There’s a lot of stuff I want to share in this review of Go Ahead. It’s been almost four years since the drama premiered, but I’ve seen people still talking about it. I had to watch it since I needed a modern drama to take a break from watching historical or costume dramas. I won’t be breaking this review into sections and this one will be a little different. Let’s jump into it.
Fun fact: Ling Xiao is the youngest one between the three, in real life.
I’m not a fan of modern dramas, I’m sure you already noticed Xing Fu is always posting about historical dramas. I’m a huge fan of storytelling and my thirst for a good and appetizing story is endless. I watched Go Ahead because the universe kept bringing it up on my face. Last year I saw a reel of Li JianJian making a funny announcement about her periods and I ignored it. This year while I was watching TV, Go Ahead aired on another channel but it was already on episode 33 so I watched some parts. It was until now when I needed a modern drama to watch I most recommended Go Ahead. Was their recommendation disappointing? I would be lying if I said yes.
Go Ahead is something beyond being “just a drama”. It’s life, it represents the struggle we as people are facing behind closed doors. It’s more than a drama about the friendship of three children, it’s also about siblings growing together. Blood or not, it doesn’t matter. What counts is the love, loyalty, and respect between them.
This drama is a full package of friendship, romance, healing, brotherhood, sisterhood, and family. That’s why I say it’s life. Everything in the drama is realistic and relatable. There’s divorce, break ups, and new relationships, not the garbage we see in these cliche modern dramas where they make it look like people don’t divorce and have new children with their new partners. Go Ahead gives you the real presentation of real life, not the fantasy of being in a “perfect world”. Families fight, families break, friends fight, friends break and it’s all in there in Go Ahead.
I love the idea of starting the entire story from the beginning instead of giving flashbacks of having someone narrate it to us. We got to see the causes of the problems that rose as the story progressed. That’s the best way to get your viewers glued to your show. The story is obviously about Li JianJian, who lost her mother at a young age, and her dad who was matched with He Ziqui’s mother on a blind date. Ling Xiao and his parents moved to Li JianJian’s neighborhood and the story began. He Ziqui’s mother left him with Dad Li and Li JianJian. Ling Xiao’s mother also left him with his dad (Dad Ling).
This resulted in Dad Li and Dad Ling raising these three children together. And the interaction between Dad Li and Dad Ling was always funny to watch. Dad Li is always the one who took the role that’s close to the role of a mother. He was the easiest one to approach and talk to. Dad Ling on the other side was also approachable but he was always busy with work so the children didn’t have much access to him.
They all became one family even though they were not related by blood. Li JianJian, He Ziqui and Ling Xiao grew up together as siblings until He Ziqui and Ling Xiao left due to some family issues, I won’t drop spoilers. This was a part where we see the family members of Ling Xiao and He Ziqui showing up frequently and giving them endless pressure. It was kinda weird seeing them showing up when the kids are old and they start acting like they raised them. Luckily the kids were loyal to their dads and they returned after some years and started a new chapter.
That’s the summary and please don’t blame me for missing some details. There’s a lot to mention and as I write this review, I forget some of the things I wanted to say. Too much excitement. I want to talk about the friendship between the young generation. By young generation I mean Li JianJian’s friends and He Ziqui’s friend. Ling Xiao’s friend is He Ziqui so yeah.
There was something in the atmosphere when this young generation met before Little Orange retuned. There were romantic vibes between that group and it’s somehow relatable. This is why I praise Go Ahead so much. There were times when this young generation had a crush on one another, which is understandable when you are part of a group like that. It’s not really a real crush, just a misconception of liking someone and they assume it’s a crush. Similar to He Ziqui and Li JianJian. He didn’t have any romantic feelings for her, it was his friend who planted that idea in his head.
He Ziqui was always an older brother to Li JianJian, nothing more. If his friend didn’t plant the idea in his head, he wouldn’t have made a move on Li JianJian. This is why He Ziqui didn’t complain much when Li JianJian and Ling Xiao dated. He still acted as an older brother and loved her the same way he loved her before. This is also the same for Mingyue who had a crush on He Ziqui and then switched to crushing Ling Xiao. So relatable.
Now, let’s talk about the important part of storytelling… emotional connection. As a viewer, it’s hard to find a drama where you can instantly connect with almost all characters. You feel every emotion they portray and it feels like it’s no longer a drama, it feel like you’re living that life. Everytime Mingyue’s mother did her wrong and she cried, man… that felt like I was Mingyue. Her mother was so controlling and I waited for her to blow up and spit everything she has been bottling up.
Similar to Chen Ting… just that Chen Ting was worse. She made me love to hate her. Every time she showed up on screen, there were some emotions in me raising up. Like I could get in my laptop screen and give her a piece of my mind. These dramas will be the end of us. That’s how it is, if they want you to feel the character’s cry, it’s an easy pie for them. Every emotion they want you to feel, they had a way to get the job done. Every character had his or her own troubles and they take you on an emotional ride. Especially with He Ziqui, the story of him being abandoned and being called a freeloader by the neighbors. Also having neighbors mentioning that your mom ran away with Dad Li’s money, it’s stressful.
Let me cut this review here. I do wish there could be a second season of Go Ahead, but I don’t see that coming. Unless, we have a side project that focuses on He Ziqui since Go Ahead is subliminally about Li JianJian and Ling Xiao’s romance. I do want to see where He Ziqui will end up in terms of relationships. He’s the one who suffered a lot in the drama, a more happy ending would be best for him. Don’t get me wrong, Ling Xiao also suffered a lot when he was dealing with his mom who seems to have mental problems, but I feel like He Ziqui suffered more. That’s it, I’m ending this here.
