This review may contain spoilers
Perhaps a little overrated.
The premise of this tv show is good, playing with a "time loop" theme which i believe hasn't been done before. The casts are also good. I don't have any complain of their actings. The scenes however, can be boring sometimes, particularly during the police interrogations. I feel a little frustrated seeing the couple trying to hide the time loop reason and telling lies to avoid being suspects. Some of their actions also bear questions, as they seem not cleverer after many trial & errors. Annoying, to see how the couple plus all passangers couldn't handle the two prepetrators, sometimes, just standing there blank.As for the music, i don't have any complain. I enjoy both the intro & outro songs. The biggest letdown are, they don't explain why there's a time loop, and more importantly, why only HeYun suffers the agony later. And there is still a plothole in ep2. The couple used the "pervert" reason to get off the bus the second time. That was exactly the same like the first one, where the bus made an illegal stop. And because of that slight delay, the bus needed to stop at the intersection because of the red light, But why didn't it collide with the oil truck like the first time? Instead, the bus exploded on the bridge.
Was this review helpful to you?
This review may contain spoilers
WOW
This is my first C-drama -- I WAS HOOKED!Oh my God, there's so much to love about this drama. I love that we get an inside scoop of everyone's lives. I love the romance that slowly builds between the leads (they're also very adorable together).
I cannot point to a single flaw in this show, and that is quite rare.
To me, nothing fell short. the show addresses sexual assault, mental illness, having a criminal past, moral dilemmas, and it was so beautifully executed.
I was getting frustated alongside the characters, I would cry when they cried, and laugh when they laughed.
This is probably one of the best if not THE best show out there, C-drama or not.
The plot is incredible, please do yourself a favor and watch it.
Was this review helpful to you?
Essentially a long time loop mystery
The series starts in a really interesting way and it makes it very hard to predict what's going to happen next because of that. However, there are some weaker and slower episodes in the mix. The acting overall was really on point.The girl is so level-headed, and just generally smart and astute, while the guy is somewhat annoying sometimes, especially when he goes all melodrama for no reason. Like, dude… shut up with that shit, it'll all just gonna reset anyway? None of what just happened matters! That's time loops for ya.
The last few episodes weren't up to par though, in my opinion. They were stretched out and really dragged.
It's still pretty neat, but for me it didn't deliver what the great beginning episodes promised. The romance was cute though.
Was this review helpful to you?
Bai Jingting and Zhao Jinmai deliver outstanding performances as Xiao Heyun and Li Shiqing. Their chemistry grows naturally as they move from confusion to frustration to trust — two flawed yet determined individuals trying to save not only themselves but everyone else on the bus. Both actors convey complex emotions with remarkable restraint, making the characters feel authentic and relatable.
The writing is sharp, balancing tight pacing with genuine heart. Each loop reveals new details, and the tension never fades. What’s most impressive is how the show transforms a repetitive structure into something emotionally evolving — every reset becomes not just a plot device but a moral awakening.
The direction and cinematography heighten the suspense beautifully, using confined spaces and shifting camera work to mirror the characters’ growing anxiety. The soundtrack adds urgency without overwhelming the story, letting emotion and silence speak when needed.
Beyond its mystery, “Reset” is about compassion — how understanding another person’s pain can break the loop of fear and indifference. It asks what it truly means to take responsibility, even when you don’t have to.
Brilliantly executed and deeply moving, “Reset” isn’t just a thriller; it’s a reflection on humanity itself. Once you start, you won’t be able to stop — and when it ends, you’ll still be thinking about it.
Was this review helpful to you?
This review may contain spoilers
Not your typical cdrama
TLDR: Incredibly engaging mystery/thriller with fantastic storylines and actingOverall: If you are looking for a typical cdrama with the dramatic romance with cheesy lines and wtf situations this is not gonna be your cup of tea. This is the least cdrama cdrama you could get and it is so much better for it. Side note, I tend to mentally rate cdramas on a different scale from other shows I watch because there are inherent things that you have to overlook in order to enjoy them. If you start asking too many questions of the story or the characters you'll probably find quite a few holes that might otherwise annoy you in a different medium. But most cdramas have that unique cheesy romantic charm that lets you look past these things and just enjoy the show. Its like comparing mcdonalds to a michelin star restaurant. Like yeah, maybe your fries are objectively too salty or a bit on the crunchier side, but its mcdonalds, you'd probably give it a pass because quality wasn't why you chose to eat there. Similarly, I don't watch cdramas for tight storylines, well paced action, beautiful dialogue or remarkable acting, but I never go into them expecting that so if they don't deliver its whatever. This cdrama though attempts to deliver all of these things and more and it mostly succeeds.
