A River Runs Through It (2021)

Perfect--except for the ending . . .

This would be my top Cdrama of all time if it had a better ending! I loved it so much. The acting was great, most of the characters and storylines were relatable and touching. The only people that were meh to me were CL and LY, seemed like neither had any personality. But LS in particular really shined as a character. I loved watching him grow and I think the actor did an amazing job.

At times I felt like I wasn't watching a drama, I was watching a documentary. A lot of people watch dramas to escape so they don't want it to be like real life and don't care how far-fetched it is; however, I watch them because that's exactly what I'm looking for. I feel like these characters were the first people I've "met" that feel the way I have felt. I want characters and circumstances to be real and this drama hit the mark better than anything else I have watched. It wasn't afraid to show the ugliness of life and that everything is going to be okay in the end, you can get through it.

I especially liked how things developed between LS and XJ post-confession for the sheer fact LS had a much different reaction than normal, instead of becoming defeated he doubled down--and I truly believe that is the best course of action you can take for someone like XJ. Some might see it as pushy but I think there are times when you need to persist because it's not that the other person is resisting because they are not interested, but because they are scared. It was refreshing to see a character who did not fall into despair because someone didn't accept them right away, instead they stood by their feelings AND their own value.

It was a great show . . . until the last two episodes. It was like they planned for 50 episodes but got to episode 34 and learned they could only produce two more. The storylines were rushed, they didn't really make sense, and frankly it was hard to connect with the wedding for example because it was so disconnected and out of nowhere that you had no emotional attachment to the couple in question. Then imagine the one you love leaves without telling you, you don't see or hear from them for FIVE YEARS, and they just show up and end up proposing after messing around with your feelings for two or three days. Like it was so jarring and disappointing, the pacing wasn't the same as the rest of the series and we never really got to see the main leads in a relationship or resolving the issues between them. It was a lot of buildup to something amazing and then it just crashed and burned.

I consider it a great tragedy how this show ended, it deserved better. I would honestly be okay if there was a season two and they were just like "Yeah those last two episodes were just a dream, let's get back to the REAL story." But I just finished it yesterday however and I already want to start again! So I'd still recommend it.

Read More

*Contains Spoiler*

At first i was little hesitant to watch because this one had 36 episode & I am not someone who really watch more than 25-30 epis. Moreover if they keep dragging the confession btwn leads or not in relationship at least before 5-6 epis of the ending I will literally drop it. But damn this one. You wont believe the main leads literally perfectly get into as couple at the very last episode. & this is clearly not my type of drama. But the sole reason that kept me hold onto this drama to the very end is the beautiful friendship & the eye candy male lead Lu Shiyi. Lu shiyi is literally one of the best male cdrama character ever. I cried for him laughed for him felt pity for him. I literally felt All kind of emotions for him. He is literally the best. He can be your best friend a bro a boyfriend. He can be an annoyinh brat & tease the heck out of you but would fight the whole world for you. A fyi he isn't a toxic teaser. Its a teasing that will make you some funny fight with him. Throughout the whole drama his unconditional friendship & love for Female lead literally made my heart fluttered. From highschool, college, University & then job life wow it was a whole journey. As much as i love all the side Characters but Lu shiyi the male lead really slayed & ruled. I am not someone who praise ML of cdramas this highly. But yeah lu shiyi definately one of the best boy of cdrama town. Kudos to richard wang. His acting was super good.

Read More

Beautiful beginning and a not-so-beautiful ending

A River Runs Through It has the beauty of the older and brilliant Chinese school dramas (With You, My Huckleberry Friends, When We Were Young, A Love So Beautiful). It is a tale of friendship, family, love, school, college life and of the numerous joys and sorrows that lace the journey of life. A poignant tale about growing up, its brilliant performances truly make this a strong watch. Every character was the centre of their own story, and I, like many others, laughed and wept with most of the characters.

