The Double

✨The double✨?

Moony💕✨
The double (2024)
I don’t know what the heck I was doing by the time it was airing, and I didn’t get to discuss with mydramalist people. But still I picked this up in 2025 march out of boredom. Many dramas were expected to come out that month but there was no sign, so I jumped in for this one. I had watched so many edits of them, so it was quite interesting for me.
I have never watched romance and revenge as the main genre, so it was quite interesting to try a new one. I want to mention few things I liked about this drama
- First of all, we had characters that were despicable however they had their own background and as why they are like this now
- Justified revenge for all of the characters
- Not too fast or not too slow build of the romance, just perfect
- Banters between the leads. Especially their words with hidden messages and flirting
- Not physically but mentally strong/ smart female lead. The fact that she still gave a chance someone to fall in love with her because she knew he was the one which was unexpected. She didn’t push him at all, she knew she was a good man (Jiangli/ Xue Fang Fei/ Ah Li/ Little leopard cat/civet)
- Strong and smart ML and what I liked about him is that he let her go according to her plans and he didn’t interfere unless it was really needed. He knew what FL was capable of. (Duke Su/ Xiao Heng)
- Emperor who is loyal to his country
The latter was some things that I liked but there are more to go.
The justified ending was all I needed. Grand princess died so did Shen Yurong. Zhang Wei and other characters who betrayed their own country and people got their respectable ending as well.
I was also afraid that Xue Fang Fei’s fake identity might be a problem, but it was all resolved perfectly in the end.
I liked how they added the element of women standing for each other. Xue Fang Fei wanted to die before meeting Jiang Li and since the time she gave her a hope knowing what happened between her family, she decided to take revenge for both of them.
I thought Ah Li has lost everything, her father and her brother but I was content how they both survived.
Before watching the drama, I thought that Xiao Heng was a red flag type of characters. But I didn’t see that in him. He was loyal to both his country and his women. If you have paid attention to his interactions with women, you will see that how he respects them. He observes the show and admires how smart of a woman Xue Fang Fei is, and I love him for that.

Favorite scenes/ quotes
-Yesterday, you mutilated yourself. Today, you ask to be tied up. You are a bold one.
-Are you intimidated, Duke?

- This is the life that I'll use for the bet
-I introduced this physician to you. This is an act of betrayal, you know?
- If anything happens to you, I will take my own life in return.
- Die with me, huh?

"I already knew you liked me. But do you know that I like you?"

- You're so handsome
- How shameless

- I'll take you home
- I don't have a home anymore
- What a coincidence. I also don't have a home anymore.

- My rule is, I need to know the source of this map.
- I can guarantee it with my life.
- I've heard this kind of speech so many times.
- Xiao Heng!

- This is a fight to the death, without a thought of survival
- Xiao Heng, you are abandoned.
- Who said he is abandoned? The holder of the talisman shall die. Longwu army, remove your armor!
- The loyal soul of great Yan empire Xiao Heng
- Xue Fang Fei

"Ah Li said you were shallow. I can see that's true"

"I'll definitely remember your kindness. You look handsome when you're angry"

-Xiao Heng
- Ah Li

- I have never seen you this panicked
- This is not my business, it's your business.
- So, you mean I am very important to you.
- Xiao Heng!

"I have a soulmate. He is standing right in front of me"

- Duke Su, I thought you didn't like to ask around. Why monitor my every step so closely then?
- I don't even need to ask around. Once I hear of it, it feels unsettling.
- Then next time I'll bring some orange peels.
- What does that mean?
- To alleviate jealousy

- I don't care about Wanning
- I know. You care about me.

"Little Leopard cat isn't adorable when it cries"

"Your carriage leads to the road to the underworld. I dare not ride it again"

- Don't speak when you eat or sleep.
- The servants of the residence purposely went out and bought them. It is especially...
- Duke Su, don't speak when you eat or sleep.

- Feeling better now, pretty lady?
- Better.

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An absolute *masterpiece* *The Double*

From the very first episode, the drama draws you in with its *gripping plot* till the very end.
What truly sets The Double apart is the outstanding performances, the leads chemistry was electrifying and full of tension, longing, and layered emotions. Their slow-burn romance is full of pain, healing, and undeniable connection.
The plot never drags—each episode is packed with twists, suspense, and emotional depth. The character development is remarkable. It’s the kind of story that lingers in your mind long after the final episode.This is one of those rare dramas I could rewatch countless times and never get tired of—it’s just that good.

