Reviews

1983 to 1994 - Zhou Ye and Zhai Xiaowen in a thrilling drama where time is a puzzle

This is an interesting alternate reality drama starting with the transmigration of 30 years old Xia Xiaolan from 2026 : suddenly, after having been wronged in the company she worked in, she woke up in the 18 year old body of another Xia Xiaolan, being bullied in a village in in 1983. The story is about her tackling on hurdles to become a successful store owner and next architect, until the New Year of 1994 (around the time when the first XXL should have been born).

The drama itself is a roller-coaster of events, involving a large cast of people who all are made memorable so they are easy to recognize, when they reappear in later episodes. Among them is DU ZHAOHUI (Wang Guanyi/Lawrence Wong), son of a mob boss who, out of unrequited love for Xia Xiaolan, turns a leaf and enlists her help to build a legitimate business. And GRANNY YU (Gui Yalei) the owner of the building Xia Xiaolan and her mother first settle in the new city, a lady with a secret. Xia Xiaolan is injured by her cousin, but manages to pass the entrance examination to university brilliantly. The drama does not dwell on her time the, jumping quickly to her first business ventures in boom town SEZ « Shencheng » (Shenzhen). Her faithful friend and future husband lawyer Zhou Cheng found himself embroiled in the hunt for a murderer, linked to the « Gangdao » (Hong Kong) mob.

There are many couples that are formed, dissolved, or emerge in the drama, although none that hog too much time : they contribute organically to the thriller story.

Here is a list of the ones that contributed most to that engaging drama :
* XIA XIAOLAN (Zhou Ye) & ZHOU CHENG (Zhai Xiaowen) lawyer at Zhiyuan law firm
LIU FEN (Dong Xuan), XXL’s mother & Xia Dajun (Dong Ai) XXL’s father, divorced
LIU YONG (Zhao Da) & LI FENGMEI (Tu Ling) XXL’s mother’s brother and aunt in the village, parents of Liu Taotao (Ding Yi), XXL’ boy cousin.
Xia Changzheng (Li Xiaochuan) & Zhang Cui (Wang Yichan) XXL’s uncle and aunt in the village, parents of Xiao Hongxia (Chai Ye) food vendor and Xia Junbao (He Chen) XXL boy cousin
Xia Hong Bin (Li Bo) & Wang Jingui (Hu Xiaoting), XXL’s second uncle and aunt in the village, parents of Xia Ziyu
Chen taitai (Cui Yi) & Chen Wangda (Tan Jianchang), villagers, parents of XXLclassmate Chen Qing (Jiang Bowen)
* CHEN XILIANG (Jiang Yi) Luna founder and Theresa Li (Wang Zijia) celeb singer, 1st couple to marry in the drama
JI YA (Lan Xi) designer, founder of « Elegance » & George (Danny Ray) Ji Ya’s business partner
* LIU FEN (Dong Xuan), XXL’s mother & TANG HONG’EN (Zhang Duo) mayor of Shencheng, 2nd couple to marry in the drama
* BAI ZHENZHU (Lin Xiao) stall owner and martial artist & PAN BAOHUA (Fan Linfeng) restaurant owner, friends of XXL, 3rd couple to marry in the drama
KANG WEI (Kevin Z) Zhou Cheng’s friend & YOU LI (Jia Xiaohan) Luna salesperson and later XXL PA
XIA ZIYU (Jiang Zixin) aka WeiWei or VIVI (Zhao YuanYuan), XXL’s cousin & Du Chengrong (Hugo Ng) Gangdao mob boss
GONG YANG (Oakley Wen), painter & HOU Qi (Zeng Shuabgyi) architect at the firm – last couple to start dating end of 1993

The OST is very pleasant enhanced by a compilation of 1980s and 1990s Cantopop hits in background music (see Discussions section for more about these songs : https://mydramalist.com/discussions/776939-again-my-life/149650-1983-dream-of-golden-years-ost-music)

In addition, many sequences allow audience to hear other accents and especially Cantonese, since the city that serves as backdrop was a melting pot of newcomers, both from putonghua speaking mainland but also from Hong Kong, from the Cantonese speaking part of the mainland, and even from English speaking countries (although those few foreigner actors are less convincing sometimes).

