At first, I'd like to start with a short historical reference. Years before Chinese Communist revolution, Communism was a popular party in my country and one of the most organized parties in our history, most of the elites modern people and majority of university students were either a member or a sympathizer. Even one of the top 5 Marxist Theorists in the world was from our Mars. But now, several decades later it's just a fading memory. While watching this drama I was thinking about how if our Communists could take tips from Chinese ones or Chinese Agents could take tip from ours, history could've been changed. maybe then it would be Chinese poets writing heartful laments about our red glorious revolution!! I guess it's what they call Subjunctive History....:: ( Not that I's a fan of Communism or any associated theories by any means!)

OK, Enough history lesson. Let's talk the drama. First I must say that "Lost in 1949" isn't a cheap or badly-done drama. Cinematography, customs. set design, etc are done tastefully and beautiful. From this perceptive it's a 9/10 drama, my problems mostly lies with writing.

Story: It's supposed to be a mystery, spy thriller drama but it's almost neither. It has a pretty decent twist in the last 10 or so episodes. first part of this twist, I was sure of but the second part although not very surprising reality vise, I didn't see it coming. Our FL is under suspicion from 2nd episode and remains so until the very last episode. If it was a 16 or 24 eps long it would be fine, but you have to sit through 46 episodes watching a cat and mouse game which no matter how much dangerous and risky it gets, you're sure that ML/ FL are going to get away by telling some lies and self-victimizing. As saying goes: " You may fool some of the people sometimes but not all the people all the time!" This was exactly what they did all through the show.

Writing is solid with little plot holes and inconsistency but the very core of the story that it's this never ending boring game of SS people putting traps and ML plays smarta** and saves the day is the bane of this drama and killer of all the exciting scenes because you feel no real tension. The focus of the drama is more on how members of a family can take one of their own for granted and only in difficult time or special circumstances find out his/her real value, I have more to say on plot but stop here.


Cast: I've been a fan of Chen Kun for years but not having the patience to sit through a drama specially the long ones, LI49 is the first drama I've watched with him. He is truly the star of this show. His portrayal of twins brothers, so different in style and personality yet so alike is top-notch. and I think the lack of the same quality in his partner's performance make his acting even bolder. His Zhi Cai was a selfless person who all the time sacrificed his own life, happiness and comfort for the other people and his last sacrifice for his family was really touching!

Li Jie was so intelligent yet so ignorant and he managed to depict his kind of lost personality very well.

I didn't know Regina Wan before this and looking up her profile and seeing she's a rather known star with a bunch of awards made me wonder about her . Here she had only 3 damsel in distress, judgmental and poker face expressions. Her Li Wen was a pragmatist who used Zhi Cai as best as she could to reach her goals. I rooted for their friendship but when it started to get romantic, they lost their charm. Not to mention that in my eyes it remained an unrequited love till the end and I just couldn't see Li Wen's romantic love for him. Her feelings for Zhi Cai at the highest seemed to be just friendship and gratitude.
Of course a woman who'd ran away from home and her husband had been her everything for more than a decade falling in love with another man just a short while after his death would be a bit OOC.

Supporting actors were more or less good and carries out their rules very well. I specially like Zhi Cai and Li Na's easy friendship.

Music: I didn't pay much attention to the score but ending title was good.

Rewatch: I think it's one of those one-time-is-more-than-enough dramas.