Stand by Me Reviews

Zhao Jin Mai's performance is outstanding, and the young actors also did a fantastic job! It is profound, touching, fierce, and yet light-hearted. It skillfully portrays struggles with a calm and effortless approach. The scene where Luo Qi Qi unexpectedly escapes from the train ticket inspector is well-executed. The director captures the clever dialogue between Luo Qi Qi and her childhood self in the lush green fields. The scenes of her grandfather's passing and the phone call with her mother in the 5th episode instantly bring tears to one's eyes. The Hong Kong drama "The Era" playing on the television and the romance between Xiaoting and Xiang are sudden triggers of memories for someone.

It manipulates and is filled with clichéd plot structures and provocative emotional scenes. The original female protagonist starts off feeling insecure and struggling, gradually establishing her own boundaries and things she can control, thus asserting herself.
Those shaky, uncertain, and lacking confidence elements are deconstructed by the male director. Let me say this, when guys try to capture the essence of a girl's youth, their hollow imagination fails to grasp the complexity.
It's all fragmented, incoherent, and devoid of meaningful substance. Attempting to showcase technical prowess through cinematography isn't enough; it takes a cold and observant adaptation, detached from the first-person perspective.
Everyone becomes mere subjects under the lens, devoid of emotions. No matter how the machinery moves, the story is forced to progress.

I read this novel during high school, and I don't remember many of the plot details. However, I vividly remember how much I wished to have an older brother like Xu Xiao Bo to support me and how inspired I was by Luo Qi Qi's efforts.
When I watched the drama adaptation, I was deeply moved. Although I didn't have suffocating parents like that, I have experienced being falsely accused and bullied by classmates and doubted by teachers. I have also felt angry to the point of wanting to drop out of school.
Fortunately, my parents believed that I was not like that, and I was fortunate to meet a math teacher who believed in me and a close friend after being divided into different majors in the second year of high school. Looking back now, the boat has sailed through countless mountains.
It no longer matters who I wanted to prove myself to; what matters is that I have become true to myself. I think the reason why this drama has touched me so deeply is that it represents my own youth memories.

Why isn't this the most touching work of the year with no buzz or viewers? Its content is not coherent, often with abrupt expressions and plot twists. Limited by censorship (probably), even the most basic emotions cannot be conveyed through sufficient visuals, far from deserving a full-star rating.
However, it has given me so much energy.

Many times when watching dramas, I would identify with the protagonist. But this time, I no longer identify with Luo Qi Qi. I look up to her like everyone else in the drama, without questioning her, learning from her without envy.
Like everyone else, I reflect on my own brief life, borrowing her light and choosing to move forward. I can't even imagine how touched I would have been if I had encountered it when I was younger, but 21 is not too late.

After finishing it, I feel empty, like bidding farewell to a good friend. The last few episodes are truly heartbreaking. The anticipation built up earlier is dealt a heavy blow, and life remains lonely.

Self-education, suppression, constructing hope, sacrifice, escape, menstruation, body, fear of unexpected pregnancy—these are the experiences of young women in the town under the pressure of exam-oriented education.
Luo Qi Qi's journey from being self-centered to understanding the "weaker ones," numbness, and mothers is a sincere development of feminism. Luo Qi Qi's arguments with Xiao Fei flash traces of Naples—entangled with jealousy and understanding, derailment or endurance, chasing each other and becoming one another.
Luo Qi Qi is encouraged and isolated by Guan He, representing the subtle friendships nurtured in the Chinese-style campus. For those around her who face choices or resignation, Luo Qi Qi was once a spiritual totem—able to see the sun if she wanted to, but later, it became about imagining elsewhere.
I really liked the scenes between Luo Qi Qi and the Chinese teacher. It reminds me of an English teacher in high school who once pulled me aside and told me the same thing: observe, wait, and look forward.

