- Drama Title: The Double
- Also Known As: 墨雨云间, Marriage of the Di Daughter, Di Jia Qian Jin, Mo Yu Yun Jian
- Cast: Wu Jin Yan, Wang Xing Yue
- Director: Bai Yun Mo, Lu Hao Ji Ji, Ma Shi Ge
- Screenwriter: Ren Ya Nan
- Genres: Historical, Romance
- Episodes: 40+1
- Date of Release: June 2, 2024
- Original Network: Youku
- Where to Watch: Youku, Viki, Netflix
- Adapted from the web novel: “Marriage of the Di Daughter” by Qian Shan Cha Ke
Dear readers… The Double is a 40-episode-long drama (and one special episode had been added to the list) and it had been at the top of the list in my Youku app for weeks. This Chinese drama released in June 2024, offers you a full package of entertainment. Something that I don’t expect to see. So it’s kinda surprising though.
Some of you might like me, who did not consider this Chinese drama in the first place. But now I am here to share my experience of watching The Double drama, through this drama review post. And I’m hoping it could change your mind. So, sit back and relax. Read my post slowly. I am sure by the end of the reading session of this The Double drama review, you will have just the right amount of reasons why you should watch The Double. Happy reading, dear readers!
The Double Drama Synopsis
Xue Fang Fei was killed by her husband and her in-laws. Her body was buried deep in the mountain. Fortunately, she didn’t die. Xue Fang Fei dragged her injured body and was found by a benevolent young girl named Jiang Li and her maid. She took Xue Fang Fei to her place in a nunnery.
Jiang Li is the abandoned daughter of Prime Minister Jiang. Although her life was harsh, Jiang Li helped Xue Fang Fei and treated her kindly. But later Jiang Li was beaten by the head of the nunnery and died. Xue Fang Fei then took her identity and swore to avenge Jiang Li’s death as well as hers.
At the beginning of her revenge journey, Xue Fang Fei met Duke Su, Xiao Heng. He is a court official and the emperor’s right-hand man. Duke Su is a ruthless and cold person. Xue Fang Fei and Duke Su managed to form an alliance to fight evil people.
From being a pawn to a lover, Xue Fang Fei and Xiao Heng walk together side by side and face all the hardships. Will their love last till the end?
The Double Drama Review
The Double is a very good drama. The story opens with the tragic death of Xue Fang Fei or Mrs. Shen. It stirs my emotions. I could almost feel Xue Fang Fei’s helpless feelings and my heart aches for her. I started to curse Shen Yu Rong and his cowardliness. When Xue Fang Fei raised her hand that held a flute from under the soil, my heart skipped a beat. Is this a horror drama? That’s what I thought at that moment.
When the scene moved to Wang Xing Yue, I could not help to hold my breath. My eyes widen when I stare at him, unmoving and unblinking. The Duke of Su appeared with all his glory. He has red lips on a cold and indifferent face. Combined with a neat high bun and a gold crown; a red and black attire; and a fan. My heart was skipping a beat.
Wang Xing Yue is indeed handsome, but I’ve never seen him this attractive before. especially when he was shirtless… 😍
The Double is an adaptation of a web novel “Marriage of the Di Daughter” by the author Qian Shan Cha Ke. I’ve read the web novel, and the story was a bit different. However, the web novel was released in 2017 and I read it circa 2020 and didn’t finish it
Dear readers, don’t you know that novel adaptation dramas often change their titles waaaay different from the original title? Story of Kunning Palace’s original title is A Lady’s Tranquillity or Kun Ning. Till The End of The Moon’s original title is Hei Yue Guang Na Wen Be Ju Ben or Black Moonlight Holds the BE Script (I don’t even know the meaning of it 🤷♀️).
Only For Love’s original title is Accidental Love. Xu Kai’s upcoming drama Moonlit Reunion’s original title is Mei Fu Ren Chong Fu Ri Chang or The Daily Life of Mei Furen Doting on Her Husband. And lastly, The Double’s original title is Marriage of Di Daughter.
