Frost_edelweiss

vying for #1 spot out of 10 most watched web dramas this past week, according to Vlinkage professional data.

Yes, true. Targeting Esther Yu here is senseless. Besides, even if I am no die-hard fan of her, I did watch "Road to Success", found it quite decent with its layers of encouraging young people to choose their own path in life through sports and education, and rising against cyber bullying, reputation smearing, and viciously pushing victims to suicide.

But "Overdo" it is another drama. Why should Zhang Linghe be condemned to play only with Tian Xiwei? I liked PoJ a lot, but precisely because I did so, was happy that the actor could try something else in another "period". The way "Overdo" started did worry me since it gave fuel to nitpickers. But overall the story despite not being flawless is still more than just watchable, so I added it to my watch-list after watching 6 episodes and am eagerly awaiting the new plot twists when ep.20 is released. Wang Churan, like but differently from Tian Xiwei or Xu Ruohan, Bai Lu,, Esther Yu (whom ZLH partnered with twice, like he did with Zhao Jinmai) etc , is very pretty and I like her double-identity-adventurer character here.

If some audience just gave up because of reading haters and other negative comments on the first episodes, it is a pity but nobody is forced to watch on, if they can't find a reason to spend time on a drama, so dropping without a rating is ok. On the other hand, those who down-rate harshly without watching the work or only a snippet are simply despicably dishonest and can absolutely be suspected of being haters or cyberbullies, or blind sheep bleating following hater trends.

Personally, I won't rate the whole drama before the end, but certainly not below 8 at this moment in time.

Ep.18 felt like the end of the revenge drama, next comes the sequel from Ep.19!

New characters for new plot twists 😀😬🥹
Perhaps more about the Opera singer Haitang Qing (海棠青 Begonia green) and police officer Li BoZe 李柏则 whose father Li Rongzhang 李荣彰 is implicated in more violence than what he did to his "changeling son" Qingyi 慕容清峄.

Warlord power is coveted by Murong Qingyu 慕容清渝 who wants to use others so as not to dirty his own hands and shows once again his lack of feelings for anybody including Ye Zhihong 叶芝鸿 who may also be at risk !

How will Ren Susu 任素素 /Fang Mulan 方牧兰 and Qingyi navigate this new tangled web?

You're right. I seldom re-watch opening or ending credits once I saw it once, and sometimes, I do skip too ! The focus on it comes from the nitpickers. But once I heard about the replacement, I went back to watch both intros and do prefer the new one :)

Screenwriters:
Luo Jun Yue (main ; he is experienced, also wrote for "Legend of Zang Hai"),
Yang Si Ting,
Liu Yu Xi (both younger screenwriters)
according to Baidu and dramawiki.

That's a well articulated defense and illustration of the very real qualities of the story! Thanks for sharing it!

No I don't think LBZ or MRQYu had a hand in this. Mystery still ahead.

Well, we got used to severe stab and gunshot wounds healing with magic dabs (no penicillin needed) and powders in dramas, didn't we? It goes with drama territory. And actors and actresses faces and hairdos are usually left pristine or with tasteful lines of "cuts". Especially when the drama is not directly depicting modern warfare and when leads are superstars. We expect them to look good and get back up running, carrying female lead, taking more gunshots in stride and still cooking for their beloved, lol! Doesn't ruffle me. This is a fiction TV series focused part on star crossed romance, not a documentary or horror movie even with the hint to horrors that did exist.

Did you only just start? It is getting better after a while. I particularly like episodes from 13 to 17 despite the alternating sweet romance and betrayals.

Why the experienced crew let pass obvious weaknesses, especially in opening episodes is beyond me. Perhaps brains were melting in the extremely severe humid heatwave which coincided with filming. I can attest to the oppressive feelings even with A/C which struggled to keep rooms and offices cool enough to work and sleep at night, in July and August 2025. I would not be surprised this accounts for the somber indoor scenes seen in the beginning of "Overdo", with few outdoors shots, some looking pasted in from later shooting periods, perhaps in the end of scheduled time, with surprising light clothing for the "wintry" snow scenes. Bai Lu on another filming location on the coast, came down simultaneously with health troubles causing exhaustion although she is used to the weather in the Jiangnan, being born and raised (like Zhang Linghe) in Jiangsu province. Most possible action scenes were written off in "The First Jasmine" at the time.

According to data, the 2025 heatwave in China was historically severe, marking the country's hottest summer on record, a record number of "hot days" (temperatures ≥35°C) from March through July, with extreme heat affecting over 15 provincial-level regions, heat-related mortality and work hours lost due to heat stress estimated to be 1.9 times higher than the historical average between 2019 and 2023. The Jiangsu-Shanghai-Zhejiang area experienced prolonged heatwaves, rendered more painful by humidity (feelings of drowning in hot, oppressive, boiler oven air) in June, July and August 2025, with temperatures frequently exceeding 35°C (95°F) and peaking near 39°C (102°F) in late August.

