I Don't Want to Be Friends With You (2020)

a heartwarming bittersweet youth growing up story

i just finished watching this amazing drama, i have so many emotions going through me rn. this drama literally hit all the right points in a youth drama, it made me laugh and cry in the best way possible. here's a breakdown of the pros and cons:
pros:
- the romance is so so cute, there's mainly 3 couples and their interactions r the funniest
- personally i loved li qingtong and wu zhixun's romance the best, i felt like they had more dynamic compared to li jingbu and duan xiaos maybe it's cause i knew li jingbu wasn't there to stay
- if you love youth school dramas following a group of friends then this is your drama
- the acting was perfect, i felt as if i was in their little friend group
- i appreciated just the idea of li jingbu going back to realize how her mom grew up and her hardships
- loved how the girls were strong and stood up for themselves and each other
- focus on li qingtong's family was the best, i loved their interactions with each other
- cinematography was outstanding, the northwest region in china they filmed at was so beautiful but looked so cold

cons:
- the ending, how could they . . . im so dissapointed
- i know cdramas are known for their open endings but i really hoped we could have gotten some more conclusion from the couples
- when i rooted for 3 couples and none of them ended together
- i know a lot of people liked chen junhe but i honestly found him kinda annoying until just the last 2 ep
- i needed more wu zhixun in general, idek if he is a ML cause he's li qingtongs love interest but he never really got much screentime
- i liked their high school scenes a lot better than the college story but ig that's the only way we got up to li jingbu being born
overall a highly recommended watch !!

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A Real Gem

I came across this drama in just browsing some recommended unpopular but good Chinese drama. And at first I was a little doubtful because I do not like student or high school setting drama. But this drama changed my prospective about dramas with this kind of settings.

It is realistic life happenings and decisions which makes it more interesting. Although the plot has a time travel or "experience the past" fantasy blend to it. It will not disappoint you because of the mature growth of characters in it.
The ending although it could have been more explained, it have a good open end which leaves audience to their imagination.

Hope we can get more dramas like these.

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Back in time...

I don't wanna be friends with you. This Chinese drama made me cry a bucket. The scenes truly gave me time to reminisce my high school years.
This drama had a wonder casts specially female leads. I also want to highlight the apple of the eye of Li Xiatong of whom she admired the most-Mr. Wu. I'm so inlove with their characters. I love the cold attitude of Mr. Wu and jolly Li Xiatong.
Also, the songs played in this drama will surely give you a Northern China vibes.
What I don't like here and gave me vagueness was the ending. I think it lacked substance. The writer should at least put a happy ending to Xiatong and Wu. At the last episode, there should be a reconcilation scene of Xiatong and Wu knowing the fact that Linjin already knew that her father was Mr.Wu. Moreover, the writer should at least put another character for Chun Junhe's love interest.
Any my overall rating for this Chinese drama is 9.5/10. Still, I recommend this drama to you if you want to watch a time travel inspired series.

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The summary of this drama is pretty accurate. Its a time traveling drama about a daughter going back 20 years to meet her mom. The current relationship between the daughter and mom is not very good. The daughter blames the mom and ask what happen to her dad. Some how the daughter ends up time travels back to when her mom was in high school. There she meet the male lead. He goes to school with the mom and is in the same class. The daughter goes back in time to find out who her father is. As she gets to know her mom she understands her mom. They are best friends through the story.

Daughter aka female lead is a sunshine girl, real , cares about her friends
Mom aka second. female lead is a little hot head, loud, but also really nice, not too smart in school
Male lead aka daughters love interest is smart, caring and a gentlemen ,always caring for the female lead

The story focuses on friendship between the high school students/ encounters like college entrance exam, graduations etc. There is also love story that blossoms between the male and female lead. Even the second male and female character. Some heart-wrenching moments too, where i feel for the third male character

It's a good amount of romance, school and family.

The story line is nicely developed and rounds back at the end where she goes back to the current times. Its a good story of appreciating the single mom.

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Meaningful Storyline

If i wasn't pressed by time and hw, i would recommend you to watch it as it is, no need to skip anything / increase the playback speed, it has a perfect length for school-life drama. There is a meaning behind every action, every frown, every gesture.
This drama can actually present how diverse is every family living style, how they manage their child, how parents express their love, how typical every mom is, gossipy, controlling, while trying to hide every obstacle they encountered from their child.

I think this drama truly maximize their potential on actors, film set, and basically everything. I didn't have anything to complain about the background setting (iykwim), a beautiful drama indeed.

