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AiNong, Talia Too is right. It is not a remake of Love Like the Galaxy (LLtG). The Double and LLtG fall into the same genre (historical fiction) because they portray the tropes of the genre. However, a novel and drama are two very different works of art. This is why a drama is called an adaptation of or based on a novel. It is similar, but is not the same. In this situation it does not matter that the novel the drama is based on came out before Love Like the Galaxy. What matters is that the drama LLtG came out before The Double. I do not want to spoil anything for you, but if you want to understand what you are seeing and why, I wrote about it under Love Like the Galaxy Part 1. By the way, you are not the only person to recognize the many "similarities" between these two dramas.

Love Like the Galaxy is my favorite of Zhao Lu Si's dramas. But I do have to admire the screenwriters literal interpretation of it in The Double. After reading the novel The Double is based on, I can say they picked a good one to parody the genre.

I have heard about YZ and his plagiarism cases. Don't know the laws in China when it comes to this kind of thing. In the United States you can parody anything without permission from the people of the original work. However, it would be hard to make a plagiarism case for The Double because they are parodying the genre using certain dramas within that genre to do it. So I have to admire his clever way of stealing wonderful scenes, characters, and plot lines and adding the comic effect to them . In this case, I think he will have the last laugh.

I did enjoy The Double. Is it a masterpiece, no. Is it something different for the genre, yes! Parodies are there to remind us not to take ourselves so seriously.

MikaM, it's funny because I have been wanting to write a full article on this point, but haven't really had the time. First, The Double is a makjang historical fiction drama based on the makjang book Marriage of Di Daughter. Yes, I read the novel. It is extremely dark and not at all humorous. Many of the scenes between Duke Su and Xue Fang Fei were added to the drama just so they could poke fun at LLtG and other historical fiction dramas (The Story of Kunning Palace and A Female Student Arrives at the Imperial College, Nirvana in Fire).

A parody is an imitation of the style of a particular writer, artist, or genre with deliberate exaggeration for comic effect. So yes there will be some common themes within both dramas, but the main difference is the comic effect piece. If the screenwriters of The Double had stuck to the novel, it would not be a parody, just a makjang. However, by taking scenes from other dramas and turning them into comedy, they have created a parody on the historical fiction genre. You noticed this when you mentioned one in your post above to Leslyanne. The multiple scenes of Duke Su telling one of his bodyguards to get 20 paddles is definitely straight out of LLtG. Notice we never see the bodyguard get paddled in either LLtG or TD. Both of them are used for comic effect as neither guard does anything worth being paddled over. Another scene is the "tea and torture scene". I have never seen this in other historical fiction drama except LLtG. However, in The Double no one gets tortured, and Duke Su is there drinking tea. Even XFF does it to her stepmother when she brings in the little white cup we all think is poison and instead it is tea that XFF drinks. Another character, Princess Wan Ning doesn't torture people or make them bleed, she just breaks a leg (XFF's brother). Yet, she is supposed to be an evil person. All of these scenes are parodying the torture scenes of LBY in the second season. Another scene is when XFF is drunk and starts pinching Duke Su's cheeks saying, "You're so handsome." This is reminiscent of a drunk CSS pinching LBY'S face and saying to QiQi, "I see LBY does that mean I like him?" For me, the best one is the emperor. Because the emperor in LLtG is overly enthusiastic about getting LBY hitched and is already funny, how do you parody him? You give the emperor in The Double a comedic hat (one that looks like dog ears which no emperor would wear), have him speak with a dead pan face and voice and have him joke with Duke Su about how he loves XFF. The emperor also has a mommy complex with his consort.

But it is not just scene stealing that the screenwriters parody. They parody whole characters. Duke Su is the comedic version of Ling Bu Yi from the way he walks, dresses, and behaves. His fan is the equivalent of LBY's sword and other weaponry. In the novel, Duke Su is known for his red outfits and his red fan with a gold peony on it. LBY is always dressed in black and has his sword. Duke Su only wears a red outfit three times during the whole show. Otherwise, he is in black. Duke Su is also a parody on CSS. XFF doubles as a parody for both CSS and LBY. I'll let you figure that one out.

