This review may contain spoilers
"Life is too precious to give up easily"
✦ ✦ ✦ ✦ Story ✦ ✦ ✦ ✦The first episode did a great job of hooking me in. Right from the start, I was intrigued by why Lin Wan Xing looked so melancholic while contemplating whether to jump or not and what made someone with such impressive credentials choose to live a laid-back or as she calls it, a "slacker" life.
Wang Fa is just as intriguing. He has wounds that still haven't fully healed yet and is determined to uncover the truth behind the death of the football kid he considered family.
Then there are the football boys. There are no minor characters in this drama, each of them has a story to tell and every one of those stories is touching and heartbreaking in its own way. Their individual arcs add so much depth and emotion to the story.
One thing I really admire about this drama is how they flesh out the characters. You can tell the writers poured their hearts into creating them. Every character feels like a real person with their own struggles, dreams and growth. It's easy to connect with their experiences and become emotionally invested in their story.
As for the romance, it isn't the typical fast-paced whirlwind romance, it's a slow burn. Wang Fa and Lin Wan Xing communicate like mature adults and their feelings develop naturally over time. Misunderstandings are afraid of them and they built their relationship on mutual respect which I truly admire because I'm sick of seeing leads fight over the smallest misunderstandings and act like they have lovebrain.
For some viewers, the pacing might feel slow. But to me, it's simply a well-thought-out drama that takes its time to tell its story. It isn't trying to impress with big twists or cliffhangers. Instead, it quietly touches your heart and that's what makes it standout.
✦ ✦ ✦ ✦ Acting / Cast ✦ ✦ ✦ ✦
The main leads, Yu Shuxin (Esther Yu) and Chen Jingke, did an amazing job bringing their characters to life.
Esther is often typecast in cute and bubbly roles but this drama shows a completely different side of her. As Lin Wan Xing, she's intelligent, composed, and level-headed. She's like a calm water with barely a ripple on the surface. At first, she seems detached from everything around her but as she grows closer to the team, she realizes she can no longer stand by and watch. She portrayed Lin Wan Xing's growth perfectly and her crying scenes are moving, I couldn't help but cry with her. This is one of Esther's best performances and made me see her in a whole new light.
Chen Jingke was a pleasant surprise. This is the first drama I've seen him in so I went in with no expectations but he completely won me over. He has a very natural acting style and from his physique to his demeanor, he really feels like a football coach. And his eyes, they are so expressive. I can't compare this performance to his previous works since this is my first time watching him but based on this drama alone, I think he's a hidden gem.
The supporting cast deserves just as much praise. The football boys don't feel like background characters, they each have distinct personalities and meaningful character arcs. As the story progressed, they truly felt like family. And as a bonus, there's a subtle bromance.
This ensemble is going to be legendary. It's a cast of future talented male leads who will soon dominate the industry.
Overall, kudos to the casting director for doing an excellent job casting them. Every actor fits their role so naturally that it's hard to imagine anyone else playing these characters.
✦ ✦ ✦ ✦ Music ✦ ✦ ✦ ✦
The OST perfectly complements the drama. The opening theme is energetic and fits the sports genre so well. I especially love the song《练习》(Practice) by 打扰一下乐团 (Excuse Me Band). I'm reminded of the team's happy moments on the field and the bond that they shared along the way.
The english songs are also good. It adds so much feelings and emotion to the scenes. My favorite is 《无声引力 (Silent Gravity)》 by 董相麟. My heart skips a beat whenever the intro starts and I hear the lyrics,
"Two souls aligned in silent gravity,
Heal my heart with every part of you."
The song perfectly captures Wang Fa and Lin Wan Xing's relationship. They are two broken souls slowly finding healing in each other. Whenever the song plays, I just know I'll be bawling my eyes out and be emotionally wrecked.
One thing I really appreciate is that the drama isn't stingy with its soundtrack. Every song is used at the right moment, making each scene even more impactful.
✦ ✦ ✦ ✦ Rewatch value ✦ ✦ ✦ ✦
Personally, the rewatch value of this drama is very high. I'm not the most patient person and I have a short attention span (blaming tiktok for this), but this drama made me want to rewatch every episode, not just to catch the details I might have missed but also to connect with the story deeper while writing my reviews. Actually I'm rewatching an episode as I write this.
This is the kind of drama that doesn't lose its charm no matter how many times you watch it. Each episode makes you feel the same emotions you felt the first time you've seen it.
It's been a while since I've watched a drama that feels human. The characters and their emotions feel so real that it's almost inevitable to see parts of yourself in them. I'm pretty sure this will be my new comfort drama and I'll find myself coming back to this whenever I need to remind myself that despite all the sadness and hardships, life is still beautiful and worth living.
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