Go Ahead (2020)

“Go Ahead” (2020) is a popular Chinese drama series that redefines the concept of family by moving beyond blood ties. The project became one of the most talked-about Asian series of 2020 thanks to its blend of emotional sincerity, psychological depth, and social realism.

Concept and Plot

At the center of the story are three teenagers — Li Jianjian, Ling Xiao, and He Ziqiu — who grow up in broken and traumatic families. Fate brings them together under one roof, where they form a “chosen family” based on support, care, and shared responsibility.

As the characters grow up, they are accompanied by painful memories of their parents, feelings of abandonment, and attempts to understand what it truly means to be a family. The series follows their journey from school years into adulthood, showing how childhood trauma shapes choices, relationships, and the ability to love.

Critical Perspective

The main strength of “Go Ahead” lies in its psychological authenticity. The series neither idealizes parents nor children, instead portraying the complexity of emotional bonds without dividing characters into “good” and “bad.”
Special attention is given to emotional abuse, a sense of obligation toward parents, and cultural expectations typical of Chinese society yet universal in nature.

Unusually for a melodramatic format, the series allows pauses, silence, and unresolved inner conflicts, bringing it closer to psychological drama than to a conventional TV melodrama.

Themes and Subtext

• family as a conscious choice rather than a biological fact;
• childhood trauma and its impact on adult life;
• emotional distance between parents and children;
• responsibility, attachment, and fear of loss;
• the search for identity and a sense of home.

Cultural Context

“Go Ahead” reflects changes in modern Chinese society, where the traditional family model increasingly collides with the realities of divorce, loneliness, and emotional alienation.
The series gained wide recognition not only in China but internationally, largely due to the universality of its themes and its honest exploration of pain that is often ignored.

Music and Atmosphere

The musical score is restrained and melodic, emphasizing the intimacy of scenes and the characters’ emotional states. The music does not dominate but gently accompanies dramatic moments, enhancing a sense of warmth alongside underlying sadness.

Editorial Conclusion

“Go Ahead” is a series about how family is not always given at birth, but can be created through care and acceptance.
It speaks about pain calmly and honestly, without manipulative melodrama, offering viewers not a fairy tale but a relatable and deeply human coming-of-age story. This sincerity is what made the series one of the most touching family dramas of recent years.

TV version: 46 episodes, DVD version: 40 episodes.