Chinese_Dramas
Love Your Bones Forever 2
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"Throughout my life, I've never let anyone down, but Eleven"
One and Only 《周生如故》. The drama lives up to its name: it's the one and only drama that is able to express these heart wrenching emotions in such a beautiful, poetic way. Never have I ever cried so hard in a drama, yet every tear was worth it. One could see the true love in the deep pools of pain in the characters' eyes, not just the main couple, but everyone else's. It was a tragic, beautiful love story that literally can rip your heart right out and crush it into pieces, but it is just as meaningful and deserving, if not more, as the other masterpieces out there.**Story**:
Like many other historical costume dramas out there, One and Only is another drama adapted from a novel. The novel《一生一世美人骨》by 墨宝非宝 is a novel of wonders, tragedies, true love, and true friendship. It tells the sorrowful love story between the powerful General Zhou ShengChen (周生辰) and the highly esteemed noble princess, Cui ShiYi (催时宜) in which the master-apprentice relationship turns into romance but couldn't go further due to their own respective responsibilities and duties. The drama portrayed the ancient, dark, imperial times in China very well with political corruption, pre-set marriages for the sake of one's own benefit, and the false accusations/rebellions of Generals in order to get rid of them. Although the story itself is fantasy, it's sad when one realizes that it represents all of those people with beautiful bones and true love who couldn't be together at the fault of evil, greedy emperors, empresses, ministers, etc.
**Acting/Cast
Zhou ShengChen (Actor: Ren JiaLun 任嘉伦): Many describe him as a cold, stone-faced General, but to me, he was quite the opposite. He was full of warmth, love, care, and often worried for his eleven disciples that he practically raised himself, of which, was his most beloved one, Eleven. Although he was part of the imperial family, he was willing to change his family name from Liu to Zhou Sheng, go defend his country's borders at the age of 13, vowed to not get married and have a family, all out of patriotism and love for the people. The brutal experiences shaped him into the closed person we saw, never allowing his heart to open and reveal his true emotions/thoughts to people. His biggest wish was to protect the people of BeiChen, allow them to live in peace without war, even if it meant sacrificing himself, and he didn't expect anything in return...that is until he met Cui ShiYi. Ren JiaLun, man, ripped my heart out. He truly lived up to the character; I can't imagine anyone else portraying Zhou Sheng Chen because of how well Ren JiaLun did. I don't know how he did it, but you could see love, pain, sorrow, and helplessness in his eyes when it came to ShiYi. In an interview, Ren JiaLun commented on his own character: "The more he liked ShiYi, the more he suffered, the more lonely he became because he couldn't tell anyone. He could only let go of his emotions at some moments." It's one of the best descriptions I've heard, and Ren JiaLun executed it quite literally to perfection.
Cui ShiYi (Actress: Bai Lu 白鹿): Completely opposite of who Bai Lu is in life, Cui ShiYi is a lovely, talented, disciplined princess from a well-esteemed family. In order to be shielded away from the evilness of the court in the central state, she's sent to become the apprentice of Jr. King NanChen in the western state, whom she later falls in love with. Both him and her knew that due to their identities and status, there was no way they could be together. ShiYi knew this well, so she was happy to even just be next to him, and all she wanted was to stay at the Nan Chen mansion in western state for the rest of her life, with her master and brothers and sisters. Like Ren JiaLun, I have no idea how Bai Lu was able to show such deep, sorrowful love in her eyes. I previously watched her in "Love Is Sweet", and she did amazing, but I had no idea how good she was at crying scenes. In an interview, the director stated that she had over 30 crying scenes alone in this drama, and like the audience, he was surprised and impressed with how professional she was. I cried with her and felt deeply sad for her tragic love story. Bai Lu completely blew me away with how well she did.
I mainly wanted to commend on our two main characters, but I'll never forget our support characters: General Cui Feng, General Hong XiaoYu, General Feng Qiao, Monk Xiao Yan, Military Advisor Xie, the rest of the generals, our beloved NanChen Royal Army, the scholar at LongKang Academy, and the list goes on. The love between Cui Feng and XiaoYu tore me to pieces, Feng Qiao was the cutest ever, and the monk was so smart when it came to the love between Zhou ShengChen and Cui ShiYi. Each had their own story, and every actor/actress executed it so nicely. Of course, the actors/actresses portraying our villains deserve a shout-out for their outstanding performance; they really are professional since they made us hate them so much (but I strongly hate the characters). I love this cast, and I fell in love with the army and the tragic couples. It was like I was there with them, part of their big family, witnessing every victory and happiness, and that's why the sorrows and poignant scenes touched me as deeply as it did to the characters.
I also want to mentioned the visuals of this drama...it had some of the best sceneries and costumes I've ever seen. Ren JiaLun and Bai Lu are two of the very rare group who can act in historical costume dramas, republican era dramas, and modern ones and fit into the characters, especially outfit wise. Bai Lu's historical costumes were so simple yet so beautiful and exquisite, reflecting the beauty of the Chinese hanfu. Ren JiaLun looked so good in black and white, but when he was in the armor, whew! I hate comparing dramas, but it reminded me of The Blooms At Ruyi Pavilion. That drama had some beautiful costumes as well, but to me, they were fake, and the hair accessories were not needed, nor did it have as much history in it, but One and Only had beautiful clothing. Truly mesmerizing.
