Where the Lost Ones Go (2017)

Woven around time, Where the Lost Ones Go is a story carefully crafted from structure to messaging, hammering home those feelings it builds up to linger even after the final episode. It still had the typical Chinese elements (read: big group of friends with side stories) but it went the extra mile, beyond that cute couple formula.

Where the Lost Ones Go stood out for me because of its overall cohesiveness. Unlike many mainland Chinese dramas, its appeal and its anchor to the audience go beyond the main couple and all the giddiness they bring. It is in its storytelling, its messaging, and its boldness to conclude it in the way it did.

Full review: https://embracingfiction.wordpress.com/2018/08/04/cn-where-the-lost-ones-go/

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I just finished this drama so I will write my first review for this drama
Can't believe that my first review is about Chinese drama because basically I am a fan of Korean drama
I don't watch much Chinese dramas,but this drama got me hooked up from the very first episode.
I waited for days to watch episodes with English subtitles.

In all the drama was very refreshing,I loved all the scenes from the past. The transition from present to past was very nice.
I Liked all the characters. Especially the group of four girls who have different personalities and have very special bond even after college is over.
The love stories of other three girls were also very interesting and has same feel where we get to see each character in past and now in present how they have changed.
Fan Kris did a very good job of portraying the cute,handsome,popular,romantic,fun painter when he was a college student and also made an impact portraying the grown up version of the character which is exactly 180 degree shift from past himself.
The background music is amazing.I actually downloaded original song "unfortunately not you" by Fish Leong. But the duet version of this song in this drama is amazing. Cinematography was excellent. Each scene was amazing look wise.

Drama got draggy at the end. I did not understand the ending properly. For that matter the break up of the main couple was little bit disappointing compared to the build up drama made. After we get to know exactly what happened between main couple  the drama becomes slower and has unnecessary plots. It would have been  better if drama would have focused more on the main couple's grown up relationship as it did with the young relationship.
The acting of heroine and the second male lead was not very impressive as compared to others. If you are one of them who gets second male lead syndrome like me then don't worry it will not happen for this drama. Heroine did better job portraying young college student than grown up version.

In all I would recommend this drama for those who love a nice romantic story and have very much open mind about how it ends  

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Although it is quite a quick watch, I'd say it is still long. The plot being a mystery for over half the time makes it frustrating; since they did nothing to lay it out but gave us the answer all in one or two episodes. The character 'Xiang Ze Yi' has small character development despite having been through more than others. I find myself questioning the title of the series "?????" many times too, but since its called 'Where the lost ones go' in English, its different. Also, since it is available in YouTube, I find myself turning it on at the speed of *2 due to the slow plot development. I really liked the start of the series however, before the so called mystery plot got hidden too long. I would not say its not worth a watch though, I like how it has its own essence unlike some other dramas, but for me it is still a stretch; but hey, I did finish the series in a few days, so have a go!

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*very underrated gem* --> Lighter & Princess's Beautiful Predecessor

One of the few older dramas that are aging like fine wine thanks to a director that utilizes cinematographic storytelling and stellar acting that will make you feel their emotions. There are no filler episodes and it has a good pace.

I could not help but to compare this drama with "Lighter & Princess" as it has a very similar story but goes much deeper and strays away from being an idol drama.
This section of the review is best read if you have seen L&P since I am comparing the two.

Similarities:
- College Sweethearts with a sheltered but strong FL and a popular ML - he beats someone up after being betrayed by said person, goes to prison, doesn't tell the FL but rather disappears and then comes back many years later and so the story goes.

Differences:
L&P leads are programmers, WTLOG leads are artists (drawing comics, oil paintings, etc). L&P is 36 episodes and an idol romantic drama, WTLOG is 24 episodes and a romantic melodrama (as in the ML shows vulnerability & complex emotions, which in c-dramaland apparently means melo(?)... no need to fear crazy parents in law, amnesia, slapping , etc.) but it does carry a darker, more realistic tone.

The main difference is the ML & the relationship, which in L&P was quite toxic in my opinion as the FL did all the work in the relationship and he wasn't really much different in terms of personality (aloof) before vs after prison, but the ML here was flirty and bubbly before and visibly broken inside afterwards. His reason for prison was also more severe.
More on that under "about the ML"

-------------- (actual review)--------------
It has really good cinematography / story telling, that reminds me of film and it uses a lot of wide shots with the environment symbolizing what's going on without using words. Example: they part ways on a seemingly normal day, one person going down the stairs and one going up as a way to symbolize how their lives are going to change.
Although it was made in 2017, it actually holds up quite nicely quality wise, also thanks to live audio recording (no dubbing is always a plus).
I liked that each episode had a poetic title that would be reflected on at some point throughout the episode. At the end of some episodes there was a deep question left for the audience . I really liked that.

