Reviews

I KNEW IT

Bro, while I was watching the show, I kept getting flashbacks to another BL about Litchi and Summer. Lo and behold, when I checked the show's IMDb, it had the same director! They have such a specific style that I recognized it instantly. You know you have a clear artistic vision when it can be recognized across multiple pieces.

Gorgeous cinematography, love the actors, AND no dubbing! No hate to the teams that do dubbing, but hearing the raw coughing, sniffing, and breathing is so refreshing.

The official reaction videos with the actors are an absolute MUST-WATCH too. They offer so much insight into the show, the characters' choices, and the symbolism that can easily go over an international audience's head. Also, I have to thank the person doing the subtitles because they're genuinely hilarious.

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Do Not be Afraid to take the Plunge

Jung Yi-hyun experienced the worst part of his life when he busted his knee during a baseball match that prevented him to ever go pro. As the police were scurrying around trying to get him off the edge of the school building rooftop, fellow student Yoon Sae-bom appeared and pushed him off the roof onto the drop balloon that the police has set-up on the ground to catch him. That was when he found life again. Fast forward to current timeline, both are now police officers, Jung as a police detective while Yoon in the anti-terrorist unit. Yoon is obsessed with finding happiness by trying to own things by herself, never believing in marriage and stuff when a virus outbreak happened where she found the perfect way to own her first apartment - secure the public official government housing quota by collecting enough merit for helping to apprehend her infected trainee, and proposing to Jung into a fake marriage. As they are about to enjoy the life in their first property, the virus outbreak spread to the apartment complex, leading to a complete lockdown of the complex by the Korean CDC agency led by Lt Col Han Tae-sok. Thus began their journey of navigating through the treacherous wave of human nature at its lowest form.

I love the FL who is depicted to be extremely bold and fearless, definitely borderline unhinged had not for the clear conscience that she possesses. I like it that both ML and FL are such badasses that theyre always trying to keep each other safe by instinct, constantly stepping in front of each other in the face of danger. Reminds me a lot of Pursuit of Jade’s badass couple Fan Changyu and Xie Zheng. And i totally love the chemistry they have on screen even without those lame ass slow-mo staring contests or the typical sexual tension situations as their relationship grows from friends to couple with benefits to a real couple finding love and solace in each other. Basically I am just in awe at how brilliant their relationship growth is without trying too hard, they definitely didnt need anything sexually suggestive that leads to romance, absolute kudos to the screenwriter for this brilliant write-up.

The action sequences are very satisfying even though there isnt really any villain with matching physical prowess that the couple possess, well except for those deranged infected people, but i dont really categorize them as villains. The villains here are those who are selfish and self-absorbed entitled residents who turned into unrecognizable beings once their self interests are at risk, and these people are actually much more dangerous than the infected.

Watching this show also reminded me a lot of Sweet Home, although Happiness has a much lower level violence and tensions. I am just amazed at how good the story writing is, especially when the the siblings who had been fighting over inheritance whom I thought would be the first to push each other into the infecteds turned out to be the one who stuck with each other to the very end. This is how real siblings should be though many in the world wouldnt act like what theyre supposed to.

The way the writer had woven in the human values are incredibly creative and smart. This is also one of the few zombie-like apocalypse show that didnt make me cringe. I can totally understand why they had high ratings here. They truly deserved it.

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I was expecting much more

Things I adored

1 The first poster I saw. I thought, that's my kind of rom com. I thought to be honest that they would live in different apartments, and I was pleasantly surprised to find out they were living together. I think it would be great if they lived as neighbors, but here we had more chances for bickering and romantic moments. So the premise was great for me and I was excited to watch it.

Things I loved

1 The ML. First of all, I find him handsome and that always plays a positive role to me when the series is a rom com. I have seen him before in Filter and I liked him, but the FL wasn't good enough for me, so it influenced his performance as well. Here, I found him much more handsome. I tried to watch the Love Me, Love My Voice, and he was gorgeous, but unfortunately the series didn't work for me because of the FL. So this is the first series where I liked both leads and him in particular.
He nailed the arrogant but kind lead, and honestly if not for him this would be a dull drama. I loved the banter and I loved his character. He was never truly mean or truly spoiled. He made the effort to change and he changed. Yes he did sometimes small things that could be interpreted as such, but he was the perfect tenant at the end of the day. He never took advantage of the FL, he paid for everything she did and it was part of his growth arc. He was always there for her. He brought a lot to his character with his acting and I loved him.
I loved how smart and hardworking and honest he was in every aspect of his life. Yes, he kept something important from the FL, but let's be serious, it was nothing that had any negative impact on her. I want also to add that he can kiss.