Last but not least, the screenwriters have parodied the entire plot line of LLtG. None of the scenes between Duke Su and XFF from the nunnery to the exam banquet are in the novel. These were all created by the screen writers. So let's look at this. First, how do LBY and CSS meet. SS gets revenge on her grandmother by turning in her great uncle to LBY. How does Duke Su and XFF meet, XFF claims that she is part of the illegal salt trading group, and they banter back and forth about how nuns can and can't be salt traffickers. This is like LBY and CSS bantering back and forth about why girls should be able to get revenge themselves and not wait for a man to do it. The next big thing is LBY staking his claim on CSS regardless of her feeling for him. Ling Bu Yi stakes his claim during the lantern festival (the twirl), solidifies it when he escorts her into the city, and tops it off when he "asks" her to marry him. Once he's done this he says that what is his is hers and as husband and wife they are one body. When XFF enters the Jiang household Duke Su gives her half of his possessions. He is saying to the world she is mine and I'm just waiting for her to love me in return (exactly like LBY who waits for CSS to love him). All of this is done in the first two episodes of the drama. Yet, the biggest plot line parody of LLtG is LBY using CSS as a pawn in many of his schemes. Sometimes she knows she is being used, but the most important time she doesn't (second season). XFF says to Duke Su in a giggly, happy voice (which in a serious drama no heroine would do) says, "Use me, use me as a pawn." If I remember correctly, I don't think he ever does use her as a pawn. He just lets her be herself, whereas LBY asks CSS to change herself for him. Again, I could go on and on with how The Double parodies LLtG and other popular dramas, but I will let you discover these gems for yourself. I hinted at them in the beginning.

The sad part is when people think of a parody they think of something bad. Actually a good parody teaches us something in a comedic way. The Double does. All historical dramas contain the same message, whether you like the situation or not and no matter what your status in life is, you still have free will and a choice. It is how you decide that determines the consequences. LLtG has this same message.

Thank you for the discussion.

In a makjang drama, which this is, incest is hinted at. This is a part of the appearance vs. reality element found in this drama. In appearance she is a first cousin, but in reality she is not even related to him. Notice that the step mother tries to get them together to disgrace both of them. She does this in the drama and the novel.

Incest is also hinted at with the emperor whose favorite consort was a friend of his mother and was his father's consort. The actress who plays the role is 42 while the actor who plays the emperor is 27.

Thank you for the correction. I have the wrong name for what I thought is the slice of life genre. Then this is a parody on historical costume dramas, specifically of the makjang style. The book is makjang, but it is extremely dark and much of the storyline with Duke Su in the drama is made up.

I am not the only one who has noticed this. Other people have as well. They just don't know what to call it.

Thank you for the discussion and setting me straight on what to call these types of stories.

I would agree with you, except for two things. The screenwriters are definitely poking fun at the tropes of the slice of life genre. Here are two examples: The main trope of this genre is the girl fighting against being used as a pawn by her family or husband. Yet, you have this heroine saying literally with joy, "Use me, use me as a pawn," while speaking with Duke Su (who has in fact claimed her as his wife in episode 2). The emperor and Duke Su also jokingly talk about her as a pawn in their game to root out corrupt officials. It is a running gag between them. Does this ring a bell? Ling Bu Yi uses Shao Shang's bullying event to sneak out documents from the censorate about Official Yue, but he also does this to catch the eight corrupt officials. LBY uses her as a pawn without her knowledge. I don't know if you remember Love Like the Galaxy as I noticed you watched when it came out. But it is where the tea and "torture" scenes come from in this drama.

