about early business opportunities in Shenzhen, though it personally resonated less with me.
   •   Ep 17 – Li Landi & Tu Song Yan: A heartwarming story about kinship and friendship, revolving around a young girl helping a man recover his lost memories.
   •   Ep 18 – A cute animated segment, though it didn’t leave a strong impression on me.
   •   Ep 19–20 – A comedic duo and a missing sculpture head—pure fun and laughter from start to finish.
   •   Ep 21–22 – Chen Xiao & Tong Yao: A tribute to construction workers and their resilience in building Shenzhen’s iconic Ping An Financial Center.
   •   Ep 23 – Lei Jia Yin: A delightful and thought-provoking story about an AI butler, ending with an unexpected and clever twist.
   •   Ep 24 – The finale beautifully closes the series with a story about merging Yong Chun martial arts and dance. Having seen such performances online before, I once questioned whether the fusion would dilute either art form. This episode offered fresh insight and challenged my preconceived notions, showing how the two can merge harmoniously.

The cons: I feel that this series would attract more viewers’ attention if the production team could put more thoughts in the episode sequence. Perhaps having the exciting and popular casts in the first few episode or having and overall theme that flows throughout the series so the viewers could be intrigued to follow through.

However, each story is inspirational and resonated with me in different ways. Whether you are someone who lived through that era and might feel a wave of nostalgia, or someone unfamiliar with Shenzhen’s history, this drama is both educational and perspective-shifting. It’s well worth a watch.

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A Pleasant Enough but Non-Esseental Anthology Love Letter to Shenzhen

With all anthology shows -- this collection of short stories go up and down in quality. The bad ones are still okay, but the good ones are keepers. The connecting theme is the people and wonders that make Shenzhen 'a city of miracles'!

So really this series is a pep-rally for the Chinese, repeating the Chinese trope of work hard, work together: we succeed!!

Hmm. A bit simplistic. Not everyone gets to succeed. Life is full of people trying and failing. Life is musical chairs, where not everyone gets a chair. This propaganda tone places rose-tinted glasses over the human condition.

That said, I didn't choose this series as my 'next great C-Drama'. After having just watched the amazing BLOSSOMS SHANGHAI, one of the best C-Dramas I have or will ever see -- I wanted something light and fluffy. To lower the bar kinda very low, so that my next serious C-Drama would be better than THE MIRACLES. My goal was achieved.

Understand a lot of writers and actors and directors -- and crews -- put a TON of work into these short films. It kinda breaks you heart to know that some of them should have been chosen to become solid 90 minutes. After 35 C-Dramas under my best, I recognized a lot of quality actors throughout. So it's not an utter waste of time.

I can only recommend this show as a pleasant diversion. If that's the mood you're in, give it a try.

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