2 The father of the ML. He was a decent person and I was happy to see the the ML and him have a good relationship. I didn't find the actor particularly good, though.

3 The father of the FL. What a kind, understanding father. I wish he had more scenes.

Things I liked

1 The FL. So, this is difficult for me to write because I thought she would be great in this role, and she wasn't. What went wrong? Quite a few things. Let's start with the trivial. I didn't like at all her hair. It was always unkept and not in good way. The color didn't work, it made her look older than she is, and that bothered me during the whole series. This is the second drama I watched with her, and in the How dare you? she was gorgeous. So I expected her to be beautiful here as well. But the hair didn't do her any favors. I think it should be much lighter. Even worse, she was dressed as a 40 year old suburban housewife. I can't describe how much I hated her outfits. I probably liked two in the whole series, and just liked them. I didn't love any of her outfits and clothes are important to me in a rom com. The ML had some debatable outfits as well. But mostly he was dressed quite well. I hated that her friend and the ML talked about it and yet she never changed to a better way to dress.

These were the trivial reasons I didn't love her, but there were many others. Her character in the first episodes put me off. I though I had been transported back in the fifties. Who the heck thinks the way she thought? She got on my nerves a lot during these episodes and I was truly happy she broke up. Not because she deserved someone better, but to see her eat her words. Never a good sign to start with disliking one of the leads.
Her character was equally bad in the last episodes. I particularly hated the discussion with the father of the ML where she corrected him about living together with he ML like she was a 16 year schoolgirl, when she was in a relationship before and we saw her with the ML at the hotel. Stupid, illogical dialogue that made me dislike her.

Same illogic decision to sell the apartment and then act high and mighty when he complained. I'm not sure what happened to the screenwriters, but they surely made a mess of the last episodes. Her work attitude bothered me as well. A doormat, and to be honest she changed a bit too late for me. Then, there was her attitude in general. Sometimes she was bitchy, especially in the last episodes and that ruined a bit the series for me. I didn't get why she was like that. He never did anything to deserve that kind of coldness. The banter they had at first gave place to cold and detached comments I didn't appreciate. It's like the screenwriter lost the plot. It felt like she didn't care about him, and he was the only one to make any effort.

I have a lot more to say about her character. She had some great moments where she teased him , or when she laughed with his antics, but there weren't enough of these moments to make up for the lack of swooning moments. There were not enough kisses, not enough heartfelt moments, not enough chemistry in the end.

So, although I can't say I disliked her, I didn't love her. I though she was bitchy without reason, cold without reason, and that she looked so much older than him bothered me a lot. It felt like she didn't put much effort to be honest. Even in the last episode, when she talked with his father she came off as arrogant and bitchy than funny and witty. I regret another actress didn't have the role. I'd love a remake with a new actress. I have quite a few I think would be better playing the part.

2 The friends. Both were good friends, but I didn't care really for any of these. Yao Jing Jing was a bit much sometimes and although I find the actress good and gorgeous, she didn't have a lot to go here. Dang Yu wasn't interesting enough to me and I didn't care much about her love story.

Things I disliked

1 The secondary couples. I didn't care about any of their relationships.

2 The 2MLeads. Both were uninteresting to me and I fast forwarded their appearances after episode 20.

3 The mother of the 2ML. Yes, she was intrusive and have no patience for that kind of sticky mothers.

4 The ex. AI apart, he was an awful actor and his character was nonsensical. We never saw him have any growth and maybe it was the voice they used but it was so unnatural to listen to him that it was creepy.

5 The ex of the ML. I'm not sure why she was there in the last episodes. She was an idiot and we didn't need her to be part of the story anymore. Stupid if you ask me.

5 The FL superior. Yes, she was an ambitious woman who lost her way but what I didn't like was the way the FL looked up at her and forgave her. Why the heck? She was a greedy, immoral woman who tried to undermine the ML. Another reason I disliked the FL.

