Sunrise on the River Reviews

It is said to share some similarities with "Tian Xia Chang He" in terms of production team. Being aired in Hunan province, they indeed share that quality of "telling a good story with skilled actors, attempting to choose relatively uncommon subject matter." I also remember that its initially eye-catching "environmental comedy" premise was not a mere joke.
If it weren't for the comedic approach to navigate the sensitive and potentially controversial topic, could it have continued? Although the alterations made to the dialogue are regretful, they still touch upon the true predicament of the judicial culture and the dual-edged nature of environmental preservation.
The length is also quite appropriate. Even though Mei, my character, is somewhat of a supporting role, there are ample moments that showcase a more human side, making it worth watching.

I don't understand why Douban hasn't given it a rating yet! It's urgent! It was my first time watching a mainland Chinese drama with an environmental theme, so I had some expectations. One point for the theme. Watching veteran actors give powerful performances, one point for acting skills.
The creation of an ideal team within the system, where they argue behind closed doors but come together when something goes wrong, one point for ideals. I was looking forward to a drama with an ensemble cast, but it ended up being too focused on the male lead, with many unnecessary parts, like the social media blogger.
The Antarctic travel scenes also looked so fake.

It's amazing! It's so good! Just watched five episodes and I have to comment right away. First, the plot is incredibly tight, no filler, and there are no predictable clichés.
It's especially skillful in its use of montage, swiftly moving on from certain scenes without dwelling on them. For example, when Captain Wang takes Zheng Han Jiang to three different places, the third being a hospital with sick children, I thought it would be the usual overly sentimental setup, but it completely subverted my expectations.
The next shot shows him leaving the hospital, focusing on the main storyline, compact and restrained. The writing is fantastic, grounded in reality, breaking free from the black-and-white right-or-wrong approach.
It tackles issues head-on, using environmental protection as the narrative framework, and it portrays policies that are truly practical and in line with human nature. It includes administrative personnel, investors, and merchants, just like the concept of "mutually beneficial fish ponds" I learned before.
Proper arrangements can lead to win-win situations, rather than confrontations where one party must lose. Only strategies that align with human nature can be "sustainable" and "implementable." I'll provide more updates after watching further episodes, but it's definitely worth watching and beneficial for both individuals and society.

The first few episodes were quite engaging, and some minor flaws were forgivable. However, starting from the incident where the villager assaulted someone, the show began to defy common sense and logic.
By the end, I was filled with complaints. Is there no one in this city besides a few mayors and secretaries? Do the mayors have to personally accompany ordinary citizens to seek medical treatment in other places only when they themselves have a high fever?
Are they capable of performing surgeries themselves? This kind of resource allocation waste can be easily seen as a show, but the screenwriter doesn't seem to understand it that way.
Why aren't Zhu Tian, Cai Wang Wu, and others who hold positions without doing anything criticized? They are in charge of environmental protection, and there are so many environmental issues in Qijiang.
Isn't that a crime? Zhu Tian acts like nothing is wrong, as if the team can't have any problems. Lastly, some parts are overly idealized and unrealistic, especially the part where someone goes on a trip to Antarctica and rushes back for surgery because of a phone call.
Are they a surgeon specializing in treating progressive supranuclear palsy?

Watched 6 episodes in one night, couldn't stop. 5-star anticipation! The entire cast's acting is explosive, braver than the county committee, faster than speeding cars. It's not easy for a place to produce an official who dares to take action and has a background.
They have the courage and determination to change the world, regardless of fortune or misfortune. Such dedicated officials are rare in a century, benefiting the region, and remembered by the people.
It's not just an entertaining drama; in reality, there are capable, courageous, decisive, retaliatory, and ambitious individuals like them, but they are too few. Hopefully, there will be more in the future!

A drama that starts strong but ends weak. The first few episodes are captivating, but as it progresses, you need patience to continue watching. Plus, it's only 24 episodes.
However, the environmental theme itself is quite unique, and I really like the actors. The only thing is that they don't conform to the mainstream style of acting, and surprisingly, there's not a single villain among these groups in the end.
Although Qian Qi can be considered a villain, thankfully Wang Wu didn't kill him; otherwise, it would have been too cruel for good friends to kill each other for the sake of their own interests...

It's quite interesting to see the veteran actors show off their acting skills. Huang Zhi Zhong is truly a righteous character, hahaha.

However, sometimes the plot feels a bit too childish. Anyway, there always needs to be some health issues or problems to stop the story from progressing.

The leadership teams at both the provincial and municipal levels seem to have a bit of face blindness towards the end—feels like they prioritize economic development over environmental protection.

Afterward, various dramas with environmental themes started to emerge, and the daughter is quite adorable~

The structure and character relationships are like a heavily filtered version of "House of Cards." It's eventful and follows a refreshing storyline, with a focus on the foreign monk who is good at reciting scriptures.
Plus, the entire cast delivers strong performances, except for Zhang Guo Qiang who occasionally hams it up. However, in order to create intense conflicts, the plot setup leaves room for discussion.
For example, the location for garbage disposal should not be near water sources and villages. The main symptoms of inorganic fluoride poisoning are primarily fluorosis, and the occurrence of ALS is more common in males.
The trembling hands symptom, combined with the character's age, more readily brings Parkinson's disease to mind. And the "nuclear waste" at the end is clearly sensationalized fake news.
For such a rare and promising drama in terms of theme, the details should have been more rigorous.