**Music**:
This drama had some of the best OSTs ever. I enjoyed every single song, and that's usually rare when it comes to dramas. The following are some of my favorites as well as some of the touching lyrics:
1. "As It Is" 《如故》sung by Zhang BiChen 张碧晨. I believe that this song was literally made for their love story; The lyrics grasp every detail and tells their love story with such devastating, poetic words; It perfectly captures every heartfelt emotion from our dear Zhou ShenCheng and CuiShiYi. It's their song. "The inkstand carries all my feelings...I struggle, my heart burns...We're both tormented on the outside...suffering from this sea of pain...But for you, I can leap down, dyeing red this love I painfully hold back. This weak empire extravagant only on the exterior, swords, knives, and warhorses forced us to give up mortal love in this life. (Our) story is like a dissipating firework, stuck in the wind, swept sand, and winter blizzards...Each stroke of my brush becomes him, it's hard to be detached"
2. "If" 《若》sung by Jin WenQi 金玟崎. These are ShiYi's words to Zhou ShengChen, her unspoken feelings and thoughts of love: "The fireflies I secretly hope for has a corner to flicker, is the spark to light up the dark night for you. Even though I have so many wishes to tell you, even though this knot of yearning has not been untied yet...count the times the moon waxes and wanes, still miss you...flowers blossom and withers, yet my love will not waver...to protect one person this entire lifetime, hope to be with you, unable to speak of it or ask for it"
3. "Always/As One" 《如一》sung by Ren JiaLun 任嘉伦. And these are Zhou ShengChen's upspoken words/thoughts from deep down his heart to ShiYi: "Turn your head and listen, do you understand I'm missing you? If I were to pick up my brush, how can I describe you with words? Under the moonlit city gates, we appreciate the beauty of the lanterns and boats together. However, I can never express my feelings to you...Reluctant to wake up from the dream of seeing every expression, smile of your's...To finally enjoy this scenery every day and night with you. Even if I'm millions of miles away, I will still come to you....No matter how far I am, my love for you will always be the same."
4. "No Worries" 《无虞》sung by Li ZiTing 李紫婷/ Jing Long 井陇. The lyrics sung by ZiTing are directly from ShiYi's heart, and the lyrics sung by Jing Long perfectly expresses Zhou ShenCheng's longing love for ShiYi that he can't show: "(ShiYi) But they are nothing compared to you, nothing to you. (Zhou) Only love comes so silently. (ShiYi) There is some valiance on your eyebrows, something I will pursue with the rest of my life. (Zhou) This loveless, intolerant heart of mine is one that can't hide my feelings. Lower my head to find a path of light, only after bidding farewell do I clearly realize, that everything I look at, makes me think of you...Who Knew I would become obsessed with that one look? (ShiYi) I still remember what I felt the first day I came here. That's why it's hard to forget every shadow of you."
*Song translations are by this Youtube link (some of the best translations): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CjczFbzSU-A&t=308s
**What some may dislike/cons**:
Well, I think the biggest con to some people is the tragic ending. I quote a fan on the last few episodes: "Rip your heart out now, or they'll rip it out for you". I now understand what that means. If you want a cute, bubbly rom com, this drama is definitely not for you, but it deserves every bit of recognition out there; everyone should try it.
I would like to address some thoughts from commenters on why the story had to end like this. Why couldn't Zhou ShengChen just run away with Cui ShiYi and ignore everyone else? Why did he stay at the palace? Why couldn't he even show a bit of selfishness and allow himself to forget that he's a general sometimes? The answer is: because he's a general and she's a esteemed princess. I would like for those to put it this way: imagine the president/chairman/prime minister of your country all of the sudden disappeared and rumors state that he ran away with his loved one from the government position. How would you, the country, the citizens, everyone think? Will everyone on this earth know his story and empathize with him like we did towards Zhou ShengChen and Cui ShiYi? Zhou ShengChen gave up his imperial family name, half of his childhood, his emotions and feelings, his freedom of getting married and having a family, just to protect the his country's people, to bring peace and prosperity to them, even if it meant sacrificing himself. His responsibilities, duties, and vows constantly remind himself that he's a general. I'm glad that nothing broke that reputation. If he had ran away with Cui ShiYi, maybe they would've had a happy life, but what about their own respective families, their reputation? Entire Nan Chen mansion, his father, his generals, would be affected. ShiYi's entire clan can be affected. History will be written different. Please think first. They are some of the most selfless people I've ever seen, and I wouldn't change anything about the show at all. Not one bit.
**Favorite Quotes**:
1. "Beautiful bones are rare in the world. There are bones but no skin. Those with skins have no bones. King Xiao Nanchen is the only person in the world who has both bones and skins.”
2. "May there be no more smoke of gunpowder on the land, and may the people of Beichen live and work in peace and contentment, and the smoke in the world (representing liveliness) will continue for thousands of miles!"
3. "I can promise you that if something happens to me one day, someone will tell you when and where I will die." Zhou ShengChen kept his promise to ShiYi because her mom did tell her exactly what happened.
**Final Thoughts**:
Everything about this drama, the production, the OST, the details, were full of meanings, of sorrow, of sadness, of poetry, yet so beautiful. The expressions, the tears...I've never felt something like it before. My heart has been completely ripped out by Zhou ShengChen and CuiShiYi. My entire mind is occupied by them and their memories, and seeing pictures of them, hearing the songs, just remind me of that sorrowful journey. Was a tragic? Yes. But was it worth it? Definitely. I'm glad I witnessed their love.
**Rewatch value**:
10/10. If you're suffering like I was, I highly recommend watching the bts scenes and the sequel because they will help your heart heal; of course there will still be cracks left from this one. I'm definitely coming back to this drama in the future. It holds a special place in my heart that has somewhat mended together now after watching all the bts scenes. This story is more than catastrophic; its a poetic, elegant, scroll that is more valuable than any gem out there.
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A unique story and family that entails the simplest and truths and lessons.
