#fary

Hi everyone! I am back again with another historical chinese drama review! I first saw The Double on Netflix with only 12 episodes released. After binge watching all 12 episodes in 1 day, I was hooked and immediately re-subscribe to Youku for the full 40 episodes. Personally, no regrets there.

My all time favourite drama will always be Love Like the Galaxy and The Double have come close to being second. There are a lot of similarities between the two dramas that I am not mad about.

The Double is about Xue Fang Fei (Wu Jin Yan) who was betrayed by her husband Shen Yu Rong (Liang Yong Qi). He, along with the eldest princess, Princess Wanning, plotted to annihilate the Xue family (her father and younger brother). She was saved by the daughter of the Secretariat Director, Jiang Li would was sent away in the mountains due to a false accusation. There original Jiang Li died and Xue Fang Fei took over her identity for her own revenge and to avenge original Jiang Li's death. She meets Duke Su (Wang Xing Yue) who took her as his pawn to fight against the corruption in the imperial court and defeat a potential rebellion that was bound to happen.

This review is going to be a long one, with spoilers.

Story: I love that there was no boring episodes. Each episode moved quickly and the revenge plot remained the main plot. I have a habit of fast-forwarding scenes especially for cdramas but I barely did it here. Each episode kept me at the edge of my seat. I love how each scheme, both from the good and bad side of the drama is cleverly plotted. No lazy plots here.

The romance in this one is slow-burn but not boring. Each interacting Xue Fang Fei had with Duke Su was intense. I am impress by how we could see their chemistry without them even physically touching or using romantic words. The drama is also good at showing us stories about the villains. They all have back stories and reasons to why they turn out that way. Of course, it didn't evoke sympathy when they finally got their retribution but it is good to know that no one was born evil.

Characters:

My favourite character in this drama is Xue Fang Fei. She was a good wife to her husband until he decides to murder her. When she came back with a vengeance, she did not hesitate to scheme and take opportunities. She is not too proud to ask help from Duke Su as she knows that she alone is not influential enough to carry out her plan. Every action she makes serves a purpose, but she always make sure that she doesn't hurt the innocent.

Wu Jin Yan was the perfect Xue Fang Fei. It was my first time watching her and she impressed me. Her eyes showed a lot of anger and pain yet her demeanour is always calm. She is eloquent and has a sharp tongue. I love that she is not so blinded by her revenge that she becomes reckless.

Oh Duke Su, Duke Su. He reminds me so much of Ling Bu Yi from Love Like the Galaxy. He is a loyal servant of the Emperor whom he's friends with since childhood. He is ruthless and always alone with his two trusted guards. He always carry this ice cold stern expression. Nothing seems to amuse him other than his own play that he orchestrate with his own pawns.

Wang Xing Yue as Duke Su is the perfect casting. I watched him in Story of Kunning Place and wasn't too wow-ed by him there. But here, his acting is so mature and strong; I am surprised by how young he really is. And thank you to whomever who thought his character needed eyeliner cause it make him look more vicious and charming.

Their relationship and how it developed was everything. They didn't even kiss till the last episode but I could feel the love and trust they had for each other. Their conversation turns from a push and pull to full on flirting. They never hide their attraction and worry for each other. Duke Su never tried to "baby" Xue Fang Fei in the name of protection. He trust that she is capable enough. When there are scenes of jealousy, Duke Su was never aggressive nor blame Xue Fang Fei. He was her safe place where she knows she could go to. Duke Su was a whole green forest.

Just simple gestures like this was enough to make my own heart flutter. Ah the chemistry.

Xue Fang Fei + Duke Su love story is very much on par with Cheng Shao Shang + Ling Bu Yi to me.

Special mentions to Princess Wanning and Shen Yu Rong. Their scenes together make me so uncomfortable, like I am watching a man cheating on his dead wife.

Princess Wanning as a character was complex. She was a hostage princess before she was rescued. When she was a hostage, she was tortured and beaten to the point where she cannot bear children anymore. When she is finally free, she feels the need to overpower everyone. She will get rid of anyone that gets in her way. She would make the perfect evil princess, except, she fell in love.

Out of all the villains in this drama, the one I hate the most and have zero sympathy for is Shen Yu Rong. He was a poor scholar who wanted to work for the imperial court. He had to work really hard to get to his position and he always blamed his poor background for the disadvantage he faces. When Princess Wanning took a liking towards him and ordered his family to kill his wife, he did it with the excuse that he is powerless to go against the royal family. When Xue Fang Fei came back as Jiang Li, he kept his head down and went with it because he doesn't want to face the guilt of killing his own wife.

To me, where he lost it all was when he got angry that Xue Fang Fei likes Duke Su. He started to plan and scheme and kill, with the excuse to protect Xue Fang Fei. He truly lost his way and had a terrible case of victim mentally.

But I got to praise Liang Yong Qi. He acted very well as Shen Yu Rong. It was very hard to tell how he truly feels. It was hard to tell if he truly cares about Xue Fang Fei, if he did like Princess Wanning or he was just became a terrible person. Shen Yu Rong always had this dead eyes with no emotions, it was creepy. Amazing.

