THE RATIONAL LIFE
35 episodes with Dylan Wang and Qin Lan. Photo credits: Netflix.
MODERN
4/1/20242 min read


This drama is where I witnessed the other side of Dylan Wang, as a young graduate ready to tackle the world and found real love in the workplace. Based on his real age, I guess this is the closest we can get a glimpse of how he really is in real life. I noticed him first as the Dragon King in one fantasy series and again as the Devil in another, thus, my concept of him is this serious, powerful presence who controls the world with his abilities and charm. He looks matured and in command in those characters and rightly so. I actually like him better in those shows but then again, the flexibility and range of his talents is what sets him apart from the rest. His exceptionally manly, good looks are just icing on the cake.
Back to this drama. So this is a love story between a couple with a 12-yr age gap with the female being the older one. With the generation gap, status differences and societal pressures, it is of course a big challenge for them to make a life together.
However, life does become boring in keeping with the standards set by society. With the modern age upon us, people are beginning to understand and accept that we can find our life's mate in any age and circumstance. The universe is so huge and the billions of people so different in trajectory that it is a miracle if we could find one who might not look like a good match but perfect for us in what truly matters. It is a blessing to collide with someone who love and accept you as you are, be happy when you are happy and would make you the center of his world.
This story also tackled bullying in the workplace and the pressures that oftentimes come from those in power. The dynamics in a corporate setting, I realized, is more or less the same in any country or culture. We need to keep our values and core beliefs to survive in a competitive setting. We have to keep our wits about us and continue to do our best so that at the end of the day we can say we have done our best under the circumstances.
It also reminds me to keep doing good for others because indeed, the people we meet going up are also the very people we will meet going down.
Great, lasting and loyal friendships are also portrayed in this series and family dynamics that provide a realistic depiction of how people live their lives.
I just do not like the very minimal exposure of the leading lady's father. Well, that must be just my bias since I am admittedly a daddy's girl but then again, as much as a mother is important, the father also has a vital role in a person's life and should be given due credit.
Anyway, I would give this show a 7/10 because it's nice but did not really leave me with an unforgettable impression. This might appeal more though to the romantics at heart. So just try to take a look at The Rational Life if only to indulge in Dylan's charms.