Go Ahead is one of the very few heartwarming dramas that contains an ocean of life lessons waiting for us to discover and explore. It's funny, sad, relatable, loving, and just amazing overall. Unlike many other dramas, the little moments, movements, dialogues, silences, photos, or even just the picture of the family of 5 eating together at a tiny round table in their small, yet cozy apartment, can touch a person's heart to the deepest core. It doesn't overwhelm the audiences with lavish and extravagant settings or overly dramatic scenes. Instead, it has the most simplest and most common background that reaches out to the audiences deeply. I've never seen a Chinese drama that has a plot like this before, and so far, no other Chinese drama has been able to make me cry as much as this one, make me feel relatable to the characters as much as this one, and touch me as much as this one.

**Story**:
Since there is already a synopsis above, I'm not going to write another detailed summary of the drama. However, there are some things I do want to mention. Go Ahead is about three separate families, in which each family is different from the normal family we see today. Why? Because the children of the families don't have a strong motherly figure in their lives. Three broken families, three children, and two fathers come together to become one big family. Go Ahead shows what it takes to be a family. It doesn't require the same family name or blood relationships, but it does require love, in addition to care, compassion, patience, humor, understanding, embracing, empathy, sympathy, and time spent with one another. The drama really makes viewers contemplate on the simplest ideas of life. It teaches one to cherish every moment with your family, to cherish every meal you eat together, and to be grateful for everything in life. The relationship between the one big family formed is so strong, heartwarming, and most importantly, it is pure.

**Acting/Cast**:
Li Haichao (Actor: Tu Song Yan 涂松岩): the umbrella of the family. Li Haichao is very different from the Asian parents we often see (I'm Chinese so I understand). He's so loving, compassionate, and always has a warm smile on his face. His love for his three children is as vast and deep as the ocean, and he's willing to do anything for them. He loves cooking meals for his kids, for he believes that a meal with love will make them feel better and let them know that there is someone who loves them even after everything they have gone through. The actor Tu Songyan did so wonderful with portraying this character and I believe that no other actor was made for this role. You can see the love for his children in his eyes, the pain when he sees and thinks about what his children had to go through, and his loving smile that embraces them all.

Ling Heping (Actor: Zhang Xilin 张晞临) is the father of Ling Xiao. He is a police officer and is often super busy, always at work. Although he might not be the best father, he definitely had a huge change as time went on. He loved all three of his children and despite him also being heartbroken after his daughter died, he, unlike his wife, stayed by Ling Xiao's side. His chemistry with Li Haichao is definitely one of the highlights of the story, and the comedy between them really lights up the drama. Zhang Xilin did excellent with this character.

Ling Xiao (Actor: Song Weilong 宋威龙) perhaps has one of the most heartbreaking stories. Many viewers of the drama are more empathetic towards He ZiQiu, but for some reason, Ling Xiao and his story hit me the most. His younger sister died in front of him after she choked on some walnuts that he fed her. His mother blamed and hit him for this, calling him a murderer or a killer. He was a child then. He witnessed his own mother leaving him and for a while, he couldn't even eat a peaceful and happy dinner with his family...that is until he met Li JianJian and her dad. Ling Xiao is a very closed up character that contains some of the darkest and saddest memories that continue to torment him and break him apart. However, as Li JianJian enters his life, his character starts to open up some more, and we soon see how important Jian Jian is in his life for she is his only sunshine. Song Weilong is the perfect actor for this character since he has a very stone face and when you look at his eyes in the drama, they're like deep pools of pain, confusion, and trauma. He really did amazing with this despite his young age!

He Ziqiu (Actor: Zhang Xincheng or Steven Zhang 张新成) is once again, one of characters with a heartbreaking story. His father left him before he was born, and his mother also abandoned him at a young age. Li Haichao and Li Jianjian become the only family in his life which is soon followed by Ling Xiao and his father. Ever since he was young, he was always the hardest worker, always helping in the family and putting everything on his back. He was willing to do anything for his family and had to face the challenges of being separated from them, working and living in a foreign place, and living with his father that abandoned him at first...for an entire 9 years. Li Jianjian is also the sunshine in his life, but more of a sisterly way. Steven Zhang, a veteran actor (I consider), did mind-blowing with this character. You could see his change from student to adult, and his scenes with his mother really break your heart. His crying scenes are so natural like they are real. I'm forever in awe by his acting.

