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: 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]

The First Half of My Life
Chinese name
Chinese	我的前半生
Transcriptions Standard Mandarin Hanyu Pinyin Wǒ de Qiánbànshēng
Genre	Romance Drama
Based on	The First Half of My Life by Yi Shu[1]
Written by	Qin Wen
Directed by	Shen Yan
Starring	Jin Dong Ma Yili Yuan Quan Lei Jiayin Wu Yue Chen Daoming
Opening theme	Once Only
Ending theme	In the Pouring Rain by Li Ruoxi
Country of origin	China
Original language	Mandarin
No. of episodes	42
Production
Executive producer	Li Xiaobiao
Production location	Shanghai
Production company	New Classics Media
Original release
Network	Beijing Television Dragon Television
Release	July 4 (2017-07-04) – July 26, 2017 (2017-07-26)

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.	Title	Music	Length
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.

External links

• The First Half of My Life at IMDb
• The First Half of My Life at Douban (in Chinese)
• The First Half of My Life on Weibo (in Chinese)