Synopsis
Overview
Dear, Beloved is a 2019 Chinese mainland youth romance drama. The series was directed by Li Qingrong and adapted from Mo Bao Fei Bao's novel Honey Stewed Squid. Set against the backdrop of esports (adapted as a cybersecurity competition in the drama), it tells the story of Tong Nian, a sweet and brilliant top student...
Overview
"Go Go Squid!" is a Chinese youth romance drama that aired in 2019. Directed by Li Qingrong, it is adapted from Mo Bao Fei Bao's novel "Honey Stewed Squid." Set against the backdrop of esports (adapted as a cybersecurity competition in the drama), the series tells the sweet love story and shared growth between Tong Nian, a cute and academically gifted student, and Han Shangyan, the passionate captain (and later owner) of an esports (cybersecurity) team, which begins with an unexpected encounter. Since its premiere, thanks to its high-sweetness, tightly-paced plot and the outstanding performances of the leads, the drama quickly became a phenomenal hit, sparking widespread viewing fervor and online discussion. It significantly influenced the popularization of esports-themed TV series and the emergence of internet pop culture phenomena like the "Current Boyfriend."
Plot
The story begins late one night in an internet cafe. Tong Nian, a second-year postgraduate student and online singer "Squid" with millions of fans, falls in love at first sight with Han Shangyan, a legendary figure in the esports circle and the owner of Team K&K, who has come to help his cousin look after the cafe. Outgoing and straightforward, Tong Nian actively pursues him. Han Shangyan, who appears aloof on the outside but is passionate inside, initially keeps his distance due to their age gap and different professional backgrounds.
Tong Nian is not only a computer genius with notable achievements in the field of artificial intelligence but also possesses a pure love and understanding for the cybersecurity competitions (the drama's adaptation of esports) that Han Shangyan is involved in. Her sincerity, intelligence, and persistence gradually melt Han Shangyan's icy heart. Meanwhile, Han Shangyan is leading the young members of Team K&K in a fierce struggle to achieve their dream of winning a world championship. Tong Nian's appearance not only brings warmth and color to his life but also gives him deeper insights into teamwork, responsibility, and dreams.
Their relationship deepens amidst sweet interactions and minor misunderstandings, while also facing different opinions from family, career, and the outside world. Ultimately, they overcome numerous difficulties together. Han Shangyan leads his team to the top of the world, realizing the dream of winning glory for the nation, and also finds a happy love with Tong Nian. The series perfectly blends elements of youth, dreams, passion, and romance, conveying positive and uplifting values.
Cast
| Actor | Role | Role Introduction |
|---|---|---|
| Yang Zi | Tong Nian | A lively and adorable second-year postgraduate computer science student, a gifted girl, and the online singer "Squid." She falls in love with Han Shangyan at first sight and bravely pursues him. |
| Li Xian | Han Shangyan (Gun) | Founder and owner of the K&K Esports Club, a former legendary player in cybersecurity competitions. Outwardly cold and serious, but deeply loyal and passionate inside. He harbors the dream of leading his team to a world championship. |
| Hu Yitian | Wu Bai (Dt) | Captain of Team K&K, Han Shangyan's cousin. A top-tier player with superb skills and a quiet, reserved personality. He is Han Shangyan's most reliable comrade. |
| Li Hongqi | Mi Shaofei | Han Shangyan's former teammate, a loyal and righteous friend who later joins Team K&K as the team leader. |
| Li Zefeng | Wang Hao | Han Shangyan's former teammate and ex-brother, head of Team Solo. He has unresolved issues with Han Shangyan. |
| Jiang Peiyao | Sun Yaya | Tong Nian's best friend, cheerful and outgoing. She is a devoted fan of Mi Shaofei, and later develops a romantic relationship with him. |
| Wang Lejun | Ai Qing (Appledog) | A top female player in the field of cybersecurity competitions, an old friend of Han Shangyan and Wang Hao. |
| Yu Cheng'en | Dai Feng (Demo) | A member of Team K&K, lively and cute, the team's beloved "mascot." |
| Li Mingde | Ling Shan (97) | A member of Team K&K, with a cheerful personality, responsible for lightening the team's atmosphere. |
| Wen Yifan | Shen Zhe (Grunt) | A member of Team K&K, with outstanding skills and a unique style. |
Cultural Impact
After airing during the 2019 summer season, "Go Go Squid!" achieved unprecedented success and generated multifaceted cultural and social impacts.
Firstly, the drama significantly increased the visibility and recognition of esports/cybersecurity competitions within mainstream culture. Although "esports" was changed to "cybersecurity competition" for broadcast purposes, its core portrayal of teamwork, never-give-up competitive spirit, and the sense of honor in winning glory for the nation helped more viewers, especially the older generation, begin to understand and respect this emerging profession, further pushing esports culture beyond its original circles.
Secondly, the drama successfully created the classic on-screen CP "Tong Yan Couple." The acting skills of leads Yang Zi and Li Xian were highly praised. Li Xian rapidly rose to top-tier popularity through his role as "Han Shangyan," affectionately dubbed "Current Boyfriend" by viewers. This triggered a summer-long frenzy of drama watching and social media狂欢, forming a unique internet cultural phenomenon.
Furthermore, the drama's lines, insert songs (such as "Nobody" and "Milk Bread"), costumes, and even filming locations became hot topics, driving related music, tourism, and consumption trends. It accurately captured the emotional needs of contemporary youth. Its "high-sweetness," non-toxic love model featuring mutual growth, along with its persistent depiction of career and dreams, resonated with a vast audience, making it a benchmark work in the youth romance genre in recent years.
References
- Douban Movie. "Go Go Squid!" entry. https://movie.douban.com/subject/27140017/
- Baidu Baike. "Go Go Squid!" entry. https://baike.baidu.com/item/亲爱的，热爱的/23382955
- Wikipedia. "Go Go Squid!" entry. https://zh.wikipedia.org/wiki/亲爱的，热爱的
Comments (0)