The Double (2024)

The Double é, com certeza, um dos melhores c-dramas de 2024

No inicio, quando ouvir falar desse drama, fiquei bastante receosa para assistir, ele ainda estava em lançamento e, mesmo com todos os elogios, o medo de ser uma decepção se mantinha em mim. Decide dar uma chance quando ele já estava sendo finalizado e não me arrependi nem um pouco.

A jornada da protagonista é realmente emocionante desde o começo, quando o marido a enterra viva, quando ela conhece as garotas que a salvam. Ela consegue se manter forte com sua sede de vingança e esperança para que a justiça seja feita com todas as pessoas que sofreram a sua volta. É completamente coerente e sabe exatamente como agir para conseguir atingir seu objetivo, mesmo que algo dê errado, ela consegue pensar em algo para resolver a situação, sempre um passo a frente do seu inimigo. A construção do ML foi realmente interessante, porque apesar de ele ter uma parte individual da sua vida, ela está lá mais para ser o apoio que a protagonista precisa. E a FL tem seus movimentos de vingança atrelados no ML, o que deixa tudo bem interessante.
As atuações são impressionantes, conseguiram transmitir toda dor, sofrimento, alegria, raiva e carinho em cada situação. A junção da atuação e as trilha sonora fez com que o público pudesse sentir a realidade da história e fazer com que se mergulhasse mais no enredo, fazendo com que se aproveitasse cada minuto de cada episódio.

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What do you prefer? Style or substance

Within minutes of watching this show you should realise that this is a different beast from the usual idol costume dramas. There is a rawness and stylistic flair that is missing from many mainstream productions. This drama does not hold back on challenging themes. Confronting acts are on full display and it made no apologies.

This is a double-edged sword. No doubt the director has an unique style. Some scenes are rigged for maximum visual impact. There are bold contrasting colours, dramatic weather effects, poetic imageries and big close-ups of the leads. Get used to it.

This can be polarising. You will either be hooked by impactful scenes or be put off by the over-the-top theatrics. This show is not about finding a comfortable middle ground. For me, it was quite a ride and I was loving it! To be fair, the story does settle into a more comfortable pace towards the middle of the run.

I won't lie, the storyline is fundamentally tropey. The overarching A-plot is a classic revenge tale with a side order of the Cinderella trope and an extra large helping of palace intrigue. The writer is clever enough to mix up the plots and kept the pace fast so that we have little time to examine the plot holes. The production team is also a daft hand in hitting us in the feels which further distracts us.

It is obvious that the show is being manipulative. So much of the pain and suffering is purely there to pull at our heartstrings and to remind us that no character is safe from harm. Even a well-loved character can be killed off to get a rise out of us. It works but it is exhausting.

To wit, the FL is in no position to fight back at the start of the show. We watch and cheer on the FL as she gains strength, made new friends and plan the ultimate revenge. It is very gratifying to watch and there are certainly many bittersweet moments.

This is further aided and abetted by the ML. He might be in his early 20's but he acted well beyond his age. I am most impressed by him. I can't fault the pairing of our leads either. There is always tension between them, but it is the delicious kind. You know they are attracted to each other, but they must play by the rules. Their interactions will get the heart fluttering. While sparks fly between them, there is not a lot of actual skinship until the end of the show. It is poor reward for fans who are shipping the OTP hard.

A fundamental problem with this type of drama is that it is usually fanciful. The FL was a meek wife one minute and the next moment she is full of fight and steely determination. There are also conflicting views on societal values such as a woman's reputation. We must switch off our analytical mind to truly enjoy this show. There are just too many lucky escapes and fortuitous coincidences. It keeps us in our happy place, but it doesn't really stand up to scrutiny. It is very entertaining but a pair of industrial strength rose tinted glasses helps.

Speaking of the ending, it is both satisfying and ambiguous. All the antagonists got their just deserts. The OTP is allowed moments of bliss but then the production team went gaga on us.

