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So Young 2: Never Gone
Movie

So Young 2: Never Gone

2016 • Unknown

Woke Score
3
out of 10

Plot

A wealthy young man pursues a young woman of modest means, but circumstances often separate them as the years pass.

Overall Series Review

The movie tracks the difficult romance between a wealthy heir and a girl from a modest background as they transition from high school to their professional lives. Their relationship is repeatedly undermined by the massive gap in their economic circumstances and their differing views on money. The narrative focuses on the wealthy man's passionate, persistent pursuit of the woman he loves, contrasting with the woman's fierce need for financial and personal self-reliance. This tension causes years of separation and conflict, as the woman continuously refuses the man's help, choosing to prioritize her career independence and self-preservation over the ease of his lifestyle. The story is a straightforward, modern Chinese youth romance dealing with the emotional complexities of class differences.

Categorical Breakdown

Identity Politics3/10

The main conflict is directly centered on the rich/poor socioeconomic divide, emphasizing the tension caused by the poor girl’s anxiety over the wealthy man's status and privilege. The narrative explores class hierarchy as an obstacle to happiness, though it does not deal with issues of race, historical revisionism, or the vilification of characters based on race.

Oikophobia1/10

The film is a modern Chinese production set entirely in contemporary Chinese cities like Beijing and Shanghai. It focuses on a personal love story and expresses no hostility or critique toward Chinese civilization, culture, or heritage. There is no deconstruction of the native culture or preference given to foreign ways of life.

Feminism7/10

The female lead is defined by her total commitment to self-reliance and career, choosing to repeatedly break off the relationship rather than accept the male lead’s financial support or enter his wealthy sphere. Her pursuit of an independent career is shown as a primary virtue, and she frames her decision to leave as an act of self-love and self-preservation. The narrative champions this 'Girl Boss' self-sufficiency over the complementary life offered by a stable marriage.

LGBTQ+1/10

The story is a conventional romantic drama centered on a heterosexual, male-female relationship. There is no indication of any focus on alternative sexual identities, the deconstruction of the nuclear family, or the incorporation of gender ideology into the plot.

Anti-Theism1/10

The main thematic and moral conflicts revolve around personal issues of pride, class, money, and independence. While a temple setting is used as a backdrop for a dramatic emotional moment, the plot does not include any hostility toward religion, nor does it elevate moral relativism as a core message.