Xia Xiaoju's relationship with her mother was so meaningfully written that when the two reconcile after Xiaoju has moved to college, tears ran down my cheeks. The show managed to make me cry or tear up many times - the world of ARRTI felt lived in and real; the characters felt real. The friendships were heartwarming and beautiful, and for the most part, the show was about these friendships- the deep understanding between the three main leads, and their affection for each other. Certainly the strength of show lies with its profoundly well-written friendships. From the five friends, to the three (and even four/five if we count Le Tao and Huang Jun) and then finally to the touching friendship between Xiaoju and Lu Shiyi. 'Growing up means separation' as Xiaoju says to herself later on in the show, in what I consider to be the most philosophical moment on the show: to grow up is to separate from friends and loved ones. People move away as life gets in the way.

Growing up however entails falling in love too, and this story has a lot of unreciprocated love, unfulfilled love, heartbreaks and breakups. Yet, unlike many other shows, I was invested in these relationships which largely involved the secondary (and even tertiary) characters. They felt believable and their stories were not centred around the main leads- they were the masters of their own stories.

I really liked the main leads together and separately - I rooted for them. The friendship between the three was absolutely lovely and when Cheng Lang wasn't with them later on, Li Shiyu and Xia Xiaoju were great friends of each other. They understood each other, cared for each other.

I would have perhaps sang many praises of this beautiful friendship had I not been utterly disappointed by the lacklustre ending. What was it with this ending? what was the point of this ending? Was it supposed to be like With You, and yet in With You the separation made sense (the broken Yu Huai did not believe himself worthy of love- he wasn't the best of himself and that was WHY he disappeared- it made sense). However, why does Li Shiyu disappear without telling her anything? Or without even contacting her through 7 years? He did not suffer from low self-esteem and self-worth and did not have the family burdens that Yu Huai did. Also, it's strange that he doesn't visit his parents in 7 years? In that case he would definitely bumped into her. (My Calorie Boy also did the With You-style ending, which did not work for me either)

The last two episodes were truly a disservice to the main leads. I felt very sorry for Xia Xiaoju- her best friend and the one she finally came to love just ghosted and disappeared on her. After 7 years, the writers decided to fix the problem in just two-three days of interactions. We did not ever learn why he disappeared; why he had pictures with that other girl, etc. The proposal scene at the wedding made zero sense too. Ah. well.

Although I am disappointed with the last two episodes, it does not take away from the beauty of the first half (and more) of the show. It is still a very good show, and certainly one of the best in recent years.

Read More

I was not ready for this show to end. I admit, I actually put off watching this for a while because of how many episodes there are, but by the end I totally could have watched more. It’s done in a similar vein to the Reply series, where you watch a group of friends grow up together and the female lead actually even looks like Hyeri from Reply 1988.

The show offers a really realistic depiction of how relationships happen in real life, whether good or bad. Not everyone who dates ends up staying together, and relationships are messy and unpredictable and sometimes end in heartbreak. The show shows a diverse number of relationships and really strong friendships as well.

It’s my first time seeing Richard Wang in a drama but I really liked his character Lu Shiyi. He treated Xiaoju so well - buying her snacks, finding a job for her, even helping her figure out what major she wanted. He’s so thoughtful and kind, even when he knows that she doesn’t like him back. Lu Shiyi and Xia Xiaoju really were best friends and they share so many memories together it's like they are dating and she just didn't know it at the time. Xiaoju likes her other friend, and yet all of her romantic moments are with Shiyi. She even accidentally confesses to him. It's like before she knew it, he was the perfect fit for her. However, I honestly wish that we got more episodes showing their relationship after they get together and I feel like I'm left with so many questions about the show at the end.

Also completely unrelated to the story but the product placement feels very natural on the show, and is almost unnoticeable whereas most dramas nowadays are just FULL of product placement so that was very refreshing.