Go Ahead is one of the very few heartwarming dramas that contains an ocean of life lessons waiting for us to discover and explore. It's funny, sad, relatable, loving, and just amazing overall. Unlike many other dramas, the little moments, movements, dialogues, silences, photos, or even just the picture of the family of 5 eating together at a tiny round table in their small, yet cozy apartment, can touch a person's heart to the deepest core. It doesn't overwhelm the audiences with lavish and extravagant settings or overly dramatic scenes. Instead, it has the most simplest and most common background that reaches out to the audiences deeply. I've never seen a Chinese drama that has a plot like this before, and so far, no other Chinese drama has been able to make me cry as much as this one, make me feel relatable to the characters as much as this one, and touch me as much as this one.**Story**:
Since there is already a synopsis above, I'm not going to write another detailed summary of the drama. However, there are some things I do want to mention. Go Ahead is about three separate families, in which each family is different from the normal family we see today. Why? Because the children of the families don't have a strong motherly figure in their lives. Three broken families, three children, and two fathers come together to become one big family. Go Ahead shows what it takes to be a family. It doesn't require the same family name or blood relationships, but it does require love, in addition to care, compassion, patience, humor, understanding, embracing, empathy, sympathy, and time spent with one another. The drama really makes viewers contemplate on the simplest ideas of life. It teaches one to cherish every moment with your family, to cherish every meal you eat together, and to be grateful for everything in life. The relationship between the one big family formed is so strong, heartwarming, and most importantly, it is pure.
**Acting/Cast**:
Li Haichao (Actor: Tu Song Yan 涂松岩): the umbrella of the family. Li Haichao is very different from the Asian parents we often see (I'm Chinese so I understand). He's so loving, compassionate, and always has a warm smile on his face. His love for his three children is as vast and deep as the ocean, and he's willing to do anything for them. He loves cooking meals for his kids, for he believes that a meal with love will make them feel better and let them know that there is someone who loves them even after everything they have gone through. The actor Tu Songyan did so wonderful with portraying this character and I believe that no other actor was made for this role. You can see the love for his children in his eyes, the pain when he sees and thinks about what his children had to go through, and his loving smile that embraces them all.
Ling Heping (Actor: Zhang Xilin 张晞临) is the father of Ling Xiao. He is a police officer and is often super busy, always at work. Although he might not be the best father, he definitely had a huge change as time went on. He loved all three of his children and despite him also being heartbroken after his daughter died, he, unlike his wife, stayed by Ling Xiao's side. His chemistry with Li Haichao is definitely one of the highlights of the story, and the comedy between them really lights up the drama. Zhang Xilin did excellent with this character.
Ling Xiao (Actor: Song Weilong 宋威龙) perhaps has one of the most heartbreaking stories. Many viewers of the drama are more empathetic towards He ZiQiu, but for some reason, Ling Xiao and his story hit me the most. His younger sister died in front of him after she choked on some walnuts that he fed her. His mother blamed and hit him for this, calling him a murderer or a killer. He was a child then. He witnessed his own mother leaving him and for a while, he couldn't even eat a peaceful and happy dinner with his family...that is until he met Li JianJian and her dad. Ling Xiao is a very closed up character that contains some of the darkest and saddest memories that continue to torment him and break him apart. However, as Li JianJian enters his life, his character starts to open up some more, and we soon see how important Jian Jian is in his life for she is his only sunshine. Song Weilong is the perfect actor for this character since he has a very stone face and when you look at his eyes in the drama, they're like deep pools of pain, confusion, and trauma. He really did amazing with this despite his young age!
He Ziqiu (Actor: Zhang Xincheng or Steven Zhang 张新成) is once again, one of characters with a heartbreaking story. His father left him before he was born, and his mother also abandoned him at a young age. Li Haichao and Li Jianjian become the only family in his life which is soon followed by Ling Xiao and his father. Ever since he was young, he was always the hardest worker, always helping in the family and putting everything on his back. He was willing to do anything for his family and had to face the challenges of being separated from them, working and living in a foreign place, and living with his father that abandoned him at first...for an entire 9 years. Li Jianjian is also the sunshine in his life, but more of a sisterly way. Steven Zhang, a veteran actor (I consider), did mind-blowing with this character. You could see his change from student to adult, and his scenes with his mother really break your heart. His crying scenes are so natural like they are real. I'm forever in awe by his acting.
Li Jian Jian (Actress: Tan Songyun or Seven Tan 谭松韵) is, like mentioned before, the sunshine of the family. Or should I say, the "gas station" of the family (as mentioned in the drama). “加油” (jiayou) is a phrase used in Chinese to encourage someone to keep going and not give up. It also means to get more fuel. The entire family, the two fathers and the two elder brothers, all get their "fuel" from this ball of sunshine in order to continue in life. Jianjian is the glue that holds the family together (well, in addition to her dad, Li Haichao). Even though she's funny and jokes around, she once also suffered from the pain of losing her mother but she hides it and decides to share happiness, sunshine, and optimism with everyone around her instead. She has a gift of sculpting and drawing which she also uses to make others around her happy. Jianjian perhaps has the biggest character change in the show, for she goes from a young, immature, naive, innocent 16-year old to a mature, patient, and understanding adult, ready to face the challenges of life. I cannot think of a better actress to fulfill this role, and despite Seven Tan being already around 30 during this show, she did a phenomenal job. You couldn't even tell she was 30 when she acted as a teenager. Mind-blowing.