Filming had started June 27, 2025 at the height of the heatwave and ended September 25, in barely less stressful weather conditions to wrap up everything with heat emitting machines while A/C still needed to be turned on full time. Work conditions may also have affected the sometimes imperfect dubbing by professional voice actors, even when used to work with Zhang Linghe ( Yi Fan from reputed Bian Jiang studio also did voice acting parts in hit drama "Pursuit of Jade" filmed before "Overdo"), Duan Yixuan had already lent her voice to Wang Churan in "Are You The One". Overall, even if imperfections were spotted, it is not altogether catastrophic: most C-dramas have such trouble, emphasized in "Overdo" by some eager to nitpick.

Still, Baidu observed for "Overdo" that "the tight narrative rhythm was well received". and "on the first day of its launch, the network's effective playback volume was about 25 million. By July 21, the effective number of views on the entire network exceeded 100 million, and it topped the daily list of live-action views on the entire network for three consecutive days".

Production already corrected the faux-pas of the botched intro. Episodes 15 to 17 show Zhang Linghe and Wan Churan in better focus and at least the sweet romance scenes with kisses were not edited out. So I am still onboard, happy that the drama has gotten past its "warts and all" start and I am curious about the ongoing thriller development. The drama captures the turbulent political landscape of 1920s Shanghai, characterized by the collapse of central government authority and the rise of regional militarists. This period, known as the Warlord Era, saw unchecked power wielded by military cliques like the Fengtian and Zhili factions, who frequently engaged in kidnappings, forced alliances, and territorial disputes. The series, although the Murong warlord and arms dealers, Huo criminal gangster ring boss and bankers and Li (abusive warlord adoptive father of Qingyi) families are fictional, utilizes this chaotic backdrop to explore themes of arbitrary violence and coerced familial arrangements common to the time.

"Overdo" will be in a tight race for #1 weekly "champion of the week" for Chinese audiences according to Vlinkage data, although drama reporter Marcus expects "Blossoms of Power" to top it by a short neck.

Wang Yinglu is very pretty and charismatic, yes. I thought she was really good in "When Destiny Brings the Demon" (playing with Chen Feiyu, even re-watched that one!) and in "Yummy Yummy Yummy" (very comedic), "I Am Nobody", "Twelve Letters" (although for reasons unrelated to the series, I had to put off completing those series - will catch up with them later, since Wang Yinglu has been brought back to my attention).

The grandma Qu Manxia is played expertly as sweet by Wu YanShu who has a long experience at such roles (in "Meet Yourself" and many other series and movies ; her bio says she "reinvented her [acting] career at 72" after having been active as actress and teacher of drama since the 1960s. She celebrated her 88th birthday on January 1!!)

The plot up till now influences our feelings toward the characters; I am curious about how Heidi Wang /Wang Ji will develop the character of the elder aunt Yang FanYan, And how Xin Yunlai will keep up as ML Qi Xiaowei now that his character's reputation has been torn to tatters as a weak "chameleon".

Such beautiful lush landscapes! Inspirational too, like the mountain Yang XiaoFang dad uses as parable to help her daughter make up her mind about her choices, in episode 5.
Choosing between radiant life and crusty imitations of impressionist masterpieces by foreign painters (Van Gogh, Renoir, ...) that only Yang FanZhu, the young "scholar" son of the Yang family recognizes at the first sight. A no-brainer? Qi XiaoWei, the childhood sweetheart and suitor is already toast. The pigheaded Yang and greedy Qi elders are surely getting their just deserts soon.

The first episodes started as innocently comedic and sweet tinged,, but the feeling grew both light and serious with the outrageous schemes of the Qi family: there were hints at dark comedy in the sunny landscapes!
After this introduction to rustic life in the Chinese countryside (no pigs? no smelly outhouse? where are the bathrooms?) I am hanging on to watch how the attempt at cock fights (ah yes, fights everywhere : cocks there, perhaps crickets later) will end for the scholar. Perhaps in the pot, as nourishing soup for the mother to be, lovingly prepared by the adorable granny.
The first OST song posted up in Discussions has an MV which seems to announce more twists.

"Xiao Fang" was filmed on location in Guanshanhu District, Guiyang City, Guizhou Province. The production received assistance from the Guizhou Province Film and Television Shooting Service Center during principal photography, which took place between July and September 2025"

Just right follow-up to those who watched The First Jasmine / Mo Li 😂
Drama watching sometimes comes with uncanny coincidences

Your words :
"Also, about treating humans like humans.... speaking strictly of the white race... don't even go there."
" Racism is a white people thing... perpetrated by them."

