Luo Yao Knew What He Meant (2023)

A typical school/campus series that have its own charms

I just love that even though this drama is "typical school drama" it still shown its own charms. What I love mostly for this drama are the characters well except for Rang's parents, you will know why hahaha.

Even though main characters are Zaizai and Lurang, the drama was able to unfold stories from their friends.

Guan Fang's background story, his character development and his relationship with his grandma was told in a good way that it makes me miss my grandma too. He wasn't just a character intended for comedic relief, he has his own story to tell.

Gu Ran's situation with his doctor parents are well told too, they shown a perspective of a child who's unintentionally got neglect by his parents due to the kind of work they had and love how they shows Gu Ran's perspective within the situation.

Jiang Jia's choosing what career to go through was represented well, as a person who go through the same thing, choosing for career path was one of the hard things to go through in entering college and the way they shown how Jiang Jia put her mind through it and not just choosing relentlessly is something I applaud for her arc.

As for the leads, Rangrang came from a family who constantly compares him to his sibling who appears as "better" than he is. As a child who also had a sibling I kind of experience this kind of thing, maybe this was "normalized" in asian household? Which should be stop as confidence is something hard to build for, it's easy to destroy one's self-esteem but building it again is not. I like how they show his brother's pov with this situation too, not just Rangrang. Not dwelling too much with the parents for the succeeding episode was good too, his parents don't deserve to have a close relationship with him as they are the reason for affecting and questioning his worth, however, it's good that things changed after his "brother" incident but reconciliation is not needed and they didn't push that arc thank god. I love how they focuses more on his closeness with his uncle and celebrating with him during holidays. Him seeing different light of life after meeting his friends was represented well. He is so introverted boy who got to meet extroverted friends.

As for Zaizai, she had a good and cheerful family, most of her arcs came from school related stuffs unlike Guan Fang, Gu Ran and Rangrang's situation. She knows her worth and standing up for herself is something I admire for her character. Unlike other female leads in other school dramas who are damsel in distress, Zaizai is a character who knows her rights and knows how to defend herself. She is also the pillar of F5 (their squad), without her initiating to know Zhang Lurang in first episodes the squad wouldn't even the way that they are in succeeding episodes.

Their squad is also something you'll love in this series, all of them are for there for each other through thick and thin. The way they resolve one's problem together and support each other's decisions is something I really admire with their friendship. Their rapport and dynamics as a squad felt so real, it wasn't forced, they all went through gradual process of building friendship, Gu Ran and Rang already know each other since they were kids though. From only knowing one's name to slowly getting to know one's personality and that's where their friendship begins.

For the Loveline aspects, it will take a while for them to officially date but you can tell in early episodes that both are whipped with each other. I love how Rangrang wasn't your typical cold, arrogant and rude male lead, he is just quiet but a lovely boy as Gu Ran said, he is just your boy who is shy and awkward but that doesn't make him a cold and arrogant. I love how he embraces Zaizai and the squad with his life.

Zaizai on the other hand wasn't the female lead who constantly stalks and follows the male lead, both of them went though getting to know each other phase, though Zaizai takes the initiative, she didn't harass the male lead contrary to other school dramas. I love the rapport within their relationship, the misunderstandings doesn't drag on as it was resolve within 1-2 episodes. The assurance and communication of these two is so good that'll make you ask if they are really high schoolers? Those two are better than adults. Their trust for each other is too good to be true, nonetheless, it's something to dream of in real life.

Gu Ran and Jiang Jia's love story was your typical frenemies-to-lovers trope with a little bit of one sided crush, it was executed well though! This is the first time I love second couple as much as the first couple.

Guan Fang doesn't have his own love line which is not really much needed and I applaud the director for that, not because your friends are in love you have to be in love too. I love how he is fifth wheeling though HAHAHAHA.

For me this is their own charms, it may be your typical coming-of-age drama they were able to show us the innocence of friendship and youth. It wasn't forced, it feels like you are growing with them too. The five main characters felt that they are real as they faces their own shortcomings, they weren't perfectly perfect, they have weaknesses and they slowly overcome those throughout the series. It's like you were also one of their classmates as well since those situations are something you did experience or might experience too. That's something some youth dramas failed to show as most of them focuses on love story and having an oh-so-good godlike character that can do all and a dumb-dumb character that will depend their life with their crushes, of course I love those storylines as I am really a sucker for youth dramas but it's kind of outdated trope now to be honest, I'm glad When I Fly Towards You gave something typical but admiring storytelling for youth dramas.

I've been waiting for this drama since their booting, I'm so sad when it gone through postponement of filming to changing some actors and filming setting (Guan Fang and Gu Ran's actors are well fit though so I don't mind the changes with their actors), they've gone through much. I saw Miaoyi's video crying after watching first episode and I can really feel her as this production have their setbacks while filming, I'm really glad that her and Yiran didn't left the show despites of the despites, can't imagine someone playing Rangrang and Zaizai as both of them embodied the character so well.

The success they're getting right now was well deserved, I just hope Youku promoted it the way it deserves, they kind of stop promoting this show after releasing Hidden Love not that I'm telling HL don't deserve it but I just hope they didn't neglect this series as it was a gem for coming-of-age drama.

Anyway, I'll be having a hard time to watch Zhang Miaoyi and Zhou Yiran's Drama with Seventeen's Jun and Dafei as I can't move on with their team up. They embodied Su Zaizai and Zhang Lurang so well that I don't want them to see with other partners, however, I'll still watch those to support my newly favorite actors. I'll watch out for you Yiran and Miaoyi! I'm glad both of you are open to work together again, hoping for more success!!

PS. The OSTs are so good too! The feeling of nostalgia and wanting to go back in year 2012 while listening to it was captured in the songs.

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