Road Home (2023)

A HARDCORE SLOWBURN

The story is good, themes and side characters well written. But it is such a slowburn drama that i was absolutely BORED out of my mind for a good chunk of it. Jing Bo Ran and Tang song yun are my dream team and was the only reason i finished the drama.
The flashbacks i felt were so uselessly long and there was no actual indication we had gone back in time, since all the settings and characters and personalities are same in the past and present.

In my humble opinion it is not a special drama, you won't miss anything if you don't watch it. Its a background drama i watched while doing work.

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the length of love is appreciated in this drama..

i love the bond between the comrades...im happy seeing them together..i love the team ml and fl they are sweet together...and the ending is satisfying.. because i love this kind of happy ending....thank you writer for this beautiful drama..i hope i can watch your drama again in the future.to all the drama lovers please watch this drama its very lovable and sweet....but this have a big issue the father of the ml he is bad in here .and the step sister is not in the drama...i skip the boring part but i keep on smilling the sweet moments and the boldness of the fl...i like the way she seduce his husband..its lovable

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Travel show vibe with breathtaking scenery & best kissing scene!!

Even though I just loved lead's chemistry and the cinematography of this drama was way too beautiful...I have to say that it was quite bland, don't get me wrong I love dramas without unnecessary misunderstandings & other annoying yet predictable tracks but still, I believe we should have something to look forward to when we are watching a series of 30 episodes....It has soo many plotholes which kind of annoyed me a bit..I feel after they got back together that is where the story kind of ended because after that they were only kind of meeting after months & making out?At some point i felt like watching a travel show because the scenery was totally mesmerizing ?I have never seen a C-drama with better kissing scene, despite that, i don't know when they consummated and how she got pregnant?
I struggled to complete it tbh....I so wish we can have the same pair in a better show because they are just breathtaking and phenomenal!

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My All time Top 1 series now.

I used to think I can't get over the UTP couple. Lu Yi and Jin Xia got me hooked for more than 3 years. I have a hard time watching those two with new partners since their chemistry is unmatched.

Then Road Home got me. I'm 3 years older now and it made me realized that not everyone can work with our loved ones like the UTP couple. Their story is so good because they are together most of the time since their jobs are intertwined. So how about people who have different jobs or demanding jobs? Are they not allowed to experience love? Is love only shown when we are near our loved ones or if we have time for them? How about people from healthcare field or military field? If everyone just wants to be lovey dovey with their partner all the time then who would protect us or who would be there to care for us if we got sick?

Road home might not be for everyone because it shows the lonely sad of being in a relationship with someone in public service. It depicts how mature people love. How respect and understanding is the foundation of the relationship.

Lu Chen is not your typical ML. He doesn't know how to say sweet words. He always show his love through actions which might not be enough to some since he actually has limited time outside work. Which is why Gu Xiao is his perfect partner. Because after going through everything she emerged as a magnanimous person. She has her own career to take care of so she's not clingy and needy like before. Which is the perfect example for young women nowadays . We should be the most loving partner when they are around and have an amazing life when we are apart. These two are so great together that just them being doing simple things in life looks magical. ( cooking, cleaning and doing laundry ?)

I would not try to convince other people with other opinion to change their mind since we have different stories and cultures. But to those who are going through a heartbreak now I wish you can find your own Lu Chen ?

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Matured and intense romance but dull after awhile

I like that this drama’s main focus is the relationship between Gu Xiao and Lu Chen (the two main leads) He is a Bomb expert who works in the SWAT team- so his character is cold, silent and not much of a conversationalist. She is a financial investor- while she is more warm and charming, her conversational skills were not that great either (with him) in this first half ish. I like his character- no nonsense kind of man, albeit a little stoic and stiff but that’s how it is. As for Seven Tan- she comes across too “puppy like” at times.. just following him around and watching him fix cars lol. Would have preferred the FL to be more … assured?

