- Drama Title: Our Days
- Also Known As: 好团圆, Hao Tuan Yuan, Nv Shen De Dang Da Zhi Nian
- Director: Liu Dong
- Genres: Drama, Family
- Cast: Bai Bai He, Li Chun, Wang Yu Wen
- Number of Episodes: 36
- Date of Release: October 26, 2024
- Original Network: CCTV, Tencent Video
- Where to Watch: WeTV
- Adapted from the novel: “Nv Shen De Dang Da Zhi Nian” by Lang Lang
Dear readers, how are you? I hope you are well. The weather hasn’t been so kind to me these days. One day it was cold all day. The next day it was unbearably hot. I have an itchy throat due to the changing weather. Please take good care of your health as well. Remember to drink enough and don’t forget to read our latest Chinese drama review. I believe a little dopamine would brighten your day. So, let’s get started, with this Our Days drama review. Happy reading!
Our Days Drama Synopsis
Our Days is Chinese drama released in October 2024. The story is about Xiang Qian, Xiang Zhong and Xiang Nan are three sisters living in different cities. Xiang Qian, the eldest, is 35 years old and has a good career and salary. The second sister is Xiang Zhong. She is 31 years old and has been struggling to build her career.
Xiang Zhong has a fiery temperament but a kind heart. The youngest sister is 26-year-old Xiang Nan, the most beautiful and talented artist in the family. She has the most romantic heart and the naivety of a young girl.
Conflicts often arise, especially when her father, Xiang Zhi Jun, is involved, but when the sisters’ marriages are in jeopardy, the whole family forgets their grievances and supports each other. Xiang Zhong frees herself from her unreasonable mother-in-law and divorces her immature husband.
Xiang Qian finally sees her husband’s hypocrisy behind his gentle and reserved facade. Xiang Nan was forced to face a clear understanding of marriage and love. When life gives them lemonade, the Xiang sisters know how to make lemonade.
Our Days Drama Review
The Best Part of Our Days
Last night I finished watching Our Days. It is a love-hate experience for me. Our Days stirs my emotions because the actors did an excellent job in portraying the characters. I enjoyed the natural acting of our main and supporting actors. But I didn’t like the story.
It’s rare for me to jump right into the actors and the acting. Usually I start with the story first and then talk about the cinematography. But this time I did it backwards because the main strength of Our Days is the actors.
Bai Bai He played the eldest sister, Xiang Qian. I found that her character was quite similar to her character in Sunshine By My Side. At that time, Bai Bai He acted as Jian Bin, a famous director in her 30s. And just like Jian Bin, Xiang Qian is a tough career woman. She is very self-confident, speaks straightforwardly, and is calm and composed.
Li Chun, who played the second sister, Xiang Zhong, has a long filmography. You could find her in a supporting role in The Joy of Life Season 1 and 2. She could also be seen in many urban dramas like Fry Me to the Moon and Delicious Romance. But my first impression of her came from her role in Ruyi’s Royal Love in the Palace. She played the role of Consort Ling, one of Qianlong’s concubines who resented Ruyi.
And Wang Yu Wen, who played the youngest sister, Xiang Nan. I just wrote the review of her latest drama; You Are My Lover Friend. She did well in modern drama and I thought curly hair made her look cuter.
Let’s start with the supporting cast. Ding Yong Dai and Liu Jia, who played the roles of Xiang Zhi Jun and Lan Zhi, did a good job as a retired middle-aged couple. They were experienced actors and always did well in their roles.
Then we have Yu Xiao Wei who played Jiang Hong Bin, Xiang Nan’s crazy husband. He worked well because I hate the controlling character of Jiang Hong Bin in the drama. Yu Xiao Wei also appeared in the Joy of Life series and The Princess Royal.
However, I didn’t really like Zhang Tao (who played Xiang Qian’s husband Gao Ping) and Zhao Xiao Lu (who played Jiang Hong Bin’s sister Jiang Jia Qiao). Our Days didn’t seem to be their best drama. They acted unnatural and seemed to be too far-fetched. Compared to them, I like Chen He’s acting as the immature Deng Hai Yang better. Even though I didn’t like his character.