Zhai Xiaowen, who is also a pro singer, contributed one song and a duet with Zhou Ye ; we also hear them sing briefly in short moments of a couple of episodes. Zhai Xiaowen’s voice has a mellow, calming quality that contrasts with and complements Zhou Ye’s ebullient voice. His acting is engaging, although the drama does not focus much on romance : his steady and reassuring presence as Zhou Cheng who slowly realizes that Xia Xiaolan is « not from his world » and might disappear, makes the growing love between the two a natural evolution. The promise he makes to her is fulfilled in the last images, despite the 32 years gap...

This drama has become my favorite among the Zhou Ye dramas and movies that I have watched. Her acting and styling is excellent, conveying very believably the vibe of that past Reform era, when China’s new economic zones propelled the country into growing prosperity from very humble beginnings. Special kudos to the costume designers who found colorful dresses of the time, and many earrings that were in fashion then.

To me, this drama had « never a dull moment », so I warmly recommend it, to discover a thrilling side of the Reform era through the acting of an excellent cast which conveys many emotions !

---
Final spoiler about ending and meaning of the drama : to be read only after having watched the final quarter of an hour in the drama, preferably) :

[I know the constraints of adapting to screen in China such novels as the one that was adapted here : the imaginary world or alternate world should not be made more desirable than the real one. So of course Xia Xiaolan needed to get back to "real 2026", but computing that she did so at the time when she was "born" and that she finally encountered again her true-love as if he too followed in the threads of alternate reality, was actually a neatly scripted ending. It does not negate the value of imagination and it is also an illustration of a modern science concept. What happened after she "left" in the alternate reality can be up to each to imagine.
If it was an alternate reality, then her body did not dissolve in sparks but only seemed to do so at the "junction moment", and lawyer Xu did not lose her as both feared: they went on living and having the twins, living in the house she designed ; but that other reality would then have split from than "junction" and have no contact with ours any longer, evolving differently. That's a soft illustration of the "reality threads" that modern science and science-fiction speculate about, regarding the fundamental nature of reality, particularly in quantum physics and cosmology.
The "real world" 2026 "modern" Xia Xiaolan, on the other hand, if she did only "dream", benefited from that contact with the perhaps imaginary, perhaps alternate reality, to get what the drama aimed at: boost confidence in oneself and be courageous to chase one's dreams, in line with guidelines for broadcast entertainment. And that was well done, not too abrupt, not leaving sourness or too much nostalgia, staying inspirational. But also adding appreciation for the real past through its possible comparison with the made more glowing alternate version of the real "historical decade", including the timeless songs that live on even today, which colored both versions of the mid 1980s to mid 1990s decade. Once the final chapter is closed,nostalgia is left behind and audience is encouraged to tackle their own future life challenges with as much confidence as they can muster in a world without "cheat cards" derived from foreseen events.]

Read More

Ok watch but FL gave bland performance

I was browsing Shorts collection on iQIYI when I saw this drama. I was intrigued about Korean verticals because I am a fan of Chinese vertical dramas. I clicked play and gosh, this was a letdown.

What I liked:
1. Ji Ho Geun - Ji Ho Geun was very handsome. He added mystery to his character.
2. Romance - I could feel the sexual tension between FL and ML.
3. Antagonist - I liked his arc and the actor who played the character did well with given role. He is handsome too.
4. Styling - The styling for ML & SML was impeccable.
5. Supporting characters - FL's sister was likeable.
6. Length - Only 50 episodes so it was a quick watch.

What I disliked:
1. Park Xi Yeon - I was letdown by her performance. Her facial expressions were lacking and I didn't believe the helplessness that she was trying to portray.

Favourite scene
When ML saved FL

Read More

More Than Just a Zombie Movie

I watched Train to Busan expecting a good zombie movie, but it turned out to be one of the best Korean films I have ever seen. It is not just about zombies and survival, it is also about family, sacrifice, humanity, and how people show their true selves during difficult situations.

What makes this movie so special is how intense it feels from beginning to end. Once the story starts, it never slows down. Every scene keeps you nervous and emotional at the same time. Even though there are so many action scenes, the movie never forgets its emotional side, which is why it feels much deeper than a normal zombie film.

The relationship between the father and daughter was easily the strongest part of the movie for me. Their bond felt real, and watching their journey together made many scenes even more emotional. I also liked how every character had a different personality and different way of reacting to fear. Some characters were selfish, some were brave, and some were heartbreaking to watch.

