Running Is My Life
Network: iQIYI
Reviewer: cynlynn
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Cheng An Xin |
Xu Di: Zhao Xiu Fang (An Xin's Mom) |
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Chen Ruo Hua |
Chen Xiao Yi: Zhao Xiu Li (Ruo Hua's Mom) |
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Lin Tian Yu (An Xin's ML1) |
Song Yang: Qin Feng (An Xin's ML2) |
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Zhou Kai Ze (Ruo Hua's ML1) |
Li Tian Nuo: Li Zhong (Ruo Hua's ML2) |
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Liu Xun: Liu Jing Wei (Ruo Hua's ML3) |
Zeng Ke Lang: Qiu Huai Yang (An Xin's ML1) |
YSK the First 2024 Catchphrase
你真是餓了
You must be starving
FL's mother-in-law –– Spoilers! –– yells at her son for cheating on FL (An Xin, who is bilaterally amputated at this point), but more than his infidelity, she's livid at his low standards because, well, the mistress isn't your stereotypical mistress (see pic below). From MILs pov, her son must have been dying for sex with anyone who has a pair of legs or else how could he swallow that.
Some context. Their make-out scene made me queasy. The visuals burn. The setting is nauseating too. The mistress just buried her mother, corpse still fresh, memorial table just found a spot in her living room, and there they are eating each other's faces (committing adultery) in her home. The next time, they're at the convenience store. He's buying condoms, and asking her for the flavour (thank heavens I forgot what flavour she liked) and he lewdly gropes her butt. My poor eyes, but not poorer than MIL's, who witnesses everything from condom to butt. Hence the birth of her line: "You must be starving."
A deeper look into the illicit relationship: The mistress isn't the typical mistress to show that the husband isn't the typical jerk. Their immorality stems from their caregiver burden (he's burdened by An Xin, and she by her mother). They sought solace in each other. They were torn between what's morally right (be the good husband, be the good daughter), and their true desires (be selfish). This ethical dissonance tormented him. He has a choice (whereas An Xin does not), and it is that choice to be selfish that's tormenting him. That temptation haunts him every day, and especially every weekend when he dreads to be at home to face her all day. It's very human, very real, and an unfortunate situation for everyone involved. He really worked hard to make it work. Overall, I think Show handled his character quite appropriately, especially at the end. He was never someone I hated, but someone I felt sorry for. An Xin also did not need someone who avoided the sight of her. They both are better people to each other, unmarried.
YSK the Gossip 🍉
Zhong Chu Xi and Hou Wen Yuan are/were a real couple after/during filming this. When they were trending, the other hashtag was "When did Zhong Chu Xi and Zhang Yun Long break up?" That made promotions really awkward for The Furthest Distance (aired 3 months ago). I can't speak for her chemistry with ZYL, but here in BtR, ZCX and HWY look so good together. My eyes are healed. Hallelujah! Their characters' bond is beautiful too. Romance isn't the main focus, and that's perfectly alright for a show like this.
Review
A great stat; a great finish; a tolerable middle. I was traumatized at the start especially because I didn't read the synopsis or watch the trailers, but the depressing shock was effective. I was hooked. However, instead of the uplifting journey I thought this would be, this is more a low-key dog-blooded/makjang story about the cousins (two FLs) whose misfortunes don't stop at the devastating car accident. It's only the beginning. It gets bad, but it is also not so bad because Show moves at a decent pace. This type of makjang is more grounded and closer to life, and annoys me like my life would and I don't know why I need entertainment like this, but hey, I finished it. The ending – that is the final episode – saved this for me. Truly a great finish. Yang Chang Yue's makjang story had an entertaining climax. Zhong Chu Xi's performance was the emotional high – so many happy tears. This ending episode was what I wanted the whole drama to be like, but I guess I'm asking for too much here.
The Best and Worst relationship goes to the mums and daughters. The mothers are either their life saviour or life enslaver.
- The Best: An Xin and her mother (Zhao Xiu Fang). Xu Di as Zhang Xiu Fang laid the groundwork for me to believe dieting would cost her her life. So when she fought for a coach to help her diet, it hit really hard. It was either she loses weight, or she loses her daughter. She told her coach that if she can't even stop eating, then who is she to tell her daughter to get up again. (I'm not crying, you are.)
- The worst: Ruo Hua and her mother (Zhao Xiu Li). Insufferable mother! She made two children suicidal. Amazing actress, though. I hate her with every fibre of my being. She is so convincing as a caring mother that sucked the life out of her daughter. It felt real and it felt haunting. It was torture in the name of love.
- I didn't know the two FLs would interact so little.
- Are Chinese prosthetics that amazing (and affordable)? Serious question.
- I don't understand why An Xin (Zhong Chu Xi) keeps wearing ankle length skirts when she was still ashamed of her disability. It felt like the Show wanted to show off how authentic – I really don't know how authentic it is – the prosthetics seemed, but completely ignored the feelings of her character.
- I think I would enjoy the drama more without Yang Chao Yue's Ruo Hua. She has a heartbreak after heartbreak and a parasitic mother who will never go away. Her story is pushed forward by extrinsic factors beyond her control. I much preferred An Xin's story about her road to recovery, her mother's perseverance, and how she and her ML changed each other's lives.
- I was going to have a fit at the end with Lao Wang's lines (to Ruo Hua), but it's carefully worded to something I won't disagree with: "There aren't that many good people in this word, but only your father and mother can put their life on the line for you." In the context of this show, An Xin's mother embodied this heartfelt message. However, I'm neutral about Ruo Hua's mother's "sacrifice". I like that we also touch upon various maternal bonds a la An Xin's controlling MIL with her son, and mistress' estranged mother, y'know the memorial tablet. Not all moms can sacrifice for their children, but if there is someone who can sacrifice for their children, it's not surprising it's the mother (and father!).
- Poor mistress actress.
- Show gathered a helluva of a mother-madness cast. There's Xu Di. She was aggravating in CM of Love, but most of you will know her from the grandma in Love Like the Galaxy. There's Ai Li Ya from Romance on the Farm. I'm new to Chen Xiao Yi (Ruo Hua's mom), but this one role earned her a spot in my Mother Dearest Hall of Fame forever. Interestingly, Xu Di, who's so good at these roles, is the best mom in this show. I like that a lot for this lady. She's versatile.
- Best Zhong Chu Xi role.
- Yang Chao Yue is not bad, but if this is her best, she's still got more to work on.
- Wang You Jun, when you kissed her so soon, I knew you were trouble.
- Poor Song Yang as An Xin's husband!! 你好慘哦! Here's his interview.
Ending Screenshots
How to snatch a bride 101
#1 Hire an old man to 碰瓷 peng ci (a Chinese phenomenon where someone, usually a senior, extorts money by faking an injury, usually from a car accident). Not just an old man, but an old man who can fight like our Lao Lao Wang.
#2 Gather dancing ladies to make traffic red.
That's it! The groom will see this:
His nightmare (and mine)!
Ending Screenshots
The Final Performance
This dance is called 蛻變 Molt & Transform (which also sounds like 腿變 (Leg Changes), but that was probably unintentional). It's a dance to illustrate An Xin's metamorphosis. At the start, she's behind a cage, moving like a chrysalis in a cocoon. She tries so hard to break free and fly on her own....and then she falls. Oof. That hurt, but she didn't let that stop her from helping Lin Tian Yu break free and fly. Phew.
Random Recommendation: Dear Sister [Jdrama; 2014]
Rating: 3/5
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