Drama Review: Go Go Squid

 

Although I'm two years late on this drama, I'm glad I am. I turned to watch this drama because I needed a break from Historical Chinese Drama and did my waiting for the Long Ballad. I binge watched this drama and finished it in 5 days.

Story: 4/5

When I first watched this drama i didn’t know what the story was really about. I didn’t read the synopsis but only knew that male lead had something to do with e sports. The story was good. It’s really mature and  doesn’t create a lot of cliche and seen troupes. I am glad there is no second male syndrome and obsesses second female lead. I’ve passed that type of pairing. The story here follows Han Shangyan who is in his late twenties going to thirty reaching his goal at a later age by creating a club called K & K where as female lead is a computer major at an university and falls in love with his first sight.

Shangyan’s story is good and it’s normal. It’s not over the top where as he gots to get revenge and everything gets all angst. He wants to beat all teams with his kids to win the championship. I’m really glad that he learned to pass it up due to Female Lead’s presence in his life.

One thing that i really wished for me to see is Female lead’s life and how Han Shangyan gets involved with it. I believe that if they were able to add a little bit more into it, the story would be way better other than him trying to have her parents approve of him. That’s very old school but I’m glad they add other situations such as having Han Shangyan create lies that he was the one who was into Tongnian first which was Halrious.

Casting: 5/5 & Character Development: 5/5

I really liked the casting that was in this drama. Everyone played their part perfect and there was no disappointment at all.

Han Shangyan and Tong Nian: Their relationship was beautiful and full of comedic scenes. When I watched it the first time I really didn’t like how Han Shangyan didn’t even reveal that he “liked” Tongnian and wanted to date her again. He basically gave her a choice and she agreed. But after watching it a second time slowly and observing both of the s characters, I’ve dropped that viewpoint. He wanted a second and official chance with Tongnian since she caught his eye and didn’t have the courage to say “No” when she initiated the break up. 

So it showed that he was respecting her choice but then he was also heartbroken when he asked again “have you thought it through” and she said ok. so this was something that I missed. I understand Tongnian wanting to change and be perfect for Han Shangyan, if i saw the love of my life I’d do the same and also when Hanshangyan asked her to be herself around him and not to live up to how she thinks he wants her to be like. I’m really glad they made male lead stick and be the same through out the whole series instead of putting him out of character.

DT & Hang Shangyan: Best bros and forever pulling each other’s legs. I couldn’t help but love DT for telling everyone that Tongnian is Han Shangyan GF. This was perfect for the leads to meet and fail the first try at a relationship and then to official start a real relationship. He’s one of the cool characters that you wish to be seen more of his story but and yet of course it’s the sequel that we’ll see him.

Team Solo and Han Shangyan: Their relationship went deep and will always be. At first I’d din’t understand the reason why Hanshangyan hates solo so much until later in the story. So the production teams did a great job at giving us flash backs when necessary and knows when to stop giving us too much to watch. Forever always good friends until the end, they showed us how hard it was for each member to accept the disbandment of the group which was really touching. Now a days we don’t get to see such good bromance.

K&K Team and Han Shangyan: Of course on of the great circles of Hanshangyan the group that makes the big scary boss not so big but small caring boss. They’re one of the reasons why he could push forward with the relationship of Tongnian- such as following her on her music page and make a Weibo post just for her. Not only that but the kids were able to pull the teacher and student relationship. You could see their emotions givening to each other.

Tong Nian’s circle of Friends: She has a university best friend and a singing friend. These two friends show support for her which is great. We don’t have a back stabbing friend which will make no sense and we need no more extra drama right? Yaya is an awesome friend and has the same interests just like her CTF and for her singing friend (which i forget her name) is also a great friend for her to catch up on with and about HanShangyan’s team back in the earlier days.

Yaya and Little Mi both of their relationship started from idol and turned into ongoing support for each other and it was a great watch. It was a slow pace and they didn’t have an official love scene but you could already tell that they’re going to end up together in the end.

Music: 5/5

boy what can i say about the OST, the one that i loved the most is the opening theme, they did such a great job with this song. it showed and had the right lyrics that matches the story itself. I also love Li Xian’s live version as well, I’d wish he’d realize an official audio too and also with the K&K members who sang at the IQIYI awards that night. 

Another song that I liked from the very beginning is Couldn’t Leave by Dimash, although it’s all in English, why not? It makes the international fans even more involved when the song plays. 

I also love Li Xian’s voice for the song called For the Future, at first I thought it was an okay song but when it hit the chorus his voice was just amazing. It’s funny how in the drama they said that Hanshangyan is tone deaf but in reality he can sing. 

i also liked Yangzi’s voice for the ending theme, although her voice doesn’t really suit slow ballad unique singing her voice can do for regular tempo songs. This song matches her character quiet well.

One of the best Modern OSTs.

Episodes & Rewatch Value: 5/5

I usually don’t rewatch dramas unless they’re good. So this drama i am rewatching it a second time just to really observe every character just in case i missed anything. I think that 41 episodes is just enough and that it didn’t need any more unless they wanted to add more to Tongnian’s story. Other than that I’m glad that they didn’t go to 45 and get dragging episodes like previous dramas that dragged more than 5 episodes.

Final Rating: 9.2/10 (4.5/5)