Things I hated

1 It wasn't romantic enough. It didn't deliver what the poster and the premise promised. No swoony moments, not enough chemistry. Apart for a few moments, it was bland in the romance department. The proposal was another dark moment. The ring was gorgeous, the proposal itself awful. Why did I went through 36 episodes? For that? Not even a kiss. Give me a break.

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The newly reborn president Kang

If you don't have time to read the whole thing, skip to the end where the conclusions are :)

Reborn Rookie introduces us to Hwang Jun-hyeon, a soccer player for Choiseong FC, and Kang Yong-ho, president of the Choiseong Group, cross paths when the president's son, Kang Jae-sung, brutally runs over Jun-hyeon with the president's car while trying to hide the embezzlement that he and his twin sister, Kang Jae-gyeong, had committed. Angered by the abrupt end of his football career and the 400 million won fine he must pay, Jun-hyeon confronts Chairman Kang, but they both end up accidentally hitting their heads when falling down the stairs. Waking up in the hospital, Chairman Kang is faced with a shocking revelation: his soul now inhabits Jun-hyeon's body, while Jun-hyeon's soul remains in his original body, fast asleep in a coma. To assimilate this unexpected situation, President Kang decides to cause a stir in the company and punish the bad actions of his children by posing as the brilliant new employee Hwang Jun-hyeon, with the help of Kang Bang-geul, his youngest daughter, whom he kept hidden for years.

The story presents us with a not very common plot but with some dramas of this type such as Reborn Rich but with its own style, a corporate drama with twists and situations that keep you hooked and a setting that makes you feel as if you were in an office, the drama for me evolved with the chapters, I must say that the first one did not convince me but then I was totally hooked, I like how it mixes corporate twists with comedy and high-tension situations in general. I give the story an 8.5/10


This drama does not present us with many characters, so I will go directly to the analysis of the protagonists

Hwang Jun-hyeon (Lee Jun-young): A footballer whose dream was to play in the Premier League before his grandmother, who suffers from dementia, forgot that promise. Playing for Choi Seong FC was his first step, when an accident ended his sports career; The club terminates his contract. The investigation of the accident goes through great difficulties, such as the disappearance of evidence, but it is learned that the car that hit him was the favorite vehicle of Kang Yong-ho, president of the Choi Seong group.

Kang Yong-ho (Lee Jun-young/Son Hyun-joo): President of the Choi Seong group. He inherited the company at just 32 years old, and suddenly found himself as a rookie surrounded by enemies like his stepmother and stepbrothers who were harassing his position. That fight hardened him, and turned him into a man who despises those who are not worth what they cost. Now he has everyone in suspense while he decides which of his children will be the successor: the first-born Jae-kyung or the second Jae-seong. Both incompetent, and also interested in lining their pockets instead of looking out for the interest of the company. But they are his children, and although furious with them, he cannot bequeath the group to someone else. On the day of the succession announcement, he suffers an accident as a result of which he ends up exchanging his body with that of a young friend. This could be a heaven-sent opportunity, a gift from God to properly punish the children you spoiled and to protect your company.

I must say that Lee Jun-young's performance was quite good, since he has that leadership demeanor, and the truth is he knew how to handle this character, with his nuances and everything that was seen in the two characters

Kang Bang-geul (Lee Joo-myoung): Yong-ho's third daughter, stepsister of the twins. Sent to the United States fifteen years ago, she lived as the daughter of a chaebol family shrouded in secrecy. Now she has returned and works as an intern at the Choi Seong group. When she was twelve years old she realized that nothing in her house belonged to her and she was forced to study away from it. There she began to prepare her revenge and lead a double life: apparently, a mediocre fashion student who spends her time having fun; in reality, training with courses in politics, economics and business administration. Thus he acquired all kinds of skills and entered the family business to prove that he was a swan and not the ugly duckling.

Another success for Lee Joo-myuong, her roles amuse me so much, in Twenty-Five Twenty-One the beautiful Ji Seung-wan and now Kasey Kang, I must say that her performance is one of my favorites, I hope to see her in other roles soon.

