➡️This is an inspirational drama about how a teacher who was considered gangster but exceptional and kind hearted man. He quit teaching due to personal reasons and managed his own billiard shop. One day he met Ren Zhen, a student who failed to enter her target medical school due to 6 points deficit in College Entrance Examination(Gaokao).
➡️The plot seems ordinary but it's beautifully crafted and presented with a wonderful casts that brilliantly portrayed their designated characters.
➡️Guo Jingfei never disappoints but in this drama, he has proven what versatility is all about. He played Hao Nan, a thug but an excellent teacher. At first he is miserable and ridicule by his students and their parents but he never gave up on them. He showed them how brilliant he is when it comes to handling juvenile students.
➡️Ren Zhen, played by Ren Min, a diligent student but failed to enter her school of choice due to her good for nothing father. She became so problematic and untrustful of Hao Nan as her teacher.
➡️Then there was Gao Yuan, a distressed student due the accident that caused his brother's death. He blamed himself for what happened. Another rebellious student Wang Fang who wanted to surpass his dad, then Zhao Xiao Xiao who was taking care of her old and sickly grandmother, Jia Kun, a loner with no life direction, Xiao Fan who was easily manipulated by others and obsessed by her physical features. Then there was Wu Kai who was being bullied in his former school and was forced by his mom to forget his dream.
➡️A good teacher was the one who could help his students fly high to reach their dream and be successful, but what will happen if the teacher himself has some knots in his heart and cannot move on from it.
➡️The backdrop, setting and location is realistic and as viewer you can experience some dejavu, returning to your high school days.
➡️The costume designs are ordinary but relatable. The time frame 2011 is so real through the representation of old cellphones they use plus the constant mention of Wang Fang's idol Kobe Bryant who at that year was still alive.
➡️The music is one factor that made the viewer understand the mode of every scenes. So touching and suit the drama mood well.
➡️The family conflicts, school faculty misunderstandings and the students uncertainty will stir different emotions within the viewers heart. ➡️Personally, I cried a bucket of tears. There's a lot of emotional torment that can make us relate to them. One word to describe, bittersweet drama.
➡️As parent, one reason for my outpour of emotion is the fact that I wasn't with my daughters during the time where they needed me most. I understand that during this period of their life, they're supposed to need my presence but I'm just proud of them on how they handle the pressure of being alone with themselves.
➡️This drama can made parents question themselves whether they are doing the right thing towards their children.
➡️Also, this drama will made us appreciate the teachers more, their dedication, hardwork, patience and perseverance in dealing with our children.
➡️I love the spontaneity of this drama. The approach and the continuity and how every scene is interconnected.
➡️I want to applaud the writers for doing a wonderful job. You wrote the story in a way that it's relatable especially the problems the students encountered. Very realistic and in real life, it really happened.
➡️Thank you for every moral lessons you interject especially decision makings. The bond between classmates and the teacher is applaudable.
➡️It was a well research ending, we all know that not all students can take a college degree and this drama made what I expected, some though took up vocational course, yet they excel in their chosen field. We can say that it's a very nice ending but a sad one because Hao Nan wasn't present to witness the success of his students. He left the task to Miss Bai. After 10 years Ren Zhen and her classmates returned to Qingyun High but Hao Nan is working in a remote village school, still teaching children and how to face the outside world bravely.
➡️Hoping I could encounter another inspirational drama in the the future.
➡️Highly recommended