Wo Zai Ta Xiang Ting Hao De (2021)

Actual realistic slice-of-life masterpiece

I can not truly put in words how much I enjoyed this drama. This drama is as the plot summary suggests about characters in their 20/30's that deal with various life problems. However, with this drama, these problems actually feel relatable and not just made up for the sake of it. It even touches on topics that you don't often see about in other dramas.
The story writing is phenomenal: all the plot points are intriguing and the pacing is really on-point. You get to experience so many emotions within a single episode. The conversations felt so organic and filled with adlibs from the actors. There are no overly annoying, dramatic characters, or big plot twists, but instead, we got a cohesive story with a lot of "mundane" conversations. There are also multiple couples, but romance is not at all the focus of this drama.
The casting is also great. Zhou Yutong as always was amazing. Ren Su Xi is with a 10/10 performance imo. There is nothing to critize her for, and i felt like she kinda freestyled most of here lines, so amazing to watch. Overall the cast is super solid, even the "weaker" actors were well above average.

There is so much more to say about this drama, but for that i suggest you to watch this drama, you wont regret it. I do not rewatch dramas, but i feel like i will rewatch this drama in the future, as it is really a one-of-a-kind.

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The best female centric drama

This is everything I've ever wanted in a female centric show/
-Healthy friendship between women
-Working women in love w/o giving up their values in life
-Communication!!!!!
-Personalities outside relationships
-Conversations that reveal personality, characteristics, traits
-Emotions so raw that you feel them
-Writing so real you forget you are watching a show


As someone who generally dislikes the modern Cdrama genre, I've tried a lot of modern shows cus I love watching "women in the city". But a lot of these shows pin their female characters against each other for no reason and don't give them a story outside of finding love. From ep 1 of ROTP you can tell this is not the case. This show gives you such a nice realistic look at the characters that you can't help but fall into the rhythm of the story.

I'm also someone who avoids Melo or dramas that hinge on sadness. But again, ROTP is great at showcasing grief in such a real way that the sadness is neither a gimmick nor a plot point. Just happening in the characters' lives, realistic and raw. From the acting to the writing to the music score. ROTP is the best modern female-centered drama I've watched ever. The writing was so good that throughout the climax of the show my heart was in my throat as if I were watching a thriller.

If you like mature shows that are based in conversation, talk about work, life in the city, dreams, and sadness I recommend this show. Some may find the low-stakes scenes of characters talking boring. But they really do give you such good insight into how everyone thinks, reacts, and communicates. The chemistry between the cast is fantastic. And all the relationships make sense and give you butterflies. It's been a while since I've felt something so strong for a drama. A gem of a show and I'm so glad I watched it.

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This drama is the kind that I've been looking for!! A devastating, relatable, and moving slice-of-life story about characters in their mid-20s to mid-30s. I know that dramas centering about female friendships have been a trend in the past few years, but I have yet to find one I really liked. (I dropped Ode to Joy, and have yet to give Nothing But Thirty a second chance. I've tried Brilliant Girls, Love Yourself, To Dear Myself. I'm not saying you won't like this drama if you loved any of those, but maybe you've also been searching for a certain kind of story like me!)

First of all, please be aware that in the first episode (including the opening scene), a character dies by suicide. Throughout the drama, there are many scenes of grief and where the characters try to understand why. This drama is a beautiful reminder that sometimes you will have no idea about the struggles of those closest to you, that depression is an illness, and that life is precious.

The main characters are close friends who are from a small town in the northeast, and now live in Beijing. They work, struggle with money, have phone calls with their parents (honestly the things that some of the mothers said have been things my mom has said, almost word for word!), fall in love... Since this drama is only 12 episodes (they're each a little over an hour long), it really feels like there's no filler. There are heartbreaking moments and frustrating moments, but also warmth and humor. Even if Xu Yan was my least favorite character, she felt very realistic and she did experience growth. I admit that I adored Jian Yi Fan. His voice is so soothing and I can't believe I hadn't seen Bai Yu Fan (the actor) in anything before. Even though I dropped Begin Again, I do really like Zhou Yu Tong. Ren Su Xi is a new face for me but she was so great at portraying Nan Jia.

Lastly, I really enjoyed watching the deleted scenes because it's interesting to see what didn't make the final cut. It seems like a lot of them focused on supporting characters and I understood that their scenes were cut to focus more on the main characters. I do wish they'd kept some of Jing Jing's ex's scenes in though because the drama made their relationship seem so inconsequential.

Anyhow, this is a favorite of 2021 and probably an all-time favorite for me as well. Highly recommend!

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Decent story but not really for me

This is the story of the 4 friends who tried to make it in the big city... As well as had to face a whole lot of pressure, obstacles and what not... One is a marketeer working with coffee, and probably as obsessed with coffee as I am. One is a bubbly girl with a bunch of secrets, One is a CEO and one is obsessed with things money can buy. As they guide us though the hardships facing young women in the workforce as well as that of city immigrants as well as relationship stuff.

