I wish I could like your comment more than once! I have been watching cdramas nearly as long as you have. You…
Thank you so much for your support! I actually spent quite a bit of time reading through everyone's comments and trying to understand where different opinions were coming from. I've also studied some psychology, so while I'm definitely not an expert, it helps me understand how different people think and why they might react to the same drama so differently.
That's what led me to write this summary. I'm really glad you see it the same way!
RIGHT ?! Honestly I am quite disliking her character. When they met, he was just someone finally achieving his…
It will be explained in the future eps. Basically, the female lead believed the male lead would be protected by his family's influence. But his eldest brother chose to send him to prison.
Three years ago, did FL used him to escape from that place or what, she is using him all time and he still is…
He had a tragic childhood and never truly believed anyone could genuinely love him. People who grow up like that are often deeply deprived of love and affection.
After reading through the comments from the past six hours, I have to admit that Iām genuinely confused by how many people dislike the cinematography and overall visual presentation of this drama.
Iāve been watching Chinese dramas for around 20 years. I know many people may disagree with what Iām about to say. Still, I want to share my perspective for those who may find it helpful.
1. The cinematography and visual quality
Over the past 20 years, most Chinese dramas have had fairly average directing and post-production. If you have only watched a few exceptionally well-made Chinese dramas, then it is understandable that this one may not meet your expectations.
However, I personally think *Overdo* already looks better than many other dramas. The lighting is well done, the colours are beautiful, and the filters are generally effective. Some of the VFX scenes do look artificial, but Republican-era dramas usually do not have particularly high budgets.
Many other dramas use extremely bright, washed-out filters that make actorsā faces look blurry and flat. Their sets also often lack professional lighting. From a cinematography perspective, I would place *Overdo* somewhere between above average and very good.
2. The story
The most important part of any drama is the story.
I have dropped many dramas this year. The only ones I managed to finish were *Pursuit of Jade*, *Veil of Shadows*, and *Ashes to Crown*, because their stories kept me interested, especially *Veil of Shadows*.
I enjoy complex plots that require the audience to think. I like suspense, layered characters, hidden motives, and mysteries that gradually need to be solved. *Overdo* happens to be exactly this kind of drama.
The script is very well written and is completely different from the original novel. At first, some people assumed it was simply a melodramatic romance, but it is not. From Episode 7 onwards, the female leadās revenge storyline truly begins.
The story explores human trafficking and opium smuggling during a chaotic period of war, before eventually revealing a much larger conspiracy involving biological warfare during the Second Sino-Japanese War. It reflects many of the realities China faced between 1912 and 1949.
3. The acting, romance, costumes, and styling
Something that very few people seem to mention is that both the leading actors and the supporting cast deliver strong performances.
Perhaps people simply expected the acting to be good, so they didn't feel the need to mention it. But in reality, weak acting is one of the biggest problems in many other dramas.
Sometimes it feels like the best students don't get praised because everyone assumes good grades are just expected. I think that's a little unfair. When something is done exceptionally well, it deserves recognition too.
The love story from three years earlier is also very moving. The costumes, makeup, and overall styling are all excellent.
4. The nonlinear storytelling
Many mysteries from the past are gradually revealed through flashbacks in each episode.
This is different from the storytelling style used in many other Chinese dramas, which usually follow a straightforward chronological order and explain every plot point clearly before moving on to the next one.
So if the editing feels slightly fragmented or jumpy to you, it is because the drama is deliberately withholding information until the most appropriate moment for each revelation. I hope viewers can be a little more patient with this style of storytelling.
In the end, if you still cannot get used to the atmosphere of Republican-era dramas or the occasional VFX scenes, then it is perfectly reasonable to stop watching.
However, if you enjoy stories set during the Republican era and are willing to learn more about Chinese history, I would recommend this drama. It is one of the best Republican-era dramas I have watched in recent years.
Its flaws cannot erase its strengths, and online criticism cannot change the fact that it currently holds the highest market share among dramas in China.
omg i was so exited for this one but everyone seem to hate it š is it worth watching?
Many international fandoms hate Zhang Linghe due to POJ success. Just ignore the comments, try it yourself. I dropped most of the dramas after POJ, because they are too boring. But this drama is interesting. And it ranks No.1 of viewer market share in China.
Most people don't like the Warring States era, where generals become kings or lords. Most Chinese viewers dislike…
Itās honestly sad to see you making comments like this. This drama currently has the highest market share of any series airing in China. You should check the actual data before calling it a āfailure.ā
Youāre on point. Regarding point 1, I guess viewers tend to accept things on xianxia and historical/costume…
I agree with this point.
