To the Wonder, or My Altai, is a breathtaking cinematic treasure that takes the viewer to lush scenery of the Altai region in China's Northwest Xinjiang, predominantly inhabited by pastoral Kazakh herders. Each frame is aesthetically pleasing and invokes the pristine expansiveness of the region and a simple lifestyle that's rooted in the land and tradition. The actors deliver documentary-like performances where the Kazakh language is widely used. The well-known actors such as Ma Yili, Yu Shi, and Jiang Qiming were all quite impressive. Just as terrific were the ethnic Kazakh actors that embodied their roles with casual aplomb.

At just 8 episodes, the show journeys through the landscape at an idyllic pace, always moving, but at a deliberate enough pace to enjoy the beauty of the land and people. The show explores the tension between traditional and modernity, between a semi-nomadic pastoral lifestyle and greater opportunities in the cities, between the older and younger generation. In many ways, despite the radical difference in landscape, these themes are also ever-present throughout China, as over a billion people grappled with breakneck transformation whether they are in the cities, villages, or remote mountains. And here, the director does a tremendous job in depiction that these themes feel as if they are a part of the land, like a galloping horse pack or a winding stream. The show is clearly a work of respect and love for the region in how everything was depicted with care.

Everyone should check out this show, if for nothing else just to experience the type of serenity and peace that's becoming ever rarer in the world today.

‒Criticisms: You Don't Belong Here‒

The drama is so beautiful and soothing that I almost feel guilty giving criticisms. It's as if I'm deviating from the impeccable tranquility to deliberately miss the forest for the trees. It's as if I'm leaving a piece of plastic garbage that doesn't belong to the Altai. So stop reading if you want a unmarred viewing experience, as this is an exceptional 10/10 show for many people. In fact, I strongly recommend you to watch first, then read my critique later. As even delving into my issues with the show and expounding on them sullied my impression quite a bit. For some shows, it's important to know about issues ahead of time. But for this one, it's unnecessary and going in with an inspector's glass will only degrade the experience. Anyways...

My biggest issue is that the female lead also doesn't seem to belong here, in the Altai and in the show. I'm perfectly fine with the setup of a younger girl that grew up far more in the nearby city than in the pristine Altai. After all, the show is based on essays of the author reflecting on her own experience. My issue is that Li Wenxiu as portrayed by Zhou Yiran even stretches the believability of her character setup as a talented writer of that time period. It's as if LWX is from Shanghai, 20 years in the future. Indeed, her character is portrayed in very similar mannerism and disposition in Song of Life, where she plays a hipsterish, somewhat spoiled and dramatic young girl in Shanghai. That worked well then, but feels very out of place here. I found it very difficult to understand how she can grow up so sheltered and airheaded when her mother ZFX has such no-nonsense rustic personality. Such behavior would be rare in most places in 2000s China, much less given her background.

Moreover, most talented writers are observant, pensive, and reflective. LWX exhibited few of those qualities or the intellectual depths that can uphold her writer characterization. Instead, she spent a lot more time pouting, giving unsolicited advice, being lovestruck, and getting herself into trouble. Maybe the script is partly responsible, but I suspect a big part of the responsibility goes to ZYR's acting, where she's channeling too much of a modern girl than someone of her ostensible background. Moreover, she starts out like she didn't belong, which is forgivable and expected. But she finishes the show mostly the same, still looking out of place. Hell, she's more believable as a BL fanfic writer on MDL, sorry to 85% of you. I like the fact that she's an average and natural looking actress that CDramas desperately need more of, but I suspect there are many under-the-radar actresses who could have done a better job. And as one of the leads, she became a plastic garbage bag constantly floating in view, too unsightly to be ignored.

My second biggest issue is that I'd like even greater focus on the local herdsmen, their struggles, and perspectives. The drama does a commendable job for respectfully presenting their experiences, but I'd have preferred the whole show to be about them, as that was the most interesting part. Perhaps with LWX out of the way, that would be possible. On a lot of the themes, we only scratched the surface of tensions caused by change in the Altai. I wanted deeper reflections and more substantial resolutions.

Overall, I rate it 7.6 (initial impression before writing review was closer to 8) ‒> MDL 8.5. The visuals were easily a 9. And without the aforementioned issues, the show could have been 8 or 8.5 for me.

‒Category Ratings‒

- Overall - 7.6
- Plot - 7.5
- Theme / Concept / Impact - 8
- Acting - 8.5 (9 without ZYR)
- Visuals - 9
- Audio / Music - 8
- Rewatch - 7.5
- Accessibility - 8
- Subtitle quality - 8