The Mothers:
- Chen Ting (Actress: Yang TongShu 杨童舒): Mother of Ling Xiao. Never have I ever wanted to punch someone so bad yet want to give a hug to. When she left her son, attempted to come back, and tortured her son mentally with her toxicity, I was about to throw my device across the room. But she has gone through a lot. She lost her daughter due to her gambling one day, and she's constantly being tormented by the guilt inside of her. She doesn't know how to deal with these feelings which leads to her literally almost going crazy. Later on, she lost her 2nd husband in a car crash, and she lost her health. Of course, none of these are excuses for her to blame her son, leave her son, and then continue to affect him negatively. Her character made everyone mad, so needless to say, the actress did a wonderful job portraying her. It's not easy to act as a villain...and that good of a villain.
- Ming Yue's mother (Actress: Has WenTing)郝文婷: the typical asian mother tiger. She wants the best for her daughter, so she believes that the path she laid out for her daughter would be the best for her. She expects high grades (#1) from her daughter and wants her to follow her on what she says about school, work, marriage, and everything else. Little does she know, however, none of what she planned was what her daughter wanted. Despite problems arising from this, her daughter grows up and becomes her life. Their story is very touching as well for it is a prime example of many families in China.
- He Mei (Actress: Yuan Ran 苑冉): He ZiQiu's Mother. She has a story. At first, she seems like another evil mother, only having money and luxury in her eyes. However, towards the end, once you hear her story, you will see that she is a mother too, and she had her own challenges. Perhaps then you will sympathize towards her as I did.
Lastly, I want to commend the child actors for Li Jianjian, He Ziqiu, and Ling Xiao. They truly amazed me with their natural acting skills, especially at such a young age. At first you don't want them to grow up, but after they do, all is left is betterness waiting for us to see. The side characters were amazing as well, and the friendships developed were admirable. Also, it may seem like a drama full of sadness and all, but let me tell you, this drama has some of the funniest scenes you will ever see. It's a perfect balance of happiness and sadness. Like a candy that can be sour and sweet;)
**Personal thoughts**:
Some people have kids because they expect their children to take care of them once they grow old. Some have kids because they are useful: to take over family companies or to receive the family's heir. Some parents want the best for their children, but their way of doing it might be wrong which might lead to rebellious children or serious problems. Li Haichao's way of parenting sets a really good example for he wants the best for his children and believed that allowing them to walk forward towards their own dreams was the best. Him and Ling Heping were the light behind their three children, ready to embrace them whenever they needed a comfort from the brutal reality called life. The little moments of them eating hotpot together at a little round table in their tiny but cozy apartment were super heartwarming. Li Haichao gazing at his children with the fatherly love in his eyes was enough to make a viewer tear up.
**Life Lessons/What I have earned from this drama**:
1. Cherish your time with your family. Starting now, be respectful towards them and do more for your parents that truly love you. They do so much for you; maybe we can start doing something for them.
2. I loved how the drama was overly dramatic or gave the characters the most expensive clothing and such. It was a little apartment, simple clothing, a little restaurant, a pot, a pan, some pictures on the wall...the simplest things that brought the most happiness. But what was the happiness? The love, care, compassion, understanding, and mutual comfort between the family members. It teaches us that we don't need the best car, the most luxurious house, the most fashionable clothing, the most money to be happy. A family dinner together, a piece of candy, some ice cream, a hug, a smile can bring more happiness than the others listed above.
3. Patience. Patience is the key to life.
**What some may DISLIKE**:
Later on, some romance starts to happen within the family. Some viewers didn't like the pure siblings bond turning into a romance kind of relationship. I was fine with it, and to be honest, I really liked the couple. Some on the other hand might not like it. In addition, there were definitely some cons here and there, but I choose to overlook them because of my love for this drama.
**Music**: Drama with one of the best OSTs
1. "Fearless 无畏": this is the song literally made for Ling Xiao. When I first heard this song and understood the lyrics, I cried...and I've never cried during a song before. The lyrics were so simple yet so touching. Some of my favorites that fit for Ling Xiao are: "Dear, sometimes I feel so tired. And when I'm lonely, I shed a tear as well...the taste of growing up...maybe you are like me, trying hard to forget...trying hard to grow up...still going despite feeling hesitant...life makes us fearless...". A true masterpiece.
2. "Rain 雨": this is the song literally made for He Ziqiu. He has a deep pain in his heart but he hides it from his family, just like what the lyrics state: "Tell me, how should I hide it? In this dark work, I slowly wipe the scars left behind from the storm. I turn myself into a stranger...after crying, I leave. If rain starts to pour down, then let me become the ocean...". I think that Li Jianjian is the ocean, catching all the tears shed from the family.
3. "I Will Stay Guard Here 我会守在这里": This is the song that describes the two fathers' feelings and emotions towards their children. They are sad that their children are growing up, facing their own challenges, and walking on their own and individual paths of life, but they are happy for them. They made it clear to their children that when they feel breathless from the brutality of life, they can always look back and run into the embraces of their fathers. It's a bitter sweet feeling.
I read an excellent comment on Youtube from a Chinese account that I believe summarizes the songs "Fearless" and "I Will Stay Guard Here" the best (translated): The opening song, "Fearless", is the words that the three children told themselves, the courage slowly picked up on the bumpy path of growth, the concern of pulling and supporting each other, the reconciliation of the past and the hope for the future. And the ending song "I Will Stay Guard Here" is the deep love of the two fathers for their children, a light that can be seen no matter how far they go. This drama uses an extraordinary family to tell the most ordinary moving (as in touching her heart), and the soundtrack is also excellent.
**Favorite Quotes**:
1. "When I was young, I never thought about separation. I always felt that time was slow, and I was always worried about when I would grow up. But time was lost in class, lost in a moment of joy, or in tears. At any time, there is an invisible hand, it is holding us, it is silent but not for a moment. Years go by in the blink of an eye, so similar, or else it's turbulent, but it's quietly changing."