(For the records, “Di Daughter” means legitimate daughter who was born from a legitimate wife and not concubines)
You see, dear readers… not every novel title is suitable for a drama title. So, I frequently thought about the meaning of their new title. And truly, in my opinion, a drama title is often better than the original one. 😉
If you watch The Double Drama until the last episode, you can see that the “double” word could be implied in everything. Xue Fang Fei and Jiang Li are Ah Li’s double identities. Xue Fang Fei is living a new life to do a double revenge. The first is to avenge Jiang Li’s death and the second is to avenge her own death. The Double could also be used to depict Ah Li and Xiao Heng. Two ingenious people who are clever at planning something. It could also depict Shen Yu Rong and Princess Wan Ning, two antagonists who were cunning, manipulative, and greedy.
Well… in my opinion, the new title was supposed to be The Pearl due to the excessive use of pearls in this drama…😂
There were many good things in this drama that I want to appreciate. The first one is the acting. I must say that there were many comments about Wu Jin Yan’s acting in her past dramas and most of them were dissatisfied with her. However, she managed to cut all those negative comments with this drama. Wu Jin Yan showed us an exceptional acting skill in The Double. She had a best onscreen chemistry with Wang Xing Yue.
The small flirtatious gestures between Xue Fang Fei and Xiao Heng made me blush. There weren’t many skinships in this one, much less a hot kiss. But the way they vibe with each other is natural and I love to see how they tease each other. Xue Fang Fei had all the experience of a married woman. She was no longer shy to show her affection.
But it was different with Xiao Heng, who seemed never had any contact with women before. Although it was invisible due to thick makeup, I could imagine his face reddening when she teased him. As expected from a workaholic beast. 😂
But Wu Jin Yan and Wang Xing Yue are not the only ones. The Double is my first drama of Liang Yong Qi and Li Meng. And they were amazing. Both of them act as villains, Liang Yong Qi as Shen Yu Rong and Li Meng as Princess Wan Ning.
Liang Yong Qi managed to show us what is the meaning of a wolf in sheep’s clothing. Meanwhile, Li Meng has an innocent face but Princess Wan Ning’s personality is crooked. The stark contrast between her appearance and her temperament made me instantly attracted to Princess Wan Ning from the moment she appeared.
Princess Wan Ning lived up to my expectations. She is the Eldest Princess of the country and known for her lavish lifestyle and beauty. She was indeed pretty and was the most fashionable character in this drama. The way she dances alone reminded me of the paranoid emperor in Fighting For Love drama.
The Double Cinematography
The second aspect that is worth to be praised is the visual. The Double was full of beautiful and artistic scenes. It gave you the satisfaction of having a great visual on your binge-watching time. I love how the directors use many angles of the camera. Wide, medium, and close-ups were used in this drama.
They also use fast and slow video speeds to give us an enjoyable watching experience. However, I have to say I was not fond of the scene when Xue Fang Fei standing alone at the edge of a cliff in the last episode. Her long gauze was fluttered in the wind, while her hair stayed. Well, the truth is, I really could not say whether it was a CGI or she just had tonnes of hairspray on her head. 😂
The Double Drama Wardrobe
The third one is the costume. This one is my favorite aspect. I could rumble on and on and on about this one. especially Princess Wan Ning’s dress. She often uses bold colors like red, green, and yellow. But trust me, she did not look like a Christmas present or the traffic light. And because of her clothes, I started to obsessed with green clothing.
I spend some time looking for green tops in my closet. Couldn’t find one that satisfied me, so I had to go the my favorite e-commerce site to find one. I was still a little disappointed, though. It is hard to find the right shade of green. Got to look for more options, I supposed.
Every costume, both male and female, in this drama is gorgeous. The fabric is light and flowy. Therefore, when the actors move, it creates a great image, especially when it is captured in slow motion. The hairstyle was not as grand as in The Last Immortal or Lost You Forever.
