Synopsis
"All Is Well" is a 2019 urban family drama with a Douban rating of 7.7, produced by Daylight Entertainment, directed by Jian Chuanhe, and starring Yao Chen, Ni Dahong, and Guo Jingfei. Adapted from A Nai's novel of the same name, it tells the story of the three Su siblings facing the challenges of their dysfunctional family with their selfish father, Su Daqiang. The series sparked nationwide discussions on social issues such as son preference and family of origin, accumulating over 10 billion views.
Overview
"All Is Well" is a 2019 urban family drama television series produced by Daylight Entertainment, directed by Jian Chuanhe, and written by Wang Sanmao and Lei Zi, adapted from the novel of the same name by author A Nai. Yao Chen and Ni Dahong lead the cast, with actors Guo Jingfei, Yang Youning, Li Nian, Gao Lu, Chen Jin, and others joining. The series consists of 46 episodes, premiered on Zhejiang TV and Jiangsu TV, holds a Douban rating of 7.7, and once reached as high as 8.5 at its debut. The show sparked nationwide discussions on social issues such as dysfunctional families, son preference, and elderly care, accumulating over 10 billion online views and becoming the most talked-about domestic drama of 2019.
The reason "All Is Well" resonated so widely lies in its precise targeting of the most sensitive pain points in Chinese families—the prejudice of son preference, the trauma of dysfunctional families, and the challenges of caring for aging parents. The family conflicts within the Su family are not extreme cases but a microcosm of countless Chinese families, allowing viewers to strongly identify and empathize while watching.
Plot
On the surface, the Su family is an enviable middle-class family—father Su Daqiang (played by Ni Dahong) was a librarian before retirement, the mother is the dominant head of the household, and the three children have each achieved success. However, the sudden death of Mrs. Su completely exposes the cracks in this family.
The second son, Su Mingcheng (played by Guo Jingfei), grew up under his mother's biased doting, having relied on his parents for years yet feeling justified in doing so. The youngest daughter, Su Mingyu (played by Yao Chen), was never favored by her family, growing up in a son-preferring environment. She cut off financial ties with her family at 18 and, through her own efforts, became an executive at a major company. The eldest son, Su Mingzhe (played by Gao Xin), lives far away in the United States, appearing filial but only paying lip service without taking action.
After Mrs. Su's death, Su Daqiang, who lost his support, begins to display infuriating selfishness and willfulness—he demands a big house, insists on living with his children, and sows discord among his three children. The character of Su Daqiang vividly portrays the selfishness, willfulness, and unreasonableness of elderly Chinese parents, becoming the most controversial figure on screen in 2019. Meanwhile, Su Mingyu, while bearing the trauma of her family, must also face her father's unreasonable demands and her brothers' moral coercion. Her grievances, anger, and eventual reconciliation touched the hearts of countless viewers.
Cast
| Actor | Role | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Yao Chen | Su Mingyu | Third daughter, unfavored since childhood, self-made career woman |
| Ni Dahong | Su Daqiang | Su father, selfish and willful, becomes more troublesome after losing his wife |
| Guo Jingfei | Su Mingcheng | Second son, adult dependent, beneficiary of his mother's favoritism |
| Yang Youning | Shi Tiandong | Su Mingyu's lover, warm and considerate restaurant owner |
| Gao Xin | Su Mingzhe | Eldest son, lives in the U.S., verbally filial but lacking in action |
| Li Nian | Zhu Li | Su Mingcheng's wife, cares about face but inherently kind |
| Chen Jin | Mrs. Su | Dominant head of the Su family, prefers sons over daughters |
Cultural Impact
After its broadcast, "All Is Well" sparked a nationwide discussion about dysfunctional families. Su Mingyu's experiences resonated strongly with countless women who grew up in son-preferring families, and the phrase "I don't owe you" became a psychological support for many facing familial moral coercion. The character Su Daqiang became a classic figure in internet culture—memes like "troublesome dad" and "I want hand-ground coffee" spread widely.
Ni Dahong's performance is the highlight of the series. He masterfully portrays Su Daqiang's selfishness, cowardice, scheming, and occasional loneliness, especially in his subtle performance of pretending to be pitiful in front of his children while sowing discord behind their backs, leaving viewers feeling a mix of hatred, anger, and helplessness. Yao Chen perfectly captures Su Mingyu's strength and vulnerability, as well as the conflicting emotions of her aloofness and longing for familial affection.
References
- Douban Movie: https://movie.douban.com/subject/27088993/
- Baidu Baike: https://baike.baidu.com/item/都挺好/12006937
- Wikipedia: https://zh.wikipedia.org/zh-cn/都挺好
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