Heartwarming family
I felt so comfortable watching this series. First of all, the OST was amazing— all four songs were great, and both the opening and ending themes matched the visuals perfectly.
In general, Stay with Me was unexpectedly joyful for me. Su Yu and Wu Bi each have unique personalities, and the actors did an excellent job creating a genuine brotherly bond on one hand, while also letting us feel the subtle chemistry of two guys slowly falling in love. Yes, there’s China’s censorship, and officially it’s a bromance, but the production team delivered as much romance (and kisses) as possible.
What I liked the most were the family dynamics. We have three separate families connected through three children. In my opinion, Li Dou, Su Yu’s neighbour, was a really lovely and smart girl, serving as a cute and meaningful connection between Su Yu and Wu Bi. Some characters start off as rather unsympathetic but undergo believable development. We also get to see their perspectives, which helps us understand why they behaved the way they did in the past.
Another thing I appreciated was that there wasn’t too much unnecessary drama. Don’t get me wrong—I enjoy good drama—but sometimes I’m in the mood for a wholesome series without cringe-worthy characters or bad boys. Stay with Me is one of the most realistic yet still engaging series I’ve watched. Besides some subplots, like a past car accident, the story focuses on the coming-of-age journey of two boys in school and home settings. They each have their own dreams and struggles with their parents—one comes from a rich family, the other from a poor one. (It’s a cliché, yes, but very well executed.) Scenes like riding bikes together or helping each other with homework are lighthearted and sweet.
Minor criticism: Not every supporting character worked for me. For instance, Su Yu’s friends felt a bit flat, likely due to limited screen time. Wu Bi’s friends were even harder to connect with—I didn’t really know who they were, and the scenes with them felt somewhat unnecessary. I also wasn’t particularly invested in the plot involving Wu Bi’s mom, though I really enjoyed her as a character and how she shaped the relationships around her.
Overall, Stay with Me is heartwarming, relatable, and beautifully balanced—full of small, realistic moments that make it unforgettable.
In general, Stay with Me was unexpectedly joyful for me. Su Yu and Wu Bi each have unique personalities, and the actors did an excellent job creating a genuine brotherly bond on one hand, while also letting us feel the subtle chemistry of two guys slowly falling in love. Yes, there’s China’s censorship, and officially it’s a bromance, but the production team delivered as much romance (and kisses) as possible.
What I liked the most were the family dynamics. We have three separate families connected through three children. In my opinion, Li Dou, Su Yu’s neighbour, was a really lovely and smart girl, serving as a cute and meaningful connection between Su Yu and Wu Bi. Some characters start off as rather unsympathetic but undergo believable development. We also get to see their perspectives, which helps us understand why they behaved the way they did in the past.
Another thing I appreciated was that there wasn’t too much unnecessary drama. Don’t get me wrong—I enjoy good drama—but sometimes I’m in the mood for a wholesome series without cringe-worthy characters or bad boys. Stay with Me is one of the most realistic yet still engaging series I’ve watched. Besides some subplots, like a past car accident, the story focuses on the coming-of-age journey of two boys in school and home settings. They each have their own dreams and struggles with their parents—one comes from a rich family, the other from a poor one. (It’s a cliché, yes, but very well executed.) Scenes like riding bikes together or helping each other with homework are lighthearted and sweet.
Minor criticism: Not every supporting character worked for me. For instance, Su Yu’s friends felt a bit flat, likely due to limited screen time. Wu Bi’s friends were even harder to connect with—I didn’t really know who they were, and the scenes with them felt somewhat unnecessary. I also wasn’t particularly invested in the plot involving Wu Bi’s mom, though I really enjoyed her as a character and how she shaped the relationships around her.
Overall, Stay with Me is heartwarming, relatable, and beautifully balanced—full of small, realistic moments that make it unforgettable.
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