The chemistry is very intense though. They had broken up for 10 years, and they meet each other again. Lots of quiet and intense gazes, which is fine because the ppl around them are noisy enough haha. The romance is for the matured audience, so don’t expect any cliches of accidental falls/kisses , well dressed looks… but rather an underlying connection and assured confidence in their relationship. The bros of Captain Lu are TOO CUTE! ;);)

I also like that the drama shows aspects of his work (more than hers) but doesn’t focus too much on the details. A little bit of the training, a little bit of the danger to keep the suspense going.

Definitely one of the better Cdramas currently. It’s 30 episodes, so I can expect something dangerous and bad happening to him in the later episodes, maybe he gets injured?? Have to watch to find out! :)

Update: After 20 episodes, just found the pace too slow, and the storyline no longer engaging. Rather boring after awhile ;) Have decided to drop this.

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It's sweet and a little bit bitter romance drama.

This is the 2nd time that I write review. First, before the drama on airs, I read the novel version of that. The novel includes a bit angst. So, I don't like novel very much and it's okay for me to read and pass time. When the drama airs, I plan to wait to release all episodes and watch it because I want to skip angst scene that describe in novel. But I cannot wait and start to watch it. :P
Now I stuck in the drama, and I like it very much. The drama includes less angst than the novel and it follow the novel generally in overall and some part in detail. The cast choosing is perfect and they portray very well. Especially, the male lead's voice is so deep and manly, their eye contacts are very sweet. They perfectly nailed it together. ML is a man with few words and action.
I feel that it is good they don't miss out a chance together with each other because they are each other's first love. After ten years, they don't change and still miss and love each other. In my point of view, the drama version is better than the novel.
If any other who want to watch this drama but don't know it's good or not, please try to watch it.

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Road to Nowhere

Do I really need to see Jing Boran change a light bulb? That’s just one of many niggly questions that comes to mind as I plod my way through Road Home with a gnawing itch to drop it. It’s a lovely angle of him to be sure (as any would be) and perhaps the audience has missed the point that Tan Songyun’s character Gui Xiao is absolutely enamoured with Lu Chen when she fixes her adoring eyes on his strapping figure as he does what most men worth their salt can do at the drop of a hat. When Li Xian changes light bulbs at the boarding house in Meet Yourself, there are multiple reasons for it. It tells us something about the ubiquity of his character. It shows that he’s a handy fellow. It was yet another bit of confirmation that he was the heart and soul of his village — a one man economic engine. But when Lu Chen is swapping out light fittings, it feels like the director and/or script writer don’t really have any idea of how to integrate all of the elements around the romance. Which is the general feeling I get as the “story” progresses. It’s like watching a reality travelogue that I didn’t sign up for. The thing is, the light bulb scene is meaningless here because it doesn’t tell us anything we don’t already know about Lu Chen. The guy is a bomb disposal expert. What’s a light bulb when there’s an explosive device with a complex web of wiring about to go kaboom? Road Home is a show that should be watched at 1.5 x or 2 x speed or not at all. Which leaves me with a conundrum: Jing Boran’s alluring sonorous vocals gets lost in translation.

On paper, Road Home should have the potential to be equally effective but the mistake is putting an obvious conflict-free romance at the centre of the story. Except for the godson, none of the other characters have interesting arcs of their own. Worse still they feel disconnected. Their sole purpose is to dance around the leads and support their journey as they inevitably pair up. I’m about 15 episodes in and I still don’t find Gui Xiao a compelling character in her own right. Lu Chen gets to do all the exciting cop stuff while she panics around in the dark wondering if he’s going to live to see another day. It’s by the numbers. There’s no curiosity about any of the characters and how they get to the point that they do. 30 episodes is just too long for a show where there’s so little build up or suspense. By the time the leads tell us that they’re tying the knot, most of the key reveals have come and gone.