Kang Jae-kyung (Jeong Hye-jin) Daughter of Yong-ho and twin sister of Jae-seong, president of Choi Seong Chemical. With a strong personality, proud and possessive, she imposes birthright on her brother for only fifty seconds. She has not gotten over the fact that her father betrayed her mother and that just a year after her death he took another wife. Her resentment against him leads her to wish that he would disappear, and she sees an opportunity when he suffers a accident: she will finally be able to take control of the Choi Seong group, daughter of Yong-ho and twin sister of Jae-seong, president of Choi Seong.

Her character earned all my hatred. How can someone be so selfish and try to kill their father for money? She's a psychopath. The actress did a good job.

Kang Jae-seong (Jin-goo): Second son of President Kang, twin of Jae-kyung, and president of Choi Seong Chemical. Choi Seong, the younger of the twins, is an expert at making mistakes, brimming with greed but narrow-minded, and plagued by an inferiority complex. Overwhelmed by his father and overshadowed by his older sister, he becomes petty, determined to defeat her and seize control of the Choi Seong Group.

I must say that at first I hated him, but I liked how he joined the alliance.

I liked how the drama explored alliances at work and friendships within them, as well as the themes of family and the father-son relationship. Overall, I give the acting a 9.0/10.


As for the music, I really liked it, especially "No Breaks" and "I'm Running." Overall, I give it a 9.0.


Would I watch it again? Probably not. Although I liked it, it's not my type of drama, so I'd give it a 7/10.

NOTE: I'm disappointed with the ending. It couldn't have ended any other way. It's fine that there's another season, but honestly, it felt unnecessary, which is why I'm lowering my rating to 8.5. Also, the last two episodes didn't maintain the drama's pace. Even so, I enjoyed it, and I'll probably watch another season if there is one.


In short, Reborn Rookie is... A corporate drama with touches of fantasy, such as body swapping, tense moments, workplace friendships, and themes of family and business—perfect for fans of the genre. Overall, I give it a 8.5/10; they did a very good job.


THANKS FOR READING

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Catholic Guilt Meets Pure Love

As an atheist, I am always intrigued by Catholic Guilt and Original Sin. I can't understand the 'struggles' Catholics have with love, and the purity of the feelings that we evolved as a species to embrace.
Having said that, I found this series profound, getting to the nub of the problem. Poor Tanrak had such a hard time, because he'd been brainwashed to believe that, if he "sinned" he wouldn't go to Heaven to meet up with his parents again. Then along came Barth The Disrupter, who had him questioning his beliefs. Barth was a breath of fresh air in the boring, stultified atmosphere of the Catholic Boys home/school.
Along the way, 'Auntie Lek", (who is that actor?) who showed Tanrak that he could love himself, Barth, and still love his god. This was a turning point for Tanrak, but, right up 'til the final ten minutes of ep6, I did not think Tanrak and Barth were together - I assumed the priest that was being ordained that day was Tanrak. This mystery held the audience in suspense from the opening scenes of ep1 until the final closing moments.
Gemini and Fourth had me in tears and laughter -their performances were beautiful and timeless.
The script was well written, and wove a story of angst, pain, laughter, and love, into a
warm blanket.
Even knowing the ending, I would watch this again.

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Good start, better ending!!

Well, I came to this mini drama because of the presence of that actress, Zhang Nan, that I have watched in previous dramas like The Wanted Detective, Glory or Gone With the Rain. In all this series, her performance was superb, wonderful and near perfection, what a great performer she is. I like too the wuxia dramas, more like no other kind, more like xianxia or some magical issues that I’m not entirely on them. And when I realised this was mainly featuring female characters in fighting duties, i’ll think It could be a good attempt.

