Since the beginning of 2009, I haven't been able to find a novel or TV series worth watching or that I could continue to watch, making life extremely boring and uninteresting. A few days ago, while searching online for new sources of entertainment, I stumbled upon this newly released TV series "The Big Life" by accident. Actually, I've never really liked Zhang Guoli's acting style, so his performances don't leave any particular impression on me. After reading a brief introduction, I decided to give the first episode a try. Hehe, it wasn't until I started watching that I realized how captivating it was. As usual, I ended up binge-watching all 35 episodes in one go, spending 31 hours fully engrossed. The grand finale aired at 5:50 AM, as the sky began to lighten. Exhausted, I left a preview in my space and only managed to write these scattered thoughts five days later.
I visited Chengdu in the summer of 1998 and stayed in the expert building of Sichuan University. It was during the World Cup, so we spent our days exploring the city and our nights watching matches. It was my first time in Chengdu, and although I didn't get to see everything, the city left a deep impression on me. Chengdu is a leisurely city, a place where one feels comfortable and grounded.
"The Big Life" is a story set in Chengdu. Having seen many dramas about Beijing, Shanghai, and Shenzhen, I found this Chengdu-based urban drama, filled with Sichuan dialect, refreshingly and interestingly more lifelike than those with Beijing accents.
The original author of this piece is "Qiao Yu," who has been absent from the literary scene for over a decade. This is his powerful comeback, infused with a profound understanding of life. His sharp and humorous language, and vivid characters, encapsulate his insights, reflections, and exclamations about life. In today's restless and utilitarian society, this work stands out as a rare masterpiece.
"The Big Life" uses the perspective of Liu Dong, an ordinary citizen living at the bottom of Chengdu's social strata, to view society. Despite being in adversity, Liu Dong constantly helps those weaker and less fortunate than himself, yet life continually places him in awkward situations. Struggling between reality and ideals, he feels powerless to extricate himself. Others say about him: "Living just brighter than ghost fire, pretending to be the sun shining on others." Yet Liu Dong adheres to a simple principle: "Life means being born and continuing to live!"
This series has only one main character: Zhang Guoli's portrayal of Liu Dong. There is no female lead; everyone else is a supporting character. The narrative revolves around three themes, simply put, three women: Li Yuanyuan, who leaves Liu Dong; Hong Yu, who rejects him; and Zhang Ziyun, known as 'Sister Zhang,' whose star dreams are rejected by Liu Dong. Many might think Hong Yu is the leading lady, but that's not true. Women like Hong Yu are too common to count, so she plays a supporting role, merely serving as a link to keep the plot moving forward. However, it cannot be denied that Hong Yu plays a crucial role at the turning point of the entire storyline.
The 35-episode story isn't entirely based on real life; much of it conflicts with reality. After all, this is just a TV drama. If you nitpick, you can find unrealistic flaws and shortcomings in any production. Therefore, it should be appreciated with an objective attitude, without taking it too seriously. However, some of the characters portrayed in the series are incredibly realistic, truly derived from life prototypes. Characters like Uncle Ding, Little Fish, and Sister Ba... These are the highlights of the series, utterly authentic, thoroughly real, and profoundly truthful.
Ten years ago, the popular "Iron Teeth and Copper Teeth Ji Xiaolan" brought Zhang Guoli into the public eye. He is a late bloomer, but there is no denying that Zhang Guoli is a solid, accomplished actor. Outstanding acting skills aren't developed overnight; they are closely related to Zhang Guoli's long-term involvement in theatrical performances, which is how basic acting skills are honed.
It is often said that actresses can easily transform into various roles, adopting different styles, hence the title of "Queen of Versatility" in the entertainment industry. However, for male actors, versatility is almost as hard as climbing to the heavens. From Tang Guoqiang, Chen Daoming, and Chen Baoguo, to Zhang Guoli, the lead actor of this series, none have achieved true versatility. Perhaps versatility is inherently a woman's trait, unrelated to men. Once a male actor establishes his style, it becomes nearly impossible to change. At least among these top-tier domestic male actors, their performances are almost replicas of their real-life selves, requiring no on-the-spot preparation. They deliver lines naturally, and every gesture is part of their performance.
One of the biggest features of this series is the oral delivery of the protagonist Liu Dong and several key supporting characters. A mix of Sichuan dialect and Mandarin creates countless classic lines that are humorous and lively, neither overly elaborate nor lacking authenticity. Viewers feel connected, and after watching the series, many naturally mimic the Sichuanese spoken in the show, whether authentically or not. It's quite amusing.
Besides the protagonist Liu Dong, other characters also deliver compelling performances. For instance, Little Fish's scenes under the overpass at the start of the series tug at the heartstrings. Then there's Uncle Ding, who always raises his glass and says, "Haven't had a drink in ages" (in Sichuan dialect) whenever drinking. Such details abound in the series, too numerous to count, and it's within these nuances that the essence of the series lies.
Every series has its main theme, and "The Big Life" is no exception. "Purity" is the core theme of this series, repeatedly emphasized and contrasted in the conversations between Gao Ming and Liu Dong before Gao Ming's death. Upon reflection, the concepts of purity and impurity are omnipresent in real life. How many people are pure? How many are not? The series' exploration of this concept leaves much room for imagination, encouraging viewers to reflect and associate endlessly.
This is a great series rooted in life, a good comedy, and a profound reflection on human strengths and weaknesses.
"In life, when a man flirts with a woman, it's called teasing; when a woman flirts with a man, it's called seduction; when both flirt with each other, it's called love..." This is what defines men, women, and love in "The Big Life."
"A rat with a pistol has designs on a cat." This is the humor, laughter, and joy in "The Big Life."
"This life, it's like the last dumpling wrapper, wrapping the last bite of filling, the last peanut, drinking the last sip of wine, knowing contentment." This is the simple, everyday philosophy of "The Big Life."
What a great series, "The Big Life," vast and boundless, yet made up of insignificant details—this is "The Big Life."
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