Flight To You Review

It has been about a month since Flight To You (向风而行) ended and I only found the time to watch it recently. This title has always been on my watchlist given the cast. Hence, I felt that it should have a certain standard to it unlike the cookie-cutter style of trashy romance titles that litter C-dramaland. Overall, I think my initial hunch is correct that it is indeed a production that deserves attention. But it also has a few weak points that could potentially spoil it for some viewers. My Flight To You review below will spell out what these are and more.

My rating: 7.5/10
Episodes: 39
Type: Romance
Aired: December 2022
Images Credit: Douban Movie

The Cast Of Flight To You

• Wang Kai as Gu Nan Ting
• Seven Tan Song Yun as Cheng Xiao
• Liu Chang as Ni Zhan
• Yan Zi Dong as Song Song
• Shao Yu Qi as Li Yu Heng
• Bo Zi Cheng as Xia Zhi
• Zhou Qi Qi as Ai Jia
• Cheng Tai Shen as Xie Ze Tian
• Liu Jun as Jiang Tao
• Guo Xiao Ran as Lin Yi Cheng
• Wang Ce as Xu Ce
• Zhao Ke Di as Qiao Zheng Yu
• Cao Yi Xin as Qi Yu
• Liu Jia as Qin Yu Hua
• Cao Yi as Cheng Hou Chen / Old Cheng
• Kong Lin as Cheng Xiao’s mother

Main Characters

Gu Nan Ting

Gu Nan Ting is a captain, flight instructor, and Deputy Head of Flight Department at Luzhou Airlines. He is a stern man who is known as a stickler for discipline among the junior pilots. He takes his job very seriously and sets a very high standard for himself. Gu Nan Ting is reserved and calm. He is also passionate about flight safety and hopes to establish a high level of safe flying practices for the airlines’ pilots.

Cheng Xiao

Cheng Xiao is a first officer in the Freight Division of Luzhou Airlines. She is a very capable pilot who knows her work and loves flying. She is also an optimist and has a cheerful disposition. But Cheng Xiao can be stubborn, hot-headed, and impulsive. She will stand her ground if she feels she is right. She is also persistent and not one who gives up eaasily.

Ni Zhan

Ni Zhan is the Head of Mechanical Department at Luzhou Airlines. He is a nice and amiable man. Ni Zhan and Gu Nan Ting are friends from college days.

Song Song

Song Song is a co-pilot in the Freight Division of Luzhou Airlines and Cheng Xiao’s colleague. He is an easygoing young man who admires Cheng Xiao’s capability. Song Song has a girlfriend, Yue Yue, whom he always tries hard to please.

Li Yu Heng

Yu Heng is a graduate who is applying to be a flight attendant at Luzhou Airlines. She is a pretty young lady who is courteous and gentle. Yu Heng and Gu Nan Ting were neighbors when they were young. Their mothers are good friends. Yu Heng has secret feelings for Gu Nan Ting.

Xia Zhi

Xia Zhi is Cheng Xiao’s friend. She is loud, expressive, and straightforward. Xiao Zhi has been switching jobs frequently with no career direction until she applies to become a flight attendant at Luzhou Airlines.

Ai Jia

Ai Jia is a manager of the Passenger Cabin Department and Chief Purser on flights. She is married to Xie Ze Tian but they have no kids.

Xie Ze Tian

Xie Ze Tian is a senior pilot and Head of Work Safety Department at Luzhou Airlines. He is also Gu Nan Ting’s mentor. He is married to Ai Jia.

Jiang Tao

Jiang Tao is the Head of Flight Department at Luzhou Airlines and Gu Nan Ting’s immediate superior. He is prejudiced against female pilots but pretends otherwise to cover his tracks.

Lin Yi Cheng

Lin Yi Cheng is a senior co-pilot at Luzhou Airlines. He is also Jiang Tao’s brother-in-law.

Xu Ce

Xu Ce is the President of Luzhou Airlines.

Qiao Zheng Yu

Qiao Zheng Yu is a Ground Services personnel at Luzhou Airlines. He is a nice and polite man who is friendly and kind.

Qi Yu

Qi Yu is Luzhou Airlines’ business class flight attendant. She is an opportunistic and a spiteful woman who has no sincerity in serving passengers.