The story itself as well as it's execution and the way they wrapped things up was actually pretty decent so I really should not complain and should have rated it higher than I did... However I found myself annoyed at several characters, bored at times and though I did fall in love with one of the couples one. I like to call the coffee couple and the friendships they were just not enough to make me fall in love with the show as the annoying elements outshined the good.

Give em a series about the coffee couple and I am in, would love to see more of those two, But could honestly just skip the rest as it was not really my cup of coffee....

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Heartstrings Pulled: A Journey Through Life's Ups and Downs

Just finished binging "Remembrance of Things Past" and OMG, the feels! This show went from "casual watch" to "full-blown obsession" faster than you can say "Beijing hustle." ️

First episode? BAM! Tears before bedtime, all thanks to a gut punch that sets the tone for the whole series. But hold on, there's more to it than just sadness. This show weaves a beautiful thread of hope throughout, reminding us to appreciate the little moments and the people who matter most.

The characters? Squad goals, for real. Qiao Xi Chen is basically all of us trying to adult in the corporate world. #RelatableAF Then there's Jia Nan Jia, the seemingly perfect boss lady with her own relationship struggles. (Girl, we feel you!) And Xu Yan? She's the queen of living life to the fullest, even if her taste in men is a bit questionable.

Shoutout to Hu Jing Jing! Though her time is short, her story is a powerful reminder about mental health and the importance of seeking help when you need it. This show doesn't shy away from tough topics, and that's what makes it so real.

Speaking of real, the acting is phenomenal! Zhou Yu Tong deserves all the awards for her raw emotions. And Kido Ma as Ou Yang? Seriously stole my heart. Big props to Bai Yu Fan and Ren Su Xi too, their chemistry with the cast is .

Okay, maybe the pacing is a little slow at times. But hey, that just gives you more time to soak in the characters and their journeys. Plus, each episode delivers a healthy dose of life lessons that hit you right in the feels.

Overall, "Remembrance of Things Past" is more than just a drama, it's an experience. It's laughter, tears, friendship, and everything in between. If you're looking for a show that feels real, relatable, and leaves you with a warm fuzzy feeling, this is your jam

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Worthy of the Title. Love love love it to bits!

I just love how this very short drama was able to cover almost every sensitive issue or taboos that the society face at the moment. And they did it in such a natural way that everything just doesn't feel forced or overly dramatic. This drama has given so much meaning to life, living, fighting for your dreams, and appreciate love, friends and family.

12 episodes. It was really hard to move on from this drama. Until they release the next drama under this series, I might not be able to comparr it to anything else. I do commend the actors a lot, too. That was some real acting! Very well directed. And the songs used are just perfect.

In each episode, I believe there will be moments when you'll find yourself sobbing. Maybe different times for different people. As we have different experiences that we can relate to. You might also need a breather after every episode. It is really very nostalgic. Never the one that drags unnecessarily though. It's just pure art. Go check it yourself and stock a lot of tissues ?

PS. subs for Ep 4 onwards are messy but if you have watched way too many cdramas, you'll understand what they were saying.

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This is one of the best modern Chinese drama that I've watched this year. The drama centers around the lives of the characters living in Beijing, as a big city and the capital of China. The drama shows the hard life faced by people living in big cities. It deals with issues such as depression, suicide, fraud and betrayal. Each character has their story to tell with their difficulties and challenges. I like how true to life this drama is.

You can never really know a person, even though you're really close friends and the drama says that when you have a friend like Jing Jing, one that you go to when you're feeling sad and happy, you have to understand that she has the same needs.

Anyway, you have to watch it to really appreciate this drama. This is a unique drama that's different from your usual modern chinese drama, but in a good way.

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my favorite modern cdrama to date

I am so glad I randomly stumbled upon this hidden gem. It is short and sweet and heart wrenching and real and relatable and honestly just perfection.

The story follows the life of 3 friends and their life after the death of one of their own and how they all cope with grief and guilt. The raw emotion of the first episode is so heart wrenching and yet so beautifully portrayed. This show shines a light on depression and shows just how dangerous and sad it can be, for the person themselves and those around them. It may seem like a very serious show and it is but it also the perfect mixture of romance and light hearted ness.

It touches upon important and relatable topics like the definition of success, suicide, the aging of our parents, the definition of a home, and relationships with such ease almost as if it didn’t even mean to make the viewer cry or relate. My heart aches and relates to each perfectly flawed character in different ways.

This is a must watch for everyone, especially those who may be going through quarter life/midlife crisis or those who act as the happy-go-lucky friend like Jing Jing. Just remember, as Jing Jing said, no matter how long the night, the sun will rise again, no matter how far the journey, your destination will arrive. This is definitely one of those shows that will linger in my mind for a long time.

Rest In Peace Jing Jing

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An ODE to the city... a place of human genius

This serial is first and foremost an ode to the City of Beijing or to any other major city around the world.... Cities are beautiful, they attract us from afar, make us want to get there and be part of the dream, of the creative genius that make them what they are. Then, the glitz starts to wear off and we become confronted with the reality of being a human in all its aspects... we can find ourselves amongst those who cannot cope, those who quit, those who put up a fight both through hard work or through deceit and those who create their oyster in the city...