The acting was incredible. Everyone felt natural, especially during the panic and emotional moments. The fear on their faces never felt fake, and that made the movie even more intense. The action scenes were also very well done. The zombies looked terrifying, and the train setting made everything feel more claustrophobic and stressful in the best way possible.

One thing I really loved is that Train to Busan is not only scary, but also emotional. There were moments that made me sad, angry, shocked, and even emotional enough to almost cry. Very few movies can balance action, horror, and emotion this well.

For me, this movie deserves a full 10/10 because it is exciting, emotional, unforgettable, and perfectly made. Even if someone does not usually like zombie movies, I think Train to Busan is still worth watching because it is much more than that.

Read More

When Silence Heals You

Summer Strike was such a beautiful and comforting drama. I started it thinking it would just be a slow healing story, but it turned out to be much more emotional and meaningful than I expected. It is one of those dramas that does not need huge twists or constant drama to keep you interested because the emotions alone are enough.

What I loved most about Summer Strike is how peaceful and realistic it feels. The story of leaving behind a stressful life and trying to find happiness in a quiet place felt very relatable. Sometimes life becomes too overwhelming, and this drama perfectly shows that feeling of wanting to escape everything and start again.

The chemistry between the leads was one of the best parts for me. Their relationship was soft, calm, and natural. It did not feel rushed or forced. They understood each other without saying too much, and that made their connection even more beautiful. I also loved how the drama focused not only on romance but also on healing, loneliness, friendship, and finding comfort in small things.

The small-town atmosphere made the drama even more special. The quiet streets, library scenes, beach moments, and simple daily life made everything feel warm and peaceful. The cinematography was beautiful, and every scene had a soft feeling that matched the story perfectly.

The acting was amazing too. The emotions felt very real, especially during the sad moments. There were scenes that made me emotional because they felt so honest and relatable. It is rare to find a drama that feels this calm but still leaves such a strong impact.

For me, Summer Strike deserves a 9.5/10 because it is healing, emotional, and beautifully written. It is the kind of drama you watch when you are tired of everything and just want something that feels warm and comforting. Even after finishing it, the feeling stays with you for a long time.

Read More

A Story That Hurts Quietly

Pawane was one of those movies that slowly grows on you while watching it. At first, it feels simple and calm, but as the story moves forward, it becomes much more emotional and meaningful. It is the kind of film that does not need big dramatic moments to leave an impact.

What I liked most about this movie was how natural everything felt. The emotions were not forced, and the characters felt real. Their struggles, conversations, and relationships felt believable, which made it easier to connect with them. I think that is one of the strongest points of the film.

The movie has a quiet and emotional atmosphere throughout. It is not very fast-paced, but that works in its favor because it gives you time to understand the characters and what they are going through. Some scenes are very simple, but they stay in your mind because of how honest they feel.

The cinematography was also beautiful. There were many scenes that looked visually soft and emotional without trying too hard. The background music matched the mood perfectly and made some scenes feel even more touching.

The acting was really strong too. The actors did a great job showing pain, loneliness, and hope in a very realistic way. It never felt overdramatic, which made the emotional moments hit harder.

For me, Pawane is not a perfect movie, which is why I would give it an 8.5/10, but it is still very memorable. It is emotional, beautifully made, and has a story that stays with you after it ends. If you like slow and meaningful Korean movies, then this one is definitely worth watching.

Read More

Some Goodbyes Stay Forever

I did not expect Once We Were Us to affect me this much. I started watching it thinking it would be another emotional romance film, but it turned out to be much deeper than that. It is not just about love, it is about timing, memories, regret, and the people we become after losing someone important.

What I loved most about this movie is how realistic it feels. The characters do not act like perfect movie characters. They feel like real people carrying pain, confusion, and feelings they do not know how to express properly. Their chemistry feels natural, and even the quiet scenes say so much without needing too many words.

The movie has a very soft and melancholic atmosphere. Every scene feels beautiful in a simple way, especially with the cinematography and background music. There were moments where I had to pause because some scenes felt too real. It reminded me that sometimes the hardest part is not losing someone, but learning how to live with the memories they leave behind.

The acting was also one of the strongest parts of the movie. Both leads delivered their emotions so naturally that I never felt like I was watching acting. Their expressions alone were enough to show heartbreak, longing, and the pain of unfinished feelings.