You don't know who I am and I won't oblige to tell you.
What I mentioned about Dalits is because I happen to know a Dalit writer in another fandom of mine who explained (calmly) the situation to me.
Everything you wrote in reply to me negated anything that could have been of value in your previous rant.
Now, since I can't stand people who attack others like you did I am :
1. signalling your post to MDL
2. blocking you, so no use for you to try answering with filth again.

I think LFY is more chaotic in plot development ; RTS is an easier watch but then it is more idol drama and if you absolutely hate football you may be bored by the bits about it, although you can watch it if you are open minded even if you are no fan of football (my case). I was not sure I'd like it since I felt lukewarm about Esther Yu at best, but she surprisingly acted well enough to keep me interested till now ep. 20! There's romance, mystery, moral development...

careful about your last paragraph which comes out as racist.
As for indemnities... France insisting on them from Germany after WWI was one of the causes of WW2.

The PRC is shrewder : only insisting on acknowledgement and apologies from the war criminals who went mass murdering in NJ, SH, SEA and experimenting with biological warfare on ordinary Chinese citizens in 731 or other death camps (that many people outside China and Russia are still unaware about). And of course insisting on Takaichi respect the agreements her country signed instead of rearming and stirring up mayhem, including on the island they forcibly occupied for 50 years.

No country has been angelic. Look at Aztecs, ancient empires in Asia and Africa selling people into slavery. Look at how Dalit people are treated in India and Bangladesh.
Money and geopolitics always were at the root of evil. Gangs and criminals always existed, sometimes used as help for revolutionaries, sometimes used to quell down opponents. It is a sad fact and safety should be treasured, so I actually admire the way the PRC goes about safety and improving living standards for most, attentive about screen addiction for children and trying to do away with inequalities in education after having achieved 100% literacy for the young (about 2 or max 20% in the 1930s depending on whether it was countryside or Shanghai) , same as the rise of life expectancy from 31 to 82 average. Keeping people safe, fed, protected and connected despite floods, earthquakes, killer heatwaves like now (my father in law died from a heatstroke in 2013 because his wife stupidly did not use the A/C we installed in her third tier city apartment, now no one in the family spits at A/C. If better solutions can be found bring them on, and tear down old neighborhoods if necessary, people will not be left sleeping in the streets anyway: some Beijing residents I know got beautiful apartments in exchange for their old hutong homes).
Even Ai Weiwei, the known dissenter, finally returned to the PRC after 10 years self exile, to reunite with his 97-year-old mom and 17-year-old son (whom he had left behind in 2015), admitting that the PRC is on an upward trend.

you meant anti-depressant medication. I too found the reaction from MJ bizarre, lacking in basic empathy.

I still have one at home. Helps in heat waves.
They could also be used at the beach or for camping since those mats are light weight and easily rolled for storage.

Yes

ok :)

Hahaha, I was not sure I'd like it, since football is not really my passion, and I was only lukewarm about Esther, only amused by her hair clips in Speed and Love (now, car racing was one of my passion, so car racing series have a positive bias for me, more than falling into a game or playing helpless waif on skis or on fairy islands). Nevertheless, I have now reached ep..12 and I think I will stay on, for the (business shenanigans?) upcoming. Some of the support actors are catching my attention,old hands and newcomers + recognizing Ma Boqian, Xie Keyin,

I like it that the narrative is grounded in authentic local culture and use of the Quanzhou dialect (Minnan hua/Hokkien) reinforces the theme of returning to one's roots. There are local actors from Quanzhou for the roles of residents, parents, and elders. These actors are native Minnanhua speakers! The sets are interesting, some are real places and you can feel the sultry heat of the torrid season, since even though the drama is about school years, it was shot in August 2025.

It is a relatively relaxing watch despite the... (murder mystery hidden in the closet ???! I was rubbing my eyes there! )or the hidden overbearing CEO trope that looks straight out from vertical dramas, (except there, they act more handsy so should we expect that dark "insomniac" lone wolf-like guy to soon pounce further than caressing her shins and wrists, hmmm? and her shooting with pepper spray ? ) and the strange "manager" that seems to have gotten thrown in for fashion apparel product placement and to placate the BL aficionados who wandered in, thinking of male teams' sweaty togetherness (except those youths almost never sweat or sweat it to win! lol.) The food product placement is sometimes too shameless with the spicy meat strips, the sausages (!!!) and the crispy salty biscuits, the iced Americanos, beers... The kids polishing off a huge table of dishes is both hearty and slightly alarming, so when the poodle was brought to table level, I wondered idly if it was next going to land in the pot!!!

All these ingredients still mix well as those in the luosifen dish, so I'm still on board, sometimes chuckling. There is quite some humor there for everybody, even in the almost tragic scenes of academic or parental neglect. And of course Esther can't help being pretty, a tad less doll-like Cinderella-like than in her previous roles : now I quite like her! Just enjoying as the story unfolds. Surely surprises are still lying in wait!