January 24, 2025

Reopen My Journals | Review

Reopen My Journals
A slice-of-life about families, served with a side of love triangles.
Notable Actors/Actresses
Li Yun RuiXiao Han
Huangyang Tian TianQian Jia Yue
Director
Screenwriter
Chinese Title
致1999年的自己
Reopen My Journals
Year: 2025
Episodes: 33

Jump to Remarks | Recs | Comments


Cast


Li Yun Rui:
Xiao Han
Huangyang Tian Tian:
Qian Jia Yue
Ni Hong Jie:
Chen Xiu E
Yang Hao Yu:
Zhang Qi Ming
Dong Jie:
Guan Ai Ping
Yu En Tai:
Qian Kang
Chen He Yi:
Mao Tou
Zhang Xin Yi:
Chen Mo
Huang Yi:
Chang Wu Ji
Chen Fang Tong:
Ka Men (Carmen)
Yang Kun:
Liao Dong Mei
Yue Yang:
Liu Song Ming
Jiang Shi Meng:
A Pei
Cheng Li Sha:
Zhao Rong Fang
Chao Wei Yu:
Chen Peng Yu

So I decided to leave the cast in this disorganized state where none of the couples match up. It's better this way for the drama.


Drama Info


Directed by Li Zhi (Twenty Your Life On) and written by Chen Chen (The Rational Life).

Li Yun Rui and Huangyang Tian Tian already have 3 dramas together, and this is just the first one. 
  • Reopen: Teenage crush
  • Perfect Match: Father & Daughter
  • Princess Agents Sequel/Prequel: Boyfriend & Girlfriend
Perfect Match (airing the next day) will also have Ni Hong Jie and Chen He Yi. Ni Hong Jie remains as Huangyang Tian Tian's mother, but Chen He Yi becomes her brother-in-law over there. That's definitely not the status he wants here in Reopen, ha. 

Wrapped in July 2023. 

[Ending] Happy. One complete romance, and for the others – guess!


Review

by cynlynn

So it's a Nothing-Spectacular type of watch, yet it still gave me quite a bit of memorable moments. It’s an ensemble-driven family/children’s drama with a decent emotional core, where everyone gets a turn in the spotlight.

Warning 1Li Yun Rui fans, beware. You’ll be sorely disappointed. Other MLs struggle – his ML is the struggle. Then when he stops the struggle, woah, he's boring. It's a real struggle, y'all.

Warning 2: The romance takes delight in ambiguity. Your ship won’t sink, but it won’t sail either—just floats indefinitely, lol.

(Favourite) Romance. I wouldn’t recommend this for romance, yet ironically, that’s what kept me chasing it. It’s more a slight romance among the family slice-of-life, which is actually a genre I like (once upon a time I used to watch those long arse family Kdramas that weren’t so dog-blooded or revenge-driven). The FL has two suitors—neither of whom is the ML—and I really liked them both. Mao Tou is the ever-present clown stuck in unrequited love, and Chang Wu Ji is the sweet, nerdy, GI-troubled contender. Even Ka Men’s (FL3) "romance" was surprisingly enjoyable. Lu Yao is chill and loyal with his only mortal flaw being core strength – the lack thereof. Meanwhile ML1's (Li Yun Rui) romance? Whew, was it dull.

[1/3] Mao Tou x Qian Jia Yue x Chang Wu Ji

Mao Tou found her a sacred hiding spot for her secrets (diary)

Mao Tou was always there!


Oh no, but Mao Tou has competition. He's Chang Wu Ji, our GI-troubled nerd who's totally sweet and mature. How to choose!

My Favourite Romantic Scene in Ep15
☎️❤️☎️



I was so happy for Mao Tou whenever Qian Jia Yue picked up the phone. It meant so much to him. 🥰🥰
Ah, but this sweetie with his trial and error got through too!

10 Years later.
Who will she choose?
[Spoilers!]

Nobody knows.
ლ(⋋·⋌)ლ
Ship floating indefinitely....

And this unnecessary facial hair:
You're called Hair(y) Head, not Hairy Chin, Mao Tou.


[2/3] Xiao Han x Chen Mo
Of course, the only CP that's confirmed at the end is the couple I don't care about.


[3/3] Ka Men and Lu Yao
They're so much cuter than I thought they'd be. Of the 3 girls, Ka Men stole my heart. The boy she's crushing on, Lu Yao, is a down-to-earth popular boy who's only mortal flaw is...
too weak. LOL. He ends up sitting at the back.


Favourite Character. Is it ML2? Is it ML3? No, it's FL3! Ka Men (Chen Fang Tong) starts off as a funny sidekick, then gradually reveals layers of vulnerability, making her journey touching and fulfilling. Chen Fang Tong, please rise.



Favourite (Family) Moment: Mao Tou and his dad exchanging toilet paper. Amid the chaos of love and comedy, the dad’s heartfelt sincerity toward his son is the show's most touching moment. This father outshone all the moms (who Show favoured over the dads, but they were a miss for me).







The moms' sismance

Ni Hong Jie, I like her, but she's way too shrilly and chatty.


Chen He Yi's (Mao Tou) Acting. Why am I bringing this up again? Geeeez (at myself). I think he fits the role and I do love his Mao Tou, but there were some missed opportunities – like every time Qian Jia Yue fiercely protected him. That was prime love-struck-eye territory and his eyes were successfully...opened. It is a pair of good-looking eyes though.
Real pics from Chen He Yi



Rating: 3/5


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