- Drama Title: Our Generation
- Also Known As: 樱桃琥珀, Cherry Amber, Oceans of Time, Ying Tao Hu Po
- Director: Zhang Kai Zhou
- Cast: Zhao Jin Mai, Zhang Ling He
- Screenwriter: Zeng Lu
- Genres: Romance, Youth
- Episodes: 24
- Date of Release: Jul 14, 2025 – Jul 26, 2025
- Original Network: Youku
- Where to Watch: Youku, Netflix, Viki
- Adapted from the web novel “Ying Tao Hu Po” by Yun Zhu
Dear readers… August 2025 is finally here, and I still have a long watchlist to finish. How am I going to do it? Well, with lots of coffee, late-night marathons, and maybe a few emotional breakdowns in between dramas. But hey, isn’t that the life of a drama junkie? Wish me luck, dear readers, and feel free to share your own watchlist struggles. We’re in this together!! 🤞🏻
Meanwhile, I just finished watching this heartfelt Our Generation drama, and I simply can’t wait to tell you everything I know and feel about it through this review post. So, before I get lost again in the jungle of dramas, let’s dive right in. happy reading!
Our Generation Synopsis
Lin Qi Le also known as Ying Tao, grew up in small town. Although her family isn’t wealthy financially, but she is rich in love. Lin Ying Tao and her friends, Yu Qiao, Du Shang, Cai Fang Yuan, and Qin Ye Yun always seen together climbing the mountains or just hang out in their neighbourhood. The adults know that they were inseparable and always look after each other.
One day, a new boy arrived. Jiang Qiao Xi was quiet, distant and obviously came from a wealthy background. Everyday, he was always clad in black, but he was a standout because he was very smart and serious. But none of that mattered to Ying Tao. She treated him with the same warmth that she offered to her best friends.
And to Jiang Qiao Xi, that meant everything. For the first time in his life, Jiang Qiao Xi felt truly accepted. Unfortunately, their time together was short-lived. It ended with a promise to meet again.
Years passed. Ying Tao is now a high school teenager. Her friends have long separated from her. But after moving to the city and going to the same experimental school, they reunited again. The pressure of life begin to test their friendship. This time, they help each other as they step into the world of adulthood.
However, being the most promising among them, Jiang Qiao Xi suddenly faced family problems and lost contact with Ying Tao. This time, Ying Tao decided to seek him out and chase after him to Hong Kong. As they face the bitter part of the adult world, every obstacle strengthens their bond.
Our Generation Review
Our Generation is youth drama with a sweet beginning, a dark conflict, and a rushed ending. Although I wasn’t fully satisfied with how it wrapped up. I love the way the story flowed. And just like in many other dramas, watching teenager experience their first love is such an enjoyment because it reminded me of my school year.
When I was a child, I lived in the city. I do have many friends. However, we only play what children in the city do like playing with dolls, role playing, cycling, or on a hot day, we will go picnicking under a tree.
I never had many chances to do outdoor adventures. So, watching Ying Tao and her friends climbing the hill to watch the sunset or sunrise made me envious. I wish I had those kinds of moments when I was young.
Back to the drama.
These days, there were many youth Cdrama carry heavy themes. The last one I reviewed was Reborn, which talked about AIDS and mental health. This time, Our Generation focused on the pressure of growing up and the impact of bad parenting.
Story-wise, Our Generation had a potential to be great. A sweet beginning and a bitter conflict were well-placed. The contrasting personality of Ying Tao and Jiang Qiao Xi could have delivered a powerful message.
However, I still feel that the characters development was a bit unrealistic. The pacing was nearly perfect, if only the middle part didn’t too draggy and the ending didn’t feel so rushed.
The friendship aspect felt familiar. A group of childhood friends who stick together until they grew up is actually quite rare in the real world. However, there were many Cdramas about them. for instance, Always Home, Wind Direction, Go Ahead, or You Are My Lover Friend drama.
A good drama tells a story that made us feel connected to the characters and the situations. The visual storytelling help build the atmosphere and bring everything to life. Our Generation offered a promising theme. The visuals also very detailed and entertaining. But even so, I still felt like something was missing. Something that I couldn’t even describe.
