Our Generation

Love begets Love

This series made me understand the fact that a person needs to be loved to know how to love others.

Yingtao grew up in a very loving family and knew how to show JQX the love he needed endlessly whereas JQX who was sidelined to the memories of his dead brother and was not loved for who he is by his parents didn't know how to love himself and he extended this same mindset to Yingtao and his other friends believing that people can only ever love the exceptional version of himself.

I really got to see how much the environment a child grows in gets to affect their general outlook on life and their belief systems.
Honestly this series was real.... it wasn't the usual rosy love stories we get to see all the time. This actually portrayed the struggles and commitments that come with loving someone.

I love the way ZLH portrayed JQX's struggle in accepting his true self and coming to love himself and let Yingtao love him without any achievements. Because it is really hard for someone who had to achieve great feats academically or live in a certain way to earn his mother's attention and love to change. Dude literally had to let go of opportunities not necessarily because he didn't want them but because he wanted people to see him beyond his achievements and rather for who he truly was.

I felt so heartbroken for JQX. I cant count the number of times i felt choked seeing a teenager think about matters that were beyond his age. I was near tears hearing the words he said to his mom at the scene she was in the hospital cuz it only takes a matured mind to say such words. He wasnt allowed tk be a child and he became matured even at the age of nine.
I really can't thank Yingtao enough for loving JQX enough to bring him to love himself. She also taught him how to love her right. Like in the scene in HongKong on the night they made up where she told him that he ought to hug her and she'll hit him.... that scene was beautiful.

Also, kudos to Qin Ye Yun and Yu Qiao for literally being the best friends Yingtao needed. I really can't heart them less. Their friendship reminded me of why i akways love the friends group trope.
In all, I don't even think I can be able to sum all that this series has made me feel. It really is a masterpiece. I might have to write another review

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Huge colossal disappointment - When show don't tell becomes tell don't show for the ML

Before the review I would like to say - I love Youth Dramas. The whole journey from school to their adulthood of the characters is nice to watch. This Genre need not have twists and turns. Little things even simple interactions between characters matters. Here characters take the centre stage.

Now coming to this drama, I went with so much of expectation. I have heard a lot of this PH house. On top of that good actors in the genre I loved. But...
First few episodes they build the equation pretty well. I loved the kids. You know from the beginning that FL is the big rock of the group who easily gets attached to the people. It is also shown how her relationship with ML develops. So far so good although there is still choppy editing with no organic flow it is still interesting.
Problem starts right there but we don't notice. First problem is we do not know the timeline. We never get the idea of how long ML was in Qun Shan with her. They just mentioned he will leave next winter. We do not know how long he has been there in the first place. Only from novel readers we know they were together for two years. Timeline is never really shown clearly.
Slowly the loop starts. ML is missing more and more. All we get is characters discussing about ML. We do not know what happened with him. Here and there we do get glimpses. It is really glimpses. Be it his mother tearing up his letters or their family fights. We get more of side characters reaction than the ML's reaction. Even ML's father gets a good 1 minute scene of aftermath of their fight but not ML. Every episode the FL's friends discuss about ML but ML is not in the picture. Side characters get their perspective, their life story in full glory but not ML. We do not know how his life was, how he coped with toxic mother, what his cousin's role was in his life etc etc.. He pops in to give some romantic cheesy dialogue and then disappears.
Every episode there is a new character revolving around FL but ML who is supposed to be one true love of her life is still MIA.
May be this is the story of FL , her growth etc..But we hardly get to know about the most important person in her life who she is holding on to for so many years. Even side characters get more time than the so called ML that is the problem.
Even for a moment if we forget that ML exists and try to enjoy her journey that too is not fully carved out well. The friendship between the gang too is there but not there. Most of her friend group sort of disappear and reappear once in a while. Editing is so choppy. Random scenes appear disappear and sometimes it feels out of order. And the school gossipping and characters are so out of touch. There are scenes far and wide between which are good. But they are all in isolation.

All this leads to discourse about whether FL is obsessed. If they had shown the life of ML and good bonding of FL with ML in the school (not just romantic dialogues with FL blushing all the time whatever few scenes they did have in the school) they would not question the love. FL has more bonding with her friend YQ than with ML JQX...
Basic rule of visual story telling is "show don't tell" but it was all "tell don't show" for ML.
After episode 18, I finally lost all hope of holding on to this drama. It was a mess that cannot be salvaged.
Sighhhhhh

PS: I am not a "fan" of ZLH. His only other show I watched is Flourish in Time which I liked. So it is not about the actor not getting screen time. It is about the character and the flow of the story lacking depth and visibility.

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The Chinese drama "Our Generation," also known as "Our Generation," is a hit that has generated considerable discussion among drama fans. Released in 2025 and starring Zhao Jin Mai and Zhang Ling He, the series is an adaptation of the web novel "Ying Tao Hu Po" (Cherry Amber) and is available on platforms such as Youku, Viki, and soon on Netflix.