The Double is hands down one of the best C-dramas I’ve ever seen.

10/10. A timeless favorite unforgettable!

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Almost there.

The Double is a pretty good drama. For the first 15 episodes I would have said that this show was on its way to being as good as Love Like the Galaxy.

But it's not quite good enough to fill that LLTG Hole.

The positive things I have to say are endless, because this is an example of when you can feel every ounce of effort that was crammed into this show. The cinematography was amazing, there are so many shots that are screen saver worthy. The consistent use of flowing fabrics, wind and flower petals made my eyes pop open on more than one occasion. The fight choreography was on point too, it's almost comparable with Blood of Youth and fighting is the whole point of that show. The music also slapped. Be it a bgm or the featured artists it was always a pleasure to listen to whatever was coming out of my speakers. I did add more tracks to my playlist, and that's always the mark of great music.

I have the highest praise for the actors, there's not a single person in this show who was not giving a stellar performance as well, the direction and cast's chemistry was great! I feel like there are so many scenes where I can't imagine another actor replacing any of our main characters. This along with the initial writing in the first quarter of the show made the story so compelling! Everything just made sense, and I really liked that.

On the other hand it's hard to overlook the flaws of this drama. I think it can be overly dramatic and prioritize visuals over telling it's story in a more useful way at times. I also think that the pacing of the show could have been better. The 1st through 15th episodes are clearly aware that this story has a time limit and all the events flow evenly… But once we pass that halfway mark the plots take forever to resolve and get more and more choppy. I especially despise the final episode which unnecessarily kills off some characters in the dumbest and most abrupt ways. I didn't care for the drawn out reunion that we don't even really get to see. It's gore and murder and then a flower field and the FL looks into the camera and this hefty 40 episode monstrosity ends… Just. like. that…

I felt that there were so many moments where I wanted something more, something deeper, something intricate to happen and for the writing to be just a little smarter in how all of these characters related to each other.

I didn't care for it…
but the beginning was amazing so I can't rate it that low. I'd recommend it! But this is not on Love Like the Galaxy or Love and Redemption's level. Those stories kept you hooked until the very end and had very satisfying endings that didn't need unneeded shock value for its finale.

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A Fabulous Lesson in Revenge

The Double is probably the best revenge drama I have ever watched and it serves a master class in strategy and gaslighting.
The cast was beyond amazing, each one playing their character to perfection. I'll only discuss the main ones to avoid writing a whole book here. Please watch the drama before reading.

Xu Fang Fei - Stunningly brilliant. This woman is so strategic and logical in her thought process that she's able to see the bigger picture and plot her revenge masterfully. She's quick to adapt and adjust as necessary, all the while not afraid to ask for help or use those around her. She stays true to her goal, but shows vulnerability and emotion which reminds us that she never asked for any of the things that happened to her and her family. Her only mistake was marrying the wrong man.

Duke Su, Xiao Heng - This man and his fan. He is Xu Fang Fei's match in every way, they are both strategic and logical, and like I said not afraid to use the people around them to achieve their goals. Having said that, they are not cruel to those who are loyal to them. I will say that Xiao Heng at times is not as clever as Xu Fang Fei and as such she becomes an incredible asset to him. However, Xu Fang Fei can sometimes be too extreme and not care about herself which makes Xiao Heng her greatest protector. They work well together and they form a bond that keeps them both human. Of course it doesn't hurt that their chemistry is spectacular. I only wish the director had not been so stingy with the hugs and kisses, but oh well.

Shen Yu Rong - Nobody loves Shen Yu Rong like Shen Yu Rong loves Shen Yu Rong. There is a special place in hell for this man and I personally hope that's where he is. The greatest sin a man can commit is to betray his partner and that's how this drama begins. He thought that he had successfully murdered his wife and then had the audacity to look tortured despite choosing himself over her. The most speechless moment I had was when he decided he wanted his wife back and wanted to remarry her. Sir please have some awareness and open your eyes, the glorious Xiao Heng is right there.