In the end, Our Generation is a drama that gave me warmth, nostalgia, and a handful of reflections, even if it didn’t completely satisfy me. Although some parts feel lacking, it still managed to stir emotions and bring back memories. And that was enough for me. Because sometimes, a story didn’t have to be flawless to leave an impression, it just needs to feel a little bit real.
The Story – Not All Scar are Visible
Once again, I found myself watching a drama about an overbearing mother. Well, Asian moms are already famous for their fierce nature. So, it’s no surprise that so many Cdramas feature this type of character. If I had to choose which drama with an overbearing mom character that stays the longest in my memory, it would be Best Choice Ever drama, starring Xu Kai and Yang Zi.
Mai Cheng Huan’s mother is the perfect example of a tiger mom in Asia. She explodes like a bomb, cooks like a Michelin chef, sounds like a Bose speaker, and cuts like a Japanese knife. You should watch this drama, or if you’d like some hints first, check out my Best Choice Ever drama review.
Now, back to Our Generation drama.
This drama showed how a child development was shaped by the way they were raised. Children who raised in a loving and harmonious home like Ying Tao’s, tends to grow up as confident, empathetic, joyful, and emotionally stable.
Those who grew up in a single-parent households with health struggles often mature early because they’re taking adult responsibility was too soon. And what about the one raised by abusive, narcissistic, neglectful, controlling, biased, or emotionally distant parents? They were likely to grow up anxious, emotionally repressed, afraid, distrustful, and often with low self-worth, sometimes even violent.
Those family dynamics were represented clearly. Ying Tao comes from a loving family, Jiang Qiao Xi grew up with a controlling mother. There was also Du Shang, whose father is abusive, and Qin Ye Yun, who had to grow up fast due to his father’s condition.
All these families worked for the same company, with Jiang Qiao Xi’s parents holding the highest position. Therefore, they lived in the same compound, attend the same school, and spent much of their time in the same neighbourhood.
This kind of setup also appears in dramas like Always Home and Wind Direction dramas. I especially enjoy watching these kinds of dramas because they remind me of my childhood, which happened to be in the similar situation.
The parents are friends, and so are their children. They know each other’s family situation well. When something happened to one family, the others step in to help. Through the screen, I could feel their sincerity and their unspoken bond between them. It reminded me that sometimes, family isn’t just about blood. It’s about the people who show up again and again, through thick and thin.
At first glance, Jiang Qiao Xi may seem like the most well-off among his friends. But his family is the worst. His mother, Liang Hong Fei, never accepted the death of her talented first son. When she saw that Jiang Qiao Xi had inherited the same talent, she immediately turned him into a replacement. She channelled her obsession into creating a trophy child.
Every medal Jiang Qiao Xi won polished her ego and suppressed his confidence. Because every time he won a competition, Liang Hong Fei will visit her first son’s grave to report the achievement. She celebrated the winning as if it didn’t cost Jiang Qiao Xi’s effort.
And Jiang Qiao Xi, who desperate for a mother’s love, had no choice but to obey. Because if he failed, she will punish him harshly. Liang Hong Fei kept him on a tight leash. She even used Cen Xiao Man and Fei Lin Ge as her spies.
How about Jiang Qiao Xi’s father? Jiang Zheng loved his son. But that’s it. He didn’t even remember Jiang Qiao Xi’s birthday. Jiang Zheng was physically present but always refused to step up for him. He was always busy with his work, which in truth, was his escape from a suffocating marriage.
Jiang Zheng knew that his wife held a higher position than him, and he feared her outburst. So, whenever conflict arose, he withdrew, like a turtle hiding inside its shell.
This environment shaped Jiang Qiao Xi into someone who believed his worth was tied to his achievements. He feared failure and struggled with identity. Jiang Qiao Xi is not a loser. He just never had proper guidance.
The relationship between Jiang Qiao Xi and his parents is the main source of conflict in the drama. The central emotional tension lies in the estranged relationship with Ying Tao. However, I was left somewhat dissatisfied with the resolution between Jiang Qiao Xi and his parents. The writer seemed to let thar relationship quietly sink into the ocean. Never to be seen again.
Our Generation ended with a happy closure. However, the conclusion feels rushed and we didn’t get enough details that we needed for the closure. Personally, that felt disappointing. If you are looking for a detailed breakdown of how it all wrapped up, I will be posting a separate Ending Explained post that you could read soon.
