1
2Flawed Storytelling, Redeemed by Amazing Performances
The White Olive Tree is one of those dramas that I watched purely for its talented cast and the themes it aimed to explore. If I’m completely honest, the writing left a lot to be desired—it was riddled with bad dialogue and forced situations, often making me roll my eyes. The English dialogue felt tedious; if a drama intends to incorporate a good amount of a foreign language, it would be worthwhile to invest in someone who can ensure its proper use.However, despite the weak storytelling, there were also highlights, including the romance, the acting, and the OST.
The love story between the two leads was surprisingly engaging, even if some viewers found it too teenage-like. Their initial awkwardness and shy interactions might not be for everyone, but I personally found them endearing. There’s something incredibly sweet about watching two people slowly navigate their feelings, especially when their chemistry is palpable. When they finally got together, it made all the waiting worthwhile.
Another standout element was the acting. Both leads delivered strong performances, and their emotional depth helped elevate the often lackluster script. Chen Zhe Yuan, in particular, was a scene-stealer—not just because of his strong acting but also because he excelled in the most intense, tearful moments. His ability to convey raw emotions made the heavier aspects of the story more compelling.
Liang Jie also delivered a noteworthy performance, providing the perfect balance to Chen Zhe Yuan with her natural charm. While he carried much of the show’s intensity, her portrayal brought a richness that added depth to both her character and the story. Their effortless chemistry made their relationship even more engaging to watch.
Beyond the leads, there were side characters who managed to captivate the audience. Wang Tian Chen as Benjamin and Gu Zi Cheng as Sasin were particularly noteworthy, earning their own dedicated fanbase. They not only complemented their co-stars but also left a lasting impression of their own. Their scenes together provided much-needed moments of levity, which helped balance the drama’s heavier themes. At the same time, their story had many poignant and meaningful moments that brought tears to my eyes.
Speaking of heaviness, The White Olive Tree delves into war and its aftermath, particularly PTSD. The drama focuses on the psychological toll endured by those affected, offering glimpses into the scars and struggles of its characters. While these themes add weight to the story, the execution sometimes feels uneven. Even though there were moments of genuine depth, the storytelling felt superficial, as though the drama was merely skimming the surface of complex issues rather than fully exploring their intricacy and nuance.
Fortunately, the strength of the actors helped bridge this gap. Through their performances, they conveyed the struggles of trauma survivors in a way that the script failed to achieve. Their heartfelt delivery brought authenticity to the characters' pain, making their journeys feel more compelling.
The OST was well-chosen and played a crucial role in enhancing the mood of the scenes, adding an extra layer of emotional depth and immersing the audience further into the story.
Watching this drama was quite a journey—one filled with emotional highs, frustrating lows, and countless tear-jerking moments—but ultimately, it was a rewarding experience. Despite its flaws, the performances and romance kept me invested until the very end. The conclusion was not a fairytale ending, but I was not disappointed. It struck a balance between realism and hope, aligning with my cautiously optimistic wish for the main couple’s fate. It provided enough closure to feel satisfying without being overly idealistic. In a story that explored trauma, love, and resilience, this ending felt appropriate.
Even though the show may not be for everyone, it will likely appeal to those who appreciate excellent performances and its earnest attempt to delve into the lasting repercussions of war. In the end, there was much in the show that I found deeply moving.
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A Young Actor Gave Men with Combat & POW PTSD a Real Voice!
All hail Chen Zhe Yuan as Li Zan! This has been one of my most anticipated dramas since it was filming. I knew it was going to be heavy and deep given the subject matter of PTSD and survivor's guilt. Though the writing was off here and there, his and everyone else's acting more than made up for that. Be cautious however when watching for anyone with PTSD, anxiety, depression or anything else in that sector as you may have your triggers activated.Pros: I'm in awe of CZY as LZ; this performance deserves an award, recognition of some sort. I have never seen an actor and a young one to boot with zero experience with PTSD and survivor's guilt play one so convincingly that it would send shivers through me. I'm a person who suffers from PTSD among other things though not from combat and it's not something one can just do like acting being angry or sad. PTSD is a complex disorder that has everything from flashbacks to intrusive thoughts to light sensitivity and being unable to eat or sleep without nightmares of the trauma. There are many others but I won't list them here as we saw them on screen being portrayed so realistically by this young man. He gave men with combat and POW (Prisoner of War) PTSD a real voice! Couple that with survivors guilt and by the end of the show a once proud, smiling man was reduced to having basically the mindset for the most part of a small child. And CZY was able to do it all; first time PTSD and survivor's guilt that had just started to get slightly better only to be thrust into a gut churning nightmare from which only by disappearing from everything and everyone to live a quiet life in the countryside, could they be as happy as this new existence afforded them a way from anything that would trigger him.
SR played by Liang Jie was also phenomenally done (the entire cast, let's just give it up to them, awesome acting), though writers diagnosed her with depression right away, she too had PTSD after the first trauma. Later it warped into depression but she played her part right. She was shy but very strong when it came to things and people she believed in. Especially her love at first sight with LZ. She was determined to stand by him until the very end and live out the rest of her life quietly.
