A Drama of Growth

WARNING: Overall great story, but the last episode when they grow up is not great...I am still going to leave my review as is tho, definitely worth a watch!

This is my first time writing a drama review, I watch a lot of dramas and I usually keep to myself or maybe leave a few comments, but I think this drama is deserving of a review. I've said it before, but I'll say it again, this is definitely one of the top dramas I've watched in a long time. Some episodes leave you smiling like a fool while others leave you a sobbing mess.

Story:
A story about two quirky teachers and five (arguably six) quirky students as they tackle various issues in life to take on the biggest exam in their lives, the college entrance exam, in order to change their lives.

I am not going to elaborate too much on this plot but more of the topics focused on in this drama. This is definitely not your typical fluffy school drama, the storyline here hits on many hard topics that are honestly often considered taboo to discuss in China, including depression, domestic violence, etc. and in my opinion this drama does it well. Instead of avoiding these topics or ignoring them, we are taught what they are and ways to handle them, while these methods may not work for everyone, I will say that some have worked for me such as exercising to destress and help with anxiety.

I think family relations and depression are the two most prevalent topics within this drama. As we progress through the drama, under the guidance of Lei Ming and Sang Xia, we see that not only the kids have grown, but the parents and teachers have as well, hence why I titled this review as a drama of growth. This drama is a great example of understanding where the issues are and how to tackle them, formulating better relations in and out of school. Every single character in this drama (well besides some of the antagonist characters) has grown and become a better version of themselves as we near the end of this drama. We also see the importance of identifying depression as an illness and not brushing it off like what is often done in Chinese culture. As someone of Chinese decent, I can say that depression is often looked down upon in China and not realized as an illness... We can take Shen Yao and Zheng Qian's cases, because of how they were able to handle the cases differently the results were very different.

While depression and family matters definitely are definitely two of the key elements elaborated upon within this drama, but I don't want people to forget the small details, for example, when Sang Xia mentions it's okay for a guy to ask a guy out as well or when she taught the class on what is sexual assault. Also, did anyone notice that the opening in ep 17 changed from being the usual colored opening to black and white after Lei Ming left? The attention to detail and the effort put in by the director/producers is insane.

I do want to also mention there are a lot of time jumps in this drama, which may make the flow seem a little weird. I can see people not liking it and at first I wasn't that used to it, but I like how these time jumps piece the story together, it breaks down the story well and allows us to see why certain decisions were made due to situations that have happened in the past.

Casting:
I am a big fan of the casting and a huge fan of Zhang Ruo Yun's acting in particular (I swear anything he graces becomes a work of art). Lei Ming emits a particular aura that I can't imagine anyone else besides him getting right. The expressions and look in his eyes really radiate what his character feels and longs for/

All the main characters in this show are incredibly lovable (maybe not in the beginning but definitely as we progress through the drama). Personally, I am a big fan of Li Ran haha! I love his quite, rebellious yet caring personality, appearing rough on the outside but a total sweetheart within. The actors/actresses all did a great job portraying their characters, bring so many emotions to the audience as well, every episode is an emotional rollercoaster, whether it be a sad one or a happy one. Also the pairings are great (I swear you can almost ship any pair you want haha)! Who is your favorite character? :D

Music:
I don't love every single OST tracks, but overall the music is very fitting for the vibes of this drama and the topics discussed in this drama. Whenever there is music added to a scene, it amplifies the emotions felt during the scene. Several of the songs leave a sad aftertaste, for example, 迷了路 and Find My Shadow make me want to cry just hearing the songs and the lyrics. I would say that the OSTs give a bit of a vintage vibe, which personally I love.

Also I'm not sure if people have noticed, but based on the mood of the episode, the opening song and the closing song are different (you can check the beginning of ep 25 and 28). I am also gonna take a wild guess that we get several English songs because Lei Ming is an English teacher :P

Rewatch Value:
I think this drama actually has very high rewatch value because of all the details that are easily missed and glossed over upon the first watch. I rarely rewatch dramas, but I can definitely see myself rewatching this one over and over again. The plot and emotions never get old. I guess it would lack some of the suspense you get on the first watch, but I don't think that takes away from the drama itself.

Overall:
Two quirky teachers and five (arguably six) quirky students have created a masterpiece. I want to say this is a must watch, especially if you are a fan of slice of life/sentimental dramas. It is definitely different and fresh, you definitely will not regret watching (unless you are like me and have work...)

Thanks for reading my review :D

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