Touches You

Good story, Not enough for a whole film

Absolutely Fantastic

Through painfully honest and emotional moments, the movie becomes irresistibly relatable

The death penalty is a terrible thing; and China's system of justice leaves much to be desired. I know of the latter from the personal experience of a friend. But 'One Child' is an ordinary exploration of these themes, told from the perspective of a Briton who becomes involved in a legal case involving her long lost brother. The problems with the story are various. How could someone who can't speak a word of Chinese expect to influence the case? The motives of the heroine are spotlessly good, which makes the series somewhat dull. And the China that is presented, while clearly a far from ideal state, is also a China where everyone speaks perfect English and dresses in smart clothing. The mostly new-found wealth of the Chinese ruling class is an interesting fact; but there are also profound cultural differences between the Chinese and westerners, observable at a micro-level: this isn't a point about good and bad per se, just about different modes of behaviour, but 'One Child' gives us very little insight into how Chinese and westerners think and act differently, even though this should naturally be at the heart of the story. Kudos is due to the writers for not choosing a senselessly happy ending; nonetheless, the series is still a little formulaic and bland.

... and I hate to slate their productions, especially the more contemporary work that often challenges the viewer in all the right ways. Unfortunately, with 'One Child', it seems the story's flight to reaching full potential was undermined by the writers trying to fit too much into such a short series.In setting the story against a backdrop - or, really, a foreground - of serious political, social, and human issues (adoption, corruption, death penalty, etc.), it seems the writers were aiming to make the characters' journeys all the more powerful and poignant. However, the inclusion of multiple big topics and the limited screen-time meant that none of the core elements of the story, ranging from the characters' emotional lives to the socio-political challenges of present-day China, were done much justice. Mainly, the emotionally-charged subject of adoption and a belated family reunion was undercut by the political elements that are thrust a little too obtrusively in the viewer's face.BBC dramas are usually so unique and powerful because of their nuanced handling of both personal and political subjects. Sadly, 'One Child' came across as a Westerner's idea of China, where all the typical things we "know" about the country (one child policy, government corruption, economic inequality, etc.) are lumped together in a clumsy caricaturing that makes Mei's own story seem strangely outlandish and improbable.Simply put, there was too much going on in what was only three episodes. The writers should have either explored all the above themes in a longer series, or simply focused on one. As it is, the emotional storyline was underwhelming and the political elements overdone. It really is a pity, as the story had the potential to be an enthralling drama...

I enjoyed the show as a whole. Art shows something different to different people.(Possible Spoilers)To me this show was a realistic representation of fighting back towards a corrupted system that doesn't work. Many of us have come to a point in our lives that there are things you can not change, no matter how much you may try. That may be a government, like in the movie or another system that you may be entangled in. I think it did a good job of showing the hope and the drive that we all begin with to make the world a better place. The hope in people that they will do the right thing, then to slowly realize through everything that you are doing that it will not change with just you. Maybe they meant it to be biased, or whatever else people have complained about. However the underlying story telling is what made me really like this show, I thought they did a good job.

It's a typical portrayal of sensationalism. Since there were no scene shot within the realm of Mainland China, lots of ideologies presented no matter during the main narration or through all the sceneries are from little to utterly biased. And even worse, the title of the TV, which is misused and clearly a misnomer,conveyed the ideology and stereotype which is intentionally shaming the government of China and can raise unnecessary debate and discussion of the inhumanity of the certain policies. People who watched this or are expecting to watch it should do some research about the notorious "one-child" and ask around the real meaning if you can access a real native Chinese who's not oppinionated.Shades everywhere, all I can say now.