The chemistry between the two was on point and probably would have been stronger had they told each other the truth about their health issues earlier; no relationship can be solid when there are secrets swirling around especially health related ones. They were all imperfect, flawed characters, which made things even more realistic. But their love transcended everything else which made it iron strong.
I'll talk about my thoughts on the ending and other things here. As most people know, I never read the source material so I don't really care unless it's an HE that was flipped to an SE for no reason. We've seen that happen too much recently. Here it was obvious that they got traditionally married and then on their wedding night decided to elope just as they spoke about a few times within the series because as their voiceovers spoke to each other about what they wanted to do in their next life and she said to live somewhere peacefully, safely, quietly and he said "why can't we do that in this life?" And that is what they did. She left a note to her mom and his dad to not worry about them and to give the manuscript to the publishers. She didn't want them to be a burden to anyone especially their parents. The sparkly montage at the end is more of perhaps his father's dream of them being healthy watching the trees because there was a wooden carving of them two on the hood of the car which was by his dad's house too. Furthermore, after the credits rolled, the two of them were standing by the olive trees, no longer sparkling but corporeal. And as they closed out characters, JY got another postcard from LZ saying he was on a mission and the postcard was voiced over by LZ. So to me it was a bittersweet/happy ending because of who they lost and if they had not delayed their leaving eastern country by a mere two days to be there for the opening of the orphanage, they wouldn't have been kidnapped and his life changed forever. Ben would still be alive as well. 48 hours changed everything. Just to bring things back into perspective, how precious life is. The story never dragged unless it was the merry-go-round of lying to each other regarding everything being just fine when it wasn't. It was a rollercoaster of emotions that literally had you hanging on for dear life.
The supporting cast was awesome as well so though I won't go into them all, I will mention the ones that were important. JL was such a great brother and WZC played him very well. We lost him far too soon. SB originally was the spoiled little rich girl who wanted LZ but she grew up quick after the deaths and explosion that claimed JL's life and sent LZ on his first PTSD spiral. I wonder if she blamed herself on getting SR and LZ to stay those two days for the opening when they were supposed to leave while she herself left. She could have sent them a picture. But you definitely knew whose side she was on by the mid point which was a good thing.
Ben and Sa Xin were your typical enemies to brothers story; they had a lot of screen time but as both were ultimately soldiers, they had to build that relationship as many veterans always say "you have to be able to trust the person in the foxhole next to you with your life." And you can't do that when you're barely speaking to each other. As Ben said to LZ in their last normal moments together, "You, Song, and Sa Xin are my family"; coming from an orphan that meant a lot. Both he and Sa Xin made a strong connection around LZ and SR as did JL while still alive. Brothers and sister in combat regardless of the role. They were the perfect addition to showcase the leads. Dr. Pei should have been given more time with Ben and in general. Mr. L as I called him was the best sounding board for LZ with the first trauma. I was very glad that when LZ bottled everything up, he at least had this one friend he opened up to. Lastly, mom of SR and dad of LZ were wonderful. Mom was a bit problematic at first but she evolved. Especially when she challenged SR on why she didn't ask LZ what was going on and by than even SR knew her ridiculous excuse of "I didn't want to pressure him" was just that, a ridiculous excuse. But both parents were 100% supportive of their kids especially at the end when things were so dire.
Give it up for the crew who essentially built an entire "country" on a plot of land. The set was beautiful and intricate and I believe it is still standing there as a tourist attraction. The OSTs were all beautiful though "Ignite Me On Fire" was my favorite as it was the rock anthem of hope the story needed.
Cons: Every issue I had was with the writing and directing of this series; if you're doing a series on PTSD or any illness for that matter make sure your actors playing doctors know what they are talking about. SR had PTSD to start and it warped into MDD or Major Depressive Disorder later. Her immediate diagnosis of depression was incorrect. Furthermore, what doctor in their right mind would give a clean bill of health to someone with PTSD though stable to go back to the place he received that trauma in the first place? That's a malpractice lawsuit right there plus absolute negligence. After a combat mission goes wrong and a soldier or a volunteer is diagnosed with PTSD plus survivor's guilt, they are discharged honorably and returned to inactive duty so they can resume a stable normal life. Stability is meant for a normal life not to return to hell and have something even worse happen. They may require inpatient care at first but once they stabilize, their family needs to be extra vigilant and they themselves need to be given hope, something meaningful to do to help others perhaps in other ways. Plus regular outpatient therapy and medication. That's how most combat PTSD patients live out their lives. At least the doctor admitted her mistake though not before saying that he should be confined to a prehistoric mental hospital. We're in the 21st century with a lot of treatments for this condition at our disposal and even though she was correct that LZ could pose a danger to himself or others, there were ways to treat that so throwing your hands into the air and just locking him up isn't the answer. Maybe in the early 20th century people did that but not now unless the person really did pose a threat. And even then it was to a temporary inpatient hospital for stabilization. Very outdated thinking and poor research on the part of production.
At the end of the series when LZ has an attack at the hospital, where were the doctors and nurses? They were encircled by bystanders as SR kept crying and pleading. Where was security? It looked like a shopping mall with people coming and gawking instead of doctors running to assist; so weird that it didn't seem like a proper hospital setting or how one was operated.