Another trope is a girl's reputation. The opening scene is of XFF being caught with another man in her bed. It appears that she is having an affair when in reality she is not. Yet, not more than an episode later she is Duke Su's wife under a different name. Throughout the drama, Duke Su and XFF carry on an affair with sexual banter and then even share a kiss and possibly sex (candlelight scene). She visits his home a great deal, and he drops into her courtyard whenever he wants to. Jiang Li's reputation should be ruined, yet magically it is not because it is considered okay for unmarried couples to be intimate before marriage. The audience has gone crazy over this. Yet, in reality she is still a married woman carrying on an illicit love affair. How is she any different than the princess. What better way to use that cheap production style to the fullest advantage, use it for comedic effect. What does a parody do, it imitates a genre, work, author, etc. for comedic effect.

The producer of this drama has had many law suits with plagiarism as he steals scenes from other dramas. How can you get away with stealing scenes (tea and torture; Duke Su and his two sidekicks) without being accused of plagiarism, use them in a parody. Parodies can be a good thing they remind us not to take ourselves so seriously. Parodies also can get across a serious message in a comedic way. Who do we blame for our behavior and choices, our parents, our situation, our lovers, etc. No we need to blame ourselves which is what I think this drama is trying to convey in a comedic way.

This is just my own opinion. Yu Cheng is not going to come right out and say he created a parody, but in reality he did.

Kate, you have watched Love Like the Galaxy, would you say The Double is a parody on Love Like the Galaxy and slice of life genre itself?

I liked your review as well.

Yes, I think this is a parody on Love Like the Galaxy, Nirvana in Fire, A Female Student Arrives at the Imperial College, and also the book it is based on Marriage of Di Daughter. People have said that they also see The Story of Ming Lan, The Story of Kunning Palace and Court Lady. I have not watched the last two, so I can't say, but it is definitely parodying Love Like the Galaxy and Nirvana in Fire.

Since you have watched Love Like the Galaxy, could you say that it is a parody on that drama and on this genre?

I don't know if any cast or crew members are saying it. I highly doubt they would. But I am sure netizens are, and I can only judge by what I see on the screen. The Double is definitely poking fun at the historical fiction genre with the main one being Love Like the Galaxy. Did you not feel the comedic undertone throughout the drama? I gave three examples in my previous post.

None of the tea and torture scenes are in the novel. I know I've read it. They come straight from Love Like the Galaxy. In the novel Duke Su has three companions he hangs out with. They are not his body guards. One is a general and two are scholars who gather information for him. They do not fly through windows or do flips off the roofs. This is to poke fun at Leo Wu's role in Nirvana in Fire. In the drama, what do you think the men in the black hats represent, the black guard.

If you really want to understand how The Double imitates or in other words parodies Love Like the Galaxy. Just watch it again with this mindset.

Thank you for the discussion.

Lulu, since you have watched both, like I have, where do you think I am off when it comes to The Double and its relationship to Love Like the Galaxy? You must have noticed the tea and torture scenes in The Double? They come straight from this drama. Only in The Double they are done in a comedic way. Another joke based on this drama is Duke Su and his two sidekicks. One sidekick gets punished all the time for what he says or does, and Duke Su says, "Go get 20 hits." Again, this is done in a comedic way, and pokes fun at General Ling when he punishes Fei for what he says and does. In one of the last episodes, the grandfather says, "Who dares to hurt my granddaughter in law." This is to poke fun at Niao Niao's dad saying, "Who dares to hurt my Niao Niao?" It's all done to poke fun at this drama. I can give you more examples. The Double is aptly named because it can stand as it own drama or can be looked at as a parody on this drama.

You're right. The actress was only 11, but there is a reason for her playing the role. As you may know, Zhao Lu Si has played 14/15/16 year olds many times. In her most famous role she played a 15/16 and 21 year old. The reason ZLS couldn't play the 14-year-old role this time was because she was too tall. In the first five minutes of the story Sang Zhi says, "Time has its own kind of magic. It brings us closer in height and distance." They needed the 11 year old actress' height, so it could show how much Sang Zhi had grown up in three years. So yes, it can be confusing. There is also another reason for the 11 year old actress to play the role. It does have to do with age.