It’s a mistake to think that slice-of-life dramas have no plots. (Or meander aimlessly without one) They do. And the really good ones do such a good job of juggling multiple threads that those who watch that the balancing act is actually easy. Part of the problem too with Road Home is that Lu Chen’s SWAT activities are far more interesting than anything else in the show. Consequently I inevitably come to this conclusion about these types of police procedurals — they are veiled recruitment propaganda. Ad campaigns for law enforcement because no one in the their right mind would sign up for SWAT and EOD without overt prodding and/or flag waving. It’s one thing to insert propaganda in a crime show, it’s another in a romance. It’s deadly.

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Life at it's finest!

I am so engulfed in this story, to the point of going back and watching from Episode 1 again, oh alright several times re-watching again! .... I usually do not re-watch dramas unless I find the topic or cast members interesting but this drama has given me both of those. It shows how not everyone is meant to be "book smart" as in going to college or being capable of the intense training such as the SWAT team. Each person is an individual with individual strengths and weaknesses but love has neither. Love does not discriminate; love does not acquire social status or to place blame or fault. Love is pure and in this drama, it shows how love can remain in your heart even after a separation. JBR and TSY have to be two of the most natural actors and I am glad they did this drama. Even down to their kissing scenes, there movements are natural and not stiff. It's like watching your two best friends find their love again for each other. It would be great to see these two do another drama together. This drama has been added to my All Time Favorite list and I will watch again when I need a good dose of love and life at it's finest.

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Slow-moving but lovely

This is wonderfully well written, no unnecessary side-stories or plot-drivers, simply a very detailed overview of a relationship that only developed over many years. It's so slow-moving that it's almost the same speed as living your own life, and it has that quality of real thoughts and emotions slowly developing, too. Over time we get to know why things were so difficult to get going and cheer on the main couple as they choose to make it work anyway. Highlights of the series so far: adult children choosing their own partners even if the parents don't approve (!!!) Also the funniest marriage proposal ever (ep 27 I think, not the main couple.) Lesser actors than Jing Boran and Seven Tan could not have carried this story but these two manage to make it riveting. If you like a lively plot or action, this is not your show. But if you can get into a deeply felt relationship between two people, this is all cake.

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MUNDANE DIALOG

Don't get to watch Jing BoRan much, in 'The League of Noblemen' he's kind of a flamboyant character - not liking his character so much. But I always adore Seven Tan, in her many drama I love her more.

The story went back to Junior High, Seven Tan was always great as a young student while to BoRan looked too muscle up and older compare with other students around. They've fallen in love and promised each other not to breaking up, as they grew older with their choice of education, they grew apart and broke up permanently. One was to becoming a financial-investor who live in Beijing while the other as a Captain in SWAT Elite Team in Qining City. They met again and rekindle the relationship. There're hurdle about debts, family dynamic for both, long friendship, fostering a child, and work.

Jing BoRan is hot but a lousy man (in love), pretty serious character and little (or boring) conversationalist. They both still love each other but with nothing much to talk about, I wonder how this relationship going. He's though pretty straight forward 'do you like me' and 'do you still love me' and 'I'll save money to marry you', besides all that was mundane dialog. Thus, Seven Tan character wasn't any better!! Didn't say much. I don't know about the novel, I think the screen writer needs more practice to make dialog more witty and lively, lots of time they both were just staring each other without much exchange. Still ep 15, done trying to watch this drama. Cute puppy though..

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Long Distance Relationship at its best

the ending is a bit disappointing. they managed to showcase their relationship beautifully; from the childhood love, their premature breakup, how they amend their relationship, their coping mechanism to complement each other. it makes us realize LDR needs both side effort and understanding. it is difficult but doable.

but their daughter in few last episodes seems like didnt exist. there's no loving moment as a complete family. the direction still as loving couple rather than a family of three. on another perspective, it is quite logic; LDR makes you feels every moment is fresh and awkward.

other than that, this is a slow burning gem. if you like Le Coup de Fodre, this is another binge for you.

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