But they put flowers on their head. And it adds more charm to the already beautiful clothes. Even males use flowers on their hair on a special occasion like a wedding. I’m not a fan, though. 😉
The main focus of the costumes is the PEARL! Lots of pearls. Literally a ton of pearls! 😁
It was stated in Wikipedia that in the Song Dynasty, ancient Chinese people wore pearls as an ornamental makeup. It is called huadian. It is often placed in between the eyebrows, temples, dimples, and cheeks. But the females in this drama also wore pearls in their hair, clothes, and accessories.
My favorite one is the stacked pearl necklace. Combined with dropped earrings, it exudes the charm of 1920’s style. The long tassels also added some effect to the attires.
The person behind the gorgeous makeup and the row of pearls is Lin An Qi. She is also the creative mind behind many dramas such as Ruyi’s Royal Love in the Palace (my favorite when it comes to costume and makeup), Winter Begonia, The Rebel Princess drama (Zhang Zi Yi’s only drama), Beauty of Resilience, and The Princess Royal (Zhao Jin Mai and Zhang Ling He’s new drama). With such an impressive list, I thought that The Double could be considered the prettiest drama in 2024.
The Double Drama Cast and the Crew
I love this The Double drama. The Double’s quality proved the cast and crew’s hard work behind the scenes. This drama was directed by three seasoned directors, Bai Yun Mo (Scent of Time, Royal Feast, Court Lady), Lu Hao Ji Ji (Go Princess, Go!), and Ma Shi Ge (My Kung Fu Girlfriend S1&S2). And I have to give a shout-out to the makeup artist. I looove to see the actors’s makeup in this drama. Nothing is too much and nothing is too lack. Everything is perfect.
I watched Wu Jin Yan’s performance for the first time in the Royal Feast drama, where she acted alongside Xu Kai. I also watch her on the Story of Yanxi Palace and The Legend of Haolan. However, those dramas didn’t leave a deep impression on me. But this time, Wu Jin Yan truly shines.
I love to see the rich expression displayed on Xue Fang Fei’s face. The soft and weak persona hides the determination and bitterness of someone who was betrayed by their loved ones. My most memorable scene of her was when she teased Duke Su by only saying, “ You look handsome when you are angry”. 😁
Meanwhile, Wang Xing Yue has already been on my must-watch list since I saw him in Delicacies Destiny. When he played the young lord in The Scent of Time, he displayed many intense emotions. He also appeared in The Story of Kunning Palace. But my favorite one was when he played the stern brother, Meng Xiao Dong, in Amidst a Snowstorm of Love drama.
In The Double, his acting is improving a lot and we can see many emotions brewing under the cold and indifferent face. My most memorable scene of him? Of course, when Duke Su goes shirtless because he wants to give his inner garment to Xue Fang Fei. 😁
The Double Drama Story
“After all, there are many paths in life. The people who love each other will always reach the same destination.” Said Xue Fang Fei to Xiao Heng
The Double surely lives up to its reputation. The story was well written, the complexity of the story did not make me lament. Instead, it keeps me wide awake, eager to know what would happen in the next episode. The character development is proficiently written.
Every character has a background story that made them who they are. Xiao Heng was cold and indifferent because of what happened between him and his grandfather. Princess Wan Ning is ruthless because of what happened during her marriage in a foreign country. And Xue Fang Fei could still retain her kindness because she grew up surrounded by love.
The Double highlighted Xue Fang Fei’s revenge on her ex-husband, Shen Yu Rong, and Princess Wan Ning. Xue Fang Fei also promised to avenge Jiang Li’s death. Jiang Li was sent to the nunnery and abandoned for 10 years after her stepmother framed her for killing her unborn brother. On the revenge journey, Xue Fang Fei met Xiao Heng or Duke Su, who was in the middle of the mission. Thus, their romance started.
Xue Fang Fei is not a simple person. She is clever, courageous, and determined. or else, she would not start this revenge. She might not always be wise in devising her strategy, but Xue Fang Fei always takes the people she loves into consideration. Therefore, I could see why Xiao Heng, who was never attracted to the opposite sex, was attracted to her.
