Guo Zhao (2024)

Fluffy and fun mini drama with a satisfying happy ending

Smile Hu knows how to pick her mini-dramas - The Killer Is Also Romantic remains one of the best of this genre. While The Love Duel is not quite at that level, it is still a fairly solid short-length series that affectionately pokes fun and pays homage to some of the best and worst drama romances and tropes, including those Bad Endings, while ultimately giving viewers a Happy Ending.

On paper, it incorporates a number of elements I do not particularly enjoy in dramas - goofy/slap-stick humour, travel or transmigration into a book or video-game world, to name two key ones. But the combination of a likable cast, a well-paced and respectable (if predictable) script, satisfying ending, and decent production values help elevate what could have been a painful waste of time into a fun and fluffy, easy watch, with just enough swoon factor to satisfy that drama itch in between full-length shows.

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Decently-produced mini drama with Good Acting and Chemistry

Subjective Gut Rating: 8.25

“The Love Duel” is a short and very enjoyable transmigration mini drama. Despite its lower budget, the production quality is pretty good. It doesn’t feel cheap.

Although the cast is not A-listers, they are quite experienced, especially in the mini dramas. If you are a fan of the genre, you have probably seen female lead Smile Hu, male lead Wang Xuan and second male lead Leo Yang before. Hong Wu (2FL) is the newcomer of the bunch. I am actually quite impressed with the acting of this cast. I might have developed a minor crush on Wang Xuan. He has nice, big, expressive eyes. He looks a little bit like Xu Kai and Xiao Zhan, doesn’t he?

It’s nice to see a female lead who is the bosslady. She takes charge and is smart and fun (maybe a tad bit overdramatic). The personality contrast between the leads is nice and we don’t see this dynamic in bigger productions often enough. The chemistry between the 4 leads is good. I enjoy the development of the main romance. The secondary romance is simpler and more predictable. However, both confession scenes are a little anticlimactic for my taste.

You can say this drama has quite a few plot twists to keep things interesting and the plot moving along. However, I think my biggest criticism is that the plot is too busy. The political side plot isn’t written well. It seems like an afterthought and just put together half-heartedly. It could have a simpler political background story but focuses more on the assassin organization.

“The Love Duel” is binge-worthy and enjoyable. There’s a lot of humor in making fun of dramas that are self-deprecatingly funny. It’s not to kill a couple hours or as a quick palate cleanser in between some serious dramas.



Completed: 7/24/2024 - Review #465

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