Reviews

He's as driven by revenge as she is

Everyone dropping it early is missing the crucial crucial crucial point that this show is more about REVENGE than LOVE. By episode 11 you'll learn why Qingyi wants revenge on the Huos just as much as Susu, and why this is actually his main motivation.


You might say, it's Susu's fault this all happened to him. Well, you'll realize why he ultimately holds the Huos responsible. Sure, Susu started the chain of events and dropped him, so obviously he's angry at her, but she also didn't torture him for multiple years, in addition to stealing his future, and taking away everything that made him a healer instead of a killer.

Specifically, Qingyi too is more motivated by the desire for revenge against the Huos than love for Susu, which is why what seems like simping behavior initially doesn't make sense, and his love for her as his main motivation doesn't convey to the audience.

Sure, Susu's quest for revenge even if it meant using him as a pawn set off the chain of events for him, but it was the Huo's that he ultimately holds responsible.

Plus, he understands Susu: he too is so consumed by revenge that it trumps all else, and he's even willing to use her, too, to achieve it.

Because he understands that he is essentially no different from her, and they are bound by this thing that supersedes and in fact destroyed the innocent life with room for the love they could have had, he can't help but sympathize with her, and even yearn for and mourne what they could have had.

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Sweet and Fluffy Second Chance Until it Wasn't!

I am in two minds about this drama because there is so much to like but I also had to scratch my head and wonder what the writers were thinking towards the end. I watched this right after Road to Success for Chen Jing Ke, and fortunately I loved him in this role just as much. However, once we get to EP 20 with the six year time jump forward, the plot starts to tank. You've been warned!

What Worked
The Second-Chance Growth & Mindset: The core premise shines because the female lead actively uses her second chance to break old cycles. She stays fiercely focused on her career goals, refuses to fall into the trap of becoming boy-obsessed, and successfully achieves her ambitions. She is determined! She even helps her parents and brother make better choices. I enjoyed her character arc and acting.

The Green-Flag Romance & Context: Coming straight to this show after watching Chen Jing Ke as a green-flag man in Road to Success, his appeal carried right over. His arc in this drama transitions seamlessly from a guiding presence to a deeply devoted romantic partner who always wants what is best for her. Their dynamic is full of mutual support, strong advocacy for one another, and we get genuinely sweet & tender moments plus good kisses!

Comparing Chen Jing Ke's Green-Flag Roles:

In Summit of Our Youth (The Intellectual Protector/Mentor): His dynamic with the female lead is heavily shaped by their shared intellect and his careful boundaries. Neither is aware that the other has also been reborn after the elevator incident, so he thinks she's an 18-year-old freshman (although she is secretly carrying a 28-year-old mindset). So his energy manifests as supreme restraint and watchful mentorship at first as he helps her prepare for the college exam. They both end up attending the same college, where he studies as a Ph.D. candidate and they work in the same lab building autonomous cars using AI. He protects her future, checks her when she gets ahead of herself, and holds a strict emotional line out of respect—right up until the walls come down. Once he realizes they are on this rebirth journey together, we see their relationship continue to deepen in mutual care and respect. Being together doesn't mean she forgets her goals--she continues to strive and he is right there by her side cheering her on!

In Road to Success (The Steadfast Partner-in-Trench): Playing Wang Fa and working alongside a sharp Ph.D. student (played by Esther Yu) to rebuild a high school football/soccer program creates a different kind of trench-warfare camaraderie. Because they are working side-by-side as peers tackling a chaotic, high-pressure environment, his introverted nature turns into quiet, unwavering reliability. He doesn't need or use grand, loud gestures; instead, his romance is built on shared labor, silent understanding, and being a steady, immovable pillar when she faces setbacks.

The Core Consistency: In both roles, he avoids the toxic, reactive push-and-pull typical of drama leads. Whether he's exercising intense academic restraint or offering quiet solidarity on a sports field, his version of a boyfriend is always someone who provides absolute safety and emotional consistency.

Charming Character Dynamics & Highlights: Chen Jing Ke brings an irresistible mix of tech-nerd, highly intellectual, awkward yet sweet appeal, and masculinity—highlighted memorably when he effortlessly princess-carries her in the rain after she gets lost on their camping trip. Plus, his shower scene is an undeniable bonus!

The Supporting Cast MVP: His female cousin is the blueprint of a powerhouse career woman. Her sharp directness and practical advice are crucial in helping the male lead get his act together and navigate his feelings for the female lead.

