LayarHijau.com – At first glance, Reborn may seem like just another youth drama: a high school girl moves to a big city with her family and tries to adjust to a new environment. But this Chinese series, starring Zhang Jingyi and Zhou Yiran, quickly unfolds into a layered emotional journey that sets it apart from typical coming-of-age stories.
According to China Daily, the protagonist, played by Zhang, is haunted by the shadow of her older sister—a woman rumored to have lived a troubled life and died of AIDS. Though she never truly knew her sister, society’s judgment now falls on her. In searching for the truth behind her sister’s death, she uncovers a much darker and more painful reality.
Behind the camera, Reborn is led by an all-female creative team: director Liu Ziwei and writers Qian Jingjing and Xu Ziyuan. Their perspective brings depth and emotional honesty to the portrayal of how women often inherit shame and silence passed down from previous generations.
“Reborn has sparked deep reflection on the status and struggles of women in modern society,” wrote a netizen, reflecting on the show’s unconventional approach to school dramas, as reported by China Daily. Rather than focusing on teenage romance or exam pressure, Reborn dares to explore how young women bear the weight of reputations they never created and traumas they never chose.
Critic Zhao Jianyi praised the series as a breakthrough in the genre:
"Reborn blends campus life with suspense, boldly exploring the darker, more painful aspects of youth while telling a stereotype-defying story of how young people face challenges as they come to understand the rules of the adult world,” he said.
The drama has also found success internationally. Now streaming on Rakuten Viki with subtitles in five languages including English, Spanish, and Portuguese, Reborn has earned a stellar 9.5 out of 10 rating—clear proof of its global resonance.
For many adult women, the story hits close to home. It’s about how shame is passed down, how silence is normalized, and how hard it can be to ask difficult questions—especially when the answers may shatter the image of those we once admired. Reborn is not just a story of growing up, but one of surviving—without losing your voice.