Overall, this drama was surprisingly impressive. The costumes, make-up and accessories were all so charming. The scenes are shot beautifully. With a good script, plot and good acting, The Double is a good drama to watch.

Rating: 4.9/5

Fun fact: 1 Fary + 1 Como = 1 B. Dylan Hollis.

What's up mothers & fuckers? I'm back on my bullshit! In case you don't know, this is an irregular series around here where you can make yourself a monster OC. We've done vampires & werewolves already (check the #make yourself a monster tag on my blog to see them). Tonight's fine dining is fæ! Idk what I'll be making next, probably either demon, angel, or cyborg. All three are in the works atm. YES, I know cyborgs aren't monsters, but let's be honest, fæ kinda aren't either. Stfu & deal with it. I can't help that I'm a transhumanist with a fetish for robot arms.

Rules for Nerds:

You have $3 to spend on attributes. Flaws cost a negative amount of money, essentially refunding you, so more flaws = more benefits

You can't take redundant or contradictory flaws or abilities

Read carefully & follow any special instructions in each section

TERFs aren't fæ, can't be fæ, & never will be fæ. Seriously get the fuck off my page. If you haven't gotten it through your thick skull yet: I'M TRANS. Nobody wants you here. Actually, Seriously, Genuinely: TERFs fuck off.

Have fun! :)

Fæ Laws (rules you are bound by & can never break):

Cannot harm a guest or your host: -$2

Cannot enter a place unless invited: -$3

Cannot harm someone unless they harm you first: -$2

Cannot lie: -$7

Cannot break promises if you give them 3 times: -$1

Cannot break promises at all: -$2

You cannot insult anyone unless they insult you first: -$1

If you receive a gift, you must immediately give one of equal value in return: -$6

You cannot steal (except from someone who owes you a debt, for the purposes of repaying that debt): -$2

If you are in debt to someone, you must do anything they tell you to if they erase some or all of your debt in exchange: -$3

You cannot do anything for free: -$1

You are under the command of a greater fae, & must do their bidding: -$4

Limitations:

Can't cross salt lines (even by teleportation): -$2

Can't see anyone wearing all green: -$3

Can't leave a certain area (such as being bound to a single tree or forest): -$8

Can't use your powers during a specific time of year (such as the Winter Solstice): -$1

Can't use your powers during a specific time of month (such as the new moon): -$2

Can't use your powers during a specific time of day (such as noon): -$3

Your power waxes & wanes, growing weaker during certain periods (like decreasing in the winter & only being full power in the summer, or growing stronger/weaker with the phases of the moon): -$2

Weaknesses:

Cold Iron bypasses immunities: -$1

Iron burns you: -$3

Salt burns you: -$5

Gold kills you: -$6

If a certain tree or item is destroyed, you become sick & die: -$6

Fæ Perks (relatively minor powers, abilities, & skills; 2 for $1):

Extremely beautiful

So beautiful it literally blinds people

Very nimble & graceful

Wings (can fly)

Ageless

Great musical skill

Speak multiple languages

Speak every language -- counts as 2

Superhuman speed

High superhuman speed -- counts as 2

Immune to disease

Immune to poison

Don't need to eat, sleep, or breathe

Peak human strength

Weapon skill (such as with bows, rapiers, & shillelaghs)

Can't be harmed by mortal weapons -- counts as 2

Perfect Darkvision

Can't be fooled by illusions

Magic sense

Infrared vision

Immune to 1 type of magic (ex. sleep, charm, magical fire, etc)

Nature Magic:

Control over plants: +$2

Can create or revitalize plants: +$3

Can talk to plants: +$1

Control over animals: +$3

Can talk to animals: +$1

Animals won't attack you: +$1

Can talk to natural formations (such as stones, rivers, etc): +$1

Illusion Magic:

You can't be perceived unless you explicitly want to be: +$15

Can turn invisible: +$8

Can hide in natural terrain: +$4

Can hide in foliage: +$2

Shape-shifting (any humanoid): +$3

Shape-shifting (any humanoid or animal): +$6

Shape-shifting (any living thing): +$9

Shape-shifting (any living or nonliving thing): +$12

Wanderer's Magic:

Moving through underbrush or other plants never slows you down or hurts you: +$1

Natural phenomenon (deep snow, rocks, etc) doesn't slow you down or hurt you: +$2

You move silently in all terrain: +$3

You don't leave footprints or other traces of your presence: +$1

Teleportation Magic:

Can teleport from 1 tree to any other of that type within 500 miles: +$3

Can teleport from 1 tree to any other of that type in the world: +$9

Can teleport within line of sight: +$2

Can teleport anywhere you envision within 500 feet: +$4

Can teleport anywhere you can envision: +$14

Can move in & out of the Fæwyld very quickly (1 mile traveled there is 8 miles in our world, and/or time may move weird there): +$1

Miscellaneous Magic:

Healing: +$2

Speeding up/slowing down the passage of local time: +$5

Can create & control storms & other weather: +$3