Anyway, the chemistry between the sisters and the parents was flawless. I love the actors’ energy. Everything they did to express the character’s feelings seemed so natural. My favorite scene was when the sisters laughed and teased each other before sleeping on a cramped bed. It reminded me of me and my girlfriend having a sleepover.
The Story
Story-wise, Our Days has so many plot holes and forced plots. It started out strong but ended up very weak. I haven’t read the original novel, so I can’t compare the story. However, if I were the screenwriter, there were a couple of plots that I would have wanted to change so that it would have made more sense.
Our days began with the conflict between Xiang Zhong and her father. Xiang Zhi Jun is a biased father. He made no secret of his favoritism towards Xiang Nan, even though she wasn’t his biological child. Xiang Nan lost her parents when she was three years old.
Out of guilt and pity, Xiang Zhi Jun loved her more than his two other daughters. He also shows his love for Xiang Qian because she is the most successful of the three. Xiang Zhi Jun also has a bad temper and worries too much about what the neighbors think of the his family. He often jumps to conclusions without thinking, causing fights between him and his daughters. 😩
I feel sorry for Xiang Zhong’s life. When she was young, Xiang Zhong was sent to the countryside because of government policy. Well, nobody could go against the government policy. But from their conversation, I had the impression that Xiang Zhong’s parents truly abandoned her.
No visits, no letters, nothing. It’s no wonder Xiang Zhong was so heartbroken. The mother understands and feels guilty. But the father? Xiang Zhi Jun still thought he was not to blame. Sometimes he also felt guilty, but I never saw him apologize to Xiang Zhong.
Xiang Qian didn’t understand Xiang Zhong’s feelings, but she still scolded her for throwing temper tantrums, and later she brushed off Xiang Zhong’s feelings as if it wasn’t important at all. Poor Xiang Zhong still has to deal with an immature husband and an unreasonable in-law.
If any of you asked why she chose Deng Hai Yang in the first place, I would answer that it was because of her unresolved inner child wounds. Her self-esteem was low and she felt unworthy, which led her to choose a weaker husband who happened to have a stubborn mother.
The ending of the story between Xiang Zhong and Deng Hai Yang also led to my dissatisfaction. I was like, “What kind of a joke is this?”. When you finish watching this drama, you will understand my feelings. You should watch it for yourself, dear readers; I won’t spill the beans. 😁😁
Xiang Qian and Xiang Nan are more self-assured compared to Xiang Zhong. They grew up with love. And I was wondering because Xiang Zhong said that the best things went to Xiang Nan first and the best food went to Xiang Qian first.
Was that the reason why the director and producers of this drama chose Li Chun as Xiang Zhong because she is shorter than Bai Bai He and Wang Yu Wen? To portraying Xiang Zhong’s childhood condition, which probably was a lack of nutritious food. Well, this is just my wild thought 😆.
Xiang Qian and Xiang Nan’s confidence comes from their parents’ love. They choose the life they want. Xiang Qian married her first husband because of her father. After her divorce, she chose to marry Gao Ping.
I didn’t see any blazing love between the husband and wife. But they treated each other with respect. But that’s about it. In my opinion, Xiang Qian is a strong woman. She didn’t need a husband because she could do everything herself.
But as I was writing this review, it suddenly dawned on me. Did Xiang Qian marry Gao Ping for the sake of their children? So that they could grow up with complete parents. Cong and Qi would have someone to pick them up from school and accompany them while their mother was busy with her work.
That seemed to be the main reason. Xiang Qian needs a father for her children. Gao Ping, a student with a lot of free time, just happened to fit the requirements.
Of course, Gao Ping has his own reason for choosing Xiang Qian. He is a person who loves to dedicate himself to his studies. By marrying her, he wouldn’t have to worry about making money and could concentrate on his studies. Xiang Qian would pay all his expenses.
