Going To 18 (2022)

Hello Yesterday!

C'est un doux parfum nostalgique qui m'a avalé lors du visionnage du drama, je ne m'attendais pas à un tel déluge de sourire, de battement de coeur, de larme. J'ai vécu ces moments. Ces fous rires. ces chamailleries. Ces regards par dessus une feuille qui ont fait battre mon coeur d'adolescente. Ces paroles qui m'ont empêchées de dormir. Ces angoisses la veille d'un contrôle. Vraiment, ce fut un retour dans le temps et ça fait un bien fou.

La réalisation est d'une qualité rare pour un drama "moderne". La photographie est lumineuse et en même temps intime. Nous nous sentons chez nous. Le doublage est excellent et ne donne pas cet impression d'écho que l'on retrouve souvent chez les chinois. Le scénario bien que classique fait mouche. Une tranche de vie magnifiquement contée.

Tous les personnages ont une histoire, une sincérité dans leur parcours et qui me rappelle le,moi, le toi, le nous, toute mon adolescence. J'ai reconnu mon père. Mes amis. Celui dont mon coeur en secret aimait. La grand-mère. Tous. Il m'arrive rarement de m'attacher à tous les personnages, ici j'ai eu un coup de coeur pour tous.
On aime ce lien qui les unit, que cela soit chez les ado ou chez les adultes. La force de ces liens nous apporte plus d'une fois la larme à l'oeil et mon coeur a battu plus d'une fois.

La romance a une jolie place. Si elle n'est pas ostentatoire, elle est présente dans chaque regard et chaque action. Je dis la Romance, car elle ne concerne pas seulement les protagonistes principaux mais presque tous.

Le jeu des acteurs est excellent, et si au départ je n'étais pas convaincue par Ren Min, elle m'a par la suite bluffée par ses expressions de gamine retors. Quant à Guo Jun Chen, c'est son deuxième drama que je regarde et j'avoue que cette fois-ci, il m'a séduite par son jeu, certes classique, mais efficace! Le jeu des vétérans est parfaite! Surtout la bande des 3 papas! Chapeau, je les ai tous adoré et je les ai tous "shippé" à 100%!

Je terminerai par la bande son!!! Elle va me marquer longtemps. C'est le type de bande son qui vous ramène en arrière et vous transcende. Non seulement d'être magnifiques, les paroles vous rappellent inlassablement la beauté de cette jeunesse insouciante que nous avons tous plus ou moins vécu. Et je trouve vraiment dommage d'avoir autant de mal à me procurer l'OST....

Bref, une petite perle qui fait du bien. Une perle qui vous rappelle vos 18 ans, et qui vous le rappelle bien.

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Nostalgic and Slice of Life of the 90s

Never Grow Old aka Going to 18 aka Hello, Yesterday is a slice of life drama set in the 1990s, definitely gives a major nostalgic vibe for those who were born in the 90s or remember the late 90s.
The story is based on 6 close-knitted high school friends and their neighborhood bond.
It's mostly about them going to school, hanging out, eating, helping the neighborhood/families, and so on. If you watched When We Were Young (2018) then this is highly recommended!
Each of the main 6 youths have different personalities and is quite fun to watch them hang out together.

Gao Zhi Yuan (Guo Jun Chen) is very mellow, yet strict one out of the bunch. He's also considered to be the smartest one, tutors his friends a lot. Although he seems indifferent on the outside, he actually cares a lot for his friends.

Tan Xin(Ren Min) is a very loud, obnoxious girl but studies hard - not your typical dumb female albeit she does have trouble studying sometimes. She's compassionate, and empathetic but also has a short temper. haha There is something off about the way the actress acted out her lines at times, because it feels like she's just "reading" her lines instead of acting, it just didn't blend in with the others at times

Zhou Li Zhi (Annie Sun) considered to be very pretty, she seems to be quite daring, although hesitate initially, but she's willing to try new things that piques her interest. Tan Xin and Li Zhi are cousins, yet surprisingly are not rivals at all.

Chen Cheng (Zhang Zhi Hao) the second smartest of the group but I think he can come off as arrogant or too much confidence initially. He's just as loud as Tan Xin sometimes. However, he's an honest guy through and through and is willing to help a friend in need, will choose his friends over a girl. haha He's seems like a family guy, he's quite affectionate towards his sister and grandma.

Guo Fu Cheng (Li Xing Chen) First of all his name reminds me of the actual celebrity every single time he pops up. LOL I digress, his character is one of my favorites because his acting is so natural yet so hilarious. He's definitely the comedic relief in this drama. It's his expression that makes it so funny and I freaken loved it. haha

Ma XIao Yi (Jiang Guan Nan) his character came in later in the drama with a lot of misunderstandings. He seems tough and was mistaken as a big bully but in reality he's a softie who just wants genuine friends. I like his duality with Guo Fu Cheng cause they were funny together.

The cinematography reminds me of When We Were Young because they would edit a scene towards the end as if to expose someone's hidden tricks. haha Every episode has some kind of meaning which is quite a nice touch.


Is there romance in this drama? Not really per say, just crushes. There's a lot of subtle eye contact or peaking at someone, you just have to be aware of the characters' body lanague/facial expressions to notice it. Were there infuriating charaters? Definitely but that's to be expected from old school Chinese families and their expectation of a "son/daughter-in-law." Love triangles? Nope.
Would I recommend? Yes, definitely if you just want to chill and not pull your hair out.

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