Story: This is a super engaging mystery/thriller plot with tense moments and dramatic reveals. The pacing is fantastic and I am so happy that they cut it off at 15 episodes instead of dragging things out for longer. Not gonna spoil anything here because it deserves to be experienced blind. Needless to say this is a refreshing break from the norm in the cdrama sphere.
Characters/acting: Acting across the board was great. Everything was played serious with the exception of a few parts and every cast member did a fantastic job with what they had.
I liked the leads as characters and was a huge fan of the way they played out the earlier episodes. They were convincingly shocked and lost while also trying to maintain a sense of composure in a living nightmare. While they were engaging in the mystery elements I did not like the romance at all. Maybe the characters had chemistry and maybe something could've been there, but I felt that it just got in the way of the rest of the story when it did show up. The structure of the story meant that there was virtually no time for any romantic subplots to develop so it was never going to be a very convincing relationship. I think the characters would've been much better as simply two strangers who got stuck together and formed a bond through the trauma they faced. Maybe hint at some future stuff in the closing credits but honestly the romance was never going to get enough time it needed to be good within the 15 episodes. The random jealousy thing for half an episode was super random and was one of the only times I was taken out of the otherwise engaging story. Other than that there were some points where the characters kinda behaved on the extreme end of what I was willing to believe but overall it was easy to overlook. I was hoping the leads would get a little more development than what they did over the course of the loops they went through, but they were consistently suspicious af, stumbled over clues/words, and had difficulty explaining their story in ways that I thought would've come more naturally after the 10-15 loops. The reason I point this out is because it was the source of most of the drama between them and the detectives and I felt like there was room to be more creative toward the second half of the story once the leads got their story down and were able to convince the police they weren't evil.
The side characters were fantastic and in many ways outshone the leading characters in the amount of development they received through the snippets of backstory on display. Loved the detectives and the villains especially with great performances and compelling backstories across the board especially for the villains. The couples backstory scenes were incredibly well done.
Music: The sound design was great and managed to bring up the tension in the show during key moments without feeling too intrusive. None of the usual OSTs that are common to the genre but good nonetheless.
Rewatch: While the show is amazing and I would recommend it to anyone, it isn't the kind of show that has a lot of rewatch value for me personally. Great story with good characters but not the feel good/guilty pleasure that tends to make me give things a second go.
Was this review helpful to you?
This review may contain spoilers
Lu Di is best character
This show surprised me, I did not expect it to be this good, i was only watching because i need to learn Chinese. But there were moments that really made me smile. Also, there are anime and videogames references and i think Razer was a sponsor of the series. I rated 8 to music just because there weren't OST that were absolute bangers, still everything was perfect and i almost binged the series, even though it's really rare for me to get THIS interested in tv series, not only regarding c-dramas. But I have one question for people that already finished the show... How did the police not question all their knowledge in the last cycle??Was this review helpful to you?
This review may contain spoilers
don't have one
It's an enthusiastic drama , at first sight it's looked boring and silly but no it's one of the best drama you can binge watch it , there were a lot of things going on and it's really enjoyable drama that for sure you are going to enjoy every episode, but I'd like to talk about characters in the drama more than events ,because the two main characters besides the other two cops characters are so good , it's started with just normal characters but over time the characters develops their own personality , you can see them at first how coward and distracted they are and impatient and of course no one wants to sacrifices them self for the case or want to think harder but over time we can see the male characters and how he become so brave and so smart and how he started to take action in saving the situation and protecting the female main characters,on the other hand , we can see the female characters and how she devolved her personality from being an impatient person to an amazing and focused person who is trying so hard to save a lot of people life , how she and the male characters trying so hard to find the truth and solve everything while fighting with their own emotion of running a way from the scene , and focusing in every corner ,knowing they can get hurt .
I recommend watching this drama and of course I'm going to re watch it again.
Was this review helpful to you?
Thrilling and suspenseful!!!!
Reset is one of the best Chinese drama that I have watched.Based on a time loop concept,this drama is told in an engaging manner.A college going student Li Shi Qing, accidentally falls into a time loop and with the help of a copassenger Xiao He Yun on the bus who also falls into the time loop,tries to find a way to break the loop and also uncover the hidden mystery and mastermind behind it.
Zhao Jinmai's acting is perfect and on point.The way she portrays intensity,tension,anxiety,despair, determination to find the truth and all the emotions were excellent.I really loved her character.
Bai Jingting as Xiao He Yun was also very good in his acting.
I liked the way the mysteries were unfolded in the loop following the leads from the previous loop they had fallen into and also eliminating the suspects one by one in each round of loop.
I also liked the way there was a development in both the characters of the main leads and the relationship between them.
Also,the analysis of each suspect and their backgrounds,and all the other details were perfectly written without any flaws.
I would highly and definitely recommend this edge on seat thriller drama It is a worth watching drama in suspense category.