Aside from the revenge and identity swaps, you could see some familiar troupes in this drama. The first one is the evil stepmother and oblivious father. Ji Shu Ran is a selfish mother. For her well-being and glory, she could kill her own unborn child.
Meanwhile, Prime Minister Jiang who was smart and noble was foreign to this kind of scheme. The evil stepmother is a common troupe that could be found in many Chinese web novels. So, it was not surprising to find Ji Shu Ran’s character in this drama.
Identity swap also could be found in many Cdrama, such as Romance of a Twin Flower, The Starry Love, Jun Jiu Ling, or In Blossom. This troupe might have loopholes. But I reminded myself that this is Cdramaland. Anything could happen and I should not put too much thought into it.
You must be patient when it comes to the romance between Xue Fang Fei and Xiao Heng. They were too busy with their own business, so the romance came late. But don’t worry, we got tonnes of teasing scenes but don’t expect any steamy kissing scene. When I wrote this review, I was watching The Princess Royal. And I must say that they were better in this aspect. 😉
However, it was interesting to see Shen Yu Rong and Princess Wan Ning’s relationship dynamics. You could see how they tortured each other for their own gain. The amount of craziness in their relationship made me wonder, is this what a real psychopathic relationship looks like?
This drama ended with a happy ending. Although there were unavoidable deaths that broke my heart many times. Still, in the end, you always get what you need instead of what you want 😉. You can read the detail about it on The Double ending explained post.
A small reminder for all of you, dear readers, before you start watching this drama. The Double is a bad choice for those who cannot keep their curiosity at bay. Sleep deprivation and dark circles under the eyes would be the consequences. So, choose your battle wisely.
The Double Drama Characters
Xue Fang Fei / Ah Li (played by Wu Jin Yan)
Xue Li or Xue Fang Fei (her courtesy name) was born as the only daughter of Xue Huai Yuan and the only sister of Xue Zhao. She is known as the prettiest and talented maiden in Huaixiang City. She then married Shen Yue Rong and they lived a good life for a while.
On the night she died, Xue Fang Fei’s father was arrested and was found guilty of corruption. Her brother ran into bandits and died. Xue Fang Fei was devastated when she learned her family died and her husband wanted her to die. She was buried alive but managed to escape from the grave.
Her mental state was shaken when she met Jiang Li. But Jiang Li took pity on her and took Xue Fang Fei to her place in Zhennu Hall. When Jiang Li died, Xue Fang Fei felt guilty and promised to avenge her death. She took Jiang Li’s identity and returned to the Jiang family.
Xue Fang Fei is a clever person. She is also a courageous person. Xue Fang Fei is willing to take risks for justice. This made Xiao Heng fall for her and worry about her. Xue Fang Fei was also a person who was not afraid to show her emotions and feelings, especially to Duke Su, Xiao Heng.
Jiang Li (played by Yang Chao Yue)
Jiang Li or Jiang Ruo Yu or Ah Li (her courtesy name) is the second young lady of the Jiang mansion. She is the daughter of the Prime Minister Jiang. Her mother, Ye Zhen Zhen, is the legitimate wife. After her mother died, Jiang Li was framed for causing her unborn brother to die and was sent to Zhennu Hall, a nunnery on the mountain, by her father and stepmother, Ji Shu Ran.
Jiang Li is always accompanied by her personal maid, Tong’er. Although she lived a harsh life, Jiang Li never lost her innate personality as a kind-hearted, friendly, and benevolent person. Jiang Li died after the head of the nunnery punished her severely.
Xiao Heng / Duke Su (played by Wang Xing Yue)
The formidable Duke Su calls himself an obnoxious and annoying person. I wouldn’t say he is not. But there are so many good qualities in him.
In the eyes of the emperor, Xiao Heng is a loyal and clever subject. They have been friends for a long time and Xiao Heng supports the emperor wholly. They often have a more friendly interaction outside the court. In front of his subordinates, Duke Su is a fair and good leader. He treats his closest confidants Wen Ji and Lu Ji as brothers.