Plot and Main Themes

The drama follows the story of Lin Qi Le, a vibrant young woman who grew up in a small town surrounded by love and joy, and Jiang Qiao Xi, a genius with a troubled and traumatic family life. The plot unfolds over the years, showing the characters' maturation and the challenges of their relationship.

The central themes of the series are:

Maturity: The plot depicts the protagonists' journey from youth to adulthood, addressing choices, mistakes, and personal growth.

Youth and Dreams: The series explores the aspirations and challenges typical of this stage of life, such as career choices, first loves, and the search for a place in the world.

Trauma and Mental Health: Jiang Qiao Xi's story is a crucial point, addressing how childhood trauma affects adulthood and the protagonist's role in "saving" him.

Emotional Dependence: One of the most debated points is Lin Qi Le's emotional dependence, which she sacrifices her own life to help her beloved, sparking discussions about what constitutes a healthy relationship.

Family Relationships: The drama contrasts the families of the two protagonists, showing the difference between the unconditional support of Lin Qi Le's parents and the pressure and abuse suffered by Jiang Qiao Xi.

Strengths and Weaknesses (Review)

The drama is praised for its emotional depth and the compelling performances of Zhao Jin Mai and Zhang Ling He. Many fans are moved by the protagonists' love story and the happy ending. The couple's chemistry is one of the biggest highlights, and the series is seen as a beautiful story of overcoming obstacles and dedication.

However, the drama has also been the target of criticism:

Slow Pace: Some viewers found the development of the romance too drawn-out, especially the part where the protagonist "chases" her beloved for years.

Emotional Dependence: The theme of Lin Qi Le's addiction is considered problematic by some, who question her decision to sacrifice her own life for love.

Low Screen Time for Supporting Characters: The friendship between the characters is a positive point, but many felt the friends' stories lacked greater depth.

Overall, Our Generation is a drama that divides opinions, but its emotional impact is undeniable. If you enjoy dramas with coming-of-age stories, overcoming trauma, and intense romance, it's worth giving it a try. The series is perfect for those who enjoy a deep plot and easily engage with the characters' journeys.

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Glad I completed it

Honestly I was thinking of dropping it at one point cause it felt annoying watching the FL keep chasing after him but I'm glad I saw it through cause u know what i like the idea of the girl not giving up on the guy even when everyone is telling her to. Cause at first i found the ML frustrating for not communicating better but then i thought things from his pov and its understandable why he doesn't want Yintao to see him at his lowest cause he has grown up with his mothers conditional love that depends on his academic achievement so to see Yintao love him for just being himself might be hard to grasp for him.
PS. i wish they showed more of the ML's pov of falling for FL cause it felt a bit one sided without enough of his scenes.

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adorable second chance romance with a girlboss FL and princess ML

truth to be told i went in expecting pure fluff and nothing else, i was surprised with the angst but i still ate it up tbh
this drama is so much more than a romance and i loved it

what i liked:
-the fl is easily one of the best written ever. My girls is smart, courageous, strong willed and knows what she wants. I know some may view her as obsessive or weird which is crazy to me bcz all i see is a girl who has a heart of gold and a lot of love to share. Her love for qiaoxi is one of the purest ever, we got girl competing with sang yan (TFF) in the yearning game.
truth is, although the way she cares for qiaoxi is very special obviously, we see she is like that to everyone she loves, for example when we see her with yeyun, the way she does everything in her zpower to win her friend back over, its beautiful, we really see her values there.
i believe there is nothing embarrassing over fighting for someone you truly love.

-the ml is really one of the good-er complex male leads. zlh is a great actor so he really brought him to life, it is to be understood that bro has been through serious trauma, imagine growing up in the shadow of someone who died.
his indecisiveness, cold frontier, all made sense.
His actions and feelings were valid, and his genuine effort to make up for them was nice.

-i liked that this drama wasn't ONLY a romance, in the start they focused on her friend group and the other members in the Qunshan squad, i found that adorable. in particular yeyun's character, her relationship with her dad was heartwarming and it made me cry.

-the cinematography was beautiful, really made every shot feel alive.