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Poignant, Sweet, and Funny

This was a very poignant, sweet, and funny show. I really enjoyed Li Jin Bu's trip back to the past, watching as she got to know her mother and her mother's friends, and becoming friends with them herself. If I had to name one thing that this show did really well, it's the characterization and character development. In particular, Li Jin Bu, Li Qing Tong, Duan Xiao, and Chen Jun He. This show takes place over several years, and it's a well depicted journey of the end of childhood into early adulthood. The music did a great job of accentuating various scenes, particularly in the second half of the show, which was more romance-focused. While occasionally people would make frustrating decisions, they generally felt consistent with the characterization. Overall, I really enjoyed watching this show and would wholeheartedly recommend it.

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Best "Time Travel" Drama

I don't even know if I can describe everything I loved and hated this drama in words cause there's so much. But this is most definitely one of the best time travel dramas I have ever watched and best school drama this year. First of all the actors and actresses are AMAZING. Each and everyone one of them fits their roles perfectly. The storyline is so unique and I think a part of why I loved it so much was because of how heart warming the drama was. Not only did it focus on romance or friendship, but it also focused on family as well. It had a little bit of everything. I loved the character development especially in chen junhe and li jin bu's characters. The fact that chen junhe gave up an opportunity to take care of jingtong and the baby that wasn't even his and marrying her so the child din't have to grow up without a dad. As for li jinbu, her going back to going through everything with her mother helped her character mature so much because she was always blaming her mother but after, she realizes how much her mother went through and started to appreciate everything. Also overtime, you could see the maturity in li jingtong grow especially when she got into the relationship with wu zhi xun and the death of her father:(( The only complaint I have of this drama would be wu zhi xun. I know the drama is trying to portray the reality of some situations but I don't like how they didn't mention him or let us see him in the future. He's probably like 40 something? and still doesn't know he has a kid walking on the face of this earth. The adult actors and actresses were AMAZINGG. Like they fit the adult characters of the younger ones so well. Even the facial expressions and the way they act really seemed as if they grew up yk? ALSO I would have liked more scenes of jin bu and duan xiao once she returns to her normal life because it was kind of like an open ending? I honestly loved the drama otherwise. 10000/10:)

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everything I needed

This drama was nothing what I thought it would be, because was way better. It's perfect if you look for something that will get you all happy and warm hearted. The relationship between the mother and the daughter is well made and not what we normally see, although I didn't like the reason she raised her child alone, but the story behind that it's real and was well showed for us. The friendships that exist are so heart warming and you feel like you are part of the friend group. I loved all the characters, but I can't say that Duan Xiao was my favorite (you will see how perfect he is).

I loved also the ost, with the intro I felt so happy and I wish that was the soundtrack of my life! I will listen everyday now.

I watched so fast even if its 24 episodes with around 40 minutos each, that is the result of something well written, filmed and made. Congratulations for the creators and director!

And thank you for this amazing drama, this made my day happier and I feel so glad to find it.

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Loose Ends? Who Cares! This Time-Travel Drama is a Must-Watch

From the moment you hit play, this drama sweeps you off your feet and takes you on a whirlwind journey through the ups and downs of life, love, and friendship. Li Jin Bu's rebellious spirit and Li Qing Tong's endearing cluelessness set the stage for a heartwarming mother-daughter dynamic that will tug at your heartstrings from the get-go.

But the real magic happens when you throw in Chen Jun He, the ultimate second lead who steals scenes and hearts alike with his charm and sincerity. And let's not forget about the romance! The chemistry between Li Jin Bu and Duan Xiao is electric, and their love story will keep you rooting for them until the very end.

As the drama unfolds, you'll find yourself laughing, crying, and cheering right alongside the characters. And when it all comes to a close, the ending delivers a perfect blend of closure and nostalgia. Li Jin Bu's journey from rebellious teenager to mature young woman is nothing short of inspiring, and watching her bond with her mom deepen along the way is a true testament to the power of love and forgiveness.

Of course, there were a few loose ends that I wish had been tied up a bit more neatly. But hey, life isn't always wrapped up in a perfect little bow, and I think that's what made the ending feel so real and authentic

In the end, "I Don't Want to Be Friends With You" is a drama that reminds us of the importance of cherishing the moments we have with the ones we love, and that's a lesson worth learning time and time again.

So, if you're in the mood for a drama that's equal parts heartwarming, hilarious, and heart-wrenching, look no further than "I Don't Want to Be Friends With You." Trust me, you won't regret it! 🌟📺

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Another masterpiece, as far as I'm concerned!