2. "The dreams we often chase are sparkling and out of reach. They are stars, rainbows, and dewdrops rolling on white roses in the morning. They are on the other side of life, and on this side of life, adults are forced to survive. Helplessness, it is food, it is air, it is the tears that flowed silently at night."
3. "Growing up is an instant thing. When you turn 18, the law recognizes you as an adult, but that's not real growth. Real growth is an instant thing. At that moment your heart changed and you felt the weight of life. At that moment, you grew up quietly alone."
4. "One day, I suddenly discovered that separation is the normal state of life. Just like the seeds of dandelion, they grow wherever they fly. With new land and new friends, there will also be new dreams. "
5. "Simrock said: 'The grass of patience is bitter, but in the end it bears sweet and tender fruit.'"
**Rewatch**:
Some say that this drama or that drama aren't my cup of tea. This drama isn't a cup of tea. It's an entire pot of melting treasure. I highly highly recommend this drama; It's so different from the others. I will definitely go back to watch it because it's my comfort drama:)
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"A person with a dream will forever be young" ~ Go Go Squid
Go Go Squid was more than a romance drama: it was a motivating story that told of the characters' heart-wrenching past, their friendships, and their everlasting, enduring dreams. I've always been drawn to esports or computer-related dramas ever since watching Falling Into Your Smile, and I can see the parallel events between the two dramas. Both were amazing, but this one has a special place in my heart. Whether its the K&K members that always had me burst out laughing, or the cute scenes between the couples that made me smile, or the nostalgic flashbacks that left my heart aching at their regrets, or the OSTs that made me contemplate on the lyrics, this drama pretty much had it all. For my personally, the most important wasn't the romance between the main couple; The dream shared by the K&K members, everyone else in the CTF field, and of course, the one who carried it all on his shoulder, Han ShangYan, touched me the most. This drama had many lessons that deserves their recognition, and it motivates me to chase my dreams as well.**Story**:
The synopsis tells the storyline of the drama, so I won't elaborate too much about it. However, I do want to mention a few details that contributes to the overall story. The story is mainly set in ShangHai in addition to a few places where the teams compete such as BeiJing, GuangZhou, and SanYa. Go Go Squid isn't actually about esports. It revolves around a complicated competition called CTF (Capture The Flag) that requires skilled professionals to defend computer systems and solve challenging cyber security problems. Most outside of the field don't understand what it is truly about and their mistaken the professionals as people who waste their time and lives playing computers. The team members don't bother with others' misunderstandings, but they work hard and train to not make money but to bring glory and honor to their country. Underlying their mischievous and playful personalities is a shared dream: to secure the world champion. Their determination, persistence, courage, and hard work really touched me in the drama.
**Acting/Cast**: --this is going to be long--
Han ShangYan (Actor: Li Xian 李现) is a retired CTF member who now owns the K&K team and is the boss to the K&K members. To me, he was the most interesting character. Throughout the entire show, I found myself trying to understand him and figure out his past and what he held at heart that he refused to reveal. His hidden pain, dreams, regret, sadness, and loneliness created the emotionless, cold character that we saw in the beginning of the show. That is, until he met Tong Nian, to whom he finally opened up to. He had one of the brightest and warmest smiles in the show; I can't express the happiness I felt seeing his smile. The few emotions he showed (later in the show) had me in tears as well. Han ShangYan is also one of the most selfless people I've ever seen...in his own way of course. He gave up on his dream and learned his lesson but he now devotes his life to help what he calls "kids" to achieve the dream they share. I don't think nothing in the show could express the amount of pressure and pain he felt from his past. He was lonely and sad but full of passion and dreams. In addition, the five main K&K members (97, Demo, One, Grunt, and DT) view him not just as their boss, but also their older brother who cares for them, shares their dream, and helps them fight for that dream. There were a few scenes in the drama where Han ShangYan went into their room at night to help clean up their mess, tuck them in bed, and make sure they get rest and were healthy; Those simple scenes touched me a lot because it illustrated their strong relationship. Even though the five K&K members were shown to be "afraid" and feared Han ShangYan, one could easily tell that they truly respected and understood that he cared for them from the bottom of his heart. Li Xian did an outstanding job portraying such as tough character. In real life, he is happy and full of smiles, so to act as someone who is mean outside but warm at heart is tough, but I can't imagine another actor doing this job. Not to mention, his smirks and facial expressions in the show had me squealing at times.
Tong Nian aka You XiaoYu (Actress: Yang Zi 杨紫) is the complete opposite personality of Han ShangYan but they attracted like a proton and electron. She became the only person who truly understood the thoughts and pain of Han ShangYan, as well as his desperation and dream of helping the K&K "kids" fulfill their dreams. She was so understanding and supportive. Although there were some parts I questioned or got annoyed regarding her decisions and personality, I chose to overlook them because of the cute relationship she had with Han ShangYan. Tong Nian excelled at her studies, and she was extremely well-liked by the K&K members, who called her "sister-in-law". I found this to be super cute and wholesome, for they respected her at first glance and accepted her. I've seen a few of YangZi's dramas, such as Battle of ChangSha, and I know she's been acting since she was young. She fulfilled this role beyond my expectations. Her crying scenes were on point, and at times, I couldn't believe how real the scenes seemed. An indeed well done!
