Stand by Me Reviews

I don't understand why the female protagonist needs to maintain an angry demeanor all the time. Luo Qi Qi should be someone who lacks presence but has a passionate inner world. The director seems to have added a lot of their own aesthetics, which have already been overused in current youth works.
It's evident that the newcomer director, Xiaotangren, still finds these aesthetics refreshing. However, some fresh elements from the novel, which are relatively uncommon in contemporary youth film and television, have been changed.
The writing style of the novel is poor, but the storyline is good. The contrast and impact have been weakened by more than half. I thought the first half of the series was quite good, but the latter half left me with a feeling of unfinished storytelling.
Zhang Jun and Xu Xiaobo give me a sense of emptiness. In terms of production and skill, I want to give it a five-star rating, but there's always a lingering feeling of falling just short.

Life is tough, and we must navigate it ourselves. Youth is about simultaneously gaining and losing. I used to believe that the weight of loss was unbearable, but it wasn't until many years later that I realized those people, those experiences accompanied my growth, providing nourishment to my life despite the brief time we spent together.
Some people, like light, exist unwaveringly. I recall a dear friend saying, "You are someone I can't hold onto forever. May you soar high." Isn't that what true understanding between kindred spirits is like?
Suddenly, the traces of our youthful days flash before me, causing tears and longing in this moment. That kind of emotional impact is akin to watching the sunset and the stars shift, leaving my state of mind clear and serene.

I came into this world to see the sun and the azure wilderness. I came into this world to see the sun and the endless mountains. I came into this world to see the vast ocean and the blooming flower-filled canyons.
I made a covenant face to face with the world. I am the true master of the world. I have conquered the cold and silent Lethe and created my own ideals. I am constantly filled with revelations, and I sing at every moment.
My ideals stem from suffering, yet I am beloved because of it. Who in the world can compare to the sound of my singing? No one, no one can compare. I came into this world to see the sun, and even when the daylight fades, I will continue to sing...
I will sing praises to the sun until the final moments of my life!

This drama was good at the beginning, good at the end, but the middle part with the character development felt awkward and almost made me want to drop it. Luckily, I persevered and watched till the end. The final episode felt natural without any forced elements, but I still want to say that dramas are just dramas.
Real life is not as beautiful. I also want to criticize the hairstyle of the female lead during her student days; it was so ugly. Zhao Jin Mai still portrayed Luo Qi Qi's character well, though.

I haven't read the original work, so I don't know how this remake compares.
Overall, I feel it was pretty good. Learning is not an easy task, and the female lead's journey from being ranked over a hundred in her class to third place and then to first place was not easy at all. The female lead has a stubborn personality, which can be seen as determined or stubborn, depending on how you look at it.

I must say, not just the female lead, but all the characters felt a bit off. I understand them, but at the same time, I don't quite understand them. There was even a time when I disliked them. They were just too annoying.
Initially, I was only planning to give it three stars, but after watching the final episode, I'm inclined to give it four stars.

I initially started watching it for the chemistry between the male and female leads, and the editing in the first four episodes was really well done. I couldn't stop my tears from flowing in episodes 2 to 4.

Then, I continued watching it because of the tension and dynamics between the male and female leads. I mainly found it relatable because I'm no longer young, so I wanted to see the youthful romance of these young characters.

However, as I watched more and reached around episode 20, I found the development of the romantic plotline to be boring. Xiao Bo's character had such a pitiful storyline that it made me pause the show from time to time.
Whenever I had a sense that something tragic was about to happen to a character, I couldn't bear to witness their suffering. So, I took breaks to prepare myself emotionally before continuing to watch their unfortunate situations.
Personally, having gone through the struggle of getting into a prestigious university, Xiao Bo's story hit me hard. It was heart-wrenching. On the other hand, the female lead was very optimistic and positive.
I couldn't resist rooting for her as she diligently studied. It gave me a sense of motivation in my own life.

Overall, it was an average watch, and I would give it three stars.

First of all, there are definitely some differences between the drama and the original work, but the modifications made to Xiao Fei's character are particularly well done, and most of the iconic scenes have been retained.
Speaking solely about the drama, the initial portrayal of Qi Qi and her parents may be a bit exaggerated, and personally, I lean more towards the descriptions in the original work.
In this fast-paced era, the drama feels more like a slow-motion scene that allows people to calm down and experience the youthful years. The portrayal of each unique character and the open-ended ending provide the audience with more room for imagination.
The visual and auditory elements throughout the drama, as well as the dialogues transcending time and space, deeply resonate with viewers and skillfully convey emotions.
Unconsciously, tears well up in one's eyes. "No one can give you the answers, except yourself; passionate daydreaming is a powerful driving force; I came into this world to watch the sun." These memorable lines are abundant.
Overall, it is a television drama that has been modified quite successfully. Study hard! We will all continue to improve!

I watched it because of Bai Yu Fan, but I wasn't fully engaged in his parts. It seems that I can never fully relate to youth-themed dramas. It may be because of my age or perhaps because the experiences I've had were even worse and more dramatic.
The first half had a better feeling to it, with the makeup, time period reconstruction, and even a memorable episode that completely depicted their childhood. However, later on, it fell into a cycle of struggle and tears, which made me furrow my brow a bit.
Zhao Jin Mai's portrayal of "Luo Qi Qi" and her "suffering expression" were well done in this drama, evoking both pity and resentment. It also made me feel that the character of "Lin Miaomiao" somewhat influenced and limited her.

