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A must-watch for history buffs.
This is a biopic of Xi Zhongxun, a prominent communist in his own right and the father of China's current president, Xi Jinping, mostly set during the Republican era. As the title points out, the drama focuses mostly on his revolutionary activity in the Northwest region, with just the final episodes set in the early years of the People's Republic of China.
The story starts in 1927 with Zhongxun as a poor peasant teenager in Shaanxi, when the already conflicted relationship between the Nationalists (Kuomintang) and the Communists had just broken down, and ends in 1952 when Chairman Mao called him to join the Central Government in Beijing . He was nearly 40 by then, still incredibly young for such a post.
We see how he got into the Communist Party, his early years as a revolutionary in the mountains and his close relationship with Liu Zhidan, the purges and conflicts with the Party's leftist and more radical wings, how he established himself as a progressive and appreciated leader, the land reforms that took place in the Northwest, his relationship with Mao during his time in the region, his roles in the Red Army and local governments, parts of his personal life, and how he dealt with the ethnic integration of the western regions into the newly established People's Republic.
It's not the first time I've come across a prominent historical figure from the 20th century who seems to have lived a life more unbelievable than a plot-armor movie, and for sure many of those who appear in this drama check the same boxes. What's crazier is that the series made me research him more deeply, and the second part of his life was equally or even more incredible. Some out-of-the-ordinary people in the past century indeed lived ten lives in the span of one of ours nowadays.
Production is jaw-dropping, which is understandable given who he was and who his son is. The breathtaking landscapes, mainly of Shaanxi Province, and the real settings give the drama the flavour it needs to carry you to that era; not to mention that the number of extras on screen and the recreation of the battles are also impressive. The only notable blemish you could mention in this regard is the CGI leopard in ep 7 – totally unnecessary even if it's part of the folklore and myth, which I don't know.
Despite the period and topic it tackles, the drama isn't heavy or stiff at all. This makes Northwest Years a very entertaining drama, with an even pace and engaging storytelling throughout its 39 episodes, supported by a solid cast led by Jin Dong, Yu Hewei, Ding Yongdai, Hu Jun, Ni Ni and Leo Wu (as the young Zhongxun). In this regard, you could argue that Xi Zhongxun was portrayed more like an idealized figure than a person, but despite this, Jin Dong did a very good job making him feel like a real human.
It also does a fantastic job bringing all the battles, names and strategies of that period and setting into the mix... and there were a lot! Again, excellent work in the script and direction departments. As I only knew the basics, I ended up reading and researching further as I went along with the episodes to keep track of them, and for me that is a plus as a viewer.
When I first checked out this drama, I knew I was going to like it, but never in my wildest dreams had I thought I'd be so entertained, eager to hit play the second each episode ended. Of course, this isn't a drama for everyone, but if you enjoy watching high-quality projects bringing real events and people to life, and want to know more about the Republican period and in this specific region, you should check Northwest Years.
Definitely a must-watch for history buffs, without a doubt.
The story starts in 1927 with Zhongxun as a poor peasant teenager in Shaanxi, when the already conflicted relationship between the Nationalists (Kuomintang) and the Communists had just broken down, and ends in 1952 when Chairman Mao called him to join the Central Government in Beijing . He was nearly 40 by then, still incredibly young for such a post.
We see how he got into the Communist Party, his early years as a revolutionary in the mountains and his close relationship with Liu Zhidan, the purges and conflicts with the Party's leftist and more radical wings, how he established himself as a progressive and appreciated leader, the land reforms that took place in the Northwest, his relationship with Mao during his time in the region, his roles in the Red Army and local governments, parts of his personal life, and how he dealt with the ethnic integration of the western regions into the newly established People's Republic.
It's not the first time I've come across a prominent historical figure from the 20th century who seems to have lived a life more unbelievable than a plot-armor movie, and for sure many of those who appear in this drama check the same boxes. What's crazier is that the series made me research him more deeply, and the second part of his life was equally or even more incredible. Some out-of-the-ordinary people in the past century indeed lived ten lives in the span of one of ours nowadays.
Production is jaw-dropping, which is understandable given who he was and who his son is. The breathtaking landscapes, mainly of Shaanxi Province, and the real settings give the drama the flavour it needs to carry you to that era; not to mention that the number of extras on screen and the recreation of the battles are also impressive. The only notable blemish you could mention in this regard is the CGI leopard in ep 7 – totally unnecessary even if it's part of the folklore and myth, which I don't know.
Despite the period and topic it tackles, the drama isn't heavy or stiff at all. This makes Northwest Years a very entertaining drama, with an even pace and engaging storytelling throughout its 39 episodes, supported by a solid cast led by Jin Dong, Yu Hewei, Ding Yongdai, Hu Jun, Ni Ni and Leo Wu (as the young Zhongxun). In this regard, you could argue that Xi Zhongxun was portrayed more like an idealized figure than a person, but despite this, Jin Dong did a very good job making him feel like a real human.
It also does a fantastic job bringing all the battles, names and strategies of that period and setting into the mix... and there were a lot! Again, excellent work in the script and direction departments. As I only knew the basics, I ended up reading and researching further as I went along with the episodes to keep track of them, and for me that is a plus as a viewer.
When I first checked out this drama, I knew I was going to like it, but never in my wildest dreams had I thought I'd be so entertained, eager to hit play the second each episode ended. Of course, this isn't a drama for everyone, but if you enjoy watching high-quality projects bringing real events and people to life, and want to know more about the Republican period and in this specific region, you should check Northwest Years.
Definitely a must-watch for history buffs, without a doubt.
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