Hello, everyone! How are you all doing? Today, I’m excited to dive into the drama Go Ahead, which has emerged as one of the most emotionally engaging Chinese family dramas on WeTV, offering a touching narrative about a chosen family and unique sibling connections that go beyond biological ties.
Go Ahead made its debut in August 2020 on Dragon TV and became accessible on WeTV, featuring 40 episodes with an average run time of 45 minutes each. This Chinese family series stars Tan Songyun, Song Weilong, and Zhang Xincheng, created by writer Rao Jun, known for crafting emotionally resonant family tales.
This slice-of-life drama traces the lives of three children from fragmented families who grow up together as siblings, even though they’re not related by blood, under the care of two single fathers who create a non-traditional household. The series blends elements of a coming-of-age story, family drama, and romance, delving into themes of healing from past traumas, bonds of chosen family, and the strength of unconditional love.
The show’s distinctive storytelling covers multiple timeframes, portraying the characters as children forming their bond, as adolescents navigating their teenage years together, and as adults dealing with separation and reunion yet preserving their indestructible sibling ties.
Three Hearts, One Family
The narrative of Go Ahead revolves around Li Jianjian, Ling Xiao, and He Ziqiu, three children who form an inseparable family unit despite having different origins. Li Jianjian resides with her father, who manages a noodle shop, while Ling Xiao and He Ziqiu are welcomed into their home due to family tragedies and abandonment.
The story unfolds over three major phases: their childhood bonding, their teenage years navigating school and relationships, and adulthood, when circumstances drive the boys away, separating them for several years. Upon reuniting as adults, they must handle altered dynamics while sustaining their core family bond.
Each episode illustrates how a chosen family can be stronger than blood relations, depicting how love, support, and shared experiences forge unbreakable connections that withstand time, distance, and external challenges.
Li Jianjian’s Unconditional Love
Tan Songyun shines as Li Jianjian, the hopeful daughter whose innate warmth and unwavering loyalty keep the family together. Her character embodies resilience, emotional intelligence, and the ability to create healing spaces for wounded hearts.
Jianjian’s transformation from a protective older sister to an independent young woman highlights her journey of maintaining family ties while establishing her own identity. Her unconditional love for her chosen brothers shows how some individuals naturally become the emotional center that enables others to heal and flourish.
Ling Xiao’s Healing Journey
Song Weilong plays Ling Xiao, a boy affected by his mother’s death and his biological family’s dysfunction, who finds solace through the love of his chosen family. His character arc covers themes of grief, abandonment, and the bravery needed to accept love after suffering loss.
Ling Xiao’s growth from a wounded child to a compassionate young man illustrates how stable family settings can heal even deep psychological wounds. His protective nature towards Jianjian and his complex relationship with He Ziqiu add depth to the series’ emotional dynamics.
He Ziqiu’s Search for Belonging
Zhang Xincheng delivers a nuanced portrayal of He Ziqiu, an abandoned child who battles with feelings of inadequacy despite being embraced by his chosen family. His character symbolizes the ongoing struggle between past trauma and present love.
He Ziqiu’s journey explores themes of self-worth, belonging, and the challenge of accepting unconditional love when one has faced rejection. His transformation from a defensive outsider to a key family member provides some of the series’ most emotionally impactful moments.
Reunion and Renewed Bonds
The narrative builds towards an emotional climax with the siblings’ adult reunion after years of separation, where they must face how they’ve changed while reaffirming their unbreakable bond. This reunion tests whether their childhood connection can withstand adult complexities and romantic feelings.
The concluding episodes skillfully balance family dynamics with individual growth, illustrating how genuine family bonds evolve yet remain steadfast, and how a chosen family can lay the groundwork for healthy romantic relationships and personal fulfillment.
The Fathers and Extended Family
Go Ahead features unforgettable supporting characters, especially the two fathers, Li Haichao and He Mei, who create the nurturing environment essential for the children’s healing. Their friendship and co-parenting partnership exemplify how adults can establish unconventional yet effective family systems.
These characters effectively demonstrate how healing is facilitated within communities, showing that it takes more than love to create healthy family environments—it requires a consistent presence, understanding, and the commitment to prioritize children’s emotional needs.
Success on WeTV
Go Ahead achieved significant success on WeTV and across Asia, lauded for its authentic depiction of non-traditional family dynamics and its sensitive treatment of childhood trauma and healing. The series received acclaim for its realistic dialogue, natural performances, and its capacity to tackle serious topics while retaining hope and warmth.
The chemistry among the three leads and the authentic family dynamics resonated with audiences who valued seeing chosen family depicted with depth and respect. The show’s success helped establish WeTV as a platform for quality Chinese dramas while contributing to important discussions about what defines family and how love can transcend blood relations.
If you appreciate heartwarming family dramas that delve into chosen family bonds and emotional healing, Go Ahead is the perfect series to binge on WeTV.
A masterpiece of emotional storytelling that reaffirms family is defined by love and commitment rather than blood, delivering one of the most genuine portrayals of healing and belonging in recent drama history.
Series Details:
- Number of Episodes: 40
- Platform: WeTV (originally Dragon TV)
- Rating: 8.9/10 (IMDb)
- Genre: Family Drama, Slice of Life, Romance, Coming-of-Age
- Protagonists: Tan Songyun (Li Jianjian), Song Weilong (Ling Xiao), Zhang Xincheng (He Ziqiu)
- Antagonist: Past trauma, biological family dysfunction, societal expectations about traditional family structures, and the challenge of maintaining chosen family bonds through life changes