8/8.5

Read More

A pack of sh*t and trash

Annoying sh*t trash
OMG I couldn’t believe it is possible to make a drama this much trashy. I don’t know what is there inside the skull of this direction team, I am pretty sure they don’t have brain at all.
Soo annoying, ML likes FL, FL likes second ML, second ML likes second FL, second FL likes her childhood friend, her childhood friend likes another girl, thank god that mystery girl not showed in drama.
Both ML and FL are worst than trash
1. Out of 36 episodes till 28 she had feelings for second ML, yet ML knows that he keeps on telling her to give up on second ML saying that he has no feelings for you but he keeps on pursuing FL yet he knows she has still feelings for second ML. He couldn’t give up on FL yet he keeps on telling her to give up on second ML.
2. At 29 episode When he proposed to FL she dumped him so cruelly, in the same episode she asked him to act as fake boyfriend and shamelessly he agreed to that.
3. As like in other Chinese dramas ML is soo shameless and sadistic trash, he couldn’t tolerate if she talks with other guys, he rush to her and drag her from the spot like a stray dog, he keeps on rounding around her and always she took him for granted and insulting him very badly yet shamelessly he acted like nothing happened. When he heard some guy is planning to propose FL he run to the spot and dragged her like a dog and suddenly proposed her knowing she still not over with second ML.
4. The main sadistic and cruel part is whenever he tried to confess to FL, before him she always confessed her feelings on second ML and crying in front of him. Yet he trying the same and get annoyed and disappointed.
Like this I can say hundreds of trash in this drama but I feel like to throw up to mentioning those sh*tty things.
I strongly recommend not to try this drama

Read More

ONE OF THE BEST YOUTH DRAMAS!!

SPOILER!!
I honestly don't know where to start. I may ramble my way through this too but honestly this was one of the best youth dramas I've ever seen. It made me look back during my high school and university life. The ups and downs. The good and bad. Liking someone, getting rejected, being together. Struggling with own course, thinking about the future, losing people along the way, separating from your closest friends, etc. Youth is all part of self-discovery. Growing up. Experiencing all these to enter the society.

The story was honestly so heart warming but obviously at times, I just cannot help but get annoyed. The parents were very supportive of them. I have never felt a character so relatable Xiaoju's struggle growing up as an eldest and having to give way and feeling as if no one has got your back to support you, - the neglect -I totally felt that. I felt like my own story was being shown in this drama. Of course, in the end her mother had supported her all the way through. I like how the Xia, Lu and Cheng family were so close knit that during the early episodes, they were already wanting Xiaoju to be their daugther in law haha. To also include, Xiaoju's brother is hella annoying like every younger brother, but you can see how much he cares for his sister.

The trio, the best friends. I love how their friendship transitioned all throughout. Actually, the five OG bffs (inc Letao and Baabao), I loved their lil friendship throughout high school. Helping each other win that competition, caring for each other. It was just amazing. I was actually so sad that since Baobao left at that time, he had never shown himself. I've always felt that Taotao and Baobao were extremely suited for each other. Imagine my sadness when she got on with Huangjun. Not to be biased but Taotao's relationship with Huangjun was so toxic. The things she had done for him only to be taken for granted. But tbh, this experience for Taotao was her turning point, she had grown into such a strong woman and I really commended her character. I love her friendship with and support for Xiaoju. I guess because Taotao was such a strong girl crush, I actually really fell in love with her character. P.S. oh gosh that vocal girl in the band pissed me off too much. Imagine my happiness when Baobao came back in the end and being revealed to be Taotao's groom. I already expected it to be honest, but I WAS HELLA HAPPY!!!! He looked handsome too.

I honestly think Chenglang's first love was Xiaoju. But then he saw Linyou dance haha. I really believed in their relationship. They were definitely cute together. But I guess just like in real life, sometimes when you're not meant to be, no matter how much you've liked each, you just won't be together. I was actually waiting that maybe in the end she will come back but when Xiaoju said she had gotten married, I felt quite hurt for Chenglang. This guy deserves to be happy. I just felt like he did not even get a closure nor a happiness he deserved in the end. Like fair, be single, but that scene when he saw Linyou with her foreign husband, I just felt sad for him.