When I watched the trailer, I thought it would be one of those anti-corruption dramas, you know, with a big antagonist. But as I watched it, I realized that everyone was a good person.
How should I put it? In my mind, this drama is a passionate ensemble piece where everyone in the team has different stances but individually they are all the kind of upright officials I rarely encounter.
It has inspired me in a way. Expressing emotions may be easy, but solving problems is difficult. Many people say it's a sci-fi drama, but I still enjoy this kind of storyline.
It represents a beautiful aspiration I have for the system. I hope our country can have more leadership teams like this.

There are two plot elements that I dislike the most: Xiao Xue's illness and that female journalist.
Why did they have to give Xiao Xue progressive muscular atrophy? Did the screenwriter have an issue with seeing others happy? You've shattered the beauty in my heart! I really liked the family scenes in their home, just like this leadership team.
Because I haven't experienced such warmth, I long for it. The portrayal of the journalist is totally absurd. In our country's media environment, the things that journalist does wouldn't even be published.
That part is truly nonsensical.

After watching this, I can't believe that government officials can go crazy like this. From the secretary to the mayor, not a single woman, does the customs officer count? Let's consider that as a minor role. Is the on-screen chemistry between the self-media female journalist and the male lead an affair?
Are those lines appropriate for a conversation between the deputy mayor and the vice mayor? This is basically a large-scale BL drama, mixing elements from Japanese BL anime and hot-blooded manga, right? Even though the wife has Parkinson's disease and her hands shake, she still prepares a table full of dishes for the male lead and his group of friends.
Wasn't the male lead's character supposed to be a loving and devoted husband? And what about the surgeon? The portrayal is just reinforcing the stereotype that Xiaoxue's ultimate dream is to be a housewife who cooks and dances at home.
The image of the daughter is the epitome of a stereotypical daughter. I don't even want to comment on it. And in the end, they have to show the boss patting his shoulder by the river and sighing, "Being a man is so tough!" Oh, it's so tough indeed, so much hardship.
They have to carry the burden of society and humanity, while everyone's small lives can only be saved by men. Why isn't that tough? It's truly beyond tough. Women should quickly become the virtuous helpers who take care of men's stomachs and bodies because they are the ones who will save humanity!

This is a conscientious Chinese drama. The veteran actors are what real actors should be like, this is what real acting is. The actor who played the role of the disciplinary committee, I suspect you've actually held such a position before.
The plot unfolds along two storylines: murder cases and environmental reform. It's serious yet humorous, and the relationships between the characters are written so well. Each character's traits are well-established.
Of course, a TV drama is just a TV drama, so idealization and beautification are normal. It definitely isn't as realistic as real life, but as long as it's enjoyable, that's all that matters.

Except for Mei Ting's consistently stagnant acting, everyone else did a good job. However... this kind of Chinese drama always has one problem: they treat the audience as if they've never experienced real life.
If you dare to criticize government work on social media, in reality, your posts will be deleted and your account will be banned. But in the drama, the entire municipal committee watches a video and the mayor actually wants to have a heart-to-heart with her?
All the blame is shifted onto the common people, while the urban management officials are portrayed as humane and caring, even when persuading residents to move out of dangerous houses, they do it politely and never resort to force.
It's been years, and they still can't solve the greedy demands of the common people. And then, when the male lead, a sudden hero, arrives, everything is magically resolved... Is this some kind of surreal fantasy genre?

No rating is appropriate for this, it doesn't deserve any points. Do the screenwriters and directors actually believe the portrayal of the mentality and political ecology in the workplace? Even if there is a fictional system like S-Charter, they could at least learn something from "County Committee Compound," right?
It's outrageously unrealistic! As for the two main actors, well, they are seasoned performers, but that executive deputy mayor who constantly bulges his veins and is ready to shout at any moment, isn't he too over-the-top?
It's too ridiculous, isn't it? On our land, even if someone is an executive deputy township mayor, if they act so neurotic in front of superiors and colleagues, they wouldn't even make it to the second episode.

Viewer: The acting is pretty good. But the content, haha, as I watched it, I felt like I wanted to be a mayor too. The three actresses with the most lines in the whole drama: one becomes a widow, one gets a terminal illness, and one is a "reckless" new media influencer.
The wife with a terminal illness works during the day to treat patients and save lives, and at night she cooks for her husband and children. Even in the last moments of her life, she is called back to help treat someone.
However, in the end, the screenwriter comes to the conclusion that "being a man is really tiring.

Men are out there discussing state affairs and working for the well-being of the people, while women not only have to work but also take care of the family.
Damn it, it's the 2020s, and they dare to write such a storyline. It's sharp and daring in reflecting reality. I couldn't tell if it was intentional or truly their perspective.

Respect to the screenwriter for being so ridiculous. What does this country have to do with women?