What makes Once We Were Us special is that it does not try too hard to be dramatic. It is emotional in a quiet way, and that is what makes it hit even harder. It leaves you thinking about your own past, the people you once loved, and the things you wish you had said.

For me, this movie deserves a 9/10 because it is beautiful, emotional, and unforgettable. It is the kind of film that stays with you long after it ends.

Read More

A Fun and Heartwarming Opposites-Attract Drama Worth Watching

I gave Dali and Cocky Prince an 8.5/10 because it was fun, emotional, and different from most romance dramas. At first, I thought it would just be another rich guy and classy girl story, but it actually had more charm than I expected.

The biggest reason I enjoyed this drama was the chemistry between the two main leads. They are complete opposites, which made their scenes really entertaining. Moo Hak is loud, straightforward, and sometimes even childish, while Dali is calm, elegant, and intelligent. Normally, this type of pairing can feel forced, but here it worked really well. Their different personalities balanced each other, and watching them slowly understand each other was honestly the best part of the drama.

Moo Hak was probably my favorite character. At first, he seemed annoying and too over-the-top, but as the drama went on, I started liking him more and more. He was funny without trying too hard, and even though he was not very educated, he had a good heart. He genuinely cared about Dali and was always there for her. I think that is what made him lovable.

Dali was also a very good female lead. She was graceful and smart, but she was not perfect. She had her own struggles and emotional moments, which made her feel realistic. I liked that she stayed strong even when things became difficult.

The romance in this drama was sweet and natural. It had a lot of funny moments, but there were also emotional scenes that made their relationship feel deeper. I liked that they actually communicated instead of creating too many misunderstandings for no reason.

The side characters were decent too. Some of them were annoying, especially the villains, but I guess that was the point. There were times when the business and family issues felt a little repetitive, and some side plots dragged more than they needed to. That is one reason why I did not give it a higher rating.

Visually, the drama looked beautiful. The art museum setting made it feel elegant and different from other dramas. The outfits, colors, and cinematography were really nice. The soundtrack was also good and matched the mood of the drama.

The ending was satisfying overall, even if it felt slightly rushed in some parts. I think the drama did a good job mixing romance, comedy, and emotional moments without becoming too heavy.

Overall, Dali and Cocky Prince is a drama that is easy to enjoy. It has a unique couple, strong chemistry, funny moments, and enough emotional depth to keep you invested. It is not perfect, but it is definitely worth watching if you like romantic dramas with opposites-attract couples.

Read More

Slow and boring with the FL acting like a little girl

I started watching this series because Bi Wen Jun is one of my favorite actors and all of his performances are great. Very talented young actor. However, now I simply can't continue watching the terrible acting of the FL. She may have misunderstood her character in this drama and instead of portraying an interesting, smart, fairly strong but soft at the same time character, someone who is a worthwhile partner to Han Zeng,,'s character. Instead, she is portraying a baby speaking, nagging, clingy, fake cutsie little girl character. So we are supposed to believe that this infantile girl is actually working as a constable and is a crime solving genius. Seriously?? I continued to episode 17, this very slow drama with too much boring dialogue and repeated themes over and over thinking that the director/writers may realize how awful the FL acting is and try to remedy it by giving her a character growth like the ML had. But no....I jumped ahead to the 34 episode to see if there were any changes in the FL acting/character/behavior, but unfortunately same little girl act. So at this point I can't spend more of my time on her bad acting and are dropping this show. Honestly, at this point I don't even care who the murderer is. I just feel sorry for Bi Wen Jun wasting his talent as he deserves a better FL who is not bringing the show down. I also really liked He Rui Xian and Yang Shi Ze roles and acting. Both are very talented young actors.

Read More

If you don't mind a sad ending...

First I was impressed by the actress since so far in ger career she felt very wooden.

I'll admit, I'm not a fan of melodrama or sad ending in general. My life is already awful at it is, I want to dream joy, not get slap with reality which this movie does brilliantly.

The part where they kinda lost me is when we learn he has a daughter. Yes it's realistic that in 10 years stuffs happened but you can't drop a kid twist and then have him sobbing asking 'what ifs'. For all we know he has a partner at home with a young daughter.

I wish they didn't leave each other again after meeting on the plane and I wish he didn't have a family and I wish he didn't wish he had fought for their relationship while knowing he has a toddler.

