Ideal vs Reality

Finished watching this last Sunday. And definitely one of the best drama that I have watched this year. The story is compact, storyline is engaging and all the characters either they are main or supporting all have their own story to tell. The heart of the story Xiao Chunsheng has really become my ideal conscience throughout the story. The story covers them from where their dreams begin in Beijing, on that ice rink, where all the characters intercept with each other. Though their starts are different, some were enemies, some were friends. But at the end of the series this relationship dynamic change. Those enemies were now friends and once friends might have gone further away from one another. This is what the story tries to unfold, their journey along the way, the decisions that they make, and what results came after it. In this drama there a lots of time where it makes me reflect instead about my own value, be it moral value or just life value. One of the highlights of the drama is our hero Xiao Chunsheng. For me he is not the typical heroic guy who would head-strong himself into things and won. But he actually was faced with a lot of obstacles along his way. When he was paralysed and his supposedly war hero victory were taken by his own bestfriend, and when his bf want to tell the truth to his superior but was prevented by XCS, I actually was puzzled by XCS action. I mean why won't he let his friend say the truth? That he is the war hero? But XCS do that because he knows the dream of being a soldier is no longer his to achieve. So even if he got the title it will be meaningless for a paralysed soldier like him who can't contribute anymore. And when his girlfriend He Hongling chose her own career instead of be with him for his treatment and rehabilitation, although he himself is in a vulnerable state and need his gf by his side, he instead chose to be the one to break up with her so as not to hinder her career (though she actually subtly tries to make him break up with her after he paralysed and she were offered with job promotion, so he kinda become a burden for her career). All these choices they made eventually become the building blocks to their next stage of life. And also the time where a lot of these childhood friends path deviates. The constant fight against ideal and reality, whether you should eventually bow down to reality when times needed you so, or should you insist on your ideal even if it means taking a longer time to achieve your dream and might hurts those precious to you along the way. Xiao Chunsheng always chose to stick to his ideal, and although some I'm not agreed with, but eventually after seeing how succesfull and happy he is in career, love or family later on made me realize he actually made the right choice to him. There's no right or wrong here, either you chose to follow your ideal or reality. As long as you are willing to bear the consequences of your own choice, don't look back and strive forward I think everyone made the right choice. And yeah I love Xiao Chunsheng and Tong Xiaomei relationship in this drama. For me it's hard to come across a relationship so stable like these two. Love and companionship goes a long way down the road. Their mutual love and support for each other touched me. They really are the backbone to one another. Those tight hand grasping and shoulder hugging seems more romantic to me than any kisses. If I have to complain than it's the pacing of the story especially during the second half of the show. Since the story covered many years and time jump within the span of just 18 episodes, the story sometimes felt a bit disjointed and didn't flow smoothly. Had they have enough time for a longer episodes I bet the story would be far more compelling than it's already is now. The rewatch value for me is definitely high. I can rewatch this again and again. And the most are so good too. Whenever I heard it, it felt so nostalgic and I can almost see Xiao Chunsheng riding his bike and the ice skating rink scene in Shicahai where their dreams begin.

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