Always on the Move Reviews

Director Zheng Xiaolong, screenwriter Gao Mantang, and starring Ding Yong Dai, this era drama depicting the theme of railway public security spanning over 40 years since the reform and opening up is of high quality! From what I've seen so far, the characters are well-developed!
The old trains from different periods portrayed in the drama authentically recreate the trains people used to travel on in the past decades. The various dialects spoken by people traveling southbound and northbound, especially the Sichuan dialect's "zei wazi," feel very familiar.
Additionally, Bai Jing Ting has shown noticeable improvement in his acting skills in recent years, and I look forward to seeing him make a breakthrough.

This period drama, featuring veteran actors and being broadcasted on CCTV at the beginning of the year, seems to be a highly anticipated "blockbuster of the year" aiming to follow in the footsteps of "All Is Well on the Train." However, in various aspects, it falls a bit short.
The craftsmanship of the screenwriting feels a bit heavy, with traces of being written just for the sake of it. There are several moments in the plot that only lack subtitles saying, "This is the part where you should be moved to tears." In comparison, the literary quality and seamless flow of "All Is Well on the Train" are truly remarkable.
The sense of grandeur that makes the river of unpredictable destiny flow, along with the almost effortless performances of all the actors who seem to embody their characters from the moment they appear on screen, is something that is difficult for an average production team to catch up with.
In contrast, the two leading actors representing the younger generation in this drama still lack a bit of skill and chemistry, and their on-screen pairing feels forced. Mr. Ding seems to struggle a bit in carrying the weight of the show.

It's great! So hilarious! "Catch the drunkard (second tone)!" "You wear glasses and you're still blind!" "From the southbound, northbound, Jiamusi, Hegang, cotton mill, factory, those about to take over the shift, going to the countryside, joining the work team, returning to the city without finding a job, speculating, flipping, those who steal and commit crimes, they're all honest!
" "You're not good at being a person, but you're definitely the best at being a thief!" "From a distance, you look like a beggar, up close, you look like a scavenger, but upon closer inspection, you're from the locomotive depot!
" "If I can't handle this conversation, I'll drop to the ground. It's so annoying!" Haha, southbound, northbound, are you trying to make me laugh to death????????????

Bai Jing Ting stands out among a group of veteran actors. His Northeastern accent is awkward for me to listen to. It's fine for young actors to work and have fun with their peers, but when facing senior actors, he really can't keep up.
Ding Yong Dai and Fang Zi Bin, the respected teachers, are immersed in their roles. It's evident that this drama aims to follow the path of realism in the entertainment industry, but it falls short by a large margin.
Why do production companies insist on pairing a group of popular actors with talented ones? There isn't a single popular actor who can deliver a powerful performance. It would be so much better to have a group of good actors who focus on acting sincerely.
They would still gain popularity, and the audience would love them just the same. Also, what's going on with the costume and set design in this drama? Both the costumes and scenery are entirely modern.
Is this really directed by Zheng Xiaolong?

The seasoned actor's performance is so genuine and heartfelt. It's like he abruptly "cut and pasted" himself into the role. His unique acting style is refreshing and innovative. In fact, if you've been following his career from the beginning, you'll notice that he tends to "copy and paste" himself into every character.
Even off-screen, he meticulously crafts various personas: a socially awkward dance enthusiast on Douyin, a trendy guy on Xiaohongshu, a witty and clever man on Weibo, carefully curating his presence on Douban and Zhihu, a man afraid of strong women when he's single, and a devoted partner when in a relationship.
He effortlessly garners a massive following on all platforms, and he has complete control over public opinion. Even when fashion influencers collectively lose their sense of style, he manages to stay in the spotlight.
When he wants to trend, even a single comment can make it happen. And he doesn't let his on-screen relationships go idle either. Regardless of the gender, he stirs up a frenzy, causing a massive flood of attention when a new drama is released.

After the pandemic, we have been seeing exquisite period dramas every year. From "In the World" to "Glory of the Fathers" and now "North and South," each one has a great cast and combines historical events with family stories.
We don't need to envy Korean dramas like "Reply 1988" anymore. Stories like these seem to resonate with our country. They are suitable for older generations to watch and the plot reflects the times while showcasing patriotism and a sense of family.

The first episode was already captivating. Ma Kui's mysterious appearance piqued our curiosity, and his reunion with Xiao Wang was filled with comedic effect. The revelation of Old Ma's background was thought-provoking.
At first, I thought he might have been a long-time spy or someone who underwent years of labor reform, but the actual revelation was even more dramatic. I'm really looking forward to how the story unfolds.