Because the drama adopted a reverse chronological narrative, I initially couldn't understand why Luo Qi Qi was so self-centered and prickly, it was just inexplicable. It wasn't until later when her childhood story was revealed that I began to understand her.
With biased and harsh treatment from her parents, the mistaken belief of being good to their child, the passing of her grandfather, and the sudden rejection after thinking she had found a good friend in Zhang Jun, all of these would be difficult for any child to bear.
On the surface, it may seem like a typical story of an underachieving student overcoming obstacles to enter Tsinghua University, but I believe this story is more about teaching us the process of finding ourselves, understanding ourselves, and shaping our own identities.
It also teaches us to make peace with ourselves and the world. Luo Qi Qi is fortunate to have encountered "mentors and beneficial friends" like Chen Jin and Xu Xiao Bo. However, for most people, such guiding figures are not readily available.
We should remember Chen Jin's words, "Anger is just anger; anger is not a choice." Even in the face of a difficult life, we can still strive to become the person we want to be.

The enthusiast for problem-solving has been deeply affected. The "abandonment" from parents, the harsh words and malice from others when striving, and the distancing from good friends...
Loneliness is real. Fortunately, after going through a phase, even when walking alone, it no longer feels sad but rather joyful. I used to support myself with a phrase: "Life is like breathing, exhaling to let go, inhaling to fight back." Later, just like Luo Qi Qi, my photo was posted on the outstanding graduates section of middle and high school.
Approaching 30 years old, proving oneself is no longer the meaning of progress. Let's keep going and see what happens.

It's truly a treasured novel that I've kept for a long time. I've read it over and over again from middle school to college. Luo Qi Qi has always been the best protagonist in my heart. The rebelliousness of youth, the pursuit after growing up, the encounters and farewells with friends—during painful moments, I would say to myself, "Luo Qi Qi, you haven't memorized vocabulary or studied grammar today." Regardless, she gave me so much energy during my high school years and accompanied me as I grew up in another world.
In one's lifetime, they encounter many people, leaving behind both profound and insignificant memories, constantly saying goodbye. Perhaps she is a genius, but the strength of Luo Qi Qi lies in internalizing the spirits of the many people she encounters as her own energy.
"I came to this world to see the sun." Thanks to the director's aesthetic sense and cinematic expression, and thanks for giving Xiaofei a good ending. Suddenly, I feel that this kind of open ending is quite good because life is always filled with regrets.
Zhang Jun, who was missed, was destined to be missed. Xiaobo is just a reliable and solid older brother, while Luo Qi Qi will always be Luo Qi Qi.

After watching it, I felt a sense of emptiness in my heart. I had been looking forward to it from the beginning of production to its release, but many beloved aspects from the original source material were either not included or changed, which was somewhat disappointing.
However, Xiao Fei's storyline was handled well, and the friendship among the female characters touched my heart. Ma Mai poured all her efforts into portraying Luo Qi Qi, and in her wrap-up vlog, she said, "Being able to play Luo Qi Qi is my blessing." As someone who also loves Luo Qi Qi, I consider it a blessing that Ma Mai was able to portray her.

This year, I watched a drama that made me both love and hate it! It's the first TV series that made me feel so deeply connected. The interactions between Luo Qi Qi and her grandfather when she was a child, and then suddenly being taken away from her grandfather by her mother, her reluctance—it really reminded me of my own childhood.
In the trajectory of her personal growth, I found a deep resonance. I'm grateful that she had friends who helped her along the way, and she is actively bringing warmth to everyone around her.
I feel like I am a combination of Luo Qi Qi and Guan He, experiencing the twists and turns of Luo Qi Qi's transformation in the early stages and later being molded into a "good student" like Guan He, closing myself off and creating a so-called excellent image to despise those around me.

Although this drama intentionally includes elements of emotional torment and forcefully contrived conflicts, I couldn't help but give it a 5-star rating. Just for that, it has stirred up memories of my past youth!

This is one of the best mainland Chinese dramas I've watched this year. It embodies a spirit of progress and upward mobility that is scarce in our current times, constantly questioning and seeking within one's heart (which I personally lack).
The beautiful friendship between girls (I really like Xiaofei), the ambiguous objects of affection that can never communicate properly during adolescence, the touching hearts between teachers and students, the complex emotions within families (especially the love of the grandfather), and even some elements that go beyond friendship and family bonds, all receive attention in the drama.
The character development is also quite profound and multi-dimensional. Even the role of the "mother," who doesn't have much screen time, is portrayed in a very three-dimensional and believable way. Occasionally, there are moments that even remind me a little of "My Amazing Girlfriend.

