Light Chaser Rescue (2022)

Flawed Characters You Will Learn to Appreciate (Updated Review after Finale)

Most dramas start off with the notion of a perfect lead, with a personality and qualities that the viewers can admire. Well, not this truly underrated show.

Centered around civilians who were part of a volunteer rescue squad, Light Chaser Rescue focused on character depth instead of likability, which made it much more interesting for me.

One of the show's strongest points is the way it executed the stunts, the rescue scenes and the cinematography. The camerawork created the realism that drew me in completely and I cannot help but be immersed in the moments. It was indeed an emotional roller coaster ride with the different types of rescues and most had me watching with trepidation!

Add to that the unexpected plot twists, when revealed, were simply shocking, the result was a story that kept me engaged from start to finish. Throughout the series, I have already stressed, cried and rejoiced so much with the characters.

The show scored points with dynamic realistic characters who were shades of gray, who at times struggled with their actions and made bad decisions in the heat of the moment. Depending on whose viewpoints, it was not always clear if they were doing the right thing or what the right thing even is.

The main leads came off as confident powerhouses at work, Luo Ben as a brilliant lawyer and Zhan Yan, a gifted doctor. However, as their lives collided, we quickly recognize that both characters were flawed. Their internal struggles became obvious as the story delved further into their past, the tragic events that shaped a fundamental level of their personalities.

In addition, other characters with their own demons to face, and romance between different couples added flavor to the story. Romance-wise, there was the calm, restrained and mature love between the main leads. The comfortable steady kind of relationship that I appreciated. There was the second couple that delighted many with how they overcome challenges to stay together and a third couple who did nothing but irritated me with their rash, impulsive, entitled spoilt love. That said, there were viewers who liked them too.

As the show moved forward, it also built the viewers’ empathy for our two leads. The more we find out why they were the way they were, the more we understood them including their arrogance and aloofness that put us off at first. Still, many viewers would find both characters frustrating at different points of the story, especially in their interactions with their families and with each other.

However, the beauty of having such multi-dimensional characters was that the show engaged different viewers with various opinions. Along with many commentors, I was often torn between ranting against our main couple and feeling empathy for them. Ultimately though, Luo Ben's character development was the most well-written and he very quickly became a ML that impressed many. As for our FL, even though I felt that Zhan Yan's emotional development could have been better, the character was very consistent. I liked her but at the same time felt that she could have shown less restraint and be more human-like. Towards the end of the show, she became quite flat, too passive.

Acting-wise, I have nothing but praises for the leads. Both Luo Yun Xi and Janice Wu impressed with their quiet intensity and ability to emote so much with the smallest expressions. I first watched them together in “My Sunshine” and even then, they had great chemistry. They have certainly earned their reputations as excellent actors and in this show, they truly become their characters. Luo Yun Xi is amazing and I still cannot get over the fact that he did almost all of his stunts. Dramas come and dramas go but his performance was above and beyond.

To top it off, I love Liu Yu Ning’s Chasing the Light, the ending song. It has been instrumental in shaping some of the memorable scenes for me. The opening song, sung by Liu Duan Duan is also good and reflects the hopeful aspiring tone of the underlying heroic theme throughout the show.

Overall
I do recommend that you try this drama out and see for yourself.

The show did a great job showcasing the layers of different relationships.Thematically for me, it is a show that encapsulated life in many aspects and topics. It touched upon self-identity and personal growth, love (romantic and familial), respect and loyalty (to self, family, friends, and principles), societal pressures and opinions, friendship, and more.

Those looking for good romance between the main leads will likely be left wanting for more by the lack-lustre ending but for me, I did enjoy their complex yet enduring love and prefer to imagine a bright future ahead of them.

OST
追光 (Chasing the Light) - 刘宇宁 (Liu Yu Ning)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p1U-mGyjmdE
https://open.spotify.com/track/70fYAAt5GK2nVdSb593FmE?si=0b77ce6952f64a3d

星空 (Starry Sky) - 刘端端 (Liu Duanduan)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p9QB7jd1SaY
https://open.spotify.com/track/1frmPu6bc0I8HkLtTfh9mt?si=ca7ac126ede94d38

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Beautiful and rare story about Humanity, Character growth and Forgiveness.......

LCR can be summed up as “The world is better because of you” This is not a fluffy romance drama and required a mature audience to unravel this beautiful story about humanity. LCR story is adapted from China Blue Sky Rescues volunteer including its rescue scenes. It portrayed different aspects of humanity through 6 main characters and their actions not always what audience wants to see…but happening around us…. It is a rare touching story of the real Hero in our world.

The drama tells the growth of 6 different people, all live in their own worlds some with dark past/traumas, whom received kindness through rescue and overcoming their own pasts/struggles to become light for others through rescue….

In the Mv songs…”When the world did not give me a good start”…That’s how our Leads childhood stories begin…both are orphans victims of natural disaster….and grew up taking different paths to patch their traumas….One savvy successful cunning lawyer and one smart, cautious cold doctor who close herself to outside world….As their not so great start begin, it took many twists and turn before they got together and when they did…one big revelations during their childhood trauma is unravelled (a huge surprise) that lead to their love struggle…..one that need a huge courage to overcome….

You all start with hating LB and boy how much I love him at the end despite all many tragic events he went through for being real, brave, courageous, kind, smart and forgiving…..LB is a true warrior…

We have 2nd couple who are big sweethearts and the 3rd ones that well can do with less screen time.

LCR showed a dozen + amazing rescue scenes. My favs are the earthquake, mudslide, and cave, some channeling Hollywood production…. Finale Glacier rescue is Epic, movie texture quality and cinematography and one that I did not think C Drama is capable of making such a harrowing scenes…

Acting:
Lyx a season actor he showed all aspects of LB multi-faceted traits eloquently, vivid, delicate and detailed. His ability to deduce the state of his character is thoughtful and accurate. In the last Finale rescue, he blown me away with one of the best acting I’ve seen in C drama and I just witness the explosive growth of this talented actor. ……..Hat’s off to Lyx for performing many dangerous stunts himself.

My first WQ full drama. I like her takes as cold doctor. She is truly an underrated actress with solid acting skill. Most support actors are good, only a few weakling…

All 6 main characters are original voice and they are all good, but especially LYX....This rare in C drama....

OST: I keep looping it and how the narration really fits this story of growth….not able to FF the opening song and ending song each time....

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