It was very hard to read the subtitles when you had the OSTs going, people speaking, plus voice overs by the characters. You didn't know what to read first. So a lot of pausing and rewinding had to be done. Wish this was all separated. The hiding the truth about their own health issues I think took way too much time. That was the only thing that was dragged for what seemed like forever. Even though to his credit he did try to tell her several times but she always inadvertently thwarted it and than he'd lose his nerve. But I wish it was out in the open sooner as opposed to right before they had the most traumatic situation. She could have helped him so much, just like she did in that tunnel. So writing was shaky there at best.
Ben, oh Ben my dude! You're not Superman; how do you go charging into a place with many rebels to save LZ without anyone as backup? One man against like 10, come on now. When you had a whole platoon that took those rebels out when they actually saved LZ. Screenwriter & director: if you had to kill him off, you could have done it in a way that was convincing! This made zero sense. For a realistic story, this was very poorly written. And where did the whole Abu revenge plot come from? That he remembered LZ and went after him but could go only as far as getting some kid to stab him and then get knocked out by LZ yet again and we never see him actually die. Meanwhile the other bad guys capture LZ through SR with the whole he can make bombs for us and yet they torture him until he's almost dead. How's he supposed to make bombs for you if he's nearly dead? Again suspension of disbelief engaged. And they had to know the special forces guys would find him eventually. It was all very strange and all over the place. Writing could have been way better and cohesive.
Lastly, the smorgasbord of actors as soldiers, rebels, journalists, nurses, etc could have spent more time practicing their English. I gave up reading the subtitles as those never matched up. We know Eastern Country is fictional but it depicts a lot of what has happened in wars past and present so keeping things cohesive is paramount to an otherwise very realistic story.
Would I recommend it? I absolutely would. Every actor did a great job especially CZY as LZ and it's his best role to date. The White Olive Tree represents hope and that's what we got with the leads living their solitary lives in a place of hope and a better tomorrow. I'm super proud of CZY for this role! He went above and beyond and even though it was hard for me at times to watch it, this is my favorite role of his to date! Again thank you for giving us a voice! Bravo!
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The ship didn't just sink, it imploded under the weight of its own melodrama and bad writing!
The central plot of the drama revolves around trauma and its handling, set against the backdrop of a war zone in Eastern countries. However, it failed to evoke any emotions in me and just felt bland and boring.The only saving grace, which is why it even gets a 6, is thanks to Benjamin and Saxin, who helped me sail through all 38 episodes of this aesthetically pleasing mess!
For a drama where trauma is the main plot, there was no real sense of warmth, depth or emotional resonance.
At first, it gave off the impression of aiming for something deep and thoughtful, but it quickly lost its way. The plot meandered aimlessly, leaving what should have been powerful moments feeling strangely flat and forgettable.
FL Song Ran was supposed to be a reporter, but she spent more time doing everything except her actual job. It was hard to believe how she was just wandering around and taking pictures in a war zone army base, it just felt completely out of place. Most of the time, all I saw was her trailing behind the male lead.
ML Li Zan's character left me with mixed feelings. I appreciated how the show portrayed his trauma and the denial he was stuck in, it felt raw, real and authentic. However, as time went on, it seemed like his reluctance to open up was more about convenience than anything else. The constant addition of trauma without any real growth or resolution made it feel like there was no light at the end of his tunnel.
I am a fan of both the actors, but I just couldn’t feel any chemistry between them. Maybe it was because their romance developed in so many illogical situations like having a heart to heart conversations on the bomb site before even getting medical aid , that it felt hard to buy into.
Most of the drama was set in a war zone, but the seriousness , urgency and consequences of it were largely missing throughout especially in the first half. The logic was often flawed and there were many instances that could have been fixed if they paid a little attention to detail. For example, why were people moving so freely in the war zone? Why were people just lying down and hugging when there had been a bomb blast only minutes before and why couldn't they do that in hospital to make more sense ?
When it comes to handling PTSD, don’t get me wrong - they did attempt to show the real vulnerabilities, denial and the struggles people face after being in such a traumatic environment. However, the portrayal became a repetitive cycle, with no significant character growth. It doesn’t make sense to me that after 8 episodes of dealing with the issue, there was still no real development.
You would expect them to be open and communicate with each other, especially after everything they’ve been through together. But no, we are still stuck in that non-communicative phase, where life-threatening and life-changing decisions are made without even informing the other person.
In real life, while PTSD can have long-lasting effects, people do tend to make progress over time, whether in small steps or through moments of realization. The drama's absolute refusal to allow characters to experience this type of growth feels unrealistic, as it disregards the possibility of healing and moving forward.
At one point, the hero complex from both of them actually diminished the impact of those serious scenes!
Acting wise both the leads did a good job with what was given to them. Chen Zhe Yuan can act and time and again, he shows that! Liang Jie did a great job too but CZY stole the stage when vulnerable scenes were on the screen!
The emotional scenes were executed well ( the man cries so pretty) but the problem wasn't the acting but the writing!
