by dramathoughts, September 29, 2021
18

Introduction

See You Again is a Chinese reality show where three couples go on a trip together. Two couples are divorced, and one couple is on the verge of having a divorce.

These couples are observed by a number of hosts in the studio, including two psychologists, who watch their videos and comment on the couples’ behavior throughout the trip.

At the end of the trip, the couples will then have to decide if they want to stay divorced or if they are willing to give their marriage another try.
Warning: This article contains minor spoilers! 

This variety show is inspired by the change in divorce law in China. The new law states that couples need to complete a 30 day cooling period when they file for divorce. Any withdrawals of the application during this period or an absence on the final approval day by any of the spouses will result in the couple having to apply for divorce again. This will require them to pay another application fee.

With this, the variety show aims to present the different emotions and circumstances faced in marriage. It also reveals the different reasons for the couples’ desire to divorce.

Source: South China Morning Post

Hosts and Couples

Hosts:
Qian Zhe

Psychologists:
Huang Zhi Zhong
Shen Yi Fei

Couples:

Zhang He & Guo Ke Yu


They were married for 10 years before getting a divorce and have been separated for a year as of the date of filming.

After being separated for a year, and the difference in lifestyle during their marriage, resulted in this couple being very awkward at the beginning. Zhang He avoided any eye contact and tried to keep a distance from Guo Ke Yu. On the other hand, Guo Ke Yu tried to reach out to him. Yet, with the constant rejection, she eventually kept a distance between them too.

Watch the show to find out how their interactions progress as they spend more time together.

Source: See You Again Official Weibo

Wang Qiu Yu & Zhu Ya Qiong

They were married for 6 years before applying for a divorce and have been living separately for a year as of the date of filming. They were also fulfilling the 30-day cool-off period as required by the law while filming this program.

While Zhu Ya Qiong is a romantic, liking formalities in their marriage, Wang Qiu Yu is a workaholic, finding these formalities to be unnecessary. Though the opposite attracts, it is also the reason for Zhu Ya Qiong’s unhappiness and her wish to divorce. While Wang Qiu Yu wants to hold onto their marriage, Zhu Ya Qiong wants to escape from it and sees this trip as a ceremony to their divorce.

Watch the show to find out if the couple can find back the love they lost to reality and the changes in them throughout the trip.

KK Wei Wei & Tong Chen Jie


They have been married for 7 years as of the date of filming and have mentioned divorce once during their marriage.

Despite being on a reality show that touches on divorce, this couple appeared to be happy and loving initially. However, during the trip, it was revealed that they had many underlying issues throughout their marriage. KK chose to avoid the issues every time Tong Chen Jie tried to bring them up.

Watch the show to find out what are the issues faced by them and how the couple handles them.

What I like about this show

Play on its Chinese title


The Chinese title of the show, 再见爱人, can mean differently depending on where the comma is added. It can either mean goodbye, lover (再见,爱人) or see you again, lover (再,见爱人). This is a creative play by the production team, considering the fact that the couples have to make a choice at the end of their 18 days trip to continue their marriage or give it up.

The topic of the show


The show touches on a sensitive topic, divorce, which many people dare not approach. They show the difficulties that couples face in a marriage, be it the lack of love, communication, or the difference in love language. The psychologists in the show will then comment on these conflicts, which allows us to learn the psychological explanation to them. Although easier said than done, it still provides the audience with an opportunity to learn the ways to handle conflicts should they happen to us in the future.

Furthermore, the production team planned activities for the couples during the trip. It can be interpreted as helping them to discover each other again, yet the significance behind these activities is very meaningful. These activities may be able to help people reflect on their relationship while watching the couples participate in them.

Couples who participated


As mentioned above, Zhu Ya Qiong wants to leave this marriage, yet Wang Qiu Yu prefers to stay together, not seeing the issues between them. At the beginning, where the couples are getting to know one another, the female participants looked out for Zhu Ya Qiong a lot. They listened to her complaints, and after knowing her intention of being firm on the divorce, they supported her decision and said that they were willing to help her should she need any help.

The couples quickly befriended each other during the trip and gave one another advice during their discussions. They encouraged, listened, and comforted one another throughout the trip, which is very heartwarming. Going through a divorce has a negative impact on people’s mental health, and having a supportive group of friends may have made it more bearable for them. Furthermore, since this group of friends has gone through or is going through the same process, it may be easier to talk to them, knowing that they understand the circumstances and the complicated feelings that come with it.

Hence, the couples’ interactions with one another made the show interesting to watch. They were also decently honest in the show, giving us a peek into their lives.

Hosts & Psychologists of the show


This is an observation show where the hosts and psychologists watch the pre-filmed videos of the couples. They are like the audience, as they comment on the acts and interactions of the couples, similar to how we would too.

I like the way they analyze and comment as they watch, especially the psychologists. Instead of being emotional, they explain the behaviours of the couples using facts, helping us to understand the individuals’ perspectives. The hosts and psychologists are also open to the changes of the individuals throughout the show, instead of only seeing the positive or negative side of the person. They are open to different opinions and discuss the issues in a friendly manner. This allows us to understand the situations in a neutral position as we watch the show.

In addition, their comments were funny and interesting, keeping the mood light and enjoyable. There were moments when the hosts were touched by the actions of the couples too, and you could see them crying. If you’re someone as emotional as me, you’ll definitely cry with them.


Conclusion

It’s a reality show that is worth watching if you are into the observation type of reality show. I personally enjoyed watching it very much. I hope that this article will entice more people to give the show a try. Happy watching!

Thank you for reading this article!


Edited by: YW (1st editor), BrightestStar (2nd editor)

variety show reality show divorce