- Title in original: 很想很想你 (Hěn Xiǎng Hěn Xiǎng Nǐ / “Really, Really Miss You”)
- Based on novel by 墨宝非宝 (Mò Bǎo Fēi Bǎo), who also wrote the screenplay
- Genre: 新国风 (Xīn Guó Fēng) — “New National Style” — blending traditional Chinese music aesthetics with modern storytelling
- Episodes: 33 | available on Viki / Tencent Video
- My rating: ★★★★☆ (4/5)
As a wandering itinerant storyteller collecting stories from all over the world, I am hungry for stories in whichever format they appear to me. From Grimms to Devdutt, I’ve always been hungry. But in 2010, that hunger found a new shape.
I began watching Asian series on a weak internet connection, on YouTube, in a one‑room student hostel during my ESL classes. I was frightened to go out — it was the downtown area of SFO. The first Korean drama I watched was “You’re Beautiful.” I didn’t know it yet, but I had found a second home.
Later, in 2016‑17, Rakuten Viki streamed in India as an OTT app. I was elated and never regretted spending countless hours watching dramas — and some rewatching. Among my most watched: “Go Go Squid”, “You Are My Glory”, “Descendants of the Sun”, “Fireworks of My Heart”, “Eternal Love”, and — in 2023 — “Love Me, Love My Voice”.
For the first time, watching this series, I felt I wouldn’t mind watching it with my nieces and nephews from my huge family.
Promising Drama for Family Viewing
It is hard to find a drama with a PG‑13+ listing. In India, sometimes there is just one television, and watching it as a family is a given. I remember before cable, Door Darshan — our national channel — had programs that were kid‑friendly. The dignity of viewership was maintained. We had epics like “Ramayana” and “Mahabharata” that were watched with all family members. Shows like “Vikram aur Betal”, Shirley Duvall’s “Faerie Tale Theater”, cartoons whose violence was nothing more than Tom and Jerry running around trying to get back at each other.
Coming from such viewership, these days to watch a movie with underage or young adult children makes one scramble for cover.
Having been used to long‑format series that last 3‑4 years, I find the fixed time frame of foreign series very appealing. “Love Me, Love My Voice” takes its own sweet time to showcase each character’s emotional arc. The musical scores were really done beautifully.
I found the career of a voice artist appealing. The finer points of the industry were well covered. The journey of the male lead and his team provides insight into the various hurdles when starting a career in voice over. There was a nice balance of old and young artists who added colour and texture to the narrative. Emotions were given precedence over a mindless, overthrown arc of plot progress.
The live musical show on the river shore was captivating and stellar cinematography. It almost felt like it was happening in front of my eyes — a transportive quality.
Something Special and Appealing
The main leads’ lives and the building of their relationship was done well, without unnecessarily overt, excessive physical gestures. You could believe the story for its firm stand on proper behaviours and age‑appropriate emotional expression.
The thought that working in a mainstream medical profession and while contributing to the voice‑over industry required dedication and integrity to be true to both. Given that the lead plans his exit from the mainstream performance to a tutoring and consult position stays true to his vision. I think I can buy the writer’s angle for his early retirement.
I assumed the lead led a disciplined lifestyle; the absent parents could have set high expectations which became the reason for his talents in multiple fields — trying to rebel and yet conform to rules warring inside him. Yet despite that, he is a well‑rounded character.
The characters’ passion for their work may have started from the level of hobbyist enthusiasts, but the hard work that goes into each assignment is explained. There is a nice blend of science and art, and viewers can root for the main leads’ love progress.
One Small Flaw
The story was a little one‑sided: the male lead’s parents were not represented as much as the female lead’s family. A slight imbalance, because despite the lack of warm parents, the lead is a well‑rounded person. I also felt equal weight was not given to the second leads. If the episodes had been 40, the second leads could have been explored further.
My Imagining: Interestingly, I felt that if the writer had created an elder grandmother for the male lead — and the steadiness of his character was shaped by her upbringing — then his skill in cooking could also be justified. The grandparents of the male and female lead could have matchmade them… well, that is another angle to pursue.
Family Series Are Hard to Find
Among all the various dramas I have viewed, I found “Hidden Love” and “Love Me, Love My Voice” the closest to watching with family. There is still some adult content depending on your social norms, but these series aren’t overtly excessive in their display of affection.
A beautiful balance plays out in these series, staying within the boundaries of socially acceptable behaviours. Old Hindi films showed kissing scenes always with two flowers kissing — not real people. The sad truth is that most present‑day dramas are not viewable as a family. The habit of not getting together to watch and enjoy together has become a rare feat to accomplish.
The best part of this series is that the elders of the family are equally important, and the close‑knit familial bond resonated with my belief in strong relationships that are supportive and active participants.
A Lost Ritual, and a Hope
With the passing years, sharing a common activity is slowly disappearing, replaced by doing things alone. I don’t know if my nieces and nephews will ever want to watch a drama with their aunt. But if they do, I know which one I’ll queue up.
That way, this series could be a joint family project — to watch and to enjoy as a family.
Itinerant Storyteller 