The First Half of My Life

This article is about the TV series. For the memoir that is eponymous in Chinese, see From Emperor to Citizen.
The First Half of My Life
Chinese name
Chinese我的前半生
Transcriptions
Standard Mandarin
Hanyu PinyinWǒ de Qiánbànshēng
GenreRomance
Drama
Based onThe First Half of My Life by Yi Shu[1]
Written byQin Wen
Directed byShen Yan
StarringJin Dong
Ma Yili
Yuan Quan
Lei Jiayin
Wu Yue
Chen Daoming
Opening themeOnce Only
Ending themeIn the Pouring Rain by Li Ruoxi
Country of originChina
Original languageMandarin
No. of episodes42
Production
Executive producerLi Xiaobiao
Production locationShanghai
Production companyNew Classics Media
Original release
NetworkBeijing Television
Dragon Television
ReleaseJuly 4 (2017-07-04) –
July 26, 2017 (2017-07-26)

The First Half of My Life (Chinese: 我的前半生; pinyin: Wǒ de Qiánbànshēng) is a 2017 Chinese television series based on Hong Kong novelist Yi Shu's novel of the same name and centers on a group of city dwellers who have to make choices about love and career.[2] It was directed by Shen Yan and stars Jin Dong, Ma Yili, Yuan Quan, Lei Jiayin, Wu Yue, and Chen Daoming.[3] The series was first broadcast on Beijing Television and Dragon Television on 4 July 2017.[4]

Synopsis

Luo Zijun lives a peaceful life as a full-time housewife, yet is unaware of the cracks in her marriage. One day, her husband Chen Junsheng files for divorce, and she is shocked. After divorce, Luo Zijun heads back into the workforce with the help of her dear friend Tang Jing and He Han, both being white-collar workers and elites.[5]

Cast

Main

  • Jin Dong as He Han (贺涵), an elite in the consulting industry. His girlfriend is Tang Jing, and they've been together for ten years.
  • Ma Yili as Luo Zijun (罗子君), a full-time housewife who lives a simple life after marriage with Chen Junsheng.
  • Yuan Quan as Tang Jing (唐晶), a career-minded woman and He Han's girlfriend.
  • Lei Jiayin as Chen Junsheng (陈俊生), an elite in the career workforce and Luo Zijun's husband.
  • Wu Yue as Ling Ling (凌玲), Chen Junsheng's second wife.
  • Chen Daoming as Zhuo Jianqing (卓渐清), He Han's friend.

Supporting

  • Xu Di as Xue Zhenzhu (薛珍珠), Luo Zijun and Luo Ziqun's mother.
  • Zhang Lingxin as Luo Ziqun (罗子群), Luo Zijun's younger sister.
  • Zheng Luoqian as Wei Wei'an (薇薇安)
  • Wang Tianze as Leng Jiaqing (冷佳清), Ling Ling's son and Chen Junsheng's stepson.
  • Vivian Wu as Aunt Wu
  • Luan Yuanhui as Bai Guang
  • Chuo Ni as Luoluo
  • Mei Ting as Zhuo Jianqing's former girlfriend
  • Tan Kai as Adom
  • Kong Wei as a single woman
  • Zhang Yanyan as Su Manshu
  • Hou Yansong as Laojin
  • Wei Zhihao as Ping'er
  • Song Yunhao as Duan Xiaotian
  • Xu Caigen as Cui Baojian
  • Ren Jimin as Chen Junsheng's father
  • Zhang Lan as Chen Junsheng's mother
  • Ru Tian as Ya Qin
  • Min Tianhao as A Hui
  • Shi An as Lawyer Li
  • Guo Tongtong as Xiaodong
  • Chen Guanning as Cui Baojian's son
  • Yang Mei as a chubby girl.
  • Sun Yuhan as Caicai
  • Xu Sheng as Phil
  • Guan Xueying as Sandra Dong
  • Bi Hanwen as the lawyer of Chen Junsheng
  • Qu Lingzi as He Han's assistant
  • Lu Ling as Yingying
  • Cheng Hong as the marketing manager
  • Huang Jing as Tang Jing's assistant
  • Yu Mingjia as the CEO of Angel
  • Ren Donglin as Li Rui
  • Zhang Yi as Luo Ping

Soundtrack

The First Half of My Life - Original Television Soundtrack
No.TitleMusicLength
1."Once Only (曾今唯一)" (Opening theme song)  
2."In the Pouring Rain (滂沱大雨里)" (Ending theme song)Li Ruoxi 
3."With Infinite Care (小心翼翼)"Ye Linsheng 
4."The Moment the Crystal Ball Breaks (水晶球破裂那刻)"Lin Siyun 
5."When I See You There"Knox Summerour 
6."You & I"Linda Jackson 
7."A Playground Where Lights Undousing (不熄灯的游乐场)"Lin Siyun 

