The Double

Everything was Good until .....

I enjoyed watching this drama so much, the story the development, not get bored for 1 min .
but I am disturbed or rather say disappointed by ending.

the side actor lu ji and wen ji did not have to die, and the bitter sweet open ending is also not needed when whole drama was so good..

so yeah, except for the last 15-20mins whole drama was 9/10 for me..

I am simp for happy ending dramas, so yeah this one left me with unsettled feeling about rewatching it again.

they gave a bonus epilogue, but it was filler.

according to me, the whole epilogue felt like it was a dream sequence of both leads, coz duke su couldn't survive. and it was their future dream to live with each other, and have kids

so I was not happy with the epilogue too, coz it doesn't sit right with ending.

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I've seen several clips of this show which drawn my attention to start watching it. It was a little worth it, the story and the acting skills is what impressed me the most. The story starts off pretty basic and has the simple plot of using another identity to get revenge. But little does the audience know that the plot is headed near the middle of the drama.

I started watching this show believing that it was going to be all about revenge and betrayal. However it sort of leads into a new story with a rebellion which I was totally unprepared for.

Again the acting in the show was done very well. Wang Xingyue did a great job playing his role, while Wu Jinyan gave off Wei Yingluo vibes again. Even Wanning was a character that I hated and loved at the same time.

My biggest issue with the show was either the original novel or the script. In one scene where Waning was questioning Jiang Li's identity, Jiang Li never denied that she wasn't Xue Fangfei. This scene made me really upset, because if you have a hidden identity and you don't want others to figure it out, you should deny it. Instead of saying why she isn't Xue Fangfei, she lists reasons why the real Jiang Li wasn't killed by her. Just based off these reasons, it would've already made me question her identity if I was a court official. Another thing I would like to point out is that Jiang Li gets too emotional when it comes to her family. I understand that her family is suffering but it also makes this entire scheme of hers easilyy seen through.

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A drama with incredible revenge plot and complex characters.

When I read the synopsis of this drama, it didn't seem to appealing to me but watching the first episode definitely caught my attention. It was dark, it was intense, and whoa.. what an opening to a drama! Definitely did not regret continuing to watch every single episodes as it aired!

To me, what really sets this drama apart from others is the three dimensional characters, including the antagonists. Each and every important character in this drama has a background story. In the beginning, you really need to keep an open mind, and be empathetic instead of being so biased and narrow-minded. Many viewers may just be here for the slow-burn romance, but I like watching dramas with characters that are complex. And honestly, I talked about the villains more than the protagonists with my friends because it was just so fun to break down and learn about their psyche and why they're acting the way they are. I was rooting for the protagonists don't get me wrong. But the villains were just so intriguing! Of course, I hated some of them but in the end, we understand why they were like that.

I think the most appalling thing that I read in the comments is what the Princess had to go through vs Xue Fang Fei. It's almost very stupid for people to compare and think one is worse than the other. And one deserves more love than the other.
Both of them went through traumatic experiences, and they are validated! The way they act upon really differs, and you can't deny there are people who would become evil because of their environment and the way they were raised. All the villains in this drama turned out the way they are because of their past experience, the environment, and whoever influenced them.
There's even some steady character growth for an antagonist and I loved this drama for it.

Xue Fang Fei is an incredibly intelligent woman in this drama, yes she stole the identity of a dead girl (Jiang Li) but she has empathy. She's doing it for both of them. She honors the identity she has stolen, unlike other dramas where the protagonist just steals the indentity and not even think about it. Xue Fang Fei not only gave justice to Jiang Li but also revenge. Of course, that wasn't the only revenge she has done. In the process of fighting for justice of her own, she has found someone who knew her identity all along. Someone who respects her and truly cares for her.

This someone is Xiao Heng. Xiao Heng is a mysterious guy who is always there to save Fang Fei's life. But he's also quite observant, calculative, and of course powerful. We don't really know his real plan until the end, and honestly if people want to compare him with Fang Fei's ex and why he did the deed in the begining. It's best to understand who has nearly everything and connections, and who doesn't especially in historical China.


The acting overall in this drama was incredible; ablet sometimes I wonder why there wasn't any tears in some actors while they're crying. I have seen a few of Wu Jinyan dramas and I feel like she is the same? Just great acting; nothing to mind blowing for me though. A sfor the main actor, Wang Xing Yue, I've only seen one of his dramas but it wasn't enought o dicpher if he's has improved or not. In this drama, he's most acting with his eyes, micro expressions which I quite like as well.
Notable mention is CHEN QIAO EN! OH MY GOD! I've been watching her act since I was little, she's one of my favorite actresses EVER. Just when I tbought she couldn't get any better, she proved me wrong! HER MICROEXPRESSIONS AS A VILLAIN!! HELLO? Those psychopathetic smiles and I was getting goosebumps cause of her. BRAVO!

Needless to say, it was an an amazing drama. I would definitely recommend if you enjoy watching schemes, revenge plots, second chance of life, and slow-burn romance.

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Didnt like female lead

This show was great and the story line was great but the female lead was such a MISS. She was supposedly replacing the identity of a girl who was around 18 years old or so and yet somehow no one noticed she looked like she was in her THIRTIES??? how is that even possible? I watched for Wang Xing Yue and hes the only reason i kept watching. All of his scenes were captivating and although hes not strikingly handsome, the way he talks and his facial expressions give him a 10/10 his acting was off the charts! When he would say her name it was breathtaking! But she was just not a good fit for this role especially since they were trying to say she was so gorgeous even more beautiful than her younger sister who actually WAS gorgeous. Idk if the director was blind or what but nothing about her casting made sense. They needed to have chosen a 10 year younger actress to play this role. This and maybe one other drama ive watched have me so puzzled about why they chose the lead. Typically the casting is perfect on these dramas so i dont know where this went wrong. That was my main complaint about this show.