Speaking of the budget, I have no idea where the rumor came from that this drama had a huge budget and that its production quality somehow proves the money was laundered.
The reality is that the budget was never particularly large. Republican-era dramas have always been a relatively niche genre, and when filming began last year, even the director believed the platform didn't place high expectations on this project.
I feel like the online discussion surrounding this drama could be turned into a case study in social psychology.
I've studied some psychology myself, though I'm by no means a professional. These are just my personal observations for reference.
1. Selective perception
Many xianxia and historical dramas have far worse CGI than this one. When people watch those dramas, they often ignore it as if poor CGI is completely normal. Ironically, CGI is usually where the biggest portion of those dramas' budgets goes, yet they receive very little criticism for it.
But with this Republican-era drama, which only uses CGI in only a few scenes, people suddenly started claiming that the CGI ruined the entire show and immediately dismissed it because of that alone, even though visual effects are not where the main budget of this production went.
2. Selective promotion
Many of the videos and screenshots circulating online deliberately choose the least flattering scenes, creating the impression that the entire drama looks like that.
At the same time, discussions focus almost exclusively on the CGI and editing while deliberately avoiding topics such as the casting, how well the actors fit their roles, the actors' appearance and performances, and the story itselfāeven though those are arguably far more important and worth discussing.
3. Escalating the topic
Because of the AI-generated opening sequence, some people suddenly began strongly opposing AI itself.
However, AI has already been widely used in television production since 2024. That makes the timing and intensity of this backlash feel rather unusual.
4. The dilemma of the minority
Because companies representing Zhang Linghe's competing male actors purchased large numbers of trending topics to shape public opinion, they attempted to create the impression that this drama is terrible.
As a result, many people who have never even watched the drama are gradually influenced by the online algorithm and information bubble, absorbing that perception without realizing it.
Meanwhile, viewers who actually watched the drama and thought it was quite good may begin to feel like they are in the minority, or even question whether their own opinion is wrong. Eventually, many simply choose not to speak up.
5. Unpredictable targets of attack
When *Pursuit of Jade* aired, one of the main criticisms from haters was that Zhang Linghe was "too handsome" and that a general "shouldn't be wearing foundation."
This time, only one day after the premiere, the scale of the attacks was already enormous. To me, that strongly suggests an organized campaign, and many ordinary viewers have also been influenced by it.
At this point, it's impossible to predict what the next target of criticism will be. Every new episode may bring another detail that gets examined under a microscope and exaggerated into a major flaw.
Right now, some people have shifted their attention to attacking the director. While I don't think this director is as strong as the director of *Pursuit of Jade*, I still think he is better than many other C-drama directors. Overall, the directing standard in C-dramas isn't particularly high, and in my opinion, the director of *Pursuit of Jade* is exceptional and quite rare.
Those are just my thoughts.
If you have other perspectives, feel free to share them. And if you disagree, that's completely fine too. There's no need to argue with me or waste your time.
Started Overdo. Though compared to POJ, it's seriously lacking, but then for me after POJ no cdrama was even appealing…
Because when POJ aired earlier this year, there're 99 fan groups joined forces to attack him. The only one didn't do dirty is his fandom. It's a popular joke in chinese entertainment.
1
That's what led me to write this summary. I'm really glad you see it the same way!
Happy watching! š
Iāve been watching Chinese dramas for around 20 years. I know many people may disagree with what Iām about to say. Still, I want to share my perspective for those who may find it helpful.
1. The cinematography and visual quality
Over the past 20 years, most Chinese dramas have had fairly average directing and post-production. If you have only watched a few exceptionally well-made Chinese dramas, then it is understandable that this one may not meet your expectations.
However, I personally think *Overdo* already looks better than many other dramas. The lighting is well done, the colours are beautiful, and the filters are generally effective. Some of the VFX scenes do look artificial, but Republican-era dramas usually do not have particularly high budgets.
Many other dramas use extremely bright, washed-out filters that make actorsā faces look blurry and flat. Their sets also often lack professional lighting. From a cinematography perspective, I would place *Overdo* somewhere between above average and very good.
2. The story
The most important part of any drama is the story.
I have dropped many dramas this year. The only ones I managed to finish were *Pursuit of Jade*, *Veil of Shadows*, and *Ashes to Crown*, because their stories kept me interested, especially *Veil of Shadows*.
I enjoy complex plots that require the audience to think. I like suspense, layered characters, hidden motives, and mysteries that gradually need to be solved. *Overdo* happens to be exactly this kind of drama.