The FL is calm, kind, strong and all in all very real. She is anything but a damsel-in-distress and cares for the people she loves. There is nothing negative I could say about her to be honest. The leads also have very good, natural chemistry that makes it easy to believe their story.

But the real star of the show was the male lead. I was really impressed by Fan Si Qi's acting, who is one of THE most underrated idols turned actors of c-drama land, he makes you believe that he is actually the character and offers a wide range of emotions. FSQ can act with his eyes (if this makes sense) and his character made me teary eyed in multiple occasions. + he's a good kisser and a good crier.

About the ML (spoilers!!):
Xiang Ze Yi was a flirty and fun art student, who was always up to shenanigans with a smile on his face and capable of showing emotions. It's very much a male-chases-female-first story and they are super adorable as a couple. He's the ideal type of first love and potential life partner, someone who makes you feel special and loved.
But when life had different plans and he came back as an ex-convict a decade later, he changed a lot. This is where I also saw a big difference between L&P and this drama. Maybe it's the melo part after all - but life forced him to change. In his heart he was still that flirty and fun college student but the consequences of his actions not only put him in prison but also took away all of his prospects of a future. He smokes, has a bit of a beard and is living quietly. It doesn't take much for him to shed a tear and he is visibly in pain over the past.
L&P ML was building a life for himself after prison but the Ze Yi always wanted to return to his love. There are many good quotes and it was painful but also poetic in a way to see how life can break a persons' spirit. But I also want to say that he was never weak or whiny, full credit goes to the actor and writer here because they found the perfect balance that made him seem very vulnerable but also well aware of his situation and wanting to re-connect with the FL.
I found him quite realistic, more than many other drama MLs, he didn't turn cold after what happened to him - after all he is human and humans have emotions. The stone cold ML characters we often see in dramas tend to have a sad background story that made them like this but Ze Yi went into hiding mode, all too aware of his own pain. There were many heart wrenching scenes when he was by himself. But enough of the spoilers! There is happiness and healing too. I just cannot put into words how much I enjoyed the unfolding of his story and the actors' portrayal of complex emotions, pain and healing.

The past is the past but it's painful nonetheless.

The cons:
The story might not draw you in right away since the first half of the drama the story goes back and forth between college days and present, which can be confusing in the beginning since they don't tell you clearly and you kind of have to figure it out.
The college days are cute but a bit average, it gets more interesting once the time skip is explained, so don't give up ;)
It does have a few minor plot holes but nothing that bothered me too much or that stayed for long. I thought one character's comeback was unnecessary and quite unrealistic but said person disappears again soon after so it's only a minor inconvenience. Same goes for the love triangle if you can even call it that - quite frankly the story of the ML was so intriguing that I barely paid attention to the SML and neither did the story.
The other couples in this dramas and the work side were okay but not that memorable.

Ending (spoilers, do not read if you have not watched it yet!)

At first I thought it was a perfect happy ending... but as I was writing this review, it also reminded me of The Forbidden Flowers' ending. Nowhere near as tragic but you could potentially see the ending two ways. It's happy but their last dialogue does make me wonder if it was an illusion...

CONCLUSION
A beautiful and sad but underrated drama that trumps L&P in my opinion, and left a lasting impression on me. It's release date may have been long ago but it will be in my Top10 dramas this year. If you want to see really good, emotional acting of a ML and pretty story telling without watching an absurd amount of episodes - this drama is for you. :)

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This review won't contain any spoilers.

About the story:
The story is very realistic and lovely, on the light side but it could get shots of darkness in it from time to time. They were few but the scenes that were dark would come so suddenly that it was almost like a shock. A shock that would remind us that no story is perfect and everyone will struggle. The story in the last few episodes wasn't my favorite part and the ending had me confused for a bit, but once I closed the tab I felt kind of satisfied. This was the way it should have ended.

About the casting/acting:
I have no place to talk about which acting is bad and which is good, but in this, it was good in a way no character would annoy you with their acting. Sure, certain actors sure could do better and some scenes couldn't been acted out in a better way, but the way it is now is good. I don't have any complaints about the casting. Kris Fan isn't the usual visual I like but I enjoyed him.

About the music:
It wasn't bad, but not really my taste. A lot of times it did fit the scene but the sudden stops to it (because we switched to the past) was not something i really enjoyed.

About the rewatch value:
If you want to watch something to feel good again, then it's worth the review. But I think if you would watch this for the second time (and you still remember the most important stuff) it would be too boring to rewatch it.

Others:
Am I the only one that thought some shots really were too long? Like it could be done in half te time.

Overal:
It might be strange, but a 9. I might not have liked all the aspects of it but overall it was a really good watch for me.