This serial strikes the balance perfectly. It is quiet in its story-telling and powerful in its lyrics and emotions it generates from the viewer. It does not require the usual bling nor the costly productions seen usually in Chinese dramas to strike a chord and to leave a lasting nostalgic feeling. The title perfectly captures these sentiments.

The cast of course did an amazing job in supporting the whole project. The director does seem young (not many works directed to far) but is able to maintain the integrity of the remembrances of our encounters with cities.

In cities, we are confronted with ourselves and we find ourselves. Cities reflect, as a mirror, who we are or want to be fundamentally.

I remember walking the Seine river during my time in Paris or the streets of Kuala Lumpur... I found myself there.

Now, I seem to have lost myself again.

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Definitely worthwhile to watch

I think that Remembrance of Things Past is one of best cdramas I've watched so far.

I really love how it discusses many real-world problems and stigmas in context to the Chinese society (北漂 i.e. interprovincial migration to Beijing for work, misconceptions about mental health, workplace culture, marriage, materialism, the definition of success, etc). It also reflects the difficulties in managing the shock, grief and guilt with the unexpected passing of a loved one. The actors and actresses did a really great job in portraying these raw emotions.

I really like how the drama rounded up with a carefree Hu Jingjing running off into the distance on the Great Wall of China, having finally fulfilled her dream of making a visit there, as well as her friends making peace with her passing and remembering their time spent with her.

While it is a short drama, the message behind it is strong. It is a big reminder that being vulnerable is not a sign of weakness; it takes courage to open up and share our problems with our loved ones. While we support others through their tough times, let's not forget to seek support and help when we're going through our own tough times too! :)

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Relatable and Moving

I read the (mostly) rave reviews and so, I decided to watch this drama. I must say that this drama is a well-made one which is worth watching! Kudos to the team that produced this excellent slice of life drama. I watched one episode after another. It was riveting enough to make me want to go on and on.

What I liked very much:
- Great acting. The actors and actresses were mostly very natural and acted very well.
- Growth of the characters. This drama appeared to be a “Bildungsroman” of sorts for the three ladies.
- Couple: Ji Nan Jia and Ou Yang. Cute. I liked that he was sincere and was willing to make the relationship work because he truly liked her. I liked that she warmed to him and accepted him since her heart said “yes” after her body already did.
- Couple: Qiao Xi Chen and Jian Yi Fan. I liked how he had fallen for her first and how he looked out for her. I liked how the relationship seemed to develop organically. It was a very believable relationship which I “shipped”. I liked that they were serious about each other.
- The funny moments were cute.
- The clothes were fashionable and nice-looking.
- The plot was realistic and relatable.

What I didn’t like that much:
- I was shocked by a death right from the start and the death drove the story forward. (Of course, there was plenty of back and forth as the plot unfolded to reveal things that happened in their past and how their future was unfolding.)
- Xu Yan was close to insufferable. She was self-absorbed and had a huge (wrong) sense of entitlement. She had a lot of growing up to do as she was a stunted character. She had her priorities in the wrong places like wanting branded bags or else she would throw a mighty tantrum at her poor boyfriend, Shen Zi Chang. He was a problem kid too as he was also immature and childish. Both of them couldn’t make things work because there was a total lack of honest and loving communication. Guess this drama wishes to let viewers see that open communication, having right priorities and working out differences together with the other party in mind are sorely needed in (young) couples.

Overall, I really enjoyed this slice of life drama. It was meaningful. The plot was engaging and things moved fast but felt complete. I highly recommend this drama!! Watch!!

PS: I understand that there are Extras after episode 12 (which is the final episode). If anyone has information on the Extras, please kindly share where I can watch them. Cheers.

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short but strong message

First off, I really like to commend Zhou Yutong on her acting, she's a really good actress and I hope she gets more good projects like this where she can show off her skills.
Couldn't actually believe that i reached for tissues a lot more than its number of episodes. Thanks for making my 2 weekends full of tears.
I have read the synopsis before watching it, but didn't expect JingJing to pass immediately, so I was heartbroken at once. How the remaining three friends overcame and stood throughout was really wonderful. They had their ups and downs but they worked through it. Made me really wish for friends like that and got me wondering if my friends now are close knit enough to live life like the characters. I regretted my life a lot while I watched the show, I feel that I should have been more sociable as a child/teen, especially now that my parents are quite old, and I don't have any real close people I can depend on.
There were aspects I didn't like but that was part of the story - Yan's shopaholic attitude and the ending of her relationship. But overall, I am happy for their love lives, whether they ended with someone or just happily living alone. To be honest, I got scared at the last episode when QiaoQiao and Jian YiFan were teary eyed, I was scared that they might abruptly end things with their expressions, but thankfully, they didn't
If only the series was a little longer, it seems that 12 episodes are a bit short for a drama as good as this. But when I think about how they could have lengthened the storyline, I really couldn't think of another way to end it. So I have accepted the fact that the series ended perfect as it is. and I love the ending scene at the Great Wall, very nice way to mark their lives in Beijing.

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