Was this review helpful to you?
The story follows two ordinary passengers trapped in an extraordinary situation — a bus explosion that repeats endlessly. Bai Jingting and Zhao Jinmai deliver stunning performances, portraying confusion, fear, and determination with subtle realism. Their chemistry grows not through romance but through shared trauma and courage, creating a partnership built on trust and moral conviction.
What makes “Reset” special is how it uses science-fiction elements not as spectacle, but as a mirror for humanity. Each loop reveals more about the passengers, uncovering hidden pain, kindness, and the consequences of neglect. The tension is constant, yet the series never forgets the emotional weight behind every decision.
The writing is sharp and efficient — every detail matters. The pacing is deliberate but never slow, and the gradual revelation of each character’s story keeps viewers hooked. By the end, the mystery transforms into a message about understanding and compassion.
Visually, the show is sleek and claustrophobic, capturing both the monotony and terror of reliving the same tragedy. The music underscores each emotional beat without overwhelming the story.
“Reset” reminds us that heroism doesn’t require superpowers — just empathy and persistence. It’s a rare thriller that stimulates the mind while touching the heart, proving that even in endless repetition, humanity can still choose kindness.
Was this review helpful to you?
when speed meets Groundhog Day
After watching Mobius with Bai Jingting, I felt a little underwhelmed. One reviewer here on Dramalist suggested I watch Reset, also starring BJT along with my favorite actress, Zhao Jin Mai — and I’m glad I did. Though it revolves around the familiar “bus with a bomb” trope, I truly appreciate its Hitchcockian approach to building tension and suspense.The acting was superb across the entire cast, making this a rare C-drama where the performances truly shine. It doesn’t rely on unnecessary comedic filler; instead, it stays tightly focused on the story and its emotional depth.
Interestingly, I didn’t feel there was a single lead character. I found myself empathizing with each of them — every person’s loss and sacrifice felt deeply human and real.
Bai Jingting remains consistent in his performance style, much like in Mobius, but what sets Reset apart is its careful attention to the characters’ backstories. It’s a series that asks the ultimate “what if” question — what if life gave us second, or even multiple chances, to correct our mistakes?
Was this review helpful to you?
Best TIMELOOPS Drama
What a journey to watch this...😖😐The problem with Timeloops is the fear of boredom due to repetition.
What's more, this is a drama with 14 episodes, not a movie.
However, no.
One repeating day turns out to have different experiences and even sideplot themes. Even with a different tone of atmosphere.
Goodjob who wrote and produced this drama.
10/10 for the experience.
Was this review helpful to you?
Same old thing in terms of timing and motive but divergent encounters and experiences every cycle
Warning: Minimal spoilers ahead but still safe to read before watching the drama.I'm late to the party but man this was a ride! If you haven't seen this drama yet, do it now! This is one of the rare dramas out there that will treat you to a balance slice of its genre coverages. I accidentally clicked an account here in dramalist with over a 100 reviews done. I stumbled upon their "Reset" review. I was intrigued so I checked it out and binge watched for a day straight. Now, I officially caught a vibe. A little paranoid post-binge watching. The ringtone isn't exactly horror but hearing it haunts me and gives me so much goosebumps. The plot is so interesting. No boring parts. Every character mattered. It gets better as episode goes by. Bunch of takeaways for you to bring as you venture life in the long run. OST sounds good enough. Required emotions were nailed by the actors. I'd say "MASTERPIECE". Once you're in, you're legit in. They'll make you starve for more details about their findings and other possibilities. Eventually, you'll find yourself invested in the show.
All cast members are new to me. I personally don't get enticed by C-dramas as they're usually full of cliché. But this one is different. The characters and the story itself got me hooked. I love how the female lead and, eventually the male lead, felt a sense of responsibility to stop the loop. Most likely because their personal lives are also affected. The way they solved the mystery - and the investigation they did will truly entice the viewers to participate and create their own theories. There'll be times wherein letting out a scream or sigh is required. You might also feel hopeless at times, but hey don't worry, you can just anticipate the next cycle if there's more! LOL. Jokes aside, the slow paced romance was sprinkled around just the right amount. It wasn't draggy and cheesy. The way the police officers do their job. The brilliant interrogation that will exhaust the hell of weirdos who try to explain some sci-fi to dead serious cops. After watching this, I'm eager to check more C-dramas. As well as follow the careers of the main leads and some supporting acts. We'll see if they can successfully lock me into their world.
Anyways, don't waste no time reading for more reviews. It's just 40 minutes long per episode with an additional 10 minutes for the finale but nobody's complaining. This is worth your time. A very unique story that comes with a great effort in production. Realistic blood color though a little extra explosion effect. But for real, go now, grab some popcorn, and enjoy the ride!
Was this review helpful to you?