I feel bad writing about Xiang Qian and Gao Ping, it seems like I just found the ugly truth behind the good facade of a happy family. They both have their own selfishness. They shouldn’t be together at all.
Let’s talk about Xiang Nan. I can understand why she chose Jiang Hong Bin, despite the big age difference and the fact that he is a divorced man with a daughter. I guess everyone wants a married life with a perfect spouse and a good financial situation. And from her point of view, Jiang Hong Bin matches the criteria. He is handsome, successful, and has plenty of money.
Xiang Nan married quickly. She did not investigate Jiang Hong Bin’s family and past. So I can assume that Xiang Nan doesn’t care whether Jiang Hong Bing’s sister will get along well with her or not. Nor did she care about Jiang Xiao Tong and her mother.
But I was curious about Jiang Hong Bin. As a businessman, why did he overlook the prenuptial agreement? Given his bad experience with his ex-wife, Jiang Hong Bin should have thought it through before marrying Jiang Nan. What made him do it then?
Jiang Hong Bin is a good example of a man with a red flag on him. He is an authoritarian and looks down on people, including those who have a close relationship with him. Jiang Hong Bin firmly believed that as long as he provided them with money, he had the right to control their lives.
The ending between Xiang Nan and Jiang Hong Bin also seemed forced and rushed. If you think about it enough, you’ll realize that money was the only reason why Xu Su Min agreed to help Xiang Nan and not her daughter. Another example of bad parents. 😑
For those of you who want to watch this drama, I would suggest that you take the whole story and the message that is conveyed within it with a grain of salt. Although Our Days may stir your emotions, there are too many bad examples in this drama.
Even Mother Xiang didn’t set a good example. She admitted that she pretends to be stupid all her life. She also said that marriage is a total mess, right or wrong doesn’t matter that much. Oww… seriously?
For those who were wondering about the ending. Our Days ended with a happy ending for everyone. If you are curious, I wrote another post Our Days Ending Explained. You can check it out for a detailed story.
Although I said that the story had many plot holes, the premise was quite good and interesting. Otherwise I wouldn’t spend my time watching all 36 episodes. One thing I admire about Our Days is that they didn’t use any filters. I didn’t mind seeing a few wrinkles on the actors’ faces because it would enhance their expressions.
The Characters
Xiang Qian
The older sister everyone relied on. Xiang Qian (played by Bai Bai He) is 35 years old and lives in Shanghai. She is a good talker and negotiator. With a good career and a good salary, Xiang Qian is undoubtedly the richest in the family. Of course, that was before Xiang Nan married Jiang Hong Bin, the property mogul.
In her small family, Xiang Qian is the breadwinner. She gave birth to twins, a son and a daughter named Cong and Qi. Her children took Gao Ping’s surname, although he was not the father. Xiang Qiang was married and divorced before marrying Gao Ping.
Xiang Qian is a strict person, but not a non-negotiable one. She speaks openly, confidently and persistently. Despite her stern appearance, Xiang Qian had a soft heart for her family.
Xiang Zhong
Xiang Zhong (played by Li Chun) is the most stubborn sister in the family. She has a fiery temper and a sharp tongue. Xiang Zhong doesn’t like to back down, and what is more important, she will never allow herself to be wronged. She would pursue the matter and take the most drastic measure.
But Xiang Zhong also had a good heart. Even though she didn’t like being left out of the family and her father was biased towards Xiang Qian and Xiang Nan, Xiang Zhong was still willing to help her sisters whenever they needed her. Looking at her fierce arguments with her father, I think Xiang Zhong is a carbon copy of Xiang Zhi Jun. 😂.
Xiang Zhong and her husband work at the local ecological bureau in Kunshan. They have been sleeping in separate rooms for a long time. Xiang Zhong and Deng Hai Yang were not a compatible couple. She liked cleanliness and order, while he was reckless and a slob. Xiang Zhong had been through a hard time when she was a child, so what she really wanted was to be loved, to be taken care of, and not to be left out.