Having this drama during the winter break means I have a way to spend time with my parents.

Tonight on Channel 8, two new dramas. Both Zhou Yi Wei and Bai Jing Ting have a good reputation for their acting and character, so I paid attention to both. Interestingly, they are both detective-themed shows.
One involves catching thieves on a train and even includes a Sherlock Holmes reference, while Di Ren Jie is like the "Oriental Sherlock Holmes" with only one person in the "Southern Hemisphere of the Big Dipper." However, it's a pity that there is a lack of depth and weightiness.
Many scenes feel like small-scale theatrical performances, lacking authenticity and coming across as empty and superficial. It completely fails to capture the true essence of human experiences, giving off a strong sense of artificiality and leaving an impression of slick-tongued smoothness.
The editing lacks a sense of rhythm, and the shows fail to evoke emotions, making it difficult to fully engage with the story.

Ma, who has been in labor camps for 10 years, why does he constantly attack the younger generation like a firecracker once he's released? He never tires of personal attacks.
Although it may be a generational issue, it's excessive... And Niu Da Li's character design is just speechless. The editing is jarring... I can understand that the production team wanted to recreate the nostalgic period drama, but the quality is nowhere near comparable at the moment.
Female actors should really have less appearance anxiety; their faces become stiff and can't express emotions when they've had too much work done.

I watched the first episode seriously. Although it can't be called terrible, it's truly mediocre and tasteless. Teacher Ding Yongdai's acting is still solid, but the performances of others, including the usually skilled at portraying ordinary people, Si Bao Song Jia Teng, and Wang Xun, all show traces of overacting.
As for the set design, it's too fake, like a stage play. Just like "The Glory of the Older Generation," there's a giveaway, you can tell it's staged. The train carriage, which is supposed to be crucial, is too clean and lacks that smoky atmosphere.
The down-to-earth vibe of Northeast China is also not captured at all.

As for the script, there are deliberate conflicts and suspenseful designs. Especially when Ma Kui appears, why did he run away on the train?
Wasn't he released after serving his sentence? How did he become Wang Xin's master so quickly? And he spent ten years in prison... when he came home, he just casually had dinner with his wife and daughter, as if nothing happened.
Shouldn't the director have arranged a scene showing the awkwardness and gradual breaking of the ice between him and his wife and daughter after a long separation? Everything feels so abrupt, rushed, without the natural flow and inner dramatic tension that a realistic-themed drama should have.
I was genuinely interested in the theme, the conflicts between the North and the South, but the director and the screenwriter rushed it.

Bai Jing Ting really can't handle this kind of drama. Acting in a historical setting or playing a puppet is passable, but his performance in Northeastern dialect is particularly awkward. Jin Chen's face looks strange, especially her nose.
She really shouldn't have had any more cosmetic procedures. Moreover, there's a lack of the nostalgic atmosphere that is characteristic of period dramas. There's nothing appealing about it.
Maybe it can still entertain some people, but personally, I can't continue watching this drama. It can't compare to "All Is Well on the Train" and others. I'll give two stars solely for the veteran actors.

This Lunar New Year, with this funny Northeastern dialect, the New Year is surrounding me. Well, watching this drama, even my accent has become influenced. It's a period drama that captures the essence of the era while not lacking in humor and comedy.
It's a heartwarming and delightful drama that showcases family bonds, friendships, love, and the camaraderie among neighbors. The most prominent aspect is how it takes place on a train journey, depicting the stories between train police and ordinary people, witnessing the trajectory of railway development and societal changes.

The seemingly trivial matters can escalate into something significant." This line really resonated with me. People emerged from a closed and rigid state after the reform and opening-up, gradually forming a good atmosphere of seeking truth, daring to change, and embracing innovation.
Moreover, in this world, there are countless emotions and things. You always have to let go of everything, learn to go with the flow, and be a good person. This drama with a good conscience, in any case, I really appreciate it.
It's definitely worthy of five stars!

Dropped the drama around episode 12. It started off really promising, but as it progressed, it became tiresome. It was either about a love triangle in a courtyard or catching thieves on a train, with repetitive jumps and the addition of seemingly funny moments.
It felt more like a skit than a TV drama, divided into segments that even if you missed several episodes, you wouldn't have trouble understanding. You could connect the storylines from anywhere, and it's good for mindless entertainment, background noise, or killing time.
However, if you sit down to watch it seriously for a long time, you'll feel like you're wasting your time. It's a shame considering the strong cast and the artificial-looking scenes.

