Arguably the best roles zhang linghe and wang churan have played. Both of them were really able to showcase their acting chops in this one. Also really happy that for once a character has done justice to zlh - so many dramas he has been sidelined despite being the lead. Overdo felt really balanced.
ep 28-33 was so masterfully done - the story was so gripping in the later stages of the story once they stopped with the cat and mouse between the two leads. although the deaths saddened me, i was happy that all the deaths were for the cause, for martyrdom or as a sacrifice and none felt unnecessary. although the ending leads something to be desired - i feel that a purely happy ending wouldnt work for this show - given the context of the whole plot and the fate of our two leads.
to me this is an open ending which leans towards happy. firstly, we never see a death or burial scene. secondly, qingyu specifically tells qingyi to get up, susu and le’an are waiting for him, symbolising that he doesn't cross over to the light. thirdly, in the final frames we see a train heading to beicheng, we know from earlier that le’an is in beicheng with boss hai, so clearly this is susu and qingyi returning to beicheng at the very end. The gentian flowers reappears in the ending scene. Qingyi had initially burnt down the gentian flowers - i read this as him having replanted the gentian flower fields in the future for susu. also having seen the script leaks we know there are scenes at the end which were not filmed (probably due to time constraints) in which qingyi is nursed back to health by susu. The dream sequence kind of works in a similar way to the one in the ending poj where it just illustrates what their lives could have been without the tragedies. I still feel like qingyi managed to make it onto that train back to beicheng.
So the dream comes after he has died? Does both of them die or only he?
he doesnt die, he hallucinates his brother telling him to go to Le'an and Susu so its implied he doesnt cross over and is still alive. but it ends with the dream sequence so its an open ending
It's been a WILD ride, not without its controversy, but I am satisfied that this drama has generated so much discourse, albeit not all of it being positive discourse lol. In an era where most dramas just come and go, Overdo has at least left an impact worthy of discourse and discussion.
If we get a HE, need a binge rewatch of this drama STAT - feel like the angst will hit different once we are guaranteed a HE. I just want to focus on qingsu's story without all the plot.
I think people forget that for the majority of the drama, Susu is living as Fang Mulan. Her entire identity is consumed by seeking revenge for her best friend and the orphanage. She never allows herself the freedom to live as Su Su, let alone pursue the life she actually wants. In her mind, choosing Qingyi at that point would have been selfish because she wasn't living for herself—she was living as Fang Mulan, the girl who had to avenge the people she lost.
When she finally achieves that revenge, we see her begin to let go. For the first time, she's ready to choose herself and choose Qingyi. The tram scene makes that incredibly clear. But then everything changes when she learns the truth about her parents' deaths and discovers how deeply it all is tied to the Li family.
Could she have told Qingyi the truth then? Yes. But what would that have meant? It would have meant asking him to choose between her and the man who raised him—the only father he's ever known. It would have forced him to kill his own adoptive father, something she would never ask of him.
Instead, she decides to carry that burden alone. She knows the only opportunity she'll have to kill Li is at the wedding, and she goes into it fully expecting she won't leave alive. She knows she's walking to her death, and she chooses to do it anyway.
She keeps Qingyi in the dark because she knows exactly what he'll do if he finds out. He'll throw himself into danger to save her. She'd much rather hurt him emotionally than drag him into a fight that will almost certainly get him killed too. That's not selfishness; if anything, it's the opposite.
The thing about Susu is that she has never once chosen herself. Every major decision she's made has been for someone else. First, she lives for revenge on behalf of Fang Mulan and the orphanage. Then she dedicates herself to avenging her parents. At no point has she allowed herself to pursue the life she actually wants. Like Qingyi, her life has been defined by tragedy.
Has she hurt Qingyi with her choices? Absolutely. But what other choice does she believe she has? Throughout the drama, Susu has consistently been willing to sacrifice herself for the cause. However you want to argue it, I think it's completely understandable, even justifiable, for her to prioritise avenging her parents over her own happiness and her relationship.
People also say she leads Qingyi on, but I honestly don't think that's true. She has always been clear that he should move on. Of course she loves him, and she knows he loves her too, but their relationship is far more complicated than simply "if you love someone, be with them."