I actually watched this drama because of Hu Yixuan (I had finished watching Unforgettable Love. Through her I had found this gem. She is indeed a wonderful and versatile actress and I commend her for that. But my biggest disappoint in this drama was he character. Fair enough she grew. Her character development was good but I felt like it just dragged and dragged and dragged to the point where it was only until the last episode that Shiyi had fully gotten happy. But through her character, it just shows reality too, we like a guy for a very long time only to see him become happy with someone else. Then you also get scared to ruin your friendship with the bestfriend you really care for. I was actually glad she had gotten that closure with Cheng Lang with that mango pudding thing too. I just wished she had given Shiyi a chance a bit earlier on. But I guess if she did that, the ending would've been different.

Lu Shiyi. Shiyi oh Shiyi. I wish I had someone like Lu Shiyi in my life. If I had someone like him, I would've fallen for him already. I wound't be so dull and blind like Xiaoju. The amount of things and great efforts that Shiyi had done for Xiaoju is immense. He was definitely ANNOYING at the beginning but the transitioning of his relationship with Xiaoju was so smooth. Like his character development was not abrupt. He didn't just suddenly change overnight and started being nice on her. It was so gradual and smooth. I love it. It may have started when she finally agreed to do the relay with them and they all got really close with each other. I honestly just wanted nothing but Shiyi's happiness, but it was just so frustrating for me to see him in pain and suffer all throughout the middle until the end. Sometimes it was unbearable. Something that is still stuck with me until this day was when he said that he was not bad too. The way Shiyi had said that, the acting, the voice, I felt my heart shatter to pieces. I felt his pain. You know an actor is doing an absolute amazing job when he is really into his character that his emotions are overflowing and you could feel whatever emotion he was feeling. And that is how I really fell in love with Lu Shiyi's character and also Richards Wang as an actor. I really really want to praise him. I wish he had been happier earlier on. I cannot reiterate how much I felt sorry for him and just wanted him to be happy.

The whole setting especially their hometown really brings be back to my own hometown. I love the OSTs too. That I like you song, the amount of times I've heard her try that part over and over again, sometimes I would just hear the song in my head randomly. Now it is one of my faves hahah. The producers did a great job choosing that song when Shiyi had proposed to her. I actually cried when they were finally together. I just wish I had seen them as a happy couple a bit longer. That's one of the it's a shame parts.

Overall I LOVE THIS DRAMA AND I WOULD DEFINITELY REWATCH IT AGAIN!!!! TOTALLY RECOMMEND!!!!

Read More

Strong Start with A Badly Written Abrupt Ending

Up to Episode 25, the show had a good pace and showed some character growth for each of the main storylines. Then things began to go downhill. It's like the writers gave up and tried to rush finishing the Season. Everything they had built up until then , like strong friendships, got thrown out the window. Their choices on how to conclude the couples and who paired up with whom, became dumb and fed into what in reality would be extremely toxic relationships. I was completely disappointed in how it ended. If you're going to sabotage what you initially created, then do it right, not this mess! If you don't want to have a happy ending for each of the pair ups, then give it a dramatic break up and that's it. Also I really disliked the mother of the main FL. The mother doesn't trust her daughter at all and even ignores her privacy. The mother is annoying and out of touch, even after FL tells her off. The little brother was more understanding and supportive, than the mother!

LIKES: for the most part the acting was good, showing true emotions for what their characters felt. The filming locations and scenery were sometimes really beautiful. The camera work was steady and knew how close to go when zooming in to a character's face [A LOT of dramas have shaky camera syndrome and zoom in way too close {like you can see their nose hair}.]. Also the story is nothing new, but initially they took their time with building a strong foundation, just to mess it up later.

I will not rewatch this. If I was rating it up until Episode 25, then it would be 7/10, but for the whole thing, it's barely a 4.5/10. I do NOT recommend this drama.

