Have you ever watched "School 2013"? "Dream High"? Or the Jdrama "LIFE"? These shows are popular classics known for going above and beyond when showing youth's struggles, aspirations, and desires. While their genres may differ, the strong themes of friendship, growth, retribution, forgiveness, and character development make them superior to many popular East Asian shows.

Now let's get into the review title. As a veteran that has watched many Korean, Chinese, Japanese, Thai, and Taiwanese dramas, I know it's not controversial when I say China has produced some of the most cliche and unbearable school/youth dramas....to the point that I stopped watching them.

1.) Serious themes or important issues are usually mishandled.
2.) The side characters are often one-dimensional and only serve to push the main plot.
3.) Their dramas are usually overly obsessed with romance.
4.)They usually have the whiny, dumb FL pining after the ice-cold, super-smart, ML that's fawned on by the entire school populace. Eventually, after many misunderstandings and rude interactions between the main leads, the FL's persistence is 'rewarded' by the ML slowly (and subtly to the point of annoyance) falling in love with her.

THIS SHOW DOES NOT TOLERATE THAT

SIDE CHARACTERS:
We meet a range of characters from Erbao to Cheng Jing. Almost everyone has equal importance to the main leads. We are exposed to these characters' motivations, fears, and pasts with care and quality. Rather than have surface-level actors who we cannot root for or understand. the audience is exposed to almost REAL people, young adults with troubled existences that we can relate to. If there is an episode where the ML/FL wouldn't appear, the audience would still be immersed and engaged with the story of a side character. All of their interactions with each other, whether malicious, wholesome, or sad, are RAW. They are not sugar-coated or pushed aside with a wand of happiness. You and the characters are forced to reconcile with the consequences of their emotions and actions.

CHARACTER GROWTH
It's no surprise that there are character archetypes. There is the textbook mean girl. the supposed 'SL' that always cares for the FL, and there are the nerdy or bullied klds that bottle things inside. But as I said before...THIS SHOW DOES NOT TOLERATE THAT. These supposed one dimensional characters break out of their shells and restrictions of self over a realistic period. The numerous interactions they have with others and the problems they face make them into stronger people. The audience is not toyed around with this growth, as it is sincere and occurs within a natural time frame which cancels out fears of regression. Students you despised at first you eventually grow to love (cough cough, the bully squad in School 2013)

BALANCING MATURE/IMPORTANT THEMES
While this drama has a cute intro and a FL lead that seems strong enough to solve anything, it's not afraid to let characters suffer as they understand the brutality of the world. Important themes such as mortality, scarring, masculinity, forced promiscuity, poverty, sexuality, and parental abuse are depicted as truthfully as possible. Characters that suffered through events do not just spring back to happiness and support the leads. They have their ups and downs, and complex emotions as they not only deal with fellow students but other parents and societal beliefs that they cannot control. While some scenes are hard to work on and may make you turn away, you care enough about the characters and the event to keep watching.

HANDLING ROMANCE
The ML may be smart in some areas but is not an all-around ace. Meanwhile, Fang Xue (FL) is a strong-willed, assertive person. She is a great friend that goes through many episodes sticking up for her friends and solving their troubles, as chaos ensues. TheML falls in love with her first, and thoroughly and gently cares for as a friend as he builds up the courage to confess. Their interactions are wholesome and cute. There are times where you'll be screaming at the screen because of how cute they are. Things take a while to build up, but it's not in a forced slow way that makes you hate the writers. Other pairings too have this sizzling chemistry and strong bond. Friends to Lovers >>>>> Enemies to Lovers (so overdone)

I especially like how the ML has huge ups and downs as a character. There are constant moments where he is embarrassed in front of the whole school, struggles with grades and certain subjects, and does clumsy/weird things out of embarrassment.

I started this show on Episode 3 and was using it as background noise as I did my hair. Unexpectedly, I found a rare gem.