Princess Wan Ning - Now here is a villain. Wan Ning is all kinds of nutty, we could say that her tragic past played a role in it and I for one will not deny that, however the woman was devoted to being the worst. She just wanted what she wanted and I cannot fathom why that would be Shen Yu Rong. The lengths she went to were horrible because she could have just insisted that Shen Yu Rong divorce Xu Fang Fei and then exile her and her family. Yet, she was cruel and insisted on death (or as close to it as possible) for them all. I suppose it was fitting then that in the end she was betrayed as well by that same man that she had done everything for.

All in all, The Double will always remain one of my favourite C-dramas and one I will never hesitate to rewatch.
I only knocked it down a bit for the story because of the ending. I like to think that none of that happened and I choose to think that the drama ends when Xue Fang Fei confronts Jiang Li's father and confirms his worst nightmare. He deserved it.

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Beginning was SOOO boring bro i think i fell asleep more than 5x watching eps. so boring. but after the romance and plot thickened, eps got SOO good and juicy. damn the actors were so fucking good in this. like wanning i hated her but she was psycho and shenyurong u could see his villain arc start. CRAZY. oh and don’t event get me STARTED ON MY MAN CIAO HENG. LIKE THE HOTTEST GUY TO EXIST?????? EVER??????? bro so sosoososososososos sexy like how do u get like that. jiangli hella smart and they power couple. but UGH XIAO HENG. ok i loved their plotting and plans and stuff but there were way to many characters at some points and it just got overwhelming tbh. and like they killed off sm ppl so unnecessary. like what was that end??? killing offf the right hand men????? and tonger??? and what??? like no point…. but anyways loved the slow burn romance SO GOOD HEHEHEHE the chemistry and the flirting got me SOOO GOOOOD. woohoo

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Blood, Betrayal, and the Softest Glances — The Double is Everything

First things first: NO. MISUNDERSTANDINGS. BETWEEN. THE. LEADS.
This alone makes The Double an absolute favorite for me. The trust, the push and pull, the chemistry—oh my god, the chemistry—had me giggling and curling my toes with every intense glance and subtle touch.

The female lead? Strong. Strategic. Capable.
She’s not your average damsel—she suffered (like really suffered) and came back sharper, colder, more determined. Just as the phoenix rose from ashes, she rose from ruin, fiercer than before. I’m not a screen crier, but the losses she endured on her path to justice? Yeah, I cried. Not just one tear. The kind that quietly escapes down your cheek because you’re too stunned to wipe it away.

The male lead—Duke Su (lol)—aka Xiao Heng… he is IT. Strategic, capable, intimidating in a court full of snakes—but also soft, so damn soft when it comes to her. Watching him fall—like really, fall—for someone he once considered a mere pawn? It was delicious. Amusing is the word. I was amused, entertained, slightly obsessed.

Yes, there are characters that made my blood boil. No, I won’t name them—they’re not worth it.

And the pacing? THANK YOU to the drama gods.
No drags. No pointless filler. Just tight, twisty writing, layered politics, slow-burn romance, and a journey that kept me up past 3 AM telling myself "just one more episode" until I saw that scene:

Xiao Heng, bloodied, lips holding that pendant .
Episode 40. Worth. Every. Second.

And yes—I have a massive crush on Xiao Heng. Not sure about the actor (yet), but the character? That man is a strategic political war machine who turns into a goofy-ass lover boy when he’s with her.

~He got the boyish look I like in a man. 🖤~

Romance, rivalry, revenge, betrayal, identity twists—it’s all there. And it’s done right.
If you're into slow trust-building, mutual pining, and intelligent characters who don’t waste time on dumb misunderstandings, you need to watch The Double.

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One lady, two revenges

⭐ The Double (Her Second Chance) — A Sharp, Thrilling, and Addictive Revenge Drama

Rating: 9.5-10/10

If you love intelligent revenge plots, palace intrigue, morally grey characters, and a couple whose chemistry sizzles even in silence—The Double is absolutely worth your time.

🔥 A Woman With Two Lives and One Mission

The premise hooks you instantly:
A clever, calculating woman survives by taking on another identity—and comes back fighting for justice, revenge, and survival.
You’re drawn into her world immediately because she isn’t a damsel in distress. She’s strategic, composed, dangerous when needed, and always two steps ahead.