It would have been a no-brainer for the story to end on a high. I'd paid to see the OTP ride off into a glorious sunset to live happily ever after. They have certainly earned it. So why was the ML shipped off to the furthest corner of the kingdom to fight a never-ending war? cliché? Yes. Dramatic? Yes. Necessary? NO!

This is not helped by the last scenes of the show which is beautifully staged but so ambiguous. Is it a dream sequence?

Acting wise, it is fairly solid but there are moments when it feels like characters changed tracks as the script shifted in a different direction but the subtle change was not communicated to the audience. The impact is not significant but can be a little disconcerting.

Overall, I enjoyed the show very much. It is impactful and engaging. The production team certainly knows how to keep our attention even if the plot itself might not stand up to close scrutiny. Some might find it too stylistic, shallow and tropey. It will be a love/hate thing. Caveat emptor, my friends.

*** SPOILER ***
There is a 5 mins postscript ep that confirmed a HEA ending but why is that even necessary?

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perfect story ..great acting .. wasted chemistry

let me begin of i didn't like:
- lack of intimacy .. its dry like a stone in the desert..
- the over pushing of the ex-husband character (i think the actor hold something against the producers) .
- the father must be punished too.

Other than that i enjoyed every minute of this drama. it has the perfect blend of satisfying revenge plot ..great chemistry and perfect acting. And i think their decision of not making it transmigration but impersonation story is a master stroke.. and they done it splendidly.

now i just wish the producers make the princess story .. her story was very compelling and angsty but of course they must add redemption and true love arc to it (with the same actress she was alluring).. and i cant wait to see it ..

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Flawless Fusion of Compelling Narrative, Emotional Resonance, and Visual Splendor

The most compelling aspect of this drama is that it never loses its focus from episode 1 to 40. The sub-plots support the main plot, and nothing feels out of place, keeping the audience hooked the entire time.

Every single character is spectacularly written, and the sisterhood is the best thing about this drama. I cried buckets over the strong bond between the girls, which was absolutely perfect. I cried every time someone died, and I can't express how incredible the writing of the female lead and the male lead was. The romance is written with just the right touch, not rushing the characters into a relationship too soon, given the female lead's traumatic past and the male lead's personality. Instead, it keeps the audience engaged until the end, as their story is the last knot to be untied. The chemistry between the leads was spot-on because they were each other's perfect intellectual equivalent, and it was an unbelievable treat for the eyes.

The female lead is one of the strongest characters I have ever seen in a drama. What makes her even more remarkable is that she isn't a transmigrated character or someone from another era; she is a genuine product of her time, embodying the knowledge, struggles, and essence of the period she lives in. This authenticity adds depth to her character and makes her a perfect representation of a strong woman in her era.

The cinematography is undoubtedly the best I have seen in any Chinese period drama in a long time, if not ever. And the writing!!! I honestly remember moments when I eventually got a bit bored with dramas like Love Like the Galaxy, even though I would still rate them 10/10 today because LLTG was that good. However, this drama was just perfect.

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Revenge story line and Strong FL throughout the drama

I absolutely loved this drama it is up there with The Sword and brocade for me… it has been a long time since I have enjoyed a Chinese period drama as they are also all entering their politically correct era which degrades the story and makes it quite unbearable, because they do not want to offend certain groups and communities.
But this drama is just amazing… Loved the ML And FL their romance was subtle but also cute and the story line never deviated and stuck to it’s original plot and the FL did not end up as an airhead because she fell in love which is great.
The whole show kept me interested and intrigued to find out what would happen next.
Hope to see more shows like this, it’s been a while

My favorite episodes are Ep. 11 and 26

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So addicting and is now one of my favorites

Watching Experience Context: I began watching this as soon as it aired. From the first episode, this instantly hooked me and I have been watching the episodes almost as soon as they drop. This was one of those dramas where, even over multiple days, I was still desperate for new episodes and thinking about the characters and story.