Li Jian Jian (Actress: Tan Songyun or Seven Tan 谭松韵) is, like mentioned before, the sunshine of the family. Or should I say, the "gas station" of the family (as mentioned in the drama). “加油” (jiayou) is a phrase used in Chinese to encourage someone to keep going and not give up. It also means to get more fuel. The entire family, the two fathers and the two elder brothers, all get their "fuel" from this ball of sunshine in order to continue in life. Jianjian is the glue that holds the family together (well, in addition to her dad, Li Haichao). Even though she's funny and jokes around, she once also suffered from the pain of losing her mother but she hides it and decides to share happiness, sunshine, and optimism with everyone around her instead. She has a gift of sculpting and drawing which she also uses to make others around her happy. Jianjian perhaps has the biggest character change in the show, for she goes from a young, immature, naive, innocent 16-year old to a mature, patient, and understanding adult, ready to face the challenges of life. I cannot think of a better actress to fulfill this role, and despite Seven Tan being already around 30 during this show, she did a phenomenal job. You couldn't even tell she was 30 when she acted as a teenager. Mind-blowing.

The Mothers:
- Chen Ting (Actress: Yang TongShu 杨童舒): Mother of Ling Xiao. Never have I ever wanted to punch someone so bad yet want to give a hug to. When she left her son, attempted to come back, and tortured her son mentally with her toxicity, I was about to throw my device across the room. But she has gone through a lot. She lost her daughter due to her gambling one day, and she's constantly being tormented by the guilt inside of her. She doesn't know how to deal with these feelings which leads to her literally almost going crazy. Later on, she lost her 2nd husband in a car crash, and she lost her health. Of course, none of these are excuses for her to blame her son, leave her son, and then continue to affect him negatively. Her character made everyone mad, so needless to say, the actress did a wonderful job portraying her. It's not easy to act as a villain...and that good of a villain.

- Ming Yue's mother (Actress: Has WenTing)郝文婷: the typical asian mother tiger. She wants the best for her daughter, so she believes that the path she laid out for her daughter would be the best for her. She expects high grades (#1) from her daughter and wants her to follow her on what she says about school, work, marriage, and everything else. Little does she know, however, none of what she planned was what her daughter wanted. Despite problems arising from this, her daughter grows up and becomes her life. Their story is very touching as well for it is a prime example of many families in China.

- He Mei (Actress: Yuan Ran 苑冉): He ZiQiu's Mother. She has a story. At first, she seems like another evil mother, only having money and luxury in her eyes. However, towards the end, once you hear her story, you will see that she is a mother too, and she had her own challenges. Perhaps then you will sympathize towards her as I did.

Lastly, I want to commend the child actors for Li Jianjian, He Ziqiu, and Ling Xiao. They truly amazed me with their natural acting skills, especially at such a young age. At first you don't want them to grow up, but after they do, all is left is betterness waiting for us to see. The side characters were amazing as well, and the friendships developed were admirable. Also, it may seem like a drama full of sadness and all, but let me tell you, this drama has some of the funniest scenes you will ever see. It's a perfect balance of happiness and sadness. Like a candy that can be sour and sweet;)

**Personal thoughts**:
Some people have kids because they expect their children to take care of them once they grow old. Some have kids because they are useful: to take over family companies or to receive the family's heir. Some parents want the best for their children, but their way of doing it might be wrong which might lead to rebellious children or serious problems. Li Haichao's way of parenting sets a really good example for he wants the best for his children and believed that allowing them to walk forward towards their own dreams was the best. Him and Ling Heping were the light behind their three children, ready to embrace them whenever they needed a comfort from the brutal reality called life. The little moments of them eating hotpot together at a little round table in their tiny but cozy apartment were super heartwarming. Li Haichao gazing at his children with the fatherly love in his eyes was enough to make a viewer tear up.

**Life Lessons/What I have earned from this drama**:
1. Cherish your time with your family. Starting now, be respectful towards them and do more for your parents that truly love you. They do so much for you; maybe we can start doing something for them.