This is one of the rare dramas where the female lead carries the story with her intelligence rather than luck or blind trust. And the writing actually lets her be smart.

⚔️ Tight Plotting, Unpredictable Twists

What makes this drama stand out is the plotting. Every episode pushes the story forward—no filler, no melodrama for the sake of melodrama. The twists are surprising and layered, often revealing motivations you never saw coming.

You genuinely never know who will betray who, and every character has a hidden agenda.
It's refreshing to watch a drama where intelligence is the main weapon, not just romance or power.

💥 Chemistry, Tension, and Mutual Respect

The relationship between the leads is perfect for this genre:

No love triangle (thank you writers!)

No “silly misunderstandings” or forced breakups

No undermining the FL's intelligence just to make the ML look cool

Instead, both ML and FL are strategic partners, constantly evaluating risks and reading each other with razor-sharp accuracy. Their chemistry isn’t loud—it’s mature, subtle, and exciting.

Even the brief romantic moments are electric because they’re earned, not forced.
And the eye contact between them? Truly lethal.

🧠 Smart Female Characters Everywhere

One of the refreshing parts of this drama is its treatment of women:

Female villains who aren’t just obsessive love rivals

Women who are clever, capable, and not defined by romance

Side characters who actually influence the plot

It feels like a grown-up drama written for viewers who enjoy depth and competence.

⚡ A Riveting Start… With Slight Soft Spots Later

The first half is nearly flawless—tight, strategic, and addictive. You’re glued to the screen.
The second half slows just a tiny bit, and a few plot points require suspension of disbelief (yes, the identity switch is a stretch, but we accept it for the drama gods 😌).

Still, it remains consistently engaging until the end.

✨ Why It Stands Out

The pacing never drags

Strong female empowerment

Mature romance without clichés

Solid political intrigue

Excellent acting—especially the ML’s expressive, sarcastic charm

Cinematography and atmosphere perfectly fit the tone

This drama respects your time and your intelligence.

🌟 Final Verdict

The Double is a gripping revenge drama with brains, chemistry, and sharp storytelling.
If you love:

✔ smart heroines
✔ political mind games
✔ mature romance
✔ high-stakes tension
✔ no childish tropes

—then this should be top priority on your watchlist.

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Pretty graphically violent, but good for web novel enthusiasts who like revenge plots.

When I say this one is violent, I mean VIOLENT. The introduction is extremely dark right off the bat, and there are unsettling scenes scattered throughout the drama afterwards.
Of course it's not uncommon for a drama to have many supporting and minor characters killed off in a high stakes plot, but this drama tends toward some pretty graphic and brutal ones. I don't generally mind violence, but there were a few times with this one where I had to stop and go do something else for a few days.

(minor spoiler; one character is fed to starving dogs while still alive and another is essentially SA-ed to death)

It's much more in line with the pace and tropes of a web novel than your standard drama adaptation. It tends toward an extended build-up of tension before you get any kind of catharsis. For revenge stories that means that the antagonists are low on iq and high on power while the female lead is somehow always both the underdog and untouchable (unless the male lead is there, in which case she is of course outmatched).

The logic can get a little crazy straw from time to time. There's one scene where one of the minor villain girls gets caught in bed someone else's fiancé and they very nearly manage to somehow pin the fault of it on the female lead.
Essentially if over plot armor (for villains or leads) doesn't bother you, you'll be good but if it does you'll end up very frustrated before you make it even half way.

Honestly though, the thing that frustrated me the most was the main character.

Putting aside the Clark Kent premise, where a woman who was apparently the widely renowned wife of a high profile official can apparently come back to town with just a name change, and no one seriously challenges her identity, I found I couldn't really enjoy Xue Fangfei's character because of Jiang Li.
Xue Fangfei's intentions toward her may be good, but in the end she uses her after her death just as much as her stepmother did in life. Even with the scenes of her smiling ghost, I still felt like her kindness ended up being repaid with an erased existence and an unmarked grave.