Read More

Awesome , loved it...would never be bored to watch it n no of times

The Story is awesome with a middle class backdrop.the Male Lead (Richards Wang)..... is soooooo Handsome...how can someone be soooooo handsome.
The Female Lead played her part well, though I would have loved if she was dumped , as she was so heartless.
Overall , lovely story, all actors played well be it the ML or the supporting Male actors or the Supporting Female cast.Thumps up and well done... the 2nd best after you are my Hero ( this will always be No1 for me) and would give Eternal Love number 3 now.
Great job ..... writers,directors,produces,actors....Well Done!!

PS:This is for Richards Wang your good looks were hidden as Mo Yuhai in Eternal love but in this Drama, I could not put my eyes away from you.Someone do convey my compliments and wishes to him Pleaseeeeee.

Read More

The Road Long Traveled

A coming of age drama that spans a decade. I won't repeat the synopsis nor what many others have written. I was pulled to this drama for WRC and he didn't disappoint. For a 24 year old, his acting is actually quite good. He has a very good sense of range of emotion. His past characters have all been arrogant yet sexy men, and here he brings that essence with him. But at the same time there's an immaturity, yet loyalty to those his character considers to be a good friend. As the 5 best friends go from high school and into college (well 4), they face more challenges but also the story grows in angst. This part I felt could have been tapered down a bit. Even when there is unrequited love in a series with 36 episodes, with multiple characters, and a group friendship dynamic, more of it should be shown.

The time lapses worked fine until the very last one which literally made no sense. I put full blame on the screenwriters. From what I understand, they were trying to create a happy ending from a sad one; and while I applaud that (the proposal was epic to say the least!), the separation of the leads should have been handled way better and not for 5 years. The disconnect starts in episode 33 and just snowballs throughout 34. 35 is well structured and quite funny and of course 36 takes the cake.

I loved Tao Tao's character because she knew her own worth and grew quite quickly and who doesn't want a best friend who hands the reigns of her own wedding to her two HS friends one of whom wants to propose to the other? She dropped her college boyfriend after he was less then committed but still managed to part ways in peace. They all grew a lot but I feel her character evolved the most.

What would have given this series a higher score from me would have been more of their group dynamic in college, less angst, no needless additions of the two completely useless characters to further make misunderstandings and separate the leads who then disappeared without a trace, and a more cohesive way to separate the leads for a period of 2 years max so they could both grow into their own selves as working, independent adults.

Shi Yi's reasons for going should have been because he was getting an amazing opportunity to study medicine, that he wanted to step out of his father's shadow, that he would always return even with the tweak that XJ didn't give him the answer he wanted; it's not like he had proposed to her, so what exactly could be expected? The ebb and flow of a cohesive transition was not there and it hurt the ending a lot. Cut ties and run and make sure she wouldn't get to him in time? I'm sorry but even writing 101 would stick a failing grade on that setup.

I would also have rewritten the Lin You arc because Chen Lang deserved way better then being left in the cold despite her and ex bfs history. Because she ended up with a foreign husband back in China; which made even less sense. She obviously broke up with her ex, she could have just as easily reconnected with CL and they could have conversed long distance until she returned and even he could have visited her abroad; that would have been a more mature and realistic way to properly close that out. That was another plot slip for the screenwriters.

I would rename this series "The Road Long Traveled" as a tick off the Robert Frost poem. Shi Yi's emotions and his ways of expressing them sometimes made me think the dude was bipolar but I understood that he frequently had the "talk first, think later" approach. But when he was proposing to Xiao Ju, I could tell he had grown a lot. My probably favorite moment of that last episode was when she said yes and he closed his eyes in relief. It felt like over a decade and 200 pounds were lifted off his shoulders. He finally got the girl he'd loved before he even knew he did; the first overtures came in episode 8.

Is this series worth watching? Sure! Does it have problems? Yep. But I'm still glad I watched it even when I wanted to smack them for their lack of balls or to stop being so angsty. Everything for just about everyone worked out in the end and the best part was that the 5 best friends that went to the Yun Hai beach after finishing HS, were all back together in the same room and still had that group dynamic that made them so lovable and strong in the first place.

So I say, watch it and form your opinions for yourselves. :)

Read More