At first, the drama starts with an average tone, introducing the main characters, the Jinyiwei stuff and the struggles in the past and some uncover things. Sheng Bingfan (Zhang Nan) is a cold and stubborn girl who wants to uncover the death of her father in the hands of the famous assassin Leng Xin. Hua Mange is her partner, a wonderful and straighforward character, and the cute Cheng Xintian closes the trio of female agents. They are supported by the MLs of the show, the frivolous Chang Beiming (Jiang Chao), a noble with a double life and many secrets to hide, and Xu Duoyu (Ge Qiugu), an scholar with innovative ideas about war and fighting. The plot begins a little sloppy, maybe, not very exciting, while making Chang and Bingfan to enter a kind of love and hate relationship, but this is not a romance, so this story is not really developed. The presence of another villain, Feng Fuliu, as a masked warrior with no clear intentions, entangle the plot some more. Slowly, the pacing is improving, the plots are more interesting and everything starts to work better. About half the drama, I was completely hooked with the history, the mega cute female team and some of the fighting scenes. This is not the good point of the drama, of course. Some of the actors, starting with Zhang Nan, does not seem to have worked so much in the coreography. However, Zhang repay it with her good acting skills in the fights, and the other characters really do it very well. Hua Mange is charming in her fighting skills with her whip, and the ML did a good job, too, with cool weapons like his fan.

But the highlight of the show, for me, is the main villain, the character of Leng Xin (who is not a lead but a support role in the cast). Spoiler alert, this character is portayed by the actress named Wang Junbi, a little girl who doesn’t seem to fit for a supposed “terrific” role like that. However, in the show, Leng Xin is presented as the public enemy number 1, with incredible fighting and qigong skills, even superior to any other character in the story. This is not some common in this kind of dramas, male centered forever, and I’ve never seen a final boss fight between two women (Bingfan and Lengxin). For that reason alone It’s worth watching, my god. The final battle, with the assassin Leng Xin fighting alone all the other characters together and nearly winning, has been very exciting, and I almost changed my mind wanting her to win, hahaha. Some of the choreographies are really good, albeit brief, and everybody made an excelent performance with the wirework, yeah.

Besides, spoiler alert too, I liked a lot the performance of Leng Xin as a cute and undercover maid. Her relationship with Xintian, presented as truly love, is something not often seen in this kind of shows, here we have one sided sismance, hahaha, truly heartwarming. That actress, Wang Junbi made a really cool performance as an histrionic character, evil to the bones, without redemption, at the final episodes. It’s very very very coooool, I can only praise her.

On the whole, I can say that there are minor flaws in the show; if you’re not searching some deep story, or a heartwarming romance, or some like that, if you want entertainment, here it is. I want to praise all the performers in the show, everybody is doing a very good job here.

For all of that, I can only rate this mini drama very high; since I really enjoyed watching it. I’m not in the “rewatch” mode, hardly ever, but in this case I could do it, for sure. Thumbs up!

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a drama with apparently no primary antagonist

where was the bad guy throughout the entire drama?! this irked me so much i stopped watching.
the main characters and their families suffer a brutal tragedy years before the drama starts, tens of thousands of people get killed, lives are destroyed, etc. why? because one woman wanted to rule
YET for 34 episodes (that's how far i watched before i got too annoyed to go on), this woman is presented to the audience as kind, just, longsuffering, soft spoken, a fair and balanced ruler, measured, a good and caring mother, lonely, sad, astute, isolated, altruistic, everything and anything but a blood thirsty greedy tyrant who engineered so much disaster just so she could get a chance at the throne. not once do we see her directly do or say a bad thing.
and that is so unbalanced. because on the other hand there's the leads just having an absolutely miserable time - the ml and fl with their major physical and mental challenges but who caused it? who is the main villain? why were they so reluctant to directly portray her as a villain?
instead they shove marquis muyang at us for the first half of the drama even though he's obviously just her tool, then they tell us its the 2ml, who despite being her victim is somehow portrayed as even more of a villain than she is?
the ml rarely even acknowledges her as the bad guy, not one person treats her with the scorn she deserves. why did ye li, a girl barely 20 have to come down from the mountain to get justice for the past? what were all of those grown men doing??
speaking of ye li - why was she so mary sue? she was perfect and could do anything and everything from building a wheelchair to predicting an eclipse i mean c'mon! even her mental illness made her look cute and mysterious for the most part.

some positives
bai lu and cheng lei did good with their characters, they didn't really have any romantic chemistry and its not cheng lei's best performance, but they held down their individual parts well.
ye li's psychological issues - her whole i see dead people shtick was quite entertaining. i thought the cause and effect was well done - although i didn't finish the drama so i don' t know the resolution.
the drama didn't have the typical idol drama sheen - the weather looked visibly hot and everyone was sweaty and clammy and the makeup and hair and clothes were not the best, but it felt deliberate? like they had enough confidence in their story to not pack on all that other stuff. anyway it was refreshing
the boy emperor did a good job
the eunuchs and the empresses sometimes had similar makeup - i thought that was cunt
the ost was nice

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There are bad series and then there's Yesterday

It's like a car crash... you just can't look away. I'm surprised I managed to finish it. Even as a FortPeat fan, this was nothing but painfully bad. There's just so much wrong with it: bad writing, thin plot, huge plot holes, bad acting, a bunch of unrealistic stuff and things like twitching face filters (wtf).