Qingyi gets criticised for constantly running back to her. Is it frustrating? Definitely. But it's also incredibly understandable. Look at the life he's lived. He's never really been loved by anyone, and now he's desperately trying to hold onto the one person who has ever made him feel seen. People call him weak, and they're not entirely wrong, but can we really blame him for being weak? How was he ever supposed to build confidence or self-worth when he's never experienced unconditional love? He doesn't know what it feels like to deserve to be loved. To him, Susu is the only light he's ever had. Despite everything she says, he knows deep down that they love each other.
Their relationship is messy. It's frustrating. It's full of angst, miscommunication, manipulation, and repetitive cycles. But honestly, that's exactly why I find it so refreshing. Their dynamic feels raw and ugly in a way that romances rarely allow themselves to be. They're deeply flawed people making impossible choices, hurting each other while still loving each other. That complexity is what makes them compelling.
I don't expect everyone to enjoy a romance that's this back-and-forth, but for me it's one of the drama's greatest strengths. It gives us two incredibly interesting, flawed protagonists who aren't always easy to root for, yet whose choices almost always make emotional sense once you understand where they're coming from. And when they do eventually reunite, I think all of that pain and repetition will make it feel far more earned and satisfying.
It's also been great reading the character studies from Chuans and Walnuts. Seeing different people unpack the complexities of Susu and Qingyi has honestly been just as entertaining as watching the drama itself.
Now I’m seeing people complain that Ren Susu walked out in slippers and pajamas… like are we seriously at the point where we’re picking apart every tiny detail just to find something to be mad about? 😭
It's a Republican-era melodrama....are you even familiar with the genre? It's literally supposed to be dramatic,…
Nobody said “it’s a melodrama” means it gets a free pass. The point is you’re judging a melodramatic, over-the-top drama like it’s supposed to be a realistic character study. That’s the mismatch.
You can dislike the execution, but acting like every exaggerated twist = bad writing is just your personal preference. Some people watch this genre specifically for the chaos, drama, and ridiculous turns. Not every drama has to follow the same formula to be good. There are plenty of people here who are enjoying this drama
Some people seriously need to stop embarrassing themselves by blaming “haters” and “trolls” every time…
It's a Republican-era melodrama....are you even familiar with the genre? It's literally supposed to be dramatic, exaggerated, and full of over-the-top twists. The synopsis makes that clear from the start. What part of 'fakes her death and returns as his sister-in-law' reads as realistic or logical to you? It was never trying to be a tightly woven, ultra-realistic drama; it's much closer to a telenovela, Turkish drama, or makjang.
The problem is that you're judging Overdo by the standards of a completely different type of drama. If you prefer grounded stories with strict logic, then this simply isn't the genre for you. That doesn't mean the drama failed—it means it isn't your taste.
Personally, I think the plot has been the most engaging part. Compared to many of this year's top C-dramas, which had slow and draggy middle sections, Overdo has at least kept people talking and invested, even if it's frustrating at times.
Just because it does something different from the increasingly formulaic C-dramas we've been getting doesn't make the script weak. I'm enjoying it for what it is, rather than criticising it for not being something it never set out to be.
most talked about drama in china right now, highest social media engagement, good satellite tv ratings, leading…
douban ratings for never ending summer is 4.7…yet its probably one of the standout modern dramas this year internationally. Douban score is really no marker of a drama’s commercial success. Hell, even fireworks of my heart has a douban rating of 2.2 yet its one of THE most popular cdramas on int platforms like viki and its longtail viewing has been great. So douban scores really do not make or break a drama - no does it define commercial success. Overdo is by no means a masterpiece, its had many criticisms but despite that it has kept solid viewership and commercially it has done well. I dont understand the need to convince people this drama has flopped. Or maybe it just your own projections of wanting this drama to flop.
most talked about drama in china right now, highest social media engagement, good satellite tv ratings, leading…
i didnt say anything about the drama being a “hit”, i was comparing its metrics to July releases. It most definitely isnt a hit drama but if we compare purely numbers, it has done measurably the same or better than almost all July releases. Which is why i feel the comments calling it a flop are objectively unfounded.
most talked about drama in china right now, highest social media engagement, good satellite tv ratings, leading in pretty much all data metrics for July releases. Full advertiser and sponsorship backing. Clearly the most talked about July release albeit with a bit of controversy but the point stands. Do the ratings suck, absolutely. Are there valid criticisms of the drama, yes. But the drama is far from flopping.