Fun Fact: the actress who played the 14 year old was also the one who played a younger version of Zhao Lu Si's character in Who Rules the World.

Sang Zhi's height is a running gag throughout the drama.

Again, I have to ask why so angry in your response? The fact is Love Like the Galaxy is a complex love story and is the main story of the drama. The rest of the drama enhances the love story. It makes you ask questions about what is love? How do you show love? Just because someone does something for you, do you have to love them? These are things that you hinted at in your post. I agree with you on them.

The Double, on the other hand, is a complex revenge story with a simple love story thrown in. The love story is not the main focus of the drama it is only an arc. It is literally the opposite of Love Like the Galaxy. The screenwriters, producers, and director of The Double throw in some jokes to poke fun at Love Like the Galaxy.

Finally, just a suggestion, if you don't understand something ask the person to clarify, just don't jump to conclusions that the person is making fun of you or criticizing you. As you can see that was not my intention, I could tell from your original post that you were really frustrated. I have been there myself, and it helped a great deal to talk it over with someone who had watched the drama.

Thank you for the suggestions and discussion. Happy drama watching.

Thanks. I'll give it a try.

I think I will check out some of his other works if I can sit through them. Thanks for everything.

Why are you so angry? You have misunderstood what I was saying in my response to you. People who have disliked this drama have had the same response as you. It's okay. You may dislike this drama all you want and you are not inferior because you do. In your original post you expressed your disappointment that it was not what you expected. I simply asked the question what were you expecting? You even wrote some reasons which I said I agreed with you. I offered an opinion as to why you might have disliked it. You responded that I was criticizing you for your opinion on the drama and I was basically calling you stupid. I was not. I do not care whether you liked this drama or not. You may rate it however you want.

I only wrote you originally because I have watched both The Double and Love Like the Galaxy. They are two very different stories. If you enjoyed watching The Double great. It too has some wonderful things about it. One of them is all the jokes the screenwriters, director, and producer put in to poke fun at Love Like the Galaxy. I thought you might enjoy knowing that and then continue on watching Love Like the Galaxy to find out what I am talking about. I am glad you enjoyed The Double and it was what you were wanting and expecting. I am sorry that Love Like the Galaxy let you down after all the anticipation you went through. Cheers!

You also helped me see a different aspect of this drama as well. Something just kept bugging me about our opposites talk, but then I realized we were actually talking about appearance vs. reality which is used in Shakespearean comedies to create comedy. This is a light-hearted drama filled with funny haha moments because of this element. But this element also creates a parody on all the concepts and scenes Yu Cheng borrowed from other dramas, specifically Love Like the Galaxy.

Thanks, you have inspired me to add something to the discussion post.

Were you by chance expecting a simple love story where the main couple fall in love at first sight or the twirl? This is not that drama. You're right. SS doesn't love LBY right from the start, she doesn't start to love him until second season when she feels like she can trust him.

You're right. She did show more feeling towards Lou Yao because she trusted him almost immediately. He didn't have an agenda like LBY. Lou Yao just wanted to be with her because she gave him confidence. But Lou Yao would have never challenged her to be different or become an official because of the first house. SS would have been stuck in the Lou house and not been able to achieve her dream of traveling and doing other things. That is why mom is so against that marriage.

I notice that your profile picture is of The Double. The Double is a simple love story surrounded by a complex revenge. Fun Fact: the producers, screenwriters, and director add jokes in The Double that poke fun at Love Like the Galaxy.

I am not familiar with Yu Cheng works. I have seen one Untouchable Lovers, but I only watched the part with Zhao Lu Si. Looking through his dramas, he seems to know the slice of life genre well, so I can't fault him for not knowing the genre. I can only judge him based on this drama. For me, he has created an intelligent parody (at least the first 20 episodes and the last two), not just on the dramas he parodies, but also on the novel itself. The novel is very serious and dark. He has softened the main characters a lot (including Princess Wan Ning) and does this by using the comedy technique of appearance vs. reality.