Qin Yu Hua

Qin Yu Hua is Gu Nan Ting’s mother and they have a close relationship. She is an aerospace design engineer who still wants to work despite her age. Her husband died when Gu Nan Ting was still a kid.

Cheng Hou Chen / Old Cheng

Old Cheng is Cheng Xiao’s father. He is a doting father who is supportive of his daughter’s ambition to be a pilot. He is often caught in between his wife and daughter due to their quarrels.

Cheng Xiao’s Mother

Cheng Xiao’s mother is a lawyer who is also suffering from hypotension. She wanted Cheng Xiao to follow her footsteps to join the legal profession but the latter rebelled. Cheng Xiao finds her mother’s controlling behavior stifling. Hence, both of them do not get along.

Synopsis

Cheng Xiao is a first officer who is happy working under her mentor in the Freight Division of Luzhou Airlines. Given her piloting skills, she is confident that she will be promoted soon. However, the airlines company decides to close down the Freight Division to streamline their business operations. As a result, Cheng Xiao and the rest of the cargo pilots is transferred to the Passenger Division to work under Gu Nan Ting.

Due to the different work practices of both divisions, the cargo pilots are forced to undergo more training to assess their capability. An earlier disagreement with Gu Nan Ting makes Cheng Xiao feels that he is unfairly picking on her. A series of incidents results in Cheng Xiao being demoted and this further hardens her belief that he is the culprit.

The bitter experience makes Cheng Xiao even more determined to prove her worth as she slowly climbs back up in her career. Along the way, she also learns that Gu Nan Ting is not the one who demoted her and he is not as unfeeling as she initially thought.

Flight To You Ending & Recap (Spoilers Alert!)

Flight To You has a happy ending. In the last episode, Cheng Xiao is the captain for the maiden flight of a locally manufactured aircraft. She is entrusted to carry out the task as Gu Nan Ting has to undergo eye treatment due to glaucoma. He encourages her to fly the aircraft rather than be with him during his surgery as it is both their dream to do so.

3 months later, it is implied that Gu Nan Ting’s eyes have healed while Cheng Xiao will be moving in with him. They have a sweet conversation before she has to rush off for her flight. The last scene is of Gu Nan Ting looking at a descending airplane (presumably Cheng Xiao’s flight) from his office.

Cheng Xiao And Gu Nan Ting’s Relationship Development

Cheng Xiao begins to see Gu Nan Ting in a different light after she learns from Ni Zhan that it was Jiang Tao who wanted her transferred to Ground Services in Episode 10. All along, she thought it was Gu Nan Ting who has been giving her problems at work. In Episode 13, her feelings for him become stronger. She feels she has fallen for him in Episode 15 after he saved her from an emergency following a near collision with another aircraft on the runway in the previous episode.

Gu Nan Ting broke the rules to enter the plane to save her before clearance was given. This convinced Cheng Xiao that Gu Nan Ting has feelings for her. Hence, she becomes more daring and starts teasing him on and off to draw him out of his shell. In Episode 23, Cheng Xiao gives Gu Nan Ting a peck and they hold hands before falling asleep during a humanitarian mission. But he pulls back in Episode 24 and avoids her thereafter after Ni Zhan reveals to him that he also likes Cheng Xiao.

Cheng Xiao publicly admits that she likes Gu Nan Ting but has been rejected to clarify rumors started by a foe at work in Episode 25. She finds out that he has feelings for her in Episode 28 but holds back to give Ni Zhan a chance. He decides to get Cheng Xiao back in Episode 33 and writes a last message to his late girlfriend, Luo Yi, to let go of the past.

When Did They Get Together?

Gu Nan Ting admits to Ni Zhan that he likes Cheng Xiao in Episode 34. He realizes that he shouldn’t use Cheng Xiao to compensate Ni Zhan for Luo Yi’s death. Ni Zhan tells his friend that he didn’t owe him anything as Luo Yi’s death was an accident.

Gu Nan Ting confesses his love to Cheng Xiao in Episode 37. He shows her Luo Yi’s pictures and tells her about the past. But Cheng Xiao is hesitant as she fears she is merely a substitute for Luo Yi.

One month later, a flight that Gu Nan Ting is supposedly piloting is facing mechanical problems onboard. But a change of crew at the last minute means he is safe. Cheng Xiao is instantly relieved when she sees him and the incident propels her to take their relationship forward. They get together as a couple in Episode 38 with a passionate kiss.

