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This review may contain spoilers
The Criminally Funny Drama That Shouldn’t Have Worked—But Kinda Did
If I’d stuck to my usual drama protocol—no shows under a certain rating, no exceptions—I would’ve missed this chaotic gem entirely. But I’ve seen Smile Hu and Wang Xuan pull off magic in other mini-dramas, so I broke my own rule. And thank the drama gods I did. The Love Duel is the kind of guilty pleasure that should be criminally charged for inducing uncontrollable laughter in public. I wasn’t just entertained—I was borderline delirious.
Between the tragic wigs, the plot that felt like it was written during a sugar rush, and Shen Juan Juan’s (Hu Dandan) comedic timing that borders on performance art, this drama had no business being this funny. It’s self-aware in the best way—mocking its own tropes while doubling down on them. The transmigration setup is textbook, and yes, the return to the modern world was as predictable as a drama breakup at episode 20. But watching them cough up increasingly ridiculous excuses to justify their actions? That was half the fun.
By the time the finale rolled around, my laughter had mellowed into polite chuckles, punctuated by a few cringes—especially during the ugly crying scenes that felt like someone was auditioning for a tissue commercial. Still, I didn’t regret the ride. It’s not deep, it’s not polished, but it’s got heart and humor in spades.
So if you’ve got a free afternoon and a tolerance for wigs that look like they were borrowed from a Halloween bin, give this drama a shot. It might surprise you. Or at least make you snort into your tea.
Between the tragic wigs, the plot that felt like it was written during a sugar rush, and Shen Juan Juan’s (Hu Dandan) comedic timing that borders on performance art, this drama had no business being this funny. It’s self-aware in the best way—mocking its own tropes while doubling down on them. The transmigration setup is textbook, and yes, the return to the modern world was as predictable as a drama breakup at episode 20. But watching them cough up increasingly ridiculous excuses to justify their actions? That was half the fun.
By the time the finale rolled around, my laughter had mellowed into polite chuckles, punctuated by a few cringes—especially during the ugly crying scenes that felt like someone was auditioning for a tissue commercial. Still, I didn’t regret the ride. It’s not deep, it’s not polished, but it’s got heart and humor in spades.
So if you’ve got a free afternoon and a tolerance for wigs that look like they were borrowed from a Halloween bin, give this drama a shot. It might surprise you. Or at least make you snort into your tea.
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