Ratings

  • Highest ratings are marked in red, lowest ratings are marked in blue
Broadcast date Episode # Dragon TV CSM52 Beijing TV CSM52
Ratings (%) Audience share (%) Rank Ratings (%) Audience share (%) Rank
2017.7.4 1-2 0.863 3.06 3 0.517 1.82 5
2017.7.5 3-4 1.071 3.71 2 0.576 1.98 4
2017.7.6 5-6 1.185 4.03 2 0.647 2.19 4
2017.7.7 7-8 1.165 4.12 1 0.637 2.25 5
2017.7.8 9 1.095 3.94 1 0.693 2.5 4
2017.7.9 10-11 1.345 4.64 1 0.934 3.23 3
2017.7.10 12-13 1.565 5.44 1 0.751 2.61 5
2017.7.11 14-15 1.456 5.09 1 0.92 3.21 4
2017.7.12 16-17 1.517 5.39 1 0.926 3.29 5
2017.7.13 18-19 1.654 5.77 1 1.119 3.92 3
2017.7.14 20-21 1.86 6.44 1 1.104 3.84 2
2017.7.15 22 1.66 6.21 1 1.036 3.87 2
2017.7.16 23-24 2.126 7.19 1 1.438 4.88 2
2017.7.17 25-26 2.157 7.26 1 1.473 4.95 2
2017.7.18 27-28 2.301 7.72 1 1.574 5.26 2
2017.7.19 29-30 2.552 8.29 1 1.712 5.55 2
2017.7.20 31-32 2.307 7.8 1 1.86 6.28 2
2017.7.21 33-34 2.41 7.23 1 1.751 5.97 2
2017.7.22 35 2.253 8.27 1 1.4 5.14 2
2017.7.23 36-37 2.548 8.35 1 1.894 6.2 2
2017.7.24 38-39 2.649 8.819 1 1.988 6.619 2
2017.7.25 40-41 2.836 9.601 1 2.002 6.784 2
2017.7.26 42 3.012 10.48 1 1.99 6.9 2

Reception

Since its broadcast, the series has caused heated discussions online and obtained high ratings. Shen Yan, director of the series, attribute the show's success to its capability to capture modern life in China through several ordinary people's lives and the great influence of book writer Isabel Nee Yeh-su. By emphasizing the importance of female independence, the series has won much favor among female audiences. However, the series has been criticized by book fans for veering too much from the plot. Its display of improper ethical values has also been criticized for degrading social conduct.[6]

Awards and nominations

Year Award Category Nominee Result Ref.
2017 4th Hengdian Film and TV Festival of China Best Actress Ma Yili Won [7]
8th Macau International Television Festival Best Television Series The First Half of My Life Nominated [8]
Best Director Shen Yan Nominated
Best Writing Qin Wen Nominated
Best Actor Jin Dong Nominated
Best Supporting Actress Yuan Quan Nominated
31st Feitian Awards Best Television Series The First Half of My Life Nominated
2018 24th Shanghai Television Festival Best Television Series The First Half of My Life Nominated [9]
Best Director Shen Yan Nominated
Best Writer Qin Wen Won
Best Actor Lei Jiayin Nominated
Best Actress Ma Yili Won
Yuan Quan Nominated
Best Supporting Actress Wu Yue Nominated
Xu Di Won
29th China TV Golden Eagle Award Best Television Series The First Half of My Life Nominated [10]
Best Screenplay Qin Wen Nominated
Best Actress Yuan Quan Nominated

International broadcast

The series will be broadcast by Star Chinese Channel outside of China and Mediacorp Channel 8 in Singapore every Saturday, 10:30pm to 12:30am the next day, broadcasting two episodes in a day.[11]

It first aired in Thailand on Channel 3 in 2021 daily at 2:50 am starting Friday 27 August, following Eternal Love (rerun) finished.[12]

References

  1. ^ 电视剧《我的前半生》只有剧名和亦舒有关？. NetEase (in Chinese). July 12, 2017.
  2. ^ "TV drama to center on urban life and love". Shanghai Daily. June 29, 2017.
  3. ^ "我的前半生"播放破10亿 马伊琍真情流露赢抚养权. NetEase (in Chinese). July 11, 2017.
  4. ^ "'The First Half of My Life' to Be Released Soon on Beijing TV". womenofchina.cn. July 3, 2017. Archived from the original on August 22, 2017. Retrieved July 14, 2017.
  5. ^ "Divorcee finds new life in new TV series". China Daily. June 30, 2017.
  6. ^ "Hit TV drama explores modern women's issues". China.org.cn. July 19, 2017.
  7. ^ 恭喜！马伊琍凭借《我的前半生》获封视后. Tencent (in Chinese). October 29, 2017.
  8. ^ 2017第八届澳门国际电视节奖项提名. Weibo (in Chinese). Macau International Television Festival. December 11, 2017.
  9. ^ 第24届上海电视节白玉兰奖中国电视剧单元入围名单公布. People's Daily (in Chinese). May 24, 2018.
  10. ^ 第29届中国电视金鹰奖提名演员名单出炉. Xinhua News Agency (in Chinese). October 9, 2018. Archived from the original on October 11, 2018.
  11. ^ "Fox Networks Group to broadcast hit series 'The First Half Of My Life' outside China". Screen Daily. July 13, 2017.
  12. ^ "รักครั้งใหม่หัวใจพลิกล็อก". Channel 3 (in Thai). Retrieved August 27, 2021.