I would like to commend each of the K&K members. They honestly were amazing, and to me, the show was complete with them. Every time the five of them were in the same frame, I knew that they would bring a smile to my face. They were so contagious and spread so much happiness. I admire their strong relationship as they trained, ran, played, and joked with each other. This kind of friendship is rare nowadays. I feel that it would not serve them right to not mention them:
*DT/WuBai (Actor: HuYiTian 胡一天）was quite the character. He was very similar to his brother: quiet, serious, and rarely showing emotions. I'm going to admit, I found myself falling for his attractiveness, his smirks, and those eyes...Anywho, DT was, once again like his brother (actually cousin), smart and #1 in the field. He had a ferocity and hunger in his eyes to win as champions with his team. As the leader, he had power and earned the respect from his team. Yet, he became the funder for his cousin's relationship. In the second season (Go Go Squid 2: Dt and Appledog's Time), his relationship with SP's Appledog was elaborated. Although I have not watched it, this first season already left me in butterflies. Wu Bai's first smile and inspiration comes from AppleDog. Hu YiTian did a phenomenal job portraying WuBai. I first watched him in "A Love So Beautiful", but his portrayal in this drama was absolutely amazing.
*97 (Actor: Li MingDe 李明德) was definitely one of my favorites. He was one of the strongest advocates for Han ShangYan and Tong Nian's relationship. I found myself cracking up on his expressions, jokes, and roller skates, but I was touched by his serious attitude and perseverance in training as a professional competitor. I was first introduced to the actor Li MingDe in the 2018 film "When We Were Young" (highly recommend) and saw him once more in "Lovely Us" (also recommend). He did wonderful in both, but I really enjoyed his acting in this drama. I look forward to more of his works in the future!
*Grunt (Actor: Wen YiFan 文苡帆) had the looks. His glasses, hair, and outfits were on point. He also always brought a smile to my face but left me in tears at certain points in drama. I can't believe the actor was 31-32 when he filmed the drama because it looked like he was 20 haha but he was also wonderful!
*One (Actor: Xu LeXiao 许乐骁). His determination in training and his humble attitude when the inevitable came really taught me a lesson. There's people out there who are talented at certain things, and sometimes, hard work can't beat that. However, that doesn't mean you shouldn't work hard because you will always have a chance to chase your dreams. One has taught me that with his experience in the show. The actor also did a nice job portraying him!
*Demo (Actor: Yu ChengEn 余承恩) was definitely one of my favorites in the show. The trio (Demo, 97, and Grunt) had me cracking up at times; They were definitely the highlight! Demo was the baby of the team, and I found myself loving him like he was my child. He was so cute, innocent, hard working, and it seemed that he was too young to understand certain things like divorce and love. He always put others before him, and he knew that he had his "older brothers" who would look out and protect him. Yu ChengEn was one of the youngest in the cast (around 20), but he did amazing. I look forward to more of his works!!
Next, I would like to mention the Solo Team...the OG group that carried the most stories, accomplishments, and pain. Consisting of Solo/Wang Hao (leader), ALL (Ou Qiang), Gun (Han ShangYan), Appledog (Ai Qing), and XiaoMi (Mi ShaoFei), they were the ones that started off in the CTF field and brought China into this competition. They fought off all doubts, hatred, accusations, and mockery from others. They started off from nothing. Living in a big city, they fought to eat, stay clothed, sleep, but they were motivated by their dream: world champions. Sadly, life struck them and they were forced to disband. Each going their own ways, some kept playing, some retired, some left completely, and some chased the dream on a different route. Han ShangYang retired at the best age. Appledog lost her love and also retired. Solo had to assume responsibilities as a dad. XiaoMi left and went home, thinking his dream was gone. ALL kept fighting, but without his team, it was different. Life forced them all to grow up. Ten years. What hit me was seeing the flashbacks and how young and free they each were as they fought for their dream. During their youth, they laughed and enjoyed life despite not having money or other's approval. Yet, ten years later, they all drastically changed. It was unbelievable for me to see this comparison.
*XiaoMi/Mi ShaoFei (Actor: Lee HongChi 李鴻其) was one of my favorites. He thought that he would never achieve his dream and almost gave up. Life hit him hard because he had to face the reality that he was getting older and the younger generations were dominating. On the bright side, he had a wonderful girl, Sun YaYa, by him who encouraged and supported him in whatever he did, and most importantly, she helped him achieve his dreams. The actor was one of the best. He crying and scenes where he yelled and expressed his anger left me in awe. Words can't explain how well his acting was.
- Sun YaYa (Actor: Jiang PeiYao) was a bright, encouraging, and cute girl. The relationship between her and XiaoMi was one of my favorites; I can say that at times, I liked them more than the main couple. Also, the actress was just gorgeous; Her smile was stunning...I don't blame XiaoMi falling for her at first sight.
Lastly, I want to commend the rest of the characters (and actors/actresses portraying them), whether it was Su Cheng, Nan Wei, One's mom, Tong Nian's parents, Han ShangYan's mom, or the cats, they all were awesome. And of course, Han ShangYan's grandpa was the ultimate supporter and matchmaker. Han ShangYan and Tong Nian owe him one for their relationship haha.
**Music**:
I am a very big music person, and the OST of a drama contributes a lot to how I feel about it. This drama had some touching OSTs, and their lyrics were just astounding. Here are some of my favorites:
1. "Nameless Generation“ 《无名之辈》sang by Chen XueRang, aka cdrama OST King. Many of my favorite OSTs in dramas are sung by him, so I wasn't surprised when he sang this powerful song as well. His voice is just breathtaking. This song was definitely my favorite in the drama; I didn't skip the intro because of how much I loved this song. The lyrics made me tear up at times: "It doesn't matter who is forgotten. Who doesn't fight until the end of life? It may be tiring and exhausting. It may be humbling, a lifetime of waiting. It may never become your glory...Continue to chase it. Whose glory is not accompanied by tears?" This song depicts who Han ShangYan is as well as what life it. The song is full of emptiness and loneliness, like Han ShangYan was. No one understood him, and he didn't care if anyone understood, but Tong Nian did. He was forgotten and became nameless, but it didn't matter. He kept on chasing his dreams.