Xiang Nan
Xiang Nan (played by Wang Yu Wen) is the most outstanding sister. Tall and pretty, Xiang Nan also holds a master’s degree in art. She opened a glass studio in Suzhou. Xiang Nan is not the Jiang family’s biological daughter. She was adopted because her parents died young.
As the youngest sister, Xiang Nan is the most romantic and a bit naïve. She is an optimist who believes that everyone is a good soul. Therefore, she trusts others easily. Besides, Xiang Nan is also an idealist. She firmly believes in her art and would do anything to keep it a part of her life. One thing that is missing in her life is experience. In the eyes of society, Xiang Nan is a young, green girl.
Xiang Zhi Jun / Father Xiang
Xiang Zhi Jun (played by Ding Yong Dai) is a retiree who lives a good life, but still worries about his family at every turn. Xiang Zhi Jun is a grumpy and hot-tempered person. In his eyes, Xiang Qian is the most reliable of his daughters and Xiang Nan is the one who holds his heart. He is rarely in the same frequency as Xiang Zhong.
So whenever they meet, they always argue. Xiang Zhi Jun is concerned about his reputation. He didn’t like the neighbors gossiping about his family. But he believed the gossip and blamed his daughter for it. Although he has many weaknesses, Xiang Zhi Jun’s love for his wife is undeniable. I’m sure he couldn’t live without Lan Zhi.
Lan Zhi / Mother Xiang
Lan Zhi (played by Liu Jia) is a soft-hearted and gentle mother. She relied heavily on her husband and was spoiled by him. This could be seen in her nickname, “the Little Tag-along”, because she always followed Xian Zhi Jun everywhere.
Although she looked powerless, Lan Zhi’s greatest strength was her tenderness and patience.
Deng Hai Yang
Deng Hai Yang (played by Chen He) is Xiang Zhong’s husband. He is a reckless, immature, and irresponsible young man. Deng Hai Yang often hides his wrongdoings by covering them up with lies. He loves Xiang Zhong and only realized it after he lost her.
Deng Hai Yang only lived with his mother. She tends to spoil him and control everything in his life, including his marriage to Xiang Zhong. Xiang Zhong hated him for being such a mama boy.
Gao Ping
Gao Ping (played by Zhang Tao) is Xiang Qian’s husband. He is a Ph.D. student and aspires to a career in academia, even though he could be a doctor. Gao Ping is a gloomy looking man who is insecure on the inside. He wants his own success and to get out of the shadow of his wife’s achievements.
Hidden by his high education and gentle nature, Gao Ping is a manipulative and cunning person. His low self-esteem comes from his simple background. Gao Ping lived in a small household in a small town.
Jiang Hong Bin
Jiang Hong Bin (played by Yu Jin Wei) is a famous realtor and the chairman of the Hongjian Group. He is a successful man in his early forties. Jiang Hong Bin is a divorcee with one daughter, Jiang Xiao Tong. She currently lives with her mother, Xu Su Min, in Canada.
Jiang Hong Bin is an orphan and has only one younger sister, Jiang Jia Qiao. As a successful businessman, Jiang Hong Bin had a lot of power in his hands. This makes him believe that as long as he provides others with money, they should be under his control. Jiang Hong Bin is a cunning, selfish, and cruel husband. He has a problem with anger management, and I thought he needed professional help.
Chai Jin
Chai Jin (played by Xia Yu) has always worked with Xiang Qian. As his boss, he is very tolerant of her because Xiang Qian is crucial to their company.
Although he looks like a person who only thinks about himself, Chai Jin has always been kind to Xiang Qian and her children.
The Conclusion
Our Days is a drama with a great cast of actors. When you watch this film, you will find yourself moved by the performances. However, the story of Our Days was not its main strength. Many things left me dissatisfied. So, you should treat this drama as entertainment only.
Take this drama with a grain of salt. There were many bad examples of toxic people in this drama. However, this drama still gives you an important lesson. It was said by the supporting character, the Hairdresser Auntie.
“When we do things, we have to do it for ourselves. We have to consider ourselves and treat ourselves well.”
Happy watching, dear readers… I’ll see you in another drama review post. Bye bye!
