This review may contain spoilers
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.
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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