Landlord-Tenant Relationship

Gu Nan Ting finds out that Cheng Xiao is his tenant in Episode 17. He wanted to know where she lives as he was worried about her safety after an airplane incident involving a celebrity. She was being harassed by fans and hence, Gu Nan Ting obtained her address from her employee personal records. Cheng Xiao is surprised when he turns up at her place and happy at the same time that he is actually her landlord.

Is There Any Love Triangle?

Yu Heng is also in love with Gu Nan Ting and everyone around her knows it. However, Gu Nan Ting has no interest in her. He tells her that he only regards her as a younger sister in Episode 21. Yu Heng then tries to change by improving herself in her work with the hope that she will be able to attract Gu Nan Ting. But she still fails and is disappointed in Episode 28 when Gu Nan Ting only seems concerned about Cheng Xiao. So, she decides that she needs to let go and tells Gu Nan Ting so.

Yu Heng also talks to Cheng Xiao about it in Episode 37. She has completely let go of Gu Nan Ting by then and is genuinely enjoying her job as a flight attendant. In Episode 38, she has got to know Qiao Zheng Yu and it is implied that they are dating in Episode 39.

Ni Zhan also has feelings for Cheng Xiao and tells Gu Nan Ting so in Episode 24. He suspects his friend is also interested in Cheng Xiao and asks him about it. However, Gu Nan Ting denies it and Ni Zhan then makes it clear that he will pursue her. However, Cheng Xiao could sense his interest and politely hints that she only sees him as a brother in Episode 28. Ni Zhan still makes his feelings known though in Episode 35 as a way to let go. They agree to remain as friends.

Side Couple

The side couple is Song Song and Xia Zhi. After Song Song broke up with his girlfriend, he started to have feelings for Yu Heng. But Yu Heng rejects him in Episode 28 by emphasizing that he is only a good friend and colleague to her.

While Song Song and Xia Zhi have always been at loggerheads, they slowly got used to each other’s temperaments. They got together in Episode 38 after Song Song’s concern for her becomes obvious following a mechanical problem onboard her flight. After a whirlwind romance, they are shown planning to get married in the same episode.

Cheng Xiao’s Mother’s Problem

Cheng Xiao’s mother’s condition is revealed in Episode 28. She has a fear of flying ever since the flight she was on nearly crashed years ago. She has been suffering from PTSD as a result but refuses treatment as she sees it as a sign of weakness. Her condition progressively worsened after Cheng Xiao decided to be a pilot as she fears losing her daughter. Cheng Xiao’s father only told her about her mother’s condition in Episode 35.

After Cheng Xiao’s mother decides to go for psychiatric treatment in Episode 36, her condition improves significantly. She no longer has an irrational fear of flying and supports Cheng Xiao’s career as a pilot.

What Happened To Jiang Tao?

In Episode 30, Jiang Tao decides not to divert the flight to the nearest airport when a passenger fell sick. The passenger subsequently dies on the plane and his family sues for an apology and compensation. Jiang Tao tampers with the recordings to erase the evidence that a diversion was possible. After much effort by Gu Nan Ting, his doings are exposed during court proceedings in Episode 35.

As a result, he is removed from all his positions and barred from flying. He also publicly apologizes to the passenger’s family and offers them compensation. In Episode 36, he gives Gu Nan Ting and Cheng Xiao some sincere advice before leaving. He reappears in Episode 39 as a passenger on a Luzhou Airlines flight.

Flight To You Review – Good And Bad Rolled Into One

Flight To You is a difficult drama to review for me. It is a case of being very good in some areas but horrible in the scriptwriting. Basically, you will be staying for the cast mainly and trying to tolerate the story as it enters the second half. So, I think it is still watchable overall because of the cast and the good first half. It starts off well as the female lead has to face numerous challenges in her career. The story is about her and how she has to withstand victimization because of her gender in a male-dominated industry.

Just like She And Her Perfect Husband which also has a gender discrimination theme, Flight To You has a female lead who is persistent and focused with a never give up attitude. It is easy to root for her with the way her character has been written. Hence, you will be drawn to her story from the start. But the problem is once the initial challenges have been dispensed with, some parts of the script start to degenerate in quality after more than 20 episodes in. At times, it feels superficial with sub-plots that seem purposely included just to provide unnecessary drama such as the case with the female lead’s mother.