I understand Susu, but time and time again, she’s chosen revenge or other people over him. She constantly fails…
this narrative is annoying, she’s clearly stated that she doesn’t want him implicated in any of her revenge. If she tells him, she knows he will run head first into the fire for her - she doesn’t want him sacrificing himself for her. She has made it very clear that she doesn't want him to get hurt helping her, she’d much rather keep him in the dark, let him hate her as long as it means keeping him safe. also telling him “yeah so your adoptive father sucks im gonna kill him and sacrifice myself in the process” isnt exactly an easy conversation to have 😂. lets stop dogpilling on the FL and extend some sympathy because clearly shes not had it very easy either.
When she finally achieves that revenge, we see her begin to let go. For the first time, she's ready to choose herself and choose Qingyi. The tram scene makes that incredibly clear. But then everything changes when she learns the truth about her parents' deaths and discovers how deeply it all is tied to the Li family.
Could she have told Qingyi the truth then? Yes. But what would that have meant? It would have meant asking him to choose between her and the man who raised him—the only father he's ever known. It would have forced him to kill his own adoptive father, something she would never ask of him.
Instead, she decides to carry that burden alone. She knows the only opportunity she'll have to kill Li is at the wedding, and she goes into it fully expecting she won't leave alive. She knows she's walking to her death, and she chooses to do it anyway.
She keeps Qingyi in the dark because she knows exactly what he'll do if he finds out. He'll throw himself into danger to save her. She'd much rather hurt him emotionally than drag him into a fight that will almost certainly get him killed too. That's not selfishness; if anything, it's the opposite.
The thing about Susu is that she has never once chosen herself. Every major decision she's made has been for someone else. First, she lives for revenge on behalf of Fang Mulan and the orphanage. Then she dedicates herself to avenging her parents. At no point has she allowed herself to pursue the life she actually wants. Like Qingyi, her life has been defined by tragedy.
Has she hurt Qingyi with her choices? Absolutely. But what other choice does she believe she has? Throughout the drama, Susu has consistently been willing to sacrifice herself for the cause. However you want to argue it, I think it's completely understandable, even justifiable, for her to prioritise avenging her parents over her own happiness and her relationship.
People also say she leads Qingyi on, but I honestly don't think that's true. She has always been clear that he should move on. Of course she loves him, and she knows he loves her too, but their relationship is far more complicated than simply "if you love someone, be with them."
Qingyi gets criticised for constantly running back to her. Is it frustrating? Definitely. But it's also incredibly understandable. Look at the life he's lived. He's never really been loved by anyone, and now he's desperately trying to hold onto the one person who has ever made him feel seen. People call him weak, and they're not entirely wrong, but can we really blame him for being weak? How was he ever supposed to build confidence or self-worth when he's never experienced unconditional love? He doesn't know what it feels like to deserve to be loved. To him, Susu is the only light he's ever had. Despite everything she says, he knows deep down that they love each other.
Their relationship is messy. It's frustrating. It's full of angst, miscommunication, manipulation, and repetitive cycles. But honestly, that's exactly why I find it so refreshing. Their dynamic feels raw and ugly in a way that romances rarely allow themselves to be. They're deeply flawed people making impossible choices, hurting each other while still loving each other. That complexity is what makes them compelling.
I don't expect everyone to enjoy a romance that's this back-and-forth, but for me it's one of the drama's greatest strengths. It gives us two incredibly interesting, flawed protagonists who aren't always easy to root for, yet whose choices almost always make emotional sense once you understand where they're coming from. And when they do eventually reunite, I think all of that pain and repetition will make it feel far more earned and satisfying.
It's also been great reading the character studies from Chuans and Walnuts. Seeing different people unpack the complexities of Susu and Qingyi has honestly been just as entertaining as watching the drama itself.
You can dislike the execution, but acting like every exaggerated twist = bad writing is just your personal preference. Some people watch this genre specifically for the chaos, drama, and ridiculous turns. Not every drama has to follow the same formula to be good. There are plenty of people here who are enjoying this drama
The problem is that you're judging Overdo by the standards of a completely different type of drama. If you prefer grounded stories with strict logic, then this simply isn't the genre for you. That doesn't mean the drama failed—it means it isn't your taste.
Personally, I think the plot has been the most engaging part. Compared to many of this year's top C-dramas, which had slow and draggy middle sections, Overdo has at least kept people talking and invested, even if it's frustrating at times.
Just because it does something different from the increasingly formulaic C-dramas we've been getting doesn't make the script weak. I'm enjoying it for what it is, rather than criticising it for not being something it never set out to be.