What Didn't Work: Spoiler alert!!
The Unhinged Thriller Turn: Around episode 20, the show takes a bizarre nosedive into a nonsensical kidnapping thriller arc. Turning her relatively harmless ex-boyfriend into a cartoonish villain—complete with a coworker acting as an out-of-character accomplice just to frame the male lead—felt completely unearned and sluggish.

The "It Was All a Dream" Ending: Resetting the entire timeline right at the finish line by revealing she was just in a 10-day coma undermines the weight of the journey. The writer should have stuck to what worked from the start: focusing purely on a smart, mature, and supportive couple building their future together without resorting to lazy plot devices.

Final Verdict
Despite the baffling writing choices near the end, the strong chemistry, healthy partnership dynamics, and satisfying character growth make it an entertaining watch. Just be ready to fast-forward through the late-game narrative detours or just skip the last three episodes or the last 10 minutes of the last episode! The middle of the last episode gives us cute couple time after surviving the bizarre arc with her ex, so don't miss that. I am looking forward to watching more of Chen Jing Ke's work!

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WRITTEN AND DIRECTED BY PATRIARCHY Y'ALL (˶˃ ᵕ ˂˶) .ᐟ.ᐟ

may this kind of PERFORMATIVE GIRLPOWER dramas dissappear from the face off the earth! CAUSE THEY'RE THE ACTUAL SCUM OF FICTION! Actually, it's reallly hard to comprehend the fuck this was in total honestly! 10 hours! TEN HOURS for this shitty end? The audacity! I had such big hopes for this! omg! I WANT TO SAY IT LOUDER FOR THE PEOPLE IN THE BACK😊! A FXKIN DRAMA DOESN'T NEED A REALISTIC BUT A WELL-DESERVED ENDING🤬! IF PRODUCERS WANNA PREACH OR LIVE IN REALITY SO BAD 🥺! WHY NOT START WITH STRIPPING YOUR PRIVILEGES OFF YOURSELF🙀! CAN'T BELIEVE I SAW THIS SHIT IN BIG 2026! STILL ENFORCING THE IDEA THROUGH THAT 'EVEN IF YOU A BADDIE YOU CAN'T DO SHIT AGAINST A FXKIN M*LE😘. SUCH A WASTE OF RESOURCES SMH.
AND ALL THE 'GIRLS' BEGGING FOR ISOBEL AND MARLA TO STOP! CAN'T BELIEVE I TUNED IN FOR 10 HOURS STRAIGHT FOR THESE STUPID FXKS😨 EXCEPT ISOBEL CAUSE SHE THE ONLY SANE ONE AROUND AND MARLA WITH HER CHARACTER DEVELOPMENT. THE REST OF THE 'GIRLS' I COULDN'T RECOGNISE ANYMORE. WHO WERE THEY? NPC'S?? IN A BLINK OF AN EYE THEY ALL TURNED SPINELESS!🤡LOL!😍

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Despite Seo In Guk producing one of the dullest most boring acting performances in my kdrama history, the first 6 episodes were quite pleasant to watch. Unfortunately after that things went south quite a bit. Corporate scheming & politics almost always suck, it's no different here. Making all of it so juvenile did not make it better & that's what the non romantic plot is about in the second half of the show. The main conflicts are predictable & mildly annoying to watch. Like oh no he works with his ex wife at the same company, it's the scandal of the century guys! Oh no he is a divorcee, ottoke my poor baby girl, what a hard life! His girlfriend was allowed to make a big presentation, must have been nepotism, we can finally get rid of him!

One thing that I'm especially annoyed by is what happened with the Clock Out Fairy concept. Over time the drama seems to educate us that the moment you want to take your career more seriously, you are to live at the office till 10pm.

Still, even the second half is not the worst thing I have ever seen. It's a big plus that the triangle is barely anything & the ex gives up in a reasonable time frame too & also there is no lasting noble separation for the main couple. Unfortunately Hallyu is in decline, so as far as modern kdramas go, even this one is above average now, that's where we are.

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Frustratingly Inaccurate

I rarely do reviews, but I had to make an account just to write a review for this. I do not know whether they mean to ragebait or they have based their show on inaccurate information. How can a resident not have basic communication skills that is required of any doctor? Forget about difficult things such a 'breaking the bad news', the show depicts the residents to be devoid of basic human emotions, such as empathy towards a patient with cancer recurrence or reassuring the family members. These are basic skills that we learn in internship.

Alongwith that they are shown to even lack basic medical skills and knowledge to the point that I started feeling second hand embarassment and at some point wanted to get inside the screen and shout at them.
How can they make a show on residency with characters dumber than first year med-school student!?

I will edit my comment once I complete the series.