The Story – A Love That Waited Too Long
“I’m not a princess. He is. Always trapped in a tower waiting for me to rescue him.“ -Ying Tao-
Actually, I am not too fond of Ying Tao and Jiang Qiao Xi’s relationship. Ying Tao’s feelings for Jiang Qiao Xi clearly sparked from moment they first met. Maybe it wasn’t love at first sight, but almost close. To Ying Tao, Jiang Qiao Xi was a breath of fresh air in her routine life. He was different from any other boys that she knew because of his distant nature and brilliance.
As for Jiang Qiao Xi, he fell for Ying Tao because she was the only one who see him as he was. She asked him about his favourite colour and treat him with kindness and warmth. Ying Tao made him feel like himself. In her eyes, he was not a shadow or a replacement. Just Jiang Qiao Xi.
Ying Tao’s feelings, though rare in the real world, was common in Cdramaland. You could find it in many dramas. It’s practically become a genre. Ying Tao adored Jiang Qiao Xi for years, and she has all the patience in the world. She still wanted him, even after he disappeared for a long stretch of time. Twice, at that. 🙄
It was cute when she was younger. But as she got older, girl really should’ve known better. Disappearing for two years without a single word is a glaring neon red flag. Jiang Qiao Xi ghosted her. Hard. And it showed just how much Jiang Qiao Xi struggled with reality. Before he vanished, he told her to wait for him and asked her not to forget. Then poof. Gone. 😤
I get it. Telling the truth is tough. Especially for someone like Jiang Qiao Xi. His self-worth had been destroyed by his overbearing and obsessed mother. For most of his life, he believed that without achievements, he was nothing. That kind of thinking doesn’t disappear overnight.
Still, let’s not romanticize it. This is fiction. If you ever find yourself in a similar situation, please think twice. Real-life relationships need more than nostalgia and promises. Not everyone has endlessly patience as Ying Tao, and not everyone can magically heal without serious help.
Our Generation marks the second time Zhao Jin Mai and Zhang Ling He were paired together. Their first was The Princess Royal. You can read my thoughts on that in The Princess Royal Drama Review. Although I wasn’t the biggest fan of the story, I actually think their chemistry there was stronger than it is in Our Generation.
Don’t get me wrong. Zhao Jin Mai and Zhang Ling He are fantastic actors. They delivered emotion with precision and portrayed their characters beautifully. But in this drama, they felt like two bright stars… just shining from entirely different constellations. 😬
The Visual – Keeping it Good, Keeping it Honest
At first, I was disappointed because Zhang Ling He didn’t look like a high schooler. He turned 27 this year and over the years he had shown maturity, especially in his appearance. But as the story progressed, I realized why he was chosen to play Jiang Qiao Xi. He was there to portray the adult version of Jiang Qiao Xi who suffered in Hong Kong. And that’s when I started to appreciate the incredible attention, especially in the makeup.
During that period, Jiang Qiao Xi worked as a construction worker. He spent most of his time under the sun. You could see that his initially white complexion has turned tanned. However, if you look closely, you could see the skin around the base of his neck was still a few shades whiter.
Although in my opinion the nape should be darker, the detail felt so real. In close shoots, you could even spot the freckles on his face. This is another natural result when someone was on a constant sun exposure. I really love seeing these kinds of thoughtful and realistic touch in a drama. It makes the story feel even more grounded.
Sometimes, a drama was too focused on presenting its characters in a perfect shape. For instance, a character who wakes up with a neat hair and a perfect makeup, as if they had just stepped out of a salon. While this might a way to enhance the visual appeal, it was far from reality.
Our Generation drama is different. You could see that there was an effort to be honest in the visual storytelling. Take Zhao Jin Mai as an example. In episode 5, her hair looked messy after she ran through the rain. In episode 4, she fainted due to heatstroke. When she wakes up, her face is pale and bare.
The hair is a mess. And she looked exhausted when the scene called for it. These small details might seem minor, but they add depth and sincerity to the drama. They allowed us, the viewer, to believe that the story is real and we are living inside it.
Other than the makeup, I was fascinated by the cinematography of Our Generation. The precise camera work, the lighting, and the constant tone throughout the drama are some of the reasons I stayed until the end.
The director often uses a close-up shot for our main actors. It feels like a treat to be able to see Zhao Jin Mai and Zhang Ling He from such an intimate distance. You could see every subtle shift in their expressions.