Now coming to the good part, Benjamin and Saxin ! This was a perfect enemies to lovers trope! The constant bickering , the eye contacts , the jealousy, the unwavering trust and support for each other was just the chef's kiss.If the drama had focused more on them or given them even half the screen time, I would have rated it much higher.
Censorship wants you to think it is brotherhood, but they ain't fooling us. Initially I thought it was me who was on team delusion, but they kept hinting us that we weren't wrong. They know what they are doing ! They know we know what they are doing ! Everything is out there yet still between the lines. We need a masterclass so that we can have those shelved dramas out !
I want to keep this review spoiler free but let's just say the ending was just bizzare and lazy writing. It was as if they ran out of ideas to how to make this mess right which they made, grabbed the nearest piece of paper, scribbled something random, and called it a day.
Overall, this drama was incredibly disappointing and fell flat despite its ambitious premise. It seemed to aim for something grand, but ultimately, it failed to deliver. The plot lacked depth and the pacing dragged, making it hard to stay engaged. It was a slow burn with little payoff, leaving much to be desired and leaving me feeling bored.
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Masochistic writing filled with trauma dumping and bland romance
If I knew what I was getting into, I would have never, ever watched this drama. My rating has reduced massively because of the final 4 episodes. The drama is about the female lead, a journalist, who goes to a fictional country amidst a war. She is unexpectedly saved by the male lead, a volunteer soldier, who specialises in defusing bombs.The story starts off as quite fluffy and hopeful. Despite the war zone, we follow how the main leads fall in love and save people from disasters. After the first 10 episodes, the drama turns melodramatic with PTSD and mental health as the focal point, and it does a good job in portraying these themes.
However, the middle of the drama completely lost me. The plot became draggy with unnecessary misunderstandings, break up, and more and more PTSD. For about 10 episodes, virtually nothing happened.
Then, the last 10 episodes finally moved the plot forward, with a mix of action scenes and at-this-point boring romance. The ending felt like a new level of masochistic writing, with very disturbing scenes that literally gave me major anxiety, trauma and heart palpitations.
POSITIVE:
- Che Zhe Yuan’s outstanding and phenomenal acting performance.
- Top-notch “bromance”. Censorship or not, Ben and Sasin totally stole the spotlight. Their Grumpy x Sunshine vibes were highly entertaining but at the same time the writers did a phenomenal job building their emotional connection. The fact that it became the number 2 hot couple on weibo says it all.
- Action scenes. I’m not a fan of war movies but I give props to the production for making such realistic war scenes, some of them even looked like a blockbuster spy movie.
- Great OST.
NEGATIVE:
- Masochistic writing. From episode 10 the drama was constantly trauma dumping and tried to lean too much on realism. The ending episodes with the torture scenes gave me major anxiety and trauma.
- Too slow paced. Everything was snail-paced, especially the dialogue. I mostly watched the second half at 1.5x speed and it still looked normal.
- Bland romance. It started off as cute but the second half ruined it with unnecessary break up, misunderstanding and then just blah blah bland romance.
- Draggy. The middle of the drama was so unnecessary, instead of 10 episodes of seeing the characters suffer and recycle the same PTSD, we could have 2-3 episodes and move on.
- Female lead. At first I quite liked her shy and brave nature. But from the second half she became such a dull and lifeless character that I didn’t really care about. It also felt awkward how amidst the war, she was just casually strolling along and taking pictures.
OVERALL:
I was hesitant to start this drama because I’m not a fan of war and modern realistic stories. But I decided to try it out since I love Che Zhe Yuan so much. The first 10 episodes totally roped me in, I loved the balance between fluff and tragedy. That, despite the hardships, there was always a sense of hopefulness, that ‘better days are coming ahead”. But afterwards, the drama became more and more serious with trauma dumping, PTSD, death, suicide etc.
While I do understand the realistic approach of the writing, I absolutely hated this drama and wish I had never watched it. I watch dramas to escape reality, not to be re-traumatized. Yes, bad things happen in real life and I commend the drama for showing that. In fact it gave me a new perspective about war and soldier’s life, BUT it made me sick to my stomach seeing the male character go through so much torture and pain.
The thing is, I don’t mind sad endings if done right. But this ending was on a different level, it just felt dreadful, disturbing to watch and unnecessary traumatising, rather than sad. And for what? To show the realism we all know all too well? Shouldn’t there always be a light at the end of the tunnel? If not, what are we living for?
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The White Olive Tree – A Journey of Frustration, Pain, and the Only Two People That Mattered
I don’t even know where to start with this drama… The White Olive Tree was an experience, but not necessarily the good kind. It had potential—there were moments that gripped me, and of course, Ben and Sa Xin were the soul of the entire thing. But when I look at the drama as a whole? It was a frustrating, dragging mess that somehow managed to get even worse toward the end.Plot & Pacing – A Slow Burn That Burned Out
This drama had a mix of war, espionage, and romance, and while that sounds exciting on paper, the execution? Exhausting. The pacing was inconsistent—some parts felt painfully slow, and others rushed through major developments like they were checking off a list. The storytelling lacked the emotional depth it thought it had, and at times, it felt like the show itself was unsure of what kind of story it was trying to tell.