After watching a couple of episodes, I finally noticed a flaw. In the second episode, during the train's bend, it was clearly a snowy scene, but when they mentioned the thief, the scenery outside the window turned lush green.
Also, I don't understand why the protagonist's master keeps undermining him just because his father didn't testify when he witnessed the murder in the past. It feels excessive to keep harping on this point.
It's an old generation's matter, what does it have to do with his son's generation? Moreover, the master even personally came to accompany and drink with him, but he rejected it! And that character, Jin Cheng, is really not suitable for him.
That role should be played by a much younger actor, someone with more youthfulness, not someone in their thirties like him. The review was right; it's true. Trains from the last century couldn't possibly be cleaner than the high-speed trains of this century, not to mention people still eating sunflower seeds on the train nowadays.

As a railway family member, I was initially looking forward to this drama, but it seems to fall short compared to real life. I feel that the male lead couldn't live up to expectations, especially since he doesn't quite look like someone from Northeast China.
Why not cast a male actor from the Northeast? Ding Yong Dai and Hu Ke delivered impressive performances, and the guest veteran actors were also excellent. The romantic scenes between the male and female leads in the plot were overly emphasized and felt tiresome.
Moreover, the love triangle storyline made the character Ling'er seem shallow and fickle. The young people's story should have been the main highlight. The stories on the train revolving around the train police and passengers were interesting, but I always felt that the male lead was given too much prominence.
On the contrary, the stories within the residential compound were more intriguing, and the ensemble cast was more engaging. For example, the Egg King's disappearance plotline was hilarious.

To be honest, after reading the synopsis on Douban, I found out that it's set in Dalian, which is in Northeast China. I really couldn't tell at all. The female lead's acting is even worse than the male lead's, and the male lead's character is relatively simple, hot-blooded, and impulsive.
The female lead had a father who was imprisoned for ten years, a childhood lacking paternal love, and was bullied by peers. The male lead is someone who helped her out when he saw injustice, and his character is relatively complex. But Jin Chen didn't portray any of that.
Her longing and resentment towards her father, her inferiority and secret admiration for the male lead, and her care and strength towards her mother and family were completely absent.

It's hard to believe that this is a major drama featuring the combination of Zheng Xiaolong and Gao Mantang. It's so, so dull that it makes me want to fall asleep. I have no idea where the climax is supposed to be.
Is it going to be a quadrangle love affair later on?... They say it's a period drama, but the characteristics of that era and some significant events are not portrayed. The most important aspect of a period drama is capturing the changes of the times and the personal destinies.
The acting skills of the male and female leads are also quite mediocre. They just don't seem like people from that era.

Previous promotions claimed it to be iQiyi's blockbuster of the year, as if it was the 2.0 version of the real world. Perhaps my expectations were too high. The most interesting aspects of the drama are basically what can be found in short videos online.
The other plotlines are somewhat monotonous. Jin Chen's character and the period drama feel a bit disconnected. It feels like she's not part of the same show as her father. King Jiji is the funniest character in the entire drama, and Xiaobai's softened northeastern dialect could be more closely aligned with the character.

The character Ma Yan was initially quite average. However, since Wang Xin started the parallel storyline, I feel that Ma Yan's character has become really charming. She embodies the typical northeastern woman—casual and carefree on the surface, making you think she doesn't know much, but deep down, she's very aware and clear-minded.
She believes that enjoying the present moment is more important than anything else. Every day, she lives happily and joyfully. My mom often says, "Happiness is a day, just like sadness is a day. Why not choose to be happy for a day?
" I feel that people like her can provide great comfort and encouragement to those around them. She is truly the most suitable match for Wang Xin.

The set of the railway courtyard in the drama seems to be artificially constructed. The scenery doesn't feel very natural and it's a bit off.

Hu Ke and Jin Chen playing mother and daughter feels a bit mismatched.
They seem to be around the same age. Jin Chen's appearance is particularly modern, more like a trendy beauty from Hong Kong than someone from that era.

Bai Jing Ting and Jiang Yan have better chemistry.
I hope the main focus of the drama is not just romance.

I really enjoy watching period dramas. Although I didn't experience that era, I always feel that even though they lacked many things back then, everything was more genuine and the relationships between people were purer.

I'm really tired nowadays.

It's okay to watch as a comedy film, but the part where the Ma family adopts a child is quite frustrating. Clearly, their own health is not good, yet they insist on adopting and burdening themselves.
In the prevailing mindset of the male lead being the breadwinner and the female lead taking care of the household, this child will likely end up being taken care of by their daughter after the female lead's passing, at most with some help from the neighbors.
And they talk about how the child can support their older sister when they grow up. Oh my, raising a child alone by the older sister would take at least a decade, the return on investment is too long.
It's really hard to believe.