Their close-up shots didn’t just highlight their beauty, but also their ability to convey the emotion with precision. These kinds of cinematography are most effective when the actors have the nuance and skill to carry it. And Zhao Jin Mai and Zhang Ling He certainly do.
The Characters
Lin Qi Le / Ying Tao (Played by Zhao Jin Mai)
Ying Tao was a lucky girl to be born in a harmonious family. As an only child, Ying Tao could enjoy all the love and protection that her parents had. She grew up with kindness, empathy, and trust from all the people around her. Therefore, Ying Tao never had to question whether she was loved.
The abundant love around her made her learned to love others freely. I love her character because Ying Tao’s confidence spread like a wildfire and her laughter always filled the room with joy. People were naturally drawn to her, and this is not because Ying Tao tried hard to be liked but because she made others feel seen and safe.
Jiang Qiao Xi (Played by Zhang Ling He)
Jiang Qiao Xi comes from a wealthy and well-educated family. He never lacked anything. However, Jiang Qiao Xi’s heart was empty. He never felt loved and was struggling with self-worth and identity crisis. His parents, especially his mother, treated Jiang Qiao Xi as a substitute for his deceased brother.
All of his achievement becomes his brother’s glory. Every smile he received from his mother was meant for his brother. Even the reason he always wore black was because of him. Deep down, Jiang Qiao Xi was consumed with fear of failure. He suppressed his emotions and became obedient because he was afraid of upsetting his mother.
Only when he was around Ying Tao and his friends, Jiang Qiao Xi could really be himself. He knew they saw him for who he was. Not a replacement or a tool, but Jiang Qiao Xi. With them, he didn’t have to be perfect. He was free to express his feelings and be himself. He could show them his whole personality, his stubbornness, determination, kindness, gentleness, and frailty.
Qin Ye Yun (Played by Shen Jia Yu)
Qin Ye Yun has been Ying Tao’s close friend since childhood. But their relationship is more like that of two rivals rather than sisterhood. They constantly teased each other and felt gleeful when the other got flustered or upset. As they grew older, the competitive side softened and turned into mutual respect. Qin Ye Yun and Ying Tao understand each other better than anyone else.
Unlike Ying Tao’s bubbly personality, Qin Ye Yun was sharper on the edges. She was independent, less patient, more sceptical, and always spoke bluntly. Yet she was kind, determined, protective, loyal, and sensitive. Her tough appearance was shaped by hardship.
Qin Ye Yun lived with only his father. Mr. Qin had trouble with his foot, but he works hard to provide for his daughter. Qin Ye Yun understands her father’s sacrifices. So, she also worked hard and quietly took over some responsibilities at home so her father could rest a little easier.
Yu Qiao (Played by Wu Sheng)
Yu Qiao is one of the members of Ying Tao’s gang, aside from Cai Feng Yuan and Du Shang. Of them all, he is the most athletic one. From the outside, Yu Qiao seemed carefree and reckless. But behind his laid-back attitude, Yu Qiao is a sensitive and thoughtful person.
Whenever someone was in trouble, Yu Qiao was the first to step forward because he was always the reliable, kind and protective friend. Yu Qiao has been in love with Ying Tao for a long time. But he never said a word about it. Not because his feelings aren’t strong, but because he was more afraid of losing their friendship. For Yu Qiao, Ying Tao’s happiness matters more than his own.
The Conclusion
Our Generation is an entertaining drama that begins with charm, stirs your emotions and nostalgia, and ends a little too soon. Ying Tao and her friends reminded me of a time when life felt simple. Their bond, laughter, and loyalty sparked a bit of envy in my heart.
The journey between Ying Tao and Jiang Qiao Xi was full of thorns, but it left an impression for me. I might put this one on my rewatch list, though not just yet. I hope that next time, I’ll walk away with a different (hopefully better) impression of the story and the characters’ growth. If the plot doesn’t suit you, Zhao Jin Mai and Zhang Ling He’s brilliant performances might still brighten your day.
Well, that’s all for now, dear readers. I hope this review helps you decide whether Our Generation will earns a spot on your watch list, or not. Don’t forget to share your thoughts in the comment box below. We’d love to hear from you. Thanks for stopping by, and I’ll see you again in the next drama review. Goodbye!