On top of that, you also can’t run away from that little bit of propaganda towards the end that is typical of mainland productions. We have seen it in Wild Bloom and some of those sports-themed dramas. So, Flight To You could have been shorter in my opinion. That would have made it more focused and interesting.

Little Action

When you think of aviation dramas, what usually comes to mind would be near crashes, hijacks, and other intense situations that leave you gripping your seat. But nope, Flight To You doesn’t have any of those except perhaps for a near collision on the runway. It is like Light Chaser Rescue whereby you would expect a lot of action but it ends up being more on character growth.

Flight To You is similar in that the focus is on the characters. There is also the office politics and romance as part of the package. Therefore, if you are thinking of watching this for some action, this is not it. I wouldn’t even consider it as a good aviation drama. It is more like a woman’s career struggle like The Ideal City and she just so happens to be a pilot.

A Very Slow Burn Romance

A word of warning before you start watching Flight To You is that the romance is barely there in this drama. If you have watched Master Of My Own which also stars the same actress, this is up that same alley. Maybe this one has a bit more flirting by the girl and she does the chasing in a few episodes. But the relationship gets nowhere until towards the end. You will end up waiting and waiting for the couple to start something. The reward will be a single deep kiss in the middle of a crossing. For some, this would be sweetness worth waiting for. But for others, it could indeed be too little, too late.

For me, the romance in Flight to You is a frustrating one to watch. I guess it depends on what you like to see in a male protagonist. The man has a huge emotional baggage that stops him from being upfront about his feelings. Think of him as a contrast to the guy in Meet Yourself. He has closed himself off emotionally and sets himself a rigid life. So, he doesn’t know how to handle a relationship and shy when the girl makes the move on him. He likes her but has no clue how to come to terms with his feelings. Thus, he keeps denying his interest in her which is frustrating.

That is why there is a long, long wait for the romance to blossom. I think the only reason viewers are willing to sit around for the romance and to complete the whole drama overall is mainly due to the chemistry between the 2 leads.

Palpable Chemistry

I have to admit that I completed this drama because of the leads. They have wonderful chemistry as a couple although there isn’t much skinship. If there had been more cuddles and kisses, I think the romance would be electrifying. As it is, you can feel the love they have for each other through the screen. Their yearning is written on their faces during their interactions at times.

I suppose their acting skills are at that level to be able to bring to life the characters that they have to portray. Seven Tan has always been able to generate good chemistry with her co-stars from the much younger Song Wei Long in Go Ahead to the much older Wallace Chung in The Sword And The Brocade. In Flight To You, she essentially carried the show to me. She has much experience playing a spunky lass and you might get the feeling that you have seen her in that role before. But that is how her character is written and she simply aced it.

Wang Kai is also great as Gu Nan Ting. His character is supposed to be cold but it is not overdone with his portrayal. You can just detect that Gu Nan Ting is reserved through Wang Kai’s body language and facial expressions. Even without great acting, he will still stand out with his good looks. Add in a pilot uniform and you won’t be able to get enough of his charisma!

My Verdict – Give It A Try For The Cast

I would say give Flight To You a try for the cast. There is great acting and chemistry by the 2 leads and most of the supporting cast is also able to play their roles well. The plot and script are the drama’s main weaknesses but those come in the second half. They do throw in more than necessary into the story as if there is a need to check all the boxes from a controlling mother to a last minute health scare. But at least, there are no toxic love rivals to add to the substandard screenwriting.

As for the romance, it is really hard to comment as different people will have different preferences on an ideal romantic hero and love story. If you don’t mind just having romantic undercurrents for most of the drama with a male lead who is emotionally closed off, this might work for you. But if you want more than just embers, this could be exasperating to watch. So, don’t expect a full-blown feel good romance that will give you diabetes à la You Are My Glory and Hi Venus.

For this Flight To You review, I would rate it 7.5/10. The drama is more about work than romance. The office politics also has a certain level of prominence. Hence, I don’t think it will resonate with everyone unless you are clearly drawn to the leads’ chemistry and that little bit of sweetness at the end is worth the wait. For me, I just wish the 2 leads had a better script to maximize their potential. It is not an awful drama overall but is clearly let down by poor screenwriting which you will tolerate because it comes after the halfway mark and there is an engaging cast to carry the show.