-another thing that i loved, yingtao's ''behavior'' wasn't glossed over in the drama,
everyone around showed concern over her with the qioaxi thing, some warned her, other discouraged her, almost the same as the negative reviews here, despite that her actions were true to the character that she is
the letters, the pining during the school years, it wasn't cringe at all imo. That was typical teenage girl behavior, the random bickering and helping her friend, thats what teenage girls are like and they portrayed that in yingtao perfectly.
If she wasn't the way she was, qiaoxi would've never gathered the strength to break free of his mothers hold, she really is his hero.

what i didnt like:
-the pacing was a little off at times,
a lot of things did not make sense to me and at the end i felt there were somethings missing. The main leads got good closure BUT the side characters that were significant to the plot at the start kinda jst disappeared at the end.
the pacing was either too slow or too fast at times, when it was too slow i got bored during the middle, and when it was too fast i felt nothing was being explained in the way that i hoped.
we didnt get to see more into the other squad members life/professions when at the start it felt like they would.

overall:
its a great nonetheless,
watch if you're in the mood for a angst second chance romance where the fl chases the ml.
if u can ignore the choppy pacing and enjoy the drama for what it is, it's for you.
8.5/10
would recommend

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Too much skipped

Just binge watch this drama from eps 9 after dropped it till this drama finished airing. Try to keep positive about the drama. But no, I am walnutz. Can't denied watch this drama mostly because feel intrigued about Jiang Qiaoxi cause the synopsys looks so interesting. Also cause I want to see Peirong couple in modern set for once. But no, I am agree with mostly reviews about bad written especially how they poorly written about Qiaoxi character. For FL sometimes i feel she is also too childish. But much better than ML. I am more understand her well than ML. That's the big disappointment I feel about this drama.

The drama started off so good at the first, I feel nostalgic when seeing their childhood moment till they reached Senior High School. But after that the story got dragged, Can't bring my self to didn't skip most of the scene. Especially in eps 15 till 24. Even with Hongkong arc didn't help. I am still skipped most of the scene.

They really did dirty work by didn't delivered ML character well. If you said, it's because Linghe is second billing so it's make sense he got less screentime, but that's not the case. It just because bad written, they didn't care how his character developed. Many people asking his character and didn't understand him well. Some labelled him as red flag, toxic ML. Coward. I am agree with most of it. Even though I understand why he act like that. And the end, the ending feels rushed and unreal.

Feel disappointed as I've been waiting for this drama since the filming last year

The only thing I love is the acting. Both of Linghe and Maimai did good job on delivered their emotion. So good, also the Qin Yue Yun. Best BESTIE for mee
And the cinematography also looks so good and aesthetic. The music also wonderful, but sometimes I feel they used too much song till I feel they abused it

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Understanding is the Key!

Loved this drama!

SPOILERS BELOW…


Ying Tao gave it all! She knew that this new friend was lonely, unloved and scared. She saw what nobody else saw. She made a connection and gave that boy what nobody else gave him, trust, friendship and love. Because of her he opened a little more and saw the true value of friendship and love. As an adult, he felt as a failure! He thought he didn’t have nothing to offer since his parents only ask for studying and being number one. He was always compared to his dead brother. He didn’t received any love and he refuge in his studies. Only when Yingtao came up did he feel some hope.

I can understand many who say he abandoned Yingtao for so long but I also understood him. This was his way of coping with his life. He understood that maintaining Yingtao far from what he was dealing was the best way to not hurt her. He always thought that studying and becoming a professional was the key to have a successful life. QiaoXi didn’t have much as a normal, loving parents as Yingtao had, so he had to learn the most difficult way. He didn’t have no guidance, only be number one.

Looking at his past and seeing how lonely and unloved he was I can understand why he did what he did. That Yingtao probably should had moved on, I can relate and say she should have, but she had that pure, innocent love for QiaoXi that only he could have. He was her all and she was his all, they both knew it.

A special bond that couldn’t be broken even after all those years!

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Its a very cute youth drama...

I do my reviews on just my opinion you don't have to agree.

First I am going to mention the kids that played all the main actors as children I found them so adorable and they did so well at portraying their characters. I think they deserve to be mentioned though I understand some may not agree.

Jiang Qiao Xi
I am a Zhang Ling He fan and again I don't think he disappoints in this drama. Some of his facial expressions especially the one where he looks at Cherry in the gym I found just so cute. I love watching him no matter what he does. I do think that they could of showed more of him. I was a little disappointed there and that they should of went more in depth of his character. It just left a lot of people thinking he was the bad guy and he wasn't. He had just been through a lot since he was a kid and was struggling on figuring himself out. It was obvious how much he loved Cherry which is why he didn't want to bring her down with him. I also love the chemistry between Zhang Ling He and Zhao Jin Mai, and they could of done more with it but this is a youth drama and you just kind of expect that. Still all that being said still loved Zhang Ling He in this so much.

Lin Ying Tao (Cherry)
I loved her character just everything about her. This girl proved to be so strong even in the worst moments for her even when she was a child. She remains true to her bond and feelings for Jiang Qiao Xi and she never wavers even when friends tell her to move on. She really was his little hero and it was so cute. Zhao Jin Mai I am becoming a fan of hers with the more dramas I watch of hers (two of them being with Zhang Ling He). This drama also mainly just focuses on her so I am glad I like her acting. I even really loved the little girl who played her, but if you like her or Zhang Ling He it really gets you through this drama. I just wanted to see more of their interactions.

