Islands (2024) - Chinese drama

Aired: 2024/02/13 - 2024/02/29
Comments: 17
Native Title:烟火人家
Also Known As:Her Islands,Ta He Ta De Qun Dao,Yan Huo Ren Jia,她和她的群島,她和她的群岛,煙火人家

Plot Synopsis

Based on the female novel "Her Islands" by the Douban Reading author Yi Nan, the story revolves around three generations of the Meng family. It mainly tells the warm story of the eldest sister Meng Mingwei, the three sisters with differentpersonalities - Meng Wanqing, Meng Yian, and their respective daughters - as they experience various family, marriage, and relationshipissues, supporting each other and growing individually.

The strict matriarch of the Meng family, Qiao Haiyun, has always had a rule that everyone must come home for the New Year. No one has ever broken this rule until the honest third generation, Li Yijin, suddenly breaks tradition and goes to her boyfriend's home for the New Year, causing family conflicts. Qiao Haiyun has three daughters. The eldest, Meng Mingwei, is not her biological daughter. Due to her insecurity from a limp, she hopes her daughter will succeed in life. Her relationshipwith her daughter, Li Yijin, is very tense. However, they eventually understand each other's difficulties and realize that maintaining an appropriate distance is the key to maintaining a good mother-daughter relationship.

The second daughter, Meng Wanqing, and her academically excellent daughter, Tao Shuna, have a seeminglyperfect mother-daughter relationship. However, the two open-minded individuals unintentionally discover each other's secrets, leading to aprocess of rediscovering themselves and each other. They eventually understand that aperfect mother-daughter relationshipis not about concealing flaws but supporting each other.

The youngest daughter, Meng Yian, is most similar to Qiao Haiyun - strong and independent. She doesn't want to become a strong woman like her mother, but through a series of coincidences, she ends upon the samepath as her mother. Balancing career and familyproves to be challenging, and it gradually helps her understand her mother's struggles. The women of the Meng family, spanning three generations, are like islands. Although they are distant from each other, they support and coexist with one another.

Where to Watch "Islands"

Viki Free (sub)TencentVideo (Subscription)Fresh Drama Free (sub)Idol & Romance (Subscription)WeTV (Subscription)

Episodes Recap

1-5
6-10
11-15
16-20
21-25
26-30
31-35
36-39

Cast & Role

Tao Shu Na
(Sun Qian)

Tao Da Lei
(Liu Jun)

Meng Yi An
(Li Xiao Ran)

Meng Ming Wei
(Xu Fan)