The war-torn setting had potential, and there were moments of raw intensity, but they kept getting overshadowed by unnecessary subplots and forced emotional beats that didn’t land. There were entire episodes that felt like filler, circling around the same conflicts without really progressing anything.
And then, that ending. I have no words. I sat there, staring at the screen, I sat through 30+ episodes for this??? I feeling completely robbed. That was the closure they thought we needed? That was supposed to be satisfying? If anything, it left a bitter taste.
Characters – A Mixed Bag of Wasted Potential
Now, here’s where my emotions get really messy. Most of the characters were… there. Some had interesting backstories, but the writing never fully let them shine. And others? They overstayed their welcome hard.
Son Rang – She was supposed to be a journalist, but I never really felt that from her character. There was no strong investigative presence, no real depth in how she approached the war through her profession. It was like they just labeled her as a journalist without making it believable.
Dr. Pei – I actually liked her character, but let’s be real—she was just there for the censorship. That’s how it felt. She had some good moments, but her role in the story never really clicked for me beyond that.
Sa Xin & Ben – The Only Reason I Survived This Drama
Now let’s talk about the real stars—Ben and Sa Xin. Because HOLY SH— THEIR SCENES WERE EVERYTHING. The tension, the way they saw through each other, the way they always had each other’s backs?? THEIR SCENES?? THEIR DYNAMIC?? The way they owned every moment they were together?? I breathed for their interactions. The writers knew EXACTLY what they were doing with them, feeding us crumbs while still leaving things "open to interpretation" BECAUSE OF CENSORSHIP??? I WAS LOSING MY MIND.
They weren’t just comrades. They weren’t just friends. They were everything. And the fact that the show kept tiptoeing around it instead of fully committing was frustrating as hell.
Ben was this emotionally closed-off, self-sacrificing mess, and Sa Xin saw right through him. The way Sa Xin called him out, the way Ben protected him like his literal life depended on it—I LIVED for every second of it. They had more chemistry in five minutes of screen time than any other couple in this entire show.
Now the OSTs: They are amazing..
Final Thoughts – A Mess, but Ben & Sa Xin Were Worth It
Would I recommend The White Olive Tree? Honestly? If not for Ben and Sa Xin, my answer would be a NO. It was messy, frustrating, and ultimately left me feeling drained. But because of them… I can't fully regret watching it.
I just wish they had been in a better drama. A better story. A story that actually deserved them. 💔
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In hell we’ll meet, tortured by the past.
I have such conflicting feelings about this drama. I loved and hated exactly the same aspects of the writing.This is not a fun romance with excitement and angst delivered by the war context. This is not “Descendants of the Sun” with no real stakes. People die here, painful and tragic deaths. There are real consequences the characters need to face, the traumas are not magically healed. It’s heavy, it's painful. It’s real.
As much as it is a love story, I think the central part of it is the trauma. From a psychological point of view, they did a lot of this right, starting from the diagnosis and ending on the conclusion. Traumatic experiences do not always only lead to PTSD. Sometimes you might end up with anxiety, depression, OCD. So not labeling every character with PTSD was great. Different people will react to situations differently.
Song Ran became depressed, Li Zan who was by all means no cut for the job in the military, ended up with severe PTSD. Benjamin who from a young age led a rather hard life was able to require a lot of emotional resilience and handled the emotional pain in the most healthy way. Sa Xin who lost his mother spiraled into anger and need for justice and revenge.
What's more, I do appreciate how with Li Zan case, they show psychological issues can heavily impact your recovery from physical injuries too. How scary the process of recovery is. How, while taking the first step is the key, it's not the end of it all. Even after seeing the psychiatrist he was still hesitant. He did not follow up. He claims to be better. He kept lying to himself and to others. So sometimes it's easier to convince yourself you are getting better and you can push through it by yourself. Fooling yourself you are stronger than you truly are.
Then we had Song Ran - what a great portrayal of depression and anxiety. How from the outside she might have seemed fine, but we as viewers saw how she was not, how she was honestly barely holding up at times. I love how they didn’t show depression as this 1:0 idea - you are either completely dysfunctional, or fine. With depression you can also have good days, you can be happy, smile.
What’s so tragic for me is - this is a love story that should have not happened for Song Ran’s sake. She could have healed from her depression, she could have gotten better, if it was not for Li Zan constantly re-traumatizing her with his actions. Li Zan was such a great and complex character.
I could write a whole essay just about him. A man that had skill that could save many people, but also no psychological advantages and strengths required to do the job. I love how this drama shows good intentions do not mean good results. How traits we see as good: empathy, selflessness, compassion, in extreme situations can be a person's biggest flaws. Li Zan has a savior complex and there was no good way out of the situation he was in. Not going to Easter Country would eat him alive from the grief and guilt of not helping when he can. Going back to Easter Country means getting more traumas on top of the ones he did not heal from. He hurt himself, he hurt people he loved, but he also saved so many lives. But no matter the choice, he would be feeling guilty and that feeling would slowly kill him. It’s a tragic story that could not have a happy ending.