Premise: The story is about Xue Fangfei, the FL who suffers a horrid tragedy and switches identities with Jiang Li, returning to the capital to seek revenge both for herself and Jiang Li. Through the course of seeking revenge, she meets Xiao Heng, the Duke of Su, the ML. They each assist in each other's goals, developing a romance and bring down the villains.

Story/Plot: I personally thought that watching Xue Fangfei getting revenge on everyone who wronged her and Jiang Li was extremely satisfying. It also didn't feel too cliche and I liked that I had to see Xue Fangfei struggle to get her revenge because realistically, it isn't that easy to get revenge. The plotting of the leads and everyone was done excellently, specifically the FL's. I thought that the heavy usage of dramatic irony was exactly what made the story so appealing. I was always glued to the screen wondering what each side would do next and how they would react to the plots and schemes unfolding. The villains in this drama made the story a lot more interesting since they weren't dumbed down and just trying to hurt the leads. The main villains also have their internal struggles, making them seem more realistic, instead of just having an exterior goal to achieve.

Xue Fangfei and Xiao Heng's romantic plotline was also done amazingly. They are now one of my favorite ships ever. I thought that their development from two people using each other to lovers was so well done. They speak to each other in a roundabout way with words that have underlying meanings. I thought that it very much fitted with their characters, and it was one thing that I thought made them as a romantic pair standout. Almost everytime they came up on my screen, I was smiling and shipping super hard. I really liked that even the FL isn't one of those strong female leads physically, that she was still able to match up to the ML mentally.

The only things that made me dock a point is that there are some questionable plot points, but the rest of the plot was still very solid, so I felt that it doesn't impact the entire story too much.

Acting/Cast: All of the actors and actresses did a splendid job, but I would have to say that the highlights were the two leads and the villains. Wu Jinyan, who plays Xue Fangfei and Wang Xingyue, who plays Xiao Heng both did a fantastic job at what they needed to achieve, bringing their characters to life. I live for their scenes together, because they have such good chemistry. I loved the way that they looked at each other, because I felt like so much was said without much being said. I'm also going to applaud the actors and actresses that played the villains because they made me hate the villains so much. Their acting displayed the duplicity of their characters' behaviors and shamelessness.

Music: The music isn't something that I would listen to on a daily basis, but it does fit the drama very well and I think that I would come back to the OSTs every once in a while. It would most likely be to relive the drama, but nevertheless, the OSTs are all amazing and accomplish what they need to do.

Rewatch Value: This is no doubt going to be one of those dramas that I will come back to multiple times. Even though I already know everything that will happen, the satisfying story and great acting makes me want to rewatch and see if there are any details that I missed.

Overall: This is definitely one of my all-time favorite dramas ever. I'm also probably going to think of the story and characters a lot, which just shows the impact that this had on me. I would recommend everyone to at least give this drama a shot, even if you don't think you'd like this kind of story.

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The Most Entertaining Watch in a Long Time

This was a long stretch, and yet I thoroughly enjoyed this one!

Adapted from the web novel “Marriage of the Di Daughter” (嫡嫁千金) by Qian Shan Cha Ke (千山茶客), the show tells the story of Xue Fangfei, the daughter of a honest county magistrate who takes over the identity of Jiang Li, Secretariat Director’s daughter, after a major upheaval, turns her life upside down. Starring Wu Jin Yan, Wang Xing Yue, Liang Yong Qi and Li Meng in lead roles, the entire show is like a clever game of chess between the two protagonists and the daredevil antagonists. While Xue Fangfei/Jiang Li remains at the center of this political melodrama, it’s her intelligent cosplay between two different identities that turns this show into an hightail adventure. While she does live and breathe as Jiang Li throughout the expanse of this storyline, at heart, our main lead still remains true to her convictions and old relationships. She fights for herself while also fighting for the noble girl who could have lived an entitled life instead of dying a miserable death in the far-off mountains. Duke Su is the icing on the cake, contemplative yet compelling and mysterious; he always reaches out whenever Jiang Li needs help but also gives her the freedom to conspire on her own. Let’s dive down the memory lane!