If they separated peacefully both acknowledging that they were different people and their love was great but they changed too much it would have been, in my opinion, a better ending than what we got.

Also it's messed up to close the movie with a letter from his now-dead dad.

Good movie but it made me upset and I should have read reviews before watching it.

Read More

Poetic ... artistic ... but too slow

I can see why some people thought this show was beautiful. It was indeed well made, well acted, and had a certain poetic nature to it. Like a piece of art. The kind of thing that would win an oscar if it was a movie. But as a piece of entertainment, it fell short. I really wanted to like it, because it was so ... nice. But it was hard to get any feeling of continuity witb the nonstop back and forth in the time line. I don't mind a little flashback to provide some context, but there was so much of it, never going back to the present for more than 10 minutes. The context of the past is good, but ultimately you want to know how the protagonists end up. And you literally have to wait until the last 5 minutes for that. I had to fastforward the heck out of the last 4 episodes. Again, I really wanted to like this, but in the end, it disappointed me.

Read More

A Melodrama That Failed to Fully Shine

It could have been a strong melodrama, much like the writer’s earlier works On the Way to the Airport and A Piece of Your Mind. But this drama failed to sustain its central theme of whether first love can truly end up together.

Bringing four characters into one chaotic first-love story could have worked better if each had been given a distinct bittersweet ending. Instead, much of the story drifted into family drama that felt disconnected from the core narrative. From the beginning, the focus was clearly on the on-and-off relationships between the leads and the second leads’ unrequited feelings, so the family background never felt essential enough to carry weight.

I have no complaints about the episode length or the cast ensemble, but with such a promising plot, I honestly hoped they had chosen a different actress to better match both Jinyoung and Shin Jae-ha.

A failure—definitely not shining. ✨

Read More

CRYBABIES WHO THROW HANDS

This cast understood the assignment. I applaud the dedication they put in their physiques, footwork, and fight choreography which were convincing enough to sell the boxing world, and I say this as someone who knows nothing about boxing. Not only that, I was also impressed by the emotional control played out by the leads. They knew when to go hard and when to pull back.

Meanwhile our leads, Gun Woo and Woo Jin? Soft hearted, borderline crybabies. But it works for I loved how they balance brutal fights with genuine warmth, making them easy to root for. The respect they share for boxing and the understanding they possess made this whole chaotic experience quite the heartwarming one.

Baek Jeong on the other hand,…he was so infuriating, in the absolute best possible way. He managed to make me riled up with nearly every scene however, all this was forgotten when the leads landed a punch on him. Pure bliss.

The premise is pretty straight-forward: threats, illegal boxing matches, money, and a touch of drugs. If I have one critique, it's that nothing here feels particularly new. You've seen this kind of setup before. However much I found this drama predictable it doesn't mean it was boring. What keeps it engaging is the back and forth. Both sides take hits, even if the antagonists often feel one step ahead.

Overall, I enjoyed it. The illegal fighting and drugs were great fun but it was our loveable, sensitive pair of crybabies that make you want to watch. It's predictable yes, but when there is so much emotion, so much heartbreak, you will look past it. Definitely recommend to those who enjoy their action with a side of real, genuine tears.

Read More

Fantastic Sequel ...

It's always difficult to make a great sequel or season 2 when the first season was nothing but perfection. Somehow, though, they made it happen. This new season was everything you could have hoped for, and more!
It's a strong start that pulls you into the story immediately. Besides the fighting, and fighting, and fighting again, there was a great story behind the punches, along with a great cast to match. So many different layers of the story that all come together in the final episode.
Do Hwan & Sang Yi are once again the brilliant bromance fighting duo. The two had great chemistry of friendship, making that one of the strongest points of this continuing series, once again. The one unexpected surprise was Rain. He turns out to be such a great antagonist. I hadn't seen him play a role like this before, but he really was fantastically evil and cold hearted, giving you everything you wanted in the main villain. You really can't wait until that final showdown fight with Geon U & Baek Jeong. It's definitely worth the wait, making for great entertainment.
The rest of the supporting cast matches brilliantly with all the sub story plots happening at the same time. Don't be fooled by who you think is all good or all bad. Some characters have a mix of both, which you find out as you get deeper into the series.
After some of the final credits roll, you get an add on scene that kind of gives a teaser for a possible season three??? I sure hope so, cause both 1 & 2 have been great.

Read More