I know there are different opinions about the ending, but for me it’s rather clear him and Song committed suicide. He understood she would never leave him alone. She understood he will never get better. They decided to be together till the end. And they decided when the end will happen. From the scene of them talking about reincarnation, to the narrated goodbye letter to the parents, not once showing them interact with anyone after it was written. Even the oversaturated editing that made them glow in the last scene - that’s the tragic ending I think the majority of us knew will happen, even if we wanted to live in denial till the end.
At the same time at some point I was getting tired with how "realistic" the drama was. Yes, the recovery from any psychological issue is a whole journey, but this is a show... it has to be presented in a way that reflects reality WHILE keeping the viewers engaged and not exhausted. We are running in circles with little to no development. The message was clear, but they still hammered it over and over again.
The repetitiveness at some point crossed the line from - that's how life works, to - well now I don;’t feel as emotionally impacted by what I’m seeing, because I saw more or less the exact same scene in this show five times already.
It kind of starts to feel like a trauma porn... no balance of anything. There are no ups and downs. It's just down, down.... and a bit more down until we are in a fucking hell of traumas and mental disorders and bad news and no happiness and no rays of hope. Especially on Zan’s part. Song at least vented her sadness to him, and he just took it all in, when he couldn’t even handle his own feelings, not to mention help others dealing with theirs. He was emotionally overworked and it's exhausting to watch.
I am aware that the drama truly showed just glimpses of how bad a real war is. This is nothing compared to reality. But this is not reality. This is not a documentary. I do think that it’s a valid criticism of how far they tried to make the audience feel sad and bad. A Perfect example was Ben’s death which was extremely unnecessary. What was the point of killing Ben? What did it bring to the story? To the message? Other than dumping more trauma onto the viewers? Especially with how they set it up with Ben’s talks about how he found a new family in his friends, how he felt more grounded and alive than ever before. Scenes of his plans to start over and get a degree in journalism. They did everything they could to make Ben’s death feel as tragic and painful as it could get, and I do not understand why. It’s just dumping trauma for the sake of trauma alone.
Moving on from the sadness into more happy/good aspects: I cannot ignore the bromance between Ben and Sa Xin. I honestly went crazy for these two. By all means they followed so many dynamics of a typical straight secondary couple. They shared such a profound connection and care for each other, it was hard not to want something more from them. The writing team did all they could to include as much of them as possible, by passing the censorship by giving Ben a “romantic interest” that got barely any screen time or depth. I will die on this hill - Dr. Pei existed just to pass the censorship.
Now, I need to talk about the performances. I want to be clear - the whole main cast did a stellar job with their portrayal, but Chen Zhe Yuan delivered probaby the best performance of his life and everyone else just faded into background. I am speechless. I knew he was good, I did not know he was this good. I don’t even know how to express how impressed I am by each and every scene he delivered. How much Li Zan changed as the character, how well Zhe Yuan was able to transition from this confident man to a shell of his past self. How you could feel the silent pain when he was trying to hold it all in, and the raging despair when he was breaking down thinking Song was hurt and dead. Be it subtle representation of extreme emotions, or completely uncontrolled misery - he did not waste one second of his screen time.
On the other hand… the way the poor dubbing and acting of the majority of foreigners often completely took me out of the scene I was watching was simply disappointing. such a high quality of drama and production, with such a low quality of casting for guest and bits parts.
Then we have the soundtrack. I am not a person that pays that much attention to the music in dramas and music unless it’s extremely good, or extremely bad. Here the extremely good fits perfectly. Some of my favorite songs were: Ignite Me On Fire, Into the Pieces, Find My Way Back to Life, Home. As a whole the OST is an easy 10/10 (except for that do re mi fa sol la song, I cannot with that chorus, it should not exist).
For the production - impressive. The fighting scenes were well choreographed and it made sense there were not that many of them - no one has hand to hand combat during wars, they use guns. The explosions were surprisingly well produced too. We know how off Chinese dramas can get with their CGI and special effects, so I’m glad they put quite a lot of effort to make it good here. What’s more? Really well done prosthetic make up for Zan’s fingers. I was curious if they would just cleverly use angles or make him hide in hand all the time, and I was surprised they actually made the effort to show us how it looks, and also make it look realistic.
Overall, this was for sure a journey. Emotional and tragic one. Maybe a bit too tragic on the delivery. At some point I felt like the tragic scenes were not even said, because they did not make much sense plot wise. Maybe if the show was a little bit shorter - 30 episodes would probably be enough to present the same story with the same impact, but less repetitiveness. As human beings we get desensitized after being exposed to the same thing over and over again, and the writers did not take that into consideration when planning how to present the plot.
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A Heartfelt and Painful Masterpiece
The story is deeply painful and emotionally intense. For someone who has experienced mental trauma, it’s incredibly difficult to forget what happens in the end. Yet, despite the sorrow, the drama delivers a powerful message to the world about war, mental health, and true love. Trauma isn’t limited to war—many painful experiences in life can be hard to overcome. Only the right person can truly help you heal and find a way forward to execute. That’s why I believe this is a truly remarkable story.The acting and cast are on another level. Chen Zheyuan and Liang Jie deliver outstanding performances, making every emotion feel raw and deeply moving. Their portrayal brings the story to life in a way that lingers in the heart long after watching. Thank you for creating a drama that leaves such a profound impact.
