Decent watch but could have been better

Qiang Ge’s character was well written and the actor really brought him to life. I like that his character’s cowardice, bravery, selfishness and selflessness reflects how complex and contradictory humans can be.

Some other characters, however, did feel a bit more superficial/two dimensional. In all honesty, I felt like the story could have progressed without so many players entering the game.

I like that the drama included traditional/older architecture in its filming sets (e.g. Chun Yu’s home), which was quite a stark contrast to the more futuristic VR plot. Kind of helps to ground the story for viewers + aesthetics.

Another thing that I felt the drama missed out was the meaning behind its title “19th Floor”. Chinese literature mentions that sinners are sent to the 18 levels of hell (18层地狱) to receive punishment after death. In a sense, the concept of 19 floors in the VR game trials draw on this ideology but this wasn’t quite reflected in the drama (other than it being the school building’s name). In the novel, there were 19 levels of trials for the players. Granted, this would probably have been a little too much for a 30 ep drama adaptation but okay.

Overall, still a decent and enjoyable watch.

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A healing journey with beautiful and realistically imperfect characters

I’m not sure if this is true for all but I found the characters very relatable in the way they struggled with heartaches and problems.

I really love the depth that the characters have (especially Sang Tae and Gang Tae). The main characters, in particular, were very realistically written. They struggled with conflicting emotions and thoughts, like we all do as regular humans. I love that the writers didn’t restrict the characters in a fixed/rigid way. That being said, there was also a lot of character development. I really enjoyed following their journey of growth and self discovery. The cast also had great chemistry and lovely portrayals of the characters.

Though there isn’t really a climax to this story, it was still really enjoyable and well paced. I usually have thoughts of dropping a drama halfway through but to my surprise this time, it didn’t happen. :)

Lastly, I really love that it addresses mental health and the title resonates throughout the drama that it’s okay to not be okay. I received a lot of healing along the way :’)

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Slightly underwhelming

The plot was pretty slow in the beginning, only began to pick up in the last 30 minutes or so and ended on an anticlimax.

I do appreciate that it portrays an alternative way of dealing with a zombie apocalypse (which is honestly probably what I would do too if I faced the same situation) instead of rushing out and fighting with zombies immediately. However, perhaps it's because I watched Kingdom and Train to Busan before this, but it felt like there were too many scenes with a lack of action. A lot of it deals with the loneliness and isolation from the outside world. In a way, it was kind of relatable due to COVID-19 lockdowns but it wasn't quite what I was expecting to see in a zombie movie.

Still, it's great to see Yoo Ah In on screen again. The zombie crew was great too.

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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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