The Last Goodbye to Mama (2021)

While they are quite different stories, Suzuran also follows the story of a girl from since her childhood to old age, her struggles as an orphan and then as a struggling single mother who strived to give her child the best life. It was a very heartwarming story as well.

Both dramas deal with family life, factory workers particularly women and the changes from 1980s to 1990s. The Last Goodbye to Mama is a very heavy and insightful drama that touches on very raw and hard to deal with issues and I have never seen a Chinese drama like this, it's really a gem. It certainly puts Wang Churan on the map just like Lu Yuxio in Romance in the Alley.

Romance in the Alley is slightly more light-hearted that uses comedy in a smart way but does not shy away from issues of the time. It's highly researched and really delves into the human nature of all of us. You can feel the labour of love in every aspect of this production. Both can be regarded as similar in that sense where both concentrates on our inner self, our desires, fears and yearning.