Once again here I am, giving a "perfect 10" to a C-drama...^___^;
As I recently said to an MDL-buddy of mine, either my "Honeymoon Phase" with C-dramas is lasting longer than expected, or else I have to confirm my first impressions and simply admit that they're really, really, really well done.
Then again - as I said to another MDL-buddy! - an explanation could be that I'm either luckier at choosing which C-dramas to watch, or just that I invest more time and energy in the selective process (totally comprehensible, given the much bigger length, compared to J-dramas!).
Whatever the reason, I assure you I'm not exaggerating when I say this drama is just another masterpiece, as far as I'm concerned. Beautifully scripted, acted, directed...both the photography and the OST are, once again, top-notch (at first the only thing I didn't like was the opening credits song - this pop/rock whatchamacallit ain't my thing, sorry - but episode after episode even that grew on me).
p.s.
Among the many, many praiseworthy details, I'll underline the beautiful messages that this drama's teacher conveys, in very few but oh-so-deep words! ^___-

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Uma Viagem no Tempo Diferente

Se você gosta de história de viagem no tempo I Don't Want To Be Friends With You pode ser o drama que falta em sua lista. Não sou uma pessoa aficionada pelo tema mas devo dizer que este é um drama bem singular, afinal, quantas vezes você vê a garota voltar no tempo e estudar com sua mãe na escola?

Na história temos uma adolescente com uma relação um tanto conturbada com a mãe, sem muitas explicações sua mãe a cria sozinha e nunca revelou a identidade de seu pai. Por alguma razão após uma briga entre as duas, a filha acaba sendo transportada de forma cômica para o passado onde sua mãe ainda era uma estudante do Ensino Médio. A partir daí passamos a seguir o grupo de amigos da mãe e sua mais nova integrante: a filha.

Foi legal acompanhar os amigos em suas aventuras e dramas típicos da adolescência. A trama conseguiu atiçar minha curiosidade, eu realmente queria saber quem era o pai da garota e porque a mãe nunca os apresentou no presente. Neste meio tempo, também foi bom acompanhar o desenvolvimento da protagonista (a filha) que no presente é uma pessoa solitária mas que durante sua viagem encontra amigos e até mesmo o seu primeiro amor.

Apesar de ter dado uma leve escorregada no ritmo em algum momento dos 24 episódios este C-drama merece ser assistido.

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Un magnifique conte de fée.

I don't want to be friends with you.

Quand une adolescente de 17 ans voyage dans le temps et se retrouve face à sa mère de 17 ans....

C'est fini. Un voyage étonnant fait d'amour et d'amitié. Si je devais résumer ce drama d'un mot : magique.
Préparez vos mouchoirs, certains épisodes m'ont fait pleurer comme une enfant (en même temps, je ne suis pas une référence...).
Si vous le pouvez, installez-vous chaudement, que vous soyez père, mère ou juste l'enfant que vous êtes.
Si le coeur vous en dit, et cela serait d'autant mieux, partagez ce drama avec votre enfant ou votre parent, ou votre aimé, vous n'en pleurerez que d'autant plus ^^ promis.

Encore un school drama? un time travelling? c'est un peu plus, en fait. Un conte de fée sans dragon à abattre mais une montagne à gravir. A gravir avec sa bande d'amis. A gravir avec sa famille.
Un conte de fée avec 2 princes. 2 princesses. Où le quotidien devient le merveilleux.
Je venais de finir "18 again" et me voilà parti sur celui-ci. A vrai dire, le titre ne m'attirait pas follement. Un titre pourtant révélateur et qui résume parfaitement le concept de cette jolie histoire.
Bien que moins intense émotionnellement que "18 Again" sur la durée, il n'en est pas moins bon. Bien au contraire.