2. I loved how the drama was overly dramatic or gave the characters the most expensive clothing and such. It was a little apartment, simple clothing, a little restaurant, a pot, a pan, some pictures on the wall...the simplest things that brought the most happiness. But what was the happiness? The love, care, compassion, understanding, and mutual comfort between the family members. It teaches us that we don't need the best car, the most luxurious house, the most fashionable clothing, the most money to be happy. A family dinner together, a piece of candy, some ice cream, a hug, a smile can bring more happiness than the others listed above.

3. Patience. Patience is the key to life.

**What some may DISLIKE**:
Later on, some romance starts to happen within the family. Some viewers didn't like the pure siblings bond turning into a romance kind of relationship. I was fine with it, and to be honest, I really liked the couple. Some on the other hand might not like it. In addition, there were definitely some cons here and there, but I choose to overlook them because of my love for this drama.

**Music**: Drama with one of the best OSTs
1. "Fearless 无畏": this is the song literally made for Ling Xiao. When I first heard this song and understood the lyrics, I cried...and I've never cried during a song before. The lyrics were so simple yet so touching. Some of my favorites that fit for Ling Xiao are: "Dear, sometimes I feel so tired. And when I'm lonely, I shed a tear as well...the taste of growing up...maybe you are like me, trying hard to forget...trying hard to grow up...still going despite feeling hesitant...life makes us fearless...". A true masterpiece.

2. "Rain 雨": this is the song literally made for He Ziqiu. He has a deep pain in his heart but he hides it from his family, just like what the lyrics state: "Tell me, how should I hide it? In this dark work, I slowly wipe the scars left behind from the storm. I turn myself into a stranger...after crying, I leave. If rain starts to pour down, then let me become the ocean...". I think that Li Jianjian is the ocean, catching all the tears shed from the family.

3. "I Will Stay Guard Here 我会守在这里": This is the song that describes the two fathers' feelings and emotions towards their children. They are sad that their children are growing up, facing their own challenges, and walking on their own and individual paths of life, but they are happy for them. They made it clear to their children that when they feel breathless from the brutality of life, they can always look back and run into the embraces of their fathers. It's a bitter sweet feeling.

I read an excellent comment on Youtube from a Chinese account that I believe summarizes the songs "Fearless" and "I Will Stay Guard Here" the best (translated): The opening song, "Fearless", is the words that the three children told themselves, the courage slowly picked up on the bumpy path of growth, the concern of pulling and supporting each other, the reconciliation of the past and the hope for the future. And the ending song "I Will Stay Guard Here" is the deep love of the two fathers for their children, a light that can be seen no matter how far they go. This drama uses an extraordinary family to tell the most ordinary moving (as in touching her heart), and the soundtrack is also excellent.

**Favorite Quotes**:
1. "When I was young, I never thought about separation. I always felt that time was slow, and I was always worried about when I would grow up. But time was lost in class, lost in a moment of joy, or in tears. At any time, there is an invisible hand, it is holding us, it is silent but not for a moment. Years go by in the blink of an eye, so similar, or else it's turbulent, but it's quietly changing."

2. "The dreams we often chase are sparkling and out of reach. They are stars, rainbows, and dewdrops rolling on white roses in the morning. They are on the other side of life, and on this side of life, adults are forced to survive. Helplessness, it is food, it is air, it is the tears that flowed silently at night."

3. "Growing up is an instant thing. When you turn 18, the law recognizes you as an adult, but that's not real growth. Real growth is an instant thing. At that moment your heart changed and you felt the weight of life. At that moment, you grew up quietly alone."

4. "One day, I suddenly discovered that separation is the normal state of life. Just like the seeds of dandelion, they grow wherever they fly. With new land and new friends, there will also be new dreams. "

5. "Simrock said: 'The grass of patience is bitter, but in the end it bears sweet and tender fruit.'"

**Rewatch**:
Some say that this drama or that drama aren't my cup of tea. This drama isn't a cup of tea. It's an entire pot of melting treasure. I highly highly recommend this drama; It's so different from the others. I will definitely go back to watch it because it's my comfort drama:)