Regarding the plot, this show could also be called "Stockholm Syndrome The series". I don't mind toxic ahh characters and a dark romance, but Yesterday stays very superficial. Fort and Peat are great but they don't seem suitable for playing complex characters like these. Or maybe it was just the writing that was so stiff. Even FortPeat's steamy scenes, that are usually ultra hot somehow felt lame and awkward. The characters stay one-dimensional and there isn't any real progress... Vier's life was basically ruined by a one-night stand and I knew they were gonna pull that Jekyll and Hyde shit for Kelvin. And then there's Ken, who's portrayed as simply vicious, without any real motivation except he doesn't like to be called stupid. He's literally just there for plot. And don't even get me started on how fucking problematic the portrayal of the romantic relationship and abuse is....

Yesterday is one of these shows that pulls you in with a confusing plot, dramatic cliffhangers and a lot of sexiness.. and before you know it, you almost watched all of it, but in this case, it's very disappointing. Some of the most dramatic scenes made me laugh because the execution was so bad. They tried very hard to elevate this mess with dramatic classical music, which didn't work. I noticed there's unusually little product placement - no Lactasoy and no Ichitan! - so maybe it's a budget issue?

The only good things about Yesterday are great female characters and Fort's sexiness (which had to work overtime, unless nobody would watch it).

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10/10 – A masterpiece. The BL of the millennium.

Ticket to Heaven isn’t just the best GeminiFourth series—it is one of the most unforgettable BLs I’ve ever watched.

Everything about this drama feels crafted with love and purpose. The cinematography is breathtaking, every frame looks like a painting, the editing is seamless, and the direction knows exactly when to be quiet and let emotions speak for themselves. The soundtrack deserves endless praise as well; the main theme will forever be tied to this beautiful story in my heart.

But what truly makes Ticket to Heaven extraordinary is Gemini and Fourth. This is, without a doubt, the best performance of their careers. Their chemistry has always been special, but here they reached another level. Every smile, every tear, every moment of silence felt genuine. They didn’t just play Barth and Tanrak—they became them.

Barth and Tanrak gave me laughter, hope, heartbreak, and love in ways I never expected. Their journey felt real, human, and deeply moving. These are the kind of characters that stay with you long after the final episode ends.

This series reminded me why I fell in love with BLs in the first place. It tells a story with sensitivity, maturity, and incredible emotional depth. It’s the kind of drama that leaves an imprint on your soul.

Thank you to everyone who brought this masterpiece to life. And thank you, Gemini and Fourth, for giving us a performance that I will never forget.

BarthTanrak forever. 🤍

This wasn’t just a drama.

It was an experience.

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It would have been a 10 if not for that stupid second couple

Things I adored

1 The FL. She is such a beautiful and good actress. She did a great job with her role. She was the perfect rom com heroine. Smart, funny, hardworking and independent. I just adored her. do I think her allergy was a bit farfetched? Yes, but once you accept the principle, there's no reason not to enjoy the performance. I didn't search to find out if such an allergy exists but I wouldn't find it weird if it did. Anyway, we always suspend out disbelief so i's not difficult to do so here as well.

2 The chemistry and the banter between the leads. So good and the romance was one of the best. Kisses and hugs and romantic moments to enjoy in every episode. I loved hat once they got together the relationship felt real. There was no keep our distance nonsense I've seen in other dramas. The leads seemed to have a great time playing together and that gave us a great drama.

Things I loved

1 The ML. I'll be honest, I thought I'd hate him. He's not my cup of tea looks wise and I admit that in a rom com I like the leads to be beautiful. He's so talented though and his chemistry with Bai Lu was so good I forgot completely my reservations. He played the role to perfection. I loved how cunning he was sometimes and I truly enjoyed every minute he was with the FL.