Ici-dans, nous avons Li Jin Bu, une adolescente de 17 ans en conflit permanent avec sa mère Li Qing Tong. Li Jin Bu, ayant grandi sans père, se cabre à la moindre remarque de sa mère. Une dispute de trop et là voilà qui fuit, qui se cache dans un sauna pour se retrouver (par magie) 20 ans plus tôt dans la ville natale de sa mère.
Li Jin Bu fera ainsi la connaissance de sa mère adolescente et de ses amis. De ses grands-parents qui ne sont plus. De l'univers scolaire de sa mère. Il est donc intéressant de suivre ce regard, celui d'une adolescente de 17 qui ne connait de sa mère que ces côtés un peu mauvais, un peu maladroits que nous avons tous (une fâcheuse) tendance à montrer à la chair de nos chairs.
Les question se poseront naturellement tout le long "qui est donc le père de Li Jin Bu" et "pourquoi sa mère finit-elle seule".
Au-delà de ces doutes intelligemment semés, ce drama tourne essentiellement autour d'une chose : comprendre sa mère. Comprendre pourquoi. Comprendre comment. Ce qu'elle a vécu. Ce qu'elle a traversé. Ce qu'elle est aujourd'hui.
Et c'est.... beau. Juste.
Ici point de "je dois changer les choses afin que ma mère (et de facto moi) vive mieux" (quoique cela fut un petit peu le cas lors des premiers épisodes) mais ici, être témoin et vivre un peu" sa mère".
Quand dans certains films (pour ne pas les nommer) ou certains dramas, le personnage principal se retrouve à vouloir ou devoir changer le passé afin d'améliorer le futur, ici Li Jin Bu finit par y renoncer et dira " Peu importe que je naisse ou pas. Si la vie de ma mère devient meilleure et qu'elle est heureuse, venir au monde n'est pas important". Elle prendra alors le parti de ne plus intervenir dans les choix de sa mère adolescente et de lui laisser le libre arbitre de sa vie. Peu importe les conséquences. Peu importe son existence ou pas.
C'est ce don de soi qui m'a touché. Cette particularité que l'on retrouve naturellement chez ceux qui souhaitent le bonheur de la personne avant tout. Avant eux.
L'évolution de Jin Bu est contante. Elle apprend à connaitre sa mère, à devenir sa meilleure amie jusqu'à la soutenir quelque soient ses décisions. Pour enfin redevenir sa fille.
Si le rire est omniprésent tout le long du drama, la relation mère/fille évoluant doucement jusqu'à son apogée vous fera sortir les mouchoirs. Et pas qu'un peu. J'ai littéralement fondu en larme (et je ne suis pas la seule, hein chéri?) lors des retrouvailles entre Li Jin Bu et sa mère au dernier épisode. D'ailleurs, soyez averti que le dernier épisode est un des épisodes les plus émotionnellement intenses que j'ai pu voir jusqu'à présent...Un peu plus et je courrais dans la chambre de ma fille pour la serrer dans mes bras, c'est pour dire.

Li Qing Tong est un personnage extravagant et rempli de joie de vivre (le genre de personnage que j'adore). Elle crie un (peu) beaucoup, n'est pas très studieuse mais motivée et tenace. Personnage au un grand coeur, elle est ultra attachante et sa loyauté envers Jin Bu sans borne. J'ai particulièrement aimé le passage de la "chaussure" avec Chen Ju He lorsqu'elle décide de protéger Jin Bu. Comment Chen Ju He aurait pu ne pas tomber amoureux de suite? Hein, comment?
Le drama tourne autour d'elle, de ses choix et de ses décisions qui déterminent peu à peu le futur de Jin Bu.
J'ai trouvé extraordinaire que les actrices interprétant Qing Tong adolescente et Qing Tong adulte soient aussi similaires au niveau des expressions, de la façon de parler et d'agir. Cela fut de même avec Chen Ju He adolescent et adulte, nous les reconnaissons parfaitement à travers leur mimique, leur attitude et le ton de leur voix. Quel délice, lors du dernier épisode de les retrouver adultes, l'impression de retrouver de vieux potes d'écoles étaient limite dérangeante car bien vive.

En parlant de Chen Ju He...Si je devais être une pompom girl (nan, ce n'est pas un rêve d'enfant), j'aurais sans l'ombre d'une hésitation, avec ma petite pancarte et mes pompoms, dansé et crié derrière Chen Ju He à l'image d'une fangirl!
Chen Ju He!!!! Je ne vais pas mentir, il a été le personnage inattendu de ce drama, il a été le rayon de soleil, chacune de ses taquineries et de ses actions envers Li Qing Tong ont été tellement "kawai" que j'aurais pu quitter mon mari sur le champs (hahaha espérons que mon mari adoré ne vienne pas lire ici).
Plus sérieusement, Chen Ju He est typiquement le second personnage qu'on adore adorer dès le début au point d'en éclipser presque (oui par ce que ce drama a 2 leads masculins totalement sexy et géniaux) le premier lead masculin et qui nous fait nous exclamer à tire larigot "rhôôôô" la bouche en coeur.
Chaleureux, vaurien au grand coeur, maladroit et bourru, Chen Ju He est l'amoureux transi par excellence. Il ne voit et ne jure que par Li Qing Tong. C'est un crève-cœur que de le voir être supplanter par Wu Zhi Xun! Comment au nom de Totoro,! Comment Li Qing Tong peut-elle ne serait-ce qu'une demi millième de seconde hésiter entre en Ju He et Wu Zhi Xun...cela reste pour moi un grand mystère (un peu comme la disparition des chaussettes dans la machine à laver...).
La rencontre entre Li Qing Tong et Chen Ju He dans le dernier épisode a été un pur moment de bonheur, faite de drôlerie et d'émotion. Leur romance, bien que tardive et lente, a bel et bien transcendé mon petit écran de leur incroyable alchimie et de leur tendresse réciproque.