The script is very well written and is completely different from the original novel. At first, some people assumed it was simply a melodramatic romance, but it is not. From Episode 7 onwards, the female leadās revenge storyline truly begins.
The story explores human trafficking and opium smuggling during a chaotic period of war, before eventually revealing a much larger conspiracy involving biological warfare during the Second Sino-Japanese War. It reflects many of the realities China faced between 1912 and 1949.
3. The acting, romance, costumes, and styling
Something that very few people seem to mention is that both the leading actors and the supporting cast deliver strong performances.
Perhaps people simply expected the acting to be good, so they didn't feel the need to mention it. But in reality, weak acting is one of the biggest problems in many other dramas.
Sometimes it feels like the best students don't get praised because everyone assumes good grades are just expected. I think that's a little unfair. When something is done exceptionally well, it deserves recognition too.
The love story from three years earlier is also very moving. The costumes, makeup, and overall styling are all excellent.
4. The nonlinear storytelling
Many mysteries from the past are gradually revealed through flashbacks in each episode.
This is different from the storytelling style used in many other Chinese dramas, which usually follow a straightforward chronological order and explain every plot point clearly before moving on to the next one.
So if the editing feels slightly fragmented or jumpy to you, it is because the drama is deliberately withholding information until the most appropriate moment for each revelation. I hope viewers can be a little more patient with this style of storytelling.
In the end, if you still cannot get used to the atmosphere of Republican-era dramas or the occasional VFX scenes, then it is perfectly reasonable to stop watching.
However, if you enjoy stories set during the Republican era and are willing to learn more about Chinese history, I would recommend this drama. It is one of the best Republican-era dramas I have watched in recent years.
Its flaws cannot erase its strengths, and online criticism cannot change the fact that it currently holds the highest market share among dramas in China.
Speaking of the budget, I have no idea where the rumor came from that this drama had a huge budget and that its production quality somehow proves the money was laundered.
The reality is that the budget was never particularly large. Republican-era dramas have always been a relatively niche genre, and when filming began last year, even the director believed the platform didn't place high expectations on this project.
I've studied some psychology myself, though I'm by no means a professional. These are just my personal observations for reference.
1. Selective perception
Many xianxia and historical dramas have far worse CGI than this one. When people watch those dramas, they often ignore it as if poor CGI is completely normal. Ironically, CGI is usually where the biggest portion of those dramas' budgets goes, yet they receive very little criticism for it.
But with this Republican-era drama, which only uses CGI in only a few scenes, people suddenly started claiming that the CGI ruined the entire show and immediately dismissed it because of that alone, even though visual effects are not where the main budget of this production went.
2. Selective promotion
Many of the videos and screenshots circulating online deliberately choose the least flattering scenes, creating the impression that the entire drama looks like that.
At the same time, discussions focus almost exclusively on the CGI and editing while deliberately avoiding topics such as the casting, how well the actors fit their roles, the actors' appearance and performances, and the story itselfāeven though those are arguably far more important and worth discussing.
3. Escalating the topic
Because of the AI-generated opening sequence, some people suddenly began strongly opposing AI itself.
However, AI has already been widely used in television production since 2024. That makes the timing and intensity of this backlash feel rather unusual.
4. The dilemma of the minority
Because companies representing Zhang Linghe's competing male actors purchased large numbers of trending topics to shape public opinion, they attempted to create the impression that this drama is terrible.
As a result, many people who have never even watched the drama are gradually influenced by the online algorithm and information bubble, absorbing that perception without realizing it.
Meanwhile, viewers who actually watched the drama and thought it was quite good may begin to feel like they are in the minority, or even question whether their own opinion is wrong. Eventually, many simply choose not to speak up.
5. Unpredictable targets of attack
When *Pursuit of Jade* aired, one of the main criticisms from haters was that Zhang Linghe was "too handsome" and that a general "shouldn't be wearing foundation."
This time, only one day after the premiere, the scale of the attacks was already enormous. To me, that strongly suggests an organized campaign, and many ordinary viewers have also been influenced by it.
At this point, it's impossible to predict what the next target of criticism will be. Every new episode may bring another detail that gets examined under a microscope and exaggerated into a major flaw.
Right now, some people have shifted their attention to attacking the director. While I don't think this director is as strong as the director of *Pursuit of Jade*, I still think he is better than many other C-drama directors. Overall, the directing standard in C-dramas isn't particularly high, and in my opinion, the director of *Pursuit of Jade* is exceptional and quite rare.
Those are just my thoughts.
If you have other perspectives, feel free to share them. And if you disagree, that's completely fine too. There's no need to argue with me or waste your time.