A Date With the Future

 

As Xu Lai (Zhang Ruo Nan), a reporter at Huaigang TV, unravels the truths to build meaningful stories in her reports, she is searching for the man to whom she made a promise ten years ago. Jin Shi Chuan (William Chan ), a firefighter who saved Xu Lai ten years ago and captured her heart, has never considered pursuing romance due to prioritizing the safety of the people. However, Jin Shi Chuan starts to rethink his stance when the persistent Xu Lai pushes her way into his life. Through earthquakes and fires, Jin Shi Chuan and Xu Lai come to be each other’s light amidst the dangers of working on the front line and uncovering dark secrets in the industry.

The male lead, Jin Shi Chuan, is portrayed by William Chan. He previously starred in “Novoland: Pearl Eclipse” alongside Yang Mi as Fang Jian Min. Jin Shi Chuan grew up in a family that has served as soldiers, and he continues to walk that path as a firefighter. His passion for helping people has made him resilient in the dangerous work on the front line, earning him respect from his peers. Due to the nature of his dangerous job, Jin Shi Chuan has never considered settling down and starting a family until Xu Lai barges into his life. With Xu Lai’s arrival, Jin Shi Chuan not only finds love but also learns to let go of his past demons and move forward.

Zhang Ruo Nan, known for her roles in the dramas “Everyone Wants to Meet You” and “Be Yourself,” portrays Xu Lai, a reporter who strives to outshine her peers by covering meaningful stories and uncovering the truth in suspicious cases. Xu Lai grew up in a household where her parents constantly fought and were absent. In the midst of darkness, she found solace in her friendship with Huo Yan Zong (Ci Sha) and Han Fang (Qiu He Nan).

However, it was during an earthquake that Xu Lai opened herself up when Jin Shi Chuan saved her life. Falling in love with him at the age of 16, Xu Lai promises to meet Jin Shi Chuan again in ten years. With that promise in mind, Xu Lai works diligently in her career as she continues to search for Jin Shi Chuan. When she finally encounters him at a car accident she was covering, Xu Lai wastes no time in persistently pursuing him and making her feelings clear.

Happy ending

Jin Shi Chuan proposes to Xu Lai and the two gets married with a happy ending as they continue their careers alongside each other. Lu Fang Qi and Zang Qiu are together and his next obstacle is to get Zang Qiu to agree to marry him. Yu Shi Shi leaves on a journey to find herself and returns to Huo Yan Zong who has expressed how he has appreciated her company through his darkest times.

The Good

The first thing that stands out to me is how beautiful Zhang Ruo Nan is. But apart from Zhang Ruo Nan’s appearance, her gaze towards Jin Shi Chuan (William Chan) is full of chemistry that convincingly conveys Xu Lai’s genuine and true feelings. Xu Lai’s personality reminds me of a golden retriever, full of energy and heart. I appreciate how she is a woman who knows what she wants and fights for it, allowing herself to be open and honest with her feelings.

Xu Lai was able to break down her thought process and explain why she believes she has been in love with Jin Shi Chuan over the past ten years. Furthermore, when faced with Huo Yan Zong, who is in love with her, Xu Lai handles the situation rationally, even though it pains her to put a line between them.

As a drama focused on romance, there are several sweet and heartwarming scenes to watch from each couple. If you’re a fan of a cold male lead who tries to act upon his feelings in his first relationship, you’ll have fun watching Jin Shi Chuan stumble around as he realizes his true feelings for Xu Lai.

The Bad

The romance, relationships, and stories depicted in this drama possess a certain sweetness that appeals to dramaland. However, the overall intention of crafting a coherent and purpose-driven romance story seems to be lacking. The two main characters embody the trope of destined fate, having first met as children, with the girl emotionally saving the boy, and then reuniting as teenagers, where the boy becomes her physical savior. These encounters leave a lasting impact, and they develop some sort of feelings for each other. Finally, as adults, after a decade of the girl’s unwavering dedication to finding and pursuing the boy, they come together. Yet, their path to a relationship is full of numerous obstacles and twists, where they remain intertwined through their shared careers. Although the demands of their professions would normally prohibit them from interacting in real life, the scriptwriter contrives events to enable their meetings and interactions.

Not all characters need to be complex and dynamic, but in “A Date With the Future,” many of the characters fall into the category of flat or static. For example, Han Feng, the best friend who serves as Xu Lai’s drinking buddy and Huo Yan Zong’s right-hand man, only acts as the drinking buddy who’s a playboy. The firefighters and emergency responders surrounding Jin Shi Chuan primarily serve as sources of comic relief, without much individuality. Huo Yan Zong is presented as the sad second male lead, while Yu Shi Shi is the girl pursuing him. Unfortunately, these characters fail to provide substantial depth to the story, making it challenging to establish a strong emotional connection with them.

Even towards the end when we lose Liu Xu, we can tell the future of his character in the show because the writers belatedly gave him more focus outside of being the comic relief. Somehow, we’re supposed to grieve with everyone and understand their pain when there was a lack of focus on their team dynamics.

This abundance of flat and static characters, coupled with the lack of unique charm in the characteristics and narrative of the leads, makes it difficult for me to maintain an emotional investment in “A Date With the Future.” The only saving grace was Zang Qiu as she stands out as a more dynamic character, and her storyline unfolds logically as she grows and moves on from her grief.

The story’s writing suffers from a lack of clarity and fails to convey a distinct message or purpose. While it’s evident that the writer aspires to add detail and depth to the drama, the execution falls short in terms of coherence. As a result, each scene in the drama feels somewhat contrived, whether it’s the emotionally charged moments or the rescue scenes that come across as unrealistic.

There are instances of forced interactions aimed at creating moments or opportunities for the two lead characters to spend time together. Some of these actions, like Xu Lai’s impulsive decision to jump into a building to assist Jin Shi Chuan when there are other firefighters available, appear unnecessary and somewhat comical, considering the serious tone established throughout the drama. Similarly, Xu Lai frequently jumps into accidents under the pretext of being a reporter, which, while reporters may have certain rights to access accident scenes, often feels exaggerated as Xu Lai positions herself closely, similar to a first responder. Another aspect of Xu Lai’s character that seems overreaching is her unwavering persistence in searching for and loving Jin Shi Chuan over a span of ten years, despite having only met him once.

The central romantic theme explored in this story revolves around being each other’s guiding light in dark times. Jin Shi Chuan initially becomes Xu Lai’s light when he saves her from being trapped under earthquake debris, instilling hope within her. However, as the show progresses, this theme is stretched without adequately demonstrating how they continue to illuminate each other’s lives beyond their mutual love.

Conclusion

This drama reminds me of last year’s “My Sassy Princess” with Zhang Ye Cheng and Yuan Bing Yan, in terms of the female lead pursuing the male lead and having a messy romance that was purely for the sugar.

Overall, the chemistry between the leads and Xu Lai’s persistence and headstrong personality are positive aspects, while the lack of depth in characters, clichéd plot elements, and forced interactions detract from the enjoyment of the drama. I would personally skip this drama unless you’re a fan of either William Chan or Zhang Ruo Nan.

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