Puisqu'il faut bien que je touche un petit mot sur le couple Qing Tong/Zhi Xun : L'atmosphère entre Li Qing Tong et Wu Zhi Xun ressemble plus à la calotte glaciaire qu'à une explosion d'étoiles. Je ne fais donc définitivement pas partie du fan club de Wu Zhi Xun. Trop fade. Trop silencieux. Pas assez de caractère. Après son rapprochement avec Li Qing Tong , j'avais espoir de le voir s'amender de ses liens toxiques avec ses parents, mais peine perdue.
Petit spoil (fermez les yeux et passez au paragraphe suivant), le fait que ce rat de bibliothèque puisse être le père de Li Jin Bu m'a beaucoup fait grincer des dents....j'ai croisé furieusement les doigts en priant tous les dieux de l'Olympe que Qing Tong ne finisse pas avec ce truc qui ne savait même pas sourire (je suis un peu méchante, mais j'assume).

Je finirai avec Duan Xiao. Ma première impression n'a pas été mémorable. C'est souvent comme cela d'ailleurs. Et puis, au fur et à mesure des épisodes, comme Jin Bu, on s'attache à Duan Xiao sans s'en rendre compte. Ses petites attentions, ses sourires francs et sincères, sa dévotion totale envers Jin Bu nous le font progressivement aimer de tout coeur. Il aime Jin Bu et ne s'en cache nullement. Bien au contraire. J'ai trouvé adorable sa réplique à Jin Bu " nous serons ensemble de toute façon. Ce n'est pas possible autrement, autant être ensemble maintenant". Cela aurait paru arrogant et déplacé venant de n'importe qui. Mais pas de Duan Xiao. Il a su donner une telle sincérité, une telle vérité à sa déclaration que Jin Bu (et nous) n'a pu que sourire. Impossible de lui dire non. Impossible de jouer ne serait-ce qu'un tantinet sa difficile. Impossible de ne pas l'aimer. La sagesse de Duan Xiao était parfois étonnante, surtout pour un garçon aussi jeune.
Le couple Duan Xiao-Jin Bu est un couple qui démarre pratiquement dès le départ. Complice à 100%, ils sont restés main dans la main quasiment tout le temps. Cela devenait une évidence qu'ils devaient être ensemble. Et je dois avouer que leur séparation à la fin fut douloureuse même pour la blasée de romance que je suis. C'est la première fois (et dernière, promis!) que j'ai pleuré à une rupture fictive. Je soupire souvent (mais pourquoi se séparent-ils?), je râle beaucoup ( mais nan, ne lui fais pas cela!!), j'approuve parfois (mouais, vous n'alliez pas bien ensemble de toute façon), mais je ne pleure jamais. Jusqu'à ce que Jin Bu décide d'en finir avec Duan Xiao.
Duan Xiao qui ne retient pas Jin Bu, Duan Xiao qui répondra à Ju He " si elle veut partir, pourquoi devrais-je l'obliger à rester avec moi? A s'expliquer?". Autant de mot chevaleresque, d'attitude de grand seigneur m'auront bien fait verser de larmes. Il ne la retiendra pas, respectant son choix. Il ne lui en voudra pas, ne cherchant pas à connaître ses raisons. Il partira, sans jamais lui tourner le dos.

Je rejoins désormais les éplorés scandant une saison 2 (non, je n'ai pas honte ^^). Prions qu'une mini série puisse voir le jour avec Duan Xiao et Jin Bu....ou Chen Ju He et Qing Tong adultes...

C'est donc une histoire joliment contée, une histoire qui encore une fois mets à l'honneur les liens familiaux. Un thème qui m'est cher, et lorsque c'est bien fait, on en redemande. Pour les amateurs (et même les non-amateurs), n'hésitez pas à plonger dans cet univers fait de tendresse et d'amour. Profitez-en, c'est confinement!

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