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Zhang Linghe Carries This Drama with a Career-Defining Performance

After finishing Overdo I can confidently say that it is a very good drama. It is important to watch it with the right expectations. This is not a romance-heavy drama, nor was it ever meant to be. Instead, it focuses on survival, revenge, family conflicts, hardships, and the emotional journey of its characters—something that is very much in line with many classic 90s-style C-dramas.

The story is fast-paced and can be emotionally exhausting at times, but that is also what makes it engaging. It follows the hardships of the male lead and the sacrifices he makes for the people around him. From that perspective, the drama feels fulfilling and meaningful.

Overdo has a good balance of romance and emotional highs and lows. While it isn't a romance-heavy drama, the romantic moments between the male and female leads are beautifully portrayed and genuinely worth watching. Their chemistry feels natural, making every scene they share memorable.

One of the biggest strengths of this drama is its cast. Every actor has clearly put in tremendous effort, and their performances elevate the entire series. Even when there are a few flaws in the storytelling or editing, the actors' dedication makes those moments easy to overlook. The final episodes, in particular, show noticeable improvement, and it feels like the production team genuinely tried to address some of the issues that appeared in the earlier episodes.

That said, there is definitely room for improvement from the production side. Some of the AI-generated effects, lighting choices, music transitions, and visual inconsistencies can occasionally be distracting. I believe the drama would have been even stronger with less reliance on AI. However, these technical flaws should not be a reason to drop the drama. They are minor compared to the effort the actors put into bringing the story to life.

The ending may feel heartbreaking or even a little bittersweet to some viewers, but I personally see it as an open ending. It leaves room for interpretation, allowing viewers to decide whether it is a happy or sad conclusion.

I have watched many C-dramas, and I think people expecting a romance filled with kisses and sweet moments may end up disappointed.

I also know that some viewers have pointed out that it follows certain short-drama storytelling patterns. Personally, I don't see that as a negative. After watching many school romances and similar dramas, it feels refreshing to watch something different. As long as the story keeps you engaged, these storytelling choices work perfectly well.

Overall, I would definitely recommend watching Overdo at least once. If you're a fan of the male lead or female lead, their performances alone make the drama worth watching. Despite a few production flaws, the compelling story, emotional depth, and exceptional acting make it a memorable experience. Instead of focusing on the minor AI-related mistakes, I believe we should appreciate the incredible effort the cast put into making this drama what it is.

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It Had Potential

Trust me when I say this: I dropped every c-drama I've started this year. I just couldn't get past episode 10 or so. But I held onto this even though I didn't like the way it went after Renxin orphanage case closed. Not saying I ain't a fan of melodrama but it was badly made.

The acting was good, the plot had potential but yeah, the drama kept up to its name. Over'did'. What's the point of showing 'what ifs' when reality had already been decided? If I'm being realistic, both Boze's & Qinyi's death had been logical, and we can take it. But instead of ending with a fake scenerio, why not showing how Susu and Le'an moves on? Why not showing how Hai Tangqing goes on with her life?

If I'm being honest, the only moment that made this drama like a romance was the months Susu and Qinyi spent in their first years. It went downgrade so bad. I'm glad Murong Qinyu and Ye Zhi Hong at least got married, even though his death was tragic and she died as martyr. Too bad Boze and Tangqing couldn't find their happiness.

Anyway, there are lot to say, like, how Qinyu died on spot with just one shot, how Ms. Ye's plane had error coincidentally. Suitable, truly. I just couldn't understand Qinyi's mother upto now but whatever. And how Boze had a forceful villain arc momentarily.

Though I'm not expressing hate and there are indeed some parts I actually appreciated, it was disappointing. I hope they'll come back with greater dramas next. I just couldn't agree with this one. Leaving with 1 rewatch value because I couldn't keept it blank. :')

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Right Main Character, Wrong Love Interest

As much as people are complaining about the FL, I think she was fine. People always complain about FL's in chinese dramas not having much personality or acting too cutesy but when we finally get a FL who has a dynamic personality that cares about more than just the ML then suddenly its an issue? If the FL was a man then she would have been praised for her ambitions. I think its just misogny running rampant.

The real issue is the ML, he assaults the FL on multiple occasisons. Forcfully kissing her, grabbing her, etc without her consent. That is a BIG RED FLAG!! It doesn't matter if she likes him or not, forcing someone is assault and I hated that this drama tried to make it seem romantic. The ML also went off of his assumptions about things the whole time, not even considering the fact that he could be wrong. That was very annoying. Honestly, I found myself rooting more for her to be with her personal guard rather than the ML. I honestly think she had more chemistry with the personal guard and the second lead rather than with the ML.