Comments

TeaLover2 months ago444episode 13
Indeed, it's not quite suitable to air during the festive season of Chinese New Year. However, I feel that the content is very relatable. Just because it tells the trivial matters in a conflicted family, it doesn't mean that people wouldn't want to watch it.
LittleMiss2 months ago329episode 1
It's so realistic, there are so many unreliable men in real life, especially the men from the older generation. I used to hope that my parents would divorce, but my mom endured and persisted for many years so that I wouldn't become a child from a single-parent family.
Actually, I hope my mom can have her own life and love.
DarkSpark2 months ago150episode 30
Li Yi Jin is ultimately too infatuated. Zhou Dao's family background is something he couldn't choose, but he kept it hidden for seven years, even when he took her to meet his grandparents.
From the perspective of the grandparents, it's natural for them to think that Yi Jin, knowing the truth, would prepare a gift for Zhou Dao's mother in front of them.
Yi Jin was humiliated in Zhou Dao's family, and Zhou Dao himself has an undeniable responsibility. And he just laughed it off?
SunnySun2 months ago134episode 1
I really don't understand how anyone could support Zhou Dao and Li Yi Jin. If you haven't experienced the pain of a dysfunctional family, please refrain from making casual judgments.
Some comments say they seek solace in each other, but I find that laughable. How can two people who haven't been surrounded by love give love to each other?
Another thing is that violent tendencies can be hereditary, and the TV drama romanticizes Zhou Dao. And can Zhou Dao really sever ties with his grandparents unless they pass away?
And another thing, I can't believe Li Yi Jin would snatch the phone and curse at her own family. Does she have to revolve around Zhou Dao, a man?
In the end, watching a TV drama is supposed to bring joy to oneself.
Internet users also have their own opinions! I'm really angry!
Cris2 months ago71episode 1
In fact, when you think about it, there are many people in real life like them. When they are young, they don't listen to their parents' advice for the sake of "love." It's only after they get married that they realize the importance of "matching backgrounds." Many of the objections from parents are actually valid because they genuinely want us to live a good life.
Money2 months ago30episode 25
Zhou Dao's mother killed Zhou Dao's father because his father was abusive towards her. She couldn't bear it anymore, so she fought back. I think his mother is not at fault; it's the abusive men who are wrong.
Zhou Dao is quite pitiful. Coming from a dysfunctional family, it's not easy for him to still be so outstanding.
Lee2 months ago27episode 30
Aunt and Uncle Lee are truly doing a great service to the people by being together! The three of them in their family are all cunning in their own ways. Li Yi Jin handles other people's matters efficiently, but when it comes to his own mother, he gets all clingy and can't sever ties.
He keeps bringing up principles and stubbornly holds on to them. It's really annoying how he flip-flops repeatedly.
Aibai2 months ago25episode 34
Li Yi Jin's mother is actually mentally ill, but because the society as a whole is similar to her, she has become the norm. From this, many people should have an epiphany about the true meaning of what Jesus said to his followers, "Blessed are you when people insult you, persecute you and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of me.
Lin2 months ago24episode 20
The marriages of the three daughters are not going well. The eldest sister has a serious control issue and her husband treats her poorly. It feels like she's just a maid. The second sister is a career-oriented woman, but her husband is a freeloader.
Their daughter is great though, and they get along like friends. The aunt is also a career woman who has already divorced. They still have to pretend to be a family of three and have a meal together during the New Year, even though they both have someone else now.
Qiu Qiu is most afraid of her parents fighting. I've watched up to the fifth episode, and it feels very true to life~
LoadingPleaseWait2 months ago23episode 34
You can tell from a single glance the acting skills, and the female lead's acting skills are just too poor. It's like she's playing a mentally unstable character.
The original female lead's pitiful and stubborn disability, her unwillingness to accept her daughter's life different from her own, is portrayed excessively.
Xu Fan's portrayal of the mother lacks any emotional impact. I can't see any acting skills in her expressions and eyes. All I see is a useless mother, someone who only knows how to control her daughter and is mentally fractured when it comes to others.
It's really not in line with the plot. Even with my best effort to empathize, her crying scenes couldn't move me. Her acting skills are truly mediocre.
The supporting actresses playing the second and third aunt did a much better job.
BambooMountain2 months ago22episode 21
What kind of character development is this? It's really infuriating to watch. Is Li Yi Jin supposed to be a doormat? She just takes everything in stride and can't even express her own opinions. And her mother is no better, a control freak who meddles in everything, constantly acting like she's doing it for her daughter's own good, but in reality, she's constantly belittling her own flesh and blood.
It's just speechless.
Rain2 months ago11episode 34
This mother, who is the eldest sister, is never satisfied. When she can't surpass others herself, she hopes that her daughter can surpass them in every aspect. She has such an outstanding daughter, and yet she's still not satisfied.
Oh my, if my daughter can successfully enter high school, I would idolize her. If she manages to get into a top-tier university, just the thought of it makes me happy.
LittleFish2 months ago5episode 1
No matter who is tied up too tightly, they will suffocate, and they will want to escape. As a mother, I hope my child will always stick to me, never leave me, and I can't be without her. But children will eventually grow up and distance themselves...
Xiaoponiang2 months ago1episode 1
When I watch Li Yi Jin's mother, I feel a bit relieved. My own mother is somewhat similar to her, although not as extreme, but the essence is similar. I can totally understand.
My personality is also strong like Li Yi Jin's, so I can imagine how heated our arguments can get. I truly believe that, compared to parents loving their children, children actually love their parents more.
We endure so much, yet it often goes unnoticed.
Perplexed2 months ago1episode 34
Auntie is so annoying. Right from the start, she constantly belittles her daughter. Even though she may have good intentions, her actions and words fail to convey any care.
Instead, they send a message of disdain. It's a disaster for any child to have a mother like that. In the end, the child becomes just like her, and it becomes a vicious cycle.
The only solution is to stay away from people like Auntie.
Everyman1 months ago1episode 1
Human Fireworks" is truly an excellent family drama. It's been a long time since I've seen a TV series with such taste. It really immerses the audience!
Even though I'm a man, the sisterly bond in this drama touched me so deeply that I couldn't help but cry along with them for a long time.
It kept me up all night!
It completely deceived my tears. It portrays the ups and downs of three generations in a family, the trivialities of life! The sisters each have their own family issues, but they come together to help and support each other out of blood-related kinship!
But in reality, there are so many ungrateful siblings! Personally, I believe in being honest and straightforward in life! We should never forget gratitude and loyalty, whether it's family or friendship.
It's something that we all need to mutually uphold, not just one-sided giving.
Family, friends—when they treat you well, don't forget your roots. When they are going through a rough time, don't casually judge them when you're doing well.
Extend a helping hand if you can, and if you can't support them, at least don't kick them while they're down.
Life may be long or short, filled with poverty or wealth. The most important thing is to live our own lives wisely and be healthy with our families.
This drama truly captures the essence of family bonds. In today's world, where human warmth is lacking, every one of us should learn from our own families!
Don't let money blind your eyes and overlook the importance of family ties.
Lucky Bear1 months agoepisode 37
Meng Mingwei's dilemma lies in her fear that her daughter won't have a good life, yet she also fears her daughter being too outstanding. Deep down, she can't accept that her daughter is stronger than her. Her insecurities are at play, and she actually has some expectations for her daughter not to be too strong or independent because her daughter is the only thing she can control in her life.
Looking at her younger self and Li Chengzhi, it's hard to imagine that they would end up like this. So, she views her daughter's emotions and life with a mystical and utilitarian mindset, fearing that her daughter will repeat her own mistakes.
This is her logic.
However, she overlooks one thing—her daughter is much stronger than her. Li Yijin can take control of her own life, both picking up and letting go. Meanwhile, Meng Mingwei has been unable to break free from her failed marriage with Li Chengzhi for so many years.
She can't control her own life.
Having experienced discrimination herself, she has also discriminated against others. She teaches her daughter not to play with girls who are bullied, yet she herself is trapped in a failed marriage and tries to control her daughter's life.
She is clearly a victim, but unknowingly, she conforms to the logic of the abuser. It's pitiful, lamentable, and even condemnable!

Ratings

7.6

Plot Synopsis

Where to Watch "Islands"

Episodes Recap

Cast & Role

Comments

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