And yet, Loving, Never Forgetting managed to do just that.
A story of a one-night stand that changed the lives of the Li and Xiang families.
A tale of custody fights, gripping parent-child relationships, sibling rivalry and power struggles. The pacing is excellent. Show offers a nice blend of introspective moments between mothers and sons. Similarly, underneath the surface, we see simmering bondings between the fathers and the sons, foreign and yet familiar — quiet, scary but endearing.
Jerry Yan is superb playing the aloof and tough businessman Zhong Mou but his skillful acting makes me empathizes with him despite the cold facade he puts up in the custody battle, yanking his son away from the only mother he knows and loves. The tenderness he shows towards Tong Tong in the moment of need is pure magic.
Even though Zhong Mou grew up without experiencing maternal or paternal warmth, he is innately capable of seeking deep within himself to shower love for a son that is suddenly thrust into his otherwise lonely life. Sworn never to fall in love and marry, his impenetrable wall of bachelorhood gets melted brick by brick by the generous, loving, and open-minded Wu Tong. Initially skeptical of her motives, he keeps her at arm’s length but finds himself increasingly drawn to the woman whom, despite not remembering their moment of intimacy, bore him a son.
Tong Liya is perfect in the role of Wu Tong. She’s strong-willed but in a feminine way. Her maternal instincts are powerful: protective, unselfish but realistic. Some viewers feel she’s feeble which is somewhat true given that she's naive to a fault but her flaws are understandable and do not detract from the overall story arc. She makes me feel her pain and I cried alongside her when she has to part with Tong Tong, struggling to balance her own needs against what’s best for Tong Tong.
As a family melodrama with its angelic female character, Wu Tong is someone that believes in the good of everyone and naively thinks she has the power to effect change. Despite being told time and time again, that 30 years of hate and bitterness just doesn’t go away overnight, she continues to march on inside her own cocoon thinking somehow she can be the catalyst that will propel family unity.
The chemistry between Zhong Mou and Wu Tong is off the charts earth shattering. I don’t know how many times I re-watched the scene where Zhong Mou broach the elusive subject that he is falling for her. This OTP is undeniably a match made in heaven.
Tong Tong is adorable and just perfect for this role, maybe too perfect (said some) but then again, I didn’t mind that at all. His delightful interactions with Wu Tong and Zhong Mou warm my heart and put a smile on my face.
As for the supporting casts, I must say this is one of those few rare times when I’m hard pressed to complain about any character. Each has his/her own honest story to tell. Kudos goes to Personal Assistant, sidekick extraordinaire, Lin Jian Dong whose loyalty and affable demeanor gives the show light-hearted moments. His dorky affection for Liang Yue Qi is subtle, like a tree-lined vista, providing much needed shades to its oblivious passersby. The most villainous of the characters, Xiang Jun, sent shivers down my spine for a few episodes, making me feel the hate for him brewing but the hate slowly withers away as the show winds down towards redemption. There isn’t a moment where I felt like fast forwarding. Instead show kept me up late and made me waste away whole weekends drooling for what’s next.
If I had one complaint, it would be the ending episodes which felt like scene fillers. I could easily do without these last few “dramas” — my heart did not pound as much as it did in the beginning as Zhong Mou overcomes one crisis after another. The ending could have been wrapped up a few episodes earlier.
Loved the OST especially the one by Jerry Yan.
A heartfelt melodrama that touches two generations and the bad blood that binds the Li and Xiang families, and ultimately a woman who wants to unite them all. One that moved my soul. A must-watch.
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I love this Drama,
I've known Jerry yan during my Highschool years back in 2001 with his tv series meteor garden, and since then I was been fascinated with his charm. well and just recently finding a good drama to watch I remember him and check out what's new with my idolized actor and find this drama series that makes me moved by it. I like the way he portrays his role as being a playboy bachelor, doesn't know how to trust women, and even he doesn't show that he loved the woman but her expression find it obvious. He has a perfect match with the heroine, the innocent and caring woman who captivates him and changes him into an ideal husband. and i really like the little boy so witty and cute.Jerry yan I like to watch more of this type of drama from you,
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This review may contain spoilers
Great romantic drama, good director and great actors!
A bit "dramaland" and melodic, but as the story is played by excellent actors, it goes well.- With Jerry Yan ❤❤ and a Great cast,
- Great plot (cold CEO who finds 6 years later, a son he had after a "one shot"). Fight for child, then marriage but love▲/fam rivalries. & eco. /cancer /pregnancy problem...
Nothing new in this story. Like in a lot of dramas, they are many obstacles, coincidences, twists. Events which would happen in 100 lives, happen to the characters in a few years...