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meh start, meh story

only started watching this drama because of the edits I've been seeing on tiktok for this drama but I'm not sure wether to continue this drama or not. hear me out, I was hooked on the episode where ML stepped in for FL to continue the drinking game with the general BUT.. it literally fell short next episode, as if nothing had happened earlier on. I've seen many dramas with similar plots like this, FL gets trauma and wants to get stronger, then coincidentally meet a cold Duke /Emperor/Idk ( As long as they have high ranks ) Then, in the end they slowly fall in love. I didn't had anything against this drama except for the fact that the teasing seemed so invisible and light. In order to attract an audience especially ppl in their youth (13-21) most dramas have these scenes included but for some reason it just feels like nothing. Because FL is so strong (?), independent, perfect, she doesn't have much challenges ( so far ) and is able to solve any challenges that is in her way without much complicity. AND.. apparently the teasing and joking doesn't affect her either, her expressions are always so dull, stale or just slightly angry ( glare, stare, blank ) like what?! After the rain scene I was shooked and thought I might give this drama a second chance, but damn they just returned to their usual lives and ML just flirts. That's it.

Sorry not sorry, but if you're into those dull and boring kinda dramas I'd recommend this for you because this just ain't it. The only thing keeping me going is the antagonists, they seem pretty evil and dumb/stupid which is why im staying, to see their downfall. The wanning princess has potential to be a real villian and I'm interested for what she'll do in future. I can already predict that when she meets her downfall, there's going to be someone helping her and thus it will lead to angst
or miscommunication or problems in between MLs relationship in general Boring show, predictable style type of drama, NEXT PLEASE.

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Unsatisfactory, Traumatic and Boring

I wanted to love this drama, with its premise of a woman seeking out revenge/justice. But I hated it. The revenge/justice is unsatisfactory. There are traumatic scenes and themes that never get properly resolved. In typical c-drama style, there are too many fillers throughout the series, but a rushed ending that doesn’t give the viewers even 5 minutes to enjoy/understand how justice is being served.

I was hoping for something like The Glory, but with beautiful c-drama costumes, sets, and wuxia choreography. Please don't waste 40 hours of your life watching this. The eye candy actors aren't worth it.

Now that I’ve been vague, spoilers ahead.


********SPOILERS AHEAD*****


Please don’t kill me because these are my views and I’m not here to fight with anyone.

1) Unsatisfactory & Traumatic:

For a show that is all about getting justice/revenge against evildoers, too many culprits get away. I am most disturbed about the three men who gang rape the two courtesans, causing one of them to die. We never hear a peep about them again. Will they continue to kidnap women and sell them into prostitution, and gang rape? The show doesn’t give us anything to dispute this deduction. What type of justice/revenge show is this?

Unlike The Glory, we’re not given enough time to enjoy some of the revenge/justice being served. We get less than five minutes for some of the most important victories. The justice is illustrated through a voice-over and quickly mentions what happens to bad people. After 40 episodes, the viewers deserved a longer montage of watching the evildoers suffer. For example, the FL’s former mother-in-law and sister-in-law begging for food on the street or working terrible jobs.

The FL never gets justice in clearing her name of being an adulteress. The montage above mentions that her mother-in-law and sister-in-law are questioned, but the show doesn’t tell us if the questioning cleared the FL’s name of cheating. Were they questioned only about SYR’s treasonous acts, or also about setting up the FL? What they did was horrific–getting a family member raped and then saying it was a consensual affair. They should face bigger consequences.

Similarly, Jiang Li also isn’t vindicated of the accusation that she tried to kill her step mother and her unborn son. Or did I miss it because they were so stingy with the revenge/justice scenes?



2) Horrible people who are forgiven

I thought this was a revenge drama? Too many characters are forgiven.

Jiang Li suffered for 10 years and was tortured to death because her father and grandma wouldn’t protect her. They should have suffered more. I couldn’t buy Jiang Li’s dad suddenly becoming a good father after being terrible for a decade. He never even visited her during this time! The monastery nuns may have killed her physically, but they were successful only because he killed her emotionally a long time ago. Her grandma obviously had power as she threw out the treacherous son from the family in the end, but why didn’t she exercise that power to stand up for Jiang Li?



