TheNostalgicType

She looks good in anything. But red is definitely her colour.

Agreed. To some degree the father here contributes to creating the conditions for ZZ's running away from home. Their whole family dynamic has become unhealthy. The mother is under pressure to be the perfect mother and ZZ is under pressure to be the perfect student. Instead of playing an active role and helping to alleviate pressures, and de-escalate tensions, he played a passive role and allowed it to reach the breaking point. It's correct to see him as a big part of the problem.

The director, writers, and actors did a really good job creating an authentic family unit coming apart at the seams, setting the stage for ZZ to flee.

Dramas that are the most human and real are always the best. Human villains are simply more terrifying than cartoonish entities of pure darkness and evil.

The relationships here are strained by circumstances both physical and imagined / perceived, some in the present and some in the past, they lend themselves to great dramatic moments.

I actually love the very human dynamic between ZZ and her mother, for example. It's the very real fusion of the irrational and rational that makes it so relatable and impactful. In many ways they both misunderstand each other, and are both to blame for the falling out between them. The viewer can see it from both perspectives. ZZ feeling unloved, unappreciated and under the weight of unrealistic expectations. Her mother feeling that ZZ doesn't appreciate or understand the sacrifices and hard work that has gone into providing the opportunities she has. been given.

There is an interesting generational element at play, too. It's very likely that the China her mother grew up in is quite different from the current one ZZ is being raised in (2000s timeline). In other words, her mother was shaped in a very different environment. Btw, I'm not excusing her behaviour towards her daughter. I was just pointing out that as things escalated they both became irrational actors which is very human and understandable. In a state of anger they were irrationally seeking to hurt each other. Then, in a state of calm, rational and remorseful. But they were hindered by an irrational inability to apologise and amend the trajectory of their relationship. They ultimately accelerated towards a point of no return.

It's been absolutely brilliant so far. Let's hope for 10k. I'm really impressed with the standard of acting.

So addictive. It just keeps getting better. Also, don't you just love family reunions?

Yes! Yes! This girl can act something fierce. Love the new show. DA is disturbingly good.

The synopsis says they specialise in kidnapping, extorting, and killing nightclub girls. But are they actually selling body parts on the black market, for example, illegal meat and organs? ... This show is definitely quite dark. Lol.

Yes! That's how you play a villain. DLG is definitely my type of bad guy. Great opening episodes. Strong performances all round. Very raw, very real. I love the intense dynamics the show has created between DLG and crew, STF Captain and family, ZZ and mother. 3 eps in and there have already been many outstanding and memorable dramatic moments.

Done. Thanks for reminding me.

Very exciting. I can't wait to see her in this role. She seems to be taking a path similar to ZJM by testing / developing herself as an actor in a diverse range of roles. Her sense of career direction is good.

Alright, I finally caught up after starting late. I absolutely love this show. I don't have a single bad thing to say about it. It's just so nicely stitched together. What a great way to start 2025.

Agreed. The trailer and shorts look amazing. Her performance looks so raw, it gives you goosebumps. ZJM always seems to be pushing herself to get better. I'm loving her career progression and role selection.

It feels like she's part of China's new wave of talent. She's the type of actress writers and directors love because they can push boundaries and try new creative / experimental projects with her. She's that good.

I wouldn't worry about what they say. ZJM at such a young age already has a phenomenally diverse / varied body of work. It puts many senior actors to shame. Works in movies & television all spread across a variety of genres. While other actresses & actors do multiple costume dramas in a row. Mai Mai mixes it up & challenges herself. She's one of a few from the younger bunch that deserves to be classified as a proper dramatic actress. The type who wouldn't be out of place in an international production.

100% agreed. It's one of the greats. China needs to do more like this. Also, they should embrace shorter series. Many 40 eps series would be infinitely better in a shorter format. Reset is a flawless drama. They got everything right.

Mai Mai always chooses really interesting and diverse projects. A dark and gritty crime drama is the perfect offset to all the costume dramas airing right now.

Ok, I'm at ep 10, gradually catching up to everyone. It needs to be said, this show is so much FUN!

I didn't originally plan to watch this due to the trailer suggesting it was some kind of over the top comedyfest. However, after being underwhelmed by another currently airing drama (one I had really been looking forward to watching), I decided I needed to add another drama into the mix. So, after much deliberation, I finally took the plunge and started this yesterday. I'm currently up to ep 6, and to my surprise, I'm actually really enjoying this show. The comedy aspect is actually quite restrained and the story builds momentum fast.

I don't know what is going in China at the moment in regards to trailers, but I feel they are leading me up the garden path. Trailer to show this is reverse FoF.

Another stop on the AiMi support tour. She seems to be having fun on set (already putting out good Douyin content). Strong cast here. Should be fun. Hopefully it gets fast tracked.

There is no consensus regarding pacing. It really seems to come down to getting hooked. Basically, time flies when you're having fun.

From a personal perspective, I'm having major DBZ level pacing frustrations with TBL. Momentum built and momentum lost in almost an instant. Special technique / hidden power unlocked. Excitement building. Execute single move. Battle over. Return to normal programming ~ side character romance and anime-tier comedy. Excitement goes into flatline.

My relationship with this show has entered the love / hate space. Love this. Hate that. No in between. I've hit the halfway point, so there is no turning back or dropping. I'm just hoping for a really strong finish.

I actually decided to start MM. I was going to skip it due to the trailer hinting heavy comedy (not my favourite). I'm currently one ep deep, so I have some catching up to do. Surprisingly, I enjoyed it. It will be interesting to see if it can hold my interest?