But the story is well done, played with accuracy and skill.
We laugh, we cry, we suffer, with FL, sometimes with ML.
The OSTs are well adapted and I wonder if the credits song is sung by Jerry Yan.
=> Great romantic drama, good director and great actors.
Don't miss it !!
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loved it!
Jerry Van is the best. no one could have done this role better. I wish there was a higher rating.In my opinion, the FL was a two timer, regardless that the writers tried to make her out as naive.
Even though it could have been less episodes, I still give it 20/10.
I will now watch all of Jerry's dramas and movies. totally fell in love with him, his smile, his acting, his walk everything.
I do hope he got an award for this drama.
The story is not new or fresh, but the way it was acted out, is what make it great.
whoever has doubts, just watch it and make your own decision. you will not regret watching it.
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I love the male lead. He was a real jerk at times. He was firm, smart as well as a little guarded which explains why he was mistrusting of others. I enjoyed the female lead role however some of her actions were a little bit naïve to me and became a little frustrating. Those points didn’t make it awful. The storyline itself was really good and the acting was amazing as well. To summarize the series is about love, family, heartbreak, abandonment, revenge, mistrust, trust, bonding, growth, sacrifice and so much more. There are no extreme or over the top acting or scenes. Someone mentioned rape in another review, that did not take place in this series so don’t be put off by the reference. The character development for the male lead was so evident and amazing. You’ll love this if you’re into romantic dramas,
What will drive you nuts is the female lead being gullible and her decision making skills. That alone dropped it a star for me.
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Don't waste your time
Please don't watch this drama ughh I hate it, I just wasted my time... the ML is a jerk but at least he had character development, but the FL? don't even bother about her ughh ... I hate that she keeps crying every time there's a problem, she's like a kid throwing tantrums in the first episode till last ughh pissed me off. Like when TongTong got lost, she keeps crying and harassing Zhongmou, and I understand her worries are valid since at first she was fighting him for child custody, but she should at least try to be calm and assess the situation before making a scene🙄 don't give me with the "oh she's such a caring mother", I haven't even seen her take her of her son much for 34 episodes and she left him most of the time to her friend, ML servants and ML grandmother. Her priority is basically 40% boy toy (2nd ml), 30% boy toy's company, 15% ML, 15% Son🙃🙃 Despite Zhongmou setting her up, I actually think the court's decision is right, she should not get the custody but only have visitation rights. Wu Tong is not in her right mind, she needs to see a psychiatrist and get counselling... Also, I hate that she still keep on hanging out with 2nd ML (forgot his name) despite being already married to ML, ughh I hate to be that kind of person but serves her right for being set up as a cheater (not for being SAed). She's a married woman yet she's not even worried she slept at a guy's house, which her husband hate the 2ndmost in the world, while her husband is in the hospital because she begged him to donate his liver to his irresponsible father that abandoned and didn't care for him💀💀 ughh I really hate drama tropes where FL believes she has the right to everything and that she can change someone. As someone who's also raised by a single mom, I would hate it when people get on my arse and force me to meet and help my father when I knew how irresponsible he was... Wu Tong might be Zhongmou's wife, but I hate that she keeps on pressing ML to help his father knowing how he treated the ML. Like if it was me, I don't care you can go ahead and die, I know I won't feel sorry at all like I don't even care to begin with, you're just a sperm donor why bother🤷♀️ Also, that time when they were choosing a new name for Tongtong, I hate how she left her family for that stupid drunk 2ndML ughhh she could have just called that short-haired rich girl to get that jerk's ass. If she was really a good woman, wife, and mother, she should have prioritize her family over someone her husband dislike and someone she has no romantic feelings to.. ugh what a bitch🤢 I don't understand people who like her at all. I don't think she's a capable woman either, others might consider her smart since she got an internship at a famous company but other than that she's dumb af. She didn't even get the managerial position due to her abilities but just because the 2nd ml likes her and she's always in need of help😬 ughh I'm only ranting about her because she's the one I hate the most in this drama but I actually hate all of the characters except for Tongtong, since he's a kid and he's adorable.The story is 1 for me because I hate the plot, many scenes and characters.
6 for acting, because I really hate them all, tho I think many scenes were exaggerated...
Music is 5. I remember liking them a bit but they were forgettable...
