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A very touching, intimate, warm drama to watch slowly
This is a very touching, intimate, warm drama about the ups and downs of three couples as they navigate very contemporary Chinese issues, while remaining universally relatable. Nothing out of the ordinary, but a very extraordinary way of storytelling, with a very distinctive voice and personality.
The series revolves around these three couples with different life paths and characteristics, and their personal, partnership and family relationships, which are all interconnected. At the beginning of the show, they share something in common: they aren't where they were supposed to be, or where they'd imagined themselves to be at their stage of life.
Four of them (two in their twenties and two in their mid to late thirties) are in Canada and returned to China for different reasons — embodying what in China is colloquially known as "sea turtles" (海龟/海归, *hǎiguī*), those who study or live abroad and then return — while the other two (mid to late thirties and early 40s) had never lived abroad.
We follow the characters as they deal with these circumstances while searching for personal happiness and fulfillment, that as you can imagine isn't always a smooth ride. As the series goes deep, you'll discover the inner world, conflicts, dreams, broken dreams, hopes, flaws and strengths of all of them, including those of their parents. Some people fall once and learn, others need to fall several times, and a group needs to fall even harder; but as in real life, there's people who can't face themselves and the world as they are and never learn.
The younger couple's storyline was my favourite though, I guess because it had the sense of hope that comes with having all your life ahead of you, and the courage to try living your life the way you want, even if it means discovering it in the process, with the good and the bad: loneliness, grief, depression, betrayal, friendship, love.
The story also explores, with different levels of detail, some specific professional and work sectors: entrepreneurship and startups with angel investors, tied to the main lead and his best friend, and the streaming industry – influencers and content creation companies – through the female lead, are the ones that received the most screentime and scrutiny. Personally, I found the exploration of the streaming industry particularly interesting in its detailed and merciless dissection. Meanwhile, the study abroad system and the life of those struggling to insert themselves in the work system is portrayed through the young ones.
A lot happens and going into details would be endless here, so I'll just give an honorable mention to Zhang Ran's boss. Only by the last episodes did I stop believing that the violent and chaotic criminal/gambler from Fearless Blood was hidden inside him and would reveal himself, as he was played by the same actor. Here, he still managed to make me lose my patience although for different reasons lol.
The performances are great, but I especially loved the direction of Yu Xiao Chen, and the cinematography: the use of the camera, the lighting, and how it manages to find beauty and tell so much in every little detail and common moment. There are so many great scenes like this! And of course, I can't avoid mentioning the quotes at the end of every episode even when sometimes the translation stretches quite a bit, and the ending credits OST.
All in all, the drama doesn't rush and lets you reflect on life, and the same you could say about my watching experience: I enjoyed it at a slow pace. If I had to sum up Back to the Origin, I'd say it's a mix of melancholy for the past times and the decisions we cannot change, the feeling of ordinary everyday moments, optimistic spirit towards the future, honesty, courage and love.
The series revolves around these three couples with different life paths and characteristics, and their personal, partnership and family relationships, which are all interconnected. At the beginning of the show, they share something in common: they aren't where they were supposed to be, or where they'd imagined themselves to be at their stage of life.
Four of them (two in their twenties and two in their mid to late thirties) are in Canada and returned to China for different reasons — embodying what in China is colloquially known as "sea turtles" (海龟/海归, *hǎiguī*), those who study or live abroad and then return — while the other two (mid to late thirties and early 40s) had never lived abroad.
We follow the characters as they deal with these circumstances while searching for personal happiness and fulfillment, that as you can imagine isn't always a smooth ride. As the series goes deep, you'll discover the inner world, conflicts, dreams, broken dreams, hopes, flaws and strengths of all of them, including those of their parents. Some people fall once and learn, others need to fall several times, and a group needs to fall even harder; but as in real life, there's people who can't face themselves and the world as they are and never learn.
The younger couple's storyline was my favourite though, I guess because it had the sense of hope that comes with having all your life ahead of you, and the courage to try living your life the way you want, even if it means discovering it in the process, with the good and the bad: loneliness, grief, depression, betrayal, friendship, love.
The story also explores, with different levels of detail, some specific professional and work sectors: entrepreneurship and startups with angel investors, tied to the main lead and his best friend, and the streaming industry – influencers and content creation companies – through the female lead, are the ones that received the most screentime and scrutiny. Personally, I found the exploration of the streaming industry particularly interesting in its detailed and merciless dissection. Meanwhile, the study abroad system and the life of those struggling to insert themselves in the work system is portrayed through the young ones.
A lot happens and going into details would be endless here, so I'll just give an honorable mention to Zhang Ran's boss. Only by the last episodes did I stop believing that the violent and chaotic criminal/gambler from Fearless Blood was hidden inside him and would reveal himself, as he was played by the same actor. Here, he still managed to make me lose my patience although for different reasons lol.
The performances are great, but I especially loved the direction of Yu Xiao Chen, and the cinematography: the use of the camera, the lighting, and how it manages to find beauty and tell so much in every little detail and common moment. There are so many great scenes like this! And of course, I can't avoid mentioning the quotes at the end of every episode even when sometimes the translation stretches quite a bit, and the ending credits OST.
All in all, the drama doesn't rush and lets you reflect on life, and the same you could say about my watching experience: I enjoyed it at a slow pace. If I had to sum up Back to the Origin, I'd say it's a mix of melancholy for the past times and the decisions we cannot change, the feeling of ordinary everyday moments, optimistic spirit towards the future, honesty, courage and love.
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