This drama isn't just a love story. Even if there is love, it's not simply about love. It doesn't matter who Luo Qi Qi ends up with.

What pleasantly surprised me is when Luo Qi Qi expressed my inner confusion: "I could try harder, endure a bit longer, aim for a better score, even Tsinghua University would be possible.
But I can't find the meaning in doing all of this. The people who used to be by my side, we had an agreement to work hard together, to go to a better university. But now, one by one, they have all left, and I don't know what's worth pursuing anymore – that prestigious university, that future, that distant dream.

In the end, the scene shifts, and Luo Qi Qi finally finds meaning in her childhood pure love for mathematics. It was beautifully portrayed. However, even after watching it, I still don't know the meaning of my own efforts.
Perhaps, as Chen Jin said in the drama, "I can't help you with that. Meaning is important, but you have to find it yourself.

Nevertheless, this drama at least provided me with a window for contemplation, where I discovered that someone shares the same thoughts as me.
I'm very happy and pleasantly surprised.

This is not just a story of a low-achieving student rising to become a top student. It is a story of self-exploration, self-discovery, and taking control of one's own life.

Her efforts are so specific—the alarm clock ringing in the early morning, her silhouette on the balcony memorizing vocabulary, the streetlamp illuminating her as she reviews her homework—the portrayal of these tangible scenes depicts her hard work.
Those images are so inspiring, they make your blood boil with excitement.

She grows in a wild and unconventional way. She dares to go against the norms, possessing independent thinking and steadfast determination.
Even when she challenges her teachers, her rebellious actions are backed by clear logic and solid arguments.

The friendship she shares with the two girls also brought tears to my eyes.
She has a moral compass with a stable core that transcends societal norms and prejudices. She firmly chooses her friends and, through practical actions, helps them without holding grudges.

Perhaps in real life, we may not have such characters around us, but the characters in the drama still move us and ignite our passion. This is perhaps the power of artistic works.

I read this novel during high school purely for the nostalgia. Qi Qi Luo seemed like a part of my high school motivation, and I fantasized about being able to create miracles through hard work, just like Qi Qi Luo.
When I revisited the novel turned into a drama after ten years, my feelings were truly complicated. Even until now, I haven't been able to find the meaning of my life and struggles, feeling lost and escaping from reality.
Those irretrievable youthful years, those people and events that cannot be returned to. Let's look forward and watch the sun together in this world, for passionate daydreaming is a powerful driving force.

As a fan of the original work, I unexpectedly found this drama quite good. The first half did undergo some modifications, but the later part of the plot became increasingly faithful to the expression of the original work.
I genuinely adore that awkward and wholehearted immersion in emotions during adolescence. I also love the friendship between girls, where they redeem and support each other. Youth is truly beautiful.
Both the original work and the drama have open-ended conclusions, but I prefer to believe that Qi Qi and Zhang Jun have already reunited in a parallel timeline. Lastly, let's strive for self-improvement and never give up!

I've read the book and also finished watching the TV drama. It can be considered a decent adaptation. The overall production design and styling evoke a sense of nostalgia similar to "Reply 1988," capturing the confusion and growth of youth for both girls and boys.
It resonates with audiences of the same generation.

In terms of performances, young Qi Qi leaves a deep impression. She is full of vitality and embodies the image of a happy and talented child. Teenage Luo Qi Qi, on the other hand, portrays rebellion, confusion, unwillingness, and hard work, although her portrayal lacks some of that vitality.

I really, really, really liked the first few episodes. It was amazing, and what I actually liked was the chemistry between Chen and the female lead. They felt like soulmates. I didn't expect them to have such limited screen time later on, but I respect the female lead's decision.
It's her own journey, and every time she sees Zhang Jun, it's clear that there's a different vibe, like that of a young girl. As for Zhang Jun, I feel like both him and the female lead are quite stubborn. Also, I find it amusing that their arguments and quarrels when they meet seem to affect their studies, haha.

