September 23, 2023

Stand by Me | Open Thread + Reviews

A stubborn girl in pursuit of education (over boys?). 
Notable Actors/Actresses
Zhao Jin Mai: Luo Qi Qi
Bai Yu Fan: Xu Xiao Bo
Director
Scriptwriter
Wu Tong (Author: Tong Hua)
Chinese Title
那些回不去的年少時光
The Youth That I Cannot Return To
Year2023
Episodes: 30

Jump to Remarks | Reviews | RecsComments


Cast


Zhao Jin Mai:
Luo Qi Qi
Bai Yu Fan:
Xu Xiao Bo
Wu Jia Kai:
Zhang Jun
Zhao Zhao Yi:
Guan He

Screencaps


[Ep1]
Angry Xiao Bo Ge.
[Ep2]
[Ep3]
Young Zhang Jun and Luo Qi Qi hanging out.
[Ep4]
She's angry.
[Ep5]
Her ge always looks out for her.
Two math geniuses: Chen Jin (child progidy) and Luo Qi Qi.
[Ep6]
[Ep7]
[Ep8]
Reunited with a childhood best friend.
[Ep9]

[Ep10]
Peeking at Wu Zei on his date.

[Ep11]
[Ep12]

[Ep13]
[Ep14]
[Ep15]
[Ep16]
[Ep17]
[Ep18]
The future is brilliant in Xiao Bo's eyes.
A moment of hope.
[Ep19]
[Ep20]
Like the sun...can rise again.
She didn't back down.
Bittersweet.
An unsaid goodbye.
Xiao Bo is back.
[Ep21]
[Ep22]
[Ep23]
[Ep24]
[Ep25]
[Ep26]
[Ep27]
[Ep28]
Seeing her in the perfect dress.
[Ep29]
[Ep30]




Remarks

by FanFanX

[First Impression (Ep1-)] It's a slow-paced series with some serious acting. I always forget how young Zhao Jin Mai is as she's continued to impress me with every new series. Having recently read the book, in this case, I hope this drama is ten times better than its source material.  

[Actors/Actresses] The leads, Zhao Jin Mai and Bai Yu Fan have me hooked. Might want to keep an eye on newcomer, Wu Jia Kai (Zhang Jun) though. 

[Behind the Scenes


→ Ep10. Zhao Jin Mai stunned by Guo Jia Kai's handsomeness. Thank Cyn Lynn for this gem!

[CP Name

 長弓夕四 
Zhang Jun 張駿 + Luo Qi Qi 羅琦琦
= Zhang Gong Si Xi 長弓夕四
→  No meaning. 長弓夕四 are the root characters that make up their surname (in Simplified Chinese)
長弓 = 張 Zhang
夕四 = 罗 Luo


[Ending] Open happy/sad. Depends on how you look at it.  


Reviews




Five (5/5)


Four (4/5)


Three (3/5)

Reviewer: FanFanX
Date: January 2024
Aesthetics: A
Acting: A++ Plot: A → B Months later, this is still a very hard series to write a review for as I still have very complicated feelings about it. Every scene whether bright and energetic or dark and gloomy, the actors are top-notch in this – and I felt each person’s emotions/state of mind were well conveyed in this. So well that I’m still reeling from the turmoil. However, the story became so heavy and depressing, that I almost dropped it a few times. This is a girl’s coming of age story and her conflicting feelings about her family, home life, friends, boys and school. Luo Qi Qi wants to get away from home but she has so many obstacles – and has to change her outlook, method and reorganize her priorities. She can’t change her family dynamics but needs to look within herself to strive for more – to go to college.

Luo Qi Qi’s reunion with a lost childhood friend, Ge Xiao Fei, is the most poignant and beautiful relationship in this series. Their friendship starts with innocence and only the happiest things but things change with such heartbreak and a giant jolt of reality. Not everyone can move up (vertically) but one can move forward (horizontally), even if it’s on the seemingly harder path.
The all-important question – is there romance? Yes. (Note: This is set during high school so there are very limited physical interactions.)

1) Her longtime friend, Xu Xiao Bo, who is like an older brother to her. But when he starts distancing himself, she starts noticing his absence as they grew up together and he’s been her protector for a long time. She realizes he’s been her home away from home, and the only person who has ever stood up for her. Does she know that he's fallen in love with her?

2) Zhang Jun, a student with divorced parents, so he hardly has any adult supervision. The two bond over their family issues, their childhood connection (only reconnected recently), and wanting to leave their problems behind. Is escapism the best way to live one's life?

If you’ve read any of Tong Hua’s books or seen another series adaptation of the same, then you may know how much turmoil you’re in for…but multiply it by at least three for level of frustration in the series. This is worth a watch, if you’re able to sit down and ride it out. The ride is very bumpy and eventually mellows out. Again, these actors are spectacular in their respective roles. Lastly, the ending is something that leaves one wondering on what could've/should've happened but...

P.S. I much prefer Xu Xiao Bo over the wildly more popular Zhang Jun.


Random RecommendationAlliance  The sismance that no one saw coming.

Rating: 3/5

Two (2/5)


One (1/5)




Recommendations


FLs Students Students
My Best Friend's Story The Examination for Everyone The Hope

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