Nothing But Thirty

Nothing But Thirty (Chinese: 三十而已; pinyin: Sān Shí Ér Yǐ) is a 2020 Chinese drama television series directed by Zhang Xiaobo and starring Jiang Shuying, Tong Yao, and Mao Xiaotong. The series follows the story of three completely different urban women who have reached their thirties while facing challenges at a crucial stage in their lives, as they leave behind their youthful, carefree 20s to embrace the life of a 30-year-old adult, and eventually decide to take matters into their own hands. The series began airing on Dragon Television and Tencent Video on July 17, 2020.

Plot

The series tells about the life of three women with different backgrounds and personalities.

Gu Jia is a strong-willed a housewife and businesswoman that helped her husband become the CEO of a fireworks company, and fought rich housewives who bullied her son. Wang Manni is rebellious and confident at both her workplace as well as home. Zhong Xiaoqin is content with her average life, a normal job, and a husband who likes fish.

However, their lives are suddenly disrupted by external factors. Gu Jia begins to suspect her husband Xu Huanshan of having a young mistress, Wang Manni faces difficulties with sales and relationships, and Zhong Xiaoqin's idea of a perfect marriage is destroyed.

Cast

Main

• Jiang Shuying as Wang Manni (王漫妮), a senior saleswoman at Mishil.
• Tong Yao as Gu Jia (顾佳), Xu Huanshan's determined and intelligent wife.
• Mao Xiaotong as Zhong Xiaoqin (钟晓芹), Chen Yu's wife who works as an employee at a property management company.

Supporting

• Yang Le as Chen Yu (陈屿), Zhong Xiaoqin's husband who works as an executive editor of the Breaking News Department of a TV station.
• Li Zefeng as Xu Huanshan (许幻山), a nerdy designer and then the CEO of a fireworks company, husband of Gu Jia.
• Yang Lixin as Gu Jinghong (顾景鸿), Gu Jia's father.
• Yan Zidong as Zhong Xiaoyang (钟晓阳), Zhong Xiaoqin's boyfriend.
• Edward Ma as Liang Zhengxian (梁正贤), an Asian-American businessman and playboy who is the boyfriend of Wang Manni.
• Zhang Yue as Lin Youyou (林有有), an amusement park employee and Xu Huanshan's mistress.
• Mao Yi as Jiang Chen (姜辰), Wang Manni's ex-boyfriend who owns a café.
• Wang Zijian as Zhang Zhi (张志), Wang Manni's boyfriend who serves as director of Quzhou's local government.
• Samantha Ko as Zhao Jingyu (赵静语), Liang Zhengxian's fiancée.
• Dai Jiaoqian as Miss Lu (陆姐), Chen Yu's superior.
• Yang Xinming as Uncle Yu (于伯), a barber in Quzhou.
• Yang Yuting as Mrs. Wang (王太太), a wealthy woman who is friends with Gu Jia.
• Cai Die as Xiao Bai (小白)
• Fu Miao as Boss
• Walley Wei as Zoe
• Wiyona Yeung Lau Ching as Amanda, a Hong Kong salesperson at Mishil.
• Tian Yitong as Daisy, the assistant head salesperson at Mishil.
• Wang Renjun as father of Shen Jie (沈杰), Xu Huanshan's friend who owns a fireworks company.

Production

The name "Sān Shí Ér Yǐ" (三十而已) based on a sentence "As thirty, I stood firm" (三十而立) comes from Analects.

Remake In Vietnam, the film was also re-produced by Vietnam Television under the title "Gio ngang khoang troi xanh" (Across the Blue Sky), airing at 8:00 PM from Monday to Wednesday every week, starting August 11, 2025, starring Phuong Oanh, Quynh Kool, Vu Viet Hoa, Doan Quoc Dam, and To Dung.

In Thailand, the film was also remade with the participation of Puttichai Kasetsin, Margie Rasri, Chalida Vijitvongthong, and Mookda Narinrak. It was titled "Nothing But Thirty".

Reception

Nothing But Thirty received mainly positive reviews. Douban gave the drama 6.6 out of 10.

Ratings

• Highest ratings are marked in red, lowest ratings are marked in blue

Awards and nominations

External links

• at Douban (in Chinese)
• at IMDb