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You watch this Series u want to brings back the memories of ur first love... it gives U the nostalgic feeling of being in love for the first time... ur whole world revolves on him/her only... feeling like when U look at her/him u are seeing stars & the moon... hahaha... While watching it really gives me that feeling during college days when U have ur first love....
Its a story of friendship... first love... first heartbreak... I just love the feeling of watching this series...
What i dislike is the push & pull of the FL... aww... if u like it go for it... dont waste time... life is short they say...
I Recom U to watch it if u have first love that broke ur heart hahaha

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Through all my time watching dramas, I've found many dramas to be enjoyable, but I found myself searching for a deep emotional drama.  I think I've finally found the one.

The story is set on a beautiful college campus and revolves around many characters, but is mainly focused on the main couple, Xiang Ze Yi and Ye Zi. I love how their love story gradually unfolds and how writers connected the love stories of the other casts through the main character's story. The transition from the past and present was done very cleverly and blended well with the story. If you're looking for a lighthearted romantic comedy this might not be the drama for you. Don't get me wrong, there are many cute moments, but also a fair share of sad moments as well. Even if the story is somewhat predictable and even if  I feel like I know what would happen next, I could not stop myself from becoming emotionally invested in the characters' situation and love story. I found myself crying with the characters when they cried and laughing with them when they laugh. While I have said the word 'love' many times, this is not the only main focus of the drama, it also touches upon subjects of friendship, work, family, and adolescence and adulthood. Do we really change as we grow up? This drama shows the transition from adolescence to adulthood and how the characters react to those changes.

The acting of the cast in this drama is great. Although there are many new names in this drama, don't let their lack of acting experience fool you.  Boey Cecelia and Fran Kris were really good in their roles. Fan Kris was such a charismatic actor throughout this drama. Of course the fact that he is very cute plays some part in my fondness of him as an actor,  but I feel like he portrayed his character well despite being a new actor. I also really love his eyes. His acting with his eyes is amazing. His eyes really sparkle when he's happy and it's so mesmerizing.  While I focused a lot on Fan Kris, all the cast in this drama conveyed their role and emotions well. They can go from being so happy in one scene to being utterly lost and anguished.

My favorite thing about this drama is the soundtracks. I feel like the music director really invested a lot of time in finding the perfect soundtrack for the scenes. The music is breathtakingly beautiful and matched with the scenes perfectly. It helped bring out all of the emotions in the scenes. After watching the drama, I found myself downloading the entire OST album.

As for the rewatch value, I think this drama has potential in being rewatched. The cinematography of this drama is very beautiful and sometimes when you're so invested in the story, you fail to notice the beauty of the scenery and filming.  I find that rewatching the drama would help us appreciate these aspects more. Also when I watched the present scenes of the character, I found myself wanting to rewatch their college life scenes again. After finishing this drama, I think I might go rewatch the drama again because it is so beautifully executed. I want to rewatch how the characters' love stories unfold again and how the friendship between the characters form. I really love the friendship in this drama.

Overall, this is one of my favorite dramas. The love story, the transition, the music, the cinematography, the cast and the emotions and life lessons portrayed in this drama is really beautiful. The show is realistic and reminds you the the most important things in life isn't material possessions, but love, friendship and family. (Possible spoiler ahead) The lines in the story that one of the character said really stuck with me: "Some girls say that they rather cry in a BMW than smile on a bike. But in the end, it's not the vehicle that's important, but the driver."  This drama teaches you to treasure the important things in life and teaches you important lessons. Ze Yi and Ye Zi will forever be my OTP because they are so perfect together .  I don't think I would forget the story  that they've shared with us anytime soon.

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i really liked this drama cause it has a deep story real story that was about life cause there are so many dramas that sows that the main leads love each other and the drama ends but in this drama the story showed the love and time and true love
and in this drama when male lead disappeared and that shows how much he care about his love
and the acting was amazing really amazing
and the most important thing that this drama shows that changing is not bad just we have to understand the other person
but i have to say a thing that male lead was really handsome

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if you are wondering if you should watch this. here is you sign. go. now. no regrets.

I am the type of drama watcher that loves a good angsty drama with breakups and misunderstandings and a long rollercoaster of emotions to the road back together. I was getting bored of the dramas I had been watching so I went exploring before stumbling on this masterpiece that immediately caught my attention. Before we go, I am going to separate this into different parts so bare with me.

Cast:
It was almost a brand new cast for me. I had only ever seen the male lead, Fan Shiqi, in Love Unexpected. It was the first time I've seen or watched the rest of the cast. All of them acted so beautifully. They were able to bring their characters to life even as they traveled from college to adult life. Growing up from a happy and carefree teenager to an adult that has to deal with work, stress, loss, relationships, and family. Fan Shiqi's performance in this drama was one of the best that I had ever seen. His emotions and acting were heartwrenching. You could see the struggles, the pain, the regret, and the love he had in his eyes. I just wanted to give him a hug the entire time.