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Overdone

Overdo was one of my most anticipated dramas of the year. With Zhang Ling He and Wang Chu Ran leading the cast, I walked in with expectations through the roof. In hindsight, that might have been my first mistake. The irony is almost poetic because, much like its title, everything about this drama feels overdone. It constantly tries to raise the stakes, only to end up feeling exaggerated instead of impactful.

Set against the fading days of Republican-era Shanghai, the story follows Murong Qing Yi, a doctor whose life has been shaped by a cruel mistake made at birth. A chance exchange of letters leads him to Ren Su Su, an orphan carrying wounds just as deep as his own. Their relationship begins with quiet sincerity before fate tears them apart, leaving Qing Yi imprisoned under the belief that Su Su betrayed him while Su Su disappears without a trace. Three years later, she returns under a new identity, now engaged to his brother. Their reunion is fueled by resentment, misunderstandings, and buried truths, all unfolding as the nation inches toward war. On paper, it sounds like an emotional roller coaster filled with second chances, mistaken identities, and undying love. In execution, however, it often mistakes melodrama for emotional depth.

The problems start almost immediately with the cinematography and directing. The color grading, lighting, soft focus, and camera treatments constantly reminded me of a vertical drama. I have nothing against vertical dramas. I actually enjoy them. The issue is that I expected a high-budget long-form production, only to feel like I was watching one dressed up with a bigger cast and longer runtime. The directing only amplifies that impression. Many scenes feel unnecessarily dramatic, to the point where they become unintentionally funny.

The clearest example is the scene where Qing Yi jumps into the water to save Su Su. Instead of diving naturally, he launches himself flat into the water with his hands stretched forward, looking less like someone rescuing another person and more like someone accidentally participating in a belly flop competition. It completely took me out of the moment. If Zhang Ling He was unable to perform a proper dive, there were plenty of alternatives. He could have simply run into the water or jumped normally. Sometimes the simplest solution is the smartest one. Instead, the final result became comedy when it should have been life or death.

The use of AI in certain scenes also does not help. AI itself is not necessarily a deal breaker if it blends naturally into the production. Unfortunately, scenes like the airplane sequence look noticeably artificial, making it difficult to stay immersed. There are many moments throughout the drama where everything feels just a little too exaggerated, reinforcing that same vertical drama energy.

That said, not everything misses the mark. There are genuinely beautiful scenes scattered throughout the series, and several supporting actors deliver surprisingly strong performances. Li Bo Ze, Hai Tang Qing, and several other major supporting characters leave a positive impression. The drama also deserves credit for attempting to create morally layered characters. Li Rong Zhang, for example, is presented as both an abusive father and a patriot willing to sacrifice himself for the nation. That contradiction could have been fascinating, but the writing never explores it deeply enough. Rather than feeling like a complicated human being, he simply came across as confusing. Complexity only works when the audience is given enough time to understand it.

As for Zhang Ling He and Wang Chu Ran, they are easily among the drama's biggest strengths. Both actors maximize every opportunity they're given and deliver convincing performances despite the material. Unfortunately, they become victims of weak directing and increasingly outrageous plot twists. Qing Yi and Su Su are constantly trapped between personal desires and external responsibilities, which could have been compelling. Instead, their relationship becomes an endless cycle of misunderstandings, separation, reconciliation, love, hatred, and then back to misunderstanding again. I normally enjoy these kinds of tropes, but there is a difference between using them as seasoning and making them the entire meal. By the end, their relationship feels emotionally exhausting rather than heartbreaking.

One thing I cannot complain about, though, is the styling. The costumes, hairstyles, and makeup absolutely delivered. Everyone looked stunning, and the visual presentation of the cast deserved praise even when the script did not.

Ironically, the first half of the drama gave me hope. The early mysteries surrounding Su Su and Qing Yi immediately pulled me in. I especially found Su Su's past involving the women and the Huo family intriguing. The drama explores dark subjects including human trafficking, prostitution, and violence, and despite Chinese censorship, it presents these themes with surprising rawness. Some scenes are genuinely disturbing in ways that effectively capture the brutality of that world. Qing Yi's own mysterious past also kept me invested.

Unfortunately, once these mysteries are resolved around the middle of the series, the drama changes gears completely. Instead of building naturally upon what had already been established, it veers into increasingly dramatic territory filled with makjang-style twists and a storyline involving biochemical virus terrorism. It feels as though the writers kept asking, "How can we make this even bigger?" without asking whether it actually made the story better. Sometimes less really is more.

