I cannot describe the overwhelming amount of emotions I'm experiencing right now. The Bond was such an emotional drama, and it was an experience I'd never had with any other family drama - ever. To say that this drama is unforgettable is actually an understatement. I had high expectations walking into this drama, yet it still managed to exceed them. I have so many things I want to say, and I want my review to do justice to the drama. However, I'm not very good at expressing how I feel. Still, I will attempt to be as coherent as possible. Here I go...

The Bond chronicles the life of the Qiao siblings during a period of China's rapid modernization. After their mother's death, the Qiao siblings are forced to fend for themselves at a young age, while their father neglects them. The eldest, Qiao Yi Cheng, takes on the role of a caretaker and raises his younger siblings. Thus, an eternal bond is formed as we see them go through thick and thin when facing the reality of the world. We follow them through their entire life, from childhood to adulthood. We witness them confront their challenges at such a young age that it's natural for viewers to become attached to them and root for their success. By the end of the drama, you will feel like you're a part of the Qiao family as well.

The story is absolutely immaculate. Never was there a point in which I felt bored. Everything kept me glued to the drama. It depicts many harsh realities of life and is just a highly accurate representation of life in general. The drama elicits a wide range of emotions. It makes you feel as though you have lived through decades of life as the characters have. All of the problems that arise contribute to the story and characters' growth. Some characters come and go. Whether it is a brief or long-lasting encounter, they all have an incredible impact on our main characters.

This drama is, without a doubt, a character-driven one. Each one of our main characters has its shortcomings. But in the end, they are all genuinely great people. They make bad decisions at times, but I never hated them at any point; all I wanted was the best for every one of them. These bad decisions also allowed the characters to learn from their mistakes. All of the characters are very distinct. It's fascinating to observe the different ways each one of them approaches their problems.

Qiao Yi Cheng is already shouldering a great deal of responsibility in raising his siblings at such a young age. I relate to him to a certain extent since I am the eldest child. Due to unforeseen circumstances, I was saddled with foreign responsibilities at a young age. Of course, it's nowhere near Qiao Yi Cheng's predicament. I genuinely admire and respect him. Bai Yu's depiction of Qiao Yi Cheng is memorable, and I can't imagine any other actor playing this role. He's natural as the eldest child who is sick of solving his family's problems (haha). Overall, his portrayal of Yi Cheng is on point. 

Another character I want to shine a light on is Qiao Si Mei. She piqued my interest because of Song Zu Er's absolutely fantastic portrayal. Growing up, Qiao Si Mei is the one in the family that is influenced by the growing entertainment media during that time. She loves fangirling over celebrities, and she especially loves living in a fantasy. Since little, she's always fantasized about the perfect love story. Many events throughout her life are evidence of how naive she is when it comes to love. This is influenced by the romance novels she's read. Although she is always scolded by Yi Cheng for her foolishness, she remains persistent in her views of love. Honestly, her character provided immense comedic relief for the majority of the drama. She's such a fun character. Combined with Song Zu Er's charming portrayal, this makes Qiao Si Mei one of my favorite characters. Although she is a very flawed character, I still love her. It was very interesting and sometimes frustrating to witness our naive Qiao Si Mei go on a journey discovering the realities of love. The conclusion to her arc is fitting and satisfying.

There are plenty more characters who I would like to commend. Qiao Er Qiang, the second brother, is also a fantastic character. Yes, I want the best for everyone, but if I had to choose only one, it would be Er Qiang. Then there's the incredible Qiao San Li. She and her spouse, Wang Yi Ding, are both amazing individuals. Finally, we have the family's youngest child, Qiao Qi Qi. He does not get nearly as much screen time as the other main characters. You can't help but adore him based on what we've seen of him. I love his bond with Qi Wei Min, his cousin who is essentially his brother. In terms of acting, I can confidently state that the whole cast delivered.

The music in the drama is also superb. It has a nostalgic sense about it that never fails to make you both smile and cry. I'm actually listening to the OSTs right now as I am writing this review. I can't stop.  It's simply that amazing. I was overjoyed to see that the OSTs are available on Spotify. I've been listening to the OSTS on repeat, and you may find yourself listening to it on repeat as well. 

I don't usually say this, but The Bond is undoubtedly a MUST-WATCH for those who enjoy life and family dramas. It's a top-tier life drama that includes realistic, complex, and engaging characters that make you love them to death despite their flaws. Even if you're not into this kind of genre, I still highly suggest that you check this one out for yourself. Seriously, you will be doing yourself a huge favor. Thank me later.