Things I hated

1 The 2ML. I hated the actor and I still can't forget his role in this drama and that influences me when I want to watch him in another series. That shows he did a great job, but I will admit that he isn't handsome in my eyes either.

2 The last episodes and the arc of the 2ML. This destroyed quite a bit the whole drama. I'm not sure why they chose to do this. It didn't bring anything to the series and if it had ended before they ruined the character they tried to redeem for the entire series in a few episodes, it would have been great. Honestly, this would have been a 10 if it weren't for the this arc and the second couple.

3 I won't waste my time to write a different text for each of them. Both were awful actors and their characters were beyond stupid. I'll never watch anything these two are part of unless i can forward their parts. The 2FL was such a stupid character. She fell for someone without any reason and there was no reason for anyone to fall for her. I found her unappealing, looking old and there was no chemistry between her and the 2ML.If only they had chosen a better, funnier cuter actress it'd be perfect.
As for the 2ML, let's be honest, if it weren't for his looks I can't imagine anyone hire him. he had one expression allover and I'm not sure how to describe it other than dull. He was also looked like he was 15 years old which was quite creepy. There was no chemistry whatsoever between him and the 2FL. They could have been better as mother and son. They truly ruined my enjoyment.

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A very touching, intimate, warm drama to watch slowly

This is a very touching, intimate, warm drama about the ups and downs of three couples as they navigate very contemporary Chinese issues, while remaining universally relatable. Nothing out of the ordinary, but a very extraordinary way of storytelling, with a very distinctive voice and personality.

The series revolves around these three couples with different life paths and characteristics, and their personal, partnership and family relationships, which are all interconnected. At the beginning of the show, they share something in common: they aren't where they were supposed to be, or where they'd imagined themselves to be at their stage of life.

Four of them (two in their twenties and two in their mid to late thirties) are in Canada and returned to China for different reasons — embodying what in China is colloquially known as "sea turtles" (海龟/海归, *hǎiguī*), those who study or live abroad and then return — while the other two (mid to late thirties and early 40s) had never lived abroad.

We follow the characters as they deal with these circumstances while searching for personal happiness and fulfillment, that as you can imagine isn't always a smooth ride. As the series goes deep, you'll discover the inner world, conflicts, dreams, broken dreams, hopes, flaws and strengths of all of them, including those of their parents. Some people fall once and learn, others need to fall several times, and a group needs to fall even harder; but as in real life, there's people who can't face themselves and the world as they are and never learn.

The younger couple's storyline was my favourite though, I guess because it had the sense of hope that comes with having all your life ahead of you, and the courage to try living your life the way you want, even if it means discovering it in the process, with the good and the bad: loneliness, grief, depression, betrayal, friendship, love.

The story also explores, with different levels of detail, some specific professional and work sectors: entrepreneurship and startups with angel investors, tied to the main lead and his best friend, and the streaming industry – influencers and content creation companies – through the female lead, are the ones that received the most screentime and scrutiny. Personally, I found the exploration of the streaming industry particularly interesting in its detailed and merciless dissection. Meanwhile, the study abroad system and the life of those struggling to insert themselves in the work system is portrayed through the young ones.

A lot happens and going into details would be endless here, so I'll just give an honorable mention to Zhang Ran's boss. Only by the last episodes did I stop believing that the violent and chaotic criminal/gambler from Fearless Blood was hidden inside him and would reveal himself, as he was played by the same actor. Here, he still managed to make me lose my patience although for different reasons lol.

The performances are great, but I especially loved the direction of Yu Xiao Chen, and the cinematography: the use of the camera, the lighting, and how it manages to find beauty and tell so much in every little detail and common moment. There are so many great scenes like this! And of course, I can't avoid mentioning the quotes at the end of every episode even when sometimes the translation stretches quite a bit, and the ending credits OST.

All in all, the drama doesn't rush and lets you reflect on life, and the same you could say about my watching experience: I enjoyed it at a slow pace. If I had to sum up Back to the Origin, I'd say it's a mix of melancholy for the past times and the decisions we cannot change, the feeling of ordinary everyday moments, optimistic spirit towards the future, honesty, courage and love.

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