The ending perfectly reflects this issue. I actually prefer tragic endings for stories like this, but tragedy only works when it feels earned. Here, it often feels manufactured for the sake of making the audience cry. Certain sacrifices and plot developments seem unnecessary, and everything becomes so chaotic. Someone is gravely ill, then suddenly recovers. A terrorist incident appears out of nowhere. An entire village ends up paying the price. I found myself trying to justify the characters' decisions by assuming they simply had no better options under such desperate circumstances, but the story never fully convinces me that this was truly the only path available.

Overall, Overdo became an emotional graph that never quite stabilized. I started disappointed, became genuinely invested once the mysteries unfolded, then found myself disappointed all over again as the story spiraled into increasingly excessive territory. Thankfully, the short episode runtime made it easy enough to finish.

This is one of those dramas that I cannot confidently recommend, even if there are parts I appreciated. Whether you enjoy it will depend heavily on your tolerance for exaggerated melodrama, constant emotional whiplash, and makjang storytelling. If that sounds like your cup of tea, you may find much more to love here than I did. As for me, Overdo lived up to its title a little too well.

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"Wo Ben Wei Mo Fan Chen (2025)" aka "I Am a Nobody(2025)" is a delightful romance miniseries with ML: Huang Haowen (as Fu Si Zhuo) and FL: Guo Yuxin (as Shen Zhu Ying) in the leading couple's roles. The cast did a wonderful job bringing their characters to life and the leading couple had a magnificent rapport and a great, gentle, and impassioned romantic chemistry. The male lead's character, Fu Si Zhou had a dignified and generous nature that respected his wife's needs to take things slowly that also gave him the opportunity to get to know each other as he was falling deeper in love with the passing of time. This drama is a homage to the physical, emotional, and psychological impression that first love brings to a person's life, in this case, two individuals that were fated to find each other at the precise juncture that will lead them to truly appreciate each other. The romance is slow burn and the drama is particularly long for a miniseries but, being that Shen Zhu Ying had been silently in love with Fu Si Zhuo for 10 years prior to their fated encounter and the fact that she has a shy personality, the almost 3 1/2 hours were necessary to bring about such a delicate, tender, and passionate relationship. In matters of acting, the main and support cast were important to understand the leading couple and how every person and/or encounter shaped the emotional transcendence of two souls that merged through patience, healthy communication, and willingness to venture into a path that requires patience, trust, communication, and willingness to bare one's soul. Overall, this drama requires patience and the ability to immerse oneself with the leading couple to be able to relish their beautiful journey to love; enjoy it!
In the meantime, you can watch the drama on YouTube under the caption: "Awkward blind date! CEO saves her, turns out her secret crush. A 5-year letter reveals her love!" (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n4-nWOIMEDA&list=PLk-9HNkdMSZqE97P7pIGr5O2FVgH6bMZK)

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Not worth 6 months of wait

Starting off it was still better till I assume episode 7. After that oh lord. The leads had no chemistry AT ALL and I don’t think there’s been a single episode where both of them ACTUALLY willingly loved eachother.

I see a lot of people who had issues with the ai intro but that wasn’t even important considering how bad the plot got.

I felt like I was watching a vertical drama with unnecessary drama. Ep 15ish till the end was really boring to a point I felt— “What even is happening in this?”

The ending was the cherry on top– It was so messy. I was hoping for a resolution, maybe it’s a sad ending or maybe it’s a happy one, but unfortunately it seemed as if the ending was hurried with no proper ending.

I mean you had 7 episodes till 40 episodes and you still give us a horrid ending?

In my opinion, it was not worth the wait AT ALL. I had so much expectations from this considering how well it was promoted but the direction was horrible, plot wasn’t well written and somehow the acting was cringe at some points too.

The only reason I’m giving rewatch value a 1 is because I apparently can’t leave it at 0 😓

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I didn't get bored

First off, please don't compare to pursuit of jade, it's not and it's not trying to be. It's beautiful in its own way.

I can't say it's the best production I've ever seen but the characters and relationships in this drama are something. I will say I watched every episode the day of release and then paid for the final 4 episodes so I could complete it. Zhang linghe is great in this. The way he can be intense and intimidating while still being vulnerable is incredible. I can't wait to see what else he does.
I loved the music but did notice small hitches in other parts of the sound production. It can disrupt a bit but it wasn't enough for me to stop watching.
Lighting seemed odd to me at some points, like it had a bright shimmer, what you'd usually see in a dream sequence, memory or something but it's just the main story. I was racking my brain to think why this would be a choice but couldn't figure it out.
The costumes and styling are beautiful.
Having said all that I'm m not sure I'd rush to watch it again.

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