A Celebration of Friendship, Finding Yourself, and the Quiet Bravery of the Human Spirit
I started watching this drama in support of my Mandarin studies (input) — I’m taking online classes and needed something with clear dialogue and subtitles in both Chinese and English. That was my initial reason for choosing it.
I’m a guy, and twice the age of the characters in this story. I’ve never experienced college life in China (or anything similar), and I certainly can’t relate to being a young woman at that stage of life. Still, the first few episodes were pretty good, and I figured I’d stick with it.
Then I hit episode 4 — and honestly, it just didn’t work for me. I actually stopped watching and put the drama on the back burner.
But as my Mandarin studies continued, I realized I still needed something that fit those original requirements. So I came back, pushed through episode 4 (still not a favorite), and then something remarkable happened: I got completely drawn in. I found myself enchanted by these characters — by their spirit, honesty, vulnerability, and above all, their strength.
I had expected a romance-heavy story, which I wasn’t really looking for. But to my surprise, this isn’t a typical romance drama. While there are some dating and couple dynamics, the relationships are portrayed in a grounded, authentic way. Love here isn’t just about being cute — it’s about connection, support, sacrifice, and putting your heart on the line. And not all the romantic storylines go smoothly, which to me reflects real life.
By the time I reached episode 18, it was the first time a drama had made me cry in a long time. From episode 18 to 24, I kept a box of tissues close — not just for sadness, but for joy. These girls’ stories touched something deep in me. I smiled through tears, and each moment meant something.
Episode 24 wrapped it all up perfectly. It felt like a complete, honest ending that stayed true to the journey we’d taken with these characters.
As for rewatch value — absolutely. I plan to return to this drama as part of my Mandarin study routine. The dialogue is rich, the emotions are sincere, and the characters stay with you. I laughed. I cried. I cheered. And I’m genuinely grateful to have experienced this story.
This is easily in my top five of all the Chinese dramas I’ve watched so far.
I first saw Shen Yue in the 2021 Netflix drama Use for My Talent, and I already liked her there. But in Be Yourself, she is simply phenomenal. In fact, all three of the main girls are outstanding. The entire cast — including the male leads — was perfectly chosen. The music was beautiful. The pacing worked. Everything came together in a way that felt sincere and impactful.
In the end, Be Yourself isn’t just a story about growing up — it’s a reflection on the courage it takes to be true to who you are, the power of friendship, and the bittersweet beauty of life itself.
I’m a guy, and twice the age of the characters in this story. I’ve never experienced college life in China (or anything similar), and I certainly can’t relate to being a young woman at that stage of life. Still, the first few episodes were pretty good, and I figured I’d stick with it.
Then I hit episode 4 — and honestly, it just didn’t work for me. I actually stopped watching and put the drama on the back burner.
But as my Mandarin studies continued, I realized I still needed something that fit those original requirements. So I came back, pushed through episode 4 (still not a favorite), and then something remarkable happened: I got completely drawn in. I found myself enchanted by these characters — by their spirit, honesty, vulnerability, and above all, their strength.
I had expected a romance-heavy story, which I wasn’t really looking for. But to my surprise, this isn’t a typical romance drama. While there are some dating and couple dynamics, the relationships are portrayed in a grounded, authentic way. Love here isn’t just about being cute — it’s about connection, support, sacrifice, and putting your heart on the line. And not all the romantic storylines go smoothly, which to me reflects real life.
By the time I reached episode 18, it was the first time a drama had made me cry in a long time. From episode 18 to 24, I kept a box of tissues close — not just for sadness, but for joy. These girls’ stories touched something deep in me. I smiled through tears, and each moment meant something.
Episode 24 wrapped it all up perfectly. It felt like a complete, honest ending that stayed true to the journey we’d taken with these characters.
As for rewatch value — absolutely. I plan to return to this drama as part of my Mandarin study routine. The dialogue is rich, the emotions are sincere, and the characters stay with you. I laughed. I cried. I cheered. And I’m genuinely grateful to have experienced this story.
This is easily in my top five of all the Chinese dramas I’ve watched so far.
I first saw Shen Yue in the 2021 Netflix drama Use for My Talent, and I already liked her there. But in Be Yourself, she is simply phenomenal. In fact, all three of the main girls are outstanding. The entire cast — including the male leads — was perfectly chosen. The music was beautiful. The pacing worked. Everything came together in a way that felt sincere and impactful.
In the end, Be Yourself isn’t just a story about growing up — it’s a reflection on the courage it takes to be true to who you are, the power of friendship, and the bittersweet beauty of life itself.
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