The music is exceptional. I can’t stop listening to the TWOT playlist—it resonates with the emotions of the story and helps me process the pain it left behind.
The rewatch value, for me, is low—not because it isn’t amazing, but because the emotions are too heavy to endure repeatedly. It’s the kind of story that stays with you, making it difficult to go through the heartbreak again and again.
Overall, my rating is excellent. The way this drama portrays the suffering caused by mental trauma is both powerful and rare. Not every drama can deliver such a meaningful and unforgettable message.
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Insane Chemistry between all the leads
Honestly thought since this was a military drama would not find it as worthy of watching but chen zheyuan continues to surprise you with his choice of scripts. The plot starts very like your humdrum military drama that focuses more on romance, but there is so much love and chemistry between the leads. Additionally, there is an underlying sense of depth and intricacy that is present when handling some of the sensitive topics which tells me we are about to delve into a really dark theme and a side of characterisation that is very uncommon in c-ent. 10 eps in and all i can say i cant wait for more!!Vond je deze recentie nuttig?
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Faithful to the Novel, But at What Cost? My Thoughts on The White Olive Tree
this drama took a controversial approach by following the novel’s original ending, which resulted in the tragic deaths of the main leads. While I understand the artistic choice of staying true to the source material, I firmly believe that a TV series should not conclude with such an unsatisfying and emotionally devastating outcome—especially when audiences have invested so much time and emotion into the characters.Unlike movies, which have a limited runtime and can afford to deliver tragic or bittersweet endings, TV series develop over multiple episodes (or even seasons), creating a deep emotional connection between viewers and the characters. Killing off the leads in a drama not only feels like a betrayal of that investment but also leaves the audience with a sense of emptiness rather than closure.
I personally never started watching The White Olive Tree because I avoid dramas with tragic endings. It was on my must-watch list until I came across spoilers on TikTok that revealed the fate of the protagonists. The moment I found out, I removed it from my list because I prefer stories that leave me with a sense of satisfaction or, at the very least, a meaningful resolution that doesn’t feel needlessly cruel.
It’s frustrating because adaptations don’t always strictly follow the novel, so why choose to be faithful to the most heartbreaking aspect? A drama has the power to refine or reimagine a story in ways that make it more impactful for television audiences, and in this case, a different approach could have been more rewarding for viewers.
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Chen Zhe Yuan needs an update!
I've been a fan of CZY since Hidden love, somehow in my opinion, after this drama all his new dramas have the same kinda acting and expressions be it a lover boy/costume dama/military! Kinda disappointing.About this drama:
1. Slow burn romance with 0 to no chemistry so far. I mean somehow the FL does not match the ML's vibes, they are both in different dimensions lol.
2. Unrealistic, pathetic graphics/animation.
3. Imagine being in a war zone and being able to hop to just anywhere in a jeep!?
4. So in the same war zone, the FL being a reporter will still be able to change places whenever she wants, follows the ML where ever he goes, gets into danger like its a given thing to be saved by none other than "him" :D
5. Amidst all this, the ML and FL still manages to find a fine dining restaurant in a war zone, eat and talk peacefully without being interrupted?! Like literally people are dying out there with no place, water/ food.. common?
6. I'm unable to build a connection with this drama due to the lack of its essence or depth!
Well, sorry but I really must mention the "You are my hero" drama here. Even though it had its + and -, it was still realistic, the characters, their chemistry, the comedy, the story.. their acting everything complimented each other!
Unfortunately I did not find this drama/the script/the cast interesting yet! I'm not sure if this will change if it goes in the same pace. Somewhere I felt that CZY has lost his charm, sad because this was one of the most awaited dramas of the year!
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War leads to misery
So I'm gonna review the first 10 episodes first. They were not so emotional or sad like song ran misunderstood li zan as shen bei's boyfriend that was not so serious . ML and FL first meet was kinda cute and unserious.Afterwards their second meet was also good but we could expect it easily. Whenever they both meets talks it was kinda fine also the supporting cast was great benjamin's entry was so cool sasin was so thoughtful he was also great Shen bei portrayed her character as enemy well even though she got less screen time but not less than dr pei like why they could have shown pei xiaonan and ben's interaction more anyways her character was also admirable.Then come episode 11 and it's trust out of nowhere and then trauma starts for ep 12 and the rest like OK li zan had PTSD he portrayed it very well. I guess it was a good plot though but what was the use of family shown there that was so random and confusing
When li zan and his friend luo zhan their interactions were also good but the screenwriter could do something more better
Their dating era i loved the most as that was only the part made me happy they could show it more afterwards the mother's illness it made the mother-daughter interaction to be loved. But after that when song ran told li zan not to talk to him anymore is she crazy or what she should understand him also he should tell her everything if not then why are they couples.
He ignores her totally can't she just apologise to him for her harsh words she knows he has PTSD still.
Their reunion was OK like I thought at this moment everything will be fine but no.
It's great cast like if you can cry while watching the scene it means the characters did great job benjamin and saxins interaction in ep 35 was heartfull and made me imagine them in the future.