Read the complete article here-

https://kcdramamusings.wordpress.com/2024/07/10/the-double-series-review/#more-1018

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Pure Entertainment with Great Acting

Definitely a must-watch drama. The leads are on fire - so much chemistry, character, and foxiness from both of them. Delicious lines, yummy not-so-obvious plot. Mind you, romance is not at the center of this revenge series, but it's done very intricately and delicately, and is very believable.

The murderous ex-husband also delivers a stellar performance - you can really see how conflicted he is about what he did, but he still goes far beyond redemption with the evil princess (his kinky love/hate relationship with her was also far from boring and you don't see something like this in cdramas a lot).

All the side characters play well (Tong'er so cute, and so are Duke Su's bodyguards, A-Li's evil mother from the Jiang family is so cunning and evil, with her own back story). All in all, the plot is actually very entertaining.

Visually, it's a masterpiece - I love the colors, floating hair/clothes, pretty lighting, and all those close-ups that really make the viewing experience more intimate (Wang Xing Yue's eyes are magnetic). I've never seen such a filming style before, it's quite refreshing, and overall the beauty and esthetic levels are high in this one.

I didn't mind the ending. They could skip the whole war thing, of course, but then we'd miss those cool fighting scenes and that moment when Xiao Heng takes the pendant given by A-Li into his mouth - oh boy, those were some pretty shots! So, from that aspect, I really don't mind the extra scenes. And they did end up getting back together, so no loss here))

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A splendid revenge dram

This is the standout revenge drama I have watched thus far…. The plot whilst having gaps here and there is good enough to be acceptable and definitely the entertainment level is very high.

Firstly, the ML does smouldering at the beginning especially well. The FL even though there are 10 years difference has great chemistry with the ML. I liked ML since Scent of Time but I feel he is made for Duke Su’s role. Wang Xing Yue is on fire with this role .

Whilst the beginning of the story is extremely brutal, how 2ML framed the FL with family’s help and tried to bludgeon the FL to death …even though he seemed to be coerced by the Princess. I hope the director do NOT white washed what he did in the end of the story… He did have a choice even though he seemed to think he had no choice ; The script writers rose to the occasion and kept pace with the storyline. I find the story gripping and even though I can guess what is coming sometimes I still look forward to the new episodes which are trickling in. I did not find Fox Sprit Matchmaker that interesting ;valid comparisons because these two dramas are screened at similar timing ; instead I was totally mesmerised by this little gem of drama although revenge is NOT normally my cup of tea.

OST is also vey good. I like Chen Lei rendition of “Live and love” and have save this up in my YouTube folder. It is especially soulful and match the drama. In fact the other songs are great as well… go look for it in YouTube.

I am happy to report that this drama is a rare drama this year where I absolutely enjoyed every episode including a satisfying ending. The CP’s married live and a glimpse into their family live….which was not shown for Love Like the Galaxy ( sigh … wished the Director will release special episodes…)

Wang Xing Yue is perfect casting for the Duke Su role and I bet will capture your imagination and this is a rare drama that is good for re watch. My first time watching WJY the FL and she did the role justice and her chemistry with WXY is notable.

Well done to the Director and the Producer. The casting was well done so much so that we actually disliked the villains … This to me is the best historical drama for 2024 for first 6 months. You should watch this if you like “ Love like the galaxy” or “ Destined”…I am re watching and totally engrossed even 2nd round. Even though the kissing scenes are NOT many but the CP chemistry is on fire … even more tantalizing because of near kisses.

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Outstanding Drama

If you watch and skip than you won't see any different and would be boring however if you didn't skip and focus on character acting and story play out than you would be amaze.

This drama is amazing.
It is masterpiece. i don't think we would have amazing drama like this for next 10 to 20 years from now.

1. censorship
2. risk to be ban
3. producer likely to flim easy short drama
4. duration base on gov requirement
5. hiring pro actor and actress cost more
6. some people jealous of good drama
7. cost for living.

this is the reason it would be hard to produce masterpiece like this drama from now on.

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