it's not as bad as people say
Before watching this drama, I was extremely excited because I was curious about Gu Zicheng after seeing him in The White Olive Tree. From the very first episodes, I genuinely enjoyed every moment. I was happy while watching it, and I quickly decided that this drama was good—simply because of how it made me feel.Halfway through, I started reading other viewers’ reviews, and I was honestly shocked. Not because I was influenced by them, but because I realized something about myself as a viewer: I was enjoying the feeling of the drama rather than analyzing it. Because I enjoyed it so much emotionally, I overlooked other aspects—such as whether the plot was fully logical, whether some conflicts felt abstract, or whether the drama tried to handle too many themes at once. Some people said the writer was “greedy” in terms of storytelling, and I can understand why that criticism exists.
Many viewers mentioned that this drama had great potential, and I agree. I personally expected something closer to Skate Into Love, especially with the speed skating element. However, with only 20 episodes, the story does feel rushed. As a viewer, I also wanted to see more development—more growth that would help us truly understand why Nie Chi fell so deeply for Lin Ge.
I was also surprised by how sudden some scenes were. One moment, there’s a medal—without even showing the competition. Again, comparing it to Skate Into Love, that drama really made every match feel intense and meaningful. In Chasing the Wind, competitions didn’t feel as significant, and even the portrayal of the national team felt a bit strange to me. I kept wondering, “Why does it feel like they can come and go so freely?” Being a national athlete should come with huge responsibility, and that wasn’t always reflected clearly.
Some people said the male lead fell in love too quickly and that it felt unrealistic. Personally, I disagree. Love at first sight does exist. When it comes to love, not everything logical can be explained. Others said the romantic chemistry felt empty—but absolutely not for me. I felt the opposite. This drama became a new window for me to experience romance without kisses. Simple eye contact, hugs, and holding hands were already enough to make my heart feel warm and comfortable. Even without many kiss scenes, the romance still felt strong and meaningful to me.
People also criticized Nie Chi’s expressions, saying they were “weird.” Honestly, I’m genuinely confused about that. I didn’t see anything wrong with his expressions at all. Guys… I love nerds. Maybe Nie Chi was meant to be portrayed that way.
Yes, the pacing is rushed, and the sudden conflict near the end was a bit annoying—especially since it felt somewhat strange. But I let it go. Roles like this don’t come often for Gu Zicheng, and I was truly happy to see him in a youth romance drama like this.
While watching, I never focused on realism or technical details. If I enjoy a drama, I’ll say it’s good. Tastes are different, and that’s okay. I also want to say thank you to everyone who wrote reviews about Chasing the Wind—you gave me a new perspective on how dramas can be viewed and discussed.
For a sports drama, I think it meets the standard. It’s not the best, but it’s definitely not as bad as some reviews make it seem. I truly enjoyed it.
And I’ll definitely be waiting for Gu Zicheng’s future dramas.
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