When We Were Young (Chinese Drama)

Genre: Youth, Romance, School, Friendship

Episodes: 24

Main Cast:

Neo Hou Ming Hao as Hua Biao

Wan Peng as Yang Xi

Gala Zhang Yao as Li Yu

Li Ming De as Si Tu Er Tiao

Pan Mei Ye as Yang Xiao He Mei

Dai Lu Wa as Huang Deng Deng

Synopsis:

A nostalgic story that revolves around high school students during the year 1996.

While chasing down a bike thief during the summer, Yang Xi gets injured by a lab explosion that renders her unable to compete in a long-distance run. When school opens, she realizes that the culprit behind her misfortune has transferred to her class and has even taken her position as class president. He is Hua Biao, a hot-blooded, rash and gifted genius of the science department. Hua Biao's arrival immediately puts his classmates on guard and he must prove himself to be accepted by the class. Later on, they go through lots of ups and downs in life.

My Thoughts:

At first, I wanted to watch this drama since the plot seems interesting but when I noticed it's set during the year 1996, I shelved it. But thanks to my sister noticing the drama, I finally got to watching it and I liked it more and more with every minute watched.

The reason I was apprehensive about the time setting is just because it's 20 years to the past. The technology used were so different from the ones now. I was afraid it would feel old and boring. But as the story goes on, it becomes a wonder instead seeing how people used to interact during a time when technology was still starting up. How much it led to people meeting more and communicating more. Technology is convenient but in those days, people lived happier.

Other than that, everything is pretty much similar to modern day, with these teenagers living the final year of their high school life, the most critical moment for all teenagers, full of uncertainty and brewing with troubles and fear. Through them, I got to relive my days as a high school student as well preparing for the most important exam at that point in time, the college entrance examination. This drama is really a coming-of-age story, telling how teenagers start to mature, by learning from mistakes, by exampling others, by being encouraged by others, by just growing up.

About the romance factor which I can't not talk about, I really loved the interaction between the main leads. They just somehow fell in love but they never actually flirted with each other, all they did was spend time together and began caring deeply for each other. And despite all that, they were still worried the other person would not like them and held back from confessing, afraid that doing so would change their dynamic. They were extremely adorable, that's for sure and there was no excessive drama over their relationship which is realistic and good since this drama centered on them living their youth. For the other couples, there were some whom you kinda wish more to happen but suitably, it was best that at that point, it was left as such and there were some who begin to develop beautifully at the end which is lovable.

I also deeply loved the friendship factor here as it was really explored and developed. Their friendship really felt genuine, how they cared and covered for each other, not letting anyone talk bad about them. They were always the first to notice if any one of them were off and even have days where they would skip school together and this is a gang with a mix of smart kids who stereotypically would not want to skip school, which shows how much they value their friendship and their time together. They went through a lot together and would not mind sacrificing for any single one of them. A true definition of the friendship made during youth.

In conclusion, there's lots of words in the world but I can only think of this much. There's a bit of contents that can be developed into a second season but I will not hope for it. I was overall very satisfied watching this drama and absolutely loved reminiscing my high school days which is a determining factor since this drama really showed the spirit of teenagers during that period of their lives which was amazing despite being set in 1996 as it shows that there is no difference between what youths go through even through the changes of time.

So, how do you feel about this drama? Drop down in the comments on how vivid was the experience that this drama had.