Rewatch is of course 1 because I hate this drama and it was a torture to finish watching it. I only forced myseld to do so because I want to see the ending and I hate skipping over things🙃🙃
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perfection
Story; 1000/10
actor ; 100/10
actress :100/10
acting ; 10000000000000000000000000000000000000000000/10
Overall; perfection , absolute pleasure, I still dreaming .
the actor is a myth , wouh , He was born to be an actor, absolute perfection in every details , he is the best handsome men I ve ever seen .
the actress is born to be an actress, how a vibration she hold §!!
the chemistry between both of them cant be just acting, I hope for them to have a serious relationship.
I recommand for the lovers to watch counting on my hapiness for the same actor, as usual , a legend
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Melhor do que imaginei.
Sempre enrolei pra assistir porque achei que seria parecido com Le Jun Kai. Mas ai naquelas ressacas brabas onde nada prendia minha atenção e querendo assistir algo como Auntumn's Concerto acabei dando uma chance e pra minha surpresa, foi melhor do que imaginei que seria. Amei a relação da mãe e do filho, amei o fato dele nem lembrar dela direito, afinal foi um caso de uma noite só mesmo, amei como eles só foram se conhecer melhor depois do reencontro, amei como ele não era aquele cara puro e virginal de uns dramas ai e de maneira mais realista tinha uma vida amorosa com outra pessoa, amei o advogado gato, no geral foi um drama bem normal e até com aqueles clichês de sempre com uma sogra meio megera, um homem perfeito que também gosta da mocinha pra fechar o triangulo, uma outra mulher que gosta do mocinho, mas foi um clichê executado de uma maneira diferente e até mais realista se comprado com outros dramas e acho que isso que me fez gostar mais. Teve seus momentos em que o mocinho falava umas coisas feias pra mocinha, teve mas nada nível le junkai e mais no inicio quando eles ainda mal se conhecem. Enfim, é um cdrama diferente pra quem tá mais acostumado com web dramas chineses, é mais sério e realista, boas atuações e um elenco difícil de encontrar hoje.Was this review helpful to you?
Do Not Waste Your Time.
This is a typical drama of how I am going to make the FL suffer thru all the episodes. It has everything. The angry CEO who get her pregnant on a one night deal. I carry the child and took care of it but rich, CEO ML comes along and take the child away. The mother in law that hates the FL. 2 obsess character, one is a ex-girlfriend that the ML did not love but used and the other is his angry brother who hates him and now is going to take away the FL for revenge. The ex-lover dad who abandon the mother and the ML CEO and that is why his mom is so mean and angry. The FL parents who kick her out for getting pregnant and decided to have the baby. After all this the FL runs away and she is pregnant again, she is found and then just before it all ends she is ill, about to lose the baby or her life. A decision the ML has to make. After all that everyone is forgiven and a happy ending. I m hot that forgiving of a person! Not also saying that there are so many other characters who make this story unbelievable. It reminded me of the old American soap opera. If you want to put yourself thru misery of 34 episodes this is your drama. I just felt I wasted my time.Was this review helpful to you?
Not worth watching
I watched this because I'm a Jerry Yan fan. Needless to say, he did a great job being hateable in this show. And you know its very hard to hate him because he's so charming and so handsome. You can compare his work in Meteor Garden where he acts juvenile. I'm surprised that he was able to tolerate this role. It didn't offer him much room to express himself as an actor. His character was stoic and not very expressive. I blame the writing. The other actors, especially the leading lady, did a good job. The supporting cast were excellent with their respective roles. The music was beautiful though! I loved the intro song as well as the songs they play in the dramatic parts of the show. What I didn't appreciate was the lousy writing and the story itself. For one, the mother of the ML was a criminal. I don't know how the son was able to forgive and forget the fact that his mom was murdered by this woman. That made the ending not realistic. Suddenly, everyone became good and just got along. I particularly didn't care much for how the men kept on manhandling the female actors. On top of this, the female protagonist was a masochist. And she was just so selfless, to the point that its bordering on stupidity. In a world where feminism is now championed, this show wasn't very empowering for women. Also it was weird how they said 'Tongtong' in all their sentences. In the end, I just play-skipped most of the parts of the episodes to see how it ends. In general, I wish I didn't watch this show.Was this review helpful to you?
How his mothers role in his life made him jaded to relationships and how only after learning he is a father himself and witnessing a different perspective of motherhood over his own child does he begin to change in his dealings / relationship with Wu Tong.
After growing up in the shadow of the stigma of being a illegitimate child and not wanting the same for his own son to suffer the same loneliness he slowly develops a relationship with the child's mother.
I would say this is more of a adult drama it's not a giddy little romance it's more about mending relationships and finding happiness. I would recommend this drama it does have a happy ending. I tend to prefer stories where in each episode you get to learn the makeup of why the characters are they way they are and that no one is without redemption or forgiveness.
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