2. "Sky" 《海阔天空》sung by Beyond. When this song first played in the first episode, I cried. Beyond was a generation, just like how Solo was a generation. This was their song and millions of others around the world. It tells the pain of chasing one's dreams and to never, ever give up: "Chasing dreams in wind and rain...facing vast sky, wide ocean, would you and I change (who is not changing?) How many times have I faced the cold-eyed and ridicule? Never have I given up my heart's hope and ideals...Forgive me, I have been unruly and a love of freedom all my life. I too, fear I might fall down someday. Anyone can abandon their dreams. I'm not afraid if someday there's only left you and me (chasing our dreams)...Still I am free and independent. Forever singing my song, traveling thousands of miles." This song forever holds a special place in my heart.
3. "Glory" 《光耀》sung by Lara Liang. This is a very upbeat song that I believe belongs to the teams in CTF as they stand and fight on stage. The lyrics are very motivating: "I've decided to stand in this unknown distance...let's go together...when dreams have come to this perspective...Let the brave reveal the endless pride and glory. Your firm gaze is always forward...Overcoming new difficulties and new heartbeats...Let your teen spirit shine". Specifically, I think this song if made for the K&K team and its members. They are a team and that team spirit was unbeatable. It was so amazing to witness as they stood together, trained, worked hard, fought, chased, and won together. The feeling was unbelievable. I found myself as nervous as they each were before a competition, as sad and disappointed but not hopeless when they lost, and as happy and excited as they were when they won. A truly amazing feeling.
**What some may DISLIKE**:
Some may find the reason for Solo team's disband to be absurd. I won't spoil too much, but I do want to say that they were young and yes, they made their decisions based on anger and how they felt at the time. This led to a lot of regrets, which were clearly illustrated in the drama. Who didn't make a stupid decision during their youth? If not, were you ever young before? This was obviously a big decision and many lessons could be learned from it. Also, some might find the main girl's personality a little frustrating or annoying at times because I did sometimes as well, but I chose to overlook it. It you are not a fan of some cringey scenes or lots of sweet scenes, this drama may not be your cup of tea, but who knows? You might like it, so don't hesitate to give it a chance.
At first, I was a little annoyed or bothered that Beyond's song was sung in Mandarin Chinese and not in Cantonese since the original version was in Cantonese. For me, even though I don't speak Cantonese, it hits harder. I assume it's because of copyrights, so I soon got used to the Mandarin version.
**Life Lessons/Things I've Learned**:
1. Life is full of regrets. Don't dwell on them because they will make you lose hope. Instead, transform them. Change them into lessons you can learn or points in life that helped you grow. Rethink decisions and avoid making decisions based on feeling.
2. Never, ever stop chasing your dreams. Life is going to hit and throw obstacles at you. People are going to ridicule and doubt you, but show them. Show them that you are capable of achieving beyond your dreams. Yes, there are more talented and smarter people out there. Sometimes, you may work so hard but not reach their level. But that is OKAY! It doesn't mean you shouldn't try. You should always try...so you won't live a life of regrets.
3. Never give up on your friends. Keep fighting alongside them. Open your heart sometimes and let those worthy to see what it's inside. You might be surprised. Love. Have fun. Enjoy life.
**Favorite Quotes**:
1. "In the past two years and three months, I have won, lost, laughed, cried, been questioned, criticized, shady...never justified, and need not be justified. Tonight, the Huayan is finally over, and success and fame are achieved, and the eyes are full of absurdity." -- Han ShangYan
2. "But I can't claim success because I gave up. So I sincerely hope that you don't give up halfway. In the face of any game in your life, you must do your best... No one wants to leave, all choices are forced and helpless, the cruelest is the end of the hero, so I hope you, in your final days at a good age, fight hard and count as far as you can, so that you will not leave regrets in this life." -- Han ShangYan
3. "It's like when two people go for a walk, you don't need to say anything, but slowly the pace will be the same, and you will see the scenery you each are admiring" -- Tong Nian's mom
**Rewatch**:
9/10. Whenever I need motivation for my dreams or want a powerful song to listen to, I know which drama to come back to. This drama pretty much has it all. Whenever I miss the K&K team, small Demo, the trios, Han ShangYan's smile, the cute romance between the couples (especially XiaoMi and YaYa), and DT's smirks, I know where to go. This drama deserves its recognition and this rewatch value!! Thank you to the cast, crew, writer of the novel from which the drama was developed from, and everyone else contributing to this masterpiece!
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"You are already the rabbit who has seen the most stars" ~ Qiao JingJing
You Are My Glory is a very special drama that covers many aspects of what we call "life" and "romance". From revealing the hard work behind an aerospace engineer to showing what real love should be like, the drama really teaches and touches a viewer's heart. Whether you like astronomy, acting, true love, or esport gaming, there's something in this drama that you can relate to. That's how special it is.**Story**
The drama's setting takes place in one of China's most modern cities: Shanghai. On the outside, it seems like a nice and loving place to live in, but what people don't see is the hard work put in by the people there, and that's where we are introduced to our two main characters: Yu Tu and Qiao JingJing. A simple game brings them together after 10 years, and the love between them blossoms soon after. Not only does the drama depict the beautiful and heartwarming care and love between these two characters, it also shows what the adult life is like: stressful, tough, wrecking. But, at the same time, the drama teaches you to persevere through the storm and to never give up.