What I found most difficult to accept was Xiaofei and Xiaobo. Even though I had anticipated an unfavorable outcome for Xiaofei since her high school days, why is it that in both the novel and the drama, the seemingly well-behaved girls tend to make relatively outrageous choices and end up with unfavorable endings?
Is it for the sake of creating contrast or impact? Does real life work that way too? Although I had already anticipated that Xiaobo wouldn't smoothly pass the college entrance exam and go to university, his situation was just so unfortunate.
When he said, "In this world, if you can reap one unit of reward for every unit of effort, you are already very fortunate," it truly saddened me.

At first, I was completely confused because I'm a fan of the original work, and the adaptation was quite significant. However, the more I watched, the better it became.

The screenwriter truly has some skills. In fact, in certain aspects, it even surpassed the original work. I don't know how many times I cried while watching it. Every time Luo Qi Qi's grandfather appeared, I couldn't hold back my tears.
All the actors displayed great acting skills and portrayed their characters perfectly. Zhao Jin Mai truly understands Luo Qi Qi's determination, self-discipline, and self-improvement.
She is constantly growing and searching for her true self. I also have to praise the young actor who played the young Luo Qi Qi - they were amazing! Zhang Jun's scene of crying in the car was also incredibly impressive.
These newcomers should not be underestimated! I just finished watching it yesterday, and I absolutely loved this drama! The only drawback is that it was too short. Many storylines were not included, and although I understand that some omissions were necessary for censorship purposes, it's a shame to miss out on some exciting plot points.
However, I still give it a five-star rating!

The filters, lighting, composition—all of them make the visual presentation quite appealing. The adaptation also showcases the skills of the screenwriter. The use of poetry, song lyrics, movies, and essays in the drama avoids clichés.
The adaptations of Xiaofei, Guan He, and Ma Li elevate the underlying intentions, and Xiaobo is portrayed as even more resolute in his pursuit of his ideals compared to the original work. In that sense, there are no regrets.

My favorite story is about Xiaoqiqi, as well as the friendship between Qiqi and Xiaofei—playing freely together in the countryside during childhood and reuniting in high school, remaining friends despite hardships.
Qiqi never forgets to prepare something for Xiaofei, be it food or toys, and she tells stories to Xiaofei. Qiqi is Xiaofei's sanctuary away from home, and the days spent with her grandfather and Xiaofei are the happiest times for Qiqi.

When "White Dove" starts playing, accompanied by Qiqi and Xiaofei running in the fields, releasing white doves together, their reunion embrace, and their hopeful aspirations for the future during phone calls, my eyes always become moist.

After graduating from high school, everyone goes their separate ways, truly embodying the phrase "half-scattered friendships." But luckily, in the end of the drama, Qiqi and Xiaofei don't drift apart.

The title gives a fresh and youthful impression, but the essence is a deeply poignant coming-of-age literature. Set in a small county town and an older era, it explores the juxtaposition of one's original family background and involvement with the underworld.
The intricacies are as delicate as a steel wire, with numerous good-hearted kids forced to walk upon it. Those with strong determination can make it across, while those lacking conviction are on the verge of making wrong choices. The majority of parents are unable to help them, as adults themselves are living in an unsettling period of change.
This is what we call the painful birth pangs of transformation, and it truly affects many families. The segment in the 13th episode at the technical school was particularly well-executed, reminiscent of Lou Ye's style.

It's a story about families in the 1990s, quite realistic. The main characters are all talented actors, and the story has good coherence, although the ending is open-ended. The character development in the story can make the audience feel anxious, but fortunately, it's portrayed by the talented Mai Mai.
It's hard to say how it would have turned out with a different actor. Of course, I haven't read the original work, so I don't know the author's original intentions. But since it's an adaptation, it definitely involves the expressions of the screenwriters, directors, and even the actors themselves.
Luo Qi Qi manages to overcome one challenge after another, and in the end, she finally finds her own sunshine!