Watch A Thousand Goodnights

A Thousand Goodnights is a 2019 Taiwanese drama series that takes a heart-wrenching approach to explore the theme of love and loss. The show revolves around Xiao Qing, a young woman who loses her husband, Wang Hao, in a tragic accident. The show depicts three different storylines, spread out over a span of fifteen years, exploring how the lives of the people around Wang have been impacted since his passing.

Nicholas Teo plays the leading role of Wang Hao, a highly successful businessman, who is esteemed by those around him for his calm demeanor and kind nature. Cindy Yu-Han Lien plays Xiao Qing, who lives with the memory of her husband every day. Rounding out the main cast is Ai-Ning Yao, who plays the role of a woman named Shi Liu.

One of the most striking aspects of A Thousand Goodnights is how deftly it captures the grief and overwhelming emotional turmoil that follows the death of a loved one. The show does not shy away from the bleak and sometimes unbearable reality of this experience. It depicts the burden of grief in all its complexities and how people cope differently, some moving on while others are stuck in the past.

The series is divided into three chapters, each consisting of five episodes. The first chapter is set five years after Wang Hao's death and follows Xiao Qing, who has dedicated her life to easing the pain of others through her work as a psychologist. She carries the weight of her own loss but still manages to help her patients navigate their emotional turmoil.

The second chapter takes place a decade after Wang Hao's death and follows Shi Liu (Ai-Ning Yao). As someone who never really knew the man well, she is in a unique position to introduce him to his son, who was born after Wang's death. The story arc of the second chapter focuses on how the boy's father, though dead, influences his life and the lives of those around him.

The third and final chapter sees Xiao Qing and Shi Liu reunited fifteen years after Wang Hao passed away. The two are brought together on the anniversary of his death and the mystery of what really happened to him on the day he died is brought to light.

Throughout the series, various subplots emerge that add depth to the overall story arc. For instance, one subplot revolves around a young professional struggling to find her place in the world, while another examines how Wang Hao's employees deal with his loss. Each of these subplots provides meaningful insights into how the characters have evolved in the aftermath of his death.

The acting performances of the show's main cast are outstanding. Nicholas Teo plays the role of the charming and intelligent Wang Hao with great finesse, while Cindy Yu-Han Lien brings a restrained power to her role as the grieving widow. Ai-Ning Yao delivers a nuanced performance as Shi Liu, whose character transitions from a supporting role to the lead in the second chapter.

In terms of production, A Thousand Goodnights is a noteworthy achievement. The show's cinematography is exceptional, with its use of lighting and composition to convey emotions being particularly noteworthy. The show uses a muted color palette, but the scenes are still rich in detail and visually stunning. The music is a mix of mellow and high-tempo instrumentals, which adds to the tone of the show and adds an extra layer of emotion.

In conclusion, A Thousand Goodnights is a powerful series that is expertly crafted, with each episode revealing a new layer to the story's complexities. The show is both a portrait of the human condition and a deep dive into the nature of grief itself. A Thousand Goodnights is an emotionally engaging and intellectually stimulating drama that is recommended for anyone looking for something beyond the conventional plotlines of the genre.

A Thousand Goodnights is a series that ran for 1 seasons (10 episodes) between June 1, 2019 and on