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{year}=2025 {episode}=EP.28 {type}=TV {ongoing}A great drama that is worth watching even if it’s not your cup of tea (as is my case)
A great story about the life of Xiao Chunsheng and the
people around him, starting from the turbulent times at the end of the Cultural
Revolution, brought to life by incredible performances, is the shortest way to
sum this up. What is perhaps the biggest problem in Chinese entertainment today
– good writing – is eliminated by the expert pen of Xu Bing, the show’s
screenwriter, and then unleashed by a stellar cast of young actors, led by a
brilliant performance by Xiao Zhan.
Can the strongest friendships of our youth survive the
trials and tribulations of adult life? In the most difficult times a person
should never face, what choices will they make and why? Why do some people lose
their moral compass and why do others get stuck? Are idealism and realism two
incompatible ways of looking at life? Is our first love, no matter how much we
remember it, a love that will stand the test of adulthood?
Can a person hold on to their original righteous intentions
and live by their core principles, even when life throws them off course?
All of this and more is answered and revealed to us as the
characters grow up before our eyes, wondering about the true path of Beijing in
the 70s, suffering in the war zone, and ultimately their adult lives changed by
the harsh reality of their own lives from the youth they once had. They are all
different characters, fully aware, and their actions are always understandable.
The viewer may hate some of them, but they always know why. Nothing feels
excessive or unreasonable. Every scene is there for a reason and strictly
contributes to this fascinating story that will keep you glued to the screen.
Is it a perfect drama? No, nothing is perfect, and there are
always things one can nitpick, but this one, like Xiao Chunsheng himself, tries
to get there, sticks to what he set out to do from the beginning, and
ultimately succeeds in delivering. It doesn’t get any closer to perfection. You
won’t regret it if you give it a chance.