Grace_G
Tiānshèng Empire
A STAND OUT DRAMA IN 2024
This drama is refreshing, as it puts the female lead front and center, which is a pleasant surprise in a genre often dominated by male leads. I expected a typical romance where the ML takes constant charge, but imo, "The Double" defies those expectations.
The FL's revenge plot is the driving force of the story, and she's not just a useless damsel in distress waiting for the ML to save her. Instead, she's an autonomous character, very clever may I add, who takes matters into her own hands, with the ML only offering support when needed. I was surprised how little he shows up in this drama. Maybe a few minutes per episode, always waving that red and golden fan of his!
I like the chemistry between the leads (despite the criticism about the actors’ age gap). Their relationship develops slowly but is filled with heart-fluttering gestures that show the progression of their feelings for each other. The ML reminds me a great deal of Ling Buyi (from LLTG) and Xie Wei (from Kunning Palace), though he is more refined and calculated, and less impulsive. Wang Ying Yue exudes a mature vibe, despite his young age, and he has great acting chops.
The cast is fantastic, in particular Wu Jin Yan (as expected). However, a surprising standout for me is Liang Yong Qi, who plays the villainous Shen Yurong. LYQ's expressive performance, especially his eye acting, is really impressive here, adding so much depth and layers to his character. He did a great job balancing darkness with lighter moments, and especially his character's scary aspects were portrayed with a chilling intensity. Simultaneously, he skillfully showed the character's moments of vulnerability and despair, so as a viewer, I found myself sympathizing with him at times (despite his absolutely despicable actions). I hope to see more of him in future productions, perhaps in a leading role.
Finally, the story is very entertaining and suspenseful. While it has some plot holes and contrived or over the top moments, they didn't detract from the viewing experience. For me, "The Double" stands out as one of the best dramas of 2024, especially after a lackluster first half of the year in terms of c-drama releases.
The FL's revenge plot is the driving force of the story, and she's not just a useless damsel in distress waiting for the ML to save her. Instead, she's an autonomous character, very clever may I add, who takes matters into her own hands, with the ML only offering support when needed. I was surprised how little he shows up in this drama. Maybe a few minutes per episode, always waving that red and golden fan of his!
I like the chemistry between the leads (despite the criticism about the actors’ age gap). Their relationship develops slowly but is filled with heart-fluttering gestures that show the progression of their feelings for each other. The ML reminds me a great deal of Ling Buyi (from LLTG) and Xie Wei (from Kunning Palace), though he is more refined and calculated, and less impulsive. Wang Ying Yue exudes a mature vibe, despite his young age, and he has great acting chops.
The cast is fantastic, in particular Wu Jin Yan (as expected). However, a surprising standout for me is Liang Yong Qi, who plays the villainous Shen Yurong. LYQ's expressive performance, especially his eye acting, is really impressive here, adding so much depth and layers to his character. He did a great job balancing darkness with lighter moments, and especially his character's scary aspects were portrayed with a chilling intensity. Simultaneously, he skillfully showed the character's moments of vulnerability and despair, so as a viewer, I found myself sympathizing with him at times (despite his absolutely despicable actions). I hope to see more of him in future productions, perhaps in a leading role.
Finally, the story is very entertaining and suspenseful. While it has some plot holes and contrived or over the top moments, they didn't detract from the viewing experience. For me, "The Double" stands out as one of the best dramas of 2024, especially after a lackluster first half of the year in terms of c-drama releases.
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