**Acting/Cast**
Yu Tu (Actor: Yang Yang 杨洋) is an aerospace engineer who, ever since he was a child, had the dream to explore beyond earth. This motivates him to continue to strive, but at the same time, he faces the brutal reality called "life", in which he is forced to decide if he should continue chasing his dream or switch to a financial major that will provide more time to spend with his family. Because of this, he was also very hesitant to face his feelings towards Qiao JingJing since he didn't know what he could give her if he couldn't even give her his time. However, Qiao JingJing was very mature and understanding, and this soon brought them together...forever. On the other hand, our smart genius taught us what aerospace engineering really is: physics, math, cooperation, restless nights, and literally a doctor but "operating" on rovers, rockets, and satellites instead. We see the hard work these people put into their work and the love/passion they have for it. I'm sure the last episode touched all of the viewers' hearts when we see their hard work pay off, and I'm sure future viewers will feel the same. High respect for scientists and engineers all around the world. They really deserve more recognition. Yang Yang did a wonderful job portraying this character; Out of all of his masterpieces, this character and his acting was my favorite. His facial expressions were on point, and he truly improved a lot.
Qiao JingJing (Actor: Dilraba Dilmurat 迪丽热巴 迪力木拉提) is an actress in the drama, and perhaps one of the most understanding character I've ever met. Her love for Yu Tu did not change since high school, despite them not seeing each other for almost 10 years. She truly loves her job, and her determination and perseverance is something we should all learn. I truly saw a character growth in her; she changed into a mature and understanding woman. She was the one that never forgot Yu Tu and his dream and later encouraged him to never stop chasing it. After they got together, she missed him dearly due to the long distances caused by their careers, but their love for each other never wavered. The last time I saw Dilraba was in "The Long Ballad", and she left a lasting impression on me (high recommend that drama btw). She didn't fail to disappoint me this time either! This drama definitely raised my respect towards actors/actresses as well.
I really enjoyed seeing the interaction and way of communication between Yu Tu and JingJing. They didn't let their relationship affect their individual jobs, and vice versa. Both worked hard in their professions, and both worked hard on keeping their relationship healthy. This is true love. Respect, understanding, mutual communication, listening, and never letting that love waver. In addition, I want to mention our support characters that contributed to this masterpiece. I loved the relationship between Guan Zai and his wife, Shen Jing because they set an excellent example for Yu Tu and JingJing, as well as us. Even though their love faced obstacles, they made it. I loved the strong bond between JingJing, her manager, and her assistance, Xiao Zhu. They really supported her, truly. Lastly, we can't forget the squad: Zhai Liang, Sha Bao, and Long Wang. And of course, our second couple: Hu Ke Hang (Xiao Hu) and Xiao Li, and the single dude (whom we all relate to): Meng An Yu. Oh, and of course, Yu Tu's parents (especially his mom), and JingJing's parents. Shout out to all of them. We can't appreciate them enough.
**Music**
This drama had some strong songs. Some of my favorites are my following:
1. "Born to be an Eagle" 《生来是鹰》Chen XueRang's voice is one of my favorites. I first heart him singing "Long Day" from the drama "Our Secret" (high recommend too lol), and I've loved his voice ever since. This song was so powerful; It really gives you adrenaline. I loved hearing it play when the rocket was launched because it hits you with the realization that the rocket symbolizes the 10 years of effort, time, and sweat put into this project. It's like you're there with everyone cheering. Definitely my favorite song from the drama.
2. "Fall in Love" 《陷入爱情》Let me just say, I did not know, nor did I expect the singers to be Curley Gao and Mika. I loved Curley Gao and her strong and beautiful voice. This song was so cute and really adds light especially when you're having a bad day.
3. I also really liked "Fireworks Star" 《烟火星辰》sang by Liu YuNing 刘宇宁 and "Time Monologue" 《光阴独白》XuJiaYing 徐佳莹. They were both cute songs as well that nicely fit into the relationship between Yu Tu and JingJing:)
**Life Lessons/What I Have Learned**
1. A true, healthy, and loving relationship not only requires maturity and understanding from both sides, but also communication, patience, well knowing of each other, support for each other, and encouragement. Of course, a bit of sweetness every once in a while will improve it as well!
2. You WILL face challenges and stress in life no matter how smart you are or no matter what route you go on in life. However, instead of surrendering to these emotions, fight through them, and never give up. There's a Chinese saying that goes "There is a rainbow and bright sky after a storm". Also, we can all be like JingJing and encourage the people around us to never stop chasing their dreams!
**What some may DISLIKE**
If you're the type of person who isn't a fan of kisses or cute scenes like that, then this drama might not be your cup of tea. I still recommend you to watch it because it isn't just those things, it's much more, but just a heads-up in case. However, don't worry about crazy evil antagonists who think of every possible way to hurt their enemies. There are antagonists here, but they're not mentioned that much:)
**Favorite Quotes**
1. "But life is like water, even if the waves are rippling, it can't change the overall situation. Don't always focus on what you have gained, but learn to cherish, cherish what you have now, and cherish what is to come."
2. "Wait for me to get out there. Maybe the moon base will be constructed. Then, I can have the moon as my starting point, conquer mars, and fly out of the solar system".
3. "The distance of 30 to 40 years does not mean that it takes 30 to 40 years to catch up."
**Rewatch**
The main couple in this drama is the one that I will definitely run back to when it comes to relationships. When I need a boost of motivation, I will come back and watch the rocket launch. I thank everyone, the cast, crew, and writers for producing this wonderful drama:D
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