And in the eyes of Xue Fang Fei, Xiao Heng is a cunning but kind person. worthy to become her ally. Xiao Heng is hard to fathom but gentle. Xue Fang Fei even called him eccentric. Xiao Heng seems ruthless and indifferent, but he is actually a calculative and determined person. And after he falls in love, another trait emerges: jealousy.
Xiao Heng was born into a military family. His grandfather and father are generals. Their family had been in charge of the Longwu Army for generations. Xiao Heng’s father, Xiao Ming Han, died on the battlefield. This incident caused an estranged relationship between Xiao Heng and his grandfather.
Xiao Heng had been attracted to Ah Li since he accidentally saw her before Xue Fang Fei “died”. Her reputation as the most beautiful and talented maiden in Huaixiang City arouse his curiosity. And when they met again at the nunnery, her courage impressed him.
Shen Yu Rong (played by Liang Yong Qi)
Shen Yu Rong is a duplicitous person. he is greedy but cowardly. Loving but manipulative. Filial but heartless. He could do anything to anyone to get what he desires the most. He sacrifices his wife and his in-laws for his mother, sister, and their family’s glory. Shen Yu Rong is the depiction of a wolf in sheep’s clothing.
She Yu Rong might looked like a weak and soft-hearted scholar. We could not see his ruthlessness and cunningness in his mien. But there is a saying that says birds of a feather flock together. There’s a reason why he and Princess Wan Ning are a couple. They were basically similar. Shen Yu Rong firmly believed that the only reason he killed Xue Fang Fei was because Princess Wan Ning forced him and he did not have a choice. But in reality, he just could not say no to Wan Ning’s offer of gold and glory. And because he truly loves Xue Fang Fei, he feels guilty towards her.
Princess Wan Ning (played by Li Meng)
Princess Wan Ning is the Eldest Princess of the Great Yan kingdom. She is the only sister of the current emperor and Lord Cheng. Years ago she was sent to marry into the Dai kingdom and was treated harshly. It becomes a turning point in her life. When she returned to Great Yan, Princess Wan Ning’s heart was full of hatred for her father and the court.
Wan Ning is prideful and arrogant. As someone who used to sit at the pinnacle of society, she believed that everyone should obey and cater to her needs and desires. She is afraid of none and even thinks that her emperor brother should always tolerate and give deference to her reputation.
Wan Ning is also ruthless and greedy. She firmly believed that if she could not live a happy life, then nobody should feel happiness. This belief justified her unreasonable actions. Princess Wan Ning is a bit crazy and obsessed with her love for Shen Yu Rong. and because of her status, nobody dares to criticize or oppose her, except Duke Su and Xue Fang Fei.
Ye Shi Jie (played by Chen Xin Hai)
Ye Shi Jie is Jiang Li’s maternal cousin. He came from the Ye family who was famous as a wealthy and successful merchant family. Ye Shi Jie used to be a quiet, stubborn, and serious person. He rarely socializes and his social skill level is almost zero.
If it’s not for Ah Li and Jiang Jing Rui’s scheme to make him their teammates, Ye Shi Jie would still be a bullied student in the academy. Ye Shi Jie is kind, clever, and a little bit stubborn. However, he is also a gentle and soft-hearted man. He is a talented person and by joining the court, Ye Shi Jie surely would have a promising future.
The Conclusion
The Double is a drama you should not miss. You might find the same genre and drama tag on other dramas, but you would not find the same acting intensity and beautiful visuals like this one. You might want to finish all the episodes in one go, but I remind you that would be too much. Most of the episodes are more than 45 minutes long. So, sipped it instead of chugging it.
Through this The Double drama review, I would recommend this drama for those who like a complicated story full of political intrigues and crazy schemes. But if you just want to enjoy some sweet and warm romance, this one is not for you. The romance is slow, and you might not get what you want. Even I was disappointed by the lack of proper kissing scenes. 😕
Although The Double drama is totally rewatchable, the first experience is always the best. 😉
Well, that is all my The Double drama review. So dear readers, are you ready to put this drama on your playlist? Let me know in the comments box below. Thank you for stopping by, I’ll see you in another article of drama review. Ciao!