IDK why but the character we loved the most got killed unnecessaryly like in ep 36-38 Ben died although he was only shot by gun he was also firing why the enemies didn't died and if li zan was alive even though he was covered in blood and was tortured mentally and physically can't ben survive.
the cutted fingers were also so extra and was not needed. the ending was good as they both know they were mentally dead they were just surviving for each other and for their illness they'd be criticized like in last ep the hospital scene they ended up peacefully together which was good.
Plus point for this drama was it's out which was so good like not only one or two songs but all the songs were good.
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The acting was the saving grace of the show.
*TWOT* was one of the most highly anticipated shows of 2025 and had such potential, especially with its strong novel foundation, but it’s hard to believe how the adaptation turned out. The blame falls squarely on the director and producer for mishandling it.Che Zheyuan - one of the main leads, was nothing short of extraordinary as Lizan. His performance truly melted my heart, his portrayal was so raw and emotionally charged, it was impossible not to feel every moment with him. His ability to convey the depth of his character through his expressions, body language, and even the smallest micro-expressions was top-notch, and it’s this level of acting that kept the show from being completely ruined by poor writing and direction. It's a shame that the director and producer couldn’t capture that essence of the show & show LiZan as he should. To be honest many scenes were altered and at some parts i felt like LiZan's character was given less importance. His little screentime in the first half of the show was the first letdown.
Anyways the show made the right choice by focusing on PTSD and the impact of trauma, and I appreciate how real and raw they kept that aspect throughout. Watching Lizan struggle with opening up to SongRn about his mental state, constantly bottling things up so as not to drag her into his mess, was heartbreaking. Che Zheyuan nailed every part of that emotional journey , from his work as a volunteer to the slow-burn romance and his personal battles. His performance was flawless and showed just how much he’s grown as an actor. The direction and production failed to do justice to the novel, but Che Zheyuan’s performance shines through it all. He deserves more quality projects!
Liang Jie - she was nothing short of phenomenal throughout the show. Words can hardly capture how outstanding her performance was, especially considering her character wasn’t given justice in terms of script and storytelling.. Like Lizan, her character went through so much pain, family issues and struggled with her own battles, yet she remained strong and stood by Lizan through it all, staying with him until the very end. Im hapoy they portrayed her as a strong headed person who had an uwavering care for people.. Yet SongRan's determination and her decision to quit her job as a journalist to pursue writing a book—a journey that ultimately brought her closer to Lizan—was portrayed so well. I truly hope Liang Jie finally gets the recognition she deserves as an actor. She poured so much depth and emotion so naturally into this role, and her talent shouldn’t go unnoticed.
Romance - The romance between ZanRan was the heart of the show for me. Watching her fall for him at first sight, the shyness and eventual confession, followed by their mutual desire to protect each other from further troubles, was beautifully done.. Though i feel there were so many unimportant scenes in the 1st half of the show that could have been dedicated towards the development of ZangRan's relationship. The breakup scene completely shattered me, but it was their chemistry and the way they supported each other in their vulnerabilities that really tugged at my heart. LiZan's confession scene after the hospital scene broke my heart into pieces. But the epilogue was the final string!! There were so many memorable yet heartwrenching moments, from the kidnapping scene and the dance in the ruins to taking care of him after his mental state deteriorated. Their dynamic together made them one of the best on-screen couples I’ve seen in a while. This is one of the most beautiful but heartwreching story i have seen of a couple!!
Other plots- Honestly, it’s rare to see a cast that fits the story so perfectly, and this one really nailed it. The entire cast was fantastic, with great additions like Benjamin & Saxin, though I couldn’t help but feel that Benjamin’s death was a bit extreme. He survived brutal wars, but ultimately, he was taken out by a single bullet to his back? Even LiZan, who endured so much trauma and suffered to the point of near-death, managed to survive, so it felt unfair that Benjamin didn’t get the chance to live. He deserved better, and Saxin needed him. Ben leading the Army was one if the highlight of the show.. Enjoyed how he would tease others & his mischievous side was such a treat to watch. Saxin, being a grumpy bear in front of Ben but deep down he truly cared for him. Their dynamics with Rina actually made everything sadder.
Aside that it was also clear that the Director wanted to ramp up the tension between Ben & Saxin, particularly in the latest episodes. While I understand they were trying to add drama, I didn’t feel it was necessary for the main plot. That storyline, unfortunately, ended up overshadowing the central themes of the adaptation. For those who’ve read the novel, you’ll understand what I mean, those side plots took focus away from what should have been the heart of the story.
Finally, i truly wish the Director/Producer had invested more heart and soul into the script, especially considering the incredible cast they had. I was hoping for more action/fighting scenes and character development for LiZan. There was so much potential for growth in his role. The actors really delivered and they literally poured their heart into this drama. CZY has left no stones unturned hyping/promoting the show for a year now! He exceeded my expectations till the end of the drama. Playing such a sensitive issue like PTSD is no easy feat; it's emotionally draining to portray such characters authentically. I truly hope the cast gets the recognition they deserve and the actors receive the accolades they deserve.. Overall it isnt the worst!
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