For example, the opening scene where XFF is caught in bed with another man. Appearance says she is having an illicit affair when in reality she is not. This is even proved 30 minutes later when she becomes Jiang Li, a pure, innocent, 15-year-old virgin. In episode 2, she becomes Duke Su's wife unofficially as he has staked his claim by giving half of his possessions to her as she enters the Jiang household, (betrothal gifts anyone). Reality, she is XFF, a sexually experienced, married 18/19 year old woman) who is carrying on an illicit affair with Duke Su. She is no different than Princess Wan Ning in this respect. Notice they wait to get married until after Yu Rong dies. If we play along with appearances, there would be no reason why the two can't be married as she is Jiang Li. However, both of them know who she really is and they must wait.

The parody on Love Like a Galaxy is General Ling staked his claim on SS when he first met her. She really is a pure, innocent, 15-year-old girl. When she becomes betrothed to someone else, General Ling does everything to get her back including sullying her reputation by saying she has seen him naked (which is a very sexual scene with no sex) which gets mom and dad to interrogate her. Once she becomes engaged to General Ling he says that what is his is hers and calls her his wife. She is now his as he waits for her to love him. Just like Duke Su waits for XFF to love him.

What it all comes down to is even if someone hasn't seen Love Like the Galaxy or any of the other dramas Yu Cheng parodies, one can still enjoy it as its own drama as it is adapted from a novel, but it is double the fun if you have seen the dramas he is parodying.

Thank you for the discussion. Also, thank you for helping me better understand why this is parody. While writing to you, I remembered the use of appearance vs. reality in Shakespearean comedies which is what he is doing here.

Actually, a parody does not have to be satirical. A parody means an imitation of the style of a particular writer, artist, or genre with deliberate exaggeration for comic effect. The story in this drama only roughly reflects the novel (which is a rebirth and serious revenge story). In the novel, XFF's soul transmigrates into Jiang Li's body. The writers can't use this element in this story because it is not a trope of the slice of life genre. Identity swapping is, and identity swapping and word play are the source of funny ha ha comedy in Shakespearean plays as well as marriage at the end, so it fits with the theater theme the producer was going for.

This drama turns the tropes of the slice of life genre into a farce. I have noticed that this drama pokes fun at specific slice of life dramas, the main one being Love Like the Galaxy: Duke Su and his goofy grin and laughing eyes (as opposed to General Ling and his serious look), the tea and torture scenes, the playful banter between the main leads, the "punishment" banter between Duke Su and his two sidekicks, the emperor, Princess Wanning (who is a far darker and serious character in the novel). They also poke fun at A Female Student Arrives at the Imperial College (this is Yu Rong's arc), The Story of Ming Lan (Jiang Li's arc), Nirvana in Fire (Duke Su and his sidekicks arc), and Princess Wei Young (XFF's arc). Some people even say Court Lady and The Story of Kunning Place. I have not watched those two, so I can't say.

I agree with your review if you take this drama as a serious drama. Only I would say it dies around episode 20, and I wouldn't even give it an 8. For me it is more like a 6 or even less because it doesn't add anything new to the genre. However, if I look at it as a parody, then I would give it a 7.5/8. It even has problems as a parody. After episode 20 the comic effect is still there, it just isn't funny (for me) because it relies on slapstick comedy, not the more intelligent word play and banter found in Shakespearean plays. It is more vaudeville.

The last two episodes bring it back to the more Shakespearean comedy elements. "Who dares to hurt my granddaughter-in-law", says Duke Su's grandfather. "Who dares to hurt my Niao Niao," says the father in the last episode of Love Like the Galaxy. There are many more areas where this drama pokes fun at Love Like the Galaxy. The good thing about this drama is it does what a good parody does it raises awareness of a serious issue using people as pawns, particularly girls, to further one's own agenda whether good or bad (we all have a choice).

Thank you for the discussion.