This review may contain spoilers
A heavy but beautiful drama about mental health and women's sufferings
"I envy your resilient life force. You can both endure everything and risk everything. You have light in your heart, so you're not afraid of darkness." (Reborn book, chapter 43)
Though some might mistake Reborn as a youth romance drama due to the misleading promotion and posters, it's probably one of the heaviest c-dramas out there. However, what makes it so special isn't how heavy it is, but how beautifully they handled every topic they talk about. Reborn is about topics almost never touched by most c-dramas, and it has the best depiction of depression and therapy I have ever seen in a chinese drama.
Depression is more and more talked about in shows, but it's rarely shown as an actual disease that requires actual therapy and hospitalisation, like they did it Reborn. Overall, I feel like it's a wonderful prevention show to sensibilize people about taboo health issues, be it depression or AIDS.
I heard a lot of people dropped it because it was too close to their reality, and I totally get them. It's not the usual "teenage angst" we see in shows, it's rooted in reality. Reborn is not afraid to denounce our patriarcal society, not afraid to show how women suffer from men's decisions. I read (and absolutely loved) the book and felt like it was less obvious in the book : only a woman can read the book and actually understand that what it denounces are men. The show delibarately made it way more obvious, by showing how the mom, first an antagonist, is actually a victim.
Now, I'm not saying she's a "good" mom. I don't think that was the point of the show either. The point was Qingyu growing up and understanding that her mother was not flawless. She already lost her sister, and what her parents did couldn't be erased anyway; she wanted at least to save her mother. Qingyu is really an interesting character, when you think about it. She's probably one of the strongest FL I have ever seen. She never stops searching for truth, but she's also so resiliant. She is brave and strong, ready to accept the ugly truth and fight for what is right, even when it means losing everything ; but she's even stronger for forgiving her parents. She makes every decision for herself, never controlled by anyone, not even her mother. She never "loses" against other people. She just lets them win when she thinks it's the best for everyone.
Ming Sheng was also very interesting. From a rebel teenager who resents his father (sadly, the show focused a lot about what happened with his mother, but in the book, the reason why Ming Sheng truly resents his father is due to what he's done to his hospitalized granddad, and that explains why Ming Sheng doubts his father as a doctor) to a man who makes his own decisions, not out of spite, but out of love. Always there for Qingyu, deeply in love with her since the beggining. Despite being a teenager who can make stupid decisions (hence him "annoying" her at first, just to be noticed), he never resents her or acts petty when she doesn't act the way he hoped. Observant, she doesn't need to explain him her family dynamics for him to know about them and be careful not to bring more troubles to Qingyu, never interacting with her where her mom can see it.
Wang Mumu, despite being less important in the show than in the book, still is very well-written here. Her friendship with Qingyu is so deep. They always want the best for each other, even when they're both suffering. I loved how this show did not (for once) stain women's friendship with rivality or jealousy.
Overall, Reborn is a show about self-discovery and self-growth. It's about discovering the truth and fighting for justice, but also about forgiveness and learning when to comply. It's about girls yearning to return to childhood, who finally accept growing up and can't wait to finally be adults to be free. I like to think the message here is you can only grow up when you accept things as they are and forgive people. However, forgiving doesn't always mean sacrificing yourself for other's happiness, like Qingyu does. It's her choice, and a beautiful one - but not the only way to grow up and find happiness. Qingyu chose love over herself, and love is never freedom, but compromises.
"In the years of youth, young people will encounter all kinds of people and situations. When facing these, they should confront them bravely, even if they face setbacks, disappointments, or even mess things up along the way. Through this journey, they will also gain warmth and be deeply moved. These experiences leave indelible marks on their journey of growth — they are an essential part of growing up. I hope this drama inspires courage in young people and encourages them to bravely face all kinds of challenges that come with growing up. " (Liu Zi Wei, Reborn's director)
Though some might mistake Reborn as a youth romance drama due to the misleading promotion and posters, it's probably one of the heaviest c-dramas out there. However, what makes it so special isn't how heavy it is, but how beautifully they handled every topic they talk about. Reborn is about topics almost never touched by most c-dramas, and it has the best depiction of depression and therapy I have ever seen in a chinese drama.
Depression is more and more talked about in shows, but it's rarely shown as an actual disease that requires actual therapy and hospitalisation, like they did it Reborn. Overall, I feel like it's a wonderful prevention show to sensibilize people about taboo health issues, be it depression or AIDS.
I heard a lot of people dropped it because it was too close to their reality, and I totally get them. It's not the usual "teenage angst" we see in shows, it's rooted in reality. Reborn is not afraid to denounce our patriarcal society, not afraid to show how women suffer from men's decisions. I read (and absolutely loved) the book and felt like it was less obvious in the book : only a woman can read the book and actually understand that what it denounces are men. The show delibarately made it way more obvious, by showing how the mom, first an antagonist, is actually a victim.
Now, I'm not saying she's a "good" mom. I don't think that was the point of the show either. The point was Qingyu growing up and understanding that her mother was not flawless. She already lost her sister, and what her parents did couldn't be erased anyway; she wanted at least to save her mother. Qingyu is really an interesting character, when you think about it. She's probably one of the strongest FL I have ever seen. She never stops searching for truth, but she's also so resiliant. She is brave and strong, ready to accept the ugly truth and fight for what is right, even when it means losing everything ; but she's even stronger for forgiving her parents. She makes every decision for herself, never controlled by anyone, not even her mother. She never "loses" against other people. She just lets them win when she thinks it's the best for everyone.
Ming Sheng was also very interesting. From a rebel teenager who resents his father (sadly, the show focused a lot about what happened with his mother, but in the book, the reason why Ming Sheng truly resents his father is due to what he's done to his hospitalized granddad, and that explains why Ming Sheng doubts his father as a doctor) to a man who makes his own decisions, not out of spite, but out of love. Always there for Qingyu, deeply in love with her since the beggining. Despite being a teenager who can make stupid decisions (hence him "annoying" her at first, just to be noticed), he never resents her or acts petty when she doesn't act the way he hoped. Observant, she doesn't need to explain him her family dynamics for him to know about them and be careful not to bring more troubles to Qingyu, never interacting with her where her mom can see it.
Wang Mumu, despite being less important in the show than in the book, still is very well-written here. Her friendship with Qingyu is so deep. They always want the best for each other, even when they're both suffering. I loved how this show did not (for once) stain women's friendship with rivality or jealousy.
Overall, Reborn is a show about self-discovery and self-growth. It's about discovering the truth and fighting for justice, but also about forgiveness and learning when to comply. It's about girls yearning to return to childhood, who finally accept growing up and can't wait to finally be adults to be free. I like to think the message here is you can only grow up when you accept things as they are and forgive people. However, forgiving doesn't always mean sacrificing yourself for other's happiness, like Qingyu does. It's her choice, and a beautiful one - but not the only way to grow up and find happiness. Qingyu chose love over herself, and love is never freedom, but compromises.
"In the years of youth, young people will encounter all kinds of people and situations. When facing these, they should confront them bravely, even if they face setbacks, disappointments, or even mess things up along the way. Through this journey, they will also gain warmth and be deeply moved. These experiences leave indelible marks on their journey of growth — they are an essential part of growing up. I hope this drama inspires courage in young people and encourages them to bravely face all kinds of challenges that come with growing up. " (Liu Zi Wei, Reborn's director)
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