The Story
I will say the story as a whole does leave something lacking. Which is why I didn't rate this higher. They really could of done more with Jiang Qiao Xi so you could understand him more but they didn't. It also felt like they focused on things that really were not important to the story of Cherry and Jiang Qiao Xi. I also don't understand the hate for Yu Qiao. I really liked the actor who played him and thought he was such a good friend for Cherry to have. Even though he had feelings for Cherry he understood where she stood with her feelings for Jiang Qiao Xi and he wasn't selfish. So I also didn't mind that they did focus a lot on him. I just feel like they could of done more with it. There was just something really missing when I got to the end of it. I just really wanted something more, but for Zhang Ling He and Zhao Jin Mai I think it is worth the watch I don't think they disappoint at all.

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rating of the drama production team 4/10. watching this drama felt like being chased by a deadline.

I've been waiting for this drama since I finished watching their previous drama, THE PRINCESS ROYAL.

note : we listen, we don't judge.

At that time I even read the translated novel Cherry Amber (Our Generation) first. I was very excited to wait for this drama especially because the story of the novel was very good, even though the novel was a translation, not the original novel. So I hoped that this drama would be better than the novel itself. Seeing the videos taken by some fans made me really look forward to this drama. Until finally I was sad because this drama which was originally 40 episodes became 24 episodes. and that made me not expect more from this drama. yeah, and it turned out to be true. after I watched this drama, this drama had a lot of cut scenes. watching this drama felt like being chased by a deadline. This drama actually has a very good story. It's normal for a woman to chase her crush, in this world there must be people like that. and after watching the Hong Kong scene, I came to understand why Yingtao was chasing Jiangqiaoxi so much. Because besides liking Jiangqiaoxi, she knew that JQX also liked her but couldn't because of his circumstances. It's not that he can't, but he wants Yingtao to wait for him until he becomes a successful man. In fact, Yingtao loves him for who he is even at his lowest point. So, this isn't a story about a girl chasing after a guy like crazy, but they've liked each other since childhood. But it's hard for the guy to like the girl because of her broken family situation. The girl likes him for who he is, but the guy doesn't want the girl to get hurt because she has to enter his world.

Okay, let's talk about the number of episodes that were originally 40 to 24. I really didn't enjoy the drama. Because watching this drama felt like I was being chased by a deadline. I was even willing to watch this drama even up to 40 episodes. Because this drama has a good story. Not only about romance, this drama also tells about friendship, family, stories of problems that relate to real life, etc. Even the director is not good at taking angles during filming. What should be zoomed in was zoomed out, and vice versa. And also many scenes were missing. For example, they should have shown the scene between JQX's mother and JQX's older brother, and they should have also shown the scene where Xiaoman finds out that Yingtao will meet JQX. There are many more missing scenes. I hope this drama shows more of the Mountain Squad's childhood moments. It would make it feel more like they miss their childhood.

And for the acting, I like Lin Yingtao/Lin Qile the most. She's very good at acting. Her acting is very rich, making her acting less boring. And as for Jiang Qiaoxi, I prefer his acting in the Hong Kong scenes. I don't like his acting when he was in school.
I really liked the Hong Kong scenes. It was such an emotionally draining part. I'm sad that it only aired for a few episodes. I wish this drama had more episodes so the audience could get more emotions from watching this drama.
This drama has a good story, and it would be even better if it was directed and produced by the right people. Whatever it is, I remain grateful and appreciative of the hard work of all the actors and actresses and the entire Our Generation team. I hope you all listen to the criticism and suggestions from the audience well.

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Lin yingtaos journey of love friendship family first love and more....

The series centers around the effervescent Cherry (Lin yingtao), a beacon of positivity who brightens the lives of those around her. Her path intertwines with Jiang Xiaoqi, a young man navigating a complex family situation, and their connection adds a vibrant layer to his world.

"While perhaps not reinventing the wheel, this coming-of-age drama, centered on Ling Yitao's journey from youth to adulthood, still manages to feel refreshing.

Zhao Jinmai shines as Cherry, perfectly embodying her character's spirit, while Zhang Linghe delivers a compelling performance, especially through his expressive acting.

The series explores her relationships ( Family friendships and more ) particularly with Jiang Xiaoqi, whose limited screen time may frustrate some. However, his appearances are impactful, and the storytelling ultimately benefits.

The slow-burn romance between the leads, though facing setbacks, allows for genuine character development. Their eventual connection, after both characters address personal struggles, feels earned, even if somewhat idealistic. Ling Yitao's unwavering loyalty and capacity for love, shaped by her upbringing, are central to the narrative.

Ultimately, the show's strength lies in its characters and the undeniable chemistry between the leads. I highly recommend giving it a watch to experience it for yourself.

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