3) Duke Su:
Everyone is singing his praises for what? Passing the lowest bar on how a man and good partner should be? First, a woman is not “tainted” if a man rapes her. She is not a piece of furniture or fruit that goes from “pure” to “tainted.” The fact that Duke Su “still” loves the FL after knowing she is a sexual assault survivor doesn’t make him amazing. Any good man should do at least that. I understand the show is set in a different era, but women are still treated like this.

He is too cold. I understand why he became this way, but a rape survivor needs her partner to do more than just the bare minimum. He needs to validate her and comfort her based on her individual needs. He should be nurturing. Duke Su is none of these things.

I don’t like the way he treats the FL. He knows how much the FL has suffered when he starts using her, but he’s too ruthless to care.

I don’t know if it was the director’s decision or the actor’s choice, but his face/emotions didn’t have a lot of range. Too many times, I couldn’t tell if he was supposed to portray anger/joy/disgust/anything else. A character can be stoic on the outside, but that doesn’t mean the viewers shouldn’t feel emotions from the actor. A prime example is the FL from The Glory. She maintains a stoic persona, but the viewer can experience what she is feeling through her eyes. The majority of the time, Duke Su has only one expression, that of being suspicious/calculating.




I could keep going on about all the things I hated about this show, but I don’t want to waste any more time on it.

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Non mantiene fino in fondo quello che promette nei primi episodi

Era cominciato molto bene, ma purtroppo si è perso un po' lungo il cammino. Le prime puntate sono state entusiasmanti e più o meno si è mantenuto un ottimo livello fin verso la metà. Poi però hanno cominciato ad accumularsi le situazioni simili, del tipo che l'eroina in realtà non riesce a combinare un accidente da sola se non approfittando del nome della famiglia di adozione e soprattutto approfittandosi svergognatamente del ML. Se non ci fosse lui a proteggerla, non passerebbe la boa delle cinque puntate. La sua identità poi è un tipico segreto di pulcinella che alla fine diventa anche un po' stucchevole.
Più che altro specialmente verso la fine si accumulano le situazioni e le soluzioni inverosimili, per cui occorre veramente scollegare il cervello per godersi gli ottimi costumi, le ambientazioni, l'ottima colonna sonora, la splendida cinematografia e soprattutto la stellare interpretazione di molti degli attori.
Se alcuni dei personaggi secondari, particolarmente i malvagi Li e la principessa, sono terribilmente sopra le righe, posso solo applaudire all'interpretazione dei personaggi principali.
Sarà che ultimamente mi sono dedicata a opere più brevi, ma le ultime 10 puntate le ho seguite proprio per forza di inerzia, e sono arrivata alla fine con gratitudine perché cominciavo essere stufa e non desideravo altro che arrivare al finale per chiudere la questione e potermi dedicare ad altro. 40 puntate da 50 minuti sono veramente troppe, o almeno lo sono sembrate a me.
Più che altro, specialmente negli ultimi episodi, si ha una sgradevole impressione di eccesso di drammatizzazione, inutile e fastidioso.
La tensione fra i due protagonisti principali è palpabile, ma la parte romantica viene mantenuta ai minimi livelli, con ben poca interazione fra i due e forse soltanto due baci in tutta la serie. Molti hanno rimarcato durante tutta la durata del drama la grande diversità nell'età dei due attori principali: lui è molto più giovane di lei e nonostante appaia maturo purtroppo la differenza si vede e infastidisce un po'. Non si tratta di essere prevenuti nei confronti di un'attrice non più giovanissima, ma di rilevare il vezzo che hanno spesso queste produzioni, in cui fanno interpretare a persone più che trentenni le parti di adolescenti. È inutile girarci intorno, stona. E resta il fatto che l'attrice protagonista, probabilmente proprio perché ha sulle spalle molti anni di mestiere, ha fatto un lavoro egregio, con risultati che probabilmente una ragazzina non avrebbe potuto raggiungere. La maestria ha bisogno di anni per maturare di cui non si scappa quasi mai.
Un drama comunque più che apprezzabile, ben sopra la media,, ma con una serie di difetti e che comunque un po' rallenta e un po' sbraca nel finale.
Peccato, avrebbe potuto essere un capolavoro e invece deve accontentarsi di essere semplicemente un ottimo titolo.

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