Story:
It was a very interesting concept. It combined their past and future, weaving in and out of each other to keep you paying attention, It was a little confusing at first but once you were familiar with it. In the past, you see the story of all the leads unfolding. Zeyi and Yezi meet each other and fall into a youthful and pure love story. Yezi and her best friend develop a friendship with their two other roommates that become friends for life. Not only do the main leads have a long story, but the three best friends also find their match as time goes on. However, when Zeyi is about to graduate, he runs into some trouble with someone stealing his work and ruining his reputation in the manhua industry. On a whim of anger he goes to find them and an accident happens that causes him to leave for many years. But when he comes back, he only has the courage to watch Yezi from afar. Not daring to actually go up to her. When they meet again to work on adapting one of Yezi's manhuas into donghua, they are once again conflicted with the love and confusion between them. The second male lead deserved better. He is Yezi's childhood best friend and he had loved her for years and years. But because he never said anything, it was too late. He did get a little annoying at the end but he gave so much to her in secret and cared for her when on one else was there so he deserves love too.

OST and Cinematography:
I have one word for you. Beautiful. Perfect.

Finally,

GO WATCH IT, IT IS ON YOUTUBE! YOU WILL NOT BE DISAPPOINTED IN THIS MASTERPIECE. You will laugh, you will cry and you will be confused. I still am.

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It gave me pure bliss. I cried, I laughed and I fell in love with this beautiful drama. I felt the love between the two leads. The best thing a series and know you found a gem, is when the series make you forget about your real life, and it is all about the series. About the couple, about their lives and the sacrifices they made, the obstacles and the people that were surrounding them and their stories. I loves this series. It has become absolutely favorite series ever. It was a pleasure seeing Ye Zi and Xiang Ze Yi love story, and see their growth and their pain and their love. Two beautiful souls.

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Looking Back to Move Forward

I'm normally not one for stories that alternate back and forth between the past and the present but WTLOG was organized in such a way that the past flowed smoothly with the present. The reminiscent aspect allowed for an understanding of the characters as they tried make sense of their present lives and what they want in the future, which i think is a valid aspect of real life. The transitions from past to present also made sense, and all the past scenes told essential stories that illustrated the character's and their relationships with each other.

The pacing of the story was perfectly planned, the story was fully fleshed out, the characters were likeable and sympathetic even when I couldn't relate to their motives or characters. The actors are also all top notch, with voices that seem to suit the characters.

All in all, it was a very good series: there was no over the top, unrealistic drama, no noisy annoying characters the audience was forced to deal with, and no misplaced or out of the way side plots.

This series is now one of my favorite Chinese series.

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I was actually expecting this drama to give me simple feels but wasn’t expecting to love the drama and to get attached to the characters so much. I watched this because I saw reviews saying that this was good but I didn’t really take the reviews seriously until I watched it.

The story was very simple at the same time very heartwarming. You’ll be able to see the characters grow and develop which will make you know so much about them. Watching what they’ve been through, I couldn’t help but cry, laugh, and smile whenever certain events occur that make the character feel certain emotions. The plot may not be that unique, but I still like they gave so many refreshing vibes when it comes to college and their field of work. I also liked that they gave it a realistic touch to it. Comparing it to other Chinese dramas that gave me simply fluff, this drama actually made me root for the characters. The supporting characters were also very heartwarming to watch and I wasn’t expecting to cry over other supporting couples. Maybe I just like to cry. I was touched by how drama highlighted on family and friendship.

The cast was really lovable. It’s been such a very long time wherein I got to feel fluff or butterflies in my stomach when it comes to the leads of a Chinese drama and this drama gave it to me again! I was literally rooting for Zeyi and Yezi the whole time. Kris Fan and Cecilia Boey were definitely cute together. I liked how they were mature when it comes to serious topics but playful on the side. However, when they grew up... I can say that the outcome of their characters was pretty reasonable. It was obvious that so much had changed, but I was glad that they stuck to their characters' change in order for it to be realistic. The supporting cast was super cute as well! I loved how the drama didn’t neglect its supporting characters and gave each of them a story of their own. The acting was pretty simple and I think that it’s enough to execute the characters’ feelings.

The OST from the introduction and end of the drama was really beautiful but there are some songs that don’t really fit into some scenes. I was having a hard time getting emotionally immersed in some scenes because of the music.

Overall, if you want a drama that can make you get immersed with the simplicity of its plot and characters, this is the right one for you. I was slightly confused if the ending was real, but it somehow gave an open end for the viewers to think of. This drama will definitely make you reflect on life and what can possibly happen and change in the future.

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