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Very entertaining

The only real issue I had with this series was the lack of physical transformation for the protagonist; the fact that her appearance remained virtually unchanged from before the calamity to after felt like a missed opportunity, which slightly brought down the plot's score for me. Everything else, however, is absolute perfection. It’s never dull or tedious; instead, it keeps you on the edge of your seat, moving you to tears of frustration while offering genuine moments of joy as the story unfolds. When you factor in the incredible performances by two of my favorite actors, I really have no choice but to highly recommend it.

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Revenge is a well-shaken martini

The fl's character really stood out to me. She’s strong, but not in a way that feels overly perfect or predictable, which i find refreshing. Wu Jinyan did a phenomenal job, her emotional depth was genuinely moving, and i couldn’t help but admire her. Now, Wang Xing Yue’s as a ml? Wow. From the beginning, his character felt intimidating, and i assumed his intensity might lessen as the show progressed, but it didn’t. Whether it’s the writing or his performance, his presence remained powerful throughout, and i loved it. Their dynamic was electric—less about romance and more about brains and action, constantly supporting each other. As for the plot, it’s one of the few political dramas i didn’t want to skip. The story is crafted with clear cause-and-effect arcs.

That said, after episode 25, the story did start to veer off in different directions a bit too quickly, but it didn’t feel rushed, so i stayed invested. By the time i hit the 30+ episode mark, i was completely hooked. The tension kept building, and i found myself genuinely anxious about what was coming next. Usually, fl always finds a way to win, but this time, i wasn’t so sure, which added a great element of suspense.

And as for the ending, it felt rushed, as is often the case with shows like this. Introducing key antagonists right at the end didn’t sit well with me. I would’ve preferred more buildup, and the deaths of Duke Su’s guards felt really sudden. The final battle scenes also seemed unnecessary, and the pacing of the last 20 minutes was overwhelming. So much happened in such a short time, it was hard to process. Still, the ambiguous ending left me oddly satisfied, even if the pacing was a bit off.

ofc, there was one issue besides the ending. Shen Yurong’s character felt a bit off. His interactions were so awkward and stoic that it made him feel distant and hard to connect with. While his mysterious nature is important to the role, giving him more dialogue or inner thoughts could’ve added some depth. He ended up feeling more passive than i’d like for an antagonist.

All in all, despite its flaws, this show was an absolute ride and worth watching. 9/10

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Excellent but some confusing parts

Overall the acting and story line was very well done. The story concerns a wife who was supposedly murdered by her husband, and buried alive, but lived and was found by a noble woman, who was sent to a religious institute, and her maid. The noble had been beaten and was treated badly and succumbed to her injuries. The wife assumed her other woman's identity and along with the maid vowed to avenge herself as well as the woman who's identity she assumed.
It was confusing in that the two didn't look anything alike, but since the noble was sent away when she was 10, they dismissed it as she changed while away. When the husband and family met the returned 'noble', they all almost fainted as she was a twin of the wife he supposedly murdered.
Of course, the wife/noble avenged everything, but now the confusion. The noble and her sister were both in love with the same guy, even tho one was 10 when sent away the other was when her sister was sent away. We're suppose to believe that everyone was still having the same feelings? The fake was saved by an investigator, Duke, and he was the Emperor's right hand man, even thou the two met 8 years ago,, when bother were about 8 or 9 years old. Every one are adults but the time lines don't match.
Lastly, at the end, the Emperor sends Duke to the north flank to save that border, but it looks as if he failed, but the closing credits we see a horseman (legs only no face) riding towards his wife (the fake one), but not sure if he was still alive or it was his wife's dream/vision?

If you can get by the timeline of the different characters, it's well worth watching as there are some awesome plot twits that you don't see coming.

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Worthy of a rewatch.

This film has all of the elements of a good movie. The opening was suspenseful, and had high energy, with a little bit of a thriller. The main leads and some of the supporting cast portrayed their characters very well. The story has a nice flow without overshowing the backstories. The ending was unexpected but it put your heart to rest. I plan to rewatch this drama in the near future to pick up on what I missed the first time.
I think there is some resemblance in the features and mannerisms of Wang Xing Yue and Zhao YingBo. Both of them portray their characters well. I'm looking forward to seeing what they do in their future roles.

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Revenge on revenge on revenge

Revenge? Check. Political intrigue? Check. Family drama? Check. Action? Check. Loyal friendships? Check. Romance? Check. Slow-burn romance? Check, check! This series really has it all. I mean, too much of it all, in fact. The revenge alone would have you going for hours. It was really engaging and I enjoyed how the revenge plots played out. It was pretty satisfying. The acting of both Wu Jinyan and Wang Xingue are topnotch. They were perfect for their roles. I could not have imagined a more perfect Xue Fangfei and Xiao Heng. They also have good chemistry. The side characters also did great. Totally love (and hate) the Eldest Princess Wanning. She was awesome and loathsome in her role. I also loved the cinematography of this series. It was so beautiful and added to the total vibe of the series. The breathtaking shots and angles were key to taking the storyline further.

Now, there are some things that I thought were problematic about this series. This was 40-episode long. Did it need to be that long? Honestly, yes and no. Yes, because it had so much to tell, and also no, because some plotlines just dragged on, and I felt that some scenes were unnecessary. And as much as the revenge plots were all resolved in the end, it all were just too good to be true and too convenient. And well, that ending? I usually do not mind an open-ending like that but seriously, you had me watch for 40 episodes and go through all of that just to give me a vague ending? That was just really painful and really unsatisfying, even unfair. I don't want to think of the end, please just give me a happy ending, for real!

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