Although I only saw some clips while accompanying my wife to watch the series, it's really hard for me to imagine a girl who used to fight with bricks and often hung out with troublemakers, had an average English level in the first half of high school that wasn't much different from mine, and almost arrived late for the college entrance examination, would eventually become the first in the city and the fifth in the province.

Since I haven't watched the whole thing, I don't know how much effort she put in, but I can't help but feel a bit overwhelmed by such an explosive student. I feel like, to some extent, it undermines the effort I put into studying during my youth.

The original concept of the story is quite good, but the TV drama has many plot inconsistencies, making it somewhat inexplicable. The personality of the female lead is also too stubborn.
However, there were many moments in the story that moved me to tears. In the final episode, when Luo Qi Qi encourages Guan He to take the college entrance examination and reconcile, I couldn't help but wonder why she didn't reach out to Zhang Jun.
Why couldn't she reconcile with Zhang Jun? It's so sad. In many personal issues that people encounter, they know how to resolve them, except when it comes to Zhang Jun. He is too charming, and it's such a pity.

Luo Qi Qi's vitality, rebelliousness, perseverance, resilience, individuality, and sharpness make her captivating. Her quirks, imperfections, and the "love brain" of adolescence make her vibrant.
She might truly be the best female lead in Chinese dramas in recent years, without a doubt. In the scenes before breaking up with Zhang Jun, there were comments in the bullet screen saying they prefer the current version of her, someone who understands and compromises.
But her refusal to back down, lack of understanding, and occasional ruthlessness are what define her soul. (Luo Qi Qi is definitely a unique individual. I'm convinced.)

I feel that compared to the original novel, the TV adaptation is quite mediocre (only occasionally showing some good storytelling after around fifteen episodes). The biggest problem lies in the superficial and utilitarian character development.
Many outstanding minor characters from the book are portrayed as ordinary and unremarkable in the adaptation. The relationships between characters have been changed significantly, and many storylines have been deleted or condensed, leaving out crucial moments that contribute to the growth of the female lead.
The adaptation also whitewashes the biased parents and disliked sister of the female lead, while defaming the grandfather who was very kind to her. It forcefully creates a clichéd happy ending for an East Asian family.
The portrayal of the female lead's growth trajectory is poorly depicted, lacking the clarity found in the book. Additionally, there are several plot holes that are left unresolved, showing a lack of attention to detail.

In short, to sum up my thoughts in a few words: If you can't make proper adaptations, then don't just casually adapt novels.

First of all, most of the actors fit their roles very well, and the dialogue is also well-written. The use of flashbacks and the set design are in line with that era.
I even feel that this drama deliberately portrays the pain of youth, but it still resonates with me. The bewildering, crazy, melancholic, and joyful aspects of youth are portrayed vividly in both the main and supporting characters.
That's why I prefer to see it as an ensemble drama rather than just focusing on the main couple. Each person has their own storyline and life path.
You can only move forward, and we briefly accompany each other but constantly part ways. There is redemption between friends and self-redemption. Many lines also strike a chord with the soul.
However, the later episodes become a bit chaotic, with dragging plotlines and a rather hasty ending.

It's somewhat watchable as a standalone drama, but as an adaptation of a book, it's a pile of dog poop. The original novel is one that I really liked, and seeing it transformed into this state is heartbreaking.
I want to say, please, can you not associate it with the original work? Can't it be marketed as a standalone drama? The out-of-character transformations and the unofficial fanfiction turning into official canon is just so frustrating...
By the way, I recommend it to fans who haven't read the original. You can go and watch it. The delicate struggles, painful obscurity, and emotions that cannot bear the light, like an undercurrent beneath the surface, sticky and turbulent, cannot be replicated.

... Only the plot involving Grandpa, Qifei, and Qihe is watchable... What's the necessity of the other characters' existence? Why turn a female lead drama into an ensemble cast?
They forcefully squeezed in a stereotypical East Asian family, resulting in a family of lunatics, with a crazy father, a whimsical sister, and a mother going mad for no reason...
And then, they wrap it up with a classic, perfect reconciliation... The production of this Chinese drama upgraded in terms of makeup, props, actors, composition, and even filters.
But in the end, they picked up a script from the street, blinded the director's eyes, and continued shooting a lousy drama...

It's been a long time since I watched such a long drama, a full thirty episodes. I stumbled upon it on Bilibili, seeing the female lead's journey of academic success and determination, and it got my blood pumping.
I thought to myself, "I've been feeling exhausted from studying recently, maybe this drama can inspire me." As I delved into it, I realized that this drama is not just about an underdog's comeback; it encompasses an entire youth experience.
I really love the director's filming style, the filters used, the actors' performances, and the artistic yet fitting dialogue. It always reminds me of my own school life. However, as I reached the second half of the drama, with all the arguments, broken friendships, and repetitive conflicts, many of which arose without reason and ended without cause, I was tempted to give up.
But in the end, I persevered and watched it till the end. When I saw the grand finale, where everyone embarked on their chosen paths, I suddenly realized that all the unreasonable drama, the melodramatic plotlines, and the people who left one by one were actually the essence of youth.
Now, I deeply cherish those days of youth, and it all can be summed up in a single line: "The end of youth is nothing but a departure from adolescence.

The elementary and middle school parts that were supposed to stay faithful to the original work were carelessly altered. As for the ending, I hope the director can imagine a way to compensate for the regrets of the original story.
You managed to stay consistent with the original work in that aspect. Zhao Jin Mai's acting is very good, but she's not the Luo Qi Qi in my mind. Also, the plot feels a bit too bland. Would it have been better to condense it into 20 episodes?
The storyline focusing on Xiaofei is given too much screen time, and I'm not particularly fond of that subplot.