Drama Digest
Based in Ancient China, Xia Yu Bing was a minor antagonistic character in a story imagined by a manhua artist. She dies early in the universe. It is her husband Xu Zi Yan, who poisons and kills her.
But she is given a second chance when her creator confronts her in the afterlife, created in that universe, and offers her a chance to be re-spawned. If she behaves and plays by the rules, she would even be able to become a good character and the main heroine in the plot.
Xia Yu Bing revives and sets out to meet her goals. But having an upright character is hard work and her husband is hostile toward her. To add to the chaos, the other characters have suddenly turned against her, especially the female characters who are also aiming to be the female lead.
In order to ensure that Xu Zi Yan isn’t successful in killing her, Xia Yu Bing spends more time with him. But as they get to each other more, a bond forms between them, leading to love.
The Feel Good Part
Cute and clichéd, this romantic fantasy is full of hilarious moments, with a touch of evil scheming. The clash of the characters with Xia Yu Bing creates tension and unintentional comedy. The romance between the leads is fresh and sweet.
In-Depth Analysis
This drama thrives on the traditional tropes, from the banal fall-and-catch moments to showing love through the stomach, to lots of romance overloaded rainy scenes. Even though the leads are initially at loggerheads, we know that they will eventually like each other, and it is still joyful to watch that happen. After all, sugar and spice make everything nice, right?
Besides the main romance, the father and son moments between Xu Zi Yan and his father, Xu Guang Ling have that sweet, filial touch that is the staple in such drama. And the way Xu Guang Ling interacts with his daughter-in-law adds to the warm and fuzzy atmosphere.
The villain of the story, Xue Mu, is insufferable and annoying and it becomes very easy for the viewer to cheer for the heroine more than anything else. There is no added depth to the character, as we know that it is only a prop for the lovebirds to unite.
The Disappointing Factor
The comedy is overly exaggerated and embarrassing sometimes. Although the leading actors have good chemistry, Li Ge Yang, as Xu Zi Yan, is more expressive and Dong Si Yi as Xia Yu Bing can be a little wooden in some moments.
Star Power
Everyone was wonderful in this drama. Dong Si Yi was smart and passionate as Xia Yu Bing. Lee Ge Yang surprises the audience with his performance Xu Zi Yan, even though he is new to the industry. He adds depth to an otherwise cool and stoic character.
Overall Opinion
I think it is best to watch this film with zero expectations. Sometimes clichéd, sometimes surprising, it has a way of reeling the viewer in and is overall an enjoyable ride.
